#without that man breathing down my neck. making fun of me and blasting constant noise and drivel and pretending that we're friends

[musherum]

i can stay alive long enough to make the mushroom soup ive been wanting to make. i can do that, at least

[seiyasabi]

きつね (Fox)

(I wanted to try something different and write a few Romaji (ローマ字) words in Hiragana (ひらがな)! I promise it won’t be throughout the fic, but I thought it would be fun for those learning Japanese to practice :)) 

Here’s a !DARK! Kitsune (きつね) Kakyoin (かきょいん) x Female Reader story! Please proceed with extreme caution! 

TW: !NONCON!, !Foul Dirty talk!, !breeding kink!, !knotting!, !Size kink!, use of pepper spray!, you’re in the forest!,!no prep!, !gagging!,  !predator/prey elements!, violence!, mentions of blood and small wounds!, !mentions of drug use and alcohol! (Not you or in detail),  etc.. 

I’m sorry if this is too OOC!) 

“Go to the forest, they said, it’ll be fun, they said,” You grumble to yourself, nearly tripping over a stray tree root. All you want to do is get out of this damn forest and pass out in your dormitory bed, but it seems like Mother Nature has another plan for you. 

Currently, you’re regretting going into the creepy woods near your college. You’d only gotten to this college a few months prior, having transferred from your college in (prefecture/country) to one in rural Japan, and you thought this would be a fun experience. Your new friends claimed that the parties at a certain campground were wild and entertaining, but so far, you’d only seen a few drunken fights, you watched a girl snort a line off of another girls’ chest, and were almost shoved into the bonfire. After all of this, and the fact that your friends left you alone, you decided it was time to head home. 

But, as it turns out, you walked in the opposite direction of the parking lot, getting yourself absolutely lost in the hauntingly beautiful forest. Cursing yourself for your stupidity, you tried to bring up google maps, only to be stopped by that godforsaken icon of ‘no service.’ 

So, you opted for your phone’s flashlight, trying in vain to figure out where was North and where was South. 

“Fucking hell, I know I didn’t walk too far from the campsite, how did I get so lost?” Stumbling once again, you almost fall flat on your face, only to be stopped by a pale hand. The slender, long fingered hand grips the fat of your forearm in a firm grasp, holding you up. Seeing this, a horrified scream leaves your lips before you can stop it, thinking that the thing in front of you was an Onryō. 

Looking up, you’re suddenly face to face with a large, breathtaking man in a red and white kimono. His long, red hair is twisted into an intricate updo, highlighting his sharp jawline. That, in turn, shows off his dangling earrings, which just barely brush his cheek. His purple eyes twinkle in your phone’s flashlight, a small smirk quirking his full lips. 

“Hello there,” The redhead's voice is smooth, sounding like whipped butter personified, “Are you lost?” 

Knowing better than to expose your vulnerability, you shake your head no, “O-oh, no, sir. I’m just heading back to the party. I’m sorry if I bothered you,” You try to wrench your arm from his grip, but he seemingly grabs on harder. 

“There’s no need to lie, I heard your grumblings a few moments ago. I’ve also watched your sorry attempts of hiking through the foliage, and I’d be happy to help,” You eye him suspiciously, not trusting him for a second. 

“No thank you. I’m not so sure I trust a weird man alone in the forest. I hope you understand,” He laughs at your words, sounding like wind chimes. You shift your feet in discomfort, wondering what is so funny about your cautious words. 

“Don’t be silly. There’s a temple near here that I upkeep, and I was walking to the parking lot to head to a 7/11 near here. I’m heading in the same direction as you, so-“ He continues to speak, but you don’t hear a word. You never mentioned the parking lot, and if he was heading there, you’re pretty sure he would’ve just used a path that you carelessly disregarded. Noticing your sudden change of discomfort to extreme fear, he tries to comfort you, “Why that look? I promise I won’t hurt you. Here, why don’t you come to the temple and-“ 

You don’t give him time to manipulate you, suddenly whipping out your gel pepper spray. Chucking the cap in a random direction, you check that the nozzle is facing him, before spraying at full blast. A loud bark-like scream echoes through the air, as you’re suddenly released by his iron grip. Shoving him over, you start to sprint in the direction you just came from.  

“Come back here!” The red haired man yells, a deep growl reverberating through his chest. That urges you to run faster. Flashlight aimed at the ground, you leap and hop over foliage and debris, trying your hardest to evade the freak of a man currently after you. You can hear his footsteps behind you, the forest suddenly silent. 

Your body runs cold at the realisation; just what is this man, and why are the critters so afraid of him? 

Not deciding to find out, you then run in a zigzag fashion, trying to get him off of your tail. The crunch of sticks and leaves are constant, the loudest ones being the hulking man behind you. 

“You can’t outrun me, Pretty Girl!” 

Your chase goes on for a while longer, until you see the unmistakable light of a fire. This causes you to go faster, the idea of safety appealing. 

But, unfortunately for you, you didn’t notice the undeniable silence ahead of you. When you left, the music was practically earth shattering, along with the chatter of inebriated college kids and the loud noise of their cars and motorcycles. 

When you reach the fire, you’re greeted with the sight of a dark wooden structure. It’s a temple, but it looks a lot bigger than a normal Shintō one. In fact, it looks straight out of the fantasy anime your roommate made you watch with her. 

Taking your chances with the forest, you turn to run back into the dark green foliage, only to be tackled back first onto the stick covered dirt below. The twigs stab into your uncovered covered skin, drawing blood, as the kimono clad man above you pants in both pain and anger. 

He brings his face close to yours, making you turn yours away from his with a whimper. His warm breath fans across your uncovered neck, his purple eyes practically glowing down at you. The white around his irises are bright red and teary, showing the effect your weapon has against him. In the lightly you notice two flattened ears on the top of his head, making you gasp in surprise and confusion. Was this a guardian of the Forest? Or was this a demon here to steal your soul? 

“Why must you hurt me? I haven’t done anything to you,” He sounds somewhat hurt that you maced him, but who could blame you? If some creep approaches you in the forest, you fight first, ask questions later. 

“Why are you coming after me? There’s no reason for you to chase after me,” One of his rough hands grips your chin, forcing you to look up at him. His mouth is parted slightly, his sharp teeth glinting in the fire light as his face twists into a smirk. 

“It’s always fun chasing after prey,” He leans in closer, lips just barely touching yours, “Especially when the prey is as adorable as you. Now, we can do this the hard way, or the easy way; if you let me have you, we can go at your pace. If you don’t, I’ll take you however I want.” 

To say you’re shocked is an understatement, “Wha-what do you mean, ‘take me’? Didn’t you just say that you’re going to eat me?” 

“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. I’m still quite full from the meal I had earlier. I should thank those villagers; without them, I wouldn’t have been able to eat those delicious friends of yours,” All blood leaves your face, did he just say that he ate-

Looking at his kimono, you realise that the red isn’t a pattern at all; it’s blood splatter! 

“Oh my god,” You place a shaking hand on his chest, trying to push him away, “What the fuck? Holy shit- is that why the forest is so quiet? They know it’s your feeding time? Holy fuck-“ He silences you with a heated kiss, practically forcing his tongue down your throat. Lithe hands grope at your cropped tank top covered breasts, trying to squeeze the fat underneath, only to be blocked by your push up bra. Shoving with your entire weight, you’re still unable to force him off of you. Without thinking, you bite down on his tongue, drawing out another bark of pain from the ginger. 

That gives you enough time to breathe and regain your composure. Trying to wiggle out from underneath the muscular male, you’re quickly lifted and flipped onto your front, face pressed against the dirty ground. 

“My mother always told me that females are hard to get, but I never knew it would be this painful,” He spits a mouthful of blood out onto the ground near your head, making you cringe away from that spot, scraping your chest against a particularly sharp twig. A small yelp escapes your throat at the pain, trying in vain to use your arms as a barrier against the sticks and stones below you, “Awe, did my pretty girl hurt herself? That’s okay, I’ll still think that you’re pretty.” 

“Get off of me! What are you trying to do? If you’re going to eat me, get over with it already!” Finally being able to push yourself up onto your forearms, you try to buck him off of you, only to hear a high pitched whine echo out from behind you. Freezing in surprise, you peek at him from, only to be met with a ruby red face. 

“Did you know that foxes go through a mating season?” 

“What the hell does that have to do with any-?” You’re suddenly shoved back onto the floor, tits practically spilling out of your top. 

“I’m going to breed your empty womb, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re going to bear me many cute pups, and you’re going to stay here with me until the end of your days.” 

“Go find some female kitsune! I don’t want to have your babies!” Your stomach scrapes painfully against stones below you, dripping more blood onto the dirt. 

“But that’s the thing- you don’t get a choice, Pretty Pretty. You clearly can’t care for yourself! You got lost in the woods, for Gods’ sake! Now, obey your mate, and let me in,” He looks down at your cute mini-skirt, and flips it over your ass, exposing your emerald green thong. His cool fingers ghost over your unblemished ass cheeks, a hitched breath echoing through the Kitsune’s chest, “Oh, pretty girl, did you wear this for me? How did you know my favourite colour?” 

“Get off of me! I didn’t do any-“ He suddenly rips your panties from your cute cunt, before shoving them into your open mouth. You try to spit it out, but are unable to. Tears gather in your eyes, as you start to cry. This strange man is about to do the worst thing a person can do, and he doesn’t seem to care about your feelings. 

“Don’t cry, I’ll take care of you and our pups,” He spreads your legs open, giving him easier access to your soft pussy, “Ah, there’s your pretty cunt. Everything about you is so pretty, aren’t you lucky? If it weren’t for that and your perfect fertile womb, I would’ve eaten you.” 

He kneels on your shins, shoving down your front, arching your ass up into the air. 

“You smell amazing. It’s like your body is just calling for my thick seed. Don’t worry, Pretty Girl,

I’ll give it to you.” 

You hear his kimono shift, most likely pulling out his cock. This makes you choke on your sobs, as you try to pretend that this moment isn’t happening. That some monster of the forest isn’t about to breed you full of his-

A scream escapes your throat the moment you feel his wet cock head against your unprepared pussy. You thought he’d at least prepare your cunt, but it seems that he’s trying to go in dry. He grunts when he feels you starting to thrash, using the hand that once held his cock to smack your ass harshly. 

“Stop it. You can’t change my mind! Jotaro will be so jealous when he finds out I got the most beautiful, fertile, and resourceful mate. Now, hold still,” You don’t understand what he’s talking about, but you can’t help but feel shame. You know his friend’s name, but not his own! The least your rapist could do is tell you his name! As if sending this, he rubs one of your ass cheeks reassuringly, “I suppose you’d like to know your mate’s name, huh? I’m Noriaki Kakyoin. There’s no need for you to say your name, I heard you introduce yourself to those… disgusting humans earlier. But don’t worry, you won’t have to deal with them ever again.” 

He releases your ass in favour of gripping his cock once more, pushing its tip into you with some trouble. You scream through your makeshift gag, the pain of him pushing in feeling like he’s tearing your pussy apart. 

“Awe, are you a virgin? My mom always said a female’s first time is painful,” You want to shove a stick up his ass unlubed! Let’s see how he likes getting something forced inside of him without preparation! “But don’t worry, you should feel good once I’m fully inside.” 

With that, he forces himself in until he’s fully seated inside of you. Another scream escapes your throat, as you feel a small rivulet of blood dribble from your now torn cunt. By this point, you’re hyperventilating in pain, anxiety, and fear. This man is so thick, that you’re pretty sure your pussy will never go back to its original size ever again. 

“Fuck, you’re so tight. I knew you were the right one for me,” When he starts to move, that’s when one of your hands claws at one of his that’s resting on your hip. You feel his skin break under your nails, as you try in vain to make him stop. It feels like he’s splitting you in two! “Does my pretty girl feel good?” You shake your head rapidly, drowning in your pained sobs, “Don’t lie, I feel you getting wet.” 

Can’t he smell that that’s blood? 

You hiccup and wheeze, tears and snot dripping down your pretty face into the dirt. When he starts to buck his hips, you feel like you’re going to throw up. His cock is so heavy inside you, that you feel like he’s rearranging your guts. 

“I feel the opening of your womb on my tip, it’s almost like you’re trying to suck my cock into it!” Kakyoin starts to move his hips faster, making your body go limp. It’s almost like your body is going into shock at the severe pain you’re in, “You sure want my pups, even if you claim you don’t. I’m so close to filling you with my seed, so you won’t have to wait any longer to be filled!” 

He bucks into you at top speed, his own hips crashing into yours harshly. His heavy sack smacks against your ignored clit, sending small jolts of pleasure through your body. But, it’s not enough to make this easier for you. Your pussy is barely producing any slick, making this a lot harder for you to handle. The next time this happens, you know there’s going to be a next time, you should probably explain to him how to prepare you for his horse cock. 

“Shit, shit, I’m gonna fill you up, Pretty Girl. I’m going to make you heavy with five pups, hell, maybe even fifteen! Then once you have them, I’ll fill you up with even more! Doesn’t that sound nice? Your womb will never be lonely again!” 

He thrusts into you with three more powerful thrusts, before slamming his entire length inside of you at once. The head of his cock is right up against your womb, so when his entire length starts to swell, you can practically feel it prying at your cervix. More fat tears rain down your face in this rivulets, your fingers digging into the dirt, cutting up your nimble hands. Kakyoin grunts and growls in a deep voice, savouring the way your walls throw around him in pain. 

Whilst his cock is fully swollen, he releases all the cum he has into you. The large amount of seed isn’t all able to force its way into your cervix, causing it to pool in the canal of your cunt, bloating your stomach out slightly. 

“I can practically smell my seed taking. Your perfect body is accepting me very well, Pretty Pretty. I told you that we’re mates, and this just proves it,” he strokes your head softly, trying to console you as you continue to cry. At this point, he starts to become concerned, why haven’t you stopped crying? “What’s wrong? Didn’t you cum?” 

When you don’t shake or nod your head, he releases one of your hips, in favour of yanking your panties out of your mouth, allowing you to breathe with ease and finally speak. 

“You’re such a Monster,” You sob, face pressed against the cool packed dirt below you, “I-I can’t believe you-if you were going to rape me why didn’t you prepare me?” He makes a small whimpering noise, not quite understanding your gripe. 

“What do you mean?” You start to cry even harder, almost making yourself sick. 

“My pussy is torn open! I’m bleeding! The only one who felt nice is you!” You start to gag, unable to catch your breath properly without somewhat choking on your spit and snot, “Now I’m pregnant with your rape babies, and-and it hurts so bad! Get out of me!” 

You try to yank yourself off of his inflated cock, but he quickly stops you, trying not to hurt you even more. Looking down, he sees a large pool of blood below the place the both of you are connected. He gasps in shock. Sure, he knew that some girls bleed their first time, but this doesn’t look right! 

“What-why are you bleeding so much?” 

“Because you tore me open! I hate you! I hate you! I wish you just killed me!” 

Whilst he’s still stuck inside you, you continue to cry, which makes him feel even worse. He can’t believe that he hurt you so severely. This was never his intention, after all, both parties are supposed to feel good, are they not? 

But now, he’ll never be able to make you love him. 

How could you love someone as monstrous as him? 

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Hunted Down, Part Two

CW: Explicit dubcon (both sides), noncon kissing and touching, drug use (not by our whumpees), violent emotional and physical abuse, emotional manipulation. Kauri is an abuse survivor struggling with self-blame. Stay safe.

Collaborative piece with @spiffythespook. TIMELINE: Takes place after Kauri’s break-up with Derrick, so this is the piece that takes place the farthest in Kauri’s future so far. Jack belongs to @spiffythespook.

Tagging Jack and Kauri’s crews:  @maybeawhumpblog​, @pepperonyscience​, @haro-whumps​, @18-toe-beans​, @burtlederp​, @finder-of-rings​, @giggly-evil-puppy​, @whimpers-and-whumpers​, @moose-teeth​, @whump-it​, @lumpofwhump​, @pumpkinthefangirl​, @spiffythespook​, @slaintetowhump​ @castielamigos-whump-side-blog​, @rivertamandspike​, @iaminamoodymoodtoday​, @imagination1reality0​

PART ONE

"This didn't have to happen," Owen said quietly. "It wasn't my fault. You did this, Kauri."

 Kauri looked defeated. Miserable. Guilty. "I… I know."

 It took all of Jack’s willpower to keep his mouth shut, to keep from talking back, from telling Owen Grant what exactly was what. He managed, but not without a visible scowl and glower at the man. Don’t sass. Don’t backtalk. Don’t presume, said the mantra in his head with a shot of pain. Jack winced and grit his teeth together, and then changed his goddamn mind because he could. 

“Actually, it’s one-hundred-percent your fault, Mister. You’re the one with the obsession. You’re the one who bought the car, and the thugs, and the illegal room, and the gear, and you’re the fucker who’s about to rape us,” Jack snapped, voice and hand gestures full to the top with anger. “It ain’t his fault that he got stuck with a fucking psycho bitch.” 

“Jack, no-” Kauri nearly shouted, wide-eyed, moving towards him with his hands up.

Owen’s eyes flared, a sudden spike of all-consuming rage, and he dropped the manacles - and you couldn’t call them cuffs, they really were just metal manacles - to the ground again. “I am not a psycho!” He nearly shouted back, his voice ragged at the edges, his eyes still wide with fury, raising his hand.

“Yeah you fuckin’ are, psycho!” Jack raised his voice to match - he had a lot of experience in voluminous communication. 

Owen moved to backhand him across the face, and Kauri stepped between them - he threw himself between them, really. He took the full force of Owen’s hand, head snapping to the side with a cry as he dropped like a stone to the ground. Owen reached down and grabbed him by the hair, using his grip on those black curls to simply throw Kauri to the side.

“Fuck off, Vince,” He growled, with no sign that he was even aware, this time, that he’d called Kauri by the wrong name. “I’ll deal with you later.”

Oh, fuck- “Kauri, just don’t-” Jack said, even as he backed away from Owen. Man, why did he always not have his pepper spray when the assholes came around? “Whatcha gonna do, huh? Gonna beat me? Taken worse’n you can dish out. Come’n’get me, freak.”

“I had not particularly intended to,” Owen said, voice low and dangerously laced with his anger. “I hadn’t. I don’t… hurting people isn’t fun. I only hurt Kauri because I had to. The same reason I hurt Vince, I had to. That’s not my fault!” The fury in him was in full force now, the jealous rage at the idea that twice in a row, Vince had decided to try and fuck off away from him, and twice he had succeeded.

Not this time.

“I’m not going to hurt him, you fucking slut. You are.” He paused, considered that, twitched a strange, mean smile. “Well, maybe I will hurt him. But you’re going to help.” His hand shot out to grab Jack by the arm and pull him towards the bed. 

Jack let himself be grabbed, and moved easily toward the bed with Owen. He held his tongue now - he figured telling the guy that it was his fault again would only end badly. So he switched gears. When they got closer, he pressed against the older man, pressed his free hand over Owen’s stomach and down his waist to his hip, and put on his long-practiced boyish smile. “Look, you know what he can do. Lemme show you what I can do, Mr Owen.” 

Owen paused, staring down at him, surprised. There was a beat of time - enough to take in and let out a breath, a few heartbeats - where he genuinely had no idea how to react, as it wasn’t at all what he had expected.

Then he slid an arm around Jack, in a sort of false affection, until his hand caught in the younger man’s hair and pulled his head back, slowly, inexorably, until the angle would hurt. 

“I know what you can do,” He said in a low voice. “What I want right now is to see you do Kauri. I want to see what he likes so goddamn much. I want to see you hurt him, you fucking whore. Make him cry. And if you hurt him well enough, I’ll give you a couple grand and let you walk out of here with all your goddamn limbs. Karen didn’t say I couldn’t cut anything off. Understand?”

Kauri, pushing himself back up to standing with a bright red mark lighting up one side of his face, let out a choked-off sob in response. 

Jack cringed in pain and his breath hitched at the deal Owen proposed. Not a good hitch - much as a couple grand would help him out, Jack didn’t take fucking blood money from anybody. He blinked quickly, hating himself for how easily the tears came now. He breathed heavily, grit his teeth in the backbend and tried to look at Kauri. 

He couldn’t do that. He could fake doing that. Maybe. 

“Y-yeah, I can do that,” he said, expression giving away his misery. 

"Good. You little shit. I don't know how you got her to protect you, but I am going to go right to the limit of what Renford will let me do. You stole him. Convinced him to stay on the street, like a fucking prostitute, like you. He should have come home to me."

Owen dragged Jack by his hair the rest of the way to the bed, all but throwing him on there. "Sit on the bed and put your fucking wrists up." He looked over his shoulder at Kauri, who flinched at the look on his face. 

Jack obeyed, wrists up. He was regretting his mouth. 

"Get the chains to tie you up, Kor-Bore."

Kauri nodded, shoulders hunched over, and picked up the chains Owen had been holding before. "Y-yeah, Mr. Owen, j-just, please-" he stumbled over to him and held them out, then flinched again as Owen yanked them out of his hands. 

"You on the bed, too. Now." Kauri scrambled onto the bed, next to Jack, and Owen grabbed one wrist and closed the manacle tightly around it, then went to grab Jack and do the same.

When he was done, their wrists were chained together on each side, a little slack chain between them, facing each other. Kauri looked sick with fear. 

Jack swallowed tightly, glancing between Kauri and Owen. “You want me to touch him now? You wanna see me show him a good time, or hurt him? Or do ‘em in that order? I’m confused.” 

“Honestly, what I want to do would kill you both-” Kauri let out a little whimper and ducked his head, shoulders shaking as he tried to force back a new rush of tears. “Oh, shut up, Kauri. This is your fault. If you hadn’t run away from me, none of this would be happening, would it? Stop acting like such a fucking victim.”

The constant refrain insisting on his responsibility seemed to hit Kauri harder each and every time, made him slump a little more into himself. He twined his fingers through Jack’s with his right hand, and squeezed as hard as he could. An apology, the best he could manage when he was too scared in the moment to trust himself to speak again. Jack squeezed his hand back.

Owen moved, setting a few other things on the bed, and then he went to a side table, dumping a small pile of white powder from a tiny vial he’d had inside his pocket, using his credit card to carefully craft a perfect straight line. 

He glanced at them, eyes narrowed. “I like your idea, Jack. Get him feeling good, and then make it fucking hurt. So he understands that he deserves it to hurt when he’s not with me.”

Jack swallowed, glancing to the side with a very angry look in his eyes, lips pursed. Drugged-up assholes were a familiar nightmare. At least the guy wasn’t wasting his precious coke on them. 

“Sure, man,” he muttered. He turned to Kauri and cupped the other’s cheek, apology in his eyes as he shuffled forward and pressed against him, guiding Kauri in for a tender kiss, gently seeking access to his mouth. 

He slid his hand from Kauri’s cheek to his hair, tipped his head back just enough to bare his neck. Jack kissed along the smooth expanse of skin, over one side and then under the ear that was out of Owen’s view. “When I start fucking you, I need you to scream like you’re in hell. I’m not gonna hurt you if I can help it,” he murmured softly, quickly, and then bit into Kauri’s skin. 

Just as Jack started to speak, Owen had leaned over the line of white powder with a bit of rolled-up paper, and the only thing he heard was the sound of the drug snorting up his nose, blasting his mind with a white haze of feeling good and perfectly in control. He took a deep breath, shaking himself a little, and chuckled.

Jack rubbed his cheek against Kauri’s. “He’s wrong. ‘S not your fault. He’s crazy and mean, and it’s not your fault.” Kauri nodded without looking up, making a noise like a strangled sob. 

And then his lips were against Kauri’s skin again wetly, seeking out his lips and slipping his tongue messily into the other’s mouth. He knew what looked good. 

Kauri lifted his chin for that, but he could barely even try to kiss back. His mouth was trembling, his entire body shaking like a leaf, rattling the chain that bound their wrists together softly. He didn't let go of his death-grip on Jack's hand. 

He was terrified, and even more terrified that being scared would keep him from reacting the way Owen wanted, that he would get Jack in even more trouble. 

Owen wiped compulsively at his nose and settled himself on the bed, back against the headboard, to watch. If anything, his pupils were even smaller. 

Jack guided Kauri gently down onto his back on the bed. He gave up on kissing Kauri’s mouth, instead focusing his lips on the other boy’s neck, on stroking one hand soothingly up and down his waist. He was getting hard, but that was more years of conditioning than the situation itself. He slid down Kauri’s body and kissed his cock, resuming the blowjob he’d been giving earlier. He reached for Kauri’s hands and guided them to his head, so at least he might feel more in control. 

Kauri wanted to cling to Jack more than anything, just put his arms around his neck and hold onto him until Owen was done with this stupid game and killed him for leaving. Maybe then he'd let Jack leave. Instead, he felt his wrists move slowly as Jack's hands did, pulled along by the chains that connected them, and he closed his eyes, settling onto his back and trying not to think about the weight of Owen's eyes, the little sniffled snorts he could hear. 

Owen had never done drugs - not once - when Kauri had been with him. 

The kisses… felt good, at least, and Kauri breathed out slowly at the flutter of pleasure, skim of lips against a cock that had stopped being hard long before they even made it into the elevator. 

He took in another breath, let it out, felt Jack's soft short hair against his fingers. Jack's hair, Jack's skin, Jack's smell. If he could be good enough, Owen would let Jack go.

He was sure of it.

So he pushed his hips up, just a little, to encourage Jack to keep going, and Jack did. He sucked on the tip of Kauri’s cock gently, tongued at his slit and popped up to lick wetly over the underside. Appearance was important.

Jack cupped at his sack, rolling it gently in his hand before he licked over it. He pushed Kauri’s legs up so they were bent, and kissed down his thighs, over his perineum, made his way back from down there to Kauri’s tip. Then he took the other’s cock into his mouth, as far as he could, and held still to suck on it. 

Training had made sure Kauri's fear never interfered with his ability to get hard at any positive attention and he hitched in his breath at the rush of pleasure, Jack warm and wet and familiar and good around him. He kept his hands buried in his hair, feeling the chains that held them together pull taut or slacken as Jack's own hands moved. 

"Th-that's, that's good, right there," He breathed, looking down at Jack's head for just a second, feeling a whole new rush of pleasure just seeing his mouth on him. 

Owen's eyes narrowed, and Kauri felt the tension change in the room, closing his eyes again. He knew why Owen shifted around suddenly, even though he didn't say anything. He never really went down on Kauri - and Kauri had his eyes closed most of the time they were together.

Kauri felt a burst of anger and used it, arching his back to thrust himself a little further into Jack's mouth, letting out a soft moan. This was what Owen wanted, right? He wanted a fucking show before he murdered Kauri for leaving? He could give him a fucking show. 

"L-little, um, there, little m-more of that…"

Jack moaned around Kauri, enjoying the feeling of his cock at the back of his throat. He was happy that Kauri was initiating a little. He pressed his tongue against the underside, cheeks hollowed out as he sucked, and began to move up and down Kauri’s length. 

He kept going until he tasted pre from the tip, and drew off with an obscene, wet noise. He rubbed his cheek over Kauri’s length, then pulled away and looked over at Owen. 

“Gonna need a bit of lube if you want me in him. He’s not gonna be any good for you later if he’s torn up. Blood everywhere, infections, trips to the hospital where they tell ya he shouldn’t have anything in him for weeks…” 

Owen snorted, his eyes sparkling and overbright, glittering with dangerous intensity. "After what he did, it's not like he deserves it," He snapped. "Besides, Vince healed up just fine."

"Did… did he…?" Kauri asked, a little hesitantly, twisting his head to look at Owen, but he didn't pull his hands back, and ran one gently over the side of Jack's face, who leaned slightly into his palm.

"... I guess I don't fuckin' know, since I haven't… well, fine." Owen snorted and stood, grabbing a bottle out of the pile of accessories he'd brought with him. He dropped it without ceremony, and Kauri flinched as the cold glass bottle landed against his hip. "Don't use too much, this shit is expensive."

“Sure. Thanks, Mister,” Jack said, taking the bottle in hand. He poured a generous amount into his palm and slicked himself first. He made sure the fingers of his one hand were coated well, and set the bottle close to his own leg - easy for his own reach, and if Grant was going to take it, he would risk touching Jack. 

He started with a couple fingers rubbing firmly at Kauri’s entrance, watching his face and paying attention to his responses to determine how tense he was. 

Kauri kept his eyes on Jack, then - locked on his face, trying to stare long enough to block out everything else. I'm going to get you out of here, he mouthed, trying for a smile. It trembled, but held. Jack wasn’t great at lipreading, but he figured more or less what Kauri said. His brow raised in surprise.

Training was kicking in, and Kauri relaxed almost unconsciously when Jack's fingers touched him, tension drifting out of his body, hands finally falling away from Jack, letting his head fall back. 

Jack knew that sort of reaction wasn’t exactly natural - it had to be trained, like Troy had trained his reactions to certain things. He was still relieved about it now, when a normal person might tense up with the fear of the threats Owen had made. He pressed one finger in first, still testing. He leaned over Kauri to kiss him, on his lips and then in a trail down by Kauri’s ear. 

Kauri's head was still tipped back, his eyes half-closed, and he was still relaxed - not boneless but not far off - under Jack's touch. He shivered at the lips on his and against his skin, breathing out in a long, slow exhale. 

“When I put more in you, try to sound like it hurts,” Jack murmured. Soon, he pressed a second finger in beside the first, more quickly than he usually would so he might surprise Kauri and help with the illusion.

Kauri gasped, caught by surprise, and jerked his head to the side and away from Jack, making a soft sound of pain, clenching his eyes shut and jerking his hands like he would try to push Jack away, before he went lax again. 

Owen laughed - barely a sound, really - and settled himself in, relaxing back against the headboard. "That's more like it. Fucking slut. It's going to hurt with anyone who isn't me. Go on, get on with it." He waved a hand dismissively. "You can go faster than that."

Jack grit his teeth together, pushing back his anger at the man for even thinking about shit like this. He pushed in a second finger, but slowly, thankful that Owen couldn’t see exactly what he was doing. He was careful as he scissored them open, making sure Kauri was lax enough before he started to thrust them in roughly, deeply, his entire arm making the motion. It would’ve been painful if he’d gone in dry, or if Kauri had been tense from the situation.

Kauri clenched his eyes shut as tightly as he could, making the upper half of his body as tense as he could without his lower body following suit. He made himself think about Owen hurting Jack, maybe hurting him the way he'd hurt Kauri, choking him until he blacked out and then waiting for him to wake up and choking him again.

About Owen getting so angry he didn't let Jack leave, either. 

His head turned to the side, tears leaked out from his closed eyes at the idea of Jack being hurt or killed because he'd been nice to Kauri one night when Kauri just… needed help. 

Owen fell for Kauri’s lie, the way he’d fallen for almost all of them.

He leaned forwards, interested in the anguish on Kauri's face, and laughed to himself, leaning over to brush some of the black curls from Kauri's forehead. "Don't like that? He's not so good for you now, huh?"

Kauri shook his head, flinching from Owen's touch. At the same moment, he grabbed Jack's free hand again and squeezed.

I'm lying, you're not hurting me. 

Owen looked up at Jack, with a wild, slightly mad grin on his face. "Look at that. He's a pretty crier, isn't he?" 

Jack looked briefly at Kauri - how he had managed to make himself cry, he had no idea. He worried for a moment that it was something he’d done… but Kauri had grabbed his hand, and Jack hoped that was meant to reassure. So he looked at Owen and shrugged. “Dunno, buddy. I don’t like crying, I’m just doing my job,” he said, and then crooked his fingers to rub over Kauri’s prostate. He pushed a third in steadily.

"You don't?" Owen tilted his head, watching Kauri's hips jerk and the soft little moan he made, shaky and tear-filled, at the sudden burst of pleasure, melting apart feigned pain. "You should learn. I used to not, either, but he's so goddamn pretty crying. Most people aren't. He is." He petted at Kauri's hair tenderly, almost, except that his hands were shaking and his fingers caught in the tangles, jerking Kauri's head to the side. 

"Oh, sorry, Kor-Bore," Owen whispered, with that hint of madness still in his eyes. "Don't get too distracted, huh?"

Kauri winced, but kept his grip tight on Jack's hand, sniffing. He knew he was believable - he'd lied to Owen before and he could do it again. 

Jack bit his tongue to keep from talking, to keep from telling Owen how crazy he was, how bullshit this whole thing was. He focused on thrusting the three fingers in - all but slamming them in, really, so Kauri might have a better time faking his pain. He squeezed his other hand in Kauri’s. He focused on the here and now instead of the times they’d held hands in bed - the times Jack had fingered him open before while praising him, while Kauri rode his fingers with freedom and pleasure.

He pulled his fingers out, all at once, knowing he was going to lose his boner if he got distracted with Grant. He lined up to push in, staring down at Kauri… but he thought better of making the breach just yet. “May I, Mister Owen?” he said sweetly, a slight tilt of his head. 

Owen's eyes were focused on Kauri's face, reading it, memorizing every detail, every tear track. He flicked them up to look at Jack, smirking, pleased. "Yeah, go for it." He tilted Kauri's chin back, until he had to arch his back a little, looking up at Owen almost upside-down. "He's got manners, Kor-Bore."

Kauri trembled, just a little, feeling a strange mix of needy and frightened, and it felt like training. Like a handler at each end, like it used to be. "J-Jack-"

"Ssssshhhhh," Owen said softly. "No one wants to hear you right now, Kauri."

Jack’s fake-sweet smile disappeared at that. He guided one of Kauri’s legs up toward his chest, settled his body low against Kauri, a hand between them to help guide himself in. Jack stared down at Kauri even though the other’s head was forced back, forced to look at Grant. He kissed at his neck, pressed his cheek to Kauri’s, out of view. “I would wanna hear you. I’m sorry, babe.”

He pushed just the tip in and braced so he could thrust, murmuring, “Remember to scream when I push.”

Jack waited just a moment...and then he thrusted in to the hilt all at once.

Kauri's body was still working hard to continue what it was trained for, and he was relaxed enough that he had to make himself think about losing Jack again, about what it would feel like if Owen really hurt him, to get the right amount of tears.

He let out a whimper, not quite a scream, and pulled his hands up to push at Jack's chest like he would try to push him away.

"No, no," Owen said softly, almost lovingly, and pushed Kauri's hands away. Jack froze, shuddering as Owen spoke like the creep he was. "Let him hurt you. You like that so much, like it when it hurts, too."

For maybe the first time, it became visibly obvious that Owen was also very much enjoying this - but only after Kauri was in visible (if faked) pain. 

Jack gave a couple deep thrusts into Kauri before he noticed just how much Grant was enjoying himself. Again, he froze, this time to raise his brows at the other man. “I do have a backdoor if you wanna get in on this.” 

At first, Owen, only raised an eyebrow, looking patently disinterested.

“J-Jack, don’t-” Kauri whispered. The look on Owen’s face changed all at once, taking in the way Kauri was shaking his head, trying to get Jack to look back at him. “D-Don’t, don’t do that, don’t-” Owen yanked hard at his hair again, his words cutting off and turning into a soft little cry of pain. 

Kauri felt so good with Jack inside of him, everyone always felt good in him, and he was working hard to pretend it hurt when it didn’t. But he didn’t have to pretend when Owen grabbed him like that.

“Shut the fuck up, Kauri.” Owen looked all kinds of interested, now that it was clear Kauri absolutely did not want that to happen. “I’ve always wanted to try that…” His head felt crystal-clear, the cocaine had blown away his uncertainties and left Owen boiled down to his core. He shifted around, hurriedly removing his own clothing, his eyes mostly on Kauri as he did so. On the way he looked fucking miserable, just like he should. “Are you ready? If you’re not, I’m going to fucking hurt you.”

He shuddered at the words and rolled his hips forward, hands coming to smooth over Kauri’s waist. Wouldn’t be the first, jerk, he thought. “Yeah, I’m ready.” 

He rolled his hips back again, widened his legs and curved his spine. A clear, blue-tinted glass plug was between his cheeks. Jack figured he’d let Grant take it out. 

He looked down at Kauri and smiled - a real smile - and mouthed it’s okay. Then he rolled his head back, too, looking at the other guy. “I’ve been waiting all night for a good fill.” 

Owen laughed, a sound that was at once sort of an off-kilter chuckle and also half-crazed. He was probably a little too high for this, but why not - see what Kauri liked so damn much, although Owen Grant had paid a lot of money to make sure Kauri was trained to take, not give. 

Which meant this was one thing Owen could have that Kauri hadn’t, and from his own fucking friend, no less. 

“Jesus, you weren’t kidding. Well, probably bad for business if you don’t do the work ahead of time.” The statement was surprisingly without his usual parade of judgement for Jack’s work, and he moved with an expert, light touch as he worked to get the plug back out of Jack without causing him too much discomfort. It wasn’t that he cared - muscle memory just took over. It felt pretty good to Jack nonetheless. “Kauri has one like this.”

“I told him about that one already-”

“Kauri, if you don’t shut your fucking mouth, I will stuff it full with the shit I brought in that bag.”

Kauri winced, and he badly wanted to put his arms around Jack’s neck, but the chains that held their hands together wouldn’t allow it. All he could do was look into his face, now that Owen wasn’t jerking his head around, and hope. Jack looked down at him with a warm smile, rubbing his thumbs over Kauri’s skin. 

Owen bit his lower lip in concentration, slicking himself up with the lube, and it took maybe a little more work than he thought it would to line himself up before he pushed himself in, groaning, his forehead against Jack’s back. “Jesus fuck.”

The entry was… not the clumsiest Jack had taken. His mouth fell open and eyes shut as Owen pushed in, and he moved his hands to brace on the bed, close to Kauri’s side since they were chained together. He exhaled softly and smiled at Kauri again. Hopefully he was saving the other boy some excess emotional pain. 

Jack rolled his hips forward, into Kauri, partially off of Owen. Pleasure burned up his spine. He leaned down and gently kissed Kauri - quick and even a bit playful. This didn’t have to be a nightmare even if they were both forced into it. 

“C’mon little guy,” he risked tossing over his shoulder with a smirk. 

Owen didn’t dignify Jack with a response - other than to grab him by the neck and push him down, until his head was buried against Kauri’s shoulder, before thrusting deeply into him and picking up a savage rhythm that would push him hard into Kauri, too. Jack moaned wantonly against Kauri’s skin, trying to keep some kind of movement while Owen pounded into him.

When Jack’s head was pushed down, Kauri pressed a quick kiss to the side of his head, then caught Owen staring at him and closed his eyes, trying to avoid that expression, the tiny pupils and the jealous anger there. He couldn’t stop his own noises as Jack was moving - and moved - in and out of him. Noises that were half-feigned pain, and half honest pleasure. He was hard, where he and Jack were pressed together, and his hips kept moving, trying to chase the friction and find more pleasure. 

Jack could have easily been content to lie there - did he really give a crap if Grant got off? Nah - but he moved as much as he could into Kauri, working with Owen’s rhythm. He rubbed his cheek against the other, pressed his lips against his neck.

Owen’s eyes had focused on Kauri’s face as he fucked Jack relentlessly, the cocaine giving him plenty of energy. It was exactly what he’d hoped Kauri would look like - terrified and sad and overwhelmed, because this was it, wasn’t it? He’d finally found him. And he’d fuck his stupid whore friend and then shove Jack out of a car somewhere and he’d take Kauri home.

And tie him to the bed so he never left again, just like Vince.

It took Owen a second to realize something wasn’t… working, as well as it should be. He was thrusting but the sensation was… less. He shifted around a little, closed his eyes and tried to really picture Kauri’s face, how he’d look right back where he belonged, but… nothing.

Owen groaned, as he realized he was going limp inside the whore. His face started to burn bright red in humiliation.

Okay, to be fair, people didn’t go limp in Jack very often. Usually the older guys took Viagra before they got out of the car - or Jack got in - and that pretty much took care of that. He could remember...years ago, working for Troy...some of the junkies lost hardons like that. Anyway, the point was, he didn’t recognize what was happening at first. 

When he did, though. 

Jack tried to muffle his laughter at first, quick little breaths through his nose against Kauri’s neck. Kauri jumped, a little, looking confused and blinking over at Jack and then up at Owen, trying to figure out what was wrong. Jack pushed himself up and looked back, trying to keep his expression neutral… with no luck. 

“Man-” nope, he was laughing pretty loudly, now, shaking his head. “Oh man. You got any little blue pills, little guy? That’s gotta suck, hay- hah-” deeeep breath. “Hate-fucking but without a tool in your toolbox, huh? Want a blowie?”

“J-Jack, what’s-” Then Kauri seemed to understand, all at once, and he was torn between a surge of hysterical laughter in his own throat - Owen had spent so long hunting him down, and when he catches him, this happens - and sheer terror at what Owen would do.

Owen’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits in his face, and he jerked back all at once like Jack had burned him. “Isn’t it your fucking job to keep the customer going-... stop laughing, you stupid little shit!” He grabbed Jack to pull him away from Kauri, except he’d forgotten their wrists were restrained together and when he did that, he jerked Kauri up to nearly sitting, too. Then Owen groaned and shoved Jack back again. Jack fell onto Kauri’s chest, but pushed himself off pretty quick, careful to do his best not to hurt him.

“Nah, man. If you can’t stay hard in me, that’s your problem. Nothing I can do fixes...that. That’s on you,” Jack said, laughter trailing off by now. He withdrew from Kauri and stroked a hand up and down his side, slow and gentle, an absent reassurance. “That’s… sleep deprived, maybe not enough food, uh… drugs. That’s all you. You need blue pills. And I don’t have any, ‘cause I take care of m’self.”

Kauri let out a soft exhale, then couldn’t stop himself - he laughed, too, although not directly at Owen. “Jack, you ate ramen packets twice a day for a week once.”

“I sleep, though!” Jack said, pushing at him. “And I don’t do drugs. And I’m not old.” 

“Shut up!” Owen half-shouted, interrupting them. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but the moment was gone and he could damn well feel it. And in front of Kauri, no less, before he was going to take him home… “Just… shut up, both of you. Shut your fucking mouths.”

Owen swallowed, hard, his eyes moving rapidly back and forth, not entirely under his own control. Then he grabbed a key off the side table and undid the restraints holding Kauri and Jack together. “You.” He turned his eyes on Kauri, who cringed back and away from the expression. Owen snorted and grabbed him by the arm, shoving Jack to the side with no gentleness, slapping the manacle back on Kauri’s wrist and threading it through the headboard before he closed the other end around the other one. “You’ll stay right the fuck here.” 

Then he turned his eyes on Jack. 

“You… you’re going in the bathroom with me.”

“Sure, man. Whatever you say,” Jack nodded. He tried not to be obvious about watching where that key went. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “This way, yeah?” 

Owen rolled his eyes, leaning over to grab Kauri by the hair and slam his head back, a violent thunk into the headboard, listening to his half-muffled groan - and watching him go a little limp - with a flare of satisfaction. Jack choked back a protest, grit his teeth, looked away.

Who was laughing now, huh? He did it one more time for good measure. This time, Kauri didn’t even make a sound

Then he dropped the key into the drawer of the side table next to the bed. His eyes danced around the room, lighting on everything but struggling to focus, until they landed on a pair of cuffs he'd brought. Clearly bondage cuffs and not exactly torture material, but whatever. 

He picked those up and pointed at the bathroom, glaring at Jack. "In. Now."

Jack threw up his hands in a frustrated sort of gesture, or a whatever, and walked to the bathroom. As he stepped in, he placed himself near the side of the counter closest to the electrical outlet. Hairblower would be in the drawer there. Hairpins would be with them. He turned to face Owen. “I do switch, so I could give you a great prostate orgasm if that’s something you’re interested in. Satisfaction guarantee~ Mind if I piss first, though?”

"Shut up," Owen said, but it was half-hearted and clear he didn't actually expect Jack to obey. "Listen to me." He jerked Jack's hand close, buckling the cuff on quickly - he'd had so much practice with Kauri it was nearly second-nature, even now - and twisting the short chain around the leg of the bathroom vanity counter, then grabbed his other wrist. Once he was hooked up, he took a breath, closed his eyes, seemingly trying to calm down.

"Listen to me," he said again. Clearly unaware he'd already said it once. 

"He loves me. And he'll remember that soon enough. If I have to knock all his fucking teeth out this time… no, Kauri." He shook his head like a dog shaking off water. "No, I can bash his fucking brains in until he remembers. I paid a lot of fucking money. What are you, a fucking whore for hire." 

“... look, man, whoever you’re pining over - maybe you should take this up with Vince instead of Kauri, huh?” he said, remembering the name Owen had called Kauri earlier. “You can make a guy take you up the ass, but you can’t make him love you. Can’t make anybody love you - hell, I couldn’t make my own mom love me and she’s the person who’s supposed to, right? What luck are you gonna have with this poor kid? ‘S not love, ‘s trained responses.”

Owen stared at him, then barked out a strange, bitter laugh. "Well there you go, slut, we have something in common beyond fucking Kauri." He ruffled Jack's hair, but his aim wasn't quite right and his hand slapped down harder on his head than he really meant it to. Jack flinched back. "We both have goddamn mommy issues. No, no he loves me. I know he does, I know… he stays with you, right? What, he's an ass for you to fuck when you get off the, the clock or what the fuck ever, and he gets food and shit in return?"

“No. He’s a friend.”

Owen snorted. He was feeling jagged, embarrassed, and pissed. He wanted more coke but knew he shouldn't, not so soon. 

"Box Boys don’t have fucking friends. I'll bet he still goddamn dreams about me. They do good fucking work at WRU. He doesn't remember shit now. Just me. Just a whole goddamn life built around me."

“Oh, sure. A whole life built around you that he spends all his time running from. Man, must feel good to have a guy in your life you scare so bad all he ever wants to do is run and never see you again. Must feel mighty big, huh?”

Owen's eyes narrowed and he discovered, somewhat to his surprise, that his hands were around Jack's throat.

He stopped himself from squeezing the air out of him - a dead hooker in a hotel room was not the Where Are They Now? Owen wanted to be a part of - and forced his fingers to slowly uncurl until he let go. 

"I didn't scare him," Owen said, his voice low, "Until he fucked up."

Jack gasped for breath. He always figured he’d die in a situation kinda like this, but man. He’d hoped. And here he was, breathing again!  “... fuck,” he said on an exhale, chest still heaving. “You fucking scared him. You put a shock thing on his collarbone after you promised him you wouldn’t. That’s fuckin’ scary. That’s scary to me, and I’m not the one who has to walk around with his goddamn bones aching. Well… one bone, sometimes, but-” 

He shook his head at himself with a laugh. “Anyway, you’re scaring the shit outta him now, too. Who gets fucking high to have sex? Wouldn’t be surprised if you tossed him off the roof tellin’ him to love you.”

"You don't know shit about that. All you fucking know is what he tells you. I wouldn't have had to if he hadn't been sending secret goddamn messages-... Jesus Christ, I'm arguing with a fucking prostitute." 

Owen tried to make himself take a deep breath, calm down the fury that threatened to carry all his sanity away with it. He turned to stare back at Jack, grabbing him by the chin, narrowing his eyes to stare into him. 

"What do you fucking do that I don't?"

Jack hesitated for a moment, eyes going hopeless and empty. And then the answer came.

“I care about him and what I can give him. Not what me and what I can take from him,” he stated calmly, staring up into Grant’s eyes. Then he smirked. “And I can make him come thinking of me while I’m fucking him, ‘cause I don’t beat his heart to shit.” 

Owen gave him a stare that said he would very much like to choke Jack again, but this time all he did was shake him by the chin and then let go, dropping his hand.

"Wait right here for me," He said, deadly soft. "I'm going to get some ice, and when I get back, you are going to watch." He took Jack's wrist to rattle the cuffs, emphasizing the predicament he was in, then turned and walked out, leaving him there.

Kauri's eyes were on him the second he came out, and a headache was starting to drift in around the edges of Owen's awareness. "Mr. Owen, j-just, just let Jack go, he didn't do anything wrong-"

"No, he didn't, but you did." Owen closed his eyes, briefly, against the way the world seemed jagged and painful. Couldn't be a comedown already, could it? 

"I, I know, I'm s-sorry I left, just let him go and you can, can make me as sorry as you want," Kauri tried. Owen shot him a glare and Kauri flinched back against the headboard. 

"Fuck off. I'm getting ice. When I get back, I'm going to make him sorry he ever fucking met you. Just like everyone else should be, you piece of shit." He headed for the door, sweeping up the keycard for the hotel room on the way. "This is your fault, Kauri. Everything I’m going to do to him, that he gets hurt at all, it’s all your fucking fault, you piece of shit slut. This is what knowing shitty people like you and fucking Vince does to people - it turns us fucking crazy and gets us fucking hurt. Don’t you fucking forget it.”

"I… I won't," Kauri said softly, sincerely, and watched Owen leave. He waited until the door clicked shut and he heard the faintest beep from the private elevator before he yelled, "Jack, are you okay? Did he hurt you?!"

Jack definitely heard them talking, but didn’t really pay attention to what they were saying - bit too quiet for that. He was already fishing hairpins out of the drawer. 

“Yeah, I’m fine! Moron cuffed me like I can’t pick a fuckin’ simple dipshit lock like this-” snap, and he was out of one cuff. Jack fiddled with the other as he walked out of the bathroom. “That was the most annoying and unsatisfying top I’ve had in years. And I’m a hooker.”

He had the cuffs off by the time he reached the bedside table. He slid the drawer open and took out the key, leaned over Kauri as he unlocked the other’s cuffs. “Bet he’s going to get a little blue pill instead of ice,” he smirked. And then softened. “How’re you doin’?”

Kauri threw his arms around Jack's neck, holding onto him for dear life. "I'm sorry," He whispered, shoulders shaking. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"

Jack froze, not at all used to this response. He and Rory had come to a point eventually where they watched each others’ backs and puffed up to be brave for each other. Jack wasn’t used to the normal emotional responses anymore. 

“Hey,” he said softly, hands coming up to pat and smooth over Kauri’s back. “Hey, you’re okay. I know what I’m doing, here. This doesn’t hurt me like it hurts you. ‘S not your fault, Birdie, an’ I’m not hurtin’ at all. Okay?”

“I, I don’t, I didn’t m-mean to get you hurt, I didn’t…” Kauri sniffed, burying his head briefly in the side of Jack’s neck and taking in his smell - still the same, not the way Owen smelled at all. The hand over his back felt good, and comforting, and like it could wipe away a little of the look on Owen’s face. “I’m sorry, I, I should’ve lied and said I didn’t know who you were but he-... when he touches me I just freeze up, I-... I’m trained not to lie to him and I can, and I do, but he just, I just was, was surprised, I didn’t know…”

“That’s okay, Birdie. I’d rather be here getting hurt tryin’a take care of you than turn around and see you gone. Okay?”

Kauri pulled back, looking miserable and pale as he started to scramble around to try and find Jack’s clothing and toss it to him. Owen had tightened the cuffs around his hands too tightly, and there were red marks on his wrists from when they’d been cuffed together. Jack pulled on his pants and made his way over to his boots.

“We, I gotta get you out of here, J-Jack, I’m s-s-sorry, I’m just-... I’m sorry…”

“Kauri, will you fucking listen for a sec?” Jack looked up from tying up his boots. “It’s not your fault. I care enough about you. I'm focused on taking care of you, jus’ like you’re trying to take care of me, okay? Cool it and get your own clothes on. I’ve got me, and we’re both getting outta here before he comes back.”

Kauri stared at him, wild-eyed, before he slowly nodded and slipped back into the clothing he’d been wearing, the cropped shirt and black jeans and checkered shoes. He told himself he was following orders, and that calmed some of the panic which currently threatened to completely derail him. The panic and guilt, slowly eating him alive.

“Are-... are you sure? I can, can stay, so he won’t look for you if I’m here.” Kauri stopped by the side table, looking down at where Owen had left his wallet - taken his credit card on the way out, but left the wallet itself. He reached in and grabbed all the cash in there, turning to shove it into Jack’s hands. 

“Jesus Christ, Kauri-” Jack said, but he still took the cash and shoved it into his pocket. “No. You’re gonna come with me, Birdie.” 

“I can stay,” Kauri whispered, eyes wide and terrified. “If I’m here he won’t look for you, I can stay.”

“You can, but you’re not gonna.” Jack grabbed his hand and started pulling him along, into the elevator and down to the first floor. What better way to exit than the front doors? “Keep your head down, buddy.” 

Kauri nodded, rapidly, pressing himself against Jack. He was shivering all over, shaking like the last leaf on a tree in winter, and his fingers would be freezing cold to the touch from fear. He could feel his heart pounding all over again, just like when Owen choked him and then waited for him to wake up and then choked him and then-

He caught a sob before it made it all the way out, squeezing his eyes shut, trying to breathe as the elevator moved down. “Jack, he’s gonna kill me,” He whispered. “He’s, he’s gonna kill me.”

“You’ll be okay, Birdie,” Jack said, putting his arm around Kauri’s shoulders and pulling him in. “We’re gonna get out, and he’s gonna find out you’re not there and he’s gonna be pissed, but he’s not gonna kill you. Not if I can help it.”

Kauri’s hand came up and started to rub at the scar over his collarbone, pushing back a phantom fire that raced through his nerves, pressing hard against the spot where the thin, metal plate was still bolted into him, the part they couldn’t get out on their own. 

He nodded, slowly, shifting back and forth on his feet, nervously fidgeting. The affection was good, though, and he leaned into it, taking a deep breath. Jack still smelled like himself, like the cologne he put on for nights he went out and wasn’t actually working. 

“He’s, he’s so angry and he’s not-... he doesn’t… he’s, um.” Kauri swallowed, hard, against a latent sense of disloyalty and why did his mind still want him to be loyal to someone who was trying to kill him? “He’s… crazy, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, man. He’s really fucked in the head. He’s obsessing, like the batshit guy I was bought for. Totally out of it. And he’s on drugs. People don’t stay sane on drugs.” 

The elevator dinged at the bottom floor, and Jack guided Kauri quickly out of it and through the halls, away from anybody wearing a hotel uniform. 

“He n-never, he never did drugs…” Kauri’s voice was small. “He used to do, um, drugs before me. He told me he went to rehab. He’s never… done drugs around me…”

As they moved through the hallway, there were a few other people up and about, this late at night. Kauri felt their eyes on him and hunched over a little more, his face burning bright red, expecting to be stopped at any second or to hear Owen’s voice yelling for him. 

They all looked at him with this angry judgement, looked down their noses. Kauri wasn’t thinking about how he looked - with his mussed-up hair, scruffy shoes, and outfit that flashed a hint of the pale skin at his stomach - or how Jack looked.

“Did me leaving make… make him do drugs again? Did I make him do that?”

“Nah. Junkies take any excuse they can to get back on their poison,” Jack said quietly, shaking his head. He walked Kauri right out of the hotel, and immediately took the shortest way he could find out of the parking lot, too. 

Kauri nodded, keeping himself hunched over, trying to look like anyone other than who he was until they were all the way back into the streets. It had to be the middle of the night, and Kauri had no idea where they were and no way to read any signs. He just clung to Jack and let him do the work, to figure it out. 

“Jack, um… why did he… why’d he wait til I was out? Why not just come get us at your place?”

“Dunno. I’d say maybe he doesn’t know about my place, but he said he was talking with Renford. Renford knows,” he shrugged. “Maybe it was easier to snatch in public than break into the building.”

Jack looked at the streetsigns at an intersection, slowly read each one. Yeah, he knew this area. He led Kauri across the street and started walking back home. “Don’t have anywhere safer to go, not unless we rent a different hotel with his money. Think we should do that?” 

He thought, for a second, that maybe they should go to one of the pet shelters. Kauri belonged in those… but… Jack didn’t. And Renford was watching Jack. If a shelter took them and somehow managed to help, chances were that Jack would drag them under. 

“No, but… but it would have been easier for him, for what he wanted to do. If he went to your…” Kauri shuddered at the mention of the Director’s name, shrinking into himself with a bone-deep fear he could never shake. He’d only been directly disciplined by the Director twice - he didn’t clearly remember either time, beyond knowing he never, ever wanted it to happen again.

“What if-... she, um. Mr., um, Mr. Owen said he wasn’t allowed to kill you… what if… she didn’t tell him where you live?”

Jack stopped a moment, staring at Kauri. “Sonofabitch. You think?” He thought, and the more he thought, the more it made sense.

“...she must either really like me or really hate me. I spat on her shoes once, y’know-” he had probably mentioned that before, but he was pretty proud of himself for it. “Kay, well. Better not look a gift horse in the mouth. Let’s go home.”

Kauri nodded and slid his arms around Jack’s waist briefly, squeezing him as hard as he could and burying his head against Jack’s neck. He took a deep breath and then pulled back again and straightened his spine, trying to look stronger than he felt.

“Can… can I sleep in your bed, um, tonight?”

He slept in Jack’s bed whenever he stayed over, but Kauri wanted to ask, this time. Needed the reassurance, needed Jack to understand that what he was really asking was, can I hold onto you until I fall asleep?

“Yeah. You can sleep in my bed anytime, Birdie. You can even kick me onto the couch so you can sleep on my bed,” Jack grinned, leaning down to kiss Kauri’s head. He understood, though. “Or I can stick around and keep you cozy.”

“Stick around,” Kauri said softly. “And you can use that money you stole-”

“That I stole? You took it out of his wallet!”

Kauri’s smile was shaky, but real. “... fine, the money we stole to take a few days off. I, I just…” He stopped, and kissed Jack’s cheek. “I’m glad you’re my best friend. Come on, I know the bus driver who runs the route this late, she’ll let me bring you on without having to pay extra.”

He grabbed Jack’s hand and pulled him towards the bus stop, Owen’s words still echoing inside his head.

None of this would have happened if you hadn’t run away from me. 

[fancat-not-fangirl]

Flying in the Face of Danger

a/n: Set between seasons 2-6. The demon they burn the bones of is an OC. He didn’t actually exist. (I promise I’m working on It’s Not You)

This particular demon had been bothering them for a while now. Always getting in their way, making their lives much more difficult than necessary. Sending demon assassins after them. In short, making their lives hell.

Exorcising him meant that there was always a small chance that he could return. And they couldn’t take any chances. So Sam and Dean decided to play it safe and burn the bones.

Except the bones were in Hawaii. Of course they were in Hawaii. As if anything in their lives was ever easy.

And of course it was Dean that had to fly there because Sam chose that exact time of year to get horribly sick.

Dean had tried to reason with him. He really did. He had tried to convince Sam that Dean should stay and take care of the nose blowing snot spewing cough obsessed moose. But Sam wasn’t having any of that.

“Killing this bastard is more important than a cold.” Sam had told Dean after almost hacking his lungs out following a coughing spell. Then, looking more pointedly at him, continued with, “And I’m not a kid anymore Dean. I can take care of myself.”

And after days and days of arguing, Dean had bought a plane ticket and flew all the way to Hawaii and back, without throwing up even once. (Or at least that’s what he’d tell Sam.) 

And now he was waiting for his luggage in the airport. (Still slightly nauseous from the flight but he’d never admit that.) 

Truth be told, the flights had scared the crap out of Dean Winchester. Back when he and Sam had exorcised that demon years ago when their dad had still been alive, at least he’d had Sam to comfort him. To make fun of him and his Metallica. To squeeze his arm when they hit an especially rough patch of clouds.

This time, all Dean had had was a lady on his right who spent the entire time talking away with her friend, and a man on his left, who seemed to hold on to the firm belief that Dean was, in fact, a pillow, and not one of the fiercest hunters in the entire Western Hemisphere.

But even the best hunters get scared. And right now Dean was terrified. The smell of the too many bodies in the plane still clogged his nose, and the soft mush that the flight had called food was fighting its way back to the surface. Dean could still feel the vibrations of the plane if he didn’t keep moving, which was why he kept up an agitating pace walking back and forth as he kept waiting and waiting for his bags. All of the people here were just as impatient as he was, eager to go home to their families, to their jobs, to their lives. 

What was Dean going home to? Stingy motel rooms, crappy diner food, hours and hours on the road, almost getting killed every few days. Dean didn’t even know if he could call that a home.

Screw this airport. He needed to get out. Soon. 

Everywhere he looked reminded him of that plane. Of the stingy old seats. Of the tiny cramped bathroom that swayed under your feet and made you nauseous. Of the horrid silence broken every few minutes by a cough or a baby’s cry. Of the endless shaking and turbulence of the plane. 

Of the hours upon hours of chilling fear of that small one in a million chance the plane could go down.

The airport seemed to dislike the fact that if it denied Dean his luggage any longer, Dean would rub two parallel lines into the floor with his pacing, so it finally gave up his bag. He would have taken it with him in carry on, but God knows he had too many guns and knives in the bag for him not to have been stopped at security. 

Grumbling to himself, Dean pushed through the crowd of people and hauled his bag off the line. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man that had used him as a pillow slumped against the wall, waiting for something or other. Hah. Dean thought. At least this time it would be the wall that had to endure the snoring, not Dean.

Following the flow of noisy people out of the terminal, Dean sighed as he realized that he would have to spend another hour or two in a taxi. He’d have to answer stupid questions like “How was your flight?” and “Where are you headed?” And he couldn’t just tell the taxi driver his location in case he was being tailed, so of course Dean would ask him to drop him off three blocks away from the motel room. That would mean another twenty minutes of walking, Dean calculated. Twenty minutes before he got to see Baby again. Before he got to their room and could take an incredibly long shower to wash the airplane out of him. Twenty minutes before he got to see Sam and breathe in that Patented Little Brother Scent that Sam always seemed to have. Dean had high hopes that the airplane musk would get flushed out with Sam’s smell. Not to mention hearing Sam’s voice. Oh how tired Dean was of the constant bickering and mumbling everywhere around him, not being able to make out what was being said but also never quite having a full moment of peace and quiet. 

Dean walked past a row of windows that opened to the line of airplanes outside. Repressing a shudder, Dean remembered the one time on his flight to Hawaii he had braved a glance outside the airplane window at the ground below, and had almost heaved up his lunch. 

The faster he got out of here the better.

The sea of people, including Dean, finally made it out to the arrival dock. He saw families launch towards their loved ones and envelop them in hugs. He saw one girl burst out crying at the sight of her boyfriend, holding up a sign that said “Welcome home! Will you marry me?” Smiling softly to himself, Dean couldn’t help the sad twinge in his gut. It wasn’t quite jealousy, but definitely something akin to it. These people didn’t know how lucky they were, with their normal jobs, peaceful lives, caring families. With their homes. 

Dean shook his head and moved on. He craned his neck, looking for someone that looked like they drove a taxi. Damn it, it was just his luck that they would all be taken by the time he got out-

Dean’s eyes latched onto a sign being held high above the others. He read the word ‘JERK’ spelled out in big bold letters, and followed the arm holding it down down down to Sam’s smiling face. Sam, whose nose was red and had bags under his eyes and was definitely still sick. That didn’t stop Dean from striding over to his brother and pulling him into a quick hug. Inhaling deeply, Dean relaxed at the familiar and comforting smell of his little brother.

Sam let out a noise of surprise, but returned the embrace, coughing a bit when Dean pulled away. 

“I thought you were strictly against chick flick moments?” 

Dean grinned at the sound of Sam’s voice. He’d never admit it to Sam, but he had missed his little brother like crazy on his trip.

Giving Sam a playful shove, Dean teased, “The plane messed with my head. I thought you were Angelina Jolie.”

Sam stuck his tongue out at Dean and was about to say something else when he sneezed. He dug around in his pockets for a tissue, and gave Dean a panicked look when he couldn’t find one. Chuckling, Dean reached into his own pocket and gave Sam a tissue. One of the many Dean had for times like this; when Sam spent too much time thinking of others and not enough to think about himself. But that was alright, because Dean would always be there to think of Sam for him.

“C’mon, Sasquatch. You’re sick as a dog. Let’s get you home so I can see what crap you’ve been doing to yourself to ‘get better’ while I was away.”

“I can take care of myself, you know. I’m not a helpless five year old anymore.”

“You sure about that?”

“You’re a jerk.”

“Bitch.”

And as they left the airport side by side, it registered to Dean that he had used the word home. But at the sight of Sam’s laughing face as Dean slid into the driver’s seat of Baby and told his car how much he missed her, Dean realized that this was exactly what he was going back to. Hours and hours of driving with Sam at his side. Joking and laughing with his brother about that man that had used Dean as his personal pillow. Listening to Led Zeppelin full blast on the road, with Dean and Sam singing along. Both brothers staying up late, watching crappy motel TV. Home.

Dean was home.

[bunchamunchafaunus]

The Rise of a Ventian Queen [2]: The Next Step

“So, Peri.”

Hearing her name got the worried woman’s attention drawn from her bedridden friend to the man behind her. A raised brow curious what he wanted, such only getting stronger seeing him pat at the floor beside him.

“Come tell me some stories of Team Empress while we wait for her to recover.”

Such a simple request actually got the Komodo laughing. She wasn’t sure why she had expected anything else, but for some reason it caught her off guard. It only took another glance back to the slumbering Qilin to realize they were going to have to wait for a fair while before she’d wake. They definitely had time to relax, especially given she was sure the NeverCondor would take to the skies to get away from the canyon once it could.

So she did just that. Stepping back till she felt her back eased to the wall by her tail keeping her from just outright falling against it, she found herself on the metal ground beside her friend’s father figure. Taking in a breath to relax herself as she let her shoulders drop at last. Tail curling round to fit it’s thinner end under her legs.

“Well to start, I think I gotta mention she was the most awkward person out of everyone in the room the night before our entrance exam. No lie, she just kept looking over everyone in some awestruck state for about an hour at least while people came in and out of the room.”

The two laughed some, Peri recalling the silly look that had been on Emma’s face back then, Umbir imagining it.

Knowing they were in for some fun chatter, they made themselves comfortable and began. Not too long after would they feel the engines of the NeverCondor roaring to life and the large metal vessel leaving the ground and beginning to soar.

                                                   - One Day Later -

P - P a p a...

S h i t! E m m a!

Ringing.

L a y  h e r  h e r e!

Silence.

Darkness.

Was she?

No, no, she was still hearing noises here and there. So very faint and muffled, but they were there. Familiar voices, laughter, beeping... snoring? She was still so warm too. She had to be alive, right? Yeah, yeah, she had to be. From everything she knew, she’d be cold if she wasn’t.

For some time it was just this empty void. The odd sound so faint and muffled here and there, but nothing all too loud or obvious. Just the constant wonder of what might have happened to her and what would come to pass. It got to the point she was actually starting to worry, trying her best to have something, anything change. Yet nothing did, no matter what she tried.

Though something eventually changed, a small, tiny little dark orange light breaking the darkness. One that would change to fit a form, a humanoid figure. Instantly she knew what it was, and felt herself calm with it’s presence quickly. But that calm would suddenly be shaken up, hearing a voice. One that was clear, one she never heard before. A woman’s voice, low, echoing, comforting. One single sentence being spoken by it.

“I am proud of you”

The source of this voice disappearing soon after, leaving her alone in the quiet darkness once more. But this would not last long before the Qilin felt herself falling. Such a sudden sensation causing fear and panic to fill her, making her body jerk and flail for a single second as she sat up and found herself awake, staring at a wall judging by what she could now see her aura flowing up. Her breathing being long, deep breaths as she took in the situation.

Aching and sluggish body, left leg felt better but right knee still stings, a slight pinch in left arm, the sudden moving form of a person with a blue aura running past her view. The left side of which showed nothing defined when they saw the other living being, just a messy uncontrolled pattern of blue spread across a whole half her vision. Blinking a few times, she could tell her aura was switching from it’s default navigational assistance to the protective layer and back each time. Eventually stopping, closing her eyes, and focusing it to it’s defensive capabilities before letting it ease back to it’s usual sight-providing action. Finally staying as such whenever she blinked afterward.

“Emma!”

The Princess’ head turned immediately upon having the ever so familiar voice register to her, seeing the umber form of her father figure standing in what seemed to be a doorway. Plus some slight peek of a friendly red aura just around the door-frame beside him though it would duck back to be hidden as she saw the man draw closer. Soon after feeling his arms wrap ‘round her upper body and his cheek against the top of her head.

She wanted to return the embrace, but her body felt slow, heavy even, much more than she was used to. It even hurt some to try and move anything beyond how her body was now after having awoken so suddenly. Though she was sure she could manage speaking at the very least, so she cleared her throat before attempting to.

“Papa?” Her voice a little rough, but she still spoke. Not getting an answer right away, she could feel his arms move and saw his form begin lowering some. Soon seeing the shape of the man’s head as he had dropped to one knee in front of her so she wouldn’t have to turn her own head up so high.

“Yes, Lil’ Filly?”

That nickname again, she wasn’t sure whether to feel comfort hearing it again or to be annoyed by it and say she wished she hadn’t woken up as a joke. Quickly deciding against the later.

“What-... What happened? After what I did?”

“Well, assuming you remember up to the point I signaled the NeverCondor to fire, they got the two shots off. The destroyed rocks and trees from the blast on the cliff and the mountain began falling down into the canyon, but I’m pretty sure you somehow managed to stretch out your Semblance’s range because it all stopped mid-air and began spreading out across the width of the canyon itself. Once the Goliaths were getting right under the debris, it began dropping. Some hit the first two, the rest began falling on the next two, but all the stuff that you had circling the three of us quickly sped up and began being loosed in the direction of the front two Goliaths. The barrage forced them to start moving backward, thus suffering the rest of the falling debris like the two behind them. Four Goliaths were pinned beneath all sorts of rocks and trees, likely dead, and the Grimm on the far side were blocked off.”

Hearing it back from Umbir, Emma was sure she had been awake for the events he recalled. Her own mind replaying the sounds she had heard at the time. The thunderous gunfire from the Airship, the trumpeting sounds of the Goliaths, stone hitting stone, she was sure of it. “What about after that?”

“After the wall of debris settled, you collapsed. You had exhausted the vast majority of your aura to the point that you couldn’t stay awake. The Dust crystal you had used fell from your hands, depleted, and the winds around us started to die down. With the remains of the Grimm horde that were on our side starting to move again, I had Peri take you and get you into the NeverCondor.  I ran back on my own, the turrets were manned, cannons recharged or reloaded, and the majority of what we still had to worry about of the horde was destroyed. Once enough was gone, we took to the skies. We’re settled above the ocean right now.

“How long was I out, Papa?”

“I wasn’t exactly paying attention to the time, but judging by the position of the sun compared to how it was when you lost consciousness, it’s almost been a full twenty-four hours.”

Twenty-four hours, it felt like she had been in that dark space for so much longer than a single day. One shaky inhale later, the name he had mentioned snapped back to her mind, making Emma move in sudden worry, despite the pain she felt by doing so and the wince it earned from her. A noise which got her father figure immediately rising to stop her from moving too much and carefully lay her back down.

“What about Peri, where is she?”

“She’s fine, Emma. Your teammate’s a wonderful young woman who cares a lot about her friends. Peri was actually by your side for the first few hours, it took telling her about how strong you were during your recovery after Samuel grabbed your neck that one time to get her to calm down, eat, and get some rest. She’s still asleep since she used up quite a bit of her own aura against that horde as well.”

To hear the Komodo was safe and resting eased the Qilin’s worry for the other. Sighing with relief as she let her head press back against the pillow.

“I’m gonna have to face them now that I’m here aren’t I? Make sure all those people aren’t scared about him finding them and ruling them like Manus did so they don’t attract Grimm like that again.”

Umbir chuckled a little. “It’s actually kind of funny that you mention it. There’s some soldiers who were loyal to Cres, now loyal to me, out side this room right now. They insisted on standing guard outside the Medical bay to make sure you’d be safe while you were out.”

This revelation was... odd... to say the least. Emma was so sure she would never be able to successfully fill any Royal role for so long in her life. Then she announced herself to dozens of Nobles as the Princess she was by blood, making word spread of her living state after having been thought dead for a good while. Now, she had people looking to her to be their Queen. People from her own place of birth. Ventian civilians and soldiers both. She didn’t feel ready to accept the role they needed her to play, but if she didn’t, she knew the events of the previous day would eventually happen again.

Maybe even to a much, much worse degree.

“Either way we look at it, I can’t really move right now can I?” She remarked with a little chuckle behind her words. A sound which Umbir repeated on his end at the inquiry.

“No, not really. Not without it hurting a lot since you’re body’s still recovering from such a heavy dip in aura. Maybe tomorrow you’ll be able to move around better again. Plus your legs could use just a bit more rest. The cut on your left was shallow, but it was long, and the scrape to your knee was a lot worse, so even with another day of your Qilin genetics healing that up it’s going to be sore when you try to walk on it again.”

“Okay ‘DAD’. I’ll stay in bed...!” A joke reply, but one that both parties laughed at.

“It’s nice to know you’ve still got that childish side to you after all this time and all the hardships you’ve faced, Emma. I’ll go get you some water.”

The Qilin simply nodded in thanks for the man’s concern and care, letting herself relax and her eyes close for a moment while she listened to his footsteps leaving the room. A shuffle of a couple other metal clad feet outside the room moving to clang together before stepping to what she assumed was a basic defensive stance for the Soldiers she had been informed of.

Over the next few hours, Umbir would come and go from the room. The two speaking over various different topics and points of her experiences ever since she had left Ventus so long ago. At one point even getting Peri up and visiting Emma to see how everything was going. The three of them conversing and interacting for a fair while longer before one-by-one people left the Medical bay for the night leaving Emma to rest on her own.

It was about noon the next day when the Qilin’s friend and teammate would enter the Medical bay with a set of new, clean clothes in a bag for her.

“Big day today for ya, Em’.” The woman remarked making her way toward the Qilin’s bedside. As she did, she watched the young woman atop the bed adjusting to an up-right seated position with a smile across her face. “Roy and I made sure to get something that looks real fancy.”

“Roy’s with you?”

“Well not right now, no, he went to talk with Umbir about something, but I did drag him along for the clothes.”

“You didn’t get something that’s all show without any comfort did you...?”

“Oh hell no, I know well enough that we tailed Faunus need clothes that are comfortable over everything else. Stuff’s real soft on the skin and still looks nice. I’m not gonna say you’re going to be comfortable mentally or emotionally while you’re up in front of your people, but at the very least you will be physically.”

Lifting the bag in her hand, Peri placed it down into Emma’s lap. “A nice white button-up top with a black knee-length skirt that has purple floral patterns, some white thigh-high socks, and a purple ribbon that can be tied into a bow under your collar or you can tie back your hair with it. I’ve got you~ Now go ahead and get dressed, I’ll be waiting outside.”

“Thank you, Peri.” Emma spoke with a soft thankful tone  while the Komodo was close enough to still hear. Watching on afterward while the woman’s red form would leave the room, leaving her alone in it again. Taking a second, she made sure to pull the curtain by the foot of her bed ‘round to hide her from view of the door to the room.Once with more privacy provided, she shifted to get off the bed on the far side to begin changing her clothes. Taking a second of pause noticing her necklace was absent from around her neck.

About five minutes would come to pass before Peri and the four soldiers standing ‘round the door as protective guard for the Royal within the Medical Bay would hear the door open. A second later seeing the Qilin step out from the room within the newly provided clothing. The bag in hand containing the clothes she had changed out of, and the purple ribbon in her hand. Tail behind her finding itself dropping low and pressing against her leg with uncertain worry about the situation.

The four Soldiers, upon seeing her come to a stop, would turn to face her directly. A single stomp being done as they would, unknown to Emma, salute to her. Peri on the other hand could see that the three men and one woman had their right hands raised and placed diagonally across their chest while their left was tucked behind the small of their backs.

Taking a second, the Royal looked around to the four unfamiliar aura forms that surrounded her. A rather nervous smile present upon her face that all present could see clearly. After a couple seconds of silence, one of them would clear their throat before speaking. The sound drawing Emma’s foggy eyes to the unknown person immediately to her left before their pale yellow form in her eyes would lower to a knee.

“Your Highness, Melo Grove, I used to serve the late Queen Cres rather closely.” A soft woman’s voice quickly introduced herself. “I’m unsure of whether Sir Dew has mentioned it directly to you yet, but Cres truly did regret forcing you out of Ventus. For the past few years especially she searched for any sort of sign that you were alive in hopes of eventually meeting you in person and apologizing for her actions. When word spread among nobles across Remnant that you were present at the Duke of Coste’s charity event, she was ecstatic to know you were alive and well.”

What the Soldier said, while not entirely new to the Qilin as she had, indeed, heard some of it from Umbir, was appreciated. If not for the fact it contained some new information, then because it came from a voice which sounded so genuine and confirmed what her father figure had told her. Still, even with how she felt, there was the whole fact that being treated the way she was by these four was entirely new territory. A short glance to Peri for some sort of assistance just earning a shrug to the red shoulders of her friend’s figure.

“I-...” Focusing her attention back to Melo, she swallowed a nervous lump that had formed in her throat. Stepping closer to the kneeling woman, she shifted the lone ribbon to the same hand holding the bag as to clear one up for freedom of use. Then bringing that same hand up to gently rest on the woman’s shoulder, which caused their head to rise and she could feel their eyes on her once more. She noticed now a soft vibration of anxiety in the pale yellow form. One she attempted to ease by giving a soft, more confident smile.

“Th-Thank you, Melo. It-uh... it comforts me knowing Queen Cres wished no ill will towards me during the last years of her life. I-... I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to fill her shoes since I honestly never really expected to be doing... well.. any of this honestly, but I hope that we may work together as well.”

It was obvious to the four that the Royal they were currently looking to wasn’t exactly used to any of this. That despite how unsure of herself she sounded, the Qilin was trying her best. They could all respect that, immediately feeling much more comfortable with her as the one they would soon follow. Melo herself now giving a wide smile as she looked up at Emma.

“I would be honored to work alongside you, Your Highne-”

“Emma, please...”

“Emma... I look forward to serving you.”

Seeing the woman’s head bow again, the Royal watched her soon rise to her feet again.

“Is there anything we may do for you... Emma...?” The tone of Melo’s voice made it obvious she was going to have to get used to using a proper name instead of a title while addressing her superior.

For a short bit, things were quiet on the Qilin’s end, looking between the four soldiers again, this time in thought. “C-Could I maybe get some more privacy with Peri? We’re in a safe place, I really don’t think I need four guards here...”

She didn’t see it, having been looking away from the one Guard who’s name she knew so far at the time. Melo’s attention moved between the other three, the group coming to an unspoken agreement before the trio of still unknown Soldiers would take their leave. Relaxing their forms and beginning down the hall of the Airship they were currently in.

Sighing once there was less attention on herself, Emma turned to the woman once more. This time bowing her own head as she voiced her appreciation. She received a bow in return. After which her attention moved to Peri as she fetched the ribbon from the hand the bag was in.

“Could you tie my hair back? Just want it all to be nice and neat behind me for when I do this.”

The Komodo, befitting her personality, chuckled  some at the request, but nodded none the less. Stepping to her friend, she took the ribbon in hand before physically encouraging a turn with a gentle push to the shoulder. Once such movement finished, she brought the ribbon between her lips to hold it while working on collecting the mass of near white hair that belonged to Emma. Every now and then working a hand down the length of it to try and funnel it all together better the farther down it went.

“Peri?”

“Yeah?”

“You possibly know where my necklace went?”

“Yeah, Umbir has it. Said he’d be giving it back later while you’re addressing everyone.”

Her answer made some sense to the Qilin, nodding a little in understanding as she fell silent for her friend to finish her work.

Once she felt she had a good enough control of her friend’s hair, Peri shifted hold to one hand as the other retrieved the purple fabric and worked it around the hair to replace her other hand. Finally being able to begin working on tying the ribbon tight to give a clean and proper finish to Emma’s appearance with a small bow holding her knee-length hair together at the bottom of the back of her neck. Looking to Melo, she earned an approving nod from the woman before looking back to it herself and nodding her own head.

“There ya go, ‘Your Highness’.”

The joking use of the title earned an elbow moving to impact with her arm. Laughter following from both the Faunus as Emma turned to face her teammate again. All this right before the shorter of the two would move to hug the taller, which was quickly reciprocated.

“Thank you, Peri, for everything you’ve done the past few days.”

“You’re welcome, Emma.”

The two letting their embrace last a couple seconds longer. Breathing in the comfort they shared knowing they were both alive and well after what they had gone through the other day. Once comfortable, both let go, Peri patting at Emma’s shoulder as one last gesture of fondness before she’d speak again.

“Now, you’ve got a crowd to address.”

A deep breath in and a sigh out would be taken by the Qilin. “That I do...” She glanced the two ways down the hall available to the three of them, brow furrowing some. “Um... Melo?”

“Yes?”

“D-Do you know what way we need to go?”

“That I do, just follow me.” Without missing a beat, the pale yellow figure Emma had turned her eyes to stepped side-ways. An outstretched hand gesturing the opposite direction than the other three had gone earlier. Quickly following up the gesture by turning herself in full and beginning down the hall.

The two Huntresses followed behind the woman for a minute or so, passing through the hallways and by some crew members here and there. Multiple different rooms they may have been able to turn into as well, yet Melo kept going. Eventually turning into a much wider hallway than the ones that they had walked through so far. One with a multitude of people seated along the walls, some standing, others walking between each other. The moment they did, Emma froze.

Looking down the hallway, the Qilin’s sight was filled with such a vast array of colors filling it. The initial viewing of so many people was too much for her with half being as messy as it was. It hurt her head to see all of them. She turned her head to clear her view and hopefully ease the strain it put on her. Peri’s red soon stepping into view as she felt her hand at her shoulder.

“Your eye bugging you?” Her question only received a nod from the shorter woman as her left eye closed and a hand rose over it.

“Her eye?” Melo stepping around to the Royal’s side with her question. “What happened?”

“A while ago Emma had an incident where she saw some odd aura that she said looked like a person. She called out to them, they didn’t respond, she tried to get closer but it just kept moving at the same distance away from her. She said it seemed to just slide around, never taking a step or turning or anything. Eventually it stopped, she got right next to it, then the next thing she knew she woke up back in her room at the Inn our team owns. Umbir said that he had been watching over her for a while, and when he saw what was happening he followed her, but when he caught up an Ursa had hit Emma into a tree, and she was unconscious on the ground. He killed the Ursa, brought her back and ever since she woke up, her left eye hasn’t been working the way it should.”

While Peri retold the events to Melo, Emma found herself shivering some remembering it all. Her mind calling back to the months where she felt unlike herself afterwards. It got her right eye closing as well as the discomfort of the memories from that time began setting in.

“Wh-What do you mean it’s not working the way it should? Can she not see with it?”

“She was born blind, Melo. Sometime during her childhood her aura adapted to allow her eyes to register visual sources of aura and give some semblance of sight. She sees everyone as generic humanoid forms of solid color based on what their aura’s color is, which ever since the old Great War tends to match with their name. Mine’s Peri, my aura is a dark red, I’m a red figure to her. You’re Melo, I’m assuming mellow yellow, so she sees you as a pale yellow form. Ever since what happened, she’s explained sight in her left eye as a repeating pattern mess of color whenever looking at someone. After being told what a Kaleidoscope is, she said that’s pretty much what it’s like.”

Hearing this, the somewhat absent gaze she had seen the young white haired woman had given to her and the other Guards earlier began to make more sense. “Ah...” This was new information that she knew she’d need at a later point. It was going to be a bit of a learning curve for how to handle things with Emma. “Maybe it’d be a good idea to get her some type of cover for her left eye then. Eye patch or something...”

Turning to look over the people filling the hallway, she could see some of them looking to the trio with curious eyes. A few even worried, one or two doubtful gazes from some older individuals. Gently grabbing onto Emma’s shoulders, she guided her back around the corner, gesturing for Peri to follow. “Just keep her here, I’ll be right back.”

The Komodo nodded before watching as Melo went into a light jog down the hallway to return where they had just come from. Carefully she helped Emma to lean against the wall after the form of the Guard disappeared ‘round the corner down the thinner hall. Afterward stepping close to the corner again and peeking around it to look over the civilians filling the area.

“E-Excuse me, miss?”

A young voice would register in the Komodo’s ears, guiding her attention down to see a boy standing next to her. A pair of small antlers growing atop his upturned head among dark brown hair and his bright blue eyes looking up at her. His arms were tucked ‘round behind his back. She stepped from the wall before lowering herself to her knees to be at a more equal level to him.

“Hey little man, what’s up?”

He seemed to be a little nervous with how he lowered his head a tad further than it already had to simply keep looking at her.

“Is that... Is she our new Queen?”

His question got Peri’s head turning to look to Emma. She could see the her gaze turned to focus to the boy beyond Peri’s form, hand now away from her left eye but the eye itself still closed. She turned her red eyes forward to the child again just after.

“Well. technically she’s not just yet, but she’s going to be soon. She’s just feeling a little under the weather right now, bit of a headache. You know what that’s like, right?” A soft smile came to her face seeing the boy nod in understanding.

“I- uh... M-My mommy helped me make a necklace... I wanted to make it for our new Queen after she told me about how she was ex-exhi-”

“Exiled?”

“Yeah, that word!” His hands finally came out from behind his back. In the one was a collection of a dozen small, smooth black stones that had been drilled through to fit them onto a braided silver and gold cord. None were exactly the same size as another, nor shape, but it seemed they were all sanded down to be smooth and rounded. Smaller stones being farther out and larger being closer to the center. “I collected these, whenever I found a black rock I picked it up. There isn’t a lot of them, but they always look so nice...”

Peri felt a familiar hand at her shoulder, looking up and back it was Emma. Shifting aside atop her knees, she gave enough space for her friend to get down beside her. Even offering a hand to support her as she took to her knees, a slight wince escaping putting as much weight as she did on her right. Still a little sore she guessed.

Now at eye level with the bright blue form of the boy, Emma could see an ever so subtle vibration to his form. She put on a gentle smile in hopes of calming his nerves

“What’s your name?”

“C-Cele.”

“Cele, very nice name. I would love to wear the necklace you’ve made for me, is there a clasp on it or is it a full loop?”

“My mommy tied the ends of the cords we used when we were done braiding it.”

“A loop, then, would you mind putting it on for me?” As she asked this of the young boy, she shifted closer to him and bowed her head forward. Closing her eyes she simply waited. It took a few seconds, but she soon felt his little hands brush against her hair some. A second more passing before the weight of the stones on the cord was fully present on the back of her neck. After a second more, she lifted her head, a hand moving to pull her tied hair out from beneath the braided cord then to fix it beneath her collar. With it fit proper into her outfit, she turned her attention to Cele again. The anxious vibrations from earlier now gone.

“Thank you, Cele. I’m glad to know there are such kind children like yourself from Ventus even after everything it’s people have been through.”

He was quiet a moment after before she could feel his arms suddenly around her neck. It was unexpected, but Emma returned the hug with a hand gently pressing to his upper back. The hug ending almost as quickly as it started, the boy ran back down the hallway to return to his mother who stood a ways down the hall. Taking her hand, he looked up to her and they began talking about something. Peri noticing a smile across the woman’s face as she crouched down to her son.

“Damn you handled that nicely.” Peri spoke up as she rose to her feet again.

“You did most of that though being the one to talk to him first.”

“The kid probably thought I was a body guard or something, so it was actually a pretty smart idea for him to come to me first. Gotta give the lil’ dude props for that.”

“Plus for working on this with his mother.” Em’s hand moving to let her fingers move over the stones now settled across her chest.

“So? How’re you feeling after doing your first Queenly act?”

“Queenly act?”

“Yeah! You just interacted with one of your Kingdom’s next generation, accepted a gift from them, praised them, and helped them feel better before sending them back to their guardian! You can’t see it, but that kid’s really happy and he’s even bouncing a little while telling his mother all about you and how it was to meet you.”

What her friend was saying... actually made a lot of sense to her. No matter what way she thought about it, what she just did was something a leader or hero would tend to do in stories. Stories both fake and very real. The fact she actually did something like that without realizing it, there was some confidence that filled her.

“I’m feeling like I can actually do this...”

“Hell yeah you can!”

Another pat of Peri’s hand to her arm like before occurred and the two of them laughed a little.

“Emma!”

The oh so familiar voice got the Qilin turning her head to look down the hallway behind her. Both the earthy aura of her father figure, the source of the call to her, and that of the pale yellow belonging to Melo were making their way to her and Peri. Poking at the Komodo’s leg got her attention, a hand lowering to help Emma return to her feet with her uncomfortable knee. Managing to get back up just as the two reached them.

“Hey, Umbir, where’d Roy go off to?” Peri called out to the man as he kept drawing closer to the two of them.

“Your brother’s talking with Captain Maho. I told him to show Roy where to go once they’re done so he can be present for whatever Emma’s got in mind.” He took a moment of pause to his speaking as he glanced over Emma’s new clothing. “Speaking of, It’s nice to see you on your feet again, Em’.” Her father figure spoke up, a gentle smile across his features.

“It’s nice to be on my feet.”

“Sir Dew bumped into me while I was on my way out of the Medical Bay.” Melo spoke up explaining his added presence. “I grabbed a cotton pad and some medical tape that we can use to cover your eye, Emma.”

“Emma?” Umbir’s tone a little confused turning to look to his underling. Such earning a shrug from the woman.

“She requested that I call her by her name and not using a title.”

Em’ could feel the man’s eyes fix on her, clearly looking for some confirmation. Nodding her head, the man did the same understanding the situation.

“Okay” Melo spoke up getting the Royal’s attention as she extended a hand with a small square between her fingers “hold this over your eye.”

The process took about a half minute. Emma taking the cotton pad and carefully holding it over her left eye, Melo unwrapped strips from the tape, tore them off, and secured it in place. One down the side of the square on the outer side of the Qilin’s face, one smaller piece across the corner by the top of her nose, and one last strip along the bottom above her cheek.

“There we go.” The woman turned her attention to Umbir again. “Could you return this to the Med-bay? I’ve been around the civilians more often than you have, I think it’ll be good for me to be with Emma while she’s around them.” Her hand holding the medical tape aside for him.

“Sure. If you three get to the catwalk before I catch up, I’ll meet you there.” Taking the roll from his underling, he turned and began back to the medical room of the Airship.

“What’s he talking about with a catwalk?” A confused Emma speaking up in question.

“There’s a catwalk in the room we’re heading to. High up, gets people in a noticeable spot, can let a voice carry through the room well. Best place to speak to your people and say whatever you need to.”

Emma nodded in understanding after it was explained to her what was meant.

Just before the Knight went to begin guiding the two again, she noticed something that got her to step closer and gently lift the necklace with a finger. “Did a little boy with antlers and blue eyes give this to you?”

Her question got a nodding confirmation from Emma.

“That’s actually really nice, Cele did good.”

“I know, right? Lil’ guy’s got a good eye and creative mind!”

“That he does. Gotta give him a high five while we pass by.” A smooth transition from the trained woman as she gestured for the two to follow her again. Stepping ‘round both to round the corner once more and begin down the crowded hallway. Looking ahead she could see little Cele being picked from the floor by his mother. Their eyes meeting and the trio sharing a smile as the distance between them was beginning to close.

Emma on the other hand, as she followed behind Melo, kept her had turning to look over the people around them. Seeing so many people, thankfully now only through her right eye, she was able to look over them more properly. Seeing so many whom appeared to be adults, others small and childish, a couple clearly elderly. So many auras of varying colors, but so many of them in different moods.

Some dimmed, others shivering, a few vibrating, a couple having shrunk even. Sadness, despair, anxiety, fear, so much negative emotions. Even if some of them seemed to be easing as they saw her. But a few brightened and glowing aura’s stood out to Emma’s sight. Most which she didn’t know, a lot being children whom she heard quietly asking various things about her to their guardians. Though one was a bright blue that she had met just a minute earlier.

As the three came up to Cele and his mother, Melo stretched out a hand and the boy quickly reacted. Reaching his own hand out, the two connected for a ‘high’ five. Afterward his attention quickly shifted to Emma, the Qilin could feel his gaze on her, and even if she couldn’t see it they shared a smile. Once it came Peri’s turn to pass by, he gave the kid a thumbs up and a wink. Waving with her tail as they passed and continued on.

It only took another minute of walking, passing by multiple more groups of people till they would fine themselves stepping into a much, much larger room. Within was the bulk of the Ventian civilians, dozens of them if not a hundred or so at bare minimum filling this room alone. There was still some space to move around and for some breathing room, but so many more people than what was within the halls leading here.

“Up this way.” Melo spoke up, stepping off to the side where, after a second, Emma’s aura would reveal a stair case as it began flowing through the room.

Turning her attention up the stairs, she quickly noticed a familiar aura, ever changing between seven colors and never staying as one of them for more than a few seconds at a time. Roy. His form bent forward, she supposed he was resting against the railing of what she guessed was the catwalk. Off to his side, however, stood two auras more. One she remembered from when she and Peri arrived in the canyon the other day, and one of a beige color. The red aura of the man from the canyon with his arm ‘round the smaller beige being.

“Hey there, Princess.” Roy spoke up as the trio got up onto the catwalk proper.

“Roy.” Emma greeted in return, making her way to hug him, feeling his arms return the embrace quickly.

“Hey, leave some room for me!” The sister of the Gaia duo stepping over to the two opening a space to welcome her into their hugging. As the three shared this moment, a breath of relaxation was taken by each. After which they broke apart, though Peri kept her arm round Roy’s shoulders as they set into a comfortable stance together.

The Qilin, however, would feel a tap at her shoulder. Looking to the source, it was Melo gesturing to step past her friends. Following her, the two stepped over closer to the two auras whom were unknown to the younger of the two. Seeing both of them move to turn to face her. Only now noticing that the beige shorter being had a pair of animalistic ears atop their head. Really, really tall ears.

“Emma, these are the NeverCondor’s Captains. Captain Maho Agna and his wife Captain Begi Vix.” The Guard introduced the two to the people to Emma. Gesturing first to the taller red form, then the shorter beige.

Before she could do much, she would see the man’s hand reach forward urging for a handshake, one which she took with a bow to her head. After which she saw that of the shorter of the pair bow her own head before hearing her speak up.

“It’s a pleasure to meat you, your Highness. Umbir’s been working pretty closely with us and he’s told us a lot about you. Actually kind of been looking forward to meeting the ‘Aura-Sighted Huntress’ for a bit now.”

“Please, just call me Emma. No need for titles between us. I’ve never really felt like I’d be able to fulfill the role, so this is all going to be new for me.”

“Well, if it’s going to be any bit similar to being a Captain, you can come to us if you need some advice at any time.” A masculine voice, she assumed Maho’s as she turned her attention to his aura form.

“Thank you, Captain. I’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

“Here.” Maho again, his arm moving, seemingly to retrieve something. “Whenever you’re ready, there’s a switch on the side of this headset that you can use to turn it on. Once you do, a microphone will fold out and you can speak into that. It will broadcast your voice through the entirety of the ship. Since the Ventian refugees we have on board are spread about the central area of the ship, this will let all of them hear you from where they are.”

The object held out to her, according to what Emma would see with her aura flowing over it, appeared to be a wireless thin headset. One side ending with a thinner stop she assumed would fit over or behind her left ear. The other with a wider and thicker section with a somewhat similar shaping as the other, just with an extra bit that she assumed would go inside her ear. Reaching to take it, she brought it to hold in both her hands across her front.

“Thank you, again Captain. For taking care of... my people... in their time of need. For bringing them to a safer place. I’m not absolutely sure about it, but I think I have an idea of a location where they can be housed for some time until we’re able to get some more proper housing set up. Just might take some time to get it ready for them.” A fairly obvious bit of nerves present as she said that second sentence.

“If you need any help with that, just let us know, alright? We’ve got some people who’re great with repairs and building, and there are actually quite a few of your people who’ve offered to help us with keeping the NeverCondor in good shape while they’ve been on board.”

“I’m glad they’ve been able to help with your travels since you’ve taken them in.

“Y’know” Begi again “for someone who’s unsure how well they’re going to do as a Queen, you’re already handling yourself pretty well just talking with us.”

“R-Really?” A somewhat disbelieving tone to Emma’s voice.

“Hey, that’s the kind of talk I’ve used to make some deals as Captain while Maho’s not been available before. There’s definitely going to be some hardships and some things to get used to, sure, but I think you’re going to do fine in the long run, Emma.”

A gentle smile came present to the Royal’s face hearing Begi’s words. “Thank you, Begi. It helps knowing so many people have been showing faith in me.”

Feeling a hand come to clasp onto her shoulder, Emma’s head turned to look for the source behind her. Seeing Umbir’s aura, she moved her own hand to hold over his. Now with her smile even brighter.

“We’ll have your back, Emma. You’re not going to be alone at any point in this stage of your life, I can promise you that.”

His words were a huge source of comfort to her in this moment on top of just him being present overall.  Though after hearing him, her head turned and she looked down over the crowd beneath them. Slowly feeling her smile weaken some, her nerves getting to her as she saw many of them moving closer, to look up at them.

“Despite all the support, I don’t even know what to say to them. I’ve not been in Ventus for years, some of these people are children who were born after my exile so they don’t even know who I am beyond a false Princess. They’ve lost who was likely their best leader since Manus, and now they either turn to Samuel and hope for mercy, or they look to an uncertain young girl who was raised to be a maid for her own half-brother. The only other time I’ve spoken to even a fraction of this amount of people was at the Duke’s charity event when I announced I was still alive, but I had Octavius Tyrian with me at that time. My closest supporter and friend on the Noble front, and he’s not here right now...”

“Hey” her father figure called to her to earn her attention “you’re going to do wonderfully. Breathe in,” he himself inhaling, Emma mimicking him “breathe out,” both of them exhaling “You’ve got this.”

The short moment the two shared was something they tended to do when they were younger. Any time young little Emma had been panicking or upset for reasons related to her disabilities, Umbir would come to her aid. Getting to his knees in front of her, a gentle hand cupping her cheek, another holding her arm or hand. Speaking to her, calling out the nickname she had given her, and getting her attention before working through the process with her.

Both remembered this in the moment, taking one more to hug each other with a single arm.

“Thank you, Papa.”

“You’re welcome, Lil’ Filly. Take some time to think over your words, and when you’re ready, you’ve got the microphone.” His hand patted at her shoulder, leaving it a second after to step over by the Captains to chat with them a bit.

Now on her own among the group, Emma stepped over to the railing of the walkway. Both hands coming to rest atop it, headset in hand. She could feel so many people looking up to her in the moment. It actually surprised her a fair bit just how many people filled the lower section of the room. Combining the number she could guess was present to those in the one hallway she had her eye act up in, she was sure it was a minimum hundred people. The fact there was even more though, that actually got her nerves acting up some.

Still, even with the nerves present within her, she set her mind to attempt to piece together some collection of words. Something she thought would be fitting for a new leader to say to those she’d watch other. She couldn’t really come up with anything all that fast, it was definitely going to take a minute or so at least. Stepping back from the railing, she backed herself to the wall behind her to rest against that instead. Hoping that clearing her sight of the multitude of people below would help her think.

The Gaia siblings glanced over to the thinking Qilin for a second after seeing her form move as it did to the wall behind. Peri, out of the corner of her eye, noticing Melo looking to the Royal as well with some worry present in her gaze. A flick of her tail off to the side getting her attention, after which the Komodo mouthed “Just give her some time”, receiving a nod in understanding. Watching the Guard then turn to join Umbir and the two Captains for the time being. The two of them, however, moved to the corner at the top of the staircase that lead up to the catwalk which they stood on. Further from the rest of the group and a tad more private for them to talk without interrupting their friend.

Remembering back to her time at the Duke’s charity event and the speech she gave there, some ideas did come to mind. Though really thinking them over, the ideas she had back then were meant for high-society people that could’ve provided support for her. This time it was a bunch of people who were scared and unsure of what their future held for them. People who looked to her for some sense of comfort or safety. Two very different things, very different wordings needed.

Working her mind to think of some sort of answer, her eyes lowered to look to the headset her aura covered with each pulse of it. Taking in a lip to nibble at it as she thought, and her tail beginning to swat gently against the wall behind her.

A few minutes actually ended up passing as Emma had her mind hard at work. Not noticing the people having moved around her, her mind having tuned out their voices to focus her own inner vocals. Having switched which side of her lip was being nibbled on every couple seconds, at one point bringing both in and just pressing them together. By now, she felt like she had a couple points she wanted to get across, but there was a lack of proper wording to use to get them out. It was actually a little stressful being unable to piece together words like she was needing to.

Suddenly feeling a hand to her shoulder, the Qilin nearly jumped as her attention was forced back to the world beyond her mind. Blinking a couple times over, uncovered eye glanced about. Noting Roy absent from Peri’s side to her left, Melo standing in front of her and just a little toward the right, then Umbir leaning against the wall beside her with the aura forms of the two Captains and the Gaia Brother standing some distance away.

“Emma?” The woman before her calling her name, getting her eyes turning to her pale yellow aura again. “You alright?”

“Yeah... Yeah, I’m fine, I just... I know what I want to tell them, but I’ve not been able to think of words I should use to get those messages across...”

“Why not wing it then?” The extremely familiar of Umbir’s voice spoke up, earning her attention immediately. “Some of the better speeches that Manus or Cres ever gave were mostly just them going out and talking.”

“I don’t know if I should be inspired hearing that my biological father, who was apparently a Tyrant most of his reign, had good speeches because he just ‘winged them’...” A doubtful response from Emma’s end at his idea.

“I’m not saying you should be, Emma. I’m never going to tell you to be inspired by anything Manus ever did with how horrible a man he was. What I am saying is that you don’t necessarily need to plan out every last word that you say. Just take what you’ve got, figure out how to word it all as you do.” His shoulders rising a little during the end of his sentence. Relaxing just a second later.

Emma had her head nodding for a short bit as she thought over the idea. It would work, she had the somewhat vague idea of what she wanted to say in mind and she knew what exact points she wanted to make known. Winging it would likely be her best option over all wouldn’t it?

Some bit of her was feeling a little more sure of herself when thinking of taking the plunge that would begin her role as Queen. Of making her voice present for the Ventian people to hear. 

She was still a little nervous, yes, but that was her worry that she’d be treated the way she was while leaving Ventus all those years ago. Plenty of the refugees were undoubtedly old enough to remember that day, some possibly having even been among the people whom had spit disgust her direction. as well.

Yet. really taking a second to think of it, there wasn’t exactly a reason for her to think of that... To think such a thing would be unavoidable. Especially not with how everything had been just days ago. At least she hoped that after what had happened it wouldn’t be that way...

“Y-Yeah... I think I can do this. Just give me another minute.” She could see the pale yellow head nodding in understanding. The woman then stepping away to lean over the railing of the catwalk and look to the people below. Something becoming clear to the Royal in this moment, Melo had a tail. A long tail with a rounded end that unfurled from ‘round the Guard’s waist to curl beside her leg.

Emma was a little surprised she hadn’t been able to notice the extra appendage on Melo before, but thinking over it for a second, she figured that she had kept it wrapped ‘round her waist till now. She’d have to ask what sub-species of Faunus the Knight is later. Too many things were much more important right now.

Thankfully it didn’t take much longer till she felt she was more ready to be able to do what she needed. Taking a deep breath, she moved herself away from the wall and stepped closer to the railing. Once more, she could feel the eyes of the people below fixing to her. Swallowing down the nerves that rose from the sense that most all of them were turning their eyes to her, she lifted the headset in her hands, fixing it atop her head and fitting the two sides so they felt right on her. One more breath, and with her hand rising to feel for the switch, she pushed it across it’s spot, and with a gentle click beside her ear, the microphone was now available.

A chime suddenly rang out in the room, three notes in a rising tone. The echo from beyond the room making it clear to her that this was, in fact, going across the ship. Bringing her hands to hold at the railing, she took one more breath.

“P-People of Ventus.” She could hear her own voice repeating, a somewhat electrical tone to it. “I am Emma Smoke Khromatos, Daughter of Manus Aescae Khromatos and Aligar Kaj. Due to my birth mother, Aligar, dying shortly after I was born, I was raised as a maid to the royal family under the name Smoke Kaj by the maid named Harley Nara. A woman who I assume a good sum of you know as she was a kind, wonderful woman that would frequently venture to the market along the main road for supplies. I would often be present with her, a young, scared little girl who rarely spoke when around people I didn’t know.”

She had to pause a second to breathe and calm herself, recalling her past having brought up various emotions which she hadn’t exactly expected. The breath she took to calm herself being just barely heard across the speaker system of the ship.

“Eventually... as I grew older, my Faunus trait began showing more and more. Thankfully with the maid outfit being as long as it was, it hid my tail for a long while. Though after a particular fall that I took, Queen Cress saw it. This ended up giving away my true identity. That I was a child of her King born out of wedlock. Angered by this, she ordered that I be exiled. That night I stole a weapon that was to be given to my half-brother Samuel the next week. Having been his training partner for a while under the watchful eye of Sir Umbir Dew, I had experience with the kind of weapon it was. I disguised it as a walking stick, and the next day I had it with me when I was escorted out of the Kingdom to the Solitas mainland to wander on my own.

One thing lead to another, I found myself on a boat to Sanus, and I traveled to Vale. Meeting with a teacher from the Hunter Academy of Vale, I expressed a wish I had developed during my travels to be able to keep other people safe during their own travels, as I had been helped by Hunters and Huntreses myself at various points on my own journey. Thankfully after displaying my capabilities with the Scythe and what little I could control of my Semblance, he was able to help me enroll in Beacon. I had to tell the headmaster my true name and my story, but he felt I had potential, so he let me in.

By the time I was one of the students and placed into a team fittingly called Team Empress, word had spread that a Princess had been exiled, and eventually killed by a Grimm. With the assistance of the son of a Noble family that supported me even back when word first got out of my situation, I was able to get in touch with some other members of Noble blood, eventually even being invited to a charity event held by the Duke of Coste. At this event, I spoke to settle the rumors of my death, and set word to be spread around that I still lived.

As Lady Melo Grove has revealed to me, Queen Cress had been trying to discover if I was still alive for a while before the Charity event. Wanting to contact me and try to welcome me back to Ventus with open arms to try and repair our relationship. I’m unsure, but she may have even been wanting to accept me as a proper member of the Royal family and an heir to the throne should Samuel have not been fit for it. 

However, at it was soon after I attended the Charity event that the attack on Vale happened. Beacon Academy was swarmed by Grimm, some of Atlas’ technology went haywire and starting attacking students and civilians, and the Cross Continental Transmit System tower of Vale was destroyed. Communications were hindered across all Remnant because of this, and Cres was unable to contact me in any easy way like she might have been with the CCT system up. Instead, she decided to get in touch with some of the Noble families based in Sanus who supported me. One such pair of Noble families was the Baron and Baroness of Montai, and the Duke of Coste.

A couple months back, after you arrived in Sanus aboard the NeverCondor, Umbir dew came to find me, and alongside a close friend of mine, Octavius of the Tyrian family, he showed us video footage of the meeting that Cress had with the three Nobles. I could only hear it, but what I heard made it clear that the Queen wanted the best for me. Asking the Montais and the Duke to take care of and support me in her place should she die before she’s able to meet with me and fix things between us....

Sadly... neither her request or her wishes could possibly be fulfilled... Just as their meeting was ending, a cloaked woman was let into the Quartz Stage by guards loyal to Samuel. This woman rendered the fully armored Umbir Dew incapacitated, killed the Duke of Coste and the Montais, and after my Half Brother took the crown and left the building, she killed Queen Cres as well. 

The sounds of gunfire and screams could be heard as background noise as Umbir began to recover control of his suit, and his body in turn. After retrieving the Necklace from around Cres’ neck and pocketing it, Umbir rushed outside, and the sound of raging flames and explosions became clear... The rest of this story you all know already.” 

Once more she’d pause, feeling a lump in her throat remembering how she handled everything when it was revealed to her that such tragedy had happened to her home.

“Now... when he came to me, Umbir left the Queen’s necklace with me and for some time I avoided wearing it. He told me that I needed to come talk to all of you... To give you some sort of hope by becoming the next Queen and leading you through this difficult time.... But I was unable to bring myself to do so, I was scared, doubtful, and felt I couldn’t possibly fill in the space left by the late Queen Cres... So I never came.

I left all of you scared, unsure of what the future held for you, and those emotions grew more and more each day. Growing to the point it drew the attention of Grimm. Too much Grimm for the NeverCondor to have been able to handle without help. At the time, Umbir called for me, for my team and any others I could get to help.

Initially, me and my teammate and friend Peri Gaia intended to call more people to help us confront the Grimm Horde which was assaulting the Airship. But something happened. 

I’m unsure how many of you know, but I was born blind. I am blind. Though at a point in my life, my aura began changing and adapting, interacting with my eyes in a way that removed it’s protective nature as a sort of default, and instead let me perceive auras. Right now, as I look at everyone in this room, I see you as a vast array of wonderful colors. Reds, blues, greens, yellows, even a couple more uncommon ones like grays and metallic shades. 

Back when I arrived, what happened to me was something that happened once before, but I saw what I can only explain to be a ghost. An aura figure that didn’t belong to any living physical body. One of a ghastly white color. Last time I had encountered it, I entered into it’s embrace and I felt at peace. Like everything was right in the world. Though it also distracted me enough for an Ursa to find me, which proceeded to hit me into a tree, injuring my head and damaging my left eye further than it already was.

Seeing the ghostly aura again, I knew something would happen if I went to it. I was unsure whether it would be something good or if it would be bad, but I had to know. , With some help from a crew member that I’m told goes by the name of Sprig, I was able to get to the figure and once again feel it’s touch. The odd aura was calming, pleasant, and for a short time it felt there wasn’t any horde surrounding me. Yet in it’s embrace, something happened this time that didn’t before. 

The being spoke to me. It’s words... I couldn’t understand them at all. Yet even still, there was some sense of understanding that came as I listened to it. I came to know what I had to do to help with the Horde, to have some confidence that I could lead you, and to know it’s identity. As crazy as it sounds... I’m not entirely sure of it myself, but I’m sure the name that it put into my mind was that of our first Queen. Of Giulia Khromatos. I’m unsure why Giulia came to me or how it’s even possible, but she was there, and even though she’s absent right now, I know she’s here watching over us.

Using the knowledge Giulia gave me, what seemed to be based on an experience she herself had with the Ventian People of her time, I was able to come up with an idea that would hopefully work to fend off enough of the horde. With a Dust Crystal in hand and Giulia’s help, I was able to use the Dust to stagger the Grimm horde, and my Semblance at a much stronger state than I have ever been able to in my time as a Huntress. The combination allowed me to successfully fend off what Grimm were more of a threat, block a large sum of the horde from being able to get to the NeverCondor should those closer to the ship be destroyed. 

Though I do have to give thanks for my friend and teammate Peri Gaia and the man who’s been my Father Figure for my entire life, Umbir Dew. Without the two of them, there were multiple points during the encounter where I very well could’ve died. A couple where they almost did themselves”

Turning to look back to the Komodo and the Armored man one after the other, the two both shrugged after glancing to one another and stepping forward to her sides. Emma herself looking between the two before focusing to the crowd again. A smile now present.

“Without Peri and Umbir, my effort in settling the rumors of my death would’ve turned out to be for nothing.” She could hear Peri chuckling, thus making her laugh a little alongside her. Not really even caring it would be broadcast through the entire ship. Though she did calm herself a couple seconds later.

“After what happened two days ago, I ended up losing consciousness due to severe lack of aura. According to Umbir, I was out for a full twenty-four hours. Over this time, the NeverCondor’s crew was able to clear out as much Grimm as they needed to have the time necessary for them to launch and take to the skies safely. To get all of you to safety. But this is only temporary... 

If I were to have left the instant I could instead of coming here to talk to all of you, it would’ve set the cycle in motion all over again. You would feel that same fear, despair, anxiety, and uncertainty still, possibly even worse, and eventually Grimm would’ve come again. The next time would’ve likely been worse, so much so than what this time was. 

But it’s because I know that and because of the faith that I’ve received from the people beside me right now, and because of the kindness of a little boy among you who welcomed the idea of me as your Queen so easily that I stayed. That I am right here, right now, speaking as I am, and addressing every single refugee. What I am about to say, I may sound unsure of myself, but that’s not because of how I’m feeling right now or because of you. It’s because of doubts I had harbored all my life and the fact that, just like all of you, I am scared to step into this unknown territory.”

Pausing, Emma took a deep, audible breath to ready herself physically, mentally and emotionally for what she was about to say. A part of her unable to believe she was taking this step, that with all the negativity that had filled her whenever she thought of herself as a ruler, she was about to set herself to such a role. There was actually a want to hesitate, to stop right now and just run, but she knew she couldn’t. She had to do this.

“I, Emma Smoke Khromatos, twelfth generation of the Khromatos lineage, will not hide any longer. Starting today, I will take upon myself the role of Queen of Ventus. As shaky as the road ahead may be with having to learn and adapt, to the best of my ability I will lead you all to a future where we can return to Ventus and free it of the legacy of tyranny which Samuel continues in his fathers stead. It may take some time to get there, but I promise you, I will get us there. I just need your faith and your trust.”

The intercom system would fall silent for a short bit. Emma quieting herself hoping for some kind of reaction from the crowd. She could feel eyes leaving  her and hear voices down below. For a few seconds she was feeling unsure of whether or not what she said was right. If the words she used didn’t work and the Ventian people wouldn’t support her. She could feel her tail curling ‘round her leg as worry began to settle in.

But then she heard something, cheering and clapping, all so faint from the hallway she and the others entered the room from. The quiet applaud soon growing louder while still muffled. Louder again, the opposite side now, just another second passing before the very room she was currently in began cheering up to her. Some merely clapping, others shouting words of support and positivity.

It actually took Emma by surprise a little bit to know they were accepting her. That after all of her self-doubting, people were able to believe the would be able to lead them. Finding herself choking up some just from the realization that so many people believed she could do what she was so sure she couldn’t for so long. The impact of the moment hitting her hard enough she could’ve sworn she couldn’t breathe.

Before she was able to say or do any more, she could feel a pressure against the side of the headset. Soon discovering it was Umbir shutting the headset off. Turning her head to him, she could see his hands raising with the aura-filled pendant necklace hanging between them. Moving it closer to her to set it ‘round her neck as his aura glowed bright with happiness. 

Moving to hug him, Emma felt his arms quickly return the embrace and his voice speaking one simple line that sent tears rolling down her cheeks..

“I’m proud of you.”

[simply-wins-little-sis]

King of Cats

A/N: This one is for @winchesters-favorite-girl ​ 31 days of Halloween! I have October Second, which is black cats! The story itself is kind of busy, and I am super sorry about that! It’s based off of a Scottish Legend so enjoy please! Also enjoy the double fic weekend/week start!

Pairings: Winchesters x sister!reader Castiel x sister!reader and Crowley x sister!reader

The next one will be a request! ALSOOO requests are open and so is the tag list! Have a spooktacular week my boos!

Tags:  @hellhoundlover @emmazach @percussiongirl2017 @sisterwinchesterwriter @staticweekes @lil-sister-winchester @hi-my-name-is-riley @the-third-winchester-warrior @fandom-queen-of-wonderland

The warm yellow and orange lit up the charcoal colored pavement you walked along. Your boots purposely slamming down onto the ground a little rougher, and louder than most days. Your nose was a light red, as your eyes watered at the slightest breeze, still sensitive to the changing season, but eager to see the summer greens leave. Your jacket was zipped, and book bag heavy as you walked among, making sure to check your surroundings every few minutes, just as your brothers had reminded you to do this morning. After all, it was ghoul season, so no extra precaution could hurt.

It isn’t like you were frightened by the fake goblins and ghosts that decorated the doors of the neighborhood next to your high school, you just knew too well that with all the fake masks and harmless child play, real creatures of evil had time and place to hide and strike more often. You had been loaded with secret tools and weapons at the door that morning, and didn’t object to the constant reminders form your overprotective big brothers because you knew it would make them feel better. In your heart you knew you were fully capable of handling anything that came your way.

You entered the alley you were shortcutting through. You had taken this alley every day since you began your walks to and from town. You strutted along the cracked cement, when you heard rustling in the nearest trash can. You slowed your pace, and gripped the worn handle on the knife that was hidden in your boots. You inched your way further to the trash can. Taking a deep breath in, you gripped onto the lid, as the rustling continued.

You counted a quick three, and then ripped the lid off, about to slam the knife down into whatever was in the can.

That’s when a tiny kitten, all black, gave a loud cry starting with M and ending in OW! It was just as frighten as you were.

“Huh hey there little one,” you laughed, and you slid the knife back, and whipped the sweat off your brow, trying to stay cool. The kitten gave a more pleasured, and reasonable sounding cry as it looked dup at you without the knife starring it down.

You smiled, and looked around, “You stay here, all by yourself?” you asked. Getting no response, you decided you had two choices. You could leave the cat here, where it could run into trouble, or you could take it with you.

The second option appealed to your liking, and the cats.

You picked it up, and placed it on the pavement beside you. “Follow me,” you smiled.

The kitten started crying halfway through the rest of your walk home, and you scooped it up. No noise was made for the rest of the trip.

Once you reached the bunker, your arms were cramped into the most awkward positions, and the kitten’s bright eyes were staring up at you. You somehow managed to slip through the door after jostling your key into the lock a few times. The cat was getting frustrated, and began to meow again.

“Listen here you little-,” but before you could finish you were falling over the railing of the upper floor, and you let out a blood curdling scream and the cat once again cried out a loud M and OW! You released the kitten as you panicked and threw our arms this way, and that way.

You suddenly landed, bridal style, in the arms of an angel- no literally an angel.

Castiel had his eyebrows furrowed as you gripped his neck, catching your breath.

“Y/N, why were you trying to make the cat fly? Is it a new interrogation technique? I have seemed to miss out on that certain, hunting skill, you possess,” he started. You clambered off him, looking for the kitten.

“Looking for this?” Dean asked, arms outstretched, the kittens stomach facing you as its eyes glowed.

You scratched your neck, “Yeah, uh, about that,” you awkwardly laughed.

Sam then entered the room with Crowley in tow. “As I was saying- HOLY IS THAT A BLACK CAT! GET THAT AWAY FROM ME!” Crowley seemed to be frightened, as he hid behind Sam.

“What’s all the commotion?” Sam asked, rolling his eyes.

All of you went to speak at once, but the cat interrupted.

“Crowley!” it hissed.

All of you jumped back, Dean extending his arms as far as they could possibly go.

“Ah! Blasted fairy!” Crowley cried.

“What?!” the Winchester brothers said in unison as you grabbed onto Castiel’s coat sleeve.

“Awe isn’t it fun to make a grown man cry?” the cat laughed.

“I thought you were a baby,” you muttered. The cat, who clearly was not a kitten on the inside glared at you.

“What is this fur ball?” Dean grimaced.

“It’s a Cat Sith!” Crowley practically leaped onto Sam.

“Huh?” you all asked.

“I’m a fairy you dimwits,” the cat cackled, “Scottish legend”.

That’s when Castiel walked straight up to the talking cat.

“Cas don’t,” Crowley called out.

“WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT OF THE-,” and with that the cat lept into the air, and attached itself to Castiel, who was now on the ground.

“Leave him alone!” you screamed, and swept at the creature with a book. The cat lept to the table where Sam covered it in a laundry basket.

“Crowley wanna explain what this thing is doing with our sister?” Dean asked as he watched his brother struggle holding the cat down.

“It may or may not be trying to claim your baby sister because I bargained for the Highlands in trade for-,” but the faces of the men all stopped him. “What? She haunted the highlands, and I need them!”.

You rolled your eyes, “So I’m Catnip?”.

“Well when you put it like that…” Crowley looked around.

Dean rolled his eyes and considered the side of the laundry bin. “Look, fairy, crazy cat lady, whoever, go claim something else, cause my baby sister is off limits,” he sighed.

The cat hissed.

“Is there a way out of this?” you asked.

“There may be…one way…” Crowley headed towards your kitchen.

You slid the bowl of milk towards the basket. You nodded to Sam, who opened it. The cat, hissing and reluctant, headed towards to bowel, and drank the milk you had poured into it.

The cat rolled its eyes, “Your house is blessed. Buh bye,” and with that the cat was gone.

You all looked to Crowley, but he had gone as well, probably to try and get his demon goons to catch the cat for himself.

“Y/N Winchester, NO MORE ANIMALS IN THIS HOUSE!” Dean boomed.

You and Sam both gave a little laugh, and took in some extra breaths.

“So, Dean, Sam, Y/N, what did I do wrong when interrogating the cat?” Castiel asked.

So, a Cat Sith is a cat ghost/fairy/witch that haunts certain areas of Scotland and if you leave a bowel of mile out for it on Halloween your house will be blessed and you wont have to worry about it, or its soul taking abilities. It comes in the from of a black cat, and sometimes has white on its chest as well.

[fancat-not-fangirl]

Flying in the Face of Danger

a/n #1: ok so I’ve decided that I’d start posting more of my writing on tumblr bc idk. I like hurt!Dean a lot, so that’s what most of it will be.

a/n #2: Speaking of hurt!Dean’s, if anyone knows any good ones where he gets hurt and either Sam or Cas is protective, please send me a link. I’m running out. I’ll take literally anything I can find. I’m desperate.

a/n #3: This is one I wrote a while ago. It’s on my ao3 and ff.net. This is more of an emotionally hurt Dean than a physical one. Whatever. The demon here is an OC. The fic is set somewhere between seasons 2-6.

Summary: For a case, Dean has to take a trip by plane. Alone

()()()()()()

This particular demon had been bothering them for a while now. Always getting in their way, making their lives much more difficult than necessary. For example, he seemed to find pleasure in sending demon assassins after them. In short, he made their lives hell.

Exorcising him meant that there was always a small chance that he could return. And they couldn’t take any chances. So Sam and Dean decided to play it safe and burn the bones.

Except the bones were in Hawaii. Of course they were in Hawaii. As if anything in their lives was ever easy.

And of course it was Dean that had to fly there because Sam chose that exact time of year to get horribly sick.

Dean had tried to reason with him. He really did. He had tried to convince Sam that Dean should stay and take care of the nose blowing snot spewing cough obsessed moose. But Sam wasn’t having any of that.

“Killing this bastard is more important than a cold,” Sam had told Dean after almost hacking his lungs out during a particularly bad coughing spell. Then, looking more pointedly at Dean, he’d continued with, “And I’m not a kid anymore Dean. I can take care of myself.”

And after days and days of arguing, Dean had relented and bought a plane ticket, flying all the way to Hawaii and back, without throwing up even once. (Or at least that’s what he’d tell Sam.) 

And now he was waiting for his luggage in the airport, still slightly nauseous from the flight but he’d never admit that.

Truth be told, the flights had scared the crap out of Dean Winchester. Back when he and Sam had exorcised that demon years ago when their dad had still been alive, at least he’d had Sam to comfort him. To make fun of him and his Metallica. To squeeze his arm when they hit an especially rough patch of clouds.

This time, all Dean had had was a lady on his right who spent the entire time talking away with her friend, and a man on his left, who seemed to hold on to the firm belief that Dean was, in fact, a pillow, and not one of the fiercest hunters in the entire Western Hemisphere.

But even the best hunters get scared. And right now Dean was terrified. The smell of the too many bodies in the plane still clogged his nose, and the soft mush that the flight had called food was fighting its way back to the surface. Dean could still feel the vibrations of the plane if he didn’t keep moving, which was why he kept up an agitating pace walking back and forth as he kept waiting and waiting for his bags. All of the people here were just as impatient as he was, eager to go home to their families, to their jobs, to their lives. 

What was Dean going home to? Stingy motel rooms, crappy diner food, hours and hours on the road, almost getting killed every few days. Dean didn’t even know if he could call that a home.

Screw this airport. He needed to get out. Soon. 

Everywhere he looked reminded him of that plane. Of the stingy old seats. Of the tiny cramped bathroom that swayed under your feet and made you nauseous. Of the horrid silence broken every few minutes by a cough or a baby’s cry. Of the endless shaking and turbulence of the plane. 

Of the hours upon hours of chilling fear of that small one in a million chance the plane could go down.

The airport seemed to dislike the fact that if it denied Dean his luggage any longer, Dean would rub two parallel lines into the floor with his pacing, so it finally gave up his bag. He would have taken it with him in carry on, but God knows he had too many guns and knives in the bag for him not to have been stopped at security. 

Grumbling to himself, Dean pushed through the crowd of people and hauled his bag off the line. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man that had used him as a pillow slumped against the wall, waiting for something or other. Hah. Dean thought. At least this time it would be the wall that had to endure the snoring, not Dean.

Following the flow of noisy people out of the terminal, Dean sighed as he realized that he would have to spend another hour or two in a taxi. He’d have to answer stupid questions like “How was your flight?” and “Where are you headed?” And he couldn’t just tell the taxi driver his location in case he was being tailed, so of course Dean would ask him to drop him off three blocks away from the motel room. That would mean another twenty minutes of walking, Dean calculated. Twenty minutes before he got to see Baby again. Before he got to their room and could take an incredibly long shower to wash the airplane out of him. Twenty minutes before he got to see Sam and breathe in that Patented Little Brother Scent that Sam always seemed to have. Dean had high hopes that the airplane musk would get flushed out with Sam’s smell. Not to mention hearing Sam’s voice. Oh how tired Dean was of the constant bickering and mumbling everywhere around him, not being able to make out what was being said but also never quite having a full moment of peace and quiet. 

Dean walked past a row of windows that opened to the line of airplanes outside. Repressing a shudder, Dean remembered the one time on his flight to Hawaii he had braved a glance outside the airplane window at the ground below, and had almost heaved up his lunch. 

The faster he got out of here the better.

The sea of people, including Dean, finally made it out to the arrival dock. He saw families launch towards their loved ones and envelop them in hugs. He saw one girl burst out crying at the sight of her boyfriend, holding up a sign that said ‘Welcome home! Will you marry me?’ Smiling softly to himself, Dean couldn’t help the sad twinge in his gut. It wasn’t quite jealousy, but definitely something akin to it. These people didn’t know how lucky they were, with their normal jobs, peaceful lives, caring families. With their homes. 

Dean shook his head and moved on. He craned his neck, looking for someone that looked like they drove a taxi. Damn it, it was just his luck that they would all be taken by the time he got out-

Dean’s eyes latched onto a sign being held high above the others. He read the word ‘JERK’ spelled out in big bold letters, and followed the arm holding it down down down to Sam’s smiling face. Sam, whose nose was red and had bags under his eyes and was definitely still sick. That didn’t stop Dean from striding over to his brother and pulling him into a quick hug. Inhaling deeply, Dean relaxed at the familiar and comforting smell of his little brother.

Sam let out a noise of surprise, but returned the embrace, coughing a bit when Dean pulled away. 

“I thought you were strictly against chick flick moments?” 

Dean grinned at the sound of Sam’s voice. He’d never admit it to Sam, but he had missed his little brother like crazy on his trip.

Giving Sam a playful shove, Dean teased, “The plane messed with my head. I thought you were Angelina Jolie.”

Sam stuck his tongue out at Dean and was about to say something else when he sneezed. He dug around in his pockets for a tissue, and gave Dean a panicked look when he couldn’t find one. Chuckling, Dean reached into his own pocket and gave Sam a tissue. One of the many Dean had for times like this; when Sam spent too much time thinking of others and not enough to think about himself. But that was alright, because Dean would always be there to think of Sam for him.

“C’mon, Sasquatch. You’re sick as a dog. Let’s get you home so I can see what crap you’ve been doing to yourself to ‘get better’ while I was away.”

“I can take care of myself, you know. I’m not a helpless five year old anymore.”

“You sure about that?”

“You’re a jerk.”

“Bitch.”

And as they left the airport side by side, it registered to Dean that he had used the word ‘home’. But at the sight of Sam’s laughing face as Dean slid into the driver’s seat of Baby and told his car how much he missed her, Dean realized that this was exactly what he was going back to. Hours and hours of driving with Sam at his side. Joking and laughing with his brother about that man that had used Dean as his personal pillow. Listening to Led Zeppelin full blast on the road, with Dean and Sam singing along. Both brothers staying up late, watching crappy motel TV.

Home.

Dean was home.