#Nearly chockes to death. Gets burns on his throat.

[moongothic]

Crocodad AU where immidiately after having left Dragon and his baby boy Crocodile finds an 11 year old Robin. And while he's 100% only recruiting her so they can make a beeline for the Poneglyph and Pluton in Alabasta by the two of them... Crocodile accidentally sorta kinda adopts Robin.

At this point Robin's been running for her life from the Government for three years so her deep trust issues and fear of betrayal are starting to take root in her little heart. Like perhaps they haven't taken fully over yet, and being still a child I'm sure Robin might've still had that genuine hope that she could find a safe place to stay in. But I'm sure the though of "what'll he'll do with me once he gets what he wants?" would be nagging at her at the back of her mind. Meanwhile Crocodile's struggling between the pain and hurt he's already gone through and given him his trademark trust issues, as well as the aftermath of The Dragodile Divorce. But he also has his Fresh Paternal Instincts and probably misses his baby. So when given a small, scared child who is running for her life, being chased by the very same Government that'll want his son dead if they ever find out about him... Yeah that might fuck with your brain a little

You know this post was supposed to be just that first paragraph and just a few footnotes from the following two paragraphs. And then I kept on Having Thoughts. And I kept on writing them down. And oh no what happened when did this post get so long (Look I was going to either kept on writing my Additional Thoughts in the tags or I just put them in the actual fucking post)

Like considder this: based on this one SBS, we can kinda tell that if Crocodile was given a chance to raise a child, that child would be a spoiled little shit, right

So in this scenario, where Crocodile's looking after lil Robin, would he be kind of torn? Unsure how to feel about her?

Because on one hand, this strange child would have the potential to not only ruin his plans, strip him of his Shichibukai Privileges by outing him and his plans to the World Government, but also put his son in grave danger by extension (if she found out about him having been involved with the Revolutionaries and/or having a child). But on the other hand, his paternal instincts could make him want to spoil this poor little girl rotten. But only because he needs to (perhaps literally) buy her trust so she'll behave. No other reason, he doesn't feel sorry for her one bit, no sirree. (But maybe he did feel sorry for her, since his son could very well end up exactly like her. Poor little thing) (Which is why he needs to nuke Marijoa out of orbit as soon as possible, no matter the cost, and this child can't get in the way of Crocodile protecting his son) (But also this is a child. Like how bad could she be. Besides all he really needs to do to win her trust is be nice and make her feel safe, right?)

Of course, while I'm suggesting Crocodile could have some parental instincts, realistically, he hasn't actually spent any time being, you know, a father to a child (looking after his newborn for an unknown though short amount of time aside), so it's possible he wouldn't even know how to parent Robin even if he wanted to, would he? (Like taking care of a newborn and an 11 year old kid aren't the same either) So if he was kind of just emotionally flipflopping between No Trusting Ever and It's Just A Kid for God's Sake, Crocodile trying to be nice to Robin to make her feel safe and then telling himself to stop being so soft and vunerable... Yeah that would make for an absolute mess of a relationship. (Not to mention, let's be real, dude's a scary motherfucker too, and a bloody giant compared to itty bitty baby Robin. He could keep on accidentally scaring the shit out of Robin (who would be On Fucking Edge To Begin With) by just Being Himself. Like for example, can you fucking imagine if he caught Robin trying to cheer herself up with a little "dereshishishi" only to tell her to stop because "it was stupid"? 'Cause I can imagine him doing that, and boy howdy would that make Robin feel bad)

Or who knows, maybe Crocodile was just Born To Be A Dad, maybe he just Fucking Gets It. Like Crocodile is canonically pretty good at manipulating people to do what he wants them to do (see: how he played Vivi like a fiddle), so knowing Robin's position and understanding how she feels, maybe he COULD completely nail how she needed to be treated. Not being too familiar but still making her feel safe and happy, knowing exactly when to be stern and when to spoil her, etc. Dude just goes off and wins the Dad of the Year Award while being a deadbeat dad himself. The only thing Crocodile would have to worry about then would be making sure HE doesn't get too fond of her. And certainly that could never happen, he's so in-touch with his own feelings and so grounded, he's not a softie, get outta here. Or maybe he does but never realizes until it's too late and good luck backpedalling on those emotions now dumbass

Alright so, the reason I went on that whole rmble is just that like. I'm so interested in the relationship Robin and Crocodile already have in canon. I'm so facinated and curious about how the two feel about each other, considdering they did spend 4 whole years of their lives together as criminal business partners, though neither ever trusted the other. A partnership that was only ended because Robin betrayed Crocodile, out of her own trauma. (God, I want to see these two "reunite" so bad, I want to know how they feel about each other now after the timeskip and Robin joining the idiot in flipflops who foiled Croc's plans)

My question here is just that... if they had met 13 years earlier, would things have been different? Especially if Crocodad Real? Because as I mentioned in the begining, Robin would've been on the run for only 3 years by this point, as opposed to 16 years before running into Crocodile. Simultaneously, this would be before Crocodile went onto spend an entire decade all alone, slowly losing his marbles in his emotional solitude. They'd both be emotionally traumatized, yes, but would it have been as bad in this scenario? Like I did start this post kind of joking about Crocodile adopting Robin, and for clarity's sake I don't think they'd have like a father-daughter relationship nececarily. But it would be a strange relationship still, because we'd have two broken people, both struggling to trust anyone. One who had lost her mother and her only friends, leaving her all alone and afraid while running for her life. The other a father who had just given up his son whom he probably missed dearly. Both having these holes in their hearts from loss of family, holes that could not be filled with replacements. But could they find comfort in each other anyway, because they still as people occupy similar roles to their respective loved ones? If they both could just get over those trust issues?

Okay I've been going off on the Emotional Side Of Things for this AU Concept, THERE'S PLOT TOO

So if Crocodile did pick Robin up like 19 years ago, that should be before he set up base in Alabasta, long before he had built is homebase and financial empire etc.

Now the thing is, while we don't know when, where and how Crocodile learned about the Ancient Weapons, Pluton specifically and how the lead on it would be in Alabasta... Considdering Crocodile did once upon a time aim to become Pirate King, it would make perfect sense if he had learned about Poneglyphs during his past adventures, as he would have needed to get the Road Poneglyphs to find One Piece. And while the World Government did bury the truth about why Ohara had been burned down and why Robin had been given her bounty (remember, the WG claimed it was because she had sunken a fleet of battleships, which she had not, it was because she could read the Poneglyphs), considdering this is a Crocodad AU specifically, you could totally make an argument Crocodile could've learned about what actually happened to Ohara from Dragon and co. So, just to make this AU work, you could just assume Crocodile learned about the concept of the Ancient Weapons from Dragon. And who knows, maybe he overheard the truth about why Robin had been given her bounty from Dragon too (maybe Dragon was able to get intel from Garp in secret) or while going to Marijoa himself to attend a Shichibukai meeting or something IDK.

Maybe he learned about Pluton being in Alabasta before finding Robin by accident, and maybe they made a beeline for Alabasta the second Croc recruited Robin. Travelling takes time and the guy would've most likely had to find an Eternal Pose to Alabasta just to get there (also canonically Robin didn't enter the Grand Line until her 20s so they should've met in West Blue probably, since that's where Ohara was) Or maybe Crocodile had to haul Robin around for a few months while looking for That Missing Piece of Information that would lead him to Alabasta. (Imagine the two travelling from like island to island, library to library, Crocodile trying to find that leads while Robin's just so excited about ALL THESE BOOKS (she's helping too with the research) (but to her, research is playtime, so she's just having the time of her life) (Also, notice how Crocodile's Theoretical Child is a fucking loser ass nerd? Yeah Crocodile would encourage Robin reading and studying, surely. And that would be fucking cute))

But like, once they set sail to Alabasta...

Sure, Crocodile could try to do it The Slow Way that we know he tried in canon, building trust and creating his little empire etc. But also, in canon, Crocodile couldn't have jumped into action head first because without Robin, even if he had found the Poneglyph he couldn't have read it and found the location of Pluton. Crocodile choosing to do it the slow way may have been partially because he didn't have much of a choise and it could've felt like the smarter move long-term.

But in this scenario, he already has Robin. Yes, he could do it the slow, secure way.

But what'd be there stopping him from infiltrating Cobra's palace and kidnapping him (in the night, when nobody suspects a thing), demanding Cobra to spill the beans lest Crocodile kills him and/or his pregnant wife* (*Vivi was born 10 months after Luffy so depending on how long it's been between Crocodad leaving Luffy behind and this scenario... Yeah either the wife is there, still pregnant, or there's a newborn Baby Vivi)

Like it'd be a risky move but depending on how ballsy Croc's feeling and how confident he feels in being able to kidnap the king without being noticed... Yeah he could probably do it. And I'm sure he'd have no problem killing Cobra either, if anything it'd be required if he didn't want the Government to find out he was out to find Pluton, and god knows Cobra would tell on Crocodile if left alive. I could see Crocodad being maybe a little iffy about killing Baby Vivi though (it's not like the newborn baby could report him to the WG anyways), but if nothing else, he just needs to be able to pull off the bluff of his life to convince Cobra to do as he's told. And we all know Crocodile's good at convincing people.

The only question is, how would Robin take that?

Watching Crocodile go into Full Murder Mode, hearing him say he'd kill a pregnant woman/a newborn baby if he didn't get what he wanted? Like yeah, I'm sure 11 year old Robin would be fine with that, that wouldn't make any alarm bells go off in her head at all, it'd be fiiiine. IT WOULD NOT BE FINE, SHE'D BE SCARED SHITLESS. That fear of "what will he do with me when he gets what he wants"? Well, Robin may not have found the answer to that question in particular, but she certainly found the answer to the opposite question, and it's not good

So say Cobra, kidnapped (perhaps with Baby Vivi) by Crocodile in the night, guides the two to the Poneglyph under the tombs. Crocodile puts Cobra out of his misery because he's not needed anymore. And he asks Robin to read the Poneglyph for him.

Robin, who has spent the last little while, be it weeks or months with Crocodile, him having become her "guardian", the thing keeping her safe. Crocodile, who has now shown how cold blooded and cruel he can be. Robin, who might be scared out of her mind. Of him.

And the Poneglyph says Pluton, the thing Crocodile wants, isn't there. It's in Wano.

What's she going to do?

EDIT: I wrote a sequel post, enjoy

#Moon posting #OP Meta #Sir Crocodile #Crocodad #Nico Robin #THIS POST WAS AN ACCIDENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED. WHY DID I WRITE THIS. WHAT DEMON POSSESSED ME #I'm sure someone's written this already right #Right #Surely this fanfic already exists #Please tell me it exists #I dunno what to tell you I am not immune to a Juicy AU #Anyway on a more wholesome side of things: Robin accidentally calling Crocodile ''dad'' and he just inhales and swallows his whole cigar #Nearly chockes to death. Gets burns on his throat. #Robin feeling less alienated because of her DF ability because Croc has seen weirder AND is made of sand himself #If anything if they're literally by themselves then Robin being able to literally lend a hand to Croc at any time could be extremely useful #Like. In regular life situations. 'Cause Croc only has one hand. And Robin as many as she wants. Perfect duo. #(Also if they were travelling on like a small ship then it'd probably be built for a Tall Motherfucker like Croc right) #(Robin's ability would just make the ship more accessible to her and Croc would find that independence good) #Robin still gets a codename because Croc can't have anyone realize who she is. Maybe she even wears like a mask or summin' in public #If Crocodile's openly trans and the news of him transitioning recently broke out. Like. No avoiding that convo eh #Baby Robin's like ''...I read in a book once that some reptiles can change sex but I didn't know crocodiles could do it too'' #''💦.../Humans/ can't do that normally either'' #''Hmmmm. Weird. I don't think being a girl would suit you though'' // ''...I'll take that as a compliment'' #I just. I think they could have really cute interactions if they warmed up to each other after a little while #And I'm Extremely Normal about that

[nagitosasshole]

𝑩𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅

Vampire Copia / Papa Emeritus IV

(Dracopia) x reader

𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤:

◇ There is mention and description of gore right at the beginning, with only brief mentions of it afterwards ◇

◇ Copia isn't depicted as a 'soft' vampire

(The violence is strictly tied to Copia's vampirism) ◇

◇ Copia is Copia, and Copia is baby- but Copia also accidentally mauled an innocent person to death :^) ◇

◇ Sorta slow burn with lots of angst ◇

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before you get into it, do have mercy on me, please. i've not posted a story since i was 14-15 and it was not a serious attempt at all. this is my first ever actual attempt at a story, so feel free to send in any criticism or opinions, please!!

(and apologies if Copia or the Ghouls are out of character. this is just how i personally think they'd act!!)

love ya,, thanks!!

-

ali

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☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Chapter☆ 1☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

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(reader) has watched Copia flourish from their anxious, awkward, and generally uncouth Cardinal to a powerful Papa. Years of budding friendship allows them to share nearly everything with each other. Be it shared anxieties, insecurities, or just the feeling of loneliness and not belonging.

Not even his sudden rise to power really surprises them, not when they saw their friend becoming more confident and proud over the years. They helped him through with open arms over his 6 years of coming to terms with himself.

They really thought they helped him through, that they knew everything about him.

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The sight of a panting Copia huddled painfully in a corner of the library as he helplessly claws at his cheeks and jaws, a pair of fingers dipping into his red-stained mouth in an attempt to expel whatever he'd consumed makes that belief fly out of the window.

Forcing myself to look away from my dear friend crumpled up in red, I shakily let my gaze drift a few feet away from Copia. Eyes following the red trail that seems to have followed him to the corner, finding the source sprawled across the libraries antique wooden flooring.

A Sibling of sin, laying in a position that if not drowned in blood would look sound asleep. I internally thank the lorde that their petrified face is lulled down, hidden with messy hair.

My mind cannot get rid of the image of their body covered in gashes and bites, and what looks to be bruises, and…

I feel bile rise in my throat as my eyes wander over their already paling skin, unable to rip my eyes away from the places where their skin has been torn, some places looking like it'd been done by teeth.

My body doesn't allow me to move, only forcing out a broken, chocked whimper as I forcibly move my eyes away from my fellow Sibling. The sound alerts Copia to my presence, making his head snap up as his hand shakily and limply slips from his drooling mouth, leaving a line of transparent red between his puffy lips and gloved fingers. His looks as if his entire world is crumbling around him with just the glossy, overflowing look in his eyes.

I can only sob out a crackly and nearly silent call of his name before he's darting out of the room faster than I've ever seen him. I could only stumble out of the library, expression void and sunken as I slowly walk back to my room, sticking to the walls with a light hand to keep myself upright. My brain finally -for once- spares me some mercy, allowing my thoughts to ease into nothingness. Allowing me to make it to my room with an empty brain as I unceremoniously dump my weighted body to my bed. I don't sleep well that night.

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After that day, I stuck to myself. Everything I enjoyed, I abandon.

Everything I once did to socialize, I abandon.

Even small pleasures and things I enjoy I abandon in favor of hudling under my covers until I'm forced to crawl out of them.

My drop in work quality doesn't go unnoticed by Sister or my peers. I have talk after talk with Sister, endlessly forced to voice why I'm hiding away and shying away from my extra work- only to get nothing out of me.

Even my fellow Siblings notice when I quietly and half heartedly tell them I cannot do their work, or even help them anymore. Never offering a reason as to why.

They'll never know that I see that Sibling from the library when I look at them.

Their very clothing, the habit that I myself wear makes me sick, sending nauseating memories of that night in the library. I've had to cover my mirror and turn around with clenched eyelids as I get dressed.

I can't even bare to look at myself.

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The first week I spend spinning memories of the ghouls and Copia in my brain, frantically attempting to convince myself it was a dream, knowing my Copia would never…

No, not a dream.

It's apparent in the way he's avoided me.

My thoughts only give way to ugly sobs as I suffocate them my pillow.

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The second week I spend repeatedly rocking myself on my bed, back bent over my knees with my arms locked around them, blanket covering my compacted body and i endlessly attempt to self sooth. The fear of what I saw grows along with the disgustingly potent need to see Copia.

I internally curse myself, screaming at and berating myself for wanting to see him. Surely he's not the man you knew. My brain attempts to conjure the word monster in my desprate attempt to right myself, only for it to falter before I can even think it.

I could never think of him as a monster.

My brain is definitely faulty. Some wires or circuits are definitely frayed or fucked up, surely.

But I could never see him as a monster.

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On the third week, I give into desprate mindsets.

Letting myself stare at messy handwriting, intentionally vague, bland…not a word of what happened.

i hope your work is treating you well. i miss your company. you are well??, I wrote plainly, the shake in my writing betraying the anxiety I felt when writing it. In the dead of the night, I sneak out of my room to place the note outside his door. I didn't dare even write my name on the letter for fear he'd discard it.

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On the fourth week, I continue writing notes. Some more stiff and short than others, while some could be long and drawn out as if I were spewing out what was in my mind if he were truly there. There's always an air of emptiness and sadness to my writing.

My notes increased along with my appearances outside of my room. Only long enough to get to and from, but it was progress. There was always an air of panic around me when I dropped of a note for Copia to find. Always to avoid the library in my attempts to catch a glace at or the attention of him.

My efforts only bore fruit a couple of times, and yet they meant nothing. Only the slight widening of Copia's eyes showed he saw me at all before he'd turn his head, acting as Papa once more.

At the same time, acting as if I didn't exist.

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It started with the fleeting sights of the ghouls around me, always watching through the day. That's definitely not a rare or even unappreciated occurrence, but they hardly ever come to talk to me anymore. Usually, my day would be filled with chores, then my optional work later on in the day- be it doing simple errands for the overworked Papa's, or perhaps a Sibling of sin who wants to blow off work, but most of all gardening work with Papa Primo-

All of my off time you'd see me kneeling on stiff, hurting knees as I giggle along with whatever Primo is drawling on about, counting the time on the old-fashioned clock Primo keeps around as I wait for Copia to be done with work. Conversations help me forget time as Primo's aged hands guide and teach me how to properly care for his beloved plants.

A handful of times the two of us are accompanied by a helpful Mountain or Aether, the two helping lift heavy things that I can't manage, even less so the elder Papa. It's always warm, friendly ghouls always wandering through the garden to chat and cut up with me and Primo.

On rare occasions, we even find some of Secundo's ghouls wandering through. They hardly talk, but they prove to be good company still with how attentive they are to the garden's needs, proving to be quite good listeners, too. It's a real treat, but most of our visitors are Primo's own ghoul's, and (now) Copia's ghouls. Primo's ghouls (and the few retired ghouls. cough cough cowbell cough) will always stay near the gardens, ever loyal to their Papa. While Copia's ghouls are just plain and simple the most personable and sociable of the lot.

Soon I found my friendships with the kindly Papa and the ghouls flourishing like the flowers we care for so often.

It's no surprise it bled through "work" and into everyday life. Perhaps I was already friendly with them, knew them because of Copia, but I'd like to think the time we spent working together as a group made us close. It would explain how for the last few years, they made a habit of watching over me and approaching me to talk whenever they saw me.

I always appreciated how they looked over me rather than me being creeped out by it. In a way I understand their odd habits and affections. It made me feel safe knowing that they cared for me enough to have an eye out for me, even the notoriously hotblooded (asshole) Dewdrop.

But nowadays they only watch, and notably only Copia's ghouls. Maybe that's why their lack of seeking me out combined with their increased watching makes my neck prick with a chilled sensation. It just doesn't feel right. Maybe they're worried by my abrupt disappearance from our daily gardening routine, or maybe they can sense my dismal mood. Whatever it is, they don't say anything.

It only makes me want to hide away in my room more. Away from responsibilities and questions, and sure as hell away from who I consider my dear friends unreadable gazes. It makes my stomach twist and churn until I make it my mindless mission to make my way from room to room, never staying in one room longer than necessary during chores. The relief I feel from "evading" a ghoul is always short lived when after only a few minutes, I notice a different ghoul in the room I'm in.

I don't dare call out to them or say anything. Not unless they say something first. The fear pricking inside of me restrains my need to know what's going on, effectively silencing me and forcing my body to continue on with the world's worst game of where's the ghoul. I have an idea of why they're like this, anyway.

What I saw…

Surely whatever friendship I think I had with them was trumped by their loyalty to their master. They probably see me as a liability now. Waiting patiently with open ears for a slip up, waiting for me to break and spout out what I saw. Shouting to my fellow Siblings of sin that our beloved Papa IV is a monster.

That's why on the fourth week, when he finally acknowledges me in full, my heart nearly falls to my toes. With a single note with my name writen in neat writing poised on my bedside table, my heart thunders in my chest.

He had one of his ghouls come into my room and place it, or maybe he did it himself…the thought makes me lean agaisnt my headrest for support as I snatch the letter up with a shaky hand.

If you really wish to do this, come to my room.

9 : 0 0

I will be there. I will be waiting.

- yours,

Copia

My nerves make me feel as if I'm going to throw up as I scan my aching eyes over his writing. Even the fact he wrote 'Copia' instead of 'C' makes me feel ill. With a pained groan, I rub my sweaty forehead. "fuck this…", I think out loud, voice broken and scratchy from lack of use. "I'm gonna take a shower…lorde knows I need one."

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additional notes:

alrighty then, thanks for reading all the way through!! hope u enjoyed it!!

i'll have an ao3 account soon enough. hopefully, the formatting will be just how i want it, but until then, i hope how it is at the moment is okay!!

-

ali

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#copia x reader #cardinal copia x reader #papa iv x reader #dracopia x reader #vampire copia #vampire papa iv #mmmm delicious drama and trauma #ghost x reader #ghost the band x reader #ghost bc x reader #covering all bases with the name smh #papa emeritus iv x reader #Dracopia #first fanfic #dont crucify me pls #the nameless ghouls #papa emeritus x reader #cardinal copia #papa iv

[bakedbakermom]

Stained

Epilogue: Sagacious // start at the beginning

tagging @today-in-fic @ao3feed-msr

sagacious adjective 1. keenly perceptive 2. farsighted; wise -- Saying goodbye to Sunnydale

The hospital cleared Scully for release the next day, every test and scan having come back with no indication of anything being wrong to begin with, let alone any reason to keep her longer; she doubted a test existed that could explain what had happened to her, to them, in this quiet coastal town with monsters and miracles creeping beneath the streets. Who could read the secrets of her heart, written in pure light, on a blood slide? Who could look at an image of her brain on a CT and decode the line she had walked between life and death, or explain how she’d found her way back?

She was brushing her hair in the small metal mirror above the bathroom sink when a voice behind her made her jump. “Looking delectable as always, Red.”

Scully whirled, heart in her throat, adjusting her grip on the brush in case she needed to throw it or use it as a bludgeon. Spike leaned against the door jamb, the perfectly posed picture of nonchalance in a scarlet shirt and his signature leather coat. A lit cigarette dangled from his lips in clear violation of the “no smoking” sign behind him.

She rolled her eyes at him, glancing from him to the mirror and back again. “It’s rude to sneak up on people, Spike, especially if you don’t have a reflection. That’s just cheating.”

“No harm intended, love, I just love to see your cheeks get all pink when you’re startled.”

She squeezed past him through the door and dropped her brush into her open suitcase, which Mulder had brought from the motel; their flight was in just a few hours, and half her mind was buzzing, trying to figure out what she could possibly write in her report to Skinner that would even begin to explain the events of the last week. A vampiric serial killer who committed a series of violent murders every decade on the anniversary of her own gruesome death; Mulder transformed into a vampire and nearly draining her before his soul was restored by a group of college kids; Scully sacrificing her own life to save him, not knowing it was her willingness to die for him that was the secret to the spell, rather than her actual death. Giles had finally translated the last of Vroomen’s journals, revealing that the disgraced Watcher’s wife had also survived the ritual; but he postulated that had either of them known they would live, the spell wouldn’t have succeeded. “The key was believing your death was the only way to save him, and giving up your life willingly,” he had explained.

Scully shook her head, marveling—not for the first time—at the strange intricacies of the magical world that had been lurking just out of sight this whole time. She turned to Spike with a lifted eyebrow. “How did you get in here, anyway?” She nodded meaningfully at the window, the pale threads of morning light filtering through the blinds. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

“Underground tunnels. Sunnydale’s chock full of them, a big dark maze under the whole town. Makes it easy for the sun-averse of the population to get about during the daylight.”

“Seriously? That makes no sense, at least from a city-planning point of view.”

“It does if you consider that the town was built by a quasi-immortal madman literally hellbent on becoming a giant snake.”

Scully squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at her temples. She really needed to get out of this town. “Of course. Completely reasonable, in that case.”

“Anyway, I just popped in to say goodbye to you and Spooky before you went galavanting off to your real lives again.” He glanced around the little room. “Where is our man, anyway? Still in night shift mode or something?”

She shook her head. “He’s out getting coffee that didn’t come from a vending machine. We spend too much time in hospitals to keep torturing ourselves like that.”

“I’ve got this theory that they make it crappy on purpose; it burns a hole in your stomach, keeps you coming back.”

“Now that’s a conspiracy theory I’d believe.”

Spike cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncharacteristically serious. “It really is amazing, what you did for him. Not many people in this world lucky enough to have someone willing to step under the knife for ‘em. I hope he knows just what he’s got.”

“Oh I do.” Mulder entered the room, a cup of coffee in either hand—not a drop of blood or creepy, self-cannibalizing pig logo to be found. He pressed a chaste kiss to Scully’s cheek as he handed her her cup, then turned to exchange a complicated handshake with Spike. She grinned as she sipped her coffee. He’s got a secret handshake with a vampire. Skinner would faint.

The handshake ended with one of those back-thumping man-hugs, then Spike took Scully’s hand and touched it to his lips. He stared pointedly at Mulder. “You take good care of this one. I mean it; you hurt her and I’ll pull your entrails out through your nose and string ‘em up like Christmas lights around my crypt.”

Scully wrinkled her nose at the graphic imagery, but Mulder only laughed. “If I hurt her,” he answered, clapping the vampire on the back, “I’d deserve it. Take care of yourself, Spike.”

“First and always,” he replied. Spike moved to the door, then stopped for a moment, hand on the frame, considering. He turned back to them, something soft and contemplative in his eyes. “You know, there’s one thing that’s nagging on me. Dana here made a little joke about immortality the other night, got me thinking: if she’s gonna live forever, and now she’s given you some sort of… metaphysical life-force transfusion, what’s that mean for your eternity, Mulder?”

He twitched his brows, then vanished down the hall in a flap of leather.

They stood frozen, staring after him, for a long moment. Scully thought of the prayer votives she had lit, of the taper passing the fire from one candle to another, doubling the flame rather than extinguishing it.

…the flame kindles life… to share it… no greater gift…

Finally Mulder said, “I think he’s got a little crush on you.”

She ran a hand along his jaw until he met her eyes, then pushed up on her toes to brush her lips over his. “Too bad my heart belongs to someone else.”

Couldn't let this end without a little more Scully and Spike :) Thank you thank you thank you for taking this journey with me. Thank you for reading, for your kudos and comments, for your reblogs on tumblr. IT means everything to me. I hope you laughed, cried, laughed so hard you cried. This fic was a blast to write (most of the time) and it was great for me, personally, to see how I've grown as a writer between my first attempt 20+ years ago and now. Comments will be printed, laminated, and placed lovingly in a scrapbook to be read over and over again.

#stained #my writing #my fanfic #crossover #txf #the x files #btvs #buffy the vampire slayer #fox mulder #dana scully #buffy summers #willow rosenberg #tara maclay #xander harris #rupert giles #spike btvs #anya jenkins

[boba-cafe]

Miss little liar

yandere Wakasa x reader

order From this customer

TW: Yandere, dubcon, noncon , dark content, impact play, rough sex, angry sex, spanking, chocking, spitting, toys, angry Wakasa, edging, overstimulation, oral (m receiving), degrading words

Boba order: you lied to your dearest boyfriend and that didn't go so well...

You played yourself.

You were a fool, walking into your own death.

There was no way you would want Wakasa to be angry with you. Wakasa had always been by your side- either you were willingly allowing him to be by your side, or he forced it. He had always been with you, and had always been watching your every step.

Usually, Wakasa would either be the one to head to your side or he would make you come to him. He didn't see you the whole day today, though. He didn't see you at your favorite places to be, or at school, or with your friends. He texted you:

Wakasa: where are you?

You texted back that you were planning to visit your folks because of some issues that came up. That confused Wakasa for a while because: Why didn't you tell him ahead of time? Why was this now? Why couldn't he come with you? Many thoughts and questions were racing in Wakasa's head. He was planning to text back those questions, but there was a Black Dragon meeting, and he needed to be there. You were lucky to get off this time.

What you didn't tell him though, was that you were lying about your whereabouts and instead, was planning to go to a different country for a vacation. You were tired of him being by your side, with all eyes on you. You needed some time alone, and it always felt suffocating to be under his watch.

The meeting was done, and Wakasa could finally text you back, asking: where are you right now?

No response- which was funny to him. He doesn't think his pretty princess would have the audacity to ignore his messages. Wakasa kept spamming your messages:

Wakasa: where are you?

Wakasa: hello??

Wakasa: Princess??

Wakasa: Doll answer me now

Wakasa: Why aren't you answering me???

Wakasa: I want an answer now.

Six messages and no response calls not answered too- he wasn't happy with the silence he was getting from you. He didn't see you the whole day, and you didn't even tell him your whereabouts and how long you were leaving him? He was beyond furious- he was livid. More than anything, Wakasa’s anger could have been mistaken as murderous. He checked all the spots and your parents' place- to his surprise; you weren't there. Oh, so his girl was a little liar to him now?

It was two weeks. Two weeks of your vacation. You had just come back, and you walked into your home. The door was unlocked. You open the door to see Wakasa in the middle of the living room. He looked livid- like as if he was ready to commit homicide. No time was wasted- Wakasa pushed you against the door and both of his hands on your neck, asking where the fuck you were- you better answer honestly, or there will be consequences.

You weakly said you went on vacation for a while- you just needed some alone time to relax, hoping the answer was appropriate enough to have him let go of your neck and to calm him down a bit. Wakasa let you go for a bit, but then later dragged you to the couch and forced you to bend on his lap. “Pull your bottoms down and your panties to- count all or we start all over.”

The first spank was hard. He wanted you to feel how hard it was. Then the second, third, fourth, and fifteen spanking. Your ass is in pain- it’s bright red with his hand imprinted on it- you're in tears. It's so painful you swear it was like being in hell. It was exhausting. But Wakasa wasn't done with his lying bitch yet.

He forced you on your knees- after the hard spanking; it was painful to be on your knees. But rather than upsetting him anymore, you complied with the order. He unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock. He forced your mouth to open, then he was fucking your face. He was forcing it so much; you were nearly choking on his length. It was burning your throat- you were having a hard time breathing.

That didn't stop him though- he kept fucking your mouth till he cummed. Wakasa forced his cock deeper in your throat- cum was spilling in your throat and you couldn’t chock it out. It was spilling in your throat- so much of his cum- it was hard to take him any further. Wakasa said to keep your mouth open and spill nothing. Continuing to comply, you kept your mouth open with his cum still in it- Wakasa then spit in your mouth and closed it.. “Swallow it now.”

Fearing the man in front of you, you swallow his cum and spit. It was humiliating and disgusting. You were embarrassed and in pain from all the spanking, and now swallowing his seed right in front of him. You were tired. But it wasn't the end. Wakasa had something behind him, and it was a small clit stimulator. He forced you on the floor and forced your legs wide open. He had the vibrator on the highest level, and placed it on top of your clit. He watched you tremble and moan- the feeling was too much. The pleasure was going to have you cumming- only to have Wakasa pull it off your clit leaving you cumless. Wakasa continued to stimulate your clit and never let you cum once. “Liars don't get to come,'' he said.

You look so pathetic right now. You're trembling and panting. Your eyes speak of lust- desiring for his cock to fuck your hole senselessly to be used so much, that you be turned into a whore in a matter of weeks. You looked desperate, your cunt was sparkling with your sweet juice. That's what Wakasa wanted- he wants you to look like a whore for him.

What? What's with that look now, acting as if he didn’t know what that look was?. He knew what you wanted. He would rather have you say it though. You were trembling, saying, “P-p-please, Wakasa.. Please use me.” Oh, he will use you.

With no remorse, Wakasa pushed his member in your pussy. His thrust was hard, rough. He was making sure he was fucking your cervix. All he heard from you was moans saying how it was too much. “Wakasa, please, i-it hurts so much-” Oh, as if Wakasa cared. From his perspective, you should've been honest with him. If you didn't want to be treated like a whore, then you should've been a good girl, and this would've never happened.

You were close to cumming- Wakasa could feel it. He could feel how your walls were closing on him, how you were about to cum. The moment you did, he fucked over your high over and over and over again. Even if you had cummed once, or twice, or even sixth times, he was gonna abuse that hole until he was satisfied. Your cunt was nearly spilling out his own cum over and over- your body couldn't take it anymore. It was too much- the pleasure of his cock was too much for you.

After for God knows how long, he was fucking you- you weren't keeping up with the rounds. He cummed, and came down from his own high, then finally stopped and landed his body on yours, holding your body as close to his as he could. He warned you that if you would ever do such a thing again- he wouldn't be easy on you next time. Don't ever fucking lie to him, ever.

That warning and that moment will forever be engraved in your head- if you want to keep your man happy

#MM post #tw.yandere #yandere tokyo revengers #yandere tokyo revenger #tw.dark content #tw.dubcon #tw.noncon #tw.edging #tw.overstimulation #tw.impact play #tw.spanking #tw.chocking #tw.spitting #tw.toys #tw.oral (m recieveing) #wakasa imaushi #imaushi wakasa #tw. noncon

[peterspideyy]

chapter 1 | safe

series masterlist

————

newt sat up, inhaling as much air as he could manage, as his eyes shot open. he felt a pain soar through his body, causing him to groan at the feeling. his ears rang with each heavy beat of his heart, as he allowed himself to look around and gather his bearings.

he was in a hut of some sort. it was old and basic. an oak table, with two chairs tucked underneath it. dusty windows, causing newt to hardly see anything out of it. a vase on the window sill, with dead flowers in it. there’s a cupboard above a sink in the corner, with the door broken off the hinges, causing newt just to see half of a blue box, with the letters ‘cd’ on it. wooden walls decaying surrounded him, with parts of it broken, allowing newt just the chance to see through the tiny cracks.

he saw the scorch. he could recognise that dreadful sand from a mile away. he still remembers that walk to the right arm, like the back of his hand. and how thomas said-

newt gasped.

thomas. minho. gally. frypan.

where was his friends?

and then, all the memories of that night came back.

he was dead. a knife was plunged in his chest. he still remembers the excruciating pain he felt, yet he still smiled at his tommy, before all the life was drained out of him. they must of left him to burn as the last city crumbled down. he doesn’t feel angry at them, for leaving him. he would of done the same. it would of been extra baggage.

but, if he was dead, then why is he alive? he can see the room he is in. he can hear the distant winds of the scorch. he can feel the hard floor beneath him. he wouldn’t of been able to do that, if he was bloody dead.

newt looked down, brining his hands up into his vision. as well as noticing how clean they were, the veins were gone. he scrambled his t-shirt sleeve up, to see his infected scar- gone. it was like it never existed in the first place.

“what the...” newt thought to himself, looking at his other arm, remembering the dark veins covering it, but instead saw his own skin starring back at him.

what happened to him?

suddenly, the front door slammed open, causing the british boy to jump to his feet, but he instantly regretted that thanks to the thumping pain in his brain, as all the blood rushed to his head. but, he stopped wincing, as a figure walked into the hut.

newt immediately noticed the rifle, leaning on there left shoulder. the person stood still, just starring at the quivering boy, before walking into the light. the woman was a bit taller than newt but looked around the same age as him, with dark brown hair, tied messily into a pony tail. some strands still fell in front of her face though, hiding her hazel eyes and blank expression. but, she suddenly chuckled slightly, walking to the table, throwing the gun on top of it, causing a loud bang that made newt flinch.

“thought you would never wake up.” she spoke, still not turning to face newt, as she placed a bullet onto the side. her voice was petite, that surprised newt a lot.

“well,” newt coughed, clearing his through, “well, i-i have now.”

she turned to face him, “no shit.”

newt gulped.

“got a name?” she inquired.

“newt.”

she raised her eyebrows, “newt?”

he nodded.

after a couple minutes of silence passed, and as newt watched the woman put the rifle away, he cleared his through again.

“what‘s...your name?”

“doesn’t matter,” she walked towards him, “what matters is that you get out of my house.”

“what?”

“you heard me.” she sighed, walking away to open the door, gesturing for him to walk through it.

newt couldn’t leave now. he needed answers.

“no, i’m not going.”

“what?!” she shouted, eyes wide.

“the last thing i remember, is me dying. and now i’m alive? it’s not everyday that you die and come bloody back to life?!”

the woman froze, taking in his words.

“so, you either tell me why i’m alive or i’m not leaving.”

————

thomas shot up, breathing out heavily, sweat dripping off his forehead as his eyes shot open. tears fell down his cheek, at the nightmare he just visualised. well, it wasn’t a nightmare. he actually watched his best friend die in his arms.

he chocked back a sob, as it hit in, nearly knocking him unconscious.

newt’s dead. and it’s all his fault.

if only he fought harder for newt to stay with gally and wait for the serum, instead of listening to his ‘you can’t do it on your own.’ if only he didn’t get distracted for wanting to kill ava paige, he could of instead focused of saving newt and minho. if only-

“hey, thomas.”

he looked up to see minho, stood in the doorway of the tent. he smiled, but it never met his eyes. thomas returned to gesture back slightly, as they both silently mourned there friend. guilt still eats away at thomas. he caused minho to loose the only person he trusts and cares about, since the maze.

“hey, minho. what’s up?” thomas asked, standing up out of his bed, rubbing his eyes.

minho stood silently, watching his actions, noticing the dark bags underneath his eyes, “just letting you know that frypan has cooked breakfast.”

“oh, erm...i’ll be right out.” thomas mumbled.

“okay.” minho nodded, but neither of them moved.

“are you okay?”

minho’s question caused thomas’ heart to pang in pain, as his breaths got caught up in his throat. tears welled up in his eyes at the most simple question in the world. how could he be okay, after loosing the one thing that meant so much to him?

“yeah, i’m fine.” he lied, while minho raised his eyebrows, not fully convinced.

“well, hurry up...bet you’re starving.”

thomas laughed slightly, as minho chuckled too, before walking away to the other gladers. and as soon as minho walked away, thomas buried his head into his hands, as a heavy cry racketed out of his body, causing him to completely break down into sobs.

————

“tell me everything.” newt demanded, as the woman gave him a glass of water, as they both sat across from each other, on the wonky oak table.

she sighed, sipping her drink, before starting.

“the whole city was burning down, because-“

“of the people outside the walls.”

she stopped, “yeah, don’t interrupt me though.”

“sorry.”

“anyway, me and a couple of my friends were running to safety, and then...i saw you, on the floor. dead.”

“wait! stop!” she screamed to her friends, over the loud sounds of gunshots and explosions.

“that’s a-a person.” she shouted, running over to the figure on the ground.

she didn’t bother to see if her friends followed her or not, to bothered at the man with a knife plunged in his chest. she didn’t know him. she’s never seen him in his life. but, a sudden feeling of sorrow overcome her body, causing her to kneel down beside him.

“he’s not worth it.” her friend breathed out, standing just behind her.

“everyone is worth it.”

she heard a sigh, “he’s a crank. he’s far to gone. and we won’t be much better if we stay here, mourning over someone we barely know!”

she shook her head, placing her fingers on his cold neck to try and find a pulse. but failed.

“you’re not a doctor anymore. you can’t save everyone. so let’s go!” her friend shouted, turning to run away.

but, she didn’t follow, still starring at the lifeless eyes of the young boy.

“he probably deserved the world.” she thought, still hoping to feel a pulse. but, it never happened.

breathing out heavily, she was going to stand up, and follow her friends, but froze as she felt a small vibration in her finger. she starred at the boy, who wasn’t moving as the vibrations increased. it was a heartbeat.

“oh my god!” she whispered.

he was alive. but, only just.

and then the boy’s body stirred, as a small groan left his cracked lips. she kneeled beside him, eyes wide at the sight of a person literally coming back from the dead. she’s never seen this happen. never the less with a crank.

“hello? can you hear me?” she asked, hoping the boy would reply. praying he would. even just a little ‘yes.’

and he did. but, he replied with something she would never expect.

with a small hoarse voice he whispered, ‘tommy.’

and passed out again.

————

thomas eventually left his tent, after double checking all signs of him crying were not visible, he followed the smells of frypans cooking. he smiled at people he passed, not knowing half of them, but still felt responsible to do so. he was responsible for everyone’s freedom.

then how come he couldn’t save newt?

walking to the kitchen, he smiled as frypan already handed him a plate of food, that made his mouth water.

he’s not surprised at how hungry he is. he hasn’t eaten in days.

“thanks fry.” he mumbled, while the cook nodded at him sadly.

thomas walked away from the kitchen, walking past his group of friends by the bonfire, to sit on the ground infront of the stone. sitting down, he starred up at the stone glancing at names carved into it. he looked at names he didn’t know, but still felt remorse for them. but, then he saw names he did know.

and it hurt.

chuck. little chuck didn’t deserve to go. they finally escaped the maze. but, he’s not here anymore. he made a promise to chuck. and he broke it.

alby. god. out of everyone from the maze, he was one of the people who truely deserved to be free. he was the first one up after all. and thomas failed him.

winston. he tried to take care of his friends like he promised him in the scorch. he still remembers the sound of the gunshot engulfing him as they walked away from their dying friend.

teresa. he knows what she was trying to do. she was trying to help. she thought she was helping. he never loved teresa. sure they kissed before she fell to her death, but he never loved her.

and then his eyes landed on newt’s.

thomas couldn’t bare to look at his name anymore, as tears blocked his vision.

————

newt looked through one of the the gaps in the wall, after the woman stopped talking a couple of minutes ago. to say he was confused was an understatement. he coughed, glancing at her who was leaning back in her chair, already starring at him.

“how did you save me then? theres no cure.”

“i know,” the girl nodded, “b-but, somehow the knife missed your heart. and as i removed it when you were unconscious, there was someone else’s blood on it? i think that blood saved you. and i’m a doctor, i have erm...resources that can help you.”

“who’s blood was it?”

“i’m not sure.” she looked away, almost seeming nervous suddenly, “but, it seems like whoever’s blood that was, was already on the knife before it-“

“was stabbed into me?” newt finished.

the woman nodded, “yeah.”

and then it hit newt. just out the blue. he remembered.

“i know who’s blood it is.”

she turned to face him, “who?”

“it’s thomas’ blood.” he cringed.

newt remembers when he pierced his skin, just slightly. but, even though he had no control over his actions, he still remembers the amount of guilt he felt as he heard thomas’ pained screams fall from his lips.

he wish thomas never saw him like that. so animalistic and aggressive.

“oh, the person you say in your sleep. what is he your boyfriend or something?”

newt chocked on his water, “what?!”

“you heard me,” she winked, laughing at the stuttering mess infront of her, “well, it seems like your boyfriend is the cure. do you know where he is?”

newt tried not to blush at the word ‘boyfriend’ before replying.

“unless he’s dead, then he’ll be at the safe haven.”

dead? if tommy is dead then...

no, he can’t be dead. h-he shouldn’t think of the worse.

he has to be alive.

“the safe haven?”

“yeah, it’s where everyone goes when they want to be free of wckd and cranks and-“

“i know what it is,” she cut off, standing up with a wide smile of her face, “i’ve been trying to find that for years. i didn’t think it was real!”

“i haven’t been but...i-i assume it’s real. why are you laughing so much?” newt questioned, gesturing the woman laughing her head off that was once harsh to him.

“because newt, we’re going.”

“g-going where?”

“the safe haven you div!” she shouted, clapping her hands together.

“i don’t even know where it is! all i know is that it’s on a beach! do you realise how many beaches there are in the world?! and beside i hardly know anything about you-“

“my name’s kira. and that’s all you need to know about me.” she mumbled, causing newt to gulp.

“o-okay kira, well i have no bloody idea on how to get to it anyway!”

“that’s why we’ll go together.”

newt sighed. he did want to find the safe haven, and be reunited with his friends. he misses them all so much. and it pains him to think that they all believe he’s dead, when he isn’t.

but, he has no idea where it is. for all he knows, the safe haven could of moved away from a beach. like into the mountains. or into a city. newt and kira could just be going on a wild goose chase.

“don’t you want to see all the people you know? like your boyfriend.” she teased, causing newt to roll his eyes.

“he’s not my boyfriend. he’s just a close friend.” he snapped.

kira sat down again, her smile falling into an expression of seriousness.

“newt, you have a second chance of living. if i never found you, you would be dead right now. so, take this opportunity and come with me to find the safe haven. and live the life you are supposed to have. the life what your friends would want you to have.”

newt sat still, taking in her words. she was true. harsh, but true. he does have a second chance of living. and he shouldn’t waste it on thinking of the worse possible scenarios.

“okay.”

“wait really?!”

“yes,” he looked up, smiling, as he was suddenly overcome with a feeling of urgency.

“let’s go and find the safe haven, kira.”

————

a/n- thank you for reading chapter 1! it’s quite short, but hopefully as the story goes on the chapters will be longer :)

————

taglist-

@parkersbliss @liberty-barnes @harry-hollands @lookatallthosefandoms @venjicuddles @a-sarcastic-lil-shit @insonianna

#the maze runner #the maze runner imagine #the maze runner imagines #tmr #tmr oneshots #tmr oneshot #tmr imagines #tmr imagine #newtmas #newtmas imagine #newtmas imagines #tmr x you #tmr x y/n #tmr x reader #tmr newt #tmr thomas #tmr minho #tmr newt oneshots #tmr newt oneshot #tmr newt imagines #tmr newt imagine #tmr newt x you #tmr newt x y/n #tmr newt x reader #newt x thomas #tmr newt angst #the maze runner newt #the maze runner thomas #tmr thomas imagines #tmr thomas imagine

[2-cute-4-school]

Hiraeth III - Final

Group : NCT

Pairing : Lee Donghyuck/Haechan x f!Reader

Genre : angst, a pinch of fluff at the end maybe?

TW : blood, weapons, death

Word count : 5K words

Mafia AU  |   M.list

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 - Final 

Chapter Summary : “ I am only loyal to love.”

Haechan’s knees buckled and he thought his heart might just explode at that moment. He could barely take a hurried stride forward in a desperate attempt to rip the gun from Y/N’s hands before he froze in his spot, his eyes enlarging almost comically as his lips parted, leaving his mouth open agape, a hand stretched to its full extent forward, a breath away from coming in contact with the girl whose words squeezed his heart so painfully moment ago.

Y/N also stopped in her tracks, the finger still firmly pressed against the trigger, but the expression that overcame Haechan’s features was enough to make her hesitate to fully seal her chosen fate. Her entire body went stiff and she mentally reprimanded herself for putting her plan on hold after everything she went through to get to this point. It only proved to herself that she wasn’t as strong as she thought she was and the thought left an ugly tear in her mind.

But as Y/N studied the boy’s frozen face, Haechan’s eyes slipped past her face, staring intently behind her, his pupils dilating even more from the icy fear that spread across his entire chest. He was face to face with the barrel of a gun, reflections of the artificial light that came from the cheap light bulb on the ceiling of the room bringing out every corner and bump of the weapon that was pointed straight at his head and seemed to already burn a hole through his forehead.

Haechan slightly shifted his gaze upwards, meeting the cold eyes of the gun’s owner, eyes that could freeze the harshest hell and turn the bravest heroes into stone at a mere glance. Haechan’s breath hitched in his throat, a weird mix of emotions drowning his already messy rationality, their eye contact enough to make his soul force a try to leave his body on spot.

“Don’t you dare touch her”

The voice was stern and so glacial that Haechan felt a chill run deep down in his bones. But while Haechan felt locked in a freezing hell, Y/N felt a hot pang ripping a shudder through her entire body. Her prior thoughts dissipated into thin air as she forgot all about the golden rule of never turning your back to the enemy and spun on her heels so fast it would have made her dizzy if not for the adrenaline that seemed to further spur her on as every second passed.

“Step away from her.”

She didn’t have to turn around to know whose voice spoke but the disbelief ran so deep in her heart that she desperately needed concrete evidence, she needed to see him. She needed to put a face to the voice that comforted her during her most ruthless nightmares and wrapped her in a blanket of safety that seemed untouchable by anyone who ever dared to lay a finger on her. She was already so hurt, so weakened it didn’t take a genius to imagine what she had to go through.

“Now, Haechan.”

She needed to see Johnny standing unharmed before her eyes.

“How is it possible?”

Haechan’s voice cracked, overcome by shock, but his legs instinctively carried his back a few steps, responding to the tone he knew Johnny only used when his job required him to put on his cruel mask. It was the voice that let everyone know the game was over. Y/N could barely feel herself breathe and for a moment she wondered if she was truly alive, if she had actually pulled the trigger or if she went crazy and her mind was playing some twisted game with her. Her entire body started shaking almost violently and her throat closed up, leaving her mouth dry. It was so hard for her to process seeing Johnny breathing in arms reach after weeks of being forced to believe that NCT was dead, that her family perished before she could see them one more time. It felt like an illusion threatening to swallow up her sanity.

Johnny’s eyes stayed trained on Haechan as if he could take the younger boy apart with just the look he was shooting him. He dearly wanted to turn to Y/N, to hold her and assure her she was finally safe, that he would die before he let anyone else touch her again, but there was enough time to do that after they got rid of the problem at hand. He let out a quiet snort, regarding Haechan with disgust as he stepped forward, past Y/n and towering over Haechan.

“Surprised to see me, you bastard? Seems like your little stunt didn’t work as well as you hoped.”

Johnny harshly gripped the shorter boy’s collar, raising him slightly so that he was forced to balance himself on his tip-toes with a gun pressed to his forehead, digging into his skin. Haechan seemed to recover from the shock of coming face to face with his supposedly dead ex-member and his eyes cleared up a little, meeting Johnny’s in a vicious clash.

“How are you alive?”

A humorless laugh slipped past Johnny’s lips.

“I will spare you the painful details, but I must say that this low gang of yours is dumber than I initially thought.”

Y/N’s mind was nearly blank, still trying to process the sight of his falling and rising chest of the man who swore more times than she could remember that he would protect her until his last breath. He was in front of her and if she reached her hand, she could easily touch his tensed back. He was alive and well and that was more than enough to set her will to fight alight once again.

“Are you hesitating, hyung? Why don’t you finish this off once and for all? Traitors don’t have the right to live, am I right?”

“But neither do they have the right to such a quick, painless death.”

A shaky, frail hand softly touched the arm holding the gun to Haechan’s head and Johnny’s nerves calmed down, basking in the familiar touch he went crazy without for the past weeks. Still, the firm grip on the gun didn’t lessen and neither did it move away from Haechan’s skin. 

“Johnny.”

Her voice was weaker than ever and it didn’t fail to make Johnny’s heart tremble with regret. He knew they had to leave, but he couldn’t wait anymore to ask what he had been wondering since their ambush.

“Why did you do this, Haechan?”

Johnny’s voice was softer, either from Y/N’s touch lingering on his arm or from the reminiscence of the madness he went through. Haechan’s eyes lowered, his words came out mumbled and filled with sorrow.

“I did what I thought was right.”

“And you thought it was right to send us to a sure death and make her go through torture? Is that what you thought was right?”

Haechan’s composure broke at that, his tone cutting through steel as his gaze became venomous.

“It’s easy for you to say! You didn’t have to watch helplessly as that sick excuse of a man pushed a gun against Y/N’s head and demanded that you choose between her life and everyone else’s! You have no idea...”

His voice got lost again between his train of jumbled thoughts, feeling as if he just relived his worst experiences. Johnny’s burning gaze looked straight through him, cracking him little by little. Gunshots echoed from downstairs, muffled by the distance but loud enough for Johnny to know that the rest of the members were taking care of Park Ji-won and the situation he had caused with no mercy.

“Maybe not, but I had to watch our members die before my eyes and find out everything went down because the kid we raised and loved all along betrayed us. I had to go through weeks of searching and waiting all while grieving in hopes of finding Y/N alive just to burst through the door and see her pressing a gun to her own head. I think it’s you who has no idea, Haechan.”

Y/N’s grip on the fabric that covered Johnny’s skin tightened at the mention that some of her members were actually gone. Her heart sunk heavily at the thought, her mind becoming cloudy once again. Of course it was too good to be true, no victory could be gained without a loss, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to come face to face with such a loss.

But Haechan’s chest also tightened painfully, despair crawling through his entire being and devouring his sanity with every word that left Johnny’s mouth. 

“I tried, hyung, I really did. Please believe me, I tried.”

Y/N didn’t know what broke her the most. She felt hurt everywhere, every bit of her being felt as if it was being burnt inside out and a weight heavier than the world fell on her shoulders, making her resolve collapse. 

“Who are you loyal to, Haechan?”

He didn’t hesitate, the response was immediate and his voice didn’t waver a bit as if there was only one possible answer and he only stated the obvious.

“I am only loyal to Y/N. I am only loyal to love.”

There was a pregnant silence. The air was heavy, chocking Y/N up even more and she lowered her forehead against Johnnys back, needing any kind of support she could get at the moment just to be able to keep herself upright. Her surroundings were spinning and the world seemed to be a mere illusion as she let herself be swallowed up by a numbing pain. Her sudden unsteadiness snapped the two males out of their daze.

“Y/N, hey!”

At the sight of her so frail, Haechan forgot all about the gun and reached out a hand to cradle the back of her head, a weak attempt to ground her, to bring her any comfort. Johnny slightly flinched at the movement before pulling Haechan”s hand away and wrapping his free arm around the girl in turn, not moving the gun away from Haechan.

“I told you not to touch her.”

But Johnny seemed conflicted. He knew he couldn’t let Haechan walk alone, as much as the boy’s words touched his heart in ways Johnny couldn’t believe existed anymore, he couldn’t trust him anymore, not even to walk downstairs where the rest of the members were taking out Park Ji-won and the rest of his men. Letting Haechan walk alone wasn’t a solution, but having to let Y/N go from his hold only hurt his heart furthermore. She was shaking so bad that a gust of wind could have broken her in two and with the way she tried to curl into herself as if to protect herself from the outside world, Johnny feared that the moment he stopped supporting her body she would collapse on the floor. Before he could make a decision, Y/N stepped away from under his arm and raised her head to meet Johnny’s eyes.

“Let’s go.”

He wanted to protest at first, concerned to the moon about her state, but the gaze she shot the pair of males was enough to settle the matters. She wasn’t fine, not at all. She didn’t suddenly recover and become stronger in less than a minute. She was afraid and hurt and broken inside out. But she decided that the fear of losing anybody else while wallowing in her own pity was stronger than her need to be held at the moment. They had to get out first and then she’d allow herself to crash.

Johnny gripped Haechan’s arm tightly and brought the younger in front of himself as they started walking towards the door. Haechan didn’t put up a fight, walking silently at the same rhythm as Johnny, knowing that the faster they arrived at the others, the faster Y/N could be attended to and that was his only priority. Y/N had always been his first and only priority and it would stay that way until his last breath.

“Keep your hands up and open. Don’t make any sudden moves.”

Haechan complied silently, raising his hands in front of him. As they exited the room, Y/N could finally hear the voices downstairs, some of them familiar. There were no gunshots anymore, meaning the job was finished. She couldn’t understand their words, but it was enough for an ounce of relief to blossom in her soul. While walking down the hallway that led to the same stairs she had sneaked up that same night, Y/N held her gun up, keeping her guard up despite Johnny’s assurance that they were safe, that the members took care of everything.

“Just to be sure. I won’t risk losing you now.”

Johnny’s heart warmed up at her words, knowing that she would be fine eventually. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for, they would help her recover and they were going to have their Y/N back in no time. He would make sure of that. 

As they descended the stairs, Haechan felt chocked up. How could he meet their eyes? How could he look straight at them after what he had done? How could he wish for forgiveness when some of their members died by his hand? He kept his lips sealed shut, trying to keep down the nervousness building up inside himself and threatening to overflow his senses.

As the living room came into view astonishment was the only word that matched Y/N’s reaction. She had seen death many times before, she had looked it in the eyes and laughed before slipping away from its grasp. Death and blood were no new thing to her and she had been sure that nothing related to them would be able to affect her after everything she had been through. But never in her life had she seen so much death in a single room.

It was clear none of the boys had shown any remorse or mercy. Most of the kills were clean, a single shot or slash to vital parts of the body. There seemed to be bodies decorating every corner of the room and Y/N was sure there had to be more around the house. The only one who sported multiple deep wounds was Park Ji-won. He was laid face-down in the middle of the carpet, crimson blood staining the expensive fabric that covered the entire floor. He must have been tormented before her members decided to spare him from further painstakingly slow suffering and gave him a final blow. Y/N felt a sick swirl of satisfaction deep in her chest at the sight.

Her eyes moved around and the only emotion she could fully decipher was pure joy. She felt almost overwhelmed by the heavenly storm going on inside her head when she caught sight of her members, the family she thought she had lost until mere moments ago. She had her angels back and if she were to die tomorrow she thought that she might actually not regret anything. Her heart soared with a profound feeling of euphoria and she truly felt that she had swum across oceans, climbed the way to the moon and back, but she felt no exhaustion. Y/N knew she would do it all over again for them.

Between the familiar faces, she could also pinpoint a few other members from their label. She knew they had worked with her members in the past, but she never met them officially, but that only served to pinch her heart even further. They didn’t know her, but they still put their lives on the line to save her, to honor her wronged members. And she couldn’t be more grateful.

“Y/N!”

Her eyes cleared as they met his, as sparkly as she remembered them and for the first time in God knows how long Y/N smiled, truly smiled out of clear happiness. He was there, looking at her as if she had put the stars at his feet with his lips parted, allowing air to flow through his lung that felt clogged up since the day of her mission. She was there, meeting his eyes with such raw emotion that he could feel his heart turn to jelly and tremble, scared by the strength she possessed over his entire being. She didn’t break her promise to him, she was standing in front of Mark, with a smile nonetheless.

Haechan could only watch. Oh, how he missed her, the her that resembled an innocent child who spread sunshine on a gloomy day. She was ethereal, out of this world and he desperately wished he could be the one to meet her tender gaze, but he just observed in silence as he lost her little by little. It didn’t matter that much to him, as long as she was happy, he could endure a war on his own, raging waves of fire overcoming his weakened heart that seemed to only beat for her, beasts clawing at his sanity that only cleared over at the sight of her. She was his all.

And if he could only admire from afar, he would let the world rip away his soul just to spend a moment longer worshiping the only smile in the world that mattered to him. Haechan swore loyalty to his love for her and he would die loving her.

Y/N started moving further from him, her steps directed towards Mark, who also left his initial spot to meet her in the middle. But nothing ever came that easily, did it?

While the room gazed softly at their regained strength, the exit out of a tangled maze they had been wandering through aimlessly, Haechan ripped his eyes away from her, distracted by the small movement he managed to catch with the corner of his eye. His heart dropped to the floor, crunching under the weight of his rushed footsteps.

“Y/N!”

The light in Mark’s orbs darkened and his eyes widened even more, changing his entire face. His voice cracked at the end of his yell and he broke into a sprint towards her, frantically reaching out a shaky hand. As Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, she felt an arm tightening around her, and then another one and a body slammed into hers, knocking the both of them to the ground. She was enveloped by Haechan’s familiar and musky scent and Y/N was vividly reminded of her dream back in her cell, Mark’s footsteps fading into the distance while Haechan kept her impossibly close to himself. And she was once again reminded that Haechan was the one who held her heart in the palm of his hand, playing it on his fingers and he would remain her keeper until the end of times.

“I love you” It was such a mellow whisper, like honey coating the petals of a newly blossomed flower, beautiful, but so fragile.

But the loud gunshot that followed wasn’t part of the dream.

The collision with the hard floor was anything but soft and it took Y/N several seconds to recover from the unexpected fall. Her head felt dizzy and her vision swarm as she attempted to lift her head. Haechan’s weight on top of her already weak self made it difficult to breathe properly, but the churning feeling settling at the pit of her stomach dropped her in a hollowness of fear.

Before Y/N could struggle furthermore, Haechan moved away from her and Mark’s fingers wrapped gingerly around her arms, lifting her in a sitting position.

“You’re alright, oh my God, you’re alright.”

His calloused hands gripped the sides of her face the moment another shot echoed, this time coming from one of their members. Despite Mark’s attempts at keeping her still, she caught a glimpse of Minho falling to the floor, a gun gripped in his hand tightly until his last moment.

“Shit”

The hiss coming from Johnny who was crouched beside them and the dark look in Mark’s dread-filled orbs were enough for the realization to dawn on Y/N. She hastily tried to turn around, praying to be wrong, but Mark forcefully tugged her against himself, tucking her face in his chest and keeping her in her sport with a hand cradling the back of her head and an iron-tight grip around her waist. She started pushing back against him, desperately trying to escape his hold, but Mark’s hold only tightened.

“YN stop, you don’t want to look!”

“Let me go, please. Please, Mark, let go!”

Y/N’s breaths quickened as she could hear rushed shuffling around them. The struggle against Mark was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her, but as she heard a muffled sob from their side, she found an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed any more. She pushed Mark away with such force he was ripped away from her, falling back on his heels.

Her head snapped and she mentally collapsed, letting herself drown along with her uncontrollable demons at the sight burned deep inside her soul. The dull ache that numbed overtime broke into a full-blown fire spreading across her chest, burning down the last of her hope, the last of her sanity, her last bit of happiness.

“No.”

She chocked on her words, crawling closer to Haechan whose eyes starred emptily at the ceiling above them, fading into nothing, the shell of her lost lover. Her knees soaked in blood as she settled beside him, reaching out a quivery hand to brush against his cheek. It was still warm and soft and it only spurred Y/N’s devastation further on.

“No, Hyuck, you can’t, you can’t.”

The sun of her world faded away, her sunshine slipped through her fingers, leaving her locked into a scary hell where no light was able to breach its walls, a frozen second in time that would bring her doom. She tried to shake him, miserably grasping on her straightened lifeline.

“I can’t without you, Hyuckie, I can’t.”

Her voice rose in volume and once Mark’s knuckles touched her shoulder, she lost it. She lost her everything, she lost herself.

“You told me it’ll be the both of us until the end, I can’t go on alone, Hyuckie, please, please you can’t do this! Not now, please! We were so close, sunshine, so close!”

“Y/N, stop-”

“Wake up, dammit! Don’t leave me alone, Hyuck! My sun, please, keep on shining...”

Her tears left trails of dying fire against her cheeks, ashes of sorrow mixing with the crimson underneath them. She closed her eyes, she wasn’t able to watch her world wither away underneath her fingertips. Her body was trembling, a wilted leaf blown away with the wind whispering the promise of her end. Johnny reached out, gently closing Haechan’s eyelids. 

Y/N leaned her forehead on his, her nose touching his, their lips a breath apart, a breath that was stolen away from him. She realized then that losing him was never an option for her, not even when her gun was still pointed at him, not even when she called him a monster. A monster wasn’t able to love, but he proved his purest form of love.

“I love you too, Donghyuck, too much and too late.”

He was her ride or die and she had just lost her ride, a ride to happiness, to the future she had been dreaming of since Haechan first shone on her and held her in his embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest where she could hear the steady heartbeat she would sell her soul for not that her breath was the only one fawning across his face.

The world around Y/N darkened and she knew her chance perished, the fire keeping her alive going out faster than the warmth leaving Haechan’s body.

“I love you to the end and after.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Her fingers ran over the engraved letters in stone, the large pieces of marble attached to the wall in front of her only sticking needles deeper under her skin. She knew the room very well, although it had never hurt as much to step inside as it did now. The room of memories as everyone associated with SM calls it. Since bodies of their fallen comrades can’t always be recuperated it was decided that they would dedicate a room to commemorate everyone. Simple, white pieces of marble with pictures and a small description decorated the walls of the room, the smell of flowers lingering in the air.

“Are you sure you’re good to be here?”

His arm brushed against hers as he regarded her with cautious eyes. Her dislocated shoulder was immobilized and most of her skin was covered in bandages and soothing cream, but both of them knew he wasn’t talking about those wounds.

“Mark, I told you I’m fine.”

Her words didn’t convince anyone, a glance at her blank eyes was enough to confirm the freezing hollowness filling her from the inside.

She locked eyes with Jungwoo’s picture, puppy eyes staring kindly back at her. Such a pure happiness lost in the cruel world. He cried every time he was forced to take a life saying that all he wanted was to keep his dear ones safe as their medic and their rock. And he did in the end, he kept them safe until his last breath.

“He was braver than I’ve ever seen him.”

Mark’s voice was somewhat dreamy, regretful but admiring.

“He had always been brave in his own way.”

Died healing his family - so fitting for the only thing he had ever wished for.

Y/N moved on to the next marble piece, Taeil’s fiery gaze sending chills down her spine. Always a fighter, showing no mercy to anyone who dared to threaten his family. He was always considered their shield, a safe place for anyone he held close to his burning heart.

“He died while protecting me, you know? I didn’t even realize what was happening, but he did and he didn’t hesitate to cover me.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Just like it wasn’t yours.” Y/N remained silent.

Died protecting his little brothers - it embodied his sole purpose.

Y/N chocked on air as she was met with her leader’s picture. She knew about his sacrifice, the way he selflessly laid his life at their enemy’s feet as long as the others were given a chance to survive, the way he didn’t hesitate for even a second to save what was left of the family he worked so hard to keep together. The hint of softness in his eyes reminded Y/N of the warmth of his hand the night she brought her in his home and declared her a part of them. She wished she had been able to thank him one last time.

Mark didn’t need to speak this time, he knew Y/N was deep in her mind, collecting her scattered thoughts in an attempt to gather herself before her guardian angel that got sent home before she could find comfort in his arms once more.

“Thank you, Taeyong, thank you more than I could ever express.”

Her voice was as shaky as her fingers, wavering at the edges like a wounded bird that tried to learn how to fly again.

Died as a true leader - as he would always stay in their hearts.

She could only stare with a vacant look glazing over her orbs at Haechan’s picture that followed. He was brightly smiling and Y/N could remember the way he strongly refused to stay serious for any picture taken, the way his eyes always shone brighter as his nose scrunched up and his lips pulled back in a blinding smile that stole away her eyes from anything else other than him.

Now his picture only sent rivers of  anguish down her skin, cracking her soul open at the sight of him. She thought that she was her half, but she was wrong. Haechan was the glue keeping her pieces together, raising her up to hover above skies and oceans. Without him she could only crawl in pitch dark pits, a numbing cold seeping deeper and deeper in herself and freezing her in time.

Y/N lowered her head, too overwhelmed to lock eyes with him.

“I lost, Mark, I’m lost.”

Mark could only swallow the knot in his throat. He slithered his warm fingers through Y/N’s, grounding her to the world, keeping her mind with him.

“You’ll get back up, losing doesn’t mean it ended.”

“No, it ended the moment I lost him.”

“But you didn’t lose him, Y/N.”

She slowly looked up, meeting Mark’s gaze. His eyes had a sad sparkle, a piece of the moon residing in them, bringing a shine of light in the dark night. He had a small smile that somehow made Y/N trust him despite her confusion and pain. He continued to watch her as she moved her stare to the piece of marble before them.

“If you look around, you’ll find him everywhere.”

Y/N understood. She felt Haechan in the warmth radiating from Mark’s hand wrapped around hers, a heat she found comfort in during the darkest of days. She felt Haechan in the soft rays of sun cascading through the small window and caressing her soul the way Haechan used to caress her heart with a few mere words that soothed her distress. She felt Haechan in the heartbeat pounding against her rib cage, in every breath that filled her lungs, in each moment that passed. He was still there, with her.

Died loyal to love

And the sun kept on shining.

#cznnet #nct haechan #nct scenarios #nct mafia au #haechan scenarios #nct imagines #haechan imagines #nct angst #nct fluff #haechan angst #haechan fluff #haechan mafia au #nct dream #nct dream scenarios #nct dream imagines #nct dream fluff #nct dream angst #nct #haechan fic #nct fic #nct au #nct dream fic #nct dream au #nct donghyuck

[smells-like-ink-and-fire]

Innocence died screaming, honey I should know

Here’s the thing: For all his talk of Gotham being a life-sucking, happiness draining shithole, leaving it had never been truly an option on Jason’s mind. It was his shithole of a city goddammit, the grim dirt streets he would die on. It was his home, the blood on his veins. This city had its claws deep into him, and leaving, especially leaving never to return, had been simply impossible, did not compute to him.

Especially now, that Jason was getting along better with the Bats these days. He still didn’t, and never would agree with Bruce regarding his no-killing rule. But things were better, or at least he thought they were. His presence was expected and even accepted. There were some awkwardness and silent nobody knew how to fill, but there were also jokes and eating junk food together after patrol. Sure, there were a lot of snippy comments but he made those too, gave as good as he got, and Bruce still didn’t quite trust him, not to the extent he did with the other, though that was just a given, he had made peace with it, he still killed, after all, a little suspicion was an acceptable price to pay for it.

Self-righteous, holier than thou bat.

Still, there was an uneasiness on his chest whenever the pointed looks got too much when they would start questioning his actions and his plans like he hadn’t been trained by the world's greatest detective like the rest of them and League of Shadows on top of that. Forgetting that Jason had effectively taken control of the East End in less than two months, and without any of them noticing.

The good parts didn’t lessen the rage-hurt out when Barbara sneered at him, acting like he couldn’t be trusted in the field, like the fact he had issues, that he cared about the victims because he had been one made him incapable of being rational, turned him into something that was eternally compromised. Like he was a mindless raging monster, who would shoot to kill at mere provocation.

He had been, once, fresh out of those green waters, traumatized, angry, afraid, and replaced. He had been a child, too, didn’t that count for something?

Their veiled accusations of insanity, that he had a problem, that needed to be handled like he was a fucking dog, the angry gremlin claims that he was unhinged and the only reason that they kept him around was to keep an eye on him, it all made Jason feel queasy, made him feel less than human.

It made him wonder how truly welcome he was. Was he welcome or they were just trying to appease their guilt and keep a loose cannon from the streets?

But there were undoubtedly good things too. Moments that made it worth it. His relationship with Steph and Duke, and surprisingly, Replacement was getting better, even though the first two were not around as much as he would like. The nights they had spent chewing off some of the undoubtedly brilliant but assholes teachers while demolishing mountains of homework had been fun, and Replacement-Tim was quite a sass master, now only if he could convince the kid to take a step back from WE so that he wouldn’t have a heart attack before he could drink legally.

Replacement, however, was why he was here. Here being diner on the border of the Bowery and Robinsonville, The Raging Duck, a new place that Golden Boy wanted to try, make a family bonding experience out of it, Jason was sure. Replacement had twisted his way around with words in a shape that made it impossible for him not to come. His saving grace was that Jason had already made clear that he couldn’t stay long, under the pretext of having to verify that month payments collection from the Bowery.

Which was goddammed good thing because this whole outing had been a mistake. The last couple weeks had been rough, with the stress of studying and writing applications for his master degree, the couple of murders that almost led to a gang war between the Falcone and the Russians,  plus a decoy staged by the Riddler, as his newest scape plan, that had taken too long to crack leading to an accident that had killed three people and would have killed a lot more if Jason hadn’t said fuck and put bullet holes on some goons heads. This in turn led to an inevitable argument because of Batman's continuous incapacity to see the necessity of his actions while on some level recognizing that was the only poss0ible decision meant that tension had been higher than usual.

Therefore, putting everybody in a room together was definitely not the best idea, Dickie! The last ten minutes certainly proved so, what had started as an easy-going conversation about their early on mishaps of the field, which included a hefty number of stories where the main theme was “And then I said Fuck Batman – With varying degrees of success” that had started as a split-second change of subject in order to avoid a fight breaking out, had turned into passive-aggressive attacking Jason. The worst part was that Jason wasn’t even sure they were doing on purpose.

Did the even realize he was sitting right next to them? Or was he just a ghost?

“… and then the fantastic Robin fell three stores down only to be needed to be saved by the incredible Spoiler! So, listen to me kids, if you’re going to say fuck Batman you should at least be sure there is something to break your fall before you jump.”  - Steph finished the story with a flourish, going back to her waffles.

“That was a level of stupidity that I wasn’t aware that you were capable of Replacement. Really, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.

“Please, as if you weren’t the first one to ignore an order just to fuck with B, Jason. There’s a list. The Incident with the Falcone. Killer Crock latest scape. The entire shit show that was last week. – Tim shot back, mulish, poking at his fries

And every single of those missions was a raging success.

“Which is the one involving Babs, back when she was still BG, you know the one she always mentions, because I don’t know what you did dude but she’s still pissed at you for it.”

“Oh, I know! Bruce forced them to work together on that one, it was a drug-smuggling operation that involved kids. Jason jumped in instead of waiting for her signal. Needless to say, it did not end up well. Babs was so very pissed.”

Yeah for the assholes that thought using kids as drug mules was a good idea. BG was just made the street rat had a better plan than her

“Is that why warehouse 25F is a gory, burned-out mess?”

“Nah, that came later, during that corruption case that nearly put the Comish in the hospital. Or maybe it was the one involving that Nazi Arts dealer?”

“Is there a difference? They always end up in unnecessary explosions. Todd’s need for dramatics and overuse of force are well documented”

Because you can talk about overuse of force, demon spawn.                    

“Robin. Less explosions. Trying to help. Hurt.”

“Yeah, he was trying to help Cass, nobody is denying that the thing is Jason desire to be a little shit and prove Batman wrong is way stronger than his drive to help people, and even though there were far less explosions back then, both he and innocent people have gotten hurt.”

How you’d know? You weren’t around back then Dickface.

“So, we can agree that it’s basically a Pavlovian response for him at this point. Your stubbornness and desire to say Fuck Batman no matter the consequences have been able to surpass death Jason, and if that it’s not a feat, I don’t know what is. Congratulations, really!” – Steph summarized.

He had been holding up fine until that point but he just didn’t have the strength to it anymore, every word out it Tim's mouth felt like the blow of crowbar shattering his ribs, chocking on his own blood because a Batarang slashed his throat. He felt faint. He felt dangerously close to crying.

“I have to go.” – Jason got out of his chair.

“Jason…” – The pitying and yet reproachful note on Dick’s voice made his skin crawl.

“I said I couldn’t stay very long. Some of us have stuff to do. You know criminal empires to run, places to blow up, kneecaps to shoot.” – He doped a twenties bill on the table.

“Todd. Cease being childish. Just because you are unable to accept your failures, and the fact that you were incompetent and arrogant enough to be captured by an enemy does not mean you should incapable of accepting constructive criticism.”

“Not being childish gremlin. I do have a criminal empire to run. And I do take constructive criticism, preferably from people who know what the hell they are talking about. You know people that are more than the “blood sons” of people that are greater than themselves. Noise midgets, not so much. Bye.”  – Jason out of the dinner before any of them can reply.

See you never again.

He doesn’t know how he gets back to his closest safe house. It’s a reasonably good one. He likes this one. He focusses on the things he likes. Hardwood floor. The light green paint. On the things, he doesn’t. The shitty heating. The fact that the cabinets doors don’t shut all the way.

Breaths. Slowly. In and Out. Counts to three hundred. Breaths again.

The tears still prickle on his eyes. His chest feels hollow. His throat is dry. He doesn’t have the strength to move from where he’s sat on the floor, his back against the door. Going a few rounds with Deathstroke had hurt less. It certainly never made him want to crawl under his bed and stay there until the world forget he existed. Of course, Slade had also never blamed for his own death.

Even though his own father had. Reckless, overly aggressive, incapable of following orders, loud-mouthed Robin that got what he deserved, Bruce had said. Maybe not to his face but he had said it. Then again it had been his fault, hadn’t it?

He takes a few more breaths, tries to push his emotions back, locking them deep, and walks to the fridge, pours himself a glass of water. Drinks it. His mind goes back to the conversation. The glass shatters in his hand.

“Oh, fuck!”

He goes to the sink, to clean his hands and throws the broken glass into the trash. Lucky there were only some minor cuts that don’t need stitches even if they hurt like a bitch.

Take that universe!

Still, he wraps them in bandages since he doesn’t fancy cleaning blood out of his sheets. Sleep, however, doesn’t come easily that night, and the time he doesn’t spend tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position to follow to try to fall back asleep in, he spends waking up from dreams that leave him feeling like he’s constantly falling, sharp terror waking him each and every time.

There is no rest for the wicked though, and so he takes off by late morning and goes to check o on the rest of the gang, makes sure Antony is running things smoothly. All in all, it’s pretty boring, with enough paperwork to make a bonfire, but it does the job of taking his mind out the things for a while. Patrol is uneventful, which is a welcome respite, and Jason doesn’t do much more than stop a few muggings and beating up some creeps.

During that time, he keeps an ear out for the bats, especially Dick since he’s not anywhere near the mood to listen to another of the boy wonder lectures about how “Damian is just a child; you shouldn’t take what he says seriously”, especially those came with the addition of being delivered in that tone that screamed, “even though he’s right”. But he must have gone back to his turf because he sees no hair nor hide of him or any of the others.

The next two nights are very much a repetition of that first one, with little sleep and little action, so much so that a paranoid and exhausted part of him gets a bit terrified and so he ends up calling Roy just to hear the genius talk about whatever crazy project he’s been working on lately. If the redhead has any idea why Jason is calling him at four in the morning, he doesn’t comment on it and simply talks until his friend's breath has even out.

This way when the sun comes up the next day, Jason drags himself out of bed and heads straight to the shower, the cold water helps ground him back into his body. Still feeling like shit but at least knowing the difference between dream and reality he eats his breakfast while checking his messages and it’s more than a little bit shocked to see a text from Bruce asking, as in there is an actual please in it if they can talk about a possible case with a few crossed wires. There’s even an invitation to stay for dinner alongside with it, which makes him wonder if Bruce hit his head a little too hard the other day, or if Alfred finally made good on his promise of finding a drug that made him less emotionally stunned.

No matter the cause, the message leaves him hopeful enough that he answers with a yeah, I’ll be there by five.

He arrives at the Manor door fifteen minutes past five, just in case, greeting Alfred with a smile that the old butler easily returns. They make some small talk as the older man demands him to at least drink a cup of tea before heading down. Still, they part at the entrance of the cave and Jason takes those final steps alone.

“Sup, old man?”

“Jason.” – Bruce answers, his back turned, typing at the bat computer, probably filling some reports.

“C’mon B, you’re the one who called me unless of course, you somehow have been possessed and that please was you asking for help, in which case, give me a second and let me call the Martian Manhunter, you gotta give a bit more of information.” – Jason kept his gaze on Bruce’s back, his breath steady, he was not rambling thank you very much!

“There been some talk about an escort service in Diamond District that works as a front from money laundering. I think you might know some of the girls.”

“Little bit out of my way. Maybe you should check with Cat.”

Bruce’s eyes were shining, and the line of his mouth meant that he was finding it funny and Jason was filed to the brim with a wave of warmth and nostalgia. It made him feel like a kid again, it made him like Robin again, like magic.

“Maybe we should.”

“Oh gross! Let’s go back to the ever-existing cases of corruption and gross old man please?”

“Isabella McGarvey”

“Know the surname. Any relation to Ophelia McGarvey?”

"Her older sister I believe, records show that she moved from the East Side two years ago but didn’t take her sister with her because she was a minor…"

Most of the afternoon passed that way. With the Batman and the Red Hood checking financial records, discussing disappearances and police reports in an amiable tone, full of teasing.  It was a welcome change of pace being the one providing the answers to all-knowing Batman for once. So, he took his time explaining the inner workings and the shady dealings of the Alley, preening at the attention and the approval, something he would deny until his second dying day.

Perhaps the only dark spot in the otherwise bright day was the fact that Jason kept purposely having to avoid looking at the southeast corner of the cave, at the glass cage that seemed to hover over them.

Refusing to acknowledge that some part of Bruce would always believe he was dead

“There maybe be a loose end might be worth exploiting but I don’t know how long that window would be open: There was a shooting, a few days ago, near the Bowery and Robinsonville, no cameras, three dead, the assailant left no evidence behind.”

“Don’t know what to tell you Bats, last time I was there I was with your kids, didn’t hear anything, neither did mine. I mean, I could ask but this is Gotham, murders are pretty much the norm. Unless those guys are part of something bigger, I got you nothing.” -  Jason shrugged, already calculating the possibilities of why this is relevant and coming out with nothing.

Damn all-knowing paranoid bat.

“They were. Trafficking ring. Middleman.”

“There is no trafficking ring in the Alley”.

Of that he’s certain.

“There is not. Because those men were killed before they could take anyone. But they were known for it, and they were asking the sort of questions that could ping on your radar.”

“Well, I haven’t heard anything. I’ll make sure to pay more attention, update some protocols.” – Jason answered, already planning to investigate it.

If they were acting as a middleman for someone roaming around then that someone would send more to scoop the territory out and he would be prepared when they came, regardless of what else could be there. There were no trafficking rings in Alley.

“Or maybe you did and decided to take care of it your own terms”

The abruptness of the question was so earth-shattering that he took a few steps back to regain his balance.

“Jesus Christ Bruce if are gonna accuse me of murder you could at least have the decency of start with that. No, I did not kill them. If any of mine did I haven’t heard of it. But as far as I’m concerned is no great loss.” - He succeeds at sounding nonchalant and enraged, hiding the fact that the question felt like a bucket of water, leaving his cold and shaking.

So, this is why Bruce actually called, so he could question Jason about his latest failure, his latest disappointment in Bruce’s eyes. Of course, it was, and he was a fool for ever thinking otherwise. For letting himself hope that Bruce was trying, that he wanted to rekindle the relationship they had when Jason still wore those green panties.

“Where were you at 2:30 in the morning, three nights ago?”

“What?”

Please god, everything but this. I can’t do this again

“At the time of the murder, where were you?

“In a dinner with your kids.” – Jason’s voice was nothing more than a whisper as if all the air had been pushed out of his lungs.

Why you don’t believe me? Why you don’t trust me?

“Damian said you left early, earlier than that, because he got home at 3:00. It takes at least half an hour to get here from there.

“Safehouse a few blocks away, then. Sleeping. Bruce, please”.  – Jason was begging now, voice raw and full of hurt.

“Can you prove that?”

"The hell is wrong with you?!? I already told you: I. DID. NOT. KILL. THEM. When have I ever not taken credit for the people I’ve killed?"

“What’s going on?”

And of course, because his luck could not be worse, that was the Perfect Grayson coming down the stairs. He could feel the headache forming behind his eyes. He did not want to deal with this shit right now.

Was it too much to ask for the ground swallow him whole?

“Nothing! Bruce’s just spent the last five minutes pointlessly accusing of murder! Can you get the fuck out so we can continue discussing it?”

“You were near the scene of the crime, you have a motive, the means, and a history.”

“Wait you killed someone?”

“No! Keep up, Bruce is just being a dick, you know like you usually are.”

“Is a valid concern”

“Is a piece of shit that is what it is!”

“Can someone please explain?”

“Bruce thinks I killed three people after I left the dinner the other day.”

That what you did after you left? It’s that what you meant by shooting kneecaps? Jay… I know that you were angry but this…

“Jesus Fucking Christ Didn’t I just say its bullshit?”

“You said that?”

“It was a joke”

“You have motive, means, no alibi and now your brother is telling me that you left because you needed to shoot someone. What do you want me to believe?”

“THAT I WOULDN’T LIE ABOUT IT!”

“If you were planning only to main them, if your anger got the better out you, as it has before if you did it out impulse, and is trying yo hide it.”

“You know what Bruce? You’ve already made up your mind so I will do us all a favor and get myself out. You can’t trust me? Well, I can’t trust you. From now on there will be no bats at the East End. If you are seen, you will be shot. That’s how trigger happy I fucking am!”

He pushed passed Dick and Bruce, the world was tingled with pit green glow, his ears were roaring, no sound, only rage, and loss. Every step he took was calculated, his breath was short, measured. A of violence ready to blow up at the mere provocation held together only by the barest threads of sanity and humanity and the training Ducra had given him. Roy’s voice babbling at him. Kori’s booming laughter. Kyle ridiculous art. Donna’s everlasting sass and warmth.

Somehow, someway he made home without turning Gotham into a bloodbath, and the relative he felt at activating the security protocol was fastly overtaken by fear. He hadn’t had an attack like that in over three months. Hadn’t let the Pit burning so strong in his veins in so long. Hadn’t felt that disconnection to reality since his early days out of the Pit.

Just the idea of what could have happened in case he lost control made Jason grab the nearest bucket and puke. He stayed there, pressing the palm of hinds to his eyes, heaving.

It didn’t matter, because it didn’t happen.

His phone rang, and if it was anybody else calling, he let go straight to voicemail, but it was Talia’s ringtone and she didn't call jus for kicks, so he presses answer.

“If I told you I didn’t kill a man would you believe me?” – Jason blurts out before he can stop himself, red coloring his cheeks as he realizes what he just said, cursing himself for his stupidity.

“Of course. Why would…I see.” – Talia’s face goes from neutral to confusion and finally anger in a matter of seconds. – “Your father does not know you at all Habibi, and that, rest assured, is entirely his fault. He’s too caught up in the image he made of you to be able to see you as truly are.”

“Batman being a stunned idiot, who can look past his own reasoning of the world? What an earthshattering idea T! – Jason says sarcastically trying to cover up his earlier emotional outburst. -  Anyway, got a reason for calling?

“Do not play coy with me, Jason, it’s unbecoming. Regardless, I do not believe Gotham has done you good. Moreover, I do not believe your father's actions towards you have been in any way helpful to your recovery and growth.”

“What are you? My therapist?”

“I would not be against for you to see one, but I would not force you either. Your choices, as always, must be your own. Besides is my understanding that to be effective therapy must also involve privacy. Another thing that its unlikely to come by if you are to remain here.

“Gotham needs me. The Alley needs me, God knows the Bat can’t handle this shit, they don’t care and even if they did the Alley would never trust them” – It wasn’t as much a rebuttal as it was an excuse

“They do, but you are of no use to them if you are constantly emotionally compromised by the rash and thoughtless actions of those who do not understand you and do not seek to. Loyalty is a gift that must be not be given lightly and they make ill use of yours while reaping the benefits of it. Perhaps it’s time for them to learn how to much you do for them. The absence does make the heart grow fonder.”

“You’re telling me to leave.”

“I’m telling take a step back. You’ve done tremendous work, but there’s more to you then violence. The petty criminals and drug dealers and the pimps are all properly terrified, your minions are capable enough that they can keep your operation running without your direct involvement. Rest. Recover. Come back when you are ready. Besides, you do have your master’s degree to consider, don’t you?”  - Jason blushed, Talia wasn’t one to give compliments that she didn’t mean, and she did have a point, but…

But what? What did he truly have here? It had taken less than ten minutes for Dick convince Bruce, based on nothing more than a few throw away words Jason had said when he was angry and hurting, that Jason had killed a man and once that decision had been made no amount of evidence would make Bruce turn around in his favor. The others probably already knew what had happened and just as likely had decided to stay away from him from now on. After all, if he couldn’t take a little teasing without blasting someone’s brains out then he was certainly no better than the crazies in Arkham, to them.

What Talia was offering has the peace of taking a walk without being judged by the path he chooses to walk on, let the dust stele until bygones were bygones and he could look at Dick’s- Holier-Than-Thou face without breaking every single bone in it.

What did he have to lose that he couldn’t take back later on?

“You do realize that this will take quite a bit of work and resources, right? – Jason could almost see that pleased little smile of hers spread on Talia’s face.

“You do realize who you are speaking with don’t you Habibi? Let’s get to work.

#first chapter #Criminal Minds #Jason Todd #fanfic #Im so nervous #Go check on AO3' #Im sorry for the delay #Spoiler: Jason is a Sad Boy in this #But he'll get better #Xover #Spencer Reid shows up in the next chapter #Worry not #im very proud of myself #ive written

[bracedfangirl]

Let’s start settin’ the mood

I’ve been wanting to share my Ninjago AU ever since I had the idea for it in 2015, and since I haven’t really seen anybody take up this trope, Ima do it myself. Tagging @lloydskywalkers because you seemed interested in the AU when I revealed it in anon.

What if Kai didn’t throw the crystal in time in Ep. 52? Tw: blood, gore (sorta) and major character death

Fatal Mistake (Fatal Mistake AU Beginning scene)

'Oh come on! 'Couldn't Morro stay trapped in the ice spikes for just a minute longer?' 'Why can we only have bittersweet victories?' Kai is apparantely on these thoughts as he glares at Morro, who's holding his blade to Lloyd's back demanding the realm crystal.

The choice is on Kai, who's the most reluctant in making this decision. Because objectively there's no reason for him to be conflicted, since as Ninjago's protectors they need to be ready to sacrifice themselves anytime and this is especially true for Lloyd.

But Lloyd isn't really capable of choosing, and Kai desperately wants to save his little brother. Yes he'd rather fight Morro's master or have billions cursed just to save his brother.

"Y'know I don't have all day Hothead, choose already!  Decide what you are first and foremost. The protector of Ninjago or the protector of the Green ninja? What do you value more your friend or the world?"

Morro's words make the choice even harder, because  they are Ninjago's protectors first and that's something Lloyd said himself. But Kai isn't capable of saying this. He's simply just not able to. Lloyd is family. Kai's little brother whom he swore to protect.  He can't condemn him to death just like that.

He only has one option, find a way to save both. He needs to find that way fast though, beacause Morro's getting more and more impatient.

As he's stressing, he starts to smell smoke. Wait, that means their powers came back! He's just gotta make the crystal scorching hot and Morro's not having any kind of victory today. He immidiately starts to heat the gem not even considering telling the others about it, preparing to throw the crystal-

Despite being barely concious Lloyd had heard pretty much everything. Not that he really needed to. He knew this was gonna happen the moment his friends left them in the ice spikes.

This current situation is quite horrible, because it can't end good for his team. Yes his team but not him. Dying isn't nearly as much as frightening to Lloyd as it should be, maybe because regarding the last two weeks, it really can't be that bad.

It certainly would be pretty painful, he doesn't doubt that, but considering the burning feeling of getting possessed… it probably isn't something he can't handle…

Though he'd rather not go with the slit throat option… one it involves a lot of chocking and stinging and two… it looks really nasty…

He knows he should probably be afraid, because he's thirteen and it really looks like he's gonna die, but… did he just lose his will to live? Maybe…

There is one thing he would like to live for though… and that is to spend a day home… spend a day at home, with all his family, with Zane's cooking, Jay's rambling, Cole's music mixes, Kai's and Nya's hugs-

Sharp, chocking pain rips through his torso, as if a blade went through him-

Okay, so wasting time to explain his plan to the others has been the actual worst mistake Kai's ever made, mostly due to how high the cost of it is.

The worst part is that it's not him who pays the price.

The horrible sound freezes his entire mind, before forcing him to turn torwards it's source…

To see the most dreaded image of his nightmares.

Lloyd stares at him with wide and hurt eyes, as if begging for help, shaking.

The blade's tip came out right under his gi clasp, coated in his dark blood, the surrounding fabric beggining to change color.

The seconds slow as Kai drops the crystal which cracks before rolling into the water.

Morro viciously grins, ripping the sword out, kicking Lloyd into the small river-

By the time the splash can be heard, Kai is already halfway on his way to jump in, directing himself to the densing red patch. The water is very cold, and it's hard to see in it, but Kai ignores every red light in his brain, focused on getting a grip on his sinking brother.

He does manage to grab a collar, and pull them together but he's losing air too fast, and he can't swim at all.

Just before he'd lose all of the precious air, someone grips his shoulder, ripping them both out of the water, thick red trail following them.

Lloyd gives out a horrible choke, throwing up water and blood, hands moving to grip the wound tightly. He knows his voice is unreliable, but he calls for his brother, vision slowly getting hazy.

"I'm here buddy I'm here, look at me… yes look at me, you're gonna be okay."

Kai's voice is seconds away from crying, and it's not like either of them belive what he just said but that isn't the point.

Kai rips his gaze over to Zane (along with everyone exept Lloyd), who just clenches his teeth and turns away, scan results painfully ovbious.

A grip forms on Kai's wrist, and turns back to Lloyd, who started shaking, gaze getting hazy and unclear, but he's clearly looking into Kai's eyes. The blood pool is growing under him in a rapid speed, edge reaching Kai's knees, soaking them.

Jay is crying now too, and it really looks like the others are close to completely breaking down too.

Suddenly Lloyd starts to croak, faint whispers heavily assaulted by his shallow, wheezing breaths. His eyes are barely open anymore, only vaguely looking in Kai's direction.

"I-I-"

Lloyd's grip is slowly falling away, blood spilling from his mouth again...

"I couldn't ha-have-"

The boy chokes again, desperately trying to speak…

"-a-asked f-for a better brother th-than you…"

Kai is frozen, staring into the hazy mismatched eyes, tears beginning to fall.

"…Th-thank you…"

Lloyd's eyes flutter closed, hand falling away and final wheeze ending with a soft sigh.

#ninjago #ninjago au #tw blood #tw death #fatal mistake au #pls don't tag as greenflame #ninjago lloyd #ninjago kai #ninjago zane #ninjago cole #ninjago jay #ninjago morro #ninjago angst #lloyd angst #major character death #tw gore

[thefamily]

Chapter Six: 1824 October 11th Hush boy

Jacks P.O.V.

T.W. Blood

        ‘It’s alright πυγολαμπίδα, you never have to deal with this place again. So just… relax my love.’ At those words I can feel my self relax, the relief that over comes me causes me to cry a little at the thought of never returning to that hellhole again. I feel my conscious drift away from the chaotic scene and I can feel petals wrap around me as I slide through them green lightning curving from my body(?) every now and again until I hear a someone humming to themselves as I hear the sound of someone carving wood. As I turn towards them I can see I’m in a dark room lit only by the candle on the desk with a boy(?) probably only around seventeen or so with… teal… hair? And I think I can see his eyes glowing gold from here.

        I take a step towards him examining trying to see if I can recognize him despite the familiarity radiating from him. He suddenly sits up straight causing me to jump back a bit and as I examine the back of his neck and I can feel a bit of hope fill my heart. There is two soul-marks on the back of his neck that hooked in each-other one of a stray green bolt of lightning and one of a wisp of the universe. Just like…

        “JJ?” I whisper out, shock over taking me as I take a step forward, but as I do every single doll and figurine turned their heads towards me, their eyes glowing an eerie yellow, giving a similar feeling to the forest. I instinctively reach to him to get him away from the dolls not even bothering to notice there really wasn’t a way out. As he turns to me I can see he has a rather annoyed expression that quickly fades into shock as his glowing gold eyes land on me, and just as I go to step towards him, the floor beneath me falls away.

        I can feel the petals again pulling me through the colorful void as I try to fight against them, trying to get back to JJ but I quickly stop, the smell of the petals relaxing me. I allow my self to drift until I hear a familiar voice calling for me.

        “Come here Sunon.” It’s Henrik’s voice, I know it is, I don’t know how but I do, he’s older maybe twenty, and he has a German accent but I can hear the little bit of Irish lingering in the back of his voice. It sounds happy but more of a sad… happy, if that makes sense.

        “Sunon, come here.” The voice calls again and it’s almost pleading and I jolt in shock, bolts of lightning curving from my body, as I recognize the voice.

        “Henrik?” The voice that comes from me sound like my seven year old self, confusion washes over me before at the sound of my voice until I can see what’s happening again.

        ‘Oh,’ I think as I look around, somehow without moving my body. ‘this is the day before Henrik got adopted.’ I remember it well enough to know that I didn’t leave his side the entire day. I feel my body move on it own accord at the sound of Henrik’s voice again.

        “I’m over here Sunon.” I look around and see him sitting on top of a large rock still wet from swimming the lake. It was one of those rare warm sunny days during the summer where Henrik would take me to a lake deep in the forest. Everything looked the same from that except, he looked different. His instead of their normal sky blue, they’re a soft, green with the same color veins going from the iris to the whites of his eyes to the area surrounding his eyes. And though his hair was the same length, long enough for a small pony tail, his usual light brown hair, was a soft green on the top and brown and a twinge of silver in it.

        Other than that though he was the same, with the same pale skin, Marvin's mark on his forehead just like me, the rest of my brothers and the other one was Liru’s… mark. ‘Oh my god. She’s all of our soulmate! How did I not realize that!’ She doesn’t even know either, I never bothered to mention it because I forgot ‘How the hell did I forget that?!’

        “Sunon?” Henrik’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I can feel my six year old body move and speak on it’s own accord.

        “Coming Hen” I got up and I could feel the left over water on my skin drying from the sun as I went over to him forgetting my shirt completely as I climbed up to the rock, sitting in front of him and for a split second I think it’s gonna fall out beneath me as well. I look up at him and I can feel a forced smile on my face as I look up at him. His eyes are sad as he looks at me but he has a soft smile as he looks at me. I watch as he reaches up around his neck and undoing the leather cord with a silver band that had a sigil Marvin carved into it.

        I watched as he had picked up the one of my hands the one with his mark on my upper arm and puts the ring and cord in my hand and covering it. My eyes water as he does and I try to hold my tears back but fall miserable. I launch at him, hugging him tightly not even bother with the fact I nearly knocked us both off the rock, burying my faces into his chest and crying my eyes out. He wraps an arm around me my torso and puts a hand on the back of my head as he buries his nose in my hair lightly and I can hear him mutter those words that were once comforting and now just painful to hear.

        “It’s okay Sunon. Everything will be okay, I’ll come back for you, ten years top. I promise.” As he said those words the world around me faded before leaving surrounded in the void of petal.

        Except they weren’t petals anymore, they were slimy, black than black, smelled like death, sulfur and burning flesh, it made me want to puke. They weren’t guiding me anymore they were yanking me down and this time I fought.

        I struggled and scratched and pulled, lightning breaking from my body and striking at the faux petals, burning them making the smells stronger to the point where I want to throw up. After a full minute of fighting against the pull the petals yank me down through them and I fall about a couple of stories landing on my back letting out a loud wheeze of pain as I feel the air whoosh out of my body as I struggle to regain it as I force myself up wincing in pain.

        As I stand up I freeze, every hair on my body stands up on end and I can feel my heart fall to my stomach then my stomach fall through the floor. In front of me was this large disgusting creature, it had a round body with useless legs dragging behind it as it uses it’s to small for it’s body wings, to hover in one spot and it was the color of if someone threw up and mixed ink into it. Thats not the worst part though was the to many long, spindly needle sharp arms holding up an almost identical copy of me, the only differences was the one black eye with a neon green iris and the other a Blue Lapis color and a slit throat.

        “Anti…?” My voice is quiet and breaking a I speak, the disbelief quickly become of over come with rage and sadness. Now I really wanna throw up and wake up. The creature’s spindly needle sharp arms wear pierced through his lower arms, hands, every one of his fingers, his feet and what seemed to be his head. And the way it was keeping him up, made Anti look like a puppet. The thing grins it’s beady white eyes almost closing from the wide grin showing off brown jagged over grown human teeth, with a sick sense of joy as it seems to speak and I could barely make out what it was saying.

        “D̎ͪ̽͢ir̙͇̫u͍̥ͤ̐͜ ͯͦ̿s͑͌͂͢a͉͆l̥̥͙utő̵̬n̖ͭ ̕a͉̙ľ̻͝ v̤̀i̵a ̞ͬfŗ͉̖͌̓a̡t̩ͩo,̶̅ P̶ṳ̃p̬͕̈͐p̓e̛͗̃͑t̲̆.͔̹̈̽” I watch in horror as Anti seems to jerk before whispering out in a dead voice,

“J̢acḱ?” I let out a chocked sob as the rage falls away leaving nothing but sadness behind. I watch as his eyes flash for a second full of confusion then fear, then straight up terror and panic and with each emotion I see, the slit in his neck begins to bleed heavier than before.

        “JA̧ĆK!́” His voice is desperate pleading and I can see more of the demons spindly arms begin to reach towards me and I can feel all of the rage suddenly slam into at once as green lightning explodes everywhere as I let out a scream of rage and the demon recoils as the lightning bursting from my body strikes it’s arms causing it to let out a shriek of pain.

        “ŖUN̷ JA̡CK ́P͢L̸EASE!͞” Anti’s voice breaks through the noise and I can see the demon quickly regrow the burned limbs as it lets out a roar that makes my head pound painfully.

        “P҉LEASE̸-” Anti’s desperate cry is cut off my the sound of him gurgling and blood pour out his mouth his neck practically a fountain of blood now. I can feel tears streaming down my face as I begin to move forward towards Anti, but as I do the creature lunges forward and before I can move, I wake up staring into Liru’s night blue, worried eyes.

_______________________________________________________________

Sunon = Sun

Say hello to your brother = Diru saluton al via frato

_______________________________________________________________

Thank you @antis-gauge for helping give me motivation to write

Don’t forget to reblog

Tag List:

@immabethehero

@antis-gauge

@therealtiger77

@nerdylampeclipseuniversity

@a-mad-tea-time

@i-maybe-exist

@flowers-zombie-rob

@myspeedymilkshake

#Jacksepticeye #Antisepticeye #Jameson Jackson #Henrik Von Schneeplestein #Jackaboy Man #Marvin The Magnificent #Chase Brody #Robbie the Zombie #Liru Mcloughlin #Fanfiction #soulmate au

[cowboytaco]

Hosie Fanfic

I’ve finally finished the fist chapter of my fic and posted on ao3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/24014470/chapters/57774139)

Here it is below, I hope you guys like it!

--

Hope had always known she had a thing for Josie. Ever since they were little and she observed the twins from afar. The brunette had a softness to everything she did, always so attentive to everyone around her and caring. Really, who could not fall for that.

So that is what Hope did. She fell in love with Josie, without being able to put words on this feeling. They rarely spoke, but her heart felt strange each time Josie would look her way or send her a shy wave from the other side of the room.

And then they grew up. And her life got turned upside down. And her room almost burned down, and things changed. She became the target of Lizzie’s snarky remark for no apparent reason, and Josie would look at everywhere but her whenever they found themselves in the same vicinity.

Hope spent nights trying to make sense of what she could have done, laying on her bed in her room that still had a faint smell of burn. No matter how long she thought about it, she never was able to come up with an answer. So after some time, she gave up.

Her feelings for Josie never really went away though. They were buried, deep down, but still present, as a reminder of what she’d never have.

Until that night, when Josie admitted having started the fire because she had a crush on Hope. And what was she supposed to say to that? So she smiled, and before things got awkward, she excused herself to leave the twins “to talk”, throwing a small smile Josie’s way and wishing both girls good night.

After leaving the twins’ room, Hope found herself in a position she had not been in in some time, on her bed, looking at the ceiling, and thinking about every last encounter she had with the brunette witch.

It was a weird feeling, knowing you could have had the one thing you always wanted if you had just actually tried to get it instead of doubting every little action. Hope may be brave when it came to fighting monsters, but she knew she was petrified when it came to taking any sort of personal risk that could affect her life.

Her mind started to wonder and ponder the reasons that led Jodie to try to retrieve her note. She was sad that the girl felt the need to hide her feelings from her. Was she really that scary to Josie? She was well aware that she did not give off the image of a warm and fuzzy girl, but she never thought she would scare Josie so much that the brunette would nearly burn down the whole school to avoid the tribrid from finding out her true feelings. And that didn’t sit well with her. It made her feel like throwing up, for causing Josie any sort of pain.

Deciding dwelling on the past would not do her any good, she changed into her pajamas and went to the kitchen to get some food before going to bed.

As she got closer to the kitchen, she heard someone digging through the cupboards.

“Lizzie?”

“Oh shit”, the girl yelped, turning around and almost spilling the content of the box of cereals on the floor, “wear some bells around your neck, would you”.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you”, Hope said softly. Lizzie was looking at her expectantly, but Hope had no idea what to say to her after the day they had, and the silence started to get awkward.

“I’m…”

“How are…”

“Sorry, go first”, Hope told her.

“I’m sorry about what happened. About the fire, about being awful to you for something you had nothing to do with. For everything.” It was one of those rare times that Lizzie looked like she meant every word she said, so Hope listened, trying not to cry.

She felt so much lighter, without knowing in the first place that something was weighting her down. Finally knowing that she wasn’t the one at fault for the tense situation between her and the twins made her feel like a big part of her worries just vanished. For once, she was not blaming herself. And it felt good.

“Please don’t be mad at Josie, she really didn’t mean to cause you any harm, we were young and stupid”

Hope gave her a watery smile, “I'm not”, and she meant it. “Tell her. If she worries, which she probably will. Please, tell her I’m not mad?”

“I will”, Lizzie smiled. “But maybe you could also tell her yourself? Breakfast tomorrow?”, the blonde asked hesitantly with a small smile, not knowing what was the proper etiquette for their situation.

And Hope will blame the dust, but a tear fell down her eye as she starting laughing “yeah, I’d love that”.  Lizzie was extending her an olive branch, and she’d be stupid if she did not grab it with both hands.

The next morning, Hope woke up feeling queasy. She turned off her alarm and sighed. How was she supposed to sit through breakfast with the twins and pretend everything was normal?

She hadn’t been able to fall asleep after her encounter in the kitchen with Lizzie, her mind always going back to Josie. Josie’s confession the night before had brought back all the feelings she had managed to bury all those years ago, and not in a good way. It left her confused and feeling guilty. She was dating Landon, he was supposed to be the one occupying her mind and keeping her awake. Not Josie.

Dating Landon had felt like a good opportunity to finally move on and come to terms with the fact that nothing would ever happen between her and the brunette. He was cute, funny, and most importantly, normal. Hope was not stupid (although that was debatable in certain circumstances), she knew she was attractive enough to have guys, and even the occasional girl, looking her way. But she always turned any invitation to go out down. After one too many sleepless night, she finally realized why: she was unconsciously hoping Josie reciprocated her feelings, and she thought that in the off chance she might, seeing Hope with some guy would destroy any possibility there ever was. So she remained alone, until she accepted that she needed to move on. And then, she met Landon.

With one glance at the time, she hurried out of bed and started to get ready for the day, deciding to deal with the breakfast situation during the breakfast situation, Landon forgotten for the moment. She would deal with him when she will have to.

Lizzie had not really provided her with any more information than “breakfast tomorrow”, so she decided to head straight to the breakfast hall and not make things even more awkward by going to the twins’ room first. When she got there, she took a quick look around to try to spot the girls, and saw Lizzie waving her hand enthusiastically at her. Josie had her back to her, and turned around to see what caused her sister to act like a maniac and drop her yogurt on the table all of a sudden. Hope’s breath caught in her throat as the sight of her, and she smiled shyly at Josie’s small wave.

She nodded her head to the side to let the girls know she would join them after getting some food.

Pull yourself back together, what the fuck is wrong with you? You’ve seen Josie almost every day for 10 years, and you decide now to forget how to breathe? Act normal, don’t be weird, it’ll be fine. God what would people say if they knew what was going on in your head? The big bad tribrid chocking to death because she saw a pretty girl.

Shaking her head, she made her way to the table the twins where sat at, deciding to sit next to Josie rather than having to face her. Small victories, she told herself.

Lizzie was the first one to speak. “Look who decided to grace us with her presence. The Almighty Hope Mikaelson”.

Both Josie and Hope rolled her eyes at her, and shared a look and a smile.

Josie gently said a small “hey” to Hope, before looking at the ground and going back to eating her breakfast.

“So, since the Holy Trinity is back together, I was thinking we should do something to celebrate. Let the past be in the past. Ashes to ashes, blah blah blah”

“Lizzie!” Josie exclaimed, her eyes almost bulging out of her face.

On the other side of the table, Lizzie looked too proud of her joke to let Josie ruin her mood. The blonde smirked at Hope as Hope said “it’s fine Josie, really. I’m honestly just glad everything is in the clear now and we can move on”, she said the last part looking pointedly at Lizzie, who shrugged.

“So? Tonight? Celebratory end of war movie?” and this time, Josie kicked her under the table “Ouch, abusive much?”

Hope decided to intervene and end Josie’s misery “Sounds good to me. Josie?”

Josie turned her head abruptly towards Hope with a deer caught in the headlights expression on her face “Hum, yes. Movie. Tonight. Yes”.

The conversation kept flowing between the girls before they all had to head to class, agreeing on meeting at the twins’ room at 8PM.

For the rest of the day, Hope had a smile on her face. Other students kept giving her weird looks as they passed her in the hallway, did she really look that miserable usually?

After her last class, Hope decided to head to Landon’ room to see how he was doing. She had not seen him since they got back from their trip the day before, and the guilt she was feeling in the morning came rushing back.

She knocked on his door and after hearing a faint “come in”, the pushed it open and was met with the curly haired boy sitting on his bed, guitar in hand.

“Hey, I just came in to see how you were feeling. I haven’t seen you today.” There, she could do this. This was Landon, the sweet guy who danced with her, and who wrote her a song.

He smiled to her as he put his guitar back on its stand, and Hope felt immediately better. “I should be asking you that, mummy hunter.”

And she laughed, because it felt good. Landon felt good. “Not as exciting as it sounds, and the twins did most of the work. But the vomiting bugs part was really an amazing experience. 10/10 would recommend.”

“Hum, should I even want to be kissing you right now?”, he said with a small laugh, getting up from the bed and walking towards a laughing Hope to hug her.

“Shouldn’t you want to be kissing me all the time?”, she replied, with a quirk of her eyebrow, before Landon pecked her multiple times between giggles.

Landon felt good. Landon was easy.

“So, what’s your plans for the night? Any post-monster celebration?”

“Actually, Lizzie invited me to a movie night”, Hope said, with a soft smile at the idea of relinking their old friendship.

“Oh that is new. But good. Very good. -” Hope felt he was about to start to ramble, so she interrupted him before he had a chance to get any further.

“We had the time to talk, and set things straight” Hope rolled her eyes internally at that. Things were definitely not straight. “We realized we have wasted so much time hating on each other instead of being friends, so we’re making up for it.”

Landon took a small step back to look at her face and untangled himself a bit from her, but still holding her close. “I’m happy for you Hope, you deserve good friends you can count on.”

Landon was good, which made her feel even more awful lying to him about the real reasons behind her truce with the twins.

Getting back to her room, Hope opted to shower and change into more comfortable clothes before going to the twins'.

She removed her school uniform, putting it on her desk chair, and went to her laundry basket in her bathroom to put her underwear in. She turned on the water, as warm as her skin would allow it without burning her, and hopped in the tub.

Once under the hot stream, she released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Yes, she was happy she was back on speaking terms with the girls, but the downside was that her feelings for Josie came rushing back to her, and she felt like suffocating. Josie had said she had a crush on her. It was all in the past, right? So this new bit of information did not change anything. It did. But it shouldn’t. She had Landon, she finally found like she was starting to take control of her life. Until Josie.

Josie. Josie with her perfect kissable lips, soft skin and kind eyes. And legs. Damn those legs. Josie who cared more for others than herself. Josie who always looked at her like she wanted to tell her something she couldn’t voice out loud. Landon never stood a chance. And neither did she.

She had broken down all of Hope’s walls without even trying. Actually, she got in before Hope had built those walls, and Hope never had the will to escort her out. It felt nice, to have someone on the inside, even if they never talked.

This was the thing about Josie. She never tried with Hope, but yet she always succeeded where many before had failed. It all came naturally.

All of a sudden, Hope got mad at herself. She was the one who created this situation in the first place, having a stupid crush on Josie and nurturing it, until it became too much for her to handle. Josie’s revelation would have already been forgotten had she not harbored the same feeling the brunette did for her. Yet, here she was. Back to square one. Mind on a loop on Josie and only Jodie. See, Josie had invaded her mind without even trying.

Hope released a defeated sigh before turning off the water and getting out. She dried herself and put on a pair of sweatpants and an old New Orleans tee shirt, before brushing her teeth and combing her hair.

As she took one last look at herself in the mirror, she smiled, and realized she was actually looking forwards to her evening with Josie and Lizzie. Even if she will only admit it under torture, she had missed them, in a way you miss something you never really knew in the first place. She liked Lizzie, and that, even under torture, she won’t admit. Lizzie, despite her flaws, was witty and funny, and always there for Josie, in her weird selfish way. And Josie, Josie was better to have as a friend than not at all. Hope needed someone like Josie in her life, on whom she could count on. And who could count on her back.

In front of her mirror, she took a decision: she would not let her feelings get in the way of a friendship with Lizzie and Josie.

With that in mind, she turned off the lights of the bathroom, put on comfy socks and grabbed the bags of potato chips she had taken from the kitchen before going to meet her friends.

“No”

“Yes”

“No fucking way Lizzie, I said no”

“Come on Jo, stop shitting on my parade”

“What is literally wrong with you?”

Deciding now was the best time to make her presence known before the girls started to kill each other, Hope knocked on the door, which flew open within the second, revealing the twins facing each other, both with scowls on their face “Okayyyy…”

“Trimix, please come in, we were just choosing a movie”, Lizzie cheerfully said.

Josie rolled her eyes at that, “There is no ‘we’ in dictatorship, Lizzie.”

Hope felt a bit out of place, not knowing what to say next. Clearly, the twins had different tastes in movies, and she hoped she would not have to come and decide.

“How about we let Hope choose then?” Oh god. “We don’t tell her who chose which movie, and she decides.”

Josie looked unsure of her sister’s proposition, but shrugged at Hope, before Lizzie spoke again. “So, we have: The Hills have eyes, but the remake, or Inception. Your choice.”

Hope bit her lip as she hesitated, looking between the two girls to get a clue. Truth is, she had no idea who chose what, although from what she heard when she was standing behind the door and Josie’s firm no, she assumed Lizzie chose the horror movie.  

“Hum… The Hills have eyes…?” Truth is, Hope had wanted to see it, but never really got around to it.

“YES”, Lizzie yell, “take that Jojo!”

“I really don’t get it Hope, how can you enjoy such movies? Don’t you have enough monsters in your real life?” Josie wondered, with a down expression on her face.

Hope wished she could hold her in her arms and kiss her nose. NO. Bad Hope. Bad.

“Well,” she started, “that’s exactly the thing. It is nice for once to no be the one dealing with monsters. I just watch the screen, and I don’t worry about having to fight it. It’s actually quite relaxing when you think of it,” Hope finished with a smile and a shrug.

Until Josie muttered “Psycho” under her breath, which Hope assumed she was not supposed to hear. She laughed softly nevertheless, Josie turning a bit red when she realized she had been heard.

“Ok lovebirds, time to hit the lights and get our freaky on!”

Hope laughed louder while Josie exclaimed “Oh. My. God. Lizzie.”

So, maybe a horror movie wasn’t a great idea. Maybe it was a terrible idea. Hope was in the middle of the twins, with the computer on her legs. Josie, on her left side, was pressed against her side with her head buried in her neck, which made focusing on the movie very difficult for Hope.

She casted a glance at Lizzie after the particularly hard scene of the van, and she gave Hope a smirk while nodding her head in Josie’s direction, whose face was hidden in Hope’s neck. Hope rolled her eyes at Lizzie who appeared to be having the time of her life, making fun of Josie and torturing Hope at the same time. Two birds, one stone and all that.

Hope felt bad for Josie. Really bad. She took advantage of Lizzie’s bathroom break to apologize to her. “I’m really sorry Jo, I really had no idea you’d be that scared.” Hope said in a soft voice, trying to catch the brunette’s eyes, but she kept looking everywhere but at Hope.

“It’s fine, don’t worry. I knew this was bound to happen at some point, she has been bugging me about this movie for the past year. At least I’m lucky you’re here.” Josie said with a small smile and a blush.

God, Hope really never stood a chance.

They shared another smile, and Hope took this as an opportunity to voice her feelings. “I’m really glad things between us have been resolved. And before you say anything, I don’t blame you, it wasn’t your fault. God you were so young, Josie, how could you have known?”

“Thank you, Hope. I…”

“Shhh, it’s okay Josie. Really. Like I said, I’m glad to be with you guys.”

At that moment, the door opened and Lizzie came back carrying a jar of ice cream and three spoons. She was also feeling kind of bad for Josie. The movie was worse than she thought it was. She usually liked watching horror movies with her twin to poke some fun at her, but they usually never watched movies as bloody as this one.

She walked over to Hope and closed the computer, saying “Ok fine, that movie is terrible. Who wants ice cream?”

And just like that, the movie was forgotten and the girls started chatting about everything and anything, reminiscing from the past and gossiping about other students. Hope glanced at Josie from time to time, and the brunette caught her a few times, smiling brightly at her. Josie had been acting weird today, flushed, even distant. Hope understood, she had just admitted to having a crush on her and setting her room on fire. But she was glad the Josie she knew was slowly coming back.

Josie recalled the time in fifth grade when Lizzie had put a frog in Jed’s bag after he had been mean to Josie, and they all laughed together at the memory.

Hope was happy, and that night, she fell asleep within seconds.

#hosie #josie saltzman #hope mikaelson #legacies fanfiction #legacies #the edge

[thdorkmagnet]

See the Light (Star is Rapunzel AU Part 4)

Summary: A series of one-shots and multi-chapters proving why Star Butterfly should be considered a Disney Princess, as Star and company take over the roles of all your favorite Disney Princess characters! (Starco inevitable)

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Disclaimer: Star vs and all its characters are owned by Daron Nefcy and Disney. Tangled belongs to Disney. All rights go to their respective owners.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 

Marco was in shock. That much was clear to Star as she cast worried glances at him from across the small clearing the three had settled down in for the night. She was starting to worry about him honestly as he just sat numbly on the log, his unblinking eyes staring deeply and emptily into the flickering light of the campfire. He looked drained, devoid of any and every emotion, and Star was fairly sure she hadn't seen him blink in over an hour.

She couldn't blame him for this reaction, it was only natural after all, it was probably not every day he was in the presence of two magical beings and it was bound to be confusing. Still, she figured he would recover once they had explained the situation to him. She hoped he would at least, it was starting to bother her that he hadn't looked at her in a while, though she had no idea why. For some reason, she seemed to be craving his attention.

Janna settled down beside her friends as she finished setting their meal on to cook over the campfire, just some fish Star had managed to catch after much trial and error. Janna was still in her human form for now, which Star knew had to be wearing out soon, so she figured they better hurry up and explain everything before she changed back, since it was clear Marco didn't speak bat.

The two girls now sat on either side of Marco and Star cleared her throat, deciding it was best if she started. "So, Marco I bet you have a lot of questions, huh?" She asked awkwardly, nearly slapping herself for saying something so dumb. Duh, of course he did.

"Maybe just... a couple," the thief sheepishly admitted, he seemed to be acting just as awkward as she felt and Star found something bizarrely comforting about that.

"Okay well, I guess I should start from the beginning, then," she began, clearing her throat. But suddenly she noticed the way her friend was clinging onto his hand, laying it gingerly in his lap and Star leaned over to examine it closer. "Did something happen to your hand?" she asked.

"Huh?" Marco said in surprise, before following her gaze to his palm, wrapped up tight in bandages. "Oh yeah, I scraped it on one of the rocks back in the cave."

Star frowned, cooing softly, "Oh you poor thing! Here, let me help you."

As soon as she began fiddling with the bandages, Marco began to protest, putting his good hand on her shoulder to try and hold the blond back. "No, no, that's okay. You don't have to-"

"Marco," Star interrupted, her voice soft but firm and the boy froze and locked eyes with her. "Trust me."

Marco stared deep into her crystal blue orbs for a moment before he loosened his grip and allowed her to finish whatever it was she was doing. It's not like she could make things any worse, right?

So instead, the boy just watched in confusion as she began to wordlessly wrap strands of her hair around the scrape, looping it multiple times until the injury was fully covered by her blond locks. "Uhh, so what exactly are you doing?" he asked after a moment, his curiosity and impatience getting the best of him.

"You'll see," she said, with barely suppressed joy, shooting him a playful wink. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, as her mouth slowly opened. But suddenly, her eyes snapped back open as she rushed to add, "Oh and try not to freak out."

"Whaaa-" Marco began, slightly unnerved now, but Star just closed her eyes and started the same process as before.

"Flower gleam and glow," she began, her gentle smooth singing voice throwing Marco off guard. She was singing again.

"Let your power shine." This was the same song from before, which meant...

And just as expected a warm glow lit up the darkened area, starting at the roots of the blond's hair and slowly crawling its way down. "Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine."

Marco watched in awe as the glowing trail flowed through Star's long locks, sucking in a breath as it reached his hand. "Heal what has been hurt..." Wait, what was that last bit?

"Change the fates' design..." Marco gasped as his hand began tingling but not in a bad way, it felt... oddly comforting. "Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine." Marco, still in shock as the tingling grew into a steady, soothing warmth, looked over to Janna who just gave him a smug, knowing look.

Finally, Marco's gaze returned to Star as she finished her song, her eyes closed and the glow from her hair making her face shine with an otherworldly beauty, causing the boy's cheeks to heat up as he let out a soft breath. "What once was minnnee."

The moment she stopped singing, the glow vanished and the tingling sensation disappeared, leaving Marco blinking as his eyes struggled to adjust to the dim lighting once again. He began to unwrap his hand, wanting to see the result of whatever his magical friend had just done and Star bit her lip as she watched him intensely, waiting to judge his reaction.

The moment Marco saw the state of his hand, he felt the urge to scream, barely stifling the shocked cry as he saw his hand had been completely healed, not a scratch anywhere in sight. "Oh wow, th-that is.. I um, that's... certainly something," Marco chocked out, plastering on a forced smile, trying not to let his discomfort show out of fear of upsetting Star.

"Marco, it's okay if you're freaked out," Star told him, seeing through his act in a heartbeat.

Marco laughed awkwardly, rocking back and forth on the log while clutching his hand to his chest. "What, no. Freaked out? I'm not freaked out. Are you freaked out?!"

"Marco!" Star said, placing her hands on his cheeks and staring deep into his eyes. "Its really alright if you aren't okay," she reassured him softly.

But she felt instant regret for this action as she became all too startlingly aware of just how close she was to him and how deep and vast his brown eyes were. The boy seemed aware of this too because his breath hitched at the action and his face pooled with blood. Star quickly released him, ignoring her own blushing cheeks, playing with a loose strand of her hair, doing her best not to meet his eye.

Marco cleared his throat before asking, in a still slightly unnerved tone, "So, uh, how long have you been able to... do that?"

Star shrugged, finally meeting his eye again. "Basically forever. My mom said when I was really little that people tried to steal my hair so they could use its power. But, turns out if you cut it, it doesn't work anymore and it never grows any longer." She pulled back her many layers of hair to show him a short blond strand. She let her hair drop back, a sad look crossing her face as she admitted, "That's why I stayed in the tower for so long. I didn't want anyone using this power for the wrong reasons. But I figured since I'm old enough now, it would be okay." Her eyes looked into the flickering fireplace as she added bitterly, "Not that mom would agree."

Marco gave Star a sad look, placing his hand gently over hers, causing her eyes to jump to his for a second. "I'm sorry, Star. That must have been terrible, being cooped up and stuck in one place is literally my worst nightmare."

"Yeah, it was pretty tough," the blond admitted. The two shared a long look before Star gave him a small smile and said, "But y'know today has been the greatest day of my life, even with the near-death experiences."

The two shared a chuckle, Marco immediately agreeing, "Same." The young thief blushed before adding, "But I guess that's because I got to spend it with you."

Star's eyes widened at that, twinkling in the dim firelight. For a moment, the two just stared at each other with blushes on their cheeks, until they heard a cough next to them and they both whipped their heads over to see Janna giving them a cocky smirk. She pointed down at their hands and they followed her gaze only to gasp as they realized Marco's palm was resting on Star's. The young thief immediately pulled his hand away, rubbing the back of his neck, while Star began to shyly play with a strand of hair again.

"So uh, Janna," Marco began, hoping the girls wouldn't pick up on the squeak in his voice. "What about you? What's your story?"

Janna shrugged, casually leaning back on the log before saying, "Eh, you know. Snuck into a witch's garden, ate from a forbidden berry bush, got cursed by the witch, just your generic everyday hexing."

"Riiiiighht," Marco mumbled, with a roll of his eyes. But an eyebrow slowly raised and he asked in confusion, "So, wait then how did you meet Star?"

"Oh, it's a funny story actually," Star began giddily before she began recounting her first meeting with her pet and best friend.

Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes just outside the clearing, two forms were watching the group of teens from the shadows. Eclipsa was glaring at the young, smiling boy who had stolen away her daughter. The look he kept giving Her Flower making Eclipsa's insides burn with fury and unease. Especially when Star continually shared the look with the young thief.

Ludo just looked bored, impatiently tapping his fingers on his crossed arms. "What are we waiting for? Let's just go over there and grab her while she's distracted."

The bird Monster took a step forward only to be forcefully pulled back by Eclipsa, the woman telling her partner calmly, "Patience, Ludo. These things take time. We mustn't rush things."

Ludo grumbled but obeyed Eclipsa staying in their hiding spot as he stared longingly at the golden hair that was going to make him rich. He figured it was best to go along with this woman's plans, at least until he had the girl in his clutches. Then he was planning to... 'part ways' with Eclipsa. After all, Ludo wasn't much for sharing his spoils. "Okay, then what do we do?" He asked instead, the impatience clear in his voice.

"First, we need to drive those two apart, otherwise we will have a persistent thief on our tails," Eclipsa explained, her narrowed eyes never straying from the boy in red who was getting a little too close to her daughter for Eclipsa's liking, both figuratively and at the moment literally.

"And how do we do that?" Ludo asked in annoyance. From the look of those two, they seemed inseparable.

Eclipsa just smiled. "Leave that to me."

"...it took weeks to get the smell of burnt hair and grapefruit out of the tower," Star cheerfully said, as she finished up her story. "And Janna and I have been together ever since."

"Wow, that was a pretty incredible story," Marco said mystified, his eyes shimmering with joy as he and Star shared a smile. He paused, before adding hesitantly, "And if not for the day I had I probably wouldn't have believed it."

"Yeah, guess it is a bit far-fetched, I mean I didn't even know pig goats could climb a tower," Star admitted.

Marco laughed, his hand unknowingly squeezing Star's, causing the blond's fingers to tingle at the touch. "So what, is it always that crazy for you?"

"Ah, yeah I guess," Star replied hesitantly, not sure if Marco saw that as a good thing or a bad thing, remembering his less than enthusiastic reaction to nearly drowning earlier today. She didn't know why, but it really mattered to her how Marco felt about her. She wanted him to like being around her as much as she liked being around him.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it if you keep hanging out with us," Janna said with a casual little smirk.

Marco smiled back at the two and Star felt her heart flutter in her chest as Marco's shimmering brown orbs froze on her for a second, causing her cheeks to heat up with a blush. Especially as he added sweetly, "Yeah, guess I will."

But the moment was quickly interrupted as Janna stated with slight annoyance, "Hey, guys, the fire is starting to die." The two broke their gaze as they turned to the fire-pit and sure enough the flames were already starting to lose their flicker, in a couple of minutes there would be nothing left of it but hot embers.

"Oh guess you're right, Jan," Star said, absentmindedly, her brain still consumed by the mental image of a soft, brown gaze. "Guess we better throw on another log."

"Yeah, see that's the thing, we don't have anymore," Janna replied. "Because somebody didn't grab us enough." The girl shot Star a fixed stare, causing the blond to puff out her cheeks in annoyance.

"Hey, I did my best considering this is my first time outside ever!" Star whined defensively while shooting her friend a glare.

"Hey, no worries, Star," Marco spoke up before the girls' argument could get any worse, standing and smiling down at the two. "I'll just go get some more," he reasoned pleasantly, pointing over his shoulder at the thick foliage behind him.

"Thanks Marco," Star said in her typical cheery tone.

"And I'll go with you, just to make sure you get enough and don't end up getting eaten by a bear," Janna said, rising from the log herself and throwing an arm around the boy's shoulder, slowly leading them away from the safety of the fire.

"I don't need a babysitter," Marco said with a scowl.

"Oh but I think you do," Janna said in a sing-song voice, much to the young thief's annoyance. "I mean, I left you two alone for like a minute and you almost drowned."

"That's not the same thing!" Marco shouted, before their voices and forms faded from view, leaving Star alone in the flickering firelight.

The blond smiled at her friends' playful banter, glad to see the two acting so close despite the short time they had known one another. To Star, it felt like she had already known Marco her whole life, rather than a day, their time together something she knew she would treasure from now until the end of time. Star couldn't help but smile and blush at the thought of Marco, he was so nice to her and so much fun to hang out with, the image of him singing earlier in the bar causing her whole face to light up. She really wanted to get to know him better and luckily for her she would have plenty of time to-

"Well, I thought he would never leave," a voice said behind her, and Star's eyes widened in fear, slowly turning around to see the form of her mother, staring blankly down at her. Her skin was more wrinkly than before, strands of greying hair were seen peeking out from beneath the rim of her hat.

A wave of guilt washed over Star as she shot to her feet, her mind reeling in shock to see her mother standing there. "M-Mom?" Star stuttered out nervously, shifting uncomfortably while her fingers were busy fiddling with a strand of golden hair. "W-What are you doing here?"

"Well I came home a bit early and you'd never guess what I found back at the tower," her mother said in what was clearly a fake pleasant tone, the scolding look in her eyes sending shivers down Star's spine. "Can you guess what I found, Star?"

"Ummm..." Star muttered out, her heart hammering away in her chest.

But Eclipsa didn't allow her daughter to finish, as she said quickly in a forceful and reprimanding tone, "The answer is nothing. Because my daughter found it better to lie to me and sneak out behind my back."

Star cringed, looking lost down at her feet, hoping they would somehow provide the answer. But, to her disappointment they didn't, so the blond had no choice but to reluctantly raise her head and meet her mother's sharp gaze as she swallowed the lump in her throat and nervously replied, "I'm sorry, mom. I know I shouldn't sneak out but you didn't give me any choice."

"No choice. You knew exactly what you were doing when you lied to me, young lady," Eclipsa scolded.

"Well I had to, you weren't listening to me," Star said in exasperation. Ugh, why couldn't her mom just see what she was doing to her? "I tried to tell you about the floating lights and that I was old enough to go see them but nooo-"

"I was trying to keep you safe, Star," Eclipsa argued. "The outside world is a dangerous place, you could get hurt, someone could try and steal your hair or-"

"Yeah, well I've been outside all day and nothing like that has happened!" the blond replied with an annoyed huff, crossing her arms bitterly in front of her chest. "I'm not a little kid anymore, mom! I can take care of myself!"

"Oh really?" Eclipsa said, giving her daughter a long, hard look.

"Yes, really!" Star shouted back. "Besides I'm not completely alone out here, mom! I've got someone looking after me-"

"Oh yes, the young wanted thief, he's certainly doing a great job of protecting you," the older woman interrupted sarcastically. "He obviously has nothing but your best interest at heart far more than I do," she added bitterly, putting a hand to her chest as her eyes shone with hurt.

Star felt the familiar tug of guilt at her mom's words but they were instantly overpowered by the accusation towards her new friend, a wave of anger passing through her. And feeling the need to stand up for her friend she snapped out without thinking, "How can you say that?! Marco has been nothing but nice to me since I met him! Sure it was a bit of a rocky start but since then he's looked out for me." Star paused her cheeks flushing some as she added, " And I-I like him and I-I think he likes me, too."

Eclipsa stared at her wordlessly for a second before bursting into laughter, much to Star's surprise and embarrassment, her cheeks pooling with so much blood she was afraid she might faint. "Oh darling, you really are too naive for this?" her mother whispered, shaking her head. "You're not thinking clearly. This is the whole reason I told you not to leave. Can't you see he's just using you to get what he wants?"

Star's eyes sharpened into a glare as she argued, "No! No, Marco, isn't like that. He cares about me, he does!" The blond didn't allow any room for doubt, keeping her voice firm and confident.

"Oh, really," her mother said, the disbelief at her daughter's words as plain as day. A clever smile slowly crept across her face as she added, "Well then, why not put him to the test to see if he is really who you say he is?"

Star had a bad feeling about that but not seeing any way out, she replied, "What do you mean?"

"Well if you're so sure he won't leave you once he has what he wants then why not give it to him early," Eclipsa said, while slowly reaching behind her back and pulling out... Marco's satchel.

Star's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth dropping open at the sight. She took a step back, frantically asking, "How did you find that?!"

"I have my ways," her mother replied simply. "But the bigger question is: What will your little friend do once he sees this? Will he stay with you? Or will he leave and never look back?"

Star's surprise quickly faded into determination as she snatched the satchel out of her mom's hands, the woman just staring at her daughter with a smug, knowing grin. "Marco isn't like that. And I'll prove it to you!" Star turned on her heels, ready to face Marco for whenever he got back, her voice tight with anger. "He'll stay with me, you'll see."

Eclipsa shrugged. "Very well. But when he rejects you, don't bother to come crying to me because I tried to warn you," the woman said, her words poison to Star's mind, who slowly felt her determination wavering, doubt beginning to flood her mind. “Just remember, you wanted to be treated like an adult, Star. Well, now you get to learn just how harsh the real world is."

Star, feeling the doubt beginning to overpower her senses, swerved around to say something to her mom, both of out of need to tell her mom she was wrong and to calm her own mind. But to Star's surprise, her mom was completely gone, like she had vanished into the night. Star looked around a few times for any sign of her mom before realizing she was alone again. Alone with her thoughts.

Star slowly looked back down at the satchel in her grip, her hands tightening so much around it her knuckles were starting to turn white, and she did her best to swallow down her doubt, her mother's words still ringing in her ears. Was she right? Would Marco leave? No, no of course he wouldn't, she argued with herself. Marco would never do that. Would he? Star bit her lip as her worried thoughts overwhelmed her, making her hesitant to decide what to do.

What was she going to do?

But before Star could make a decision she heard a familiar voice echoing through the trees, getting closer and closer every minute. Star panicked, looking around for a place to hide the satchel, before spotting a large rock and quickly threw the bag behind it, hopefully out of view from either Marco or Janna. The girl then turned to face her friends, plastering on the most innocent smile she could as she listened to their conversation as they got closer.

"Unbelievable! I can't believe you turned back into a bat and made me carry all the firewood by myself?!" came Marco's annoyed tone.

Janna let out a few squeaks, confirming to Star that Janna had finally reverted back to her original form.

The boy growled under his breath, before adding, "Oh don't give me that, I know that look, you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

Another more innocent squeak this time.

"Y'know I may not be able to understand you, but I can tell you're being sarcastic," Marco scoffed, rolling his eyes just as he stepped into the clearing, Janna perched on his shoulders and a large pile of wood in his arms. The young thief then loudly called, "Hey Star! I got the-"

But the boy stopped as he spotted Star standing in the middle of the clearing, a guilty look in her eyes and a far-too-wide-to-be-real smile on her face. Marco and Janna's eyebrows both shot up as the boy asked suspiciously, "Star, what's going on?"

"Nothing," the girl said much too quickly.

"Is everything... okay?" the boy asked, worry pinching his brow for a moment.

Star nodded. "Yep, everything's fine. Nothing to worry about, whatsoever," the girl continued, waving a hand at the boy.

Marco didn't seem convinced but he just shrugged and let the subject drop, dumping the pile of firewood on the dimming coal, reigniting them back to life. He sat down on the tree trunk again, asking slightly worriedly, "So should I be worried about any negative side-effects to you healing my hand like that?"

"No, why?" Star asked, plopping down next to him.

"Well, I was just thinking," the boy continued, looking down at his arm. "Is my arm gonna be like super-strong now or like glow in the dark or grow to twice the size of my own head or become a sentient monster arm that tries to devour the soul's of my enemies!"

"Marco, you're spiraling," Star said, placing a hand on the boy's back as he panted heavily from his almost panic attack.

The boy took a few deep breaths to calm himself before turning to Star with a sheepish grin, "Uh, sorry about that."

Star just giggled and shook her head. "It's fine. But don't worry your arm is totally normal. No weird magic applied."

The boy let out a sigh of relief. "That's good." He gave the girl a playful smile. "Although, it would be kinda cool to have a magic super arm or something."

"Yeah, then we could be magic twins!" Star agreed brightly.

"Yeah," the boy in red replied, shooting her a grin.

The two shared a laugh as a pleasant moment passed between the two, one that felt like an eternity for the two teens as they gave each other wistful smiles, brown and blue dancing in the firelight. But then Star remembered the satchel hidden not two feet away, her gut twisting in guilt and she reluctantly broke eye contact with her friend, letting out a fake yawn, stretching her arms over her head. "Oh wow, it's getting late, isn't it?" the girl said quickly, pretending to be more tired than she felt.

Marco gave her an odd look, which made Star's heart rate spike, before he simply replied with a shrug, "Yeah, we should probably head for bed. It's a big day for you, tomorrow. Gotta be ready for it."

"Mm-hmm," the girl agreed, plastering on a fake smile to try and hide the worry and guilt she was feeling from her friend's observant eye. The boy didn't seem to pick up on the blond's distress this time, just laying down in the grass and saying in a tired tone, "Okay well, goodnight, Star."

"Night, Marco," the girl whispered back, watching from her spot on the log as the young thief's eyes closed. She laid down on the grass a few moments later, her back to the boy, listening to his gentle snoring and staring guiltily at the rock that hid her greatest secret. She contemplated her options for a bit, wondering what she should do. Her mother seemed convinced Marco would leave the moment she gave him the crown but that wasn't true, right? She had been confident in defending him at the time but the more she thought about it the more worried she became. Marco had no reason to stay with her once he had the crown, he was only helping her because she had blackmailed him not because he cared about her. Star wanted to believe her speech to him was what convinced him to take her to see the floating lights, but how could she be sure?

She couldn't, not until she gave him the crown, and the thought of doing so now petrified her. What if he left, what if after this whole adventure was over, the two parted ways? Star had always figured that was the plan but now she didn't want him to go. She didn't want things to go back to how they were, she wanted to live and explore the world and, most importantly, she wanted Marco to be with her through all those adventures. Star didn't want to be alone again. Before she had always known she was bored, but it hadn't occurred to her just how lonely she was until she met Marco. Janna had been her only friend for so long and her mom was almost never home. When this whole adventure was over, what then? And the fact that she didn't know the answer scared her more than anything else.

Star didn't get a lot of sleep that night.

…

The clearing remained undisturbed through the night, the sun slowly peeking out from behind the treetops changing the peaceful night into an equally quiet morning. Star had finally managed to doze off into the late hours of the night, using her hair as a make-shift pillow and blanket, curled up into a comfortable ball, smiling to herself in sleep. Janna was perched upside down on one of the tree branches, her wings folded around her to keep out the annoying morning light. Marco lay sprawled out on the grass, snoring loudly, lost deep in peaceful dreams, unaware of the world around him turning. That was until a shadow fell over him, and a drop of water him directly in the face.

The boy's face scrunched up as he was disturbed from his dreams and he mumbled something incoherent in his sleep, before drifting off again. Until another drip hit his cheek and he groaned. Then another and another until finally, he opened his eyes to see what it was that was assaulting him with water. His eyes went wide though as the angry and soaked form of Pony Head stood over him, letting out long puffs through her nostrils while glaring daggers of hate and malice at the young thief. Marco gave her a weak smile, trying his best to scoot away from the enraged horse as he stuttered nervously, "Oh, uh, h-hey, buddy, any chance you came all this way to forgive and forget the whole incident yesterday?" He put on the most charming smile he had in hopes of pacifying her.

Star awoke to the sound of a high-pitched scream nearby and she immediately sat up straight, wide-awake as she looked around the clearing for any signs of trouble. That's when she spotted Marco being dragged away by the horse from yesterday, one of his feet held tightly in the pony's teeth while his arms flailed around wildly in the soft grass, trying to grab onto something, anything to save himself from being taken. The moment he locked eyes with Star he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Star, help me!"

"Marco!" Star screamed back, as she jumped up and ran over to her friend and his animal kidnapper. Star grabbed the young thief's arm pulling back on him with all her might. Pony gave a sharp tug on the boy's leg, hoping to dislodge the blond but to her surprise, Star stood firm, able to match Pony's strength despite her frail-looking form. From there, the two engaged in a fierce tug-of-war over the boy, both putting everything they had into their effort, much to Marco's discomfort and pain. "Ow, ow, ow! Star, my arms don't stretch that far!" the boy shouted in pain but both just ignored him as they continued fighting for victory.

"Give me back my friend, you jerk," Star groaned through gritted teeth, digging her heels into the ground as best she could.

Pony's eyes narrowed in anger at the comment, her grip for just a moment lessening and Star took advantage of the temporary distraction to finally pull her friend free, the two collapsing on the ground in a pile and Pony stumbling back in surprise.

"Marco, are you okay?" Star asked, sitting up and putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.

The boy let out a groan as he muttered, "I feel like I just got ripped in half."

"Sorry," Star said, giving him a sheepish smile before turning her attention back on the horse. Pony Head stood there startled for a second, staring at the two teens in shock, then down at the boy's empty boot in her teeth, before finally realizing what just happened and let out a puff of anger.

"Uh oh," Star whispered.

Pony dropped the boot from her teeth before moving toward the two with fire and purpose in her steps and Star quickly jumped to her feet, placing herself between her friend and his animal attacker, holding her hands up in an attempt to calm the horse. "Whoa, whoa, okay. Easy there," Star said in the most soothing voice she could. "Calm down, everything's okay, just stay calm."

Pony Head stopped, observing the two closely and Star smiled hopefully, feeling like she was actually getting through to the horse. She turned to grin at Marco when Pony suddenly trotted past her, now heading right for Marco. The boy screamed and ran away from the crazy horse and Star could only watch in disbelief as Pony chased the boy around the clearing, Marco doing everything he could think of to escape. Eventually, he managed to get his hands on the frying pan, holding it threateningly out as he yelled in warning, "Don't come any closer! I'm armed and I know how to use this thing... sorta!"

Finally, Star could take no more as she let out a loud groan and stormed over to the pair, her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she once more put herself between them. "That's enough, both of you! No more fighting!"

"She started it," Marco argued, pointing an accusing finger at Pony Head, who gave an argumentative neigh that roughly translated to, Oh no you didn't just say that!

"I don't care who started it, you both need to cut it out right now!" Star replied, before turning her attention back on Pony Head. "Okay, look I don't know what you're problem with Marco is but this is the biggest day of my entire life and I am not letting anything ruin that for me," Star began, keeping a firm glare on Pony Head, who actually seemed to falter some under Star's determined and aggressive tone. The blond sucked in a deep breath, before continuing in a much more upbeat tone, "So how about you two make up so that you won't have to fight anymore?"

Pony didn't seem to like the idea, looking stubbornly away from the pair and Marco decided to make the first move, letting out a sigh before saying, "Look, I'm sorry I rode you without permission but can we please just start over?"

Pony Head looked between the two for a few seconds before, rolling her eyes, thinking in her head, Yeah right, like I'd ever be friends with a turd like you.

Star could tell the horse wasn't going to go along with her plan and tried desperately to think of a way to convince her, biting her lip in concentration. That's when a new idea popped into her head and she switched tactics saying, "How about this, you put whatever issues you have with Marco aside for one day and let him take me to go see the floating lights and after that, you can go back to hating him all you want, okay?" Star gave Pony Head a bright grin, a hopeful gleam in her eyes as she waited for the horse's answer.

But Pony still didn't seem convinced and Star decided to add in an extra layer giving the horse a pouting look, her wide eyes trained on the horse as she held her hands up in a begging motion. "Pleeease?" she whimpered, before making little whining noises.

Even the stubborn Pony Head couldn't ignore the pleading look, the girl's eyes practically digging into her soul and she accepted defeat just this once, letting out a groan before nodding, still looking none too happy about it, though. Alright fine, you win this round, girl.

"Yay!" Star exclaimed, pumping her hands into the air in victory. "Aw man, thank you so much!" the girl continued, hugging the horse tightly, who froze up in surprise. Star didn't seem to notice though as she continued talking at a mile a minute. "You won't regret it, I promise! And hey, I have a great idea, how about you come with us? Yeah, I bet you know your way around the kingdom! Maybe you can show me some stuff since this is my first time out of my tower! What do you say?"

Pony looked between Star and Marco for a minute before nodding her head and Star squealed in delight. "Yes, this is awesome! Welcome aboard... ummm, oh wait, I don't even know your name, hmmm..." The girl looked down at the small crest on the horse's neck and read it aloud, "'Pony Head'. Huh, that's a weird name but okay! Pony Head it is then!"

While that was going on though, Marco was feeling hesitant, keeping a wary eye on his enemy and his new friend, unsure about having this crazy horse travel with them. After all, something told him this horse wasn't much for following the rules and he doubted she would keep true to her word if given the chance to take him down. He decided to voice this concern out loud, saying nervously to Star, "Uh, Star I'm not sure if having this horse-"

"Pony Head," Star corrected.

"Fine, I'm not sure having Pony Head come with us it a good idea," Marco replied.

"What, why not?" Star asked, her eyes shining with innocence.

"Because she's tried to kill me before and I don't trust her," Marco explained with slight exasperation.

"Aw come on, Marco, it'll be fine, Pony's not gonna try anything," Star reassured her friend, before directing her attention back on the horse. "Right, Pony?"

The horse gave Marco a smug look before flipping her mane, keeping her head raised in a superior manner.

Star and Marco locked eyes as the blond said, "See?"

"Do you even know what that means?" Marco asked, an eyebrow slowly rising.

"Of course I do, Marco. She said yes," Star said with a confident grin, before she added under her breath, "I think."

"Wait, what?"

"Now come on, let's get going!" Star exclaimed, ignoring her friend's concern as her excitement and eagerness took control, practically hopping around the clearing. "I can't wait to get to see a real town with my own eyes! Janna, wake up, it's time to go!"

The small bat lazily unfolded her wings, somehow sleeping through the whole noisy incident earlier, yawning and stretching her wings over her head, before starring over at the horse in surprise for a second. But she just shrugged, figuring there was no point in questioning it and flew after her friend, who ran out of the clearing, still squealing in joy.

"Wrong way, Star!" Marco called after her and the blond reversed course, shouting as she ran past them, "I knew that!"

Once the girl and bat disappeared from sight, Marco turned to Pony Head, giving her a distrusting glare. "I'm watching you, horse. You better not try anything, especially something that might get in the way of Star's big day," the boy said in warning, making his voice sound as threatening as he could.

Pony just continued to give him a smug look and the young thief grew more and more suspicious, his eyes narrowing with each passing second before Star's far-off voice interrupted the tense moment. "Come on guys! I think I can see the town up ahead!"

The two finally broke off their heated glare before following after the girl, though they still flashed each other distrusting looks the whole way there.

…

By the time the group made it to the Kingdom of Corona Star was practically shaking with excitement, the smile on her face incapable of growing any wider as she gazed transfixed at the massive city in front of her. She turned to the others, pointing at the collection of buildings with disbelief and Marco smiled and gave her a thumbs up. The girl squealed before racing across the bridge, her trail of hair soon covering the whole length of the stone structure.

Once she was in town, she couldn't help but gap at every sight she saw, her mouth hanging open as she took in the simplistic beauty of the kingdom, her senses alive and in overdrive as every sight, smell, and sound made goosebumps leap up her arms. There were so many things to see, everything festive and full of wonder, and there were more people here than Star had even thought possible. She didn't know so many people could be together in one place like this and she happily waved to every soul who passed her, though they kept giving the strange girl confused and baffled looks, all of them beyond curious of this bright, bounce girl with unbelievably long hair.

But Star didn't seem to notice, she was too enchanted by the quaint town to care as she took an eager few steps through the bustling streets. So distracted she didn't even notice as several people tripped over her hair, one of them carrying a box of chickens which broke and sent the birds scattering around the town causing trouble. Marco, however, took notice of this, doing his best to scoop up as much of his friend's hair, frowning as he tried to think up a solution to Star's hairy problem. It was Janna that spotted their solution, gaining the boy's attention before flapping over to a group of small girls, happily braiding each other's hair and Marco grinned in triumph. He whistled gaining the girl's attention as they looked up in confusion, only to gasp in delight at the sight of Star's long and unbraided hair. It wasn't long before Star's hair had been properly braided by the group of girls, who even decorated it with flowers, the blond giddily thanking the girls for their help, beyond pleased with her new look.

From there, Star and Marco started exploring the town, with the festival currently going on there was more than enough to do and the former was eager to see it all. The young thief didn't protest as he was dragged from sight to sight by the enthusiastic blond, feeling his own heart swell at the pure joy on Star's face. The two spent the rest of the day experiencing everything the Kingdom of Corona had to offer, Star would try any piece of food offered to her, would partake in any activity she saw, and greet every smiling face within view. Soon her bubbly energy seemed to spread to the rest of the town, as everyone became even more festive and friendly and Star relished in the peaceful atmosphere. Marco had to be careful to avoid being seen by any guards that patrolled the town but other than that, no one seemed to recognize or care about him, too focused on his cheerful friend to even notice his presence. Not that he minded, happily staying on the sidelines and letting Star take center stage.

He did, however, go out of his way to show Star a few things the village had to offer, bringing her to the town library (which Star almost passed out when she saw) and buying her a cute little flag that had the golden sun crest of Corona and various other things. When Star found out about the 'Lost Princess' she insisted that they buy a flower to honor her, which Marco was powerless to argue over, he basically gave into Star's every whim. But then almost everyone in the town seemed to do the same as she at one point even managed to drag the whole town into a dance in the center of town, her bright energy almost intoxicating and completely irresistible to pretty much anyone. Something about her just made people want to be near her and her naive but charming ways seemed to draw people in. The blond even somehow convinced Marco to join in on the fun, pulling him reluctantly out onto the dance floor, the two laughing and having a good time as the kingdom celebrated. Although for some reason the boy's heart kept skipping a beat every time he looked Star's way, his cheeks turning red against his will. And when the final dance ended with the two face to face, holding hands and staring into each other's eyes, Marco could feel brain cells frying from the beautiful look on Star's face, her cheeks lightly flushed from all the dancing and her eyes shining with so much joy it nearly took Marco's breath away.

The day eventually drew to a close as people made their way to the docks in preparation for the floating lights spectacular that was about to begin. Marco rented a small rowboat and began to slowly row them out to the center of the large lake, Pony and Janna waiting at the docks for them to return, the two happily munching on a bushel of apples Marco had bought. But for whatever reason, Star didn't feel excited to witness the very thing she had been dreaming about her entire life, for some reason she felt... nervous. A little afraid, even. She started to wonder if maybe she had gotten sick or something because it felt like there were butterflies in her stomach from the way it kept doing flips and her whole body was on edge. She tried to take deep breaths to calm herself but it didn't help much, her brain spinning out of control as she stared down at her reflection in the water, leaning against the side of the boat.

Marco finished rowing them out to a good spot, right in the center of the lake where they would be sure to see everything and he smiled as he looked over at his friend. But his smile dropped as he saw the nervous look in her eyes and asked, "Hey, what's wrong? Aren't you excited?"

Star shrugged, before replying unenthusiastically, "Yeah, I guess."

"Well, what is it?" Marco tried, seeing very clearly that something was upsetting her friend to make her act so unlike the Star he knew.

"It's nothing," the girl muttered, dipping her finger in the water and watching it ripple in response.

"Come on, Star, you can tell me," Marco insisted, moving so he was at her side, placing a comforting hand on her back, trying to ignore the tingle that ran up his arm.

"It's just... I've waited my whole life to see this and now that it's about to happen, I'm scared," Star confessed, playing with a loose strand of hair that had come out of her ponytail. "What if I don't like it? What if it doesn't live up to what I've been dreaming about for so long? I just don't want to be disappointed."

"You won't," Marco assured her in a comforting tone. "It'll be worth the wait, trust me."

"How do you know?" Star asked, turning to him with wide eyes and the boy swallowed the lump in his throat.

He shrugged. "I just do," he replied simply, giving her a warm grin.

Star smiled back at him, before asking hesitantly, "And once it's over, what do I do then?"

Marco took a moment to think about his answer to that, before he said in a confident tone, "Well that's the best part, you get to find a new dream."

Star's face brightened at that, the joy returning to her eyes as she looked deep into Marco's chocolate brown, saying in a wistful tone, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Marco."

"Anytime, Star," the boy replied, moving back to his previous seat. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Star felt her chest clench up as she remembered the satchel she had tucked under her seat when Marco wasn't looking, feeling the familiar guilt tugging at her heartstrings. "Yeah, right," she whispered painfully, still torn over her decision.

But this was soon forgotten as she looked out across the river and saw a bright light reflecting in the dark waters, her eyes widening to the size of saucers as she looked up, seeing a small beam of light lifting into the air. Her heart stopped for a second as time seemed to stand still, watching the small lantern float up into the night sky, a thousand stars decorating the view, making it look absolutely breathtaking. Then another floated up behind it then another and another, until soon dozens of floating lanterns were released into the air. Star gasped though, as soon there were lights all around them, the citizens lighting up lanterns all over town, until the whole kingdom was lit up in a warm glow. Before long the whole sky was filled with the lanterns all spinning lazily through the air as they sprinkled the sky around them like falling snow. Star stood up, nearly tipping the whole boat and causing Marco to struggle to regain his balance but the blond didn't notice, her eyes never leaving the beautiful sight.

Marco put a hand on her shoulders, guiding her back down to her seat as her shimmering sky blue orbs watched the lanterns in awe. The girl smiled blissfully as she watched the breathtaking display, nothing in her fifteen years of dreaming could prepare her for the luminous sight. She had spent so many years waiting for this moment and at last, she finally felt like she was actually living, really truly existing, like everything up to that point had just been preparing her for right now. Because now she was here, blinking in the starlight, and it was more beautiful than she could have ever hoped for.

And just when she thought it couldn't possibly get any better, she saw a glow coming from across the small boat and looked over in disbelief to see Marco holding two of the floating lanterns, both already lit, giving her a knowing smile. "Marco, what's this?" she asked, leaning closer to stare at the lights in wonder. She hadn't seen one up close before now and it was just as beautiful as the ones floating down around her.

The boy shrugged, replying simply, "Just wanted to make your big day as special as possible, so I picked these up while you weren't looking." He handed her one, the girl holding it delicately in her hands, making her face light up and sending chills down Marco's spine at her unearthly beauty. But her smile for just a moment faltered and the boy felt a sudden wave of anxiety hit. "Do you like it?" Marco asked, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious about his gift.

But when Star looked up with tears in her eyes and a loving smile on her lips, all thoughts and worries instantly vanished, replaced instead with a fast-beating heart and blushing cheeks. "I love it," the blond said in a chocked tone and the boy felt his smile return wholeheartedly.

"I thought you might," he replied, shooting her a wink.

And suddenly Star felt herself come to a decision, unable to ignore her friend's kindness any longer, he had to know the truth. He deserved to know the truth. After everything he had done for her, it was the least she could do for him. And so, taking in a deep breath Star said with a slight tremor in her voice, "I have something for you, too."

Marco gave her a confused frown, but it quickly turned to surprise as he watched the girl reach under her seat and pull out the satchel. Star watched nervously as Marco's wide eyes jumped from her to the satchel and back to her, his mouth making an adorable 'O' shape. She bit her lip before confessing, "I, uh, shouldn't have taken this in the first place and I knew I should give it back to you bu-but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. And I know, I'm bad, I'm a bad person but I just- I was afraid." She felt a lump form in her throat, tears surfacing in her crystal blue eyes as she chocked out, "I was afraid that once I gave this back to you that that would be it. We'd go our separate ways a-and we'd never see each other again and I didn't want to face that because... I like you, Marco! And I don't want to say goodbye to you!" The girl sniffed, swiping a hand across her face. "I'm sorry, I know I messed up but I just don't want to be alone again."

Star waited for Marco to start yelling at her or scolding her, telling her that it was all her fault and that they weren't friends anymore and he never wanted to see her again, but to her surprise, he didn't do or say any of those things. Instead, he just smiled at her, a warm and sincere smile that made Star's heart float, and gently put a hand on the bag pushing it forgotten to the bottom of the boat, before saying in an understanding tone, "I'm not going anywhere."

Star stared at the boy in shock for a moment, unable to believe what she was hearing before Marco held out one of the lanterns to her with a tender look in his eyes. And finally, the blond smiled and took the offered gift from her friend. The two released their lights at the same time and watched mesmerized as the two beams of light floated up into the night sky, spinning and twirling around each other in perfect unison and harmony, almost as if they were dancing to an unspoken song. And as the two's eyes slowly drifted back to one another, they found themselves drawn to each other's eyes, brown and blue shining in the luminescent glow of the lantern light.

And suddenly, everything was different as it felt like they were seeing one another for the very first time. Suddenly all the years of loneliness and unhappiness faded away, the picturesque scene taking place all around them disappeared, only the shining eyes of their partner was all that was left. And slowly the two moved closer, their eyes closing as their lips touched and it was like a firework had just gone off. Nothing in Star's fifteen years of living in a tower could have prepared her for the kiss. The only possible word to describe it was "perfect". Because it was, it was really, truly perfect, so warm and real and right that it took Star's breath away. And to her, it felt like a promise. A promise that the future would be equally as happy and amazing as this moment and she felt herself giving in freely to the feeling, letting it consume her being, safe in the knowledge that Marco was here with her. And that was all that mattered.

In all his years of robbing and thieving, Marco had never actually kissed anyone before but he knew nothing could ever top the feeling of Star's lips against his own. And the pure thrill that came from the simple act was stronger than any caper or mission could ever provide. And suddenly all those years on the run, a blur of adrenaline and close calls, felt meaningless. Marco had finally seen the light and that light was Star. The boy felt Star move closer as if seeking his affection and he happily responded, deepening the kiss as for the first time ever... he felt truly content. Finally, Marco and Star pulled apart, panting as they smiled blissfully at one another, their brains spinning as they tried to process the wonderful moment they had just shared, their eyes shining in the lantern light as a smile slowly splayed across their features.

But suddenly something drew Marco's attention away from Star's gorgeous blue orbs as he spotted a glow across the shore, a shadow of a movement he managed to pick up out of the corner of his eye. And just like that, the wonderful moment came to a crashing halt as he forced himself to tear his gaze away from the infinite beauty that was Star to try and figure out if what he thought he saw was real. It had looked like Kelly, standing on the shore, holding a lantern, before disappearing into the treeline, and in that moment Marco came to a realization.

As long as he was wanted, Star would never be safe. If she chose to stay with him, she would be forced to spend the rest of her days on the run, always having to look over her shoulder or watch her step, an outcast to society itself. Star didn't deserve that. He had seen how joyful she had been to be a part of the festival. How clearly important the sense of belonging meant to her. And right then Marco knew he had to fix this, no matter the cost.

"Marco?" Star's hesitant voice cut into his thoughts as he slowly turned to see her staring at him in confusion. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, no I'm fine," Marco said giving her the brightest smile he had at the moment.

"You sure? You were kinda staring at nothing for a minute," Star asked, still not looking convinced.

Marco swallowed thickly, before saying, "Yeah, I just remembered I have something I need to do."

Marco rowed the boat to the shoreline, right by where he had seen Kelly and he turned to his confused companion with another quick smile. "Everything's okay, I just need to take care of something real quick." He picked up the satchel from the bottom of the boat, feeling Star's eyes watching his every movement.

The blond stared at him nervously for a moment and Marco half expected her to argue but instead all she did was give him a forced smile and said, "Okay." The young thief had only taken a step before the girl blurted out, "Hurry back."

Marco turned to her with a nod. "I will," he assured her, giving her a warm and hopefully comforting smile before disappearing into the fog. The boy continued on for a few feet, clutching the bag close to his chest, ignoring the creeping feeling is his gut or the troubling thoughts in his head. He didn't care if this was a terrible plan. He didn't care that there were a million ways this could end badly for him. He had to do it. For Star.

Finally, he spotted Kelly up ahead, her back to him ,the only thing he could see was her mop of green hair which glowed almost menacingly in the lantern light. He cleared his throat, trying to work up the nerve to say what needed to be said, finally managing to blurt out, "Uh, hey Kelly." The girl didn't respond and Marco took that as an opportunity to continue, sucking in a deep breath before saying, "Look I know we haven't ever seen eye to eye before, but... I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Marco nervously rubbed the back of his neck, the uncomfortable tension making him feel hesitant. But he couldn't stop now, he had to clear his conscious, he had to make this right somehow. "I know that probably doesn't mean a whole lot coming from me but I really do mean it." He slowly reached into the satchel and pulled out the crown saying, "Sooo here you can have this back. I don't need it anymore. And if you have to arrest me and... well, y'know, that's fine. But just please leave my friend Star out of it. She doesn't deserve to be dragged down with me."

Once the boy finally finished voicing his thoughts he became distinctly aware that something was seriously... off. Kelly hadn't said so much as a word yet or attacked him or anything. The creeping feeling returned as a took a step closer to the hairy girl, muttering, "Kelly?" The boy placed a cautious hand on her shoulder but quickly gasped in fright as the 'thing' he thought to be Kelly fell over. Marco stared at the makeshift scarecrow that he had been talking to, whoever made it using leaves and bramble to make it look like Kelly's hair in the low lighting. And Marco had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.

But before the young thief could contemplate this any further he heard something hit the ground next to him and barely had time to recognize it as some sort of smoke bomb, before it went off covering Marco in a thick, green gas. Marco collapsed to his knees, choking and coughing on the knock out gas as it filled his burning lungs. The forest floor started to sway as the boy felt his eyes dropping, the sudden urge to sleep almost overpowering him. "Well, well, look who fell into my trap," a voice said above the gasping teen and he looked up to see the small bird Monster grinning evilly down at him.

"L-Ludo?" Marco choked out, before falling into another coughing fit. "Wh-What are you-"

"Isn't it obvious? I followed you here after those idiots let you go. And now I'm going to take what's rightfully mine." Ludo explained, the superior grin never once faltering. He leaned a little closer to the boy, making sure to not breathe in any of the toxic fumes. "And you can't stop me."

"Fine," Marco gasped, his lungs struggling for breath. "Just take the crown, I don't care."

Ludo laughed at that, long and hard, before saying in a shrill voice, "You think I care about some dumb crown?"

"Wh-What?!" Marco murmured, fear clenching his chest. Was he after- No, no that was impossible, Marco reminded himself. There was no way he could know about Star's ability.

Ludo smiled, a smile that confirmed Marco's worst fears, before Ludo said in a hinting tone, "Why would I want a crown when I could have the real prize?"

Marco's heart stopped, as the truth came crashing over him at once. He knows, Marco's fading consciousness screamed. "N-No, Star," the boy coughed, struggling to stand, to stop him from hurting Star but he found it was a losing battle, his limbs felt like they were made of bricks. Still, Marco gritted his teeth and used every last ounce of strength he had to try and stand. Eventually, the boy had no more energy to spare and he collapsed to the ground once more, panting and gasping for air.

"Aww, don't worry, Marco, I'll take good care of your friend for you," Ludo said, just as Marco lost consciousness, the smugness in the Monster's tone causing the young thief's heart to twist with anger. The last thing Marco heard before the darkness overtook him was the shrill cackle of the victorious Monster who had bested him.

…

Star tried not to let her thoughts get the best of her as she waited impatiently for Marco to return. She fiddled with a loose strand of hair, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she did her best to keep the creeping fear at bay, still hearing her mother's poisonous words in her head, telling her that Marco had left her. No, Star thought firmly, clenching her hand into a fist and forcing her body still. Marco wouldn't do that. He promised he'd be back and she trusted him.

It was then that she heard a noise off to her side and she smiled as she saw a light coming from the treeline, a long shadow of a figure confirming that her friend had returned. She couldn't help but gloat to the inner voice of her mother, thinking victoriously, See I told you he'd be back. She quickly hopped out of the boat, before greeting her friend warmly, "Hey Marco, what was that all about?"

But her smile dropped, her eyes widening in surprise as instead of being greeted by the smiling face of Marco, a small bird Monster stepped out of the woods, a twisted smile stretched across his beak as he observed the startled blond. "Hello Star," he said, his voice an evil squeak.

"Ludo!" Star exclaimed in bewilderment. What was he doing there? But that question was far less important than the larger question that weighed on her mind as she asked, "W-Where's Marco?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ludo said with a casual shrug, before continuing cruelly, "He left you."

Star felt her heart stop, fear and grief clinging to her very being as she muttered out, "No." But remembering the boy's promise from earlier she added a bit more confidently, "No, Marco wouldn't do that! He promised he'd come back."

"Oh, but I'm afraid he lied to you," Ludo continued, the look of pure elation and greed in his eyes, clenching at Star's trouble heart. "Me and him have been working together all along. He just needed to earn your trust so we could get the crown back and it worked! You fell for it!" The small bird laughed viciously at that, Star feeling tears form at the corner of her eyes.

Still, she tried to stay strong, shaking her head and shouting, "No, your lying!"

"Am I?" Ludo said, before gesturing across the lake. Star turned in that direction and felt her heart stop at the sight of a boat cutting through the waves, a familiar figure, grasping the wheel of the ship, staring straight ahead.

"Marco," Star whispered, feeling her heart shatter into pieces.

"You see, Star, he never cared about you," Ludo continued, every word like a knife to Star's chest. "He probably said all kinds of things to you to get you to trust him, but it was all part of our scheme." Ludo smiled at the broken, defeated look on the girl's face as she watched her friend sailing away. This was going better than he hoped and now that she was distracted, it would be the perfect time to attack. He reached into his pocket, pulling out another ball of knock-out gas. He should really thank Eclipsa for all the help she had given him to capture Star. Not that she would ever know, Ludo planning on skipping town with his prize, find a nice safe place to hide out until things died down enough to sell her. I can't believe that old hag was actually dumb enough to trust me, Ludo thought to himself. And now I win!

The bird Monster continued help but rub in his victory to the girl, feeling a dark glee at the prospect of his victory, as he added cruelly, "However, there was a big change of plans when you made the stupid choice to tell him about your power. Boy, don't you feel dumb right now." Ludo paused to laugh, before continuing his hurtful rant. "So the two of us decided to split the profits. He gets the crown and I get you, the girl with magic golden hair."

Star tried to stay strong and keep the tears at bay, not wanting to give Ludo the satisfaction of seeing her break down, but she had to cover her hand with her mouth to stifle the sob that she felt rising in her chest. Her mother had been right all along. Everything she had said would happen came true. And now she was completely alone. Just like she had feared. The world wasn't beautiful or bright, it was dark and unforgiving, just like her mom had said it was. And that revelation rocked the blond right down to her core. She barely heard the small Monster as he continued his monologue, his voice faded in the background, watching helplessly as the one person she had believed in and trusted more than anything left her behind.

"And now, you lose!" Ludo screamed as he ended his speech, raising the ball high above his head, a dark smirk plastered on his face as he stared at the broken shell of his soon-to-be captive. A loud thunk rang out through the woods, finally drawing Star's attention away from the boat as she watched the form of Ludo crumple to the ground, unconscious, the panting form of her mother now standing over him, holding a tree branch tightly in her gloved hands. "Stay away from my daughter!" Eclipsa shouted, protectively.

"Mom?" Star whispered in surprise. "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"Oh Star, I was so worried about you," Eclipsa said, running over and pulling her daughter into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry I got upset. I felt simply awful, so I decided to follow you and make sure you were okay, and then I heard that nasty Monster saying all those terrible things to you and then he was about to attack you and I-" Eclipsa drew in a shaky breath. "Well, the important thing is you're okay." She placed a gentle kiss on Star's forehead.

The blond could only stand there numbly hearing her mother's words, she was sure she had been furious with her, she hadn't expected her to come back and yet she had. Her mom had come back for her, even after their fight. All the guilt came flooding back as she realized just how stupid she had been for the past few days. Putting her trust in a stranger, instead of her own mother. And look how well that had turned out. At that thought, a lump lodged itself in her throat as she looked helplessly across the lake again, her heart aching with sadness as the tears finally fell. Before she knew it, Star was crying and her mother pulled her into a warm hug, letting her sob into her chest while whispering words of comfort."Shhh, it's alright. Mother's here. Your mother's here now."

"I'm so sorry, mom," Star chocked out. "You were right, you were right about everything. I never should have left the tower. I never should have trusted him. I-I'm so stupid!"

"Shh, it's okay, dear," Eclipsa cooed. "Everything will be okay."

Star looked up brokenly into her mom's eyes, her vision blurry with tears as they continued streaming down her face. "Can we go home now?" she whimpered, her voice cracking on almost every word.

Eclipsa smiled and nodded, telling her daughter, "Of course, My Flower."

Star didn't fight as she was lead away by her mom, who kept a firm hand on her back, but she barely noticed it. Nor did she hear her mother's words of comfort, everything else drowning out into nothingness. She no longer cared about finding a new dream or about being bored or anything really. All she knew was that Marco had betrayed her and she would never see him again. And despite herself, despite how sad and empty she felt, she couldn't help but glance back one last time at the lake and the dozens of beautiful lights still floating around the kingdom, her heart weeping at the loss of what might have been.

And just like that, she turned away from the light, trying desperately not to think of two bright brown eyes and the promise that they had held. Instead, she pushed out all thoughts and allowed her mom to lead her away into the darkness of the night.

#Star vs #Star vs AU #My Writing #Star is a Disney Princess #Star is Rapunzel #Starco

[porkchop-ao3]

A Thrill I’ve Never Known (Chapter 1)

Bait

I have been working on this for a little while now and I’m a few chapters in, I’ve finally plucked up the courage to start posting it. This is an Arthur Morgan x female reader (first person POV) fic that’s going to be pretty long! Its very slow burn, too, so keep that in mind. 

Reader has been a lone wolf for a long time, and intends for it to stay that way. However, she soon realises that having a little company and help from others isn’t so bad. This fic is going to include; violence, swearing, adult themes and no doubt some explicit sexual content down the line. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some character death at some point too, but don’t worry! Our main boah lives. It’ll have a happy ending :P (This is kind of my own personal fix it fic muddled in with a romance, so yeah). It’s also chock full of spoilers!

I hope you give this a chance and enjoy! I’m going to be tagging every chapter with #ATINK for easy access (hopefully easy, but you know how tumblr is) but I will also be posting this on Ao3 where my username is PorkChop :)

-

There'd been a few times in my life that I thought I might die. That time I'd been real sick, when my whole family had been, I was surprised at my luck when I pulled through. That time Henry got more violent than he usually did and had to be dragged off of me by pa. That time I was chased by that buck, very nearly speared on his antlers before I got a clean shot at his head. I guess all those times though, I'd had a seed of hope in me. Somewhere inside I knew I'd get out of it, and that allowed me to keep my head on straight instead of falling into despair.

This time – feeling dizzy and disoriented, rope burn on my arms and legs from struggling, one pounder of a headache and the taste of blood soaked into the rag wedged in my mouth – I failed to find that hope.

I had no idea where I was, all I could do was scream behind the rag, as muffled as the sound was, it was my only hope. I screamed as loud as I could for as long as I could, pushing through the scratchy pain in my throat. It was night time and I was laying in the middle of a road, that's about all I could tell. I'd been rolling in and out of consciousness for who knows how long, strapped onto the back of a horse and getting hit any time I started hollering. I'd heard snippets of conversations, men talking, and one woman. Something about using me as bait.

I wasn't much of a fisherman but I couldn't see what use I'd be, of course if I hadn't been punched in the head repeatedly I might've understood that it had nothing to do with fishing at all.

It came as a nice surprise when finally my screams didn't get another punch to the face and I seemed to be alone. Who knows what they'd done to me, why they'd taken me from my camp. I was hardly worth robbing, but I guessed it was my weapons they were after. That and perhaps all my food.

I lost track of time with all my yelling and sobbing, I felt on the verge of throwing up with that wet, nasty rag in my mouth pushed so deep it nearly triggered my gag reflex. It felt like I was there for hours when I finally heard hoofs hitting the ground, slowing up before I had time to worry about being trampled. The rider dismounted, running over to me.

“Holy shit!” the person was male and had a raspy voice, I saw his boots but before he reached me I heard a gun being cocked behind me.

In a moment of clarity, I understood what was happening. The people who'd captured me were still around, hiding in the tall grass by the road, and they hadn't hit me when I screamed because that's exactly what they wanted me to do. Bait.

“If you've got any brains you'll give us everything you've got in that satchel. And on your horse,” the female of the group said. I heard the rider sigh.

“You've gotta be kidding me,” he groused. I heard the crunch of his boot on the ground as he started to back away. “I ain't doing this, if you've got any brains you let me walk away from this.”

“I ain't telling you twice,” the woman raised her voice and stepped forwards, she was standing right beside me. I had a terrible feeling that – even though I couldn't see her – she was pointing her gun at the back of my head. I whimpered and sobbed, squirming, ropes cutting into my arms.

“You heard the lady!” One of the other guys yelled, then there was an almighty bang… followed by many more.

I tensed up, burying my face in the dirt in some vain attempt at protecting my head from the roar of gunfire going on above me. It didn't last long, and I waited for the outlaws to loot the poor guy I'd played a part in attracting. Imagine my shock when it was him who stepped over me to loot their bodies instead. I lifted my head, finally managing to look at the guy; tall and lean, long dark hair below his hat, a duster coat that dragged on the floor when he crouched down to the corpses surrounding us.

I cried out to him to get his attention, being largely ignored until he was finished with the bodies. He finally turned to look at me and addressed me with a poisonous look in his dark eyes. It dawned on me that he thought I was one of them. My cries became desperate, I tried to enunciate the words help me with little luck. With a heavy sigh he approached me, rolled me onto my back and pulled the wad of material out of my mouth. Up close, when he saw the blood and the state of my face, his expression softened.

“Please! Please, untie me! Those fuckers, they- they- they-” my mouth was dry and my words came out worse than the town drunk's. My throat was in agony.

“Hey, shh, shut up, calm down,” he hissed, studying me closely. He ran his hands up and down the sides of my body and I flinched and struggled under his touch.

Shit. This guy has just annihilated a whole group of gunslingers. What if he's much, much worse than them?

“For the love of God don't hurt me, I'm not one of them, I didn't mean to bring you in on-”

“Shut up! I'm just checking you ain't armed.”

I held my tongue and stayed still, and breathed a sigh of relief when he seemed satisfied that I wasn't a threat. Though, that did mean that those fuckers had stolen all of my weapons. At least I still had my life…

“I'm gonna untie you, but first, tell me what the hell all that was about.”

“I don't know! I was just out in the woods and they grabbed me. Beat the crap out of me. Next thing I know I'm here. I didn't realise they wanted to use me to lure someone in to rob. I promise I ain't one of them, I don't even know who they are. I just wanna get out of here!”

“What's your name?” he questioned. I told him and he continued to stare at me for a few moments, eyes narrowed. “Alright,” he muttered, then rolled me back onto my stomach. He took a knife to the ropes and freed me.

“Oh, thank you!” I breathed, sitting up and rolling my shoulders, taking a moment to sit and gather myself. I felt dizzy.

A glance around me showed corpses everywhere; I noticed the woman of the group was wearing my clothes. That's when I realised the state of undress I was in – just my underthings – and huddled in on myself.

“You need water?”

“No, I couldn't-” he shoved a canteen at me regardless. I didn't protest and drank, only realising then how much I needed it. I could've kept going when I handed it back to him, but I didn't want to drink all of it.

“You need a ride somewhere?”

His question struck me with an unpleasant, sickly feeling. Where on earth would I go? All of my stuff had been taken by my captors, I had no idea what they'd done with it while I had been out cold. My guns were gone. All of the food I had. My tent, my blankets, my clothes. All of it.

“You got a house? A family?”

“Maybe it would've been better if you just shot me like the rest of them,” I muttered, burying my head in my hands. “I've got nothing. Been living out of a tent for the past year, that was my home and it's gone.”

There was an awkward pause as he just stood there looking at me, he obviously didn't know what to do and I couldn't blame him. Part of me wanted to tell him to go away, leave me alone so I could just sit and cry until I figured out what I was going to do.

“Listen… I'm staying pretty close to here. How 'bout I take you there and you can rest up, lick those wounds for a while.”

“You don't even know me.”

“No, but what kind of man would I be to leave a woman out here stranded, hurt, with no place to go?” he questioned, grabbing my upper arms and helping me up to my feet. My head pain flared with the movement and I groaned, screwing my face up. “Come on. I ain't taking no for an answer.”

“Thank you,” I sighed, letting him guide me over to his horse and lift me onto it.

“Name's John, by the way. John Marston.”

-

John rode me to where he was staying, I was surprised to see that it wasn't a house; it was a campsite of sorts with lots of other people there. As soon as I saw it I began to feel anxious. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be surrounded by a bunch of strangers, one was enough. We were greeted by a lady, stern looking with her hair fashioned into a bun atop her head. She watched me carefully as John helped me down from his horse.

“Miss Grimshaw,” he nodded to her in greeting. “Just had an eventful ride. Found this one not too far away, I think she's in need of a little help. Got herself caught by a bunch of idiots who tried to rob me. I took care of 'em, but she don't have anywhere to go.”

“Well we'd better have her then, come on. Look at you, you're in quite a state,” she seemed a little perturbed by the sight of me. I had no idea what my face looked like but I doubted it was pretty. “I'm Susan. Why don't you come with me and we'll wash you up, get that blood off'a you.”

“John?” I mewled like a little child, asking after its mother. He was a familiar face I wasn't quite ready to be left without.

“You'd better come too, you can tell us more about what happened,” Susan seemed to understand my worries.

“I don't know all that much myself, but sure,” John shrugged, coming along with us as she walked me over to a nearby wagon. As we walked a few people stared, I kept my head down, not enjoying being on display when I was in such a mess.

Susan sat me down on a blanket underneath an awning and wrapped another blanket around my shoulders to cover me. She sent a girl off to fetch a bucket of water, Mary-Beth her name was. While she was away I learned the names of two others, Karen and Tilly, when Susan scolded them for staring. I imagined they weren't particularly happy with me, it was late and they likely wanted to sleep.

Though perhaps not, the sound of a guitar could be heard somewhere else in the camp. Maybe I was just interrupting a pleasant evening. I felt guilty, wrapped up in my head as John relayed what he'd experienced. Mary-Beth came back with the bucket of water, and Susan kneeled down in front of me.

“Hold still,” she said, holding my chin gently with one hand as she carefully cleaned my face with a wet washcloth.

She wiped blood from around my nose, the corners of my mouth, my forehead, my hairline. It was dark but I imagined the water turning a rusty orange as she rinsed the cloth. She cleaned a few scratches on my arms; though I knew they weren't from my ordeal. They were merely hunting wounds, marred by tree branches.

“Not as bad as I feared. You looked much worse with all that blood; you got a couple of black eyes but your nose ain't crooked, your teeth are all there. I think you'll be fine.”

“Thank you.”

“I'll go and explain to Dutch,” John said, getting up from his spot on a wooden box next to me. I watched as he left, then dropped my eyes to the ground. I didn't know John much better than anyone else, but I still felt nervous without his presence. It'd been a long time since I'd had any company whatsoever. It was daunting.

“How you doing, uhh, what was your name again?” Mary-Beth took John's seat. I told her my name without looking up. “I heard John say you got kidnapped, or something?”

“I did. I'm honestly not sure what happened, my mind's still all foggy. I hope they didn't knock all the sense out of me,” I mumbled, and the girl laughed a little, then apologised. “They got me this morning… I think. I've been knocked out for most of it. I was out pulling down my camp in the woods and they came out of nowhere, just bashed me on the head, grabbed all my stuff and took me away. I don't remember all that much, like I said, I've been out.”

Mary-Beth, Susan, Karen and Tilly all stayed near me, listening. I figured I owed them an explanation since they'd been so kind to me.

“I ended up out layin’ on the road. I thought they'd left me for dead so I hollered as much as I could. John turned up and, well, you heard him. I don't intend on intruding for long, I just needed somewhere to stay and figure things out.”

“What about your family?” Tilly questioned.

“I don't have one. Ma and pa are long gone. My brother got himself killed last year. Since then I've been on my own, living off the land, sleeping in a tent.”

“You’re homeless?” Karen asked. I felt a little on the spot so I looked up at her, meeting her gaze.

“Ain't you? Only difference is you've got more wagons and friends here.”

“Can't argue with that,” she shrugged.

“I couldn't afford to keep up with the loan repayments once my brother Henry was gone. The bank took the house and that was that.”

“I'm sorry about your brother,” Mary-Beth said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“Don't be. That guy put me in worse states than this on more than one occasion. He was violent. That's what got him killed in the end; started a bar brawl down in Blackwater with a bunch of fellers he couldn't handle. Whole place broke out, I damn near got swept up in it. I probably would've died with him if it weren't for a gentlemen who helped me out of there; I was three sheets to the wind, could barely stand,” I explained with a dry laugh.

“You got a habit of needing to be saved by men?” Karen snorted.

“Karen,” Susan warned.

I sighed and rubbed at my temples then looked up at Susan. “You mind if I sleep here?”

“Of course not. There's some more blankets up on that wagon if you need them.”

“Thank you for your kindness. I hope to be out of your hair shortly.”

“Nonsense. Us folk are no strangers to helping those who need it. Rest up now.”

#rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan #arthur morgan x reader #fanfiction #ATINK #john marston #rdr2 fanfic #arthur morgan fanfic #arthur morgan x female reader

[silentnightafk]

Ballerinas Can’t Play Chess Part 2

"Did you... love me?"

"Chuuya-"

"Lie... to me."

"Just this once."

Warning: Major Character Death

Word Count: 1703

Read on AO3

The periodic dripping of the kitchen tap was the only sound that echoed throughout the hollow apartment. One would think that there was not a single living thing in this lifeless house, unless they glanced upon the broken man leaning against the wall as he sat on the floor, empty instant noodle cups and 2 nearly empty bottles of water littered around him. He stared unseeingly at the wall, occasionally tightening his clutch on the phone, letting the warm metal bite deeper into his palm. A gun laid on the other side of him, close enough to reach, but far enough so as to ensure it does not tempt him. Not yet, at least.

It had been 3 days since Dazai had raced to the airport in Kunikida's car, traffic laws be damned. Every red light crossed was another minute closer to Chuuya after all. He had hoped with desperation that he would make it in time, and prayed that Chuuya would listen. He should have realised. A few months was never going to be enough for Chuuya to leave the Port Mafia for him, even when they were throwing him to the dogs.

Chuuya was afraid of death. That haunted look in his eyes which he couldn't quite hide that day told Dazai enough. Yet, Dazai knew that Chuuya wouldn't leave. His loyalty to the mafia was far greater than his fear for death. And Dazai hated him for it. He hated him for being so selfless, hated him for finding a home at a place where Dazai had found nothing but pain. He hated him for choosing the mafia over his life, for throwing it all away at just one order. He hated Chuuya for choosing the mafia over him. But who was he to complain? After all, he was the one who left first.

Dazai wanted to believe that Chuuya would survive. He wanted to give himself hope that such a mission wasn't enough for Chuuya to just leave like that. Chuuya was passionate to a fault, caring even in a organisation where feelings were death's lure. He felt too much, cared too much, and yet was so strong that nothing could defeat him. Chuuya was a raging inferno, a blaze that could only diminish under the greatest of typhoons. He burned bright in a life of darkness, destroying anything and everythinf that stood in his way. A mere organisation, such a light downpour wasn't enough to snuff out a flame like him now. Right? A fire like Chuuya could never die so quickly.

But deep down inside Dazai knew that Chuuya was meant to die on this mission. A solo mission in a foreign country to destroy an organisation with an unknown amount of manpower. Chuuya was supposed to go down with it. This was all part of Mori's sick and twisted game.

"Remember this, Dazai." Mori had smiled at him, that sly, merciless smile.

"Betray me, and you'll wish you were never born."

Dazai had all but laughed then, at the mere age of 15, returning Mori's grin with a cold and empty one of his own.

"That's nothing special, I already wish I was dead."

"Oh, but Dazai." Mori's grin widened. For the first time in his life, Dazai felt a bone-chilling fear settle send a shiver down his spine. He kept his face controlled, and forced himself to stay rooted to the ground

"There are things way worse than death."

This was his checkmate. First was Odasaku. Now it was Chuuya. One by one, Mori slowly moved his pieces, playing them carefully. Dazai watched the chess board intently, convinced that he would win. The moment he left the mafia, he knew that he could never let himself be close to Chuuya ever again. But how could Dazai leave? Chuuya was the only one who ever made him felt genuine happiness, even though he never showed it. And Mori knew that. With Chuuya gone, Dazai would truly be in a state worse than death.

Music cut through the silence in the room, the lyrics of La Vie En Rose ringing out. Dazai snapped back to reality, picking up the phone immediately without checking for the caller.

"Chuuya-"

"Da..zai."

His heart froze in his chest, eyes widening slowly as his words died in his throat. Static came from the other side, the only sound. The battle was over it seemed. Tears began to roll down his cheeks as Chuuya's heavy breathing joined in the static, the only implication that he was still holding on, though barely.

There were a million things Dazai wanted to say, yet he couldn't find the proper words to use. His eloquence had all flown out the window the moment he picked up the call. He wanted to scream apologies, wanted to beg for him to hang on. He wanted to spill assurances and concern out of his mouth, and tell him that he would survive this, he would come home. But what was the point? Why spill lies when all it would leave is the heavy melancholic realisation of the harsh truth which is reality?

"Why has your voice gotten so small, Chuuya? Has it shrunk like your height?" It was the only thing Dazai could let himself say. If he strayed from this game of insults they played, he wouldn't be able to hold back his sobs.

"Shut up you... waste of bandages..." He huffed out a laugh, trying his hardest to suppress a sob that threatened to escape. He hated how small Chuuya's voice sounded, hated how it shook with effort and the excessive breaths he had to take to say just a simple sentence. He closed his eyes, imagining Chuuya's small body in his arms, both of them braving the cold wind of France together like they used to.

Silence settled between them again, the static and Chuuya's breathing the only sound once more. He let the tears continue to flow, but made sure that not a single sound escaped his lips. Chuuya didn't need to handle his crying ass right now. All he needed was a person by his side.

His tears fell faster as Chuuya's voice started getting shallower, and he knew time was running out. There was so much he wanted to say, so many things he wished he could do. Odasaku flashed before his eyes, his broken body drawing shallow breaths, and that body slowly transformed into Chuuya's, in the exact same state.

"Dazai." Chuuya's voice shocked Dazai out of his reverie, the strength in it coming as a shock.

"Did you... love me?"

His eyes widened at the question, tears stopping all at once. His grip on his phone tightened, an intense ache engulfing his body.

"Chuuya-"

"Lie... to me."

"Just this once."

He shut his eyes tight, wincing at the plea. Chuuya never begged, and Dazai never wanted to hear him beg. A man like him should never have to beg for something, not to anyone. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his breathing.

"I didn't love you."

A pause. Soft laughter started to travel from the phone, breathy and broken, followed by a series of coughs. He could hear the sobs that Chuuya tried to hold back, and the only sound on his side of the phone was the soft pitter patter of teardrops on wood.

"I'm sorry."

I'm sorry for leaving you.

When silence fell upon them again, Dazai moved for the first time in the day. He reaching his arm out towards the gun by his side, fingers steady on the trigger. Bringing it slowly to his temple, a click resounded as he released the safety. A sharp intake of breath travelled from the other side of the phone.

"Don't." Chuuya's voice was strained, like it took too much energy to choke the word out. His finger on the trigger froze, hand falling slightly. No. Don't do this to me Chuuya.

"Chuuya don't-"

"No!" Chuuya coughed once more, a wet sound like as though chocking on blood. There was not much longer left.

"What should I do?" His voice shook, his grip on the phone shaky as everything came crashing down on him.

"Live... please..." Tears sprang into his eyes again, the gun shaking against his temple.

"Live to continue to bring happiness to others. Live to stop another person from living the same wretched life as us. Live to fulfill your promise to Odasaku, and now your promise to me."

How a dying man was able to say so many things when he had so little time left was unbeknownst to anyone, but all one can say is that there were things more important than life and death. And in that moment, Dazai knew that he couldn't say no. And so all he did was loosen his hand on the gun by the temple, and made up his mind.

"I see."

"Wait for me, Chuuya."

He held onto the small chuckle that escaped through dying breaths, and held his own as he listened to Chuuya's breath slowly die out. Static was the only sound remaining on the other end as a scream echoed through the room, a cry for the what ifs and what could have beens. A crash of metal on concrete, the clatter of a gun thrown aside.

If he was there, he would have seen the small smile that spread dripping with blood. If he was there he would have noticed the way Chuuya grasped tightly on a bloodied photograph, staring at a smile so bright on a face with a bandaged eye with blurry eyes. He would have seen the slow mouthing of the words I love you on shaking lips, the tears that constantly rolled down to join the evergrowing puddle of blood underneath.

But he didn't. And so all he could hold onto was the final words of a man who made him feel from nothing to everything, to the words of a man who wanted nothing more to live and in his dying moments chose him to spend them with. And with that he whispered the same words as he did all those years ago to  another dying man.

"I'll do that."

#yayyyyyyyy angst #more angst #angst #soukoku #double black #dazai osamu #nakahara chuuya #chuffering #dazai suffering #i love this fandom because of the angst #have more pain #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs

[snokoms]

so, as i said. ive started to write. this is my first try for a fic ever. i hope you guys like it. and i would love it if you would comment.

also on ao3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/21310579/chapters/50748091)

The first thing he notices upon waking up is the darkness. Like a thick blanket settling in around him. Chocking him. He can’t breathe. Why can’t he breathe? When he opens his eyes it’s still dark. Slowly he tries to move his head. It’s not working. For some reason the muscles in his neck aren’t cooperating. Moving his tongue to lick his lips he finds the gag in his mouth. That would explain why he can’t breathe. Trying to breathe through his nose helps a little but he’s still not getting enough oxygen. Ordering his arms upwards to remove the gag proves fruitless since they are bound together behind his back, just like his legs.

 So maybe not amateurs? Opening his mouth to scream he feels something move beside him pushing the gag further into his throat. Chocking on his gag reflex he tries to draw in air before passing out.

   ---

   The second time he wakes up his body is still bound. Checking the ropes, the burns on his wrists tell him that they are rather tight. Making his fingers tingle and become numb from the lack of fresh blood that is flowing through his veins. The small movements in his arms alert him to the substance surrounding him that is most certainly not air. In fact, it feels a bit like water. But if he is surrounded by water, then why doesn’t he feel the need to breath?

 With that though his brain seems to screech to a halt, before going in full panic mode. Does this mean he’s dead? He can’t be dead. He’s too young to die! There is still <em>so much</em> he needs to do! His farther is never going to survive his death, he nearly broke when his wife, Stiles mother, died. Or the pack, those idiots will get themselves killed without him to figure everything out.

 That gives him pause, where is the pack? Slowly the darkness takes over again.

   ---

   The third time he wakes up, (is it really the third time?) he is still trapped under water. Although it feels different against his skin this time. Wait, skin? When did he get naked? Why is he naked? Don’t tell him he is naked for what he thinks he is naked for? Who is he kidding, is there any other reason for being naked? Just then a blinding pain shoots through his body. Burning him from the inside out, it’s like nothing he’s ever felt before. When the pain finally subsides a bit, the burning gets replaced with the feeling of something moving under his skin.

 Oh no, this isn’t happening. Not again. One time was enough thank you very much. He was not looking forward to another creatures taking a joyride in his body. One evil fox spirit was more than he wanted. Although, come to think of it, this doesn’t feel like it did with the nogitsune. In those months he had felt his mind being attacked before slowly losing more and more control over his body for longer periods of time. Right know it feels more physical. He is still fully there mentally but his body isn’t his anymore. Maybe it’s a more southern evil spirit?

 Before he can fully comprehend the extend of those thoughts another spike goes through his body, making his back arch and his mouth open in a silent scream. Is this what giving birth feels like? If it is, he didn’t envy the woman who willingly go through with this torture.

 With every spike of burning pain it stays a little longer until it feels like hours before the pain subsides enough in between spikes for him to breath properly again.

 It doesn’t take long before he loses consciousness again.

   ---

   Miles away, deep in the forests of Arizona with his sister Derek is suddenly overcome with a crippling pain. Starting in his heart and spreading throughout his entire body. All he can do is throw back is head in an all shattering howl before he loses his consciousness. Shocking Cora who came running back only to watch him fall.

#sterek #stiles stilinksi #teen wolf #derek hale

[damn-daemon]

My Unposted Star Wars Story

Okay, @marvelousthronewars, I’m doing the thing. This is actually roughly a chapter and a half from my unposted story, I just really wanted to get to some of Poe’s POV. So this is...just over 7,000 words from it?

LIttle bit of background: this takes place roughly 3 years before the events of The Force Awakens and works its way up to it. It also relies heavily on the events of the book Star Wars: Bloodline, which details the events of how Leia left the Senate, formed the Resistance, and how the galaxy discovered that Vader was her father. Yes, it’s an OC story, namely another Solo kid, because we haven’t had enough of those, have we?

Admittedly, there is a lot of politicking in this. I may have mostly written this story for me haha. Writing politics is my bread and butter, and space politics even more so. This is why I love Game of Thrones so much, and I pretty much brought that love into the Star Wars universe, or attempted to at least. Lots of Star Wars jargon. By all means, ask if you are confused.

Again, this is a story I stopped writing a while ago, but people are curious, and I am curious about the reactions. Also, I came up with this before The Last Jedi, so there’s that tidbit too.

Shattered Balance There were always two, no more, no less. The Dark Side and the Light. Brother and Sister. Ben and Elara.

It all started with a dream, and a man determined to keep it from coming true…

33 ABY The Lower District Republic City Hosnian Prime

The locals called the area Bottom View. Much like its sister-planet, Coruscant, the lower one sank through the levels of Hosnian Prime, the more dangerous and decrepit things became. Bottom View was the last rung before the planet surface, with only an obscure view of the stars if the power grid failed, and if you happened to possess a pair of macrobinoculars, but the inhabitants prided themselves on what height they had achieved in the cityscape.

If the fall can kill you, you’re doing alright.

It was a phrase commonly murmured by the residents, one Prax Edo had heard his entire life. His father had used it as a sort of daily mantra, until he had succumbed to a respiratory disease, one often found in areas that lacked proper air circulation while having an abundance of chemical output. That was essentially anything under the Middle District, which was a good fifty stories over their heads.

Needless to say, the Rodian had become quite the pessimist.

His young life was filled with half-baked, get rich quick schemes, most of which resulted in barely breaking even. The rest left him in debt to people who stopped bothering to climb the ladder and still ended up better off than him. At times, he was almost tempted to follow his brother, who had stowed away on a ship bound for the Outer Rim. Prax had never heard back from him, but whatever happened was bound to be better than his existence in Bottom View. Even the prison on Hosnian Prime was higher up than he was now.

Prax took a swig from his drink. It burned a trail down his throat and tasted something awful, but he needed the liquid courage. He was staring at a plan that could set him up for life, if he played his cards correctly.

The man who sat across from him worked for a politician of some sort, or perhaps just a very rich man. Either way, it was clear neither individual knew anything of slum life. His clothes consisted of what any rich man would assume was the garb of the poor (namely a cheap tunic and the galaxy’s most conspicuous hooded jacket), minus, of course, any holes, mysterious stains, or suspicious smells. And those things were the whole point really. No one trusted a clean man, not this close to the surface, but they also knew better than to not listen to what he offered.

The lowest of the low took on all sorts of jobs to keep their lives afloat, from day to day commissions that brought hard manual labor and little pay to high-risk/high reward missions that would result in either incarceration or death if failed. The latter was the particular idea this rich man was pitching to Prax, or at least he was trying to.

“Speak up, would you?” Prax more or less shouted at the man. “No need to worry about prying ears here.”

They were seated at a corner booth in the local nightclub, aptly named Ataxia, overlooking the throng that crowded the dance floor. The sound was best described as tangible, which was a fancy word that told Prax that if he hadn’t gone deaf yet, he may never lose his hearing. As such, it was the perfect environment for the business’ other purpose.

Encircling the dance floor were multiple tables hidden in dark corners, much like their own, where beings clustered together to talk of trade and contracts, the flow of spice, illegal betting grounds, and other less than savory topics. The Senate had its gathering place, the Underground its own.

“My employer has a competitor who has exceeded her boundaries for far too long,” the man repeated, though he hardly raised his voice any higher. “She needs to be reminded of the working order of things.”

Intimidation. He’d tagged along on a few jobs like that before. The really good ones were meticulous in their efforts. They preferred psychological damage, using techniques that still made Prax squirm. He wasn’t as well practiced in the art of coercion. Clearly his client was of the stingy variety if he was coming to him for this rather than the others. Still, stingy to him was a lot of money to the poor Rodian, whose rent was two months late.

The man, whose features he’d never quite been able to make out under the hood, slid a datapad toward him. Prax noted how he did his best not to make skin contact with any surface in the club. He was half tempted to spit on the clean hand presented with the datapad, but thought better of it. What was the phrase? Don’t spit on the hand that feeds you?

Prax took in the image before him. It was of a woman, young, perhaps pretty by human standards, with dark hair and light eyes. She hardly looked old enough to have made much difference in the universe, much less garner the anger of well-funded individuals. Still, something about her felt familiar, which said something this far down.

“I assume the compensation is to your satisfaction?”

The Rodian read the number just below her face. He suppressed a noise in his throat. “Very.”

Suddenly, the table shook.

Prax looked up from the datapad to see a crossed pair of boots sitting in front of him, attached to a lounging woman who looked oddly like the picture he had just been staring at. His client, he noted, had gone white as a sheet.

“Funny, the people you run into in unexpected places,” the woman said, sinking deep into the cushions of the booth. “It’s Darek, right? Senator Prost’s aide.”

Prax blinked. He looked the woman over again, a picture of calm amid the chaos of Ataxia, with her feet on the table and an arm outstretched to the side, nearly reaching him (unlike Darek who was nervously looking around the room and pulling his hood even tighter). She sported a short, brown jacket, which did nothing to conceal the blaster at her hip. A hand in fingerless gloves rested on it, not taut, but prepared nonetheless.

This was who his client was worried about? She looked better suited to a life in Bottom View than any place a richer person would be found. Was she a jilted lover? Illegitimate daughter? Maybe she had some blackmail on him.

“What brings you so far down, Darek? This place certainly isn’t the kind of nightlife you’re used to.”

“The same could be said about you, Senator,” Darek managed to squeak out. “If word got out, it wouldn’t bode very well for you.”

Wait, did he say senator?

“I wouldn’t know why,” the woman replied, waving down a serving droid. Moments later, three shots of some greenish liquid sat on the table. “I’m just enjoying a drink and a song.”

She took the shot, placing the empty glass upside down. “Aren’t you?”

His client eyed the drink for a half a second before turning his nose up at it. The woman chuckled, taking the glass for herself.

“Maybe your friend will be a little more conversational.” She turned to Prax, though not before eying his own untouched drink. “Elara Organa-Solo, by the way. And you are?”

In over my head.

Now Prax knew where he had seen her face before. Even in the outskirts of society, most people knew the name, and now Darek’s mention of senator made sense. She was a more outspoken politician, who was either loved or hated, never quite tolerated. Her family was chock full of Rebellion heroes, until the tree branch reached her grandfather. His father had spoken of terrifying acts that belonged solely to Darth Vader, things even an army could not accomplish. The fact that this beaming, young woman sitting next to him was related to that monster was downright unnerving.

“No one important,” Prax finally answered, standing. The aide looked pleadingly at him. He wasn’t sure why. He hadn’t been hired for protection, or suicide either.

“Don’t be like that. Stay.” The senator casually waved her hand. “I think you want to tell me why Darek was talking with you.”

Suddenly, all urges to leave stopped, and Prax sat back down as if he had wanted to all along. He wanted to tell her everything. She was a friend, a confidant, and he could not resist her beckoning. “He wanted me to intimidate you. His words implied by physical force.”

Elara raised an eyebrow, turning her gaze to the aide who had somehow remained rooted to the spot, and looked even paler for it. “Definitely not enjoying a drink, then.”

She lifted her boots from the table, leaning forward on both arms to look Darek in the eye. “Is that the kind of game the Senate plays now? Disagree with someone and get beat up for it?”

“Senator Prost doesn’t think you can be reasoned with,” the aide finally said, though it sounded more like a whisper.

The woman scoffed. “That’s a lot come from a man whose first line of defense equates to plugging his ears and chanting about not listening.”

There was a pregnant pause. From Prax’s seat, he could see Elara playing with the blaster, deciding. He wanted to get up again, to run and never come back to this forsaken establishment, maybe just run to the next cruiser destined for anywhere other than the system he was on. But he was frozen to the spot, concerned that any movement on his part might also trigger her.

“Tell me, Darek, do you know why Ataxia is the place to come to for hiring shady characters?”

When the aide shook his head, Elara drew her blaster. She aimed at no one, didn’t even put her finger on the trigger, instead placing it on the table surface, though Prax felt like she had shot him in the chest anyway, the way his heart skipped a beat. And though Ataxia continued to move to the beat of the current dance song, all around eyes were watching.

“Do you see all these tables around us? They aren’t filled with ordinary patrons; they are the scum of the universe, the kind that people like you and Prost shake your heads at, the kind everyone says will amount to nothing more than unintelligent drivel at the wasted bottom of the galaxy.” She waited, letting Darek glance around the space with a keener eye. “You’re in the middle of their territory now. Tell me, does it feel like nothing?”

Prax knew it didn’t to him. Rich men could shake their heads at gangsters all they wanted, but when they were at the wrong end of the blaster, all their status meant nothing.

“Ataxia is what some would call neutral territory. So, not only are all these people criminals, they’re also rivals. Which means, with one wrong move-” She made a trigger pulling motion with a free hand, her wrist slowly arching back from the pretend kick. “-this entire place will light up like New Republic Day on spice, but I’m sure Prost was well aware of that before he sent you down here to do his dirty work.”

Darek gulped. “Yes, I’m…sure he was.”

There was a moment of silence, or whatever qualified as that in Ataxia. No one at the table moved, they all eyed the blaster. Prax wondered how far he could get before the crazy human got them all killed.

Then Elara holstered the weapon, and there was a collective sigh of relief.

“Your view of the galaxy doesn’t work in reality. I suggest you tell your boss to stick to his playing field. He’s not going to beat me in mine.”

As if some invisible string had been cut, the aide immediately fled the area, chased out by rough music and hoarse laughter from the other tables. Prax watched him go, the emptiness of his wallet weighing more than all the coin in the world.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Elara said suddenly, slamming down something on the table while simultaneously downing his drink. “I’m not a fan of it, but some things can’t be helped.”

She left then, disappearing into the crowd as if she had not been there in the first place.

On the table was a small card, which unlocked an account with 10,000 Galactic Credits.

. . .

New Republic Senatorial Complex Republic City Hosnian Prime

The room was a cacophony of languages, binary, and the occasional whoops of a politician whose point had been made. The bowl-shaped assembly, resembling the old senate with its deep build and endless rows of viewing platforms, only aided the chaos presented to the viewer. With that, many delegates found privacy in the din.

But in the midst of the commotion, nestled with the repulsorpods from the Ash Worlds of the Outer Rim, Elara heard it all. She took her time, using the Force to gently probe the conversations surrounding her, no more than a sentence or two at once, enough to gauge the topic of discussion. Most were trivial: family concerns, which systems distilled the best drink, none of the dramatic overtures that the space had grown accustomed to housing, and, more importantly, no mention of the growing threat that lingered in the Unknown Regions.

Pursing her lips, Elara leaned back, allowing the clear conversations to meld into a droning buzz once more.

It was growing worse. The Senate not formally acknowledging the First Order as, at the very least, a subject of interest was one thing, to disregard it completely was another. It was a battle she had been losing from day one, ever since she had taken her mother’s vacated seat four years ago. Many of her fellow politicians still saw her as a young child looking for emotional leverage, while others saw a warmonger hoping for vengeance for a home she had never seen. Of course, what they all saw, to varying extents, was Darth Vader. That was an image she had given up trying to shake. Ever since the provocative reveal in that very room nearly five years prior, it was hard to ignore for anyone. There had been no gentle easing of the truth. The bandage had been yanked off before the galaxy, taking skin and bone with it.

She had been with her father at the time, out on the race circuit, finding herself in a galaxy full of possibility. Han Solo had never been one to look ashamed, even his greatest mistakes he defended proudly, but to see the look on his face when his daughter heard the family’s darkest secret over the holonet, she might have sworn he was a different man.

“Disappointed, are we?”

Remembering her place, Elara’s hazel eyes shot across the pod to where Kaid Dexshi reclined, an annoying grin plastered on his face. The senator from Eredenn Prime (and benefactor of her home system of New Alderaan) was an older gentleman, though no less handsome for it. His graying hair was still cut to Republic Navy standards and his skin tone reflected a lifestyle of a constant outdoorsman rather than the cushy indoor life the average politician led. He was fit (more so than most men half his age) and he was cocky as hell. Most days Elara wasn’t sure if she liked or hated him. Some days she simply wanted to toss him out of the pod.

It was a complicated relationship, to say the least.

“If I say no, would you stop looking so pleased?” Elara sat up, smoothing out the wrinkles that had formed in the light blue fabric of her dress, willing them to turn into leggings if she were to be honest. “Surely you’re not going to tell me we’re all here to witness the failure of another vote regarding the First Order?”

The senator chuckled. “No need to worry, Elara. My entertainment at your expense is borderline cruelty at this point. I’ll not be the senator who violated the Galactic Concordance because of a woman.”

Elara sneered. “Then what horrible thing has you in such a good mood this morning?”

Kaid’s smile only grew as he moved to sit next to her, breath hot on her ear as he whispered. “Just be patient and pay attention. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

She barely repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Toss him from the pod it was.

After a few minutes passed with scarcely a change in the atmosphere, Elara was beginning to think she’d been had. It was not something she would have put past Kaid, although she had hoped he respected her enough to play such tricks in private.

Then the air shifted. Fear, anticipation, despair. Gasps and angry shouts brought her attention upward, where four Senatorial guards surrounded Senator Prost himself in his repulsorpod. Darek, she noted, was nowhere to be found.

The entire Senate watched as the man was arrested and taken away, before erupting in conversation and arguments. Her pod’s screen lit up as various politicians vied for the first chance to speak.

Elara dared to look at Kaid, whose ego would be unbearable for the next month or so. “What did you do?”

“Senator Prost has a terrible spending habit, and even worse encryption on his accounts. A hint here, a nudge there, and suddenly the Internal Investigation Committee has the answer to all the missing money from public spending accounts.”

“And what, may I ask, inspired you to even look into his spending?” Elara asked, scooting back on her seat so that there was respectable ‘working room’ between them. “Last I checked, you accused Prost of being worth about as much of your time as a five year old on a temper tantrum. You said a man that loud can’t have anything worth looking into.”

Kaid shrugged. “I got a tip. Some underappreciated aide talking about how there were things I’d probably like to look into.”

Elara had to smile at that. Perhaps things the previous night had not as been as bad as she thought.

Her colleague noticed the look on her face. “I had a feeling you might have had something to do with it. I wish you’d stop taking things into your own hands, though. Getting involved in the crime world will eventually do more harm than good.”

She managed to look sheepish. “You heard.”

“Heard?” Kaid practically laughed. “A Centrist damn near cackled after relaying the story to me. You’re on thin ice around here as it is, Elara. You shouldn’t push your luck.”

“So, you’d have me sit back and let these people play their little games with me?” Elara asked, ignoring how loud her voice got. “I wasn’t in Bottom View to cause trouble, but to prevent it. Prost was about to hire goons to attack me, for pity’s sake.”

Kaid put a hand on Elara’s shoulder, leaning closer, urging her to quiet. “You and I both know you have nothing to fear on that front, and I suggest you try harder to keep it between us. The aide was easy to bribe, but once word gets out about your abilities, no amount of money will keep the Senate from forcing you into self-exile like your mother.”

Elara took a deep breath, calming. Few people in her life knew about her Force sensitivity, fewer still her training. It was what managed to keep her afloat in a political environment that wanted nothing more than to be rid of her. She was, technically, an innocent in the disaster that was her family, but not many would be willing to forgive her wielding of the Force, not with Darth Vader’s memory still so firmly intact in their memories.

There had been days when she wondered if she had not been cursed.

“We have to play the long game here,” the senator continued. “It’s the only way to get anything done.”

“We don’t have that kind of time, Kaid,” she murmured. “The Resistance encounters stronger First Order opposition on every mission, and they haven’t even seen the bulk of their forces.”

At that, her friend frowned, looking very much his age at that moment. “You may be right there, Elara. When the aide said there was something I’d like, he wasn’t wrong. Prost’s spending only appears frivolous on the outside. Most of the accounts can’t be traced when you look deeper into them.”

“The Unknown Regions,” Elara added quietly, multiple ideas trying to overtake her train of thought at once.

“Precisely,” Kaid replied with a nod. “And if all this money went to them from one man, how much funding do you think a corrupted Senate could bring the First Order?”

. . .

The last time Leia had visited the complex, she hadn’t been entirely welcome. The Resistance was still in its early stages, back when the First Order was only a dark whisper with no name. She had appeared as nothing more than a traitor, a Separatist, who sought to plunge the galaxy back into civil war. Still, they had grudgingly allowed her to attend the induction ceremony. She was, after all, still royalty, and it was her daughter taking her turn at the political wheel.

There had been a lot of whispers, many shouts, and one man had dared to toss his drink at her, but she had stood tall and proud. Angry opposition was something she was used to.

Or welcomed, as Han put it.

But now the times were different. The dark whispers had a name and while the Senate may have been entirely too slow to act against them, it was obvious that many individuals saw the Resistance in a new light. It was an appreciation of sorts, but for their sacrifice or distraction, she could not say.

Her office had changed, she noted. It had nearly been barren when she occupied it. Her nose was always stuck in datapads so the bare walls never had time to bother her. She’d had a few trinkets, though, pieces of home that had survived, gifts from friends, and a few family possessions, enough to appear that she cared for something other than her politics.

Elara’s decorative take was…well, she wouldn’t say cluttered, but it clearly had her daughter’s touch.

Schematics lined the walls, from ships and podracers to small droids and thermal devices. In the center of the room sat a model of the Millennium Falcon, before Lando ruined it according to both father and daughter. There were also little holos sitting on shelves, which when approached produced images of other famous rebellion fighters, including Wedge Antilles’ T-65B X-Wing and Shuttle Tydirium.

That was the one she found herself staring at when Elara entered, her aide jogging behind her with an armful of datapads.

“This one contains the regulations of the proposed trade routes to the Outer Rim, as part of the New Republic Outreach Program.”

“Let me guess, high tariffs on the participating systems to counter the ‘risk insurance-’” Elara said without looking at the aide (a girl of maybe eighteen with intricately braided blonde hair). She crossed to her desk and picked up something from the floor behind it. An engine component, it looked like. Leia smiled. “-and import taxes that render the products virtually unaffordable in Republic space, because they’re ‘hard to procure.’”

“And that will be going in the ‘nay’ pile.” The aide put down one datapad, shuffling through the others.

Elara tinkered with the part, shifting pieces Leia could hardly see. “Senator Khardeen heads the Outreach Committee, yes?”

Her aide didn’t miss a step, not looking up herself. “I believe last month we agreed he was the committee.”

“Right, right,” her daughter replied, moving to the window, a pensive look on her face.

Leia knew little about Malastare’s new senator, only that he held a grudge against Dugs and was not the kind to play nice, as their conversation suggested.

“The Grand Prix is coming up,” Elara blurted suddenly. “No elected official would dare be caught not attending the podrace. Arrange for passes. I think a private chat with my colleague is needed.”

The aide tapped one of the datapads a few times.

Hearing her daughter play out the game Leia had once been so adept at left a familiar ache in her chest. She truly missed politics, but even when their current crisis ended, Leia knew there would be no going back; she was tainted, and the Senate was tainted for her. There was too much hurt, and far too many things had been broken, but it was good to see someone still upholding some sort of standard, even if she was viewing it from the skewed perspective of a proud mother. Although she had heard Elara was a bit more of a brute than she had ever been. She had Han to thank for that. Chewie, too, no doubt.

“Oh, and you have a visitor,” the aide said, so matter-of-factly, Leia almost missed the underlying joke.

Two sets of eyes turned to her.

“And here I thought Kaid had bought me another joke statue.” Elara smiled. “Hi, mom.”

It was such a simple sentence, but in person and free of the static of intergalactic communication, it was enough to tug at her heart.

Elara looked a lot like her, Leia noted, with her dress in the simple style that had defined Alderaanian humility and her hair wrapped in a braid that hung over her shoulder. It did not need to be pinned; it was nowhere near as long as hers had been or even was now. Her daughter hated excess hair, but she still respected tradition.

Her eyes, though, those were all Han’s, that hazel color that had the strange ability to light up or darken depending on her mood. The former did not happen as much anymore; the latter too much.

“You look busy,” Leia finally said, wondering why ‘hello’ was so hard.

Her smile was rueful. “Says the woman juggling the entire not-so-legal resistance movement.” She turned to the aide. “Go home, Kari. Tell your father happy birthday for me.”

The young woman grinned, bowing her head quickly before exiting the office.

“She knows you well,” Leia observed, watching the doorway.

“I’m pretty sure she is at least two steps ahead of me at all times,” Elara admitted, collapsing in her chair. Gone was the regal politician of New Alderaan, replaced by a twenty-six-year-old Corellian who had better things to do than talk to her mother. “What brings you back to Hosnian Prime?”

“Recruitment, actually. The recent skirmish on the border left quite a few disillusioned pilots. They reached out and we answered.” Leia paused. “Not that I’m telling you any of this.”

Elara put the piece on her desk and shrugged. “It doesn’t make much difference. The Senate is no closer to making any legal action on the Resistance than they are to the First Order. Chancellor Villecham’s afraid if the Senate makes a move on me, they’ll have to do the same for the other side, and so on and so forth. I think the term mutually assured destruction comes into play somewhere, so as of right now, it’s a standoff.”

Leia snorted. It was that same inability to make any movement that had contributed to her desire to leave in the first place.

“Although, Kaid did get Senator Prost arrested,” Elara added, “But I doubt even that is enough to cause a ripple. Even among Centrists, he isn’t the most popular."

“Senator Dexshi arranged that?” Leia asked. She never had liked the man much, nor did she appreciate Elara’s informal address of him.

Her daughter had a knowing look.

“Kaid is a frustrating laserbrain, but he is also useful, more so than anyone else. Populists are appeasers now.”

No doubt my fault too, Leia thought.

A silence fell between them. It was a more common occurrence than Leia liked. Things had changed between them, but so much had happened too, things that neither liked to discuss, but Leia knew the rift had started when word that Vader was Elara’s grandfather had reached her ears, and not from her own mother. Han had taken a hit as well, but in the end, it was not his secret to tell, only her own. She could not help but imagine how much easier things might have gone if she had just told her children. Elara might be more willing to open up to the past events, and Ben…

The office doors hissed.

Poe Dameron stepped through the threshold, looking like quite the respectable pilot in his new Resistance uniform, though she could tell he had been tugging at the collar. The boy would never know it, but he had just saved her.

“Pardon the interruption, General. We just got a message from base and I figured you’d want to hear it in person.”

He paused then, catching the eyes of her daughter, who had since stood up. For a moment, everything seemed to stop. They just stared at one another, neither moving nor breathing as far as she could tell.

Then Elara’s face split into a large grin, the likes of which Leia had not seen in an age. “Dameron.”

His smile matched hers. “Solo.”

“Afraid it’s Organa-Solo here,” Elara replied, gesturing to her dress. “Reminding the politicians you’re technically royalty tends to help.”

“And I’m sure you enjoy doing that.”

Leia watched the exchange, a complete outsider. She had no idea they even knew the other existed (particularly on Elara’s part), much less had enough of a relationship to share inside jokes. Back in the early days of the Empire’s collapse, Leia had worked with his mother, and through old war stories, she knew Han had fought alongside his father, but they had not seen either Dameron since then, not after they had moved to Yavin 4. From what she recalled, Poe’s mother had actually passed years ago.

Elara was giving Poe an exasperated look, but her smile had yet to fade. Leia felt her heart sink. In the mere seconds he had been in the office, Poe had elicited more emotion from her daughter than Leia had in years.

“As far as I’m concerned, Poe, you’re still the only person worth bossing around.”

The commander chuckled. “I can accept that.”

Leia finally found her voice. “I guess it’s not too much to assume the two of you know each other.”

She saw reality dawn in her daughter’s eyes, their hues darkening. “Oh, oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to just – Poe spent a season with us…on Dantooine.”

If Poe noticed the change in tone, he did not show it. It was the first time Elara had even mentioned the planet without immediately shrinking.

Leia turned to Poe, her curiosity overtaking the sadness blooming inside. “I didn’t know you were Force Sensitive.”

The pilot shrugged, looking oddly uncomfortable in the spotlight. “Hardly Force Sensitive is more like it. What was it your brother used to say? Enough to notice, but not enough to care?”

Had the room always been so cold?

Elara started to trace images on her desk with her fingertips. Now she looked small again, the young woman who had seen too much. Her hair had been much shorter then and her lightsaber had hung from her hip, a blue blade that matched the open sky. It had been so quiet, and yet hardly peaceful…

“Did I say something wrong?”

Leia jumped. “No, no, Poe, you didn’t. We just haven’t seen Ben in a long time is all.”

Her daughter’s face snapped up so quickly, Leia though she heard her neck crack. She would be answering for that later, hopefully over a long distance comm that gave her the option to walk away from it.

Because that would help repair their relationship.

“Well,” Elara started, interrupting the thick silence that had fallen…again. “If the two of you don’t mind, I will be taking off for the evening. I had a long night, an equally long day, and want nothing more than to be in something with pant legs.”

She picked up a datapad, the ‘nay’ pile one, and headed for the doorway. Leia figured she would run if she could.

“Feel free to use the space as long as you like. It’s not bugged as far as I know.” She paused, hand resting on the control, before turning back. “It was good seeing you again, Poe.”

And then she was gone.

General and Commander stood alone, both staring after her, quiet and lost in thought.

Poe was the one who started. “I’m sorry, General. I shouldn’t have barged in like that. I clearly interrupt-”

Leia held up a hand. “It’s alright, Poe. You made her smile. That’s more than anyone else can do.”

Myself included.

19 ABY Jedi Academy Dantooine

Poe looked around his bare quarters and heaved. He knew that he had agreed to come of his own volition (it was Luke freaking Skywalker after all) but the day was barely over and he was already feeling regret seep into his mind.

Luke was a great hero and an equally great man, but he was a busy one as well, and in the few moments Poe had been able to talk to him, all he mentioned was stuff about the Force. He’d described it as some kind of power. Sounded more like magic to Poe. Flying was a more suitable topic for the 16-year-old. After all, his mom had sworn up and down that Luke had taken the shot that destroyed the first Death Star. And without a guidance system!

Of course, when he even tried to bring it up, Luke had just given him that smile, the kind that adults gave to all kids when they weren’t going to answer their questions. It was usually followed by an ‘another time.’ The Jedi Master was no exception.

Poe huffed, flopping on his cot. It was slightly too small for his still growing frame and sat maybe three inches off the ground. Besides the duffels he had brought and one small chest, the room was basically empty. The walls appeared to be made of solid permacrete and there was one lone window, a horizontal slit he could not see out of without standing on something.

He thought this was some kind of school. Why did it look like a prison?

Time passed, and Poe was half asleep when he got the sudden nagging feeling that someone was watching him.

The room was still empty when he opened his eyes, though much darker. He fumbled through the space for a switch before slapping down on the door panel and coming face to face with-

Well, the air. The subject in question was several inches shorter, and female, and decidedly angry for some reason. She was eying him, hands on her hips, and all business. Like most of the other students, she, too, wore a plain tunic, though she also had a small, brown robe like Luke, and some sort of metallic cylinder attached to her belt.

“Can I help you?” he asked, not entirely sure he wanted the answer.

“Who are you?” she asked, high voice making the seriousness of her question kind of hilarious.

“My name’s Poe. Poe Dameron.”

She waved him off. “No, no, I know that, but who are you?”

He blinked. “…uh…a student?”

A single eyebrow lifted. “Yeah, and my dad’s a rancor.”

As if she owned the place, the girl walked right past Poe into his room. The boy, too stunned by the strangeness of the situation, simply watched as she investigated every corner of the place. As much of an invasion of privacy as it was, she, at least, did not attempt to look in his bags.

“Uncle Luke doesn’t personally escort anyone around here anymore; he doesn’t have the time. And he certainly doesn’t give the biggest room to some new kid.”

He didn’t know what was more surprising, that his room was the largest or that-

“Wait, your uncle is Luke Skywalker?”

She turned to him, face all ridicule. “Duh. Why else would I have full run of the place?”

Poe sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience ebbing. “I don’t know, because a ten-year-old does what they want?”

Her hands were back on her hips. “I’m twelve, thank you very much.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” he mumbled, unable to help himself.

“I’m short, not deaf!”

“Sometimes you’re both,” a deeper voice called from the doorway. And by deeper, he meant more masculine. The boy’s voice still cracked and sounded more on the childish side.

Poe raised his arms in the air. Now there were two of them!

“Who are you people?!”

The boy didn’t even seem bothered. “Name’s Ben. Short stuff over there is Elara.”

A brother, Poe guessed, seeing as how the newcomer was about as forthcoming with answers as his companion. He had the same dark hair and pale complexion, though his eyes were much darker than the fiery girl digging through his room. His outfit lacked the robe, but he still possessed the cylinder. A weapon, perhaps? He’d hate to think of this Elara girl armed.

“Why are you even in his room?” Ben asked, ignoring the blatantly furious looks Poe was sending him as he entered the room too.

“Looking for answers.” Now Elara was eying his bags. Poe slowly inched toward them. “There has to be some reason why Uncle Luke is so interested in him.”

“Have you tried asking Poe himself?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

The girl huffed, looking up at him. “Do you know why Luke is so interested in you?”

“Um…” Even upon hearing their conversation heading in his direction, he was still caught off guard by the question. To be honest, he hadn’t paid much attention back home either. “Something about the Force…and maybe…a tree?”

She gave her brother a withering look. “That’s why.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “He’ll tell us eventually. You don’t have to be privy to everything Uncle does.”

Now Elara looked offended. “That’s not what this is about and you know it!”

Things looked to be getting heated. He could feel the atmosphere change, something dark and cold lurked. Poe did not like it one bit.

“Uh, guys?” he said, stepping between the bickering siblings, at probably a much bigger risk to his health than he cared to know. “Can I have my room back?”

There was a beat. The anger simmered. Ben nodded and grabbed his sister by the long sleeve of her robe, dragging her to the entrance.

“I’m keeping my eye on you,” Elara managed to say before the doors hissed shut in front of her face. The last image he saw was her glaring eyes.

Why was that so intimidating?

With a sigh, Poe collapsed on his bed again.

It was going to be a long season.

. . .

Present Day

Resistance Base

D’Qar

Beneath the canopy of his T-70 X-Wing, Poe couldn’t help but smile. He had met a lot of interesting characters over the years, many of whom were not the most innocent of individuals, but none ever managed to leave an impression quite as extraordinary as that twelve-year-old girl.

Of course, Elara had eventually been forced to give a proper introduction, at what may have been the closest thing to gunpoint that Luke Skywalker could muster.

BB-8, sitting his astromech slot in the back of the ship, chirped. They were about to land on base.

“That’s okay, buddy, you can bring her in.”

More beeps. He never engaged auto-landing.

“I know. I know. I’m just…distracted.”

And he was. Despite their relatively hostile introduction, the two had become fast friends. After his time on Dantooine had passed, he and Elara had messaged one another sporadically. Happy Birthdays. Congratulations on his graduation from the academy. Simple things. The last time had been…just after Vader.

A lot had clearly changed since then.

Elara Solo had looked tired. Not the logging more hours in the cockpit over the bed kind of tired, more of the weary soldier look, an exhaustion from battle and loss that no amount of sleep can clear from the system. He knew the look well, although it usually belonged to grizzled veterans twice her age.

Now, while Poe thought politics were about as soul-sucking as things could get, it was not the cause of his friend’s distress. Elara would have left a long time ago if that were the case. No, something had happened, something other than Vader, something that cut far deeper and had yet to heal.

As he reached to the chain that had hung around his neck, his mind drifted back to how mother and daughter reacted to his mentioning of Ben.

Had something happened to him?

The General never was one to talk about her family, but thinking back on their conversations, Poe could vividly recall her mentioning something her husband or daughter did, all off-handed things that she was reminded of at the time. She’d say them with a smile, though it was usually a sad one. There was not a single time he could remember her speaking of Ben. Had he not known better, he might have thought Elara was an only child. There were certainly a number of younger Resistance fighters who would have been surprised she was even married.

Ben was not his favorite person from his days on Dantooine, but he had been far from the worst, and thinking back on it, most of his negative feelings had come from that youthful competitiveness that afflicted most boys their age. There was not a single thing one had done that the other had not tried to outdo. It had infuriated Elara to no end, and yet every day she was there on the sidelines, watching the boys beat themselves up again.

They had been quite the trio.

A light rapping on the canopy shook Poe from his thoughts. Lowering his hand, the pilot realized his X-Wing had not only landed, but was also in the middle of cool down procedures. Outside, a brightly smiling Jessika Pava just barely blocked the sunlight.

“Good morning, Commander,” she said, looking very proud of herself. Behind him, BB-8 whistled. “Good morning to you too, Beebee-ate.”

Rolling his eyes, Poe pulled the canopy release, listening to the familiar hiss as it unsealed and lifted. “Can I help you, Blue Three?”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. The team and I were just wondering if you were going to debrief us any time soon or if you just wanted to keep staring wistfully at the horizon.”

Someone snickered below. If he had to guess, it was Karé. The two were tag-teaming menaces.

“I wasn’t staring wistfully,” Poe countered as Jessika lowered herself back down the ladder. “More…contemplative really.”

“Whatever you say, Commander.”

Poe stood up, getting his first chance to stretch his muscles in hours. He loved to fly, and would never want to do anything else for a living, but damn if it didn’t hurt a lot sometimes. Made him feel a lot older than he really was.

Below, a crowd of familiar faces had gathered. Snap, L’ulo, Karé, even Nien Nunb, were all standing at the base of his ship, desperate for orders no doubt. Things had been quiet lately, lots of missions that were scrubbed before the ships even left the flight deck. People were bored. They were also on edge. It was a dangerous combination.

“Shucks, guys, I didn’t realize you all missed me so much,” he spoke, removing his helmet and tossing it into his seat.

“More than our homes, Commander,” Karé joked. There were smiles, laughter, a nice break from his previous thoughts.

He smiled back, sliding down the ladder. “Alright, Black Squadron, how much trouble did you get into while I was gone?”

L’ulo placed a hand on his shoulder. “Not as much as they wanted. The First Order’s still quiet.”

The smiles were replaced with grave faces, looks that told more than words ever could. Pilots hated being grounded, none more so than his squad. These were people who volunteered because they were tired of sitting and waiting, and that was precisely what they had been forced to do.

“Wish I could give you guys better news on that front,” Poe said, placing his hands on his hips. “Republic Command is locked up tight. Whatever they might know, they aren’t telling, not even to the General. And as for the Senate…well, we know how that goes.”

Jessika made a face. “Half the kriffing politicians want the Empire back. We can’t trust them to help us.”

Inwardly, Poe agreed with his fellow pilot’s assessment. How else could he explain the madness of the Senate refusing to see the danger of the First Order? He had seen their Star Destroyers with his own eyes. That kind of firepower wasn’t going to idle in the Unknown Regions forever.

But he was the commander of Black Squadron, and giving in to that kind of talk was not in the best interest of the Resistance.

“If we lose hope in the Senate, we lose hope in the Republic, and the First Order won’t have to attack us then. We’ll have done the work for them,” Poe replied, crossing his arms. “There are plenty of Senators who aren’t about to sit back and let the remnants of the Empire take what we fought so hard for. We just need to give them time.”

Nien Nunb piped up from the back, his rapid Sullustese breaking up the conversation.

Snap nodded, and he wasn’t the only one. “He has a point, Poe. We don’t have much time left.”

Poe thought back to Elara, weary and frustrated in her office, doing what she could with what little the Senate had given her.

“Then we give them as much as we can.”

May the Force be with you, Solo.

#my gosh that was long #hope it doesn't bore you #i just really love political talk #there's still so much more left #fourteen thousand words? #i need to reread this

[shadowmooncat]

Chapter 3: A Powerful Invitation.

*Starting in the last remnant of the Star clan lands, The team of Igar, Ellia, Lania, and Vira rest in their small stronghold. Since the land itself is sacred, no one can enter it, and due to this it is only them around. This is both a safe way to rest, as well as a costly danger. Little did they know that they would be cut off slowly by encroaching darkness.*

*Igar shivered a bit feeling uneasy and woke. The others were asleep in the small temple ruins. He slowly rose up and looked around. The area was dark around them and small bits of shadowy orbs floated around in the air. He blinked* Igar: wh-what is this?.. *carefully looking to them he nodded* Igar: concentrated darkness.. but this isnt normal.. and ive never felt this type of energy before.. is it a new gemstone?... no *he followed the darkness towards its sources outside and blinked. Around them the area was filled with complete darkness. Unable to even see beyond the temple. He growled* Igar: no this isnt normal... whoever it is is doing this... ???: target has risen.. the Devil Spores are not affecting him.. *Igar blinked and looked wide eyed seeing a figure appear from the dark forming together through the dark energy. He pulled back and readied his blades looking to him* Igar: W-what?! who are you? *the figure didnt speak instaead it rose its blade and swung down at him. He dodged the blade pulling back and slashed at the figures leg. The attack tore through its leg a bit but it quickly began healing easily. Igar blinked* Igar: what is.. gah! *he blocked the next swing with his blades but was sent flying into the temple crashing down on the girls. They soon woke up confused* Ellia: wh-what! Igar!? Vira: whats going on?! wha! what is that!! *she pointed to Ozowa who walked in and stared to them* Ozowa: their... awake?.. impossible.. *Reim shook her head and sprung up looking around* Reim: h-huh? hmm the atmosphere is dense with darkness... ive never seen.. *Lania yelled and shook her head* Lania: yahhh! what is that thing!? its a demon a giant dog demon! *Vira shook her head* Vira: dog demons dont have horns.. at least not the ones ive seen! *Igar looked to them* Igar: theres no time for that! move! *he rushed forward as a large blade from Ozowa slammed down and nearly crushed them but Igar held him back and was able to slide the blade across his own to the side. He then quickly stabbed three shurikens in his arm and pulled back. Ozowa brushed them out of his arm as they dropped and the group gathered ready to fight together.* *he looked to them and nodded* Ozowa: targets are only two.. the other two are unneeded. *Igar blinked*

Igar: whats it saying? only two?.. *Vira gasped suddenly looking as darkness began to engulf her* Vira: wh-what! those things... get it off hurry damn it! *she waved her blade trying to free herself as the darkness started to engulf her. Ellia made her way over to her but was knocked back by a ball of shadow that formed in front of her. The sudden explosion knocked her off her feet as she could only look as Vira faded* Ellia: no! Virrraaaa!! Igar: Virra! no! *Lania shivered and growled* Lania: y-you monster! now youll pay! *she rushed forward after Ozowa and rose her staff to strike him but was engulfed in the darkness and suddenly vanished* *Igar gasped as Ellia shook her head* Ellia: L-Lania!! no... you too! Igar: damn you! bring them back! *Ozowa's tone changed a bit* Ozowa: you do not command me star child. Now you will accept my masters will and enter the void. *Igar hissed* Igar: the hell I am! *he readied his weapon and rushed toward him. Ozowa rose his weapon as it glowed* Ozowa: foolishness. Target will be damaged but obtained. *as he moved to smash his blade down at him rays of light pierced his arm cutting straight through and caused him to pull it away as it burned slowly healing. He looked to Ellia who readied her attack again with her gemstone glowing as well. That one moment he took his eyes off of Igar though Igar rushed forward and stabbed his throat. Ozowa pulled back waving his sword as Igar pulled far back taking his sword out. the cut caused blood to gush from him but he healed just as quickly. Igar shook his head* Igar: thats.. too much.. he shouldnt be alive after that.. *Ellia looked as Ozowa healed completely* Ellia: his healing is strong.. even stronger than anything ive seen! *Igar closed his eyes* Igar: Its gotta fall.. if thats the case.. we need to constantly attack.. *Ozowa waved his blade sending a huge burst of red energy out at them. The two of them were caught off guard and knocked into the wall side by side* Igar: gah! Ellia: yah!.. *they stared looking as Ozowa started to spin his blade and glow red* Ozowa: damage will be severe but not life threatening.. *Igar looked to Ellia*

Igar: theres something about the way its moving that changed.. *Igar noticed the way Ozowa had to stay still as it charged its attack but before when it struck it seemed to be slower. He blinked suddenly as his eyes caught the energy forming around him. Red dark energy focused in his sword and seemed to be pulled from around his body* Igar: I dont know if this will work but... Ellia... when I strike aim at that point.. *she nodded* Ellia: alright. *Igar rushed forward as Ozowa started sending out waves of energy as well as charging his blade but Igar was able to push through them noticing the weakness and slashed straight across his chest jumping upward then pierced his sword deep in his chest next. Ozowa was affected by it but still spun his blade. Igar looked to Ellia* Igar: do it! *she yelled sending a huge beam of light from her gemstone at Ozowa. The attack smashed through his energy surprising him and focused on the cut in his chest. Surging through his body the light started to pulse into him. He roared and growled* Ozowa: t-too powerful! Damage is severe!....M...Master....gwaarrrrrghhh!!! *he was quickly decimated being torn to pieces and destroyed fading into darkness as his sword landed on the ground. Igar blinked* Igar: yes! we got it! *Ellia huffed kneeling down* Ellia: th-that thing was tough.. but what was it?.. ah the others! *Igar looked around* Igar: I dont see them.. and the darkness is still in the air.. what is...wait! its not over! *a womans voice laughed as she appeared from the shadow* ???: impressive! to take down that beast Ozowa is a feat in itself! But were beyond death. *Igar readied himself as Ellia looked to her* Igar: who are you! what do you want! *She shook her head* ???: walk into the void and see! My masters invitation to you has not gone away.. *suddenly forming from a pool of darkness Ozowa returned shocking both Igar and Ellia as he picked up his blade and stood beside her* Ellia: I-Igar!.. its back! Igar: he cant be! we destroyed it. *Ozowa looked to them* Ozowa: your attacks are meaningless against me. I do not exist in this world the way you see me. *Igar looked confused* Igar: wh-what does that mean? *the woman blinked and looked to the void then smiled nodding and looked to them* Avelldonna: oh! I see.. the master is impressed by your powers. He says you are worthy of us introducing our names to you. I am Avelldonna the right. I perfer Avel for short. *Ozowa stood calm and spoke* Ozowa: I am. Ozowa the left. *Igar blinked* Igar: you fight then introduce yourself? your pretty cocky. *she shook her head* Avel: We only follow our masters orders, and now his is to make sure you enter his realm. *she pointed her finger at Ellia and suddenly from it a green orb shot out at her. Ellia blinked and blocked it but her arm suddenly was seeded with a tiny plant. She blinked* Ellia: wh-what is this! *Avel grinned* Avel: my seed pod will turn you into something you hate.. but you can avoid that.. all you have to do is... *Ellia blinked* Ellia: seed pod?... oh I see.. *she glowed and sent light energy around her. Suddenly the seed pod screamed and burned away much to Avel's surprise* Avel: w-what! how did you.. *she shook her head* Ellia: attacks like that wont work on me. *Igar looked to her then back at them* Igar: we have no intention of being taken anywhere by force! bring back our friends and leave our world! *A voice spoke out* ????: Im afraid I cannot do that.. *suddenly the area turned fully back as light faded around them all. Igar gasped and suddenly felt hard to breathe kneeling down as Ellia gasped feeling chocked by the area's effect. Igar looked on and watched as a figure emerged from the void now. He blinked noticing it was only a shadow of a tall being coming from the void. Ozowa and Avel kneeled down as the figure stood in front of them* ???: you are both strong, I have need of you in my world. I can see even with you curdling on the ground, that you both are far more powerful than imagined. I would hate to do this but I need you both to sleep now. *Igar and Ellia suddenly gasped and started to lose air being engulfed in darkness from below them. Igar crawled over to Ellia who rose her hand out to him but she then suddenly passed out. He moved next to her with the last of his energy and closed his eyes passing out as well. With the two of them out and engulfed in shadow the figure spoke again* ???: take them in, their different from the other we have gathered.. put them in the dungeon for now.. forming them with the others so soon could make things hard for ANAMA to gather its energy from them all. *they nodded as the group were brought into the void and vanished* ======-=====-=======

*Meanwhile back to Blade and Elenel. They had made their way down the path heading toward the castle gates. Blade looked around seeing stars in both below and above the land. A vast endless starry land whirled around them seemingly pulling in light and venting darkness into some stars.* Blade: El.. this place is.. odd.. ive never seen a place like this.. its like a nightmare. *she nodded staying close to him as they walked carefully.* Blade: whatever it was that wants us here took us right in front of that big castle.. I can only imagine thats where this will all begin.. *they moved forward making their way toward the castle gates finally as the doors opened up in front. Blade blinked but readied himself nodding with Elenel who was prepared. As they entered quickly they looked around. Behind them the door faded way and they were in a room with glowing broken stones flowing with energy. the area was dark with a large creature inside a tube in the middle of the room absorbing the light and producing darkness from the tube. The area itself was vastly larger than what they could belive.* Blade: what.. IS this place.. it makes no sense at all.. *Elenel pointed to figures in the distance. Two figures seemed to look around in the middle part of the room. Blade nodded* Blade: theres someone here.. lets get some answers.. *Blade rushed up toward the figures down the path and tore off a piece of the wooden handrail forming a wooden sword. He rushed at the first figure he could see slashing down at them but his blade was cut in two from a real blade and a gun was pointed toward his face. He blinked and pulled back growling* Blade: who are you and why did you bring us here! *the figure turned out to be Hisao who kept his gun pointed to him but shook his head* Hisao: me?! I didnt do anything, who are you!? *Yuhiko moved beside him* Yuhiko: huh are they... not from here either?... *Elenel moved next to Blade and looked to them* Elenel: ...they.. are not.. them. *Blade looked to her* Blade: so.. what does that mean? their not our enemy? *Hisao nodded* Hisao: we arent an enemy.. we were brought here by some woman.. well we had no choice.. *Blade blinked* Blade: a woman? thats odd we were attacked and dragged into here by arms after some demon looking guy tried to kill us. *Ihgihasa appered from Yuhiko* Ihgi: a demon? how? *Blade yelped* Blade: gwa! what the hell is that!? *Elenel shook her head* Elenel: a spirit!.. *Yuhiko looked to Ihgi* Yuhiko: h-hey it might be best not to pop out of nowhere like that.. *she blinked and nodded* Ihgi: yes.. your right. My apologies.. *she faded away leaving Blade and Elenel more confused* Blade: well.. alright.. something tells me I dont want to know.. anyhow since your not the ones who brought us here then I guess were in this together.. *Hisao nodded* Hisao: yeah.. so it seems.. and it looks like we may not have a choice for now. *Blade nodded* Blade: your right um... *Hisao nodded greeting him* Hisao: my name is Hisao Nakama. *Yuhiko nodded* Yuhiko: I am Yuhiko Maru. *Blade smiled* Blade: Hisao, Yuhiko. Alright. I am Blade and this is Elenel. *the two of them looked at each other then nodded to them* Hisao: Blade.. Elenel.. hello. *Yuhiko nodded* Yuhiko: hello! *Blade smirked* Blade: well now that thats out of the way.. should we explore a bit? *Hisao looked around* Hisao: well.. since we all made it here.. I guess thats all we can do. *Yuhiko nodded and blinked as a path formed from darkness to the right* Yuhiko: l-look.. a pathway! kind of odd it happened now.. *Blade growled* Blade: humph.. their trying to lead us.. I dont like it. *Hisao nodded* Hisao: yes thats true.. but we dont have a choice in the matter. *Blade looked to Elenel who was already moving toward the path* Blade: h-hey! wait.. dont go off on your own! *she looked to him and waved* Blade: fine fine im going! *he followed after her as Hisao and Yuhiko decided to follow them* CHAPTER END

#galaxy cross #Hisao #Asuga #Yuhiko #Ihgihasa #Blade #Elenel #Ellia #Igar #Avelldonna #Ozowa #Fantasy #Mystery