#meanwhile branch just wants his two favorite people in the world to hold hands and agree and Not Fight so he can stick by both of them

[razzle-zazzle]

What does Lola want the strings for?

Power, world domination, revenge. The usual villain stuff, really.

[choking-on-tae]

Wizard ATEEZ Falling In Love With A Non-Magical S.O

Anon: how about wizard!ateez falls for a normal non-magical s/o? hmm like wizards and humans aren't allowed to interact so they kept the relationship a secret? or the friendship a secret if you don't want it to be romantic

Anon: ot8 wizard!ateez would be great or it can be hongjoong if you want a single member fic. but you can choose anyone you think fits it best they're all my bias sdjhfkfkr

A/N: I absolutely love supernatural AU's and ATEEZ so for me this is the perfect combo! I love this idea and wanted to make it longer than my normal reactions, hence why I didn't make it a 'ateez reaction to' post although it's pretty similar. I love supernatural AU's but be warned this is gonna be looooooong. x

Warnings: Angst and mentions of injuries. Idk if that triggers anyone but just thought I'd let you know in advance! x

Seonghwa

Seonghwa is someone who follows rules and doesn't question them to much. It isn't until he catches feelings for an adorable non-magical person that he finds himself questioning it. Why is it that wizards aren't allowed to fall in love with non-magical people? It just something that doesn't make sense to him. It's because humans are supposedly dangerous to them, although Seonghwa couldn't possibly imagine how.

He's just going on his evening walk when he spots you sitting in a field, admiring the pretty flowers. A soft smile spreads across his face as he makes his way towards you. "They're really pretty, aren't they?"

Your head snaps around at the sound of a voice, but you instantly relax when you notice it's Seonghwa. You flash him a shy smile as you nod your head.

"Yeah, these tulips are my favorite actually."

Seonghwa moves to sit down beside you as he too admires the beautiful tulips. You know Seonghwa is a wizard and that you're technically not supposed to be around each other, but it just feels so weird to you. He's just Seonghwa. There's nothing scary about him.

"I know we're not supposed to be around each other but I really like talking to you, Seonghwa." You whisper softly, but due to your close proximity it's still loud enough for him to hear.

He feels his heart flutter as he looks you in the eye. His heart beating rapidly against his chest as he tries to find the right words to say.

"I know what you mean. I feel the same way about you Y/N."

You smile at his words as your hands creeps towards his, gently lacing your fingers together as you give his hand a tight squeeze. Seonghwa feels his cheeks flush as he smiles brightly, knowing that you feel the same way he does.

He leans in to press a kiss against your cheek before resting his head on your shoulder, playing with your fingers as you two sit peacefully in the tulip field.

Hongjoong

Hongjoong isn't one to obey the rules, so when he came across one that said that wizards aren't allowed to fall in love with humans, he almost wanted to fall in love with one just to break the stupid rule. Almost. What he didn't expect was to actually fall in love with one. He didn't hate humans but the never actually found one that caught his eye. Until he met you. He spotted you one day when he was looking out of the window, sipping a warm cup of coffee as he looked at the outside world.

That's when he spotted you walking outside, headphones on as you skipped around. He chuckled softly when he saw how happy you looked, and he instantly wanted to get to know you better. There was just something about you that caught his eye, and he wanted to know what it was.

It wasn't until he finally met you that he found out what it was, your passion. Whenever you talked about something you liked your eyes would sparkle. It was something he hadn't seen before in a person and it really made him want to get to know you better. Hongjoong could tell right away that you weren't a witch, and that he should probably stay away but he just couldn't bring himself to do that.

He likes you, so he continued meeting up with you and eventually fell in love. You're sitting under a tree together, listening to one of your favorite songs when Hongjoong suddenly leans in to press a kiss against your cheek, taking you by surprise.

You stare at him with wide eyes as you ask, "What are you doing?" "Isn't it obvious? I like you."

"But you aren't supposed to-" "-I know that, but I don't care. I like you Y/N and there's nothing I can or want to do about that. That is if it's okay with you of course."

His voice grows noticeably softer towards the end, which doesn't go unnoticed by you. He must be nervous for your response. Because you know just as well as he does that you aren't supposed to be doing this, but you can't bring yourself to care.

So you flash Hongjoong a bright smile as you pull him close enough to kiss him. He's surprised at first but soon kisses you back. It's short and sweet but long enough to know what the other person is feeling.

Hongjoong pulls back and wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer as you two lean back against the tree again and continue listening to your favorite playlist.

Yunho

Yunho is so focused on trying to perfect his spell that he doesn't hear you come in. You walk into the room, excited to show your best friend a funny video you saw online when you see something floating in the air. You drop your phone to the ground, the sound startling Yunho who turns around to look at who came in. Once he sees that it's you his eyes grow wide and he drops the object that was floating in the air.

"Y/N..." He says, beyond shocked that you caught him.

Now there's no point in hiding it anymore. Now you know he's a wizard. "I-I can explain..." He says, slowly making his way towards you but to his surprise he doesn't see you backing away.

"You're a wizard..." You stammer, still staring at you with wide eyes.

"I am. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."

"I get it." "Huh?"

"I get why you didn't tell me, Yunho."

He's surprised by your action but also relieved. Yunho is glad that you aren't scared of him, so he makes his way towards you and gives you a hug, which you return.

"So you're not scared of me?" He asks, nervously biting down on his bottom lip as he stares at you with big eyes.

"Of course not Yunho."

He flashes you a bright smile as he rests his chin on your shoulder, holding you close. Yunho brushes his nose against your cheek before pressing a soft kiss against it.

"I really like you Y/N. I know I'm not supposed to but that's why I tried hiding it from you."

You nod at his words as you pull back just enough to be able to look at him. "I really like you too Yunho. I don't care that you're a wizard and I'm not a witch, but I still like you a lot."

Yunho smiles brightly at your words as he presses his forehead against yours, staring into your eyes.

"Then let's not care about what people say and just be together."

Yeosang

You grab the two mugs with hot tea as you make your way to the living room, where Yeosang is reading a new book that he's become obsessed with lately. You let out a soft chuckle as you place the mugs down on the coffee table as you watch how focused Yeosang is on the book.

"What's it about?"

Yeosang's head snaps up upon hearing your voice. His cheeks turn a soft shade of pink as he tries to find the right words to say. "Its... uhmm.. just a book about history."

You nod softly, not believing a word he says. Yeosang has never been a good liar and you can see right through him, but you don't question it further.

You take your mug as you start sipping your tea, taking out your phone as you scroll through it.

"I'm gonna go to the restroom real quick." "Okay."

Yeosang closes the book as he leaves to go to the restroom. As soon as he's gone you reach for the book and look at the name. "The history of potions." Why the hell would he be reading a book about potions? It's then that something clicks in your brain. Oh my god Yeosang is a wizard.

You sit there in shock until Yeosang comes back, looking just as shocked as you. "Y/N... I.. I can explain."

"Are you a wizard?"

Yeosang nods softly as he feels his cheeks heat up from your stare. "Yes, I'm sorry for not telling you. I know we've been dating for a while but I didn't know how to tell you..."

"I'm not mad. I get why you didn't tell me."

He seems surprised by your reaction, and can't help but smile softly when he sees your happy expression. "So we're good? Even though we technically aren't supposed to be together?"

You wrap your arms around Yeosang's neck as you look him in the eyes. Staring at him lovingly before leaning in to press a soft kiss against his lips. "I don't care about that Yeo. I just want to be with you."

San

You and San are playing in the field together, laughing and running after each other when you accidentally fall over a branch.

"Are you okay?" San asks, hurrying towards you as he kneels down besides you, examining the injury on your leg. The cut looks pretty deep and there's some dirt in it as well. San takes out his wand and uses a spell to cure your injury. Meanwhile you're staring at him with wide eyes. Coming to the realization that your best friend and person you're in love with is a wizard.

You feel your heart sink as you feel yourself tearing up. San puts his wand away and turns to look at you with a soft smile, but it disappears as soon as he sees the tears in your eyes. "W-What's wrong Y/N?"

"You're a wizard?"

San nods his head, his eyebrows furrowing because he still doesn't understand why you'd be upset about that. Since you've said multiple times that you think wizards are pretty cool. It isn't until he thinks back on some things you've said to each other that he realizes why you're crying. You're in love with him.

San feels his heart ache when it dawns upon him. The person he's been in love with for years feels the same way about him. Now it makes sense why you're upset. San sighs softly as he looks at you, wiping your tears as he leans in to kiss your forehead.

"I'm sorry Y/N, I should have told you sooner."

San moves to get up but as soon as he does you grab his hand, pulling him back instantly. The unexpected move causes San to fall forward and onto you. The two of you stare at each other with wide eyes as you feel your cheeks heat up.

"Sorry.. I just didn't want you to leave."

"No I get that." San says, smiling softly as he looks into your eyes.

"Maybe we could make this work, we just have to keep this a secret. I don't know if you want to d-" You press your lips against his, efficiently shutting him up as you wrap your arms around his neck. San smiles against your lips as he pulls back, chuckling softly.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Mingi

From the moment Mingi first met you he knew you weren't a witch, and that it would be dangerous to befriend you. Not because you're a human because humans aren't dangerous, but because he might fall in love with you. When he met you he could instantly tell that you had a different way of thinking, and Mingi really liked that. It didn't take long before the two of you became friends, and soon he started to fall in love with you.

This cutie would be so conflicted, because he knows he isn't supposed to fall in love with a non-magical person but he couldn't understand why he wasn't allowed to.

You were aware that Mingi was a wizard and that you weren't allowed to be together, but just like Mingi you couldn't understand why it was that way. What was so wrong about wizards and non-magical people loving each other.

You were sitting on the couch, cuddled up together when Mingi suddenly leans down to kiss your cheek. Your eyes grow wide as you look at him. Your expression making him chuckle.

"What's it, Y/N?" "Why did you kiss me?"

"Because I like you."

If you weren't blushing before you sure are now. Mingi chuckles at your expression as he hugs you tighter.

"I know it's not allowed but I don't care. I like you and if you'll let me I'd love to be your partner."

You smile brightly as you hug him tighter, pressing a couple of kisses against his cheeks as he chuckles softly.

Wooyoung

One thing Wooyoung has always been interested in is potions, specifically love potions. He wonders if they actually work so that's why he decided to make one. Woo wasn't planning on making one that makes someone fall in love but one that lets you smell the scent of your soulmate. Wooyoung wanted to find out if it was really you. Once he finishes putting all the incredients in he stirs it around a litle before a delicious scent fills his nostrils. A delicious but also very familiar scent. Your perfume mixed with the smell of your laundry detergent. He's so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn't hear the front door unlock.

When you walk into his apartment the last thing you expect is to see your best friend standing over a small cauldron. You furrow your eyebrows as you stare at him. "Uhm. What are you doing, Woo?"

As soon as he hears your voice a panicked expression is plastered on his face. His eyes wide as he stares at you in shock. "Y/N... what are you doing here?"

You show him the bag of chips he asked you to buy as you say, "It's our weekly movie night. Did you forget?"

"No.. of course not.. uhm.." Wooyoung stammers, trying to think of an explanation but knowing there is none.

You lean against the doorframe as you fold your arms over each other, staring at him with a smirk on your face. "So a wizard, huh? That explains a lot."

Wooyoung seems surpised by your response but he's relieved you're taking it so well. He smiles softly as he makes his way towards you. "So.. you're not mad?"

You shake your head 'no' as you give him a hug. "Of course not, although it would have been nice to know that the guy I like is a wizard."

"You like me?" He smiles brightly upon hearing your words, pulling you closer until his nose brushes against yours.

"Yes. Like Wooyoung. I like you."

Wooyoung leans in to kiss you softly as he mumbles, "I really like you too Y/N. I don't care what anyone says."

Jongho

Jongho is going on his usual evening walk when he spots you sitting out near the river. He's surprised to see you there so late, since you're not a massive fan of the dark. He makes his way towards you, trying not to scare you as he carefully sits down next to you.

You look up to see Jongho sitting next to you, making you smile softly. Just when you were thinking about you he appears. How funny. Jongho's heart flutters when he sees you smiling at him as he notices you fiddling with your fingers. Something you always do when you're nervous.

"What are you thinking about Y/N?" "Oh.. just something." You mumble, trying to avoid his eyes.

Jongho is having none of it so he gently takes your hand is his, softly brushing his thump across the back of it as he gives it a soft squeeze. "You can tell me."

"I like you Jongho. And I know I'm not supposed to and you probably don't like me back but I just can't help it."

His eyes widen at his words as he takes a moment to take all of it in. You like him back? A wide smile spreads across his face as he takes your other hand is his too, squeezing them softly as he looks at you.

"Y/N... I like you too. I can't believe you feel the same way."

Now it's your turn to be surprised. Jongho likes you back? Even though he's a wizard?

"But we aren't supposed to..-" "-I know, but I don't care."

Both of you smile softly at each other as Jongho pulls you a little closer to him, so you're practically pressed together as you continue staring at the flowing river in front of you. aa

[favefandomimagines]

Christmas Miracle (f.w.)

Summary: Christmas miracles ring true when your family invites you and your boyfriend over for Christmas Eve.

AN: in this world, there’s no return of Voldy, though Lucius still gets sent to Azkaban, i just needed him gone lol i’m also gonna start adding word count to my stuff, especially the long ones. 

WC: 1995

The holidays were coming up and for most people, that meant going home to see their families. You, however, had been properly disowned for falling in love with a Weasley. Your brother, Draco Malfoy, was more than pleased to snitch on you when he caught you holding hands with the oldest twin, Fred, at the end of your fifth year. 

You were the favorite child before your disgraceful relationship came to the attention of your parents, specifically your father. His words to you, “don’t think about coming home after term is over.” And you didn’t. Molly Weasley was more than happy to make you feel at home. She could tell right off the bat that you resembled traits of your aunt Andromeda. Blood status was the last thing on your mind when it came to love and Fred was the person you wanted to be with. 

Your relationship started off quite cliche. He saw your last name and instantly thought you were just like your brother. Fowl, cruel, thought of nothing but blood supremacy. But when he accidentally got the two of you thrown into detention, he realized you were quite the opposite. You were sweet, kind, caring, and the smartest person he had ever met. You then told him you were sorted into Slytherin based on your last name. After that, the rest was history. 

After the twins left, you did exactly what your father told you. Not to come home. So you moved in with the twins at their joke shop. You’ve been there ever since you were cast out of your family.

The holidays were always the hardest without your family. Your mother would send you letters every now and then but nothing that seemed like an olive branch. Of course you were incredibly grateful to be spending the holidays at the Burrow but it wasn’t the same. 

“Are you ready to go, love?” Fred asked, stepping into your shared room. He saw the empty suitcase on the bed as you sat by the window, watching the snow fall. “Is it wrong to expect at least something from them?” You asked him. “No, it’s not wrong. They’re your family. Which is still a mystery to me because you’re nothing like them.” He answered. 

You smiled at his attempt to make you feel better as you stood up. “You do have to pack though, darling. No house elves here to do it for you.” Fred teased. “Ha ha very funny.” You replied sarcastically. You sorted through your clothes and sent them into your suitcase. 

Fred and you made small talk until you saw your mother’s owl land on your windowsill. Fred saw the look on your face as you looked at the animal before grabbing the piece of parchment from its beak. 

“What is it?” Fred asked. “Y/N, I am regretfully sorry as to how your father treated you. Your brother as well. You are so much like your aunt, I don’t know how I didn’t see it coming. If you could ever forgive me, I’d like to invite you and Mr.Weasley to the Manor for Christmas Eve dinner. I miss you, Y/N, you are my only daughter. Love, mum.” You read aloud. 

Silence fell upon the room, neither you nor Fred finding the proper reaction for this news. “Do we go?” He asked. “I-I don’t know.” You stammered. “If she reached out, that means father is still in Azkaban. She was always scared of him.” You added. “Do you want to go?” Fred questioned. 

Again, silence. Though Fred could see on your face that you were heavily considering it. “Y/N, it’s okay if you want to go. I’m sure mum will understand us missing an hour or two of the festivities.” He added. “You want to go?” You asked him. 

“I find it to be the polite thing to do to meet your mother if I plan on spending the rest of my life with her daughter.” He answered. That was all you needed to hear to wash away any doubt. Of course you were still terrified to go but having Fred by your side would make things bearable. 

You apparated to the Burrow and broke the news to the rest of the family. Molly was pleased that your mother was making an effort to see you after the cruel things your father had told you. Of course the other siblings had their doubts. They had grown quite fond of you since you’ve been dating Fred. 

Christmas Eve came quicker than you wanted and you were standing in front of the mirror overlooking your outfit. “You look beautiful.” Fred’s voice announced, knocking you out of your daze. “Really? Are you sure it’s good enough?” You questioned. 

Fred walked over to you and forced you away from the mirror and made you look up at him. “You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. You’re perfect.” He told you. You nodded your head and swallowed the nervous lump in your throat. 

The two of you apparated in front of the manor and everything soon became very real. “Are we actually doing this?” You asked, looking up at your boyfriend. “Only if you’re comfortable.” Fred answered. “That is no help.” You muttered, though Fred knew you were joking. 

The large doors to the Manor opened and there stood your younger brother. “Y/N. Weasley.” He sneered. “Draco.” You greeted him back. “Draco, dear, let them inside.” Your mother’s voice came from behind him. 

He stepped aside to let you and Fred in the large house but not before glaring at the two of you. “Y/N, my darling, it’s so good to see you.” Your mother said. “You too, mother. This is Fred Weasley, my boyfriend.” You introduced. “It’s great to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy.” Fred said. “Yes, you as well.” Narcissa replied. 

The awkward small talk in the foyer was a good time for Fred to notice the striking similarities there are between you and your mother. You had the same striking blue eyes, a common theme in the Malfoy line. As well as the same striking bone structure. 

The couple were guided to the large dining room and sat at their place at the table. “So, my dear, how have you been? Have you been alright?” Narcissa asked. “Yes, I’ve been great. I have a job at the Ministry. In the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, ironically enough.” You answered. 

News of your occupation caused your brother to let out a scoff. “Is there a problem, Draco?” You asked him. “Funny is all. Working with Muggle artifacts as a pureblood witch.” He answered. “Arthur Weasley got me the job. And I am more than qualified for it. If you’d get your head out of your own ass, you’d find it’s quite interesting.” You snapped. 

Fred used every ounce of strength he had to stifle the laugh at your comment. “Y/N, Draco, enough. This was supposed to be a nice evening.” Narcissa intervened. “Fred, what do you do for a living?” She asked the redhead. “I own a joke shop in Diagon Alley with my twin brother, George.” Fred answered. “Ah and how is that doing?” She asked him. “Quite well. Most of our customers are students at Hogwarts. McGonagall probably isn’t thrilled she can’t get rid of us.” He joked. 

You smiled at him before shooting your brother another glare. “And does that make good money?” Draco asked. “Draco,” Narcissa warned. “It makes enough.” Fred answered. “Hope it’s enough for you, Y/N. She is used to quite a different lifestyle if you hadn’t noticed.” Draco added. 

“Draco, will you shut it? This is why I did not want to come. Father has drilled his insane blood purity beliefs into your head and look where he ended up. I’m not dating a muggleborn! And even if I were, who cares as long as I’m happy? Fred is a good man who makes me very happy. Now I understand why Aunt Dromeda is much happier away from this family.” You yelled. “Love, it’s alright.” Fred whispered to you, taking your hand in his. 

Narcissa was always aware of how much like her sister you were. The same temper and all. When you were a child, you’d throw tantrums and nothing could calm you down. So when Narcissa saw how Fred could give you a small amount of peace, she decided to push her own beliefs aside. If you were happy, that’s what mattered to her. 

“Draco, you will apologize to your sister this instant. As will I. Because we have all been unfair to her and her relationship with Fred. I am so sorry, my dear. Your happiness is the most important thing to me and if Fred makes you happy, then I’m happy.” Narcissa said. 

You knew that Draco was always putting up a facade to make his father not so angry with him. You used to do that too, but didn’t like it made you treat people. Your father has despised you ever since for it. You didn’t want Draco to make the same mistake you did. 

“Draco, may I speak with you for a moment?” You asked your brother. He only nodded his head in response. You gave Fred’s hand a squeeze before going to the hall with Draco. 

“What?” He asked. “Stop doing what he wants you to do. Do you like bullying people? Being the most hated person at Hogwarts?” You said to him. “Well, no.” He said bashfully. “Then stop trying to please him. He’s not here. And odds are, he’s not getting out. Start living the life you want to live.” You said. 

Meanwhile, in the dining room, Fred fell into a conversation with Narcissa. “Mrs. Malfoy, can I talk with you about something?” He asked. “Of course.” Narcissa answered. “I love your daughter. She’s made me a better person and I couldn't imagine going on without her. And I’d like your permission to ask her to marry me.” Fred said. 

Narcissa had been waiting for that moment since the day you were born. It was hard not to get choked up at the fact that even though you and your family were at odds, he still respected them enough to ask for their permission. 

“Of course you have my permission, Fred. You make her very happy, a mother knows. And I have just the perfect ring for you.” She said before getting up from the table. 

She was back in a couple of seconds with a small box in hand. “This was the ring my parents set aside for my sister Andromeda. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about her. They cast her out before she could get it. But Y/N has loved this ring since she was little. And I think she’d really love it.” Narcissa said, opening the box. 

Draco hadn’t said anything to your comment before you walked back out into the dining room. Fred closed the box quickly and shoved it in his pocket. 

“I’m sorry, mother. But the Weasley’s are expecting us back soon for presents. It was good to see you.” You announced. “Of course my dear. I’m hoping we’ll be seeing you soon.” Narcissa said, rising from the table. 

You gave her a light hug as Draco returned from the hall. “Weasley,” He called. Fred looked to him, as did everyone in the room. “Take care of her.” He finished. Fred nodded his head and extended his hand for a handshake. Draco took it and you smiled gratefully at him. 

“You both will need to come over another time for tea.” Narcissa offered. “That sounds nice, mother. Thank you for inviting us.” You said. 

After a few more goodbyes, you and Fred apparated back to the Burrow. “What the bloody hell just happened?” You asked him. “It was a Christmas miracle, darling.” Fred answered.

[sleepypanda27]

Addicted To You

Bucky Barnes x reader

Request: I adore your writing💕 Could you possibly write a fluffy Bucky x reader where (Y/N) a new addition to the avengers is usually happiest amongst the members. It’s addictive and Bucky appreciates it *wink**wink*. Everyone has bad days though and it’s very clear (Y/N)s going through one. Bucky immediately takes notice and is simply there for her throughout the day doing what he can to help.

Warnings: Grumpy Bucky, so much fluff

Words: 2,196

The first time you met Bucky you wandered around Avengers tower searching for Steve's office. You couldn't remember where exactly it was, and there was no one around who you could ask. Rounding the corner, you accidentally run into Bucky, knocking the coffee cup he was carrying over his shirt.

“Ah-what the-!?” He yelped in surprise, jumping back.

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry.” You apologized, seeing the mess you had accidentally made. The sleeves of his burgundy henley were rolled up to his elbows. When you noticed his shiny metal arm, you instantly recognized him.

“Good thing it wasn't hot.” He pulled the wet part of the shirt away from his chest. You looked so guilty and sorry that he couldn't blame you. “It's my fault I didn't look where I was going.”

“I'm really sorry, it's my first day here, and I got lost and...” you started rambling, your eyes were glued to the dark wet spot on his shirt that clung to his muscular chest. “I'll pay you back?” You offered with a smile.

“Don’t worry about it, who are you looking for?” He smiled friendly. “Maybe I can help.”

“Steve Rogers.”

“Follow me.”

“Hey punk,” he opened the door to Steve's office peeking inside to make sure he was there and then opened doors wider. “I found this Doll wandering around the halls spilling coffee on people.” He teased, earning a disappointed look from you that he absolutely loved finding it funny.

“Y/n, there you are, I was waiting for you.” Steve glanced at Bucky's wet shirt. “What happened to you?”

“Her.” He pointed at you. “Do you even listen to what I'm saying?” Bucky shook his head and left you two alone to go change his ruined henley. Later he returned. Leaning against the wall by the doors, he patiently waited while you and Steve finished the conversation.

“So that's that. I'll find someone to show you around.” Steve said with a smile.

“I can do that.” Bucky volunteered.

“You?” Steve asked skeptically.

“Yeah, me. Is that so hard to believe?” He rolled his eyes.

“You usually do everything that’s in your power to avoid doing something like that, so yeah.” Steve chuckled, leaning back into his chair. “I would say it's hard to believe.”

“Dude, don't say that in front of her, you are making me look bad,” Bucky whispered, intensely staring at his friend who only laughed.

“I'll pretend I didn't hear that.” You chuckled, standing up from a chair.

“Let's go doll, I'll show you everything. You can call me Bucky I will be your tour guide for today. You can ask me anything you want.”

“I’m getting a tour by Bucky Barnes himself,” You smiled, holding onto his arm. “I feel special.”

“You know who I am, huh?” He blushed and almost melted into a puddle from seeing your beautiful smile that was directed towards him. “So about that coffee, you mentioned earlier.”

***

It’s the end of a successful mission in the middle of nowhere. There's only trees and fields as far as the eye can see. A couple of old buildings scattered here and there on a brink of collapsing, and then there’s the one that was in a good condition before you accidentally blew it up.

Bucky managed to lose his boot after the explosion wave sent him flying in the nearby bushes. One of his feet stuck in between the branches where he couldn’t get it out, so he sacrificed his boot for his freedom.

He’s in a bad mood - grumbling, groaning and cursing under his breath. For others, he would look scary and threatening, but you only saw a giant puppy who needed a big hug.

Small drops of water fell on his nose, making him look up at the dark clouds that formed in the sky above. Like one of those summer rains that comes out of nowhere surprising you unprepared, It started raining, drenching him instantly.

You can see he’s about to lose his temper. Closing his eyes he takes a deep, deep breath holds it in for few seconds and lets it out. “Great, just great. Can this day become any worse?” Heavy raindrops hit his face, and you hear a low rumbling sound. For a second, you thought the sound came from Bucky but turned out it was thunder rumbling in the distance.

You chuckled at the scene, pulling off your boots.

“What’s so funny?” He looked at you, brows furrowed, a deep line between them.

“It’s just rain, Buck.” You spin in circles stretching out your arms as far as you can, tilting back your head, letting the warm raindrops hit your face. “Who knows what will happen with us in this crazy world, enjoy the little things.”

Bucky stares at you, his features becoming softer. You are drenched through the bone, clothes clinging to your body, hair dripping with water. And you don't even care about that, quite the opposite you are having the time of your life. It doesn't matter how long he knows you, he still gets surprised by all the small things that make you smile with excitement, like rain or seeing a puppy on the street happily wiggling its tail.

You're always so happy and full of life. He doesn’t know what it is about you that’s so attractive to him. He can't describe it. It’s not one thing, it’s every little detail about you. It's the feeling he has when he's with you, it's addicting like a drug he can’t get enough of. With every passing day, he falls in love with you a little bit more. 

Something tugs at his heart, and he feels warmth spread through his chest, his anger disappearing. He takes off his one lonely boot and throws it on the ground, forgetting about it. Not like he would need it anyway.

“Come on Buck, smile a little.” You come closer to him, taking his hand. The smile on your face is contagious, he couldn’t stop the growing smile on his face, even if he tried. He twirls you, bringing you close to his chest. There is literally a building burning behind you, how can this feel romantic? He wonders. But in some odd way, it does.

The smile on your face and the happy glimmer dancing in your eyes it’s his home. No matter rain, snow or storm, you are his little ray of sunshine, in the otherwise dark world. Sometimes he just wants to tuck you in his pocket and carry you around with him everywhere he goes.

“Are you going to kiss me or what?” You place one of your hands on his chest, and with other you brush back wet locks from his forehead, leaving your hand on the back of his neck. And he does, he kisses you like his life depends on it, moving his hand to the small of your back he pulls you even closer, leaving no space in between you. The rain ceased as the clouds drifted away. It was gone almost as fast as it started.

“Did you two turned into hippies or something?” Sam teased, seeing your bare feet when he arrived to pick you up.

“Shut up, we need towels.” Bucky rolled his eyes.

***

“Doll, what’s wrong?” Bucky asked when you walked into the common room. You hadn’t even uttered a single word, but he knew instantly something was wrong. You didn't look any different in your appearance, but he sensed it. It was as if a dark cloud was formed around you instead of the usual sunshine.

“Nothing.” It was one of those days where everything just seems so depressing that you can’t do anything about it no matter how hard you try. The only thing you can do about it is to live through it.

He didn’t believe you, not even for a second. He pulled you into his lap. You looked down in your lap, away from his eyes.

“Solneshko, (sun)” he curled his finger under your chin, gently tilting it up so you would meet his worried eyes. “please talk to me, what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing Buck.” You tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“It doesn’t look fine to me.” He didn’t let go searching your eyes for something, for some kind of clue.

“Just a bad mood ’s all.” You peck his forehead and stand up to go to the kitchen to gather some snacks. Bucky looks after you wishing that he would know how to cheer you up.

All-day he helped you with little things, like brought you snacks and gave you random hugs and small kisses throughout the day and even made dinner. He gave you his hoodie in hopes that in some magical way, it would improve your mood.

When the night came around, everyone gathered in the common room to watch a movie. Your head was laying in Bucky’s lap while he gently brushed your hair with his fingers.

Not once did he pressured you in talking, he knew you would tell him when you would be ready. Meanwhile, he did what was in his power to help you feel better, even if it was only some small thing. He was simply there for you as you were always there for him when he had his bad days.

There was a soft knock on your door. You grumpily slid out of the bed to open it. In front of you stood Bucky with a sheepish smile on his face, his hair tied up in half bun and wearing light blue plaid pajama pants and a black hoodie. In his hands, he held a tub of your favorite ice cream with two spoons.

“Where did you get this?” You moved away from the entrance so he could come inside.

“I have my sources.” He closed the door behind himself.

“It’s Sam’s, isn’t it?”

“It’s possible.”

“You are going to get in big trouble.” You crawled back into the bed.

“Pfff, I can deal with him.” He placed the ice cream tub on the bedside table and joined you in bed. “I’ll pay him back later.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, besides, you need it more right now.” He placed his hand on your knee. “I don’t know what’s happening with you today, but know that I am here for you no matter what.” He reassuringly squeezed your knee.

“I know, Buck, I know.” You wrapped your hands around him, hugging him, burying your face in the crook of his neck. “I love you.” You murmured.

“I love you more.” He squeezed you tightly in his bear hug producing a small squeak from you. When you pulled back, he scattered thousand little kisses all over your face kissing away your sadness and making you laugh. It’s the first time today that he sees your genuine smile that he adores so much. His heart swelled with happiness.

When the ice cream was eaten, you felt cold. Bucky pulled off his hoodie, his shirt riding up, revealing his torso and disheveling his hair. He propped up a pillow against the headboard, resting his back against it.

“Come here.” He stretched out his legs in front of him. You obeyed sitting between his legs resting your back against his chest. “Give me your arms.”

“Why?” You asked but stretched out your arms anyway.

“I wanna try something.” He turned your arms around and tenderly, barely touching your skin, traced up and down the back of your forearms with his fingernails.

“Mmm.” You hummed at the sensation melting into him. “Feels so good.”

Bucky smiled, trailing his fingertips down your arms so gentle and loving. Playing with your fingers, he intertwined his fingers with yours bringing your hand up to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand, and then to your temple.

You didn’t notice how fast the time flew by, somehow it was almost morning. You hadn’t moved from your positions Bucky’s arms around you and his chin on top of your head while you sat between his legs, back against his chest, cradling his forearms. You watch as the darkness outside the window turned lighter by the minutes.

You yawned your eyelids feeling heavy. Turning around, you winded arms around his shoulders. “Thanks for staying with me, Bucky.” You placed your head on his shoulder, nuzzling into his shirt, bunching up the soft material between your fingers.

“I’m gonna always be here for you, Y/n.” He whispered, brushing back the hair from your face and slid down to laying position. “Do you need a pillow?”

“You’re a good pillow.” You brought your leg over his thigh for comfort.

Bucky chuckled, pulling the blanket higher up over both of your bodies. He pushed his hand underneath your shirt, softly scratching your back until you fell asleep and then a little bit more because he loved to hear those little purring sounds you made.

There’s no warmth in this cold world without you, that’s why he would do anything that’s in his power to make you happy.

[konmarkimageswords]

The Summer Day

 Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean—

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

 Last night the rain spoke to me

Last night

the rain

spoke to me

slowly, saying,

what joy

to come falling

out of the brisk cloud,

to be happy again

in a new way

on the earth!

That’s what it said

as it dropped,

smelling of iron,

and vanished

like a dream of the ocean

into the branches

and the grass below.

Then it was over.

The sky cleared.

I was standing

under a tree.

The tree was a tree

with happy leaves,

and I was myself,

and there were stars in the sky

that were also themselves

at the moment

at which moment

my right hand

was holding my left hand

which was holding the tree

which was filled with stars

and the soft rain –

imagine! imagine!

the long and wondrous journeys

still to be ours.

  Mindful

Every day I see or hear something that more or less

kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle

in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen,

to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over

in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant - but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help

but grow wise with such teachings as these - the untrimmable light

of the world, the ocean's shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?

  The Old Poets of China

 Wherever I am, the world comes after me. It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it. Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.

  When Death Comes

When death comes like the hungry bear in autumn; when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut; when death comes like the measle-pox

when death comes like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering: what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

 Praying

It doesn’t have to be

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try

to make them elaborate, this isn’t

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which

another voice may speak.

  Mysteries, Yes

 Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous  to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the mouths of the lambs. How rivers and stones are forever in allegiance with gravity while we ourselves dream of rising. How two hands touch and the bonds will never be broken. How people come, from delight or the scars of damage, to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads.

  Wild Geese

 You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting – over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

Mary Oliver (1935-2019) has become a favorite of poetry readers of all ages for her lyrical, intimate, and sensitive poems, many of which use nature as a lens for exploring the spectrum of human emotions, from love and joy to sorrow and despair. The best Mary Oliver poems remind us to pause and take a breath, revel in our surroundings, and encourage us not to take anything for granted.

Mary received many accolades during her long and fruitful career, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the National Book Award for Poetry, and a Lannan Literary Award for lifetime achievement. 

 https://maryoliver.com/

https://maryoliver.beacon.org/

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-oliver

https://www.best-poems.net/mary_oliver/index.html

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/mary_oliver/poems

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/27/what-mary-olivers-critics-dont-understand

[ladyoutlier]

A Demon’s Demons

In which Hell reunites Crowley with his Falling pains.

[Read on AO3] | [Read My Other Fics]

Prologue

In the deepest pits of Hell, below the torture cells and the mail room, existed a hallway that had been forgotten for longer than the Earth’s existence. Back when Hell lacked design and it was only a plane of fire and brimstone, this hallway was one of the first structures the Fallen created through their agonizing pain and scorched beings. As their wings burned and their chests collapsed with hollowness from their lack of Grace, the hallway came into existence as a way for them to rid themselves of the pain. They could hardly stand as a threat to Heaven when so horribly crippled from their Fall.

So the hallway became endless and gained many rooms that branched from it—one for each of the Fallen. And in these rooms, each newly born demon ripped themselves apart, tearing their Sins from their being. The Fall became a memory, moving into the past rather than living with them in every second of the present. The pain was gone, and the Fallen could live again.

Their Sins remained in their rooms behind doors with a thousand locks that were boarded up with a hundred planks. Left to the depths of Hell to be forgotten as the place of horror built on top of it for the next six thousand years. However, it was not gone. It merely continued to stir below the floorboards, waiting for someone to return. And after the End of the World was thwarted, someone who had never quite forgotten the hallway did return.

The hallway was dark and dusty but far from silent as Lord Beelzebub, accompanied by their right-hand demon Dagon, walked down it. Even through all the precautions, the doors rattled angrily as the Sins demanded to be freed. There were not a lot of things the Lord of Flies feared. Board meetings with Satan after particularly low months were one. A demon immune to holy water was another. And the Sins of a past better left forgotten were the most feared of all.

Still, one does not rise to Beelzebub’s position without the ability to press on in the face of fear, and so they walked on, footsteps echoing down the hallway barely audible above the smashing and banging of an army of Fallen’s Sins. The way forward and the way back were both consumed by darkness as the light flickered ominously above the two demons as they walked. Unlike the Sins, the dark didn’t trouble them. Those of Hell were all too familiar with it.

Beelzebub stopped before a door and gestured to it. “This izz the one.”

Dagon, Lord of the Files, looked to the door. A glowing signature that rather resembled a cursive letter ‘J’ burned above it. The door shook, and the chains barring it shut rattled. Dust puffed from the door’s seams as the Sins slammed against it from the other side.

“Shall I open it?” Dagon asked. “There’ll be no getting them back in there once it’s opened.”

“We may not be able to destroy Crowley, but that doesn’t mean we have to do him any favorzzz. If he wishes to live on Earth, let Earth have all of him.”

Dagon nodded and produced a crowbar. Board after board began to fall, clattering to the ground in a racket that was still drowned out by the noise of all the Sins. As the barricade weakened, the Sins behind the exiled demon’s door grew increasingly aggressive, pounding harder and more frequently. An eternity of waiting was coming to an end.

As the last board fell, Dagon’s crowbar became a key, and the locks and chains began to clatter to the concrete as well. There were still about ten locks on the door when the Sins busted it open. The dark spirits they embodied soared out from the crypt of a room in a frenzy. 

The hallway, although it was as deep in Hell as it could get, froze over. Screaming far too high pitched to be heard brought a chill to the hallway’s only occupants. Not from the cold, but rather from the distress of the Sins. They were only held together by the knowledge that those particular Sins tearing about were not their own.

As the Sins fully grasped their newfound freedom, they gained direction and skyrocketed down the hall, eager to return to the being they haven’t seen since the Fall. He wouldn’t be hard to find. Long ago, they had been one after all.

Dagon and Beelzebub were left in the hallway alone. Although the Sins of every other demon remained behind all the other doors, this one spot in the hall had become eerily quiet. Yet, without the presence of the Sins, both demons felt more at ease.

“It izzz done,” Beelzebub began. “For his sake, I hope the betrayal waz worth it.”

As the Sins piloted their way through every layer of Hell, the demons occupying them all felt a rather uncomfortable shiver down their spines. As one might imagine, this was hardly a normal occurrence. An uncomfortable demon was as much an oxymoron as a faithless priest. Something quite devious had occurred, and all the Fallen of Hell were glad they weren’t on the receiving end of it.

Only God could make an angel Fall from Heaven. To Fall from Hell, on the other hand, required a whole lot less divine intervention as Crowley was soon to find out.

*

Chapter 1: Sharing Secrets

Meanwhile on Earth, an angel and a demon that had chosen humanity over their respective head offices were taking a nice after-dinner stroll through Green Park to where the demon had left his Bentley. They had many conversations over the years stemming from humanity’s true nature to the brain mass of aquatic animals. On this particular day, they were talking about their favorite decade of human culture.

“‘Course the mid-1800s were your time, angel. You haven’t updated your wardrobe since then.” Crowley eyed Aziraphale’s outfit and smirked. “Me though? Big fan of the 1960s.”

“The youth did become rather rowdy during that time,” Aziraphale replied, tearing off a piece of a leftover dinner roll to throw to a duck crossing their path.

The warm summer air was beginning to cool for the year, and this evening was a prime example of that. Although something else entirely might have been bringing the chill to Green Park on this night. Something that was currently racing down Piccadilly as they spoke. Regardless, it was a beautiful, romantic evening, and many couples could be spotted sharing body heat on the sporadic benches along the walking path. 

Crowley very much wanted to share one of them with Aziraphale, but he shook that thought out of his head. There was one thing about the 1960s not at all related to human culture that he really didn’t like. One specific event in 1967 that keep him from moving too fast on those thoughts.

“Only you would describe the turf war between the mods and rockers with a term as mild as rowdy.” Crowley rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. “Oh, loved the chaos both sides brought about, although never could decide who had the most style.”

“Which side wore the suits? Found that to be a bit more charming than the leather jackets,” Aziraphale asked, wrapping the remainder of the roll in his handkerchief and tucking it into his pocket.

“The same side that rode scooters instead of motorbikes, so they lost any points they gained from attire there. I mean, really? Scooters? Who ever looked at one of those and thought that was the best way to get around?”

“Madame Tracy’s was a bit on the slow side. We would have straight up missed Armageddon had I not taken things into my own hands.”

“Exactly! The things have always been useless.”

“Seems like there were benefits to both sides then.”

“Why I never chose a side myself. Wanted the best of both—”

Crowley was harshly interrupted mid-sentence as a part of himself he abandoned over six thousand years ago finally caught up to him. He came to a complete standstill, and Aziraphale took a few more steps forward before looking back at him.

“Crowley, dear, are you alright?”

The demon stood petrified in place, mouth agape, as if he had just been shot through the neck which, in essence, he had been. He sputtered out a series of syllables which essentially translated into nothing before clutching his chest and falling to his knees.

Needless to say, Aziraphale panicked. His eyes went wide, and he ran up beside the demon and kneeled down to him. He clutched Crowley’s shoulder with one hand and his face with another. “Crowley, Crowley. Look at me! Oh, Heavens above. You have to tell me what’s wrong!”

The demon jittered rather irregularly. His sunglasses fell to the ground, revealing that his eyes were darting about in a similar fashion. Merely two words escaped his lips. “Holy fuck.”

Aziraphale gave up on holding Crowley’s shoulder, deciding instead to use his hands to cup Crowley’s face. “I’ve never seen you in such a state. Please, try to calm down. Take a breath. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on!”

“T—thought we all had forgotten about that.” A smile briefly flashed over Crowley’s face before falling back to distress. “I mean, I did. Until now that is.”

“You’re going to have to elaborate a bit more on that. Forgotten what?”

Crowley took a few breaths, slowly regaining his composure. The pain seemed to be subsiding.  He pulled Aziraphale’s hands off his face. “Not—not here. Let’ssss just get sssomewhere more private.”

A few onlookers began to crowd. One lady, looking to do more than gawk, came up to the two. 

“Is he alright?” she asked Aziraphale.

“Fine. Peachy.” Crowley answered for him. “Mind your own businesssss, lady. C’mon, angel, let’sss go before we attract a crowd.”

Aziraphale did not correct him that is was indeed just him that was gaining attention, and instead helped the demon to his feet. Crowley marched off in the direction he parked, and Aziraphale turned to apologize to the woman. However, neither did Crowley get that far or did Aziraphale get out his apology before the demon let out another garbled yell and fell back to the ground.

“Do you need me to call an ambulance?” The woman asked.

Crowley ignored her. “Aziraphale, just get us out of here.”

“But with all these people watching?”

“Who caresss? They’ll write it off as a group hallucination. I can’t—not here.”

Aziraphale blinked his eyes, coming back to grips with how dire the situation was with Crowley sprawled out in pain on the pavement. Yes, this called for quite the miracle despite how many witnesses were about. “Yes, alright. Very well.” 

He snapped his fingers, and both he and Crowley disappeared from Green Park and appeared back at the familiar Soho bookshop. The demon growled and pounded the floor with his fist. Aziraphale, once again, went to his side to aid him.

“Crowley, please tell me something. You’re worrying me sick!”

“Worrying you? That’s the issue? Want to swap placesss?”

“Gladly. If it would at all help you!”

Crowley was silent. He looked down to the floor, huffing out heavy breaths. Once again, he seemed to be at a pause in the pain. It was almost as if—

“Well, aren’t I lucky?” the demon sneered.

“What do you mean by that? You aren’t answering any of my questions, Crowley.”

“J—just stay here. Don’t go anywhere, okay? I’ll tell you.”

“Of course, dear. I don’t plan on leaving you alone when you’re in such a state.”

“Yeah, well, yeah,” Crowley fumbled. “Listen. To put it briefly, Hell’s reunited me with all my Sins, and it’s rather painful.”

Aziraphale straightened up. “Reunited? I didn’t know it was possible to separate.”

“Demons have been doing it since the beginning. Falling hardly felt like warm, summer days and cool breezes. Left most of us unable to do much of anything. So we lobbed off the part causing the pain and moved on.”

“I see…”

“And Hell just handed me a box full of the things on my desk, and my Sins were right on top.”

“Why are you not then…” Aziraphale gestured with his hand. “...crying out now like you were a moment ago?”

Crowley made a rather strange expression. He cocked his head, curled his upper lip, and squinted his eyes which were still certainly visible due to his sunglasses being left behind in the park. A dozen or so words formed from his mouth before he landed on one. “You.”

“Me? What about me?” Aziraphale became rather flustered. “How could I be influencing this at all.”

“You have an, uh, angelic aura. Whole Falling pains revolving around us, well, y’know, losing that.”

“Oh.” The angel’s eyebrows furrowed, and an introspective look took over his face. “So, quite literally, my presence comforts you.”

“Yeah, I guess you could put it like that.”

“In that case, I won’t leave your side until we get all this sorted.”

Crowley’s eyes widened, and he babbled for a moment before pulling himself back into a neutral, less readable appearance. “This isn’t going to be as easy as you think.”

“Well, I’m involved either way. If I’m going to stay next to you to keep you from being distressed, I might as well provide my assistance in any other way possible as well. We’re in this together. Our own side, remember?”

“Using my own words against me, huh?”

“It’s only what you would do.”

“And since when did you start acting like me?”

“Oh, 1601 after I lost a coin flip with you, I believe,” Aziraphale said with a smug grin which became more serious as he returned to the topic at hand. “What exactly are the difficulties here? You were separate from your, um, Sins before. Can you not separate again?”

“Few issues with that.” Crowley stood up, feeling like himself with Aziraphale near. “Nowhere to box up the Sins once they’re out, and we wouldn’t even get that far. It’s a messy process. Removing them, that is. Highly doubt this body would survive that, and unless Adam’s handing out more, I’d be shit out of luck considering Hell’s not going to be keen on giving me one. You know, since they put me in this situation.”

“I see how that makes this tricky.”

“Tricky. Yeah, just the word I’d use.” Crowley rolled his eyes.

“We’d have to find some sort of get around, or an alternative solution.” Aziraphale gestured for Crowley to follow him and began walking to his backroom. “If you didn’t experience the pain, there would be no reason to go through the separation process. As we’ve discovered, my aura neutralizes it, but if we could find a way to cancel it out without my presence being necessary, you could simply continue on as normal.”

Aziraphale paced about his backroom. In all sense, having this conversation here rather than in the storefront made no difference in terms of privacy. The shop had been most definitely closed while they were out for dinner. Rather, the angel simply had a better time thinking clearly in this room. It had been where Crowley had talked him into thwarting the Apocalypse, and it was where he had studied Agnes Nutter’s book. If an idea were to strike him, it would be here.

“Are you just pondering out loud, or is this leading somewhere?” Crowley asked, taking a seat. “‘Cause I have absolutely no clue how to do what you’re suggesting.”

“Well, you could atone for them.”

“Oh, no, no, no, no. Yeah, uh huh. Sorry, no.”

“It is how humans overcome their own sins.”

“Yeah, but not human, am I? And I’ll tell you, there was plenty of trying that right after the Fall.”

“Perhaps, that was too soon. The meaning wasn’t there yet.”

“Wasn’t there yet? Oh, if you were anyone else, you stupid bastard.”

“Crowley, please calm down. I didn’t mean any offense by it. I’m only trying to find a way to help you.”

“No. I’m not—I’m not having this conversation. About atonement. About the Fall. None of it.”

Crowley stood and made an effort to leave the room. He got about as far as the doorway before the distance became too great, and he found himself gripping the doorframe in agony. Aziraphale took his arm, and despite his best attempts to shake him off, the angel’s persistence won out and he was returned to the couch. They were both silent as Crowley slowly relaxed.

“I know this is beyond personal,” Aziraphale began. “It’s why I haven’t asked once in the six thousand years I’ve known you. I always thought that if you wanted to tell me, you would. But I’m afraid that’s a luxury neither of us can any longer afford due to our current predicament and this information’s relevance to it. I enjoy your company quite a lot, dear. However, I think we would both quickly tire of the companionship if we could never travel further than ten steps from one another. And I’m your friend, Crowley. After all we’ve been through, you can tell me anything. So please tell me, what did you do to Fall?”

Crowley continued to sit hunched over from his place on the couch, showing no signs of having heard anything Aziraphale just said. Of course, he had. He just wasn’t sure how to react yet. If he had ever thought this conversation would be happening, he would’ve straight up avoided Aziraphale that day in Eden and on every day after. But it was too late for that, and now here the angel was asking something of Crowley he had never intended to give. 

He would do anything for Aziraphale and had made a point to show it back in 1941. Crossing consecrated grounds to avert a mere discorporation was crazy, yet he would have done it a million times over. Actions were easy. Aziraphale was the focus. Questions were not. Which was really funny to him in a not at all funny way. 

What Aziraphale wanted was something Crowley had been keeping to himself since, well, forever. It was impossible to give, but impossible hardly mattered when Aziraphale was involved. It was impossible for an angel and a demon to be friends. Yet, Aziraphale had said it himself. They were friends. And perhaps that mattered a bit more than keeping secrets. So Crowley decided to share a conversation only God and him had heard before. 

“Look, angel, I really didn’t mean to Fall.” He broke his statue-like stillness to look to Aziraphale. “Really just found myself in a mess I couldn’t get out of.”

They were only a few words that hardly went into the specifics, but they still revealed quite a bit. More than Crowley had ever let anyone else know. That was for sure. For one, that he really wasn’t all that into the doom and gloom schtick Hell promoted. Of course, Aziraphale had already come to this conclusion many, many years ago. A demon could hardly show as much good as Crowley had over the centuries without coming across as a bit less than thrilled with their current employment. Still, this was delicate territory, and Aziraphale definitely recognized that.

“What kind of mess exactly? Would you be willing to tell me the story? Your version of it that is.”

Crowley looked up to the ceiling and bit the interior of his cheek. They were bad memories, and he’d much rather bury them in the back of his mind than share them to rot in Aziraphale’s instead. He didn’t want the angel’s pity or worse, his disappointment, but he had already decided to commit to this.

“Listen, before I tell you any of this, you have to remember that this was a different time,” he began. “Things like betrayal and hate and evil didn’t really exist yet. Wasn’t obvious like they are now. This is what made those things exist. So there’s good reason I didn’t see any of them coming.”

“I’m not going to judge you, Crowley.”

“You say that now.” The demon let out a sigh. “Really this whole mess of horrible events started with a chat with a soon-to-be Satan.”

[Chapter 2]

[welcome-my-sunflower-blog]

Until We Meet Again (i)

❥ Pairing: human!Hyunjin x demon!fem!reader

❥ Genre: romance, angst

❥ Warnings: mentions of some violence!

❥ Word Count: 2.7k

❥ Short Summary: 

Demons and angels aren’t supposed to be together at all; they are supposed to hate one another. But you and Hyunjin gravitated towards one another and fell in love anyways. Now the two of you were paying the price and the worst part of it is that now when you see him again... you can’t hug him... you can’t kiss him... you can’t be with him. It was still possible for those things to happen, however the only difference this time is that... he was human and he wasn’t in love with you.

❥ PART TWO | MASTERLIST

Why did it have to be you out of all people?

 You tightened your fists and gritted your teeth as you observed the brightly smiling human boy from below you. Even from the tall tree you were sitting in, you felt like you were too close to him. It was like he was just an arm’s lengths away and with just one leap you would be there again in those arms of his - but not this time. This time is different; a lot different. It was hard though because you were so used to having those arms wrapped around you.

 The only difference this time around was that he was sitting down there as a human and it wasn’t you laying your head on his lap this time. You observed the cute human girl giggling at him as the two of them were reading the same book for their literature class; she had these doe-like chocolate brown eyes that was filled with pureness and light and you were envious of them. You really wished that you were the one Hyunjin was looking at so lovingly and adoringly.

 Her name was Lee Haneul and she was Hyunjin’s best friend and the love of his life. She was a talented pianist who wanted to be a preschool teacher and her family was very well off. The two of them grew up living next to one another and were literally only a door away so it wasn’t a surprise that they were very close. She wasn’t your mission but you couldn’t help but feel curious about her; she was living your life after all. Haneul was in Hyunjin’s arms when it was supposed to be you and she had his heart… when it used to be you that had had it.

 Why him…? Is this my punishment for falling in love with him? Do you really want to hurt me that much?

 Cursing the Dark Lord that kept a secure hold on your contract with him, you just sighed heavily and punched the tree in frustration, making the autumn leaves fall off their branches. You watched as the leaves danced down towards the couple as if time had suddenly slowed down and saw the look they gave one another; Hyunjin gave a wholehearted, sincere laugh when a leaf landed on his girlfriend’s face and she had to bury her face in his shirt to hide her own laughter. You remembered when he used to smile and laugh like that with you and you have never missed it more than right then.

 “Your life really sucks, huh?” Changbin, your evil partner-in-crime, appeared on the tree branch above you and you looked up at him with a hard glare. He put his hands up in defense and made an apologetic expression. “Sorry. It’s been what… two years already? Did you really love that angel that much?”

 “He’s not an angel anymore.” You muttered and glanced down at the young couple who was getting up from the park bench to leave. Your heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly when you saw them holding hands; this was honestly the worst mission ever and you went through a lot that were hell. “You saw us together. You shouldn’t be asking me that.”

 “Yeah, yeah�� But still, it’s unbelievable. That’s twice in angel-demon history that an angel and a demon falls in love with one another. The first time was thousands of years ago and that couple got turned into stone. The second time was you two and everyone is surprised the Dark Lord and Holy Almighty were lenient on both of your punishments.”

 “I would rather get turned into stone than having to watch him love another girl and watching him get killed again and doing nothing about it.” Yes, that was your mission. The Dark Lord assigned you to look over Hyunjin in his human life (which you didn't know was him until you saw him) and to collect his soul when his time was up; Hyunjin was given an ill-fated life this time as well and he was going to die on his twenty-first birthday from getting stabbed by a thief. You were going to watch the whole thing, prohibited from interfering in his life and being there when his last breath was taken; that was going to be your eternal punishment that both superiors thought was fair.

 Meanwhile, Hyunjin’s punishment was to be stripped of his angel wings, give up all his memories as an angel and forced to reincarnate; because if the angel-demon romance rule wasn’t the biggest rule then it was the rule where neither could be romantically involved with humans. The two superiors didn't see the point of stoning you two and adding you two to the past couple so they decided to do this; make Hyunjin human and have you eventually watch him love and die after years of doing the Dark Lord’s dirty work.

 Even though it’s been twenty years later in the human world since the trial, to you it was only two years because time worked differently when you were doing paperwork and escorting souls down in the Underworld. Even though Hyunjin may have forgotten everything, you didn't and the pain was still as fresh as it was the day you two had to say your goodbyes.

 “What?? Man, I would want to do what you’re doing right now than get stoned. Your soul doesn’t ascend or descend anywhere. It’s just tied to the earth.” Changbin shuddered at the thought of getting turned into stone and shook his head.

 “You haven’t been in love before so you wouldn’t know what I’m feeling right now. When you find someone who makes you whole and alive more than anything in the world, you’d understand.” You stood up and got ready to follow Hyunjin and his girlfriend to the nearest cafe they went into.

 “I’m the Head Warden of the prisons in the Underworld. I don't need all that lovey-dovey shit.” He waved his hand with a disgruntled expression. “As long as I’m getting paid the big bucks and not sent to the slammers to rot away, I am a happy camper.”

 “Whatever. But I’m telling you, love will find you. It finds everyone and if it found me, one of the scariest and baddest demons, it’ll find you too. Trust me.” You rolled your eyes and the two of you teleported to the alleyway of the cafe before switching into your ‘human’ form. Changbin scoffed at your outfit and you hit his arm.

 “Ouch! You didn't have to hit me that hard!”

 “Well you shouldn’t have laughed so hard. What’s so bad about this anyways? I think it’s cute.”

 “Yeah, I would’ve never pictured one of the ‘scariest and baddest demon’ to be wearing pink.” He snickered at your oversized rosey sweater with black leggings and brown boots; it was getting close to winter and the chilly weather was coming fast. You were not going to change into jean shorts and a plain, thin t-shirt.

 “It’s not pink, it’s rose. Let’s just go in already. My human form is sensitive to the cold.” You shivered and suddenly felt your nose starting to feel the chilly breeze nipping it.

 “My human form is sensitive to the cold,” Changbin mocked you and you hit him one more time, but harder, and he cried out in pain while you entered the cafe first. “-ouch! You’re gonna pay for that!”

 You and Changbin were seated at an empty booth just near the one Hyunjin was sitting in and while you were too busy watching him and his girlfriend, your partner ordered the two of you lattes and a slice of your favorite cake to ease your mood. He glanced between Hyunjin and you before sighing and shaking his head; this was why he didn't want to get involved with romance.

 “There’s four months left until he dies. Are you just gonna follow him everywhere and watch him?” The black-haired demon started messing with the napkins in boredom; even though he knew how much this mission impacted you, it didn't really do much for him since they were barely doing anything.

 “Yup.”

 “That’s so boring! Why don't we go beat up some bad guys or something?” Changbin groaned and you glared at him in annoyance before taking the napkin dispenser from him. “Hey!”

 “Stop messing with it! And no. We’re not going to do anything to give ourselves away.” You placed it away from him and he just leaned back with a groan. “If you’re so bored, just leave. I can do this by myself.”

 “Y/N, you’re just going to hurt yourself even more. What are you even supposed to be looking after him for anyways? He’s gonna die soon.”

 “You are an idiot if you forgot that not all demons signed a contract to be the Dark Lord’s slaves and not all angels serve the Holy Almighty.” You had noticed some demons and fallen angels in the cafe in disguised as humans when you entered but you didn't know what they were after so you didn't want to say anything yet until you found out; the fact that they were in the same cafe as Hyunjin was enough to put you on edge.

 “I did notice there was more of them than usual in here…” Changbin just scanned their surroundings and saw that it was weird that they would gather in the same cafe that Hyunjin was in. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence.”

 “I don't think so. Damn it.” You cursed under your breath when Hyunjin’s girlfriend got up to use the restroom and a couple demons followed her into the hallway. “Go follow them.”

 “What? Why me?”

 “My mission is Hyunjin, not her.”

 “Well what the hell am I supposed to do? I can’t just interfere in a human’s life. Only when they’re dying!” Changbin scowled and you gave him a nudge on the leg. “I’m not going!”

 “Changbin. Please.” You sighed and begged him, making the black-haired demon groan in frustration. “I owe you.”

 “Hell yeah you do. Damn it, Y/N. I thought we weren’t going to do anything to give ourselves away.” He grumbled under his breath as he got up to follow the three demons that went after Haneul. You kept your eyes on Hyunjin as he was just scrolling through his phone before a waitress brought over an extra cup of coffee for him. He looked up at her confused, saying that he didn't order another cup and she just smiled and said that it was bottomless.

 When she past by you, you immediately saw the silver glimmer in her eyes and a smirk grow on her face. You scowled and saw her saying something to one of the fallen angels sitting in the corner booth and eyed the cup of steaming hot coffee. With a wiggle of a finger, you got rid of the charm that she put on the coffee and saw something purple coming from the cup.

 Oh hell no.

 Hyunjin picked up the cup while eyeing his phone and you started to panic, not sure of what to do since you were forbidden from interacting with him. So you immediately went into demon form and stomped up to him, grabbing the cup away. Hyunjin’s eyes widened when his coffee was suddenly all over the ground and shards of the cup was scattered everywhere. The fallen angels that were watching saw the whole thing and they stood up in their real forms, giving you a hard glare that meant trouble.

 “If you do so much as to harm him in any way, I will personally escort your asses to the gates of hell myself… right after I rip off your wings.” You warned them and before they got closer, you snapped your finger and the five of you were teleported into the alley behind the cafe. “What do you want with that human?”

 “You mean your lover?” One of them chuckled in amusement. “We all know about your whole Romeo and Juliet story, Y/N. Everyone knows you betrayed your own kind and slept with an angel.”

 “Shut up.” You tightened your fists and your eyes glowed a bright golden color that made two of them step backwards in intimidation. “If you know who I am, then you must know what I’m famous for. I give the best treatment of torture and pain, so unless you don't want to experience it firsthand today, I suggest you tell me what you want.”

 “What do you think we want, huh? That human in there is a reincarnated angel. He is of our blood and the nemesis of demons. He’s ours to mess around with now that he’s in our territory and we’re going to enjoy seeing him get torn into pieces.”

 “He doesn’t remember anything! He’s a human now. He faced his punishment already! Just leave him alone… He doesn’t deserve this.” You could feel your blood boiling and the more you got angry, the darker the skies became. The fallen angels looked up to see why it was suddenly getting dark even though it was three in the afternoon and saw storm clouds moving in above them.

 “You think that’s going to scare us? A little cloud? You must not know what we are, Y/N. We’re fallen angels; we loathe and hate angels that serve under that almighty bastard up there. So we’re going to toy him around and break him, but we won’t kill him. That’s up to the demons living here.”  The same fallen angel shrugged.

 “... You think that’s all I’m capable of? I think you really don't know me at all.” You chuckled in amusement and lightning flashed in the sky before a loud roar of thunder shook the ground. The side of the cafe building cracked and that single crack split open until three huge shadow hounds appeared; saliva and blood dripped from their sharpened canines as their eyes glowed bright crimson. They approached your side and you just smirked. “Looks like my dogs just finished eating… but they always have room for an extra snack. Right boys?”

 They started snarling at the fallen angels who all took a couple steps back, knowing that they weren’t going to be fast enough to escape hell hounds and decided to just pull out their weapons to defend themselves instead. You watched the hounds circle around the fallens in a blink of an eye and walked around the bloody scene as screams started to fill up the alley.

 “Hey, I just took care of the demons and erased the memories of everyone else in there-what the hell?” Changbin hurried out of the cafe and his eyes widened at the gruesome scene while you just stared down at your shoes with a shrug. “What did you do?!”

 “They were threatening Hyunjin and my pride. Don't worry, they won’t die.” You sighed and snapped your finger again to stop the hounds. “Go home boys. That’s enough playing. You’ll get to see them again later if they behave. You guys actually make nice dog sitters. I’m impressed.”

The fallen angels just whimpered when the hounds gave them one more sniff and whined at you before going back into the portal with a sulk.

 “Now go run along and tell the others that if anyone lays a finger or tries to harm that human in there, I will personally visit them myself and turn them into a chew toy. Got it?”

 They quickly nodded and teleported away, leaving Changbin shaking his head at you.

 “What…?” You muttered with a frown.

 “You always have to resort to violence?”

 “Well what did you do then?”

 “I put them to sleep? Anyways we gotta get out of here before-”

 “Who the hell are you guys?” A voice suddenly made the both of you tensed up and freeze in your tracks. Changbin turned around and your eyes widened to see Hyunjin standing there with confused eyes. He looked at you and you felt your whole heart just drop into your stomach.

 “Did we forget to change into our demon form…?” Changbin whispered and you looked at his outfit and then yours before feeling your blood run cold.

 “...We’re in our demon form…”

 “...He can see us!?”

.

to be continued in part 2;

.

❥ A/N: okok i know i’m supposed to be finishing up heliotropism’s final part for the prologue... but i wanted to post some stories i wrote as well since i have a bunch of ideas stored away and waiting to be written! if you don’t know what i’m talking about, please check out my masterlist since it’s also another Stray Kids angel au! story! hopefully you guys like this! there is one more part to this! the pictures and gifs i used don’t belong to me and all the credit goes to their rightful owners who did a wonderful job making them! 

[thewolfisawake]

The Tales series if you haven't gotten it already

Favorite character:

Undeniably goes to Yuri and Velvet. What can I say? I’m into the dark-haired protagonists that ‘aren’t like the others.’ I can get onboard with why they come to the conclusions they do even if I don’t think it’s write. With Yuri, I admire the ability to do when others cannot. And can’t deny, he made me laugh the most with his sense of sarcasm and panache. Plus that voice...Troy Baker, they did you dirty. Meanwhile with Velvet I was like ‘yes, let’s be married in this quaint little town together’ in the beginning. She was just cute. Then it became attraction of ‘I don’t give a damn what happens to this world so long as I get what I want’ and ferocity. 

Least Favorite character:

Emeraude. Like what the fuck is your problem lady? You’re getting jealous of a child. Your feelings towards someone should be directed towards that person, not abusing some third-party that doesn’t even understand what you two have going on. 

Cumore. Fuck him too. For a side character that you don’t even really fight, he’s a real ass that his death was catharsis. Pure catharsis. There was no a single moment that he showed any redemption. He was a cruel bastard that held no regard for human life. He was willing to make excuses for anyone under him to get in trouble. He lied to people to enslave them and work them to death. He dragged people into the desert to look for an impossible item and left them without resources to die. Fuck him so much. He might’ve been cartoonishly evil compared to some not nice guys but those actions translate to atrocities. 

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):

Selfish Coexistence (Basically the Berseria Party) - Their relationships seem so hard to define to me as they all use each other for various reasons. They also seem to develop care through their selfishness and all of the either are like *shrug* guess we’re doing this now or ‘what is this I’m feeling?’ ‘emotions?’ ‘disgusting.’ There’s an understood protection amongst all of them and then a fierce rationalization for their action rather than saying ‘because I like you okay!’ They’re very smart yet they’re all dumbasses and I love them all.

Ludju - You know what’s better than one adorkable dumbass? Two adorkable dumbasses. I like Ludger and Jude’s relation better than any I have unlocked during the story. Jude by nature is very caring but it just is different with Ludger? Main thing I can note is that Jude touches Ludger a lot. Like a firm, ‘I’m right here’ shoulder touch. A nudge in the arm. Catching when about to faint. And I just don’t see Jude do the same with anyone in his party in either game.  I just find their interactions from the extra scenes are really cute.

 Velvet/Niko - “If you were a boy, I think I’d be in love.” Gurl she don’t have to be a boy to kiss fall in love. Shipping a Main Character with an NPC? Is it madness? Absolutely. But I had feelings about that from the very beginning. Like this could’ve been so fucking sweet. Could’ve had it all. And then the Advent happened. 

Alvin/Presa - Oh man. Ooooh man. This was just a curiosity on the way of Tale’s of Xillia’s path. Like it was a lady that lent to Alvin’s skeevy or ladykiller vibe he gave off. And it was like was she just a jilted one-time or something else? And the answer seemed like ‘something else’ but didn’t know what. It was a little ‘wonder how that went...’ Then you do Tales of Xillia 2 and I thought I was wrecked. Because it reframes so much of their interaction to a really sad relationship that fell apart because Alvin was a coward. 

Flynn/Yuri/Judith - Haha! Didn’t expect the end part of this one did you? I think everyone knew I liked Fluri. Like their dynamics are so interesting. But I really do enjoy Judy being involved. I’m really sad that Judy and Flynn don’t get much interaction even in the PS3 version but I don’t find it hard for them to get along. But I do usually see that more times it’s Flynn and Judy dating Yuri and their relationship changes over time.  They can scrap together, they can travel together, and not needing as much talking to get what anyone means. I find it hard to describe this one but I feel it. 

Character I find most attractive:

Yuri and Velvet are like the reflexive thoughts. But I actually really also like Jude and Judy. I mean look at this cute little nerd, he’s adorable! And then there’s hot elf lady that she could kick me in the face and I’d thank her. In general you can probably guess my type from those four.

Character I would marry:

Probably Yuri. I’m sorry that this is my answer to so many but he is like my type to a T and it’s just ruined so many standards for me. Like a funny guy that is good at cooking (and has a sweet tooth!) and can go venturing with? What else is there? I mean yeah there’s the hair and voice but that’s like given. But yeah, I’m a basic bitch with that.

Character I would be best friends with:

Eizen, if that’s a bit surprising. Sure he’s a bit of an edgelord but I feel like I’ve never left it so he’s already doing better than I. But I like the idea of sailing on the ship with him there, probably not gonna be able to let me struggle for that long. He’s funny with a dry sense of humor to me and also he’s a low-key nerd that knows a lot of things and likes finding new and interesting things. So yeah. 

And as much as I give shit about him, I actually think I would be friends with Sorey. He’s the kind of excitable that makes others excited and that’s kind of what I do. So we’d kind of excite each other. And so long as it’s not spelunking, I’m down for going exploring. 

a random thought:

What defenses occur with the end of blastia? Barriers were what repelled monsters from most of the inhabited areas in Terca Lumireis. Dahngrest and Zaphias look to have fortresses that can hold back most land beasts. But there are other places. What stops the monsters now? Will they go towards more mana based works? 

Also, someone also mentioned, does ANYONE know how to do medical work? Like actually patching up injuries? How to care for someone in sickness? Healing artes were what were used! They can’t use blastia anymore! What happens now?

Can there be a history of how things changed from Berseria to Zestiria? Mainly the shifting of how malevolence works from turning people to reflect their sinister nature to straight up monsters with no sense? How the Shepherd thing went to include the malak as much as it does. The change from malak to seraphim. Just...how did we geeeetttttt heeeerrreeeeee.

An unpopular opinion:

I fucking hate that I had to be told from other friends that actually could find the material or read the fucking wiki to understand the dynamics of the Kresnik family. Ludger has a LOT of fucking baggage that we don’t even get to hear anything about! Partially because he’s silent and partially because ‘oh he was young so he conveniently forgot?’ And a lot of it was important to the last half of the story! That’s bullshit! And even further bullshit is that there was no reason they couldn’t have found time to put it in the game but they chose not to. 

Tales can’t make a fun last level to save their lives. I haven’t enjoyed a single final level in any of the games I’ve played. I don’t mind doing puzzles for it but straight up spiraling branches full of dead ends is frustrating. ESPECIALLY FUCK XILLIA 2′s! Randomly generated based off those in the party and then you can’t even see when a path is not truly there so you can follow the path and then all of suddenly blank ground, meaning dead end you have back up and retrace another path. And then like Berseria’s made me feel nauseous from the ‘ethereal’ look it was going for. And just made it hard as fuck to see. And more of this awful tower climbing. I just...mmmmmmm, I will probably always enjoy the game until the final level exists. I swear.

My Canon OTP:

Uuuuuuhhhhhh I don’t think I have one. 

My Non-canon OTP:

Most protags x happiness?

Most Badass Character:

Don Whitehorse. He was like definition of like ‘stubborn old man’ but man was he cool. He was staunch in the honor of the guilds under his control and was proud of what he and other had built up with their own hands. Also you don’t often see a man willing to sacrifice his life to right a wrong done by his own. 

Most Epic Villain:

Gaius. Like me and my friend were like ‘what the fuck’ when we were co-oping Xillia together. Like this was a king that meant business! Mhm. .

Pairing I am not a fan of:

Most of the pairings are fine to me. 

Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another):

Sorey. I’m sure I’ve gone on this so many times but I really hated that they kept alluding to him having to make hard decisions but whenever one was brought to him, someone else took it for him. Like if his job is that important and it’s expected to make these choices, THEN LET HIM MAKE THEM. I was so angry over that. I spent the entire game waiting for when they’d do a major point where Sorey had no choice but to step up. 

Favourite Friendship:

Alvin & Elize - I really like how much they have both grown from each other. And how when Alvin broke her trust that he had to live with her mistrust and work to earn it back. Their friendship had uneasiness that seemed hopeful at the end of the first game and turned to just banter and teasing by the second. Growth baby, it’s wonderful.

Character I most identify with:

Mmmmm, probably Ludger. Look at all that debt. Can’t do nothing but cry over it.

Character I wish I could be:

Yeah, no. JRPG rules means everyone has some fucked up shit in their past or coming for them. I’m fine over here.

[huntertales]

Part Two: Go Directly to Purgatory, Do Not Pass Go. (Taxi Driver S08E19)

Episode Summary: Sam, Dean and the reader respond to a call from a terrified Kevin who claims to hear Crowley’s voice in his head. Also with the good news that he’s discovered the second trial from the tablet—rescue an innocent soul from hell. The reader has to team up with a reaper named Ajay to complete the task, meanwhile the boys get a visit from the angel Naomi. But when things go awry, Dean must find Benny and ask him for a huge favor. Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 6,176.

Previous Part | Supernatural Rewrite Masterlist

You vividly remembered hell. The torture inflicted upon you for the three and a half months you were down there. How time seemed to go by in an agonizing slow pace to the point where it felt like you were moving in slow motion. Each little act done to you by Alistair's tools was still clear in your mind. Every cut, every burn. Every fantasy and happy memory you harbored turned into a nightmare because of him. He turned you inside out and learned every little thing about you so he could use it against you. There was no secrets between him and his favorite pet. His little art project he was going to break and build up again into something better. You could have made it a lot easier if you just cooperated. He almost broke you with a little twist he thought was funny. 

Torture had been somethings human had done since the dawn of time, either to get information or just for the hell of it. The things that normal people would find sick to their stomach felt like child's play compared to what happened to you. That's why Crowley wanted you by his side after he pulled you out of the cage when he took control and set his eyes on finding purgatory. He needed someone who had experience in torture. You might not have had the hands on like Dean, but you had a few decades of trauma to help you out. Lucifer and Michael also gave you some creative ideas as well. You were tortured for a while in the cage. When they weren't too busy with Sam. It wasn’t long until the puppet became the master.

You tortured Alphas and their offspring to find out where purgatory was, the exact location Dean and Cas spent an entire year running and fighting for their lives, trying to find an escape. It was also where they met a vampire named Benny Lafitte and made a connection that was unorthodox. A monster and a hunter wouldn't have been friends in the real world. But the rules for how life used to be were bent when the three of them wanted freedom, and Benny showed them a way out. You only heard stories of this afterlife from Dean when he recalled the horrors he endured, and even then your mind tried to fill in the gaps of what it was like. Never in your life would have you figured you were going to experience it for yourself. 

There were a few misconceptions about what purgatory was; some religions thought the afterlife didn't exist, Catholics thought it was a place for sinners to go to "cleanse" their souls. It was an in between place for people who weren't good enough just yet to go to heaven, but they were rotten enough for hell. It was a place for God to put you and think about all the wrong you did and ask for His forgiveness, per se. Suffer for a short amount of time until you were squeaky clean in God's eyes and He let you upstairs to live in eternal bliss. While it did very much exist, it was no place for a human like you to be in. 

This was an afterlife created for every monster that stemmed back to the first born creatures created by Eve herself. Vampires, shapeshifters, everything you've ever hunted landed here. And even a thing or two you missed during your absence from your own life was crawling around here. Miles upon miles of nature for the creatures to roam free and for them to be at their most natural state. Violent and bloody. You remembered something about what Dean said about this place, how there was something...pure about this setting. There were no rules, no remorse about the things you did to survive. It was either kill or be killed. 

You didn't know how long you'd been walking through the woods, trying to be quiet as you could be to keep any unwanted attention off of you while following following Ajay's directions. Follow the stream where three trees meet as one. And behind the rocks was the portal to take you to hell. You kept your ears listening for any sound of rushing water, all while focusing on anything that jumped out of the ordinary. The biggest fear you had right now was getting lost in here. You didn't want to be roaming around in these parts of the afterlife in the first place. There was no way you were going to be staying past your welcome. 

Everything seemed somewhat quiet for the past hour while you kept walking through the woods. You held the demon knife at your side, waiting for anyone who wanted to pick a fight with you that would only end up with them being the loser. You found yourself wondering for a moment about what happened after the monster died here. Was it an endless loop of dying and coming back to life? Or was it just...nothing? Darkness. Emptiness. Nothing to look forward to. The thought made you feel uneasy at the concept. 

You were broken out of your concentration down the path you were talking when you heard a branch snap in the near distance, it sounded close. You felt your grip around the demon knife tighten as you suddenly stopped for a second to look around the woods, wondering if there was someone watching you. When you saw nothing but an endless miles of trees, you still didn't feel comfortable going forward. There was no woodland creatures here to crunch leaves and snap a twig. Something had to have made that noise, and you were right at what happened next.

Suddenly you felt yourself falling backwards onto the ground, the dead leaves cushioning your landing when you fell onto your back. You didn't have any time to react at the monster that seemed to have jumped out of nowhere, trying to kill you before you could. You fought with him for a few moments to get him off of you after you lost the knife. Somehow you found the strength to do so. You reached out a hand to try and grab the knife, but you found his weapon instead. Without even thinking, you grabbed it and swiftly beheaded him, making you the winner of the fight. You used what strength you had to push yourself back up to your feet, you had little time until someone came to try for a round two. 

You continued on walking through the woods until you finally came across the sight you were looking for; where three trees met as one along with some very heavy looking rocks. You inhaled a breath from what you had to do. There was a chance you could move the rock on your own and crawl your way inside, but you weren't strong as you were before you started doing the trials. Part of you was starting to regret having one of the boys tagged along to help you with this part. But you didn't think you were going to be taking a detour in purgatory, and despite the mishap a few miles back, you made it. There was no reason why you couldn't move this rock by yourself. You made your way over to the boulder that was at least a foot taller than you and started to use all the strength you had to start moving it slowly. You struggled for a bit before you stumbled backwards, the rock falling to the ground with a heavy thud. 

You stared into the dark abyss of the portal Ajay had told you about, the rabbit hole you needed to jump down in order to go to hell. You felt the ends of your lips stretch into a slight smile from how all of this was shaping out to be. This was getting more crazier with each passing trial you did, learning about things you would have never expected to exist. Rogue reapers and rabbit holes into hell. You grabbed the weapon you stole from the monster and stepped forward to the portal, letting yourself be sucked inside and transported to the one place you thought you'd never end up again. At least, not on these terms. 

Hell was a place you would remember if you ever got the chance to go back, not that you wanted to. It seemed Crowley was keeping up appearances when you crawled out from the space you landed yourself in after struggling through the darkness until you found a stone wall and pushed aside just enough space for you to squeeze yourself through. You felt the same sense of dread come over at the sight of this place. Endless hallways and corners for you to get yourself lost. You tucked your weapon underneath your arm and took off your locket, letting the heart pendent hang off a high edge as some sort of place marker for you to find the exit spot so you didn’t spend time trying to find it. 

The last time you were in hell you were trying to hold on to any scrap left in your humanity, this time your goal was to navigate this place to grab someone important and get yourself along with your unborn child to safety. Shouldn't be too hard. You adjusted the grip around the weapon and inhaled a deep breath, trying not to put too much thought into what you were about to do. Not only were you in hell again, you were about to see someone you didn't think you were ever going to be able to again. Under circumstances you wish you didn't have to lead to. But you wanted him in heaven, knowing you weren't dead. And his kids were having one themselves.

You made your way journey into hell, listening to the endless cries of tortured souls who damned themselves into this punishment from the actions they chose and for those who bartered their soul for something. You tried to keep an eye out for any demons that most likely were keeping an eye out for you, along with the souls who were locked away in their cages awaiting punishment. You tried your hardest to keep yourself from thinking about how you were in their exact same position, even if it was just for a short amount of time. You looked in every cage to see if you could find Bobby, only to see a few souls begging for help while another mumbled a name while you came across a young woman who thought you were someone else. 

“You came. I knew you would. I’ve been praying for it. Forever.” She said. You felt some sort of pity for her, thinking you were someone else who was going to take her out of this place. While you tried to tell her that, she didn’t seem to listen. She was a broken record. “You came. I knew you would. I’ve been praying for it. Forever.”

Her voice drowned out into the rest of the noises surrounding this part of hell, her pleads and screams fell on deaf ears. You wandered around for a bit more until you stumbled upon a small cell that had someone standing with their back to you, endless scratch marks on the walls. Tallies of how many days he'd been in here. You felt a smile began to creep across your face at the mere sight of him, dirty trucker hat and all. After all of this time, you found him. You reached for the rusty gate and slowly opened it up before stepping inside. All of this felt too good to be true. It had to be him. There was no way it wasn’t.

"Bobby?" You whispered the name of the man you'd traveled all the way here for, feeling a little bit excited to see the first reaction on his face of seeing you alive after all of the grief and pain you put him through. 

He turned around and faced the person who spoke his name in a familiar tone you thought he hadn't heard in so long. Your smile grew wider as you felt a rush of happiness cover over at what was about to happen. You thought this reunion was going to be heartwarming and filled with disbelief, but you were welcomed with a cold reaction. All of a sudden you felt a throbbing pain in your nose as you stumbled backwards, taking you a few seconds to realize the old man punched you. 

"Okay, ow." You muttered under your breath in a bit of an over dramatic effort at his first reaction seeing you after all this time. You pinched the bridge of your nose in fear he might have broken it and stop any bleeding. "Fine. I admit I sort of deserved that." 

"Get out of here, you black-eyed son of a bitch." Bobby ordered at you. You were taken aback at his behavior, making you wonder for a second if he thought you were the demon side you killed off with your bare hands to taunt him. Or you were one of Crowley’s goons dressed up as you.

"What? Bobby, it's me." You tried to tell him again to settle this debacle with the truth before he could hit you again. "Y/N. Alive and human. Remember?"

"Yeah. And I'm Elvis. Move your ass!" Bobby shouted at you, not even bothering to take a second and believe it was you who was trying to talk to him. You guessed your demon side would have went straight for the torture and left the game of charade for another time. But it seemed Bobby was led to believe you weren't who you say you were. You managed to speak his name in a pleading tone and attempted to tell him the reason why you were here, but he lost his patience and cut you off once again before you could. "Get!"

"It's me, you old bag of bones!" You accidentally snapped at him, finding yourself unable to take his attitude for another second. However, reality came crashing down on you when you realized you just raised your voice a little too loudly, knowing it might have been heard from one of the demons. You spoke up again, this time dropping your voice to prove yourself. "Okay, dammit. If it's not really Y/N...then how do I know about you Tori Spelling?"

Bobby's expression fell into confusion at what he heard. No demon had ever said that to him during his time here. And no amount of torture would have made the man spill such a deep secret of his. "What?"

"You're a fan. You told me when I caught you. We watched 'Tori and Dean' together when I was sick with the flu and the boys took that case by themselves. Oh, and what about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made Dean swear never to tell a living soul how it changed your life." You said, not hesitating for a second about repeating all of the secrets he had also told Dean when he was hit with a truth spell. You felt your smile creeping back when Bobby stared at you with awe. He spoke your name, wondering if it really was you. "No. I'm your fairy godmother."

Bobby didn't hesitate for a second in giving you the tightest hug he could manage. You let yourself enjoy the feeling of being in the embrace of a man who was the only proper father figure in your life. Who knew all of your deepest secrets as well, silly and darkest. He never laughed at you And he never judged. Bobby was also the person who you lost before the both of you could say goodbye. You stood there for a moment with your arms wrapped around his neck, trying your hardest not to let your emotions get the best of you. You squeezed him to make sure this was happening, a part of you didn't want to let go. But you did after a few moments to get going on with the reason why you were making a pit stop in hell to say more than hello.

"I'm sorry, Y/N, but you're the two hundredth Y/N I've seen today. That's how they screw with me. Just endless you and the boys, all wearing the same black eyes." Bobby told you about the personal hell he'd been experiencing while down here. While your expression fell into shock at the things he was going through, it took a moment for Bobby to figure out that the both of you were meeting once again the afterlife. His face fell in dread. "Wait a minute. What the hell are you doing here? Please don't tell me you've been stuck down here with me, too." 

"What? No, no, no. I'm good." You quickly shook your head, reassuring the older man you hadn't been neighbors with him this entire time. You let out a sigh when you realized this was the time where you needed to tell him the truth about what really happened, but you didn't have time to go into too much detail. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you. Very quickly. You see, I wasn't really...dead. I was alive the entire time you thought I was.” 

"What?" Bobby asked. If you thought he was lost before, he felt like the both of you were having two completely different conversations. "The hell are you talking about, kid? We saw you die with our own eyes. We burned your body."

"You didn't. You burned the body of the demon that she was possessing. I didn't die. I asked Cas to make me forget who I was for a little while. So I could live as someone else." You confessed the truth to Bobby, waiting for him to react the anger and grief you put him through. How he died thinking you had suffered through all that pain for nothing. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you. If I knew how things turned out, I would have never done it."

The small amount of silence that fell after you admitted what you had done, how you left Bobby thinking you were dead up until his last breath, made you feel guilty when you heard he was gone himself. You were expecting him to feel some sort of anger towards you for the grief you put him through. However, the both of you didn't have much time to get into things right now. You felt a smile of relief cross your lips when Bobby responded in a sarcastic tone of voice. "You came all the way here just to tell me?"

“No. I’m here to right some wrongs. I’m here to get you out.” You told him, pulling out the demon knife from the waistband of your jeans and handing it over to the hunter. “You don’t belong here, Bobby. And we’re getting you out.” 

Bobby moved his gaze down to make sure he was grabbing the wooden handle of the weapon from your grasp. In doing so, he noticed even in the shadowy darkness something was different from the last time he saw you. Something worth mentioning. “You go a little soft on that vacation of yours, kid?”

"What? Oh. Yeah. I should also probably have mentioned this.” You looked down to see he was staring at your stomach that was a little more rounder than he ever saw before. Your lips stretched into a smile at the bump you hadn't formally introduced him to yet. "By the way, I’m kind of...pregnant." 

+ + +

There always seemed not to be enough time in the day to accomplish much of anything, but these twenty four hours seemed to be going by grueling slow. The boys had been trying to keep themselves busy with keeping an extra eye out on Kevin, who had been more paranoid than usual. Both of them thought he was asleep in the closet after only coming out once for dinner. It was the only place he felt genuinely safe enough from the king of hell, who was supposedly in his head playing tricks. Whatever helped the kid from having a mental breakdown.

Dean hoped the smell of bacon grease would get Kevin from his hiding spot for some breakfast. He cooked with the same iron skillet the prophet had greeted all of you with, deciding to make better use of it. Sam occupied his time after making a stop into town for some food that was a bit more on the healthier side after going through the fridge to see it was looking a little scarce. The younger Winchester now examined the notes and scribbles Kevin taped around the boathouse to try and help him translate better. Sam tried to make sense of the gibberish, but the symbols were just that. Nothing helped make sense what God was trying to say. 

"Hey, Kevin! Come in here and grab some of these eggs." Dean called out to the prophet. He waited a moment to hear the heavy metal door's hinges squeak open and Kevin to pop out for a plate, but all Dean got was silence. "Kev! Come on man, you can't hide in there forever."

Sam decided to check up on the kid himself to see if he was sleeping, or spiraling downwards to the point of no return. Before he could do so, the main door to enter and leave the houseboat opened up unexpectedly. Both of the brothers were a bit surprised to see it was Kevin. “Where have you been? What about being scared?”

“I am scared.” Kevin said. Sam gave the kid a bit of a confused expression as to how he was contradicting himself with his words and actions. Just a handful of hours ago he was scared to step outside of the closet. But it seemed he was feeling confident enough to step outside. Maybe for the first time in months. “So I made a preemptive move.”

Neither one of the boys liked the sound of that. It was Dean who tried to figure out what the kid was talking about. “So...made a what now?”

“I can't sit here with the tablet like a... sitting duck and Crowley breathing down my ass.” Kevin told the boys his genius plan. He made his way to the table where he normally worked and shrugged off his jacket, throwing it to the nearest chair. “Getting rid of the tablet just takes off some of the pressure.” 

“Wait.” Sam stopped the kid from saying another word, trying to wrap his head around what he just said, hoping the words he just heard were lost in translation. “Getting rid of it?”

“Temporarily.” Kevin said. “I hid it.”

“What?” Dean questioned the prophet, his hardening glare following him as Kevin went back to his hiding spot. “Where?”

“If I tell you where, it's not hidden, is it?” Kevin had the audacity to give a sarcastic response back to the older Winchester. 

Dean found himself becoming overwhelmed with frustration at Kevin’s plan to keep a safe distance away from the king of hell for a little while. The prophet forgot the little detail about how delaying the plan to figure out the last trail would hurt the person doing them, you. The boys knew your body wasn’t handling itself well after doing the first one. And they didn’t want to know how you were going to be after this. If Kevin pushed this off longer than it needed to be, who knows how much more damage was going to take a toll on your body. 

“You know this is more than just about you, right? Y/N needs to finish these. Because if you couldn’t tell, she’s kind of pregnant!” Dean reminded the kid who was the one putting their neck out to do these trails and lock away the demon supposedly messing with his head. Kevin didn’t seem to care, which only fueled the older man’s anger “Kevin, tell me where the damn tablet is, or I swear to you—“ 

“Or you’ll what, Dean?” Kevin asked the man, not falling for the tough act he was trying to put on. “She made that choice to do this. Nobody asked me if I wanted to be a prophet and take on this crap. Just...leave me alone.”

Dean shouted the kid’s name one last time, finding himself contemplating on giving him a beating to try and knock some sense into him at how he was acting. But he never got the chance when the closet door shut with a heavy thud, leaving the brothers feeling defeated at what went down. Neither one of them wanted to break the news to you about Kevin’s plan of distancing himself from the tablet. You would eat the poor kid alive. Sam contemplated for a moment if he might be able to talk some sense into Kevin and get him to get the tablet. However, before he could do so, an unexpected guest popped out of nowhere. 

“Kids. So cute when they're little. Then they turn into teenagers, and the party's over.” The boys heard a female voice come out of nowhere, taking them by surprise. A woman stood just a handful of feet from them, greeting the hunters with a smile, as if showing she meant no harm. It didn’t take much process of elimination to know what she was. An angel. She began walking forward with her hand outstretched in front of her. “We haven't been formally introduced, boys. My name is Naomi.”

“Oh, we know who you are.” Dean told the angel, backing away from her to distance himself from the person who used his best friend like a puppet. “And I know what you did to Cas after he got out of Purgatory.”

“After I rescued him from Purgatory, you mean, at the cost of many angels' lives.” Naomi corrected the man to how she saw things. She retracted her hand, dropping it back down to her side at their hostile behavior towards her, which she should have seen coming from how she popped in here unannounced like this. 

“You screwed with his head and had him spy on us.” Sam said, knowing well enough himself about what she did to the angel for her own benefit.  

“Well, it is true that I have spoken with Castiel many times, trying to reach out to him, trying to help him.” Naomi defended her actions against the two hunters who only saw one side of the story. Who didn’t want to believe Castiel wasn’t what he used to be. And was in of help from his siblings. “Boys, you must have noticed how Purgatory changed him. I mean, he's been unstable in the past, but I was shocked at how damaged he is now.”

“Stop, okay? Don't try to spin this.” Dean told the angel, not wanting to hear any sort of lie to make this seem okay. It might have worked on Cas, but there was no way he was going to put his guard down for an angel. “You think I don't know that you told him to try and kill me?”

“Hmm. Yeah, I suppose that is how he would hear it. When I learned of the angel tablet, I did tell Castiel to get it at any cost. That's my job—to protect heaven. I'm a warrior, just as you are. What would you expect?” Naomi told the truth to the boys, hoping they would understand the drastic measures she put herself and the angel the both of them cared for in a position like this. “And now Castiel is in the wind with a hydrogen bomb in his pocket, and I—I'm scared, for all of us.”

“Save it.” Dean cut off the woman before she could continue on with this little act she was putting on. “See, we don’t trust angels, which means I don't trust you.”

“And yet you haven't warded this place against us. I know. You're hoping Castiel will return to you. I admire your loyalty. I only wish he felt the same way.” Naomi said. Both of the boys felt the words hit them, knowing there was truth in them they didn’t want to believe. Cas was out there in the world, thinking it was better to be on his own. And not back to the people who were his friends. “I know you don't want to believe it, boys, but we're on the same side—shutting the Gates of Hell, bringing Castiel in from the cold. Take a moment. Think about what I've said.”

Naomi was about to leave the brothers with her parting words, hoping it might be of use to stop them from giving her the cold shoulder. However, before she left, there was one bit of information left Naomi wanted to tell them. Something they would surely love to hear. “Oh. I know you've been doing business with Ajay. He did mention, didn't he, that his way into Hell is through Purgatory?“

The words that came out of the angel's mouths were ones that neither one of the boys expected to hear. All of you were lead to believe Ajay could sneak you straight into hell and back with Bobby's soul. But the devil was in the details. In order to smuggle a human into hell there were certain paths that needed to be gone down. Dean felt his stomach drop. The idea of you going to hell in your condition filled him with anxious thoughts. But to hear you were in that wasteland by yourself...his mind flashed back to the time he spent there, fighting and running for his life. 

"Purgatory severely damaged Castiel. I can only imagine what kind of psychological scars it left you, Dean. At least you had someone with you there to help you when things got tough.” Naomi said. “But to know Y/N is roaming around there all by her lonesome? I can only wonder how helpless she might be feeling at the moment. It’s no place for a human. Especially someone in her condition.” 

"Y/N is a lot of things," Sam jumped to your defense from the way Naomi was speaking about you. "But helpless is not one of them."  

"Yes, well, we all like to believe the people we deeply care for are capable of taking care of themselves. But it never hurts to have more people in your corner. I want Y/N to complete these trials as much as you do." Naomi told the boys, wanting to make one thing clear. Her support came with a price, she told them the truth about the risky chances they were taking to do these trials on their own. "Food for thought. We can be of help to each other."

Naomi left with her parting words for the Winchesters to think about, the only thing left to be heard was the sound of fluttering winds to signify her departure. The brothers slowly looked over at one another after a moment passed and the reality came crashing down on them. Kevin ditched the tablet and you had to travel to purgatory in order to go to hell. If things didn't seem bad before, they were spiraling downwards faster than the boys could figure out how to stop it.

+ + +

"What in the hell were you thinking? Doing something stupid like this?"

You thought the thing Bobby was going to be angry most of all was telling him the truth about how your death was really a sham and you were living a normal life under a secret identity. But no What was making him lecture you on how much of an "idjit" you were was the fact that you were five months pregnant and roaming around the halls of hell in an attempt to rescue him from this afterlife. You tried to explain to him that all of this was the second trial in closing up hell for good. You barely managed to get that out along with a few words before he was back at it again. 

If the situation was different and he was still alive, you would have found him annoying like the boys when they showed their concerns. However seeing Bobby like this felt oddly comforting in a way that it reminded you of the old days. Of course he knew Dean was the father, which lead to him being dragged about how much of an idiot he was himself for letting something like this happen. You told him he was very much against all of this in the first place, but you weren't the type of person who liked to listen. You felt yourself chuckle slightly at how Bobby muttered your kid was going to be one stubborn handful. 

"Well, their grandfather isn't any better." You looked over your shoulder when you mentioned the title you saw Bobby as, your lips stretching into a smirk. Even if he was moving into somewhere better, you would always think of him as your father. Bobby's expression softened slightly at what you said. While you passed the corner after hearing the same girl before say her repetitive speech, you suddenly found yourself being pulled back into reality that you were in hell. And this place was crawling with demons. "Get back. Get back, get back.”

You warned Bobby about the demon you caught sight of just several yards away from you and approaching. You pressed your backside against the wall and tightened your grip around your weapon, waiting for the right moment to charge at him when he turned the corner. Right when you saw the demon come into your vision, that’s when you raced forward, attempting to try and kill him before he could do so. You weren’t strong as you thought, the demon managed to grab ahold of your arm wielding the weapon and throw you against the wall. But before he could do anything, Bobby stabbed him with the demon knife, killing him instantly. 

There was never just one demon roaming around these parts. Bobby had mere seconds until another one came charging forward, attempting to punch him, the old man was faster. He managed to stab the demon and throw his dead body to the ground. In the midst of all the chaos, Bobby found himself being confronted with his own hell Crowley had tailored just for him. 

“Let’s go!” You ordered at him. “We gotta get out of here!”

"Bobby, they're messing with you." You said, pointing to your doppelganger.

"Don't listen to her." You told him. "She's not real." 

"Bobby, get away from her!" You shouted at him, losing your patience at this cheap trick. It seemed your annoyance had gotten through to the old man to figure out it was really you he was to trust and not some demon Crowley made to look like you. Without thinking, Bobby attacked the one on his left, proving that it was the demon all along. You still felt a bit hesitant about how wrong all of this could have gone. "You knew somehow, right?"

“Took a chance.” Bobby admitted. You gave him a look of disbelief at the words that came right out of his mouth, after he told you about how you needed to be safe. "Fifty-fifty." 

You rolled your eyes, telling him to get his ass moving before the both of you had company. You managed to find your way back to the spot you entered from, spotting your necklace hanging off the ledge you placed it on. This was where you and Bobby made your departure from hell and to your next destination. You grabbed your necklace and told him to follow you towards the hidden exit. This was where things got even more complicated. 

Down the rabbit hole once more and spit back out, you found yourself standing in the familiar scenery of the forest with trees as tall as the sky reached and dead leaves at your feet. You were in one piece and back at the bolder with Bobby. You took a moment to put your necklace back on while Bobby looked around the scenery. wondering why it looked so odd. The man might not have been on earth for almost two years now, but he knew if he was back. This wasn't that place, it felt different from anything he ever been to. 

“What the hell is this?” Bobby asked.

“All right, don't get all pissed off." You warned the man, knowing what you were about to say was going to upset him much as it did when you figured it out from Ajay. "Purgatory." 

Bobby, in his true fashion that you missed dearly, reacted in one way you knew he was going to after the bad news you told him. “Balls!” 

[Next Part]

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[brightlilies-a]

fourfold flames.

   “there are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”               - edith wharton.

                                                                --- --- ---

   the orange glow flickers as it waves across the faces and bodies that surround it. a perfect centerpiece, and yet no eyes linger upon it, each of the outside circle looking to the children dancing on the inside, and each dancer looking to each other, caught up in the rhythm. light music floats on the air, played on lyres and pan flutes and improvised drums and the susurrus of idle conversation. overhead, menphina watches over her children, and whispers soft words through the leaves, that they may somehow reach their ears.

   a pair of amber gazes rest upon the smallest of the troupe, watching every rise and fall of the red and white colored crown with solemn expressions. albi’a shifts slowly to face his mother, and, noting her intensity, turns back to the campfire. crackle, fizzle, snap.  

   “i want bibi ta grow up happy.” there were only a few things he agreed upon with his mother anymore, now that he was older. before, it was easier to ignore all the problems, how utterly dysfunctional their lives had become in exchange for some semblance of togetherness and tradition that would otherwise fall apart at a moment’s notice. but, when it came to the beaming, giggling child who was still enamored with this horrid, cruel world, the two of them could set aside their differences… to an extent.

   “and you think i don’t?” she scoffs, refusing to even glance his way.

   that’s just like her. his eyes roll up and down as he shifts to plant the palms of his hands on the ground behind him, taking a more leisurely approach. “i think ye know he won’t be happy here. kahli’s too tough on him.”

   “just because you hate it doesn’t mean he will.” narrowed eyes glare at her following that, with a click of his tongue announcing his more immediate distaste. they could just dismiss it all as simply tradition, when they weren’t the ones who dealt with the scorn and biting remarks night-in and night-out. heaving a sigh, though, he straightens his posture, and raises a lackadaisical palm——getting mad wouldn’t get him anywhere, and worse, it’d likely drag the kit still skipping about the fire over in a fretful fit.

   no, another tactic would be better for proving his point.

   “ye really think he’ll take ta bein’ a wanderer all by his lonesome, ma? he cries if we ask him ta jus’ watch camp by himself. he’s too soft.” 

   finally deigning to grace him with her attention, aged amber shifts to her left, countering him with a calm flick of her tail, “and do you really think that becoming an adventurer is better-suited for him if he’s so kind? it’s just as dangerous, if not more.”

   “i think he’ll take ta helpin’ people. he likes ‘em plenty,” proudly relaxing, his lips tug into a smirk, “even if he prolly shouldn’t.”

   the matron huffs, folding her arms against her breast, “that’s because he’s mimicking you!”

   “then i’ll just become an adventurer so he’ll mimic that, too—” his teasing is cut short by a giggling shadow casting itself over the pair with its large, red ears standing tall and attentive compared to the rest of his diminutive stature. blue and orange peek out from beneath messy white bangs, wide and wondering and filled to the brim with twinkling pride as the child hovers, swaying this way and that.

   “bi’a!! mama!! didja see me?” the innocent voice beckoning them pulls them away from the moment prior, as their gazes soften and the frustration melts away. his mother is the first between them to speak, earnestly reaching up to tug upon the child’s freckled cheeks while taking a saccharine tone.

   “—of course, my bibi boy! you were so cute, dancing like your sisters!” 

   yer lying, albi’a thinks to himself, because ye only saw as much as i did.

   “don’t encourage him, he’s a boy.” unable to get a word in before a cold, harsh voice called from the group of girls near the fire, albi’a’s expression sours at his sister, if only momentarily.

   “stop being mean ta him, sis! yer jus’ jealous he’s better ‘an you are!” albi’a retorts back, letting his shite-eating grin grow as large as it could.

   “—i’m not jealous of him!” their elder sister huffs and stomps, with her red braids lifting as she turns away from the scene. unlike the two elder keepers willing to leave things at that, however, albi’to’s lips tug into a frown. a moment later, his red moccasins hit the ground, and soon after he takes his sister’s arm into his hold, quite stubbornly refusing to let go amid her attempts to wave him off.

   “i’ll teach ye, matar! it must be really hard ta move well, since ye have yer nose in books all day!”

   “get off me! your steps are clumsier than mine are!”

   looking to his mother’s face, albi’a finds himself staring at the lines, the cuts that didn’t heal right, the melancholy her expression always seemed to bear. he’d known, always, why bi’to was the favorite child——even if she tried to say there were no favorites. it came easier to like him. he wasn’t damaged; he hadn’t watched his father die. he and matar, on the other hand, grew up before their tenth namedays, while bi’to was still a child that saw the world in kinder lights than they. and what a treasure it was, what a thing to want to protect. how unrealistic; how horrible it would be for him later.

   “i don’t want him to be an adventurer, bi’a.” she speaks suddenly and he flinches, slack-jawed and blank of mind. he takes a moment, and newly recomposed, calmly retorts back,

   “yer fine with me wantin’ ta be one.”

   but she expects this, red crown shaking back and forth slowly. even as she takes her loose braid into her hands, laying it to rest over her shoulder and running her fingers over the flow of her hair, however, her eyes refuse to leave the child now tugging his elder sister around, speaking in excitable gibberish that would only make sense to he and his, “because it suits you. you’ve always wanted more than this life, but he… all that bibi wants is this. laughter and smiles and togetherness.”

   “it’ll get taken away from him when he’s an adult.”

   “maybe things will be different by then.”

   is that how it is? pray it changes fer his sake? the young man sighs, running a hand through his patches of red and white hair, tousling it for good measure. what a nice dream that would be, if it could be true. “hundreds a years o’ traditions won’t change in a few moons, ma.”

                                                                 --- --- ---

   after horrible things happen, the land grows quiet, as if also in mourning.

   holding his own makeshift skewer over the flame, albi’to watches the silhouette of the rat they’d found some malms back turn over and over, its lanky, skinned body little more than a weird tumor upon the branch. it wasn’t much by comparison. the twins had received dodo fledglings that hadn’t escaped the initial blaze for their help in the scavenging, pahje was happily licking her lips as she turned over her round of piglet, which had been otherwise split between kahli, his sister and his mother. and meanwhile, despite being the one who had found the piglet squealing in a bush and had put it out of its misery, he sat, staring at a rat.

   there wasn’t much meat on rodents, and even less given how much of it was taken by the fire that had killed it. but kahli’s decisions were final, and so the burdens were given the smallest amount. that was what she had started calling him since the lesser moon fell: a burden. he didn’t give it much thought——thinking about things was how one got upset about them, and it wouldn’t change anything even if he did. nobody talked back to kahli. kahli was the one who led the tribe. kahli’s decisions were final.

   even so, the crackle of the fire was one of the few sounds he could properly make out against the oppressive silence. occasionally, something would snap! or combust a little too quickly, a little too loudly, with such a suddenness against the pall of death that it startled the whole of their group, and it would take some few minutes before they all calmly sat once more. the earth was still; the smoke was somewhere to the north now; nobody, no animals, nothing passed them by this night. how strange, he muses silently as his gaze drifts upward, past the branches and leaves to the starry sky above, to see the night again, when just a few nights ago that unending crimson from the lover’s hound was all they knew.

   “we should celebrate,” he breaks the silence, raising his gaze from his poor excuse for a meal and the dancing flame to the people that encircled it, “since we’re alive.”

   he’s met with an uneasy silence and six pairs of eyes boring into his face, some losing interest quicker than others. after a few seconds, most of them had returned to their anxiety and disquieted thoughts, but a warm, gentle voice humors him quietly, “celebrate how, bibi?”

   his mother shifts, standing and shuffling to sit beside him with her pork skewer in hand. her shoulder nudges his in that encouraging way, as her crown dips to catch his gaze——as if he were only a few summers old and hiding secrets too big to hold. she continues to nudge and prod, with her elbow and the back of her hand and a few more times with her shoulder until his lips tug into a smile and he laughs. batting her away softly, he shakes his head, catching the bit of courage he had before it would fly away, like an ember up into the sky, and exhales.

   “we could…” cheeks bubble as his voice trails——he hadn’t thought that far. so he simmers in contemplation, focusing his attention on the firepit as he stomps in place, waiting for inspiration to come. what could they do, after all, with no food and only a fire? just a fire… but all they needed was a flame! “dance around the fire an’ send our thanks ta menphina fer protectin’ us! it’d be like old—”

   “as soon as we finish eating, we sleep.” opposite him, the silver haired chieftain stares him down, sharpened gold unwilling to budge. her voice, cold, dry, hollow, brings back the silence in an instant, and a chill runs back up his spine.

   “but—” the word has left before he realizes, but even that is cut short.

   “we will sleep through the night as most stragglers will pass through the day. if they find us, they’ll steal what we have and kill us for scavengers.” kahli succinctly lifts her skewer from the flame, blowing at the steaming meat as she gestures to the girl beside her with a nod, “pahje will take the first watch.”

   she wasn’t incorrect. few of the remaining survivors in the wood would travel by night, given the complexities of the paths prior to the devastation, and among them would be scavengers and bandits more than willing to take up the opportunity for easy pickings. but her honesty pulls his lips taut and sets a weight on his chest. pahje, however, the spitting image of her mother, looked more akin to a giggling jackal as she watched him through the fire——probably some secret between them, as there always was.

   “i can help her with that—” albi offers in spite of whatever had his tribal sister in stitches, but finds the pattern follows true. speaking only led to being silenced; male keepers were to be neither seen nor heard.

   “we don’t need a burden keeping watch.”

   a moment passes, and his mother’s hand lands comfortingly upon his own, fingers squeezing his. spitefully, though, the boy lifts his rat skewer to his lips, digging fang and teeth into the scalding hot flesh before ripping away. it hurt, it burned, it was way too hot going down and brought tears to his eyes as the pain sank in, but it’d stay his tongue. and that was all he needed.

   “kahli, you’re being too harsh—” with a sigh, his mother shakes her head in earnest defeat. she pauses, however, and after wrapping an arm about her son’s shoulder, squeezes him snugly against her side. “... you can sleep near me tonight, okay? i’ll feel better having you within reach, just in case.”

                                                                   --- --- ---

   there was no chimney in the renovated storehouse they called their home. in the middle of winter, the pair of keepers were wont to carve out a section of the floor, marked with gathered stones, and built small campfires to heat the cold air that now blew in from coerthas to the north. during those months, mother and son slept in the same bed in the room with the fire, buried under layers of ratty blankets, listening to the embers as they burned themselves out. tonight, though, the matron sits up, running her fingers through her slumbering child’s red locks, smiling wryly in the dark.

   “you’re not happy here, are you?” her hand comes to a slow, expression tightening as she shakes her head, “you’d lie, though. some awful lie with that sad smile he taught you.”

   the light from the fire flickers dimly, the small flame’s shadow dancing proudly upon the wall. outside the window, she catches the sound of strong winds blustering against the cabin walls, and instinctively reaches to pull one of the blankets more snugly over him, “you know… if we were still out there, we wouldn’t be together anymore. i’d still be with your sister and kahli and…” she pauses, flattening her lips, “you’d be… somewhere.”

   somewhere in the twelveswood, by himself, hunting game purely for company that would never want him for more than a few bells, never truly. perhaps they’d cross paths once if menphina blessed them, under the guise of scavenging in the same lands or chasing the same prey, but he’d never be able to stay. they’d say their hello’s, he’d lie horrible fibs to be pleasant, believing it wouldn’t worry her, and he’d disappear into the shade of night. was she so horrible, then, for thinking dalamud’s fall a blessing in disguise? so many people lost things, they lost things, but the young man clinging to his own tail was given a chance at finding joy in a life otherwise set up to disappoint him.

   “your brother was right, you know? you would never be happy with that life.” beginning to pry his fingers from the fabric of his tunic, the woman sighs, “maybe i’ve been holding onto you too tightly, though… people have a tendency to leave me, after all. your father, your brother… then your sister.”

   after tugging his arms apart and batting away the long-haired tail eating up needed space on this rather small, stained and torn mattress, she looks to his face, still calm, still asleep. how he ever slept so soundly was a miracle of its own, but it was a relief for nights like these. “you’re all i have left. my bibi, my precious bibi boy.” the three words that pull her lips into a delighted smile every time without fail, yet such elation quickly fades, “but i have to let you go now, don’t i? i knew one day i’d have to, but i didn’t think i’d have to give you a push to make you leave the nest, so it’s not that easy…”

   jumping as he shifts where he lays, she stifles the gasp that rises in her throat, exhaling a moment later when he settles again with a curse. twelve forfend, if he’s been listening...

   “give me a heart attack and i’ll leave you faster than you’ll leave me…!” with a scoff, the matron lowers herself into her spot and pulls the blankets over herself. she turns away to look at the fire, to watch the amber glow that reminded her of that life long gone, of shadows dancing around a fire, calling at her to watch them, to watch him. “he was wrong, though. all it took was a single moon, and everything’s different.”

                                                                   --- --- ---

   there’s something horrible about fire, albi’to thinks, when it rains from the sky. each rumble of the ground beneath them has him hesitate, has him second-guess when and where he is, because the smell of smoke and burning and panic and death never changes. the tightness in his chest from knowing a molten rock might come crashing down and steal him away to the lifestream never changes.

   it wasn’t intentional, because that would mean emet-selch cared enough to look into a shard of a person’s past, but damn did it cut deeply. that the glamour of the ascian’s most painful memory was so reminiscent of the seventh umbral calamity was a haunting, harrowing, horrible experience to both live and relive. it stole away his breath at times, forcing him to clutch his chest when his memory of the calamity bled over emet-selch’s, and he always brushed the looks that came his way off with unconvincing lies the scions wouldn’t press. the meteors that landed closer were the worst, the heat affronting him in gusts before the shards flew past, both real and unreal, painful and not. as they darted through the falling city, his gaze would occasionally linger on the faces and backs of his comrades, wondering if they felt the same.

   if they did, it likely wasn’t all that similar.

   none of them spoke of where they were when the lesser moon fell and the dreadwyrm rose. not many in eorzea did. mentions of the calamity came up every now and then, especially near the rising, but there was no pride in being a survivor to that nightmare. there was no winning in what happened that day, only loss.

   but it was a gut feeling of his that while he braved the land only malms from where one of dalamud’s fragments fell into the earth and set the land ablaze, that his companions in the scions watched the world irrevocably change from within walled venues. there was no shame in such, but it was a different experience. even among his friends, there were some chosen few he could think of that would’ve, based on the stories they exchanged, bore witness to the red sky from within eorzea.

   they were all experiencing walking through this hellscape, however. even if they felt no attachment to the simulacra running about, falling over, breaking apart, the carnage was real. the threat of death and the sight of loss was real. like an echo vision, specially tailored for those without the elder primal’s blessing.

   he brushes the soot off his arms, eyeing the portal of aether on the far side of the makeshift arena carefully. a dark, swirling vortex that was, like everything else in this liminal space, made for them to follow, made to guide them to the ascian himself. deeming themselves okay to proceed, the keeper’s ears twitch as their footfalls echo off the floor, and instinctively, he reaches out… and grabs nothing.

   “hold up,” pulling his closed fist back, he pauses, mulling over if he should speak——but he already had, so he might as well finish the thought, “we dunno what awaits us on the other side of that, so lemme say something.”

   silver-tongued words meet him just as quickly, and the teasing in thancred’s tone was only matched by the humored smile gracing his features. “i find it rather cliché to give a parting speech before what may be the final battle. friend.”

   “heh, maybe, but it ain’t a good-bye.” it was hard not to laugh as he shrugged, albeit airy and hoarse with all the soot and dust permeating the space, “... it’s a thank you.”

   “that might just be worse!”

   “then it’s worse, and i’m sayin’ it anyway.” a wag of his finger manages to quiet the hyur from any further complaints (a trick he’d picked up from her), and he tugs his lips into a gracious grin, looking to each of the scions softly, “thank ye, though, fer bein’ here fer me. i know minfilia was the one that wanted the scions ta be like family fer me, an’ she prolly said that ta any green recruit she got, but i really think of ye all that way. you, too, ryne.”

   pressing the tips of his fingers against his collarbone as he pauses to gather his thoughts, his chin dips, crown shaking subtly back and forth, “honestly, i didn’t think i’d get a family again after the calamity, but then, ‘fore i knew it, i did. the twelve blessed me with all o’ ye, so no matter what happens, i’ll always have yer backs, because ye guys have mine.”

   what greets him as he lifts his head, however, is a round of silence, as the group looks to one another with unreadable expressions. after a few seconds, all attention returns to face him, as if expecting something more——he hadn’t said anything wrong, had he? beginning to fear the worst, albi hurriedly goes back over his words in his head, trying to find the—

   “done yet?” alisaie chimes, smirking proudly.

   “h-huh?”

   urianger nods, continuing the charade, “tis no secret how highly you think of us.”

   “guys, come on…!” taken aback, the dancer’s expression widens with embarrassment, pink staining his freckled cheeks.

   “not that it isn’t pleasant to hear you say it every now and again.” y’shtola’s arms fold before her, humored visage tilting just for emphasis.

   in a last ditch effort for someone to not tease him so harshly, odd eyes plead with the elezen twin that’s so often stood at his side, that’s been characteristically quiet this entire time, “a-alphy, back me up…!”

   but given the smile playing upon his face, even alphinaud was caught up in the chance to catch the warrior of light off-guard, as he so pridefully chides, “personally, i could do with you mentioning it a little less.”

   even as his flustered face burns amid their amused giggling, however, albi cracks a smile and shakes his head. looking out at them, the group of scholars all brought together by a common cause that had welcomed him into their fold that day in thanalan, fills him with a comforting peace, a friendly reminder that all would be well, that all was how it should be. even if what awaited him on the other side was certain death, they had each other to defy the odds and face that future together with. and for now, they needed him to play his part, and so he would. 

   mustering the lingering hint of frustration before it might float away on the breeze, albi brushes past the group and jogs toward aetherial tear, calling out behind him, “f-fine! let’s move on then, if’n me sayin’ all that was really unnecessary…”

   the last thing he heard, though, before the flow pulled him in, was ryne’s concerned voice chasing after him, “aw, albi… i thought it was nice anyway…!”

[some-cookie-crumbz]

Hi! You're one of my favorite kidge blogs ❤️ I have a prompt request for some sweet Keith/kidgeling interactions! Only if you have the time though :3 Have a nice day!

Erhmahgerd, thank you so much!!! I’m so glad you enjoy my works! Consider this sweet little bit of fluff an apology for my last fic! x3

Pidge’s business trips away were an odd mix of stressful andinvigorating for Keith. Once upon a time, he disliked them because it meant he’dbe all alone in their home for an extended period of time. But as the yearswent by, they got married and started having children, it became a little lesslonely. He still missed having his wife around, which he felt was a given, butit was also nice to have some one-on-one time with their kids.

The week had been a bit chaotic between appointments and extra-curricularactivities, but he made sure that Friday night was all theirs. It worked outwell, as the dark foreboding clouds over the head made the kids more hesitantto leave the house after they got home from Amber’s fencing lesson. He’dordered pizza for dinner and played Uno. Well, Amber, Kaden, Newt and he hadplayed Uno. Ari, only two years old, hadn’t understood and simply enjoyedshouting Uno every time someone lost or gained a card. After the game, got theolder kids into their pajamas and put a movie on for them, then got Aria in thebath and tucked into bed. When he headed back out, the movie had ended and theboys had passed out hard. Amber, meanwhile, had changed the channel to a newsreport.

“Dad, what’s going on?” She asked, looking over her shoulderat him and indicating the screen with the remote. It was a report about therecent threats made by an alien race known as the Awzurians. The Awzurians hadbeen a Galra-aligned world that willing joined Zarkon years ago, as a way togain power and protect their people from slavery. In the years following Zarkon’sdeafeat, they’d been struggling to maintain control over any worlds handed overto them. At a conference two weeks ago, when Keith and the others had discussedthem peacefully releasing the remaining planets under their control, theirleader swore that Earth would pay for such an insulting request.

It was part of the reason Pidge was gone; she’d left to helpthe coalition forces determine what kind of technology the Awzurians had attheir disposal.

He frowned a bit, taking the controller and turning thetelevision off. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart. Come on, offto bed. It’s getting late,” He said quietly. She didn’t seem convinced, hereyes bright with the same skeptical gleam her mother had pinned him with toomany times to count, but she went along without a fight. He carefully scoopedup his two boys and carried them off to their rooms, tucking them both inbefore going to wish Amber a good night.

He hoped that in the morning, he’d feel better, but hetossed and turned for a good hour, unable to sleep. He was good at pretendingit didn’t bother him, that he didn’t see the Awzurian leader, Chespa, and herfollowers as a threat, but he was rather concerned. After all, they’d workedwith Zarkon for years; how much did they know about Zarkon’s practices? Didthey have any Galran technology of their own to use? And what if they knew howto make use of quintessence? What if they did launch an attack on Earth?

And, if they did attack, what if something happened to thekids?

A loud crash erupted outside, causing him to jump and dartout of bed. A quick glance outside revealed it to only be the crash of thunderoverhead. He released a low sigh. "It’s just a storm, Kogane. You’regetting yourself all worked up over nothing," He paused when there wassuddenly a loud, distinct shriek down the hall. He picked up the baby monitoroff the bedside table and toggled it to the only camera still in operation.

There, standing in her crib, little hands on the edge of thebanister, was a wailing Aria.

“Oh, baby girl,” He said softly, setting the monitor backdown and heading out. The hallways was barely lit, a small flash of lightningilluminating the little wooden sign hanging on her door. It had been a giftfrom Shiro, one for each of their kids, with their names carved and painted intheir respective favorite colors. He tried to flick on the hall light butnothing happened. “Huh… Must have knocked the power out.” He mumbled beforeslipping over and opening the door.

The moment he poked his head in, Ari’s big green eyes fixedon him and she screamed again. “Dada!” She wailed, holding her arms up towardshim.

He crossed the room quickly and scooped her up "Hey,baby girl. It's okay, Daddy's here," He cooed softly, stroking along herback as she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Scary monsters!" She hiccupped.

"Sweetie, there are no monsters," He said softly,carefully readjusting his grip on her.

She lifted her head long enough to point at her window beforeducking back down into him. He glanced outside and, when another flash oflightning and thunder rumbled rushed through, he saw a branch from the treescratching at her window. "Scary monster noises!"

He knew he’d forgotten to do something during the week."Okay, baby girl. I'm sorry for upsetting you," He said, turning andmaking his way to the door. "Come on, you can sleep in bed with Daddytonight. I'll keep all the scary monsters away. Does that sound good?"

She nuzzled into him, little hands clenching in the fabricof his night shirt. "Mmhmm,"

He headed out into the hallway, checking again and sighingwhen they didn’t. He hadn’t expected the storm to come in nearly as fast or asloudly as it did. He paused when he saw a small clustered of shadowy figures congregatedin front of his door. Could it be Awsurian spies? He shifted and moved morecarefully, wanting to see what was going on as quiet chattered started up amongthem.

“Does everyone have a something to defend themselves with?”

"I brought this,"

"Just thebat? Really?"

"Better than what youbrought. Which is nothing,"

"Hey! Ibrought my brains! Brains are just as important to a fight!"

He blinked then frowned, walking closer at the familiarvoices. "Kids?" He asked in slightly surprise, all three littlefigures turning towards him.

"AAAAHHHH!" They all shouted, the soft whoosh ofair in front of his face echoing after the shout. There was a frantic rattlingsound before he was blasted right in the face with a bright, yellow light.

"Oh! Dad!" Amber gasped, moving the flashlight sothat it was pointed above his head, so that they could all see each other.There, right in front of his face, was the end of his older son’s yellow wiffelball bat. "Kaden, put that down!"She huffed, reaching over to shove the bat down.

The younger male looked away sheepishly, tucking the batbehind his back. "S-Sorry, Dad,"

He reached over and lightly ruffled his son’s hair, keepingone arm secured under Ari to keep her close. He then looked from each of themin turn. "What are you three doing up?"

Newt scoffed a bit, raising an eyebrow at hi. "Littleunfair to be the only one asking questions, don't you think? What are you doing up? And what about Ari?"Amber rolled her eyes before reaching over smacking him over the head "Ow!Dad, she hit me!" He whined, covering the sore spot as he looked up athim.

Keith sighed and shook his head. "Amber Rose," He warned lowly. From the corner of his eye hespotted Kaden wandering off, but turned his attention back to his eldest.

"What? He's being annoying!"

"That doesn't mean you need to hit him. Now, why areyou three up?"

"We heard screaming," Newt said with a shrug,having recovered from the smack.

He blinked a bit in surprise. "Wait, you heard Ari,too?"

"Ah, no," Amber said, looking off to the side uneasily.

"Unless herscreaming sounds like a certain stinkyolder sister of mine? Then no,"Newt quipped. Again, Amber smacked him upside the head and pinned him with alook. "Ow! Da-ad!"

Keith groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Amber,what did I just say?"

"Not my fault he's being a dumbo," She harrumped.

He shook his head at the duo and looked down at Ari again,who was whimpering softly. Had all the kids been startled awake by the storm?Or was it just Amber? And, he briefly wondered as he cast a worried look downat her, had she actually been woken up? Or had she, like him, been unable tosleep? Plagued by the fears of a different potential storm on the horizon?

He perked up when he noticed movement to his left. There,holding up his little sister’s favorite plush toy up towards her, was Kaden."Ari, look! I got Muffin for you!" He proclaimed happily.

She lifted her head with a sniffle, before reaching out withone hand and pulling the green dinosaur into her arms. "Thank you,"She said quietly, offering him a watery smile.

He beamed up at her before moving to stand in line with hisbrother and sister.

Keith smiled at him, warmed by his son’s thoughtfulness. "Goodjob, bud. That was very nice of you," He then looked back at the otherthree. Kaden was still toting the wiffel ball bat, tapping the carpeted floorwith it, while he spotted Amber toting her luxite blade. He reminded himself tolet her know in the morning that she should have left that hanging up on herwall, where he’d hung it up a few weeks prior. "You guys should head backto bed. Everything's fine and it's way too late for you all to be up.Especially since Mommy'll be coming home early tomorrow and we're gonna have abig family breakfast.”

Amber stared at him for a moment, before glancing down thehallways towards her own bedroom, and then back at him. "Yeah, but ourrooms are all the way down the hall,"

He blinked, turning to open his own door, then paused with hishand on the doorknob. "What?"

"You said it's late, so why make us walk all the way back to our beds? We can all just sleep with you and Ari, like a bigsleepover," She suggested. Ah, he realized what was going on. He saw aspark of recognition flash on the boys’ faces as well, seeing what their sisterwas trying to play at.

Ari lifted her head and looked at him excitedly."Sleepover! Sleepover, Dada!"

"Yeah! Walking is lame!"Newt agreed,

Kaden, ever the one to take the initiative, moved over,shoved Keith’s hands off the doorknob, and threw it open. "Come on, Dad!It's cold in the hallway," He said, Newt and Amber just a few quick stepsbehind him.

He couldn’t help butchuckle a bit as he followed after them. "You kids are ridiculous,"

He had been expecting that all three of them would just pileon to the bed, heedless to where Keith himself intended to settle in. But,instead, they all hovered by, waiting. It was he was settled in with Ari,getting the two of them tucked under the covers, before the three of them piledin with him.

Amber cuddled up beside her little sister on the left side,tucking up in Keith’s arm with her and snuggling her little sister lightly."Here, Ari. You can cuddle up here on this side with me and Daddy,"

On his left, Keith watched as the two boys came over on hisleft side, instinctively wrapping his arm around the two as they snuggled upagainst him. "Me and Newt will take the right, then,"

"Cool kidssleep on the right side! Dweebossleep on the left!" Newt announced, lifting his head long enough to blow araspberry at his sisters. Amber shifted, preparing to give him whatfor again,but Keith tightened his arms around them in playful warning.

"Kids, no more fighting,” He said gently.

Kaden snuggled down and smiled lightly. "Ari's worriedabout scary monsters, right? If we all snuggle together, then any monsterstrying to come in will see how many of us there are and leave!"

Newt turned to fix is amber eyes on his older brother."Well, that or they'll see our Dad is a flippin’ Paladin of Voltron,"

"Shush, dingus. We're trying to sleep," Ambersaid, stifling a yawn of her own. Ari, happily nuzzled in between her Daddy andsissy, had already started to doze back off.

Newt grumbled something else but was too quiet and muffledas he let out a squeaky yawn of his own, little eyes fluttering shut.

Keith couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched each of hiskids fall back asleep one at a time. Between the blanket and four little bodiessnuggled up against him, he was almost uncomfortably warm. His arms werefeeling a little tingly from having them both wrapped snug around the kids, butit was a sort of pleasant sensation. He’d never thought that he’d someday behappily married with a family all his own outside of his wildest dreams. Inyet, all these years later, through all the fears and tears and struggles they’dfaced, he had a happy life with a wonderful wife and four energetic kids thatmade up his whole world.

Were they perfect little angels all the time? No, but heloved them and wouldn’t change them for the world. He loved all the people inhis life, truly he did, but he loved his family the most. And, he thought as hepulled them just a bit closer in, his own eyes slowly drooping shut, he’d doanything he could to protect them.

[cygnahime]

FFX Reliveblogging Part...4?

I'm grinding in the Omega Ruins in my other save, and mildly frustrated because Tidus has the highest strength in the party but......chocobo racing sucks, so he's capped at 9999 damage. Meanwhile Auron in yellow HP is doing 50k and hit 99,999 with a crit. Just the once, but it got me that trophy. I'm pretty sure Auronlu has already talked a lot about the Luca/Bevelle Crusaders/Warrior Monks conflict taking place in the background of the game. It first really comes up in Maechen's little discourse about the history of Lord Mi'ihen. Notable is that the Crusaders, originally founded as the Crimson Blades, were not originally part of the Yevonite power structure, but were subsumed presumably as an alternative to holy war. (Which is kind of hilarious, considering the our-world history of "Crusaders".) Ahhhh it's my favorite lesbians! And Clasko. I could say a lot of unkind things about the Battle Thongs, but the narrative at least never treats Lucil (and Elma) with less than total respect. Which I guess just shows how...gratuitous the clothing is. It's completely inconsistent with the characters. Bad design. Speaking of outfits, I looooove Belgemine's dress. It's so elegant! I'm pretty fond of her as a person, as well. And not just because she heals our aeons for us. She is a lady. I mean, also an undead, but it's rude to comment on these things. I usually lose this first aeon duel, but I'll give it my all anyway. Yes! I got off two Energy Blasts with a whole 37 HP to spare! Is Belgemine looking for Yuna specifically? Did she maybe meet Braska, either while alive or after death? Or is she just meeting up with all the promising summoners to see if one of them will prove worthy of her sisters? She's so mysterious and cool, I love her. Everyone has to practice their smiling faces when little kids cheer for Yuna bringing the Calm. It's very awkward, especially for Callie's mom, who does know. Now I'm talking to Luzzu and Gatta again, which of course leads me to the eternal question: who shall live and who shall die, who by fire and who by drowning, who by sword and who by beast. It's like the one branching-paths decision we make in this game, which means I think about it a lot. Additionally, when I first played this game I was deep in my Achilles/Patroclus phase and these two gave me feelings. They still do, but now the feelings contain a strong element of nostalgia. This area is just full of NPCs I love. Shelinda is a doormat, but I am fond of her. Even if it a bit rich of her to say, "It's not about defeating Sin!" to a summoner. Defeating Sin is everything to Yuna. And she still goes out of her way to make Shelinda feel better. Yuna is so kind. Auron does not have time for your racist bullshit, Wakka. Also we're all low on MP, especially you, and MP is life. We are not doing the other half of the Highroad like this. Continued adventures of endeavoring not to boost Lulu's affection through the roof. Lu, I love you, and I love talking to you, but please, let me get cutscenes with Yuna. I firmly believe that Yuna asked her guardians not to tell Tidus the full truth, after this scene if not before. She doesn't want him to change how he treats her. (How he treats her: giving her minor crises of faith every time they talk, but in a good way.) She's in a particularly yearning mood here, not least because she's just been recording her will. And here comes Tidus, acting like she has a future... (And all her other guardians pretending not to be eavesdropping.) (Up until Auron can't take it anymore, anyway.) Enter Rin, Al Bhed ambassador (unofficial). At least, he's the one out there taking up space and being Highly Visible, suggesting strangers learn the language, doing all that stuff. He is, however, definitely wearing a kink collar. No, I do not know why. I knocked the Chocobo Eater off the cliff for the very first time! Usually I kill it before pushing it that far back, but with Lulu, Auron, and Tidus all hasted, it didn't get enough turns to push back. This is usually the part of the game where I save the chocobo ride for later and grind for Ability Spheres. With Extract Ability, this will probably take less time than usual, though I also appreciate the extra AP. Plus I want to get Kimahri 'round to Steal ASAP. [Some time later] I wonder what Dona does between getting turned away at the gate and meeting us in Djose. Is there another way around, or does she just wait until Operation Mi'ihen explodes and take the main road? She's quite close behind us. I wonder if she stays to help with the aftermath as well, or if she just heads onward. She definitely got ahead of us at some point (Guadosalam if not before). I find her blend of selfishness and selflessness very intriguing. Seymour's moving on Yuna even here. I wonder if he picked her over Dona and Isaaru because she was the one he happened to encounter, or if it was deliberate: she's younger, more naive certainly than Dona, and certainly seems very devout (liable to be dazzled by a maester's attention), less experienced...younger. But I expect Seymour would have gotten quite a long way with Isaaru, who is after all the most devout of the three - and besides, if Seymour told him what becomes of a chosen guardian, Isaaru might do a lot to keep his brothers from that fate. Seymour says all the right things to and about the Crusaders, even things Tidus thinks (and we are likely to think) are true, but he doesn't mean any of them. He just wants the operation to occur as part of his power struggle with Kinoc, with a bonus of having an effect on Yuna, making her more urgently want to complete the pilgrimage before more people die. I doubt Auron's 100% got Seymour's specific number yet, but he does know he's a maester, and Auron is the founder of Team Fuck Yevon. He knows you don't move up in the ranks without stepping on the people below you. (I mean, also Seymour advocates blatant hypocrisy, which is just the Yevon leadership trademark.) Being asked to perform the sending before people die may be more of a burden than being asked after. That's a heavy emotional burden to place on a teenager. (Although I do think legal/cultural adulthood in Spira is younger than it is for us - life is short no time for childhood.) Fact: the first time I played, I didn't even notice Luzzu and Gatta standing over there and missed the scene entirely. It's a good scene, and really highlights how much Tidus still doesn't understand on a gut level. He sees Gatta wanting to fight, and doesn't think that he could die, and of course there're warring impulses there. God though, the HD remaster takes all the character out of Wakka's face, and I hate it. You know, some people might see saying, "I'll propose when we win the cup," as meaning, "when pigs fly". But I guess that doesn't make sense considering Lulu's behavior. "Being with your girl is good, but keeping Sin far away from her is better." God. Men. I mean, in Spira it's not just men - Lulu went on two pilgrimages to try to keep Yuna alive - but she's also not someone who appreciates being protected. Yeah, Tidus doesn't understand yet why Yuna let Luzzu go, because he doesn't know that she's going to her death, too. And if she feels it right to ignore all the people she loves and who love her telling her not to go, then it's right for Luzzu to do the same. They both think saving the world is more important. Wakka, Wakka no, Wakka don't - see? Racism and religious fundamentalism leads to hurting yourself by kicking a cannon when you're wearing sandals. (I do appreciate the realism though.) I flipped a coin, and it looks like this run, Gatta lives and Luzzu dies. I don't really have an opinion on which is best; it's tragic either way. Though I guess it feels a little more narratively awful to have Tidus naively suggesting Gatta go to the front lines where he gets killed...But the coin has spoken. I appreciate how they give Kinoc character and relationships in so little time. Just his intro - he walks up and hugs Auron, not a huggable person - says something. Auron is still stiff and cagey with him, but that he allowed himself to be embraced says there's more there. Of course, he's also plotting Operation Mi'ihen to break the Crusaders (and, if X-2 is taken into account, setting up the deaths of the Crimson Squad - I think to take out potential rivals), so it's not like he's a good person or anything. But he's less flat. Got the overkill on Gui with ease, thanks to Energy Blast. (And got everyone AP.) Man, Sin's arrival is Lovecraftian as fuck. I like it. The black tendrils snaking through the bay... top creepiness. How Lucil, Elma, and Clasko - how anyone - survived Sin's blast I'll never know. People were disintegrated where they stood! I also don't know how Seymour, a full caster, has the Strength to physically hold off Gui2. It's been weakened, sure, but come the heck on. (His Summon command, which he must have, is also not there. I guess we're not allowed to get a sneak peek of Anima yet.) I appreciate the extra touch of giving Seymour AP, to trick you into thinking he's going to join the party long-term. :C They almost got a shot off on Sin, but unfortunately, horseshoes and hand grenades. Also heartrending: the messages that come up when you check the corpses. Shut up, Seymour, I have another Energy Blast in me. Besides, he could go for Sin at any time; he has his Final Aeon, after all. But he won't. He'd rather destroy the world than save it with his death. And he wants Yuna to feel helpless, so she'll feel like she needs him. Oh no the dead kid who we saw practicing to avenge his sister...no...stop it... Before Jecht came to Spira, his drinking didn't have real consequences to him. He was "still the best", after all. He still had a wife who wouldn't leave him. He hurt other people, but they didn't confront him about it. It took Spira to make him see that it was a problem. Hell of a thing to put on your kid, like, "Hey, son, can I get a mercy kill? Thanks." Though I guess that is...I mean, end-of-life care is a traditional part of a child's duties. Just...not usually in your teens.

[quirrrky]

insecure

secret lovers (tumblr thread | fanfiction.net)

Chronological One-Shots / Post-War / Pre-Last 

After the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto’s huge crush on Hinata gradually surfaces and the whole village of Konoha knows it…Well, aside from him.

entry ten

Prompt: Now that the war was over, Naruto and Hinata must face another challenge in their lives, adolescence.

/insecure/

Naruto couldn't feel so delighted. He was glad that he was successful into talking Sasuke's case out of the council. Well, that's all thanks to Shikamaru, Hinata and Iruka-sensei's effort in guiding him. That damn, Rhetoric, sure had an importance, after all!

The teme just left the village for some atonement and Naruto felt the needed that his friend might need a reminder that Konoha's doors will always be open for him by returning his hitai-ate.

He sighed, but as he did, an eager Konohamaru and his team caught up with him.

"Niichan! I've told you about this kore."

"Uh, not now? I don't know, Konohamaru, but your project doesn't seem to fit me dattebayo."

"Well, you're the only one I can rely on, niichan!" The brunette kid muttered as Naruto surrendered,

"Fine! Fine! But just for an hour, okay?"

They walked along the village street as Naruto stopped at the sight of his teammate.

"Sakura-chan?"

She lifted up her head, blush evident on her face, "Naruto…"

"Ah! Hinata seemed to be blossoming lately, eh? Just in time for spring?" Kiba retorted, making his teammate blush with his compliment.

"Why? It is because…"

"Yeah! Yeah, Shino! It was all because of that stupid-looking Naruto, who is looking more stupid, whenever he sees our Hinata!"

"That's not what I'm about to say…"

"Kiba-kun! Tha-that's not it!"

The leaves were now evident on the branches of the trees, coloring Konoha with a brand new shade. Gone were the days when they have to wear extra article of clothing just to keep them warm. Springtime had come and its manifestation was just beginning.

Team 8's briefing with their current Hokage, Kakashi (who was still unsure about taking the position although his face was quite blatantly etched on the Hokage rock), just finished and they will be sent to search a missing person who belonged to a powerful clan for next week.

"Well, he said he'll be returning, right?"

"Yeah, Shino-kun. He'll just be dropping by to return Sasuke-kun's hitai-ate back before he leaves the village."

Kiba scoffed and prided, "I don't really think you must go back there, Hinata. My senses can smell he's just near, so… Ah! See! I told you, in speaking of the devil, he's just right there. How about we surprise him, huh? Don't ya' think, Hinata? I wonder if he'll scream like a girl."

"Kiba-kun!" Nonetheless, Hinata's complaint was remained unheard as she was dragged hiding in a corner. They couldn't see him, but they could eavesdrop and he was with Sakura.

"Wait! I think Ino's somewhere here too?" Kiba informed them with Hinata ready to leave the scene, until their words started to mince her.

"I know that you have loved me ever since. I just realized that maybe…maybe we could try?"

Sakura-chan?

"I-I couldn't be any happier."

Naruto-kun…

Drowning her teammates' voices in the background, she ran away. Just far away from them. Where there was air, though she could hardly breathe.

That was all she needed to hear.

She didn't even need to see them. Just the words they professed to each other were enough to wake her up from her petty little sweet dream. A dream, it was all a dream.

His eyes, his smile and his gravelly voice would only remain as a dream to her. How could she not, when it felt so surreal and good? Naruto always made her feel like that. Out of many people in the world, he was the first to believe in her. Never, ever in her life did someone make her feel strong, important and worthy. She thought he was the exception, not thinking that he was just like that to everybody else.

She loved him, she truly did. It was a pure kind of love. Something that didn't demand reciprocation Although people may mistook it as unhealthy obsession, little did they know that for her entire life she never felt special until he cheered on her amongst the crowd. Until he believed in her when no one else did. He showed her that she could still walk with purpose. He showed her that it was still possible to smile even if nobody cared.

He made her believe.

Sadly, it was because it was just him. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sasuke-kun left the village now and who knew what happened?

All this time, Sakura-chan loved the boy. But Naruto-kun was also easy to love, and Hinata knew that he would search all over the town just to be with Sakura.

Stupid, stupid, stupid Hinata!

In her mind, she pictured her pink-haired friend and her blonde dream.

They looked good together.

Tears fell from her eyes, trying to force a smile on her face.

It made sense. Sakura-chan was confident, beautiful and a strong kunoichi, whom everyone in their village admired. It just made sense that she would be perfect for the brilliant hero, who brightened up the whole of Konoha.

He deserved someone like her. Someone who was unafraid to fight for what she really feels. And she was not her.

But she had to be happy for them. They were her friends.

She had to accept that Sakura will be the one to hold his hands. She will be the one their friends would tease with him, saying he finally got the girl he's been chasing after.

Then, he would buy her flowers, her favorite food and would tell everyone stories of how beautiful and strong she was. He would show the whole world just how much he loved her, because she was his dream and there wouldn't be a single day that she would feel neglected, because he'll always make sure she's special.

When the day went by, she will be the one to kiss him goodnight. She will be the one to live her dreams. Hinata's dreams.

And then for Hinata, she will be drowned on the background amidst it all. Waiting for someone to love her just as much as she loved him.

Truly, purely and unconditionally.

Wondering how long will she wait as though no one could replace him.

"W-What's with you two?!" Ino angrily shouted as she went out from hiding at a corner, eavesdropping all throughout the whole ordeal.

Sakura, blush now dissipating, answered her with a sigh, "I-Ino? Well, I surrender. This knucklehead has been trying so hard already-"

Naruto turned, rubbing his hand at the back of his head, "Uh, yeah, yes. I guess I didn't' get that quite right. I know!"

Kiba, furious at the stupid blonde's comment, revealed himself with Shino, "Just, you, shut the hell up! I know I'm in no position to say this, but I'm keen enough to smell your own bullshit, you, pathetic idiot! ! For these past few months, I thought, I thought that you and… Forget it! You don't deserve that kind of love!"

The loud-mouthed brunette then suddenly noticed a few audience, namely Konohamaru and his team, "The hell?! I couldn't believe this! You even get your own documentation team to record this crap?!"

"Cut! What's wrong with you all? The scene is now going great and now you made it all appear scripted kore!"

"W-Wait, scripted?!" Kiba and Ino simultaneously erupted, shocked and confused at the young boy's complaint.

"Hey, niichan! I thought you hired these two. How come they aren't oriented? Too bad the scene they created is already effective!" Konohamaru demanded, annoyed.

"Ahhh, about that, errr…"

"I really think that won't fit our topic after all. We are supposed to show this at the orphanage. Seriously?" Moegi interjected.

Meanwhile, as realization hit Ino, she sighed and turned to Sakura,

"That explains everything. I thought you two were really going on about it. I didn't really mean to intrude with what's between you guys, but just earlier you were gushing about Sasuke-kun poking your wide as hell forehead like it was the most special thing in the world, then now I'm going to see you like that with Naruto. I just couldn't help it. Well, anyway. I couldn't believe I participated in this kind of weird thing."

Sakura, on the other hand, released a heavy breath and slumped her shoulders forward, "I just couldn’t not do it. I reluctantly accepted this idiot's bet that Sasuke-kun would not allow me to come with him. In exchange, I have to participate in this video thing for the children at the orphanage. I was about to knock him off but he guilt-tripped me with his nindou."

The blonde girl faced the younger ones with much pride and determination, "Well, if you want a better actress, you should've gotten me instead! This billboard-brow surely has no talent aside from punching people in their faces!"

"Hey! What's wrong with strength you Ino-pig…" The two girls fought in the background. On one hand, pissed, but fazed Kiba stood agape, still deciding what to do with the situation and just in time, it was Shino who voiced out his frustration.

"You see, we have a bit of a problem here. Why? It is because Hinata…"

Both girls stopped at bickering and Sakura immediately dropped Ino's collar-off with a grim expression starting to form on their faces, "Hinata!"

Actually, they both didn't hear Shino's words before that, but by just the mention of her name, the two kunoichi identified that a big misunderstanding had been created.

Both of them had been supporting their shy friend all along and even developed several plans behind her back in order to create a moment for Hinata and Naruto to be together.

Sakura was the one more passionate about it as she could reflect her sort-of unreciprocated love for Sasuke-kun to that of Hinata's genuine affection for the still childish and oblivious Naruto. She couldn't just stand that she'd be the reason to cause her friend's faith to waver or even hurt her in any way. She almost make a big damage before and she was not planning to cause anything like that anymore.

"Yeah, where's Hinata? I left to go find Sasuke after she tied my hitai-ate. I was looking for her until Konohamaru bothered me."

The said boy and his gang just watched the exchange with a freaked-out look on their faces, Shino just remained stoic, while Kiba, Ino and Sakura both turned their heads on the blonde's direction.

"Well, Mirai is asleep now. I can feel that she's not the real reason for your visit." Kurenai stated, placing cups of tea for her and her former student.

Silence laid flat between them. Hinata just stared blankly at her cup of tea.

"Kurenai-sensei," Hinata muttered as she called out to the person, whom she considered as a mother after all that happened around her life.

"Hmmm... By looking at you, I could tell this is about a certain blonde boy."

The young girl just gulped dryly, giving away the information to her sensei through the quietness.

"I understand, Hinata. I am right and it's all about that dreamy boy, isn't it? Ah, young love, fragile, fickle and difficult to understand. Intense and overwhelming emotions." Kurenai finished with a humble yet prim smile. Memories of the past appearing before her eyes.

"I remember back then, it was the same with Asuma. We were really close friends and I started to harbor a different kind of feeling for him. He didn't notice that at first. He was the Hokage's son and he had a lot of admirers surrounding him as well. I couldn't avoid but feel confused and frustrated. There was a lot of questions and the emotion got only stronger, because I was not able to fully express it and show it. Then the more we became closer, the more I wanted to hear him say the words I've been longing for… I thought it would be right, but it wasn't."

Kurenai took a sip from her cup of tea as she further relive the past with her deceased beloved husband.

"It wasn't, Hinata. There came a time when we were both so near each other. In his eyes, I could see sincerity and it was as if the world was pulling us close together. At that moment, I felt scared. I felt scared that he'll tell me he was feeling the same way, because…I wouldn't believe him. Not because he didn't show me, but because I realized that I wasn't ready for that and he wasn't yet either."

"Kurenai-sensei…" Hinata tilted her head up and serenely looked at her former teacher.

"I was relieved when he got flustered and laughed his embarrassment away. Love, Hinata, is not about finding someone who completes you, it's about having someone who complements you, someone who will fit who you are not with what he is."

Hinata tried to unravel the message beneath Kurenai-sensei's words. The older woman seemed to notice this leading her to guide Hinata's head above her shoulder. Right at the spot, her student gave in and cried her heart out, pouring all the stirring hurt inside.

"You and Naruto are both so young. You still have a lot more to discover about yourselves outside the war. I bet he was just as confused as you are."

She stayed at her teacher's arms, washing down all the thoughts running in her mind. Silent water runs deep and the same can be said to Hinata. Her calm and unassuming personality had won a thousand rejections and degradations form other people and especially her father.

But this.

This was something new to her. Although she wasn't really expecting him to return her feelings, she never thought it would be like this. And it wasn't because he finally found another nor was because Hinata thought Sakura-chan was better, it was something else. And that something else certainly was the essence behind Kurenai-sensei's message.

After regaining her composure, Hinata got conscious and took awareness of the time and started to make her way to farewell.

"Thank you, Kurenai-sensei. I know I took your time and-"

Her teacher waved off, "No, no, anytime, Hinata. Anytime, I'll be here for you."

The young girl gave a curt bow and proceeded to depart until her sensei stopped her.

"Naruto..." Hinata stopped at Kurenai's word, "He dropped by with Kiba and Shino a while ago. He was looking for you. Well that kid, he seemed to be angry, sad and nervous all at the same time."

"Oh," Hinata paused for a moment before she continued, "Thank you, Kurenai-sensei. I'll bring something for Mirai-chan next time I'll visit."

Hinata subconsciously avoided her usual path going to home. Her head was tilted down while she walked and missed the beautiful sun that was about to set, until she bumped her head. The scent was familiar and a loud bang of nervousness dropped against her chest.

"Hinata! Where have you bee-"

Though her eyes couldn't betray her, she forced a smile and turned to him, "Congratulations to you and Sakura-chan, Naruto-kun!"

Tears were now triggering to fall, but it was cut by the blonde's aggressive denial.

"No! No! It's not like that at all -ttebayo! Ah, err, it was actually for Konohamaru's project and he wanted to experiment with his new video cam thing. So! Be-between Sakura-chan and I... There was nothing! Nothing between us!"

Naruto had been vocal about his admiration for his teammate ever since he was younger, but there was something about Hinata's presence now that made him clarify things a bit desperately.

With the truth now vivid before her, Hinata gave into the weight of her knees and sat down on the grass. But before she wash herself with relief, she must ask him one thing. Although she wasn't known to be bold, she knew it was something necessary for her to ask.

"But you love Sakura-chan, right?"

Quite taken aback, he muttered back, "Yeah, but-"

"She loves Sasuke-kun." She said it calmly, but deep inside she was beginning to hurt.

"Mhmm," It was a tone in agreement and Hinata could see sadness in his expression through her peripheral vision. She took a brave inhale and started to stand up, but he sat beside her.

"When I was younger, Sakura-chan was the prettiest girl I knew. She liked Sasuke. Well, why the hell did everyone liked that teme? But among everyone, she was the most determined to be acknowledged by him that's why she stood out, that's why I felt we were the same and that's why I liked her."

Hinata just sat there frozen. It hurt. Everyone in her shoe would hurt to hear this. Self-torturous, yes. But perhaps, she needed to know this, she needed to hear the truth. Hinata may love Naruto deeply, but after all the desertion she had undergone with her family, she would not stand to be a substitute for someone else.

"A lot of things happened and the more I noticed their growing closeness to each other. Time passed and Sasuke left the village. It hurt me, but it hurt her the most and I just know I must bring him back. Years gone by and I trained with Pervy-sage and she's the only girl close to me. I convinced myself that I have to prove and make her see that I'm better than Sasuke. Then, the village started to acknowledge me and even her..."

Naruto looked at the horizon. The sun painting its ripples with orange and yellow hues.

"Then, she told me she loves me. I thought it was just a joke. I kept on asking why did I think it was just a joke. If I was younger, I would totally fall for that. But I saw right through it and I realized that something's changed."

The blonde must have realized that he'd been telling her a lot already and got agitated. "Ah! I-I'm so sorry, Hinata. I didn't mean to bother you, uh, it's just uh, I find it comfortable talking to you, being like this, and, uh,…Never mind! Never mind at all!" He looked at her searching, if everything's all right.

"It's okay, Naruto-kun," she needed to hear him out for her peace of mind anyway.

Naruto sighed and continued, "Actually, I was genuinely happy for the both them and that's the point! I should feel hurt, right? But there's nothing, none. Everytime Sakura-chan rejected me, there's just that. I grew out of that feeling and all's left was nothing…Nothing. That's why I know there's something missing."

Hinata noticed his crestfallen expression.

"If there's anything, that's…I'm insecure. I wish I could feel...Just how it feels like. I wish I know." He, then, turned sullenly dreamy, "Everything, you know. Even the bad feeling?" Naruto pouted. He was certainly being uncool in front of her.

The pale-eyed girl was left speechless. How odd was it that he wanted to feel what she just felt a while ago? Now, she remembered his troubled childhood. The lack of love, acceptance and acknowledgment.

This was what probably Kurenai-sensei's message was about.

Discovering other parts of ourselves.

"I see…" She muttered, not knowing what to feel.

Naruto chuckled nervously upon seeing her reaction, "Well, yeah, I still love Sakura-chan, but it was different! I just couldn't pass up with the opportunity to embarrass her sometimes and it's sort of became a habit."

Why was he explaining like this?

"But it was really different! Different from how I saw that look on kaa-chan and tou-chan whenever they remember each other. Although, I've met them for only a short period of time, what they had…was really different. Ah! Tch! I really wanted you to meet them. I'm sure they will like you -ttebayo!"

She blushed at his eagerness to meet his parents, no matter if it was no longer a possibility. There was also a part of her that felt relieved as she still got chance to, at least, let him know how she felt when she's finally ready.

All of a sudden, she remembered how pathetic she overthought, tapped her forehead repetitively and sighed. "Silly, I'm very silly."

"Yeah! That's right! I've been looking around Konoha for you dattebayo! I told you I'll be coming back, but you were gone in a zap when I returned." He complained and pouted, leaving out the part that he was subconsciously anxious that she might have misinterpreted that scene with Sakura-chan, which lead him to evaluate his current sentiments towards his teammate.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Naruto-kun I..."

"It's fine, it's fine. Shino already explained it to me, uh, by the way!" He said as he reached out to her a can of Oshiruko. "Sakura-chan told me that you might be having a moment. And I thought that moment thing isn't really nice. I saw this Oshiruko on the vending machine and remembered you liked it..."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head habitually, "I couldn't afford a zenzai, but it's similar so..."

She returned the can to him and stated, "You-you don't really have to, Naruto-kun."

"Ah, it's no good, huh?" Naruto's smile fell. He just wanted to cheer her up with all his best intentions. However, in its naive and simplest form, she unknowingly rejected him and he didn't feel great about it.

Hinata, as emphatic as ever, noticed his glumness and it was just in her nature to never let the people she considered as precious to feel neglected. "I-I think it would be nice if we would have a drink together."

Naruto instantly lit up and pulled out Gama-chan, unfortunately he didn't have enough as he already used his penny to buy instant ramen for dinner.

"Hi-Hinata I..."

She was giggling at him and stood up, approaching the nearest vending machine. "It's fine, Naruto-kun. I could buy one for myself."

And there, there's something about her statement that made her feel like she was getting close to what Kurenai-sensei was talking about.

In the end, Naruto's protest didn't reach her and they both ended up sitting and watching as the moon take over the sky. He told her how Sasuke blushed, when he thought no one was looking, before leaving Sakura-chan and how he convinced the reluctant Konohamaru to cast Lee instead. They shared a few innocent laughs. She shyly met his stare and he absent-mindedly snuck several side glances at her.

Hinata drew a heavy exhale. She never thought growing up would be this tumultuous. She never fully unraveled her sensei's message, but in time, just as Kurenai-sensei said, she will.

On the other hand, Naruto looked at the space on the grass where they were seated. He, then, looked at her—she was smiling peacefully at the sky. It was so serene that he was guilelessly moved into closing that sweet little distance between them—arms now touching each other.

He turned his focus into the sky, staring and admiring the moon as his head remembered her name.

Hinata.

"Y-yes?" She looked at him with tilted head, leaving Naruto flustered.

"O-oh! What! What?"

"Y-you called out for me."

I said that out loud?

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 2X18 - Selfless, Brave, and True

Hey, reader! And WOOD-n’t you know, August is here too!!!!

So while we’re all here together, let’s talk about this episode! Under the cut we go!

Press Release While Mary Margaret goes off on her own in an attempt to come to grips with what she did to Cora and how her deed has affected her, she stumbles upon August, who has hidden himself away from the others and is completely made of wood – ashamed at the actions he has taken in life; and Emma is shocked when Neal invites his fiancée, Tamara, to come to Storybrooke. Meanwhile, before the curse was cast, August is introduced to a man of magic who may be able to prevent him from turning back into wood – but at a steep price. General Thoughts - Characters/Stories/Themes and Their Effectiveness This is one of those episodes where the events of it are good, but can’t really be picked apart and discussed in specific segments like I usually do (Besides, the “Insights” make up for it this time! XD ). I like both of the stories and their use of character. I’m admittedly a sucker for episodes where a character makes a decision in one part and then ends up on the opposite side of the proverbial equation in the other, and this one was done pretty well! It’s a simple type of character development, but it honestly gets the job done. August is built to be just selfish enough for the episode’s purposes, but his fear of dying was an appropriate choice as to make his cowardice and selfishness never take him over the line of detestability. Additionally, while I take issue with one aspect of it, I think August’s redemption works well through his sacrifice as death was something he feared so much and was capitalized on well enough in the flashback, and his reward is well deserved. In both segments, Tamara works as a twist character and while I get tired sometimes of those overly mysterious characters who dodge most every question like a banana peel in Smash Bros, I think they did a good job in making The Dragon likable enough. If I had to complain about something, I just feel like the twist that makes August change his mind about leaving should’ve been more character based and closer to the theme of being selfless, brave, and true. As it is, it’s just seeing a photograph, and that’s not really all that revolutionary to someone who was content enough to run away earlier despite knowing what Tamara could do. It exposes nothing about his morality. What I would’ve done is have Tamara also take the string from the Dragon. It would’ve tied (GET IT?! TIED XD ) back to who August was and his father. Insights - Stream of Consciousness -Phuket? More like “fuck it.” Aren’t I right August, ya beach bum? XD -”I’m turning into wood.” Given your previous position, I guess the wood that goes around comes around! ;) -David, you sure that snowbells are the best flowers to give Snow to cheer her up? Because she literally just buried her friend with them a few days ago. Maybe you oughta go with tulips or a nice rose, perhaps? -Also, David! You look hoooooot in that shirt! Fuck the sausage and eggs! I’d be content enough with that big slab of meat you call a bicep! ;) -Ooh! I love that bit of indirect tough love advice Emma gives David on Snow’s behalf! It’s a nice callback to their friendship! And it works! AND Snow relays that advice to August later on! -”None of it will matter?” I’m with Snow, David. Shit’s not that easy. -”Please. Give me time.” There might be some in that breakfast he cooked. Just saying. -”She should be here at any minute now.” Neal, give Emma some notice! A text, at least! -”This town is turning into a theme park.” I’m about 1,000,000% sure no one who runs a Disney park is reading my cute little web reviews, but if you are, PLEASE make Storybrooke a theme park or even just a street in Disney World (And then get me free tickets as a thank you for the idea!) -I can NEVER hear Jennifer say “where I’m/you’re from” again without thinking about that fucking blooper! XD -”She’s bringing bagels.” To be honest, I’d be sold here too. New York bagels are objectively the best and I pity every one of you who has never had one. You poor souls! -Mary Margaret: Keeper of the best coping mechanism EVER since 2013 (?) -*August shows up* I’ve heard of Woodsman in this series, but this is ridiculous! -*August fucking stabs himself with a scalpel and is chased* What the fuck did you expect to happen?! -*August gets pulled into the supply closet* August was ready to throw down! And look at his hands. Is that cultural appropriation or did he actually learn how to fight in Phuket? -August is so well sanded! Either Gepetto didn’t get paid NEARLY enough or August did some grooming! -August ships SwanFire! Who knew? ...Besides everyone who paid more attention than me during the original airing of the episode, that is? XD -Tamara brought the fucking goods! Your revealed villainy aside, you’re a fucking champ! No wonder I liked you! -Awww! Henry let Neal keep the book! <3 -Btw, WHERE THE FUCK IS RUMPLE? Unghh. One thing I wish we had more of this season was more Papa Fire moments. I mean, the guy just got his son back AND avoided death. I feel like he should be knocking on Neal’s door every day to talk to him and his absence at this point is really noticeable. I know we see them together in the next episode, but it’s not enough. Yes, Neal still holds a lot of resentment, but in the last scene they were together, they had a moment of kindness and Rumple’s the type to jump on that like a toddler on a trampoline! -Tamara, I know you’re acting, but you’re giving a 10 and you need to pull that back to a 6. Hell, precisely BECAUSE you’re acting, you should pull it back just a touch! -”I have a soft spot for little kids in trouble.” Awwww! </3 -”If I were you, I’d try the fish -- blackened soul.” That was a fucking good one liner! -Damn, Tamara! Give you some ominous music and a glare and suddenly, out goes the cuddly and in goes the scary! -Dragon, don’t dodge the question! Goddd, don’t be one of those annoying types of mysterious characters!! -”Because what he was is what he is.” Blue! THIS is why everyone thinks you’re shady! -Tamara. Do not pull out the giant envelope of cash in public, and then LEAVE it out! Look, I love August, but he’s about as shady as the underside of the branches he was carved out of! -”For someone who spent his entire life running, you should be in better shape.” XD Great quip, Dragon! -”Are you two trying to steal the magic from Storybrooke?” How did you reach that conclusion? I mean, I get that Tamara’s shadier right now than weeping willow by the equator at high noon, but there’s a jump in logic here that I’m missing. Like, as far as you know, she likes magic. She cured her cancer with it! It makes sense when August finds out the truth, but it would only work when he discovers it. -Regina, who the hockey sticks do you think you’re fooling by playing dumb?! -”Mary Margaret. What are you doing? He’s apologizing.” Emma, he literally just told your mother that the thing she’s spent so much time blaming herself for (Possibly from the moment you were born) was orchestrated by him. She’s allowed to be angry. I feel like both you and I would have a harsher reaction if we were in her shoes! -”That wasn’t me.” Jesus, people! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE ANGRY! YOUR LACK OF ANGER IS MAKING ME ANGRY! I mean, I get that Snow knows she would’ve done the same thing, but she didn’t. Marco did, and that condemnation for it was well warranted. -I DO like how responsible Marco’s being for his actions and the effect that it had on August. That was SO needed! -OMG! THE TASER!!! XD -Damn, I wish we saw what The Dragon’s real form was. -Tamara, you’re a sneaky little asshole, but damnit you have a nice car. -The CGI for this episode must’ve eaten the budget like a kid eats a happy meal. -How the fuck did the Blue Fairy get there so quickly! Hell, maybe you ARE shady! -I actually like that we see that selfish side of Neal in the last flashback. It shows both how the world has changed him AND how the Stiltskin’ cowardice curse has left some bits in him as well. -Tamara! I’m supposed to hate you! Stop being so snuggly! -”I promise I will never lie to you again.” ...I’m sorry, Emma. I’ve gotta do it. *deep breath* Suuuuuuuuuuure, Emma. -”It had started to blacken because of what I did.” ...I guess I’m supposed to believe that she redeemed herself after the Maleficent stuff. -”But it [redemption] cost him [August] everything.” Yeahhh...no. He seriously went from what was probably a pretty miserable life to a fresh start. -I kind of wish Greg and Tamara ended up being recurring villains. We’d get the villain ship I always wanted and they could be curb stomped all the time! XD Arcs - How are These Storylines Progressing? Tamara - Tamara’s shown up! I actually love her first episode as a villain. Yeah, the taser is corny, but if that puts you over the top, then I have to ask just what show you’re watching! But onto the character herself, she’s incredibly intelligent with how she deals with people. Within ten seconds of seeing Neal, she knows how to play him like a fiddle and her time with August in the present shows the insight she’s gained about him in their one encounter. Hell, she sort of won the day, and all without using a hint of magic! Emma lying to Henry - Finally! This arc is over! I gotta say, this was a hard (Albeit well done) arc to watch. It’s never easy seeing your favorite character get antagonized, no matter how justly. That having been said, as there was no reference to the lie before Emma brought it up right before the final apology, I can’t help but wish that it was either brought up once more in this episode or done in the last episode where it had more thematic prominence. Favorite Dynamic Snow and Emma. As I pointed out in my “Insights,” Emma’s motivational speech to David and heard indirectly by Snow is the thing that bounces her back to life and that sentiment carries Snow throughout the rest of the episode. It’s such a small moment but it speaks so well of the bond that the two of them have built up over the seasons. I like the way that Emma inspires Snow, of ony for how funny it is to see her listen to “My Reputation” while shooting arrows for stress relief. And suddenly, the toaster scene makes so much sense... Writer Kalinda Vazquez and Robert Hull are here for their swan song of the season (Try saying THAT five times fast!) and they both do a pretty decent job here. The dialogue, story, and character choices fit well, and while there were some aspects I wish were handled better, they did an amicable job. Rating 8/10. Once again, I don’t find that there was a lot to say about this episode, but it was quite a good one! It was an entertaining watch with a nice new setting for the flashback, and characters that fit together to convey a great story! I found it to be pretty funny at times and it got me excited about what’s to come! And can you really ask for more out of an episode? ...Well, yeah, but it’s good enough! XD ()()()()()()()()() Thank you so much for reading and to the fine folks at @watchingfairytales. Sorry this wasn’t a super long or in-depth review, but I can only work with what I’m given. Anyway, if it’s not too much trouble before you go, I’d like to ask you for a little help! A couple of days ago, it was announced that the finale won’t be broken up for the final week of the Season 2 posts, and I want to know if you want me to do two separate reviews, or one mega-ultra-super-chocolatey-magical-sugar-spice-and-everything-nice review! It will be a LONG review, but if you think that these two episodes beLONG together, please let me know so I’ll know what to do when the time comes! You can leave a reply here or send me an ask or send me your thoughts by carrier pigeon. Really, it’s all good!

Next time...whoo. My cotton shirt is making me soooo hot! I’m going to change into something...lacey. ;)

See you all then.

Season 2 Tally (157/220) Writer Tally for Season 2: Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis: (39/60) Jane Espenson (35/50) Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg (31/50) David Goodman (24/30)* Robert Hull (24/30)* Christine Boylan (17/30) Kalinda Vazquez (28/30)* Daniel Thomsen (18/20)* * Indicates that their work for the season is complete Operation Rewatch Archives

[foxofthedesert]

RQ OUaT FF | OGA: Ch. 5

Chapter 5 – A Chilling Report

After actually cleaning up in the shower like they were supposed to instead of carousing like newlyweds, Regina and Red prepare for the rest of their day. Since they are already late to court, Regina throws on a black satin slip then meanders over to one of her three wardrobes. She takes her time perusing her vast collection of dresses, deliberately fingering the fabric of each exquisite item until she comes across the one that catches her appraising eye. Pulling it out reverently, she studies it for a moment before gliding over barefoot to the body length mirror to admire it against her figure.

Sporting a collar adorned with long, inky raven feathers, the long-sleeved black and maroon garment with enormous frilly lace cuffs dotted with diamonds, some large enough to be set in a crown and some small enough to be fit for earrings. Silver and gold filigree piping accents the plunging jewel neckline, innumerable diamonds of various sizes attached all along the ornately shapes of the ornamentation which actually stretches past the end of the bodice. The skirts are accented a wide, flaring strip of ruffled raven feathers all the way down to the hem. It's an ostentatious number to be sure, but one of Regina's favorites.

"I love that dress. It's the one you wore the night you proposed," Red says, eyeing said garment – and Regina – wistfully from her perch on the corner of their bed.

Covered only by her thinner, less modest crimson slip, Red drapes a shapely leg over her knee and leans her weight on one arm, causing the hem to ride up high enough to reveal a hint of her underwear. Regina swears under her breath, fingers itching to delve underneath the fabric and dip into the fertile field so tragically concealed by silk and lace. The woman really is a shameless tease who enjoys taking advantage of the effect her womanly wiles produce in Regina. Thankfully the movement is clearly innocuous, as Red's expression betrays her submersion within the effervescent haze of a memory that is forever etched in both of their minds.

"You had your hair up in this high windswept bun and were wearing these tear-drop shaped earrings with onyx settings," Red goes on, her voice light and breezy, full of the wonderful magic of that most special night that comes to life with every passing word and second. "There was a bejeweled talon ring on your left index finger. And I'd never seen such a fancy necklace like the one that goes with that dress, either. The way it dipped into your cleavage..." she trails off, blushing alluringly, "Wow. To say I was awestruck doesn't begin to cover it, especially not when you were looking at me like I was your whole world, like you loved me beyond your own ability to comprehend it. I'd never felt so loved, so appreciated and cherished and desired. I was ready to fight the world for you before, but that night I realized I was ready to die for you."

Regina has heard all of this before, of course, though it never hurts to hear it again. It's nice to be reminded from time to time that the gamble she took that night has paid off in such spectacular fashion.

Having decided she would endure no more calls for her to abandon Red in favor of a suitable husband to further the kingdom's interest, the only natural course of action remaining was for her to elevate Red from the Queen's consort to her co-ruler. It was a risky move that flew in the face of powerful people who already did not particularly care for her, many of whom would be all too happy to see her dethroned or dead. deeply unpopular amongst the nobles, it accomplished Regina's ends just fine. Not only did all calls for her to but she got to make an honest woman out of the love of her life.

Knowing the night she proposed was to be momentous for them both, Regina pulled out all the stops. She spared no expense in arranging the exotic ingredients for their dinner to be imported from Chansiréne, a coastal town many leagues to the south. The seafood dish features something the local inhabitants of that realm refer to as lobster mornay under a bed of rice baked in a mix of onion soup and consommé, preceded by mussel and saffron soup, and is capped off by a rich chocolate mousse topped with sugary whipped cream. The meal became Red's favorite the first time she sampled it at a gala they were invited to while visiting Prince Eric and Princess Ariel shortly after the birth of their daughter Melody. With Red, Regina quickly discovered the old saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach is also only applicable women, especially when they are werewolves that require twice the caloric intake of a normal human female – and even more during Wolf's Time.

The royal dining hall was cleared out of all décor for the occasion save for the banner boasting the old family crest, the rearing stallion and dashing cavalier. The grand table large enough to host a party of fifty was disassembled and moved so a smaller, more intimate one could be brought in that seated only two. A lush red orchid was procured to decorate the table, again Red's favorite, and the best china and silverware in the castle was brought out. With much room to spare due to the lack of the grand table, a bevy of musicians were hired to keep up a constant stream of romantic music, all the most accomplished upon their instrument, featuring two violinists, a cellist, a flutist, and a guitarist from the realm of Xavier from whence Regina hailed. A recently developed instrument was debuted in the castle that night as well, the piano, a gorgeous piece of craftsmanship invented some years before in Drakkenhall – King Stefan's realm – and which only just caught on in Misthaven. New candelabras were ordered for the occasion with wolf's head cups, howling maws fashioned to hold the lavender scented candles Red prefers, and she had red orchid petals strewn about the floor as if the litter of their cozy stone forest with no trees and a canopy of thick cedar braces and rosewood paneling.

Regina can remember the moment Red walked in, arrayed in the dress Regina had requested her to wear that she instructed her personal designer to make just for that night. It was a slightly more sleek dress than Regina's, also brocade dyed, though instead of maroon accents upon a black background the colors were reversed and the designs deliberately depicting the branches of an apple tree whose fruit was shaped as a crescent moon. It had a unique neckline sewn to also resemble a crescent moon, though it was lacked the gaudy ornamentation as Red prefers simpler garments. All of her jewelry, the wolfshead necklace with burning red eyes and moon-shaped earrings, were gold and set with ruby gemstones, as Red cannot abide silver touching her skin due to her genetic condition. Meanwhile her hair was left down, curls tumbling over her shoulder and splaying down her back all the way to the small, a golden floral headband wound into the thick strands at her crown. Taken as a whole, she was a vision from the otherworld, an ethereal being wrapped in flesh whose skin was flush with joy and whose eyes danced with unfathomable devotion. Regina has only ever seen a more beautiful sight once, on their wedding day, when Red walked down the aisle in her wedding gown clinging to her grandmother's arm.

"You know I feel the same, darling," Regina says, reaching back for Red's hand, needing to feel their skin touch with undeniable fervency. When they join together, Red having slid off the bed, she tugs her wife over to the mirror. "For whatever reason I'm feeling nostalgic right now, not that it's a bad thing. That was a night I'll never forget."

Red bumps her hip, smiling at her. "Me either. I know why you're all sentimental right, though." When Regina arches a brow, Red's smile spreads into a cheeky grin. "It's 'cause of what happened in the shower a few minutes ago." Regina's amused scoff only makes Red chuckle and bump their hips together again. "C'mon. Admit it. I'm just that good."

A blush colors Regina's cheek, though she plays it off with her typical bluster. "Ha! And who was it that did all the work? I seem to recall it wasn't you..."

"Oh, yeah?" Red interrupts, her own cheeks glowing, "I seem to recall not even needing to touch you to make you cum. So tell me, who's the one with magic, huh? Bet that's a trick not even that old devil who taught you couldn't figure out."

A full body wince corkscrews through Regina at the mention of her old mentor. "Forgetting any thought of associating...him...with what we just did," she says, "I must grant that you have a unique ability to make me see stars that is quite magical indeed. It's why I keep you around, my love."

"Aww, and here I thought it was my rustic charm and pretty face that kept you coming back for more." Red bats her eyes prettily for effect. It works, which isn't all that shocking. Regina is long used to Red getting what she wants with a sly ability manipulate she would never have guessed the outwardly common woman to possess. She has paid dearly for that underestimation over the years. The only silver lining is that it is mostly to her benefit. Red hardly ever asks for anything that is purely selfish.

"Well, those admirable virtues certainly don't hurt your undeniable appeal." Regina adds a lighthearted wink at the end that tickles Red, who giggles in that genuine, cutesy way of hers that is endearing, unlike most other noble ladies who put on airs of a perpetual debutante incapable of achieving emotional or intellectual maturity. "That said," she adds, "best not brandish that charm too much lest we be even later for court than we already are."

The conversational redirect, although abruptly interrupting their enjoyable interplay, was a necessary step to get them back on track for the rest of the day. Sometimes in the heady aftermath of their lovemaking, Red is easily distracted and a chore to keep focused, which means Regina has to do some subtle steering. Such as now, when she would much prefer to loiter in their bedchambers and reminisce about the night she proposed and perhaps have a repeat of their positively volcanic tryst in the shower. Ah, the oft maddening frustrations of being a ruler…

"I'll try to keep it to a minimum then," Red says, amiably accepting the shift in direction. "Any suggestions for me? Or should I just pick out whatever I'm in the mood for?"

Regina taps her chin thoughtfully for a few moments before her mind is drawn once again to the night of her proposal. She snaps her fingers gleefully, eyes alighting.

"Why don't you fetch the dress you wore that night?" she says. "We can both enshroud ourselves in pieces of our history and let the memories bolster us through the coming hours of tedium."

"Ooooh! That's a great idea!" Clapping with delight, she skitters away toward her own wardrobe, throws it open and begins rifling through it to find the correct dress. When she finds it, she pulls it out and sweeps a hand across the fabric, inhales deeply then lets out a slow, dreamy sigh. "Oh goodness, I haven't worn this in so long." Her face then scrunches up, nose crinkling adorably as if she's smelled something rotten all of the sudden. "I wonder if I still fit in it. Gracious me, I bet I've gained fifteen pounds since we got married..."

She most certainly has not gained a single pound and she does still fit in the dress as perfectly as the first time she wore it. Regina deliberately points this out when Red is all buttoned up and looking so beautiful she cannot breathe for several seconds. Seeing Red in that dress dredges up so many emotions, all of the best kind – warmth, happiness, security, hope, a feeling of home that supersedes all other places or people that were formerly with that word, and so much love that her chest can hardly contain it and her heart barely withstand it. And when Red smiles that smile, the one that announces she is feeling all the same things, Regina has to force herself to behave when all she wants is to reenact the epic culmination of that supremely wonderful night.

With much difficulty she limits herself to three kisses before rechecking their dresses to smooth down any remaining wrinkles and making any last minute adjustments to their hair or the pounds of priceless jewelry they are expected to wear at such occasions as Petition Day. And then they are off hand-in-hand toward the throne room to get on with the never-ending business of being monarchs.

For the past four years the first Thursday of each month has been dedicated as the official day the Crown receives petitions. Today happens to be one such Thursday, although Red certainly has made them fashionably late. No matter. It is not the first time, nor will it be the last.

As per tradition, until sunset the royal couple is availed to their subjects so that they may receive complaints in matters either successfully appealed to a higher authority than their local magistrates or too broad in scope to fall under the umbrella of local or regional adjudication. Sometimes Regina defers judgment to Red, who presides alongside her, while sometimes she handles matters herself. In the most critical cases they confer with one another and do not render judgment until a consensus is reached.

No matter who is deciding the outcome of the various cases, the days are invariably long and mentally arduous. By the time they are back in their chambers, weary of mind as of body, Regina is usually rueing her vulnerability to a certain brunette's ridiculously effective appeals. It was Red's fault, after all, she was convinced to reinstitute the monthly event she had canceled upon her ascension to the throne. Previously, she had foisted responsibility to oversee the relevant cases upon the Council of Nobles. The system worked well enough, just not for Red, who had an idealistic view of the monarchy primarily inspired by any number of Snow's sanctimonious sermons about the Crown's accountability to the people. Anyone else's pleading would have been dismissed with prejudice. The thing is, with anyone else Regina did not have to contend with soulful green eyes tugging imploringly at an invisible string tied around her heart and an exaggerated pout accentuating lips that were always begging to be kissed.

"It really isn't fair," she often laments to Iris, their handmaid, "how easily the woman can weaponize a pout." Iris, usually struggling to contain a smile, simply reminds her she wouldn't wish it any other way. Which is true, not that Regina would ever admit to that.

On this particular occasion, there is an endless stream of claimants. They span the broad spectrum of society from nobles with petty squabbles over money and land to commoners whose penchant to be ruled by their passions has landed them into a variety of troubles. Most of the claims are easily handled within a matter of minutes, which leaves Regina to wonder why so many are left unattended by the local authorities.

Perhaps it is time for me to intervene, she tells herself as Red listens sympathetically to a woman's woeful tale. Apparently, her husband absconded to a neighboring kingdom with all of the capital from their business. Along with their most valuable, and much younger, employee. That this was not dealt with in the woman's district is revealing. Her subordinates are getting lazy, she decides, and she won't stand for it.

"I will personally write to Queen Abigail to negotiate the recompense of your lost capital," Red tells the woman, completely composed and in her element.

Red's current conduct is so unlike the uncertain, out-of-depths, skittish young commoner without an inkling about nobility, who for love of a Queen suddenly found herself thrust into the high pressure obligations of a monarch. There was a time she could not have spoken so many words without stammering or her voice being riddled with timidity. Years of practice have erased those hallmarks of what some might refer to as ineptitude, and Regina could not be more proud of the astounding progress that has been made. Red is every bit the graceful ruler she always knew she could be.

"Since taking the reins of rule, she has proven herself to be very reasonable," Red continues addressing the aggrieved woman who is hanging on her every word. "Also, the Queen and I have an excellent rapport with her that I'm sure she will take into account. Now, I cannot force your husband to come home, nor can I compel Queen Abigail to have him put in the stocks for a few days as he clearly deserves. But I can promise to do all I'm able to recoup your livelihood." When the woman nods gratefully, choking back a cry of thanks, Red gives her one of those patented smiles. "In the meantime, you will be extended a usury free loan to keep your business afloat. Should the overtures to Queen Abigail bear fruit, the treasury will simply account the incoming funds as your due repayment. Should they unexpectedly fail, you will be immediately forgiven half the debt and the rest you may pay as you are able over the course of five years. Does that sound fair?"

That question that causes Regina to wince, though she schools her features quickly lest her highly perceptive wife notice. Red is an excellent judge of character and has a keen mind for numbers, but sometimes her benevolent tendencies gets the better of her. She would be better served to care slightly less about what seems fair to those she is judging when said parties have a vested interest in exclusively and aggressively pursuing their own favor. What is fair to the petitioner is nearly always at odds with what is advantageous to the Crown.

But Regina has learned to pick her battles where her wife is concerned. In some areas, Red is as resistant to change as she is. And ultimately, she can't complain too much when Red's compassion offsets her own pragmatism, thus keeping the scales of justice in precarious balance. It's just another example of how well suited they are for one another. In this case, the kingdom just so happens to be the beneficiary.

"Yes, Your Majesty, very fair," the woman says, effusive with gratitude, as she ought to be considering the extraordinary mercy she's been shown. "I swear I won't forget this. Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome," Red says, still smiling as she waves for the Chamberlain, who scurries at her beckoning. "Richard! Escort this lovely lady to the Treasury and instruct Ebeneezer to extend her a loan of twenty-five gold pieces, thirty-seven silver, and forty coppers." Eyes sharpening, she leans forward deliberately. "Make certain he understands the credit is to be without interest. If he gives you any lip about it, tell him I know what he did for Bob Crachit's boy and wouldn't mind one bit widely disseminating that little glimpse of his humanity."

"Yes, of course, Your Majesty. Right away," Richard replies, then bows deeply before gesturing toward the doors of the throne room. "Come along, dear. Let's get you sorted out. Shall we?" Still mumbling her thanks, the woman follows the Chamberlain out the door.

Regina chuckles lowly at Red's choice of tactic to handle their treasurer. "Well, well. Blackmail? I didn't know you had it in you."

Red harrumphs. "Serves the old codger right. What he did for Timmy was sweet. I don't see why he's so embarrassed about being kind to a sick kid on Yule. He could stand to do it more often."

"Not too often," Regina says, one corner of her lips twisting up wickedly. "Having an implacable Scrooge for our Treasurer has made us incredibly wealthy."

Red just laughs, shaking her head in exasperation as Regina waves the guard at the door. Obeying the silent command, he goes about granting admission to the next petitioner. While she waits, she relaxes into her throne and adopts an air of irritated boredom. Best to keep things moving along. Her old reputation still has it's uses. If people think she's on edge, they won't be as apt to take their liberties with time or tone.

Expecting another tedious case, she is not at all prepared for the panicked messenger who bursts through the grand double doors with all the delicacy of one of those berserkers from the north on the warpath. The man's face is awash with tension and sweat trickles down the long line of his square jaw. He is limping noticeably, favoring his left leg, while his left arm hangs uselessly at his side.

Regina jerks forward upon her throne and she hears Red gasp upon recognizing the knight as one currently serving in the far reaches of the realm. There is a garrison near the border shared with the realm Snow White and Prince Charming rule that he commands. It is one of the kingdom's most vital outposts. She has not suspected Snow and Charming of being up to no good for some time, but she cannot afford to leave anything to chance where her long-time enemy is concerned. An ounce of prevention and all that.

"Captain Locksley," she says to the faithful soldier. Her tone is strained as she was immediately set on edge by his frightful condition. "I am surprised to see you here seeing as I have not requested your presence. You are not due to give your yearly report for another six weeks. Why, then, have you abandoned your post?"

There are few more dependable men in service to the crown than Robin of Locksley. He is another one of Red's pet projects. A rugged survivalist who once made Sherwood Forest his home, he made an unlikely friend out of Misthaven's new Queen when he attempted to rob her carriage passing through on the way to visit her grandmother and her pals, Snow and Charming. Long had the Prince of Thieves been a nuisance to all three monarchs whose realms trisected the sprawling, labyrinthine forest most sane individuals preferred to avoid.

Bandits and thieves were not the only dangers that lurked in the deep shadows of Sherwood. There were unnatural terrors that made their home in the crevices and hollows of a forest as famous for not allowing light to penetrate its thick canopy as for being the last known location of the missing and presumed dead. Robin and his Merry Men scraped out a living there, what's more, they made it into a home. They were a formidable bunch of miscreants and outlaws. Just not formidable enough to take on a werewolf capable of destroying elite squadrons of highly trained soldiers all by herself. They had thought it a once in a lifetime stroke of luck spotting the Queen's carriage cutting through Sherwood's eastern flank. Red proved them wrong. When she was done, all eight of Robin's men were incapacitated and the legendary bowman himself treed by a wolf so massive even the skulking horrors of Sherwood fled from her in fear.

Of course, being the push over that she is, Red let them all go. She swears to this day Robin persuasively talked himself out of being brought in by offering to take her to their camp where he introduced her to his family and the families of his larcenous entourage. It is the exact same story she used to convince Regina to drop all charges against the exiled nobleman who was forced to flee for his life after his father was murdered and his good name ruined by a corrupt Sheriff who was angling to ingratiate himself to an equally unscrupulous Prince. When Red sets her mind to something, there is no changing it. Championing Robin's cause is proof enough of that. She was relentless in his defense and visited Sherwood often until she eventually wore down Regina's resolve. That Prince John was decidedly furious with her granting Robin and all of his Merry Men sanctuary provided an additional benefit to a decision that she has yet to have cause to regret.

There are few better suited for leadership than Captain Locksley. Before his exile, he had served in the army of his king and been a veteran commander of many battles on foreign soil. His experience with banditry only sharpened an already keen tactical mind and a broad, strong frame built for combat. It is little surprise that Mulan took an instant liking to him and brought him on as her second. Approving Mulan's appointment of him to commander over the strategic outpost nestled against the border with the White Kingdom was a foregone conclusion. Outside of her Commanding General, Captain Locksley is one of her finest soldiers.

Robin is also a good, kind, lionhearted man. He is an excellent father and a loving husband and very good friend to both Regina and Red. Which made discovering his lion tattoo a bit more palatable. Make no mistake, it threw her for a loop for a long time, but when she got over the shock, she realized who they might have been to one another made no difference in the present. When she walked away from the tavern, and him, that day so many years ago, she had made the right choice. Both of them were happier for her cowardice, and far better off. Having come to know Robin personally through Red, she is convinced they are fundamentally incompatible. How Tinker Bell's fairy magic linked them together, she has no idea except to theorize the bungling wasp made yet another mistake. Which is not out of the realm of possibility when Blue thought Tink so incompetent she was stripped of her wings then banished to Neverland of all places. Whatever the case for the mishap, Regina is glad she didn't listen to Tinker Bell. And so is Robin, who agrees wholeheartedly with her dubious assessment of them supposedly being Soul Mates. For him, that is Marian, while for her that is Red. No one can convince either of them otherwise.

Anyway, seeing Robin injured is unsettling enough without him having left his post. Deep in the pit of her stomach, she suspects that whatever brought him here today is about to shake the foundations of her life. She cannot imagine how right she is.

In response to Regina's pointed question, Robin ducks his head as he approaches the dais, kneeling before his Queen like the good soldier that he is, in spite of the pain the action causes. "I have not, my Queen," he replies after raising his head to meet her demanding gaze. His injuries aside, there is something in his tone that she's never heard before, a terror and fury that is reflected in his eyes. When Regina raises a brow at the deflection, he sighs, then proceeds to amend his statement. "I mean to say, Your Majesty, that there is no post left to abandon. The garrison has been burnt to the ground and the regiment slaughtered. I am the last living of seventy-five."

"What?!" she snaps, rising abruptly. Beside her, she feels Red stiffen in horror, and though her wife and fellow Queen remains seated, Red does scoot to the edge of her seat. Gripping the armrest so forcefully it groans out a creak, concern wafts out from her in waves. Regina does not have to glance down to know her wife's expression gives off much the same impression as her posture. "What the hell happened, Captain?" she then demands of her subordinate.

Captain Locksley's proud shoulders shrink inward at her tone. He is clearly haunted by the events that have lead him here, and Regina's harshness has only exacerbated the trauma he has suffered. She takes several slow breaths to calm her rising temper. Though her control returns, his reaction has ratcheted up her concern several degrees.

"I left my second in command in charge while I accompanied a patrol of new recruits in the local forests to personally gauge their mettle, as is my custom," he replies. "When I returned two hours later, the garrison was burning. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Green flames engulfed the entire structure, and the heat was so intense that I and the men who accompanied me on patrol could not get within twenty yards without being overcome. Inside, I could hear the tormented screams of those trapped and burning alive. That's when she appeared." He looks away, his speech petering out as he gives a barely noticeable shudder.

"Who appeared, Robin?" Red then asks, much more gentle in her prodding.

Whereas Regina respects and trusts Captain Robin Locksley as a loyal soldier, Red values him as a friend. Affection for Red is not uncommon among the military. Their junior Queen is often to be found among them, having joined in on their training to keep her combat skills sharp or to simply enjoy the camaraderie of a tight-knit unit who depend upon one another to survive. They welcome her because she is one of those rare individuals whose smile unleashes the sun and whose eyes reflect the best version of those around her. Morale is measurably boosted whenever she is around. Her prowess in hand-to-hand and with the bow have earned their admiration, but it is her innate kindness and her unique ability to make them all laugh that inspires their undying love. For that reason alone, Regina tolerates her Queen spending so much time with a rough and tumble and often uncouth crowd. Held to an exceedingly high standard of comportment they may be, but her soldiers are still soldiers.

When Regina once expressed concern that Red was sacrificing her authority over them to gain their friendship, she refused to heed the warnings. She was determined to be uncomfortably close to the men and women she may one day have to order out to their deaths.

"As Queen, I have sent legions to their inevitable doom," Regina had explained. "I was groomed to be able to deal with the repercussions, but I worry about your tender heart and the effect such a heavy weight might have on it. When factoring in your personal relationships with them, that worry gets a little too close to fear for my liking. You endanger yourself needlessly by befriending those who might be called to die tomorrow on your command."

"If they are going to be sacrificing their lives for me at any time in the future, then I owe them the respect of knowing them as human beings," Red had countered, fierce in her stance. "And don't be so concerned for my heart. I'm tougher than I look. You of all people should know that."

"I do know that," Regina had sighed. "But you're my wife. My job is to protect you at all costs, even if that means the threat is from yourself."

And it is a job she will never relinquish by choice. That Red's goodness is only equaled by her toughness does not eliminate the obligation to shield her spouse from any and all pain she can. Red gets close enough to the troops as is considering the cold truth that armies are expendable. For that reason alone, she instituted a policy that keeps her companies out on rotations rather than permanently assigning one to the Citadel. Red cannot grow dangerously attached to men and women who are not constantly stationed in such close proximity. Selfish though it was, the change was what she believed to be best for Red at the time. That opinion has not changed one iota since.

Still, Red stubbornly finds ways to keep in touch with those she has grown particularly fond of. Such as her favorite drinking buddies, preeminent among them Captain Locksley and General Mulan.

In recognition of that friendship, Captain Locksley gives Red a small smile before his grimace returns in full force. "She did not speak her name," he then answers Red's question as to the identity of the person who has destroyed a vital garrison in the realm's defense. Regina is burning to know who it is so that she can personally see to it that they are captured and punished.

"Is there anything of value that you can tell us?" Regina inquires. She doesn't mean to come off so harshly, but her hackles are raised and she is angry, an emotion she has always found incredibly difficult to conceal.

Captain Locksley winces, then nods in affirmation. "She was tall and beautiful, with pale skin and hair the color of the setting sun. She dressed in all black. I can also tell you also that she wiped out my men with little effort, wielding power that surpasses any I have witnessed. And I do not disrespect Your Majesty with that statement. It is merely an observation."

"Duly noted," Regina says through clenched teeth and then gestures in his direction. "So this woman is a tall and beautiful sorceress of great power. Is there anything else?" He nods, and she says, "Then by all means, continue."

"The most distinguishing thing about her," he goes on after a rasping cough, "is her skin. It is green, your Majesty, just as her magic."

Regina raises a judgmental brow. "And yet you say she was beautiful? If I didn't know your wife to be such a lovely woman, I would be inclined to question your tastes, Captain, if not your eyesight."

"Regina..." Red sighs, and Regina rolls her eyes.

"My apologies." She is insincere in her delivery. And while both Red and Captain Locksley are well aware she does not mean the apology, they accept it all the same. The soldier does so because she is his Queen whereas Red simply loves her unconditionally. "Was there anything else?"

"Yes, my Queen," Captain Locksley replies. "She did not kill me for a reason. She left me alive, though maimed, to deliver a message."

That grabs Regina's interest. "Oh? And what might that message be?"

He grunts and then coughs again, this time covering his mouth with the sleeve of his white tunic. When it comes away bloody, Red rises and makes to rush to his aid. Regina halts her with a hand on her forearm.

"Let the man speak," she says, not unkindly, "and then I will have him taken straight to the physician."

Red clearly has objections to this sequencing, but she defers out of propriety and trust. Although Regina has made Red a Queen in equal standing with her, as Red's elder, both in age and experience, it is common knowledge that Regina's word is the highest in the land, something with which Red is perfectly agreeable.

"The message is this," he says, and as he speaks, his voice morphs from his masculine timber into something altogether feminine. His accent shifts along with the change, making the effect jarring. Silence falls over the court as the Captain rises to his feet as if completely against his will.

Regina suddenly understands what is going on and she shifts herself to stand between her wife and the soldier whose will and motor function have been usurped in an act of magical prowess few are capable of. It's as if the man has been possessed, and in a manner, she knows he has been. Or at least a very specific part of him has been. A cold chill shoots down her spine. The taking of hearts is the darkest of magicks that only the Dark One and his disciples can perform.  Is it possible Rumplestiltskin is behind this?

"No longer is this realm safe," the new voice proclaims. It is the witch, Regina knows, speaking through the Captain's heart, which she has wrenched from his chest. "There is a new ruler in Misthaven. Just as Oz before, Misthaven will fall and all shall bow to me. Beginning with you, Queen Regina." At that, Locksley's eyes level square on Regina. They are cold, so very cold, and devoid of humanity, and Regina can see by his corresponding expression that the individual controlling him is completely insane. "Let this be your one and only warning. I am coming for what is owed to me, and I will take it, leaving you broken at my feet before I end your miserable life. Prepare yourself accordingly, Your Majesty. The days of your reign are numbered."

And with that, Captain Locksley suddenly returns to himself. "My Queen, she intends to pois-" But he does not get to finish his sentence. He straightens with a sharp gasp and his eyes bug out in untold agony before he goes limp. He slumps face first to the floor as if a rag doll. Regina does not need to feel for a pulse to know he is dead, his heart having been ground to dust.

Shocked, she stares the prone, unmoving figure of her friend and faithful servant. Her heart races in her chest, anger and despair cascading through her torso with its every fierce collision against her rib cage. Poor Marian and Roland. How is she supposed to break this news to Robin's family? She aches for them and the pain they will soon have to endure. And for what? Because some crazy bitch hates me?

"Robin!" Red's voice suddenly rings out, shrill in her dismay. She scurries gracelessly to the fallen man's side and turns him over, cradling him in her arms. She calls his name several times as she paws at his face, trying to rouse him from a slumber that will never end. When reality finally dawns, she turns brimming eyes up to Regina, desperate for answers she can't give.

"I'm so sorry," Regina says, and then gestures for her guards to come and take the body. Red resists their initial attempts, growling at them through baleful yellow eyes. They spring back in fear. "Stand down, my love. You must let them take him," Regina then says, gathering her skirts to descend the dais. Once standing beside her grief stricken wife, she lays a gentle hand on her shoulder and the gestures for the guards to try again. When they come and crouch to gather the body of their fallen comrade, Red does not protest, although she whimpers as Captain Locksley is taken from her arms and carried away.

Only after the doors close behind the guards does Red lift herself from the floor. She stands for several moments, breathing heavily and trying not to cry in front of the entire court. Regina takes her hand and gently cups her face.

"Go to our chambers and do as you must away from prying eyes," she says, eyes imploring Red to listen. She knows Red needs to have a long, miserable cry and can't unless she is sequestered somewhere private – it is not becoming for a queen, even one as informal and famous for her gentle heart as Red, to show such sentimentality in front of her subjects. "I will take care of business here and then come to you directly." Red begins to protest, but Regina does not let her. "Please, darling. For me."

"Okay. For you," Red agrees after a moment of silence. A solitary tear rolls down her cheek.

Heedless of the impropriety, Regina leans in to give her wife a kiss upon the forehead, hoping that it helps, even if just a little, to alleviate her grief.

It is unbearable to see Red in any kind of pain, making for a stressful life considering Red is a werewolf who enjoys getting into trouble at every opportunity. Often she incurs injuries that, were she human, would be lethal or at best have severely maimed her. Being that she is a werewolf, she bounces back quickly, but that doesn't assuage Regina's anxieties any at all. She still frets over Red every time she limps home wounded from a scuffle with a bear or some other large animal during Wolf's Time, and still hovers like a worried mother hen whenever something happens that wounds Red's sensitive heart.

To her relief, Red ducks her head to accept the kiss, and seems to marginally calm down before giving Regina a weak smile. Without another word, she departs the throne room. And though her shoulders are drawn in and her gait is a bit uneven, she holds her head high.

Knowing that Red is processing what has happened without becoming mired in anger or sorrow helps Regina to go about the rest of her day. She finishes taking petitions an hour past midday, having cut them short due to recent events. That she'd continued on at all surprises even her. Routine, she has discovered, helps to soothe frayed nerves so she can think more clearly. By the time the last of the petitions is heard, the burning outrage from the Captain's news and his subsequent death have been reduced into smoldering embers. A manageable state through which she can plan without being reckless.

Afterward, she retires to her chambers to check on Red, whom she finds curled up asleep in their bed. She did not need to see reddened, splotchy cheeks or smeared mascara around the eyes for her to recognize an almost palpable grief. She had heard snoring before she opened the chamber door, and that was more than enough evidence. Red only ever snores when she is totally exhausted, suffering from a rare bout of allergies at the changing of the seasons, or is overly worried about something that plagues her mind even in her sleep.

Knowing how deeply wounded Red is by the Captain's death hurts, and not in a way that indicates any kind of jealousy. This is one of the reasons she so worries about Red's frequent interactions with the men and women sworn to protect the realm and the royal family. Soldiers die. It is a hard, inescapable fact of life in a world torn by strife between rival kingdoms and factions often at each other's throats. Conflicts spark into life with such regularity and with so little advanced notice that every monarch with the means to do so keeps standing armies in battle-readiness year around. Whether small or large, battles mean a pile of wounded and dead for both sides.

Regina has attempted countless appeals for Red to be careful with her heart. A sensitive one such as hers should not be made to endure repeated losses, which it will because many of the soldiers she has befriended will die in combat long before reaching middle age. But Red ignores those pleas in favor of continuing to spar with the castle's garrison and clandestinely patronize her favorite pub with her friends of military persuasion. Twice a month they gather in the little town located at the base of the mountain upon which the castle sits to carouse and tell stories and laugh until their bellies hurt. The only reason Regina hasn't put a stop to it is because of how happy it makes Red to have that time to unwind with folk cut from the same cloth as her. Commoners have this universal thread of acceptance as to the importance of having fun in the grand scheme of life. Regina thinks it is because they all understand, much more clearly the nobility, how tragically brief and ruthless life is.

There was a time in Regina's life she valued fun also, but her fun had been of a different sort. To her, riding horses or fencing with her private instructor or passing a lazy afternoon reading were ideal forms of recreation. Not that she can indulge in such things when being Queen imposes strict restraints on very nearly her every waking hour. The majority of what precious spare time she has is allocated for her family. Only what remains is spent on hobbies. But that doesn't mean she begrudges Red her outings. Quite the opposite. She isn't so callous that she would deny Red any opportunity to enjoy herself when that would be just the same as locking her up in a cage, gilded as it may be.

Werewolves are social creatures who require interaction not only with other wolves but with other people. Normally the pack would meet both of these needs. But Red is without a true pack, which means she has to find stimulation elsewhere by running in her fur with the wolf packs native to Misthaven and by commiserating with what human friends she is able to make that Regina approves as trustworthy. That stipulation rubbed Red the wrong way many a time, but it was the only way Regina was going to let her Queen spend time away from her personal guard and outside of Regina's proximity. Captain Locksley was the first person Red met in the Dark Palace that Regina found worthy of that trust. He was, other than Snow, Red's oldest friend.

The sorrow written upon Red's face and evident upon her still form even in slumber elicits an acute need to crawl into bed with her wife, if only to give her what comfort she can. It's a crying shame their Huntsman is so far afield, else she could indulge her selfish desires. But Graham is even more indisposed than Mulan, and with no one else she trusts enough to handle this crisis, the responsibility falls to her. It is with great difficulty that she scrounges up enough strength to leave after watching over Red for only a few precious minutes.

Before departing, she again brushes her lips against her wife's forehead and whispers, "I love you. I really am so sorry."

Here’s a link to Regina’s dress.