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chimerickat · 10 months

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Chapter 1

“What kind of girl do you think my brother likes?”

You looked up from your textbook to give Mokuba a raised eyebrow. “Girls? I was under the impression that your brother went for something with scales.”

“Ha. Ha,” Mokuba deadpanned. “But seriously! I’m trying to come up with a list of things he’d like… and it’s really hard.”

If you knew what Seto Kaiba liked in a woman… well, you’d make good use of that information. You frowned, pretending to think about it. As if you didn’t ponder on it all too often. “Blue eyes?” Mokuba started writing, and you almost felt bad about where you were going with this. “Very, very fair skin. Like white. Let’s just say white like a crayon. Wings. She’s gotta have wings.”

You grinned as Mokuba stopped writing to glare at you. He tore the page out of his notebook, balled it up, and threw it at you. You knocked the paper ball off to the side and watched it hit the ground. Then you leaned forward. “You’d better get that before someone takes a picture of you littering.”

“You’re the worst friend.” He got up to grab the paper before shoving it into his bag, presumably to throw it away later when his bag was too full of trash to function.

You didn’t want to ask why Mokuba wanted you to speculate on what his brother liked. Showing too much interest in his brother might tip Mokuba off to the very secret fact that you were way too interested in his brother. At the same time, you really wanted to know. “Why are you trying to figure out what your brother might like anyway?” You looked back down at your textbook, pretending to work, pretending that you didn’t really care about the answer.

“He needs someone.”

You were alert. “He said that?”

“No.” Mokuba shrugged. “But he’s so obsessed with work right now. And now that I’m not home as much, I don’t think he’s eating. I think having a girlfriend would be good for him.”

You looked around the library as you leaned on the table. Nobody seemed to be in earshot, but you didn’t want to be the cause of the next trashy article. You gestured for Mokuba to lean closer to you. “Do you even know if he’s into girls?” After all, his obsession with that Yugi Motou person hadn’t been too fabricated in the papers… You’d always wondered.

“Well, shit.” Mokuba threw his pen down on the table as he leaned back. “No. I mean, I assume he is… but he’s never… well, I’ve never seen him with anyone.” He looked around at the library. “I think I may need your help.”

“Help setting your brother up with someone? I don’t have a death wish.” You also really didn’t want to. Mokuba couldn’t have come up with a crueler task.

“Please?” Mokuba gave you his best puppy eyes. “I know that you don’t really care about my brother, but do it for me? I’m really worried about him.”

“No, Mokuba. No.” You stared him down, unmoved by the eyes he was making. He was wrong about why you wouldn’t help. “I don’t have time to go searching for a magic unicorn that could tempt Seto Kaiba. Take him to a bar or something.”

“You know he would never.”

You nodded. You did know that. It was why you’d suggested it. “I don’t know what to tell you, Mokuba. Buy him a puppy?” You checked the time. It wasn’t time for your next class, but you couldn’t let Mokuba convince you to help him. You needed out of this conversation. “I’ve gotta head across campus for my next class. I’ll see you later.” You piled all your stuff into your bag.

“Yeah. I’m picking you up tonight?”

You stared at him for a moment, and then you remembered that your roommates were having a party tonight. The joys of finishing midterms early. “I guess.” You weren’t in the mood for more of Mokuba trying to matchmake his brother, but you’d be able to study and sleep at his place.

He grinned, probably planning all the ways he could convince you to help him in his dumb quest. “Okay. See you at seven or do you want to have dinner together?”

“No. Seven is fine.” You shouldered your bag. “Bye.” It was hard to pretend you weren’t upset, and your goodbye came out snappier than you intended. You hurried away before Mokuba could say anything. Hopefully he would forget by tonight.

Later that night, you threw an overnight bag into Mokuba’s backseat and hoped he would move on to a new subject.

“I tried talking to Seto’s assistant today. She didn’t know anything either.”

Well that would be a no. “Mokuba, if you don’t know anything about your brother’s preferences… literally nobody else will.” Maybe if you hammered the point home enough, Mokuba would give up on this. “If he isn’t interested in dating, you won’t be able to convince him otherwise. Maybe he’s happy with the way things are.”

“He’s not happy!”

You grabbed the door as Mokuba revved the engine and cut around another driver. You knew that Mokuba worried too much about his brother. It was normal for Mokuba to get distressed anytime he really talked about him. You wanted to be a good friend and help Mokuba out.

But his plan was dumb on so many levels, and you refused to go along with it.

“Did something happen recently?” you asked, wondering if something had triggered this.

“He’s…” Mokuba sighed. “It’s a long story.”

That was code for, ‘It’s a story I won’t tell you’. You were used to Mokuba being private about his brother, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. “Well, let me know if you want to talk about it.”

“I do want to talk about how we can find people for him to meet.”

“Fair.” You shifted in the seat, trying to think of ways to turn this conversation to anything else. “When did this turn into finding people for him though? I’m not sure your brother is the harem type.”

“No. But you’re right that I don’t know his type. So I was thinking maybe if I found different people that I think he’d like… I could set him up on dates and maybe one would work out?”

Multiple people… all on dates with Seto Kaiba… You felt your stomach roll at the thought. “Now you sound like some sort of matchmaker.” You tried to keep your tone light. It was a joke. You were joking about this. You weren’t feeling sick at the thought at all.

And Mokuba chuckled. “Hopefully I will be.”

You told yourself it would all be pointless in the end. Seto Kaiba didn’t like people. Mokuba couldn’t find anyone to interest his brother.

Mokuba began talking about things he thought his brother would appreciate. Intelligence was, obviously, the biggest thing he would look for, but he also thought his brother might enjoy having someone with the same interests as him. You gave him just enough of a response to keep him babbling on as you tried to turn your face into stone. You did not need to give away your pathetic feelings on the matter.

When Mokuba pulled into his driveway, you felt relief. Finally this conversation could end! “Don’t you have a midterm tomorrow, too?”

“Yeah, but it’s no big deal.”

This was one of those times where his ability to just get good grades made you jealous. “Well, help me study then. You can quiz me.”

“Wait, let me get that!” Mokuba rushed around the car to grab your things before you could get them out of the backseat.”I can’t let a lady carry this heavy bag!”

You just rolled your eyes. Protesting was pointless so you followed Mokuba into the mansion and up to the guest bedroom that had become your usual place to stay. “I still think you should move in with us,” he said as he dropped your things on the bed.

“Yeah, I can’t afford the rent on a place like this.” Also, you would be so uncomfortable living under the same roof as Seto Kaiba… if he even allowed it to happen.

“Free? You can’t afford free?”

“Nope. I’m that poor. Besides, what if you start dating the beautiful Tris? I can’t imagine she’d like you living with some other woman.” You grabbed your textbook and your laptop. “Library? You are going to help me study, right?”

“Yeah… um… speaking of Tris…” Mokuba looked off to the side and rubbed one of his shoulders. “She kind of… we have a date tonight doyoumindifIditchyouforabit?”

“Mokuba you jerk! When were you going to tell me?!” You felt the urge to throw something at him, but the objects in your hands were too heavy. His guilty expression told you he’d intended to keep it a secret. “No! Were you just going to go to the bathroom for a few hours again?”

“I mean it was an idea‒”

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE SERIOUSLY SICK!”

He held out his hands. “Jeez. Calm down.”

“No!” What a jerk. You’d wandered around the mansion for a good thirty minutes concerned that he needed you to call someone for help only to find out that he’d snuck out on you. You were still mad about it. “What am I supposed to do without you?! Twiddle my thumbs?”

“Study? I thought you had a lot of work to do for your midterms?” He grinned, but you didn’t return the smile. “C’mon,” he begged, “you would have pretended to find somewhere else to stay if I’d told you, and I don’t want you falling asleep in the library.”

“Fine.” You turned around with a huff. “I’ll just be here looking for the best blackmail material to sell.” You stormed off to the library knowing he would follow.

He popped up next to you, easily keeping up with his longer legs. “I think you have plenty of sellable material at this point.”

You just glared at him. “Maybe your brother would like to know some of it.”

Mokuba just laughed, knowing full well that you knew the story of what happened to the Blue Eyes Jet. “I doubt he’ll be home anytime tonight but good luck.”

Well, that was good news at least. You could avoid making a fool of yourself if Seto Kaiba weren’t here.

Then again… it was hard to resist the impulse to raid his room for a t-shirt like the lunatic that you were... “You really shouldn’t trust me alone here,” you mused aloud.

Mokuba shrugged. “I mean we have security so it’s not like you can do too much damage.”

Right. Security. How could you ask where the cameras were located without seeming suspicious? Surely there weren’t any in the bedrooms…

“They could see if I snuck into your room and shredded all your clothes?”

He scoffed. “We both know you wouldn’t.”

Well, that didn’t answer the question at all. “If I don’t, it’s only because you can easily afford more.”

As the two of you entered the Kaiba library, you looked around and took a deep breath. This room never failed to make you feel both joy and envy at the same time. It had walls and walls of books with both couches and desks to choose from. There was even a massive window with its own bench to relax on. The only thing missing was a fireplace.

Well… and someone to snuggle up to as you read… but honestly, that was so far removed from possible reality that you weren’t sure it could even be called a fantasy.

“Ok. I guess you can leave now if you need to,” you said as you spread your stuff out across a desk.

Mokuba checked his phone. “No, it’s cool. I still have some time before our date.” He sat down in one of the chairs with a grin. “I’m taking her to that place with the rooftop bar but our reservation isn’t until a little later.”

“Oooooh fancy.” Now this was a conversation you could get behind. You slid into a chair next to Mokuba. “When did you get the guts to ask her out? And how come I didn’t get a text immediately?”

“Uh, it only just happened today actually. I ran into her when I was leaving the library, and she actually recognized me!”

You rolled your eyes. Who wouldn’t recognize Mokuba?

“No, she recognized me from our class!” he defended, apparently able to read your mind. “She asked me about the midterm, and we started talking. She said she was done with midterms so I asked her to come celebrate with me tonight.”

“Nevermind that you aren’t done,” you interrupted.

He just waved a hand at you. “She said yes! So I called that place and begged for a reservation.”

“It is a nice place for a date. What are you planning to wear?”

“Jeans and a dress shirt?” He winked.

You gave him a thumbs up. “You’ve been learning, and you’re picking her up yes?”

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “You think you have to ask.”

You lifted your hands in surrender. “Sorry. You were just such a caveman when we met.” You sighed. “I guess you probably should get ready though.” You looked at the books that you didn’t want to open and then back at Mokuba. “Can I help?”

He just shrugged. “I only need to change shirts really, but you can tell me what you think of my plans for the date.” He led you off to his room, filling you in on the rest of his plan as you used him to put off studying. It was nice to have him distracted away from the subject of his brother, and you encouraged him by letting him know his plan was a good one. After all, a romantic dinner on a rooftop terrace surrounded by twinkle lights? Tris would melt. You knew that you would.

As Mokuba got dressed in his walk-in closet, you noticed a pink thing sitting on top of his display case. Curious, you stood up and pulled it off to unfold it for a better look. It was a pink jacket that you didn’t think would fit Mokuba.

“What’s this?” you asked as he emerged from the closet.

Disgust took over his face. “Ugh, Lily left it here last time I saw her.”

“Oh.” You dropped the jacket as if it had a disease. That shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Both of you had blocked her number after she had repeatedly tried to convince Mokuba to date her again. But that had been months ago. “Why do you still have it?”

He shrugged. “I just haven’t tossed it out yet, I guess. I dunno. I didn’t really even realize it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Can you just throw it in the trash in my bathroom?”

“Sure.” You scooped up the jacket and carried it into his massive bathroom. As you dumped it into the trash, you hoped Mokuba wasn’t still hurt from that particular breakup. It had been nasty.

On your way out, you grabbed his brush. “Tame your hair,” you ordered as you tossed the brush to Mokuba.

He scoffed but used the brush anyway. You assessed his outfit. It was basic, but he looked good in it. Other than his hair, he didn’t need anymore work to look nice. “I guess I better actually get to work then?”

Mokuba grinned and stopped brushing his hair to stride over and give you a hug. “You know you won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“Yeah, yeah.” You hugged him back and then pulled away. “Just do us both a favor and don’t bring her back here tonight.”

“I’m offended. You know I’m too classy for that.”

“HOPEFULLY you’re too wary of strangers for that, but you keep leaving me alone here so I don’t know if that’s true.”

“Please. You’re family at this point, and I’d give you a key if you would take it.”

“A symbolic key?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, well.” You gave him a once-over look again. “Have fun.”

“Thanks. You too.” He winked at you.

You retreated to the library, able to make your way around the Kaiba mansion alone with ease, and made yourself comfortable. You appreciated the fact that Mokuba was willing to just leave you alone in his home even if you protested that he shouldn’t be so trusting. You set up your books and computer on the table and played music since you were alone in the library (and other than the staff, probably the entire mansion). At some point, a maid came by and provided you with tea to keep you going, and you found yourself getting a lot of work done.

When the door opened much later in the evening, you looked up with a grin, expecting it to be Mokuba back from a victorious date. Your grin faded once you saw Seto Kaiba standing in the doorway.

He stared at you for a moment with a frown before striding into the room and looking around. The frown on his face deepened. Then he looked back at you. “Where is Mokuba?”

“Um. Uh.” You hated yourself for stumbling over nonsense words as you tried to figure out what to tell him. Should you tell him Mokuba was on a date? “I… um, he… stepped out? To get something?” The words all came out as uncertain questions, and you knew that Seto Kaiba was currently judging you as an idiot. But at least that ship had sailed a long time ago, and you didn’t think you had any chance of proving otherwise to him.

Even as Seto Kaiba pinned you with a frown, you couldn’t help but notice that he looked terrible. The bags under his eyes were so deep that he almost looked like he’d been punched. His hair looked unwashed, and his clothing was wrinkled. When was the last time he’d done anything to take care of himself?

You understood why Mokuba was worried.

Then Kaiba grunted at you and left without another word. You watched him leave, wondering if he even knew your name. If he did, he never used it.

After he left, you couldn’t focus on your work. You were too unsettled by Kaiba’s appearance. Even if he sometimes looked like he didn’t remember what sleep was, Seto Kaiba had never looked so messy. He was a man who cared about appearances and looked down on sloppy people.

You gave up trying to get anything else done tonight and checked the time. Mokuba’s date must have been going well if he was still out. Well, he would know where to find you. You left your books and notes on the table, fully intending to return back to work here in the morning, and carried your laptop back to your room.

As you walked past Kaiba’s room, you noticed that there wasn’t a light shining under the door. You hesitated, wondering if he was asleep. Then you looked both ways to see if anyone was in the hallway. Nobody was around so you pressed your ear to the door. You knew you were acting weird, but you couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in that room.

You stroked the handle of the door, but you weren’t brave enough to turn it. Maybe another time.

Hopefully you never would. You didn’t think you could look Mokuba in the eyes knowing you took advantage of his friendship to creep on his brother.

In your guest room, you curled up in bed thinking about Seto Kaiba in a similar bed only a few rooms over. Mokuba knew his brother better than anyone, but surely he was wrong about his brother just needing to find someone to date.

And if Seto Kaiba needed a girlfriend, why couldn’t it be you?

Next Chapter

#The Best Intentions #The Best Intentions (Full)#Chapter 1 #dragonsilk #seto kaiba #seto kaiba x reader #reader insert #seto kaiba reader insert #kaibaxreader #second person fanfic #because A03 is down #I wish I had a real person face for Kaiba but I don't #Suggestions are welcome

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scarletgemstone · 9 months

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a true hero

Disclaimer i own nothing everything belongs to the rightful owners please go and support them and be nice

(azulin approaches the unicorn as gardevoir stands in forut of the unicorn despit being hurt herself gallade is running towards them)

Gallade” no no please”

(azulin gets gets ready to attack but gallade jumps in frot of gardevoir and the unicorn taking the attack himself)

Gallade” gardevoir? Are you ok?”

(the unicorn and gardevoir gasp as blood drips from his wound)

Gardevoir” gallade your hurt”

Gallade” i’ll be ok please take maria and go somewhere safe”

Gardevoir”but what about you i can’t leave you”

Gallade”please go i’ll handle this and remember i’ll always be with you”

(gardevior gently grabs maria and runs away as gallade and azulin starer at each other)

Gallade” this can’t be with just one hit this can’t be how things ends (falls to his knees ) it hurts and it feels like i’m going to collapse any second now no gardevior gordi maria pikachu everyone no”

(the mega evolution stone around gallade’s neck begins to glow)

Gallade “ no even when i’m hurt theres something inside me that refuse to surrender that won’t let me die and i feel like if I don't embrace it you will get past me and you’ll (galers at azulin) you’ll destroy them all won’t you? Hopes dreams all gone (gallade begins to stand and glows) no i refuse to let you do that right now. i can feel everyone's hearts beating as one and they all have one goal (gallade glows brighter) to stop all this madness whoever you are now for the sake of this world i sir gallade will strike you down!”

(the light goes away and gallade is now in his mega evolution form he then summons a double bladed spear he spins it around and points it at azulin)

Gallade” you're going to have to try a little harder than that “

(music beings to play)

(azulin and gallade circle each other)

Gallade” you spilled blood you thought easy you thought it fun now i’ve found out now your reign of terrors done (they stop) families you’ve broken the ones you’v left in tears (points his spera in the air) their hopes and dreams empower this hero’s spera”

(they fight)

Gallade” there’ll be no more pain you won’t kill again face a true hero the blade of evil’s bane our future’s are grim the chance to survive is slim but we don’t live or die based on your whims (the wind blows) howling of the wind echoes of your sin sings of hopes and dreams (gallade looks down) that one day might have been (looks at azulin) now i rise again this will be your end you will never break my determination (azulin smiles under his mask gallade growls) don’t you dare give me that smile time to say goodbye fallen child (gallade uses a psych attack) time to repent for all of your pain (azulin moves out of the way) you will never see the light of the day again honoring those who have gone (turns away from azulin) though you tried your best (fights) we will carry on we will stand stong through pain and death we will rejoice as you take your last breath”

(they continue to fight both neither winning or losing)

Gallade” there’ll be no more pain you won’t kill again face a ture hero the blade of evil’s bane our future is grim the change to survive is slim but we don’t live or die based on your whims howling of the wind echos of your sin sings of hopes and dreams that one day might have been now i rise again this will be your end (azulin manges to hit gallade he falls and azulin tries to finish him off but gallade blast him back with psych) you will never break my determination! ( gallade stands and faces azulin) everyone’s hopes and dreams tonight they all rest on me i’m the hero (ponits his spera at azulin) and your the bad guy (their spera and knife clash) and tonight i refuse to die (they back off) preotecting those who surive so long as i fight we will stay alive (walks towards azulin) you are a beast who knows only to fight but i swear i shall bring victory tonight (stops) you killed me once you won’t do it again your path of destruction is done though you struggle on here i still remain while everyone’s hearts beat as one (tears form in gallade’s eyes) you never thought our lives meant anything (tears fall from his eyes) your life must mean nothing as well (glares at azulin as his eyes begin to glow blue) but we soldier on and our victory we’ll sing (gallade turns his blade showing azulin’s reflection in it) kids like you should all burn in hell (they fight again) real heroes fight to defend what is right (ponits at azulin) you fight for the sake of a game you’re following the path of genocide! So a ture hero stands in your way”

#pokemon #unicorn wars #unicorn wars movie #crossover #unicorn wars maria #gardevoir #gallade #songfic #undertale music #undertale #undyne #man on the internet #undertale undyne #undertale genocide #unicorn wars azulin #unicorn wars gordi #pikachu

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angelfoodscake · 11 months

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ouug wanted to finish unicorn wars tonight but i am soo tired .... i might just go to sleep now and finish it tomorrow

#txt #im just halfway through

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savelit · 1 year

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AND HER EYES SEWN SHUT WITH UNICORN HAIR.

Rosamund Hodge.

“Look, Zéphine!” Marie called. “A unicorn!”

Even though Zéphine knew what would happen, her heart still thumped with hope. She set down her spoon, then jerked her head up to see the breakfast room window where her little sister stood. But when she looked where Marie pointed, Zéphine saw only a gazebo whose white latticework was clogged with crimson roses.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Marie whispered.

“Yes,” lied Zéphine. “Beautiful.”

Why should she hope to see a unicorn now, when she never had in all her life?

Marie untangled herself from the lace curtains. She was only twelve; baby fat still clung to the corners of her beaming face. “And on your nineteenth birthday, too! It’s a lucky sign—the unicorns will love your maiden dance tonight, I know they will.”

Zéphine sat back in her chair and looked at her little silver bowl. She didn’t want any more custard; the few mouthfuls she had already eaten hung heavy in her stomach.

Marie kept on chattering. “...and the suitors can start watching you dance for the unicorns next month. Philippe is first in line to try, right? He would make a good king.”

“Mother danced for nine men before Father.” Zéphine mashed the custard with her spoon.

“I wouldn’t like that.” Marie’s dark eyebrows drew together. “Nine men, all dead....”

I would only like to summon a unicorn, thought Zéphine. The men can look after themselves.

But she knew that no unicorn would ever come for her.

She stood abruptly. “I’m going out.”

“I’ll come—”

“Leave me alone.”

As she pushed open the glass doors, she saw that Marie had tears wobbling in her eyes. Tonight, Zéphine would get to watch those pretty dark eyes overflow with tears until Marie’s trembling little hands finished sewing Zéphine’s eyes shut.

She strode past the gazebos and topiaries to the northern quarter of the garden. First came the fountains. Marie loved to play among the glistening water-spray, but Zéphine hated them: their many-tiered elegance proclaimed the wealth and peace that the unicorns had given Retrouvailles for a thousand years.

Beyond the fountains, though, lay the pools. They were crafted with as much art, but made to look natural: some overgrown with water-lilies, some surrounded by cattails, some clean and open, ruffled only when a crane alighted. Here Zéphine had always been happiest, because she could pretend she was outside and free.

Today the pools looked nothing like freedom; they reflected the high outer wall of the garden, the mocking rim where stone met sky. If only walls stood between her and freedom, she would have been gone years ago. But the ancient enchantments of Retrouvailles did not permit princesses to leave the palace grounds until they had performed the maiden dance and been accepted.

Fear burned through her stomach. She halted, looking down at the still, dark water in the nearest pool. She had swum in this pool and she knew how deep it went. Deep enough for drowning.

Swallowing, she knelt by the water. Plump white stones by ringed the pool; for weeks she had planned to use them to weigh herself down, but now she couldn’t make herself pick them up.

If she failed her maiden dance, she might not have another chance to die with her soul still free. Still human. But even so, she couldn’t move.

She only needed to be brave for one moment, long enough to jump. Drowning couldn’t hurt too badly. If she could inhale enough water right away—if she could be absolutely sure that she would indeed fail tonight—if she were not too afraid to do anything but kneel here, shivering.

She was infinitely afraid.

“Contemplating the water, demoiselle?”

Zéphine flinched, then recognized the voice. The cold ache in her stomach eased. “Hello, Justin. Guarding the virtues again?”

Justin stood to attention in the narrow point where two walls met, his dark blue coat crisp and buttoned, one hand on the filigreed hilt of his sword as if he might need to defend the kingdom at any moment. He would not: the garden was a nine-pointed star to symbolize the nine virtues of a true princess, and the palace guard maintained a ceaseless watch on each of the nine points to symbolize their devotion.

He saluted. “Someday I’ll be lucky at cards.” Guarding the virtues was one of the least favorite duties among the guards, and they regularly wagered it away.

Zéphine fought a smile. She was sure he gambled poorly on purpose, likely because he knew how much seeing him meant to her. Ever since Justin arrived at the palace six months ago, she’d sought him in the gardens again and again. Out of all the guards—out of anyone, Marie excepted—he was the only one who saw her as a girl, not a maiden fated to dance with the unicorns.

It didn’t hurt that he was handsome. He was no taller than Zéphine, but his arms were round with muscle; his skin, though pale and colorless when he first arrived from the northern provinces, was now quite respectably tanned; and his eyes were an exotic pale blue, and his mouth seemed always on the verge of a smile. For several months, she had kept thinking she would like to kiss that mouth.

Princesses were not supposed to long for guardsmen.

I will never see him smile again, she thought as she stood and walked towards him.

“You look tense. Out for a last walk?”

Zéphine’s heart skipped before she realized what he meant. “I suppose I won’t see you as much when I’m queen.” She did her best to smile.

“Don’t say me you’ll miss me.” Up close, his smile didn’t look convincing either; his jaw was tight, his forehead lined. Zéphine had to crush a sudden conviction that he knew what was wrong with her. She’d been so careful. Nobody knew: not her father, not even Marie.

“What if I will?” She leaned against the wall beside him.

He stayed at attention, facing forward, but his eyes flicked sideways at her. “I think a queen will have better ways to amuse herself. Starting with her husband.”

She sat down with a huff and curled up against the wall. Her red skirts pooled around her; she thought of her blood seeping across the floor of the Great Dome, and swallowed dryly.

“That’s bad posture, demoiselle.”

“Soldier, I command you to sit.”

“I’m not technically a soldier.” But he sat beside her anyway, stretching out his legs as if his white trousers couldn’t possibly stain.

Zéphine tore at a clump of grass. She wanted to forget about tonight for just a few minutes, but how could she, when her stomach was still cramping in fear and every heartbeat took her closer to the unicorns?

“So you dance tonight?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“I thought a princess’s maiden dance was supposed to be joyous.”

“What do you know?” Zéphine turned on him, not caring that tears prickled at her eyes. “What does the Reine-Licorne mean to someone like you? Crowns and silks and formal court sessions? Or legends and glory and—”

“You.” He wiped a tear off her cheek with his thumb. “Just you, demoiselle.”

“You don’t know me. You don’t know what I know about being demoiselle.”

“Then tell me what you know.” He looked straight into her eyes. “Tell me what you want.”

“I know my first kiss will be with the man whom the unicorns permit to watch me dance and live. I know my first child and every one after will be a daughter. I know that I will dance with the unicorns every full moon until I die, when my body will be left on the Plaine d’Ossements; and when the unicorns have gnawed away my flesh they will crack open my bones for the marrow. And I wish I could change any part of it.”

“Well.” Justin leaned closer. “One of those things I can change.” And he kissed her.

It was barely more than a brush of his lips, but it sent a shock through her body, sharper than fear. For one moment she was stunned into stillness. Then she leaned forward to kiss him back.

A moment later he had gathered her into his arms and was kissing her open-mouthed. She felt it through her whole body, a fire she had never quite believed existed, least of all for her. It felt like her bones were melting, but that was all right, because he lowered her onto the grass. When he lifted his lips from hers, it was to kiss her neck and then her collarbone.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His lips stilled against her skin; then he sat up, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry. I can’t— I’m sorry.”

She sat up too. “Sorry you kissed me or sorry I said—” Her throat closed.

“You’re the princess. You have to dance for the unicorns. I can’t—” He choked on a bitter laugh. “I can’t take that away from you. I can’t hurt you.”

Zéphine hugged herself. “It doesn’t matter,” she said dully. “I’ve never seen a unicorn.” She ignored his sharp intake of breath. “My dance will fail tonight, so Marie will be queen and I will be the unicorn bride. Do they tell you guards what that means? They will dress me in white like a bride and give me the draught of waking sleep so I can neither feel nor move. Then Marie will lay me on the floor of the Great Dome; she’ll sew my eyes shut with unicorn hair, slit my arms from wrist to elbow, and perform her maiden dance around me. When the unicorns come for her they will drink my blood until I die and eat my soul when it escapes between my lips. It’s the only way she can take my birthright once the unicorns have rejected me. That’s why I’ve never loved my sister. I’ve always known the last thing I’ll ever see is her sewing my eyes shut. The last thing I’ll ever hear is her song to the unicorns.”

Justin drew her back into his embrace, but she held herself rigid and went on, “Being the unicorn bride, it’s not just dying. Unicorn queens can rest with the ancestors when they die, but unicorn brides forget their names and ride for eternity with the unicorns. I’d let you take me right now if it would make me unfit, but I’d still have to try and fail and I can’t bear it. I won’t. I came down here because I was trying to decide if I should drown myself in the pond.” She gulped. Her voice had gone high and babbling, but she couldn’t care. “You have a sword. You could—”

“I’m not going to kill you, demoiselle.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Zéphine.” His arms tightened around her. “I couldn’t ever kill you.” He pressed his face into her hair.

It felt comforting to be in his arms, but he couldn’t protect her. “I’m dying anyway.”

He drew a slow, deep breath. “You said that even if I— You wouldn’t be unfit. But I was taught that a princess draws the unicorns through her purity.”

Her face heated. “The purity of her heart. That means she wills nothing, desires nothing but to dance before the unicorns and by dancing, protect her people. And I—” Her fingers tightened around his arm. “I don’t remember which came first. Not seeing the unicorns, or wanting to be free. But either way—there’s no chance they will look at me tonight and judge me pure.”

Justin let out a deep breath. “Did your tutors ever tell about the Bull of Kyrland?”

“Of course,” she said. Kyrland was the barbarian country across the northern sea; the Bull protected it as the unicorns protected Retrouvailles.

“In my home town... most of us are more than half Kyrlander. So we know about the Bull. It isn’t like the unicorns. It doesn’t judge your heart. The Bull comes for whoever spills blood and offers it a binding price—something as precious as what you want it to give you.”

Zéphine blinked at the grass. Hope felt like a cold weight in her stomach. “But... what could possibly be as precious as my birthright?”

He squeezed her. “Offer it your birthright as the price to take you away from here.”

She sat rigid for a moment, hardly daring to breathe. Escape. For years, she’d thought it impossible. She’d thought she would have to be queen or unicorn bride or die.

She could live.

Zéphine twisted to face him. “Tell me how to summon the Bull.”

Justin’s face was unreadable. “You’re sure?”

“Do you think I have any other choice? Tell me how.”

He let go of her. “As my demoiselle commands.”

She scrambled into a kneeling position as Justin pulled a knife out of his boot. It must be his own personal knife: it had none of the decorations and monogramming that were all over the palace guard’s regalia—just a plain wooden handle, with a one-sided blade that angled down to the tip.

He handed her the knife. “Carve a circle on the ground. It doesn’t need to be big.”

The knife handle felt cold and awkward. Zéphine clenched her hand around it and shoved the knife into the ground. Slowly, jerkily she ripped it through the grass roots in a little circle barely wider than her hand.

“Good,” said Justin. “Wipe off the blade. Now cut your finger enough to draw blood. I can’t do it for you, I’m sorry—”

Zéphine sliced her palm open with a long, shallow cut. The pain made her wince, but her hands were steady. She was doing something. She wasn’t trapped any more. She thought she could suffer anything if she were only doing something to escape.

“Now?” She looked at Justin.

He looked a little sad. “Spill your blood inside the circle. Say, ‘Black bull of the north, come to my blood.’ Name your price and make a wish.”

Her heart thudded in her ears. “Black bull of the north.” It wasn’t just her heartbeat; there was something deeper thudding through the ground, almost in time to her heart. “Come to my blood.” She could barely breathe; the vibrations rippled through her bones. “Take my birthright... set me free.”

Everything went dark. She couldn’t feel the grass beneath her or the sting of the cut on her palm, only the heavy beat of approaching hooves. Then she saw something moving towards her: a silhouette of even deeper darkness, growing every moment until it towered over her like a mountain. Hot breath steamed across her face—

She was lying on the grass, light dazzling her eyes. Zéphine blinked, her eyes watering. She was still in the palace. Had the Bull refused her?

Then she heard crashes. The clatter of metal on metal. And screams.

She sat up with a gasp. “Justin. What—”

He shoved her back down. “You summoned the Bull but he didn’t listen. You did break the protections on the palace.” His voice had gone harsh and clipped. “Stay down or I will tie you up.”

“But—”

At the edge of her vision, she glimpsed black-cloaked men. She caught her breath in fear, because she knew they were not any of Father’s men—and then they started speaking in a harsh, guttural language. Kyrlander.

Justin answered in the same tongue. They bowed to him and left.

Zéphine stared up at him. Her whole body had gone cold.

He looked back down with no hint of a smile at all. “I am Prince Idrask Leifsson, and you just allowed my men into your kingdom. Thank you, demoiselle.”

She surged up, grabbing the knife off the ground, and lunged for him.

He caught her easily, twisted her wrist until she dropped the knife with a grasp, and slammed her back into the ground, this time face-first.

“You really won’t win against me in battle, demoiselle.”

She sobbed with fury into grass. He had lied to her. Every single day he had lied to her, and most especially today. When he kissed her—when he said he wanted her to be free—

She had been such a fool.

“What are you doing to my family?” she gritted out.

“Let’s hope they’ve been taken prisoner.” There was a short silence; then someone shouted from a distance in Kyrlander. “Time for us to find out.” He hauled her to her feet, pulling her hands behind her. “Do I need to tie your hands?”

Zéphine pressed her lips together. After a moment Idrask sighed, gripped her arm, and pulled her forward.

Her face heated as she remembered the last time he had touched her. He had only stopped because he had realized it wouldn’t break the protections on the palace.

The gardens were still empty; at first she could almost imagine that nothing had happened. Then she saw a group of black-clad men marching along the side of the palace; the glass doors of the breakfast room were shattered. She had always thought she didn’t love her sister, but when she thought of Marie trapped by the Kyrlander soldiers, she felt sick.

Idrask dragged her down the pathway, past the breakfast room and towards the southern wing of the palace which surrounded the Great Dome. She glimpsed the weathered, gray-green curve of the dome rising above the other rooftops; she remembered the mosaics on the inside walls, portraits of queens all the way back to Ysonde Blanchemains, the first Reine-Licorne. It was probably full of Kyrlander soldiers now.

They were certainly all over the rest of the palace now. She saw more of them, and more signs of fighting: smashed vases, doors swinging open, and sometimes bodies lying horribly still—Idrask always grabbed her chin and turned her face away when she stared. They passed groups of guards taken prisoner, little frightened clumps of servants, and one noblewoman crouched sobbing in a corner, her lacy blue dress spattered with blood.

By the time they entered the southern wing, Zéphine felt like she was in a dream: as if she had closed her eyes and found herself in this nightmare palace overrun by Kyrlanders, and all she had to do was wake up.

The inside of the southern wing was only more dreamlike: fewer signs of fighting—the tapestries had not been ripped off the wall, the golden molding and rosettes still gleamed, the mosaic floors were unstained—but all the palace guards, the nobles and servants, privy councilors and petty officials were gone, replaced by ranks of pale Kyrlander soldiers who saluted Idrask.

Then he dragged her into the Great Dome. They walked through the rings of pillars and she saw the Unicorn Throne, a low, curved seat gleaming like pearl in the sunshine that fell through the eye in the center of the dome. She saw her father lying before the throne in his white-gold robes of state, his graying beard matted with blood. Saw the pool of blood lazily spreading out.

She choked. One part of her mind kept stuttering, It’s not real, not real, not real, but the rest of her knew that this was all real and true and she had made it happen.

“Welcome to my new home.” A man stood by the throne in simple gray—shorter than Idrask, and older, but with the same pale blue eyes, and something similar in the lines of his square face.

Zéphine drew a trembling breath and squared her shoulders. “Who are you?”

“Launrad Yfir-konungr, lord of all Kyrland and now Retrouvailles. I must thank you for your help, my dear—how does your formal title go? Demoiselle la Plus Pure?” His teeth gleamed as he smiled. “And thank you, Idrask, for finally getting her skirts up. I was beginning to think they made all their guards into eunuchs.”

“I did better, Uncle.” Idrask’s voice was blank and respectful. “I persuaded her to invoke the Bull. Of course he did not hearken to her in the least, but it made her unable to summon the unicorns. After such betrayal, I’m sure their house has lost the covenant entirely.”

He was lying. He knew she had gotten at least halfway in the summoning; he had said as much. Zéphine didn’t dare even look at him, but her mind raced. He was the nephew—possibly heir—of an emperor who now ruled half the world. Why could he possibly want to lie about how he had helped achieve an overwhelming victory?

Launrad clucked his tongue. “Not a bad day’s work, though I’m still in terrible doubt about your manhood.”

Idrask’s expression didn’t change. “I’ve done as I promised. Now where is my brother?

“In another moment. We have one more guest on the way—and here she is. Good morning, demoiselle.”

Zéphine turned, knowing and dreading what she would see. There was Marie, each arm gripped by a guard, her dark hair falling out of its chignon and her mouth set in a rebellious pucker. When she saw Father’s body, her mouth dropped open, lips trembling; then she snapped it shut and glared at Launrad.

“The situation is simple,” said Launrad. “I control the entire palace. By sunset I will control the capital. Within a few days, my ships will land in your ports. To ensure a peaceful transfer of power, you and your sister will publicly proclaim me lord, then journey to Kyrland and bow before the Obsidian Throne. Or you will die right here like your father.”

Marie’s glare didn’t falter. “We’re the daughters of Retrouvailles. We bow to no one but the unicorns.”

Zéphine wasn’t even aware of moving before she was kneeling in full obeisance, hands and forehead pressed to the floor. “Please. She’s only a child. She doesn’t understand. I am a woman, I am the eldest daughter of my house, and I submit. I submit.”

“Zéphine!” Marie gasped, but she was drowned out by Launrad’s bark of laughter.

“Say so in public, and I think we have an agreement.” Zéphine rose in time to see Launrad glance at Marie. “There will be time to teach your sister obedience later.”

“Zéphine,” Marie repeated, eyes glistening. “After Father— how could you?”

“I think because your older sister wants to live, my brave little demoiselle.” Launrad strode towards Marie. “It’s a desire you’ll understand better as you grow older and realize you’re able to die.” He tilted her chin up with a finger. “You’re much more foolish than her, but also prettier. I think you will be the one I make my bride.”

Zéphine’s hands clenched. “She’s thirteen—”

“I can stand to wait a year or three for sons.”

“But—”

Idrask gripped her shoulder painfully tight and whispered in her ear, “Don’t. When he’s in this mood, all you can do is obey.”

“I’ll never submit,” Marie snarled, which only prompted another laugh from Launrad as he turned away from her. “Idrask sister-son. Do you want your brother back now?”

“Yes.”

“Then I have one more task for you. Just one, and I’ll return him.” Launrad was only a pace away from them now. “We don’t need the older princess. Kill her.”

“No!” Marie shouted.

Idrask didn’t blink. “I thought you needed her to publicly submit.”

“I changed my mind. Besides, weddings are much more amusing, don’t you think? Marie is enough. Kill Zéphine right now if you want your brother back.”

Marie was struggling with the guards and yelling. Zéphine couldn’t move; she felt like she was watching everything from somewhere very cold and far away. She knew what would happen. Idrask had already betrayed and used her. He had helped his uncle invade her kingdom and kill her father. He was content to see Marie forced into a marriage that would be no more than rape. All for his brother. There was no chance he would scruple at killing Zéphine now.

“No,” said Idrask.

Her gaze snapped to his face, pale and inscrutable, and now the fear started up and down her body in cold-hot waves. Because she wasn’t going to die, she was going to dangle between them as Launrad’s plaything, the same way she had been the unicorns’—and Idrask again was nothing like she’d thought—

“You don’t want your brother back?” Launrad raised an eyebrow.

“I think this is another one of your loyalty tests, and I’m tired of them.” Idrask crossed his arms. “Where is my brother?”

—but he had still never cared about her, and she was doubly a fool to have hoped that he wanted to save her.

Launrad shrugged. “You’re right. And here comes your brother.” He gestured. Light glimmered beside the Unicorn Throne and a pale, scrawny boy with tangled dark hair appeared on the ground. His hands were folded over his chest and he lay quite still. Someone must have washed him, because it took a moment to see that his throat had been cut.

“Kari,” Idrask breathed, and lunged forward. In a second he had pulled the body into his arms; his shoulders trembled, but he didn’t make any sound.

“You really are the stupider of the two,” said Launrad. “I needed the power to transport men across the sea instantaneously. What did you think the Bull would accept as a binding price? Kari at least knew it would take royal blood.” He shrugged. “Though he was stupidly happy to die in your place. Since you’re still alive, I suppose you do come out ahead.”

Idrask didn’t look up. “I’m going to kill you.”

“No.” Launrad’s smile didn’t to break. “If you were going to kill me, you would have already done it instead of talking.” He leaned over Idrask’s shoulder. “But you know that even if you could succeed, you would die and so would this princess. You’ve just demonstrated that you’ll risk your own brother’s life to protect her. So I think I’m safe.”

For a moment there was no sound but Idrask’s slow, trembling breaths. How do you like being the one betrayed?, thought Zéphine, and felt a moment of pure, vicious pleasure.

Then Launrad clapped his hands once. “But I can give as well as take. You refused for so long to despoil Zéphine, and now you’re unwilling to kill her. It’s only fitting to let you wed your tainted demoiselle. Here and now. Guards!” He raised his voice slightly. “Bring in the ministers of state.”

She wouldn’t have to face the unicorns. She would get to marry the man she had wanted. Zéphine was getting what she’d always desired, and she wanted to crawl away in shame. Surely she deserved punishment as much as Idrask did.

Four guards marched out of the room. In a moment they would bring in Father’s ministers and Zéphine would abase herself so that she and Marie could stay alive. She looked back at Idrask. If he had not started all this killing, he had certainly helped. He had betrayed her. His brother was dead in his arms.

He was the only possible ally for her and Marie.

She walked forward to lay a hand on his shoulder. Then she looked down and felt faint when she saw the edges of the cut in Kari’s throat. He had been sliced open like a piece of meat. Swallowing, she knelt beside Idrask.

She whispered, “You can’t avenge him unless you get up right now.”

He didn’t reply. But he laid Kari, very gently, back on the ground and stood beside her. At the same time the guards brought in five of the ministers of state, rumpled and downcast. One of them was bruised and one was spattered in blood.

“Good morning,” Launrad said cheerfully. “You’re here as witnesses. Idrask Leifsson, my sister-son, is about to marry your eldest demoiselle.”

Zéphine swallowed dryly. Yesterday she had been thinking wistfully of how she would like to kiss him. Now she was marrying him.

Her father’s body lay six feet away on the ground.

The ceremony was mercifully short—after the style of Kyrland, she supposed, though surely their royal weddings were usually more elaborate. Launrad asked them if they would be wed, grasped their hands and asked if anyone knew of an impediment, then without a pause put their hands together.

“Thy hands are joined and so thy lives. Zéphine, it pleases me to accept you as a daughter of our house. Guards, take the prisoners away. Idrask, I suggest you take your bride to your room.” Idrask’s hand clenched around hers and he glanced back towards Kari’s body. “We can talk about the funerals later.”

Without a word, Idrask strode out of the room, dragging her with him. Marie called her name, but when Zéphine glanced back, she was already half-out the door. All she saw was Launrad, still smiling as he stood beside the bodies and the empty throne.

Idrask took Zéphine back to her bedroom. He slammed the door shut and slumped against it, releasing her hand.

Her room looked exactly the same as when she had woken up this morning: red-and-gold papered walls, white-and-gold curtains flowing from the canopy over her bed, great gold roses molded around the top of the walls. Her silver comb still lay in the corner where she had thrown it in a fit of anger.

She turned back to Idrask. He had slid down to sit on the floor; now he stared blankly at the walls.

“So.” She knelt before him. “Would you care to explain what’s going on?” He didn’t respond, and she sighed. “Soldier, I command you to answer.”

“Not a solider,” he muttered. Then he looked straight at her and grimaced. “I was never your soldier.”

“I guessed that part. Launrad sent you here?”

He nodded. “To bring down the defensive spells through you. He said—” He stopped to draw a slow breath. “He killed our father. Nobody can prove it but everyone knows. He’s used Kari and me as hostages against each other since I was ten. Three years ago he had Kari locked away entirely. He said when he owned Retrouvailles, he would exile us together.”

She tilted her head. “Why didn’t you seduce me when you had the chance?”

He looked away. “I thought I could do anything to protect Kari. I was wrong.”

Something in her loosened, but she still had to say: “Do you think my maidenhood will comfort me when my country is invaded, my father is dead, and Launrad is raping my little sister every night?”

“I never said I was doing the right thing.” He stood. “Launrad won’t lay a hand on your sister. And you’ll be a widow tomorrow.”

“What?” She scrambled to her feet.

“I’m summoning the Bull tonight. My life has to be worth his.”

“That won’t help. The palace is full of Kyrlander soldiers; they’ll just put another king over us.”

Idrask slammed his fist into the wall. “Then what do you suggest? He is always smarter, he is always stronger.”

Zéphine’s chest felt tight. At the dawn of Retrouvailles, the legions of the Imperatrix had occupied the country from sea to sea. When Ysonde Blanchemains first called upon the unicorns, she had destroyed them all in a day.

But if Zéphine had ever had a chance of summoning the unicorns, she certainly didn’t now. And Marie was far too young.

“...I could summon the Bull.” The words came out weakly. She hadn’t been able to kill herself to escape a fate worse than death; she wasn’t sure that she could do it to save her sister and her country.

“No. I won’t—” He stopped, took a breath. “I lied to you.”

“I know.”

“About the Bull. He... could listen to anyone’s call, but it is our house that has a special covenant with him.”

“Like Retrouvailles.”

“More or less. Ever since the first yfir-konungr hanged himself upon an oak tree to call upon the Bull.” He smiled bleakly. “Then had his wife run him through with a spear to complete the offering. Ever since, any one of our house who calls upon the Bull is heard.”

“I’m your bride.”

“In name. I don’t think the Bull cares about such things.”

Zéphine hoped she didn’t look too relieved. “Surely there are Kyrlanders who don’t like Launrad. You could make alliance with them.”

Idrask gave her an edged smile. “He left them all in Kyrland.”

And of course Idrask couldn’t go back to find them without Launrad’s help.

“Look.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I can get you and your sister out of the palace tonight, then summon the Bull. Launrad hasn’t named an heir yet; in the confusion, your people will have a chance to rebel.”

Zéphine opened her mouth, then closed it. Despite everything, she didn’t want him to die.

She didn’t have a choice.

The evening sun slanted low and ruddy through the windows. Zéphine lay on her back, staring at the top of the canopy. A trembling servant had finally brought her food several hours ago. She had devoured it and continued waiting.

If Idrask got them out, they could find the surviving nobility and start a rebellion. She knew it. Nobody would follow a despoiled princess: she knew that too. Marie was their only hope. Zéphine had never danced for the unicorns, so maybe Marie could inherit as if her older sister had died young; but maybe Zéphine would have to become unicorn bride after all.

On the run, there would be no draught of waking sleep. After all she’d done, she probably deserved it, but she was still afraid. So afraid.

The door clicked open; Zéphine sat up, brushing the hair out of her face. It was Idrask, holding Marie by the arm.

“I’ll be back after dark,” he said, and left.

Marie bolted forward to hug Zéphine. “I was so scared,” she whispered into her shoulder.

Zéphine smoothed her hair. “You’ll be fine,” she said automatically. When was the last time she had embraced her sister?

Marie lifted her face. “I was scared for you. What did he do, to make you grovel so?”

“He threatened to kill us.”

“You’re still a princess!”

“I’m still a prisoner.” The words snapped out full of bitterness; when Marie frowned, Zéphine remembered that this was the first time she’d ever voiced rebellion. Even though she had nothing left to lose, her heart still skipped and she added hastily, “Anyway, a dead princess won’t help anyone.”

“What do you mean, prisoner?” asked Marie.

And she’d had enough of silence. “What else could I mean? We are bound in the palace by spells, to stay here until we dance or die. If we survive to become queens, we can leave but we can never go far because we must return to the palace and dance every month, while our husbands rule in our names. And when we die, we are nothing but meat to fill the unicorn bellies.”

Marie shook her head. “But the unicorns.... Zéphine, you’ve seen them. How could you want... anything else?”

Zéphine looked away.

“You have seen them, right? You always said you did!”

She pushed her away. “I lied.”

Marie’s mouth formed a little circle. She barely whispered, “Oh,” as she sat down on the floor. Her fingers gripped the carpet for a moment.

“I lied every day. Morning, noon, and night.” Her voice wavered and her throat ached but she couldn’t stop the words from spilling out. “I lied and I lied and I hated you so much. Because you could see the unicorns and you were going to live and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She dropped into a crouch before her sister and stared at the carpet, her eyes stinging. “I broke the defenses on the palace trying to escape and I would take it all back if I could.”

“Oh,” said Marie again. “That... I suppose that’s why you were so unhappy.”

Zéphine looked up. “You knew?”

Marie had pulled her knees up under her chin and hugged them to herself. “I could tell you were angry with me. I didn’t know why. But you were always so unhappy, I knew that something was wrong.” Her voice dropped to a rough little whisper. “I always wished I could help you.”

Zéphine reached forward and took her hands. “Marie.” She swallowed. “Idrask told you we’re going to escape, right?”

“Mm.”

“I made everything go wrong. And I can’t dance for the unicorns anymore. But I’m going to get you to safety. I’ll find Father’s generals, and we’ll rally the army and drive the Kyrlanders out of our country, and Marie, someday—someday you’re going to be the best Reine-Licorne that’s ever been. All right?”

Marie’s mouth curved softly upwards. “Will you be happy then?”

“Yes.” Zéphine knew it was a lie—she wouldn’t ever be a good enough person to be happy just living for others—but she had to say it. “We’ll be together and I’ll be so happy.”

Idrask came for them several hours later. He gave them packs and cloaks and lead them down the narrow corridors used by servants and guards, until they were almost halfway across the palace. Then he said, “Wait here. I only have a few men, and I need to make sure they’re in position.”

Zéphine crouched next to Marie in the darkness, hugging her cloak to herself, and tried not to think of what might be going wrong. Then Marie said softly, “I know this place.”

“Hm?”

“I used to explore the passages. We’re not that far from the Great Dome.”

“That’s nice,” Zéphine muttered, adjusting her cloak. She kept remembering Idrask’s rough voice as he told her about the first Kyrlander king. There had to be some way to stop him. Maybe if she begged him for protection, he would come with them. If she were a princess in a chronicle she would want vengeance on him, but she was cold and afraid and despite his betrayal, he was the closest thing a friend she’d ever had. Marie didn’t trust him, but surely—

She shifted, then realized that Marie wasn’t next to her any more.

“Marie?” she whispered, standing, and then a little louder: “Marie!”

No one answered; she was alone in the darkened corridor. How long had Marie been gone? She could be anywhere now.

“Zéphine?” She jumped, but it was only Idrask. “It’s all ready—”

“Marie’s gone!”

“What?”

“She—we were sitting together and then she wasn’t here. She must have slipped away—I don’t know where—”

“Could she have gotten scared? Thought I would betray you?”

“No, Marie’s fearless—she’d try to save me, and challenge you to a duel—” Zéphine stopped, remembering Marie’s words: You were always so unhappy. I always wished I could help you.

“She’s gone to the Great Dome,” she whispered.

“What?”

“To summon the unicorns. Come on!” She turned and ran.

She’d been worried about running into guards, but the first time they came across one, Idrask simply snapped, “The younger princess is running away. Come with me!” The man followed without a word and they kept running.

All the way to the Great Dome, Zéphine hoped they wouldn’t find her. Maybe Marie had gotten lost or scared along the way; maybe she’d had some other plan. When they pounded up to the double doors, she paused, gasping, and dared hope that Marie had succeeded, that the unicorns were now nuzzling her palms and in another moment they would destroy the Kyrlander army. She hoped for anything other than Marie trying and failing.

Then Idrask flung open the great double golden doors.

Launrad stood near the center of the Dome—bodies and throne cleared away—clasping Marie to his chest. The gesture would have looked tender if not for the knife against her throat.

“Good evening,” he said. “I hope you were coming to warn me. It would be very disappointing if you thought this child was dangerous enough to support.”

“Yes, Uncle,” Idrask said bleakly.

Zéphine bit her lip. “Please,” she said. “She’s just a child—she doesn’t understand—”

“You’re right,” said Launrad. “She doesn’t.” He shifted his grip and laid the blade of his knife across her face. “Little girl, what shall we do with you?”

Zéphine tried to start forward, but Idrask grabbed her. Marie met her eyes across the room and smiled as a little line of red trickled down her cheek.

“Is it so disturbing? I’ve heard about your customs, the rite of the unicorn bride. She would have done worse to you, if you had failed in your duties.”

“Please,” said Zéphine.

“But I can’t have my betrothed marked in an unsightly fashion.” He abruptly released Marie and shoved her away; she fell to the ground. “Take her away, bandage her up, and make sure she isn’t so foolish again.”

One of the guards started forward, reaching out to grab Marie, but she jumped up and darted away with a movement that was strangely graceful. The guard lunged for her, but she twirled away again. Like a dance.

Zéphine’s heart thumped. It was a dance. The opening steps of the maiden dance, that she had been meant to dance this night—and Marie—

“No!” she shouted. “Marie, stop!”

“Can you not catch one little girl—” Launrad began irritably.

Marie spun, leapt, and landed straight into a cartwheel. And the unicorns came.

They walked out from the rim of the room, between the edges of the shadows. They were the same blistering white-gold as the sun at noon, but Zéphine could look at them unflinching. Their manes were tangled starlight, their horns glimmered with unnamable colors. The rest of the room faded, growing shadowy and indistinct, as if it were ashamed to have form in their presence. Her eyes blurred with tears; she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, could only stare and realize why Marie had always spoken with wonder in her eyes.

Launrad drew his sword. “Kill them now!” But none of the guards took a step, caught by wonder or fear. One guard stood directly in the path of a unicorn, but even he did not move—only stared, his mouth working as the unicorn walked smoothly towards him... and through him, without pausing, as if he were made of smoke. For one instant he swayed, blood seeping from all over his chest; then he collapsed. His blood spread in a pool.

The unicorn walked on, unstained.

That sight sent everyone but Marie scrambling, trying to dodge the unicorns as they made their slow, placid progress towards the center of the Dome. Launrad pulled a group of soldiers to one side in an orderly retreat. Zéphine and Idrask took refuge at the base of a pillar; unicorns passed them on either side, and though Zéphine knew what would happen, she started to reach out before Idrask pulled her hand back.

Light clotted around Marie and the unicorns. The angles of the room were the same, but gazing towards the center, Zéphine felt she was looking up an immeasurable distance, towards a place she could never hope to go.

Marie flung her hands wide. One note of unicorn song ripped out of her throat: a clear, bell-like sound that sent Zéphine slumping forward. She looked up, vision swimming, to see the unicorns circling Marie. It was the climax of the dance; Marie’s eyes were solemn and sure, and for one heartbeat she looked certain to succeed—

Then her gaze drifted to Zéphine. Her steps faltered.

The unicorns lowered their horns.

It was at least quick. Marie cried out once as three horns ran her through at once. Then she collapsed, and there was no sound but the soft, wet noise of the unicorns lapping up her blood.

Zéphine did not look away. She stared hungrily at every curve of the unicorns, at the blood sliding down their jaws, and she crawled forward so she could try to dance for them. So that before they killed her, they would look one moment in her eyes.

Idrask wrestled her to the floor. He muttered something garbled and human; it took her a few moments to realize he was saying, “She’s already dead, you can’t help her, you’ll just die, Zéphine, don’t leave me—”

And she sobbed as she realized that he thought she was trying to help her sister. Her sister who was now a unicorn bride.

The unicorns raised their heads. Even now, remembering it was her sister who lay bloodied and broken beneath them, Zéphine’s mind keened with the desire to follow them, dance for them, die for them. If they had ever looked at her, she would have been lost completely; but they did not notice anything human as they streamed out of the Great Dome, fading as they ran, until they disappeared between the shadows.

Slowly, Zéphine realized she was weeping, her body shaking with great, soundless sobs. Idrask still held her to the floor, his face buried in her hair, whispering something like I’m sorry and I’m here and I’m sorry.

Finally she got control of herself; after a few hiccups she whispered, “I’m all right.” Idrask still clutched her, so she said more strongly, “I’m all right. You can let go.”

They sat up together. Her head pounded, her teeth ached, but she was still alive and sane. Her gaze wavered towards where Marie lay dead, and she swallowed convulsively. She had always known that one of them would be the unicorn bride. She had always wanted to escape.

She had never, ever wanted it like this.

“That,” said Launrad, “was very troublesome.”

He stood a few paces away from Marie, his arms crossed. He looked down at her body with an expression that suggested her death was a petty insult he nonetheless took personally.

She staggered to her feet. She stepped unsteadily towards Launrad, not sure what she was about to do or say. Idrask gripped her hand, to comfort or restrain, she couldn’t tell.

Launrad looked past her at Idrask. “It seems you were wrong. Their covenant is not completely broken. You will get your wife with child as fast as possible.”

Zéphine found her voice. “My daughter... will never dance for the unicorns.”

He smiled and clapped a hand against Idrask’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need help,” he whispered, and left them.

Zéphine knelt by Marie. Her face was pale and blank, as if life had never touched her; but at least there was no ghost of agony. She was now a unicorn bride, and maybe that was happiness for her.

She always loved them, thought Zéphine. Like she always loved me. Then she started to cry again.

This time, when they went back to her room, it was Zéphine who slumped against the door and slid down to the floor. Her eyes were hot and itchy. She was very tired.

She thought, I keep doing nothing and everyone is dying.

Idrask knelt before her; he laid one hand on the door by her head. “Zéphine. We’ll try again tomorrow. You should rest.”

She looked up at him. He’s the only one left, she thought. Her stomach clenched. I won’t let him die. I absolutely will not let him die.

“No,” she said.

“We can’t do anything more tonight—”

“No.” She stood. “I’m not running away while you kill yourself. I want to help you fight Launrad myself. I want us both to live.”

“After I’ve killed your whole family?”

“Marie decided. You’re sorry. I don’t care about the past, I just want to stop losing people.”

“Zéphine—” He looked away. Swallowed. “Thank you. But there is no way to stop Launrad without the Bull.”

“You go to the Bull and I swear I will dance for the unicorns.” The words snapped out of her; she was almost sure she meant them. “We can run together. Launrad’s main army hasn’t even landed yet. If we find the generals, we could win.”

“Against the Bull?”

“Against Launrad! He needed your brother’s blood to transport a troop of guards to this palace. He’d need something very precious to exchange if the whole country rose up against him. How many times do you suppose he can pay the Bull without giving up his own life?”

Idrask’s mouth twisted. “You’d be surprised.”

Her hands trembled. “I am a terrible princess. But at least I haven’t given up.” She poked him in the chest. “Dying won’t make you any more forgivable.”

Idrask snorted, turning away from her. “You’re that eager to keep yourself wed to a conqueror?”

“...you know, I’d forgotten that part.”

He barked out a laugh. “Well, I suppose if we win, we can arrange for everyone else to forget it too.”

She tilted her head and stepped towards him. “Do you love me?”

His shoulders tightened. “I won’t trouble you.”

“You,” she whispered, “are the stupidest man alive.” She couldn’t reach his lips, so instead she kissed the side of his jaw. “I’m not leaving and I’m not dying. I’m going to fight him with you. And what I said in the garden.... I still mean it.”

He turned to face her. “You can’t possibly—”

“I am princess of Retrouvailles. When Ysonde Blanchemains’s lover was captured, she became the first Reine-Licorne and slaughtered all the legions of the Imperatrix to get him back. If I want to love you then I certainly will.”

For another moment he stared; then he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. It was not like the last time, when he had kissed her with a fierce precision that she now knew was born of desperation. This time his touch was gentle, hesitant, as if he could hardly believe she was real.

Zéphine pulled him down onto the bed.

Much later, they lay curled together in the darkness.

“Tell me about Ysonde,” Idrask murmured.

“There’s not much more to the story,” said Zéphine. “It was so long ago—and in those days we were just an alliance of tribes—it’s not even sure that she was saving her lover. Most tales say that, but some say it was her father or her sister. One tale says it was her daughter, and a few say she was moved only by the sufferings of her people. But they all agree—she went to the Plaine d’Ossements, somehow she summoned the unicorns, and she danced before them. And the unicorns consented to serve her. In one night, they killed every soldier of the Imperatrix within the land. For thirty years, she ruled as Reine-Licorne—there were no kings in those days. Until her last dance, when the unicorns loved her so much that they killed her and ate her soul; so alone of all queens she rides with them forever as unicorn bride.”

Idrask’s arms tightened around her. “That’s how they love? They really are evil.”

“No.” She was surprised how vehement she was. “Unicorns aren’t evil. They can’t be, for they never choose. They simply are according to their nature.” It was one of the first precepts she had ever learned. “That’s why they are drawn to the pure in heart: they can recognize their complete singlemindedness.”

“Don’t ever be that pure.”

“That’s... not a thing you can promise or decide. You either want something that desperately or you don’t.” She sighed into the darkness. “I don’t think you ever need to worry.”

Idrask’s finger traced the line of her temple, and she caught his hand. “Don’t you ever summon the Bull.”

“...I can’t promise that either,” he said. “If you were—if it really was the only way—”

“But not before.” She laced her fingers with his and clenched them.

“Not before,” he agreed, and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“This way,” whispered Idrask, and she followed him down the servants’ corridor.

It was almost the same plan as before: Idrask would give orders to the few guards he trusted to obey him and they would slip out of the palace with stolen horses. But this time it was Idrask who was supposed to leave at her side, not Marie, and they were leaving in the slow, warm afternoon hours instead of the middle of the night.

They were past the point where they had lost Marie—Zéphine’s throat tightened—and they were almost to the stables. Idrask led her through a door, out from the corridor into a ballroom. The chandelier glinted faintly in the afternoon sunlight that spilled across the gold-and-crimson floor. Everything looked quiet and normal; Zéphine sighed in relief.

“I really thought you had more sense,” said Launrad.

They spun to see him at the opposite end of the room—and there were the guards coming in the doors. Zéphine felt dizzy. They were trapped.

“Lost it, sorry,” Idrask said through his teeth, gripping her hand. As Launrad walked lazily towards them, Idrask backed towards the windows.

“I would have been content to let you give her children,” said Launrad. “But if I must do everything myself—”

Idrask whirled away, dropping Zéphine’s hand as he drew his sword to attack the guards between them and the window.

He was brutal and quick. In a few moments he had dropped two of the guards; he grabbed a sword off one of them and slammed it against the window, shattering the glass. Then the other guards were on him and he had to turn and fight them, a sword in each hand.

“Zéphine!” he yelled. “Out the window—”

And Launrad was there, and his sword only moved twice before it was buried in Idrask’s gut.

The whole world seemed to stop for a moment. Zéphine couldn’t breathe. Then Launrad pulled his sword free and Idrask fell to his knees, his swords clattering to the ground beside him. Everything moved again. The guards drew back; Zéphine ran forward to grab his shoulders and steady him.

Idrask pressed his hand to his side with a gasp, then held it out, blood dripping onto the floor where the gold inlay formed a perfect circle. “Black bull of the north,” he snarled. “Come to my blood.”

“No!” snapped Zéphine, trying to pull his hand back—

As nothing happened.

“I lied,” Launrad said placidly. “I didn’t just kill your brother for the power to move troops. I also bargained his blood to ensure that for all my life, the Bull would never hear your calls, nor could anyone else invoke him against me.”

Idrask gasped again and slumped. His whole torso was soaked with blood now. Zéphine eased him down to the ground and pressed her cloak over the wound—he let out an awful grunt—but the blood kept seeping through.

“Stay with me,” she said. “Idrask? Listen to me. You said you would stay.”

His lips curved a little. “Sorry.”

He was dying.

In that moment, she knew what the Ysonde had felt, what had caused her to strike the terrible bargain with the unicorns. It didn’t matter which legend was true and whom she had been trying to save—lover, sister, father, or all her people. There had been someone whose life was worth anything to her.

Zéphine’s heart still wasn’t that pure and never would be.

But the Bull would grant you anything for a price.

She leaned down and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you.” She smiled. “So I’m not afraid any more.”

His eyes widened and he started to gasp her name, but she pulled the knife out of his boot and turned away. She stepped forward, head high. Bloody, broken, and impure, she was still a princess of Retrouvailles.

Launrad eyed her. “You can’t possibly hope to fight me.”

“No,” said Zéphine, because he was right: he was a warrior and she was a princess who had never killed anyone. But she was also the wife of Idrask Leifsson, wedded and bedded and heir to his power.

Her hands moved as smoothly as if they belonged to someone else. One quick slice, and she had opened her palm again; as the blood welled up, she held out her hand and said, “Black bull of the north, come to my blood!”

Hoofbeats drummed in her ears.

Launrad sighed. “He won’t ever turn against me—”

The ballroom was gone. She was back in the darkness, but this time in the very far distance—she knew it was the north—faint light glimmered at the horizon. The hoofbeats pounded closer, jarring her bones, but she still couldn’t see him—

Until his breath burned along the back of her neck. Suddenly Zéphine felt very small and unworthy and afraid. But this was the Bull, who granted wishes even to people who didn’t deserve or mean them.

“Lord of the north,” she whispered. “Father of my house. Grant my wish.” She turned then, and saw the great hulk of its body, the two burning red eyes whose fire concealed infinite depths. The air shivered out of her lungs, but she drew another breath and said, “Take my heart for your price.” All her impure heart. All her desires, foolish and hateful and kind alike. All her hopes and hates and fears. “Take it and give me in return a heart that is pure enough for the unicorns.”

For one heartbeat the eyes stared at her; then the darker void of his mouth yawned open and rushed down, swallowing her—in the belly of the Bull, everything was fire, burning and devouring—

She heard a noise that was something like an earthquake and something like a chuckle, and she knew that it meant, Granted.

Then la Demoiselle la Plus Pure opened her undefiled eyes and gazed at the enemy of her country. She curved her hands in the gesture used by every princess and queen since Ysonde, and she whirled into the maiden dance. Around her men shouted and drew their swords, but they didn’t matter; they were nothing, shadows, as the walls grew filmy and vague and the ever-living unicorns walked out. She remembered that she had once feared these creatures, but as they nuzzled at her palms and whinnied, the soft noises tearing at her throat with longing, she could hardly imagine why.

Among the glimmering crowd, she could faintly make out human faces—slender, ghostly girls, naked and unashamed, clinging to the backs of unicorns, their faces half-buried in their manes. She remembered one part of her purpose and she held out a hand, calling, “Marie!�� There was no response, so she called again, “Marie!” and a third time, “I call on my sister Marie!” Still nobody answered—one girl blinked at her with puzzled eyes, and she recognized her.

The Demoiselle grabbed her wrists and pulled her off the unicorn. “Marie,” she said. “You are my sister. Remember.”

The girl blinked slowly again. “Yes,” she said. “I remember you. Are you happy now?”

That question didn’t have any meaning, so she ignored it and said, “You are a princess. Do you remember that too?”

Marie’s hair swirled in the still air, like a handful of confused thoughts. “...yes.”

She cupped her sister’s face in her hands. “If you could be happy here... would you protect us?”

Suddenly Marie smiled, looking immeasurably human. “You know what I always wanted. All of it. Of course I will.”

The Demoiselle let go of her and looked at the unicorns.

The unicorns gazed back, and knew themselves in her eyes. And she finally understood them. She understood that they needed a demoiselle: a creature they could recognize, yet who was other. This need had driven them to princess after princess, ever since Ysonde first gazed on them and woke them; it drove them to devour the unicorn brides. She understood why they demanded the pure in heart: because, being creatures that did not know choice, they could only recognize someone for whom need and desire had fused into absolute certainty.

And she understood the strictures of Retrouvailles. The people had been desperate for princesses pure enough to dance before the unicorns. So they had created the walls and the spells and traditions to ensure that each princess would grow up unable to imagine any choice or outcome besides her maiden dance. Only in this way could they guarantee that every princess would be pure. But they had also guaranteed that no princess could ever change anything.

Until one weak and foolish girl had ripped out her heart.

“Listen,” she said, for she was still just human enough that she needed to speak. “I am giving you a new covenant. You will heal the Kyrlander prince. You will destroy the Kyrlander king and rout his men. And then—” her fingers twined with her sister’s “—you will permit this one to remember her name, and she will be your pure-eyed demoiselle, to guide you and reflect you as you guard our country.”

The unicorns looked into her heart and they believed her.

She turned away from the light of the unicorns and walked back towards the clumsy human forms. One of them was the Kyrlander prince she had determined to save. On either side of her, the unicorns streamed away to kill. Someone screamed, but it was not anyone she meant to protect and so she ignored the sound.

One unicorn followed at her back, and when she knelt by the Idrask’s side, it leaned over her shoulder and gently tipped its horn against his wound. Light glimmered across the blood; he drew a shallow breath, then a stronger one. He opened his eyes. For one moment the light of the unicorn was reflected in them, and she smiled at the gleam, but he blinked and it was gone.

“Zéphine?” he breathed, sitting up.

“Our people are safe,” she said.

“Our people,” he repeated blankly. He pressed a hand to his middle, as if still unable to believe he was healed.

“The unicorns have seen you and accepted you,” she explained. “That makes you my king, and my people are your people. I will help you protect them.”

Around her, the gleaming forms of the unicorns began to fade, and she turned to watch them slide back into the shadows. Her eyes stung and watered with the need to follow them, but she knew she would dance with them every full moon; once Idrask had died of old age and there was another princess for her people, she could persuade them to devour her.

Idrask touched her face. “Zéphine, are you all right?” His palm was sticky with blood.

“I told you. Our people are safe. You are alive. No more princesses will be sacrificed.” She thought maybe her tears had worried him, so she smiled. “What more could I desire?”

His mouth pressed into a line. “Right.”

There was no more time to speak, because the room was full of clamor. A few of the Kyrlander guards had survived, and many of the Retrouvées had broken out of where they were kept and come searching for the cause of the disturbance.

The Reine-Licorne stood, pulling up Idrask with her, and went to tend her people.

She was crowned three days later: the first Reine-Licorne in nine hundred years to rule in her own right, with Idrask Yfir-konungr as her consort-ally.

For the first month she was very busy, and there was little time to reflect. Sometimes she dreamed of her sister begging her to wake up. Though Idrask often smiled at her, sometimes she woke in the night and found he had been weeping into her hair. She understood why. The Bull had taken none of her understanding, so the facts were very clear to her. But they were also distant, like stars on a cold night. To some degree, she could regret causing Idrask pain, because she was determined to protect him. But even that was only a wisp of a sorrow that burnt away when she looked into sunlight and saw a unicorn glimmer back.

She was the Reine-Licorne. Her duty was her delight, and she desired nothing but the safety of her people. That Idrask could not accept this was unfortunate, but it was not her concern.

One month after Launrad’s defeat, the moon was full and it was time for her to dance before the unicorns again. She did not need to, now that Marie rode with the unicorns and knew her own name, but—she explained to Idrask—she wanted to. It would have been more accurate to say that she was Reine-Licorne, and therefore she was one who danced, but the word “want” made him quiet and stare at her for a few moments. Then he kissed her fiercely and let her go without protest.

She went to the Great Dome and knelt in the moonlight. As the unicorns began their slow, inexorable stride out of the shadows, she rose and danced.

Zéphine woke on the floor of the Great Dome. She stared lazily up at the curve of the dome, painted like a night sky with gold-and-silver rays coming out of the eye in the center, and wished that Idrask was here with her.

She sat bolt upright. She wished. She was full of desires and hunger and fear.

There was only one power that could have given her old heart back again.

In a moment she was running out of the Great Dome, past the ceremonial guards, back to the Royal Chambers—and there was the royal physician at the door, pale-faced and stammering that the Consort had made them swear she was not to be disturbed—

She pushed past him without a word. Idrask lay still on the bed, and for one moment her heart felt like it had stopped. Then she saw the bloody bandage over his eyes and remembered that no one bandaged a dead man. She saw his chest rise and fall, and she felt dizzy with relief.

Then she realized what that bandage must cover.

Zéphine stalked to the edge of the bed. “How could you?”

The edge of his mouth curved up. “They weren’t nearly as enchanting as yours. Didn’t need them anyway.”

“I told you not to summon the Bull.”

“I told you not to become that pure.”

She supposed he was right, so she sat beside him on the bed and silently took his hand. His fingers tightened around hers.

“I’m not sorry,” she said.

“I know. I’m not either.”

She closed her eyes with a sigh. She was happy to be restored: to be alive and holding his hand. But part of her keened at the memory of the unicorns, and the thought that she might never dance with them again.

When she opened her eyes, though, she saw a unicorn gazing at her through the garden window. It was not so crisp and blindingly real as she remembered; it seemed to have shaped itself out of the pale morning light and the slanted shadows between the leaves of the rose-bushes. When she blinked at it in surprise, it blinked back in silent recognition, then faded.

To restore a heart was not to make it forget. Perhaps there were some desires that could be chosen, after all.

If she tried, she could forget every desire besides the unicorns again. If she tried, she could lose the sight of them once more. If she tried very hard, she thought that she could even learn to both love her husband and protect him.

Idrask’s breathing had evened out into sleep again. Zéphine sat by his side and waited for him to wake.

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tentacle-stylograph · 1 year

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had a good moment.

when i'm down on myself and my thoughts are reflexively more negative--okay idk how to finish that sentence. here's the "what happened vs. what might normally / otherwise happen"

what happened: i couldn't find my wireless headphones so i could listen to music as i brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. that helps me focus and keep moving. but i have a roommate who i didn't want to potentially wake

-> nbd, i used my wire headphones instead of wireless

-> i just unfurled my blanket about an hour later and found my wireless headphones wrapped in it, even though i'd already shaken my blanket in the search for them

-> i thought, oh! good! i'm glad i found them :)

what might otherwise have happened: all the above except the end thought may have been:

-> really? why didn't you check better earlier? you messed up. stupid

it could be that i didn't mind so much because the wire headphones have squishy unicorns that i really like on them, and i'm still a bit sad i don't use them as often anymore, but the SUPER CONVENIENCE (and lack of worry of tugging electronics off counters) of wireless headphones VASTLY outweighs the nice delight from the unicorns

but either way, tonight was the Good Ending

and happy Halloween!! :) (actually All Saints Day now)

#:)#the picture of the headphones isn't what my unicorn headphones look like at all but it's just a picture for this entry anyhow

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artsifex · 5 years

Photo

OCeptember Day 19: OC Crossover

Ya know, I just thought I’d drop these innocent kids into the Tartarean world of dark magic that Emsley and Cyril live in.

#OCeptember #original art #traditional art #my art #OCs #Albireo #Xander #Nova #Prague #Xander's like 'I feel like I /don't/ want to use blood magic to try and summon a unicorn' and Nova's like 'then perish'#y'all might want to brace yourselves for me to spam you with OCeptember content tonight #because I've finished a lot lately #and one concerns Valentines so #sidenote: if Pamela were there she would say 'THAT IS NOT SANITARY'

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bucky-bucky-bucky-bucky · 2 years

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The Words | Bucky Barnes x Reader

Hi, friends! I hope y’all enjoy this quick lil thing I came up with while in horrific traffic 🥴

Send any comments, questions, and/or suggestions my way 🥰

Tag list: @beefybuckrrito @shadytalementality @everything-burns-down @rainbow-unicorn-pony @mandersshow @emetophilily @breakablebarnes 💘

Warning: PTSD, anxiety

——————————————

No more than three seconds ago, Bucky had been standing right behind you, grabbing a few plums from the produce section while you checked your grocery list. When you'd turned around to ask if he wanted you to grab him some potatoes to go with dinner, he was gone. He'd somehow completely disappeared without you noticing, making a silent getaway thanks to his old training, no doubt. Your heart raced as you searched for him, abandoning your grocery cart and scanning every aisle for him, fearing that he might've had a panic attack and didn't want to bother you with it.

After what felt like forever, you found him on a bench outside with his head bowed. "Buck..?" you called as you made your way over to him, "is everything okay?" His head snapped up when he heard your voice, and you saw a bit of the tension in his face melt away. "Hey, what are you doing out here?" you asked as you sat down next to him, placing a hand on his knee. He sighed and shook his head, absentmindedly playing with his dog tags and letting them clink against his vibranium fingers.

"It's not that big of a deal, really," he said flatly, "I shouldn't have let it bother me." You stared at his tense features, watching as the muscles in his jaw flared ever so slightly. "Some guy- some asshole in there thought it would be funny-" he cleared his throat and gave your hand a squeeze before continuing, "I don’t know how but, he knew those words- he knew them and he stood right next to me, muttering them under his breath...like it was a joke, or something".

Your heart sank and you gave his hand a squeeze, watching as a tortured expression flickered behind his stormy eyes. "I know they don't technically have an affect on me anymore, but- I still hate hearing them." A deep sigh left his lips and he shook his head a bit, trying to rid his mind of the horrifying memories associated with those words. "Well of course you don't like hearing them, Buck..that makes perfect sense," you reassured him.

"I don't know...I just feel like I should be over it by now, I guess," he shrugged, letting a sad smile flash across his face. "As far as I'm concerned, you never have to get over it. You had some fucked up stuff happen to you, babe, you deserve to take your time," you murmured, "There is no deadline for healing".

He nodded and leaned toward you, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips. "Come on, let's finish shopping," he muttered with a sigh. You stood up with him, but held him back from walking back inside. "Oh, I don't think that's a good idea..." you stated, "cause if I see the guy who did this, I'm gonna straight up commit murder in the cereal aisle or something". Bucky's head fell back in a laugh and he pulled you tight against his chest. "Oh, so now you're gonna go all Winter Soldier on some guy in the middle of a grocery store?" he teased.

"I just might!" you replied, "If someone messes with you, they mess with me". He left a kiss on your forehead, and you felt his smile pressed against you skin.

"Alright then," he said, "so if we're not going back inside...pizza tonight?"

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dontcare77ghj · 3 years

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Inked

Natasha x reader x Wanda

"You know those cause cancer, right?" Mal asked, entering your office. "And you're gonna stink out your office."

"The window's open." You shrugged, exhaling slowly and sending the smoke out the open window. "And you and I both know, cancer isn't something I'm scared of."

"Yeah, yeah, death licks your boots." Mal rolled her eyes, blowing a strand of blue hair out of her eyes. "Anyway, I'm going on break, Blaine's with a customer, and we've got a walk-in."

"I'll handle it." You promised, putting out your cigarette. "You going to pick up Erin?" You asked the younger girl.

"Yeah, I'm gonna drop her off with a neighbor. May offered and wouldn't let me refuse." She told you.

"Well, here. Get Erin something sweet for me." You said, shoving a twenty into her hands.

"Y/N, I can't." Mal started, trying to give you the money back.

"I insist." You cut her off. "I want to be her favorite aunt." You shrugged, forcing her to curl her fingers around the money. "Go, get your kid, and give her a hug for me."

"Will do, boss." She nodded before leaving.

"Hi, welcome to SkinPolish. How can I help you?" You asked, entering the main room to see the back of a man. He was looking over the walls of the store but turned at your entrance.

"Just so you know, I'm not here to get stabbed a thousand times," Clint told you with a grin.

"I think your day job provides you with enough of that." You joked, wrapping your arms around him. Clint chuckled as he returned your hug, pulling you close. "It's been too long, geezer."

"I know, you've got at least four more tattoos since the last time I saw you, you hoodlum." Clint teased you.

"It's been two years, Clint. Some of us had to change our identities." You reminded him, pulling back. "What are you doing here?"

"I need your help." He told you.

"Blaine, watch the shop." You said without taking your eyes off the man before you.

"You got it, Y/N!"

"Follow me." You told Clint. You led Clint out of the front of the store and into your office. "Clint, I left when SHIELD fell. I handed in my clearance and took off." You said, lighting another cigarette. "I'm not doing any more work for them."

"Don't be like that." Clint groaned, sitting on your desk.

"First off, get the fuck off my desk. Where are the manners Laura shoved down your throat? And secondly, I can't come back. Fucking HYDRA was running SHIELD for years, and none of us knew. All our information was in their hands. Who knows what they took? I have people I care about, Clint. I can't risk anyone's lives." You told him.

"I'm not asking you to do anything for SHIELD. I'm asking you to help the Avengers." Clint explained.

"Even better, a more public job." You scoffed. "Clint, we're friends. We've been through a lot. I get why you're here, but why the fuck would I risk the people I care about for another mission?"

"Argentina." He said simply.

"That is a dick move, and you know it." You groaned, finishing your smoke.

"I do know it, but I have to use it. We need your help." Clint said, rising from your desk to stand in front of you. "We need your help, kid. I wouldn't be asking if I had another choice."

"Fine." You relented after a minute. "When do you need me?"

"Tomorrow," Clint told you. "I'll pick you up." He added before going to leave.

"You don't know where I live." You protested.

"Yeah, I do." Clint corrected you. "I'll see you at nine." He said, and with that, he was gone.

"Fuck me." You sighed, rubbing your hand across your face.

"Remind me why I agreed to this again?" You asked, watching as the Avengers Compound grew closer through the window.

"Because you love me," Clint responded cheekily.

"Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart." You rolled your eyes. "You never even told me what I'm needed for."

"Briefing's in half-hour," Clint told you. "Which gives you enough time to get acquainted with everyone." He added as the car slowed to a stop.

"You know how I feel about crowds of people."

"It's not a crowd. It's the team and Maria. You're fine, kid, I promise." He said.

"Fine, let's get this over with." You sighed, unclicking your belt.

"Avengers!" Clint called as the two of you moved further into the maze of a building. "I have a surprise for you all!"

"Is it a unicorn?" A male voice asked as you both entered what looked to be a meeting room.

"Even better. Gentlemen, and Wanda,"

"Smooth Barton." A redhead coughed.

"This is Y/N L/N." Clint continued his introduction. "A specialist in all fields, especially disguise, and the only reason we might do our job today."

"Oh, so I'm doing your work for you again, Barton? Nothing's changed, I see." You commented.

"Hey! That's not true! Name one time that's ever been true!"

"I can list fifty off the top of my head." You said, raising a brow at him.

"I can add sixty-seven to your list." The redhead piped in. "Natasha Romanoff." She introduced herself.

"Pleasure Agent Romanoff." You smiled. "C'mon Barton, formal introductions, please."

"Yeah, Barton. Introduce us."

"Y/N, this is Tony, Steve, Bruce, Thor, and Wanda." Clint gestured. "Are you all satisfied?"

"Not particularly, since you still haven't told me what you need my help for." You said, crossing your arms.

"You haven't even told her that. Jesus Barton." Wanda snorted.

"I was getting to that. I was waiting for you all to meet." Clint whined.

"Well, we're met." You said, taking an empty seat beside Natasha. "C'mon, what am I doing here?"

"There's a gala tonight," Natasha said, handing you a file. "A man named Jayden Reeds is going to be in attendance. Reeds has stock in several large companies, but that's just a front. Reeds actually has ties to HYDRA and deals in human trafficking. From what we've gathered, Reeds kidnaps people who will seemingly not be missed. They're then delivered to HYDRA bases around the world and never heard from again."

"Am I here to kill him? Because I can get behind that." You said, shaking your head.

"Wait till you hear the rest," Clint told you.

"There is a possibility Reeds also has his own collection. He's been spotted with several women who have all disappeared shortly after."

"What's the connection between them?" You asked.

"They're all French brunettes."

"So let me guess, my job is to go undercover tonight and see if he takes the bait. And when he does, I bring him in."

"Bingo Boingo," Tony told you.

"Well, I guess I better find a long sleeve dress. Oh, and maybe a wig."

"You know, if I didn't know better, I would have assumed your accent was real myself," Wanda commented later that night.

The mission had gone as smoothly as could be. Reeds had fallen for your act believing you to be a young French brunette on vacation in America's busiest city.

You hadn't even needed to corner him as he'd followed you into a woman's bathroom with two other men.

You hadn't given any of them a chance to move or say anything before you had them unconscious on the ground.

Now you were heading home, still decked out in your gala gown, with Natasha, Wanda, Clint, and Tony.

"It's not that good. No matter how much I practice, even my Italian's better than my French." You shrugged.

"Not that good?" Tony snorted, glancing at you in the rearview mirror. "Sweetheart, if I weren't engaged and I met you in Paris, I'd take you back to Hotel Plaza Athenee and show you a time."

"Cute, Starky boy, but you're not my type."

"I'm everyone's type."

"Sorry, hon, but I like women." You told him. "This is my stop." You added as Tony pulled over.

"You live here?" Natasha asked, looking around the neighborhood in distaste. You could understand her aversion to the area. Any one of your neighbors would move in an instant if given the choice.

"Yep." You said, unclicking your belt. "Been here since SHIELD crashed."

"Did SHIELD pay this bad?" Tony questioned you.

"SHIELD pay wasn't great, but it was something. I saved most of it, but a lot of it went to making sure Y/N Smith, the tattoo artist from the wrong side, wasn't connected with Y/N L/N, SHIELD agent." You shrugged. "Didn't see a point in moving after." You added. "This was fun. We should do it again sometime." You said, sliding out and holding the door open.

"We'll give you a call if we need someone to do all the work for us." Clint nodded.

"Great. Come by the shop if you ever want a free tattoo. Clint knows where it is."

A part of you was sure you wouldn't see any of the team again. They led much more busy lives than you did, and their schedules were forever changing.

So imagine your surprise when Natasha and Wanda entered your shop the next day just to simply chat. And they continued to do so for a week. Sometimes Clint would come, Steve had popped in for a few minutes while on a run, but Natasha and Wanda visited every day.

On the seventh day, the two came in at one in the afternoon with Tony.

"Hey, Tony. I didn't know you were coming to lunch with us." You said, continuing to lock up the shop. "I'll be ready in a couple minutes."

"Great, but there's been a slight change of plans," Natasha said, watching you closely.

"As long as foods still involved, I won't be too bothered." You shrugged.

"Food is involved. It's just going to take us a while to get to it." Tony cryptically informed you.

"Guys, I'm running on twenty minutes of sleep and caffeine. Please, no cryptics." You sighed, narrowing your eyes at the three.

"Relax, we're not trying to hurt your head." Tony chuckled. "We have something to tell you."

"But first, step this way, away from any possibly hidden weapons," Natasha said, gesturing you forward. "No-one should get a knife to the head because they shocked you."

"Haha." You rolled your eyes, walking forward. "For the record, I did that once. And Clint caught it." You added. "What did you three do?"

"Technically, Tony did it," Wanda said, pointing a thumb at the billionaire.

"Real smooth, Sabrina." Tony scoffed. "Alright, yes, I did this, but I did it out of pure kindness."

"Did what?"

"I've had all your stuff moved out of your apartment. I've had it moved into a spare room in the Compound," Tony announced.

"Put it back, Tony." You demanded, crossing your arms. "My things aren't yours to touch."

"You live in a shitty neighborhood." Tony defended himself. "You have eight security systems of your own just to keep yourself safe. You won't find a new place of your own volition, so I found one for you."

"Tony, you moved my things into the Avengers Compound." You sighed. "I'm not an Avenger."

"Yet." Tony cut you off. "You are more than qualified to join the team. The way you helped us the other night, the way you took those men out and got the information quicker than we would have done. You can be an Avenger."

"I'm not risking those closest to me." You shook your head. "I gave up Y/N L/N when I left SHIELD. I have people in my life now, civilian people, who could get hurt because of me."

"Than don't let them," Natasha said. "I've been through your records, know how many people you helped and protected. Protect those you love just as you did all the strangers. You can still lead this life as well as one where you can protect people again."

"At least try temporarily," Wanda suggested. "Give it a month trial period and see if you can remember what it feels like. If it doesn't work out, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. And if it does work, you can join our team. Please." She added, giving you puppy dog eyes.

"Fine. A trial period." You sighed, pushing your hair back. "But no more using those eyes. It's evil, and you know it." You said, pointing at the witch.

"Yes, she does." Natasha smiled, putting her arm around her girlfriend's waist. "C'mon, there's a car waiting to take us back to the Compound."

"Where Tony ordered lunch," Wanda added, putting her hand out to you to take.

"At least he did one thing right." You joked, taking her petite hand.

"Hey!"

You had been staying at the Compound for almost a month. There were four days before the end of your trial period, but you hadn't made your decision yet.

There was still a part of you that thought it would no longer be safe for the civilians in your life if you joined the team. If you entered the Avengers, you might have to give up this identity and everything and everyone that came with it.

But there was something about being around the team that ignited a spark within you. A spark you long thought had burned out. You longed for adventure, for that adrenaline rush that came with being undercover and the pride you felt at helping someone.

You were torn between two worlds. Torn between two personalities.

"Jesus Christ, you smell like an ashtray," Natasha complained as she suddenly appeared by your side. You snapped out of your daze just in time to see Natasha take the smoke out of your hand and take a drag for herself.

"Didn't know you smoked." You commented, watching her exhale the smoke slowly.

"I don't. Not anymore." Natasha shook her head. "Just couldn't resist."

"Don't expect me to kiss you until you brush your teeth," Wanda said, skipping into the room and crossing her arms as she stared at the two of you. "I want a tattoo." She announced, staring you dead in the eye.

"Okay. Do you want me to find a parlor for you in the morning? I have a couple friends who owe me a favor or two." You suggested.

"No, I want you to do it," Wanda told you firmly. "As soon as possible if you would."

"And you're sure about this?" You asked, raising a brow. "You're sure you want a tattoo and that you want me to do it?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"Alright, then. Follow me." You said, leading the two back into the Compound and into your room.

"You have a gun and inks in your room?" Natasha asked, looking your makeshift parlor over.

"Yep. Set it up the night I arrived, gave myself this the next." You said, lifting your shirt to reveal the healing tattoo on your hip.

"Geez, you know most people drink a bottle of scotch to welcome themselves to a new place? Not give themselves a tattoo." Natasha informed you.

"Probably." You nodded, beginning to set up your station. "Okay, Wanda, what did you have in mind?"

"I want the words, 'Ty namnogo bol'she' to wrap around my wrist," Wanda said, tracing around her thin wrist with her finger.

"Alright, I can definitely do that. But you might have to write it down for me. My Russian's not that great." You informed her.

"We'll have to work on that," Natasha said as Wanda began to write it down.

"Alright." You began after Wanda handed you the spelling. "Let's get started."

"I love it." Wanda smiled, watching as you gently wrapped her wrist. "It's perfect."

"I like to do my best." You grinned, putting the last of the tape down. "Make sure that stays moist. And do not scratch it under any circumstances." You instructed her as you began to shove your equipment away in plastic tubs.

"You need a better system," Natasha commented. "Yours is kind of a mess."

"I'll update my system when I change this room around." You said, looking around the nearly bare room. Everything you owned was in plastic tubs or bags. You hadn't been bothered to unpack yet.

"Does that mean you're planning on staying?" Natasha asked. "Have you made your decision yet? To join the team or not?"

"Not yet. I'm still trying to decide." You sighed, leaning against the wall. "I like not giving a shit. I like waking up in the morning and paying too much for a shitty cup of coffee. I like going to work and being around people who've never had to see the shit we have. I like not having to feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, but I miss it.

I miss being a part of a team. I liked saving people. I enjoyed going on missions, creating new personas to get what I needed done. I miss being around people who've seen the shit I have. Who know what the weight of the world feels like.

Now I don't where to go. What I need more in my life." You told them.

"We told you, you don't need to pick one world," Wanda said, standing from her stool. "You can still save people and drink over-priced coffee. You can still be with people who share your trauma and be with those who don't. You don't have to pick one world."

"Can we help your decision along by us asking you out to dinner?" Natasha asked, breaking your pensive silence.

"Excuse me?" You asked, for once being taken aback by another person. "I think I went temporarily deaf there. Can you repeat yourself?"

"Let us take you on a date," Natasha repeated slowly. "We were thinking about dinner and wine and then a night at the opera." She said, causing your nose to scrunch up without thought.

"She's kidding." Wanda giggled. "Actually, we were thinking we get a couple beers, order a pizza, and watch a movie in our room."

"Can I pick the movie?" You asked her.

"With your crappy taste, no." Wanda shook her head.

"Okay, now she's kidding," Natasha said, taking three steps forward to stand beside her girlfriend. "Of course, you can pick the movie."

"And this wouldn't hurt your relationship?" You asked tentatively. "I wouldn't ruin what you already have?"

"You could only add." Wanda smiled.

"So, what do you say? You wanna go on a date with us?" Natasha questioned you.

"I'd love to."

"Go away.” You groaned, rolling away and under the covers into Natasha’s body.

“Wakey, wakey. Up and at ‘em you two.” Wanda ordered, pulling the blankets off the pair of you.

“Wanda!”

“Both of you will forgive me when I tell you I have coffee.” Wanda rolled her eyes, sitting on the bed beside you.

“The overpriced kind?”

“What other kind is there?” Wanda asked. “C’mon sit up or no coffee for either of you.”

“Alright, alright, we’re up.” Natasha said, sitting up with you on her chest. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“I love you.” You groaned after taking the first sip of your steaming beverage.

“Are you talking to me or the coffee?”

“Can’t it be both?” You shrugged before grabbing her hand and kissing her palm softly.

“As long as there’s love for me too, it can.” Natasha told you.

“I love you too, Nat.” You promised, kissing her collarbone.

“After today’s meeting, I want you to give me a tattoo.” Natasha announced. “I don’t care where is is, but I want ‘YA zasluzhivayu lyubvi’.” She told you.

“Alright then. I like this plan.” You smiled, looking up at your girlfriend. “You know I think I’m due for some new ink myself.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you can choose for me.” You shrugged. “I trust you both, always.”

Once, you left SHIELD and it’s lifestyle behind. And then one day Clint Barton walked into your shop and brought you back into it.

He brought you back to the life you missed and brought you to Natasha and Wanda.

Remember all Taglists are open as are requests.

Taglist

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thran-duils · 3 years

Text

Lost in Zero Gravity (P.11)

Title: Lost In Zero Gravity (Part Eleven) Summary: Fem!Reader x Mob Boss!Tony Stark x Mob Boss!Steve Rogers. Reader is a call girl who runs high end parties. She catches the attention of Tony Stark who invites her back to his room with his friend. She might have performed too well because she becomes their new favorite play toy and they don’t like to share. Words: 4,360 Warnings (for the fic in entirety): Smut, prostitution, infidelity, angst, domestic violence, stalking, possessive behavior

Part Ten || Part Twelve || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

“I… just got involved with some guys and it got… weird,” you told your friend, Asa. You were playing with your pasta, moving it around your plate with your fork. The two of you were having lunch at one of the cheaper Italian restaurants near your grandparent’s house in their suburb. But it was damn good food; you had filled up on soup and calamari before your main course had even arrived.

“’Some guys’?” Asa pressed.

You met her eyes and said, “I got involved with a lot of guys if we wanna be accurate. Too many. But yeah, there are two specifically that I am—WAS seeing. Exclusively.”

“Y/N, you don’t have to be embarrassed about that. Fuck, I would do it if given the opportunity. You know I would. You were making bank,” Asa told you and you cracked a smile at her support. She took a bite of her food and pointed her fork at you, “Okay but… two? Exclusive? Did they know about each other?”

“Yeah… they did,” you admitted. “It was part of the deal.”

“Hmm,” Asa murmured. “You were getting dicked twice over and I can’t even find one.” You laughed, picking up a forkful of pasta and taking a bite. It was too good; you ignored your full feeling. “But, weird how?”

“One of their wives walked in on me fucking them – in my apartment, that they paid for, by the way – and punched me,” you told her bluntly. Asa rose her brows, stalling her chewing. She swallowed slowly and you muttered, “Yeah.”

“Oh, that kind of weird. I’m totally familiar with that. You know, in those situations, what I would normally do….” she trailed off because she started to laugh and you followed her lead, feeling the tension slowly leaving you. She reached across the table and grasped your hand. “I’m sorry. Is that what…” she gestured at your face and you nodded. She breathed in relief. “Not that it’s any better but when you said you got involved with two guys, I was thinking… you know, the worst. But fuck. You getting socked because they were cheating? That’s some bullshit.”

Another mouthful and you mumbled, “That’s what I thought. And they were acting like I was overreacting by being upset about it.”

“Are you kidding?”

“I wish I was.” You shifted in your seat and sighed heavily. “I… never mind.”

“What?” Asa pressed.

“I just think they were… using me as a replacement for their own marriages.”

“Well, yeah…” Asa said slowly.

“You don’t get it,” you exasperated, and she closed her mouth, paying attention. You shrugged sharply, “I mean, they would come over and do things with me. Like… cuddling on the couch, napping together on the couch. Watching TV shows. Buying pets together. Just talk to me as I cooked dinner. It was… intimate. Like something they were missing from their relationship that wasn’t just sex. Does that make sense?”

“I mean… yes?” Asa answered. “Look, that happens all the time. People catch feelings. Even when you’re not supposed to.”

“This was a definite not supposed to.”

“Did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Catch feelings?”

You shoved a forkful of food in your mouth, staring down at your plate.

“So, you did. And you only left cause the wife?” Asa asked seriously.

“Look, I don’t like that I like them,” you said meeting her eyes again and she cocked her head curiously. “They’re not the type of men to ‘catch feelings’ for. And there’s a lot of… complications to them having those feelings of attachment to me. They’re not nobodies. Celebrity status if we are going to be frank and that status gives them a lot of power. They might not have hit me but they sure as hell locked me in that apartment because they know no one can stop them from doing it.”

Asa was staring at you from across the table in shock.

“So, I don’t like that I started to like them because they were nice a lot of the time and did me… a lot of favors for my betterment. But I wanted to get away from the situation after that last fucking issue because they obviously have a lot of problems going on at home. I didn’t want to get drug into it any further.”

Silence fell between the two of you for a few moments before Asa told you gently, “I’m sorry, Y/N.”

“I’ll get over it. We are going out for drinks tonight, so I’ll be able to drown my feelings in that rum.”

Asa laughed and said, “Always the rum.”

<><><>

“She’s not in there,” Daryl said coming back to the SUV, climbing back into the passenger seat in the front. Tony, Steve, and a handful of other men were in the back of the SUV, Terrence driving. “I circled the house and could not see her in any of the windows. So, I went to the front door and her grandma answered and I asked her about Y/N, telling her I was looking for her because we were supposed to meet up tonight. The old woman is way too trusting. She told me she was down at this bar called Unicorn?”

Steve pulled his phone out, googling it.

“Looks like it’s two stories. That should be a fun hunt.”

Tony and Steve had both refrained from texting her or calling. That was not their style. If she ran off and was not contacting them, then that was only compounding on top of the transgression. There was no way they were going to reach out and try to build a bridge; she had already burned it. If she called or texted, of course they would answer. But that was on her. She was the one that had made the stupid decision to leave them, and she was going to pay for it in full.

<><><>

“Would you look at that,” Terrence chuckled.

The group of six men had found a booth against the wall on the first floor. The place was packed, the line to the bar ridiculously long but they were not there for drinks. They were there to collect their prize.

“What?” Tony asked, sighing. He was already annoyed to high heaven about having to be in this dive of a club.

“She’s right there,” Terrence said which caught everyone’s attention immediately.

Terrence pointed Y/N out, waiting in line at the bar with another woman, almost to the front. Fishnets underneath high-rise shorts barely covering her ass, a black plain top, and thigh high black boots.

A guy came up behind her, much to everyone else’s annoyance in line and wound his arm up before smacking her ass super hard. As she jolted forward, Tony was already halfway out of his seat, Steve’s hand shooting out to stop him.

Y/N whipped around and glared before her grimace fell recognizing him and the guy burst out laughing. She slapped him in the chest and started laughing too. She leaned forward and took the straws from his drink into her mouth, sucking.

“Must know him…” Daryl said.

They got to the front and Y/N and the other girl leaned on the bar, smiling flirtatiously at the bartender. The friend ordered and the bartender cocked his eyebrow. She said something else, and he looked at the guy behind them, who waved. The bartender nodded before going to line up six shot glasses.

The friend handed over her cash and they picked up the shots between themselves, the guy having finished his drink, leaving it on the counter which the bartender took. They made their way back through the crowd towards the stairs to the bottom floor.

“Guess we are moving,” Steve told Tony. He looked at the other four and said, “You lot stay here up here.”

<><><>

Dragging Mia back from the pinball machine and a guy she had been flirting with, you sat her at the table. She whined the whole time and you told her after the shots she could go back but she needed to take the drinks with you guys because you had been gone for so long. She scolded you for guilt tripping her.

Plopping down in your seat, your eyes happened to scan the bar. Your breath froze seeing Tony and Steve staring at you from across the room, sitting along the wall on a couple of stools. If looks could kill, you would be stabbed on the spot. Even in the moving lights you could see the anger painted on their expressions.

They had not tried to contact you at all. You had taken that as a sign as they had accepted you backing out of the relationship. But they had traveled here, tracked you down. That sent the complete opposite message of accepting it.

Forcing yourself to look away back at the table, your friend Mia shoved one of the shot glasses to you. You tried to keep your breath steady, trying to not look worried.

“Here we go, Y/N,” Asa told you, winking from across the table as she held up her shot glass. “Down the hatch goes third. And fourth for me and Joel. But third for you two.”

“Yeah, we are not idiots. We pace ourselves,” Mia retorted. “Plus there’s a dude over there and I wanna be sober enough to possibly get some tonight.”

You were definitely going to need this shot after having seen them and knowing you were definitely in some deep, deep shit. Maybe you should have gotten a second shot. Hindsight was 20/20.

The four of you took the single shots, before Joel and Asa took their second ones. Joel’s eyes closed and he breathed deeply. “That was rough.”

“Maybe you should’ve spaced them out?” Asa teased, completely unbothered by hers.

“Fuck off,” Joel laughed, taking a swig of his water.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” you told them over the music.

“Oh, me too!” Asa said, hopping up before you could stop her.

Your mouth fell open, trying to protest but she was already gesturing for you to take her hand. You shot a look over at Tony and Steve, seeing they were still very much keeping a glare pointed at you.

She yanked you up from the table, you stumbling in your boots. She held you around the waist, shimmying with you away from the table to the beat of the music – a song you actually liked, “No Other Way” by SHAED–, laughing joyfully as she held you close.

“Let’s go make some friends in the bathroom!” she exclaimed.

That caught you off guard and you actually laughed. “Isn’t that how it always is?”

You hoped to god that Tony and Steve did not approach your friends at the table or think that you were trying to escape out a back door or something. You worried there were other men there – actually, you knew they had other men there. They would not be here alone. You shot another look over your shoulder as Asa danced with you, catching their gaze again before you disappeared into the crowd towards the bathrooms.

You went first to the stalls, pretending to go so you were able to ditch her. Feeling guilty, you left the bathroom, pushing your way through the crowd.

They were still waiting at the table, their eyes fixed on you as you approached.

You stood in front of them, throwing your hands out, and you asked afraid, “What are you doing here? I left the key. I didn’t take anything.”

Steve cocked his head and turned his gaze to Tony, who had not taken his eyes off of you. More burning into you now than before at what you had said.

Tony blinked, finally looking away from you to look at Steve, giving a light laugh. A laugh laced with contempt at that.

“’Didn’t take anything’,” Steve repeated, matching Tony’s humorless chuckle.

You did not like the way they were toying with you. Forcibly, you told them, “I didn’t. I swear.”

Steve’s arm lashed out, his hand wrapping around your wrist in the blink of an eye, yanking you to him. You were pressed in between his legs and he made sure to squeeze to keep you in place. His expression was murderous.

“Y/N… you are an asset. So, you did take something. An unbelievably valuable thing.” You tried to pry your arm away from him and he only squeezed harder, and you gasped. He was far too strong, his grip crushing.

“I know we didn’t tell you because it seemed… irrelevant?” Steve said, searching for the right word. “But, sweetheart, you belong to us. Just like you belonged to Tatiana.”

“I…” you stammered, confused.

“We bought out your contract. Actually, paid her even more than what was owed. And along with other things, you now have all that indebted to us. So, when I say that you are an asset, you understand what I mean now, correct?”

You felt sick, your gaze falling. You had gone to Tatiana thinking that she was releasing you from the contract when she let you run off. Or what you thought was letting you run off… that she had forgiven your debt. But that was not the case at all. You had fucked up without even knowing it. You had crossed them, and it was not a surprise they had come to get you on top of everything else you had explained to Asa earlier this same day.

Steve grasped you underneath your chin to force you to look up at him. His tone was firm, low, “What’s going to happen is you’re going to go and collect your clothes because I’m guessing there’s some cute shorts and bras in there that I like seeing you in considering the amount of clothes you took with you when you stole away.” His fingers dug in and you winced at that, his eyes flashing at the mention of you leaving again. “I know you got scared but that doesn’t excuse what you did. You have a mountain to climb to be in our good graces again but trust me, the reward will be more than enough if you show some good behavior up front by not putting up a fight. Your grandpa’s medicine can be paid for.” You stared at him in shock, and he chuckled, “Yeah, we looked into that ailment. Tony can get that pretty fucking easily. What a happy coincidence, isn’t it?”

That was digging a bigger debt to them, but it was for your grandpa. And it was not like you could run away from this.

Thickly, you told him, “I understand.”

Steve let go of your chin and his thighs loosened on you. “Go say goodbye to your friends.”

<><><>

“I can do it by myself,” you said from in between the two of them when they pulled into the driveway.

You already spotted your grandma sitting on the front porch on her swing seat. It was already eleven o’clock but she was a night owl, especially loving sitting outside and reading her books after your grandpa had gone to bed. You sorrowfully thought that you wished you had spent more time reading to him this afternoon since you were going to avoid waking him up now to say goodbye.

“You’ve got fifteen minutes,” Steve told you stiffly.

You bit your cheeks to hold back an argument, regretting yet another thing, wishing that you had not gone out tonight. But the scene at the club could have happened here and maybe that should be silver lining. Having time alone to pack up and say goodbye to your grandma was better than the alternative.

She noticed you walking up the stairs and she put her book down. “You’re back early.” You could not help but snort and she smiled in return. “I wasn’t expecting you back until probably early morning. If you are anything like I was in my youth and I know you are.” She furrowed her brow and asked, “Where’s your purse?”

You had left it in the car. Sighing, you stopped in front of her. “I gotta pack my stuff up and go.”

“Wait, why?” she asked hurt.

You sat down on the seat next to her and said, “Something came up.”

“Y/N, you’ve only been home for a couple days,” she protested. “We haven’t seen you in so long.”

Grasping her hand, you said, “I… it’s important. Not that you guys aren’t, of course. But it’s urgent. It’s something with work.”

“What could be so pressing there?” she asked you confused. She looked back at the SUV in the driveway, narrowing her eyes seeing Terrence and Daryl in the front seats. “Who are they?”

“Um, they work for my bosses,” you said in explanation. “They’re going to drive me.”

She cocked an eyebrow and asked, “You get to have drivers…? What kind of restaurant owners have drivers on hand?”

You heard car doors close, and you looked up alarm. That was nowhere near even three minutes. You got up quickly and moved towards the stairs to try to stop them from coming up the sidewalk to the porch. Steve and Tony were coming up the cement and you stopped in the center of the walkway defensively.

“That wasn’t—” you started to say but Tony cut in forcibly.

“Just wanted to make sure it didn’t take longer than fifteen because it looked like things were going to get dragged out. Why don’t you walk back with us and introduce us to your grandma before you go inside and get your things?”

He was not asking. Sucking your teeth, you turned around pissed off. You had wanted to do it alone and not have them involved.

She was watching you curiously from the other end of the porch as you walked back up with the two of them. You made to go towards the door, but Tony reached out, grasping your arm tightly, in warning. You stopped and turned towards her by the screen door. You just wanted to get this over with and get out of here without them talking to her.

“My friends are gonna help me pack, grandma.”

“Grandma…?” Steve asked expectantly.

“Margaret.”

“Pleased to meet you, Margaret,” Steve said politely. He walked over to her, holding out his hand. “Steve Rogers.”

Tony did the same, introducing himself. She was looking up at them in awe.

“Wait…” your grandma said, looking between the two of them. “You… you’re Avengers.”

“Sure are,” Tony beamed before he walked back over towards you by the door. He gave you a little nudge towards the door and you took a step before you heard the excitement in your grandma’s voice.

“Iron Man and Captain America. Oh, no wonder the two of you have drivers!”

She had paid very close attention to them after the attack in NYC since you had been there when it happened, and she had been terrified for you. She had become a fan that they had saved the city and essentially you as a byproduct.

“She works for us,” Steve told her, flashing his million-dollar smile.

“Oh?” your grandma asked confused, shooting you a look past him. You had told her you were waitressing, and she was no doubt wondering how that fit into working for them. “Do you own the restaurant then?”

Steve looked over his shoulder at you, a cruel glint in his eye. “A restaurant?”

“Yes. Where she’s waitressing,” your grandma continued. “She said it is a high-end place on the upper east side. Not that I know what that means. I have no knowledge of the city but I’m assuming it’s an affluent neighborhood?”

Steve licked his lips, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched you. You gave him a pleading look to just go with it, to just lie. Yes, he owned a restaurant. Just say it.

“You wanna tell her what you really do for a living?” Steve challenged much to your horror.

They wanted to humiliate you. And you thought dreadfully, to the point that you might possibly never be able to face coming back here again to look your grandma in the face.

“No,” you snapped instantly.

Steve turned fully towards you, looking dangerous all of a sudden. Just like he had the first day in the apartment when you had told him to fuck off. He stalked up to you, glowering down at you, his back to your grandma.

“You wanna rephrase that?” he breathed lightly, knowing she would not be able to hear him.

You felt anxiety flooding in your chest. “Don’t…” you warbled.

“Own it. Say it, Y/N.”

Tony was at your back, Steve in front, holding you in place. You were not going to escape this.

“I’m your whore,” you rasped in a voice barely above a whisper, trying to keep the tears at bay.

“Now, now, watch your language in front of your grandmother,” Tony scolded in a murmur from behind you. “We have nicer words than that don’t we?”

You cleared your throat and said louder so she could actually hear, “I’m your… assistant.” Steve cocked his head, his eyes narrowing threateningly. He was not going to let this go and you wanted to sock him in the face. Your voice shaking, you said, “Fine. Courtesan. I am your courtesan.”

“Hmm, yeah that’s a good word for it,” Tony praised you quietly.

Steve looked satisfied and shrugged, “I don’t know what was so hard about saying that.” He turned back to your grandma, shrugging again.

Your cheeks burned with shame at your grandma’s expression when you stole a look. Her whole demeanor had changed seeing how theirs had when you told them no and learning what you actually did, hearing it from your own lips. Your eyes were watering then, wanting to crawl into a hole and just die from the embarrassment.

“I don’t like when people lie and especially to their elders in their family. It’s quite rude,” Steve explained to your grandma, who was blanched now, all wonderstruck she had had for him a moment before gone. “Speaking of rude, I do apologize for the short visit and I have to admit that is our fault. We have a trip planned and it was supposed to be a surprise for Y/N but she left before we could go on it, let alone tell her about it. And we do need to be hitting the road.”

Tony added, “I need to use the restroom before we go. May I, Margaret?”

Swallowing sharply, your grandma said weakly, “Yes, of course. Go ahead.”

“Perfect. Thank you,” Tony told her. To you, he asked, “You can show me where it’s at, right?” You nodded and he gestured for you to start walking. Steve told the two of you he would be in the car. Tony nodded in acknowledgment and as he passed, he asked your grandma, “Do you want me to grab you anything to drink while we are inside?”

“Oh, no. I’m quite alright.”

Following behind you closely, Tony kept at your back you walked through the house. Tears spilled over, devastated that they had not just stayed in the car. And thinking now your grandma probably despised you. You wanted to turn around and slap Tony across the face just like his wife had done.

You stopped outside the bathroom, wiping sloppily at your cheeks to get the tears off, and told him, “It’s there.”

“Where are you going to be, love?” he asked, taking in your face, seeing the tears. You pointed at the guest bedroom and he said, “Stay in there until I’m done. Don’t go anywhere.”

Tearfully, you turned back towards the guest bedroom and went to work gathering up your clothes you had tossed around the chair your suitcase was sitting in front of.

Tony took your suitcase from you and walked out of the house. “I’ll take this to the car. Goodnight, Margaret.”

She said nothing, watching you coming up to her timidly.

“Why?” was the first thing she rasped out to you.

“I…” you said, stammering. Your lip warbled and you gave a shuddered breath trying to keep control. “It started as protection as first… from an abusive ex.”

“Doesn’t look like much of an upgrade,” she said sadly, her eyes glossy now too seeing how distraught you were.

“I know it doesn’t look like it. But it is. Trust me,” you said, a few tears escaping, and you wiped at them. “Seriously… trust me on that.” You exhaled sharply and shook your hands, trying to shake off the emotions. “I’m gonna be fine. I promise. I’m sorry I lied to you. Really.”

She did not say anything for a few moments before she asked quietly, “They are very powerful, aren’t they? I mean, they are superheroes.”

“Yes.”

“Seems that quote about Lincoln was right. About testing a man’s character by giving him power. Apparently it’s for the ages.”

You choked out a laugh, caught off guard by her quip. She was still as sharp as she always was; able to read a situation for what it was. She knew how big the power imbalance was between you and them. Essentially anyone and them.

She reached out, holding your hand, holding it tightly. “I’m not mad at you for lying. And I’m happy you came back home for the time you did. You can always call me. Do you understand that?” You nodded and she let your hand go. “Go. I’ll tell your grandpa there was an emergency.”

“Thank you. I love you,” you told her leaning down to give her a tight hug. You did not want to let go.

“I love you too,” she told you, giving you an extra tight squeeze in return.

Pulling away, you turned away from her, not wanting to look back afraid that you would just run back to the chair and curl up there. You instead stared ahead at the SUV to where the door was waiting open for you to hand yourself back over.

~~~

Forever tags: @coconutqueen21 @undecidedsworld

Fic tags: @icant-hangout-imdrumming @oceaniamaddness @multifandom-superlover @imsonick @holl2712 @here4thefanfics

#tony stark x reader #steve rogers x reader #dark tony stark #dark steve rogers #dark marvel #dark marvel fic #my shit

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orangeoctopi7 · 3 years

Text

All of Your So-Called Problems

[AO3 link]

Stan was trying to find room for the leftover Mac and Cheese in the fridge when he heard the doorbell. He grumbled a few obscenities under his breath as he trudged towards the door. He was NOT in the mood for visitors tonight, even if they might be paying customers. The fact that a demon was trying to break into the house to steal some world-ending piece of junk from Ford didn’t help.

"We're closed!" He shouted before he even peeked out the window. He pulled back the blinds just enough to glare at whoever thought it was a good idea to drop by this late, and his eyebrows raised nearly to his receding hairline when he saw who it was.

"Wendy!? Since when do you knock?" Stan couldn't think of a single time she hadn't just come in and made herself at home since she'd started working at the Shack.

"Since Dipper told me you answered the door with a loaded gun earlier today." The teen answered as Stan opened the door.

"Gonna have to have a talk with that runt about blabbing." Stan rolled his eyes. "What, you having a movie night with the kids?"

"Not exactly." The teen jerked a thumb over her shoulder, and Stan finally noticed the rest of the Corduroy family standing just behind her, right off the porch. They were all carrying sleeping bags and pillows.

"...Wha?" Stan could only utter a surprised grunt as his brain tried to piece together why it looked like the entire Corduroy family was here for a sleepover.

"Dipper called me and said we could stay here until your brother puts up a barrier around our house." Wendy explained, noticing her boss's confusion. "...Aaand he never even told you anything about it, did he?"

"He sure didn't." Stan deadpanned.

As if on cue, Dipper and Ford both stepped into the entryway.

"Oh, Wendy, you're here already!" Dipper said, voice dripping with faked surprise. "I forgot to ask Grunkle Stan if it was ok for you guys to stay the night. But gosh, since you're already here, I guess we can't turn you away!"

"You can drop the act, bucko, I wrote the book on It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission." Stan folded his arms disapprovingly. "The answer's still no. We're already putting up one freeloader."

"I'm the one who said they could stay." Ford said firmly.

Stan turned his glare to his brother. "This isn't a safehouse, genius!"

"It's my house, Stanley!"

"Where are they even gonna sleep!?"

"Well, perhaps we'd have some place to put up guests if you hadn't turned the two largest rooms into a tourist trap!"

"Oh, like you kept the place ready for company when you lived here!" Stan countered. "These rooms were both filled to the brim with your weird experiments when I got here!"

“Hey, we can sleep outside like men, if it’s too much trouble to put us up!” Manly Dan interrupted the brothers’ argument.

“Unfortunately, that’s not an option.” Ford shook his head. “The barrier barely extends past the front porch.”

Ford quickly took a mental survey of where there might be extra room. The basement lab was out. He’d finished dismantling the portal, but he was storing the rift down there for now. His secret study was supposed to be a secret, and he still needed to clear out all that old Bill memorabilia. The attic was already taken by Dipper and Mabel. Stanley still had the main bedroom, and Fiddleford was currently sleeping on the couch in the upstairs study. That left the den, which might be large enough for one or two people, but certainly not a family of five. If only Stan hadn’t filled his old experiment and specimen rooms with useless junk! Sure, the rooms hadn’t exactly been empty before, but Ford at least would have known what things could be moved where to make room for their guests. Even his old thinking parlor was… wait…

“What about the parlor?” The old researcher asked.

Stan shrugged. “I kinda use it as a space for rotating exhibits, or whatever else I need at the time. Pretty sure it’s still full of leftover campaigning junk.”

“So, nothing we can’t throw out then.”

“Not so fast, genius, I still haven’t agreed to letting anyone stay here.”

“This is an emergency, Stanley!” Ford fumed. “And besides, it’s not your decision to make!”

Stan regarded the Corduroy family still standing awkwardly on his porch, and tried to imagine Manly Dan with those disturbing yellow eyes he’d seen on that time traveler earlier. He tried to picture the hulking lumberjack acting like that erratic demon. It was not a pleasant thought.

“Alright, fine.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “But only because I don’t want any of these ax-weidling giants possessed by a triangular serial-killer. And don’t expect me to provide any bedding or food!”

“Yeah, we can probably snare ourselves a few squirrels or something.” Wendy’s oldest brother assured Stan.

Stan grimaced. “On second thought, help yourselves to some canned meat. Only the stuff that’s expired though!”

“Thanks Stan.” Wendy said. “For giving us a place to stay until this blows over, not for the expired meat.”

“What? They pad that date out by at least a year. As long as it smells fine, it’s good to eat.” Stan defended himself.

The teen rolled her eyes but stepped into the Shack, followed by her family.

Ford observed them all carefully as they entered. No hesitation or sign of even noticing it as they crossed over the barrier. So they definitely weren’t possessed now. He would have to keep a close eye on them while they stayed. He knew that Dipper trusted Wendy, and that was good enough for him, for now, but the others? Ford vaguely remembered Dan from when he’d been a young man, building this very cabin for him. He’d been friendly, loud, and boisterous. It appeared his sons were cut from the same cloth. But it was hard to say whether or not Bill could convince any of them to try and smash the rift.

“So Wendy, did you manage to get more unicorn hair?” Dipper asked as he helped her lay out a sleeping bag in the parlor.

“Oh yeah. I just snuck into that glade again with a pair of shears and a tranq dart. Works just as well as fairy dust.” She handed a grocery bag full of rainbow hair to Ford.

Ford made a mental note to add that tidbit to the Journal 1 entry on unicorns later. “I’ll get started on it first thing tomorrow.”

Mabel came downstairs to help just a minute later. After a lot of rearranging of campaign signs and novelty phones, everyone had a sleeping space set out. Dan took Stan’s recliner in the den, and his youngest son set out a sleeping bag at his feet. The oldest three children laid out their sleeping bags between the piles of junk in the parlor.

“Ohmigosh, Dipper, we should pull our mattresses down here and have a mega-sleepover!” Mabel gasped as she pushed the last of the campaign signs into a corner.

“What was the point of clearing out all this junk if we aren’t even gonna sleep in our own beds?” Dipper asked tiredly.

“Hmm, good point. Maybe Barry and Stuart can sleep in our beds, and we can sleep down here with Wendy!”

Dipper and Wendy’s middle brother both blushed beet red.

“Uh… I mean… I, uh, I don’t think Wendy would want to sleep with me--US! With us!” Dipper stammered.

“M-me? Sleep in a g-girl’s room? Like a room that a girl sleeps in?” The middle brother gulped.

“Yyyeah, I think we’re good where we are.” Wendy said cooly, trying to diffuse the awkward tension in the room.

“Aw man!” Mabel pouted, but she didn’t put up any other protest than that. Dipper suspected she was still pretty worn out from the rescue mission this morning.

Eventually, everyone got settled down and the children all fell asleep. The elder Pines twins moved back to the living room to check on Dan one more time.

"Hey, now that the kids are asleep, I've been meaning to ask you something." The lumberjack said in a low rumble that was probably his version of a whisper. "How long have there been two of you?"

"Hooboy…" Stan pinched the bridge of his nose. He really didn't want to retread this again.

"I'm Stanford. I'm the one you first met when you built this place for me. My brother Stanley has been living here under my name for the last 30 years." Ford summarized tiredly. Apparently he wasn't in the mood to make a big deal out of it right now either.

Stan could practically see the gears turning in Manly Dan's head. Eventually the grizzled lumberjack nodded. "Yeah, that adds up."

With that, he turned over and went to sleep. Stan was a little surprised that the guy accepted their explanation just like that. But then again, Dan had lived in Gravity Falls his whole life.

Ford grabbed a folding chair from the card table and carried it out into the giftshop.

"Are you seriously gonna stay up and keep watch over that snowglobe thing all night?" Stan asked incredulously.

"My usual sleeping place is already occupied, I may as well."

"Y’know, operating on so little sleep just makes you more likely to screw up.”

“Don’t worry. I’m well accustomed to it.”

“Not reassuring.” Stan said flatly, turning and climbing the stairs up to his room. If he was being perfectly honest with himself, he probably wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight either. But at least he was going to try. Ford was going to run himself ragged if he kept up this pace.

- - -

Nights in prison were the worst part of the whole ordeal, in Gideon's opinion. At least during the day, he was able to sway the other inmates to do what he wanted. There was a sort of mob mentality that he could take control of. But at night, it was just Gideon and his cell-mate, and there was nothing the boy could do to stop the hulking man from taking his pillow and doing whatever he wanted with it.

Last week, the convicted felon had staged a wedding in their cell. He’d made a veil out of toilet paper and hummed “Here Comes the Bride” and everything. Tonight, he seemed to be discussing the possibility of children with his new “wife”.

“But Tessa, your mother and your aunt both died in childbirth! I’m just worried about you, honey!” He paused for whatever imagined reply the pillow gave. “Adoption, you say? I’ll admit, I had not considered it.”

Gideon groaned. He couldn’t even put a pillow over his ears to try and block out the nonsense! He’d tried to persuade the warden to let him switch cell mates so he could room with Ghost Eyes, but apparently they were “both instigators” and putting them both in the same cell would be “asking for a prison riot”.

The boy’s eyes flicked with annoyance to the cat poster still hiding his last attempt to summon Bill Cipher. The triangle had appeared and promised he was working on something, but so far Bill had failed to deliver.

“Stupid useless demon!” Gideon muttered under his breath. He rolled over, expecting another sleepless night.

Well, it did turn out to be sleepless, but not for the reason he’d anticipated.

It was a little past 10 PM when Gideon heard the familiar sound of an old van’s engine revving. He’d heard it many times on his father’s used car lot, but what on earth would one of those junkers be doing here?

That’s when he heard the unmistakable sound of a van crashing through a wall. Followed by the even more unmistakable sound of a machine gun.

“Heavens to Betsy, what was that!?” Gideon ran to his barred window just in time to see a pudgy man with a machine gun walk away from the wreckage of where a large van had burst through the prison wall. His maniacal laughter sounded familiar.

“Well whaddya know? Bill came through!” Gideon said in a hushed whisper.

He dove away from the window with a yelp a second later when the machine gun started firing in his direction. A few seconds later there was a much quieter bang as a tall ladder hit the wall just outside the window.

“HEY GIDEON, I HEARD YOU WERE GETTING TIRED OF YOUR PRISON AND WANT TO FIND SOMEPLACE NEW TO PARTY?”

“Bill!?”

“THE ONE AND ONLY!”

“Are you trying to kill me, you maniac!?”

“YEESH, YOU FLESH-SACKS ARE SO SENSITIVE! YOU’RE FINE. BESIDES, I NEEDED TO LOOSEN THESE BARS!” He ripped out the bars on the window with ease. They’d already been loosened by the machine gun fire. “YOU COMING OR NOT? I NEED YOUR HELP STAGING A LITTLE PRISON BREAK OF MY OWN.”

Gideon pouted and followed the demon down the ladder, grumbling the whole way.

“... You know what, Tessa? I don’t think I want kids after all.” Gideon’s cowering cell mate said after they left.

Bill kept the guards off them with plenty of machine gun fire, but he had little regard for who he was shooting at, guard or prisoner. He even narrowly missed Gideon on a few occasions.

“Oooh, I hope Killbone’s foot will be ok.” The boy hissed sympathetically as he saw one of his inmate friends go down.

“NAH, HE’S CRIPPLED FOR LIFE!”

They finally made it to the van, and Gideon climbed into the passenger-side door. Bill followed after him.

“A-aren’t you gonna drive?” The boy asked.

“TCH, FUNNY! I JUST RAMMED THIS THING THROUGH THREE WALLS OF CONCRETE; YOU THINK THE MEASLY COMBUSTION ENGINE STILL WORKS?” He flicked a lighter on and dropped it down between the driver’s seat and the steering wheel. Gideon could smell the gasoline. This thing was going to blow any second. He scampered over the benches and out the back door. Bill followed casually behind him.

“Then how are we supposed to get away!?” Gideon demanded as he sprinted to put distance between himself and the burning van.

“RELAX, SHORT-STACK, I’VE GOT A SECOND GET-AWAY CAR RIGHT HERE!” Bill pointed out a small black Audi parked behind a tall tree.

“Then why did you set the van on fire?” Gideon asked in confusion.

“BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT’D BE FUN.” Bill grinned as the van blew up behind them. Gideon screamed and ducked to avoid fiery flying debris. “AND I WAS RIGHT!”

Gideon got into Bill’s car. There was no child’s car seat. “You better drive careful.” He warned the demon.

“AHAHAHAHA, OH GIDEON, YOU’RE ALWAYS A RIOT!” Bill struggled to shift the car into drive, and Gideon had just enough time to realize with horror that the demon didn’t really know how to operate a human vehicle before it sped off through the trees.

#Gravity Falls #Fanfiction #Stanford Pines #Stanley Pines #Gideon Gleeful #Bill Cipher #My Writing

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liquid-luck-00 · 4 years

Text

Wayne Gala/Father-Daghter Dance

Bio!Dad Bruce

Day 14: Wayne Gala and Day 16: Father-Daughter Dance

Ao3 ~~~ First ~~~ Previous ~~~ Next

~~~~~~~~~~

Knock, knock.

"Come in" Mari called, taking a shaky breath smoothing out her gown.

She was wearing a blush straight flowing skirt. The top was a 3/4 sleeve that was covered in silver lace and stones. Her hair was in loose waves falling over her shoulders. It was held back only by a twisted braids forming a crown around her head.

"Nervous?"

"Maybe a little" she laughed turning to face her dad.

He was wearing a simple fitted black suit with golden cuff links. His tie was a soft gold with hints of a caramel brown.

"We don't have to present you if that's what is worrying you" he wore a slight frown and worry laced his voice.

She gave him a smile "That's not it. It's just... I've never done an event like this"

"Oh. Well that is an easy fix"

"How?" she tilted her head.

"It is a masquerade, after all" he had picked up her mask and set it in place on her. It was silver form to look like a swan on her right eye and it’s head resting on her temple while the other one is beautiful filigree. There were gems on it which were all A pale rose color, this one shifted from its tail to its head silver to light blush and its beak.

"Oh" she giggled.

"Besides I won't be to far and neither will Selina." she began to smile. "Your brothers may end up not letting you out of their sights" she chuckled at this. "Besides I doubt Jon will leave your side."

"Dad!" she blushed furiously and he gave her a smirk.

"See nothing to worry about. We are all here for you." he kissed her forehead and lead her into the ballroom.

---

"Okay Dick. Spill" Jason sighed already done with the night. As he walked up to his brother who was watching the entrance.

He was in a charcoal suit with a crimson shirt and black tie. He was wearing a black and silver and white rabbit half mask covered with small swirls.

"Spill what Jay" Dick answered still smiling like the cheshire cat.

Dick was in a midnight blue fitted velvet suit accented with silver that matched his tie and a Bluejay sculpted it half mask.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary and if that's not guilty enough you keep scanning the room looking for something or someone."

"I'm not" he didn't finish that sentence.

"You are and unless you don't want to see this night through you'll talk."

"Okay, okay" he conceded. "You know how I spoke about getting Mari a date for tonight"

"Yeah... Shit Dick you didn't" great now I have to fix this, maybe the replacement and demon spawn will help keep this idiot's plan from succeeding.

"Two actually" Dick was now grinning like an idiot.

"And how sure are you that either will be right for our sister?"

"Well she did give me the names herself."

Okay not what he expected. "How?"

"She mentioned she had a crush on each of them. So I contacted them and they both agreed. Funnily though they were both on the guest list already" Dick began to ramble.

"Dick" Jason called getting his brother's focus again. "You said had. What were her words and think carefully."

"It was something about 'what a mess she was around them' I think. Why?"

"Was that's past tense" he nearly face palmed.

"Ya so?"

"Past crushes not her current" he holds Dick by his shoulders nearly shaking him.

"What's your point. Oh. Oh. I messed up" Dick finally seemed to realize.

"Ya you did, now let's see if we can fix this. What are their names?"

"Luka Couffaine and Adrien Agreste"

"Let's get the other two and try and fix your meddling if we ever want our sister to speak with us again." Dick nodded and the two of them went to find the demon spawn and replacement.

---

Jon found Mari not long after he had entered the ballroom. He was in a simple royal blue suit with a light gray shirt and silver bow-tie. His had on a domino mask which was a royal blue and mimicked a starry night sky, accented with silver clock gears, emphasizing his electric blue eyes.

"You look amazing Sunbeam" she gave him a smile.

"Thank you, but I've got to say you look great too." and he returned the smile.

"Would like to dance?" she giggled and was about to take his arm when someone called out.

"Marinette" he looked towards the voice and saw a blonde in a black suit and tie with a green shirt. His mask was a dark evergreen almost black and resembled a cat with ears and golden painted markings.

"Well look what the cat dragged in." Mari mocked and hugged the boy.

"I haven't been dragged anywhere." he put on an expression of mock hurt, reminding him of Dick, "Besides if I was dragged in this suit I would be avoiding you" she laughed at that. "You must be Mari's date, name's Adrien" he extended his hand towards him.

"Jon" and they shook hands.

"Just a warning. If you hurt her, even Batman will never find the body" he switched to a serious tone, but sounded more like a joke of a threat.

"Adrien" Mari hit his arm. "he is harmless to everyone but himself."

"Hey" Adrien pouted. "Let's just find Luka so we can start messing with your brothers" he grumbled.

"I hope you know what your getting yourself into right? Because I for one do not want to be on the wrong side of any of them" Jon warned.

"Trust me. After this Dick will never meddle in my love life again." Mari deadpanned a hard edge in her eyes as she explained their plan as they searched the room for the other player in this game while avoiding the bat boys.

"There he is" Adrien announced a few minutes later. "Looks like he's with Jagged that might be a problem.." Adrien frowned, the other boy had black hair with the tips dyed teal. the was in a black suit with a smoky actual shirt and gold tie. His mask was a white cat the left eye left in a dark blue and the left eye had a dark blue lightning bolt outlined in a hot pink with an electric blue unicorn horn.

"Leave Jagged to me" Sunbeam answered confidently.

"Tim is heading towards him." he added "Wait how are you going to handle Jagged" her smirk was the only response he got.

"The question we should be asking is how is she going to shake her brother and get away from Jagged?"

---

"Hello Luka" she stated plainly as she met the small group. "Hey Jagged, Penny"

"Marinette it's Rock'in to see ya" Jagged scooped her up in a hug. While Penny gave her a smile and pat her head. Jagged was in an electric purple blazer with white slacks, and a black shirt. He had a bronze untied tie and his mask was inspired by Fang in the same bronze as his tie. Penny's dress was an off the shoulder gown fading from white to purple to black at the train. The purple and black was lifted with bronze stars. Her mask was a fade between white and purple but it was completely made with glitter.

"Mari! Finally I found you" Tim had finally made it to their group. He was in a black suit and a light gold shirt with a red bowtie. He wore a golden half mask resembling a dragon with twisted horns. Jagged's arm was still over her shoulder. "And who is this?"

"Oh sorry, introductions" she clapped her hands.

"Melody would you like me to introduce us?" Luka offered.

"No its fine... This is Tim one of my older brothers" she smiled. "Tim this is Luka Couffaine, Penny Rolling, and this is Jagged Stone ” she finished.

"Mari if Jagged is your Uncle, Dad I think that means you have a nephew now" Luka added with a small smile in his eyes.

"Blimey you’re right" Jagged let Mari go and hugged Tim not letting him get in a word. "Any other sibling I need to meet Marinette?"

"Plenty" she laughed "But you should know Tim here is a big fan." she grinned. After that statement the Rocker seemed to make it his mission to get to know Tim. While Tim seemed to starstruck to answer, that and Jagged didn’t give him an6 time to answer.

"I think Jagged broke your brother" Penny stated with a chuckle.

"Don't worry he'll be back to normal soon" she laughed "Do you mind if I steal Luka away?"

"Of course, You do have your phone?" Luka nodded at her question and they walked towards Adrien and Jon.

"Jagged is going to keep your brother busy a longtime, Melody"

"So, Tim is taken care of. Whose next Mari?" Jon asked her.

"Hm, Who would feel played if he helped us mess with the others then flipped it on them?" she smirked.

"Damian" Jon answered confused.

"Wait we are recruiting your brother to mess with your brothers" Adrien asked, she nodded her head, "Mari you're more chaotic than the black cat himself."

"He'd be so proud, so lets find Damian"

"That shouldn't be to hard" Jon responded pointing behind him, "he's heading this way."

Sure enough Damian was stalking towards their little group. He was in a dark emerald suit with a black shirt and gold bow-tie. He wore a black kitsune fox mask with gold in the ears and dark green markings.

"Tt there you are Dick and Jason have been looking for you."

"Really what a coincidence so were we"

"Let's go" he turned around took a step before turning back around "Why?"

"Let me guess Dick figured out he isn't a good Cupid and now he is trying to fix his mess?"

"Yes. Your point"

"You know these two are some of my best friends, so they told me and we decided to prank them a bit tonight, we even got Jon to help"

"Perhaps I may assist as well" she couldn't see it but she knew her brother was wearing his trademark smirk under that mask. She nodded her head. "Okay so how are we going to handle those three."

"Two" Adrien corrected.

"Who did you deal with?"

"Tim" Jon answered this time.

"How?"

"Jagged" She piped in.

"Is he in this plan?"

"No that was all Mari" Luka replied. "But you might want to steer clear of my Dad for a while." Damian nodded his understanding.

"Best that we deal with Jason next then" he planned.

"Or we can get two birds with one stone" Adrien grinned. Everyone stared at at him in shocked silence.

"Care to explain Adrien" Luka finally broke the quiet.

"A game of monkey." he answered which seemed to confuse everyone. "We tell them the name of someone in the group and then only that person is seen."

"That will drive them insane" Damian commented "Let's do it"

That was exactly what they did. Dick and Jason seemed to always be five steps behind. By the time they spotted her and made their way to her she was gone.

At one point they decided to split up but then she didn't appear for an hour. Once they regrouped the game of cat and mouse continued.

By 11:30pm they had been at this for almost 4 hours and her brothers went up to the baloney but instead of watching the floor they were sitting upstairs. This is what she took as the cue to end their game of monkey.

"Hey you two. I heard you were looking for me." she smiled as she approached.

"Mari we've been look for you for hours." Dick called

"Wasn't the Demon with you at one point or another" Jason asked tired.

"I was" Damian responded next to him.

"Why didn't you bring her over then?" Dick asked their younger brother.

"Because it wouldn't have been half as annoying for you without him." Jon appearing and answering from between her and Dick.

"What do you mean? Was this just a game to keep us running around?" Jason seemed to be catching on.

"I've got to say it went better than planned" Adrien proudly stated as he made his appearance.

"Was Tim in on it?" Dick asked resigned.

"No Jagged got to him before we began, this game of monkey" Luka grinned from his spot on the railing watch those below.

"Jagged as in Jagged stone!" now Jason was at the railing looking for his brother and the Rockstar.

"We should probably rescue him now, huh?" Mari asked aloud.

"We should" Damian answered her "Father wants as all on the stage after the New Year count."

"I'll go get him" Mari offered.

"No I'll go" Dick responded. "Tim is only there because I set him to find you." he finished.

"Yes he is, but I'm the only one who is able to get in a word with Jagged" she countered walking away.

She was able to get Tim easily and the two made their way towards the others. By then Tim seemed to normalize a bit, he was a complete zombie after Jagged, that once they reached the others he finally spoke.

"When were you going to tell us Jagged Stone was your UNCLE!" he finished in a soft shout. At that her brother began questioning her but she had placed her face in her hands and shook her head.

"Jagged is my honorary Uncle" she sighed. "Besides dealing with all of you took up so much of the night that I need to find my date and apologize" she huffed. Jon 'mysteriously' vanished during the exchange.

---

"Wait if Mari had a date why did she leave, which one of you was it?" Drake was giving Agreste and Couffaine a stare.

However the two in question began to laugh. My three older brothers shared a look and explained what had occurred this evening.

"So who is this date she went to find?" Drake finally asked a relevant question.

"I have no clue" Grayson answered and again Couffaine and Agreste were laughing.

"Okay I get why you three wouldn't guess" Agreste pointed at Grayson, Todd, and Drake "But you've been with us, how could you not tell." Agreste was grinning.

That was when the pieces fell, Kent, he practically ran through the hall his brothers not far behind. The count down had started.

They still hadn't found those two.

He spotted his sister and best friend not far from his father and the stage.

They were about to reach them.

Kent pulled his sister in close.

She raised up on her toes.

They were right next to them.

They kissed and a flash was seen over his shoulder, Grayson must have taken a photo. They pulled away and then seemed to notice them.

"How long?" Damian asked his sister.

"How long we've been dating or how long it took for you to figure out you were played?" she asked him removing her mask.

"The moment I offered to help I was played, I realize that" he answered begrudgingly.

"So how long have you been dating" Grayson asked impatiently. A smile clear on his face and amusement in his unmasked eyes.

"Not long" his father answered as he made his way towards them. "It's been about a week. Besides it's time Mini."

---

Standing on the stage was Damian next to Dick who was on my right. On my left was Selina, they Jason and finally Tim.

"Hello everyone" he began to gain everyone's

attention. "As this is a new year and new beginning I would be honored to introduce as well as reveal to you all the very talented designer MDC" Marinette walked on the stage from the right.

"Hello I am Marinette of Marinette's Designs and Creations" she smiled and spoke confidently. There was a series of polite applause and when it ended I spoke again. "I am also pleased to announce that Marinette is also my daughter." That arose some questions from the reporters in the room.

But it was Lois whose question caused the room to fall silent.

"Is she another adoptive child or biological" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"She is my child biologically, she is also the youngest of all my children. He smiled and that seemed to placate most of them.

As he and his family walked off the stage Lois and Clark were waiting with Jon.

"Mari anything you want to say?" Lois questioned her.

"Um" she looked confused and Lois gave a small laugh before showing her, her phone. It was a photo of her and Jan sharing the Midnight kiss. Mari turned bright red and as he looked at Jon who matched her blush.

"I get the first interview” she smiled as she hugged Mini.

"Okay" she smiled and returned the hug.

"Care for a dance Mini?" he asked hoping to keep the mood light. She nodded and made their way to the dance floor.

They danced together for about four songs before Jon took her and they began to dance instead.

~~~~~~~~~~

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