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flooffybits · 4 years

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I Don’t Think So

Idol: Loona

Anon: Loona 13th member what would happen if there was a male idol hitting on (y/n) at like say the issacs or MAMA. How do ot12 handle it.-❄️ this emoji taken? I’m new to your blog and sorry if I worded it well enough

A/n: I did your other request, but yes you can use❄️ I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to get this one done

☕buy me a coffee☕

Being in the filled stadium for the Idol Star Athletics Championships, or ISAC for short, everyone could feel the excitement washing over them with all the fans screaming and the amount of idols present made it all the more overwhelming as you looked around with a wide grin on your face, waving when you saw Orbits cheering from the bleachers.

Upon further inspection, you could see familiar faces littered around the stadium and your smile widened when you saw Dreamcatcher not to far away and the maknae of the group waving at you and urging you to come over.

“Unnie!” You exclaimed as the older girl took you in her arms and giggled before ruffling your hair. “I can’t believe we’re both here.” She claimed when you pull away to fix your hair.

“Hey Y/n!” The rest of the girls greeted you warmly, having met you a few times when your schedules would coincide with one another and the fact that you were well acquainted with their maknae, who then further introduced you to everyone.

Yoohyeon hopped to her feet and then came crashing into your smaller body, engulfing you in to a tight hug as she swayed your body from side to side. “How are you? We haven’t seen you in a while!” The large puppy asked with her signature pout, making you giggle in her embrace. “I’ve been okay. Me and the girls have been a bit busy, so I’m sorry we couldn’t hang out more.”

Gahyeon quickly waved her hands dismissively, an understanding smile as she patted your head. “It’s okay. We know how schedules can get.” She assures you. “She’s right, so don’t apologize for anything. We can always hang out when you’re free.” Yoohyeon added as she finally released you from her arms.

“I swear, I’ll text you when I can.”

“Good.” Gahyeon then looked over your shoulder to see your members calling for your attention and smiled before she was gently ushering you to head back. “Looks like they’re asking for you. Go ahead and we’ll catch up another time.”

Bidding the group goodbye, you then ran over to where the rest of your members were with the smile not once leaving your face. Though due to your distracted state, you failed to notice one a person coming in your direction and end up crashing into each other.

The person quickly grabbed your arm and shoulder to steady you while you blinked in surprise. “I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Looking to the face of the person you collided with, you offer a small smile upon seeing Stray Kids’ Hyunjin staring down at you with a concerned look written over his face.

“I’m alright! I’m so sorry for bumping into you like that.” You apologize after finally pulling yourself away, leaving a good distance between the two of you while your members giggled at your slightly flustered state, the embarrassment of being seen bumping into another idol making your face a bit red.

The male chuckled and shook her head to assure you that everything was fine. “We were both a bit distracted, so we’re fine.” He tells you. “I just hope I didn’t hurt you.” He says carefully and you giggled while shaking your own head this time. “Ah, don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look.”

That earned you a wide smile from the boy before he noticed the girls watching. So, with a polite nod, he stepped back and offered a hand for you to shake. “Well, I’d rather not keep you. Hopefully we can talk again some time?” Shaking his hand, you agree before finally leaving to join your members, accepting Jiwoo’s hug as you arrived.

“I didn’t know you were close with Gahyeon and Yoohyeon sunbaenim?” Yeojin asked with wide eyes and you playfully stick your tongue out. “You didn’t want to join me last time during Show Champion.” You explain to them when you sit down and Haseul hands you a water bottle, her eyes glancing back to where Stray Kids were.

Jinsoul’s eyes were already narrowed while Sooyoung had a brow raised and Kahei tried to block your view of the boy group in case you tried to look, Jungeun sitting right beside her as she nonchalantly looked around.

“Are you close with Stray Kids, too?” Hyejoo questioned and Hyunjin gave her a small nudge for her bluntness. “Aside from their names, I don’t really know any of them much, I just accidentally bumped into one of them a while ago.” You explain with a shrug that causes Jiwoo to cuddle you further.

“It looked like he was flirting with you.” Chaewon mumbled and your brows shot up in surprise due to her claim. “Don’t be ridiculous! He was just being nice, come on.”

“Yeah, Gowon, I’m sure it’s nothing.” Heejin said lightly and Haseul just let out a sigh. “Anyway, we need to get ready because the next competition is about to start and you guys have to be prepared.” She stated and you finally began to prepare for the upcoming events.

Ever since the girls have seen you using a bow and arrow for your debut song and because you’ve been practicing how to use one ever since, it was understandable for them to pick you for that part of the event. Aside from you, there was Hyunjin and Hyejoo that would be participating in the event with you.

Before the start of the match, you tried to adjust your position, checking whether your hold on the bow was alright and then double checking your equipment just in case anything was broken or needed to be replaced while the other two were talking and checking out just how far the target would be. Hyunjin was even practicing her stance as well while Hyejoo kept turning the bow in her hands.

“Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart and don’t grip the bow too tight. And sometimes it helps if you practice your breathing, too.” You’re surprised by the sudden voice, but when you look to your left, you see the same male you had bumped into earlier.

“Thank you for the advice.” You say before lowering the bow and try to readjust your hold on it. “It’s no problem. People usually get tense when playing this, but if you want to get a good shot, don’t forget to breathe.” He explains with a kind smile.

He eyes the way you keep changing your hold on the bow and then lifts his own bow to show you. “Like this, see?” When you try to copy him, he nods his head approvingly before he moved closer and adjusted your hand, gently moving your fingers until it was much more comfortable for you to carry.

“There we go. I think you’ll do great.” He chuckled while you beamed happily. “Thank you so much!” Though off to the side, your members could all see what was happening and they were not too happy with what they were seeing and Haseul was ready to leave their seats just so she could intervene.

“Calm down. Hyunjin and Hyejoo can take care of it.” Sooyoung assures her fellow leader with a pat, but her eyes were boring holes into the man’s skull with how close he had been standing to you.

As a matter of fact, Hyejoo had looked over in time and noticed the nod most of the girls sent her way. Nodding in acknowledgement, she lightly nudged the older girl before she gestured to you and your Hyunjin quickly understood as they both finally walked over.

“Sorry to cut in, but we need to talk to Y/n about the game.” Though despite her words, she wasn’t at all sorry for getting in between. “Oh, that’s alright. I guess I’ll see you later?” The male idol chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. “Good luck.”

The Hyunjin that stood beside Hyejoo then took your free arm and led you away with the younger girl tailing behind, making sure that the boy had no chance of coming after you again with her standing in his way.

“I’m so tired.” You groan after getting in the bus and dropping your bag by your feet. Yerim gave you a small push for you to move before taking a seat next to you and then cuddling into your side. “You participated in a bunch of events, unnie. I think it’s understandable.” Yeojin explained with a small yawn.

“I guess, I haven’t been this active in sports in a while so I think that makes sense.” You mumble as everyone settled down and Kahei handed you a blanket. “Be sure to wash up when we get to the dorm, okay?” She reminds you while you nod tiredly.

Heejin takes a quick glance outside, spotting the members of Stray Kids just as she was about to get on the bus. When Hyunjin saw her, he smiled widely before excusing himself from his group and walking up to her.

“Hello! Is, uh, Y/n there?” The male asked bashfully and your friend gave him an odd look before she shook her head. “Yeah, she’s asleep. Tired from all the games and everything.” She explains while Jungeun raises a brow when she watches the two.

“Ah! That’s understandable, but when she wakes up, would you mind handing her this? I was hoping we could talk more since the ISAC isn’t exactly the most open and free place to talk.” Heejin reluctantly took the folded up piece of paper before she offered the male an awkward grin. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to inform her.”

“Thank you so much.” Right after he left, Heejin finally entered the bus with a huff before meeting Jinsoul and Jungeun’s questioning stares. “I’m surprised he had the guts to ask you to hand his number.” Jungeun shook her head whilst the older blonde extended her hand towards Heejin.

She handed the piece of paper over before Jinsoul took a quick look, her nose crinkling at the cheesy line scribbled at the bottom before she snuck a quick look at you, seeing that you were distracted by the maknaes of the group. “Tell her you were supposed to give it to her but lost it in the bus.”

“Are you sure?” Heejin questioned curiously, feeling a bit bad for having to put the male’s hopes up, but Jungeun nods her head firmly. “It’ll be fine. Plus, it’s not like we’ll be running into them anytime soon.”

“She has a point. Plus, I don’t want any boys trying to get the wrong idea.” Jiwoo huffed as Heejin finally took a seat next to her. “Good try though.” Sooyoung muttered while Hyunjin crossed her arms over her chest. “Y/n only needs one Hyunjin in her life and that’s definitely not a man.”

Haseul sighed while rubbing her forehead. “Let’s just not talk about it anymore. Thinking about it is honestly giving me a headache.” She muttered and Hyejoo hummed in her seat. “He was lucky unnie was there or else I would have done worse for thinking he could get close to her.”

“Well, when this day is over, we can let him be.” They all nodded their heads before finally settling down. Haseul had checked in on you and smiled when she saw Kahei tucking both you and Yerim in with the blanket she gave the two of you, your head resting atop the younger girl’s while she had hers on your shoulder.

They knew that their protectiveness could be a bit much, but given that you were younger than most of them and that you were a foreigner, they wanted to make sure they could look after you and that you wouldn’t be put in any situation that would be difficult for you.

Though with Hyunjin, or any male idol who tried to ask for your number or even try flirting with you, there was no room for discussion unless they went through all twelve of your members first and had each of their approval.

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babyspiderling · 3 years

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Tiny Dancer p.2

"Just stare into space, picture my face in your hands. Live for each second without hesitation"

"Janet, you can't tell anyone about this." Michael tells her, focused on damage control. Janet fires back without hesitation. "The hell you mean I can't tell anyone? Marlon owes me ten bucks now." I roll my eyes, patting Michael on the back. "Mike,I'm sure your brothers are looking for you. I don't think we want anyone else listening in on this conversation anyways. I'll talk to Jan, ok?" He glances back and forth between his younger sister and I, a concerned look deep in his face. He sighs out an "Ok, fine." and heads back to his dressing room. I turn back to the youngest Jackson. "Listen Jan, I only want what's best for Mike. If it were up to him, and if the circumstances were different, you'd be the first to know on purpose. The world may be changing fast, but we've got a long way to go. The media would flip if word got out that The Michael Jackson was with not only his seamstress, but a white chick at that. Not to mention your father. God, he would kill us if he found out. He'd fire me and i'd never see Michael or any of you again." I deflate in front of her eyes, letting myself show vulnerability to the fifteen year old. "I really do love him Janet. I can't lose him, but I can't just let him risk losing his career over me. I'm the reason we're a secret. Michael is a glass half full person, always trusting and seeking out the positive, but I see what is going to happen if we enter the world of the limelight." When I look into her eyes, her head is cocked to the side, studying me. "Alright, I see where you're coming from. I know Joseph, and you're probably right. Just don't hurt Mike. He's my favorite after all." I nod, relieved that she understood where we are coming from. "I promise to tell you everything you want to know later ok? Maybe at the hotel or while I'm patching up something that the boys unsurprisingly ripped up." Janet giggles, and we make our way back to the rest of the group.

I lay down in the linen sheets of the hotel bed, needing to sleep to be able to get up in the morning to fix a couple of loose buttons and worn knees. I hold a pillow close to myself and let myself float away to dreamland.

The creaking of my door opening stirs me from my slumber. I prop myself up on my elbow, turning on the lamp. "Mike? What's going on?" He's in pajamas, and his hair is mussed. He scratches the back of his neck sheepishly, and murmurs out a "Couldn't sleep." I huff and fall back onto the bed. "Fine, get in here. You said so yourself that you sleep better with someone than alone. We've both got an early morning and it's already... 2 AM." His bare feet shuffle across the hotel carpet and the bed slightly creaks as he climbs in next to me. Once he's gotten comfortable, I lay my head on his chest and wrap an arm around him, succumbing to the exhaustion filling my bones.

I wake up to my alarm, letting myself give in to Michaels grip and the temptation to hit the snooze button and spend an extra few minutes in the warmth and security his arms provide. I snuggle close to him and doze off. Once again the door opens up, but I shrug it off, thinking it to be Janet. Instead of her girlish squeal of embarrassment, I hear a masculine shout of surprise. The sharp cry from Randy shocks us both awake. The second youngest Jackson wears an expression of both surprise and smugness. "I knew it! I knew something was going on between you two! Mike, my man, congrats. I knew you'd get her eventually. Now tell me, when did this all start out?" As Michael and I rubbed the sleep from our eyes, Randy had made himself comfortable on the small couch nearby, his chin in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. Groaning, I pull myself out of the bed, tugging my shirt down so I don't flash Randy. I pat Michaels shoulder and groan out: "You're taking this one. I talked to Janet last night and I have to get ready. Jackie tore his shirt last night and I've got to make him a new one. Who tears their shirt in the middle of their chest like that?" I sit on my heels to grab my things and head to the bathroom to get dressed.

Finished with make-up, I tie my hair back in a high ponytail. Combing through my hair, Michael enters to get ready himself. "So, how'd it go?" He shrugs a little and reaches for the extra toothbrushes the hotel offers. "Randy promised to keep it a secret until we tell everybody else. He was a little surprised that we've been together since Destiny. He thought it was a recent development, not a three year old relationship." Securing my hair one last time, I turn and smile at my lover. "Well, at this rate, Randy only has to keep it a secret for another 5 days. Go ahead and schedule out a lunch or something for your mother. I want her to know that I love her son more than anything else, and I don't want to keep him a secret anymore. But you have to promise me that if this whole thing goes wrong, your career comes first. You have worked your entire life for this, you are living your dream life, don't throw away your dream for me." He chuckles a bit, and rests his forehead against mine. "If this whole thing goes wrong, I'll hire you again myself. You'll be my personal costumer/seamstress. And no one will be able to get rid of you." I giggle and give a peck to his mouth. "Alright toothpaste lips, finish up and get back to your room. I'm sure you can't go to sound check in your pajamas. And send Janet and Randy back to me. I need her input on somethings and I'm sure Randy has more questions." He finishes up and goes back to his room, the two youngest Jacksons coming in not too much later.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna work some because that is what I'm here to do, but I can answer your questions at the same time." I lay out the fabric on the round table in the room as the two sat down on the couch. They both started talking at the same time, but stopped soon enough. Janet spoke first. "When did this start? How did this start?" I smile at the fabric and respond. "Even when I was growing up, I thought that Michael was the most handsome boy on the planet. But when I started working with you guys 4 years ago I decided to remain professional. This was my dream career and I would not jeopardize it over a celebrity crush. Michael and I became friends not long after, and I actually pushed him away in the beginning. I was so scared that either of us would get attached and it would risk our professional lives. During the music video for Shake Your Body, I was joking around with Marlon and Michael got all huffy. He ranted a little bit and ended up kissing me. It didn't take long until we started actually dating." I flip the fabrics so that the shirt is inside out and pin it together. I move to my machine, and Randy asks: "Why keep it a secret? It's not like anyone here doesn't like you?" I adjust the needle to where I need it and lower the presser foot. "Well, we as a society may have come a long way, but not everyone is going to agree with the fact that Michael Jackson, global superstar, chose to date his seamstress, and then the fact that it's a biracial relationship will send a whole other group into a frenzy. He worked so hard to be where he is, to live his dream, and I felt that if we released our relationship to the public, it could cause a lot of backlash his way. Plus I'm pretty sure that if Joseph found out about us, he'd see me as a distraction, turning his son against him. He'd fire me in an instant. I'd probably never be able to see any of you again. Now that it's suddenly impossible to keep us a secret anymore, we're going to tell Ms. Kathrine soon. Michael is going to schedule it today, and we'll tell her then." Once the two are done with their questions, Janet turns on the radio and we just have a good time until Randy needs to head to the venue. Janet and I finish up, double checking over everything before we accidentally forget anything at the hotel.

We make it to the venue early enough that we make it backstage, and I watch the boys rehearse and just do their thing. Randy meets my eyes from his place behind the bongos, and he sends me a wink. I make my way to the dressing rooms to replace what I fixed for the second night in New York. As I replace the red floral print shirt in Michael's dressing room, my lover walks in. His hair is a little wet from sweat and he has a thin sheen of sweat covering his skin. I giggle as he does his best to freshen up. "I'm glad you don't do sound check in costume. I'd have to make an outfit for every night of the tour, since you guys sweat so much." He sticks his tongue out at me, and then has a mischievous look in his eyes. He turns and creeps towards me, his arms wide to catch me if I tried to escape him. I back away slowly, "Michael, don't do this! I'm a nice person! I just took a shower!" I go to make a break for the door but he catches me and pulls me close, squeezing me tight and rubbing his sweaty face and body all over me. "Michael Joseph Jackson! I'm going to kill you! I'll put you in an outfit from '68!" He just giggles in my ear, enjoying my shrieks and squirms. "No you won't, you love me too much." I push at his arms, trying to get out of his grip. "Not anymore! Randy's my new favorite member!" He bites at my earlobe teasingly, his breath fanning over the shell of my ear, his voice dropping from the usual airy high pitch he speaks in. "Are you sure about that, girl?" I shiver and stutter at the distraction, "Fine, you called my bluff. Now can you please let me go? I need to know when we're telling your mother." Reluctantly, Michael loosens his grip enough for me to grab the towel he used, wiping my own skin down, and I rummage through my purse for my bottle of vanilla. Michael takes a seat and smiles at me. "Girl, you know I get hungry when you wear that stuff. Smelling all sweet and stuff." I chuckle and apply the vanilla to key points. "Tell you what. When we go out to tell your mother I will buy you any dessert you want after." I watch from the mirror as he lifts himself from his seat and slots himself behind me, his mouth close to my neck, and even closer to my ear. He gives a teasing squeeze to my backside and murmurs in my ear: "What if I want you to be my dessert?" I turn in his arms, and deliver a light slap to his shoulder. "Michael! What is with you? You've never been so... forward." He just chuckles and steps away. "Maybe I'm just excited I can finally show you off to everyone. Oh, and we're meeting Mother at lunch tomorrow. I've gotten a reservation for the three of us at Mortimer's. I heard they're really good." I nod and glance down at my wrist watch. "Oh, wow! I've got to make sure Jackie's shirt fits for tonight. Break a leg if I don't see you. And I'm excited to have lunch with your mother. I love you!" I give him a peck on his perfect lips and head out the door. Michael catches my wrist before I can leave and pulls me back to him, giving me a real kiss to make up for my quick peck. I giggle as we break away for oxygen. "Alright love machine, I seriously have to go." I hurry out of his dressing room and down to Jackie.

I've never been so nervous in my life. I have no reason to be nervous. Kathrine doesn't dislike me, in fact she and I have had amazing talks between fittings and shows. But maybe after she finds out that I've stolen her son's heart, her opinion of me will change? If she doesn't approve, will Michael leave me? He is an absolute mommas boy. "Babe, relax. Mother absolutely adores you, and I do too. Everything is going to be absolutely fine. I promise." Michael squeezes my thigh in reassurance, and I take a deep breath to calm myself down.

All three of us are seated at the table and our drinks are ordered. Michael holds my hand under the table, unsure himself how to start. "Mother, I have something to tell you, I am in love with the kindest, most beautiful woman in the world." Kathrine smiles a bit at this and urges her son to continue. "That's amazing honey. Who is it?" Michael and I glance at each other before Michael tells the Jackson Matriarch. "Well, Mother, it's Y/N. She and I have been together for almost 3 years now." There's a mix of emotions on her face, and she opens her mouth, trying to figure out what to say. "Well, Michael, honey, I am so happy you found someone. You deserve to be happy. I just can't understand why you wouldn't tell anyone for all that time." I sigh, opening my mouth. "Ms. Katherine, that's my fault. I wanted to keep our relationship under wraps because Michael has worked so hard to be where he is and I didn't want to be a reason for him to receive backlash. I also knew that Mr. Jackson eliminates any distractions for the boys. I know it sounds selfish, but I would have rather kept him my little secret and not have to give him up than show him off and risk losing not only my job, but the love of my life. I know now that telling you about our relationship is going to make Michael happy, and if his happiness means I am seen as a distraction and the consequences that go with it, so be it. I regret not telling you sooner, and for that I am truly sorry." Katherine listens the entire time with soft eyes, listening to every word I say. Michael grabs my hand on the table and gives it a proud squeeze. Once again Katherine opens her mouth and what she says next almost brings me to tears. "Oh, Y/N. understand. I see you truly care about my son, putting his career before your happiness, and then his happiness over your career. I know that that is not an easy decision, and it really shows just how much you care about him. Now, I won't sugar coat anything, but not everyone will approve of your relationship. A white woman and a black man together won't be the easiest thing for people to accept but you have to remember that it is your happiness, no one else's." I felt like all the weight had been lifted off my shoulders after that. We ate lunch and enjoyed the streets of New York. After Katherine had gotten into her car, I turned to Michael. "Alright, what do you want for dessert?" Pulling me into the back of the car, he placed me in his lap. "Hmm, something sweet, a little spicy... I'll have... you."

Taglist: @accio-boys

#michael jackson #michael jackson imagine #michael jackson x reader #80s imagines #80's imagine #80's x reader #80's fanfiction

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ourloveisforthelovely · 4 years

Text

Secrets 4

Harry Potter AU Marauders ERA

Link to Chapter 3

Pairings: Regulus Black x Reader

Rating; M - abuse and delicate subjects. Trigger warning

________

James was completely surprised by the words that came out of Regulus’ mouth. At first, he didn’t believe it. Regulus Black being a double agent. That was laughable. James honestly expected Regulus to be dead or killed off by Voldemort after the “real” got going. Regulus wasn’t brave and it would take a lot to convince James otherwise.

Regulus wasn’t an idiot. He had picked up on James’ feelings without having to put much thought into it. From his place, by your side, Regulus scowled at James.

“Ask Dumbledore if you don’t believe me...or don’t. Whatever you want to do, the choice is yours. Besides, your feelings don’t matter to me. I only care about Y/n. The rest of you can go kick rocks.”

Regulus wouldn’t meet his brother’s gaze. You, yourself, had to look away from Sirius. It didn’t take you being so close to him to know that Regulus’ words hurt Sirius. You had been there when Sirius was drunk and upset over his brother. Now Regulus’ still bitter resentment toward Sirius was painfully clear. Part of you often wondered if Regulus was still angry over Sirius leaving home and this statement answered it.

You gently slid your hand onto Regulus’. His cold eyes didn’t move to you for a moment. They were still locked on James as if daring your brother to make a move. Regulus would have been thrilled for any reason to hex your brother. He didn’t care how angry or upset that it made you.

“Regulus, James...both of you stop. This isn’t fair to Y/n. She cares for each of you and you’ll have to find some way to deal with it.”

Sirius said, calmly. Regulus smirked before snuggling closer to you. He kept his eyes on James in almost a cat-like manner. James shook his head and muttered something under his breath before suddenly looking pleased.

“He has to get along with Remus too.”

Regulus tensed. The anger and jealousy that he felt toward the werewolf returned like a brick to the back of the head. Regulus hadn’t forgotten that night at the bar. He hadn’t forgotten hearing you say that you loved Remus.

“Enough, James. Regulus, come with me.”

You stood and tugged the younger Black brother to his feet. He reluctantly followed you into your bedroom and slammed the door.

“Do you love him? The werewolf…”

Regulus said, coldly. You sighed. It was going to take some time for Regulus to let go of some of the prejudices that had been drilled into his head since childhood.

“Remus is one of my friends. I love him as a friend. My love for you is different.”

You stood on your tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Regulus was still tense. He didn’t relax into your touch as you had hoped. Regulus kissed back but it felt extremely formal. You shook your head before resting against his shoulder.

“Let me love you again, Regulus. I want to love you the way that you should have always been loved but you have to let me.”

“What if I am unlovable?”

He asked. You looked up to his face again. This time the cold anger was gone and was replaced by uncertainty. You mentally cursed Walburga and Orion for the way that they chose to raise their son.

“You are not unlovable. I still love you very much.”

“Why?”

You frowned.

“What do you mean why?”

Regulus shrugged.

“I’ve been so cold to you. I have treated you the way that my family would treat someone. I don’t deserve you but I’ll spend the rest of my life willing to make it up to you...even if you despise me.”

You wrapped your arms back around him.

“I don’t despise you, Reggie. I haven’t stopped being in love with you even with all of the bad. I want us to try again but your family can’t interfere. When you’re around them for a long time...you change. You aren’t the sweet boy that I fell in love with.”

Regulus had put his head down for a moment. You were right. When he was away from Walburga, he could be the shy quiet boy that you adored so much. With Walburga, he was a monster.

“I meant what I said. I’m going back to say goodbye forever.”

Your eyes winded.

“Don’t go back alone. Let me go with you.”

Regulus shook his head.

“I am not letting you go in that house. Stay here with your brother. As much as James and I hate each other...I know that he won’t let you be harmed.”

You began to tremble as Regulus held you tighter.

“Please don’t go back. It won’t end well.”

“I have some things that I have to get. If I don’t they will call me a coward for the rest of my life and I am not going to let that happen. I’ll be back by nightfall.”

Regulus knew that going back to Grimmauld Place was going to be a bad idea. He also knew that he was going to have to face the dark lord. Regulus had already put together a grand charade about “I am working with the order to get information for you, master.” Voldemort would believe that. Regulus could only hope that his own feelings wouldn’t get in the way. He was going to have to put his family's beliefs and ideals on the back burner if he wanted to get you back. Once you were securely his, he could go back to his old ways. He only needed to get you back in the palm of his hand.

“Reggie?”

He looked up, still hating that blasted nickname that you insisted on calling him. Your hazel eyes were full of tears.

“Everything will be fine. Do you trust me?”

You nodded as Regulus leaned down for another kiss. This time the kiss was what you wanted. This was a Regulus Black kiss.

Regulus was the first to break away. He put a hand to the side of your face before smiling shyly.

“I’ll see you soon.”

The rest of the afternoon, you were a nervous wreck. You paced the living room floor. Sirius hadn’t said much since Regulus left. He had tried to calm you down but decided that was going as well as baptizing a cat. You knew if you wanted to talk to him, he was right there.

“Merlin, would you sit down? You are making me nervous.”

James snapped. You rounded on your brother with a frown.

“I’m sorry but I am really worried about him.”

James sighed, ignoring the scathing glare that Lily was giving him. He stood up and pulled you into a hug.

“Everything is going to be okay. Regulus is a big boy and he knows how to use his magic well. You’ll be together as soon as he can get here.”

Dinner was a silent affair. No one had really bothered saying much. It was silently agreed that mindless chatter was going to set you off. You sat quietly picking at the chicken that Lily placed in front of you. She gently patted your shoulder hoping to give you some kind of reassurance that everything would be fine.

The sound of the door opening and closing made you jump from your seat. Running into the living room, you froze the moment that you made eye contact with Regulus. The poor boy was beaten to hell. Your hands went to cover your mouth as you fought back a scream. Both of Regulus’ eyes were bruised. Scratches littered his handsome face and blood-covered lips.

“Is he back…”

Sirius stopped right beside you the moment that he realized what had happened.

“Regulus?”

You managed to squeak. Regulus had been holding his chest where his mother’s foot had broken a rib. He winced wanting to speak but the pain was so severe.

“I’m fine.”

He managed to squeak. You quickly closed the distance between the two of you and wrapped his arm around your shoulder to help him to the couch.

“And I was born yesterday.”

You muttered before quickly unbuttoning his shirt. His chest looked like a giant purple bruise.

“Walburga-special?”

Sirius questioned and Regulus nodded. Regulus winced in pain as your fingers gently felt over his ribs.

“She’s broken your ribs.”

“That isn’t the worst of it.”

Regulus choked out. You reached out and tenderly wiped the blood from his lips as James walked into the room. He froze before meeting Sirius’ gaze. You wanted to cry looking at his normally perfect lips. Sure, you could fix him right up but this image was devastating.

“This was the same condition that you were in when you ran away.”

Sirius nodded, not wanting to speak. He could deal with the pain that his mother put him through but now seeing that Regulus was abused as badly made him feel horrible. Sirius had silently hoped, over the years, that since Regulus was “the good son” he would get no abuse. Clearly, that was not the case.

Meanwhile, you tenderly stroked his face hoping to bring some comfort.

“Do you think you can get into my room? I’ll take care of you.”

Regulus rolled his eyes.

“I don’t need you fussing over me, Y/n. It's just a few broken bones and after-effects of the cruciatus curse.”

James chuckled.

“Regulus, give it up man. She is going to be fussing over you for the rest of forever. You might as well embrace it.”

“She makes great feel better soup.”

Sirius added. You smiled over your shoulders at your brother and friend. Regulus grumbled something about you being a pain in his ass but smiled when you kissed his nose.

“You aren’t getting away from me this time. I’ll always be a pain in your ass.”

20 minutes later, Regulus was snuggled in bed with his head on your lap. You stroked your fingers through his curls as he lay looking at the opposite wall.

“How does she do her sons like this?”

You asked. Regulus snorted.

“I’ve looked a lot worse.”

Regulus said in an emotionless voice. This made your heartache even more. Neither he nor Sirius ever deserved something like this.

“It's horrible. A mother is supposed to love and care for you.”

Regulus winced as he turned to look up at you.

“A mother is supposed to be many things. I told mother that I wasn’t coming back. I told her that I had fallen in love with you and she wasn’t keeping me from nor hurting you. She went ballistic. My father overheard and joined in the fun. He said he had already lost one son to the Potters and wasn’t about to lose another. I threatened them that if they came near you or tried to harm you there would be consequences. Let's just say my father isn’t doing so hot right now either but I couldn’t hurt my mother. Are you sure that you want a man who would hurt his own parents?”

You swallowed.

“You were protecting yourself. That’s all that matters.”

Regulus sighed when you began stroking his hair again.

“You know it's not over with them. I won’t let them hurt you.”

You knew that Regulus was right on that one. One didn’t “fuck” with the Black family and expect to walk away as a winner.

“We’ll deal with them when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on getting you well.”

(meanwhile)

Walburga was screaming as she stalked around Grimmauld Place breaking every glass object that she could get her hands on. Orion hadn’t said much since Regulus sent him crashing into a wall.

“I don’t understand! What is it with those Potters? We have lost two sons to that family. Do they shit golden eggs?”

Walburga snapped. Druella looked up from the drink that she had been making.

“I don’t understand, dear.”

Walburga sank down into a chair before sobbing violently.

“Both of my sons have abandoned me. Was I such a horrible mother?”

Druella stood and gently patted Walurga’s now messy hair.

“No, my darling, you are a wonderful mother. Don’t hate yourself.”

Orion finally spoke.

“We have given them everything that they could have wanted. Regulus, in particular. He was supposed to be our star. Now, look at him. He’s run off to be with some slut.”

“You know that he almost had a baby with that slut, right?”

Druella, Orion, and Walburga turned to see Bellatrix sitting in the corner. The girl smiled evilly.

“What did you say?”

Walburga choked out. Bellatrix nodded.

“Yes, aunty. Y/n was pregnant. Don’t know rightfully what happened. All that I know is she had a miscarriage. It's torn Regulus apart. I think it's driven him mad. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who took care of the problem. Reproducing an illegitimate heir with some common harlot.”

Walburga howled louder. This was news that she didn’t expect to hear. Druella frowned at her daughter.

“Bella, how do you know this?”

Bellatrix stood up.

“Heard it right from the horse's mouth. Regulus was crying about it in his sleep.”

Orion looked embarrassed. The knowledge that his son almost had an illegitimate heir to the Black family fortune was enough to make him ill.

“We have to deal with this problem. Find Regulus and the girl...bring them back here to be punished.”

Bellatrix nodded.

“Of course, uncle.”

________

@iamashlynmarie (here is a Regulus x Reader fic for you )

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dopescotlandwarrior · 4 years

Text

Sinners & Saints-Chapter 6

My thanks to @statel for your help and guidance

Previous chapters at AO3

Chapter six (NSFW)

Jamie’s eyes were open with the sunrise, as always. He didn’t mind his early rise because it gave him time to think before the trials of the day buried him. He kissed Claire’s cheek lightly and struggled not to laugh at the coil curls that buried her. She had not changed. She still kept a hand on him all night, she still purred when he wrapped her in his arms. She was still amazing.

His first stop was the galley to make coffee and find some bread to toast. He was excited about all this boat had to offer them and inhaled his breakfast so he could explore. When he stepped out on the forward deck, he couldn’t believe his eyes. During the night, they arrived at the first island and the boat was moored safely offshore. The island of Santorini was waking up, shops were opening, food was cooking, and the colorful island just came alive. This couldn’t wait, he decided and ran downstairs to wake Claire.

She looked so sexy having kicked the covers off. His eyes followed the curves of her back and ample butt, long legs and that tan line was driving him nuts. Slowly, Santorini faded from his recent memory and he crept up on the beautiful one. He kissed the back of her thighs and the nearness to her honey was crippling him. He rolled her to her back and opened her legs giving him access to her secret garden. By the time she was fully awake she was just minutes from organism and Jamie pushed her into the erotic wind and scooted up the bed to hold her while he pulled his trunks off.

“Will you have me Sassenach?”

“I insist,” she breathed with her eyes still closed.

Jamie froze when her still undulating inner muscles held him like a hand. He moved slowly at first, kissing her awake while he took possession of her body. When he let himself go, he held her pelvis up to him and buried himself in her softness. After several minutes he dropped to the mattress and turned into the girl monster, much like the cookie monster with a taste for pretty girls. Claire laughed and tried to avoid his kisses making him redouble his effort to kiss every inch of her.

“I’m sorry for waking you love.”

“You can wake me any time, day or night. What a fantastic way to start the day.”

“I have a surprise for you, but you must get up to see it. It is worth it Sassenach.”

Claire sat up and pushed her hair away from her face while she yawned and pointed to a drawer, “pick one.”

Jamie laughed at how many bikinis were in the drawer and took his time picking his favorite. It was a leopard print, and no bigger than the one she wore yesterday. She slipped it on and looked for her brush in the bathroom, coming out in under five minutes with her hair tamed in a ponytail. Jamie was bursting at the seams with energy and bounced out to make her coffee, telling her to hurry.

With a steaming mug in hand Jamie led her out the forward deck and watched her mouth drop open and then smile.

“She opened a section of railing and said, “first things first, sweet Jamie,” and jumped overboard with Jamie right behind her. They played in the water and kissed and played some more before swimming to the rear deck to climb back on board.

Maia appeared wearing a suit much like Claire’s and announced breakfast whenever they were ready. The table was set with juice, waffles, omelets, bread pudding, fruit, fried potatoes, and delicious sides they didn’t recognize but ate with complete faith it would be delicious.

Darius came in and shook Jamie’s hand introducing himself. They were close in age and seemed to hit it off from the get-go.

“I’ll tender you to shore when you’re ready, just let me know, I have to see to a repair of the navigation system.”

Jamie looked at Claire, “if it means we’ll be lost somewhere in these beautiful islands then don’t fix it.”

Claire laughed and headed for the shower, Darius to his task, Maia to the galley and Jamie to the rear deck to look at Santorini. Each time he thought about the night before he chased it out of his mind. She would be hurt and angry if he told her now, or at the end of the trip. It wasn’t an easy decision.

Darius tendered them ashore leaving them with a small walkie talkie to radio the yacht when ready. Jamie and Claire walked their feet off all morning and stopped for lunch at an outside grill. They decided to rent scooters to see more of the island and other than two almost crashes, Claire figured out how to ride the scooter. It was a dream day, and on the way back to the boat Claire fell asleep on Jaime’s shoulder. He looked at her and felt his heart squeeze.

Claire opened her eyes the next morning confused by the darkness of the bedroom and then she heard the mighty thunder overhead and jumped out of bed to dress. She loved thunderstorms and couldn’t wait to get to the deck.

She halted right before opening the glass door. Jamie stood on deck watching the storm come in. He was such a gorgeous man it was hard not to sigh each time he looked at her. He must have felt her stare and turned around to smile at her. He held his hand and she took it.

“Claire, I secured a new mooring on the other side of the island. If we stay here we take the front head-on. We weigh anchor in the next five minutes, okay?”

“Yes, whatever is best, do you need any help, Darius?”

He didn’t know what to make of that question at first, so he just smiled and said it was all under control. Claire wrapped her arms around Jamie’s waist and put her head on his shoulder. This was surreal. The beauty, the boat, the islands, the storm, and the man. Mostly the man.

The rain held off until they were securely moored on the other side of the island. The rain came with a vengeance as the wind blew the rain sideways. Maia and Claire ran around the yacht closing windows and bringing in lightweight items from both decks, so they didn’t blow away. They were soaked through in seconds, so Jamie had towels waiting for them. It was going to be an inside day and not one of them would be bored.

While the storm raged around them, Darius and Maia joined Jamie and Claire for charades, then broke out the board games and switched the teams throughout the afternoon. Claire and Maia served dinner just as the storm was moving out.

“Tomorrow should be beautiful.”

“Claire, we can cruise all night and be moored at Crete when you wake up.”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t expect you to stay up all night. Let’s set off at first light.”

Darius reluctantly agreed, still getting used to an owner with a heart. He and Maia cleaned up the living room and galley while Jamie and Claire found their way back to the top deck. It was the highest point on the boat offering a 360 view of the sky and a built-in double lounge for comfort. The air was fresh and cool after the rain and Jamie ran down for a quilt to snuggle under. They were so high above the water it felt like they could touch the stars in the black sky.

They talked until early morning, covering various topics, both eager to learn more about the other. The air warmed up with the retreating storm and Jamie removed a piece of Claire’s clothing about every fifteen minutes until she was naked and pulling him to her. It felt very risky to make love on the upper deck, adding erotic energy that raised the bar on explosive orgasms. They were exhausted and clinging to each other before sleep swept them away.

“Sassenach, you must wake up and dress to get downstairs.”

Claire could hear the edge in his voice and opened her eyes to a new dawn and mooring. “Jesus, there are people all around us!”

Jamie held the quilt up so she could slip into her suit while he chuckled. “On or off makes little difference Sassenach.”

They walked downstairs quietly and found the privacy of their bedroom where they could sleep the morning away before exploring Crete. Claire heard all about Lallybroch the previous evening, Jamie’s parents and his sister. The more she knew the better he became.

Every other day Darius would bring them to another island for exploration, snorkeling, eating and drinking. It was, by anyone’s definition, the perfect vacation. On their last night, Jamie pulled her up to the top deck for a much-needed conversation that Claire had thought out well in advance. She would give him anything he asked her for.

“I will miss this view Sassenach.”

“Me too, the stars are beautiful.”

“Oh, yes, the stars too. I have a concern about when I will see you next. I love you lass and don’t want to live without you.”

“I still have two months of summer vacation left. Maybe I should come to Scotland? Would you like that?”

“Aye, I would, when?”

She laughed at his anxious face and kissed him. “As soon as I wrap up the last of my semester projects. Maybe a week?”

“That is perfect, now I feel better, so what happens if I pull this string?”

Darius pulled up to the dock the next morning and they said their goodbyes. Claire hugged Darius so tight he laughed and blushed. She did the same to Maia adding a kiss and a thank you to both of them.

“Maybe you could borrow the yacht again, soon.”

Claire’s mind raced with different ways to answer that question and she fell back to her commitment to the truth.

“It’s my boat, Jamie. It’s part of my inheritance. I’m sorry I didn’t say that before, it just never came up.” A half-truth is better than no truth, she decided. It was actually payment for stealing two Degas paintings, one from London, the other from a private collection in Romania.

Jamie was quiet but smiling and Claire waited. “A girlfriend that is beautiful, sexy, fun, and she owns a yacht. I don’t think there’s a better treasure to be had in this life.” He stopped in the middle of the airport and kissed her, hoping it wasn’t the last time.

Claire clung to Jamie when it was time to board her flight. She didn’t want to leave him and there was nothing in Chicago she couldn’t replace, including her job. He pushed her curls behind her ear and studied her sad face.

Will you be in Scotland by next week lass? That’s a good girl and please let me know you are home safe. He kissed her again and she walked quickly to security and onto her gate.

“It’s like you take the oxygen with you when you go.” He said watching her walk away.

After the dream vacation of the past two weeks, Claire wasn’t looking forward to anything other than leaving for Scotland. Her building on campus was mostly empty and quiet, feeling kind of eerie as she approached her office. There was no Geillis running after her, verbalizing every topic in her head, and no students hanging around waiting to speak to her. That means no interruptions, she told herself and sat down to work.

She didn’t hear him approach, even though the building echoed when empty. When she looked up, there he was at her office door, asking for a moment of her time. He sat across from her in his three-piece suit and seemed to size her up before speaking.

“Doctor Beauchamp, I represent the coalition that is active in Frank Randall’s campaign for governor of Illinois. It is vital that he receive all the support necessary to be the best candidate and win the election. He was supposed to be married this summer, to you, and we are not happy the vows have been canceled. You and Frank have had a long, well known relationship that would look unstable if he was to marry someone else, so you have a large wedding to plan and make sure you sparkle on your big day. There will be hundreds of pictures taken that day I’m sure.”

Claire stared at the man completely mute. She was suddenly afraid and there was no one to hear her scream.

“Don’t be absurd. I have a restraining order on that man, so I’m hardly interested in marrying him.”

Claire stood up and reached for her briefcase running physically into the man when he stood to block her. He looked down at her and suggested she sit and continue the conversation. Now she was terrified.

“I will not marry that man so peddle your story to someone else.”

“I’m afraid you are the best candidate for the governor’s wife and in three years, the first lady. A professor of fine arts at the University of Chicago is exceptional. I suggest a romantic dinner this Friday at your new apartment on Michigan Avenue, number 1103, the view must be breathtaking from up there. Frank will agree and you will be married in September.”

“You’re not listening…”

“I don’t have to listen Doctor Beauchamp because it isn’t an offer or a choice. We are counting on eight years in the White House and after that you can run away with James Fraser if you want, we don’t care.”

“Last I checked it was illegal to force a person into marriage,” said through clenched teeth, she was seething.

“You won’t be forced, Claire, and I don’t bring a water pistol to a gunfight, I bring an Apache helicopter fully loaded.”

The man sent a text to someone and two minutes later he held the phone out for her to see a live stream of Jamie working on a barn. The camera zoomed in on his face and Claire gasped.

“I have a man at Fraser’s estate and your beloved is in his crosshairs. Go to the police, try to run, and Jamie dies. Now, let’s look at your godfather’s business, oh, he’s been breaking the law fencing stolen art and he’s moving millions per year. Too bad he wasn’t a better chef.”

Claire’s mind was racing trying to outthink this horrible man. He watched her for a minute and smiled.

“Give us eight years in the White House, and play nice so he doesn’t beat you to death, and all will be well…Casper.”

The man stood and moved to the door, and like he had an afterthought he turned toward her.

“Our candidate will look holier than the pope when he runs for governor and then president of the United States. It is unacceptable to have an ex-girlfriend reject him, but mourning over his dead love will provide a nice boost in ratings. We don’t need your permission, and you cannot bargain.”

“An Apache, fully loaded.”

Claire was shaking from her head to her feet. When she stood, her legs threatened to give way so she held onto her desk, and then the walls, and then the door frame, another wall, and then the exit door. The first step without support was wobbly but she finally made it to her car and drove home.

She took inventory of her predicament once in her apartment where she had felt safe until an hour ago. They will kill Jamie, they will expose Javier, they know she is Casper, and he threatened to kill her if she didn’t marry the vilest man in history.

She wasn’t well versed in spy technology but she knew they would track her credit card expenditures, so she needed cash and a lot of it. They would tap her phone and have her watched and followed. She jumped up to write a message on her computer and run it through Tom. When her fingers touched the keyboard, she realized they would have a keystroke recorder and see everything she typed. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.

“I will take it, and I’ll need a quiet place and access to the secure internet for five minutes.” Claire handed her credit card to the clerk at Best Buy and followed his pointed finger to the back room where she found a hub to plug her new laptop in. She flew through creating a new email and wrote a warning letter to Javier.

‘I want spaghetti and meatballs, three times the meatballs please. I will find a way to update you until I’m there.’

Claire sent the file to Tom remotely and pulled it back once it was coded. She sent it to Javier and went to her next destination. The safety deposit box was placed on the table in the vault. She pulled the fake passports and credit cards out and scooped the gold into her purse. She signaled the bank manager that she was finished and handed him a note with an offshore account number.

“Do you have affiliates in Veneto Italy?”

“Yes, how may I help you?”

“Please arrange a checking account in Veneto, Edinburg, and Athens, if you would. Be a darling and transfer three million from the account on the paper to each bank. Also, transfer three million to my account here. I will be traveling and I will be heavily reliant on my credit cards. Burn the paper when you’re done.”

“No problem, anything else, Misses Dunn?”

She handed the man three hundred dollar bills and received his pledge in his expression. She had set up her account under her alternate identity and was known to these people as Mary Dunn. The real Mary Dunn was in a deep coma at her family’s estate in France. Her husband asked his friend Javier for help burying the story of her car accident and the problem was taken care of. Claire visited the family with Javier and sat with Mary for quite some time. She was a beautiful woman with three gorgeous sons and a husband who loved her. It seemed so unfair and her heart broke for the whole family. When she learned that Mary’s favorite artist was Gustave Courbet, she stole one of his paintings that was being reconditioned in the lower basement of the Louvre. Some flirting, some promises, and the painting was abandoned so the artist could meet and get lucky. Claire never had it so easy and a week later the painting was hung on the wall directly across from Mary’s bed. When Claire received her Ph.D. and a job in Chicago, Mary’s passport, license, and birth certificate were given as a gift with the provision they would not be used in the commission of a crime. It was a safe way out of town, or the country, if ever needed.

Claire made her way to see Geillis and put the crucial part of the plan into action. She needed a safe way out of town and prayed Geillis would help her.

Geillis read the paper Claire handed her and saw the stark terror in her friend’s eyes which was sinking into her bones too. She nodded her head and Claire left.

Geillis read the instructions and dialed the airline making a reservation to Paris for Mary Dunn leaving tonight and used her own credit card looking at the one thousand in cash Claire had left on the table. She dialed a friend and announced she needed a favor and was coming over.

Claire dropped her make up bag, passport, driver’s license, and credit cards into her largest shoulder purse. Her plan and Jamie’s life were in the balance and she prayed for enough luck to pull this off. She needed a head start because once the coalition knew she ran, it would turn into a hunt for blood.

Claire and Geillis arrived at Ravinia and enjoyed the outdoor show, a trending jazz band that was very entertaining. Claire pounded three cans of beer and giggled to the restroom. Geillis moved her feet to avoid the puddle of beer on the grass and said a silent prayer. Claire wore a floppy, stylish hat with a huge brim to keep the afternoon sun out of her eyes. When she entered the restroom she looked at their friend who was waiting for her. Claire threw her clothes over the lavatory door and grabbed the woman’s clothes, holding her breath they would fit. They did and she let out a sigh of relief. She handed the hat to the woman along with three hundred dollar bills and hugged her tightly, thanking her. The woman walked back to Geillis looking a bit unsteady on her feet. Claire waited ten minutes and left in the other direction.

The most vulnerable time was waiting for a city bus to the airport and she tried to calm her ramming heart as she climbed on board and took a dirty seat next to a window. She wore a blond wig cut in a bob at her jawline, like the picture on her passport and license. She thought about the live stream of Jamie in that man’s hands and prayed he was alright.

If she was very lucky, the woman impersonating her would get dropped at Claire’s apartment building and lock herself inside. Geillis gave her the passwords to Claire’s computer so she could send an invitation to Frank for dinner Friday night. Tom was completely cloaked on Claire’s computer so there was no worry their friend would find it. She spent hours surfing the web for wedding planners, wedding venues, dresses, bride’s maid dresses, and poured over pictures of recent celebrity weddings. She didn’t mind, she loved Claire and was happy to burrow in this luxury apartment to give her a couple of days head start. From what she had no idea.

The security technicians reported back to the coalition that the subject has not left the apartment and Frank has accepted the invitation to dinner, all other activities were wedding related. The tall man read the report and smiled. “That’s a good girl.”

It was morning when Claire left the airport in Paris and started walking. She punched the numbers of Javier’s burner phones and heard a ring on the fourth try.

“Bear!”

“Send Joseph please.”

The line went dead and Javier motioned for Joseph to go get her. She might be a short-haired blonde at the moment, but Joseph would know Claire’s walk anywhere. He pulled up to the curb and she gratefully got into the front seat.

“I am racing the clock Joseph, Jamie Fraser is in danger, they are using him to force me to marry Frank. They want me with him for the next eleven years from governor to the White House.” Claire took a deep breath, “they know about Javier and they know I am Casper.”

Joseph was freaking out inside but patted her hand and promised all would be well.

“Or, Jamie is shot in the head for leverage, I am forced to marry a monster, and Javier goes to prison. You too I might add.”

“I get it Bear, all those things are possible, you must have faith in Javier. He is ready for this.”

Claire felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. What did he mean ready for this? When they were safely back at the mansion Javier listened to every detail and hugged his goddaughter like they had all the time in the world. When he stood up the smile disappeared and he strode into the outer office where his men were given specific instructions for moving the art, and every piece of paper in his office and restaurant. He twisted the dial on his wall safe and left it open so they could remove the money, gold, and treasures inside.

Javier picked up his burner phone and called his man in Scotland, explaining he was to find Jamie at Lallybroch and tell him to get out of the country before these men made an example out of him to put more pressure on Claire.

“Make it convincing my friend, or share the same fate as Fraser.”

There was much to do but Javier watched the men, looking for one in particular who had not shown up in almost a week after winning a weekend getaway at a luxury resort somewhere in France.

The corpse of a once loyal servant was buried in a landfill on the outskirts of Paris. His fingers were burned down to the second knuckle, one eye was gouged out, and his naked body was full of wounds from the sustained use of a cattle prod. When he cracked, he was delirious and near death. They got him to divulge Javier’s secrets by offering a drop of liquid pain killer into his mouth. They buried him alive in garbage where the tortured man lived another twelve hours in extreme pain.

Jamie grabbed a wrench next to the tractor he was under and started to line it up with a stubborn bolt. He could hear a car in the driveway and peaked out at a small man running toward him.

“I have your order Mister Fraser. Please show me where to set up lunch.”

Jamie looked up at the weird man who seemed about ready to shake himself out of his boots. When Jamie didn’t move the man quietly said it’s from Claire and they must go inside. Jamie walked the man back to the house and read the note he was given, then he looked at the stack of money and fake identification. The little man handed Jamie a ticket to Venice, Italy, and a note with an address in Veneto.

“Wait a minute! What the hell is this all about?”

“There is a sniper in the woods across from your estate. When he gets the call, he will shoot you in the head. Find a way to the airport without being seen or die in the attempt. She will meet you in Italy. Good luck Mister Fraser.”

The man left the house and drove away. The sniper in the woods was sound asleep and missed the whole episode.

Jamie sat down in the kitchen wondering what the hell happened to cause these preparations. It was unnerving to think Claire was in trouble and he couldn’t reach out to her. He started planning his escape when his cell phone buzzed for an incoming message. One of the men on his team sent twelve fuzzy pictures recovered from the close circuit hard drive at Sotheby’s. His team had no idea he pulled from prison and was now going back. The pictures were absolutely useless, but Jamie looked through them a few times to give his body some time to normalize after the shock. He squinted at one picture that seemed indiscernible at first glance but there was something there that he needed to see. He downloaded the jpeg to his graphics program and sharpened the image before making a copy with higher resolution, he used other filters to clean up the image and then enlarged it gradually, making a copy with higher resolution each time. When he had the image at 300 dpi, he enlarged it and hit print. He pulled the picture out of the printer and stared at it, moved to the light of a window, and finally turned it upside down. There it was.

Jamie threw his gear in a backpack and came downstairs in time to see Angus sneaking in the front door. Jamie slapped him on the back and Angus looked into his friend’s worried eyes. They waited in silence until they heard Rupert coming into the driveway, revving his engine and honking his horn.

“Good luck Jamie.”

Angus pulled Jamie’s jacket on and kept his head down as he ran to the truck. It was too dark to see much more than a hunched shape get into the truck and head for the fields to spin donuts and generally be loud, obnoxious, and attention-grabbing.

Jamie went out the other side of the house and ran a half a mile to find Angus’s motorcycle parked under a weeping willow that had been a rendezvous spot since they were kids. He jumped on the bike and made for the airport in Edinburgh. Angus would pick the bike up tomorrow in the underground parking.

Javier hugged Claire and then held her hands. She was in a lot of trouble, no doubt about that and he would help all he could, starting with research on the coalition.

“You stay ahead of them Bear, just don’t let them catch you. I need time to find their weaknesses and we will play the same deadly game with them.”

“Javier I am so worried about you, once they know I’ve bailed they will come here looking for you.”

“I am too old to fight so thank God we won’t be here. The men have been scattered far and wide for their own protection. Joseph and I are going underground. Please touch base once a week or this old man will worry himself to death.”

Joseph gave her a warm hug even though he was driving her to the airport. Claire walked backward so she could keep Javier in sight and blew him a kiss before she went through the door.

Joseph watched her walk into the airport with nothing but the clothes on her back, heading for a place she has never been, to meet a man that might already be dead.

“God speed, Bear.”

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sourcherrybomb · 3 years

Text

The SoKai Denny’s AU:

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Grand Slam

Synopsis: After a long and arduous day at work, Sora brings Kairi to the local Denny's to unwind and have a pleasant meal. But of course, things go to shit.

Sneak Peek: “Kairi… You’re not thinking straight…” I said as I slowly raised my hands towards my girlfriend. “Please, I just want to talk. Just put down the-”

But my words landed on deaf ears as she quickly rushed at me, a syrup-drenched butter knife in hand.

Tags: Romance, Denny's, F/M, Food

Words: 2.5k+

Fanart / Graphic by: @blissfulnightrain @the-secret-place

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:09PM]

Please just give us the details on the incident right before we arrived.

“Kairi… You’re not thinking straight…” I said as I slowly raised my hands towards my girlfriend. “Please, I just want to talk. Just put down the-”

But my words landed on deaf ears as she quickly rushed at me, a syrup-drenched butter knife in hand. Before I could even process which way she swung her weapon, I jumped backwards. Grabbing the butter knife that Kairi had previously knocked out of my hand from the ground, I blocked her attack.

In Kairi’s eyes, I saw the rage of a thousand beasts. Wild, untamed, and out for blood.

Around the two of us, as the cool autumn winds blew past us, an onlooking crowd gasped. Whether it be in fear or amazement, I’ll never know. However, what I did understand is the confusion that they all share and the one question everyone asked:

Why the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks are these two people having a knife fight in a Denny’s parking lot?

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 6:27PM]

Care to explain to details as to how she broke into this rage?

Of course.

Kairi headed out to her job at the cafe hours ago, being called into work due to the Halloween rush. She was hesitant at first since it was her day off, but she reluctantly left anyways because she knew the extra pay would help out with rent later in the month.

As for me, I didn’t have work today, so I was home for most of the day doing my usual routine. This is usually made up of playing video games, doing housework, and bothering my friend, Riku. But today I had decided to surprise Kairi by cooking dinner for her when she got home!

Great plan, yeah? I thought so too, right up until I realized I had ruined the spaghetti I made by burning the sauce... and somehow also the pasta? Like I didn’t even know that was possible, but somehow I did it?

I swear, the smell was bad enough to make a rat gag.

By the time I realized I had messed up, I knew it’d be too late. In the middle of my mad scramble to clean up the kitchen and get rid of any evidence, Kairi walked into our apartment.

Now I may be an idiot, but I’m not stupid. I took one look at Kairi and could tell that she was not having any of it. Her work uniform was disheveled and covered in various stains and crumbs. Kairi’s thumbs were fidgeting with the hem of her work shirt. When I looked into her tired, glazed over eyes, I saw a seething flame within them.

It was like a ticking time bomb in the shape of my girlfriend.

“Sora…” Kairi said tiredly. “Were you trying to cook? Again?”

I laughed nervously, shamefully resting a sauce pan into the sink. “I knew you’d be tired from work, so I wanted to make sure you could at least eat something when you got home!” I dried my hands and signaled Kairi towards me. Following suit, she practically kicked the shoes off her feet as she walked towards me.

“Dude, I love you,” she said this as she slumped into my arms. “But please stop burning things in our kitchen.”

“Sorry…” Slumping further into my arms, it was like she was melting. I had to sort of prop her against our kitchen counter in order for me to keep on carrying her. “Listen, let me at least make it up to you.”

“How?” Kairi looked up at me, the fire in her tired eyes dying down a bit.

“I was thinking of bringing you out somewhere to eat while we let the apartment air out…”

“It does smell like a burnt down Pizza Hut in here.” Kairi sighs as she traded her flats for sneakers. “Where were you thinking of taking us?”

I opened up my phone and pulled up my bank account.

Available Balance: $365.13

“Let’s just say I’m looking for a place that’s budget-friendly”

“Oh thank god,” Kairi said. “I can wear sweatpants and not give a crap.”

“Exactly!” I let go of Kairi and started to dump the burnt mass of pasta into our trash bin. “You take a load off and dress into more comfy clothes while I get rid of… this.”

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 7:16PM]

You know, bad days at work don’t usually cause people to attempt a stabbing.

Trust me… If it was just the bad shift, I’d agree.

Normally when I bring my girlfriend to the local Denny’s, it’s surprisingly not a bad time. Our friend Olette works as the hostess there, so we can usually get our seats pretty quickly. I usually get a Grand Slam to get my fix on pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. It’s a combo that always hits the spot when it’s 3AM, I’m hyper-aware of the world around me, and Riku is trying to find someone to take home on Sparklr. Kairi usually gets a Hammy & Cheese Omelette, mainly because she prefers the pancakes at IHOP. I always like to joke about giving her a Grand Slam once we get home.

Tonight was not the night to make those kinds of jokes. It was like the gods themselves had it out for my girl tonight.

7:45PM: Kairi and I arrived at Denny's and were told that Olette took the night off due to a cold. We were told that the wait would be close to half an hour.

8:02PM: Kairi’s left earbud died as the toddler next to us started bawling as she sang the ‘Baby Shark’ song. Mother of the child in question was too busy flirting with a busboy 20 years her junior to quiet her child.

8:07PM: Kairi dropped 27,000 Jewels in JHUX gacha trying to get a SN++ Illus. JH III Zola. All the medals obtained were ones that had been out of the meta for months.

8:17PM: Kairi and I were finally seated. Our table had sticky spots from syrup and crumbs on the seats. We asked our waitress, Asheleigh, if someone could come clean this up. The two of us were met with an unenthusiastic “Uhhh, sure?” as she called over a clearly stoned janitor. He sprayed the table once, wiped it once, and knocked the crumbs off the seats. Asheleigh took our orders with a sigh.

When I looked over at Kairi, I could tell the last half hour had done a number to her. An hour ago her anger was already near its boiling point, but now… It was like the seething fire within her eyes had evolved into a star about to burst into a supernova.

A beautiful sight indeed, but also one of pure destruction on a cosmic level.

“So Kai…” I nervously said. “Looking forward to the weekend?”

Her hands folded on the table, Kairi’s dead but fiery eyes staring out the window.

“...yes.”

C’mon man, think! I thought to myself. Anything to take her mind off this fustercluck of a situation!

“So I don’t know if you heard about this at work, but looks like JH: Master of Melodies is gonna have a preorder bonus!”

Silence.

“Y-Yeah, turns out if we get it over at Game Central Station, you get a couple bonus songs that would have been DLC! Isn’t that great?”

“...preorder exclusivity bonuses force game developers to split content amongst greedy retailers, alienating groups of consumers from experiencing the game at its 100% value.” Kairi says in a deadpan.

Crap, she’s being critical about video games... I thought to myself. Now I know I’m never gonna get through to her… Why can’t this food come any—

“Soooo I have your food.” Our waitress said, as she hastily put our plates on the table. “A Grand Slam for the spiky haired dude and a Hammy & Whatsits Omelette for his lady. Enjoy, or whatever.”

“Thank you…” I awkwardly said as I thanked whatever deity heard my prayers. “Well Kai, time to dig in!”

Silently, Kairi cut into her omelette and brought a piece over to her mouth. As if it were on cue, the food fell from the fork and onto her pants. She nonchalantly picked it off her pants and shoved it into her mouth, the look in her eyes somehow becoming even more dead.

I let out a deep exhale and started to stuff my pancakes in my face. I didn’t even notice that I held my breath in. I was honestly just quite relieved that Kairi didn’t explode then and there. We could finally just sit down, eat our food, and take a load off.

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:01PM]

Man, she really went through the ringer.

Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t go feral sooner.

Luckily for the both of us, the incident with the fallen food was the only thing that got in the way of our meal. I was able to finish my Grand Slam and Kairi was able to scarf down her Hammy and Cheese Omelette. Looking at her face, I saw that some of the restrained rage in her eyes had been replaced with a much more tired aura.

“Hey Kai…” I softly put my hand on hers. “How ya doing?”

Sighing, she gently put my hand to her cheek. “I… I just want to get home, lie down, and forget today happened.”

After giving her a small peck on the cheek, I smiled. “That can be arranged! Now c’mon, let’s just hand this bill over and head out of here.”

But things are never simple as they seem to be.

Just as Kairi and I got out of our chairs, an ear-piercing “Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo,” came rushing down the aisle. Out of nowhere, Baby Shark Toddler bumped into Kairi, spilling the milkshake in her tiny hands all over Kairi’s legs.

“Oh sonova- Hey you!” Just steps away from the child, her mother called to us. She talked and walked with the cadence of a woman ready to chew out a teen part-timer at their first job. “Just what do you think you’re going to do about this?”

“Excuse me?” I asked in obvious confusion. “I’m pretty sure your daughter was the one who bumped into my-”

“Wasn’t talking to you, Spiky!” she snapped. “Listen up, Red, I want some recompense for my kid’s spilled drink! You think that cheap manager is gonna give me another one for free?”

“Hey now, names are uncalled for!” I retorted. “And not like it’s our fault your daughter ran into my- Kairi?”

A quiet but powerful groan escaped Kairi’s mouth, cutting me off. Her formerly clenched hands had started to crookedly flex open and contort. The tiredness in her eyes died away, being left with the energy of the ticking time bomb.

One that was seconds away from levelling a building.

“A…pologize,” Kairi said in a shaky voice. “Riiiiight. Now.”

“Apologize?” The woman mockingly laughed in her face. “Why woul-”

Before I or any of the onlookers realized, Kairi had the mother pinned down to the ground, a butter knife held to her throat. “APOLOGIZE! APOLOGIZE YOU-”

“KAIRI HOLY MOTHER OF-” As soon as my brain caught up with my eyes, I ripped Kairi off the mother and made space between them. When I turned around, I saw the woman crawling away in a frenzy, trying to escape like a dog walking with its tail between their legs.

“AaAAAaaaaaRrhrrhhgg…” A nearly inhuman growl came out of Kairi’s mouth, the grip on her butter knife tightening. When I looked into her eyes, I understood.

In removing the rude mother from the equation, I had become the focus of Kairi’s blinding rage.

“Kairi…” I slowly raised my hands towards her. “I know you’ve been through a lot today. The car is right outside. I can take you back right now, all you need to do is calm-”

“AAAAaAAaAAaaa!” Lunging at me like a mad dog, Kairi let out a guttural yell.

This is because I told her to calm down, isn’t it? I asked myself mid-dodge. Before a second thought could even pop into mind, Kairi spun into another attack from her lunge. I rolled backwards to dodge the attack, and picked up a butter knife off the table to defend myself with. After all, it was the best I could do right now. With how fast and unpredictably Kairi was moving, my only options were to dodge fast enough, or block if I was too slow.

It was like I was defending myself against a dancing blender with a knife.

Before I knew it, Kairi’s vicious attacks and my continuous defense brought us back to the entrance of the Denny’s.

And into the parking lot.

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:32PM]

“And right before your girlfriend was able to stab you with the butter knife, we arrived-”

“And tased her, yes.” I respond. “Officer Lockheart, I understand you were doing it for my safety, but I’m honestly still super concerned for Kairi.”

“And that is completely understandable,” she responds. “I can assure you that the officer that took her in exercised the most caution as effectively possible when using the taser.”

“Thank you. Is it possible to see her now?”

“The shock seemed to bring her back to her senses, so her questioning seemed to go by smoothly.” Officer Lockheart taps a pen on her chin. “I suppose it would be fine.”

After signalling one of the other officers to open the door, the two of us walked out of the interview room. Down the hall, I see Kairi wrapped in a blanket, drinking from a cup of coffee. As soon as she notices me, she puts down the mug and rushes into a hug.

“Sora, oh my god I’m so sorry!” Kairi says as she nuzzles into my chest. “I-I just really lost myself and-”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” I chuckle. “Honestly you’d give Riku a run for his money in a sparring match if you fought against him one-on-one!”

“I’ll let you two comfort each other for a bit,” Officer Lockheart tells us. “For now just stay here, I’ll see what the higher ups have to say about the situation.”

“Thanks, ma’am!” Kairi says back. Smiling and nodding, Officer Lockheart walks away.

For a while, the two of us sort of just sit in quiet. People who enter the room pay us no attention, but occasionally an officer would come up to us and ask if we needed anything. Other than that, it was just the two of us enjoying each other’s comfort.

“God, I really needed this,” Kairi tells me.

“Cuddling in a police station?” I question. “Or getting arrested for attacking people in a Denny’s”

“Jerk.” Kairi giggles as she flicks my forehead. “Nah, I mean just this! Me and you wrapped in a blanket.”

“Honestly I wish we could have done it back at the apartment. Luckily, by the time we get out of here, it should stop smelling like a I blew up a pizzeria.”

“That would have been nice in the moment, but when we get home I think I’d want something else.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

“Weeelll…” Kairi checks her surroundings, then leans towards my ear. “You never did make that Grand Slam joke of yours back at the Denny’s. Does that mean I won’t get one once we get back home?”

The whisper of her voice is enough to send a shiver down my back. I look into her eyes and instead of the rage or tiredness I saw before, I saw something much more… Carnal.

I give Kairi a peck on the lips and flash a mischievous smile.

Destiny Island Denny’s, we might never be allowed on your establishment ever again, which I understand.

But thank you for possibly the best Grand Slam of my life.

#sokai #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts fanfiction #fanfiction #sora #kairi #oneshot #f/m #romance #tw: food #sourcherrybomb #denny's

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lifeisapitch15 · 3 years

Text

Captive

Kylo Ren captures you from a resistance raid. Love pops up in strange places

A/n: this is my first fanfic so please be nice! I love the Star Wars universe and had to get this idea outta my mind. Love you 💕

Word count: 1,906

You were captured. This is it. At this very moment all you could think about is your parents, hoping that they were okay. You thought about your friends. How many fatalities there were. Hoping you had a home to go back to. You also thought about all the resistance fighters that fought alongside you in battle. Tears threatening to fall from your eyes as you knew someone could walk in the door any minute to see you broken. You were kept in a cell with only a bench that stuck out from the wall. Your hand was bound so you couldn’t fight off your captures.Someone came to give you food or something like food so you knew you would be here for a while. To cut you off from your thoughts a stormtrooper with a rifle came through the door.

�� Get up. He's ready to see you.” they said with an authoritative tone. You look up, questioning the man they were talking about.

“Now!” The stormtrooper raised their voice, grabbing your arm roughly.

“Hey! What the fuck!” you whined,rubbing your arm as you walked through the door. They walked down many hallways as you twist and turn quickly. You try to keep up the fast pace, studying the hallways to escape. Some part of didn’t want to escape knowing that the First Order are ruthless.you and a select few were force sensitive so The First Order would kill without question or capture so Kylo Ren would get some info on the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker. You hoped that someone you knew was on the ship but you could not sense their lifeforms. You were stopped abruptly, thoughts cease to flood your mind and the door slides open to reveal a contraption for prisoners. The stormtrooper pushed in the room, only one light pointed towards the contraption. You walk toward it, knowing you were going to be interrogated. You look back at the stormtrooper standing at the door. you point to the contraption,unamused knowing that you have to step into it. The storm trooper nods his head and moves the rifle signaling for you to go into. You sigh knowing this same song and dance since you had been captured as a teen and walking Into the machine like thing. The storm trooper clamps you down double check to make sure that you can’t get out. “Okay.start the process. Ask me what I know.” You roll your eyes and move your head signaling him to hurry it up since your hands can’t do the job.

“You may leave” a low, loud voice carried through the room as you jumped, thinking you and the stormtrooper were alone. You try to look back over your shoulder to see the figure. The stormtrooper makes a hasty leave as whip your head around to startle by the door shutting and hissing loudly.

“ You’re so afraid,” he said, almost smugly, his modulated voice carries in the quiet room.

“ It's because I can’t see you.” you replied voice shaking with nervousness. This was a bit new. Stormtroopers or generals interrogate you and you don’t recognize this man. His voice made you feel aroused but Whoever he is, he must be important because the stormtrooper almost ran out of the room trying to get away. The figure stands to get up and walks in front of you. Its Kylo fucking Ren. your eyes go wide and you have to look up at him. He’s large compared to you. You stood at five feet six inches, he at least had foot on you. You push and shake to free yourself from the restraints. He shushes you, leaning in and putting his gloved hand to light caressing it. Your focus was on his mask and how it got its marks. Like someone tried to cut through it almost.

“ I sensed something in you on the battlefield.” his modulated voice slices through the thick air. He never stopped caressing your face and breath evened out, trying to anticipate his next move “A great evil.”

“ Stop trying to play mind tricks!” you barked moving your face away from his hand. He grabs your jaw to look at him as he takes off his helmet.you shut your eyes as his hand came up to take it off. He throws it on the ground and inches away from your face. You open your eyes, feeling him breathing lightly but quick. You both study each other's faces before he speaks again.

“ I watched you fight,'' he said lightly, studying the rest of your body features, trying to size you up, you guessed. “You fought to kill not to subdue. I saw an anger like mine” you choked on your breath as you realised he was right but you did not show it. He moved his hand off your face and used the force to look inside your mind's eye. You strained and felt as if your life force was being stucked out but you tried desperately to block him out.

“ Resistance is futile, I have been trained in the force longer than you understood your power” he calmly spoke, a smirk slowly appearing on his face, as his large powerful hands shook.

“ You...won’t…. Get…. into.. My..mind ..if i don’t have a say about it” you strain but look determined nonetheless. He stops forcing his way into your mind seeing that you are too strong willed to show him up and try to escape. Although he saw a small of your thoughts, you wanted to stay and that’s all he needed. He was going to torure you or another method to get to join him. He picks his helmet.

“ Join the first order. I can show the true power of the force” he stood in front of you ,fixing his gloves, and looking up at you with a bit of lust. What can he say he found you very attractive. You catch your breath, look away from the way his looking doesn't stir you up in all the right places.

“ Never in a million galaxies” you breathe out.

He looked up from his gloves and put on his helmet.

“Then I will break you into submission” his modulated voice returns, making his way to the door , hissing open, `` If I can’t have you, no one in the million galaxies can” before you speak, he walked away.

Days felt like weeks even though your sense of time was warped. He had tried to break you, feeling your spirit chip away more and more. He wanted to keep a close eye on you everyday and eventually you were moved to his quarters. Your torn clothes had been replaced with a skintight all black long sleeve dress with two slits on the sides so your leg can be seen. Black boots come to your mid thigh and some that resemble an underbust tied tightly around your waist. Unfortunately, you still had restants around your wrist and tonight that didn’t stop you. You tried to takeKylo Ren down once and for all. Hoping to kill him but it didn’t sit right with you. You climb carefully ,not to make any noise or it would alarm the guards, on top of a tall piece of furniture and a knife from the meal you had gotten. Weirdly enough he keeps you well fed and personally delivers himself so you can’t over power some poor stormtrooper and escape. When you make it to the top, the door opens. You panic a bit but compose yourself. You watch as the man is panicked and worried that you were gone, calling out your name. He took off his helmet and gloves. He sounded a bit like he needed you. It softens your heart. It was an “awe” moment you called it. If you saw it through his eyes and heart you would be screaming and not trying to calm down to see the light of your world taken from you. He spoke to Supreme Leader Snoke before this. Snoke said to him that his feelings for you had distracted him and she would not return he feeling, trying to make him kill her or send her off somewhere. He tried to convince them that they are alike and are very powerful. She would be a lovely addition to the First Order and with all the information she's got, she’ll lead us right the resistance. Snoke reluctantly agreed and moved with more urgency. In Kylo’s heart he felt like he was using her. Some of it was true he wanted to become his empress and rule the galaxy together as one . He knew that you also had no one to go back to. Even on the late night talks, you grew quite fond of him. They shared pieces of information, even when he smiled, she never asked about her family. He started to feel guilty but pushed those feelings deep down never knowing what Snoke would do to him if express emotion. He thought Snoke went behind his back and took the one thing he loved the most but you call out, stuffing the knife in your sleeve, all small and sad. He whips his head around and walks towards you helping you down. You forget you're wearing a dress and he accidentally sees under it. He panics and slips and falls to the hard floor with you tight in your arms. His eyes squeeze tightly on reflex as he meets the floor and you are on top of him, trying your best to hold on to him.

“ Are you alright?!” he sat up quickly, ignoring the sharp pain in his back to see if she had gotten hurt.

“ I’m fine. Are you?” you breath out then grab his face, making sure she didn’t hurt him. He held you tightly in his lap and his cheeks turned red. He picks you up in his arms and places you in his bed, looking at you with love. He realizes what he is doing, he tense up, and he heads towards the door. Before he could walk away, you caught his hand.

“ I want to be your empress, Kylo.” He turns around slowly as you catch him off guard with what you said.

“ As you wish, my empress” he bowed to you, a handsome smile appeared on his face, trying to contain his happiness. “ but name is Ben Solo. Do not call me that unless we are alone.” he uses the force to take off your cuffs. You rub your wrist and look up at disbelief.” “I will protect you at all costs and we will wipe away the resistance scam and bring order to the galaxy.” He trusted so quickly, knowing you meant every word. You knew the First Order was bad but for Ben you’d do anything to stay with him and to take off the cuffs. You both loved each other in the end. You going to the dark side was the first step to getting him to the light side. His emotions for you made him see that what him and the first order where doing was wrong. Through that you and him defeated Snoke and the First order came to an end with help of the resistance. After all the fighting ended, he took you to an empty planet to live out the rest of your lives alive and in love.

#kylo ren x reader #kylo ren #star wars #first fanfic

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lilacmoon83 · 4 years

Text

A Darker Curse

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 31: Betrayal

August sighed, as he waited for the old printing press to churn out copies of the morning edition.

"I just can't believe he did that...and you want me to let it go, Mom," he said in frustration into his phone.

"I know honey...but he's hurting. I think he just needs time to accept that he lost your childhood and to come to terms with the fact that you're an adult now. It's hard for him," Snow said.

"You're too forgiving, Mom and you can make excuses for him all you want, but I don't see David wallowing in self pity about losing time with Emma or the abuse he suffered," August replied.

"True...but David has us and the baby. Geppetto is alone...all I'm asking is maybe meet him halfway. I know once he gets to know you and the amazing man you are that he'll be able to accept things as they are," Snow suggested. He sighed.

"For you...I'll try. But if he says one cross word to you again...I'm done," he insisted.

"And I love you for that and how protective you are of me. I think David was very clear that he better not do that again," Snow said.

"You know it makes Emma and I really happy that you're reunited with him, Mom. You gave us everything growing up and nothing makes us happier knowing that you're reunited with your true love again," he said.

"Thank you sweetie...but you both are my babies and I'd do anything for you. I'll see in the morning for breakfast? You and Tink?" she asked and he chuckled at the hopeful note in his voice.

"Yeah...we'll be there. Love you," he said.

"Love you too, Auggie," she replied, as he hung up and looked at the machine.

"I really need to talk to Mom and Regina about getting an upgrade on this press," he muttered, for it was, like most things in this town, from the 1980's. He decided since it was going to be a while that he would go grab some coffee from Granny's, but as he headed for the door, he found Geppetto there in his path.

~*~

"Everything okay?" David asked, as she ended the call and put her phone on the bedside table.

"Yes…I just don't want him to refuse Geppetto forgiveness because of me," she said.

"Yeah...well take it from me, boys tend to be pretty protective of their moms," David replied, as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her into bed with him. She was wearing a slinky, short little negligee and it was driving him wild.

"Mmm...and this husband tends to be very protective of his wife and mother of his child," he added, as he kissed her neck. She closed her eyes and mewled at the sensations of his lips on her again. She had spent twenty-years longing for this feeling of his lips on her skin. Twenty-years yearning for the feeling of his hard body against hers again. Twenty-years craving his lovemaking. But something he said made her realize that there was one thing she had always wanted and was sure was lost for them. But now that it wasn't...she knew they needed to talk. It had honestly slipped her mind until now, but they really couldn't go further until they were on the same page.

"What is it?" he whispered in a husky tone, as his eyes met hers. He must have felt her still and as always, he could read her body language with ease. She shifted to face him and her eyes met his.

"I think there's something we need to talk about and I'm not even sure how to say it," she said.

"You know you can talk to me about anything," he prodded. She nodded.

"Three years ago...I entered Menopause and had to accept that, even when I did find you, that I'd never be able to give you another baby," she admitted.

"Snow...having you back is more than enough for me. You and Emma," he assured.

"I know...but now I'm twenty-years younger again…" she said and she saw recognition in his eyes. She swallowed.

"So...it's possible again and if you don't want a baby, then we need to use protection. I mean, there's birth control, but for tonight, we would need to use a condom," she rambled, until he caressed her face.

"Snow...do you think I wouldn't want another baby with you?" he asked. She shrugged.

"I haven't thought about it, because I thought it wasn't even a possibility, but now that it is…" she said, trailing off.

"Snow...if you don't want another baby, then I would understand. You raised Emma and August and you did it alone. If you are done...then you have to know that I would be okay with that," he promised. She swallowed.

"And if I do want...another baby with you?" she asked, as her eyes flicked to his and she witnessed the joy on his face that he couldn't hide. He cupped her face in his hands.

"Nothing would thrill me more than having another baby with you," he replied.

"Just as long as you don't think Emma might think I'm trying to replace her," he added and she shook her head.

"No…Emma knows you love her and she knew you would have been there for every moment of her life if you could have been," she said.

"So...no trip to the drugstore needed?" he asked. She smiled and slipped her arms around his neck.

"No...no need for that," she replied, as she kissed him and they became lost in their passion.

~*~

"What are you doing here?" August asked coolly.

"I want to talk," Geppetto requested, as he held a tray of coffees. August reluctantly stepped aside and invited him into the small office.

"This press...it has seen better days," he mentioned.

"Yeah, it's pretty ancient," August replied.

"Perhaps I can fix it," Geppetto offered and August regarded him.

"You can take a shot at it if you want," he replied, as he sipped at his coffee.

"But maybe you should talk first since that's what you came here to do," August said. Geppetto sighed.

"Then Snow has probably told you what happened," he said.

"No...Mom didn't, because that's not her style. But my sister Emma told me everything," August replied. He sighed.

"I am sorry...but you must understand. You're my boy...I just want you back," he pleaded.

"We can have a relationship, but you only seem interested in having one on your terms and that doesn't work for me," August replied.

"It's not just the two of us and never will be. I have other people in my life. They're my family. You can be too if you can accept that," he added.

"I'm sorry...it's just that they got all this time with you and now I want my time," Geppetto explained.

"I get that...but I'm not a little boy anymore. I have a woman in my life now and like it or not, Snow is my mother. She raised me from age seven on. You can't expect me to just throw that relationship away," August said sternly.

"I understand that…" Geppetto said, but August interrupted him.

"No...I don't think you do. Because you don't really know what it was like out there. It's not like Storybrooke," August said.

"I mean, despite everyone being scared of Cora's tyrannical rule, it's fairly isolated from most crime and danger of that nature," he added.

"Despite all the horrible things Cora did...the people here had homes, income, food, and necessities. Some obviously fared better than others, but Storybrooke is pretty sheltered," he said.

"But out there...my Mom had no identification or money. She gave birth surrounded by strangers and then we stayed in a homeless shelter for a while. She was scared they might take Emma from her," he said.

"She got a job as a waitress at a diner though and it took a year or so, but then we managed to get this tiny apartment. She worked double shifts and it wasn't like working at Granny's," he explained.

"If any of Granny's customers said half the stuff these pigs said to my Mom, she would have kicked them out. But she endured their sexual innuendos and even them groping her on a daily basis, because she knew if she didn't, that her children might not eat that night," he added.

"Slowly...things got a little better. She never asked me too, but I got a job at fourteen when I was old enough to help out. We still had next to nothing, but we managed," he said.

"She loved us both and never let us see how sad she was. We knew though. She tried to hide, but sometimes we heard her crying for David at night," he said.

"But she never blamed me. She loved me like I was her own," he continued.

"But she blamed me," he said bitterly.

"Not to me. She never blamed you or said an unkind word about you to me," he corrected.

"She told me that you did what you did to give me my best chance. And you did...you gave me a mom and I love that I have her," he said.

"So we can be family again, but you have to accept that it won't be just the two of us. We can't go back and I don't want to," August said.

"What if we could go back?" Geppetto asked suddenly.

"We can't," August refuted.

"But we can! There is magic now!" Geppetto insisted.

"You're not listening to me. I don't want to go back, even if it was possible," August replied.

"But it is possible! The Blue Fairy...she can make you small again!" Geppetto blurted out and saw the horror on the younger man's face.

"Are you insane!? Did you not just hear me? I don't want to go back! I don't want to be a kid again, just so you can have a second chance!" August shouted.

"I love the life I have now! I just found someone that I think I want to spend my life with and you want me to be a kid again!?" he asked in disbelief.

"It could be our second chance," Geppetto pleaded.

"Get out," August growled.

"Pinocchio...please…" the old man pleaded.

"You didn't listen to anything I said! You only care about what you want and until you can accept me as I am...then I don't want anything to do with you," he said, as he slammed the office door in Geppetto's face. The old man slank away, more down and depressed than ever.

~*~

The next morning

"Thanks for getting the autopsy done so fast," David said to Doc, as they entered the morgue.

"Well…this will sound morbid, but it was kind of exciting," Doc mentioned.

"You're right...that's morbid and a little creepy," Emma agreed.

"I was cursed to be a medical examiner, but never actually had a patient," Doc reminded her.

"True...but that also means no one died in twenty years, so that's kind of a good thing," Emma reminded him back. Doc conceded with a nod.

"It is strange. Cora killed like it was a favorite past time back in our land. It makes me wonder if she ever really understood what the curse really meant," David said.

"True...but she did have power and she still tormented people, especially you, Dad," Emma replied. He nodded.

"Very true...and she loved torture even more than killing," he agreed.

"Well, on that note, let's get on with my findings. I have a feeling the entire town would like to dance on her grave," Doc said. Tink snorted.

"You have no idea," she agreed.

"So...it's a homicide, right?" Tink asked.

"I'm afraid that I have to rule it a suicide," Doc replied.

"So...you think he did shoot himself?" David asked.

"He definitely did. There is gunpowder residue on his hands," Doc replied.

"No...he wasn't suicidal. This doesn't make sense," Tink refuted.

"Unless…" Emma started to say.

"Unless?" David asked.

"This Tamara you spoke up...she seems pretty coldblooded," Emma mentioned.

"She is," Tink agreed.

"What if he did shoot himself, but she was there making sure he did," Emma said.

"She's diabolical enough for sure," Tink agreed.

"This might work better anyway. We were going to report it as a suicide anyway to make her think we're not onto her. Right now, she is probably reading that his death is a suspected suicide," David reasoned.

"He's right...and with the bait Mom and Regina promised, she'll definitely be at the celebration," Emma agreed.

"I hope you two are right, but make no mistake...this woman has ice water in her veins. She won't hesitate to kill any of us and she hates magic, which means she's really going to hate your family," Tink warned. They nodded.

"Then we'll make sure we're ready for her," David said, as they left to prepare for the celebration that was taking place very soon where Regina was going to return all the hearts her mother stole.

~*~

"You have to help me…" Geppetto pleaded, as Blue came out of the convent that morning, on her way to the celebration.

"Geppetto...this has to be August's choice and from your desperation, I can tell that your talk with him did not go well," she admonished.

"When I made a wish to you, all those years ago, you granted it. You gave me my boy...he is mine and I only ask now that you give him back," he begged.

"Geppetto…" she said.

"I know you have history with the fairy he's involved with, but not everyone does. Do you really want everyone finding out what you did to her?" he asked.

"Are you blackmailing me?" she asked sharply.

"I know there are things you've done that you don't want anyone, especially the Charmings, to know," he replied. She glared at him.

"You'll have your son...and then we are done," she said, as they continued on to the park for the celebration.

~*~

"Hey you…" David purred, as they arrived at the park for the celebration and he immediately found his wife. She smiled, as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"Hey yourself, handsome," she purred back, as they shared a tender kiss, as they watched people emerge from the vault one by one, with an obvious smile on their faces.

"Was Doc able to tell you anything?" she whispered.

"He's ruling it a suicide. Tink still insists that even if he did shoot himself...that he was forced to though," he whispered back.

"Oh my God...what kind of person does that?" she asked.

"Like Tink said...one with ice water in her veins," he replied.

"What do you think she wants here in Storybrooke?" Snow asked with trepidation in her voice.

"I'm not sure, my darling...but we'll stop her now that we know she's here," he promised, as he kissed her hair.

"Charming...could that be her?" she asked and he followed her gaze to a woman in a hat and sunglasses beneath the shade of a tree.

"I think it might be...still hard to tell though," he said, as he took out his phone and dialed Emma.

"Do you see her?" he asked.

"Yes...Tink says it's her, but there's too many innocent people around. She's probably armed. I'm keeping an eye on her though and we can move in once she makes her move," Emma replied and he hung up.

"As soon as she makes her move, we'll get her," he whispered, as August arrived.

"Hi sweetie," Snow said, as she hugged him.

"Wow...this is quite a turn out. It'll make a great story," he said, as he got his author's pen out and it started to glow. However, his trance was interrupted when Blue and Geppetto approached.

"I have nothing left to say to you...we said it all earlier," August told the older man.

"What happened earlier?" Snow asked curiously.

"This doesn't concern you...this is between me and my boy," Geppetto replied.

"He's my son...and anything that's happening with him concerns me," she argued.

"She's right," David agreed.

"This has even less to do with you, Your Highness," Geppetto said to the Prince.

"Look, I tried to work with you, but you weren't having it. You refuse to accept that I have a family and the only way we can have a relationship is if you accept that they are part of my life," August replied in exasperation.

"I'm sorry...I cannot do that. Do it," Geppetto ordered. Blue looked at him and hesitated for a moment, but he pressed further.

"Do it or I tell them things that you don't want them to know!" Geppetto threatened.

"Do what?" David asked, but his confused question was answered, as a magical glow emanated from Blue's wand. August gasped, as he realized what was happening, but it was too late to stop it. The magic enveloped him and there was a bright glow. When it cleared, Snow cried out in disbelief, as her son was now a little boy again.

"Papa!" Pinocchio called, as Geppetto hugged him.

"My boy…" he exclaimed with happiness. But even he couldn't ignore the gut wrenching cry from Snow, as she nearly doubled over in anguish. David held her and kept her from falling to her knees, as she started to cry, almost uncontrollably.

"Papa...why is Princess Snow crying?" Pinocchio asked innocently.

"Nevermind that, my boy," he defected, as David stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and rage.

"What have you done!?" he shouted.

"I have made things right…" Geppetto said. By now, the celebration had come to a dead halt and everyone was gathering around to witness the spectacle.

"You took her son away from her! How could you!?" David roared, as he held his sobbing wife.

"I am sorry...but this is the way it should be. The Princess...you can give her another child now, but he is all I have," Geppetto argued.

"You can't replace one child with another! It doesn't work that way!" Regina interjected, as he glared at him and then at Blue.

"Though it doesn't surprise me that you're knee deep in this," she spat.

"Or me," Rumple chimed in.

"I'm sorry...I didn't want to do it, but Geppetto is right. I gave life to his child long ago and he deserves a second chance with that child," Blue argued.

"No he doesn't and even if he did, that's not the reason you did this," Rumple said and she glared at him.

"What secrets does he know about you, gnat?" the Dark One hissed.

"I have no secrets," she hissed back, making him chuckle in amusement.

"Oh dearie...we both know that's not true. You are far older than me, so I'm certain there are things about you that not even I know. But somehow, the woodworker does. How curious," he goaded.

"Let's go, Geppetto," Blue snapped, as he picked his little boy up.

"No please…" Snow pleaded, as David let her go and she walked up to them.

"Please don't do this...you can reverse this!" Snow cried, as she grabbed Blue's hands.

"Please...please give him back…" she sobbed and the fairy pulled her hand away.

"I'm sorry Princess," Blue said, but there was no sincerity behind it.

"The hell you are…" Tink growled.

"You're enjoying this! You knew I was with him...that I have feelings for him!" Tink shouted.

"This had nothing to do with you," Blue refuted.

"Of course not...you don't care about any of us! He was my brother!" Emma said, but her outrage fell on deaf ears as well, as they walked away. Pinocchio's young eyes were fixated on Princess Snow though, as if his mind was trying to tell him something and to go to her. But he was unable to, as Geppetto carried him away.

Snow continued to cry in David's arms, as Regina rubbed a soothing hand on her back, while Emma and Tink hugged each other in their own grief. It was only then that Tink noticed that Tamara was gone.

"Emma...she's gone," Tink said and the other blonde sighed, before picking up the author's pen from the grass. It was all they had left of August now.

"We'll get her," she promised, as Neal approached and she accepted a hug from him. Geppetto and Blue's stunt had not only devastated their family, but created the perfect distraction for the enemy among them.

~*~

Tamara smirked, as she looked around the vault. She couldn't believe her good luck. She was sure that getting into the vault wouldn't be easy, but the spectacle that had just been created was the perfect distraction and she had monopolized on it. She didn't know much about the things she was looking at, but it didn't matter. She took various samples of anything within reach and stuffed them in her bag. Her superiors could sort out the items later. She knew she didn't have much time, so she hurried back up the stairs, just in time to see magic before her eyes, as the man she had observed to be August Booth became a child. She gasped in disbelief and cursed herself for not getting it on camera. But she knew her orders. She had been told if she witnessed magic being used on a person that she was to bring that person back to Portland with her by any means so they could be analyzed. She smirked. She was in luck again. Had it been an adult, that might not have been so easy...but taking a child would be, well, child's play, so to speak. She smirked again and quietly followed, further emboldened when they ditched the fairy at the convent. Getting the little boy would be easy since the only person standing in her way was an old man...

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ikesenlemonadestandstories · 6 years

Text

Food Fight

Request by @dmiqueles and @yvckie for MC who’s turned into a child! Hope you enjoy this!

All My Love,

T~ If you’re interested all of my other works can be found on the Master List! Read at your own leisure! I’ll be at a wedding most of the weekend so imma be extra busy but will be fielding questions/comments (^.^)v have a great one honey bees!

[Mitsuhide]

I had been gone a few weeks, not to say that’s the longest stretch of time I’ve had to leave the princess in the care of my vassals but I wasn’t particularly fond of our time apart so I was hurrying to get back to the manor. Despite all of my times traveling I had never returned to my place in such a state of disarray. The moment I stepped into the hallway from the entrance everyone seemed to freeze, all of them either balancing something expensive high above eye level or wrestling a six year old little girl. Since when did we have so many young girls in the manor.

As calmly as possible I walked over to my most trusted vassal, who happened to by holding both a vase and tray of tea cups well above a little girl who’s kimono skirt was trapped under his footing so she couldn’t run away.

“Might I ask what is going on? Why does everyone seem to have a little girl with them.”

“Actually Lord Mitsuhide, almost a week ago all of the women in the residence fell ill after a trip to the baths. In the morning when we woke up they were all gone, these little girls in their place.”

“All of them.” trying to keep my eyes calm and my face stoic

“Yes Milord.”

“Even the Princess?”

“Yes, though she’s the reason we believe the women didn’t disappear only to be replaced by young girls, rather they have been cursed to look like children.”

“Oh and why is that.”

I was escorted back to our room and equipped with several sugar stars to use in ‘an emergency’ whatever that meant...I still didn’t see how a young (YN) could be so terrifying that the only way to subdue them was to use candy.

I slid the door open and saw them sitting at my writing desk reading, what I could only assume was a book of fairy tales. I’m impressed it was odd to see a child that small reading a book that large. Either they still had retained their education through this curse or the children of the future were held to a much higher standard of learning.

“Little mouse, I’m back.” no response, they just continued to read. Odd. I repeated myself sitting opposite them at the table.

“Oh, you finally came home. About time.” What was this? Quite a brazen young thing you had become, or were rather.

“That I have little mouse.”

“I’m hungry” they dead-panned looking me straight in eyes. The person I was looking at was undoubtedly you, the same face shape, the happy familiar innocence in your swirling cinnamon eyes.

“Then let's go get you fed, shall we princess?” they shook their head vigorously as I whisked them off the floor carrying them down towards the kitchens.

…

I had sent for Masamune in hopes that he would be able to help us feed the little one, gods knew I couldn’t. He arrived in a timely fashion, for once, if only to laugh at the site of me carrying a small child who was gnawing away at the fabric of my scarf and sticking their fingers in every facial orifice they could reach.

“Stop laughing and help me feed them. They have refused everything offered by my kitchen staff screaming about something called ‘pizza’ the only thing that keeps them calm are these god forsaken konpeito.”

“Pizza?” he looked confused “I’ve never heard of that….we may be in a bit of a bind.”

“See little mouse, nobody knows what pizza is. You must pick something else.” and that’s when they screamed. A high pitched blood curdling scream that could have rattled the windows. Out of air you stopped, a dreadful silence filling the room and then, as if your bones were made of nothing more that mochi, you threw yourself backward twisting in a fashion that should have been impossible for any human being, trying to wretch yourself from my grip.

…

He was your last resort, you hated to let one of Kenshin’s men know that you knew he was here poking around but you couldn’t stand the screaming any longer. You knew he was a friend of theirs from the future and you were hoping the ninja could offer some insight as to how to fix (YN) or help make pizza.

As expected Yukimura and Sasuke were found at their stall in the market, both equally surprised to have us approach, and with a child no less. As quickly and efficiently as I could I gave Sasuke as much information about what was going on.

“I know what pizza is. If you can get me these ingredients I can try to make some for (YN).”

“Wonderful. Masamune will help you shop for the items and will escort you back to my manor. Please be quick.”

…

We were waiting in the kitchen for the two of them to return, (YN) occupied themselves with several of the wooden spoons, dancing around the kitchen banging on other random buckets and containers. Squealing with delight when the pair walked in, they ran over to lock onto Masamune’s shin. Unable to detach them he started walking around the kitchen, it took everything in my power not to laugh at the extra little thunk when his left leg came down slightly heavier from their weight around it.

“You’re going to need a crowbar to remove (YN)” Sasuke stated, expression flat yet oddly mirthful.

“What’s a crowbar, and where do I get one?” Masamune turned to him quickly.

“A crowbar is a long, typically flat metal rod used as a type of lever to open or detach things difficult or impossible to remove otherwise. You can find it in the same place you can find pizza I’m afraid.”

“So it’s from your town? Where the hell did you two even grow up anyway…” Masamune looked confused.

“Can we have this discussion later, right now we need to make pizza before they start screaming again.” I pointed to the little one wrapped around Masamune's leg.

“Agreed.”

…

It didn’t take long for (YN) to get bored of hanging onto the One-Eyed Dragon, he had made it too much of a challenge, jumping and swinging his leg around while they were attached. Instead, they were wondering around the kitchen space with a barrel over their head smacking into every other piece of furniture in the room. Unfortunately for us, no matter how many times they went running into something solid only to land on their bottom, they continued to get up and run again, this behavior was put to a stop when they almost ran into the small opening of the oven.

“How about you help us cook instead (YN)-chan?” Sasuke suggested as the little one nodded vigorously.

Bad idea. Absolutely terrible idea. You were covered in wheat flour, tracking it all around the kitchen, you had splattered at least a quarter of the tomato paste Masamune had made on the walls, shredded cheese was literally all over, mostly found in Sasuke’s hair, half of the onions had been haphazardly peeled and pulled apart by your devious little fingers, and now we stood in a stalemate. You had two eggs, one in each hand...where you had gotten them was beyond me, but you had them raised directly overhead threatening to slam them into the ground if anyone took so much as one step closer to you. You were a very clever child I would have to give you that. I took my eyes off you for a second and the next thing I know Masamune is diving for you as the eggs splinter on the ground, yolk spilling out all over the floor.

“All right little mouse. Back up.” They listen looking wide eyed at my now stern tone. “Why would you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Oh gods they did not just…” words beyond that seemed to fail Masamune as he rolled over on his side laughing. Even the ninja was chuckling as he put the mostly complete pizza in the oven, but I had just about had it.

…

The idea had been to make you sit in a time-out in our room until the other two brought the finished food to us. I had just shut the door behind me when a very shrill shrieking began all throughout the manor, followed swiftly but the clamoring of my men, this was exasperating...thinking up a plan to find whoever had cursed my staff and girlfriend was put on hold when I was pulled forward by an unexpectedly heavy weight in my arms.

I looked down and there you were, right as rain. There was confusion then, at the same time as I, you noticed the child’s clothing you were wearing earlier no longer sufficiently covered you. You scrambled out of my arms in an attempt to find something more suitable to wear, eyes darting around the room, frazzled movements barely keeping up with your mind I’m sure.

“Princess, you’re acting as though I’ve never seen you so immodestly dressed.”

“Mitsuhide.” they straightened looking me dead in the eyes. “That wasn’t a dream was it?”

“It was not…” I closed the gap between us, elated to see them as they normally are again “and you were quite the ornery child.” grabbing a lock of familiar silk tresses.

“Crap, crap, crap, crap…” you pulled away again, this time I stopped you, grabbing onto your wrist. your eyes met mine pleading with me.

“I promise I’ll make it up to you later. Pizza doesn’t take that long to cook and if you don’t let me get dressed everyone is going to see me ‘less than modest’ do you really want to deal with that right now?”

They had a point, reluctantly I let go of your wrist and made my way into the hallway, a safety measure to make sure no unneeded visitors arrived before (YN) was decent.

…

The pizza was commendable, I couldn’t taste it, but the texture was pleasant enough. It was an oddity here but I had been reassured it was a very common food where they were from.

Dinner flew by, surely because of the company, and I saw both Masamune and Sasuke out of the manor.

On the way back to my room, several of my vassals stopped to report that all of the maid staff had returned to normal and everyone was working double to get all of the household chores complete that had gone untouched since they ‘disappeared.’ Thanking them for their statements I headed back to (YN).

As I slid the door open they stood to greet me with a smile and a slight bow, walking forward to take one of my hands before raising onto their toes to offer me a kiss as I wrapped them in an embrace.

“I never did get to tell you earlier. Welcome home Mitsuhide.”

Tagging @little-mini-me-world, @kthomas325 have a nice Friday!

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #ikésen #ikémen sengoku #ikesen mitsuhide #ikesen mitsuhide x reader #cybird #fanfic #finished request #short story #one shot #my story #fan fic

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secretlystephaniebrown · 6 years

Text

Time’s Running Out: Romeo

... whoops? Has it really been since March? OH WELL, MY COMPUTER'S FIXED, I'VE GOT FREE TIME AGAIN, AND I'M READY TO KICK THIS FIC'S ASS, ENJOY SOME FEELINGS.

Summary: The Reds and Blues; and their respective Freelancers, find themselves stranded on a strange planet named Chorus. Secrets, lies, and the unexpected seem to lie around every corner, and there might be even larger threats looming over the horizon.

They’re possibly even less ready for Chorus than Chorus is for them.

Pairings: Lots of friendships, Suckington, Yorkalina, Chex, eventual Yorkimbalina, possible others.

Start

Ao3

There was a moment of heavy breathing, with York staring up at her. There was blood everywhere, and for a second, she thought she saw fear in his body language.

It was only a second, but it was quite possibly one of the most terrible seconds of Tex’s life.

She stepped over the corpse and offered him a hand up.

York reached up and accepted, taking it and then using the momentum to collapse against her. Relief coursed through her. If he was able to trick her into a hug, he was going to be fine.

“Is he…” York said, staring at the body behind her.

“Yes.” She said. She offered no explanations or apologies. She knew that Locus had been his friend once. The thought was strange in her mind, sharp like jealousy and bitter like rage.

York’s shoulders stiffened for a moment, then he exhaled sharply.

“That is excellent news, Agent Texas,” Delta said, appearing on York’s shoulder, as if attempting to reassure himself that York was, in fact, still alive. It was as close to physical contact that an A.I. and host could get.

“Dee, when did you get so bloodthirsty?” York asked, but there was relief in his voice too. One more ghost gone.

Tex bent over Locus’s dead body, and pried the healing unit out of his fingers, already stiff. Carefully, she pressed it back into place on York’s chest plate, watching as his body language slowly relax as painkillers did their job.

“They’re gone,” Tex said, and there should have been satisfaction in that, but there wasn’t. It had been too close.

She’d watched York die before, and it had been a long, long time ago now. She had stopped that world, she had punched a hole through reality itself to save him, but…

She had watched him die once.

She had come this close to seeing it happen again.

Tex reached out and pressed a hand against his shoulder. “York,” she said, struggling to find words. “I—you know you’re—you’re my—” the words felt like they were strangling her, which shouldn’t even be possible.

Church, in her brain, remained shockingly silent.

“I know,” York said. “Me too.”

She scowled and clenched her hands into fists. “No,” she said. “Don’t let me off like that.”

“Tex,” York laughed, his voice unsteady, his breathing labored. He took a step forward and stumbled. Tex leapt forward to catch him. “I know, okay?”

“I love you,” Tex spat out.

She wasn’t programmed to. It was an aberration.

She was programed to love Church. She was built for it. She was built to love Carolina. She was built for the strange affection for Delta, even.

She was a shadow, an artifice, a series of ones and zeroes all strung together, forming the very core of herself. Pieced together, placed in a body of a robot, built up and pulled apart and put back together again. Put back together by Reds and Blues and Church and Carolina…and the idiot in front of her.

She had not been built for this. This strange, tumultuous, bizarre course, which no one could have seen coming.

There was no romance in the sentence, there was barely even affection. It was brusque and harsh, somehow a declaration and a question at the same time.

She loved her idiot best friend, and she had nearly seen him die a second time.

She couldn’t see his expression.

“I love you too, Tex,” he said. He leaned against her. “Now, uh, not to rush you or anything, but I think I need to submit myself to Dr. Grey’s terrifying medical expertise.”

“Right,” Tex said, putting an arm around his shoulder and starting to lead him away.

The tightness in her throat, the one that should be impossible because she had no muscles to lock up or lungs to draw air with, didn’t go away.

“Let’s go back to Armonia,” she said. York’s blood dripped onto the cavern floor and Locus cooled next to her feet.

She was not built to be this way.

Teleport cubes and the knowledge that they might all be dead soon made the journey back to Armonia fast.

Kimball wished she could just have time to think.

Carolina had made the report over the radio—Felix with a key that could kill everyone on the planet, Locus dead, Church’s body destroyed, York injured but not in critical state. The last one was said grimly, through gritted teeth, taking any potential satisfaction from Locus—one of Kimball’s longest living nightmares—being dead.

The Reds and Blues and Freelancers moved back into the war room. They looked the worse for wear for their journey, and there’s no sign of Church in physical form, although Kimball would guess that he was implanted into one of their implants, like Delta or Epsilon.

Agent York’s armor was in the worst state—it had never been great, old fashioned, a patchwork of repairs and replacements—but now there was also a horrific looking puncture on his shoulder. Locus’s work, if Kimball had to venture a guess. She’d seen wounds like that before, just usually on the dead.

York was forced into one of the chairs by Carolina, who was unmoving, cold, and solid. Her concern for him might not have been visible to many, Kimball realized as she watched York insist over and over again that he was fine. But Carolina was solid, and insisted on him sitting the fuck down, York. Kimball found herself trying not to smile as York acquised, reluctantly.

“I’m fine,” he insisted, one last time.

“That’s not what Doctor Grey said,” Kimball said. “She said you lost a lot of blood.”

“I’ve got a healing unit! I’m fine!” York said, throwing his hands into the air.

Carolina tilted her head at Kimball, a silent gesture of appreciation for her support. Kimball felt her cheeks warming, and she ducked her head, even though no one could see it.

She saw York tilt his head, curiously.

Dread filled her, a different kind of dread than the kind she’d lived with every day since the war began, that had doubled and tripled since Felix had betrayed her, that had multiplied infinitely since the last few hours, when Felix had gotten his hands on a weapon to end all weapons.

This was different. Smaller. Stranger.

Dread might not even be the right word, she realized, unable to stop turning it over in her head. Apprehension? Anxiety?

York took off his helmet, revealing the now-familiar face. Was there more grey in his hair than there had been? Kimball forced herself to look away, as Carolina placed a hand on the shoulder that had not been shot.

Kimball had not intended for this to happen. They were at war. There was no time for her to fall for two idiot Freelancers, with noble intentions and mistakes and blood on their hands and—

She needed to focus.

“Felix will be heading for the Temple,” Kimball said, drawing her mind away from a gloved hand on an armored shoulder. “He might take backup.”

“Siris is the likely candidate,” York said. “He’ll be the only one who can…” He hesitated.

“What?” Carolina asked.

“Uh, look, I’m not one to really throw stones about co-dependency when Delta lives in my head, but, uh. Felix and Locus, uh… well, let’s just say my glass house has a few holes in it.”

“So Felix will be off his game?” Tex smelled blood in the water.

York shrugged. “Maybe? Or maybe he’ll be redoubling his efforts in order to avenge Locus. Hard to say. Felix is… again, not to damage the glass house, but he’s not… stable.”

“No shit,” Tucker said.

“He’s kind of unpredictable,” York said apologetically. “He takes pride on that. But I do think he’ll want to keep Siris close to him after this.”

“Then we’ll want a small group to head them off there while the rest of us make a run for the Communication Tower,” Kimball said grimly.

“That… sounds like a surprisingly solid plan,” Doyle said, and Kimball tried not to be annoyed that he sounded surprised.

“Carolina and I will go,” Tex said.

“I’m coming too,” York and Washington said in unison.

“Hey Wash,” Tucker said, sounding overly cheerful, with Kai on his side. “Can we talk to you for a minute?”

“Um…”

Before Wash had time to formulate a response to that, Kaikaina and Tucker had swept forward, and propelled him out into the hallway, each of them grabbing one of his arms in a show of shocking precision and coordination.

“So I guess it’ll be the three of us then,” York said cheerfully, and Kimball really wanted to strangle him in that moment. How could one man manage to be so infuriating? If she’d been a younger woman with more free time, this might have been worth a spreadsheet, or at least a list. As it was, she allowed herself to audibly sigh.

“You’re injured, York,” she said, and she couldn’t help how gentle the words came out.

“Hey, I’m fine!” York protested.

“She’s right,” Carolina said, and Kimball couldn’t tell, but she imagined Carolina’s fingers were digging into his uninjured shoulder. She tried not to focus on that, or the strange surge of pleasure that Carolina agreed with her, even if it was about something as objectively true as the fact that York had been shot recently, again.

Kimball was starting to realize why it was, exactly, that Agent York, despite being an infiltration specialist, might have needed a healing unit. He seemed to have the most atrocious luck when it came to obtaining injuries.

He did, however, have a pretty good streak going when it came to surviving them.

“I’m fine!” York said. “I’ve survived worse—”

“Not encouraging,” Tex said dryly.

“Dr. Grey said I was okay—”

“Emphasis on okay, sweetie—”

“Felix might bring additional backup—”

“We have plenty of reds to spare!”

“What? No we don’t! I don’t want to fight Felix!”

“What Simmons said!”

“Traitors! Cowards! Leaving the Freelancers to hog all the glory, even if one of them is a Red? Why you blue-livered—”

“Kimball,” York said, changing tactics. “Please. I’ll be okay.”

She looked at him and felt herself go still.

York’s face was pleading and desperate. His good eye was focused right on her, as if he could see her expression, beneath her own helmet, and she swallowed, because she knew why he was appealing to her.

She was the only one who knew about him and Siris.

“Fine,” she whispered. She shook her head, and then spoke louder. “Very well. But be careful. All three of you. We can’t afford to lose you.”

“Can’t afford to lose the planet either,” Grif muttered. She shot a glare at him.

Tucker, Wash, and Kaikaina re-emerged a moment later.

“Hey,” Tucker said, grinning. “I’ve got an idea.”

“Aaaaand now I’m terrified,” Carolina said, her voice drier than a desert.

Kimball should not find that as attractive as she did.

Tucker took his sword out and turned it on. “Why don’t we even the odds?”

Doyle and Kimball exchanged a look.

Something like hope began to stir inside of Kimball’s chest.

“Okay, so a quick detour first.”

Most of the others went off to arm up, but Carolina stayed behind.

“You shouldn’t let him go,” she said, grabbing Kimball’s arm.

“Agent York is a professional.” Epsilon made a noise that sounded a bit like an incredulous snort. “I give him the courtesy of assuming he knows his limits.”

Carolina shook her head. “This is the second time he’s been injured this week. The healing unit is effective, but even it has limitations.”

“He needs to do this, Carolina.” Kimball says, and winces. She forgot to add the “Agent.” “You should ask him why.”

“… You… already know?”

“He told me,” Kimball said, wincing as she realized she’d probably overstepped somehow. “I asked him, after he got shot by Siris last time.”

“I… see.”

“You really care for him, don’t you?” Kimball asked, unable to stop herself. She pressed a hand against her visor. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate.”

“You care as well,” Carolina said, and she sounded half-resigned, half-surprised.

“What can I say?” York said, sticking his head into the room. “I have a type. Anyways, we should probably get going Carolina.”

Kimball felt as if she was suddenly, horrifically, rooted to the floor. Did he just… did he just… what did he just say? And if he… he didn’t mean it like… like that? He couldn’t. There was no way he had just implied what she thought he had implied…what she wanted him to be implying…

She shoved that thought to the side to deal with much later and turned to face York instead. “Remember what I said,” she said. “Don’t give him the chance.”

He saluted, jaunty and confident, using his just-injured arm to boot.

“Yes ma’am,” he said.

“I’ll bring him back,” Carolina said quietly.

“Just be sure to bring yourself back too,” Kimball said, and then blushed again. She had never been so grateful for her helmet in a non-life-threatening situation.

How were those two possible?

Tucker and Kai’s grip on Wash’s arms were like steel as they propelled him into the hallway.

“You’re not going,” Tucker said.

“Not without us,” Kai added, looking stubborn as hell.

“I—”

“We’re not being separated again!” Tucker said, and Wash flinched. Tucker’s voice echoed in the hallway.

They hadn’t had time to reunite properly, with everything. They hadn’t been alone, hadn’t had time to talk, hadn’t had time…

For anything.

And now things were ending, spiraling out of control, and Wash had been about to go off on another mission without them…

Time was running out for him to say everything he had to say.

He took off his helmet.

“You’re right,” he said. “We stick together. No matter what.”

Kai immediately tried to kiss him, but she was still wearing her helmet, so Wash had to duck out of the way to avoid a bruise.

“Ha!” Tucker said, pulling off his own helmet, which meant he got to kiss Wash first.

Something soft and giddy unfurled in Wash.

A moment of quiet peace, stolen, in the hallway, as Tucker kissed him, Kai making loud protesting noises as she struggled to get her helmet off.

The world might be ending, but he still had this.

He’d always have this.

As long as they were all alive—and that sounded almost too close to a wedding vow, so Wash shied away from that train of thought, and settled for whispering, “I love you,” against the shadow of Tucker’s jaw.

“We love you too, dumbass,” Tucker said. “Which is why we’re going to kick ass at the Temple of Communication, together.”

“That’s great,” Kai said, “Now let me kiss our boyfriend.”

Tucker laughed, and pulled away, and Kai was pressing in before Wash could so much as think about missing him.

#Steph Writes #The BFF Verse #Time's Running Out #Yorkimbalina #Suckington #Agent Texas #Vanessa Kimball #Agent Washington

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hanajimasama · 6 years

Text

Chapter 3! I am being productive.

Questions

Elizabeth Robicheaux or she was. Faraday was her name now. Younger sister of Goodnight Robicheaux and Joshua Faraday’s better half. A nurse by profession. She also helped run the security business with Emma Cullen.

‘Seven Safe’ was the Security business which was a cover and alibi for the seven men who for one reason or another walked the path of death dealing. Emma Cullen had found Sam Chisolm after an unfortunate encounter with a corrupt Police official: Bartholomew Bogue, which left her dear husband Matthew bound to a wheelchair.

Until the day justice and revenge rained down upon Bogue like the wrath of God itself, Emma agreed to help Sam and so she became the face of the security business. If their clients distrusted a woman to this sort of business they were quickly silenced. Emma Cullen was no damsel in distress and she made sure to prove her worth to those rich fools quite vividly. She was no stranger to guns and Emma did not take insults sitting down.

Her close friend Teddy Q acted as her p.a and still jumped when Emma proved her point. Near the door of her office hung a dart board riddled with more holes than Swiss cheese and had been replaced twice now. Jack Horne had hung it up in her cozy office.

Perhaps you could shoot this instead of the wall, Miss Emma…

He’d said with a chuckle, knocking a nail into the dark painted wall.

The big stately home that had been in the Robicheaux name for generations acted as the headquarters for the business and a home for the seven men who spent a lot of time here and there.

The evening began as usual. Elizabeth was helping Teddy her brother-in-law prepare tea. Matthew set the long pine table. It was Jack the oldest of the group that insisted unless work commitments pulled them away all breakfast and tea would be eaten together, as a family. Sam often argued that they were not family but Jack and Goodnight disagreed.

LIKE A RHINESTONE COWBOY

Elizabeth stopped stirring the big pot of stew as her phone sung out loudly from the pocket of her skirt.

“Must be Joshua. They must be on their way back.” She thought aloud fishing the device from her pocket and held it up to her ear “Evenin’ darlin’”

“Hey..Lizzy sweetie..can you come round to the main house...I might have ran someone over”

Elizabeth stopped for moment and processed what the Irishman had just told her “What do you mean -might have-?” She half shouted down the phone earning the confused stares of Teddy and Matthew “If you ran someone over take them to the hospital you fool!”

“It’s not that easy Lizzy...they were trying to kill me….Are you-“ her impatient sigh silenced Faraday,

“I’m already at the house...Just.. how serious are we talking?”

“Oh..well they’re alive.”

“I should hope so!” she hung up and tossed the phone onto the kitchen side “Sorry Teddy can you handle the rest?”

“Of course..is something the matter?” he asked cautiously even though he’d heard most of the conversation already. Eliza shook her head and muttered something about Joshua being reckless: again.

She left the kitchen in a flurry to go prep the small infirmary they had in the house. With her husband being in such a dangerous business she had insisted they turn one of the rooms into small medical bay, it was easier and cheaper than going to the hospital. There was only so many times you could go to the hospital about getting a bullet removed until they started asking questions. Jack and Elizabeth were in charge of fixing everyone up. No sooner had she turned down the bed and prepared the table had Joshua returned pushing open the door to the med bay.

Jack entered the room after Joshua with a body in his arms.

“What on earth?! JOSHUA FARADAY! You didn’t mention a head wound. That looks bad you should have taken her to the hospital!”

“I did, didn’t I?” Faraday leaned in to plant a quick kiss of his wife’ cheek “You’re the best Lizzy.” he smiles and vacates the room before she can scold him further. Jack had already unwrapped the blood soaked from around her head. Elizabeth sighed she would have to chide him more later. Fortunately the woman had suffered no broken bones, a dislocated shoulder and she would hurt a lot when she woke up.

“She’s lucky that wound isn’t as deep as I thought.” Elizabeth carefully stitched the wound on her brow and wrapped bandages around it. “Jack help me lift her to the bed.” Jack moved their charge onto the bed. “Jack, what happened?”

“I can tell you that.” they both turned to Sam who was stood at the door his arms folded across his chest “She was sent to kill Faraday and I need to know who.” he crossed the small room as he pulled a pair of handcuffs out of his jacket pocket, seizing one of the blonde’s wrist he snapped the cuff on and clicked the other around the frame of the bed.

“She’s injured! How-”

“She’s a hitman. Injured or not she’s a threat. Come with me, there's another that needs looking at but less severe. Jack you too.” the door was locked behind them and they headed towards his office where the red haired accomplice was shouting and cursing.

“I’m not saying a damn word until she wakes up!” Rose snapped loudly jerking way from Elizabeth who was trying to look at the bump on her head. Sam grumbled these women were not going to play ball it seems.

“I just want to know who wanted him dead” Sam pointed to Joshua who was slouched in a black leather armchair a glass of whiskey in hand.

“Hell if I know.” Rose shrugged “Cass gets the jobs. She’s picky. If the pay isn’t right she won’t take it.” she looked at Joshua “Come on lad, give us a drink.” Sam gestured with his head for Faraday to share, which he does reluctantly. The strong whiskey was what Rose needed to calm her nerves if only for a moment “Look, I’m still not talking until Cass is awake.”

Sam pulled open a drawer of his desk setting a leather bundle on the top before rolling it out with a clatter. An array of stainless steel utensils. “You will talk-“

This time it was Jack who raised his voice to Sam. His hands slamming against the table making the wooden shudder under his fury.

“That young lady is injured, I will not allow you to harm her further.”

“I agree with gramps.” The whole room turned to face the double doors one half of which was now open. Leaning against the doorframe a bottle under one arm as they fumbled with a blister pack of painkiller was Cassandra. “If you hurt her, I will kill you in the slowest way possible.” She warned swallowing a few painkillers and chasing it with a good gulp of alcohol.

“Is that my bourbon?” Sam asked narrowing his eyes at the bottle in her grasp,

“Girl in the kitchen gave me it. She was more concerned to see me upright. She kindly pointed me in the right direction.” There were a few extremely concerned faces all of whom had started to move from their chairs “Don’t panic, I haven’t hurt anyone. I wasn’t paid too.” Cass strode across the room accepting the chair that Goodnight offered her. “So it seems we have a lot to talk about don’t we?” She stated calmly taking another swig from the bottle ignoring the glare Sam was giving her.

“I’m pretty sure I left you in a locked room.”

“Not really the relevant question right now is it?” Cass mused “oh, I forgot. You might want these back.” The clatter of metal echoed through the room as a pair of hand chucks skidded across Sam’s mahogany desk. She answered his questioning glare with a smirk. “You wants questions I can tell or you would have handed us over to the police. Look I don’t know why someone wants him dead or even if they do want him dead to begin with.” She started shuffling to get comfy in the chair which just served to remind her how much her body was aching “Does the name McCann ring a bell to anyone?”

“Yeah, he’s an asshole. He was in a gang a while back” Faraday answered quickly “Somehow he got into the force.” Something still wasn’t making sense. There had to be something else.

“I’ll look into it. I have a few favours I can call on” Jack clapped his hands together as if to announce a recess “Now then, it’s tea time. Will you young ladies be joining us for food? There is plenty to go around.”

Cass and Rose looked at each with complete and utter confusion.

“Jack..they aren’t joining us.” The older gentleman stood in front of Sam blocking him from view and looked at the girls awaiting their answer which was given in the form of Cass’ rumbling stomach.

“You two must be famished. Come on lets you some food.”

Taken prisoner and now they were being fed? This was the strangest interrogation techniques they had ever seen.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

#pumpkin writes #mag 7 #mag 7 au #hitmen au #feel like I’m all over the place with this but #it’s going to and from various people #sorry

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odogaronfang · 7 years

Note

Ok, can you write something around shadows possessions during red moons? Maybe during another blood moon or something like that after they find out shadows a ex-yiga?

[[yes i absolutely can! you’re all asking for shadow in these things and it’s like, god, don’t feed me, i love writing this piece of garbage,]]

One of the most irritating things about blood moons is that they cannot be accurately predicted.

In the decades since the hero Link fell, in the decades since Ganon breached his seal and rose, not one single soul in Hyrule has been able to devise a method to chart their occurrences. The ones that have come closest are, invariably, sheikah in origin. But even they are known to miss some.

As is currently the case.

Green comes sprinting up to him in the fields, where he’s practicing his archery.

“Vio,” He says, breathless and urgent, “We need you. Now.”

The terror in Green’s eyes is too severe to disregard, or even delay a reaction to; he abandons half of his arrows in the hay bale where they’d stuck and goes with him, at the awkward half-run that keeps him in pace with Green.

“Just go,” He pants, “Down by Fort Hateno, get your horse, it’ll be easier!”

“What is going on?”

“It’s Shadow.”

Those two words put a spur of mounting trepidation on him and he nods to Green and takes off, the full long-strided sprint of the sheikah, hardly bothers with Mocha’s tack before he heels her into a gallop. He can only assume that it’s a blood moon, that it managed to escape their notice. It isn’t visible enough yet to be able to see, and especially if they’re at Fort Hateno, surrounded by cliffs on nearly every side. To be caught unawares by a blood moon… Regardless of what it means for Shadow, it could mean a lot worse for the rest of them.

It’s as if Mocha knows what’s going on; she runs her hardest, dodges the stray bokoblins and doesn’t even spook. Even as quick as they’re going seems too slow.

He can hear them before he can see them, shouting something he can’t quite make out. Mocha hasn’t even slowed when he jumps the saddle, heads towards where he figures they are, the empty cabin just east of the Fort Hateno wall.

The door opens before he can get there, and Red and Blue and Zelda come spilling out and once they set eyes on him they come running over.

“It’s a blood moon,” Blue barks, shoves him rougher than she needs to. “And Shadow’s in there tryin’ to kill us!”

“I figured-”

“Where’s Green?” Red’s wide-eyed and scared, and Zelda’s got her gaze fixed on the door, a half-step in front of him.

“Back in town. He told me to come ahead.” Thank the goddess he’d thought to keep his weapons on him, because he is not at all willing to face Shadow like that unarmed. He adjusts his quiver on his hip, rests an arrow on the notch of his bow and makes sure his dagger is sheathed. “Is there any rope around? In the event it comes to extremes.”

Blue shakes her head, but she goes and fetches the coil sitting outside the house, watching the door the whole time. “It didn’t work the first time you tried it.”

“I will readjust my methods. Stay out here unless I call for you. I will not risk more than is necessary.”

Zelda catches his wrist before he can get too far. “Are you sure it’s the best idea, to go in there?”

“He needs to be contained until the blood moon is past. There is no sense in taking chances. Just stay out here.”

He debates over whether to keep his bow or his dagger out, but decides on his bow; if Shadow tries to lunge it will give him a greater reach.

It’s almost comical, the way Shadow is clawing at the wood of the walls when he walks in, bow drawn. He might laugh if Shadow didn’t already look halfway to killing him.

“You,” Shadow growls (there’s really no other way to describe it), “Sheikah-born, unpledged.” The voice is so unlike Shadow’s, coarse and guttural and halting, as though it hasn’t been used in a long time. He doesn’t move to attack, stays perched on the chair and looks him over. Sizes him up. “But you… Are not sheikah. Not entirely. You are… Muddied.”

“I am half hylian,” Vio says, and wonders whether Ganon can hear him directly. “And I wear both titles proudly.”

“A farce. A charade.” Shadow spits. “It is laughable. You, a mere mutt… Think to challenge me.”

“I am not so foolish. I am not challenging you. My challenge is against the form you are inhabiting currently, and I know the outcome. You cannot stay past dawn.”

He laughs, something cruel and unrelenting. Vio wonders how many people have drawn their last breaths to that sound. How many have heard it and lived to tell the tale.

Shadow’s never been taken this directly, to his knowledge.

It’s always been something more animalistic, less sentient, the few times it’s happened- such little presence of higher thought that all it took to keep him at bay was a barred door and thick window shutters.

“I am here until the sun,” Ganon agrees, and Vio doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to hearing the voice of the Calamity from Shadow’s mouth. He hopes he won’t have to. “That is quite long enough, for me to do what I must.”

Vio knows where this is going. Of course, Ganon wants to stop them. How he’s caught wind of it, he isn’t sure, but it’s certainly against the Calamity’s best interests. And Vio can’t do very much without risking Shadow’s life in the process.

“Surrendering?” Ganon asks, when he calmly replaces the arrow in its quiver, hangs the bow on a peg on the wall.

“Merely being proactive.” He gets the rope, approaches Ganon-Shadow with a cautious hand over the hilt of his dagger.

“Rash of you,” Ganon says, in a tone that suggests Vio’s made a grave mistake, and lunges.

He falls very pathetically to the floor.

“You are not accustomed to maneuvering his body. I hardly face a threat from you if you lack the locomotive skills of a toddler.” It’s all too easy to drag him up by the collar, heave him onto the chair (a padded one, for Shadow’s back’s sake), and rope his arms and legs to it. He double, triple ties him, knots it everywhere he can and loops the slack around the leg of the table, just to be safe.

“Bonds will not keep me,” He snarls, struggles but fails to do more than exhaust himself.

“No, not forever,” Vio agrees, almost conversational, now that he’s been contained. “But long enough, I should think.”

“I am Ganon-”

“Yes, yes, scourge of Hyrule, the Great Calamity, I am aware of your titles. But you are not Ganon, not truly. You are an overzealous, entitled piece of subhuman scum, occupying the body of my friend. This too shall pass. You will be forced from this form soon.” He sighs, sits on the bed across the room with his bow set ready on his lap. “Since you are here, how is our fair Zelda, may I ask? Everyone is terribly concerned for her.”

“You will die first,” Ganon spits, thrashes and succeeds in nothing.

He peeks out of the cabin to let the other three know he’s alright and Shadow’s alive, tells them to go home, that he can deal with it from here. Reluctantly, they go, and he keeps vigil there for the night, until the curse of the blood moon breaks, and Vio thinks he can almost see the Malice drain from Shadow. Just to be safe, he leaves him for another hour or two, until he’s certain; then he undoes the bindings, whistles for Mocha and drags Shadow, completely dead weight, over to her. With some extra help from her he gets him into the saddle, swings in behind him, prods her into a gentle trot. He’ll have to get some things ready for when he wakes up. Something tells him this is going to be especially difficult to recover from.

#four swords #shadow link #vio link #blue link #red link #green link #zelda #botw au #my au #this was so fun #i love. writing shitty shadow #all sorts of nastey stuff. love it.#send more asks btw!!#im out!!!

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distinctivelibrarians · 7 years

Note

Ayyyy friend, saw you wanted some Drabble prompts! How about something where Jake and Ezekiel go on a double date with Cassandra and Estrella (bonus points if Jake and Ezekiel set it up without really realizing they're setting themselves up for a date, if that makes sense? It's up to you!)

Thank you so much for the prompt! I’m not sure if it quite hits ‘double-date’ so much as a more general ‘date-night’, but I hope you like it!

(cross-posted to ao3 here)

“-o, no, you’re right, I’ll see you soon okay?” Jacob paused, glancing up from his desk to see Cassandra sweep into the Annex, still on her phone. Despite the melancholic tone, she had a soft, lovely little smile that told him exactly who she was talking to. He shared a glance with Ezekiel, who was perched on the center table, fiddling with… Jacob was pretty sure that had once been his phone, but neither said anything.

For about two seconds after Cassandra hung up anyway.

“Estrella?” Ezekiel asked, completely ignoring Jacob’s look of really?

Cassandra blinked, glancing up from the phone in her hands, as if just now noticing the Annex was actually occupied. “That obvious, huh?” she asked, blushing slightly, only to laugh when Ezekiel raised his hand to make a ‘little bit’ gesture.

“When was the last time you two had a chance to go out, anyway?” Jacob asked, before Ezekiel could say whatever it is he was about to - he knew that look. It was either going to be something ridiculous or… nope, his money was on ridiculous. (And if he shot a smug grin his way when Ezekiel shot him a look of his own, well. Cassandra didn’t notice either way.)

“Ah… last month.” She smiled again, and Jacob’s pretty sure she thought she was doing a good job of hiding just how much that was dragging on her, so he couldn’t really find it in him to point out just how much like a kicked puppy she looked. He got it, even regular couples couldn’t see each other constantly - and with one of them being a Librarian, traveling every couple of days at the drop of a hat, and the other a vampire more or less limited to brief trips outside her home while also being dedicated to keeping her family retreat up and running… yeah, they were probably lucky they saw each other as often as they did.

But still. Cassandra just looked miserable.

If the look and eyebrow quirk Ezekiel shot him was anything to go by, he saw it too.

And if his heart kicked, just that little bit, with a familiar fondness at the fact that he could actually see Ezekiel already plotting to fix this, well, it could just keep that to itself, thank you. This was about Cassandra.

Neither of them said anything about it as Cassandra stuck around to chat a little, doing her best to shake off her mood. Jacob was maybe just a little proud when, when she left, her smile was back to being warm and real, at least for the time being.

“...alright Jones, what’re you planning?” He asked as soon as he was sure she was out of earshot. He got a cheeky grin in return.

“Nothin’ bad, cowboy, cool it. Hey, you busy?”

“I mean, kin-”

“We’re helping Cassandra.”

“-da...not busy. Sure. What’s the plan?” And there was that too bright, too sharp grin that Jacob knew, just knew was going to be the end of him. Too bad he didn’t much care.

“It’s probably what, noon at the retreat right now? Let’s go!” He was off the table and fiddling with the Back Door in the next moment, leaving Jacob blinking… and then bolting to catch up with him before the Door closed again behind him.

It was… disturbingly easy to sneak onto the retreat without Estrella noticing. Or, maybe she was just humoring them. That was also very, very possible, and the more Jacob thought about it, the more likely it seemed that that was what was going on. Regardless, she didn’t seem to notice them, his pride settled on them being just that good (which, Ezekiel was, a little voice in the back of his head piped in, while he himself tripped over a planter that came up to his hip. So.).

He still didn’t have any idea what Ezekiel was planning when they first got there. Up until he cornered one of the new employees Estrella had hired - Michael, if Jacob remembered correctly, from when they’d all dropped by to see how she was handling the retreat on her own a couple months back.

It was a really simple plan all things considered.

“Look, we want to get Estrella a night off to come see her girlfriend. Think you can get everyone to help cover and get her a night off in like… two days? We’ll have her back by morning!” After Jacob had to step in to assure Michael that that last part was supposed to be reassuring and not a veiled threat, he all too readily agreed.

Numbers were exchanged, with a promise to keep this all a surprise for Estrella as best they could, and then they headed back to the Library to plan the rest of the night.

And ‘plan’ apparently meant- “You can cook right?”

“...Yes?” Jacob responded, raising an eyebrow.

“Look, we’re not going to be able to convince both of them to actually go and have a night out like they deserve on such short notice.” Ezekiel shrugged, grinning, “Figured we could make something nice here. The theatre can be made up for two and-”

“And a romantic dinner. Sure. Why not. Only if you help.” He didn’t really need his help. But the look on Ezekiel’s face honestly made pushing for it kinda worth it.

“Sure, grea- wait, what? No, nope, no way, mate. I don’t cook.” Ezekiel shot back, crossing his arms over his chest like he was ready to put his foot down with this. If Jacob hadn’t seen him pull the same move when Eve tried to get him to do anything, he might’ve bought it.

“Don’t as in ‘fire-hazard’ or don’t as in ‘lazy’?” Because as much as he wanted to push this (for Cassandra, alright), he also knew better than to invite a walking disaster into the kitchen. Christmas Dinner of 1997 taught him that. No thank you.

“Don’t as in ‘don’t wanna’.”

“That’s nice. You’re still helping.”

“Just said I was-”

“Or I tell Jenkins what happened to the tie pin Eve got him for his birthday.”

“...definitely going to help. Great idea. And I’m replacing that! Just… give me a bit.”

They were not nearly as subtle as they thought they’d been. But, since the only consequence of that was Estrella and Cassandra sitting at the table while Jacob and Ezekiel made dinner, Jacob couldn’t really dredge up the energy to be disappointed.

Estrella had been ready for them when they’d opened the Back Door on the retreat, all soft smiles and amused thanks, before brushing right past them to Cassandra, who had also apparently caught on to their game (or was just brought into the loop by Estrella. Still missing confirmation on that). They couldn’t be too indignant about it though, with both women practically glowing, trading tight hugs and soft kisses and really. Who could get mad at that?

Ezekiel had shooed everyone to the kitchen, grumbling something about the sooner they tried this cooking thing, the sooner he could never touch an oven again. Jacob had shared a look with the women before rolling his eyes and smiling. (And if it was a little too fond, Estrella and Cassandra at least had the good grace not to point it out.)

They weren’t making anything too complicated, and despite Jacob’s promises (threats) to make Ezekiel actually cook, he was mostly stuck helping with prep. Cassandra and Estrella were at the end of the table closest to them, sitting close enough to be leaning against each other’s sides, talking softly and occasionally dropping their voices a bit before laughing. Jacob was pretty sure they were laughing at him and Ezekiel, but when he shot looks back at them, they just gave him big, too-innocent looking grins that he didn’t buy for a second. But they were also just… soft looking, happy, and relaxed in a way he almost never saw Cassandra, and was pretty sure Estrella rarely got too, so he was all too happy to roll his eyes, make a show of huffing and leave them to it.

He wasn’t too sure who had set up the music player in the corner, everything too quiet to make out more than the occasional refrain and note (though, he was pretty sure he heard Etta James in there at some point, and he’d had to stop for a second, memories of evenings spent dancing around his ma’s kitchen while she cooked making him smile like a goof), but it added to the close, warm, comfortable atmosphere that had settled over all of them.

Occasionally, him and Ezekiel would get pulled into the conversation, but were mostly left to themselves while they got everything ready.

At some point, Ezekiel had cajoled him into sharing the memories that had made him stop in the middle of the kitchen (which he’d thought nobody had noticed, and he should really know better by now). And Jacob couldn’t really see any harm in telling them (or at least, Ezekiel. Cassandra and Estrella were back in their own little world) - how, when he was little, his mom had taught him what little he knew how to cook, how most nights while his pop was out, she’d be filling the house with 50s and 60s r&b, only to switch to jazz during the holidays. He learned that Ezekiel hadn’t heard most of the artists he listed, but he had his own childhood music to compare: instead of records, old albums passed from aunts and cousins, Ezekiel talked about listening to live bands - on street corners and bus platforms, in clubs with doors thrown wide in the heat, from down the street as neighbors played had radios loud enough to float down the street - and how he and his mom listened to Disney show tunes on mornings he didn’t have to get ready for school, dramatically reenacting the scenes that went with them sometimes.

Jacob had laughed and Ezekiel had immediately called him on imagining the Lion King scene, which. Guilty.

(And if he made a note to drag Ezekiel out one of these days and just go bar hopping for live, local bands, well. No one had to know why.)

Dinner was a low-key thing, once everything was ready. Ezekiel and Jacob had tried to duck out (just a tad bit reluctantly, if they were being honest with themselves), to give Cassandra and Estrella some privacy, but they were having none of it. So they all ended up around the table, low light courtesy of the Library (which, real subtle there), talking quietly and all silently agreeing not to break the close, just… nice feeling that had settled on everything.

(He liked to think he was being subtle about sneaking looks at Ezekiel when he was talking, but, a quick glance at Estrella told him that that wasn’t likely.)

(And then Ezekiel had caught him looking halfway through a story about breaking into a Spanish castle that Estrella had insisted he tell. He hadn’t stopped talking, and Jacob was pretty sure he was imagining the faint blush. He wouldn’t know honestly. By the time he looked back from hastily looking at anything but Ezekiel, he’d looked normal. The heat he could feel on his face though ensured him that he looked anything but. And he didn’t need Cassandra smirking at him, thanks.)

Somehow, in a way both of them still wouldn’t be sure of later, they were roped into the movie as well. The theatre that they had spent the other day making sure was perfectly set up for two was now set up for… well, however many two couches could fit. The big, soft ones that were very definitely stolen from Jenkins’ study. Jacob shot an unimpressed look up at the ceiling because, again, subtle.

Oddly enough, though he’d thought to actually protest since this was supposed to be about Cassandra and Estrella, Ezekiel gave half an argument at best. And this time, he definitely wasn’t imagining the blush.

Either way, Cassandra and Estrella were again having none of it, and Jacob found himself perched on the second couch next to Ezekiel while the lights went dark for The Princess Bride. Apparently, Estrella had never seen it, and, according to both Ezekiel and Cassandra that was just a tragedy.

Estrella and Cassandra were once again wrapped in their own little world, and this time, each other, with Cassandra curled into Estrella’s side after hauling a truly impressive number of blankets around them. They were practically glowing and Jacob couldn’t help the stupid smile on his face at seeing his friends so completely happy and relaxed.

Didn’t mean he wasn’t just a teensy bit anxious about his own situation on the couch. But hey, at least Cassandra was having a wonderful night.

And, truth be told, it wasn’t as horribly awkward as he’d initially thought crashing their date might be. He wasn’t so far gone in his crush that he would make things awkward (because, come on, he still had to work with the guy), but still.

The atmosphere from dinner had followed them into the theatre and watching Ezekiel light up at the movie, laughing in that short, surprised way that meant it was genuine and that sent Jacob’s heart just falling over itself every single time, how he’d look over at him to see Jacob’s reactions to whatever was going on on screen (apparently, his own reaction to Estrella never seeing the Princess Bride had meant he just didn’t have a true appreciation of the movie, and they’d been just as determined to fix that as Estrella’s more tragic situation)... it was a lot to handle, okay.

And apparently, he wasn’t hiding it very well since, when Ezekiel looked over at one point (a quick look at the screen, which he’d given up watching in favor of watching Ezekiel because come on, showed that Buttercup and Westley had just left the Fire Swamp) and had just… looked back at him for a moment, clearly rolling something over in his head.

Jacob had ducked his head to try to hide another blush, cursing himself softly because of course, that was just his luck, only to startle slightly when he felt a hand catch his, twisting enough to curl their fingers together. When he looked back up, Ezekiel was shifting around to lean against his side with a grin and a shrug.

And apparently, he didn’t want Jacob ruining it by opening his mouth, because when Jacob went to do just that to ask what in the hell was going on (but not to stop it. Definitely not to stop it), he felt lips pressed to his cheek for all of a moment, and, what do you know, it was pretty easy to keep quiet after that.

A bit of maneuvering once Jacob could actually think again had him letting go of Ezekiel’s hand just long enough to wrap his arm around his shoulders (tentatively at first because hand-holding did not immediately mean anything else, but Ezekiel just went with it, easy as anything), catching his hand again with his free one instead. And if he grumbled under his breath about warning a guy first, Ezekiel just snorted out a quiet laugh - and then a slightly louder one when Cassandra and Estrella shushed them both.

Sure, they definitely needed to talk about this and all - but, looking back on the rest of the night, on Estrella’s knowing looks, and Cassandra’s soft smiles, on the Library choosing the music at dinner (and it had definitely been the Library - no one had claimed the music, and it had shut off as soon as they were out of the kitchen), and on Ezekiel now relaxing into him, a warm, solid weight at his side, he figured it could wait, just a little bit.

And, if he was smiling just a bit too fondly, a bit too giddy, well. It was dark. No one needed to know.

(Estrella definitely did, though. And bless her heart for keeping quiet about it.)

#The Librarians #Ezekiel Jones #Cassandra Cillian #Jacob Stone #Estrella #my writing #ff #long post #I really like how this turned out okay #but I'm not sure it entirely fits the prompt? I hope you like it anyway!#jedijenkins

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neubauje · 7 years

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BEGT ch. 12

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 (rated M) - Chapter 11 (rated M) - Chapter 12 AO3

During the nightly commute, Toshinori notices something off about Aizawa's gait. Glancing over to get a better look as they head to the subway station, Eraserhead meets his gaze curiously, and All Might shakes his head with a little smile, dismissing it as seeing something out of the corner of his eye. But he notices again as they board the train, and again as they're heading back up the stairs. "Aizawa... are you limping?"

"Maybe a little," The underground hero shrugs it off, "It's nothing major. Just a sore toe. Probably an ingrown nail or something." He stands outside the apartment door as Yagi unlocks it, shifting his weight to one foot to rub the sore one gingerly against his calf, waiting to be let in so he can get his shoes off.

"Oh, is that all!" Toshinori grins in relief and claps one large hand onto Aizawa's shoulder. "Let's have a look later on and see if we can't fix that before bed." (more under the cut)

"After the shower," Aizawa agrees with a sage nod, wobbling a little as he shifts from foot to foot to push his shoes off one at a time, freeing the sore toe from the confines of the steel-reinforced boot toes. "That should help make it easier. What are we doing for dinner tonight?"

Yagi droops a little, remembering the plans he'd had to make a slow-cooked pot roast for tonight, but hadn't had the chance to prepare during their rush that morning. "Hmm, well... I could try out that imported meal mix that came in on Friday, the uh... Hamburger Helper I think it was called?" He hadn't yet gotten the ground beef to go with it, but the strip steak in the freezer works almost as well by the time he defrosts it and minces it a little finer. It's an interesting take on a noodle dish, though Toshinori notes that he probably wouldn't go to the trouble of ordering any more. The rest of their little established routine goes by without a hitch, and with the both of them in pajamas and Aizawa's hair twisted up in a towel, they settle in on the couch with a pair of toenail clippers, Aizawa reclining with his head against the armrest and his feet in Yagi's lap.

Sure enough, it seems to have been a long while since his last trim, and the big toe on Aizawa's left foot has gone red and puffy where the extra-long nail has been digging into it. Toshinori makes quick work of cutting it down to size, then moves on to get the rest of the nails while he's at it. "Huh..." Yagi pauses as he reaches the pinky toe, leaning in closer as he lifts Aizawa's foot up into the light with one hand under his ankle. Peering from a few different angles, he sets the foot down and switches to the other one, inspecting the pinky toe on the right side as well, even going so far as to grasp it between thumb and forefinger to wiggle it around a little. "Huh! Well would you look at that!"

"What." Aizawa flexes his toes defensively, sitting up a little more to peer up at Yagi with interest.

"We've got the same toe!" Yagi grins down at him excitedly, but struggles to explain when this odd string of words fails to catch any spark of recognition in the shorter teacher's expression. "The uh, the distal joint, I think it was? You've got one. Unfused. Just like me." At the uncomprehending eyebrow lift in response, Toshinori clumsily continues, "It's like, this super strong correlation that scientists documented when they were studying quirk developments, that in people who have quirks, this joint-" He demonstrates by wiggling one of those pinky toes again, "Is usually fused together into one bone. Like, a ninety eight percent correlation or something along those lines, but here you are with an un-fused toe, and you HAVE a quirk!"

Shouta blinks and spreads his toes apart, inspecting them with a new curiosity for a moment before he looks back to Yagi, "And so do you."

"I- ...right." Toshinori's grin falters, and he turns back to finish the job on the right foot, pointedly not making eye contact as he speaks. "Well, uh, truth be told, Shouta, I haven't exactly been forthcoming with you about my quirk."

That draws a soft chuckle from the other hero as he relaxes back against the armrest again, letting his gaze drift up to the ceiling. "You don't say." He'd been starting to catch on that this was one of the topics which All Might tended to dance around without ever giving a straight answer, though that wasn't entirely unusual for heroes in the public light to try to keep as many trade secrets as possible, the better to keep an upper hand against villains.

"Yeah, I... Listen, this isn't something that many people know about me, and it has to stay that way. Only my closest friends and allies are in the know, but... I guess you've managed to become one too, without it ever really coming up before." He glances over to Aizawa with a little smile, but settles for a gentle ankle squeeze instead when his eyes aren't met. "I wasn't an outlier to the statistic, I was part of that correlation. I was quirkless. Just like young Midoriya." He snips off the last toenail, then sets the clippers aside and settles his over-sized hands into a firm foot rub, continuing before Aizawa can look up to correct him, "What you see him using is actually the same power I use. It's a special bestow-able quirk which I received when I was about his age, and now he's taking up from me. It's why, when combined with this injury," he gestures at the giant scar hidden on his left side under the baggy t-shirt, "Why my ability to stay in hero form is shortening at a chronic rate. The more power Midoriya gains, the more I lose. Soon it will all be transferred to him, and I'll be quirkless once more."

A little dizzy from this paradigm shift and the newest dose of painkillers kicking in, Aizawa struggles to lift his head once again, leaving the damp towel crumpled on the arm rest. That signature stare is as intense as ever when Yagi steels himself to meet it, but the erasure hero doesn't seem to have any words just yet. Instead, he pulls his foot free of those giant hands and plants it on the cushion next to Yagi's leg. And then he replaces it with his other foot, a silent request for more pampering.

Yagi chuckles and complies happily enough, digging his thumbs into the arch as he continues, a little more at ease now to have that much of the heavy secret lifted from his chest, "I guess that's why I knew about the fused toe-joint thing. It must not be something you hear about when you're lucky enough to develop a quirk at an early age, unless you go into the bio sciences."

"Hmm," Aizawa agrees wordlessly, relaxing once again as his eyelids sink shut, the ramifications of this new information still filing away behind his eyes. He'd already heard the conversation between All Might and Recovery Girl, about possible endings for the Symbol of Peace, but in this new context... it makes a lot more sense. It's all the more chilling to recall, now that Aizawa understands why they'd spoken of it with such certainty. His predecessors didn't have a history of happy endings, is that what Chiyo had said? Was she speaking of the previous owners of this strange, passable quirk? Midoriya, too, with his self-harming power, now makes perfect sense as well. Shouta vows silently to keep a closer eye on the boy, to monitor his future progress in coming to grips with his brand new ability. "You should set the couch up now," Aizawa mutters, reluctantly pulling his other foot free to swing both legs to the floor and stand up, shuffling off to the side to stay out of the way.

Toshinori watches after him with a concerned frown, "Oh? Shouldn't we get you tucked in-"

"Exactly," the recovering teacher cuts him off, "I'll be sleeping on the couch tonight, you take the bed." He watches warily as the taller hero stands as well, and quickly cuts him off again, quelling the self-sacrificing protest he can already see forming on those shadowed brows, "Don't even start. You heard Recovery Girl, your back needs some proper support. I'll be fine." Aizawa leans in closer as Yagi draws near, and gently nudges against his side with a hip and shoulder. "Really. Please, I'm getting drowsy."

Toshinori throws up his hands in a little placating surrender, and bustles about for a moment to pull the cushions off and unfurl the thin, rickety mattress he'd been trying to fit onto since Shouta's arrival. "You're sure?" He glances over his shoulder at his guest again, who nods in a double confirmation, "All right... but..." Yagi trails off again and shrugs uncomfortably, leaving the unspoken invitation to switch back later on, hanging in the air between them as he stalks down the hallway to grab the extra pillows from the bed, then sets them up in the throne-like configuration against the back of the couch. At the last minute, he notices the discarded towel, and swoops in to hang it in the bathroom to dry. By the time he returns, Aizawa has already shuffled up into the middle of the make-shift configuration, and has started to knee his way in under the thin blanket. Yagi smiles fondly and helps to tuck him in the rest of the way, making sure his casts are propped up and elevated to either side, before he pauses at the balcony door, locking it with a hesitant glance back as he flips the overhead light off. "You want these blinds open? The stars are decent tonight." But Shouta only shrugs vaguely, too tired to stay awake much longer, nonetheless do any stargazing.

The weary host sighs and leaves the blinds half-drawn as a compromise, then wanders off down the hall to gratefully re-claim his own bed for the night. He stretches his legs out with a sigh of relief, and nestles into the one remaining pillow with a deep inhale, realizing with a little twist in his gut that the smell greeting him is that same one he'd recalled in the bathroom stall after the charged subway ride that morning- that unique signature of his conditioner, mixed with musk, graphite, and something slightly minty... the combination scent which his brain has learned to think of as Shouta. Rather than fueling some feverish fantasy this time, the now-familiar scent is comforting instead, and Yagi lets his eyes fall shut as he soaks it in, wondering if his treasured guest out on the couch might be going through something similar.

Chapter 13 - Chapter 14

#boku no hero academia #My Hero Academia #bnha fanfiction #Erasermight #BEGT #Behind Every Great Teacher #my writing

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dreville · 7 years

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You are not alone

This is for the March trope challenge issued by the @hprarepairnet and the @slytherdornet. The pairing is Draco and Neville, the trope is Care Bear Stare (although it is more appropriately a combo of You Are Not Alone and You are Better Than You Think You Are, but neither of those are specifically love tropes). Fanfic, 5k words, general audience. This is chapter 5 of ?. Previous chapter is HERE.

Since the chapter is 5k words, I put the rest after the jump:

A lot of unbelievable things have happened to Neville in his life, but standing on the streets of London being hugged very tightly by Draco Malfoy had to be in the top 5. He took a deep breath, thinking about the look in Draco’s eyes right before he’d launched himself in Neville’s arms. He’d been overwhelmed by the praise Neville had given him. Like he’d never had a sincere compliment before. It made him want nothing more than for Draco to be showered with praise, always. That he wanted this for a boy that he used to fear and loathe, just went to show how topsy turvy the war had made everything.

Neville took another deep breath, but this time was distracted by the scent of Draco’s hair. He wanted so much to kiss Draco again, but he’d been serious earlier about not wanting to get in trouble with the muggle police.

Neville glanced around, and saw the Hopping Pot a block down. He hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going, but they must have doubled back after the park. He murmured into Draco’s ear. “Draco? How about I buy you a drink this time.”

Draco pulled away, he could tell reluctantly. Neville pointed to the pub’s sign. Draco nodded, his smiled subdued. They went back inside, and this time they both ordered fire whiskeys. Draco was very quiet. Neville wondered if he felt embarrassed by his display of emotion. He tried to think of a topic of conversation. “You know, it’s interesting that we both felt the first spark of feeling for someone at the Yule Ball. I wonder why that is.”

Draco’s smile grew a little. “I think for me it was because it felt like we were taking a significant step into adulthood. Dress robes, dancing. There is a formality and grace to it.”

“That makes sense. I really loved the dancing. I stepped on Ginny’s toes a few times before I got it right. I loved it so much, I didn’t want the night to end.”

“Did you dance with Fred?”

Neville shook his head. “He spent the whole time glaring at Cedric and trying to dance with Angelina in as filthy a manner as he could get away with under Professor McGonagall’s watchful eye. Looking back, I think his strategy was flawed. If he’d been dancing with another boy, I think that would have set Cedric off for sure.”

“That makes sense. A girl isn’t a threat because there’s no interest there.” Draco paused for a bit. “I didn’t dance with Blaise either, he still didn’t know I was alive then. It’s a shame. Such a romantic setting, and neither of us got to experience actual romance.”

Neville gazed at him. “I’d love to go to a ball with you. I bet you look incredible in dress robes.”

Draco adopted a conceited smirk and ran his fingers through his white blonde hair. “Well, how do I respond to that without sounding immodest?”

Neville grinned. “I’m serious. With your build and your features, you’re the epitome of elegance. Even with your suit off you’d be elegant.”

Draco raised his eyebrows, “With my suit off? Elegantly naked?”

Neville flushed red. “I…uh…bloody hell. I meant you’d look elegant even in a t-shirt and jeans.”

Draco snickered. “I know what you meant. I just wanted you to picture me naked.”

“It…worked.” Neville sipped his fire whiskey, trying to regain his composure by thinking about something benign, like plants. His thoughts fell on the flowering plant that Roselyn had donated to Hogwarts. This made him remember something he’d shoved to the back of his mind. “The Restoration Ball!” He stared over at Draco. “I’d completely forgotten about it. It’s in two weeks.” The Restoration Ball was being held a few weeks before term started as a thank you to all the folks who contributed in some way to getting Hogwarts rebuilt. When he got the invitation, he debated with himself for a few days, but ultimately decided not to go. He was afraid it would just make him feel even lonelier.

Draco’s expression was inscrutable. “Ah yes, I’d forgotten about that as well. I got an invite because we donated money to refurbish the Slytherin dungeons. I threw it in the trash immediately.”

“Because you didn’t have someone you could take?”

“That, and because literally everyone there would hate me.”

Neville frowned. “None of your friends are going to be there?”

Draco gazed at him, sadly. “I thought you might have figured it out when I talked about why I no longer wanted to see Blaise. You see, my new outlook on life after coming back from China has had a rather drastic effect on my social life. I’m kind of in a no man’s land right now. I’ve always been hated by people I was cruel to growing up, which was pretty much any house that wasn’t Slytherin. I was hated by even more people after becoming a Death Eater. And now, the few friends I had left hate me for being a blood traitor. Literally the only people on earth who want to have anything to do with me are my parents and Cassandra. And now you.” He said the last bit, softly.

Neville felt a constriction in his chest. “Merlin’s beard, Draco.” He had to fix this for Draco. People needed to realize that he’s changed and give him a second chance. “Why don’t you come to the ball with me. It’d be a chance for people to see that you’re different now.”

Draco shook his head. “I don’t think I can face that many unfriendly faces at once. There’s going to be a lot of people. I can deal with something like a quidditch match, where I can ignore everyone but the game and the person with me. But a ball involves a lot of socializing.”

Neville worried his lower lip with his finger, thinking for a few moments. Then he had an idea. “I know! Let’s go to the Burrow tonight. Spend a couple of hours with my friends and let them get to know the new you. I already know Harry will meet you halfway, because of how you and your mother helped him. They’re good people, capable of forgiveness. Even Ron. And if you survive tonight, then when we go to the ball, people will see the Weasleys being friendly to you and know that something’s changed. What do you say?” Draco looked pensive, and didn’t give him an answer. “Please, Draco. I really want to take you to the ball. And not just because I want to see you in dress robes. I…I can’t stand the idea of you being isolated. You need to get back out there in society. Your transformation has given me hope for healing, and I think it would do the same for others.”

Draco drained the rest of his fire whiskey, then held up his glass for another. “Neville, there’s something I need to tell you.” He took a deep breath. “I’m really touched that you want to mend the rift between me and the wizarding community. But it doesn’t matter. Even if people do forgive me, I’m not going to be around for the healing to happen.” He looked up at Neville, something like regret in his eyes. “I’m going to America. Cass goes back next week to spend some time with her family, and then in a little over a month, I’ll be joining her.”

Neville stared at Draco in confusion, then his eyes went wide as he thought he understood what Draco was saying. “You’re not…you’re not actually going to do what your father wants?”

Draco frowned. “What? You mean marry Cass? Merlin, no! I meant Ilvermorney. I’m going to be the apprentice to the Potions Master.” He sighed. “When Cass came to visit a month ago, I was at the lowest, most lonely point I’d ever been. She was like a breath of fresh air. The wizards in America have heard of Voldemort and they knew about the war going on here, but they didn’t pay attention to details. She had no idea about death eaters or our role in the war or any of it. I was a completely blank slate to her. I began to daydream about going to a place where I’d be a blank slate to everyone.

One day we were chatting about our respective schools and our favorite classes. I mentioned that I’d always had an aptitude for potions. She said that she didn’t like her potions master, he was too cranky and needed to retire. His apprentice was much better, but at the end of term last year he suddenly got married and move to California. They’ve been scrambling to find someone to replace him, but it’s been difficult because the potion master is notoriously hard to get along with.” Draco drained his second glass of fire whiskey, set it down and pushed it away. “On impulse, I wrote the school and said I was interested in the post. They reached out to Professor Slughorn for his opinion of my skills. Apparently he was reluctant, but consulted Snape’s portrait in the Headmaster’s office and decided to give me a good recommendation. They gave me the position. August 27 is when term starts.”

Neville felt more and more crushed as Draco told his story. Draco was leaving. In a matter of weeks he’d be gone. An entire ocean away. Neville’s dreams of courtship had been stupid after all. Draco never had any intention of getting serious with him. His voice trembling with hurt, he asked “Why did you agree to go out with me if you’re leaving, Draco? Am I some sort of last hurrah? Because I’ll tell you right now that I’m not into that. I don’t do casual flings.”

Draco shook his head, his eyes widening. “I’m not into that either. Look, I know I shouldn’t have said yes. I realized you were someone that could be very special to me, and the timing of this really sucked, so I should have just said no rather than start something that was doomed. But I couldn’t help myself. It was the first time in years someone that I was attracted to showed an interest in me and I couldn’t ignore it. I was worried that if I didn’t go out with you, then I’d go to America unable to stop thinking of you and wondering what might have been. I reckoned it was better to go out on the date, since it would probably end up a disaster anyway.”

Neville frowned. “You thought our date would be a disaster?”

Draco shrugged. “You hated me for years, Neville, and for good reason. I guess I figured at some point you’d remember it and we’d end up hexing each other right there at the quidditch match. I’d then go to America with a clear mind. Except that’s not how it turned out. Instead we’ve just spent a delightful evening not hexing each other and now I feel awful because it’s going to come to an end.”

Neville felt better that Draco hadn’t planned to just use him and throw him away, but he still felt cold at the idea of him leaving. “Does it have to come to an end? Can’t you just change your mind and not go?”

Draco shook his head. “I’m committed for the school year. I can’t leave them in the lurch without an apprentice.”

Neville’s pulse quickened. “Just for this school year? What happens after the year is over?”

Draco shrugged. “It’s meant to be a trial period to see how well I get along with the potions master. He’s known for being picky and typically goes through several apprentices before he settles on one he likes. I don’t have a Plan B if the apprenticeship falls apart, but the possibilities are endless. I could stay on in America and figure things out.”

“Or you could come back to England,” Neville said insistently.

Draco gave him a rueful smile. “Well, that wasn’t an option I’d considered since I didn’t expect there to be anything to come back to.”

“But there is now. Or there will be.” Neville gave him a determined look. “I have one month to do whatever it takes to convince you that you will want to come back to England. I accept the challenge.”

Draco stared at him in amazement, and then chuckled. “You are such a Gryffindor.”

Neville threw down a couple of galleons on the bar and held out his hand. “Come with me to the Burrow. We don’t want to waste another second. A month is a very short time for a courtship.”

Draco blinked at him. “Courtship? Are you courting me?”

Neville continued to hold out his hand and gazed intently at Draco. “I am if you want me to.” With a dazed smile, Draco put his hand in Neville’s, and they immediately disapparated.

They arrived just outside the perimeter of the Burrow. There were enchantments in place to keep intruders out, but clearly they were expected because they walked down the lane without any resistance. When they were close to the house, Draco stopped Neville. “Promise me you won’t leave my side? I don’t want to be alone with any of them.”

Neville squeezed his hand. “I promise.”

“Also, I..I’d like you to kiss me again. No muggle police around now to arrest us for indecency.”

Neville’s lips curved in a smile, and he reached over and grasped the lapels of Draco’s suit jacket and pulled him in. Neville leaned his head down and captured Draco’s lips with his. As they kissed, he let go of the lapels and reached up to run his fingers through Draco’s silky soft hair. Draco made a sound against Neville’s lips and pulled him closer. Draco was so responsive to him that Neville found himself thinking of what else he would respond to. But it was too soon for that. He lifted his head, breaking the kiss. “I think we better go in, now.”

“Maybe wait just a moment to cool off,” Draco said in a shaky voice. Neville nodded his agreement. They both took several deep breaths, and then finally went up to the door and knocked. It flew open immediately, enchanted to open for visitors that are welcome. They stepped inside and saw Weasleys scattered around the living room, and spilling over to the dining room and kitchen.

“Neville?” He glanced over and saw Ginny bound up to him, grinning ear to ear. He opened his arms and she gave him a big hug. “I’m so glad to see you. I heard you made it to my game. What did you think?”

“It was brilliant of course. I felt a bit bad for Wood, you were relentless.” Ginny laughed, her cheeks red. “Draco was pretty impressed with your strategy. He was telling me all about it.”

Ginny’s smile faltered and she looked over at Draco. Neville was apprehensive, knowing that Ginny hated Draco’s father. Harry told Neville all about Tom Riddle’s diary, and how Lucius was the one responsible. Ginny nodded politely. “Draco. I’m glad you enjoyed the game. Even though I heard you were rooting for Puddlemere.” She folded her arms, lifting her chin.

Draco smiled ruefully. “It’s always been my favorite team. I have to say though, if they were going to lose, at least it was to a worthy opponent. You really are very talented, I can see why the Harpies snapped you up. I’m pretty sure they only won because of you.”

Ginny blushed even more. “Well, thank you.” She dropped her arms to her side.

Draco raised one eyebrow. “I do have to ask you one thing... Given that Oliver Wood used to play with your brother and Harry…I’m wondering, did either of them give you inside tips on how to defeat him?”

Ginny’s mouth dropped open. Oh crap, Neville thought. What was Draco doing? Was he going to offend the very first person he encounters at this party?

But then Ginny burst out laughing, her expression slightly guilty. “Of course Harry didn’t, he’s much too honorable. But yeah, George gave me a few pointers.” She shrugged.

Draco nodded approvingly. “All’s fair in love and quidditch. I would have thought less of you if you didn’t take advantage.”

She shook her head and laughed again. “Well, if I ever play against any of your former team mates, can I count on you for some tips?”

“Absolutely.” Draco grinned.

She nodded slowly, and Neville could see her assessing him. “Well, have fun you two.” Then she flitted off.

Neville breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh man, I thought we were done for right out the gate.”

Draco linked his arm through Neville’s. “Sorry, I had to know. It was bugging me all night.”

Neville suddenly felt a hand clap onto his shoulder. He looked back and saw it was George, who had his other hand on Draco’s shoulder. “Hello Neville, Draco.” George’s tone of voice was dripping with mischief. “You know, Ron’s been telling me that you’re practically married to your job as an Auror. And what better way to consummate the marriage then by shagging a death eater.”

Neville tensed and quickly turned around to face George. “He’s not a death eater anymore,” he said earnestly.

George chuckled. “I know that, you gullible bastard, I’m just having a go. Ron told me all about the horrible mangled mess on Malfoy’s arm where the dark mark used to be.” Neville relaxed slightly as George winked at Draco. “Let’s see it, then.”

Draco, who had looked angry at being called a death eater again, was now bewildered. “Excuse me?”

“The scar. I have to see it. You know you want to show it off.” George waggled his eyebrows.

Still looking discombobulated, but now fighting a laugh, Draco pulled his sleeve up. George’s face was rapturous. “That is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen. You’ve completely obliterated it. Take that, Voldy! You old pile of ashes! I can see why Neville’s drawn to you, Draco. Everyone loves a good scar. It even worked for Bill. I sometimes wish I hadn’t grown my ear back. I could have pulled loads of girls if I’d kept it looking like a gnarled stump. I mean, hearing is overrated anyway, right?”

Draco laughed, and he stared at George like he wasn’t sure what to make of him. Neville chuckled, “George’s gallows humor is legendary. It takes some getting used to.”

George shrugged. “It’s the quickest way to sort out the boring people. If someone is put off by my jokes, then we’re probably not going to get along.”

Draco cleared his throat. “I..uh, I’m actually glad for it. I’m a bit nervous being here, so it kind of broke the ice for me.”

“Nervous? Don’t be. As long as you treat Neville the way he deserves, we won’t have to lock you up with the family ghoul.”

Draco looked up at Neville. “I’m in trouble, then, because I think he deserves way better than me.”

“Good answer!” George clapped him on the back hard, causing Draco to stumble a bit. “I’m gonna get you two drinks. Your hands have been empty too long and you know how Mother gets if we’re not bombarding our guests with refreshments. I’ll be back in two flicks of a wand.” He bounded away towards the kitchen.

Draco blew out his breath. “Well, that was an experience. Was Fred like that?”

Neville nodded. “Very much. But they weren’t exactly alike, I could tell the difference.”

“Was it difficult to be around George after Fred died?”

Neville nodded again. “After the funeral, I pretty much avoided the whole family for awhile, except for Ron, of course, since I worked with him. And it was a long time till I could bring myself to go to Diagon Alley. I mean, their shop has a giant statue of their likeness. But eventually it got better. Time heals all wounds.”

“Well, not all wounds.” They turned at the voice and saw Bill standing there. He was smiling and pointing towards the scars on his face.

Neville gave him a hug. Then he introduced Bill to Draco. Draco shook his hand. “Are you the one who works with dragons?”

Bill shook his head. “No, that’s Charlie. I didn’t get these from a dragon. It was a werewolf named Fenrir Greyback.” Neville saw Draco’s smile fade and all color left his already pale face.

Draco took a shuddering breath. “Greyback did that to you?”

Bill nodded. “You knew him, didn’t you?”

Draco blinked several times, looking ill. “He spent a lot of time at Malfoy Manor. But I didn’t get to know him. Whenever he was around, I bolted myself in my room.”

Neville felt sick. “I can’t believe your father let a beast like that into his home, around his son.”

Draco looked away. “I’d say what I did was much worse. I let that beast into Hogwarts.”

Neville exchanged glances with Bill. He knew that Bill received his scars that same night, defending the astronomy tower. Bill shook his head imperceptibly. He didn’t want Draco to know. Bill cleared his throat. “Well, that beast was defeated by none other than this young man right here.”

Draco turned his head back to face them. “I know,” he said feelingly. He gazed at Neville, the same way he had the day before when he was praising Neville for his courage. Neville’s cheeks reddened. Bill just raised his eyebrows.

George came back with their drinks. He had Harry with him. “Blimey, that’s the most ardent look of hero worship I’ve ever seen. We may need to hose him down. What brought this on?”

Bill chuckled. “We were just talking about how Neville defeated Greyback.”

“Oh, that old news. I thought maybe you’d done something recent. Hey Bill, have you seen what remains of Draco’s dark mark? It looks revolting. I almost vomited. Show him, Draco.”

Draco looked exasperated and Harry laughed. “Looks like it’s your turn, Malfoy. I had to put up with everyone staring at my scar for year.” Draco rolled his eyes and pulled up his sleeve.

Bill gave an appreciative whistle. “That looks like it might be worse than the burn mark on Charlie’s leg. Hey, Charlie.” Charlie looked up from stuffing a mince pie in his mouth. He ambled over. “Show us the burn on your leg. We’re comparing scars.”

Charlie chuckled and complied. “I got this one at the triwizard tournament, when I was trying to wrangle that Ridgeback.” The patch on his leg was definitely almost as red and scarred as Draco’s arm. “I’m still not sure how Harry escaped without a mark on him.”

Harry shook his head. “Well, it helped that I was running away from the dragon.”

Molly popped her head out of the kitchen and said that she needed George, Bill, and Charlie to get something out of the attic for her. They went ambling off and it was just Neville, Harry, and Draco. Draco turned to Harry and cleared his throat. “Harry, um…I was wondering if you and I could have lunch some time and talk? I…I’d really like to know more about my cousin Sirius. I’ve tried to ask my mother, but she didn’t know him. Most of the family avoided him out of embarrassment that he was a blood traitor. But now he’s the only member of my family I have something in common with.”

Harry smiled softly. “I’d be happy to tell you all about him. Although honestly I think you have more in common with Regulus.”

Draco’s face, which had started to brighten, fell in vexation. “You mean because we were both death eaters?”

Harry quickly shook his head. “No! I mean yes, but not just that. It’s not widely known, but before he died, Regulus renounced his allegiance to Voldemort. It’s an amazing story and I think you will be pretty proud of your cousin once you hear it.”

Draco’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? I had no idea. Yes, I would absolutely love to hear more.”

“How about tomorrow? The Leaky Cauldron?” Draco nodded and beamed at Harry. Neville felt an odd prick of jealousy, but squelched it. This was exactly what he wanted. Healing for Draco.

Neville glanced over and saw Arthur approaching. He suddenly felt more anxious than ever. Neville had gotten to know him pretty well since they both worked at the Ministry and sometimes had lunch together. Arthur was very kind, gentle, even jovial with everyone he met. But when it came to his family, he did not suffer fools. Given how much they had suffered either directly or indirectly at the hands of both the Malfoys and Blacks, Neville couldn’t say for sure just what Arthur might do. He didn’t always agree with his wife, so the fact that Molly had included Draco in the invitation to the Burrow didn’t mean that the patriarch would be just as welcoming.

Arthur stopped in front of him and smiled gently. “Neville, it’s so good to see you here at the Burrow again. Welcome back.” He reached out for a hug. Neville embraced him back. So far so good.

Arthur then turned to Draco and held out his hand. “Welcome to the Burrow, Draco. I trust that my children have been pleasant to you, so far?”

Draco smiled tentatively and shook Arthur’s hand. “Yes, sir. Everyone is being very kind.”

“Then I take it you haven’t seen Ron, yet. It may be best to give him a wide berth this evening. I hear that you spent time in China recently.” At Draco’s nod, Arthur’s eyebrows knit together in a curious frown. “I was wondering if you could tell me just what exactly chopsticks are to be used for?”

Draco’s lips twitched again into a smile. “They’re eating utensils, sir. Like a fork, but requires a bit more finesse to hold.”

Arthur nodded, fascinated. “And your parents? Are they well?”

Draco gave him a stunned look. “I…I…my parents?” Looking extremely discomfited, he said, “Forgive me, sir. I know you’re just trying to make polite conversation with a guest, but I don’t think I can respond pretending that you actually care about the answer.” He held Arthur’s gaze with as much dignity as he could muster.

Neville tensed. He couldn’t really blame Draco. It had seemed that Arthur was going to stick to small talk, but then quickly changed course. He watched as Arthur regarded Draco for a few moments, a small smile playing about his lips. “I quite understand why you would think so. Certainly in the past I wouldn’t have cared if the earth opened up and swallowed Lucius Malfoy whole. We are complete opposites in every way that matters except one – we are both fathers.” Arthur blew out a sigh. “One thing about war, it really reveals our priorities. And I respected the choice your father made at the Battle of Hogwarts.”

Draco looked away, huffing, “It was too little, too late.”

Arthur’s eyes tinged with sadness. “Ah. I think I have my answer, then. Your parents are not doing well.” Draco looked back at Arthur, scowling. “You see, I know all too much what it’s like to have a son estranged from me.” He glanced Percy’s way. “Hopefully someday you will reconcile.”

Draco’s expression was defiant. “I wouldn’t hold your breath, sir. I’m not as sure as you seem to be that he really cares about me all that much. If he did, he wouldn’t be constantly pestering me to continue the Malfoy name.” Neville could tell that he was striving for control, but it was obvious that the topic of his father was a touchy one.

Arthur smiled bemusedly. “You’re angry because he wants grandchildren?”

Draco’s lips tightened. “Sir, you had a gay son. Surely you understand why that would be a source of contention.”

Arthur nodded contemplatively. “Fred and I only discussed it once, but I do remember him telling me he wished he could pass the Weasley hair on to his kids.” Arthur chuckled at the memory. “I guess it’s fortunate that I’m so fascinated by muggle practices. I showed him an article in a muggle medical journal about artificial insemination. They really are quite inventive!”

Draco stared at him in bewilderment. “Artificial what?” Neville felt his tension melt away as he tried not to smile. He knew what this was about. Fred had told him.

Arthur smiled brightly. “Insemination. I bet Hermione knows all about it, her parents are in the medical field. Oh, Hermione?” Harry, who had been standing by silently as they talked, put his hand up to his mouth, trying to stifle a grin. Neville wasn’t sure what was funny.

Hermione looked up from her conversation with Ginny and came over. “Yes, Mr. Weasley?”

He put his arm around her. “Your parents are dentists. Tell me, have they ever performed artificial insemination on a surrogate mother?” Harry choked with laughter, pressing his hand harder against his mouth, his face turning beet red.

Hermione gaped at Arthur, unable to speak for a moment. Then she finally managed to say, “Teeth, Mr. Weasley. I’ve told you before, they only work on teeth. No other parts of the body. Just. Teeth.”

Harry no longer tried to contain himself. He roared with laughter, tears streaming down his face. Hermione giggled and gave Arthur, who looked befuddled, a kiss on the cheek. Draco was thoroughly confused, and Neville promised to explain later, laughing too hard to attempt it at the moment. Draco rolled his eyes, but grinned in response to the infectious laughter. Neville started to feel more at ease and hopeful that his plan, to show Draco that he was no longer alone, was going to work. It was nothing less than what he deserved.

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