#she did it by making the kids all stay on the shore too

[words-are-my-medium]

I totally get all those who are wanting Robin or Steve and Nancy together (because Robin is suddenly her gal pal SUPER fast and the show seems set on having EVERYONE try to force Steve back to her, which wth?! but yeah it's there, even if I hate it) but I just can't, like, I NEED Joncy. I waited until the S4 binge to watch S3 and coming off of my first time of S3 which really deepened their relationship so soon like... nah, y'all can't take them away from me.

Shared trauma. Matching scars on their palms and matching scars in their hearts because they both had to kill their former bosses to survive, yes they were possessed by a monster and it was self defense but they still murdered people. They didn't know if it was possible to save them. And then after, when the blob went towards Nancy, Jonathan screaming desperately to get its attention to him instead. That S3 episode gave me chills, more trauma that only they can understand with each other.

Jonathan always wanting the best for her even if it kills him. Telling her that Steve asked him to take her home after the party in S2, trying to cheer her up even if it meant making Steve look better when others might have seized that opportunity to gain her favor. Him making an honest attempt to connect with Samantha at the party like Nancy suggested and maybe there could have been something there but then Nancy needed him. Not wanting to tell her he was going to a different school because he didn't want to pressure her to give up on her dreams for him. Jonathan has had to grow up long before he should have and has spent years putting his loved ones first over himself working and taking care of Will. He doesn't want even a fraction of that disappointment and deep-seated resentment for her. But his and Nancy's interests still align even if their paths are not the same so that they could still have a life together.

Nancy says in S2 she waited for him after S1, and he scoffs it was only "like a month". A month he was trying to put his family back together after they had a FUNERAL for Will. He wasn't ready for the relationship even though he had feelings for her. She learns that over time. They fight about Jonathan's needing a job and her not understanding her privilege, and they come together again stronger, the end of S3 with that hug and that talk before he left. They are two people who have been through so much together and continue to learn to understand each other and come together again better after every hurdle.

So let's do it again this time too. I need Joncy, please I like Steve no hate to him but let's leave that where it is please, I want Byler and Steddie and Robin with a girlfriend too but not Nancy, I need Joncy to survive 🥺

[nyctophicbtch]

Outsiders - Neteyam

[ Neteyam x Metkayina!reader ]

Summary: Despite your uninterests in getting to know the Omatikaya guests, you’d somehow managed to capture the attention of the eldest brother and Neteyam messed up by doing the one thing your brother told him not to. Plus Lo’ak being the captain of the ship.

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2,033

Just as expected, there were no particular signs of interest your siblings found in you when Omatikayas showed up on the shore, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t curious upon their arrival.

“She will show up.” You faintly heard Rotxo quietly say to Ao’nung as you approached the commotion.

A glimpse of your father and mother speaking to an Olo'eyktan had you pushing through the crowd to get a better view. You could see your sister already examining the outsiders alongside your brother, being fairly kinder than he was.

“See,” remarked Rotxo as he spotted you making your way over to them.

Their banter over you was not uncommon. It never bothered you and you could care less with what they were whispering about now when you knew they had no ill intentions. Instead, you shifted your attention to the family standing before you and eyed each of them individually.

The littlest one was hiding behind her mother’s leg, the other girl looked exhausted and the younger boy had his eyes glancing at your sister too often to your annoyance.

You glanced at the eldest just as he did too, noticing you for the first time. The corners of his lips curved upwards to form a subtle smile in an attempt to seem friendly, which others might have missed but your brothers didn’t.

It wasn’t the smartest friendly attempt, considering how it only deepened the distaste of your brother into sneers and scowls.

“If he hasn’t already, he’s going to take interest in you,” whispered Ao’nung, though he didn’t seem pleased to know that. “You’re alluring. Stay away.”

“I won’t even do anything!”

“Exactly.”

“Shh,” interrupted Tsireya.

You shot a glare towards your brother in annoyance. He knew you wouldn’t even be interested in seeing them, let alone talking to them, yet somehow he was so sure that they’d approach you on their own

“They won’t even care, Ao’nung.” You had been so busy furiously thinking of arguments against your brother that the call of your name spooked you.

“They will teach you our ways,” your father said, earning immediate complaints from your brother whilst Tsireya obliged and wasted no time in leading the guests.

There was no doubt that your sister could handle them, and your siblings wouldn’t expect you to be interested in teaching them either. And they weren’t wrong. You’d prefer entertaining the kids running around the sand than guiding them.

“Where’s your other sister?” asked Kiri when she noticed your absence.

Neteyam hung back with Lo’ak as their parents busied themselves gazing at the village. The place still felt foreign to them, and even more so when they knew they’d be staying here.

“Doing something else. She’s not used to outsiders.” Tsireya did not stop to reply, the words coming off her tongue as if she had practiced it a thousand times.

Lo’ak raised his brows at the mention of another sister. He was too caught up fuming at Rotxo and Ao’nung to even notice you, but he doubted any of them were used to outsiders either.

“The quiet one.” Neteyam replied to his unspoken question. “The interesting one.”

“Go anywhere near her and we’ll tie you up with your baby tail.”

“Relax, she’s all yours.” Neteyam held his hands up in defense. He didn’t understand why they were getting so defensive over you although he barely even looked your way. Lo’ak was ogling at Tsireya and they didn’t seem too bothered.

Something was off about you, especially when you’d so rarely make yourself visible to any of them for days. He would’ve expected the daughter of the Olo'eyktan to be difficult to miss, especially when they all expected you to help teach them the Metkayina ways. And to be truthful, you just enjoyed doing your own thing that does not involve the outsiders.

“Father’s expecting all of us to join them.” Your annoyance was clearly visible. You weren’t even needed. They could handle this on their own without you, and your father knew that.

“Fine.”

-

You left them alone for two minutes and somehow they were already taunting each other when you came back. Your sister was called to help mother, much to your dismay, and you were putting back the saddles of the ilu.

“Lo’ak,” you heard Neteyam warn as you returned to the group behind Ao’nung, giving some distance.

When Lo’ak approached and flexed his fingers around, you knew what was coming before the punch actually landed on your brother’s face.

“Rotxo, stop!” you yelled, pulling him back by his hand. He shook you off easily, dismissing your warnings.

You looked to Neteyam who sighed, as if he’d witness this too many times. The older brother easily beat up Ao’nung and his friends in Lo’ak’s defense, scolding Lo’ak afterwards.

“Come on,” Ao’nung waited expectantly for you to follow them. He sensed your hesitance and saw the way your eyes roamed back and forth between them and the Omatikayas, and finally decided to leave without you.

“In my defense, you got to show off in front of her,” said Lo’ak groggily, nodding to you.

“Excuse my brother and his unrefined mouth.” Neteyam received a weak punch for that and the tiniest smile from you. He didn’t comprehend why, but Neteyam smiled at your amusement and from then, the annoyance you felt from having to teach them disappeared. Just slightly.

“Do I have to face dad?”

“Yes. Until then keep out of trouble. I mean it Lo’ak.”

It was safe to say Neteyam was impressed that his brother managed to not utter a single provoking word until he had to face their father.

“Hey.” Neteyam spun to the sound of your voice. It was nearly sundown and you were standing outside his room. “Sorry about my brother and his friends. I can still teach you how to control your breathing if you’d like.”

The mindful part of him knew he should go find his brother who hadn’t been visible for a long while, but the selfish part of him allowed his interests to take over. And this time, he allowed something for himself for once. Besides, Lo’ak should stay out of trouble after his last encounter with dad.

“Yeah. Sure.”

You nodded towards the shore and Neteyam jumped off his marui to follow you. It took great effort to avoid bumping into any of the children running around and splashing water.

“The secret to increasing your lungs’ limit is to slow your breathing and allow them to slowly adapt,” you said, pushing him back by the chest with both hands so that he sat down.

“Breathe from here.” You were only showing him parts of his chest and abdomen, but he couldn’t help the increasing pace of his heart as your hands felt around his chest. His eyes locked on your face the entire time in an attempt to focus on what you were saying, but the words that came out from your mouth sounded foreign to his brain.

“Your heart is beating really fast.” You frowned. “Slow down.”

Neteyam nodded, but when you felt his heart keep its frantic pace, you sighed and removed your hands from his chest.

“We’ll try this again tomorrow with my sister.”

-

Neteyam did the one thing Ao’nung told him not to do. He found himself coming up with excuses to see you and he was just about subtle enough that even Tuk noticed.

“I just made peace. This time I think you’re going to be the one to mess things up.”

“I’m not doing anything.” They both knew it was a lie and Neteyam was fully aware of that.

“Can you show the way to our marui? They all look the same,” Lo’ak mockingly mimicked the conversation he overheard between you and his brother yesterday. Lo’ak was basking in his enjoyment.

It was something unlikely of Neteyam and something expected of Lo’ak, which made the whole situation even more amusing to the younger brother.

“Ow.” Lo’ak swatted away the hand that hit him in the back of his head.

“You’re being annoying. Stop.”

“Stop being a wuss and make a move. It’s her birthday.” The look Neteyam gave was out of pure disbelief.

“I’m not you who falls in love with every pretty girl you see.”

“I do not do that.”

“Yes you do. Now go annoy someone else. I’m going to see if mom found our gift.” Neteyam pushed the weight of Lo’ak’s arm away from his shoulder, distancing himself before walking the other direction.

“Actually, you already gave her one.” The words from his brother’s mouth caused Neteyam to freeze in place and turn his head to look at him.

“What?”

“You gave her a pretty sea bouquet with a sweet little note.” If he could, Neteyam would tear the smug look off of his brother’s face.

“Kurkung.” Asshole. “What did the note say?”

“You’re going to have to ask her yourself. She actually shows up when you’re around.”

Happy birthday, tanhì

- Neteyam

You somehow doubted that this was actually from Neteyam. He didn’t seem like the type to show romantic gestures to someone he met only a few weeks ago. You were surprised that he was even interested in you at all and it had you flushing like an idiot.

“What’s got you so smiley?” asked Rotxo, snatching the note from your hand before you could reply.

“Hey!”

“That bastard. I thought mom got you that.” Your brother gestured to the bouquet with a glare. You had no idea why your brother and his friends were so against you and Neteyam. It wasn’t like either of you showed any interest in each other. Well, not until now.

“Lay off, Rotxo. It’s her birthday,” you heard Ao’nung’s voice before he entered the marui and stole the note from Rotxo’s hands. Your brother’s hand ruffled your hair in a way he knew you hated. “Happy birthday, hì’i kxetse.”

Happy birthday, small tail.

You shoved his hand away in annoyance, the glare you sent looking more playful than menacing. The pushes turned into fights and a full race to the waters.

“Guys-“ Rotxo never got to finish what he was saying since the two of you were already running through the poor villagers that minded their own business, occasionally bumping into some of them.

Ao’nung was grinning at his expected victory when you tackled him from behind. The rest of the way was filled with tripping, pulling, and your attempts at kicking him away from you.

You were nearly there. Aonung would often beat you most of the time, but on lucky days, you claimed the victory.

“Woah!” Before you could stop yourself, you slammed into Neteyam, knocking the both of you over to the waters.

Water filled your lungs quicker than you could comprehend and it seemed like Neteyam did the same since he was coughing a fit once the two of you resurfaced.

“Sorry,” you mumbled an apology in between coughs.

“Looks like lover boy helped you win, little sis.” Ao’nung appeared from behind you. Your brother did nothing, but you hit him on his forehead - which felt like a weak nudge to him - for his mere existence. “I’m gonna fetch Rotxo. I’m still keeping my eye on you, forest boy.”

Once Ao’nung was out of earshot you were quick to approach him and apologize for your brother’s hostility. “Sorry for him. I liked your gift, though. It was lovely.”

Neteyam knew it wasn’t really his gift, but he couldn’t help but play along. Lo’ak was never going to let this go and he knew it. He was “forever in Lo’ak’s debt”.

“It’s alright. Happy birthday again.”

You smiled at Neteyam, leaning in to put a hand on his jaw and he hoped you couldn’t feel the speed of his heartbeat increasing as you gave a peck to his cheek. It was supposed to be him, yet you were the one whose face flushed and quickly swam away to find your ilu.

Lo’ak just found the entire thing amusing.

He raised a brow suggestively as Neteyam spotted him standing by the shoreline, blowing a kiss his way, which was responded with water splashed to his face.

“You’re welcome.”

kurkung [ˈkuɾ.kuŋ] n. asshole (vulgar)

tanhì [tan.ˈhɪ] n. star, bioluminescent freckle

hì’i [ˈhɪ.ʔi] adj. small, little (in size)

kxetse [ˈk’ɛ.t͡sɛ] n. tail

[blingblong55]

Did you care?- König

Part 1 is here

F!Reader, angst, no happy ending, cheating

"König!" you laugh, the waves of the warm summer ocean crashing against you. His family had invited you with them that summer, the first girl he ever brought home. He never told you that though. "Oh my Liebling." he laughs with you, taking you deeper into the ocean. It was then that he knew how strong love can be. Hours later, as you chased his little nieces and nephew along the shore, his family told him something he still remembers.

The accident, that is when you knew he still cared. At the age of 37, that is when he became a father to a woman he never loved. A car crash and stitches, that is what brought you to him. A father and a boyfriend, never to marry anyone else that isn't you, that is what made him a coward to his girlfriend's family. "R/N, König has gotten into a car accident." his mother called you around 2 am, her voice so tired and filled with fear. You dropped everything, including the late-night dinner you were having with your then-partner.

"Love, where are you going?" he questioned you. "A friend needs me, she...she broke up with her boyfriend and she needs me." The first of many lies you told to keep him safe. You didn't cheat but you lied to visit the guy you will always love. As you drove to the hospital, tears ran down your face. It was fear, regret and shame. "Hallo, ich muss einen Patienten finden-"

"R/N." his mother came rushing to you, tears on her face. You hugged her and walked with her to the waiting area. His father was there as well, you hugged him too and after minutes of breaks and cries, the story lay in your hands. The mother of his child ran away with his kid, he begged and cried for her to return. She lost their kid, got arrested and after a week of looking, he heard his child was found. One drunk driver, that is all it took to have you sit there, holding the hand of his forlorn mother. His child was under the custody of the police and he was in a grey room.

"You think you'll ever end up marrying me, R/N?" he looked over at you as you hung up decorations for Christmas. "I don't see myself ever marrying and there are times I fear of it. Just know this, I know I am meant for someone." He nods and keeps the ring in his pocket tucked away. "Yeah." was all he answered. You looked at him as he looked away at some decoration.

"For you, that is who I am meant for. I don't want a ring, a dress or a ceremony, I want this, this life you and I already have." you wished to say but those words never came out. Month after month you gave him clear clues that you wanted to be the one he lived with, old and grey.

You didn't even notice when his parents had gone to his room. You sat and stared at the white wall. The two years and a half that you spent trying to forget him all come crashing down. One phone call from his mother and you were there at his disposal. Many ask, what parts of life flash before someone as they near their possible death? For him it was you. The day at the beach, Christmas, the drunk karaoke, silly argument over movies. "Harry and Sally stayed together!" you protested. "Mein Liebling, Harry and Sally are two of the people I know will not make it to old age together. It was a kiss, maybe Sally left after that."

The one thing that he knew flashed before his eyes was the conversation at the beach years ago. Once you were let into his room, you sat by his bed. Parents out in the hallways, you held his hand. Fear was to die alone but this image was the current fear. Tears ran down your face, it didn't matter that he cheated years ago, that you two hadn't spoken since but what mattered was him now. You stoked his hair and kissed his forehead with trembling lips. Before, you couldn't stand him, but he was in this world alive and that brought you tranquillity. The thought of him no longer in it, that was the fear. Who cared if he moved on, he was alive, healthy and happy.

The muse to the blues you whistled, the kiss he gave you on the mysterious bruise, the cliche dance in the kitchen at midnight, and now you sit there, looking at his scarred face. You whispered for only him to hear, "That evening in December, when you were going to propose, I would've said yes, I was meant for someone, remember?" You stood up and walked out of the room. "R/N, will you stay?" His father asks. "I'm sorry, I have to meet someone early in the morning but keep me updated." You kissed his father's cheek and hugged his mother.

Meanwhile, König lay in that bed, eyes teary as he heard your confession. The ring he wanted to give you was on a chain that hung by his neck. Always to be by his heart. "Liebling." he whispers. "I want to marry you, over and over again." That is a promise two young lovers made.

"When we get old, you and I better retell the story of us," you say as you lay in the green grass. "And I will tell it to you every night," König spoke softly. "Every night," he holds your hand. "I will always tell you the story of how I met the greatest thing in my life." He smiles and sighs happily, "And I'll make you fall in love with me all over again." He meant every word, he wanted the spark of love between them to never die, for them to always be in love. "I'll always fall in love with you as if it was the first time, every single time." He cared, more than you'll ever know.

"You never let her go, my son." his mother sternly says. He sighs and looks over at you, his youngest niece hung by his arms, his nephew chasing you both. The giggles from the children and your laughter, yeah, he wants that life with you. "You think she'll want to?" he asks his parents. "If not today or in a year, I know she will." He looks at the ring and nods. "When I marry her, can you both please not give a long speech?" This caused his parents to laugh and nod a little.

Maybe the movies and all the news articles are right, in some universe, you and him are together. And in that universe, he has his three kids, a wife and the picket fence to his home. A home with you, two hearts that beat for the other. He cares.

Tags: @sunshiinegaz @liyanahelena

[ladykailitha]

Batshit Soulmates Part 5

We have finally gotten to the lake. Things start to ramp up from here.

In Medias Res| Prologue|Pt 1| Pt 2|Pt 3|Pt 4|

@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

****

Eddie was having a hell of a time. Not because Steve was being rude. Because he wasn’t. Nope, the problem was that he wasn’t being rude. He was being sweet and patient. And yeah if Dustin was to be believed, it was because Steve had a big heart and not because Eddie was his soulmate.

But Eddie’s inner cynic kept telling him to poke the bear. To keep pushing Steve until his facade snapped and revealed his inner bitch.

He resisted. This was not the time for that. If they had met under any other circumstances then the world literally trying to end itself...maybe. But the world was trying to end itself and if being Steve Harrington’s soulmate meant he came out this alive, then fuck it. He was going to keep his mouth shut.

“Dustin!” Steve hissed. “Stop getting so far ahead!”

They had been wandering the fucking woods looking for the source of the compass malfunctioning for what felt like hours.

And considering that they had pulled out their flashlights pretty much confirmed that as far as Eddie was concerned.

Dustin just continued to plow on ahead. Not listening to a single thing Steve said.

But Eddie knew this place better than the kid did and he started calling out to him. “Dustin! Dustin! Dustin!”

“It’s right around–”

Eddie, who had been trying to catch up with him, managed to reach out and pull the little butthead back from what would have been a very messy and wet disaster.

Dustin would have walked right into the lake and not a gentle sloping of the shore either. It was a sheer drop off.

“Jesus!” Dustin hissed.

Steve reached them concern on his face until he saw that Eddie had him. God did Steve recognize that pose. He had done the same thing two years ago when the demodogs had rushed Dustin and him in the tunnels.

Warm relief flooded his being as mouthed ‘thank you’ to Eddie.

Eddie blushed. The butterflies that had been cocooned in his stomach since finding out Steve Harrington was his soulmate suddenly burst forth, leaving a little fluttering to warm his chest all the way through.

“It’s at the bottom of the lake?” Lucas asked, frowning.

Max came up behind him and looked across the water. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“But it’s got to be,” Dustin whined, looking down at his compass with a sneer. “There’s no other place it could be.”

“Look!” Robin cried. “The boat!” She pointed a little ways to the south.

It had somehow made it shore even with Eddie accidentally abandoning it in his fright.

They made their way over to it and found that even in his panic, Eddie hadn’t lost any of the oars for damn thing so they could at least row back to the middle of the lake.

“I’m coming,” Dustin said firmly.

“Like hell you are,” Steve huffed. “I don’t want any of you kids near that thing if it is a gate. You’re staying here and that’s final.”

“I’m coming with,” Robin said shooting her hand in the air.

Steve looked at Eddie, who nodded. Yeah, he was going to go with them.

“Look, Henderson,” Eddie said, “there’s only room on the boat for thr–” but just then Nancy stepped up and made it clear with her body language that she too was coming with and to brook no argument.

The look of gratitude on Steve’s face when Eddie had backed him up on keeping the kids on the shore set off the god damned butterflies again.

It was becoming a problem.

Steve knelt down and pushed it a little away from the shore so that it would be easier to push off. He held on to the head of the boat and motioned for them to get on.

He offered a hand to Robin and she ignored it in favor of using Eddie and his heads as supports. He offered his hand to him and Eddie steadfastly ignored it. Not because he didn’t want to take Steve’s hand but because he really, really did. He was afraid that if he took Steve’s hand there would be no letting go.

And yeah, maybe it was a bit of dick move to stick out his hand to give Nancy another option other than Steve to help her into the boat, especially since when he looked over at Steve he looked crestfallen.

Then he watched as Steve pushed the boat off with all of them in it and deftly hopped in. That did absolutely fucking nothing to calm the butterflies in his chest.

They reached the spot in the middle of the lake where Patrick had died and there was an eerie glow to the water. And immediately Steve started taking off his shoes.

“Whoa!” Robin said. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Steve looked up at her like he didn’t understand the question. “Someone has to go down there and check to see if a gate has opened right?”

“I’ll do it,” Nancy said. “I’m a strong swimmer.”

Steve scoffed. “I don’t doubt that, but unless any of you can beat co-captain of the swim team and lifeguard three years running, I’m going.”

There really wasn’t answer to that so they watched as Steve removed his socks and shoes. Well, Robin and Nancy did, but Eddie occupied himself with wrapping a plastic bag around the flashlight so it wouldn’t short the second Steve hit the water.

Steve threw his sweater at him and Eddie was faced with a shirtless soulmate and it was a god damned miracle he didn’t nut himself right then and there.

He pulled out a cigarette and immediately Robin tossed it overboard. He glared at her but she just stuck her tongue at him. He rolled his eyes and handed the now wrapped flashlight to Steve.

Steve smiled softly. “Thanks.”

They waited in stony silence as Steve dove beneath their feet. The silence stretched on the longer Steve was gone. No one wanted to say it out loud. What if it was a gate?

What if there being more than an evil wizard the Upside Down was finding ways to open its own gates? Then no amount of government oversight was going to stop the Upside Down from taking over their world.

Steve came back up. “Yeah, there’s a gate down there all right. A big one.”

But before he could even move to get back on the boat, he was yanked back under with a surprise yelp.

“Steve!” Nancy screamed and immediately dived after him.

Eddie’s eyes went wide as Robin sidled up to the side of the boat. “You’re going too?”

“Yup!”

And over she went.

Eddie began cursing and hitting at the air. He knew he was going to capsize the boat if he wasn’t careful. Or...

“Fuck.”

And he followed the two girls into the water.

****

Steve had known that touching the gate would only bring him pain and disappointment, but his lizard brain went ‘ooh glowy thingy!’ and reached out and touched it anyway.

And now he was fighting for his life in the Upside Down against large winged creatures that he was sure Dustin was going to name demo-something. Demo-bird? No, that sounded lame. Demo-eagle? That sounded just as bad.

Oh wait. He was supposed to be fighting for his life here. Not trying to name the creature trying to eat him. Like literally eat him.

Thank god for Nancy and Robin to be honest. Coming in like avenging furies and kicking the shit out the winged beasts.

Eddie coming in clutch was nice too. Watching him shatter that oar on that beastie was a little hot.

It sent off something primal in Steve that he tapped into. He sunk his teeth into the tail of the beastie that had been dragging him across this hellish landscape, snarling. The creature let go and tried to get away, but Steve wasn’t done.

Not by a long shot.

He kept a hold of the tail and began bashing the thing into the ground with a fury he didn’t understand. He stomped on the creature and ripped literally in two.

He tossed the chunk away and then spat out the black ichor, panting for breath.

He looked up to see his friends staring at him as if he had gone insane. And you know what? Fair. He felt insane.

But fighting for one’s life did that to a person.

“Fuck.”

They all gathered behind him to look at the mass of winged creatures that stood between them and the gate that would lead them back home.

Eddie pushed his hair back and let out a small whimper of distress. Steve understood the feeling.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Eddie yelled as he threw a temper tantrum right there in the middle of the hell landscape. Because yeah, Mordor was a fucking good analogy.

Everything around them was dark and twisted versions of the ones he had grown up knowing.

Nancy looked behind them. “The forest!”

They turned and ran for the cover of the trees, hoping that they weren’t running right into the flowered faces of the demogorgons.

At least Eddie didn’t know about those.

Yet.

****

Once they were under the cover of the trees they stopped to dress Steve’s wounds.

Nancy cut off strips of her shirt to bind the two gaping holes in Steve’s stomach. She walked over to where Steve was leaning against a rock face with strips in her hands. Steve hissed in pain.

“Oh god,” Robin moaned. “What if he has rabies? Do bats in the Upside Down has rabies?”

“Robin!” Steve hissed. “If you don’t shut up I will hit you!”

“Oh good,” she said with a hiccup of relief. “He’s fine. His humor is still intact.”

Eddie and Nancy looked over at her like she was crazy. Eddie watched as Nancy edged closer to Steve to put the wrapping on his wounds. Steve shoved his hands into his hair to drive the pain elsewhere.

Then Nancy dropped to her knees and Eddie ran up to them. “Here, let me do it.”

Nancy reared back her head. “What? Why?”

“Do you know how to dress wounds that deep?” he asked, breathing heavily through his nose.

“Well, no,” she replied. “But it can’t be much different than patching up a scraped knee.”

Eddie looked at her with wide eyes. “Is that really the extent of your first aid knowledge?”

“Guys!” Steve snapped. “I’m kinda bleeding out here!”

Eddie snatched the makeshift bandages from Nancy. “Calling soulmate privileges.”

Nancy rolled her eyes but stepped back.

“Hey, Stevie,” Eddie murmured. “This has got to be tight and it’s gonna hurt, but you have to stay with me, okay?”

Steve nodded, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “Just hurry.”

Eddie pursed his lips and began wrapping around Steve’s waist, steadfastly ignoring his soulmate’s gasps and moans of pain. This close to Steve and Eddie could almost feel the pain in his own sides. The burn on his back and upper arms.

“Almost done, sweetheart,” Eddie murmured. “We’re almost done. I promise.”

“It hurts, Eds.”

“I know.” He looked up into Steve’s eyes and repeated. “I know.”

Steve opened his eyes and looked down at Eddie. “Yeah. Okay, okay.”

Nancy frowned and leaned over to Robin. “What’s going on?”

“They’re truemates,” Robin whispered back.

Nancy’s eyes went wide and she mouthed “Oh.”

“All done, baby,” Eddie cooed. “Don’t try and talk. Just squeeze my hands when you’re ready to move on.” And he gently took Steve’s hands.

A couple minutes later, Steve squeezed his hands.

“Okay,” Eddie said with a shuddering breath. “He’s ready to move on. So let’s get moving.”

****

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Epilogue

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[loveinhawkins]

kept thinking about Eddie & Steve deliberately making jokes to ensure that Dustin and co don’t get into the boat on Lover’s Lake.

“Nicely done,” Steve says when they’re far enough away from the bank—when they’ve left a disgruntled Dustin behind rather than a worried one.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah,” Eddie says—glances back to where the kids are, although they’ve already got swallowed up by the darkness. “‘Course, man.” He gives a weak smile as he drags the oar through the water. “Those little shrimps would probably try and, like, cannonball right in, and honestly? I, uh, really don’t think my heart could handle that.”

“Yeah, they… really throw themselves into things.”

Steve decides that he’s never gonna bring up Operation Child Endangerment if Eddie’s in the vicinity—the dude already looks at them all like they’ve got a few screws loose, he doesn’t wanna make it worse.

Although, on second thought, him and Dustin probably let that particular cat out the bag with their persistent optimism way back in the boathouse: “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Eddie’s wide-eyed look painted a thousand words.

Oh, he thinks you’re crazy, sing-songed the perpetual high schooler hiding in Steve’s brain. Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson thinks you’re crazy. Time to seriously re-evaluate your life choices.

“Did you think Eddie was a bit, uh, weird back there?” Dustin asked him later. “Like, he’ll be okay, right?”

Dustin was prone to using ‘weird’ as a catch-all term, where it could mean anything from someone being genuinely weird to them experiencing severe emotional distress.

Steve clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly. “Henderson, I’m pretty sure he thinks we’re weird.”

He almost wants to make a joke about that now, get Eddie to laugh, maybe. To tell the truth, Steve had almost cracked and laughed himself once he’d gotten into the boat, when he turned and saw Dustin’s comically outraged expression.

It was only as Nancy and Eddie began to row that he registered the laugh would’ve secretly been one of relief—heartened by the sight of the kids left on the shore.

He stays quiet; Eddie’s shoulders are slowly tensing more and more the further across the lake they go.

It’s not noticeable at first—Robin’s providing a running commentary on the movements of Dustin’s compass, while Nancy determinedly pulls her oar in and out of the water—but Steve soon realises that Eddie’s kind of stopped rowing, instead just making ripples as his grip goes slack.

It’s damn hard to see, but Steve just barely makes out Eddie’s eyes glittering in the dark, staring down at the lake.

“Hey,” Steve says quietly. “You don’t have to—we’re not too far out, we can take you back, man.” He tries for levity. “This thing holds three people tops, remember?”

Eddie’s smile is more of a grimace. “Nah, man. Had enough of being chickenshit.”

“Dude, you’re not…”

Steve trails off, biting back his frustration—it doesn’t look like Eddie’s listening to him anyway; he’s still not taken his eyes off the water. Steve briefly wonders if he’s got that thing Robin says she gets sometimes, something about an imp—it’s why she never gets on Ferris wheels or whatever, convinced that she’s somehow gonna fall.

Eddie gives himself a shake and resumes rowing.

“Sorry. S’just… pitch black down there. He—” Eddie clears his throat. “He wouldn’t have seen—”

His voice cracks, fades into the night. His grip on the oar slips—he snatches it back before it can fall.

“Eddie,” Steve begins, but Eddie speaks right over the top of him.

“I—I hoped he was just drowning instead.” Eddie scoffs, and there’s a bitterness to it, an edge of self-loathing that Steve wishes he couldn’t hear. “And then maybe—” A sigh, another grimace disguised as a smile. “That’s a pretty fucked up thing to think, huh?”

He’s got that tone, Steve thinks, like when he kept repeating that he ran away from Chrissy—like he thought that if he said it enough, someone would snap, condemn him. Like he’s looking for proof that he’s monstrous.

Robin’s still talking, tactfully giving Eddie a semblance of privacy. Underneath her chatter, Steve hears Nancy’s rowing falter for just a moment, and he feels a pang in his chest.

He thinks of Barb and drowning. Wonders again if an ordinary tragedy would’ve been better compared to…

Then he lets it all sink back down.

“That’s not fucked up,” he says firmly. “Trust me, dude, that’s… that’s normal.”

Eddie chuckles shortly—it sounds like he’s doing something similar, pushing everything down, down…

“Normal, huh? No-one’s called me that before.”

“First time for everything.”

There’s a flicker of amusement across Eddie’s face when he replies, “Guess compared to you freaks, I’m pretty normal.”

“Ooh, did that feel good?” Steve says, appealing again to his mental high schooler. “Bit of role reversal?”

Eddie laughs more genuinely. “Sure did. Community theatre’s done wonders.”

A silence falls, and Steve encourages himself to get all relaxed by the boat bobbing up and down. Yeah, nothing’s strictly been confirmed yet, but he already knew what he was getting into when he stepped off the shore, water leaking into his shoes.

It’s gotta be him.

“I know what you’re doing, Harrington,” Eddie murmurs.

Steve gives him a questioning look.

Eddie pulls in some long breaths in exaggerated imitation. “You’re not subtle, Mister Swim Captain.”

“Co-captain,” Steve corrects, hiding his surprise. He can’t really imagine Eddie paying attention to the swim team, least of all a former swim team.

“Oh, forgive me for my inaccuracy.”

Hmm, he’s getting borderline poetic, Steve thinks. Like he was with Mordor and stuff.

So. He’s afraid.

“I’ll be fine,” Steve says lightly.

Eddie lets out a short groan, mutters something that sounds like famous last words. Then, quieter still—Steve can’t quite make it out.

Something about the dark.

Steve could repeat that he’ll be fine, but he knows that’s a shit reassurance. He settles for continuing to breathe in and out, long and slow; Eddie’s beginning to look like he’s unconsciously mimicking the pattern, his shoulders lowering.

“Just come back up, Harrington,” he says, so softly that Steve might’ve imagined it.

“Co-captain’s promise,” he says.

Eddie’s lips twitch. But he’s still fixed on the lake’s depths, like he’s waiting for something—dreading it.

Like something’s lurking in the dark.

[blue-slxt]

Oldest Children Part 2

A/N: So I wrote Part 1 forever ago and a lot of people were asking for a part 2. I wasn't sure when/if I'd ever get around to it, but after Kinktober and Kinkmas and sooooo much smut, I wanted to try stretching my wings and try a little fluff just to mix it up. I'm admittedly not as confident in my fluff writing, but I think this turned out cute so I hope you like it too! All characters are aged up.

Pairing: Neteyam x Fem!Metkayina!Reader

Warnings: Fluffy fluff, Kissing

Word Count: 2.2k

Summary: Neteyam asks to meet you after eclipse.

Walking along the shore, you carefully observe each of the older Sully kids as they practice their breathing and ilu riding. Off to the side, Tuk is practicing her sign language with Rotxo.

They're all doing well, but you can't help but notice that Neteyam's posture is faltering. Tsireya and Ao'nung are both too caught up with Lo'ak and Kiri to notice so you decide to step in.

Your strides are long and confident, but nearly silent as you move behind him.

"Your posture is awful" you giggle in his ear making him crack a smile. You crouch down and place your hands on his back and shoulder applying gentle pressure to straighten him back out. Neteyam prays to Eywa that you don't notice the way his tail momentarily falters in its usually steady swaying. Lucky for him, you didn't seem to notice. Or, if you did, you didn't mention it.

He straightens his back, but he still looks awkward. You move around to his front and eye him a bit trying to decide on what was still off. His eyes look at you in waiting and it hits you. Your fingers hold his chin and lift his head. This time, you don't miss it when his face flushes and you freeze feeling your own face get warm. Your stares meet each other in a silent, tender moment that has you suddenly feeling like you can't catch your breath. It's only made worse when your eyes unintentionally flick to his lips and his tongue swipes over his bottom lip.

Off to the side somewhere, Ao'nung is rolling his eyes and Tsireya is stifling a giggle, but neither of you seems to be able to notice anything outside of each other in this moment.

At least, that is, until you hear Tuk's voice calling out from across the way where she was.

"Hey guys! Look at this pretty seashell I found!"

Her little feet stomp the sand beneath her as she races over with the shell in hand. "Be careful, Tuk!" Kiri says, but it's too late. You see the whole thing happen almost in slow motion.

Before she could see it or stop herself in time, her foot lands right on top of a sharp rock that was sticking out of the sand. There's a loud shriek followed by a thud from her falling over into the sand.

There's not a tangible thought in your mind as your body races towards her. You can hear everybody else shuffling to run in the same direction, but you're already in autopilot when you fall to your knees and cradle her in your arms.

Her tears fall steadily onto your arm and her small body trembles with her sobs.

"Shh shh shh, I know, Tuk. I know. Let me see." you try gently consoling her.

By now, everyone else has caught up and they're surrounding you trying to check up on her too. You grab her foot and examine it to see how bad the damage is. There's a small cut, but thankfully, it's nothing too deep.

"It doesn't look too bad. Here, let me clean the sand off and then I'll take you to my mom so she can patch you up? Okay?" you suggest to her and she can only nod her head still letting out little sniffles.

You carefully unhook the sack around your chest that stayed filled with water. Usually, you kept it with you to drink throughout the day, but this was more important right now. Using one hand to hold the skin while your other arm is still holding Tuk close, you pour the water over the small cut making her wince a bit. You gently shush her a bit while you make sure to get all the sand off her injured foot.

Once you're confident that it's all clean, you scoop Tuk up in your arms, "I'm going to take her to my mother so she can properly wrap her foot."

"I'll go with you. I want to make sure she's okay." Neteyam speaks up separating from the rest of the group and coming to join you.

You just give him a small nod as you turn to walk in the direction of the healing tent.

The walk to the healing tent is mostly silent aside from Tuk's tiny sobs and sniffles. Neteyam walks beside you while you cradle his baby sister in your arms and he mutters little words of encouragement to her. It's sweet watching him try to cheer her up.

Fortunately, when you reach the healing tent, it's not busy so your mother is able to attend to Tuk immediately. "You're going to be just fine, okay?" you say placing a comforting hand on top of Tuk's head. Neteyam watches from the wall while Ronal gets to work patching up her foot.

"I should be heading back." you say standing to your feet and walking past Neteyam and out of the pod.

"U-um..." he finally speaks up touching your shoulder to stop you before you got too far away. "Thank you. For looking out for her."

A sincere smile spreads on your face, "It's no problem." You turn to leave again, but again, before you can put too much distance between you, Neteyam takes a few long strides to catch you.

"Can I see you later?"

His question stops you dead in your tracks. You study his expression that almost looked shocked. Like he couldn't believe he just said that.

"Like after last meal?" his voice drops to a whisper feeling the embarrassment color his cheeks, but holding your gaze nonetheless.

"Okay" it comes out a little breathless, but you know he hears you loud and clear when a smile cracks his own face.

"See you later!" you call to him as you take off running back towards the beach. You duck behind a large tree on the shore and press your back to it heaving breaths while your heart threatens to crack right through your chest. There's heat behind your cheeks and your face is starting to hurt from the goofy grin that you couldn't get rid of.

You quietly take a minute to jump in place with glee before composing yourself again and heading back to the group that you'd left on the beach.

...

During last meal, you can barely bring yourself to pay much attention to whatever conversation your family is having. You can't even manage to properly eat your food with how distracted you are. Tsireya is the one that seems to notice first. As if your permanent cheeky grin weren't enough to give you away, she follows your eyeline one time when you and Neteyam catch each other's gaze across the crowd.

"You certainly seem to be in a good mood." she snickers at you.

"Should I not be?" you simply respond.

"You also seem distracted."

"I don't know what you mean." a lie.

"Hm" she hums. "So the Sully kids sure have been improving a lot lately. Especially Neteyam."

Your hands falter ever so slightly and anyone else who wasn't this close to you, would have missed it.

"I knew it!" Tsireya whisper shouts next to you.

"Shhh keep your voice down!" you whisper shout back to her.

A mischievous grin forms on her face laughing at your clearly startled expression.

"Fine! If you must know, he asked me to meet him after last meal." your excitement is barely containable at the prospect.

"How romantic~" she teases, poking at your side.

"Stop, I'm sure it's nothing like that."

"Oh, I'm sure" she says rolling her eyes. "That's why he hasn't stopped staring at you and smiling all meal?"

"Hush!" you lightly push her shoulder. From the corner of your eye, you can see Neteyam stand and excuse himself from his family's spot among the people. He gives you one last look before nodding his head in the direction of the beach and taking off. That's your cue.

You quickly excuse yourself from your family to which your mother gives you a suspicious glare and your sister gives a teasing giggle.

Walking down the shore of the beach it feels like your heart is racing just at the thought of being alone with Neteyam again. The last time the two of you were alone together on the beach, he got so close it made your stomach do flips. You're out of time to speculate on what could happen tonight once you spot his slender frame standing at the edge of the waves. One last breath to calm your nerves and you make the stride over to him.

"Fancy meeting you here, forest boy." you playfully quip at him.

Neteyam huffs out a laugh looking down at you and the gaze in his eyes immediately makes you want to fold in on yourself, but in a good way?

"I've been thinking about how to properly thank you for how you took care of my sister earlier."

"Neteyam, you don't have to--"

"I want to. I've been thinking about it and even though I miss the forest, so far, you have been the best thing about coming here." he turns to fully face you and it's almost as if time stops. Words can't seem to find you right now. His fingers graze the skin on your arm and trail all the way down to your hand where he grabs you firm, but gentle. "Can I show you something?" His eyes are full of hope and a small hint of fear that you'll deny him.

You could never.

"Of course."

The grin that spreads on his face is nothing short of disarming. You let him lead you down the shore and into the forest. He bobs and weaves through the foliage with such grace. No doubt he's fully in his element. Meanwhile, it's all you can do to keep your tail from smacking into every branch that you pass.

He leads you to a tree and before you have the chance to ask any questions, he leaps up to the closest branch with little to no effort leaving you a bit stunned. He looks down at you with an amused smirk and reaches his hand out to you. You were, admittedly, not a very strong climber so you accept his offer and he helps pull you up with ease.

You follow Neteyam up the tree higher and higher until you approach the highest branch.

"You ready for this?" he asks helping you reach your final stop. When you make it to the top and stand to your feet, the sight you're met with almost knocks you backwards.

You can see the entire beach stretched out under a seemingly never-ending sky full of stars. The reflection on the water makes it look like it's shining. And on the other side of you, a forest stretching for miles and miles full of green and bioluminescent flora glowing in the cover of eclipse.

"Wow..." you breath out almost silently. "I've never seen the water like this. It's beautiful..."

The sight is stunning. You can't tear your eyes away. But all Neteyam can look at is you.

"This is my second favorite sight here on the island." he says finally breaking you out of your trance. You turn to face him and his face is suddenly serious.

He offers his hand out to you and you take it somewhat hesitantly. Neteyam weaves his fingers with yours and pulls you closer ever so slightly.

It feels like he gets closer and closer and you can't bring yourself to move out of the way or push him away.

“Neteyam, we shouldn’t..." you say despite the fact that your eyes are trained on his lips that are still moving closer to yours.

He pauses only inches away from your face.

“Then tell me to stop���tell me you don’t want this. If you do, I’ll stop. I’ll leave you alone and I’ll resign myself to forever loving the version of us that could’ve been. But if you let me, I will be irrevocably and unapologetically in love with you past the day I die. You deserve the life you want. Let me give it to you…”

Your eyes finally find his and the sincerity you find in them is overwhelming. You can't help but flash back to that moment you shared on the beach.

“If there were such a man who wanted to give you that life, would you have him?”

Your body moves before your mind can think of words to say. You push up on the balls of your feet to let your lips meet his in a heated kiss. His large hands cup your face carefully and his tail wraps around your thigh holding onto you in every way that he can. Your hands rest against his chest and the beating of his heart is erratic and thunderous. Surely, yours feels the same way. His lips are warm and soft moving against yours. It's as if nothing else exists right now. That is until he gives a cheeky little nip to your bottom lip.

You finally pull away with a small giggle and a deep flush on your face.

"You know this is going to be tough to explain to my parents." you say raising an eyebrow at him.

"It'll be fine. Parents love me." he says proudly.

"Maybe, but you've never had to impress parents of a future olo'eykte"

"You worry too much, yawne. Let me handle it, okay?"

"Alright, if you say so, mighty warrior."

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[livelaughloveloak]

🐳 ᩡ WANNA C U GIRL

aonung x navi! reader oneshot

summary :: Aonung misses you dearly to the point where he starts getting into more trouble. Will you come back and be his saving grace?

author's note :: honestly this is my first Aonung fic so I'm sorry if it's bad. 2.2k Words. Use of she/her pronouns

"Of course the aliens had to ruin it." Aonung snarled with a fish spear in his dominant hand. Aonung was known to be quite rude at times but today he was even more rude, especially to the young sully boys.

"Aonung stop, they are just learning!" Tsireya shoved her brother softly, only hard enough that he stumbled back in the water. All of them were on the shore with fishing gear. Aonung and Tsireya were tasked to help the newcomers with hunting in the Metkayina ways, much to Aonung's dismay.

Of course only being new to this type of fishing they did not do well. Them missing mostly every shot would normally make Aonung burst into a comedic laughter but not this time. Instead it turned into boiling anger. By the time Lo'ak missed his 7th fish in a row Aonung had enough of fishing and told everyone to just go back to shore.

He rolled his eyes at his sister's kind behavior towards them. Tsireya saw this and snickered before turning to the sully boys. "Do not mind him, he's just grumpy because y/n isn't around" Lo'ak and Neteyam looked at eachother, they have heard about this certain Navi before, mostly from Aonung.

They knew very little but just assumed she was a special person to him. And they were right.

Aonung scoffed in annoyance and walked away from the group, towards his own little marui. Of course he missed you, considering he didn't deny it.

You left to go help another clan in their time of need almost a week ago. You were a good warrior and an even better healer so you were chosen by Tonowari to go and help the neighboring tribe that had gotten attacked by the sky people.

"Aonung I'll be fine." You said as he was behind you, attaching your necklace that happened to be a gift from him. "I'm still not sure. I mean what if the sky people come back and ambush you guys"

You rolled your eyes, you knew he was just concerned but you were still a strong warrior nonetheless. "I promise you I'll return perfectly fine."

You reassured him but only got a hum in return. You were waiting for Aonung to say something but instead you felt his breath on your neck causing the hairs to stand up. Aonung stayed like this for a while before wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and resting his head in the crook of your neck.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Aonung laid down on his hammock, swaying side to side trying to keep his mind blank from the thought of you. You alone tend to fill up his thoughts and dreams, he didn't mind though.

With a groan Aonung shifted from position to position, trying to find a more comfortable way to lay down. Soon enough he settled on laying on his side, back facing the marui opening. He closed his eyes tired from the day filled with anger and yelling.

Aonung felt himself slowly drifting into the blank void called sleep.

Waves clashed against the sea shore as the daylight slowly started to fade into navy blue. You looked up from your half weaved armband, seeing the stars that filled the night sky. Suddenly you remembered Aonung.

“My mom would take me here to go stargazing as a kid, it was only me, Tsireya wasn't born yet.”

He told you this the day you two went to that special spot on top of a small island so you could watch as the stars slowly moved and twinkled. Oh how you missed Aonung.

As the days went by it slowly turned into weeks. You were in this tribe for 3 weeks, helping them get on their feet again. You healed the wounded and hunted in place for the warriors who got too injured.

You counted the days as they went by, each day was a day closer to going back home. The people here were kind but you missed talking or more likely gossiping to Tsireya, you missed playing with the Metkayina kids, but most importantly you missed Aonung.

With a sigh you finally got out of your marui to go collect herbs since you were running low on them. You said hello to a few people on the way and smiled at the kids who waved at you.

You picked your herbs in a small farm that the locals made. Luckily the sky people didn't ruin this part of the small island because without it the people wouldn't have ointment to treat their wounded or medicine for the people who fell ill.

You filled up your basket and gently placed it against your hip so you could walk back to the healing tent.

Your walk back got interrupted by a deep voice. "Y/n" You jumped, dropping some plants from the basket. You picked them up then turned around only to see the chief, Tonowari.

You quickly bowed your head and reached your arm up to your forehead to sign a formal.

‘I see you’

Tonowari smiled at the gesture before talking. "Today you and the others are going home, I have decided to end things early since the people here seem like they can fend for their own now." Tonowari waved his stick around motioning for you to look at the people.

"Go, pack your stuff, we leave once the sun sets." And with that Tonowari turned and walked away leaving you there with the basket filled with multiple healing herbs.

You looked down and smiled before running back to your marui that the Tsahik of this clan built for you as your temporary home. You were finally going to see Aonung again.

"I'm disappointed in you Aonung." Ronal circled around the young navi that had purple bruises forming on his face. Just like yesterday, Aonung had gotten into another fight with a Metkayina boy.

"Go before I pluck your eyes out!" Ronal hissed and pointed to the Marui exit.

Aonung quickly got up from his kneeling position and hurried out with his head hanging low and tail in-between his legs. He was embarrassed, he had made a fool out of himself, at first he felt pride after winning the fight but it all went downhill once a familiar voice shouted his name. His mother.

Other Navi stared silently at Aonung's sulking frame. Ronal's yells of frustration were loud enough for people to hear. His ears pinned back in shame, all his pride was washed away by now after he felt the eyes all over him.

He scrunched his nose and finally looked up. "What are you looking at?" Aonung said with venom in his voice, it wasn't specifically to a certain person but rather everyone who acknowledged his presence. All of the other Navi quickly looked away and went to the previous task they were doing before the whole thing occurred.

Aonung grumbled and kicked the sand underneath him before continuing to walk towards his Marui. He wished nothing but to sleep the pain away even.

The sun was slowly setting as Aonung finally arrived. He didn't go inside but instead sat on the edge, dangling his feet in the lukewarm water. The water in the reef was a beautiful clear blue.

It was so clear that you can see the fish and ilu swimming around the different coral, sometimes going into the seaweed. If you were lucky you'd see a baby ilu with its mother.

Aonung stayed like this, staring into the water with his hands resting on his lap. He was never a quiet person but today he needed it more than ever.

His peace was disturbed by a loud horn made by a shell. The shell was used to warn the clan of someone's arrival. He peered out, squinting so he could get a better look at whoever was about to step onto the shore.

‘Are they back?’

He got excited for a second thinking that you were finally back from your mission.

His eyes scanned the area very carefully, he even double checked just to make sure he didn't miss you by accident. He was left with disappointment. You were nowhere in the crowd.

‘Oh right they don't come back until next week.’

The moment you stepped off of your ilu you begin to search around the crowd of cheering and welcoming Navi for a specific person. You were left confused when you found nothing, it was like everyone was there except him.

“You better be here waiting with a basket filled with delicious food once I come back” You teased Aonung, poking his chest as you were getting ready to start your journey to the other island.

“Ugh you wish” Aonung softly pushed you causing a laugh to come out of your mouth.

"Y/n!"

You turned around to find Tsireya walking towards you with open arms. You two hugged before pulling back once you saw unfamiliar faces behind her. Tsireya glanced over her shoulder and gasped, making you even more confused.

"Oh right!" Tsireya took a hold of your hand and guided you towards them.

"Y/n this is Lo'ak and Neteyam, their family has come here seeking uturu."

‘uturu?’ You thought. You heard about other clan members coming to a whole new one to seek peace and to live with them but you never actually witnessed it until now. You watched as they signed

‘i see you’

towards you. You replied with a smile, doing the gesture back.

"We have heard lots about you." The taller one said which you believe was Neteyam. You raised your eyebrows at his words and turned towards Tsireya seeking for an answer which she thankfully gave. "They mean Aonung, you know he can't keep his big mouth shut." Tsireya nudged your shoulder in a teasing way as you giggled thinking about it.

"Speaking about Aonung, where is he?”

Tsireya went silent, her mouth forming a straight line. She slowly pointed to the direction of his Marui. "Beware y/n he isn't in the best mood right now."

You nodded and quickly headed in the direction she was pointing at. Your tail was swaying anxiously. Was he perhaps mad at you?

By the time you reached his tent you froze, debating if you should enter or not. You didn't wanna face him if he was mad at you, you were scared. You wouldn't know what to say. You were so lost in thought that you didn't even see the taller figure walking towards you.

"Y/n?"

You snapped out of your trance and saw Aonung leaning against one of the support poles that keeps his Marui standing. He had cuts and bruises all over his face and body.

His knuckles were red and wounded, it seemed like he got into a fight. You covered your mouth with your hand as you stepped closer to him. "Oh Aonung" You whispered while inspecting his body closer

Once you were done looking you grabbed his hand and led him inside. You made him sit down in the far corner of the room that had medical supplies stacked up against the wall.

"When I said I promised to stay safe I meant you should too." You grabbed ointment from one of the pouches and then sat down on his lap facing him.

Aonung stayed silent watching you apply it on his knuckles until he finally spoke up. "I know."

You were the one who was silent now, you kept your questions to yourself deciding that you'd ask them another time and that you should just focus on treating his wounds.

You wrapped his hand with bandages and moved on to applying a herb that specializes in reducing swelling on his busted lip and bruised up eye. You felt his eyes staring at you, watching your every move. You tried your best to ignore it so you wouldn't get flustered and mess up on properly dressing his wounds.

Aonung kept his eyes locked onto yours as you gently tapped his lips to apply the ointment. "Please Aonung, be careful next time." You begged him. Of course you never liked it when he got into fights but at this point Aonung isn't really Aonung unless he comes to you seeking for your medical health every one in awhile.

"I was fighting for you."

"What?"

"I fought them because they were talking bad about you." Aonung watched carefully, seeing how you stopped your movements and dropped your arms to your side. He took this as his cue to continue. "They were saying how you were weird and didn't belong amongst the other girls. I couldn't just stand there and hear all of this without doing anything about it."

Of course you were upset finding out that people who you probably never even talked to had your name in their mouths, but you felt some sort of comfort knowing that Aonung stepped in for the sake of you. "My love it is okay their words won't affect me." You brushed away one of his loose locks that must've fallen from his braids.

"No it is not-"

You shushed him with a kiss on the lips that he was quick to return. "It's fine, I promise." Aonung stayed silent, continuing to stare in your eyes lovingly.

His eyebrows raised when you got up from his lap, holding his hand signaling for you to follow him. He obeyed and got up to which you started to drag him out of the Marui.

"Where are we going?"

You sarcastically gasped to tease him. "Don't you trust me?"

Aonung rolled his eyes before rushing to walk by your side so you wouldn't be dragging him behind you. You smiled and looked at him. "Come I have made something for you my love."

[moonchildxoxx]

hiii!! Can i request a ao'nung fluff? Maybe a bit of angst, where the Sully kids have a human cousin and trying to introduce her to ao'nung? Tsireya and reader are instant besties, but ao'nung thinks all humans are demons and doesn't trust her but slowly does?? If it's too specific you can skip me!!

Tittle

Demon but Na’vi soul

A/N: okay so I think I got everything and I hope you enjoy it oh and a few side notes

- the reader is adopted by Tsu’tey

-spider is adopted by the sullys

-both reader and spider don’t need mask to breathe they can breathe the air like the Navi

Pairing: Ao’nung x Reader , sully children x human cousin! Reader and Tsu’tey x human daughter!Reader

Word count:2546

[ Request are open ]

Master List

Rules

You held onto your father as you flew on his ikran. You were flying to the reefs of the Metkayina. Word had reached the Omatikaya of the hunting of the Tulkun and the battle of the demon ship including the shooting of your cousin . The reef came into view and a horn was blown sending a warning out to the people below. Tsu’tey hold on you had tighten “ when we land stay close ma yawntutsyìp” you nodded, squeezing his hand that was holding you letting him know you heard him.

His ikran cireled the beach before landing . Tsu’tey climbed down from his mount helping you down. He walked forward to the forming crowd of Metkayaina, arms out showing he meant no harm. You made quick and large steps to keep up with him. The crowed broke apart letting thought two figures one male and the other female. You immediately knew that it was the Olo’eyktan and the Tsahik. Tsu’tey gave the “ I see you” gesture to the Olo’eyktan. “ I see you Tonowari '' he then turned to the female and did the same thing “ I see you , Tsahik Ronal '' .

well they greeted each other. Something had caught your attention, a young Metkayaina male who had pushed his way through the crowded beach and stood a few steps away from the Olo’eyktan and the Tsahik. You put two and two together and gathered this was their son. When he noticed you were looking at him, he hissed at you. You immediately stepped back frightened, knocking into your fathers leg . Tsu’tey absentmindedly grabbed onto your shoulder pulling you to stand in front of him faceing Tonowari and Ronal.

You gave the “ I see you” gesture to both of them. Tonowari greets you back but Ronal hissed at you. Your father's grip tightened. ” How dare you bring a sky demon to our shores? '' she hissed at your father. “ I did not, I brought my daughter along to come see our family” . The Tsahik went to argue but was cut off by Tonowari. “ It is decided Olo’eyktan Tsu’tey and his daughter are our guests , treat them as our brother and sister”. At the Olo’eyktan’s words the group of Metkayaina dispersed.

As they left you saw your cousins and Jake make their way towards you. You all greeted each other before Jake was telling your cousins to help with your things and to show you to the pod as he and Tsu’tey walked off. As your cousins led the way to their home you found yourself having trouble keeping up right as the walkways were not as solid . When you got to the pod you quickly placed your things down and greeted your aunt. along with Neteyam and spider who were both bangaged and seemed to have just woken up from resting. After talking with your family for a while you unpacked your things. The rest of the night went quickly. You had helped with the evening meal before everyone sat down to eat together . where everyone caught up and your cousins told you they wanted you to meet some of their friends. Before you knew it you were turning in for the night curled up in a sleep pile with your cousins just like old times.

The first morning rays of lights hit you in the face, waking you up. You slowly stretched out looking around you, seeing your family was still asleep. You slowly dislodged yourself from between your cousins and got ready for the day. You quietly made your way to cook fire and started to prepare morning meal. By the time you had placed the last leaf of food on the small table, everyone was in a different stage of waking. You made your way back to the sleeping area, waking your cousins fully so they would come eat. You all sat around eating, waiting for the adults to join you all to see what the day's plans were. Eventually everyone was at the table, you were told by Jake that your cousins would be showing you the ropes so you could keep up. After the morning meal everyone goes their own ways, your father leaving with your uncle and you leaving with your cousins.

As you followed them you noticed they were taking you to the beach where you saw 3 young Metkayaina one of them was the boy who had hissed at you. Lo’ak pulled you into his side introducing you to them. “ guys this is our cousin (Y/N) , this is Tsireya, Ao'nung and Rotxo ''. You smile and greet them by giving them the i see you gesture. the others greet you back but Ao’nung simply crosses his arms and stares at you. You quickly look down , Lo’ak started talking again” our father said to show her the ropes so we'll be here for most of the day ” he said looking at the 3 Metkayaina.

Ao'nung looked at him “ cuz I'm thinking you're forgetting you're supposed to be going with the hunting party today” he told Lo’ak. Lo’ak grabbed at his breads huffing looking torn between fooling his father orders and wanting to go hunting. You cut in before he could even answer “ it’s ok Lo’ak I can just hang back with Tuk and i’m sure i’ll pick up a few thing. He looks at you with some relief. He and the 2 Metkayaina males take off leaving you with the girls.

Tsireya clapped her hands together, getting all of you’s attention, “ good now we can get straight to lessons,” she said, looking at you. You simply nodded having no idea what she was talking about but you’d go along with anything not wanting any shame on your family. She started to walk off, you followed her towards a cluster of rocks where the 4 of you sat. She started teaching how to breathe so that you could swim and stay under the water for long spans of time. Eventually Tuk got bored and went off to collect shells Kiri followed after her. After a while Tsireya had you try what you had learned in the water. As the sky got dark Eventually everyone came to meet at the rocks and your cousins headed back to their pod, following afterthem.

As the eclipse began you all gathered together for evening meal. you sat quietly eating your meal as everyone around you talked. Tsu’tey noticed how quiet you were being and learned down close to you gently speaking to you. “ what's wrong ma’ite” he asked you placing his hand on your back. “ I’m fine sempu just tired” you mumbled to him. You rushed to finish your food you just watching as everyone kept eating you had started to drift off with sleep, Tus’tey seeing this gently pulled you to his side letting you rest against him. You moved as close as possible enjoying your fathers warm as you were still cold from the water. The next thing you remember was waking up from hearing something outside. You came to realize you must have fallen asleep during dinner since it was pitch black outside the pod and you were tucked between Neteyam and tuk. You slightly stretched, pulling your blanket up to your chin and going back to sleep with the others.

When morning light hit the pod you once again woke up, had morning meal and headed off with your cousins to your lessons once again.

For the next 2 weeks this was your routine waking, eating,lesson eating again and going to sleep. In that time you had become fast friends with Tsireya. You both bonded over healing as you were both studying under the Tsahik of your clans. The only one that seemed to have a problem with you still was Ao'nung anywhere you went and he was around you could feel his eyes burning a hole in you and each time you ignored it. You were currently sitting on the beach with Tsireya helping her make different salves for the Tsahik. And once again you could feel Ao'nung watching you.

Ao'nung watched you as you helped his sister. He was in the water with the sully boys just messing around on their ilu. Lo’ak road up beside him “ you know if you went up to her and talked to her she'd probably like you back “ Lo’ak teased him. He quickly turned to look at him hissing at him.” i’d never be interested in a vrrtep” Lo’aks joking matter stopped and immediately hissed back at Ao'nung” watch it fish lips for ill beat you again thats my tsmuke and nobody calls her that. Ao'nung rolled his eyes “ I Thought you said she was your cousin” he answer Lo’ak. “ same difference “ Lo’ak answered and swam off with his ilu. Ao'nung decd to go deep fishing by himself not wanting to deal with this any longer.

Looking back on that now was a dumb idea as he had gotten his legs stuck and had a large and deep cut on his leg. making it hard for him to even get off his ilu never mind even walk to the shore. You had been on the beach watching tuk play with other children when you notice Ao'nung and the dark red water around him the more he moved . you had immediately shot up going into the water to help him to shore. Sitting him on the sand . you quickly saw what was wrong. You called out to tuk to keep watch on him running to the family pod grabbing your healing bag since it was closer than the Tsahik healing pod. As you darted in and then right back out both scaring and leaving the adults confused. You came back to Ao'nung working quickly to wash and clean the open wound adding a salve to numb it before wrapping it in some leaf bandages. This whole time Aonang Watched you with wide eyes, shocked at how you just shot up, not taking a second guess to help him. When you had finished you looked up at him getting worried as he was just watching you with wide eyes not saying a single word.” Tuk!, go get your sempu quickly, we need to get him to the Tsahik and I can't carry him”. She rushed off to get jake who came quickly and took him to the Tsahik healing pod.

By the time Ao'nung had come to and realized that you had helped him he was non longer in the sand but sitting in his mothers healing pod well she fused over him. He told her that he was fine that you had already helped him. For the next 3 days he didn’t get even a clumps of you until the fourth day you had come to bring some supplies for his mother. Who he had been stuck with for the past 3 days. helping her in the healing pod as he could not put any weight on his injured leg. You greet both the Tsahik and Ao'nung with the Isee you gesture before placing the basket next to the Tsahik. She in turn greets you “ ah thank you sweet child, are you busy right now? '' Ronal aske you . you shook your head no '' perfect I need to deliver a few thing around the village, but will not have enough time to do so and return in time to change Ao'nung bandages can you stay and do that for me?” you nodded gently, “ of course Tsahik '' she gave you a small smile, taking her things and leaving the pod. Leaving you and Ao'nung alone in the pod. After a few awkward moments you decided to be useful and started separating the basket of plants you had brought in. After a while Ao'nung finally spoke “ why “ asked you. You turned to him unsure what to answer him. He spoke again, this time louser “ why ?... Why help me? ''.

You opened your mouth to speak but closed it till you could gather your word. “ why wouldn't I? Your friends with my family, i’m friends with your sister “ you trill off. “ Actually forget that even if we did not have that connection why wouldn’t I help another Na’vi, if i had gone to get the Tsahik or made you get there on your own you could have easily made your wound worse and possibly bleed out” you finished you small rant before turning to keep sorting. It was quiet for a while before he asked you another question” were you really born here?”. You sighed softly before stopping what you were doing and went to sit beside him. “ Yes, I was born here just like the other human boy. I've also been raised in the Omatikaya clan my whole life by Tsu’tey since I was a few weeks old” you tell him before he can even ask you more. Ao'nung rubbed the back of his neck nervously “ thank you for helping me …” he trailed off again. You nodded gently before he asked you something that shocked you a bit “ could we start over again?” he asked you, looking into your eyes. You just looked at him wide eyed for a moment before swallowing harshly and nodding “ y-yes we can”. He smiled back at you “ I see you (Y/N)” he made the gesture as well and you returned it '' I see you Ao'nung”.

Over the next few weeks you got to know each other then started the gifts between you. Ao'nung was the one that had started by giving you some shells to bread into your hair.which Tsireya helped you put them in before you left to get ready for the feast. Tonight was the feast celebrating the battle won against the demon ship now that all the warriors were healed and the time for mourning was over.

As you walked into the family pod nobody had noticed your new hair style until Tuk loudly spoke about it. “ (Y/N)! You look so pretty with the shells Ao'nung got you!” you turned bright red and quickly looked down. your whole family had different reactions the boys weren’t to happy knowing what it meant because they were there when Ao'nung collected the shells, well kiri was trying to hold her laughs in because of her brothers reaction well your Neytiri simply smiled at you well Jake and Tsu'tey looked like deer cot in the headlights. “ i’m … just gonna get my clothes and help Tsireya set up the feast ….. “ you quickly got your clothes and ran back out yelling out a quick “ bye “ as you left.

Later that night at the feast. Both of your families were sat around a fire eating together when you brought over a bowl of Ao'nung favorite fruit for him handing it to him as you sat next to him. He blushes at this, making both Neytiri and Ronal coo at what they saw. This continues on for a while giving each other small gifts or simple gestures of bring each other food, and maybe a bit of showing off on Ao'nung part when he catches a partly large animal showing it to you proudly. Ao'nung had finally built up the courage to present you with a courting gift ( the necklace in the title)

© Moonchildxoxx 2023 | all rights reserved. do not republish, repost, steal, modify, translate or claim my work as your own.

[wenigstenshabeichesversucht]

Nobody’s son, nobody’s daughter

Pairing: Luke Castellan x Poseidon!Reader

Summary: You loved him, and you left him, years later you met again, now hunter and pray.

Warnings: hurt, self-fulfilling prophecies, Lovers to Enemies, english is not my native language

Word Count: 1k

(i. You’re in the wind, I’m in the water)

Prophecies had a funny way to become true. The more you did to prevent them, the more you helped to fulfill them. Asked Laius, King of Thebes. He gave away his son Oedipus because it was prophesied that his son would kill him. At the end Oedipus killed Laius because he didn’t know that the King was his father. Not to mention that Oedipus, after killing Laius, married his own mother, hence it’s called Oedipus complex, if someone is interested in one of his parents. All of this could have been prevented if Laius had not tried to stop the prophecy. You had thought that would be enough for everyone to learn the lesson about self-fulfilling prophecies and trying to meddle with fate.

But that was before you learned about the Great Prophecy given by the Oracle over seventy years ago. A prophecy which was hanging over you like a sword of Damocles since you had arrived at camp and your father had claimed you.

The prophecy in question said, that a kid of one of the big three, had to save or damn the Olympus at the sweet age of sixteen. Right now, you were the only known child of one of the big three. A few years back, there had been another child, Thalia, daughter of Zeus, but she died on the border of Camp Half-Blood. Now the responsibility felt solely on your shoulders, and you hated it. Some days you would love nothing more than to scream at your father, Poseidon. But you were already cursed enough, you didn’t want to draw his wrath onto yourself. You just wanted peace. You just wanted to turn sixteen without having to save Olympus. Was that too much to ask for? It seemed so.

“Sometimes I hate everything about being a half blood”, you told your boyfriend Luke Castellan, son of Hermes, as you two were sitting at the beach, watching the waves hitting the shore. The sun was slowly setting, painting the clouds about your heads in a mix of orange and pink. He was sitting behind you with his arms around you and his chin was resting on your shoulder. He was the golden boy of the camp, and you were glad, that he had found interest in you. You, who had been cursed with this prophecy. The fate of the world was resting on your shoulders and that didn’t make you easier to love. But he loved you and was possibly the only reason you hadn't freaked out from sheer fear yet. Fear about what was to come, fear about messing it all up.

“It's not fair what everyone expects from you, but you are handling it so well, love”, he whispered in your ears and feeling his hot breath on your skin, you closed your eyes. If you could, you would stay at this moment forever. The soft rushing of the waves in the air, his warm hands on your body, the peace of your mind.

“I love you”, turning in his embrace, you gazed into his beautiful brown eyes. You loved him more than you could ever put into words. You loved to watch him comfort the younger kids, flying through air with his winged shoes or sword fighting in the area.

“I love you more, and I will always stay by your side”, he promised, before connecting his lips with yours.

Later, you would realize, that this promise was meant to be broken, like all promises.

Luke broke his promise, that he would always stay by your side, in the cruelest way possible. Your sixteen’s birthday was less than two weeks away, when he got a quest from his father. He could have taken you with him, but in the end he didn't. He left you back at camp, according to him, for your own protection. He left you when you needed him the most.

Your dreadful birthday came closer and closer, and you couldn’t take it. In the end your angst was stronger than your love for him, and you did the only thing you could think of to prevent the prophecy. You left camp and Luke behind and joined the Hunters of Artemis to stop aging.

(ii. Nobody’s son, nobody’s daughter)

Years later you met again. Everything had changed except your appearance. You looked frozen in time, still like the girl that he left behind at camp all those years ago. But everything else had changed.

He was older, a gruesome scar adored his face and, in his eyes, laid no more kindness. He was no longer Hermes son; he was a traitor. You were no longer Poseidon’s daughter; you were a huntress. You were no longer lovers; you were the hunter, and he was your prey.

Putting an arrow in your bow, you took aim. But something was holding you back, you couldn’t shoot.

“Y/N!”, finally he took notice of you. Years ago, there was love in his voice, when he addressed you, now there was only pain. He had hurt you, and you had hurt him, that was the way things went. And now you would kill him for his treason.

Letting go of the arrow, it pierced through the air, the feathers were caressing his face, before the arrow embedded itself in the trunk next to Luke's head. Both of you knew, that if you really had wanted to kill him, he would have been dead. But in the pit of your stomach was something that felt like regret. Something that stopped you from piercing his forehead with your arrow.

He left you first, but he returned. You never returned. He returned from a failed quest to find out his girlfriend left him, to join the maiden hunt. That wasn’t an excuse to swear an oath to Kronos, but by wanting to prevent the prophecy you pushed Luke in the wrong direction. Now it was the job of your younger half brother to safe Olympus, he was the kid of the prophecy, thanks to you.

“The next time I see you, I will kill you”, your stern voice left no room for doubt. You wouldn’t miss your next shot.

“Run!”, you didn't have to tell Luke twice. Like a hare fleeing from a wolf, he ran away. It hurt to see him running away instead towards you. Maybe that would help to finally learn your lesson about self-fulfilling prophecies.

[woso-fan13]

Whumptober 2023: 14 (USWNT)

No. 14: “Feed me poison, fill me ‘till I drown.”

Flare | Water Inhalation | “Just hold on.”

“Oh, Kelley!” you chirp enthusiastically, “do you remember what day it is today?”

She doesn’t respond, raising her eyebrows at you while fighting off a smile. 

“I certainly do, today’s the day that you promised to teach me how to surf!”

“I don’t remember promising you that,” Kelley teases, “are you sure you didn’t make it up?”

You huff, not amused. Kelley, on the other hand, can’t control her laughter. Last month, you found out that this camp was being held near a beach. You had instantly begged Kelley to teach you how to surf. She agreed quickly, excited to have a new person to surf with. 

“Yeah, yeah, I remember. Go get your stuff kid, we’ll leave soon.”

“I have it,” you insist, showing Kelley your bag, “I brought it to breakfast, just so I was ready.”

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready,” Kelley says. 

She walks towards the elevator, planning on going upstairs to her room to get ready. What she wasn’t expecting was for you to follow her. Like an excitable lost puppy, you follow the older woman, bouncing on your heels. 

Soon enough, she’s ready to go. You managed to convince some of your other teammates to come to the beach with you. Everyone loaded into a few rental cars and you were headed off. 

—-

Once at the beach, you throw your stuff down on your towel and look between Kelley and the water. She got your hint, leading you to pick up your rental surfboard before getting in the water. 

When you were waist deep, Kelley hopped up to sit on her board. Trying to copy her, you end up underwater. After a disorienting few seconds, you pop your head up excitedly. 

“I’m okay!”

The next hour is filled with Kelley walking you through the basics of surfing. You even managed to sit on your board without tipping into the water- a major win on your part. When you feel like you understand the basics, Kelley gives the okay to head deeper. 

The two of you paddle out, Kelley laughing at the serious expression on your face. You were focused in. 

You manage to catch a few waves, Kelley staying back to cheer you on. Each time, you would just manage to stand up before tumbling into the water. Each time, you would pop back up, insisting that you were fine. 

On what Kelley had decided would be the last run of the day, you get overconfident. You pick a medium sized wave- something that would be no problem for an experienced surfer but was likely a little too advanced for you. Despite that, you managed to catch the wave and get to your feet. You whip your head back and forth, trying to ensure that all of your teammates see you. 

All of your teammates did see you. They saw as you stopped paying attention to your surroundings and were knocked into the water. They all wait, thinking you’d pop up soon, laughing wildly. 

You didn’t. After a few seconds, Kelley starts lazily paddling over, expecting to meet you as you come up to head back in. By the time she made it halfway, there was still no sign of you. She quickens her pace, reaching your board not long after. 

Reaching into the water, she grabs the cord for the ankle strap. Tugging on it, she manages to pull it high enough to grab the ankle that was connected to it. With a firm grip on your ankle, she ungraciously pulls you out of the water and flops you over the front of her board. 

There, you lay, panting. You cough, sea water coming out of your lungs as you work to replace it with oxygen. Kelley waits patiently, one hand keeping you on the board while her other pats your back in a feeble attempt to help you rid your lungs of the salty water. 

Finally, you manage to take a full breath in. With that air, you say,

“I’m fine.”

With a groan, Kelley jokingly moves to push you back into the water. You latch onto her, eyes wide in panic. On the shore, you could hear your teammates yelling at Kelley. 

“You’re in trouble,” you singsong, keeping a hold of Kelley while falling back into the ocean. The two of you break the surface as a tangled mess of limbs, your shrieking laughter being cut off as you go under.  

[pinknipszz]

modern headcanons | beach day

⋆✮↪ ao’nung, tsireya, neteyam, lo’ak, and kiri

ao’nung

definitely goes surfing at the beach. body surfing, bodyboarding, longboarding– you name it. the hobby shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to you, but when you first saw him out in the waves, safe to say your eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. you weren’t a complete stranger to surfing, but ao’nung did it on a level that had you questioning if it was even safe anymore. he always teases you for getting worried about his safety, but if it really starts to get rough out there, he’s willing to stay by the shore with you.

insists on being in charge of the sunscreen. since ao’nung spends most of the day under the sun, he knows how important it is to apply an ample amount of sunscreen. he doesn’t care if you want to stay under the shade or not. he will apply as much sunscreen as possible on your skin. if you ask him about it, he’d probably brush it off as a health precaution. while that’s partly true, the real reason is because he didn’t listen to his mother one time as a kid. he had to learn the hard way.

tsireya

brings the food, the blanket, you name it. it’s her love language. as much as you want to help, there’s no denying the fact that the set-up turns out way more aesthetically pleasing when she’s in charge. plus, her cooking is as wonderful as she is. it doesn’t even feel like a picnic anymore. you once told her that she should start a catering business, but she just smiled and shrugged it off, saying that she’d only go above and beyond for you. you could’ve sworn you melted on the spot.

loves to make bracelets. tsireya loves jewelry. not so much the expensive kind, but simple ones you can make by hand. when you aren’t in the mood for swimming but want to enjoy the salty breeze, tsireya sets up a blanket and brings her bracelet-making kits. when you accidentally discovered her hobby, tsireya called it childish and embarrassing, but you quickly reassured her that it was nothing of that sort. now you make matching bracelets together.

neteyam

knows the best time and date to have a beach day. his intuition is admirable and borderline scary. he knows you don’t like crowded beaches, and honestly, neither does he. neteyam prefers more private and intimate spots, so his only request after you suggested a beach day was to pick when and where to go. agreeing was the best decision you ever made. the weather is always perfect, the water is crystal clear, and no one else is there. really, you don’t know how he does it.

lets you bury him under the sand. probably used to it since he’s the eldest sibling. it started with sandcastles, but when you brought up a fond memory about “sand mermaids” from your childhood, neteyam was eager to recreate it just to hear you laugh. personally, he doesn’t get the joke, but it’s important to you and that’s all that matters to him. he’s just a gentleman through and through. he also doesn’t mind if you take embarrassing pictures of him.

lo’ak

if possible, he cannonballs. for this reason alone, he’s very particular about the beach you guys go to. there’s no nearby cliff over the water? pass. there’s no overhanging tree to climb and jump off of? pass. the water is too shallow? pass. it’s like he’s asking for death at this point, and he’s so stubborn about it. you’ll admit that the stress is worth it, though. he knows how to make things fun.

brings two pairs of goggles. lo’ak makes it a challenge to find the “weirdest” sea creatures possible. he’d definitely try to gross you out with them too. luckily, you know his greatest weakness: sea cucumbers. he physically can’t be within a five feet radius of a sea cucumber. silliness aside, you two spend a lot of time swimming through reefs together. he isn’t the most graceful swimmer, but you can tell that he’s fascinated by marine life. he’ll never admit it though. you find it endearing.

kiri

loves to paint your nails. you’d think that the beach wasn’t an ideal place to paint your nails, but somehow, this girl made it work. you two didn’t even go to the beach for swimming at this point. you’re there for scenery. you weren’t upset by it, though, because every second spent with your favorite girl was worth it, and you can tell she felt the same way. she also has a very artistic hand. kiri knows how to recreate any nail design you show her.

wades through the shallow parts of the water. just because kiri likes to stay in the sand doesn’t mean she hates the water altogether. it’s quite the opposite actually. she’s very fond of dragging her feet through the water with you hand-in-hand, watching tiny fish swim by. occasionally, she’ll pull you close if she recognizes a fish and tells you all about it, and everytime she does, you can’t hold back a smile. she’s really in her element.

(masterlist)

[doormuncher3]

You're scared and overwhelmed. You've been waiting for her for weeks and can't stomach waiting a minute longer.

Ambessa left that morning when a surprise segue was laid out against the city. Everyone eligible to fight went down to the shore to confront the coming assault. Except for you of course. Ambessa was adamant about keeping you safe away from anything violent. Often times she would jokingly tell you something along the lines of how she couldn't risk getting your pretty face scraped up when you would get into arguments about how she was always babying you. Today was different though. Today was serious.

You've never seen Ambessa so quiet and determined. As soon as she heard about what was happening she shut down to an unrecognisable version of herself. But that didn't deter you from trying to stop her from leaving.

When she was getting ready you made your attempt to stop her trying to convince her that people needed her leadership more than her presence. Saying anything to keep her by your side and most importantly safe. She of course ignored your attempts at hindering her from her duty.

She walked across your large bedroom determination in her stride. Her toned upper body on full display her chest tightly wrapped with cloth wearing only a pair of brown leather pants hugging her thick thighs, her sword and the white linen shirt you got her for her birthday were both clentched in her right hand.

Usually when your gorgeous wife looks this good you lose all resolve not being able do do anything but trying to catch your breath, but this time it was different as you were  blinded by your overwelming anxiety trying to stop her from getting out into the living room and subsequently out of the house.

When you usually would have been salivating you felt nothing but worry even when looking at the way her body moved the muscles in her arms flexing as she gripped her sword in her left hand her right hand coming up to swipe over her mouth as she exhaled while walking towards you with a look of indifference in her eyes. "Move" she demanded stopping in front of the giant marble doorframe and looking down at your distressed face. "I won't," you told her extending your wingspan to block her from exiting the room. She looked into your eyes for a couple of seconds. The look on her face monotone her eyes dark. Then surprisingly she started leaning down slowly inching closer and closer to your face. The room was so quiet that the only sound you could hear was that of your breath shaking. Her breath on your lips the only thing you could feel. She slid her free right hand onto the side of your hip gripping the flesh gently and making a chill run down your spine with anticipation but before you noticed your guard was down she turned you to the side pushing you for your back to gently hit the wide marble jamb of your door frame. Knocking you back into reality with surprise. A little embarrassed for folding so easily but more determined to keep her safe with you. You started following her with fervor while she made her way through the spacious living area heading for the door to put her shoes on.

"Why must it always be you!?!"

She ignored you taking her boots to the couch.

"You told me you wouldn't after the last time, you said you'd stay here working to guide the war efforts"

She kept on ignoring your cries

"Do you not remeber when you said no more fighting, and that you were getting too old for that anyways!!"

you continued to shout.

She's now sitting down on the sofa facing you directly but looking down focused on strapping up her boots her sword stands upright against the couch while her shirt is draped on her right thigh.

"Did you forget, all that you promised me!?!?!"

You shouted and she paused midway while tying her boot and looked up at you through furrowed brows.

Your voice broke as you kept shouting

"Did you forget everything you said about us finally starting a family about the kids that you promised me we'd raise far away from this!!!"

She kept staring at you her eyes harboring a storm of emotions that did not help to quell your frustration.

"What if you don't come back!?!?"

you continued

"What if you lie-"

She stood up before you finished speaking towering over you.

"You've said enough!!"

She said in a stedy firm voice anger filling her entire face. She then turned starting to walk towards the door when in a moment of desperation you quickly scrambled to followed her.

"I'm coming with you!!!"

You shouted breaking her composure. She quickly spun around overpowering you with her large stature and almost knocking you down with how close she had gotten.

"You are not going anywhere!!"

She spoke firmly startling you.

"Did you take my silence for ineptitude?!?"

"Do you think I would let my untrained wife into an active battlefield for the sake of protecting her ego!?"

"Ambessa plea-"

"Or better yet do you think I would cower in my home whilst my soldiers die for the sake of a nation I built from nothing!?!"

You looked up at her holding your breath. You're eyes and throat burning.

"Do not mistake my love for you for weakness, I will not stand here waiting for them to invade my home and hurt you!"

Stunned the only thing you could do was stare as she turned her back and walked out. The large mahogany door loudly slamming shut. After a couple of minutes of standing there trying to stop the tears rushing down your eyes, you ran to the bedroom window watching as she exited the courtyard of your home.

Thank you so much for reading!!!!

This was my first attempt at this and I thought it would be cool to have more Ambessa fics. Please let me know what you think in the comments 🙏 🙂

[presleyanswrites]

another party

pairing(s): jj maybank x fem!reader

authors note just a draft :)

warnings: language, underage drinking, light mentions of sex, puk!ng, grammar, fluff

word count 1.08k

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requests open 🤍

enjoy 🫶🏼

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you insisted on wanting to attend this party, clinging to jj’s shoulder. Despite JJ being the hardest partier you knew, he told you he didn’t think it was the best idea since you got in a fight with the kooks just yesterday, and you and jj knew the entire shore would be infested with keg drinking assholes from figure eight. It’s not that he wouldn’t protect you at all costs, he just didn’t want you to get hurt.

he finally gave into the pleading, knowing he could never say no to his girl when she did. you, jj, John B, pope, and Kie were all loading onto the Twinkie to pull up on the beach bonfire and into the loud music and very crowded event.

everyone was partying, drinking, and some kids were making out and having sex right on the floor even in some parts when you and your blonde boyfriend walked by, but it didn’t draw you and JJ’s attention since everyone was all over the place. nothing you haven’t seen before. you breathe out.

almost right into the minute you saw the beers, and all the kegs, it was downhill from there. A lot was going on with you and your mom, and school, and stress and shit and all you wanted was just a beer. over the night, One drink turned into another before JJ became concerned and asked how much you’ve had.

“it’s not important, Jay,” you say giggling and stumbled into him.

“how about we drink some water, okay?”

“no, no I feel greatt”

you start laughing and then stumble onto the sand before chugging down your 12th beer.

JJ hasen’t seen you drink this much in a while, and he had to admit that drunk you was very hilarious.

Despite that, he grew very worried about your drinking problem when you suddenly just burst into tears. everything had all been too much lately and I guess for now you haven’t been handling stress amazingly the past few days.

he quickly gathers you into his arms and coos in your ear, “what’s wrong baby? are you alright? what’s going on?”

Kie suddenly walks over with pope, jj notices their presence and tells them that you and him probably need to hit the road soon, y/n was very drunk. And Kie instantly notices tears streaming down your face as you pull away. “is y/n okay? what happened JJ?”

Before he can respond, JJ instantly regrets letting you out of his sight because you’re already into the weed you picked up and went to town on it, and very soon after you were throwing up everywhere.

“what the hell, JJ? how’d you let her get so drunk? how many drinks has she had?” Pope exclaims with a hint of annoyance in his tone.

JJ ignores the remark, too embarrassed to answer, and he runs over to you rubbing small circles on your back as you forcefully spill all of your drinks and weed and rum and vodka you’ve had. JJ had a wave of guilt wash over him letting you go un supervised like that, especially with all of the kooks around. He should have known something was wrong with you, he just assumed you wanted a beer or two.

Kie Carries your weak and shaky body into the Twinkie and the four of you drive home, leaving John B and the party with Sarah.

there was a trash can in there so you began to still spill your guts into the plastic bin pope got from his house to keep shit they found in. living in the cut wasn’t easy.

JJ, still rubbing your back, and kissing the back of your head, his heart fills of worry and he feels more ashamed with himself then he has in a while.

once your into the chateau, you plunge onto the couch and jj lays out clean pjs for you, and runs you a warm bath to help soothe your burning stomach.

you, still drunk, follow your boyfriends commands and he stays by your side all night, throwing up until midnight.

he holds you close to his body and you fall into his shoulder.

after a little while, he asks, very softly, “are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

now, a little less wasted, you let streaming tears fall into his shoulder

Jay I- I don’t know! It’s just all too much and my mom is threatening to send me off and she- and the kooks” you sob, “the kooks they wanted to- touch me- and because one of them at a party wouldn’t let go and I - I and then-and then there are SATs soon and I just I can’t take it anymore.

“shhhh baby I-“ tears start to even fill the blonde boys eyes from the pain you were describing to him. “I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry baby.”

you let your head bury into his chest, sobbing

“Im so sorry i didn’t know baby. I’m sorry I let you drink so much and I’m so sorry i wasent there. I should’ve been there.” he breathes out.

After JJ finally slows down a bit, he asks gently, “please can you tell me who was attacking you?”

“it- it was topper” you breathe out, shakily like you lifted 80 weights off of you, still crying. You’ve wanted that shit out of your system for months.

JJ is angry as hell but tried to hold it back not wanting to scare you anymore.

“please please don’t do anything, Jay.” you start crying harder. “we, i- i can’t afford to lose you, I’ve lost everything. we have lost everything, pope, Kie John b- everyone, and we can’t. we just-"

JJ pulls you into a very warm dominating and safe hug. a long and persistent loving hug. you cry hard into him for almost an hour, and he just snakes his arms all the way around you, letting you take your time.

JJ is red with anger. he felt his blood boiling all throughout his body. It took him everything he had to not go and beat him to death right now, who cares if it’s like fucking 3am? despite it, he knew he just needed to be there for you at this moment.

you eventually got off the floor and into the couch. JJ gave you cuddles and kisses all night deciding to be the one to big spoon you.

[wisdomssdaughterr]

UNDERWATER KISSES

percy jackson x annabeth chase

requested ! sometime after TBOO. percy & annabeth enjoy a day at the beach.

...

“Are you watching?” 

Annabeth pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, despite the bright rays of sun that beat down on the beach. 

“I’m watching,” she replied, cupping her hands around her mouth so her boyfriend could hear from where he stood in knee-deep water. She sat on a towel laid out on the sand, attempting to split her attention between the book in her lap and Percy splashing around in the water. 

He grinned wildly before a wave a little larger than the rest grew behind him. Percy jumped into the wave as it approached him and disappeared under the water for a moment before his body washed up on shore at Annabeth’s feet. As the wave retreated, Percy laid on the wet sand, giggling like a little kid. 

It had been too long since the two of them had a chance to relax and act their age without the weight of the world on their shoulders. Annabeth had a hard time remembering the last time Percy looked so relaxed. His shoulders weren't fixed in a tense position nor were his fingers hovering over the pocket he kept Riptide in. He wasn’t constantly looking over his shoulder, ready for something horrible to happen. Instead, Percy was laughing with sand in his hair and the sun kissing his skin, unbothered and undisturbed. 

If it were up to Annabeth, she would make sure he was always like that. Unfortunately, the life of a demi-god never stayed calm forever, especially for a child of the big three, like Percy. Annabeth wanted to soak up every second of normalcy with him before the world was threatened, again. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, pushing her out of her thoughts. She hadn’t realized she’d been staring at him. His sea glass eyes stared back from where he stretched out on the wet sand, the scars on his face faded and the worry lines smoothed from the salt water. 

“I like you like this.” 

Percy sat up and furrowed his brows. “Like what?” 

Annabeth closed her book and tucked it back in her bag, where the hat from her mother and dagger were safely secured, just in case. She crawled off her towel and moved to sit beside him where the crashed waves kissed their legs before it was pulled back out. He instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into his side like she had done a hundred times before, but it still made her face feel hot and caused little butterflies to flutter inside her stomach. 

“Happy. Relaxed. And a little like a wet dog.” 

Percy shook his head, causing his wet hair to spew droplets over her. She groaned and wiped the water from her face as she glared upwards at him. “Uncalled for, Seaweed Brain.” 

The sunlight made his eyes sparkle the same way they did when she met him at camp when they were twelve years old and completely clueless as to what the future held for them. While she wished they had a normal childhood, free from the troubles they had faced both side-by-side and on their own, Annabeth would live through all of it again if that meant she ended up with Percy. 

“I feel happy and relaxed because you’re here, Wise Girl.” 

She smiled but it began to falter as unwanted thoughts crawled into her brain like sick little spiders. Of course, Percy noticed her mood shift, and he used his opposite hand that wasn't wrapped around her shoulder to brush some sand from her cheek. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” she said, but not convincingly. “I just wish it could stay like this. I wish we could stay like this.” 

“On a beach?” 

Annabeth let out a breathy laugh. “Happy and relaxed. But I wouldn’t be opposed to living on a beach.” 

“Why can’t it stay like this?” he asked, and she made a sound between a scoff and a huff. 

“Come on-” 

“Nope.” Percy removed his arm from her shoulder and stood up. The sun that hung behind his head gave him a halo of light, drenching him with a pretty golden glow. “You come on.” He outstretched his hand toward her, and she took it out of curiosity and a longing to be close to him for as long as she could before their lives were thrust back into inevitable chaos. 

He said nothing as he led the way into the ocean. The water was a refreshing cool against Annabeth’s warm skin and the mixture of seashells and seaweed under her feet tickled. 

Percy walked them out until the water was at Annabeth’s waist, then he turned around and grinned at her once more. That time, however, his smile was one of mischief and his eyes sparkled with a plan of some kind. 

“What are we doing?” she asked, still holding his hand just above the water. 

“We are pretending that things will always be this way. There are no more doomsdays coming or monsters hunting us. We are just normal half-bloods on a date, having fun, okay?” 

Gods it sounded nice, so nice that Annabeth almost believed it to be true. She was a realist, a habit of being a child of Athena. She liked it when things were for certain, even if the certainty was a downer. But standing in the ocean with Percy, who was convincing with his toothy smile and wet curls plastered to his head, Annabeth liked the idea that their troubles were over and they finally had a chance to be normal. 

She swallowed any negativity that threatened to leave her lips and let the lull of the calm sea relax her. 

“Okay,” Annabeth said, squeezing his hand. 

Percy squeezed her hand back before the mischievous grin overtook his whole face. Before she had time to react, he tugged on her hand hard and plunged into the water. 

Annabeth was completely wrapped in the cool sea with closed eyes and no clue what direction she was moving. She didn’t panic because Percy still held onto her and she trusted him more than she trusted herself, but she did have a few choice words aimed at him rattling around her head. 

She held her breath, but after they were underwater for a mere moment, a bubble appeared around her head and fresh air entered her lungs. 

Opening her eyes and sucking in a couple of deep breaths, she glared at Percy. “A warning would have been nice!” 

“That would’ve ruined the fun!” he said, occupying the same bubble of air as she was. He pulled her further out until the sea floor dropped out and fish swam in friendly circles around them. The surface wasn’t too far, close enough that Annabeth could have swum it with some ease, but far enough out that they wouldn’t be spotted by any beachgoers that happened to show up. 

Percy turned around and faced her. Their noses were almost touching, and their hands were still clasped together. “Did I tell you that you look pretty today?” 

Annabeth rolled her eyes playfully and pulled him closer so she could throw her hands over his shoulders. “Yeah, five times actually.” 

“Good.” He hugged her waist and leaned his forehead against hers. 

“You look pretty too,” said Annabeth, which caused a slight pink tint to spread across his cheeks. She reached up and brushed a curl from his forehead before closing the small gap between them. They kissed in the solitude and safety of the bubble, under the water, just like they had after defeating Kronos. They were so young back then, even though it was only a couple of years prior. It felt like a different lifetime until she was kissing him underwater again, and suddenly she was that twelve-year-old with a stupid crush on the boy who always believed in her.

[strawberrymilk-sunshine]

Sunset

I just thought of something very funny so I wrote it

Guess who's exhausted while writing again? That's right, me!!

Warning(s): mentions of stalking, not sure how good this is but hope you enjoy regardless

You fell off a ship when you were young.

You don't remember much from after the sails set on fire. When you fell into the water, you must have passed out... and when you woke up, you saw... someone.

"Um, human... are you ok...?"

You remember what he looked like. You've held on to that memory, hoping to find him again some day.

And little did you know, he did the same. He wanted to meet with you again, but he just didn't know how he would do it!

And then one day he found something. A very old spell, as old as the legends of the Sea Witch...

A spell that could turn him human.

"Are you sure about this, Azul?" Jade asked as Azul prepared the spell that would turn him human. "This could be very dangerous."

"As cool as the Sea Witch was, her magic was no joke, Octy! Are ya sure you can handle this?"

"I'll be fine. It's all to see them again..." Azul sighed.

"Ah yes, (Y/N)." Jade laughed under his breath.

"You saw them once when you were a kid. Are you sure they're even still alive?" Floyd asked, looking at the spell ingredients.

"Oh, I've been sure to keep a close eye on them all these years." Azul happily said. "They look so beautiful nowadays!"

"Right, forgot you've been stalking them for the better half of twelve years." Floyd rolled his eyes. "Again. They were a human you met because they fell off a boat when you were five, Azul. Are they really worth turning human for? What if they don't like you back?"

"Ahahaha! You really are funny sometimes, Floyd! Don't like me back, I can't even imagine that!! We're meant for each other... I'm sure of it."

"Azul, before you go too far... you do remember the steep price of the Sea Witch's spells, right?" Jade asked.

"Ooh! Yeah, she didn't give any extra chances! One little slip-up and then you were polyp-ified!"

"I know the price. But, since I'm performing the spell on myself, I don't believe I'll have to worry about any consequences!"

"I guess there's no convincing you not to..."

"But if anything happens to you, it's your fault!"

"I know... and I'm ok with that."

But something unexpected happened.

Something clearly went wrong.

The twins rushed their friend up to the surface, and helped him to the shore.

Azul coughed up water, and had planned to say something about how he had no idea the sea could be so unaccommodating to the creatures of the land, but then...

"Hm? What's with that face, Azul?" Jade asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Your throat hurt or somethin'? And why aren't you talking?"

Jade and Floyd stared at Azul for a while. Then they looked at each other, then back at Azul. And in a rare moment of perfect synchronization, yelled out

"WAIT, YOU CAN'T SPEAK ANYMORE?!"

Azul nodded, embarrassed.

"Azul! This is why we were trying to warn you against using this spell!" Jade sternly said, his hand on his forehead.

"First things first: we told you so. Secondly, according to the spell, you've only got three days to get that human you like to give you a kiss of true love! Otherwise, it's back to your mer form and polyp-ification for you!" Floyd yelled. "Well... I guess there's no Sea Witch around to enforce the polyp thing... but still! Unless you want to be stuck on land, suffocate, dry out, and die, then you'd better get that human to fall in love with you, Azul!"

"I'd suggest you pretend that you haven't been stalking them for twelve years." Jade suggested. "It's hard to imagine they'd willingly kiss you if you admitted to that."

"Maybe just pretend you're some normal, mute human!" Floyd suggested. "I mean... it's not really like you can tell 'em otherwise."

"You two stay here, I'll go find some kind of cloth we can fashion into human clothing." Jade said. "Floyd, please make sure Azul doesn't drown himself."

"Hey, no promises, Jade~!"

You were walking along the beach one day, when you saw someone out in the distance.

You ran towards the person, since they were stumbling around like they were injured. You should help them!

"Hey, uh... are you ok?" You asked when he was close enough to hear.

He had beautiful grey hair and blue eyes. He also was wearing the torn up remnants of a ship's sails as an outfit.

"...d-did you hear me?" You asked. "Are you ok?"

He slowly walked towards you, and fell forwards, his head resting on your chest.

"Wha-?! Are you ok?! Sir, are you ok?!" You yelled in a panic.

For a second, you swore you heard a voice from the water say "Take good care of him, please."

But when you looked to the sea, no one was there.

...

Is this guy asleep on your chest?!

"I guess I just... take him home...?"

You didn't know, but your life would become much more interesting with this guy around.

He woke up when you got back to your home.

The servants cleaned him up and prepared clothes that were better than the nearly destroyed cloth he was wearing.

You learned a lot about him. He can't speak, for one, but he was able to write his name down for you. His name was Azul. You don't know who he is, or why he washed up on the shore, the best you could understand was that he was probably in some kind of shipwreck.

He was nice, but... something just felt off about him.

You also heard weird whispers whenever you were out by the sea.

You decided to take him for a tour of the city the next day, you thought he'd enjoy it. And he did! He looked so happy the whole time!

Little did you know, however, the only reason he was so happy was because you, the love of his life, were right there beside him.

Late into the night, you took him for a ride in a rowboat, to a secret place only you know about. And the whole time, you swore you heard two people singing from the water.

And the day after that, Azul tried to kiss you.

You like him and all, but... not like that.

You avoided him the rest of the day after that.

And the day after that...

"Azul, I'm sorry about what happened last night..." You said, knocking on the door to the guest bedroom.

"(Y/N)... don't come in, please..." You heard a voice say from the other side of the door.

"Azul, i-is that you? Are you speaking?!" You asked. "What's going on?!"

"Nothing! Just please get me some water... and don't come in here! Just leave it at the door, ok?"

"Is everything alright in there?" You asked.

"Yes! I'm fine! Just don't come in!"

"I'm coming in, something's definitely wrong." You said, before opening the door.

And then you saw him standing there.

Azul... wasn't human.

"AH! (Y-Y/N)! Please don't look at me..." He said, shielding his face with his arms.

His legs weren't legs, they were tentacles, like an octopus would have... he was a merman.

He looked so familiar.

"...it's you." You said.

"Huh?"

"I remember you!" You yelled. "You saved me! H-how are you here right now?!"

"...you remember me...?" Azul asked, a blue blush on his face. "From... from when you fell off that ship...?"

"Yes! You're the one who saved me, right? You look so familiar..."

"Yes, that was me..." He admitted. "It's... getting hard to breathe... say, could you please hurry and get me water?"

"Oh! Yes of course!"

Azul breathed a sigh of relief when you left the room. So many things are going well this morning! You remember who he is, you know why he looks familiar, you weren't completely repulsed by his true form, and most importantly...

You didn't find out that he basically stalked you for twelve years!

[barrel-crow-n]

Kaz being horrible to Kuwei in chapter 3 (with Jesper occasionally acting as a Kaz-translator + a jab at Matthias because apparently Kaz can't stop himself) <3

"What did I tell you?" Kaz growled, pointing his cane at him.

"My Kerch isn't very good," protested Kuwei.

"Don't run games on me, kid. It's good enough. Stay in the tomb."

Kuwei hung his head. "Stay in the tomb," he repeated, glumly.

"Well?" Jesper prodded.

"I have other interests," Kuwei replied.

Kaz's black gaze pinned Kuwei like the tip of a dagger. "I suggest rethinking your priorities."

Jesper gave Kuwei another nudge. "That's Kaz's way of saying, 'Help Wylan or I'll seal you up in one of these tombs and see how that suits your interests.'"

"I would prefer to go to Ravka," he repeated more firmly. Kaz's flat black gaze fastened on Kuwei and held. Kuwei squirmed nervously. "Why is he looking at me this way?"

"Kaz is wondering if he should keep you alive," said Jesper. "Terrible for the nerves. I recommend deep breathing. Maybe a tonic."

"Jesper, stop," said Wylan.

"Both of you need to relax." Jesper patted Kuwei's hand. "We're not going to let him put you in the ground."

Kaz raised a brow. "Let's not make any promises just yet."

"Come on, Kaz. We didn't go to all that trouble to save Kuwei just to make him worm food."

There was a long, tense pause, then Kaz ran a gloved thumb over the crease of his trousers and said, "Nina, love, translate for me? I want to make sure Kuwei and I understand each other."

"Kaz-" she said warningly.

Kaz shifted forward and rested his hands on his knees, a kind older brother offering some friendly advice. "I think it's important that you understand the change in your circumstances. Van Eck knows the first place you'd go for sanctuary would be Ravka, so any ship bound for its shores is going to be searched top to bottom. The only Tailors powerful enough to make you look like someone else are in Ravka, unless Nina wants to take another dose of parem."

Matthias growled.

"Which is unlikely," Kaz conceded. "Now, I assume you don't want me to cart you back to Fjerda or the Shu Han?"

It was clear that Nina had finished the translation when Kuwei yelped, "No!"

"The your choices are Novyi Zem and the Southern Colonies, but the Kerch presence in the colonies is far lower. Also, the weather is better, if you're partial to that kind of thing. You are a stolen painting, Kuwei. Too recognisable to sell on the open market, too valuable to leave lying around. You are worthless to me."

"I'm not translating that," Nina snapped.

"Then translate this: My sole concern is keeping you away from Jan Van Eck, and if you want me to start exploring more definite options, a bullet is a lot cheaper than putting you on a ship to the Southern Colonies."

Nina did translate, though haltingly.

Kuwei responded in Shu. Nina hesitated. "He says you're cruel."

"I'm pragmatic. If I were cruel, I'd give him a eulogy instead of a conversation. So, Kuwei, you'll go to the Southern Colonies, and when the heat has died down, you can find your way to Ravka or Matthias' grandmother's house for all I care."

"Leave my grandmother out of this," Matthias said.

Nina translated, and at last, Kuwei gave a stiff nod.