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rayshippouuchiha · 4 years

Note

Nezu finding a younger Izuku and helping him hone his analysis skill (and build some confidence and ultimately creating a terrifying child who can analyze anyone in seconds and take them down just as fast with a smile) and then enlisting him to actually teach classes on the subject

just imagine Aizawa having to interact with this terrifying nightmare child who can read him better than a book

~Ah hell here we go again~ Read More Below!

Nezu doesn’t often leave UA’s grounds these days and even more rarely does he venture out unaccompanied in some way. He has made it a habit of sorts to stay on the campus as much as possible ever since he solidified his hold on the school almost a decade ago.

It’s a move that is he admits, even if only to himself, fueled by equal parts pragmatism and paranoia.

After all UA has most of everything he needs within it already including a set of private apartments scaled just perfectly to his size and tastes despite what impression the large, human suited desk in his public office tends to give any visitors to his domain. Why should he worry about venturing out into the city when anything the campus might not be able to provide for him can easily be procured by his minions dear employees or through delivery via secured drone?

And the fewer trips he makes off campus means the fewer opportunities there are for those who are still displeased with something someone such as himself holding such a position of power over such a prestigious hero school to take action. He, of course, has all faith in his ability to protect himself from whatever ham-fisted assassin might come his way but Nezu is, above almost all else, pragmatic.

The fewer bodies left in his wake the smoother his daily life tends to run.

It had, after all, been such a pain to get the records from his time at the tender mercies of his human captors completely sealed and the quietly buried.

The humans involved in the case had finally agreed though and in the years since they did so like to tout how the illustrious UA Principle had been “rescued” from the laboratories.

Few remained who remembered what the heroes who’d raided that hellish place had actually found when they’d arrived.

Those unlucky few who did remember had long since been silenced by hook or by crook. That had been one of the first things Nezu had done when he’d finally managed to accumulated enough power that his subtle threats and sharp toothed promises had finally come to hold real meaning on more than one level.

When he’d finally managed to bite and claw himself into a position of power that showed him as the threat he always had been for those who might dare cross him.

That had been the very first secret he’d ensured would be kept as it was one that posed the biggest threat to his reputations in a number of circles.

Nezu’s intellect wasn’t his only weapon after all, only his most dangerous. Though his teeth and claws could work in a pinch if the situation called for it. And when they’d tried to take his eye it had certainly called for it.

A self professed level of resentment and sadism could be excused by most of humanity for someone of Nezu’s circumstances.

But a body count? Well. That’s when humans tended to get ... tetchy.

So while Nezu does, of course, have a residence of his own off campus for paperwork purposes and as a secondary fall back location, UA’s campus has been his unofficial residence for some number of years now. And it will be his official one as well as soon as he manages to finally get the dorm system he’s been aching to implement passed through.

They will have to pry that school, his school, and what he’s attempting to build there from his cold, dead paws and whatever other insurance policies he manages to put into action between now and his inevitable death. Which will, of course, be some time in the far far future if he has anything to say or do about it. And he will.

All of that aside there are times when leaving the campus is unavoidable, this being one of them. An unfortunate scheduling conflict and a private meeting that absolutely had to be conducted in person had left him where he is now, strolling down the sidewalks of Musutafu and quietly lamenting how very oversized so many things were.

It truly was a pity that more accommodations had not been made for those whose quirks and circumstances of birth left them on the smaller side instead of on the larger scale. But progress could be rather unfortunately slow and so it was just one more issue Nezu hoped to begin subtly influencing in the coming years.

He’s just turning a corner, intent on visiting a nearby cafe with an excellent tea selection before he returns to UA (one must have their indulgences and a good brew and a finely crafted cigarette have long been amongst Nezu’s chosen pleasures), when he hears it.

“Get back here and get what you deserve, Deku,” a voice, rough and young but edged with a viciousness that makes the backs of Nezu’s teeth itch, practically howls.

Nezu, attention instantly captured, pauses just long enough to avoid being mowed down by the child who comes tearing around the corner.

For a split second their eyes meet, a blazing green gaze Nezu can’t help but admire just a bit locking with his own, as the boy sees him and swerves to avoid running into Nezu in his obviously frantic escape.

Nezu hops backwards a half step just as the boy loses his footing and crashing painfully to the side walk beside him.

“A-Are you o-okay?” the boy half stutters, half pants as he looks up at him, eyes wide and seemingly uncaring of the blood Nezu can already smell on his scraped palms and likely ripped kneecaps.

“Are you?” Nezu asks back evenly, eyes tracking over the boy and instantly compiling details and facts as he takes in the tattered school uniform, the pale face, the singed backpack and the bruises he can see just peeking out from beneath unseasonal long sleeves.

Everything about the boy screams battered to Nezu’s sense.

And then he looks down at his feet and sees his shoes.

His distinctive red shoes at that, vibrant in color and thick soled, subtly different in make and construction than most ordinary shoes seen these days, much like the footwear Nezu himself wears even now.

Which means that this boy either has a quirk that affects his feet or ...

“Thought you were going to get away didn’t you, you Quirkless fuck?” A small group of boys rounds the corner then, ignoring Nezu entirely and focusing on the boy who abruptly goes even paler somehow. “Just cause sensei couldn’t prove you cheated doesn’t mean we’re gonna let you get away with it.”

Ah, Nezu thinks even as he presses the urge to snarl down and away, option two then.

The green boy, because Nezu will not be calling him Deku even in his own mind, scrambled up onto his feet then. But, surprisingly enough, he doesn’t turn to run.

Instead he edges forward just a bit, sliding a shoulder and a foot forward until he’s standing almost protectively in front of Nezu himself.

“K-Kacchan,” the green one stutters, “I-I didn’t cheat I s-swear! I wouldn’t d-do that.”

“Tsk,” the blond leader, Kacchan, tisks then, a snarl thick and heavy on his young face. At his sides his hands flex in a move Nezu knows must be related to his quirk. “Bullshit. No way you’d get top of the class in anything without cheating, you worm.”

Nezu has known this child for roughly 6 seconds and he finds that he does not care for him at all. But then he’s never been overly fond of most of humanity either so perhaps that’s to be expected.

“H-Heroes don’t cheat,” Green insists, the naïve if well meant words sounding like a declaration. “If I’m g-going to be a hero then I c-can’t either.”

That explanation only seems to enrage Kacchan even further if the way his hands begin to pop and crackle is anything to go by.

This, Nezu knows as the scent of burnt caramel begins to fill the air around them, is going to escalate quickly.

“Public quirk usage is ~illegal~,” Nezu singsongs as he steps around the green boy and plants himself firmly in front of him instead, abruptly drawing the blond boy and his followers attention toward him. One paw slips into his vest pocket to remove the specially designed cell phone he’s never without. “I would hate to be forced to report this to the proper authorities.”

Never mind that, technically, he is the proper authorities.

The blond glares at him for a long moment before he huffs.

“This isn’t over Deku,” he snarls. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

It’s an obvious threat but the boy turns on his heel, shoves his way through his friends, and stalks off back around the corner in the direction he came.

So Nezu lets it go. For now.

“Now that that has been handled for the moment, young man,” Nezu turns towards the green boy beside him with all of the showmanship that’s come to define his patented introduction, “let me introduce myself! Am I a dog, a rat, or a bear? Either way I am Nezu th-”

“Y-You’re the Intel Hero Nezu,” the green boy says brightly, cutting Nezu’s introduction off even as he rubs raw and bloody palms against his black slacks and starts to dig through his backpack, “You solved the H-Hanamura kidnapping and the Inugami murders! You’re one of my favorite heroes!”

Nezu can’t help the way he stalls out just a bit at that because ... well he’s never been anyone’s favorite anything. Their nightmare yes but not their favorite. Especially not a child. Children around this age normally tend to have more simplistic reactions to him. And most of them don’t know about the string of rather gruesome ritualistic homicides he’d solved or the high profile kidnapping cases he consults on in his down time.

“C-Can you please sign my notebook?” the boy says then, head bowed low and a notebook and pen held out in Nezu’s direction.

Nezu admits to being slightly intrigued when he sees the way the cover is labeled Hero Analysis For The Future Vol 8.

That intrigue only grows when he opens it and his attention is immediately captured by the rather impressively done sketch of Pro Hero Starstreak that he finds there.

Unable to help himself Nezu reads over the page quickly and then keeps going.

Well now, Nezu can’t help but think just a bit gleefully as he sees the absolutely unbelieve level of analysis this young, quirkless boy has compiled, isn’t this interesting.

#BnHA #Anonymous #RayRambles #The Principal's Unexpected Protege AU

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furblrwurblr · 3 years

Text

Kaeya x reader, nonsexual body worship

Warnings: nudity, kissing of feet (not at all fetishized), heavily implied sex, explicit mention of intimate body parts, if you tag this as foot fetish I'm blocking your ass /srs

Reblogs are appreciated!

Blue hair, blue eye, blue vest. A blue gem glinted in the moonlight, leaving flecks of starlight across his cheek. Candlelight flickered across his features, bringing the soft indent of his dimple in and out of view. He was smiling softly, eyes calm and loving.

His calmness was a pleasant surprise, given his normal reaction to you stripping before him. You hadn't done anything special, only going a bit slower than usual to gauge his new and unexpected reactions. Even as your undergarments hit the floor, his lovesick eyes never shifted. When all clothing was shed, you took a moment to truly look at him.

He had pulled a wooden chair to the foot of the bed, posture relaxed. A blue vest, cape, and pelt were draped nicely over the chair's back, leaving his low-cut button-up, tight black pants, and field boots. Your lip quirked upwards at his shirt being cuffed; it was nothing out of the ordinary but ever since you expressed your appreciation of his exposed forearms it felt more special seeing his sleeves rolled up.

"So," you breathed, bouncing on the balls of your feet. "This isn't our usual routine."

He laughed, lips settling into a lazy grin. "Hmm, check me out all you like but we're doing something a bit different today, lovely."

The nickname made your heart swell and he could see it on your face.

"Get on the bed, darling. Nothing fancy, just get comfortable over the sheets."

The mood shifted into something more intimate than carnal. Your heart wasn't pounding as it normally was when he uttered that first command, but it was clenching and soaring all at once.

You settled atop the sheets face-up, elbows supporting you in order to look at him. He rose from his seat and leaned over you. With a stern hand, he pushed you down, laying you flat against the bed.

"Now don't you move, love. Let me do the moving for you," he said before settling back into his chair.

Your brow raised at his even tone, but you were slowly getting accustomed to the reverent mood he was setting. A contented sigh parted your lips and your eyes drifted shut.

He hummed in satisfaction. A smile made it's way onto your face as you heard him open what sounded like a large jar. His hand suddenly and gently grasped your left ankle, causing you to tense a bit before relaxing once more. He lifted your leg a bit, cradling your Achilles' tendon.

"You've been working so hard, my love. Helping so many people," he began before bringing his other hand to your heel. "Even the knights have heard praises of your work for the Adventurer's Guild."

His free hand slathered something, presumably the contents of the jar, onto your heel and up the bottom of your foot and began working it into your skin. "I've missed you. And while I may be a bit upset my favorite adventurer doesn't seem to have time for me between commissions, the kindness you've done for Mond cannot go unrewarded."

Once he finished working the oil into your skin, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the bottom of your foot, where you knew there was a decent-sized freckle. It tickled, and even though your eyes were still closed you could feel how he smiled at your abrupt giggle. He set your leg down gently, then repeated his actions on your right foot, this time pressing his lips to the dark mark on your heel. The bed shifted under his sudden weight, feeling one hand dip the bed next to your leg and the other move to the back of your left knee. Bringing his lips to your calf, he laid his lips on your shin.

"I'd forgotten about that one," you half-mumbled, drunk on the overwhelming feeling of his love.

You felt his smile just before he pulled up just enough that his warm breath still rolled over your leg. Wordlessly, he moved to kiss your thigh, hardly pausing to brush his lips against the freckle on your left knee. The hand under your knee glided upwards, coaxing your leg to shift and grant him access to you. His thumb caressed the inside of your thigh in slow, deliberate strokes, all meant to tease the sensitive skin. He crooned at the goosebumps his actions produced.

You felt his hot breath quicken ever so slightly as he neared your sex, grazing his open lips over the dark mark that rested just where your sensitivity began. A gasp escaped your lips, jaw slack in anticipation. Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth, your chest heated, body responding to Kaeya's presence— until he lazily pulled away, whispering a laugh. Your eyes slowly opened and you looked down at him.

"Tch, lovely! So impatient," he huffed, a large grin on his face. As he dipped his head once more, you expected his lips on you again, but they didn't come. Instead, he pressed his nose to the soft tissue between your thigh and hip, heaving a sigh. For a moment, you believed his heavy breath as contentment, until he spoke once more.

You strained to hear it. "Please," he whispered. "Let me have you." Heart throbbing, your right hand carded through his hair, eliciting another, lighter sigh. Once he gathered himself, it was as if nothing had happened. He raised his head once more after placing your hand back onto the bed, keeping his fingers loosely wrapped around your wrist. He looked up at you with clear intent to continue, but you could see the longing in his smile. You let him resume his doting wordlessly, closing your eyes again at the firm kiss he pressed to the freckle outside your hip.

He shifted to straddle your hips, just low enough that any stimulation wouldn't come from him. Carefully, his grip on your wrist tightened and brought your wrist to his mouth. He kissed the freckles up your arm, leaning over you as his affection went up your body. Wrist, elbow, bicep, shoulder. His breath teased your neck before his head dipped to your chest to lay a kiss on the freckle that rested on your chest. Lips open, he left a gentle trail of wetness before breathing an open-mouthed kiss beside your nipple. He smiled at the way you arched into him, enjoying the momentary tango of push-and-pull, never pulling away but never giving you the kind of solid contact you craved.

All at once, his presence over you left. Opening your eyes, he was still seated above you, this time reaching for your left hand. You met him halfway, curling your fingers between his. His expression softened (an impressive feat considering how star struck he looked already) as he ran his thumb over your pointer finger before pressing a kiss to the freckle that rested there. Another smile, but this time he looked into your eyes.

His deep blue gaze pulled you in like the depths of the sea, broken by crystal highlights of moonlight filtering through his earring. Flecks of dust floated through the air only served to make him look more ethereal, as if the world itself had become a churning mass of blue and he was your refuge. He continued down your arm, and chuckled at the mirroring of your marks. Wrist. Elbow. Bicep. Shoulder. Nestling his nose into your neck, he paused. You were happy, comfortable underneath him and content to receive his affection— he quickly attacked the four freckles on your neck, sharing light laughter between you both.

You felt his wide smile relax against your skin before he trailed his nose up your jaw to breathe hot air onto your ear and nip the freckle there with his sharp incisors, causing you to shudder in pleasure. His presence was heavy now, his head casting a shadow over your closed eyelids. He softly pecked the last freckle, on your forehead, before you felt him settle above you.

"...Hey."

You cracked an eye open to meet his. "Hey," you giggled.

He let out an airy laugh before wrapping his arms around you and breathing you in. Head in your neck, he spoke. "I love you," he whispered, voice veiling the same broken tone he'd had earlier. Again, your hands were in his hair, and you held him close. He'd been so kind to you and you thought to return the favor. You allowed him a short respite before flipping him beneath you, and for a moment he looked surprised before his suave walls reared their heads.

"I'm going to repay your kindness, my dear captain."

"Are you now? Am I to expect repayment in full?"

"No," you said in mock-thought. "With interest."

A hand trailing down his low-buttoned shirt slowly began to unbutton it. Just before the mood shifted, a loving smile spread across your face at his hearty laugh.

You'd gotten up for a drink of water after all was said and done. Facing him, you laid down.

"No," he mumbled, half into the pillow, "turn around."

A strange look was the only protest given. His playful embrace took you by surprise.

"I can't believe I missed two!" He kissed the last two dark marks on your right shoulderblade. You two stayed like that the entire night, feeling you'd properly made up for lost time.

#kaeya #furblewrites #genshin kaeya #kaeya x reader #genshin x reader #kaeya alberich x reader

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hadestownmodern · 3 years

Text

How? It Just Happens

Mmmm Persephone and Eurydice time? I think so.

-A

“how do you do it?” It’s half of a question, half true astonishment in Eurydice’s voice as she watches Persephone so intently. They are surrounded by incredibly tiny clothes, one that once belonged to Persephone’s daughter that would soon belong to Eurydice’s. The scent of baby detergent is strong, as Eurydice sits amongst the little bits of fabric and frills, overwhelmed by the mix of folded and unfolded around her.

“hmm? do what? fold clothes?” Persephone responds, absently folding yet another tiny onesie and placing it in the accordingly sized pile. she leans on the bottom of the couch, legs straight out on the floor in front of her. In her lap sleeps Junie, with her legs wrapped around her waist and her head on her shoulder in a way that has Persephone’s neck extended just a little so that she does not sit inhaling the messy, ringlet curls of her sleeping daughter. “it isn’t very hard. I know you prefer to avoid clothing all together most days but-“

She’s cut off by a little pair of socks rolled to the size of a golfball hitting her in the temple and laughs.

“not funny, seph.” Eurydice rolls her eyes, pulling her tshirt down indignantly. She doesn’t remember when she stole the long sleeved tee— or the grey sweat pants she wore for that matter— from Orpheus’ set of drawers, as that seemed to be her favorite place to find comfortable clothes these days. For mid summer they kept the apartment cool, in an effort to keep Eurydice from melting out of her skin. “You know what I mean. This. How do you do…this?” She holds up a hand and with an open palm she gestures in the general direction of Persephone and sleeping Junie. “this whole mothering thing. you’re just so…good. you’re so good at it and it looks effortless. I mean, Seph, you’re sorting, folding, and organizing all while keeping her asleep... how do you learn this? How do you learn how to be someone’s mother?

“It just happens,” Persephone assures the younger woman, though the discussion has her hand coming to rest on Junie’s back, patting just gently. “You live. You learn. It isn’t as if one day you wake up just knowing. The only thing you know is that you love them and want the best for them. And it’s enough.”

Eurydice fingers at the tiny footed sleeper in her hands, no bigger than the length of her forearm. It was frightening, truly, to realize that something so small would come to rely on her entirely in such a short time. “..but when they mean so much isn’t it scary to not know if you’re doin’ it right?”

“It is. The only thing you’ll want in the world is to make sure she doesn’t want for nothin’. And then she’ll look at you and make you feel like you’re everything she needs.” Seph leans down, then, to kiss the top of Junie’s curls, the toddler not even fussing in her sleep anymore at the touch. “You gotta remember though, Eurydice, Junie isn’t my first trip around the sun with this. I wasn’t much older- actually, I was a few years younger than you— when Orpheus came around. None of us had the slightest idea what we were doin’, and don’t you think he turned out pretty alright?”

Eurydice doesn’t get a chance to respond before Persephone gives a little chuckle as she continues. “Infact, you wouldn’t have believed the things we got into with him. Picture it for a minute. Hermes, 20 some years ago, serving the bar with Orpheus propped on one hip. Truth be told it drew in a crowd, he was the cutest kid. Wide eyed. curious. But at least once a night he’d knock a glass outta Hermes hand. And would you know that when those glasses shattered, he’d get all watery eyed and shriek as if weren’t the consequences of his own damn actions. To calm him down we’d have to plop him down with the band. Noisy as hell but he’d sit there with a starry look in his eyes.”

Persephone gestures for Eurydice to come closer, patting the ground next to her. Eurydice crawls over and with no sense of grace, plops herself down beside her, stretching her legs out alongside Persephone’s. Seph brings her other arm, the one not holding Junie up, to rest around Eurydice’s shoulder and bring her in for half of an embrace.

“And then me? don’t even get started on me at that age.” She admits with a nostalgic grin on her face. “Guess I was closer to your age here but, we know your man has always been a sensitive one. Little thing would follow around my mama’s chickens to thank them for their eggs. Mama let him pet them and take the eggs for his little basket all sweet and innocent like. Naturally she told him that chicken nuggets came from the same kind of chickens as paisley or whatever he named them. That boy was inconsolable for weeks over it. We already struggled to feed that.. skinny, picky little kid. Not to mention I couldn’t cook then, either. I had him on my own for a weekend. Hermes was off on some convention, or somethin' like that, and he had caught something from some little snotty kid in his class. I was so desperate and all I could feed him was canned chicken soup. I never told him what kind of of soup it was. He called it sephy soup and I ran with it. It got food in him. We lied to him for years about that soup— truth be told I don’t think we ever told him. I always felt a little bad about it but hey- he turned out okay. It’s no where near as bad as when we let him play T-Ball for one game, he got smacked in the eye with a ball, and I told him it was because the other kids on his team were jealous of him.”

Eurydice snorts and brings her hand up to run over her belly, which at this point pulls Orpheus’ shirt taut around her midsection, feeling the delighted little tumble her daughter does under her fingers. “I don’t think you fooled anyone there.” She notices now the way her heart flutters when talking about him translates to other fluttering feelings and she can’t help but wonder if her own feelings of love somehow translate and are shared with her future child.

“We all had moments with him. Hell, one time I left him with Hades because I had class and he had been fussing for hours. I came back to him reading case briefs aloud to Orpheus, who was quiet for the first time in days. bored him right to sleep, but at the time it did not matter. Used that trick for years. If he was just too fussy, he bored him to sleep.” Persephone is smiling at the memory of so long ago. It feels like another time, now. “We tried it on Junie once. She hadn’t been sleeping well, but it backfired. instead of sleeping she laid there just starin’ up at him and gigglin’ like she was giving her approval. You’ll figure out exactly what will work for you In a moment of desperation or exhaustion. It will just happen.”

Persephone doesn’t realize that she is brushing Eurydice’s hair like she does so often to Junie, holding her head against her shoulder. Eurydice isn’t daring to mention it, the comfort too great despite that she would not admit it, not now.

Eurydice lifts her head only briefly to look to her friend with bright curiosity in her eyes. “What else was he like? as a baby, I mean.”

“he was exactly the same, just smaller and cuter. I bet still to this day if you gave him banana with peanut butter he’d gag like you were tryin’ to poison him. He was sensitive and sweet and the most lovin’ little boy you ever did meet. All things considered with his mom and dad, he turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.” Pride drips in her voice the more that she talks about the boy she helped raise, and her grip on her own daughter tightens just a little. “He’ll be a good dad. That boy has wanted nothing more than to be a father from the time he met Junie. Now I told him not to be going and knocking up some girl to make that happen and well— well at least I hand picked the girl he ignored my advice with.” Seph takes her finger and gently brushes the tip of Eurydice’s nose playfully. “he’s proof, that even people who have no idea whats going on, we all figure it out. And he’s a good man. Who will be a good dad. You’re gonna figure it out. You both will. And you’re gonna be a wonderful mama, Eurydice. All three of y’all are going to be just fine..”

Eurydice scrunches her nose in response to the tap before she rests her head on Persephone again. She can feel the never ending doubt and fear creeping in as always. And yet, somewhere beneath the movements against her hand, the home she is surrounded with, and the hope in the man she so quickly fell so deeply in love with— she just might be starting to to believe in the good too. Eurydice sighs and picks up another single, tiny sock, her thumb running over the length of it. “yeah. maybe we’ll okay.”

“You will. And if you aren’t, I bet next time you’ll remember a condom.”

“not the time, Seph.”

#yeah I'm still doing this #hadestown #hadestown au #hadestown fanfic #hadestown fanfiction #persephone #eurydice #orphydice #orpheus and eurydice #hades and perspehone #Persephone and Eurydice are besties

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mythicamagic · 4 years

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In the Company of Wolves: Inukog oneshot

Summary: Every place feels like a temporary home for a Hanyou. Kouga offers Inuyasha a welcome respite within his wolf pack. Inukog oneshot

Written for @gaykagome, who has been a lovely, encouraging commenter and fandom friend ^^ thank you for your support bud.

Rated T

7,000 words (you can also read this on ao3 via the same username)

In the Company of Wolves

Leaping through sprawling trees, thick white hair flew out behind a red figure. Inuyasha landed on a sturdy branch, legs bent, muscles coiling and springing free as he leapt forth again. He smirked, a fang hooking over his bottom lip.

"Nice try, but you ain't got a hope in hell."

The deer fleeing for its life beneath the branches had skittered to the left, racing through dense undergrowth. Perhaps it hoped to lose him, or maybe it was running scared. Either way, this would be over quick.

Stepping from branch to branch, long fingers flexed, claws catching on sunlight. Pushing off from a tree trunk, Inuyasha sprang down with every intent of landing atop his prey.

He fell within range, closing in- only for his foot to collide with a mass of thick black fur.

Inuyasha's eyes flew wide, crashing into the beast and hitting the floor in a tumble of limbs. The deer merrily pranced away out of sight.

Snarling and lifting his head, Inuyasha cradled his throbbing skull. "Damn it, what the-!"

A large bear-sized wolf staggered to its feet, rumbling a noise of complaint. Two cobalt blue eyes glared at him.

Inuyasha stopped, "Kouga?" he rose a bushy brow.

There was no mistaking that smell. He'd never seen the mangy wolf's true form before though. In all honesty, it was kind of surreal. Hell, the guy even looked a bit more dignified.

Kouga tilted his head, standing. As he shook himself, yellow, static powder fell from his fur like gold dust, swirling into a whirlwind of youki. In a matter of moments, Kouga's humanoid form stepped out, hands on his hips.

"Why'd you get in my way?! You lost me my meal!"

White triangular ears flicked and pressed back against his skull. Fuck taking that. Inuyasha stood, hands balled into fists.

"Your meal?! I've been tracking that deer for at least an hour! You weren't even in the picture, I didn't smell ya chasing it once!"

Kouga tilted his chin up, flashing a cheeky grin. "Tch, that's what happens when you track from downwind, Dog Breath," he muttered, ignoring the pissed off Hanyou and looking around. "How come you're out here huntin' anyway? Isn't Kagome with you? She always carries some goodies to chew on. Tastier than venison too."

Inuyasha glanced away moodily, crossing his arms. "Shaddap. Like it's any of your business."

Kouga hummed, scratching his jaw. Odd. There was no bite in his tone. Sniffing a little, Kouga picked up the faint scent of sadness clinging to the robe of the fire rat.

Inuyasha's face heated. He quickly bared his teeth, "quit with that! She's just busy, alright? Besides, I can still hunt for myself. Ain't you a little far from your territory to be hunting out here?"

Kouga blinked, mildly concerned despite their history together. "Uhh… where do you think you are, Dog Breath?"

Frowning, Inuyasha glanced around. Clearly no answers were forthcoming from the forest, so leaping up, he climbed a tree, digging claws into rough bark to hoist himself up. Minding the tallest branches aside, Inuyasha gaped as he surfaced from the sea of greenery. Sprawling, picturesque mountains met his startled gaze.

How far did I chase that deer?

And why'd it have to lead him to Kouga's turf, of all places?

Dropping down to solid ground again, Inuyasha avoided eye contact. "I just got caught up in running, that's all," he answered the silent question hanging in the air.

Kouga tilted his head slightly, "… right."

A rumbling sound rang out between them. Inuyasha grit his teeth, ignoring the impatient gurgling of his stomach and swiftly turning. "Whatever. See ya," he started walking.

"Hey-" Kouga called, causing him to nearly trip in surprise and frown over one shoulder.

The wolf winced, looking awkward and weirded out to even be asking. "We got leftovers. If you want some," the offer was casual. "Don't want you keeling over on the way back, Kagome would kill me."

Inuyasha stared. Maybe he'd hit his head or something because for some reason, the offer sounded like a tempting one.

"Keh," he grunted, pivoting on one heel and trudging towards Kouga's territory instead. "Better be good," he complained with no energy behind it.

"Its free food! Be more grateful to your host," the wolf snarked, jogging to keep pace with him.

---

Mutters echoed throughout the cave, causing white ears to twitch and swivel atop his head. Inuyasha ignored the curious wolves, digging into tough boar meat. Uncooked. Miroku and Kagome would've called it ghastly. His lips twitched at the thought, soon wiped away. Something squeezed his chest instead.

"Hey, blabber-mouths! Keep it down!" Kouga's booming voice caught his dazed attention.

Ginta and Hakkaku quickly shut up, apologising. The rest of the wolf pack fell quiet, though their eyes blazed with questions.

Inuyasha rose a brow and glanced at the Wolf Prince. Did he think the gossiping bothered him or something? Weird guy. He should know a Hanyou would be used to it.

Kouga's tail flicked as he strode through regular wolves, minding some beasts aside. He then threw himself down beside Inuyasha on some soft furs, stealing a rib. Not having the energy or inclination to snap at him for it, Inuyasha merely flashed his teeth, grunting and continuing to eat.

"So what brings you to us, Inuyasha?" Hakkaku asked bluntly. Ginta gasped and fretted, clearly having wanted to ask more delicately.

Inuyasha drew into himself slightly, noticing a hush fall over the atmosphere within the damp cave.

"Was just in the neighbourhood is all. If ya wanna blame someone for dragging me here, look no further than your precious leader," he snorted, sidestepping the question.

Kouga elbowed him and chuckled in a deep, rich baritone. Triangular ears flicked upon hearing it. "Aw c'mon! You practically tripped over yourself getting here you were so eager," glimmering blue eyes swung to his pack, giving a shit-eating grin. "He's just too proud to say 'thank you for the meal' because he lost his prey and is still being a sore loser about it~"

Inuyasha blinked, noticing his verbal diversion and change in topic. Kouga was... helping him?

Sure enough, the wolf demon gazed at him, brows raised in challenge, trying to encourage a rebuttal.

Relief touched Inuyasha's face for a moment, before snorting loudly and thrusting his nose up in the air, turning away. "Me? You're the one who got in my way, Mangy Wolf."

"Dog Breath!"

"Flea Bag!"

The wolves glanced back and forth between them, noticing the lack of malice in their nicknames. Their scents were calm, giving them away. A touch of humour and enjoyment radiated from them as they bickered.

"Alright, prove it-" Kouga suddenly threw out. "Hunt with us tomorrow. Then we'll see who's better at it," he jabbed a thumb at his chest. "Obviously, it'll be us wolves! I've provided for my pack as leader for tons of years and I'm faster than you."

Rolling golden eyes, Inuyasha picked up a stone, hollowed out cup of water, taking a sip. "Keh, wouldn't be the first time people have underestimated me. Won't be the last," easing slightly closer to get in Kouga's face, he bared sharp fangs in a feral grin. "I'll beat you just like I've beaten everyone else who figured a half-breed couldn't measure up to a full demon."

Kouga stared, a funny look crossing his face- both palms shooting up to wave slightly. "Huh? Nah, you've got me wrong," he grunted, straightening his spine. "I was just trash talkin' you as competition, not because you're a Hanyou. I honestly wasn't thinkin' of that," his voice trailed into a musing tone.

A stab of surprise and disorientation swung through Inuyasha. There was no time to recover, however, as the demon kept talking. "Though now that you mention it, you're probably used to hunting alone, right? We'd call you a Lone Wolf if you were one of our kind. My pack will win through sheer teamwork."

Inuyasha huffed. So clearly it was more like 1 vs 30 rather than a fair fight. Coward.

Ah well. Looking down at the bones he'd picked clean, he gave a rough shrug of his shoulders. Not like he had anything else to do. He could stick around a little longer.

"You're on."

----

Many hours after the sun had gone down, taking its vibrant colourful sky with it, the moon had opened up her blanket of stars. Inuyasha sat at the mouth of the wolf pack's cave, hands thrust inside his sleeves. Tetsusaiga rested against one shoulder.

The wolves had finished singing their melodies to their mother, the moon, so they'd settled down.

Golden eyes slid towards their sleeping forms. They'd packed themselves tight against one another to retain some heat. Only a few had broken off in pairs to cuddle by themselves. Ginta and Hakkaku were well and truly wrapped around one another, swathed in furs.

They all looked comfortable. Trusting, together. A family unit.

Inuyasha stared. The most annoying part about it was that he could never pinpoint exactly what he was feeling, looking at groups like this. It made him uncomfortable, a reminder that they had something he didn't. Maybe he had, for a time, but his friends had all split off to live their own lives. Shippo was growing up. Miroku and Sango had their own family now.

Kagome…

He wasn't needed anymore. Their quest had been over for a long time. He should be over it by now.

Staring at the pack was like looking into a store window in Kagome's time. Unseen glass forever separated him from what they possessed.

Kouga lifted his head from where he lay, noting a chill in the air. Inuyasha met his gaze, quickly turning to face the other way and pretending to look at sprawling scenery. A snort sounded out in the cave before sharp, static youki fanned into the breeze.

Transformed, Kouga stepped around his pack and lay down towards the entrance, blocking out the night's chilly breeze with his thick fur and large form.

Inuyasha glanced behind him with mild surprise.

Kouga was maybe, actually, kind of…

... a good leader.

---

It started at midday.

The pack immediately flooded the forest, racing through it like droves of rats. Inuyasha shared a look with Kouga, before smirking and starting to leap from tree to tree.

Hunting with wolves nearby started to look next to impossible, considering how eagerly they dove and ran through the undergrowth, loud and clumsy. However, the second they caught wind of a herd, they split off into different, smaller groups. Inuyasha watched them from his vantage point above.

Scouts ran on ahead. Kouga kept towards the back of his pack, signalling orders with mere grunts, growls or gestures of his hand. Inuyasha followed the scouts, dropping down to run alongside them. They were slightly younger demons, teenage boys and girls, lithe and built for running. They stared at him but gave tentative grins.

Inuyasha blinked and offered a slight smirk, soon powering on ahead and leaving them behind.

Sniffing out a herd of deer that the wolves intended to close in on, Inuyasha kept to his vantage point in the trees. He rounded one side of a large clearing, heart thundering.

It had been a long time since he'd hunted seriously. It took him back to old times. Kagome had spoiled him with ramen, and complacency softened his body. But now rusty instincts were awakening, shaking the dust away. His fangs ached. Demon senses kicked in, blood pumping. He could hear and smell everything, down to the blades of grass, fusty scent of deer and pungent odour of wolves.

As predicted, Kouga's scouts halted at the opposite side of the treeline. Lower-ranking wolves and wolf demons alike burst through into the meadow then, causing the herd to take off running.

Right towards Inuyasha.

Dumbasses. Didn't they figure they were leading them right to him?

Grinning, Inuyasha's clawed nails elongated slightly. Waiting as a few deer ran beneath his position- he suddenly lept. Free-falling and spreading both arms wide, he tackled a stag around the neck, yanking it down with him using his weight.

Grabbing it by the antlers the second he recovered, Inuyasha gave a quick jerk, snapping its neck cleanly.

Panting and grinning, he raised triumphant eyes-

Only to see Kouga bent over a felled deer not too far away. His mouth was bloodied. His prey lay dead on one side. It was obvious from the number of adults mid-way through their meal that they'd taken it down much quicker than Inuyasha. They'd had the same idea, flushing out prey and leaping upon them from the opposite direction. Somehow they'd evaded even his detection.

Younger wolves looped around, waiting pensively for their turn.

Kouga licked his lips, maintaining eye contact. Dark hair hung loose from its typical ponytail, claws stained crimson. Inuyasha's heart skittered. His breath halted.

The demon drew bloodied lips back over his fangs when a lower wolf sniffed too close to his food- a loud, powerful snarl thrumming through the clearing.

An answering rumble built in Inuyasha's throat, unbidden. Blazing, twisting heat hooked low in his stomach, cock twitching.

Golden eyes snapped wide, realising just what the fuck he was reacting to.

Kouga's feral expression softened back to normal, shooting him a surprised grin and happily digging into his meal, none the wiser.

Shaken, Inuyasha grimly started tucking into his own, busying himself with eating. He then offered some scraps to some salivating teens, ignoring the amused demons watching. He wasn't above dining with pups. Especially if it meant never confronting what had just happened.

---

"So you and Kagome broke up, huh?"

Inuyasha jolted, wondering how obvious he'd been about it. Frowning at Kouga, who seemed content to laze within the den after the hunt, he gave a long exhale. "Have been for a few months now."

"Gotcha."

"We're still friends though, so don't even think about sniffing after her again."

"I ain't about to, Dog Breath," Kouga flashed him a wolfish grin, slowly sobering, "you wanna talk about it? Only it seems to be eatin' at ya."

Running a hand through his hair and giving a dusty sigh, Inuyasha stared blankly at the forest down below. With no other wolves around, he felt somewhat better about talking so plainly.

"Nothin' much to talk about, she's with someone else now. Seems happy."

Kouga made a noise of affirmation, showing he was listening while picking at his teeth with a pinky.

"I've got a crappy track record with relationships."

"You've got a crappy track record with women, yeah."

Inuyasha whipped his head back to stare at Kouga, wondering what he meant by that. If he meant what Inuyasha thought he meant.

Kouga remained in a reclining position, meeting his gaze easily. The late afternoon sun touched his skin, giving it a warm glow, hooded eyes seeming to darken. "You ever think about trying to be with someone else, rather than pining after the same soul over and over?"

Inuyasha's lips thinned, cheeks heating.

"I dunno. I was with Kikyo and then after being sealed to the tree- I woke up and met Kagome like no time had passed," he grunted. This would usually be the part where he clamped up. He didn't like talking about something so vulnerable. Self-preservation had taught him not to divulge too much, even to friends like Kagome. Kouga could easily mock him. However…

Looking over, no sinister motivation seemed to compel the wolf. He was genuinely interested. Inuyasha's insides screamed at him as he reluctantly continued. "It was like… it made sense to be with her, but I barely had a chance to process losing Kikyo. Things just kinda happened," he shook his head slightly. "Startin' fresh? Sounds like a fairy tale."

Kouga chuckled deeply, causing Inuyasha's ears to twitch again. His stomach did a nervous flip, but there was no cruelty in that rich tone. "Kinda set in your ways, huh? You're like a human in that respect."

"Keh, well what about you? Been with anyone recently?" Inuyasha asked flatly. He wasn't fishing or anything.

Kouga stretched languidly, yawning and exposing sharp-pointed canines. Blunt claws flexed wide, before curling into his palms again. "Nothing permanent. My last 'relationship' was with a guy for a couple of weeks. Just casual stuff. Heh, bet that's unthinkable to you, right?"

Inuyasha bristled, cheeks reddening. He tossed his head and huffed in answer.

"Oi, I don't mean anything by it. I think it's great you're such a loyal pup and have soul-consuming relationships instead of flings. Still, it sounds kind of exhausting to me," the wolf shrugged.

"I thought 'wolves mated for life', you sure tried that line on Kagome."

"We do," Kouga muttered, looking at him, "but only after we find someone special. We got an expression, us wolves. It basically translates to 'my heart and liver.' You gotta find someone that really fits your needs, who you pursue like they're a missing organ inside you. Till we find our chosen one, we're free to pursue who we want."

Inuyasha snorted, "and Kagome was that person to you?" he drawled sarcastically.

Kouga shrugged, not catching it. His earnest, blunt disposition was somewhat refreshing, if Inuyasha were being honest. "I figured so. But after three years of thinking about it, I kinda dove headfirst into loving her without really knowing her. I pursued her so hard that I forgot to think about why I was even running."

Unbidden, a smile came to the Hanyou's mouth, a fang hooking over his lip. He chuckled, eyes warming. Something heavy lifted from his shoulders. "We're both dumbasses," he said, golden eyes dancing. It felt kind of good to not be alone in that. To know they both should've done better.

Kouga blinked, gaze roving over his face. Slowly, he gave an answering, amiable smile. "You get a snaggle-tooth when you grin," he pointed out teasingly. "It's cute."

"Don't think you can flirt with me just because we bonded for a second, wolf," Inuyasha rolled his eyes and forcefully snuffed out his grin.

"No I'm gonna," Kouga chuckled, tail thumping beside him.

Something dissuaded the Hanyou from hotly shutting this down. His heart sat a little lighter in his chest, shoulders relaxed. If the dumbass wanted to keep saying stupid shit, who was he to stop him?

----

After that day, Inuyasha resolved to stay- at least until he caught a kill quicker than the wolves during a hunt.

Kouga became somewhat more shameless and flirty. It started out subtle. Well, subtle for Kouga.

One time, Inuyasha had leisurely taken a sip of his drink, setting it down and not noticing the wolf sit beside him. Kouga then proceeded to pick it up.

He crooked his wrist as he lifted the cup so that his lips landed squarely over the same place Inuyasha's had just occupied. He'd performed the manoeuvre so quickly that Inuyasha wasn't sure at first of what he'd seen. But as Kouga drank, he glanced at him, and Inuyasha knew then that the move had been intentional.

There were other small, maddening things. Kouga's tail brushing against his hip in passing. How he always brought over a slab of meat from a fresh kill to Inuyasha first during evening meals. How he offered over and over to take a 'friendly' dip in the waterfall together.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the attention. It never strayed too far into 'Miroku' territory, but it also wasn't something to take it seriously. The other wolves by now had caught on and sometimes teased their leader. Kouga laughed it off yet continued undaunted. When he next offered Inuyasha a pot, the Hanyou blinked.

"Are those stingers?" he grunted.

Sure enough, bee stings dotted bronze skin. The idiot hadn't removed the stingers from his hand.

The wolf chuckled, gesturing to the covered pot. "Ya mentioned that honey goes well with meat, so I got some for you."

Staring and feeling weird again, Inuyasha heaved a sigh and grabbed Kouga by the wrist, tugging him to kneel beside him. "Hold still, idiot. Do your feet run away with your brain or somethin'? You have to take these out," he bent over his hand, clawed fingers grasping a stinger.

"I was just eager to get it back to y- OW!"

Huffing, the Hanyou continued in his task, ignoring the whimpering demon. Despite his gruffness however, he leaned Kouga's arm over his knee, one hand gripping the back of the wolf's to keep it steady. He could feel Kouga's sharp inhale close to his cheek.

Finally removing the last of the stingers, Inuyasha's dog demon side betrayed him. As natural as breathing; he'd bent his head and swiped a careful tongue over a red sore to soothe the wound unthinkingly. Human embarrassment kicked in then, and he dropped Kouga's wrist like a rock, lurching back and standing.

"There! Tend to your own damn hand now!"

A ripple of laughter washed over the pack as Inuyasha stormed away, leaving Kouga to stare at the spot of saliva on his hand like it were a dewy jewel.

---

When next hunting, Inuyasha set off on his own under cloudy skies. He didn't keep track of the mass of wolves flooding the forest. Closing his eyes and removing the robe of the fire-rat to leave him in his white underlayer, he sank into a crouch. Burying Tetsusaiga somewhere safe at the base of a tree, he exhaled. The hanyou then began the process of shedding.

Shedding didn't entail fur. Rather, for him, it meant shaking off the layers of bullshit that weighed on his mind. He even stopped thinking about himself as a person. His mind turned blank, running through the forest like an animal.

He hadn't hunted via pure instinct in so long. He forgot how to speak with a human tongue, letting out grunts and growls. Saliva pooled in his mouth. Unknowingly, golden eyes tinged red. Faint markings cut across his cheeks. Fangs and claws elongated, youki pounding through his system with every thunder of his heartbeat.

A hare darted out from the bushes- and Inuyasha lunged.

He was barely aware of Kouga looping closer until he jogged out from the trees. "Hey, mutt- no luck for us today. Think that last hunt scared the herd too far awa-"

The creature hunched over spun around, a mangled kill hanging limp from his mouth. It hit the ground with a sickening thud as long white hair bristled, puffing up. A deep, rumbling snarl deafened Kouga's ears.

Inuyasha gazed at him, unblinking, panting with ragged breaths.

Kouga stopped and stared. Unbidden, the wilder, fiercer side of his nature reared its head. Teeth and claws gleamed, interest piqued.

However, something was wrong.

Inuyasha gasped and grunted, bending low and whimpering with pain. His body began fighting with itself, his demon blood coursing too strong for his hanyou form to withstand.

Kouga didn't really know anything about hanyou kind. However, he knew enough about the situation to realise a particular sword was missing from Inuyasha's hip. Turning tail and hurrying away, it was a simple matter of tracking Inuyasha's scent all the way to the base of a tree.

The fog cleared from crimson eyes, and Inuyasha blinked, panting. He flexed his shaking hand around a muddied Tetsusaiga, the partial transformation leaving him worn and ragged.

Kouga was squatting next to him. Concern probably wasn't the right word for it, but he gazed at him seriously for a moment before standing.

"Don't do stupid stuff just to win bets, Mutt Face."

Coughing, Inuyasha slowly adjusted back into his old senses, gripping his sword so tight his knuckles bled white. "Yeah... fine, whatever... Mangey Wolf."

----

The 'incident' as Kouga called it was not an isolated one in terms of throwing him for a damn loop. After bathing at the waterfall in a nice, refreshing midday dip, Kouga noticed an absence immediately.

"Where's Inuyasha?"

Ginta looked up from polishing some armour.

"I'm not sure. He started getting fidgety and sniffed around- then he looked at the sky and took off without a word to anyone. I think he looked a bit pale."

Kouga frowned. In a few hours, it would get dark. Tracking him would be more difficult.

Wasting no time, Kouga lept from their den, sailing down the side of the rocky mountain face. His black hair and wolf tail flew up to flutter in the breeze. "Be back later!" he called, ignoring Ginta's confusion.

Bursting into a mini tornado of power, Kouga started running, lifting his nose to scent the air. Locating Inuyasha's unique smell, he sprinted into the gloom of the trees. It seemed the Hanyou hadn't wanted to be found. His scent zig-zagged everywhere, even travelling upriver, perhaps intending to lose anyone tracking him.

Kouga smirked. As if that would work on a full demon.

By the time dusk settled in, however, Kouga felt antsy. Still no sign of the mutt, and it was getting dark. Even his scent had become strange and diluted.

Stopping beneath the canopy of trees and frowning, Kouga shifted his attention to the waning light above. The moon was out, but faint.

Kouga's eyes widened slightly. A new moon.

Hearing a sigh and the crunch of weight shifting on dried leaves, Kouga turned, nose twitching.

A willow tree sat relatively still and serene, located near some stretch of water. Weeping, draping branches were parted by Kouga's rough palms. He peered into the shadows behind the sweeping curtain, finding a familiar face.

Inuyasha stood, eyes incredibly dark. Midnight locks of hair split down broad shoulders. He stood weary and watchful, gripping a useless Tetsusaiga.

"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha muttered.

Kouga gave a look, as though it should be obvious, stepping into his private space beneath the darkening tree. "I came here to find ya, obviously."

Dark eyes widened slightly at his blunt honesty. Sighing anew, Inuyasha rubbed at his forehead. "Dumbass. I'm guessing you forgot what night I transform despite seeing it yourself before?"

"Kinda," the wolf demon shrugged, resting both hands on his hips and walking around the tree, glancing at the fresh kill of a rabbit. "Glad ya fed yourself at least. C'mon, let's go back before we lose any more light. Unless of course you wanna stumble around in the dark, forcing me to hold your hand?" he teased.

Inuyasha gazed back soberly, causing the mirth to leave Kouga's eyes. Both fell quiet.

As a human, Inuyasha lost many things. Animal ears, a keen sense of smell, golden irises that gleamed like a treasure trove. He also lost a certain harshness. The thick wall of defence usually built up around his heart had crumbled.

Like this, Inuyasha looked much softer. In more ways than one.

"I don't want to go back looking like this," Inuyasha muttered. "And neither do you."

"What're you yappin' about?"

Bushy brows pulled down, and he backed up slightly. "Listen, you've had your fun little charity experience including a Hanyou in your shit, but I know how full demon society works. I'm not stupid. You're all fine with me hanging around as some little project to measure yourselves against, but when it comes down to it, you don't want to confront this part."

Kouga's heavy brows pulled down, a sneer marring his lips. "Ah, I get it. Ya think my pack will mock you because it's your human night? You're a fucking idiot," he sighed. "I was in love with Kagome. Ya think anyone's gonna say shit? Admit it, you just feel vulnerable because you got baby skin and no fangs."

Inuyasha's expression flickered; an open book. His hands balled into fists, stubbornness setting his mouth into a thin, grim line.

Kouga gave an exaggerated sigh, grabbing his arm, "quit bein' stubborn-"

Yanking himself free, Inuyasha gave a poor imitation of a snarl, exposing blunt teeth. "Get lost!"

Growling, Kouga blurred in the air- appearing behind him and grabbing the failing human around the waist- lifting so that his kicking feet left the ground. "We're going back, it's cold out! Your baby skinned, barely furred ass will catch a cold, and I ain't dealing with that!" he started walking.

With a yowl of outrage, Inuyasha swung his elbow back into Kouga's face. With a grunt, he was released, only for the two to snarl and grapple once again. Heels dug into mud- foreheads smacked, palms clasped and muscles strained on Inuyasha's end to match the power of a demon, failing. Kouga licked at his bleeding nose, before giving a hard shove. Landing on forest ground and losing themselves in senseless scrapping, sharp teeth closed around a curved ear.

Inuyasha yelped, dark eyes flying wide. Did he just?-

He had! Kouga had reprimanded him like a damn pack member.

Sensation burst within his chest, boiling over, consuming. He didn't know how to react to it. Therefore, Inuyasha didn't stop to think about his actions. When drowning in feeling, his mind turned blank, and he acted on impulse.

Curling coarse fingers in dark hair and latching tight- he yanked Kouga down by the back of the neck- mouths colliding.

Teeth knocked. Lips strained against hard pressure. Inuyasha's grip tugged Kouga's hair tight against his scalp. It was painful. It was uncomfortable. It was brilliant.

The wolf demon reeled, inhaling hard through his nostrils. His senses flooded with Inuyasha's human scent.

There was a reason Kagome's slap had cemented her into Kouga's head as a potential mate. He wasn't used to being opposed. Everyone listened to him, and he talked freely. But a push back, a stubborn, fierce 'no!' made his world tilt on its axis. It was exactly what he needed. Someone to raise their voice and get his attention. An opposing view to clash with his own. That was what leaders primarily looked for in partners, not meek obedient types.

And Kouga couldn't say he personally disliked it either.

Releasing him, Inuyasha panted. His face suddenly paled, realisation dawning. "Shit," he muttered, drawing back and falling silent.

Kouga opened his mouth, then closed it. There were no words he could scramble together in his currently fried brain. What he did know- was that the weather still felt chilly, and Inuyasha needed a place to sleep. He kind of felt the desire to prod for more, but judging by Inuyasha's closed off, guarded look, that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

They picked themselves up, standing. Inuyasha wiped some mud from his ashen cheek.

"You won't come back to the pack tonight, right?" Kouga asked.

Mild relief seemed to touch his features as he nodded glumly.

"Gotcha, well, don't kick up a fuss. I'll take ya somewhere else for the night," the wolf demon stepped away, youki swirling around his form, tumbling faster into a fierce gust. Inuyasha watched as a 10ft tall dark-furred wolf eventually lept out of the whirlwind. Kouga then knelt down as best he could, jerking his head to indicate Inuyasha climb on.

"You've got to be kiddin' me?" he grumbled. It didn't take much prompting for him to give in, burned out from nerves and high tension. The new moon always messed everything up.

Grasping onto thick, feathery fur, Inuyasha climbed onto his back, sitting behind Kouga's shoulder blades. The wolf demon flashed him a toothy smile, pushing off starting to run.

Gaping and swaying from the momentum, Inuyasha ducked down and gripped his hackles. Kouga talked a lot of shit, but he got one thing right; he was fucking fast.

Muscles coiled and shifted, prowling through dense undergrowth with quick footfalls. Kouga panted softly, paws thundering over chilled forest floor, scattering leaves.

Inuyasha ducked to avoid a few low-hanging branches, feeling the wolf's sturdiness and warm form beneath him. Despite being in human form with his dulled, dim senses, the silence of the forest combined with Kouga's rhythmic noises made him feel strangely wild yet lulled. He was a creature again, not a man nor demon. It comforted him.

Kouga's breath fanned out in visible puffs of curling smoke by the time they reached an abandoned cave beneath a slightly upturned tree- it's hanging, frozen roots slightly obscuring the entrance. Snowdrops littered the ground- crunching under Inuyasha's feet as he dismounted and quietly entered.

More snowdrops awaited him inside the mouth of the cave, and he sank down exhaustedly into the flowers, cheek cushioned by soft petals.

Kouga huffed, staring down at Inuyasha's near motionless body. Shifting, he settled beside him, acting as a shield against the elements.

Inuyasha's feet were turning blue. Knowing he'd probably be insecure about holding onto him in inhuman form, the wolf shifted closer, bumping against his side.

Making a tired noise, a dark brown eye cracked open. With a sigh- Inuyasha's coarse hands met Kouga's fur, settling closer into the mass of warmth. "This means nothing," came his muffled voice.

Resting his head upon enormous paws, Kouga ignored this, tail thumping slightly behind him.

"Thanks for... coming to get me."

At that, Kouga stiffened with surprise, lifting his head to look at him.

Inuyasha's breaths evened out, and in the quiet hush that followed, it was difficult not to notice how his dark hair seemed to mesh and meld so naturally into the wolf demon's own black fur.

In the morning it would be harder still not to stare at sprawling wisps of long white hair blending into the snowdrops.

Kouga's blue eyes blinked, nose twitching. It was then he realised he was probably in danger of something much larger than either of them could've expected.

----

Predictably, Inuyasha acted as though nothing had happened.

He stuck around the wolves for a few days longer, before finally approaching Kouga, arms thrust inside trailing sleeves.

"So… gonna be headin' out soon."

Kouga continued sharpening his knife. He then stood, rolling one shoulder and keeping his tone casual.

"For good?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha muttered, face guarded. "No point in sticking around here any longer than I need to. Keh, I ain't in the habit of getting in people's way."

Kouga heaved a sigh, putting the knife away and folding his arms, walking from the cave and out into bright sunlight. Rounding one side of the mountain and following a rocky trail, his tail swished with agitation. "You ain't in the way, Dog Breath. I made that pretty clear. You wanna talk about the kiss or not?"

Inuyasha made a noise behind him. He then scrambled for something to say, "we don't gotta talk about it! Weird shit happens when I turn human! Stuff I wouldn't usually do-"

Kouga cut him off with a dramatically loud groan, turning on his heel to face him. Inuyasha jumped, feet skidding to bring him to a stop- rocking forward with momentum and ending up nose to nose with the wolf.

Cobalt blue eyes remained flat, "dunno how Kagome put up with your damn wishy-washy ass. I ain't about to listen to that crap when my nose can sniff out lies unlike her. Since you're so bad at this, I guess I'll be the mature one; and that's how ya know you're being an idiot, stupid mutt."

Inuyasha blinked, opening his mouth with an irate expression.

"I want ya to stay," Kouga said bluntly. "The kiss didn't bother me. In fact, I kinda liked it and I'm open to doing more of that stuff, weird as it sounds saying it out loud. I was into it," he shrugged broad shoulders. "But if you're too busy getting yourself worked up about feeling like an outsider, that's up to you. As pack leader, I'm telling you you've got a place here, dumbass. You can quit being a lone wolf if you want to. My group won't mind."

Inuyasha stared at him, completely stunned. He put a little distance between them, ears pressing flat.

His expression rapidly changed with a multitude of conflicting thoughts. He opened and closed his mouth, eyes flickering to the scenery, to the rocks, to their bare feet. Heavy brows drew down.

Kouga sighed and scratched his pointed ear, figuring he'd be stubborn about it. Not like he could force him to stay. But still… an odd sense of disappointment weighed in his chest. He'd had fun. He'd had a lot of fun with him around.

"I don't do casual," came Inuyasha's reluctant reply.

Kouga's brows rose. Oh. That's what he'd been having reservations about?

"Fuck- I'm bad at this," the hanyou gazed stubbornly at the horizon, cheeks heating. Hands curled into fists at his side.

Blinking, Kouga let out a rasping chuckle, shoulders shaking. It immediately won him Inuyasha's attention. "You really are," he agreed, tone turning into a teasing one. "I didn't know you were that into me."

Growling and bristling, Inuyasha seemed to assume he was laughing at him, so Kouga held up a hand. He then used it to grab hold of the robe of the fire rat, bridging the distance between them.

Inuyasha's breath rushed out of his nose, exhaling sharply. He froze, becoming completely still. Kouga's mouth remained against his in a firm kiss, before shifting into a yielding one, eventually drawing away.

Kouga grinned, "if you wanna get stuck with me, then I'm totally capable of being serious too."

Inuyasha slowly relaxed. He snorted, lips quirking as golden eyes warmed. "Dumbass," he mumbled, tugging him back in again. This time Kouga's ensuing chuckle came out muffled against his lips.

"Heh, you really do have dog breath."

"Do I gotta keep shutting you up?"

Kouga lifted a shoulder, flashing him a wolfish grin, tail thwacking his thigh. "If that's the method you're going with to do it, I guess so."

Inuyasha's gaze flattened, feeling large hands slide around him to rest on his shoulder blades. Oddly comforting. The warmth of a wolf was a strange, foreign thing, but one he could get used to. Kouga had a strong scent. He could feel it saturating his clothes. The robe of the fire-rat would reek for weeks.

And that was okay too.

Their noses bumped, and they huffed with amusement, teeth nipping. They'd be clumsy for a while, but sticking around suddenly didn't sound so heavy. Inuyasha resolved to stay for a few more weeks.

And then maybe he'd linger for a little while after that too.

---

The wolves always howled in their true forms, conveying their love, heartbreak, hunger, stories and other things into their haunting songs. They were beautiful, powerful, twisting, waxing poetic about nothing and everything.

Inuyasha stepped out onto the summit of their mountain that they gathered upon. When he threw back his head and howled suddenly, it startled the others out of their songs.

His voice strained, held back by untrained vocal cords. It wasn't wild enough and held no finesse, too tempered by humanity. Imperfect.

Kouga beamed upon hearing it. He then transformed, black silky fur receding.

Throwing his head back, he let out a loud howl, hair dancing in the breeze. Inuyasha finished and looked at him breathlessly, heart drumming loudly. His throat hurt, cheeks stinging from the cold bite in the air. It felt fucking fantastic.

The rest of the wolf pack demons followed suit, transforming into their mockery of human appearances. Their inhuman forms joined in, baying with hoarse, powerful voices.

If someone had happened upon the pack that night, they'd have found the wolves packed in close, huddling for warmth in their cave. And at the very centre of the pack would be one hanyou, nestled amongst their slumbering, monstrous forms, nose buried into windswept fur, heart in sync with theirs.

---

It would be a few weeks later when Inuyasha would return to Kaede's village. It had been two months since he'd left.

Kouga jogged around him on the trail, sniffing the air and chattering animatedly. He loved travelling. Inuyasha grunted a few replies but was content to listen to him. It kept his mind off inevitably seeing a certain someone again.

That person seemed to spot them almost immediately as they approached the village.

Kagome came rushing over, causing Kouga to grin and call a greeting- his words going completely ignored as the miko drew back her hand.

Inuyasha blinked at the ensuing slap. His cheek stung like hell.

Salt peppered the air then, causing guilt to sink heavy into his gut.

"H-how dare you!" Kagome's watery eyes blazed. "You disappear for months- without a word to anyone?!- and then just swan back here like nothing happened? I searched for you! Do you have any idea how WORRIED I was? You jerk! You're such an absolute JERK!"

Inuyasha slowly stepped closer and brought her into a hug just as she burst into tears.

Kagome thumped her fists weakly against his chest, shuddering and prattling nonsense.

"I just… needed to get away," Inuyasha muttered, ears pressed back tight to his skull. "Didn't feel right being here."

Letting out a rush of hot air, Kagome drew back slightly to look at him. "N-nothing had to change. I told you that," she hiccuped. "Just because I'm in a relationship with someone else- it doesn't affect us. We're still friends. Your place is here. Miroku, Sango and Shippo were worried too."

"They were?"

They'd seemed so busy with their own lives before. Too busy to hang out with him- or maybe he'd been alone in thinking that? Had he put distance between them unknowingly because they'd all changed but he'd stayed the same?

"Idiot," Kagome and Kouga sighed together.

Noticing their wolf companion, Kagome wiped her tears and turned to Kouga. She gave him a much gentler reception, hugging him tight with gratitude.

"So he was with you the whole time? Thank you for looking out for him, Kouga."

"Heh, no worries. It's actually been pretty fun."

Kagome pulled back and rose a brow, glancing between them. "Really? You two haven't been fighting?"

"Sometimes," Inuyasha scratched his nose, combing some claws through his hair. "That hasn't been so bad either, though."

Completely lost, Kagome tilted her head. She then located a hickey on Inuyasha's neck, the skin bruised and red. She reddened herself, meeting Inuyasha's awkward gaze.

"Oh," she put the pieces together slowly. "So… are you just visiting?" she asked quietly.

Inuyasha nodded slowly. "Yeah. I got…" he took a breath, words faltering. He then continued, voice full of conviction. "I got a place to return to now. The wolves ain't a bad bunch to stay with now that my nose has adjusted to their damn smell."

"Hey-" Kouga scoffed.

"I'll keep coming back here though," he continued. "I'm just-"

"It's okay," Kagome soothed. "That makes me really happy to hear. Sometimes new things are good. Different, but good."

It was the same thing she'd said when trying to talk to him about her new relationship. Inuyasha nodded slightly, rendered mute by the heaviness of her words. Change was inevitable. It had freaked him out enough to run from the only real family he'd ever known.

Sadness flitted through her gaze before acceptance gentled matured features. Ageing had changed her too. That was partly why they'd broken up as quickly as they had. They were too different now than how they'd been at 15, swept up in a whirlwind teen romance. There was a sadness in never being able to return to their glory days, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing to move on.

Kagome scrubbed at her eyes and smiled for him. She always smiled when he needed it most. Grabbing both of their coarse hands, she tugged. "C'mon, everyone will be wanting to catch up. There's also some ramen I saved with your name on it."

Inuyasha's slack fingers twitched in her hold. He then adjusted them, squeezing her hand. Something brazen, fragile and guarded in his heart soothed and healed. His shoulders relaxed. Finally, he felt a sense of peace sweep over him that he hadn't experienced for some time; ever since they'd been flung out of orbit from their romance and back into friendship.

Meeting Kouga's amiable, enthusiastic gaze, Inuyasha bit back a snort. Golden eyes danced, lips twitching- before tilting up. A fang hooked over his bottom lip, snaggle-tooth peering out.

---

End

#Inukog #inuyasha #inukoga #kouga #koga inuyasha

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ghost-at-the-masquerade · 3 years

Text

Taking the Day Off

Rated T, 3,724 words

Summary: Link and Riju have a (mostly) fun day out

A/N: This is not shippy and you are not welcome to read it as such

Stinging sand pelts any bit of exposed skin it can find and sings off their golden shinguards. Scorching desert air whips past their face, hot even with the shield of cooling magic drifting down from their headband.

Ahead of them, Riju’s hair whips wild and free. She laughs and lifts her fingertips into the air like she’s skimming them over the surface of a pond. No crown or jewelry today, just long, baggy clothes in brilliant red, purple and gold.

The two are headed northwest, out from the shadow of the city. Nowhere to go and no one to answer to. Riju guides them past the dangers of the desert with ease, even with its landmarks few and far between. Weaving between pillars on their way toward the ruins, slowing her breakneck pace only to regale them with the the names and glories of the weathered statues they passed.

Grand, statuesque heroines and goddesses uncommon to the mainland. Resonu, conquerer of sandstorms, who tricked the wind into hiding their secrets; Sabis, the goddess who cleaved the stone of the valley and allowed the Gerudo into the rest of Hyrule.

Link studies their crumbling faces and missing weapons, and they have to ask, “But why are they in such a state…?”

“It’s a kind of… symbolic thing. Allowing them to return to the land, in their own time.”

Still, the concern didn’t quite all fall away at first.

“Don’t worry, they’re not forgotten - statues are not how we record history.” She laughed and hurried Patricia along once again.

They reach the depths of the ruins, sheltered by the bleached bones of ancient things and the shadow of the highland.

“We believe they’re a migrant cousin of the Dodongo,” Riju says, running a reverent hand over one massive vertebrae, “native to Death Mountain and speculated to have a cousin in Hebra as well.

Their gut clenched at the very idea of something that big ever lurking in the sand, like the molduga. “What happened to them?”

“Of course the obvious answer is that they died off, but some of our scholars think they may have shrunk instead, as they moved out deeper into the desert.”

“Shrunk?” They signed with a laugh, one which Riju echoed.

“Yes, well, maybe that’s not the way to put it. If Hebra has anything in common with a volcano, it’s mineral-rich stone. But they wouldn’t have that here. So they became smaller to compensate the lack of food.”

“Why not just move back?”

She shrugged, “The ways of beasts are never truly known.”

At last they slowed to a stop under the watchful eye of a stone swordswoman. Unhooking from their mounts, they stuck their shields upright in the sand. Stepping up onto the hot sandstone of her base, they sat together in her shadow.

Riju stuck her canteen upright in the sand in front of her and pulled a bag from her hip, untying it and laying the cloth out on her lap. Inside lay her midday meal, for which she had packed a small spread of cooked meats, seared veggies and sweet wild berries.

Link pointed to the berries and asked, “Dalia’s garden?” before turning to dig through their own pouch, feeling through its endless depths for the right pocket.

“Yes, she was very excited for her first harvest and insisted I should have some. I still don’t know how she gets them to grow here, they rarely even survive the trip from the bazaar.” She says, biting into one in earnest. She spoke through a shameless mouthful, “They were my favorite as a child.”

They laughed softly and considered telling her she still was one, but thought better of it. Instead they pulled a hydromelon from their pouch, setting it between their feet. They drew a guardian sword with a bit of flourish, halving the melon with a satisfying ‘chunk’. Juice seeped down and disappeared into the sand. Link offered half to Riju, who tossed it to her seal. Patricia barked happily at the treat.

Flicking the juice from the blade, they put it away, returning the two to companionable silence as they watched the shimmering distance and the slow progression of shadows across the sands. Every now and again, a hot desert breeze flapped a bit of cloth or hair, a quiet third companion while they ate.

When she was done, Riju used a bit of her water to wash her hands of the berry juice. She dried them with the cloth that had held her lunch before securing it to her belt again, then stood and stretched her legs, watching Link with a lopsided smile as they opted instead to suck their fingers clean.

“That’s rather childish.”

“Says you.” They puffed out their cheeks and pointed at her, poking fun at her lack of manners earlier.

She gave a good-natured huff and didn’t respond further, tapping her foot.

They laughed, rising and prying both of their shields from the sand, handing Riju hers.

Riju called the seals, who had been playing and chasing each other just a little ways away. Clipping in, they were off again, headed further west after deciding it best to steer clear of the old Yiga base, even if it had been abandoned. Far enough to clear the boneyard before swerving south, staying far from the stone cliff that marked a known molduga nest. A dust cloud could be seen on the horizon.

The distant nest disappeared behind a dune and small clusters of cacti came into view. Link slowed their seal, dropping behind a few yards and pulling an ornate golden bow from their back. They nocked an arrow and let fly as they passed a row of cacti, piercing one of the fruits, the momentum ripping it from its root and sending it flying. They grabbed the arrow by the shaft as they passed, jerking it free and frowning at the sand caked into the juice that had leaked out.

Riju laughed at them as they caught up. “Watch this.” She said, and she called to Patricia, veering hard to the right, up a steep dune. She crested the mound and jumped, snagging one of the fruits mid-air.

She swerved lazily, proudly back and forth as she rejoined them.

“Not bad.”

“At least you can eat this one.” She said, tossing it to them.

They put both it and the one they had attempted to clean away before signing, “I think you can do better.”

“Oh do you?” She said, and when they nodded she continued, “I might have another trick up my sleeve.”

Before they could even goad her, she was moving fast up the next large dune and Link had to hurry to see what she would do next.

Riju launched herself sidelong into the air, snapping up her line so that she unhooked herself from Patricia, doing a quick spin. Amazingly, she stuck the landing, but failed to snap back into Patricia’s harness and the momentum left her spiraling into a face-full of sand.

When Link slowed to a stop beside her, she popped up on her hands and knees, smiling, “It actually almost worked! That’s the closest I’ve ever gotten!”

Link laughed and cheered, offering her a hand up. “Very impressive. But no fruit.”

She stuck her tongue out and kicked a bit of sand in their direction before walking back over to Patricia. Link just laughed again while they waited for her.

There wasn’t time to turn and see. And even if there had been, there wouldn’t have been time to run. The sand beneath them burst open, exploding upward in a great shower of earth and taking Link with it, while Riju was thrown aside.

Time slowed for a split second at the crest of her flight, hung sideways in the air while she tried to make sense of anything that was happening. Then Riju landed, hard, rolling only a few precious feet away. She whipped her aching head up and watched, wide-eyed, horrified as Link was snapped up in the mighty jaws of the molduga with a wet crack. The line severed, their terrified seal dropped back to the sand, where it bolted for the safety of town.

Riju scrambled away, the sand swelling as the beast returned to the depths and sent her tumbling head over heels. Faithful Patricia met her where she fell and Riju grabbed the harness, letting herself be dragged away.

There was little else but desert around her now - the empty expanse between the ruins and the uninhabitable. She urged Patricia back the way they had come, toward the ruins, as she could feel the beast rumbling somewhere below, following them and gaining speed. Her heart raced, her breathing came through clenched teeth, her legs stinging with pins and needles.

In what felt like just the nick of time, Patricia threw herself onto another square of sandstone, taking Riju with her. Girl and seal huddle together beneath the statue, Riju’s fingers balled in Patricia’s mane. For long moments, she hears nothing but her own pulse in her ears. The molduga’s trail stops just a few yards behind them.

This is not a known nest. The earth here is too hard, too uneven, too cool for an adult to move through. Though judging from the size of the trail it left, that was just it; it was a juvenile, more reckless and less predictable than its elders.

With that perspective on her situation, Riju surveyed the area, judging the distance between rocks, wondering if there was any way they could move between them fast enough, wondering how long and how far it would follow, wondering if she could ever get out. She pulled the sword from her hip, held it tight in a shaking fist. She could defend herself - but a sword was almost nothing against the tough hide of a molduga, even a young one. There was a system to taking one down, one she knew but had no tools for.

Even as she thought of her own survival, her final glimpse of her friend in the jaws flashed before her eyes. She whispers a prayer for them, but cannot bring herself to close her watering eyes.

Her breath catches in her throat as the thing’s shovel-jaw breaks the surface once more. Thrashing and squealing, plumes of dark smoke escaping with every cry. She dares not hope - but then there they are. There’s hardly a patch on them not bloodied, but they’re there, still moving, hands and feet braced precariously between jagged teeth, whole body shaking with the effort to keep the jaws from coming down. Riju jerks up onto one knee, but her legs give out under the weight of fear and helplessness. Even from here she can hear Link’s ragged, frightened breathing.

She blinks and the molduga’s mouth had snapped shut, but somehow, Link is on the other side, thrown out on the sand on their stomach. Her own voice sounds distance in her ears as she calls out to Patricia.

Staying as low to the ground as she can, she has Patricia whip her out in a sharp u-turn, just close enough to snag Link under the arms. There’s not a second to spare while the beast recovers, spewing the last of the smoke. She grits her teeth and has to adjust her footing, but she can manage the weight. The three tumble onto the stone in another heap. Somewhere behind them, the enraged molduga burrows.

Riju’s hearing comes back into sharp focus, wide eyes darting over her fallen friend as she pulls back from them. There’s too much, it’s too much, says the static in her brain as she scrabbles for their pouch, for whatever hope it might hold.

She stops when suddenly there’s a soft blue light that grows in strength. A thousand-thousand tiny threads that coalesce. She’s frozen as she watches, as she hears a soft voice, so faint she’s not quite sure she really heard it. The light and the threads envelop and sink into their figure. Link picks themself up, whole again. They touched their head gingerly, shaking it to clear their vision. Their face lit up when they saw her.

“Riju!” They croaked out, before switching back to signing, fingers shaking and a relieved laugh on their lips, “Thank every goddess and sage, you’re alright, I wasn’t sure- couldn’t see-”

“I’m alright?!” She sputtered, flabbergasted, unable to decide if she should play it off or be annoyed or just thankful. She chose instead to throw her arms around them, squeezing with all her might. She pushed them out to arm’s length again - then yanked them closer to the statue. “Why aren’t you dead?!”

“… That’s not a very nice thing to ask.”

“It ate you!” She gestured to all of them with an open hand.

Link smiled sheepishly, shrugging helplessly, “That happens.”

Riju opened her mouth to answer but decided against it, switching instead to the issue at hand. “We need to get out of here.”

Their expression steeled and they gave a firm nod. They rose to their feet and turned to scan the rocks, much as Riju had done, then pulled out their map. Riju stood close behind, watching as they zoomed in close and slowly scrolled through the area. There were areas of hard, raised earth and old structures dotted along for a good while out east, but after that was a large gap of open desert. They’d have no chance of crossing to the city if the thing followed them that far. And the implications of leading it that close to a densely populated area were terrifying regardless.

Clipping the slate back to their belt, they asked, “How well can you climb?”

Riju looked to the highlands, then back to Link. “Not well enough to climb that, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Link studied the distant wall for a long moment, lips pursed pensively. They could maybe carry her up, but getting back down was another matter - another matter that would probably take a whole extra day of travel, since they had no idea if the glider could handle both their weight, and they’d never risk her safety on it. Never mind the fact that they’d have to leave Patricia behind.

They turned to consider the distance to the city. There was no telling how long it would take for the thing to give up on them. How long they could be stuck in the elements, waiting. Even if Link had plenty of resources in their bags to sustain the both of them through the wait, people would come looking. And people would get hurt.

They turned back to Riju, something unreadable on their face. “We’ll have to kill it.”

“Okay.” Was her answer. Neither eager nor resigned, just a statement of fact.

While they didn’t want to have to involve her, having her on standby for another save could make all the difference. “You get to something more solid, I’m going up there.” They pointed to the nearest skeleton.

She nodded, and before they could say anything else, she was dashing across the sand to an outcropping of stone. Icy anxiety twisted in Link’s gut. Both of them watched the waves of sand intently, hearts racing as it turned and charged in their direction. But she was able to jump up on the outcropping safely, close behind her seal. She knelt to steady herself, holding a hand to her chest as she watched the molduga continue to approach. It skirted far too close to her haven, sitting only feet above the sand. While it shimmied its fin angrily above the surface, it didn’t risk the jump; their vision was generally poor, and a bad jump at hard stone could result in a broken jaw.

Link only relaxed when she turned a smile back to them, the two sharing an awkward, stressed laugh. It was Link’s turn now. They turned their eye to the towering ribcage of something long dead. It was sloped enough that it wouldn’t take much actual climbing, but it would certainly take sure footing, without much room for mistakes. The molduga circled in the distance, searching.

They reached into their pouch, pulling from it a pair of sand boots; the molduga was circling closer now, and they would need every advantage they could get. They downed a rancid potion, too. Geared up, hyped up, they sprinted straight toward the ancient bones, almost immediately regretting not stopping off with Riju; it was closing fast.

Riju choked on her heart, throwing a hand up to shield her face as the sand exploded a second time. Whatever miracle had saved Link the first time, she was sure it couldn’t save them a second time. Fortunately, it didn’t have to, as the beast’s aim was off this time. Instead of snapping them up for an easy snack, it threw them high, almost over the pile of bones. They nearly rolled down the other side, scrabbling and scratching to get a grip, scraping their fingers and breaking nails, but able to hold on.

After the beast had disappeared below once again, Link hauled themself back up top, waving to Riju to let her know they were okay. Then, crouched atop the crest of the skull, Link drew one bomb from the slate, then the other. The round one they held between their legs, the other they tossed to the ground. The moving mound of sand stopped. They had its attention. Link pointed the slate down at it and clicked the trigger, sending up a shower of sand. When the molduga started to move again, they tossed the second bomb into the crater left by the first and waited.

When the molduga breached for what they hoped was the last time, they clicked the trigger again. It shrieked in pain, jerking to the side to land with a thunderous thud. One of its teeth came clean out, flipping away to bury deep in the sand.

Riju and Patricia were on the move before it had settled. She circled around it, looking for a soft spot and, finding none, opted to jam her sword into its underside, starting just under one of its pitiful little legs. It was a struggle, but she managed to pull it along as she passed, leaving a large, bleeding gash. Pulling her curved blade free, she whipped around to make another pass. When she hit the tougher hide toward its jaw, the bade stuck and jerked out of her hand. She muttered a curse and headed back to the relative safety of the rock formation.

Meanwhile, Link had dropped down from on high, putting their weight into the master sword, glinting bright as it pierced the beast above one of its tiny red eyes. Landing on their feet and barely keeping the pommel from jamming into their face, they wrenched the blade free, stabbing it again and again, every thrust going deeper until the molduga let out its last pitiful wail and stopped its pained thrashing. They stumbled and slipped off as it settled.

After taking a moment to catch their breath, Link, ever the scavenger, put away the master sword and got out something shorter. They sawed off some good chunks of the hardy fin cartilage before moving on to widen the gashes Riju had started.

Patricia at her side, Riju stepped closer, still shaking with adrenaline. “Gross.”

Link only shrugged and continued harvesting. Riju couldn’t think of anything else to say. When she retrieved her own sword she found the blade badly dulled, with a chip toward the tip. She returned it to her hip anyway.

After the exhausting chase, Patricia didn’t have the strength to pull them both, and the other seal was long gone, so they made the trek back on foot. The wind returned, ever welcome as they made their way home. Many steps passed in tired silence.

Somewhere about the halfway point, Link gently tapped Riju’s shoulder so they could sign, “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to do that.”

She laughed - she couldn’t help it. “And you should have?”

“My… responsibility.”

Riju shook her head and touched their arm in a way that might have been an aborted shove. “It’s already done now. We made a good team.”

They struggled for a moment longer, but finally agreed, “… We did.”

The sun was all but gone and the chill of night had set in by the time they got back, far later than they were supposed to. Buliara met them outside the walls, clearly doing her best not to seem fretful, and only further losing her composure as soon as she saw the molduga’s blood dried across the both of them.

“What happened?” She demanded, forceful in her worry.

Riju answered, tired but straight to the point, “A juvenile molduga that wandered too far east.”

Buliara took a sharp breath, going stiff in the shoulders.

Riju continued before she could speak, starting them walking toward the gate again, “It is slain. But I want a convoy out in the morning to look for more.”

“Yes, chief. I will inform the guard immediately.”

The pair of guards at the western gate greeted them, stoic as ever, but their relief at Riju’s safe return was betrayed by the set of their shoulders. One of them accompanied the party into the city, staying a few steps behind the chief. At the steps of the palace she split off to tell the captain what had transpired.

Finally back inside the palace, Riju turned back to Link. “Thank you, Link. It was fun, until the part where you got eaten.”

“Same.” They signed with a laugh.

“We’ll have to do it again some time.” She waved as she started up to her room, followed by Buliara.

They waved a second longer than they should have. Then it was just them and the remaining guards in the hall. Link’s ears perked up as a thought occurred to them. After a moment of digging, they offered one of them the bag filled with the molduga’s foul-smelling innards.

The smile she offered in return wasn’t quite as bright as Link’s, but she didn’t hesitate to take it. “Thank you. I trust you know where the baths are?”

#Makeela Riju #botw riju #the legend of zelda #breath of the wild #botw #botw fic #she's like 12 you cretins

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your-daily-biaswrecking · 4 years

Text

Serva me, Servabo te

save me and I will save you

pairing: photographer!Taehyung x (named) f.reader

genre: angst, slight enemies to lovers, slow burn, lil spooky

word count: 5.2k | reading time: 30 min

chapter summary: you explore the woods next to the manor and still can’t avoid Taehyung completely

warnings: a lil spooky woods, small talk about fairies and ghosts

All chapters | Masterlist | Read on AO3

Chapter 2: Staying on your toes

The formidable Victorian Manor kept engorging you and you had the need to do something, particularly to leave, given that Kim Taehyung's presence in the building was only adding to the feeling of commitment. Perhaps you should do what you had just told Yoonji and go on a hike, get out of there and get your mind off things. Enjoy the perks of the vacation for a while.

So you decided to do just that and picked out your favorite dress that you had brought along. It had an ivory color, puffy sleeves, and reached your ankles. Paired with a thick, brown belt that looked like a corset, you didn't wear it very often. You definitely wanted to but didn't feel bold enough to wear something so vintage-looking. However, now that you were staying in a mansion, you couldn't help yourself. In fact, your entire suitcase was filled with those outfits you always wore to look at yourself in the mirror and then hesitantly take off again. That poet shirt and black, leather pants that made you look like a pirate, the forest green coat slash cape that your grandma had knitted for you, the little floral dress, the plaid skirt that belonged to your mum when she was a high school student. You had the chance to wear it all, now that there weren't any judging eyes on the horizon. Well, there was a pair of dark brown ones, but they didn't count if you didn't care.

The library was right next to the sitting room you were in earlier. It was a smaller room than the rest in the building, yet still so big for it to be filled with just books. You found the hiking guide on a little, round table by an armchair. Inside, there was a map highlighting six different paths, some long and some short, some going up the mountain and some diving through the forest to reach a stream of fresh water. The guide provided information about the place, as well as photographs to identify the flowers, mountain tea, herbs, and mushrooms found in the trails. You noted it was the time of the year that the mushrooms bloomed (in contrast to the tea that apparently grows in June) and excitedly grabbed the guide to take it with you.

In the kitchen, you found the most adorable basket that you were sure had been hand-made. As you bent down to grab it, you could have sworn you saw something pass behind you. Quickly, you turned around, expecting to find your vacation buddy. But there was no one. You shrugged, assuming he must have seen you and fleeted, as he should. But when you pulled the heavy front door closed with difficulty, you noticed Taehyung had been out on his own excursion. He was deep in the garden, snapping pictures of the scenery. He had his back to you and his face buried in his camera, so you managed to slip by unnoticed.

The forest began right next to the estate and got so dense, so quickly, you couldn't even see the house after having walked for about five minutes. The trees were taller than they looked from your bedroom window, engulfing you whole and hiding the sky and sunlight from your eyes. The temperature fell dangerously in the woods. It all made you feel relieved as if you knew Taehyung couldn't bother you here; you were alone and safe to be yourself.

"I wonder if there're any animals around," you mumbled at some distant sounds. It couldn't be anything dangerous, like wolves or wild boars, right? No way, they wouldn't encourage people to go hiking in the forest if there were.

Is what you told yourself.

"Oh, mushrooms!" you squealed and ran to the side of the trail, where two mushrooms, a smaller and a bigger one stood close together. They were a light beige color, with a thin stem and a big, flat cap. On top of them, they had some brown spots. You took the guide out of the basket and flipped through the pages to identify the fungus. The second one on the list seemed very similar. "Macrolepiota procera, commonly known as the parasol mushroom, has gained its name from its shape: a large, prominent fruiting body that looks like an umbrella. It is a fairly common species on well-drained soils and very sought-after and popular in Europe, due in part to its large size, seasonal frequency, and versatility in the kitchen."

You got a big smile. You had never picked mushrooms before, and you hadn't even known how much you wanted to until now. This was so much more fun than it sounded. You bent down and cut both of the mushrooms from the root, feeling the velvety roof of their cap and causing some of the brown spots to rub away. A couple of steps later, you found more. You picked the big ones, leaving the smaller ones that still had a round head to grow further. But there were more. Higher on the ground and farther away from the trail, you had to climb the rocks to reach them, careful not to get your dress dirty. You had by then filled about a third of the basket. Should you pick more? You didn't want to get too many in case Taehyung wanted to try some. Oh, sorry, I barely have enough for me was the way you wanted to go about it. You climbed a little higher, using your hands for leverage. A couple more couldn't hurt, right?

Just as you straightened your back again, you managed to see behind a rock. More mushrooms! You turned around the rock to get better access and were met with a sight you didn't expect to see. The mushrooms had grown in a circle. A big, thick, perfect circle.

"What's this?" you chuckled in disbelief. You squatted down next to the circle to inspect it better. "Wow, that looks almost like someone planted these with a compass. Truly, how can nature make something like that?" It looked so beautiful, you almost didn't want to ruin it.

You reached out a hand to touch a big mushroom right in front of you when a strong wind suddenly blew and made you lose your balance slightly. You held yourself up with both of your palms on the soil. The wind blew again, making you shudder from the cold. "Oh, I should head back soon. Just a few more mushrooms and-"

A loud, thumping sound coming from your left made you turn your head fast, your hands finding blindly your basket. You didn't see anything, but more noise was produced, and by the level of it, whatever it was causing it was getting closer. You jumped back down the way you had come before you even realized it. Struggling to get to the trail with the basket in one hand and the other guiding your way, the wind kept picking up and blowing your hair all over your face. You were just a step away from the path again when your foot got intertwined with your dress and you landed on your knees and elbows in the dirt. But the noises and the wind still weren't backing up. You cried out in sheer panic as you grabbed the basket that had landed on its side and spilled half of the mushrooms, and started running down the trail. Not looking back, not slowing down.

You were running for long enough to lose your breath, yet were still nowhere near the beginning of the forest. Had the trail always been so long? Had you been walking so far without even realizing, distracted by the beauty of the place? Or had you gotten completely lost? You stopped for a minute, bending over with your hands on your knees, to refill your lungs, before you started jogging again. There weren't any more noises other than the chirping of the birds, so you deemed yourself safe, but kept up the fast pace. The sooner you got out of these woods, the better.

Finally, the trail got wide and met up with the rest of the paths at the beginning of the forest and you cried out again in relief. The house appeared behind the trees, too. You stopped again to catch your breath, looking back and forth between the neatly groomed gardens and the crowded, dark woods. You were strangely so happy to be out of there, you didn't even care if that meant you had to see Taehyung again. You dusted your dress as much as you could to make yourself presentable, although it was stained with dirt that wouldn't come off. You sighed but still, that was a small price to pay. You got out of there without a scratch!

The wind was even stronger out in the open, almost physically pushing you back inside the house. And you let it. You let the door smack back closed and make a loud sound that echoed up the stairs, announcing your arrival. You peaked through the hallways trying to see if you'd catch a glance of the photographer since he was no longer out in the garden, but everything was still and silent. Dusting off your palms and dress once more, you headed to the kitchen to leave the basket with the few mushrooms that were left inside before going to change. You opened the door and were met with exactly who you were searching for, but were hoping not to find.

Taehyung was standing in front of the stove and turned his head at the sound of someone entering, looking at you surprised, almost like he had forgotten somebody else stayed there as well. His wide eyes raked down your form before you had a chance to hide from his gaze. "What happened?" he barked with eyebrows furrowed.

You acted casual. "I went on a hike in the woods."

Taehyung turned all the way around and pointed at you with a knife he had in his hands. "I was actually referring to the state of your dress."

"Oh," you said, looking down as if you had no idea what he was talking about. "There was some mud in the path."

"Was the mud knee-deep?"

You clicked your tongued. "I fell, okay?" you admitted, raising your arms. "I tripped and fell, not a big deal."

But he looked at you with eyes that could be mistaken as concerned. "Oh no, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

You were quick to dismiss him with a wave of your hand, finally moving closer to the counter to hoist your basket up. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I said I just tripped. It happens all the time." You grabbed the fabric in between your fingers, swerving the dress around to look at it better. "My dress got ruined though," you mumbled more to yourself. "I don't know if it'll come off."

"Oh.." you heard the boy express his disappointment. "That's too bad. It's a very pretty dress."

You shot your head up again to glare at him. "Yeah, ha ha," you mocked, immediately thinking he was being sarcastic.

But his eyebrows raised high in defense. "I mean it! It's cute and looks good on you."

You turned back to your mushrooms to avoid his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. What are you..." You cut yourself off before finishing that sentence. You didn't need to know what he was doing. Yet he let you know anyway.

"I'm making some ramen for lunch."

That got your attention. You leaned closer to him and saw the pot of simmering water he had on the stove, as well as the cut-up vegetables on the counter in front of him. "Ramen? They have ramen here?"

Taehyung started putting the ingredients in the water once it started boiling, along with the flavor packages. "They don't, I brought some with me from home."

You laughed for a millisecond before your hand flew to cover your mouth with a slap. Then you looked at him, waiting for the "just joking" or something similar, but when Taehyung continued occupying himself with his lunch, you realized he was being serious. "You brought ramen to a Victorian Manor to eat? Instant ramen, like the one dollar kind?"

The boy dropped his jaw in offense. "I didn't know what kind of food they'd have here, what was I supposed to do? Starve?"

You almost agreed. "Even so, not what I would've gone for. Plus, you're here now and you're still choosing that over real food."

Your words seemed to be affecting him enough to make him provoked and defensive, yet not enough to stop him from throwing those flavor packages in the water. "Oh, yeah? And what real food do you plan on eating, princess?"

You scoffed at the nickname for a heartbeat, then quickly raised your nose high and looked away to present your hard-earned basket. "I'll have you know, I am having fresh, wild mushrooms that I handpicked myself in the forest," you said while emphasizing every single word in your sentence. "Can't get more real than that."

Taehyung abandoned his food in favor of getting close to you, intrigued. "You picked mushrooms?" You nodded. He glanced at the basket you were presenting as your dear prize. "How do you know those are good to eat?"

"They had a guide."

"What? Let me see that." He grabbed the brochure from your hands. He looked back and forth between your mushrooms and the ones pictured there for a good minute before he shook his head. "Those don't look the same to me."

You snorted. "What are you talking about? It's clearly the same kind. They have the same color and spots and-"

"Yeah, but these look tall and skinny, whereas the ones you got look shorter and wider."

"I mean, they can't all be exactly the same! Some are big and some are small," you insisted, rolling your eyes. "The point is they have the same, basic characteristics."

The boy looked into your eyes for a moment and then shrugged. "Alright. If you're sure about that."

You grabbed the guide back from his stolen grip, laying it on the counter. "I am!"

Taehyung raised a challenging eyebrow. "So sure you are willing to bet your life on it?"

"What?" you chocked out, suddenly unable to take your wide eyes off his.

But he just shrugged again, acting nonchalant. "I mean, a lot of fungi are poisonous, and a lot of them look very similar. If you are so certain that this is an edible species and not something that looks like one, then by all means; eat them." You opened your mouth to reply but only stuttered. "Have you ever picked mushrooms before?" he asked you with confidence.

"No..." you admitted in a whisper.

Taehyung sucked in a breath through his teeth, clicking his tongue in disapproval. "So you have zero experience. Oof... I don't know, man, if I were you I wouldn't risk it. Wild mushrooms are a dangerous game to play." And with that, he turned back to his pot.

You stared at his back, biting your bottom lip as you contemplated your next move. If you hated one thing, it was the idea of giving someone like Taehyung the satisfaction of being right. Then again, that would be a small wound to your ego compared to, say, maybe dying. You opened the garbage can and emptied all the mushrooms inside without another word.

"Wash your hands, too," he called, proving he didn't have to be looking at you to know what you were doing.

You washed your hands. You could just feel the stupid smirk he had on his face, which made you jerk your arms in the air to rid them of the water quickly, before attempting to escape what felt like a very confined space all of a sudden. But right as you were at the exit, he called for you once more.

"Would you like some ramen?"

You froze in your step. "No," you called out, a statement that was instantly contradicted but your stomach growling. You cursed under your breath. Of all the times, this had to be it! Hiking and, let's be honest, getting a good scare, had deemed your energy completely off and your need for food reaching dangerous highs.

"Uh-huh," Taehyung said amusingly. "Nevertheless, I'm going to put in enough noodles for the two of us. In case you change your mind."

The statement sounded surprisingly sweet and candid, making you lower your icy guard for just a second. Enough to look over your shoulder. Taehyung was giving you a big, boxy smile, showing off his teeth and hiding his eyes away. You didn't think you had ever seen him smile like that. No, wait. That first time you had met- that day he was all smiles like that. Just one day, three years ago. After that, it was all poker faces and judgment. Or so you thought.

"Thank you," you mouthed, unable to do otherwise. You dragged your feet to the island and took a seat, watching as the young man finished making a meal for you both. You couldn't help but wonder why. Perhaps he didn't dislike you the way you did him, the way you thought he did as well. Perhaps it had something to do with not even remembering knowing you; in his eyes, you might be a new person he has to be nice to. Or, perhaps, god forbid, Yoonji was right and he wasn't that bad after all. The truth was that, aside from the occasional snarky remark or lack of basic courtesy, he had been acting... fine. Not how you would expect or how you remembered. Almost made you feel like the asshole here.

See? You felt uncomfortable around him again. No matter what it was, you couldn't seem to catch a break, always on your toes for him.

Taehyung set two bowls on the table filled to the brim with a smile, which you reciprocated in short. You thanked him and after that made sure to keep your eyes solely on the food as if it was a task that demanded your undivided attention. In the awkward silence, your chewing sounds were amplified like they were trying to mock you. On the one hand, you wanted to say something, anything to kill this atmosphere, yet on the other hand, you had nothing to share with him. With the quickest glanced you could muster, you dared to steal a look at him, see if he seemed just as uncomfortable. To your bad luck, he was already watching you.

"Is it good?" he decided to ask when you lowered your eyes in panic and gulped down a huge bite to force the moment to pass.

You tried to reply but you had already stuffed your mouth full. It's okay, however, because Taehyung seemed to understand your muffling perfectly. "It's perfect..." you mumbled after swallowing.

He nodded and played with his food for a while, looking deep in thought. "So, um..." he spoke up again. "I know you don't wanna spend your vacation with me here but, do you want to eat together at least?" You'll be honest, you never could have expected this coming. You looked at him silently, not knowing what to say. "I mean-" he continued, "-that way we can split the task of cooking: one day I'll cook and the other day you. It'll save us time and resources, don't you think?"

You chuckled and took another bite. "Right, like you cooked today instant ramen?"

He rolled his eyes at you. You'd never seen him do that before, it stood out a lot. "Today doesn't count, okay? This one's on me."

"Sure..." you mocked him.

"I'll have you know I'm a great cook. You'd be surprised at the number of girls that have fallen for me because I made them breakfast the morning after," he boasted.

That sentence made your toes curl. And no, not in a good way. Your body was physically trying to get away from the situation. But you stayed put. "And you'd be surprised at how low some girls' standards are."

Taehyung stared at you with narrowed eyes as you continued eating with no problem. You had to, if you wanted to support your statement. "Mushrooms," he suddenly changed the subject. "Where did you find them?"

You wanted to indulge in a sarcastic answer, since the real one was so obvious, but held yourself back. The man was obviously trying to make conversation and you understood it in part, considering how terrible silence around him felt. So you took a moment to think about it, and found something worth sharing. "Actually, that was crazy, I found some mushrooms that were in a circle!"

He frowned. "Circle?"

"Yeah. It was a circle about the size of the center of this island. Like, perfect circle like a person had made it."

Taehyung's hand dropped on the surface next to his bowl, making a loud slapping sound, as he looked at you with wide eyes and an open mouth. "Wha- a fairy ring? You found a fairy ring?"

It was your turn to frown. You titled your head to the side. "A what? What's a fairy ring."

He shook his head. "Uh, nothing just... Folk tales." Then he looked at you seriously. "But please tell me you didn't mess with it. Those mushrooms weren't from that ring, were they?"

The conversation just kept getting more confusing. "Uh- no. No, I didn't touch it."

"Oh, good," he exhaled.

"But why? You're scaring me, what's with that fairy ring?"

But he just smiled at you, closing his eyes. "Nothing, nothing. It's just myths, you know? It's not true." He seemed to think about that answer for a moment before adding: "But just in case, never mess with one, and especially never go in one."

"I'm confused. Aren't fairies supposed to be a good thing?"

Taehyung chuckled. "Not at all. Fairy rings are not supposed to be good. I wouldn't mind photographing one though."

You noticed he was drawing small circles with his fingers on his bowl while looking at you for a response. Right. That's how conversations go; he says something and you respond. And in this case, since he had expressed an interest in the mushroom circle that only you knew where was located, the right way to respond would be to offer to take him there. But no way. You would never go back there, especially not with him.

"I'm finished," you said then, pretending that along with the food the conversation was over as well.

Taehyung picked that up immediately. "Oh. Yeah, me too," he said and pushed his bowl away.

You got up and tried to take the two bowls away. "I'll do the dishes," you declared.

But Taehyung jumped up and stopped you with both hands wrapped around your wrists. It burned. The skin contact burned. What the fuck, you hadn't touched one bit up until then and he had just ruined it but placing those hot handcuffs on you. "No, I'll do them," he said with a very certain voice that made it hard to go against.

You still tried to, though, pulling weakly your wrists away. "No, no, let me. I mean, you made these-"

"No, Amy."

Oh, no. Not the name, too.

Taehyung finally released his grip on you and smiled. "I said this one's on me. You should go change, try and save that pretty dress before it's too late."

You nodded. It felt like there was no more room for protests, not even words. You just basked in the weird grin he gave you as you walked backward until he turned to the sink and you were free to run to your room.

And run you did. You hid in your room, where you knew you wouldn't be bothered until you heard Taehyung walk up the stairs and go into his. The dress was dropped at the side of the bathtub of the bathroom of the west wing after a few attempts to get it clean, which had proved to be pretty good but not quite enough. You had your books all out and open in front of you as you lay on the floor yet occupied yourself with your phone, trying to get enough signal to search what exactly was so sketchy about those so-called fairy rings. Because you were almost certain the photographer was just playing a trick on you. Then again, you couldn't stop thinking about what had happened when you had tried to pick those mushrooms.

What if... there were fairies? What if you had angered them?

After some hours of researching and reading, your books and you had moved on the bed. You had lit up some candles around the room, mostly for the atmosphere, since they were standing there almost begging you to light them. A couple of logs in the fireplace proved you had given lighting that a go as well, but it was soon revealed as futile; you had no experience in those things. And you certainly didn't want to ask for help. So you settled for the heavy blankets of the bed, curling around your books, your eyelids putting up a struggle with every blink, as you stared at the window that had gotten blurry from the humidity, refusing to fall asleep.

You simply had too much on your mind to sleep. Even though there was someone else in the house, you felt alone. And feeling alone made you a little edgy, after everything that had happened that day, and all that you had read about faes and witches, ghosts and ghouls in that afternoon. You hated being alone. But what you hated, even more, was knowing someone was only a few rooms away and you couldn't even talk to him.

The moment you closed your eyes for a second too long, a loud bang made you scream. A strong wind had blown the window right open, making the casements hit the wall with an intensity that threatened to break them, as well as throwing on the ground the candle that was sitting on the sill. You jumped quickly off the bed to run to the disaster. The fire of the candle had thankfully been gone by the time it hit the floor, still, liquid wax was spilled all over the place. The wind was cold and slapping your face aggressively as you tried to close the window again.

"What happened? Everything okay?"

Of course, Taehyung had arrived. Before you even had the chance to turn to him, you felt his arms move around your body, his chest pressing to your back, as he grabbed the window and helped you close it. He secured it immediately.

"Thanks, but I had it..." you murmured as you pulled away. You probably didn't, but anyhow. Taehyung had a much softer expression than what you had expected. As if nothing had just happened.

"Did the window open suddenly?" he concluded from the circumstances.

You nodded. "I don't know how it happened, I thought it was stuck," you offered a weak explanation. Taehyung acknowledged your words with his eyebrows and then looked around the room like he was trying to check for any more damage. His eyes fell on the candle on the floor and he bent down to pick it up. "How did you come here so quickly?" you asked.

Putting away the candle, he dipped his hands in his pockets and raised his shoulders. "I was just coming up the stairs when I heard you scream. I thought something had happened to you and came to save you."

You grimaced at his way too chivalrous words. "What could happen to me...? You keep acting like I'm too clumsy for my own safety."

"I mean, if you keep screaming like you're being murdered, what do you want me to do?"

You scoffed. Without waiting for him to properly leave, you walked back to your bed, getting rid of your books so that you could lie down. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Taehyung going around the room and blowing out the candles that had remained lit, so casual about it as if it was the most normal thing to get you ready for bed. You didn't complain.

"Didn't you eat dinner?" he asked you when he got to the door. "I didn't see you in the kitchen at all."

You got under your covers and looked at him. He just looked like a dark silhouette due to the contrast of your dark room and the bright hallway. "I wasn't hungry," you lied. The truth was you had snacked on some cookies you had in your purse because you didn't want to get out of the room and risk seeing him. Still processing your interaction from lunchtime, you couldn't overwork yourself with more to worry about. Yet he still came into your room to change that.

You thought your conversation was over, but Taehyung was still standing at your entrance, staring at you. You raised an eyebrow at him, but he was silent, sighing a couple of times. When you opened your mouth to tell him to leave, he spoke.

"I have a confession to make."

Oh. "What confession?" You took deep breaths as you waited for him to keep going. It didn't help that his face was too dark for you to see because he was keeping silent and you were growing impatient. What could he possibly have to confess to you? It can't be anything good. Did he do something? He raised a hand to scratch the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. Was this perhaps about the first time you had met? Had he remembered you?

"Those mushrooms you picked actually looked fine," he exhaled. "I just got jealous and made you throw them away."

A gasped. "You asshole! I can't believe you!" You sat up to glare at him more passionately, his confession having triggered you more than you thought it would.

But Taehyung just laughed. "I'm sorry..."

"You have no idea what I went through to get those!"

The man extended a hand towards you. "I mean, the point still stands: mushrooms can be dangerous and you shouldn't risk it if you don't know what you're doing."

"No, I don't care!"

"Which–" he kept talking over you, "–you clearly don't."

"I don't wanna hear it," you whined. "All you do is terrorize me!"

Taehyung laughed again. He probably didn't think you'd get that upset, but those mushrooms had been hard to get and very rewarding as a great achievement for your brain. Now it all had been for nothing. Even if, still, Taehyung was kind of in the right.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered again, a smile obvious on his lips.

You crossed your arms over your chest. "Just go! I don't want to see you anymore!"

He immediately nodded. "Alright."

"So don't come back here again." You're not sure why you added that. Why the possibility of this man sneaking in your room in the middle of the night had even crossed your mind since there didn't seem to be any reason for that.

"Goodnight," he simply said while closing your door, peeking at your upset form one last time, as you scoffed at him for the millionth time.

"It better be!"

Next chapter

#kim taehyung #taehyung fanfic #bts #bangtan #v #fanfiction #multichapter #taehyung x reader #taehyung x oc #enemies to lovers #slow burn #angst #bts x reader #serva me servabo te #save me and i will save you #chapter 2

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abizarreyodelingincident · 4 years

Text

Our Nightly Confidant 3

Time for the Forgotten

He wonders. There's a question gnawing at him. Twilight knew. His wolf-boy had not wavered in the slightest when Time had suggested they could be related by blood. He'd been... serious. So serious. Scarily serious. It was a bit of a glance in his mirror shield. The reflection similar enough that it took some effort to mask it with nonchalance. Twilight hadn't been ashamed, more wistful and awed than anything after that talk with Malon.

But he had started to notice the way Twilight looked at him when no one else did.

Twilight knows. Twilight knows and he is a fine young man that Time is so, so proud of. He's not the favorite, because he can't have one. It's a different bond though (something like what he has with Warriors), and he always made sure to never let that influence his decisions on this quest.

The others don't doubt their place with the group. Not because of Time, at least. It's the least he can do for those incredible young men.

He just feels the question come and go in the dark. Twilight hadn't trained with a sword before his quest. Their technique is so similar however... He has to have been taught.

His heart hovers between settled and troubled, and it's the most innocuous thing that tips the balance.

A jab amongst others as they're cutting down wood for a fire, of all things.

Twilight, chainmail and shirt off, wipes sweat off his brows, an axe across his shoulders and a pile of neatly cut branches by his feet. “So slow,” he says, teasing his brother-in-arm a few trees over. “Didn't they run drills like those in the army?”

As always when pricked, Warriors heckles back. “Not every one of us was born in a barn, ranchhand!”

“For your information, I was found in the woods as a toddler, thank you very much,” Twilight replies, taking on an exaggerated snobbish accent. Or what he thinks passes as. It's a bit hard to tell with Twilight's countryside drawl.

The others laugh, join in the mockery, and they don't notice their leader taking a second to digest the news.

Twilight is his descendant. Twilight was adopted at too young an age to remember his birth parents. Might not even know their names.

And a wound he thought was closing suddenly bleeds inside him.

***

It's a slow evening, almost night, and they haven't encountered a monster in days. But he's reeling, his head spinning.

His mind is filled with questions he knows are futile. Pointless bites from a cruel, unknowable future.

Which of Twilight's parents had the Hero's blood? Was it a granddaughter or grandson that perished, leaving a little boy orphaned? Had they known? Twilight mentioned having the Triforce of Courage since as long as he could remember. Had his parents learned only then of the heritage? When their son was marked by fate?

Was it a lack of knowledge that had killed Twilight's birth parents? Training?

The Goddesses truly are cruel, to confirm all his greatest fear in the same breath they gave him a glimpse of triumph. He doesn't know how to feel.

Time knows he ought to talk to someone about those things. About the choice he'd been offered. Even if it felt like breathing glass, like baring his own naked flesh to the elements. He's done it before, mostly with Malon, bless his darling wife. He's spoken the words, cried in whispers and fallen asleep on a damp pillow with the arms of his love around him.

He let his Zelda erase all the suffering Ganondorf wrought, and that very act might have condemned his own to an ignominious death. Might have cost Twilight his birthright. Worse still is the knowledge Wind offered him: the timeline hadn't vanished either. What was the point then? A childhood he couldn't recover even with a child's body? A forsaken land threatened by a mad demon?

He should speak.

He... can't.

He sits down on a rock and ignores the few curious gazes of the boys when he pulls open his inventory. Other times, he might play with them, dance on their expectations and see their astonishment while he laughs inside.

He can't laugh right now.

His fingers close on the instrument, which sends a tingling of power through his hand. An ocarina to commune with the goddesses. He's not a pious man, never had the need, but as he raises the pipe end to his lips, it does feel like praying.

The Song of Healing.

Music to sooth pain beyond flesh and bones.

Why, then, does it only sound like screeching to his ears?

He put so many to rest in that forsaken place. Why can't he turn that power on himself? Why is he not allowed the slightest bit of-?

Something hits him in the chest. The last note of the song goes wild, off-key, and it stops the old memory playing in his head.

“Wolfie?” they call, some puzzled, a few like Wind rather ecstatic by the presence of the pup's beast form.

“... Did he just headbutt the old man?” Legend asks, smirking.

“Maybe the music hurts his ears?” Sky ponders.

Time doubts that. For one, Hylian ears wouldn't hurt enough for that kind of reaction even if he started playing as badly as he felt. No, it was the song that got Twilight into that state.

The whine Twilight makes pulls at some long dead heartstrings. Despite his size, worrying strength and undeniable intelligence, that sound alone gives Twilight the air of a kicked puppy.

The pup can't know, he tells himself. His heritage had been unknown to him until his quest, he mentioned that once. He can't know what the Song of Healing means, what playing it is supposed to do.

But the pain in Twilight's sky-blue eyes speaks otherwise.

“I suppose I ought to be more considerate of our canine friend,” Time declares, dusting off his pants. “My equipment could use a bit of maintenance.”

Busy work. The song had been a bad idea anyway.

As he stands though, he feels Wolfie's fang graze his hands and heels. Tug at his sleeves.

“Not sure he agrees with that,” Wild comments, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Wild knows what this is, and Time has the creeping idea that he's being herded like a goat.

“He'll have to get used to the idea,” he replies, more even than he feels.

The sympathetic feeling is starting to flicker at the repeated nipping. To be a hero, one needs to be stubborn. In this case, Time rather feels this is turning against him. He's rarely been the target of Twilight's protective streak. Fewer still as Wolfie. He is starting to understand that the style of comfort changed quite a bit during the transition. The inability to talk forces his protege to go physical.

And physical for a wolf...

Air is shoved out of his lungs as a massive weight crashes on his back.

“Not gonna work, pup,” Time bites out, trying and failing to keep walking as if nothing is wrong.

Wild's meals are far too rich if this is the result. A big lug of a wolf not knowing his place. He could shake him off, but now his pride is shouting for a decisive victory. He can't surrender so much authority at once. The group's survival and very continued existence depends on it!

His foot hits one of the logs they cut to sit. Of course.

Twilight chooses that moment to jump off. Of course.

Time has no time to brace himself for the puddle of mud. Of. Course.

Would the Goddesses strike him deaf so he doesn't have to hear the explosion of laughter shaking the camp!

His successor looks awfully smug, huffing and puffing on his side of the dead campfire.

Far too smug, in fact.

And, before he knows what's happening, Time finds himself chasing after that insolent youngster throughout the clearing under the thunderous laughter of seven other heroes.

Wolves are faster, but Time has far too many tricks up his sleeves to be bested. A hundred years of training might allow this brat to compete. MIGHT!

And when he collapses not too long after, it's side by side with an equally panting but not as annoyed pup.

He lets out a long sigh, his head lolling on a patch of moss, and the word is more mouthed than spoken: “Why?”

“Woof,” Twilight barks.

It's nonchalant, a little mocking and very much the non-answer Time would give in his place. He hadn't intended for his wall-building tactics to be turned against him this way. But, he supposes, a teacher can't always choose what his students will take from them.

There is, however, a clear hierarchy that needs reestablishing.

Time's grown up with eternal children. He has years of training in zero-ing of the most sensible weak spots in a body. Specifically, where one is most ticklish.

The effect is immediate, over-the-top and oh so satisfying.

Wolfie jumps five feet in the air. He tries to bolt, but in all his arrogance, hadn't realized he'd stayed too close to escape Time's grip.

(The others are watching with wide eyes as their glorious leader play-fights with their massive wolf-friend. Bets are, perhaps, being made.)

Only when the yipping sounds appropriately pitiful does Time give in and stop his ministrations. With a breathless laugh, he lets himself fall on his side, right next to his infuriating descendant. Clearly, Malon would have to be a stricter parent (Time knows he can't be one if his life depends on it) if this is the standard behavior to be expected of his lineage.

For a moment, Time lets himself lay there, on moist grass, half over, half under a wolf with behavioral problems. The thought, again, that he is promised a family line, that this irritating young man descends from him, soothes the old scars on his heart. Despite himself, his hand finds the soft fur and runs through the coat. He doesn't know the future. Few if none knows the full extent of his past. He's long learned to live in a world of strangers wearing friendly faces, of clueless happiness fueled by nightmares of events that, ultimately, never happened. He's a man of faded dreams, to be recognized only by the most precious few.

Some of the weight shifts, and Twilight's big head lies down on top of his chestplate, a soft glint in those gentle blue eyes. Time can hardly move, even if, at the moment, he finds himself comfortable enough resting with his eldest son.

… Which, now that he thinks about it, is what Twilight had been after all along.

“You damned nosy pup,” he says, smacking himself on the forehead. “It's not your job to worry. It's mine.”

The glare he receives goes straight to his soul. As if, it challenges. They really are the same on that front, aren't they? Him and his eldest?

Time can't even tell when it happened, but his chest doesn't feel tight anymore despite the added wolf head. His worries seem so much smaller when his descendant can wrestle-trick him into submission with ease. The boys would be alright.

“Thank you... ”

It's when he sits down by the campfire later that evening, glaring at a smug Twilight over his bowl of soup, that he suddenly realizes the ache has gone. That the bitterness of all his pain being forgotten just... didn't matter in front of that cheeky boy smirking at him.

Even his heart betrays him by going warm with pride. He's impressed.

It shouldn't be a surprise.

After all, his successor is descended from his Malon too. And she always knew best how to handle him.

“You're getting second watch tonight, pup.”

The grunt of annoyance is hardly repayment for a faceful of mud, but you take what revenge you can get. That's another lesson living with the kokiris taught him.

#Linked Universe #Linkeduniverse #LU Twilight #LU Time #LU Wolfie

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pocket-void · 4 years

Text

Table for Two

A/N: Hi! This the first fanfic I’ve written for literally anything! (I’m an on and off writer in general tho) I’m hoping to write a collection of unconnected short stories currently called Smaller Sides to Life, that focuses on small/short moments in time during specific events. I’d be so grateful for any comment or feedback, but honestly I just hope you enjoy it first and foremost! >///<

Pairing: Logicality Words: 2468 Content: Human AU? A lot of descriptions of anxious waiting, so I guess it’s got a lil angst. Happy ending! (Please tell me if I need to mention anything I am very unfamiliar with how this works ;///;) Summary: Logan grows ever more anxious as he waits for his date, who, at this point, he isn’t even sure is coming.

If you wanna read my google doc for this instead you’re free to. (I like Cambria font u///u) I have an Ao3 but I am currently not using it.

Logan was alone, sitting comfortably at a table for two in the back of a halfway decent food establishment, silently watching as the ice cubes in his water shifted and tapped against the glass while they melted with each passing second. Well, “comfortably” was a lie, of course. There was absolutely nothing comforting about being in such a place on his own, with only the dim flickering candles on the table to keep him company. He didn’t really know what the worst part of the whole thing even was. Was it the ever encroaching chatter that surrounded him? The sickeningly sweet music that played in the background? The blank, unflinching cold stone wall in front of him? Or perhaps, it was the still empty seat that sat mockingly at the other side of the table.

Indeed, Logan was unhappy, uncomfortable, and alone.

The nervous tapping of his foot was practically synonymous with the pattering rain against the windows. The typically majestic city view now nothing more than an amorphous glob of glowing lights amidst the water droplets and fog. He couldn’t help but repeatedly switch between checking his watch and frantically clicking his pen, occasionally scribbling down a loose nonsensical thought or two onto his little notepad. The action barely made a difference in soothing his racing mind, but he had to do something to distract himself. He’d do practically anything to ease the agony that was continuously settling in his heart with each passing minute. The absolute dread hanging over him like an impending guillotine.

This was foolish. Logan sighed. Surely he was overreacting. There must’ve been a reason. He thought to himself, but it was no use. Not a single thing he told himself could possibly make the immensely slow sinking weight forming at the pit of his stomach go away. Not. A single. Thing. For someone who typically prided himself on being able to, and rather efficiently mind you, keep his calm in the most stressful of situations, this was quite distressing to say the least.

He’s simply running late. He reasons to himself. It happens. You know that. Well, of course he did. There were practically an infinite amount of possibilities that could’ve delayed the arrival of the person he was waiting for, and most of them were not inherently related to Logan’s personal character. That was the most logical conclusion, anyway. Did that thought comfort him any though? No.

It’s been an hour, Logan. You must be joking if you still think he’s coming. Another thought tore through his mind. Well, he may not have been joking, but he was well aware of how ridiculous it must’ve seemed. Just him, sitting alone at a table for two, growing ever more and more desperate by the second. To hold on to even a sliver of hope must’ve seemed utterly utterly foolish. Every pitying glance by the passing waiter refilling his cup only served to make him feel even more miserable. He wished desperately, in that moment, that he could just disappear; he hoped he could shrink down in size so small that he wouldn’t have to be seen anymore. He wanted to completely collapse in on himself and crumple up like the pathetic scraps of paper he’d been unconsciously tearing out of his notes. He wanted the world to just fade to black, and for him to simply drift away into an endless void, away from everything. Away from this. Maybe then he’d be free from the dreaded weight that sat heavily upon his shoulders. He didn’t think his heart could even beat this fast, but there it was, hammering in his chest like a hyperactive hummingbird.

He hated it.

He’s not coming, Logan. That thought instantly sank itself into the depths of his soul. He felt a lump begin to form in the back of his throat; it was almost nauseating. He’s not coming because he doesn’t want to see you. Another thought that dug itself into his mind. He felt his teeth harshly grind against each other as his jaws clenched, begging himself to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. He didn’t even give you a call. The world suddenly seemed to freeze. A quiet realization sent an absolutely disparaging chill down his spine. You didn’t even get the courtesy of knowing you’ve been rejected. He let out a weak shaky breath before finally lowering his face into his hands, completely defeated. This was beyond pathetic, honestly. How unbecoming of him to be this way. He wasn’t coming. He already fully knew how illogical it was to remain in his seat. Yet, a part of himself still refused to let him throw what remained of that practically shattered hope away.

And so, the clock kept ticking still...

Logan wasn’t really sure how long it’s been at this point. Everything had begun to slowly meld together in his mind. Beyond the disappointment and despair was just the dull aching pain of rejection in his chest, not to mention the utterly dry and bitter taste in his mouth. He berated himself for being this pathetic about the whole thing, and a coward who couldn’t even muster up enough courage to stand up and go home. It was frustrating, because he knew better than this. It was both impractical and nonsensical to keep waiting. But he felt weak, and his two feet remained firmly stuck to the floor as if they were made of solid, immovable lead. The waiters have collectively decided to leave him alone at this point, which he had considered a small blessing. He didn’t want to bother pretending to smile or claim that everything was ok anymore; the energy was long depleted by now.

Logan let out yet another shaky breath, wrapping his arms around him and hugging himself tight, trying as he might to figuratively and literally “get a grip” on reality. What was he even waiting for? Why had he been so eagerly anticipating sitting at this table just a few hours before leaving work? What was the point? What was he doing? He still had tasks to do! There were still piles upon piles of work that had to be done at his desk but no, he was here. He was here, sitting alone, and doing nothing. Logan glanced down at his watch yet again, but its face was unreadable. His eyes blurry and unclear even as he rubbed the tears away, adjusted his glasses, and squinted. The only message it managed to send was just how much time he was wasting away by remaining where he currently was. Nobody was coming. His grip tightened, nails practically clawing at the sleeves of his suit. Never in his life had he felt so betrayed by something that originally had a perfect and fitting place within his schedule. What had he done wrong? Where did he make a mistake?

The gentle laughter and casual chattering of the surrounding atmosphere were like needles in his back as he felt himself curl inwards. The sweet and decidedly romantic music that served as the loving backdrop for what was to be a pleasant evening for patrons was now mocking and decadent. It sounded almost like a distant echo, far far away. Something that he was always in the vicinity of, but will never truly be able to enjoy; a happiness he cannot obtain. He was trapped. He was trapped here, in a dim corner of a restaurant, with a lukewarm cup of water, weakly flickering candles, a cold unflinching wall, the pitter patter of rain, the incessant (and mildly imaginary) ticking of his watch, crumpled up scraps of note paper, sickening chatter, unappealing music, a dry bitter taste in his mouth, an unnerving feeling of cold sweat, a dizzying headache, a fast racing heart, a barely registering breath, a lump in his throat, and clearly watering eyes.

All at a half empty table for two.

He hated it.

He ended up sitting there for so long that he felt drained, empty. His eyes now only slightly stung when opened, but he kept them closed while he leaned against one arm against the table. By now he had, at the very least, managed to catch his breath. He felt so tired. Logan took a deep breath and glanced down at his watch yet again. It had only honestly been an hour and a half, not that much time at all in the grand scheme of things. And yet here he was, feeling like he had been stationary for several years. Perhaps it was finally time to go. He shifted his aching body to finally attempt to escape from this prison, but a hurried rush of footsteps instantly made him freeze up yet again.

It couldn’t be.

But it was.

“Oh my goodness god, you’re still here!”

Logan jolted at the sound of the sweet, silvery voice that rang out, very obviously filled with concern. He turned towards the person who hastily ran up to him, the cold hands cupped around his face immediately snapping him awake from his previous haze.

“I can’t believe you waited for me for this long!! Have you been here the whole time?? I’m- Oh my god I’m so so sorry Logan I-”

He honestly couldn’t even process what he was seeing, much less feeling. A man stood in front of him now, frantically gesturing and apologizing, and absolutely soaked to the core. Logan could very much feel the gazes of dozens of patrons on them now, but it didn’t matter. All he could do was stare with wide eyes at his date, whose suit was completely muddied and shoes absolutely ruined by the rain. He blinked a few times as he tried to understand what the man was even saying as he kept pausing and stuttering while constantly sweeping his matted and wet light brown hair out of his eyes. Seeing him there, standing in front of him, was enough to make Logan feel his heart slowly begin to beat once again.

“God, Logan, I know you must be mad at me, I’m- How could I possibly ever make this up to you? Oh god, oh dear, I can’t believe I did this to you! I’m just so sor-”

“Patton…” Logan finally managed, taking one of Patton’s cold hands into his and finally stopping his rambling. He took a silent moment to just quietly immerse himself into the other’s sparkling and visibly apologetic blue eyes. A beautiful and comforting sight for his literally sore ones. He felt something start to bubble up inside of him, and it began to slowly rise in his chest. A warm, fluttering feeling that rose, higher and higher, until a soft laugh finally slips from his lips. Patton’s expression instantly lightens at the sound, and Logan could feel the once soul crushing weight that surrounded him finally melt away. He gives Patton’s hand a light squeeze, an absolutely relieved smile now upon his face. “Patton. It’s ok.”

There wasn’t a single moment’s hesitation when Patton sprang forwards to wrap Logan in the tightest hug he could possibly manage. Despite the water that slowly seeped into Logan’s own clothes, and the hug being admittedly cold on account of Patton being completely drenched, he had never felt his heart swell with so much warmth in his entire life. They stayed locked in each other's embrace until Patton remembered his current condition and quickly backed off with yet another series of apologetic bows.

“Dear lord, now look what I’ve done. I went ahead and ruined your clothes too!” He giggled, trying his best to wipe away the water with a napkin to barely any success.

Logan just couldn’t help but smile at the clumsy yet adorable gesture. “Don’t worry about it. It’s clearly not as bad as whatever happened to you.” He pointed out. “Say, whatever did happen to you anyways? You weren’t answering any of my calls and I...I thought you weren’t going to…” He paused for a moment before opting to take a long sip out of his cup instead before shrugging. “You know.” He murmured, his body unintentionally stiffening at the insinuation.

Patton looked crushed at the thought, which he was unfortunately terribly aware of. He embarrassingly rubbed at the back of his neck and lowered his head. “I-I know, and I really am so sorry Logan. I...I didn’t expect you to still be here either. And I couldn’t even tell you! Oh geez… After making you wait so long, you probably honestly should have just-”

“It’s ok, Patton.” Logan reassured with a nod, voice barely a whisper. He gently lifted one of Patton’s hands and brushed his lips against the man’s knuckles. “What’s important is that you’re here. That’s enough.” He felt a small bit of pride as he watched Patton’s face flush at the unexpected gesture.

The man quickly took the hand back with a laugh before settling down in the seat across from Logan. At last, filling the space that completed the whole picture.

“Still, the fact that I made you wait that long is terribly unreasonable. So just please let me-”

Logan chuckled, gesturing towards a leaf that was still stuck in his date’s hair, to which the other quickly pulled out with a flustered huff.

“Logan, I’m trying to apologize here!”

“You already have.” He stated, quickly dismissing the concern with a smile. The other clearly had no defense against him doing that, to which Logan was fully aware of. The smile then curled into a satisfied smirk upon his silence. “So, are you going to tell me?”

Patton blinked in response. “O-Oh! Right! You aren’t going to believe this, but-”

And as Patton energetically attempted to recall his unfortunate run-in with the storm while trying to rescue a cat from a tree, forgetting he’s allergic to them, slipping up and falling out of said tree, missing the bus, and losing his phone in the entire process, Logan simply sat comfortably across from him, fully content to listen to his story. It was ridiculous, it was nonsensical, and it was of course, entirely hilarious, but he enjoyed every word that came out of the mouth of the sweet and adorable man that now accompanied him. Patton’s rain stained glasses, half dried and now puffing up hair, and his freckled smile, completely lit up the once dim and lifeless corner of the restaurant they sat in. Nothing could have detracted from that moment in time. Not the rain, not the stares, and certainly not how the time just seemed to fly by, even during the comfortable silence that sat between them while they both enjoyed their meals. Logan wouldn’t have missed any of it for the world.

Here at this table for two.

#I did it!#I'm lowkey much more nervous about posting writing than I am posting art #But this was nice to write so I'm glad I finished it #sanders sides #sanders sides fic #mock writes #logan sanders #ts logan #patton sanders #ts patton #logicality #Smaller Sides to Life

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azuchifairy · 4 years

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The Corpse Bride

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13672392/1/The-Corpse-Bride

Long ago in a small provincial town in the forest, a girl with the dream to be married to her soulmate met a terrible fate. When only her true love could set her free from the awful curse, it turns into a twisted story of life and death.

Chapter One: According to Plan

Gray finished his sketch just as a butterfly perched on the window sill. He noticed its impeccable colors, a stunning sapphire and deep violet hues to compliment it. Nature rarely made things blue, but that exceptional little butterfly seemed to be rather lucky. It fluttered up through his room and out the window again as his eyes followed it up into the cloudy skies.

He sighed in memory of the day before him. His father, Silver Fullbuster, was in an insufferable state of disarray that his heir had not yet taken a wife. He had been rather unpleasant over it being that his father was growing old and he wished to see the new generation of his family. Gray was his only full blooded son and would inherit their grand estate and family business.

His mother, Mika Fullbuster, had passed on when he was still a child. Yet Gray always remembered her fondly. She adored the beauty of the world around them and explored nature and its majesty. Although he missed her terribly from time to time, Gray tried to be positive about his mother watching over him in the afterlife. His father however never truly healed, but felt that in his remarriage to a wonderful woman named Ur filled the hole in his chest even if only by half.

Ur, like his mother, was a magic user who specialized in healing. She taught Gray, his stepbrother Lyon, and stepsister Ultear how to use their magic. Gray always thought of her as his second mother because of her courageous heart in teaching, yet brutal temper when any of the children misbehaved. Silver frowned upon the children’s use of magic saying that it wouldn't help them in the progressing world, for magic at that time was seen by some as dark and a bad omen. Many who were known to use magic kept it hidden out of fear that those who opposed them would strike back.

Gray never thought of it that way, he was always fascinated by it like both of his mothers had been. Throughout his childhood and into his adult life Gray had become so wrapped into the family business that he rarely had time to do as he pleased. He spent his days living in his father’s shadow, something Silver believed made his son happy.

As Gray became of marital age his father was set on having him be wed, and the sooner the better. Unfortunately his son almost loathed the idea of an arranged marriage. He knew he would wed eventually but he didn’t want to be pushed into it. But marrying him to a suitable maiden to carry on the Fullbuster name was all his father desired. He had tried introducing Gray to countless women, after all his wealth needed to be passed on to someone of equal status. His father wanted him to be happy, but he was willing to only believe that he was. Silver meant well but remained blinded by his own personal wants instead of Gray’s needs.

It took many trials to find Gray a match but when Silver came across the Heartfilia family, another wealthy family like theirs, he found out that their daughter, Lucy, was of age. She was known to be intelligent, beautiful, and blonde. Many other men had sought after her, but she still had yet to be married. Silver had met her on a trip to the Heartfilia estate to have a business meeting with her father, Jude. Silver was struck by her beauty and kindness that he forgot about the business proposal and instead offered his son to Jude and his wife Layla. They agreed to have their children meet and further discuss marriage plans, although it really meant that they wanted it sealed in stone.

Gray had heard of Lucy before around the town and there was nothing wrong with her, she just wasn’t his type. He was entirely unenthusiastic to go to their estate that day. The only reason he didn’t put up an attitude is because his father was at his wits end after Gray had come back from many meetings without a bride. Gray was confident that Lucy wouldn’t like him either, the rumor was a man had already won her heart.

“Gray! You better be ready up there, my boy!” His father called from the hallway.

Gray let out a sigh as he got up from his comfortable spot. He set his book down on his desk and stood in front of the mirror to see the ridiculous suit his servant had helped him put on. It was a deep navy colored suit with a black dress shirt and an overly sized scarf-like tie in silver. It was too tight and extremely uncomfortable that in the instant the servant left the room he tugged at the sleeves and collar to let him breathe again. He wanted to pull the tie off entirely eventually giving up on the undoable knot. They had also slicked his unruly spiked hair back to make him appear ‘proper’. He didn’t quite care if he looked greasy, perhaps it would make him less attractive.

His father opened the door with a smile that turned into a frown as he took a look at his son.

“What did you do this time?” he asked , although knowing his son despised formal wear.

“Dad, I look like a circus monkey, and I couldn’t even breathe. What did you expect?” Gray responded in annoyance as his father crossed the room to him. He fixed his collar and rolled his sleeve cuffs up again making him look presentable again. He tightened the tie and tucked it in so he looked tidy all around.

“Everything must be perfect, you have to make a good impression. As long as everything goes according to plan I’ll be satisfied.” Silver said. It seemed his son wasn’t paying attention with his sour expression so in turn Silver clapped his hands on his son’s shoulders making him jump, “C’mon, lose the attitude.”

Gray winced, “Fine. But it’s not my fault if this doesn’t work out.”

Silver narrowed his eyes, “That’s because you’re going to be kind to her and put your best foot forward so it does work out.”

Gray rolled his eyes, “Sure, whatever you say.” His tone was unconvincing but his father ignored it wrapping his arm around his son’s shoulder.

“Are you two done yet?! This carriage isn’t going to wait forever! We can’t be even a moment late!” Ur shouted from downstairs causing both men to wear looks of fear.

“Of course, honey!” Silver called before turning back to his son with a sheepish smile, “Let’s go now son, before she eats us alive. We’re coming!”

***

In the carriage Gray sulked, staring out the window while they passed by the shopping district. It clunked across the cobblestone as it ventured and soon they were off onto the back road towards their destination. The Heartfilias lived just outside of the town in the countryside so they could farm off the lands. Gray’s suit pulled as he slouched with his arms crossed over his chest, making him twice as uncomfortable.

“Gray, sit up.” Ur snipped, “You’ll wrinkle your clothes.”

“You're right, let me sit up because I care so much about how I look right now..” He snorted sarcastically. It was very rare for him to behave that way towards his stepmother, but given the circumstances of the day in his mind he had every reason to be a bit rebellious.

“Now don’t be that way, this could be the best day of your life!” Silver piped before Ur could scold Gray. He was smiling as optimistically as ever, a classic trait of his father.

Gray rolled his eyes feeling his stomach churn, “Tch, try the worst.”

Ur snapped her fan shut, “Now Gray, your father is right. It's a beautiful day outside-” she glanced up at the ominously dark skies, “well, it's a rather nice day. Anything can happen, you might find yourself smitten with the Heartfilia girl.”

Gray’s eyes went wide, “You can’t be serious. If I didn’t like the others what would make her any different?”

“She’s a Heartfilia! She’s been educated since she was a child on proper etiquette and she’s of remarkable status! Smart, elegant, beautiful,” his father held up three fingers, “those are the three you look for in a wife.”

Ur, who had been calmly fanning herself, gasped and whacked Silver across the head with her fan, “There’s much more to a woman than that!”

Silver chuckled, “O-Of course my dear, I’m just trying to make it easy for him!” He rubbed the growing lump on his head biting his lip in pain.

Gray wiped his face with exhaustion and he shook his head, “You should hear yourselves.”

As Ur was about to hit Silver again, she instead looked to Gray with a touch of sympathy in her eyes, “All we’re asking is that you meet her. If it had been up to your father he would’ve sold you off. Just, please, do your best and try not to embarrass us with something unexpected. That attitude of yours only gets you into trouble. Everything must go according to plan.”

Gray glanced at her a little less coldly before looking out the window again, “I know, okay. You keep reminding me.”

A peculiar estate struck his interest as they approached. There were high black gates that vines had started to twist up with a long gravel pathway to the front. It was an old looking mansion in a deep blue color, including pillars on the porch of the front door. It looked as if it had been abandoned yet it was still very unique in design that had a tower in the middle that connected both sides of the estate. He couldn’t describe the way he felt looking at it but it was almost as if he had never noticed it before. They had taken the same road many times to go on business trips to the neighboring towns or to visit other families, such as the Dragneels.

“Dad, whose estate is that?” Gray asked before they completely passed the area. Silver peered out the window with Ur and they were both silent.

“I’m not quite sure, has it always been there?” Ur asked, looking at Silver. He appeared to be in deep thought as he gazed at it.

“I’m afraid I don’t know either. That’s very strange.” Silver noted as he knew all the wealthy families within the town’s range. They carried on down the road and both of his parents seemed to shrug it off easily.

Gray’s overwhelming curiosity of the mansion didn’t fade and for a moment he could have sworn that he saw a shadow by the gates. However, he did get distracted by their carriage making a sharp turn. He realized that they had arrived at their destination.

***

The Heartfilia estate was magnificent on the outside and the inside. The landscaping was to perfection as was the decor on the outside of the mansion. It was bigger than the Fullbuster’s and it seemed much flashier. It was fitted with tall windows and grand staircases, warm colors of gold and red, and on the outside four high columns in front of the door. The estate extended into two wings on either side that had doorways to the garden in the back. The Heartfilia’s were renowned for their magnificent gardens that had been in the family since the first line. Jude, the master of the home, was a very ridgid man who had lived in noble status for his whole life. He knew nothing of commonplace life, nor did he want to. He was very difficult to befriend and even harder to impress. His wife Layla, the matriarch of the Heartfilia’s, was known to be the most gentle and elegant woman of the family. She cared for her daughter Lucy more than the sun and stars, and she was also a very skilled magic user. In turn she taught her daughter everything she knew and many said Lucy was much like a reflection of her. In that area of the country, the Heartfilia’s were the closest to royalty.

Lucy was in her room preparing to meet the Fullbuster family. Her closest friend, Levy Mcgarden, was assisting her with her hair as Lucy let out the biggest sigh.

“Lu-chan, I’m sorry.” Her blue haired friend said sadly as she brushed through her blonde locks.

“It’s okay, Levy-san. I wish he would just give up already! I knew when I made that arrangement with my father it was an awful idea. But I suppose I just wanted something to believe in..” Lucy grew quiet as she placed down her powder puff.

“I could’ve told you that he wouldn’t let it go either. Especially since he promised that you could be with Natsu if you couldn’t find a suitor. That’s why he’s bringing every eligible man possible.” Levy responded.

Lucy slammed her fist down on the vanity making Levy jump,“But why! I don’t understand why he has to hold onto this silly feud between the Dragneel’s and us. Natsu’s father doesn’t even care about it! If something happened centuries ago, why dwell on it?! Natsu told me that his father wants him to be happy and choose his own path, why is that so hard for me?”

Levy’s heart ached at the passion in Lucy’s voice. For as long as she had known her, Lucy was a force of nature. Perhaps that’s why no man could handle her, except for Natsu. Lucy came off as the perfect lady in front of her parents, but she revealed her true identity to every suitor and it drove them away one after the other. She could be rather headstrong and opinionated, she spoke up for what she believed in and most men wanted a quiet and complacent wife. That was truly the opposite of Lucy, which is why Natsu fell for her. When they met it was the first time Lucy felt shy around a man, because he liked her passion and her stubbornness, he fell in love with her.

The Dragneel family was very successful in coal mining and shipping, something that usually did not generate much income. Yet the coming times were growing dependent on it for their new means of transportation, trains. Natsu’s father’s business had shot from the ground up and although they were still small compared to the Heartfilia’s, they were growing rapidly. Her father said that new money was nothing compared to old money and continued to look down on the Dragneel’s every chance they got. In Lucy’s eyes he probably felt threatened by how likeable they were becoming with the other families.

“I swear Levy, I won’t go through with this. This Gray Fullbuster will be just like all the others, and I’ll get him to leave twice as fast. If my father wants to keep messing with me I’ll throw it right back at him.” Lucy said with her fist still clenched. Levy secured her hair into its braid and placed delicate golden flower pins in the top section.

“I believe in you, Lu-chan. That’s why as soon as you're done getting dressed, I arranged a bit of a surprise.” Levy grinned watching Lucy’s face light up.

“What is it?!!” The blonde giggled with excitement as Levy put her shoes on her delicate feet.

“Do you listen?�� Levy laughed and went around behind Lucy to finish lacing up her dress. She pulled the pink threads tightly and wrapped it in a bow at the bottom of her back.

Lucy stepped over to the full length mirror and gasped twirling the dress around, “Wow, it’s so gorgeous! You did a fantastic job with this one, Levy-chan!”

“Well you know it’s easy to get it done so fast with magic.” Levy smiled admiring the beautiful light pink dress she had made and how beautiful it looked on Lucy. She always handmade all of Lucy’s gowns, an artisan skill she had learned over years of practice and perfected with the assistance of magic.

“Alright, as promised I’ll get your surprise. But you have to close your eyes, and keep them closed until I say. No peeks!” Levy teased.

The giddy blonde covered her eyes with her gloved hands and waited impatiently for Levy to reveal her surprise. The blue haired maid looked back to Lucy as she neared the balcony doors and opened them quietly. Natsu was perched in the large oak tree that connected to Lucy’s room and swiftly jumped down upon seeing Levy wave him in.

“She’s in there, just be quick. They’ll be coming to get her soon since she’s ready.” Levy whispered.

Natsu could see her blonde hair from the corner of his eye, “Thank you, Levy. I really owe you one for helping me do this during the day.”

Levy shook her head, “Don’t mention it, if it’s for Lucy I’d do anything.”

They entered the room and Levy went to the door of the upstairs hallway, “Alright Lu-chan, you can open your eyes!” She slipped out the door to give them privacy and as she felt the door click shut she heard the overjoyed squeals of her friend from inside the room.

“Natsu!!” Lucy cried, throwing her arms around him. He was the last thing she expected to see since most of their meetings happened at night when the rest of the estate was asleep. They would lay in her bed for hours talking, or sit on the balcony and watch the stars. Natsu was just as elated to see her admiring the dress she had on. He lifted her up and gave her a spin, “You look great Lucy, look at you!”

She giggled in overwhelming happiness when he put her down and felt her nose touch his before he pulled her closer for a kiss. Her face grew hot when she pulled away and Natsu was staring down at her with his eyes full of adoration.

“Maybe you look too good.” Natsu said while scrunching his eyebrows. He knew what was going on that day, it happened many times before. Natsu was not a very jealous man however, and he knew Lucy’s heart belonged to him. He did like to tease her often.

“I’m so happy to see you, even if this is a terrible day you’ve made it much better.” She said bashfully, having a struggle to maintain eye contact.

“It’s okay Luce, you know I promised you no matter what that we’re going to be together. I don't care what anyone says, if I get to spend forever with you it would all be worth it.” He was smiling the whole time, as he always was, as he had been during everything.

“Natsu..I-”

“Better yet, I could just steal you away.” He smirked with an evil glint in his eye, “I’m sure they wouldn’t miss you that much!’

Lucy gasped into a laugh, “Natsu! That’s awful!”

“What? We’ll send them letters,” he paused debating his words, “occasionally.” He joked laughing with her like they always did.

“I wish it was that easy..” she whispered with her hand on his chest. Her eyes grew sad with the underlying frustration apparent.

He shrugged, “I mean, it could be.”

Lucy’s eyes widened, “You mean..?”

“If he doesn’t want to give you up the easy way, he can give you up the hard way.” Natsu said nonchalantly. The words resonated with her and helped her to realize that with Natsu she had the chance to control her own fate, and she would take it.

Lucy grinned, taking him into a hug again, “You’re right. He doesn’t own me. This is the last time I’m going to be introduced, after today I’ll leave with you if he won’t give up.”

Natsu stroked her back and pulled her braid over her shoulder, “Go get em, don’t let whoever this bastard is fall in love with you or I’ll have to kill him.”

“I hate to see you go..” Lucy frowned as they walked towards the balcony together, “yet it seems soon enough I won’t have to see that.”

Natsu kissed her again briefly and jumped up onto the tree branch that led him there. “Keep holding onto that. I’ll be back before you know it. Maybe I’ll bring Happy next time, he’s been dying to see you!”

Lucy leaned against the doorframe keeping her smile as she thought of the cat, “I miss him too, I’ll be with you both.”

“I’ll see you, Lucy.” Natsu said with his cheeky smile and classic wave. Lucy’s heart swelled as she watched him disappear into the forest. But just as it was brought up, it sank down when he was no longer in sight. She placed her hands over her chest and looked up to the endless blue sky. If she had more courage she would’ve skipped this whole day and escaped with Natsu. She realized within that moment that it wasn’t about her amount of courage, it was about timing. Lucy knew that if the timing was right her heart would not fail to guide her onto her own path. She turned around reluctantly and closed the doors behind her crossing the room with her dress flowing. Her chest began to feel even heavier as the door to her room opened.

“Lady Lucy, the guests have arrived. Your parents request your presence at once.” Her head maid said standing sideways to keep the door propped open.

Lucy took a deep breath and tried to bite back her sadness with Natsu in her mind, “Let’s go then.”

***************************************

#gruvia #gray fullbuster #juvia lockser #gray x juvia #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #natsu x lucy #corpse bride #fairy tail #fanfiction #azuchifairy #anime otp #otp

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starneko123 · 4 years

Text

Elysian

OC Characters Involved

Tethys

This OC and Ophelia belongs to @ren-meteor! The OC Selene belongs to me! ( briefly mentioned )

Elysian - beautiful or creative; divinely inspired; peaceful and perfect.

Liu Kang has won. A joyous thing to hear. The Chosen One had done his duty. Everything was how it was supposed to be and then some.

Tethys was now sitting in front of her mirror in a chair, just gazing at herself with a smile. Her hair wasn't in a braid but it was still somewhat curly as it draped her back and decorated her shoulders. Kitana was celebrating her new place as Outworld's Kahn. Tethys had gotten the invitation and she was excited because she couldn't remember going to a celebration this was probably her first. She stood in front of her mirror and smoothed out her dress that Ophelia gifted her.

She closed the door to her home and walked towards the large body of water. She slowly placed her hand in the water and traveled through it. Her water body materialized to her true body showing no signs of water, completely dry as she entered the palace grounds. Tethys looked around in awe never had stepped foot in the Kahn's Palace. "Lady Tethys!" Tethys recognized the strong but kind voice she took her time turning around and when she did so she was met with the beautiful face of Kitana.

"Hello, Kitana Kahn." Tethys bowed even though she was the god here. "It is so good to see you happy and well I presume?" Tethys asked and Kitana nodded happily "Yes, very much so! It's amazing to see you as well. I will guide you to the ballroom." Tethys nodded and they walked side by side. Once they reached their destination Kitana opened the doors and Tethys was easily amazed. The room was half full but it nonetheless was beautiful she looked around and she recognized some familiar faces. Jade, Rain, Kotal Kahn, Baraka, Sindel, and a few others.

Tethys was a social person so to speak but she just...wasn't a great conversationalist. She sat down at a table by herself and a servant poured some of or what she assumed was edenian wine. She took a sip and it was what Fujin described: sweet very very sweet. Tethys was relaxed in her area just enjoying the very joyous atmosphere. It was now hours later and Tethys spoke the truth when she said she had a great time. She spoke more with Kitana and Jade, had the honor of meeting Lady Sindel, and even had a small friendly competition with Rain about their water abilities.

She decided to take a long route home because now it was nighttime and she just wanted to enjoy what was around her. She wrapped a finger around her hair in a very dream-like state. She entered her home and opened the doors to her balcony letting some air in. She took her heels off and walked to the balcony and took a seat in her rocking chair. She looked up at the night sky, accompanied by the stars and the ever so gracious full moon.

Another breeze passed by a little stronger than the last and Tethys smiled. "You always look ethereal my dear." Tethys sat up from her rocking chair and looked into her room to see her lover, her darling Fujin. "You always think I look surreal?" Tethys questioned jokingly with a giggle and Fujin joined her "You always do. The women of my dreams. How else would you have entered my life?" Tethys could feel her cheeks and her body warming from his statements. "You say the most lovely things. You know that right?" Fujin chuckled and leaned down to kiss Tethys.

Fujin kissed her lips, then her cheek, and hid his face in her neck leaving little love bites. Fujin started to walk forward bringing Tethys backward to her plush bed. Fujin on top of her smiled, hands at the sleeves of her dress "May I?" He asked and it was Tethys turn to smile "You may." She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck bringing him down with her.

It was now two months later, and everything seemed to go a little slower for Tethys. She had just gotten back from a mission and she immediately jogged to her washroom and let out the sustenance that she had digested earlier on in the night. She had thought that she was just catching a cold, but of course, that wasn't it. She lifted herself to look in the mirror and just stared at herself looking up and down, scanning her own body. She brought her hands to her breast and squeezed them. Had they gotten bigger?

She had went to Selene's temple for some peace of mind. Selene invited her in and got settled in. "Stand up for me, Tethys," Selene commanded gently and Tethys did as she was told but even had her heaving for breath almost. Selene walked in front of Tethys and started to feel her body and Tethys would be lying if she didn't feel a little odd from the touches.

Selene first felt her hips, they were wide enough for a Tethys size, she will get back to that. Selene then cupped her breast those too seemed a little bigger than they usually were. "Look down to me," Selene said and her fingers traced Tethys jawline but then she focused on her lips. Her face hadn't changed much but her lips seemed plumper. Selene put her hand on Tethys stomach and Selene smiled knowingly and looked at Tethys "By my intake on everything, you are with child."

Tethys was frozen in place and stared into space, but she did it with a smile "Are you sure?" Tethys questioned hesitantly pleading to herself, that she wasn't wrong. Selene had her back turned and she laughed "I brought three children, into this realm, I surely know." Selene said and handed Tethys a small round cup of tea and sent her on her way home.

Tethys was still in a dazed state from the news she had received. She sipped the tea and looked down at her stomach, it felt like the world had gone quiet and it was just her and the tiny being that was now growing inside her. She smiled a big dopey smile that you would see on a child and she couldn't wait to see it on her child.

Fujin visited Tethys that night like he did every night "Are you feeling any better love?" Fujin asked and Tethys who was sitting on her bed looked up to meet her lover's clear blue eyes with a grin. "I feel amazing, but I also have some news for you," Tethys said as she got up from her bed and walked towards Fujin. She smiled as a tear ran down her face and Fujin got worried but then Tethys leaned towards his ear and whispered two very simple words but the words were enough to change his mood.

"Really? Truly?" Fujin asked with excitement as he picked her up and spun her around but then immediately put her back down. Tethys nodded, and laughed "Yes!" Fujin kissed Tethys and after both of their ecstasies of the announcement of having a child filed down. They laid down on Tethys bed holding each other and whispering sweet nothings into their ears until they dozed off.

#mortal kombat #mortal kombat 11 #mortal kombat oc #oc interaction #tethys #ren meteor #a child #hayate #lord fujin

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specter-speeder · 4 years

Text

here’s a bad but wholesome horror fic by yours truly (angst, fluff, and v lil gore)

In which Danny pulls some true Paranormal Activity sh*t on his family. Only kind of makes sense, but let me be amused by this concept, okay? Post-reveal. Do I even have to say no Phantom Planet?

“I am a ghost. Fear me.”

Danny started to feel it a few days after his parents had closed the portal. It was time for the ecto-filtrator to go - when Jack and Maddie had designed it, they hadn’t anticipated the size of the Ghost Zone and its post-human population. It saw more traffic than it could handle, thanks to Danny’s fatal slip-up. They’d been working on a new containment system for the ectoplasmic waste the portal produced with each ghost that breached it, but installation meant disabling the machine for an entire week.

Without his ghost fights, Danny had become restless quickly. That much he could manage. He knew what would come next, though, and he wouldn’t dare let on to his family. Since becoming a ghost, he’d only felt this starved a few times before. It was one of his inhuman qualities he hated the most. His ghost half was yearning for fear. It was making him ill. Gave him a reason to miss his class’s 3-day team-building retreat. He’d insisted to Sam and Tucker that he had things under control— he wanted to think he did. Now, Sam and Tucker were gone, and Danny was battling fevered sleep for most hours of the day. He’d never felt so drained.

Call it intuition; Jazz knew this wasn’t the flu. Danny didn’t used to insist on hiding it when he felt like crap. In fact, the Danny she grew up with wouldn’t stop whining about it whenever he was sick. This had to be a ghost thing. She wondered if her parents messing with the portal was somehow hurting him, but Danny wouldn’t budge. He wasn’t going to help her understand. She’d been dialing Sam and Tucker all day - straight to voicemail. She’d just poked her head into Danny’s room, only to find him awake in bed and glaring at her, when she felt her phone buzz. She tiptoed further down the hall and checked the caller ID: Sam Manson.

Next thing Danny knew, his mom, dad, and Jazz were creeping into his room, forcing sympathetic smiles. Sh*t, what now? Maddie placed her hand on his forehead, he swatted it away, eyes narrowed.

“How’re you feeling, sweetie?”

“The same. Why are—“

“You don’t have the flu.” Jazz interrupted. Danny clenched his jaw.

“Jazz, maybe we could talk about this privately?” he muttered.

Jack crossed his arms. “Don’t be mad at your sister. We’re worried, too.” Danny’s eyes met Jazz’s, questioning. She sighed.

“Sam told me everything.”

Danny scrubbed his hands over his face and groaned.

“I told her how bad you were, and she’s on my side. You need help.” He shook his head, glancing at his parents anxiously.

“Look, guys... you can’t help me. Just get the portal up and running and—“

“You need someone to be afraid.” Maddie stopped him, her voice clinical.

Danny stumbled over his words, trying to answer quickly. “If the portal’s working, the ghosts can—“

“Danny, it’s not close to being done.”

Jack nodded in agreement. “Your friend said it would work, so... we thought maybe, you could scare us.”

Danny’s ears rung. They shouldn’t have offered. Sam should have shut down Jazz’s stupid idea, for his sake. He didn’t want to say yes. He really, really didn’t want to say yes. He blinked.

“You mean... use my powers to...”

“We’ll know it’s only you, so... how bad can it be?”

Everything in him was urging him to take the offer, against his own wishes. He could already feel energy prickling on his spine, cooling him off. Relief.

“Are you sure?” He asked blankly. Maddie was too quick to answer.

“Of course.”

“Really sure?”

She nodded hesitantly. Jack didn’t look so convinced.

Danny took a deep breath, cold anticipation churning in his lungs. It was all he needed, and there was no going back now. With a loud electrical pop, his room was pitch black. He sunk underneath his bed and let himself transform, the typical bright flash weakened to a dull glow. All was quiet.

“Danny...?” Maddie ventured.

Phantom’s ghost form appeared in front of them in a flash, for a fraction of a second. Wide-eyed and mouth ajar, both glowing entirely green and oozing fog. Expressionless. Maddie jumped, and the Fentons were in the dark again.

The lights flickered on, but Danny’s room was different. His bed was stripped down to the mattress. All that remained on his shelves were his model rockets. His books, other trinkets, his trunk— everything was gone. Maddie felt her heart pounding in her chest, Jack was frozen, and Jazz’s eyes fluttered open cautiously.

“Where...?” Jack breathed, inching toward his wife.

Jack glanced toward the ceiling, but as soon as he saw it, it all fell. Danny’s books slammed to the floor. His trunk was the loudest, hitting the ground with a bang and toppling open, sending various balls and sports equipment bouncing with supernatural strength. Everything glowed a faint green. Before the objects settled, the Fentons were struck by Danny’s sheets and bedspread, flying toward them at what felt like 100 miles per hour. Jazz couldn’t help but scream.

The force had shoved them through Danny’s doorway. When they finally threw the bedding off, Danny’s door slammed shut in front of them, cracking the frame. Maddie eyed the railing just behind them. She’d been sure Danny wouldn’t hurt them, but another foot and they’d have been hurled over it. She wasn’t so convinced anymore. Could he blame her?

Jazz knew this was her idea, but she hated what she’d unleashed. She felt anger bubble at Sam. Was this supposed to be a punishment for caring about her brother? She thought they were beyond that. How often was Danny like this? Did his creepy girlfriend encourage it? She didn’t know much outside regretting she hadn’t tried harder for another solution.

“Away from the stairs. C’mon, away from the stairs!” Maddie urged, grabbing Jack and Jazz by their sleeves and cautiously tugging them down to the living room. She could’ve sworn they left the lights on, but everything was dim now save for the light of the setting sun drifting through the windows. The trio huddled close.

Static crackled as the television switched on. “—has residents questioning the whereabouts of the infamous Amity Park ghost, known by some as Phantom. Next, we’re live with—” The nightly news quickly cut to a vibrant green screen, accompanied by a reverberating, high-pitched ring. Jazz clasped her hands over her ears as it grew louder, piercing the air. It filled her with an unmistakable sense of dread, hopelessness.

“Mads…” Jack whispered, raising a shaking finger. They turned to face the windows. One by one, each vertical blind swayed slightly, an unseen force moving across them. It’s just Danny—she repeated the phrase over in her mind, grasping for a sense of calm. The movement stopped.

“Is it over?” Jack looked to Jazz. She shook her head unknowingly, eyes fixed on the window. She could see people outside. Neighbors who wouldn’t think a thing of ghost activity erupting from their home. Jack held his breath as Maddie caught hers. Her sense of calm was torn from her as soon as she’d found it.

The sound of snapping wood thundered from the blinds as they abruptly slammed shut, sending Jazz scrambling back. Jack caught her as she tripped over the carpet, hoisting her back onto her feet. The din from the television was deafening, its screen casting a green light on the entire room. Where Jazz had slipped lay a smudged pool of glowing ectoplasm, reflecting bright green. Maddie was the first to notice. Her head tilted upward slowly.

Danny hung upside-down, slack-jawed. Thick ectoplasm filled his mouth, dripping from his lips and empty eye sockets. His ribs jutted from his barely-opaque torso, a mangled mix of white and green disappearing into a ghostly tail. Gutted.

Jazz and Jack followed Maddie’s gaze, only catching a glimpse of the horrific form before it vanished completely. Maddie shrieked Danny’s name, a piercing combination of anger and terror.

“Sh*t!” Jack wrapped his arms around Maddie and reached for Jazz’s hand. The growing pool of ectoplasm on the floor bubbled and crept toward them, forcing them toward the kitchen. He shoved his family through the door and slammed it shut. It oozed through the frame.

The kitchen looked normal enough, but none of them dared move. The lights had been spared, and everything seemed to be in its place. After a few seconds of silence, every cabinet was thrown open at once, omitting a hideously loud slam. Maddie yelped and Jack grabbed her protectively, every hair on his neck standing up. Jazz leaned against the table, on the verge of tears.

With the last bang, it ended. Danny reappeared in the corner of the room. A quick white flash and he was his human self again, hands pressed against the walls to stabilize himself. He looked up at his wide-eyed family, panting. They looked scared of him. Of course they looked scared of him.

“What the f*ck, Danny!?” Jazz shrieked.

“Language!” Maddie chided.

Danny’s eyes flicked toward the cabinets, still ajar. He’d seen too many scary movies. He raised both hands defensively, shrinking against the wall.

“I won’t do it again. Promise.”

A beat of silence was broken by Jack’s deep, bellowing laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Jazz hissed.

Jack shook his head. “Look at ‘im!” Danny furrowed his brow.

“This kid did all that? I mean, who knew you had it in ya?”

Danny shrugged uncomfortably, averting his eyes.

“I know you’re a ghost, but c’mon!” Jack chuckled, wiping his eye.

Maddie took a step forward. Then, another. She wrapped Danny in her arms and ruffled his hair. “You’re okay.”

Jazz relaxed, her shoulders dropping. She’d agreed to be scared. And sure enough, Danny had f*cking scared her. Less than a minute into the ordeal she’d forgotten why she suggested it in the first place. Now, in their mother’s arms, he looked so normal.

“Feel better?” she asked softly.

“Yeah…” Danny huffed regretfully, “I do.”

“Never again.” Jazz insisted, pointing a threatening finger. Danny shuddered and crossed his heart.

“Alright, alright. Leave him alone,” Jack intervened, cracking himself up. “Mads, you should’ve seen your face!” Maddie rolled her eyes and released Danny.

“Oh, you scared me, alright. I thought you were going for the china.”

“It’s a good thing I was there, eh Danny-boy?” Jack elbowed his ribs. Danny raised an eyebrow.

“Honestly? I can’t back that up.”

“No, really? Did you see me flinch?” Danny stifled a smile.

Maddie chuckled. “Enough jokes, Jack.”

“Not once!” he bellowed. Maddie gave Danny a slap on the back.

“Okay, back upstairs.” He blinked incredulously.

“I’m not cleaning your room!”

“Tomorrow!” Danny insisted.

“Tomorrow.”

Jazz smiled. Yeah, they’d be alright.

Jack shook his head. “How’d we end up with a kid like you?” Danny grabbed a bag of chips from the open pantry, his appetite returning. He waved a hand dismissively as he disappeared into the living room.

“Same way you ended up with a portal to another dimension in the basement!”

#danny phantom #danny fenton #phic #danny phantom fanfiction #danny phantom fanfic #tumblr said i can't go in the tags with Swears #boo #this is the first fic i've posted!#i didn't edit it #but it's been boppin around my nog for a while #things i like:#danny is willing to destroy his room EXCEPT for his rockets those stay put!#jazz thinks sam knew this would be a mess and just let it happen anyway #all the horror movies sam made her buds watch came in handy for better or worse #maddie is able to spot danny needin a hug a mile away #if someone drew gooey gory danny scaring his family i would die #disclaimers:#re: first fic i've posted i don't know how to format fiction and 200% did it wrong #i tried to do what looked right lol #if you have something to say about this fic pls say it to me hi #deleted moment:#the fentons get competitive and make danny tell them who was scarediest #and danny’s just like uhhh idk i was kinda busy being horrifying #mine #fic

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darkwritingsnshit · 4 years

Text

Unwanted Attention

Warnings: This is a dark fic, please don’t read if you’re under 18, or are uncomfortable with dark characters, kidnapping, drug mention, noncon, asshole characters.

You were sick of this, sick of working with Loki; he was a trickster and a liar who entertained himself at other’s expense. You agreed to one mission with Thor, Rocket and Groot that went sideways, and you were joined my Thor’s mischievous brother that now you couldn’t seem to get rid of him.

Eager to get back to the stars, you decided to go on the next mission with Thor and Rocket. Unbeknownst to you, the Liar in Chief decided to tag along, something you didn’t realize until you were putting your things away in your narrow sleeping quarters. When you turned around in the closet sized room, you found a tall black-haired man blocking your doorway.

“I’d say something about how cozy your room is, but it’s downright claustrophobic my dear,” Loki smirked.

“Not like I’ll be spending much time here, you need to move, I have things to do.” The god’s presence irked you. You didn’t trust him at all, and in truth you saw him only as a snake in the grass.

“That’s not very polite, did you leave your manners back on earth?” Loki still didn’t move, just cocked his head, eyes shining.

“Look,” you started, “I don’t trust you and I’m not sure why you of all people in the universe would want to tag along on a resupply mission. I need to do my job without anyone getting in the way, got that?” You weren’t combative, just firm and already tired of Loki’s distractions.

“Well I certainly wouldn’t want to get in the way of your responsibilities, would I?” He stepped back and made a sweeping gesture with his arm, bowing his head. You just rolled your eyes and strode past him, making your way to the bridge to see what you could do to help.

It had been a week hurtling through space in a small ship towards coordinates Carol had sent Rocket so you could drop off medical supplies and rations for a war-torn planet. Thor, Rocket and Groot were good company to keep, though Loki would continue to tag around your periphery and disappear when you turned to take a better look.

“You kids ready back there? Its gonna be a bumpy landing!” Rocket yelled into the back of the ship where you were strapping down for impact.

You were ready for the landing, going over the schematics of the loading dock in your mind. The mission was simple enough; deliver medical supplies and food via the loading dock, then place and blow charges on a dam holding the water back from the planet’s citizens. Carol was fighting the larger battles that Thor seemed eager to join, but needed help running supplies to starving bystanders of interplanetary war.

The touchdown wasn’t nearly as bad as some of the landings you’d been through, and you were able to hurry off the ship to get the manifest sorted out with the docking manager. Standing back, you watched as supplies were offloaded from the ship, Thor and Groot conversing with a local who would point you to the dam, and Rocket yelling at people for touching his ship. Missing was Loki, but you figured he didn’t want to help out, and didn’t care enough to look for him.

Finding the large dam that was holding back the drinking water from thirsting citizens was easy to find. The creek beds the locals showed you to were almost imperceivable in the cracked earth, and the three of you followed them up until a looming wall came across the horizon.

“I am Groot,” Groot grunted as he craned his head back to look at the size of the damn thing. The walls seemed to be made of a rough, black rock and it was hard to tell how thick they were. It stretched across a wide gorge, making the Hoover Dam look dwarflike in comparison.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, my friend,” Thor echoed his sentiments, and you didn’t need a translator to understand. “What’s the security situation?” Thor turned to you; eyebrow raised.

You raised your arm, pointing to the top of the dam where there were floodlights and armed guards that were dots in the dim light.

“A dozen armed guards on the top, and two large guns there, and there,” you pointed at the far ends of the dam, where the side of the gorge met the black stone. “Floodlights make a pass every 10 minutes, and there’s a motion security sensor around the perimeter.”

From where the three of you were, you could see the looming dam, and hear the river rumbling like a jet engine below. Looking down into the darkness of the gorge you shouted to be heard.

“Our entry point is the river! Down there!” You took a step towards the edge and readied yourself for the climb down.

It turned out that it was nice to have Thor with you while climbing down into the dark. When it was hard to see, he simply lit up his fingertips to light the way. You thought it was hilarious. It took around half an hour to make it to the entry point, and you were thoroughly soaked and had cramped muscles.

“All right, Thor, Groot, you set the charges up the sides of the dam. I’ll cover the base charges, I’m not climbing shit. You should have eight and a half minutes before the next floodlight sweep, think you can pull it off?” You held out explosives to the two of them that they readily took.

“I am Groot.” Groot replied, which Thor met with a laugh.

“Don’t worry, I promise that we won’t let you down. We will see you shortly.” With a smile, Thor began to scale the side of the dam, while Groot took off sprinting in the other direction.

It was a wider dam than you had thought, you hoped to have enough explosives to bring it all the way down. If it wasn’t enough to level the place, it would at least be enough to cause almost irreparable damage. You radioed Rocket your position before you set off to lay the explosives, but he didn’t respond over the channel.

“Rocket come in, we’re about to secure the package.” You were met with static. “Rocket? Rocket stop yelling at people over bullshit and come in, you need to be ready to go!” You huffed an impatient sigh, bouncing between one foot and the other. Rocket knew the timeline, and he knew where you would be… Thor and Groot were already off, it was down to the minutes here.

“Rocket, I’m securing the package. Be ready for a quick departure, over.” You clipped your radio and set off sprinting to place your charges.

One you set to go at the base of a concrete pillar supporting the left side of the dam, the middle was your next target.

Something was wrong, you heard it before you saw the lights. Sirens blared before floodlights began to sweep the walls of the dam. Shit, something was wrong. By your calculations, the three of you had another five minutes to set and go before the next floodlight search. Three airships with lights and manned guns hovered over like low, ominous clouds.

“Stop your activity, you are surrounded!” Came a voice from loudspeakers. “Cease all movement or we will open fire!”

Fuck. You were fucked. Maybe Thor could fight his way out of this, Groot may be able to slip off into the landscape surrounding the chaos, but you were well and truly fucked. You saw lightning flash above you and saw one of the aircrafts going down. Your smile was short lived as flashlights blinded you, a squadron of well-armed men marching towards you, weapons drawn.

Flashlights made it impossible to see the faces of the men who handcuffed you and took you by the arms, marching you back the way you’d come. There was an open aircraft that you were directed into flanked by soldiers, though it was still hard to see in the dark as you took off. You didn’t need to see his face to recognize the honeyed voice that you never truly trusted.

“I’m so glad you made it back in one piece, love.” Sensing him somewhere behind your right shoulder, you stepped back and tried to shove backward with your body weight. Hands met your shoulder and you were prevented from pushing back; Loki was stronger than he seemed.

“What have you done?” You hissed at him. Light was returning to the aircraft as you neared the dock you had left the supplies at. People were running around below you, pushing crates, yelling at each other, flashing money to get a job done faster. “Loki, those aren’t our people! What the hell did you do?” You turned to look at him, the lights flashing through the craft making eerie shadows across his face.

“Darling, there are people willing to pay for these supplies, and pay good money. You didn’t think I’d really be interested in some humanitarian mission? Please.” He rolled his eyes and he pushed you forward as the ship landed.

Shoved back onto the loading dock, you looked for anything that may help you out of your situation. A screwdriver, a knife, something to get your hands free and you could work something out. Scanning the docking bays, you saw strange men on Rocket’s ship, and an angry raccoon nowhere to be found.

Surrounded by a squadron of men with guns, you were ushered to the side while Loki and a few other men stood together and had what looked like a serious discussion. You needed something to get out of here. There was a pistol strapped to the hip of each man surrounding you, but you were more interested in the knife tucked into their left boots. If you were going to do something this stupid and risky, you had better be quick about it.

Grasping your stomach in pain, you doubled over to the ground while those around you looked concerned.

“You there, what’s wrong with you?” a man at the front barked in your direction.

“I’m fine, I’m sorry I’m just hurt.” You stood again, tucking a knife into your sleeve. Time seemed to be on your side as Loki spoke and lightning flashed across the sky. When you finally were able to slip loose of the handcuffs, you kept them in position so as not to give away your escape. You waited until everyone speaking with Loki had raised their voices before ducking low, grabbing a pistol and running for the bays.

You weaved between the pillars and ship parts in the landing bay, angry that your own footsteps were slapping so loudly against the stone floor. You could hear them behind you shouting and getting closer. Blindly you shot behind your shoulder and heard a thud. You let out a sharp laugh but dodged too late sidestepping a pillar. Stone smashing into your shoulder, you were wheeled around by 90 degrees by a hand on your upper arm tightening painfully.

“Did you think I was going to let you run away, after everything I’ve done for you today girl?” He had pulled you close to him, anger radiating off his body. Thinking fast, you jammed your foot down into his knee as hard as you could, slipping from his grip, buying yourself an extra second.

Raising your arm, you fired the pistol to have it wrenched from your grip by a stronger hand. You dropped the gun and made a sweeping motion with the last thing you had, the knife. You weren’t sure if it was amusement or anger that flashed across his face, but Loki eyed your knife with a glint in his eye.

“Don’t start games you can’t finish,” he warned you with a cocked head.

There was a clap of thunder and a shriek of lightning that lit up the bay, setting fire to a nearby craft. Taking advantage, you stepped forward to get a clear shot of Loki’s kidneys, hoping to pull the blade around and do some damage.

Try as you might, he was faster than you, catching your hand and twisting it painfully until you shrieked, and the knife clattered to the ground.

“You should have stopped trying to fight me while it was still cute,” he snarled. He twisted your body around and pulled a syringe from his pocket. Loki dug the needle into your skin, searing hot as he pushed down. “Now I just have to make an example out of you.”

#dark writings #Dark fics #this is dark #My writing #my works #loki x reader #dark!loki #dark!loki x reader #fics

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sooibian · 5 years

Text

Stranger Things (2)

Pairing: Baekhyun x fem!Reader ft. Kyungsoo, Mark Lee, Jongdae (if you squint)

Description: You met an obnoxious lawyer at the airport and fell stupidly in “love” but little did you know, his heart belonged to someone else.

Themes: Fluff, crack, stupid OC, Mark Lee’s debut with a law firm, organic cucumbers, cowsheds, corgis, farmer!Soo, lawyer!Baek

A/N: This was not supposed to happen but four people asked for it and that’s really all it takes to get me to do something. I was SO tempted to title this - Of Cowsheds and Corgis!! This fic is ridiculous and very predictable but I gave up on the angst I was writing for this because ridiculous is just what I need right now. I truly hope you’re all safe and healthy!

Word Count: ~ 1.6k

Chapters: One | Two | Three | Four (Final)

Groaning, you put down your second ‘fruit platter’ with a deliberate clang on Kyungsoo’s bedside table. Nothing. “Yah! Did you catch narcolepsy in that ridiculously mind numbing hamlet?” The skinny end of your chopstick slowly made its way to the sole of his left foot. Still nothing. Panic swelled within you and you crawled over to his side to check his breathing. He was breathing, alright.

“Eomma!” You bellowed. Maybe it was time for the third medley of diced apples and bananas.

Still nothing.

***

“Sloth.” You took a jibe at a barely awake Kyungsoo.

“Creep.”

“Creep?”

“You were watching me sleep!”

“I was waiting for you to wake up! There’s a difference, Snorlax.”

“Patience - -”, his mouth fell open in a huge yawn.

“Isn’t my greatest virtue. Yeah, I know. You’ve said it a million times. It’s etched in my heart. I’ll get it tattooed across my forehead. Now spill.”

For a moment Kyungsoo looked confused before diving into his fruit platter with a half-suppressed snicker.

“What?” You attacked his stupid bespectacled face with a pillow. When was the last time he got a change of glasses? He’s worn this thick-rimmed atrocity forever. Although the man was optically challenged, his hearing was more than just fine. He was quick to spot the hint of defensiveness in your tone and his heart shaped smile had a reputation of showing up only when you were in deep trouble. “Ahhhhh….my case? The bank is entitled to a lien on the adjoining cowshed - ”

You cut in with a long impatient sigh. “Kyungsoo, sweetie, can we talk about corgis for now?”

“Chubs”, you undid your messy bun at the sound of that horrendous nickname, “you’ve got a bad case of --- honestly whatever this is. You spent two hours with him. Two.”

“Squishy, I’m not three anymore. I am a woman now.” His face contorted into an expression of disgust. “Stop. Calling me. Chubs.” Interjecting every word by striking his shoulder with your feeble wrist, you noticed how ‘un-Squishy’ he’d gotten over the past one year. “And I know all there is to know...about your 174 cm tall friend who struts around like he’s no less than 185. But that’s not him...that’s Handsome Mr. Park, his partner.”

“Stalker!” Kyungsoo’s eyes grew wide in horror and he flicked your forehead very, very hard.

Swallowing your cry of pain, you pinched his ear with all your might, making him wince. “It’s called content curation. If you ever happen to meet a lovelorn village belle ….let me know, yeah? I’m willing to put up my skills to offer. For a fee, of course.”

“YAH!” He freed himself from your grasp. “Behave! You’re not three anymore, right? Tell me...how much do you know about Baekhyun?” He was curious. Slightly panic-struck, even. But you couldn’t tell why.

“I will tell you but I need to know something before that. Has he - Doh Kyungsoo I swear to God I will bury you alive if you so much as smile - has he mentioned me at all?” You felt your face flame and a part of you really did not want to know the answer to that.

Kyungsoo sucked the insides of his cheeks in and said, “He thinks you’re interesting.”

You knew 'interesting', almost always, was nothing but a euphemism for weird. Ignoring the tender ache in your chest you said, "Well, I think he looks a lot like his corgi Mongryong. Mum has invited you to dinner tomorrow. Later, Squish." You pulled him in a bear hug, picked up the two, now polished, plates and walked out of Kyungsoo's room, slowly closing the door behind you.

"Eomma, Kyungsoo will be joining us for dinner -"

"Chubs, wait!" He hurried out of his room and handed you a rather heavy C4 size envelope. "My dentist appointment has been moved to today and I had to drop these documents off at Byun Park's", after a small pause he hesitantly continued, "he won't be there."

"Who won't be there?" Kyungsoo’s mother eyed the both of you suspiciously.

You couldn’t say no to the illustrious prince of a family who fed you a whole carton of organic fruits a while ago. At least not in front of the matriarch.

"It's nothing Eomma… it's Kyungsoo's friend Byun Baekhyun. Yah! Doh Kyungsoo! Stop acting like he's my ex boyfriend."

***

Your heart raced as you stepped into the elevator of the swanky commercial building. Pushing the button for the 27th floor, you turned around to examine yourself in the mirror feeling frumpy and underdressed in your faded yellow sweater and mom-jeans. The ding of the elevator jolted your heart and your mouth went dry as you lay your eyes on the blond haired man standing in front of you. You wanted nothing more than to snake your arm around Doh Kyungsoo’s neck and put him in a tight chokehold until he begged for mercy -- at this point you weren’t very keen on letting go of the imaginary, gasping for breath, blue in the face, Doh Kyungsoo. He won’t be there??

“Hi”, you said stepping out of the elevator but what you really wanted to say was ‘I want to delete myself’.

“Airport Girl!” He jested. You didn’t feel very apologetic anymore or even underdressed for that matter since the partner of a snooty law firm thought that a long sleeved jersey with bib shorts were an acceptable choice of clothing. Nevertheless, you properly introduced yourself and did what was long overdue.

“I am sorry about the other day and -- ” You briefly waited for him to cut you off with a ‘Don’t worry about it’ or even dismiss it with loud ‘hahaha’ but instead his little eyebrow raise insisted you complete your apology. “And I shouldn’t have - -”

“Airport Girl, I notice you have a problem completing your sentences.” Resting his hands on his hips he cocked his head to the side. That vaguely familiar annoying smirk made your skin crawl.

“Byun Baekhyun-ssi, I am here to see Lee Min Hyung. I am supposed to hand over Kyungsoo’s documents to him. I hope you’re working hard on my friend’s case. He really needs that cowshed back, he’s paid the broker’s fee in full for it. I hope this was coherent enough for you.” His smirk stretched into a genuine smile as he inched closer to you. Uncomfortable as you were standing in an enclosed space and conversing with a man in bib shorts, the diminished distance from his two small strides made you squirm. You could practically smell his cologne.

“I’ll forgive you if you agree to come cycling with me. Right now.”

“Absolutely not. Can I go see Lee Min Hyung now?”

“MARK LEE!” Baekhyun bellowed. The unsparing luminous smile on his face wasn’t doing any favours to the health of your heart. Within seconds, a bespectacled young lad who looked like he hadn’t slept a wink for days came rushing to his side. So Byun Baekhyun worked his employees to the bone while he himself took hiking trips in absurd outfits.

He put an arm around the frail boy and introduced the fresh law graduate to you, “This is my main man Mark Lee from Canada.” Violently thumping Mark’s back he continued, “Madam’s here with Doh Kyungsoo’s documents. Take her inside and go over the file. Check if anything’s missing and most importantly, offer her something cold to drink.” Letting go of Mark, he said to you with a wink, “I’ll be waiting in the lobby, Airport Girl. Or you’re never losing the nickname.”

***

Mark Lee’s involuntary metamorphosis from scaredy cat to ferocious lion cub in the conference room took you by surprise. While going over Kyungsoo’s documents like a hawk focused on its prey, he dutifully put a glass of ice water in front of you just as instructed by Byun Baekhyun. It was nothing more than a courtesy call. “Doh Kyungso-ssi’s personal documents all look okay -- ID card, bank statements, transaction information, realtors invoice, property possession documents.” You lost him at ‘realtor’s invoice’. “Seems to me, the realtor tricked him - - why did he not get due diligence done before investing in property? How could he not notice that the title deed does not extend to the cowshed?” Mark Lee was furious….at you.

“He’s just a simple man with simple dreams who wanted to trade his city existence for a quiet rural homestead and grow organic cucumbers, I guess? Why don’t you give him a call and --”

Mark Lee’s paw met the desk in a loud smack, startling you. “A simple due diligence would’ve saved him the hassle - -”

You weren’t exactly sure of the reason Byun Baekhyun thought you’d need a cold drink but he was so right, everything else seemed wrong. You took a rather large gulp of water, snatched Mark Lee’s notepad from his firm grasp and scribbled Kyungsoo’s number in it. “Here’s Doh Kyungsoo’s number. Call him if you need anything further.” You rose from your chair and eyed him sympathetically. “Take care, Mark Lee and please don’t skip meals.”

***

He waited for you, just as he’d promised. He somehow managed to look just as stunning in that funny costume as he did when you saw him at the airport. “Let’s go. Half an hour with that enthu cutlet Mark Lee and I need to feel the wind in my hair. How do you manage?”

“Yah! Airport Girl. He’s my best and brightest.” Sounding like a proud parent he guided you to the parking lot. The guilt weighing your heart down compelled you to ask, “What about Yoona?”

“She’ll be joining us.” Baekhyun quipped nonchalantly, opening the door to his Audi for you.

It was at that exact moment you said a silent prayer to a certain 3rd generation male idol to strike you with lightning and put you out of your misery.

Tagging: @hirumixoxo @majesticsnow @dreamingofdreamydream @juncottonluvbot

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lymazhu · 4 years

Text

Aftermath

Rating: T

wordcount: 4965 cw overview: major character death, disorientation, grief, denial, confusion, assumed hallucinations

AO3 link with more detailed content warnings: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28604295

It wasn’t that Martin couldn’t foresee this way this would all likely end. It was just that keeping a small bit of hope was the only way he could possibly keep going forward, and really, given that everything worked on dream logic these days anyway what’s to say that his hope wouldn’t have a tangible effect? That had been harder to keep up after Upton House, of course; knowing something in the back of your mind was a far cry from being faced with the reality of Jon’s rapid deterioration when cut off from his connection to the Eye.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Jon had told him. They’d let it drop, then. At least when it came to speaking about it aloud. Days had returned to having no meaning after they’d stepped back out into the world but he'd run over things in his head for a long time afterwards.

There had come other, fresher horrors. New things to consume his thoughts, each more troubling than the last. Things he still couldn't think back on without his chest tightening in a sickening way. Each adding more and more doubt that he had to suppress. There had been so many times when he’d thought about asking Jon for something he knew the man wouldn’t ever want to give, but the time was never right. All the way up to reaching London and reuniting with Georgie and Melanie. They’d fought earlier that day, and once it wasn’t just the two of them anymore there really wasn’t another opportunity.

And then, finally, it was over. They'd said their goodbyes at Jon's insistence. One last embrace, a final gentle press of lips to the top of Jon's head, and then it was time. Martin couldn't remember anything after that. Not until he woke up in the ruins of the institute surrounded by, simultaneously, far too much noise and far too little. Dazed, he slowly pushed off the ground, sitting up carefully. His head was killing him, and his body ached, but he was fairly certain that the latter was due to however long he’d been lying on the rubble-strewn floor before he woke up.

No longer were the sounds of agony or fear surrounding him, he realized belatedly. Instead, he was met with sounds he had not heard in...god, he never would know how long it had been, would he? The sounds of regular city life. Something he'd told Jon, told himself , they would bring back somehow. The weight of realizing that they truly had succeeded crashed over him and the world blurred. He hunched forward, burying his head in his hands as he broke down sobbing. Eventually the overwhelming flood of emotion subsided enough for Martin to realize that there had been no arms wrapping comfortably around him, no face resting against his back whispering assurances to help him through the breakdown.

"Jon…?" He barely recognized the choked sound of his own voice, shaky and almost-echoing in the destroyed space. His shirt sleeve was halfway to his face before he caught himself, remembering the filth crusting it. He made a half-hearted attempt to wipe his face on his shoulder instead, just enough to clear his vision, before turning sharply. Ignoring the sting of rubble digging into his knees, he scrambled over to the prone form and brushed bloodstained hair from Jon’s face. The other man’s eyes were closed, his face slack, and there was no sound from his mouth when Martin turned him over.

“Jon, wake up. Come on, I know you must be exhausted but-” The words died in his throat. It wasn’t just the way that his boyfriend’s head lolled, or the lack of any twitch on Jon’s lips. It was the small scrapes on his chin and forehead. Scrapes that in no way should still be there.

“No, no, no...Jon you can’t do this to me, not again…” Tears pricked at his eyes again and he fought to keep his breathing slow. He needed to get them out of the ruins of the Institute and get someone to call 999. There would be time to be afraid later.

The longer he was awake, the more his head spun. It took a couple of attempts before Martin felt he had a solid hold on Jon’s unconscious form. Jon wasn’t the largest man, but dead weight was harder to carry. That thought made something twist sickeningly in his gut, and he took a few deep breaths before he made his way to his feet. Right. Just get outside. Then someone can call for him.

Martin’s eyes watered anew as he stepped out into the bright daylight. The eyes of passers-by seemed to skip right over him at first, so he stepped further along the sidewalk away from the ruins of the Institute. He held Jon closer, steeling himself before raising his voice. “I don’t have a mobile, I need someone to phone 999 for me.” It was less of a plea than it was a command, and though the strangers continued to give him a wide berth he saw several people bring their phones out and dial. Distantly he registered what a sight he must make; as much as he hated it he was aware his size made him look imposing, and now he was filthy and wavering on his feet, holding a bloodied and unconscious person to boot. Oh, seeming to appear from god-only-knows-where surely wouldn’t have helped either. The knowledge that dozens of eyes were focused on him but none dared to come close was a bitter irony.

“T-they’re on their way. Are you...okay?” Martin’s eyes flicked to the source of the voice; an American from the sound of her. She was actually making her way carefully towards him, and he had to fight the urge to step away.

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” Martin forced out through lips he only now realized were parched. Perhaps he should be concerned about how emptily the statement came out, but he didn’t have any worry to spare. Not when he hadn’t felt Jon’s chest rise in all the time he’d had the other man held to his body.

“Do you want to sit down? Your friend, he must be heavy, right?” Not as heavy as he should be, Martin wanted to say. I’ve spent an uncountable amount of time carrying a pack that held everything that let me pretend we’d wind up here again. I’ve been through far worse. So many potential responses, but all of them better left unsaid. He settled for shaking his head.

“I really think it would be better if you did. You look a bit unsteady.” The woman was still drawing closer. Martin allowed himself one step backward, and immediately regretted it as he lost his footing and stumbled, back hitting the wall hard and knocking the breath from his lungs. “Don’t-” he gasped out. Even if he hadn’t just half-winded himself there wouldn’t have been an ending to the sentence; Martin’s mind was too much a jumble of thoughts and fears to voice anything coherent now that the important work of getting an ambulance for Jon was done. At least it seemed to be enough to stop her approach. Shame flooded through him as he slid down the wall, legs finally giving out. Martin’s head rang with pain from being jostled as he hit the ground, his knees stinging from impacting the pavement.

“Okay, I won’t come any closer. I’m Lily, by the way. Will you tell me your name?” Her calm tone stirred up a mess of fear, anger, trepidation, and other things Martin couldn’t name. He didn’t want to speak any more. He shook his head again, returning his attention to Jon. The other man’s hair had fallen across his face when Martin hit the sidewalk, so he brushed it away and tried to ignore the coolness of Jon’s skin. This wasn’t like last time. It wasn’t. If Jon had needed six months to wake up before it would surely just be a few hours at most. After all they’d seen, everything Jon had done, it wasn’t possible for this to be it. Recovering again would be nothing compared to all that Jon had been able to do after the world ended. Jon wouldn’t do this to him again, not after everything they’d been through.

Distantly, Martin registered that the woman was still talking, but his brain wasn’t parsing the words. He didn’t try to cling to them. All that he could focus on was the man in his arms, pleading silently for the moment he would gasp and open his eyes.

“...sir? Sir, can you hear me?” A louder male voice shook him from his thoughts, far too close even though Martin hadn’t heard anyone approaching. “I need you to let go of your friend so we can examine them, okay?” A firm hand on his shoulder, shaking him a bit to get him to focus. Instinctively Martin held Jon’s body closer to him, before the words registered fully and he forced himself to comply with the man’s directions. As the paramedic took Jon away from him, Martin struggled to breathe against the sudden lack of comforting weight against his chest. Another question was asked of him, from the way the man’s tone went up at the end, but he hadn’t understood a word of it.

“...sorry, what?” Martin managed after a moment. His mouth was so dry. When had he last drank something? Jon would know. Or no, he wouldn't, would he? The Eye had taken their short respite from him as soon as they’d left. And now…

The sound of the paramedic snapping his fingers near Martin’s ear brought his attention back to the present, and he looked up, still dazed. “Did your friend overdose? Have you given him Narcan already? How long has he been unresponsive?” The man’s face was as impassive as his tone, but he was definitely watching Martin for any signs that he was lying.

“N-no, it’s not like that. I-he wasn’t conscious when I woke up but neither of us do drugs, we’ve just...we’ve had a rough time of it lately.” Martin didn’t have it in him to laugh bitterly at the level of understatement there, but he felt the urge nonetheless. Proper honesty certainly wasn’t the key if he wanted to be seen as lucid; he wasn’t particularly angry about the assumption being made. They were both in quite a state, after all. Two scruffy, dirty men, one unconscious and bloodied, the other barely able to follow what was going on.

“So you aren’t sure how long he hasn’t been breathing?” the paramedic clarified. Martin tried to respond, but something in his chest tightened and stole the breath from him again. The weight of eyes on him was crushing. He swallowed, licking his lips.

“It’s not-” a shaky attempt to breathe, his knees aching as Martin forced himself up from the ground so he could start walking over to where Jon was being tended to, “...you don’t understand, he...” “Stay down,” the paramedic’s warning came a moment too late; Martin’s vision swam, heart pounding as he was overcome by dizziness. Then he was falling again as everything went dark.

Martin drifted in and out of consciousness as the paramedics loaded the two of them into the ambulance, answering their questions about whether he knew who he was, where he was. Not knowing the date seemed to be an issue for the paramedics, but really he couldn’t bring himself to care. Neither of them were paying any attention to Jon, only him. Jon needed it more, though they kept ignoring his protests to that effect.

More than once during the ride, he’d come back to himself and try to move his arm only to be confused by the sudden sting of pain as he tugged on the IV that had been inserted into the back of his hand. An attempt to sit up was quickly halted by one of the paramedics putting a firm hand on his chest, and some kind of instruction he didn’t parse.

After an indeterminate amount of time the ambulance doors were suddenly open, bright light flooding in to send another sharp stab of agony through Martin’s head. Closing his eyes against the sun, he turned his head to the side in an attempt to block out as much of the light as possible. Once he was wheeled inside, the overhead fluorescents were at least a slight improvement and he risked opening his eyes again. He looked around, using his good hand to prop himself up. He needed to find Jon. In the ambulance he’d been able to know the other man was nearby, but now…

“Sir, please lay back down, okay?” A soft female voice from beside the stretcher startled him. “Can you tell me your name?”

“...Martin Blackwood,” he managed after a moment, turning as best he could without pulling on the IV, “That’s not important though, Jon’s-”

“Is that the name of the man you were with?” A cautious note in her voice now, one that set Martin on edge. He knew how things looked, that’s why he had to get it across to them that this wasn’t what it seemed like.

“Yes. Jonathan Sims. I’ll be fine, but he’s…” His arm was trembling from the strain of holding himself up when he felt this weak, and his head was beginning to swim again. Reluctantly, he laid back down on the stretcher. He could still feel eyes on him, and he longed to make it stop. Not that he wanted to be Lonely again. He just wanted to escape feeling the judgement and pity he knew he was being viewed with. The world was how it was supposed to be again, he shouldn’t have this oppressive weight on him anymore.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood. He was unresponsive at the scene and the paramedics weren’t able to resuscitate him.” Her voice was calm and gentle, parroting words he was sure she’d said dozens of different ways. Trying to console him. Before Martin could find the words to tell her that no, Jon wasn’t dead, he heard a muttered curse from behind him.

“I knew you looked familiar. You’re the ones from the Magnus Institute, aren’t you?” For the first time since he’d awoken back in London, someone was speaking to him without softening their words or pitying him. It shouldn’t be a comfort to be spoken to with disdain, it really shouldn’t, and yet it was far better than being spoken to like he would break. More familiar, as pathetic as that was. The source of the voice walked around the stretcher, and Martin saw a tall woman with a stern expression glowering down at him. Her pale blue eyes raked over him and he fought the urge to shrink away.

“You used to visit that man all the time when he was here. I hoped I’d never see either of you again.” With that, she met the eyes of the paramedic that had brought Martin in. “Bring Mr. Sims to my department. There are special circumstances here, that’s all you need to know.” Martin glanced quickly at the other man, saw him look like he was going to argue before sighing and nodding. With that, the woman he assumed had to have been one of the doctors who’d been on Jon’s case after the Unknowing walked away briskly, shaking her head. He tried to push away the memories trying to crowd their way into his mind, blinking away the burning in his eyes.

“Mr. Blackwood, you’re going to be taken for a few tests after you’re admitted, alright? Elise here will help you.” The paramedic motioned to the woman who’d been consoling him earlier, and she smiled politely at him. Martin made an attempt to mimic the gesture, but he felt his lips trembling.

He barely followed the conversation Elise attempted with him. There was a moment of relief when she left him to be checked in, right up until he had to confirm that no, he didn’t have his identification, and no, sorry, there’s nobody you can call to let them know where I am. As he gave the receptionist the address and number that would be on file, he quickly added that he’d lost his phone and hadn’t been able to replace it. With every acknowledgement of how little he had left in the world, he could feel himself slipping. It would be so much easier not to feel any of it. He’d told Jon that he wasn’t lonely anymore, but facing the reality of things now that the world was back to normal...god only knew if he still had his flat, or any of his belongings.

They’d left for Scotland in such a hurry; there wasn’t much left in his bank account and certainly no job anymore. But he didn’t have time to think about that as he was brought to a bed. He watched dully as the nurse pulled the curtain closed, followed her directions as she wrapped a blood pressure cuff around his arm, barely felt it as she drew blood. A light was shined into his eyes for reasons he didn’t register.

After a battery of questions which he answered to the best of his ability, and a variety of other basic tests, Martin was left with a paper cup of tepid water and a basin he didn’t bother to try to argue that he didn’t need. He forced himself to sip slowly despite his parched throat telling him to drink as much as he could as quickly as possible. His head still spun when he stayed upright too long, so in short order he laid back on the bed to stare miserably at the ceiling.

There was no clock in sight, so he had no sense of how quickly the time was passing. The longer he waited, the heavier the weight in his chest grew, until he was afraid to breathe out for fear of seeing fog escaping his lungs. Every so often he would hear footsteps approach, but no one ever pulled aside the curtain to speak to him. Even as the sounds of a busy hospital began to soften, (whether they were muffled by trauma setting in or something more sinister Martin couldn’t be sure), he still felt the heavy weight of eyes upon his back. He knew perfectly well that there was nothing behind him but equipment and a sickly-colored wall. That knowledge, however, did nothing to make the feeling go away. It wasn’t long before Martin couldn’t stop himself from pushing himself halfway into a sitting position to confirm that he was, indeed, still alone. Frustrated, he buried his face in his hands as he fell back against the pillow. Another twinge of pain as the IV in the back of his hand shifted.

“Mr. Blackwood?” The sound of the curtain being slid aside, and a different voice from any he’d heard so far that afternoon. Martin couldn’t help the way he flinched as he forced himself upright. He swayed as his vision started to black out, the rush of blood in his ears as he closed his eyes. He felt a steadying hand on his back just for a moment, but by the time Martin felt certain that he wasn’t going to pass out the other man was focused back on the clipboard he was carrying.

“I’m Dr. Harris, and I’ll be handling your care today.” The man’s voice was brusque, his attention still on the papers he was studying when Martin attempted to meet his eyes.

“Outside of your disorientation and headache you don’t appear to have the symptoms associated with a concussion. Both of those could be side effects of dehydration, but given your overall situation we’re going to keep you here overnight for observation. Do you understand?”

I don’t really care , Martin wants to say, but his voice fails him when he makes an attempt. It’s not like I have anywhere else I can go . The doctor finally looked up after a choked noise escaped him, and Martin nodded miserably to answer the other man’s question.

“As for your...partner,” the doctor paused, giving Martin a moment to correct him before continuing, “Dr. Singer is handling his case.”

“Mmm.” Whatever weight those words were apparently supposed to have were lost on him. Even with his eyes open, it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay awake. Unwanted memories of collapsing in the entryway of Upton House rose to the forefront of his mind as he tried in vain to keep his focus on what the doctor was saying. Once the other man left to continue his rounds, it was no time at all until he gave in to sleep.

The lack of windows or natural light made it impossible to tell how long he’d been sleeping for. He was still bleary. The feeling of something thin and cold touching his arm suddenly made him flinch away with a revolted gasp, until it registered that it was just the IV line. Right. He wasn’t under siege in his apartment, hadn’t been for years. Jane Prentiss was long dead. It took a few moments for him to register that what had initially woken him was the sound of someone’s voice, and he bit his lip. There was no time to focus on how she’d interpret his panic as she continued, making his breath freeze in his chest. “I’m sorry to wake you but I’m here about Jonathan Sims. As I’m sure you’re aware, you’re his emergency contact.”

“Please, I need to-” Martin started, but fell silent at the grimace that momentarily crossed the face of the woman in front of him. “Dr. Singer is aware of Mr. Sims’ previous history, and has taken that into her assessment, but I’m afraid that along with a lack of vital signs he is showing no brain activity. While the exact cause of death is unclear…” She was still talking, but all Martin could hear was the pounding of his heart and the increasingly rapid sound of his own breathing. Drawing his knees to his chest, he shook his head as though that would do anything. After the Unknowing Jon’s brain had shown a flood of activity even as his body was still and lifeless. No matter how dead he’d looked there, unmoving and unbreathing, Martin had known that he was still in there somewhere. If Jon didn’t have that…

He hadn’t realized he was crying, but the taste of salt in his mouth as he drew in a ragged breath brought his attention to the cooling lines down his face. A second before he brought his hand up to wipe at the tears he felt the illusion of having done it. He half-heard something about condolences and arrangements, and forced out a plea to be left alone.

Things weren’t supposed to be this way. He’d known, they both had, that Jon might not last long without the Eye. But they were supposed to have some time to actually live once the world was back to normal. If Jon succeeded, they were going to be free. He’d chosen not to dwell on the possibility that they’d fail, so whenever he’d had a moment of imagining an after it involved the two of them making the most of the time Jon would have. Martin wasn’t supposed to be the only one to wake up. That had never been part of the plan.

Each heaving gasp for air felt like it drew just a bit more of the Lonely in with it. He was still in the bed, but the smell of rain and sea salt burned in his nose and he could almost see the beach Jon had brought him back from, mingling with the monochrome dreariness of his domain. It called to him, offering an escape from having to feel these crushing emotions.

“Jon...” Martin wrapped his arms around his knees, pulling into himself as much as he could. It had been so long since he’d been tempted to let it take him. It had tried its best when he’d lost himself in that house, but he’d fought it off. He’d had a...relatively pleasant chat with himself, given the circumstances of his domain. Neither time had he wanted to give in. Not like he had on that beach before Jon had forced him to See. But really, what was there now?

The grief and regret felt like a physical weight on his back, burning into him like judging eyes. He lifted his head just enough to confirm that he was, in fact, alone before letting it fall back down. The filthy knees of his jeans didn’t even matter anymore as he let his forehead rest against them. Maybe this time it wasn’t going to be a choice he made. Maybe it had already been made for him. That would be easier, wouldn’t it? To just accept that it was always going to end this way? That his escape from the Lonely was always going to be temporary and all the harder for the respite (however cruel most of it was) he’d been given?

Everything in his life had always been for someone else; even after he’d been able to admit to himself what he really wanted from Jon if they couldn’t fix things, he’d never had it in him to ask for it. He’d been willing to die to stop the Extinction (thought that even if he failed it wouldn’t really be that bad), and keep going through domain after domain because he loved Jon and it would all be worth it someday, but now the world was back, he had nothing left, and he was just so tired…

He raised his head to take in a shuddering breath, swallowing thickly around the weight of the grief clogging his throat. Was the room hazy, or was it just the sheen of tears? Did it matter anymore? He rubbed, hard, against his eyes with the heels of his hands. It did nothing good for his headache, but at least it was a pain he could control.

The sudden feeling of a hand on his back made him flinch harshly. He hadn’t heard anyone approaching, but then he hadn’t really been listening. But when his eyes focused, there was nobody there. He was still alone.

“Great,” he huffed, a bitter laugh escaping him as he realized that he’d been imagining things. The racket of the hospital around him felt louder than it had a moment before, and it only made his head pound all the more.

The next time the phantom feeling of touch came, there was no denying it. Martin could clearly see empty space in front of him despite the feeling of hands on his face, and when he brought his hand up he was able to touch his cheek without anything getting in the way. The feeling of contact didn’t fade, though, simply adjusted so that it was his hand feeling pressure against it instead.

He closed his eyes, fighting back another wave of tears. Without the visual reinforcement that there was nothing there, the sensation of touch felt so much stronger. There was something familiar about this, some thread tugging at the back of his mind through the haze. Then all at once, he was deep within a near-overwhelmingly vivid memory.

Nothing for as far as the eye could see, save the shoreline and swirling mists. Quiet, peaceful, and most of all, empty. He’d only half-registered that Jon had found him, that the other man was trying to speak to him. Answers came automatically, detached from any emotion. But then Jon’s hands were on his face, forcing Martin to meet his eyes. Burning through the fog to bring him back to himself.

“I see you…”, he’d said. And he had, in a way unlike anything else. But despite how real the memory felt, when Martin opened his eyes again, a fresh wave of tears spilling over, he saw nothing but the empty room. He didn’t realize that the tears hadn’t trailed straight down, not at first. Not until the cool air highlighted the unnatural track that curved around his cheeks and down the sides of his neck. The way they’d only run if there were something blocking them. And then that touch again, in what he couldn’t pretend was anything other than an attempt to brush the tears away.

“...Jon?” It was a stupid thing to say, and ridiculous to hope for, but what in their lives hadn’t been an absurd mockery of reality in the last few years? He listened as hard as he could for any trace of the man’s voice, but there were only echoing footfalls and someone’s shaky breathing underneath a buzz of chatter he couldn’t understand. Instead, a new searing bolt of pain shot through his head, and in the moment before he closed his eyes against it he almost thought he saw something’s hand outstretched. He tried to muffle the whimpers that escaped him, but either someone had been about to check in on him anyway or he hadn’t noticed that he’d cried out when the pain first hit.

This time, the hands on him were real, guiding him to lie back as the nurse told him that everything would be alright. Martin tried to protest, fought in vain to stay conscious, but it was to no avail. The last thing he registered was a hand brushing a lock of greasy hair away from his face, and he didn’t know whether it was real or imagined.

#tma #tma season 5 spoilers #mind the cw #this one is dark

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