#told my mother i was too tired and she (understandably) asked me to just keep holding a lik bit and i just. broke down

[pepprs]

in my despera (despair era)

[tojiscumdumpster]

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။ knockout x renji abarai

✧ summary there’s no better way for renji to celebrate a big win than to spend the night with y/n.

✧ content warnings reader described as a black woman who uses she/pronouns. feisty!reader, chubby!reader x undergroundfighter!renji. modern au — no bleach verse. told in first POV — renji’s. mentions of stitches and bruises. usage of profanity, praise kink, cowgirl position, nipple play, facefucking — renji will finish in reader’s, squirting. terms of endearment — baby, sweetheart, angel, etc. reader and renji are in their late twenties.

✧ author’s note hello, hello. i am here with a fic that’s not jjk for once in my life, lmfao. this idea has been in my drafts since january 2023, and it was just sitting there collecting dusts on my old tumblr. but i said i was going to do more bleach characters, so here we go. first time writing renji, so if this ain’t how you see him, oops. still enjoy. also didn't really focus on the underground!fighter portion as much. but maybe i will if there's a next time. support me by liking, commenting, and reblogging this post. i would greatly appreciate it. AGELESS/BLANK BLOGS AND MINORS— DO NOT INTERACT.

I know she told me not to come by after the fight, but I needed to. 

 I won.

 I fucking won, and there’s no other way for me to celebrate winning ten thousand dollars than to be with Y/N.

 Well, that’s if she’s still not mad at me.

 Before I left for my match, we got into an argument. A huge one. She doesn’t like that I fight for a living, let alone illegal underground fighting. I mean—I get it. Seeing someone you care about constantly getting his ass beat isn’t a sight worth seeing. 

 But fighting is all I know. 

 I had a shitty childhood. Didn’t know who the hell my parents were since they gave me up at birth for adoption. Jump around in foster care homes until the mothers got sick of me and kicked me out in the streets. Survival was basically forced on me.

 Fighting is what kept me alive. For food. Clothes. A place to lay my head. Whether I lost or won, I know the reason why I’m alive today is because I’m a fighter. 

 It wasn’t until I was eighteen when I found out about the world of underground fighting. Ten years deep and I know nothing else. 

 Y/N knows this about me. She understands I didn’t have it easy and never judged me. But that doesn’t mean she agrees with my lifestyle. 

 She came to a few fights in the beginning. Eventually, she got tired of seeing me stitched up almost every weekend. 

 Shit, me too. 

 However, after tonight, I feel good about my future wins. I busted my ass in training, so now I don’t have to hear shit about anymore losses. 

 Even if right now I’m stitched up and have a black eye. I feel good.

 Great.

 Better if Y/N opens the door after keeping me waiting out in the cold for the past ten minutes. 

 I know she’s awake. She has a habit of staying up late, studying for med school. And plus, I haven’t messaged or called her yet. Despite her not showing up to my fights, she still wants an update afterwards that I made it out alive.

 “Y/N, let me in,” I say, knocking loudly on her apartment door. “You know I don’t care about making a scene.”

 After a few more obnoxious knocks, the door finally swings open and I am met with deep russet skin, tight curls, and chocolate-colored eyes that pierce an annoyed look in my direction.

 “What do you want?” She bites out. “I’m busy.”

 I smirk and hold the bag of money in the air. “I won.”

 “Congrats.” Her tone is flat and she tries to slam the door in my face, but I placed my foot to stop it from closing. “Seriously?”

 “Yes, seriously. Are you really still mad at me?” I teasingly ask. 

 “You won. I said congrats. What more do you want?”

 I shrugged. “I’m locked out of my apartment.”

 She arches a brow at me, already recognizing my bullshit ass excuse of being locked out of my apartment. 

 Y/N knows me. She knows I would do anything to be in her presence, so going back and forth in forty degree weather is pointless. 

 Her pretty brown hues travels across my face and body, examining the stitches and bruises that probably has her wondering, who the fuck treated him? 

 Me. But that’s besides the point.

 A deep sign escapes her mouth when she realizes I’m not going anywhere until she lets me in, so she opens her door wider and turns her back to me to walk further inside her apartment. 

 “Sit,” she orders, which I happily do so while chuckling to myself. 

 While Y/N goes to the bathroom (assuming she’s getting a med kit to fix my shitty patch job), I take advantage of staring at her round ass that’s barely covered in those tiny boy shorts. Every step she takes it jiggles, creating an ocean of waves I’m eager to swim in.

 I get comfortable while I wait, taking off my skully, sweater, and any other form of heavy clothing that would cause me to sweat in her heated apartment. 

 “I’m going to start charging you if you keep fucking coming to my apartment like this, Renji,” Y/N snapped, walking with the kit in her hand as expected. 

 “Outside of paying for your tuition, I can think of other ways to repay you.”

 She rolls her eyes at my suggestive comment. “Get over yourself, Abarai.”

 I let out a snort before she stands in front of me and tilt up my chin to start making work on my face. 

 She’s cute when she’s mad. Huffing and puffing while whispering slick comments under breath. But how she’s handling my face by moving it around with force rushes blood straight to my groin.

 I’m getting hard.

 Hard as shit, and it’s not helping that I’m in close proximity with her. 

 That jasmine lavender scent that circulates through my senses. Looking up at her full lips that’s coated with gloss. Then, lowering my gaze to her tits that’s big, naturally saggy, and pretty. My mouth is watering at the sight of her nipples hardening.

 And I don’t know if it’s because she feels that I’m checking her out or the coldness outside is affecting her. 

 Either way, I’ll act on it.

 Taking it upon myself, I grab the back of her thighs to pull her on my lap. As if she’s used to my antics, it doesn’t catch her off guard and she continues to clean up my wounds. 

 “You’re all bloody up with a black eye and somehow you still have the energy to be a pervert,” she retorts.

 I move one of hands to her ass, massaging comforting circles. “For you? Yeah.”

 The quiet between us was comfortable until she opted to speak again. “So… who’d you fight?”

 “Some huge motherfucker. I thought I was going to die.”

 She leans back to grab more alcohol and dabs it above my brow. “Maybe that’s what needed to have you stop fucking fighting.”

 I throw my head back to laugh, but she grabs my chin to bring my face forward. “Like you want me dead.” My hands creep beneath her cheeks to pull her closer to me and apply more pressure to my cock. “That’s what you want?”

 “That came out my mouth, Abarai?”

 “Why are you still mad at me?” 

 She scoffs. “Why am I mad that you’re practically coming to me everyday with a busted face and broken ribs?” That’s one thing I love about Y/N—her feisty personality. It turns me on so fucking much because I know when I fuck her, it’ll be a different story. 

 Continuing, she says, “I think I would be a little more satisfied if you did this professionally as opposed to underground. Underground doesn’t come with insurance, Ren.”

 “Aw, you care about me that much?” My question was supposed to be posed as a joke, but the look on her pretty face says otherwise. 

 “Fucking asshole. I don’t know why I still deal with your ass.”

 “Probably because you love me.”

 “Probably not.”

  Gripping her hips, I pull her with me and lean back into the headrest of the couch. We’re inches away from our mouths cooling and I take advantage of this proximity by basking in her sweet smelling breath and beauty. 

 Simply because Y/N exists, my cocks hardens for her. Holding her in my arms. Feeling her pussy against my erection and breasts suffocating pressed on my chest. Girlfriend or not, she’s mine.  

 And she knows it. 

 I can see how she looks at me, even when mad, that she cares and loves me. Y/N is a tough girl. I can only imagine what she’s been through. Still, she manages to soften up just for me. 

 We never made it official since she doesn’t approve of the underground shit, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop asking. 

 “So when are you going to say yes to being my girlfriend?” I whisper.

 She tries breaking from my embrace, but I tighten my grip. “Renji…”

 “You feel my dick pressed against you, right? It only makes it harder when you say my name like that, Y/N.”

 “Be real with me… will you keep doing this shit forever?” Her eyes waver as she awaits my answer and I can’t help the guilt from pinging my chest. 

 “If it lessens my chance of being with you, no.”

 She searches my face for hesitance or deceit, however, she finds nothing because I meant what I said. Y/N is the only person that looks at me like I’m a human, and I wouldn’t let my obsession with fighting get in the way of our future together. 

 How she tucks her coil behind her ear and nips down on her lower lip shows me the bit of vulnerability she reserves for me.

 So—I take advantage of it. 

 In less than three seconds my lips were on hers. I take my time relishing those sweet, plump and plush, strawberry flavored lips.

 I can feel the skepticism from Y/N while kissing her, maybe because she’s trying to put on this show that she’s still mad at me. But soon, her rigid body melts into mine and returns the kiss. 

 Our heavy breaths mingle, increasing in speed the more aggressive we lock lips. She begins rolling her hips onto my cock and I let out a grunt, feeling the moisture of her pussy liquefying on me. 

 The slaps I leave on her ass are harsh, causing her to bite my bottom lip and suck it into her mouth. Y/N is so fucking aggressive it drives me nuts. She gives me a high and adrenaline not even a fight could give. 

 “Pull your dick out, Ren,” she orders through muffled moans and our kiss. 

 “Fucking bossing me around to give you cock? Not mad at me anymore?” Y/N ignores my taunt and works her hands between us to untie my sweats. I hiss at the feel of her cool hands engulfing my dick to give it a few pumps.

 She must not know what her touch does to me. She handles my cock like she owns it, and gosh, I fucking love that shit. My fingers gently tangle into her coils to deepen our kiss, but she soon gets up to strip her clothes.

 Fuck… Fuck, she’s so goddamn sexy. I’ll never get tired of her thick body, filled with soft dips and curves. I look at her, observe her like she’s an expensive piece of art hung up at a museum because that’s what I see her as. 

 Pretty pussy leaking arousal and I smirk to myself, thinking how she had all that attitude earlier while being wet for me like she didn’t want me inside of her.

 “You’re fucking beautiful. You know that?” I ask, massaging her tits and looking up at her. “You still have that attitude or are you going to come ride my cock like a good girl?”

 She gently pushes me back against the couch with her lips on mine and straddles my lap. “Depends on if you’re going to be a good boy and take this pussy.”

 “Shit, angel. I will.”

 Y/N hums while reaching around to align my cock with her sex. Two seconds later, she slowly sinks down my length until I’m buried into the hilt. That soft lingering fuck that slips past her pretty lips sounds sexy as hell and has my dick twitching in response.

 I can’t bust now. Not yet. Even if the tightness and heat of her pussy pushes me off the edge of a mountain. Her pussy is so warm, so fucking warm, fat, and wet. Gosh, I don’t ever think I can be without this pussy. 

 I throw my head back and savor this feeling, but Y/N had other plans for me. 

 “Remember to look at me when I’m riding you, Ren,” she coos. “Eyes on me, baby. I want you to see how much I love this dick inside my pussy.”

 Fucking Christ. “Tell me how much you love it while bouncing on me.”

 And she does just that. Telling me how big and girthy I am, that she’s sorry for giving me attitude and admits that she just wanted dick. But no. I want her to fuck me like she’s mad. I need that type of energy pumping through my veins after this win tonight. 

 I reassure Y/N and tell her to fuck me harder. Her pace quickens and slaps her ass fervently against my cock. I can’t stop moaning her name. The wet slippery noises coming from her pussy increases in volume and it creates a mess between us. 

 This is where I belong, deep in her pussy and feeling her walls squeeze the hell out of me. I don’t even hold her hips or waist. I relax comfortably with my arms sprawl over the top of her couch, watching how gorgeous she looks while fucking what’s hers. 

 “Oh, fuck, Renji,” she moans, tugging her lips inwards and lolling her head to the side in complete pleasure.

 Those perfect, full tits bounces in my face and I can’t help but stare and become mesmerized. Light marks that resemble tiger stripes decorated the valley of breasts. Her nipples, pebbled and straining underneath my gaze, look desperate for my touch.

 I take it upon myself to pinch them between my fingers and a soft shriek escapes her mouth, further arching her back. 

 Y/N keeps getting wetter by the second, every bounce she makes. And hearing her sticky arousal, I know and see how she’s creaming my cock.  Purposely, I sit myself on the couch, thrusting up in her a bit to feel my head hit her g spot.

 “Ren, help me little,” she begs through a whimper. “Fuck me back.”

 I caress her cheeks with the back of my head. “Yeah? You want me to help you, sweetheart?”

 “Please.”

 God, I love it when she’s needy for me like this. 

 In no time, my hands are at her waist and my thrusts meet with her jumping movements. Y/N isn't loud when it comes to her sounds of pleasure. Vocal, yes. But right now, her moans and whimpers are louder than usual. 

 It’s like she needed my dick inside of pussy just as much as I needed it. 

 I see the desire in her brown hues. I feel the heat radiating off Y/N’s skin while my fingers dig into her flesh, holding her in place to pound upwards into her pussy. 

 This is what I wanted—to fuck my girl after a well deserved win. And she’s going to congratulate me how I want. 

 My lips are at her neck leaving wet kisses and sucking her flesh until purple specks form. “Coming home to this good fucking pussy. Gosh, I love how you feel, angel. Going to fucking mean it now when you say congrats?”

 “Congratulations, baby,” she purrs, slamming harder on my cock. “You did good… so damn good, Ren.”

 I hum, dragging my tongue along her neck. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

 Y/N continues to gasps out her pleas for me to fuck harder. I comply… I comply in helping my pretty girl come and savor the look when she washes over me. My grips are firm on her waist, betting that’ll leave marks when she wakes up the next poor, and drive my cock deeper into her pussy.

 I’m in pure awe. I feel my own releasing catching up to me the more I watch her take me. This is my woman. My fucking girl. I come home to this every night after every fight to hold her in my arms and fuck her. 

 Her name from my mouth sounds like a broken record when I moan her name. This fat, gushy, slick and tight pussy has this power over me. She won’t stop fucking squeezing me, I can’t prevent my face from growing hot. It’s intense how I feel right now, and it’s all because of Y/N.

 “Good, good fucking pussy. God, you’re so fucking good to me, angel face,” I rasp, pecking her lips. “You’re going to come for me?”

 “Yes, Renji, baby. I’m going to come. Keep giving me that dick. Please don’t stop, please.”

 “Put your fingers in my mouth.” She does quick with my command. I suck on her digits and coat them well with saliva before pushing them out of my mouth. “Now rub your clit, pretty girl. I wanna see you squirt everywhere.”

 Because she’s overwhelmed with arousal, Y/N stops bouncing on my cock and allows me to fuck her while she plays with clit. Her mouth hangs gape, drool slightly coating the side of her mouth and breathing heavily. 

 My balls slap her ass. My head kisses her soft cushion repeatedly. Her velvet walls transfer warmth to my cock and the bubble that rests in the pit of my stomach is on the verge of explosion.

 I’m about to come. Hard.

 But I need her to come first.

 “Fucking come for me, Y/N. Keep playing with that pretty pussy and moan my name,” I grit out, pushing past all my thrusts. 

 “Right there, Renji. Keep fucking me right there… I’m–oh, fuck–I’m coming.”

 She’s so pretty when she comes. Dark brown porcelain complexion, slick with sweat. Eyes rolling to the back of her head. Pussy clenching and unclenching around my cock. Moaning, whimpering my name back to back. 

She’s breathless. Flawless. I have this image of her painted perfectly in my mind. Watching Y/N come, makes me come, so I make quick work to pull her off my lap. And she knows exactly what I want–to fuck my release down her throat.

 Her mouth is as warm as her pussy, and I let out hitched breaths and harsh grunts when she swallows me whole. I’m relentless when forcing her head down on my cock as I facefuck her. The gurgling noises she makes are obscene. Pornogrpahic, even. 

 And what caused my come to shoot through her mouth is seeing that she’s still massaging her clit, eventually squirting all over her wooden floors. 

 My hips stutter and I throw my head back to moan into the air. “Fuck, Y/N! That’s my fucking girl. Look at you making a mess while choking on my cock and swallowing my come.”

 Y/N takes it upon herself to wrap her lips tighter around my cock and massage my balls, ensuring every single last of my nut has released in her mouth. I take it for a while, but I soon become sensitive, practically feeling my skin being sucked off.

 “Easy now, angel,” I say through an airy chuckle. I pull my cock out and her mouth echoes a pop sound. 

 She whines a little because I’m no longer in her mouth and it causes me to smirk because it wasn’t too long ago where she acted like she hated me. 

 My hand grasps her chin and guides it upwards to meet with my eyes. “You swallowed for me, Y/N? Open up.” She nods, sticking her tongue out. “Perfect.”

 “You’re going to fuck me again?” She asks, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.”

 Gosh, this woman will be the death of me.

tags: @dejwrld @hvshinas @diamondoidxx @xxjazzxx @thegirlwonder1 @ryukenzz @maiapuhpaia @elitesanjisimp @amyrahrose @sweetpeachies @abigolemess @linastired @diorsbrando @starrygetou @niya729 (if i didn't tag you it's because tumblr wouldn't have your user pop up)

[spidybaby]

Can I ask for part II of "Not the romantic type"? Please, I need Pedri getting some sense and realize that he did wrong😭😭

Not the romantic type | part two

Part one | Part Three

"Ferran!" Pedri yells, knocking violently on his friends door. "fuck, open the door."

"I'm literally with my mom on the phone, what the fuck do you want?" Ferran whisper, pulling him from his t-shirt and making him enter the room. "wait a damn minute."

Ferran says his goodbyes to his mother and sister. Sending them all the love. Pedri was passing around like crazy, phone in his hands texting frenetic.

"What's wrong?" Ferran asks, making him stop by grabbing his arm.

"I fucked up, I told her she was a bother and that my friends told me that I was an idiot because I was with her in a serious relationship and now we're done, she won't answer to me, to Fer, to no one and I can't think straight. This is my fault."

Ferran didn't understood one single thing, Pedri was talking at a very fast speed. "Qué?"

"She broke up with me, I have to go back to Barcelona." he walks over to the door, opening it to run to his room.

"Pedri, there's no way Xavi is allowing you to go back before the match." Ferran stops him, closing the door before he's out. "Wait, you just said that you called her a BOTHER?"

The way Ferran screams the word bother makes Pedri squint his eyes. He fucked up big time.

"I wasn't thinking, and I was mad at something not at her and that was out of the blue."

"Dude, I won't ever forget you if I was her, you literally just make her believe that everything she did for you was bothering you. Do you even understand that?"

He let out a scream, fist impacting against the door. Ferran can't even understand what is going on with him.

He punched the wooden door, once, twice and more until Ferran who was too stunned to react quickly stopped him.

"Joder, Pedri stop." he hug his body to make him stop. "Calm down, Pedri. Breath."

"I can't lose her." he says, angry at himself. "I have to go back."

"No, you're not leaving before the match. We cab calmly plan something that doesn't include you getting a thousands of euros fine for leaving the hotel and abandoning the team"

Ferran won't even let him speak, shutting him down and walking him to his room, he was tired and hurt due to the door thing.

He advised him to go to sleep, taking his phone with him to force him to actually rest. "Please, sleep, we have to play tomorrow."

He forced himself some sleep, not really wanting to keep thinking about his actions.

When the time of the match was getting closer and the team moved from the hotel to the stadium.

Xavi motivates the team with a speech. Asking the players to be strong and to play their best. He notices his eight was down and distracted.

"Pedri, don't be nervous. You will do amazing." He pats his back and walks with the technical team.

Pedri was not on his element, he felt so out of place, not sure how to work with the ball. "Pedri, let's go more up, Lewandowski is asking us to."

When they do, Pedri gets to stole a ball from the forward of Napoli, but his excitement was taken when the same forward tackle him.

He let it pass, noticing that the referee didn't even give a yellow. He tried his best to focus on stealing the ball and creating an opportunity to score or assist a ball.

When the second tackle came from the same player, again he found himself on the floor of the stadium.

He gets up from the floor, mad the other player is smirking like crazy. "Ve aprendiendo a jugar, hijo de puta." He push the player, making him fall. (Learn how to play, son of a bitch)

He wins his first yellow of the night. He laughs at the referee giving him a yellow for that but not a yellow to the other player for the tackle.

Frenkie protects him with his body, taking the midfielder from Napoli away from him. "Pedri, walk away now."

He respects Frenkie as a captain, doing what he's told he walks back with Koundé and Cancelo.

"Pedri, relax. You don't want to get a red."

A red card

If he gets red, that means he has to leave, and probably Xavi would send him to the hotel. Making him free to go back to Barcelona.

He just shakes his head, letting the game keep going. He tries his best to stay away from the forward of Napoli.

He never got more than a yellow in his career. Not being used to fight on the field, he leave that to Gavi.

But when the forward tries to make him fall, he knows this was not only about you anymore. This fucker has to learn.

He sees the opportunity, sliding to "catch" the ball away from the player, making him fall as his feet get tangled in the process.

The referee stops the game. Giving him his second yellow of the match. "Venga que él me ha tirado dos veces." He talks to the referee. (C'mon, he tackled me twice)

"Pedri, vamonos." Araujo pulls him by the arm.

But when another Napoli player decides to push him from the back, yelling at him for "hurting his forward," Pedri turns and push him too.

Araujo is doing everything in his power to keep the Napoli players away from the eight, Pedri got pulled by his shirt by the forward.

When he free himself and sees the ball he grabs it and does a very Koundé move and throws the ball at the players face.

The field looks like a WWE encounter, players yelling, and technical teams are already involved. He saw a red card, a referee pointing at him.

"Pero si lo hacen en todas las jugadas ellos." Cancelo yells, defending Pedri from the red.

He got pulled from the shoulders, turning to see Xavi. "Let's go, kid." He walks him to the tunnel and to the dressing room. "That mother fucker provoked you, don't worry. Take a shower and go back to the hotel. We can talk later." nodding and thanking Xavi, also apologizing for the red.

He shower before leaving to the hotel, running to his room to pick his things. He purchased the first flight he finds to go back.

He needs to go back, can't lose more time away. He's scared you won't take him back, he's mad that he even spoke to you in that way.

The way you whisper his name and the way your eyes were dulled, those shiny eyes he remember meeting when he was fifteen.

Back in Barcelona you're getting ready for a big presentation. You can't let this get you down.

People break up everyday, people stop loving each other, people sometimes hurt you that bad that you don't want to be near them.

People is he.

You love him with all your soul, he was always that person for you, your go to person, your everything is going to be fine person, but that was one sided.

You weren't that to him, he had friends who were more important than you. He had a family that loves him and visits him and you were alone.

He knows you're alone, he knows you can't just go home and have a prepared meal, a person to talk to, someone who can listen to you or hug you when you cry.

He was to you that person you could trust, that person you could cry to, that person who wasn't going to judge you.

But now you wonder if every time you call him about something making you happy, sad, angry were a bother to him, if every time you shared a goal with him, every time you went crying to him about being stressed or just sad were a bother.

Were your presence a bother to his family too? Were their hospitality fake? Were they just faking smiles?

Was he uncomfortable when you told him you love him? Was he uncomfortable with you when his friends were over and you were there? Was he uncomfortable with you all this time?

You can't help but cry yourself to sleep, feeling empty and alone. Being far from home is hard, being heartbroken with no one to talk to is hard.

While you rest on one side of Barcelona, he landed at the airport. Ferran scolded him for leaving without the rest.

Fer was waiting for him, he felt guilty about the breakup, he felt like a bad brother. He knew Pedri was fucking things up, he knew by the look on your face when you two were together.

He heard you two fight, he heard how Pedro treated you and talked to you like if you were nothing.

He never got into that, mostly because the only time he did Pedro ask him to stay out of it. He did, but every time he heard you two, he just put some music or put on a movie.

When he heard Pedro and his Tenerife friends talking him out of the idea of him taking you to Napoli, he just told his opinion about it being wrong.

Pedri wasn't a cheater, he couldn't do that to you and certainly he wasn't raised like that. But he also wasn't raised like the way he was treating you.

Most of the drive home is silent, the discomfort can be cut with a knife. Fer is not even making conversation with him about the red card.

"I need you to help me plan something." He talked so calmed like if everything is cool.

"You're a fucking idiot, you know that?" Fer says, he's mad about the red, he knew he did it on purpose, he was mad about everything. "That red is just the crown of everything."

"Can you stop?" Pedri was annoyed, he's not a kid who needs to be scolded by his older brother. "Don't mind it."

"I've been not minding things for too long to keep myself quiet." He shouts, acting like a father. "You're such a fucking idiot, treating this girl like she's trash for God knows how long, when I told you that it was wrong you told me that it wasn't like that. Then you call me late at night and ask me to help you fix things but don't want me to mind it."

"Fernando, stop."

"No, I'm done with you. Honestly, I hope she doesn't take you back. She really deserves something better. She deserves so much better."

Pedro slams the door of the car as soon as they're home. He feels rage inside because of the words of Fernando.

On the inside, he knows that everything his brother shouts at him is true. He did treat you badly, he did hurt you in ways he didn't even mean, but he did.

Xavi texted him back after the news of him leaving to Barcelona, he informed his coach about him leaving, telling him that he needed a few moments to cool down and take on what he did, and Xavi agreed.

It was almost two in the morning, his plan was to go to your house and talk to you, fix things, and when you take him back, enjoy the day with you.

But something stopped him, he remembers that you had this big project presentation, and he can't fuck up things. He already mess things up. He doesn't need for you to be more mad at him than you already is.

He sleep more calmly than when he was in Napoli, he had a good feeling about the situation.

When the light hit the city, he woke up, ready to get you back and to be the best he could be with you. He has to be at the club after lunch, so he has time to go pick you up from college and to be with you.

You were happy that morning, you did an amazing presentation and you have a perfect grade.

"Hey, Y/n. We're going to go get some brunch, want to join us?" Your friend Pamela asks.

"Yes, I just have to go home to change and I'll see you guys there"

You hurry home, ready to change into your bikers and a t-shirt. The day was fresh, but the weather was unpredictable.

The doorbell sounding made you hurry with brushing your teeth, you thought it was the ups guy.

When you open the door you can feel the cold shiver running down your spine.

"Please, let me talk to you." He steps closer to you. "Let me fix things, amor."

You don't want to fight, you want to get this over with, for once you're not giving up on your feelings with him.

You move, letting him into your house. He feels confident at how you let him in, he knows he can fix things.

"Listen, I know I fucked things up, I know I'm an asshole and that you have all the right to be mad and to want to scream at me. Please just believe me when I say I want to fix myself for you, I haven't been a good boyfriend and you are the best thing I have, you don't even know how much I love you and how much I think about you when we're away.-"

You block the rest of his speech, you can't think of anything else but his own words. "Such a bother."

He hasn't been a good boyfriend, that is true. But you never once told him how much that did bother you because you didn't want him to feel the way you're feeling right now.

"I bought this for you." He hands you a bouquet of flowers.

You smile a little, how ironic.

"All this time, I always wanted you to give me some flowers and you had to lose me to give them to me." You laugh lightly, not wanting to cry.

"What?" He's confused. "But you never asked me for them."

"Exactly." You shrug. "I never did because I expected you to come see me with some. Not a bouquet, just one." You leave them on the table next to you. "But you never did."

His breathing became irregular, he's nervous. "Amor, I never knew you felt that way."

"I didn't mean to be a bother." You say, feeling like being fully honest to him. "I just wanted you to love me the way I love you. I just wanted you to support me the way I support you." You can't help but let some tears wet your cheeks. You wipe them away as you begin speaking again. "I know I can be too much sometimes, but I've always been so proud and happy for you, couldn't you be that with me?"

He can't think about something to say, he's hurt that you feel that way, hurt that he caused you to feel that way.

"I hope you understand that I can't be with you." You grab his hands. "I love you so much, you were my many firsts, my first love, my first time, my first thought in the morning, my first person to go to." You smile at the memories. "But I'm not the person you need, I can't pretend I'm fine just to keep you happy, I can't pretend your words don't hurt me when all I want to do is cry."

"Amor, I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix it." You step away from him. "I have to put myself first, I have to fix myself to even think about you again. Pedro, I love you but I have to love myself first."

You want to hug him, seeing his red tearful eyes, but you can't.

"You're so talented and amazing, amor mio." You smile to him. "And your career will blow much more than now, I'm so sure you're going to win a Ballon D'or and that so wanted champions league." You walk to your door, unsure if you want to open it. "And I'm sure you'll find someone who can grow with you and supports you all the way, cause you deserve that."

You open the door, moving to the side of it.

"I love you, and I hope you understand that what I'm doing is for the both of us. Have a nice life, Pedro. You deserve that as much as I do."

He's crying, tears wetting his face, heart breaking from all the feelings. "Can I hug you one last time?" He asks as he's almost out of the house.

You nod, opening your arms to him, his hands hug your waist. He's going to miss it, he's going to miss your smell, your hair, your body, you smile. You.

"Te amo, I'm sorry I'm not what you deserve."

"Te amo." You kiss his cheek.

You hand him something, and he keeps his hands closed. He walks away and enters his car.

He open his hand, his house key shining on his palm. It's done, he knows he can't fix it. He'll have to accept that you deserve better.

✨️✨️✨️

🏷: @gadriezmannsgirl @mbappe-pedri @coco657 @gavisfanta @jajajhaahaha @urmotheris @dessxoxsworld @girlidekanymore @lanussysworld @lanussysworld @largavidaalsol

[justagirlwholikesadam]

The American: Welcome Back!

Remus Lupin x American! Reader

Summary: Sirius slips out a name that Harry has never heard of before. He wants to get to the bottom of it and wants to know who is this so called, Yankee.

A/n: Not sure of doing more on this. It's up to the readers. I had this idea brewing in my head. Enjoy! -L

Warning: SFW, fuff, angst, tonks doesn't get the hint, Harry finds out he has a aunt, we are with remus because why not, saying the lord's name in vain.

Word Count: 4.1K

═ ≪ ❈ ≫ ═

The day was long and Harry was utterly exhausted. There were some days where he didn't even want to get up from bed. He was tired. Tired of everything that had recently happened. Voldemort was coming back and he had an army. He wanted to join The Order of Phoenix, Sirius had backed him up during dinner at Grimmauld Place. The place that once held the Black Family is now used for The Order to have their meeting.

Roaming around Grimmauld Place after dinner, Harry found himself in the room that held the family tree of the Black Family. That’s what Sirius told him when he found him inside looking at the walls.

“My mother did that after I ran away. She was a charming woman.” Sirius told him as he pointed at a burn mark above his name on the wall. Harry can see the sadness and anger in his eyes. Sirius hated his family for their wicked ways and their outdated ideas.

“I was always welcomed at the Potters.” Sirius answered Harry when the boy asked him where he went after he left home at the age of sixteen.

“We all were.” Sirius said as his eyes drifted to the end of the room, there was a faint smile on his face. “Your grandparents were so kind to everyone. Even to me and to Yankee.”

“Yankee?” Harry asked Sirius. His Godfather’s blue eyes widened when he realized he said it outloud.

“Another friend of the group. Remus hasn't mentioned it to you?” Harry shook his head.

“Another secret added to the list of secrets everyone keeps from me. How grand.” Harry said with a huff as he turned away from Sirius. He understood his godson. He didn't want Harry to feel that way. Before Sirius can speak out the front door opens and he can hear people walking inside.

“It's probably the Order. We should greet them. We will speak about this.” Sirius said, placing a hand on Harry’s shoulder.

Sirius walked, Harry was behind him as they made their way down the hall to the kitchen where they saw Tonks and Remus. By the look on Remus’ face, Sirius knew Remus was annoyed. He chuckled when he saw Tonks being a little bit too touchy to his best mates liking. Harry watched as he sat down on the kitchen table as Remus dogged a touch from Tonks and made his way to sit across from Harry.

“Harry.” Remus greets him as he sits down by the far end of the table where Harry sat. Sirius quickly makes his way to the only seat next to Remus.

“Tonks, I believe Molly wanted to speak with you about something.” Sirius said over his shoulder at her, who just then realized she was too late to sit next to Remus. She rolled her eyes but nodded before walking away from the kitchen. Harry kept his mouth shut as he looked at Sirius and Remus who were having a silent conversation with their eyes.

“This wouldn't be happening if you just told everyone the truth, Moony.” Sirius finally said putting his elbows on the table.

Remus took a drink of his tea and glanced over at Harry.

“Tonks is a lovely lass but she doesn't understand the word NO.” Harry knew too well about Tonks' crush on Remus. He had seen the girl fawn over his ex werewolf teacher before. Remus always lets her down gently, telling her he was too old for her and he doesnt think it's a good idea because he's a werewolf.

“Well her and Molly are in the same boat.” Sirius commented, making Remus agree with him since Molly was the first to add the idea into Tonks' mind.

“Maybe Yankee can help.” Harry mumbled as he looked down at the table not noticing how Remus' face changed.

“What?” Remus asked in a deep voice causing Harry to look up. Looking over Sirius who had a grimace look, his heart fell to his stomach.

“Where did you hear that name?” Harry cursed at himself, calling himself an idiot for throwing that name out. He wasn’t expecting Remus’ reaction. Remus' eyes darken for a second.

He did it because he had got annoyed by the fact that no one wanted to tell him anything. He knew it was true because of the look on Sirius’ face when he told them at dinner about what Voldemort wants. Molly had interrupted Sirius, telling him that Harry is just a boy and that he doesn’t need to know any of this.

“My fault, Moony. It came out when I told Harry about his grandparents.” Sirius said, looking over at Remus.

“Didn't we say-” “I know.” Sirius cuts him off.

Before Remus could speak again, Sirius waved his hand at Remus. “Do remember, I have kept it a secret for 12 years. That counts for something and Harry should know about his cool badass aunt.”

‘Aunt? Cool? Badass?’ Harry repeats to himself. Remus takes another sip and looks at Harry over the rim of the teacup. Looking over at Sirius, who is staring at him with pleading eyes to not be mad. Remus lets out a sigh.

“My wife is indeed a cool badass, isn't she?” Remus asked while giving Sirius a smirk. His pal smiled and bumps his shoulders with him before looking over at Harry.

“Wife?” Harry asked, looking between Remus and Sirius. “But you don't have-” Remus brings a hand to his neck and pulls on a golden chain under his sweater and shows it to Harry. There was a golden wedding band at the end of the chain.

“Is she-ddd-dead?” Harry asked in a stutter. Sirius shakes his head at Harry and he doesn't know why he felt relief. “I spoke to her two days ago. She made it safely to California after being stationed in New York for two years.” Remus said.

“In America? New York City, the states?” Harry asked, surprised. The two men infront of Harry nodded, smiling at the young boy's shocked face.

“Why would she leave? She's your wife.”

“She left because she is an American and they needed people. Hence the nickname, Yankee.” Harry still looked confused.

Sirius leans forward. “We aren't the only Order, Harry. Voldemort has gone as far as letting other Death Eaters go to the States to recruit more. Yankee is a member of our Order as well as the American’s Order. She is fighting as we are speaking."

“Wow.” Harry said after a few seconds.

“Does she know about me?” Sirius lets out a chuckle as Remus just smiles at Harry.

“Knows you?! She wiped your behind when you were just a babe. Remus here too.” Sirius smacks Remus’ back then turns serious to Harry.

“As the godfather, I had much more important things to do with you then wiping your behind.” Remus rolls his eyes at Sirius.

“Like buying him a broom when he was just a couple of days old.” Remus said with a laugh.

“Sirius would watch us change you as he stood by the door of your room. Harry, Sirius is willing to do anything for you but he just couldn't change your diaper even if it was with magic. The moment he saw we were done. Sirius would grab you and announce there were official and important things to do with you.” Harry just smiled bright as he listened to Remus' story.

“Yeah! They were important.” Sirius shouts playfully.

“Watching the telly with Harry isn't that important.”

“I would show him quidditch matches, like I said, an important matter.” Their laughter quicked down after a few minutes.

“She loves you so much. We both do.” Remus said softly, dropping his gaze from Harry after Harry caught it.

Years thinking he was alone and the only family he had hated him had taken a toll on Harry. There was so much abuse he had put up with and even when the world around him was crumbling down with everything that was going on. He felt happy that there were people who loved him. People he can consider his family. Harry thought it was only Sirius but he just gained an uncle and an aunt. His little family was growing.

“Why keep it a secret, then?” Harry asked. “It will help to get rid of Tonks” The young boy nodded.

“She’s wanted.” Sirius answered him, making Harry frown. Remus leans over the table. “Yankee is a powerful witch and dont think I'm just saying this because she's my wife but she might even be in Dumbledore’s level of magic. She had gone up with him once and almost won.”

“Who wants her so bad that it must be kept in secret?"

“The Dark Lord himself, at first it was the Death Eaters because she was in their house.”

“She was Slytherin?” Harry asked in a shout as he rose up from his chair. Sirius and Remus glance over at each other knowing all too well of this reaction when people found out what house you were in while you were at school.

“She wasn't like them. Different from everyone. She was the only American in Hogwarts in our time.” Sirius said.

“I don't believe it.” Harry said. Remus stood up and grabbed his empty tea cup.

“She was different from them. That we must say. We say that because she had so many reasons to turn bad. School and her home life back in the States weren’t a happy place for her. If she had gone bad, I wouldn't be angry at her.” Harry let Remus’ words sink in.

“You said she went up with Dumbledore once, they fought didn't they? She almost won.” Both men smiled at Harry.

“That fight was…” Sirius trails off then looks at Remus. “How old are you again?” Remus asked.

“Fifteen.” Harry answered. Remus nods at him. “You were a year old when your parents died. That was 14 years ago.” Harry rose a brow and pointed at himself.

“Fight was about me?” Remus nods.

“Dumbledore wanted to give you to the Dursley since they were your real family. I couldn't do it, I was broken and was sent to Azkaban. Remus and Yankee fought hard for you.” Sirius said looking over at Remus who held his gaze at the ground with the cup in his hands.

“They wanted to adopt you. Dumbledore refused and Yankee lost it saying that they were your real family.”

“She whipped her wand out and pointed it at him. Minerva almost fainted. Had to hold her as they dueled.” Remus said reminiscing the way he held the woman as he watched his wife duel with the most powerful wizard.

“Dumbledore, of course, won. He had more experience with magic and dueling. He was sweating though at the end and had mentioned to her that he hasn't done that for years.” Remus told them as he placed the teacup in the sink and walked back to the kitchen table.

“Wow.” Harry said once more as he smiled at them.

"What's wow?” Tonks asked as she walked into the room with Molly and a few other members behind them.

“Nothing, love. Lets have some tea, everyone.” Sirius said as the members walked inside while Remus put the kettle on with more water.

Harry found himself in Sirius' old room the next day. Sirius allowed him too, telling him to take any clothes he sees fit. Sirius had told Harry after the war they will be able to be a family again. Sirius was going to renovate the house, make it new and make it a real house to be filled with a loving family. Harry found some jumpers to his liking and folded them on the bed as he continued with his search. He looks over at the bookcases and glances over the covers. As he watches the books, he sees a paper sticking out between the hardcover books. The edge of the paper was out and carefully Harry started to pull it with his thumb and index finger, it was a black and white photo. He looks at the back to see black cursive writing on it.

Yankee and Moony’s Honeymoon - NYC 1978

Flipping it over, he saw Remus holding a girl in his arms. Remus looked so young and had less scars on his face. His hair was shaggy and he had a mustache.

Harry had to admit, you look beautiful in Remus’ arms. You were smiling and as the picture moved, you looked up at Remus who then gave you a kiss. Both of you looked ahead and the picture repeated itself. Hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, Harry quickly hides the picture in between the folded jumpers. He was sure Sirius wouldn't mind, if he took a picture of his uncle and aunt. Harry only had his parents’ picture. He would like to add this next to them.

After his charges were dropped for using magic out of school, Harry found himself thinking about Moony and Yaknee as he made his way back to Hogwarts for another year. He wanted to know so he found himself in the library, looking at old yearbooks and even wandering in the hallway of famous wizards and students. He was about to walk away when he noticed a case at the far end. Looking up he noticed it was a case of The Triwizard Tournament, 1976.

Harry thought they shut it down in 1971 due to the death toll being high. Perhaps, this was kept secret. He looked at the items on the glass case and stopped when he saw a familiar faze. It was you, looking at the bottom he read your name out loud. His eyes widened as he saw the picture moving. You were selected to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. He can see the green Slytherin uniform you wore and on the bottom, he reads the rest of the names of the competitors.

Looking at the rest of the photos framed in the case, he froze when he saw the trophy and right next to it there's a picture of you holding the trophy. You look like you've been through hell and Harry could see your clothes were dirty and ripped. Your face was dirty and he could see the dried blood on your forehead. He started to laugh when he saw you doing a rock and roll hand gesture while sticking your tongue out at the camera. It seems you had a happier ending then him. He feels himself down at the thought of Cedric's death.

Flying to London on Thestrals was the last thing Harry thought would happen but it worked. He and his friends, Dumbledore's army, made their way to the Ministry of Magic in an attempt to rescue Sirius Black since he had a vision of it. He had to save his Godfather.

Walking inside Harry recovers the object that Voldemort is after, a bottled prophecy with his name on it. Death Eaters and Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix, ambush them. Harry felt like crying when Lucius revealed that Harry's vision of Sirius being tortured was a ruse to lure him there, this was a trap and now all of them were being held captive.

“Give it to me.” Lucius snapped at Harry. He tried his best to ignore the taunting Bellatrix gave to Neville as she held her wand to his head.

‘DON’T!” Neville yelled as she grabbed a fist full of his hair pulling his head back exposing his neck.

Harry can hear Luna let out a sob as a Death Eater grabbed her by the neck. Harry didn't want to get his friends hurt because of him. So many people have gotten hurt because of him. Giving Lucius the prophecy, they heard a whoosh sound. Harry's eyes widen when he looks over Lucius’ shoulder.

“Get away from my godson.” Sirius said to Lucius before punching him straight in the face. Harry took a step back as one by one the members of the Order came to rescue them. They fought with the Death Eaters. Remus ran with Ginny and Ron, he lets out a shout as he disarmed the Death Eater in front of him.

“Good one, James!” Remus froze as Sirius yelled as he fought with Lucius. Time seemed to slow down as Lucius was shot back and Remus saw Bellatrix appearing out of nowhere casting an Avada Kedavra at Sirius. Remus can see the spell coming out of her wand as a light casted behind Harry. His mouth dropped when he saw you behind Harry with your own wand in hand.

Sirius was pushed by the spell you caused, Bellatrix’s spell passed him hitting the wall behind them. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and was pushed back. He looked up to see you in the flesh. You let out a shout and pointed at Bellatrix hitting her square in the chest with a Stupefy.

“LET’S GO!” He hears you scream out loud as Sirius grabs him by the arm. Remus joins them with Ginny and Ron as the rest bring the children to the center while you hit the other Death Eaters covering for them.

Harry felt Remus grab his shoulder as the rest huddled together. You raised your hands up with your wand and shouted, “Traicere!”

Harry felt like he was flying for a second before he was dropped down on the ground like a sack of potatoes. He found himself flat on his face on the concert ground. Looking up, some members of The Order were standing while others were laying on the ground like his friends were.

“Blimey!” Ron shouted as he got on his knees and wiped his face. Everyone turned when they heard Sirius let out a laugh. Harry looks over to see you hugging Sirius as Remus walks behind you.

“Y/n!” Remus said as you let go of Sirius and hugged Remus. “The fuck?!” Harry hears Tonks' curse behind him as they watch you kiss Remus on the lips. Remus held your face in his hands as he kissed you deeply.

“They haven't changed.” Sirius said, walking to Harry and helping him up. Remus held you in his arms, laying his forehead against you.

“I thought you were gone.” Harry said, looking over at Sirius.

“I'm not. Thanks to Yankee.” Sirius said, wrapping an arm around his godson's shoulder.

“Yankee! I want you to meet someone.” Sirius shouted, making Remus pull away as he glared at Sirius for disrupting. Harry watched you cover your face and leaned against Remus’ chest. After a few seconds later and quick kisses. Remus smiled and grabbed a hold of your hand, walking with you towards Harry and Sirius.

“There is someone you should meet.” Remus said as he walked you to Harry.

Harry held his breath as he got introduced to his aunt. “Love, meet Harry Potter.”

Harry saw you smile when you looked at him. It reminded him of the smile you had when taking the picture of your honeymoon. Ron and Hermione watched happily as Harry hugged the you back. He had told them about his cool aunt who used to be in House Slytherin.

Remus quickly wiped the tears rolling his face when he saw you lean down to look at Harry. You cried as you ran your finger through his dark hair before hugging him again. Remus walked to you as you reached your hand out for him. Harry felt Remus hand on his shoulder as he hugged you and him.

Harry saw Sirius walking to them as well.

“We are a family again.” Harry hears you say and it brings a smile on his face as they give him a group hug.

The members of the Order of the Phoenix sat in the kitchen of the Grimmauld Place. That’s where you had taken them. Harry and Sirius sat across from you and Remus as you spoke to them while waiting for Dumbledore.

‘He called me saying Harry was having dreams. We both went to the Ministry of Magic, I help you lot escaped while he dealing with Voldemort.”

“How is it over there in the States?” Arthur asked you, he was sitting at the far end of the table.

“It was bad for a while. Voldemort numbers decreased here but in the States it rose and muggles were being killed left and right. Lost some good friends because of it.” Remus placed a comforting hand on your shoulder and you kissed it as you raised your hand to hold his.

“The last thing we found out were some Death Eaters, we captured in California. They said that their Dark Lord had spoken about mind controlling. He is going to use it on the muggles to think he is some sort of God, to worship and to do his bidding.”

“Jesus Christ, not to mention the dark creatures as well but now hearing about these dreams. I fear he wants something or..” Harry watched as you sighed while looking defeated.

‘Someone.” You finished looking at Harry.

“There was a reason why Barty put your name in the Goblet. They did it to me but unlike you to be killed. For me it was to show them my power. Powers I didn't know I had to begin with.”

“I saw it. You won it.” Harry said with a proud smile.

“Not many people were happy with a muggleborn being the champion.” You said and Harry knew why you had stuck your tongue at the camera when your photo was taken.

“Christ, I would do anything to look at their faces again.” Remus smiled at you. Harry liked the accent you had as you spoke. It was different and the way you pronounce the words was all new to him. He wondered back to Remus' words about having a hard time in school. He wondered if you were being bullied for being different like him.

“Who’s Christ? And what's Jesus?” Harry turns to look at Luna who was sitting with Neville. She looked at you curiously. Remus and you snorted a chuckle before looking over at Sirius who was lost for words.

Harry bites a smile as Sirius quickly answers who this man is and his name. “Muggle God, dear.”

“I remember the look on your father’s face when I taught him about muggle’s religions.”

Harry listened as you spoke when Dumbledore. Voldemort has escaped but the Ministry now knows the truth, Voldemort is back. Harry and his friends were going to go back to Hogwarts when Harry decided to say goodbye to Remus and you. He followed the direction that Kreacher gave him after saying how ridiculous is was to serve a werewolf and a mudblood. Harry just ignored it.

“You're staying, correct?’ He hears Remus ask you as he walks down the hallways to the bedroom were Kreacher said Remus was staying at.

“Yes, I am. I'm not leaving any time soon. I did my duty in America. I want to come back to be with you. With Sirius and Harry. “

“I can't lose you again, Y/n.” Harry hears Remus’ voice crack.

“Oh, baby.” Harry hears you answers and stands by the door. He looks at the opening and sees you hugging Remus, arms around his torso as Remus wraps his arms around your shoulders.

Harry looks away when Remus leans down for a kiss. He’s about to walk away when he hears a soft moan. His cheeks get flustered and he’s about to leave when he hears Sirius calling out for him. His eyes widened when he saw Sirius walking down the hallway.

“Harry!” He looks over at the sound of your voice.

“What’s up? Come to say bye?” Harry nods as Remus comes behind you.

“I was hoping we all get dinner before you leave for school. I’m sure you have questions and I’m willing to answer them for you.” Harry was glad you didn’t treated him like a child.

“I would love that.” Harry smiles as you wrap your arm around his shoulders. “Will you tell me about your time in Hogwarts?” You raised a brow at Harry before looking over at Remus. “It’s not all sunshine and roses, Harry. You sure you wanna know?” Harry nods at you.

“Alright! Fuck it! Let’s go somewhere where they serve beer.” You patted Harry on his back.

“Padfoot! Babe! We are out.” You shout over your shoulder as you walk side by side with Harry.

Both men stood behind, watching as Harry and you walked down the hall. Remus had a smile on his face with his hands in the pockets of sweater as Sirius had his arms crossed over his chest.

“This is going to be an interesting dinner, Moony.” Remus nods at him.

“Yeah but he should know about our Yankee.” Sirius agrees with him on that.

Chapter 2 ->

[shkudss]

Weakened by Eywa Pt. 2

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Masterlist

Summary: Ao'nung finally realizes that his actions have consequences

Warnings: curse words, bullying, mental breakdown, English isn't my first language

Author's note: tbh I didn't plan it to be longer than 2 parts, but now I think it'll be about 4-5 part (but I'm not sure lol). Anyways, I hope you will like it!

Yawntutsyip - darling, little loved one

Yaymak - foolish, ignorant

Yayo - bird

When Neytiri and Jake saw you in a complete mess on Neteyam’s hands, they thought something bad happened with you in the water.

Kiri and Lo’ak explained what happened without hiding any details. Neytiri was so furious that she was ready to take her bow and fight this little ignorant boy. She knew that he was annoying her kids, but didn’t expect it to be as bad as it turned out. On the other hand, there was Jake. He was furious too, he knew that his attitude towards all situations when Ao’nung annoyed his kids caused it. He shouldn’t have told his kids to respect him just because he’s Olo’eyktan’s son. That was his fault.

“Tonowari must know what his son did.” Neytiri was crying like any mother who sees her child in pain. Especially that type of pain which you cannot see. “Ma Jake, tell something! We can’t let that go. My daughter is hurt and only Eywa knows if she’ll be able to heal!”

Jake looked at her and all his kids, who were waiting for his response. Neteyam was still holding you like a baby while you were sleeping. His daughter, his little yayo. He has to protect you.

“I’ll talk to Tonowari.”

“I’ll go with you.” Neytiri wanted to talk to Ronal and say her all this she had to carry inside of her soul since they arrived here.

Jake didn’t want her to come, he knew that she was extremely emotional now. He gave her a look asking if he’s sure it’s the right thing. Neytiri was determined to do that.

“Wait here, take care of your sister.”

***

“I’ll talk to him and he’ll be punished for his actions. I’m really sorry for what happened. I didn’t raise him this way. I hope Y/N will forgive him one day.”

Toniwari and Ronal were in a huge shock when Jake told them what Ao’nung did. The shame Olo’eyktan and his Tsahik felt wasn’t even close to the amount of pain Jake and Neytiri had to carry.

“Don’t ever let him come to my daughter again! If I notice him even thinking about coming to her, I swear I will not control myself.”

“Neytiri...” Jake didn’t want relationship with leader’s family to worsen.

“She’s right. He should stay away from her. I don’t want him to hurt an innocent soul again. I promise, we’ll look after him.” Ronal knew how Neytiri must feel herself now. “I promise as mother to mother. If you need help, tell me.”

Neytiri just nodded, she was still not over her emotions. But she was thankful for this. Ronal was the only one who could understand her at least a little.

***

It’s been two weeks since your breakdown. These two weeks you’ve been taken care by your whole family and you barely walked out of your Marui. You felt like you were dried out. No emotions at all. Jake and Neytiri were extremely worried about your mental state. You barely talked to anyone, even Kiri, and preferred to do things on your own.

Neteyam didn’t even think about keeping your lessons on ilu riding. He tried to catch your interest on other things, but nothing caught your eye. Even Tuk tried to ask you questions to talk just a little. You had no energy to keep the conversation and pay proper attention to your little sister.

“Let’s go find some seashells?” Tuk didn’t give up on you.

“Tuk, I have no strength to do that. I’m tired.” You felt really bad every time you refused Tuk, but you couldn’t help it.

“Neteyam and Lo’ak are hunting, Kiri as usually disappeared. Mom and dad don’t let me do there alone. Please, I need you.” She started whimpering and shaking your hand.

“Okay, okay. But only for 30 minutes.”

“Thank you, I love you! Best sister ever!” Seeing Tuk jumping in happiness and saying those words warmed your heart. You smiled a little at the scene of here trying to find her little bag for seashells.

Once you went out of your house, you squinted because of the sunlight. These two weeks definitely affected you. The warmth of the sun and brightness of azure water reminds you of how you loved Pandora.

Tuk was holding your hand and trying to hurry you up to the shore. It became her hobby since you arrived here. Each in your family has at least one bracelet she made out of shells.

“I’ll sit here, you can go. Call me if you need help.” You were sitting exactly as that day with Kiri. The feeling of light waves surrounding you, calmed you a little. You were watching Tuk swimming and looking for colorful seashells. Sometimes she was distracted by some fish. As you were supervising little sister, you fell deep into thoughts and remembered that day. Sadness you felt all these days became more explicit.

You don’t know how to explain this sadness and why you feel it. You should be angry, offended, but not sad. Ao’nung said horrible things to you, but you’re not angry. Why?

“Oh Great Mother, help me. Let me come over this. I want to be happy again.” You whispered to yourself, feeling the tear falling to the water.

“Y/N…?”

Him.

You feel nervousness raising up in your body. Eywa must be testing you. You’re afraid to turn your head to Ao’nung.

“Please, don’t do this to me again. I can’t bear it anymore.” Your voice was trembling a little, but it was enough for him to understand your state. Especially, when he finally looked at you. Your eyes were like a glass, but without even a little sparkle.

He was standing about 2 meters away from you to keep distance.

“Y/N, I wanted…”

“What are you doing here?!” Lo’ak was furious, walking briskly towards him.

“Bruh, why are you always here.” You heard Ao’nung mumbling it annoyingly. You didn’t wasn’t really worried about what’s going to happen. Feels like you’re a doll without real emotions.

“You’ve been told you to stay away from Y/N. Are you that yaymak? Do you need us to punch you again to understand it?” Your brother came to him as close as possible and pointed at his chest aggressively. Lo’ak just like Neytiri was ready to fight him.

“I wanted to talk to her… normally.” Ao’nung raised his hands as a sign of peace and tried to stay as calm as possible. Even though his fists were itchy to punch him. “I won’t hurt her”.

“I don’t care. You’ve talked to her already and you see the result. It’s her first time outside since the past two weeks. Don’t make it worse.” Lo’ak lowered his voice so you won’t hear their conversation. You didn’t really care and turned back to keep watching after Tuk. She didn’t notice things happening on the beach, she was involved in her hobby. Her little bag was already full of shells, but she wanted to get more.

“Hey, you finally wanted to get some sun?” In a couple if minutes Lo’ak was sitting next to you. He wasn’t mad anymore.

“No, Tuk asked me to. All of you were too busy to accompany her in finding seashells. I didn’t want to let her down.” You smiled a little, watching your sister smiling as she find another colorful thing.

“But…” you noticed Lo’ak hesitating about something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Never mind. I’m glad you’re finally getting out of Marui. We are forest Na’vis, not Marui Na’vis.” He chuckled a little at his own joke and you couldn’t help but do it too.

Maybe, it’s not that bad.

Thank you, Great Mother.

***

Another two weeks passed. Since that day each member of your family tried to take you outside. Now you go out on your own just to think about your feelings. You are still trying to stay away from water and haven’t swam yet, but you’ve been exploring the little forest that’s actually pretty comfortable. It reminds you of home and you don’t have to hold your breath or ride ilu here.

You can be yourself.

Now you play with fan lizards and even laugh a little. It’s kind of meditation. Spending time in your environment, your home, helps your mental state. Jake says that you shouldn’t go deep into forest and you assure him that you won’t, but sometimes you loose the track of time and forget about your promise. What this happens, Neteyam is always first who goes to find you.

You feel unity with Eywa. It’s your secret, sacred place. You have a little pond here, some fruits growing on the trees and silence. This is your little world free from all worries, free from reality. You fulfill your energy here and nobody interrupts you peace.

You were sitting on the thick branch, involved in making a little bracelet from beads for Tuk. She gifted you a lot of bracelets and necklaces she made. You want to pay her back.

Suddenly your senses catch someone’s presence. Nobody is supposed to find you. It’s afternoon and none of your family should be trying to find you. Leaving all things, you silently stood up and tried to hide behind the tree as Neytiri taught you. You looked behind your shoulder to check who’s that, your knife is ready to serve you.

You heard stranger’s steps coming closer to the tree. You were getting ready to attack, no unnecessary thoughts were in your mind. Just as mom taught you. This is your place, your forest.

Another step and you catch this person, pushing them to a tree and putting a knife to their neck.

“Holy shit!”

You look up. Why is he here?

“Ao’nung? What are you doing here?”

All your strength disappeared the moment you realized who’s standing in front of you. Fear replaced it, slowly taking control over you.

You’re alone, with him.

“No, no, no, Y/N”

You walked back, still holding your knife firmly to protect yourself, but your hands were shaking which made things obvious. You’re just like a little animal who’s afraid but has nothing to do but protect yourself as you can.

“Don’t…”

“Y/N, I wanted to talk to you. Please, let me speak.”

You were afraid to trust him. Because his words hurt you. You’re afraid to hear him speaking to you. But the way he looks at you, his eyes aren’t filled with anger. You take your time, considering his words.

Ao’nung was waiting patiently, he was afraid to do something wrong. Examining your concerned look, he prayed to Eywa for you to trust him. The effort he put to find you and go through this forest without being injured was enormous. Now he understands how hard it is for you to get used to Metkayina’s way of life. He should have thought about it before.

“Don’t come here again.”

And you left, leaving him alone in this forest.

“You are skxawng, Ao’nung.”

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P.S. There wasn't a lot of Aonung and y/n's conversations and I focused more on her recovery and feelings process, but I hope you liked it! Next parts will be more about Aonung and Y/N! Also, i'm not really sure how taglist thing really work, I hope I did it right🫣

Anyways, if you want to be tagged, comment and I'll add you!

Peace, friendship, bubblegum✌🏻💗

Taglist: @elegantkidfansoul @ijwsbdinp

[callsign-dexter]

Fight to Survive

Summary: The BAU gets called to a case in LA, California, everything is going great then tragedy strikes. Can the youngest team member be saved?

Pairings: Bobby Nash x Daughter!FBI!Reader, Athena Grant x Stepdaughter!Reader, May Grant x Stepsister!Reader, Harry Grant x Stepsister!Reader, BAU x Nash!Daughter!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, guns, gunshots stabbing, swearing, fighting, inaccurate medical talk, hospitals, bruising, being beaten up, strangulation, mentions of sexual abuse (to victims), kidnapping, cheating (not on reader)

Masterlist

A/N: After a long overdue wait I give you the crossover fic that you all voted on. Again sorry for the wait!

It was a late Friday night when everyone on the BAU team got the call that you all were headed to a case in LA. Luckily for everyone, everybody already had their go bags packed. When JJ got the call you, Y/N Nash, were all out clubbing together celebrating a case solved. You had walked outside to your car to call your dad, Bobby Nash, and mother, Athena Grant. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello?" Your father's husky voice came through.

"Hey, Dad." You said quietly you always loved the sound of his voice.

"Hey, honey. How are you? You sound tired." He said a little bit concerned then you heard Athena's voice come through and ask if that was you and to put you on speaker phone.

"Hey, sweetheart!" Athena said in her cheery voice and you smiled.

"Hey Athena. How are you and everyone else?" You asked

"We're good! Missing you." She said and you quietly laughed.

"You didn't answer my question Y/N." Your father back on the phone.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired. The last case got to me." You told them the truth. You always told them the truth.

"Are you allowed to talk about it?" Athena asked.

"I can tell you but it's not to be repeated." You said

"We understand." They both said at the same time.

"The case was about an unsub taking kids that resembled their kid that passed away due to drowning. They would keep them for 3 days and then drown them. We saved the last kid but they were around Harry's age." You told them and they were silent.

"Oh baby girl. I'm so sorry." Your father said. You looked up when you saw a shadow standing outside your window. You saw it was JJ.

"Hey guys hold on. JJ needs me." You told them and opened the door.

"Hey sorry to interrupt but we got a case." She sighed and you nodded.

"Ok let me finish up here and start rounding up everyone I'll drive whoever doesn't have a car here." You told her and she nodded and headed off to round everyone up. On the other end of the line Athena and Bobby were smiling at how you were taking charge, it must run in the family.

"Sorry guys. We got a case." You told them.

"You just got done with a case. Have you gotten any sleep?" Your dad asked concerned.

"Dad, I've gone on a lot less. I'll be fine this is what I signed up for when I joined the BAU. I love you guys." You told them, it was true you've gotten some sleep but not enough and you've ran on 2 hrs of sleep before.

"We love you too. Be safe. We'll talk later." Bobby said.

"Absolutely." You said smiling you said goodbye again and hung up.

About the time you hung up the team was heading your way. You got out to greet them. You all load up either in your car or separate cars, thankfully most of everyone took their own cars.

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When you arrived at the BAU headquarters everyone got out started to file into the building. Nobody was really complaining about being back except for Morgan who had been currently dancing with some lucky ladies.

"Always when I'm getting my groove thing on with the ladies." Morgan said as you all sat down waiting to be briefed. You just laughed.

"Morgan, I don't think you'll have a problem getting your groove thing back." He just laughed.

"You're just jealous that it's not with you." Morgan teased and you smirked.

"Oh, I'm just heartbroken." You faked hurt. He had always flirted with you but you had another man on your mind, a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed, with a unique birthmark, a few tattoos, and is firefighter under your dad's command, even though he has a girlfriend, you had no interest in Morgan. Hotch, JJ, and Garcia walked into the conference room.

"A body of a teenage girl was found dumped in a local park in CA. According to LAPD, this is the 8th girl taken. Her name was Amanda Hills." Hotch said as Garcia pulled up the pictures.

"The medical examiner has confirmed that they were sexually abused and then their throat slit post-mortem. Then dumped during the night in the park and found the next morning they're usually unclothed." JJ said. "We also have gotten word that a 9th girl has been abducted, Amelia Lanco." She reported.

"All the girls had signs of abuse. They also reported that they were stabbed in the same places beforehand and then strangled. They also had their throat slit afterward." You said looking at the tablet in your hand. You swiped the picture to get a better look at the victims and your heart stopped. They all look like May. You took a shaky breath before continuing "They also sent a video to LAPD which they gave to us." You said and Garcia played it, it showed the latest victim chained to a pole blindfolded, and dressed in only her bra and panties. Only a few seconds were played but that was enough for it to be engraved in your head forever.

"It also says here that he keeps them for 2 days and then dumps them." Rossi said to the team.

"Wheels up now." Hotch said and you all filed out of the room and picked up your go bags and headed to the jet. It was a 5 hr flight. As you were walking up the jet Hotch stepped you.

"Are you alright?" He asked you and you hesitated.

"All those girls looked like my sister, Hotch." You said and he nodded in understanding.

"Do you need to sit this one out?" He asked and you shook your head.

"Absolutely not." You said and nodded.

"If it gets too much come tell me." He said and you nodded your head. You both got on the plane and were up in the air in no time.

"It says here that the unsub keeps them for a total of 5 days before killing and dumping them. All of them were 18-24 years old." Rossi said. "The girls are taken during broad daylight but nobody claims to see anything." He continued.

"What if they do see it but just don't want to mention anything?" Spencer said and you nodded along with the others "It says here that 9-1-1 calls were called in from the same number but they always ended shortly after before help could help. All the numbers were the same and dispatch said that there were before the girl could say what was wrong a man came on and disconnected it." He said.

"Ok. I want Y/N and JJ I want you to meet LAPD and the fire department at the latest scene, we ask for them not to touch it until we're there. Reid and Morgan, I want you to go to dispatch and listen to the 9-1-1 calls. Emily, Rossi, and I will go to the police station to start setting up a profile." Hotch said and you all nodded in understanding. 5 hrs went quickly and before you knew it, you were touching down in LA. You all went to where you were supposed to go. You and Reid got into the SUV, you driving, and headed to the crime scene where you met your father, stepmother, and your current crush.

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You strolled up to the crime scene and saw the 118 firetruck and ambulance there along with several police cars including Athenas. You parked in front of the firetruck and got out and killed the engine and got out the same time JJ got out. You both had sunglasses on and walked to the crime scene.

"Welcome Agents. I'm Detective Lou Ransone." Lou announced and JJ spoke up.

"Nice to meet you. I'm SSA Jennifer Jareau but everyone calls me JJ and this is SSA Y/N Nash." She said nodding to you, everyone shook hands.

"Nash? As in Fire Captain Bobby Nash?" He asked and you nodded.

"That would be correct." You said just about the time when Bobby and Athena walked over.

"Hey! I didn't know you were coming to LA." Bobby said and you shook your head.

"Neither did I until 5 hrs ago. So what do we have?" You asked about getting into your professional FBI voice Bobby and Athena was impressed. Detective Lou answered your question as you all walked over to the body and you bent down to examine it along with JJ, who gave you gloves to put on.

"Call came in early this morning, around 7 AM from a frantic jogger that was jogging and discovered the body." Detective Lou said and you both nodded. You were watching JJ when she stopped and that got your attention.

"What do you got JJ?" You asked her.

"This is new." She said and pointed toward the left shoulder. "None of the other victims have had a bite mark on them." She said and your eyebrows shut to the one of confusion.

"You're right." You said, "Do you think we're dealing with more than one unsub or are they changing their mo?" You asked forgetting that the rest were there.

"There could be a good possibility." She said and about that time Buck, Eddie, Hen, and Chimney came over. You looked up and noticed the crowd. You got up which alerted JJ. She looked over and saw the news crew. You looked over at Detective Lou and Athena.

"Tell your detectives and officers that this does not get to the media. Not until we're ready to give a profile." You said and they nodded.

"Buck that means no telling Kelly anything." Eddie said and a surge of jealousy went through you. You didn't wait around to hear the rest. You went back to searching the crowd when you spotted something out of the ordinary. A man in his late 20s with a ball cap that was hiding his face and a jacket on with his hands in his pocket. He saw you and started to move.

"What is it?" JJ asked you

"There is someone in the crowd that doesn't look too concerned." You said and when you both went to question him he was gone.

"Let's get back to the station and get with Hotch and the rest." JJ said and you nodded and did just that

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While you headed back to the police station you talked over all the details with JJ. When you arrived you killed the engine and walked in and to the conference room where you were set up for the time being.

You told Hotch what you had come up with. He nodded letting you know he understood. "I think we're dealing with more than one unsub." You had said.

"Why is that?" He asked asking for further explanation.

"JJ I forgot to show you but I got a picture. There was another set of footprints, smaller than the other. Also, new evidence has been found, there was a bite mark on the shoulder of the latest victim." You said and pulled up your pictures sending them to the tablets. "Also if you look back at the video you can see at least one male forcing moves on her, and another one holding the camera." You said and they looked at you and realization came upon their face. Gracia phoned you all and Morgan answered the phone.

"Talk to me momma." Morgan said

"Ok my lovelies I ran the names through all of the systems and it turns out that they all went to the same high school and lived in the same neighborhood." Garcia said.

"Do you have an address of the latest victim and the other one that recently was taken?" Rossi asked.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I do. I'll have them to you in a jiffy." Gracia said and hung and true to her word she had everyone's phones pinging.

"Nash and Morgan I want you to go and talk to the parents of the latest victim, Mr. and Mrs. Lanco, and start talking to places that they frequently visited show them pictures of Amelia. Rossi and Reid start building a geographical profile and JJ start going through tapes and camera. Prentiss your with me, we're going to go and check out the Hills." Hotch ordered around and you all nodded and you left with Morgan with Preintess and Hotch following.

You both got into the SUV and headed to the address that Garcia had given you. It was in a neighborhood you knew all too well, it was the neighborhood your parents currently lived in. You arrived at the Lanco Residence and got out of the SUV when it was parked and turned off. Morgan stood right by you as you walked to the door. Morgan knocked and Mrs. Lanco answered the door.

"Mrs. Lanco, I'm SSA Morgan and this is SSA Nash." Morgan said introducing you both.

"Oh like fire captain Nash?" She asked and once again you nodded.

"Yes ma'am." You answered her. "Mrs. Lanco, we're here to talk about Amelia." You told her and let you both in and into the living room where Mr. Lanco was.

"Honey this is SSA Morgan and SSA Nash." Mrs. Lanco said her husband got up and shook both of your hands. She offered you a seat on the couch and you took it.

"First I want to say I'm sorry for your loss. Did Amelia have any enemies?" You asked then.

"No none at all. She was a very well-liked girl." Mr. Lanco said "She wouldn't hurt a fly." He continued.

"She always helped around the house and loved everyone." Mrs. Lanco said and you nodded.

"If you have any more to add, here is my card with my number. Please let us know if anything else comes up." Morgan said and handed them his card.

"We will. Have a nice day agents." Mr. Lanco said and got to show you to the door. Once out and in the SUV, Morgan was the one driving this time, you two began to talk.

"Ok so Amelia seemed like a nice girl. She helped out around the house and helped her parents." You said to Morgan and he nodded.

"She also didn't have any enemies, no one to hate her. That we know of." He said and it was your turn to nod. "I wonder if Hotch and Rossi got anything different." He said and you nodded. You started to visit each location the victims frequented but it was no use until the last stop who told you both a description of the guy and actually had videos from CCTV.

You both arrived at the station and got out of the SUV and made your way into the building. When you got to the conference room Hotch and Rossi were already there and were already talking.

"What did you both find out?" Hotch asked and so you spoke up.

"She was a really well-liked girl. She helped out around the house and wouldn't hurt a fly. She also loved everyone. Also, the last place they visited had a video that showed the victims leaving with one of the unsubs. Videos should be here now." You said relaying the conversation that you had with the parents and other information. Hotch nodded.

"This Hills said the same thing about their daughter. So why is this unsub going after friendly girls and who helps around the house? Rossi said and asked.

"He must be going after a specific person but can't have her or saving her for last." Emily spoke up and it hit you. May was like that so he must have May on his mind. You looked at Hotch and he was looking at you, you knew what he was thinking.

While you, Morgan, Hotch, and Emily were out. JJ, Reid, and Rossi had gotten the names of the unsubs, Jackson Phillips and Anthony Bennett. Garcia also gave pictures and. It was silent for a minute then Gracia phoned.

"Guys I just got a video of Amelia from the unsubs." Gracia said "Sending it to you now." She said before you all could get anything else out. Your phones pinged.

Just then Athena walked in "We just got a report of shots fired at 23 South Comet Drive."

"That's the same address that the video sent from. Ok guys let's go." Hotch said and you all threw on your Kevlar FBI vests and you were on your way.

You all got there at the same time as the 118 and the other police officers. You were the first one out of the SUV and then followed by Morgan and the others followed. You saw Buck and he was looking at you but you were too busy running to the door. When you got there you had decided to kick down the door.

"FBI! OPEN UP!" Hotch shouted and when you got no response he nodded at you and you brought your foot up and kicked down the door. In fluid motion and boy did you feel powerful. You all rushed in. Everyone split up.

"CLEAR!" Hotch yelled out

"CLEAR!" Morgan yelled out

"CLEAR!" Emily yelled out and then you got to the basement.

"Guys we need a medic down here!" You said into your comms just as the man coughed and blood spewed out.

Everyone else ran down along with Hen and Chimney. You were bending down when they came in. They worked on him and when they got him out onto the gurney he was awake and you went up to him along with Hotch. "Anthony Bennett?" You asked.

"Yes?" He replied.

"You are under arrest for the murder of Amanda Hills and 6 other kills and the kidnapping of Amelia Lanco." You said authoritatively he just looked down like he was upset that he got caught. An officer gave you cuffs and you handcuffed him to the gurney then turned the officer as Hotch spoke.

"I want an officer posted at his hospital room at all times and when he's healed take him away." He said and they nodded. He turned to you once they loaded him up and left. "You need to tell them who they're really after." He said and you looked at him he would never suggest that. He must've seen the look because he continued "They need to know and I know how you get when you have to keep a secret." He finished and you nodded.

You walked over to Bobby and Athena as well as Eddie and Buck. They saw you and saw the look on your face. "What's wrong?" Buck asked.

"This is not easy for me to say this but the unsub's target is May." You told them and the color drained from their face the same it had done to you when you saw it. "That's the same look I had when I saw it." You said and you felt bad "I wasn't allowed to tell you until now." And that was true even if it wasn't spoken you knew the rules.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Athena asked

"Yes. We want to put someone with her the entire time and we will be calling the 911 command center to let them know. I also want Maddie to know." You said and they nodded. You all talked more and then you needed to go.

"Y/N wait." Buck said as he jogged over to you and you turned. "How have you been?" He asked and you looked at him expression neutral. Even though you were jumping for joy on the inside but you knew he had a girlfriend.

"I've been fine Buck." You said and gave him a small smile.

"That's great! Hey listen maybe we can hang out after this is all done." He said and you sighed.

"We can hang out but Buck you have a girlfriend and I don't want to stand in the way of you two." You told him and he nodded his head "Do you have your phone?" You asked him and he nodded and so you held out your hand and you put your number in and then sent a message to yourself "I have your number now. Text or call me." You said and then turned away and back to the SUV. What you didn't see was Buck smiling like an idiot and what you didn't know was that he liked you too.

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It was the next day and you had gotten zero sleep. You just couldn't fall asleep not with that creep of a murder running around. Everyone greeted each other and got to work. "I think we're ready to give a press conference. Y/N want you to give it." Hotch said and that surprised you but got ready to do one anyways. "Tell them that we have a suspect in custody and tell them what and who to watch out for." He said and you nodded your head. The news reporters and several television stations were there. You were nervous but you were ready to give to do it.

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Bobby had told Hen and Chimney what you had told them and Buck had told Maddie. "Hey the FBI is about to give a statement." Buck said and so everyone gathered around.

"I'm SSA Y/N Nash with the FBI. We have a suspect in custody but the other one is still at large. We ask you not to approach this man he is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is a white male in his early 30s and has black hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen in a black baseball cap and has a scar over his right eyebrow. Up on the screen is a picture that will help you identify him. We also ask any female to not be alone at all times while this case is going on. If you see this man or he approaches you please call the FBI hotline or 911. There will not be any questions at this time. Thank you." You finished your speech.

Everyone was silent. "She looks stressed." Chimney said and everyone nodded in agreement.

"She also didn't look like she got any sleep." Hen said.

"I just hope she's ok. Maybe I can convince her to stay a couple of days afterwards." Bobby said

"We would love to see and hang out with her again." Eddie said and again everyone agreed. Buck was silent he loved you and wanted to be with you but was too stupid and hid it, now he was with Taylor and he didn't want that anymore he wanted you.

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Everyone at the call center gathered around the TV as the news began to play. There was chatter going around and questions. May and Maddie were together when it was playing and it freaked her out because she knew this person.

"I'm SSA Y/N Nash with the FBI. We have a suspect in custody but the other one is still at large. We ask you not to approach this man he is considered to be armed and dangerous. He is a white male in his early 30s and has black hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen in a black baseball cap and has a scar over his right eyebrow. Up on the screen is a picture that will help you identify him. We also ask any female to not be alone at all times while this case is going on. If you see this man or he approaches you please call the FBI hotline or 911. There will not be any questions at this time. Thank you." You finished your speech.

"Oh my gosh." May said in disbelief.

"What? What is it?" Maddie asked her concerned.

"I know that man. He's always in Cali Café. The café that I really like and the one I brought coffee to you from. He's a barista." She said and Maddie knew what she was talking about.

"Have you told Y/N?" She asked and May shook her head. "I think you need to." She said and May nodded her head and pulled out her phone and dialed your number. You answered on the first ring.

"May?" You answered

"Y/N I know that man." May said to you.

"You do?" You asked surprised

"Yes he's a barista at Cali Café. That's my favorite place to get coffee. He was fired last week though for inappropriate behavior towards women and taking off so often." She told you and you nodded tho she couldn't see.

"Ok. May we are sending someone to stay with you until this whole things blows over. I want you to be safe and if you need to stay with Maddie." You told her

"Ok. I got it." She said

"Good. I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you May." You told her

"I love you too sis." She said and then you both hung up the phone.

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You relayed the information to the team and they had sent an officer her way. Everyone was working and trying to figure out a plan and his plan when Athena came rushing in "They just found a body." She said and that had you all getting up and rushing off. When you arrived it was in a park just like he originally had done. There were strangulation marks around her heck and she was severally beaten and the new signature of a bite mark. The 118 also arrived a minute later.

"That is Amelia Lanco." Rossi said standing up from having been bent down.

"Someone needs to go and inform the parents. Reid and JJ you go." Hotch said and they nodded and headed to one of the SUVs.

"I think now that he's dumped her. He's going to go after May now." You said and they nodded in agreement. You all didn't care who heard since you had already told the 118 and Athena. "We have an officer with her, correct?" You asked and Athena nodded her head.

"Yes Detective Lou is with her." She said and you nodded your head. Hen and Chimney had loaded Amelia up and headed off.

"Good." Just then the media rolls up and to be honest you were pissed. "What the hell is the reporters doing here? How did they get information?" You asked sounding pissed and everyone could hear it.

"Rossi and Prentiss go take care of it." Hotch said and he nodded and headed that way then you looked at Buck.

"Did you tell her?" You asked in a pissed off voice.

"I swear I didn't. You have to believe me. Y/N I promise I didn't." He said defending himself and that's when Bobby spoke up.

"He didn't tell her anything. He hasn't even looked at his phone since he's been at work." Bobby said to you.

"He's been with me the entire time." Eddie said and you nodded believing them but it still infuriated you that she found out somehow.

"Agent Nash! Agent Hotchner!" An officer yelled out and you and Hotch turned and saw an officer waving you both over. So with one last look at Buck who had an expression on his face that you couldn't place you and Hotch walked over to the officer.

Buck stood there and looking in shock. He then turned to Bobby. "I swear I didn't tell her." He said.

"We know that Buck. She knows that too but she's just stressed right now and from the looks of it not getting enough sleep. She would never jeopardize a relationship that she truly believes in. Just give her some time." Bobby said and Buck nodded.

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You were truly getting frustrated and were getting little to no sleep. Hotch has pulled you aside and talked to you about snaping on people and that if you didn't stop he was sending you back to the hotel. It was in the middle of the day when you got the worst news any FBI agent or sister to get. Your face drained of color and you would've collapsed if it weren't for Hotch holding you up. Athena was also there when she got the news and you two comforted each other.

Once you got over your shock you really dived into your work not stopping to do anything. "Ok so we know that he keeps them for a total of 2 days. He usually abuses them, sexually assaults them, strangles them, and slits their throats post-mortem. He then dumps them naked in the local park. He used to have a partner but doesn't anymore so it's going to be harder to dump them." You said pacing around thinking. You turned to Rossi "Did it say where May was taken from?" You asked.

"Y/N." He said and you looked at him with a look you've never given them before and it scared them.

"Where Rossi?" You said sternly and he looked at Hotch and he nodded.

"Coming out of the 911 dispatch center." You could've sworn you felt your blood boil.

"Wasn't Detecive Lou with her?" You asked incredibly annoyed.

"Yes there was but they found him knocked out where the cars were. Cameras did show that a black Toyota Corolla stop and the unsub got out and knocked him out and pushed May into the car." Hotch said.

"When was she taken?" You asked sternly

"This morning after her overnight shift." Reid told you

"Does Bobby know?" You asked looking at Athena who had just walked into the room when she heard commotion.

"No he doesn't." She said and you looked at Hotch.

"Go tell him in person. You need to cool off." He said tossing you the keys to the SUV and you stormed out and got into the SUV and drove to the firehouse.

You arrived at the firehouse and blew past several people until you got to the kitchen. You looked him straight in the eye "May has been taken." You could see the color drain from his face.

"When?" He asked "What are you doing here?" He asked again.

"This morning after her overnight shift. They sent me to tell you because I was starting to snap at people. Hotch told me to." You said and he nodded. Just then your phone buzzed. You looked at the message it was from Garcia she gave you the address "1157 California Lane. Is close to here right?" You asked looking up at your father.

"Yea it's about 20 minutes away from here." He said, and you rushed down the stairs with everyone following they watched you throw on your Kevlar vest and then get in the SUV before any of them could say anything and speed off sirens blaring. As you were driving you got a call from Garcia.

"Hey you're on with everyone else including Athena and the 118." She said and you didn't say anything.

"We're right here with you Sweetheart." Your dad's voice came through your phone.

"I'm almost there." You said

"You wait for backup. Understood?" Hotch said and you didn't say anything too busy grinding your teeth "Agent Nash. Do you understand?" He asked again voice going authoritative.

"Understood." You said teeth clenched together.

"Good. Here is the plan. When we all get there we'll all go in together and get May put safely." Hotch said and you knuckles tightened until the turned white. You knew you needed to follow orders but you didn't like it.

They continued you talking but you tuned them out when you arrived at the house. You switched your phone to your comm. You hated waiting. Just then a scream came from the house and you couldn't wait anymore.

"Hotch I can't wait anymore I'm going in." You told them.

"Just wait for backup. We're 10 minutes out." Morgan said and you shook your head.

"10 minutes is too late. I can hear screaming." You said getting pissed.

"Y/N, Sweetheart. Just hold on a little longer. I know its hard and it hurts. We're 8 minutes out." Athena said and again you shook your head.

"Y/N please listen to them. We're almost there." Buck's voice came through and you closed your eyes you wanted to listen.

"Agent Nash. Stand down." Hotch said but you needed to go now.

"I'm sorry, I'm not waiting anymore." You said and got out and ran to the door. They were screaming in your ear but you ignored them.

You got to door and tried the knob and it opened so you pushed it open and quietly walked in. You cleared each room one by one. Until you got to the basement and then May screamed again and that had your aderline pumping and walking down the stairs. You say May and you started to walk to her she had blood coming from a cut over her eyebrow and brushing on her temple along with a cut. She also had some signs of strangulation.

"Y/N/N?" She asked looking up and you nodded you holstered your gun.

"Yea it's me. We're gonna get you out of here." You said and spoke in your comm.

"I have May. I-" you said and then May stopped you.

"Y/N/N behind you!" She said and when you turned around the unsub, Jackson Phillips, was behind you with a 2x4 and he swung it and hit you across the temple. It had knocked you down and your vision was disoriented. You saw him coming for you and you used the wall to help yourself up as he took a swing at you, you ducked and he hit the wall and you stumbled forward holding your head. He grabbed your shoulders and pulled you up and punched you in the face. You need to fight back and so you did. You took a swing and successfully hit him across the face knocking him to the side.

"Jackson Phillips we can work this out." You said

"Oh no. Working it out with you people means guns." He said and stood up and rushed you. You stepped aside and he quickly recovered. This went on for about 3 minutes and both of you were pretty beaten up. He grabbed a knife and got some good cuts and stabs in you but you quickly disarmed him and then he grabbed a gun and you quickly upholstered your gun.

"One last chance. We can work this out and I can get you a deal." You said standing up in front of May to protect her and labor breathing. He raised his gun.

"I'm not going back to prison." He said and both of you fired two shots. One of his hit your shoulder and the other just below your vest. Both of yours hit his chest successfully but somehow he was still alive but barley hanging on. You stumbled over to May and untied her and then collapsed. And spoke into your comm.

"Suspect is contained. I'm gonna need a medic." You said and your words were slurred.

Then everything turned black. You didn't hear May's pleas for you to wake up or the pressure she had on your wounds. You felt nothing.

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Everyone could hear what was happening and it was breaking their heart. They drove as fast as they could. Buck, Bobby, and Athena were taking it the hardest.

They heard you fight with the unsub they heard every hit and every word.

"Y/N/N behind you!" May shouted and they heard you grunt in pain and then hit something metal. "

Jackson Phillips we can work this out." You said sounding out of breath.

"Oh no. Working it out with you people means guns." He said and more punching and throwing around could be heard along with grunting.

"One last chance. We can work this out and I can get you a deal."

"I'm not going back to prison." He said and both of you fired two shots. Everyone’s eyes went wide and they drove faster.

"Suspect is contained. I'm gonna need a medic." You said and your words were slurred.

Bobby had his head hung. Buck was looking wide-eyed. Athena was gripping the steering wheel. Hotch, Emily, Reid, JJ, and Rossi were in shock and afraid for their youngest member's life. They could hear May shouting out at you but you didn't respond.

"Y/N, please! Wake up! You can't leave!" She said but got no response back and they heard her start sobbing.

Everyone arrived and the BAU rushed in along with Athena and the 133 paramedics. Two other ambulances, 133 and 136, had arrived with them. Jackson Phillips was still alive but barley there. They loaded him up as Athena put cuffs on him and then the gurney "Keep him alive I want see him charged for murder and attempted murder of a federal agent." The 133 paramedics nodded and took off with him. Along with another officer to stand post at the room. The other suspect was healed and in prison already.

Emily had removed May with the help of JJ, she didn't want to leave but she knew she had to they took her the 136 ambulance to have her checked out. Hotch was bending down next you and putting pressure on. "Y/N, can you hear me?" He asked but you didn't respond. Chimney and Hen came down with a backboard. They started to put the pulse ox on your finger and hook you up to the heart monitor.

"She has a pulse but it's weak and her oxygen is dropping. We need to move her fast." Hen said and they all nodded and Hotch and Morgan helped them get you onto the backboard and helped them out of the basement and then onto a gurney. They got you into the ambulance and Bobby climbed into the ambulance. Chimney put an oxygen mask on your face as you started to come to and lolled your head the side and saw your dad there.

"Dad?" you asked slurred and he looked at you and you held your hand out to him for him to take.

"I'm here, Sweetheart." He said with tears forming in his eyes.

"Did I get 'im?" You asked eyes wanting to slip closed.

"Yea, Sweetheart. You got him." He said stroking the back of your hand. Then your grip loosened and fell out of his and your eyes rolled into the back of your head and your head lolled to the side as the heart monitor started to go crazy.

"She's flatlining!" Chimney yelled out and started to take your vest off and Bobby helped. Once it was off Chimney started to do chest compressions and then Bobby spoke up.

"Don't you leave me, Sweetheart. I can't lose you." He said and that seemed to work because your heartrate came back your eyes began to open.

"Hey, welcome back." Chimney said just as soon as they pulled up to the hospital. They got you out and wheeled you in and gave you off to the doctors "She codded in the ambulance once but came back." He said and they nodded. Now they had to wait.

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3 hrs. that is how long it took for you to be in surgery to repair some major wounds and remove the bullets. 3 hrs. is how long you spent fighting to survive. 3 hrs. is how long everyone had to wait nervously in the hospital waiting room. 3 hrs. is how long Buck had to wait for an update for the love of his life. Everyone had changed but Athena since she had to work still. Michael, David, Harry, and May were at the hospital as well waiting. Athena had arrived and spotted Bobby who was talking to Hotch and the rest of your team. "Any word?" She asked and they shook their head.

"No, not yet." Bobby said and she was about to sat something when your doctor came out and Bobby looked over and nodded his head.

"Family of Nash." Bobby, Athena, and Hotch walked over.

"I'm her father and this is her mother." Bobby said and pointing to Athena.

"I'm her boss." Hotch said and the doctor nodded.

"I'm Dr. Summers. I was Agent Nash's surgeon and doctor. We lost her twice on the table but she his stable now. I want her to stay here for a few days just to make sure she recovers well. You can see her but if she starts getting overwhelmed I recommend limiting her visitors." She said and they nodded their heads understanding "She's in room 555." She said and they thanked her and she was on her way.

They went over and told the others and everyone sighed in relief. Buck even collapsed in the chair. "We want to limit the people she sees to at least three." Bobby said and they nodded.

Hotch, Bobby, and Athena went first. They walked up to the room and looked through the window. They could see the brutal attack you went through. They walked in and you looked over to them. "Hey." You said weakly.

"Hey, Sweetheart." Bobby said for everyone.

"May?" You asked scooting up and groaning in pain everyone rushed to help you.

"She's ok, thanks to you. A little bruised and some cuts here and there but ok." Athena said and gently grabbed your hand and rubbed it. You smiled and then turned to Hotch, he knew what you were asking.

"They want you to stay here in the hospital for a couple of days. I also want you to take some time off and recover. You're not going to be able to fly for a few weeks so I thought you could stay here." He said and turned to Bobby and Athena.

"Of course. You don't even have to ask. It would be great to catch up." Athena said and you smiled so it was settled you'll be staying home for a couple of weeks.

Everyone visited you but Buck. You were a little sad but put up a wall and masked your feelings. You were just about to go to sleep when Buck knocked on your door and walked in and you smiled.

"Buck." You said his name and it brought chills up his spine.

"Hi." He said and walked over and sat down by your bed and you looked over to him "You gave me, well everyone, a scare." You smiled.

"Sorry about that." You said and chuckled but then groaned in pain and Buck jumped up.

"Are you ok? Do I need to go get a nurse?" He asked and you waved him off.

"It's ok. I promise." You said and he sat back down.

"Listen Y/N I really like no love you. I have ever since I laid eyes on you but never made a move. I was young and naïve and you were just visiting from Quantico. I want to be with you even if it is long distance." Buck said and you thought about it.

"I've always loved you Buck. You never seemed interested so I never went for it. You just never seemed to pay attention to me or knew I existed. I really do love you Buck but you're with Taylor and I don't want to get in the way of that." You said and before you knew it or continue his lips were on yours and you were kissing him back. You only broke apart when air was needed "Buck. What about Taylor?" You asked and he shook his head.

"I don't want her. I want you and only you. I'm going to break up with her when I leave here." He said and you nodded. He sat down and you two talked in a comfortable silence. Bobby and Athena walked back in, they had decided to stay with you until you were ready to leave. Buck left but not without giving you a kiss and a wink.

Bobby and Athena started asking 20 questions and you couldn't help but smile. This was the family you had been missing but you loved your job. Buck and you were finally together and everything was right now. Yes your job was dangerous but you loved it and wouldn't give it up for anything. You couldn't wait to start your recovery with the people you love.

[quillfulwhimsyverse]

The Act of Faking

Word count: 7,2k

Summary: George is not talking to Fred, and the only way Fred thinks this can be salvageable, is by faking a relationship with you. Or when you hear his request - faking him having feelings for you.

Warnings: Angst towards the end.

A/N: I am literally going to kill myself. I had a plan for this to be the perfect slowed paced slow burn, were relationship builds slowly and beautifully but then I just ran out of ideas and this is what happened. And to remind you - English is not my first language so most of the times I just stared at the page trying to come up with different descriptions rather than using the ones everybody knows by heart. So I am sorry. Please enjoy.

P.S I am very sad that I found out about the "5 Acts of Play " stature at the end of writing this one-shot. I could've used it to make the story more interesting. But oh fucking well… _______________________________

One thing that everybody in Hogwarts knew, - the Weasley twins were always together. One never went anywhere without another. They also never had any serious arguments, only slight disagreements that seemed to be forgotten pretty soon after.  

That was why you currently frowned looking at the door. Fred came into the Great Hall looking tired, confused and disappointed to say the least. You closed your book, your interest peaking. He only looked like that when he'd gotten himself into detention that overlaps with Quidditch practice. 

‘So what happened to you?’ you asked as Fred moved to sit in front of you at the Gryffindor table. He looked really upset. ‘Prank gone wrong?’

‘No, I wish tho.’ He sighed. ‘It’s George. I haven’t had a single conversation with him for what seems like days.’ 

‘You never fight.’ you mentioned, as Fred was taking a gulp of juice from your glass. 

"We haven’t gotten into a fight, Y/N, he just dumbly avoids me. When I try to talk to him, he mumbles something about guilt trips and at the next moment he’s gone.’ He started fidgeting with his wand. 

‘How come? Why would he “guilt trip”?’

“Well our dear best friend, Geroge,” Fred mumbled irritably, for a moment you thought he might snap, “had gotten himself a girlfriend, bet you didn’t know that, right?” you only nodded. “Well apparently nobody knew, including me.”

“Yeah…” you bit your lip. “I still don’t see what the problem is.”

“I will tell you what the problem is… The problem is that I accidentally caught him snogging Angelina off in the Quidditch pitch.” You looked at him trying not to show too much emotion. “That wanker wanted to keep it a secret, because he thought I might get hurt.”

“Well, I kinda understand why he kept it a secret.” You waited for his reaction, but he only looked at you blankly, waiting for you to continue. “Weren’t you, like, in love with her a couple of years ago?”

“Yeah, so?” he shook his head. “ I was, that’s the point, Y/N. Was. I am not. Not anymore. I wouldn’t care if they got married tomorrow.” He rested his head in his hands, slowly massaging his forehead. 

“Have you told him this?” 

“Yeah… Like a dozen bloody times. He doesn’t believe me, though. Says “I am only saying this to make him feel better.” How many times, do ya reckon, I would have to repeat this to make him believe it?”  

“Hmmm..” you thought for a second. “Just give him a bit of time, maybe that will solve something?” you suggested. 

“Just give him time…” he repeated your words to you. “How do you assume I should do that? With the Christmas holiday upcoming? Although, I think he would rather spend the whole time with the gnomes instead of me in the same room.” 

You stayed silent for a moment. Now that you have thought about it, you haven’t seen George for a couple of days too. 

“But.” Fred lifted his eyebrows and took a deep breath.” I have a little plan.” He quickly reached for his bag and pulled a letter out of it. “ This morning I got a letter from my mother, about my bad behavior in class and yada yada yada, but she did mention inviting you to stay over during holidays. And this, dear Y/N, sparked a thought in me.” 

You shifted uncomfortably on the bench. 

“You and I,” he pointed towards you and then towards himself. “We are going to fake being in a relationship. Over your stay at The Burrow.”

“Fred.” you snapped quickly. “You’re crazy.” 

“Why? I mean, it’s a good plan. Angelina will be going home during holidays, and George will be forced to be with his family instead, and we’re going to pull a little show for him, just enough, so he would drop this stupid avoidance game he is playing.” 

You frowned at your best friend. 

“You have a perfect opportunity to talk to him during the holidays and you want to spend it playing a pretend game?” you ask him as he nods. “Yeah, well there is a slight problem in your plan. We have never ever acted romantically towards each other, and George isn’t so stupid, he won’t believe it. He spent so much time with both of us together, so he will notice that there’s just no spark, or whatever.” 

“That is exactly where you are going to help me,” he stated. “Your mother is muggle, right? You mentioned once that she is really into those romantic books muggle people read? What do you call them? Noveelies?” 

“Novels, Fred.” 

“Yeah, whatever, not the point. You said you were into them when you were younger. So what I’m trying to say is that you will help me put this act together, so it looks convincing.”

You look agape at him. 

“You’ve thought this through, haven’t you?”

“I had too much time on my hands with my brother successfully avoiding me, I’ve even opened the Transfiguration book a couple of times out of boredom. Closed it pretty soon after, it was even more boring than doing absolutely nothing.” 

“Still, Fred, no. It’s your whole family that will notice this as well and I don’t want to lie to Molly. And anyways, how would explain the sudden break up after the Holidays. And… Oh my god… Ron and Ginny will literally tease me to death. This is a really stupid plan, Fred, no one is going to believe it anyway. Just think of something else, I dunno, talk to Angie and make her help you out or something.”

“How am I supposed to talk to Angelina when she is almost always with George nowadays? I knew you would think the plan is stupid, but look - you are my best friend, right? I know you inside out, it would be much easier to pretend we’re in love.”

You look skeptically at him. You wanted to help him, you really did, but this plan was bound to fail one way or another. You very well knew how he flirts and acts with other girls, the last thing you wanted - to accidentally fall for him for his stupid act. 

“No.” You started packing your book into your bag, not looking at him.

“Then at least let me act as if I had fallen for you, you won’t have to do anything, just help me out to put the act together, so it looks convincing enough for George, c’mon, Y/N, you know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” You let your eyelids fall a little more over your eyes while he speaks. “It’s either this or I am going to do something even more stupid.” 

You let your head lull back.

“Alright.” you sight. “But.” You quickly state. “Embarrass me, Weasley, and you will have two people not talking to you.” He rolls his eyes and then determinedly looks at you. 

“Okay, so how am I supposed to pull this off?” You look at him in frustration. “What? I need step by step guidance.”

“I am gonna tell you this once. You miss it, I won’t repeat it. It is extremely stupid and why do I even… Aren’t you like a huge flirt and tease? Why would I need to teach you how…” He gave you a warning look and you shut yourself up real quick. “Oh, for Merlin's sake, okay.” 

He nodded. You gave yourself a moment to think it through, and he let you, keeping everything he wanted to say to himself. 

“Because this will be coming from literally nowhere, you must be really subtle at first.” He opened his mouth to say something but you interrupted him. “ I know, you don’t know how to be subtle, so just gaze at me from time to time during the dinner or whenever you’ll be sure George notices.” 

“So all I have to do is just look at you from time to time?”

“No, you muppet. I called it a gaze for a reason. You know? Staring at someone you find admiring?” He slightly shook his head, his ginger hair falling over his brown eyes. “Or just someone you find unbelievably pretty?” He still looked at you a bit dumbfounded. “Fred, you do it when you think about Quidditch and pranks.” He smirked, red tinting his cheeks. 

“Okay, loverrr…” you deliberately said the last word as slowly as possible, teasing him intentionally, hoping he might have a change of heart and call this plan off.  “We will call this “Act Number One.” In case you fail convincing George with this one, we will move on to the “Act Number Two.” Where you will seek close proximity.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Step over the line with this one, Fred, and I will hex you.” 

He raises his hand into the air. “Whatever you’ll say, Ma’am.” 

“You will have to be subtle with this too. Otherwise it will just be whatever you do here, in Hogwarts on a daily basis. Try to sit next to me when the dinner is ready, try and fix my hair slightly or something, you will figure it out as you go.Then there is gonna be “Act Number Three”, I believe, you will need no assistance on this one - teasing. No comment on this one. I think this should do the job.”  You look at him blankly, something about this makes you irritated and anxious. 

“And what if after all of this, he still won’t be on no speaking terms with me?” 

“Then an actor's career won't be suitable for you.” 

Act Nr. 1

Your stay at The Burrow began shortly after the plan was devised. You had urged Fred to attempt a conversation with George before enacting the plan, and in the presence of Molly and Arthur, all appeared well between the brothers, they even shared a joke about Ron’s owl Gigwidgeon. However, once left alone, their relationship reverted to its former state. And you knew that it was a matter of hours before Freds attempt at Act One.

And indeed, your prediction proved accurate. The scene unfolded during dinner, just as you had anticipated. While engaged in conversation with Ginny, who sat to your right, Arthur kindly addressed you, prompting you to look left, up at him.

“Y/N, Fred shared the fact that your mother is a muggle,” you nodded looking at him. “How fascinating.” Arthur remarked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I recently got a hold on this little thing..” he reached for his jacket pocket and pulled out a cigarette. “What exactly is this?” He held it with the tips of his thumb and forefinger as if it was a little wand. “I’ve seen it ignite flames. Is it some sort of muggle magic wand, huh?”

You couldn't help but giggle at Arthur's question, but your attention soon shifted to Molly, who cast her husband a warning glance. Unbeknownst to you, Fred's focus shifted to you, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he observed the interaction. 

“Not quite, Mr. Weasley,” you replied with a smile. “It's called a cigarette. It contains an addictive substance called nicotine, which people often smoke to alleviate stress or tension.”

“Really, Dad,” Bill interjected with a laugh, “Mum will be reaching for one of those every time you mention something from the Muggle world at the dinner table.”

Suddenly, Fred erupted into laughter, his eyes dancing with amusement as he directed his gaze towards you. “Well, would you look at that,” he exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone at the table, yet his eyes were locked on you. “Our dear Y/N, the epitome of innocence, enlightening our dear old Dad about the vices of the Muggle realm.”

You shook slightly, your eyes widening a bit. What was he doing? But he only laughed at your widened eyes, the mischievous glint in his eyes indicating that he was teasing you, trying to uplift the mood at the table.

As the Weasleys' laughter filled the room, you felt a warmth spread through you, despite the slight embarrassment of being the center of attention. 

Ginny shot Fred a knowing look, her lips curling into a smirk. "Looks like someone's enjoying themselves a bit too much," she teased, earning another round of laughter from the group.

Fred caught your confused look as you were about to mouth him to watch what he’s doing, but he only winked at you. 

After the dinner you jumped quickly on your legs to help Molly. When you went to roll up your sleeves to wash the dishes, Molly quickly stopped you with a light touch and smiled kindly. “Honey, the magic will take care of that, go ahead and rest on the couch with everybody.” She rushed you to the living room. 

You turned back to look at the rest of the family: Arthur was explaining to Bill about some corruption that involved the Ministry of Magic and Gringotts Wizarding Bank; Ron and George were playing the wizards chess on the floor and by the look on George's face - Ron was winning. Ginny picked up a plate of cookies, murmuring that these were Percy’s favorite, so she had to offer some of him, so he wouldn’t starve himself to death with whatever he was doing as an exemplary Head Boy; and Fred seemed nowhere to be found. 

You turned back to Molly. “My mother always said that magic was too precious to use it on simple daily tasks, that could simply be managed by humans.” She smiled gently at you and her eyes lifted a bit from your eyes. 

At that exact moment you felt a heavy chins presence on your right shoulder. You turned your head towards it to see Fred's untidy red hair that was brushing your cheek slightly.

"Fred," you greeted softly, turning your head to meet his gaze.

His brown eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned down at you. 

"Hey there," he whispered, his voice low and intimate despite the bustling room around you.

A sense of ease washed over you in his company, a feeling you'd grown accustomed to over the years of friendship. 

"Thought I'd join the party," he quipped, his breath warm against your ear.

“Go rest, you two,” Molly interrupted, “while I go and see where to lay you, Y/N. I hope you sharing a room with Ginny would be alright.” 

“It’s perfectly fine. Thank you, Molly.” 

Fred feigned a dramatic sigh, before nudging you gently towards the living room. 

“You are not following the plan, Fred, you ran over all of the acts in one day.” you scolded him, but he laughed loudly. 

“Y/N, darling, when was I ever following the rules?” 

Act Nr. 2

For a couple of days, the plan appeared to be on hold. The Weasley children found themselves occupied with various tasks around The Burrow, and you willingly lent a hand wherever needed.

Whether it was assisting Molly with preparing meals in the bustling kitchen, helping Arthur mend a fence in the ramshackle backyard, or joining Ron and Ginny in tending to the garden, you immersed yourself in the daily rhythm of life at The Burrow. Once or twice you caught Fred gazing at you while he took a little break to drink some water or just to catch a breath. 

However after the evening to a hold on the house and everybody seemed to be resting, gathered in the cozy living room of The Burrow, Fred subtly initiated Act Nr. 2 of the plan. With George engrossed in a conversation with Ron about Quidditch tactics, Fred seized the opportunity to position himself strategically closer to you on the worn-out couch.

With a casual yet deliberate movement, he shifted slightly, allowing his arm to brush against yours. You glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in silent amusement at his subtle maneuver. His response was a barely perceptible smirk, a silent acknowledgment of his progress in the plan. 

Every now and then, he would lean in slightly, as if to share a secret or a whispered joke, his breath tickling your ear. Each time, you couldn't help but smile at his playful antics, a silent agreement between you to maintain the facade of blossoming feelings.

Just then, George's voice cut through the jovial atmosphere, interrupting the conversation about Quidditch tactics. "Oi, Fred," he called out, his tone tinged with a hint of mischief. "You're looking a bit too comfortable there, mate. Planning on falling asleep, are you?"

Fred's smirk widened, as if he had anticipated this exchange beforehand. He shot a playful glance at George, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Can't blame a bloke for seeking a bit of comfort, can you?" he retorted, his tone light-hearted.

George chuckled, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Well, just don't go drooling on her shoulder, mate," he teased, earning a round of laughter from the others in the room.

You couldn't help but join in the laughter, though you felt a slight flush creeping up your cheeks at the playful banter. Fred's proximity and the teasing exchange sent a pleasant warmth coursing through you, despite the teasing scrutiny of the Weasley twins.

Although, ironically, as the evening wore on, the warmth of the fire and the gentle hum of conversation lulled you into a comfortable state of relaxation. Despite your best efforts to stay alert and engaged in the lively discussion, the cozy ambiance of The Burrow proved too inviting, and you found your eyelids growing heavy.

Unbeknownst to you, Fred noticed the subtle droop of your head as you began to nod off, a small smile playing on his lips at the sight. He leaned closer, discreetly adjusting his position to offer you more support, ensuring you were comfortable.

Meanwhile, George shot Fred a knowing grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he observed your gradual descent into sleep. "Looks like someone's had a long day," he remarked sotto voce, his tone filled with gentle jest.

Fred nodded in agreement, his gaze softening as he watched you drift off into slumber, a sense of warmth and protectiveness washing over him. He couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for you, his best friend, as he silently vowed to ensure you rested undisturbed for the remainder of the evening. 

That was how Act Number two acted out. 

Act Nr. 3?

You were seated on the kitchen table, a steaming cup of coffee cradled in your hands, lost in thought as you gazed out the window. You sent Molly off from the kitchen.

Outside, Molly stood with her hands on her hips, a hint of exasperation evident in her flushed face. Before her, Ginny, George and Bill exchanged mischievous grins, their laughter ringing out like bells in the crisp winter air.

“Are you two crazy? No scarves, no hats on. You are going to get sick.” She urged her children to get back in and dress properly for the weather. 

In a moment of playful rebellion, George scooped up a handful of snow and molded it into a perfectly packed snowball. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he took aim and let it fly, intending to playfully tease his mother.

But fate had other plans.

In a twist of irony, just as Molly turned to face her son, the snowball found its mark, striking her squarely in the face with an unexpected impact. Time froze for a moment, the air thick with disbelief, before erupting into uproarious laughter, Molly's angry face told them enough and they all turned to get back inside. 

“Had a good night's sleep, Y/n?” George's voice rang out as he entered through the door, his laughter trailing behind him like a mischievous echo. He shook his hair, sending a flurry of snow cascading onto the floor, much to Molly's disapproval.

Your cheeks flushed slightly as you slid off from the table, reaching for the teapot and mugs to distract yourself. "Alright," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, though your embarrassment spoke volumes.

"Only alright? I thought Fred tucked you in quite nicely." George's laughter filled the room, rich and hearty, as he winked at you. His playful jab struck a nerve, eliciting a mixture of amusement and discomfort. You turned away, feeling the weight of his teasing words lingering in the air, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions within you.

As soon as they all settled down to enjoy a cup of tea, you seized the opportunity to slip away, making a beeline for Fred's whereabouts. But as you ascended up the stairs, he was going down, so you practically ran into each other.

"Oh, good," you exhaled, relief flooding through you at the sight of him. "I was looking for you."

Fred's smirk widened as he halted on the step above  you, closing the distance between you almost imperceptibly. "Slept well?" he inquired, his tone laced with amusement.

Your brow furrowed slightly as you struggled to articulate your thoughts, the urgency to convey your concerns  before the family downstairs didn’t get any ideas as to why you were standing on the stairs a moment too long. "Yeah, look," you began, your words tumbling out in a rush. "Why won’t you give this plan a little break? You seem to be talking again with George, and with the plan advancing at this pace, soon enough everybody will be asking about the relationship that doesn't exist."

"Darling, breathe," Fred intervened, his hands gently finding purchase on your shoulders as he chuckled. "You only fell asleep on me, so what? You’ve done this a million times in the common room, what’s the difference? But if you want to give it a breather, it’s fine too," he reassured, his expression softening with understanding.

However, instead of finding solace in his words, you recoiled slightly, evading his touch as you took a step back. His hands fell away from your shoulders, hanging awkwardly in the space between you as you sidestepped past him, eager to retreat to the safety of Ginny and your shared bedroom. 

Fred's brow furrowed in concern as he watched you retreat, a pang of unease tugging at his heart. He hadn't anticipated that his attempt to reassure you would only seem to exacerbate your anxiety. For a fleeting moment, he considered reaching out to you again, wanting to offer further comfort, but he held back, sensing that you needed space.

Meanwhile, you hurriedly made your way to the bedroom you shared with Ginny, seeking refuge from the whirlwind of emotions that had been stirred up by your encounter with Fred. Once inside the familiar space, you sat on your bed burying your face in your hands, closing your eyes briefly as you attempted to steady your breathing.

You have indeed fallen asleep on each of the twins at least ten twenty times during your years at Hogwarts. And not once has the teasing afterwards bother you, but something about today sent you reeling. You were blushing madly and wished that that would stop. Maybe the whole plan you helped to build, was turning against you, and each, and every time Fred paid attention to you, finally started playing with your head. 

You promised yourself to be a little more careful after that. 

Act Nr. 4 - the improvised part. 

The same night, you were roused from sleep by a gentle hand shaking your shoulder.

“Hey, Y/N, you up?” Fred's voice, soft and filled with excitement, whispered through the darkness as he continued to shake you awake.

You groaned in annoyance, feeling disoriented from being pulled out of sleep. “What is it?” you muttered, your voice tinged with irritation.

“Remember that star we told you about? The one me and George discovered last summer?” Fred's tone was eager, like a child on Christmas morning, and you realized where this was headed.

“Yeah,” you replied, still half-asleep and struggling to grasp why he was waking you up in the middle of the night for a star.

“Well, come on. I found it again,” he urged, his excitement palpable even in the dim light of the room.

You hesitated, feeling reluctant to leave the warmth of your bed for a star. “Why would you wake me up for a star, Fred? It's just a star,” you grumbled, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

But Fred was undeterred, his enthusiasm contagious as he handed you a pair of special goggles and gently grasped your wrist, guiding you outside into the chilly night air.

“Put these on and look straight up from where you're standing,” he instructed, his grip firm yet gentle as he positioned you in the right spot.

With a sigh, you relented, slipping the enchanted goggles over your eyes and following Fred's guidance. As you gazed upward, your breath caught in your throat at the sight before you.

The darkness of the night sky was transformed into a mesmerizing display of swirling colors, reminiscent of oil puddles reflecting light from muggle cars. It reminded you of the evening sky as the sun finally starts to set, bringing out the most vivid colors. The bright colors danced and twirled around in the  star and all around it, creating an ethereal display that seemed to defy explanation. Shades of deep indigo melted into vibrant hues of sapphire and emerald, while streaks of crimson and gold streaked across the dark sky.

“Pretty, ain’t it?” asked Fred while you watched the view in silence. You took the goggles off and looked up again, seeing only small, little stars shining above you. “Well the other ones do not look that extraordinary, but somehow that one does. And it comes up like three  or four times a year. It’s a miracle it came up over your stay here.” 

You turned to look at him. “It's really beautiful, Fred. I’m glad you woke me up.” 

He gently stroked your arms to make you a little bit warmer as you continued to shake due to the cold of the winter's night. 

When Fred retrieved back into his room, he smiled like a dumbass. When you got back inside you asked him if he had named that star and with a gentle smile he asked you to come up with a name for it. 

“Where have you been?” Apparently George wasn’t asleep when Fred got back, and curiosity won over George.  

“Out.” 

“You showed her the star, didn’t you?” George chuckled slightly when his brother removed his clothing and fell backwards into his bed. “I noticed it appeared again yesterday.”

“I might have done that, yes.” Fred admitted with a sheepish grin.

George laughed. “Told her what you named it?” 

“No, that would’ve been a bit embarrassing.” 

George laughed loudly but then quickly stopped, before waking the whole house up. “You're  hopeless, man. But I am happy for you.” 

Fred quickly turned his head to look at his brother, even though through the dark he could only make out his silhouette. “So? Are you back on speaking terms with me?” 

“Yeah, mate,” George chuckled, “I realized I was being dumb.”

Fred was happy. He genuinely was, but something about coming back to terms with his brother stopped him from feeling completely pleased with the situation. 

Act Nr. 5

Act 5 unfolded on a brisk afternoon a couple of days later. The sun was casting long shadows across the snow-dusted grounds of The Burrow. The Weasleys were involved in their own activities. You specifically were interested in another bewitched muggle artifact Arthur promptly told you about, then he went on reading the letter from the Ministry again, completely forgetting about telling you anything afterwards.  So you sat at the kitchen table, engrossed in a book. As you finally coughed up to where you left off, Fred entered the room with a lopsided grin.

"Hey, Y/N," he greeted, his voice warm and inviting.

You glanced up from your book, offering him a small smile in return. "Hey, Fred. What's up?"

"I was thinking," he began, his tone casual yet tinged with excitement, "why don't we take a walk outside? It's a perfect day for it."

Your eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. "A walk? Now?"

Fred nodded eagerly. "Yeah, come on. It'll be fun. We can explore the woods behind The Burrow. I heard there's a hidden clearing with the most amazing view."

Despite your initial skepticism, you found yourself unable to resist Fred's infectious enthusiasm. With a shrug, you closed your book and rose from the table. "Alright, why not? Lead the way."

As you ventured into the woods together, Fred regaled you with stories and anecdotes, his laughter echoing through the trees. With each step, you felt yourself relaxing in his company.

Eventually, you reached the hidden clearing Fred had mentioned, and you couldn't help but gasp in awe at the breathtaking view before you. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape, while a gentle breeze whispered through the trees.

"It's beautiful," you murmured, your eyes scanning the scenery.

Fred grinned, his gaze fixed on you. "Not as beautiful as you," he replied softly.

You froze, your heart skipping a beat at his words. But before you could respond, George's voice rang out from behind you.

"Hey, lovebirds!" he called, his tone teasing. "What are you two up to?"

Your confusion turned to disappointment as you realized that Fred's affectionate words were likely just another one of his improvised acts. With a forced smile, you turned to face your friend, masking your disappointment behind a facade of nonchalance.

"Just enjoying the view," you replied, your voice lacking its usual warmth.”Care to join?”

As George joined you in the clearing, the moment between you and Fred faded into the background, leaving you grappling with the lingering sting of disappointment and confusion.

As the days passed quickly in The Burrow, the atmosphere seemed to settle into a familiar rhythm, apart from that, the twins seemed to get back into their close relationship, which made you extremely happy. 

Once or twice Fred would act out your made up plan and gaze at you during the day at dinner or whenever you were near each other. You, of course, didn’t expect anything more than that, understanding that now the two brothers were back to their old selves and your interactions with Fred were purely out of keeping the act just for George. But that did not change the fact that the shift happened within you. You spend more and more time thinking how everything will play out in the end when you get back to Hogwarts. How you will be sitting there, in the common room, pretending not to notice how Fred flirts with other girls and then returns to you to boast about it. This held a tight grip over your heart, making your chest feel heavy. 

There you were, sitting on the couch, watching Ron make the wrong move and lose his bishop in the process, Ginny bobbing her head happily whilst laying on the ground.  

“George just now told me that you don’t know how to play chess,” Fred sat down next to you, accidentally knocking several chess figures of the ground. 

“OIII!” Ron shouted. “Watch what you’re doing.” 

“Sorry, mate.” Fred laughed and dramatically reached for the queen on the ground and put it back on board in the wrong spot. “Y/N?”

“Hmm?” You turned to him, shifting back from your thoughts to reality. 

Fred raised his eyebrow and laughed. “What were you thinking so deeply about? Me?” he teased and you felt his hand reach for your own. As he tried to intervene your fingers together you quickly pulled your arm away from him and stood up. No matter how angry this made you, you tried not to give it away.  You felt sickened to your stomach. The action was small. But for some reason it was enough for you. This went too far, the act he was doing and suddenly there was no going back, everything went from too early to too late to stop this stupid lie, and the only thing you dreaded for - happened. It was your own fault, you agreed to this.

“Just remembered, I haven’t reached out for my parents for a while now,” you mumbled and left the room to actually write to your parents and ask if you could get back home from The Burrow earlier than planned. 

The Finale 

You were folding your clothes and putting them back in your trunk, while Ginny watched you from her bed. 

“Did they really ask you to go back home?” She asked once again in disbelief. You nodded. “They always let you stay as long as you want.”

“Yeah, I guess something happened back home.” You lied without looking back up at her. 

“Did you tell Fred? That you’re going back home?” She sat up, while you stopped packing and thought for a moment whether you should tell her the truth. “You haven’t,” she said, quite shocked. “Why? The boy’s going to go mad.” 

“I really don’t think so,” you mumbled.

“But he will tho,” spoke George standing in between the door, his arms crossed on his chest, he looked disappointed. 

You paused, feeling the weight of George's words sinking in. Despite your efforts to convince yourself otherwise, deep down, you knew he was right. Fred would indeed be affected by your departure, you were his best friend, nevertheless. 

Ginny shot her twin a sympathetic glance before turning back to you. "He's right, you know. Fred may not show it, but he'll definitely be upset."

You sighed, feeling a pang of guilt gnawing at your conscience. "I know," you admitted reluctantly. "But I need to sort things out back home."

“No, you don’t.” Said George again firmly. He looked quite mad now. “Considering the fact that it was you, who asked your parents to go back home early, not the other way around.”

“Uhmm… How do you?...” You stammered, caught off guard by George's accusation. His words hung in the air, heavy with accusation and disbelief.

Ginny's expression softened, her eyes filled with concern as she glanced between you and George. "George, calm down," she interjected gently, trying to diffuse the tension that crackled in the room.

But George remained undeterred, his gaze fixed firmly on you. "How do I know?" he repeated, his voice low and intense. "Because you accidentally used the quill we use for pranks. It creates two messages as it writes, one to your recipient, second to its owner,  and that would be me and Fred, only I got the hold of the message first.”

You hid your face in your hands, embarrassed. 

“Then,” George continued, “I assumed Fred had done something stupid once again and pressed him until he told me everything, And when I say everything, I mean it. Merlin's beard, Y/N, I thought Fred was daft, but turns out this friendship with us made you daft too.”

“Ummmm?” Ginny interrupted. “Mind to elaborate a little bit?” 

Ginny's interruption brought a momentary pause to the tense atmosphere in the room. George sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find the right words.

"Well," he began, glancing at you briefly before continuing, "apparently our dear Y/N here concocted a plan to get Fred and me talking again. She thought we needed a little nudge to mend our relationship, so she came up with this whole scheme of them faking a relationship."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did what?" she exclaimed, turning to you with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

“First of all,” you raised your finger angrily at George, “ it wasn’t my idea, Fred came up with it. Secondly, it wasn’t a fake relationship,” you said angrily, “it was for you to believe he had feelings for me so you would drop your stupid not talking to Fred phase, because you thought he was still in love with your girlfriend. So in the end, who is to blame?” you asked him. 

Ginny looked from you to George. She was sitting dumbfounded, and if it wasn’t for the angry looks on your and George's faces, she would’ve started laughing. 

“Okay, it was stupid, I agree with you,” George mumbled. “But you're as thick as it gets, Y/N.”

“Why am I the thick one?” 

“Because you actually thought Fred would fake having feelings for you,” these words from George stung like a slap in the face, the truth of them hitting you harder than you anticipated. You felt a surge of embarrassment and hurt wash over you, realizing how naively you had fallen for Fred's act. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Even Ginny’s mouth fell open. 

“George…” she murmured silently. 

“What? Wasn’t he like in love with her for a couple of years?” He said angrily. “And then you,” he pointed towards you, “went on and let him continue this charade and now because you can’t take it anymore, you’re leaving. Of course this is going to upset him.”

You tried to say something, you really tried, but words just did not form inside your head. 

Thank the spirits, cause it was Ginny who spoke after. “No, George, wait. I don’t think she knew.” 

You met Ginny's eyes, grateful for her unwavering support in this moment of turmoil. 

“I… I didn’t know,” you finally managed to utter, your voice barely above a whisper, but each word weighed heavy with sincerity. “I didn’t realize... I thought...” Your voice trailed off, the words catching in your throat as you struggled to articulate the whirlwind of emotions that churned within you. “I genuinely thought that he was doing it for you. I was leaving because I didn’t want to…” the words died out from your mouth and you didn’t finish your sentence. 

“I didn’t want to end up hurt afterwards. I assumed he only saw me as his best friend and the act would die out eventually when we got back to Hogwarts.” 

The snort from George interrupted the silence that followed after your sentence. “You and Fred must be two of the dumbest people I know. Y/N, he named a star after you, you were more than his best friend for a while now.” 

“Oi, mate, not nice to throw me under the bus like that,”  Fred quipped, entering the room with a lopsided grin.

You turned to him, quite in shock. 

“And I think this is our cue to leave,” said Ginny gently, sending a wink to you and grabbing George by his forearm to lead him out of the room. 

“Complete idiots,” George managed to yell whilst leaving. 

Fred chuckled, stepping closer to you. "Ignore him, love. He's just jealous because he hasn't named a star after anyone yet."

“I am extremely confused, Fred.” 

Fred's grin softened into a gentle smile as he reached out to take your hand in his and intervene your fingers together. He smiled as you let him. "I know, Y/N. It's been a bit of a mess, hasn't it?"

You nodded, still trying to process everything that had unfolded.

"I promise to explain everything properly," Fred reassured you, his eyes earnest and sincere. 

Fred took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before he began to explain. "Okay, so... I know this whole situation might seem incredibly confusing, but there are a few things you need to know." He paused, searching your eyes for any sign of understanding before continuing.

"Firstly, yes, I did come up with the plan to pretend to have feelings for you, but it wasn't just to mend things between George and me. It was also because..." He hesitated, his expression turning earnest. "Well, because I actually thought I might kill two birds with one stone.”

Confusion flickered across your face as you processed his words. "What do you mean?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Fred took a deep breath, steeling himself before he continued. "I mean, yes, the initial idea was to help George and me patch things up by making him think I had feelings for you. But... it was also a way for me to... explore my own feelings for you."

Your breath caught in your throat as his words sank in. "You mean... you actually do have feelings for me?" you asked, your voice barely audible.

Fred nodded, his gaze unwavering as he met your eyes. "Yeah, I do. I've liked you for a while now, Y/N. I just didn't know how to tell you."

Emotions swirled inside you, a mixture of disbelief, confusion, and a flicker of hope. "But... why didn't you just tell me?" you asked, your voice trembling with emotion.

Fred sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was scared, Y/N. Before our friendship even began, you seemed to be annoyed everytime I approached you. I am not even going to mention the looks you gave me when I tried to flirt with you. Then I dropped it, I thought you weren’t interested and it proved me right, cause quickly after you joined our trio. (A/N: We can not forget our Lee.)”

“I thought you saw me as one of these girls you always flirt with, I thought you were being a tease for your own entertainment.” 

Fred's expression softened as he listened to your words, a tinge of regret coloring his features. "Y/N, I understand why you might have thought that. And I'm sorry if I ever gave you that impression.”

“But why did George think you were still into Angelina?” 

“Because before you came into the picture I kinda liked her. And we got along pretty well, I just did not realize at the time she was being extra friendly with me, cause she liked George. Then you came along and my feelings changed. I mentioned them to George once or twice and then dropped it. Didn’t want to annoy him, didn’t want to hear him tease me when you joined our friend group. When he fell for Angelina, he must’ve overthought everything. But he kinda put everything together after I returned to our room after I showed you your star.” He raised his free hand and gently tucked your stray strand of hair over your ear, and then pressed his hand over your cheek, to which you leaned in. 

“Pretty soon after you arrived, you fell asleep on me, literally in front of everybody,” you closed your eyes in embarrassment as he spoke, he started softly caressing your cheek, “I thought you finally started to catch on, but you asked me to put the plan on hold, and I genuinely got scared I was pushing you away with the way I acted.” 

“I am so sorry for not catching on sooner, for avoiding you…” you tried to explain yourself, but Fred interrupted you. 

Fred shook his head, his expression tender. "No apologies necessary, Y/N. You did what I asked you. I hope you will now understand that everything was sincere.” 

You closed your eyes again and as lovingly as possible said, “And I hope you will understand that I sincerely fell for you.”

He laughed as he leaned in closer, “I got that while you were having a little chit chat with my brother, otherwise it would’ve been me who stayed over with the gnomes.” He looked deeply into your eyes as if asking if it was alright, you slightly nodded, so he closed that little space that was left between you and kissed you. 

[adoreeenina]

I wanna be yours - Prologue.

Relationships: Recom! Miles Quaritch x Sully! Reader x Recom! Lyle Wainfleet

WC: 1.5k

Series Summary: ~~~ 𝗜𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝕋𝕨𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕓𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕁𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪.

Peace. That’s what I felt. At this moment. Flying through the sky on my ikran, Rawm. During the eclipse are my favorite time to go, it’s peaceful, beautiful, I could never get tired of the sight. Being away from all the responsibilities, my father, my mother, Tarsem. I sometimes think about my most precious childhood memories.

Childhood memories are sometimes covered and obscured beneath the things that come later, like childhood toys forgotten at the bottom of crammed adult closet, but they are never lost for good.

I remember as a child, my father would tell us stories of the Great War, the Great Toruk, how he and my mother have met. My father says it was “love at first sight” but my mother says different. I always admired their love story, I always thought it was romantic. The outsider and the chiefs daughter falling in a forbidden romance.

We used to play tag, fighting over toys, especially Lo’ak and Kiri, exploring the forest, fighting on who gets to hug dad or mom first when they come back from hunting. That life was full of laughter and so carefree. I was such a daddy’s girl, I looked up to my father like he was my hero, he taught me how shoot my first bow and arrow, how to hunt. I still remember how my first hunt went.

“That’s the one. Over there by the big rocks. There he is” father whispers lowly as he stands behind me. Helping me adjust my arm that held the bow and arrow.

I take a deep breathe in and breathe out steadily as I watch the fish swim before releasing the arrow. Remarkably hitting the fish with one shot.

“You got it! Yeah!” My father celebrated proudly as he claps his hands with giant smile on his face.

I love making my father proud, it made me feel complete.

I’m the oldest of 5 children. I’m first… then Neteyam… Kiri… Lo’ak… and lastly my baby sister Tuk, but she’s no baby no more, and there’s Spider. From what I’ve been told he’s an orphan, his parents were killed by the war. He was too young for cryo, so he was just stuck here. He’s been raised by the human’s at the lab.

I was a bit skeptical when I first met Spider, he was so tiny compared to us, weak. I started warming up to Spider when he would come around often. Lo’ak and Spider are attached to the hip. Being the oldest, I started seeing Spider as a little brother, my family.

As I was getting older, it was no secret that my mother despised Spider. She wasn’t being subtle about it. I heard my father calling Spider a stray cat once. I didn’t know what it meant until I asked Norm.

“It’s when a cat is abandoned and basically finds shelter elsewhere that isn’t it’s home. Most people don’t like stray cats”

It took me a while to understand it and when I did, I felt disgusted with both of my parents behavior towards Spider.

When I got older I asked my grandmother why does my mother hate Spider. That’s how I found out who is Spider’s father.

“You’re going to hate me too?”

“No”

“Why not?”

“Cause you’re my brother”

Spider thought I would hate him cause of who his father was, but I don’t see Spider as his father. Spider isn’t his father. Spider is a child Eywa.

Since then, I’ve been spending more time with Spider, my mother hated it, my father was worried. I’m protective of Spider, I promised myself I would lay my life for him, and I have the scars to prove it.

“Ow, stop pressing too hard” I yelp as my grandmother worked on my wounds on my shoulder and my upper chest with mixed herbs.

“Skxáwng” my grandmother cursed at me.

I was attacked by a Palulukan. I tagged along with Lo’ak and Spider on one of their adventures, to keep them out of trouble. We didn’t realize we came upon their territory. It wasn’t until one jumped at Spider, Lo’ak tried to defend him by shooting an arrow, but the Palulukan armor is too thick to make any real damage. I managed to push them out of the way, by doing that, it managed to claw at my shoulder and upper chest. Both of the boys were worried, I told them to run while I distracted it. Thankfully they did, and I managed to get away but not without a few wounds.

When I got home, both of my parents were worried, mostly my mother, my father was pissed. My mother blamed Spider and my father blames Lo’ak.

Once my grandmother was finished, she left and my mother came in, and that’s when the argument started. She accused Spider. I defended him.

“You could have been killed” my mother snaps.

“I had to protect my brothers”

“Spider is not your brother” my mother seethe. My head snap to glare at her.

“Kiri isn’t my sister by blood. But you took her in as your own. Why is Spider any different.” My mother hissed under her breath at the accusation.

“He is not one of us, he does not belong here. This is not his home.” My jaw clench, ears tipping back, outraged.

“Yes it is. He was born here. This is much as his home as it is ours. He is a child of Eywa.”

“Ma’daughter-“

“No! I’m tired of seeing how poorly you’ve treated Spider. How cold you are towards him. You always treated him with such distaste and unworthy just because of who his father is.”

“He is a demon”

“So is dad!” My mother froze.

“Or did you forget? We! Your children, has demon blood. Kiri’s mother is a demon.” My mother turned away not being able to look at me.

“Look at me!” I snarl. This is the first that I ever talked to my mother this way. I should feel guilty but I don’t, I’m finally letting out all of my lent up rage into her. I turned to leave, stopping short to glance at her over my shoulder.

“You disappoint me, mother” with that, I left.

My parents raised me to have strong beliefs, and stand up to what I believe in. I’m guessing they’re regretting it now.

Since that arguement with my mother, I started pulling away from them. My father tried talking to me but it felt forced. My relationship between my parents had gotten worse.

Since passing my Iknimaya and Uniltaron, my grandmother been teaching me the way of Eywa, to be the next Tsahik. I honestly thought it should’ve been Kiri, I knew she had a gift that I could never compare to, and there’s Tarsem, my father has chosen him to be my mate, to be the next Olo’eyktan. I hated being promised to someone I did not love. I found it unfair how I’m promised to someone when my mother and father mated for love.

I would avoid my training to spend my time with Spider, to get away from all the responsibilities that were forced upon me.

I trust Spider, he’s my brother, we confide our secrets, our feelings with each other. I told him how I felt insecure about my eyes, hands and figure.

Since growing up, I knew I was different but the way I look compared to the other female Na’vi. They are small, extenuating their lithe form, the agile body of Huntresses. I’m more on the curvier side, atleast that’s what the scientist from the lab tells me. I have wider hips and bigger breast than the woman from the clan. I felt insecure, a freak when I’m with the clan, but with Spider, I felt normal.

I was at my happiest when I am with Spider, including my other siblings, but they don’t understand me, not like how Spider understands me. But the thing about happiness? It can vanish in a heartbeat.

Everything was perfect, until they came, the sky people. They burned down our village. Many of our people died that day. my mother was hysterical, seeing everything in flames. I felt my heartbreak seeing nothing but fire, what broke my heart was seeing many of our people in tears, I could hear many of the animals cry in pain and fear.

When I made eye contact with my father, that’s when I knew. We were at war once again.

My father got harder on us, me, Neteyam, and Lo’ak. Specifically me, he yells at me about the oldest, I need to protect my younger siblings. He treated us like soldiers, he forgets that we’re his children.

I sometimes just want to go back to my childhood days and love a stress free life… some days I wish I could go back to my childhood. Not to change anything but to live it all over again.

The only thing that’s been keeping me sane is Spider. Despite what anyone says Spider is my brother, I love him like a brother and if shits gets down, I’ll go to war like he’s my brother.

Masterpost | Next

[thesithdiaries]

A Beast (Harwin Strong imagine)

A Beast (Harwin Strong imagine)

Pairing: Harwin Strong x female Targaryen!reader 

Requested: nope

Warnings: brief mention of offing oneself, slight misogyny if you squint, spoilers for episode 1 and 3, typical westeros bs

A/N: this is much needed happiness for what happened in the show + this was basically inspired by the preview of queen charlotte’s netflix series (bridgerton prequel) PLEASE WATCH IF YOU HAVENT. literally sent a message to @astraljedi the second i finished watching that video (she sent it to me cause i had to idea this show was even happening)

-

Despite being King Viserys first born daughter, Y/N had no intention of being a queen. Although she loved the attention, the balls, the feasts, the beautiful dresses and jewelry, and all the privileges that came with being the daughter of a king, she was not interested in ruling seven kingdoms. She found it dreadful, borderline psychotic. And sitting with the small council for hours, deciding what to do in certain situations made her feel bored. 

After Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon passed, Viserys set his eyes on Y/N. He had to find a way to keep his brother Daemon from the throne, therefore he decided his daughter would be the heir and would sit on the Iron Throne after he passed. Y/N knew he was planning this. Nobody had told her, but she did notice her father giving her looks while someone brought up there were no male heirs, citing that the Realm has been in twenty-one years of uncertainty and doubt.

“Your Grace,” a Kingsguard called, looking rather pale like he was about to faint. “Princess Y/N has requested your presence.”

Viserys looked perplexed for a second before making his way out of the room. Otto Hightower, however, was deeply annoyed. He still did not understand how the princess could order her father around.

Inside her bedchamber, Y/N sat on her desk. It was filled with history books, papers, and pens scattered all around. The door opened, revealing her father. He quickly smiled when he saw what she was doing. Y/N always showed a fascination for history.

“You called?” He cheekily asked, taking a seat next to her. His eyes scanned the table, she was reading about past kings.

“Yes. I thought about going to you but I am too tired to walk,” Y/N confessed.

“So you make me walk here?” Viserys faked a surprised face, Y/N always had the same excuse.

“I just wanted to speak to you privately,” she explained.

“Well then, speak,” Viserys softly urged her.

“I do not want to be queen.”

The air felt tense immediately at her confession. The king did not know what to answer, his mouth opening to refute her terrible idea but no words came out.

“I am not fit to rule. It is simply not me. Father, I know you have had this on your mind since you exiled uncle Daemon but I cannot accept the responsibility of being your heir.”

“My sweet girl, have you always felt this way?” He asked with concern, grabbing her hand, while she nodded. “Why did you keep this to yourself?”

“I did not want to anger you… and I also did not want you to be disappointed. Even if you keep it to yourself, I know you feel disappointed that Rhaenyra and I are not boys.”

“No no, you misjudged me. I love you and your sister. Yes, me having a son would relieve you from this burden but that does not mean I feel disappointed about my daughters. You and Rhaenyra are my biggest blessings and I will always thank your mother for giving me two amazing daughters.”

Y/N sniffled, this was the first real conversation that they had since the funeral. Her father’s words felt genuine. Viserys always made sure to be present in their lives, to show them love and affection.

“However; what am I supposed to do now t-”

“Rhaenyra can be your heir,” Y/N declared.

Viserys eyebrows rose with curiosity. “Rhaenyra? Has she spoken to you about this?”

“Honestly, no, she has not. But father, she can rule the kingdoms. Even if she does not participate, she learns from being in the small council meetings. Talk to her. She deserves being on the Iron Throne.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Viserys stood up to hug her. Y/N buried her face in his chest, feeling grateful that her father understood and did not argue about her decision.

-

They had decided to do a hunt to celebrate Aegon’s second nameday.

Y/N sat with the other ladies while she ate some sweet treats. It was mindless chatter, Alicent tried to include her in the conversation but Y/N only gave short answers to whatever they were asking about. Rhaenyra was nowhere in sight, which aggravated Y/N. Where could she possibly be? 

With nothing else to do, Y/N excused herself and left the tent. The thought of going to sleep for the rest of the day sounded blissful.

“Pardon me, Princess?” A man interrupted her thoughts. “My name is Theodore Tyrell.”

Y/N smiled politely as he handed her a fruit bowl. “I gathered that from the rose on your chest. Thank you.”

“I do not think we've been properly introduced. I never found the correct opportunity to speak with you privately.”

“Oh,” Y/N awkwardly smiled. “Here I am. A pleasure to meet you, my lord.”

“Have you ever been to Highgarden?” Theodore asked.

“Twice, yet I am too young to remember,” Y/N replied, a feeling of dread filling her heart.

“You would love it. Highgarden is filled with flowers all around. Beautiful roses climbing up walls. The sights of the roseroad and the ocean road are simply breathtaking. However, we do not have a dragonpit…”

“Why, if I may ask, do you need a dragonpit?” Y/N hissed, pushing the bowl of fruits into his hands before the anger got the best of her.

“To house dragons, of course,” he replied with a condescending tone.

Y/N turned around and stormed into the tent, marching toward her father. “Oh, sweetheart, I was just about to call for you.” Viserys' smile dropped when he realized his daughter was seething with anger. “Are you alright?”

“Lord Tyrell? That is your best choice?” Y/N barked at him. “That man could be my grandfather.”

“You are of age, Y/N. Three-and-twenty, it is time for you to marry. It has been for a while.”

“That man? I would rather throw myself from the highest tower at the Red Keep before marrying him.” Viserys' eyes widened at her threat.

“Enough! I have been trying to speak about this with you since you became of age and all you have given me have been excuses. You must marry! It is your duty, especially now that your sister is the heir.” Viserys exclaimed, capturing the attention of everyone in the tent. People were staring, some of them murmuring about the conversation between the King and his daughter. “You and your sister will marry, whether you both like it or not. That is not up for discussion.”

Princess Y/N was quietly crying out of anger and frustration. Deep down in her heart, she knew her father was right, she needed to marry. Viserys went silent, mentally scolding himself for upsetting his precious daughter.

After their heated conversation, Y/N retired to her tent for the day, stating she was not to be disturbed under any circumstances. 

-

Hours later, after the king had sunk into his cups, Lord Strong decided to try his luck.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.” Lyonel stood in front of the King, at the bottom of the steps. “Can we speak for a moment?”

Viserys sighed. “Should I guess? You believe that your son, Ser Harwin “Breakbones”, the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms, is the best match for Y/N.”

Lyonel cleared his throat. “Yes sir, I believe so. My son, from what I have noticed, could be the only one that can deal with the princess. He is heir to Harrenhall, his strength and knowledge of battle will keep the princess protected. And the area is big enough to build a dragonpit.”

“Are you sure about this? Do you think my daughter will agree to this arrangement?” Viserys was unsure. Surely his daughter would not like this at all. 

“Perhaps she will try and fight it, Your Grace. They should at least meet and have a conversation, maybe that will help. We should not just send them off to wed immediately. My son would not like that either.”

Viserys hummed. “After we return to king’s Landing, I will talk to her. I suggest you do the same with your son.”

-

Days later, in the Red Keep, Y/N was actively ignoring her father. She was still hurt about how their conversation played out. She ate all her meals in her bedchamber, only leaving when she knew her father was in a small council meeting. Alicent also made attempts to get them to talk but Y/N was not interested.

During the night, she felt relaxed to go out and sneak some food from the kitchens and new books, when she was intercepted by the King.

“Y/N!” He yelled, startling her. “You cannot keep doing this. We must talk.”

She shook her head and walked faster to her chamber, but he was close behind. Y/N could not close the door before he got inside. “Father, please, leave me alone.”

“No! I am sick of this, Y/N. You will not keep avoiding me,” Viserys raged. She sighed, sitting on her bed in defeat. “You will marry, I have found you a suitor.”

Y/N opened her mouth to protest, only for Viserys to raise his hand to make her stop.

“This is not up for discussion. You will meet him tomorrow night.”

“Who is he?” She asked and Viserys turned around to leave. “Father! Who is he? What is his name!” 

The king had left. Y/N yelled in frustration, she hated not knowing.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Lyonel was about to speak with Harwin. “Son, do you have a moment?”

“Of course, father. What is it?” Harwin put down the paper he was reading to focus on Lyonel.

“You are to be wed.” He blurted out. Harwin felt the air being sucked out of him. “I spoke with the king during the hunt. You are to marry princess Y/N.”

“What? The king agreed to your proposal?” He was stunned. “What did princess Y/N say?”

“She, uh… she does not know you are the suitor,” Lyonel confessed. “We think it is better like this.”

“Father, that is absurd. She must be losing her mind at the uncertainty, you know that.”

Lyonel sighed. “I know, son. As I said, you will meet her tomorrow night. The king is already planning a feast in honor of this union.” 

Harwin did not know what to think. He had not met Y/N, only saw her from a distance during the hunt. He was captivated by her beauty. He could only hope Y/N was not too upset when she found out it was him.

-

The following morning, Y/N was speaking with Rhaenyra while they ate breakfast together.

“Sister, you have to forgive father eventually,” Rhaenyra reminded her while taking a bite out of an apple.

“I know,” Y/N exhaled. “I just… I just feel that he does not care about my opinion on the matter.”

“If that were the case, you would be in Highgarden right now.”

Y/N gave her a look. “I suppose you are right. Have you heard anything about this mysterious suitor?”

“No, I am afraid I have not,” Rhaenyra confessed. “Father has been very secretive since we came back from the hunt.” Y/N covered her face with her hands, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Perhaps you will like him, he could be very handsome.”

“Or he could be a beast,” Y/N contradicted.

-

Nobody in the castle talked about the suitor. The princess has not heard not even a whisper about him. It frightened her immensely. 

The hours moved quickly and it was time for them to meet. Viserys had arranged the small hall for this. Almost everything was going according to plan, but they did not know what the princess was up to in the gardens.

Y/N was currently trying to climb up a wall using flower branches. She planned to climb up, run from the castle, and come back the following morning. It sounded easy in her head, but now that it had to be executed, Y/N found it was not so simple. On the other hand, Harwin was on his way to the hall when he saw someone with silver locks trying to escape. He chuckled, walking up to stand under an arch.

“Hello, my lady. Are you in need of any assistance?” Harwin asked, holding his hands behind his back.

“I am quite fine, thank you. You can go back inside and do whatever,” she dismissed him.

“I will. But I am curious… What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” she answered.

“You are doing something,” Harwin observed.

“I am not.”

“You are.”

Y/N got down from the branch, staring at the wall. “If you must know, I am trying to ascertain the best to climb over this garden wall.” She put her hands on her hips.

“Climb? Whatever for?” Harwin wondered with an amused expression.

“I think he may be a beast.”

“A beast?” He answered in surprise. “Who are we discussing?

“That is none of your business.” The princess slightly turned to say this to him before focusing her attention on the wall, causing Harwin to take a sharp breath to calm himself. “My suitor,” he smirked. “No one will speak of him with me. He is clearly a beast.”

“Understood,” Harwin nodded.

“If I grab here, perhaps you can assist me by lifting me up,” Y/N moved her hand to get his attention, then proceeded to climb up the branches again. 

“You do not like beasts? What he looks like matters?” Harwin wondered.

“I do not care what he looks like. What I do not like is not knowing.” Harwin was right then, he told his father this. “Now, here. Just hold here, with a lift I believe I can climb up the garden wall.”

“You want me to lift you over so you may escape?” Harwin repeated what she requested, still feeling amused. “People will notice you are missing.”

“I will worry about that later. Now, please make haste.”

“I have absolutely no intention of helping you.”

Y/N got down and walked towards him. “I am a lady in distress. You refuse to help a lady in distress?”

“I refuse when that lady in distress is trying to go over a wall so she does not have to marry me.”

Y/N was stunned. “You? You are the man I am supposed to marry?” Her cheeks were red in embarrassment.

“I am deeply sorry if I look like a beast, princess,” Harwin teased. “I would have thought the same if I had not known it was you.”

“You,” she cleared her throat, “who are you?”

“Ser Harwin Strong,” he introduced himself while grabbing her hand to kiss it.

“Lord Strong’s son?” Y/N questioned with confusion.

“So you have heard about me,” Harwin smirked.

“If I am honest, only your name.” Y/N’s cheeks were even more flushed if that was possible. “I, umm… I will see you inside. Excuse me, Ser.”

Y/N almost ran, wanting to be away from him as soon as possible. Harwin, however, was faster. He grabbed her arm to make her stop and turn to him, bringing her close to his body. “Wait, princess.”

“This is not proper,” she stuttered.

“Neither is you trying to escape,” Harwin noted. Y/N failed to get out of his grip once again, his hold was tight but not enough to hurt.

“What must I do for you to let me go?” Y/N pouted.

“Just have a conversation with me before we go to the hall, so you can see I am not the beast you thought of,” he proposed. Y/N huffed in defeat, but deep down she was intrigued by him.

“Lead the way, Ser Harwin.”

//

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[b4ts1e]

▀▄▀▄▀▄The Weight of Stones▄▀▄▀▄▀ (𝚐𝚗!𝙼𝙲)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍: 𝚀𝚒𝚞/𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚗 𝙻𝚒𝚗 𝚃𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙱𝚊𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚗 𝙾𝚙𝚊𝚕 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 (𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍) 𝙼𝙲 𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 (𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙾𝙻:𝙽&𝙵)

𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝:

I am so sorry this was requested back in October and I'm just now uploading it- but please enjoy! Just a heads up- as I'm invisioning this, they are closer to step 3 then the step 2 prolouge, so this kinda like an inbetween chapter I guess.

(Heads up- as I'm writing this, I've noticed that this is gonna hit really close to home for some since it gets pretty heavy into the angst part of hurt-comfort. Please be careful while reading.)

(𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗)

It was painfully obvious for those who paid attention, and even for those who barely kept tabs on it- Qiu Lin and Tamarack Baumann...they don't get along. Everyone in the small town of Golden Grove knew it, including the one who stood between the two- MC Second. Those closest to MC, mainly their mother, could see the way they constantly tried to hold the cul-de-sac trio together, grasping at straws to keep what little of their childhood friendship remained.

However- their effort has been proven futile time and time again. And we all know the saying: 'the straw that breaks the camel's back'. Eventually, they to would break down- no matter how strong or tight they held onto their apathetic mask.

(𝙼𝙲'𝚜 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎)

It felt like I was drowning, no longer in control of my own body as I was forced to watch my two friends stare daggers at each other. The world around me was muffled, they were saying things at each other and yet I couldn't understand the words they were saying- I only knew that it wasn't good, they were fighting. Over what? I hadn't the slightest clue, it's just been this way- for awhile now.

I'm so tired.

My body was strained, being pulled towards two opposing sides- yet wanting nothing but the past laughter and fun we had as children. Exhaustion swallows me whole as I slowly, quietly, and completely unnoticed as I walk away from the two. I just wanted to go home at this point- and yet? The house that was once filled with joy and laughter, echoing down the hall as we told each other stories and kept each other up way past our bedtimes, no longer felt the same. It was cold, quiet, and yet somehow welcoming- the silence was always better than the muffled screaming of others.

This was the first time they'd let themselves genuinely argue in front of me, normally they kept their time with me as a neutral space- a cease from the firing of guns. Sure their slight jabs at each other never faded, but even so- that could be considered playful banter. Or at least that's what my mind told itself- what I told myself, just so I could attempt to rest easy at night.

Maybe this was my fault, they only started fighting because I kept pushing them to be around each other. Had I just...let them drift apart this wouldn't have happened, they would've lived on without needing to communicate with each other- but no. I had to be selfish. I just had to make things worse didn't I?

I entered my house, removing any extra layers I had put on today- carelessly putting them on the couch and floors along with my bag before heading upstairs. The weight of anything unessential felt burdensome, I didn't even lock the front door behind me- I couldn't find the motivation too. Once in my room I threw my shoes into a corner, flopping face first into my bed- grasping a pillow close to my chest as it became hard to breath.

I wanted to scream, but I once again- couldn't find the motivation, as tears streamed down my face.

(𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗)

Shortly after MC had walked away, Tamarack and Qiu realized the absence of their mutual friend. Worry struck them both, despite Qiu not outwardly showing it like Tamarack so willingly did. "Where did MC go?" she asked- mainly to herself as she looked around, hoping to spot the bridge that kept the trio together. Autumn shrugged, looking around lazily- they didn't show it willingly but worry was burried deep in their heart. "Maybe they finally got sick of you, I dunno know." they proded, almost eliciting a snap response from Tamarack.

She may not be willing to stand up for herself normally, but she definetely wouldn't let Qiu- of all people, make her doubt the closeness between her and MC. After all- they were bestfriends, right? Since the second day they've known each other and they both confirmed it. That hadn't changed...right? She shook her head quickly, glaring at the taller of the two. "Or they got sick of you finally. I can't understand how they stick around you after all this time!" she responds before pinching the bridge of her nose with a groan.

"Y'know what? I'm going to find MC and apologize for letting your stupid remarks get to me in front of them, if you're tagging along then I highly suggest keeping up." she says before walking away, towards MC's house- hoping that'd be where she'd find her friend. Autumn rolled their eyes and followed after her, not caring all too much about apologizing but worried for their friend- one of the few people who they kept around in this difficult time for themself.

By the time the duo had gotten to MC's house, the sun had set- the sky being dark and the threat of rain became extremely apparent as heavy storm clouds rolled in over the town. The feeling of electricity in the air mixed with their worry made them both far more anxious to know if MC really was within the walls before them. Tamarack knocked, receiving no answer and only boosting Qiu's nerves. Neither of them liked how it felt detrimental to get into the building quickly, almost like a rush of adrenaline shooting through them both simultaneously. Autumn nudged past Tamarack, their expression shifting from their relaxed front to anxiety in an instant- they reached for the handle and tried to open it.

Seeing the door creak open, revealing a dark and quiet house was terrifying. Leaving too much room for their imaginations to wander, especially with the door unlocked- had something happened? Tamarack flicked on the light, quickly spotting the mess of clothes and a bag that remained untouched in the living room. A slight relief ran through her as she was now certain that her assumption of MC going home had been correct, but when the soft sound of dry sobbing came from upstairs the two made eye contact with one another. Worry etched across both of their faces, a mutual agreement to not jab at each other for the time being was made without words.

Slowly the two went up the stairs, locating the source of the crying. Hearing mumbles of things such as:

"It's my fault..."

"I'm so selfish..."

"I just wanted to be happy..."

The voice was hoarse and muffled by a pillow. Looking into the room, Qiu and Tamarack saw something that broke both of their hearts. MC was curled into a ball, laying on their side, clutching a pillow like a life line, shivering, and crying. Most beyond their small trio would've never seen something like this, they were always so optimistic about things and their mask was as hard as stone. Rarely had the cracks gotten bad enough for the mask to completely shatter and allowed them to break down like this, they were the strong one- no matter their muscle mass.

Hearing them degrading themself, blaming themself for the two not getting along- even going as far to see themself as selfish for wishing for the past... It triggered something in Autumn, the person they relied so heavily on day after day had been hurting and they too had been far too blind to see it- it made them feel incredibly guilty, they had been the selfish ones. Not MC. Tears pricked the corners of their eyes as they slowly entered the room as quietly as possible- yearning to comfort them as much as possible.

Tamarack's reaction had been similar- she didn't want to believe that she had been so neglectful of her best friend's needs, but the proof was right in front of her. It clicked in the back of both of their minds in an instant- they both had been bad friends. Without realizing it they turned their rivalry of sorts into a larger priority than their friendship with MC. Now knowing just how much they'd affected their friend's mental health, they wanted nothing but to take it all back.

Once she broke from her shock- Tamarack moved quickly, faster than she had intended, getting onto MC's bed and pulling them in her chest- holding them tightly as her own tears spilled from her eyes. Stunned, MC froze- looking to see Qiu approaching slowly and hearing the choked sobs coming from Tamarack. Once Autumn had finally gotten to the bed, they sat down on the edge and grabbed MC's hand gently- massaging their knuckles lightly, something MC had done for them in the past to calm their nerves.

It felt like an enternity went by at the trio cried together- one crying silently, the other with their voice already hoarse from previous events, and the other much more vocal about their sarrow. Once it had calmed down, tears now dry and everything was out- Qiu was the first to speak, voice soft and slightly shaking from all the emotions.

"MC...We are so...so sorry for ignoring your needs, we prioritized our stupid rivalry over our friendship with you- I see now that we have been really bad friends to you. You shouldn't have to chose between us. You aren't selfish for wanting things to be as they were before. I am so sorry for not seeing the warning signs that you needed help too..." they explained, clutching MC's hand tightly- their partially gloved hands cold and shaking slightly. The cold inside only amplified but the chill and rain from the out, making MC realize that they hadn't bothered to turn on the heater once they got home.

Tamarack slowly let them go, rubbing under her eyes with her sweater sleeve to try to clear the crust left behind by the tears that were shed. "I- I'm sorry too MC. We're supposed to be your best friends, and not even I noticed what you were going through. I thought...I dunno- I just." she took a moment to restabilize herself before she cried again. "I was a bad friend to you as well MC, and I am so sorry if we accidentally made you feel unimportant or selfish because of our stupid inability to get along. We care a lot for you, but I'm pretty sure we'd both understand if you need space from us both for awhile."

Her approach was professional, but her voice betrayed her harshly as she couldn't withhold the shakyness of it. A habit she had attempted to pick up from MC- using professionalism to hide true emotion in situations, though she was never very good at it. MC however- was somewhat of a master at it, having used it whenever Tamarack's brother had shown up to see her unannounced.

MC hesitated for a moment before pulling the two in for a hug, they had been shaking for a while- though it had calmed down, their nerves still felt a bit fried at the moment. They didn't say much when they spoke, Autumn's arms wrapped around their torso gently and Tamarack's wrapped loosely above their shoulders, but their voice was soft- a calm breeze despite the storm outside.

"Thank you...both of you." that was all they could say in the moment, keeping the two opposite personalities close as their exhaustion reached peak compacity. "We'll...we'll stay here until Ms. Second gets home, go ahead and rest. I promise we won't fight like that anymore." Qiu's voice was soft as Tamarack nodded in agreement, all three were tired now.

However- as the three slept, it marked a new chapter. Sure the two wouldn't always get along, but they swore never to allow themselves to fight like how they had been- especially if it risked their mutual friendships.

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 1,963

[chaoticallywriting]

A Merciful King ☼ Epilogue

Pairing: Aegon Targaryen x Reader

Warnings: talk of death, blood, torture, childbirth

Word Count: 5.6k

A/N: It has been exactly a month and fourteen days since I posted the first chapter to this series (on my old account). I had no clue it would go this far or that so many would love it, I'm so used to my writing not being received at all or only being received by very few. The response I've gotten for this story is overwhelming and honestly I love all of you guys for the support you've given me. Despite being ready for a new story I think I'll always have a soft spot for amk and I know I'll miss this series. On a story note, the second to last like 'scene' is both of their povs, mainly readers but I decided to mesh their thoughts in certain bits. I also took inspiration for the crown from jesus because despite not being religious I like the flare of it.

Synopsis: The war is over, the blacks have lost, and as Rhaenrya’s daughter it is your duty to marry a green to secure your younger brothers safety. If only Aemond paid attention to you like his brother does.    

Taglist, if you asked to be tagged and you aren't on the list it's because it wouldn't let me add you so I just got rid of your name. It only lets me tag 50 people so I'm sorry!: @mirandastuckinthe80s @b1gb3anz @daenerysdracarys @wondergal2001 @flavorofsalt @daddysfavoritesexkitten @zillahvathek @itsametaphorbriansblog @elleclairez @stargaryenx @tired-ninfa @caramelcandescence @viscardiac @moonxhunt @tisthekatseason @bajadotcom @xxlilyxx90 @ohitsthemaster @justasmallbean @thefloatingpickle @lawlerek @miqaelababa @arcielee @watermel0nsugarhigh @lovecleastrange @lyannesworld @imakeangelscry @aloneatpeace @xinyourdreamsx @cl-0-vr @borikenlove @shion-ah @widemiffyhappy @aegonsgf @bwormie @bellameshipper @evienorville @mandiiblanche @hydrationqueensworld @shiranai-atsune @hiatuswhore @giulia2372 @venice-bish @malfoytargaryen @crudemoon @crispmarshmallow @trifoliumviridi @wooya1224

Previously

Aegon Targaryen dutifully stays by your side while you recover. He doesn’t move from the rather uncomfortable chair, nor does his hand leave yours. Unfortunately, none of the lords nor guards were able to locate his brother, only found two different trails of blood. One leading from a study to the ballroom and the other leading from the same study to where Aemonds bastard son, Jaerion, was sleeping.

He has already told his mother his decision, that when you wake up he will marry you. She only nods, face solemn, as she goes back to mourning her favorite son. He’s not dead, that much is obvious by Vhagar’s behavior, but he is gone. The preparations have already begun, he’s decided the ceremony will be in the Grand Sept and a celebration will be held in the gardens. He understands why you might have an aversion to the ballroom.

Aegon tells you all of this while you sleep, there are only a few times you wake up from your milk of the poppy induced slumber and all you speak is gibberish. You ask for your handmaid Lila, you keep mumbling her name, but unfortunately no one can find her. 

Your marriage has been annulled, Aegon made sure of it during one of the most recent small council meetings (it's the only time he leaves your side). The small folk had shown so much outrage at learning that their favorite princess had been hurt by her own husband. 

Many began to gossip that something seemed amiss that day during the festival, that he seemed too tense and neither of you seemed to even notice each other's presence. This fairy tale that they were spoon fed was a lie, and all of Flea Bottom knows that the reason children are no longer dying of starvation is thanks to you. 

He tasks his mother and daughter to have your wedding dress made, the royal tailors already have your measurements so that should be easy. Giving them this task helps ease his daughter's anxiety, he even asks her to see if the boys would like to help. His only request is that the dress did not have any green on it, much to his mothers dismay. Aegon knows how much you’ve grown to hate the color, and he wants this to be a memorable and lovely day. 

“I love you,” he whispers, you groan in response.

Upon fully waking up, Aegon is filled with something he has not felt since Jaehaerys’s murder. You tell him and Alicent everything, it’s hard to ignore the face she makes when you mention stabbing Aemond, but you simply remind them both of what Alys has done. 

He wants to send out search parties all throughout the free cities, to put her head on a spike, and you keep quiet throughout his raging, not minding the idea. It is Alicent that shoots him down and reminds him of how that may make the leaders of said cities believe he is trying to attack them. 

So instead, search parties are sent all throughout Westeros (once again) looking for your handmaiden. Upon waking up, one of the first things you did was ask for Lila, Aegon had foolishly believed that maybe the two of you harbored a friendship, so imagine his surprise to find out the truth.

He feels the same outrage you do, those handmaidens were picked by him and his mother, and yet one was the reason for all of this? A taster is hired, all your meals are tested before being brought to you, and all of your handmaidens have been swapped.

“What kind of flowers?” he asks you one day, leaning on his hand that’s propped up by his elbow. He’s laying at the end of your bed, watching you sip on the broth the maesters brought you. ‘It has healing properties’ they said, but the face you keep making leads him to believe it’s just a new form of torture for you. Nevertheless, you drink all of it, every day since waking up you've drank and everyday you comment on how rancid it is. 

“Dragons breath, and black lotus’s. They’ll perfectly display our house colors,” you set the empty mug aside and reach out for him. Aegon eagerly moves from his position at the end of the bed to lay beside you, pulling you into his arms and kissing the top of your head. 

He’s more at ease now that he doesn’t have to hide his love for you, some of that possessiveness and jealousy has waned away. Aegon is finally being granted his wish of calling you his, he just wishes so much tragedy hadn’t taken place to get here. 

“I want them filling the Sept,” you say, arms wrapping around his waist. Your eyes seem elsewhere, perhaps dreaming of the upcoming day. He’s thought about it with great detail and finds himself wistfully imagining the rest of his life with you. 

It makes Aegon feel like a silly child, like he needs to be scolded and reminded he cannot have such wonderful things. Yet you are in his arms, agreeing to marry him. When you woke up, and he told you the news, there was no fighting, no resentment or anger, only a sigh of relief. 

“Would you want a valyrian ceremony?” He knows there will need to be one following the faith of the seven, the lords and ladies will not approve of their marriage if they don’t. But perhaps, if you want, there can be another one, a more intimate one.

It’s silent for a few beats, your expression contemplative and lips pursed. “No,” you run your fingers up and down his chest, your eyes almost glazed over as you look at Rhaenyra’s bassinet. “I do not want to shed any more blood for a long time.” 

Part of Aegon feels relieved, if you had said yes he would do it, but the idea of seeing you bleed again (it’s only been a month) terrifies him. That night you laid limp in his arms as the Maesters got to work, they did the best they could while still in the ballroom. Maester Orwell had said they must act fast, that moving you to a private room would have to wait or else you would perish from blood loss. 

Aegon’s hands had been stained red for days, Alicents too. He had held his hand on top of the wound with his mother, trying to help in any way. Some courtiers stayed to watch, while others ran in disgust when they saw how much blood was smeared all over you. Most of the men were gone by that point, having ran out to try to secure themselves a seat on the small council. 

He didn’t realize just how much blood was on him until two guards slowly lifted you onto a wooden board and gently carried you to your chambers. He was knelt in a large puddle, as was his mother, and Aegon had held you for a long period of time. You were smeared all over him, staining his clothes, his hands, some had even gotten on his face.

The poor king was in shock, sat staring at the massive puddle, reflection gazing back at him as tears filled his eyes. You had almost died, the maesters even told them there was a chance you would die within the first few days of recovery. They talked about loss of blood, bed fever or even infection. Somehow you prevailed, and Aegon doesn’t know who or what to thank for such a miraculous thing. 

“I love you,” you murmur, fingers stilling as your gaze shifts to look into his eyes. His face softens, mind being pulled away from the thoughts that plague his mind late into the night, and brings his lips down onto yours. The kiss is chaste, it’s nothing like how he normally kisses you, but perhaps a near-death experience softens a man. 

“I love you too.” 

You looked radiant, the dress was made of the finest white silks, it was form fitting and had gauzy sleeves and a cape that trailed behind you. There’s little silver dragons on your sleeves and cape, along with a metal belt that looks like a dragon taking flight around your waist. You looked like the perfect Targaryen bride. 

It’s three days after your wedding when the news reaches the both of you about Lila. She was found hiding in a pleasure house in Flea Bottom, apparently trying to make enough money to find safe passage to Pentos. The guards drag her into the throne room while Aegon sits upon the iron throne with his crown nestled perfectly upon his head.

You stand beside the throne in a dress made of black and red fabrics with gold detailing and a valyrian steel circlet that matches Aegon the Conqueror's crown. He had ordered it to be made three days before your wedding and placed it upon your head himself after the two of you had kissed.

The guards shove her onto the floor at the bottom of the steps, hands on their swords as they watch her every move. Aegon wants to order her death immediately, his chest rises and falls as he takes in the traitorous woman who helped kill his son, who tried to kill you. 

Surprisingly, she does not beg, nor does she weep or even look a little scared. Her eyes stay set on you, a hardened expression on her features as she never wavers. Gone is the girl you described her as, and in her stead sits a woman who looks ready to try to finish the job. 

“Why?” Is all you say, voice shaking with barely contained rage. Your hands are clasped together, tightly clenching your fingers as you take her in. All Aegon sees is blood that needs to be shed. He finds himself itching to grab his sword and do it himself, to slice her to bits that he will later feed to Sunfyre. 

“Your stepfather killed my father and little brothers in the war, there wasn’t even anything to bury once he was done with them. My mother followed soon after by her own hand.” Lila grits teeth, chest raising and falling. Her hands have been chained, as have her ankles, but still she yanks on the chains as if she believes herself strong enough to break them. “Alys offered revenge, I was happy to accept.” 

He leans forward, practically seething now. No one else is in the room besides the sworn guards, who happen to be Ser Criston and Ser Arryk. His mother stands on the opposite side of the throne, with Otto beside her. His words will never leave this room, he’s sure of it. “So you killed my son?!” 

Alicent jumps at the volume of his voice, hand clutching her chest, and Otto sighs. His wrinkled hand rubs his forehead, probably disappointed in him yet again. You on the other hand, stay with your back straightened, your hands reddened from irritation as you glare at this woman. You told him how you thought she was a friend, he cannot imagine how you must feel. 

“I believe it was Daemon Targaryen himself who once believed it was okay to seek revenge for the killing of a child, my youngest brother was only four and ten, just like yours was.” Lila briefly looks at him, that same barely contained rage in her eyes, before looking back at you. “A son for a son, Alys called it. I think my mother would have appreciated me seeking what little vengea-” 

You storm over to her, snatching her by her chin and roughly pulling her face up to look into your eyes. Aegon stood, ready to defend you, as he just barely heard your words. 

“Death would be too kind a sentence,” you spit out, “I shall have you tortured in the dungeons for as many years as we can keep you alive, perhaps I might stop by to watch occasionally.”

You shove her to the floor, body shaking as you clench your fists. Aegon comes down to stand beside you, a hand on your shoulder to say ‘I’m here, I understand.’ 

Ser Criston looks to him for confirmation, he seems astonished by the sentence, but all Aegon does is nod. Why would he go against your command when it is you she wrought the most pain against. Aegon grieves his son, misses him too, but Lila betrayed you the most. He won’t take choices from you ever again. 

Criston and Arryk pick her up, beginning to drag her away when she calls out, “you are a wicked beast! I wish I had managed to kill you!” 

He’s astonished by your response, he wants to grab your cheeks and pull you into a kiss when you confidently reply “you’re right, I am a dragon after all, and it will take more than your puny poison to kill me.” 

Gods, he loves you. 

He had danced with you all night, not a drop of wine was needed after the ceremony, his lips had hardly left yours. All your favorite foods were served, songs you both loved strummed out by the bards. You even picked up Jaehaera and brought her into dance with you two at one point. He had waved Aegon and Viserys over, so they could join too. Aegon never thought he’d have such a joyous wedding, let alone a little family that loved him like this.

Aelar is named heir while you are still a sweaty mess in your birthing bed. His older sisters Jaehaera, Rhaenyra and Saera all crawl onto the bed to get a peek at their little brother, excited giggles filling the room. He lets Otto announce to the kingdom that Aelar is born, he can’t bear to be away from you right now. Not when you're glowing like this, not with his son in your arms. A healthy baby boy who is alive. 

Aegon III and Viserys visit later, both boys having been training in the yard when the news broke out. The labor had been quick, so had Saera’s thank goodness. They ask to pick the egg out themselves and the two older girls all but demand to come with, Aegon watches as you smile at their childish bickering, little Aelar still in your arms. 

“Would you like to hold him?” You ask, voice low enough that the kids don’t notice. Honestly, Aegon is scared too. He had practically snatched Saera out of your arms when she was born, so excited for another child to spoil, but Aelar is smaller and the past still haunts the both of you. 

He nods, heart pounding as you slowly shift him into his arms, the second yours are free Saera climbs into them. She’s only just turned one, her brain probably has no clue what’s going on. The both of you had decided to wait for another child after Rhaenyra, the trauma left behind was too fresh. Both of you were scared that another birth would take you, or that you would perhaps deal with another stillborn. 

By now, Rhaenyra is five and an absolute spitfire, she constantly talks and always wants snuggles from her father before bedtime. It was due to her that Saera was born, she had begged for a little sibling despite Jaehaera telling her ‘they can be annoying sometimes’. Rhaenyra had thrown a pillow at her in response and stomped her little foot, lips pouting as she stared up at him. 

That night he had talked with you, and you agreed to stop drinking moon tea. Both of you were scared, but the pressure for an heir was ever present, and enough time had passed. The wound was still there, just like the scar on your stomach, but it had faded with time. Both of you hardly thought about Lucerys II anymore. 

Aelar squirms in his arms, tiny feet slowly kicking in the air, he’s all squishy and red like newborns are, but Aegon thinks he’s perfect. You lean your head against his shoulder, arms wrapped around Saera who gently tugs at your hair and stares at your son. This, him, he’s perfect. Suddenly Aegon forgets about the stress, the pressure, the desire to throw his crown into a crowd and walk away. 

Perhaps now life will be a little easier, perhaps the work of a king will be worth it when he thinks of how one day Aelar will inherit it. 

“I love him,” he whispers. By now, all four of the kids have run off with guards trailing after them, most likely to pick out an egg together. His gaze shifts to yours, eyes meeting in a loving stare. “Just like I love you.” 

“I lo-” Saera shrieks, hands roughly grabbing your cheeks as she surges forward. The both of you laugh at her silly antics.

The morning of his wedding, Otto had tried to discuss matters regarding the realm, he had all but tried to shoo him away. Unfortunately, his grandfather is a stubborn man. “There is also the matter of your… Assassins.” 

Aegon stills, telling all the servants shuffling about his chambers to leave as he finally faces his grandfather. Of course, nothing gets past this man. “Can I not have one happy day? One without business or whatever dreadful thing you're about to tell me.” 

“I have not told your mother about the horde of mercenaries you have hired to kill your brother, but I do want to remind you to restrain yourself. Even if another man kills him, since you were the one that paid for it, you would still be a Kin slayer.” 

Aegon shrugs, hands running through his cropped hair as he eyes the decanter left on his dresser. “I do not care, besides the last update I received is them being run out of Pentos. None of them have found where the roaches are now hiding.” 

Just one glass, he thinks while pouring himself a chalice full. You would need this too if you were stuck talking to Otto. “Seems the lords there were fond of Daemon Targaryen, they have not taken lightly to the news of his stepdaughter being harmed. Dorne also kicked them out for killing a child, I believe they didn’t fare well in Essos either.” Aegon takes a swig, leaning against the dresser as he glares at his grandfather, “either my mercenaries kill them or starvation will finally hit. They must have run out of money by now.” 

“Saera claimed Vhagar,” you say one evening, you're pregnant with your fifth child by now. Aegon stills, hands full of important documents that he’s drowning in. The words circle through his mind, trying to think of what to say as realization sets in. “The dragon keepers were surprised, seeing as she is only four and….” 

You're wringing your hands out, feet propped up by a stool, while you sit in your armchair. He wonders if you’ve told his mother, does she know? Should he go check on her? She’s been so focused on Helaena’s recovery, a new-found confidence in her daughter surging within her ever since Helaena has finally started leaving her room. Should he be the one to ruin that happiness for her? He’s ruined everything else, so it wouldn’t be anything new. 

“Oh,” is all he says, his throat is suddenly so dry. Aegon thinks to pour himself another glass of wine but for some reason he can’t unclench his hands, the papers within them crinkle, some rip. The stress did not leave upon Aelar’s birth, the weight on his shoulders has only grown. Now he wants to leave a perfect kingdom for him, and no matter what it seems he can’t. 

You slowly pull yourself from your chair, letting out a low groan as you waddle over to him. You’ve complained recently of your feet aching, it’s late into your pregnancy and any day you may go into labor. He wonders if it’ll be another boy like Rhaegar or if they’ll have another girl. He doesn’t know which he wants more. 

You stand in front of his desk, gentle hands on top of his as you slowly peel his fingers back. He gulps, staring at your hands, once stained red with your own blood. There are scars on both of them, Rhaenyra asked you about them recently.

Aegon had stilled at the dinner table, a dark look coming over his face as he recalls that horrid night. But you, ever the smart woman that he loves, just smiled and said, “sometimes a mother must make sacrifices.” 

It had been vague enough to confuse her and keep her from pressing for more information. Jaehaera though had stopped eating as well, eyes on your hands as she too recalled that night. Her name day has never been the same, every year she thinks of you in that puddle. 

“It was most likely peaceful” you say, pulling him out of his thoughts. Aegon knows you still despise him and while he too hates his brother for what he did At this moment he realizes what this means. His brother is dead. The boy he used to tease as a child, the one who covered for him when he would run off to Flea Bottom. The little kid he used to steal food from. He’s dead, and Aegon doesn’t even know how. Some time passes before you kiss his forehead and head to bed. Aegon finds himself slowly standing up, deciding to join you when his hand slips, papers sprawling across the floor.

He lets out an annoyed huff before bending down to pick them up, his hand sifts through the pile, bunching them in one hand while the other grabs the rest. His hands grasp onto something unfamiliar, brows furrowing when he finds a letter amongst the stack. 

Aegon shoves the unimportant (but actually very important) papers onto the desk before ripping open the letter, the letter is short, it’s signed ‘Nightshade’. His heart drops. 

“It’s done, proof is enclosed. 

~ Nightshade” 

Aegon digs inside the envelope, producing two strands of silver hair and one black. 

“You would still be a Kin slayer.” 

Aegon cannot bear to speak after that, he can’t even respond when you sleepily say you love him. The stunned man only nods in response. 

The cake served was a honey cake, he thinks, no he knows because that is your favorite cake. It was honey and your hair was pinned back, silver dragon pins found throughout your hair. You looked stunning that day. 

Everyone has caught on, the king is different, he’s quick to temper, erratic, stressed. He’s constantly seeking you out, so he can calm down, hands shaking and crown askew. Aemma lays in her cradle as you hold him. Aegon won’t say why, he can’t seem to fathom telling you what he’s done. 

“It’s too much” he sobs one day, hands clenching your dress as you hug him. “It’s too heavy!” 

You frown, pulling away and cupping his red cheeks, you look concerned, scared. Aegon can’t blame you, he’d be scared if this was you. “My love, talk to me, please. What is too heavy?” 

He chokes on his sobs, head resting on your chest. You take off his crown, throw it onto the bed and rub his back. “This feeling, I did it! I did it and I can’t take it back!” 

“You must tell me what this feeling is, so I can help you, maybe it won’t feel so heavy if you tell me.” 

Aegon pulls you closer until your body is flush against his, “I forgot she was still employed by me, everything was going so good, and she hadn’t found him in years s-so-” he sniffles, body shaking, “I forgot.” 

You nod along, one hand playing with his hair in a way that you know soothes him. “My last assassin killed Aemond, she killed his whole family.” 

He whispers the words, scared somehow the walls will hear and scream it to the whole realm. ‘Aegon killed his brother!’ They would screech, ‘he’s a kinslayer!’ 

Your ministrations stop, body suddenly so still as you take in his words. He’s scared you’ll scold him, reject him, show him the disgust he knows he feels for himself. Instead, you pull his face away from your chest, despite his protests, and look into his eyes. He doesn’t find any of those things, only sorrow and concern. 

“You forgot?” 

He nods. 

“Then you did not mean it, and therefore it was not you.” 

It's shitty reasoning, but he’ll take whatever you give him. He launches himself back into your arms. By now, the front of your dress is soaked, but neither of you comment on it. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” he repeats like a mantra. 

“And I, you” you murmur, kissing the top of his head. 

He can’t remember what kind of flowers were draped throughout the Sept, nor can he seem to remember the necklace you wore, despite it being a gift from him. Aegon can’t remember if you sat on his left or right, and he knows he used to remember that. 

“I want to talk to you,” you start. Aegon is laying in bed, boots kicked off and only in his small clothes. Lately there have been bags under his eyes, he’s lost weight and despite your talk a few weeks ago he still seems on edge. You’ve sat in on many of the small council meetings and noticed how detached Aegon has become. Many of the members scoff when they must repeat themselves. You're scared. 

Aegon pats the spot beside him, you crawl onto it but stay on your knees, a hand resting on his thigh as you gaze at him with concern. “What of?”

Even his tone sounds tired. Your hands reach up to cup his cheeks, “I have an idea, but you must hear it out before you make any comments.” 

“If this is about that new thing you heard the ladies gossip about, I will not let it anywhere near my as-” 

You chuckle, shaking your head. “I want you to abdicate.” 

It’s silent, he looks confused, the only sound in the room is the crackling fire. You had moved Aemma to the nursery when you noticed how tired he seemed, best let him get as much rest as possible. “The stress is destroying you and-” you scoot forward, forehead pressing against his, “I can’t keep watching as you fall apart. I just want to see you happy again.” 

“Aelar is too young,” Aegon concludes, brows still furrowed. 

You chew on your lip before pulling away from him, hands dropping into your lap. You wring them out as you look down at them, the words that leave you shock him. “I know, but you have me, I could do it for you until Aelar is old enough.” 

“That’s unheard of,” he leans against the pillows, watching you nervously fiddle with your hands. You sigh, shoulders slumping as you look up at him through your lashes. 

“Yes, but not impossible. If I take over, you could relax, be with the kids more, take a deep breath. At this rate, if you keep going you’ll die from the stress alone.” You lean forward, leaning against your hands that are now flat against the bed. “I do not wish to lose you, and the kids are worried about you.” 

He gulps, even after so long such words still seem foreign to him. Every time his children tackle him or excitedly shriek at his presence he looks around for what is so interesting, it’s always him though. He doesn’t know how, but they love him, so do you, so do you his nephews. Even Alicent is gentle with him now. He’s taking on so much to keep you from it and yet you're sitting here asking for the stress, the burden, to help him. 

The small council would not like that, nor would Otto, and probably not his mom. The kingdom might be confused by it, but they do love you. Having you on the throne does not change the succession either, it would still fall to Aelar, so there would be nothing to worry about in that regard. 

“Let me be queen, so you may be the father you wish to be,” you say it so sincerely, so earnestly. How can Aegon say no to that? He hardly ever says no to you, he can’t start now. 

“You love me?” He asks, it’s the first time he’s had to ask in years, but this decision involves all the trust in the world. He needs reassurance. 

You nod, a smile on your beautiful lips as you sit back down, “I do, so much.”

You try not to remember your first wedding, the day was somber and against your will. None of it had been planned by you, and you had to keep from crying at the altar. But your wedding to Aegon? He made sure you helped plan it and when the day arrived everything fell together so perfectly. For a moment you forgot all your pain, all your heartache. That wedding you remember vividly, even as the years pass by. 

The dress they fit you in has valyrian steel shoulder pads and a belt. It’s all black with red satin cuffs at your wrists. The style of it reminds you of the dress you wore the day you almost died, except this one has silver dragons embroidered on the skirt. Your hair is twisted into intricate and regal braids and a silver ruby necklace is draped across your neck with matching earrings. 

The coronation will be in the throne room, and after you will give a speech to the small folk in front of the Red Keep. Many were shocked by the news that Aegon was stepping down, none more surprised than your good mother. Her lips had been pursed while she picked at her fingernails until they bled. 

You later found that she felt all her hard work and sacrifice over the years had been for not. Despite rejecting Aegon’s pleas as a child and making him marry Helaena, here you stood happily married to her eldest son. Despite starting a war to put him on the throne, here you stood, about to be crowned queen of the seven kingdoms. 

You think against telling her that none of this would have happened if she had just let the two of you marry, it would only upset her further. Upon hearing about Vhagar she had been beside herself. Helaena had stood awkwardly, not quite sure what to do, as she herself was not fully present yet. Her mind was still elsewhere most days. 

“Are you ready?” Aegon asks, he had requested to be the one to give you the crown and walk you to the throne. It felt right to have him be the one to hand it over to you, to tell the world he approves of this decision, that he sees you as the true ruler of the seven kingdoms. You take his hand, letting out a shaky sigh before nodding. 

“Yes.” 

You catch one last glimpse of yourself in the mirror before walking away. The sight shocks you, the woman staring back looks eerily similar to your mother. You wonder what she would make of the life you’ve lived since she passed. You still think of her often, thoughts consumed on if she’d be disappointed or not. 

The coronation is a blur. Aegon walks you to the iron throne after a guard announces your arrival. Everyone turns and watches you walk up the steps. You do not sit immediately, Aegon says his speech which you hardly hear, the ringing in your ears taking precedence over his words. In the crowd you see your children, up at the front and grinning from ear to ear. 

Jaehaera holds Aemma and Rhaenyra holds Rhaegar. Saera and Aelar are standing in front of them, fidgeting as their little bodies try their best to stay still. Your brothers stand behind your girls, shoulders back and faces proud. Neither remember what your mother looks like, you wonder if they see her in you as Alicent does. Part of you hopes they do. 

Aegon grabs the crown from the velvet cushion it was sat upon. He had a new one made for you, it’s the valyrian circlet he had made for your wedding, except he has added thorns to it, the way they are shaped almost looks like a dragons nest with rubies embedded to look like the eggs. They seem sharp enough to harm, maim even, as the thorns curl around one another. 

You wonder what went through his brain when coming up with the concept, he gently places it upon your braided hair and whispers, so only you hear, “for my mighty dragon.” 

Gods, you want to cry. 

“All hail the queen!” He shouts, turning to the crowd in front of him. They chant along with him as you finally ascend to the throne, your body fits perfectly against the seat as you stare out at the people, no, subjects in front of you. 

And while your new subjects stare up at you with unadulterated rage and shock, a shiver of happiness worms its way into your heart. This might not have been the way your mother wished for the war to truly end. She would still disapprove of your marriage to Aegon, but you know that at this moment as you sit on the iron throne, the crown of y/n the mighty laid upon your dark curls, that she would finally be proud of you. 

And in the end, that’s all you ever wanted.

[shady-tavern]

Healing Hearts

Warning for implied Animal and Child Abuse, though nothing graphic, please take care of yourselves.

***

Cloud was a very small and very hopeful cat. Her fur was as gray as the storm clouds she had been born beneath and her family had expected great things of her. She had been very energetic as a kitten, looking forward to finally being big enough that she could help out and be of use. 

To finally be as proud as her big brother, as strong as her mother and as crafty and swift as her father. There was plenty to do with climbing trees to look for birds, tracking mice and keeping lookout for the pack of wild dogs.

But as it turned out, Cloud wasn't very good at many, many things. She fell out of trees when she tried to climb them, she rarely landed on her feet and couldn't stealth through tall grass if her life depended on it. She got distracted watching out for the wild dogs and failed to warn her family in time.

"Maybe it's better if you leave," her brother told her one day, annoyed and tired. His heart was clearly troubled and grim with unpleasant determination. "You are ruining the hunt for all of us and it's unfair that we work hard just to keep you fed when you can't do anything for us."

"I'm doing my best," Cloud protested, upset and hurt and panicked at the idea of being all alone. Of being cast out. "Where would I even go?"

He flicked his tail dismissively. "Anywhere that's not here. Mom and Dad already expect a new litter of kittens and it will be hard enough for us to get them through winter without you there, mooching off of us."

When Cloud looked beseechingly at her parents, her father was studiously looking to the side, tail flicking restlessly. His heart was dark and heavy with what they had decided to do and yet he was too scared to meet her eyes, too scared of seeing the pain he was causing.

Her mother was tired and half asleep, her eyes were apologetic but she didn't speak up. Her heart was worn and exhausted and busy guarding the growing lives beneath it in her belly.

"Go," her brother said quietly, brushing past her. "I'm sure you'll find your place somewhere out there."

Cloud didn't leave right away, even as her heart felt cleaved in two. She lingered and skulked along the edges of her home, until at last the silence of her family drove her fully away.

She felt so desolate, it was nothing but pure luck that she didn't run into the pack of dogs or any other trouble. She walked until it started to rain and then she curled up within a hollowed tree along one of the dirt paths humans had made to travel along.

It took her a long moment to notice the whimper over the gentle, steady rain. Her ears flicked and for a second, she considered not getting up. She was grieving and tired and felt as though her heart had turned to paste, but at last she dragged herself to her feet.

Following the noise, she soon came upon a big, black dog, scars across its muzzle and it was tied down to the ground with a fraying, rough rope. Cloud stilled, startled, but the dog didn't react. He just remained curled up, shivering a little.

"Are you alright?" Cloud asked after a moment and the dog blinked one eye open. He looked very sad and very small, even though he was big. His heart was the darkest and heaviest Cloud had ever seen, filled with pain and grief and worthlessness.

"I was a bad dog," the dog said at last, quiet and so mournful it broke her heart a little. "I always mess up everything."

Despite herself and all her family's warnings, she felt a pang of understanding sympathy. She hesitated, then approached the desolate dog, noticing that he was lashed down so tightly he couldn't get up even if he wanted to.

"What happened to you?" she asked, aghast and the dog closed his eyes again, curling up tighter.

"My master didn't want me," the dog said in the tiniest voice and Cloud was horrified, before anger overtook her. She marched up to the dog and started to chew and claw at the rope until the frayed part snapped.

"Get up," she said and nudged at the startled dog until he clambered to his feet. He was too thin to her liking. "You can't stay here."

"Then where do I go?" the dog asked, fur matted and ears drooping. "I'm not gentle enough with children, too stupid for tricks, too dumb for guarding and too cowardly for fighting. I'm good for nothing."

The words hit home harder than Cloud had thought. She, too, was good for nothing. Too clumsy for climbing, too loud for sneaking and too easy to distract for keeping watch.

"I don't know," she answered at last. "I don't know where to go either." At least he was free now.

When she turned around to leave, the dog hesitantly crept after her. When she didn't protest, he followed her all the way to the hollowed and now they were both curled up within. The space was just barely big enough for them to fit.

After a moment of staring outside Cloud got up again and he looked visibly startled when she curled up against his side. He was warm, even if he smelled of stale air and dust.

They remained there as they waited out the rain and night fell. Some owls hooted and a fox screeched and the dog flinched a little, but stayed calm when she didn't react.

At the first hint of dawn, hunger drove Cloud to her feet. The dog followed her again as they walked down the road in the direction most of the humans traveled.

"Where is your family?" the dog asked quietly after a moment.

Cloud had to wait until her throat stopped aching with grief until she could respond, "They don't want me." She glanced up at her big companion. "I'm not good at anything either."

The dog looked upset on her behalf and hesitated, then offered, "Maybe we can be good at something together?"

That made Cloud thoughtful. Maybe the dog was right, she decided as they walked. Maybe if they worked together, they could make it. "Alright," she said at last and the dog perked up hopefully. "Come on, I think I know where to get food."

The dog looked relieved and eager. As they crested the hill, a settlement came into view. Cloud's family had always warned her away from those places, but she had overheard birds chatting with each other, as they watched her try and fail to climb. They found her clumsiness greatly entertaining.

"People leave food they don't eat outside," she told the dog when he hesitated to set foot into the small town. "We'll be careful. And look, it's still early, so barely anyone is awake."

Hesitantly, the dog followed her at last, almost crawling with how small he tried to make himself. Now came the tricky part. Cloud had heard the birds talk about food, but she had no idea where exactly she was supposed to find it.

She made sure no one spotted them, winding around corners and ducking into hiding spots until the dog suddenly lifted his head.

"I smell something. This way." They followed his nose and soon Cloud smelled what he had caught on the wind. The scent of blood and meat.

There was a building where humans clearly did their killing, which was strange but she wasn't going to question it. Not when bits and pieces got tossed outside. The downside was, they weren't the only ones. Other dogs milled nearby, while wary cats watched from the shadows, ready to swoop in and grab what they could.

"We can find food elsewhere," the dog whispered, looking scared of confrontation. Cloud was about to agree, when their stomachs growled. It hurt and the sound his stomach made was so much worse than hers. He needed food. They both did.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward, her new friend whispering in warning, but to her surprise, he followed still. The dogs paused in their excited staring at the big window and four heads swiveled to look at them.

"Fuck off, kitty," the meanest looking one growled at her, heart sparking in warning like a fire about to blaze bright. "Or you're part of our breakfast."

Her heart was pounding, but even if she was good at nothing, at least she could be brave. She had to be, or they'd go hungry. So when the dog lunged forward with a snarl, she lashed out. It was nothing but pure luck that she had moved when she had. 

Her claws dug deep into the dog's nose and with a pained yowl they flinched back, dripping blood and now they looked scared, the fire in their heart doused swiftly. The rest of the pack lunged to attack and it became a frenzy of clawing and biting and her new friend joined the fray, determined but just as bad at fighting as he had said he was.

"Enough!" someone shouted above and they all flinched apart, staring up at a disgruntled human. "There is enough for all of you, so stop or you'll get nothing at all."

Cloud backed up a step and the pack reluctantly did the same. The human sighed and reached inside to start emptying two buckets, making sure to spread it out as much as possible so everyone got something.

"Hungry lot," he muttered as they all started to snap up pieces. Even the other cats hurriedly grabbed whatever had fallen closest to them. The man's heart was kind despite his rough voice and sharp words and Cloud found herself relaxing a little.

Cloud's big friend managed to snag a piece the size of his head, along with something smaller that dangled from one tooth. Cloud herself grabbed the biggest piece she could and they hurriedly retreated until they felt safe enough to eat.

They laid in the sun together afterwards, sated at last and they enjoyed the sun after a rainy day, keeping an eye out for trouble. They soon explored the town and started to map out the alleys and streets. Cloud made a note of which people were nice and which weren't.

There were so many hearts, good and nasty, bright and dark. Many shifted throughout the day, reflecting the emotions people went through. It helped Cloud in figuring out which humans would be willing to share their food, making her seek out the ones who had happy or soft hearts.

The dog managed to sniff out more places that tossed food outside and Cloud managed to be fast enough to swipe a small fish and later a sausage from someone handing it out to other humans in exchange for something shiny.

"We're doing good so far," Cloud said and the dog hummed in agreement, looking tentatively happy.

They found a place for the night and as the days passed, they settled into a new routine. In the mornings they waited by the butcher, as the man and his employees were called, who threw them all the bits and pieces humans didn't want to eat. Sometimes he tossed them things that smelled a little old, as though they were about to rot, but those were still edible enough for the alley animals.

In the afternoons, Cloud and her friend lingered by the market or other places that had nice people and they ate whatever else they were given or tossed. They sometimes got into fights over food or territory, but managed to establish themselves well enough to get by. 

She was vicious and her companion was big and even if he wasn't good at fighting, he learned to pin down whoever recoiled after getting hit by Cloud's claws. It wasn't pretty, but they made it work.

One afternoon, while Cloud was looking up at a woman with a kind heart with big, pleading eyes, she noticed a struggling crow overhead. The bird looked to be young and one wing was clearly injured. It flew from the roof to the next, barely making the journey. When it tried to get further away, it tumbled and disappeared in a nearby alley.

Accepting the piece of ham Cloud was given, making a quick, sweet noise in thanks, she hurried to where the bird had fallen. She found it crouched between a half broken crate and a trashcan, looking like it was panicking. 

Upon looking closer, the wing wasn't just hurt but tangled up in some kind of see-through, tough string or wire of some kind. The crow's heart was so heavy with grief and fear it might as well have been made of a large stone.

"Do you want some help?" Cloud asked politely around her piece of ham and the struggling bird froze in place, staring at her with wide eyes. "I promise I won't hurt you. Where is your family?"

"Gone," the little bird croaked faintly at last, heart growing even heavier. "I'm alone."

Cloud winced a little. Losing one's family was awful. She set the ham down and carefully approached. The small crow was clearly too terrified to move, but when Cloud started to carefully pull off the string tangled around the wing, the crow inhaled sharply.

When the string was removed entirely, the little crow stared at her in astonishment. A small gurgle of hunger came from the bird's stomach. Cloud thought for a moment, then offered her the piece of ham.

"Can you eat that?" she asked and the bird bobbled a quick nod. "Don't stay here too long, or someone will find you."

With those words, Cloud departed, only to hear struggling hops behind her. Glancing back, she saw that the crow was following, only to stop, ham pinched in her beak.

"Come on then," Cloud decided after a moment and the crow hop-walked to her side hurriedly, glancing around nervously.

Cloud lead the crow back to where the dog was dozing in their hideout and introduced them to each other. It quickly became clear to the bird that she had nothing to fear and the dog was more worried about getting pecked than she was about getting bitten.

And thus, Cloud gained another friend.

They became known as an unlikely trio around town. The little crow, once her wing healed, flew overhead to scout around. They managed to swindle and steal enough food for themselves and kept each other safe from those who did not like having them around.

The hearts of her companions slowly lightened, losing some of the unhappy dimness. They were still burdened, but they had perked up a bit, had regained some of the spirit the world had stolen from them.

Cloud thought they scraped by just fine and she thought about her family in the forest less and less. Her life was going well, most days. 

Sometimes they had to fight harder than usual to have something to eat or to avoid mean people and sure, sometimes she was envious of the pets that had cozy, warm homes where they were always well fed, but those feelings always faded away soon.

She could have found a human for herself, but that would have meant abandoning her friends. She wasn't going to do that. Not when she wouldn't have come as far without them.

It was a gray day, as gray as her fur, with a storm rumbling in the distance, shaping up to be as wild as the one she had been born beneath, when she heard crying. It was human-crying as well, not animal-crying.

Humans usually took care of themselves just fine, but something about the sound didn't sit right with her. Peeking around the corner, Cloud saw a young girl sitting crouched beneath an awning, clothes torn at one shoulder. She was pressing herself against a firmly closed door.

"Please, let me in," the girl begged in a keening voice and her heart was an open, bleeding wound in her chest, oozing despair and panic. "I promise I won't do it again!"

"Go away," someone shouted from beyond the door. "Be lucky we don't just burn you at the stake!"

"I promise I'll never do magic again!" the girl begged around a sob. "I promise I'll be good!"

"Don't lie, we both know you're good at nothing and good for nothing," the voice answered harshly. "Go, this is the only chance I give you, for your late mother's sake. She should have never let you live when you were born with the witch mark."

The girl cried harder and begged again, but no voice answered this time. She slumped down the door at last, curling up tight and cried. Cloud hesitated, then slunk forward. The girl looked up at her meow and when Cloud nudged her leg, she found herself scooped up by trembling hands.

The girl was warm and cried until she was too exhausted to continue. The door didn't open and no one came for the girl. Cloud stayed with the girl for so long, waiting, that the dog and crow came looking for her.

"Come on," she said at last and nudged at the girl until she got up and followed them.

The hideout was a little small for a human girl, but they made do, curling around her to keep her warm. Her heart was still open and bleeding, still oozing despair, but the panic had softened and was nearly gone, instead replaced by exhaustion. 

They were going to take care of her, Cloud decided and when she looked at her friends, their hearts and gazes reflected that same decision.

It was more difficult to keep a human fed, that was for sure. Cloud and her friends worked hard to get enough food and the girl never complained and helped as much as she could, begging for the shiny coins that the crow started to look for. 

She once came back with a piece that made the girl gasp and they didn't go hungry for an entire week. They ate the best food they had ever gotten that week.

The girl was smart, Cloud realized. She knew exactly where they could go to get food and as time passed, Cloud observed her doing strange things. Things no other human did. She stood beneath the full moon and her skin seemed to glow the faintest bit, sometimes she held things in her hands she couldn't have gotten on her own and sometimes she got little glimpses of the future.

Other people started to notice as well sooner or later. They got no more food from the butcher or the other shops and previously nice people avoided them in the streets.

"We don't feed witch-cats," one man who had always given her a piece of fish hissed at Cloud when she meowed sweetly at him. "Leave!"

"My uncle says I'm a witch," the girl murmured when she lit a fire with the snap of her fingers. They had no food tonight, hadn't had much to eat that wasn't stolen out of trash cans in days. "It won't be long now before they decide to burn me. And...I fear what they will do to you."

There was only really one solution then. Cloud exchanged a glance with the dog and crow and that night, while the town slept, they left. On the way out, they stole everything they could.

The crow stood guard outside and sat on windows, watching people sleep as the girl whispered at doors so the locks clicked open. They left with sacks of shinies the girl had used in the past to get food and old skins to stay warm. Next they grabbed food and better, good skins to wrap up in and then they disappeared into the night.

They managed to find their way through the dark, with the crow's eyes in the sky, the dog's nose and Cloud's ears. They fought off whatever dangers came their way as they traveled with cunning and sheer viciousness and a healthy dose of desperate determination.

But as the air grew colder with the passing days, Cloud realized they needed some place to settle. The girl wasn't strong or old enough to make it through winter out in the open and it was slowly growing colder. Luck was on their side at last, when they stumbled across an old cabin, surrounded by a crumbling stone wall.

"A witch's hut," the girl whispered. "I heard rumors that those places draw witches to them when they stand empty for too long, but I didn't think that was true."

It was dusty and smelled old and stale inside, but all the walls were intact, the roof didn't leak and the windows didn't creak. A fire was lit swiftly in the chimney and they curled up, their hearts glad for a dry, warm place to sleep in.

Soon the downright dreary, slightly creepy place transformed. It was as though it came alive the more they made it their home. The floorboards gleamed like they had been recently polished when they were dusted and washed, the walls looked freshly made when the cobwebs were all swiftly removed. 

The garden grew and transformed and with each day, the crumbling garden wall seemed to repair itself. Weeds disappeared and vegetables and herbs grew strong and vibrant instead, offering a last, big bounty before winter came.

The brighter and warmer the place became, the more it turned into their home and Cloud watched the hearts of those around her to grow lighter in turn. Relief at having finally found a safe place softened everyone and allowed hope to shine brighter and brighter the more time passed.

They had found a true, proper home at last and after some exploring once winter had passed, they discovered a village nearby. They cautiously ventured into it to trade shinies for things. Soon it was a normal sight for the residents to see the girl with her animal companions. 

The local herbalist was willing to take the girl under her wing and as they were accepted by the village, they settled into a better, warmer and well-fed life. The girl grew older and as the years passed, Cloud noticed that she didn't really age anymore and neither did the dog and crow.

"Well, you're my familiars now," the witch said, carefully cleaning off small crystals she had found in a river. She smiled wide and happy. "That means we're family for as long as you want to be."

Oh, that was very sweet. Cloud cuddled up to the witch and got the best scratches in return.

"You know," the dog said that evening as they dozed on the thick, soft carpet in front of the warm fire. Snow was slowly falling outside, but they felt none of the cold bite inside. "I'm so glad you found me that day. Even if I'm good at nothing, I still have a life I could have never dreamed of."

Cloud frowned at that. "But you are good at many things," she said and when the dog looked ready to protest, she hurriedly tacked on, "Your nose saved us many times and you always found food for us no matter what. You kept us from going hungry."

The dog ducked his head, bashful but hopeful so she kept talking, "Even if you say you can't fight because you're too cowardly, you always helped me no matter how scared you were. That's real bravery, you know?"

"Oh." The dog was quiet for a long moment, then whispered, "You really think so?"

"Yes, there is no doubt," Cloud said firmly.

The crow flapped down from her perch in the rafters and nodded. "You're strong and big and warm and you always take care of us," she said. "Whoever told you you're good for nothing lied to you. You guys..." She hopped a little closer, voice going warm. "You're my family. When I had nothing, you came and gave me everything."

The dog gently nudged their heads together with a little rumble. "And you're mine." He was quiet for a long moment. "I...never thought about it that way. Do you really think I'm pulling my weight?"

"A hundred times over," Cloud said with certainty, then nudged the crow as well. "And you're our family too."

The crow chirp-cawed happily and they laid snuggled together on the carpet. The crow was asleep and Cloud was about to doze off when the dog murmured, "You're no good-for-nothing either."

Cloud opened one eye and he shifted his head to look at her. "You saved me when no one else would have and you have done the same for our crow friend and our witch." The dog tipped his head a little to the side. "And then you helped us figure out how to survive. We wouldn't have made it if we hadn't all stuck together, if you hadn't found us. So, you know, you're definitely good at something."

Cloud was wide awake now while the dog fell asleep, snoring ridiculously loud within moments. She watched the dog and crow a moment longer, then looked up to where their witch was making a protective charm for a worried villager.

When the witch noticed her staring, she looked up and smiled. "Sleep," the witch whispered. "We're safe here. Safe and happy and we're going to stick together, won't we?"

Cloud chirped a little noise in agreement and settled down. Her heart felt full and as warm as the fire they laid near.

Without realizing, without even meaning to, she had ended up getting everything she had ever wanted. A family that loved her and a purpose, as strange as it may look to others. And sure, she wasn't good at any of the things other cats were good at, but now she didn't have to be. Now it was a good thing that she was strange and different.

She fell asleep with a smile and in the morning the world outside was snowy and cold, but her heart still glowed bright and warm. And when the witch looked knowingly at all of them, when Cloud noticed that they all walked unburdened, she realized they had done it.

They had healed the wounds on their hearts.

[writingintheshadowsforever]

Imagine bonding with the people of Talokan when Namor gives you a tour

“You made me promise not to go back to Wakanda unless I was summoned, I highly doubt your mother is going to invite back in.” Namor finally said after staring you down for five minutes to see if you were serious with your last request. 

“I know that’s why I asked her to make the beach neutral ground for you” You told him. Your lips tugging upward into a small smirk when he hissed something in his mother tongue. That you couldn’t understand, but from the look of frustration on his face. It wasn’t a nice word.

“I left my home and my family behind to bring peace and unity to both of our nations. While no offense Namor you really didn’t have to give up much. I know my brother put Talokan in a tough spot when he opened up Wakanda to the rest of the world, but it’s not like he knew about you guys. The least you could do is find some common ground with my mother. It would make all of this a whole lot easier.” 

Namor was quiet again contemplating his options. He didn’t have a real reason to say yes considering you already made it clear. You weren’t going to recant on the deal no matter what, and that’s what scared you the most about asking him to do this. He could just say no and there would be nothing you could do about it. Your family had been through enough heartache in the past year, and you knew your mother wouldn’t ever have peace at heart again. If she spent all her days feeling like she failed to protect you, and that you were down here suffering in silence. If her and Namor could form some kind of connection maybe that would ease all of her worries. 

“How is she going to know to meet me on the beach?” He asked.

“I left her a letter asking her to” You replied.

Namor raised an eyebrow at you realizing you had really thought of everything and had already planned this after accepting his proposal. “I’ll consider it mi amour.”

“Okay that’s a start honestly I was expecting you to just say no” You said. 

“Come let’s give you a tour of your new home” Namor replied changing the subject. He motioned for you to follow him, and started walking in the direction of pool of water in the underwater cave. This time instead of holding onto him, and letting him do all the work. You just swam beside him as he led you down to dark depths of the bottom of the ocean. His hand took a hold of yours when the two of reached the water tunnel too keep you from fighting against the rip currents. Just like before the tunnel came to an end spitting the two of you out into a vast open space of nothing. Namor held onto your hand leading the path to Talokan.

The sight was just as breathtaking this time as it was the first time. You don't think it was something you would ever get tired of seeing just like returning home to Wakanda. You formed an air bubble around your head. Not for breathing, but so you would be able to actually communicate with him and the rest of Talokan with words. Because unlike them you couldn't exactly talk while underwater. Namor looked back letting a small smile form on his face at the sight. His people were out and about just like last time swimming from place to place with all of the buildings connected to each other.

"So does a tour include a stop at all of the hotspots like a restaurant, because I'm really hoping you guys have something. Other than seaweed for me to eat while I'm down here."

Namor came to a halt. "Are you hungry my love?"

"Not yet but I will be eventually, and like I said I would like an actual meal for when I'm down here besides underwater vegetation.

"Do you think we're vegetarians?"

"I would assume so yes considering your love for the ocean and the life down here."

"I do have respect which is why we eat what nature provides for us. We might not have the meat you're use to on the surface, but we can still provide you with a source of protein. Although we tend to eat our fish as raw." He told you.

"Okay so fish not my favorite food especially raw." You muttered under your breath. A major change in your diet was something you'd really thought about until now.

"You can always cook the fish when you return to the cave maybe I can even give you a few suggestions" Namor offered.

"That could work" You agreed as a family swan by the two of you, and came to a stop eyes focused on your hand connected with his.

Namor released your hand to bring his wrists together, facing outward toward the family. They repeated the gestured bowing their head to their king.

You copied him with a small smile.

Namor spoke to the family in the mother tongue and nodded his head in your direction. The family turned back to you with a joy filled eyes and bowed their heads.

You shook your head and held up your hands in protest. "There's no need for that at least not yet." It didn't seem right to you for them to be showing you so much respect. When they didn't even know you yet, but then again they saw Namor as a god. So if he said you were their queen now it made sense that they didn't question it.

Namor said something else with a grin. The family nodded and swam away with the mother throwing one more glance over her shoulder.

"What did you say to them?" You asked

"I told them you were being modest and to take it easy." Namor answered with a knowing look. "I told you my people would accept you with open arms."

"Well I would still like earn their respect and love" You said.

"That is why we're here love let's go."

Over the next few hours Namor gave you the more in-depth tour to of Talokan, that he couldn't give you the first time. It turns out the underwater city did very much have restaurants, parks, and even a strip of building dedicated to shops. Everywhere he took you the people of Talokan stared in awe and curiosity. No one really hesitated to come up to meet you, and just like with the family. They would bow their head in respect, and a few of them even gifted you items like jewelry and clothing. It got to be a bit overwhelming so it was a bit refreshing when a group of kids tugged on your hand to get you to follow them. Where they were playing a game of putting a ball throw a sideways hoop.

Namor floated a few feet away watching as you played with the kids with a look of adoration.

Wakanda

Dear mother,

I'm sorry I left and took away your chance to give me a proper sendoff and a real goodbye. I know it must be hard for you with me gone and not knowing when you will see me again. But please don't let yourself be buried in grief and regret. This was my decision and for the best instead of seeing it as a bad thing. Look at it as a victory Wakanda now has a ally who can match us in strength. If the other countries ever do try to invade us with Talokan on our side. None of them will stand a chance and like I saying, with time I may come to love Namor. But I know right now there is turmoil in your heart, because you don't think that this is possible. You believe you let your oldest daughter go off to marry a underwater devil, and did nothing to protect me. Mother I want to put your heart at ease, so whenever you're ready come to the beach. The one where I used to train with T'Challa at it will be neutral grounds for the people of Talokan.

When you find it in your heart to be able to forgive him for everything he did. Namor will be there to make peace with you. I want the unity between Wakanda and Talokan to be real, and not just a fabrication from a power marriage.

I love you mother.

Queen Ramonda read the letter for the third time in a row. It had only been a two days since you were gone, and your absence was still felt everywhere throughout Wakanda. The Council weren't happy with her decision to let you go especially after the revelation of your powers. One of the elders had the gall to call her a fool in front of everyone during a meet yesterday. Shuri ordered the elder to leave the room with a look of hatred.

Shuri was working nonstop to find a way to finally restored the heart-shaped herb. Even with the newfound peace that came from your decision. She believed it was time for Wakanda to get their protector back, and was ready to take on the mantle. Some like M'Baku were still paranoid that the threat of war was still looming.

A comforting hand came to rest upon her shoulder causing her to jump a little bit. It was Nakia taking a seat beside her wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "I'm guessing it's the content of Princess y/n's letter that has you at war with yourself."

"She wants me to forgive Namor and go to the beach to meet with him." Queen Ramonda told her handing the letter over.

Nakia accepted the letter reading over it a few times before setting it down. "She didn't put a time limit on your forgiveness mother. If you're not ready to come to peace with him then just give it a bit more time."

"But what about the state of Wakanda? If I hold onto this grudge and keep seeing him as the enemy. So will the Council, my soldiers, and Shuri no one will be able to completely move on and focus on the real threats. Y/N agreed to go to Talokan with Namor to neutralize the threat of war. If we can't let her go we will reignite it."

Nakia knew the Queen was only speaking the truth yesterday in the room. M'Baku proposed the idea of going down to Talokan and taking you from Namor's clutches by force if necessary. It was her and Okoye who was now back on the council thanks to a personal recommendation from you. Who was able to convince him and the elders that the plan was a bad idea. All it took was a reminder of what Namor and his people did after Nakia rescued Shuri and Riri. This time Namor would take an attack more personally, and even you might be unable to contain his rage.

"If you wish to speak with him my Queen I will accompany you, but please just be sure you are truly ready for this." Nakia said squeezing her shoulder.

"Do I have another choice?" Queen Ramonda whispered to herself. The sooner she fell in line and came to terms with your decision. The sooner Wakanda could truly move on to the next chapter.

Talokan

The tour ended after Namor took you see his throne, and the craftsmanship of it made your jaw-drop. You questioned rather or not it was made out the jaws of the shark were real. When you pressed a finger to one of the teeth, and discovered it was sharp enough to draw blood. That answered your question he watched in awe as the injury healed itself with a glow from the water.

Namor gave you the opportunity to sit upon the throne but you turned him down, and at the unmistakable sound of your stomach growling. You and him took the journey back to the underwater cave system. Where a small raging fire was already going thanks to his orders.

You sat by the fire in a change of clothes letting the heat of it warm your body. Namor dove back into the water insisting he knew where to find the best tasting fish in all of the ocean. Twenty minutes later he would return with a couple of large gray and chubby fish on the tip of a spear.

"I believe on the surface world your people know these guys as groupers" He told you.

"Not really big on seafood so I wouldn't know" You replied with a light shrug.

You watched as he prepared the fish by removing the eyeballs before placing them on a stick, so they could cook over the fire. Once they were setup Namor took a seat beside on the log. He removed his robe from around his shoulders and without a word threw it over your back, and clasping it back together at your neck. You turned to him with a look of surprise. The robe was extremely soft and literally felt like being wrapped up in a cloud.

"You were good with my people today I think they're already in love with you" He said staring into the fire.

"I think it was mostly curiosity after all how many outsiders do they see in their city."

"You were the first and your sister was the second, but that's not the point. Did you see the way some of the acted towards you?"

"Yeah but your people worship you Namor of course they're going to trust your judgement. They know you wouldn't do anything to put them in jeopardy, or put someone unworthy on the throne beside you."

Namor turned his head to the side to look at you, bringing a hand to your cheek. You looked up as well making eye contact with him. "That's just the thing mi amour I didn't know if I could truly trust you with my people till today. You were kind and gentle with them."

"Your people were kind and gentle with me." You whispered.

"I've seen a lot of humans kill those who are kind and gentle" He murmured. An emotion in his voice that you couldn't exactly pinpoint, but it was as if he was broken by something. It reminded you that there was a lot about his history, and Talokan that you didn't know about.

"Not all humans are the same one day you're going to let me prove that to you." You said leaning in closer to rest your forehead on his.

"Maybe mi amour" He replied with a smirk.

The crackling fire, and the rushing water were the only sounds to fill the cave. As you and him just sat there taking in so much that had happened in the past two days. A newfound sense of hope was worming itself into your heart wiping out the uncertainty. Before today you really did question rather or not you made the right choice. So much of your plan was based off how well you handled the massive change of scenery. You were worried you wouldn't be able to adjust to Talokan and call it your home. While you weren't ready to pack your bags and go live in the underwater city. You were more sure about your decision than before. For Namor watching you bond with his people brought settled any thoughts. He had about you being unable to fit in, and his people not accepting you. He talked a big game but deep down the King has his doubts, but seeing you adapt so easily. Also brought upon another unsettling conflict that wasn't there before.

"I'm sorry for what I did to your mother" Namor whispered out of nowhere.

Your eyes which had closed a minute ago snapped open in shock at his words. You pulled back from him to study his expression. The look of regret was present as his eyes averted to the fire. He reached forward to turn the slowly cooking fish over.

"Thank you Namor but I'm not the only one who needs to hear that. If you truly are sorry then please tell my mother" You pleaded.

"How will I know when she's at the beach I have no way of summoning her."

You shrugged your shoulders. "I don't know you'll just have to trust that she will be there."

"The fish is done" was his response as he lifted the stick from over the fire. You figured the conservation was over for now, and was to hungry to keep arguing about it. So you let it go for the time being to enjoy dinner with him. It turned out Namor wasn't lying when he said it truly was the best fish in the ocean. Afterwards you could feel your eyelids getting heavy and he could see how tired you were. So you made your way to the giant hammock that was still acting as your bed. Surprisingly enough like everything else here it was super comfy, and you had no problem falling asleep in it covered up with Namor's robe still.

It was while you slept well into the night Namor slipped out of the cave and made his way to the beach. He peeked his head out of the water eyes scanning the shore, and just as he was getting ready to call it. A soft roaring sound filled the air from above, and he looked up to see white lights flashing from the sky. Namor rose from the ocean and hovered in the air.

A few minutes later two figures walked out of the trees stopping right where the water met the shore. He flew over to them pausing a few feet away to keep a comfortable distance between them and him. "I didn't think you would come."

It was Queen Ramonda with Nakia by her side.

"My daughter asked me to."

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[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Omg baby pockets 😩❤️ she holds my heart

Sleepwalking is the only way Bruce could describe it. Your eyes are open, you're moving and speaking, but nothing really seems to penetrate.

He suspected you were on drugs. It wouldn't surprise him. But it did piss him off. His eyes narrowed and as he watched you sleep walk through dinner, it only got worse.

You were maintaining well, whatever you were on. Tim hadn't noticed. But it was clear that Alfred and Dick realized something wasn't right. But then- they had a frame of reference for "normal".

When you excused yourself, pleading homework, Bruce nods and Alfred, while no one was looking, picked up the spoon you had used. Knowing that toxicology could be run from the saliva on it.

Bruce glared at the computer screen. "Well."

"Nothing out of the ordinary?" Alfred asked.

"Nothing illegal," Bruce confirmed. "At least horribly. A little Alcohol, some nicotine, and allergy medication."

"Worrying though."

"Yes," Bruce agreed.

"Dick-"

"I already asked him," Alfred said. "He said that she's doing her best."

"I just don't understand," Bruce said. "She was fine two days ago."

"Maybe she's tired," he posited. "She was very... busy."

"Maybe."

Bruce frowned. It didn't make sense. But it did. There were a lot of discordant pieces. Things he couldn't get a full picture of. But of course, Nissa- well. He didn't like to think about it, but it was possible that you had the same illness she did. And without knowing who your father was- He sighed. As long as your drug screens came up mostly clean. As long as there wasn't anything too outside "normal" for a kid your age. Or anything he couldn't account for maybe he could get a picture.

The problem was, of course, that you could hide things well. Really well. Your grades were fine. You were keeping up on things- really you were probably the least worrying child in the house. And that... he didn't know what to do with that either.

___________________

"I'm sorry," Bruce said, "About your mother."

"Me too," you tell him.

Now that you'd had a medication, your thinking was clearer. And you seemed to have recovered your voice. That was something.

"And I'm sorry," he said, "that I didn't know what to do-"

"That wasn't your job. Not really."

Bruce smiled a little and laid his hand on your head gently. Stroking your hair- something he'd usually only been able to do when you slept. "I shouldn't have said anything until I knew."

"I'm crazy not stupid I knew something was wrong-"

"You're not crazy," Bruce corrected. "You're-"

"Please don't say I'm sick," you sigh. "It's exhausting having people feel bad for you all the time."

"Is that what it feels like?" he asked curiously.

"Sometimes," you tell him. "I hate it. Almost makes me understand why my mom was high all the time. Once you fuck up so much no one cares anymore, at least they stop drowning you in sympathy. At least when they talk down to you you deserve it."

Bruce nodded. It made sense and it didn't. Which- might partly be medicine. Still. You had a voice again. And you were calmed down.

"Where did Jason-"

"He went to go get something to eat while you were out," Bruce explained. "I told him I'd stay-"

"Don't you got goons to beat up?"

"Figured the others could handle it for now," he said simply.

[angelisgonnastartchangingurls]

margo on a friday

margo was 19 years old. she had grown up in an abusive home and now lived with a 40-year-old boyfriend. she was tattooed and lean and looked strong, but she was sweet and tender with annie. always so kind and observant. she always checked on annie's plants in the office, which annie had confessed to be clueless about.

they had a good day today. a lot of talking about and processing life with her alcoholic mother. it made annie feel good at her job at a time when she felt like she wasn't good at anything.

she'd fucked jim in her office four times now, in two weeks. giddy, horny, sloppy sex. he was fucking her raw and cumming inside her. she was sucking his balls and sitting on his face on the floor. he fucked her against the window. annie knew some of the people in the office opposite hers. were they looking now? could they see her tits pressed against the glass?

meanwhile, no word from ted. and she'd taken some more nudes she'd hoped to show alice, but alice had come in despondent about a fight she'd had with angel, and annie had stupidly tried too aggressively to make alice understand her friend's side, and so alice had called her a fucking idiot. she'd sent apology flowers shortly after, but it still stung.

she felt so guilty about cheating on ryan, but sometimes he'd come over and it felt like sex was the furthest thing from his mind. two nights earlier, annie had been touching herself in bed, waiting for him to come in. when he did, he said, "i'm glad you're taking care of yourself, god i'm so tired." she'd wanted to scream at him. instead, she'd cum.

she was taking carlos's advice and trying to jerk off every morning. she'd even bought a new vibrator that was so intense she had to keep her panties on to use it. when he asked if it was helping to settle her mind, she'd told him the truth.

"no, it's making me hornier," she said.

he laughed. "ok, well, maybe it's just the springtime. you just need to communicate your needs more to ryan and you'll stop seeking them elsewhere."

when annie had told her father she was cheating on ryan, he'd contradicted carlos. "if you're not getting what you need and deserve from him, i think stepping out is justified. but maybe he should know."

"i can't tell him. what if he tells julia?"

"ok," he said. "maybe don't tell him, but maybe flirt with his friends. give him the sense that you're teetering on the edge."

that evening, after her session with margo, annie met ryan at a bar with his friends. she wore a short skirt and a loose top with no bra, and flirted, with increasing excess, with ryan's friends. he did not seem to notice, even when annie was touching jeff's biceps and asking him about whether or not he thought lifting was a lifestyle.

"ryan doesn't know what he has with you," jeff told her at one point.

"he doesn't have me nearly often enough," annie replied. "i'm spending so much money on batteries for my fucking vibrator."

"lucky vibrator," he said.

after drinks, annie and ryan did at least fuck, at his place. it was quick and dirty and annie was at least briefly sated. she slept naked in his bed with his cum on her stomach and in the morning, he railed her again. even still, an hour later she asked him for jeff's number.

"why?" he said.

"i just want to send him an article we were talking about," annie said.

"oh, cool," ryan said.

Annie sent Jeff a full body nude with her face cropped out.

"Hi Annie," he replied.

"How'd you know?" she replied.

"Your tits. I stare at them a lot," he said. "They are just as I imagined they'd be with your clothes off."

"What are you doing today?" she asked him.

"Sitting around with my cock in my hands waiting for you," he said.

"OK, I'm coming over after I shower," she said.

"Shave that pussy for me," he said.

For some reason, that turned Annie on. She did as she was told.

Jeff was a brute, and he fucked Annie like a brute. He pounded her on his bed, face down, ass up. He pulled her on top of him and practically jerked off with her body, lifting her up and slamming her down on his cock. He slapped her ass and he pulled her hair. Annie was delirious, and so, so happy. When he jerked off in her face she accepted it greedily.

"I needed to be fucked like that," she told him, standing naked in the common area of his apartment. His roommate was in his room with the door open. Annie didn't care.

"I could tell," Jeff said. "You have a perfect pussy."

"You fuck like a jackhammer," Annie said. "Want to do it again?"

"Gotta hit the gym," he said.

Annie looked into the roommate's room. "You want to fuck?"

"He doesn't want your sloppy seconds, you little whore," he said. "Go home and clean my seed off and call me when you need it again."

That night Annie masturbated imagining Jeff fucking her to death. She imagined herself losing consciousness as his drilling continued. And then she came.

[floralifetime]

Toruk Makto's Sister

Warning: Very bad writing, some grammatical error (English is not my first language, so please be kind), mentions of racism, mentions of death, mentions of abandonment.

Previous Chapter ➡️ Next Chapter

⚠️⚠️Phrase and image are not mine, all credits to the owners.⚠️⚠️

Orange means Na'vi language.

Chapter n.6 The Tsahik

A king bows only to his queen.

Another Na'vi, decidedly more adult and important than those who had surrounded my brother, was the owner of the voice. She looked annoyed, her tail wagged quickly as she walked, I don't know if she was mad at us or the others given the reaction they had towards Jakey and mine. I lost myself in watching her for a couple of minutes, just as she made her way towards my brother and me. As that woman joined us, I lost myself in observing her around me too, more carefully than I ever did before. Neytiri didn't look concerned, like what seemed to be usual about her. However I noticed in them a hint of…Pain, perhaps? Is that what keeps them from getting the best idea of our race? What have we done?

“And who is this supposed to be?” my brother asks, whispering while I sigh again and look at him with a look that couldn't be more tired than his big mouth. “You told me to be still, not quiet!” he tries to be ironic and I can't help but agree with him. “Yeah, then please don't say anything stupid, okay? For the rest, stay still, is that clear?” I hiss at him, even though I've just realized that I've dug my own grave anyway having given him permission to speak anyway. “That is my mother, the one who interprets Eywa's will.” Neytiri introduces her, always with her composure but also with a hint of curiosity, I don't understand towards what or who. I nod and, clearly, my brother immediately had to make me regret my kind concession. “Who is Eywa?” he whispers, because he somehow understood that he will get less “punishments” if he only talks to me. I sigh heavily and look at him sideways, slowly turning my head towards him, still holding a calm and deep breath, otherwise I would have gotten angry with him again and I didn't have much strength to do it, I also lacked the desire, I wanted to keep my rage to “protect” both in case the Na'vi decide to attack. “Ok, I got it. Shut up, Jakey.” I hissed and he immediately understood that it was better not to mess with me.

Meanwhile the lady had joined us, she went around my brother, examining the tail, the queue, and the body in general. She seemed very rude towards him and I wondered if she would use the same bullying with me once she was done with Jakey. I can bear it, I've been through worse, but I wonder if little ones can do it and what he will think of me, an Avatar who carries little ones of clear Na'vi origin on her shoulders. What if she doesn't believe my story? They don't trust us, we must have done something really bad to get that much suspicion from them, so even my brother's word might not help our situation much…The only one who could calm things down in such circumstances would be Neytiri who didn't show the slightest sign of disturbance when I mentioned the children earlier, perhaps she had already seen me taking care of them then, or she had imagined that I would not hurt them. I don't know, but guessing is currently useless, I just have to take what comes and react accordingly, hoping that my words and my story are convincing enough for her. I also hope she doesn't ask me to deprive myself of the little ones, I already love them, I don't want to be separated from them, at least it's not the best thing for them but I know that I will suffer a lot in case.

“What's your names?” she asked suspiciously. “I'm Jake Sully.” my brother replied as he looked at her with a look too arrogant for my liking, a nudge from me got him to fix this, but it was disrespectful that he didn't bow his head when the Tsahik presented herself in front of him, which I had done. The woman nodded, she didn't seem to be offended or want to make a tragedy of the fact that Jakey didn't properly show the respect an important figure like hers deserves, I sighed relieved because we are in enough trouble even without her joining us too. The woman's cautious and suspicious eyes moved to me, she hadn't examined me yet, but I think she won't be long in doing so. “And what about you?” she asked me, with a slightly softer voice than the one used for my brother and a more good-natured look than the previous one. Perhaps she appreciates my showing respect in a way that she deems appropriate for her culture. Here we are in their home, showing respect and behaving as their culture wants is the minimum. I raised my arm slowly, bringing two fingers to my forehead and bending down, greeting the Tsahik as any other Na'vi would, no difference in manner or fluidity of movement. Sometimes I amaze myself how natural it is for me to behave like them. “Oel ngati kameie, Tsahik. My name is Y/N Sully. May I ask what your name is?” Tsahik smiled briefly, I don't know if she has ever smiled at a Dreamwalker, but from the astonished and incredulous reactions of the other Clan members, I can surmise that it never happened. “Mo'at, child. My name is Mo'at. Oel ngati kameie.” I bowed my head again. “That's a wonderful name, Tsahik. Your daughter has a beautiful name too.” I didn't fail to notice the smile briefly appearing on both of their faces, even though Neytiri isn't very close, I can still see her quite clearly. Mo'at pricked my brother with a sharp bone, then ran a finger over the wound and brought it to her lips. It's their way, they taste some of your blood so they can get a deeper opinion about you and whether they should trust you or not. From what I know it is something that only the Tsahik has the power to do, but I would not exclude that this method can also be taught to those who follow the training to become such, perhaps the best.

After checking my brother carefully, Mo'at approached me. She walked around me, carefully examining my hair, my tail, the queue at the end of my braid but she was much more delicate with me than my brother, probably in homage to the respect I showed her, also because she would have had no other reason to be so kind. “Can I see your wrist, kind and respectful girl?” she asked in a soft tone, more conciliatory and warm than the cold and slightly nervous one used towards my brother. The difference in treatment between my brother and me cannot be more accentuated than this. I just nod as I offer her my wrist, the wounded one. She doesn't sting me, she loosens the leaf slightly, takes a drop of blood with her finger and brings it to her lips. Not even a second later she opens her eyes wide in an expression mixed between admiration and amazement, quite the opposite as I look at her confused and worried, not so much for her opinion as for her health. “Are you okay, Tsahik?” I ask alarmed, the last thing I want is to cause suffering to any of them, despite being a member of the army, hurting is not something that drives me crazy, quite the contrary. Mo'at took a deep breath and then turned to her daughter. “Neytiri!” Her name was called with such urgency that I became more concerned for Tsahik's health. Her daughter was beside us in a hurry, looking at her mother knowingly, as if she expected to be called for the reason she thought, meanwhile I'm not understanding much. “Proceed too.” her mother invited her, Neytiri did the same thing Mo'at had done before her, her look when she tasted my blood showed more awareness than amazement.

“What do you feel?” her mother asked her, in a tone I couldn't describe and a look I couldn't decipher. “Brave heart, noble spirit, kind soul.” she make a list and I couldn't help but look down with a purple hue spreading across my cheeks, even reaching down to my ears and the base of my neck given how embarrassed I was. I don't know how long I remained in that position, but at a certain point I felt an elbow hit that forced me to raise my eyes, meeting the much more benevolent gaze of both Na'vi women. “She must be special…” Mo'at murmured. “I knew she would be up to it.” began, still calmly, Neytiri. “How did you know? You spoke of signals from the Great Mother, tell me one.” replies her mother, I don't dare interrupt and, thanks to the Great Mother, not even Jakey dares to say anything. “Utral Tirea interacted with her, the Atokirinas seemed attracted to this particular girl. Now do you all understand why I couldn't kill her and had to bring her here?” It seemed that every single Na'vi of the Clan had released as much air as their lungs could hold in a single instant. I looked around to check on the other Clan members, see if I could figure out what was going on. Disbelief was the feeling that was the most popular, but a touch of distrust and denial continued to be in the depths of their looks. Jakey always says that I'm good at reading other people's emotions, but I don't think it's true, even if I admit that I'm someone who observes a lot, there's no doubt about it. “Utral Tirea, that's not possible.” I turned to where the voice was coming from and noticed that it was Tsu'tey who had spoken, Neytiri stared at him as if she had interpreted his denial as a challenge. “And yet it happened. I saw it with my own eyes, even the Atokirinas are a sign of the Great Mother, clearer than these could not happen.” Neytiri replied firmly. “Atokirina? Utral Tirea react like this with a demon? One of those who have caused us so much suffering?! It is not possible! They are too pure for this scum!” Tsu'tey replied more and more furious, with the corner of my eye I noticed that my brother was quivering with anger towards this Na'vi, for the words he had addressed to me. “Why are you sacred and pure? But do me the favor! If you were, you wouldn't have talked to Y/N like that without even know her!” my brother retorted aloud, anticipating whatever Neytiri might want to say. Tsu'tey turned to him and hissed at him showing his fangs, Jakey reciprocated but, before the irreparable could happen, a voice was heard screaming. “SILENCE!”

It was Eytukan's voice, he had slipped between my brother and Tsu'tey, although it was clear that he didn't want to be in that place. “Your Tsahik hasn't finished examining the female demon yet! And if my daughter is telling the truth, the signs have been clear! Let your Tsahik finish the job she is doing and only then will we take a decision!” Mo'at wore a disappointed look as she stared at the man who, earlier, had led some kind of cavalry against me, Jakey, and the little ones. After a brief moment of silence where tension you could cut with a knife, what I had been waiting for happened. Both children, evidently exhausted by the amount of tension and psychological distress I was dealing with, burst into desperate tears. Hearing their cries all the Na'vi were alarmed, Mo'at moved my hair and immediately noticed the little ones crying. “I knew it would happen sooner or later. They have been too good at remaining silent and still until now.” I spoke through clenched teeth, turning to my brother who was already staring at me for directions, ears pulled back to try and escape the confusion caused by the children. “Come and give me a hand.” I wanted to smile but I was exhausted and couldn't. My brother approached me cautiously, while Mo'at and Neytiri watched him suspiciously, I don't know what they think he might do, but he would never harm children that small. “Check them and then pass them both to me, okay?” My brother nods and, after I hiss at him twice at his lack of delicacy, he carefully pulls out both male and female, and he passes them to me.

“Shhh…I know my loves, screams are bad.” I whispered while I cradled them both in my arms, the two little ones looked around frightened, they seemed to be looking for someone, they stopped looking around only when they saw me, guided by the purr I made to reassure them. "It's all right my little ones, you're safe." I said softly as I gently pressed them to me. The little girl, while she was looking at me, snuggled against my chest clutching my shirt and, listening to my purrs and feeling me kissing her forehead, she soon calmed down by herself, coming to emit only a few sporadic sounds, much calmer. Luckily for me the little girl seems to have a basic quiet disposition, so calming her crying doesn't seem to be difficult, which cannot be said of the little boy, who kept crying. I wanted to join in the cry too since the little one had wrapped her little tail around my injured wrist and held it tight. Having calmed the girl, I diverted my attention to the boy. “Awww, what about you baby? Why are you crying, are you scared?” A few strands of my hair fell forward and, swinging, enchanted the little one. “Do you like my hair, my little one?” The baby moved his little hands and arms, grabbing my locks and starting to play with it, my laughter helped calm the little one who also ran his little hands over my nose. “Everything is fine, my little ones. I'm here with you, it's all right.” I reassured them both, because even if I'm looking at the boy, I have to make the girl feel my attention too. The little one gave me a toothless, rubbery smile, laughing as I kissed his nose and wrapped his little tail around my wrist, squeezing it like he was worth his life. The girl draws my attention complaining about her, so I slowly turned towards her, also because the boy didn't want to leave my locks. “It's all right my baby.” I whispered to her tenderly. “Do you want a kiss too?” I asked her about her as I heard her moan, I smiled and lifted her slightly towards me, then kissed her face a couple of times, making her smile and giggle again.

Finally having calmed both babies I was able to lift my head to meet suspicious gaze but with a hint of tenderness of Mo'at, I looked at Neytiri and saw her staring at me with a much more tender and convinced look of my good intentions than the mother's . “I didn't kidnap them, if that's what you think.” I anticipated as I cuddled both babies. “Then where did you get them?” she asked me, looking at the little ones, probably she was trying to find any possible wounds or marks. “I found them in the forest, their crying led me to them. As you can see they are all painted.” I started by showing the boy who didn't moan if I moved him slightly for Tsahik to see, as opposed to the girl who moaned and cried if I tried to pull her slightly away from my chest. Mo'at looked at him carefully and her golden eyes widened at the sight of the paint that still smudges him, I hadn't had time to wash them and I didn't even think about it to be honest. “Even the girl has the same colors and shapes painted on her.” I explained as Mo'at moved closer to the baby to better observe him. “Can I hold him?” My eyes widened, I never expected her to ask permission, I thought she just took it. “Sure, here.” I smiled and handed her the little one who didn't seem very happy with the change, he moved confusedly and looked around disoriented, whimpering. Contrary to what I expected Mo'at smiled and waved me over. I did it and as soon as the little one saw me he smiled and calmed down and stretched out his little hand to touch me, I smiled, I stretched out my free hand and let him take my fingers, I sighed moved by his toothless smile.

While the little one was distracted by my fingers and playing with it, Mo'at examined him carefully for a couple of minutes. “Can you confirm that the marks on the boy are the same as those on the girl?” she asked me. “Sure, they're the same, I have a feeling they don't mean anything right, it's that true?” Mo'at looked at me for a couple of seconds, then exchanged glances with her daughter and spoke again. “Do you care and take care of two children who are not even of your species?” I looked at her strange. “Of course I do, why shouldn't I?” I asked her without quite understanding what she was getting at, I don't know if she's being serious or if she's bluffing to test my intentions but I don't really want to think about it. “What should I have done, in your opinion? Leave them both where I found them and walk away ignoring that they needed someone to take care of them?” I insist. “We both know that if I had turned my back on them they would never have survived, both from predators and from the temperature of the forest at night. They are too young to stand a whole night in the forest.” Tsahik moved her ear slightly, letting me know that she was listening to me much more attentively than I expected. “Why should these innocent children die, who have done nothing wrong? It doesn't matter what species they are or I am, anyone would have done it in my shoes, even you. And you know very well that it is.” I conclude, I don't reveal what I really feel, that is slightly offended that Mo'at even thought about the possibility of abandonment, I would never do it. Despite this, I can't help wondering the reason behind this insinuation of hers. “And if I told you that these children have a family here and that it is better that they grow up with them, what would you tell me?” I swallow hard, trying everything not to cry. The eventuality I feared had presented itself, the little ones have another family and I would have to give them back, I don't want to do it but the doubt eats me up. Would I really be able to raise them? What's best for them? Is what's best for them the same as what's best for me? If they really have family, why didn't I see anyone when I found them?

I feel a hand on my shoulder that makes me turn, making me see my brother who smiles at me. “If they really had a family they would have already recognized and claimed them, don't you think? I think she's lying to test you.” my brother whispers. I look at the little girl who is still curled up against my chest and I can't think of giving up on her, I look at the little boy who is still playing with my fingers and I can't think of giving up on him either, but what would be the right thing for them to do? “If their family is willing to take good care of them I can consider leaving the babies to them, but what about their lack of attention in the forest? If they were a family worthy of the name, they would have rescued the little ones.” I start. “They may not have heard them.” she replies. “Don't lie to me, we both know how loud babies are capable of crying, at least if they were here I don't see why they shouldn't have heard them.” I answer back. “If it was really the best for them, I might as well do it. But I have to be sure, aware that they will take care of the little ones in the best way. Let me express my doubts given how they behaved and how they left them in the forest.” I don't leave her time to speak. “Because there's no way I'm leaving the little ones in the hands of whoever left them there, since we both know that the little ones didn't come alone in the middle of the forest. Someone brought them there, and who could it be but a family member? They are so small, there are still purple parts near their fingers.” I say, pointing to the purple halos present near the little one's fingers. “That said, I have no intention of leaving them in danger. They drew an archery target on their chests, I don't think it's a mistake, it was done on purpose.” I sighed. “I'll keep them with me, at least I won't abandon them in the forest. Please let me take care of them, I love them already.” I conclude. Mo'at smiled and allowed me to pick up the boy again. Having done this, she moved away from me slightly and began to speak in a serious and peremptory tone, addressing the entire Clan, while Neytiri approached me, I don't know why.

“These children were abandoned by their parents, they would have died of cold and hunger if it hadn't been for the kindness and courage of this Dreamwalker! Observe and learn because here among us there is someone who dared to commit the worst sin against their children, of the gifts that the Great Mother has entrusted to these two parents. Learn from her, who didn't leave them in the forest to die of starvation, despite the fact that they are children that don't belong to her and are of totally different species from hers, for her this difference doesn't matter because she loves these children as if they belonged to her! She proved herself better than theirs parents and better than us who didn't realize the tragedy that was about to unfold under our noses!” she turned to me, who was kissing the boy's cheeks, holding the girl close to me, and beckoned me to approach her. Unsure, I looked around as Neytiri waved me over to her mother. Still uncertain, I approached Mo'at, not knowing what she had in mind and what to do. “Children deserve to grow up with those who love them and it is clear that you love them, the little ones will stay with you!” I smiled moved. “Irayo, I don't know what else to say except…Irayo.” I hugged the little ones to me, happy that they would remain under my care. “Don't thank me, I didn't do anything relevant. You did everything, you and the love you feel for your little ones.” I bowed my head respectfully and walked back to my brother who was smiling contentedly, I noticed Neytiri was smiling too. “Jakey, did you see? They will stay with me!” I cheer happily as he widens his smile further and kisses my forehead. “Yes, these little guys are lucky, nobody loves them more than you.” I nod and look around, noticing Neytiri staring at me as if she wants to get closer but she can't, I don't know why she hesitated so much, I don't understand why she's undecided, she has shown that she isn't afraid to say or do what comes to her mind.

“Neytiri!” I called her and her ears moved, she heard me and she was listening. “Come here, come and see them.” I invited her, she looked around for a second and then approached me cautiously, as if she didn't want to scare the children. I took a couple of steps towards her, so we met halfway. I moved my arm slightly where I was holding the boy, he moved his ears constantly to listen to all the noises around us, while the female didn't seem at all interested in anything that surrounded us, it seemed as if it was enough for her to be safe among the my arms, as if she wanted nothing else. “This here is the boy.” I said to her as I saw her bend down a bit to have a better look at him. The little one, for his part, smiled and cooed happily. “He's already a talkative one.” I smiled as Neytiri stroked his face, letting him grab her finger. “And also very strong. He could make an excellent warrior or an extraordinary hunter.” she said looking at me. “You have nothing against it?” she asked me. “No, he can become whatever he wants, I'm sure Eywa will have chosen the most suitable path for him.” I smiled kissing the baby's forehead. “I trust her.” I say and see her smile, she seems to be happy with what I said. “And this is the girl.” I told her, showing her the little girl who had moved her ear slightly, showing that she had heard us. “She seems to be more calm and reserved than her little brother.” I smiled as Neytiri gently ran a finger over the little girl's black tufts, they both smiled as the little girl turned her little head to look for me. “She look for her mom, the one who gives her unconditional love.” Neytiri smiled while I couldn't hold back a happy, relieved smile.

“Fixed this problem, tell us why you came here.” Mo'at's voice interrupts mine and my brother's celebreations and the happy moment shared with her daughter. We turn around and Jakey seems to have forgotten the warning I gave him earlier. “Oh, we are here to learn.” my brother replies. “We already tried to teach some human beings, it didn't go well. It's hard to fill a cup that's already full.” she affirmed with a hint of disappointment and resignation in her tone and look. “Trust me, my cup is totally empty.” my brother jokes and I just can't help but giggle. “It's true, yours is filled only with air.” I smiled as he looked at me in mock offense. “Why are you looking at me so badly, it's true!” I say laughing. “In addition to being full of air, it is also hard!” I finish as Jakey tugs at my hair, giggling too. “Lucky for us yours isn't like that!” he says. “You're joking I hope! If my cup was like yours, we'd all be dead by now!” we both laughed and not even Mo'at or Neytiri could keep from smiling or snorting lightly. “Maybe her cup isn't quite empty.” smiled my brother pointing to me. I looked at him as if he was crazy. “What? It is not true!” I immediately denied, I'm far from having the “cup full” as they say. “But yes, it's you who can speak their language, you proved it. It is you who know how to behave towards their most important figures, you have proved it. In any case, you know how to deal with them, their traditions, their rites, you know these things.” he began to say. “It's not true and anyway, even if it was, I'm far from knowing everything as she means and as you think.” I explain. “It wouldn't hurt to learn a little more and enrich my mind. Fill my cup further.” I conclude, looking at him with what should be a raised eyebrow, in the human body it would be. “Would you be willing?” Tsahik's voice interrupted both of us. “What?" I asked her, confused, not so much about what she said as about what she meant. “He is right.” she begins, pointing to my brother who was looking at me triumphantly, he loves to be right. “You have shown that you know much more than he does. Would you be willing to increase your knowledge? If any of us taught you, would you be willing to learn?” she asks me. “Sure, I would really like to be honest.” I smile as Mo'at nodded and turned to my brother.

“What are you?” she asked looking at Jakey. “We are all warriors, of Clan Jarhead.” I turned to him, obviously he had to say his nonsense, otherwise he's not happy. I was afraid this statement from him might cause him trouble, so I approached him. "Warrior? Ah! I can kill him easily!” Indeed, exactly the result I expected. I recognized the voice, it was Tsu'tey's, who hadn't spoken yet since Neytiri described what had prompted her to bring Jakey and me here. I took self-defense courses, both at due to the will of of my older brother and because I felt safer knowing some tricks to defend myself in unpleasant situations, which I happened to find myself in several times. I quickly place myself between Tsu'tey and my brother, knocking the Na'vi warrior to the ground by sweeping both of his legs off. I was quick enough to surprise him, as he fell on his back like a sack of potatoes, yellow eyes wide and an incredulous expression on his face, I had to use all my strength not to laugh, embarrassing him more. “I rarely pull such drastic maneuvers, so I don't think you'll see any more for a while, but I can't let you threaten Jakey. Have I been clear?” I spoke using a firm but at the same time sweet tone, like that of a mother who scolds her son for a not too serious problem. He remained silent, while I leaned towards the little girl to kiss her cheek, hearing her giggle. Everyone around me seemed to move in slow motion, with bated breath, I don't know who he is, if he had led the warriors when I arrived he must have some importance within the Clan, however I don't care. As with Eytukan, if you don't deserve my respect you won't get it. I'm kind not stupid.

“If you stay silence we don't get along my friend.” I smiled as he scrambled to his feet, not expecting to be knocked down by a Dreamwalker, that's for sure. “I'm not your friend!” he yelled in my face. “Hey, take it easy! You are nobody to threaten Jakey, I don't care who you are! Respect and you will have respect back!” Before Tsu'tey could answer, another voice caught our attention. “Stop!” it was Eytukan, and I haven't heard him speak for quite a while. “They are the first Dreamwalkers of their…Kind, that we know, we need more information.” I smiled and walked towards my brother who smiled. “Maybe I should have warned you before she did it, but there's no point in provoking her.” Tsu'tey answered him by hissing at him. “Fine, the decision is made.” this is the voice of Mo'at, taking a step towards her daughter. “My daughter, you will teach the boy. You will teach him how to walk and talk like us.” Neytiri was not happy with this part of the decision. “But why me? It's not right!” she moaned. “You brought them here, you will help educate them.” her mother replied, firm. “I would have preferred to take care of the girl.” she continued to moan. “Tsu'tey will take care of her.” her mother froze her, and Tsu'tey and I also froze in place. “Me?! And why should I teach something that can't be learned to someone who can't learn!?” he protested vehemently. “I said the decision is made!” Mo'at raised her voice slightly as I rocked the children so they wouldn't get scared. “You, my daughter, will teach Jakesully, while you, my brother, will teach Y/Nsully. Neytiri you will also teach to walk and talk like us, Tsu'tey, you can do without teaching our language, she seems to already be able to speak it. Learns well, Jakesully and maybe your insanity can be cured.” her eyes sought mine. “I can already tell that you will do well, Y/N.” she smiles kindly. “Thank you very much, Tsahik.” I nod. “As for you, Tsu'tey.” her gaze returns to the warrior, and she approaches and whispers something to him that I can not hear.

After helping me put the babies back in their carriers, Neytiri and Tsu'tey accompanied us and guided us to a healing tent. “Well, who comes in to help her? You or me?” she asks once we reach the tent entrance. “It's up to you, I can't bear to start being with her so soon.” spits Tsu'tey, with much poison ill-concealed in his words, a snake is less poisonous than him. “Okay, but you're not doing well.” Neytiri retorts, Tsu'tey rolls his eyes as Neytiri escorts me inside the tent. “Behave yourself, Jakey!” I tell him as I enter. Once inside, she and I remained alone in comfortable silence while she treated my wounds, at least comfortable silence until I asked her questions about the herbs she used and the method of use, already showing my boundless curiosity and desire to learn. I wonder why Mo'at assigned me to Tsu'tey and not Neytiri who seems more enthusiastic about me than my brother.

Once out we went back to Jakey and Tsu'tey, the former was happy to see us the second not much, on the contrary, he probably would have preferred to see only Neytiri. To be honest I'm sorry he feel that way about us but I can't tolerate my brother being so openly threatened I couldn't do anything for Tommy, for Jakey I must be able to do something or else what kind of sister am I? I hope that the conception of me will improve over time, after all I'm not here to be despised, but to learn a culture that I think is fascinating and capable of teaching a lot to those who are willing and courageous to question themselves and learn it. “Now we take you to another tent where you can change into more suitable clothes.” Neytiri communicated as Jakey placed the last kiss on my head. "Alright. Irayo.” I smiled, I noticed a strange look in Tsu'tey, as if he was about to make fun of me but was interrupted right on the best by something done too correctly to be resumed.

The walk was very silent on my part at least, not so much on Jakey's part since I had to call him constantly, he stopped often and willingly, or embarrassed both me and himself, I would have preferred to know him in silence. “Here we are, decide who enters first. If you need a hand with the little ones, I can come in with you.” once again it is Neytiri who gives us a minimum of indications. “Doesn't it bother you to help me?” I ask, she shrugs. “No, it must be complicated with two such young children.” I nod. “Yes, I would like.” I smile even if I hear Tsu'tey snort. “What is it Tsu'tey? Do you want to keep the little ones?” he widened his eyes and looked at the smiley faces on my shoulders, you could tell he didn't know where to start. “Obviously.” I conclude as both me and Neytiri, who was smiling, enter the tent. I took off the carrier and set it down on the floor, kneeling in front of my babies, smiling and playing with both of them as Neytiri gathered a couple of dresses to give me. “Here, these are for you.” she said handing me some simple but very nice clothes, with some light decorations superbly drawn on the fabric of both the thong and the top. “They don't belong to anyone?” I asked, just to be completely sure I wasn't stealing anything. “No.” she just answered. “The decors are very nice, I didn't think there would be.” I think out loud and her eyes widen. “Do you already know that the most decorated clothes are worn by the most important members?” she asks me, amazed. “Yes, I thought being an apprentice would not give me access to the beautiful clothes you wear.” I nod as I take the clothes from her hands and look at them more closely. “You are a peculiar apprentice, the Great Mother seems to have taken a liking to you, so I thought you might wear a couple of decorations.” she explains while I nod and look at them without quite understanding how to wear them. “Uhm…Would you give me a hand?” I ask her embarrassed, she smiles and approaches. She helps me take off my human clothes and put on the typical Na'vi clothes. “Irayo, I didn't think I could hope for such kindness.” I smile as I let the children look at their mother's new clothes. “Huh? Neytiri did a great job, what do you think?” I asked as I lifted them one by one, making them both laugh. “Come on, Tsu'tey and your brother are waiting for us. And Tsu'tey doesn't have much patience.” she smiles, I put the carrier on my shoulders and we go out. Again Jakey fills me with affection and compliments when he sees me with the new clothes, then it's his turn and his loincloth has no decoration like mine, Tsu'tey must have respected the custom to the letter, in fact he glared at Neytiri when he noticed that my clothes were decorated, albeit slightly. “Everyone must be having dinner by now, let's go.” Tsu'tey cuts short, and we set off.

Once we arrived we realized that Tsu'tey was right and everyone was eating in more or less large groups, all seated in a circular manner. Tsu'tey starts off without saying anything while Neytiri motions us to follow her and sit down with them. Jakey, as we walk, has to apologize several times because he steps on almost every tail he comes across. Finally we can sit down and thank goodness I am provided with two baby bottles made of leaves to be able to feed the little ones so I can sit quietly and feed them while my brother tries to talk to Neytiri without her being very happy with the interaction.

“Excuse me?” I hear myself called and I turn towards the direction from which the little voice is coming, finding myself in front of a little girl but still bigger than my two little ones. I smile at her softly “Hi baby, can I help you?” I ask inviting her to sit next to me. The girl accepts and sits down. “Yes, well…I wanted to know…” she looks doubtful and embarrassed, I smile at her hoping to encourage her. “Don't be afraid, honey.” I encourage her. “Here, I wanted to know if you and him.” points to my brother. “Are mates. And if they are your children.” My eyes widen, the children evidently not being allowed to attend the huge assembly that was called upon our arrival, and Jakey turns around with a shocked face. “Um…No, darling, we're not mates.” I smile and reach out to stroke her cheek, the little one leans into my touch. “He and I are brother and sister. He is a year older than me, while the little ones here I found alone in the forest and I took them with me because I couldn't leave them there.” she nods in concentration and my brother has to say something of his. “I love her, but not like this.” I snort smiling and my expression makes the little girl laugh. “Irayo!” she says out of nowhere and I look at her confused. “Why irayo, honey?” she looks at me with a toothy smile. “Because everyone say Dreamwalkers aren't nice, but you are!” she nods convinced and I smile at her innocence. “Sure honey, but I'll tell you a secret. There are Dreamwalkers who are kind and good. We are not all the same.” I say tenderly tapping a finger on her nose, she giggles cheerfully covering it. “Are you rare?” she asked me in the tone of someone who has discovered a beautiful treasure. I reflect, I don't know what to answer. If I told her a lie, I could expose her to dangers, if I told her the truth…Well, I don't want to disturb her innocence as a child, all little ones need to believe in the magic and goodness of the world, it's reassuring. It is for this reason that explaining evil and its existence to them is not easy at all. I'm in the military, safety first. “Yes, little one. Unfortunately we are quite rare.” I nod. “But you know what? This makes you even luckier, because you know not just one good Dreamwalker, but two! Me and my brother.” the little girl smiles and, before she can say anything else, she is called back by a little boy, I think he is her older brother. “Thank you for answering me. Have a nice dinner and have a good rest!” I greet her in their own way and she happily reciprocates and then runs to join her older brother. I smile gently as I watch her walk away, she's a lovely little girl.

“You were kind.” I hear someone talking next to me, I turn to notice that Tsu'tey was looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes that I can't decipher, as I kiss the forehead of the little boy in my arms. “It's not my habit to be aggressive.” I nod as he looks at me with a gleam of amusement behind that hard, angry gaze. “Except when you knocked me down.” he reminds me and I can't help but giggle. “Well, you threatened my brother.” I say like it's the most obvious thing in the world, and to me it is. He nods and the conversation ends there for him, I don't want to push him, he's already talked to me for a long time, before returning his attention to my little ones, I look at him briefly and he seems immersed in distant thoughts, in distant memories.

After dinner Neytiri and Tsu'tey took us to the area where we would sleep, the same one where they all sleep. After that brief interaction during dinner Tsu'tey stopped speaking and returned to being aggressive as he had done before. “Should we climb up there?” asks my scandalized brother. “Sure, and we should wake up early. Na'vi's life generally begins early, and more so if the Na'vi in question are warriors or hunters." my brother looks at me shocked. “Need a hand with the kids?” Neytiri asks me, I look briefly at Tsu'tey and see that he doesn't roll his eyes or sigh heavily. “Is everything all right, Tsu'tey?” I ask him worried. “No, I'm fine.” cut him short. “I don't believe you, but I don't insist.” I smile and then turn my gaze towards Neytiri who was waiting for her answer. “Sorry, no irayo. I can do it." I smile at her, she nods but, just to be safe, she waits for me to settle down. After I've taken the babies out of the carrier and tied it to the end of the bed, I lay down on my side, holding both little one close to me. “Good night brother.” I greet him as I hear him settling into his bed, not far from mine. "Good night little sister.” he reciprocates and I kiss the babies foreheads, humming a lullaby to them, before drifting off into dreamland, ready to return to my actual body.

Well, this is the end of the sixth chapter✨…I know, it's as long as few, but I couldn't narrow it down more than that if I wanted to insert all my ideas into it, sorry😅. In any case, thanks for reading in case you did and, if you want, we'll see you in the next chapter, number 7👋.

©️Floralifetime May 10-2023, please do not republish, repost, steal, modify, translate or claim my work as your own. All rights reserved.

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