#she saw the red flags and was proven right in her suspicions

[hqmillioncorn]

Lalapril Day 2: Role

‘I want to scream. When will you get it through your skull that I will not let you drown.’

the girls are fiiiiiiiiiightiiiiiiiing  and andres had died. so sad 

“Uumm...Hey, Lunya?” 

“Hmm?” The shorter of the two Lalafells paused mid-step to look at the other.

“Did you see where Babycorn and Andres went?” Coco gestured in all sorts of different directions in the dark caves they were exploring. Instead of their friends being there, there were now obvious Babycorn and Andres shaped holes.

Both Lunya and Coco looked around for any sign of them. Luckily they had prior experience on how easy it was to lose both Andres and Babycorn. 

They also knew by now that the two of them normally never wandered too far away. Thankfully.

“Coco, before Andres disappeared did he have a dumb smirk on his face?”

Coco’s face lit up, “Oh yeah! Now that you mentioned it he did!” He gleefully told Lunya that the last time he’d caught a glance of Andres he had given him both a thumbs up and a smirk.

That happened to be right after Coco saw him grab a fistful of firesand that had been left unaccounted for. Then to add onto the thumbs up and smirk Andres also decided to add a playful wink to the collection of red flags.  

“AND YOU JUST LET HIM GO???” 

“WELL HE GAVE ME A THUMBS UP SO I THOUGHT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING!!!”

“Well of course he knows what he’s doing! He’s probably off knowing that he doesn’t know what he’s doing!”

In the time they’d known the mysterious adventurer named Andres Sacapuntas he’d proven himself to be more than just a handful. From intentionally placing himself in the middle of danger to overpaying for something he could have easily paid for at a lower price. 

It almost seemed like he made it his mission in life to do things in the most difficult way imaginable.

Which was admirable in its own right but sometimes it made keeping up with him exhausting.

So as Lunya and Coco made their way through the mines (at a much slower pace than before because they’d lost both their tank and healer) they kept their eyes and ears open for any sign of their friends. 

“Andres should be easy to spot.” Lunya assured Coco, “He’s wearing all orange so he’s going to stick out more.” 

“Especially somewhere this dark…” 

Coco took another step and felt his shoe completely submerge itself in water. He let out a loud groan, “And wet! And creepy! I want to go home!” He never even wanted to go into Copperbell Mines anyway. 

The majority of them didn’t want to but it was Babycorn who asked them (practically begged them) for help with help in the mines. If there was anyone to blame for their current predicament it was her. 

And now she, along with Andres, were nowhere to be seen or heard. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!”

Coco recoiled in fright. “W-What was that?!” none of the monsters they’d encountered so far made any noises that sounded like whatever they just heard did. Whatever it was must have either been something completely new or something completely scary. 

Or in the worst case scenario-both. 

Lunya on the other hand looked frighteningly calm about the scream. “Oh. That must be Babycorn.” she turned to look in the direction the scream had probably come from only for another loud scream to confirm her suspicions. “Yup. That’s her alright.” 

“Err…? Are we going to go get her?”

“...Do we have to?” 

“I think we have to.”

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As Lunya and Coco walked deeper into the caves the continuing screams coming from Babycorn got louder and closer. “I wonder what’s making her scream so loudly?” Coco wondered out loud. 

Having known Babycorn for a few days now, odds were that whatever was scaring her ranged from a shadow coming off a rock or a legitimate threat. Either way he hoped they would find her soon along with Andres.

Lunya poked her head around a corner to make sure the pathway was clear.“I don’t know but I’m glad she keeps screaming. It makes finding her a lot easier.”  When it was obvious there was no danger ahead of them she let Coco know they could keep going.

Right on cue Babycorn let out another scream. This time it sounded very close. Close enough that one might even say it came from right in front of them. Because it did.

“What the-?!” 

Both Lunya and Coco stopped in their tracks, in shock at the scene in front of them. 

Lying almost face flat in the dirt was Andres. Several parts of his clothes were singed which gave them a pretty good idea of how he ended up in the position he was, but it also raised a lot more other questions of why he ended up there.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

And standing right next to him was Babycorn. She was burying her head into her hands and still letting out the occasional scream. 

“Well-! We found them, mission accomplished.” Lunya turned around and began to walk in the opposite direction. Right as Coco was about to ask where she was going, Lunya stopped to look right at Babycorn “Let’s go and finish up Babycorn’s mission that she made us go on!” Lunya yelled as loudly as she could.

Evidently that was enough to knock Babycorn right out of her constant screaming loop. With a scowl almost equalling the ire of Lunya’s she yelled back, “Oh shut up! I never even asked for your help! I would have been fine on my own! Without any of you!!” Babycorn stomped her foot down, narrowly missing Andres’ hand. 

No one noticed a bead of sweat trickle down Andres’ face.

“Oh, of course you would never ask for any of our help! You’re way too obnoxiously stubborn to do that!” Lunya stepped closer, ignoring Coco’s attempts to block the way by stepping around him. “We came because otherwise you probably would have dropped dead before the first elevator!” 

“You guys are the ones who are too stuck up! I would have been fine!!”

“You wouldn’t! You literally wouldn’t! You were hitting Spriggans with your staff!!!”

“Yeah?! Of course I was! How’s that any different than what you guys were doing?!”

Lunya resisted every urge to grab Babycorn by the brim of her robes and shake her like a sack of freshly made cornmeal. “It’s different because you’re a CONJURER! You have spells for these kinds of things!” With no one in her way to stop her, Lunya walked up to Babycorn and snatched the staff from her hands.

“Hey!” Babycorn growled, “That’s mine!” 

With his face still buried in the dirt Andres weakly flayed one of his arms around, “The girls are fiiiiighting.” he said, his voice muffled by the ground underneath him. It was a good thing he spoke up too. Coco was just about to consider kicking him to check if he was still alive.

“I said give me that back! It's mine!” Babycorn weakly flaid her arms towards Lunya, who did nothing but hold the staff far away from her. Even though Lunya was the smaller Lalafell between the two of them she was still managing to keep Babycorn at bay through the sheer power of her confidence in doing so.

“I’m not giving it back unless you stop and listen to me!”

Babycorn stopped and stepped back in shock, “...Fine.” she crossed her arms and reluctantly accepted Lunya’s conditions.

Watching Babycorn’s movements carefully, Lunya finally lowered the staff. “Okay, I’m going to ask this once. Maybe twice, for you. But the Conjurer's guild did teach you offensive spells, right?” 

“Uh-duh! Of course they did” 

Lunya paused, “...And you can use them?” She knew why she was asking this specific question but she couldn’t quite figure out why she was asking Babycorn this. 

“Yeah! I use them all the time!”

“Oh! That’s good then” Lunya giggled out loud and smiled, “Then go ahead and tell me why you’re not using them?!” 

“Because I don’t need to!” Babycorn raised her voice and stood on the tips of her toes to try and make herself seem more imposing. 

“Um, I think you need to…do that…” Coco quietly chimed in from the back. He was currently sitting on Andres’ back, waiting to see what they were going to do next.

Lunya took a deep sigh before continuing. “You’re a Conjurer. Your role is to keep us alive with your healing and try to keep up an offense too. I know it’s a hard concept to wrap around your little corn head, but you’re going to have to.” she walked closer to Babycorn and finally decided to drop the staff unceremoniously into Babycorn’s hands. 

The staff bounced off Babycorn’s hands and she fumbled with it for a good few seconds before she was able to get a steady grip on it. Babycorn didn’t notice Lunya extending her hand to catch it in case she dropped it.

Under her breath Babycorn muttered something about ‘old lady hair’ hoping Lunya would hear it. Judging from her deadly glare, she had. Babycorn gripped her staff and held it closer to her for protection. “What do you know about healing?” she stared right at Lunya. 

Nobody in the room noticed how just still Lunya became when Babycorn asked her that question. Her glare grew in intensity, until it didn’t.

Eventually, she answered. “Nothing. Don’t bother asking because I don’t know anythiiiiing about it!” she ended her explanation with a hollow laugh before turning her back to Babycorn.

The truth was that Babycorn did know how to heal, she knew how to cast offensive magic too. She’d done it so many times before but it always came at a price. Not on her behalf but instead the price was for the other person. 

She wasn’t about to just hand out her services for free, especially to people she barely knew.

What if they took advantage of her? What if they betrayed her and turned to call her a monster just like all the others? 

What if they found out the truth about their magic?

“...You say I have to keep you guys alive with magic but can’t you do that yourself?” 

“Look at Andres and tell me that again.” 

Babycorn did as Lunya said and looked at Andres (and Coco who offered her a small wave.) “That wasn’t my fault! Andres took off running ahead of everyone and when I tried to keep up he just kept running faster!” 

A muffle from Andres let everyone know that Babycorn’s account was true so far. Babycorn continued, “Then when we ran into a bunch of monsters he threw the firesand at them and tried to set it off with his gun!”

“Guess it didn’t work?” Coco asked.

“No it did. Andres blew up.” 

“Oh.”

Babycorn looked down and away from the people around her that she had no connection to, “I…When I saw Andres blow up…I panicked and I tried to heal him but he wouldn’t get up so I started screaming…I didn’t know what else to do.” It was true she didn’t bother to heal any of her teammates this entire time and instead focused on only keeping herself alive. 

But when she saw Andres get really hurt…

“...If Andres is hurt then that's one person down and then…”

“Mhmm?” Lunya could see the wheels in Babycorn’s head turning.

“Then…Then if the rest of you aren’t healed then that only leaves me…And I know I can’t fight back as much as the rest of you.” no matter how hard she swung her staff. 

Even if she managed to hit a few hard blows Babycorn had almost no physical strength to speak of. She couldn’t run very far let alone fend off a group of enemies that wanted her dead.

“So then…?” Lunya moved her hand in a motion to let Babycorn know that there was still more for her to say and figure out. Which hopefully she could by herself.

“So then…”  

After a pause Babycorn suddenly spun around and held her staff out. Her eyes were locked onto Andres in a determined stare. “So then the rest of you have to stay up!” She closed her eyes and concentrated on the strongest healing spell she knew.

While Babycorn was a little slower in casting spells than other Conjurers around her skill level, her spells were no less weaker. In no time every injury Andres had sustained in his little escapade had been healed away. 

“Ah?” Coco, who was still sitting on Andres’ back, felt something move underneath him. Then before he could do anything he was flung back into the air as Andres jumped up to his feet. 

“AHHH! I LIVE!” Andres yelled. A small “Ow.” echoed behind him.

As Andres moved various parts of his body around to check if they were still in working order Babycorn stomped up to him, an obvious scowl on her face. Well, obvious to anyone that didn’t tower over her enough to miss the whole thing. 

“It was your fault you got hurt in the first place!” she tried to yell loud enough so that even with the size difference Andres would hear her, “I’m supposed to keep you safe so don’t run off like that!”

“Babycorns right.” For once, Lunya whispered under her breath. 

Babycorn herself looked shocked to hear Lunya say that. “I am?” she was almost never right, about anything! It was always a close assumption at best. 

“Just about the Andres thing. I’m still holding you personally accountable for the not offensive magic and not healing us thing.” 

Babycorn mumbled something and rolled her eyes.

Lunya turned away from Babycorn and towards Andres, Coco shortly joined her. “All I’m going to say to you is-Stop it. And if you’re not going to stop it, at least don’t run away too far from Babycorn.” There was now way she would be able to handle something like this happening every time they explored somewhere together. 

Coco nodded his head in agreement. “We all have to stick together, you know! Then we can accomplish anything!” he pumped his fist into the air in a cheer.

“This isn’t a friendship speech Coco.” 

“It’s not?” 

Andres looked to be in deep thought over Lunya’s words. Until he wasn’t, “Ah, I see. What you’re saying is that I have to bring Babycorn everywhere I go to make sure I don’t die! I’m reading what you’re putting down.” he nodded to himself, looking particularly proud of what he just figured out.

“T-That’s not what she means at all!” Babycorn would have rather fallen off another cliff than spend any more time with Andres than she needed to.

Lunya caught onto Babycorn’s plainly obvious disdain for Andres and playfully smiled. “That’s right! In fact, why don’t you go to Babycorn for all your healing needs from now on? I’m sure she would loooove to spend some quality time with you!” 

“No I wouldn’t! Don’t listen to her!”

But it was too late, Andres was already listening to one Lalafell and unfortunately for Babycorn it wasn’t her. 

“Right!” Andres picked up his gun from the floor and dusted it off, “Before anything let’s get out of these mines. I’m getting sick of it and I have a whole bunch of other things to do after this. Maybe.” Without so much as a single warning he took off running into the darkness again. It was almost as if that whole conversation with Lunya hadn’t happened.

(Though as Babycorn would find out in a couple weeks time when Andres would kidnap her from her bed to take her on a nightly expedition of the Twelveswood, he was listening.)

Coco let out a tired sigh, reluctantly accepting that they would probably have to have Babycorn scrape Andres off the floor at least one more time before they could go home. “Maybe if we run after him fast enough he won’t be too dead when we catch up?” Coco asked.

“Well what are we waiting around for?!” Lunya ran ahead of the other two and beckoned for them to follow her, “You better pick up the pace Babycorn! Remember it’s your job to keep us alive!”

“B-But Andres ran ahead on purpose!”

“Maybe so, but we’re not. Make sure to keep us healthy while we catch up!” Lunya explained with a glint in her eye, “And if you do that, then we can keep you alive. Do you get it yet?”

“...Fine.”

“Now let’s go! Cherrypit is waiting for you back at the mansion.” Personally Lunya couldn’t stand being near Babycorn for more than ten minutes at a time. And the feeling was very much mutual but unlike Lunya, Babycorn couldn’t take being with Lunya for five minutes.  

Even so, Lunya couldn’t bear to break Cherrypit’s heart if his sister got hurt on her watch. 

She honestly didn’t understand how someone so stubborn as Babycorn could have practically raised someone as pleasant and nice as Cherrypit. If she was speaking honestly sometimes the much older Babycorn acted more like a baby then the actual toddler did. 

Babycorn staggered in place. “A-Ah! Right Cherrys back home. Yeah, that’s where he is…”

For no particular reason Babycorn tightly wrapped her arms around her waist.

[whitetigerdemoness]

Hi guys! This has a title now (“Holloa”) instead of just being “Evillustrator vs Lila”. It is also up on A03 because people kept asking to be added to a tag list and I am horrible at remembering to do that. Don’t forget about the Masterpost if you would rather stick to tumblr! I keep it up to date.

I really don't like the first part of this chapter, but I needed to get Adrien back in the action SOMEHOW.

An honor duel is only valid if both parties have honor. Otherwise, it is just an excuse to beat someone's ass.

Masterpost of all Chapters

The first thing Adrien noticed when he woke up was how hard the action was. Regaining consciousness was like trying to swim upwards with weights on his legs. Forcing his eyes open the boy lay in his bed, wondering how he had gotten there. The last thing he remembered was coming home, father being furious, and being dismissed to dinner.

“Plagg?” He called, slowly levering himself up. Weak light was filtering in through his large windows. If the sun was just setting, he couldn’t have been asleep for more than a few hours. Which was good since he needed to meet Ladybug, Marinette, and search for Volpina. Then he saw the time on his alarm clock: 6:14 AM. 

“Plagg?!” He called again, anxiety creeping down his spine. Something wasn’t right. Even dead exhausted he never slept through his alarm, which he would have set for certain last night. Except he didn’t even remember getting to bed so maybe he didn’t. Running his thumb over his ring in a nervous gesture, Adrien froze. Where was his ring?

Adrien frantically tore the covers off his bed, shaking them out with more energy than he had, before doing the same to the sheets. Nothing. Where else could the ring possibly be? He was dressed in the same outfit as yesterday (another seriously red flag, a model did NOT sleep in his clothes) so the laundry was out. Maybe he had dropped it in the dining room? Adrien hurried to his door, flinging it open only to run head first into his bodyguard.

“Oh, yaaaay! You’re awake!” Huh? Adrien thought, staring dumbfounded at the fondly nicknamed ‘Gorilla’. The man stared back silently. 

“We’ve been sooooo worried ever since Panther and Hawkmoth left! They said you would wake up HOURS ago! Why did you have to sleep so long, I really wanted to finally meet you!” A deep blue kwami zipped around him excitedly. 

“You’re a kwami!” Adrien said, shocked. How had his bodyguard gotten a miracu-wait. Back up. Had the kwami said Hawkmoth had been there?

“Yes! I’m Dusu! Very nice to finally meet you! Mayura and Paon talked about you a lot but would neeeever let me meet you! So mean!” He sobbed. Adrien’s bodyguard, whose actual name was Samson, patted the little creature gently on the head.

“You’re Mayura’s Kwami? You said HAWKMOTH was here? Who is Paon? What is going on?!” Adrien questioned in rapid succession. What in the world WAS going on? Hawkmoth having his miraculous explained where it had gone, but how had Samson gotten the peacock? How had Hawkmoth and Mayura gotten into his house? Was his father ok? Samson didn’t look concerned, but if he was working for Hawkmoth…

“I was! Samson is my holder now because Mayura is using the cat miraculous.” Samson grunted, not looking too thrilled at the prospect. “Keep Adrien safe! Hawkmoth said before they left, and that’s what we’re going to do!” Both kwami and holder nodded. The contrast between them was like night and day. Dusu was so energetic where Samson was solemn. 

“Dusu, please. How did Hawkmoth get in here?” Adrien tried to get the hyper kwami to focus.

“He lives here, silly!” Dusu laughed, flying around his head. “Oh, I’m so happy to meet Paon’s chick! She would never let me play with you!” Hawkmoth lived here? In Adrien’s house? Old suspicions crept up like slime sliding down his spine. No. He had proven his father was not Hawkmoth. He couldn’t be, he had been akumatized! Hawkmoth couldn’t akumatize himself...could he? Why not, whispered a treacherous part of his brain, Chatnoir could cataclysm himself if he wasn’t careful. Miraculous holders were not immune to their own powers. His father was Hawkmoth. Adrien couldn’t breathe.

“Ohh! Are you ok? You sound wheezy. Did you forget how to breathe? Here I’ll help! And breathe in! And breathe out! And breathe in-!” Dusu cheered as Samson steadied Adrien. The blond boy barely noticed. Everything felt numb. The super villain who had been terrorizing Paris was his father. Yesterday when Hawkmoth had been talking about his mother he had thought the man had just been saying things to get to him. The Agrestes were celebrities in the fashion world. His mother’s disappearance had not gone unnoticed. Anyone who followed fashion news would know of it, but Hawkmoth had said they could bring her back like he had known where she was. He had said ‘a life for a life’. Adrien really did not like the implications of that.

“Dusu,” Adrien panted, trying to get his breathing under control. Was this what a panic attack felt like? It was awful. “My mother. Do you know anything about my mother? Do you know what happened to her?”

“Of course I know her, she was Paon! I miss her a lot, we helped a lot of people, even you!” Dusu zipped back and forth. “Paon didn’t want to be public like you and Ladybug, but she sent amoks to protect people, or cheer them up. There was even a time we traveled to the aftermath of an earthquake and sent amoks to rescue people! It was so much fun, much more than how Mayura used me.” Dusu sighed, deflating. “My miraculous is broken though, it hurts my wielder over time. She was going to give me up, but then you got really sick. The doctors said something was wrong with your heart, you were gonna die! So she stayed up for two days straight and concentrated reeeeeealllly hard and made her strongest amok ever! It’s still here.” Dusu said, patting Adrien on the chest. Adrien remembered being really sick right before his mother had disappeared. He had had to stay in the hospital for a short time, before making a miraculous recovery. His father told him he had had a bad case of the flu. There was something wrong with his heart? There was an amok inside him, keeping him alive? This was all too much to process.

“But what happened to my mother?” Adrien deliberately took another breath, trying to regain some calm. Samson was helpfully rubbing his back.

“Ooh, well, the effort of making your amok was too much strain. She’s in a coma, trying to heal. Hawkmoth wants to used the Ladybug and Cat miraculous to heal her. He’s so devoted to her.” Dusu began to cry again. 

“A coma? So she’s not dead?” Adrien questioned, feeling a small sliver of hope. “If we use the miraculous, she’ll wake up? No one has to die?” Dusu shrugged.

“Using the Ladybug and Cat to make a wish always has a price. You never really know what it’s going to be before you have to pay it, but it has to be something equal. What that means varies from wish to wish. I know Hawkmoth told you you could use some random person as a sacrifice, but you can’t guarantee that. The entity chooses, not you.” Dusu said, serious for the first time since Adrien had met him. “Norro and I have tried to persuade Hawkmoth to look to other means to heal her, she’s not dead so there ARE other possibilities, but with the miraculous right here...he won't listen.” The kwami looked troubled.

Adrien mulled that over. He meant what he said yesterday, he missed his mother and would gladly make a sacrifice to have her back, but he knew she would never accept trading her life for someone else's. From what Dusu had said, the life being traded may be his father’s. His father may be willing to pay that price, but Adrien knew his mother was not and despite how distant he had been since his mother’s disappearance, Adrien didn’t want to lose his father too. If Hawkmoth’s wish failed, he could lose both of them. He was selfish. He couldn’t bear that. He needed his miraculous back.

“Dusu, do you know where Hawkmoth is keeping my miraculous?” The kwami huffed and wagged a finger.

“Mayura has it, she’s Panther now, and you are not getting it back! It’s too dangerous for little chicks outside right now!” Samson nodded in agreement. “There are akuma everywhere by now!”

“Then that’s all the reason for me to get my miraculous back! Ladybug needs Chatnoir!” Not more than you need her, the stressed part of his brain whispered. He tried to ignore it. “If I need a miraculous to get my miraculous, give me the peacock!” Dusu puffed up, fanning his feathers in preparation to argue, but Samson stopped him. The large man and kwami stared at each other for a long time, having some sort of silent conversation. Finally, Dusu deflated, the loser of the argument.

“Ok. I guess one transformation wont hurt you too bad. If you really need to do this Adrien, Plumage will help you until you get your ring back.” Dusu sighed. “Paon would never forgive me if I let her chick get hurt.”

“Plumage?” Adrien questioned.

“Dusu, spread my feathers.” Holy crap Samson could talk.

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“Penknight! On your left!” Queenbee watched the akuma slice the insect kind of akuma out of the air as Rena Rouge dived to save the newly cured victim. She would NEVER admit it out loud, but his ability to destroy akuma was very useful since Ladybug was still out looking for allies. The fox holder was currently the only one to have shown up. The time limit Ladybug had set was nearly over. It looked like they may not be getting any more help.

Help they sorely needed. For every person they cured, another three akuma took their place. Dozens of akuma Queenbee had never even seen before rushed them, all various combinations of eerie red. The newscast this morning had been truly devastating. Honestly, what were those idiot reporters thinking! Showing something like THAT to a city where anyone who got mildly upset could become a super villain? It was like they were TRYING to help Hawkmoth. Utterly ridiculous. 

“Queenbee, look out!” She felt her breath whoosh out as something grabbed her around the middle and yanked her back just moments before a line of spikes would have hit her. Retriever pounced on the porcupine\octopus creature that had attacked her while Queenbee slapped Stardust’s crook away.

“Keep your glitter to yourself, sparkles. I shine brightly enough on my own without getting your tacky dust on me.” She hmphed. Stardust rolled his eyes before using his crook to hook an akuma out of the air as they tried to divebomb the two. A quick snap of her top sent a butterfly fluttering out of a pair of aviator goggles. Penknight cackled with manic glee as he sliced the butterfly in two, before hopping backwards to avoid a flailing tentacle from the porcupine squid thing. The akuma was clearly getting some sort of malicious enjoyment from destroying the other akumas. Queenbee understood, sort of. There was nothing more satisfying than proving yourself better than your competition, but she also thought the akuma was only having fun because he got to swing his sword around and show off for Stardust. Men.

“Ugh. I cannot believe you are attracted to that. Honey, you can do so much better.” She meant it. Seeing someone as pretty as Marc pining for someone as nerdy as Nathaniel was a travesty. Pretty people just did not settle for less than the best. That’s what her mother had always said. It didn’t matter how nice a boy’s shoulders looked if his clothes came out of a second hand bin, and don’t even get her started on Kurtzberg’s hair. Had the boy ever heard of conditioner before? The spikey mess of his akuma form was almost an upgrade. 

“Says the girl who keeps eyeing his backside.” Rena Rouge snickered, helping Viperion wrestle a compact Picasso horror to the ground.

“Hmph! I am obviously just noting all the flaws in that garish coat. How could anyone look away from such an insult to fashion? Not that I would expect someone who thinks frosted tips is still a trendy hairstyle to understand.” If Ladybug could return already so they could get around to hunting down Scarlet Hawkmoth that would be great. The team was trading banter to try and keep their spirits up, one of them getting akumatized would be game over, but the battle was taking its toll. There just seemed to be no end to the waves of vermilion drenched akuma.

“It’s ok Queenbee, Penknight does have a very eye catching...coat.” Stardust had the nerve to laugh at her. She dismissed him with a flick of her hand and used her top to try and help Retriever get the akuma she had been fighting to hold still long enough to find its akumatized object. This would be SO much easier if any of them could use their powers, but with the time limit they were all reduced to brawling like common street thugs. This was utterly beneath Queenbee.

“So the race traitor continues to terrorize innocent akuma. Fear not, my flock! Your Shepard will protect you!” Ugh, speaking of things that were beneath her. The akuma horde backed away as Shepard leapt down from a nearby building. Curiously, there was no red on him at all. Even more curious the previously chaotic akuma seemed to be obeying him, neatly stepping out of the way when ordered. Interesting.

“I challenge you to one on one combat!” Shepard declared, dramatically pointing his weapon at Penknight. “When I win, you WILL turn the human you have been consorting with over to me!” The red akumas circled the heroes, silent, creating a battle ring of sorts while also trapping them inside. Penknight didn’t seem concerned. 

“You’re that asshole from the hospital arn’t you?” Penknight asked, looking disgusted.

“My adversary recognizes me! Now face me you-what are you doing?” Penknight had turned his sword back into a drawing tablet and was cracking his knuckles.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” Penknight chuckled darkly, before leaping at the wolf headed akuma and ripping the staff out of his hands before the other could even react. The next few minutes consisted mainly of Shepard screaming while Penknight beat him with his own weapon. None of the scarlet akuma moved to interfere, watching silently.

“This is wrong, we should stop him.” Stardust ventured nervously. Viperion stopped him with a hand on his shoulder when he tried to step forward to interfere. 

“Let Penknight have his fun, we need the break. Akuma are pretty hardy. Shepard isn’t being hurt nearly as bad as it sounds.” Viperion said, rubbing at his own shoulders. The snake hero had been transformed longer than any of them and welcomed the respite. 

“Besides, you didn’t hear what that douche was saying at the hospital. He’s getting what he deserves.” Rena Rouge muttered darkly. Viperion gave her an appraising look at that, looking like a lightbulb had gone off but didn’t comment.

“Um, guys?” Retriever asked hesitantly, pointing to a nearby rooftop where Penknight had dragged the other akuma. Penknight hoisted Shepard over his head like Quasimodo and Esmeralda declaring sanctuary, but the look on his face suggested more malicious intentions.

“Ok now we stop him.” Viperion said running for the building.

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Ladybug snatched another akuma out of the air with her yoyo. Carapace helped the now cured victim to their feet as the purified butterfly fluttered away. Other than Rena Rouge, he had been the only other hero she had been able to find. The two of them had been trying to make their way to the larger battle raging in the distance for sometime now, but kept getting side tracked by stray akuma also heading for the battle. There was no doubt the bulk of them were fighting the larger group of heroes, but there were enough stragglers to present a problem.

“Ladybug!” What now, she sighed internally as someone other than Carapace called out to her. When she turned to address the speaker, she would have been shocked if she still had her emotions. Riding on the shoulders of a large blue akuma was Adrien. She should feel relieved to see him, elated even, but with Reverser’s power still in place she felt nothing. Logically she knew this should distress her but the lack of feeling was freeing in its own way. She hadn’t been this free of stress since she became Ladybug.

“Drop him!” Carapace ordered, squaring off against the blue akuma.

“Whoa, It’s ok Carapace! He’s a friend. This is Plumage, he’s not an akuma. He’s using the Peacock miraculous.” Adrien explained, sliding to the ground. Ladybug appraised the new arrival again. The hulking man wore a deep blue suit that nearly blended into his blue skin. Cascading over a blue headband and almost to the ground were hundreds of peacock feathers instead of hair. A gigantic version of Mayura’s fan was strapped to his back, almost as large as he was. His appearance was very simple and no nonsense.

“It is good to see you are alright, Adrien. I was worried.” She had been. Before. “Why have you come out here? The streets are dangerous.” Adrien paused at her flat tone, eyeing the various kwami floating around her.

“Ladybug, are you...all right? You sound strange.” He asked.

“She was affected by an akuma power that sealed her emotions.” Longg answered for her. “Considering the circumstances of the past few hours, Ladybug decided to leave the alteration in place for the time being to prevent from being akumatized.” The dragon kwami looked like he disapproved of the choice.

“I was wondering about that...but never mind! Adrien, dude! Ladybug is right, it is way too dangerous out here for you to be out and about. Go home man.” Carapace said. Adrien shook his head.

“I can help. This is all my fault, I want to- I need to help fix it.” The determination in his eyes briefly sparked something in Ladybug before Reverser’s alteration suppressed it. She wondered what it was.

“How could this all be your fault?” Carapace asked, puzzled. 

“Well…” Adrien glanced at Ladybug, seemingly asking her permission. 

“It doesn’t matter who knows now that Hawkmoth does. Adrien was Chatnoir. Hawkmoth took his ring.” She said, turning away from them to stare searchingly in the direction the larger battle had been raging. Everything had gone quiet. That could not be a good sign.

“Dude.” Said Carapace, stunned.

“He did take my ring, but in doing so he showed his hand. I know who he is Ladybug.” She turned to face him, many different emotions being negated as fast as they could rise. Did they have a face for their nemesis after all this time? This was the best news she had heard in a long time. The various kwami chattered excitedly around her. Ladybug inclined her head, silently asking Adrien to continue. He took a deep breath as if gathering strength.

“Hawkmoth is Gabriel Agreste. My Father.”

[jadekitty777]

I debated so hard on what words to pick for my request but! I think I've finally settled on "Trust" and "Dance"! Tbh I know you only sent me one word, though, so if you would rather just pick one or the other and go with that, that's totally fine! Whatever tickles your fancy, honestly. I'll be happy to read any Taiqrow you write askldfm

Me: Drabble? That’s like five thousand words, right?

I’m pretty sure getting me to write something concisely is moreimpossible than finding Atlantis. But I’m so super pleased with how this oneturned out. Also, I re-wrote the summary no less than six times.

Title: Won’t Say, Don’t Say (I’m Falling in Love)

Summary: A bitter loner and a hopeless romantic walk into a bar onenight… and you all know how this joke ends, don’t you? [Modern AU]

Rating: T

Pairings: Taiqrow and Raven/Summer

AO3 Link: Right Here!

~

The bumping sounds of bass spilled out the door of the danceclub as it was opened and then closed with the admittance of another patron,moving the rest of those waiting in line another blissful inch. Tai steppedforward, grateful they were almost to the front. He rocked on his heels toalleviate some of the ache in his knees, looking down when he felt Summer latchonto his arm. She had probably spent an hour in front of the mirror, each bitof her make-up so immaculately placed, with glitter accents around her eyesthat would sparkle under the colored lights once they hit the floor. She wasdefinitely dressed to impress tonight.

“Ooh, I can’t wait for you to meet them!”

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was probably thefifth time he’s heard that since he’d agreed to join her.  “Don’t get tooexcited Sums. I came along to have fun, not find a date.”

“Yeah, you say that, buuuut-” She trailed off, letting therest of the sentence hang.

“Hey, I’ve been getting better!” He argued, tucking his facein his collar.

“To get better, you need to actually date someoneTai. Not avoid dating entirely. That’s called ‘ignoring the problem.’.”

“I’m not ignoring it. I’m just… taking a break!”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

Tai sighed. He knew there really wasn’t any use in arguing.He was pretty sure there was some unwritten universal law that if you knew aperson for more than fifteen years, it was impossible to lie to them. Or maybehe just couldn’t lie to the one girl that he introduced himself to by placing acrown of dandelions on her head while declaring her as his ‘forever flowerprincess’. She responded to such an honest declaration of love in the way anyeight-year-old should: By calling him a stupid dum-dum and throwing sand in hisface.

They’d been best friends ever since.

Of course, having such an honorary place in his life alsomeant that she got to watch from a front row seat whenever he got his heartbroken. Almost like a true movie-goer, the first few times she saw the storyplay out, her heart-strings tugged at his every struggle and pain. By the tenth time,she was yelling at the screen for him to stop making the same stupid decisionsbefore the first scene was even over. Eventually, those criticisms and hisaching chest got through to him, and he decided to just stop performingaltogether.

He had a suspicion that because the screen had stayed blackfor more than a year now, his biggest fan had grown bored with the lack ofentertainment. Why else would she try to turn herself into a director?

“I’m just saying, if you meet someone you like, you shouldgive it a chance.” She jabbed her elbow into his side. “I know you miss beingsomeone’s prince.”

He nudged her back, but her smile was too infectious not tocatch. “Oh, shut up.”

“You know you love me.” She said. A buzzing drew herattention and she pulled out her phone from her handbag. Tai’s assumptions thatit was her girlfriend was proven right when Summer announced, “Raven saidthey’re at the corner of the bar when we get inside.”

Just in time too, because they were next in line. Afterbeing carded and screened, they were allowed inside. It was like walking fromnight into day, the air turning from brisk and breezy to heavy and hot withinseconds of entering the club, the ground under his feet seeming to shake withevery beat of the rhythm blasting from the speakers. Tai had to blink awayspots as he adjusted to the flashing lights.

Summer stood on her tiptoes, scoping out the room. “Oh, Isee them!” She tugged him along as she weaved around the crowd and straighttowards a pair sitting at the quieter end of the bar. His eyes were drawn tothe female of the two, impressed by the wild, black hair cascading down herback. “Rae!”

And it was she who turned to that call, giving him his firstgood look at the mysterious girlfriend he’d been hearing about for weeks. Shewas as stunning as Summer had gushed over, her facial features a perfectcontrast of sharp in the nose and chin, yet delicate in the pale moonlit whiteof her skin and eyes red like gemstones. He may have even thought herdangerous, if not for the way her lips eased into a welcoming smile.

Summer unlatched herself from him, skirting the last fewfeet forward and right into her arms. And then she leaned up and – okay yeah,he didn’t need to watch his admittedly gorgeous friend kissing an equallygorgeous woman. It probably wasn’t good for his health.

Taiyang avoided it by focusing on the second half of the pair,whom was now leaning back against the counter. As he met dusky red eyes, heswore he heard his mind screech to a halt.

For if there was ever a person that perfectly defined bothstrikingly handsome and breathtakingly beautiful, that was Qrow Branwen. It washard to pinpoint exactly what made him so, other than to say all of him. From slicked back, coal-darkhair to the hint of stubble that accented an angled jawline or the too-tightdress shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing just enough to tease, tothe long legs that couldn’t teasetheir flexibility, every bit of him seemed to just be another something to appreciate.He was like a puzzle; the pieces alone didn’t seem like much, but when puttogether the correct way it became a work of art.

Qrow shot him an easygoing smile, tilting his half-fullglass as a greeting wave. “Hey, you must be Tai.”

Dear gods, and a voice that sounded like it was constantlywrecked by sex. That was just notfair.

He swallowed hard against his suddenly dry throat. “Yeah.And you’re Qrow. Hey.” He tacked on lamely. What a night to lose his charisma.

Thankfully, he wasn’t left to flounder long as Raven spokeup, “And I’m Raven. Charmed, really.” Her arms made a loose circle aroundSummer’s waist, tugging her close. “So, now that we’re all acquainted: Drinksor dance floor?”

Knowing there was no way in hell he was getting on the floorwithout being at least semi-drunk, Tai quickly offered, “I vote drinks” just asSummer said, “I want to dance!”

Qrow gestured to his own glass as a sign of his own opinion.

Raven shrugged, slipping off her bar stool. “Guess we’resplitting up then.” She pulled off the leather jacket, tossing it over herbrother’s head. “Be a good coat rack and hold that for me.”

He yanked it off, saying irritably, “Three songs and thenwe’re switching.”

“We’ll see.”

As they bickered, Summer turned to him, the glitter aroundher face only accenting her puppy-dog gaze as she held her girly handbag towardshim. “Please?”

Tai rolled his eyes, hooking his fingers around the strap.“Go have fun.”

“You’re the best!” She beamed, before following after Raven,walking so close they practically melded at the hip.

In the wake of their departure, the appointed coat racktipped his head towards the now empty bar stool, in which the appointed pursehook gratefully took.

Qrow swung himself around, flagging down the bartender as heasked him, “So, what’s your taste?”

It took Tai a moment to realize he meant for alcohol. “Oh,uh, Four Roses, if they have it.”

A whistle. “A bourbon man, huh? Didn’t take ya for thetype.”

“Didn’t used to be. I tried it on a dare. Just ended upliking it.”

“Wonder who that was.” The way he said that implied Qrowknew exactly who had been the instigator. He lent towards him. “Hey, can I dareyou to try another?”

Tai met his gaze, not sure what to make of the almostmischievous grin gracing those pretty features. “Uh, like?”

“What’ll ya have boys?”

Qrow winked at him, before turning to the bartender. “I’lltake another double of scotch, on the rocks. My friend here’ll have some OldCrow, nice and neat.”

Tai could immediately catch the bourbon’s scent the momentit was placed in front of him. It smelled almost sweet, more like a fancymartini, than the bitter, burning whiskey he was imagining. Entirely aware ofthe eyes watching his every movement, he lifted his glass and took the first,brave sip.

And, it was…

Huh.

He lowered the glass, mildly confused. Why did it taste likelightly buttered toast?

Beside him, Qrow had dissolved into laughter, restrained butlively. “It’s weird, right?”

“Not really what I was expecting.” He took another sip,adjusting to the flavor. He’d had better, but for a bottom shelf drink, it wasn’tbad. It had that tame, moderate sort of kick he’d grown to enjoy. “It’s fineenough to drink.”

That mischievous smile was back. “Oh good. Because you’ll bedrinking a lot of crow tonight.”

Tai choked on air. “E-Excuseme?!”

Qrow pounded at the counter, howling with laughter. “Youshould see your face! Man, that was one of my best lines!”

He sighed, setting his glass down with a decisive thud. Evenat only twenty-five, he was too old for this game. “Alright, are you flirtingwith me or messing with me?”

He held his forefinger and thumb a millimeter apart, “Lil’bit of both,” before reaching out for his drink.

Tai watched him drown it, asking, “Why?”

A second thud as another glass hit the counter, ice cubescackling together. “Did you know every time I walked into the room, you justconveniently became the hot topic of conversation?” Qrow finally looked to him,raising an eyebrow. “Summer’s not exactly subtle.”

“Oh Gods.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing theground would just open up underneath him and portal him straight to Hell. “I’msorry. She means well. She’s just got it in her head that I’m lonely.”

“Bet it came with a bunch of ‘You’re not getting anyyounger’ and ‘Love is worth the risk’ speeches, right?”

He groaned. “Yep. Guess the pain’s mutual, huh?”

“Eh.” He shrugged. “Honestly, it was more a change of pace.No one has ever felt they needed to play Cupid for me. I mean, of course not.When you look this good, the romance comes to you.” He gestured grandly tohimself, and had Tai not been practically drooling at his feet not ten minutesago, he might have called him out on his ego. Qrow spared him another wink. “Tobe frank, you don’t look like you need it either.”

Oh. Tai felt hisface flame up, rubbing the back of his neck. “Thanks.”

His smile went from coy to relaxed. “To also be frank, I’mnot looking for a commitment and from your response, I don’t think you reallyare either. I am however hoping to have a good time tonightand if I can do that with a sexy guy, all the more reason. So, what say we getdrunk off our asses, make fools of ourselves on the dance floor and call it anight?”

It was amazing just how much that simple suggestion easedthe tension out of him. He grinned back at him. “I say let’s do it.”

“Alright, then. Cheers!”

The clink of their glasses sealed the promise, and as Taichugged his drink, he figured the night might just be looking up after all.

~

It was probably their fourth round on the dance floor and itwas practically sweltering. He could feel sweat clinging to him, head spinningwith a wonderful dizziness. Qrow was a better sight; his hair had fallen into amess at some point, bangs plastered attractively along his forehead, and he’dundone a few more buttons of his shirt, revealing a bit more of those nicelydefined pecs. Watching him move to the beat, Tai couldn’t figure out if thefloor was so hot because of how many people were around him, or if it wassimply because Qrow was on it.

Wait, that was a good one!

He caught his fingers into his dance partner’s belt loops,yanking him in close. He had to lean into his ear, just so he could hear him. “Hey,got something to tell ya!”  

“Yeah?” Qrow slurred back, slinging his arms up around hisneck. The sudden closeness had broken their rhythm, just leaving them to swaytogether.

Tai searched his brain, trying to remember. What was itexactly? Oh, Right!  “You’re pretty.” Henestled himself into his shoulder, hiding his goofy grin against the other’sneck. Fingers ran through his hair, petting him in soothing motions that made hiseyes flutter shut.

So nice.

Qrow was nice.

He liked him.

He wanted to dance with him forever.

“Hey. Listen.” Qrow’s lips touched against his ear, creatinghappy tingles that rushed down his spine. “This song’s for us.”

Tai did his best to focus as commanded, a few of the lyrics driftingaround them becoming startlingly clear.

“What are the chancesthat we’d end up dancing?

Like two in a million,like once in a life.”

The music lifted away, the words becoming inaudible. He liftedhis head, trying to follow their retreat, but his head was heavier then heremembered, and he had to rest it again – this time with his forehead layingagainst Qrow’s own. The magic of them staring into one another’s eyes broughtthe song back.

“Is it love? Is itfate?

Where it leads, whocan say?

Maybe you and I weremeant to be.”

Qrow laced his fingers around the back of Tai’s neck,tilting just enough that their lips brushed together. A second later, he triedagain, kissing him with more earnest.

Whoa, too fast! Toofast! His brain jittered in alarm.

The sweep of a tongue along his lips halted the warningsaltogether.

…Ah, screw it.

Tai tangled his own hands into Qrow’s hair, opening hismouth to him. Their tongues took the place of their feet, dancing together tothe music of their souls. Every breath between them harmonized, every nerve ontheir bodies sang, every beat of their hearts rose up, up, up to the crescendowithout ever needing to fall.

He really wanted to dance with him forever.

It wasn’t meant to be. Qrow broke back first with a gasp,stumbling into him despite the fact they were not moving. “Got to sit. You’regiving me a fever.”

“’Kay.” Tai obliged, tugging him along by his waist as theybumbled about the crowd. It could have been seconds or minutes before they sawthe line of the bar again.

His partner continued to cling to him, head lolling againsthis arm. “Like you. You’re built like a tree.”

The words tumbled out without thought, “Perfect for you toperch on.”

Qrow laughed loudly. He reached out to pat his shoulder,missed, and hit his collarbone instead. “Sunshine, you are so getting mynumber.”

Number of what? Taipondered as the night faded to a blur.

He woke up at home, headache pounding behind his eyes andmuscles aching from the night.

On his phone was a single text from an unknown sender, apossibility in the words:

Call me soon, Sunshine.

~

As Qrow added creamer to the two cups of coffee, the soundof songbirds made him look back towards the kitchen table. His phone had lit upwith a new notification, but that wasn’t his ringtone. He glanced at theobvious culprit. “Did you really?” He asked.

“Whatever do you mean, dear brother?” Raven said, lookingjust a little too smug not to be guilty.

He shook his head, trying to hide his own amusement. Hedidn’t understand how she kept figuring out his password. At least it was tamerthen the death metal she had chosen last time. He stored the creamer back intothe fridge, and as he set her cup down in front of her, said, “You know, if youever decide to use your powers for evil, you’ll be a force to be reckonedwith.”

“I’m shocked and appalled that you don’t already consider meas such.”

“Pff, whatever.” He plopped down beside her, taking a drinkof his own coffee as he reached for his phone, absently wondering if it wouldbe a joke or just a peppy hello today. Qrow didn’t usually like the clingyones, but somehow, it was hard to be annoyed with Tai about it. It was likegetting mad at a puppy.

So used to their routine that had built over the past twomonths, he was caught off guard by his disappointment when he realized it wasKimi instead.

Hey babe ;) Lookingfor a good time tonight?

He hesitated.

For a moment.

And then typed back a reply. Your place or mine?

He dropped the device back to the table, trying to drown theunexpected twisting in his stomach with half a mugful of coffee. Nothing couldsoothe the burn of Raven’s eyes on him though. “What?” He asked tersely.

“Oh, nothing.” She replied, taking a sip from her ownflower-patterned cup. He thought that would be it. “Summer told me somethinginteresting about your new boytoy.”

He really should have known better by now not to hope forthings. “Yeah? What about him?”

“He’s apparently a hopeless romantic.” She gestured betweenthem, the sudden singing birds from his phone accentuating the motion as shemimed a rainbow. “Disney-Level hopeless.”

“So? Tai knows I’m not in it for the long game.”

“Does he now?” Before he could react, Raven’s hand struckout like a viper, snatching up his phone. “Then I guess you won’t mind if I tellhim you’ll be busy hooking-up with someone else tonight.”

“What-” Qrow lurched after it, trying to wrestle it from hergrasp, spewing obscenities all the while, “Fucking – god damn – Raven cut itthe hell out!”

He got a grip on her arm, but as he made a grab for hisphone, she caught his wrist, twisting it back. As he ceded in pain, Raven spokesharply over his whimpers, “If you’re this scared about it, then why do it atall?”

He spit back in her face, “Don’t act like some fucking saintRae. You used to be worse than me.” Another hiss escaped between his teeth whenher nails dug into his skin, but it would take more than that for him to backdown. “I’m not dumb. You don’t care about me. You’re only acting like thisbecause you know if I break his heart, it could mess things up with you andSummer.”

“Well.” Her grip finally relented. “You’re half-right atleast.”

He took the opportunity to yank his phone from her. Wantingnothing more than to get as far away from her as possible, he wrenched himselffrom his seat, intent on sealing himself away in his room for a few hours.

He didn’t even get to the living room before there was ascrap of another chair being shoved back. “Qrow?” She called after him. Thetemptation to ignore her was strong, and he would have, had she not added, “Youwere half-wrong too. I do care about you.”

Qrow stopped, frowning down at the water stains that warpedthe wood floor of their cheap apartment, before finally looking back at her. Itwas odd, seeing Raven look so kind, so soft. When had she changed so much? Ormaybe he was the one who hadn’t changed enough.

“I get it you know.” She stepped towards him. “What ourparents did, it hurt me too.”

He crossed his arms, avoiding her gaze. “At least you didn’tget thrown out twice.”

Raven would sometimes still joke about how, with the waythey grew up, they could have been the poster children for television’s nextbig family drama series. Their parents argued about everything, sometimes gettingso heated they’d scream at the top of their lungs. Once, cops even showed up attheir house, having been called out by a concerned neighbor. He remembered thatnight with more clarity then he liked. What had spurred that argument had beenone about Raven.

It hadn’t been anything major – she had bit another kid atschool and got sent to the principal, who then informed their parents of theincident. Pretty typical stuff, and other than some detention, she wasn’treally in trouble. But at eight, he couldn’t understand that. He thought thepolice were there to take his sister away. They had both been so terrifiedabout losing the one person that made their home bearable, they had jumped outthe window and climbed up the oak tree in the backyard. The deputy only foundthem because they thought cawing like the birds they were named after wouldthrow him off from their hiding spot.

That night was only a precursor to what would come when, atten, their parents finally divorced and split them as if they were just anotherasset, a bunch of knickknacks to be bargained for. Not their own children. Children who begged and cried tobe allowed to stay together. Children who knew being separated would hurt in away they couldn’t bear.

They might as well never have said a word for all thenothing it changed.

Four years they spent apart, until their father decided hewas done with that title and signed away his custody rights, kicking his ownson to the curb like unwanted trash. It should have been a relief, walking backthrough the front door of his childhood home. But it was already too late. Thedamage was done. To him and Raven, they had been taught the meaning of love wasa nightmare and they wanted no part in it.

For Qrow, that meant he spent his time throwing himself intomeaningless flings and short-term relationships that eventually dead-ended.When things started to get too serious, he bolted or self-sabotaged his wayout. Because if his parents had only ever taught him how to fail, how could heever do any better?

The brush of Raven’s hand on his arm brushed away thememories. He fully turned to face her, seeing his reflection in her, but it wascracking in spots. No longer a perfect mirror. No longer the same.

“Look, I’m glad that this commitment thing is working outfor you. Proud of you, even, that you’re getting past it.” Qrow sighed. “But Ican’t. I told myself I was never going to let anyone make me feel rejected likethat again. So, I won’t.”

She shook her head. “You’re hiding behind excuses, Qrow, andyou know it.”

Chirping made them both looked down. A new message hadpopped up above Kimi’s invitation.

G’morning babe! Do you have the night off? Maybe we couldcatch a movie?

Qrow could almost laugh at how simple it would be. How hecould just lie and jump into bed with someone else. To start calling off plans,avoid messages and calls, until Tai got tired of it and walked away from arelationship that would never go anywhere. How easy it was to break someoneelse’s heart and never risk his own.

As if she could see the dilemma running through his head,Raven reached out, blocking out the screen with her hand. “Listen, I’m notgoing to stand here and tell you that if you give it a chance, it’ll all justwork out in the end. When things fall apart, it hurts. But I will tell you for all the bad that could happen, thegood that does is what makes it worth it.” She looked away, lips quirking up ina gentle smile. “You haven’t let yourself fall in love, so you don’t know, butwhen it’s real, you’ll want to fight for it with everything you have.”

Wait. She couldn’t actually mean-?

The realization hit him like a train. When had things gottenthat serious? “You’re… falling in love with Summer, aren’t you?”

That soft look was back. The immovable stone wall he used tosee his sister as was crumbling, the dust of the destruction blowing away inthe happy laugh that escaped her. “I, yeah. I am. I’m not sure where things aregoing to go for us from here, but I am sure I want to see it through with her.And I know how hard it was for me to get this far. Giving her that much ofmyself, it’s scary. I can’t ask you to do the same.” She gave his arm a solidpat. “But if I can’t ask that, then I am going to be selfish and ask you tobreak it off with Tai honestly. For me.”

He shut his eyes, heaving a sigh against the weight that hadsettled on his chest. “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

As she walked back into the kitchen, Qrow called after herthis time, “Hey, Rae?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s really that good?”

She peered at him over her shoulder, a knowing gleam in hereye. “Let me put it this way: Love and Nirvana work the same way. To find it,first you need to take a leap of faith.”

Those words stuck with him, repeating in his mind as he saton his bed, thumb hovering between the two messages.

“A leap, huh?” He whispered to himself.

He swiped across the screen and typed a reply:

Sorry, can’t tonight. Maybe another time?

Now if only he could be brave enough to jump.

~

Qrow walked down the sidewalk, hands stuffed in his pocketsto hide from the evening wind’s late-night chill. As he approached the frontdoor, the streetlamps combating the overhead lights from the building split hisshadow in two, one forever reaching the direction he could have gone as theother stretched before him.

He followed its guide, pulling open the door and walkinginto the warmth of the cinema. Above the noise of popping popcorn and the vibranttunes of arcade games, he heard a faint call of his name.

“Qrow!” Tai waved as he strode towards him, grinningbrightly.

He was smiling before he even realized he was, meeting Taihalfway. “Hey Sunshine.” He said, wrapping him up in an embrace and kissing himchastely. “Got the tickets?”

“Yep. We’ve still got some time to get snacks too.”

Never one to pass up an opportunity to gorge himself onsodium and cholesterol, they got some popcorn and soda before heading in to thetheater. They bantered over where the best place to sit was – all argumentssuspiciously stopping when Qrow mentioned if they sat in the back, they couldjust make-out if the movie ended up being terrible. They got settled in, mostlyignoring the pre-commercials in favor of each other, Tai telling him about theracer he was getting to build at the machine shop while Qrow made him laugh ashe recounted his run-in at the gun range with a rather stiff-lipped upperclassman whose prosthetic arm just fell off while shooting.

“And so, he turns to me, right? And says ‘Little help’? AndI was so taken aback by what had happened, I didn’t know what to do! So, Isaid: ‘Buddy, there are a lot of hands I can give you. That ain’t one of them.’And then I just walked away like a total jackass!”

Tai held his stomach, saying between his hearty guffaws,“Nooo, you didn’t! That’s terrible!”

“I know.” Qrow ran a hand over his face, embarrassmentmaking his cheeks redden. “It was the worst.”

“Nah, what’s the worst is that you missed the opportunity tomake the best joke of all,” He was grinning hard enough to clear a manure field.“‘Well, that’s one way to disarmyourself.’”

“No! That’sawful!” He cried, throwing popcorn in the blond’s face as they dissolved intolaughter. Qrow was still struggling to get ahold of himself when he felt thesolidity of a strong arm coming around his shoulders, Tai dropping anaffectionate kiss against his temple. That arm stayed there long after thelights had dimmed and the real previews got going. He snuggled back into thecomforting hold, trading off mini-reviews with Tai as each trailer ran throughuntil the last one finally came to an end and the room became completely dark.

As the movie logo started to scroll across the screen, Tailent over, murmuring, “Hey. I’m really glad you’re here.”

Qrow froze, warning sirens going off in his head. Get out! Get out now!

The brush of warm fingers along his cheek silenced themcompletely.

His heart took the chance to skip closer to the edge. Stay, stay, stay, it beat.

Qrow caught Tai’s hand with his own, pressing his lips to hisknuckles. He then turned to him, staring into eyes so deep blue he could easilyfall forever in them, and whispered back in earnest, “Glad you’re here too.”

Tai closed the distance between them. As they kissed, Qrowfound he still wasn’t quite ready to leap the rest of the way.

But he was closer then he’d ever been before.

And maybe, whether it be tomorrow or next year, he wouldn’t justleap.

He’d soar.

[gooddame]

👑 mafia au

With many million thanks to the ever kick ass @kickassfu who has put up with my gifs for two days and even read this over out of the kindness of her heart!

Thank you for being so wonderful and giving a damn about my writing when even I don’t.

Also you’re an amazing writer and I love you.

Please enjoy!

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Caroline huffed at the rain coming down on the crowd thatsurrounded her probably ruining her blowout and her very, expensive Parisianshoes but she didn’t move. It was against orders. Even now she rolled her eyesat the image of Stefan waving her favorite gun in her face threatening to shoother with it if she didn’t follow through. Pulling her umbrella out she tried to look as inconspicuous as possiblewhich was hard for a girl with her looks.

No, she wasn’t conceited it was just a given. Carolineprobably cursed her looks more than half the time but they got her further intothe fold of her criminal family than running the books ever could. Being borninto the mafia only got you so far that much she knew being born into theForbes legacy, the rest a girl had to work for.

She was groomed to be the perfect mob wife, loving gems ofevery color, knowing who and when to strike but Caroline fought to be more thana pretty face. Caroline was on her own to prove she could get a hit no onecould get, Silas, her father’s one true enemy, he had been such an easy readand her being a woman, he never suspected her. Misogynistic bastard.

In thislife you were in deep or you were out in the cold but either way it was betterthan dead cold and sometimes buried. She had even managed to talk him into hertrunk before she shot him, two in the skull; Caroline had preened shutting theboot of the car and driving home. When everyone had seen what she’d donethey had celebrated until four in the morning and honestly Caroline didn’tremember half of it all she remembered was that she had slept with him, for thefirst time that night.

With her head bowedlow she smirked at the memory as she watched waiting for her mark knowing thisis where he would be having kept tabs on him subtlety all this time. It wasn’ther first kill but it was the first she’d feel bad about. He’d been a good layonce when she was young and eager but time had shown its pretty colors to thepair of them and his time was up.

They had sent her expecting results, Caroline always gaveresults, but she suspected they were testing her. Her loyalty, again, as ifKlaus Mikaelson had anything to do with her loyalty to the family she sneeredwatching the windows as she saw movement inside of the brick building she waswatching. It all seemed black and white to them and to them it probably was andit should’ve been to her too.

Klaus had left, joined a rival gang and mysteriously workedhis way up a lot faster than she had, done a lot more killing than Carolinewould care for having grown up with these guys. That’s where she knew she wasstill a little too green, these bastards wouldn’t hesitate to kill her butKlaus always would and her family was counting on that. The building’s dooropened, the old bell’s sound alerting her to him drawing her away from her reminiscing.

He hadn’t noticed her but she would have to be carefultailing him as he traveled on foot switching sidewalks and back roads in casehe was being followed. Klaus would always catch her when she was sneaking up onhim in the compound pulling her into rooms they shouldn’t be in to play. Shemust have been caught up in thinking about these moments too much because he’dwalked her right into a dead end.

He turned pulling a weapon from his jacket as he did pausingas he spotted her face under the umbrella, “Bugger, Caroline, you might havefrightened me to death,” he uttered in relief.

“That was kind of the point,” she replied in kind treadingcloser losing her umbrella as he drops his weapon and she lifts hers watchinghis eyes flicker from her face to her gun.

“So they sent you,” he said betrayal hidden in his tone ashe drops his only defense on the ground just like they had all expected him to.

“I’m sorry,” Caroline replied as she cocks her gun shootinghim just near his heart watching him tumble to the cold wet ground clutching athis chest.

“You know I actually believe you this time,” he murmured ina weakening tone as she rushes to his side, “Seems fitting though. This iswhere you’d shoot me.”

She laughed but it was dry, as she holds him on her lapholding his hand to his chest thinking maybe he won’t die, “Here in the heartor at a dead end?”

“Both,” he breathed his eyes slowly closing as he clings toher, “If you would have just come with me,” he tried again but blood flows fromhis mouth.

“Good job Caroline,” Damon said appearing at the end of theroad, smug as ever applauding her as Klaus lays dying in her arms.

“Funny, I don’t even need to call him closer, he comes likea good puppy,” she muttered just under her breath so only Klaus can hear her.

“You’re right, Sweetheart,” Klaus murmured as he reaches forhis own gun nearby where he dropped it shooting the Salvatore before he couldget another step in.

Another shot resounded in the air and Damon fell to the groundfatally wounded as Klaus ripped open his shirt, “Bloody blanks hurt,” hemuttered pulling the bullet from his vest.

Caroline laughs, “Probably from the force of impact,” she saidkissing him chastely, something she hadn’t done in years. “Come on, we can’tleave him out here exposed.”

“I’m wounded,” Klaus pouted pulling Caroline in for a properkiss that was long overdue and lasted longer than both might have cared toadmit after years of being apart.

When she first caught wind of this scheme Klaus was alreadyaware of it, it seemed Tyler had been bragging about it in some bar not toolong before Caroline had found out. ‘A lucky break’, he had called it when shehad used her burner phone and dialed the number she swore she would never need.His voice, familiar and altogether strange had Caroline switching sides andgoing against her own family.

They talked almost every night, plotting out just what wouldhappen, leaving nothing to chance so sure they would send her to kill him.Caroline had been proven right just three days ago before she had been sent toBoston where they knew Klaus would be alone. Everything went according to plan,everything but the residual feelings that had been exposed by the pair of themwhen she shot him. She tried to chalk it up to playing the part perfectly asthey dumped Damon with a cleaning crew he knew. Her family by now had gottenwind of what she had done and Stefan would no doubt be keeping her gun if onlyto kill her with it one day and Caroline was planning on making it very hardfor him to do.

Klaus had said she wouldn’t have to move up in ranks withhim, that she would be at his side though he hadn’t gone into detail about whatthat would entail. Caroline had made it clear that she wouldn’t be a side piecefor him or any of his men, and Klaus had vehemently agreed. As the day grewlonger Caroline could only think about what Klaus had planned for her. What hernew boss had in store for her and unfortunately they were the same man.

The car had stopped moments only  ago as she drowned in her thoughts as shevaguely realized that Klaus already on his way out of the vehicle when heducked his head back in asking, “Are you alright?” his eyes holding hers so shewouldn’t lie to him.

“Big changes, that’s all,” she uttered undoing her seat beltto join him knowing the pressure had doubled on their backs just by being seentogether.

Caroline had to prove she was loyal now; it wouldn’t beenough for everyone he worked with that Klaus believed in her. Still when she stoodup on the sidewalk pretending not to be surprised when he held her hand withouta second thought Caroline knew she had made as right a choice as anyone couldin this life. Following Klaus into the dark old building she hoped it wasn’t toher death knowing this place wasn’t his main headquarters and she would have towait to get back home, where ever that was now.

“Where are we?” she asked hesitantly as they climbed up thestairs of the building wishing she had worn more comfortable shoes for this dayespecially since she would probably be interrogated in a bit.

“My dwelling, no one would ever think to find a mafia leaderhere,” Klaus replied easily surprising her, something he must have noticed,“Tomorrow we go home.” He said almost reading her mind.

“Klaus,” she asked stopping short wanting to ask what hisintentions were but unable to, “Never mind,” she said as they climbed up thethird staircase and Caroline pulled off her shoes hearing him chuckle.

“Just in here Love,” he said unlocking the door as shecaught up with him, “It’s not much but there’s a couch which I’ll take and abed for you.”

Caroline’s face didn’t hide the fact that she wasdisappointed that much was evident by his confident smirk as Caroline turnedaround trying to hide the fact that he had gotten to her. She felt cold, herumbrella in the back of his car lying on the seat useless and they had runerrands after killing Damon. Her clothes were sticky and wet making her freezein the tempered room as he watched her slide her jacket and black top off ofher skin.

Her head turned back to look at him, “I’ll need something tochange into,” she told him watching as his mouth hung open watching as shestripped out of her camisole leaving her in a lacy see-through bra.

Klaus swallowed at her movements sensual and abovesuspicion, completely Caroline, “Shirts,” he uttered with a certain hoarsenessto his tone as he pointed to the drawer that would accommodate her best as hegathered himself.

He heard her laugh as she walked to the drawer set openingthe one he had pointed to as her free hand unbuttoned her jeans. Red flag, hethought. Caroline was toying with him, his mind screamed at him, after all thistime she still had the power to bring him to his knees and he liked it. Whathad transpired today was merely more proof of it.

Klaus slithered closer pulling his shirt over his head asshe straightened pulling her hair over her neck, “Could you help me?” she askedas his hands slid over her back to unhook her bra.

Caroline shivered, she didn’t want to earn his deference bysleeping with him and she certainly didn’t want his gang to think she would belucky to fall into bed with either one of them. The thing was she wanted Klauspure and simple. She would work for him sure, keep him close and maybe murderoff any of the girls who thought they had a chance with him on the sly.

However Klaus, she couldn’t quite read, ever since earlierwhen he basically said she had his heart he’s been stand-offish at best so shetook to teasing him, just a little. His resolve was strong but her will wasstronger and she needed to get him to talk to her, look at her like he oncedid, as a woman not as another tool in his arsenal.

“Perhaps a shower?”he offered as she pulled his shirt covering her lithe frame from his eagereyes, Caroline shook her head at him as she moved past.

“Too much effort Boss,” she said but the way she said it hadhis head turning as she slipped out of her jeans and panties before crawlingonto the bed giving him a view that made his fingers tremble.

Caroline smiled as she tucked herself into the sheets thatsmelled of him inhaling deeply as he watched her, “Comfortable?” he askedsharply.

“Did you need a pillow?” she replied in kind tossing him theone that didn’t smell like him, as she settled on her side watching him catchit and sit on the edge of the couch.

“Thank you,” he said punching the pillow as he toed of hisshoes and wet socks planning on keeping his jeans on lest she feast her eyes ona familiar protruding member of his anatomy.

“Klaus,” she called his name in way that made his boneschill in pleasure, “Get in the bed, it doesn’t have to mean anything if youdon’t want it to.”

He lay back so she couldn’t see the face he made, “I’m perfectlyfine here,” he then told her rubbing his cock hissing softly as he rolled ontohis side so she couldn’t see him touching himself.

“Fine, I’m climbing on top off you and we’ll both sleep onthe couch,” Caroline cried as she tumbled out of his bed pulling the sheetswith her and settling on top of him.

“Caroline,” he said in a dark tone she knew would haveothers shaking in their perfectly fitted suits but she just smiled relishing inthe feel of his bare skin under her fingertips.

“Bed, now,” she ordered as his arms went around her waistsitting them up reminding them both that all she was wearing was his shirt.

He groaned looking as if he was in pain as he lifted themboth up feeling Caroline wrap her legs around him, “You know I could have youkilled for this right?” he asked.

“You know I could have really killed you earlier right?” sheshot back as he pressed her back into the mattress pulling the sheets shecarried over them creating a small bubble for them both.

“Why didn’t you?” he asked, a loaded question for sure, onethey hadn’t bothered to discuss in the last few days or ever at least untilnow.

“I don’t want you dead,” she whispered as her hands cuppedhis face feeling exposed, feeling his weight on her, feeling everything at onceso much that her eyes watered.

“I love you and I never got to say it before but I want tonow. Every day if you’ll let me,” she confessed watching his every expression,every feeling she felt touch his eyes.

“I believe you now too,” he murmured before brushing hislips over hers with the briefest of teases as his hands pushed her shirt upleaving her naked under him.

“Really, no, ‘I love you too Caroline’?” she asks as hekisses her loving the feel of her body squirming underneath him as his handsroam over the tense muscles of her stomach.

Shuddering at the feel of her nails digging into his arms ashe kisses her, “It was implied,” Klaus answered her as they twisted in thesheets fighting over who got to be on top.