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strangersteddierthings · 2 years

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Writing prompt from this list, requested by @luciana-rowan. #60. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to seduce me." with Steve seducing Eddie with dnd.

This was supposed to be like 1.2k tops however you activated my secret trap card, which is DnD.

“Okay, that’s gotta be all there is, right?” Robin asks as she flips through the book again, pausing to flip back and forth between two pages, eyes narrowed like these pages have offended her personally. She’s leaning against the customer side of the counter at Family Video, and Steve is on the other so they can be facing each other.

Steve is double checking all the notes they’ve written out on notebook paper, Robin’s neat print mixed with Steve’s quick scratchy penmanship. They’ve finally condensed the contents (pages and pages of contents) into easier to look through notes and once they close Family Video, Nancy and Jonathan are going to join them at Steve’s and help him and Robin organize the notes in a way that will flow and be easier to follow.

Nancy because she’s good at the organization part, and Jonathan because he’s the only one of them that’s ever even played Dungeons and Dragons, even if it was only twice (he’s a good older brother, after all).

“Jesus Christ, I hope that’s all,” Steve slides the notebook across the counter and offers up a hand for the Dungeons and Dragons book. They swap, to double check that neither has overlooked anything.

“You know,” Robin says, “this is a lot of effort for one game. Do those kids really have all this memorized?”

“Seems like it,” Steve groans, running a hand through his hair. “That’s why I need the cheat sheet. I can’t be holding up their game for twenty minutes just to look up if something is allowed or not.”

Robin looks across the counter and grins at him. “I think it’s so sweet that you’re finally gonna agree to play. Going to this much effort for it, though... You might make Dustin cry.”

“Well, that’s the goal now,” Steve laughs. “Dustin cries or I’m flipping the table.”

“Well, now I want to be there. Either would be great to witness!”

“It’s not too late to make you a character,” Steve says, aiming for nonchalance and knowing that he might have hit the mark for anyone else, but this is Robin, and she’s always seen right through him. She was the one he ranted to this last time Dustin had asked (read: begged) Steve to join a game, the time that worked because Steve could no longer think of reasons to say no. He had said no, though, to Dustin’s face, but once he got home, he scooped up Eddie’s damn Dungeons and Dragons player handbook. Then called and recruited Robin to help.

Robin’s smile softens into something less teasing. “I can join, if it’ll make this less awkward for you.”

Steve’s surprised by her answer. “Oh. You’d- really?”

Robin shrugs. “Yeah, dingus. You might have had a long-standing weird vendetta about being asked to play but. Well, no one’s ever asked me before, so I guess I never had to think about if I would or not. It’s like you said on the phone ‘it might be nice to just to fight imaginary monsters for once’.”

“Our characters could be twins.”

Robin grins but before she can respond the ding of the door chimes. Steve swipes his hands across the counter, causing the book, notebook, and pencils to clatter behind the counter out of view. Back to work.

It all started when Dustin asked him to stay for a game months ago. It was the third Dungeons and Dragons game he’d dropped him off at after they’d survived Hell for the fourth (hopefully final) time.

“We play the game, but it’s also a time to like, catch up and chat,” Dustin said, all but pouting at Steve.

Steve had put his car in park and shut off the engine. “If Wheeler’s basement still smells, I’m leaving.”

“Yes!” Dustin cheered.

So, Steve followed Dustin into the Wheelers’ house, called a hello to Karen Wheeler, and made his way to the basement. There had been several startled looks in Steve’s direction, but he’d just walked past the table and plopped onto the end couch beside El, like it was something he did every day. Eddie, Will, Lucas, Erica, and Mike were already sitting at the table, using whatever they could find as chairs. Dustin and he were the last ones to arrive it seems.

El smiled up at him. “Hi Steve. It is nice to have company. I have been watching by myself, since Max can’t get down the stairs yet.”

Well, fuck. Now he’s got to walk Dustin in every time in case El’s in the basement, all lonely on the couch, watching her boyfriend play make believe. “Happy to keep you company, El. You have any idea what’s happening here?”

“I have an understanding of the story, yes,” El nodded and slid across the couch to be close enough to whisper to Steve. She filled him in on what she knew, which is not much because it was a new campaign, but she had sat with Mike and Will when they made their new characters and had been to the two previous games.

When the game got going, Steve watched as El leaned forward on the couch, elbows on her knees and chin in her hands. She had seemed raptured with the story, so Steve started to listen in, too. Dustin must have done a shit job at explaining how this game was played these last years, because as he had watched it progress it seemed more enjoyable than it had sounded when described.

More than that, Steve watched as the stress of real life melted away from the kids and Eddie. They were no longer a group of outcasts who had gone through Hell and barely survived. They were a group of friends having fun in a way Steve couldn’t remember experiencing since he had been in elementary school.

It was two more games and one pool party at his own house later before Steve got the idea to offer his dining room up for the game. Specifically, because at the pool party he saw Max sitting in his living room and did a double take at her, the pieces slotting together in his mind. Max couldn’t manage the steep stairs at the Wheelers house, but everything she needed to get to at Steve’s house was ground level – kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining table.

Next session before everyone scattered to the wind, Steve had said, “Hey, what do you say about moving this game to my house?”

Everyone sitting at the table whipped around to stare at him, mouths open and everything.

“What? My house doesn’t smell like armpit and, uhh, Max could come hang out again,” Steve shrugged and was almost mowed over by how quickly El threw herself on him, wrapping his waist in a hug.

“Yes! Yes!” She answered for everyone.

The next game was moved to Steve’s house. He’d rotated the couch so it would face the dining room table so Max, El, and he could sit comfortably and had even bought a bunch of snacks and soda.

Eddie had been the first person to show up. It had taken him four trips back and forth from his van to the dining room to unload everything he’d brought.

Steve eyes it all critically. “I haven’t seen you use half this shit when you play at Wheelers, yet to lug it back and forth. Do you really need it?”

Eddie shrugged, “Who knows? Better to have it and not need it or whatever.”

“You load and unload all this shit every game?”

“Yeah. Wheeler helps usually but he isn’t here so….”

“If you had asked, I’d of helped,” Steve said. “I didn’t know you would need it, or if you’d want it.”

“Oh.”

Steve’s not sure what to think of Eddie sometimes. They’re friends now, or at least friend-adjacent. Well, it didn’t used to feel like ‘friend-adjacent’ until Steve started to sit in on the Dungeons and Dragons games. He got to see a freer side of Eddie, then. One that smiled and laughed a bit more than Steve ever saw. It’s fine. Steve’s fine. He’s not- he is not hurt that Eddie hides this part of himself from Steve.

Besides, Steve knows he’s the problem. Because Eddie doesn’t have this problem with Robin, or Nancy, or Jonathan. He’s seen Eddie relaxed and chill when they hang out, so long as Steve keeps his distance. And even if he hadn’t been sure that he was the issue before, he was after the first time they made eye contact during a game (accidentally) and he watched Eddie reigning himself in. Made himself smaller right before his eyes. Steve doesn’t understand why but he does his best to give Eddie space.

He thinks, maybe, that he makes Eddie uncomfortable on some level. He doesn’t know how, or why, or if he can change it.

Anyway, the next few games after that Steve helped Eddie unload and reload his van until he finally offered for Eddie to just keep the things he didn’t need at his house.

“If you don’t, y’know, use all of this to actually plan each session, you can just keep it here,” Steve said as they cleaned up, Max, Lucas, Erica, and Dustin helping, since Eddie had offered to pick them up and drop them off this time.

Eddie paused in his gathering of papers to study Steve before saying, “You sure?”

“Yeah. It’s not like I use the dining table unless you guys are here. So, just take what you use and leave the rest.”

Eddie took the Dungeon Master book but left his copy of the players handbook.

And those series of events have led to this Thursday night, with Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and himself sitting at his dining room table, making a character sheet for Robin, and polishing up the one Steve had already made, because Steve isn’t embarrassed about asking for help these days. Jonathan even brought him the set of dice Will had given him when he’d played.

Robin’s not going to join until the next game, but she is going to come watch. Jonathan had explained that adding one extra character would be easy to accommodate but adding two was harder.

“So, if you like the game and want to continue, talk to Eddie about finding a good way for Robin to join,” Jonathan says, pushing the finalized ‘cheat’ sheet and character back to Steve. “If you don’t like playing, she can just replace you next game.”

“Dustin’s going to lose his mind tomorrow,” Steve laughs, having found that the papers look good, and he should be ready to go.

“I think we’re all sticking around to see it,” Nancy says. She’s volunteered to bring Mike, Lucas, Erica, and Dustin tomorrow night, and Jonathan is bringing Max and Robin when he brings El and Will.

“Hey guys, thanks for this,” Steve says when they clean up and everyone gathers to head out.

“Anytime, man,” Jonathan nods to him as Nancy gives him a quick side hug. Robin gives him a hug that lasts far longer before following them out the door. Steve had asked if she wanted to stay over but her parents are expecting her home tonight.

Once Steve is alone, he heads to the phone and dials Eddie’s number.

Three rings and, “Wayne speaking.”

“Hi Wayne, it’s Steve. Uh, Steve Harrington,” Steve says.

Wayne doesn’t chuckle into the phone, because Steve’s not certain he can chuckle, but he’s definitely amused when he says, “well, Steve Harrington, Eddie’s not home. I can leave a note for him to call you back. I don’t know when he’ll be here.”

“Oh, a note’s fine. I’m usually up late anyway.”

It’s a little past eleven when his phone rings. Steve is half asleep on the couch, but the ringing wakes him right up. And if he trips over his own feet on the way to the phone, there’s no witnesses so it didn’t really happen, did it? “Eddie?”

A soft laugh on the other end of the line, “it’s like you were expecting me, Harrington.”

“I was. Or, uh, I was hoping you’d call any way, not expecting because that feels like… loaded somehow.”

Silence, then, “so what can I do for you?”

“Could you, um, come over early tomorrow? Like thirty minutes sooner could work. An hour would be better, though,” Steve looks down and realizes he’s twirly the phone cord around his finger. He stills his hand and yanks it away from the cord, tucking his fist to his chest to keep it in check.

“Oh, I know what you want,” Eddie’s voice says, suggestive in a way Steve can’t decipher, “Yeah, I can come over an hour sooner.”

He’s been caught before he can even surprise anyone, he realizes. That’s the suggestive tone. Eddie knows. And if Eddie knows what he wants, there’s no way Dustin doesn’t already suspect. Ah well. Surprise ruined but it’ll still be fun for the kids. He hopes. Steve puts a smile on his face so he won’t sound upset with himself when he says, “thanks man. I appreciate it. See ya tomorrow.”

Eddie arrives a little more than an hour early but Steve’s not going to complain. He’d been pacing in the kitchen near the front window, so he watched as Eddie pulled up. He has the front door open before Eddie is halfway to the door.

“Someone’s excited,” Eddie wiggles his eyebrows at him as he passes, moving to the dining room to deposit his armful of stuff on the table.

“Nervous, actually,” Steve says, shutting the door and turning to follow. He almost runs into Eddie when he gets to the turn that leads into the kitchen, and dining room beyond it. “Oh, hi. Thought you were at the table.”

Eddie looks confused. “I gotta go grab the lunchbox. Wait- did you say nervous?”

“What do you need your lunchbox for?”

They stand in the kitchen entrance, just kinda blinking at each other for a moment before Eddie says, in a very confused, slow voice, “maaaaybe I don’t know why I’m here early. What did you want?”

Steve heads to the dining room, motioning for Eddie to follow. He pulls out two chairs next to each other, sliding into one and waiting for Eddie to sit in his. Steve reached across the table, to the player’s handbook and the notebook under it, dragging them closer. He turns to be facing Eddie, sitting sideways in his chair now. “I wanted to see if it was okay for another person to join the game. Today.”

Eddie’s eyebrows get lost behind his bangs with how high he raises them. “What? Who do you know that wants to play?”

“Uh, me,” Steve says, pulling the notebook out from under the handbook, taking out his character sheet and flipping the notebook open to the end of his notes, where he’d taken the time to write out some bullet points with ideas for his character backstory. Then he fishes out the dice from his pocket and deposits them on the table.

Eddie is deathly still and absolutely silent. The only movement is his eyes, which flick between the dice, the pages, and Steve’s face. He’s quiet so long that Steve is worried he made a mistake.

“Or, uh, if you’d rather I not- sorry, I just- Dustin tries to invite me all the time so I thought it would be okay,” Steve says, moving to close the notebook. That’s when Eddie comes back to life, his hand flying out to catch Steve’s, halting his hand.

“No! No, of course it’s fine. I’m just- surprised,” Eddie says, slowly, “you’ve been so against it, very vocally, so I’m just surprised.”

“Yeah. I was kind of an asshole about it all, wasn’t I? But when I think about it, like really think about it, I don’t know why I was against even trying it, y’know? Leftover shit from high school, I think. But I’m not that person anymore, so…” Steve shrugs with one shoulder, not sure why he’s telling Eddie these things. They don’t talk like this, usually. Steve finds he wants to, though. “Plus, watching the games, it looks like you guys have fun. Like, real, forget about your day kinda fun. Besides, Erica enjoys it, and she’s the coolest out of all of us. If Erica likes it, it can’t be just a nerd game.”

Eddie laughs and Steve gets to see that carefree smile Eddie seems to reserve for the kids. “Can’t argue with that. Erica is the coolest of this lot.”

“So, here’s what I was thinking,” Steve says, pulling the notebook between them to discuss the ideas Robin and he had come up with. He was going to play a fighter, so he didn’t have to worry about memorizing spells. If Eddie’ll let Robin join, he’d like for them to be twins, or siblings of some sort at least. Eddie nods, jumps on that instantly. Offers for them to have been separated on accident, so they could work on adding Robin more naturally later, with their two characters having been looking for each other this whole time.

Before Steve even realizes it, he’s been word vomiting for far too long about his character’s backstory and why he’d want to join the Party and Eddie has been silent the entire time, just listening to him, a soft smile on his face. “So, that’s what I got for now.”

Eddie let’s out a whistle and says, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me.”

Steve’s brain skips, or freezes, or something, because it just replays that whistle and those words for a few second in his mind before it helpfully supplies the thoughts ‘yes’ and ‘I didn’t know I could seduce you’. He’s just had an epiphany. Unfortunately, his mouth is still working while his brain does this, so it says, “are you feeling seduced, Eds?”

“AHAHA!” Eddie lets out a laugh that is more a bark before he stands up quickly, the chair falling backwards because he hadn’t bothered to scoot the chair back to give him room to stand. “Funny. Dustin’s right, you’re hilarious. I need a cigarette,” and then he all but runs out the front door.

Steve just watches him go before picking up the fallen chair. He can’t wait for Robin to get here. He needs to talk to her.

When Eddie comes back in, it’s with Robin, Jonathan, Max, El, and Will. Steve slaps his notebook shut quickly and hopes that Will didn’t notice it. Eddie is talking animatedly with Will upon entry, though, so he seems safe. Robin fast walks to the table and scoops Steve’s dice and shoves them in her pocket, because Will will recognize them if they stay out.

Steve stands, notebook in hand, and grabs Robin’s wrist with his free hand and drags her out back. He makes sure the slide-glass door is closed firmly and leads her around to the other side of the pool. He doesn’t want any eavesdroppers.

“Robin. Ok, so you remember by sexuality crisis last year?”

“Of course, Michael J Fox in Teen Wolf got you hot under the collar,” Robin says, “how could I forget? You cried about it.”

“You cried about yours, too! I just wasn’t there for it.”

“Not mocking!” Robin holds up her hands in defense, “just saying.”

“Robin. I think I like Eddie.”

“Oh!” her eyes go wide, and her mouth stays in a little ‘o’ shape for a moment. Steve stands there, letting her process. “Oh. Ooohhhhhh. That- that makes sense in my mind in a way I cannot put into words. Of course, it’d be Eddie Munson -the exact opposite of Michael J Fox, by the way- to also get you bothered. Why didn’t I pick up on that? How did I not notice this?”

“Because, despite our best efforts, we have yet to successfully combine,” Steve says, linking his fingers the way Robin had that day in Family Video before unlinking them to flip a hand back and forth between them. “We do not have time for you to have a crisis about it because I am having a crisis about it, and one of us needs to be level-headed.”

“Right,” she sobers instantly. “Right. We cannot spiral together. You first, I’ll wait my turn. So, you like Eddie. Enough to…. Want to do something about it?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that was a quick answer. You… you really like him. Give me the details. What am I working with here.”

Steve thinks about it. “When he held a broken bottle to my neck, I was terrified. And a little aroused.” Robin says ew. “I’ve thought he was hot since then. But… when he came to at the hospital, all high on the medicine. He’d smiled softly at me and the first thing he said to me was glad you’re here, big boy. I think the actual crush started then.”

“Make sense, tracks, what with your hero complex and praise kink,” Robin nods and paces before turning back to him. “And the realization?”

He can’t argue the hero complex and praise kink thing, because they both know that would be a lie, so he answers, “When I was done rambling about my character idea, he whistled and said If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me and my first thought was yes.”

Robin’s eyes light up before she starts marching in a small circle around him as she thinks out loud. “Fuck, Steve, you really don’t do anything halfway. Alright. So, you want to do something about this, but you have to decide what you want to do. Because you are my soulmate and I want you happy, but like Eddie is also my friend and if you are experimenting… Just. You have to be sure.”

“I’m sure.”

She stops her circling to squint at him and read his mind, he supposes, because her face lights up in delight. “Oh shit! It’s not sexy thoughts! You want to like, hold his hand and cuddle on the couch, and like, cook dinner together and serve him breakfast in bed and bicker about whose turn it is to pick up Dustin from school!”

“Jesus Robin, can you not shout that! We are out here, so they,” he flings his hand in the direction of the house, “don’t hear. But, yeah. I… I like him. A lot.”

“I can see that. Like, really see that. You like him so much that just his company would be enough. Disgusting. Let me think,” she waves him off, like he has been dismissed but instead she’s the one walking away, walking figure eights around area in front of him for a couple minutes before whirling around to say, “You have to make your character a flirt. An outright slut, even. For information gathering purposes of course.”

“What?”

“He plays all the other characters, Stephan,” she says, dragging out his name to make it sound like ‘Steff-fawn’, “and you know he’s good at this… being in character thing! So, like, if you can trip him up by being all flirty, then that’s like, got to be a sign that he likes you, too, right? If he doesn’t like you, he can take it in stride. But! If he’s crushing on you, too, this will be like, too good to be true to him, yeah? That’ll fluster anyone, especially if he plays on our team and probably hasn’t had many guys openly hitting on him. Plus, you can always tell when someone likes you. You haven’t been checking for signs that Eddie might like you because you weren’t even aware it might be possible. And I’m not going to get your hopes up, Eddie could be, like, a totally straight dude, but when will it ever be safer to test this?”

Steve nods. “Yeah… yeah. Eddie is good at this character thing. And I do know when people are interested. And this is safe. If I flirt and he doesn’t react, or if he recoils in disgust, I can write what I’ve done off as it’s the game and I’m just trying to be a good player. Oh God, Robin, what if he’s like not okay with gay people.”

“Then we bodily throw Eddie out your front door, never speak to him again, and tell Will he’s the new Dungeon Master.”

“That seems extreme.”

“It’d be fitting. Eddie didn’t bat an eyelash when I came out to everyone after my date with Vicki. He actually congratulated me. So, if he only hates gay men then he’d be a disgusting lesbian fetishist and he’ll have to go ASAP. I doubt that’s the case, though.”

Steve barks a laugh and jerks his head towards the house, an offer to return inside. They turn towards the house and are greeted by everyone lined up along the glass door and windows that lead to the pool. A few of them (Nancy, Max, Will) have the decency to try and pretend they weren’t watching by turning away quickly but otherwise everyone just stares at each other until Dustin hauls open the glass door and shouts, “Are you two fighting?”

“No, we aren’t fighting,” Steve says as he shoves his way past Dustin and back into the house. “Let me grab the snacks and the game can begin.”

Steve moves to the kitchen, with Robin and Eddie following behind to help gather all chips, dips, candy, and soda and deposit them on any nearby surface in the dining room. Steve then slides into the chair to Eddie’s left, where Dustin usually sits before anyone else can take that seat.

Dustin slides into the chair next to him instead of arguing about it, saying, “Captivated, aren’t you? Guess I’ll let you have my spot so you can pay attention better. Told you this game was great.”

“I’ll be paying plenty of attention, don’t you worry,” Steve says to Dustin before turning to Eddie, who has taken his place at the head of the table, and winking at him, “right, Eds?”

Eddie stops moving for barely any time at all, and honestly, if the whole point of where he sat wasn’t to be close enough to catch and catalogue all of Eddie’s reactions, he would have missed the freeze. “Oh yeah. Steve’s been following the story closely.”

Steve looks around the table and watches the kids exchange glances and shrugs before Eddie begins to recall what happened last game and where the Party is headed now. Steve waits for his cue. Eddie’s got several ways to introduce Steve’s character, just in case the kids don’t grasp onto the plot hooks. But they’re good players, who know when an adventure hook is being dangled in their face. When their characters read the notice board, looking for quests, and come across the one of a man looking to hire help in searching for his lost sister, they buy into it quickly.

“You find yourselves at the tavern where the help wanted poster said to meet. There are three other people inside this early in the day, not including the barkeep.”

“Can I go and ask the barkeep if he knows who put the poster up?” Will asks. Will speaks in the first person who it comes to his character far more often than anyone else, Steve’s noticed.

“Of course. The barkeep is a surly looking dwarf who keeps rearranging the glasses behind the counter. He sees you approaching and listens to your question before saying,” Eddie says in his normal tone, before dropping into a deeper, Scottish accent. “Aye. You passed him on the way in. He’s sitting there, close to the door.”

“Do we approach as a group?” Lucas asks, and after a quick discussion and confirmation that the table their quest giver is sat as has enough seating for them all, they agree to approach together.

Eddie nods and says, “You all approach the table and the figure sitting there looks up as you do. Steve, please describe what they see as they approach you.”

Steve opens his mouth to answer but the table explodes. Dustin shrieks and throws out his hands to grip Steve’s arm and just shake him. “Oh my God. Oh my God. OH MY GOD. STEVE!” Dustin is yelling basically in his ear. Everyone is exclaiming something in excitement, and it gets loud, fast. With no end to the onslaught of screaming in sight, Steve resigns himself to this fate.

It takes far longer than it should for everyone to quiet down, and Steve’s a little red after all of it. Because he hadn’t expected this reaction. He thought Dustin might be a little hyped, sure, but this level of love he feels from all these kids, and for them, and how doing something so small, like joining their game, brings them this much joy… He regrets not joining sooner, honestly.

Finally, they quiet and Steve gets to describe his character, Sir Gregor of House Buckington (Robin’s idea of a last name, he’s not afraid to throw her under the bus for that) and the game progresses. When Steve’s asked to make his first roll of the night, everyone jumps to offer their dice, but he just calls out to Robin. She still has his in her pocket. He shoots a look at Will, who he can see recognizes the dice, and smiles at him as he rolls his first D20.

It's almost two hours into the session before Steve sees his chance to flirt. The Party is trying to negotiate a discount for some healing potions, and they’ve failed their check. They can’t afford the potions and Erica, playing the rogue, offers to try and steal them.

“Can I give Erica advantage by distracting the shop keep?” Steve asks.

Eddie looks intrigued by these. “… Maybe. How would you distract him?”

“Sir Gregor will lean against the counter and say ‘Sorry about my companion’s awkward attempts to swindle you of your goods for a fair price. I should have stepped in sooner, but I was a bit… captivated watching you shut them down’ and try and fluster this guy by flirting with him.”

It’s a mixed bag of reactions from the kids that Steve barely hears because he’s focused on Eddie. Eddie, whose face looks a bit redder than it usually does.

“You wanna… flirt with the shop keep?” Eddie’s voice is a bit higher than normal too. Interesting.

“If that’s allowed.”

“Umm, uh, y-yeah,” Eddie stumbled over his words and Steve can feel himself grinning like the cat that got the cream. Eddie is flustered. Steve has flustered him. Oh. This is going to be a good game. “Roll a persuasion check.” Steve gets a 17. “Lady Applejack, if you would, roll sleight of hand with advantage as Sir Gregor seems to have successfully taken the attention of the shopkeep.”

“I am going to enjoy having Steve play,” Erica says as she picks up her dice. “No one else helps me steal things.”

They play for almost four hours, an hour longer than normal, but Steve is surprised by how quickly it slips by and finds that he’s a little disappointed that it has to end, especially since they’ve stopped one round into combat. It’s a terrible place to stop, but if the kids are any later getting home there might be a reckoning done by some parents. The only reason there isn’t one now is because Nancy, ever practical about things, called all the parents about an hour and a half ago to let them know the kids might be an hour or two late getting home.

“We’ll pick up next week,” Eddie says, standing to get a good look at the battle map to copy it into his notebook.

“You can just leave it out so you don’t have to recreate it,” Steve says, like he does every week. “I won’t mess with it.”

And like every week before, Eddie just pulls out his graph paper and starts to track how many squares apart everyone is as the kids pack up their own things and head out. Steve walks them all to the door and Robin hangs back to talk, waiting on the front step. Steve walks out and shuts the door behind him.

“He’s absolutely into you,” Robin whispers. “Do you know that this means? We can go on double dates! I’ll be Eddie’s fake date, because I’m not sure Vicki and Eddie should be left alone to conspire against us but-“

“I think it’s a bit too soon to be planning double dates, Buckley,” Steve cuts her off. “Yeah, Eddie’s into me. But like… into me? Does he even know he’s into me?”

“Right. Could also be in the denial phase, still,” she says, then deepens her voice in a poor imitation of Eddie’s and adds, “I think Steve is hot but in a purely platonic friend-like fashion.”

He laughs, shoving Robin towards Jonathan’s car, where everyone else is loaded and waiting, “go home.”

She leaves laughing and Steve waves them off before going back inside. He finds Eddie at the table, placing the minis carefully back into the tacklebox he keeps them in.

“Seriously, you don’t have to put everything away,” Steve says and Eddie jumps.

“Jesus! Don’t sneak up on me,” Eddie clutches at his heart dramatically.

“I didn’t sneak! You’re lost in your own head if you didn’t hear the door slam or my footsteps,” Steve leans back against the wall, watching Eddie. The other man nods to himself, hands still fiddling with a mini in his hand. The one he’d used for Steve’s character. Steve watches and wishes he could read Eddie’s mind as easily as Robin reads his.

“Thank for playing tonight,” Eddie finally says, placing the mini back onto the table instead of in the tacklebox before turning to Steve. “You did real good.”

Steve gives him a smile he hopes Eddie can see if soft and fond, “yeah? I put a lot of effort into this. Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan helped me.”

“You recruited all three?”

“Yeah. I wanted to put in the effort. I’ve watched several games now; I see how much time you all put into this. It’d be an asshole move to agree to join and not, like, at least read the rules.”

Eddie hums an agreement, “would be kinda asshole-ish, but you’re certainly not an asshole anymore.”

Steve fakes wounded, “you thought I was an asshole?”

“Well, it would be a pretty dick move on my part to think you’re an asshole after everything,” Eddie takes a step towards Steve, then seems startled at himself, like he can’t believe he moved. “Anyway, you willing to play again next week?”

“Yeah, man. Looking forward to it.”

“Cool. Cool,” Eddie nods before turning to gather up the stuff he brought with him. “I’ll see you next week, then.”

“Totally.”

Steve watches Eddie head towards the door and feels something like regret in his stomach. Logically he knows he doesn’t have to rush this. Doesn’t have to fling himself at Eddie immediately now that he knows he wants to, knows that Eddie is at least enough into him to get flustered with his ‘fake’ flirting.

But.

But Steve has lived through four apocalypses and Eddie almost didn’t survive one and life is worth taking a chance on doing things he never thought he’d do (like playing and enjoying a game of Dungeons and Dragons), so- He picks up his D20 from the table and gives it a roll, leaves it up to chance if he should do this now or wait.

It rolls around the table, bounces off the books still left on the table before rolling to a stop.

Eh, 8 is good enough.

“Eddie, wait!” Steve flings open his front door and shouts. Eddie, in the process of backing out of the driveway, brakes. Steve runs across his yard and Eddie, window already cracked, rolls it the rest of the way down.

“Yeah?”

“Wanna go on a date with me,” Steve says, then winces. He used to be better at this. “Please. I mean, go on a date with me. Oh, that sounds worse, like I’m expecting you to. Which I’m not-I don’t expect you to like me just because I like you. Fuck, I’m ruining this. Would you like to go on a date with me, please?”

Eddie just lets him shove his foot in his mouth, but he looks fond more than annoyed. Still, he says, “I, uhh, didn’t know you were… into guys.”

“Guys in general, sure. You, specifically? Ridiculously into you.”

That brings a smile to Eddie’s face. “Yeah?”

“So, uh date tomorrow? After I get off work?”

“Tomorrow,” Eddie agrees easily.

Steve watches Eddie drive away and suddenly he can’t wait for work tomorrow. Robin’s going to implode when he tells her.

Eddie, after getting off the phone with Steve the night before the game: Oh, he wants to do drugs before having to suffer through watching us play dnd again. Better bring my druglunchbox

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #platonic stobin #they're slowly combining they just dont know that yet #my fic

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otome--fantasy · 5 years

Text

Of Demons and Dragons

Ikemen Sengoku Imagine: Being able to turn into a dragon

Prologue

Warnings: Swearing,detailed descriptions of panic/anxiety, I tried to follow the prologue as closely as possible, but obviously some things are different - some dialogue has changed, and some isn't there at all. Dragon shenanigans were kept to a minimum....sort of, can't have everyone finding out in the first part now can we? If this turns into a series it will probably be an amalgamation of all the routes put together and some of my own imagination.

You awake in the Sengoku period, confused as to how you had gone from standing infront of a monument to laying in a burning building. Had someone drugged you? Was it that weird science guy? It would have had to be, he was the only one there with you. All you remember was standing infront of the monument and then- nothing. You attempt to sit up with a light groan at the sudden headache you apparently have, and look around to take in your surroundings. A gasp is caught in your throat when you realize you're in a burning building.

"Oh!" You can barely hear your own shocked voice over the sound of crackling flames, there's a man with a sword is standing over one who appears to be asleep. The confusion, the fear, the shock, and now the anger, it all becomes too much for you when the figure raises the sword above his head. Before you know it, your line of sight becomes elevated, the sound of fabric tearing to pieces fills your ears, and an absolutely ghastly growl rumbles through your throat and escapes your snarling maw. The man who was standing whips around. It's night and the dancing flames appear to make his face warp constantly in the darkness, had you not just turned you would have found his face frightening, but in your dragon form you felt safer. The reflection of the inferno dances in your eyes, making them appear as if they are glowing, "Demon...!"

That's all the mystery man needs to flee the scene of the crime before another growl leaves your throat. You huffed, snorting as you watched the black figure disappear through the flames, before the warmth around you appears to grow more intense. You glance around and realize the flames are quickly closing in around you, and without hesitation you jump for the man, grab him and the blanket covering him, and take off a safe distance above the flames before diving to the secure ground below. With a quick assessment, you're able to verify that there is no one around to see you, before you close your eyes, take a deep breath in, calm your mind -you feel the elevation of your head lowering- deep breath out, and you open your eyes to find you are smaller now, back to being a human, and bare. You wrap the large blanket around you, before you look down at the man you just saved who is surprisingly still asleep.

You hear faint voices to your general left, though they are so far you can't quite make out what they're saying. Slowly you bend down and begin to shake the man and when his eyes shoot open, you're once again surprised though now that you think about it all that must have jostled him from his deep sleep, at least a bit. His piercing mahogany eyes turn to look at you, and for a moment he seems to be scrutinizing you for waking him up, "Who are you?"

His gaze shifted to the building burning to the ground behind you, "Ah," you must have somehow managed to drag him to safety.

"Someone-" he cut you of before you could get more than a word out.

"Someone tried to do away with me while I slept?" You were honestly surprised he came to such a conclusion instead of assuming the fire was an accident, or perhaps he had been fighting the man with the sword and was knocked unconscious by him? You nodded, "Yes."

"Audacious, but foolish." Well you wouldn't have called it foolish seeing as, if you hadn't been there, he would have been dead, "You there, woman, let go of me."

"Oh sorry," You hadn't realized you were still holding on to him till he said something and pulled your hands back. The strange man sat up and you stood, taking a couple steps back to give him some space, "You saved me, yes?" All you could do was nod as he looked you over. You hadn't sustained any burns, and you clung to that blanket rather tightly- telling him you may not have much underneath.

"You may be some girl the monks snuck in for amusement," excuse you? "But I owe you my thanks."

You resisted the urge to bite his head off, "Sorry, I must have missed all the amused monks while I dragged your unconscious body out of a burning building, but your welcome anyways." You asshole.

"Besides," you looked back to the building before returning your gaze to him, "I don't even know how I got in there." Though you had your suspicions. You took in what he was wearing. He wasn't wearing the normal night attire one would assume someone who was sleeping would wear. He looked like a samurai from a movie that takes place in the old days, but it was easy to tell his clothes weren't replicas, and the sword at his side was definitely real. You could dismiss the lack of night attire due to the fact that he may have been fighting that other man before being knocked unconscious, but that didn't make his garb any less odd.

"What are you staring at? Surely you know who I am?" You didn't hold back your deadpan expression this time, he didn't look like any famous actor or star you cared about, so why would you recognize him, "No, actually, I don't."

"You saved me without knowing who I am? Not expecting reward or favor?" He glared back at you, suspicion creeping into his mind. Should you not have been a decent person? "So be it." He smirked in an amused manner that was really starting to grate your nerves, "I am the man who will rule all under the sun-"

"Actually, I dont want to know," he was cocky and full of him self, and after experiencing it and his rudeness, you were just about done with him.

"What? You're a curious one, woman. No one has ever spoken so impudently to me before-"

"I honestly don't care." You could hear the voices from before getting louder or maybe closer, and deduced that you should probably take your leave. You were about to do just that when the man before you let out a laugh, "You intrigue me, which is almost as worthy of praise as saving my life."

Does this guy ever stop monologue-ing?

"I am the lord of Azuchi Castle and Daimyo of Owari, Nobunaga Oda."

You bristled at this, and turned towards the building to study its appearance more closely. The words "Hono-ji" engeraved on the pillars assured you that this was the famous temple you had read about, "What year is it?" You asked sternly, no longer in the mood for any of this guys goading.

"It's 1582, why?"

You didn't answer, just shook your head disbelievingly before you took a couple more steps back, "No."

You refused to believe it, this had to be some kind of social experiment prank or something. Just as you were about to storm off a man dressed in white and purple on horseback appeared.

"Who is that?" You still wore a bit of a hostile look on your face, and that combined with you standing over Nobunaga -who was still sitting on the ground- was a pretty damning sight.

"Mitsunari?"

The man in question quickly hopped off his horse and swiftly drew is sword to point it at you.

"What are you doing here?"

You could feel your teeth sharpening behind your pursed lips, your vision seemed to become enhanced, and a low growl that neither of the men seemed to hear bubbled in the back of your throat, but you didn't shift.

"And where is Hideyoshi?"

"Lord Hideyoshi sent me ahead," Mitsunari went to help Nobunaga up with his sword still pointed at you, "He should be here shortly." Once his leader was up, he backed away, pulling the raven hard man with him before using himself to shield him from you, "We recieved information about an assasination attempt," he looked to the burning temple behind you before his accusing eyes snapped back to you, "It appears to have been true."

Nobunaga was quick to squash what Mitsunari was suspecting with a strong and commanding voice, "This is not my would-be assassin, Mitsunari, this woman has saved me."

The man with the drawn sword studied you before turning back to his lord, as if to ask for clarification. Nobunaga sighed, "She dragged me out of the burning building."

"All by herself?" He seemed to not believe that a woman could pull a grown man from the upper floors, down the stairs, and out of a burning building. And technically he would be correct in terms of that's not how you did it, but these men didn't need to know that.

With a nod from the raven haired man, Mitsunari put his sword away, "Thank you miss...?" He once again looked to Nobunaga who had now moved to stand beside his vassal, "She has yet to introduce herself to me."

You stood your ground, not so much as giving a polite bow when you gave them your name. Mitsunari seemed a bit in awe - having never met a woman with so much confidence, and Nobunaga nearly smirked at your tenacity before he decided it was time to remind you of a womans place in this world, "You cheeky woman, you do not even bow to the lord of this land?"

No, you don't bow to anyone. Your abilities were a wonderful confidence booster in that -if you wanted to, you could kick their asses right here, right now, "You haven't given me reason to bow to you, you might be 'Lord' of this land, but you hold no rank over me- I. Am. Not. One of your subordinates."

His amused expression turned sharp and he glared at you. Had looks been able to kill, surely his eyes would have pierced you like knives- but they couldn't kill, and you weren't just your everyday meek woman that a man like him must have been used to seeing. So you glared right back.

"Please this is on me," Mitsunari was now playing referee as he held his hands out between the two if you, "It was rude of me not to introduce myself first." He looked towards you, placing the hand directed at you over his chest while the other remained extended towards Nobunaga, "My name is Mitsunari Ishida." He bowed slightly to you in the form of a head nod, "I serve at the side if Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Nobunaga's right-hand man."

Your glare faded and you could feel your teeth receding back to normal and your body language relaxed, though you remained vigilant, "Nice to meet you," you gave a polite nod back.

"I cannot thank you enough for protecting our lord's life."

"It's fine," you broke eye contact with Mitsunari to glance at Nobunaga, who's stance had also relaxed, before returning them to the silver-haired man, "though he is kinda' making me regret it."

"Please, do not take it to heart!" He smiled gently at you, "And pardon me, " his voice turned a bit unsure, "but you do not appear to be a nun, and your uh," he looked at the blanket questioningly, "dress is unusual. Are you from abroad?"

"You could say that." Perhaps now was not the best time to tell them you were from a different time period. You were sassy, smart mouthed, fearless or stupid -whatever they chose to see your brashness as- and you showed animosity upon introduction. They might think you're crazy if they didn't already.

"Perhaps we should take you to get cleaned up?" Mitsunari began to lead the both of you back to their camp and it wasn't till then you relized that your skin was covered in ashes and soot, "I would appreciate that."

Mitsunari reached for the saddle bag as they walked and pulled out an extra set of robes that would undoubtedly fit you a few sizes too big. You took them anyways with a polite smile, "Thank you," and before you knew it, the three of you were at camp. Nobunaga's men crowded he and Mitsunari, happy to see they were okay. Luckily for you, you were able to squeeze past and sneak into a vacant tent to quickly change your attire.

Once you stepped out, the group had dispersed and Mitsunari once again approached you to guide you to the center of camp where a warm camp fire and some sitting logs waited for you, "Wait right here," he urged you to sit, "I'll bring you a warm cup of good, clean was water to clear your throat."

The fire and smoke honestly hadn't bothered you, I mean you were a dragon. You watched Mitsunari walk off, staring into space till a familiar voice snapped you out of your thoughts, "You clean up well."

You snorted and turned to look at Nobunaga, the glare from earlier returning to your face as you did not appreciate the way he was eyeing you, "Tch," you propped your elbows on your knees, looked back in the general direction Mitsunari had disappeared, and used your hands to support your head as you hunched over in defeat at once again having to share space with this man, "Gee, you sure do know how to compliment a lady."

"My lord." You perked up when someone parted the curtain and entered the camp, but you quickly deflated again as it wasn't Mitsunari. Great, another new face, "I see you are well."

"Mitsuhide?" Nobunaga's attention was no longer on you, but you quickly followed his gaze at the mention of yet another name you had heard about. You watched him like a hawk, surely he wouldn't do anything stupid in the middle if a camp full of soldiers loyal to the man you were currently sitting next to, but it didn't hurt to people watch.

"I hurried when I heard about the attack, but it seems there was nothing for me to worry about."

"You worry?" Nobunaga chuckled at that, "I have never even seen you break a sweat."

You rolled your eyes, about to drown out their banter before another person emerged from behind the curtain, "Lord Nobunaga! Are you injured?"

You raised a brow at this mother hen.

"Hideyoshi. The only injury I suffered is to my pride in letting my assailant escape."

And zoning out again.

"And what of her?" You looked at Hideyoshi in time to see him motion to you, "Leave her be," Nobunaga waved you off, as he told his right hand your name, "Oh and she saved my life."

"You saved Nobunaga's life...?" Mitsuhide sounded as if he didn't believe the tale, "And you're such a slender thing. But it appears your courage makes up for it."

You glared at the white-haired man, and were about to stand when Nobunaga grabbed you by the back of your robes and pulled you back down to sit, "Yes, she is a bit of a fireball."

"Mitsuhide, what are you doing here?"

You huffed and zoned out again. You didn't have time for any of this, you had to figure out how to get back home. If you could get back home. You ended up back in time, surely there had to be a way back to the present.

"Stop being evasive," you zoned back in when Hideyoshi raised his voice, "Confess!" And saw him grip his sword, "If I find out you played any part in this attack on our lord, Mitsuhide, I'll show you no mercy."

Children.

"It wasn't him," you piped up from your seat next to the man in charge. The bickering men turned to look at you questioningly, "Sure, let's not ask the person who was there if they saw anything," you leaned back, propping your hands up on the edge of the log you were sitting on to keep upright, "Let's instead just point fingers and make false accusations."

"What?"

You shrugged, "I caught a glimpse of the man who attacked Nobu- your Lord Nobunaga," more like you stared him down and put the fear of god in him but again, they don't need to know that, "and Mitsuhide's silhouette is all wrong."

"Stay out if this," Hideyoshi scolded you like you were the one behaving like a child, "We'll settle things with you later, and learn why you've schemed to get so close to Lord Nobunaga."

"Excuse you!" You shot up off your seat this time and stormed up to the both of them before Nobunaga had the chance to grab you again, "I am not scheming to get close to him! If I wanted him dead I could have just left him to die in that fire," you felt your canines poking your lip and huffed, before forcing yourself to calm down by crossing your arms and turning away from them, "Your boss sleeps like the dead anyways."

"Enough, all of you," Nobunaga stood up this time, "Reguardless of what brings Mitsuhide here, I am alive and well."

Hideyoshi's attention left you and Mitsuhide to look at Nobunaga as he addressed the three of you, "My apologies, Lord Nobunaga," Hideyoshi released his grip on his sword and relaxed a bit.

"Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide, leave us. I have something to discuss with our newest acquaintance." The raven haird war lord waved off the other two causing them to step aside as he approached you, "Your sharp tongue and brash nature aside, you saved my life."

You raised a brow and held back a small growl.

"I'm intrigued by you. You're a woman who carries fortunes favor, of that I am certain."

You resisted rolling your eyes at this, luck had nothing to do with you both making it out of that burning temple, "To be fair, I would argue that-"

Nobunaga didn't allow you to finish as he quickly grasped your arm, pulled you towards him, and then slid a hand around your waist to draw you even closer, "How would you like to rule at my side?"

Your head whipped back, your brows furrowed, and the rest of your face scrunched up slightly like you smelled something awful, "What?" You grabbed the hand that was still around your waist and pulled it off to give yourself enough space to rip out of his grasp, "Hell no!" You dropped his hand and took a couple more steps back till your were comfortable with the distance between the two of you.

"What?" Nobunaga seemed a bit perplexed as to why your would turn down such an offer.

You looked around you and noticed everyone's eyes were on you and you shook your head, exclaming, "You all are crazy," before you made a break for it. You found yourself once again scared, confused, and overwhelmed with the situation at hand. Your heart was pounding both from you running out of the small camp and from adrenaline that was now coursing through you veins. Your chest felt tight, and you had to fight to keep control of yourself.

As you entered the woods your vision shifted, and suddenly things were a lot clearer - as opposed to everything being dark, blury, and dimly lit by the moonlight, everything looked bright, vibrant and crisp. It was like someone put a photo editing filter over your eyes and turned up the brightness, saturation, and clarity, but that's just what happenes when the dragon in you was trying to take hold of the steering wheel. The sudden shift only served to make you more disoriented. Everything seemed like it was popping out at you, and you had no choice but to stop once you reached a clearing.

'Calm down, calm down.' You took a deep breath and paced yourself to a slow walk around the forest clearing as your thoughts attempted to calm you, 'You're fine, you're fine.'

Though you paused in the center when your breath was stolen from you and you felt your teeth poke the inside of your mouth, 'No,' deep breath in, close your eyes- the cold chill of the air seemed to no longer nip at your skin, 'Not now, not now- we're fine,' deep breath out, the chill returned, you opened your eyes. Everything looked much more dull. You didn't hear the soft chime of bells in the wind or the quiet sound of dried leaves crunching under someone's feet, you were too busy fighting the change. Normally the transition happened smoothly, and when you wanted it to happen or let it happen, you could hardly notice a change, but when you were fighting it as hard as you were, the shift could be a bit traumatic.

"Young lady."

Damn it, can't you ever catch a break?!

"What are you doing out in the woods this late at night?"

A low growl bubbled at the back of your throat as you whipped around to see who had been following you, 'A monk?' You were thrown off enough for your small fit of anger to disappear.

"I am called Kennyo, and I am a traveling monk. Perhaps I can be of assistance to you?"

"No thanks," you replied sharply. He was giving you the heebie jeebies. The look in his eyes didn't seem right, and the scar across his face told you he was a survivor, but of what, and at what cost? He took a long stride towards you and you had only been able to take a couple small steps back, before he placed a hand on your shoulder, "You should return home quickly, Demons lurk in these woods at night."

Fuck that, fuck him, fuck this place, and fuck who/whatever brought you here! You wordlessly slapped his hand away before darting into the woods again. Your frantic run triggering yet another flare up, one that you were unaware of as iridescent scales seemed to coat your skin and protect you from any scrapes and cuts you would have otherwise recieved from the foliage around you. You looked back for a split second to see if you were being followed, and the slight break in attention at where you were headed was all that was needed to hinder you unable to see the quickly approaching cliff - till a sixth sense told you to stop.

"Watch out!" Your body jerked to an abrupt halt and your feet kicked up a large cloud of dust, however, just as you stopped the ground came loose from underneath you. "Woah, hey!"

Had your reflexes not been fast enough you would have surely fallen to your death, but luckily, you managed to whip your body around fast enough to grab hold of the sturdier ground. Another man, who looked vaguely familiar, came to your aid and swiftly grabbed your hand before pulling you up, "I was trying to tell you there was a cliff, what are you deaf?!"

You aided him and pulled yourself up the rest of the way before quickly snapping at him, "Sorry, I was busy running for my life!"

He attempted to help you stand, but you were determined to do so on your own. You sighed as you got to your feet and dusted yourself, before this stranger leaded you away from the edge.

"Besides, I would have been fine," you sighed.

"Yeah, you certainly looked fine, dangling from the side of a cliff and holding on for dear life."

You couldn't argue with that standpoint, less you wished to raise suspicion, so you merely pouted, "Thanks, I guess..."

Deciding to brush off the attitude, he merely shook his head and continued to lead you away from the cliff, "It's fine."

"What's this Yuki?"

Your head snapped up in the direction of another voice as a taller silhouette walked out from the bushes, "We've been here ten minutes and you've already found yourself a girl?"

"Dont tease me, Lord Shingen. She almost plummeted to her death."

You 'humfed' at how they seemed to make light of your situation and stubbornly turned your head away from them, till 'Yuki' got your attention again, "What even were you doing running around the forest this late at night?" You didn't respond and merely eyed him.

"Hmm. Smoke from Honno-ji, and a woman all alone at night." You looked towards Shingen as he spoke, "Perhaps you're a ghost?" You scoffed. "Though you're the most beautiful ghost I have ever seen."

Close by like a hair, "No." With your senses on high alert, you looked towards the foliage where two other men were about to emerge from, "Your ability to spew-up cheap pickup lines never ceases to amaze me."

"I just call it like I see it, Kenshin."

"You there," the man next to Kenshin called your attention, "Could you step into the light? Thank you."

"What?" You gave him an odd look before he grabbed you with a slender hand and drew you out into the moonlight. You audibly hissed at being touched without your permission and just missed slapping his hand when he released you.

"What a fine piece of work." Your glare only deepened. You would rather face the war lords you just left to these flirty travelers, "Sorry," Shingen interjected, "I laid eyes on this angelic treasure first."

"We can share," the unnamed stranger argued, "Art is to be loved and shared by all-"

You promptly shoved past the both of them, causing them to be caught off guard by your physical strength as you actually managed to make them both stumble slightly, "Excuse you!"

The more dainty of the two gently clasped your hand, "Would you be interested in exchanging the kimono you're wearing with one from my collection?"

"For the last time Yoshimoto-" Ah, so he does have a name, "Women are not pieces of art, so get your hands off her would you?!" You aided Yuki in snatching your kimono away from Yoshimoto and huffed, before walking to stand behind Yuki to put some kind of barrier between you and them.

"My lords," you bristled and whipped around at the sound of another new voice, "I've returned. Nobunaga's forces have extinguished the fires at Honno-ji."

You eyed him quizzically, this one looked and sounded familiar though it was hard to tell with the black mask covering half his face. "Thank goodness they did." Yoshimoto was the first to respond, "That temple houses many treasures. I fear for the fire damage."

He was dressed in tight fitted layers of clothing with interchanging patterns of camouflage, and solid black and dark greens, but it was the glasses that made you suspicious. "Thank you for your investigation," Kenshin nodded in approval, "So I presume Nobunaga is alive then?"

"Yes."

"He's got the devil's luck," Shingen crossed his arms and shook his head disbelievingly.

"Or he is the Devil," Yuki jested.

You had been studying the ninja the entire time - his hidden facial structure, the shape of his body, his eyes, his smell, but it wasn't till you swiftly moved towards him and walked around him much like a predator would circle its prey, that he looked towards you. A look of recognition passed his face, "You-!"

You stopped in your motions, eyes so sharp they could kill a man, "I know you," it was more a statement than a question.

"We happened to run into her here," Kenshin informed his vassel as he watched the exchange, "Do you indeed know this woman?"

"No," the ninja tried to quickly take back his words, "She must be mistaken. Though I spotted a village on the way here. She must be from there. I'll escort her home."

He gave you little to no time to argue as he walked behind you, placed his hands on your shoulders and steered you back into the forest.

"Moving quick, aren't you, Sasuke? You and Yoshimoto both. Give the rest of us a chance, will you?" Sasuke paused to look back at the others, "Lord Shingen please, you and the others should return to the city," he left no more room for commentary as he continued to push you into the woods.

Once you were deep enough, you went off, "You!" You whipped around and pointed a finger in his face, "Did you have something to do with this?!"

"What?" He was caught off guard.

"This!" You motioned to the world around you, giving him your back for a split second before turning back around with different colored eyes contracted into slits, and snarled, "All of this!"

He backed off, his ears catching the creature-like noise you just made. He thought that hiss he heard earlier was just from some animal in the woods, but now there was no mistaking it, it had come from you, "Did you bring me here on purpose?!"

"W-what?" You stormed toward him, and he backed up till he hit a tree when his eyes caught the sight of your teeth sharpening into points. He was a well trained ninja, but his training had not prepared him for seeing someone morph into a monster before his very eyes- at least not into the kind you were.

"I said."

There was a loud, low pitched thump from behind you, and for a brief moment Sasuke tore his eyes away to look, only to be met with the sight of a long, pearlescent, scaly tail.

"Did you." He looked back at you, but your face was no longer that of a human woman, it was instead a scaled beast with an elongated muzzle, and horns that may have better been described as antlers.

"Bring me here." He had to crane his head upwards to keep eye contact with you as your head raised up into the sky due to your neck having grown in length. He looked down for a split second to examine the rest of your body. The kimono, being a more loose fitting garb, seemed to have untied and merely slid off your body. You were indeed no longer human, but were instead a long serpent-like creature on four legs with a long voluminous mane running down your spine. A dragon.

"On purpose!" You roared to forcibly call his attention back to your face, and he did so without hesitation.

"You recognize me?" He lowered his mask and you hissed, "You can hide your face but not your smell."

How are you talking without moving your mouth?!

"You're that scientist I met at the monument," your head lulled from side to side, only causing Sasuke to want to disappear into the tree bark behind him, "How did we get here, in the past, and why are you dressed like a ninja?"

"Please could you just," he boldly placed a hand on the bridge of your snout and lightly pushed you back, "I need space."

You growled but did so, backing off a bit so Sasuke could pull himself off from against the tree and walk to the side of you by a couple steps, "It's best if I start from the beginning- My name is Sasuke. And just like you I come from the present- or future, rather." You snarled, wanting him to get to the point.

"Right, right sorry-" he fumbled with his words, to give you an explanation in layman's terms, "Basically, that lightning strike that almost hit us caused a spacetime warp and sent us into the past." You merely stared at him for a second, and he caught on to what you wanted when you appeared to be studying his clothing and intensified your glare. He backed up a couple steps, "W-we entered the wormhole at the same time. However, for reasons unknown, I arrived 4 years prior to you, and in that time I've equipped myself with the skills necessary to make myself a viable asset- both for my safety and employment."

With that you huffed and backed off him, giving the ninja some breathing room, "You believe me?" Of course it was the truth, but there was no way of knowing if the travel had somehow warped your way of thinking.

"You just watched me turn into a dragon before your eyes, and you're going to ask me if I think time travel is possible?"

"Fair point," he wasn't going to bother correcting you on the smaller details, less he wish to get bit, scratched, or barbecued- whatever it was you were able to do in this form. Sasuke flinched as you let out a long deep breath, before shifting back to normal human. Your dragon scales stood up on end, much like a dogs fur would if it had its hackles raised, before they simply just dispersed in a puff and floated up into the air like a hoard of migrating butterflies, only to disappear into a dust that reflected the moonlight. He looked back down at you as your scales disappeared into the night, and immediately regretted his decision. You were completely nude.

"I'm so sorry!" He covering his eyes, causing his glasses to push up higher against his face before he turned around and gave you his back. You simply blinked and picked up the robes that had been gifted to you by Mitsunari and redressed, "You can look now."

Sasuke peaked slightly through his hands and feigned a cough when he saw you were indeed completely dressed again, "Yes well...I have devised a way to predict when these wormholes will appear, it is why I was at the monument that night- to see if my hypothesis was correct."

"Sounds great, so when's our next ticket home?" You didn't bother pretending to be excited. You felt like he got you into this mess, so he should get you out of it.

"That I do not know-"

You growled.

"Yet!" He raised his hands up in a reflexive effort to calm you, "I was only able to predict the wormhole that got us here three months in advance and I have yet to find any evidence of another one appearing anytime soon."

You calmed as he gave you an explanation. Sounded reasonable enough.

You perked when you heard your name being called, and your gave a sharp look in the direction it had come from, before pushing Sasuke into the foliage in the opposite direction, "Keep in touch," you stated simply before turning your back to him and returning to the center of the small clearing.

"Where are you? Come out!" You recognized Hideyoshi's voice. You heard a simple rustle of leaves before silence, and you assumed that, just like that, Sasuke had disappeared into the night.

You remained in the clearing till the sound of galloping horses got closer, "There you are!" You looked first at Hideyoshi, then to the person who had accompanied him, before looking back at the chestnut-haired warlord, "I searched the whole forest for you."

You tilted your head innocently though your voice still showed your distrust of them, "How sweet-"

"Hiding yourself from Lord Nobunaga for no reason what so ever," he began to berate you, "How insolent can you get?"

"I wasn't hiding," you corrected, "I was running, and I didn't ask for you to come find me."

The man on the other horse laughed at this, gaining your attention. He was another raven haired man, dressed in blues, blacks, and gold, with an eye patch over his right eye, "What a stalwart lass indeed. I have no doubt you are the woman who defied Lord Nobunaga."

"Oh, you're making me blush," you said sarcastically, "Are you someone else I'm supposed to recognize?"

The one eyed man snickered and extended a hand to reach for you, "I'd be pleased if you did, but now's not the best time to talk."

You stepped back out of his reach, only to bump into Hideyoshi's horse. The animal did not move but you whipped around see what it was you bumped into and the answer made you back up again towards the strange pirate man.

"Hey!" He grabbed a hold of your arm and pulled you up, "let me go!" You bared your teeth at him as he tucked you snugly against his chest so you sat sideways between him and the horses neck.

"Oh put the fangs away, I'm Masamune Date. Remember it, lass."

You subconsciously raised your hand to feel your teeth, worried for a moment that your fangs were indeed showing before your attention went to Hideyoshi as he spoke, "Masamune is head if the noble Date family of Oshu. He's also allied with Lord Nobunaga, so show some respect."

You rolled your eyes, "It's a pleasure, can you put me down now?"

"Settle down, you'll spook the horse," you captor smirked down at you. Oh you were going to do a lot more than spook the horse if he didn't let you go. Your brief moment of silence is all he needed to urge the horse to go forward with a snap of the reins and a shout.

"Hey wait!" Horseback riding was not something you were accustomed to, normally if you wanted to get around you either walked or flew, you didn't even like taxis or buses - too small and they made you claustrophobic.

"Dont loose her, Masamune!"

"I won't," he adjusted you so you were tucked more tightly against him, "Hold on tight," as the horses speed picked up, you didn't need to be told twice to hold on and you clung to the one eyed warlord like a frightened cat.

You all rode through the night and after some time you grew bored of clinging for dear life, so you adjusted your sitting position and held on to the horses mane. You enjoyed the wind that blew past you, and if you closed your eyes you could almost pretend you were flying- almost, had riding a galloping horse not been so rough.

When you arrived at your destination you were in awe of the structure before you- it was like a fortress, a city, and a castle all rolled into one.

"We're here," Masamune announced, "Azuchi Castle, home of the Oda forces." You looked around in awe. This place looked like you had jumped right into a movie set. "Don't show yourself to Lord Nobunaga like that, you look like a gaping frog."

Stupid Hideyoshi. You promptly snapped your mouth shut in favor of gritting your teeth and shooting him a glare. "So your a morning person," Masamune speaking into your ear sent a surprised shock down you spine, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

"Oh buzz off!" You had completely forgotten he was still holding you, but you took the opportunity to slap him in the chest.

"Oh? But I quite like where you are right now."

"Masamune-" Hideyoshi reprimanded his fellow warlord, "Nobunaga has taken an interest in her, so keep your hands off."

"Listen you two-" you were cut off by the sound of squealing women.

"Hideyoshi! Welcome back!"

"Over here Hideyoshi!"

"Oh Masamune, you're dashing as ever! Who's your friend?"

You growled slightly at being noticed and subconsciously hid your face in Masamune's chest. Surely you hadn't thought you could hide in plain view, but you really didn't want this interaction to happen - you were tired, agitated, and not in the mood for having to deal with so many people at once.

"Oh! Is she shy?!" One of them gushed and brought her hands to her chest.

"More like antisocial," Hideyoshi took a quiet jab at you with a small chuckle before dismounting his horse and walking towards the crowd of women. Masamune laughed at your behest, and you peaked your head out slightly to watch, before sticking your tongue out at Hidayoshi for a brief moment. You half hoped the group was as viscous as the girls back in your time could get, and that he would simply just disappear into the crowd, but of course we can't all get what we want.

"I've told you there's no need to come all the way to the gate for me. What about your work?" Hideyoshi's tone with then was vastly different compared to the way he addressed you.

"I finished early so I could see you when you come back," one of the women replied. You groaned and rolled your eyes in an exhausted manor before burrowing your face back in Masamune's chest - an action that was met by another laugh, "Jealous, lass?"

You scoffed, "Annoyed," you crossed your arms, which looked a bit silly with you hiding your face so determinedly, "Don't like large group interactions."

"Welcome back, Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Masamune," you visibly perked up at the sound if Mitsunari's voice.

'Sweet angel from up above, get me out of here!'

"Even Ieyasu came out to say hi. That's rare." You hadn't noticed the man standing a bit behind Mitsunari in the shadows, "Ieyasu?"

"Right there," Masamune wrapped a hand around your shoulder as he pointed at the man with his other hand, he was fair skinned, and blond, with green eyes, and wore clothes in varying hues of yellow and orange, "That sourpuss next to Mitsunari. You should take this chance to say hi." Masamune then released you and dismounted the horse, before offering a hand to help you down. You examined him for a moment, deciding that he may be flirty, but he's not so bad before you took his hand and allowed him to aid you. Besides, you can't stay prickly for long if you're going to be staying here for an indefinite amount of time. Masamune took your hand and stepped forward, giving you the opportunity to place your hands on his shoulders before his made their way to your waist to pick you up and place you firmly on the ground.

"Thank you." You gave a polite nod to him before making your way towards Mitsunari and Ieyasu. Masamune merely nodded in response, not quite sure how to handle your rapid changes in demeanor. First you had the temper of the Devil, then you acted all shy and timid around that group of girls, and now you seemed so polite and regal as you passed he and Hideyoshi.

You held your head high, back straight, arms held together infront of you so your hands were hidden under the long loose sleeves, and walked heel-toe, making it seem as though you were gliding as opposed to walking. You gave Mitsunari a small soft smile, aside from that small hiccup during your first encounter, he had been the only one who was nice to you.

"Mitsunari," you greeted.

"I have been expecting your arrival, Milady." He greeted you back with a smile of his own. You opened you mouth to speak when Ieyasu interrupted.

"She looks pitiful," he spoke over you with a disapproving frown, as if whatever it was you were about to say wasn't important.

You looked at him through the corner of your eye and your sass reared its prickly little head again, "You should watch your nasty attitude, or it'll rot whatever beauty you have left," you turned up your nose at him, "However little that may be." Surely with an attitude like that his beauty was only superficial. Granted, you hadn't been the nicest since you got here, but you think you deserved a free pass having been ripped away from your life and thrown into the Sengoku period by a random wormhole.

"Both of you!" Hideyoshi came up from behind you to reprimand you both, "That is no way to greet someone, can't you at least give eachother a smile?"

"Can he?" Masamune followed close behind, "I'm not sure I've seen him do it." You huffed, "Well I was being nice, and giving them both a smile- he started it."

"How mature-" Ieyasu attempted to jab back till he snapped his mouth shut to bite back a fit of laughs, "S-stop it!" Hideyoshi and Masamune were attempting to tickle the blond, and it worked till he managed to wiggle out of their grasp, "You're both just annoying me!"

You tilted you head curiously at the display before you, till Mitsunari came around behind you and spoke to you in a low voice, "Like Lord Masamune and Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Ieyasu is allied with Lord Nobunaga." You turned to look at him, "Like the others, he came as soon as he heard there was an assasination attempt." That explained a lot.

"Everyone!" Mitsunari broke away from you to stand in the middle of the small group you and the other warlords had formed, "Shall we save the happy reunion until after our new arrivals get some rest?"

"Save yourself, Mitsunari. I'm not remotely happy about any of this." Well at least you could agree with Ieyasu about one thing.

"Oh. My apologies," the confused silver haired warlord attempted to clarify, "Then lets simply not stand around and talk outside," Mitsunari turned around to look at you, "Milady, the room you will be staying in is already prepared." Wonderful, "Please get some rest."

Mitsunari was kind enough to lead you through Azuchi Castle to your room, while the others broke off to take care of business. You were surprised when he opened a pair of sliding doors to bring your room into view- it was small, yet spacious, though that probably had to do with the fact that the furniture was not as large or clunky as some of the furnishings from your time could get. Everything was simple in shape, held a classic antique look, and was still extravagant, reminding you once more that this was the Castle of a very successful warlord.

"This room is yours to use as you like," Mitsunari gestured for you to walk in and have a look around, which you so gladly did, "I hope it's enough for you."

You blinked in amazement as you took in the finer details, slowly spinning around as you studied the room in its entirety. The lavish artistry that covered the more solid walls and the cieling, the care that went into the placement of everything, "It's more than I could've asked for." You turned to look at Mitsunari an excited smile on your face, "And you don't have to address me so formally."

"But you are a Lady, and Lord Nobunaga's savior. I couldn't possibly-" you cut him off with a wave of your hand, "Fancy titles mean nothing to me, just a means of establishing hierarchy. Which I also don't care for."

"Then I agree, on the condition that you stay as familiar with me, is that all right?" He gave a friendly smile, one that you returned, "A wonderful idea," he made you feel so happy. Must be his calm and upbeat aura.

"Thank you," he nodded gratefully, "Now take your leisure. Someone will come fetch you soon." Mitsunari gave one last smile before turning to exit the room, and close the sliding doors behind him.

You briefly wondered when you would receive word from Sasuke about a way home. What would the signs be that a new wormhole was approaching? How would he get in touch with you? With a sigh, you decided it best not to spoil your moment of piece by stressing yourself out. It was then that you noticed two other large sliding doors towards the back of your room, opposite to the entrance. Another room? You made your way over to the doors and slowly opened them. A balcony? You smiled widely, happy you would have quick access to the outside world incase you wished to take a midnight flight. Again you paused in thought, wondering how long it would take for someone to come get you, perhaps you could shift and stretch yourself out to relax. Was this room even big enough? You closed the balcony doors and glanced around your quarters, taking a mental note of how big you thought it was. The cieling seemed pretty high, and the parameter of the room itself seemed wide enough - save for the furniture, which again, didn't take up much space anyways.

You sat down on the sleeping mat in the center of your room, crossing your legs before loosening the ties on your kimono, closing your eyes, and breathing deeply. The shift was quick and effortless, no struggle or pain, with the only sign of it being a small thump on the wall from your body hitting it. You opened your eyes and looked around, the room seemed a lot smaller now, with the sound of your horns scraping the cieling reaching your ears. You glanced up and huffed - your antler-like horns would scuff and scratch the cieling, leaveing grooves if you moved in almost any direction, and that was with your head tucked firmly against you as you rested it in your back. Your long body seemed to wrap around the room at least three times, and you were a bit snug to say the least, and you couldn't see the floor at all beneath you. Your form practically took up the entire room. The tip of your tail flicked up and down, much like the tail of a cat in contemplation and a deep guttural rumble came from your throat, 'So much for stretching out...'

Your thoughts were interrupted by a small knock on one of the cieling panels and you looked up wide-eyed, worried that this was the moment you would be found out. Thankfully, you were only met face to snout with Sasuke, "Excuse me-" he froze, looking at you wide-eyed, "You seem packed in here like a sardine," he jested, earning a small grumble from you.

You attempted to shift and get into a more comfortable position to look at him, but your horns thumped against the cieling tiles and startled you with the volume of noise it made. Sasuke also momentarily freaked out, trying to move out of the way so's not to get impaled and nearly fell backwards deeper into the cieling, "Shh! No don't move!" He spoke as quietly as possible while also trying to be sure you would hear him. You promptly froze at his words.

"Why don't you just turn back?"

You looked up at him with a subtle glare and he remembered what happened back in the forest, "R-right, sorry."

"Did you follow me here?" You were quick to change the subject for his own comfort. "Yes," his demeanor effortlessly shifted back to professional, "I hid myself when those men arrived and followed your trail."

"Glad you did," your tail thumped once, "I had been wondering how you would get in contact with me."

He nodded, "Yes, I've also pieced together much of what's happened to you since you got here by watching you. You've gotten yourself into some trouble."

You scoffed, "Its nothing I can't handle, I assure you." What problem couldn't be solved by setting it on fire? Probably a lot of them, but if anyone tried to hurt you it wasn't exactly like your were the helpless dame the Oda forces believed you to be, "Besides, I'm sure you've been through your fair share of trouble," you chuckled. There was a moment of silence, "Sorry," Sasuke exhaled stiffly, "I'm still trying to come to terms with..." he looked at your body spread all around the room before his gaze went back to look you in the eyes, "all this."

You chuffed, "It's fine. Any news about our way home?" He shook his head dejectedly, "Not yet, I just wanted to be sure you would be alright here though," he placed a hand over his chest, "Sould you ever feel unsafe, please, just let me know and I will see what I can do to get you out of here."

"Oh please," you stubbornly looked away, "these men are many things- rude, bold, and flirty, but a threat I think not."

"Please don't forget," Sasuke warned you, "these are warlords miss, and while I don't question whatever power you may have, they shouldn't be taken lightly either."

"Duly noted-" your conversation was cut short by the sound of steps just outside your door.

"I'll be in touch," Sasuke quickly stated before closing the panel he had been speaking through. There was a knock at your door, to which you quickly responded, "I'm not decent!"

You wiggled your tail and cracked open the balcony doors before shifting back into a human, with your dragon form disintegrating into a horde of fluttering scales again, just as it had done in the forest, and they flowed out the open door to follow the wind before disappearing into a cloud of glittery dust. You hastily threw on the kimono you were wearing earlier before rushing to the door with a hand keeping the robe-like garb shut, "Can I help you-" you opened the sliding door out into the hall, "Mitsuhide?"

"I see you weren't able to get away from Nobunaga after all." You stared at him blankly, "He's calling for you," the white haired man continued, "Nobunaga that is. He wants to see you."

You nodded in response, "Give me a moment to better dress myself then," you shut the door without giving him a chance to respond, before walking over to the discarded pile of clothes in the center of the room. It took little time for you to get redressed, though to be honest you probably hadn't put everything on perfectly, but you didn't care. "Okay," you opened the door once again to follow Mitsuhide out and allowed him to lead you to wherever Nobunaga was.

You took this time to examine the interior of the building, making sure to try and memorize anything special that may better help you learn your way around, "You'll damage them if you continue to hold them so tightly."

You raised a brow inquisitively at him till he reached for your hand and pulled it up. You hadn't noticed you were squeezing them so tightly. Probably a nervous tick of some sort from your mind being cluttered with so many thoughts. Your mind went blank when he pulled your hand up and kissed the back of it,'Excuse me?'

"Trying to calm you down," he looked at you through his lashes and smiled mischievously before gently releasing you hand. Okay, but there were many other ways to do it that weren't that, "Well it didn't work, if anything you made it worse."

"Forgive me."

'Fuck you.' The two of you continued down the many halls and corridors, till you reached a pair of giant sliding doors. Mitsuhide didn't waste time opening the doors, "You kept me waiting," you recognized Nobunaga's voice from the otherside of the room. However, he was not the one to catch your attention first. The first thing your eyes were drawn to was the two rows that were formed to either side of him by the other warlords. Seems like they were having a meeting, "Dont just stand there," Nobunaga interrupted your thoughts, "Approach me."

You looked at Nobunaga with sharp eyes before walking towards him. There was a sitting mat a few feet in front of him, but you didn't sit, even when the raven haired man gestured for you to do so. He merely chuckled at your resilience and raised a hand when Hideyoshi moved to use force, "You are a stubborn one."

"Thank you," you crossed your arms, "Even at home, I bowed to no man." Nobunaga waved off your explanation, "You will reside in this castle," his statement was final, "and while you do so, you will give your service to me."

"I think you misunderstand, my shows of rejection, I'm not playing hard to get, I'm giving you a clear 'No'."

"Details, details, none of that matters to me. All you meed to say is 'Yes'," he didn't seem like he was budging, and for a second you thought about what would happen if you were to run again. I mean- theoretically speaking, they probably wouldn't be able to catch you. But you didn't want to spend your indefinite amount of time here on the constant run or being hunted. And if you ran and kept up your appearance as a normal human, what would he do then? Lock you in a dungeon? You sighed in an agitated manor, and you could have sworn you saw a smile begin to tug at the corners of Nobunaga's mouth as you begrudgingly took your seat on the mat infront of him, "Fine, but just for the sake of knowing what I'm getting into, how exactly am I supposed to serve you?"

"Your only duty," he grabbed your wrist before you could even register what was happening and pulled you closer to him, "is to stay nearby. That is what I need of you. You will be my lucky charm as I unify this nation and all that lies beyond." Ah yes, this again.

"You want me around because you think I'm lucky," you tried not to snicker. "Yes," he didn't seem to be joking, infact he was comically serious, "And don't fear. You shall be known as a princess from afar and will be treated as such. Spend your days on makeup, or cards and games if it suits you." Well now that couldn't be so bad. You would never admit it outloud, but dragons could be overwhelmingly vein creatures and it would help if you had someone to help tend to you. Of course, you wouldn't tell them about your....affliction, but the knowledge of having someone at your beck and call was nice it would help out a lot. You glance around the council room to gauge everyone's reactions, before returning your gaze to Nobunaga, "I have a few demands."

"Name them," Nobunaga seemed pleased, though the look disappeared from his face for a fraction of a second when you managed to easily yank your hand away - nearly making him fall forward in the process. "I am to have free roam of the castle, and the city," from the corner of your eye, Hideyoshi looked like he was about to protest, "But if we are to go along with the guise of you as a princess," Nobunaga interjected, "You will need a guard, and a curfew." Of course this guard probably served as more of a spy than anything else, and the curfew could be easily worked around... Fair and easy to deal with, "Fine, I'll accept the guard and the curfew. I assume this castle has a garden?" The raven haired leader nodded, "I can go there at anytime I please, even at night."

"Ridiculous!" Hideyoshi didn't like the idea of you sneaking around the castle at night, you merely shrugged, "Assign two guards, a day shift and a night shift one- I'll even accept only being able to go from my room to the garden and back if I must," you remained relaxed in your seat. Nobunaga nodded, "Then those will be your restrictions as far as that goes, and you shall come whenever I call."

You held back a growl, "Fair enough," you held your hand out for a shake, and Nobunaga looked at it like it was an odd gesture. He was aware of what it was, but was perplexed as to why you were doing it, "Where I'm from, a hand shake is both a friendly gesture, and a means of symbolizing a mutual agreement between two parties- think of it as a pinky promise, but for adults." Nobunaga chuckled and nodded, you certainly didn't handle yourself like the women of his time but it only made you more intriguing to him. He extended a hand out and shook your hand before you both pulled them back to your lap.

Masamune was holding back a fit of giggles the entire time as he leaned over to Hideyoshi, "I can't believe she just bargained with Lord Nobunaga. Though her requests seem trivial I'm sure that they aren't as simple as she made them seem." Hideyoshi hands balled into fists, he was sure Masamune hadn't ment it to sound the way it did, but it got him thinking, "Lord Nobunaga, I would like to volunteer as her Guard during her outings around town." You glanced at him through the corner if your eye, damn, had it been someone who wasn't in this room they might have been easy to loose or scare off. Nobunaga glanced at him with a raised brow, "Hideyoshi?" Before Nobunaga could object to having his right hand reduced to princess babysitter, you interjected while staring the brunette in the eye, "It doesn't matter who the guard is, if Hideyoshi wants to do it, then let him," you turned your gaze back to the warlord infront of you.

"So she's just going to live here and do nothing," Ieyasu tsked, "How could this waif possibly be of any use?" You opened you mouth to retort before you were cut off by Hideyoshi, "It's Lord Nobunaga's decision, Ieyasu. Hold your tongue," finally! Some traction! "Though," Hideyoshi continued, "only time will tell if we can trust her." That was fair enough, you already figured that was the reason why Hideyoshi volunteered to be your guard- or why they bothered giving you a guard at all. So someone could keep tabs on you.

While you were lost in thought, Nobunaga had taken the liberty of taking a hold of your chin between his index finger and thumb and lifted it slightly, making you look at him in the eye. You were caught off guard to say the least, manners were going to be something you were determined to teach this man, "I plan on taking very good care of you, my princess." Your eyes flickered for a split second at his declaration - changing from their normal round pupils and ordinary iris coloration to the thin slits and vibrant hues of your dragon form, before reverting back to normal. He thought it had been a trick of the light, "You can look" you smacked his hand away, "but don't touch."

Nobunaga chuckled at your response, but Hideyoshi wasn't laughing, "You!" He called out before lunging at you, "how dare you be so rude to Lord Nobunaga!" You quickly shifted from sitting to a crouching position, but luckily for the both of you, Masamune and Mitsunari held Hideyoshi back, "Now you've done it, lass! Best apologize to Hideyoshi!" You watched the three men struggle and huffed, stubbornly looking away, "I thought being offended for other people was a trait exclusive to my generation."

"That's enough," Nobunaga's voice cut through the commotion. Hideyoshi lowered his fighting stance on command, and Masamune and Mitsunari returned to their seats as soon as they were sure Hideyoshi's threat had passed, "The next time you raise a hand towards Lord Nobunaga-" Hideyoshi warned.

"You'll what?!" You snarled at him with a snap of your teeth. "I will cut you down where you stand," Hideyoshi threateningly got in your face, but you stood your ground, "I'd like to see you try."

"I said enough," Nobunaga's words once again cut through the commotion and silenced the both of you, "My apologies, my Lord," Hideyoshi submissively bowed to him, an action you did not follow and only responded with a simple, "Sorry." This was going to be a long stay....

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