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thefirstknife · 3 years

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Iron Lord Saladin Forge

Season of the Lost dropped some major lore about Saladin and I love every piece of it so I will make a huge post detailing stuff about and what's important.

The lore is on Iron Banner armour which you can see in-game when you go to the armour section. The lore is the same on each class so it doesn't matter which one you read. It's in the order of how armour is set, so helmet -> arm piece -> chest piece -> leg piece -> class item. There's some extras on Iron banner weapons that I'll add as well.

The rest under the cut due to length and also spoilers!

I'll link to the Hunter gear because I'm a dirty Hunter main and I read it from there and that's what I have open because I couldn't remember the names for other two classes, but the lore is the same on all of them. The set is called Iron Forerunner.

We haven't really had any substantial Saladin lore in D2 besides few lore pieces from Chosen and Splicer. Not nearly enough I think, especially since he wasn't properly introduced in D2 at all and it was kinda assumed that everyone would know about him from the Rise of Iron expansion in D1. He had plenty of voice lines, but with no real context. His voice lines in Season of the Chosen were interesting, but also made a lot of people think he's a bad person and a warmongering coward who sat on his butt during the Red War and was then preaching action for action's sake.

The situation is obviously more complex, but I've always said that it's Bungie fault for not explaining more about him prior to his involvement in the Season of the Chosen. Well, now we got some really interesting information at last!

Anyway, helmet first!

Flavour text:

"Some know the legend. We threw ourselves on the blades of tyranny so others may live free." —Lord Saladin

This is referencing the Iron Lords' fight against the Warlords in the Dark Age. Saladin is heavily influenced by his time in the Dark Age. It seems like some really old Guardians never get over the trauma of living through that (Drifter is another example). Side note: this could also be referencing the battle against SIVA since Rasputin is also known as "The Tyrant." It's not fully relevant tho, as Saladin was equally affected by both periods in his life.

This first entry details something we don't really think about when it comes to Guardians: death. It's a temporary thing with them so it doesn't really matter. But Saladin recounts how he remembers his deaths and how each one felt. Despite the fact that he will be brought back, the pain and struggle of dying are very real. There is also the associated trauma of the realisation that you will go through this over and over and over:

He laughed when his Ghost reassembled him. Then, he cried.

It's not something mentioned often, and definitely wasn't a point raised with Saladin. It gives some context to how seriously he takes combat, training and the lives of his fellow Guardians.

Saladin remembers the day he stopped counting deaths. "Something about you is different," Jolder had said, and put her hand on his.

This explains that his worldview of the role of Lightbearers changed the moment he was invited to become an Iron Lord. It's also important to remember that he loved Lady Jolder very much (in whichever way you want to interpret it) and that watching her make the choice to die a final death has had a heavy impact on him.

Saladin remembers all this and more when he looks at the Crow. He feels rage form a hot pit in his belly when Osiris tells him about the young Lightbearer's suffering at the hands of his fellow Guardians. Osiris asks him if he can keep a secret.

"I don't like secrets," Saladin says, and that's the end of it.

Saladin doesn't really say this during Chosen and his interactions with Crow, but it's evident from this that he cares deeply about the young Light who suffered in ways Saladin only remembers people suffering during the Dark Age. It's also important to note that the Osiris he speaks to here is Savathun. Saladin seems to be uniquely unaffected by Savathun's schemes. This will repeat itself again later.

Second, arms piece.

Flavour text:

"Some know the legend. We were forged in the fires of a burning world." —Lord Saladin

Same thing as before. Referencing the post-Collapse Dark Age. The lore tab details a really tragic story of the Iron Lords burying bodies, including the implication of Saladin burying the body of a child. He recalls that these people were victims of Fallen Raiders.

"It's a vicious circle," Efrideet had said as she tied off a funeral shroud with great care. Saladin remembers the bundle being very small. "One day, I'm going to break it."

Saladin remembers how easily the body fit in his arms, how light it felt as he laid it in the grave. He remembers, with shame, pretending not to hear Efrideet's words so he wouldn't need to respond to them.

He remembers not having anything kind to say.

He obviously regrets not having a stronger stance on this in the past. Where Efrideet seems to have always been keen on ending the cycle of violence, he clearly thought differently and is now ashamed of it. This transitions into more about his relation to Crow:

Saladin remembers all this and more whenever the Crow talks back to him. Sometimes, he bites down on the inside of his cheek. Sometimes, he looks up to find his Ghost focused on him with a knowing look.

He doesn't say anything to his Ghost either.

Because Crow was saying things that reminded him of Efrideet. Breaking the cycles of violence, extending a friendly hand, not treating everyone like an enemy. It's evident that this turmoil is still inside of him as someone who spent most of his time fighting for survival, only to be told by those younger than him that there's a way out of that war. It's a very common struggle of people dealing with trauma and specifically PTSD to not be able to imagine and/or live in a world of peace and to outright reject the possibility of peace ever existing. Saladin is very clearly dealing with that and here, we see it from his own POV: despite sometimes being harsh to Crow, there were times when he chose to say nothing because deep down he knows that Crow is right. Accepting that is a long process though.

Third, chest piece.

Flavour text:

"Some know the legend. We rose from the ashes of a dying world to save humanity from itself." —Lord Saladin

Same again, but this is an interesting way to phrase it. He's talking about humanity being a danger to itself, not about any external threat. Ultimately, the Traveler's gift was the first thing that harmed humanity post-Collapse, despite later being the thing that saved it.

This leads into Saladin's thoughts on the Red War, something we've been sorely missing for a very long time.

Saladin remembers losing his connection to the Light. He remembers thinking that the Traveler must have discovered his most secret doubts; the darkest thoughts he shared with no one—not even his Ghost. He remembers the strange sense of relief that had washed over him until his radio crackled to life just moments later.

His deepest secret? Probably that Light is a burden. When he lost the connection to the Light, he specifically thought it had only happened to him and then felt relief. Freedom from the eternal war he has to keep waging. I'm sure he feels incredible shame for thinking it would be better to just lose the Light and die a final death, but alas, he is bound by duty. Especially a Titan's duty.

He stands there thinking about it for a while before finally deciding to embrace that duty. And now we know what he was doing during the Red War:

"Saladin," his Ghost said again, and Saladin remembers moving. He remembers clutching his radio and rallying survivors—those strong enough to make the journey—to the Iron Temple.

It's been abbreviated as him "sitting out" the Red War because he didn't fight. Of course it was strange that the last remaining active Iron Lord did not show up to the City to fight alongside all the others, both Guardians and ordinary humans. That Lord Saladin, someone who endured so many hardships and fought so many battles since the Dark Age, hasn't come to help humanity in its time of greatest need.

But now this hits different. He didn't fight, yes. He couldn't. Losing the Light wasn't just something that made him scared (like all Lightbearers): it was something that made him scared of how he might actually enjoy dying a glorious final death. To end the trauma and the memories of all the horrors he's been through. So instead of throwing himself into a reckless death, he chose to stay in the Iron Temple and protect survivors.

So yeah, he didn't fight, but he did something equally important. The Iron Temple is an extremely well protected fortress that's very difficult to reach and breach, so any survivor he gathered was perfectly safe there until the Red War ended. Sometimes "sitting out" is more noble than fighting.

Saladin remembers all this and more whenever the Crow challenges him on his cowardice during the Red War. He wants to break the young Guardian's back to teach him a lesson about what it's like to feel helpless, but something stops him.

He remembers hearing stories about the Crow's life on the Shore before he arrived at the Tower, and does not raise a hand against him.

The lore entry ends with telling us that Saladin was clearly very agitated about Crow's teasing. But in the end, he remembered what Crow has been through and realised that Crow already knows what it's like to feel helpless. He did not need a reminder and Saladin decided to take the teasing without a response. It truly frames some of those voice lines in a different light, knowing this background.

Fourth, leg piece!

Flavour text:

"Some know the legend. We crossed a burning world with sword in hand, bringing justice and blood." —Lord Saladin

Once more, we are told that Saladin was mostly forged (eheh) through his experience in the Dark Age.

The lore page details a bittersweet memory Saladin has of him with his fellow Iron Lords and friends enjoying some good time over a meal and song.

He remembers Radegast asking him to sing the song taught to them by the people of the blacksmith's village, but agreeing only when Jolder and Perun promised to join in. Their voices rose like wolves in the night and were so raw by morning that none of them could speak.

This is honestly heartbreaking. Saladin being this happy and free to sing and enjoy himself: compared to how he is now. But even with that, he has retained the need to do it again sometimes, if he ever finds people to be comfortable around.

Saladin remembers all this and more when Zavala tells him Amanda has taken the Crow out to drink in the City's streets. He wonders what song they'll sing, if it's anything like the one he's heard everyone humming lately—even though he hasn't tried it himself.

I love how he projects his past joy onto the two young people and wonders if they'll do the same as he did once. Here we also get another hint about Saladin apparently not being affected by Savathun's viral chant. It might be a point relevant in the future.

Finally, class item!

Flavour text:

"Some know the legend. We crushed the Warlords beneath our heel so that they may never rise again." —Lord Saladin

Nothing new here. Just Saladin recounting how hard they went against the Warlords.

The rest is a very poignant lore page that details the relationship between Saladin and Zavala. Zavala studied under Saladin who was his mentor and it's been repeated often that Saladin has retained a "soft spot" for him.

Saladin remembers the first time he met Zavala. He remembers thinking that the Awoken had regal bearing like the stags he once hunted on the Steppes. His shoulders were broad, and his chin held high. When he moved, he did so with the strength and purposeful deliberation of someone with the power to determine his own place in the world.

"You'll never have a son," his Ghost had said, "but it isn't too late for you to take an apprentice."

I love when non-Awoken describe Awoken, there's always something ethereal about it. But I'm mostly putting this part here because of what Saladin's Ghost says.

First, I am incredibly soft for older Guardians adopting younger ones as kids and teaching them. Easily my favourite dynamic ever. Saladin seeing Zavala as a son makes me cry a thousand tears.

And second, is this finally a full confirmation that Guardians cannot bear children? It's kind of a strange place to put it, but it seems to be the implication. It makes sense they wouldn't be able to, but it's also nice to have some direct lore information about it in case it pops up as a question. I'm sorry if this ruins anyone's fics.

Saladin remembers their sparring matches. He remembers how Zavala always got back on his feet, no matter how many times Saladin put him down. He remembers refusing to offer the younger Lightbearer a hand up. Until the day Zavala finally bested him in combat.

He remembers lying flat on his back, left shoulder dislocated and ribs shattered, a strange pressure on his chest that made it difficult to breathe.

"Finish it," Saladin had commanded because that was the way of things. His Ghost would revive him.

Saying nothing, Zavala hauled him to his feet instead.

I love how this is placed at the end, paralleling the beginning of Saladin remembering his deaths and the pain of dying. But instead of "finishing it," Zavala pulls him back up. It's definitely something Saladin hasn't experienced before, especially not before becoming an Iron Lord, when all of his deaths were just gruesome ends to a struggle. Then seconds after, he'd be back up. He took the revival for granted, until Zavala offered him the alternative. Again, an interesting perspective about something we don't usually think about much. I do wonder how Saladin healed afterwards though.

Saladin remembers all this and more when his former apprentice calls him into his office and tells him about the face behind the Crow's mask. Zavala says he knows that Saladin doesn't like secrets; that it's unfair to ask him to keep one of this magnitude, but there will come a time when the Crow needs someone—the way Zavala needed Saladin.

"You never needed anyone," Saladin insists.

Zavala only smiles.

This page ends with the two bonding again. Despite their differences and disagreements, there's mutual respect between the mentor and the apprentice. The father and the son.

And Saladin thinks Zavala never needed him, but that is obviously not true and Zavala tells him so. He also tells him that Crow, and implied Guardians like him, will need the same guidance.

It gives us a full circle back to Saladin's musings about his purpose as a Guardian and Lightbearer. He may have doubted his place in the world before, but seeing as he's still here with us and actively participating and helping; training us through Iron Banner, helping with the Eliksni, refusing to side against the Vanguard despite the difference in opinion, now serving as Zavala's ambassador for the Cabal and easily bonding with someone he would've considered an enemy not long ago...

I think Saladin knows his place. He's one of the strongest Lightbearers and most principled among them. He is not swayed by lies and deceptions, he does not abide by them and speaks plainly. He has deeply rooted beliefs in justice and he will not compromise himself, even if it means conceding his position to make peace with a former enemy when that enemy proves their worth, honesty and good intentions to him.

He is a Guardian.

He is an Iron Lord.

#destiny 2 #lord saladin #lore vibing #long post #more iron lord lore bungie please?#iron temple as a social space?#please?#anyway i love this new lore about him so much #i wish we had it before people formed some crude opinions about him #but hopefully this can retroactively clear certain things up

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lucifers-favorite-pen · 3 years

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How The Obey Me Brothers Would Do in a “The Forest” AU

Fandom: Obey me

Pairings: None

Warnings: Swearing, idiocy, mild gore

The Forest was just released for the new Oculus headset, and Levi could NOT pass up this opportunity. However, it’s just his luck he got his hands on a cursed copy of the game, and ended up sucking the House of Lamentation into the game! Here’s how our favorite boys faired in the universe of “The Forest”

Lucifer:

Is pissed.

Bitches about it heavily

Is irritated that he has to find and wrangle a digital son now as well as his siblings.

Would definitely help everyone else build a little shelter before nightfall, but would be grumbling about how much work he has to do at home and how far behind this would put him.

Doesn’t let MC lift a finger and is 100% a mother hen the whole time.

Seems inconvenienced by the whole cannibal thing, until he realizes magic doesn’t exist here and he has to use his melee fighting skills to kill them. Skills that are a little rusty...

Teams up with Beel to be the camp dads and take care of everyone

Super paranoid about the stability of the walls and the house at the beginning

Dies from eating a poisonous berry. He didn’t know he could be affected by poison in this game.

Over all, does his best to keep everyone alive, and feels really bad when someone dies.

No longer feels bad when he learns that the worst thing that happens is you lose all your stuff and you respawn.

A solid 7/10 job. Probably dies a few times due to someone else being an idiot, but is a pretty good survivalist when push comes to shove.

Mammon:

Is also pissed

He was in the middle of counting the grimm from his latest modeling gig when he was sucked into the game.

Bitches and moans with/at Lucifer, but tries to build and maintain a shelter.

Who’s Timmy?

I don’t think crows exist in the game, but seagulls do and they all land on his fingers and he makes friends with them.

Is very upset when one of his brothers kills a bird for food or to simply carry around its head as a trophy.

Sees cannibals and tries to trade with them with the grimm he has in his pockets.

Dies on sight.

Now when he sees or hears cannibals he screams and cowers behind MC

When they go away or the screaming stops, he stands up straight and dusts off his jacket “Psh, I wasn’t afraid! I was trying to comfort you from behind! YOU were the one afraid”

After a while in the game, he gets his shit together and honestly kinda kills it.

This is the avatar of greed, you know he is going to gather and horde so many valuable resources and then guard them with his life.

“Mammon I’m hurt please stop hissing at me and let me have the medicine bottle”

*hiss* “You can have ONE pill and ONE pill only”

Over all, the definition of “They had us in the first half ngl”

8/10 for managing the group’s food and resource stores so well and only dying a fuck ton of times.

Levi

...oops?

Feels quite guilty, but is also secretly pumped to immerse himself in the game.

Was extremely skilled at this game IRL and tries to explain how it works to everyone else, but they’re all so pissed and no one’s listening.

“That’s fine, who would want to listen to a yucky otaku like me anyway!”

Magic doesn’t exist here, but that doesn’t stop Levi from yeeting himself into the ocean and turning into a giant sea monster while his brothers complete the game.

They don’t want his help? They don’t want to know that the cannibals can’t swim and that they’ll be safer if they build a boat and live in a boathouse on the water? Fine. Then Perish <3

That goes for Timmy too, fuck that kid.

Doesn’t want MC to suffer tho, so he’ll kill a few sharks and throw them up over the wall with his tail. (I’m assuming that if the game is released for Oculus Rift that they will get their shit together and also make sharks edible)

Is having a grand time taking over the ocean.

Will sometimes go to shore to visit MC. Everyone is confused as to where he has been and how he is thriving. He just smiles and jumps back in the water.

10/10 strats. Never once dies. Tells everyone what they were doing wrong and how they could have had it easier when they beat the game and are back IRL out of spite.

Satan

Angy

Is throwing things in their spots while building the shelter, but is still helping

Spawns in with the book he was reading in his hand.

That book is eventually stolen from his grasp in the night and used as kindling for the fire.

Lucifer explains that if he didn’t steal his book they all would have died.

Satan does not give a fuck

“Use the kid’s stupid fucking drawings you dipshit!”

“I can’t they’re story items!”

Goes on a rampage and kills so many deer, effectively feeding the group for a week.

Sees the cannibals for the first time and thinks “same”

Pretty good fighter and pretty resourceful when it comes to making armor and weapons.

Outfits MC with the all of his prototypes and tells them to go run at a tree

“How do you feel, MC?”

“Like I ran at a tree with a deer skin on my chest”

“Interesting”

Very upset at the whole no magic thing, but will work with it.

Over all, 7/10 job. Dies a couple times from cannibals and the other monsters, but makes it to the end.

Asmo

Oh dear.

Oh dear this sweet summer child.

“Why are we looking for this child when he’s so ugly?”

Is distraught and so very upset this is happening to him. Cries variations of “woe is me” for the first five hours of game play

Does not help build a shelter

Does not help gather food and resources

Does not help period. Only whines.

Sees cannibals sprinting and jumping towards the shelter and pushes Lucifer in front of him

“Take him! I’m too pretty to die!”

“HEY!”

What follows after the first three days is a slow decent into madness.

Ends up butt ass naked for the majority of the game because the clothes he spawned in with were ripped to shreds and “No animal skin clothing in this world is good enough to adorn my perfect body”

Starts speaking to the animals and becomes friends with all of them like a Disney Princess.

The animals come to his aid when he lets out a specific shriek that calls them to his side.

Spends his time weaving flower crowns for MC, his brothers, and his animal friends.

Everyone knows he’s snapped when Beel brings back the dead body of a cannibal and Asmo dips his dirty little finger into an open wound and wipes the blood on his lips.

“I just love this shade! Don’t you?”

5/10 job. Dies multiple times from trying to befriend hostile animals, but also has an army of woodland creatures at his disposal by the end of the game.

Beel

Bro you know this mans is about to make this game his bitch

Spawns in with a cheeseburger.

Eats the cheeseburger.

“I have a son?”

“I HAVE A SON :D”

“Where is my son?”

Honestly the thought of Beel in this game is so sexy like I’m simping so hard rn

Grab your water skins and buckle up bc it’s about to get thirsty up in here y’all

A shirt? Beel doesn’t know what those are anymore

He crafts one of those shoulder harnesses out of hide and bone and sticks a bone shiv thing on the forearm

Don’t mess with this demon when his dinner and his family is on the line.

Is not afraid of anything except the death of his loved ones.

Cannibals? Nah, dinner.

Other monsters? Nah, dinner.

Full shirtless lumberjack mode with Lucifer, and later Mammon, when cutting down trees in the forest. MC is drooling.

Definitely makes a game out of how many trees they can all chop down before giving up.

Plays knuckle bones with Belphie and MC using real knuckle bones.

Doesn’t want to share his food with the others but will if they didn’t get anything to eat that day.

Chef Beel. That’s it that’s the post.

10/10 job. Only dies once throwing his body over Belphie’s sleeping one to save him.

Get’s annoyed when he finds out Belphie was fake sleeping

Very sexy. Would watch.

Belphie

Nah dude no thanks

Alexa play “Wake Me Up When September Ends”

Alexa play “Billie Jean”

“And the kid is not my son”

Get’s so fucking pissed when he finds out he can’t sleep without everyone else deciding to sleep too so he just lays down with his eyes closed and hopes for the best.

Doesn’t help with anything unless someone asks him to

Even then he’ll roll his eyes like brat and slowly do it

An actual sloth

No like he clings to MC and Beel like a sleepy sloth 100% of the time

He can’t find any cows and is sad so he settles for the local deer instead.

Fake sleeps through most of the whole thing, paying monster and cannibals alike absolutely no mind. Beel will take care of it.

Freaks the fuck out when Beel dies on top of him and goes into a rage and kills everything in sight.

Very sweet reunion when he realizes that they just respawn.

No longer pays death any mind and continues fake sleeping.

0/10. Virtually useless.

Masterpost

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akatsukinojutsu · 3 years

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stupid holiday -- hidan

Hidan HATES this stupid holiday called Christmas especially when he’s forced to join in for a secret Santa. He draws your name and now really has to participate because he has a crush on you. Little does he know that you have him as well.

(hope you all had a great holiday and this is the winner of my 2020 Holiday Contest!)

Pain called a meeting with all of the Akatsuki and had in his hands a black bowl. “You will each draw your names as apart of a teamwork exercise. Participation is mandatory or deal with the consequences,” he said in a stern tone. The orange haired man lent out the bowl to each member and everyone pulled out a small folded piece of paper with a name written on it.

Hidan was second to last and he refused at first to pick. He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms over his chest in a childish demeanor. Pain stood in his place and stared down at Hidan, “Pick a name, Hidan.” the leader insisted. Hidan turned his head with a disgusted expression, “This damn holiday is stupid! Lord Jashin laughs at you all!”

Kakuzu sighed loudly and pinched the bridge of his nose, “Hidan, you idiot. Just pick a damn name so we can get this over with!” he barked. Hidan squinted his eyes and shot his partner a dirty look, “Fuck you, Kakuzu!” Everyone was already finished with Hidan’s immature actions, especially you. You sighed even louder than Kakuzu, slapped your knees with your palms and stood from your chair. “Leader, here, I’ll pick a name.” you shoved your hand in the bowl and fished out on of the two remaining pieces of paper.

You pulled the paper out, opened it, and discovered your recipient was none other than the man who was causing all of the ruckus, Hidan. “There, if [Y/N] can do it, you can. Pick the paper Hidan or I will dismember you.” Kakuzu chimed in with a hiss. Hidan scoffed, leaned forward, and grabbed the paper. “Good luck trying, fucker.” he opened the paper and read your name.

The muscle in his chest fluttered for a moment. [Y/N]? Shit. Why did he have to get you? He believed this holiday and “teamwork exercise” was fucking stupid. Then -- he had to just pick your name out of the entire organization.

“Good,” Pain tucked the bowl under his arm, “You all have a week to purchase or find your items. Meeting dismissed.”

Everyone murmured amongst themselves and some departed to go about their business. Tobi sprung from his chair and threw himself onto Hidan, “Hidan-sama! Who’d you get?! Was it...,” he leaned in closer to the immortal and whispered not very quietly, “[Y/N]?~”

Hidan’s face flushed red and he immediately placed the orange masked imbecile into a headlock. “If you say that again, I will pop your head off like a cork, you fucker!” Tobi croaked out in panic as Hidan continued to squeeze his windpipe.

Konan approached the two and called for Hidan to release the man. He complied and Tobi scampered off to do whatever it is that he does. Konan watched as the masked man ran away and then turned her attention back to the silver haired man. “Did you really get, [Y/N]?” Hidan’s face turned a shade of red again and stammered out, “What-what the fuck? How do you people keep guessing it?!” She chuckled, “Calm down, I was merely standing by when I heard Tobi ask you. Plus, your face turned pretty red once you pulled the paper out. Also, you don’t hide it well.”

Hidan had steam rolling out from his ears as his face continued to evolve into different red hues. “She really loves different gems and crystals. I’m sure Iwagakure has shops you can get some at.” she smiled, shrugged, and left.

The immortal man paced his room and he prepped how he would enter Iwagakure undetected, purchase the gifts, and other things. He had x amount of days and the clock was counting down.

For choosing a gift for Hidan -- that was easy. The man enjoyed violence, blood, and alcohol. So, you decided to get him something he could use for all three. You purchased him a variety of hand crafted knives, vials, and a gigantic bottle of sake.

You placed all the items into one giant box and wrapped it with red paper and topped with a blue ribbon.

Your hands clapped and were happy with your results. Despite Hidan being the -- difficult person that he was; he was a different person once you shuffled past his outside.

Hidan was loud and brash as normal to you but you were lucky to see the fact that he is a loyal person. He once willingly took a blast from a fire jutsu for you which charred his skin. You knew it wouldn’t kill him nor really hurt him, but it was the fact that he willingly took injuries for you.

He even offered you the chance to become immortal as well but you politely declined his offer. You could recall him saying, “I-I just thought it’d be pretty fucking cool to have someone like you to be -- y’know--,” he confessed something personal. You’ll never forget that moment of tenderness that he let through.

It was the day of the gift exchange and all of the members of the Akatsuki were gathered in the main room. Everyone was seated in a circle with gifts their laps. Pain entered the room with a festive hat on his head then passed matching ones to each member. Most of them murmured in annoyance but just went along with it.

Kakuzu went first, he had Konan -- who gifted her with various paints, some of them looked used? Deidara had Itachi and gifted him with a clay crow painted black with red eyes. Itachi had Pain an gifted him an umbrella?

Kisame had Sasori and gave him some tools to add to his collection to fix his puppets. Sasori had Kakuzu and gave him a gigantic money clip for his stacks of yen. Tobi had Zetsu and gave him a watering can. Konan had Tobi and gave him a whole box of sweets. Pain had Deidara and gave him a small pottery wheel.

You stood from your seat and approached Hidan with box in hand. Despite acting like he wasn’t interested in the exchange, he unwrapped the large box rather quickly. His magenta eyes scanned the contents of the box and a grin spread across his lips. Hidan’s head whipped up to meet your gaze and the large smile on his face was all the thanks that you needed. He gripped the sake bottle, popped the top, and took a huge chug. Hidan burped loudly and proceeded to thank you.

“Wait!” he yelled out as you turned to leave.

Hidan leaned to his side as he reached under his chair. He pulled out a crudely wrapped --- orb shaped thing. “I hope you enjoy it, [Y/N].” His eyes turned soft.

Inside the poor wrapping was a large sphere shaped gem, purple agate to be correct. Your pupils widened as a rush of feelings spread through your body. You smiled widely, the biggest smile Hidan or anyone in the Akatsuki had ever seen.

“Thank you, Hidan. It’s beautiful,” you held it close to your chest with a small hug.

After an hour or so, everyone left and all that was left was Hidan and yourself. He had nearly drank the entire bottle of sake that you had given him. Hidan was able to hold is alcohol well but it was clear that he wasn’t sober. You approached him with a smile, still clutching the gemstone in your arms. “I-It seems you really liked my gift, Hidan.” you said with a snort. He quickly turned around and once he saw you, his face turned red.

You threw him off guard as you placed a kiss on his cheek as a token of your appreciation. Hidan remained silent until he cursed, “Shit,” his fingers touched the skin where you kissed and he smiled.

“Why don’t you stop by my room tonight, Hidan? Maybe you can help me find a spot to put this at,” you smiled with a wink before turning away to return to your room.

#naruto imagines #hidan imagines #naruto imagine #hidan imagine #hidan x reader #naruto #hidan

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fifteenleads · 4 years

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an accident of luck

Written for @thesuccessorchallenge 2020. (Theme: Spark).

AO3 | FFNet

Once upon a time, there was a princess asleep in a tower in outer space, waiting for her prince to come rescue her and wake her with true love’s kiss.

This isn’t that story.

Squall regards the latest entry in the literary section with much distaste. It is one thing to be subjected to such saccharine drivel once every week; it is another thing to have to beta-read such saccharine drivel before its publication, then still have to be subjected to it anyway over morning coffee that same week.

He really should have accepted the scholarship Garden had offered to him back then— he would have been an elite rank SeeD by now, going on missions around the world, maybe actually even saving said “princesses asleep in outer space towers,” if he were luckier.

Scratch that; it is Zell who cares more about these things; he has always been the more romantic between the two of them, by far. Squall would describe himself more as pragmatic, if anything, as long as it puts food on the table and pays the bills. He didn’t summarily reject life as a rich bachelor for nothing, after all— he wanted to prove himself, and his father was only too happy to let him when he had asked. “Expand your horizontals, my dear son,” were Laguna’s exact parting words to him the day he moved out and never looked back.

For the dear life of him, Squall could never fathom how on earth his father had managed to become CEO of Galbadia’s largest multimedia outlet with questionable command of language and grammar, but he set that aside in favor of a wordless, tacit understanding and gratitude that he is, at least, a proper parent in most other aspects, all things considered. Life as a single parent is hard, and Squall did his part to help make life easier for the three of them. Once Ellone got married, however, those nagging thoughts of gaining some measure of independence for himself reared its ugly head, and he finally decided to act on them.

And look how that has gone now, he bites back a grumble as he finishes his breakfast and returns the magazine to the top of the pile. Next week’s issue is due today, and he wishes he had added that double shot of espresso to his tray when it had been offered to him.

In his utter confusion on his way out, Squall does not notice where he is going and literally crashes into someone else, spilling their hot coffee all over the front of his shirt. Double espresso, he immediately recognizes the taste as he licks what had splashed onto his lips— not at all how he wanted to get his caffeine on a stressful morning, really.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” comes the hurried apology, as the lady brings out a handkerchief and some wet wipes in an attempt to at least blot out the coffee stains. It makes Squall pale in mild embarrassment, both for the ruckus they have caused and for having caused said ruckus in the first place— a “double yikes,” as Laguna would have called it.

“I-It’s fine,” he momentarily stumbles on his words, because for some reason, the space between him and the lady has all but disappeared, and the distance between their foreheads as she looks up into his eyes has his heart skip several beats and his breath hitch for longer than he is comfortable with. A light, floral scent permeates from her clothes, which, along with the strong scent of roasted coffee, unexpectedly assaults his nose all at once, and he suddenly sneezes with all the force of an enraged Marlboro charging in for the kill.

Luckily, Squall had the presence of mind to turn his head aside before that happened; years of having allergic rhinitis had trained him well for these moments. The mild embarrassment he had at the beginning increases by tenfold, and he is sure that the pallor on his face has already morphed into a deep flush by now. The lady quickly clambers off him, looking aside, too, just as awkwardly, clutching her stained handkerchief close to her chest. A few people have already started to gather in the hallway, albeit maintaining a respectful distance from them both.

“Sorry,” he mumbles weakly as he takes the lady by her wrist and quickly leads her away from the onlookers, potential gossip be damned. Not how he wanted his morning to go at all, but he’ll deal with the consequences later. For now, a trip to the washroom is in order— separately, of course.

“I know that was only an accident and all, Leonhart, but this will be hard to explain to HR when they come breathing down our necks in the next audit,” Quistis admonishes him, rubbing her temples in a circular motion; she tends to get migraines when she is stressed— and for her, that would be all the time. She never addresses him by his surname, still, despite that. For her to do so now means either she is thoroughly done with the incessant calls inquiring about the incident, or he has messed up big time— and for Squall, both mean the same thing.

“They probably won’t, Quis,” the lady reassures with a teasing but flippant tone; she hasn’t stopped sniffing at her coffee-stained clothes in the laundry bag, of which Squall is holding an identical one right now. They have been given a couple hours leave on the clock to deposit the items at the laundromat across the street, just to get things over with. Benevolent bosses are always a blessing in every single job and field of work.

Quistis sighs at the probably-unwanted nickname. “Look, Ri- Juliet, you’ve barely started working here. You have no idea how fast HR updates itself on the rumor mills, especially in the News Department and in ours,” she explains, giving Juliet a pointed look as she does. Squall could only fathom the depth of the undue stress the morning’s incident has brought Quistis now, and she doesn’t deign to hide it behind her shiny spectacles, either.

Juliet only shrugs her shoulders in response as she rises from the couch. “Nah, they won’t,” she repeats herself, this time with more confidence, as if she already knows all of this like the back of her hand. “It’s an accident, like you said; they’ll probably send a written inquiry, at most, and the Good Sir Leonhart and I need only submit our written responses in, like, twenty-four hours. An easy thing for writers, really. Right, Good Sir Leonhart?” She nudges his side with an elbow, as if prompting for moral support.

Too close, again, Squall thinks, resisting the temptation to facepalm, like he is wont to do in ridiculously awkward situations like this. A “Whatever” does slip out, though, before he could stop himself. It makes Juliet groan indignantly in response, and she strongly pinches the outer edge of his arm, eliciting a surprised yelp from him as he yanks his hand away and takes a couple of steps back. “What the hell?”

Juliet merely sticks her tongue out at him, pulling at her lower eyelid with a thin finger as she does, like an overgrown child bullying at the playground. “That’s what you get for being a big, fat meanie, Good Sir Leonhart,” she crows triumphantly, and Quistis only buries her head in her hands at her desk in sheer frustration. This incident is what HR should send a written inquiry for, Squall thinks to himself wryly as Juliet stalks off with her laundry bag, but not before turning back at the door and sticking her tongue out at him again, this time with a blowing sound. He does a facepalm for real this time, tiredly taking Juliet’s place on the couch before Quistis’ desk.

“Quite a handful, isn’t she,” she observes with a smile, making Squall raise an eyebrow in inquiry. Decidedly in a slightly better mood than earlier, Quistis nods at him, beckoning him to come closer. She slides a thin folder to him across the desk— probably the next article to look over for the day. Next week’s issue is due today, after all.

What greets him instead is a CV and portfolio of one Juliette Heartilly, new writer for the Creative Department of their small publishing company, and apparently, his new partner.

“I meant to send for you this morning, but the CEO suddenly called all the department heads for an emergency meeting earlier,” Quistis explains in that same level tone of hers— that is, when she is about to deliver bad news, which for Squall, is most of the time lately. “You will be editing for Juliette, too, starting the issue after next week. As you can see, she has her quirks, but I imagine you won’t have a problem working together, seeing as you both have excellent work ethic and the output to show for it. Do you have any questions so far?”

“I don’t even know where to begin.” To hell with brain-to-mouth filters for today; he hasn’t had his morning coffee, and is therefore not awake enough to play nice yet. Luckily, Quistis understands that part of him very well, over the ten months now he has been working with her. She cradles her chin in both her laced fingers and smiles, as if prompting him to speak now or forever hold his peace. It is a smile that has unnerved many of the Department’s employees when they are at the receiving end of it, and as ashamed Squall is to admit it, he, too, finds it uncomfortable.

“I’ll send an email to you when I think of one,” he decides on saying instead. He needs a few hours to himself to process this weird turn of events first before he ends up doing anything stupid again, like spilling someone else’s coffee all over his shirt— something that, speaking of which, he has to replace sooner than later. He makes a mental note to pass by the fancy café two blocks over after depositing his clothes at the laundromat.

Mind made up for now, Squall nods at Quistis for additional measure, taking the folder with him. Her smile changes to one of warm approval, and she courteously dismisses him with a wave and an encouraging “good luck, Squall”. She does not say “with her”, but Squall hears it anyway as he takes his leave from the office, feeling his steps grow heavier yet lighter by the second. It was definitely a nonsensical way of putting it, but it is how he feels at the moment, and he won’t deny it for now.

He hopes nothing else will happen anymore; he’s had more than enough excitement for one day, and he still has next week’s issue to look at later this morning. Maybe he’ll get himself that double espresso on his café run, too, while he’s at it.

It turns out Squall needn’t have bothered with deciding what pastry goes well with brewed coffee on a chilly morning. He watches quietly from his place in the line, two customers back, as Juliette points excitedly at a pistachio muffin and another item he couldn’t identify except for the generous cheese on top. It feels as if fate is playing a ridiculous trick on him for some reason, having them both run into each other for the third consecutive time that day, now, and at very close intervals, too. It hasn’t even been half the day yet, and he is already decidedly exhausted.

“That will be one hundred gil, ma’am,” the cashier rings up the total amount, and Juliette happily slides over a silver-plated card on the counter. Squall lets his mind drift off again as he waits for the transaction to be finished, secretly relieved that he need only buy the coffee now. There are only so many things he knows about fancy food, despite having been raised in a relatively fancier household than most others. Their family did appreciate simple music and art, though, spending time every week in their small studio as Mom played (and bungled) piano pieces by their collective favorite singer, Julia.

Now, where has he heard that name before, Squall wonders for a moment.

His thoughts are promptly cut off by a small incident at the counter area. “W-What do you mean my card’s been declined?” Juliette stammers, her entire face pale as she picks back up the card, hand trembling ever-so-slightly. “I haven’t even reached half of my credit limit for this month yet,” she defends herself, her last few words ending with a raised intonation, as if she were asking a question instead. The cashier looks at her with genuine sympathy, but says what he has to, anyway: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’ve already tried swiping your card twice on both portable terminals; your card really has been blocked for some reason. Would you like to pay for your order in cash instead?”

“A-Ah, right.” Juliette fumbles at her wallet, nervously counting the remaining bills and coins one by one on the counter top. The small ruckus has the people behind Squall tapping impatiently, with one grandma even mumbling something about “stupid, spendthrift young’uns spending beyond their means” in a decidedly snide tone Squall didn’t care for at all, both because of its ill timing and its utter insensitivity. Juliette may have struck him as weirdly eccentric in more ways than one, but she is definitely not stupid, and certainly does not deserve such comments thrown at her.

So he decides to take matters into his own hands, swiftly cutting to the front of the line and sliding his own card onto the counter before Juliette could finish counting her money. A cursory glance at the small pile reveals that she is still around twenty gil short, despite how bulky her wallet had seemed to be at the start. The cashier, wearing a face that is between startled and starstruck, lets her eyes frantically wander around as she fumbles around for the right words, but Squall gives her a pointed look before she could even so much as open her mouth. “I’ll pay. Add two double espressos to-go, as well. Make it quick.”

The manager, having heard the small ruckus from the inside office, quickly steps in for his terrified employee, and wordlessly rings up the orders in an instant. “Go prepare their food,” he calmly instructs, and this brings her back down from her jumpy episode. She then proceeds to the back and helps wrap up the pastries while the barista there prepared the coffee. The transaction goes smoothly this time, and Squall quietly takes Juliette with him to the waiting area, just like that.

“... You didn’t have to do that, Good Sir Leonhart,” Juliette says in a small voice, twiddling her thumbs in a restless manner. Her hunched form and bowed head lets her hide her eyes behind her loose hair, and for once, she is very different from the playful and confident woman that she was back in Quistis’ office. “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets,” Laguna had quoted an old movie to him a few years back, in one of the rare moments he has gotten his metaphors right, for once. It makes Squall smile a little, to this day— a good thing Juliette doesn’t see it, lest she starts teasing him again sooner than later.

It’s funny how, in a mere couple of hours, he has already managed to witness different facets that made up Juliette Heartilly— kind, assertive, coy, sensitive. Suddenly, the thought of working with her becomes a lot more bearable, now— interesting, even. He smirks at the feeling, just a little, this time lightly nudging Juliette with his elbow. “It’s for the coffee I spilled earlier,” he explains without looking, noting how she shyly raises her head at him from the corner of his eye. “Also, welcome to the team, Heartilly.”

He is definitely not blushing as he said that. The cold air merely prickles at his face during this time of the year, and he need only take antihistamines for it tonight— another mental note, he reminds himself as he tries not to sneeze like that again.

Juliette seems to sense his bashfulness, though, returning to her usual annoying self as she returns the light elbow nudge with playful jabs of her own. “Awww! And the Good Sir Leonhart’s idea of a warm welcome is to take their newbies on coffee dates? I like that.” Her smile is decidedly a wicked one, and it takes all of Squall’s concentrated effort to not facepalm and/or snark back— whichever comes first— like he is wont to do when he is irritated.

He settles for a professional smile instead, like a team leader imparting wisdom to errant members so they don’t get funny ideas. “I don’t, actually, but today is an exception. I expect you to work hard. Do you understand, Heartilly?”

Just then, the barista rings the bell, calling for “customers Romeo and Juliet” with a nervous stutter. This elicits a wave of quiet laughter from among the dine-in patrons, and Squall, realizing that the hapless worker was referring to them, instantly freezes in place, while Juliette leaps off the high stool and approaches the counter with a light spring in her step. “Coming!”

Squall doesn’t remember how long he remained that way, but the next thing he knows, Juliette is already tugging at the sleeve of his long shirt, carrying their food in a paper bag. “All done! Let’s go back now?”

“R-Right,” he nods in agreement, taking the carrier for the drinks from Juliette’s other hand and heading for the door. Juliette follows him excitedly, good mood fully restored for now. The walk back to the office is quiet amidst the bustle of activity around them, and the festive mood makes Juliette softly hum a tune— one of Julia’s songs, he recognizes.

“By the way, Good Sir Leonhart,” Juliette stops as they reach their office building, “I never got to learn your name.” The sudden question also stops Squall in his tracks, and he looks back at her from the door, studying the quizzical look on her face. She raises an eyebrow at him, prompting an answer. “I can’t keep on calling you Romeo forever, you know.”

“Indeed,” Squall agrees, lest the joint nickname sticks with everyone else and they become the newest comedy duo HR will come breathing down their necks on in next month’s audit. Also a fair enough question, given their new working relationship, really. The initial embarrassment is always only temporary, after all. “My name is Squall. Don’t get any funny ideas, Heartilly.”

“Oooh, a storm. I like that,” she quickly dodges that trap, joining him on the top of the steps and ringing the doorbell for them both. “Also, call me Juliette. Or Juliet. Whatever.” She punctuates this with a coy smile of her own, and Squall almost snorts at how fast it took for her to imitate his favorite expression, down to the bored intonation. She is definitely playing with him now, and he feels that he will fall into this trap sooner than later— but not right now.

“Juliette, then,” he ends the topic with a tone of finality, allowing no more room for further discussion. The door opens for them, and they nod at the receptionist in thanks as they head inside. “Next week’s issue is due today,” Squall instructs as they head up the spiral stairs. “We typically stay past five, but we try to wrap up before it gets too dark. Will that be okay with you?”

“Not a problem,” Juliette says with an excited squeak in her voice, the old steps creaking as she quickly runs up ahead of him. “Come on, Squall! Race you to the office?” She does not give him a chance to reply as she darts off with the food, like an overgrown child cheating at the playground. He only shakes his head as he ascends the steps only a little faster. “I’m carrying drinks, you know.” Not that Juliette would even hear it, given how far ahead she has already gotten, but it just has to be said.

Once upon a time, there was supposed to be a princess asleep in a tower in outer space, but by the time the prince arrived to rescue her and give her true love’s kiss, she was long gone, having escaped on her own and returned back to earth, just like that.

Squall only smiles in amusement at that. Maybe this is the unlikely spark he has been looking for in this life he has chosen for himself, and it’s not a bad thing— not bad, at all.

#final fantasy viii #Squall Leonhart #rinoa heartilly #meet cute #crash-into hello #thesuccessorchallenge #tsc2020 #theme: spark

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circuscarnage · 5 years

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Part 4 (End)

We finally made it to the end of this little story. Thank you for joining me on this journey, your presence is greatly appreciated. Now, lets get comfy. Get a snack or something to drink, its gonna be a long read.

Words: 2376

Okay, so. Some mistakes have been made. Anna hated to admit it. But maybe trying to duel a member of the most powerful dorm on campus in order to try and rekindle some lost pride was a good idea in theory, but not in practice. With every step she took, she could feel the soul crushing fear of losing wrap around her fragile heart, pulling it down into an endless pit of despair.

They were at a clearing, just outside of the forest. Anna was leading the trio with Wende and Choco in tow. They were talking behind her, saying encouraging words, trying to enforce a strong fighting spirit in their friend. But she wasn't listening, her mind was somewhere else entirely. This idea was so stupid. There was no way she would be able to win. A human vs a creature. It would be so unfairly unmatched that the fight would be over before it even began.

"You know what," Anna suddenly said, suddenly stopping in her tracks, causing Choco and Wende to halt their movement. Anna span around and clasped her hands together lightly, searched through her mind for any possible excuse to leave. Her mind was too frazzled to think of anything. The longer she stood there in silence, the more her smile started to falter. Her brown irises, which usually had a delightful glint to them, were plagued with worry. Before Anna could open her mouth again, something interrupted her.

"Human!"

Oh no.

Anna jumped upon hearing the sudden loud noise. Gingerly, she turned around, coming face to chest with the student she dreaded the most. She didn't want to look up. She could already feel his piecing gaze seep through her skin. His green eyes seemed to cut right through her, sharped with the intent of winning. With one deep breath, she put on the bravest face she could muster, and tilted her head upwards.

Low and behold, the one person she was dreading the most was standing before her, positioned and poised as always. His face shown the same disgusted look as when they first met. "In the name of the great Malleus Draconia, I hereby challenge you!"

There wasn't much time to respond as the sound of footsteps caught everyone's attention. Two more people had joined the scene, following after Sebek from the direction of the Diasomnia dorms. The three Heartslabyul students peeked around him and were greeted with the familiar faces of their friends. Ali and Blue looked on in surprised. "Anna?" They questioned.

"Ali? Blue?"

"Is that Wende and Choco?"

"Oh, hi guys."

"What are you..." It didn't take long for the Diasomnia girls to put two and two together. "You're the one fighting him?"

"I..." Anna didn't know what to say. The added presence was throwing her off. Truly, she was only acting on instinct. There really was no need to go this far. There was always the option to back out. But then her mind wondered, as it always did. She thought back to all the things he said, how rude he was when they first met. She thought about how it wasn't the first time she had that sort of encounter.

She thought back to all the battles she was too weak to fight. Too many years of groveling in self pity and horrid despair, waiting for someone else to help fight her battles. But no one ever did. No one wanted to fight for her. She had to learn to fight for herself. There was no way she was going to stand idly by and throw away more of herself, Not anymore. She wanted to prove her worth. She needed to prove her worth. Without hesitation she turned back to face her opponent, brows furrowed and itching for a fight. "I'm going to dismantle you."

Sebek felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. Seeing his rival being as determined as him filled him with a sense of pride. If they were not fully committed to the battle, what was the point? There was a familiar spark in the air that he hoped to feel again. After all. The reason he wanted to see her again was for 'the sake of Malleus'. Right?

The two of them marched into position, facing each other with their wands securely in their hands. On one side was the forest, the other a small gathering of four students, waiting eagerly to watch that battle transpire. Taunts and jeers came from the tiny crowd, encouraging words laced with support thrown about the air.

She went on the offensive first, spinning a small ball of fire from her wand, and sending it in the direction of her opponent. With one wave of his hand, the fireball was sent to the side, fizzling out on the grass. She tried again, this time with more power. She spun her wand around until her wrist was aching and threw it out. Deflected, again. "Is that spell the only spell you know?" He taunted, the slightest hint of malice in his tone. "The easiest trick in the book. Not surprising, coming from a human."

Her eyes narrowed as she let out a small growl. Without thinking she dragged her wand through the air in the shape of a circle, creating an large X that spanned over it. Black sparks started to appear out of the ground beside her, twisting around until they started to take shape. Carbon copies of herself stood beside her, each one with a dreaded look in their eyes. In unison they all belted out the same spell, a twisted sort of energy was sent barrelling towards him.

He changes his stance, getting closer to the ground. With quick movements he dodged each spell, darting around the battlefield in a spectacular movement. He was able to deflect all the attempts, and send it flying back to his aggressor. He managed to land direct hits on her copies, each disappearing, dissolving into a puff of smoke. It started to piss her off that he wasn't even trying to attack, just standing there deflecting her moves with ease. Why wasn't he attacking? He was the one who challenged her! How can he just stand there and do nothing? Did he think he was too good for her? No way. How dare he. "Stop standing there with that stupid look on your face and fight me, you prick!"

Within seconds he had pounced forward, jumping across the entire field, only an arms width away from her. Not knowing what else to do, Anna shut her eyes tight, raised her left arm, and pulled down her sleeve. Without warning, an unnatural amount of cards burst from her sleeve, creating a surprising display of trickery, and hitting Sebek directly in the face. He stumbled backwards, taken aback by the sudden appearance of playing cards. That wasn't enough to completely distract him though. As soon as he gained his footing again, he send out an explosive display of fire magic in her direction. It hit her left side. Anna let out a cry and clung to her arm. Although he was using non-lethal magic, it was still damaging enough to cause significant pain.

"That's enough foolishness, I'm ending this." His entire demeanour changed. At first, he was only playing with her magic, using it against her, fooling around because of how weak she was. But now he was vexed by her ability. The way she used magic was so undignified, using cheap tricks to fool her opponents. Before he had the chance to strike again, she ducked into the forest, hiding behind the closest tree.

He was more experienced with magic and faster then she could ever wish of being. He commanded spells with ease, not even needing time to think about what to cast next. It felt like he was a few steps ahead, carefully planning out every move and outcome, processing what would be the best route. Anna's magic was more spontaneous and unpredictable. Only a few times had her wand cast the spell how she wanted it. Her lack of ability as a magician was sure to be her downfall.

She needed help. That was clear. Without the use of extra items, there was no way she was going to win. A thought flashed in her mind. There was one thing she could do. Technically, it wasn't against the rules, but it was still a bit taboo. The only thing she needed to do was make him immobile. She peaked around the tree again. Seeing Sebek walking towards her hiding place was terrifying. The way he calmly strode in her direction with that determined look on his face made her heart stop. There was no other option. It was now or never. Before he could reach her, Anna took off in a mad sprint from behind the tree, taking everyone by surprise.

"Broom!" With a singular word and a wave of her arm, a loud crash could be heard from the other direction. The students turned and watched as a rouge broom stick clattered out from the storage area, knocking over other brooms in the process, and dashed off in the direction of its owner. Anna continued to run until she was adjacent to her broom stick. Then, in one fluid motion, jumped and landed perfectly onto it. The small gathering of students cheered as Anna sped past, catching them in a gust of exhilarating wind. Some other students had overheard the commotion, and joined in to watch the fight.

The jester circled her foe, creating a sparkling black fog from her wand, trapping him in a large makeshift cage of smoke. The thick fumes completely blocked off his view, making him blind to his surroundings.

Now was her chance. She knew approximately where he would be standing, and thus could be an easy target. He on the other hand, hadn't a clue where she could be. Her plan was working perfectly! Without further ado, she raised her wand high in the air, fabricating long strands of red ribbon that trailed behind her. Just focus and aim. The ribbon raised itself in the air, tackling the wind as it straightened itself out. In one swift motion the thin strands of silk darted towards the centre of the cloud, wrapping around something and holding on tight.

Gotcha!

The enlarged crows erupted in noise, some cheers in favour of her, others brandishing criticism for her tricks. There was only one more thing to do. One final step in her grand plan. Her heart leapt with delight. This was it. Finally, a battle she could win. She was going to win!

Her excitement was short lived as green lightning crackled from within the smoke, tinting its colour and painting the silhouette of her opponent. Her ribbons were wrapped around his limbs, but that did not prevent him from conjuring magic, nor did it slow down his movements. In a flash, bright green electricity sparked from his wand, enveloping his body with overflowing lightning stands. With one slight hand movement, he was able to channel that energy and send it surging up the strands that entangled him. The lighting quickly leapt up the ribbon, not giving anyone time to process the situation. They watched in dismay as Anna tried to avoid it.

She tried to rear the broom in the other direction, leaning back with enough force to slow its motion. But the stick ended up being hit directly with the spell. Green sparks flew through the sky, decorating the air with electric wisps. Anna was thrown back, her body being flung across the grass, skimming the surface like a stone. Landing face down.

Silence fell upon the scene. All eyes were glued to the girl as she lay there motionless. Some students shuffled in their place, unsure whether to help the poor soul or get the attention of a teacher. After a few moments of agonising stillness, she started to breathe again. She tried to get up, her arms struggled under her weight, shaking then eventually flopping back onto the ground. It was no use. She searched around for her broom, praying that it was still in tact. Her heart sank as she saw the sorry sight. It was broken in two, perfectly split in half. The fragrant life that powered the broom was completely drained. Battered and defeated, she lay her head back on the ground.

It wasn't long before the sound of footsteps approached her. She didn't bother to look up, it was obvious who was here to flaunt their victory. When no flaunting could be heard, she lifted her head up, only to be greeted by an outstretched hand. Hey eyes warily watched the hand, expecting it to be snapped back any second. Brown irises trailed up his arm and eventually connected with his own. A pleasant surprise greeted her. His eyes were no longer sharp, but instead laced with admiration. Even the atmosphere around them had changed. Whatever built up tension they had seemed to have vanished. Gingerly, she took his hand, not expecting to be pulled up with such force. Her legs buckles beneath her, still weak from the fight. She felt herself falling forward, but was surprised to find something was supporting her weight.

"You did well. I haven't fought like that in a while. I wasn't expecting that last move."

Anna's eyes lit up. Did this mean she did good? Had she proven herself? "Are you saying I was a worthy opponent?"

He huffed and let out a small smile."Quite frankly, your skills are limited, your aim is sloppy, and the way you use magic is undignified."

Ouch. Way to rub salt in the wounds. Even though his words were harsh, they were honest, and trying to be helpful. That still didn't save him from one of her signature harsh looks. "However, your persistence, though foolish, is admirable."

She felt her heart twinge. A new unexpected feeling has nestled in her chest. Unlike the other one, she didn't want it to stop. Heat started to grow on her cheeks as she tried to brush off the complement. "Now please, take me to the nurse..."

"As you wish."

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland oc #self insert #sebek zigvolt #Thank you for reading!!!#I wasn't expecting people to enjoy it so much #I'm truly blessed to be in a community with such loving people #<3 <3 #oc x cannon #anna x sebek

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undinefin · 6 years

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Gold - BNHA/MHA

hjdsfjsd hello i make slow progress. you might notice some differences in names/text etc. i'm trying to work on consistency and will be switching that stuff around. please bear with me! Genre: fantasy Ships: kirishima x bakugou Word Count: 5283 Author: @undinefin

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As it turned out, living with a cripple-three-hundred-or-some-year-old dragon was a lot harder than Bakugou anticipated. Kirishima’s injury only required some proper rest, and then he’d be ready to fly again. This meant that Bakugou was just housing the dragon for the time being, and wasn’t gathering herbs or killing unicorns for their blood to save the dragon from an untimely death; thus making the beast forever in his debt, as he had hoped.

He wanted to actually do something instead of just wait for the wing to heal itself.

“Because you care for me~” Kirishima had insisted.

“No because your fat dragon ass takes up a lot of space and has been attracting shit to my glade,” the boy had snapped.

It was true that Kirishima’s large mass and spewing fire did draw attention to the land. Various nymphs, animals, and other creatures had been stopping by to gaze upon the beast, though were chased away by Bakugou. He disliked the amount of beings that were treading onto his territory.

“Well some human child has a dirty mouth now doesn’t he.” The dragon gave a face of false heartache.

Bakugou scowled but didn't counter the provocation, instead he busied himself packing a bag. Kirishima lazily lowered his head to the ground, the tip of his snout about the same height as Bakugou when lying down.

“What’re ya doing?” he asked.

Bakugou fumbled around with some objects, picking up a small pouch of what Kirishima assumed held Nik. Upon peering into the bag, he scowled. “I’m going into town. Because of all the damn monsters my bare strength and reputation-”

Kirishima snorted, “Reputation.”

“Fuck off, my reputation isn’t gonna keep them out. Someone broke my sword.”

“Sorry...” the dragon mumbled. His low voice rattled the items on the wooden table. Every time Kirishima got too rowdy, Bakugou worried that the feeble thing would just collapse from the vibrations Kirishima caused. He built the table himself a few years ago, after he had lost a few items in the grass, and they had been either stolen by crows, or destroyed by the elements.

“Seriously, how did you manage to fuck up that bad? What didja say you did? Drop it?” Bakugou picked through a few pelts, claws, and wild herbs. He put a portion of each in the bag, and then collected the rest to take back into his hut.

“I uh... yeah...” Kirishima made a face that Bakugou had become extremely familiar with. The boy called it his ‘I wanna say something but don’t wanna disturb you’ face.

“You?”

Kirishima coughed, “I accidentally launched it into a stone.”

Bakugou dropped the items onto the ground, “Wait what!? How the fuck do you just accidentally launch something into a stone!?”

“Y’know you left it like, balancing on my tail for some reason, which I raised so then it slid down, and I thought it was some bug, or bird, so I naturally just flicked my tail.” Kirishima mimicked the movement with his tail. “But since I’m a dragon and I’m a lot bigger than a sword, it went pretty far pretty fast and it, uh...ended up getting smashed against a big rock and snapped in half.”

Bakugou looked less than impressed. He punched the dragon, but the beast obviously felt nothing. “Fucking try that again and I’ll kill ya. I’m not made of money or sit on a pile of gold with my dragon ass,” he grumbled.

Kirishima huffed, “Sorry man, I’ll try not to. But y’know, even I don’t have a pile of gold.” his hot breath sending a small gust of wind Bakugou’s way. The boy almost looked disappointed but decided not to continue the conversation. Instead, he picked up a few materials and took them inside his hut.

The hut in the middle of the glade was partially built by Bakugou too. He had the guidance of a passing entourage who worked for a lord he did not know. They helped him put together the roof, stabilize the structure, and for the price of a few Jackalope, they gave him some padding for a bed.

He did his best to keep his food and materials organized. When he was eleven he’d bought a chest for the valuable things, and a year later he began digging under the ground to make a basement for storing food. Bakugou usually ate what he caught sooner rather than later – fresh meat was always the most delicious – but for fruits or even certain materials, having a cellar was useful when it came to trading.

“Is town fun?” Kirishima asked simply.

Bakugou’s right eye narrowed, as it always did when he was confused. “...fun?”

“Yeah! ‘Cuz I heard there’s a lot of people and festivals, and there’s taverns!” His golden eyes flickered, flashes of red dancing within. The dragon raised his head slowly, pushing himself onto his front legs.

The boy scowled, “We’re not old enough to drink.”

“What!? There’s an age restriction!?”

“Yeah, dumbass.”

Kirishima regained the little composure he had. “Well,” he started, “I’m sure I pass the age limit.” A corner of his mouth raised, revealing a line of sharp teeth. The dragon was over three hundred years old after all.

“Hah, you need a proper license even if you wanted to drink,” Bakugou sneered.

The dragon looked rather upset by the statement. “And you aren’t old enough either? I thought the age was like...” He traced out the numbers with his claw. “It was...one...six?”

“Sixteen?”

“Sure.”

“Well for one, the drinking age is twenty,” he noticed the confused look on Kirishima’s face. “One-nine,” Bakugou said quickly. The dragon stilled for a moment before nodding in understanding. “And I’m not twenty. Second, do you...not know how to say numbers?”

Kirishima shook his head, “Dragons don’t have a need for numbers. I can only count up to ten because I wanted to learn.”

“But you could say three hundred,” Bakugou pointed out. He took out his cape, threw it over his shoulders, and tied the string at his neck to keep it on. The fur was only at the top of the cape, intended to only warm the neck. It rested well on his shoulders, not heavy but still comforting.

Kirishima stuck his nose up, as he always seemed to when he was thinking about something. “Well hundred is easy, you just put the first number in front and then say ‘hundred.’”

Bakugou supposed that was reasonable. He began to walk towards the edge of the glade, finally ready to leave town. Though, the dragon was so large thatit’d took a while to walk past him. “Can you read?” he asked.

“Nope, except for the first ten numbers,” Kirishima replied. His neck was craned around so he was looking the same direction as Bakugou. “Can you?”

“I taught myself how to read and write a while ago. I needed to cuz of the rewards and crap on the Job Board so I just spent a shit ton of time in the bookstore,” he said casually.

“Woah! You seriously taught yourself that stuff? Wasn’t it hard?” the dragon asked in awe.

Bakugou stopped walking away and turned back towards Kirishima. “I mean it wasn’t super easy or anything but I taught myself yeah, why? You wanna learn?” The dragon didn’t move, as if he’d been doing something wrong. He made no verbal or physical response, but his eyes were glinting.

“I’ll teach you then,” Bakugou declared. He turned on his heel and quickly made his way to the edge of the glade, not looking back at the dragon.

Kirishima was always red, it was the colour of his scales, and yet somehow, he felt himself going even more red from that.

***

The town was always bustling with people. Bakugou assumed that it felt so clamped because he was used to the open glade, and the quiet forest. He kept getting jolted from side to side, and he was constantly paranoid someone would steal his stuff. Though, even if they did he could just obliterate them and retrieve it.

Some people recognized Bakugou when he got to the central market. A few of the older folk said hello, to which he begrudgingly replied, though the younger ones seemed to steer clear of him. That reaction may or may not’ve been the result of a few brawls which he brutally won.

The market was the most colourful place in Charnom, with each stall having its own tarps of blues, reds, and greens above them to stay in the shade. Whenever a festival or event was going on – which was nearly all the time – they’d string banners from one stall to the next, all sparkling and glittery in the sunlight. A part of the market dipped into a cavern that was at the base of the North Mountains, where Charnom was located. Inside was a natural spring that was used as an onsen, and a hotel for visitors.

Charnom was originally an outpost for people going to Fulmen. It only had a few lodgings and a restaurant or two. When a new ravine was found within the North Mountains, traffic to Fulmen grew and as a result, Charnom grew with it and eventually into a full town. Now, it was a huge trading post and popular tourist spot for many foreigners.

Bakugou stopped at a clothing stall. “I brought ‘em like promised,” he said roughly. He reached into his bag and pulled out the furs of various creatures, mostly deer.

“Oh you’re a few days early! As always Bakugou-kun,” the merchant smiled. He took the pelts and placed them within the small stall. While he did that, a set of eyes peered over the counter, the child barely tall enough to see.

“Ya got a runt now?” Bakugou called.

The merchant only laughed, “He’s my sister’s. I’m just taking care of him for a while.”

“Your eyes are scary mister,” the child said factually.

Bakugou cocked his head to the side. “That so? Then why ya lookin’ at me?”

“Why don’t you wear a shirt?” the child asked instead of responding.

“Because I don’t need to.”

“Your nipples are showing mister. Don’t they get cold?” Something about the kid pissed Bakugou off. Maybe it was because he was asking the questions so genuinely, and Bakugou didn’t really have a proper response.

“Shirts are for losers,” he finally said. If the brat was any older, Bakugou would’ve punch him already.

“But you’ll get cold in the winter!” the child insisted.

Rolling his eyes, Bakugou decided not to humour the kid anymore. Instead his replies consisted of one-word responses as he waited to get the money for the pelts. He once almost responded with a ‘Because fuck you, that’s why’ but he remembered that the kid was maybe six years old, and his uncle was standing close by.

“He’s got a point you know, why don’t I add something to your cape at least?” the merchant offered.

“Don’t got the money for that,” Bakugou responded almost immediately.

“I’ll do it on the house! Just make sure you give me a few extra furs next time,” the man winked.

Bakugou stood to consider the offer. “How long will it take?”

“Are you going back home today?”

“I plan to.”

The man smiled gently, “I’ll be finished by dusk, you can pick it up then.”

Bakugou took off the cape that was draped around his shoulders. It was only when he saw the cloth in the merchant’s hands that he noticed how torn it had gotten in the past few weeks since buying it. The child waved goodbye, noting how odd it looked that Bakugou was now walking around with absolutely nothing on his upper half, save for the blue werecat claw necklace.

He continued making exchanges at other stalls, trading herbs or various fruits for Nik. He also purchased a short cutlass, though grumbled about his troublesome guest during the entire transaction. Eventually he made his way to the Job Board, which was posted in the centre of town. None of them seemed too interesting: a few missing animals, a delivery request, and a beast hunting quest.

Despite the rather uninteresting options, Bakugou decided to select the beast hunting. It’s true that manticores were starting to grow in population, he figured getting money for slaying the things anyways.

In Piece, most Job Boards worked in the same fashion. One’s license could load various privileges onto them, including Merchant, Adventuring, Casting, and Taming. The licenses all looked the same: they had a picture of the holder as well as their name and birthday.

With each privilege came a certain level, determining what they could do. For example, magic users would increase their level through exams held every season. The higher their level, the better spells they could use without repercussions. For them, the license acted as a barrier to ensure that they used their magic safely, and as a result it would cut off the user’s magic at various thresholds.

Bakugou only had Adventuring on his, which essentially allowed him to accept jobs from Job Boards and be guaranteed to the rewards posted. Though, Adventuring Licenses were expensive due to the fact that nearly anyone could apply for it. As a result, most parties only had one or two people registered.

He held up his license to the paper, and the card glowed a faint red. Pulling his hand away, a small mark was left on the sheet beside a few others. This mark indicated that Bakugou was taking on the job.

The boy continued through the town, still with plenty of time to spare. He eventually made is way to the bookstore. The building looked the same as the rest of the town. It was made mostly of stone, though the door frame was painted a deep green. Above the door was a wooden sign that read ‘Books – Live Another Life’ which was slowly wearing away.

“Bakugou-kun! Welcome,” the shop keeper exclaimed. He was an older man in his late forties. He had a Chevron moustache and wore glasses that seemed too large for his face. Bakugou, despite being sixteen, was much taller than the shop owner.

“Been a while, old man,” he replied.

“What brings you back here?” the shop keeper made his way to the front of the counter in order to greet one of his most loyal guests properly.

Bakugou noticed a few books were lying on the floor. He quickly picked them up and began walking the familiar shelves. “I’m gonna buy some books this time,” he answered, his voice muffled by the aisles.

“Oh? Last time you just spent your time here. Why take out books?”

“You are running a business here, y’know that?”

The old man laughed, “Of course, of course. But when a ten-year-old comes in saying they want to learn how to read, you can’t really force them to pay for anything. Especially when they take such good care of the books.” Bakugou, who was currently returning the forgotten books to the appropriate shelves, flushed and didn’t respond.

He continued to browse the shelf for easy books to read. Somehow the mental image of a massive dragon reading a tiny book was comical to him. Bakugou wondered if Kirishima would even be able to read the pages. They’d have to sort out writing as well. Bakugou figured his massive claw couldn’t hold quills easily.

“Well then, why are you buying them this time?” the shop keeper continued.

Bakugou stopped before answering. The old man was a good person, and if he somehow found out that Kirishima was a dragon, surely he could keep the secret but if something were to happen to the dragon, it would be on Bakugou’s hands.

Still, he didn’t have to give every detail away. “For a friend, he’s too lazy to come out here,” he responded simply.

“Oh? You do live quite far away if I remember correctly.”

Bakugou had no means of transportation, so it took about five hours on foot to reach Charnom. If he had a horse it’d take less than an hour, maybe longer if they slowed from a gallop. “Guess so,” he mumbled.

Bakugou decided that four books were enough for now. Kirishima didn’t strike him as extremely intelligent, so he figured it would take at least a month to finish all of them.

The old man instantly knew the prices of the books and quickly calculated Bakugou’s total of 24 Nik. The old man babbled aimlessly, sharing random news or gossip that was circulating around town. Bakugou nodded occasionally, not really listening.

“I hope to see you soon, Bakugou-kun!” he said as Bakugou turned to leave the shop. “Bring your friend next time!”

Not turning around, Bakugou snickered. He laughed at the thought, the big, red dragon wouldn’t fit in the store. His tail, legs, and head would break through the building, as though he was wearing it as a dress. “We’ll see about that one, old man.”

Bakugou stuffed the books into his bag and then struggled to close it completely. He had spent a fair amount of cash on the books. He hoped that Kirishima would learn from them well, he damn better.

The boy spent the remainder of time he had wandering the town. It was the only town he’d ever been to, others were too far away, or closer ones were unmarked on the maps he’d seen. As such, he was well acquainted with Charnom. Bakugou knew which jeweler was genuine, which was faking, which families were nice, what restaurants to go to, the backstreets, the shortcuts, and he was painstakingly familiar with the noble girls who would constantly frown upon his appearance. He didn’t give enough of a shit to ask them why, but was he really that hideous?

The thought bothered him. What bothered him even more was that he was bothered by his appearance. It was never something he cared about, probably because he’d never been surrounded by people that cared about it either, or people in general.

Bakugou pushed the thoughts aside. Whether or not he was ugly, it wasn’t like he was planning on picking up girls. He had a dragon to take care of for god’s sake! Shaking his head to physically cleanse his mind, he approached the same clothing stall he did earlier in the day.

“I’m almost finished here, just wait a few moments,” the merchant said as Bakugou came up to the counter. There was no sign of the kid, Bakugou figured he went home to eat supper. His entertainment absent, Bakugou merely fumbled with his new sword.

The merchant gently lifted the cape into the air, taking care to not stretch or strain the fabric as he transported it to the counter.

“The string fastens were fraying and pulling on the fur. Did you notice that the fur was thinning at the neck?”

Bakugou nodded, but truthfully, he never did notice.

“I added some straps to allow more movement, and to prevent further decay of the fur. The straps are made from special Lamia skin – molted of course, we don’t deal with farms – so they’ll be comfortable and sturdy.” The merchant handed Bakugou the cape.

The straps were attached to the cape underneath the fur. They were fashioned like a vest and didn’t touch the red fabric, allowing it to flow freely. The Lamia skin gave the straps a white x-stitch pattern that went all the way down the strap.

The merchant looked proudly upon his creation, “Does it fit?”

Bakugou slipped it on. The straps were light but sturdy, and didn’t reduce movement. “Perfectly. That’s kinda creepy.” Bakugou had never been measured by the merchant. “How do you know...”

“It’s yours to keep!” the merchant declared, ignoring the question. “I hope that it serves you well. Be careful on your way back!”

The boy nodded, and set down a few coins despite the improvements being on the house. He turned on his heel and flicked the cape back dramatically. The fabric flapped in the wind, showing off the cutlass at his left hip as he strode down the market path.

The sun slowly began to set. Bakugou resolved to speed up his walk home, making the most of the remaining sunlight.

***

To Bakugou and Kirishima’s surprise, they got through the first book in less than a week. Perhaps that was because they spent a minimum of four hours in the day trying to read, and also because Bakugou read most of it. Kirishima was still trying to memorize the basic characters but he was picking up on them quite well. The different scripts confused him, and the idea that there were hundreds of other languages that were also considered common blew his mind even more.

Kirishima had to admit that it was hard trying to read the small print, which made the learning experience considerably harder. As a result, Bakugou would usually sit in his claw which Kirishima would position near his face, and the boy would hold the book up for the dragon to see.

“’The woman cr....cried?’”

“Yeah.”

“’cried, her lover’s lif-eh-less-‘” Kirishima pronounced the silent letter.

“Lifeless,” Bakugou corrected.

“’lifeless body in her arms, growing cold. A single tear’-”

“You pronounced it t-aer, it’s like teer.”

Kirishima grumbled, hot air rushed past Bakugou’s ear. “That’s so confusing!”

Bakugou muffled a scream of frustration. “Man you really are slow. I’ve told you the stroke here,” he pointed to a small line on the right corner of the character, “determines how you pronounce the ‘e’ sound. Get your fuckin’ head in it.”

The dragon seemed to pout, “I’m doing my best!”

“Do you want me to finish the chapter?” Bakugou offered. Kirishima nodded, puffing out his cheeks in annoyance. “’A single tear slipped down her cheek,’” he exaggerated every word, making sure Kirishima could hear the pronunciation and see the characters clearly. “’The tear dropped onto his chest, and for a moment he was gone. Suddenly, a flash of gold filled the room, strands of the colour emerging from his chest and spreading around his body.

“’He was warm. With a gasp, he opened his eyes. Her blue eyes brimmed with tears as she stared lovingly at him. Cupping her face and stroking her now short brown hair, the man captured her lips. He felt the fire from her chee’– are you blushing!?” Bakugou cried.

The scales prevented any exterior changes in colour but instead, from the cracks of the scales shone an orange light.

“What the fuck!? Are...are you embarrassed from this cheesy bullshit? And why does your blood...glow?”

Kirishima stammered, “I...I mean I’ve never really experienced this sort of thing-”

“You are not a three-hundred-year-old-virgin, are you?” Bakugou interrupted.

The glow intensified. “Please don't call me a three-hundred-year-old-virign.”

“So you’ve-”

“This isn’t the topic of conversation!”

“Hah, loser,” Bakugou snorted.

“A-anyways! Next question, my blood glows ‘cuz well...okay so you know how different creatures use magic in different ways? Well for humans, you guys can store it but only for a bit. It goes in for a while then goes out, and you can only store so much. Of course, with time the amount you can store increases but still, ya can’t hold it for a long time or else it just seeps out and returns to whatever was holding it before.

“Well for dragons, since we live a lot longer, we’re able to store a lot more. It can stay in our bodies for years, and I guess at that point it sorta.... melds with our system?” Kirishima explained.

Bakugou blinked, “So you’re telling me that you have tons of magic basically flowing in your veins and that’s why your blood can glow?”

“I guess yeah. Maybe the colour is different for different kinds of dragons. I dunno, haven’t met too many others,” Kirishima mused.

“And it shines between your scales... does that mean the skin there is thin?” The dragon didn’t reply. He’d barely opened his mouth when Bakugou moved onto the next question. “So if I were to stick some sorta, I dunno, sword in there I could like slice you to pieces, right?”

Kirishima choked, “Well first, that’s terrifying to think about. Don’t slice me to pieces when I’m sleeping at night.”

“No promises.”

“But well... I guess you could though? I’ve never seen a blade thin enough to properly pierce through though. They usually have to crack the scales no matter what,” he answered properly.

The questions were rolling now, Bakugou’s curiosity taking over from whatever book they were reading. “What kind of dragon are you?”

“Fire of course!” The dragon let out a little flame from his mouth for demonstration. “I guess since the magic is stored in our like... organs or something it’s why we release it from our mouths,” Kirishima guessed. “Or noses, I’ve seen that before,” he added as an afterthought.

“Are you split into elements?” he continued his interrogation.

The dragon didn’t respond immediately. He stilled, as if working hard to think of the answer. “I wouldn’t really say that. It’s sorta like how you humans do it, what kind of magic or element do you like best, or which are you inclined to? Then you work towards improving that. If I wanted to, I could probably master another element like water or wind, but humans don’t have the time or vessels to do that, so they usually only focus on one.”

Bakugou hummed, “Interesting.” Kirishima noticed the gleam in his eye. The boy obviously loved dragons, he ate up every piece of information Kirishima gave him.

After their quick dragon-themed break, Bakugou began teaching Kirishima more characters. They decided to use an empty patch of dirt as the dragon’s writing pad, his claw the quill. Each stroke was shaky, and the characters were hardly legible, but for a dragon Bakugou deemed it acceptable.

When the sky darkened and it was too difficult to read or write, the two would wish each other goodnight. Bakugou would go into his hut and sleep on the bed. He hadn’t the faintest idea of where Kirishima went to sleep, but he assumed the dragon curled up nicely outside.

Some days they didn’t have the time to practice. Bakugou would go out to hunt or search for wild berries, or Kirishima would try to fly with his wing that was slowly recovering. Bakugou didn’t know what had torn the wing in the first place, but it seemed to be the only thing he couldn’t get out of the dragon.

By the end of the second book, Kirishima had mastered the first script he’d learned, and was well into learning the second one. The third book only took the them four days and was arguably the most interesting thus far. The dragon was obsessed with one of the characters who was, “So manly, and so cool!”

“Please, he’s got an awful backstory. He was the villain at one point!”

“Yeah but he’s cleaned himself up now. He’s doing his best as a man,” Kirishima’s voice cracked as he teared up.

They’d repeated this conversation hundreds of times since reading the book. Bakugou argued that Kirishima wouldn’t feel the same way if he’d read the first book, but it didn’t seem to sway the “manliness” he saw in the character.

Even after finishing the fourth book, the two re-read the books again and again, familiarizing Kirishima with the strokes and the pronunciations. Before long both of them could easily tell the entire story themselves without missing a single detail.

“Surprisingly, you’re a good teacher,” Kirishima stated one day. Bakugou was planning to go hunt the manticores from the job he’d accepted almost a month ago. He nearly forgot about it while being caught up teaching the dragon, and he highly doubted that it wasn’t completed yet, but the boy figured that even if he didn’t get any money from it, the beast would probably still sell.

“The hell you mean, ‘surprisingly’ bitch, I’m a great teacher. The best teacher,” Bakugou cocked his head to seemingly intimidate the dragon.

Kirishima rumbled with laughter, “Okay. Y’know, no matter how tough you act or speak, you’re so small that it’s kinda cute. Sort of like... if you were to watch a kitty get mad at something.”

“Wh-” Bakugou sputtered incoherent sounds, “What the fuck man! Th-that’s, I am not cute you’re just a massive fucking lizard that probably thinks every creature smaller than you is cute! Shut up asshole– stop laughing!” He drew his sword and began shaking it, though never took a swing at the dragon.

The ground was shaking with the dragon, who was now laughing even harder. “You saying that only makes you cuter.”

Bakugou huffed (cutely) in defeat, “Whatever, you’re weird.”

An awkward silence followed. Bakugou was still grappling with the odd compliment. Every so often he’d open his mouth, but no words ever came out. He eventually decided changing the topic was the best way to avoid whatever just happened.

“How’s your wing doing? It better be fuckin’ healing. I’m feeding you, teaching you, housing you-”

“Not really much of a house,” Kirishima mumbled.

“Housing you,” Bakugou emphasized. He continued unbothered, “So you better be grateful.”

The boy expected Kirishima to talk back, but instead he flashed a toothy smile. His mouth had three layers of teeth, the first were the biggest – just a little shorter than Bakugou’s full height – and the size went down from there. The smallest ones were the sharpest, they were about the size of a finger. Kirishima had once told him about baby teeth he had as a lizard that he eventually lost.

“I am! I really am,” he lowered his head, his left eye looking directly at Bakugou. The red pupil seemed to grow, filling the beautiful amber iris. “Most humans would try to kill us, or turn us in to guards of some king, or use us to find more dragons,” Kirishima’s voice was unusually low. He said us, Bakugou realized he was speaking for more than just himself. Dragons weren’t as solitary as he’d thought.

“But you’ve kept me secret, you let me stay in your, uh, house?”

“Home,” Bakugou affirmed.

“In your home, and now you’re teaching me how to read! Even though I’m a bother who’s taking up space and definitely attracting a lot of attention to your glade. I broke your sword and you had to buy a new one...” his smile faded, instead the corners of his mouth drooped.

Bakugou scampered across the dragon’s arm and pushed the up against his lip. It looked less like a smile and more like a crossover between a vampire and a dragon, which was creepy if anything.

“Shut up. You can’t change your size so whatever.” The dragon hummed. “Yeah, the sword was annoying. That shit was expensive, but just don’t do it again. If you’re feeling generous maybe give me some Nik from your stash of gold.”

“I’m telling you, not all dragons keep stashes of gold,” Kirishima chimed.

“You better fucking start. One day, I’m gonna be rich.”

“Oh?” his pitch rose along with his expression. “And I don’t get to keep any of the gold?”

Bakugou grinned. His eyes lit up with the same fire the dragon possessed. “If I beat you in a fight then I keep all the gold.” He stepped back from the dragon’s face, staring up into Kirishima’s eyes.

“And if I win?” Kirishima angled his head to look down on Bakugou. It seemed that any forms of intimidation wouldn’t faze him.

The boy’s smile widened, “Then it’s ours, together.”

hhHHHH hope u enjoyed. bc of some people im thinking of like posting this to a decent writing website. would anyone read it i wonder(?) i hope people aren't too confused about the age/time thing ;-; it'll be explained soon!

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#my writing #bnha #boku no hero academia #mha #my hero academia #bokuaca #writing #bnha fantasy au #kirishima eijirou #dragon!kirishima #katsuki bakugou #bakugou x kirishima #prey series #kiribaku #bakugou katsuki

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ouuuuki · 3 years

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Stormbringer ((Page 15-40))

Chuya Nakahara never dreams His awakening is like bubbles rising from the mud. Chuya woke up in his room. There are walls, floors, and ceilings that are murky rooms. The blue darkness that covers them. The furnishings are "Kishingaku". A bed with sheets and a small bookshelf embedded in the wall of a small bookshelf A jewel-related booklet is randomly opened on the desk in the center of the safe. That's all. Asahi, who looks like a film inserted through the gaps in the curtain crevice shading cloth, cuts the murky room into two halves, and Chuya Nakahara got up. I'm sweating a little around his chest. The slag was swirling around it, but I can't remember what it was like. This is always the case these days. I gave up and got out of the sleeper and took a shower. Chuya Nakahara thinks about himself while bathing in boiling water from his head. He is 16 years old. Since joining Port Mafia a year ago, it has achieved results at an unprecedented speed, and it is a program of at most 2383 lines that researchers who are recognized by the organization C () DE: 0 have devote themselves to it.

The boy was given this room because he was warmed up, but he brought no money, no position, and no joy to Chuya. In the past, Nakaya doesn't know who he is. The memory of Setsu is that he was kidnapped from a military research facility eight years ago. There is no life before that, the darkness of one side What kind of darkness of the night It's deeper and darker than the darkness of the shooting ball. He wiped his body and headed for the dressing. When he pushed on a side of the wall, the wall opened silently, revealing a clothing rack. All his clothes were high-class, and I chose one of them that had no wrinkles and put it through my sleeves. Hold the emerald jasper cuffs on his sleeves and look in the mirror. After a small tongue, Chuya left the room. When he left the 0 Sugu family, a shuttle car appeared as if he had timed. The black luxury car was driven by Port Mafia's black clothes with light-shielding glasses. When I stopped at Chuya's sideways sentence, the more important thing that silently opened the back seat door remained missing.

"To the usual shop," Chuya said to the driver, he got into the car and closed his eyes. A black luxury car ran smoothly on the main road in the center of the city. Commuter cars were jam-packed on every road and every intersection. However, the Wakimichi car carrying Chuya passed through the convoy, a side road, and a traffic jam. It's as if you used magic that wouldn't interfere with other cars. "What was yesterday's transaction record?" This is it. "',," Chuya read the documents given by the driver. It is a document printed with a special dye that cannot be duplicated. All the content was encrypted so that it would not be evidence even if it was held down by the police. 0 "Hmm, is the transaction going well this week?" Chuya said in a throwing voice. Chuya's job at the "boring" Kanshi Sport Mafia was to monitor the distribution of smuggled gems. Gemstone-One of the highest substances in the world, Iguiyamond Shimizu, has the highest value per unit weight. Jonathan. Jade. And the mere element under pressure from Kongoishi will become a magic stone with terrifying magical power as it touches people's eyes, fins, and hands.

And the condensed thing of that demon is the smuggled jewel. As long as there is a jewel that was like a shadow created by the brilliance of the jewel, there will always be a smuggled jewel that is a shadow. There are countless places in the world where the shadow of the world and smuggled jewels are born. A poor miner sneaks in and steals in a gem block. Alternatively, a robber smashes a jewelery store, Shokes, with a stock and takes it away, or a pirate sinks a merchant ship carrying jewels. Or hold a quick-up robbery from the neck of Serep. The "dark" gems thus created in the mining areas owned by the rebels, paid for weapons and drugs, cannot enter the world of light as they are, where illegal organizations such as Port Mafia have trouble. A carrier who sheds light on the dark-colored jewels that have flowed to the port of Yokohama brings them to Yokohama, the late shop buys them, and a skilled processor does not know the source. Cut it back to. Turn the necklace into a 0 presslet, the presslet into an earring, and the earring into a ring to bring a second life to the jewel. The new gems created in this way are given a formal appraisal by the Mafia's breathtaking gem, a smoky appraiser, put on the market by wholesalers, and lined up at the front of the prestigious jewelry store Ire. The smuggling jewelry industry is one of the most important sources of income for the Australian Mafia. Giyo, Kaya

This is because smuggled gems, which can eliminate intermediate exploitation by customs and distribution control companies, always generate enormous profits. However, items with magical power like jewels inevitably attract blood and violence. So far, Chuya, who should be prepared for further violence, such as chewing any violence in one bite, has done its job perfectly in order to suppress it and establish stable distribution. Too perfect. Many of the members of the old stock were surprised. I didn't expect the 16-year-old kid to manage the dark jewel market so perfectly. However, there were a few who were not surprised. Those who fought against "Sheep", an organization that was once headed by Chuya. The king of the organization that continued to afflict the Mafia. I wondered what wondered when one or two of the jewelry markets were completely controlled, but surprises, praise, or jealousy didn't matter to Chuya. What they want is something they can never give. Chuya Nakahara threw the document into his seat with the annoyance of throwing a pebble. And he said in a small, thorny voice, "I don't know how many years it will take at this rate." The driver pretended not to hear. Surprising Exploitation is', Re "

The luxury car carrying Chuya headed for a quiet residential area as originally planned. It was quiet except for the crowing of the greenfinch in the low sky. The sound of the train and the hustle and bustle of commuting, the car that couldn't reach this point ran quietly and stopped in front of a store. Brick Old World Brick old billboards have the store name Ku Old World,-in pale letters. Chuya got out of the car because the neon tube was not lit because it was before the store opened in the morning. The car ran away quietly so as not to break the tranquility of the residential area. Chuya opened the store door. Five guns greeted Chuya. "The store is in preparation," said two men, holding their guns. The muzzle of the pistol is pressed against Chuya's head. "Isn't it okay if it's a corpse?" Said another man, Su-san. A shotgun with a barrel cut down is placed on Chuya's chest. "Isn't it careless without an escort, Mr. Jewel King?" Wow, a different man said. A pistol is pointed at Chuya's flank. Is it enough?

"Even you can't prevent the first strike from this position :::" another man screamed. A small pistol that fits in the palm of the hand is attached to Chuya's neck. "What should I do? Invincible Gravity Master. If you cry right now and apologize, I'll kill you easily." I said in front of Ya. A long-barreled pistol is aimed straight at Chuya's eyebrows. If you attack one person, you will be shot from the rest. If you try to retreat, you will be shot from the front. Before you are shot from the front, you will be shot from the back. Chuya did not react. I didn't even change my facial expression. The air in the room was hardened. Everyone put a lot of effort into the fingers on the gun. The dry sound of "Han!" Echoed in the surrounding streets. 0 From the head of Chuya who stood up, the colorful decorative strings that hung down like bloody ("Chuya! Port Mafia Joining One" Congratulations on the anniversary! "And the joyful voices of the men echoed throughout the store. Chuya looked around with a disgusted head. Dead rock fluttering.

"I'm a fool." That's "It's not a huge monster ..." White smoke was rising from each barrel, and a colorful paper company was on Chuya's head. In the air he flutters with confetti. The men were looking at Chuya, who was covered with a string, with a grin. Gathered there were members of the Mutual Aid Society within the Port Mafia. He is not just a mutual aid society. All of them are the leaders of the future of the organization, and their positions are equal to or better than Chuya. And all are composed only of young people under the age of 25. Port His Mafia's young wolves, who are only called "Young People's Association" by the organization. Chuya sighs and walks to the back of the store with a cold look without greeting anyone. "Why isn't Chuya happy?" Said a tall man on Nakahara's back. "Everyone got together for you." "Don't celebrate the first anniversary." Chuya told me to reject. "I'm glad I don't know what to do." "Don't say that. You must love it." A tall man chased Chuya. "I'll have time to give a souvenir later. Isn't it fun like a student?" Chuya stopped and turned around and stared at the other person. "In other words, you are the mastermind or the piano man. Your sense of joke is rotten at all.":

Egao "Well, I'm still breathing today to annoy everyone with this rotten joke." Chuya's sarcasm returned a cool smile to the mafia standing in a black cloak and white long skirt. .. Known in the organization as "Piano Man. His clothes are always in black and white. He is tall, has thin fingers and always has a happy smile. He is the founder of this youth association and It plays a role like a leader. It is this man who invited Chuya to this young group. He is more like a craftsman than a mafia. He is almost the only fake bill with the same accuracy as the real one in Yokohama, a complete fake bill But with a whimsical personality, if you're not happy with the fake bills, you'll run out of time for months, even if it's an instruction from the chief. By the way, The nickname "Piano Man." Does not come from black and white clothing. He uses an electric winder with a carbon steel piano wire to kill his enemies. When this copper wire is entwined around his neck, any mysterious power It can't be removed, and in a few seconds the neck will fall off. What's left behind is the perfect flat between the shoulders. And the voluminous blood and the reverberation of the screams of the victims. A man with cruelty. He is now said to be the youngest man closest to a boat mafia executive. As Chuya walked into the store, another man called out. Haha! Chuya's face was awesome! At least I'm in great agreement with this show! Saseiya Zankyo

Hitsujio A young star and former mafia enemy, Chuya Nakahara, the King of Sheep! It's worth joining this young group just to see your troubled face! " As he swirled his gun, he laughed in a voice that a young blonde man often passed through. Chuya glared at the blonde young man. "Hmm, tell me. If I didn't realize that it was a show, you were dead at the beginning of Albato 0 Suze, Mia Tori Ku" Jimankobushi Nagu "Wow. I'm sorry, but I was killed by Chuya. It's not as good as it gets, but before being hit by Chuya's proud fist, this hatchet cuts off his fist. ”Babiro Kukri Knife When you say that, a wide hatchet appears silently from the back of your jacket. It was. The young man let go of his hand after flashing his blade and slashing the air several times in a non-heavy motion. The impact of the fall of the floor pierced the hatchet, and the young man laughed as the hatchet ran radially on the floor with a heavy sound. 0 Yukai Albatross Laughs a lot with a funny face, the street name of the young man is Ku Abotori 4 He is a tuned person and speaks better than anyone else. His men lose sight of him, even in the middle of a struggle of bullets, blood and flesh. " If he goes to talk or laugh, he's there. Albatross, tsu ... Toku Abotori Tsu is said to be in control of "everything faster than walking" in the Port Mafia, that is, a vehicle. That's his territory. , Coast Guard Leh crack

He will prepare all the transport boats that will not get caught in the higuchi and the dar. In some cases, we will also procure criminal vehicle supplements with forged registration number marks. Originally an organization's "escape shop," you can control anything with a control stick. Faster and more precise than anyone else. Rumor has it that he took a shabby fishing boat and escaped from the Coast Guard's high-mobility combat helicopter, but no one in the organization doubts that rumor. The person who offended him cannot live in an organization for three days. The car, the stream of stuff and money, is at his knees. If he hates him, all economic activity will be cut off and he will quickly become ill-mannered. "Chuya Nakahara, let's make a toast." However, Chuya ignores it at a glance and walks to the back of the store. "Oh, I'm in a bad mood today, Chuya." The stupid bird left while supporting the glass with an exaggerated movement to prevent champagne from spilling. "About once a month, he suddenly becomes moody, but what happened? Did he have a pulsed dream?" A pulsed dream. The moment he heard the word, Chuya looked back and looked like a flame. "It's not like that!" 25 Bungo Stray Dogs STORM BRINGER

The angry quivering the glass of the store "Scary ::: What?" Chuya hesitated a little, wandered his eyes, and said that his voice was a little less tuned than before. "Maybe it's because you make noise upstairs every day until the morning, but it's a stupid bird. I'll forget it many times, so I'll say it again, because your floor is my ceiling." "No. You can't forget it? You know, you're a neighbor. ”The stupid bird laughed with a benign face. The stupid bird lived on the same high-class residential land as Chuya, one floor above. According to Chuya, the placement of Abatos was one of the biggest mistakes the Port Mafia made. The stupid bird sometimes gets into Chuya's room on a whim and pulls out Chuya by saying,'・ Help with work ,. And Chuya got better at swimming thanks to taking him to a ridiculously distant battle zone on a car, a ship, or a helicopter. This is because the stupid bird does not always prepare a return flight. Albatross Chuya ignored the stupid bird and walked to the back of the store. And when I tried to put a cloak on the hanger hook of the store, a man with a champagne glass appeared next to me. From the back of his bangs, he was screaming at Chuya with a dark gaze. "I didn't expect you to stay this long: Albato 0 Susaki, Albatross

Fufu and the man were strangely thin. A thin wrist is swimming in the sleeve of his shirt. What's more, the hand that doesn't have a glass of champagne is holding a drip stick that hangs the drug solution, and the tube that extends from the drip bag disappears into the clothes. He was an unhealthy man. "Surgeon" Chuya received the champagne glass presented. Then he looked inside. "I don't think it's poisoned." "No poison." The man called the surgeon smiled darkly. "I wonder if you can't kill with poison." "What do you know?" "It's an experience." "Because I've killed a lot with poison" with dark eyes. Mafia medical director, only a surgeon. In the black society, there are many unlicensed doctors, but he is different. He is a real doctor with a PhD in medicine in North America. Sugujuyo, the dark doctor is a profession that is in great demand in a black society. If you go to a regular hospital, you have to rely on a dark doctor to treat the wounds that are reported to you-gunshot wounds and torture wounds-the same in Port Mafia. It is. Fishing,

But there are also differences. In the Port Mafia, doctors are especially important and favored chiefs, Ogai Mori, who is also a former dark doctor. Ryo, Tsujin and the thick port mafia medical team, Ku surgeon is the best doctor. At this young age, he has already saved the lives of nearly 800 humans. And he deliberately took the same human life as that. His purpose is to get closer to God. His belief was that "every time you save a person, you can approach God." His goal is to save two million lives, the same number of humans that God killed in the Bible. I entered the Mafia, and I was waiting for a large-scale conflict where people would die like bugs. "It's not like they're all gathering together, no way to gather surgeons: I looked around. "In the first place, it's about the first anniversary, do you hold such a gathering?" "I'll explain that." A young man with a gentle voice came out with a slow movement. 0 "The first year after joining was the most difficult time for the Mafia." Su "What?" The scared young man smiled. The smile is seductively sweet. And his facial features are strangely well-organized. The magical beauty is that if you dress up as a man and smile, a woman will be dressed up, and if you dress up as a woman and smile, a man will be watered down.

Deadman's Carp "The first year is the steepest curve of the dead for mafia subscribers. In the meantime, most humans either run away, are crushed, or are confused and erased by the organization.・ It's a celebration of survival. ”Maybe,“ Sledding and fun. Did you think I was crushed by a blunder?''A public relations officer? ”Chuya glared. No, I don't think. "I am."'・ The young man, who was called a public relations officer, smiled mysteriously. And', Shu spokesman-丨 His work is extremely special among these people. A window for negotiations with the world of light. That is the job of a public relations officer, that is, the job that appears in public. He also negotiates with front companies, meets and negotiates with government officials, and in some cases responds to the press. If Port Mafia has a front face, it's him. 0 It was extremely difficult to kill him. In a sense, it's harder than killing the chief, because he's an active movie actor and a fashionable child who even has enthusiastic supporters abroad. If he was killed or missing, media outlets around the world would write and report it as the most important article, so it's natural to be in a turmoil, who killed it, 1 how?

In other words, the search for suspects attracts attention from all over the world. It is a situation that the back organization absolutely wants to avoid. In addition, since the public relations officer himself is a powerful talent, and his ability is a counterattack type talent that responds to the attacker's murderous intention, evidence is given. It is absolutely impossible to erase it quietly, and once the criminal is named, media outlets around the world will enthusiastically reveal the murderer's identity, purpose, and mastermind. The privacy of the people involved in the organization who took the lead in the murder was launched high in the sky and never returned. The organization is over. Destrap Bakutan Oso, he's the first bomb to fire when he dies, a deadly poison that no one can touch. And his weapon isn't just famous. He is a born actor. The speech and bargaining ability that comes from his acting capsetsukan, and his beauty, which is said to have a perfect curve on his face, especially the problem with the legal world, were when he reached the bargaining table. You almost settle "But if you get kicked out of the organization, I don't care at all," the spokeswoman smiled like a feather. "At that time, I'll invite you to my main business. Let's aim for the world as a silver screen haiku together." Su "I'm absolutely sorry." Chuya made a bitter face as if he had poisoned. "I'm absolutely sorry to say it again." "I objected to the anniversary," I suddenly heard that quiet voice echoing from the back of the store. I didn't scream. There was no intimidating voice. However, everyone was silent and the voice was scary.

I looked at you. A man in plain clothes stood there Iceman: Shiriki Shin "Mi Cold Blood ,," Chuya said in a cautious voice. "That's right. The celebration seat doesn't look good on you." The man had no feelings. His presence was different even in the gorgeous and intense youth association. He had the tranquility of a dark night, radiating any ambition or impression, rather inhaling all the signs and sounds of his surroundings. Icemank cold blood. The second oldest man after the piano man, he is an expressionless and expressionless man. He prefers simple clothes. And his work is also quite simple and mundane. Hitman, especially in the Mafia. All the time he carries a knife that doesn't even use a gun that doesn't use his abilities to kill, but he never uses it for work. He works with what's indispensable. Fountain pen, liquor botokiyoto, kazahimo shunkandan cancer 2 ru, electric lamp decoration string. The moment everything is in his hands, he's a more dangerous weapon than a bullet, so he can kill people anywhere, whether in the desert, in the palace, or in the vault of the bank. Although it may be inside, there is another special skill in the desert man and cold blood. When he activates a different ability nearby, he feels it as simple as his skin.

It is his constitution, not his ability or skill, that he can feel. Therefore, his success rate in killing is higher than that of the hundreds of fighting talents, because he can instantly sniff out the right place and time for killing. However, because he does not have different abilities, he cannot pay attention to the special affairs section and the military police's special crime countermeasures section. Take measures, just a shadow man with no connection. If Chuya could be killed, the most likely thing would be cold-blooded ostriches, the organization said. Iceman "I didn't expect you to come to my celebration, Mi cold-blooded ostrich. Do you hate me? "Chuya laughed provocatively. "You and I killed each other once in the" sheep "era, so it seems that you failed to assassinate me and lost your reputation?" "I opposed the feast, but that was you. It's not because I don't like it. It's because I have a grudge and I don't have an iceman. It makes you more angry. " "It's not like it's crushed." "What?" Ötzi Iceman "I thought it would cause a rebellion." The cold-blooded voice was as sharp as the sound of a lump of ice cracking. The leader of the Sheep. I thought you would betray the chief and kill him and wage war on Mafia. To prevent that, Pianoman had you join this youth group. "

Chuya glanced at the piano man. The piano man is expressionless and watching the conversation. Neither denial nor affirmation. In other words, it is affirmation. "::: Yeah. That's right." Chuya glared at everyone. "Everyone was kindly watching over me like a newborn red toy boy. I'm thrilled. So that I don't get sharp, I'm wearing a toy and even rattling. Thanks. So I was alive and turned one year old, so I need a big toy event. "He said, squeezing a glass of champagne in his hand. Iceman eyebrows where liquid splatters Even if you see it, cold blood does not move your eyebrows Iceman "There is evidence to warn you" Cold blood continues. "June 18th, 3:18 pm. A jewelry wholesaler who offended the rooftop was injured for three months after he was completely healed. The reason is that you did a good job. It's a lonely question, but when you hear it, you blow the wholesaler to the roof of a three-story building. "2" Was that so? I forgot. "Contrary to the content of the reply, Chuya's eyes are sharp. .. "If you have the courage to try it now, try it now," Su'Iceman cold-blooded. After five seconds of expressionlessness that sucked in all the emotions, he said, "Where were you born? Sui Suiman Eritsuka Gochuya reacted quickly. Grabbing the cold-blooded collar and pulling it roughly.

The sewing of the shirt broke somewhere and there was a sharp noise. Ötzi "What's this hand?" Cold Blood looked down at the hand he grabbed and said emotionally. "It's up to you," Chuya screamed from the side, as if the stupid bird was in trouble. "Hey, take it to that side," and grabbed Chuya's arm. "Don't get angry at such a question, Chuya. You're not like me?" "You can't decide what's like me. I'll kill you." Chuya swiftly flipped the arm that grabbed herself. The stupid bird, who was dressed to be pushed away, stepped on the tatara behind him and stepped forward, and Chuya's leg suddenly stopped. I, Tsukinha :, "Chuya's temple has a billard stick attached to it. Horizontally, with the edge of the sword, you can stick it. : What is this stick? "Chuya said silently, still. "Hey 0 Iceman" It's up to you, "said the cold blood holding the stick. Chuya pulled his upper body away from the stick, and then shook his head and head-butted the stick. (The stick flew away. A myriad of pieces of wood from Icemans splattered throughout the room. Most of them fell on the cold blood that had the sticks, and only Iceman. A sharp piece of wood cut through the right temple and blood was eye-catching It runs down the edge of the room, but the cold blood even blinks.

No "That's it" I heard the most ruthless voice I've ever had. Behind Chuya: Before I knew it, a transparent piano wire extended from the sleeve of the raised arm on which the piano man was standing, like a high-class necklace that circled Chuya's neck. .. The first rule of this young society, "Chuya", the piano man said coldly. "Don't use different abilities for your friends." Did you forget it? ”The name is piano wire, but it is different from the one used for musical instruments. It's not that easy, it's a completely industrial steel wire that hangs and ties up rebar and concrete lumps, and a take-up device is installed behind the sleeves of the piano man. When it starts, the piano wire transforms into the lightest decapitation stand in the world, and the neck is cut off. Even if Chuya tries to reduce the mass of the piano wire by gravity operation, it is not possible to increase the winding speed, so it is the neck. "I know you're in a bad mood, Riyama," said Piano Man. "If nothing is done, you will lose to Dazai. You have to become an executive before Dazai. Because, in the first place, you were in Remafia because you had a secret document that only executives could see. Because it's for reading. The document tells you what you are. "Wakato Umei

Chuya's expression has changed. "Why that :::" "But it takes another five years to become an executive in this condition." Chuya's eyebrows are engraved with deep wrinkles and the meshed teeth creak. No, I say, "Pianoman smiled ruthlessly. "I'm being told by the chief," "What?" Chuya flirts with "I was ordered. Immediately after you joined the youth association, what should I watch for Chuya?" Do you want to get new information? Do you want to investigate the contents of secret materials on your own? "" I'm a ::: watcher. If you don't need to see it, you're a human being of an enemy organization, of course. You've been told why, of course, and you're a piano man who could strip your fangs. It's a totally amazing truth. " "::: Stop" Chuya moaned in a murderous voice. B. "" Araha vomit ". Also known as the military's artificial genius research body," Prototype Ko 258th ". That is you. You are not a human being, you are just an artificial I suspect it's a personality. The basis is

Because you don't dream. "Chuya groaned unvoiced. It was a momentary event. Chuya's right hand flashed like a snake, grabbed the pianoman's arm, and crushed and destroyed the electric winder for the piano wire there. Then, Chuya's left hand picked up the falling sticks and debris from the throat, and attached the pointed tip to the piano man's throat. Apatrosk Kukri Knife Machine Vist spokesman, who moved quickly except for Chuya, took out the submachine gun from the inside of the suit and attached it to Chuya. The hatchet sword of the stupid bird was hit on the neck of Chuya. The surgeon took out the syringe and put the tip on Chuya's temple. He picked up a glass of champagne with broken cold blood and brought its pointed tip close to Chuya's eyes. And everyone at rest was moving, even holding their breath. It's like a still photo. The only thing that moves is the power and the ball that receives the rising sun- "Only the dust that shines and shines 0 All of them could kill someone's life with just one action, but no one moved. Su "Do it," said Chuya. The voice was the trembling of a squeezed bow. "Anyone can do it, but let me finish planning the event before that." Piano Month said in a plain voice.

"What?" "Is there a souvenir for the first anniversary?" I took it out of my pocket. "This is it," Chuya moved his gaze with a watchful expression. And, as if it was frozen, the breathing that stopped everything seemed to stop even beating. The mosquito came out of Kawa Chuya's hand, and the fragments of the stick that he was holding fell off. Chuya picked it up as if he had forgotten the surroundings. It was a photo. "Isn't it worth it? I had a hard time." Chuya approached the photo as if he was fascinated. The voice of the piano man has not arrived. Chuya, who withdrew his weapon with a bitter smile, didn't even notice it. 0 "If you ask an unprecedented question, show it from the next time." It was Chuya, who was five years old. Somewhere on the beach. With the sea in the background, Chuya and a young man wearing hemp kimono are shown. The two are holding hands, and the young man heading toward the photographer is squinting and smiling, perhaps because of the dazzling diagonal sunlight. Young Chuya is foolish and uncertain if he doesn't know what's going on.

"The picture was taken in an old rural village in the western region," said Piano Man, looking at the photographer. "Now it's an abandoned village, and no one lives in the area, but the surgeon got a hit from the medical records kept in the nearby village. 丨丨 Surgeon" "Fufu ::: Human Even if he lied, the dental record does not lie. "The surgeon brought another document with an unhealthy smile. "Medical records have to be kept for several years ::: That duty has become a light ::: Fufu: ・: ・"-Kouwa', Chuya looks embarrassed and the surgeon and him Comparing the documents presented by him, "Don't worry if you take credit for yourself, a surgeon!" "Without my power, I couldn't even reach the medical record. The medical record of the crushed clinic is from the company that has as much sand as the sand on the beach that the medical corporation keeps together. , I followed the memoirs to find the desired storage location-because I threatened all the material storage companies and finally arrived at it! "Apatros in Switzerland

"Of course, no good explorer can reach his destination without the first step. A spokeswoman laughed softly and offered another document." Of my personal acquaintance. To women

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imaginetonyandbucky · 7 years

Text

Eight Ways to a Sunny Day

Part Two of OctoBucky and Seahorse-mer Tony. Read Part One Here

Tony stretched luxuriously. He finally had his mate with him. Their home was as safe and secure as they could make it -- there were advantages to having a mate as strong as Bucky. For an octo-mer, he was deficient, having only seven lower arms, and one upper, but for a seahorse, he was amazing.

Bucky could lift incredible loads with his multiple limbs. He could squeeze into tiny gaps --Tony didn’t really like watching that, it was sort of gross, really, but useful -- to get the finest foods. He was fast, so fast. Tony could barely keep track of his unusual mate as Bucky tore around on the ocean floor, gathering materials and collecting food and soft kelps for their bed.

For a creature that was supposed to be solitary, Bucky had mostly adapted to mated life. He was occasionally shy and if he wasn’t thinking about it, he’d shade himself to blend in with the background, giving Tony terrible panic attacks when he would think his mate had left him. And he still hadn't quite adjusted himself to the sheer amount of food a mer-seahorse could eat. Particularly a pregnant one.

“I’m hungry,” Tony mumbled. Not unusual. Tony’s species were grazers, constantly moving (when not pregnant) and eating a bite or two as they went. On a good day, Tony could eat up to forty tiny little meals.

But he was also all entangled with his mate.

When Bucky slept alone, he usually squashed himself into the smallest crevice he could find where he’d fit, and pull a rock in after him. It kept him safe from predators and let him rest. Tony, on the other hand, as a mer-seahorse, slept upright with his tail wrapped firmly around a strand of coral or plankton and tried really hard to look like part of the scenery.

They’d adapted, inside the mate-shelter; Tony slept upright, his tail latched firmly on one of the mate-shelter’s pillars. Bucky slept entangled around Tony, arms wrapped around his mate’s torso and tail, letting him rest his head on Tony’s shoulder. It kept Tony protected and allowed them to be in contact the whole night.

Tony slowly started unlooping Bucky’s arms from around him. Sometimes Bucky would just mutter and curl up against the nearest rock, turning the same brownish shade as the ocean floor. Sometimes he woke up as soon as Tony started shifting.

Tony got himself untangled, patted Bucky’s hair, and let his mate sleep, while Tony went to investigate the idea of breakfast.

Bucky had done something; a human thing, he’d called it. Weaving. Sort of the same thing that the herds did, to make their mate-dwelling, piles of stones to protect the young. Bucky had made tiny little dwellings from sea reeds that he used to keep the krills and shrimp and tiny fish that made up Tony’s diet alive, but contained, until Tony was ready to eat. Baskets were what Bucky called these things. Magic, more like. Tony could see how they worked, and once he’d been shown, he could even manage to make a few crude containers. They were nothing compared to what Bucky made, but the idea… the idea could change everything.

Tony lifted the lid and peered into one of the basket, stomach gurgling. The babies were already up, poking and prodding at him. Annoying little things. Tony loved them already, but sand and tides, he’d be glad to be done with this pregnancy. There were a handful of clams in one basket. Tony stuffed two in his mouth, sighing with satisfaction.

One of Bucky’s arms slid around Tony’s waist. Another fastened onto his shoulder, suckers taking little nibbles. “Morning,” Bucky said, curling up sleepily against Tony’s back. “How are you feeling?”

“Hungry,” Tony said.

“You’re always hungry,” Bucky said. Another limb slid around Tony’s throat, the tip caressing his jaw. “It astonishes me that you still fit in the shelter.”

Tony slapped at the arm. “Be nice to me. These are your babies that are making me fat and has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m eating.”

“Mmmm, yes, they are,” Bucky said. He rubbed his hand over the swollen roundness of Tony’s pouch. The babies inside kicked at each other again for a few moments, each one trying to reach their parent through the plating of Tony’s pouch. “They certainly feel like it.”

“All over enthusiastic acrobatics,” Tony groused. He picked up the empty basket. “There aren’t any clams left.”

Bucky prodded inside the basket with another limb (sometimes Tony felt like his mate had a hundred arms, he kept doing stuff with them) and sighed. “You could save me one, before you eat us out of bed and basket.”

(more below the cut, or read on A03)

“I have not eaten the bedding material except once,” Tony protested. That was mostly an accident. He didn’t really like greens, but he’d gotten a bit of a craving and half the plankton was gone before he’d really realized what he was doing.

“Still did it,” Bucky crowed. He swam around in a little loop and ended up sticking to the ceiling, limbs twining around the rocks and holding himself in place. “Can I get a kiss before I go hunting on an empty stomach?”

“Not if you’re going to continue mocking me,” Tony complained. That was totally a lie. Bucky’s kisses were incredible and Tony never wanted to go without them.

Bucky stayed upside down, wrapped an extra limb around Tony’s back and pulled him in. He licked along Tony’s top lip before moving in, tasting and exploring the contours of Tony’s mouth. Bucky threaded his hand through Tony’s hair, pulling his head at an angle, taking greater licks at Tony’s teeth and his soft palate, sucking on his tongue, sliding along Tony’s tongue until Tony was dizzy with it and tried to wrap his tail around something to stay upright. Bucky’s arms enclosed him, until they were drifting in the deep ocean currents, swaying and rocking slowly as Bucky kept one limb stuck to the upper rocks, his entire weight and Tony’s combined held by one fragile-seeming arm.

“Right,” Bucky said, breaking off the kiss with a suddenness that made Tony whine in dismay. “The sooner I hunt, the sooner I’ll be back, the sooner we can both have some breakfast.” He kissed Tony again, quick and warm, grabbed two of the baskets. He made to leave, then darted back, tasting Tony’s lip. “This time, for real.”

And he was gone.

The mate-shelter seemed very empty without him.

The water was good. Clear and a little warm. The currents were bringing in warmer water from the south. Bucky looped the baskets over his shoulder and went hunting. Small succulent clams and other bivalves from the ocean’s floor made quick work.

A crab, fat and irritable, made up Bucky’s breakfast. A few whacks with one long arm, smacking the creature upside a rock, and it didn’t care anymore. He put the shell into the other basket; Tony sometimes liked to make beads and there was a good deal of raw material there.

A small colony of seasnails went into the basket as well. Tony ate more than anything his size should possibly want. Bucky smiled, fond. His mate was demanding, but well worth it. And while demanding, Tony was also easily pleased, heavy with the praise, and generally happy with Bucky’s efforts.

A glissade of cooler water moved over Bucky’s skin and he pressed himself close to the rock, shifting colors, wondering what the change meant.

Bucky squinted into the depths, listening with every bit of concentration. The slow, slush-slush of respiration was his first clue. The bigger the creature, the slower it breathed, the slower its heart beat. An immense amount of water was passing over the creature, whatever it was. The push of water as it moved… it was huge. A whale, maybe?

A slithering drag, and then one of the baskets was ripped off Bucky’s arm, the lash of fibers stinging and leaving bruises on his back.

What in th’ depths was it?

When the feeding tentacle came for the second basket, Bucky shucked it quickly. He could always make more baskets!

The feeding tentacle’s club end was almost the size of Bucky’s torso. Just above the club, the creature wore a white and red striped bracelet, a solid mass of substance.

Ten Rings.

Like the hydra, Ten Rings, the colossal mer-squid was a legend. Bucky had hoped never to see another legend again. Dealing with the hydra, Bucky had escaped the situation short two limbs, and that had put him at a decided disadvantage.

Ten Rings was a ship-killer. Twice the size of a man-going vessel, the huge creature used its enormously strong limbs to pull fishing vessels before the surface. It cracked them like Bucky might smash a crab, eating the men that fell from the wreckage. Ten Rings took his name from the round items it had found aboard the ships, using the pieces of man-tools to adorn its limbs and claim its prizes long after they were nothing more than wreckage on the seafloor.

Bucky crept backward, arms feeling the way. Seeking a crevasse, a narrow gap between the stones. Something. Anything.

Ten Rings was slow, comparatively, but a squid didn’t have to swim fast to catch him. Ten Rings was also huge; Bucky could swim as fast as he wanted, but it would do him no good. Those feeding tentacles would slice through the water like whips, wrapping around him without Ten Rings even moving.

Bucky found a medium-sized rock, something about the same size as his head. He wrapped two arms around it, flung it as hard as he could, and then took off, swimming as fast as he could, in the opposite direction. Hopefully Ten Rings would be distracted, chase the rock, and leave Bucky alone.

He had to hurry, had to get away. Tony needed him. The babies needed him. Bucky kept an eye out while he swam and finally spotted a lovely, perfect gap between two large boulders. He could squeeze in there and wait for everything to be over.

Bucky squished to the crack, felt the press of stone against his chest, the roughness on his fingers.

Ten Rings wasn’t distracted long. The huge squid fluttered through the water, an unnatural disaster that happened to have a heartbeat.

Bucky hated predators. He’d lost everything to the hydra; he wasn’t about to let Ten Rings take what he’d rebuilt.

But what could he do? Ten Rings was huge, it would take an army of octo-mers and more to bring Ten Rings down.

Finally, Ten Rings moved on.

Bucky waited longer, until he was sure the squid was long gone, and not just waiting for a careless octo-mer to show himself.

He cursed the loss of the baskets and the snails; Tony would be hungry and Bucky had nothing for him. There was nothing. Ten Rings had come through for food, and there was nothing left. Bucky cursed. He would swim home, check on Tony. Apologize. And hunt later, when Ten Rings had cleared the area. There was no way to tell how far the squid had gone.

On the way back, Bucky talked himself around; he might not have breakfast, but he had outwitted Ten Rings, and that was a feat to be proud.

The water seemed darker, somehow, as Bucky made his way back to the mate-shelter.

He climbed the side of the reef, arms finding holds and pulling himself up.

Bucky’s smugness washed away like shapes in the sand.

The reason Ten Rings had gone away without turning every rock and reef looking for a mere octo-mer was because the beast had gone after a much tastier morsel.

A pregnant mer-seahorse, close to his spawning, was more vulnerable prey. No need to chase him across the ocean floor. Tony… wasn’t going anywhere.

Tony’s lower back was killing him.

It didn’t seem to matter how much he stretched. He even wrapped his tail low around one of the pillars and reached as high as he could, trying to relieve the pressure on his spine.

Still hurt. Ached, really.

Pulsed. A deep, throbbing sort of pain.

“Oh, scales and shells!” Tony swore. He pressed his hands to the bulge of his pouch. He was going into labor.

Alone.

Because, really, that just seemed his luck.

Tony really could have gone for some breakfast before this; the handful of clams barely sated his hunger. He peeked into the two remaining baskets, just in case something had decided to crawl in on its own. Nope.

He thought about going out, seeing if he could flush out a bit of shrimp or something from the nearby kelp beds. Although one might have thought Bucky would already have stripped them before venturing out further into the ocean to hunt.

Couldn’t hurt, though, could it?

It wasn’t that far, even though Tony was pretty slow. He flexed, pushing himself toward the door. The sway and stretch of his pouch almost dissuaded him from the attempt, but then his stomach growled again. He could do this. After all, he’d built almost half a mate-shelter by himself before Bucky showed up. What was a little swim, just over to the kelps?

He grabbed the basket.

Delicately, Tony swam -- well, floundered, really, but since no one was looking, it didn’t count -- over to the kelp beds.

Oh, krill! The tiny creatures were tasty, even if they were tiny. A handful would barely slake Tony’s hunger, but there were millions of them in a swarm, and they were swarming today. Tony was on his sixth or seventh (or ninth, or tenth, it didn’t count, Bucky wasn’t there to mock him) handful when it suddenly occurred to him to wonder why the krill were swarming south to north. It wasn’t time for them to return to cooler waters.

Only the mouthful that Tony had prevented him from shrieking out a distress cry when the shadow passed over him.

Too bulbous and graceless to be a whale.

Tony lashed his tail around a piece of help and tucked himself inside the greenery, pulling it around him. He pushed his face against it, then peeked around the corner. It wasn’t until the mantle passed directly in front of him that Tony knew what he was looking at.

A squid.

And not just any squid, but a massive creature. Nearly the size of two human fishing trawlers placed end to end, with feeding tentacles that stretched another two times as long. Ideal for plumbing the depths and snaring enough food to keep something that large functional. The tentacles trailed along behind it as the squid explored.

The ocean was often a deep and silent place, but now nothing moved.

Except the babies in Tony’s pouch that didn’t know enough to keep still.

That had no idea what was outside that safe and warm place for them.

Tony pressed his hand against the opening to his pouch.

He spared a moment’s thought for his mate, that Bucky would come and find him. But what in the depths was Bucky supposed to do against a creature this size? There was nothing that could be done except hope that the squid passed him by. That it was sated and lazy and returning home, rather than hunting.

Tony closed his eyes, curling into the plankton reed. A soft touch against his belly forced his eyes open again in shock. A pair of reddish, tentacled arms waved at him from the slit in his pouch.

“Oh, oh, no, baby, no,” Tony said, soft as he could, prodding the arms back into his pouch. Like playing with an eel inside the coral, every time Tony got one questing arm pushed back into place, another two or three would come out. His body was ridding itself of these babies, whether he wished to or not.

“Chum, chum, chum,” Tony swore. What was he supposed to do now? The babies infantile flailing would attract attention. His only hope was to finish his labors and then swim away, drawing the beast’s gaze, get them away from his babies. He couldn’t move very fast; could he possibly lure it far enough away?

And what would happen to his children? Would Bucky think to look for them, or would he be too distraught at the loss of his mate to search?

Tony bit his lip.

One of the babies made its way out, and once it broke free of his pouch, there was no going back. A little girl, her arms clinging around Tony’s wrist like a wiggly little bracelet. She had hair as red as her arms and eyes of grey.

Tony stared down at his daughter. She gnawed at his finger in frustration. Hungry and not even knowing what food was yet. Tony should have been prepared for her.

His gaze dropped to the basket. Of course, Bucky would find the basket, he would know his own craftsmanship.

There were krill in the basket. Tony pressed one into his daughter’s hands and tucked her into the basket. She attacked the little creature, shoving sustenance in her mouth with both hands and an arm while she was at it. Greedy little thing. Tony couldn’t quite help cooing over her. She was adorable.

“Ow!” Tony bit down on his hand, trying to stifle the pained moans as his pouch opened again. He reached, barely caught the spawn trying to escape and swim away, chasing the krills that still lingered in the undersea forest.

Tony blinked. Another girl, but this one had a mer-seahorse tail, with black, curly hair that stuck straight up from her head. She twisted her tail around Tony’s fingers and he absently gave her a few krills, watching her eat, messy and graceless. He’d taken in already fertilized eggs, Bucky’s former mate’s eggs that Bucky had given his seed to. How were any of them anything but octo-mers? Could Bucky have failed to inseminate all the eggs before giving them to Tony to tend?

He pulled the baby closer, holding her against his chest. “All right, little one. Into the basket. Stay with your sister.”

The next two came out together, as alike as two pearls in an oyster. Thick, dark hair, greenish arms, twin octo-mer boys. Tony didn’t have time to cuddle them; the squid was turning around. He pushed them both into the basket. Was that all? Four was a respectable spawning.

Nope. Tony winced, arching his back, trying not to scream.

A fifth baby clawed his way out; this one with reddish arms and a scowl to match his father’s. Tony kissed the baby and placed it in the basket. “Almost done, almost done, everything is --”

Everything was not fine.

Giant. Eyeball.

The size of Tony’s freaking body.

The feeding tentacle was weaving through the kelp forest.

Tony swam. Straight up. As far from the basket as he could get. As fast as he could go.

It wasn’t going to be fast enough.

Bucky hefted one of the cornerstones from the mate-shelter and dropped it on the trailing end of Ten Ring’s feeding tentacle. He smashed the club end onto the ocean floor, pinning the tentacle down.

Ten Rings let out a bellow, vibrating through the water and sending what small fish still remained in the area scattering in a panic.

“Come on, ugly, this way,” Bucky yelled, waving his arms enticingly and trying hard to look utterly delicious.

As soon as Ten Rings turned, Bucky was gone. Scrambling madly across the ocean floor, throwing up as much dirt and rock as he could manage. Making his path easy to follow.

He slid, throwing a cloud of dirt up, then darted to one side.

Just in time. Ten Rings blasted water from its mantle, slamming in front of Bucky before he could think. He grabbed hold of Ten Ring’s skin with his suckered grips, scuttling over the creature and kept on going, forcing Ten Rings into a tight maneuver. Squids were fast; utilizing the same water-siphoning technique that Bucky’s people were famous for. But in tight quarters, Ten Rings was at the disadvantage, unable to change direction nearly as easily.

Bucky skimmed over Ten Rings’ arms, squeezing himself through loops as they attempted to close over him. One sucker bit down on his shoulder, the sharp dentata tearing at his skin. Crimson blood stained the water. Bucky scurried down to the ocean floor, blending and settling into stillness, letting Ten Rings lash at the water, trying to stir him up.

When Ten Rings was looking right at him, Bucky let himself be seen. He shifted, going from I’m-an-inedible-rock to tasty-octopus. Ten Rings’ eye widened then narrowed dangerously. Bucky fled. He squirted a huge cloud of ink, but it hardly deterred the larger predator. Tentacles slashed through the cloud, seeking him out.

Bucky slammed into a boulder, blended to match it, and then scurried around behind it. He let go, the instant the feeding tentacle grabbed it, let Ten Rings draw it back to its beak. Fled further, waving his arms.

Ten Rings flung the rock; its aim was nearly as good as Bucky’s. Bucky slithered to one side and the boulder came down almost where he’d been. Bucky eyed the reef behind him; the drop off there wasn’t as deep as some places, but the bottom was fathoms down. “Come on, come on,” Bucky urged Ten Rings.

As the colossal squid streaked at him, Bucky blended into the boulder again. Ten Rings smashed into the rock, its great mantle pushing and pummeling. Even through the rock, Bucky groaned in pain. The impact was bruising. Not just for Bucky; dark ichor flooded the water as the boulder’s edges ripped at Ten Rings’s supple flesh.

Bucky squeezed as the tentacles wrapped around the rock, sliding between the tentacle and the ring around it from which Ten Rings took its name. With a quick tug, Bucky yanked the ring free.

Now he’d done it!

Ten Rings roared again, infuriated. Those rings were its legacy, its pride. Symbols of its triumph.

Bucky fled again, settling into a depression in the sand, covering the ring with his body, then blended. Just a bit of sea floor here, no need to look any further.

Slithered an arm out and grabbed a twist of seagrasses. It wasn’t going to be his best braiding job ever; he couldn’t even see what he was doing, but he had seven arms, and he could braid quick. Another twist of grass. Kept an eye on Ten Rings, who was scrambling through the boulders and rocks, trying to shake him loose.

He looped the crude rope over the ring, bound it. Skimmed across the ocean floor to another boulder. An outcropping on that one suited his needs. Bucky put his shoulder to the stone and shoved it across the ocean floor toward the reef’s drop-off.

“Faster,” he urged himself. “You can do this.”

Got the stone over to the edge. Tied the ring to the stone.

“Hey, ugly!”

Ten Rings cavitated a bit as it turned. Good. The more disoriented the beast already was, the better.

It saw its ring. Flexed its arms and sent itself into a spin, driving toward him, full speed.

Bucky went over the side. A moment later, Ten Rings slammed into the boulder, arms and tentacles scrambling for its ring. The stone shuttled forward in the dirt, pushed by the force of Ten Rings’ impact.

Bucky watched in satisfaction as the boulder went over the side and into the depths, Ten Rings clinging to it, trying in vain to rip the ring free.

Tony wasn’t ashamed to admit there was a very large part of him that wanted to just lay down on the ocean floor and wait for death. His mate was gone. Their mate-shelter was destroyed. He had six babies (six? That was at least two more than most spawnings, and was a ridiculous number of babies to look after) in a basket strapped to his chest.

He was tired.

He was still hungry.

He was terrified.

The squid had chased after Bucky, but Tony wasn’t certain that it wouldn’t come back. After all, something that big had to eat an awful lot.

But Tony did have six babies.

And he owed it to his mate, and to them, to try.

The basket kept his babies contained, and that was good. It also wasn’t too much different from being pregnant. He was still ungainly and middle-heavy and awkward, but at least he was mostly used to it.

Just get to Rhodey, he thought. Once he was there, some sort of plan… some…

Tony tucked his face against the basket, trying not to wail his grief and anguish.

A shifting in the sands was all the warning Tony had before great arms reached for him.

“Hey gorgeous.”

Bucky.

Yep. That was it. Tony was dead. He clutched one hand over his heart, staggered backward. If the basket hadn’t been hooked over his shoulders, he might have dropped it.

“Woah, woah.” Bucky’s arms went ‘round his waist, behind his neck, under his hips, keeping him upright. “I got you. It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got… all of you. Wow.” One arm opened the top of the basket and Bucky drew out one of their children.

The mer-seahorse filly was awkward, bumbling from side to side as she scooted toward her parent, arms stretched out.

“Well, I’ll be hooked,” Bucky said. “Look at her, baby.”

Tony couldn’t help a smile at that. “We did make some very pretty babies.”

“Come on, we need to get to shelter before Ten Rings comes after us again,” Bucky said. Tony shuddered delicately. So, the giant squid had a name? Ug. Somehow that was even worse. Bad enough to be eaten by a predator, but it was worse to devour something that could think… and knowing that it could.

Tony patted Bucky, as if reassuring himself that Bucky was all right. Which he was, give or take a new battlescar or two. “Where are we going?”

“My friend, Steve. His cave is this way; he’ll let us impose for a while,” Bucky said.

An altogether agreeable plan; unlike Rhodey’s mate, Pepper, Steve wouldn’t be overly territorial. Mer-crustaceans were more sociable than their crusty exterior might have indicated. Not to mention, Steve had powerful arms and a hide of solid armor. They’d be in less danger, with such a protector.

Bucky gave his daughter a quick nuzzle and put her back in the basket. “Here, let me carry them, you’ve been doing it long enough.”

“I hate to agree with you, but yes,” Tony said. “And you have more arms to carry with anyway. Which will come in handy, as you’ll need six of them, looking after our brood.”

“Six for them, one for you, which still leaves me one to wave for Steve when we need help.”

#winteriron #tony x bucky #tony stark #bucky barnes #tisfan #mermaid AU #octobucky #mer-seahorse tony #mpreg #predators #eight arms to hold you #domestic fluff #tending to your mate #ten rings #ten rings is a giant squid

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yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy · 7 years

Text

For Better or Worse a Kingsglaive Fanfiction

AO3

also

Kingsglaive,

For Better or Worse-

In the early morning sun Princess Lunafreya Nox Fleuret began to limp as the heels she was wearing began to give her blisters. She had gotten off the road and had ventured into the woods lest anyone recognize her. She was praying that the directions she had received were correct. Soon, ash started to swirl about her. She looked around, looking for it’s source but could neither see or smell of one. Then, all at once the ash came together and reformed Nyx right in front of her. He had been healed and made whole again from his fight the night before and only had faint scars from the battle.

“Nyx?” Princess Luna breathed as her hopes started to soar.

Nyx shook his head out of his daze and patted his torso and chest to make sure he was real. He was not wearing his Kingsglave uniform or armor. Simply his every day clothes, save his Kukris’ and their sheathes along with the little throwing daggers that were encased on the sheathes as well, strapped to him. “What the…” He murmured in disbelief before he looked up and realized who he was with.

“Your Highness? Where is Libertous?” Nyx asked.

“I told him it would be better to travel in secrecy if I went alone.” Princess Luna answered.

“Well, apparently, Prince Regis disagreed.” Nyx smirked wryly, remembering faintly what he had overheard within the king’s circle before returning to the land of the living.

“I’m grateful for it.” Princess Luna smiled in appreciation. “The directions I was able to ascertain from some of the other people on the road said to go this way.” Princess Luna informed him.

Nyx looked around and got his bearings.

“They were kind of right.” Nyx huffed as he turned toward the right direction.

When he turned, Princess Luna found that he was wearing a back pack.

“There aren’t any shoes or boots in that pack are there?” She asked as she motioned to the bag.

Nyx seemed to suddenly realize he was carrying a pack to begin with.

“Those heels not meant for trekking through the woods?” He asked sarcastically as he took the pack off and knelt with it on the ground and opened it. “I don’t believe it, I don't suppose these are your size?” Nyx remarked as he pulled a pair of hiking boots from the pack and presented them to her.

Princess Luna sat on a nearby rock to get her heels off.

“I think all of this should fit you too.” Nyx remarked as he handed her clothes, socks and bandages from inside the pack as well.

Luna blew out a breath of relief. “Thank heaven.” She breathed as she looked around for a tree large enough to change behind.

Nyx instinctively turned away from her and walked a short distance to give her some privacy.

“You can turn around now,” Princess Luna called out as she came out from behind a tree, dressed in the clothes provided by the pack. “Do I look less conspicuous?” She asked as she put her old clothes into the pack.

“Yes you do.” Nyx confirmed with a nod.

“Excellent.” Luna smiled before looking at the pack more closely before her eyebrows knit together. “This can’t be.” She shook her head in disbelief as she rummaged through the pack.

“What are you looking for?” Nyx asked as he came closer.

“This is a ‘Guardian Pack’.” Luna informed him.

“A what now?” Nyx asked as he looked closer at the pack himself.

“Do you see this symbol? And how it’s on everything?” Princess Luna pointed out.

“It’s an infinity symbol.” He remarked.

“Exactly, everything you need for a journey is in here. You see these cups and bowls? How they work is you tell them what you want to eat and drink and the vessel provides. This cloak- you pull on it and it gets bigger, it can grow to be a tent, a blanket that’s also a bed or shrink to the size of a handkerchief to keep in your pocket. King Regis must have sent this with you.” Princess Luna informed him excitedly as she held the items out for him.“Although the last time anyone ever saw something like this was several hundred years ago.”

“How did you know about it?” Nyx asked.

“Back in Tenebrae, I was imprisoned in my own castle, I sought relief in our library, books offer an escape, even if only for a short while. I found a book on ancient lore, it talked about this, that’s how I know.” Luna explained.

“So you’re well read,” Nyx concluded, trying to find the silver lining in that situation.

“You could say that.” Luna smiled in response, but it never met her eyes, there, they held a sweet sadness of the truth of her past.

“So if I tell this cup I want a cup of coffee...” Nyx began before the cup instantly filled itself with coffee. “Wow,” Nyx remarked in surprise as he took a tentative sip.

“That’s some damn good coffee.” Nyx remarked as he began to drink it.

“Hibiscus tea with honey please.” Luna asked from the other cup and it obeyed her. She took a sip and grimaced. “Less honey please,” she remarked before taking another sip and smiling in approval.

“I could grow to like this,” Nyx remarked as he handed Princess Luna his cup before he put everything back into the pack and closed it up and put it back on. He took his cup back from her and started walking with Princess Luna in the right direction.

“Indeed, the pack will only last until the mission is complete, then it will disappear.” Princess Luna informed him as she walked along side him.

They walked for most of the day in tentative silence, both wanting to talk but not knowing exactly what to say.

“So how did you become a Kingsglaive?” Princess Luna finally spoke.

“I grew up in Galahd but when the Empire started to encroach, my sister, my mother and I took refuge in Insomnia, but we couldn’t get there soon enough, Imperial forces killed them. But I made it. Then once inside the city I found that I could use magic, it wasn’t long after that, that the Kingsglave found me and took me in, trained me in combat,” Nyx explained.

“And magic, you are very good at both.” Luna praised genuinely.

“Thanks, yeah, so that’s how I became a Glaive.” Nyx shrugged.

“And that’s where you met Libertous?” Luna inquired.

“No, I grew up with Libertous back in Galahd he was a refugee too.”

“And what about the soldier who was sent after me?” Luna asked carefully.

“That was Crowe, she was a great soldier, she grew up in an orphanage in Galahd. You would have liked her Your Highness.” Nyx nodded solemnly.

“I believe so too. It takes someone with great courage and strength to serve in the Kingsglaive.” Luna appraised. “Although if we are to remain inconspicuous, you should call me Luna, and not refer to me by my title or station.” Luna suggested before she drank the last of her tea.

“Are you done with your coffee?” She asked as she stopped them and put her cup back in into the pack. “Yup,” Nyx affirmed as he gulped down the remainder of his coffee and handed the cup to her to put in the pack. “Thank you,” Nyx said graciously.

“You’re welcome,” She replied in kind.

Nyx looked around and found a few sticks on the forest floor and gave one to her to use as a walking stick.

“Thank you,” She nodded as she peeled some of the bark off for a handle.

“You’re welcome,” He smiled.

“So being a Kingsglaive, you must have gone on many adventures.” Luna prodded gently.

“Oh I think this will be the biggest one yet.” Nyx smirked before he proceeded to tell her about some of the adventures he had had before then.

Luna for her part listened attentively and asked the occasional question. Gleaning much from the stories on the kind of man she was taking her own adventure with.

She concluded that he was, very much a hero. But he was so much more than that. He was brave and courageous. He was loyal, almost to a fault. He was incredibly smart too. He may not have had the kind of education she had but he seemed to have great instincts, he had a lot of common sense and was a fast learner. He didn’t get so caught up in the stories that he was telling that he wasn’t watching the trail and had gently moved her when she was about to misstep and probably trip and fall on a tree root or something. He was always aware of what was around them. He had tremendous focus. The more she began to learn about him, the more she liked him and was grateful that King Regis had sent him to her. Even if it was beyond the grave.

“So what about you? You said that those books in that library were an escape, ‘if only for a short while’,” he quoted.

“They did, have you ever read…” She went on to talk about these amazing adventures of these characters and the way she talked about them, it really was like she had been right there with them. Granted, a few of them sounded like romantic mush but she liked them and loved them just the same. It was his turn to listen intently and glean from her.

She had taken all of the qualities she had learned and liked from all of these characters and made them her own, the ‘brave princess’ thing wasn’t an act for her, she was genuinely brave. She also, despite all the seriousness, had a good sense of humor, a bit dry but still good. She had tried to exercise kindness and compassion even though she was shown very little by the Empire and even her brother growing up. She sprinkled in her own private history with the stories and what he had gathered was that after her mother’s death, her brother had blamed King Regis even though General Glauca had killed her himself right in front of Ravus. She admitted that Ravus allowed himself to be twisted by the Empire in hopes of regaining his birthright to the throne of Tenebrae.

“While some people claim that nobility can only be found in your blood and that you are either born with or without it. I whole heartedly disagree, being noble isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something that you must learn and practice to achieve.” Luna quoted sagely. “Honor and wisdom are it’s friends, and arrogance and deceit are it’s enemies.”

“You sound like a holy book.” Nyx remarked with a small smile.

“It’s truth.” Luna affirmed before she noticed that they had traveled a great distance. “We should stop and rest.”

“And probably eat.” Nyx agreed as they found a few more boulders to sit on. He put down the pack and handed her a cup and a bowl before finding two utensils.

“Sporks,” Nyx deadpanned as he looked at them.

Luna laughed as she took one from him. “Cuts down on dishes?” She guessed before she ordered her late lunch.

They ate and continued to talk idly as they did so.

“So what did you order for lunch?” Luna asked as she eyed his bowl curiously.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it, it’s basically beef and some veggies slathered in this spicy sauce mix and charcoal grilled with a side of rice. Want some?” Nyx invited as he held his bowl out for her.

“Why yes, thank you, I ordered roasted chicken with potatoes en-glaze.” She informed him as she eagerly traded bowls with him.

“This is...really spicy.” Luna started to choke as her eyes watered a bit. She tried gulping down water, then milk to soothe her palate which she felt had been set ablaze.

“Really? I thought it could use a bit more,” Nyx shrugged before he tried some of hers. He chewed a bit thoughtfully as he tried to think of words to describe it.

“You probably think it’s very bland,” Luna concluded as she gauged his reaction.

Nyx swallowed so he didn’t talk with his mouth full, in attempt to disagree with her but he couldn’t bring himself to argue.

“It isn’t bad,” He tried to tactfully say as Luna readily traded their bowls back. She practically stuffed her mouth with potatoes to try and soothe the burning in her mouth because the milk was not helping as much as she wanted it to.

“It’s not that bad.” Nyx defended in mock offense.

“No, it’s not bad, at all, it’s good, very flavorful, it’s just really really spicy. Too spicy for my tastes.” Luna clarified as she took her shirt and wiped at the small tears forming in her eyes. “Damn,” she cursed under her breath.

Nyx’s grin grew into a full blown smile as he heard the Princess curse. Just something about this pure Princess swearing and having a dirty mouth made him...happy? Maybe that she was showing she was a real person and not a perfect angel from a storybook.

When they were done eating the dishes washed themselves and they continued on their journey.

They walked until it was almost dusk and they decided to stop for the night. Nyx built a fire with the magic that had remained with him as Luna took out the cloaks and stretched them out.

“Well, sadly, they only get so big.” Luna appraised as she held them up for him to see.

“I think we should make a tent out of one and a bed out of the other.” Luna suggested.

“No, I’ll sleep out here by the fire, you can have them.” He insisted.

“No, that won’t do, the tent and the blanket will be large enough for both of us, you are a man of honor, I’ll stay on my side if you stay on yours.” She countered.

“No thanks,” He shook his head no. Then both of the cloaks shrunk down to their original size.

“Great,” Luna huffed in frustration.

“Look, you’re a Princess with virtue and all that, I am not going to jeopardize that.” Nyx explained.

Luna clenched her jaw and took a deep breath. “While I greatly appreciate your concern, if you stay on your side of the tent, nothing will be jeopardized, you just risked your life for Insomnia and me, you should be sleeping comfortably.” Luna retorted. “You deserve it, please,” She added as she gave him a pleading look.

“Fine,” Nyx caved and the cloaks let themselves be stretched out again.

“Thank you.” Luna murmured in relief as she used the larger of the two to hang over a stick shelter she had been working on. She used the other to make a large bed in the center of the tent with room on either side for them to put their boots and things as well as get in and out of bed. She ‘fluffed’ the cloak to make it thicker and cushier so that it was as thick as a mattress. Nyx watched her in curious amazement, as if she had done this a thousand times. They ate dinner and Nyx made sure the fire was set to burn all night to keep predators at bay. Luna got in bed first, taking the far right side and started to fold the edges of the blanket that were on that side together so that a seam formed.

Nyx walked away from camp a little ways to go to the bathroom before he came back, washed his hands in his bowl and got in bed on the far left side and did as she did with his own seam on the left side since the blanket came up from their feet.

“Ancient zipper.” Luna explained as she watched him copy her. “If your ‘pillow’ isn’t fluffy or supportive enough just ‘fluff’ it like this,” she demonstrated.

“Thanks,” He nodded and fluffed it a little before settling down.

“Goodnight Nyx,” Luna said as she laid down herself and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

“Why does it smell like this?” Nyx asked as he shut his eyes.

“To keep bugs and things away.” Luna answered, her own eyes closed serenely.

“Goodnight Luna,” Nyx said as he yawned and tried to fall asleep.

A few hours later Nyx woke up to Luna moving and moaning in her sleep, she had rolled from her back to her side, facing him. From the dim light filtering through the fabric of the tent, he could see her face was scrunched up into a grimace, like she was in tremendous pain. She was probably having a nightmare.

“Hey,” Nyx whispered as he reached out to her. But to his surprise, it was her that was reaching out to him in her sleep. Once she got a hold of his hand she held onto it like it was a lifeline. Her face changed to one of relief and peace, then her breathing evened out again.

Nyx was a little too tired to worry about it and so he rolled over to face her so that it was at least a little more comfortable for him and fell back asleep.

When the morning came, Luna awoke feeling much better and refreshed. She opened her eyes and let them focus on Nyx’s sleeping face. She realized that she had turned on her side at some point and Nyx had turned to her in turn, however it only took a moment to realize she was holding onto Nyx’s hand. She peeked under the covers where their hands were joined and noted how they fit together before realizing that she had quite the grip on him. She loosened her grip and tried to get her hand out of their union while not disturbing Nyx in the process.

When she had succeeded she turned carefully back onto her back and stared up at the ceiling of their tent as she attempted to regain her composure. Her dreams flooded back to her, she had had several but a few of them seemed particularly intense. She looked over at Nyx again and her cheeks started to stain rose. She tore her gaze away from him and looked back at the ceiling.

‘It was just a dream, that is all, it didn’t feel prophetic, it’s not going to come true.’ She attempted to tell herself as she heard Nyx start to groan as he started to wake up and stretch.

“Good morning,” Luna greeted.

“Mmhm,” He murmured in agreement, still not opening his eyes as he rolled onto his back and tried his best to wake up. “Sleep ok?” He asked as he opened one eye to chance a look at her.

“Yes, and you?” Luna inquired as she sat up and pulled at the seam on her side apart so it would open up.

“Fine.” He answered as he sat up and did the same.

“Good,” Luna nodded as she worried her lips.

“You ok?” Nyx asked as he watched her, obviously tense.

“Fine, just...” Luna trailed off, looking anywhere but him.

Nyx knew something was bothering her, but he simply stayed quiet and still, waiting patiently for her to finish.

“...It’s just, I had a bad nightmare,” Luna finally admitted with a heavy sigh as she rubbed her face. “I’ll be fine.” She reassured herself more than him.

“I guess they’re inevitable, after what you’ve been through.” Nyx tried to comfort.

Luna smiled softly at him, appreciating his effort. “You’re right.” She agreed before she got out of bed. Nyx did the same and watched as she simply asked their ‘bed’ to shrink. And it did, to about the size of a small pillow. She put it in the pack before putting on her boots and getting out of the tent completely. She pulled the tent off the frame and it shrunk down to the size of a couch throw blanket, before she folded it and returned it to their pack as well.

They ate a quick breakfast before putting the fire out and headed out on their way again.

“How long will it take to get to Altissia?” Luna asked.

“If we walk the whole way to the coast? At least a few weeks, if we can get a car or something and drive, a few days, five at the most, now if we could fly, it would only take a day and most of a night.” Nyx figured.

“Goodness,” Luna replied, not caring for his answer.

“Well there’s a mountain range or two between here and there and some desert. And then we have to sail to Altissia, it’s surrounded by water. And I don’t even want to give an answer on how long that will take.” Nyx explained.

“Lovely,” Luna murmured sarcastically. “Tenebrae is mostly forests and mountains, those I can handle. The desert and the sailing, I’m not quite sure of.” Luna explained.

“So it’ll be walk in the park for you.” Nyx smiled.

They walked for a while before Luna glanced behind them.

“What?” Nyx asked.

“I worry that we are going to be followed, someone could track us.” Luna explained, her tone betraying how worried she really was.

“Well, I’m not sure how to fix that besides dragging branches behind us.” Nyx shrugged before walking toward a tree to break off a few branches.

“I think I might have a better idea.” Luna stopped him.

“How?” Nyx asked.

Luna turned her head to the direction behind them, and howled.

Nyx looked at her, confused until he saw a pack of wolves emerge from the woods behind them. He went to grab his Kukris but Luna stopped him and gestured for him to stay where he was.

“What the hell is going on?” Nyx demanded.

“I’m asking a favor.” Luna explained calmly as she walked slowly toward the alpha male and female of the group.

Luna started speaking in a language Nyx has never heard before as she walked closer to them.

“They’re wolves,” Nyx pointed out as a few of them eyed him suspiciously since he was eyeing them suspiciously.

“I know that, stay where you are and please try and stay calm.” Luna tried to reassure him over her shoulder before going back to talk with the wolves again.

The alpha male wolf started to whine and bark back at her. Luna laughed softly in response and nodded her head and pet the wolves like they were her own dogs.

She said a little short something and they withdrew.

“So you’re an animal whisperer now?” Nyx inquired as they continued on their way.

“Something like that.” Luna laughed.

“So were they negotiating?” Nyx asked sarcastically.

“Actually they were, their litter of pups was large this year, the pack has had a hard time keeping up with demand. I promised them easy kills for the rest of this season if they followed us for the next few days, if anyone tries to track us they will also be finding wolf prints and should assume we have been killed by them. I also promised a kill or two along our route so that there would be plenty of blood on the trail to convince any trackers.” Luna explained seriously.

“Okay...so...what language were you speaking back there?” Nyx asked, trying hard to believe her, even as bat shit crazy as it was.

“It was an ancient language, the ‘Guardian Tongue’ that was in the same book that told me about the Guardian Pack. What I wouldn’t give to have that book right now so I could reread it.” Luna sighed wistfully. Suddenly the pack seemed much heavier.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Nyx bit out as he stopped and opened the pack.

“The gods apparently listen to you.” Nyx deadpanned as he took out the thick and heavy book and handed it to her.

Luna’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped as she took the book. She opened it and began flipping through the pages eagerly, noting different drawings and maps before she flipped back and forth between a few pages.

“What?” Nyx asked.

“This isn’t the book I studied, this is a ‘Guardian’s Journal’. A book that all Guardians carried that told them everything about the area and the customs and how to navigate. They could write in it and keep notes, intel, poems, history, music even. A ‘Guardian’s Journal’ is a library full of knowledge in one book. This is so fucking awesome!” Luna squealed as she hugged the book and did a little dance before she realized she had just cursed.

Nyx’s eyebrows rose in surprise but he was having a hell of a time containing his own smile.

“Just tell me how you really feel.” Nyx teased with a laugh.

“Forgive me, I forgot myself.” Luna apologized as she ducked her head down and blushed profusely.

“Hey, you’re not going to offend me, cursing is my mother tongue.” Nyx laughed. “It’s ok, I’m not going to think any less of you for it.” Nyx assured her.

“Really?” Luna inquired as she looked up through her lashes at him.

“Really,” Nyx confirmed.

Luna gave him a shy appreciative smile that made her eyes sparkle. They stood there, staring at each other for a moment before turning in unison toward Altissia. Luna read from the book and tried to keep up with him. She read aloud several of the passages that she thought Nyx would find interesting. There were even dirty jokes that they both found hilarious.

“I like whoever wrote this journal.” Nyx praised as their terrain started to get more hilly.

“Me too, she was a good Guardian, part of me is dying to jump to the end to find out what happened to her.” Luna admitted.

“Then why don’t you?” Nyx inquired curiously.

“And spoil all the fun? No. She was an adventurer too.” Luna argued as she continued to read in earnest. Nyx rolled his eyes in response as they continued to climb. Suddenly, Luna gasped softly before snapping the book shut. She put the book back in the pack and tried to focus on climbing up the trail.

“What happened? Things took a turn for the worse?” Nyx asked.

“Uh,” Luna stammered not quite able to form a coherent answer. But Nyx could see by her flustered state that it probably wasn’t that.

“Was it dirty?” He murmured as he leaned toward her.

“Yes...” Luna admitted as her blush deepened.

“Do you need bleach for your eyes?” Nyx asked sarcastically as he held out his hand to her to help her up a particularly steep bit.

“Perhaps,” Luna allowed as she grasped his hand and climbed.

“So how good was it?” Nyx inquired with a laugh.

“Pretty...intense.” Luna answered honestly, laughing herself. “If you’re that curious, you’re welcome to read it yourself,” Luna invited.

“Oh no, no thanks,” Nyx quickly declined.

They continued to walk and climb toward the peak to get a good view of their terrain. Once they reached the summit they surveyed their terrain and discussed the best way to get to the coast as they rested and ate.

“So the main question is, do we stay clear of civilization or not?” Nyx asked as he pointed to several small towns that could be on their route.

“Well, I would not want to put anyone who may recognize me in danger.” Luna answered. “My image was all over the news, if they find out I escaped the city, they may say I’m a fugitive of the Empire and offer a reward.” Luna reasoned.

“So we steer clear of civilization. Case closed.” Nyx nodded in agreement. “Do you think we can make it to there by nightfall?” Nyx asked as he pointed to the top of the next high hill.

“I can try.” Luna sighed as she looked at the hill with wariness.

“If we are going too hard, all you gotta say is that you need to stop to rest,” Nyx encouraged. “Don’t over exert yourself for my sake, we’ll get there when we get there. I told His Majesty I would get you there safe, not fast.”

“Could we make it to that hill?” Luna proposed as she pointed to the smaller hill between the one they were currently on and the one Nyx had pointed to.

“Yup, not a problem.” Nyx assured her as he put their dishes back into the pack and noticed his music player in the bag.

“How did you get in here?” He asked the little device.

Luna shrugged smiling. “The Pack provides.”

Nyx glanced back into the pack and saw two sets of headphones, and a jack splitter. “Hope you like rock and roll,” Nyx offered as he held out the other set of headphones to her.

“Thank you, I do.” Luna grinned as he put the headphones in her ears. She noticed that Nyx only put one ear bud in his ear to listen as well. ‘He is always aware of his surroundings.’ She thought to herself.

They managed to make it to the next hill and set up camp for the night. “You have great music tastes.” Luna praised as she handed the headphones back to him.

“Thanks,” Nyx grinned as he took them from her.

After starting the fire they worked together on the shelter.

“So back in Insomnia or even Galahd, do you have any remaining family? A wife or children? You mentioned before that your little sister has passed.” Luna inquired.

“Nope,” Nyx shook his head. “I assume that since you’re supposed to marry Prince Noctis, you were single.”

Luna nodded and tried to focus on the knot she was trying to tie.

“Do you think you’ll still marry him, even thought the treaty was never signed?” Nyx asked carefully.

“I don’t know, it’s my duty to see that Noctis fulfills his destiny.” Luna repeated as unease fell over her.

“I’m sure he’ll like you,” Nyx reassured her.

Luna was not reassured. “I wish I had your confidence.” Luna sighed.

“You don’t think he can make you happy?” Nyx asked.

“I don’t know if I can make him happy. I’m worried that I’ll bore him to death.” Luna revealed.

“You’re not that boring, I mean yeah, you’re pretty stuffy as royals go, but I wouldn’t say you’d bore him to death.” Nyx gently teased.

“Thanks,” Luna drolled as she rolled her eyes before she shook her head. “You’re helping so much.” She quipped as she batted at his arm. “Meanie.” She accused teasingly herself.

“Hey, I’m just being honest.” Nyx defended.

“Sure,” Luna said disbelievingly before finishing her knot. She got up and stretched before digging through the pack and getting the larger cloak. Nyx helped stretch it out and help drape it over the frame before Luna went back and got the other to set up the bed.

“Let me try to do that, you should rest,” Nyx suggested as he took it from her and set it up himself.

“Thank you,” Luna nodded and sat down to eat and read over the book some more before she barked out a laugh. “What’s so funny?” Nyx asked as he joined her and sat next to her on the log they were using for a seat.

“Ok, so there’s this guy who’s a pain in her ass and he just challenged her advice in front of everyone and she threatened him with bodily harm.” Luna surmised.

“That’s her thing though. She’s a bad-ass,” Nyx pointed out.

“You read it, I’m not saying that out loud.” Luna insisted as she pushed the book into his hands and pointed to where the scene was.

Nyx read it to himself before he started laughing quite hard. “You know you’ve pissed someone off when they threaten that.” He surmised as he read on and ate his dinner.

“How’s your ankle?” Luna asked offhandedly.

“Huh?” Nyx asked, looking up from the book to look at her.

“You’ve been favoring your left ankle today, you slipped on the way down from that first hill, I don’t think you’ve sprained it or broken it, or you wouldn’t walk on it unless your pain tolerance is much higher than I think it is.” Luna explained.

“Eh, it’s fine,” Nyx dismissed.

“Are you sure?” Luna pressed.

“I’m sure,” Nyx nodded.

Luna let the issue go and left to go to the bathroom in the woods before coming back and washing her hands in the bowl before dumping the dirty water into the bushes and got ready for bed.

Nyx stayed up a little bit and consulted the map section of the book to help him visually map out their course before he headed back to bed himself.

Luna waited for him to drift off before reaching out to him again. She took his hand again and closed her eyes in concentration, she sensed that not only was his ankle indeed hurting him but also that his back was out of alignment, he had knots in his shoulders and lower back. She concentrated hard and healed all of it. It took the better part of an hour and it exhausted her to the point she easily fell asleep.

The next morning Nyx woke up feeling better than he had in a long time.

It made Luna’s heart soar to see him so cheerful. She could see his spirits had been lifted too since he was much more jovial too. She found herself liking this side of him. When he wasn’t in ‘action hero’ mode.

That afternoon they happened upon a stream running through the woods, it seemed rather clear and clean. Luna took her boots off along with most of her clothes, except her undergarments and waded into the water as Nyx had left her and was looking for a way to cross it. She could tell she needed to bathe and was not about to pass up on this opportunity.

“What are you doing?” Nyx asked as he came back to see her nearly in waist deep water.

“Bathing?” Luna answered before she dove under the water. She surfaced to find Nyx in a rush to take his own boots off. “What? I know how to swim, it’s not that deep and the current isn’t that strong and I doubt there’s river monsters that are going to eat me,” Luna defended. “You should join me, water’s great.” Luna invited, somewhat flirtatiously.

Nyx continued taking his boots off but at a much slower pace and put his things with hers on the shore before wading in himself in his boxers. He hissed as he got deeper. “The water is cold,” He argued but still continued to wade in. Granted rivers were nothing new to him. Galahd was famed for it’s many rivers and he had spent countless hours playing and traversing them.

“It’s refreshing,” Luna rephrased as she swam closer to him, but that sweet innocence that she carried in her eyes vanished in an instant and was replaced with mischief. She stood on the smooth stoned bottom, crouched in the water and readied herself.

“Don’t” Nyx warned as he pointed at her.

“What?” Luna asked, trying and failing to remain innocent as she couldn’t help but giggle.

“Don’t splash me,” Nyx insisted.

“Oh, I won’t splash you.” Luna laughed mischievously as she crept closer.

“Don’t jump on me either.” Nyx added in the same warning tone. But Luna was within striking distance. “Oh come on,” Luna pleaded as she started to circle him.

“I mean it,” He added as he turned in the water to keep himself facing her.

“Oh I’m sure you do.” She giggled again. “Rawr!” She exclaimed as her hands mimicked claws and she motioned like she was going to jump on him. It caused him to flinch, just a little, but just enough to hit a slippery spot so he lost his balance and flail and fall into the water anyway. Luna cackled in laughter before she watched him leap toward her in the water and grab her ankle, causing her to loose her own balance and fall back in herself as she squealed in delight. They came up for water, both of them sputtering for a bit to get the water out of their noses.

“See? Not that bad.” Luna repeated as she smiled victoriously.

“Still cold.” Nyx persisted as his body started to get acclimated to the water, he hadn’t swam in a river for what felt like a lifetime ago. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed it.

“But aren’t you refreshed?” Luna posed as she stayed close.

“A little,” Nyx allowed.

“Good,” Luna chirped before falling back into the water so that her hair was slicked back the way his was. “Thank you for indulging me by the way, I was starting to stink and needed a reprieve.” Luna explained.

“Did I stink?” Nyx asked.

“A little,” Luna admitted, “but now we go from smelling like sweat to smelling like a river.” She pointed out cheerfully with a smile before she looked at him a little more closely.

“What?” Nyx asked, unsure exactly why she was staring at him.

“I love your tattoos. They are really subtle but striking all the same, are they a Galahdian thing?” She inquired.

“Yeah actually.” Nyx confirmed.

“What do they mean?” Luna asked as she got even closer to get a better look.

“Uh, well, this one,” Nyx pointed to the one on his right cheek. “This is a first born son rite.” He explained. “And then I got these when I learned how to throw my Kukris’ and warp.” Nyx furthered as he traced the lines on his hands. “I got this one,” Nyx traced the line on his neck. “When I joined the Glaive.”

“And the ones on your ears?” Luna asked.

“Lives I’ve saved.” Nyx answered.

“And these lines on your back?” Luna inquired as she reached out and traced those herself causing Nyx to shiver slightly.

“To Crowe and Libertous for always having my back.” Nyx explained.

“And what is this gorgeous creature?” Luna asked as she touched the picture of some kind of big cat.

“That’s a coeurl, it’s native to Galahd.” Nyx informed her, quite liking the feel of her touching him.

“Your Glaive armor, it had fur like this on one of the sleeves, also a horn like this on the hood right?” Luna asked curiously.

“Yup, pelt and horn of a coeurl.” Nyx confirmed.

“It’s breathtaking,” Luna flattered before she moved a little further away.

“You got any tattoos?” Nyx inquired.

“No, I don’t like needles.” Luna shook her head. “I don’t know if Noctis would even allow it,” Luna mused sadly.

“It’s your body, and your choice. He doesn’t own you.” Nyx argued, affronted by the idea of a grown woman asking permission for something like that. She deserved to have more autonomy than that.

“Well, if I ever get a tattoo, I’ll have you involved in the process, since clearly, you have impeccable taste.” Luna brokered as she held her hand out for him to shake.

“Deal,” Nyx nodded with a smile.

After they swam around for a little bit longer, they decided to end their little excursion. They used the cloak they had been using as a tent to dry off before getting redressed and heading on their way again.

“Now wasn’t that fun?” Luna asked as they started to walk up hill again.

“Yeah it was, just warn me next time ok? It took me by surprise is all.” Nyx clarified.

“I promise I will warn you next time.” Luna assured him as they helped each other up the steep incline.

At their camp that night their conversation came much more easily and naturally. That night, they fell asleep facing each other as they whispered in the darkness. It reminded Luna of before Tenebrae fell to Niflheim, how she had had a few sleepovers with some of her friends and how they would spend most of the night whispering and laughing the night away.

Nyx in his dreams was back in Galahd, playing with the other kids, kicking a ball around with them in a field next to a river. His little sister was playing with dolls nearby with some of the other girls. He didn’t notice a little blonde girl join them.

“Hi, I’m Luna,” she introduced herself to the small group of girls.

“Hi,” Selena and her friends greeted back before they introduced themselves in turn.

“I like your doll,” Luna offered.

“Thanks,” Selena smiled as she continued to play. Luna pulled out her own childhood doll from behind and played a little with them. One of the boys scored a goal and all the boys started hooting and hollering.

“Who’s winning?” Luna asked and the girls all shrugged.

“Which ever team Nyx is on,” Thalia guessed.

“My brother,” Selena clarified.

“Which one is he?” Luna asked as she looked out over the group of boys.

“That one, blue shorts.” Selena pointed out.

“He’s cute isn’t he,” Thalia pointed out.

“Eww,” Selena grimaced.

“But you’re cuter,” Luna assured Selena.

“Thank you.” Selena beamed.

“Is he a good big brother?” Luna asked as she looked over at him again.

“He is, he makes sure no one picks on me and he reads to me.” Selena informed Luna proudly.

“I have a big brother too, he’s been mean lately.” Luna lamented.

“Why?” Selena asked as the girls stopped playing and focused on Luna, giving her sympathetic looks.

“Our mother died.” Luna related sadly.

“Oh,” All the girls echoed.

“I’m sorry, if you need a new mommy, I can share mine, she’s a good one.” Selena offered.

“Thank you, but I’ll be ok.” Luna assured them. “I should get going, it was lovely to meet all of you.” Luna said as she stood and walked away. The farther away she got, the older she appeared before the dream changed. Now Nyx was in his late teens, he was with Libertous and a few other friends and a woman who Luna could only assume was Crowe. Nyx and Libertous were talking about opening their own bar.

Luna sat down at the booth next to them, so that if she wanted to, she could look up and watch Nyx talking and laughing with his friends. His smile lit up that little bar. She dreamt up a little sketch pad and would sneak glances of him and sketch him and his friends. A waitress had come to get her something to drink and eat and she asked for whatever was on special and continued to draw while she waited.

“You’re good,” the waitress praised when she came back with Luna’s drink and food.

“Thank you,” Luna replied shyly.

Eventually, a slow love song came over the jukebox and people started to couple up and dance. Libertous had asked Crowe to dance and even Luna could see Libertous had a crush on Crowe even if no one else seemed to.

“Care to dance?” Nyx asked her.

Luna had been so caught up in her drawing of Crowe and Libertous that she hadn’t noticed how Nyx had been sneaking glances of her and had gotten up and was now right in front of her.

“Uh...I…” Luna stammered. “I don’t know how?” Luna guessed. “My mother has me in dance lessons but I don’t think this is a waltz or ballet.”

“No it isn’t, but it’s not that hard, I’ll show you.” Nyx invited as he held his hand out to her.

“If you don’t mind me stepping on your feet.” Luna agreed as she took his hand and walked with him to the dance floor.

Nyx held her closer to him than she was used to anyone holding her, and despite her nervousness she managed to not step on his feet even though she had gotten awfully close on more than one occasion.

“See? Just back and forth a bit,” Nyx encouraged her.

“This is more of a...waddle,” Luna admitted with a laugh as she blushed profusely as she relaxed in his embrace.

“Not all of it,” Nyx pointed out as he spun her out before spinning her back into him.

“You’re right,” Luna admitted. “So what’s your name?” Nyx asked as they continued to dance.

“Freya,” Luna replied as she focused her mental powers on making sure Nyx would forget this dream. She knew that any contact with the dreamer would jeopardize the dream but she couldn’t resist the opportunity to get closer to him.

“Nyx,” Nyx introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you Nyx.” Luna smiled, noting just how light, icy, almost baby blue his eyes were and in general, how handsome he really was.

The song ended and Nyx let her go. “So you’re an artist?” Nyx inquired as they strolled back to their booths.

“I try,” Luna shrugged as she got back to her booth and pulled her portfolio out to show him. She had to mentally put her past drawings into the portfolio to showcase them.

“These are great, you’re really good,” Nyx praised as he sat down at her booth to go over the drawings. Luna sat opposite him.

“Thank you, it takes a lot of time, patience and practice.” Luna explained, pleased that he liked her work so much.

“Where did you draw these at?” Nyx asked as he came across a few of them.

“Tenebrae,” Luna answered.

“That’s...awfully far.” Nyx remarked as he handed her portfolio back.

“It is,” Luna agreed, feeling homesick.

“You from there?” Nyx asked.

“Yes,” Luna confirmed with a nod. “I like to travel though.” Luna shrugged.

“And your drawings finance that?” Nyx inquired, wondering if he was about to get into the wrong business.

“No, my art is just a hobby.” Luna shook her head trying to think of a plausible explanation. “I’m in a gap year,” Luna made up. “Between school and university.”

“Yeah? What are you taking?” Nyx asked, genuinely interested in the answer.

“Political science and medicine.” Luna answered truthfully.

“Wow, didn’t see that coming,” Nyx remarked, surprised by her answer. “That’s a hell of a combo. Going to be a doctor and treat politicians?” Nyx guessed.

“Easy work, lots of prescriptions for Viagra and muscle relaxers.” Luna teased. “No, actually, I just want to help people, star-scourge is getting worse, especially in every territory taken over by Niflhiem. I think their work with Daemons is making it worse.” Luna explained.

“Well you’re in Lucian territory now,” Nyx reminded her proudly.

“That we are,” Luna agreed, even though she knew that it wouldn’t stay that way for too much longer. “I should get going, I told my brother I would meet up with him, hopefully I’ll see you around?” Luna said as she went to the beginning of her portfolio and took out the page of drawings she had done that night and handed them to him. “A gift, from me to you.” She offered before she signed them with just her initials. “I’ll see you around Nyx.” Luna bid him goodbye before handing the waitress a few very large gils and told her to keep the change.

Just as she left the bar her surroundings changed again. She vanished from his dream into her own again.

Luna awoke to find she was by herself in the tent. She frowned and sat up and looked outside, not seeing Nyx just outside of the tent either.

“Nyx?” Luna called out softly. But no answer reached her.

She hastily got out of bed and out of the tent and looked around, searching for him. “Nyx!” She called out louder as anxiety started to rise in her chest.

“It’s ok, I just went to the bathroom,” Nyx assured her as he appeared from behind a tree a little ways away from her.

Luna’s shoulders and stance slacked as she blew out a breath of relief as the anxiety fled from her.

“See? It’s not nice to sneak off is it?” Nyx posed as he got closer.

“You have made your point.” Luna admitted as she narrowed her eyes at him. He had gotten her back, pretty well at that. She took the small shovel and toilet paper from him and went off into the woods herself.

When she got back she realized that Nyx had packed up camp all by himself save her bowl, cup and eating utensil and was digging in on his own breakfast.

“Sleep well?” He asked.

“Yeah, you?” Luna replied as she put the toilet paper and little shovel back into the pack and washed her hands in her bowl before dumping it out and having her bowl clean itself again before ordering breakfast.

“Yeah, had the craziest dream.” Nyx remarked.

Luna froze for a moment as panic seized her heart as she did her best to remain calm and composed. “Oh?” Luna inquired before trying to eat her breakfast of a yogurt parfait with fruit and toast.

“Yeah, had a dream I was back in Galahd,” Nyx informed her nonchalantly.

“From what I’ve read of Galahd, it’s a group of mountainous islands north east of Insomnia, very, very beautiful place, lots of lush green forests and jungle and so many rivers. What a beautiful place to grow up.” Luna recalled fondly.

“Yeah it was.” Nyx smiled, impressed that for once, someone had something positive to say about his homeland.

“Of course I would love to hear about it from a native, books only say so much and sometimes their accuracy is only ‘so-so’.” Luna invited as they started to finish up their breakfast and continue on their way to Altissia.

Luna listened attentively as Nyx opened up about his home and his friends and growing up and having a rather lovely childhood and from there he talked about his family and how before the Empire came, him and Libertous ran a bar for a short while.

Luna adored how he lit up talking about home and the fond memories he made there.

“Well, when and if I ever get the chance I would love to visit.” Luna expressed fondly. For lunch Luna ordered what Nyx ordered so that she could get a taste of Galahd too. She ordered hers less spicy of course but thoroughly enjoyed it none the less. Lots of fish and seafood considering all the rivers and the fact that Galahd was islands after all.

Nyx was unbelievably pleased that she was taking a shine to the food of Galahd it was a very welcome change to the usual way people of Insomnia treated him and his culture.

“So what do people in Tenebrae do for fun?” Nyx asked.

“Much of the same things that people all over do.” Luna shrugged.

“Did they keep you that locked up?” Nyx asked.

“Well I was allowed to leave the palace occasionally, usually with an escort. Tenebrae has been in the iron grip of the Empire ever since it fell to them 12 years ago.” Luna recounted. “We had done our best to remain out of the war between Lucis and Niflhiem even though we had been allies with Lucis for centuries. King Regis and Noctis visited us after Noctis had a horrible injury. My mother was the Oracle and a healer and Niflhiem attacked us. There was fire everywhere and all at once, we were all ambushed. My mother was able to shield Ravus for a little while before General Glauca cut her down. King Regis grabbed my hand and tried to escape but I let go because I couldn’t leave Ravus behind...” Luna recalled sadly. “I should have escaped when I had the chance. I did nothing and lost everything.” Luna choked out as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Hey, it’s ok,” Nyx tried to comfort as he moved to sit right next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. Luna leaned into him and took comfort as she put her arms around him in turn. “Now that Ravus is hurt again, he’s going to probably blame me and hunt me down.” Luna concluded.

“Well then I’ll just have to protect you from him too.” Nyx assured her as he put his chin on top of her head and stroked her arm soothingly as he held her close. It made him feel horrible that while he had this really nice and relatively carefree childhood, she had to grow up quickly under the harsh conditions of both the Empire and her brother. No wonder she seemed like an old soul.

“How old were you when this happened?” Nyx asked quietly.

“Twelve.” Luna answered.

“I’m sorry,” Nyx breathed as he continued to hold her.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, you didn’t do anything wrong. Niflheim will be the ones to be sorry, they will pay for their transgressions.” Luna stated quite resolutely.

Nyx smiled to himself, she had quite the resolve. Nyx decided right then and there that he would vow to protect Luna, whatever the cost. He felt her take a deep cleansing breath as she regained her composure.

“Thank you,” Luna whispered as she hugged him before pulling away completely.

“Any time,” Nyx invited as he stood up and helped her to stand in turn and held her hand to gently lead her through the woods. Luna was grateful for it all the same.

#FFXV #FF kingsglaive #Kingsglaive #Kingsglaive fanfition #Lunyx fanfic #nyx ulric #lunafreya nox fleuret #the ao3 has notes and such.

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fortheloveofeos · 7 years

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The Vanguard - Chapter 1

Whelp, here is the project that started off as a joke and has really taken on a life of it’s own. This story is going to be as much about my two new OC’s (I can really only claim Eirwen. Amira belongs to @opalandowl but she has allowed me to use her) and about giving the Glaives a happier story. THEY ALL DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER.

This story has made me excited to write again and I hope anyone that reads OC stories will stick around through this fun. I”m working on several things at the moment, but I’m so happy about this.

And a huge thank you to El for screaming/crying with me through all the rants and our ridiculous twinning despite the geographic separation. You’ve made tumblr a fun place to hang out.

XXX

The musty scent of old cigarette smoke and soured alcohol filled the room. The overhead lighting was effectively useless in the rickety old building. Rather, a handful of antique tiffany lamps and a few strands of string lights provided the dim illumination. The seats were cracked from both age and wear and the tables were carved from an ancient wood, nearly covered over now with marker and hastily scribbled words.

“No way,” Crowe leaned back against the booth with her arms crossed over her chest. Her brown eyes glimmered in the warm glow of the overhead lamp with excitement. “You hit that target, and the next round is on me.”

Nyx laughed and toyed with the knife in his hand. The pocketknife was much smaller and lighter than the Kukris he was so known for wielding. Still, the alcohol was only adding to his self confidence, and he had determined he could hit the bullseye with the small knife. “Get ready to pay up then,” he chuckled and slid from the booth beside Crowe. Libertus shook his head and sipped on his beer, knowing there was no stopping the Hero when had made his mind up. Focusing on the red dot at the center of the dartboard, he pulled his arm back before flipping his hand forward so that the knife spun towards the target.

“Not quite.”

Nyx groaned just as the hilt of the knife connected with the board rather than the blade and it clattered onto the chipped cement floor. Before he could retrieve it, another knife whipped through the air missing his ear only by a fraction. His eyes widened as the blade of this knife struck true and dead center. “What the f-”

“Bullseye,” someone giggled before the sound of two hands connected in a solid high-five. “That was even better than I expected.” He knew that The Twins would be standing behind him, both with a smirk and a matching set of popped out hips.

Nyx turned once he had retrieved both his knife and the newcomer’s. “Amira,” he sighed with a smile on his face. There was no use fighting the happiness that always managed to creep onto his face whenever she was around. Noticeably, she was without her usual partner in crime. Still, Amira stood with her arms crossed and one hip stuck out, her trademark smirk lighting up her sky blue eyes. Clear and cloudless compared to his storm blue.

Waving away her victory, Amira snatched her blade and closed it before returning it to the pocket of her form-fitting jeans. Though she was out of uniform, she was still dressed in all black and her long, dark hair was tossed up in a messy bun. Despite Nyx towering over her by a couple inches short of a foot, she didn’t lose a step as she shot him a wink. “Better luck next time,” she laughed and slid her petite form into the booth beside Libertus.

Crowe and Libertus laughed at the defeated look on the Hero’s face, and Crowe offered a playful pat on the back. “So, I’ll buy Amira a drink. Looks like you’re stuck with paying for your own.”

Just as Libertus opened his mouth to speak, a tray of ice cold beers clinked onto the table. “You can all thank me later.”

“Girl after my own heart,” Libertus laughed and pulled Eirwen in for a hug. Her silver-blonde hair seemed to sparkle as she brushed it over her shoulder almost as if it were covered in a layer of ice. Her pale skin contrasted nicely against the dark tan of the native islander before she pulled back enough to perch on the booth so that he was sandwiched between the two younger Glaives. “Was wondering where my little sister had gone.” He ruffled the young woman’s hair despite her protests. “Knew you couldn’t be too far behind this one,” he elbowed Amira at his other side.

Though the two weren’t blood relatives, Libertus had become especially protective of Eirwen since her initiation as a member of the Kingsglaive. He was also quick to jump to the defense of both Amira and Crowe, but being the youngest of the Glaives by a couple years, Eirwen had managed to tug at his heart in ways no one else could. Luckily, she didn’t seem too bothered by his brotherly worry and his apparent wish to keep her near his side so that he could keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble.

Amira took a sip of her drink and nodded once towards the platinum blonde on the other side of the teddy beary Glaive. “Perfect,” she sighed in content and closed her eyes for a moment. After a long day of training and a refresher course on emergency protocols, the ice cold liquid was more than soothing as it flowed down her throat. “And she’s my twin, Libertus. Get your own.”

The group of Glaives shared a laugh before their phones rang out in unison. “So much for the night off,” Nyx sighed as he scanned the alert. “Looks like they’re calling in the Vanguard.” The peaceful look that he’d worn since they had arrived at the bar faded and was replaced with one of determination and focus, mirrored in the eyes of each of those gathered around him.

Each member of the Kingsglaive downed their beer quickly, leaving money enough for a tip on the table before grabbing their jackets and rushing out of the small bar. Crowe immediately hopped onto her bike, pulling her helmet on before speeding towards the citadel. Amira led the rest of them towards her car parked nearby. She tossed the keys to Eirwen, who eagerly hopped into the driver’s seat before peeling away from the curb. Nyx had taken up the passenger seat and was dialing Pelna, the last member of the front line defense, confirming that he was on his way.

Crowe had only made it a few feet from her bike when Eirwen parked the car and the entire group rushed inside. They found Pelna already changing once they entered the locker room. The last pair of boots had only just been buckled when the door swung open and Captain Titus Drautos entered, followed by Cor Leonis, the Marshal of the Crownsguard.

Drautos was as harsh and to the point as ever, wasting no time in handing out his orders. Niflheim was drawing their forces closer to Insomnia than was comfortable under the guise of sending in a messenger. It wasn’t unusual for the Empire to use covert means in order to accomplish their true goal. The king would receive the messenger, but he wasn’t willing to do so without some information on what the Magitek Infantry that they had brought along was up to. Though his demeanor was the same, something about the Captain’s eyes seemed off and all six of the Glaives standing before him saw it.

However, before Captain Drautos could finish, Cor stepped forward and silenced him with a steel blue gaze. “The king has asked for the six of you, specifically, to be a part of the dispatched soldiers. This mission falls under the Crownsguard, therefore I am the one you answer to. You are not to engage the enemy unless I have given the orders for you to do so. Though you are all one unit, you may each receive specific orders. Is that clear?”

Six nods confirmed that the message was clear. It wasn’t unheard of for the Glaives and the Guards to work together. It was, however, unusual for one group to fall under the command of the other. Drautos stiffened visibly at the Marshal’s words but didn’t comment. Nyx, however, didn’t seem to share that control.

“We handle reconnaissance missions all the time without command from the higher ups.” He looked between the two commanding officers before him as he stepped forward. Nyx usually functioned as the unofficial leader of the Vanguard - so named as the group of Glaives currently gathered were the ones thrown onto the front lines and into the pit of battle before calling in the others. If it could be done without deploying an entire unit, the Vanguard were the ones called to battle. Nyx had been a member of the Kingsglaive nearly since its formation a decade ago. It was both his experience and his drive that had put him as the natural leader of the group. “What makes this one so different?” He asked the very same question that the others behind him were wondering.

Drautos scowled deeply before opening his mouth, probably to reprimand Nyx for speaking out of turn, but Cor was faster. Rather than mirroring the angry look Drautos seemed to always possess, a certain type of interest seemed to sparkle in his eyes for a moment. “This mission is different because the six of you won’t be going in alone. This is a relatively low-risk mission, so long as you all follow my orders, and we will be sending in a few members of the Guard to be of assistance.”

Each of the Glaives bore their own shocked expression for a moment but no one spoke. Nyx clenched his jaw but only nodded in acceptance. Captain Drautos stepped forward, looking at each of his Glaives. “You leave immediately. Gather your weapons and any other necessary items. If you need something, just say the word.” With a final nod, he turned and exited the room leaving the Vanguard with Cor.

Silence hung over the group for a moment, each processing the information and what they would soon face. This mission was have been especially important for King Regis to have called in both his Glaives and his Guards, ordering them to work together. Without saying so aloud, each member of the Vanguard knew the others with a sort of intimacy that could only be achieved by working so closely with another person. They trusted each other with their lives. Working so closely with another group of soldiers would not be easy when much of the Vanguard’s success came from their innate ability to work together - words not always needed.

Eirwen strapped her Kukris - lighter than most with slightly longer blades than were typical standard issue - onto her back. The frost that spread over the metal blades nothing more than a reflex as she readied herself for battle. Amira sat beside her, playing with her earpiece to be sure this one wouldn’t short circuit if she weren’t too careful. Pelna had assured her that these were special and had been insulated against electrical currents. Eirwen watched her Twin for a moment in silence, chewing on her lip in silence.

“So. I guess this is going to be one for the books.” The worried look on the young girl did not escape the others as they turned to her.

Suddenly, a large arm wrapped around her neck and she was crushed against a large body. Libertus laughed as he ruffled her hair affectionately once again despite her protests. Amira rolled her eyes but smiled at the sight. “Guess those guards are about to get a first hand look at the Vanguard. Can’t wait to see the surprise on Cor’s face. Been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of shocking him.”

Nyx flipped his blade in his hand idly, nodding with a confident smirk that set everyone at ease. Amira’s comment earned a breathy chuckle from him but he only shook his head in amusement. “They’re not the only ones in for a surprise. Guess we’re going to be going ghost with the Guard.”

“If they can keep up,” Crowe smiled.

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