#and yet he IMMEDIATELY without a single second of hesitation joined and like MAD respect i adore him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

half-bakedboy · 3 years

Photo

Evan “Buck” Buckley/Eddie Diaz | Rated T | Chapters 1/11 | Posting Every Other Day

When Maddie showed up at the one-eighteen covered in bruises and needing a place to stay, Buck didn't hesitate to let her into his home and the new life he had created in L.A. While he was happy to have his sister back, he was tired of insisting to her that he wasn't as lonely as she accused him of being. So when she assumes he's in some secret relationship with his coworker and best friend, Eddie, Buck decides it couldn't hurt to tell a little white lie, especially when it meant his sister could focus on something that wasn't her own past.

Now Buck is stuck trying to navigate through a ruse of his own creation while dealing with newfound feelings for his best friend that seemed to sneak up on him.

Oh, and did he mention the mysterious accelerant that kept finding itself in his path, putting everyone he loves in danger?

read chapter one on ao3

“I’m just worried about you, Evan,” Maddie sighed into the phone. Buck’s heart did that stupid little stutter directly correlated with disappointing his sister and he held the phone away from his face as if that would lessen the guilt he felt.

“Mads, I’m—”

“You’re not fine.”

Buck sighed. “I wasn’t going to say fine. I was going to say—” Buck thought for a second, but his sister was right—as she usually was—and who was he to argue with her? “Alright, I was going to say fine, but it’s because it’s true!” Buck urged, hoping that the more times he said it, the more likely she’d be to believe it. (Maybe he could convince himself of the fact along the way.)

“It’s been almost two months since Abby—”

“Really, big sis? You just gotta bring that up?” He complained, groaning more than audibly as he stared up at the firehouse ceiling. He had found in the last few weeks of overtime shifts that counting the tiles and slabs that made up the structure was a great way to pass the time.

“Yes, little bro, I have to bring it up because I’m—”

“—Worried about you.” Buck finished the sentence with her and prepared for annoyance or, at the very least, another deep sigh, but instead, she stayed quiet as if giving him the chance to speak up.

Another sigh resonated before Maddie said, “You’re all alone in this big city with no family. You have to understand my worry.”

“I do, I really do, but I’m finally finding myself here. The 118 has really taken me in as their own; they’re friends who almost qualify as family at this point!” Buck argued, running a hand through his hair. Maddie couldn’t possibly understand what his fellow firefighters had meant to him.

“Have you at least started dating yet?” Maddie asked. Buck resisted the urge to hang up on her and took a deep breath as he considered her question. He could tell the truth, which was that he hadn’t so much as touched a woman since Abby tore his heart out of his chest and stomped it into the ground.

Or…

“I’m dabbling,” he decided to say instead.

It wasn’t completely a lie. He had decided a few days ago with a lot of pressure from Hen and Karen that he needed to at least attempt to get back out there and downloaded one of the most popular dating apps he could find. He set up his profile—albeit very scarcely—and had been waiting for those likes to come in. What he wasn’t expecting was almost complete radio silence and for his ego to take a direct hit when Chim got a date within the first hour of downloading it.

“Anyone I should know about?” For some reason, Buck wasn’t expecting the question. He thought that Maddie would shy away from asking or just be happy that Buck had divulged even just that little bit of information, but no. She just had to put her brother on the spot and have him panicking about what to say.

“Soon?” He sputtered, immediately regretting his words the moment Maddie’s small squeal echoed through the speaker.

“Evan Buckley, I knew you were keeping something from me the second you said you were fine! You knew that I wouldn’t just take that laying down, right? You must’ve!” The happiness in her voice broke Buck’s heart a little further and he couldn’t back down; not when her joy was so obvious in her rambling and the way she giggled into the phone.

“I— It’s really new, Mads,” Buck muttered as he tilted his head to the side and let his phone rest against his cheek.

“New is good and you deserve good, Buck,” Maddie said, the words like a gentle caress to his cheek that he would have leaned into if she was there. As if an idea had just occurred to her, Maddie gasped and said excitedly, “I’m gonna come visit. I’ve gotta meet this family of yours and you can’t avoid introducing me to whoever is making your life a little less lonely if I show up at your door.” Buck was annoyed that she had a point, but the prospect of having his sister around after a few years of space had his heart warming in his chest.

“You’re welcome here any time, Mads. I’ve really missed—”

“I’ve gotta go,” Maddie said, her voice quieter and a bit more panicked than Buck would ever have wanted to hear. “Doug needs me to— Well, he just needs me. Will you please stop being such a stranger and let me in on your life from now on, little brother?” Buck rolled his eyes at the term of endearment but agreed easily anyway.

“You know everything there is to know, sis.”

He wished he could be surprised when he got the text a few hours later that a trip to L.A. just wasn’t in the cards for her.

----------------------------

The one-eighteen was quiet—though Buck wouldn’t dare say the word—for the majority of his shift a few days after his call with Maddie, which he was grateful for because Bobby was tabling his famous pasta bar as Buck skipped up the firehouse steps. The rest of the team was already seated in their usual spots and Buck took his next to the newest recruit, Eddie, elbowing his side as he leaned to scoop up the first piece of lasagna.

“Ay, the rest of us eat first, unless you’re planning on serving me, Diaz,” Buck teased with an over-exaggerated wink.

“You know I just live to serve you, Buckley,” Eddie shot back easily and Buck couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up inside of him. It had been their thing since the new guy started. Buck would flirt with him until the rest of the team groaned or stopped it and apparently, Hen was at her wits end already if the piece of bread that slammed into Buck’s head was any indication.

“ Jeez , Hen, we’re just having some fun,” Buck pouted, taking a large bite out of the piece of food that landed on his plate.

“Do you always have to flirt with the newbie? It’s honestly sickening,” Hen complained with a roll of her eyes but Buck knew there was no heat in her words. He realized that look was all too similar to the one his sister would have given him. Buck laughed and tossed a grape tomato in her direction in retaliation.

“There’s no stopping us now,” Buck assured her with a wink.

And there really wasn’t. Buck and Eddie had been like that since the very beginning, and they only grew more comfortable and in sync in the few months they had spent working together. Eddie had joined the team as an openly gay single dad with no hesitation and Buck had respected that immediately. He was not one to hide his interest in any and all genders, but he wasn’t exactly waving a flag when he started at the one-eighteen.

There was about a minute of silence when Eddie introduced himself before Buck decided that the best way to smooth him onto the team dynamic was to hit on him. Buck made a ridiculous come-on about a firehose that was brushed aside by the rest of the team, but Eddie laughed and gave it right back. The two had been fast friends ever since, much to the dismay of the rest of their team.

“What’s everyone’s plans for the next three days off?” Buck asked as he stacked both his and Eddie’s plates full of food, tossing an untouched piece of bread behind his back that Eddie caught seamlessly just before it landed in his salad dressing.

“Christopher and I have a Marvel marathon planned that I couldn’t even try to get out of,” Eddie offered, slurping up a spaghetti noodle as Buck sat back down. “Which reminds me that he wanted me to ask you if you could come?” Eddie asked, peering at Buck out of the corner of his eye. Buck wasn’t sure where the sudden shyness had come from, but before he could ask or answer, Bobby was chiming in.

“May and Harry are with Michael so I will be finally showing Athena that my cooking skills are not just for show,” Bobby said with a large smile on his face. Buck liked seeing him like that, unapologetically happy for the new life he was starting.

“I’m planning on sleeping until my alarm goes off in three days,” Chim laughed from where he leaned back in his chair. “What about you, Buckaroo?”

“Well, I was going to try and find a date because my sister won’t stop bugging me about being single, but…” He trailed off, cupping Eddie’s shoulder tightly in his hand, “I just got an offer I’d be a fool to refuse.”

Eddie smiled and shrugged off Buck’s touch with a fond roll of his eyes before they focused on his plate. Buck glanced around at his team with an uncontrollable smile on his face as they bantered and laughed and listened intently to whatever story Hen was telling about her son, Denny. He thought back to his conversation with Maddie and how worried she had sounded for him, as if he was alone without Abby.

He wasn’t. His team—their laughter and camaraderie, their friendship and love, their shared stories and experience—was everything he needed.

----------------------------

Buck was stuck with the dishes once the table was cleared, but he didn’t mind. He liked to get lost in the mundane task of scrubbing and cleaning, the clanging of the dishes a friendly reminder that he had spent much-needed bonding time with his team. Plus, doing the dishes meant he got to decide where they would go out after their shift and he had the best places in mind.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” Buck heard Chim’s voice softer than he expected from the second-floor terrace.

“I’m— That’s just the question of the day, isn’t it?” Buck’s heart dropped as he recognized the all too familiar voice and before he could think twice, his legs were bringing him down the stairs in a sprint. “I’m looking for—”

“Maddie?” Buck asked. When she turned, he caught sight of the bruises littering her face and peaking out from underneath the collar of her shirt. The long sleeves did nothing to hide the darkness around her wrists and she didn’t even try to cover up the gashes on her cheek and lip.

“Hey, Evan,” she said weakly, a forced smile tugging at her lips. Buck had her in his arms before her legs could fully give out and he held her tightly to his chest, careful of the soreness he knew was probably hidden underneath her clothes.

“Hey, hey, I got you. I got you, you’re okay,” Buck whispered into her hair as she sobbed, nails clawing at his back that probably would have hurt if he wasn’t so focused on providing his sister comfort. He caught Chim’s eyes over her shoulder, EMT bag in hand, and shook his head, searching the room for Hen. Chim seemed to understand exactly what he was doing and ran to the back where Buck was pretty sure Hen was resting.

“I didn’t know where else to go,” Maddie choked out as she tried to pull away. Buck wouldn’t let her, though, as he threaded his fingers through her hair and kissed her temple softly.

“Here is perfect, okay? Don’t worry about it,” Buck reassured. He wasn’t sure exactly what to say to her. He had known her relationship with Doug wasn’t the best and there was no doubt in his mind that that monster had hurt her. The way her body trembled and her voice shook had Buck feeling uneasy himself as he led her to one of the more comfortable couches in the station.

“Hey, sweetie, I’m Hen. You’re Buck’s sister? Maddie?” Hen said as she approached, carefully as if walking up to an easily spooked animal. Buck appreciated it as much as it hurt him to see.

“That’s me, the overbearing big sister,” Maddie attempted to joke, but it fell flat to everyone that had gathered around except for Buck.

“I don’t think I ever used the word ‘overbearing’ specifically. Maybe persistent, annoying was probably dropped in there a time or two,” Buck teased. He was too grateful when Maddie’s hand came up to swat his shoulder to focus on the wince on her face at the movement.

“She can’t be worse than you, Buckaroo,” Chim chimed in from where he stood a few feet away, flanked by Bobby and Eddie, who Buck noted was paying closer attention to where he kneeled beside his sister than he was at Maddie like everyone else.

“I promise I’m not,” Maddie said weakly. Buck held onto her hand delicately as Hen settled beside her, the EMT bag on her lap.

“Any family of Buck’s is family of ours,” Bobby stated, nodding at Hen as if giving her the okay to fully check up on her.

“He’s told me a lot about you guys, his family away from family. I—” Maddie’s breath hitched as Hen pressed her thumbs over the bruises along her collarbones and she pressed her lips together to compose herself before she continued. “I’m sorry for barging in this way, looking like—”

“—Like a Buckley?” Eddie offered, easing the bit of tension of what wasn’t being said in the room. Buck sent him a thankful nod as he squeezed his sister’s hand. “We’ve heard y’all are prone to accidents. The number of times I’ve had to patch up this one on company time is too many and counting.” Buck laughed and tossed a friendly finger in Eddie’s direction, smiling when Maddie seemed to relax at the banter.

“This one is always tossing himself into the fire quite literally, huh?” Maddie asked. Buck could tell she was relieved to have the conversation moved away from her and he didn’t mind being the target for her benefit.

“I’ve only been here for a few months, but I’m pretty sure Buck would put anyone before himself.” Eddie’s voice was a lot closer than Buck had expected and he didn’t realize how much tension was building up inside of him until Eddie’s hand landed in between his shoulder blades. He glanced up to catch his friend’s eye, smiling softly at the steady and comforting press on his back.

“Yeah, that’s exactly who he is,” Maddie muttered. When Buck glanced up at her, her eyes were narrowed and darted back and forth between him and Eddie accusatorily. That was not good . Buck cleared his throat.

“Can you guys give us a minute?” Buck asked.

Eddie ran his hand up to Buck’s shoulder, squeezing gently and Buck couldn’t resist reaching up to let his palm brush over the back of Eddie’s hand, letting him know how much the gesture was appreciated. Bobby and Chim hesitantly nodded in response before they all disappeared, leaving an even more tense Maddie and nerve-filled Buck alone with Hen who was treating the cut on Maddie’s cheek.

As if scared for Buck to ask, Maddie offered, “It had been a few months, Buck. I thought— I really thought he had changed.” Buck sighed and rested his forehead on Maddie’s knee, relaxing only marginally when Maddie’s hand patted the back of his head.

“What was it this time? Did you argue with him a little too hard? Maybe you didn’t reach the level of perfection he always required of you?”

“Buck—” Hen warned, shooting a look that could kill in Buck’s direction.

“No, it’s— It’s okay. He’s right either way,” Maddie relented with a deep sigh. “It had been building since I said I wanted to visit you in L.A. I told him that you had alluded to seeing someone and that I wanted to see if it was true. He said I couldn’t go, that he was the only family I needed, and when I argued against that…” Maddie trailed off, gesturing to her face and that was enough for Buck to put together what happened next.

“He did this because of me?” Buck’s voice shook as he glanced back at his sister, reaching a hand up to stroke a finger over the dark bruise on her jaw. Maddie grabbed it and turned toward her brother, leveling their eyes together with a protectiveness in them that provided him the calm he needed.

“This was not your fault, Evan,” Maddie said sternly.

“It’s neither of your faults,” Hen added, resting her palm on Maddie’s arm softly. Maddie nodded and smiled at Hen as brightly as she could given the circumstances.

“She’s right and I came here because I can’t have this happen anymore,” Maddie stated, holding onto Buck’s hand a little tighter. “You mentioned your captain’s girlfriend was a cop?”

Buck nodded and wrapped his arms around his sister, wishing he had never let go in the first place.

----------------------------

Athena had arrived at the station quicker than Buck had expected her to. Upon seeing him, she pulled him into a tight hug that he didn’t realize he had needed so much before disappearing into Bobby’s empty office with Maddie. He didn’t trust just anyone with his sister, but the second the door shut, he felt like he could finally take a breath.

He was flanked by both Hen and Eddie in a flash while Chim paced in front of them, chewing on a piece of beef jerky to stay occupied. Bobby watched from above, silently observing his team, and looking ready to step in if Buck needed it. They were all there for him and when the door finally opened after what felt like hours later, the smile that tugged at the corner of Maddie’s lips told Buck she had seen just that.

“Again, I’m really sorry for—” Athena shook her head and pointed a finger at Maddie, effectively stopping her unneeded apology.

“You’ll only have to be sorry if you don’t let this one take care of you the way you deserve,” she said, raising her eyebrows like a challenge. Maddie pressed her lips together and nodded bashfully as she leaned into the arm Buck had thrown around her neck.

“Buck, shift’s just about over. Why don’t you show your sister where she’ll be staying?” Bobby said. It was an order as much as a suggestion but Buck was going to take him up on it either way.

“Yeah, that sounds great. Let me know if you need me to come back in.” Bobby silenced him with one look.

“We can survive the next hour without you, man,” Eddie chimed in. He walked over and pulled Buck into a one-armed hug as if he knew nothing could pry him away from his sister. Buck was grateful for the extra warmth Eddie provided him, either way.

“If you guys need anything, you know where we’ll be,” Hen assured, rubbing a gentle palm down Maddie’s arm until their hands were connected. Maddie squeezed it tightly and mouthed her thanks at Hen who brushed it off with a wave of her hand.

“I can’t thank you guys enough,” Buck began, but he stopped himself from saying any more before any of his team could argue. “I’ll see you in a few days?” He asked, directing his attention to Bobby so he could let his captain know that his sister arriving wouldn’t impact his work. As if he already knew, Bobby nodded and wrapped an arm around Athena’s waist.

“We’ll probably see you before then,” Bobby offered with a slight wink and Buck laughed.

“You guys sure I can steal my little brother away early?” Maddie asked nervously.

“Now that you’ve teased us with him leaving, you can’t take it back,” Eddie said from beside Buck. They both had to laugh and Buck punched Eddie’s arm in retaliation only for Eddie to grab onto his hand tightly, not letting him pull away yet. His voice was low as he muttered, “You’ll let me know if you need anything?”

It was meant to be a question, but Buck knew it wasn’t. Everyone around them was so focused on Maddie and her injuries—which Buck couldn’t blame them for—that none of them really stopped to think how tough the next few days may be for the Buckley’s as a whole. But not Eddie. Just one glance from his friend told Buck that Eddie was well aware of the toll this might take on Buck’s good-natured mind and that Eddie was going to be there through it all.

“Yeah,” Buck confirmed, resting a hand on Eddie’s neck in a friendly gesture of comfort, “I’ll call you.”

----------------------------

“I’m not going back there,” Maddie said the minute the door to Buck’s apartment shut.

“I know you’re not,” Buck agreed because even if she hadn’t made the choice herself, he wasn’t going to see his big sister hurt like that again.

“I grabbed what I could before I left and it’s going to take me a little while to get back on my feet, but—”

“Hey,” Buck said gently, wrapping his arms around his sister once more, “we’re gonna figure this out. It’s always been just the two of us, right? Sure, a few years have gone by, but you’re still the most important person in the world to me and we’re going to figure this out.” He repeated, believing the words so fully that Maddie must have, too. Her shoulders slumped in either relaxation or defeat, Buck couldn’t be sure which, and she pulled away enough for Buck to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Can I stay here for a little? Just until—”

“Maddie, stop. You’re staying here whether you like it or not,” Buck said with a laugh, ruffling her hair in his hand before she could swat him away.

“I just don’t want to impose on any guests you might have around,” Maddie said, crossing her arms over her chest and glancing around his apartment as if looking for signs of additional life.

Buck sighed, “Go take a shower while I make up some dinner.” Maddie’s laugh was so refreshing, the tension of the last few hours seemed to fall right off of his shoulders.

When he heard the water turn on, he busied himself with finding dinner even though he was still full from the large lunch at the station. He wasn’t sure when the last time Maddie had eaten was but her skin was too pale even through the bruises for him not to offer her something good. He rummaged through his cabinets for way too long, losing track of time as he listened to Maddie’s voice stop and start in the shower.

He used to love listening to her sing. She had always been carefree and beautiful and that was always something he admired. He could hear the hesitance in her voice as she weakly sang through the chorus of one of her favorite country songs and wished he could heal whatever it was inside that had her balking. Buck loved her more than anything in the world.

With a deep breath, he reminded himself that she had made that first step, the one he had wanted her to so many years before. He smiled to himself, grateful that she made it back to him mostly in one piece. Even though she didn’t have that fire in her eyes that he remembered, he knew that her deciding to come home to him was the spark she needed to light it back up.

A knock at the door had him cursing because the water had shut off and he still didn’t have dinner on the table. When he opened the door and saw Eddie, two pizza boxes in hand, he thought he might cry.

“I figured you usually go grocery shopping with Chris and I and we’re running low on food for two so—” Buck interrupted him by wrapping him another suffocatingly tight hug.

“Man, you could not have arrived at a better fucking time,” Buck sighed with relief. “I can’t believe you did this for her,” he muttered mostly to himself. Eddie opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Maddie trotted down the stairs, patting her hair down with a towel.

“Eddie, right?” She asked, a twinkle in her eye that Buck wasn’t too fond of given the situation. “Did you bring us dinner?”

Eddie nodded and mumbled, “Yeah, for, uh, you actually.” Buck took the pizza boxes from his hands and Eddie immediately ran his fingers through the hair on the back of his neck as if suddenly bashful. Buck thought he looked more adorable than usual but brushed it aside.

“That is so sweet of you,” Maddie said, knocking her hip against Buck’s. “Isn’t that so sweet of him, Evan?” Eddie snickered and Buck knew it was because of the use of his first name. He shot an unimpressed glance at Eddie who pressed his lips together in return as if holding back more laughter.

“Eddie’s just a regular old saint if you ask anyone,” Buck explained with much more sarcasm in his voice than he really intended. Maddie didn’t seem to notice as she smiled up at Eddie.

“Are you staying for dinner? I’m sure Buck would appreciate the company,” Maddie said happily, side-eyeing Buck as if he’d even thought to go against her words.

“Oh, no, I gotta get back to my kid,” Eddie said, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder. Buck knew Christopher wasn’t with him or else he would have asked them both to come inside.

“You have a kid?” Maddie asked, mouth agape for reasons Buck didn’t know but would definitely ask her about later.

“Yeah, Christopher. He’s—”

“—The best kid in the entire world,” Buck interrupted, turning to his sister. “Maddie, this kid is a spitfire and he’s got jokes and comebacks for everything, I swear! And he’s like the smartest 8-year-old I’ve ever met, not that I’ve hung out with many 8-year-olds, but still. You’re gonna love him!” Buck decided. He must have been rambling as both his sister and Eddie were staring over at him with amused looks on their faces. “…What?”

“I mean, I was just gonna tell her his age, but I guess all that stuff is true, too,” Eddie teased. He flinched when Buck swatted at him with the hand that wasn’t holding the pizza.

“He sounds incredible. I hope I get to meet him?” Maddie asked. Buck nodded quickly and a smile Buck wasn’t sure he had ever seen before tugged at the corner of Eddie’s lips. Buck was just about to offer for them to come over the following night when he remembered what he had already agreed to.

“Oh, crap. The Marvel movie night!” Buck exclaimed as he finally set the pizzas down on the side table. “Did you already tell Chris I was gonna join?”

“Yeah, but it’s totally fine. I’m sure he’ll understand that your sister is here and—”

“Nonsense! You promised that kid a movie night, he’s gonna get a movie night!” Maddie shouted as she opened up the pizza box and helped herself to a slice. Buck was glad she seemed to still have the appetite he remembered. “I don’t mind having a night to myself. It’s been too long since I’ve been able to just cry over a sad Hallmark movie with a glass of wine, you know?” Buck didn’t, but he also really wanted to hang out with the Diazes.

“We can always reschedule. Marvel isn’t going anywhere,” Eddie offered, but Maddie just shook her head and slapped Buck’s arm like it was his job to convince Eddie he would be a fool to do that.

“I’ll be over tomorrow at five with sandwiches to pay you back for tonight, okay?” Buck said softly, holding Eddie’s bicep in his palm. A blush covered his face and Buck wasn’t sure why he was being so nervous all of a sudden; they bantered and touched like that all the time.

“Yeah, okay. Maddie, thank you for letting me steal him and enjoy the pizza. Buck, I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow.” He waved as he backed away and Buck watched as he jumped into his car and drove off.

Once the door was shut, Maddie smacked him on the arm and Buck recoiled, sending a confused glance at his sister.

“What the hell was that for?” Buck asked, rubbing his skin even though it really didn’t hurt that bad.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were dating a coworker !” Maddie shouted, gaping at Buck with joy in her eyes that he had missed more than he realized. He was so focused on her happiness, it took him more than a few reasonable moments to realize what she had said.

“I’m— Wait, what?” Buck asked, pausing mid-bite on the piece of the pepper and sausage pizza he made a mental reminder to thank Eddie for tomorrow.

“Eddie?!” Maddie repeated in a squeal. “I knew after our conversation that whoever you were dating wasn’t just any old person, but another firefighter? A male firefighter at that? No wonder you didn’t want to tell me yet!” Buck blanched and finished chewing his pizza carefully so as to not choke.

“Maddie, I mean this with no malice and all confusion; what the absolute fuck are you talking about?” Maddie scoffed and grabbed the pizza boxes, wandering to the living room and placing them on the coffee table. She made her way into the kitchen to grab two beers from the fridge before settling down next to Buck who had to sit on the couch and think before he fell over.

“Oh, you cannot even pretend that you guys aren’t head over heels for each other. The hand on your back at the station? The side hug? Bringing you pizza after a rough day? The blushing?!” Maddie raised her eyebrows at Buck and he honestly didn’t know how to respond.

He should have said it was nothing. He should have said they were the only two openly not-straight men that he knew of who worked at the LAFD and were closer because of that. He should have said that they were just friends who put their lives at risk for each other every day so their relationship was bound to be special. He should have said all of that.

But Maddie looked so happy and carefree so instead, he lied.

“It’s… really new,” he said, echoing the words he had told her before she came to L.A. Her squeal of delight was enough for any regret he might have had to wash away and for his heart to soar that he could put that bright smile back on his sister’s face.

“Evan Buckley, you have to tell me everything !” Maddie crossed her legs on the couch and settled back against the cushions, making herself comfortable in the place Buck had started to call home. Even with the bruises and cuts littering her face, she looked at ease, and Buck smiled over at her widely.

“There’s nothing to tell, Mads. He started at the station a few months ago and we just… hit it off. Like I said, it’s new and he’s… good.” He wasn’t sure why he had hesitated but he hoped she didn’t read too much into it. When she rested a gentle hand on his bicep and squeezed, he knew she had believed every word of what he had said. The fact it wasn’t a total lie was the only reason he didn’t let his guilt build up too much just yet.

“I’m really proud of you, you know?” Maddie said softly, moving her hand up to cup the side of his face and brush her thumb along his cheekbone. He melted into the touch and closed his eyes, the words resonating through him as the ones he always longed to hear.

“What for?” Buck asked.

Maddie sighed and said, “For being you.” She tapped his nose with the tip of her finger before she added, “Now tell me all about him!”

#buddie #buddie fic #911 on fox #911 fic #buck x eddie #eddie x buck #my writing #tiwistb fic #chapter one yall omfg #i cant beleive it!!#aklsjdfkl;ajsdl;f #evan buckley #eddie diaz

29 notes · View notes

satuguro · 4 years

Text

connections | prologue

IN WHICH: zuko and azula are expected to gain the trust of an earth kingdom city governor. the mission seems easy enough, that is, until the governor’s daughter comes into play.

PAIRING: zuko x earthbender! reader

INSPIRED BY: soldier, poet, king — the oh hellos, ophelia — the lumineers

NOTES: i’m not too sure about this one, and i kind of wrote this in the middle of the night when a strike of inspiration hit. i mixed some japanese culture with some filipino culture (i am filipino, so i had to ). nonetheless, i hope you enjoy!

his father gave him specific instructions prior to his arrival to hanusaka, an earth kingdom city.

zuko was expected to gain the trust of the family that ruled over the city; the hisui family. at the time he was given his ‘mission,’ zuko was apprehensive. why would the family trust them? they practically destroyed every earth kingdom village in their path, they’ve massacred thousands, and they’ve burned everything to the ground. zuko never once voiced his thoughts — his scar was a reminder of what would happen if he argued — but in his mind, he reminded himself that it was for good reason. he had his honor. now he had to act upon it.

the kingdom of hanusaka was beautiful. it stayed true to its name; flowers flourished from every corner, and floral trees hung heavily over its inhabitants. their deep green clothes contrasted with the bright colors of the flowers around them. they looked happy and content with their lives.

zuko stood stiffly alongside azula, wary eyes watching the citizens dance in the town square. their danced were different compared to the fire nation’s. their dance incorporated two long pieces of bamboo that was held by a person on each end. the people holding the bamboo were beating, tapping, and sliding the bamboo to the beat of the music while people of all ages danced upon them. it was mesmerizing how their feet missed the bamboo as the sticks came together, and how the flower petals on the ground floated with each movement.

they stood in the sidelines, aware of the looks the other earth kingdom citizens gave them. they were looking at them with unreadable expressions on their faces, but said nothing about their fire nation clothes. all zuko knew was that they weren’t welcome.

“it’s disgusting,” azula commented, flicking a flower petal off of her clothes. they had been only observing for 15 minutes before her boredom got to her. “i don’t understand why we have to endure the presence of these... people,” she spat, “we should’ve just burned this place to the ground. it would be quicker.”

“father wanted us to do this,” zuko hissed, glaring at his sister. he could feel his anger rising at the mere mention of burning the town to the ground, and he returned his gaze to the dancing people. their clothes flowed freely in the wind, making the petals around them float up high above their heads. they looked so peaceful.

he watched, his interest peaking as a hooded figure appeared from the shadows opposite of him. your bow and arrows were on your back, your movements mysterious as you slowly made your way into the crowd. you were blind to his gaze as you pulled your hood down, revealing your gleaming green eyes. people cheered around you, and one woman even placed a crown of intricately bended bamboo atop your head. you gave her a hug and grabbed her hand to join the dance in front of you, jumping in as if it was second nature.

“prince zuko, princess azula.” one of their guards greeted behind them, making them turn around. he bowed quickly, fear striking his heart at their cold looks. “governor akio has agreed to meet with you.”

┈┈ 𑁍༅ཾ༚ ┈┈

the hisui palace — though azula commented that it was barely a palace — was situated near the outskirts of the city, and was surrounded by deep forests that seemed to go on for miles. it stood tall, and would’ve sent a feeling of impending doom if it weren’t for the vines that climbed its walls, blooming various flowers.

“some palace,” azula snorted, crossing her arms and taking a second to star at the mansion as a whole. she raised her hand to catch a flower that had fallen from the trees above. her fingers were gentle agains the petals before she engulfed it in blue flames, letting the ashes float to the ground.

zuko rolled his eyes at her antics, choosing to walk ahead and into the mansion. the guards in front of the door looked at him with scowls, and a small prt of zuko wanted to call it quits and return home. they weren’t welcome here. they had caused these people so much pain; why would they ever take them in?

his guards marched up behind him, one of them stepping forward and conversing quietly with the earth kingdom guard. reluctantly, he opened the doors to the mansion.

the doors creaked as the guards opened them, revealing more guards that were standing in the halls. they were tense, ready for any battle that was coming along with the presence of the children of the firelord. zuko only kept his head up, hearing azula catch up with him and walk alongside him. the throne room was right in front of the entrance, and they walked confidently into it.

governor akio sat atop his throne, his strongest guards by his side as he stared down at the prince and princess. one smaller, empty throne stood next to his. it was a wonder that he agreed to meet them and take them in for a few months. it was upon the firelord’s request — of rather, demand — that they’d stay and create a connection between them and the fire nation. governor akio knew better than to argue.

“prince zuko, princess azula,” governor akio greeted, not moving from his seat on the throne. his eyes snapped to the empty throne beside him, expressionless face showing hints of anger that disappeared as soon as they showed.

zuko bowed, showing his respect, while azula simply stood in front of the king. her eyes glinted with something he couldn’t pinpoint, and she was looking him up and down as if sizing him up. zuko resisted the urge to hit her.

“father said we will be staying for three months,” zuko said, standing up straight as he stared at the governor. he was no king, but hanusaka was an influential city with history that tied all the way to the earth king. he knew his father had deeper plans for their stay. “to create a strong connection between hanusaka and the fire nation.”

“ah,” governor akio nodded, shoulders relaxed despite the obvious pressure on them. he showed no hesitancy; he was a wise man, for he knew that hesitancy would give the fire lord a reason to distrust him. “i’m sure you will enjoy your stay in hanusaka. my daughter...” his voice trailed off, his gaze suddenly pulled to the entrance of the throne room. governor akio’s lack of eye contact made the two teenagers turn around.

zuko recognized you.

you had been dancing in town square moments prior to this meeting. the crown of bamboo was still on your head, and you wore it proudly as you quickly detangled your hair from the flowers that were stuck in them. little flower petals followed you as you walked past zuko and azula, showing little care for their presence. your carelessness made azula curl her fingers into fists.

you were barefoot, but you still walked with poise as you led yourself to your throne. you removed your bow and arrows from your back, placing it on the side of your throne as you finally took a seat. you met your father’s angry glare, but you only managed a close lipped smile. “father,” you stated, before looking at the two teenagers in front of you.

azula was practically fuming at the uninterested look you gave them both, but her reactions only made your lips curl up into an amused smirk. “prince zuko and princess azula,” you drawled, leaning in and putting your elbows on your knees. “to what do we owe the pleasure?” you asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“y/n,” governor akio scolded, and you rolled your eyes at his sternness. you knew that they were coming. he had told you when he first received the messenger hawk from the firelord, and you immediately told him it was a bad idea. there was something wrong.

“just asking questions,” you protested, raising your hands in playful surrender. your eyes lingered a little bit too long on prince zuko, your eyebrow raising as you got a good look at his scar. he only looked back at you with a cold expression. how ironic.

“this is my daughter,” governor akio sighed, motioning a hand towards you. “y/n.”

“nice to meet you, y/n,” azula spoke up, tone condescending as she sized up the girl. “such a bold choice for you to be barefoot. and to wear such a... homemade crown.”

zuko nudged his sister, but that didn’t deter her as she waited patiently for your reaction.

“my people made this crown, princess azula,” you replied, voice smooth like a stream of water. “as for my lack of shoes,” you glanced down at your feet, “it helps me with hunting. sometimes i like to do my own work instead of ordering people around. don’t you agree?”

your words made your father snap his head your way, brows furrowed to show his obvious disdain. “how many times must i tell you to not hunt?” he whispered harshly, before returning to the calm front he put up. “i apologize for my daughter’s words.”

your huffed in annoyance, putting your hands on the arms of your throne and standing up. “you know what? father, i’ll give them the tour of the house.” you grabbed your bow and arrow, sending your father a mischievous grin that made him let out a disappointed sigh. you made your way to the teens, oblivious to azula’s mad look as you motioned for them to follow you.

while zuko didn’t show it, he found you interesting. the way you walked around the mansion without a care, and how you greeted every single worker with a smile that they returned (that is, before they saw him and azula). you showed disrespect towards your father and azula, yet you treated everyone with kindness, no matter their place. it was odd.

it was nighttime when your tour reached its end. after you led azula to her room, it left you both alone. zuko hadn’t said a word throughout your ‘tour,’ unlike azula, who commented her dislike for everything.

“you’re real quiet,” you observed as you walked next to him. you had already labelled azula as the ‘crazy, angry sister,’ but you had yet to find anything for zuko. he was nothing but a peaceful shadow the entire time.

“you just talk a lot,” zuko couldn’t help but say, mentally hitting himself for his own words. but to his surprise, you only laughed.

“well, someone needs to keep the awkward silence away,” you said, walking backwards as you walked ahead of him. “i mean, would you rather have me give you a house tour without saying a word?”

zuko shook his head, the hair in front of his face swaying with his movements. “i suppose not,” he replied, making you nod your head.

“besides, you’re so quiet that someone has to keep the conversation flowing.” you came to a sudden stop, pausing in front of a large door. you quickly opened it, peering inside for a moment before opening it wider for zuko. “here’s your room.” you allowed him to walk inside, and you leaned against the doorway as you watched him inspect it.

the room had high ceilings, and vines that grew from a nearby plant scaled the walls all the way to the ceiling. the thick vines came down in a chandelier. zuko’s eyes looked up at it in wonder and awe. it wasn’t beautifully extravagant like the fire nation palace was. it had a certain enigma to it that made it beautiful, and zuko appreciated it more.

“my room is five doors down,” you said as you looked at your nails. “feel free to come over whenever you want someone to talk. just don’t burn me alive.” you pushed yourself off the doorway, sending him one last smile. this one was genuine, not like the smile you had given him and azula in the throne room. “good night, prince zuko.” with that, the door shut behind you.

zuko stared at where you once stood. “good night, y/n,” he said softly, before resorting to his bed.

┈┈ 𑁍༅ཾ༚ ┈┈

NOTES: thank you for reading! btw, i’m trying to correspond eye color to the elements, so i’m sorry if your eye color isn’t the same! please say whether i should continue this as a series or not, your input means the world <3

buy me a coffee here! any likes, reblogs, or donations are appreciated :)

TAGLIST: @beifongsss @the-firebender-girl @astroninaaa @emberislandplayers @bubblebars

#zuko x reader #zuko smut #zuko imagines #zuko imagine #zuko #atla #atla imagine #avatar: the last airbender #azula

575 notes · View notes

emachinescat · 3 years

Text

New chapter! :)

Title: A Remedy to Cure All Ills, Part Four | Story: The Power of Three | Fandom: Merlin

Summary: While Arthur visits Merlin in the dungeons, Morgana confronts Edwin herself. Merlin is faced with a terrible choice.

Characters: Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Edwin, Uther

Words: 5,308

TW: None

AO3 Tags: Friendship, Action/Adventure, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Magic Revealed

Full Story can be read here.

Full chapter here or on AO3!

Arthur wasn’t there when Merlin was arrested and brought to his father. He didn’t want to risk his father getting suspicious and thought it best to make himself scarce. Instead, he let himself into the dungeons and sequestered himself away on a stool in the corner to wait for Merlin’s arrival.

Nearly an hour later, the door swung open and three figures appeared, the one in the middle being held by the others. Arthur watched from the shadows as the guards shoved Merlin into the same cell Gwen had been held in. One followed him in and shackled his wrists to the chains in the floor. Metal squealed and clanged as they locked him in, and then they retreated up the stairs. Arthur had no idea if they’d seen him waiting there, nor did he care. There were more important matters to deal with.

Arthur grabbed a torch from a wall sconce and hurried over to the cell, where Merlin was just picking himself up, more than a little ruffled. Arthur noticed with fury when he turned around that there was a red handprint standing out starkly on his left cheek.

“Merlin! Did my father–”

Merlin waved him off, coming as close to the bars as the chains would allow. “No, one of the guards was a bit too enthusiastic when they were arresting me. Apparently, I was impertinent.” He gave Arthur a strained half-smile.

Normally, Arthur would have made a snide comment about how Merlin’s impertinence didn’t surprise him at all and that he wasn’t aware that Merlin could be anything but, but instead he demanded, “Which guard? Who was it?”

Merlin shrugged, uncomfortable. “It doesn’t matter. We have far more important things to worry about.”

Arthur knew he was right and tried to quell the sudden protective energy that had consumed him. Since when had he cared so much about what happened to Merlin? The answer was fairly simple and hard to swallow: Almost since Merlin set foot into Camelot. He drove Arthur mad, never did what he was told, and his very presence was illegal – and yet, absurdly, he had swiftly become an irreplaceable part of Arthur’s life, no matter how many times the prince threatened to replace him.

As quickly as he could, he told Merlin all that had happened – about Edwin blackmailing Gaius and then somehow finding out that he had told him and Morgana, and how the king had believed Edwin over them. Merlin was fidgeting nervously, the chains clanking, by the time Arthur had finished. A dark look brewed in his eyes. Arthur understood it for what it was – Merlin felt betrayed, and rightly so. Not only had Edwin pretended to be his friend and then turned against him in an instant, but he was also another sorcerer who had come to Camelot for evil instead of good.

“Right,” Arthur transitioned, clapping his hands together once. “Can you magic yourself out of the chains?”

Merlin looked puzzled. “I can, but why?”

Arthur regarded him blankly. “So you can escape. Or do you fancy being executed at first light?”

Merlin winced. “If I escape, that will either just prove that,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “that I do have magic, or your father will think you helped me escape like you did Lancelot, and then you’ll be in trouble.”

“So you’re just going to die for being a sorcerer so that no one will know that you are actually a sorcerer?”

Merlin scoffed. “Not if I can help it, not anytime soon, anyway. We have to find a way to prove that Edwin is lying and that he’s plotting to kill the king.”

“I agree,” Arthur said slowly, “and Morgana’s already tailing him, trying to catch him in the act or find some sort of proof that he’s using dark magic.”

Merlin furrowed his brow. “You said that your father plans to retire Gaius. Did he say when?”

Arthur thought back. “Immediately,” he responded apologetically. “But at least he’s not being implicated by Edwin’s accusations against you – what?” He broke off at the look on Merlin’s face.

“Why didn’t you mention this before?” Merlin demanded. “If he’s taking Gaius’s place today, then he’ll set his plan into motion now. He’s going to kill your father tonight!”

Dread poured over the prince like cold water. “What – no – you think he’s going to try now, after he’s just been accused? Even if my father sided with him, that’s too brash–”

“Don’t you see?” Merlin asked desperately. “He doesn’t care about the little details like that. If he’s as bitter and vengeful as you say, then he’s going to take the first opportunity he gets to take his revenge. And anyway, do you really want to risk it?”

Arthur felt a sudden, strange swell of gratitude toward Merlin, paired with something akin to affection. It was an unusual, almost uncomfortable feeling, but it came with the realization that Merlin had nothing at all to gain from stopping the king’s death. In fact, he would gain more from letting him die. But because Uther was Arthur’s father, and because he cared about Arthur, he was doing everything he could to save the life of a man who would see him dead – who had just sentenced him to hang an hour ago!

“What should we do, then?”

Merlin responded with a question. “Did you say that Morgana was following him?”

“Yes.” His eyes widened. “If he’s really as desperate as you believe, and he’s already this close to his goal, then he won’t hesitate to hurt her to get to my father. If he sees her–”

Merlin’s eyes flashed gold. Without uttering a single word, he’d cracked the shackles off of his wrists and nearly blew the cell door off its hinges. Arthur dove to the side just in time to avoid being bludgeoned.

“ Merlin!”

“Oops.”

Arthur had gone from being grateful for the loyalty of his manservant to wanting to strangle him in seconds. “What happened to breaking out causing us more trouble in the long run?”

“If Edwin is acting tonight, we don’t have time to play it safe,” Merlin answered, rubbing his raw wrists. “If you and Morgana are going to face Edwin to save your father, you’re going to need someone with magic. You’re going to need me.”

Arthur scoffed. “I’ve faced sorcerers in battle before and won, Mer lin. Just because you’ve been protecting me magically doesn’t mean that I cannot look out for myself.”

“I know,” Merlin said earnestly, “and Morgana is more than capable of standing up for herself, too. But this is a sorcerer, and neither of you have magic, and we don’t even know just how powerful he is. It’s better not to take the chance.”

Arthur finally saw to the heart of Merlin’s decision to join them, despite the increased risk to himself if he were to be caught: He was worried about them. Merlin couldn’t stand the thought of sitting around, waiting, while his friends put themselves in danger. Arthur didn’t argue with Merlin further after that. It was exactly what he would have done, too.

Morgana was rather adept at sneaking around the castle. Having grown up within its walls, she had developed early on an intricate knowledge of the maze of hallways, the many floors and staircases, and array of rooms. She knew where to avoid and how to get in and out of the kitchen without being seen. The servants’ passages were a personal favorite of hers, because they allowed her to move about silently and invisibly as the rest of the bustle of the castle passed her by.

Nowadays, she didn’t sneak around as much – Uther had caught her hiding in a secret passage when she was fourteen eavesdropping on a council meeting and had given her a stern but indulgent talking to about how sneaking around like a common thief was not appropriate behavior for the king’s ward. The king’s reprimand hadn’t been what stopped her secret escapades, but rather the realization as she grew into a woman how much more those in the open hallways respected her. Crowds would part when they saw her approaching, her heels clicking imperiously on the cold stone floor. She no longer needed to sneak, because no one questioned her presence in any part of the castle now that she was no longer a troublemaking child. If only they had realized that she had, in fact, only morphed into a troublemaking adult who was just very adept at hiding said troublemaking.

Even if she no longer routinely employed her knowledge of the ins and outs of the castle, the secret passages and servants’ hallways and hiding places, it didn’t mean that she had lost the mental map she had forged so long ago. This is how Morgana followed Edwin now, watching him from the shadows, following him from adjacent, hidden passageways. The conniving physician marched with great confidence, a nauseating sort of prideful strut, and it was apparent that he assumed he had already won.

Arrogance, Morgana reflected testily, is both one of the most obnoxious and useful vices nature imparts on men. It was because of this arrogance that she was able to follow him so easily.

Morgana had spotted Edwin going into the chambers he was using as his laboratory, where he stayed for quite some time. She got bored waiting on him to emerge, but she knew that there was no alternate way out of the room, so she just had to wait in the shadows until he finished whatever he was doing. Finally, when the chill of dusk had settled into the air and on her bare arms, he eased the door open and set out on his way, not even bothering to check if he was being watched.

She trailed him down five corridors, up two flights of steps, and down the dome-ceilinged, guarded hallway that led to Uther’s chambers. Her heartbeat quickened as she realized that the man was wasting no time in executing his revenge. The moment he had stolen Gaius’s job as Court Physician, he had put the remainder of his plan in motion. Morgana hesitated for the briefest of moments before steeling herself, wrenching a sconce from the wall of the servants’ alcove she lurked in, and holding it before her to use as a weapon if it came down to it. She had no idea where Arthur was – probably trying to free Merlin or at the very least make a plan with him. Not that it mattered. She didn’t need him to confront Edwin. She was perfectly capable of doing so herself.

And so she did.

She stepped out of the shadows, and in the clear, cold voice she had learned as a beautiful woman often approached by undesirable men, said simply, “Edwin.”

Edwin froze, then spun around in one fluid motion. His eyes changed from cruel to surprised, and then melted into a tense indulgence when he saw who had snuck up on him. “Lady Morgana,” he exclaimed sweetly, his voice hushed. Morgana narrowed her eyes, disgusted by how obviously he thought he could manipulate her so easily. His candied words may have fooled Uther, but they had never worked on her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in a level tone. Her heart pounded, and she tried not to think about how a show of bravery would mean ultimately nothing in the face of his magic. The sconce she held before her was no more a weapon against a sorcerer than a needle against a knight. Still, she stood firm, back straight, chin held high, eyes cold and haughty. Morgana was used to fighting until she got what she wanted. This time was no different.

“I could ask you the same question,” Edwin evaded, taking a step closer to her, arms held out placatingly at his sides. When she said nothing, merely fixed him with an impatient stare, he yielded. “Lady Morgana, I am merely bringing the king his medicine. I am the new Court Physician, after all, and the king is waiting.”

It was Morgana’s turn to move closer to him. She put every ounce of ferocity into her next words. “If you get what you want, the only thing the king will be waiting on is his death.”

She watched the short-lived battle flash behind Edwin’s eyes and knew that he was trying to decide whether he should continue playing his part or drop the act. Finally, he sighed, rolling his eyes to the ceiling in an over-dramatized air of annoyance. “Okay, fine, you’ve got me,” he said, still in the same good-natured tone as before, but this time, there was a slide edge to his voice. “I should have known you would have figured me out, my lady. You are, after all, much more intelligent than the men who rule this stupid kingdom.”

She raised an eyebrow menacingly. “Flattery is trite, and will get you nowhere, Edwin. And I believe Gaius discovered your plan before anyone else.”

Edwin shrugged, unimpressed. “Only because he remembered me from when I was a child. That’s basically cheating.”

She tilted her head to the side contemplating him. “You are in an awfully good humor for someone who has just been caught committing treason,” she remarked dryly.

Edwin’s smile took on a strained quality. “Lady Morgana,” he said, and she curled her lip at the patronizing tone. “Please try to understand that I am not a bad person. I’m not evil. ” Her other eyebrow rose to join the first, but she did not speak, so he continued. “I am not doing this out of greed, or cruelty. I only wish to avenge my mother and father. Surely you can understand that?”

“I understand that you came into my home, used me as a pawn in your revenge and nearly killed me with a terrible illness. I understand that you forced a kind, competent man and great friend out of the job he has held for decades. I understand that you accused a close friend of magic, that you got him thrown into the dungeon and slated to be executed. And I understand that even now, you are marching to deceive and destroy my guardian, the man who took me in after my father died. These are not the marks of a good person.”

The smile had turned to a sort of grimace now. “My lady, I only did what I had to do in order to achieve my revenge. I took no pleasure in making Gaius look like a fool–” a brief pause, “–okay, so I felt a little pleasure in that. The man sat back and watched my parents – his friends – burn! But I did take no pleasure in betraying one of my own.” His eyes glittered. “Interesting that you are aware of the servant’s secrets and that you not only keep them but refer to him as a close friend. Perhaps your loyalties are not as easily defined as you would like me to believe.”

The hand of uncertainty clenched around her heart. Her loyalty to her guardian had come into question in her own mind many times before, especially since she had learned Merlin’s secret. Certainly, she had never approved of the king’s reckless hatred of magic, his harsh sentencing of any and all who possessed it. She didn’t know much about the Purge, for Uther had sealed those records up as tightly as his own heart, but what she had heard, in fearful whispers or the dying curses of the accused, sickened her, and she found a growing disgust rising within her when she found herself alone with the king. She fought against him, rebelled, did anything she could to prove that he had no control over her. She tried to force him to change, to help him see the truth, and she was tossed aside, like she was nothing.

No, not like she was nothing. Like she was a girl in a council room full of self-important old men – less than nothing.

She hated it. Sometimes she hated Uther. The kindness and indulgence he had bestowed upon her as a child were few and far between. Lately, she found herself contemplating what she would do, how she would feel, if a bitter sorcerer succeeded in their plot to kill the king. Would she mourn? Or would she breathe a sigh of relief for the oppressed and abused?

A small part of her was tempted, very briefly, to turn and walk away, especially when Edwin wheedled, “I have seen your heart through your actions, my lady. I have seen how you have embraced those like me, how you have become loyal to a sorcerer. You have empathy. You cannot bear to see innocents suffer. Just think of how many lives you will be saving if you just turn around and pretend you never saw me.”

His words struck her deeply, and she found herself thinking of all the times that Uther had belittled her, executed someone without a trial, hated those with magic indiscriminately. Edwin was right in that her heart ached for those like Merlin who had lived in terror their entire lives because of something they were born with. Then she remembered growing up in the castle, the way Uther would ruffle her hair, how he would always take her side over Arthur’s, and the tender way he had kissed her forehead when she had woken from her illness. As completely as she knew she hated the king of Camelot for the atrocities he had committed, she knew that her guardian truly loved her.

And besides, he was Arthur’s father. Merlin would be determined, she knew, to save the king even though letting him die would make his life easier. He would save Uther for Arthur’s sake. And even though Arthur was obnoxious and thick-headed and proud, he had also grown remarkably since Merlin came into his life. And she had grown up with him, seen him at his highs and at his lows. She knew how much it hurt him that he never got to meet his mother. She could not be responsible for taking his father away, too.

She chose her next words carefully, for she could feel the hurt and the sorrow and the rage bubbling just beneath the surface of the man before her. In a way, she pitied him, and all that he had lost. But he had hurt her friends, and she would not allow it to happen again. Perhaps, if she could just reach him… “Edwin, you of all people should know that revenge is never this simple. Think of all the people that Uther has killed in his quest for vengeance. Think of how Gaius and Merlin – Merlin, a sorcerer, like you – have already suffered because of your hatred for the king. And if you do kill him, that will only continue the cycle. Don’t you see? Arthur will seek vengeance for his father’s death, and people will continue to get hurt.”

“The cycle stops with my death,” Edwin said, and he sounded haunted, fragile. “I have no one left to fight for me.”

Morgana hesitated for a fraction of a second, then vowed, “If you stop this now, I will fight for you. Arthur and Merlin will fight for you. You are hurting, I know. And you have a right to be angry. But can you not see how different Arthur already is from his father? He knows about Merlin’s magic, and he supports him. He hides it from his father. If you stop the cycle here, then Arthur and Merlin can work to build a better, safer Camelot for magic-users like you. Change – good change – can only come from time, and patience.”

A tear trickled down his face, nesting in a divot of his scar. “I watched my parents burn. I tried to run into the flames to save them. I don’t have time, or patience. I want to see him die.”

Morgana took another step forward. “If I let you walk away, how am I better than Uther?” she asked softly. “If you kill him, how are you better than Uther?”

Edwin shook his head, something like pity in his eyes. “Someday, my lady, you will see that your moral high ground means nothing in the face of tragedy.” He studied her closely, his eyes boring into hers, and she fought the urge to back away or avert her gaze. If he was trying to intimidate her, it wouldn’t work. She put all of her frustration, all of her passion, all of herself into her glare, felt the rush of emotions build up behind her eyes as she met his gaze. Abruptly, Edwin took a step back, as if she had slapped him.

“Perhaps we are more alike than either of us thought,” he said cryptically.

“What are you talking about?” Morgana demanded. For reasons she could not explain, her heart was thrumming madly, and she felt alive, exhilarated – powerful.

Edwin hesitated for the fraction of a second, then murmured, “Your eyes…”

He trailed off, eyes catching on something over her shoulder. Approaching from behind, Morgana heard sound of echoing footfalls and knew without having to turn around that the rest of her party had arrived… at exactly the wrong moment.

“Edwin!” Merlin’s voice resounded, pinging off the high walls and domed ceiling. He didn’t sound like himself – the one name he called radiated power, deeper than his usual tones, serious and cold. A warning. Chills arced down Morgana’s spine.

And then, Arthur’s voice, as irritating and dripping with male bravado as ever, followed, and the spell of Merlin’s voice was broken immediately. “Morgana! Look out!”

Irritation flared up in her chest, and now she turned to meet her approaching friends with a withering glare. “What are you doing?” she hissed. “I’d nearly gotten through to him!”

Arthur and Merlin – whom she was relieved to see looked relatively unhurt, though with a bruise adorning one cheek – skidded to a stop in her ire, eyes wide, slightly out of breath. Merlin’s eyes widened in alarm. “Morgana–”

His warning, for that was what it had been, came too late. Or perhaps Edwin was simply too fast. One moment, she was reprimanding two of the most powerful men in the kingdom like they were naughty children, and the next, she was airborne, propelled from the ground with an invisible hit that knocked the breath out of her lungs and sent her crashing into Merlin and Arthur.

Well, she would have crashed had it not been for Merlin’s magic. Instinctively – it had to be instinct, for though his eyes flared gold, no spell passed his lips – he caught her with magic. The feel of his power being used on her was like nothing she had ever imagined. She had watched him do magic plenty of times before, in the secret of Gaius’s chambers. But he had never performed magic on her.

She’d wondered what it might feel like, and suddenly, she knew: Merlin’s magic was just like him, gentle, good-natured, but steadfast and real, like the feel of sun-warmed grass underneath your back on a breeze-kissed summer day. It was also duplicitous, with another, almost invisible layer resting just beneath the surface. This part was unyielding, shivering with power, and a little bit terrifying, like the lightning-charged sky in the moments after a great storm. It made her want to laugh and weep at the same time, to wrap her arms around him and to run as far and fast as she could. The top layer, she knew – it was Merlin. But something far more powerful and foreign – not evil, just strange, almost old, somehow – lay beneath. And yet she knew – this was Merlin, too.

All this ran through her head in a matter of seconds, and then Merlin’s magic had deposited her gently on her feet. She staggered, pain flaring in her middle back, as the magic left her. Edwin’s spell had hit her hard. Merlin reached out and steadied her, and though Morgana did not enjoy being “rescued” by anyone, she had to admit that in this situation his hand wrapped loosely around her upper arm was actually helpful. She regained her footing moments later, and Merlin, as if realizing he’d been holding a poisonous serpent, sprang back, and his hands disappeared behind his back, almost as if he were a good, obedient servant.

Morgana could tell with one glance at Arthur’s face that he’d watched the whole exchange, but he had no time to contemplate what it meant – nor did Morgana, for that matter. Edwin had used the distraction to disappear, and Morgana knew that he hadn’t taken the opportunity to simply make his escape. She’d almost broken through to him, but a bloodlust had still tinted his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Arthur asked in a terse voice. She nodded, said a quick, “Thanks” to Merlin for keeping her from further injury, and then the three of them rushed to Uther’s chambers, hoping they would be there in time, but all knowing already that they would be too late.

Edwin was gone when they burst into the room. Merlin swore under his breath, an anger most unlike him sizzling just under his skin. The rage swelled as his eyes alighted to the open window. The king’s chambers should have been too high for anyone to escape from without serious injury, but when Merlin leaned out, toes barely brushing the surface of the floor as he tilted forward, peering into the darkness below for any sign of Edwin, the courtyard was empty. Edwin had escaped. A heavy weight settled directly onto his heart at this realization – and he came to the sudden, jarring understanding that he was not angry at all.

He felt betrayed, lost, and alone, but the rage had dissipated as quickly as it had come upon him.

He was wrenched from his thoughts, and from the cool night air blowing gently against his face, with a desperate shout from Arthur. “Merlin!”

Merlin knew at once what was the matter, and what Arthur would want him to do. A pang of anxiety joined the aching betrayal consuming him, followed quickly by fear, then an intense, deep-seated guilt. It was one thing for Merlin to stop Edwin before he could work his dark magic on the king. It was another entirely to play an active role in saving the life of the man who had driven Edwin and so many others into the reapers of death and hatred they had become.

Yes – Arthur was going to ask him to heal the king who had arrested him, thrown him in the dungeon, and sentenced him to a horrific death without a trial. Worse yet, the man who had killed so many like Merlin, who only used their magic for good, or to get by, or because it was the only thing they knew how to do. The thought of performing magic on a grief-torn, vengeance-born husk of a man such as this stirred something deeply uncomfortable inside of the warlock, and for an insane, panicked moment, he was half-tempted to follow Edwin out of the window and into the night, away from the dangerous and impossible thing that Arthur was about to request.

And yet, it was because Arthur needed it that Merlin stayed. It was because it was Arthur’s father who was dying that he gathered the strength to turn away from the fear and self-loathing and nameless voices of the magical dead that screamed traitor! in his mind and agreed to use his magic to save a man who hated it. Who hated him , and wanted him dead.

Now that he understood Edwin’s magic, it would be relatively simple to heal the king. He’d just need the box, which the sorcerer had, in his haste to escape, left on the end table beside an unconscious, death-pale Uther. “I can heal him,” Merlin said, his voice rough and uncertain, and he could tell from the looks on both Arthur’s and Morgana’s faces that they understood his struggle.

Morgana took a step forward, green eyes softening in sympathy. “Merlin, you don’t have to–”

Merlin shook his head, cutting her off without uttering a word. When Morgana had spoken, Merlin had looked to Arthur and saw something wonderful and terrible on his face – resignation. Wonderful, because it meant that he had never intended to force Merlin to use his magic to save the king. Terrible, because he doubted for a moment that Merlin would refuse to help his closest friend’s dying father.

I’m not doing it for a king, Merlin told himself firmly, I am doing it for a father and his son. In the back of his mind, he heard those same voices, those of the damned, the oppressed, the executed, the slain, whisper their vile insults and curses. Traitor! they spat. Traitor to magic! Traitor to your kind!

The battle waged fiercely for a few seconds more. Merlin squared his shoulders, took the box of dark magic from Morgana’s pale, slender fingers, and stopped trying to justify his choice. He leaned over the magic-hating king who wanted him dead, and used magic to make him whole once more.

As soon as Uther stirred, Arthur grabbed Merlin and shoved him out of the king’s chambers, escorting his servant quickly but silently, through the empty corridors of a sleeping Camelot, and back into the dungeons. The guards were still sleeping by the door, having been knocked out from behind by a sleeping spell upon Merlin’s jailbreak. Merlin had assured the prince that these men would remember nothing when they woke up – probably. Merlin’s astounding confidence aside, Arthur hadn’t felt particularly reassured, but knew he needed to check on his father.

Soon, he knew, the king would learn the true story of Edwin’s betrayal, and Merlin would be released, though Arthur knew an apology from his father was far too much to expect. Gaius’s position would be restored, and life in Camelot would resume in some facsimile of normal. Except normal, Arthur knew, didn’t exist anymore. It couldn’t, not with threats like the griffin and Valiant and Edwin surfacing seemingly every week; a heavy fog of dread and death had descended upon Camelot, and Arthur had thought his servant untouched by that darkness. Until now. He knew how hard it must have been for Merlin to willingly use his magic to save a king who wanted him dead because of said magic. He knew Merlin felt betrayed by Edwin. Did he now feel betrayed by himself? The question twirled a sickening dance of uncertainty in Arthur’s mind as he escorted Merlin back into his cell.

Reluctantly, Arthur secured the shackles around his friend’s wrists, as Merlin almost sheepishly magicked the cell door back into place. The sorcerer smiled reassuringly at Arthur, but the prince was anything but. He was unsettled by the way Merlin’s smile barely touched his eyes, and Arthur’s skin crawled in unease at the choice he had forced upon his friend as he made his way up the stairs, away from the friend he had just locked in a dark, damp dungeon. The man who had saved the king, the killer of so many of his kind, with magic. The King of Camelot was alive, the prince was still a prince and not a king, and Arthur still had a father.

But at what cost to Merlin himself, Arthur feared but did not know.

He went to his father, but his mind stayed on his servant.

18 notes · View notes

katedoesfics · 4 years

Text

Shadows of Hyrule | Chapter 33

They looked across the field, the power-lines stretching onward on either side of them. But the forest that Link and Zelda had found earlier was no longer across the way. Instead, the field rolled on away from the city and toward the distant interstate.

“You said there was a forest here,” Revali said, his brows furrowed. “I don't see a single tree.”

“I don't understand,” Zelda said. “It was here. This is where we found the sword.”

“Were you on drugs?” Revali asked skeptically.

Zelda turned and sneered at Link.

“What? This isn't my fault,” he said defensively.

“Now what do we do?” Mipha asked. “This is where the portal is supposed to be.”

“Something's not right,” Urbosa said.

“I think that old hag sent us on a wild goose chase,” Daruk muttered.

“No,” Zelda said firmly. “It has to be here.”

“What do we do?” Mipha asked.

Their eyes turned to Zelda.

“I don't know,” she said slowly. “I guess we have to try somewhere else.” Her phone rang at that moment. Impa's name flashed on the screen and she answered it quickly.

“Impa -” But Impa cut her off. She listened intently, her brows knit together. “You can't be serious... In Akkala? ... Of course... Right. We'll head over there.” She hung up the phone and blew at her bangs, exasperated. She turned her attention back on her friends. “I have bad news, and worse news,” she said.

“Of course you do,” Revali said.

“The bad news is that the portal is definitely not here.”

“And the worse news?” Mipha asked.

“The second portal has been opened. The Shadow Beasts beat us to it. It's in Akkala. Some people in the area have reported seeing something going on at the old citadel. My father has already sent detail out to keep people away, so we should be in the clear to take care of it.”

“More Shadow Beasts?” Urbosa asked.

Zelda shook her head. “I don't think so. It sounds bigger. Impa wasn't sure, but we need to get over there and close it before whatever it is attacks the city.” “That's a long drive,” Urbosa said. “It will be the middle of the night by the time we get there.”

“Impa can help with that,” Zelda said. “Sheikah can teleport.”

“You mean, she's note a useless old hag after all?” Revali said.

“Watch it,” Link warned. “Or she'll beat you with a stick, too.”

*****

Impa was waiting for them rather impatiently when they got back to the shrine. She looked at her wrist, yet there was no watch on it. “If I had a Rupee for every time I had to wait around for some damned hero, I'd be the richest person in the world.”

“Along with your title of the oldest person in the world,” Revali said with a grin.

Impa slapped him upside the head. “No respect,” she hissed. “I will not make this an easy trip on you.” She turned to her granddaughter at her side. “Go with them. Bring them back when they're done. Unless they all die. Then leave them there.”

Paya hesitated. “Grandmother,” she said softly. “That's... a lot. I've never had to teleport seven people before.”

Impa shrugged. “Well, at least bring Link and Zelda back. Unfortunately, we'll need them.”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Revali said. “You're not ditching us in Akkala.”

“Relax,” Impa said, waving a hand at him. “You have legs. You can walk home.”

Revali opened his mouth to argue further, but Impa raised a hand, and immediately the world seemed to melt around them. They looked around in a panic, turning to Paya for some clarification, but she averted their gazes. And just as suddenly as the world began to melt and disappear around them, they felt as if they were jolted through time and space. Their insides lurched sickeningly, and in a snap, the world focused around them once more. Except the scene around them was not that of the shrine. They were deep in Akkala, now, the world shrouded in an eerie and unnatural twilight. In the distance, the citadel stood tall against the horizon, a dark shape against the dark storm clouds that rolled in.

But the storm was the least of their problems. Above the citadel, the opened portal seemed to grow and pulse. In the field that stretched between them and the citadel was an army of what appeared to be skeletons, some clad in armor, all with swords and other various ancient weaponry, and they were marching straight towards them.

“Those aren't Shadow Beasts,” Daruk muttered.

“Are those fucking skeletons?” Revali said.

“Of course they are,” Urbosa said. “Why would we expect anything less than insanity?”

“How are we supposed to destroy an army of bones?” Revali said.

“They're just bones,” Link said. “What's the worse that could happen? They'll just fall apart... right?”

“I have a feeling it won't be that easy,” Mipha muttered.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Revali said. “Let's get this over with.” He drew his bow and let an arrow fly. It hit its first target, knocking the skeletal soldier to the ground. But after a moment, it returned to its feet, seemingly unfazed by the attack.

“Awesome,” Revali muttered.

Urbosa stepped forward then, and with a snap of her fingers, lightening plummeted against the ground. Skeletal soldiers flew through the air where the ground erupted. Those in the direct path of the strike were turned to ash. As the soldiers fell to the ground, their bones broke and scattered, seemingly ending their short-lived lives.

“You're on,” Revali said to Urbosa. “There's no way I'm letting you have all the fun.”

Revali and Urbosa eagerly plunged themselves into battle, taking out as many of the skeletal soldiers as they could.

Link turned to Zelda and Mipha. “Stay out of the way,” he growled.

“No way,” Zelda said. “We can help.”

“Find that power,” Daruk grunted at her. “You can help by closing that portal before we get our asses handed to us.” He turned to Link. “I'll stay here with them. I've got more going for me than these fists.” A red orb took shape around the three of them suddenly; a protective shield that enveloped Daruk, Zelda, and Paya. “Just take care of that army.”

With one last glance to his friends, Link and Paya hurried to join Revali and Urbosa in the battle. However, when they neared the skeletal army, Link froze, gripping the sword in both hands. Battling the Shadow Beasts seemed easy enough, despite their terrifying forms and horrific shrieks. In comparison, a walking structure of bones was not nearly as scary, but there was one difference between the two, and that difference was weapons. This was exactly the moment Impa had been training him for, yet he suddenly felt overwhelmingly under prepared. As they charged towards him, weapons raised, they seemed more real than anything he had encountered yet, and he couldn't bring himself to move. But it was kill or be killed, and Link wasn't about to succumb to an army of walking corpses.

He raised his sword as the first skeletal soldier charged him, deflecting his enemy's blow and dislodging the sword from the soldier's hands in one swift movement. The sword fell to the ground, leaving it defenseless, and in that moment, Link swung his sword around again, cutting through the midsection of the soldier and ending the brief battle.

He felt a wave of adrenaline wash over him as he tore his gaze away from the corpse and onto the next soldier charging at him. He gripped the sword in his hand once more, feeling more confident than he had in a long time, and repeated the process of battling and killing.

But as the battle wore on, the skeletal army seemed to grow, and their attacks moved en masse. Suddenly, he found himself in clusters of soldiers, working hard and fast to take them out before they had a chance to surround him. He didn't have a chance to think, only react, yet his body seemed to move automatically, just as Impa had taught him to do in combat.

Though the battle had seemingly only just begun, Daruk could see that his friends were already being overwhelmed. The hoard of skeletal soldiers seemed endless, and the battle showed no signs of ending any time soon. From time to time, his friends disappeared in the madness, only to resurface a few moments later, looking more exhausted than the last time he caught a glimpse of them. He couldn't sit by and do nothing any longer.

“Stay here,” Daruk growled to Zelda and Mipha before running out to join the fight, leaving them alone in the protection of his shield.

They watched helplessly in the protection of his barrier. Without her power, and with Mipha's only ability being to heal, they felt useless. Zelda grew agitated; there just had to be something she could do. She couldn’t stand idly by in Daruk’s protection while her friends fought for their lives and all of Hyrule.

She desperately tried to gather her inner strength, just as Impa had been training her do. She fought to relax and focus her mind, but it was impossible in the midst of battle. She could hear the sounds of steel clanging together as Link plunged deeper into battle, fighting off the attacks of Ganondorf’s army. She felt the ground tremble as Urbosa let loose her terrifying power, lightning striking all around them. She listened to Daruk’s grunts as he threw his strong fists at his enemies, and Revali whooped as his arrows hit their targets.

“Curse this damn power,” Zelda practically shouted in frustration. Her hands made fists at her sides, her knuckles turning white. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she tried once more to awaken the power inside of her, growing more and more desperate as time ticked by.

They were already severely outnumbered, and the longer the fight took, the more tired Hyrule's Champions were becoming. Zelda watched helplessly as Daruk panted after each blow. Urbosa moved further away from the heart of the battle, her power growing weaker. Revali desperately shot arrow after arrow, but he was growing careless and his arrows missed more frequently. Even Link was slowing down, stumbling backwards and moving to a defensive stance, no longer making any attempt to attack his enemies. They didn’t have the energy to continue like this. They were losing.

“No,” Zelda muttered. She closed her eyes and tried once more to summon her power, but it was useless. She cursed loudly and pressed herself as close to Daruk’s shield as she could without breaking it. Her eyes darted around the scene of the battle, her mind racing, hoping to find something she could use to help them. Her eyes stopped on Link as she heard the sound of steel on steel. She watched in horror as the Master Sword was thrown from his hands, clattering onto the ground just yards away.

Mipha screamed to him, and together, they watched as he lost his focus, his attention turned to the sword, but Mipha's voice was lost in the chaos. Her heart lept in her throat as the enemy’s sword plunged forward into Link, stunning him for a moment, his mouth open in shock. He blinked up at the enemy for a moment until the sword was withdrawn and blood splattered out of the wound in his gut, staining the blade, his shirt, and the ground around them.

Mipha’s throat burned as she screamed into the night. Zelda threw herself out of the protection of Daruk’s barrier, shattering it. Without thinking, she sprinted forward towards Link, unable to see through her blurred vision. She threw her arm out desperately in an attempt to stop them from attacking again and a surge of power shot through her body. She gasped for air as her breath was seemingly sucked out of her lungs and the surge shot down her arm and out her open hand in a sharp and blinding light.

The light shot across the battle and seemed to extend far across the land, as far as she could see. When it subsided, she fell to her knees, gasping for breath. She blinked through her wet eyes. The world had grown quiet. Too quiet. The sounds of battle had ceased, and everything was still. She looked around; skeletal bodies were strewn across the ground, defeated. Her eyes moved over to her friends; they, too, were examining the sight of the finished battle, their mouths gaping open. One by one, they turned their eyes to Zelda as she pushed herself to her feet. And then they looked passed her at something far more disturbing than an undead army. Urbosa’s face whitened and she cried out to Link, bringing Zelda’s attention back to him. She spun around on her heels as he fell to his knees, doubled over and gasping sickeningly. Blood spewed out of his mouth as he fought to fill his lungs with air.

“No!” Mipha ran to his side, her weak knees collapsing under her. She caught him as his body gave out under his own weight and he collapsed against her. Blood seeped through his shirt and onto her hands as she frantically ripped open his shirt in an attempt to cover the wound, but it was much too deep.

“No, no, no,” she muttered, her hands shaking, as she pulled her closer to him. “You’re going to be okay,” she sobbed. “Don’t leave me. You’re going to be fine.”

Link’s gaze met her’s for a brief moment, but his eyes seemed empty. They closed and he fell limp in her arms, no longer breathing. She screamed to him, her vision blurred. She could barely make out the voices behind her until she felt Daruk's strong hand on her shoulder.

“Fix him,” he growled to her. “Snap out of it and fix it! If you don't hurry...”

Mipha hesitated, staring down at Link. The only time she had used her powers to heal was a cut on his face. This was no simple wound, however. What if she couldn't do it? She pinched her lips together in an attempt to hold back a sob. Without another word, she closed her eyes and set to work healing him with shaking arms.

Daruk turned away as Mipha worked and made his way to Revali’s side.

“Do you think she can do it?” Revali asked, hesitant. For once, his expression seemed to show concern, even fear, for Link. “Wounds are one thing. But this…” He turned his gaze to Daruk. “He’s a dead man, Daruk.”

“Shut your mouth,” Daruk growled. “She can do this. She has to.”

Revali turned his attention back on Mipha as she worked, unaware of the rest of the world around her.

Zelda leaned against Urbosa, who seemed to suddenly be her only support as she stood watching Mipha. She bit back a sob, but her body shook, and Urbosa pulled her closer, running her fingers through Zelda’s hair, just as she did with Riju when she was upset. And it seemed to work. Zelda felt a little more calm, a little more focused. It grounded her in reality as she watched Link carefully, waiting for some sign of life.

After a few more minutes, they got their sign. Link gasped and choked as his lungs filled with air. Mipha quickly pulled him against her as he gasped for breath and then passed out once more, his head in her lap. The wound continued to bleed profusely, and Mipha turned her attention to it, closing it up as quickly as she could to stop it from bleeding further, now that Link appeared to be stable.

“We can’t stay here much longer,” Daruk said, his voice rough. But there was a small sigh of relief to it. “Once he’s stable enough, we need to move and get back to Impa.”

“We can't leave without closing that portal,” Urbosa said. “If we don't hurry, who knows what else will come out of it.”

Zelda nodded and stepped out of Urbosa's comforting hold. “I'll take care of it,” she said, her face creased with concern.

“You're not going alone,” Revali said. “Come on.”

Zelda didn't bother to argue with him. They hurried toward the citadel where the portal pulsed in the sky, leaving the others to tend to Link.

After a few minutes more, Mipha sat back against her legs and lowered her arms, her gaze still on Link. “Okay,” she said softly. “He should be okay to move. The wound is sealed.”

Daruk didn’t hesitate once she gave him the okay, scooping the still unconscious hero in his arms. Mipha got to her feet, realizing how suddenly exhausted she was. She had never had to heal someone who was almost dead. It took more out of her than she realized, and her legs gave out under her own weight, too tired to support her any longer.

Urbosa caught her as she collapsed and lifted her off the ground as she drifted in and out of consciousness. “She’s exhausted,” she said. “She'll need rest.”

“I can get you back to the shrine,” Paya said. “It will be easier in a smaller group for me. I'll come back for Zelda and Revali.”

Daruk hesitated, glancing towards the citadel. He nodded. “Alright,” he said. “Just make it quick.”

#legend of zelda #breath of the wild #fic #fanfic #loz #botw #shadows of hyrule #soh33

3 notes · View notes

blackdahlia05 · 6 years

Text

15 Years

Ahhhh! This was amazing to write. This Tom Holland/Spiderman fic was based on the song Same Auld Land Syne by Dan Fogelberg, if you haven’t listened to it, you must!

Enjoy my another one of my sappy writings!

Word Count: 1741

Warnings: none.

I searched through the aisles as I searched for the one thing that could make my night better. Alcohol. The thought of my husband at home, possibly shacking up with a party guest hardly phased me. I had been dealing with this for almost 12 years. Our anniversary was coming up in a month. I cringed at the thought of how long I had been married to this man. I had given up my dreams of becoming a reporter because he told me I should stay at home, that he would provide. I had been stupid and young then to believe him. Lost in my own thought, I barely felt the tug on my sleeve. I turned around a little confused at the man who had just gotten my attention. In a split second, my eyes flew open wide, realizing that Peter Parker was standing right before me.

“Peter!” I exclaimed. I threw my hands out, going to hug him and ended up spilling my purse all over the floor. “Drat!” I went down to pick up my mess and noticed that Peter had as well.

“Still clumsy I see, Janey.” My breath hitched in my throat when he spoke. Partially because his voice had grown deeper, and partially because I hadn’t been called ‘Janey’ in 15 years. I brushed off my embarrassment with a laugh, Peter joining me. Soon we were just laughing incredibly hard we had tears running down our faces.

“I wouldn’t be the same Mary Jane Watson if I wasn’t clumsy.” I giggled.

“Of course not.” He agreed. We made our way to the checkout stand and waited patiently in silence while the lady bagged up my items. It seemed like we were standing together for only seconds when we walked outside.

“Peter,” I blurted, not wanted to lose him just yet. He turned back, a hopeful look on his boyish face. “Do you want to maybe go and have a drink somewhere?”

“Yeah. I mean yes. I would like that.” He sputtered. I smiled and motioned for him to follow me. Once inside my car, I immediately turned on the heat. The New York snow on Christmas Eve was dreadful. We drove around in a comfortable silence looking for an open bar. To our dismay, we couldn’t find any open bars. The closest thing that we could find was a liquor store.

“It’s the only thing we got, and I really want to catch up with you, Peter.” I mumbled looking at the store.

“I’m not complaining. Be back in a minute Janey.” Within a flash he was in and out of the liquor store with a 6 pack. I quickly moved to the backseat where Peter joined me. He opened a bottle for each of us and we clinked them together before taking a sip. “So how have you been?”

“I’ve been well. I uh, don’t report anymore.” I muttered, ashamed of the confession.

“Really? That was your passion!” Peter exclaimed.

“Well, I got married.” The look on his face made me want to cry. “His name is Michael, Michael Lannister. He makes a good swell of money and told me I would never have to work as long as I was with him.”

“But its what you love, Mary Jane. How could you give it up?” He seemed to mad that I had given up reporting.

“Because I was in love, and I wanted to make my husband happy. I wanted a simple life I thought. I thought if I made a sacrifice unlike you, I would still have fulfillment.” I droned on. “I thought that if I had given up something that I loved, for the person I loved, then I could show you that it was easy.”

“You were mad at me then.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. Of course, I was mad at him. I didn’t want to deal with worrying if Peter he was going to die, or get injured, or get lost in space. I couldn’t live like that. We were 17 when I told him it was either the Avengers or me. He told me he couldn’t give up the Avengers, but that didn’t mean he didn’t love me.

“I was terribly angry with you. You were the love of my life. And I wanted to marry you, but I also didn’t want to deal with the crazy. I realize now that I was selfish.” I sighed.

“I can’t blame you,” He looked down. “I put you through so much back then.”

“Well enough about that Peter.” I smiled. “How have you been? I heard from the news that Peter Parker is a big CEO of Stark Industries.” I wiggled my eyebrow at him, making him laugh.

“Yes, that’s all true. Mr. Stark has been great to me.” His smiled lit up across his face as he talked about Tony Stark. This was the man he had utmost respect for.

“What about the dating scene? Any hopefuls?” I questioned. His face went sour.

“I met a girl and her name was Gwen Stacy. Remember her from school?” I nodded. “Well we were together for a year, and she was so involved with my life as Spiderman, that she got in too deep. I just couldn’t save her.”

“I’m so sorry Peter.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. He had tears in eyes but quickly blinked them away. I remember reading somewhere that Gwen Stacy had died, five years ago in an accident, but I never paid much attention to the article.

“She was a great friend honestly, but I don’t think I ever loved her the way I loved you.” Peter mumbled, looking down at me. A blush had creeped its way up on my face as we stared in each other’s eyes. “You look the same as you did 15 years ago, Mary Jane. Beautiful. Your eyes still shine as bright too.”

He started to lean down to my level, not breaking eye contact. His hot breath hit my face, making me warm. Without hesitation, I leaned up making our lips connect. My arms wrapped around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. It had been 15 years since I had kissed Peter Parker. 15 years since I had been in his arms. 15 years that I never stopped living him. Not even for one second.

Our lips moved in sync just like they did all those years ago. Peter held me tight against his body. His frame had gotten wider, my body melding perfectly into his. It felt like hours that we were entwined by the lips, neither one of us wanting to pull away. The need for air is what forced us apart, just barely. I looked up at the brunette before me, with a wide smile on my face. I went to lean back in for another kiss, when I remembered I had a husband, and that even thought he had repeatedly cheated on me, I was a loyal person.

“Peter.” I whispered, stopping him from kissing me. “I have a husband at home.”

“Oh.” He didn’t try to hide the disappointment in his voice.

“I’m sorry Peter, I just can’t” I choked on the words. His hand went to my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks.

“I’ll never pressure you to do anything you don’t want to.” He whispered, planting a kiss on my forehead. “It’s getting late anyway.”

“I’m sorry Peter.” I said again.

“I love you, Mary Jane.” Peter said as he reached for the door. He was waiting for me to respond, when I didn’t he opened the door, got out, and walked away.

“I love you too.” I mumbled. For a moment, I went back to the night that I had left Peter. 17, my hair was dyed a bright red. Tears streamed down my face as they did that night. Peter had stood before me, begging me not to leave, but I knew I had to. I wanted Peter Parker, not Spiderman. I had broken down when I closed his apartment door, his sob rang through the entire hall. The same pain that I felt that night filled my chest again as I climbed into the driver seat of the car.

My entire drive back to my house consisted of me wiping tears from my eyes so I could see and would not crash. I had let him slip through my fingers all because I was loyal to a man that had never been loyal to me. When I pulled up into my driveway, the party had seemed to have ended and the lights were off from what I could see. It was quiet when I walked in, I hoped that Michael had gone to bed already.

I went up to my bedroom, opened the door to see a horrific sight. Michael was on top of a girl, blatantly having sex with her, in my own bed. They had not realized that I was standing there until the girl shrieked. Michael looked behind him and gasped. I felt the lurch in my stomach, but it wasn’t as big as it was when I had first found out.

“Mary.” Michael started.

“My attorney will be sending you divorce papers.” I snapped, turned away and made my way back downstairs. My heart pounded as I ran out of the house, not bothering to grab a single thing. I didn’t want anything that was his. I wanted my freedom and I never wanted to see him again. Once in my car, I started driving again, not knowing where I was going, just knowing that I was getting the hell away from Michael Lannister.

I reached into my coat pocket to grab my phone and ended up pulling out what looked like a business card out with it. I examined to see that it read,

Peter Parker

CEO – Stark Industries

(123) 456 7890

I almost squealed with delight. He must have done it on purpose. When we kissed, he must have slipped in into my pocket. I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips as I dialed the number as fast as I could. It rang a couple times before his voice flooded my ears.

“It’s Peter.” He said. My hands were shaking, and I was smiling from ear to ear as I spoke the words I was too afraid to say earlier.

“I love you too.”

#peter parker #tom holland #spiderman #spider-man: homecoming #spiderman fan #spiderman fandom #peter parker imagine #peter parker fandom

17 notes · View notes

whateverisbeautiful · 7 years

Text

Reveling in Richonne

#46: The Kiss (7x5)

The Kiss of Life!!!! This. kiss. was. every. thing. Before I start, I just need to do my happy dance for the millionth time over this perfection. 🙌🏾

I don't know what's wrong with me but every single time I see this scene, I react like it’s my first time ever seeing this scene and I literally have the reaction of this gif above 😂...Like every single time, without fail, because this moment is everything and then some. Like perfection. Like tens across the board. Like mesmerizing and magical and definitely on my nonexistent “Top Ten Richonne moments” list. It’s like they sprinkled something over this scene that makes it where you have to watch it over and over. You can't not smile and cheer and celebrate every time you see this. (PS: This lengthy post is going to be half analysis, half pure rejoicing lol. I can't help it! 😁) Y'all, this kiss was something special and whoever thought to choreograph it this way should receive a medal. It was this moment. It was this exchange that took my love for Richonne to a whole new level, cuz it was the first time Richonne left me completely and utterly shook. Don’t get me wrong, I adored all their other moments, but this one was entrancing like no other.

Basically the low five put me on the ship and then this moment put me in the dumpster lol.

Like, seriously, round of applause to everyone involved. The light crew gets a medal. The stylist gets a medal. The composer gets a medal. The director and cinematographer and writers get a medal. And you already know Andy and Danai get all the medals. (But seriously imma need some Emmys or Golden Globe noms headed TWD’s way before the show ends)

This scene was beautiful. I've seen a lot of people excellently dissect this breathtaking moment, and people's thoughts and insight and celebration of this moment is so good and brings me so much joy to read! So a lot of my analysis is really just me preaching to the choir, but you know I have to join in and give my play by play lol. 😋 So, Rick goes in for that little hug and peck on the cheek I mentioned earlier. It's a “casual” husband/wife send off and it's sweet that he just wants some form of physical connection with her before he goes cuz...this is Rick and Michonne! (an epiphany that hits me over and over again cuz it's just so amazing and crazy to me that these people we've been watching for years are now able to express the love they've had inside for so long)

Like think of how many times, pre-canon, R&M have gone out to do separate things and maybe wanted to give a hug goodbye and now they can. Think about the "I'm still with you" moment that preciously parallels this one!

You can't help but be happy for them that they now get to do all the things they've been wanting to do. So, again, if all they had done was hug it would have been super sweet.

But instead, honey, we got blessed and spoiled! Cuz as Rick goes in for the hug, Michonne so gracefully and intimately places her hand on his face.

Just to do something as intimate and personal as touch his face, lets you know that R&M feel very very close and connected to one another. I also notice that Michonne immediately puts her hand on his face the second she realizes Rick is going in for this peck on the cheek thing. By putting her hand on his face so quickly it lets me know that she knew from the second he stepped towards her that she wanted to give him a more proper sendoff than the one he was about to do.

Like this kiss wasn't an after thought or some uncertain thing for her. She doesn’t just let the casual hug happen and then hesitantly think "Oh wait, maybe I should give him his entire life right now" 😂 No, she was confident and knew from the jump that she wanted to do that. Now, when this first happened it could seem to some like she was about to reject the hug. In fact, Rick looks like he's thinking that for a second too. It absolutely pains me when you see the quick look of uncertainty on Rick's face as Michonne redirects him. Like he was already a little hesitant to go in for the peck on the cheek and for a split second it feels like he's thinking "Dang, she doesn't even want me to touch her.".

Rick really thinks he's about to take yet another L and get rejected. But I love that Michonne doesn't give Rick much time to linger on the possible thought of rejection before she's letting him know exactly where they stand and how she feels about him, without even having to say a single word.

Like this kiss was a loud and clear "I love you" from both of them. 😍

I love the way it's choreographed for her to take his face and sort of lead the way here. It conveys oh so much. Like one; this is Michonne saying "Nah, we don't do that platonic peck on the cheek stuff. Our love is too strong for that." 😂

And two; it's a reminder of how R&M are equals. And three; it’s a reminder that they are so in sync with one another. Like Michonne can see that if they just do a casual sendoff it could cause more disconnect for them so, like the wise strong 👸🏾 she is, she steps in and she closes the distance between them literally and figuratively.

And four; this is Michonne teaching us yet another way to say, “I’m still with you”. Like so far Michonne’s taught us that you can say “I’m still with you” by:

Saying the actual words to him

Being the first one out to aid him in fighting a herd of walkers

Giving a warning pop to a chick that tries him

Pleading his case to a psycho while a gun’s aimed at your head.

Helping him make a bed

And then you can also give him the literal kiss of life. 🙌🏾

I love that now that they’re a couple, Michonne can more intimately let Rick know she’s still with him. And this kiss is so powerful because it feels like a game changer for them. Because it communicated to both of them what they might have not been verbally communicating to each other since Negan’s arrival and that’s that; there is literally no amount of differing opinions, or distance, or tension, or anything at all that’s going to break us up. We’re still with each other and we want to be with each other forever.

I love this moment too cuz, as breathtaking as it was, it felt so authentic and not sappy in the slightest. It just felt like grown healthy love. And yet it was still so magical cuz, y'all, I'm not a sappy person (or so I thought lol) but I could practically hear angels singing when this moment first aired.

Like I promise, when I first saw it, I felt like it was in slow motion or something. 😂 It was that mesmerizing. It just felt like it was straight out of an apocalyptic Disney movie lol. It was True Love's Kiss! 😍 I love that Michonne's leading the way at first on the kiss and then it does not take long for Rick to be right there with her. I love that he, of course, pulls her in closer and they literally get lost in each other, as any concern that they are on the rocks quickly disappears. Like you literally see them both radiate equal amounts of intense love and energy.

They are so engulfed by each other that it's like no one else is there. And it’s funny cuz I remember thinking about how R&M are doing all this with Carl definitely right there in the next room with the door open lol. But I love that for this one moment it was just them two in this world. 😊 And you can tell they never want this moment to end.

And y'all can I just say one more time...that's Rick and Michonne! That’s “Your face is losing the war” Michonne and “You gonna stay awhile?” Rick. These two have been knowing each other for the longest and now they're doing this.🙌🏾

I remember even my sister, who’s a more casual viewer, took note of this scene and was like “Well okay then.” 😂 Everyone took note of this moment. 👏🏽

Like if someone watches this scene and still doesn't buy the deep love between Rick and Michonne it might be time for them to consider if they’re a...

Lol. But Haters are just going to stay mad because this couple isn't only going to survive but thrive. 👌🏽😊 Their bond is unbreakable and this kiss made that crystal clear. The passion, chemistry, sincerity, unity, desire, respect, longing, support, and just pure love conveyed in that kiss, from both of them, is A1. 👌🏽

I love that Michonne knew that her man needed to be reminded that he's still the man in this world and so she reminded him of just that. Michonne always be knowing just what to do lol. 👏🏽 Like she wanted to remind Rick just who he is in her eyes. He is still the Rick Grimes to Michonne.

R&M are completely on the same page in this moment and it just reminds you that they are truly made for one another. And I adore how much R&M can say without words. Like, apart from “I’m still with you”, that kiss was Michonne telling Rick "I respect you, I believe in you, I support you, I want you, I love you" and Rick seriously needed that.

You can tell that Rick is overcome by this woman and has just gotten even more proof that he was very right in saying “this is different”. It’s 100% clear that Rick got his entire life from that kiss lol. 😊

And I love that it doesn't just end with the kisses! Afterwards, R&M both lean in, so beyond close to each other, and they stay in this moment just a little longer. It really is like they melt into each other. And they just visually look like they fit together like puzzle pieces. I love that as they just stay here for a moment it really feels like they are leaning on their rock and their other half. Like as hesitant as the scene started it ends with such strength and unity and power between them. 😍

It's so evident that they don't want to pull away from each other as the kiss ends and their foreheads touch. Like they almost seem dizzy from the immense amount of love that has just poured out of them. Their love is so powerful it overwhelms them just as much as us lol.

And then Rick says the only appropriate response...

"Thank you". 😋 I adore this very sweet and very accurate response. Like I know some people say Rick was technically saying thank you in regards to Michonne saying good luck, but let's be real y'all, he was thanking her for the greatest kiss of his life. (Plus, when she said “good luck” he said “yeah” so he technically already responded to that. 😁)

To me, the “thank” you has even deeper meaning. This was Rick saying thank you to Michonne for being his ride or die, for never giving up on him, for being there for him and loving him and choosing him every time, no matter what. He was thanking her for being her. (and, again, for giving him his entire life in one kiss 😋) With this world being more dangerous than ever, it's a big deal to leave home and you really don't know if your goodbye is truly your last goodbye so, as R&M head off separate ways, Michonne wanted to make sure they have a proper and fitting farewell, which of course is an epic one for an epic couple. So, in a way, this kiss was her also saying "Just in case this is the last goodbye you should know exactly how I feel about you". But the kiss was also very strategic, cuz I know Homegirl was trying to give Rick some serious incentive to get back asap. I'm honestly a little surprised Rick didn’t go tell Aaron their trip’s cancelled lol. Cuz after this kiss, Rick really looked like he was thinking, ‘Negan who?” 😂.

I know with complete certainty that Rick had this moment with Michonne on replay the whole time he was out with Aaron. As Rick walks away, Michonne watches both sad to see him go and also knowing full well she just put that man in a trance. 😂 She knows what she's done lol. Like Rick's now beyond whipped. Is there a term stronger than whipped? Cuz that's what he is now lol.

To date, this is my favorite kiss between them. Hence why I can gush about it forever. It was just so much more than a kiss. It was everything. It was their unbreakable love fully on display. And they've come so far since season three, and have had many moments in past seasons that could have led to a kiss, so it just feels so rewarding and wonderful that they're finally at this point in the relationship. I can imagine for long-time shippers this moment sent you straight up to heaven lol. 🙌🏾 😋 Literally every time I see a gif of this moment I can't help but get that same overwhelming joy I had the first time watching it. It's just so good and so magical yet so realistic and organic. Richonne is always so well done cuz it's always conveyed like grown, healthy, natural, genuine true love. And this kiss gives you no doubt that R&M’s relationship will not just last, but it will stand the test of time. They are ride or die, they are partners for life, they are one.

This scene was towards the beginning of 7x5, but low key the rest of the episode was kind of a blur cuz, as far as I'm concerned, this one scene stole the whole show. 😋

So, in short (lol), every time I see this moment I can’t help but say, “I’m...

Cuz this scene was, is, and will always be a masterpiece. 🙌🏾👌🏽👏🏽👏

#twd #the walking dead #twdfamily #richonne #richonne family #richonne fandom #michonne #michonne grimes #rick grimes #not my gifs #revelinginrichonne

160 notes · View notes

wanderingworldwarrior · 6 years

Text

Of Twisted Emotions - Chapter Five: To Seek

The darkness plays tricks on you. You find that once the path closes, you cannot seem to move on. Your heart pounds in your ears, but it isn't loud enough to drown out Loki's next words.

It's as if he knows you have not truly left, that you remain close by, a step away in an alternate space that he cannot reach. But he speaks, regardless, and you hear.

"Am I to understand that you've forgotten our ledger, my dear?" he asks quietly, his words dripping sweet poison. They pass through the dark like an echo, bouncing around and then fading away into nothing. "You've been indebted to me since our very first meeting. And paying a debt to a god is never an easy task. It would be easy to take a step in the right direction, however. Why not take part in this war against Earth?" He says the word with clear disdain in his tone. "I hold true power here, and I know you would revel in it." He pauses for a moment, waiting. When he's met with silence, he offers a final plea. "After everything we've been through together, you would simply walk away?"

And why not? You think to yourself as you shake your head. Didn't you?

But in your mind, there is an odd sort of pull that accompanies his words. It brings up images of you at the Trickster God's side while he sets out to accomplish his goal. You have always been a rebel without a cause, wandering aimlessly in search of meaning, of a next battle. And here he offers you a battle, a grand battle at that. A war against Earth. You've never much cared for the denizens of this planet; would it really be so wrong to test the limits of your power?

You close your eyes and breathe in deeply through your nose, trying to clear your head. Something is off. You feel... not quite yourself. Loki doesn't sound so insane to you anymore, and you know that screams danger. Willow's face flashes behind your eyelids, followed by the two astrophysicists and the intern. Will has always had a soft spot for humanity, much like Thor has grown to care for them. There are a few humans you admit you feel friendly towards as well. So, why are you entertaining these mad thoughts?

You feel a rising instinctual urge to flee, chills running down your spine at the sudden rush of fear. It's as if you've been poisoned by Loki's terrible blue, like it's slowly planting seeds and rooting in your thoughts.

Your eyes had always searched out the scepter, where it lay on display in the prince's trophy room. But it had been in passing each time, as you walked from one room to another. You had never lingered... at least not purposefully. Never given it much thought. But now with the weapon clearly playing a hand in Loki's demented state, you fear you have tarried too close for too long.

You pull away from him, forcing yourself through the dark, out of the dead town and down familiar paths towards your initial destination.

You have to see Willow.

---

Sigrid and Asmund stand near the barracks, golden and blue eyes searching for any familiar face. Sig's initial joy at Asmund's proposition had shifted towards apprehension when she found she could not contact you. He had suggested they give you time and search for you once evening fell, and she had agreed.

And now night has fallen, and Sigrid's unrest is quickly growing as she realizes you are truly gone once more. But where has the Allfather sent you, that her mind cannot find yours? The last time this had occurred, you had been lost to Midgard.

Asmund's hand is wrapped tightly in her own. She is thankful that he stands beside her; to be in the presence of a sorcerer lessens the oddity of the pair hovering near the army's barracks.

The majority of the soldiers are in the feast halls, but Sigrid knows she will not find you there. The rest are milling about the area, chatting and talking, speculating when and where their next march will take them. It is when she spots a familiar face walking towards a small, seated crowd that she tugs on Asmund's hand. "I'll be right back."

The girl steps away, eyes locked on the man you'd introduced her to. He smiles as he listens to another soldier speaking, although he does not join in their spirited laughter. Amsund shadows Sigrid uncertainly, wondering what she could hope to gain from talking with these warriors.

Bjorn spots the pair as they approach, his brown eyes widening slightly in surprise. He sets his mug of ale to the side (where it will surely be kicked over by one of his companions), and meets the both of them halfway. "Greetings," he says cordially. "Sigrid, I believe it was?"

"Yes, indeed," the girl answers, dipping her head respectfully – a servant's habit. "And this is Asmund."

"Pleasure," Bjorn states, nodding as he hooks a thumb through his belt. "I am Bjorn. I attended your ceremony today, you know. Congratulations, Master Sorcerer."

His smile is warm and genuine, which Asmund was not expecting. There are some soldiers who look distrustfully upon the arcane arts, which creates tension when the two types of fighters must work closely together. "Thank you," Asmund says appreciatively. His inquisitive nature is quickly getting the best of him, and before Sigrid can say anything, he further questions, "May I ask why you gather outside of the barracks rather than within?"

"Oh," the man says. He glances over his shoulder, where the other soldiers are talking and drinking. "You know, I never considered it until now. I suppose we're used to standing around campfires and spending our time outdoors. To be inside is just not the same anymore."

"And your accent, if you don't mind my asking, where are you –" Asmund begins, but Sigrid cuts him off.

"You'll have to pardon us, sir, but we don't mean to keep you," Sigrid says, squeezing Asmund's hand apologetically. "I'm seeking our mutual acquaintance."

"Yes, the Bloody Warrior," Asmund agrees, quickly getting back on track. "Is she around? We'd thought to venture inside the barracks, but weren't sure we'd be welcome."

Bjorn takes a subconscious step back, his impulsive action earlier in the day flashing again to the forefront of his mind. He looks away in shame, cheeks warming. "She's gone, now. Sent away by the Allfather, but where, I do not know. She left in a rush.... Seemed all out of sorts. It was as if she'd seen a ghost." He looks over at Sigrid and Asmund, who cast a long glance between one another. "That's all I know," Bjorn promises.

"Thank you for your time," Sigrid answers, although her thoughts are miles away.

Speculating.

---

You've been to Will's apartment once before, and it is therefore not hard for you to find again. You're truly exhausted on all fronts: mentally, physically, and emotionally. You have to talk with her, someone who understands, who you know will not hesitate to help. And you desperately need help.

You haven't been writing to Willow as much as you once had, although you are sure to let her know where you are and what battles you face. She has always been one to respect your privacy and need for space, and you'll be forever grateful.

You figure she will be asleep, probably with her captain, and so you step out of the shadows and into the apartment's living area. The room is lit by a single lamp, which casts a warm glow across the vintage furniture. It's a welcome change from the cool gleam of the jewel embedded in Loki's scepter. Your mind feels more at ease immediately, and you breathe a sigh of relief as the shadows close.

There's a soft snap from your left, and your gaze cuts over.

A woman is in the room with you. And it isn't Willow.

You quickly take her in, assess the situation. She's holding a gun on you, aimed right at your head, but has yet to pull the trigger. She has thick, brown hair that is pulled back into a tight ponytail, tawny brown skin, and red lips that are pressed into a thin line. There's a laptop sitting on the table in front of her, papers scattered around it with a very familiar emblem at the top of each page. It matches the one on the woman's uniform.

S.H.I.E.L.D.

You silently stare her down, debating on what to do. Do you have enough energy to avoid a gunshot? Who is this intruder, and where is Willow? You don't necessarily feel threatened by the woman, but your fingers itch to call up a sword or at least a dagger. The silence stretches on, the tension in the room mounting every second, and then the woman speaks.

"Who are you?" she asks, and her voice wavers slightly (although her gun does not).

"Who are you?" you counter. "What are you doing in Will's apartment?"

You see recognition spark in the stranger's eyes. "You know her?"

"Will?" you call out, briefly breaking gaze with the woman as your eyes flicker over towards the bedroom.

"She isn't here," the woman informs you tightly. "Now, who are you? What are you... what are you wearing?"

Shit. The S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform you took off the guy in the hall. That probably wouldn't look good to another agent. You turn back to the stranger, and you can feel your anger and exasperation rising once more. "Did you do something to her?" you demand. "Is all of S.H.I.E.L.D. working with Loki, or what? What are you doing in Willow's apartment?"

"Listen, now, I'm the one asking questions," the woman snaps at you. "The safety on this is off, you know. So, one last time, who are you?"

You're sick of this absolutely hellish day. You cave, angrily spitting your name at her. "Your turn, now. Who the hell are you?"

She stiffens, as if she doesn't want to tell you. But at last, she says, "I'm Carla. I work for S.H.I.E.L.D. And judging from the blood on you, I'm guessing that you don't."

She gestures with her gun to your attire, and you sigh. So far, she hasn't shot you, and she's missing the ominous blue glow in her eyes. You figure this woman isn't under any orders from Loki, although that doesn’t mean she isn't an enemy. You work to calm yourself down; you can't just kill her. You need information. "Look, Carla. It's been a long fucking day for me. I didn't have a shirt, so I took one. Just so happened to be from a S.H.I.E.L.D. guy. There was a fight, yeah, and I won, but the circumstances were a little weird. I have nothing against S.H.I.E.L.D. I've met some of your agents before, my friend works for you guys.... I just really need to see her, okay?"

The woman stands silently, her gun still trained at your head. You wait rather impatiently, and she finally speaks again. "How did you do that? Just appear here? You're like Willow, then?"

"We're alike, yeah," you state shortly. "She has powers, I have powers. That's not really what I'm focused on right now." You wait a few beats, and when she still says nothing, you blurt out, "Look, I'm not going to hurt you, all right? And if you're not going to hurt me, then just put the gun away, because all I really care about right now is Willow!"

Carla's red lips press into a thin line again, and then she abruptly lowers her gun. "Willow is missing. I've been stationed here in case she returns or someone tries to contact her."

Your thoughts pull up short. "Will's missing?"

Carla nods, her features serious. "Rogers is out with S.H.I.E.L.D. looking for her. That's the last I heard."

"What happened?" you ask, pulling your bag around and searching through it for your notebook.

When you glance up, you find that Carla has drawn her gun on you again. You show her the book and roll your eyes. She warily lowers the weapon once more, and then says, "As far as I know, she went out on a mission and didn't return."

"Probably bullshit," you say idly, thumbing through the pages until you find your last entry to Will.

It was yesterday, when you'd been approaching Asgard (had that been only yesterday?). She hasn't replied. You fish out one of your pens and scrawl a hasty message to Willow as Carla answers your comment.

"I... honestly think so, too. Something's going on, although I'm apparently not cleared for the information. Now, I care for this girl. She's a good soul, if that's something you can understand. So, if you're truly her friend, and you can do... that," she gestures towards where you had stepped from the shadows, "then do you think you'll be able to find her?"

"What the fuck is going on?" you groan, rubbing your face as you stow your pen and notebook away. "Weirdest day of my damn life, I swear." You look back up at Carla, distrust clear in your gaze. "I don't think I can find her, I know. Where was she last? I can start there."

"They tried that," Carla states, tapping a finger on the edge of the table near her, where the laptop sits. "The base is completely destroyed. But... I... have a theory on how to locate her. My superiors don't like it, not that anyone listens to me anyway."

Now, you're interested, your guard lowering slightly. "Yeah?"

"Willow creates flares of energy when she uses her abilities. That's how we tracked her in the first place, when she initially landed here."

Your thoughts immediately go back to the Bifrost disaster, which had landed you in New Mexico with Thor, and Will in New York. "Okay, and?" you ask. "Can you track that again?"

"I don't have the capabilities here," Carla tells you, and you sigh as you start planning out your next course of action. But then she continues, "However, I've been monitoring power surges in the nation. And there's been several. I can't run the data from here, but I know someone who can. And he's nearby."

Your brow furrows as you consider this. "Why hasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. already brought him in, then?"

"I think S.H.I.E.L.D. knows where Willow is, if I'm being honest," Carla answers. "So, they really don't need him. But as they aren't sharing their information, we need him. He..." she purses her lips, "doesn't play well with others. But he'd be your best bet of quickly getting the information you need. If you can convince him to do it."

"I can be very convincing," you say bluntly, and Carla frowns at you. You ignore the look. "Where can I find him?"

You're throwing yourself into this new problem, pushing your thoughts of Loki back on purpose. If your friend needs you, you'll be there for her. But first, you have to find her.

Carla turns towards the apartment window and points at the dark skyline, red fingernail tapping against the glass. "Head that way. He's in Stark Tower. It's a tall building with its name lit up at the top like a neon sign. You can't miss it."

You consider her, wondering about the likelihood of this being a trap. You slowly nod your head, lip between your teeth. "All right. Thanks. If you're right, that is. If this is some sort of ambush, you'll be hearing from me real soon."

Carla snorts and rolls her eyes. "You can't intimidate me. That's why S.H.I.E.L.D. hired me. But there's no need for any hostility. Not towards me, anyway. Save it for Stark."

You decide that if this woman doesn't get you killed, if she isn't a liar that has hurt your friend, you may end up liking her. "Yeah, okay," you answer, and then step backwards into a rift of shadows once more.

Time to visit Stark Tower. Whatever that is.

---

We’re stepping off the angst train for a bit! :D Hooray!

Carla is @shootingstarsojourner‘s character from the sister series to this fic, “To Walk Together”. You can find it in my fic rec list, which is in my bio!

Is it Tony time?

I think it’s Tony time.

Tag List:

@littlemisssyreid @thedoctorlivesthroughbooks @imthinkingaboutthis @verryfuckingpunny @shadows-echoes

You can message me to be tagged or untagged anytime! :)

Masterlist

#loki x reader #loki/reader #loki fanfiction #reader insert #Loki Laufeyson #OTE Update #of twisted emotions #cursing

12 notes · View notes

finn-nelson-for-the-win · 7 years

Text

Before the World Stops Turning: Pt.2

Greetings Tumblr! I’m back again after only a few days with the next part to this multi-chapter fic as part of my concert series. This chapter was pretty fun to write and I really enjoyed exploring the friendship dynamic between some of the characters. I’m trying something new with this fic and I’m going to be changing POV from one chapter to another, so fingers crossed that I don’t screw it up haha

Anyways, I added everyone to my tags if you requested to be added…If you would like to be added/removed don’t hesitate to let me know!

I hope you enjoy this chapter! (As always, additional notes and random commentary I have will be at the end beneath the tags)

Finn sat at the far right side of the bar, nursing his third pint after gulping down the prior two almost immediately. As much as he enjoys performing in front of people, he still finds it tiring at times to stick around after the show ends in order to meet fans and sell their CDs; however, Finn also knows better than to be ungrateful or rude towards the people that allow him to keep making music and doing what he loves.

Finn was still debating if he could order another drink and still be sober enough to wake up for work early the next morning when he felt a hand firmly grasp his shoulder, making him jump slightly.

“Sorry if I surprised you,” Archie began as he took a seat on the vacant bar stool beside Finn, “We just finished packing up all the leftover CDs and equipment into my car. We had a really great show tonight and I think we may have sold the most CDs we ever have at a single show! Are you going to head out now or do ya wanna stick around with us here at the bar for a while?”

“I’m not sure. I have work first thing tomorrow morning…” Finn replied, suddenly beginning to regret agreeing to pick an extra shift at work when he knew that he would be playing a show the night before.

“Don’t give me that shit, Finney boy! The lads and I haven’t had the luxury of sitting at the bar for the past half hour while we packed up all our stuff and we want to get drunk too!” Chop called as he walked towards where Finn and Archie sat at the bar.

“Firstly, I’m not drunk. Second, you said you guys didn’t need any more help, even after I insisted on helping you lads! And fine, I guess I’ll stick around a little while longer…go grab a table and I’ll get you all your usual drinks, this first round will be my shout.”

Chop, Danny, Archie, and Alex cheered and clapped Finn on the back before they walked to the nearest empty booth to have a seat and Finn waved the bartender over to put in their drink orders.

As Finn waited for the drinks, he was startled to feel his phone vibrate from within the back pocket of his jeans.

When he pulled his phone out of his pocket and entered his password to unlock it, he saw a number of new notifications for the band’s social media account—which Finn had been put in charge of due to his knack for photography and comparatively better social media prowess.

Izziemarie33 followed you

Izziemarie33 tagged you in a post

Izziemarie33 mentioned you in a comment

Finn opened the notifications to view the photo that their band’s page had been tagged in when the bartender slid the tray of drinks towards Finn. Finn thanked him with a nod as he slid his phone back into his pocket and left a generous tip on the bar before picking up the tray and carrying it to the booth where his band mates sat joking and laughing enthusiastically at something that Chop had just said.

“There he is! I was afraid you might have gotten lost on your way from the bar to here!” Alex joked as Finn passed the drinks around the table to their respective owners.

Once Finn pulled up a seat from a neighboring table and sat backwards on the chair facing his fellow band mates, he pulled his phone back out of his pocket to view the photo that had been posted.

As soon as the post loaded, Finn immediately recognized the girls posing the in the group photo with the caption:

Such a fun night with my bestie! Thanks for being the best concert buddy ever, babes! And thanks to all the bands for putting on such an amazing show tonight!

“What are you looking at, Finney boy?” Chop asked, snapping Finn out of his intense focus on the picture as he leaned over Finn’s shoulder to get a closer look at his phone, “Oh! I remember taking this picture! They were both so sweet and such fun to talk to!”

“Yeah, they really were. Hey, Finn, isn’t that the girl you ran into before the show?” Archie asked pointing to one of the girls in the photo on Finn’s phone screen.

“What’s this I’m hearing about you running into a girl? Finn, you cheeky bastard!” Chop replied with a smirk when he noticed Finn blush slightly and grab his beer from the table to avoid responding to the question.

“It wasn’t like that at all, Chop,” Finn began to clarify when he realized that Chop would not simply drop the conversation if he kept evading the question, “I quite literally ran into this girl when I stepped outside for a smoke before the show and I made her drop her phone.”

“Finnley here apologized—like a gentleman should—and was trying to make friendly conversation, but the girl walked away before the poor lad even had the chance,” Archie added giving Finn a sympathetic smile and pat on the back.

“Well why didn’t you say anything when her and her friend came up to meet us after the show? We all introduced ourselves to the two girls and this could have been your perfect chance to chat her up…maybe get her phone number…or at least learn her name, for fuck’s sake!” Chop added as he grabbed his drink off the table and drank nearly half of it in a single gulp.

“I guess I didn’t really think about it at the time…plus almost the whole time they were chatting with you and you were charming the pants off of them, I was frantically looking for the marker that turned out to be in your pocket the entire time, Chop! By the time I gave up looking we were all gathering to take the group photo and then the girls left without much further conversation!”

“My bad! If I knew that our Finney boy had it bad for this girl, I would have definitely backed off and played wing man for you!” Chop replied, giving Finn’s shoulder a nudge that nearly caused his to spill his beer as he went to take a drink.

“Poor Finn…this girl stole his heart and has it in a vice grip and there was nothing he could even do about it because he was too shy to speak up,” Danny replied sympathetically as he lifted his half-empty glass as a sign of support for his band mate.

“Seriously, Danny? I expect this sort of shit from Chop or Alex, but not you too! This girl did not ‘steal my heart’ and I don’t ‘have it bad for her’ or whatever…I hardly even spoke to her. I just wanted to be friendly and make conversation with her…treating your fans well is part of being a good musician, right? Ugh, whatever…I don’t even know why I’m trying to explain myself to you twats!” Finn replied with a grumble and an eye roll as he stood from the table to order another drink from the bar.

“Oi, don’t get mad just because you know we’re right, Finney boy!” Chop called after his mate giving him a cheeky grin when his friend merely rolled his eyes and flipped him off.

“Wait a second! Chop, take a closer look at the picture and tell me if you see something strange about it…” Alex barely managed to say through the sudden burst of laughter that brought tears to his eyes.

“What should I be seeing—wait! Holy shit! Lads, look at the picture we took with these two girls. Fuck, this is too perfect!” Chop replied, also laughing loudly when he realized what Alex had been trying to point out to him.

Finn returned with a new drink in his hand and looked around the booth at his band mates as they examined the picture that had been posted and everyone fell into fits of laughter interrupted only by muttered profanities and comments about how hilarious the picture was.

“What are you all laughing about? I saw the picture too and didn’t see anything that funny about it…” Finn scoffed when he was tired of being left out of the joke.

“Do you really not see it, Finn?” Finn shrugged and furrowed his thick eyebrows in response to Chop, who regained his composure slightly before explaining, “Finney boy…the girl who posted this picture cropped you out of the photo!”

“Are you fucking serious? Let me see…” Finn replied as he grabbed his phone out of Chop’s hands to look at the picture yet again.

Finn reviewed the photo closely from left to right trying to recall where he had joined into the picture after he had given up his search for Chop’s permanent marker.

Hmm…okay there’s the two girls and Chop with his arm around the girl I ran into earlier today…Danny and Alex are back behind them…

I know I stood next to Archer in the picture. Where did Archie end up?

When Finn found where his best mate Archie stood on the opposite side of Chop than the two girls, he quickly realized that the photo cut off after Archie and he was not in fact anywhere to be seen in the photo that had been posted.

Maybe another drink isn’t such a bad idea…

***

I should not have had another drink…

Finn sat at an empty table in the break room of the office that he worked in gulping down yet another cup of coffee in an attempt to sober up and feel more awake after barely pulling himself together this morning to make it to work on time and through the first few hours of his shift.

His band mates had still been laughing about possible reasons why Finn may have been cropped out of the photo but Finn wasted no time finishing off his final drink of the night and leaving the bar after calling a taxi to take him back to his apartment.

As Finn scrolled through social media to pass the time during his break at work, his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to learn more about the girl that had posted the photos last night.

Hmm…I wonder which of you is Izziemarie33…

Finn clicked on the photo that the Kings and Queens band page had been tagged in and it took him directly to Izziemarie33’s profile where he quickly realized that Izziemarie33 must be “Isabella”, the petite red-headed girl from the photos that they had met the previous evening.

Okay, nice to meet you, Isabella…but who is your friend?

Finn continued to scroll through the photos that Isabella had posted, trying to determine the name of her friend that had been with her at the show last night, but Isabella had not tagged anyone other than Kings and Queens and the individual band members in any of the posts.

Finn felt like he was invading Isabella’s privacy and knew he had no right be to searching through her posts on social media; however, before long he found himself scrolling through posts that were over fifty weeks old before he saw the two familiar—albeit significantly younger—girls smiling in a photo with the caption that read:

No summer afternoon is complete without my little ‘Rae’ of sunshine! @rae_earl1

Finn clicked the profile that was tagged and was met with a private account that did not allow him to see any photos or posts without following the account first. Even without being able to see any of the posts on this account, from the profile picture alone, he was fairly certain that this was the account for the girl from the show last night that he had been looking for.

As Finn stood up from the table and waited for the individual cup coffee maker to finish brewing his cup of coffee before his break ended so he could get back to work, he went back to the various photos Isabella had posted of the concert the prior evening and liked all of them.

@eveerez @tinakegg @hey1tskat1e @lurkernolonger @milllott @nutinanutshell @i-dream-of-emus @milymargot @vivammfd @bitchesbecrazy89 @arathewallflower @mallyallyandra

A/N: So hopefully this chapter was as fun for all of you to read as it was for me to write…I love the different personalities of each of the band members that become more clear through their various interactions.

And poor Finn can’t seem to catch a break with this girl…but alas! There is lots more fun and silliness to come in the next few chapters. (Side note: the 5 chapter estimate is quickly becoming 8-10, because of how I’m formatting each chapter by switching POVs and most of these chapters are kinda short, but oh well!)

I always try my best to show my appreciation for your all and make sure you know that I see every reply, message, reblog, like, etc. and I do not take any of them for granted. I was hesitant to make my return to writing because I’ve been going through some shit in my life lately and I was consistently unhappy with what I was writing (hence why I opted to take a break from writing in the first place). Although I’m still my own worst critic and I was anxious about how this new story would be received, I’ve been met with so much positivity and so many responses from you lovely people that welcomed me and my writing back as if I had never left. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I have some really sweet, fucking adorable follower/readers and I think very highly of all of you, my darlings.

Have any questions, comments, concerns, or emotional outbursts about this chapter or for me? Feel free to share them with me, becasue I always love hearing what you all think! :)

The next chapter should be coming fairly soon as well, so be sure to keep an eye out to read about what happens next!

#mmfd #my mad fat diary #mmfd fanfic #my mad fat diary fanfiction #My writing #Finn-Nelson-for-the-win #Before the World Stops Turning #the concert series

35 notes · View notes

sugardaddysully · 7 years

Text

You’ll Be In My Heart, No Matter what they say. ( Sam Drake X Reader) Part Seven

Your name: submit What is this? document.getElementById("submit").addEventListener('click', function(){ walk(document.body, /\by\/n\b|\(y\/n\)/ig, document.getElementById("inputTxt").value); }); <p><b>I wonder if people still read this.

Warning: Language. If you like smut then this is not for you. A bit angst. English is not my mother language.

MASTERLIST(Other chapters)

Italic is your thoughts.

The sleep was nice until Nathan had wake you up in the morning. You feel annoyed because of the lack of sleep. When you remember all your things were left in Sam's room you were ever more annoyed. You need to get change but you don't want to see Sam ever again.

You felt your stomach drop and your heart tearing apart when you suddenly recall the scene from last night. The sound you heard. The things you saw. You are familiar with this horrible feeling. The same feeling when you found out your fiancé had cheated on you. It felt like the world is breaking apart and yet it's just you noticing it. There's the bitterness you can't explain. But why did you feel this way?

I don't like Samuel drake.

You kept telling yourself that. But what you were feeling had revealed the lies your told yourself. And still you would do anything to deny it.

You rolled down on the floor with the blanket still wrapped around you. "Hey sleepy head, get changed. We need to go out soon." Nathan rest his hand on his hip, looking down at you.

"No." you replied with your face lying down.

"Come on how old are you?"

You sighed heavily, "Please help me to get my stuff." You get up and sit on the floor, looking at him with puppy eyes.

Nathan narrowed his eyes, hoping your trick isn't going to work on him again. But that puppy eyes were too powerful. And Nathan would like to consider himself as a very nice guy so he just simply gave up.

"Fine. Just this once." He pointed his finger to you.

"Thank you~" you winked sarcastically.

He sighed and went to Sam's room.

With a few knocks, Sam finally came to answer the door.

"Oh hey little brother." Sam said, brushing his eyes.

"Get change, we will leave soon. And I'm here to get Y/N stuff."

“Oh yeah, I’m just going to ask you. Where's Y/N? I didn't see her when I wake up." He squinted at Nathan.

"She's in my room."

"Oh. What happened?"

"Seriously Sam, you made her leave in the middle of the night?"

"Did I?" He said while rubbing his forehead.

Nathan sighed, slightly annoyed by his silly old brother.

"Sam, I don't give a shit about what you do if you have your own room. But now you share it with Y/N and you have to respect her. Not bringing another women at 2AM! For God sake Sam!"

"She likes you!" Nathan whispered.

"She do?" Suddenly Sam's eyes lighten up.

Nathan sighed again, placing his hand to cover his face.

"She do?!" Sam asked again, not believing what his brother said.

Nathan walked past him and grabbed your bag then stopped at the door frame.

"You're screwed." Nathan raised his eyebrows at Sam and left.

"Fuck." Sam cursed, covering his face with his hands.

----

From the moment you four leave the motel, to finally rented a car, you had never spoken to Sam. You didn't even looked at him. Not even once. Not even a glance.

You told yourself you didn't care about anything he did. But did you?

Nathan hoped to give a chance for Sam to redeem himself. So he and Sully get into the seats in the front immediately, leaving you siting with Sam at the back.

But that doesn't change anything. Sully had some chitchat with Sam about how he passed his time in prison, hoping you would somehow join the conversation. But no, you didn't make a single noise in the whole car ride.

You shift yourself to the left multiple times to avoid any contact with Sam. But the back seats was too small, no matter how far you try to move away, you feel your skin touches his.

You remained silence until when Nathan swung you all off the hill. "Oh, Shit!" Sullivan cursed. "Whoa, who's, whoa, whoa.....!" "Okay don't panic!" Nathan shouted. "I'm very much panicking here!" Sully said. "That cable's gonna snap--!" When the car almost hit the top, a giant rock hit it. The cable roll down so fast that Sam lost his grip and fell out his sit.

"Sam!" You grabbed him immediately without any hesitation like a instinctive reaction.

He swear to God he was terrified. But most importantly he was shock that you grabbed him. Isn't she mad? He thought.

And you swear to god you didn't know why the heck you did that. You tell yourself you wouldn't care if Samuel Drake die, but is it?

You pulled Sam upward while Nathan and Sully were pulling you.

"Phew." Sam finally got back to his sit and his face still looks like a white sheet.

"You kids okay?" Sully asked. "Yeah...yeah...Just get us out of this Nathan!" You shouted. "Alright hang on!"

Nathan was pulling the car upward, and Sam was looking at you in extreme confusion with a bit tears welled up in his eyes. He thought you would hate him so much after what happened last night? He doesn't understand. He was confused like a 16 years old boy thinking about the girl he like. And you were holding the rail tightly, praying that you all will be save.

"Ah... Well, that was fun, right?" Nathan laughed when he finally get you all steady. "Don't ever do that again Nathan." You hit him in the arm while you were still trying to catch your breath. "Well I'm definitely sharing this one with my shrink."

-------

A big tower was ahead. Meanwhile, all three of you were already inside this massive room underground.

"Hey, guys...?" You were standing in front of a marvelous stone sculpture. It was complicated and detailed. It was saint Dismas.

"Coming!" Samuel responded immediately.

"All right, so uh...Let's see, what do you think the trick is here?" Samuel asked. "You gotta push a button, pull something?" Nathan was inspecting the sculpture in front of him.

You were also checking out the stone just inches away with them. Suddenly Victor puts his hand on your shoulder and pull you away from the stone.

You looked at him with questions in your mind. He shook his had with a smile, then he tilted his head up to gesture you to look at the view again. "Holy shit...." you whispered. You laughed and look at Sully with a surprised face.

"Boys. Whenever you're done finding poor Saint Dismas, I think you might want to take a look at this." You were standing few steps away, crossing your arms looking at the enormous view.

"We've got ourselves a map, ladies and gentlemen." Sully added.

The boys stepped away and they were as shocked as you were.

"Victor you're a goddamn genius." Sam said. "You hear that, Nate? Y/N? Genius." "Yeah yeah."

-----

After some discussion about the map, Sam accidentally spotted a cigarettes lying on the floor oddly.

"Hey, ah... Victor? You didn't start smoking cigarettes by any chance, did ya?" Asked Sam.

"Looks like we're not the first one here. Sully replied.

And suddenly a voice shouted from the broken ceiling,

"Fire in the hole!"

"Get down!" Nathan shouted and you all spread around the room.

-----

Nathan was taking cover at a stone few blocks ahead of you. There were only two shoreline soldiers left, he threw a Grenade towards them. But he never thought they would threw it back to you just seconds before it explodes. Sam was just few meters away. Not even you can react what happened, Sam already jumped to you, holding you with his strong arm, pressing his body against yours. The push was too strong and too unexpected, along with the explode, you fell off from the 1st floor with Sam holding you tightly. You and Sam hit the floor together, although you fell sideways, the hit was enough to knock you out.

Sam got up immediately to shield you from the bricks and rocks that caused by the explosion. His face was inches close, you can feel his breath on your cheek and the smell of cigarettes. He looked down and check on you, your eyes were tightly shut.

"Y/N." He caress your cheek softly.

The blurry vision was starting to become clear. When you saw Sam was on top of you studying your face, you pushed him away immediately and got up coughing.

"Not even a thanks?" Sam was trying to chitchat a little.

"I saved you twice." You coughed while leaving.

"Hey, what're you doing?" Nathan asked.

"What do I look like I'm doing? Just confirming a suspicion." You stand up from the dead soldier that was lying on the floor, and a paper in your hand.

You opened the paper, and found that the Shorline have already know about the towers.

"Shit. Look at this."

"They figured out the towers too." Sam standing inches away from you, resting his hands on the hips.

"So now what?" Nathan asked.

"Now what? Now we're screwed. Because there's four of us and there's God knows how many of them? And they have a head start." Sam was annoyed.

"Yeah, but they do t know which tower to go to yet." Nathan walked to the stone wall with a smug face.

"That's great, Nathan, cause neither do we." Sam answered.

"Yes we do." Nathan laughed.

"Look. It's a little worn down. Right there, that's a match." He said holding his coin next to the stone.

"Are you sure? Because I meant it could be this one, too." Sam also hold out his coins.

Nathan looked at his brother, "Carp."

"Yeah but still 2 out of 12 towers." You said.

"Alright, Me and sully is gonna gonna take this tower. You and Y/N will take the other one."

You gave a dead glare to Nathan. "What?"

"What?" Nathan mimicked you.

You still gave him a dead glare.

Nathan knows that you have a problem so he pulled you away from the men, "What's wrong?"

“I want to go with you! Why do you always leave me with your brother?!” You hissed.

"Do me a favour will you?."

"What favour?" Still whispering angrily.

"Give him a chance to make up something for you! He's sorry." Nathan talked quietly.

"What for? I don't need his apologies! And I don't give a fuck what happened." You hissed.

"Y/N, clam down. Please. Do this for me okay? And you don't sound like you don't care." Nathan said.

You stared at him for few seconds, making calculations in your head.

"Fine. Just this once." You gave him a cold glare.

"Just this once."

-----

"If you run into any of those shoreline clowns you call us, okay?" Nathan said.

"See you soon." Sam looked at his brother.

"Y/N you take care of this big guy will ya?" Nathan tilted his head a little to look at you.

"I didn't sign up for this." You get into the passenger seat and closed the door heavily. So as the ride started.

-----

"Y/N, I'm sorry. I truly am." Sam said while driving the car.

You didn't say anything. Cause' you didn't know what to say. "It's okay?" "It's fine?" But it's not okay or fine to you.

You move your eyes along the sights of the street, observing the things that people do. Sam noticed your silence, he took a peak of your expressions and he gets nothing from it.

"Y/N...Please say something..." Sam tried again.

"You shouldn't have done it in the first place." You finally spoke , looking at nothing and your face was still facing the street.

"I-I was drunk..." Sam said.

"That's not an excuse." You replied coldly.

"Yes I know... I'm sorry. I know I screwed up." His voice was full of regrets and guilt. But the power of heartbroken and numbness makes you take nothing from it.

You kept silence again.

Sam can't stand these silences, "Y/N, what do you want me to say?"

"No! What do YOU want me to say?" You snapped.

You heard Sam left out an annoyed sigh. "I had enough of this! Why are you acting like this?" Sam snapped too.

"Why do you fucking care?" You replied.

" I can't believe this. You're so fucking stupid!"

"Oh? I'm stupid? Who's the fucking douchebag? Shut the fuck up Drake. Fucking drive!" You shouted.

Sam sighed. His brows were frowning, he looks very serious and a bit angry. But you can’t really tell what was he thinking.

Great, he hate you now happy?

Half of you want Sam to hate you, stay away from you. But the other half of you wish he would never do that. The contradiction in your head was driving you mad. You took a deep breath and continue watch the view outside the window.

TO BE CONTINUE....

Tag list: (I’m soooooo sorry i know I'm so laaaateeee)

@dragonjedihobbit @idreamhistory

#sam drake x reader #sam drake imagine #sam drake fanfic #samuel drake x reader #samuel drake fanfiction #Samuel Drake #Uncharted 4 #uncharted imagines #uncharted #uncharted 4 imagine

35 notes · View notes

otabekskitten · 7 years

Text

A Dozen Roses Ch 2

Otayuri I G-Rated

Yuri works in the flower shop. Otabek is a business man. This is how they fell in love.

Fluff, Falling in Love, Mutual Pining

Word count: 5.1K

Read on AO3

Read here for Ch 1

Yuri and Otabek decided to meet at the plaza in between their respective workplaces. They couldn’t stop smiling and thought wow he looks so handsome tonight. All they could really say to each other was a constant back and forth of “Hi” in a cute dazed manner.

After a bit of this though Yuri remembers he had a surprise for Otabek behind his back which was a single flower, a sunflower in fact. (because Beka has become such a sunshine in his life)

“I know it’s not a rose or a few dozen haha but as soon as I saw it I thought of you”

and he continues to do his trademarked rambles. His line of vision starts from staring at the flower slowly making its way to the ground to avoid Otabek’s gaze. Yuri thought he just might blush even more than he already was if he kept looking at Otabek straight on.

Little did he know was that Otabek was grinning from ear to ear, thinking how much he wanted to hug and squish Yuri right now. On second thought though he also didn’t want to squish the precious flower he just received.

Yuri interrupts Otabek’s thoughts without realizing as he says,

“Ah I tend to a ramble a lot I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize I just love hearing your voice so feel free to ramble even more in the future.”

Yuri’s heart goes hnnng and he blushes like mad, proceeding to give Otabek the flower. Yuri starts to run off rather quickly saying,

“Okay so where is that date again??” to hide the excitement on his face.

Otabek chuckles a bit and smells the flower before he puts it in his coat pocket, close to his heart. He starts running over to Yuri, slyly catching his hand to kiss it with intentions of never letting go and says,

“I have it all planned out don’t worry.”

They walk over to this cozy restaurant that Otabek wanted to go to for ages. They enjoy their meal and each other’s company before even realizing that they talked for hours on end. They noticed the time and proceed to leave the restaurant to not cause any more disturbance as it was almost closing time.

Otabek knows that there is a beach nearby so they walk over to enjoy the moonlight and walk in the soft sand.

Yuri notices a hill at the top of a cliff and wants to go see it closer and is so excited that he didn’t hear Otabek’s cute laugh. And little did Yuri know at the time that this was actually Otabek’s next stop on their date so it worked out perfectly. Otabek laughs again standing in awe as Yuri says,

“Are you coming or not?!”

Yuri was slightly out of breath from all the running, and flops on the ground waiting for Otabek to join him. He starts to close his eyes thinking wow how is this not a dream.

Otabek finally arrives and notices Yuri laying on the ground and decides to lay down next to him quietly as he sees Yuri possibly napping. He can’t help but take in the view and stare and puts Yuri’s hair aside from his face covering his eyes. Yuri blushes at the realization and they both kinda jump for a second but laugh right after.

They lay down there for a while as they stare at the stars and Otabek puts on a playlist he made specifically for tonight. Otabek decides to take this moment to end the night with a sweet slow dance. Yuri was hesitant at first nervous he’d mess up or step on Otabek’s toes but at this point he didn’t really care he was so full of joy.

They walk hand in hand as they call a cab to take them back home.Otabek insisted that they drop off Yuri first, being the gentleman that he is, and despite how Yuri tried to argue. Otabek tells the cab driver to wait for a bit and hold the tab for now as he walks Yuri to his front door.

“I had a really great time tonight thank you.”

Otabek had his breath taken away once again. Otabek started to lean in closer especially when it seemed that Yuri was not wavering.

Otabek leans in saying, “Me too.” and steals a gentle kiss in which both the boys melt.

Otabek feels conflicted as he really does not want to leave his love just yet but he knows he has to. He’s worried about what could happen if he was invited in and he wanted their first time to be infinite times more perfect than today was.

(Also they just got together after like months of back and forth flirting so can you blame him.)

He steals another kiss, this time on Yuri’s forehead and proceeds to see himself off saying

“I’ll see you tomorrow okay?”

“Okay.”

They kiss once again this time a little bit more passionately than the first, not wanting to let go of each other.

But Otabek initiates his self control and says, “Okay I really do have to go now.”

Yuri pouts a bit but he makes a pinky promise with Yuri, that first thing tomorrow he’ll make it up to him. Yuri laughs at this cute gesture and reciprocates the promise. Yuri smiles a wide smile and shoos Otabek off. As he opens the door ready to walk in he stays in between the door and the porch to make sure Otabek gets inside safely. Yuri waves at Otabek who is getting in the car.

When Yuri sees the car zoom off he locks the door shut and is so weak in the knees that he just flops again on the ground and screams out of so much joy. He’s excited to see what tomorrow and the future has to bring for them both.

Otabek would be doing the same if he wasn’t in this cab right now but he manages to hold it in till he got into his apartment and proceeds to text Yuri, “I made it home safely!” Then they both talk for a bit longer despite how they literally just left each other. They eventually say goodnight wishing the other, sweet dreams rest well.

The next morning Yuri wakes up humming and feeding Scorpio an extra treat today with her meal. He’s awake surprisingly early so he decides to do good on his part of the pinky promise from last night. He knew Otabek meant a promise on his end but he wanted to be the one to surprise him this time. So he decided to get some coffee for them both. He took this chance to decorate the cup for Otabek’s coffee with his name and doodled a flower and a few hearts facing the side to him so Otabek wouldn’t notice right away. He was just about finished when he heard the door chime and knew it was Otabek who was right on time as usual. Since Otabek is on his lunch break Yuri thought the coffee could be a lovely surprise.

Otabek walks in about to kiss him when Yuri hands him the coffee and says,

“I thought you might need it! I wasn’t sure what to get you but I hope you like it.”

Yuri starts to ramble a bit more not noticing how Otabek is staring at how beautiful Yuri is right now.

Otabek interrupts saying, “I love it, thank you for thinking of me. I have something for you too actually.”

Yuri jumps a bit upon hearing this and is curious as to what it could be but tries to hide his curiosity by trying to act cool.

“Oh, what is it?”

Otabek is quite observant noticing the sudden change of tone but as to not embarrass Yuri he continued. He makes sure the coast is clear and asks Yuri to lean in a bit closer. Yuri complies wondering what Otabek could possibly have up his sleeve.

Otabek proceeds to tell Yuri to get closer but Yuri is really questioning what is happening right now when Otabek takes the chance to kiss Yuri so passionately more than they did last night that after they stop to get some air they are both in a daze.

Yuri is left speechless and Otabek says,

“This was my surprise to make up for me leaving early last night.”

Yuri catches his breath and chuckles saying,

“Well then I could get used to this.” and covers his mouth as his face goes super red.

He’s absolutely sure that he just said out loud and not in his head. Otabek just laughs and says,

“Yuri you are just the cutest thing ever and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us from here.”

Yuri smiles softly looking down, taking Otabek’s hand and says “I can’t wait either.”

Later that day as Otabek was working on some paperwork he took a glance at his coffee Yuri got for him. Otabek was so happy Yuri even thought of him that he only just now noticed the little doodles around his name on the cup. And just when Otabek thought he couldn’t get any more happier for the day his heart smiled a bit more today.

Every so often they would surprise each other with little gifts and things that immediately reminded them of the other. Otabek was passing by a store one day and saw some candies that made him think of Yuri and he couldn’t resist getting a bag to share and enjoy. Yuri was so touched by the thoughtful gesture that he gave Otabek a flower for now in return.

The beginning of their new relationship bloomed beautifully.

#otayuri #yoi #yurio x otabek #otabek x yurio #yuri on ice!#yuri on ice!!!#my stories #my ideas

4 notes · View notes