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mycatshuman · 3 years

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My Jolly Sailor Bold

Happy Birthday Virgil!!!! Sorry this might not be that good, I tried but toward the end I got bleh. Anyway, thank you for being my comfort character for these past few years!

Warnings: fighting, angst, death, both Virgil and Roman will still be alive at the end so don't let the death warning discourage you!😇

🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️

Upon one summer's morning...

Early morning fog crept along the cold waters of the North sea like a cat stalking its prey. The waves lapped along the port of a small town in Great Britain as they continued to bring in the ominous fog that had yet to disappear. The sun had yet to rise, most of the sky still dark. Only the horizon slowly brightened as the sunrise inched closer. Most people were still in bed this early in the morning. Still, there was a single soul pacing rhythmically back and forth along the deck of a ship docked in the small port, waiting for the rest of the ship's crew to return from their night on the town.

The man, who went by the name Virgil, was anxiously swabbing the deck, well aware his fellow crewmates wouldn't be back until well past the sun's rise, and took advantage of the lack of foot traffic to clean the deck. Of course, his captain could rouse them early but those days were rare and few between.

Virgil was a unique one. First off, he was a pirate. Second, he rarely indulged in the drinks and ladies like some other pirates, simply preferring to stay on the ship than to go into town. He would like to say he was more of a sensible pirate, which had to have been the reason he was made the first mate.

Virgil had, of course, already gotten himself ready for the day. He had messily smudged black kohl underneath his eyes to help keep the light out of his eyes once the sun rose and he even cleaned his shirt for the day. He was a bit of an early riser when they weren't at sea. The fact that anyone could just walk on board made him uneasy. Although, when they came to this town, he slept a little easier. It was a bit of a remote town and most pirates tended to go to more lively places.

Before long, the sailor was finished mopping and put away the mop and bucket before moving over to the railing along the side of the ship facing the open sea. He leaned against the side of a barrel with a sigh. Virgil took out his dagger and a small log of wood and began to whittle to keep himself occupied until the crew returned.

I carefully did stray

Out in the sea, far from the ship, a head popped up above the water. The head had a pair of eyes and the eyes narrowed in on the lone sailor aboard the magnificent ship. The head quickly rose until the top half of a broad chest rose above the water, but no further than that. This, obviously, was not a human. If it had been a human, it would have drowned, but it wasn't and so it didn't. Most humans would probably call this being a mermaid, although that wasn't quite right either.

This being, whose species was not quite common knowledge to humankind, was named Roman. And upon catching sight of him, a spark twinkled in his eye and he swam closer, unbeknownst to the sailor who had caught his eye. Roman didn't concern himself with humans too often. Only ones he found particularly interesting. And this sailor was a particularly interesting one.

Of course, Roman couldn't let this sailor see him coming so he called upon his power to create more fog and make it near impossible for most to see five feet in front of them. And as he swam closer, the fog followed until it caught the notice of the sailor aboard.

Down by the Walls of Wapping

When Virgil noticed the thickening fog, he frowned. The fog didn't usually get thicker as the sun rose so this was an anomaly that was a bit alarming. He set down his work and put away his dagger as he stood and moved to the railing. He looked over and tried to peer through the fog, he had a sneaking suspicion as to what might be causing this. He kept his hand on his dagger as he looked. After all, he was one of the most superstitious and anxious sailors alive. And he was very nervous at that moment.

Slowly, he withdrew his dagger from the worn leather holder that was hanging from his belt. He flipped the dagger around in his hand, posed at the ready. Virgil wasn't going to let anything surprise him. Not if he wanted to stay alive. And he very much wanted to stay alive.

Where I met a sailor gay

As Virgil cautiously peered over the ship's railing and into the fog, he jumped as he noticed a pair of glowing eyes staring at him from the water. "Who there?!" He shouted in a thick Irish accent. He couldn't let the creature know he was scared, after all. Slowly, the eyes grew larger as the face moved closer. A smiling figure emerged from the fog as whoever was staring at him climbed up the side of the ship. Virgil yelped and flung himself back, away from the railing and the creature coming closer as they pulled themselves on deck. "Stay back!" Virgil yelled as he swung the knife out in front of him.

The being smiled, it made Virgil's stomach feel weird. "I've never met a sailor as handsome as you before." His voice was smooth and velvety to Virgil's ears. Alluring and enchanting. "I'm Roman, and you are?"

Virgil narrowed his eyes at the being in front of him. "Not telling you my name." Of course, the creature wasn't a fae if the large glittering tail was anything to go by. But Virgil was still an anxious fellow.

Roman chuckled and even his laughter sounded like music. "Aren't you gonna ask what I am?" He gestured to his long red tail as he lifted his fin and waved at the sailor.

Virgil scoffed. "Oh I already know what you are."

Roman smirked. "Oh really," he purred and crossed his arms and leaned on an overturned barrel. He liked the snark he was receiving from this one. "Do tell."

Virgil suppressed a shiver at the other's voice. "A siren."

Roman's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Ah, so you're a smart human." The siren grinned. "That's hot."

Virgil blinked and dropped his fighting stance. "What?" Was this siren trying to flatter him?

Roman opened his mouth to respond only for the sound of crewmates clambering up the ramp to reach them. Virgil turned to glance behind him, surprised. He wasn't expecting them until later. By the time he turned back to Roman, the siren was already over on the other side of the railing. He grinned. "I guess I'll talk to you later, sailor boy." And with that, he let go of the railing and dropped back into the sea.

Virgil rushed forward just in time to see the last of Roman's tail as he swam away, the fog retreating with him. He shook his head in disbelief as he watched the siren go. "Well, that was an experience."

Conversing with a young lass

Since their first meeting, the sailor and the siren met up as often as possible. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they just sat together and watched the stars. They mostly only talked when the crew was off the ship, so no one could see Roman or hear them talking. But that only happened when they were docked. The rest of the time, they just stared at the stars while Virgil was on watch. Of course, they still talked when they were out at sea too, just not as freely as they did when in port.

To keep Roman from being seen by other crewmates, Virgil had to signal to the siren that it was safe for him to climb aboard. So, he would sing a small song for him. Roman still couldn't get over it. Of course his voice was beautiful, but it had to be in order for him to use it to lure sailors to their deaths, but Virgil's, his voice was like a warm hug. And the siren was absolutely addicted to it.

Honestly, Roman was so glad that he could turn off the enchantment on his voice and back on at will. It was nice to have a friend that he could talk to like Virgil. Something that would be a lot more difficult if he couldn't talk to him. When he talked to Virgil, he didn't feel so lonely anymore. Even just spending time with Virgil made him feel warm and happy. It was a strange feeling, yet he craved more.

Who seem'd to be in pain

Once, when Roman was following Virgil's ship because he knew they were going to dock soon, he waited until he saw the crew leave and then climbed aboard. But when he climbed over the railing, he found the sailor slumped against a barrel, a bottle of something that smelled strongly of alcohol, something he knew the other preferred not to drink, in his hands. The siren frowned and reached forward to grab the bottle from Virgil's hand. "Are you okay?"

Virgil shook his head as tears began to spill over onto his cheeks but stayed silent. "You don't want to say anything about it?" A quick nod. Roman hummed lighty. "Alright, that's okay." He was silent a few moments more before he began to talk about his day, his voice soft as he tried to comfort his friend. And Virgil cried quietly as Roman spoke.

Before long, after Virgil had stopped crying, he cleared this throat and Roman went silent without being asked. "I-I don't know what to do. The captain died and now I'm the fookin' captain but I'm not ready for this! I'm not ready to be a leader!"

Roman hummed thoughtfully for a few moments before he replied. "Not that it helps, but I think you'll be a great captain."

Virgil turned his gaze to Roman as his tears began anew. "But how can you be sure? I'm probably going to end up getting us killed!"

Not like I'm gonna let that happen, Roman thought. "You are the most cautious and careful person I know, you can do this." Roman laughed. "You drew a knife on me when we first met! You even knew that I was a siren. If anyone is good enough to be a captain, it's you."

Virgil went silent. It wasn't until his tears dried that he spoke again. "Thank you, for everything."

Roman smiled. "No problem."

Saying, William, when you go

"Where are you going this time?" Roman asked, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

Virgil sighed. "We're going to try and take down the one trading spot in the Caribbean." He scraped his arm. "I just have to hope I don't run into any ships from the Royal Navy."

Roman bit his lip. He knew what Virgil meant. If he was captured by the navy, he would be hung for his piracy. In truth, he was scared. He had a bad feeling in his gut, one that sent shivers down his spine and plagued his mind. "How long?"

Virgil shrugged. "We should be able to take it down in one day so long as there are no hiccups."

Roman hummed. "And you won't be able to talk for a few days after that?"

"Right. We can't risk running into any royal ships so we'll be going as fast as we can and it'll be nearly all hands on deck until we're far enough away. And we gotta lie low for a bit too."

"When will you leave?"

"The day after tomorrow."

I fear you'll ne'er return again

"Virgil, I don't think you should go on this mission." It was the next night. Last night they would be able to meet up for a while. Roman could hardly sleep that night, he kept being awoken by frightening nightmares that ripped through his heart without mercy.

Virgil's head whipped over to look at Roman. "What?"

Roman bit his lip. "I don't think you should go."

Virgil frowned. "Why not?"

"I have a bad feeling. I-" Roman paused anxiously. "I fear you'll never return."

Virgil bit his lip and turned away from the siren. "Well, that's-" he sighed. "I'll make sure to be careful." Virgil then turned back to the sky, the conversation was over.

For some reason, Roman felt like he was on the verge of tears. He wasn't sure why, but there was something in him warning him that something bad was going to happen and he could feel fear mocking him. You won't be able to save him. The siren steeled his nerves. Well, he was just going to have to see about that.

My heart is pierced by Cupid

Virgil was well aware of his feelings towards a certain siren. He wasn't that oblivious. And if he ever shared anything with anyone, it would be clear to them who the siren was considering he only had ever met one. So yes, Virgil was very much in love with Roman.

Maybe it was a foolish thing to hope that the other shared his feelings. They were two totally different creatures. Him, a human and Roman, a siren. But Virgil often had unrealistic dreams. And he was content enough to keep dreaming. After all, there was no harm in it. Was there?

I disdain all glittering gold

He was quite a peculiar pirate, Virgil was. He was not as greedy as some others, he just liked to piss off the royal navy. It was his favorite pastime. Of course, this was quite a dangerous hobby. The royal navy often hung pirates they caught, so if Virgil were to ever get caught, it was time to say goodbye to the sea forever unless he went down with his ship.

So, yes, Virgil did not like gold, it wasn't his motivation for piracy. However, after he met Roman, he found he quite liked the idea of stealing a gold ring or a gold necklace, anything gold to give to the stunning siren who had captured his heart. With this thought in mind, with the idea of giving his love a gift, Virgil decided that he would steal something gold for Roman on this new mission. And if he made it, he would give it to Roman, and maybe he would reveal his feelings. Maybe gold wasn't so bad.

There is nothing that can console me

Roman was scared. He was petrified. He had been sitting on a rock. Not quite knowing what to do with his day considering he normally just followed Virgil's ship so they could meet up every night. But he wasn't going to be meeting up with him tonight. So he was at a loss of what to do.

But then he saw a ship sail by, on its way to what he could assume was the very island Virgil was planning to attack. It was a Royal Navy ship. Roman was sure his heart had never beat so fast in his life. As fast as he could, he leaped from his rock and plunged into the ocean, and began to swim the fastest he has ever swum in his life. He couldn't let Virgil get hurt.

But my jolly sailor bold

He barely arrived in time. By the time Roman arrived, the two ships were in a grand battle, cannons firing left and right. They smashed through wood and debris scattered the sea between them. The siren paid them little mind. His attention only focused on finding Virgil.

"Fire!"

There! Virgil was standing at the helm amidst the chaos aboard the pirate ship. He was drop-dead gorgeous in his element. But Roman didn't have time to appreciate Virgil's beauty. Not now. Not with Virgil's life in danger. He'd rather never be able to appreciate the beauty of Virgil ever again than to never be able to talk to him ever again.

His hair it hangs in ringlets

Roman swam as fast as he could towards Virgil's ship. But it was hard. Debris littered the sea between the two ships and he still had to avoid getting seen. But Roman had never really been a careful person, he was more reckless than an ambitious youngster.

The siren was hardly noticed as he zipped to Virgil's ship faster than either ship could sail. He was at the side of the ship in record time and paused. What was he going to do now? He let out a huff and peered over at the opposing ship. He could very well bring down the ship all his own. He had brought down many ships over his time and this one would be no different.

His eyes as black as coal

Roman couldn't do it. If he were to use his voice to enchant the other ship's crew, it would bring Virgil's crew down as well. He couldn't risk the other's life like that. And so, the siren found himself stuck at a stalemate. Unsure of what he could do, he bobbed in the rocking waters beside Virgil's ship.

He didn't know what to do. What would Virgil want him to do? He frowned. Virgil would want him to stay away and out of danger. He couldn't agree. Virgil was in danger and he didn't want to be stuck on the sidelines. If Virgil got hurt….

My happiness attend him

Roman had felt many emotions over his time alive. Joy, sorrow, anger, jealousy, but he had never quite felt love. Sure he had experienced attraction to different sailors over his time but never love. He supposed he would never feel love. He was a siren and most people didn't even believe in sirens let alone fall in love with them. Of course, there were other sirens but none of them really liked him too much. He was too interested in humans. The other sirens preferred each other's company over humans.

Which Roman understood, after all, they didn't have much in common. And sirens often preyed on humans, luring them to their deaths with their voice alone. But, it wasn't as if they were doing it for the fun of it, it was just to protect themselves. After all, humans tended to be brutal with precious things. Roman may have agreed, but he still was fascinated with the human world. He could have never imagined getting into the situation he was in now.

Wherever he may go

He understood now. He understood it all. How had he found himself so enchanted by this human that he would follow him anywhere? Why was he so terrified that this battle would go wrong? The old Roman wouldn't understand. He would ask what was so important that would drive him to this extreme for some human.

Love. The one thing he never thought he would experience. Love. It could be enough to move mountains, enough to inspire, enough to create. And it was Roman's love for the sailor, his sailor, that would create a storm of fury to protect him. He would happily follow this man anywhere. He would do anything for him.

From Tower Hill to Blackwall

Roman finally decided what he was going to do. He quickly swam over to the royal navy's ship and began looking for any weakness in her hull. If he was going to do anything he could at least try and weaken the enemy's ship.

The siren dived below the surface and swam underneath the ship. He curled his hand into a fist before reeling back and punching the hull. His first bounced off and he snarled at the ship. He threw another useless punch at the hull before resurfacing as a loud cannon blast sounded.

Roman flinched and watched as a cannonball flew from the ship beside him and smashed into the deck of Virgil's. His heart leaped in his throat but Virgil was okay. The ship was still standing and the siren could still see his love aboard the ship, shouting commands to his crew.

He let out a sigh of relief and turned back to the ship behind him. Roman suspected the vessel before him with sharp eyes. There had to be something he could do. Soon, an idea hit him. The siren turned to the ocean surface in between the two vessels and quickly zipped through the debris field until he found a sharp shard of a wood plank. He quickly swam back to the ship and rammed the sharp end into the ship's hull.

"YES!" Roman exclaimed. The wood plank had pierced the hull. He ripped the plank out of the hole and watched as water began to pour into the ship. He had done it! He was helping Virgil!

KABOOM!!

It appeared Roman's was short-lived.

I'll wander, weep and moan

The Royal Navy had blown another hole through Virgil's ship. It was the final blow. The ship was sinking, and quickly. "NO!" Roman's scream pierced the air. The siren shot over to the other ship. "Virgil!" He watched as the ship quickly began to disappear below the surface. "No no no no no no!"

The siren came across other pirates as they quickly latched onto anything that would keep them afloat. Roman only felt a little bad as he bypassed them. But his mind was on Virgil. His moments with Virgil flashed through his mind. He couldn't lose him. He just couldn't. Not when he just accepted his feelings.

Then he slammed into a hard stop. He breathed out one heartbroken word. "No…" Roman moved forward and slowly moved the planks of wood off of the sailor. Virgil was laying on a column and must have become trapped between the two pieces of the ship and drowned. His sailor was dead.

All for my jolly sailor

Roman gathered Virgil into his arms and held him as he cried. His sobs echoed loudly through the air, catching the attention of the remaining ship.

"Woah! What's that?!"

Roman looked up at the opposing ship, tears spilling over onto his cheeks. They dripped down onto his sailors' face. A face that would never smile at him again. At that moment, all his anguish, all his rage, spilled over into his throat and he unleashed his voice onto the royal navy.

Until he sails home

The royal navy ship had run aground. Most of her crew haven jumped from the deck and into the churning waves. the rest went down with the ship. A storm had quickly moved in with the force of Roman's voice. The wind was harsh, the rain no gentler, and in the middle of it, all was Roman and his love. His cold, dead love.

Until he wasn't.

My heart is pierced by Cupid

To be clear, Roman was not aware of all the magical properties that he possessed. And to be quite fair, most sirens were not aware of this ability they possessed either. After all, they hardly ever had a need for tears, such was their life that they hardly experienced such sorrow. That and they spent most of their time underwater where the current carried away their tears.

The situation that needed to arise for a siren to discover the magical power their tears held had never arisen for Roman before. Perhaps if he had known, he wouldn't have become so overwhelmed with sorrow. Although, even if he had known, one could assume that it would still hurt just as much. After all, nothing could really lessen the pain of losing a loved one.

I disdain all glittering gold

Roman's sobs had quieted down, and with it, the storm calmed until it was just a memory. His tears still flowed freely from his eyes as he looked down at Virgil in his arms and let out a broken sob. "I'm so sorry." The siren bit his lip as he sniffled and reached a hand forward to push some of Virgil's hair out of his face. He caressed his cheek and drew in a ragged breath.

"I tried. I really tried, Virgil." Roman sniffed. "I just wasn't fast enough." He adjusted a necklace on Virgil's neck. It wasn't something he had seen him wear before. It must have been something he just got. He let out a loud cry. "Maybe you would have told me how you got this...if I had been just a little faster-" he broke off with a hiccup and pressed his forehead to Virgil's and continued to cry.

There is nothing can console me

Virgil was very confused. The last thing he remembered was foggy and incomplete. He could only remember how he felt. Cold and scared. But now, he felt warm and safe. He shifted and felt arms around him, holding him. He slowly blinked his eyes open only for his vision to be filled with Roman.

Oh, no wonder he felt safe. His face flushed as he realized the siren was holding him. Gay Panic™️ would have set in if he hadn't noticed the grief on Roman's face. He frowned and tried to move his hand only to realize it was trapped in Roman's hold. He opened his mouth to speak only to realize his tongue felt like lead. But he pushed through it.

"Roman?" He had to comfort his siren.

Roman's eyes flew open in alarm as he jerked back. His jaw dropped as Virgil fought to pull out his arm, it felt heavy, but he had more important things to worry about. "What's wrong?"

"I-" tears sprang anew and Roman's mouth clamped shut. Virgil frowned and glanced around only to find debris floating all around them. The two of them were on a rock a little bit away from the shore of an island behind them. And it all came rushing back.

The mission, the royal navy ship, the battle, the final blow, being crushed underneath parts of his ship, and finally the burning of his lungs as he drowned. He could only guess what happened next. "Ro, what happened after….?"

Roman sniffled. "I- I did what sirens always do."

Virgil hummed. "Do you think we can move to the shore?"

Roman nodded and held Virgil tight before he shot over to the shore. The two dragged themselves ashore and Virgil sighed. He took off the necklace and handed it to Roman. "Here, I uh, I grabbed this for you."

Roman's head shot up and he looked over to Virgil and the necklace he held in his stretched out hand. Gingerly, he took the necklace and tied it around his neck. It didn't stop his tears though. "Thank you."

Virgil smiled at the siren. "You're welcome.” He knew they still had a lot to talk about. But right now, Roman just needed someone to comfort him. Specifically, he needed Virgil. So Virgil scouted closer to the siren and wrapped his arm around him and leaned against him as Roman cried.

But my jolly sailor bold

The sea had been merciful. Virgil was given the power to transform his legs into a tail at will. He was the first-ever merman. At least that was the name Roman had come up for him. And Virgil loved Roman so of course he fondly accepted the name.

Together, the two of them lived in a small island with a cave that led to the water and allowed them a cool place to relax when it got too hot. They had their happily ever after.

Currently, the two were cuddled on the beach as the sunset and they watched the stars as they revealed themselves. "I'm so glad I met you," Roman murmured. He pressed a kiss to Virgil's head and gave him a light squeeze.

Virgil smiled warmly. "And I'm glad I met you, I love you." He turned his head to press a quick kiss to the siren's lips before returning to his previous position.

Roman grinned. "I love you too. "

Neither Roman or Virgil would give this up for the world.

🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊🧜🏾‍♂️🌊

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Let me know what you think?

#prinxiety #virgil sanders #roman sanders #sanders sides #thomas sanders #sanders sides fic #sanders sides au #ts prinxiety #ts virgil #ts roman #angst tw #no read more #mycatshuman fics #mycatshuman writing #siren! roman #pirate! virgil

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angst-fairygodmother · 4 years

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The Sweet Kiss of Seafoam (a Geralt x Jaskier Little Mermaid AU)

A/N: Alright, if I stare at this any longer I’m going to do something dumb like delete the doc and start over. So here it is. Presenting: my entry to @the-winter-witcher‘s 2k follower writing challenge! Or part 1 of 2 of it anyway. Chosen prompt: “I’ve run out of words my song, just let me die, me die” Word count: 2793 Content Warning: None Now cross-posted to AO3: here

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Once upon a time, in the depths of the ocean, there lived a kingdom of merfolk. These merfolk were completely isolated from the surface, but thrived in their watery domain. There were many architects, sculptors, and other artists who were held in high esteem in the kingdom, but the most cherished and lauded of all the merfolk was the youngest prince, whose name was all but forgotten by the world who called him Jaskier, after the cheerful yellow flowers they had seen on their visits near the human lands.

Young Prince Jaskier was energetic and friendly, a lover of fine things and adornments, always eager to hear some new story from his people who roamed, desperate to go on grand adventures, to see more of the ocean and learn of the human lands. Sometimes he even wished he could explore their lands himself, or at least go to the shore and see the blossoms which his nickname made him into. But where his heart truly lay was in music. Gifted with instruments and voice, he sang so often there were jokes that he could not speak, and all who heard him were enthralled by the beauty he wove from sound.

His father, a widower, and his grandmother and his many brothers all loved the young prince very much, and wanted nothing more than to protect him and keep him safe beside them for all his days. But as he grew older, he became more curious and full of daydreams and his every song became about the world above. Knowing how important it had become to him, they agreed that for one night only, as a gift on his sixteenth year, he would be granted an escort of three of the best warriors, to take him to see the surface, but he could only glimpse if from afar, for fear that humans might see him.

On that fateful day, Jaskier could not contain his excitement as he flited from place to place, waiting impatiently for the time they would set out. Once they had, he carried on for the entire journey, speculating on what they would see and repeatedly stating what he was most excited for (which was never the same thing twice), much to his guards’ amused annoyance.

When they surfaced, Jaskier finally fell silent with a gasp, so awestruck that he found himself at a total loss for words. Above their heads, great ribbons of light danced through the starry night sky. The curtains of eerily glowing greens and purples and blues waved and warped through the pinprick lights in a haunting echo of the pattern of the water that the four merfolk floated in.

None of them had ever heard of such a thing in any tale of the world, and while Jaskier wanted nothing more than to stay there, entranced by it forever, his guards bristled defensively.

“We should retreat, Your Highness,” one of them cautioned.

“It could be some sort of devilish enchantment,” the second continued.

“Don’t be silly,” Jaskier finally breathed. “Nothing evil could be so…incredible.”

“Still, we should keep moving if you want to see land before we must escort you back.”

Reluctantly, Jaskier lowered his eyes from the strange lightshow and followed as his guards led him across the waves.

The sight of the great coastal city as the dawn broke behind it was equally as awestriking as the aurora had been. The whitewashed stone houses were dip-dyed in hues of pink and golden in the morning light, windows sparkling like an inlay of diamonds. The gentle breeze carried the expected smells of sound and sea, but also brought ones he had never encountered before but made his mouth water all the same: sweet fruits, the sour tang of baking bread, the rich smoke of cooking meats. From somewhere within, a dog barked. Overhead a gull cried. The church bells began their gentle morning peal, sonorous and striking. It was a symphony and a muse at once. People stirred all about as they watched from their distant vantage. And the young prince fell in love.

Jaskier took a deep breath and tried to quell the fear aching in his gut as he swam into the darkness of the Sea Witch’s lair, the thorns which made up the cavern around him reaching out as if to grab him, tearing at his fins and skin like teeth. No matter how much he had pleaded, his father and grandmother had refused to let him return to the surface, to help him follow his great dream. And so he had journeyed, a last resort, to the Sea Witch’s home, and he was determined not to let anything get in his way.

“Why have you come Mer-Prince?” a voice boomed, echoing around him before he had made it far from the entrance.

“I seek the Sea Witch. I…I need her help,” he called back, hating the tremor in his voice.

“Then you shall have it,” the voice around him laughed and the thorns withdrew suddenly, as if called back. “Enter.”

He stayed the course before him as best he could in the pitch-blackness. Just when he began to fear that he would be swimming in ink forever, the way opened up into a broad cavern, lit by the soft green glow of phosphorescence. At its center, lounged like a queen, on a throne made of the bow of a wrecked ship, cushioned with waterlogged purple velvet, sat the Sea Witch.

She was pale, almost the white of bone that had been stripped clean of blood and flesh and polished over time. Her lower half was less a mermaid and more an eel with tattered vertical flukes and mottled green and brown flesh. Her face was gaunt but somehow still beautiful, all sharp angles and hard lines. Her eyes were silvery, molten and hot and reflective in the algae’s glow. As he watched, he realized that what he thought was hair was actually long, dark tendrils of a jellyfish, swirling about her head like a deadly cloud. Violent red lips curled back around a needle-toothed smile.

“Please,” he asked, trying to be brave as he bowed low to her. “My name is Julian, though all who know me call me Jaskier. I am one of the Princes of the Merfolk and I have come to ask a favor of the mighty Sea Witch.”

“Oh? And what would one of the great Merfolk need of me?” she asked, sonorous voice tinged in mockery.

“I wish to be human, for a time, so that I might explore the surface world and learn of its wonders.”

She laughed, and Jaskier felt a heat creeping across his face and neck. Much to his discomfort, the laughter continued for some time before finally she stopped, leveling her unnerving gaze at him as if she could see into his heart.

“Tell me Little Fish, why should I help you do this?”

“Because it is all my heart desires. I would give you anything in return for this.” He spoke without thinking, uncaring of the consequences.

“I will do you this favor, then,” the Sea Witch purred, a predatory smirk dancing on her features. “I will give you legs Little Fish, for as long as you like, and your fins shall return when you again touch the ocean of your birth. But if during your time on shore, you give your heart to another, and they do not return your love, your voice belongs to me, forever.”

Jaskier gulped. He knew that a deal with the Sea Witch always came at cost, but he hadn’t thought she would take that which was most precious to him. Still, he reasoned, his time on the surface would not be long and if he was careful, he would not risk his heart or his voice. So he agreed to the Sea Witch’s deal, offering her a drop of his blood to seal the contract.

With a few muttered words and a wave of her hands, the deed was done.

“You have twelve hours to reach land, Little Fish, lest you find yourself below the waves with useless feet and mortal lungs.” She laughed at this and he darted from her lair.

He did not have time to go back to his home, to say goodbye or collect any things. Instead, as soon as he had passed the Maelstrom that guarded the Sea Witch’s domain, he shot for the surface, swimming desperately until he broke through the waves, feeling a strange new burning in his lungs. Stars whorled above him, more than he had seen the first time or ever dreamed there could be in the sky; he sucked in a deep breath and fought hard the urge to just float on his back and stare at them until the sun rose. But he had heard enough stories of drowned men that he knew not to, pushing in a direction he hoped was shore, hoped he could reach in time. The sun began to peak over the horizon to his right, and on he swam. It rose high in the sky, beating down on him, burning his skin, so unused to its rays, and still he kept going. Never before had swimming been a challenge, a struggle.

He felt sore and more exhausted than he ever had when he finally dragged himself out of the surf. The sand beneath burned as badly as the sun but he was beyond caring. No sooner had he dropped to rest on the shore when his body convulsed, a piercing agony splitting through him like a thousand knives. He thought he might have screamed, but it became too much and his world fell to darkness.

When next young Jaskier woke, he was laying in an unfamiliar place. Every inch of his being ached, despite the softness of the mattress he rested on, the blanket draped gently over him. Blinking in the bright yellow light, he struggled to sit when a gentle hand pressed against his shoulder, guiding him to lie back down.

“You should remain lying down,” the voice was soft, sweet, feminine. “I don’t know how you ended up on our beach, especially so…bare, but you were in quite bad shape.”

“Where am I?” he croaked, voice rough from disuse, letting himself sag beneath her touch.

“Oh! You’re in Castle Lettenhove. My maid and I found you when we were out for our evening stroll. We thought you were dead at first!”

He nodded as if her naming of a location meant anything to him, and his head spun at the small movement. “Well, as you can see, I am not.”

“No, but you were badly burnt in the sun, and likely to be sick from the heat. You are welcome to rest here until you have recovered, and we’ll find you clothing that will fit since whatever happened to you – you don’t have to tell me, I will not pry – it destroyed everything you might have been wearing before.”

“Thank you,” he said softly, “that is very kind.” She spoke to him for a while, utter nonsense to him (more likely gossip about lands and people he knew nothing of he suspected) and gradually her dulcet tones lulled him back into a healing sleep.

The next time he woke, there was an older man leaning over him, inspecting him, and he jumped, shrinking away from the shrewd gaze under bushy eyebrows.

“Do not worry,” he said evenly. “I am a mage, a healer currently in the service of the masters of this castle. I just need to see how your burns and scrapes are doing.”

Jaskier nodded reluctantly, still feeling distrust for the man, but knowing that healers were overall good, and that he desperately needed the care.

The pattern continued for a week. Jaskier would sleep, waking occasionally to eat or drink water. Most times, it was the young woman who tended him with her soft touch and sweet smile and her musical voice. Occasionally, he would wake to the inspection of the healer, and it would leave him feeling unsettled, as if the man guessed more of Jaskier’s nature than was safe.

After a time, it was deemed that he could begin to move about. The first morning, the woman, Mirina she had introduced herself as, brought him a billowy white shirt and blue pants, blushing slightly as she offered them to him.

“I had to guess at your sizing,” she explained. “But these are some of my brother’s old things and they should fit you. I hope they’re not too heavy on your wounds…”

He smiled gratefully and threw back the blanket to stand, causing her to shriek and throw up her hands.

“Have I done something wrong?” he asked, tilting his head in puzzlement at her obvious distress.

“Yes!” her voice was high and tight and he frowned at having caused such a change to come over her. “You’re not wearing anything yet! I don’t know how things are done in whatever strange place you came from, but you can’t just…expose yourself to me!”

“Oh. My apologies,” he crooned, trying to set her at ease again. “I will cover myself over again until you leave the room then?”

She nodded rapidly, the red blush still patently obvious across her ears and neck and the bits of her face that peaked out from behind her hands. “Yes. Yes that would be good.”

Despite this incident, things were not awkward between the two young people. She stayed at his side, letting him lean upon her while he got used to the feeling of taking steps on feet, which he pretended was unsteadiness caused by his injuries and time abed and she resolutely did not mention the oddness of his repeated reminding her of that.

He learned that Mirina was a countess, and while the word itself meant nothing to him, he understood it to be a title of importance. And so he marveled at her willingness to spend her precious time with him, a boy whom to her knowledge was nothing and no one. It was one of many things about her that he marveled at if he was being honest, like her kindness and her beauty and her quick wit.

Soon, their friendship turned to romance, and one night, after a picnic on the very beach where she had found him, they had entwined, and she had taught him many things about how human pleasure (or maybe female pleasure, he didn’t know or dare to ask) differed from his own.

“Dandelion,” she murmured, wrapped in his arms later that evening, after several vigorous lessons. “You know that this cannot be, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked faux-innocently. Then with a chuckle he added, “I’d say it already is and has been.”

She sat up quickly then, one hand planted on his chest so she could stare back down into his blue eyes with a near-identical pair.

“I am serious. I am to marry a lord from a neighboring land, and while I may not ever love him, I will be a good wife, and that means I cannot love you either. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” He felt something bubbling in his chest and the air felt like it was pulled from his lungs. He sat up too now, bringing strong arms up to steady her as he did. He looked away from her, trying to crush the wide-eyed fright he felt.

“Jaskier…” her voice was something like a sigh or a groan but not quite either.

He sat in silence for a moment, swallowing several times and waiting.

“Maybe…maybe we should just head back inside…” he finally said.

Relief washed over him; he still had a voice. And yet, he sombered; he was going to lose the thing that was becoming precious to him, even if he did not love her yet.

It was not long after that when Mirina married Lord Vaughn, from some inland holding, and Jaskier attended the wedding, dressed in red and blue. Their romance had ended the night on the beach, almost as quickly as it had begun. Seeing how proud she was of her wedding, he felt happy for her, and genuinely wished her well as she boarded the carriage to her honeymoon and the start of her new life.

Shortly after that, he set out himself. He thanked the staff for all they had done for him, carefully avoiding the unnerving healer, and left Mirina a letter, explaining why he needed to go. After all, he had come to see human lands and go on grand adventures, and he had almost lost it all before he even left the seaside.

#The Witcher #The Witcher fic #Geralt x Jaskier #Geralt of Rivia #Jaskier #I've always wanted to write an adaptation of the Little Mermaid #so I'm shocked at how long it took me to come around to this given the prompt #many of you will see where this is going...#sorry not sorry #fair warning: comma abuse #I place that shit with my heart #and my heart says EVERYWHERE #is the wizard/healer Stregobor? you decide!#technically I could post part 2 right now too #but I will control myself and tease you all with it

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cloudbattrolls · 4 years

Text

Gratuitous Monster Fight

Claire’s Forest | Near Future | Two Supernatural Weirdos

The wind rustles the leaves on the forest’s branches, and small animals skitter unseen in the underbrush. Moonlight filters down between the trees, dappling the grass in green and pink. The distant lights of hives glow, signaling the presence of the few trolls who live among the greenery.

“This is INCREDIBLY stupid!”

The voice of someone both annoyed and for whatever reason, mightily offended, drifts up from some distance between the lights of the hives.

It belongs to Epsilo Volant, scientist and violetblood. Broad of body and face with wavy hair, his scowl could curdle milk and probably some cheese as well. His fins flick in agitation as he struggles with a piece of technology, pointing it and its long antennae in a dozen different directions.

“Why won’t it pick up the signal? I had everything calibrated properly.”

“Well, I’m no expert, but perhaps you made a mistake somewhere.”

The man bares his sharp teeth, both startled and annoyed by the sudden voice that belongs to someone he can’t see and had no idea was even there.

“Who are you? Show yourself.”

“What a forthright sort of fellow you are. You’re that BP chap who mods the server, if I’m not mistaken.”

“My name is Epsilo Volant.” He replies, less on guard but just as irate, putting the remote control away in his sylladex and getting out his harpoon. “I think I deserve yours in return. Come out where I can see you.”

He feels a breath on the back of his neck, but what troll has breath so chill and dry? A fellow seadweller’s would have more moisture in it. And why can’t he hear their breathing? How did they sneak up on him?

He steps forward and turns around, greeted by a wide grin of fangs sharper than his, all tapered to needle points without even any molars, and bright green pupils.

Then he blinks, annoyed at himself for how his hands tightened around his weapon. It’s just the jade from Claire’s party, and their teeth can’t really be that sharp. He must be seeing things.

Yet their eyes are undoubtedly odd.

“Just call me Tuuya.” They say, examining their claws as if bored by him. “Everyone else does.”

“Well, mix Tuuya - ” He says, not bothering to hide his disdain. “ - why are you hanging around offering unwanted commentary on my work?”

“Oh, I was just coming over to visit Claire, but I saw you puttering about and I was curious! What were you up to, I asked myself? Something devious, or something helpful?”

“I’m testing the range of a tracker for the Enkeli child. I need to focus on that. Good night.”

As they shrug and turn to go, the wind blows especially hard and the jade’s lean frame is pushed forward just enough to tip them over a protruding tree root and into a low hanging branch.

They pop back up again almost immediately, clicking their tongue, then notice the seadweller staring at them.

Their face, which as they run a hand over it, realize is cut open and showing the tips of white, gleaming worms. They quickly cover them with a palm.

“It’s none of your business?”

They try, tone far more hopeful than it is forceful.

“What is that?” The seadweller says, attention now fully focused on them.

“Absolutely nothing.” They go on in the same halfhearted tone of denial.

“It was white. It didn’t move like blood, either. Are you a mutant?”

They snort.

“If only. Look, I know you’re a science lad, but trust me when I say you’ll be happier not knowing.”

There’s a light of curiosity in the violet’s eyes, in the arch of his fins, his posture as he holds the harpoon. Tuuya’s seen that look on countless faces throughout the sweeps, and they sigh again.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you. You do realize Claire knows me, she won’t be happy if you attack me.”

“I just need a sample.” He replies, all superior confidence. “If you give it to me, we can end this peacefully.”

“Well, at least you ask. That puts you a rung above the medic, I suppose. Answer’s still no.”

They leap out of the way from where the harpoon would’ve taken the rainbow drinker in the chest, and it impales itself halfway through their arm instead. They rip it out with their other one and shove it in the ground hard enough to send dirt flying in a geyser.

Worms drop from the wound, and Tuuya leaps for the boy -

The animal, silvery gray with pinkish violet fins growing from its body, snaps at them with slavering jaws. They skid, narrowly avoiding the chomping teeth, and laugh as they leap up and land on a tree branch.

“Aren’t you something! I wasn’t sure the were-kind still walked Alternia. I’m surprised no one’s taken a sample from you.”

The huge hyena - much bigger than any non lusus kind they’ve ever seen - rears up on its hind legs and puts its front paws against their tree, glaring up at them with violet eyes.

“In the spirit of fairness, I’ll admit I am a rainbow drinker. And I’m far more trouble than you’re worth. I’d rather not get a hangnail whacking you for being naughty, so change back and walk away now. Last chance.”

The wound in their arm is annoying, as was losing some worms, but it’s already closing - they drank blood before they came.

Epsilo responds by jumping up and breaking their branch with a swat of his paws, and both fall with a mighty thud.

Tuuya gets whacked in the face by the broken branch as they land, allowing the werebeast to pin them in the chest with a heavy paw. Epsilo puts his other one on their wounded arm as he bares his teeth, breath smelling of fish as the disoriented drinker blinks and shakes their head.

“Get some mints, dear.”

Then they focus, smiling as worms swarm from the half-healed harpoon gash and chew through the furry leg, swarming over to the other, as the feliform chitters in pain and confusion. He shakes his legs in a vain attempt to get the parasites off -

Tuuya shoves their wounded arm down his throat, rearranging the worms inside them to narrow its form to fit, choking the creature.

“Bad kitty. Stop, and I won’t put them inside you.”

He bites off their arm in response, chews it up, and tosses it away. Then he retches.

The drinker jumps to their feet and hisses, flaring their glow on blindingly bright. As he retches and whines, eyes shut tightly, they tackle him. With one arm, it’s not so effective - but his front legs weaken as the worms relentlessly chew through skin and muscle, almost down to the bone now.

The striped beast falls back into the grass, and the drinker plants a foot on him.

“You’re going to stop now, before I start ripping parts out of you, and unlike me, you don’t grow them back. I can stop eating into your flesh any time. Just give me some sort of sign you surrender.”

A silence passes in which he opens his eyes to glare at them hatefully, and violet blood soaks his fur, running into his chest and onto the grass.

Finally he looks away, huffing softly.

The drinker’s worms flow back into them in a squirming mass. The ones wriggling at their damaged clavicle reproduce rapidly - more and more worms split off, weaving around each other to form facsimiles of muscles and joints. Bone regrows from the spot, rebuilding in rapid rows of cells. Once those form, dark gray skin begins to coalesce over them. A cover for the parasites, protection from the elements.

A semblance of trollhood.

The werehyena changes back, arms still bleeding and clothes ripped. Tuuya takes some bandages out of their sylladex and holds them out.

Epsilo flinches back at the gesture, then looks annoyed and sullen.

“You do not frighten me.”

They give him a sardonic smile, laying the bandages down on the grass and stepping back.

He takes out his own, and they raise a finger.

“Are yours specially treated to stop and disinfect drinker-inflicted blood flow? Use mine, boy. I keep them for idiots like you.”

“Why are you helping me? To cover your tracks? This could be a trick.”

He reaches for them anyway with careful movements, clearly trying to not let on how much it hurts.

“It could.” The drinker agrees. “But it’s not. I don’t care if you tell Claire anyway - she knows what I am. I wonder, does she know what you are?”

The flattening of his fins is all the answer they need.

“Ah, so you don’t trust her. Cheer up - at least you’re a real troll some of the time. I can only do a fabulous impression.”

“What are you?” He asks, applying the bandages to his wounds and immediately giving a soft sigh in relief. Tuuya has to admire his stubbornness, cursing it at the same time.

“A drinker parasite swarm that acts like a troll.” They reply, examining their newly-formed claws again. Good, everything grew back properly.

They’re thirsty, though. Volant’s beast blood was just barely usable, given he’s a shapeshifter, but not as good as if he’d been in troll form.

“That’s all you get, I’m afraid. I’m very bored of being studied these nights. I could be playing lusus passing instead, which is so much more fun.”

His look of blank befuddlement makes the worm monster laugh.

“What? It’s a grand old time. Give it a go!”

“You make no sense.” He mutters, wrapping more bandages around himself.

“I don’t have to.” They retort breezily. “I’m almost two hundred, I got a pardon for it.”

“You don’t need to keep up a troll facade. Why bother now?”

“Blood’s not the only thing I think about, goodness. You do smell delicious, though.”

He shudders but bares his teeth.

“Don’t even try it.”

They walk over, arms crossed, needle teeth showing in a wide grin, and look down at the sitting troll, wounded.

They lower themself, crouching, only a foot from him. His fins are pinned against his head even as he keeps his fangs bared.

“I could rip open your throat and drink you until there was nothing left but a shriveled carcass to feed the roots.” They say, voice soft and almost gentle, if it weren’t for the edge of it; a sharpness that could slice through solid rock.

“I could eat you from the inside out, have you watch your own body wither before your very eyes, helpless to do anything but bleed.”

Their voice switches to a more normal speaking tone.

“But I’m not going to do that, because you’re just a stupid boy, and hopefully this was a valuable learning experience, hmm?”

He only nods.

“Good! I’m glad we’re on the same page. Get yourself cleaned up, you’re lucky there’s no native predators in these woods.”

The big seadweller mutters something about invasive species, and the drinker has to laugh.

#epsilo will do anything For Science #and tuuya is horrible #epsilo after this: i want that thing but also that thing gives me the heebie jeebies #cloud writes #etuuya vannyn #epsilo volant #cw body horror #cw worms #i did love writing the details of how tuuya regrows though

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gamertwinkhordak · 4 years

Text

The Wishful AU #2

Description: Hordak was sent to protect Etheria, but he has no clue why. He ends up stuck with a single Magicat Princess, Catra. Mean while Light Spinner raises Adora, teaching her along side Princess Glimmer on how to use magic. Angella doesn’t agree with this, but Micah goes along with it. If they only knew about the greater threats coming their way.

Tags: Dark themes, Sad themes. Basically the same as the show but slightly more violent.

Age rating: 16+ mostly for swearing, Violence, and blood (not super graphic).

AU is a work in progress but it’s my first AU ever.

Posts: Every Monday and Thursday.

Tagging: Let me know if you want tagged

It had been a couple of days. Hector was just following Lora around. He couldn’t stop thinking about Horde leaving him. He felt betrayed. When he and Lora woke up the next morning, there was no sign of any ships. Not in the sky, nor the ground. He doubted anyone won or lost the battle, he was sure everyone or mostly everyone had died. Normally he would be so excited to discover this strange new world, but he only focused on following Lora, or his Father.

Lora came to a halt, and put and arm out in front of Hector, they had ended up at a cliff. “It looks like we’re going around. There’s no way I can fly us both down” she looks back at him. Only the females of their species, could fly. Hector wished he had stayed focus on his studies to learn why, but he got distracted by battles and planets. War and Worlds. “Do we have to? This is unnecessary. You’re very strong, why can’t you fly us down?” He was not trying to whine, but he didn’t understand why she couldn’t fly them down either, he’s seen her pick up bolders twice her size. “Because I strained my wings, trying to hunt. I ran into a group of hunters and I flew as fast as I could to get them away from our cave. Now come along” She starts leading, following the stream not to far from the cliff.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you fight!” Hector sounded disappointed. “Because Ares- Horde Prime told me to protect you. And we are family, after all. Plus this is your planet, and we haven’t exactly been discovering it” she turned around to him. “But.. he said this was your first planet-“ before he could finish, he heard a twig snap. Hector got his claws ready, but Lora stepped in front of him. Eventually a dart shot at Hector, causing him to knock out. “Hector?!” Lora exclaimed. She rose her hand into the air, and started to glow faintly, a golden color. “For the honor of Greyskull!” There was a bolt of lightening, her looks had slightly changed, just a white and gold jumpsuit with a red cape, and her hair seemed to float. Her heels had mini gold wings on them to match her crown, with a ruby in the middle. “Come out, I don’t want to fight you, but I will if I must” she looked around. She saw someone walk out, but before she could say anything, a dart hit her. Lora knocked out beside Hector, slowly reaching out for him, before knocking out.

It’s been five years since they got knocked out. Five years they’ve been working hard for some slime who gets paid for finding people, to work for him. They worked at an areana. Lora fights people, to the death. It’s kill, or be killed, and it never bothered her, because that’s the life she grew up in. Hector didn’t see this however, he constantly thought she felt so guilty for it. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but he was the one who had to clean out the dead bodies and the blood. He hated the smell, and he hated that she was the one out there.

He had grown into an adult by now, his mandibles were sharp, his fangs were long, and his hair sat in a braid on his shoulder. They had put them in awful clothes, too. Lora was constantly cold, in her red leotard, and red boots. It didn’t seem like her. While he just got stuck with a skirt that only covered his front and back sides. He lost count of how many times he had been easy scratched upon. But no matter, they were getting out today, or that was the plan at least. But first, Lora had to fight the champion. Hordak. It means the one with blood. Hector found the name interesting, and wished to take the name, if he ever got to fight and win, against him. It was time, he heard the crowd cheering and the announcer talking about Lora and Hordak. Hector quickly finished and then went to the small window, where he always got to secretly watch his aunt. He loved it when she turned into She-Ra. That’s what the crowd called her, anyways. “The Legendary She-Ra” everyone cried. He almost would have been happy for her, if this wasn’t a prison, practically. He saw Hordak, and was surprised. A cyborg with bright red eyes, double layered white face, finned ears, and a bright blue body. He had a canon for one arm and the other was normal. Hector watched, excited to see Lora battle him.

She quickly turned into She-Ra, and lunged at Hordak, clawing his back. She didn’t care, she just went at it, knowing she would win. Hordak threw her off, and started firing his canon at her. She was running away from the fire, but one made her trip. She got up, but not fast enough. There was a sharp, pain in her chest. He had stabbed her, with a dagger he had been hiding. He dug it into her, before releasing it. Hordak backed away, letting her body fall. Hector watched in terror, tearing up, but quickly running to her. “No. No! Lora, Lora stay with me, please. I can’t do this without you” He gently grabbed her hand, and held it with both of his. “If you ever see Horde Prime again.. tell him I’m sorry I didn’t do my Best to protect him, or you.. I do love you, Hector..” She wanted to say more, but it was hard. Slowly she drifted away. Hector paused a moment before crying, but stood up, grabbing the dagger, and flung himself at Hordak. Hordak was caught off guard, busy flaunting. Hector repeatedly stabbed all over, but eventually Hordak pinned Hector by the shoulder, against the grounded, and punched him hard between his eyes. Hector let out a scream of pain, but it wouldn’t be that easy for him. He wasn’t going to be that easy to kill, he thought. Hector stabbed at Hordak’s own eyes, causing the blood to drip into Hector’s, eyes. He screeched again, between his own and Hordak’s blood, his eyes were a strange red, blinding him. Hordak stumbled off of him, covering his face. Hector took the final blow, and stabbed Hordak right through the heart. Hector had won. The crowd was confused and silent at first, but then cheered his name. Some people called out “He-Man”. But maybe they were saying Human, Hector’s ears were ringing. He left the areana, carrying his Aunt’s body out. For his win, he got to leave, and he did take the name, Hordak.

The One With Blood.

Her buried Lora’s body, in the woods, the whispering woods, as the Etherians called it. “You are free now, Lora.. I hope you are with the Stars, like you have always wanted” he spoke softly, and then looked at the moons, ready to leave again.

#The Wishful AU #My Fics #Spop #SPOP AU #alternate universe #au #She-ra and the princesses of power #She-Ra #Hector Kurr #Hordak #Original Hordak #He-Man #Lora Kurr #Blood tw #ask to tag #Hordak Kurr

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the-marvel-imagines-blog · 5 years

Text

Madness | Chpt. 23

Chapter Title: “Keep Me In Your Heart”

Pairing: Loki x Original Female Character (Eva)

Word Count: 9,588

Warnings: Sorry, nope.

Name Pronunciations: Hjalmar: “He-all-mar” | Aaldir: “All-deer” | Ephinea: “Eh-fin-ee-uh”

Summary: Tony learns the true meaning of desperation.

A/N: This chapter has quite a bit going on, and I didn’t want to force too much Iron Man 3 scenes into this fic, so they have been cut. It felt like too much filler, so I hope no one is too upset with me. Once again, thank you all so, so, so much for reading <3

Tagged: @teddyboobear @alledeglyfunny @xletmetaste-yoursmilex @itsknife2meetu @mynameisyara @j-j-ehlby-writes @jillilama-blog (anyone who wants to be tagged can message me and ask. It’s not a problem at all)

The clouds that hid the sun were darker than I’d ever seen them. The thunder boomed around me as I made my way out of the compound to catch the remaining pieces of my suit. Escaping wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t sure if the new tech I’d installed would work or not. It was my last hope for escaping and rescuing the woman who always did the rescuing. Knowing that I couldn’t fight Killian without the entire suit, I was forced to waste precious time taking out his stereotypical villain henchmen. It felt like a movie, like at any minute the director would call “cut” and I’d be able to play the part of just Tony, a man who wanted to plant himself on a beach and just relax for a few hours. The final piece of my suit-the mask-came hurtling toward me at a horrifying speed, much faster than I originally intended.

I flinched, reaching my hand out and catching it in a surprising turn of events. I felt like a child who just choked on the baseball field, but he unknowingly caught the ball. I let out a sigh of relief, thankful for the speed that time around. I needed to find Eva as soon as possible, but I had to make a mental note to slow the pieces down for future use, or I’d be killed just getting into the suit. Right as I latched the mask into its proper spot, I grinned to myself, far more at home in the suit than just walking around, completely vulnerable. The moment the mask attached to the rest of the suit, Thor made his grand entrance along with an unfamiliar face beside him, “it’s nice of you to finally show up. What took you so long? Hair appointment?” I asked, noticing how much his hair had grown since the last time we’d seen each other. It had been some time since New York, but it definitely changed him.

Before Thor could speak, the stranger interjected, “you must be Anthony,” he said, clearly having heard something about me. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that he was Asgardian. He looked to be older than Thor and stood taller than the God of Thunder. I didn’t think Asgardians could possibly get bigger than Thor, but when I saw this new guy, it was clear that I had a lot to learn. The strangers eyes were filled with the same concern and fear as Thor’s, but he still looked to be calm and collected. I got the feeling that if he didn’t force himself to put off that facade, he’d fall apart, much like how I was coping with Eva’s current situation. If I didn’t have a moment of peaceful banter with someone, I was going to lose my mind. When I nodded my head, eyes wide in shock that he would know who I was, the stranger continued, looking embarrassed, “oh, forgive me. Eva says you prefer to be referred to as Tony. I’m Aaldir, Eva’s father...for all intents and purposes,” he introduced himself, clearly not wanting to waste precious time by explaining the little intricacies of their relationship.

Knowing that he was her father was more than enough for me to realize that this was serious for him. He wouldn’t have come in any other circumstance, and while it was hard to face him with the knowledge that I caused this, I knew that voicing my guilt would only be wasting time that wasn’t supposed to be wasted, especially when her life was on the line. I flipped up the mask of my suit, wanting to be as polite as possible. It was the least I could do in that moment, “while I wish we had more time to talk, more time for me to tell you all the things I find fascinating and magical about your daughter and more time to figure out what she’s told you about me, she’s in trouble, and I’m guessing that’s why you’re here,” I noted, taking in the fear-filled expression on Thor’s face. I could tell that the fear ran deeper than the uncertainty surrounding Eva’s fate, but it wasn’t the best time to discuss what that was.

With a nod of approval from Aaldir, I closed the headpiece up once more, and Jarvis’ voice sounded throughout the suit, “I ran a thorough check on the compound, but I’ve found no traces of Killian or Eva. It appears he left with her,” he informed me, his proper, emotionless voice somehow managing to convey some amount of fear. Eva and Jarvis managed to have a healthy banter whenever she was around. She treated him as if he was just as human as the rest of us, and his disembodied voice was far more chipper when she was around. It was my first real hint that Jarvis was more than what I created him to be.

I nodded my head, “thanks for checking that, Jarvis. Do we know where they’re going?” I asked

He was silent for a moment as Thor and Aaldir looked between each other. After working the magic he was known for, Jarvis piped back up, “I have the location marked for you and have figured the fastest possible route.”

I glanced between the two Gods, “it’s time to go save a princess.”

*Eva’s POV*

It was time. It was finally time to give in. The pain was unbearable. Even though the serum was healing the wounds Killian inflicted, I still felt the pain, and the fire burning beneath my skin only felt like it was accelerating the rate at which the wound on my abdomen was killing me. Perhaps it was the end. I wondered what it would be like before it happened. I’d had brushes with death, but this felt like it was the last brush. This felt like I was finally going to meet the woman I’d dreamed of for so long. Maybe I’d finally get my answers. Maybe I’d finally know for sure if the visions were true, if she was where I belonged, if she was who I belonged to. So many pieces of me tried to hold on, tried to fight the way the darkness pulled me in. I tried to remember those beautiful moments. Perhaps if I held on as tightly as I could, they would keep me afloat in the storm, but the life felt like it was being sucked out of me. I was going to drown. No matter how many memories I grasped onto, I would sink.

As my eyes fluttered closed, the darkness swallowed me, cooling my fiery hot skin. Letting go was the peaceful part, but mourning what could have been would prove to be the difficult part. For the time being, I could just exist in the void, finding peace for as long as I possibly could. I was, for a moment, nothing. I was neither dead nor alive. I was neither happy nor sad. I was just nothing, and that was where I found tranquility. For the first time in such a long time, there was no responsibility, no fear, no sense of duty, no sorrow. I was free. It was as if every worldly weight had been removed from my shoulders, and I was left like a weightless cloud just floating in the atmosphere. It was the first time I truly let go. I fought it until I couldn’t fight it anymore, until it felt like this was what was meant to be. Perhaps my death on Midgard was inevitable, but I never imagined I’d die alone. I wasn’t alone, though. I had the essence of life lingering within me, and I’d have to mourn that loss as well.

When I opened my eyes, I was laying in the grass. The gentle breeze carried the sweet smell of the leaves and trees through the forest. The green surrounding me was far more pure than I’d ever witnessed in my life, almost as if my vision of Asgard had finally come to life in my death. The grass beneath me felt so real, like I was home once more. Light laughter-small laugher-echoed from beyond the tree line that separated the meadow I was in from the rest of the forest. The tree of life and death sat in the center of the meadow, and I listened to those beautiful giggles growing closer and closer, small voices accompanying them. Then, I heard him. Loki. I sat up and watched as the colors grew even more vibrant with the sound of his heartwarming laughter. There was a golden glow to everything around me, including the tree. As I gazed up at the red and white petals, I remembered the words Thor had told me about them.

Death itself planted this tree beneath the biggest star in the night sky, and her tears watered the sapling. No one touched the sapling from that moment on, but it still grew and brought up the most beautiful forest in the Nine Realms with it. The red flowers symbolized the violence and bloodshed of death, and the white represented the purity and innocence of all life at the beginning. The reason why it never withers is because these two forces have danced together since the beginning of the universe, and it will continue long after you and I cease to exist.

Just as his words were refreshed in my memory, a small white flower from the tree landed on my lap. It was impossible. Ever since I can remember, none of the flowers had fallen from the tree. Loki and I checked every single day to find that none of them had wilted and fallen in the night. The tree never parted with the beautiful flowers in all my life, but now...of all times, it began to die. I stared up to see that white flowers began wilting and falling from the tree, landing in the grass beneath me. Still, I couldn’t help but feel calm. The laughter in the forest grew even closer, giggles filling my heart with joy and a sense of bittersweetness. This wasn’t real. This was my life’s way of letting go of all that could have been. It was time for me to mourn the person I could’ve become, the future I wouldn’t have.

Loki finally appeared from the tree line, and the sight took my breath away. In his arms, he held a child, a boy with my hair and his eyes. It was the opposite of what we always spoke of, of what we anticipated, but following him were the children we spoke of. Some of them had his hair and my eyes, some had my hair and his eyes. Beautiful girls and boys who laughed and radiated the essence of life I felt every time I connected with the natural world. One of the girls had his thin lips, another had my freckles, one of the boys had his wild black hair, one of the girls had wild red hair, like the essence of fire was born within her very soul. They were...perfect. They were beautiful. They were the embodiment of every ounce of happiness I’d ever felt in my life. When my eyes caught one set of vibrant green ones, my heart stopped beating. Her hair was the darkest black I’d ever seen in all my life, far darker than Loki’s. It was like the midnight sky if the stars and the moon refused to shine, but I could find the galaxy in her eyes. My breath caught in my throat as her every movement came to a complete standstill. She was no longer playing with the others. Instead, our eyes remained locked on one another until the most serene, bittersweet smile spread across her face, almost as if she knew-as I did-what this was. It was almost as if she was completely aware that I was dying, that I wouldn’t know this future.

“Amara!” Loki called out, gazing into the woods until another girl, who looked to be slightly younger than some but older than others, pranced out of the woods. A crown of twigs and flowers rested delicately atop her head, and she looked like me. She had my hair, my eyes, the light dusting of freckles on her nose and cheeks. The moment I saw her, my breath was taken away. Following her was Harley and Kaia, looking not a day older, “you’re just like your mother!” Loki laughed as our other children continued to play. There were...many of them, many more than I anticipated, but Loki and I always spoke of potentially having a large family. It would create a strong lineage, and we had more than enough love to spread.

Loki’s eyes caught mine in the midst of them playing, and I felt my heart burst with joy as I saw just how happy he was. This would never become our reality. I’d never be able to give Loki this joy. Maybe he’d move on and find someone else, but I knew better than that. He’d be close behind me, just as I would’ve been close behind him. This scene-this hauntingly beautiful dream-would never belong to us. He ran over to me, his body moving with just as much grace as I remembered. Falling into the grass beside me, he spoke no words before leaning in to press his lips to mine, our kiss filled with that same tender love that had always been there. Passion bled into each of us, and it all felt so real. When he pulled away from the kiss, he lingered, his forehead pressed against my own and our noses brushing against each others. He smiled, his lips brushing against my own, a feeling I’d never be able to shake even in death. He craned his neck, turning his crystal blue eyes over to them, “whenever I look at them, I think about how wonderful it is that we managed that, that we created this,” he murmured, his voice soft enough so that his words would remain between the two of us.

I gazed at them, the most frighteningly divine beauty that made it impossible to look away. Every ounce of them was every ounce of me. The love I felt for them was overpowering. I knew not the names of each of the incredible works of art before me, but I knew them. I knew their souls. The stardust coursed through their veins as it had Loki and I. We were joined together. The mere thought of them brought tears to my eyes, and I nodded, “they’re beautiful,” I noted, my bottom lip quivering as the sense of loss began to set in. It was a slow burn, but it was a burn nonetheless. I was hoping the process of mourning them would be quick and painless, just like death was. The moments preceding my death, my gentle fade out of existence, were filled with tears and pain, but the dying part...that was calming. Once the initial panic wore off, I was swallowed into the void, and it was over. The pain ended, and death claimed me. I hoped that the grief I would feel for a life lost would go by just as quickly.

Loki’s smile helped prolong my freedom from the grief for a bit longer, “they get that from you,” he fawned over me. His words made me snort and reach out to hit his arm playfully.

“Eva,” that all-too-familiar voice rang out from behind me. It was the one I’d only heard in my visions, the disembodied one I heard in the forest the night I found Aria. It was the one my heart knew even when my mind didn’t. I craned my neck around to see her standing behind me, at the edge of the forest where the meadow ended. Behind her, where the forest had merely been a dense area of woods, it was black. I couldn’t see the first line of trees. It was as black as her eyes, as dark as the hair that cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders. Two of the girls had that hair, and while one of them had my eyes, the other looked like the woman standing before me.

Death.

*Loki’s POV*

The space in my heart that she had once taken up was completely empty, and all the pain died away in an instant. There was an emptiness that had never been there in all my years. Even when I had fallen from the Bifrost, even when Thanos tried to pull her memory from me, there was always just a pain in the place I had once held her. This was different. This was nothingness. It was as if the thread that bound us together had been broken, the thread made of stardust that she spoke of. It was like losing a piece of myself. It felt as if someone had taken the very heart from my chest, and all that was left was vacant space. Part of me knew what happened, but the other part of me couldn’t even think the words. It was typical, though. This was what happened each time I found an ounce of happiness: it was torn from my arms. This was my punishment. This was how I would be forced to atone for my past mistakes. For all the lives I took, for all the hatred and destruction that I left in my wake, for all the rage that consumed me, this was what was taken from me: everything.

Eva, my light, my love, my life, my princess, my world...she was...gone.

The thought alone made it feel like my chest was collapsing, like my body would crumble until there was nothing left but ashes and dust. I didn’t want her to leave Asgard the previous night. I didn’t want her to go back to Midgard. Something within me wanted to beg her to stay, to forget about her responsibilities on Earth, but another part of me knew that when Eva had her mind set on something, she didn’t give up. The humans were precious to both of us at one point, and Eva’s love was never lacking when it came to them. She loved them all-every single human-with the same intensity as she loved her family and believed that with enough guidance, they could change. There were some throughout the years who disappointed her, who broke her heart, people who spread hatred and misery, death and destruction. Still, she saw all the goodness in humanity, and that goodness was embodied in the people she fought beside when I descended upon New York with an army.

Asking her to turn her back on Tony, a man we both loved since before he was even born, would be like asking her to plunge a knife through my heart. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to abandon him. If we had it our way, we would’ve brought Tony back to Asgard as a boy and raised him as our own. He was one of the people at the center of her universe, so when he was in need, she was there. Still, if I tried to fight her, maybe I could’ve won. A serenity fell over me in my moment of grief, and I knew it was the calm before the storm, the love before the madness consumed me like it had once. My eyes fluttered closed, and I saw her one last time, a smile on those full, delicate lips, a sparkle in those emerald green eyes, starlight clinging to her sun-kissed skin, a crown of flowers in her hair. If I had known our last time together was our last time, I would’ve kissed her an extra time, embraced her for a moment longer, listened to one more heartbeat. I would’ve done one more of everything, even though it would’ve never been enough.

I love you more.

*Tony’s POV*

When I entered the tower, I was prepared for a showdown with Loki if Eva hadn’t already taken him down. She had shown herself to be far more powerful than any of us could’ve imagined. She was a force to be reckoned with, and if Loki knew what was good for him, he would’ve backed down. Eva and I had connected as soon as I met her, almost as if I’d known her all my life. Within mere moments, she felt like family, and within days, she became my favorite person. She was passionate, loving, and kind. She gave each of us the benefit of the doubt, and all I could hope for was that she wasn’t naive enough to give Loki that same courtesy. Once we found out that Tony had taken to the tower, Eva was the first to leave. Thor had been adamant that this was personal to Eva, and though I didn’t fully understand it, I didn’t want to be the one to stand in her way.

The scene I found upon entering the tower I’d begun to view as my home was horrific. It was like a scene from my worst nightmare. Eva’s body lay limp against the wall, and there was barely any life left in her. Her skin was pale, and she sat in a pool of her own blood, weakly clutching onto a wound on her side. Seeing her like that made my ears ring, made the world come crashing down around me. Memories that seemed like dreams came flooding back to me. I was sure it was only my mind's way of compensating for how deeply I felt for her. It was impossible for me to feel so much love for someone I had only known for days. It was impossible for me to love her more than I loved two of the most pivotal people in my life: my parents. I loved her like a child would love their mother, but there was no reasoning behind it. I didn’t know her. I knew how she made me feel, though. I knew how complete I was when I was in her presence, how her mere gaze made me want to be a better man, how her touch comforted me to a point where I could open up about every insecurity, every fear, every moment. She was my person, the one everyone needed, and there she was, lying on the floor, moments away from lifelessness.

My breath caught in my throat, and the world stopped turning for a moment. I couldn’t breathe, think, or even hear my own heartbeat. I could do nothing but stand and stare at the sight in front of me. It was as if my body was trying to process the pain so that it could distribute it evenly when the time came. The realization hit me like a train. This was my fault. If I had gone with her, if I’d stopped her from leaving before I was ready to accompany her, we could’ve faced Loki together. When my body allowed me to move, I scrambled over to her, falling into the puddle of blood without a single care. My hands shook violently as I frantically tried to search her body to find where the blood was coming from. She tried to speak, but her voice was weak, and the ringing in my ears hadn’t died away enough to hear that angelic voice. Pushing her hand away from the wound on her side, the blood she had been holding in seeped out and added to the puddle on the floor.

“No, no, no,” I panicked, trying to think of any way to fix this. This was what I did. I fixed things. Pulling myself together, my eyes caught a dish towel that would work better than my shirt when it came to soaking up the blood. As I tried to stand, I slipped in the blood and fell back to the floor, successfully catching myself on my hands and knees. Once I managed to scramble up onto my feet, I grabbed the towel and turned to see that she was slowly fading out of consciousness. If she fell asleep, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to wake her back up, “Eva, no! Open your eyes!” I insisted, falling back down onto the floor with her. I grimaced as I pressed the towel to her wound, knowing how much it would hurt her. She winced, but I half expected something more. I expected a cry of pain, a grunt, anything, but she buried her pain for me. I knew the moment our eyes met that she swallowed back her cries for me. She didn’t want that to be a memory I had of her. Her breathing continued to slow, and I panicked even more. There was nothing I could do, but I tried to convince myself otherwise. Part of me wanted to accept that this was inevitable, but the other part of me couldn’t let her go. This couldn’t be it. This couldn’t be over for her, not when I finally had happiness staring right at me. I shook my head, “I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have let you go alone!” I continued to panic, knowing that her death-should I not be able to save her-would be on me. How could I live with myself? How could I go on knowing what happiness felt like? How could I live without the light?

“It’s not your fault. This isn’t your fault,” she repeated the words, trying to drive them into my mind. She knew. She knew the man I was, and she knew this would be on my conscience if I wasn’t able to pull her back. I brushed the words off, not wanting to be distracted from the pressure I put onto her wound. She reached for my hand and pushed it away, bringing with it the towel that was slowly soaking itself in her vibrant red blood-the color of a bleeding rose, “Tony,” she whispered, trying to get my attention, trying to get me to stop my desperate attempts to save her. She didn’t understand what I’d be losing if I lost her, but I did. When I pushed past her hand and reapplied the pressure to her wound, she fought against me again.

“Stop! I’m trying to save your life!” I snapped, glaring up at her, anger filling me. She didn’t deserve my frustration, my shortness. She didn’t deserve the harshness in my voice, but her insistence that I stop trying to save her was...mind-boggling. It was as if she was accepting it, but I needed her to fight. I needed her to deny death for as long as possible. I needed her to be alright. I needed her. I was drowning all my life, and she was my breath of fresh air. How, then, was I supposed to hold my head under the water again? How was I supposed to go back to the life I once knew? As the tears filled my eyes, she gazed up at me, sorrow and grief clear in hers. It wasn’t for herself, though. The grief she felt was for me, almost as if she was finally understanding what it would do to me to lose her.

A light smile-one with a beauty that would put the Aurora Borealis to shame-spread across her full lips, “there’s nothing to save. This is it,” she murmured, her voice soft as if it would ease the harsh nature of her words.

“Don’t say that! Let me do this!” I yelled, angry that she would willingly let go of her grip on life. My eyes scanned the room, and I looked for anything, any bandages or gauze, anything that would save her. She couldn’t leave me! I wouldn’t let her die! She meant too much to me at that point. The moment our eyes met in Germany when she stood beside Steve, she became the answer to every unasked question, the light in the darkness, the dream in the nightmare, the joy in the misery, the comfort in the pain, the harmony in the dissonance, the beauty in the grotesque, the love in the hatred. She was the everything in the nothing. How could I lose her?

“Anthony,” she whispered, her voice even weaker than the last time. No one called me Anthony. The only memories I had were from when I was a boy, and those memories were faded. I didn’t even know who called me by that name, but her voice matched the memories so perfectly. I froze. One of her hands found mine, and she lowered it from the wound as her other hand trailed up to cup my cheek. I leaned into her touch that was still so warm even as her hands turned cold. The tears that I had been desperately trying to fight back finally fell, “every beginning has an end...this is mine. I’m not afraid. I know what waits for me on the other side of this,” she mused as her eyes glazed over with memories I knew nothing of. She looked almost...happy? It was as if she was merely taking a trip back home.

“But what about me?” I choked out through the lump in my throat. Her green eyes filled with a bittersweet sadness that was familiar to me. Like the sound of her voice, this was another part of her that felt like a distant, vague memory. I grasped the hand that held mine away from her, dropping the towel down into the blood beneath us, “our beginning was only a few days ago! What about the middle? We didn’t have a long enough middle!” I cried, the tears falling at an alarming rate. Still, she kept up, wiping them away before they could fall too far.

She gripped my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, “whenever you feel lonely...if you look up at the night sky, you’ll find me there amongst the stars,” she breathed out, her chest rising and falling at a slower pace. Her breaths were becoming more and more labored, and each one she pulled in, I was afraid it would be her last. Even if it was, it would kill me inside to watch her die, but at least she wouldn’t go alone, I’d be by her side, holding her hand the whole way. Even after she took her final breath, I would have to be forcefully pulled from her body. I wouldn’t leave her, “you may not always see me, but I’m always there. As long as you keep me in your heart...I’m never far away,” she finished her speech, causing a flood of memories to wash over me. I knew her. I knew her voice, those words, that smile, those eyes. I knew her from what felt like another lifetime. I could see her sitting on the porch with me and dancing with my father in our living room to that old record. I could hear the static of the record when it ran out of music, but they continued to sway back and forth with each other. I could hear her singing me to sleep at night. I could remember fighting my sleep because she refused to leave until I was asleep, so if I didn’t fall asleep, she would stay longer. Her voice sounded once more as she pulled in another shaky breath, tearing my focus from the memories that left me confused and shaken, “shadows are falling, and I’m running out of breath. Keep me in your heart for a while. If I leave you, it doesn’t mean I love you any less. Keep me in your heart for a while,” she sang that song, cementing her in my memory. I didn’t know if it was just a trick that my mind was playing on me, but...I knew who she was. Whatever life essence she spoke of, ours were connected, and they had been since the very beginning.

“I can’t do this without you,” I cried, leaning into her touch, wishing and praying to every being I didn’t believe in that she would pull through, that I could have more time, “please don’t leave me,” I begged her, hoping that she could perform one last miracle and pull through.

She smiled, “nothing-not even death-could part me from you.”

It was my fault.

This was my fault.

I had been stopped dead in my tracks when we finally found her. Killian had been taken care of, but he refused to give us Eva’s whereabouts. I had been hoping for a more fitting, painful end for him, but Thor, like Eva, didn’t believe in making things suffer. I did. Thor didn’t hear the way she screamed, didn’t see her fresh blood on Killian’s hands, didn’t hear the sick and twisted things he had planned for her. I wanted him to suffer before he died, but when we finally found Eva, it was clear that if Thor had known what had happened to her, he would’ve hurt Killian in ways that no one had been hurt before. I couldn’t move a single muscle once we came upon the lifeless, pale body of the woman we all loved. Aaldir sucked in a staggered breath and fell to his knees, his eyes never once leaving the body of his daughter, but Thor had rushed over to her, tearing off the clasps that held her in place and lowering her body down onto the ground gingerly. He was far more gentle than I ever knew him to be, but I knew why.

I saw her. One Mississippi. Blood covered her-now porcelain-skin, the bleeding rose tainting the body of the woman I loved so deeply. Two Mississippi. My ears began ringing the moment Thor let out a powerful yell. Three Mississippi. His blue eyes that glowed with the lightning in his veins turned up to the sky as tears streamed down his cheeks and caught themselves in his well-kept beard. Four Mississippi. Had Eva not been...she would’ve wiped them away. Five Mississippi. He fell to his knees at her side, pulling her limp, fragile body into his massive arms. Six Mississippi. She looked like a princess, like sleeping beauty. Seven Mississippi. Thor cradled her head against his chest, weeping over her as if that would be enough to bring her back. Eight Mississippi. My eyes found Aaldir. Nine Mississippi. His eyes never left his daughters face. Ten Mississippi. No tears had been shed, but his body hadn’t moved either. Eleven Mississippi. He was more still than the marble statues men made throughout history. Twelve Mississippi. What if I didn’t look back at her? Thirteen Mississippi. Would it be real if I closed my eyes and refused to look? Fourteen Mississippi.

My eyes found her face one last time, and everything faded back to me, but it was louder than before. Thor’s desperate pleas for her to open her eyes were loud enough to burst my eardrums. Everything seemed to be too loud, too fast, too everything. There was nothing but questions, darkness, misery, pain. As the sounds bled back in, that was when the weight of the situation finally sunk in, and I wondered if it was too late to trade my life for hers. I scrambled over to her body, and Thor, sensing how great this loss was for me, allowed me to hold her in my arms. I wrapped her in my embrace, but I knew that no matter how tightly I held her, it wouldn’t be enough to make her stay. This time, she would leave, but she wouldn’t come back. She died...alone.

As the grief tore through me, I rocked back and forth with her lifeless, cold body in my arms, “Eva!” I shouted, tears blurring my vision of her beautiful, peaceful face. She looked like a porcelain doll, “Eva, please don’t leave me. Don’t leave me!” I cried, brushing her dark brown hair back, tucking it behind her ear as I always had. I shook my head, “don’t go! Wake up! Please just wake up!” I sobbed, burying my face into her hair. The smell of blood mixed with the smell of the warm summer breeze that maneuvered the trees of the forest, carrying the smell of life upon it. She always smelled fresh, clean, untainted. I tried to commit it to memory one last time, “I’m sorry, Eva. I’m so sorry.”

A firm hand on my shoulder comforted me in a way only Eva’s had, and when I realized it was Aaldir’s, I knew where she got it from. His grasp was firm but gentle, and when our eyes met, I saw how willing he was to comfort me even in his despair. His face was wet with tears as he stared down at her, and even though I couldn’t fathom a pain worse than my own, I knew that he was one of the few people who felt this loss deeper than I ever could, “she’s all I have,” I wept, my eyes flickering over to Thor, hoping that there was something he’d be able to do, hoping that there was some strange Asgardian “magic” that I couldn’t channel the way he could. He clenched his jaw tightly, his eyes still not leaving the angelic face of the woman in my arms, “there has to be something. I can’t...she can’t be dead! It was supposed to be me! It should’ve been me!”

When those blue eyes finally met mine, Thor saw my desperation. As the memories of her danced across his eyes, I watched as his grief manifested itself into anger, and he let out a feral yell. He looked up to the sky, raising Mjolnir toward the dark clouds that were merging together, and in his glowing blue eyes, I could see that he was hoping for one last miracle.

*Eva’s POV*

Loki’s presence beside me couldn’t be felt anymore, and the laughter died instantaneously. As soon as my eyes met Death’s, the joy and light was ripped from me. I scrambled up onto my feet, feeling weak in her presence. This was the woman I’d only ever seen in visions, and now, she stood before me-the essence of everything I fought against in my life, but I still couldn’t help the unsung urge to run to her. When I looked back to find my family, I saw that they had been swallowed up by another darkness. Loki and the children had all disappeared, and it felt like what life had done to me time and time again. It gave and the moment I looked away, the dream stopped, and I woke up to nothing. There was never enough time. My gaze fell back on her again, “where are they?” I asked, my voice trembling as the white flowers continued to fall.

Death’s eyes found the clear sky, almost as if she were searching for the gentlest words to convey the harsh reality, “they became what they once were-a future you won’t get to see if you come with me,” she explained, her voice like a hauntingly beautiful song. It was delicate, but it was followed by a darkness, “you are being given the chance to see what you could have if you fight...if you live. The time has not come for you, my sweet. It never will if you fight hard enough.”

I shook my head, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion, as she closed the space between us, bringing the darkness with her. It surrounded her like a mist, crawling right behind her to consume everything. Her skin was fair, a stark contrast to her raven eyes and hair. The closer she got to me, though, the more beautiful she appeared, “I don’t know what you mean, and I don’t know who you are,” I lied. While I wanted to believe differently, the visions I had were more than realistic. I knew exactly who she was and what she was to me, but I refused to believe it until I knew, without the shadow of a doubt, that she was where my life began.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me that you do not already know,” she instructed me, her body right in front of me. Not a single imperfection was upon her skin, and I was enthralled by her for a moment. This felt like the place I belonged. I knew, in that moment, without the shadow of a doubt, that she was my beginning, and she would also be my end. While I didn’t want to believe it, while I wanted to deny it, cry and scream for it to be different, a part of me had always known. She had been an unchanging melody in the background of my life since the start, and even though I wanted to hate her for all she represented-all she took from me-I could do nothing but gaze upon her beauty.

“Mother,” I murmured, my voice trembling like a leaf in the warm summer breeze.

The question I’d been asking my entire life had been answered. Seeing the tears brimming my eyes, she gave a simple, regal nod, not wanting to scare me, “and you were my greatest joy, my greatest accomplishment, the only beautiful thing I ever gave to the world, my daughter, my everything. I was blessed with two little souls-so delicate, so ethereal. Twin stars that I thought were destined to be mine. I believed that you and Ezra were to be my redemption, but fate forced my hand,” she explained, confirming my worst fear: Ezra wasn’t lying. That meant...more than what I was prepared for. My father. No. She saw the fear in my eyes and moved closer to me, reaching out and resting the palm of her cold hand against my cheek. Instinctively, I leaned into her touch, and it felt...right.

“Like me, he is a vile, resentful creature with a heart so black it could make the night look like the dawn. He has fulfilled his purpose, though. His destiny was to bring about our two children, and your destiny is still yet to be decided. Your destiny is not found in us, your destiny is found within you. That’s what you’ve been missing all your life, little one,” she said, almost as if she could see right through me. It was like she could see every fear, every insecurity I had, and she was putting it to sleep. I had searched for more than a thousand years to find her because I thought she could give me the meaning of my life. I thought she’d be able to answer every question I ever had. She was, after all, where I was meant to be. However, when I found out that the woman who gave me life was the embodiment of all I had fought against, all I had feared and loathed, I feared that I was destined to become like her. I feared that my destiny was to spread death and destruction. I feared that I’d become a person my past self wouldn’t be able to recognize.

Her eyes became impossibly darker, but I found even more comfort in them. My bottom lip quivered as I tried to hold back the tears that had gone unshed for all my life. I never cried when I was lost. I could remember how often I found myself deep in the forest, not knowing which way pointed toward home, but I never shed tears. All my life, it felt like I had been missing from myself, like I was a lost child just waiting to be found. It felt like I never belonged. I knew that I belonged with Loki, but there was a sense that I never knew who I was. There was this constant longing to be found by the people who gave up on me. Now, I stood before her with questions that needed answers, “why did you leave me?”

There wasn’t a single change in her expression. She still looked enthralled by me, as if she could possibly be mystified by a common Asgardian. I was nothing special. Still, she looked at me as if she was seeing the sunrise for the first time. I expected her to be angry or hurt-maybe even shocked-at the question I posed, but the abundance of...love in her eyes drowned out every other emotion, “when I discovered I was pregnant, your lives came before anything else. For the first time since the beginning of time, I wasn’t just Death, I was the bearer of life. Your father, Cul, was obsessed with war, destruction, chaos, and rage. Before I discovered I was with child, I saw things in a similar light, but the light within me that radiated from you and your brother, it was...life-altering. I saw myself in a more sensitive, empathetic way. I no longer saw myself as this vial monster who needed to thrive off of suffering. Instead, I viewed death as just the natural progression of life, and we would continue our dance for all of eternity.”

“Knowing your father for as long as I did, I knew that he would try to taint both of you, to use you as his weapons. After all, you two were bound to be far more powerful than either of us could’ve envisioned. He would have used you and Ezra to further his plans to spread destruction and ruin across the universe. It was the opposite of what I wanted for you, so I brought you to Asgard-his original home and the place he was banished from. I hoped it would be a safe haven for the two of you. It was the same visit I planted this tree,” she said, reaching out and running her fingers along the smooth bark of the tree of life and death, “I left you because I thought it would be what was best for you, and I think I made the right decision. Shortly after promising to keep you safe, Odin betrayed his word and gave your brother back to Cul. Cul took this as an act of peace, but he began raising Ezra to be his warrior. He raised Ezra to be the opposite of what I knew he would become, of what you did become.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, “what do you mean?”

“Do you know what the leaves symbolize?” she asked instead of answering my question. Sensing that I didn’t want to answer until my question had been answered, she explained the meaning of the leaves to me just as Thor once had, “the red symbolizes violence, bloodshed, hatred, fear, pain, grief, and anguish. In the simplest of terms, the red leaves represent death. The white, on the other hand represents purity, innocence, rebirth, serenity, love, and peace. In the simplest of terms, the white flowers symbolize life. It’s the dance you and I have taken part in since the beginning of time, a dance you have never forgotten the steps to. It’s a melody you know in the deepest depths of your heart. Death and Life, Life and Death.”

“I don’t know what you’re getting at,” I sighed, feeling like she was speaking a foreign tongue to me. I didn’t understand what she meant.

She reached out her hand as one of the white flowers fell from the branches. It landed in her palm, and it immediately began to decay, the petals turning black and grey. Before long, it had disintegrated to nothing but a pile of ash, “this is what I am. I am Death. I bring about destruction and decay. I am the keeper of the dead. This is what I am. This is what you can become,” she stressed, holding out her hand for me to get one more look at the pile of black ash that had once been a beautiful white flower. She gestured for me to hold out my hand, and she tipped the ashes into my palm. Just as quickly as it took the flower to disintegrate in her palm, I watched as the ashes began to form back together and brighten, becoming a flower once more. I watched it bloom before my own eyes, feeling a rush of emotions. This wasn’t possible. Just as the thought crossed my mind, Death shook her head, “it’s very possible. Just as I am Death, you are Life. This is who you are,” she insisted, gesturing to the flower that had bloomed even further as it sat in the palm of my hand.

“It doesn’t make sense!”

She tilted her head, “or does it?” she challenged me, “you have felt yourself connect to the very essence of the planets you’ve visited, bending them to your will. You have seen the way life and nature thrive in your presence in a way it doesn’t in any other circumstance. You have seen how your very mood can affect everything around you. You feel it, don’t you?” she asked. My heart thudded in my chest. She couldn’t know. I had spoken of it to no one. I opened my mouth to speak, to argue with her, but no words came to my aid. In an attempt to put a halt to the fear within me, her voice softened, “I am your mother. I know you. I know that life has called upon you once again, my child. Are you willing to forfeit that?”

I was quiet.

In any other circumstance, I would’ve fought harder to stay alive, but a part of me wished for this. A part of me just wanted to rest, to stop fighting, to stop worrying, to be with my brother in death. Even though Hjalmar wasn’t my blood, he was my brother. I wanted to be with the friends who had gone before me, who had taken the journey before I was ready to. They paved my way, and now, I found myself so close to all I had lost. I’d see Howard again. He’d probably be waiting with that dusty record to play our song, and he’d pull me into his arms as we’d dance around the living room. I’d sit with Charlotte as she mumbled ideas to herself, frantically writing them down before meeting my eyes with a playful grin and letting me read them. I could hug Maria once more, feel the joy and love within her from just a single embrace. I could see Bucky again. I would meet him at that dance hall, and he’d hold me in his strong embrace, reminding me of the warmth I’d be missing until Loki arrived. He would hold me close, and we’d sway back and forth with one another, my eyes fluttering closed as I rested my cheek against his shoulder, listening intently for that ever present heartbeat that could lull me to sleep. That time, though, there would be no more goodbye’s in our future. I’d have more than just our last memory to hold onto, more than just his lifeless form in the snow to remember. I’d have him again.

In my silence, tears welled up in her eyes, “you cannot stay here,” she claimed, but I knew she was wrong. I was already dead. Life had left me. It wasn’t a matter of not being able to stay here, but it was a matter of: do I fight to return? Do I fight to return to what I had in life? Or do I give in to the peace and serenity of death and wait until I am reunited with all I had left behind? Do I give up on the person I would become to remind myself of who I once was-what I once had? As a black tear cascaded down her cheek, she gazed up at the branches of the tree. My eyes followed hers, and I saw that there was only a small amount of white flowers still left on the tree compared to the abundance of red ones, “it symbolizes the death of Life itself,” she murmured, her gaze finally landing on me. Every ounce of pain I’d ever felt seemed to pale in comparison to the pain and grief in her eyes. The blackness acted as a mirror into the depths of her soul, and I saw every piece of her-the good and the bad, the beautiful and the wretched, the brutal and the gentle, the selfishness and the selflessness.

Her arms wrapped around my waist, and she pulled me close to her, a moment of bittersweetness. I melted into her embrace, and it felt...right. I threw my arms around her neck, grasping onto her as tightly as possible. In a life that was filled with questions, she was my answer. It didn’t feel like I was embracing Death, the entity I blamed for all the sorrow I felt leaving the battlefield or the entity I abhorred for taking my loved ones away from me time and time again. Instead, I was embracing my mother, the being who gave life to me, the woman who, by giving me life, allowed for me to experience the greatest joys life had to offer. I had loved so fiercely, so deeply, so endlessly. I had fought time and time again as courageously as I could. I had lived fiercely, without fear of death. She made that possible by giving me life and by sacrificing hers. I knew the pain of forfeiting, “you have no idea how long I’ve waited to hold you in my arms again, how many nights I’ve wished for you to be mine once more, how endless my pain is when I remember that I have always been the worst thing for you. You don’t belong here, Eva, no matter how sorely I wish you did,” she stated, pulling away from the embrace to cup my face in her hands, stroking my cheeks with her thumbs and wiping away the tears that began to fall the moment hers did.

My bottom lip quivered as I stared at a face so beautiful, I wondered if I’d ever be able to appreciate the sunrise again, “you have always been and always will be the most beautiful contradiction, little one: Life born of Death. For eternity, I have been forced to take and take and take from this breathtaking universe, and I was finally able to give in the form of you and your brother. There is goodness within him, Eva, and you’re the only one who can bring it out. You two are meant to bring about a great change, to tip the scales in one direction, and you get to decide. You will either be tainted by him and bring about the Great Annihilation, or he will be purified by you and bring about the Great Rebirth. Either way, you are not meant to be here. You and I were made to contradict the other, and just as I understand you, I hope that you will someday understand me. I am no longer the wicked creature that steals away your loved ones, I guide them into what comes next. I don’t find pleasure in the pain of others, but I feel joy when I can welcome them back into eternity. We are destined to continue our dance forever, my little love. Life and Death. Death and Life.”

“Let me come home,” I begged, thinking of all I’d have should she let me rest.

“You understand what you’d be leaving behind, what you’d be giving up to regain what you have lost?” she asked, fearful of my willingness to accept what she alone could offer me. She stepped away from me, breaking our connection. Her eyes scanned the meadow behind me, and she gestured for me to turn around.

Behind me stood all the love I’d be leaving if I stayed. While I had been thinking solely of what I could have back should I embrace my death, I failed to see the faces of those I would burden with my death. Bruce, Clint, Natasha, Steve, and Tony stood perfectly still. I wanted to run to them, but when I saw the sadness in their eyes, I couldn’t even bring myself to move. Tony had already lost so much already, how could I ask him to lose me, too? I was the last connection Steve had to the man he once was, and he was one of my greatest friends. They disappeared, revealing Ephinea, Frigga, Thor, and Aaldir, the only father I’d ever accept. How could I force my father to live with my death? How could I ask him to lose Hjalmar and I in such a short period of time? How could I break his soul so deeply? When they disappeared, Harley and Kaia took their places. They placed every ounce of their faith and love in me, and I would be leaving them so quickly. Then, there was Loki, my life, my love, my everything. He would understand, but...he shouldn’t have to understand this. We weren’t meant to lose each other, we were meant to go together. When Loki disappeared, the love I forfeited appeared in his place.

Loving her was my greatest weakness, and leaving her was my greatest failure.

Her.

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magicallibary · 5 years

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Opposites Attract (Part 1)

A/N: Hello! I’m going to say this now: I’m sorry if this week’s stories come out late or don’t come out at all. I’m starting exams this week and I’m getting very busy, though I’m trying to work in advance both on stories and studying but, we’ll see how it goes! Also, sorry if you don’t like stories in parts but, right now, it’s easier for me to do them in parts. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this first part (despite being only an introduction to this story) and have a great rest of your day!

Word Count: 1783 Words Warnings: Nothing :D

Summary: The ocean and space are two different worlds but, what happens when they find each other.

You know the saying ‘opposites attract?’ Well, I bet there isn’t a better example of that being true than this tale. You see, the universe is strange and the Earth is strange.

If you really think about it, you could see humans as a middle ground. Humans live between two worlds, making humans the middle. With a deep, unknown ocean below and a dark, unknown galaxy above. Perhaps, a human being won’t see their kind as the middle but, the beings above and below them will see it like that and would be fascinated by that.

Before we begin this tale, you need to know about these two unknown worlds.

Let’s start with the ocean, shall we?

The deep blue, what most believe to be just that: a deep blue, empty pool of water only filled with marine plants and various sea animals. But, to see what’s really there, you need to look closer and deeper. Humanoid creatures call this place home. You’ve probably heard of these creatures under the name ‘mermaids’ in some pirate or children story. You see, males and females born without legs, the limbs being replaced with colorful fish-like tails. Different colored gills grow by their cheeks giving them the ability to breath underwater as well as talk underwater. Their hair and skin never gets wet, always looking dry and perfect. But, don’t think these creatures can only stay underwater with their fins. No, if they so wish, they can swim towards the nearest shore and as their skin feels the sand, the large tail would banish being replaced by legs and fashionable clothes. And, when they were done on the shore, as their legs felt the salty water, they would banish, welcoming the half-fish trait back. Most of these underwater humanoids, didn’t exit the ocean though. It almost felt like an unwritten law; no one from the deep sea would be welcomed into the soil and sand and no one from the soil and land would be welcomed into the community of the deep sea. Similarly to humans, they had their markets, their restaurants, their houses… So, really, there was no real reason to leave the ocean when everything was the same, if not better, to what was waiting for them on the shore. All of them thought this, well, all of them but one.

Meet Rivalyn. She came from a prestigious family and, of course, her family would disagree with her aspirations related to the soiled land but, being supportive, they never stopped her from chasing what she wanted. A lot of the civilians had found themselves slowly falling for her with her sparkling green eyes that always shone with curiosity. Her long blonde strands were perfectly curled, framing her pale face gently. Her red gills extended in swirls along her cheeks matching both her bright lips and tail that faded from red to white. Sadly for those townsfolk, she wasn’t interested in anyone nor anything the ocean handed her, on the other hand, she was interested in the world above her. She would seat on rocks that came above the water and stare at all the possibilities in front of her but, at the end of the day, she was too scared to step into the shore and walk around in legs. So, there’s where she stayed: watching and imagining.

Now, that you know of the sea, it’s time to look at the other side of the spectrum; what there’s above.

The emptiness of space is again another speculation that is simply incorrect. More planets and worlds to count are found among stars and meteors. An example of these millions upon millions of planets is the world of Cuatania. Known for its wonderful sky, Cuatania is surrounded by the Strion Nebula; a large thin and twisten line-shaped nebula filled with bright stars coloring Cuatania’s naturally black sky with the brightest tones of blue, purple and pink. The grass was colored a dark purple and special flowers grew around the planet’s surface. These flowers would glow different colors when nightime arrived, blinking their brightness and working as the world’s street lights. Truly an amazing sight for any visitor but, for the locals, this was the normal sight. Of course, they had other amazing things: their incredible advances in technology were due to the general high intelligence of the planet’s inhabitants. Similarly to human beings, the humanoids that live in this planet mostly believe that they’re the only living being in their part of the universe, so, they never found a reason to leave, despite their natural ability to teleport. Yet, similarly to the ocean’s population, one individual thought differently to everyone else.

Celeste was known for being highly excitable despite the usually calm townsfolk. She was a huge bookworm, her orbs were always scanning a written page. Then, she was quickly off, running around, her dark hair threatening to fall from its messy bun position. On one of these busy, nonstop days she made a telescope; not a normal telescope, though. This telescope had more than fifty different lenses within its structure, making any image bigger and easier to see. With her new machine, she found something she wouldn’t forget: she had found the Earth. Upon her discovery, she spent the following days trying to explain to everyone around her. Her tan-skin hands would wave around as words flowed quickly from between lips. Sadly, no one supported her ideas, some would even call it ridiculous. The lack of confidence in her, pushed her back making have second thoughts on teleporting to the new world she had found. So, her dark purple eyes would look up at the nebula-filled sky, imagining what would happen if she could go further from it. Until, one day, she did just that.

She swallowed her fears and looked up before closing her eyes as she focused on her banishing body while she teleported away. When her orbs finally opened, she found herself standing in a busy sidewalk. The sun shone on her skin and her eyes seemed brighter while she began walking around the streets. Weeks began to pass but, Celeste couldn’t find a reason to leave the wonderful new planet she had found. As the months flown by, she had found a job, bought a flat, tried a variety of foods and found her own strange clothing style. And soon, she realized she had spent a year there and, she couldn’t find it in her to feel even slightly sorry. Little did she know, she was going to be the reason the world from below and the world from above would find each other.

The summer season was soon slowly making its way back and Celeste had heard her fellow coworkers talk about the ‘beach.’ So, she did some research, finding a beach nearby from where she lived and decided to go there on one of her days off work. Since this was quite a small beach and the warm weather was only started, she was the only one resting her feet on the sand. Yet, still, she was amazed by the sight. The pale sand moved slightly with the soft breeze as waves crashed on the shore, leaving trails of seashells on the soggy surface. The salty smell of the sea drifted through the air while the shining sun made the water shiny as well as a turquoise color. Rocks came out of the water contrasting the tones of blue that formed the ocean. But, then, something caught her attention.

On one of the rocks, the silhouette of a human could be seen. Questions began flooding Celeste’s mind as she decided what she would due. After a few minutes of standing thoughtfully, she decided she would swim towards the figure. Sure, this wasn't the brightest idea but, she couldn’t scream at them and she wasn’t going to leave them there; she couldn't do that. Fully clothed, only with removed boots and socks, she felt her feet make contact with the chilly water but, she pressed on despite never swimming before. She swirled her arms and legs around, trying to stay afloat which worked for a while but, as she got closer to her destination, the water felt colder, numbing her limbs and tiredness soon began taking over her. Right as she reached the rock, she felt her body give in to the fatigue and felt herself begin to sink. She trashed around, hearing the sound of her own splashes, not knowing it had caught someone’s attention. As she sunk further, suddenly, she felt something caress her exposed arm. A warm and smooth surface rubbed along her arm, getting a grip and trying to pull her up but, the object wasn’t able to. Then, she heard a splash coming from behind her as she felt herself losing consciousness. The next thing she felt was two arms wrapping around her middle and pulling her above the water and to the rock. Celeste’s desperate coughs filled the silent atmosphere of the beach, her eyes locking shut as she regained control over her breathing.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with the brightest pair of blue eyes she had ever seen.

“Hello,” said the owner of the bright eyes, shyly “wha-?” Rivalyn’s words were cut off when she spotted the dark purple eyes of the individual she rescued. The blonde swore she could see the night sky’s stars shining within her eyes. She followed her orbs to find her observing her red fin.

“I’m sorry if this is rude, miss,” began the stranger with galaxy eyes “but, is this normal on this planet? I just, I had never seen anyone like you, miss.”

Rivalyn laughed quietly at her stuttering kindness and curiosity before answering. “It’s not very normal, you could say. But, I’m guessing you’re not from around here then?”

“What gave me away?” Celeste laughed, her inicial nerves calming down.

“Firstly, your eyes then, you asked about how normal humans with fins were on ‘this planet,’” she made quotations with her fingers as she laughed along with Celeste “so, if you’re not from here, where are you from?”

“Well, that’s a long story…” Celeste released a sigh as she pulled her brown, soggy hair behind her ears. She noticed the other girl laying down on the rock with a smile tugging at her lips.

“Well,” she smiled fully “I have all day.”

Celeste thought for a second before laying beside her and turning her head to catch her eyes. “Then, I have all day too.”

“Rivalyn,” she introduced “and you are?”

“Celeste. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Trust me, the pleasure’s all mine.” They both laughed along.

And that’s how it began.

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athedemonsqueen · 6 years

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I Found You, Again #10 (Finn/ Seth Story)

OMG I reached 10 chapters! I hope everyone is enjoying the adventure so far!

Seth swore it was nothing and it was there all this time. The pain from the bruise is still there; it is fresh. I begged him to tell me where he got it from. I worried. It reminded me so much of the bruises Finn would get from Balor. I didn’t want to think Balor had returned. I could not imagine what he would want with Seth.

I ran to the kitchen to grab some ice and placed it on Seth’s shoulder it stinged him a little, but he fell onto the bed with ease. I climbed onto the bed, feeling twigs of butterflies coming from my stomach. I adjusted myself slightly. I knew if I were to ask him again he would not tell me, but I did anyway.

“Seth…” “Who did this?” I asked quietly.

“I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.” Seth groaned. I sighed. I was annoyed. I turned my head to him pushing some of hair back. I know I shouldn’t do this, or what I did last night, but I feel as though I have no control over myself.

My fingers grazed his beard, he closed his eyes enjoying my touch. My fingers then suddenly went to his lips; grazing them too. I pulled away and pulled myself back. Seth opened his eyes slightly to me.

“You’re not going to kiss me?” Seth questioned.

“I’m a happily married person…” I whispered.

“You weren’t last night.”

“Last night was a mistake…” I said, looking away. Seth’s hand grazed my arm, sending goosebumps up and down my arm.

“I know you want to kiss me…” He said weakly. I turn to him as his soft, baby brown looked at me.

“I don’t want too.” I said. Seth pulled me to him, pressing his lips to his. I lost the fight instantly. Our lips dance with longing passion. I climb into the bed as my lips dug deeper into his. He took deep breathes through his nose as his hand glided in my hair. His hand then went up my back, lifting up my shirt. He was about to unhook my bra when I pulled away and ran upstairs.

I closed the door and leaned against it. My heart was pounding, but in a good way. My lips trembled, craving more, but I knew in my heart deep down, I could not go back for more. I put my legs to my chest. I felt trapped between my own husband and Seth. I started to think Finn would never come home. And if he isn’t coming home, I need a father figure for my Liam. Seth seems to be taking on the challenge.

I sighed, going back down stairs, this time topless going into Seth’s room. I crawled in between the sheets as he curled me into his arms. He placed a kiss on top of my forehead as he brought the covers over the shoulders.

We laid there together for awhile, in the small bliss of one another. His heart beated out of his chest so loudly when mine hardly beat. I loved the feelings I was feeling though. I was numb and oddly at peace.

We fell asleep together in each others arms. Normally, I don’t have dreams because I’m too concentrated on listening for Liam. It’s been like this since his birth. I had a dream I was walking to Liam’s room and the smell of blood filled my nose. I grew panicky as I felt my heart beat grow fast. I went into his room as his bright blue walls were dyed a glowing red. My Liam laid peacefully asleep as I went to give my son a kiss, Balor appeared covering me with a black mass.

I began to hear his voice. It still makes me shiver with fear. He called my name menacingly. He laughed as the black mass uncovered to my Finn sleeping, but not sleeping. My son is to the left of the room and he is cuddled up to Seth. It is my worse fear coming true. I gasped, waking up.

It’s still late at night, maybe four in the morning. I turn to see Seth is sleeping still, peacefully. I sighed, taking my arms and crossing them across my chest and went upstairs. I put on an old shirt and turned on the TV. Of course, ESPN is on, and of course it’s about the WWE’s rapidly declining ratings. I sighed, switching the channel to the Hallmark channel. I pulled the covers up to my nose, hoping to smell my Finn still; it’s faint.

My lip trembled then hid behind my teeth. My nose turned red and filled with burning tears. I buried my face into the covers and sobbed silently. I felt terrible about everything I’ve done with Seth, but at the same time I liked it, it felt right. I slouched in bed, thinking of my nightmare of Balor, but soon my thoughts were pulled away by home videos.

Finn had made home videos of us and the family. One of my favorite is our last vacation to California. Finn loved it there and he never stopped smiling. It was Liam’s first vacation and our first family vacation to Disney World. Hearing Finn’s voice and seeing happy times gave me hope and comfort. I closed my eyes asking God to take me back there or better bring my husband home. I prayed myself to sleep.

Things only got worse the next day. Vince declared that everyone is less likely to return and people should give up hope. It angered me, he expects me to go home and tell my boy that his daddy isn’t coming home at all. Vince is already hiring new people to replace the old wrestlers. How could you just retire, Dean, Roman, Bryan, Charlotte, Becky...they are telling us to forget them-forget my Finn.

“You bastard!” I cried out. I rushed towards him, pulling my fist out and to his face. People were estatic at my behavior.

“You tell my son!” I said sternly, my lips trembling as tears bolted from my face.

People began to pull me away as I screamed, “You tell my son that his father is not coming home!” I completely lost it. I had lost my entire world and my sense of being. The only place that had the real power to bring back my family has abandoned me.

They sat me back at my desk as I tapped my fingers, slowly. I went numb.

“(Y/N) are you alright?” Nattie asked. I looked up at her to see she had been crying. She has been told as well to forget T.J. to forget fifteen years of marriage.

“I guess I’ll be fine…” I merely mumbled.

“No one will forget about Finn we refuse…” She said, purcing her lips, “He brought something new and exciting to us…” her voice cracked. “T.J. loved him…”

“Finn broke every barrier here…” I whispered nodding. I refuse to cry at least in front of Nattie or anyone else.

“Some of us are thinking of quieting here, there are other desk jobs out there for you- or even you can get back into the ring…” Nattie suggested.

I smiled softly, “Thanks, but need to keep this job for Liam...it is the cloest thing to hs father.”

“Understandable.”

The drive home for the first time was short. Of all times it had to be a short ride home. Everything was falling apart, my marriage, my son, and work. Meanwhile, upon that fallen world, a new world was developing in its place. It feels so small and dark. I drove up to find Seth standing outside the door, leaning against the poles.

I got out of the car, starring at him from the distance. He knows. I could tell from the small concern expression on his face. I sighed, slowing walking to the doorstep. I held my head down, holding myself together until tonight when I curl into my empty bed and cry myself to sleep.

Seth stood in the way, causing me to lift my head slightly to him. “You heard?” I asked.

“Yeah…” He said softly. He darted his eyes down quickly then back to me. He seemed sympathetic. His eyes welded slightly with tears. Less I forget he has lost two of his brothers, but his grief seemed more towards Liam and I.

I looked over to the garden as I whispered in between my burning tears, “How am I going to tell, Liam?” I looked back at Seth who had one tear travel down his cheek.

“How can you tell him when you can hardly accept it yourself?” Seth whispered. I looked back at him. My secret is out. I did not want to accept that Finn is never coming home. Then it hit me, like a ton of bricks, the house did not smell of comforting Irish food. It smelt bland and lifeless. I had to accept it now, my Fergal, my best friend, my everything in the stars and moon-the world’s most beloved wrestler is never coming home.

My knees buckled and everything on me tightened as a small whimper turned into an outburst of tears. Seth caught me as I buried my face in his chest. His strong arms curled around me, grasping me tightly. I wailed at this point asking God to bring back my husband because no amount of tears could ever stop this pain.

I balled my fist, gripping Seth’s shirt. Seth rested his head on top of my head, rocking us back and forth; he tried everything to make me feel better.

“Shh, shh…” he would coo, then a grip tighter. “I’m here now…” He whispered.

“Everything is going to be ok, I’m going to take care of you now…” He said in a matter a fact way. For the first time ever, Seth brought me comfort.

That night I was able to fully able to give myself to him without any guilt for restraint. Finn lingered in the back of my head like a small, faint memory. Nothing could stop me for showing Seth all the love and want I could give. As we fell asleep, I started to feel for him. I allowed myself to fall in love with him. The nightmares still distracted me from reality to the fullest.

I dreamt of being in Saudi Arabia, only in a hospital, kind of looked like the one Liam was born in. I walked silently in the halls to a room where FInn laid. He looked lifeless even though i knew he was alive. I felt myself crying once I saw Balor appearing over his bed, his hand grazing Finn.

I popped out of sleep, hyperventilation of the horrific sight I just saw. Seth jumped out of bed with me, holding my back and chest.

“Honey, honey are you ok?” Seth asked, I looked over to him, his eyes filled with concern and confusion.

If I were to tell him about Balor, he would just think I’m crazy, and that Finn has filled with head with utter nonsense of Irish folklore.

“Yea…” I said, Seth removed a strain of hair from my face searching for the lie. “I’m fine…” I whispered.

Seth nodded before I laid back down. He laid down beside me curling his arm around me indicating I’m his now.

@igobypoet @mylittlepartofthegalaxy @finnbealor @finnabonthesinnabon @tina679 @devitts-brat @calwitch @meremaidqueen @soulofaravenheartofawolf @squirrel666

#balorclub finnbalor demonking fergaldevitt princedevitt rocknrolla finnbalorforever bulletclub

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