#before doing the held rest while the flirt pole was dragged away

[healingheartdogs]

Meant to post this the day I took it last month and forgot, but y'all can have it now anyway. Made Selene work with Eevee doing the tug/flirt pole impulse control game because they've only done it a couple times before -- whereas I do it every time we take the dogs out and I play flirt pole with her so it's old hat by now for us. Selene is still a novice trainer and trains with Eevee and Hermes less often (she trains Banana more than me though) so sometimes they struggle more to switch into training mode with her and listen. You can tell it's got Eevee confused a bit which makes her much more distracted by Hermes than she normally would be with me and she wants to leave to go play with him instead. She's not used to Selene asking for obedience during flirt pole -- they pretty much just play simple chase and tug without training instead -- and that made it much harder for her. She's trying her best anyway though. All she really cares about in the end is getting to chase that flirt pole lol

#excuse us while we're still working on phasing out verbal no reward markers #i gave her some notes on this about watching how she moves the flirt pole more carefully with eevee #as well as giving her a cue and getting the wrong behavior and not resetting #and not remembering to give her the cue to rest to help her since she was clearly struggling to listen in this moment #also since she was struggling this much i personally would have released her right after her drop and down a few times #to get her focused on what game we're playing more first #before doing the held rest while the flirt pole was dragged away #baby steps when their brains are confused #give them easy wins to get their head in the game #dog training #this is my favorite impulse control game to play with drivey dogs #dogblr said it wanted more training and especially real training posts that are not just our nice looking end results so here ya go #eevee #hermes #my dogs #german wirehaired pointer #vulpine spitz

[sad-sweet-cowboah]

And I’ll Succumb To You

Summary: As an Omega, society sees you as either low on the totem pole or a breeding factory. You however have the job as a bounty hunter, and your eyes are set on a large prize.

Warnings: SMUT, rough sex, cursing, abo dynamics.

Author’s Note: Okay I never thought I’d be into this kink but here I am. First attempt. This one is LOOOONG (13 pages/6,643 words!)

The clinking of glasses accompanied with murmurs buzzed about within the Valentine saloon. The walls were dimly lit with hues of red and gold. The acrid smell of cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air, accompanied by the haze that seemed to hang permanently in the atmosphere.

You leaned heavily against the solid bar, tipping a glass of whiskey to your lips. The liquid slid into your mouth and down your throat, the burning sensation left behind a welcoming tingle. Setting the shot glass back upon the slightly sticky surface, your gaze scanned the other inebriated patrons.

Merry laughter and wayward mannerisms tainted this place; drunken degenerates often flocking to this spot after a day of working in the stockyards. Wasn’t your ideal place to stay, but it provided some easy entertainment between the bar fights and drunken flirtatious antics between harlots.

The doors opened with a slam, dragging your attention toward them. The scent hit you first before you saw them: Alphas. A small group of bounty hunters stormed in, their boots muddy from the street outside. They looked rather agitated, perhaps a failed attempt of catching an outlaw drove them here to placate themselves.

It were as if the atmosphere had changed. Valentine was a town full of Betas; Alphas never really bothering to stay much longer than a night here. The evening women would take any chance to be claimed by one, even though a Beta was not what they were after. You watched as one of the bar maids sauntered up to their table, a cheeky smile painted her crimson lips and her voice held an alluring tone as she asked what they needed, leaning over to expose her cleavage. Unphased by her flirting and still disgruntled, they ordered their drinks, turning their attention towards themselves once again.

The bar maid seemed taken aback by their lack of reaction, quickly turning on her heel to hide her damaged pride. You merely rolled your eyes and turned to face forward. Sure, Alphas could have a Beta if they chose. However, you knew they sought out Omegas.

One of which you were.

Your parents were Betas, subjected to a normal lifestyle of mediocracy and normal careers. Betas held the majority of society, and they were the lucky ones. You’d been made with the act pure lovemaking, absent of the forces of nature itself demanding to be driven by carnal urges. Your parents knew, as both of their families were mixed with Beta and Omega. They knew what their children could become.

You were the unlucky draw, having unwillingly presented as Omega at the proper age. Your siblings were Betas, carrying on with their livelihoods while you suffered each month through an unbearable heat. Your mind would cloud, devoid of all thought while your body was degrading itself into pure desire for an Alpha’s rut. Soaked with sweat and riddled with slick, the heat would last for days when it felt like months.

It wasn’t until you were assigned a caretaker did things ease for you. Whisked away to a safe space, you were taught to pleasure yourself to relieve your otherwise overwhelming desires. The intense, throbbing heat had been reduced to a dull ache afterwards, although you could never completely satisfy yourself.

The cruel life of an Omega as once described by your mother. After downing another drink, you’d slammed the glass down with unnecessary force. You often felt resentment toward your parents for even bringing you to life. You ran away years ago, absolutely tired of being carted away each month to be confined and subjected to your own bodily torture. You instead sought out alternative methods after hearing of other Omegas speak about it in hushed tones behind a hotel one night. A concoction of specially brewed rare plants that only few people sell, and fewer people know how to make. It seemed more like a pipe dream, until you saw the effects of it firsthand. Lilith’s Blessing.

It was quite an expensive remedy, and rightly so. Something of which that could change a God-willed act of nature itself would be steep in price. Finding sellers were tricky, them often passing clues for Omegas to decipher. It was such a complex underground operation that made moonshine businesses appear like child’s play.

You had to save up a few months for your first dose. It was only a hundred dollars back then, and a hundred more than you could afford. Working your way around however did the trick, and when the time of month when your expected heat was to arrive, it never came. For the first time in a long time, you rode through that week with bliss and no fear. And you had to find a way to obtain them on a monthly basis.

With your quick reflexes and learned skill of tracking and hunting, you became a bounty hunter.

Bounty hunting was often seen as an Alpha’s position, given how dangerous and rigorous it could be. While an occasional Beta would assume the role as well, it was unheard of for an Omega to do so. This advantage however made it the perfect job; the target would not expect one like you to capture them.

It’s been a few years since you’ve harnessed and perfected your technique. Despite your hatred for your heat, you would utilize it for your own advantage. The closer you were, the stronger your scent would become. Most outlaws and criminals were Alphas, and you would leave your scent in a nearby area to lure them in. Usually an article of clothing such as a chemise or a shawl, you would capture them as they were too busy investigating said object. Despite a few minor injuries along the way, it made for a decent living, as well as providing you with your drug of choice for relief.

The group’s whispers over beer further caught your attention. The frustration in their voices began to ebb away as the alcohol drags its slow grip on their consciousness. From the sound of it, they were already planning their next hit.

“Ain’t had a good streak in months,” one said. “Get nothin’ but the petty criminals.”

“We could try one of them big boys. Maybe the O’Driscolls?” Another suggested.

“Colm’s slipperier than an eel in an oil slick,” A third grumbled.

“What about Dutch’s Boys? Heard someone saw Morgan recently.”

The names all rung familiar with you. As a bounty hunter yourself, you’ve both seen and heard about them a numerous amount of times. Both gangs were a force to be reckoned with; their numbers too sizable for a lone wolf such as yourself. The rewards over their heads ran into the thousands. While the money was tempting, you would be a fool to go after either of them.

“Yeah, heard he’s been runnin’ ‘round West Elizabeth lately, alone,”

“Alone, eh? Looks like we got ourselves a score,”

You knew of course who they were talking about. Arthur Morgan; a substantial member of Dutch’s Boys and one of the most notorious outlaws of your time. You’ve heard his name a few times, and seen his face plastered on wanted posters in different states. From the way multiple people, lawmen and bounty hunters alike, tried to go after him, he and his gang seemed an expert at evading capture.

If he however was alone, perhaps it would be an opportunity for you. Arthur alone was still worth much more than you’d ever made collectively, and you would be set for a while.

Were you a fool for even thinking of such a thing? Yes, although you thought back to what one of them said: nothing but petty criminals. Easier to capture, but paid less. You didn’t want to bounty hunt for the rest of your life, and the high reward offered was becoming more tempting by the minute.

And so you decided to go after Arthur, and you had to do it soon. While these fools drowned their sorrows in alcohol, you hopped off your chair and headed out of the saloon.

---

You left that night, spurring your horse to gallop on across the darkened terrain while you formulated a plan. It only took a few hours to cross state lines. You made a small camp to rest in a thicket, awakening when the sun’s rays kissed your face. As you packed up camp, a familiar tightening below your navel made its presence. Your heat would be coming soon, and you’d planned accordingly. You had a bottle of Lilith’s Blessing tucked away in your satchel, though you hoped finding Arthur wouldn’t take much too longer. Your window of opportunity to lure him in was small. You’d be too useless in your heat, and taking the tonic would staunch your scent entirely.

You rode toward Strawberry, reaching the little town by high noon. It was bustling with travelers and locals alike. The mixture of scents filled your nose as you strolled past some Alphas, whose heads turned to you in curiosity. You kept your eyes forward, knowing you were becoming more inviting as time slowly moved on. You made a note to not stay around for much longer than you had to, in case anyone got any ideas.

You hitched your horse in front of the hotel, staring up at the building with interest. You always did like Strawberry; a small town nestled in the mountains that always seemed like something out of a story book. Perhaps that was an exaggeration, however it held a certain charm that Valentine lacked.

You spent the next few hours speaking to townsfolk, keeping your questions and conversations casual. There wasn’t much information to go around, except that some people spotted Arthur here a day ago before he started heading North toward Big Valley, a prime location for hunting game.

You stayed for a little while longer to gather some needed supplies. It was late afternoon by the time you’d left, trotting towards the thick forest and leaving the town behind. The scenery around was absolutely beautiful, and you could get lost in the splendor of these woods if it weren’t for the predators that roamed through the thicket, both human and animal alike.

The sun sank steadily lower in the sky the closer you got to Big Valley, and you took a deep breath. A melody of different aromas hit your nose, and you opened your mouth to further distinguish them. Through the pines and vegetation, you could detect one: Alpha. It was faint, but there nonetheless. Your eyes fell to the ground, noting a few tracks of hoofprints. Most remained on the path, until you found one set leading into the woods. They couldn’t have been more than a half a day old. You turned to follow, keeping your senses on the trail.

You kept on it, noting the tracks gradually became fresher the farther you went. You’d eventually come across a little clearing, the Alpha scent heavy but stale enough to not be overwhelming. Judging by the indents in the underbrush and the blackened spot that indicated a fire, he camped here at some point. He probably packed up and left just a few hours ago. You were getting closer, and a smile tugged on your lips, practically feeling the money in your hands.

You eventually reached the forest line that broke away to the large meadow that stretched for miles before giving way to the mountains. A breeze carried through, the crisp arctic air from Ambarino breezing through your hair. It also carried something else: the coppery scent of blood. Animal blood. It mixed with the Alpha musk, which was now very fresh. He had to be close by.

Rather than following the tracks further into the field, you rode along the outskirts of the forest. You kept a wary eye out, pacing your horse at a steady gallop. However with the ever darkening sky, it was starting to become harder to see. You would have to find a spot soon.

After a few minutes of looking, you finally settled for a spot. At the base of one of the mountains, one way blocked by the rock faces too steep to climb. He would only have three directions to go. You dismounted and quickly peeled off your clothes, until you were in nothing but your chemise. It was off you within seconds, the fabric warm and slightly dampened from your center. The pressure deep in your belly was growing.

You placed it behind a bush, and brushed against some nearby boulders for additional scenting. You were even quicker to redress, knowing it was only a matter of time before he caught wind of you. Another breeze danced through the trees, blowing out towards the field. Not much longer now.

You hurried back over to your horse, until you felt your foot get stuck. You lost your balance and flailed, desperately attempting to keep yourself upright. You hit the forest floor, your breath coming out in a harsh whoosh. Sharp pain radiated along your stomach and ribs.

“Fuck,” You grunted, yanking your foot free from its prison before standing back up, brushing the debris from your clothes. You were glad no one was around to witness that. Being more careful now, you grabbed your weapons and lasso and shooed your horse away. You hunched over as a shudder rippled up your spine, running swiftly away to a spot of thicker brush. With the twilight darkness and the leaves encompassing you, it should be a perfect hiding spot lest he decided to come this way.

With the wind steadily blowing, you waited, ears pricked and eyes open. The sounds of nature surrounded you, animals of the night slowly making their appearances for food. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, yet.

The wind quieted down after a few minutes, the cool air at a standstill around you. Despite the forest being alive with every animal, you felt as if you were being watched. Another shudder passed through you, trying to shake off the feeling. No one was watching you, you scolded yourself.

Another few minutes passed by when the sound of thundering hooves caught your attention. You were too far to see who it was, however the air alerted you of the all too familiar scent. A wide grin crossed your face. He fell for the bait.

A swell of heat rolled over your belly, a slowly growing wave of intensity. You bit down on your lip hard. Your body was willingly responding to the Alpha scent. You grasped for your satchel and dug around for the familiar tonic.

Only…

Oh no.

You dug around desperately, trying to clutch on something that seemed to no longer be there. The little glass bottle was not amongst the other items buried into your satchel. Your heart began to hammer, shoving things out of the way, hoping it was in a corner.

No such luck.

It was then you realized where and when exactly it fell, and heading back for it would lead you right into your own trap, to him.

Another swell of heat crashed through your system, even stronger now. Your pants felt damp from your growing slick. There was no way you’d be able to catch him in this state. You’d have to run and pray that he didn’t catch up.

In the distance, you heard his grunts. Leaves stirring and twigs snapping underneath footsteps. You focused on listening, trying hard to ignore what was forming deep in your core. The pressure was only steadily increasing, calling for a release. You hated having to abandon this opportunity, the money was just too good. But you could not risk this, not for anything. You turned around and began to move through the brush as quietly as you could.

A deep growl rolled through the woods behind you, surrounding you and gripping you. Your body responded faster than your mind did, bringing a fresh wave of slick that nearly soaked your pants. A whine built in your throat that you were quick to staunch. You continued to move forward despite the heavy drag of your muscles wanting to root you in your place.

He was getting closer. The echoes of the vegetation bending and breaking in his path only grew louder. You hurried your pace, hoping that you weren’t too loud to exactly pinpoint your location. The pressure inside you only ballooned, crawling into your mind and raking through your consciousness. You fought it with determination, your horse was visible through the trees. If you could only make it…

His voice, rough and powerful, ripped across the landscape, tearing through your very soul. Your clouded mind forced your body to a halt, pinning your limbs as if they were tied down by chains. You staunched another growing yowl as you forced yourself back up, though your efforts were becoming weaker by the second. Your dry mouth formed to whistle for your horse, only to fail, your breath grating against your throat. You were so, so close…

 “There you are,”

Fear washed over you like a tidal wave. The Alpha musk surrounded you like a fog, and your body willingly responded, a small whine releasing from your throat. You wanted to run more, or to try and fight. You were however no match against in Alpha while you were in heat, and this was your first time being in the presence of one in the midst of it.

He was right behind you, and you refused to turn to face him. Your slick had thoroughly drenched your pants and your core pulsed with need.

“What’s an Omega doin’ out here, all alone?” he asked. His voice called to you, your mind roiling with a myriad of emotions.

“N-none of your business,” you hissed out, fighting to keep your voice even.

“Nah, ‘spose it ain’t,” he rumbled, stepping closer to you. You kept absolutely still, every nerve sparking with electricity. You watched as he came into your field of view. “Unless you’re up to somethin’.”

You kept your eyes away from his, but his frame took up the rest of your vision. He was tall and broad. His scent filled your nostrils and gripped your mind. You noticed something in his hand; a light piece of fabric which was your chemise.

You didn’t answer him, forcing yourself to turn your head away.

“Seems awful improper for a lady to run ‘round without this on,” he continued, coming even closer to you. “Then I found this.”

The glint of glass caught your eye, and you glanced to see it was your tonic. Your eyes widened, reaching out automatically to swipe it. He held his arm up out of your reach, and you got a good look of his face for the first time.

Arthur Morgan. Those wanted posters hadn’t done him justice. He was easily one of the most handsome men you’ve ever come across.

“Ah ah,” he said as if scolding a child. “Lilith’s Blessing. Don’t see that too often.”

“It’s mine!” you hissed, jumping up to try and grab it from his hand. Your fingers had brushed against the bare skin of his forearm for the briefest of a second, but it was enough to send electricity through your entire being, gathering deep within your center.

Arthur too seemed to be affected by your short contact. His bright eyes flashed and his throat rumbled with a growl. A growl that nearly brought you to your knees. It was becoming even harder to not succumb to your heat, the pulsation radiating below was nearly unbearable.

“P-please…” you whined, wincing at your own words. You hated to sound this desperate.

He hummed in response, the beast reflecting dangerously in his eyes. “You ain’t out here by coincidence, are ya?” he continued, stepping to just inches from you. Despite your heat wanting you to touch, you forced yourself to back up, only for your body to hit a tree. “Tell me, I’ll give ya this back.”

“I-I told you, it’s none of your b-business,” you said, unable to keep yourself from trembling.

Arthur stared at you for a long moment. “You’re a terrible liar,” he murmured, leaning forward to place his arm against the tree, trapping you one way. “I’ve heard about ya, the Omega bounty hunter. Shoulda known when I scented ya so far from any civilization.”

Your eyes widened. How in the world would he have figured that out so quickly? With his body so close and his musk wrapping around you like silk, your fear was quickly dissolving into a carnal desire.

“Were you plannin’ on capturin’ me?” he continued, his stare hot. “Turnin’ me in to the Pinkertons?”

Your only answer was to elicit a high pitched whine. His entire body stiffened and he ducked his head for a split second. He drew in a heavy breath, no doubt swimming in your thick scent. You heard him utter a dark swear underneath his breath.

“The more you stay silent, the less likely you’ll get away,” He growled.

Another wave of slick was brought upon you, ignited by his voice. You shut your eyes and shook your head, swallowing a gulp of air to keep yourself sane. It was a mistake, bringing a fresh wave of his aroma through your senses. It was becoming impossible to resist. You released another whine, your hips slightly bucking toward him.

Arthur growled again, so deep and animalistic that you felt it rumble through yourself. You could hear his fingers scratching against the bark of the tree. He too was losing composure. You opened your eyes to see his free hand twitch toward you, brushing against your thigh before yanking it back, placing it on the other side of you. Even through the fabric of your clothes, it was enough. You were losing all of your prior thoughts, succumbing quickly to your heat.

“Answer me, damnit!” he roared, leaning in closer to you. His breath ghosted across your face and his broad chest brushed against yours, and it were as if a switch had been flipped.

Your legs opened automatically, exposing even more of your aroma to him. The desire was too strong, too intense. You wanted him, needed him. He immediately found your waist, gripping you hard as he pressed himself against you. The hard line beneath his jeans were welcoming, and you ground against him without thought. He hissed into your ear, the sinful expletive curling around you like a snake.

“Woman…you’re testin’ me,”

Your mind could not formulate an answer, your mouth only giving out a soft, desperate moan while your hips pushed into him. He growled deeply, a notion that his own tether has slipped. His hands yanked at your pants, pulling them down to expose your hot skin to the cool air. Rough fingers explored your folds briefly, sliding along the copious amount of slick residing between your legs.

“Shit…” he muttered, his touch leaving you to quickly remove his gun belt and unbutton his pants. Even in the dim light, you could see how thick he was. The head of his cock moved between your folds, drawing a shudder from you as you whined for him. He found your entrance with ease, bucking himself in to the hilt with a deep groan.

Like a lock and key, it was a perfect fit. The pleasure that encompassed you was like no other. Your legs wrapped around him immediately. He thrusted hard and fast, gripping your legs tightly for added leverage. You moaned loudly, your hands grasping at his neck while he used your body to his liking.

“God damn,” he grunted, pounding into you hard. “You feel amazin’…”

You could only moan again in response, the pleasure overtaking every aspect of your mind. His broad frame bent over you, growling into your ear. A shudder passed through your system.

“Fuuuuuuccccck,” you whined, dragging the swear out that kept in tune with your ecstasy. “I need more!”

Arthur groaned at your words, shoving himself harder within you. His grip tightened to the point where you’d have bruises. His ragged breath hot against the crook of your neck, lips latching on and sucking forcefully. The pleasure was nearly dizzying, filling every corner of your mind. This is what you needed all along, and you had missed out on it. You felt whole.

He continued to utter curses against your skin, voice rough and gravelly. You weren’t sure if he was angry or just deeply rooted within his own ecstasy, or both. Your peak was quick on the rise, a climb too fast and forceful for you to fully comprehend. Your limbs clung to him tightly while it came crashing over you with such intensity that you cried out into the air. Your body shuddered while he fucked the rest of your orgasm out.

His strong arms peeled you off him just as the last waves of your climax had dissipated through your body. You were hovering for a second, only to be turned around so quickly you hadn’t fully realized it. You were facing the tree now, and your body naturally arched for him as he slid himself back in, the knot of his dick slightly bigger than before. With no time to recover, he slammed into you, fucking you with abandon while his hands tore off your top in one smooth motion. You were completely exposed now.

Your moans and whines were carnal, animalistic, pure instinct of nature itself taking the both of you over. His own growls reminded you of a wolf, and it sent a powerful shiver down your spine. He raked his nails down your back, the sweet sting heightening your pleasure fivefold. You were sooner on your second rise than you’d expected, only unleashing a high cry as it exploded from your core, more intense than your first.

His mouth was on your neck, his hot tongue licking at your skin. In your post orgasm bliss you’d nearly missed it until you felt his teeth graze over your flesh. You flinched away, a bubble of coherent thought breaking through the haze. “D-don’t mark me!” you pleaded. “Please!”

His mouth left your skin instantly, which you felt surprised that he listened. He instead wrapped his arms around you, his touch roving up the front of your torso and to your breasts. Your sensitive nipples hardened eagerly between his calloused fingertips.

“You feel so nice, girl,” he hissed, gripping your breasts hard in his palms. “Fuck, I’m close.”

Upon hearing these words, you wanted nothing more in life than to have his seed within you. You pushed your hips back, ass flush against his hips. He ripped out a deep snarl, yanking his hands away from your breasts to once again take place on your hips. His thrusts were even stronger now, the sound of skin slapping skin for every creature within a mile to hear.

You begged him for his release, your own voice sounding foreign to your ears to even such a thing. Finally, he pressed himself deeply within you and stilled. He released a loud groan as he emptied himself into you. His knot swelled immediately after, locking the two of you into place.

The melody of your voices had died with the movement, degrading to short breaths. His touch left your now bruised skin, and his body leaning back sent a jolt of sharp pain at your joined skin. You yelped out loud while your tired legs trembled beneath you.

He stopped shifting immediately, his hands returning to your waist. “Here,” he grunted. “Easy, now.”

His touch was surprisingly gentle as he helped you stand straight. You silently let him guide you, taking care to match his steps to prevent any unnecessary pain. You moved together, walking backwards until he rested against a boulder, easily pulling you into his lap as you slid down to the soft forest floor below. Once you’d been seated comfortably, he removed his hands and leaned back against the rock.

“We’re gonna be stuck like this for a while.” He quietly rumbled.

You knew that, even if it were your first time, you knew the knot would remain for a little while. The last of your high had faded away now, along with the longing need to mate. Now you were total strangers again.

You hadn’t answered him, stewing in your own personal thoughts, memories, and your own self-pity. You mentally cursed your own body for presenting Omega, your parents for even creating you, the world for allowing the existence of this society. Your one mistake led you to this moment. A bounty hunter and her prey, sitting naked on his lap in the middle of the woods. It seemed surreal at this point, that just moments ago this infamous outlaw just fucked you. Fucked you in your most vulnerable state that you’d tried so hard to avoid.

You closed your eyes, feeling tears well behind your lids. You pursed your lips and swallowed hard, forcing them back. The last thing you wanted to do was appear even weaker in front of him. You released a shuddering breath, louder than you intended.

“You alright?”

His voice was soft in such contrast how dominant he sounded earlier.

You bit your lip, unwilling to answer him. However, there was no telling how long you two would be stuck together like this. Speaking to one another could have been avoided until his knot returned to normal and the two of you could go your separate ways.

But Arthur was attempting to make conversation. For what reason?

You ignored him, still remaining silent and hoping he’d stop.

“Hey, I’m askin’ ya somethin’,” He reminded you. “Ain’t hard to answer.”

He was persistent. Of course, you’d gathered that from before, demanding answers despite your hesitation to speak the truth. Would he still try to force the answer out of you now, after everything? If you tried to pursue him again, he’d find out anyway.

Yet he’d probably not fall for the same trap twice.

“I was trying to hunt you,” you finally spoke.

“Huh?”

“When you asked what I was doing out here earlier. There’s your answer: I was trying to hunt you down and turn you in,” you reiterated.

His response was immediate. “’Course you were, you made it damn obvious.”

You turned-or tried to turn- to scowl at him. “Then why did you try to force me to answer?”

He met your gaze evenly, no trace of anger on his face. “Tried to make it an even trade. An answer for your tonic,” he explained.

“If you’d given it back in the first place, we wouldn’t be like this,” you grumbled, automatically shifting a little and whined from the pain that followed after.

His hands found your waist again, a steady but gentle grip to keep you from moving. Though he gave a small grunt, it was his turn to fall silent. You knew he knew you were right, and he was probably beating himself up over it.

“With my rut… Couldn’t resist…” He murmured, so quiet that you had to strain to hear him.

Hell, neither could you.

You also knew that despite all higher and more intelligent thought, nature would have even the strongest of beings to fall to their simple, God-intended ways. In reality, neither of you were at fault. A cruel twist of fate it seemed to bring you and him together on this night.

You remembered how he heeded your plea to not bite you. A bite in which would leave a mark for mating, to bound you to him for life. Horror stories of Omegas unwillingly bound to Alphas whispered in the late hours in saloons and alleyways used to frighten you when you were younger. He struck you as someone who would force a poor Omega to be bound to him. “You didn’t mark me,” you stated. “Why?”

“I ain’t about that. Forcin’ to be mated is disgustin’,” he answered. “Weren’t gonna do it anyway. If I wanted a mate, I’d rather have an Omega who was willin’.”

His answer shocked you to silence once again.

“That surprise ya?”

“O-of course!” you spluttered. “You’re a dangerous man, a killer!”

“I ain’t a good man, I know. But I have morals. No one would wanna be with me anyway.” He spoke calmly, yet you detected a hint of emotion in his voice. Sadness? He gave a soft sigh, his breath just barely tickling your naked skin. “I’m sorry…”

He apologized. Your heart unnecessarily skipped a beat. Even with the current circumstances, this man continued to surprise you. Beforehand, you’d only known him as an infamous criminal who robbed and murdered for years. His wanted poster had been forever burned in your mind.

Yet he was human. Human just like you. Someone with thoughts and feelings. You couldn’t justify his actions, but you had to admit after tonight, your opinion on him would soften just a smidge. Your actions had brought him to this point.

“I’m sorry too,” You murmured to him. “I… I went after you because your bounty would be enough to secure me a decent living, at least for a while.” You inwardly braced yourself, expecting for him to react negatively.

Instead, you felt his body rumble underneath you with a small chuckle. “Ain’t nothin’ to be sorry for. I know it ain’t easy bein’ an Omega in this world.”

“It’s awful,” you huffed. “Reason I started bounty hunting is so I can afford Lilith’s Blessing. I can’t stand my heats, couldn’t stand being carted away like some crazed fool every month to keep myself safe from any eager Alphas-” you stopped yourself, realizing too late that you’d spilled a little too much to him.

He hummed in response. His torso shifted as he sat up closer to you, though still keeping space between you two. The heat radiating from his body was welcoming as the cool air began to nip at your exposed skin. His scent wafted around you, though not nearly as potent as before. It was…comforting.

“What’s your name?” he suddenly asked. It wasn’t a demand, but a simple question. His voice was soft and kind.

And in some way, you were completely at ease with answering.

When you whispered your name to him, he took a deep breath. “I’ve heard about ya on more than one occasion. You’ve made quite a name for yourself. Guess I shoulda known you’d come after me eventually, or at least someone else from my gang.”

“Wasn’t planning to,” you sighed. “Have to be a fool for just me to go up against your whole gang. Hell, it was even foolish of me to even try to go for you alone. ”

“A fool’s right. Gotta admit, it’s a pretty good trap. Ya might’ve even caught me if it worked in your favor.”

The praise caught you off guard, and your cheeks flushed with a rush of heat. Your lips twitched with a small smile, though you hid it. You had to wonder how things would be different had they gone accordingly. Arthur was large and strong compared to how small you were. He could outmuscle you, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t take him down one way or another. Perhaps you could be riding back to Strawberry with his unconscious body draped over the back of your horse.

That possibility seems like eons ago now.

You sighed heavily. What option was there now? The deed was done, and you could go and never have to speak to one another again after tonight. A rational and reasonable decision that another part of your mind seemed to be arguing with. Was it the last dregs of your heat influencing you?

After a few minutes of unspoken silence, the soft sounds of nature surrounding you, Arthur had shifted. You’d flinched in expectance of pain, yet found none. His knot had shrunken, which allowed him to slide out of you with ease.

You were to yourself again, and it felt…strange.

He helped you to your feet, a daunting task as your entire body weighed with fatigue. He stepped away, and you shivered involuntarily. Without his warmth, the cold hit you like a train.

He seemed to notice as he grabbed your clothes off the ground, handing them back to you. Taking them gratefully, you quickly got redressed, though the damp fabric of your pants did not help matters. He himself was still fully dressed, though he tucked himself back into his jeans and replaced his gun belt. Once you were completely dressed, the two of you stood just a few feet from one another.

He spoke first. “What will ya do now?” he asked.

You weren’t sure. You knew life wouldn’t return to normal now after this. “Can’t really say.” You answered lowly.

Arthur stared at you, his lip twitching as if in thought. A long moment passed when he said. “Come with me.”

You blinked, staring right back at him. “Excuse me?”

“Come with me, Y/N,” he repeated, stepping closer to you. “To my gang.”

Were you hearing him right? “Now why would I join a gang of outlaws when I hunt them for a living?”

“But that’s just it, you won’t ever have to do that again. Not unless ya want to. Life in our gang is different. We help people too, we ain’t just murderers and thieves.”

You didn’t answer, a small frown on your face as you began to consider his words. As difficult as it was to believe, Arthur had been pretty open and truthful with you thus far.

“I know it don’t sound like your kinda life, but you wouldn’t be alone. We can all protect you-”

“A bunch of Alphas, protecting me, during my heat?” you interjected.

“We ain’t all Alphas,” he assured. “Betas n’ Omegas too. We always make a plan for an Omega’s heat.”

“It ain’t being carted off, is it?” you asked warily.

“’Course not. Sometimes they get that tonic, other times they…relieve themselves,” he gave a small, awkward shrug.

“And me?”

“…Whatever you think is best for ya,” He muttered, though tucking his head down and rubbing the back of his neck. “Ain’t gonna judge what ya pick.”

The more he spoke, the more the offer seemed tempting. You were still apprehensive, but you had to admit sometimes that being with people was better than being alone, especially if it meant being around those who understood your heat and dealt with it in creative matters.

It was a huge decision, but one that wouldn’t sound difficult to make. You technically didn’t have a home; you would move to different hotels and saloons while you searched bounties. Hell if anything, you slept more out in the woods than in a building since leaving your parents. Homesickness wouldn’t be a factor.

“I ain’t forcin’ ya, Y/N. Thought I’d jus’ offer n’ give ya a better life. Least I can do after…all this.” He uttered, opening his arms slightly as if to gesture to you and him.

God, why did he have to be so soft?

“Fine,” you said with a huge exhale of breath. “You’ve convinced me.”

He lifted his head up to meet your gaze. Even in the darkness, you could see a genuine smile cross his face.

Soon you found yourself on the back of his horse, your arms wrapped tightly around his torso while galloping through Big Valley. Your own horse was following close behind, but the fatigue hit you harder than expected. Arthur’s large frame felt warm and relaxing to your cold and tired muscles. The unknown was ahead and you were about to tackle it head-on.

For the first time in years, you were truly content.

#Arthur Morgan x reader #Arthur Morgan x reader smut #abo dynamics #a/b/o dynamics

[connieslover]

headcanon: when you cut your hair

 ✧˖*°࿐headcanons of midoriya, todoroki and bakugou reacting to seeing their crushes new hair cut 

princess QUEEN yona 

*ೃ☼ izuku midoriya 

ෆ you and the other members of class 1-A were currently having your interships

ෆ you so happened to bumped into todoroki who had a slight panic look on his face

ෆ and so you decided to follow him

ෆ and now, you, midoriya, iida and todoroki were against the known hero killer, stain 

ෆ iida was on the ground, badly wounded from the knife that went through his shoulder blades 

ෆ midoriya was slumped against the wall as his body had been paralysed for a while due to the villains quirk 

ෆ todoroki and you were trying to get hold of the villain who had been running around the narrow hallway, trying to get a cut on either of you

ෆ your eyes had spotted midoriya who had been clutching onto his leg, which you presumed had been injured

ෆ seeing the pained expression on his face, your feet started moving

ෆ the only thing in your vision was the look of midoriya biting his lips and his brows furrowing 

ෆ  you didn’t notice the villain making his way towards you and grabbing a fistful of your luscious long hair

ෆ you gave a small wince at his hard tug

ෆ “y-y/n!” shrieked midoriya, eyes widening at the sight of stain’s rough hold on your hair which enabled you to move

ෆ "so what will it be? the life of this girl, or yours?” he snarled to todoroki who had immediately stopped producing ice

ෆ your eyes met todoroki and you mouthed to him to stall the villain

ෆ you spotted a knife hanging from stain’s waist and you immediately had an idea

ෆ todoroki decided to create an ice sculpture of some sort, earning the attention of the villain

ෆ your hand reached for the knife and in one swift moment, you felt free of his grasp 

ෆ you pulled a mulan 

ෆ stain diverted his attention to you and todoroki immediately started attacking him with ice blocks

ෆ meanwhile, you ran to midoriya, kneeling beside him 

ෆ “midoriya? are you all right?”

ෆ the male gave a small groan and pushed himself up from the ground

ෆ “y-yeah, i think it’s wearing off but he hasn’t noticed yet,”

ෆ and so, iida took the courage to push himself off the ground

ෆ you, midoriya, iida and todoroki had started attacking the hero villain until he was knocked out in todoroki’s ice 

ෆ endeavor came to the rescue

ෆ but so did a nomu 

ෆ a few other heroes gathered to the street where you were located and helped put nomu to rest

ෆ once the whole chaos was over, you gave a tiring sigh and your legs gave up

ෆ you were on the ground, relieved that you weren’t badly injured

ෆ “y/n...your hair,”

ෆ you looked up, eyes meeting midoriya’s large green ones 

ෆ remembering that you had sliced off your hair to get out of stain’s grasp, you ran your fingers through your now short hair which barely went past your collarbones

ෆ it was DEFINITELY uneven 

ෆ “does it look bad?”

ෆ from the illuminated light of the lamppost, you were definitely sure that you saw a faint blush on his cheeks

ෆ “it looks great! like really great! but also uneven....”

*ೃ☼ shoto todoroki

ෆ during the weekends your mother suggested that you should get a hair cut as your hair was really damn long

ෆ  you lowkey had an emotional attachment to your long hair so it was hard for your mother to convince you

ෆ that was until you read a twitter post on ways to get your crush’s attention

ෆ and one of the ways listed was to get a hair cut

ෆ that day, you went to the salon with your mother

ෆ however, things didn’t go as planned

ෆ when you arrived in front of class 1-A, you hesitated to go in 

ෆ you were actually debating on whether you should run back home

ෆ you gave a small curse and entered the classroom, tugging the strings of your hoodie tight

ෆ “y/n! good morning!” uraraka greeted you

ෆ you smiled at her and sat at your seat, trying to avert the gazes from the females 

ෆ   “y/n-chan, why are you wearing a hoodie?” asui asked, tilting her head to the side

ෆ “you normally don’t wear hoodies,” chimed in ashido with a raised brow 

ෆ “o-oh, it’s a bit chilly today,” you lied playing with the sleeves of your hoodie

ෆ “but its summer,” it was jiro’s turn to raise a brow 

ෆ “don’t tell me you’re feeling unwell? we should bring you to the recovery girl!” fretted yaoyoruzu

ෆ “n-no! it’s fine!”

ෆ todoroki who had been listening to your conversation secretly started worrying

ෆ “y/n’s sick?” 

ෆ unluckily, you had forgotten that you had rescue training class today

ෆ which meant that you had to wear your hero costume

ෆ and that there was no way that aizawa would allow you to wear your hoodie on top of it

ෆ whilst you were changing into your hero costumes, you prayed that no one would notice your hairstyle

ෆ but. you were in a room filled with women. 

ෆ and they notice everything.

ෆ “y/n-chan where did your long hair go?” shrieked ashido, instantly running towards you with gleaming eyes

ෆ soon you found yourself surrounded by the girls

ෆ “your short hair looks so cute!”

ෆ “is that why you were wearing a hoodie?”

ෆ “why did you cut your hair?”

ෆ you felt taken aback by the sudden rush of questions and you took a step back

ෆ “i-uh...my mother suggested that i should cut my hair since it was really long,” you answered, playing with a strand of your hair

ෆ the girls continued to pester and compliment you in the changing rooms 

ෆ when you and the girls stepped into the grounds of where the rescue mission would be held, you spotted todoroki immediately and you found yourself hiding in between asui and uraraka

ෆ you weren’t well hidden as the two of them were smol

ෆ after thirteen had explained the tasks, you and the rest of class 1-A immediately split up to find survivors and aid them

ෆ whilst you were running in the streets, shouting and looking for citizens who were ‘injured’ you saw todoroki who was a feet away from you 

ෆ you immediately hid behind the closest thing to you

ෆ “y/n-san? why are you hiding behind a pole?”

ෆ you awkwardly laughed before moving from the pole

ෆ “oh me? i was just uh making sure this pole was sturdy. it wouldn’t be a good situation if it fell on a citizen right?”

ෆ being the dense person he was, he believed you

ෆ todoroki advanced towards you, his eyes never leaving yours

ෆ you felt your heart beat pulsing quickly

ෆ “oh shit is he going to say that my hair cut is ugly? damn it i should have ran back home while i had the chance!”

ෆ instead of commenting about your hair, todoroki placed his palm against your forehead, making you blush a deep red 

ෆ “t-todoroki?”

ෆ “that’s good. you’re not sick,” 

ෆ you gave a small head tilt, slightly perplexed

ෆ once he removed his palms from your forehead, his eyes moved to your hair

ෆ you felt his fingers gently holding your short hair

ෆ you were internally scREAMING

ෆ “your hair is really pretty,”

ෆ “OI YOU DUMBASSES ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE FLIRTING OR RESCUING PEOPLE?

*ೃ☼ katsuki bakugou

ෆ you and bakugou were paired up together for a class where you had to defeat the robots and escape through the gates of ground omega 

ෆ and being the person he was, as soon as the timer started, he used his quirk to make him travel in the air 

ෆ “are you really just leaving me behind?” you shouted at him

ෆ “just catch up dumbass!” 

ෆ you gave a scoff before running off 

ෆ bakugou was in the air, shooting at every robots in sight with his explosion 

ෆ while you were on the ground, shooting at the robots with your quirk

ෆ from the sound of bakugou’s explosion, it wasn’t loud

ෆ meaning that he was pretty damn far away from you 

ෆ suddenly, out of nowhere came a herd of robots

ෆ knowing that you weren't able to defeat all of them at once, you ran into the forest with the robots following behind you

ෆ “if they follow me, i'll lead them to where bakugou is and we can defeat them together,” you mumbled to yourself

ෆ you looked behind you to see the robots following you, but at a slow pace as it was slightly difficult for them to manoeuvre in between trees 

ෆ you heard the sound of bakugou’s explosions growing louder, meaning that you were getting closer to him

ෆ “baku-” 

ෆ you felt your legs halt to a stop

ෆ your long hair had been caught between a few branches

ෆ you gave a curse before trying to untangle your hair from the branches 

ෆ but, you realised that the robots were getting dangerously closer to you

ෆ panicking, you tried taking steps forwards in attempt to run but it was no use as the branches were basically dragging you back

ෆ you saw the group of robots a few meters away from you

ෆ “welp, this is how i’lll die,”

ෆ you covered your face with your arms, waiting for the attacks from the robot

ෆ  but instead, you heard a thump on the ground in front of you and loud explosions

ෆ once the sound of the explosions had stopped, you moved your arms away from your face

ෆ you were greeted with an angry looking bakugou

ෆ “you idiot what the hell were you doing? are you making me do all the work?”

ෆ you gave him an eye roll

ෆ before you could bark back at him, he started laughing

ෆ you were flabbergasted

ෆ this was the first time you had seen him laugh up close

ෆ and it was delightful

ෆ “what are you laughing at asshole?” 

ෆ “d-dumbass how did you get your hair caught between these branches?”

ෆ “just shut up and help me,”

ෆ once bakugou was done laughing at you, he walked to the branches and gently untangled your hair from the tree

ෆ you felt the last of your lock of hair drop to your back and you twirled around in glee

ෆ “yes! im free!,”

ෆ bakugou snickered, “you should cut that ugly long hair of yours,”

ෆ “what? no way! i feel prettier with long hair,”

ෆ “you look ugly with long hair to me,”

ෆ “soooo if i cut my hair, would i look pretty to you?”

ෆ “w-what? no! i never said that dumbass,”

ෆ the next day, you were skipping in the hallways, your hair, which was now short, bouncing as you did so

ෆ you entered the classroom with a wide grin

ෆ “morning!”

ෆ “y/n-chan, you’ve cut your hair!” gasped uraraka

ෆ “yup!” 

ෆ the girls of class 1-A swarmed around your desk to compliment your new hair cut

ෆ bakugou, on the other hand, had just arrived

ෆ his eyes then moved to the cluster of girls at your desk and he gave a small ‘ttch’ before he sat in his seat 

ෆ you had finally noticed that bakugou had arrived and you stood up from your seat with a confident look

ෆ “y/n, where are you going?”

ෆ “what the hell do you want?”

ෆ bakugou’s sharp bright red eyes darted to you who was standing in front of his desk

ෆ “am i pretty to you yet?”

ෆ that’s when bakugou noticed your new hair cut

ෆ you had a light-hearted grin on your face while you tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear

ෆ you looked stunning

ෆ but he didn’t want to admit it

ෆ he gave a snicker and looked down at his textbook

ෆ unsatisfied by his answer, you gave a huff before turning your heels away from him

ෆ “you’re prettier with short hair,”

ෆ you turned around with a surprised face

ෆ and what made you even more surprised was the light shade of pink on his cheeks 

#my hero academia #my hero academia headcanon #midoriya x reader #todoroki x reader #bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugo x reader #izuku midoria x reader #todoroki shoto x reader #boku no hero academia #headcanon #hair #reactions #fluff #anime

[the-melting-world]

Can you write about Valerius’s hidden gymnastics/pole dance/Lyra/aerial silks talent?~ (pick whichever lol)

Oooh Mads! Please forgive me for taking so long. I was saving this one! I’m going to go with *aerial* – As in aerial yoga talents. 😉

Tagging some more babes: @apprenticealec @arcanecadenza @miserytheapprentice

~ 1K words

Kipling Bronne visits the palace several times a week to groom her arrangements and care for the more sensitive plants in and around the royal grounds. She often takes her longest break in the shadier section of the garden with Portia Devorak, where they share gossip, picnic snacks, and pets between their familiars.

One day, Kipling decides to bring a couple of yoga mats, hopeful that Portia would want to join her in some sun salutations.

“Nice call, Kip!” Portia said as she extended her body into upward dog. “This is a great idea to burn some steam!”

Kipling chuckled to herself as she relaxed from upward dog into a lazy cobra. She honestly had no idea where Portia got all of her energy. It took most of Kipling’s concentration to move through the formations with any sort of grace and synchronization of the breath.

They both slid backwards into downward dog. Poria simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to giggle at the mere thought of her butt reaching for the sky. Kipling struggled to keep her balance through all the snickering and snorting between the two of them.

“Portia! Quit wiggling your butt like that or I’m going to capsize!”

This only invigorated the redhead’s juvenile shenanigans. In the end, they both toppled onto their mats in a fit of giggles and raspy breath-catching.

In the midst of this, Kipling felt the beginnings of a spring shower peppering her face. The drizzling increased, declaring an end to their yoga session. 

Portia righted herself and shook her fist at the sky. “Darn it! We were just getting started!”

Kipling rolled up her mat. “Maybe we can find a quiet spot in the palace to finish up.”

A spark lighted in Portia’s eyes. “I know where we can go!” She gathered up her mat without bothering to roll it and popped onto her feet. “It’s a pretty quiet place. Consul Valerius is the only one who might show up, but I’m sure he won’t notice we’re there.”

At the mention of the courtier, Kipling suppressed the urge to reach for her ghost lock and tug out of nervousness. Instead, she stood up slowly and clutched the rolled up mat to her chest. Pretending to be more interested in the rain, she asked, “The consul?”

Portia skipped ahead at a brisk pace. “Yep. I’m certain he thinks no one knows what he’s up to in there. You’ll see.”

Kipling made a curious sound as she picked up her own pace. She hoped it wouldn’t betray her intrigue at the thought of spying on the consul. When she and Portia reached their destination, they were unexpectedly apprehended by a servant, who made it no secret that they were desperate for Portia’s help.

“Mind waiting for me while I handle this, Kip?” Portia asked as the other employee practically dragged her away.

Kipling hesitated. “Uh…”

“Okay!” Portia waved over her shoulder. “Be back soon!”

When it was clear that Kipling was indeed on her own, she steadied herself with a few deep breaths and passed her cowrie shells between her fingers. Then she entered the room.

Three thick, sturdy beams were anchored above. The window shafts revealed how hard the rain was coming down. The warbled roar brought some calmness to Kipling’s nerves. Her eyes locked onto the silk ribbons cascading from the beams. And then on the figure rotating languidly from a cradle of lavender silk.

Kipling drifted behind a stray ribbon panel, but she never took her eyes away from Consul Valerius. His eyes were closed, head tilted back, spine gently arched against the taut fabric that held him aloft. He only needed to build a little momentum in order to launch himself into one constellation after another.

Cygnus. Capricornus. Leo.

His body unfolded.

Lyra.

Kipling wandered into the light where she could get a closer look. Valerius was in between formations, hanging upside down when he opened his eyes. His gaze, pale and golden, found Kipling’s. Her breath caught as she detailed the recognition on his face. 

And then, just like that, it was gone.

Kipling tensed as his gaze passed right through her. Valerius carried on with his routine as if he never saw her. But something was different…

Consul Valerius wound himself higher and higher, closer and closer to the stormy heavens. Kipling envied the strength in his upper body as he propelled himself further into his aerial dance. His braid followed him in a poetic arc as he briefly surrendered to gravity, unraveling dangerously towards the marble floor before the ribbon finally caught.

Kipling gasped, realizing too late that it was all intentional.

He’s showing off, she mused. But was he doing it to impress her or simply to prove that he could?

As if to answer her question, Valerius made eye contact with Kipling. She looked deliberately into his cloudy irises and arched her brow, daring him to take this acrobatic venture further than the stars.

A lovely sheen collected across his forehead as he accepted the challenge. Kipling listened to his breath become more labored as he manipulated the silk and relaxed into each pose. She marked the asanas that she recognized – warrior, pigeon, crescent, crow. The rest she admired for how the consul could contort himself to achieve something so sublime.

Suddenly, Valerius stretched out the ribbons, creating a hanging tent. He disappeared inside. The ribbons descended until he hovered a foot off the floor.

Kipling approached the suspended hammock. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

Valerius leaned forward enough to use the fabric as a swing. His braid was barely hanging by a cross section, making Kip wonder how many he permitted to see him this way.

“It’s interesting,” said the consul as he swung towards her, “the heights one can reach when they believe no one is watching.”

A small smirk found its way on Kipling’s lips as her eyes drifted away from the consul’s and down his chest. With a turn of her head, the delicate layer of sweat clinging to him almost glistened in the soft, gray light.

Valerius cleared his throat. “So then.”

Kipling looked back up.

“Why are you here, Miss Bronne?”

Kip considered the ways she could answer him. She could be honest and say she came to complete her own asanas. She could flirt and say that he was the reason she was standing there. Instead, she came close enough for their knees to brush whenever Valerius swung forward.

“To escape the rain.” Kipling settled on this, unafraid of the way the consul’s gaze took her in.

“Were you successful?” He swung forward for the last time, anchoring her knee between his. Kipling stumbled into his lap. His hands found her waist and steadied her.

“No,” Kip whispered as she let her palms slide against his wet pectorals. “Not quite.”

Valerius regarded her evenly. “Pity.”

Then he pulled her down with him into the hammock. Kipling entered a dark realm of weightlessness. Valerius shared more of his sweat with her. She gave him bold, restless affection. The ribbons held them in a snug cocoon. Above the ground. Protected from the rain.

#valerius #consul valerius #my asks #kipling the apprentice #valerius fluff #arcana fluff #portia devorak

[pinky-the-elephant-room]

Moon

AN: Hello this is a preview of a multi chapter fic I’ve been working, I’ve posted the rest on AO3. Please check it out and give it some love. 

Summary: All Might has returned from America and has made his triumphant debut in Japan. Protecting and saving everyone with a smile just like his deceased master taught him, until one night he encounters an omega vigilante that makes him question everything even his alpha instincts

."You know what your doing is illegal right?" He asked seriously.

"Honey, the only illegal thing here is you in that spandex." She purred in response.

Heres the link. 

Warning: The Fic contains Explicit smut and violence with ABO elements read at your own discretion. 

-----------Young All Might x Fem OC------------

Yuna watched from afar as the villain dragged the young girl by her arm. Her shrill yells and cries for help echoed in the alley of the 7-Eleven. The clothing the girl wore and the fact she was still strolling in the middle of the night, no doubt she was of the many host girls in the Kabukicho district of Tokyo. Yuna had watched from the moment the girl stepped out of the bar to go home. Unfortunately, she was tailed by a man with a vulture quirk - he was probably a disgruntled customer who overstepped his boundaries. Host girls were only allowed to pour drinks and were paid for their company.

The man wanted more and discreetly followed her before approaching for sex. Yuna watched as he pulled out the money and tried to persuade her. Prostitution was illegal and to be honest as a vigilante, she didn’t care for the law. What she did care for was the fact he was now dragging her despite explicitly saying no.

Yuna readied her stance on top of the building from where she watched. The man readied himself to swing his heavy and bony wing at the poor girl as she continued to struggle. Yuna activated her quirk and a purple hazy portal opened behind the villain. The girl stopped and watched as the mysterious gateway opened revealing a large, eerie violet hand covered in scripts appeared behind the villain, slamming him down. The force of the impact blew the girl a few feet away and she tried to right herself. She watched the hand lifted itself and withdrew back into the portal. She glanced at the man who harassed her, she saw his body squished on the cracked cement floor and an outpour of blood pooling around him. She gagged and held a hand to her face.

Yuna leisurely used the building’s fire escape while her quirk did the work. Her spandex squeaked as she carefully maneuvered in her heels down the building. Yuna approached the girl and pulled her away from the unconscious bleeding villain.

“You alright?” She asked. “You could have been hurt. Next time you leave the workplace make sure no one’s following you ok?”

The girl, now stabilized, nodded shakingly. “Are you a hero miss? Thank you so much for saving me. Your quirk is amazing.”

Yuna smirked and winked cheekily. “I guess you can call me a hero. A hero for the people.” She looked over the girl making sure she wasn’t physically injured and told her to call the police when she was far away from the scene.

“But what about you? Are you going to be here with him?” The girl asked pointing in disgust at the unconscious man.

“You saw my quirk, right? I can handle whatever the moron might dish out if he can wake up with that concussion he probably has.” Yuna replied confidently as she flipped her hair out of her face.

The girl seemed to be convinced by Yuna’s sheer confidence and gathered her purse and jacket that was thrown in the tussle.

Yuna kept a firm eye on her as the girl quickly walked out of the alley and onto the busy streets of Tokyo. She quickly scaled her way back up the fire escape and onto the building surrounding the back of the 7-Eleven.

She wanted to be here when a hero would no doubt come to investigate along with a few police officers. She wanted to flaunt her quirk and rub it in their faces that a vigilante did their job. Most of all, she wanted to flirt with the dangers of almost getting caught before whisking herself away. Yuna privately hoped that the hero would be that prodigy rookie Endeavor - the look on his face as she stole his villain and laid him out before he did was priceless. It’s the reason she laid peacefully at night in her bed nowadays.  She snickered in her hands at the memory.

Yuna waited approximately about 15 or 20 minutes, listening to music on the wireless headphones she brought along with her phone stashed in the pockets of her spandex hero suit. The first thing she put in when she designed it was of course pockets.

Being a Korean by birth, listening to the ballads of her culture always soothed her, she might need to calm her nerves to face off whichever hero might come to investigate.

Luckily for her, this one made quite the entrance by leaping over the 7-Eleven and landing quite spectacularly next to the villain.

And what a spectacle he was. The hero was donned in a white and blue suit with red stripes and a long cape. It wasn’t the design that made the hero so awe-inspiring but rather his height and the way his muscles seemed to ripple in his suit. Even the two weirdo bangs that stood up like wings seemed intimidating rather than being absurd on him.

She licked her lips out of nervousness and quickly stashed her headphones and phone away. This was not what she was expecting. He was going to be an issue. She knew all the heroes who patrolled in the Kabukicho district. Most of all she knew their habits and quirks. Yuna had made it imperative to know who to avoid and who to fight. But this guy made her wish she never came out tonight.

Yuna squared her shoulders and waited as the hero kneeled and checked on the criminal. He took out what looked like a cell phone and put it to his ear and talked for a few minutes. As he was doing that, she noticed what looked like police lights over the 7-Eleven building and soon enough police officers were crowded in the alley.

The police officers signaled to the EMTs and they took over, loading the villain onto their ambulance. Meanwhile, the hero stood around, looking at nothing particular before having a short conversation with a police officer.

Yuna sighed. Perhaps this is for the best, she didn’t need to have amusement every time she caught a criminal. Until she got more information as to who this new guy was and his quirk, she wasn’t going to touch him with a ten-foot pole. She stepped away from the top of the building and slowly made her way across to the other side. Leisurely picked up her pace before running and then vaulting over to the next building.  She continued to jump building to building until she was a good distance away from the 7-Eleven.

What she didn’t notice was the hero that had noticed her take off from the scene. As Yuna stopped for a breather, a strong burst of wind was the only clue before a slam of the hero’s landing made her cover her face.

She opened her eyes and felt her breath hitch. He was even more impressive up close.  She barely reached his shoulders with her height of 5’8 and if she wasn’t mistaken his entire hand could cover her face. She hoped that she wouldn’t have to resort to fistfights with him. She was not about to get a shiner from his mammoth hands.

“So, you’re the vigilante that’s been patrolling this area.” He started.

God, even his voice felt like melted butter. Though he was speaking softly, his entire ensemble felt like he was being lowkey for her benefit. His whole style felt like he was the type to be flashy and totally in someone’s face.

Yuna let a flirty smile come onto her face and confidently walked to the hero as if she wasn’t just contemplating not getting punched by him.

“I am. It’s nice to know that I’m being recognized even by others I don’t know so what’s your name handsome?” She asked as she toyed with the strands of her hair.

The hero straightened as if he was about to deliver something with great importance.

“I’m All Might and I hope you realize that vigilantism despite your good intentions is wrong and illegal and that’s why-“

So, this was All Might. Yuna had heard of another talented rookie quickly rising through the hero ranks. She initially had cackled knowing that somewhere Endeavor loathed to know someone else was being called a prodigy besides him. Even Yuna could deduce how much of an ego he had from the few “encounters” they had. Since then Yuna hadn’t given All Might much thought. To the point she didn’t know what he looked like. Perhaps she was wrong in doing so.

She smirked and interrupted his sentence, “Honey, the only illegal thing here is you in that spandex.”

Yuna watched as the hero opened and closed his mouth several times as if in disbelief that someone about to be arrested was flirting with him. She watched in fascination as his ears and neck turned a violent red. Even his cheeks were a light rosy color.

She couldn’t help but notice how cute he looked flustered by a compliment. Yuna felt her confidence grow further and her nervousness resides, she knew exactly how to handle him, and it wasn’t with fists.

(Read the rest on AO3) Link Here

#bnha prompts #bnha oc #bnha smut #all might #bnha toshinori #yagi toshinori x reader #all might x reader #all might x oc #all might smut #bnha imagines #yagi toshinori #bnha ficlet #bnha fanfic recs #bnha fanfiction #mha toshinori #toshinori smut

[imagine-all-the-imagines]

“Imagine sleeping with Barba after the team goes to the bar to celebrate a win in court.”

Warnings: Vague details of a case. Kinda smut. Implied smut.

________________________________________________________________

To say the two of you had been dancing around each other and your feelings would be an understatement. The whole team could tell that the two of you were attracted to each other. The only problem with this was that any time it was brought up to either of you, the responses were the same, “We just work well together.”, “They are good at their job.”, “It’s nothing more than a work friendship.” the excuses went on and on. 

Rollins was the one who had the idea of making you two come to terms with how you both felt. She had talked it out with Olivia who had noticed the chemistry between the two of you as well. They had determined that, no matter what, they would get the two of you to at least talk about it when you both came to the bar after Barba had won the case you were all working on. 

You had been called up to the stand by Rafael to speak thee truth, but also to help the jury understand that the defendant was, in fact, a cold blooded criminal who went after teenage boys on who were living on the street. The defense had gotten up and tried to rattle you, to make you unsure of what you were saying, but you had held your ground and had told the truth with out being swayed by the doubt the defense was trying to sow. 

After the jury had finally come back and found the defendant guilty, Amanda came up and told you that the squad was headed to the bar to celebrate the win. What you hadn’t seen was Olivia suggesting the same thing to Barba. 

When you got to the bar, you were shocked to see that Barba had decided to join the group. You knew that he was usually busy, even after a win. you sidled up to him and nudged him in the ribs. 

“Well, hey there stranger, decided to join us down here?” you joked with him. 

“Well, Liv said that she would buy me a few drinks if I came out. How could I say no to that?” Barba said with a small smile. 

You looked across the bar and found Liv talking with Carisi and Amanda. “Well, it looks like she’s a bit preoccupied at the moment, how about I buy the first one and you can thank me later?”

Rafael nodded and led the two of you to the bar. You had told the bartender to give Barba whatever he wanted while you ordered a drink for yourself. The two of you sat at the bar for a while and caught up with each other. You two were friendly enough with each other that you both knew what was going on in each other’s lives, but this case had cost you both your free time and time to visit with each other. 

“Hang on, you had to go undercover as a stripper and had to do the dancing and everything?” Barba asked, a look of shock on his face.

“Oh yeah, I had dabbled in pole dancing and all that when I was trying to pay for my rent, and schooling at the same time. It helped out a lot. I even got a few regulars. Plus, I was strictly a ‘no-touch’ gal, if they tried anything all I had to do was look at the bouncer and they were out! So, when they needed someone with the experience, I volunteered.” You said, waving your hands as you spoke to emphasize parts of your story. 

As the two of you continued to talk throughout the night, Liv made good on her promise to buy Barba’s drinks. He suggested that since he wasn’t paying for his, he should pay for yours. The two of you drank and joked and teetered on the precipice of truly flirting with each other. 

It wasn’t until you heard a song come on over the speakers that you made contact with the man in front of you. Grabbing his arm, you all but dragged the ADA to the impromptu dance floor that others had set up. As the rhythm and words came out of the speakers, you were showing Barba the dance moves trying to make sure that you were both hitting the right moves at the right times. 

After that song, you both stayed on the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm of the music surrounding you. At one point, you felt Rafael wrap his arm around you and pull you close, so that your back was against his chest and you were moving together. It felt good to be that close. You felt all the flirtatious moments and the sexual tension come to a head. You brought your hand up to tangle your fingers in his hair pulling his face to the crook of your neck, where he placed small, almost unnoticeable kisses and love bites to the exposed skin there. 

“What do you say we get out of here?” Barba all but growled in your ear.

You couldn’t speak, only nodding and letting him lead you out to the sidewalk where he hailed a cab. 

When the two of you made it to Rafael’s building, he took your hand and helped you out of the cab. You both walked to the elevators, trying to keep your hands to yourself. 

In the elevator, it was a different story. As soon as the doors closed, Rafael placed a hand behind your head and brought your face to his and gave you a sweet kiss, as if he was afraid you would change your mind. That though was banished when you grabbed him by the lapels and brought him closer to you and deepened the kiss. Your hands were all over each other, yours were loosening his tie and untucking his shirt. You ran your hands under the shirt and just trying to feel all the skin you could. 

Barba had unbuttoned your pants and teasingly ran a hand over the elastic of your underwear daring to dip further down, over the fabric. Just before he touched you where you most wanted him, the bell dinged, signaling the correct floor. 

Grabbing your hand, Rafael quickly walked the two of you to his apartment, opened the door, pulled you inside and slammed the door, immediately pushing you against it. You both found your way to the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothing. That night was a tangle of limbs and love bites, ending with the two of you wrapped up in each other. 

The next morning, you woke up with a bit of a fuzzy head. Memories of the bar and dancing filtering through the fog. You tried to get yourself out of bed when you realized that you felt heavier than you should. It was then that you truly took in your surroundings. You were in an unfamiliar room, in an unfamiliar, but very comfortable bed. turning your head, you took in the face of the man next to you as memories came back. The drinking, dancing, kissing, and everything else that had happened. 

You tried to get out of the bed as quietly as you could. Hopping and praying that you wouldn’t wake up the ADA next to you. You had almost made it all the way from under him when your hand slipped off the side of the bed and you tumbled to the floor taking the blankets with you. Letting out a yelp, you landed on your shoulder and curled up trying not to cry as the pain went through you. You see a head pop over the side of the bed. 

“Are you ok? What happened?” Barba asked, still in a moment of post sleep and shock. 

You winced as you tried to move your shoulder and a blush climbed up your cheeks. “I’m good, just landed on my shoulder wrong. I was just trying to get up without waking you up. I did a great job.”

“Here, let me help you.” Rafael pulled on a pair of boxers and went around to you. Seeing you in a tangle of blankets, Rafael suppressed a chuckle and bent down to help you up. Gently holding on to your arm, he helped you to your feet as you struggled to keep the blanket wrapped around you. “Where were you going?”

You shrugged, “Well, I don’t do one night stands often, but from my understanding the visitor doesn’t stick around in the morning. I was hoping to quietly slip out. Maybe leave a note.” 

Barba gave you a slight frown, “Is that all you think this was?”

“Was it not?” You ask slightly embarrassed. 

“Well, I know we didn’t exactly talk about it last night, but we both know that we’ve just been dancing around the topic for a while.” He paused and brought a hand under your chin to tilt your head up to him before continuing, “I know that I want this to be more than just a one time thing. How about you?”

For the second time in twenty four hours you couldn’t speak, you just stared at him as a smile grew on your face. Without thinking, you leaned forward and kissed him. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you felt the blanket fall from around you. Breaking away to grab the piece of cloth, you started to lean down but stopped when Rafael spoke, “How about we leave that down there and take this back to bed?” 

You nodded at him and grabbed his shoulders, turning you both around so that his back was facing the bed. You gently pushed him back and straddled his lap. Somewhere in the back of your mind you made a mental note to thank Amanda for dragging you out last night. The thought was immediately wiped away as Rafael pressed kisses to your bare skin. The two of you stayed in bed for the rest of the morning, only getting up for food. 

#svu imagines #law and order svu #rafael x reader #barba #rafael barba #law and order svu imagine #smut #implied smut #law and order SVU imagines #imagines #svu imagine #rafael barba imagine

[westallenfun]

Westallen Secret Santa--- White Lie, White Christmas

WestAllen secret santa gift

From: @cee693

For: @backtothestart02

Note: For Lauren, Happy Holidays!!

~Prompt: “AU - Barry gives private skiing lessons at a lodge. Iris sees him and thinks he’s cute, so even though she’s a highly experienced skier, she signs up for lessons to snag a date.”

Iris inhaled the wafts of fresh pine amidst the crisp morning air as she sipped her chai latte. 

Sunrise had begun and the snowy white terrain outside her window was drenched in a swirling pink and red phenomenon.

No matter how often she made the trip up to these stunning mountains, she knew she would never get used to the view.

From high up here, away from civilization, Iris felt like she was peeking into a tiny corner of heaven.

‘This is just what the doctor ordered,’ she thought before she chuckled with amusement. 

She realized that that wasn’t just an expression. Ten days at the world-renowned North American, Starsken Ski Resort, was actually noted on the blue prescription her pain management physician had written her.

And despite her initial push back, she was glad that he’d made her come. She was overworked- she’d be the first to admit that. But, she has been in denial about how much her work had begun to affect her physically.

She’d only been here for a few days and already she felt the joints in her hip and the tightness in her lungs begin to open up. 

The quiet of the resort, the thin air, and the crystal clean spring water were already more effective than the meds she still found herself having to take even all these years after her accident. 

She took another sip of her steaming drink when a muffled ruckus caught her attention downstairs. 

She peered over her balcony railing and saw a small group of young children walking single file out towards the trail to bunny hill.

The children were all jabbering excitedly and Iris was surprised that they would be in such agreeable moods so early in the day.

Though, she thought taking note of the now familiar silhouette leading the children, the right company could make even a 6 a.m. wakeup call pleasant.

On the list of things the resort had that had been helping to ease her tension, Iris couldn’t deny that she should probably include the tall green-eyed ski instructor who always had a friendly smile and a kind word to spare.

The instructor turned to face his charges and spoke excitedly to them. Iris couldn’t hear what he was saying from way up where she was, but it looked like he was pointing out the different trees nearby.

Watching him, Iris was struck with an idea. And she wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before.  

She smiled to herself and sipped some more of her latte, already running through the breaking day’s plans.

Barry’s eyes flickered down to his watch as the next kid in line came towards him. He sighed in relief when he saw today’s lessons were almost done.

He loved teaching, he did, but even he had a limit. He was running on empty and he needed a break, but he was holding out as long as he could for the sake of the kids. 

His class wasn’t big- about ten kids of all ages. It wasn’t a formal class by any means. Barry just liked to 

His godmother was the general manager of the exclusive resort and Barry was known to spend mini vacations up here throughout the year. Whenever he was around and available, he offered free classes to the children here with their parents- providing fun alternatives to the rigid lessons the resort offered. 

He also offered paid private lessons for adult beginners which were easier because those were just one-on-one. He was happy to do it for the kids. He was less enthused about his older clientele, though. Those tended to be rich housewives who were typically dragged along by their husbands. Wives who weren’t above flirting with him to pass the time on their boring vacations.

Barry sighed as he remembered that he had one such client in a few hours. He gestured the next child forward to him.

A subtle change in the wind made Barry look up. He didn’t expect to see anything out of the ordinary. Just to take stock of his surroundings. But, when his eyes landed on her, he felt his entire world freeze and then tilt. 

She was breathtaking. The lack of air in his lungs was testament to that.

She was a tiny thing. He shouldn’t have even noticed her amidst the giant evergreens and packs of people scattered throughout the hill. 

But, there she was, at the center of everything; her rich brown skin glowed in beautiful contrast to the shock white all around them. Even through her snow goggles he saw her eyes sparkling in the sunlight. As if they were mirroring the light dusting of snowflakes drifting in the wind.

He watched, transfixed, as she made her way to the end of the lift line, taking her time and nodding her greetings at the few people she recognized along the way.

The spell that kept him glued in place was broken when she smiled. Barry felt a jolt run through his body when she did. The electric pulse ended almost painfully at his fingertips, causing him to flex them unthinkingly. 

And the young child he’d been holding up fell right out of his hands.

“Ouch!” the poor boy exclaimed indignantly, rubbing his butt through his snow pants. He glared up at his ski instructor looking for an explanation.

And at first Barry barely spared the boy a second glance, before he shook himself out of his stupor and realized he’d dropped the six-year-old he’d been trying to get into some skis.

“Shoot! I’m sorry. Just shake it off, Kai.” he quickly righted the boy and helped him dust the snow off his pants. “Shake it off.”

Barry quickly looked around to see if any of the parents had noticed. To his relief, none were around or looking in his direction.

And he reflexively tried to spot the brown-eyed beauty who’d caused his momentary lapse, but she’d disappeared somewhere in the wide space.

He sighed, rubbing his neck wondering if he’d had a hallucination of some kind. 

“Okay,” he rallied his group of kids, shaking off the strange encounter. “Now that you all are strapped in, let’s talk about the best position for controlling your ski gear.”

Thankfully, his lessons concluded not long after that. He’d been up since 5:00 and he’d yet to eat a single thing. He couldn’t wait to get back inside where there was heat and food. Barry waved goodbye to the kids and promised another lesson tomorrow as he packed up his own gear.

“I hope that was the first time you’ve dropped one of them,” a teasing voice said behind him. “Otherwise one of these days you may walk into a snowball ambush led by a pack of eight-year olds.”

Barry looked up and saw the mystery woman from earlier looking down at him with an amused grin.

Barry quickly stood and dusted himself off. He chuckled. “It would actually be six-year olds. And They would destroy me.”

The young woman laughed. 

“But, it was a one-time thing, I swear,” Barry put up a hand. 

The woman nodded and pointed at his gear at his feet. “So, would I be safe to enroll in one of your classes then? No chance of sudden butter fingers?”

Barry grinned. “You’d be perfectly safe! But, I’m pretty sure you would be way above my current class’s level.”

She tilted her head and wisps of dark brown curls broke free from under her hat.

“Not the kid’s class. I’ve seen you running private lessons with some of the other guests,” she said questioningly.

Barry nodded and shrugged. “Even then. I work with beginners and kids. You’d be pretty bored sitting in on any of those lessons.”

Barry hadn’t seen her ski, but she looked pretty legit standing in her gear, leaning confidently on her poles. 

“Oh well, I’m glad I look the part,” Iris smiled appreciatively. “But, I’ve never skied before. I thought I’d try it out since I’m here anyway.”

Barry’s brow raised. “How long are you here for?”

“About six more days,” she said. “I love this place, but the days can stretch if you don’t fill them.” she held up her poles. “And this definitely looks interesting enough.”

Barry nodded. “It definitely is.”

He sighed quietly. He knew he really had no room to add on another client. He was only here for one more week and as it was, he’d certainly been working more than he’d been relaxing this break. 

Even still, he already knew there was no way he would turn this woman away. He was glad she seemed like a nice enough person so far because then he wouldn’t have to examine his own shallowness. Since he was certain he would’ve agreed to teach her just based on how attractive he found her.

Iris sensed the tiniest bit of hesitation from him so she flashed a wide smile. “I promise I’m a model student, Professor.”

“Professor?” Barry smiled, stepping closer to her unconsciously.

Iris shrugged. “Seemed appropriate. I didn’t get your name.”

Barry mentally berated himself. “Sorry. It’s Barry. Barry Allen.”

“Iris West,” she stuck out her hand and he shook it carefully.

“Well, Barry Allen,” she amended, waiting for his answer. “What do you say?” 

“Sure,” he agreed. “Why not.”

Iris was pleased that the proposition had gone well. “When can we start?”

“I’m free the rest of the day,” Barry said hurriedly. The lie rolled so quickly off his tongue that even he was surprised by it.

“How about right now then?” Iris slid over to where all his equipment was. And the two of them got to work.

Barry started Iris off with properly stepping in and out of her skis and while she worked on that, he discreetly texted an excuse to his next client, cancelling their afternoon session.

He and Iris spent over two hours out on the hill. A lot longer than he spent with his clients, especially on the very first day.

But, they both enjoyed each other’s company and they easily lost track of time. Iris was pretty hopeless out on the snow and Barry realized she would need lots of help to fulfill his guarantee of making it down the bunny slope by end of the week.

He really did enjoy teaching the sport at the resort, but working with Iris, Barry found himself in a better mood than he had with any of his other clients. 

She was very funny and her tongue was very quick and she kept him on his toes the entire time. They trudged back to base together, sharing even more laughs as they went.

However, when they returned to the lodge and removed all their snow gear, Barry’s good mood was dampened almost immediately.

As soon as Iris took off the goggles that had been taking up most of her face, the hat that had covered up her mass of lively curls, and the thick jacket that had hidden her svelte, shapely physique, Barry realized just how out of his league this woman was.

After he stared at her for a few seconds with his mouth opening and closing and no sound coming out, he sighed in resignation and tried to think of the best excuse to retreat to his room.

Iris shook out her hair and sighed contently, pleased to be back in the warmth of the lodge. She looked back at her lanky instructor. 

He was cuter than she initially thought, she realized as she took him in fully now. Pale, but not as flushed as he’d been out in the winter cold. His sea green eyes were just a smidge darker in here, a bit more soulful. And his amiable personality made her impulsive little white lie even more worth it.

“Can I interest you in some hot cocoa, Professor?” Iris smiled up at him. “My treat.”

The question was enough to momentarily quell Barry’s plans of escape. “Sure! Thanks.”

Iris grabbed them two big steaming mugs of hot chocolate as well as a tray of s’more ingredients. 

She ushered them to the large fireplace in the corner of the room and set about setting up their treats.

“The trick for these is to smear just a dollop of peanut butter on the graham crackers,” she whispered conspiratorially pointing to the small plate of peanut butter she’d snagged. “It takes it up to a hundred.”

Barry watched her excitedly swipe some peanut butter on a long cracker before she handed it off to him.

He skewered a marshmallow and let it crisp before he cushioned it between two crackers. Barry looked at the dessert cautiously, but Iris beckoned him to eat it. “It’s good, I swear.”

Barry took a bite.

“How does it taste?” she wondered eagerly.

“It’s perfect,” he told her seriously. She gave a small happy dance in her seat and Barry wondered once more where this woman came from.

Iris licked peanut butter off her thumb as she assembled her own s’more. “So you said you’re here for a week too?” she asked, trying to remember if she’d heard him correctly earlier.

“Yeah,” Barry nodded. “I’ve actually already been here for eight days.”

Iris’s brows shot up. “Wow! That’s a long vacation!”

Barry murmured his agreement. “Yeah. I definitely come up her more often than I probably should,” he laughed. “My room is kind of becoming a vacation home of sorts.”

Iris laughed at the joke. 

Barry shrugged. “I can’t help it though. As much as I love Central City, nothing can beat the view from up here.”

Iris perked up. “Central City, Missouri?”

Barry nodded, surprised she’d heard of it.

“No way!” Iris laughed in disbelief. “That’s where I’m from too!”

“Are you serious?” Barry checked. 

Iris nodded. “I live downtown near Chaumont avenue. Been there my whole life.” 

“Wow,” he chuckled too, noting that she lived right by his apartment. “Small world, huh?”

“So what do you do in Central City when you’re not here?” she wondered.

He thought briefly that maybe he should make up a job cooler than the one he actually had, just so he wouldn’t seem even less on Iris’s level, but he ultimately decided on the truth. “I’m uh actually a scientist. I work at STAR Labs on the bioengineering team focusing on renewable energy. But, it’s not as dorky as it sounds.”

Iris smiled. “That doesn’t sound dorky at all,” she promised genuinely. “That actually sounds really impressive. So me calling you ‘Professor’ wasn’t too far off was it?”

Barry’s mouth quirked up at the compliment and he ducked his head, thanking her and taking a quick sip from his mug to hide his red cheeks.

“So what do you do?” he asked when he felt his face cool down.

“Oh,” Iris sighed and chuckled, leaning back in her seat. “That’s a bit of a story. But, the short version is I’m retired.”

Barry’s brows shot up. “Really? How o-” he stopped himself from asking her age and tried to think of a less-rude line of questioning.

But, Iris caught what he’d been about to ask and she smiled good-naturedly. “It wasn’t exactly by choice. I was a detective with the CCPD, but I got hurt pretty badly on the job. So, I decided to hang up my badge and slow things down.”

“You worked at CCPD?” Barry questioned, not meaning to bypass the last part she’d said, but too stunned by the coincidences between them. “My father works there too. He’s a doctor. A criminal psychologist.”

Iris tilted her head and looked him over more fully. “Barry Allen,” she repeated his name, piecing together that information. “Your dad is Henry Allen.”

“That’s him,” Barry nodded, happily.

She laughed and shook her head incredulously. “What are the odds? I loved working with your dad,” she gushed. “He’s a really great guy. He’s incredibly smart and such a nice person. We worked on a lot of cases together.”

“Yeah,” Barry agreed, thinking of his father. “He’s pretty great. I’ve actually been trying to convince him and my mom to come up here more often, but I’m sure you know how much he loves our city. He’ll never leave.”

“I can definitely see the laid-back pace of this place suiting Dr. Allen,” Iris agreed.

“So what about your parents?” he queried.

“Yeah,” she sipped her cocoa. “My parents are still in Central City too. My dad’s a jazz singer and my mom is a painter.”

“Wow,” Barry said impressed. 

“Yeah, growing up my house was always full of music and art. I loved it. I think in another life, if  I wasn’t so determined to be a detective, I would’ve been a ballerina. I practiced it until college.”

“Oh well that definitely explains your body,” Barry said unthinkingly.

Iris blinked at him.

Barry coughed and shifted in his seat. “Uh I um, I mean that explains your legs. No, not your legs.”

Iris continued to stare.

Barry could practically feel the steam coming off his face. “I just mean that you had good balance out on the slopes today,” he said earnestly, desperately trying to fix his word vomit. “You had good balance.”

Iris nodded once slowly. Barry would’ve been sure she was uncomfortable with what he said if the amusement in her eyes weren’t so clear.

“Thank you,” she said simply, appraising him for a beat before she leaned back again and finished up her hot cocoa.

Barry coughed again and took a breath, telling himself to calm the hell down. 

“So, now what do you do in your free time?” Barry asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.

“Now I’m a writer,” Iris revealed. “Just trying to create the next great American novel.”

“A writer,” Barry smiled slowly. Of course. 

The title fit her <em>perfectly</em>. 

“If there were any place to find inspiration to hole up and write, it’s definitely these mountains,” he stated.

“Believe me, I’m already finding more inspiration here than I have anywhere else in a long while,” she set down her cup and her sparkling eyes seemed to cut to the core of him. “So when is our next lesson, Professor?”

The way she innocently blinked at him as she said the nickname with a sultriness he <em>knew</em> he wasn’t imagining was mind-bending. 

“Whenever you want,” Barry told her. 

“How about tomorrow morning?” 

“Sure,” he agreed readily, mentally noting to cancel his morning session with Mrs. Greer.

Iris smiled brightly. “Perfect,” she set her mug down and grabbed her gloves. “I think I’m going to back to my room for a few hours. After that workout outside, the jacuzzi is calling my name.” 

Barry flashed a small smile, trying not to imagine his newest client in a bathing suit. He wondered if she was leaving because of what he’d said earlier, but a quick glance at his cell showed him they had been together for well over three hours. More than double the length of a typical session. 

“I should get going too,” Barry told her. He downed the last of his drink. “I guess I’ll see you  tomorrow?”

“First thing, Professor,” Iris smiled once last time before said goodbye and made her way upstairs.

And Barry returned to his room as well. He took a shower and a nap and by the time he woke up, the sun had set and soft piano music was coming from the dining rooms below.

Barry teetered between ordering his nightly room service and actually venturing down to eat with the other guests.

He usually steered clear of the dining rooms during mealtimes. The housewives were typically out in full force and Barry could only endure so much rich-people small talk and veiled flirtations before he lost his appetite altogether.

But, the thought of running into Iris actually had him contemplating taking his chances down there tonight. 

Ultimately, he decided against it and ordered up some food to his room as usual.

And while he waited, he called up his parents at home to speak to his dad.

Henry was so excited to hear from Barry which made Barry feel guilty for not calling as often as he should whenever he’s away. Still, he used his father’s good mood to his advantage.

He bribed his father with every gift and promise he could think of for any information he had on the former Detective West. 

And thank God Iris was telling the truth. She and his father <em>had</em> been friendly and Henry Allen was generous with what he could remember about her. By the end of the phone call, Barry had a sheet full of topics and conversation starters to sprinkle in throughout the rest of the week.

He even practiced ways he could introduce brownies, kickboxing, and Toni Morrison into conversation. He went to bed feeling good, determined to have no reason to ever embarrass himself again in front of her.

“Iris, I really am so sorry. I don’t know what happened,” Barry apologized again as he helped Iris with her skis while she sat down on the ground.

“It’s okay, Barry it was actually my fault,” Iris breathed out, grimacing at the pain in her side. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He groaned internally. They hadn’t even been out very long and Barry had managed to knock Iris clean off the ground.

He’d been mining the proper technique to push off the ground with his poles and he had no idea how it happened, but suddenly Iris was in his line of movement behind him and he was shoving her hard in the stomach with the end of his pole.

“I’m so sorry.” he repeated. 

“It’s okay. Really. I wasn’t paying attention. I leaned down to tighten my boot and I was too close,” she assured, waving off his remorse. Angry at her own rare bout of carelessness.

It seemed that Barry wasn’t the only one afflicted by a loose set off limbs out here. She reminded herself that serious injury could happen out here when you weren’t paying attention. 

Iris stood and shook herself off. “Do you want to continue? I’m good. I just had the wind knocked out of me.”

Barry looked her over warily. 

“If you’re sure.”

He helped her up and picked back up his poles to continue the demonstration. This time making sure Iris was far off to the side of him.

Iris discovered that once the thick wall of awkwardness and clumsiness wore off, Barry was in fact an amazing teacher.

He let her in on her tricks and tips even she didn’t know and the way he talked about skiing and snow had her hung on his every word.

She didn’t really have a plan yesterday when she approached him for lessons. It had been an impulsive and pretty daring thing to do. 

She hadn’t meant to be dishonest with him. But, when he said he only taught children and beginners, it was the only thing she could think to say.

Now she almost regretted the lie. In all honesty, she was enjoying their one-on-one lesson and Barry’s hands-on approach getting her in proper positions, but she did wonder what it would be like to fly down this mountain side by side with nothing but the thrill of the skis and the rush of wind between them.

Barry gripped her hips and turned her just a smidge to the right. “This position is best for high speeds. It gives you better control at the ankles and takes the weight off your lower back.

Iris found Barry Allen unbelievably adorable. Despite his sturdy body and confident stance, she discovered that if she tilted her head this way or brushed up against him just a little, her  unsuspecting instructor could be reduced to flailing limbs and stuttered words. 

She couldn’t help herself purposely twisting her the poles in her hands in the wrong direction so that he would put his hands on top of hers to correct them or keeping her legs tall and straight so that he would ease behind her and bend them in the proper way. 

Their lessons flew by when it was like this. 

There never seemed to be enough time for her to get her fill of her cute teacher and pretty soon, Iris was finding excuses to see him off the slopes as well. She invited him to dinner and to play cards in front of the large fireplace in the lodge. 

On the morning of their fifth lesson, they woke up to a heavy snowstorm. Trapped inside, Barry ushered them to a hallway she’d never been before and they shared a plate of scones and  watched the snow fall.

Barry told her that, as strange as it sounded, snowstorms were his favorite thing. Aside from waves on the sand, snow was the only thing that could wipe something clean in an instant.

You could go to sleep to charred ground and barren trees and wake up to the world totally new. Even the worst storm left behind a clean slate in its wake.

Barry broke out of his musing when he heard Iris giggle. His face heated up when she asked him if he always talked like that.

“Only when I’m being silly.”

Iris shook her head. And when she looked at him, Barry told himself it was just the sun reflecting off the snow and through the window that made her eyes shine like they were.

“You’re not silly,” she promised. “You’re a poet.”

The next day they are back outside, picking up their class. 

Iris casually mentioned going into the sauna one day after she inadvertently tripped over her own skis, but Barry had coughed and sputtered profusely before he vehemently declined joining her on the account of an afternoon client.

By the time Iris’s sojourn began to wind down, she resigned the two of them to never going beyond feather touches and friendly conversation. 

Which was fine. When she’d first approached Barry, she hadn’t expected a romp in bed or a sweeping romance. She hadn’t thought beyond wanting to get to know the cute ski instructor  she’d probably never see again. 

But, once she found out they lived in the same place and once she saw how much the two of them had in common, Iris thought… well she didn’t know what she’d thought. But, she knew what she wanted. 

So the day before her trip ended, she decided to finally act on it.

She met Barry at the ski lift bright and early. They’d planned on her riding the lift to the bunny slopes so that she could try skiing from a drop for the first time.

Barry offered to accompany her in case she needed the support.

He was quiet that morning. So was she. Iris didn’t know what his reason was, but her uncharacteristically nervous fumbling and second-guessing had her more in her head than ever before. 

They had chosen the rail line that took the long way to the bunny slopes, so as they traveled they took in the scenic view of the steep hills and trails along the way. 

Eventually, Barry struck up conversation, mostly just giving her last-minute pointers and words of encouragement. 

Iris felt herself relax the more he talked. She knew his words were meant to be applied to skiing, but she used them to unravel the bundle of nerves in her belly. His words also confirmed the gentle type of person she found him to be. 

So, before the lift found their destination, Iris swallowed the last of her jitters and leaned over, pressing her lips firmly against Barry’s.

Barry immediately stopped whatever he was saying.

He didn’t kiss her back, but he also didn’t pull away which was a good sign. Right?

Iris leaned back after a few seconds and looked up at his face. His eyes were closed and his lips still a tiny bit pursed.

Iris was too nervous to find this as amusing as she would’ve otherwise. And the furrow between his brows only added to this.

“You kissed me,” Barry said after a beat. 

He sounded mystified by this. Even a little suspicious.

And he was. Actually that was an understatement. 

Barry was dazed. 

He was twenty-six years old and a kiss from a girl had just left him completely tongue-tied and stunned.

“Barry..”

Well, in his defense it wasn’t just any girl. 

In the week he’d known her, Barry was blown away by how great of a person Iris was. 

Barring any unforeseen revelations, Barry was pretty convinced that Iris West was the girl of his wildest dreams.

“Barry?…”

She was funny and smart, and incredibly sharp. She was also far and away the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. 

So, he couldn’t blame his brain for short-circuiting like this as they dangled a couple of feet off a mountain. 

And he couldn’t blame his hands for reflexively grasping the safety bar just a bit too tightly. 

He tried to think of something smooth to say. Something romantic and light to seal this moment, but all that came out of his mouth again was ‘you kissed me.’

Barry stuttered out some more and turned to look at her. 

Iris looked unsure of herself now. His fumbling had definitely cast a shadow on her confidence. 

But, as usual, Barry’s nervousness translated into flailing limbs and jerky motions and, as he tried to slide closer to her, his knee came up and hit the safety bar real hard.

And it gave way just enough for both of them to slide under it. 

“Oh my God!” Iris yelped. 

They both grabbed onto the bar to keep from sliding out completely and Barry quickly reached for Iris to keep her in the lift.

“Hold on!” he called out to her. He swung his legs back and forth trying to get some momentum going. 

When he felt some wind under him, he used it to heave Iris back up into the chair fully. 

Unfortunately, this caused him to slip even further out the cart and he knew that he had no choice but to let go. 

Iris knew this too and she quickly tried to grab him. 

But, with the safety bar broken, he couldn’t risk pulling her out again with him.

“Wait, don’t let go,” she tried, but Barry pulled his hands from hers. 

“Barry, wait! At least try to take your poles!”

He didn’t have time to catch that last part before he was flying down towards the ground. 

Barry was bracing for a horrible wipeout of a landing, but by some miracle, he landed on his feet. 

Unfortunately, the momentum of his landing was just perfect enough to send him sailing down the steep, jagged hillside with no poles and no way to slow down. 

He didn’t know how he kept himself going, but it took all he could to keep his skis straight and steady. 

He didn’t know how he’d slow down without potentially hurting himself. He’d never been in a situation like this. 

Somewhere behind him he heard a heavy thud. He dared turn around quickly to see what it was and gave a startled shout of confusion. 

Iris was sailing behind him. She had her knees locked and she leaned forward, pushing off her poles in quick succession with a serious look of determination. 

He wanted to ask how the hell she was doing this, but he had to face front before he crashed into a tree or a rock. 

Iris kept pushing, praying that she could reach Barry before he seriously hurt himself.

Finally, she caught up to him and was able to cut him off. She eased back just a bit so that he didn’t crash into her and she took hold of his waist, carefully veering them both off the trail and onto a soft looking pocket of snow. 

They both dropped to the ground in a heap. 

The entire rescue lasted only a few seconds, but the fright and adrenaline left them shot. 

“Oh my God, Barry!” Iris heaved, crawling over to him. “Are you alright?“ 

"I’m fine, I’m alright,” he rushed out, checking her over for injury. “Are you!?”

Iris waved off the question. “I’m fine.”

“How the hell did you ski that?” Barry demanded breathlessly. “That was amazing, but how the hell..?”

Iris clutched her chest, trying to catch her breath. 

Barry stood up and helped her to her feet.

“Barry, your ankle!”

Barry looked at her then looked down and noticed that he was hobbling on one foot.

Okay, now that their adrenaline was actually wearing down some he felt a <em>really</em> sharp pain in his right foot.

“Think I sprained it,” he realized.

“We need to get you back to the lodge!” Iris said at once. She patted herself. “I think I lost my cell. Do you have yours? If not I’ll head back to the lodge and grab help.”

Barry looked at her as if she had two heads and Iris was certain he had quite a few questions for her. But, before he could form his first one, shouting up the hill caught their attention.

A couple was waving them down. “Are you two alright!? We were a couple of chairs back and saw you fall off!”

“We’re okay,” Iris called up to them. “Just a little sprain. Could you help us get back to the cabins?”

The two men climbed down, ditching their skis for more sturdy footing as they each flanked Barry’s side and helped him slowly make the trek back to base. 

It had begun to snow and it wasn’t long before they were trudging through a brewing storm.

About halfway there, patrol met them and loaded Barry and Iris into the back of the car.

With nothing to distract them, the ride together was once again filled with jitters and shy glances. 

Well, Barry’s glances were more confused than shy and Iris’s were shaded in contrition.

“So you know how to ski?” Barry finally asked as they pulled into the lodge. He knew the answer. He hadn’t been that good of a teacher. “Really well it seems.”

She nodded apologetically. "I do.”

Barry chuckled breathlessly. 

He would ask why on earth she led him to believe otherwise, but the affection written all over her face gave him his answer. 

Still he was baffled as to why he of all people interested her enough to lie.

Some workers helped him out of the car and Iris trailed behind closely. They offered to bring him up to his room, but instead he requested to stay downstairs with an ice pack and a pillow.

By the time the house physician looked him over, confirmed his sprained ankle, and set him up comfortably in front of the fireplace, he was pleasantly surprised to see Iris had stayed rooted right by his side. 

When they were alone once more, he beckoned for her to sit beside him. 

“I’m so sorry, Barry,” Iris apologized earnestly.

“Iris, it’s not a big deal,” Barry laughed again, thinking about the last week together. “I’m pretty sure I would’ve made up an elaborate plan to talk to you the first time I saw you if you hadn’t approached me first.”

Iris shook her head. “No, not that. Well, yeah I’m sorry about that too. But, I meant your ankle.”

Barry’s brows furrowed. “This definitely wasn’t your fault. Blame the faulty chairlift.”

“I’m pretty sure the bar only broke because I kissed you and scared the crap out of you. I kissed you and you almost broke your ankle.”

Barry blushed hard. “You didn’t ‘<em>scare</em>’ me,” he said slowly. “I was just caught off guard I guess.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t expecting… you to…”

Iris’s face burned and she looked down, smiling self-consciously. “Barry, it’s okay. You don’t have to explain I get it. I’m sorry I put you in an awkward spot.”

Barry realized she’d misunderstood him. He reached over, taking care not to move his ankle and he held her hand. 

Iris looked up at him.

“I don’t know why you’re the one apologizing,” he said gently. “I promise, if I’d had even an ounce more chill today, I would’ve kissed you on that lift. But, I think that I was so preoccupied trying to pinch myself awake, that I’ve botched this entire thing up really badly.”

Iris smiled, touched by the sentiment and relieved that the reason he’d struggled in the lift was nerves and not disinterest.

Before she kissed him, Iris had been fairly confident that Barry had feelings for her too.

But, after kissing a guy then watching him practically escape under a safety bar mid-air, a girl could start to wonder.

She shook her head. “You didn’t,” she promised, trying to keep her giddiness under control. She pointed to the thick snowflakes drifting onto the ground outside. “Snowstorms remember? Perfect redo.”

Barry grinned appreciatively and cupped her cheek. “That’s good because I’ve waited too long for this not to be perfect. It’s taken everything in my power not to kiss you these last eight days.”

Iris smiled and Barry saw her trademark mischievous glint enter her eyes. “There’s no need to waste any more time then, Professor.”

And she was right. He slid up in his chair and moved closer until he was flush against her, sprained ankle be damned. 

And when their lips met, Barry was certain no mountain could ever make him feel as tall as this did. No feeling of wind whipping through his hair or death-defying ski run had ever come close to the exhilaration he felt in this moment. 

He thanked their lucky stars that they were alone because he couldn’t have made this kiss a short one even if he wanted to.

Iris hummed appreciatively against his lips and eventually she pulled back for some air.

She didn’t pull back much. She hovered close, not wanting to be separated any more than he did.

She studied Barry. 

His eyes were still closed as he savored the moment and as she took in his impossibly long eyelashes grazing his cheek, Iris decided that this was her favorite thing about kissing Barry Allen.

“Barry?” she whispered against his lips. She ran a soft hand along the back of his hair.

Barry opened his eyes and looked at her intently. “Mm?”

Iris bit her lip and smiled sheepishly. “In the interest of full disclosure, you should probably know that I can also snowboard like you wouldn’t believe.”

Barry blinked and then he burst out laughing, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her across his lap. 

And Iris’s giggles soon joined in with his own as he tickled her in retribution.

Their laughter echoed out of the sitting room and into the peaceful winter night.

#the flash #westallen #westallen secret santa #submission

[dopescotlandwarrior]

A Hero Among Us-Chapter 10

Previous Chapters on AO3

Chapter Ten

Frank Randall senior finally looked up from his Saturday morning paper after ignoring the butler, tortuously bend forward, for the past five minutes. He took the mail from a silver plate and looked through it quickly. One letter was from California, St. Helena, which meant news of his deceased son or widow or their failed farm. His face pulled into a sneer involuntarily because he found the entire venture in very bad taste and destined to fail. He opened the letter quickly before his nosy wife asked who it was from. She was still quite unstable emotionally and any news of her poor son might send her back to bed for another three weeks. Frank senior opened the letter, read the short paragraph and quickly folded it back into the envelope and tucked it into his jacket pocket. Well, he thought, that is unexpected news.

“Sassenach, my dearest love, ye promised to meet with Ben and the men this morning to learn how to cut the vines.” He smiled at her face, so angelic, so buried in her hair. He pushed the hair away from her face and one eye opened then quickly closed.

“I beg to differ Jamie darling, I did not promise.” Her voice was groggy with sleep.

“Aye, that ye did, in front of the men, so ye must get up now and put yer riding clothes on.”

“You have to help me.”

“Just hearin ye say that makes me dangerous, so no, I canna.”

Claire pulled his hand under the covers making him launch off the bed. “Yer a wee vixen and I’ll no be seduced…until later.” With that, he grabbed her quilts and threw them off her naked body making her scream in protest and follow him around the room trying to get them back. Three laps around the room and she was awake glaring at him in a way he found adorable. “Don’t be late.”

Claire had not been awake at this time of the morning, ever. She made several attempts to stab her legs into her breeches and finally sat on the floor and slid them up. She tied her binding around her breast and missed one side completely, donning her shirt and boots she was finally ready. Her hair looked like it had not seen a comb in a month so she shoved it under her hat and walked to the stairs. She glared at the banister and decided she would sustain bodily injury, or fall asleep if she tried to slide down it so early. When the front door opened Jamie took three seconds to push her back into the house and fix her binding. While he worked on capturing the rogue breast, she fell asleep.

Ben had worked with Jamie, Rupert, and Angus the day before so they could take smaller groups of men into the vineyard and teach them how to cut the vines back. This annual task ranked in the top five in importance to the health of the grapevine. The men were focused and ready to learn. Claire was leaning against Jamie sound asleep. Ten men groups practiced cutting and hauling the vegetation away. By noon, even Claire had her first grapevine cut back like an expert. Jamie and two of the strongest Highlanders hauled the piles of vegetation to the back of the property to be burned, destroying the evidence of the healthy vines as soon as possible.

It was back-breaking work that continued for five days of cutting, and three weeks of burning the vegetation. Seventy percent of the vines are cut away leaving only the trunk and two arms for next year. Ben walked through the vineyard totally impressed with the commitment of Jamie’s men.

When this enormous task was completed, Jamie was tortured over which of the men he would keep on for the winter. He decided on ten men and would cut the others loose so they could make their way back to the city before the cold settled in. When he was stymied he would find his wife for a fun ride through the property. Sometimes Misses Crook packed them a lunch to eat by the lake and Jamie found great value in quiet moments to talk with Claire, plan their future, flirt, tease, and look for a private place to make love.

Rain would nourish the sleeping vines and drive everyone indoors for a day of rest, brawling, or exploring the flesh of the one you loved. Claire would take a quick bath on overcast mornings just in case the big black clouds decided to rip open and confine them to their rooms.

Claire loved the new swing so much Jamie built a slanted roof over it to shelter them from the rain. His clever design was removable in nice weather but during the winter rains, it was very handy and allowed them to stay outside. On one cold afternoon, they cuddled on the swing, bundled up in a blanket, and read their current book for hours. As the sun lost it’s fight against the storm clouds the day got too dark to read and Jamie pulled Claire down to lay next to him. They cuddled and kissed, giggled and pinched. When the heavy rain came Claire gripped his hair and panted into his ear, pressing her legs open as he laid his erection against her heat. She was doing her best to push his pants low enough to free his erection and he was watching the sky for a break in the rain to run to their rooms. Mother nature won and Jamie slid into her body with a grunt suggesting she keep as still as possible.

The water slid off the roof of the swing in a thick sheet and the lovers discovered a new level of eroticism when they forced themselves to hold very still and not make the obvious body movements that would reveal their secret. Jamie held Claire’s hips still and inched in and out of her pulling lusty moans from deep in her chest. He used his mouth on hers to seduce and then fuel the arousal that lasted all afternoon. The sunset left them in pitch dark and they were finally free to chase their release with complete abandon.

The weeks passed and Jamie tortured over releasing the men. He walked to the cabins and rang the bell pulling every man to attention around him. He looked from one face to the other and cleared his throat.

“I ask yer forgiveness for taking so long to let ye go for the winter. I hope yer able to find some work this late in the year. Personally, I hate to see ye go. Yer my brothers and it just feels like ye belong here. So, those of ye that can stay on without pay are welcome. We will feed ye and give ye a place to live but we can’t do much more than that. The holidays are comin and some of ye need to send money home to yer families. I will write ye a letter of introduction to take with ye, and hope we see ye next year for the crush. Ye will all be missed.

Jamie pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and told the men to call out their names if they were leavin. He anticipated writing letters the rest of the day and waited for the names. With his led poised above the paper the minutes passed and he finally lifted his eyes to look at the men. No one called out and after five minutes Jamie put the paperback in his pocket.

“Well, all right then. I’ve heard this land has deer and turkeys. Thanksgivin is next week and a passel of ladies will want to dance if we have a full table. Let us endeavor to impress them.”

The men erupted in laughter and joking, slapping Jamie on the back and shoulder as they moved out to scout the local fauna before starting the hunt. Rupert jogged toward the road to catch up with his friends when Claire called to him. She handed him a list of items to get in town and dazzled him with her smile. Ordinarily, Rupert would pull a sour mood to miss the scouting, but he would do anything for Claire, gladly.

Jamie was in a jovial mood now that the men were settled and staying. With little else to do, he grabbed Claire and pulled her, protesting, to the lake. She would learn to fish today, like it or not. It was part of his campaign to plug his wife into the everyday heartbeat of the property. Something she would never know staying in her rooms all day. Jamie set up two long narrow branches with string, hooks, and bait, cast the bait far out into the water and propped the branch up on a rock. Then he laid on his back and fell asleep. Claire was not happy being left alone with no one to talk to. She opened her book and saw one branch move a bit. Starting to read the branch jerked violently and she lunged for it before it was dragged into the lake by a fish on the hook.

“Oh! Oh! Jamie, you must get up and take this pole. Oh my God!” She did an impressive body dive toward the second pole that was bouncing violently. “Jesus, Jamie, what do I do! There are fish on the poles and they are monsters!” With a pole in each hand, she did her best to hang on as the fish fought for their lives and Claire made many noises that had never been uttered or heard in the history of mankind. One fish came jumping out of the water like it was trying to attack her and Jamie could no longer keep quiet. She dropped the pole and fish on Jamie and ran away dragging the second fish out of the water and bouncing behind her. She was scared shitless running away from the fish that chased her because she would not let go of the second pole. Jamie laughed so hard he fell in the sand trying to stop.

Jamie knew exactly where Claire was because she never stopped screaming. She came bursting out of the brush looking behind her at the bouncing fish with the pole gripped tightly in her hand and was successfully tackled by her laughing husband who pried her fingers from the pole and proclaimed her to be a master fisherman. The poor bouncing fish was rather torn up but added to the day’s catch anyway.

“Sassenach, do ye want to watch the poles?”

“I would rather not.”

“Alright, take this knife and the fish into the bushes and slide the knife straight down the line under the belly. Reach into the body and wrap yer fingers around the guts, pull straight down and then check the insides for any pieces that broke off.”

Claire launched at Jamie and almost threw the knife at him, then plopped down between the two poles and stared straight ahead across the water. By the end of the afternoon, they had twelve good sized fish to add to the dinner table. When the house was in view Claire ran straight through the front door and into the bathing room for a bath.

“Oh! Yer clothes smell worse than the dirtiest man I’ve ever met. What am I to do with them. Burn them, aye?”

“No Misses Crook, that is my only riding outfit. Just wash them twice and pray.”

Jamie and Misses Crook waited as long as possible for Claire to get out of the bathtub. Jamie finally cleared his plate before bringing her's to the bathroom.

He held fresh fried fish to her mouth and told her how brave she was. She swallowed the food and smiled as she ran the soap over her skin once more. Forkfuls of carrots, beans, fish, and cornbread were happily chewed as she washed. Jamie held her fingers up and declared her done wrapping a towel around her before Misses Crook came down with her robe. Jamie picked her up and carried her to their bed where he read to her until she chased her dreams.

Jamie was very pleased with his project to get Claire outside and active in the farm. When the image of her screaming while being chased by a bouncing fish came to mind he shook with laughter until he got out of bed to avoid waking her.

Rupert was back in town the next day to finish Claire’s shopping. He stopped for his annual haircut before the holidays and heard the scuttlebutt about the fancy lawyer that rode into town that day. Rupert listened with half an ear because he was looking for any of the lasses that came for their Fiesta. The barber slapped his shoulder to get his attention and pointed out the window as the dandy walked by.

Rupert looked at the man three times and rubbed his eyes before looking again. As he paid the barber he let out a loud NED! The newcomer stopped in his tracks and turned around, a smile breaking across his face when he saw Rupert.

“Well, what good fortune and quite a surprise to see a Highlander in this part of the world. What on earth has brought ye this far Rupert?”

The two men were clearly happy to see each other and talked for twenty minutes before Ned dropped his head and lowered his voice.

“The tenants of Lallybroch asked me to find any news of James Fraser. He came out west to find gold about three years ago and was never heard from again. I expect he ran into trouble and hope to give his sister the news of his fate if I can. Have ye heard anything about Jamie?”

“He’s no dead, if that’s what ye mean.”

The older man’s eyes grew large and he leaned into Rupert. “What have ye heard man?”

“Come see fer yerself Ned. I’ll be bringin the shopping back for his wife and he’s never too far from her.”

Ned’s smile was big and he beckoned Rupert to lead on. They talked animatedly on the way back to the vineyard. As they walked into the yard Ned pulled a paper from his pocket. It was a hand-sketched map with a large X on the property he now stood on. He wiped his brow as the front door opened and Claire ran out to relieve Rupert’s burden. She was introduced and curtsied bringing a fine blush to Ned’s face.

“How exciting, you know Jamie! He will be thrilled! Please come in Mister Gowan.” She spun in a swirl of skirts and led the men into the house.

Ned looked at Rupert with a bit of shock on his face, “she’s British.”

Rupert left Ned with Claire and went back to his chores while Claire pulled Ned into the dining room asking Misses Crook for a cool drink for all. She heard Jamie stamp his feet as he always does when he comes in from the barn. Claire disappeared to announce their company and she was back in her seat smiling in less than a minute.

Ned heard boot steps coming closer and felt his heart rate shoot up. Could that be Jamie, he wondered. It was his single wish in life. To see Jamie safe and fulfill his promise to his best friend, Brian Fraser. He watched the door as Jamie’s large frame filled it and piercing blue eyes looked at the second most admired man in Jamie’s life. He approached silently and held out his hand as Ned stood. They spoke volumes with their gaze and Jamie broke into a huge smile and hugged Ned right off of his feet.

Ned dropped into his chair laughing, red-faced, and shaky from finding Jamie alive. Jamie took a chair at the table and a conversation that would change all of their lives commenced.

Ned described his law practice in San Francisco, leaving out his reason for coming to America was to find Jamie. He also left out the reason for his visit to St. Helena and the client who sent him there. Little was said about how Jamie came to marry Claire or how they came to possess the vineyard and fine house.

Dinner was served as the conversation went on until both men felt completely caught up with the other. Misses Crook blushed a lot behind her napkin and did her best to serve and clear dishes with shaking hands. She knew she was in the presence of a great man and fancied his looks from the first minute. When there was a lull in the conversation Misses Crook blurted out that a rooster had gotten their chickens and now they had twenty layers to feed the men. Claire’s head shot sideways at her and she saw the flushed cheeks on the older woman. Okay, she thought, this just got interesting.

Jamie took Ned on a tour of the vineyard and those who knew Ned were able to exchange hello’s. Coming back toward the house Ned spotted the swing and asked if he could sit a minute and talk. What came next almost made Jamie vomit.

“Did Claire come to California with a man named Frank Randall? I believe he died in the first year, is that right? How did you come to marry her?”

Jamie knew their worst fear had come true and he struggled to breathe before he had a heart attack. He gave Ned the quick version of their marriage and life. He explained what a horrible man Frank was and how he left her destitute after spending her dowry on this land and vines.

“Why exactly are ye here Ned?”

“I’ve been hired by Frank Randall senior to investigate the value of this land and crop. Seems he was notified by a banker in town that there was a good harvest this year. This banker was a personal friend of Frank junior.”

“I can just imagine. Do ye have a name?”

“The damage is done, Jamie. Don’t complicate your life and Claire’s with a jail sentence. Leave the banker be and start making a plan. My loyalty is with you Jamie, as always. Whatever you tell me will not be shared and I will hold Randall off or shut his interest down completely. Tell me everything and we will figure it out.”

Jamie, Ned, and Claire talked into the night. Mostly answering the hundreds of questions Ned asked from Claire’s family and marriage to the value of the harvest and every detail in between. Claire caught Jamie staring at her and she nodded to him, knowing he wanted to tell Ned about the coming harvest.

“Ah, Ned, there’s somethin else about this vineyard I have to tell ye.” He described the blight ravaging the region and the immunity of their vines. Ned’s eyes got so wide that Claire giggled, breaking the tension so Ned could compose himself.

“Th..that is starkable, remarking, oh!… it is stunningly remarkable!”

They all laughed or tried to, and Jamie decided Ned was probably ready to pop from so much information. Jamie got Ned settled in a guest bedroom and they spoke quietly for a few minutes.

“The banker is an example of a loose end. Do the men know?”

“Aye, we had to tell them when the vines were bein stolen. They knew there was a secret reason I wanted them to defend the vines with their life. So, what is your gut tellin ye, Ned?”

Ned smiled at the reference to Brian and his favorite saying. “It’s time to move, of course.”

Jamie looked at Ned like he lost his mind.

“You need to scout the area and find a piece of property for sale, better than this one, or bigger, hell I don’t know. A property that won’t break yer heart to move onto.”

“Leave my vines? No.”

“We’re taking them with us, Jamie boy.”

Claire opened her eyes for a short second before slamming them shut. It was not nearly light enough in their room to suggest a decent time to rise. Turning on her side she burrowed under the blankets and went to war with her eyelids that would not stay closed. She felt her gut in turmoil, something invisible shaking her awake, a tapping shoe close buy.

“Jesus! Okay, I’m up.” As Claire looked around, seeing no one, she recalled the meeting the night before and the source of her anxiety was revealed. She jumped out of bed and ran for her riding clothes. London knew their secret, sent a lawyer to gather facts, they would send another if Ned failed them. They were coming.

Claire flew down the stairs looking for Jamie and jumped out of her skin when he came up behind her.

“I was comin to get ye, lass. We have work to do.”

The horses were tacked up and ready for a brisk morning ride, the first in their search for a new property. Jamie told her just enough so she would know what to look for. They rode all morning taking notes on properties they liked. Jamie had read Frank’s journals so many times it seemed like Frank himself was behind him telling him what to look for.

They insisted Ned stay with them and he began the first draft of the report to London. Each day Jamie and Claire went out scouting for land. There was so much of it they could not tell where boundaries were and made little progress. Hiring a real estate agent would tip their hand so they continued searching with the precious time they had left.

“Eat ye porridge and shut ye pie hole. Obviously, somethin has happened and the boss and lady are not themselves. They will tell us when the time is right and it's not yet so I propose we organize into a night watch. I want to know who might be watchin us, or the vines, and why. After my morning piss, I’ll be in front of my cabin. Those interested, meet me there.” Rupert walked away toward the outhouse. When he came around the corner of his cabin twenty minutes later he almost fell over the men in front of his cabin. It looked like the whole group just got up, walked ten paces, and sat down again. Rupert smiled and blushed with pride in the men.“Who has some ideas for the task before us?”

Jamie struggled to keep Donus facing the land he studied. Brimstone loped up on them and kissed her boyfriend hello.

“These lovebirds are a bit sickening, don’t you agree Jamie darling. Five minutes apart and they have to make out.”

Jamie looked at his bride and smiled knowingly, making Claire giggle.

“Look at that Sassenach. It has all levels for what we grow and the land is plowed, level, terraced and staked. What on earth could be better? It seems bigger than our property.”

“Jamie it’s all dead. Every vine as far as the eye can see, dead.”

Jamie made his thinking noise and Claire knew he was deep in his head. She decided to investigate the property knowing Donus would follow and carry a thinking Jamie with him. They loped along the edge of the property for twenty minutes before they found the outbuildings. Every vine they passed was dead. They dismounted and tied the horses up to smooch in private. Jamie called out a loud hello a few times, not wanting to be shot on the porch. He noticed the stone construction of the house and the European style. The outbuildings were also stone construction. “Big money built this place so where did everyone go?”

Several loud knocks brought not a soul to the door and Jamie turned the knob allowing it to open. He motioned for Claire to stay behind the stone wall and wait for his signal. Five minutes later he popped around the door jam and pulled her inside, kissing her breathless. When he broke the kiss Claire let her eyes fill with the abandoned structure. Someone had put a lot of effort into the interior design, there was a male influence as well as female. She imaged it without the layer of dust and garbage and found it stimulating, making her want to dance.

“If yer this captivated by the front entry ye better not go upstairs just yet Sassenach. My guess is someone created a fine estate, European, old money. The crops failed and they lost everything leaving a worthless property behind to sail back in defeat. Poor buggers.”

“Sassenach, we should go. Sassenach?” Jamie walked quickly through the first floor and then took the stairs two at a time. He spotted her in the corner of a bright room with a crib and rocking chair. She held a stuffed bear, left behind with the other toys that were piled in the corner. She had a dreamy look on her face as she hugged the bear to her.

“Sassenach?”

“What!”

The toy was discarded and her face lost the luminous expression instantly. Jamie held out his hand and pulled her back downstairs. The large kitchen was modern and pulled Claire in like it was needy for a family. Jamie pointed to the window and following that direction, Claire saw the most extraordinary thing.

The sun sparkled off the tiny waves almost blinding if you looked right at it. The water moved to the shore, undulating softly. The lake was large enough that she could not see across it and the spark of a thought jerked her head up to Jamie.

“Is it the same…”

“I am willin to gamble it is, love. Let’s find out.”

They came back to the house and explained what was found. Rupert was called to the meeting and the group made a decision on who the best swimmer was in the group. It was Jamie. Ned Gowen and Claire left on horseback, Jamie walked into the lake, and Rupert took Angus to find Ben and bring him to the house. Misses Crook looked out the upstairs window until Ned Gowen was out of sight.

It took twenty minutes for Claire to find the property again and a fire was lit with wet wood at the entrance to show a smoke signal to Ben and the boys. Another was lit near the beach in front of the kitchen so Jamie could navigate. Claire explained to Ned what she knew about the elevation requirements for the grapes they grew.

Ben let the boys use two of his horses and the three took off, following the smoke column in the sky. When they came up on the fire, they covered it in dirt and rode on to the house seeing the second column of smoke. They entered the house with rubber necks and Ben disappeared shortly after.

Claire was tired after all the excitement and worried about Jamie. Where was he? Rupert and Angus explored the outbuildings telling scary stories to each other about finding the family with axes in their heads or hung from the hayloft. It wasn’t long before they came racing back to the house where they would hang out for the rest of the day.

Claire was feeling frantic at Jamie’s late arrival. What if something happened to him and he could not make it across? What if he… She watched the column of smoke and daydreamed about what life was like for the family that lived here. She saw the water droplets catch the sun with tiny rainbows inside of them and smiled. Wait, why are there water droplets in the air? “Jamie!” She stood up smiling at the image of her husband shaking the water off his long curls. She ran outside and jumped in his sopping arms feeling him shake with cold.

When Jamie’s teeth stopped chattering he described the passage across the lake, where he saw homesteads, where he saw vines. Ned encouraged him to draw a rudimentary map before he forgot the details.

Ben emerged from somewhere below the house looking like he had been kissed by an angel. His eyes were misty, his smile large, and his skin flushed. Jamie walked to him and slapped him on the back good-naturedly. Ben smiled up at him, “they left it all,” and pointed down and waved Jamie toward the door he had emerged from.

Jamie ran down stone steps that led to a subterranean basement as large as the house above. He bent over, hands on his knees to keep from pitching forward. When he thought he could stand he turned in a circle seeing all the equipment for a commercial scale winery. Giant mashers, holding tanks, fermenting chambers, tools, glassware, and a solid wall of oak barrels lined up three tiers high.

Ben joined him looking around like he was seeing it for the first time, smiling in a daze of wonder.

“ My brothers winery,” Jamie whispered.

“Huh?”

Split into the three critical parts, the winemaker, the grape grower, the laborer. We split three ways. You and I get a share and the third is divided among the men. It’s perfect,” he whispered. “My Brothers winery.”

[waste-the-nite]

You over anyone

Ao3 link : https://archiveofourown.org/works/18556756

Matteo understood the concepts of soulmates, he understood why people were excited to meet the person they were destined to end up with. He also understood that you didn’t have to live the rest of your life with your soulmate, but most chose to. What Matteo didn’t understand is how you could date a person for months or years, find out who your soulmate is and leave the person you were dating for them. He didn’t understand how you could love someone and leave them for another person just because a name on your wrist appears. He didn’t understand why his dad left his mom because another woman’s name, Heidi Wagner, appeared on his wrist.

--

When Matteo was fourteen, he met David, it was Carlos birthday party. Most of their classmates were there, some of Carlos family, and a few other friends he had that didn’t go to school with them. He had known Carlos for a while, through Jonas really. As much fun as the part was, Matteo got bored very fast, it didn’t help that the only thing Jonas, Carlos and Abdi were talking about were girls. Apparently, Jonas and Carlos have a double date they were going on tomorrow, with Kiki and Hanna, two girls he sorts of considered his friends. Honestly, Matteo wasn’t even sure if he liked girls, at least not the way Jonas and the guys did. Don’t get him wrong, girls were cute and nice, but so were boys. But Matteo was only fourteen he didn’t have to figure it all out right now.

He had gone outside to the backyard, there was a swing set there for Carlos younger siblings. Matteo sat down on one of the seats, pushing himself back and forth lightly with his feet. Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he opened one of the many game apps he had and started playing it. He had been so into the game he didn’t hear the footsteps that were walking towards him.

“To cool for parties?”

Matteo looked up, almost dropping his phone from the surprise of another person being out here. A boy stood in front of him, in a black jacket and a dark blue beanie covering his hair. The boy raised an eyebrow, making Matteo realize he hadn’t responded yet.

He shrugged his shoulders, “Just got bored of hearing my friends talk about their date tomorrow”

“Oh, so you’re jealous then” The boy said, sitting down in the swing next to Matteo

“It’s more that I’d rather have a conversation with someone that didn’t focus on girls all the time”

Matteo wasn’t sure why he was telling this boy that he didn’t want to talk about girls. The boy next to him probably did want to talk about girls. He didn’t even know the boy. Who was he and how did he know Carlos? More importantly why was he out here talking to Matteo when there was a party full of people inside?

“Well why don’t you talk to them about something else?” He asked, “Maybe they’re tired of talking about girls too, you just don’t know it”

Matteo snorted, “I doubt it, girls are their favorite topic”

The boy didn’t get a chance to reply, Carlos came out the back door, letting it slam shut behind him.

“Dude there you are we’ve been looking for you everywhere” It was directed at Matteo, “Oh you met David, good I was going to introduce you two at some point tonight”

Carlos started talking to the boy, David, but Matteo wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying. He was looking at David, his dark hair curling into the beanie, the way he leaned against the pole of the swing set, and how his eyes keep darting back to Matteo. Carlos didn’t seem to notice, to caught up in telling David something his mom had said. Matteo was really wondering where Carlos had met David.

“- Anyways, my moms about to do the cake in a few minutes so you guys should come inside” Carlos said, turning to walk back to the house, not bothering on waiting for them.

Matteo looked back at David, who was already looking at him with a small smile, “So are you to cool for cake too?” He asked.

“No” Matteo replied; he didn’t move from the swings though.

David tilted his head to the left and began to walk backwards, towards the house, “You know if you ever want to talk to someone about something that isn’t girls, I’m pretty good at keeping a conversation going”

Matteo raised both of his eyebrows, because did David just offer to spend time with him? A boy he just met only ten minutes ago. He’s doesn’t say anything; he wants to say ‘yes’ but the words just don’t come out. Eventually David turned around and walked into the house, Matteo let out a breath. He looked around the yard, empty and dark, he could hear the people in the house start singing to Carlos. Sighing, Matteo stood up and walked to the house, pausing when he got to the back door. Mentally preparing himself for when he goes back into the party, knowing his friends will be asking what girl at the party he thought was cute.

--

The next time Matteo saw David, he was with Jonas and Carlos, or well he was supposed to be. They had been at the park, Carlos and Jonas only wanted to go so they could see the girls. Matteo knew this but he still allowed them to drag him to the park. So, while they were off somewhere doing who knows what with the girls. Matteo was sitting at a table with his earphones in. Once again, he was playing a game on his phone, he had music playing.

Someone sat across from him, assuming it was one of the guys he didn’t bother looking up. It wasn’t until he was finished with the level of his game that he did. He glanced up, then quickly did a double take. The boy sitting in front of him was not Carlos or Jonas, it was David. David from Carlos party. David who offered to sit and talk to him about anything other than girls. David who Matteo hadn’t seen since the party almost a month ago. Matteo pulled his earphones out when he saw David’s mouth moving.

“Sorry what?” He asked.

David smiled, “I said ‘hey’”

“Oh” Matteo looked down, “Hi”

“I’m David”

“I Know” Matteo looked up, David raised his eyebrow, “I mean I remember you, from the party” David didn’t say anything, just looked at Matteo, “Uh, I’m Matteo”

He smiled again, “I know”

“Oh”

David nodded, looking around the park once before looking back at Matteo, “What’re you doing here?”

“Um Carlos and Jonas wanted to come”

“And, where are they?”

Matteo shrugged, “Not sure, someone with the girl I guess”

“The girls?”

“Hanna and Kiki, the ones they had a date with” Matteo wasn’t sure If David even remember the conversation, they had a month ago, but he nodded like he did.

“They just left you here?” David asked, “Why’d you even come if you knew they were going to be with them?”

“Actually, I left them, watching them attempt to flirt was giving me second hand embarrassment”

Matteo decided not to answer the second question, not wanting to tell David that being the third wheel on their date was better than sitting at home alone.

“Do you think you could do better?”

“Do better at what?”

“Do you think you could flirt better than them?” A small smirk laid on David’s mouth.

They stared at one another, not saying anything. Matteo blinked slowly; eyes concentrated on David’s eyes. Even though they were a dark brown color they sparkled more than Matteo’s blue ones. He had long eyelashes, long ones that brushed against his cheek when he blinked. Matteo’s eyes dropped down to the table, David had a book and a pen in his hand, his fingers had smudges on them.

“Do you draw?” Matteo asked instead of answering his question

“A bit yeah”

“Could I see?”

“I don’t usually show them to people” Before Matteo could tell him it was ok, he said, “But I guess I could show you”

Matteo nodded silently as David put his pen in his bag, opening the book to the first page and handing it to him. He held David’s gaze for a few more seconds before finally looking down at the book. There were many drawings on the pages, some of birds, trees, people. A drawing of David himself, he drew himself with spikey hair and boots.

“These are cool” Matteo said, not able to think of another word for his amazing art, “I like how you draw yourself”

“Thanks” David said softly.

There were a couple of pages stuck together, Matteo picked at them for a second. He looked up at David with his eyebrows furrowed together. Before he could ask why they were stuck together, a hand clapped down on Matteo’s shoulder, making him jump. Jonas sat down next to him, Carlos on the other side next to David. Matteo closed David’s book, placing it down next to him.

“Hey dude why’d you leave?” Jonas asked.

“Yeah, Kiki told Sara you were coming, she showed up and you weren’t there”

Matteo resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “Just felt like coming here”

“What’re you doing here?” Carlos asked David.

“I was just out walking around when I ran into Matteo”

“Oh man, Matteo guess what?” Jonas asked, “Carlos and I got another date with the girls, you should ask Sara out and we could all go on a date”

Humming, Matteo shrugged, “Maybe”

“It’s going be great dude”

The conversation shifted from there, Carlos and Jonas talking about where they and the girls should go on their date. Matteo looked over to David, who was already looking at him. He seemed to do that a lot, already looking at Matteo when he looks at David.

“Are you coming?” Carlos asked, Matteo looked away from David, and at Carlos

“Where?”

“Jonas house to play video games” Carlos gave him a weird look

“Oh, um yeah” Matteo said

“Alright, David I’ll see you later, yeah?” Carlos looked over to David, Matteo watched as David nodded.

Jonas and Carlos stood up and began walking away from the table, down the path. Matteo looked down and picked up David’s book. He handed the book over, then stood up from the table.

“I guess I’ll see you” Matteo said.

“Yeah I guess”

Matteo started walking the same direction Jonas and Carlos did, but stopped, turning back to David.

“Do you remember when you said if I ever wanted to talk to someone about anything other than girls?”

“yeah”

“Do you want to hang out sometime?” Matteo asked, David looked surprised.

“Sure” He said, opening his book, taking his pen and writing something down. He ripped the paper out and closed the book.

David stood up and walked over to Matteo, “Here” He put the paper in Matteo’s hand, “Text me when”

Matteo stood there staring at the paper in his hand. David walked down the path going the opposite direction the boys did. Matteo turned and watched as David made his way down the side walk. When he was finally out of sight, Matteo started walking towards Jonas house.

-- “So, soulmates?”

“Yeah?” “How do you feel about them?”

David and Matteo had hung out many times at this point. They go to the park. They listen to music. They ride bikes. They do everything but talk about girls. The first time they hung out it was a bit awkward, mostly because they didn’t know anything about one another other, other an each other’s name. Eventually they got used to each other, learning stuff about the other, David easily became one of Matteo’s best friends.

They were currently on Matteo’s bed, David sitting up back pressed against the wall, Matteo laying on his back looking at the ceiling. Matteo’s mom had been at his aunt’s house, so he had the smart idea to invite David over.

“I don’t know” David said, “I think its weird that someone is destined to you, like you don’t have a say in who you get to be with”

“People don’t always choose their soulmate” Matteo said, even though he didn’t believe it.

“Yeah but then there is probably always doubt in the back of your mind whether or not you’re making the right choice of not choosing your soulmate”

Matteo didn’t say anything. He wondered if his dad thought twice before choosing Heidi over him and his mom. He doubted it, his dad hadn’t even cared when he was born, didn’t bother to show up.

“What about you, what do you think of it?”

Matteo closed his eyes, “I think its complete shit”

“Why?” David asked.

“So many things could go wrong” He sighed, “You could be with someone and find your soulmate, then you’ll have to decide whether you want the person you been with or this random person that’s supposed to be the one for you. Your soulmates could be in love with someone else or they could have died and then what? Then there are those rare cases where someone Is your soulmate but you’re someone else’s soulmate, what the hell is that?”

“You’ve thought about this a lot” David said, Matteo opened his eyes, tilted his head towards David.

“Yeah I had fifteen long years”

“Is that what happened to your parents?”

Matteo pursed his lips and looked back up at the ceiling. He wasn’t expecting David to ask that. No one has ever bothered to ask that. Matteo hardly ever talked about his parents, other than the fact that Matteo’s mom wasn’t always completely there, mentally. Matteo didn’t want to talk about his parents, what happened to them, what his dad did. So, he did what he does best, he ignored the question.

“Do you want to go play video games?” He asked, standing up already walking towards his bedroom door.

David followed him out into the living room, where Matteo’s game system was. He lent against the back of the couch as Matteo went and turned on the tv.

“You don’t have to do that, you know”

Matteo paused, “Do what?”

“Act like you don’t feel or care about things”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

“Whenever I ask you a question, sometimes they aren’t even personal questions, you ignore it” David moved to sit down on the couch, “You’re allowed to feel things and state your opinions, especially with me”

It was weird, Matteo often found himself wanting to tell David about his parents. But not only about them, about a lot of stuff he has never wanted to tell people. Matteo moved to sit down next to David, staring at him for a moment before leaning back, “My parent got together when they were sixteen, my mom got pregnant with me a few months before she turned eighteen, when she told my dad it was his birthday, he had said he was happy and that he’d support her” He let out a breath, blinking away the tears he could feel forming in his eyes, “He lied, his soulmate was some other lady and he left my mom”

“I’m sorry”

“Yeah well who needs him anyways, I’m perfectly fine without him”

“You can tell me stuff Matteo, you can trust me, I’ll listen if you ever need someone”

“Thanks” Matteo sat up and turned on the game, “But I rather not talk about my parents anymore”

“Okay so we’ll talk about anything else other than your parents” David grabbed the other controller from the table, “And girls”

Matteo couldn’t help but smile at that. He’s only ever told one person what happen with his parents before. But it felt nice for someone else to know, to feel just as confused as he was as to why his dad picked the lady over them. The fact that it was David who he told felt even better, David was easy to talk to, easier than his other friends.

--

They were at the park, David wanted to come so he could get some inspiration to draw. Matteo just wanted to hang out with David. So, they were back at the table from the second time they met. David drawing and Matteo watching a video on his phone. Matteo found it weird how comforting it was to just be in David’s presence, they weren’t even talking, just enjoying each other’s company.

Matteo looked up at David, he was so concentrated on whatever he was drawing. His bottom lip was pulled between his teeth, his hair falling in front of his eyes. His hand moved smoothly and quick along the page, it made Matteo wonder if David was this good at everything he did. David dragged his eyes away from the page, looking over to Matteo. He hadn’t expected Matteo to already be looking at him.

“Why’re you looking at me like that?” David asked

Matteo dropped his gaze “Like what?”

“I don’t know, you just had this look on your face”

“There was no look on my face”

“If you say so” David mumbled, looking back down

“What’re you drawing?”

“Nothing”

“Mm, very convincing” Matteo said, “Can I see it?”

“No”

“What, why not?”

“Because its private”

Matteo rolled his eyes, “You always show me your drawings”

“The ones that aren’t private”

That made Matteo frown, he didn’t realize David had private drawings. Ones that David hadn’t shared with him. It made him wonder if there were any other things David didn’t share with him. It also made Matteo kind of self-conscious because of how much of himself he had shared with David.

Sighing David looked back up at him, “Okay fine you can look at it”

Matteo smiled slightly, holding his hands out for the book. David hesitated before placing it in Matteo’s opened hands. Matteo brought it closer to him, turning it around so it was facing the right way. Matteo expected many things, another bird, some artist or filmmaker David liked, or even a random object David found when he was on one of his adventures. What Matteo didn’t expect was to be looking at a drawing of himself. Matteo realized it was of him just a few minutes ago, playing the game on his phone. The drawing was very detailed, the table Matteo had been resting his arms on, Matteo’s hands that were holding his phone.

Matteo looked over to David, who was staring at Matteo, “This is um,” Matteo glanced back down at the drawing, “Amazing”

“it’s okay, I need to work on my hands” David said, placing his chin on his palm.

“Well I think it’s amazing” Matteo mumbled; David gave him a smile.

Matteo would be lying if he said his heart didn’t beat a little faster at David’s smile. He’d also be lying if he said that didn’t freak him out. He could not like David. He was Matteo’s best friend; you’re not supposed to like your best friends. Not only that, Matteo had made it his personal goal not to like or date anyone before he turned eighteen, before he could find out who his soulmate was.

“What’s wrong?” David asked when he saw Matteo mouth fall into a frown

“Nothing” Matteo answered, a little too quickly, “Um, I have to go”

“What, why?”

“I uh, I promised my mom I’d be home by six” Matteo said, giving David his book back.

“Do you want me to walk with you?”

“No” Matteo replied, loudly, “I mean no, it’s ok I’ll see you later”

He turned and started walking to the exit of the park, not giving David a chance to say goodbye. He paused when he made it out of the park and sat down on the bus bench. Placing his head in his hands he let out a breath, you cannot like David, you cannot like David. Matteo groaned as he stood up and began walking in the direction of his house. David’s smile flashed through his head for a second, you cannot like David, repeating over and over in his head.

--

Matteo is sixteen when he breaks his promise to himself not to date anyone before he knew who his soulmate was. He had been sitting at his desk trying to study for the upcoming test he had. Except everything he was reading was very boring, he kept getting distracted by the notifications pinging on his phone. A knock on his window startled him, causing his phone to fall from his hand and onto the desk. Looking over he saw David, motioning for him to open his window.

“What’re you doing here?” Matteo asked, holding his window open for David to climb through

“I expected a bit more excitement” David said, throwing himself onto the bed, “Especially since I’m your favorite person and all”

Matteo hummed, not agreeing but not disagreeing with what David said. Matteo sat back down at his desk, trying to focus on the words in front of him. He could feel David’s eyes on him, Matteo desperately wanted to turn and look back at him.

“So, do you notice anything different?” David asked, giving Matteo a reason to turn towards him

Matteo stared at him, eyes tracing over David’s face. Nothing looked different, he still had long eyelashes and his hair was the same. He was ready to tell David everything was the same when he saw it. The piercing in David’s nose, it was small and round. Matteo’s mouth parted slightly, David had talked about getting a septum piercing before, but Matteo never thought he’d go and do it.

“Whoa dude” Matteo moved to sit next to David on the bed, “Did it hurt?”

“Well I was getting a needle shoved through my nose to yeah kind of” David laughed, rolling his eyes at the question

Matteo shoved him lightly, a small smile on his face, “It looks good” you look good, He wanted to say

“Yeah?” David asked, his cheeks turning a light of shade of red

Nodding Matteo leaned closer, staring at the piercing. David really did look good with it, nothing about it stood out, just a tiny silver circle, but somehow, he made it look amazing.

Breaking the silence, David asked, “Do you want to go out with me?”

“Sure, where’re you going?”

David laughed, “No Matteo” David sat up, “I meant do you want to go out with me, like on a date”

Matteo’s eyes widen as he looked up at David, “W-what?”

“I mean unless I’ve totally read this wrong” David ran his hand through his hair, resting it on his neck.

“This?” Matteo was starting to wonder if he was broken

“I was getting these feelings that you liked me, and I’ve liked you for- “David let out a breath, “-for a while now, but we can forget this ever happened if I was wrong- “

Matteo stopped listening. What the hell, David liked him? Matteo hadn’t expected this. Everything in his brain was telling him to say no, there was a huge chance David was not his soulmate. Also, what if it didn’t work out between them and they broke up, would they be able to stay friends after that? But then there was everything else in Matteo’s body that was telling him to say yes. He has liked David for almost a year now, it’d be so stupid of him to say no.

“No” Matteo said, cutting off David causing his face to fall, “Wait no! I meant no you didn’t read the anything wrong”

“Okay” David said slowly, “So you will go out with me?”

Matteo smiled, nodding his head, “Yes David I will” --

“David and I are dating”

They were at Carlos house, playing video games and eating pizza. It had been a couple of months since David asked Matteo out on a date. Matteo figured it was time to tell Jonas, Carlos and Abdi about them. There was no better way to do that than to just blurt it out at a random time. It was surprisingly easy being around the guys without them finding out they were together. The only thing that really changed in their relationship since they got together was that they held hands and kissed.

“About time” Carlos said, frantically the button on the game controller

“Honestly I thought you guys would never figure out you liked one another” Jonas added

“What?” Matteo asked, looking between the two

“I thought you two were secretly dating this whole time” Abdi said, not even looking up from his phone

Matteo looked at David, eyebrows drawn together in confusion, because what the hell?

David laughed, shrugging his shoulders, “Well that was easier than we thought”

Laying back into the couch, Matteo rolled his eyes and let out a small laugh, because wow his fucking friends.

--

Matteo sat on his bed; legs crossed facing David. There were fifteen minutes left until David’s eighteenth birthday, fifteen minutes until they knew who David’s soulmate was. Matteo remembered what he told himself, no dating before eighteen, but then that flew out the window. He remembered telling himself not to fall in love, not that he thought David would want to keep dating him for longer than six months. But then six months passed, and Matteo had been so far gone for David at that point. Now it’s been almost two years since David had asked Matteo out, and if he were being honest, Matteo wasn’t sure what he would do if he and David weren’t soulmates.

“How is it my birthday but you’re more nervous than me?” David asked, poking Matteo with his pen

Matteo shrugged, thinking back to all those times his brain told him how stupid he was for falling for the boy in front of him. David who was incredibly kind and always offering to help other. David who never got annoyed at Matteo for his endless complaining. David who made Matteo’s heart beat faster whenever he gives Matteo that beautiful smiles of his.

“There’s no reason for you to be nervous, you know”

“David there is a chance that my name won’t appear on your wrist!” Matteo exclaimed, immediately remembering his mom is asleep in the other room, whispering, “That’s a perfect reason to be nervous”

“Your name will appear on my wrist, don’t worry” David said calmly, Matteo rolled his eyes at how sure he sounded.

“Luck and fate have never been very fond of me, so I doubt they’ll let me have one good thing”

Matteo knew that even if his named didn’t appear on David’s wrist, David could still choose to be with him. But then Matteo thought back to when he first asked David about soulmates, how he said that if you didn’t choose your soulmates you’d always wonder if it was the right choice. Matteo didn’t want David to question his choice if he had to pick between his soulmate and him. He didn’t want David to resent him if he did pick Matteo over whoever he was meant to be with. He didn’t want to go through the pain of David realizing that his soulmate was much better than Matteo. He also knew that even if he was David’s soulmate, David could still easily get tired of him, nothing was set in stone.

David wiggled his fingers as he felt a weird tingle shoot throughout his right arm. His phone read three minutes past midnight. He lifted his arm, bringing it closer to his face. David stared at the letters slowly making their way onto his wrist, in possibly the ugliest, sloppiest hand writing he had ever seen.

“Is it there yet?” Matteo asked, not sounding as excited as David was currently feeling.

David nodded, a smug look on his face, “I told you it’d be your name on my wrist” He turned his arm so that Matteo could see, “I’m always right”

Letting his body relax a smile made its way to his face, “Oh my god” Matteo grabbed his wrist, holding It close to his face.

Matteo pulled David into a hug, one that was probably entirely to tight. David wrapped his arms around Matteo’s waist, letting out a laugh. They stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding each other. David rested his head on Matteo’s shoulder, his heart was pounding.

David pulled away first, “So Matteo, Mr. Soulmate” He laughed again, “That is some beautiful hand writing you have here”

“Shut up, I was like seven when I wrote that”

They laid down on the bed, Matteo’s head on David’s chest, staring at Matteo’s horribly written name on David’s wrist. David’s other hand ran through Matteo’s hair, pausing to twirl a strand around his finger.

“You know, I would’ve chosen you whether it was your name or not, right?” David mumbled, “It was always going to be you over anyone”

“I know” Matteo replied, because he did, “I love you” he did.

“I love you too”

--

David was late, he was twenty-three minutes late. Matteo sat on his bed cross legged, just like he did a few months ago. The only difference this time is that It was Matteo’s eighteenth birthday, twenty-three minutes in. Matteo sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. He had felt the weird tingle run through his arm, but he didn’t look. Not yet. Not without David. It didn’t really matter whose name was on Matteo’s wrist, because it was always going to be David over anyone else. So, it didn’t matter, well maybe it did a little. Even though it would always be David, the thought of someone else’s name on him weirded him out.

Matteo was weak, he couldn’t wait any longer. He removed the band aid he placed over his wrist to prevent himself from seeing the name. Tears immediately sprung to his eyes. In all its glory, nice and neat, was written David Schreibner. Matteo ran his finger over the name, he pursed his lips, a smile threatening to break through. A tap on the window brought him out of his daze. David sent a tiny wave to him through the glass. Matteo got up and opened the window for him.

“sorry Laura wouldn’t stop talking about som-“

Matteo cut him off with a kiss, throwing his arms around David’s shoulders. David made a sound of surprise, his hands instantly going to Matteo’s waist. Matteo kissed him once more before pulling away.

“It doesn’t matter, look” He said, holding his arm up to David’s face.

David’s eyes crossed because of how close Matteo’s arm was, “Jesus what’re you-“He stopped, pulling his arm away and reading the name, “Oh shit”

“Yeah ‘oh shit’” Matteo laughed, “We are officially soulmates”

“My official, one and only, soulmate” David said, leaning in and kissing Matteo again.

“That’s me”

David smiled at Matteo, that smile that made his heart beat a mile a minute. Matteo still had his doubts about soulmates and forever. It wasn’t perfect, there were many people in the world who didn’t get the person they thought they would. But he got David in the end, so someone, somewhere was doing something right. Someone somewhere finally decided to let something great come into Matteo’s life and stay.

“I would have chosen you too, no matter whose name was I had” Matteo said, remembering what David had said to him a few months ago, “It was always going to be you over anyone”

Another kiss, “I love you” David did.

#druck #skam druck #skam germany #matteo florenzi #david schreibner #matteo x david #davenzi #datteo #skam remake #davenzi fics #fanfic #soulmates #soulmate au #jonas augustin #carlos schmidt #friends to lovers

[blueplanettrash]

Prompt: Lance is about to be executed for doing something on accident(like he flirts with the queen and that's like a big no no)and the team is forced to watch. Lance is sobbing insecurities, sorry's and goodbye's. The team is screaming, crying, begging to let him go while being held back by the guards. You can choose if Lance dies or not.(the way he's gets executed would be like him being burn like a witch because that's messed up and I've never seen that in a prompt before) (⃔ *`꒳´ * )⃕↝

I’ve been thinking about this prompt for like three days and I finally had time to write it! I hope you enjoy it! ❤️ I think I’m going to write an alternate ending to this as well. Heads up for major character death in this one though.

If Lance knew that his flirtatious nature would get him killed one day, he would have stopped years ago. How was he supposed to know that it wasn’t taken too kindly on a planet that was far out of their galaxy? Allura might have touched on the fact that the queen of Tyira wasn’t as laid back as other leaders that they had come in contact with, but it didn’t mean that she was immune to charm. It had helped them with alliances before, and they didn’t think that it would be any different than all the other times.

As soon as he saw her, he knew that this would be a tougher case. She held her head high, and her face was stiff and emotionless. She didn’t even move when they entered the throne room to begin the alliance meeting. Without prompt, Lance moved forward it was commonplace for Lance to make the first move to show that the paladins aren’t completely formal and the aliens can be comfortable around them.

“Sorry your majesty, but do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes,” he said with a smile and a wink. Almost immediately the Queen screamed out and two guards tackled Lance into the ground. He grunted in shock when a fist flew across his face making his teeth rattle. Although his face was being crushed into the ground, he was able to look up and see the disgust that was on the Queen’s face.

“Take him away,” her advisor monotoned. The guards nodded their heads and began dragging him out of the throne room. He looked helplessly back at Allura and his team, who were straining against guards to try and get to them.

“I’m okay!” He yelled out to them before the doors closed behind him.

“You won’t be,” one of the guards said ominously. He looked up at the face, fear was beginning to creep up in his stomach. He gulped and stared ahead when they didn’t reveal anything else to him. They dragged him into a cell and closed the door behind them before throwing him onto the ground.

“Hey! What are you doing?” He cried when they began ripping his armour off, leaving him in only his black undersuit. At the sound of his voice, one of them lashed out at him, punching him again in the cheek and making him fall to the ground in a heap. The taste of copper spread across his tongue and blood dripped from his nose onto the dirt.

“You have disrespected our Queen and it is time for you to pay,” the guard sneered. Lance looked up at him with wide eyes. This wasn’t supposed to happen, sure the other leaders might have politely asked him to stop if he was being too forward but they never tried to punish him for it. Without giving him a chance to explain himself either. It didn’t make sense to him.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed out staring up at them. Without hesitation one of them kicked him in the stomach making the oxygen rush out of his lungs. He curled into himself, holding his stomach as it spasmed in pain. Drool and tears dripped to the ground as he tried to take a breath of air in. He only relaxed when a small trickle of air streamed into his lungs and he was able to look up at them. They wore sadistic smirks on their faces as they glared down at him.

“You are far past apologizes,” one said cruelly, picking him up by the nape of his neck and turning towards the other so he could deliver vicious blows to his body. With every hit, a shred of hope was replaced with fear. His team would be able to smooth the issue out soon though. Right?

The Queen didn’t even acknowledge the blue paladin as he was dragged out of the room. She looked over to one of the soldiers standing guard and nodded her head. With that, they left. She turned to the rest of the paladins with a smile, which they hesitantly returned.

“I apologize for Lance’s behaviour,” Allura said. Although, she thought the Queen’s reaction was extremely over the top. The Queen waved her off, a scowl appearing on her face again.

“Enough about that, I believe that it is time for dinner,” she said instead. “I assume you will be dining with me?”

“Oh, of course,” Allura agreed nodding her head. “But, the alliance-”

“We will set our terms after we eat,” The Queen cut her off with finality. Allura’s mouth clicked shut in annoyance but she took a deep breath and nodded in understanding. The Queen smiled again and the advisor led them to a dining room, that was being set for the six of them. They sat down and looked over at the empty seat between Keith and Hunk.

“Will Lance be able to join us?” Hunk asked hesitantly. The Queen’s brows furrowed.

“Lance.” His name rolled off of her tongue as if she were talking about the dirt under her feet.

“He has committed a great sin by making advances on the Queen,” her advisor spat, drawing the attention of the paladins.

“He didn’t mean anything by it,” Pidge tried.

“Yeah, he was just trying to lighten the mood,” Keith agreed. The Queen only shook her head and motioned for them to be served. The other paladins sighed but leaned back and watching as they were served.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Hunk asked quietly to Shiro. He looked over at Hunk, worry plain on his face.

“I don’t know but we can only hope,” he whispered back with a comforting smile. Hunk nodded and looked beside him to Keith. He gave him a smile too, with Pidge sticking her head out as well.

“This is delicious,” he complimented when he finally dug into his food. He didn’t notice that none of the other paladins started eating until he said that it was good. Only then did they start. Many agreements and compliments started pouring out of their mouths at the taste of the meal.

“I am glad that you think so,” the Queen stated. “I’ll be sure to give your compliments to the chief,”

Half-way through their last course a soldier walked in and whispered something into the Queen’s ear. She nodded with a little smirk and waved him off again. At the looks from the paladins, she started to explain.

“Arrangements have been made, we will have a bout of entertainment before we make our agreements,”

Allura’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion but nodded none the less. When they agreed to meet they never said anything about entertaining them. They also said they would hold dinner after they confirmed their alliance. Everything about this planet was confusing her.

“Perfect,” she snapped her fingers and were brought dessert. This Queen was really starting to get on Allura’s nerves. She didn’t have any problem with using degrading body language on her subjects or her guests. Although, it didn’t really seem like they had any problem with it. Probably because they had been forced to bend to her will their entire lives. It didn’t look like the paladins were very comfortable around her, even as she plowed through and conversed with them as if she hadn’t gotten their friend and teammate dragged away for only being himself.

It seemed like forever before they were all finished and were being herded out of the castle doors to a courtyard in the middle of the city. They circled around the Queen like an entourage as they got closer to the large groups of locals. It turned out to be unneeded as they parted like the sea as she drew near and bowed at her feet. She and the paladins walked onto a platform to take a seat. Only then did they notice what was sitting in the middle of the courtyard.

“Is that- a pyre?” Pidge asked nervously. They couldn’t be sure, it looked like just a metal pole sticking out of the ground, but around it was stacked with wood and papers. They could only imagine that it was soaked with some sort of accelerant. They looked over at the Queen and gaped at her lack of reaction. This couldn’t be normal, the citizens didn’t even look fazed though.

“Bring out the guilty party!” A soldier yelled. There were cheers from the crowd as they parted for the guards that appeared from between the cities buildings. A new feeling of terror rose in their chests when they realized that they were the very same guards that dragged Lance away earlier.

“No,” Shiro breathed out. All of them hoping that they wouldn’t see what they thought they were going to. He stumbled between the guards, huffing and puffing with blood dripping off of his chin. He glanced up and locked eyes with Shiro, tears of relief cut through the blood on his cheeks. A different guard walked up to the team and deposited his armour beside them.

“Shiro, please help me,” he cried with a sob. That was all it took for Shiro to jolt up and try to get to him. The guards latched around his waist preventing him from getting any closer to the blue paladin.

“Lance!” He yelled, reaching out a hand towards him as he struggled with the guard. Lance let out a broken wail as he pulled against the guards, straining to get to safety. They lashed out and punched him in the face again, making him yelp and curl his hands over his face.

“Hey!” Hunk screamed, leaping towards him but he too was caught by a guard, one that towered over him. Keith and Pidge fought against their captors crying and screaming to get to their brother. Even Allura’s strength wasn’t enough to get through the guards as she clawed at their armour trying to get through them.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please let me go!” Lance wailed. The guards ignored him and started strapping his arms around the pole. He screamed brokenly, fear replacing any sort of logic he had. He didn’t want to be here. He wanted to go home.

He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die.

“PLEASE DON’T KILL ME! PLEASE! I WANT TO LIVE!” He pleaded with loud gasping sobs. The team’s echoing cries only spurred him on.

“LET HIM GO!” Pidge screamed awkwardly kicking at the guard and trying to push her way through the gaps in their numbers.

“HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!”

“HE DOESN’T DESERVE THIS!”

“JUST LET HIM GO!”

Lance bawled out apologizes to the Queen, begging for forgiveness from her. He was already terrified, he would never do anything like this again. He learned his lesson, he would be good from now on. He wouldn’t flirt, he wouldn’t even talk if that made her let him go. It only became real after he saw the guard walking forward with a torch. He wailed with fear and tried once again to get loose, the cuffs digging into his already bruised and bloody wrists.

“I’m sorry I was never good enough! I’m sorry that you’ll have to find a new paladin after this!” The guard stopped in front of Lance and turned to look at the Queen.

“Any other last words?” She asked with a huff as if he didn’t deserve to speak any longer. Lance trembled on the spot, thoughts racing through his head. There were so many things that he wanted to say. So many things that he wanted to do. It wasn’t an option for him anymore. He took in a shuddering breath.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t connect more with you, Keith,”

What? No. He and Lance were friends. They were brothers. They had bonded, they sort out their differences. Lance was always there for Keith, and vice versa. It wasn’t fair. He had just found someone that he could connect with. He cried out, tears flushed his face. He screamed that Lance was wrong, they were family.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you find your family Pidge,”

What do you mean? Look in front of you. Her family is currently being burned for being themselves. Her family is surrounding her trying to rescue her brother. She cursed at the world. The guards that were holding her back. The Queen who thought herself higher than Lance’s life. She sobbed in pain, she just needed Lance back. She needed her family.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get you home Hunk,”It didn’t matter where they were in the universe. Home isn’t just a place. Home is a feeling you have when you are with people you love. Home is wherever Lance was. Lance was always there to make him feel better. Hunk was always home. He howled at the unfairness and grunted trying to knock over the guard that wouldn’t budge.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be your hero like you were mine Shiro,”

Lance was always a hero. No matter what he said about himself, or who he compared himself to. He always did something that the others didn’t stop to think about. Feeding the prisoners, bringing blankets to battle survivors, comforting the children who lost their parents. He strained against the guards sobbing all the while. Lance was pure. He had done nothing wrong.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be the paladin you wanted me to be Allura,”

He was everything needed in a paladin and more. Brave, selfless, strong, and so much more. He always put others before himself, Her heart was breaking. They would never have anyone like Lance again. There was nobody like Lance. He was one of a kind. She roared, even transforming larger but nothing was letting her through.

“Tell my mamá and papá that I love them, tell my siblings that I love them,”

“Please Lance, you’re not going to die!” Hunk screamed. Lance gave him a little smile in return. Full of forgiveness and adoration towards the paladins.

“I love you guys, so so much,” he finally sobbed out.

A single snap of fingers pierced the air.

“NO!” Shiro screamed as the torch was dropped, and without a single scream to pyre erupted into flames. They watched in shock, tears dripping off of their chins at the wall of flames. No accelerant on Earth would have been able to do that. As quickly as the fire started it died down, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake. At that the guards parted, letting the paladins stumble towards the remains of their teammate. They fell to their knees around the pyre and could only stare at it.

“Oh God,” Hunk choked out when he spotted a metal chain in the ashes and carefully pulled it out. It was his Garrison dog tags. His sobbing began anew as he clutched the tags to his chest. Their shock all turned to grief as memories of the blue paladin flooded their heads. Unbeknownst to them, the locals began retreating back to their homes after their “entertainment” was over leaving the six to grieve without an audience. They heard a throat clear behind them and they turned to look.

It was the queen.

“Now that, that is over with I believe that we should get along with discussing our alliance,” she said sweetly. You could actually hear Hunk snap before he got up a lunged towards the queen. The only thing that held him back was Shiro, who gipped him around the chest just barely able to keep him from attacking the queen. She had the audacity to look confused at him and look to Allura for an explanation.

“How dare you believe that we would form an alliance with you after the actions today,” Allura hissed. She stalked forward getting into her face with a growl. “If I didn’t know that Lance would hate me for it, I would kill you here and leave you to rot,”

“How dare yo-” she tried.

“You are a disgusting creature that deserves to be destroyed for your actions, but I know that life is precious and Lance thought so as well,” Allura continued not beating an eye at the way she tried to interrupt her. She turned away from her without hesitation and went to collect Lance’s armour.

“When the Galra come for you, I hope they leave you for last so you can see what you did to all of your people,” Shiro growled. He turned back to help Hunk, Keith, and Pidge try and move the ashes from the ground into Lance’s helmet. They weren’t going to leave any part of him on this planet. His hands shook from where he was gripping the helmet and soon he burst out into tears again.

They ignored everyone as they made their way back to the ship. All of them were sobbing at their loss. None of them could think of their lives without Lance being a key figure. They didn’t say anything months later when Tyira was attacked and subsequently destroyed. For the rest of Voltron’s days, they would fight in Lance’s name. His desire to help everyone, kept them going even when they wanted to quit.

Stories Masterlist

#vld #voltron #voltron legendary defender #lance mcclain #lance #hunk garrett #hunk #keith kogane #keith #pidge gunderson #pidge #takashi shirogane #shiro #allura #langst #angst #lance whump #whump #character death #execution #Meet Me at the Pyre #fanfic

[everlark-your-own-adventure]

Powder Keg - Ch 5

Welcome back to the adventure we’re all everlarking together! Fallen behind in the story? Here are the previous chapters: Chapter 1 /// Chapter 2 /// Chapter 3 /// Chapter 4

In last week’s installment of Powder Keg, Katniss and Peeta were forced to work together to tame a bunch of bratty fourth graders. But of course, all did not go according to plan, and now they find themselves at the top of the mountain with an injured (and very ticked off) Katniss and a storm blowing in. You, everlarkers, voted for our dynamic duo to take refuge in a nearby cave. What happens next? Hold on tight, kids, because the next gripping chapter was penned by the always amazing @appleblossomgirl0305 and it’s a doozy. 

As always, you have 48 hours to vote, until noon, Wednesday, December (how is it December already??) the 6th. Remember, vote in the comments or reblogs, not in the tags! And as always, share with your friends, more voices = more fun! Ready? Here we go… grab your favourite warm beverage and settle in for our weekly trip to Mt. Mockingjay...

The walk to Old Hans cave is the longest hundred yards of my life.

Peeta, no doubt relishing seeing me defenseless and utterly pathetic, immediately slings an arm around my waist. I’m surprised to see the hurt in his eyes as I push him away. I wish his misery brought me pleasure or at least the satisfaction that he deserves all of the pain I can inflict, but instead the sadness clouding those sky-blue eyes makes my heart ache. But I turn away, refusing to waste any energy on his feelings, he certainly didn’t care about mine, that night three years ago, or really anytime since.

I try to hop, leaning on my ski pole for support, but once we’ve left the groomed part of the hill, the snow is too soft to facilitate jumping. I switch to a modified lurch-leg drag, but even the small transfer of weight makes my knee scream. I’m seriously contemplating crawling when Peeta's arm wraps around me, his large hand grasping my hip firmly lest I try to shake him off. Before I can protest again, Peeta barks out, "Shit, Katniss, just pretend I'm a crutch. At the rate you're going we'll freeze to death before we get to the cave.”

As much as I desperately want to spit back that he’s welcome to go on ahead if he can’t handle a little snow storm, the wind is starting to kick up and the icy snow is coming down at a hard angle and I know he’s right. My perspiration has started to cool and I can feel the cold, damp hair freezing against the back of my neck.

With my curt nod, he half drags, half carries me to the mouth of the cave. The last few yards to the cave opening are rocky. Peeta drops the skis, hoists me up into his arms bridal-style and carries me into the shelter. I feel my face flush and I’ve never been so happy to be wearing a ski mask. Despite my embarrassment, it feels amazing to have my weight off my throbbing knee, and if I’m being honest, it also feels oddly thrilling to be held so close to him, to feel the warmth of his neck on the skin of my wrist where my arm is slung over around his shoulder. I’ve fought long and hard to keep my feelings for Peeta confined to a narrow spectrum that runs from hatred to indifference with healthy stops along the way at annoyance, resentment and dislike. Maybe the pain has worn me down, weakened my resolve, but for just a moment, I fantasize about surrendering to his comfort, pulling up my ski mask and nestling my face into that place between his neck and shoulder where I know from experience he smells like heaven.

He sets me down with such exaggerated gentleness, I almost laugh, but the pain as I put my foot down makes me wince. His answering grimace as he pulls up his mask almost looks like sympathy.

Disappearing back into the snow, he returns a few minutes later with our skis and tells me he radioed Jo to let her know we’d made it to the cave and would need medical evacuation when the storm allowed.

I know I should thank him, but I can’t bring myself to say it. Instead, I nod in acknowledgement and stare out at the snow, falling thick and wet. When he sits a couple of feet from me, he shoots me a sheepish look, then asks, “How’s your knee feeling?”

“It hurts,” I say curtly. “You know how sprains are.” I trail off, remembering a time from before when he had twisted his ankle. The pain of remembering what it felt like to be close to him, to have shared my life with him, twists in my gut, making it difficult to believe I’m looking at the same person. “Look, maybe it’s better if we just don’t talk, alright?”

“Right, I’m a dick even when I’m trying to be nice.” He shakes his head ruefully. "Fine, I'll just wait over here. You can go on acting like I don't exist."

"Classic," I snort softly under my breath.

I want to just sit here and ignore him, I really do. But there's this look he gets when he stops smiling, when he stops being “on”, this hollow, lonely look like all of his dimpled-smile, golden-tongued, easy confidence isn't enough. He's got it now as he stares out at the swirling snow and I feel that need that only he's ever made me feel. That need to comfort him, consume him, to crack myself open and offer him everything I have. And it pisses me off. So when he glances back over at me, all wounded-looking, I snap.

"How dare you look at me like that?"

"Like what?! Please, Katniss, tell me what I'm doing wrong now.” Though I’m pretty sure he means it sarcastically, there’s so much raw pain in his voice, I can’t be sure.

"Like that," I gesture wildly at his face. “Like you're the one who has a right to be pissed."

"I'm not pissed. I just don't understand what happened. Why you hate me."

I physically recoil, he’s got to be screwing with me. Fuck him. He knows what he did. I'm not falling for his baffled innocence routine. I was vulnerable for him once and he stomped on my heart. Never again. It costs too much for me to show him that particular scar. "You can't be serious. Though I have no doubt that you're a self-delusional ass, you can't be that clueless."

His color’s high, his blue eyes flashing dangerously as he turns to face me fully. "Look, you can rewrite history however you want to, but you kissed me." He holds up a hand to stop me from speaking, but I'm so indignantly furious that I haven't come up with any words yet. "I'm not saying I didn't want to kiss you. I’d wanted to kiss you forever. Being with you-- I hadn't been able to think straight for weeks. But I was too afraid to screw up something so important, so I'd chickened out. Repeatedly."

I’m so caught off guard by his honesty, I snap my mouth closed. I’ve tried to forget the palpable energy between us on those nights we'd sat in my driveway, cocooned in each other's company. I'd never felt so alive without a pair of skis strapped to my feet. I can feel the heat rise in my body as I remember the exquisite excitement of being so close to someone to someone that I was crazy about, desperate for, made breathless by, of us building towards something as unbelievable (or impossible) as love. My chest actually aches as I recall his arm around Bristel, the dismissive little wave he'd given me.

"I'm surprised you remember anything since it obviously meant so little to you."

He rubs his face hard, leaving his cheeks even rosier, his curls sticking up from his forehead. "What are you even talking about, Katniss? That kiss meant everything to me. I told you that a million times! You blew me off!"

"What? How?" I demanded, "How exactly did you tell me that? By cuddling up with Bristel less than twenty-four hours later? By barely acknowledging me? By acting like an indifferent prick for the past three years?" I’m breathing hard, my hands balled into fists wanting desperately to hurt him as much as he'd hurt me. But fists can’t inflict that kind of pain.

"Cuddling with-? Are you serious? She was telling me about her brother's leukemia diagnosis. What was I gonna to do, ask her to hold that thought while I said hello my new maybe girlfriend?"

Wait a minute, that sounds strangely plausible. Bristel had left the lodge soon after that party due to some sort of family emergency.

"I had been dying to see you all day. You walk in, stunning in that crimson sweater and I had to work my ass off to stay focused on what Bristel was saying. And then you were gone. You and Hawthorne." He shoots me a glance brimming with accusation.

"Don't be stupid, Gale just needed a ride home. It was you that..." My voice trails off. Is it possible that he hadn’t blown me off exactly like I thought?

"I texted you like fifty times that night. I called, I emailed, I even wrote you a goddamned letter. You wouldn't talk to me."

Crap, that sounds just about right too. "Well, I blocked your number. Deleted your emails. I never got the letter. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t want to hear your excuses. I trusted you and you hurt me!" I shout.

"Well, then I guess we're even." His expression twists into something between a smirk and a grimace.

But this can’t all just be a mistake, can it? I've spent three years nurturing this grudge. I've watched Peeta flirt relentlessly with all of the women that swoon over his golden beauty. Besides, it doesn't really matter, we actually hate each other now.

“You could have talked to me if you really wanted,” I say, my mind still reeling with all this information that contradicts my carefully tended grudge. “Besides, how do you explain that you flirt with anything in a tight sweater?” I sound petulant, but I don’t care.

“First off, Hawthorne told me, in no uncertain terms, to leave you the hell alone. Second, just because you broke my heart, I’m supposed to live like a monk for the rest of my life? You broke my heart, not my dick.” He shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it. “You make it sound like I’m some kind of player, which is completely unfair. I’ve dated, but I haven’t had a girlfriend since-,” he looks away and clears his throat before continuing in a quieter voice. “The way things ended between us messed me up. I’ve been chasing the feeling of being with you since that night. Nothing’s ever come close.” I can’t help staring at him in shock. “What?" he demands. The bitterness hangs in the frigid air between us, nearly visible as the white puffs of our breath. His confession is already sapping the heat from my anger.

"N-n-nothing," I stammer through my violent shivering. Without my indignant fury, it feels like my body heat is being sucked into the rock beneath me. I want to pull my knees up to my chin and zip them inside my jacket, but my injured knee won't bend like that. But I'm so cold that my muscles are starting to lock up, making everything hurt.

"Jesus, Katniss, your lips are turning blue. This is ridiculous." He looks angry, but I know it's frustration at my intractability. I've seen that look on every friend and family member's face at some point. “You can hate me all you want, but we need to warm you up.”

I can't help but wonder how many people have taken refuge in this cave over the millennia. I imagine my ancestors staring out of this very cave opening, wreathed with icicles, grateful for the shelter and refuge from the elements. How many of them would have turned down an opportunity for warmth, for survival out of spite? My refusal of Peeta's offer of body heat suddenly seems ridiculous, reckless even.

"Fine," I say through chattering teeth, unable to look directly at him. "You're right."

Without a moment of hesitation, he walks over to where I sit shivering. He says softly, "Good to know you have a bit of sense under all that stubbornness." He stands there for a moment and as I glance up, readying myself for an argument, the "do you need a written invitation?" quip already on the tip of my tongue, he surprises me by taking off his jacket. Then, as I stare in open-mouthed confusion, he strips off his fleece liner jacket, until he stands before me in a silk thermal so thin I can see the outline of each muscle and both peaked nipples. I swallow hard, noticing that he’s more defined than I remember. Too soon, he’s zipping his ski jacket back up.

Laying the fleece down next to me on the rock slab, he sits down on it and gently, but without hesitation, he pulls me into his lap. The relief is incredible as I stop hemorrhaging heat, but I still can't stop the shuddering. He sighs dramatically behind me and nudges me forward while he unzips his jacket before pulling me back against his chest. I can feel the warmth against the back of my neck and I want more. I take a deep breath and steel myself before quickly unzipping my jacket and whipping it off. The icy air is like knives through the holes in my wool sweater, until I push myself back flush against him and zip his jacket around both of us. The warmth is immediate, spreading along my limbs like melted butter. It’s like slipping into a sweater warm from the dryer. I groan in pleasure and Peeta breathes in a sharply through his nose. I turn to look up at him, sure I've hurt him, but it isn't pain I see in his eyes when ours meet. He looks predatory, pupils blown as he licks his lips. My body responds instinctively, pushing back against him as he wraps both arms around me.

"It's like climbing inside an oven," I murmur, needing to diffuse the tension. We're pressed so tightly together, I feel his responding chuckle vibrate through my chest, then ricochet through my entire body. And while it doesn't really change anything, I feel some of the hardness around my heart soften a bit.

I spread my jacket over our legs and we just sit breathing together for a while, staring out at the steadily falling snow, until Jo’s crackly voice comes over the radio to tell us that rescue is on the way.

His voice is scarcely louder than a whisper and spoken so close to my ear that I feel the warmth of his breath and shiver for reasons other than the cold. “Katniss, do you think we could just start over? If I stopped being so, you know, wounded, we could take a shot at just being friends?” he says.

Before I find my voice to give an answer, we hear the the crunch of snow and the sound of voices from just outside the cave. Our evac is here. Realizing that I’m sitting on Peeta’s lap, I panic. I need to get out of this position before our friends and coworkers see us all cuddled up together. Then again, Jo does want us to get along better, to work as a team. Should I extricate myself and face our colleagues on my own two feet or risk the embarrassment of being found snuggling with my arch nemesis, knowing word will get back to Jo?

#EYOA #powder keg #things are heating up on the mountain! #what should Katniss do now? #YOU get to decide! #So vote! #vote vote vote! #But not in the tags #the tags are for snark and smut requests :P

[vulturesgalaxy]

The Pink Team

This has been a long time coming. this has taken up more time than I thought it would, but it’s done on time. David belongs to @caraaah from their comic Lisowski. Here he’s joined by my characters the Castillo sibling Kiki and Noi.

When sophomore year rolled around David just wished it would past as soon as the last, but the world seemed against him. It was impossible to miss them when he walked onto the school campus, they’re tall, the girl is. about as tall as him and the boy even taller. But that wasn’t the thing that made them stand out, it was their hair. Bright pink. Long silvery pink hair that stopped past the waist on the boy and short hot pink almost red hair on the girl. I looked nice on them, not sure how many people could pull of pink hair like that.

That would have been the end of his worries, there were just two teens who liked attention, which meant less attention that could be direct towards him. That was until about a week or two into the school year. He had learned their names by that point. Kiki and Noi Castillo, a senior and junior respectively, the only times he saw them was in the halls and during lunch. They seemed to be well like; he had spied Noi flirting with both girls and guys alike, and no one dared cross Kiki.

It was lunch when it happened. He had been sitting alone at his table near the corner of the cafeteria minding his business and shutting out the outside world. He hadn’t even registered the other guy sitting down across from him, not until a slim hand reached over and slid is tray a bit away. And there was Noi Castillo seated across from him, a bright smile decorating his face. He looked back down at his tray of food hoping that if he ignored Noi’s presents he would go away.

No such luck. He had learned fairly quickly that Noi wasn’t easily deterred. Noi continued to sit at his table for a days trying to elicit a conversation out of him. He also learned that Noi had no concept of what the words ‘Personal space’ ment, after the pink haired teen hand wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

Soon Kiki had begun to join her brother at his table. Kiki’s not as bubbly as her brother, quite the opposite. Despite her bright pink hair she looked down right dangerous, that nasty scar she sported under her eye was doing her no favors either. Pink was suppose to be a bright fun color right? Not on Kiki it wasn’t. She didn’t talk much when they ate lunch together but when she did he picked up the slight spanish accent she had.

Slowly he began to open but a little to Noi and Kiki; it wasn’t much really but it was enough for Noi to work with. It was also apparently enough for Noi to drag him to one of his little friend get togethers. Something he was apprehensive about but Noi constantly assured him it wasn’t many people.

And it wasn’t. It was a friday when they hopped into Kiki’s truck and drove to her home. There was only one person there when they arrived, a tower of a person, Scul. That has to me a made up name or a weird nickname, who names their child Scul.

Scul had to be a foot taller than him, it was slightly uneasy to be around him, yet astonishing. Maybe this is how shorter people felt around him. He had thought he was being inconspicuous when looking at Scul, his darker skin decorated with patches of lighter skin, and even a few parched of his hair is white.

“He has vitiligo.” He couldn’t help but jump, turning to find Kiki leaning over the back of the couch next to him. He knew that, it just he’s never seen in real life, he’s seen it in pictured and what not but to actually see a person with it was different.

It was only them three until about five rolled around, they had been talking - mainly Kiki, and Noi, sometimes Scul - and during that time he learned that Scul was very strange. He had only known the guy for a few hours and he was already calling him by a nickname, Blue eyes. Never once had Scul used his given name. That and he only talked with spoken to but only if you said his name? It was all very weird. He got to ask about Scul’s bridge piercing, only for Noi to answer after Scul just stared at him for a while. Apparently he didn't ask his question right. Weird.

When the rest of Noi’s friends came along, they had been in the middle of a movie, something that Kiki insisted they watch, a movie she’s watched a ton of times, if Noi was correct. He realized that when the rest of them came along he was among the shortest, only two other people being shorter than him out of the entire group of six.

He couldn’t remember all of their names. There was the redhead who was way to into the tattoo on Kiki’s back, the quiet guy with purple hair who seemed just as uncomfortable to be here as him, the guy with silver-blue hair who seemed to be Noi’s boyfriend - with how touchy Noi was with him it was hard to tell, and the only other girl besides Kiki looked like she could bench press him despite her small size.

Thankfully they didn’t seem to mind him being there, invading in their time together, Noi had told him they didn’t get to do this often. Besides their initial introductions, they didn’t seem to mind his presents there. Noi’s friends we’re a lively bunch - thankfully not as lively as Noi. Lucky for him, he had a spot to the calmest guy in the group, the guy with the silver blue hair. But that did mean Noi came his way alot.

Most of the night was past by playing songs that were way too explicit way too loud, Noi dancing on the coffee table only to be yelled at by Kiki to get down, and little games, like truth or dare.

They had rules that that all respected, never pushed boundaries when it came to the truths being asked, dares couldn’t cause bodily harm, you couldn’t pick the same thing three times in a row, and if yo refused to answer the truth or do the dare that they had to get a punishment. And it was those last two rules that landed him where he was.

He had used up his two truths, He wasn’t picked much, thankfully and it was easy to lie when he didn’t want to answer the truth, truthful, no one there knew him and wouldn’t be able to tell. When he did lie though he saw Noi quirk an eyebrow.

When it was his turn again he had to pick dare, those were the rules, plus he would always refuse to say no and take the punishment; they didn’t seem all that bad. The big guy had to wear one of Kiki’s dresses, he barely fit in it, Kiki had a mustache drawn on her, the quiet purple one had to go outside and yell penis as loud as possible, the silver blue haired guy couldn't eat anymore of the candies he carried with him, and Noi had to put his hair into twin pigtails. At that point it felt like they were taking the ‘punishments' than the actual dares.

The redhead was the one who dared him, wide smile and laughing at Kiki who had thrown on a pair of sunglasses to complete her new look, honestly she had pulled it off. The redhead studied him, green eyes twinkling with mischief, making his shift in his seat.

The world around him seemed to slow as he processed what his dare was. He wasn’t going to do it, anyway but it still caught him off guard. ‘Pole dance with an invisible pole’  yeah that wasn’t going to happen. So he shook his head no. And everyone ‘oh-ed’ Noi was snickering behind his hand and Kiki and sat it straighter.

“Ravi what’s his punishment.” The girl had her hands on his shoulder shaking him a little as she bounced in her seat.

“Let me think.” The redhead, Ravi, studied him once more and the room around them fell into silence. What was happening, they never got this excited over the punishments before.

“I got it,” Everyone held their breaths including himself “You have to join the pink team.” The girls hands fell from his shoulder as she threw herself back with a pout. Join the pink team what did that even mean, what was happening?

“First time players who gets a punishment have to do something to there hair.” Ravi said, tipping his head to the side and flipping his hair over to the otherside, the hair was much shorter than the other side “I had to get a half shave, Ruth,” He pointed to the girl next to him “Got a buzzcut, Killian,” the quiet purple haired teen “Got his ponytail cut, and Krome,” the guy next to him “Had to dye his hair baby blue.”

Kiki leaned forward and peered at him from over her sunglasses “I’m not going to be dying your hair tonight, I don’t have the right color pink for you. Also welcome to the team.”

The game continued on as if nothing had happened, as if they didn’t give him the punishment of dying his hair pink. He would end up like Kiki and Noi, and pink beacon amought the crowd. Would he even be able to pull it off like they do.

It was around nine-ten o’clock when Kiki as if he was read to go home, he had been ready to leave when they had decided to dye his hair pink, but politely nodded anyway. Kiki had informed him that everyone else was spending the night and from then on things would get a little hectic.

The ride was quiet, she hadn’t turned the radio on and so he mulled on the thought of having pink hair. Kiki had said she doesn't have the right kind of pink so it wouldn’t be pink like hers, and that was fine. Her hair color was way to intense for him. Would it be like Noi’s, that light silvery pink?

A hand was placed on his shoulder, sudden and heavy, almost like a mitt, causing him to jump. They had stopped at a light and Kiki was looking over at him. “Calm down, your over thinking things.” She squeezed his shoulder “There's nothing be be scared of, if the attention your worried about, trust me, after a day or two things will be back to normal.” She looked back to the road just as the light turned green “Next friday we’ll take you to choose what shade of pink works best, so you have a whole week to relax.”

More like a whole week to worry, a day or two of unwanted attention was a day or two too many. He slumped in his seat, he wish this year would be over faster.

For the next week he avoided both Noi and Kiki; It wasn’t hard they stood out about above the rest of the teens like a pink beacons. Avoiding the lunch room and taking different routes to get to his classes, anytime he saw a head of pink hair he was turning to go the other way.

Turns out it wasn’t as easy as he thought to hid form Noi. By the time friday rolled around he hadn’t been seen with or interacted with Noi at all. And hoped to keep it that way for a while longer if not for the rest of the year.

He had quickly put his book in his locker at the end of the day in hopes of avoiding Noi. He hadn’t seen Kiki at all today and Noi was easily trackable. Turning around he jumped back, back slamming against the lockers as he came face to chin with the very person he was trying to avoid.

“Are you ready for today.”

“Guess I don’t really have a choice, do it.” He mutter under his breath as Noi wrapped an arm around his shoulder and lead him towards the exit.

“You really don’t.” Noi laughed. Creepy.

Like Noi had said Kiki was out waiting for them in the parking lot of the school. “Took you two long enough. Come on I got baby Winter and Daw with me, told grandma I’ll have them over there by five so we have to make this quick.” Kiki said through the open passenger window.

“You have Baby WInter and Little David with you.”

“Please do not call him Little David, especially in front of David.”

The coin baby kind through him through a loop, there was a baby in the car or two or one and a child. This day just keeps getting better and better. Noi opened the back door to the truth and sure enough there was a small child and a car seat, although he couldn’t see it from where he was standing he knew it was there.

He froze as he watch Noi interact with Daw and Baby Winter as they called it.

“David you want to sit shotgun?”

The sound of Kiki’s voice snapped him out of whatever daze he had enter. Sit shotgun with the very person who was in charge of changing his life or sit in the back with two kids. He’ll take shotgun.

“Yeah sure.” As he opened the door to the passenger seat he slid his backpack off and rested it between his feet.

“That’s fine with me, I get to spend more time with the kids.” Noi pulled the rest of his body into the back of the truck and closed the door. Once everyone was buckled in Kiki began to pull out of the parking lot.

The drive to the mall was filled with Noi’s chatter to the other two in the back, and the low murmurs of the music Kiki was playing from her phone. He focused more more on the songs being played than the thoughts of his impending doom. That and keeping his breathing constant.

“Dude calm down your in good hands.” Noi reached up to pat him on the shoulder. “Kiki’s been doing her own hair since she was ten.”

“Really?”

Kiki didn't spare him a glance as she turned a corner. “Yup, from cutting, bleaching, dying. It's all been me. Along with the help of youtube and experimentation.”

“Sissy’s gonna dye my hair for my birthday.” It was the first time he looked in the rearview the child sitting between Noi and the car seat had a head a curly mousy brown hair, side side of it cut short to the scalp, and almost the same reddish hazel eyes as Kiki, a large smile on his face.

“Not your whole head thought, only a small part of it.”

He watched as the kid, Daw, nodded.

“Kiki’ll find what shade of pink looks best on you.” He looked back to Noi who was leaning over Daw so they could look at each other in the rear view mirror. “There's a lot that goes into getting the right hair color.” He quirked a brow.

“Really, tell’em Kiki.”

“Most people throw caution to the wind when they first start dying their hair, and sometimes it works and sometimes it don't. You need to find a color or a shade that fits you. Something that will turn heads but not garner to much attention.”

Any attention was too much attention really.

“Changing your hair color is just another way of expressing yourself, same as with tattoos or piercing. If you had to chance to choose, what color would you dye your.”

He never really thought of dying his hair, cutting his hair was about as far as he thought he’d go. Any unnatural colors felt like they grabbed too much attention.

“Maybe something darker, black probably.”

“That was my first color. Mainly because I was you and my natural hair is already really dark, and dad didn't want me bleaching my hair. But it was also a very bad point in my life.”

“David what would you say Kiki and I hair color said about us.”

“I don't really know.”

“Just try, there's no wrong answer.”

Goodness it felt like he was back in school. “Kiki's danger, yet girly? And Noi’s cold joy? I don't know.” He shrugged and slouched in his seat just wishing for this conversation to be over.

“I like cold joy. But you know what we say when you stick to natural colors when dying hair?”

“What?”

“We say your boring. Come on David take a little risk, step outside your boundaries, live a little.”

“The color will only last two to three weeks depending on how often you was it. So it's not like it's permanent.” That's to long of a time to be having pink hair, and what about when it washed out? Would he just have blond hair until his natural hair grew out.

“We're here.” Announced Kiki as the pulled into the parking lot of the mall. This wasn't the mall he normally went to this one far larger, with more people.

Kiki parked at the back of the lot where barely anyone parked, her excuse was that they had perfectly fine legs to walk with.

And it wasn't until they got out of the truck did he realize he had forgotten about the baby in the back seat, he had been so caught up in hair color that he had forgotten.

He watched Kiki unbuckle the child from it's seat, rest him on her hip, open the back of the truck and pull down a stroller, all with one had, all the while the kid was yanking on her hair.

“Noi open the stroller for me please.” She sat the child down on the still opened flatbed of the truck before slipping off an elastic from her wrist and trying her hair up. “Now you can't grab it.” She poked and teased at the child causing him to giggle.

“Stroller is ready.” She put the child in the stroller and Noi grabbed ahold of the other child’s hand.

“Alright let’s make this quick.” And they were off towards his doom.

He hadn’t realized he was lagging behind until Noi slowed to match his pace, he was no longer sending the kids hand, they hand run up to Kiki and was now holding the back of her dress.

“Still a bit nervous?”

“A little.”

“Dying your hair can’t be as nerve wracking as cutting,” Noi ruffled what hair he has “Takes confidence, Or you just didn’t give a fuck.” He said smoothing down his hair.

“The latter mostly.”

“Then just apply that here. Your in good hands trust me.”

“Will you two hurry up, we don’t have all day!”

“Coming,” He leaned in closer “Lets go before she really gets upset.” Noi pulled him along.

The mall wasn't as packed as he thought it would be on a friday afternoon after school. He expected the place to be packed, with teens wandering around. There’s a decent amount of traffic around them but not enough to bump shoulders with people as they followed along behind Kiki. The sound of her heels clicking against the tile echoing around them like no one else was there.

Why was Kiki in heels, she's almost as tall as he is, and he thought tall girls didn't want to be taller than they already were. With the heels she's about her brothers height making him look small in comparison with the two. Don't her feet hurt?

He continued to ponder about Kiki's choice in shoes, just trying to keep his mind off of what was getting ready to happen; that is until they reached the store.

“Noi take the kids.”

“What I don't get to come in?” Noi still took his arm down from his shoulders and walked over to Kiki.

“To do what breath down David's neck, not going to happen. Just sit over there and wait, we won't be long.”

With a grumble Noi began to cart away “That’s what all women say.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing.”

With a roll of hre eyes and a shake of her head Kiki looked back to him “Come on David.” She waved him along into the store.

The store, as expected from something at the mall, was quite large. Rows upon rows of beauty supplies, bright fluorescent lights reflecting off the white tiled floor. Too bright, way to bright.

Kiki gently placed a hand on his back, it wasn't really her hand, just her fingertips lightly on his back, guiding him towards the hair dye section. He felt out of place, they looked out of place. Kiki especially, with her business woman mom look But she moved confident and she guided him to the right aisle.

The aisle is like a rainbow, all kinds of colors in all kinds of shades. It’s like a gradient as she leads him down the aisle to the pink section. He never knew there could be so many shade of a single color for hair dye, as they made their way down he spied that every little white bottle sported its own unique name for the color, there was a blue called Blizzard.

“Here we are.” Kiki announced to no one in particular as she came to a stop, her hand dropped from his back leaving cold spots where her fingers had been. She picked up a bottle and held it up next to his head.

“We want a pink that doesn’t clash to much with the colors you already have.” She returned the bottle to the shelf before looking for another.

“Colors I already have?” She found another pink she deemed worthy and held it up to him.

“Skin, eyes, and hair. Luckily for you all three of those work out for you, because pink looks good with all three of those colors. It’s now just about finding the right shade.” The bottle in her hand went back on the shelf and she was on to the next one.

Pale skin, blue eyes and dark brown hair, he guessed pink worked with all three. He was leaving this entirely up to Kikim she seemed to know what she was doing. If she applied that same method to herself than things should turn out well, tan, skin, and reddish hazel eyes, he wasn’t sure what her natural hair color was or if he would ever find out.

Kiki picked up several more bottle of pink hair dye, holded them up to him before putting it back. Did everyone go through this when picking out hair dye or was that just Kiki. Seemed like only something she does honestly, with her attention to detail.

She picked up another bottle and held it up to him, and a triumphant smile graced her face. “This is -” Open mouthed she froze, the hand with the bottle in it slowly lowering.

He quirked a brow at her, “Something wrong?”

She shook her head, before another kind of smile showed on her face. “It’s nothing, can you go wait with Noi really quick while I get this.” She had a hand on his shoulder turning him around and pushing him towards the entrance of the store. She said it like it was a request but she really gave him no choice.

Noi was sitting out on the benched, the curly haired kid at his side and the baby was in his lap, fat little fingers gripping his pink hair as Noi made baby noise at it. He looked up as he approached.

“She kicked you out already,” He looked down at his wrist like there was a watch there “It’s been less than five minutes.

He took a seat next to the curly haired kid, making sure there was some space between them.

“Well it us and the kids,” He turned the baby on his lap “Say hi to David, Winter.” He pried on of the baby’s hand from his hair making him wave towards him.

He tried not to grimace at that “She said she was heading to check out.”

“Oh,” He reached for the stroller, pulling it closer getting ready to put the baby back. “Do you know what color your getting.”

“Pink.”

Noi laughed as he buckled the baby back in the stoller, still prying grabby little hand from his hair. “What pink specifically.”

“I didn’t get to see.”

Looking back to the store entrance Kiki was making her way out, a little black bag in her hand. “Alright, time to drop the kids off.”

Kiki wouldn’t let neither him or Noi see what else was in the bag. The thought of what else could be in the bag nagged at him. When they pulled up to their grandmother’s house she even took the bag with her as she got the kids out of the truck and lead them to the front door, just so Noi couldn’t pry. Honestly he would had looked to.

Back at her place she lead him to the bathroom that’s attached to her own room.  He tried not to look at her living space, it felt weird enough just passing through her room. The lights in the bathroom are bright, almost as bright as the ones from the store and above the sinks is a mirror that spans the size of the wall.

“You might want to change into this. Don’t worry it’s clean.”

He looked back at Kiki and down at the shirt she’s holding out for him, he takes it and she closes the door. All around the collar of the shirt are stains of pinks, purples and blues. He slipped off his own shirt and put the stanined one on. He was drowning in the shirt, it made him look smaller than he really was.

“Are you ready.” It was Noi’s voice from the other side of the door.

“As I’ll ever be.” The door opened and both Kiki and Noi stepped in, the little black bag still hanging from her wrist. It was a large bathroom so they didn’t have to worry about space.

Kiki slid over a cushioned stool from the corner and motioned for him to sit, which he did. Noi reached under the counter for a little bowl, a brush, some vaseline, some gloves, and the hair bleach, placing on the counter before taking a seat on the edge of the tub.

“Okay so here the thing.” Kiki leaned against the counter “I couldn’t bring myself to throw you in the deep end and make all of you hair pink.”

He almost seemed to deflated with relief at the notion, that he wouldn't be getting a head of pink hair.

“But that doesn’t mean your off the chain.” She reached into the bag a pulled out the hair dye, the label reading ‘Neon’. Now he was really glad she wasn’t do all of his hair, He would look ridiculous walking around with bright Neon Pink hair. Bu she said she wasn’t throwing him off the deep end.

“Neon seems like the deeped of deep ends Kiki.” Noi popped up behind him voicing his thoughts.

“Well if you waited a little you would see that that's not all I have.” She pulled out another bottle this one reading ‘Rose Gold’

“Gonna do a two toned kind look.”

“That’s what I’m going for.” She pushed off the counter and moved to stand behind him looking at him through the reflection of the mirror. She took the pointed end of the brush to part the front of his hair and held it up.

“Ok, David, here’s the plan. I wasn’t to leave you roots alone, have most of it be a rose gold that fades into the neon pink, alright.” As she said what she was going to do she showed where the color would start and end. And with a nod she began her work.

The bleaching took about an hour, and it was Noi who washed the chemicals out of his hair in the sink. The fade from brown to blonde was a gradual one but there was still about a half an inch of untouched hair. He looked so different with the blond, it was almost like he was looking at a different person.

“And now for the fun part.”

Kiki turned the stool around so he was no longer facing the mirror wanting to keep the reveal as surprise.

Both Kiki and Noi worked gently and effectively like a well oiled machine. Noi was practically bouncing with excitable energy as they waited for the hair dye to set. While they waited Noi decided to dance around in Kiki’s room to burn off of excess energy while kiki took his spot on the edge of the tube, smile at something on her phone.

As soon as Noi began to was the dye from his hair he was already saying how good it looked, it was making him more nervous. Noi stood behind him as he dried his hair styling it back in the usual style he wears it.

“Kiki this had to be your best work. He makes me what to redye my hair with some ombre.”

“You had a pink ombre before so shut up.”

She moved Noi out of the way as she slowly she turned the stool around. He held his breath, not really read for the reveal but it was coming, even if he wasn’t ready.

He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. It wasn’t bad, he actually managed to pull it off. If you looked at him head on you wouldn’t even really see the pink from from the side he could see the bright pink tips of his hair.

“What do you think?”

“I like it.” Pink or rose gold wouldn’t have been two colors he would have ever chosen for himself if he was to dye his hair but someone else what handing it, and they did a good jod.

“Welcome to the pink team… kinda.”

Sorry for any grammatical errors and what not. Didn’t really feel like editing much after tackling this beast. Admittedly as hard as this was to write it was fun, but I did have to cut some scenes for time. 

#zee writes #David lisowski #no my oc #kiki castillo #noi castillo #my ocs #hair dye #high school #au i guess

[redandpointy]

because it amuses me

here is like half the next chapter of the Alexstrasza fic

Alexstrasza's flight took her over the rest of the continent. She could see evidence of the Sha infestation in the land and plants as she flew. It could be tasted in the very air in some places. Finally she came to the edge of the continent and flew northwards over choppy seas and growing rain. She considered flying above the clouds but there was something cleansing about the rain hitting her scales and the storms indicated her target was close by.

The island appeared as the mists and rain cleared for a moment, the winds allowing her to see. Dark and ominous, the trees and rocks loomed out of the choppy sea, ugly and unwelcoming. She flew lower and saw the glowing sigil of an eye with three marks under it; the sigil of the Kirin Tor. The beacon appeared harsh rather than welcoming in the stark surroundings. She'd come upon the alliance side of the island it seemed. Flying lower, the sea crashing on the rocks was loud enough to rival the occasional claps of thunder. Alexstrasza alighted on land, paws squishing unpleasantly on the soggy ground. She could head to the Kirin Tor settlement or she could press further inland. The spires of a massive palace rose through the trees and shrouding rain, now imposing from this perspective. Highkeeper Ra had been imprisoned under the palace. She lifted into the rain and winds again, flying low over the trees.

There were mogu as well as trolls here, she was surprised to see. The latter were mounted on great saurian beasts and walked patrols despite the rain. Not wishing to become a target, she sped onwards, hoping to avoid notice by passing through swiftly.

She found a spot in a courtyard and transformed into her human form, still wearing the clothing she'd worn as part of the archeological team in Uldum. The rain and mist began to immediately plaster her hair and clothing to her body. She picked at her shirt with an expression of distaste but remained as she was; something the size of a human would attract less notice. Hopefully she would be leaving the rain soon.

The evidence of battle was all over the courtyard in craters and divots in the ground, broken arrows and shell casings. The largest of which was the impressively sized carcass of some three-horned saurian beast. It showed signs of having been brought down by a combination of blade, arrow and spellfire. Parts of the body had been cut apart with cleaner slices so she guessed some sort of research team had come by to take samples. It wasn't decaying and closer inspection revealed that a preservation spell had been set some time ago and had yet to expire. The rain appeared to be keeping everyone away for the moment, but the spell had been maintained so someone was close.

She continued into the palace finding further evidence of battle in more recent scorch marks and blasted masonry in the halls and additional courtyards. How recent the battles had been was muddled; any clear indications had been washed away by the rains that covered the island. She paused at the edge of a broken bridge. The masonry shards were still quite sharp and a replacement bridge of great bamboo poles lashed together had been set up as a replacement crossing. Touching the makeshift bridge she judged they were recently felled trees. Alexstrasza looked across the expanse. While there was no one in sight on the far side she did see the a flicker of flame deeper in the palace. She crossed the bridge quickly.

On the other side were the remains of a small camp. The flames she'd seen were from a brazer which had been knocked over, spilling it's contents on the floor. Away from the constant rain, the flames continued to burn in a heap of fuel. The table and chairs had been knocked over, one of the seats broken. Every container had been opened and upended, the contents strewn about. Kneeling, Alexstrasza looked at the papers left. The writing was in Common. The second page made her double take - she knew this letter. She'd seen it before. Brann Bronzebeard had written to Dr. Harrison Jones informing him of Lady Vermillion's possible visit. She looked around, alarmed. This letter was only a few days old but given the fire this place had not been abandoned long. There were no bodies she was relieved to find. Sharp eyes spotted a dark patch against the fallen table. She crouched beside that and sniffed. Blood. Lifting the table she found more. Alexstrasza let the table down and continued to search.

The blood on the table had been human but there was another scent in the area. Creeping beyond the pool of light created by the brazier coals she found a much larger pool of blood and a long streak leading away and further into the palace. Mogu blood and mogu footprints dragging something heavy - possibly their fallen brethren or perhaps an unconscious human with a taste for flirting with danger and ladies alike.

Alexstrasza looked up abruptly as she thought she heard something in the distance. Thunder rumbled, concealing anything she might hear. Setting her jaw and rolling her shoulders back, she stalked further into the palace of the Thunder King, looking for her missing archaeologists

She decided to avoid patrols she came across. Parties of Mogu and Zandalari trolls, well armed and alert, were looking for someone; these weren't security patrols. She waited for a trio of mogu soldiers and their animated construct to pass before she slipped from her latest hiding place. There were more the further in she went and it was slowing her search considerably. At least she wasn't being rained on. Alexstrasza turned a corner and was grabbed from behind.

She cried out in surprise and a hand covered her mouth. Serious Tauren eyes bore into hers and a woman's voice said "shh" very quietly. Alexstrasza relaxed and was silent. The tauren, a female with snow-white fur looked over her shoulder then pulled Alex further into the shadows.

The ground shook and Alexstrasza caught the scent of devilsaur. The creature wasn't as large as some specimens she had seen but the halls of Lei Shen's palace we large enough the beast could walk through unhindered. It wore battle barding and light armor and on its back were a pair of Zandalari trolls. The group waited in silence as the patrol passed by and the massive footsteps no longer shook the ground. The tauren's hand left Alexstrasza's mouth.

"Thank you," she said to the woman. The tauren inclined her head slightly.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" asked an imperious voice.

Alexstrasza turned to the speaker. He was a tall blood elf with short dark hair and a suit which had once been fancy and white and which was now neither of those things. He stood beside a small group. One was a nervous looking blood elf many decades younger than the speaker with bright blonde hair so pale it was nearly white. Another was an orc with a bandaged arm stained red with blood. He held a mogu halberd in a way which indicated he knew how to use it. There was another blood elf man with dirty, mussed hair which might have been golden at one point. he wore robes as mussed and dirty as his hair. The final member of the party was a dark-haired blood elf female who looked enough like the obvious leader she was a relation of some sort. A quick sniff and their scents confirmed they were close blood relations.

"Belloc Brightblade I presume?" she asked.

Belloc frowned. "Did you escape?"

"No, I came looking for Dr. Jones."

"He's dead, come on," he said, gesturing for the group to follow. The blonde in robes did immediately. As he turned Alexstrasza saw the side of his head was matted with blood but he moved well and did not appear concussed.

Alexstrasza blinked and stared. Dead?

"Father you know he isn't!" the woman who would only be Cymre Brightblade, hissed as she scrambled after him. The Tauren tugged her and the nervous elf along. The huge orc fell into guard the rear, lips curled up in a sneer as his eyes searched for threats.

"What happened?" Alexstrasza asked as she followed. Belloc ignored her but Cymre answered.

"We were attacked. Mogu and Zandalari together. We heard them talking about taking a group of humans and dwarves. We managed to fight them off and escape."

"Why are they here?" Alexstrasza asked.

"Shh!" Belloc hissed.

The party fell silent for a moment but then Cymre scowled at her father and bent her head close to Alexstrasza. "They're doing something in one of the inner courtyards. Some sort of ritual. Jones and his people tried to get us to come help stop it but <i>someone</i> didn't want to help!" she hissed and jerked her chin at her father. Belloc reacted with a quick stiffening of his shoulders.

"Do you believe they are alive?"

"I do," Cymre said.

"Shh!" the orc hissed and this time everyone remained silent. They ducked into an alcove and the elf in robes murmured a small spell. They waited as many feet marched by with heavy steps.

Mogu constructs, each one moving with precision and a disturbing lack of life and liveliness. The constructs of stone were interspersed every so often with living mogu. In the center of the procession were captives. First Alexstrasza saw a limp dwarf woman slumped at the bottom of a tall cell meant for a pandaren. Next was a dwarf male who'd been gagged and bound. He still kicked at the bars of his prison and his muffled cursing was just audible over the marching. Next was Dr. Harrison Jones, also bound and gagged. He swayed on his feet as the cart carrying his prison rolled over the stone floor. The side of his head was covered in dried blood, his hat was missing and his hair stuck up at odd angles where it had dried. The last member of the procession was a gnome male and he was by far the worst of the group. Alexs could feel his life flickering as he lay on the bottom of his too-large cage.

"See!" Cymre hissed to her father when the procession had passed.

"Too late for him now. Let's get going. Edias, can you make a portal to the sunreaver encampment? Our guest can come and rot in whatever passes for a brig there," Belloc said.

"Father!" Cymre hissed.

"Fine, we can leave the human here."

<i>"Father!</i>

"We do not even know who this human is," the orc said from the rear, his voice was low and soft and surprising as he looked quite fierce. "While the situation in orgrimmar is in flux it might be best if we treated her well, Belloc. Best not to aggravate things until we know the end result and she is likely one of Bronzebeard's people. Brann's been fair with us."

Alexstrasza felt a stab of guilt for thinking him merely the muscle in this group when the orc was clearly well spoken as well. It was entirely likely he was also a member of the reliquary but even so she could not have made assumptions.

"Who are you?" Cymre asked.

"Lady Alexis Vermillion," she said, giving them the name Jones and his people knew.

Cymre reached out and fetched her father a blow against his side with the back of her hand. "She's one of Bronzebeard's. She's been working with Edneth."

Belloc's scowl deepened. "Another matter in which we will have words."

Pfffa!" Cymre scoffed. "Edneth wasn't safe in Orgrimmar and you know it."

"So you sent him to <i>Jones</i>"

"You and he don't like one another but Jones isn't a monster." Cymre turned her bright green eyes back to Alexstrasza. "He is okay isn't he?"

"Last I saw him, yes," Alexstrasza confirmed. "He's quite a brilliant archeologist. Just needs to remember to do simple things like eat and sleep sometimes. That was one of my duties. I rather liked him and I was glad he was able to find sanctuary where he could continue to learn." She gives Cymre a small smile.

The tauren woman huffed a laugh and Cymre snickerd.

"That is Edneth." She looked at her father. "See?"

Belloc scowled.

Cymre was undeterred. "Father, wouldn't it just rankle Jones more if you were the one to ride in an rescue him from certain doom?"

"And likely sacrifice," the nervous looking elf said. He'd tucked himself beside the massive orc and poke from over his shoulder.

Belloc's scowl deepened even further as thought. "Fine," he said. "We'll go free the Alliance. Suppose it's fair since Bronzebeard's treated one of our own well."

Cymre smiled and made a smug little noise then followed after the procession without further sound. Her father rolled his eyes and followed with the rest of the group.

Following the marching Mogu was a simple matter as the living ones were making a large ruckus ahead. Then orc looked around then gestured to the side, revealing stairs behind a false wall. They were narrow and likely intended for servants of the Mogu emperor to use and not be seen. They exited on a narrow walkway halfway up in a vast room. On the ground were assembled piles of treasure and artifacts. The archeologists muttered over the fortune of history and wealth being laid out by enslaved saurok. Alexstrasza was focused on the men and women being held in cages.

"Well I don't see a good way of doing anything," Bello said, muttering.

"Saurok are disobedient, chaotic and greedy," the tauren woman mused, casting a cool blue gaze over the group.

"Ideas, Grimtotem?"

The tauren woman flicked an ear. "Possibly. Incite the slaves to riot. The masters will have to handle them. It leaves us free to act."

"How do we do that?"

"We do have a mage," she said, eyeing the bloodied Edias.

"I can teleport short distances and I can be invisible for brief periods but I am nearing the end of my resources," Edias said as he too scanned the ground.

"I know some nature magics," Alexstrasza offered. "I might be able to influence one or two. If they are as greedy, disobedient and chaotic you say that might be enough to incite the rest."  If it looked serious for Jones and his people she could transform and destroy everything in the room, but there was potential to harm her allies and even if the Saurok were opponents here, she was loathe to simple murder slaves.

"Can you take someone down there with you?" Cymre asked the mage.

"Yes," Edias said in the same moment Belloc said "No!"

"A few of us should go down," Alexstrasza said. One for each captive. I will need to be closer for my magic to work," she said. The latter wasn't necessarily true, but then she was just a human and most humans lacked in nature magics at all.

"Two dwarves, Jones and a gnome. The gnome doesn't look like he's doing well," the nervous blood elf said.

Alexstrasza focused on the final cage and reached out...

"Oh," she said, her heart breaking a little. "He is gone."

"He's not breathing," the tauren agreed. "One less to save."

Belloc growled. "Fine. The Lady will distract them. Edias, Ro'gahri and I will free the captives."

"But-"

"Cymre," Belloc said, fixing her with a hard stare, "You, Dagrha and Aefias are going to make sure we have an escape route clear once the chaos breaks out. Understood?"

Cymre scowled. "Fine."

The party went back down and Alexstrasza closed her eyes and focused. "I'll need a moment. When I say go, hurry."

"Just do whatever it is," Belloc said, his voice a growl.

She no longer had her mantle but Alexstrasza had learned much in her long lifetime. She was certain she could influence a few more primal creatures. They were all males and it was far from their usual breeding season but she could see it wouldn't take much to send them in a frenzy - acquire and conquer to impress the females elsewhere. Not perhaps the nicest thing but once she and her companions were gone a few might even have a pleasant evening with their mates. And while she was at it, perhaps she could influence the Mogu overseers to be elsewhere as well. Alexstrasza reached out to the lives in the room, each one a little flame which burned with vitality and-

"Wait!" she hissed.

"What?"

"There are more coming," she said. There was indeed a large party of Mogu coming in their direction from the opposite side, thankfully. "Opposite door," she informed the others.

They retreated back further out of sight and watched from the shadows as another, smaller, troupe of Mogu deposited additional bound and gagged members of the Explorer's league on the ground. In the end there were twelve, mostly dwarves and humans but Alexstrasza could see at least two night elves and one pandaren in dark colors with a red sash.

"Damn," Belloc said, echoed by Cymre.

"Well. New plan," Belloc said. "Lady Vermillion will incite the Saurok then we'll free one each and then the alliance is on their own. Go for the ones which look most lively."

Cymre grinned and pulled out her knives. Her father look far less pleased. "Jones is going to owe me so much," he muttered.

Alexstrasza began trying to reach the Mogu - wasn't it time to be away? To be outside? To feel the winds and rain in their manes? The Mogu began to shift restlessly. She pushed at them as hard as she could and they began to leave in twos and threes, speaking in loud, excited voices, full of cheer and confidence. Good. She couldn't get all of them but once most of them were gone she found the Saurok. Here she grinned mischievously and pushed at the Sarok hard. She used her magic stimulate their hormonal state and thus their sex drives. The change ripped across the room as Saurok males began to eye one another more as threats or rivals...and in a few cases potential mates. Correcting the lagging sex drives of injured, old or ailing dragons was something she had been doing for millenia and she had provided these same skills to other races on many occasions.

Cymre made a sputtering laugh as she watched two younger males, with already raging hormones, dropped what they were doing and begin to rut in the center of the room.

"What." Belloc said, his voice flat.

"Let her work," Dagrah Grimtotem said with amusement equal to Cymre's.

The Mogu overseers noticed and tried to pull the two youngsters off one another which started a brawl in the center of the room. And still Alexstrasza pushed her magic. A huge male displayed his frill and... other parts, and launched himself at a particularly shiny vase. He grabbed it and a handful of jewels and sprinted away warbling some sort of mating call. She tracked his progress for a moment and it seemed he was heading someplace with speed and determination - possibly where an existing or potential mate was. His theft set off the others who began to steal, bellow and warble. They flexed their frills and made loud hissing noises as they dropped to all fours and did pushup motions. Some strutted in circles their chests puffed, frills extended. A few fought over the same trinkets. The sound was immediate and cacophonous.

"Go!" Alexstrasza said as she maintained the spell.

The others left under the cover of the mage's invisibility and crossed the room to the captives, only then revealing themselves. Belloc struck off the lock from Harrison Jones' cage ripped away his bindings, smirked and did the same to the dwarf in the next cage over. Then he sprinted back to where Alexstrasza, Cymre and escape awaited him. The others followed suit while the Alliance lost no time in breaking free the other captives.

"Go!" Belloc ordered as he ran past, the others on his heels.

Alexstrasza left her spell working but stopped the active cast - the effects would last for some time yet. She thought perhaps she might stay with Jones, but then she was already being pulled down the hall by Cymre. She would have to meet up with Jones and the rest later.

"Hey! Stop dem!" shouted a voice to their side.

There was a great deal of cursing as the party swerved to avoid the sudden appearance of Zandalari trolls. They had to adjust course a few times to avoid Mogue and trolls alike.

"We're being herded!" Cymre suddenly realized aloud.

"What?" Her father asked, angry and surprised.

"We're being-" her words were cut off into a surprised yelp as a devilsaur jumped in front of them. It roared and the trolls on the beast's back let out war cries of their own.

There was a flash of light and someone screamed. Alexstrasza felt a life end somewhere to her side, as brief as a candle being snuffed, their light winking out. She had a moment to think that it was good whoever had died hadn't suffered before her world went black.

<hr>

#Writing By Me #Alexstrasza #Belloc Brightblade #harrison jones