#c; Kaden | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

closingwaters · 2 months

Text

TIMING: Current

PARTIES: @chasseurdeloup @stainedglasstruth @closingwaters

SUMMARY: Kaden falls into one of Teagan's traps on his patrol, and she quickly deduces that he's a hunter. She knocks him out and proceeds to attempt to drown him, but Arden intervenes.

WARNINGS: References to parental death and sibling death

Teagan awoke from her nap, a buzzing disturbing her slumber enough to jolt her slightly. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, looking around the living room in a daze. Squinting, Teagan strained her vision back into clarity, watching Alffi bathe in warmth of the sun that was still overhead. Rays brushed past the curtains and creating a soft halo. A sleepy fog still remained in her mind, and it was all she could do to force herself to rise from the couch and prepare herself for another hunt. It was almost too difficult, Arden’s words still heavy on Teagan’s heart. Whatever. She could take her time, and she needed to. Her hands were still trembling from seeing the hunter who’d taken her tail.

Whoever was in the trap wasn’t going anywhere, the nix thought. The small spike traps had proven the most useful. Even if her victims managed to pry themselves out, a blood trail was easy to follow. Much like the one Teagan had found. She followed around the bend of a trail, listening intently for any disturbed brush or the snapping of a twig. There was no such sound, and she had nearly resigned herself to defeat when Teagan noticed the shadow of a haggard man. She quickly took cover, careful to not strike until his nature was confirmed. But by the looks of his attire, she didn’t think she’d need much more proof.

Hunting had taken on new meaning in the last year or so for Kaden. So much of a new meaning he still wasn’t sure what it meant, what it looked like for him. All he could muster so far was the routine he knew: take weapons into the woods and patrol the area for monsters. What would he do if he encountered any that were humanoid or a shifter? He had no fucking idea. None. He decided he’d figure that out later. There was no shortage of creatures and dangerous beasts in town that he had no qualms about killing. For now, he’d keep on the lookout for them and ignore the rest if he could.

Traces of a hedgehound led him toward the lake. His eyes and ears were so focused on finding the monster that he missed the clues, didn’t see the trap until it was too late. The floor fell out from under him and spikes jabbed into his shins and side. The hunter tried to bite back what he could of the scream, tried to keep himself from betraying his location. He managed to muffle it into his elbow. All he could do was hope that he could climb out before anything found him. If they did, he was nothing but easy prey. And he didn’t want to find out what was going to be hunting the hunter.

His fingernails filled with dirt and Kaden clawed his way out of the hole, dragging himself up and over the edge. Putain. He was injured, he couldn’t deny that. Even with his tough skin, the spikes had torn through and blood was spilling out on the ground. Kaden inhaled, tried to listen around him for anything alarming. Nothing. Yet. He grit his teeth and moved through the brush as silently as possible, hand reaching for a knife as he moved. He had to get himself home, or at least somewhere he could treat his wound without worry, but until he was there, old habits died hard and he was going to be armed and ready for whatever he might encounter.

As bleak as she felt, the night certainly welcomed Teagan into its arms. There was a small bite to the cold, allowing for an ironic gentleness that the end of the season tended to lack. The only sound she could hear in the distance was the lake lapping against the posts of the dock, the bubbling of the rolls of the tide. Peaceful sounds, really. Teagan’s favorite, besides Arden’s quiet breathing next to her while they slept. Her laugh was a wonder too, always managing to paint a smile on the nix’s face while she lay her cheek against her knees.

Focus. There are hunters to kill.

She could see the breeze making the leaves dance toward the ground, twirling about like little leafy ballerinas. Muddied hues of green, yellow, and orange, coming together like some sort of seasonal painting. It brought a wan smile to Teagan’s lips, and she nearly forgot about her task when she saw the shadow begin to move into and among the brush. She tightened her jacket and released a breath, watching it dance in the cold air. With Teagan’s entire body bristled and ready to attack, it was difficult to keep herself in one place to watch and prepare. Making a move without properly assessing would be foolish, and she knew that even in her state of anger. Even as Nicole’s and Teddy’s and Felix’s faces flashed behind her eyes. Teagan gritted her teeth and rose quietly from her hiding spot, carefully watching the back of the hunter as she stepped quietly behind him.

No more waiting, she thought. Hunter’s blood must be spilled, and she needed to discover who the man was.

Her body twitched, and she pounced toward the stranger as she retrieved a blade. Their bodies collided with a meaty thud, and it was only then that the nix realized just how big the man was. She’d need to play it smart, and so she guided their roll to a more lethal ground trap. The blade quickly found itself at the hunter’s throat, on the brink of finding a home in him. Wasting no time, Teagan placed her knees on his shoulders and grabbed a hold of her next weapon, aiming readily at a trigger for a nearby trap to activate. “Don’t make any moves. I’ve got the trigger ready to go.” As Arden had said so many times, killing indiscriminately was wrong, and though she couldn’t quite understand why Teagan wanted to disagree, the nix practically promised without a bind that she’d try. So, against all the instincts she’d built since she was ten years old, Teagan forced herself to pause, reluctantly willing herself to listen and wait.

“Who are ya, lad? And why are ya skulking about like some strange gob falling into traps?” She barked at him, annoyed, with her accent thickening with her irritation as it always did. “Are ya tryin’ to do someone in and gettem all wild? You give people a fright just sneakin’ about like you’re up ta no good in the dark!”

Kaden barely had a chance to get a grip on his knife before a body slammed into him. What kind of body, he couldn’t say. Human, monster, didn’t know yet. He just knew it had arms and could grapple. The hunter twisted and tried to stay upright – tried to get some advantage in the situation or at least hold onto his knife. It didn’t matter, the creature used his weight against him and Kaden felt the sharp edge of the blade against his neck before he could figure out who or what was wielding it.

His brows furrowed as he tried to analyze the situation in front of him. A woman. Blonde. Not a shifter. He was pretty sure, at least. Holding a knife. Angry. Mentioned a trigger. Trigger for what? Right, didn’t matter. He didn’t want to find out. “Alright,” he said, careful not to move his throat too much lest the knife against it got too close. “I’d hold my hands up in surrender but you’ve got them pinned down.” Probably not smart to make jokes right now but it wasn’t like he had any other defenses to use.

The next question should have been easy to answer. Even so, it felt like more of a trap than that spike pit he’d clawed his way out of or whatever she was ready to trigger. He was sure his hesitation was suspicious. He had to answer. Fast. “Kaden.” He considered giving his last name but thought better of it. Langley had weight in certain circles and he didn’t want to find out what side of the scales it would tip. “Funny, could say the same about you sneaking around.” He knew he should be careful but he couldn’t resist. “Animal control. I’m just–” The cold blade of the dagger pricked his skin as he spoke. Kaden swallowed as if it could help him wriggle his neck out of harm’s way. “Patrolling. I’m just patrolling. It’s dangerous out here, you know.”

“No time for jokes.” Teagan clicked her tongue, watching as the man took his time producing a lame answer. Kaden. She huffed, rolling her eyes and pressing her knees into him. He had to be a hunter. Working for animal control could work, but given the answers she found him stalking the area, it didn’t add up. Not to mention, Burrow had her hedgehounds milling about. Teagan had a responsibility to protect her own, that was her right. She just couldn’t act on it until she had no doubt that this Kaden was in fact a hunter. That was another responsibility she had promised. Even if the discovery of who the warden who attacked her was had her continuing to reel, sometimes verging on panic, she had to keep it.

And with Arden visiting that very night, Teagan felt the importance of that grow stronger.

“Have more of a right to be here than you. Don’t your hours end when the sun meets the horizon? You’re lying.” With a frown, Teagan pressed her blade harder into Kaden’s flesh, not quite ready to make a finite slip of her hand. There needed to be more confirmation, more proof. Because she wasn’t like hunters. She was better. She had to protect. She had a reason to do what she did. It was the hunters who were in the wrong. There was no way she did. Teagan needed to believe that, hold onto that vengeance that kept her family alive inside of her, and in turn kept other families from experiencing the same fate she had.

“Tell the truth, and maybe I’ll let you live.” The ‘maybe’ stopped it from being a lie, and Teagan clung to that until he could give her the truth. After that, he’d find himself at the bottom of a lake.

Kaden couldn’t help but huff out a laugh, even if he knew it wasn’t the wisest idea. “I wish my hours were that clean cut. Animals don’t really give a shit about what time of day it is when they run away or end up somewhere they’re not supposed, though.” Not that it mattered. He wasn’t on the clock then, not in any way. And somehow she knew that, or at least suspected it. For whatever reason, the ranger decided to continue to test his luck. “I’m not lying.” His words were laced with venom but they weren’t half as poisonous as hers. Kaden was pretty sure he couldn’t manage that even if he wanted to.

She was angry. He could see that much. Some part of him knew that his specific presence wasn’t the entire reason why. No stranger could summon that much vitriol from one person. No, he was just the stand in for everything else – anyone else. The problem was, he didn’t know who or what or why. And even if he did, he was far from a skilled negotiator. The odds weren’t exactly stacked in his favor at the moment, either.

“Look, I don’t know what answer you’re fishing for but I’m not out to hurt anyone or intrude or whatever the fuck you’re worried about. I’m just trying to keep people safe. That’s what I d–”

A sharp pain shot through him before the world went black.

When the world reappeared, his body felt limp, but something was scraping against his back. The sky was moving with every jolt of pain, every scratch into his skin. No, it wasn’t moving. He was moving. He felt the tight grip around his ankle, tugging him along across the dirt and rocks. Everything was still hazy, all he could make out was the sky and the pain but he swore he heard water splashing up against the rocks. He heard what sounded like footsteps plodding into the lake and then he felt his clothes start to get wet as the water rose around him. “H–hey..” he tried to say, but his voice was about as clear as his vision. “What are you… doing?”

“Right.” It was one lie after another. While the nix didn’t know much about jobs, and knew less about animal control, she’d seen posts about them. They were usually called to locations, and with little to no people venturing in that particular part of the woods, she could only determine that Kaden chose to patrol for his own reasons. Ones outside his job in animal control. If that was really his job. And considering he began to blab on about keeping people safe with a pride Teagan had seen numerous times, it wasn’t a far reach to deem Kaden a hunter.

She smashed the end of her hilt into his temple, deciding that it was time to drag him away and put his life to actual use. His body would feed the water’s babes for a while, and it only took her just over an hour to get him to the edge. Teagan could see the porch light at her cabin from where she stood, which meant she didn’t have much time before Arden arrived. She needed to finish the job quickly to prevent her partner from witnessing a drowning. Something she had already said on more than one occasion, that she never wanted to see. It was only fair. Arden wasn’t a nix or a nereid. Far be it from her to understand how it felt or what it meant to give a life to the waves, and it wasn’t something that Teagan would ever hold against her. Especially when she turned a blind eye to most of it, and tried to understand it was the nymph’s duty. Teagan would have to tell her about her victory when she arrived. She’d understand, wouldn’t she? Had to. After all, they had both been distressed after they’d discussed what happened to both Teddy and Nicole.

They’d both been angry.

“Getting rid of you, mate.” Teagan finally responded, tugging Kaden farther into the lake. “How many, huh? How many people have you killed? How many families have you torn apart by acting on this so-called duty?” The tides had turned, and it felt right. Justice was rising with the current, and Teagan couldn’t help the dry chuckle that escaped her. “No more. You won’t hurt anyone again.”

How many people have you killed?

It was a question Kaden had asked himself many times. He didn’t know. He didn’t have an answer. He couldn’t say how many lives he’d destroyed, how many families he’d ruined. And he wasn’t sure that he really wanted to know deep down. He didn't think he could pull himself out of bed each and every morning if he knew the answers to her questions or even if he dwelled on the possible numbers.

Hearing the words out loud – they warped around this throat and gripped him tighter and tighter until he couldn’t breathe.

The splash of cold across his face broke the spell just long enough for Kaden to inhale the water around him and send him sputtering and coughing. Panic seized him and he could feel himself dipping down beneath the surface of the lake and back up again, only increasing the amount of water trying to lodge its way into his lungs.

Merde. He had to stop panicking, he had to relax. Somehow. It was the only way to stay afloat in his position, while his limbs felt like lead and the water threatened to bury him alive.

It served him right. This was what he deserved. He was sure of it. The thought alone was enough to steady him slightly. This was the fate he was meant to meet, the consequences of his actions finally catching up to him then and there. Even if he wanted to argue with her, beg, plead or his life, how could he? How could he justify it after all he’d done.

Andy had been wrong. Kaden wasn’t any different from the hunter she’d killed. Not where it counted. And now the woman dragging him to his death was doing the same thing his cousin had – protecting people from a hunter. Righting the wrongs he’d done. Getting vengeance for the lives he took. Giving him exactly what he deserved.

“Sorry,” he mumbled through splashes of water slapping against his face. “I’m sorry.” He couldn’t say who he was speaking to, if he even cared if she heard him, but he couldn’t stop himself from repeating the words, drowning in the memories of the horrors he committed before the water even had a chance.

“Hello?” Arden called, dropping her keys and bag by the door. She listened for any kind of response as she shrugged off her coat, but was met with silence.

It wasn’t uncommon for her to enter the cabin only to find it empty. Even before the two endless months she’d spent there with only Andy around to keep her sane, it was something she had been getting used to. Teagan was a being of the water, tied to the lake and bound to care for it and the creatures that called it home; it wasn’t unusual to find her in or around the lake instead of the cabin itself. Especially when she had the habit of arriving a little earlier than agreed upon.

So it wasn’t alarming when, after a quick look around, she found herself entirely alone in the cabin. Well, except for Alffi, of course. But, honestly, as much as she loved Teagan, it was a bit of a relief to have a moment to decompress on her own after work. She could flop onto the couch and not move for a few minutes before having to be a person again. However, after a few moments of trying to become one with the couch, she began to hear something. Splashing.

Was Teagan playing with Vala again? The thought made her smile. Never in her life would Arden have thought she’d befriend a kelpie, and yet…

It took her a moment to pull herself up, but eventually she made her way to the door, and, stepping out, she found an incredibly different scene to the one she had imagined. For a moment, she just stared, her mind taking a moment to process what exactly she was seeing. But no, that was definitely her girlfriend dragging a body into the lake.

Shit.

Pulling out her knife, she ran over to the lakeshore, trying to push down the pure panic rising in her chest. “Teags,” she exclaimed, as she neared the edge of the water. Her heart was hammering away in her chest. Was it Parker? Rhett? What was going on?

“What’s—” She froze.

Now that she was closer, she was able to make out the features of the person Teagan was pulling deeper into the waters. And Arden recognized that face.

“Kaden?”

“Sorry isn’t enough!” The lake receded into itself, as if it was cocking back a fist in preparation for a punch. It allowed very little time to breathe or recalibrate, and it made Teagan happy to hear Kaden choking for air. She smiled with excitement, only mildly moved by the way he continued to apologize. To shut him up, she tugged, his body barely able to float above the water with Teagan pulling him downward. When she was about to dive and end the meaningless regret, she heard a voice that shouldn’t have arrived for another hour. Worse yet, the soon-to-be victim’s name was tumbling out of Arden’s mouth with shocked familiarity.

How many hunters did her girlfriend know?

Teagan stopped in her tracks, grip tightening on Kaden’s leg as she reapproached the shore to ensure he didn’t escape. “Arden.” Her name came out in a shaky breath, and water splashed as the unglamoured nix rushed to the edge, where the water met land. “You’re early. Too early.” It wasn’t uncommon for her partner to arrive sooner than expected, but it felt unprecedented. She was well over an hour early. Had to be. The porch light only came on between six and seven in the evening. A sort of silent alarm Teagan had made for herself to keep track of time.

“He—Kaden. Yes, I-I…He was patrolling the area. I don’t—I don’t know if you know, but he’s a hunter. I checked. I checked and I…” Her mismatched eyes locked with Arden’s, and she swallowed, panic beginning to grip Teagan’s throat with a pleading pooling in her eyes. She wouldn’t allow it to show, not completely. Arden could see it, even if she hid it, but that side of her wasn’t for Kaden to see. So she spoke about him as if he wasn’t there. “I have to get rid of him. Go inside and it’ll be over in a moment. He won’t hurt anyone anymore.”

The water swallowed Kaden whole, pulling him under and dragging him to the depths of the lake. It was hard to say if had inhaled the water if it had pushed its way into his lungs all on its own. It didn’t matter one way or the other. It wouldn’t matter at all soon enough.

Instinct took over and his body tried to fight the inevitable, tried to flail its way up to the surface to find air. The oxygen in the water wasn’t enough to keep him alive, to let him live. The weight of his guilt pressed on his shoulders and he drifted deeper and deeper into the murky water. Kaden wasn’t sure if the water was getting darker or his vision was fading away, perhaps for the last time.

There was barely any fight left in him, nothing left to save himself, when he felt the weight lifting. The world around him got brighter even as he still felt himself slipping away.

Then there was air. Cold, light, and brisk. It was hard to get any for himself between the fits of coughing. Even harder to tell what was going on. Kaden heard voices. Two of them. One that hadn’t been trying to drown him. He heard his name. But he couldn’t make out who it was or what was going on, not while he was fighting to replace the water in his lungs with fresh air.

Arden was a hit with such a strong wave of déjà vu that, for a moment, she could only stare. But no, that definitely wasn’t Emilio getting dragged under the waves. There were no sarcastic comments to be heard, only the sputtering of a different man, one who seemed dazed, resigned, even.

A familiar feeling of dread was clawing at her chest as she watched him disappear under the water. Cold, overwhelmed by panic, something tugging her deeper and deeper. Lungs aching, eyes burning, screaming for her parents. Darkness.

The call of her name was enough to startle her out of the flash of memory, and, thankfully, when she refocused, Kaden was back onto solid ground, coughing up whatever water had made its way into his lungs. It took a moment for her to register the words being said, to tear her eyes away from the man. She was too early. What the fuck did that mean?

“Yeah, I—” A reply had automatically begun to spill from her mouth, but she cut it off with a sharp shake of her head, focusing her gaze on Teagan. The nymph looked surprised, panicked, fearful even. “No, what—”

A hunter.

“What? No, he's the fuckin’ animal control guy, he's—” the guy she'd found bleeding out in the woods after a 'moose attack,' Emilio's friend. Shit.

“...is he?”

She figured he knew about the supernatural, what with the ‘moose attack’ and just generally working in animal control— hell, she'd seen his fucking paperwork while reporting on what were definitely not just regular animal attacks. She knew there were cops and animal control officers and forest rangers who were in the know and helped cover shit up. But a hunter?

...animal control officer was a good cover for a fucking hunter, she had to admit. Goddammit.

Arden looked down at the large man hacking up lake water and began to shake her head before her eyes even returned to Teagan. All she could think of was her hands covered in blood, the pained noises he'd made as she tried her best to stitch him up. And, as her gaze fell on a rock only a few feet away from where they stood now, Andy's hand on her shoulder as they sat together in silence.

“No, I can't— What did—” she cut herself off. It didn’t matter. She didn't know what Kaden had done, but even putting aside the experience they'd been through and their mutual friend and everything else, he was Andy's cousin. “No, you can’t— No.”

“I can’t? Cariad, I have to.” Arden’s protest felt a bit like betrayal, a stinging that harbored too closely to Teagan’s chest. Using logic, she dulled it, able to let her heart guide her gently instead with a roaring anger. “I know it’s scary, and I know it’s ugly, but I can’t turn away. I can’t…I can’t let him live. People like him hurt people we love. Have hurt them.” Teddy, Nicole, and Felix came to mind, and Teagan began to cry. “Please understand. I protect. That's what I do.” Arden had never knowingly taken a life, or spilled blood until life drained out of someone’s eyes, let alone did it gladly. Teagan couldn’t, in good faith, take her anger out on her. It wouldn’t have been fair.

So, instead, she inhaled deeply, shakily, and knelt into the water as she tangled her hand into Kaden’s hair, pulling his head up. Just barely above the water. If Arden needed confirmation that he was a murderer set to execution for his atrocities, that justice would be served, Teagan would give that to her. “Tell her. You say you’re sorry? Tell her why you’re sorry.” Her grip tightened, “Tell her why you patrol. Tell her about the animals you kill to keep people safe.” Claws began to dig into Kaden’s skull, and it took all of Teagan’s willpower to loosen her grip. The water would take him. Not her. Although…she cut her train of thought off.

“But they’re not animals, are they, hunter? They’re people. They had families. They had lives.” Through gritted teeth, Teagan fished around Kaden’s waist, finding a knife to replace the one she left behind. She wanted to force the truth out of him, and if it wouldn’t come out willingly, then Teagan decided she would let it spill.

“They were people with lives, and you called them animals and took them, didn’t you?”

Kaden barely had a chance to breathe before his head was jerked up by his hair. He winced and tried to stifle the scream of pain that tried to force its way out. The pain was palpable but he didn’t want to show it. Even now, even in that moment, it was hard to shake off his training entirely. The remnants still lingered. The way the pain he’d caused would always linger, he supposed.

His vision was still blurred and hazy, but Kaden was pretty sure that was the woman who’d saved him in the woods all those months ago – Arden. A sad sort of laugh spilled out through the pain. She had saved his life when they first met but it seemed like history wasn’t going to repeat itself. Now she was there to play jury at his final trial.

The words shouted in his ear didn’t make sense at first. He tried to piece them together but was met with more pain before he could manage. Worse yet, he had a feeling that not immediately answering was only going to lead to more of the rest. Kaden knew he should fight back, that he should push past the light-headedness and the weariness in his bones, but he couldn’t make himself. He couldn’t find the spark to argue with what she was saying.

All he could remember was the look on Monty’s face when he realized what Kaden was. The recoil. How he walked away. He should have stayed away. Should have left. Kaden hadn’t deserved kindness. Forgiveness. Grace. None of it.

“I thought…” He paused to find his voice again. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought…” Kaden wanted to collapse in on himself. It hadn’t mattered what he thought, it didn’t change it. Not to mention that, all along, some part of him deep down knew there were questions to be asked. Ones that he never touched, never disturbed lest they make him question himself. Until he couldn’t ignore them any longer. He could make excuses for himself, say he’d stopped, act like it mattered, but it didn’t change the past. It didn’t undo the harm he’d done. “I was wrong. I was… I was trying to find a better… a better way to…” Excuses felt like poison on his tongue. He wouldn’t let himself indulge them. “I was wrong.”

What Teagan did was scary and ugly. As much as she tried to accept it, Arden wasn't blind to that fact.

She was soft, she knew that. She didn't even care for actual hunting if she were being entirely honest, but she knew it was beneficial, population control, and she knew some folks depended on it as a source of food. There were bad hunters, people who tortured and killed other people for what they were. She had heard all about Teagan's family, held her through the nightmares, taken her to the morgue to get checked out after being attacked. But she also knew Emilio, and he couldn’t be the only decent hunter in the world, even if he might be in the minority.

While she didn’t always like it, she didn’t— couldn’t— hold it against Teagan, doing what she did. She wanted to protect her cousins and other supernatural beings like her, and the Parkers of the world deserved what was coming to them.

Watching her hold a knife to a docile, pathetic, dripping water Kaden, though, seeing the look in his eyes as he turned his focus on her, hearing his sad, resigned laugh. And the raw fury radiating off of Teagan…

I know it’s scary, and I know it’s ugly.

She didn’t like any of this.

And, of course, Kaden responded with a very familiar sentiment. A sentiment she had heard from several friends and loved ones at this point, and iit only furthered to strengthen her resolve. Teagan was in the wrong here …wasn’t she?

No, it didn’t matter, Arden wouldn’t let it happen. Maybe she was still just soft and naive— it was a thought she’d been having far too often for her liking— but she couldn’t just let her Teagan kill Kaden.

“Teagan, enough.” She fixed her girlfriend with a stare, hoping she looked more steady than she felt. Searching those mismatched eyes, she tried to see if his words struck a chord with her at all, if she really believed he deserved to die. “Did you actually see him hurting anyone?”

She was fairly certain she already knew the answer already.

Teagan’s grip wavered as Kaden moved from a blanket apology to what sounded to be genuine guilt. He had to be pulling a trick, didn’t he? That was what hunters did. They lied to get their way and every move made was to further their murderous cause for protection. Maybe Teagan did the same, but the intention was different. Her intention was right. It was right.

The laugh that escaped him lacked any real humor, dry and crumbling like the ice-cold winter that had a hold in Maine. It gave Teagan pause, but she stood her ground. A look of unbridled anger kept her eyes widened, and tears of sorrow and denial cascaded down her cheeks. With the knife trained on Kaden’s throat, she hissed, “The better way is if you die. That’s it. You won’t hurt anyone anymore.” She had to shut him up, stop him from bargaining for a life he didn’t deserve.

It was all a lie. Had to be, Teagan kept telling herself. No one should’ve believed it, but still, Arden drank up what Kaden was saying, and she spoke firmly. The nix’s pinpoint stare ripped away from Kaden, and she stared with alarm and confusion. “C-cariad, he’s lying.” She pressed the sharp edge of the knife into Kaden’s throat, ensuring he wouldn’t speak more poison into Arden’s ears. “I didn’t see him hurting anyone, but he was going to, and he has. Isn’t that enough? What about the families he’s ripped apart? What about them? Should I just let him go because he’s scared of dying and spouting off regret to save himself?”

“Wasn’t… going to,” Kaden managed to say between coughs. He wasn’t sure why he was bothering to defend himself. It’s not like any future actions could undo his mistakes. Monty, Andy, Alex, they may have all accepted him for his present actions, they may have been able to overlook the past and acknowledge that he’d changed, but that didn’t bring anyone back from the dead. It wouldn’t ease the pain of the families he destroyed. He had a feeling they wouldn’t be thrilled to learn that he was still breathing but he spared supernaturals now, after their loved one hadn’t been. He didn’t blame anyone if they didn’t forgive him. It was impossible to assume they would. Sure, he forgave his sister even now, but he knew that was wrong, that he shouldn’t. How could he expect it from anyone else?

He didn’t need to make excuses, he was here to accept his fate. That’s what he told himself, at least. “Andy,” he croaked out even with the blade pressed against his neck. “Make sure… make sure she knows.” It was probably too much to put on her. Again. But he didn’t want it to be Alex that got the news first or even Monty. Andy could shoulder the weight, he knew she could. She was stronger than damn near anyone and sure that was because she had to be but it didn’t change that fact.

“What about learning from your mistakes and trying to do better?” she shot back, looking directly at the nix.

It was taking everything in her to hold in the mess of emotions running through her, to keep her voice from wavering, keep her body from shaking. Panic, anxiety, anger, sadness, fear, pure fucking adrenaline. Arden had basically entirely forgotten about the knife in her hand, but her grip on it was impossibly tight as she tried to appear as calm and collected as possible. However, frustration bubbled up in her as she looked back down at Kaden.

“He's not even fighting back, Teags,” she said, waving the knife in the hunter's direction.

Teagan had been doing better, hadn't she? There had been a moment after Parker, but they had talked, she had told Arden she was trying to be better, that she wouldn't kill indiscriminately. Had she been lying? She had offered to make a promise, but it seemed wrong to do, to literally hold her girlfriend to her words. She should be able to trust her without having to magically bind her to what she said... right?

Shaking those thoughts away, she tried to refocus, tried to breathe. Right now, Teagan had a knife to a man's throat, she could stress about their relationship later.

She took a moment to gather herself and her thoughts, to sort through the mess. “Whatever Kaden did in his past can't be undone by killing him,” she said finally. “It's something that he has to live with and try to make up for in whatever way there is.” Killing him wouldn't bring her family back, and it wouldn't undo what Rhett and Parker and countless others had done to her and those like her.

He spoke up again, his words cutting her to her core. So, Arden tried to reassure the man, “I won't have to tell her anything because you're going to be fine.” The false confidence in her voice just brought her back to that day in the park, back to her trying to keep them both calm while she tried to stop him from bleeding out. Things had worked out pretty well that time. They really needed to stop meeting in such dire situations, though.

“Look, even if you don't believe him, even if you can't put aside the fact that he's a hunter— a friend of Emilio's, by the way,” she added, knowing Teagan and Emilio had at least been attempting to get along recently, “he's Andy's family. I love you,” she breathed, meeting Teagan’s gaze with a slight shake of her head because god, did she. There was no keeping the emotion out of her voice. “But there's no way I'm just letting you kill him. If for no other reason than I can't do that to her. She helped keep me sane when we thought you were—” Nope. Even now, she didn’t like thinking about it. Clearing her throat, she tried again, “when you were gone.”

Once again, Arden found herself in the surreal situation of standing between her girlfriend and a hunter. Unfortunately, though, this time it was only in the figurative sense.

“I…I am doing better. I am.” Saying so tasted like acid in Teagan’s throat, and she coughed and lurched. That’s when she realized it wasn’t true. Deep down, some part of her didn’t want to believe she was slowly reverting back to the monster she began to tuck away.

“I…”

There was a fog around her mind, thick and pluming, surrounding and suffocating Teagan so tightly that her breath began to hitch. Her body followed quickly, and it was impossible to hide the way Arden’s pleas sank into the nix. Nothing made sense anymore, the shattered pieces in too big of an array for Teagan to arrange them back together into something cohesive. When would the water sweep in and flow her into the direction of peace? When would it finally wash away the agony of losing everything? When would it allow her to stop being angry that there was a world where she no longer remembered the voices of those she lost?

For a moment, she felt a preserver, and she swallowed, taking in the discovery of Kaden’s connection to a dear friend.

“Andy?” Teagan’s eyes, once widened with a wild hunger for blood, became soft and remorseful, bordering on disbelief. She didn’t want to believed it, but it was true, and she finally understood why Arden was fighting so hard. Because if Andy could turn her back on her lineage, who was to say Kaden couldn’t too? She’d mentioned him, spoke fondly of him, and Teagan hated herself for not realizing it sooner. They were both turning away. Andy just had the fortune of never having taken the life of someone she was meant to kill. And if Arden could give Teagan a chance to get better and learn, how could she rip that opportunity away from Kaden?

She was wrong. Everything about this was all wrong. The fae was just too arrogant and hellbent on her cause after she’d been told who exactly the hunter who attacked her was. She was wrong and this needed to stop.

“Take him.” Darkling Lake responded in kind, the waves softly wading him back to the shore and receding. “He…I’m sorry, Kaden. You-you didn’t deserve t-this. You…I’m sorry.” Teagan fell to her knees and wished she could take back every wound she’d inflicted on him, but the damage was done, and she had to answer for her wrongdoings. Even if it meant losing it all. Even if it meant experiencing the thing she feared most. After all, monsters deserved to die alone, didn’t they? It was why she had so much to work on and why her family would never take her back. She accepted this and dragged Kaden further inland before backing away with guilt weighing on her entire body as she reluctantly looked at Arden, waiting for what she believed to be an inevitable goodbye.

“I’ll help get him what he needs. Unless…” She swallowed, biting the inside of her cheek and memorizing every feature on Arden’s face so as to never forget. She needed to commit everything to memory so it would never leave her. As long as she had those, Teagan believed the loneliness wouldn’t be unbearable.

“Unless you want me to go.”

It hurt to see the realization wash over Teagan. And she could see it, the moment the fae’s eyes shifted, and her breath stuttered. Even the water seemed to recoil slightly.

It hurt, it all hurt.

Arden didn't know what she was feeling, what she should be feeling, she just knew it hurt, knew it left a bad taste in her mouth and a weight in her stomach. She wished they could all go back to earlier in the day, that none of this had happened, that Kaden could've had a quiet evening, and she and Teagan could've had a normal night in together— dinner, maybe a movie. It was a childish wish, of course. Pointless, too. Teagan had nearly killed Kaden, and now they would all have to deal with the consequences.

At least Kaden was no longer at knife point, Teagan and the water helping to get him back on dry land. Arden, finally remembering to put her knife away, reached out a hand to help steady him. She gave him a look over; he seemed pretty scraped up, a few larger wounds on one side. It wasn't anything major— not like last time— but he was definitely bleeding. He still seemed a little dazed and shaky from the drowning and the whole general ordeal of it all, though, that absolutely made sense.

“I—” she faltered. Did she want Teagan to go?

No.

Not actually, not permanently. Maybe that was stupid of her, but it was what her heart was telling her. There was something tangible between them, a connection that she couldn’t quite put words to, no matter how hard she tried. None of this was okay, but Teagan wasn’t either. She was furious and terrified and hurt, and Arden loved her. However, she also knew that her girlfriend would have killed Kaden if she hadn’t been there to intervene. And she sure as fuck didn’t know what to do about any of it.

But Kaden was the current priority, anyway.

Meeting Teagan's eye, she gave a small shake of her head, then immediately turned back to him. “I don't— Do you want a towel? There's a first aid kit here, too— no hospitals, right?” she breathed a shaky laugh. “I can also just drive you home?” If he was still at the cabin, she would even know how to get there. Whatever he wanted or needed, she was taking his lead here.

Kaden felt his body jerk again and he was sure he was being dragged to his death for real this time. Only the water receded and he was covered in a blanket of cold breezes. Shivering, he turned to his side, coughing up the last of the water lodged in his lungs. Beyond that, he was frozen, unsure of what to do now that the plans had changed. He had a future again. For now, at least. And it was wide open. Too wide.

There was almost comfort in the certainty of death that he had a minute ago. A sense that justice was finally going to be served to him, the world would find balance. It would be an easy way to repent for his sins if he believed in that crap.

Too easy, apparently. He was still there, on the shore of the lake, covered in water, sand, twigs, and other debris. He felt heavy, an anchor left on the banks, weighed down but not for any good reason. He was meant to be at the bottom of the lake by now. And he didn’t know how to feel about the fact that he was on solid ground instead.

A hand reached out to him and he flinched on instinct. Looking up, it was Arden, not the woman who had tried to kill him. This was the second time she was helping him walk away from death’s door. He took the help and pulled himself to his feet, unsteady but standing.

He didn’t know what he wanted or what to do, the script had been flipped and he didn’t know his lines anymore. The mention of no hospitals elicited a small laugh from him as he tried to stay upright. “Guess now you know why.” He could barely hold the attempt at a smile on his face while it took so much concentration just to stand.

The cabin. She could take him to the cabin. The empty cabin. No, he didn’t want to go there. Not by himself, at least. Kaden shook his head. “Prickly Pears. Farm in Gatlin Fields. I mean, if you can. Or…” He didn’t know what state his phone was in so calling Monty might have been out of the question.

Before they took whatever the next step was, Kaden finally dared to look at the woman who had been so fierce and brimming with anger mere moments ago. Now she looked small, shrunk in on herself, scared. Some part of him didn’t want to relate, didn’t want to feel any sympathy or empathy for her, not right now at least. But he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help but see some reflection of himself in her. He felt like he was watching her have that moment where everything you thought you knew was wrong, that the things that were easy were suddenly complex and confusing. “Hey…” he said to her, unsure of what the fuck he was going to try and say next. “I don’t know you. Or wha– who you are. But I… I get it. Why you’d…” He coughed and did his best not to double over. “I…” He wanted to say he forgave her. He wanted to wrap it all up nice and neat. But he didn’t know how any of this sat with him, not really. At the very least, he knew he wasn’t fully in his right mind. “I get it.”

Hope felt like a spark, and surprisingly, even as the water lapped against Teagan and whatever light was attempting to live, it didn’t go out. Somehow, it began to travel, and it didn’t stop. She couldn’t help but smile at the realization, as weak and shaky as it was. With some caution, Teagan looked back and forth between Arden and Kaden, giving the latter a nod. “There’s—” She felt her throat tighten and simply pointed at a nearby rock. Arden would understand, knowing the fae’s pack was always there for when Arden was cold or needed to be dried.

Will I still need that? Will I…

Teagan cleared her throat and let her glamour cover her again, acting as a leap of faith to let Kaden know what she looked like as a human. If he could somehow understand, if he could take almost being killed for what she thought was a just cause, and still not look at her as some sort of monster. She stifled a small sniffle, now allowing herself to shift the focus from Kaden. He needed help because of her, and she needed to find some way to rectify it all. Maybe not then, but eventually, and she would. To herself, she promised she would. Although, it would mean so much more if she promised Kaden instead.

Perhaps finding hunters to owe meant something though. Maybe that was the change Teagan had been looking for all along. Instead of giving them all a painful death like her family, maybe she needed them a chance to see the people they were killing like Kaden and Emilio and Andy had. Not everyone would agree or take that chance, but Teagan finally understood she didn’t have to risk everything to find them. Arden was right all along, and if given the chance, Teagan would let her know, and Arden would never let her let it go.

She hoped desperately for that.

“I owe you a favor. That’s-that’s a promise. Arden can explain. I just…after what I did. I-I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve this and I’m-I’m glad you’re okay.”

She managed to get a laugh out of him, so that was something she supposed.

“Of course, I don't mind.” Prickly Pears was a pretty quick drive from the lake, not that the distance really mattered. Her girlfriend had just tried to drown him, it seemed like the least she could do. And as incredibly fucking tense and awkward as that drive would undoubtedly be, putting some distance between her and this scene sounded pretty great at the moment. She was still reeling, mind all over the place, and focusing on a singular task would help quiet it.

His slight hesitation reminded her that there were other options available, though— he wasn't quite bleeding out this time, and maybe he didn't feel comfortable being stuck in a car with her after this. “Oh, sorry, you can also borrow my phone if you need?”

She didn't expect him to say anything, much less anything kind. Arden didn't know Kaden well and though he'd seemed like a decent man in their limited interactions, well... this was a rather extreme situation. And even the kindest of individuals didn't always react well when shit hit the fan as epically as it had here. So his reaction being one of understanding took her by surprise, made her chest ache even more.

Between how he had seemed so ready to accept his own death and the way his whole body seemed to sag, weighed down by the guilt and regret, that she'd seen envelop him as he admitted to his wrongdoings, she couldn't help but think of Emilio, of Metzli chained in a bunker, of Teagan herself— of castigo.

The sound of her voice startled Arden out of that train of thought.

She turned to look at Teagan, the incredibly tentative smile on her regret-filled face as she really seemed to absorb Kaden's words, the similarities between them. Or maybe that was just her own wishful thinking. She didn't know, and she wasn't quite sure she wanted to find out. Certainly not right now.

Following the extended finger, her eyes once again landed on the rock. It had basically become her spot over the months. It was where she'd sat, shocked and grief stricken, with Andy back in October, where she regularly sat and watched the nymph swim and tend to the lake. When the nix had been giving her lessons, it was where she'd sit to rest, where she'd towel off once she got too tired to continue.

Shit. Right. Towels.

Arden retrieved the aforementioned towels from Teagan's bag, offering them to Kaden as she continued talking. Another promise to another hunter. That was something. It didn't make any of this okay, but it was something.

Kaden shook his head, but it was hard to distinguish the gesture between the shivering. “No phone,” he said, waving off the offer. “I’ll be okay to just show up.” Not to mention, he didn’t want to cause any panic. And he didn’t want to open himself up to any of the emotions clawing at his sides, not before he was on the farm. He didn’t want to try and unpack them here and now. It was too much.

He took the towels eagerly and wrapped them over his shoulders, trying to lock in any warmth lingering in the night air. It was hard to say if it was doing much to help at that point. Everything was cold and painful but numb all at the same time. And Kaden didn’t want to untangle the physical feelings to understand what they were, afraid it would unravel his emotions as well.

It was strange to look over and see someone who looked human standing in the place where the fae had been. Or rather, where she still was. He wasn’t used to how seamless the transformation was. Granted, it wasn’t a transformation, just a mask of sorts. Nothing like the bone shifting and skin stretching that came with werewolf shifting like he was used to witnessing. No, this was almost natural in a way. If nothing else, it was easy in comparison. Strange to think that it was just an illusion at the end of the day, that her form was still there underneath.

Her words pulled him from his thoughts, though he nearly missed what she said. She owed him. It was a promise. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what that meant – if he wanted to accept it. He knew to be careful with words around fae, he’d learned that much. Names could be stolen, words could trap you, but he never bothered learning the specifics. He wasn’t a warden and so it wasn’t something he worried about. But that’s what she was offering, right? Her word. Giving it to him. Binding her words to him.

It twisted his stomach in knots. He hated it, but the part of himself he’d tried so hard to drown with the rest of himself just then was still there, still nagging. It was still disgusted about the idea of being bound to a fae. Fucking stupid. It was fucking stupid how deep that training, those thoughts, had sunk into his very essence, that they lived there uninvited like a parasite, infecting him even now. That wasn’t how he felt. Not really.

Sure, Kaden didn’t know how he really felt, but he knew the disgust didn’t belong to him. It had been planted in him a long time ago. “Thanks,” was all he could muster to say in response. “Appreciate it.” He didn’t know what sort of favor he wanted, if anything at all, and he wasn’t sure if he truly felt appreciative, not yet, but fae gave words power, right? Or something like that. Maybe speaking it could make it true, somehow.

There was a slight twitch of excitement at the sound of Kaden’s gratitude. It was instinct, something so ingrained in Teagan that she had to bite her tongue to prevent a more subtle attack. Kaden had had enough for one night, and if she was going to have her apology actually mean something, she knew she had to behave and keep herself in check.

Even if Kaden did change his wording. It would’ve been too late anyway. Someone as experienced as the nix could’ve made a swift move, but all Kaden received in reply was a nod and his knife tossed over to him once Teagan realized she still had a death grip on it. “I believe you, by the way.” She felt it important to add. Kaden had desperately apologized when he was drowning. Not to beg for his life, but for it to be the last thing on his lips before an eternal silence was what remained. Teagan understood that, finally. “I know you’re sorry.” Kaden was looking for atonement, his life acting as the final sacrifice, his due payment. No explanation given for his vindication, just a realization that death was his apology, and he was receiving peace at what he thought to be a bargain.

The two of them couldn’t be more wrong. The price was too much, for the both of them, and the road to their continuing to learn would be long and arduous, but it would be worth it.

Teagan stepped from the water, her body dripping and her feet slapping against the wet earth while she closed the distance between her and Arden. She kept herself a foot away, feeling like she ought to keep some level of space as Arden continued to process toward the possibility of forgiveness. After everything they’d been through, and the no Teagan had received about staying away, she held onto some sort of hope. Held the uneasiness in her chest until her desire for absolution became a wish on her lips.

“Will wait for you. I’ll clean up and we can talk, yeah? I’ll-I-I-I’ll make tea and bring out that whiskey you like. Just please come back. Even…” Teagan squeezed her eyes shut with a bated breath, exhaling shakily as the future possibility of loneliness became far too real. “If it’s for goodbye. I can live with goodbye if we can just talk for a little longer.” Taking a step back, Teagan swallowed and cleared her throat, looking to the cabin to hide the fact that she was wiping her tears away. “And I promise I’ll start taking down all the traps I can tomorrow. Won’t put up any others unless I really need to and tell you. I promise.” Another important thing to add. There were a lot of important things to say, but that felt like the biggest. If she was going to be better, Teagan needed to really hold herself far more accountable. Promising seemed like a good start.

“Now, get on.” She jutted her chin at Arden. “He’ll catch his death out here. Get him home.”

#wickedswriting #waving words #writings #c: kaden #c: arden #kaden and teagan #arden and teagan

7 notes · View notes

kadavernagh · 3 months

Text

@chasseurdeloup replied to your post “[pm] Gotta say, that moose tour wasn't exactly...”:

[pm] It's not robbery if it's a gift. Unless there's more gift rules you have that I'm not aware of. And I could never wear them to work and make Gary jealous. That'd be mean. Almost as mean as depriving you of the honor. I'm not too bad. Been worse. I heal fast, too so they'll be gone in a day or two.

[pm] I return the gift. It is undesirable. Find something better, if you wish to give me a gift. Like a groundhog's head, or one of your creatures.

It rammed into you pretty hard, did it not?

#chasseurdeloup #c kaden

16 notes · View notes

honeysmokedham · 1 year

Text

By now many of you have heard about my very public breakup at Latte of Love. I am asking for space and privacy in this time of distress.

#c #wicked starter #nora: i hate influencers using things for cloat #nora instantly posts online because its so engrained on her due to her upraising #its sad isn't #cause im using her childhood trauma to write a starter to bully kaden #and then i fill it with a lot of tags

38 notes · View notes

chasseurdeloup · 1 year

Text

@mayihaveyournameplease replied to your post “What is your favorite cheese? And have you paid...”:

Haha, I love a good cheese. I think everyone should have a good cheese. Maybe cheese tax is when you pay me cheese because I've been known to be a silly guy who makes cheese jokes. Haha. I'm funny like that.

Right... Somehow I don't think that's what it is. Who are you, anyway?

#mayihaveyournameplease #c: beau #kaden is not ready for beau

27 notes · View notes

bumblevoid · 1 month

Link

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Ratchet & Clank Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kaden & Mags Characters: Kaden (Ratchet & Clank), Mags (Ratchet & Clank) Additional Tags: Pre-Canon, Backstory, Advice, i dont? really know?, Drabble, part of a larger au im writing, mags backstory headcanon, Dimension Travel, Past Character Death, Time Shenanigans, ive had fun trying to figure out mags' character, not sure if this is the final version for my au but i liked it!, not beta read we die like canon kaden, title from a sparkbird song Summary:

Mags thinks back to his past, trying to provide advice for whatever it is Kaden seems so worried about.

concept drabble for my Kaden lives au! i've been piecing it together while i work on an outline for the main fic (i have been remembering why i gave up on long fics,,,)

#void_bee fanfics #ao3 #ao3 fanfic #ao3 link #fanfic #ratchet and clank #r&c #btw the sparkbird song i named it after is silent film #OHOHOH au tag making!!! since it's named already #Disguises & Denial Au #oooh i should share the art ive made for it #wait no its not done nvm #yall will be happy to know this is separate from my whumptober prompt kaden lives au. this one is happier #lombax #i still do not know how tags work lmao

3 notes · View notes

banisheed · 10 months

Text

TIMING: A few weeks ago LOCATION: Some fancy penthouse PARTIES: Siobhan ( @banisheed ) and Metzli ( @muertarte ) CONTENT: Unsanitary TW (for blood and boogers) SUMMARY: Siobhan thinks the banshee she's looking for might be someone by the name of Regis Crotch. She enlists the help of Metzli to confront Regis at a party.

Siobhan was used to not being invited to parties; she had spent a long time cultivating a prickly attitude and a crude persona. She was proud of all she accomplished pretending to be an uncaring woman only interested in bones and having fun (a redundant statement). Yet, when Siobhan found out she was not invited to an exclusive party hosted by artsy types the likes of which she had never once interacted with or cared to, she was a little offended. At least in part because Regis Crotch was supposed to be in attendance and she really needed to see this Regis; her list of them was running thin and eventually she was sure to come up on the one she was looking for. As it turned out, hounding the host for an invite wasn’t the way to go about getting one. Thankfully, someone she knew had gotten one.

“Thanks again for doing this,” Siobhan smiled at Metzli. She adjusted her clothing, a tight but not revealing black dress and the deep red blazer she had draped over her shoulders. This party was hosted at one of those pretentious high-end lofts with the vaulted ceilings and the personal rooftop terraces and so, dressing well was expected. Though, even if it hadn’t been, Siobhan would have done so anyway. “Do you get invited to these things often?” She asked as they entered the building and she punched in the floor number on the elevator that just opened up. “Or--better question--do you come to these parties often? Any parties?” The door beeped and clunked shut; a rumbling and the telltale downward gravitation push of an elevator shooting up filled the enclosed space. The building was nice, but in the way renovated things often were; with enough old moldy corners and musty smells to make it still feel like there was some character left laying around.

—

Metzli didn’t like social occasions, going as far as to decline harshly in order to deter any future invites. Admittedly, the people who had invited them were impressively persistent. They’d never seen anyone take so much rejection and still have enough gumption to keep requesting. Metzli supposed it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. They had an up and coming gallery that, while still getting its legs, had drawn enough attention. Oddly enough, the fact that forgers disappeared left and right had given MuertArte a reputation that artists and their managers enjoyed.

Something about upholding impeccable standards by any means necessary. Needless to say, Metzli was a master of their craft, and it was paying off. Somewhat. The parties, they could do without. “Only ask that you help me when I am struggling with sound. Too many people. Hate it. Make me want to stab. Might stab if I do not keep calm.” They rambled, stressed their hand through their hair and adjusted their tie. “Invited a lot, but never go because I hate people—” The elevator shut and Metzli tensed. It was the kind of machinery they still hadn’t gotten used to. “And elevators. Hate elevators.” The confined space and whirring would’ve had them clawing at the doors if they hadn’t grounded themself by unconsciously reaching for Siobhan’s hand. They promptly let go and shook the tension away as best they could with an expression of embarrassment. “Sorry.”

—

Siobhan was used to stumbling through her life without caring about the people around her; she was a force of nature, dragging people along this way or that. The only people she had to stop to think about were the fae and, well, she didn’t really have to worry about them anymore. Not yet, at least. If Regis Crotch was her girl, then she could get back to the life she was meant to live. Instead, however, Metzli reached for her hand and Siobhan stared at it. Then at Metzli. She did consider that Metzli would hate the party but she didn’t consider what that meant, exactly. Or if Metzli would have preferred taking the stairs instead. Suddenly, her stomach sank and not in any way the elevator was responsible for. Guilt crawled up into her throat and squeezed. She had spent all her time cultivating her beloved prickly attitude that she forgot why she did it: Siobhan did care, immensely. When she was living with her family, it was easier to pretend she didn’t. All these years away from them had frayed her into something raw and ugly. She needed Regis. She needed to get back. She couldn’t keep living like this taut and vulnerable thing.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I-I should have asked. If it helps….” Siobhan took her glove off, reaching her hand out and holding it palm up for Metzli to take if they wanted. “If you look at the numbers, it helps…or it did for me when I was a child. It’s a countdown; you know when the doors are going to open and you can get out. It’s not like being locked in some place. This has an end and it’s showing itself to you.” She smiled lightly and pointed up with her other hand. The elevator dinged again as they reached their floor and the doors slid open as promised.

Siobhan stepped out. There was a short hallway leading into the only apartment on the floor, the illustrious penthouse of pretentious art party fame. At the door, a muscular man in a finely tailored black suit stood watch and Siobhan bit down on her lip to keep from laughing. She supposed the exclusive aspect was rather serious and was at once happy that she’d asked Metzli to come rather than trying to get in herself. “If it gets too loud, there’s a rooftop terrace we can escape to. And if that’s too loud I can scream, that usually gets people to shut up.” She smiled softly. “Are you ready to go in? Or do you want another minute out here where it’s still quiet?”

—

Siobhan was right. Looking at the numbers did help. They were counting up, not counting down, but there was an end, as she said. Each beep brought them a floor closer to the exit, and despite hating parties, their destination couldn’t come fast enough. Metzli watched the number change and laced their fingers with Siobhan’s. The familiar coolness gave the vampire a semblance of relief, and the tension they were holding inside released in one large exhale. They were thankful Siobhan had a quiet kindness to her, that she extended her heart in her own way after everything she’d had taken from her.

In many ways, she reminded Metzli of themself, but that was what struck a chord most with them. Her life was carved away to make room for what others needed her to be. To serve until she could no longer give herself in any capacity. No room for anything else besides her higher power. It was a disheartening reality, a double edged sword. Each cut begging to spread over more skin, and Siobhan truly believed she wanted to be marked. Maybe she did, but something told Metzli there was lingering doubt, a truer version of herself that wanted to be free. But perhaps that was them simply growing lost in their thoughts and projecting.

“Hm?” Oh. The elevator doors had opened, and without realizing it, Metzli had been led outside. They were standing outside the entrance of the party and they were touched that Siobhan was once again taking them into consideration. Of course, she took the liberty of adding her own flair of humor. “Go in. Faster in, faster out.” Metzli led the two toward the security and stated their name to the unnecessary security guard. The two were inside in a blink, and the pretentious energy in the air alone tasted rancid and Metzli wanted to gag. They took to adjusting their suit jacket to give themself something to fuss with, an attempt to keep calm and focused on Siobhan’s task. “How do we look for your friend?”

—

The party was, as Siobhan assumed parties of these natures were, dripping with the air of self-importance. From the few conversations she could overhear, a competition of who-could-say-the-longest-word was waged in one and random French words occupied another. The art on display itself was…. Siobhan turned to Metzli. She wouldn’t call a Pollock ugly and she did know the historical significance of Malevich's Black Square but what she saw was no better than colorful squiggles and bright splotches. There didn’t appear to be rhyme or reason to them and the conversations around her consisted of people trying to ascertain the meaning lest they appear like the dumbest in the room. Siobhan wasn’t a fan. Say the work was shite and move on. “Is this art?” She asked her companion. If anyone would be the authority on artistic expression, she thought it would be Metzli.

Regarding their question though, Siobhan shrugged. “I thought we would just ask people,” she said. “Or yell.” She paused. “Or walk around aimlessly eating French cheese.” And at that, she grabbed cheese off a plate being offered to her and chewed it slowly. It had that funk fancy cheeses often did, the sort of thing that told her this was aged in complete darkness--which was not unlike how she thought these humans had grown up. Lacking patience however, Siobhan grabbed the nearest person and pulled them into the conversation. “Where’s Regis Crotch?” As soon as the person pointed at someone far off, Siobhan shoved them aside. “Easy. See?”

The person pointed out seemed to be the most darkness dwelling of the bunch; someone attired in a low-cut v-neck shirt and a thick red scarf. They adjusted their beret, swirling their wine very slowly. From the distance, Siobhan couldn’t tell if they were a woman--banshee or human. “Shall we go?”

—

At Siobhan’s questions, Metzli took a few glances around, all the pieces minimal and abstract. There was no depth, no actual forethought in any of the pieces on display. Maybe a few of the statues had some value, but that was only because Metzli couldn’t exactly place what they lacked. They were overfilled clusters of messes, not seeming to have any rhyme or reason. Metzli grumbled, about to answer when a pretentious-looking man tapped on their shoulder.

“Excuse me—are you Mx. Bernal from MuertArte?”

Looking the man up and down, a look of distaste began to take shape on Metzli’s face, breaking any stoicity. But only for a moment. “Yes,” They replied, someone brushing against them to move past. “Do not want to talk.” Another person bumped into them. “Please leave me alone.” Sounds became louder and light became brighter, raising Metzli’s anxiety significantly. Taking a steadying breath, they refocused on Siobhan, reaching for her hand and gripping it tightly. They should go. She’d found the man. It was the perfect excuse.

“Let’s go,” Metzli rushed the pair in the direction of this Regis Crotch, their mind set on the first objective. “What do we do once we get to them? I can…I have thrall. Can tell them to follow.” It wasn’t something Metzli particularly liked using, but if it was for a just cause, they could put those uneasy feelings aside.

—

Siobhan squeezed back on Metzli’s hand, assuring them of her presence and the comfort she hoped to occupy for them. She wasn’t completely heartless, despite what basic banshee education might imply. Her affection, far from vocal or obvious, began and ended with her tugging Metzli close to her, holding them, and shooting sharp glances at anyone else that recognized the artist. When they reached Regis Crotch, Siobhan’s mistake was obvious but something else broke the flush of embarrassment.

Regis Crotch was not a particular handsome man or an intelligent one or a kind one. What he lacked in favorable qualities he made up for in arrogance. To the podcasts he listened to, averageness was simply a state of mind. Regis Crotch fancied himself an artist— he had a few thousand Instagram followers of his exquisite A.I art. So, of course, he called himself one. Recently he typed a particularly delicious set of words into the A.I art prompt program that gave him a series of beautiful anime-styled women that were doing the rounds. Artists went to these sorts of parties and so, Regis had come despite his cold. Yes, he was sniffling up a storm in his little corner but it was his little corner and as a man of America, he was allowed to sniffle. When he went to wipe his nose, a thick spread of boogers sat on his fingers like jam. Sparing a quick glance around the party he figured there was no harm and no foul in making a tissue of the work of art he was looking at.

He would have screamed at the sudden presence of two bodies beside him if not for his attention stuck on how artsy his boogers blended with the globs of paint; he really was an artist. One was a pretty woman that he would certainly get to later with his practiced charms, the other was a surprising face. “Mx. Bernal from MuertArte?” He grinned wide, sticking out his one boogered hand for a shake.

Siobhan couldn’t say ‘this man disgusts me let’s push him off the roof’ with her mouth but she hoped the look she offered Metzli said it all. And yes, maybe they ought to thrall him.

—

Though their smile didn’t reach their eyes, still wide and stale from the need to hide in the void, Metzli felt content and at ease. Siobhan, while keeping people at arm’s length, still held them close and cared enough to ease their anxieties. “I appreciate this.” Metzli muttered, keeping their eyes downcasted to avoid making contact with anyone else’s. By the time the pair had reach Siobhan’s target, their eyes had risen to meet with Regis’, and their back stiffened with disgust.

“Yes, that is me and I already do not like you.” They continued, voice still dry, but quick in a way that showed their discomfort. Especially when they began to ramble. “Did you know your hands are covered with mocos? That is disgusting. I will not touch that hand but I am going to punch you now.” Letting go of Siobhan’s hand, Metzli’s hand, as promised, flashed too quickly to stop, crunching Regis’s nose with a powerful punch. Unfortunately for the vampire, making contact with his nose led to his boogers attaching to their knuckles and the sensation sent their nerves flaring with a sensation that felt wrong.

Regis groaned in pain, cupping his nose, which now began to coat his hands with both boogers and blood. This wouldn’t normally be a problem, but in a room full of people, red eyes and fangs weren’t exactly ideal. Metzli grabbed for Regis’s arm, staring into his eyes until they went blank with obedience. “Follow us without making scene.” They looked to Siobhan, waiting for her to take the lead.

—

Siobhan had no qualms with this. For the fact that Regis Crotch had the audacity to be the wrong Regis— be a man when she was looking for a rebellious banshee— was enough to warrant a murder. For his boogers he certainly should have got more. As Metzli sprung into action, taking out Regis’s nose in one swift motion, she giggled with delight. As he held his broken nose, overcome with boogers and blood and then put under Metzli’s spell, she had to restrain herself from skipping through the party. Siobhan knew she needed to be careful, they didn’t need any attention as they moved. She led them through the far end of the condo, past a poorly designed barrier and up a set of stairs to the empty rooftop terrace, where the sounds of the party died and left nothing but the night air and the occasional hum of a passing car.

“What do you want to do?” Siobhan grinned, skipping around Regis. “Throw him off the roof? Oh! But that might attract too much attention. If we kill him here, it might be some time before his body is found and I think I see a ladder coming down the side of the roof.” Whatever happened to Regis, it hadn’t been decided yet— Fate hadn’t given her a vision, Death didn’t want its cry. Regis existed in the thin space between life and death; he might still live if he could somehow break from Metzli’s thrall and run. More likely though, as soon as Metzli’s mind was made up on what fun they wanted to have, Siobhan would have a scream to swallow and a show to watch. The seconds before Death, where the promise of it loomed in the air, were always the most fun for Siobhan. “I leave the choice to you, Metzli.” She stopped skipping around, smiling at the vampire. “I think it can be great stress relief after that horrible, horrible party.”

—

Getting to the rooftop was a blur, the thick mixture of blood and mucus doing well to keep Metzli distracted from the snake of hunger constricting their throat. Bite…bite…bite…It became a chant in their head, as it always did when a meal was ripe and ready. They wanted to make him thrash, buck like prey. Did they have the time? The thought made Metzli blink, logic hard to come by in that hungry state. They were quick to latch onto it and look at Siobhan to keep themself grounded as they answered her question.

“I want to eat him.” Their voice was a robotic drone as usual, but less so with the losing battle of control. Metzli’s stomach tightened uncomfortably and they stood straighter, clenching their jaw enough to crack their teeth. Control was waning. Hell, it was practically gone. “I’m going to—” Metzli interrupted themself, fangs throbbing with pain and pulling them toward Regis’s throat to relieve the pressure. The release was instant, blood coating their tongue with its intoxicating umamic properties. And thanks to Metzli’s thrall, he made no call for help, no sniffle to save himself from the dripping mucus trailing down his chin.

At that point, Metzli hardly minded the mess that stained their suit, the blood much too potent to give themself pause. They consumed for several minutes, long after Regis went limp, until they finally threw him to the side. Blood coated their mouth and cheeks, the remnants dripping from their jaw. “That made that party worth it.”

—

Heat coiled up Siobhan's body, like a shot of whiskey gone in reverse. Her lungs expanded, pressing against her ribs. At the back of her throat, a bead encased with fire formed, stopping her from inhaling; begging her to exhale. A banshee scream wasn’t just some thing her body did, it was an impulse, a reflex, as natural as blinking and as inescapable as a yawn. Some humans thought they possessed great bodily control if they could hold back a sneeze, Siobhan thought they should try being stabbed and see how much control they possessed after that. In perfect form, without the flicker of expression across her face, her scream was swallowed as if nothing was felt inside her body at all. She didn’t want to disturb Metzli’s feeding and, anyway, she didn’t need the death vision; the show was just about to begin.

Regis Crotch died the same way he lived: limp. When it was done, Siobahn erupted in applause; heady from the sensation of death. She made no effort to glamour the dark veins that branched along her skin-- Metzli had just given her a wonderful performance, they deserved to see a banshee’s beauty in full. She flung her arms around the bloody Metzli, pulling them into a hug before she remembered that they probably wouldn’t like a hug. She let go sheepishly. “Apologies, that was just…so beautiful. Life literally drained from him; it was lovely!” To say Siobhan was ecstatic didn’t explain the almost uncharacteristic giggle that left her lips-- she was more than pleased; it didn’t even matter that Metzli was an abomination by every banshee standard. “You’re so attractive when you’re covered in blood. Come, if you’re good to walk, we should head down the ladder and enjoy a nice quiet stroll.”

—

The hug was unexpected, nearly disturbing enough to make the vampire flinch and bristle, like a feral kitten serving out a warning. But to their surprise, instead of a harsh reaction, Metzli wrapped their arm firmly around Siobhan. She didn’t need to pull away, not yet. They trusted the banshee, enjoyed her company and the way she made them feel positive about themself. It was give and take, by the looks of it, too. She had gotten a show and Metzli had gotten praise, not unlike the ovations Honey had given them. They were a beautiful monster in the eyes of their friends.

Metzli pulled away, their eyes still wild and untamed from all the stimulation. When they stood straight and looked down at Siobhan, they saw the way black veins weaved and framed her face, a beautiful web of death beneath her skin. With a hint of a smile curling the corner of their lips, Metzli let their awe take over their hand, landing it at Siobhan’s cheek so their thumb could graze her skin. She knew her beauty, Metzli knew that. How could they not? Siobhan had made that very clear as often as she could. Still, the words on their tongue slipped past their lips like a waterfall of saccharine.

“You are…” Their eyes were unblinking and awkwardly wide. “Beautiful.” Metzli’s thumb gave Siobhan’s flesh one last brush before they pulled away and looked toward the ladder they were just referred to. A walkdid sound nice, but a ladder was boring. There was a much better use of their newfound energy from feeding. “Better than good to walk. We jump.” A full smile reached Metzli’s lips, and they threw Siobhan over their shoulder as they burst into a sprint toward the edge of the building.

#i love metzli and I love jojo #regis crotch's fc is kaden in a bad scarf actually #its what i pictured in my head #c: metzli #writing #s1 #blood and boogers #unsanitary tw #thank you 2 bex for supplying the scarf

12 notes · View notes

mayihaveyournameplease · 1 year

Text

@chasseurdeloup [pm] No, I'm not trading that. You did take his name, right?

[pm] My dearest KayKay, I'm not in the buischeese of giving things away for free. I require a gouda trade if you want anything for me. Say the magic words, give me something good, and then we'll talk.

#c #c: kaden

14 notes · View notes

deathlesssaints · 3 months

Text

kaden hammond merci de créditer (c) pau.

#kaden hammond #kaden hammond avatars #400x640 #rpg ressources #c: black and white #tik toker #new face

27 notes · View notes

muertarte · 5 months

Text

TIMING: August 2023

PARTIES: @chasseurdeloup @muertarte

SUMMARY: Metzli and Kaden get together for a puppy playdate and language lessons where they discover the root of their desire for learning.

WARNINGS: None

“Hey, be nice,” Kaden said to the small puppy that was trying to turn his fingers into a chew toy. “I already have one big chunk taken out of me, you don’t have to help, got it?” He couldn’t help but smile as he ruffled the fluffy pup’s head. He hadn’t named the little guy yet, nothing quite felt right yet, but there was no giving him up, that was for sure. He knew Alex was right that he was going to bond with the dog immediately which is why he was so careful not to get attached when he was at the shelter. If he did, well, the cabin would look like a zoo.

His attention turned towards the door when he heard a knock. Must be Metzli. He winced as he stood up from the couch and the puppy saw his chance at sweet freedom and was about to go running off into who knew where to do who knew what. “Nuh, uh. You’re coming with me,” he said as he scooped up the little guy, carrying him in the crook of his arm as he limped towards the door. “Hey,” he said with a small wave after opening the door. “Come on in.” He stepped aside and let them walk through. “Thanks for coming over. Though I guess lucky for you. You get to meet the puppy.”

Fluffy trailed behind his owner, his attention fully on them as the pair walked toward the unfamiliar cabin. Metzli had a box of toys and outfits they thought might work for a growing puppy. They’d probably get a better idea of its final size upon meeting them, and the very thought of it sent a small smile to Metzli’s face.

“Sientate,” they commanded gently with yet another smile. “Que lindo eres, mi rey.” Hopefully, they couldn’t be heard, seeing as they were using a puppy voice that not just anyone got to hear. Taking a moment, Metzli knocked on the door as best they could with a box in their only hand. When Kaden answered, they tensed slightly at the new presence, reminding themself that the meeting was planned. He was still a stranger, sure, but they’d, at the very least, met before. He was nice then, and he hadn’t stopped. Metzli just needed to get the hang of social interaction, which they doubted they ever would.

“Hello,” Metzli replied, looking past Kaden to avoid his eyes. It was nothing against him, by any means. The vampire just had a hard time with the concept in general. It only grew worse with Eloy, who saw eye contact as an act of defiance. “It was nice of you to invite me.” They attempted to smile, only looking like a kindergartner awkwardly taking their first school picture.

Metzli was happy to hear Fluffy bark as they entered the house, tail wagging at the sight of the puppy. “I think Fluffy is excited. I am too—oh, these are for the puppy.” They offered the box, telling Fluffy to sit again. Meanwhile, the dog couldn’t stop staring at the puppy, his single eye glistening with curiosity.

Kaden was surprised to see that Metzli had brought a whole box full of things. Even more so when they handed it off to him. “Oh, uh, thanks. You didn’t have to.” That said, if it was all for the puppy, it was hard to blame them. He usually had to stop himself from buying too many treats and toys for the dogs at the shelter. He took the box and set it down on the coffee table across from the couch. “Anyway, this is Shadow,” he said turning back to his guest and holding the small gray, shaggy puppy out so that Metzli could say hello. “Seemed appropriate. He’s already on my heels all the time. Even when he should be in the playpen. Or another room with the door closed.” Kaden was fairly certain this was a product of the abnormality but he wasn’t about to lead with that.

“Alright, time for the important introductions,” he said once Metzli had a chance to pet Shadow. He crouched down and placed the puppy on the floor across from Fluffy, who looked as eager for playtime as the puppy was. The scenario seemed safe enough based on the body language of both dogs but of course, Kaden was going to keep an eye on them both. It didn’t take long for Shadow to trot happily over to the older dog and start trying to play. “I figure I’ll get a chance to say hello to Fluffy afterward. Clearly, I’m not as interesting,” he said, smiling as he watched the two dogs interact. “He’s even cuter in person, though.”

The stony expression that normally kept their facial features even and neutral began to brighten. The very sight of Shadow made Metzli feel a spark within, a fire igniting and warming the hearth in their chest. They smiled lightly, hardly noticeable, but it felt like a big change given the stoicity that Metzli so often bore. “It is nice to meet you, Shadow.” The inflection in their voice was playful and happy, no longer holding the dryness of a robot.

How could anyone resist such cuteness anyway? Certainly not Metzli, and they had spent over a century not feeling a single thing. Even then, there was room in their hollow heart for the animal friends they’d cross paths with on their travels. It was just in their nature to adore sweet creatures. That’s what made it easy for Metzli to scoop Fluffy up from the dumpster they’d found him in, and give him a new life. One with belly rubs, as many walks as he wanted, and a full belly.

“Go on, Fluffy. Play.” The little canine didn’t need to be told twice, immediately springing into action and pouncing into a playful bow. His tail wagged happily, and he huffed into Shadow’s nose to initiate play. That caused the puppy to let out a small bark and mirror Fluffy’s pose. Metzli let out a hearty chuckle, happy to see things were going smoothly for both sets of parties. “We are not interesting at all,” They teased, surprising even themself that they did. Metzli tried to hang onto that, knowing their usual self was not as friendly or liked. “Even I rather watch them play.” They subtly winced at the sound of the robot peeking through, and they took a deep breath to help settle themself.

There was always something comforting about seeing people interact with warmth toward animals. Kaden found it a lot easier to trust people and to be comfortable around them when he knew that they could manage that much. He certainly forgave anyone who had been attacked by an animal for being gunshy around them but, well, it still made him some sort of wary if he was being honest. Seeing Metzli’s face become brighter than he’d seen it in the few times they’d interacted when they introduced themselves to Shadow was a very good sign.

Kaden couldn’t keep the smile off his own face as he watched the two dogs bounce around with one another. “Of course not,” he added. “We’re only important when we provide the food.” He stood there with his arms crossed in front of his chest for a moment or two, observing the play. Fluffy was full of energy but clearly patient with the puppy who wasn’t entirely clear on proper manners yet. Even in small moments like this, he could see the older dog teaching Shadow and correcting him occasionally. “You’ve got a good dog, there,” he told Metzli. He was sure they knew, but he couldn’t help but comment.

As much as he could watch the dogs all day, he sighed and nodded to the kitchen table. “Ready to start this learning thing? Or try to at least?” He took a seat and drummed his fingers against the table. “Not sure how you want to start but I appreciate any help. Sort of wanted it to be a surprise or something.” Which was probably stupid, he knew Monty would be eager and willing to help Kaden but that just wasn’t the point he supposed. For whatever reason, he wanted to iron out the most embarrassing parts of learning with someone who he wouldn’t feel embarrassed in front of. He didn’t really care if Metzli thought he was a total idiot, unlike the cowboy. It made the idea of being awful a lot less terrifying. And he was pretty sure he was going to be awful while just starting to learn.

The dogs nipped at each other playfully, nudging each other from side to side and engaging in a way that spelled out the makings of a lasting friendship. Fluffy was bigger for now, but given the size of the puppy’s paws, that wouldn’t be the case for very long. Metzli pulled out a rope for the two to play with, enticing them both by dragging it across the floor for them to give chase. It didn’t take very long, maybe a split second and the two were playing tug-of-war. Shadow and Fluffy were both going to get a very good nap after such a fun day and if Metzli could nap, the same would have also applied.

“Thank you. I train him very much after I found him, but he was a very fast learner. He is good boy. My favorite boy.” They began to absentmindedly roll their wrists happily, a light smirk developing. “Happy I find him. He was first friend I make here in town.” The smirk washed away from Metzli’s face at the thought of having left him and everyone else, their expression neutral once more. Right. The learning part. They’d almost forgotten the second reason for the visit.

After their conversation with Leila, Metzli wasn’t sure where their relationship lay anymore, so they could only assume they were only friends. Anything more, and that would take a conversation that could only be initiated by Leila, so Metzli thought it best to focus on teaching Kaden Spanish. “Yes, we can try. Um…” They eyed the seat and looked at the backrest’s texture, unsure if they’d enjoy it. Taking a seat, they kept their back away from it, sitting a little too rigidly. “We can start with basics. French and Spanish are similar, yes? Let us just focus on teaching you for now.” A tinge of hurt pinched Metzli’s brows together, but they quickly wiped it away with a few blinks.

“I can tell,” Kaden said with a smile. Too often small dogs were treated like accessories and not canines. Seeing how well-behaved and happy Fluffy was, well, it was a good feeling. It definitely only made him feel better about Metzli. Like he’d said before, it was hard for him to think poorly of anyone who was good with animals. He hoped no one would prove him wrong about that. “Animals usually make for the best company, anyway. Can’t say I’ve made a whole lot of friends in town yet if I’m being honest. I’m pretty sure family doesn’t count. They’re stuck with me.” He joked but he was grateful to have Andy and Alex, grateful that they had accepted him so readily even with their shared past. It was far from perfect but somehow he knew the bonds between them were stronger than anything he’d ever found with his mother and sister, as much as that hurt to admit to himself.

“On paper, at least, yeah. The words look similar sometimes but they sound…” Kaden wanted to say wrong but that seemed kind of shitty. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to find a better word. “Different. Very different. I keep trying to say things with my own accent and I know it’s not right.” His brows furrowed even though he tried to keep his face half as neutral as Metzli’s was. “Okay, yeah. We can do that. Did something change? I promise I’m not going to grill you too much on the accent if you’re worried about that.” He knew he probably shouldn’t have asked anything but he couldn’t help himself. If there was something he did wrong he sort of wanted to know so maybe he could fix it or something. It definitely wasn’t because he cared one way or another. Couldn’t be that.

“Family is not always so stuck. If they do not want you, they will make this known and can exile you at any time.” Metzli shrugged, a bit indifferent in their blunt statement. Because it was true. Family didn’t have to love you, and they didn’t have to care. So, they most certainly didn’t have to be stuck. Besides, as Metzli has learned, family is sometimes found and not born into. “They must love you if they have you with them and enjoy your presence. I have seen two girls tease you online. Is that them?” They tilted their head curiously, face unmoving. “I believe the interactions have humor but I did not understand jokes.”

Kaden was right about French and Hispanic accents being different. When Leila spoke French, it was like the words danced off her tongue like a delicate waltz, like silk twirling in the breeze. It matched the Bordeaux wine Metzli had imported before, smooth and rich, with a hint of elegance in every syllable. Much different than when they spoke Spanish, their accent, a vibrant tapestry of sound, woven with the warmth of the sun. Like a band serenading one’s ears, with each word strummed and sung like a passionate chord. A folkloroic ballet meeting a rising waltz, though the dance had since ended.

“Yes, there was change.” Metzli shifted in their seat uncomfortably, swallowing. “Do not care about accent. Just do not have need to…speak French…no more.” They moved on quickly, setting their hand on the table and trying to skip right into the lesson. “When we speak language, there is feminine and masculine, as well as formal and informal. We can start with simple phrases to show you examples. What do you think?”

“That’s them, yeah,” Kaden said with a small sigh. “I don’t understand half the jokes at my expense, either, but they seem to enjoy them.” He supposed it could be worse. At least the teasing made them happy. Even if he was unsure what people meant when they mentioned they saw the “ticking tock” he was in. His fingers brushed along the table absent-mindedly, drawing some shape or another. What it looked like, he couldn’t say. “Guess you’re right, though. About family.” Family could absolutely exile someone at any time. He’d spent years trying to avoid the inevitable and he ran before he could hear the words from his mother or sister. He didn’t need to hear them say it to know. Kaden shook it off. Didn’t matter, he didn’t care. That wasn’t his life anymore and it didn’t matter. Not to mention they were here for a language lesson, not deep fucking introspection about family.

Something had changed. They didn’t need to learn French anymore. Kaden’s brows knit together as he put the pieces together. They had wanted to learn because of their partner, too. Putain. He was such an idiot. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Don’t have to talk about that if you don’t want.” He looked down and sheepishly grabbed his pencil and notepad that he’d pulled out earlier for the lesson. “That works for me. We, uh, have those, too. Probably pretty similar on what to use when.” At least he hoped that was the case. He let out a long exhale, knowing full well he was going to feel like a fucking idiot as he stumbled over the words. “Alright, no better time to start than the present, I guess.”

The corner of Metzli’s lips upturned slightly, a bit amused by the way Kaden was teased. It reminded them of the way Anita poked at them. How she showed love in the way they hardly understood but knew it meant everything because it was just for them. She figured them out and knew all the ways to get them to slightly snap at her. Which eventually turned into small pranks that she ended up hating with a bit of love. Metzli couldn’t help but wonder if that’s how it worked for Kaden.

Love used many languages, some that took a bit of learning. Much like the way the two of them were attempting right then, but once you became fluent, there was nothing you could misunderstand if you really tried. And that’s what really mattered, in the end, Metzli thought. Trying. “No apologies.” They relaxed their posture slightly, the rigidity still there, but it wasn’t as stiff as before. That didn’t happen often, not for the vampire. It was a rare state that could only be found with friends that spoke a language they could speak.

“Then let us continue.”

#wickedswriting #writings #bloody ink #awkward as a language #kaden and metzli #c: kaden

6 notes · View notes