#and then we came to this plant archway but the way was blocked by a bush about waist high | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bee-dot-exe · 5 months

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Hey @totallynotbat, happy gift exchange day, I know we haven't talked much, but thanks for letting me write for you, I don't know this is exactly what you had in mind, but I hope you like it! And thank you @technoblade-gift-exchange for putting this together, also haven't talked a whole lot, but I appreciate you, I had fun! I hope you all enjoy!

Emerald

1,933

It's kinda sad, but it's also kinda sweet, no major warnings otherwise

A thin quilt covered the earth. Sections of saffron like the edges around a bruise, and burgundy trying to compete with a glass of wine, and sepia as the chlorophyll bled out with the final remnants of summer. A patchwork blanket of color like a kaleidoscope around and beneath me.

The occasional sector of basil melting into olive grass playing a game of peek-a-boo in the areas of earth where the blanket felt shy. Stray sticks of paper that lollipops once clung to and wrappers that once surrounded a piece of chocolate taking turns with the leaves in leading a waltz as the breeze lead its orchestra.

Dia de los Muertos.

Flyers with information on the day of celebration or stories made in spirit of the holiday were taped by the corners onto the sides of buildings or tacked onto signs made of oak or cork still hung from yesterday.

Posters with each island residents' face made with white paint to look like skeletons rested on pastel backgrounds, and were hung by two pieces of wood held together by a spring on rows of thick spiderweb and string, both of their ideal intended use was for holding clothes to keep dry, connected between two trees.

I let my feet guide me through the nearly ankle deep river of color, a series of rather satisfying crunches emitting from my path, which gradually changed to slabs of pastel blocks, which lead me to an archway that looked to be made of quartz.

Lanterns with flames dyed scarlet and lemon and cerulean hung on silver chains and rested overhead.

More banners made of spiderweb, with sections of cloth or perhaps tissue paper hung in the colors of the rainbow and then some, and supported by two thin stalks of wood which were placed on either side of the archway.

I walked through. There was a decoration every time I shifted my eyes or turned my head.

Lanterns, pots with flowers planted in them, flyers with short stories, a giant rainbow papier mâché amalgamation of animals.

I heard footsteps fade from crunching leaves beneath them to tapping as they reached the smooth surface of the pastel path. The person they belonged to coming up behind me and then standing at my side.

"Oy."

"How's it going, Fit?"

"Not bad, not bad."

"Heard I missed out yesterday, sorry about that."

"No worries, but yeah, hell of a day. Come on, I'll show you around."

Bits of tissue paper streamers were strewn about on the ground, some still dancing as they fell from the trees around us, occasionally getting caught in the branches on their journey.

A stray candy wrapper sometimes blew by like a tumbleweed, a few getting stuck in a group of leaves that had gathered in places around where the event was held.

"So I'm sure you heard about the eggs that stopped by."

"I did. Real shame I missed them."

"It is, and I know it's not the same, but you can visit their offrenda's over here, say hello, tell them you miss them, whatever."

"Lead the way, mate."

First we visited Juanaflippa.

Her alter had rows of potted lilacs and pink alliums lined up at the sides, and a few more pots scattered around the center.

A dozen or so pink candles were settled on the steps, some inside of skulls as a holder, most by themselves.

There was a shield, a few different swords, a couple of green apples, and some empty pink signs.

In the center of the alter was a painting of her wearing her glasses sitting in a gold frame.

I took a piece of flint and steel and relit the candles that had become flickering sparks of orange and thin plumes of smoke.

"Hey Juanaflippa.

Hope you're doing well. I don't know if that was really you that came back to visit us, I think maybe this means probably not, but I don't know.

Your dad really misses you, we all do, but your dad's a bit of a mess right now, more so than usual. Things are a bit off for him, physically and emotionally, not gonna lie.

We all miss you so much. We miss your little glasses and your backflips.

I hope you're doing alright, wherever you are."

Next was Bobby.

His alter had rows of potted turquoise flowers along the sides, along with a few violet and red ones, and a handful of the aquamarine ones in pots scattered around the center.

A dozen or so royal blue candles sat on the steps, some in skulls as a holder, most by themselves.

There were a couple of tridents, a gun, and some empty blue signs.

In the center of the alter was a painting of him wearing his denim overalls sitting in a gold frame.

I took a piece of flint and steel and relit the candles that had become flickering sparks of orange and thin plumes of smoke.

"Hey there Bobby.

Sorry I missed you yesterday. I hope you're doing alright.

Your parents miss you so much. I can tell your apa is sad sometimes, but he doesn't really show it, he doesn't show that side of him with anyone though, you're probably not all that surprised. He seems happy when he's with Cellbit though, you're probably not super surprised about that either. Your mom also gets kinda sad, but she's doing okay otherwise I think. Did you know she had wings? You'd like them.

We miss you, buddy. Your little dungarees and you giving us those blue flowers.

I hope you're doing good out there."

Then Tilín.

Her alter had rows of potted lilacs and some other red flowers along the sides, and some of the red ones in pots around the center.

A dozen or so crimson candles were settled on the steps, some in skulls as a holder, most by themselves.

There were some feathers, a piece of cake, a block of dynamite, and some empty red signs.

In the center of the alter was a painting of them with that little red bow on top of her head sitting in a gold frame.

I took a piece of flint and steel and relit the candles that had become flickering sparks of orange and thin plumes of smoke.

"Hi Tilín.

Hope you're alright.

Your dad doesn't talk about you a lot, I'll be honest, but it's not because he doesn't care about or miss you, he just doesn't know how to show or talk about things sometimes.

But he misses you so much, we all do. Your little ribbon and giving us red flowers.

I hope you're okay out there."

And finally Trumpet.

His alter had rows of potted daffodils and some other red and yellow flowers, some of both kinds were also scattered in the center.

A dozen or so yellow candles were settled on the steps, some in skulls as a holder, most by themselves.

There were some books, a few spiderwebs, and some empty yellow signs.

In the center of the alters was a painting of him with his propeller hat sitting in a gold frame.

I took a piece of flint and steel and relit the candles that had become flickering sparks of orange and thin plumes of smoke.

"Hey Trump.

I'm really sorry I missed you yesterday. But you weren't alone. There were so many people here for you.

I heard that even your dad was here. I'm sorry not everyone was there for you before and if you felt alone, no one deserves that, no matter their age. You didn't deserve what happened to you.

We all miss you and your little rainbow propeller hat so much.

I hope you're alright wherever you are. I hope you're happy. I hope you never feel alone again."

"Oh, sorry Fit, to be honest, kinda forgot you were here for a minute there."

I said as I heard a throat clear behind me.

"No worries, no worries, didn't wanna interrupt anything, thank you for saying those things though, I think they needed it, I think you kinda needed it too."

"Yeah, that felt kinda nice, thanks for bringing me by."

"I uh, I actually have one more thing to show you, if you'll follow me."

"Yeah, I'm really glad I uh, oh---"

We walked up to a set of red wooden stairs. An alter. An offrenda.

And in the center was a painting in a gold frame of a person wearing a skull with tusks, had long pink hair, a fuzzy red cape with white at the neck, and a crown.

Technoblade.

"Oh my God, dude, really?"

Fit just slowly nodded.

We stood and stared for a minute.

"Hey Fit, could you do me a favor?"

I reached for the camera in its bag around my neck.

"Yeah I gotcha."

There were rows of different leaves and potted flowers in blue and red along the side, and a few red and pink flowers in the center.

There were about a dozen white candles, all of them were lit.

There was a diamond sword, an emerald, a totem, a skull, an ender pearl, a crown, and a potato around the painting.

"I gotta leave something, hold on, do you have an anvil by chance?"

"I gotcha covered."

Both of our voices shook slightly.

Fit put down the anvil and I made a name tag, Toothpick, which I put on a diamond pickaxe, and placed that on the step between the totem and sword.

"This was really nice."

"It was really thoughtful."

"They really didn't have to do this."

"Yeah."

"Can I ask you for one more thing?"

"Of course."

"Can I have a second alone with him?"

"Take all the time you want, buddy."

I heard the leaves crunch as Fit's footsteps retreated and sat down on the ground in front of the alter. I brushed my fingers along blades of grass and the petals of one of the pink flowers in a pot beside me. I finally let the tears stuck to my waterline fall.

"Hey mate.

Has it really been almost a year and a half? That feels impossible.

There isn't a moment where you aren't on my mind. You're on a lot of people's minds. You'd probably be flattered though, make some kind of probably sarcastic comment, prick.

Wish you came by yesterday, maybe you did, who knows. Wish I was there to see if you did or not. Wish you could hear me telling you this right now, maybe you can, it's probably not impossible.

Chayanne, that egg kid of mine you maybe have heard me talk about, your nephew. You're his hero. And he's so much like you. I wish you could meet him.

I honestly don't know which of you is better at pvp, you both can put up a fight until the last second, you're both stubborn as all get out, and you both could win.

And Tallulah, Wilbur's egg, she's been staying with me since he had to go do his music and things, she knows about and admires you too.

You'd go kinda soft on her, guaranteed, she'd win you over. She'd give you poppies and play you music and make you laugh.

We all miss you, so goddamn much, take care wherever you are, okay Tech?"

After the tears on my face had dried and it felt like it had been quiet for long enough, I put my hand on the bottom step next to the pick one last time as a send off, then went through the archway to find Fit.

#mcyt #qsmp #ph1lza #technoblade #fanfic #creative writing #techno gift exchange

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sunflowerstache · 3 years

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Did You Order a Pizza?

Halloween 2020 is filled with lots of surprises for the Styles family

A/N: Hi lovelies! I hope you had. great Halloween and you're feeling alright these days! This is a one shot following the family from my pic Another World, which you can find here! I hope you enjoy it and I cannot wait to hear all your thoughts!! I love y'all!

Word Count: 7.6k

~~~

“And you’re sure he’s back?”

“You heard him on the phone. He’ll be waiting for Jeff so you’ve got plenty of time while he waits for the man to not show up.” Glenne smiled at you from her spot in the driver’s seat. “Although, I think he’ll like who does show up instead.”

Harry had left for Los Angeles so that he could begin filming a new Olivia Wilde film, leaving you and Bella in London. And as much as you’d have loved to join him on such a monumental step in his career from the start, you were unable to travel with him. Not only were you unable because your daughter was still in school at the time, but because of the pandemic that was still going on throughout the world. It prevented for most of the year’s plans to take place, which absolutely crushed Harry. He was looking forward to Love on Tour and showing his fans how much fun this new era was for him, more than you’d seen from him in a long time, but he would always put the safety of his fans before entertainment, so it was an easy choice to postpone. However, no tour meant that he could gladly accept a leading role in a film alongside some of the most well known actors in the industry.

But it only took you a few days after his departure to find out you couldn’t be so far from him. As fate would have it, Bella’s class was turning into online learning once the half term break ended, which meant one of the most important reasons you were still in London had vanished. So, after spending two weeks quarantining and making sure you took all the necessary precautions, both you and Bella got tested and flew to the states with your negative results. From the start, you had told Jeff of your plan and he and Glenne gladly welcomed you into their home once you arrived, wanting to spend time with Bella for a few days after going so long not seeing the toddler. And finally, once you got the negative results of yet another test, you and your daughter were off to stay with Harry.

Jeff had spoken with your boyfriend over FaceTime earlier that morning, feeding Harry some story about needing to solidify some merch designs, and making sure that Harry would be patiently waiting for his manager after he finished filming for the day. But the plan was to have Glenn drive Jeff’s car so he suspected nothing seeing it pull up, and surprise him when it was you and Bella getting out the car instead of the oldest Azoff son.

“I can’t wait.” you groaned out through the grin taking over your face. You bounced in your seat slightly, pressing both hands to your cheeks just thinking about seeing his shocked face when he opened the door expecting Jeff, but seeing you and Bella instead.

“What?” The question was brought up after a soft chuckle was heard from Glenne’s side of the car as soon as you were halted at a stoplight.

“Nothing. It’s just cute how excited you are to see him after being apart for what, a month?”

“27 days.” you whispered, urging yourself to force down a smile. “But who’s counting?”

“You guys have been together nearly a decade, and you still get all flustered when you talk about him.”

The way you and Harry acted around one another was something that was always commented on by people in your inner circle, for that exact reason. Without a doubt, your relationship had gone through some of the toughest times, but that was bound to happen when you’ve been with someone since you were sixteen… and even more likely when every moment of your life was documented to the public. But those tough times never seemed to last, because at the end of the day, Harry was everything you ever wanted and vise versa. He was what you daydreamed about in a partner while growing up. And being with him was like being with the sun. He made you feel loved and cared for, you had more fun with him than anyone else on the planet, and every single day with him felt like a new adventure. As a kid, you’d thought the way people described the love of their life was corny, nothing but a thing of fairy tales, yet that feeling that bloomed inside your chest and tummy every time you thought about Harry told you that it was very real.

“Dunno.” you shrugged, “He’s my person. Even seven and half years later, he still makes me feel like he did on our first date.”

“That what’s got you looking extra glowy or is that just another secret to staying in the honeymoon phase forever?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” you replied quickly, finding it hard to keep the giddy feeling that was now bubbling in your lower stomach under control when you turned your head to meet her gaze. She was squinting at you with suspicious eyes, her lips pursed as she bit the inside of her cheek, which forced a laugh to fall from you. “What? I don’t! Just miss him, that’s all. Isn’t that right baby? We just missed daddy loads, huh?” making sure to quickly take the attention away from yourself, you turned as much as you could in your seat to look at Bella in the back.

“Yes! I miss daddy so much!” her little legs kicked against the carseat and her arms lifted high above her head, a huge smile plastered on her face. “I have so many drawings and stickers to show him and Mr. Jeff got new socks!”

“I know, we got them all tucked away nice and safe so you can show him. Do you remember what the plan is when we get there?” you asked her, your breath getting caught in your throat for a moment when the sun shined just right through the rear window. It was a perfect day in LA, sunny and warm and just as the car pulled onto the street you knew was where Harry was staying, the sunlight danced across Bella’s perfect complexion. She was a spitting image of her father, down to the freckles dotting her face, the deep set dimples that never seemed to disappear, and the curls constantly falling in front of her face no matter how hard you tried to keep them tamed. Every now and again you caught a glimpse, sometimes through the kitchen window while she was playing in the backyard and other times while her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks as she slept on your chest, of just how breathtaking Bella is. What angelic beauty the love between you and Harry had managed to create.

“Yeah mumma!” she smiled, giving you two thumbs up, very clearly excited about getting to see her dad again. “You ‘member my costume, right mumma?”

“Of course I did. Put it in the bag right next to mine.”

“Good. ‘Cause ‘m really ‘cited about it.”

“I know baby. It’s a good one, isn’t it?” you knew Harry would get a kick out of what Bella decided to be for Halloween. She had come to you months ago, actually sat you down in the kitchen and explained what she wanted to do like she was in a little business meeting. And of course as soon as she told you, you had to laugh because it was perfect.

“Yeah.”

Her whisper was the last thing said within the confines of the car before the three of you pulled up in front of a beautiful white house nestled deep in the Hollywood Hills. It was much smaller than the house the pair of you had just sold just blocks away, but everything about it was so much homier. A brick walkway sandwiched between a line of shrubbery and a white stone wall led up to the house, which itself was an odd shape. The very front of the house came up to an asymmetrical point instead of a typical flat roof, and the rest of the house was pushed back slightly, so that none of the face was level, and the house almost seemed cut in half horizontally from the distinct line between white stone bottom and black paneling on the upper level of the home. Finally, a brick downhill driveway, made of the same brick as the walkway, led to an all black garage that sat just below the rest of the home. The small details is what made the building give off such a cozy vibe; a vibrant green front door, plant boxes hanging off a few of the upper windows, a black wooden archway and lanterns surrounding the front door, a few potted plants on the side of the walkway, and the faint golden hues peaking through the closed blinds.

“Cute, huh?” Glenne laughed, putting the car in park and turning fully in her seat to look at you.

“Yeah, it actually really is. Reminds me a bit of our old place.”

“Place in London, right? That’s what I told Jeff.” she said at the same time, looking behind her at Bella while you got out of the car. “You ready to go, tulip?”

“Yes please!”

Her hands were already fumbling with the seat belt by the time you opened her door, the excitement itching at her in preparation for what was to come, but she graciously waited for you to sort her out.

“Thank you mumma.” she muttered casually once you had her unbuckled and lifted into your arms.

“You’re welcome, baby.” the way Bella was the most polite little girl you had ever known never failed to make your heart soar. You and Harry were so proud of the person she was becoming, whether she was that way because she saw how everyone in her life acted or because she was born with the kindest little soul, it didn’t matter. She always made sure the people around her were happy and having fun, constantly reminding people how much she loves them, and trying her hardest to make everyone laugh. It was yet another way she reminded you of Harry; they both could instantly light up a room without even trying. “Just gotta ring the bell, right? Say your line?”

“You got it, mumma!” she smiled brightly, leaning in to give you a quick kiss.

Nearly the instant you put her down, she darted up the brick steps, taking a full pause at each step to be her funny self and jump, with both feet together, up to the next one. As she made her way towards the front door, you took your place leaning against the passenger door of Glenne’s car, nearly doubling over in laughter watching Bella look hysterical lifting up on her very tiptoes in order to reach the unusually high doorbell.

Your breath caught in your throat as you waited for Harry to open the front door. For a minute, you were sure that he had ignored Jeff’s instructions to stay home, but to your relief, the green door finally opened, revealing a very comfortable looking Harry. He was very obviously post shower, his hair visibly wet and sparkling when the porch lights lit up his form, clad in a pair of black basketball shorts and one of his grey Treat People With Kindness hoodies, and nothing else but a tall pair of Nike socks. It was like a scene from a movie, because when he didn’t immediately see Jeff in front of him, Harry looked over towards the driveway quickly like he was being pranked. But within a second, his attention was brought down to Bella, who tugged on the hem of his shorts, her sweet voice barely audible from the distance.

“Did you get a pizza?”

It was comical to watch him just stare at her like she had three heads. You couldn’t blame him, last he knew, both you and Bella were five thousand miles away, so it made sense that his brain was not comprehending the scene in front of him.

“He’s so confused.” Glenne giggled behind you, but her voice seemed like it was muted with how fully your focus was on your boyfriend.

“Hmm.”

Not even a second after your hum of agreement, and as if it was in slow motion, you watched as realization glossed over his features, his green eyes widening and mouth hanging open, and he sank to his knees. It didn’t take him even a second to pull Bella into his chest, winding his arms completely around her tiny frame and cradling her head in his surprisingly ring free hands.

Seeing the two of them together was like looking at two halves of the same soul reconnect. The moment they were in one another’s arms, it was like everything got brighter. Their smiles widened, chuckles more audible - even from such a far distance, and the warmth that typically lived in your chest recently, burned even warmer. You always knew Harry was meant to be a dad, just from how much he talked about it. You knew that he would do his very best to go above and beyond for his child, to make sure they felt loved and secure and treasured. But hearing about it and seeing it are completely different. Seeing nothing but total adoration on his face whenever he looked at your daughter made you fall in love with him all over again.

“Mumma!” Bella’s shouted, snapping you out of the daze you had slipped into while watching the moment before you. Both Harry and Bella were now looking at you from the doorway, her head resting on her father’s shoulder as he held her in one arm, their faces totally engulfed with smiles. “C’mere Mumma!”

“Yeah mumma.” Harry finally spoke up, his voice carrying down the pathway right to where you were standing.”C’mere.” Just seeing him standing there, smiling so brightly and holding his free arm out telling you he was waiting for a hug, was enough to make you break out in a smile and push off the car, dashing up the steps.

His chest was firm when you crashed into it, much firmer than when you hugged him goodbye in the airport a few weeks ago, and you felt as if you head placement on his chest was different - like he’d grown since you last saw him. Or maybe he hadn’t changed at all but your mind was finally coming out of a month long fog that it slipped in without him, getting readjusted to being in his arms.

“Hi sweetheart.” he whispered in your ear, peppering kisses all along your hairline and temple like he physically couldn’t leave an inch of the side of your face untouched.

“Hi baby.”

“What’re you doing here?” he asked, pure wonder in his tone as he nudged the side of your face with his chin, making you lift your head from his chest and look at him. “I just talked to you this morning, said you were going to see your parents before everything got locked down again.”

“Yeah, well. I lied.” you smiled, leaning in to press kiss after kiss to his lips, trying your best to control the insane happiness rushing through your veins. Your response seemed to be enough for him, because he didn’t ask another question wondering why you were in LA. Which was good for you because your plan wasn’t to explain everything on the front porch.

The three of you stayed frozen in that same position, Harry’s arm so tight around you that your face was completely buried in his hoodie, and the other arm holding Bella, forming a makeshift group hug, not bothering to worry about anyone seeing you or anything going on past the wooden archway. Because nothing else mattered. Not when you were with the two people who made your world spin.

“Daddy.” Bella’s timid voice finally broke you apart, both you and Harry leaning back a bit so that you could put your full attention on the little girl in his arms.

“Yes lovie?”

“I lied too.”

“What did you lie about?”

She lifted her head from his shoulder in order to look at him with a very concerned expression, like she felt deeply sorry for whatever she was about to say to him. “I don’t have a pizza. ‘M sorry. Mumma told me it was funny.”

“Oh did she now?” Harry mocked in offence, looking back at you and raising his eyebrows.

“Mhm. But it wasn’t, ‘cause we don’t have any.”

“That’s right. But sometimes it’s okay to say something silly like that and not feel bad as long as it’s not something to hurt anyone, right? And daddy isn’t mad. How about you mumma?” Harry looked to you, trying not to smile at how adorable Bella was about the little fib. You shook your head.

“Not at all.”

“And what about you, B.B? Are you sad you told daddy there was pizza?”

She contemplated it for a bit, scrunching her nose up - again, just like her father - and looking around like the answer would be hanging in the air somewhere. “Yeah.” she said matter of factly. “But ‘cause I want pizza. And we don’t have any.”

Both you and Harry couldn’t help the laughs that fell from your lips, wasting no time before leaning forward to press a kiss to Bella’s forehead. “How about we get some then?” he asked against her skin, glancing at you when saying his next bit. “We’ll get your bags from the car and order one?”

“Oh god!” you yelled, turning around to face the car from which you’d just ran from. “Completely forgot Glenne was sitting in there! She’s probably been texting Jeff about how annoying we are.”

“Annoyingly adorable, yeah.”

“Think she’d fight you on that one. Nearly made her sick on the drive here with how excited I was to see you.” your laugh was muffled as Harry wrapped his arm back around your neck, dragging you in a headlock down the first step towards the car. Bella, knowing that it was time to bring in the bags, wiggled out of Harry’s grasp and sprinted down the steps ahead of you, right into the arms of a now out and about Glenne.

“Everything’s alright?” Harry’s voice was laced with concern now that your little one was out of ear shot. You both tried your hardest to never have any sort of talk about negative things around her, whether that be an argument or things going on in life, because she should never have to be put through the stress of that. Most of the time you just waited until she was asleep to talk about those things, but sometimes it meant going into different rooms and closing the doors.

“Hmm?”

“Everything’s alright, right? You didn’t come all the way out here because something’s wrong, did you?” quickly forgotten was your position in a headlock, and instead, Harry kept his arm around your neck, your body fitting perfectly tucked into his side. You walked step by step to meet your friend and daughter, who already started pulling suitcases out of the boot.

You took a peek up to him, noticing he was already glancing down at you, his eyes roaming all over your face to look for any sign of distress that he may have missed when he first saw you. But you had none to offer him. “Yeah baby, everything’s okay. Just needed to be with you.”

“Swear? You’d tell me if there was something?”

“Of course I would. Always.”

“Alright, professor. But if I find out you were hiding something, I’ll have to write a diss track.”

“Oh will you now?”

“Mhm. Thems the rules.”

Glenne spent a bit of time with the three of you before heading off, telling you to enjoy your time together and even throwing in a little joke about maybe even making a new baby since she missed how little Bella used to be. The comment made your ears warm and a weird feeling flutter through your stomach, but she gave you no time to respond before she shuffled out the door.

Since arriving at Harry’s, Bella practically refused to leave his arms, wanting to be as close to him as possible until she really realized that no one was going anywhere for quite a bit. And her thoughts must have quieted enough because not even twenty minutes after Glenne walked out the front door, Bella was running through the house towards one of the extra rooms she’d be sleeping in.

“Mumma! Come help me! We gotta show daddy!” her already soft voice was even soft as she yelled from the second floor, her request forcing you to get up from the sofa.

“What are we showing me?”

“She’s really proud of her Halloween costume this year. Spent weeks planning it out, you know?”

“I know. She wouldn’t budge anytime I asked her. Very secretive that one.”

“Hmm, wonder where she gets that from?” you sang while walking up the stairs, letting out a snort when you saw him lift a middle finger to you from his position still on the sofa, not even bothering to turn around to look at you as you continued towards your daughter.

“Alright baby, I’m here! Where do you want me?” you clapped, entering Bella’s room in a way that mimicked that of Harry Lambert, something that you knew she’d recognize right away from the amount of times she’s seen her parents being helped by the stylist.

“Over here, mumma. Gotta help me button!” she had already rid herself of the clothes she’d been wearing on the drive to Harry’s, the green long sleeve shirt and jeans laid in a crumpled mess at the foot of the bed while she stood in just her knickers, searching through the small suitcase on her bed for all the pieces to her costume.

You took a seat on the floor next to where she was standing, watching her every move as she finally found everything she was looking for. Her tongue stuck out while she took the fabric between her fingers and gently held it in her hands - taking a moment to look at it in awe - before turning and holding it out to you, expectantly.

“Gotta be careful with it, mumma.”

“Oh I know. They’re really delicate, aren’t they?”

“Mhm. Reedy told me to be gentle with ‘em ‘cause they were made with extra love so they’re extra soft.”

“Oh that’s perfect! They’ll be on for quite a while so it’s good that it’s all comfortable.”

“Yep.”

You look notice of how long her hair had grown while zipping up the back of her shirt, the curls continuously falling against your fingers despite being held over her shoulder by Bella. You knew well enough even before she was born that she was going to have gorgeous hair, all it took was one look at the locks cascading from her father to tell you that, but it seemed to grow even more mesmerizing by the day. It fell loose past her shoulders every day, always managing to fall in front of her eyes while she was sprawled out on the floor playing. Even though you did enjoy how cute she looked pushing the crazy curls out of her face while her little tongue stuck out, you knew it was time for a trim soon.

“Are you wanting a haircut soon?” you asked while zipping her pants as well.

“Hmm, I don’t think so. I like it long.”

“How about we see if we can get rid of some of these dry bits at least?”

Bella thought about it for a bit, picking at her nails while mulling over the idea of going back to the salon. “Yeah, I think that’s fine.”

“Alright, we’ll see about making an appointment when we get back home. Gives you some time to think it over.”

“Okay! Y’almost done mumma? ‘M excited.” she bounced in place, trying her best not to move so that you could finish getting her ready as fast as possible.

“All set!” you checked, reaching up to grab her hair out of her grasp and let it fall down her back. “Just put the jacket on and you’re all set to show daddy.”

“He’s gonna be so happy I know it!” she squealed, carefully picking up and putting on the final part to her costume and turning to look in the floor length mirror. Bella didn’t say anything for a minute, taking the time to examine herself in the mirror. She smoothed the fabric covering her torso, lifted her feet in order to see the little pair of boots, and had one of the largest smiles you’d ever seen on her. “I look so good!”

“You do, lovie! Award winning I’d say.”

“Thank you for helping! Lets go!!” she yelled, darting towards the door and only stopping at the top of the stairs when you called for her, reminding her to be careful by the steps. The two of you quickly discussed your plan before departing ways, leaving Bella a bouncing mess just above you as you walked down to the light switch at the bottom of the steps.

Flicking all the lights off, you cleared your throat and waited for Harry, who had gotten up off the sofa upon hearing your descending footsteps and was now leaning against the back of the furniture, his bum resting just on top of the back, to give you his full attention. Although the lights were off, it was still early enough in the evening that light showed through the windows, allowing you to see his face and make sure Bella got down the stairs safely.

“You all know him as 2013’s Teen Choice Male Hottie -”

“Also 2016.” Harry cut in, trying and failing to stifle his chuckle

“Also 2016’s” you added, “and lead roles in Award Winning pictures such as This Is Us and iCarly.” at this point, it was obvious what was happening and you could tell Harry was fully on board with what was about to walk down the stairs. But he was also so excited. He no longer was leaning against the sofa, but now standing upright and his hands were pressed together in a praying position in front of his mouth. “Introducing, the incredibly talented, musically gifted, style icon of the decade, Mr. Harry Edward Styles!”

The second you saw that Bella made it safely to the ground next to you, you flicked on the dim lights that just illuminated the staircase, showering your daughter in the closest thing you could get to a spotlight. She was standing in Harry’s signature position; bent forward slightly with one hand held in a peace sign while the other dangled loosely by her side and mouth open wide. Harris Reed had taken the time to make Bella a nearly exact replica of the white and black floral suit Harry had worn to the 2015 AMA’s - the suit that really started it all when it came to Styles’ fashion. Her curls were hanging past her shoulders just like Harry’s were at the time, and for good measure, she even lifted her hand to push some out of her face exactly like he used to.

She was a spitting image of Harry. And he loved it.

“Oh my god! You’re kidding! You look fantastic! Gonna put me out of a job! I won’t even need to go on stage anymore. This is amazing!” he screeched, rushing forwards and couching down in front of his daughter. He took in every last detail of the outfit; how the under shirt had buttons but did not open from the front (something Harris thought would be easier for Bella to get in and out of), how the floral detail was exactly the same as the one he had hanging in his closet back home (Reed had asked Alessandro for the fabric), and how even the shoes were a near replica.

“Mhm. I can sing next time. I’ll go up and sing to your friends and you can sit and watch and talk to Mitchy.” she nodded, taking a step back and belting out ‘You’re so Golden!’ “See? Like that!”

Harry beamed. “Absolutely! Give me a nice break every now and again, very thoughtful. We’ll just have to change your bedtime and it’s all set!”

“You like it, daddy?” she asked, her eyes wide as she moved right in front of Harry, her hands grasping the hood of his hoodie and she looked directly into his eyes.

“I love it - and you - more than there are stars in the sky!” Harry responded without hesitation, grabbing her and lifting her into his arms, swinging Bella around quickly enough to let a few giggles. “Thank you very much, beautiful, it makes me very happy.”

“Can’t believe you wanted to be your smelly old dad.” he joked when she pushed against his chest to look at him, “See me everyday, why’d you wanna dress up like me too?

“‘Cause you dress the best, daddy!”

“Ohhhh hear that, love?” he turned to look directly at you, Bella now hiding her face in her hands in embarrassment on saying her dad dressed better than her mum. “I’m the best dressed.” Harry stuck his tongue out at you.

The reaction from Harry was everything Bella was expecting and more. So much so that she could no longer fight the exhaustion of the hectic day any longer. She barely made it five minutes in Harry’s arms before finally passing out. In the coming December, she’d be turning five and you were trying to start and wean her off of taking long naps, but after such an energetic day you welcomed the time for her to rest. She put up a fight getting out of Harry’s arms, the arm she had shoved into Harry’s hood in order to thread her fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck, tightened each time he tried to pull her away to lay her in bed. Like even in her unconscious state she wanted to know that seeing Harry again wasn’t a figment of her imagination.

It was heavenly to be back with Harry. Even though you had only been apart for such a short amount of time, there was so much to catch up on, and you would never get tired of hearing about everything going on in his life.

“And they used this stuff called Dermacol, and I swear, she swiped over it once and the anchor was gone. Bloody insane seeing it all bare. Hasn’t been that year in years.” Harry laughed, finishing his story of how his first few days on set had gone, the two of you laying in his bed while you waited for the pizza you ordered while he put Bella down for a nap.

“Don’t wash it off tomorrow. I want to see.” you tilted your head back so that it was resting on Harry’s shoulder, in order to look at him. He was sitting behind you, his back pressed against the headboard while you were nestled between his legs, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him again. “Forget what you look like without any ink.”

“Like them though, right?”

“Of course I do. Think they’re very hot.”

He didn’t say anything for a bit, just let his fingers dance up and down your arms, clearly lost in thought. “I wish you could come to set. See everything and everyone.” he finally spoke.

“I know. I just don’t want to chance anything you know? We just traveled and I know we got tested, but I don’t want to unknowingly bring anything to anyone. Maybe soon, once we’ve been here for a bit. But for now, I’d rather just hear all your stories and FaceTime than anything happen to anyone.”

“What time is your call time tomorrow?” you added when he only hummed in response.

“6:45. Car will probably come by around 6 and I should be back near 2. Have a bit of a short day tomorrow.”

“No rush.”

“Yes rush. I wanna be with you both. Missed you loads, ya know? Only gone for a few weeks but I was going mad. Don’t think we should separate for a while.” his voice was soft as his neck strained forward in order to press loving kisses to the soft skin where your neck met your shoulder.

Since the moment you met Harry a decade ago, it was obvious he always knew what to say. He had a knack for spewing out the words you most needed to hear exactly when you needed to hear them. Whether it was comforting your stage fright, in an argument about tv or film characters, helping you pick out outfits, discussing your relationship, or talking about the future, you both seemed to be on the same wavelength. It made life with him so much easier, because you knew that he understood you. You knew that no matter what happened, he would support you and love you. And that’s all you needed.

So you decided finally, after the pit of anxiety in your stomach grew and grew all day, that it was finally time.

“Pretty good you feel that way. ‘Cause I wasn’t exactly sure how to tell you that you’re kind of stuck with me. At least for another fourteen years.”

“Hmm. Want more than that.”

Taking a deep breath, hands shaking and mind running a mile a minute, you asked; “How about another eighteen after that?”

But your nerves were all for nothing because the comment flew right over Harry’s head. Completely missed the point of why you used that specific amount of time and was more focused on giving your middle a tight squeeze - his arms moving from their place at your side to around your stomach.

“Mhm. Even longer than that.”

The words brought an image to mind, one you found yourself thinking about a lot the last couple weeks. One of you and Harry sitting in the living room in your home, talking to your grown children while your grandchildren ran around you happily, doing their best to animatedly explain ways of the world you just couldn’t comprehend. And the pure glee you felt being surrounded by such a beautiful family, one that you created with Harry. But you knew it wasn’t just some fantasy you would dream about. It was something that you would one day get to experience, and that excitement pushed you over the edge.

“You’re stuck with me forever, baby.” you hummed, sinking further into his hold. “But for five seconds, I need you to leave me so you can grab me a Tums.” the anxiety nerves reared their head yet again, knowing there was no missing the punchline this time.

Concern instantly flooded his voice, taking you by the shoulders and moving you away from his chest and to the right so he could look at your face. “Why? You feeling alright? What’s wrong?”

You couldn’t help but simple sweetly at his concern, lifting a hand to rest it on his smoothly clean shaven cheek. “Yeah. You know how I get after flying. Do you mind just grabbing the Tums from my bag?” you asked again, hoping he couldn’t hear or feel the uptick in your breathing.

“You mean one of the nine hundred bags you brought?” Harry joked but still carefully slid out from behind you in order to get whatever you needed.

“Hey, we’re gonna be here a while. I need options.” Because of Covid, the UK was heading into yet another lockdown at the start of November, lasting until the first week of December so for now, so for now, you knew you and Bella would be spending at least a month with Harry in Los Angeles.

“Can take any of my clothes.” he grinned, turning around to face the bed again and bent down to kiss the tip of your nose. “Y’know I love when you wear my clothes.”

“Oi! Say that again but let me record it! If that’s the case, I never want to hear you complain about missing clothes ever again!”

“I said I like you wearing them, not keeping them hidden away for me to find three years later.” he laughed at the memory of his favorite blue hawaiian shirt going missing after getting back from Jamaica, only for it to be found in the back of your closet when moving a few months ago. His voice got quieter the farther he walked from the bed, the confines of the walk in closet filled with his clothes muffling the words towards the end of his sentence.

“Alright, but remember how excited you were to find it after so long? Like Christmas in the summer!”

“‘S’that what’s gonna start happening? You just stealing things I haven’t looked at in years and regifting them?”

“Lord knows you don’t need any more things laying around. Probably wouldn’t even notice anything being gone.” it was true. Over the years, Harry had gathered a very large collection of… things. Everything from clothes to lockets to key cards from hotels, and being in the career he is, he can afford to have it all. But even you had to say he had more than he knew what to do with most of the time, to which he always had some sort of rebuttal for.

But this time, it never came.

This time, you were met with silence from inside the closet, and you had no control over the way your hands began shaking. There were so many different kinds of silence; one of anger, of shock, nervousness, confusion, but any of those were a rarity when it came to Harry. He was someone who always had something to say, despite the emotions running through him. Silence was never really his thing, hell he even said so in a song, so the ideas of what could be running through his head started to eat you alive.

After waiting a few minutes and still receiving no sound of life from the smaller room, you began to get worried. Obviously nothing had happened to him while you were sitting feet away, but what was happening in there? Did he have a heart attack as soon as saw what you had laid out on top of your suitcase when he was ordering food? Did he fall and hit his head? Was he trying to find a good way to break up with you? No, he wouldn’t do that, you knew he wouldn’t do that. But before you could fully get off of the bed to check on him, he slowly sauntered out of the room, staring down at the piece of black fabric gripped tightly in his hands, and you halted in your spot - sitting up right on the side of his bed with your feet dangling off the side.

“Wha - what is this?” his whisper was so unbelievably low, you were surprised you could make out any of the words.

“What do you think it is?” you replied, your voice equally as loud so not to spook him while he was in such a clear state of shock.

“I - I don’t know.”

He still had taken his eyes off of the material in his hands, looking at it like it held every secret unknown to man somewhere within its seams.

“I think you do know.”

Finally, Harry lifted his head in order to look at you. And you felt your eyes water as soon as he did. The rims of his eyes and nose were a deep red, the kind of red you get when trying desperately to hold in sobs. His eyes were a brighter shade of green as more and more tears obstructed his vision, and now that you looked at him properly, his entire body seemed to be shaking.

“If this is a joke, it’s really fucking mean.” he choked out, putting all of his effort into holding back his cries. “Please don’t joke about this.”

As hard as he was trying not to let his tears flow, you were beyond the point of no return. Your cheeks were stained with tears, old dried ones leaving tracks for the new ones to flow freely down, and the lump in your throat prevented you from speaking as loud and confidently as you would have liked.

“It’s not a joke, Harry.” you shook your head, wiping your cheeks with the backs of your hands.

“No?”

“No.”

Harry went back to not saying anything, glancing between you and the black in his hand, not knowing which held more important information. You could see the inner struggle he was having trying to comprehend what was happening, and you wanted to get up and yell it to him. But he needed to go through whatever emotions he needed to, at his own pace.

So you waited for him to do just that.

“So you - you’re pregnant?” he finally sighed, the question making the corners of his lips lift ever so slightly that you would have missed it if you weren’t watching every inch of his face like a hawk. Holding back his tears was long gone as they now flowed down his cleanly shaven cheeks.

“I’m pregnant.” you smiled, the words coming out in one whoosh of air.

So fast that you didn’t understand how he did it, the black shirt - that at first glance was a replica of the logo for the film The Godfather, but when taking a double take, could be found to read The Twinfather instead - was laying in a pile on the floor in front of the closet door and Harry was laying on top of you. Now on your back with Harry hovering above you, both of his forearms on either side of your head, you could fully see the overwhelming joy swimming in his eyes. The last time you had seen this exact look was the day Bella was born. Like within his mind, he was watching the entire world unfold with endless possibilities and unfathomable love.

Harry didn’t let you say anything before he was pressing kisses to your lips, both of your tears making the experience feel a bit slippery as they blended together on your skin. But nothing could make the moment anything less than perfect. Harry’s warmth covered you like a blanket, completely consuming you within the personal bubble that had formed around you on the bed. His lips moved against your with determination, but also care and gratitude, the vaguely strawberry flavored lip balm he was wearing smeared against your own lips, letting the memory of this moment linger for hours to come.

“You’re really pregnant?” Harry asked, his excitement taking over once he pulled back from the kiss.

“Yeah baby,’m pregnant.”

“And is it? It’s - it’s twins? Are you sure? How do you know?” although you knew he would always be there with and for you during all of this, it was reassuring to see him be so ecstatic about the new addition to your family.

“When B and I went to get our Covid tests, the lady asked me if there was a chance I could be pregnant, and - and I couldn’t give her a confident no. So I called Dr. Kelter to see if I could get an appointment before we left and she took me the same day.” your smile grew as you watched him hold on to your every word, wanting to know every single detail you had to give him.

“And she told you it was twins?”

“Yeah. Said she could see them both right away since they can see twins so early. Said ‘m about eleven weeks.” the tears returned to your eyes when you thought about being pregnant again, how much your life was going to change and the excitement that was about to be brought into your lives.

Obviously Harry was feeling the same before he let out another sob, this time his upper half falling onto your chest and burying his face in your neck, his lower body seeming to unconsciously stay away from crushing your belly.

“I love you so fucking much.” he whispered, and you could feel the ever so gentle peck of his lips against your skin. “So fucking much.”

“I love you, Harry.” you whispered back.

“Who knows?” he asked, undoubtedly thinking back to when you were pregnant with Bella and everyone in your lives seemed to know before he did. Something you regretted, but was necessary at the time.

“No one. Just you and me. Want to do everything with you this time.” not wanting to ruin the moment, but also wanting to be realistic for a moment in your clouded minds, you took a second to figure out how to say the concerns that were rushing through your mind at a mile a minute. “I know things are crazy right now and the world is scary and we’re both so busy, but we said if it happened, it happened.”

Harry was pushed up on his forearm in an instant, his other hand cupping your cheek in order to drag your attention to him. He was positively glowing. How only a second ago he was standing pale faced in the closet doorway was beyond you, because now, it was like the sun shined behind his irises.

“I have never been happier in my entire life. We’ll figure it all out together. Like we always do.”

#harry styles imagine #harry styles one shot #harry styles x reader #harry styles blurb #another world imagine #aw-inspo #harry styles fanfiction #1dff

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inkandpen22 · 3 years

Text

It’s Pretty

Pairing: Sirius Black x Female!Reader

Warnings: death, fighting, swearing, fluff

Word Count: 1k

Summary: Y/N is newly pregnant and Sirius is over the moon. Then, the unexpected happens.

A/N: I usually post imagines on Mondays, but I wrote this last night and couldn’t wait!

Masterlist

Lounging on the couch with my head in Sirius’s lap, we go over baby names. I’m only less than a handful of months along, so we’re keeping the news a secret until we’re certain it’s safe. The only people who know are Remus and Harry. We told Remus because he’s our oldest friend and Sirius accidentally exploded when Remus came over the other day. The man-made it through from the door and Sirius just let it out. It came as quite a shock to me too and I’m the pregnant one. Harry was planned. We wrote to him asking to be the godfather, it only seems fair. Sirius pushed for Remus for a while, but with his responsibilities to the Order, I felt Harry was the best choice.

Ever since we found out, it’s all Sirius can talk about. When everyone comes over for meetings he has to bite his tongue. I’m afraid the meetings' firewhiskey sessions will perhaps be my worst enemy one day. Sirius loves to blab. Recently, he’s been talking about names all hours of the day and sometimes randomly in the middle of the night. No seriously- no pun intended- he’ll wake me up in the middle of the night when he’s thought of “the most perfect name for the little guy.” We don’t even know if it’s a boy yet.

“Alexi,” I announce for a boy.

Sirius cowers, his face scrunched like a bulldog. “Alexi? What are we Russian?”

“It’s pretty!” I defend.

“I won’t let my son have a pretty name,” he mocks. “It’ll be handsome and strong!”

I roll my eyes. “And Sirius isn’t pretty?”

“It’s majestic,” he corrects.

I hum, “oh! What about Torryn?”

He taps his finger against his chin, pondering it over. “Not too shabby. Better than Alexi...” He remarks slyly. “We always do-”

“We’re not naming it James!” I repeat, yet again. “Let Harry have that one.”

“Fine...” he grumbles, all pouty. “What if it’s a girl?”

“Sheridan,” I answer.

“So now we’re Irish?!” He sighs deeply, resting his head back dramatically on the couch.

“Do you have any bright ideas?!” I challenge playfully.

“Cressida,” he states calmly.

“Cressida...” I repeat, thinking it over.

“You like it?” Sirius smiles, petting my hair gently as he looks down at me.

“Yes actually,” I admit. “It’s pretty!”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he laughs, leaning in for a kiss.

The sound of the front door causes Sirius and I to leap up from our position. My heart pounds in my chest. We weren’t expecting visitors today. The sound of footsteps, a series of them, brings me panic. Sirius immediately blocks me from the archway, protecting me. His wand is raised in front of him in one hand and the other grips my hand behind him. Then, Remus and Tonks turn the corner panting.

“Quick! It’s Harry and the other kids!”

“What?!” Sirius and I say in unison.

“They’re... They’re at the ministry!” Remus pants. “The prophecy!”

Sirius curses under his breath and starts down the hall the way they came with our friends. I follow the trio without a second thought.

“You’re not going!” Sirius shouts just before we reach the door.

“I’m coming Sirius!” I yell at my husband.

“Y/N!” He whips around angrily.

Tonks and Remus move aside, creating a clear path between me and my husband.

“I’m not even showing yet!” I defend.

“You’re pregnant!” Sirius reminds sharply.

Tonks gasps, her hand flying up to her mouth. Remus whispers something to her. Probably along the lines of ‘sorry, I couldn’t tell you.’

“And you’re an idiot,” I fire back, stifling my laughter. “Looks like we both have a gamble!”

Sirius rushes down the hall to me and cups my face in his hands pleadingly. “I can’t lose you.”

“Then you should be able to understand why I can’t let you go without me,” I claim quietly, placing my hands over his. “I can’t wait here doing nothing when I know you’re out there risking your life! It’s not just your life Sirius, it’s both of ours. It’s always you and me.”

He exhales deeply, lowering his head as he struggles with the internal debate going through his mind. “Okay,” he mumbles reluctantly. Rushing, he plants a kiss on my lips and takes my hand.

_____________________________

I sprint to huddle behind a bolder with Ginny beside me. She’s brilliant, I’ll give her that. Granted, I could already tell after hearing her subtle comments at dinner that never failed to make me laugh.

Remus runs into view with Hermione and I take the opportunity to hand over Ginny. “Remus, watch them!”

“Y/N! Where are you going?!” He shouts, leaving the girls hidden to stop me.

“I have to help my husband and godson! I can’t just stand there!” I argue, marching aww.

“No!” He grabs my wrist and yanks me down behind a rock. “Sirius wouldn’t want you to!”

“Since when have I ever listened to him?!” I move to stand.

Remus yanks me back down, much to my annoyance. “You have your child to think about!”

“I am thinking of them!” I hiss at my oldest friend. “I won’t let them grow up without a father!”

His eyes pour into mine, awestruck. It’s highly unlike me to argue with him or anyone who isn’t my husband I suppose. Taking the chance now that he’s a little more compliant, I rise to my feet. Sirius and Harry fight off Lucius on the giant boulder in the center of the room. I run to join them urgently.

“Avada kedavra!”

I halt upon hearing the horrific words echo in the room. My eyes scan the room for the source and I spot Bellatrix towering above the rest of us, a wickedly grin on her face. I follow her eyesight to the center, to my husband. He has an unfamiliar blank stare in his eyes as he peers at Harry. Out of my peripheral vision, Remus runs past me. Before he can reach the pair, Sirius slips away into the archway.

“No!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “No!” I cry.

Kingsley wraps his arms around me, keeping me back. I fight him off, aggressively. “Let go of me!”

“No, no don’t let her win!” He warns in my ear.

I wail as my legs give out on me and I slip to the ground. “No,” I cry toward the ceiling.

“Get her out of here!” Shouts Remus.

I hear Bellatrix’s laugh ringing throughout the room. Something in my snaps and my tears stop altogether. Kingsley reaches to apparate me home, but I snatch my wand off the ground beside me and runoff. I follow Bellatrix out into the crevice she escaped through.

“Y/N!” Everyone calls after me panicked.

“I killed Sirius Black!” The crazy lunatic repeats like a song as she skips through the Ministry. “I killed Sirius Black!”

“You raging bitch!” I yell as I shoot a spell her way and missing.

“Aw cousin-in-law coming to get me?!” She mocks, continuing her celebration.

“Crucio!”

Bellatrix falls to the floor with a yelp. I continue my spell, putting at much focus as I can into her. She flails on the tile in pain, screaming. I wonder if it reminds her of torture in Azkaban. I sure hope it does.

I ease up on the spell, lower my wand to her chest. Catching her breath, she peers at me terrified. As she should be because now I’m the raging bitch. She thinks she’s evil because she was filled with hate. Well, now I’m filled with hate!

Pointing my wand directly at her chest, I smile wickedly at the woman who killed my love. Just two words and everything will be set fair and square.

“Aw, afraid of me now?” I tease with a mocking pout.

“I don’t need a blood traitor feeling sorry for me!” She bites.

I snicker, amused by her pointless insults. Swiftly, I kneel down on the floor beside her, getting in her face. I point my wand at her chest and dig it into the skin intimidatingly. Then, I hit her where I’m certain it will hurt.

“You’ll never be anything more than just another loyal follower,” I remind her smoothly with a smile on my face. “He will never want you. You alone will never be enough for him. You can try everything in your power, but the Dark Lord will never love you.”

She pushes back against my wand. “How dare-”

I slap her hard, causing her face to snap to the side. “Tell me how it feels Bella! Tell me how it feels to be worth nothing in eyes of the person you love! Because I wouldn’t know that feeling! Because unlike you, the man I loved, loved me in return!”

“Go to Hell!” She screams in my face.

“I’ll see you there!” I laugh, leaping to my feet and ready to kill the bitch.

“No Y/N!” I hear Remus shout a distance away.

“What is this?” I hear a sly voice question directly behind me.

I glance over my shoulder to be met with Voldemort. Bellatrix laughs loudly.

“Y/N, it’s been too long,” he smiles wickedly. “You’ve grown up so much!” He pauses for a moment, then his eyes fall to my stomach. “And you’re with child, how wonderful.”

I remain silent, restraining myself from doing something rash. The Dark Lord slithers toward me with a smile. Remus and the others stay back, ready to intervene if necessary, but don’t want to cause anything detrimental.

“You know, it’s not too late to join my ranks,” Voldemort whispers to me as he circles me.

“Never,” I stand my ground, knowing it may cost my life.

“Pity, you have such potential,” he mutters disappointedly, starring into my eyes.

He stays for a moment and I can see the wheels turning in his mind. Reaching up, he brushes the back of his hand against my cheek. Then, he sighs and turns to walk away.

“Aren’t you gonna kill her?!” Bellatrix whines, following after him.

The Dark Lord halts and snaps his attention to her, “are you questioning me?!”

The sound of blasting fire as people arrive through the fireplaces signal Voldemort that he must depart. Voices erupt once they see him for themselves.

Voldemort looks to me. “The honor of being my right hand is always open to you, Y/N,” he purrs before disappearing into a cloud of broken glass.

I fall to my knees, utterly exhausted. Tears well up in my eyes and soon I feel arms around me. I glance to my side and Harry’s head rests on my shoulder. I turn to face him, wrapping my arms around him. His head falls to my lap and he wails. I lean over him, protecting him from the world as I’ve always done. I didn’t just lose a husband, he lost a godfather. The realization hits me hard, we’re each other’s only family now.

_____________________________________

Masterlist

#fanfic #harry potter imagine #harry potter #marauders x reader #sirius black imagine #sirius black x reader #btvs fanfic #hp fanfic #sirius x remus #remus lupin #remus #harry potter fanfic #sirius black #sirius black fanfic #sirius x reader

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poptod · 3 years

Text

The Breeding Kings, pt. 20

Description:

Notes: WC: 7.4k

It wasn't long at all until he realized something was different––not specifically in you, or in his environment, but within his thoughts. Things had shifted, and the constant anxieties of where food and water was coming from next were turned to empty slots in his mind, slots you happily filled.

Against his will, he could think of little else besides you. He tried many things as well––staying away from you, keeping close to you, but he had yet to touch you in any way that really mattered. Fluttering glances and barely-there graces didn't count, nor did misplaced kisses on saner, safer areas. No, his dreams offered him no break from the annoyingly insistent thoughts, and instead supplied him with the endless imagination of an unchecked mind. Drowning in the image of your closed eyes slotted next to his in soft kisses, of your fingertips trailing across his bare waist.

But you would never do that.

He stared longingly at you through the gate he guarded, leaning on his wooden and bronze spear as you dug in the garden. Zakiti, your work partner, was travelling back and forth between where new trees had been dropped off, and where you were told to plant them.

In fact, he was so absorbed in your moving lips that he barely heard his own partner talking to him from across the gate.

"What are you, in love with Zakiti?" He asked, but he spoke in Akkadian, and Ahkmen had yet to pick up more of the complex words. One phrase you taught him was –

"I do not speak Akkadian," he said.

Luqa––or at least that's what Ahk thought his name was––just sighed, rolling his eyes and turning back to face front. Ahkmen frowned softly but turned to attention as well.

That was generally how he spent his working hours. Much like he had in the House of Life in Egypt, he wasted away the time by staring at you or thinking of you, phasing out at the thought of knowing you. He was sure his coworker was tired of his shenanigans, but he couldn't find it in himself to care about what Luqa thought.

Fortunately, neither of you had work that often, and after asking the stewardess, your schedules were matched up to have the same amount of free time at the same time. The two of you took full advantage of that, spending many of your days strolling throughout the city and trying the new foods and beers created throughout the mud brick landscape. Strips of gardens were scattered throughout the city, but none more grand than the terraces of flora making up the Hanging Gardens, whose trees leant over with their plentiful fruit. Deep green vines twisted around blue tiled ledges and tall, white pillars, the especially long ones brushing up against the people who came and went from the gardens. You had yet to actually enter any of the Hanging Gardens, but they remained a constant in the background of the city.

Many morning and evenings you spent in the brewery. Sometimes Ahk would follow you, but other times he left to temples and taverns, socializing with the locals in hopes of absorbing more of the language. His favorite time was coming to visit you at the brewery after letting you work for a few hours, as you always lit up like a beacon whenever you caught sight of him.

This time was no different––you raced up the steps, taking his hand and dragging him back down. Today, tarps had been raised above the workshop, blocking away the blearing sun, and allowing a little more comfort in the already-heated environment. Not all of the stations were filled, but your friend Tiamat was still there at your side.

"I am – I am doing a, uh, a way to make my beer, but with the barley," you stuttered out, barely coherent enough for him to understand.

"So... the really alcoholic kind?" Ahk asked uncertainly.

"Yes!!" You exclaimed, and Tiamat laughed.

"Here," Tiamat said, gesturing Ahk over to her. She dunked the cup in her hand into the frothing beer, and handed it to him when it filled with the golden liquor.

You and Tiamat waited in baited breath as Ahk slowly lifted the cup to his mouth, sipping at the warm drink with a critical look in his eye. It was sweet––almost like cider, but it burnt his throat on the way down, warming his stomach pleasantly once it was there. He looked up, and you were still watching intently.

"What do you think?" You asked, your hands clasped tight together in front of your chest.

"It's good," he said, nodding. "You know what would go great with this?"

"What?"

"Cardamom. It's a spice, I'm sure they have it here," he said, but your brow furrowed as you looked away, a confused look on your face.

Ahk looked to Tiamat and repeated, "cardamom."

Tiamat, who look equally confused, said something to you that you had to translate.

"We do not know the word in Egyptian," you said.

"Shit," Ahk muttered. "It would taste so good, though."

"Is it sweet?"

"Well, it is used in desserts," he said with a shrug.

"That is good for me. We can – uhh, we can go to a spice shop, and we can, or you can, find it," you suggested, and repeated it to Tiamat, who nodded with a brightening smile.

"Good idea," she said.

The three of you set off quickly with Tiamat leading the way, as she knew the city best after the years she'd been living within its walls. Bustling chatter filled the streets, accompanied by shuffling feet, wooden wheels, and the jarring calls of sheep and goats. Bells sometimes rung as merchants shouted out their wares, and you ducked beneath their raised arms, giggling as you followed Tiamat, while Ahkmen trailed close behind, almost always reaching out for your hand.

Tiamat was a good deal taller and buffer than you, reaching Ahkmen's height and surpassing his strength, so she was stopped by large crowds that suddenly crossed your path. You panted as you caught up to her long-striding legs, followed by Ahk also appearing and panting.

"Since the drought, a lot of our trade lines have been cut... of course, the Kassite takeover didn't help, so we've only got a couple spice shops left," Tiamat told you as she tried to look over the moving heads of the crowd. "I think most of it is grown in the King's garden now, actually."

"That is good," you said, positing it was better than nothing.

"Yes, but... I do miss cinnamon," she said with a chuckle.

You relayed what she said––minus the cinnamon––to Ahkmen as you waited for the people, who were dragging along a group of goats, to pass by.

"That ought to make our search easier," Ahk said, and no sooner had he'd finished the phrase than he was being pulled on again, your left hand clasping his and your right held by Tiamat.

Frequent turns led you from the northern-most side of the city and into the south, where the streets were less disorganized than they had been. You tried to stop Tiamat several times to look at some of the cuisine and textiles within the scattered markets, but to Ahk's relief she didn't notice you, and kept on her quick-footed pace headed for the spices.

Both you and Ahk fell into heavy pants as Tiamat finally drew to a stop in front of a large, clay storage house, staring up at the symbol carved above the entrance. Through the archway you could spy a few people moving about amongst the massive pots and jars of sandy colors.

When Tiamat made to enter, the two of you followed gingerly, looking like twins with your hands curled in front of your chests to avoid touching anything. You scanned the room as a whole before your eyes fell to one of the merchants, wrapped up in white desert attire and a large turban set on his head. He was speaking quietly to another man, so you ignored him for the time being, and returned your attention to Ahkmen.

"What is the spice you did name?" You asked in a whisper.

"Cardamom," he repeated. "It's just kind of... vaguely brown. Like split wheat."

"That is a good help," you said flatly, looking at the pyramid-like structures of spice nearly overflowing out of the tall clay vases, most of which could qualify as 'vaguely brown'.

"Cardamom," Tiamat tried the word, rolling the word unnecessarily. She turned to you and said in Akkadian, "it's a strange word, isn't it?"

"A little," you agreed with a giggle.

You and Tiamat watched as Ahk sniffed each spice individually, often having to bend down to get a full whiff of the scent. Each time he did so, he wrinkled up his nose, stepping away with a frown.

"Is it bad?" You asked on the first time he did this.

"No, it's just really strong," he said.

That was his continuing excuse for doing it at least ten more times throughout the 15 presented jugs. By the end of it, you were no closer to knowing cardamom's Akkadian name, much less actually having any cardamom.

He backed away from the jars with a frown, crossing his arms as he scanned over all of them once more.

"Nothing," he said.

"How may I help you?" Someone behind you asked, and all three of you turned to see the shopkeeper––the darkskinned merchant who wore a turban. He spoke in Akkadian, but he had an accent, one only Tiamat could pick up on.

"We're looking for a specific spice, but we only know the name in Egyptian," Tiamat said, gesturing vaguely in Ahk's direction.

"Alright," he said with a heavy brow, glancing between you. "What is it?"

You nudged Ahk and he said, "cardamom."

"Ah," the merchant nodded, "qaqullu."

Tiamat asked for him to say it again, but she didn't know the spice, and reported so with a confused look.

"I wouldn't expect ye' to, it's off from Kuru in the east," he said, gesturing out the door with a hand holding round bottle. "Route's been cut, so I haven-been able to get it."

Before you could do it, and to your immense surprise, the merchant repeated what he'd said to Ahkmen in Egyptian. Ahk had a similar look of surprise on his face.

"Do you know of any place that might have it?" Ahk asked with wide eyes. He almost didn't notice the way you grinned toothily up at him.

"You are so intense," you whispered to him.

"How do you even know that word? You asked me what soup meant just yesterday –"

"The King's garden, probably," the merchant interrupted. "But it would cost much."

"That's not a problem," Ahk said before Tiamat could respond.

The three of you bid a hasty thanks and good-bye to the merchant, who gave you an odd look as you raced out of the shop. Crowds had only grown more thick during your time indoors, meaning you could barely see past the moving bodies, and had to rely on Ahk and Tiamat for where you were supposed to go.

Tiamat led the way once more, winding back through the streets from the way you came. According to her, the King's palace was somewhat near to the center, but the gardens were held closer to the largest temple, which marked the exact center of the city. Ahkmen spied through the tall buildings a stretching tower, reaching into the sky in white stone and dark, green leaves. The closer you got, it became easier to realize that the garden resided in a massive temple complex that took up nearly half of the city dwelling on the western bank.

You stopped at a large bridge hanging over the wide Euphrates that split the city down the middle, staring at the sheer size of the rushing water compared to the thin stretches you and Ahk had travelled down. Travellers and chariots marched down the large brick street, wooden wheels pulled by strange creatures you'd never seen before. Most chariots carried one or two passengers, as well as a carriage for goods, such as food, stone, and cloth. A couple carried massive bushels of reeds. On either side of the bridge were familiar statues––the lions with the heads of men, of which you'd learned earlier were titled Lamassu. Soldiers with spears and sheathed swords stood at their sides.

The frequency of soldiers and guards increased as you approached the walls surrounding the temple of Marduk, whose name you only knew after extended conversations with both Tiamat and Zakiti. Ahkmen wasn't aware of the name, but that didn't stop him staring at the temple's might, six terraces building the material of humans into the unearthly heavens.

However, the temple ended up not being your final destination. Tiamat led you past the tower and to the south, running down a wide street that led directly to one of the city's outer walls. Once you stood at the wall's base, she took a sharp turn to the left, and took you to one of the city's entrances across the moat of water.

Across he bridge lay farms and smaller houses, as well as another wall––though much smaller––that had been built to fortify the growing city. The sun shined a bright white overhead, allowing the dewdrops on trees to shine and glitter across the small, town-like reaches.

"There," said Tiamat, pointing out to a shaded area protecting rows of plants. Some of them had tarps set out above them, but others had more permanent shade, effectively hiding a good number of rows from view.

Ahk squinted in the bright sun to try and make out the different types of plants growing there.

"Are we allowed to actually go into the garden?" Ahk asked, a question you relayed to Tiamat.

"I've never been," she said, and began forward across the bridge. "So I'm not actually sure."

You translated the general idea again.

"Well, I've run this much now," Ahk said with a sigh, placing his hands on his hips. "Ought not to give up now."

The overbearing scent of mixed spices was quick to hit you, and the three of you slowed down as your noses burned. A few people were standing outside an open archway, the darkness inside containing several more people, and barrels worth of spices. To the left of that the growing continued in shadow, while sunloving plants enjoyed the last light of the day.

Ahkmen accidentally met the eyes of one of the people flanking the entrance, causing his gaze to shoot back down to the ground. The doorway, like many in Egypt, was raised partway off the ground to avoid tracking dust and sand into the building. He stepped over the frame, and stood blindly while his eyes adjusted to the major change in light. His squinting was disturbed when you bumped into him, muttering some sort of apology before you pressed your side to his, scanning the quiet room with a look of near menace.

Tiamat appeared to be in a similar state of apprehension, scanning the room in hopes of finding out whether or not you were allowed to be in there at all. You and Ahk hadn't noticed, but the symbol of the King was carved clearly above the small house, and those who stood nearby were dressed in deep colors of red, purple, and green––a stark difference from the farmers who dwelled in much simpler homes outside.

Your awkward glances eventually caught the eye of a much older man, whose beard curled magnificently between robes of green and silver silk. His dark, bushy brow furrowed as his eyes fell specifically to you––a sort of anger, or perhaps confusion, overtook his curiosity and he stepped forward.

"My name is Sagar," the man said, taking your hand and bowing his head slightly. You stiffened, and Ahk quickly came over to your side, wrapping an arm around the back of your waist.

"Hello, I, uh – I am here with my friends," you replied in Akkadian, joined soon on the other side by Tiamat.

Compared to you and Ahk, Tiamat looked a great deal older as well––neither of you had gotten the chance to ask her age, but considering you were about as short as a 10 year old, and Ahk was twiggy as a 12 year old, it created a considerable difference. You assumed this was why Sagar very suddenly averted his attention to Tiamat, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. Like you, Tiamat grimaced, her shoulders tightening.

"How may I help you?" Sagar asked, his voice low and weathered against your softer ones. Tiamat stuttered before she found an answer.

"We are looking for a spice, qaqullu," she said slowly.

"You must be a woman of noble bearings," he said with a smile.

"Well –"

"No," you answered for her. "But he is."

You pointed to Ahk with your thumb, who shot you an offended look before he confronted Sagar.

"I do not speak Akkadian," Ahk said, easily recalling the only phrase he knew in Akkadian.

Sagar looked him up and down, almost hesitant to speak.

"Egyptian?" He asked.

You nodded, somewhat impressed considering Ahk was trying to wear more Babylonian clothes, but Ahkmen just looked unsettled, shifting his weight between his feet.

"I've been helping them look for cardamom for their beer," Ahk explained quietly.

"If you have the means to pay for it, the King does have seeds. The price has gone up, though," he added, "due to some... outer pressures."

"You mean the trade network?" Ahk asked, kinking a single brow.

"I'm afraid so. It'll be several gold bands or sacks of grain."

Several?? Ahk's eyes bulged as he heard the price. While he was regaining his words, his mouth fallen open, Sagar translated the sentence back into Akkadian for Tiamat.

"Mother of Gods," Tiamat blurted out. "We'll, uh – we'll be right back."

She herded the two of you out the door––which wasn't a very hard task––and took you round the corner so the doorway was no longer visible.

"I don't think I have that much grain and I certainly don't have that much gold," she said quickly, her eyes flickering between you and Ahk despite the fact that he couldn't understand her.

"We have many gold," you said, retaining most of your optimism easily.

"Okay, wait, we don't have that much gold," Ahk said as soon as he vaguely translated what you said. He turned to you and continued, "we still need to get through Elam and into Harappa. And we'll still need a lot of money once we get there so we don't starve after, like, three days of being in the city."

"Hmm..." you hummed quietly, your brow knotted together as you picked at the skin on your chin.

The two of them waited for you while you thought deeply, staring at the ground.

"We can steal," you suggested after a moment of silence.

"Again??"

"You say it all the time, that it is fun to steal, and from Kings," you said rather loudly, causing Ahk to shoot forward and silence you with a hand held tight over your mouth, simultaneously pushing you against the nearest wall.

"That man in there knew Egyptian, and I'm pretty sure he works for the King," he said quietly.

You stared at each other, iron in your gaze and steel in his.

"What is happening right now?" Tiamat asked, and at that point you recalled that, once more, you were not alone. Ahk had a similar reaction, backing up as his hands zipped behind his back.

You explained the short conversation to her, at which point she nodded with much the same expression as Ahk's when he thought deeply.

"What's the King like?" Ahk asked, knowing little more of the man other than his name. You translated.

"His name is Gidar," she began, allowing you to translate each sentence before she continued. "He is quiet, keeps to himself. He has funded building and farming projects, though, and he upholds the law, so no one really bothers him."

"Are his punishments violent?"

That one took you a little longer to figure out––you didn't know the Akkadian word for 'violent' or 'punishments,' so instead you said something more along the lines of 'does he kill or hurt people who do bad'.

"Like stealing?" She asked.

"Sure," you said with a shrug.

"He will cut off your hands and kill you."

"... oh," you mumbled, grimacing as you turned to Ahk and translated.

"Well, then we better not get caught," he said, placing his hands on his hips.

You glanced to Tiamat with an odd look.

"I do not think that is something we can ask her to do," you whispered, leaning into Ahk.

"Probably not," he said after a moment's thought. "Tell her to go back to the brewery. We'll be back there soon, I think."

"Today?" You asked, your eyes wide.

"Tonight," he nodded.

Late afternoon, and the warm, fiery colors it brought sunk into the horizon, and the stars chased after that light, appearing easily in the sky surrounding a simpler town than the centers of Karanduniash. Only small torches burnt outside the main walls, usually hung by entrances to the clay huts built up from the earth. Some houses were illuminated brightly by fire places, casting squares of light onto the ground from windows, but many were climbing up onto their roofs with rugs and blankets.

You watched the evening progress from a spot near the King's spice garden which, now that you'd stared at it for a couple hours, looked incredibly inconspicuous for such a rich store. An alleyway hid you from sight of the caretakers inside the garden, and a silver earring from Ahk allowed you a hearty, thick stew, steaming with warmth in your bowls.

With a grin you clinked your wooden bowls together before raising it up, forgoing your spoon in favor of slurping the soup. He chuckled, matching your behavior as he glanced past your shoulder, to the garden, and then ultimately to one of the nearby houses in his line of sight.

More people up on the roof––smoke billowed into the air, long shadows and brightly lit faces indicated the bonfire now burning on the rooftop. A couple louder shouts, though still not loud enough for him to understand, and laughter came from there. Ahk recalled with jarring suddenness nights spent on his friend's roof's, cooking fish and warming beer over flames. Fireflies sometimes drifted through the streets below, but what always stood above were looming palm trees, silhouetted against the evening sky rife with stars.

All he could see of the stars was through the thin gap between the houses where you now sat, as anything outside of looking directly up was fuzzed by torchlight. At least the scent of stew still tempted him; he turned his direction back to his food and felt considerably better after finishing.

"I think we take hot stew for granted," he said after a full minute of staring at his empty bowl.

"It is hard to make when we move," you said quietly.

"Really?"

"Yes, you... you need spices, and – and wheat, or barley, or it will be hot fish water," you said in complete seriousness, looking up to him with a critically thinking eye that sent him into laughter.

"Hot fish water??" He repeated, a wide, sweet smile across his face that had you blushing.

"That is what that is!"

"Okay, okay," he chuckled, "keep quiet, my dear."

"I am not your deer," you said flatly, and returned to the last of your stew.

His heart beat painfully, warmth following that pulsing depth. His smile fell, as well, as imagination––and longing––seized him, and he very nearly pulled you into his lap. Instead he dug his nails into his palm, and proceeded to thoroughly imagine the entire scenario, were he not a coward.

He would take your hands and pull you in. You would follow without hesitation, slotting your knees on either side of his hips, and resting yourself on his thighs. Then you'd ask why he did this, and he would say something suave––something like 'just wanted to see you better'. He'd raise his hand and push the hair out of your face to see your dark, inky eyes, and the red mark above your brow. And he would ask–

"How did you get that mark on your forehead?"

You paused your eating and Ahk stiffened, realizing he just spoke aloud his thoughts.

"My parents did give it to me," you said quietly as you set your now-empty bowl aside. "It was... on my mother, not there forever. It – it came off, but they did want me to always have my third eye open. And they hit it in with sindoor."

"Sindoor?"

"It is from Harappa, I think... I do.. I remember that, in that time, I was in stone homes, with flags of red and gold, and the food.. was very sweet. I think that it is Harappa, what I remember," you said, slowly coming to terms with your own memories.

"You remember your time there?" Ahk asked, raising his brow.

"Only a little," you said with a shrug. "But the mark is where everything is made, by Gods, by us. It is..," you sighed deeply, "I do not know how to say it in Egyptian."

"Oh," he said. His knees pulled ever so slightly closer to his chest, scraping his sandals on the rough gravel. "Can you draw it?"

"... maybe?"

You moved to your knees, searching your immediate surroundings for a stick or rock.

The stick dragged through the loose dirt, forming shapes that soom became ideas––one triangle to represent bread, beside two, and then a blank, empty space you circled.

"It is... nothing. It is when you have no bread, that is a number too," you said, watching Ahk carefully to guage if he fully understood. "Because the life does not.. fully live, without our math."

"The absence of something isn't a number," Ahk said with a frown, his intense gaze switching from the image to you.

"I do not know," you mumbled, pulling your knees to your chest. "It is only what my parents did say."

The stray expression on your face was solidified with wandering eyes, trailing off to the side of the alley wall. Ahk was still in a state of stupefaction, staring at your features––the curl of your lashes, or the warmth of your lips, whose mirage always found his cheek in dreams and fantasies.

Before he knew it he was leaning forward, at last reaching out for you, fingers numb with nervousness scraping against the earth. You still wouldn't look to him, but he continued, thoughtlessly, to creep closer, his hand hovering close enough to your waist to feel your heat.

"The man is leaving," you whispered, the words acting like ice over Ahkmen's brain.

He quickly withdrew, clearing his throat and tracing your eyeline back to the King's garden. There was, in fact, a silhouette of a man leaving the garden hut, settling a tarp over the door and its' symbol before he disappeared from view.

"Give it a few minutes," he muttered back, his eyes set dead upon the disappearing figure. "He might come back."

Ahkmen sat back down on his butt, the pebbles beneath him scratching as he adjusted himself against the wall. You glanced to him for a moment, offering a small smile when you saw his furrowed brow, lessening his anxiety if only minutely.

The two of you talked quietly for a little while longer, keeping up your cover as vagrant friends, until Ahk was assured the guard wouldn't be returning. He kept a continuous eye on the garden, and was quick to move to his feet after he decided it was safe. Your hand slipped into his without him asking, a grip he solidified as you jogged, looking up and down the street you crossed.

No one.

The flap the man set over the doorway was a meek form of protection, and was easily bypassed with nothing more than your hands. It rippled behind you as you entered, but soon fell silent, hiding you and Ahk from view of the street.

Inside the garden's storeroom was even darker than the night outside––the flap blocked out the light of torches, and a ceiling concealed the sky. You squinted as you tried to see, eventually making out the shaky forms of closed caskets and containers. Most of them had lids made of pottery, but some had nets wrapped around the high necks, secured tightly into place with complex knots.

"You must see for it," you whispered to him. "I do not know the smell, or the look."

"I don't really know how it looks either, I'll be honest with you," he said. "I've only ever seen it fully processed in one of the kitchens."

"Why did you not say that?!" You hissed.

"I didn't think it would be a problem!" He whispered harshly.

"You –" you sucked in a breath, "– you find the thing, I will go see that we are not found."

"Yes, dear," he said in a drawling tone he had used many times for those two words.

Before he knew it his back was slammed against a wall, sending pain shooting up his spine and into his cranium. He nearly let out a pained cry, but your hand zipped up to cover his mouth, your other arm keeping his chest pinned to the wall. He stared wide-eyed down at you, shocked at the force you so easily used.

Your fingers over his lips.

Your hand on his chest.

Your leg slotted between his.

His cheeks were set ablaze.

"You do not get the bad part of the times in Egypt, when you did steal and make fun with guards," you said, glowering up at him. "But this is not a place where you are rich. You can not pay for innocence. Not here. And this price is death if we are seen, like it is always for me, in Egypt and Babylon."

He gulped down the knot in his throat, only breathing when you gently pulled away. You still glared at him, but it was less intense, and you put more distance between you.

"Do see the cardmoms," you mumbled before you left.

The flap settling back into place was the last sound he heard from you, your fabric shoes allowing you to pad quietly away without making any noise. An intense, overpowering silence followed, darkened hands rubbing it like lavender upon his skin, familiar and uncomfortable.

He spent the following hour or two searching through the assorted jars, carefully raising up mud lids or untying thick rope. Many of the spices were ones he'd tried before––some reminding him of Egypt and others bringing memories of the few countries he travelled to during his time as Prince. Now he was stealing not just for fun, but because he had to. He couldn't afford what he was taking.

Cardamom, who carried a sweet, fruity scent, ended up being at the opposite end of the room, making it one of the last he inspected. Its' scent was also incredibly distinct, and the moment he found it he knew most certainly it was cardamom. He grinned.

It wasn't the seeds, either––it was the actual powdered spice, meaning it was already ready to put in the beer. But there was very little of it, the whole of the container being around the size of his head.

He sighed almost wearily, leaning sideways against the wall.

If you were still here, he could've apologized, and you'd both probably be gone by now. As he phased out at the thought of you, he mindlessly stroked the clay pot.

Approaching footsteps broke his trance. His eyes shot up, automatically tucking the cardamom into his clothes and running off into the night garden, in which the medicinal herbs were grown. He sucked in a sharp breath, realizing acutely that he was now ankle deep in wet earth, though fortunately, in-between the rows instead of on them.

The tarp at the garden's entrance flapped again as the stranger entered. There was little protecting him from being discovered now, and he fled off to the sun garden, careful to not slosh his feet in the mud. It was then, when mud had splattered up to his calf, that he remembered his leather shoes were still inside the storeroom, waiting to be discovered.

Thoughts flew wildly around his head, his quick-thinking talents melting away into timed panic. Wide eyes flickered from the archway between the shadow garden and the storeroom, and then to the arch leading into the sun garden, then back to the stranger, who pivoted on their heel.

He fled into the next room the moment the steps even hinted of growing louder, pressing his back against the opposite wall, his chest heaving up and down.

Again his frantic eyes searched the room for anything that might aid his escape. Tarps were stretched taut between wooden poles, blocking access to the outside, but allowing sunlight to stream in. He looked up and realized with sickness that the only way out was up.

Digging his teeth into the inside of his cheek, he tied fabric around the clay pot, ensuring it wouldn't fall from his grasp. He tensed his muscles, preparing himself mentally before he jumped up and grasped the top of the pole with his fingers.

Steps continued to get closer, now treading through the silted earth and sparking a dreadful terror that shivered down his neck in much the way it had when you slammed him against the wall. He scrambled up, his bare feet digging into the splintered pole before he threw himself over the other edge of the tarp. A loud thud came from him as he fell on his back––once more injuring it––bringing from him a pained groan.

Footsteps grew even closer, marking the sign of running feet that had Ahk clambering to his legs, cradling the cardamom to his chest as he ran. Bits of gravel and hay dug into his bare feet, bringing with them sharp pains that had Ahk convinced he was bleeding. When he looked behind himself, however, he found no trail, and slowed his sprint as he crossed the gate into the main city.

Deep breaths wracked his chest and he collapsed partways, leaning the weight of his upper body on his knees, fingers splayed out on the heated skin. He quickly looked behind him to be sure, and after finding nothing continued on into the city. It would take a while before he reached the brewery.

He paused in an alleyway for a short few minutes, checking the state of his heel and finding it alright. Reddened and dry, but unpunctured, despite the pain being sent through his muscles. With a sigh he leaned back, closing his eyes.

What a nightmare.

He could not pull his thoughts from the image of you angry, blazing with an inequality that had clearly been irritating you for a while. Even with his lie he alienated himself from you.

You would forgive him, but not for the reasons Ahkmen wanted you to. You'd forgive him because you had to, because the only other option was fending for yourself through another country and a half until you got to Harappa, where even there safety wasn't assured. But you wouldn't forgive him because you loved him, or because you knew he could do better. Horrible guilt flared in his chest, turning to bile in the back of his throat.

Whether or not you intended this reaction, it was there nonetheless, and Ahkmen did his best to force it down with logic. It wasn't a big deal. He could do better. And, he supposed, he got the cardamom, so that had to count for something.

His hands were still wrapped around the pot discreetly when he entered the vacant city plaza, heading quickly down the steps into the brewery. From the entrance he could hear the soft sounds of burning fire, and when he pulled away the door he noticed immediately warm light and soft voices, stirring with a mixer that clunked gently against the side of the cauldron.

The two of you went quiet when Tiamat noticed Ahk standing awkwardly at the doorway. He glanced between you before reaching into his clothes, pulling out the cask of cardamom so highly coveted in the last couple hours.

Tiamat gasped, a wide grin instantly spreading across her face. Your mouth fell open in shock.

"You did get it?" You asked, stepping around the boiling pot to stand in front of Ahk.

"Yeah," he said, still reeling from his escape. "Almost got caught. I had to jump over the tarps 'round the sun garden."

"Jump??" You asked.

"Well – more vaulting over them," he said. That didn't clear it up at all, but you were grateful anyways.

He sat in the corner of the limestone room, watching you and Tiamat mix a handful of the spice in the large cauldron, and testing the scent as you stirred. You continued to talk in hushed whispers of Akkadian, your shadows casted long against the low fire. Sleepiness was already beginning to take over him, leaning his head back against the cool wall, and letting his eyes slip shut.

When he came to, Tiamat had gone, and you were left alone to tend to your beer. You still stood atop a box that lifted you up to look over the jug, slowly stirring the thick mixture. Your face was flushed from the heat, and the strands of your hair that fell in front of your eyes casted shadows on your cheeks and brow.

After a yawn and a stretch, he lifted himself to stand, and shuffled over to your side.

"I'm sorry for endangering you," he said quietly, hesitant to look and even more hesitant to touch.

"I do not know that word," you said without looking up.

"Putting you in a place where you might get hurt."

"Oh," you glanced up to him, but didn't linger before you returned to the vat. "It is okay. I know you do not know very much better."

"It's not really okay, I should've thought beyond my own nose."

"A little," you agreed before falling silent.

After a minute he asked, "is there a way I can make it up to you?"

"You had the cardamom, that is good," you chuckled. "But you almost got caught?"

"Ah, that," he said with a long sigh that made you giggle again.

He recited to you the events of the evening that progressed after you left. He conveniently left out a few details––such as almost crying because he'd upset you––but included how he'd injured himself, how the garden official was hot on his trail, and how he accidentally left his shoes in the storeroom. You nodded along.

A beat of silence passed after his story ended, broken only by the bubbling of beer.

"You are filthy," you said.

"Thanks," he said with a frown.

You set a lid over the cask, feeding the fire only a little more before you stepped down from the pedestal.

"I know where we must go," you said, stopping in front of him to look up and meet his eye.

"To bed?" He asked hopefully.

"No."

His heated skin finally calmed down enough to feel a cool breeze as you led him out of the brewery, and back into the empty town center. For a few minutes you walked in silence, and every now and then you'd turn down a street, directions he thoughtlessly followed.

The scent of water hit him before he saw it, and soon the brick path led out to a crystal-white terrace, holding descending steps on either side of the raised platform. Below sloshed the inky waters of the canal, reflecting his warped features. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but was halted when you took his hand, gently pulling him down the glazed brick steps. Their tops were white, and the rims beneath carried a familiar shade of blue.

Olive-colored trees grew on the riverside, barely reaching any taller than the platform that now stood proud above him. Only a single other person was there––a bald man drifting on a skiff at the other bank of the river. He was easy to ignore, which you did gladly, and continued to pull Ahk to the riverside.

"You have dirt," you said, scanning him up and down. "And here is where you do clean your body. This is your forever. No more of the home baths, and your smelly things."

"You mean my lavender?"

"Etuvaka. You know what I say," you said with a stern look.

"I know," he said quietly, sitting on the ledge of the stone dock with his feet swinging in the water.

You took a seat beside him, slipping off your shoes and rolling up your pants before you dipped your legs in beside his.

"How are your feet?" You asked.

"Alright," he said as he massaged the bottoms of them. "I thought they were bleeding, but they aren't, so I must be alright."

"Take your clothe off," you said, suddenly moving up to your knees and scooting behind his back.

He chuckled but undid the tie around his waist, pulling the green shawl off his shoulders. It fell easy to the crook of his elbow, and you tugged it down further, eventually pulling the fabric out from being tucked into his skirt, and tossing it aside to the marble floor.

"You have... color," you said quietly after a moment of just staring at his back.

"Sort of dark? Like dirt?" He asked, attempting to look over his shoulder at you, but settling for staring at the wall beside him.

"A little," you said.

Your fingers touched the top of his spine, trailing down the bumps and ridges showing prominently through the skin of a man overworked and weary. When you pressed harder, even slightly, he hissed and jerked away.

"Careful there," he said, clearing his throat to mask his whimper.

"Sorry," you mumbled.

Ahk continued to wash his feet and legs free of the mud while you stayed knelt behind him, your touch brushing against him every so often. He finished rather quickly, but enjoyed your hesitant fingers so greatly that he pretended to keep washing himself, hoping to feel you at his back and shoulders again.

"You are Shu fully equipped," you began to murmur, your palms settling on his shoulders and digging softly into the skin. "You have not been taken to the God's place of execution, for you are covered with the kenu-garment. You were not made to enter into the God's place of execution, for you are the Great One, baboon-shaped; you have not entered into the God's place of execution, the knife has no power over you."

He sat in silence for another moment, his mouth hanging subconsciously open.

"That was... perfect Egyptian," he turned around, dragging water on his leg, "where did you learn that?"

"My time in your class, in Memphis, was not for nothing," you said with a giggle, as though it was inconsequential, as though you were normal. "It is one of your spells, for being killed by a King. It is best, because that is your crime."

He could do nothing but stare, confounded.

"I could fall in love with you," he blurted out, watching with dread as your expression fell.

You pursed your lips softly, your gaze falling to the river behind him. To his credit, he hadn't given everything away, though by the look on your face he might as well have.

"I am not a person that people fall in love with," you said quietly.

#ahkmenrah x reader #Ahkmenrah #Night at the Museum #rami malek #rami malek character #ahkmenrah x female reader #ahkmenrah x male reader

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heresathreebee · 3 years

Text

Waters Brackish and Briny (four)

[Ralph Lamont X Female Reader]

Summary: the first of many strange and unusual occurrences to come in your new home. Previous Masterlist Next

Tags: 15+ | 2k words | hauntings, an argument, physical intimidation 😬, secrets, crying

AN: hey remember there were ghosts in Things Seen and Heard? Personally I hate angst so sorry y'all 😔 I will NOT leave it here for long

SECOND WEEK

Ralph went back to work and the house became empty once more. Empty except for yourself and the house. And possibly a rat or two. You set up traps and finished moving the furniture in the downstairs rooms into place. The previous owners left a decently conditioned upright piano behind when they moved. A few scuffs on the legs and a toy soldier in the strings, but perfectly playable and barely out of tune. Nothing a little warm up couldn't change.

You ate lunch on the piano bench, glaring at the unfinished archway leading to the solar room. Should you sweep first or measure the windows to be fitted for panes? Do you want regular clear glass or some stained glass? Get crazy with it?

You waste a couple hours playing basic melodies and manage to squeeze in time to do all the measurements for the windows before 3 pm. You take down the paper on the floor most window holes and sweep the dust and leaves and branches outside. You mop till the hardwood floor shines but you hate the white beech wood and add varnish to the To Do list.

You ring up the Vayle boys you met the day you unloaded your furniture. "Hey Eddie! I was planning on making something for you and Cole as a thank you but I need some supplies first."

It rained in the afternoon and Ralph came home with mud on his pants. "Baby what happened? Did you fall?"

Ralph looked supremely annoyed. "One of the kids took a tumble and grabbed me for support. We both went down."

You know he's in a sour mood but you can't stifle your laughter. You coo at him, looking over the damage to his suit. He's got mud caked on the seat of his pants and flecks of it as high as the back of his neck. You help him strip as much as appropriate with guests in the house.

Your husband sniffs the vanilla scent from the air and looks at you incredulously. "Did you make cookies?"

"Yeah," you said, "for Eddie and Cole."

The boys waved at your husband from the kitchen counter. He gives a lustless wave back and trudges upstairs in his under things. You tip the boys with the rest of the cookies in an old dish and send them on their way home.

You open your bedroom door to find Ralph butt ass naked and on his knees looking for something.

"We should do this more often," you tease.

Ralph looks up and raises an eyebrow at you then notices the position he's put himself in. "Now's not the time for jokes: do you know where the luffa is?"

You cross your arms. "Well it's not under the bed…"

"Helpful." Ralph climbs to his feet and his nose bumps yours. "Where. Is. The luffa."

"Behind the bathroom door on a hook."

"Why?" Ralph takes three steps towards the bathroom, then quickly retraces them and this time his forehead collides with you none too gently. "And not saving me a cookie? Uncool."

"Open your mouth." His eyes go dark for a second and you roll yours. "Do it."

You plant the last cookie in his mouth and flop onto the bedspread. "Go. Shower. I'll clean up the kitchen."

The house creaks at night. Sometimes the sounds make the hair on your neck stand on end, but you simply squeeze Ralph and drift back to sleep. In the haze of a dream you think you hear something small and glass break a few rooms over but you can't hold onto your memories for long like this.

Except tonight there is more than sounds. Beneath the smell of your body wash on Ralph's skin, something tickles the back of your throat. It's acrid and raw pulling you from the fringes of sleep into reality fast. You sniff the air and the scent seems to grow ten times stronger. It's like… it's like…

You shake Ralph by the shoulder. He doesn't stir an inch. The smell is so strong you're choking on it. You grab Ralph and shake him like a doll until he bursts into wakefulness.

"What? What?!"

"Do you smell that?"

"What?" His eyes are completely unfocused, face pinched in annoyance.

"It smells like…" you turn on the bedside lamp much to his dismay. "It's like gasoline or something."

Ralph growls and rubs at his eyes. "Exhaust fumes maybe. Ralph! We have to get up– we have to get out!"

Somehow you manage to drag him out of bed and down the stairs. The smell gets weaker but it's still there burning in your nostrils like actual fire. Your eyes search frantically for that yellow orange flicker in every room to no avail. It doesn't ease your fear.

"Come on." You push Ralph outside and the man almost falls off the wrap-around porch. His eyes are glued shut, legs shaking as he stands, and trapped in that sleep state.

You rack your brain for ideas. Is the car on fire? Should you check the garage? Do you have a working fire extinguisher? There's one in the garage by the door but you doubt it's up to date.

"Ralph baby please wake up, I need you…"

You cling to his arm and he manages to crack one eye open. "The fuck is going on?"

"Something's wrong," you stutter, "I think he's here."

Ralph opened his other eye and looked at you. His head swiveled to and fro over his shoulders, trying to peer out into the dark cover of night to find anyone lurking in the dark. His grip on your arm is tight, almost hurts. He looks back at you, puzzled.

"Where?"

You didn't know where, in fact you don't know why you said that. He had no idea where the two of you were. For all you know he might not even be a he at all. You've never met them but you're haunted by them.

You shake your head and focus on the danger of now. "Fumes. I woke up and it smelled like exhaust fumes in our room."

"I didn't smell anything," Ralph says.

You growl. "I did. We need to call someone, we can't go back in the house. What if it's filled with gas and there is an open flame somewhere?"

Ralph looks around then tries to walk past you towards the door. You catch him with a look of disbelief.

"Did you not just hear a single word I said?!"

Ralph sweeps your bruising grip from his arm. He keeps walking but he never breaks eye contact with you. He's definitely awake now.

"If there's fumes, it's coming from the garage. Lord knows you're not going to let me look knowing that," he says stepping past the threshold into the mud closet next to the kitchen, "so we need to call someone."

He picks up the phone from its cradle and dials 9-1-1. "Unless you have some secret satelite phone hidden in the barn, I'm all ears on how we call someone…"

He's right. He's being an asshole about it but he's right. You can smell the fumes as you step in, desperate not to be far from him no matter what happens. Ralph plucks the housecoat from the hook by the door and fits it around your shoulders. You didn't realize you were shivering.

The sheriff comes out tonight and it's half past 2 am. You and Ralph are waiting outside, a reasonable distance from the house in case an explosion was imminent but it never came. Sheriff Laughton brought a fire team and they searched the house.

Travis– as he asked them to call him– asked a few meandering questions. Ralph held your hand and answered as many as he dared, looking to you for the questions you could answer better. They both noticed your thousand yard stare but said nothing.

Travis came back with the fire team and a long, befuddled face. "They checked over every inch of that house and didn't find anything except a broken lightbulb in the laundry closet."

Ralphie did not return your gaze, instead he asked. "Nothing at all?"

Travis scratched his head. "If there was something, it's gone now. I might have your cars looked at just in case, there's a mechanic about 10 miles yonder I can give you directions to."

Ralph's hand smoothed over your shoulder to try warming you up. "No, no that's OK, I have a mechanic right here."

You slap his chest for teasing you but your weak smile falls not a moment later. How can that be? They found nothing? Had you imagined the whole thing? But it had felt so real…

By the time you brought your mind back to the present, you found Ralph had moved you to the kitchen and offered Travis a cup of coffee for his troubles. The fire team was packed up and driving off the property, leaving only the sheriff's cruiser out in that empty night.

"Ralph," you whispered over the sink. "I think we should call Reagan…"

"No."

You blinked. He hadn't even taken a second to consider it, just… dismissed you out of hand like you were an annoyance. You crossed your arms over your chest and glared.

"If you won't, I will."

Ralph beat you to the phone and blocked your path, you glimpsed Travis standing awkwardly in the door but paid him no more than a passing thought.

This was about to get ugly.

"I. Am not crazy." You keep your voice low but the quiver of anger still seeps through. "I know what I smelled. It was real. If you're not going to ask for help, then fine, but do not stand in my way because of your pride."

Ralph had that look in his eyes– the dangerous look. "Oh, honey, no… I told you– we are not calling Reagan."

He kept shaking his head minutely, like it was the only thing keeping him from screaming. "That's final. I mean it, baby. I will lock you in that fucking basement if you touch that phone. I will burn this fucking house down before I let you even look at that dial."

Your jaw hit the floor but before you could protest, Ralph had your arm in a death grip as he began to drag you out into the hallway. He was probably trying to push you to the bedroom but his out of character threat had rocked you.

"Let me go," you growled, "Ralph! Stop it!"

Travis called out to you two and you tried to wipe that innate look of fear from your face. Ralph seemed to snap out of it a bit when he realized you weren't alone and he finally released your arm. It didn't stop him from bending over you until his nose brushed yours and in a growl commanded you to go upstairs.

Now is not the time to cry. Crying right now feels like weakness. You're not sad– you're fucking furious with him right now. But you're not about to make a bigger scene in front of this cop, so you push past him and head for the stairs.

The blood racing in your veins is making your face hot and head pound. You can hear Ralph follow you up shortly, likely to continue the argument further but you are beyond listening at this point. You turn just in time to see him look at you funny– why are you mad?-- before slamming the door so hard you hear the wood around the lock almost splinter.

He doesn't try the door. The light of the hallway goes out and you listen to him sigh as he heads for the couch to sleep on. You throw yourself onto your bed alone and cry into your pillow until exhaustion takes you to a dreamless black sleep.

Tag list: @werwulfy @fundamentally-lazy @escape-your-grape @go-commander-kim @mimiscappinisideblog

#alex brightman #ralph lamont #ralph lamont x reader #angst #black reader insert #three bees writing #🐝🐝🐝✒#things seen and heard au #ghost house au

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abloomntime · 3 years

Text

A Bloom In Time Ch14 Subcon’s State

(All the things in the Sucon Forest are shown in the video above and if you want to see them just skim through the video here. This is also going on my headcannon that all the ruins and houses were remains of the town near Vanessa's manor. Skip to 27:14 in the video for the fountain, 30:37 for the town hall(A.K.A where the giant shattered time piece was), and 31:30 for the old cafe area. These are just my headcannons tho that they're the remains of the original village from the Subcon storybook. The giant grave stone can be seen at 26:14.)

The video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68p19wzt2OM&list=LL&index=11&t=0s

"Back to the ship?"

Poppy had questioned the little girl who happily pulled her along and nodded with a hum to her question. Snatcher had told her to take Poppy back to the ship and Bow didn't want to make the ghost any more cranky than he seemed, Hattie trotted behind to catch up to the two girls as Bow continued to happily walk happily holding her hand like the responsible child she was. Poppy however was not very enthusiastic about being teleported AGAIN to the ship, but luckily Hattie had the most brilliant of brilliant ideas for space travel with a grown up. Which is why she was so proud when she grabbed Poppy's hand and started to lead her over to a small clearing in front of them. The thick fog in Snatcher's Forest is kinda tricky but there was the Subcon Village that provided a strong signal from their umbrellas to one of her telescopes. All she had to do was for both of them to hold onto Poppy and with their combined power they should be able to- Both kids stopped when Poppy stopped at the very edge of the long, black thorn vine that lead to the infamous ghost's home and suddenly stared straight ahead. Any subconite or dweller that wasn't scared off by Snatcher's yelling to go back to their posts was still staring in their direction.

".....Ms. Poppy?," Hattie asked quietly tugging on her still semi soaked dress. "Do you need help getting down? It's ok. We can help you."

She didn't respond and instead still stared straight ahead in front of them at the dirt path that lead to and from Snatcher's tree. The old metal fencing(or what was left of it) on either side of the road creaked with tiny groans as the wind blew, pushing around a little bit of her hair and clothes around. Some of the leaves on the dead trees rustled along with it and a few orange-red ones fell and wobbled past her towards the ground- She jumped when a pair of his minions giggled mischief like and ran down the dirt road. Their child like laughter echoing throughout the forest and into the fog as they soon disappeared from sight somewhere beyond the foggy path. A leaf suddenly fell on her face blocking her view from the weird world for a moment and instead welcoming her to a new brighter one from her memory. Of people with their horses and wagons with goods, or just plain walking down the road minding they're own business. She'd often take this road back and forth with suppilies to her stand and small house outside of town, two little children would always run up and down the road wearing those goofy play masks back and forth. Right by the entrance to the town where there was a gigantic tree planted by the founder of the town himself to grow along with the town itself. Quite poetic. It was the biggest tree she had ever seen, and admired the oak in all it's glory-

As soon as the memory of smiling people, and beautiful greenery came it went as Poppy scrambled at her face to push the leaf off. Blue eyes blinking and lungs panting as she once again was faced with the sight of the gloomy haunted forest before her and the two little girls who were confused and slightly worried staring up at her still. The reality and memory hitting her so hard that Poppy nearly fell off the giant thorn and would've fallen on her face if the two girls hadn't grabbed onto the back of her dress and pulled her back to her feet thankfully. She wobbled a little but stood straight up again and blinked. Looking around back at the tree home of the ghost and blinking at it....before her head turned towards around the tree and in a different direction from the fence surrounding it.

"Ms. Poppy. Be careful!"........When neither children got a response from her they gave each other looks before Bow gently tugged on her dress to get her attention. "Ms Poppy, are you ok?"

"....I know this place." She looked down in thought for a moment hand shaking before pointng in the direction of Snatcher's home. "T-The Great Oak was here! W-Which means in that direction would be-..."

She pointed into the forest and both girls looked in that direction still confused, but neither had time to react before the older lady suddenly moved along the giant thorn vine connected to the tree and jumped off it. An adreneline rush to her body as she ran around the home and towards the other side of it. The girls yelped and ran after her as she started off to who knows where. Unfortunately it didn't stop her from running up to the wooden fence near it and hopping over the posts.

"Uh...Boss?" One of the minions tapped at his tail making the giant ghost hum and turn his head around. The minion nervously pointed towards the home and his yellow eyes looked in that direction just in time to see two little figures jumping the wooden fence before disappearing into the woods east of the home and he instantly scowled.

"What the peck are they doing now?"

The woods of dead trees and fog meant nothing to her anymore as she hoped the fence and began running in the direction that felt so familiar to her. The girls right on her tail calling out for her to come back, but the rush of knowing this was-...It HAD to have been here once. The old dirt path was no where in sight as she ran but that didn't stop her heart from pumping as she did so. She barely even noticed more of those colorful worm ghosts floating around or the occasional minion peeping surprised to see her if they haven't seen her already from the small meeting at Snatcher's home. Finally stopping, she heaved as she looked around the forested area, hands coming up to push messy, dirty red hair from her face for better veiwing. The gloomy purple aura and the dead trees gave her no familiar feeling at all and now..... The pale woman dropped her arms seeing nothing but dead cursed woods around her. The girls finally catching up and stopping next to her annoyed.

Hattie being the first to grab at her dress again. "Hey! Have you gone bananas!? I'm already in big trouble for dropping you! Snatcher's going to be more grumpy now!"

"I-...It was here!" Poppy looked down at the ground and let go of her bangs that flopped back into place, as she stomped. "It was RIGHT here!"

"What was?," Bow asked confused.

But Poppy just started forward again looking around at the grey-green grass and started walking forward again, looking....SEARCHING for something unfamiliar to the children trailing behind her looking worried and confused as to what exactly she was doing but she knew what she was looking for....And a small gasp escaped her when she saw it. Or more like the beginnings of it. Shuffling her feet around in the dirt she finally saw the beginnings of flat, worn out stone that wouldn't be noticed by anyone if you weren't looking for it specifically. The thousand years were not kind to whatever structure was left here, but she knew what it was. The start where the now long gone dirt road would've turned into cobblestone leading into the village ...Which meant that..Poppy's eyes widened and she started forward again and this time keeping her eyes down and tapping her feet along as she walked revealing more and more flat rocks hidden under moss, grass, and dirt from years and years of wild life taking over. The girls following behind seeming to understand now that the path was starting to have a little more give way and more bricks were starting to show through the dirt until an old ancient pathway finally gave way to only a few cobblestones at a time here and there and the three of them were walking along what looked like a stone path long forgotten and slowly being chipped away by the elements...Which was EXACTLY what poppy was looking for. Her eyes widened in wonder as she know walked clearly on the path, staring down at the cracked and badly worn n uneven cobblestones with grass poking out from all the cracks. If she remembered right, this path lead to the center of town. And around that was all kinds of houses and mini pathways between them.

"Where are we going?," Bow asked still following behind the older woman and looking to Hattie who shrugged.

"The town's square!,'' she replied the child almost excited as she finally looked up from the road.....And stopped. The girls stopping by her heels and looking at her as she stared straight ahead before looking there too. Before them was an old archway that looked like it was the beginning of some ruins of some ancient civilization. In the slightly foggy surroundings she could see more and more half stone remains, black against the grey and purple. Now getting a look at her new surroundings away from the foggy swamp area, she could clearly see MORE of those many dead trees and gigantic black thorn vines everywhere. Above the archway was two pillars with those beautiful statues of winged people she knew the lovely town had, but these statues didn't even have any heads, giving them a much more menacing appearance. Right behind the archway was the actual road. Still very very broken, but it was more intack than the path she had been following, and beyond she could faintly see more ruins with stone remains of buildings. She still stood there as a breeze took through again moving what hair and parts of her dress wasn't still damps making her shiver. But the two girls didn't seem fazed at all being there before and looking around at the forest surrounding them, utterly confused as to what they were supposed to be looking at exactly but when Poppy slowly began to move forward again they blinked in surprise but followed her none the less as she neared the archway. It loomed over her the closer she approuched it and her body sucked in a breath she didn't know she needed when the shadow of the arch crossed over her slowly walking form. The beheaded statues glaring down at her silently as she passed, and stepped onto the path(or what was left of it and began forward. Hattie gave a scowl up to the behead statues as they passed, grip on her trusty umbrella becoming stronger as they passed just in case one of them decided to be a peckneck and chase them. She'd have to fend them off again if that happened. The stacked up old rotting houses and ruins of large stone buildings formed more and more as the further they walked in. Their footsteps echoing around them as they still walked, and Poppy looked around at all the old ruins of what once was houses. Bright, colorful houses and small businesses. All with happy people and their children running in and out all day wearing silly masks playing pretend while the parents and older folk ran the village as usual. The statues bringing joy with their smiling faces and having heads. As they went deeper, Poppy spotted some of the statues that still had heads thank goodness. So not all of them were in that state, but didn't notice Hattie glaring at any she passed until she froze. The end of the path laid ahead of them and ended right before some large stone ruins. Oh. Hattie recognized this place for sure. There was a time rift here she had to fix once and the place she met Timmy. The breeze still ever present blew a few leaves towards the ground where she was standing and Poppy watched as they blew passed her. Blue eyes lazily watching as they fluttered over towards a pretty strange sight that made her blink- "DAH!!" Something snagged the back of her dress as she began forward again and a quick turn of her head confirmed it to be both the girls yanking her back as if her life depended on it. "What in tarnation are you two doing?!"

Bow was the first to speak with a worried voice. "Please don't go that way!,'' she pleaded with big eyes, "The mean statue will get you!"

"What statue?"

Hattie pointed her umbrella at a headless statue that was right next to the path up ahead of them. "THAT statue! No head means it's dangerous! It's cursed and it's gonna chase you if you get too close!"

Poppy immediately looked to where the girl was pointing and stopped. Yes there was a headless statue right there a mere inches away from the path, but it was what was right BEHIND the statue that got her attention. One being that there was a magical blue, glowing cello in the middle of what looked like used to be stone floor, the roof and walls of the building already wasted away. Only leaving a few giant bricks. .....Giant oak walls suddenly clouded her mind. A small cozy place, where any one and everyone could go in and have a small break while reading away by the fireplace-

"OOF!!" Both girls fell flat on their stomachs as she once again rushed forward, forgetting about the small children behind her for a moment in favor of running the rest of the way down the path and making a break for the faint glow of magical blue cello's and a burning fireplace. "HEY!! THAT WASN'T COOL!!" Hattie's shouting did nothing as the two got up and ran after her again more annoyed. Passing the statue, Hattie gave a stink eye at and one of her famous raspberries as it thankfully remained unmoving there as it should be if it didn't want to face her umbrella's wrath! She was grumpy enough as it was as she caught up with Bow and Poppy finally who was currently staring in wonder at the glowing blue cello, right next to the glowing Blue table and chairs. As if she was seeing another ghost.

....Poppy's eyes widened in wonder before the older woman, against her better nature, reached a shaking hand out and place in right onto the table, letting out a small gasp when her hand didn't go through. She was expecting to go right through the ghostly looking thing but didn't. It felt cool like an almost ice cube. "W-What is this?...Wait a minute." She suddenly snapped behind her at the old fireplace who for some reason was burning with a regular orange fire. Next to it was a couple logs presumably for the fire, an old chest, a small pot with two old umbrellas, and some time of random painting on a tree right behind some of the old giant bricks. Where shiny oak walls used to be and her eyes widened. "This...The library!" Her eyes went back towards the direction of the statue. A shelf with old books, too worn out to ever read again laying there and a long destroyed grandfather clock no longer ticking. But it was clear as day as to where she was standing right now. Yes. The library was the first business down the west path of the Great Oak Tree when you first enter the village. It was a pretty small business but the village was pretty small so it makes sense. And that means next to it was the school house and a little ways from that was the town hall. She looked in the direction of the once cute and small stone school house. Nothing but a stone skeleton of pillars and a single rusty lanturn swinging in the breeze from above one of them. All gone.

"A library?," Hattie looked confused at her again like she sprouted a pair of antlers, "This is where Timmy likes to hang out. Hmm...Haven't seen him yet. I wonder where he is now?"

Poppy didn't pay attention to whomever 'Timmy' was, just pointed at the remains of the old building. "Yes it is...Or at least it was. T-This was a library. A-And that was a school house and over there-...." She stopped pointing in a direction the girls looked. Giant ruins of what was unboutedly large building remained surrounded by the remains of a metal fence around it as she silently stared at it for a good long silent moment. "....The town hall. The mayor lived there. A descendant of the founder you know."

"Hey! I know that place! I fixed a time rift there once!"

Poppy still didn't pay attention. Instead she looked down almost back the way they came but at an angle...There used to be another path here that branched off down the way there towards the village square where most of the homes were...and her stand. Without thinking she began walking in that direction. Mind almost blank and going on second nature. Not paying attention to anything the girls were saying now as she blankly walked and just walked. Past dead trees and their mossy branches. Past more ruins and cracked statues. More fog and more ghosts curiously watching as they walked by. The only thing her blank mind registered at the moment was the couple of graves she saw. The girls only getting more annoyed and confused as she kept on walking-

And walking.

And WALKING!!

The air around them had started to become slightly harder as they neared the burning constantly smoking part of the woods where they really shouldn't be. The embers lit up partially this part of the fog as she continued to walk. The smell of ash and burning plants filling the breeze. Until they all came across a different set of ruins the girls had also seen before. Poppy suddenly stopped....looking up at the large stone monument that was once proudly taken care of. Now only remained a said reminder of what once was, lit by a couple old lanturns on the ground near it's base and the burning woods a few yards away from them. At least the breezes were a little better than the cold ones now.

"The Founder's resting place," she mumbled before starting to walk again. Looking forward at the ruins that laid ahead of them. By now the girls gave each other a look before starting to walk behind her. By now a few curious subconites and dwellers had started gathering around and following curiously as the three walked on and on throughout the forest as Poppy still walked and walked. It wasn't long until they all found themselves in front of what was the town square. there was nothing left barely. A couple old ruins of the buildings that surrounded the giant grand fountain in the town square were gone minus some old ruins that were bourded up with rotting wooden planks, have rusty fencing, road all but gone, and some plants here and there. The once proud fountain itself all dried up and just sitting there like some poor excuse for a statue. Yet another headless statue standing in the middle of it. Once it had beautiful crystal clear water running all through it. Now it was nothing but a sorry waste of stone. "...What ever happened to this place?" She asked herself just loud enough for only her to hear, walking up towards the fountain as the two girls looked to each other and began talking again but her mind didn't register what. As she walked up to the fountain's remains cracked and belittled. .....And placing a hand on it. It was rough and cold as she expected and devoid of like. Running along all those cracks formed from years of weathering away and sighed. "He was right...I-It's all gone."

A small sniff came out followed by her closing her eyes to keep any tears inside and her body shook slightly. The Snatcher was right. The home she knew really wasn't here anymore and she would never be able to get it back...Unfortunately her grief prevented her from hearing the upcoming danger ahead. But Hattie sure saw it when the stone menace dropped from the top of the fountain with a thud and turned it's headless body towards Poppy as the little girl's eyes widened in horror.

"MISS POPPY RUN!!"

A shadow loomed over the woman and she looked behind her, blue eyes going small at the sight of the headless stone monster reaching towards her out of some nightmare. A shriek louder than anything they ever heard before tore through the forest as the red hair woman made a run for it in the opposite direction fear and adreniline pumping through her veins as she ran away from the terrible thing that gave chase to it's prey. The girls screaming something after them as they too gave chase after them. The absolute feeling of looming dread and fear fueled the horrofied woman as she ran through the woods as fast and as far as possible but one look over her shoulders gave her a tiny scream again when she realized it was still right behind her and grabbed at her with it's cold stone hand. Barely missing her hair with every grab. Turning back in front of her breathing heavily and making a sharp turn to try and shake it off. Slipping on a few leaves and falling to half a knee but managed to straighten back up and keep running but unfortunately didn't shake the statue. Running and breathing the cool air into her burning lungs from the amount of heavy breathing the adrenaline caused. Feet thumping against the ground to where she could hear her own footsteps, and the heavy footsteps of the stone monster behind her.

"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU PECK NECK REJECT!!!," Hattie shouted at the statue one hand on her hat and the other swinging the umbrella at the statue's heels.

"RUN MS POPPY!! DON'T LOOK BACK!!," Bow yelled unhelpfully behind them.

Poppy could only whimper as she still ran with fear of whatever that statue would do to her on her tail. What was she supposed to do?! She couldn't think straight right now with her mind so focused on running away and now dying.

"GRAB THE NOOSE?!"

"THE WHAT?!," her scared self screeched out not daring to look behind her.

Hattie pointed her umbrella ahead of them. "THE ROPE WITH THE SHINY BLUE ROCKS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!! GRAB IT QUICK!!"

In her panicked mind she looked for blue rope and her mind did see a rope with blue crystals jutting out from it attatched to a tree. She didn't recognize it as any noose in this state. Only the though that maybe she could climb it and get away crossed her mind. Which is why when she oh so desperately reached her hands out for it and eventually grabbed it, heart hammering against her ribcage, she shrieked again when the thing suddenly clamped down onto her wrist and up, up, up she went. The girls stopping on their heels and watching the grown woman dangle up in the middle of the air wriggling around like a worm on a hook before looking down and gasping from the height. Other hand immediately clamping around the rope spun around her wrist. She must've easily been twenty or more pecking feet above the ground.

"And up we go~," a deep voice cooed but she barely paid attention to it still gasping for air and staring at the ground in fear. The two children were standing a few yards away from the statue, Hattie glaring and Bow looking worried as it circled where Poppy was hanging a few times before changing direction and running a different way. They all watched as it ran back off towards the fountain area and once it disappeared within the ruins Poppy felt a small wave of relief wash over her. But just barely. She was still high up in the air!!! " Why hello there.~ You look....new around here.~" The same deep voiced cooed out which snapped her attention back up and around the area fear still present on her face. "You know." Blue crystals on the rope glowed like magic as the deep voice echoed out through the air. "I haven't seen a solid neck like yours for a long time.~"

......That was all it took. Another shriek cut through the air and soon enough she was thrashing and pulling at the thing like a mad man to let her go like a monster did catch her.

"Be careful now.~ I don't want to see you meet a miserable end anywhere.~ ....But with me.~ Take it easy my friend.~"

"LET ME GO!! SOMEONE GET ME THE PECK DOWN RIGHT NOW!! HELP ME!!"

"Calm down! We'll get you down promise!," Bow shouted up trying to calm down the raging woman clawing at her clutched hand despite the danger she was in.

The blue crystals were digging into her skin and scraping it. She was going to have one heck of a rope burn after this but she didn't care as long as she got away and to the safety of the ground below. Which would surely hurt but there was no PECKING way she was staying here like this! She wanted OUT of this nightmare fueled forest! To run and never look back! Nothing was here but bad things to hurt her and lost memories. Tears started to water in her eyes as Poppy's throat clenched and it was becoming hard to breath with that and her heart hammering and lungs forcing air past that clenched throat of her-

"Are you done?," a raspy voice asked her which made her completely stop and open her eyes to meet glowing yellow ones just a few inches away from her face. the giant ghost was scowling at her with crossed arms raising a brow at her situation before groaning and shaking his head. "I leave for less than a minute and you run off like an idiot in a dangerous forest where you can get hurt? Did you even listen to me at all?"

.....She choked and a couple tears fell down her cheeks. "I-Im sorry! Really I am! J-Just p-please help me!"

...Snatcher's face fell seeing her cry like that but sighed and uncrossed his arms to grab her. "Fine. But maybe now you'll listen." Her body was gently lifted into an almost bridal style as he lifted her up relieving most of the strain on her wrist as he glared down the noose. "Let her go before I burn you into nothing but ashes!"

Instantly like Magic, the grip on her wrist went away and she wretched her hand to her clutching it to her chest as she stared at the receeding rope. "I'm always here for you, Sir.~"

"Yeah. I'm sure you are." His gaze softened as he looked back to her. "Hey. Are you alright?" She didn't answer. Instead staring down to her wrist which had a mark where the rope dug into her tightly and a few scrapes like she suspected. Making him hum. "You'll be fine. Just put some ice on it and you'll be fine in a few hours."

"You can grab onto me whenever you'd like, as long as I get a glimpse of that neck of yours.~"

"PECK OFF!!" Snatcher yelled at the rope as Poppy curled in on herself and leaned more into his hold as he glared at the rope while sinking down towards the ground......Huh. Funny. Why did this situation feel familiar? Snatcher was looking at her with a soft expression as he lowered near the ground, dipping himself down once he got close enough to softly place the panting woman onto the soft ground making her flinch at the sudden action of solid under her body again. Then leaning back up to recross his arms as the girls ran on over to make sure she was ok. By now the small crowd of minions looked around at her having followed their leader over to her to watch the ruckus. "Well....I hope you're satisfied now from your little adventure."

.....The shaking woman weakly pointed back upwards. "That-...It-.....T-TALKING ROPE!! MOSTER STATUE!!.....NO HEAD!!"

...Snatcher looked over to the girls for an explaination and Bow pointed towards the fountain ruins. "The..statue chased her."

He groaned and reached up to punch the area on his face where a nose would've been if he still had one. "Out of all the stupid-...Fine. You know what?" He held up his claws. "It's fine. Let this be a teaching moment for all of you. And what have we learnt today?"

"...Uh....Keep Poppy away from statues?"

"No!...Well, yes. But it's actually keep away from dangerous cursed objects." His gaze went back to the woman still having a moment on the ground clutching her chest and staring up at him and sighed. "Now do you see? There's nothing left of your old home. But us." His claws gestured to the surrounding minions and himself. "We're all that's left and you should accept that's how it is now before you get hurt. Believe me the sooner you do the sooner everything starts to get better for you. Kids. Take her home now."

The girls didn't question the spook as he watched them struggle to get her on her wobbly legs and pushed towards an open clearing much better suited for a signal to the telescopes as Snatcher silently watched them take her away with a slightly soft frown. He knew all too well the panic and need to see for himself what was destroyed before he came to terms with anything right after his death.

"Hey, Boss?" One of the minions gave him a curious look. "Wasn't that a little harsh?"

"......No. The sooner she accepts things the better. Everyone back to your post. I have business to take care of."

#a bloom in time #a hat in time florist #a hat in time snatcher #Snatcher #The Florist #Florist #snatcher x florist #florist x snatcher

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bluezey · 3 years

Text

Inside Onward - The Gauntlet

We’re getting into the part of the story I couldn’t wait to write. Just like you all (I hope) I was excited to get to this part. So, of course it took me forever to get to it. But, here we are! And, if I did this right, buckle up.

Ian took up his staff, Barley took the leash, and both cautiously stepped into the grand doorway into the dungeon. Dad blindly followed along, being led by the leash.

Things were quiet. Too quiet. So quiet you can almost hear the particles shifting within the emotions’ bodies. Fear watched as the walls around Ian and Barley seem to grow closer and closer. The grand archway they walked under led into a tightly cramped, dark corridor. The only thing lighting the way is the torch Barley was holding, and the faint, ominous glow coming from the barred holes lining the base of the walls. The arched gaps seemed to be the only generous thing in the threatening hall made of stone, releasing into the darkness a faint blue aura, as well as the faint sound of stilled water. The emotions glanced around cautiously as the age, decay and debris of the dungeon, Disgust giving a cringe when he spotted a beetle crawling over a skeleton and into the skull’s eye socket.

Distracting his anxieties with something, Fear looked down at his watch, just as Ian looked down at his watch. Less than two hours left.

“The Phoenix Gem is just on the other side,” Barley whispered. “Careful, there could be booby traps.”

Fear shivered. “Booby… traps?”

“This place is over a thousand years old,” Ian whispered back, glancing around the dark, confined corridor. “There’s no way there could be-“

SLAM!!

A loud noise shuttered through the hall as a large blade shot horizontally through the dungeon. It thankfully avoided the brothers, who were on opposite sides following the stone walls, but it knocked the top half of Dad’s disguise clean off, leaving him a pair of legs standing on an activated cobblestone on the floor. The brothers gasped, followed by the emotions.

And with a small puff of air, the torch was snuffed out.

Fear panicked. “What do we do? What do we do? We can’t see!”

“We see that, Fear,” Anger snapped. “The lights are still on in Headquarters.”

“But there’s no light in the catacomb,” Sadness sighed. “How are we gonna get Ian and Barley through?”

Joy’s face lit up as something in the ceiling caught her attention. “Oh look, there’s some light,” she said as she pointed to the green light ominously filtering into the dungeon.

The brothers looked up as the trap door in the ceiling gradually opened, slowly revealing the glowing green being. Ian was unsure of what it was, but his face and the emotions face slowly fell as they caught sight of the fear taking over Barley.

“Oh no,” Barley gasped. “It can’t be…”

The trap door fully opened, releasing the giant green cube. The cube plopped down onto the stone floor, with a gushy thump that caused Disgust to reel back and gag.

“A gelatinous cube!!” Barley shrieked with fright.

“They’re real??” the emotions yelped in unison.

Still frozen in place in both shock and confusion, Ian caught the cube slowly shift towards them. The top half of Dad’s disguise was sucked into the gelatinous square blob, and immediately dissolved into nothingness, with a fierce, hungered fizzle. The emotions stepped back in horror. “It ate Dad!!” four of them exclaimed as Disgust ran off to wretch.

Barley looked up as he heard a groan of stone scraping against stone. Far ahead at the end of the corridor, a stone slab began to slowly close from the ceiling downward. “Run!!” Barley shouted.

“No crap!” Anger shouted.

“Wait!” Fear said, stopping Disgust as he raced back to grab the controls.

“Wait!” Ian stopped Barley by blocking him with his staff. “It’s a puzzle!” Ian explained, looking down at the cobblestone floor, each one with a different, mysterious symbol. “We have to figure it out or-“

Barley interrupted. “No time! Grab a shield!”

“What shield?” Disgust saw Barley pick up an old shield off the floor, plucked from an old skeleton. “Nuh uh, no way!” Disgust protested, about to throw up again.

“We have no choice!” Fear grabbed the controls.

Ian grabbed a shield off the ground, an arm of a skeleton coming along with it. “Ew ew ew ew,” Disgust gagged, pressing some buttons, causing Ian to close his eyes and clench in disgust as he brushed the arm off the handle of the shield.

The brothers held the shields at their sides towards the walls, with their Dad huddled between them. They picked up their dad by the belt and, with one adrenaline filled scream, raced down the corridor. With every step, traps were sprung. Arrows and spears were flying from left to right, right to left, blades came falling from the ceiling, missing the three of them by mere inches. It was pure utter chaos!

“I got ya! I got ya!” Joy exclaimed, helping at the controls as he saw Fear falling apart at the seams. Losing control, Fear stepped back, being replaced by Anger as Fear placed his hands under his arms and gasped for breath.

“That’s the most frightening thing Ian’s ever done,” Fear gasped.

And it wasn’t over yet.

The brothers stopped sharply at a pit, causing Barley to drop his shield and watch it skewer onto the spikes below. Fear watched as Ian looked up, the stone door ahead halfway closed, and closing teasingly slower. The pit between them and the door was too far to jump, but maybe…

Fear ran to the shelves, grabbed an idea bulb, ran back and shoved it into the idea bulb holder on the console.

Ian grabbed his staff and looked towards his brother. “Jump!”

Barley was shocked at such an order. “What?”

“What?” the emotions asked, staring wide eyed at Fear, taking his place at the console.

“Trust me!” Ian told Barley.

With a second guessing glance, Barley took a few steps back, then gave a running jump into the air. He gave a loud shout as he started to fall into the pit.

Acting fast, Ian aimed his staff downward towards Barley. “Aloft elevar!”

Barley felt himself halt in midair, causing him to peek from under his forearms, and see himself floating in midair, enveloped in a magical aura. Barley gave a laugh, realizing Ian just saved his life, and got them a way across the pit!

“Wow,” Disgust gasped.

“Way to go Fear!” Joy cheered.

Anger chuckled as he watched Ian lead his Dad over the pit, using Barley like a bridge. “Heh, nice,” he commented, watching Ian unknowingly place his foot against Barley’s cheek for a second.

Just as he made it over the pit, Ian tripped and fell. Dad flopped onto the floor and, more importantly, Ian lost grip of his staff. Fear shrieked. “We need that!” he exclaimed, as Ian reached for the staff just inches in front of him.

“Ian?” Barley called out, watching as the gelatinous cube was looming over him as it crept inches closer towards the pit.

Ian climbed to his feet as fast as he could, then turned and held the staff upward, pulling Barley out of the pit and out of the impending doom of the gelatinous cube.

The emotions cheered for a brief second, followed by surprised screams as Barley was literally thrown onto Ian, causing the two to be thrown through the doorway. Just as Ian and Barley sat up, they caught sight of the door just less than a foot from the floor. It was too close for the brothers to make it through, but just enough to reach through and grab the leash on the other side.

“No!!” Fear shouted as all the emotions scrambled for one of the levers on the console and pulled back. Ian reached through the gradually closing opening, grabbed the leash and pulled back with all his might, with Barley grabbing the rope of the leash and pulling as well. With their combined efforts, the brothers dragged their Dad through the doorway, mere seconds before it closed with an echoing thud.

The emotions sighed in relief and gradually peeled themselves off the console. Ian and Barley eventually stood and looked around, finding themselves in a small circular room with a tall ceiling. The emotions watched the screen as Ian looked up. “Wow, that’s really tall,” Joy commented aloud.

Fear gave a shriek as he caught sight of Barley gripping Ian by the shoulders before he could step forward. “Woah woah woah, don’t step on that,” Barley warned, motioning towards the cobblestone plate planted in the ground.

“We gotta be more careful,” Fear sighed, reeling back Ian’s leg.

“Hey, you weren’t looking down either,” Anger argued.

Before the emotions could continue, the room echoed with a loud thud, followed by an ominous sound of rushing water. Seconds later, water began to pour in through the thin cracks between the stone floor sand the rocky walls. Just as the waters reached their feet, Ian and Barley knew the waters were beginning to rise, and fast.

“I didn’t touch it!” Ian exclaimed, grasping his staff as Barley grabbed Dad and hoisted the sentient legs onto his shoulders.

“I didn’t touch it!” Fear exclaimed to the others, lost in his panic. “You all saw me not touch it! Did any of you guys touch it?”

“No one touched it, Fear!” Disgust snapped, shutting Fear up.

“Oh no,” Sadness gasped. “The water’s so cold.”

“It’s gonna ruin our hair!” Disgust gasped dramatically.

“That’s your concern?” Anger snapped at the others. “We’re all gonna drown!”

Joy was still distracted by the tall ceiling, finally making out the etching above them. “Oh! I got it! It’s a sun!”

“Huh?” Fear and the other emotions looked at the screen, noticing the engraving. Realizing that the water is taking them upwards, Fear thought aloud. “Maybe that’s the exit!”

“Let me try something!” Joy pressed a few buttons.

Ian tried to focus through the rising cold water as he aimed his staff upwards. “Voltar thundasir.” The staff released a small bolt that just flickered and fizzled mere feet above them.

“Of course that didn’t work,” Anger grumbled.

“I don’t see you coming up with bright ideas,” Disgust argued back.

“Like what?” Anger snapped. “Like that ceiling will open up if we DID step on the booby trap?”

Fear paused and thought a moment, eyeing the engraved sun in the ceiling. Quickly, he pressed a few buttons, and Ian held his breath and ducked his head underwater. The emotions quickly caught a glance of the cobblestone below them, noticing the exact same engraving. “That’s it,” Fear thought aloud.

Anger crossed his arms and said, “Told ya.”

Disgust pouted defensively. “Lucky guess.”

Ian took a deep breath as he returned his head above water. “That tile down there, it has the same shape as the opening!” Ian shouted above the rushing water.

“Maybe we were supposed to step on it.” Barley placed Dad onto Ian’s shoulders. “I got this,” Barley said before taking a deep breath and diving into the water.

The emotions crowded around the console and watched. The chamber was half full, so they knew it was quite a swim to the bottom. “Did he make it? Is it working? Is he okay?” Fear kept asking, begging for an answer.

A loud groan echoed above Ian. He looked up to see the ceiling begin to slowly open, revealing sunlight that poured into the room. “It’s working!” he cheered.

“Phew! Fear sighed.

“Yay!” Joy exclaimed, hugging Sadness. “We’re gonna make it!”

The ceiling immediately slammed shut. The room immediately became dark.

The emotions faces fell. “Wait, what?” Joy asked.

Barely popped his head back out of the water. “It’s impossible!” he gasped. “No one can hold their breath that long.”

Fear and Joy unanimously exchanged glances. “Hold their breath!” Together, they grabbed an idea bulb and placed it in the console.

Ian glanced at Barley, Barley glanced back with the same wild idea. Together, they grabbed their Dad and shoved him down deep into the water.

Fear was already looking through the water like crazy. “Did he make it? Did he make it? Did he make it?”

“He made it!” Joy told Fear, hugging the purple emotion tight while pointing at the screen.

“But he’s not on the tile!” Disgust pointed out before grabbing for the controls.

“Ahh!!” Fear leaped over Sadness and Anger as he grabbed the controls as well.

Ian took the leash and pulled left, trying to lead Dad towards the plate. Moving blindly, the legs overstepped and nearly hit the wall.

“Too far! Right!” Anger snapped, grabbing a dial on the console.

Ian pulled right, making Dad overstep the tile again.

“Good effort,” Joy encouraged, seeing the frustration in the room. “We can do this.”

“Guys, the ceiling!” Sadness called out, pointing to the screen just as Ian’s head bumped against the stone ceiling.

“No no no no no!” Fear slammed his hand on a button.

Ian and Barley both took a deep breath and dove underwater just as the last remaining space of air was filled with water.

“Ian can’t hold his breath for long!” Fear said as he took the controls, making Ian pull the leash another direction. “Someone watch his vitals!”

Sadness looked down at the vitals on the console. “He’s losing oxygen fast,” Sadness cried. “He’s not gonna make it!”

“Wait!” Joy watched with baited breath as it looked like Dad was stumbling close enough to the stone plate, but missed by a mere inch. As the emotions sighed in frustration, Joy’s face lit up with hope. “He’s standing right over it! Pull up! Pull up!”

Ian and Barley both pulled the leash upward with all their might. Dad was pulled straight upward before floating straight down in a standing position right on the stone tile.

“We did it!” Joy cheered.

Sadness gasped. “Oh no! Ian’s lost his breath!”

“We’re gonna drown!” Fear shrieked.

Before panic could break out, the emotions saw onscreen as Ian was suddenly above water, gasping for breath as one hand clung to the edge on the basin on the other side of the open door.

While relieved, Fear was still dumbfounded. “Wha- what happened?”

Sadness looked down at the vitals stabilizing as he was putting the pieces together. “I think Barley pulled us out of the water.”

Joy grinned at Barley onscreen before grinning at Fear. “He’s such a nice guy.”

Ian and Barley climbed out of the water and sat on the edge of the basin. As Barley fished Dad out by the leash, the brothers could do nothing else but look at each other, their gasping breaths turning into laughs of relief, realizing that their trial is over. The emotions each shared a laugh, realizing that they survived, and they got Ian through all of that trouble. The Manticore, the pixies, the bridge, the dungeon. And they made it. With little time to spare, but they made it.

Barley picked Dad out of the water and hoisted him onto his shoulders. “The Phoenix Gem is just beyond this door,” Barley said triumphantly, motioning his hand proudly towards a ladder in the wall. The ladder led upwards towards the exit above, blocked by a metal plate with holes filtering sunlight through. “Shall we?”

Joy stepped in at the console. “I got this!” she said playfully.

Ian led the way, climbing up the ladder. “We certainly shall!” Ian exclaimed, his boasting voice echoing through the small space. “Dad, we have followed the quest, and it has led us to our victory!”

The emotions shared a laugh, with Fear patting Joy’s shoulder. “Nice one, Joy,” he smiled, with Joy smiling back.”

Ian reached up, moved the metal plate aside, and felt the warm sunlight pour onto his cold, wet face. He proudly climbed up through the hole to find himself facing…

… New Mushroomton High School.

Ian’s face fell.

The emotions paused and stared blankly at the screen. They had no clue what was going on. Looking for answers, Fear took control, allowing Ian climb out of the hole to look around at his surroundings. The more Ian looked, the more it began to sink in. The school. The BMV. The construction site surrounding the old weathered fountain. The water tower. The apparent sewer the two just climbed out of. This isn’t some shrine or trove containing the Phoenix Gem. This is right back where they started.

Barley finally pulled Ian away from an oncoming bus and onto the sidewalk. The jostle was enough to break Ian out of his confused trance. “We’re back… home,” he said in disbelief.

“No… no no no no, this isn’t right, this isn’t right,” Fear whimpered, stepping back and placing his hands under his arms.

“This can’t be right,” Barley thought aloud. “We took the path of peril. We followed the ravens, we followed the water… unless we were meant to stay away from the water.” Barley pulled the clover shaped stone from the raven statue out of his back pocket and observed the markings.

Anger grumbled as he threw his hands up in the air. “I knew it. I knew this was pointless.”

Disgust rolled his eyes. “Complete waste of time.”

Joy was still in a confused daze. “No… no, it couldn’t be.”

“Don’t worry,” Barley said, “we can figure this out.”

“Figure out what?” Ian asked. “We’re back where we started.”

“No, there was a gauntlet,” Barley began to argue. “Unless that gauntlet was for, coincidentally, some different quest.” Barley paused. “Actually that’s a possibility.”

“What?” Fear exclaimed as Sadness began to tear up and cry.

“No no, this has to be where the Phoenix Gem is,” Barley continued, his voice growing ever quieter as he thought to himself, “I followed my gut.”

Anger slowly turned at the screen. “What did he say?” he snarled.

Fear heard that growl. “Oh no… no, I-I got this.” Fear began to press buttons on the console.

“Oh no,” Ian said, reality hitting him like a ton of bricks. “The gem is in the mountain, which we could have been at hours ago, if we stayed on the expressway.”

“No, the expressway is too obvious,” Barley argued. “You can’t take the easiest path.”

“That’s it!” Anger shouted, storming up to the console. “Let me at him!”

Fear immediately grabbed Anger and pulled him away. “No! No no no!”

Joy intervened, helping Fear keep Anger away from the console. “Fear’s right! Let’s not have Ian say something he’ll regret.”

“I hate to admit it,” Disgust commented, Sadness right beside him, “but Joy’s right. It’s not Barley’s fault.”

“Then who’s is it?” Anger snapped, still in Fear’s arms.

“I don’t know!” Disgust snapped back.

“Who cares who’s fault it is?” Fear shrieked. “We have half a dad to-!”

“If I didn’t listen to you! Okay?!” Ian shouted.

The emotions froze. Fear looked at the console… the unmanned console. Confused and shocked, he silently looked at Disgust, Sadness, Joy, even Anger, still in his arms. Fear let go, Anger looked back and held up his arms, showing he didn’t do anything.

A glint of light finally caught Fear’s attention. He turned a complete one eighty and faced the Islands of Personality.

Family Island was alive and active.

Fear raced towards the window, the emotions following. They all looked at each other in shock, not understanding at all why Family Island would be active at a time like this.

“I can’t believe this,” Ian continued, stepping closer towards the shocked Barley, the emotions watching in stunned silence. “You act like you know what you’re doing, but you don’t have a clue, and… and that’s because you ARE a screw up! And you just screwed up my chance to have the ONE thing I never had!”

Barley winced, clearly hit hard by those words. But Ian, Ian didn’t care. He just grabbed Dad by the leash and began to storm off.

“Hey, where are you going?” Barley asked.

Ian stopped, turned, and shoved the wizard staff into Barley’s chest. “To spend what little time we have left with Dad,” he said firmly before turning his back to Barley and continuing to storm off. Barley called out to Ian, but his words were ignored by Ian’s elf ears. Ian continued to storm off, clearly furious, clearly heartbroken.

Barley’s inaudible words finally snapped Fear out of it. He shook his head, realizing that Ian was walking away. “Wait, where are you going? Turn back!” he shouted. He began to race to the console, when a loud sound behind Fear made him freeze in his tracks.

Fear turned, and watched with the other emotions as Family Island shuttered… and the Barley part of the statue on Family Island crumbled away, the pieces falling into the Memory Dump beneath it.

“… no…. no, no no no no no…” Fear finally spoke in disbelief, his hands on the window glass. “This can’t be happening! What’s happening?” He turned to the other emotions, just as lost as he is. “What’s happening??”

The emotions were lost for the moment, before Joy finally spoke up. “The core memory… maybe it’s the core memory.” Joy immediately turned and ran for the core memory holder, the others following.

Fear chased after them. “No! The core memories are to remain in the core memory holder where they’re safe-!”

Anger turned and punched Fear in the gut, causing him to flop onto his back and grab his sides with a pained gasp. He then turned and met up with the others at the core memories.

Joy pressed the button to make the core memory holder to rise up out of the floor. After a quick search, she plucked out the core memory powering Family Island with a, “There!”

Disgust looked at the core memory as Joy examined it in his hands. The orb was bright and shining yellow, with a memory of Laurel at the dinner table with young Ian and young Barley, both laughing as they were baking cookies.“It’s still yellow,” he thought aloud. “That means Ian should be happy about his family.”

“But then why wasn’t he happy?” Joy brushed his hand over the bright yellow orb, and the orb dimmed.

The emotions were quiet. They watched as Joy tried it again. He brushed his hand one way, and the memory dimmed further. He brushed it another way, and the memory grew brighter than ever. Joy moved his hand on the orb further until the memory changed, to a memory of Laurel helping young Ian with his homework. Then, Joy changed the memory again, to a memory of young Barley helping young Ian learn to walk.

And the light dimmed so lowly that the orb was faded.

The core memory was faded.

Ian’s core memory of Barley was faded.

Joy was in disbelief. “This… this can’t be right.”

“Can you fix it, Joy?” Sadness asked.

Joy replied, “I dunno…”

Fear finally climbed up to his feet, one hand still clinging to the side of his sore torso. He looked through his narrow eyes to see Joy kneeled in front of an open memory holder, holding a core memory. “No!!” Fear ran to the group, but he couldn’t get passed the other emotions crowding Joy, wondering what’s wrong.

“Why is it faded?” Disgust asked. “Core memories can’t fade, can they?”

“This is so sad,” Sadness sobbed. “Ian’s forgetting Barley.”

“I knew it! I knew this would happen!” Anger shouted. “I knew we should check on the core memories!”

Fear couldn’t hear the emotions, he couldn’t even see that the core memory was faded. All he could see was Joy holding a core memory. Even playing with it! “Joy, put it back!”

Joy was still busy trying to fix the core memory. “Maybe if I… no…”

Fear kept trying to push through, calling out to Joy, but to no avail. “Joy, please!”

Finding a gap, Fear finally squeezed in and reached for Joy’s arm, only for Joy to pull away as he tried rubbing his forearm against it. What is he doing? “Joy, you’re…!”

“There’s gotta be some way to fix this,” Joy thought to himself, gently shaking the core memory.

In complete shock, Fear exclaimed, “You’re hurting my Ian!!”

Joy froze. Then turned to Fear. “YOUR Ian?”

Fear was wide eyed, frozen solid. What did he just say? Did he just say that? Out loud?

Joy’s confused face fell into a disappointing frown. He turned away from Fear, shoved the core memory back into the holder and walked away. “We’ll deal with it later, guys. Let’s go help Ian.” The other emotions followed, Anger leaving Fear with a judgmental glare before storming off.

Fear was left alone. No one to help him. No one to comfort him. All he could feel was the realization that everything was falling apart. And once everything was stripped away, he realized the damage he had done.

Ian lost the chance to see his Dad. Ian had left Barley behind. Ian’s Family Island was broken. Ian’s core memory of Barley was faded.

And now, Fear has lost the respect of his emotions. Even Joy.

Feeling helpless, hopeless, Fear just let his body collapse and fell onto his knees.

#pixar inside out #pixar onward #inside onward #sir iandore of lightfoot #ian lightfoot #barley lightfoot #joy #sadness #anger #disgust #fear

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atomic-taco-muffin · 3 years

Text

The Lost Princess Chapter 79

Warnings: You can already tell if you made it this far

Rating: SFW

“Sora, you don't believe that. I know you don't,” Riku said. He walked forward as the Demon Tide swirled closer. He planted his foot on the ground and raised his Keyblade, shielding Sora. As the Tide approached, he slammed his blade into the swarm, the force of the wind blowing through their clothes. He raged against the force of the Tide, his body blackening as Sora watched. Even with all of his strength, the Heartless overtook him and proceeded to wash over Sora. Sora floated in the abyss as streaks of light passed over him. He awoken, seeing the light ahead of him.

“Riku!” he cried as he reached toward the light. “Riku! Answer me!”

The light grew brighter as he flew closer. Soaring into the light, he found himself in familiar territory.

“This is Herc's world. Is Riku here?” he said as he ascended the golden stairs warily. “There’s no one here.”

“Gee, I'm here!” Jiminy said as he popped out of Sora's hood and into his hand.

“Jiminy! You’re okay!” Sora said.

“Well, ‘okay’ might be a stretch, but what are we waitin' for? We need to find the others!” Sora smiled down at him.

“Right!” he said. Sora proceeded into the Courtyard, finding a transparent comatose Riku floating above a massive golden sacrificial tripod.

“Riku!” he shouted. He rushed toward him and a swirling cloud of darkness appeared above Riku. It coalesced into a Heartless holding a large staff and trailing chains beneath it: The Lich. It gazed down at Riku with its glowing yellow eyes, holding out a hand over his body. Riku's heart appeared over him and the Lich encircled it with chains to Sora's horror. The heart vanished and the Lich floated toward the Corridors. Sora pursued the Lich through the archway, finding a group of Shadow and Neoshadow Heartless in the way.

“Forget the small fry! We gotta go after the one in charge,” Jiminy said. Sora blasted through them and raced to the Cloud Ridge, more Heartless appearing before him.

“We'll never stop 'em all. Leave 'em, Sora. We gotta keep going!” Jiminy said. The Lich flew into a dark portal and Sora followed. It took him up to the Apex where the Lich waited. The Heartless shot fireballs at Sora, but he dodged and pummeled the Lich until Riku's heart flew out of him. The chains shattered and the Lich escaped through the portal once more.

“Hey! Wait!” Sora shouted. The heart floated away into the air and Jiminy appeared.

“There's no need to worry, Sora. He'll return to the place he fell, like you did. We gotta focus on rescuing the others,” he said.

“Okay!” The two of them followed the Lich through the portal. They found themselves floating in starlit space with fourteen portals beneath them.

“That scoundrel musta fled into one of those pools of shadow that're down below us,” Jiminy said.

“Where do they lead?” Sora asked.

“Well, I think they might be portals to other worlds.”

“Okay! Maybe that's where we'll find the others.”

“If we hurry!” Sora fell through a portal and found himself in the Caribbean aboard a damaged pirate ship. The Lich chained Aqua and Celina's hearts and attacked Sora with bullets of water. Sora dodged the attack and the Lich summoned Vaporflies which honed in on Sora. As Sora fought the Vaporflies, the Lich created images of itself. Sora struck down a Vaporfly as one of the mirages exploded near him, sending him flying. He shook it off and struck back at the Lich until it gave up Aqua and Celina's hearts. The hearts floated away and the Lich escaped again.

“Hold still!” Sora said. Following the Lich, Sora fell through space again.

“We oughta search every portal the shadows control,” Jiminy said. Sora fell into the portal leading to Arendelle. He arrived in the Middle Tier of the Labyrinth of Ice where the Lich captured Goofy, Ansem, and Rumi's hearts. The Heartless summoned multiple Winterhorns, while floating out of reach. Ignoring the Winterhorns, Sora locked onto the Lich, storing up projectiles to release, but was caught off guard when the floor buckled and he was struck by an ice pillar shooting up out of the floor. After returning to his feet, he attacked the Winterhorns only to be hit by an ice spell from the Lich, which froze him momentarily. Once free, he knocked the Lich around until it relinquished Goofy, Ansem, and Rumi's hearts. It retreated again into the portal.

“Enough!” Sora growled. Following the Heartless again, Sora found himself in the Lobby of Monsters, Inc., where the Lich took control of Donald, Xemnas, Roxy, and Yui's hearts. It then released a 6-fold fire attack, but Sora blocked them by spinning the Keyblade. After a few minutes of fighting, Donald, Xemnas, Roxy and Yui's hearts were also freed and the Lich escaped.

“Stop that!” Sora said and followed the Heartless.

“Let's try another portal. Aim for the ones wrapped in shadows!” Jiminy said. Sora fell through the portal leading to Galaxy Toys, where Vanitas and Ven's hearts were taken by the Lich. The Heartless raised its arms, summoning Marionettes around the large central gumball machine. While Sora was focused on the smaller Heartless, the Lich's staff erupted with electricity. It aimed several disc-shaped bolts of lightning at Sora, but he knocked a stuffed patchwork animal in the way to block most of the attack. Sora whacked the Lich with the Keyblade until it fell back and Vanitas and Ven's hearts floated out of the empty heart in its chest, its chains falling away. The hearts floated out of reach and the Lich returned to the portal once more.

“Hey!” Sora yelled. Entering the portal again, Sora descended to an entrance to the Marshes in the Kingdom of Corona, where the Lich floated over King Mickey's body. The Heartless chained the mouse's heart and summoned a group of Flutterings. This time ignoring the smaller Heartless and going straight for the Lich, Sora got a few hits in before it teleported away, leaving a mirage in its wake. Dodging the inevitable explosion afterward, Sora rushed to the Lich, but was knocked back by a whirlwind that surrounded the deathly Heartless. Sora struck back with a Thunder spell, sending bolts of lighting against the Lich, breaking the whirlwind. With the path clear, Sora struck the Lich until it released Mickey's heart and ducked back into the portal.

“Hey, stop!” Sora shouted. He rushed into the portal, seeing one remaining gateway.

“That's the last one! He must be hiding in there!” Jiminy said. Sora soared into the gate, landing on the streets of San Fransokyo where the Lich took control of Axel's heart. The Lich sent Sora flying in the air with another wind spell, but he recovered only to be hit by a group of fireballs. Sora fell to the ground, where the Lich summoned an army of Neoshadows. The Keyblade wielder dashed to a free-standing light pole and spun around it, using the momentum to leap up at the Lich. Unrelenting, he struck the Lich until it stopped moving, and dispelled the Keyblade. The Heartless brimmed with darkness and faded away, letting go of Axel's heart. It floated away into the night sky. Sora walked through the city streets with Jiminy on his shoulder.

“Well, Sora, I'd say we've been to every world that we can visit,” Jiminy said.

“But we're one short. Where's Kairi and (Y/N)'s hearts?” Sora said.

“Gee, I wish I knew.” A corridor of darkness opened in front of them and Y!Xehanort walked through.

“You!” Sora growled.

“All that gallivanting through the Sleeping Worlds, and yet you learned nothing,” Y!Xehanort said.

“What?”

“Dream by dream, you nearly buried yourself in the dark of sleep. And now you're at it again? The Lich you've been fighting--it's not like other Heartless.” Y!Xehanort walked closer and Jiminy hid away from him. “It exists to usher hearts down to the depths of darkness. If you chase it, you will condemn your heart to that same abyss.”

He pointed toward Sora, but he held a hand to his heart.

“You're wrong. My heart is strong,” he said.

“What do you think the power of waking is?” Y!Xehanort asked as he looked up to the sky. “It's for traversing hearts to reach worlds. Not for traversing worlds to reach hearts. There's a high price to pay for wielding such power foolishly.”

“So what? You're worried about ME now?”

“No. There's no saving you. But maybe I’m worried about my daughters.”

“(Y/N) is not your daughter!”

“Oh really? Who was the one who took her in? Me. She can’t escape from that fact.”

“No, but she can cut you out of her life! And so can Celina! And Vanitas!”

“Listen, you've paid the price. And it lies at the bottom of the abyss.” Y!Xehanort backed into the corridor of darkness, facing Sora.

“Wait!” Sora yelled. He ran forward, but the corridor closed and Jiminy peaked out.

“Sora!” he said. Sora realized his phone was ringing in his pocket and he picked it up, Chip appearing on the screen.

“Hurry, Sora! The way to the Keyblade Graveyard is open!” he said. Dale pushed Chip off-screen.

“Chipper and I found a new path!” he said. Chip came back into frame and nodded. Jiminy gave a small laugh of happiness.

“Of course! That's the one place we haven't checked yet!” Sora said.

“Off we go!” Jiminy said. Sora again floated through the tunnel toward the light. He looked forward, seeing you and Kairi ahead of him, smiling.

“Sora,” the two of you said.

“Kairi! (Y/N)!” Sora said. He floated closer to the two of you, grabbing your hands in his.

“I found you!” he said. You and Kairi giggled and the three of you flew through the tunnel together.

“You see? I had no doubts that you'd pull through,” Kairi said.

“She’s right,” you said.

“The light in the darkness. It was you. You're the one who kept me from fading away,” Sora said.

“All we did was believe that you wouldn't,” Kairi said. Sora smiled happily.

“I feel strong with you girls,” he said. You and Kairi smiled and grabbed Sora’s hands.

“The others are ahead. Come on,” you said. The three of you flew toward the light at the end of the tunnel and Sora remembered the powers of Rapunzel, Elsa, and Anna.

“We told you, Sora. You’re safe with us,” Kairi said.

“Yeah,” Sora grinned. The three of you flew into the light hand-in-hand until the world turns white.

#kingdom hearts #kingdomhearts #kingdom hearts 3 #kingdom hearts iii #KH #khiii #kh 3 #kingdom hearts imagine #kingdom hearts imagines #kingdom hearts x reader #kingdomhearts x reader #kingdomhearts imagines #kingdomhearts imagine

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makbarnes · 3 years

Text

Number 9

Every Saturday night Tony took out the remaining Avengers not on mission to a restaurant of his choosing. Tonight was Italian and you had been getting suggestive looks from Bucky all day. You chose your black miniskirt and paired it with your red loose v-neck. No doubt when you went out with Stark you would party afterwards. Tony, Pepper, Sam, Steve, Bucky and you all piled into the limo and listened as Tony ‘explained’ the agenda.

“Food, Party, Don’t get too drunk. We are heroes, remember?”

“Tony, we get it. We do this every week.” Sam chimed up as he ignored Tony.

“I don’t want a repeat of last month.”

“She isn’t even here tonight so safe it say it won’t happen.” You knew he was talking about Natasha. After dinner you all had gone to a club and someone grabbed her ass. In your opinion Nat was completely right to drop him on his ass.

“No bad pictures, nothing. They already wanted us to stay in because of your record getting leaked.”

“I’ll be an Angel.” You held up a hand and winked over to Steve at the use of the nickname he called you. Bucky squeezed your thigh and you snuggled against his side as the limo drove to the best Italian place in New York. Bucky offered his hand to you as you got out of the car and the press was already lined up snapping pictures. You held your smile as you spotted the reporter from the other night and tried to ignore the rage inside of you. Bucky led you inside and you all got seated in the back booth. You were squeezed between Steve and Bucky and felt yourself almost sitting in his lap. You smiled as he whispered into your ear and Tony ordered for everyone. You shivered against his warm arm and Bucky took off his jacket to lay it over your lap to shield your legs from the cold. You all ate and joked until most of the restaurant had emptied, Bucky tucked an arm around you and pressed his lips through your hair.

“Number 9?” Bucky’s hand tightened against your upper thigh as he watched your eyes dart through everyone near. You adjusted and held your breath as Bucky moved his hand under your skirt and teased around your clit. You locked eyes with him before adjusting the jacket over your lap and tried to relax. “What’s wrong Doll?”

“You know what’s wrong.” You gritted through your teeth as Steve glanced over to you.

“Everything okay?”

“Yea, just bored out of my mind from Tony’s s-story.” You held the blush from your face as you felt Bucky move your panties to the side and slip two fingers through your folds.

“Already so wet, Doll. Doing this in public get you heated?” His whispering voice had you melting deeper against him as Bucky pressed deeper and your fingers gripped into the jacket over your lap. You held your moan in your throat as Bucky guided one of your hands over his bulge. Your eyes locked with his own while you chewed on your bottom lip, You gasped silently as his fingers slowly grazed by your climax. “Shhh.”

“Barnes, Rogers you two are on drink duty. Keep track of mainly me and {Y/N}.”

“Roger that.” You laughed at Steve’s reply and his wink sent you folding over the table. You moaned into your napkin and moved your hand against Bucky’s shaft.

“Shit.” Bucky cursed under his breath as the waiter came up to give Tony the check. He easily slipped a card into the black folder and handed it back to the man.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” You cleared your throat and easily slipped over Bucky’s lap to tease him. “Don’t leave without me boys.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” You winked at Bucky as you excused yourself and readjusted your skirt and panties. Clearing your throat you splashed some cold water over your neck before walking out to join everyone. You gripped Bucky’s hand tightly as you all left and proceeded to a bar. You smiled as the limo pulled up to the Royale Club, and you already noticed the paparazzi flashing their cameras at the limo.

“Okay everyone, smiles and waves. Get this over with then we will party till they leave.” Tony pushed open the door and led Pepper out with him. Sam stepped out and blocked you getting out of the car with the help of Steve and Bucky for no rude upskirt pictures from the paparazzi. You smiled at him as you locked arms with both men, knowing the team pictures made the recent releases look better. You smiled at each camera before you felt Steve pull off and you tucked your hand onto Bucky’s chest. You glanced over and saw Sharon yelling at Steve at the entrance. You glared at her but quickly changed your demeanor and walked over to them with Bucky.

“Sharon! So good to see you. Wanna come to a party?” You smiled as you broke your arm from Bucky and knocked her hard in the shoulder as you pushed past her. You felt her dark stare as you reached for the men’s hands and pulled them inside. “Fucking bitch.” You growled as you rushed over to Pepper who already had a plate of shots ready in the VIP area. You downed three of them and grabbed Steve. You rushed to the floor and smiled as Bucky watched you grind over his best friend. Your hands tucked around the back of his neck,as his hands went over your hips. You pouted as he pulled away and left you dancing on the floor. You wiggled your finger up to Bucky for him to join you. Wiggling your hips you felt a pair of hands on your hips and quickly turned around to rip them off of you.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Oh come on, I read your background.”

“I’m married douchebag and if you read my file you should know who my husband is.”

“Would it work better if I said ‘Hail Hydra’?” You scoffed as you felt Bucky whip you behind him and hold the guy’s hand tightly with his metal one.

“You have three seconds to get out before I hunt you down and bury you with your buddies.” Bucky held his stare to the man as he stumbled back against the ground.

“Guess you fucked the slut out of her.” The man stood up and walked away and you couldn’t help but feel tears rushing to your face. You ran to the bathroom to calm yourself down and left Bucky out on the floor. He looked around for you and watched Steve and Sam look from the upstairs for you. Sam pointed to the bathroom and Bucky nodded as he made his way over to the archway. Bucky calmed himself down as he waited for you and groaned as Sharon walked in front of him.

“Girlfriend leave you Sweets?”

“Go away.”

“Ooo feisty. I saw that show. If I was with you, I could handle my own.”

“Don’t care.” Bucky turned his head to peek down the small hallway towards the bathroom and felt Sharon turn his head back to her attention. “Sharon go bother Steve or some other loser to sleep with you.”

“I’m just being friendly, besides I don’t see your wife around.”

“How about you turn around Bitch.” You crossed your arms and glared at her as she turned slowly to give you a sly smile.

“Well, well Looks like the ‘slut’ got her feelings together.”

“I’m counting to five, if you aren’t gone, I’m gonna have to break my promise to Stark. I would really like to keep that.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“You really should be. Five.”

“Make me leave then.”

“I will. Four.” You started walking and pushes Sharon towards the exit slowly.

“Do something.” Sharon gave you a small shove and you just smirked as you kept backing her up.

“Three.”

“I’m not leaving.” Sharon planted her feet down as your chest lined up with her own and your breath quickened. Your eyes deepend in anger and you saw her breath leave her body.

“Two? Last chance.”

“Make me.” Sharon brought a hand across your face and you smiled wickedly at her.”

“One.” You backed her out the door and snickered to yourself as she tripped on the carpet. The cameras flashed as you fixing your posture and hovered over Sharon on the stairs. “I hope everyone is having a great night. I would like to introduce Sharon Carter. She has been kicked off and has been caught trying to steal my husband. I understand that the recent broadcast of my file has some questions which I am going to put to rest so scum like that have nothing over me. HYDRA hired me as a sex slave, they gave me the serum just so I could keep up my stamina. I am not ashamed of this and I have reprogrammed myself to use my abilities to help America. If anyone has an issue with that then they can take it up with me. I refuse to be ashamed of something that is out of my control. Sharon likes to hold that over me but not anymore. As a part of the main strike team I can fully release that Sharon has been leaking intel that is classified to the Avengers Initiative.” You gave her a small wink as her face dropped and the cameras switched onto her. You turned to shut the door, you laughed and rushed back to Bucky who spun you around in his arms.

“Tony won’t be happy about that.”

“Fuck Tony. Now how about that coupon?” You winked at him as he led you to a dark corner near the speaker. You smiled as he lifted your legs around his waist and loosened his belt enough for his pants to stretch down enough to pull out his leaking cock. You held yourself tightly against him as he pulled your soaking panties to the side and pushed deep inside of you. You tucked your face into his shoulder and let your moans flow out of your mouth to hide under the beat from the loudspeaker near you. BucKy’s fingers held you tightly against the wall and held his moans against your ear. You felt your eyes rolling back into your head and felt your finish coming quickly. Your nails dug into his skin when you felt his teeth sink against your skin.

“Fuck Bucky.”

“Gonna cum already? I feel you squeezing me, Doll.” You chewed your lip as your coil broke and you coated Bucky’s cock in your finish. He pushed himself deep inside as your walls milked him for his finish and kissed under your ear as he felt himself fill you with his own. You gasped against his body as he adjusted your clothes and carried you back up to the VIP area. You stayed curled up against him for the rest of the night as the team enjoyed the night.

SERIES MASTERLIST

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mikkomacko · 4 years

Text

Dear Daisy 1

The first time Daisy met Harry, she was seven. Her father had just started working for Styles' Steel Co. and his boss had invited him over for a dinner. Even at seven she was terrified of Thomas Styles. He was dark and brooding, and had a booming voice that seemed to shake the ground. She doesn't remember much of the dinner, only that Harry's mother, Anne was really kind and his sister Gemma fun to be around. She made Daisy laugh a lot that night, so much so that the adults ended up kicking all the kids out to the back yard to play.

She remembers Thomas had a pool, and it was funny to her because the beach was only a short ways away. Her brother Sterling got on with Harry right away, and they ran around in the grass with a ball while Gemma and Daisy sunk their feet in the pool. Again, Daisy doesn't remember much about what her and Gemma talked about, but she remembers smiling until her cheeks hurt and she was breathless. What she remembers most though, is hearing Harry and Sterling shout behind them, and seeing Gemma turn to look over her shoulder just as someone collided with her back.

She tumbled forward into the deep end of the pool, water rushing up her nose before she could hold her breath and it made her lungs sting. She felt like she was kicking and flailing under the water for hours, heart pounding in her ears before two arms were around her waist. When she reached the surface, Gemma was holding her, treading water and grimacing when Daisy coughed up water and broke into tears.

Gemma got her back to the edge of the pool, helping her up before climbing out herself. The backdoor to the house was open, and Anne and her mother Meredith came rushing out.

"What happened?" Meredith asked, wiping wet hair out of her face. Daisy had buried her face in her mother's side, holding her tight as she sobbed.

"Harry pushed Daisy in the pool." Sterling said over her cries, and while Daisy doesn't remember if Harry ever got in trouble for it or tried to defend himself, she does remember deciding that she officially hates Harry Styles.

Daisy tied the fabric in her hair into a bow, wishing she had red lipstick to paint on her pale lips. Tonight she's attending a dinner with her father's business associates, and he told her to doll up because he really needs to impress them tonight. She put on her prettiest red dress, long socks and heels, and curled her hair with rollers borrowed from her mother. Typically she'd apply the lipstick that matches the dress to her lips, but she ran out of it weeks ago after she'd gone on a date with the neighbor boy. She wishes she hadn't worn any that night, because it turned out he wasn't worth her or her best lipstick. And now that she needed it most, she didn't have it. The bow will just have to do, she thinks glummy, looking over herself in the mirror.

Her father hardly made her go to these dinners ever since the first one she'd been to. After almost drowning in Thomas' pool, Daisy refused to return to his house, and for some unknown reason, so did Sterling. He refused to see Harry Styles, he said heatedly. Daisy thought it sweet of him to be upset about what Harry did to her, and in return for their stubbornness, Daisy and Sterling got to stay with the neighbors on dinner nights. When Kitty was born, it was easier to leave her at home as well, with the older two siblings to babysit. Which was why it was such a big deal that William requested the whole family go out tonight. She knew it had to be important, so she didn't argue even though she was completely nervous about having to see Harry again.

Typically she only sees him around town, sometimes he'll make small talk with Sterling, but they both give each other these disgusted looks when walking away and pretend they didn't see the other do the same. It's quite amusing, even if Harry usually takes the time to critique something about her before going on his way. Usually it's small little comments about her clothes or lipstick, claiming her skirt is too short and her lips to bright. "You'll give some bastard the wrong idea," he'd say, carelessly looking over her outfit, "and you'll never impress anyone respectable."

Daisy fought against the urge to respond. She always desperately wanted to ask him if even knew what a respectable man looked like, and give him that same cold look he always gives her, but she doesn't. Because she was taught better than that. She doesn't like to be rude, even if Harry did almost kill her and is the reason she can't step foot near a pool or the ocean anymore. He doesn't deserve your words, she'd always remind herself.

As mean as Harry is, he's nothing compared to his uncle. Thomas Styles has the coldest personality out of them all. It's fitting that he owns a steel company, since he's practically made of it. She was right to be afraid of him when she little, because he's the most disrespectful man she's ever seen. He once yelled at her and her friend Summer when they were twelve and had gone to the park down the road to play. It had started raining, so they tried to hurry home but got distracted by a few puddles. Summer was in the middle of splashing in a particularly muddy one when his car had pulled over on the side of the road, window rolling down and screaming at them for acting like street rats. That was the day Daisy decided she hated Thomas Styles too.

Tonight's dinner isn't at Thomas' house, much to Daisy's relief. She'd hate to be around that pool again, and she hate for Kitty to be around it too. Not that she thinks Harry would push a 6 year old into the pool now that he's reaching 24, but one can never be too sure.

William told them the house was close enough to walk, so they all huddled together down the sidewalk until they reached Aster lane. This is the road that all the wealthy people live on, four blocks away from the poor street Daisy lives on, and two blocks away from the street Thomas lives on. The further north, the wealthier the houses, meaning whoever lived on this street, has quite a comfortable life.

The house they approach has a small front yard, mostly taken up by hydrangea plants and a short driveway leading to a closed garage. The front porch is large, but bare of any patio furniture which Daisy finds odd. Why have a beautiful porch if you don't use it?

William knocks on the big green door, looking over his shoulder at Sterling with wide eyes. He nods his head just once, and then Sterling is in front of Daisy, straightening the sleeves of her dress with a nervous smile. "No lipstick?" Sterling asks, pinching her cheeks to make them redder and she swats his hands down.

"I ran out after my date with Jonah," Daisy pouts, "if you can even call that a date."

Jonah is the neighbor boy that had asked Daisy to dinner about two weeks ago. He was cute and shy about it, and Daisy thought it might be fun. It turned out to be a disaster. Jonah had stepped on the edge of her skirt and tore it, and he'd bought her a bouquet of daisies which she's ironically allergic to. They ended up having to rush her home for medicine before even getting a chance to eat dinner, and then Jonah had been rude to her the next day for not telling him that she was allergic to the flower she was named after.

"Oh well," Sterling says, just as the door is pulled open. Thomas is the one to greet them, shaking William and Sterling's hands. He then kisses Meredith's cheek, and the back of Kitty's little hand before moving to Daisy. His lips purse under his thick mustache, and his dark eyes look over her as if measuring her up for size.

"Good evening Mr. Styles," Daisy says pleasantly, smiling, "it's wonderful to see you again." It really isn't wonderful to see him, but she'll lie for the sake of her father's reputation. Finally, Thomas nods and then he kisses her cheek as well, his mustache scratching her cheekbone.

Anne was the next to greet her, hugging her tightly and telling her how much she's grown. She even cups Daisy's face, looking over her features with teary eyes and Daisy's stomach twist with unease. Why are they all looking at her differently?

Gemma isn't at this dinner, much to Daisy's disappointment, but Harry is. He stands against the archway that separates the dining room and what must be the living room. His face is hidden in the shadows, but she can feel his eyes and scowl on her. He doesn't move until William calls out to him delightedly, and then he's stepping forward to shake hands with her father. William's very enthusiastic about greeting Harry, and Sterling leans into Harry's ear to whisper something when saying hello, and again Daisy wonders why they're acting so strange. Her mother coos over Harry the same way Anne cooed over her, and even Kitty is excited to meet Harry. She giggles when Harry crouches down to kiss her cheek, and he mumbles something to her that turns her cheeks red.

When Daisy comes up to him, she thinks she'd rather be standing chest deep in open water than having to hug him. He pecks her cheek the same way he has kissed her mother's, the action making her heart jump into her throat and her face grow hot.

"Daisy," he greets simply.

"Hello Harry," she mumbles, avoiding his eyes as she moves to sit at the table. Harry ends up across from her, and she can feel him looking at her but she refuses to meet his gaze. William and Thomas chat about a new deal in the works, and Anne asks Sterling about his girlfriend Stella, receiving a few extra comments from Meredith. Both Harry and Daisy are quiet, and her neck hurts from looking down at her lap and plate all night. She wonders if Harry's tired of looking at her, but he has too much fun making her uncomfortable to stop. She doesn't look up until her father is clearing his throat.

"We have some news to celebrate tonight," his chair scrapes as he stands up, and Daisy turns her head to look at him. Thomas is smiling proudly at Harry, and Sterling has fallen quiet, jaw clenched. "Thomas and I have talked, and we've decided that it's for the best for both our families if Daisy were to marry Harry."

Only Daisy makes a sound, something between a gasp and a choke, and she realizes that they've all known about this. They've been acting so different, because they were realizing that this is the first dinner they'll have as a new family. Her chest aches, stomach suddenly twisting with nausea. How could they blindside her like this? They know how she feels about Harry, especially her mother, and yet they still agreed to this. They're sending her away with Harry because he's got money, more money than her family will ever earn.

She can feel them all looking at her, gazes burning into her skin. She doesn't know what to say, because she honestly just feels like screaming. She however, cannot do that in front of Thomas or even Harry, because she'd never hear the end of it, so she just gapes at her father.

"He should consider himself lucky then." Sterling says, as if warning Harry to object. She turns her gaze to her brother, swallowing the lump in her throat and willing the stinging in her eyes to go away. He nods at her thankful smile, looking at Harry. "You're getting the best girl you could ever ask for."

Harry clears his throat, and she feels him look at her again. "Yeah, could be worse I suppose." Harry mumbles, not sounding particularly pleased with the situation either. She wonders if he knew, if that's why he was brooding in the corner when they first arrived.

"Shall we raise our glasses?" Thomas suggests, and they all rise from their chairs, holding their drinks. Her hand trembles as she lifts hers, and she's glad she drank it down some otherwise it'd be spilling over the side.

"To Harry and Daisy," Thomas beams, "by this time tomorrow, this'll be your new home." Everyone repeats their names, clinking glasses in the middle of the table and then taking a sip. Daisy gulps down her water, hoping it'll keep her from being sick. She doesn't see Harry's reaction, or if he swallowed all his wine because she's quickly excusing herself, taking off though the closest exit.

Tears burn at her eyes, choking in her throat as she rushes down the dark hallway. A table with an empty vase sits at the end of it, with an empty frame hanging above. She passes an empty bathroom on the left, but it still feels too close to the dining room so she keeps going. Two doors come up on the right, and she reaches for the knob only to find it locked.

"No," she quietly whimpers, jingling the the knob as if that'll open it. It doesn't work, and Daisy thumps her forehead against the door, squeezing her eyes shut. She's too busy willing away her sobs to hear someone coming down the hallway.

"S'not gonna open by magic." Harry mutters behind her, her heart jumping into her throat and she leaps away from the door. Harry doesn't look at her as he digs a key out of the pocket of his grey trousers, quickly unlocking and opening the door. He enters the room, leaving the door open for Daisy. She doesn't know what makes her follow him, but she does, closing the door behind her. Maybe he'll be sympathetic, she hopes, since he's in the same boat with her. She has a feeling she's fooling herself.

The room is dim and musty, dust particles floating in the stale air as Harry leans his hips back against the desk placed in the center of the room. Her throat itches at the first inhale of old oxygen, Daisy quietly clearing her throat to get rid of it. One look around the room reveals that it's hardly used, dirt on every surface including the dark curtains that block out the sunlight. She stands a little taller, priding herself on her ability to keep her home clean. She may not have as much money or food as Harry, but at least her house is never covered in dirt and dust bunnies.

Chin up, she accidentally meets his gaze and the harshness of it immediately has her chin falling. It bothers her how cute he'd look in his brown suspenders and grey newsboy cap if he'd just smile. Not even a full toothy smile, just a little quirk of his full lips would suffice.

"Why didn't you argue with him?"

Harry's voice cuts through the dust like sun beams, basking her in a heat that burns her chest and brain. She wishes it were as welcoming as the sun after darkness. Instead it's like being welcomed to the first realm of hell.

She can't hold his gaze. Maybe it's the way they pierce through the shadows, scrutinizing her every move. Or maybe it's because she still finds him handsome, no matter how harsh he is with her.

"Your father? I know you wanted to say something. Always have something to say."

His words stir a reaction out of her, brow furrowing. "Not always." She insists quietly, a little offended that he thinks he knows anything about her. His lips perk up into a smirk, one that has her stomach fluttering despite how amused he looks. He's mocking her, and she is foolish.

"Not what I heard."

Daisy scoffs, arms tightening around her chest. "Yeah? From who? Sterling?"

Harry copies her movement, arms crossing over his chest. She tries to ignore the way his arms stretch his white shirt. He shrugs, still amused with her. "Doesn't matter, does it? All that matters if it's true or not."

"Why?"

Harry drops his arms, using them to push himself off of the desk. His leather shoes drag on the floor as he stalks towards her, eyes twinkling mischievously. He stops in front of her, close enough that she can smell his sticky cologne and feel his breath on her face. She steps back, wondering how he's managed to afford cologne when she's been out of perfume for months. He follows her, leaning down so his lips are only a couple inches from hers.

"I have some thoughts on marrying a girl that can't keep her mouth shut."

His words sting her ears and behind her eyes, burning uncomfortably in her chest. She refuses to let him see the water in his eyes, instead dropping her gaze to his chest. Swallowing thickly, she takes another step back. "I want to go home now." She whispers, not waiting for him to respond. She turns on her heel, feet silent as she crosses the room to the door.

"Daisy," Harry huffs after her, and she hears his footsteps following. She turns the knob, pulling it open and stepping into the hallway. She tries to hurry back to the living room without actually running but Harry's long legs beat her, his hand locking on her wrist. She tugs away, not quite strong enough to remove his grip, turning to face him long enough to spit out, "I don't really want to marry you either!"

It's harsh, the harshest she's ever spoken to him and it leaves him stunned enough for her to pull away from him again. He doesn't chase her, no, he just drags his feet behind her. Daisy feels a bit guilty for snapping at him, no matter how often he does it to her, but the thought vanishes at the sight of her family in the dining room. Tonight's her last night with them and her last night without Harry.

She doesn't take much with her, not that she needs to. Harry's got everything she could ever need at his house, everything except her clothes. Her few dresses and skirts are packed into her suitcase, her blouses, undergarments, and nightgowns in the one Harry brought over because it's far bigger than hers, and her shoulder bag holds personal objects such as photographs of her family and a jewelry box containing her few possessions.

It's silly for her to be sad, she knew she couldn't live with her parents forever, but she had hoped that the day she'd be leaving would be with a man she loves. Or is at least comfortable to be around.

Despite her silence and set jaw, Harry offers her a teeny smile, more awkward than comforting, and grabs her suitcases in his hands. She throws her bag over her shoulder, heart shuddering painfully as she closes the door to her bedroom and follows Harry down the stairs. Kitty is waiting for him at the bottom, peeking around the banister with that shy smile she gets when Harry's around, and Daisy imagines Harry gives her a smile back because she giggles and runs towards the kitchen where they're mother is.

Sterling has already left for work, as has her father, and Daisy refuses to say goodbye to Summer because that's just not something they do, leaving just Kitty and Meredith to say goodbye too. She leaves Harry in the living room, dragging her feet into the other room where Meredith is waiting with a sad smile.

"All ready dear?" She asks, and Daisy does her best to nod, despite the fact that she feels sick to her stomach. Meredith opens her arms for her, and Daisy happily steps into them, burrowing in her mother's shoulder and wishing she were still as tiny as Kitty. She doesn't mean to, but she ends up crying into her mother's blouse.

"You're going to be fine Daisy," Meredith soothes, rubbing her back. "he'll take care of you."

"I'd rather starve here than live with him forever mother." Daisy cries, not caring if Harry hears or not.

"I'll live with Harry," Kitty offers weakly, pawing at Daisy's legs. "so you can stay. Harry can take care of me."

Despite her tears, Daisy giggles and pulls back to look at her baby sister. Kitty's got clumps of tears in her eyelashes, pouting up at Daisy. "That's awful sweet," she croaks, wiping her own tears away. "but I don't think Harry could hold you the way mother does when you're scared."

Kitty's eyes widen in fear, immediately taking back her sentiment. "I have to stay with mumma, sorry Daisy."

She sighs, leaning down to kiss Kitty's forehead. "I'll see you soon bug." She murmurs, straightening to her normal height. Meredith gives her an encouraging nod, walking her back to the living room where Harry's leaning against the back of the couch, suitcases at his feet and arms over his chest. He picks them back up when he sees the girls return, nodding politely to Meredith.

"Take care of her please, Harry." Meredith begs, and Daisy distracts herself with opening the front door so she doesn't have to look at him.

"I will." Harry says firmly.

"That's what he's paying for, isn't it?" Daisy says bitterly, ignoring the way her mother glares at her.

"Didn't pay for you," Harry says shortly, stepping around her and out the door. He mutters something under his breath that she's glad she didn't hear because it would probably just hurt her feelings anyway. With one last pleading look towards her mother, Daisy steps out of her home and follows Harry down the sidewalk to his car. He's already loaded her suitcases in the backseat, making her shoulders sag because she was planning on sitting back there.

"Wanna get home before dark, if you don't mind." Harry says loudly, and she realizes he's holding open the passenger door for her, tapping his leather boot impatiently. Daisy climbs into the car, looking at her house sadly as Harry gets in and starts the car. He drives away, and Daisy wishes her mother had come running out at the last second, demanding Harry let her stay. She doesn't though, and Daisy suddenly feels like she could die right then and there.

Despite being fiance's, Daisy refused to share a room with Harry. She had expected to fight him on it, thinking he'd immediately take her things to his bedroom and instruct her to unpack. Instead, they pulled up to his garage, and he shut off the car, tossing his keys in her lap.

"S'the gold key. Go pick a room, just not the one on the right of mine."

Daisy didn't have to be told twice, and almost too eagerly she jumped out of the car, dashing to the door and unlocking it. She was in this house just last night, so she doesn't bother looking around the area before tossing his keys on the table and heading to the room she's been thinking of all day. Harry's room is upstairs, so she heads down the hall that took her to the dusty office. She recalls seeing another door down here, and she really hopes it's a bedroom.

She can hear Harry coming into the house, dropping her suitcases to the floor and shutting the door. She stays quiet, listening to him climb the stairs, before turning the knob to the door opposite the office. It creaks as she pushes it open, and just like the other room over here, she's hit in the face with the overwhelming smell of mothballs. The room's in great need of a dusting, but other than that it's perfect.

A big window sits on the furthest wall, overlooking the grassy back yard. A large, unmade bed is pushed up against the wall opposite it, and a big white dresser across from the closet, with a matching nightstand next to the bed. The floor is the same dark wood that covers the rest of the house, but for some reason it looks better in here. Daisy bites back a grin, walking to the window and pushing the dusty curtain back. Sunlight filters into the room, warm on her skin and she closes her eyes, enjoying it for a moment. The sun never shined in her old room.

"You want this one?"

Harry's voice startles her, making her jump and whip around to face him. He's leaning against the door frame, arms over her chest and looking around the room with contempt. She smiles at that, nodding proudly.

"Gets kinda cold over here, but s'your loss I suppose." He pushes himself off the door frame with a shrug. "M'not paying the hospital bill when you're toes goes frost bite."

Daisy knows he's exaggerating, it wasn't cold over here last night, and even if it were she'd stay. Based on the displeased look he gave the room, she hopes it'll keep him away from her. He disappears down the hallway, and she turns back around to pry open the window and let fresh air in.

She peels the mattress cover off the bed, balling up the dirty fabric and tossing it towards the door. She sits on the corner of the bed, dropping her bag to the mattress as Harry comes in with her bags. He stumbles on the bed cover, and Daisy giggles when he curses, "bloody fucking Christ."

He sets her bags on the bed next to her, narrowing his eyes at her as he runs his fingers through the short curls on his head. "Let's run to town so ya can pick out bedding and whatnot."

Daisy has no chance to decline the offer or even ask to go later before he's scooping up the dusty fabric on the floor and leaving the room. With one last look around her room, Daisy follows.

Daisy is not the only person that dislikes Harry. In fact, she thinks the whole town might have some sort of problem with him. At the fabric store where she picks out pale yellow sheets and a multicolored quilt with matching pillows, Harry's stared at. At first, Daisy thinks it might just be his looks. He's awful tall, and his shoulders are almost too broad, and he definitely doesn't look like he should be in this store. It's not until they go to pay and Harry's fishing out his wallet, that she realizes it's not his looks.

"You're paying for this?" The man behind the counter asks, taking Harry's bills with a dubious look on his face and recounting them.

"Is that a problem?" Harry huffs.

The man opens the register, counting out his change. "Not at all," he says, not bothering to smile when he hands Harry his coins. "just a surprise. I didn't know your lot knows how to be generous."

Harry offers no rebuttal, instead grabbing the paper bag off the counter and heading towards the door. The man eyes Daisy with confusion, no doubt wondering what she's doing in town with Harry. She steps towards the door, hesitating when the man's words echo on her head. The Styles aren't nice, but they're not selfish either.

"That was very rude of you." Daisy says firmly. "And he may not care, but I do. You've offended me greatly."

The man blinks in surprise, mouth opening to respond but Daisy turns and leaves the store. Harry's holding the door for her, and once it's shut he turns to her. "What did ya tell him?"

"That he's rude."

They start walking down the street, Daisy refusing to look at Harry. He's quite for a moment, before finally mumbling, "thank you." The cleaning supplies store comes into view, and she starts walking a little faster.

"It's nothing. Every big mouth wife would do that, right?"

Harry doesn't say anything else, but she thinks his lips twitch like he's fighting a smile.

It didn't take long to clean the room. Harry bought a really nice dusting cleaner that she had never heard of before. She used it to wipe down the windowsill and furniture, and halfway through Harry came in with a broom and a mop. He didn't say anything and neither did she as they silent worked around each other to make the room comfortable.

The dust went away, and the mothball smell faded into the fresh summer breeze and the smell of cleaner. By the time Harry finishes the floor, and Daisy has dusted and made the bed, their stomachs are grumbling.

"I can warm leftovers," Harry says, lifting up the dirty bucket of mop water. He's rolled up the sleeves of his button up, and she can see the way his forearms tighten as he hauls the bucket up. He's got his usual leather suspenders on, holding up his light brown trousers. Daisy can't help but notice that they're tight on his thighs and bum, but hang loosely around his lanky legs.

"That's fine," Daisy mumbles, face heating up. She's never genuinely looked at Harry as more than the boy that shoved her in the pool, not even last night when she was told she'd be marrying Harry. But now, she can't help but realize that he's more handsome than he originally thought. In another world, one in which maybe they liked each other and Harry knew how to treat people, she'd be lucky to say she's marrying him.

She waits for him to leave the room before unpacking her bags. She lays the photographs of her family on the dresser next to the candle Harry bought for her, and then sets up her jewelry box next to it. She unpacks her clothing into the drawers, hanging her skirts and blouses in the big closet. She's struggling to put up her new curtains when Harry returns.

She's tip-toeing to try and place the rod back up when he reaches over her shoulder and takes it from her. "Go eat your food," Harry commands, stepping to the side so she can walk to the bed. Daisy doesn't argue, mostly because Harry's voice has got a rough edge to it that she doesn't particularly like, but also because she knows she could never reach up there.

A plate of food with a fork sit on the nightstand, and she sits in the middle of the big bed to eat and watch Harry. She wishes his personality matched his looks. She thinks his pink lips were meant to say sweet words, and his jade eyes were meant to look over the world with a gleam in them. He could be a perfect husband, if he cared enough, Daisy thinks sadly, and when he turns to look at her as if checking to make sure she's eating, she thinks he could be a perfect father too. And if he's not, there's not much she can do about it anyway.

#harry styles #fanfic #fanfiction #fluff #soldier harry #ww2 Harry #dear Daisy #alternate universe #harry styles au

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moonlightsolo · 4 years

Text

bête noire

summary: The First Order finds you and Rey on Tatooine. You manage to escape with her and make it back to the Resistance base, but you’re not entirely sure if you wanted to go back. Poe catches onto your tension which causes more problems.

pairing: kylo ren x reader & some poe x reader

warnings: cursing, angst, sad boi hours

wc: 4k

note: sorry for the chapter being a week late i was super busy and had no time to write but this is a really good chapter im happy with how it came out.

CHAPTER FORTY

The pulsating in your head knocks you off balance as you try to stand up from the ground. Sand is still flying everywhere.

It conceals you and Rey from the enemies in the sky. Rey grabs a fistful of your shirt and pulls you up from the ground. Sands falls off of your body to join the rest below you.

She holds onto your hand tight as she pulls you through the cloud of sand before it clears up. She crouches down to stay out of sight and get out of the open area.

She presses her back against a wall of a building to get herself together. Her hands push the sand off of her face, shaking her hair to get it out and you do the same.

Rey peeks around the corner “There are stormtroopers.” She whispers, “They probably know that we’re here from the Falcon being out there.” She sighs.

“I knew I should’ve put it somewhere else.” Her fingers go up to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Rey unhooks her lightsaber from her belt then you feel goosebumps and you shiver noticeably. Rey notices your body subtly shake and your face drops. Once she realizes what’s wrong, her face mimics yours. “He’s here isn’t he?” She whispers towards you.

His presence is strong in the Force, he can most likely sense that you and Rey are close by too.

“We need to go.” Your voice is shaking. You’re not afraid. Well, maybe a little bit. Not for your wellbeing, you know he wouldn’t hurt you. If you get captured, your children will be stuck with the Resistance.

Rey snaps her fingers in front of your face to get you out of your own head, “We need to come up with a plan. They’ll probably have troops guarding the Falcon. Should we fight our way there?”

Her voice is interrupted by the sound of the fighters flying above, then you hear a voice. It’s a stormtrooper. “Find any survivors and kill them. We’re looking for the two girls Ren wants.“ It must be a commander of some sort. “Move out.”

Your eyes go wide again when you hear the marching of the squad of stormtroopers moving closer. You grab Rey’s hand and begin running the opposite way, sliding quietly into a deserted street store.

You crouch behind a wooden food stand and Rey hides behind a wall parallel to you. You peek out from behind it to see the white armored legs of the troops walking by. There’s about ten of them. You both could possibly take them all out of you had better cover.

“Search the area. Don’t leave anything untouched.” One of them orders. They start to branch off in pairs. It’s like a game of hide and seek.

A pair begins to walk into the store you’re hiding in, you shuffle backward quietly to conceal yourself more underneath the rickety wooden stand. It creaks as your body slides underneath it. You silently curse yourself when their steps stop in front of the cart.

Rey’s lightsaber ignites behind them as she runs forward and pierces both of the troops through their torsos. They groan and go limp. The blue light disappears back into the hilt and their bodies fall to the floor in a heap. Your eyes are wide as you look up at Rey and she’s staring back at you with the same look.

Kylo’s close and she can feel it too. Your hands start to shake. Rey takes your hands into her own to calm you, “Let’s go.” She pulls you up from the ground. “Get your saber ready.” She whispers as she peeks out the entrance, looking both ways. “There are some troopers down at the end of the walkway.” She mumbles to you.

You barely heard her but you still follow her out. She jogs the opposite way, hopping into a small shack on the side when she sees troops coming around the corner.

“I think if we can go that way. We can get to the ship.” She points towards the archway that leads to the sandy dunes where the Falcon is. “Yeah. What if they’re surrounding it?” You ask.

A small pain gently thumps in the back of your head, you hiss as you grip your neck. Rey’s eyes look down at you, “Don’t let him in. He’s trying to reach out to you.” She grips your shoulders, “Stay strong.” She grabs your hand to pull you out of the building with her. She makes a run for the exit, sand kicks up behind her feet as you follow.

Dizziness starts to blur your vision and nausea rises in your throat as you stumble. “Rey....” You slur out as you trip over your own feet and face plant into the sand, unable to catch yourself. Rey screams your name and you use all your energy to pick your head up.

By what you can make out, she is running towards you until she lets out a yelp. You blink slowly to try and get your vision to clear but it’s getting worse. White blobs move into your vision and grab ahold of her. They surround you too.

“Let go of me!” Rey screams, her voice cracks as she thrashes. “Don’t hurt her!” She cries out as rough hands grab your wrists and pin them to your back.

A large black figure walks into your vision, it’s him. You let out a soft sob, not knowing if you’re sad or happy.

“You cannot corrupt her no longer, Kylo Ren. She’s stronger than you know.” Rey spits out at him.

“We’ll see.” He almost chuckles at her words, “Take her away.” He orders then turns around to look at you. You can faintly hear Rey screaming your name as she’s being pulled away. He bends down to your level to look into your eyes. “Let go of her. I’ll take it from here.” He stands up swiftly then replaces their hands with his warm ones.

When his skin touches yours, it feels like your senses come back to you. Your vision clears and you gasp in sharply. He slowly pulls you up to your feet, keeping your hands pinned behind your back. “I see that you’ve gotten your own saber.” He whispers in your ear. His deep voice sends shivers down your spine. He continues to push you forward from behind, “Our power together is indescribable and our children... We need to get them back.”

There’s no way you could go back to the Resistance now.

You gasp and sit up quickly, your eyes dart around as you take in your surroundings. You’re on the Falcon laying on one of the cots. “Rey?!” You scream out, your lips are dry from the sand and heat dehydrating you.

Her voice appears on the intercom, “Stars, I’m glad to see you’re awake.” Her thick accent soothes you. “I thought I lost you. We’re on our way back to the Resistance.”

You stand up from the bed, your vision darkens in the corners but you still power through it to make it to the cockpit. You walk in on her clicking some buttons before standing up, you’re in hyperspace. “What happened?” You breathe out.

Your dream felt so real. You really thought you have reunited with Kylo again.

“You were unconscious from the blast. I carried you all the way to the Falcon. It wasn’t easy.” She stands up then pulls you into a hug. “Come sit, come sit.” She leads you over the co-pilots seat.

You’re baffled. “I had the most realistic dream ever. We got captured by the First Order, Rey. I saw him. I saw Kylo.” You look at her with doe-like eyes.

“I’m sorry. I know you miss him.” Her hand rests on your shoulder and squeezes it gently. “Hopefully one day he’ll come around.” She plops down in her pilot's chair. It’s silent for a few moments before you talk again.

“I do... I miss him a lot, Rey. There are some days I want to see him so badly but sometimes, I just want to run away from it all.” You sigh, “I’m going to be connected to him for my lifetime. I had his children. I honestly thought he was changing for a moment.” You grumble.

Rey looks over at you a bit sadly, “You don’t have to be connected to him forever, you know. You can use the Force to block him out. Almost like putting a wall up.” She suggests with a shrug.

You don’t want to do that. You love him.

“Maybe.” You say under your breath, rolling your eyes without her seeing you.

“He was on Tatooine. I felt him but I got you out of there quick before anything else could happen.” She says proudly.

The mention of being so close to him and not being able to see him makes something inside of you uneasy.

You have to agree to see him even though your conscience is still thinking about what could happen if he did come to you.

“You okay?” Rey notices you spacing out and staring at the swirling colors of hyperspace. Her hand gently grabs yours which brings you back to reality.

Your eyes dart over to hers and you put on a fake smile, “Yeah I’m fine.” You laugh and shake your head. “Get some rest. We’ll be home soon.” Rey smoothes your hair back with her hand and you grow sleepy. Your head falls forward and bounces back up to rest against the seat to fall asleep.

The feeling of Rey’s hand grips your wrist and you wake up instantly. You take a deep breath as you open your eyes, the darkness outside startles you but you notice the trees. You’re back on the moon with the Resistance.

The ramp has already been opened and people are already unloading the supplies you brought. “We’re back.” Her voice is gentle as she unbuckles you and grabs your hands to help you stand.

You stumble for a second but another pair of hands catch you, “Poe...” You smile wide as you turn to see his face. His hands rise from your waist to cup your cheeks, bringing your lips to his.

Every time he kissed you, it felt perfect but for some reason, it feels different right now. You pull away after a few seconds to look at him, “Rey filled me in on what happened on the way here.” His thumb brushes against your sandy skin.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” One of his arms snake around your waist to help you off the ship. Chewy greets you immediately with a big roar, his furry arms steal you away from Poe’s side. The Wookiee picks you up and twirls you around happily. You giggle as he says something about you smelling weird.

“Tatooine is a sweaty planet. What can I do about it?” You look up at him once he sets you down. Chewy pats your head then lets Poe take his place to bring you to the showers.

Poe readies up the shower for you, hanging up your shower caddy that has all the soap in it. You disappear behind the curtain, closing it tight so you could shower in private. Poe sits outside on a chair, making small talk with you as you wash your body.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re quiet.” He stands up to move closer to the curtain, you see his boots standing outside. You let out a sigh, wishing you could spill everything to him about wanting to see Kylo again but of course you can’t tell him that.

Maybe you should invite Poe into the shower. No, you really shouldn’t. You haven’t been intimate with him yet and doing that with him now just to leave him later. Not a good look on your reputation.

“Yeah, I just hit my head really hard and it’s hurting. I just need to sleep.” You turn the water off once you’re done washing every crevice of your body. Your hand reaches out to grab the towel off the hook, bringing it into the shower to wrap it around your body.

His hand opens the curtain, a look of concern grows on your face. “What?” You ask as he stares at you. “There’s something else wrong.”

You groan and push past him as you ring out your hair, you grab the pile of your dirty clothes and start to walk out to go to your room. He follows close behind, “See? This is what I’m talking about. You don’t open up to me. How can we be in a relationship if you can’t talk to me?” He raises his voice at you which makes you turn on your heel to face him.

“Well, maybe I don’t want to be in a relationship.” You snap. The look of pain crosses his face which makes you instantly regret those words. You turn back around so you don’t have to face him, “You don’t mean that... Do you?” His voice cracks.

You don’t look at him, “I’m sorry.” You breathe out, “My life is a mess right now. I don’t know how I could possibly try to be in a relationship when I’m bonded to your enemy.” You sniffle then you turn your head to look behind you. He’s crying too. “You’ll always have a special place in my heart, Poe. I just can’t do this right now.” You start walking forward, hot tears rolling down your cheeks. You turn down the hall your room is on.

When you’re out of sight, you press your back against the wall and silently cry into the back of your hand. A door opens up to your right and a random person peeks out, you’re still in your towel and water is dripping from your hair onto the floor.

He takes your appearance in, “You okay?” He asks which makes you wipe your tears away and nod. Obviously, you’re not.

“Yeah. Thanks.” Your voice croaks as you walk past them to get to your door and open it.

You lock it behind you then you look over your room, the bassinets are gone since they’re staying with Leia tonight so you can rest. It seems too empty. It’s lonely. You snatch the wrinkled pajamas out of your clothes bin to get dressed. You also grab your hairbrush to get the knots out of your hair before you lay down.

It’s been a rough day.

Water drips onto the roof of the ship, making a small rhythmic pattern that soothes you. Right as your body starts to fall asleep, everything around you goes silent.

Kylo’s here.

Your eyes shoot open and dart around in the darkness, your hand reaches out until you feel his leather glove touch your hand.

You let out a sigh of relief as you intertwine your fingers with his to pull him closer, “I know why you’re here. I’ve made up my mind, I want to see you.” You can feel his presence in front of you which makes you lean forward to rest your head against his armor.

His large hand pets your head and plays with your hair. Happiness his radiating from him but he isn’t showing it on the outside. “Tell me where you are. I’ll come to you.” His voice is soft but still raspy.

“Only on one condition...” Your arms snake around his hips to hold him in place, “You cannot bring anybody else with you. We can’t meet the base so I’ll find a meeting spot in the jungle where you can park your ship.” You mumble into his clothing.

“Jungle?” He questions as his hand lifts your face up by your chin, you can barely see the outline of his body. “Where are you, my love?”

The nickname sends chills across your skin, “Ajan Kloss. The moon.” You breathe out. Maybe you shouldn’t have said that but you’re desperate. It’s been too long since you have last seen him in person.

“Give me coordinates to your ‘meeting spot’ and I’ll come to you.” He leans down to capture your lips in his before he disappears. His solid form leaving you abruptly almost makes you topple over. “Fuck.” You curse at yourself.

You rest your elbows against your knees so you could put your face in your hands. Maybe you did the wrong thing but honestly, there’s a part of you that doesn’t care if he brings back up with him.

You love him so much. You don’t know how you’re going to react when you see him in person. It’s going to be overwhelming.

You lay back down under your blankets, tucking yourself into them so you could attempt to fall asleep again.

In the morning, you wake up bright and early. You pull your bed head into a top knot and get some clothes on that’ll keep you cool during the day. Not being able to see Poe today is going to be hard but you’ve made up your mind. You grab your saber and clip it to your belt.

When you step off the ship, it seems like everyone else is going to wake up much later than you. You realize it’s barely even bright outside yet. “I guess this gives me a chance to go find a spot.” You whisper to yourself.

Your eyes scan the cave, seeing a light on in the command center which makes you creep forward silently. It’s Poe, he’s working on something. You admire him from the shadows before you’re interrupted by Kaydel walking in to see him. She kisses him and clings onto his back like a baby monkey.

You feel a pang of jealousy in your chest even though you don’t deserve to feel that.

You make your presence evident as you walk up to the food area next to the command center to grab yourself a portion. You rip open the package with your teeth and take the pre-made muffin out to eat it.

You turn around to see them both staring at you, then Poe quickly averts his gaze but Kaydel gives you a dirty look before she kisses the back of his neck purposely.

You scoff and walk away towards the exit of the cave. You grab a map out of your back pocket, looking over the trees. You hold the muffin in your mouth as your finger drags across the paper. You spot an opening in the trees. It’s far but you can make it. You fold it back up and put it back into your pocket before you disappear into the foliage.

It’s muggy and buggy and hot. The wind is cool which helps with the sweat building up on your forehead. You’ll have to meet him at night when it’s cooler. You refuse to be this sweaty when you see him.

You see the sunlight passing through the trees and hitting the large empty patch of grass. It’s perfect.

Kylo’s ship would fit perfectly and he’s a good pilot. You notice that there are torches on the trees, obviously not lit because they’re old. Must’ve been from the old inhabitants of this moon. You open your map again to mark the coordinates down before you head back to the base.

When you get back, mostly everybody is up and working now. Some people glance at you as you emerge from the trees, you see Poe working on his X-wing with BB-8.

You need to talk to him about everything.

Your boots move quickly against the pavement as you make your way to him. You stop behind him, he knows it’s you.

“Poe. We need to talk.” Your voice is stern, he lets out a small laugh and doesn’t turn around to talk to you. “Seems like you got everything you needed to get out last night.” He grumbles.

You cross your arms over your chest, “I’m being serious, Dameron. We need to talk.”

He whips his head around and stands up tall which forces you to look up at him. “Listen, you broke my fucking heart. I know why too. It’s about him. It’s always going to be about him, always.” His voice raises slightly.

“It is going to be him. I have a bond with him like nobody else. He saved me when the Resistance left me. He showed me mercy when he wasn’t supposed to. I had his children, Poe.” You’re starting to get upset.

“But can’t you just co-parent from different planets? You don’t have to be his little ‘apprentice’ anymore. I want you to be mine, only mine. I fucking care for you. I’m always there for you. Where is he?” His voice cracks during the last words. Tears rush to your eyes, your bottom lip trembles.

His hands grip your hips as he pulls you close to smash your lips together. At first, you don’t want to do this but you can’t help yourself. Your fingers tangle themselves in his thick hair as his tongue gently slips past your bottom lip.

“Get a room.” Finn laughs as he walks by, some other crew members chuckle too and BB-8 makes a whistling sound.

You both quickly pull away from each other when you realize that there are other people around. Your face instantly flushes pink, you take a step back to widen the distance between you and him.

“I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.” Poe looks down at his feet, “It’s okay. Don’t be sorry.” You sheepishly mumble back. Poe hesitatingly reaches out to grab your hand, “I know you’re going through a lot. It’s difficult. I could only imagine how you torn you feel. If you don’t want a relationship right now, I get it. We can just be... friends.” He gives you a one-sided smile. You know that it hurt him to say that. “Maybe a little bit more.” He adds on with a chuckle, “Only if you want to, of course.”

He pulls you into a bear hug, his arms wrap around you and his chin rests on top of yours. You snuggle into his chest, taking in his scent, he goes to say something to you but it falls silent to your ears.

Oh no. It’s Kylo.

You quickly pull away from Poe, your head frantically turns and looks around for him. “The pilot... again?” His voice echoes in your head, “I know you’re lonely. I don’t blame you.” His voice is cold.

“I have to go.” You say to Poe and begin walking towards his voice.

“You haven’t gotten intimate with him, have you?” He probes your mind, “Ah, you haven’t.” He almost days proudly, you know he’s smirking.

“Where are you?” You whisper-yell out as you begin to search the base. “I’m not projecting myself through the Force. I’m just in your head.” His words halt your movement. Poe must’ve been following you because you can feel his hands go onto your shoulders.

“Give me the coordinates. I know you have them. I’ll come to you. Just me.” His voice is so persuasive. You squeeze your eyes shut and send the coordinates with your voice through the Force.

“Good girl.” Kylo grins, “I promise you. It’s only going to be me. I won’t break any of my promises to you. Ever.” He cuts the connection off.

You take a deep breath to center yourself back into reality. Poe’s strong hands are gently rubbing your shoulders in comfort, “Hey. Are you okay?” He says into your ear.

“No, I mean yes.” You shake your head and gulp. You turn around quickly and smash your lips against Poe’s, both of your hands are on his cheeks.

“Thank you for being you.” You whisper against his lips before pulling away again. You look into his puppy dog brown eyes before you run the opposite way towards the cave.

You dart between people, twirling out of the way so you wouldn’t hit them. You spot Leia with the twins, “Hey. I’m gonna take them okay? I miss them. Thanks!” You scoop them up from their little play-mat to position them on your hips.

Before Leia could say anything, you’re running the opposite way back to your room. You left too late to see what Leia says and she seems worried for you, “Somebody go keep an eye on her. Tell me wherever she goes.”

Well, that’s going to mess up your plans.

tags: @officiallpeterparker @funnysadshit @ymariejp @attorneyl @fangirl570 @trinityrud20 @kylos-sassy-cousin @delicatelyherdreams @fizzywoohoo @savvy7392 @angelias134 @that-girl-named-alex @cas-backwards-tie @glimmering-darling-dolly @glitterypinkkitty @blxkstar @his-snow-white-queen @elsasshole @smiithys @nanocoool @deathbyarabbit @alex-skr @theholycakehole @averillian @crazynocturnalkiki @arcanebabe @tinydancer40 @superduckypower @thomasscresswell @butterfly-writes @thatintrovertedbisexual @fangirlanotherjust @somekindofroger @nicci442 @little-girl-who-dream-too-much @wildest-dream- @silverlambcaptain @cliffordmess @xkylorxn @nickangel13 @carol-twinklefists-danvers @oopsiedoopsie23 @fandomshit6000 @baba-eina @cosmichellfire @ravngers @lowkeyofsassguard

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rebelscoundrel · 4 years

Text

Take a Gamble

Request: You and Poe are a sarcastic duo that work well together, sent on an undercover mission to thwart a First Order weapons deal. Things go awry, of course.

Poe Dameron x reader

Warnings: undercover clichés (the kissing kind), lots of banter, a little tension (sexual and otherwise)

A\N - this got kinda long? I had way too much fun with this plot

Masterlist

“Poe, get down here. It can’t be that bad.”

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

A few reluctant thuds brought Poe to the bottom of the stairs. The first thing you noticed was the gelled hair trying to tame his curls. The poncho was quite a sight, too — black as night and adorned with golden chains and buckles, curiously matching his decorative boots. And somehow he still looked good.

But his grimace was icing on the cake.

You giggled, sliding a hand over your mouth and chin. “Okay, it’s not awful. But it’s not —"

“It’s not great, I know.”

He skirted past you, quickly crossing the hangar toward the Falcon. Passing mechanics kept their eyes averted from Poe and you nodded thanks on his behalf. A few other calls of “good luck!” echoed as the Falcon’s door slid shut.

“And you,” Poe chuckled wryly while flipping switches around the cockpit, “you get to wear that and call it a day.”

It was true, your white dress was achingly simple compared to his attire. But apparently these outfits were the best way for each of you to blend in on the mission, and you weren’t complaining that you got the simpler one for once.

“I think you secretly like that cape.”

“It’s a poncho, and I don’t.”

The Falcon leapt into hyperdrive and you crossed a leg haphazardly from the co-pilot’s seat. The stars blended into stripes, the gentle hum of lightspeed filling the easy silence in the cockpit, until finally it all slowed to give way to the destination. Canto Bight was a glittering jewel of a city – a shiny, sickening place for the rich and cruel and famous.

Poe landed a safe distance from the skyscraping casino, leaving the Falcon out of sight and ready for a quick escape if needed. You crept side by side toward the unnerving clamor of the city, only straightening up when you got closer. Adrenaline kickstarted a rush in your veins when the rendezvous site came into view and your hand wove a practiced path into the folds of your skirt, brushing the blaster strapped underneath for reassurance.

Ushers opened the massive doors, lifting the muzzle off the noise and letting the bright lights of the casino glare freely.

Poe offered you his elbow. “Shall we?”

You gladly took it, sneaking in a grin before setting your sights on the crowd. “Might as well.”

It wasn’t hard to find a path in the busy atrium – drunk gamblers and partiers were predictable, and you and Poe could effortlessly move in sync. Step left to avoid a pair of quarreling Bothans, backtrack around a raucous group of humanoid dancers, and weave through the line of low-stakes gambling circles. The first sign of First Order troops appeared at the racetrack betting tables and Poe gave you a nudge.

“You wanna remind me what we’re up against? A mechanic was rattling off X-Wing problems to me during the briefing.”

“A single buyer,” you spoke over the noise. “Local warlord known only as Jago. Wears red robes, black star tattoo on his neck. The First Order is selling him a hundred E-Webs that he’ll use to squash Resistance efforts on an Outer Rim planet.”

He whistled low under his breath. “Yeah, we’re not letting that happen. So it’s just that guy?”

“That guy and any First Order goons stationed in the city.”

“Won’t Jago bring backup?”

“In our intercepted transmission, the First Order said he had to come alone.”

“Easy enough.” He shrugged with a little cautious bravado to boost both of you. “Let’s destroy that shipment and bail.”

You bit back a grin, still striding in step with your mission partner. It was a simple plan, sure, and the two of you were experienced enough to handle it. Besides, you fit against Poe’s side like the Maker designed it that way. Upon finding a spot with a view of the whole room, Poe planted himself and snuck a glance at you before surveying the field.

The waiting game wasn’t long. The First Order troops started getting restless, muttering into their comms units and fiddling with their blasters.

“There.” Poe jutted his chin toward the bar. “That’s gotta be Jago.”

He was right, and Jago was terrifying. Towering over the creatures around him, his platinum shock of hair contrasted his scarred face and the dark tattoos lining his neck. His red robes were draped over a bulky build and the end of a rifle poked through. He was ready for a fight.

It was your turn to nudge Poe. “Let’s get over there. They’ll take him to the shipment soon.”

Like a grand ballet, the First Order troopers stalked toward Jago in single file while you and Poe approached from an angle. The music crescendoed, drinks spilled in your wake, and you were hot on Poe’s heels through it all, pacing yourself to stay out of sight of the enemy.

But it didn’t work.

You slammed into a ranking Stormtrooper, throwing you off track. Your white dress caught wine stains as you tried to push out of a group of civilians, but the trooper grabbed your arm and yanked you inches from his helmet.

“Watch it!” he seethed.

Trying to jerk away yielded no results. Your heart raced, drowning out any commotion behind you.

“Wait a minute…” He pulled out a hologram projector and up popped an image of your face. His viselike grip got tighter. “I’ve got a Resistance fighter!”

Clang! A table crashed into the trooper, sending him sprawling as cards and chips rained down like confetti. Poe popped up from behind the table, his gelled curls shaking freely. The two of you comically stared back and forth between each other and the fallen Trooper.

“Did you just –”

“Yeah,” he huffed while you took his outstretched hand, “not as heavy as it looks. We gotta go.”

Your “thanks” was breathless and the chase was on. First Order troopers and Stormtroopers were swarming and you and Poe dodged around them, ducking behind casino security droids and patron’s opulent hats. A flash of red caught your eye and you whirled toward it, Poe barely in tow.

“There’s Jago! They’ve gotta be leading him to the shipment.”

You hurried toward the archway leading out back, just a little further and you’d be free of the chaos inside. Poe gave a hopeful gasp and the way his bejeweled boots clacked on the tile floor almost drew a tease from your lips.

But you never got the chance because a Stormtrooper suddenly blocked your path.

“Shit!”

“Dammit! C’mon,” Poe groaned, switching hands to pull you the opposite way.

Troopers’ cries rang out behind you and their thunderous pursuit was the stuff of nightmares, the fever dream all tied together by the glitz and glam of the casino. You kept low as best you could and trusted Poe’s every step even as he led you closer to the performing stage.

The music was deafening but became muffled when you dipped into an alcove next to the stage. It was crowded with drunk partygoers gyrating and kissing what you could only hope was each other’s mouths. But even in that small mob you felt exposed because the troopers could be heard closing in and could walk by at any second.

“They’re going to find us,” you clipped.

But Poe was busy shuffling you toward the back of the alcove, keeping a grip on your elbows as he glanced over his shoulder.

“Poe, we’ve got to –”

His kiss silenced you.

Your back hit the wall a moment later and still the kiss continued – his lips were tense and unmoving and definitely only there to hide your faces from passersby and was that his hand caressing your lower back? You grasped his arm to steady your heart and dared not kiss back.

(Even if you wanted to.)

With your faces hidden, the Stormtroopers rushed past and continued their search elsewhere. Poe checked over his shoulder again and then his eyes were back on you, sparing an imperceptible glance to your lips.

“Sorry, I just –”

“No, good thinking.” You nodded and gave his chest a supportive pat. “They definitely didn’t want to venture in here.”

With no time to lose and no desire to further analyze what the hell just happened, you and Poe jostled through the crowd and back out into the open. Thankfully there were no troopers in sight and you snuck to the back archway and out into the night.

The brick courtyard was lined with massive palm trees that hid it from the view of any casino onlookers and it was silent except for metallic clattering behind a door on the far side.

“E-Webs.”

“Has to be,” you murmured back.

Walking through the open courtyard felt out of place and the two of you flicked wary glances all around. Your kept your hand poised on the slit in your dress, ready for whatever the sinister shadows would throw your way. And it didn’t take long.

“Hey, you there!” A First Order trooper stepped into view.

You tore out your blaster and shot him square in the chest. He crumpled and no more troopers appeared.

“Yeah, I think we’re in the right place,” Poe quipped.

He took one side of the door and you the other, gently pushing it open enough to peek inside. Jago loomed on one side of a stone table facing a First Order commander, both flanked by Stormtroopers. The itching trigger fingers could instantly send the room up in flames. But even through the tension, the conversation wasn’t hard to hear.

“The Supreme Leader wants payment now.”

“He’ll get his payment after I see the shipment myself,” Jago growled. “And don’t fool yourselves by thinking it’s hidden, I know it’s in the crates past the outer gates of this courtyard.”

That was what you needed to hear. As awful as Jago was, the mission was to destroy the shipment of E-Webs, not assassinate a warlord. Poe nodded and you followed, circling to the outside of the courtyard and easily finding the target. Crates and crates of insidious E-Webs were loaded onto a transport.

And surrounded by red-caped men carrying torches. Jago’s troops.

Poe skidded to a stop. “I thought you said Jago wasn’t supposed to bring backup.”

“Looks like he trusts the First Order about as much as we do.”

You counted six; Poe pointed out two more at the edge of the forest. Your blaster was still warm from the last shot fired and you braced your hand on the vine-covered wall, ready to fire it again. But Poe’s gentle touch to your wrist gave you reason for pause.

“I have something else that might work,” he murmured. From under his poncho he pulled out a pair of thermal detonators and a grin to match. “Turns out this blanket I’m wearing had its uses.”

Your face lit up but fell into a frown just as quickly. “Poe, we can’t detonate them or the E-Webs here. It could level half the casino.”

“So I’ll lure the guards away while you program –”

“I program the transport to fly deep into the woods!” the rest of the plan rolled off your tongue like lightning. “Then we detonate.”

“We detonate the hell out of it.”

The Resistance had come to rely on this kind of synchronization between you and Poe and it hadn’t yet let anyone down. After delicately handing you the detonators, he squeezed your shoulder for luck and you didn’t hide the nervous anticipation in your eyes – you never hid it from each other, not when it was so real. By the time you realized he was close enough to kiss you again he was gone, brandishing his blaster and dashing out into the open.

“Hey, you big scary bastards!” He fired a few shots before Jago’s troops realized what was happening.

They gave chase and you lied in wait for the stampede to pass, then took a deep breath and slinked over to the transport under the cover of darkness. Even with your skirts in one hand and cradling the detonators in the other, you managed to leap into the driver’s seat with ease. Blaster shots rang out from Poe’s direction but you forced yourself to concentrate on the task at hand.

Which was a little more difficult than normal. First Order tech was different enough that you pressed a few wrong buttons before igniting the engine. Is this your first time behind the wheel? you could hear Poe teasing if he’d been there.

A heavy thunk sounded and you whirled to see one of Jago’s troops standing on the back of the transport, pulling out his blaster. You beat him to it and shot him in the neck.

“Too close,” you whispered to yourself as he landed in the dirt.

With a few more switches flipped, you slammed the steering lever forward and jumped out of the driver’s seat. You armed the detonators with a flick of your thumbs and tossed them onto the transport as it hurtled into the woods.

Trees crashed in its wake as you fled the opposite direction. Ten seconds ticked by, just enough for you to make it to the courtyard walls – eyes squeezed shut, hands clamped over your ears – and then came the massive explosion. The vibration rattled deep in your bones.

But you couldn’t stay covered forever. As expected, Jago’s remaining troops raced back to the transport’s spot and then toward the inferno, their angry curses echoing in the flames devouring the trees. You slipped away unnoticed toward the edge of the city, where Poe had originally led them.

And you didn’t have to worry about him for long.

“Hey!” came a tense whisper from your right.

Poe emerged from a stack of barrels and split into a wide smile, ecstatic to see you alive and well. You fell into his embrace without a second thought.

“E-Webs are gone,” you declared. “Nice job with the distraction, by the way.”

He pulled back to wave you off. “That was the easy part. Jago needs to hire better mercenaries, these guys can’t shoot for shit.”

That was the end of the reunion, because Jago himself strode out from behind the courtyard walls and surveyed the entire scene. The firelight painted him even more fearsome. He yelled obscenities at his troops, the First Order commander, and the Stormtroopers before his gaze landed on you and Poe looking not particularly innocent.

“Get them!” he bellowed.

“Here we go again…”

Poe took your hand like clockwork and your tired legs carried you into the city. From cobblestone to pavement, around market stalls and under giant droids’ legs, and in between partygoers taking a midnight stroll.

You and Poe were fast but the enemy was just as quick, even if they were still a good distance behind. But the hunt couldn’t go on forever and as you rounded a sharp corner, there it was. Saving grace in the form of an alleyway. You yanked Poe in with you and prayed it was enough to shake them.

The alley was narrower than anticipated and Poe was nearly pressed into you. The chase left your heart pounding and your chest heaving and the brick wall at your back dug into your dress and all at once the ridiculousness of the situation had you clutching your mouth to hold back giggles.

Poe noticed, his dark eyes glistening at you as a smirk played on his own mouth. He playfully brought a finger to his own lips to gesture for you to keep quiet.

And now you were looking at his lips.

It felt like the gravitational pull of a galaxy, the way you gazed at the curve of his mouth. The sheer proximity was intoxicating, sending tendrils of heat curling up your skin. The memory of his kiss was as clear as the night sky and left a sparkle in your eyes when you finally looked up.

Poe noticed that, too, and he sobered as his own gaze dipped to your lips and back.

A blur of red capes and white armor trampled past your hiding spot at that moment. Not too long after Jago and the First Order commander followed, still barking frustrated orders. But all that commotion barely registered within the dark confines of the alley. The pull between you was still too strong, drowning out everything else, even the gradual quiet that grew in the street.

“I think they’re gone,” you breathed.

“Yeah…”

A blaster firing in the distance finally made Poe snap his eyes away. He leaned out of the alley to check if the coast was clear and motioned for you to follow, and it was back to business as usual – this goddamn mission.

“Let’s get the hell off this planet.”

The streets slowly became familiar as you neared the entrance to the casino and that’s when Poe noticed a speeder sitting idle, its driver preoccupied with trying to sell something to a pair of drunk civilians.

“Wanna get to the Falcon faster?” he called.

You followed his line of sight. “You bet! Can I drive?”

“What?”

“You might be a great pilot,” you raced the last few feet and jumped in the driver’s seat, revving the engine with a proud cock of your brow, “but I’m better on a speeder and you know it.”

Poe could only grin and shake his head while hopping on the back, barely getting a grip on your waist before you floored it. You flew past the casino in time to see Jago emerging from the front doors and he erupted again, shrieking and waving wildly until a Stormtrooper flew up on a speeder. He hopped on the back and they sped toward you.

Poe exasperatedly smacked the side of your speeder. “We just can’t catch a break with this guy.”

The chase was on once again and you quickly made it to the edge of the city, where Jago opened fire. Blaster shots illuminated the night around you and Poe did his best to return fire while you evasively swerved through the meadow.

“This isn’t good!” Poe yelled. “They’ll kill us if we go to the Falcon now.”

As you tried to reach for your blaster, you accidentally flicked a switch on the dashboard and a small panel opened between the handlebars. There sat a thermal detonator, primed and ready for any opponent.

“You’re not gonna believe our luck,” you cried over the wind, holding up the detonator like a prize. “Will you do the honors?”

“Gladly.”

Poe armed and tossed the detonator, hiding his face against your neck as the explosion knocked your speeder forward. Leaving the smoking remains in the dust, you finally headed toward the Falcon in peace.

“Woohoo! Not bad for a guy in a poncho,” he crowed.

You let out a holler into the night, feeling free as the wind whipped past your face. The Falcon finally came into view and you slowed down to jump off the speeder with Poe right behind. The two of you were significantly worse for wear than when you left the Falcon earlier in the evening but you trudged to the cockpit with your heads held high – tattered clothes, dirty boots, wine stains, and all.

While Poe fired up the engine, you patched through to command central. Resistance leaders wanted a status update as soon as you were done.

“Falcon to Command One,” you proudly beamed at Poe, “we completed the mission and are en route back to base.”

Lightspeed came and went and then you were landing on base between the flight deck operators signaling with their orange lights. It was the dead of night so there was no congratulatory crowd waiting, and that was okay. You’d had your fill of crowds.

Poe stood to leave as soon as the Falcon touched down, and so did you — landing you face to face for the second time that night. Time froze as you fell into each other’s orbit once again. His breath on your cheek, your glance to his lips, the steady rise and fall of your chests in sync. The tension threatened to rip you in two and you almost did something about it.

The comms crackled inside the cockpit. “Captains, let’s have that debriefing now.”

You stepped away first, catching your breath as you strode out of the Falcon a few paces ahead of Poe. The silence of the runway rung in your ears because all you could do was think about the man just a few feet behind. And all at once, after all those chases that evening, you were tired of running away.

You spun on your heel, arms swinging wide. It was now or never.

“Poe —”

“Yeah, what the hell.”

The distance closed in a flash and his lips found yours with ease. He properly cradled your cheek this time, melting you further into his touch. Your hands carded through his hair and deepened the kiss like the Maker intended. The heat in your chest blossomed when Poe smiled against your mouth.

You broke it first, panting and idly playing with the curls at the nape of his neck. It no longer hurt to be this close, not when all the doubt had dissipated.

“The debrief...” you reluctantly muttered.

“I think we can handle that now.” After sharing another satisfied grin, he let you walk ahead and only spoke loud enough for you to hear. “Though it probably won’t be as brief as I’d like.”

#star wars #poe dameron #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron imagine #star wars imagine #moral of the story: if ya man doesn't flip a table for you he ain't worth it

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deathandhumanresources · 3 years

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Chapter 2 - Administrative and Clerical

As the pages of my book filled, progress on “The Plan” reached a fever pitch. Father’s groundwork was impressive when it was only sketches and doodles but the first draft of all Creation turned out to be more wondrous than any of us could imagine. The Djinn’s constructs were massive in their execution and the Angel’s philosophical designs imbued every structural cell with Father’s purpose. Each day, I grew busier processing the requests for names from every Angel working in the “Living Things” department. As the work grew more complex, with weirder and more diverse ideas arriving for my designation every day, I became more confident in my abilities. Before long, news of my efficiency reached the Upper Angelarium, where the Archangels gathered.

“Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for this?” I asked the Cherub called Ornias as he held his creation towards me. “This one seems like plagiarism to me.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Ornias replied, though I couldn’t help but hear a chiding in his voice.

“I mean you stole this design from other Angels. I think I’ve seen this tail before. I’ve definitely seen this bill...”

“I may have taken inspiration from a few of my fellow spirits but this design is an original.” The fat Angel’s snorting face puckered into a look of disingenuous offense.

“It looks like you just mashed five other animals together!” I grabbed the design by its webbed flippers. The thing turned its duckish, rattish head towards me and stared with curiosity. I placed it on the ground where it scurried behind Ornias’ rounded form. I apprehensively asked, “Is this a joke?”

“A joke?” Ornias spat, “Does creation seem funny to you?” In truth, neither of us knew if Creation sounded funny because neither of us fully understood the concept yet.

“Is it mammal or bird?” I probed, attempting to refocus the conversation.

“Yes.” Ornias replied with so much indifference, that I wanted to reak wrath on the Angel’s stupid face.

“I’m truly at a loss, Ornias. Perhaps you have a suggestion?”

“Well, I was sort of thinking we could call it a,” he choked as if stifling a laugh, “a Platypus?”

“Oh, come on!”

“Alright, alright!” Ornias guffawed as he reached forward and clucked me on my back with his palm. “Look, I somehow got this one past the Approval Department and all I need is a name to make it official. Wouldn’t it be the best if this thing ended up crawling around with all the other animals?

“Well,” I considered, “I don’t know...” In truth, looking at the creature made me understand comedy a little bit more. And it was cute.

“What do you say, old pal?” Ornias thrust his right hand forward in a gesture that all Angels agreed meant “mutuality.”

“We’ve never met before today, Ornias.” I abstained from returning the gesture.

“Think about it.” The Cherub plucked his weird design up from the ground and turned to leave. As they flew away, the creature wriggled in Ornias’ grasp to look at me again. I smiled and it shook, startled, before burrowing into hiding in the Angel’s arms.

“Erm... next!” I called to my constantly growing queue. I had set up my operations in a vacant cubelike room of the lower Angelarium. When I found the room, it invoked a feeling as though I had meant to be there all along. Inside the cube was a chair for me to sit and a desk for me to place my book. From the room, I allowed one Angel at a time to enter and present their creation to name. As always, the Angels queued naturally and rarely made a fuss.

The next Angel in line entered at my call and I was surprised to see that it was a Principality. For those of you not well versed in Angelic Hierarchy, the Principalities are the assistants to the other Choirs of Angels. They deliver messages and perform tasks for Angels too busy to complete those tasks themselves. They are the delegates and were designed by Father to be pushed around without much fuss.

This Principality had hair as gold as wheat (a plant designed just days prior) and skin the color of olives (a plant that hadn’t been designed yet but one I’m referencing retroactively.) Her physique was rigid and she towered over the other Angels in the queue behind her. Her wings were so soft that they resembled clouds in the distance. Her expression was one of annoyance, brought on by having to wait in a queue when there were other tasks at hand.

“Hi there!” I greeted, somewhat fearfully. “I did not know Principalities were invited to create for ‘The Plan!’”

“I am Eremiel.” the Angel interjected, “I am not here on Creation business.”

“Ah.” I said “Well I am afraid that I am in the middle of naming every single living creature. Is there something I can help you with?”

Eremiel reached into a pouch slung around her bony shoulder. She produced a page of parchment that she began to hold out to me. Before I could take it, she snatched it back.

“Were you designed to be able to read?” She asked dryly.

“I have the gift of all languages.” I replied, confused, bemused, and anxious for what news Heaven had for me now.

“Good.” The Principality unceremoniously dropped the parchment on my desk. The page slid across the surface and landed in my lap.

“They’ll see you after you’ve finished your duties for the day.” Eremiel spoke with vexation as she left the room. On her way out she bumped the next Angel in line, an impossibly beautiful spirit with a crown of light and holding a round rodent with enormous ears. Before the offended Angel could protest, Eremiel’s eyes widened and she gave a look that clearly said “Get out of my way or you and the rat will be broken for all of eternity.” The beautiful Angel cowered and Eremiel launched off into the higher Angelarium.

I unravelled the parchment in my lap and read the message within:

TO AZRAEL, ANGEL OF NAMES

YOUR PRESENCE IS DEMANDED

TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT MATTERS

REGARDING YOUR FUNCTION AND PURPOSE

YOU ARE TO REPORT TO THE HALL OF THE ARCHANGELS

FOR JUDGMENT

AS SOON AS YOUR DUTIES FOR THE DAY ARE COMPLETE

BE PROMPT

SINCERELY,

GABRIEL, ARCHANGEL AND CHIEF MESSENGER

“Urp...” Was all I could say as I let the parchment roll up and sway back and forth on my desk. I felt my face go pale. I don’t know how long I sat, silent and staring, before I heard a meek “Ahem” beyond my doorway. It was the beautiful Angel and its creation.

“Oh, er, next!” I called.

The Hall of Archangels stood at the top of the third sphere of the Angelarium. My work was mostly clerical so I hung around the bottom of the third sphere. The upper sphere was for Archangels and Principalities. Beyond the third sphere was the second sphere. That place was the work area of the middle management Angels: the Powers, the Virtues, and the Dominions. Above the second sphere was the first sphere, the upper management sphere. The first sphere was where the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Thrones worked closely with Father on “The Plan’s” most important projects. Above the spheres sat Father’s throne, where he shined his radiance on all Angels below him.

I nervously clutched my parchment of invitation as I approached the entranceway to the Hall. The landing for the upper sphere was paved with bricks carved from a porous grey stone that felt soft under my feet. Rounded outcroppings of the stone jutted from the walkway in symmetrical pairs leading from the landing and into the upper sphere. Prototypes for the aforementioned flowers adorned the outcroppings in a manner I found aesthetically pleasing. A massive silver arch marked the entry to the halls. Great, angled runes were carved deeply into the arch, spelling in a now-forgotten language, “DILIGENCE, VIGILANCE, GLORY.”

The landing was bustling as Angels of all different Choirs launched and disembarked to and from the Heavens. Each spirit possessed a face of focused officiousness as they passed by and around each other on the walkway. Many of them held stacks of paperwork and they would bump gracelessly into one another, mumbling indifferent swears before rebalancing and continuing on. None of the Angels offered so much as a wayward glance at me as I shuffled uncomfortably towards the archway. I felt so out of place.

When I bypassed the arch and into the Hall, I looked above to see the walls and ceiling had been carved of the same soft, grey stone and painted with a mural. The art of the hallway depicted the Heavens, complete with all manner of Angel flying and smiling as they worked at the building blocks of Creation with hammers and chisels. A rendering of Father sat on his throne at the apex of the curved ceiling, his smile was the biggest. In his left hand, he held a sash decorated with the same runic font as the silver archway. The text read “PERFECTION.” In his right hand, he held a strange blue orb that I recognized as the initial design for “The Plan.” I did not notice it at the time, but the Djinn were not pictured in the mural at all.

I came to a series of turnstiles preceded by booths with Angels inside. I watched as visitors approached, spoke briefly with the booth Angels, and pressed past the turnstiles before resuming into the hallway. I puffed up my chest and attempted to imitate the zeal of the patrons around me. I approached a booth on the far end of the vestibule and stepped toward the turnstile.

“What’s your business?” the bored looking booth Angel asked blandly.

“Oh, er...” I fumbled with the roll of parchment at my side before passing it to the turnstile guardian.

“Mmm, yes.” He unrolled the note and studied it with nonchalance. I rocked from side to side on my heels for an awkward moment before he continued. “You are scheduled with Gabriel in the Western Atrium. Do you know where you’re going?”

“I’m afraid not.” I meeped.

“Oh.” The Angel curled his upper lip, “A tourist.” He hefted from his seat with a grunt of vexation and leaned over his booth towards me. He reached a slender arm past my neck in a manner meant to lead my gaze. “See the wisp of red cirrus cloud that stretches along the wall mural?” He did not wait for me to answer. “Follow that ‘round the rightmost corner and straight along until you reach the double doors labelled ‘Virtue and Punctuality.’ You’ll find the Chief Messenger’s office within.”

“Alright.” I murmured as I squinted towards the mural. I did not see red cirrus clouds. I turned back to the booth Angel to see he was regarding me with furrowed eyebrows.

“You can go along.” He chastised. With a nod of his head, he signalled to a line of equally annoyed Angels behind me.

“Oh.” I said and pressed at the turnstile. It did not move at first so I shuffled uncomfortably, trying and failing to look like I knew what I was doing. Finally, the arm loosened and I tumbled forward, almost falling to the floor. I pulled my wings around me in embarrassment and hustled into the reconvening crowd beyond the gate. I felt overwhelmed by the roaming crowd and was instinctively drawn to the wall and out of the way of the bustle. I inspected the mural for the wisp of red cloud described by the booth Angel. At first, I found no evidence of such cirrus and I felt a panic rise inside me. After a moment, I noticed a streak of cloud, more pink than red, cast behind the drama of the painting and across the cosmos. I followed the path around the corner into a straightaway that appeared to go on indefinitely. The hall had many pairs of doors across from each other on either side of the walkway. As I strolled passed, I couldn’t shake the curiosity to open one of these doors and look inside.

The red cirrus on the wall lifted onto the ceiling of the hallway and led to an extension of the main hall’s mural. The color pallet from the previous painting shifted to a radical use of greys and reds. The whisping cirrus fed into a large black stormcloud that loomed over the extension of the hallway. Vibrant flashes of lightning illuminated the backdrop of the scene and made many of the boisterous storm clouds look like violent cosmic explosions. When I stopped to admire a detailed expression of cloud, I noticed the painted silhouette of an armor-clad angel amongst the dramatics. Its outstretched wings matched the curvature of the stormy display behind it and it raised its arm high above its head. In its hand, it held a long, menacing sword that extended high into the heavens above it. A streak of blue lightning extended from a nebulous point in the storm to meet the Angel’s sword where it curled coyly toward the tip of the blade. I had not noticed before but the scene depicted in this hallway’s mural was populated with the silhouettes of many menacing Angels, each dressed in a similar armor and each held a long-tipped sword. My sense of wonder towards the illustration slowly became one of apprehension. I pulled my wings closer around me.

The bustle of busy spirits slowed and thinned out as I continued down the straightaway. I walked slowly, craning my head to either side to read the designations above each approaching doorway. “Virtue and Punctuality, Virtue and Punctuality,” I repeated to myself, trying my best not to forget what the rude booth Angel had told me. To my dismay, none of the doors on either side of the hall included either of those words. Many of the doors instead read similar titles, like “REGIMENT AND RULE” or “CLASSIFICATION AND CARTOGRAPHY.” As I wandered, I began to get a little confused. It wasn’t until I meandered to the set of double doors at the end of the hall before I realized I had reached my designation. As clear as day, the words “VIRTUE AND PUNCTUALITY” hung in a flowing gold font over the doors’ brick and mortar archway. I should have figured the Archangels would signify their meeting place in such a glorious manner.

I did my best to stifle my nervousness and pushed at the rightmost door. At first it did not open and, when I pressed a bit of my heft against it, there was a brief give before more resistance. I heard an “Oop!” from beyond the barrier. I leapt back, embarrassed. Apparently I was pressing the door into someone! There was a bit of murmuring behind the door before it opened inward. I gulped in shock when I saw who stood before me.

“Ah, Azrael!” exclaimed Lucifer, his mouth curled into an unfamiliar smile. “Right on time, I see! It always pays to be punctual for a meeting at Virtue and Punctuality.” His demeanor was glaringly contrary to how he spoke in our previous meeting. I found the change pleasant but disturbing at the same time.

“Er,” I croaked, “I did not realize you would be attending, Mister Lucifer.”

“Mister Lucifer!” He repeated with a laugh over his shoulder, presumably to whoever else was in the room behind him. “What did I tell you about this kid, Gabe?” He turned back toward me and stared with a strange admiration I had only seen before from Father. “No, I won’t be joining in on today’s meeting, but do know that the higher ups are aware of your progress. You’ve yet to disappoint, little Angel.”

A warmth erupted in my face. It felt like shame and pride all at once. I opened my mouth but I didn’t have anything to say.

“Lucifer,” a dry voice called from behind the Archangel, “If you’re going to praise the creature’s punctuality, at least let him in the door to be punctual.”

“Ah, of course!” The smiling Lucifer took a labored step back and held the door open for me to enter. As I inched my way in, he snuck his towering form around me and out into the hall. “Best regards, Azrael!” He said as he let the door close between us.

The room was not as grand as I had expected. The magnificent aesthetic of the main hall had not transferred to the Archangels’ chamber. Instead, the walls and ceiling were a clean, abstract white. A skylight cropped from the ceiling’s center, allowing Father’s light to shine on the room’s simple furnishings. Ahead of me was a rectangular slab of marble cloud. It hung motionless in the center of the room, illuminated by the light from above. Ten marble white chairs surrounded the slab and sat suspended in a similar fashion.

At the opposite end of the slab from me sat two radiant Archangels. The first I noticed was a giant of a spirit with earth-brown, craggy skin and locks of flowing silver hair. He wore the same night-black robes that I had recognized on Lucifer but the mass of his chest and arms were bulging at the seams. His enormous hands were clasped together and resting on the slab, his fingers were dressed in several thick, golden rings. His eyes were the shocking blue of a lightning flash and his nose and lips were wide on his muscular face. He looked at me, wordlessly, with an expression barren of emotion.

The Archangel to his right was slender, petite in comparison, but something about her presence was far more threatening. She too wore the black Archangel’s robes, though the cuffs and collar were decorated with an elaborate, gilded pattern. Her amber hair poured from the top of her head in short waves that flowed down to her neck. Her face was narrow, almost gaunt. Her sharp chin pointed downward and her colorless lips were pursed. A needling nose drew a line from those pursed lips up to eyes blacker than a tempest.

“You may have a seat.” The smaller Archangel called and extended a welcoming hand toward the floating seat closest to me. Her voice was curt and intimidating, it lacked the song that hung in many other Angels’ voices.

“I do apologize for the short notice.” She continued as I approached my chair and sat down. “With Creation rapidly approaching, we have been encouraged to expedite certain processes.”

“No trouble at all!” I cried out, perhaps a little too loud, across the table. “In truth, I didn’t realize ‘The Plan’ was coming together so quickly. That’s good news!” I smiled. When the gesture was not returned, I said, “Isn’t it?”

“Hm.” The slender Archangel replied noncommittally. She raised her hand to her face and rubbed at her cheekbone with her finger. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve invited Archangel Uriel to this briefing. He will be sitting in on the interview process.” With her other hand, she offered an introductory gesture to the large Archangel to her left.

“Thank you, Gabriel.” Uriel’s craggy lips lifted into a welcoming smile and he unclasped his hands to place them both face down on the slab. “I wasn’t supposed to attend this meeting but, after hearing everything, I wanted to put a face to the name!”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted, “Gabriel, was it?” My eyes met the slender Archangel’s and she gave a slight, acknowledging nod. “What is this about an interview process? I’m afraid I don’t know why I was summoned today.”

Gabriel’s gaze shifted to meet Uriel’s for a moment before returning to me. “Your summons,” she said wryly, “explained that we were to discuss your function and purpose.”

“Now, now!” Uriel laughed in a thunderous tone that shook the room. “Like you said, Gabriel, things are happening so quickly these days. I get the feeling little Azrael here hasn’t been brought to speed with the recent influx of,” he paused as he searched for the right word, “adjustments being made to ‘The Plan.’” With each passing word that passed through Uriel’s lips, I preferred him more and more to Gabriel.

“Adjustments?” I repeated.

“He is little, isn’t he.” Gabriel sequitured and clicked her tongue, her voice permeated with venom.

“You must forgive Gabriel.” Uriel’s grin widened. “She is an auditor, after all. Father designed her to look for incorrections throughout the process. I imagine you’re more used to the friendliness of the Angels in the lower circle.”

“Ah, sure.” I lied. If spirits in the lower Angelarium were ever friendly, it was an event I had certainly never witnessed first hand.

“We’re not here to discuss my function, Uriel.” Gabriel reached below the chair and slammed a weighty book upon the slab’s surface. It was the second book I had ever seen, after my own. “This is about your progress, Azrael.”

“Oh.” I gulped. “I figured there were no discretions. I thought the naming process was coming along quite, er, nicely.” I hung my head and cursed in my mind whomever had complained about my process. I could only imagine it was that pedantic Qaspiel, still angry with his Jellyfish. Or maybe it was Ornias pulling a cruel prank, like his Platypus.

“Indeed.” Gabriel murmured as she flipped through an innumerable amount of pages in her book. “Yes, we’ve received word from Father and confirmation from Lucifer that you are, in fact, exceeding expectations.” Despite the commendation, her voice produced no kindness in its tone.

“Oh.” I said again. “Then, er, what’s the problem?”

“Problem?” Uriel laughed. “Azrael, your work is splendid! Before you came along, most Angels were designating approved creations with a complicated number system. It was getting ridiculous! And don’t get me started on trying to talk identification with the Djinn! They ID everything based on chemical composition! Gabriel,” he turned, “remember when Fuqtus gummed up the ledger for WEEKS because he referred to seagulls in his notes by the number of carbon atoms in their feathers?”

“Mmhmm.” Gabriel vaguely confirmed as she continued surveying her notes.

“Then Father comes along and says he’s tasked an Angel with giving every living thing a name! ‘A name!?’ I said, ‘How’s that going to help anything?’” Uriel turned back toward me. “But then you come along, you take a look at the seagull, you call it a seagull. It’s like that’s what it was supposed to be called this whole time! I mean, come on, it’s a gull that flies over the sea!”

“Quite.” Gabriel snapped her book closed. “What Uriel is trying to get at is that there has been a highly irregular decision made on your behalf.”

“Highly irregular?” I felt foolish repeating everything the Archangels offered but I was so nervous, my higher cognitive function had ceased.

“A promotion.” She asserted.

“A promotion!?”

“Will you stop that!”

“Azrael,” Uriel offered, “we would like to advance you to the role of Principality. Specifically we, the Archangels, need a note taker for our meetings. We figure that no one, so far, has taken detailed notes like yours. Of course, this will start after you’re done assigning your names but, by our projections, we should be finished up with creating new creatures here by the end of the week. So,” he puffed up his chest and lifted himself from his chair, “What do you say?”

I didn’t know what to say.

#fictionmetaphyicsangelsdemonsmagicmagickoccultmy writingwritingdeathgrim reaperreadthisfantasyhumorwitchcrafthorrorreligion

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daedriclorde · 4 years

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A Thief in Wolf’s Clothing, Part II: Chapter 4, “Family”

Kjolti begins to feel at home in Jorrvaskr; meanwhile, Brynjolf continues his search for word of Aerisif.

Read here on Ao3!

Kjolti stumbled out of her quarters. Her mouth felt dry and her tongue thick. Head pounding, she slowly made her way toward the hall. This condition was the usual result after a night of revelry with the Companions.

What the fuck did I drink? She wondered, rubbing her temples. On some level, Kjolti knew that it wasn’t what, that was the problem, so much as how much, but she did not want to admit that to herself. She had started drinking fairly heavily since her induction, and she didn’t care to stop.

Upon turning the corner, she squinted at an unfamiliar figure moving about. Kjolti blinked. A woman came into focus, a pretty young thing wearing rather impractical clothing.

“Who the fuck are you?” Kjolti grumbled.

Some combination of Kjolti’s tone, and likely her disheveled appearance, frightened the woman, because she startled at the rough question. She released a high pitched yelp of surprise that made Kjolti wince, and scurried off toward the stairs even faster.

“What the—“ Kjolti leaned against the wall, trying to figure out where the woman had come from.

Oh, of course. Naturally. Vilkas’s door was slightly ajar, and loud snores could be heard from within. Kjolti rolled her eyes and continued onto her goal: breakfast.

The daylight streaming in through the halls windows made Kjolti blink. She sank down onto an empty bench and hungrily attacked the loaf of bread before her.

Bread, she cooed in her head. Bread seemed about a hundred times better when she was hungover. Tilma was passing by with a tray full of tankards and Kjolti grabbed one without caring what was inside. A sip confirmed it was a nutty ale. A little hair of the dog—wolf, she mused to herself with a bleak smile. Her stomach rolled at first but quickly accepted the food and drink.

Kjolti then became aware of the others in the hall, all in similar states as she. Athis and Ria were sitting a little while down, Ria looking rather sickly. Torvar was still face first into a pie, where he had obviously crashed last night. Farkas sat slumped against a empty barrel of mead.

Kjolti then became aware that she was being watched, just as she was doing the watching. She caught Kodlak and Skjor sitting in the corner, chuckling deep together. Grinning, she stood and made her way over to them on wobbly legs.

“Enjoying the scene?” She asked as she planted herself on the bench next to them.

“Oh, very much,” Skjor chuckled. “It brings two old men life to watch the young drink up—quite literally—their youth.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kodlak said with his nose in the air. “It was certainly just yesterday that we were waking up in our own puddles of mead.” They all laughed at that.

“Kodlak, do you want me dead? You’ll split my wounds open!” Skjor grinned.

Kjolti grinned too. She was beginning to feel something that she didn’t think she could anymore. Family.

“You know, you fit in here quite well, Kjolti.” Skor’s voice was soft and warm.

She looked up, startled. “Thank you Skor…that…that means a lot to me.”

“It seems I owe you a great deal. I have heard that you were instrumental in keeping me alive, after the raid on the Silverhand.”

Kjolti shrugged sheepishly. “I did what any one of us would do, Skjor. Never leave a Companion behind, right?”

“I was on the death’s door once again, and yet again, saved by a member of your family. You have brought honor to your family and this hall.”

Kodlak nodded in agreement. “You have done the Companions proud, girl. Your father would have been proud as well.”

Kjolti felt tears welling in her eyes, but refused to let them fall. This is my family now.

***

Farkas blinked awake, heading pounding and vision blurry. He groaned as he felt the crick in his spine from sleeping leaning against the mead barrel all night. With a loud snap he righted his back.

Taking account of the rest of his body, Farkas found he was aching all over. More mead, he thought. That’ll help. But as he began to rise, he froze as his eyes landed on a beautiful sight.

Kjolti sat across Jorrvaskr, laughing heartily with Skjor and Kodlak. Farkas softened. Her smile, her bright silver eyes. They always made him pause. He sat back down heavily and sighed.

And she has no idea how I feel. The very thought of telling Kjolti how he felt paralyzed Farkas. He, a member of the Inner Circle of The Companions, direct descendants of Ysgramor’s Five Hundred, a fearsome werewolf in his own right, was terrified at the very idea of telling the woman he was obsessing over how he felt about her.

Coward, he berated himself. He rubbed his face in his hands, peeking through his fingers at Kjolti again.

She looked well. It wasn’t long ago that she and Aela returned with Skjor on their shields, all three covered in blood. It had been nearly six moons since that night. He knew then how he felt. He knew it much longer ago than that. And yet here he was, still watching Kjolti from a distance.

But not so distant anymore, he thought with an inner smile. Now that Kjolti was a werewolf too, they had become closer. They transformed and hunted together, and often. Maybe too often. There are risks. But the risks disappeared in his mind as Kjolti saw he was awake and started to carry a loaf of bread over to him.

***

Solitude always impressed Brynjolf. As he strolled through the gates, he took in the city. It certainly was closest thing to a metropolis in Skyrim. He took a deep breath in of crisp mountain air.

When I find Aerisif, maybe we’ll retire here. The thought was nice: the pair of them dressed in fine robes, strolling around the market, attending festivals at the Bard’s College.

But a tiny seed of doubt was growing in the pit of his stomach.

Brynjolf walked past The Winking Skeever just as an Argonian emerged. Golum-Ei lifted his head. They locked eyes for a moment. Brynjolf gave him a warning look. Not today. You don’t know me today.

Golum-Ei seem to understand. He quickly looked away and carried on with his business, as if the redhead was just another stranger in the city. Brynjolf released a breath and continued forward. Dressed as he was in his standard blue robes, Brynjolf looked like just another stranger. As was his intention.

Brynjolf veered off towards the stairs that lead to Castle Dour.

“I’ve got a little work if you’re interested, traveller,” a voice called out from the shadows.

Brynjolf knew enough about voices that call out from the shadows and the kind of offers they made. He didn’t even look in its direction as he continued toward the stairs.

“Everyone’s got to work,” mumbled the shadows.

Aye, but I’m not here on business. Maybe if Brynjolf was here on Guild business, he would see what the Argonian was about, see if the Guild could use him. But not today. Today, he had a mission. He continued up the stairs and through the stone archway. Brynjolf pointedly did not make eye contact with the guard flanking the door to Castle Dour. Easier to stay unnoticed when you don’t make eye contact.

It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the castle interior. Brynjolf immediately picked up on an agitated conversation from the room ahead.

“You people and your damm Jarls.” The speaker was frustrated. Brynjolf edged closer, and inferred that it was General Tullius himself.

“Sir?” A legate standing nearby measured her words carefully. “You can’t force a Nord to accept help he hasn’t asked for.”

“If Ulfric’s making a move on Whiterun, then we need to be there to stop him. Draft another letter with the usual platitudes, but this time share some of your intelligence regarding Ulfric’s plans. Embellish if you have to. We’ll let it seem like its his idea.”

“Yes, Sir.” Brynjolf could see the legate’s face now. He recognized the expression. It was one he had worn many times when receiving orders from Mercer.

Tullius shook his head. “You Nords and your bloody sense of honor.” He began to walk away from the large table when he saw Brynjolf in the doorway. “Are my men now giving free reign to anyone who wanders into the castle? Do you have some reason to be here, citizen?”

Brynjolf straightened. “Aye, I do. I’m here about Helgen.”

Tullius rolled his head in annoyance. “If you think you can waltz in here to be entertained with stories of dragons like I’m some damn Moon-Singer, you are sorely mistaken. I have a war to win.”

Brynjolf held up a hand. “Please. I don’t need more than a moment of your time. I’m not here about the dragon.”

Tullius raised an eyebrow. “You’re not?”

“No. One of the prisoners. A woman. Black hair, silver eyes. Did she escape?”

The general crossed his arms. “Are you asking me for confidential information on an Imperial prisoner?”

Brynjolf crossed his arms and stood tall. “Aye, I suppose I am. Did she escape?”

Tullius gave Brynjolf a measuring look. “Why should I tell you anything? I don’t know who you are, why you’re here, or who sent you.”

“I’m Gormund, of Dragon Bridge, I’m here about the prisoner with black hair and silver eyes, and I sent myself. The sooner you answer my question, the sooner I’ll leave. Did she escape?”

Tullius considered for a moment, then relaxed his expression. “I’m not going to waste either of our time. There’s no point. I don’t know your prisoner, or if she escaped. She wasn’t on our lists, it seems my men threw her in the wagon anyway. Something about a disturbance at the camp. She made it to the block, but that’s when the dragon attacked. We didn’t kill her, but I can’t say the dragon didn’t. That’s all I know.”

Brynjolf’s eyes held fire as he listened to Tullius’s account, but he maintained his stony expression otherwise. “Thank you for your time.” He turned and left. Brynjolf’s gaze was unfocused. Passersby looked at him curiously, but wisely did not approach him.

He made it all the way outside of the city gates before he unleashed a near-feral shout of frustration, anger, and grief.

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