#just has bio w a concentration that will be closer but not enough so so sad | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

maladaptive-ninja-returns · 4 years

Text

It’s The Avengers (03x02)

Loki x Reader Avengers The Office AU (Slowwwwww Burn)

Season 3 Episode 02: The Boyband

Series Summary: Living in the Avengers facility post-apocalypse in a better timeline Tony Stark has decided to capture every moment by pulling The Office on the Avengers. All of housemates are pretty used to the idea except for you, who had just come here to finish her degree, and the newest member- Loki.

Warnings: cute? mad? possessive?

Word Count: It is not until the blood gushes out do you realise that those stupid tears you cried in the office in front of everyone due to some fucking pentup emotions was the PMS all fucking along.

Written for @serpienten ‘s 1k Writing Challenge. Thank you so much for letting me participate! I was supposed to start with the Season with the challenge but due to some stupid screwup from my end I wasn’t able to. My apologies.

MASTERLIST in bio, darlings. Tags are open (check bio)

The camera panned in on your face, recording your hair flying in the desert loo while you had your face covered with your shirt, your jacket wrapped around your waist, letting the maroon tank top absorb the sweat your body had churned up on the walk to whatever town you and Loki were supposed to head to.

Speaking of Loki, the camera moved a few degrees forward to show Loki walking ahead of you, his face covered by a helmet 'borrowed' from the wolf army. Though both of you were in boots, the movement through this slippery sand had not made any of it easier. Which was why Loki wanted to cover more of this hard ground you three were on before nightfall.

"You okay, Javi?" Your weak voice called out, making the camera come back to you, panning out to take the entirety of your defeated figure in one frame. Javi's shadow by your side on the ground did a thumbs up.

"We're close," Loki announced, "let's keep moving."

"But I'm tiiiiiiiiiiiii-yu-huh-huuuuuuuh-d!" You moaned, on the verge of tears, coming down on your knees at the nearest pile of husk shining under this alien sun. "Let me just rest by this grass bunch."

The camera caught Loki turning around, his eyes on the edge of rolling till he saw you. "Uh...Y/N, that's no-"

You felt something fluffy stroke your head, making you scream and jump; which in turn made the little pile of grass scream and jump away from you.

"IT MOVED!"

"Because that's not grass. That's a living breathing organism."

"THAT THING MOVED!"

"That's a Has-krot Nuer."

"That Grass-got-boo MOVED!"

"Not gra-"

Loki stopped midway, the camera taking a subtle angle to catch the clench of his perfect jaw as he closed his eyes and breathed in a lungful.

Loki: *looking far away into the barren land* I have survived the craziest of creatures. I have even survived death. *stops as the camera zooms just a little to record you looking at the hairy creature with crazy curiosity and shouting 'Loki, it's not doing anything. Is it okay?!'* *blinks at the camera without any change in this facial expression* I don't think I can survive her.

*In the background, you raise your finger cautiously to poke that creature*

Loki: *instantly* *without even looking* Do not poke it!

"They're amphibians. Versatile creatures. They can live in any environment. But they're usually in groups," Loki contemplated, getting down on one knee and taking the back of his fingers to stroke the creature. "It's unusual for one to be alone like this. They can't survive without their family for long."

The creature purred at the touch, bending a little towards Loki's hand. Loki's eyes shifted from the purring being to you, followed by a furrow of his brows.

The camera turned too, catching you face experiencing an emotional rift.

Javi moved a few feet back to catch both of you in a single frame, making the camera jiggle a little as he did.

"Y/N, no." His words came out like a soft cautious tale. Almost too poetic.

Your lips pressed on to each other, while your brows stood arched in a sad curve. "Loki-"

"No," he raised his hand, pointed his finger at you to stop, "don't."

"Come on!" You whined.

"But-"

"We're already three people with no means on a foreign planet. There is no way we're taking this one with us."

"Loki, pl-"

All through the bickering, the golden husk kept turning between the two of you, making a low hooting noise like an owl.

"No!"

You didn't speak this time. Your eyes went wide while your lips pressed into each other. Loki was already shaking his head at it. Your cheeks- already red from the heat- blew up a bit. "Mm-mm. No." And the combination of it all created the best puppy-eyed face.

"Y/N, we are not taking it with u-"

Loki: We're taking it with us. *sigh* *camera focuses out of Loki's face to show you scratching your little hay-buddy and it purring back at you* *camera focus back on Loki*

*closes his eyes* *whispers to himself* curse those stupid eyes.

"We'll help you find your family, okay?" You tried to convince the little one, who tilted- what apparently was its head- at you. "Hopefully before we find a way back to ours. So-" you got up and turned in the direction you were heading earlier- "wanna join us?"

The head tilted up in your direction, then towards the way you were looking, then back at you.

Loki meanwhile stood with his hands on his hips. "I don't think this is a good time to make promises, darling. Especially not for someone who has zero ideas about the universe."

A chirp came out of it, bringing your- and Loki's- attention to its cute little motion of 'walking' a few steps ahead of you before what seemed like an arm protruded out of it and pressed somewhere in the middle of his anatomy. Out came a click sound.

"Did it just press its stomach?" You asked your universe guide, not realising he wasn't looking at you or the creature. But at something far out in the barren land.

"Yeah, not the thing we should concentrating on for now."

Your eyes were barely able to register the dusty whirlwind at first. "Is that a sandstorm?" You asked Loki while shading your eyes with your hand.

"A sandstorm does not rise like that. Not with aliens in it."

You tried to squint hard to look at it but could not see anything except riled up dust. Suddenly it wasn't the sandstorm that was taking away your attention.

Music.

There was music coming from somewhere.

Clearly, Javi knew it before anyone else, for the camera was pointing at the little guy as the tempo and volume increased a little.

"It's coming from...this one," you told yourself.

The little one was doing little jumps on the beats while seemingly looking at the dust storm.

And soon enough, the camera too could see what Loki was seeing.

A vehicle shaped like those monster trucks from Mad Max hoarded an entire bunch of aliens on it. Aliens that looked human enough as the monstrosity on wheels got closer.

I don't trust nobody I don't even trust my mind

Faces started to appear out of the dust. And oh! What faces indeed. You could feel your eyes wanting to blink again and again just to make sure they were not dreaming.

Losin' everybody They can never take the grind People always switchin' sides People always hit my line Never ask me how I'm doin' They just wanna waste my time

The vehicle stopped a few feet in front of the party. The creatures- all looking like humans but coming in various shades of the galactic rainbows- came with quite some attitude, stepping down onto the ground.

So I don't hate nobody Just stay up out my life And I won't hurt nobody So just stay up out my sights

"Holy fuck," you whispered, scrutinising those perfect beings from head to toe, "looks like Tom Hardy had kids with a K-Pop band."

Indeed. The close slo-mo zoom-ins by the camera on every face could vouch for the fact.

People always hold me down They just told me that I'd drown When you livin' how I'm livin' All these leeches come around

Loki's brows furrowed as he turned to you. "Tom who?"

You tskd, a little annoyed to have to rip your eyes away from the buffed up alien boyband.

'Cause we don't trust nobody We don't even trust our minds Losin' everybody From them lows to them highs I was always gettin' high Never took a look outside I was livin' in the dark Thinkin' I would never shine

"You know that guy from...did I show you Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?"

No answer from Loki assured you you didn't.

"How about Batman?"

"...a man who is a...bat? Is that a comedy?"

"... you're lucky no batman fan can hear you right now. Okay...um...oh yes! Remember that guy Eddie we met at the tavern?"

"Eddie who?"

"That guy who's got a parasite. He goes by the name Venom."

"Oh yes, I remember him. And the parasite. Is that Tom?"

"Oh no. He looks like Tom. Just a little more rugged...and weird. Hot, no doubt, but a little weird."

Loki couldn't help but notice you lick your lips and hide that hint of a smile on the edge of your lips.

Loki: *gives a knowing look* so, she has a thing? A thing for the weird. *smirks at the camera* Well, aren't you naughty, Y/N Stark.

"You guys lost?"

You and Loki watched as those seven boys- aliens- stood in a perfect formation and the one who looked like a leader addressed your party of four.

"Yea, we were looking for the nearest tow-"

"We're fine," Loki cut you short, "are you all travelling northwards? I'd suggest you prevent those rocky hills. Met some weird knuckleheads in those parts."

You looked at the camera and blinked.

"Come on, Y/N. Javi. And...and you," he addressed the little hay, who chirped back with excitement and followed him.

"Actually," you started, making Loki stop and turn to grab your arm but not before it was too late, "it would be really helpful if we could hitch a ride to the nearest town. If it's not too much trouble for you boys." You clasped your hands in peace, not resisting the need to whisper, "Gods, you look so much like that familiar K-Pop band. They have no idea how many girls could go crazy over them."

"Yes, it would be too much trouble for them," Loki insisted, trying to pull you in his direction, "come on, we'll find something on the w-"

"We don't mind at all," the leader spoke, stepping forward towards you. You did not see it coming. Neither were you ready when his pale hands took your left one ever so gently, making you let out a muted a gasp while Loki stood there watching the whole thing unfurl with dull shock. "This is the least we could do for a heavenly beauty like you."

Loki's eyes rolled so hard it felt like they might go all the way back.

Another click sounded through Little Hay's stomach and out came another song.

You're so beautiful, girl a blind man could love you (Woo! yeah. woo! yeah)

"Really," Loki called the new member out flat. Little hay shrugged and hooted while pointing at you and the rainbow K-Pop.

You're so beautiful, girl a blind man could love you (Woo! yeah. woo! yeah)

"Stop it," he ordered, making it let out a whine before reluctantly clicking its stomach to stop.

Loki was about to speak but you cut him away like a sharp sword cutting the wind in half.

"Alright, listen, you galactic rip-offs," you started, taking your hand away from that pale- almost white- guy and crossing your arms across your chest, "we need a ride to the nearest town. Drop that sweet talk, start your engine and get us there before it's dark."

Loki, mouth just a little agape, stood there in veiled awe, sharing a look with the camera.

"Now." You pressed your authority, making the leader call out for the green-skinned boy to start the engines.

"Anything for you, my love," he declared ever so sweetly, trying to take your hand again.

"Touch me and I'll rip your arms off your body," you announced every so softly.

The leader paused where he was, bowing in respect and directing you towards the vehicle.

You turned towards Loki and Javi, your expressions making a one-eighty, replacing the dark with the cheery, "shall we?" And then you skipped away towards the vehicle.

Loki: Hm. Maybe we will survive space. Or maybe we will land up in more trouble. *Shrugs* Guess it'll depend on what mood she is in.

You: I think we'll be fine. *scoffs* Hm? Oh, I don't like it when someone is too forward. Too flirty. Blame my childhood and those stupid truth or dare games where boys would dare each other to tell me they liked me. My defence mechanism got a bit strong since and whenever anything like this happens I metaphorically smack that person into just getting away from me.

*looks at Javi* *furrows brows* what? Ugh? Why would harsh words be a kink?

You turned to look to your left where Javi was pointing. The camera panned out to show Leader looking at you all starry-eyed while resting his face on his palm as the vehicle moved over the rough terrain, letting you all shift with the inertia

You shifted a bit away from Leader, never turning away from him while he continued looking at you with a smile. Uncomfortable, you got up and made your way next to Loki, who turned at the graze of your arm on his, watch you cocoon yourself while staring at Leader with an uncomfortable glare.

"Don't worry," Loki sighed, looking at the road ahead, "He's just a puppy. He isn't going to come near you till you tell him to."

You grunted with disgust at the fact. "Bad dog."

Leader whimpered while speaking something you didn’t understand. Two of his companions, one the colour of the sky and the other looking more orange than a tangerine, looked at you the same way, with different undertones. The sky guy practically blushed and shied away looking at you. The tangerine oozed with sluttiness, biting his lips and licking them, often moving his fingers over his jaw or his neck, trying to throw hints in your direction.

And you? You sat there with disgust plastered on your face the whole ride while Loki chuckled silently and closed his eyes for a nap.

The Lounge- Night-Time

"Oh my God!"

Disgust-filled curses, shocked exclamations and scoffs echoed through the dark lounge with the only light coming from the big screen showing the white alien taking your hand in his.

"The audacity of this alien bitch," Peter whispered with a mouthful of popcorns, pointing his hand- again, filled with popcorns- at the screen, "right in front of my O-" he stopped, watching eyes turning to him, freezing for a second- "my popcorn. Right in front of my popcorn."

Peter relaxed only when everyone went back to the screen -whether in confusion or agreement- and looked at Scott who mouthed, 'dude!'. 'I got caught in the moment,' Peter mouthed back. Both of them immediately whipped their heads to the screen when Bucky turned back to look at Peter, almost sure he heard him whisper something.

Steve sighed with a worried look on his face. "These aliens don't seem that bad."

"Why didn't we ask for Thor's help, again?" Sam asked a logical question, once again.

"Tony did," Natasha acknowledged, "He said his people needed him and that Loki was smart enough for the three of them to figure his way back home."

"... okay?"

Vision looked at Sam with questioning eyes. "You don't seem okay with that decision."

Wanda, Peter and Scott were the only ones still crunching on their popcorns through the judging silence where everyone waited for an answer.

"What. I know y'all thinkin' the same thing. If it were my brother I'd go look for him, no matter how bad that s-o-b is."

Natasha narrowed her eyes at him.

"I saved Bucky's ass in the Philippines, didn't I?"

Bucky looked at the camera with a tensed jaw and a tired look while everyone else silently agreed.

"Someone should talk to Mr Hammertime about this," Sam stressed. Everyone paused, looking at each other before immediately raising their fingers shouting 'not it'. Everyone except Sam.

Sam: *resting bitch face* kids.

"Wait," Pietro interrupted, "what did that guy say to Y/N?"

"Something on the lines of 'your boyfriend doesn't know how lucky he is'," Natasha murmured while busy licking the remains of tater tots in the bowl in her hand. She stopped midway as all eyes rested on her in question. "What."

"How do you know?" Scott asked.

"Their dialect has a strong base of Korean," she simply shrugged, going back to the bowl.

"She's right," Bucky chimed in.

"Huh," Pietro wondered out loud, "are they really a space K-pop band?"

"Yeah, space band or not," Steve declared, "let's just keep the boyfriend thing under wraps. Away from Tony."

Everyone agreed.

"Or Clint," Wanda added as she munched on the chicken wings.

"Yeah," Steve agreed, "what is with him lately? He seems to act pretty defensively whenever Loki's in the room."

"Tell me about it," Scott muttered through a mouthful of popcorns and an eye roll.

"He still ain't over the whole monkey business?" Sam asked Nat.

"He told me Loki apologised and told him how Thanos was pulling the strings. As far as I know, Clint's over the whole thing. There's something else he seems to be mulling over."

Everyone seemed to take a few moments- between the crunches and munches to think it over. Steve, with his brows of justice, suddenly seemed to have a realisation before anyone else who was actually trying to think.

Steve: I think I know what's bothering Clint. *smiles*

Nat's voice: What?

Steve: *nearly jumps* *hands curled into fists* Jesus! Where the heck did you come from?

Nat: I've been sitting here the entire time, Steve.

Steve: *tries to speak* *stops* *shifts in his seat* *exchanges glances between the camera and Natasha*

Nat: So? *rests one leg on another* *tilts towards Steve* what's bothering Clint.

"Those aliens look quite, how you millennials call it, hungry," Vision stated as he watched Mr Tangerine try to make his move on you. Everyone shouted curses and made faces at him. Vision observed the reactions before looking at the camera.

Vision: I think I...*slowly raises hands to make finger guns* nailed it.

"Suddenly, I'm really glad she's got Loki by her side," Steve mentioned, surprised at his own words. Bucky and Sam agreed. Scott and Peter smiled at the exchange, fist-bumping at the back of the sofa.

"The moment she gets back, we gotta work on that defence mechanism of hers though," Sam added, "otherwise she'll never get a date."

"I think she'll be fine," Nat enunciated, "I'm sure when the time comes she'll like the right one."

"As long as she gets to enjoy it all," Sam raised his beer bottle to get a cheer from Nat's.

"I have to say I like that little hay," Sam pointed out, getting 'amen' from the room, "dude's got a freaking boombox inside him."

"Y/N's going to adopt it, isn't she?" Pietro chuckled.

The cutest howl left Zuko as he sat beside Bucky, looking at Pietro with angry eyes.

"Ay, you're makin' her baby angry," Sam guffawed. Everyone laughed, cuddling and cooing at the little fur-face to calm him down. He did calm down, but he was still furious at Pietro.

On the screen, the camera showed the vehicle come to a halt. Leader-Kun got out first, along with Loki, and had his hand out for you.

You paused, looking reluctant to do anything with those eyes stuck on you. Taking a step to your side, you waited for Loki- who was scrutinising the place- to turn to you.

When he did and took in Leader-Kun’s eagerly waiting arms, he didn't just open his own.

"Oh I'm sure your lover here is happy to help you ou-"

"Shut up and get me down," you spat back, your arms stretched out, waiting for his shoulders to come close.

"Are you sure?" Loki stressed, "Because I don't want to make him jealous-"

"Loki, for f***'s sake, I don't like being teased about men I don't like as much as you don't like being compared to your brother. So, if you don't want me to blabber about Thor for the rest of the way-"

"Alright, fine! Fine!" He quipped, feeling the sour taste in his mouth.

He stepped forward, letting you rest your hands on his shoulders as he grabbed you by the waist, helping you down safely.

"Damn," Sam chuckled, "our girl plays dirty."

"You play dirty, woman," Loki stated right after, earning a smile from you. "Thanks," you raised your shoulder in appreciation, "I learned from the best."

Natasha looked at the camera with a smirk.

Natasha: *holding out a knife with sharpest edges, its hilt holding a beautiful carving of Black Widow's symbol* this is my birthday present. The one Y/N made me and was supposed to gift me before she left for space.

*swings the knife in her hand* I've been preparing her since she arrived. If anyone's going to take advantage in space, it's Y/N. If anyone tries to hurt her, then they *catches the knife in attack position* and Loki will answer to me.

The new place greeted them with a tavern by the road and all sorts of creatures going in and out of it. The tavern, seemingly made of wood that was entirely blue, stood with neon signs spelling out something supposed to attract customers.

Feminine figures, green luminescent blobs, purple tentacled odd creatures stood outside the entrance at different corners.

"O...okay-" you narrowed your eyes at the whole scene- "I may be wrong...but this does not feel like a place one normally visits."

"It's a tavern cum brothel," Loki acknowledged, looking around the area, at the minimal housing along the road. "Looking at the size of the town, it seems like it's for the crowds that travel here from other planets. This might be a stop."

"Good, we can ask for a lift back home then," you agreed, ready to walk towards the building.

"What?" Loki stopped you short, "you cannot just walk in there?! Heaven knows what kind of miscreants hoard this place."

You sighed. "I'm guessing that's what's to happen any place we visit."

Loki scoffed. "Of course, it will. You should be more scared of space."

"I am scared, Loki," you stated, taking his arm that was holding onto yours, "I'm scared like hell. I barely go around town for the fear of being mugged or raped or murdered. Think what I'm going through right now. Look, the thing is, bad guys are everywhere, your survival skills are peak perfection and I am a weight you'll be carrying around till we find a way back. Come in terms with the fact that I will be going to places I shouldn't even know about and you can only do so much."

A warm breeze blew Loki's hair, letting shadows play over his face in this planet's golden hour.

Wind blows Blew me to where I belong

"Not now, sweety," you called out, making Little Hay hoot and click his stomach and stop the song.

The silence was used by the two of you to come to terms. "I don't like it either but judging by how little you've said about ways to get back, I figured we don't have much to work with right now. So we'll need all the firepower we can," you declared softly. “Don't worry. Being there for each other in grim times, that’s what friends are for.”

Loki took in a lungful, closing his eyes, dropping his head before finding back his stature.

"I hate you," he finally admitted.

"Aw-" you broke into a smile- "I love you too!"

"If we're going in there, you have to stay close to me, not touch anything strange, no talking to strangers, especially the ones who look alluring."

"My my, if I didn't know better, I'd say you're being possessive."

"..."

"What. I like it," you teased him, "as long as it's healthy."

A chirp came from Little Hay, as he rubbed itself on your leg while moving around.

"Come on, guys, stay close," you announced, walking with Loki towards the tavern while turning towards Loki, "you know, we should really give a name to our little hay baby."

"He's not out baby, Y/N."

"Hey! Don't say that in front of it. You might hurt its feelings."

The silence in the lounge was suddenly broken by low sniffles, slowly making heads shift towards teary-eyed Scott and Peter barely holding the moisture in their eyes, their smiles too wide to contain.

"You okay, Peter? Scott?"

Both of them nodded. "We're fine," Scott's broken voice reassured them. "Mmhmm," Peter added."

"There was too much spice in my tater tots." Scott nearly broke again at the end of the sentence.

"I just remembered Mr Barton has my special Spider-Man suit and he said he won't give it back to me," Peter sniffled while poking at the empty popcorn bowl in his hand.

"Oh, he won't be saying that anymore," Natasha pressed, "I promise you that."

Sam: Well, Clint's 'bout to die.

"Let's try calling Carol in the morning," Steve declared before getting up and looking at the screen. "Everyone, get some shut-eye. We'll catch up with them in the morning."

Everyone greeted goodnight and made their way to the dorms- all except Scott and Peter.

"No, Cap," Scott nearly shouted, making Steve freeze halfway to the screen's power button, "leave it like that. Please?"

Steve stood back straight, a shade of concern over his face. "Sure you guys okay?"

The camera focused in on Scott and Peter.

Scott and Peter: crying with joy Scott: Babbiees! *squeals and sniffles* Peter: ow my heart! *clenches his chest*

“Yes,” Scott nodded with the purest smile, “we’re okay.”

132 notes · View notes

rizzizzsins-blog · 5 years

Text

From the Ashes, Ch. 5

Wanna read this on Archive? Click here.

It felt like an eternity before Dr. Dreemurr knocked.

“Asher? May I come in? I am also bringing some other Royal Family members. You may accept or refuse to see them, and it will be completely alright.”

“No, it’s okay,” he assented.

The click of dress shoes let him know she was being followed. The door opened, and two very different looking goat monsters followed in behind Dr. Dreemurr.They were a couple, with rick dark hair and mahogany eyes that watched him with unreadable expressions.

The woman introduced herself first, holding out a hand.

“How do you do? My name is Fafriel Dreemurr, and I am the current queen of the Underfell Kingdom and its peoples. It is lovely to meet you, and to be sure that you’re alright… well, alright enough.” Her language and enunciation were a little stiff, but Asher could tell she wanted to be there. He shook her hand.

“You’re meant to kiss it,” the male grumbled from back in his chair.

“Gorey, he’s not one of our subjects. He’s not required to follow such outdated protocols.”

“Hmph,” the male replied.

“Come introduce yourself, you curmudgeon.”

He sighed. “You’re right… I’m being unreasonable. Good afternoon, young dryad. I am King Fafgore of the Underfell Kingdom. I am pleased to see you talking and moving.”

“Hehe, am I supposed to kiss your hand?” Asher joked, trying to loosen him up.

There’s a beat of silence. Both women are frozen stiff.

Then raucous laughter from the man. “Oh, goodness! You certainly know how to break the ice. In all my centuries of performing as King, not once has a male monster asked if he needed to kiss my hand, even those attracted to other males. No, you do not need to kiss my hand, but you may if you feel so inclined.”

Asher elected to shake it. This seemed fine.

“Excellent. Now, let’s get down to business…. Dr. Dreemurr, if you’d explain the technicalities.”

The doctor took a deep breath, sighing with relief.

“.... Mr. Asher, you have a serious, irreversible case of VCD I and II. Void contamination disease, and its mental counterpart, Void Contamination Disorder.”

“What does that mean? I didn’t take past Intro To Monster Bio,” Asher admitted.

“It means that the concentrated VOID that the Collider lets into reality to do its work has been completely absorbed into your body. It is now inseparable from you.”

Dr. Dreemurr hands him a very outdated looking brochure.

“I apologize for the datedness of the documentation, but this has not happened in a very long time. Anyways, VOID contamination on your level has enormous consequences on your mental stability and physical functions.”

“Like what? You’re being pretty vague.”

She winced. “I’m sorry…. I just really do not wish to see you suffer, child.”

Asher swallowed. “I can take it.”

She continued. “You have lost the ability to flower. You are infertile.”

These weren’t really bad news, since Asher had never wanted children or flowers in the first place.

“You are infertile both in the sense of reproduction and in a magical sense. You can no longer grow living plants with the touch of your hand, as far as we know, and your bullet patterns… I don’t know what they’re going to look like now, but please be exceedingly careful with using your magic.”

He nodded.

“You will experience symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, memory loss, nonsensical or garbled memories, memories belonging to other people or timelines, random facts or premonitions that turn out to be true, headaches, and you are no longer photoreceptive. You will have to eat much more food than you are likely used to.”

He nodded, a little more weakly.

“Thankfully, the DTC container did not burst or puncture during the Colliding process, or we would be looking at something much worse, but I understand that this is hard news to bear…. Other symptoms include chronic pain, partial molecular and magical instability, loss of ability to heal others unless they are also contaminated, difficulty exerting your body or magic, and tremors. Considering the severity of your contamination, any of these symptoms are possible at any time. There is little we can do to mitigate these issues other than physical and psychological therapy…. I’m sorry,” Dr. Dreemurr gulped. Tears sparkled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“So… I’m guessing I can’t go back to work.”

Dr. Dreemurr shook her head.

“How am I supposed to make rent? Buy groceries?”

“You cannot. Not reliably.”

Asher’s breath picked up. Panic was rising through his roots.

“What am I supposed to do? Am I gonna be put away in some nursing home with a lady spoon-feeding me?!”

“Certainly not. That would be a waste of your remaining faculties, and maddening, I’m sure, for a man as young and alert as yourself,” Fafgore stopped him. “This is where my wife and I would like to come in. We have an alternative proposition for you. You can accept or revoke your consent at any time.”

Asher took deep breaths and tried to listen.

Dr. Dreemurr handed him a cup of tea, his bed manifesting a table to steady it. He couldn’t drink it. His hands almost knocked the cup over until he tucked them under his thighs.

She handed him a silly straw with a strained smile. He took it with his mouth and drank the tea in slow sips.

It did make him feel just a little better.

“We would like to, as the Royal Families, with my wife and I at the helm, offer you a lifelong trust fund and assistance. You would not be wealthy, but you would want for nothing. You could live in any assisted living facility you liked, or with an attendant, but you would retain your independence.”

“That doesn’t sound very independent.”

“It is the best we can do,” Fafgore sighed. “I know how frustrating this must be for you. A close confidant of mine underwent this many years ago.”

Asher’s lower lip trembled.

The last things he’d used to cope with life had been taken away.

“W-with all respect, your Highness…. You can’t.”

Fafgore nodded sagely. “In any case, we would like to offer you our deepest apologies for what has happened, and our assistance. This phone number is a direct line to our house. Please avoid sharing it if possible. You may contact us at any time, no matter the hour, and we will respond.” He handed Asher… a business card, amusingly enough. Asher nodded his thanks.

“Well… we would strongly recommend that you do not drive home. Do you have a ride, or would you like us to arrange for someone?” Dr. Dreemurr asked.

“I-- I can f-find someone on my app.”

“Alright. Your clothes and personal items that survived are in the cabinet over there. Please use the rails if you have difficulty walking to it, but you should have about 80% faculty in your legs or more.”

The queen of Underfell approached Asher, a slightly softer look in her harsh expression.

She took a knee on the ground, and clasped his hand tightly.

“My deepest apologies…. This should never have happened. If you decide to accept our assistance, you will be like my own child. You will want for nothing.”

Fafgore and Asher both bristled a bit at the mention of children.

“Thank you…. I need some time to think, your Highness.”

She shook her head. “Fafriel is fine, child.”

He nodded. Fafgore approached next. He gave Asher a deep bow, then kissed Asher’s hand.

“You do not need to be alone. My wife and I are not the most exciting company, but our assistance will always be available to you.”

Asher nodded again. The royal couple departed, leaving only Dr. Dreemurr.

“I apologize if they seemed a bit over-formal… that is the nature of their kingdom.”

“It’s okay,” Asher tried to smile.

“I recognize this is a bit unprofessional, but… may I hug you?”

That broke Asher. Tears rushed down his face, and he managed a yes between hitched sobs. Her fur enveloped him, and he could feel the fire of her magic imbued in her warmth.

“I c---can’t remember the last time I was held,” he whimpered. She pulled him in closer.

“I imagined… you have no family or partner listed in your records. I heard a young man demanding to see you, but he doesn’t seem much of a partner, if you’ll forgive me for saying.”

Asher just assented, trying to control his breathing.

“I j-just want us to be happy again.”

“Take on one issue at a time, my child. Just one issue, one day, one step at a time. You may want to take some time to focus on your own happiness.”

He stared up at her, terror and pain in his eyes.

“.... How?”

Dr. Dreemurr held him longer still, trying not to cry herself, before letting go.

“Here is my number as well. There is a temporary walking stick by your clothes for you to use as you need it. I hope to hear from you, but you are not obligated to an old lady like me. Please… take care of yourself.” With that, she left.

Asher wiped his tears up. They looked like muddy water in his hands. Disgusting. Every part of him was disgusting.

Even so, someone probably needed this hospital room, so he took his first shaky steps off the bed, reaching for the walking stick. It was a sickly pink. He hated it, but whenever he loosened his grip on it, his knees started to buckle, so he was stuck with it for now.

Even putting on his clothes or opening his app required several attempts, his hands spasming every time he tried to do a button or press a letter on his keyboard.

Eventually, he managed to send a message to Scamp to pick him up.

SCAMP: OFFLINE

Shit. He really didn’t want anyone else to see him like this. To pick him up and wrinkle their nose.

There was a second knock on the door.

“Hey, princey, you still in there?”

Asher hurriedly zipped up his jeans and buttoned his polo.

“Y-yeah, come inside.”

There was a snort, before the door opened. “Jesus, princey…. Let’s get you home, okay?” Cinn sighed, gently helping Asher up. It was hard to get used to the kind of tenderness that people were treating him with lately. Hopefully, gods he hoped it wasn’t pity.

Cinn moves him into the elevator, and they head down to the parking lot.

“Normally you could gimme an address and I’d port ya home, but I don’t wanna move you through spacetime in your state, so driving it is.”

He walked Asher to an ‘86 Grand Prix in nearly perfect condition, a stark contrast to the walking wreck of a Lada that Scamp drove around.

“This is certainly an upgrade.”

“From what?” Cinn sees his phone. “Aww, please don’t tell me you’ve gotten in the walkin’ spontaneous combustion hazard that is Scamp’s car.”

“I have. He’s actually my favorite driver on the app. Law-breaking as fuck, but he gives a smooth ride…. Uh, in the car! As a driver” Asher quickly corrected himself.

“So ya know about Scamp’s side gig too, huh… I highly recommend. His aftercare’s the shit.”

If Asher had been drinking anything, he would have spit it out.

“Anyways, let’s get ya nice and comfy in there.” He scooped Asher up and placed him in the front passenger seat, bundling him up with a nice blanket.

“I’m not an old lady, Cinn.”

“Believe me. Yer gonna be a lot more sensitive to the temperature from now on.”

They slowly backed out of the parking lot, and Asher gave him the address. Cinn seemed to know where he was going, until he took a wrong turn and missed an exit.

“Whoops,” he chuckled, continuing to drive.

After his fifth mistake, Asher caught on.

“You’re stalling.”

“I--err----”

“Nope. That’s all the answer I need,” Asher chuckled dryly. “What I do wanna know is why.”

Cinn sighed, then found a nice stretch of road to pull over in. The car came to a stop.

“Look, I…. I’m not tryin’ ta kidnap you or anything like that. I just…. I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t really wanna take you back to that piece of shit you live with. I know his type. He’s not gonna support you in the slightest. I know you handle his bull all the time, but if he disrespects ya again in front of me like that… I don’t know if I can handle myself.”

Asher pinched his forehead.

“Look, Cinn. You don’t know me or him that well, and even if you’re right, we can’t avoid reality forever. So stop taking the scenic infinity route and just get me to where I need to go.”

Cinn’s shoulders drooped a bit, but he agreed. The Grand Prix started up again, and they were at Asher’s apartment complex in five minutes.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, this place is a walkin’ ADA violation. Is there a fuckin’ elevator in there?”

Asher shrugged.

“What floor do ya live on?”

“9th.”

“Please. I know I’m meddlin’ too much for your taste, but let me walk you up the stairs. I don’t trust that flimsy fuckin’ cane.”

Asher finally smiled a bit. “Hehe, me neither. Maybe next paycheck I can….” he went silent. Cinn accepted the quiet, and they slowly worked their way up the stairs.

As they got on the ninth floor, no thanks to the lack of handrails, Asher’s soul started to pick up. He was finally home. His bed and coffee maker were waiting for him.

He knocked to let his partner know ahead of time that he was home. “Theo? I’m back!”

No answer.

“You wanna open the door? My keys got destroyed.”

B̴̲̙͉̂ȕ̵̞̠t̴̹͆͑͆ ̴̨͋͘n̶͇̮̹̑̒o̷̲̚b̵̨͍̲̌͋̂ȯ̸̡̯̻d̷̜̳̊̇͜y̶̞̻͊ ̷̟̫̭̑c̶̟̫̠̋a̴̩̐m̵̺͚͗͛ȩ̵̢̮͆.̵̮̋̔͠

“Theo? Theo! Look, I know you’re mad, but I really don’t have any keys.”

n̶̹̬͇̅̔o̷̗̐̄̚b̴̢̮̈́̆̚ò̶̬d̵͎̠͆̄̚y̴̖͙̝̍͝ ̷̘̈́̾͊c̵̮͂̄ͅä̸̱͍̪̚m̷̼͋e̶͍̓͝

̸̮̹̫̈͛̎ṉ̶̯ȍ̶̮̔b̶̢̪͛̃͘ȏ̸̺̞̾d̷̗̼̓̂͐y̸̢̖̒͊̋ ̴͇͒c̸̞̹̑̈́a̷̮͖͊m̸̬̮͇̐̃̈́e̵̫͗

̶̠͝n̷̪̪͌̊ō̴̱b̴̻͌ō̶̖͝d̸͍̩̔͊͝y̶̮̞̓͐̋ ̸͔c̴̳͆a̵̖̟̓̚m̵̥̻̻̃̿̈́ę̵̪̹̉͝

“I’m bustin’ the door down. This bastard has some fuckin’ nerve!” Cinn growled. “Can you stand on yer own for a minute?” Asher tested it, and nodded.

“Stand back.”

The big skeleton threw his shoulder into the door hard, busting it right off its hinges.

Air dust flew everywhere, as if it had been settling for…

Days.

“... I don’t hear anything…” Asher’s voice cracked.

“Maybe the cunt’s asleep. Let’s check it out ‘fore assuming anything.” Cinn carefully helped Asher down a couple of steps into his apartment.

It was almost completely empty.

His bed, his CRT television, his vintage coffee maker, his teapot, their minifridge, everything. Everything but dirty dishes, a note, and something crumpled up under one of the closets.

“I tell you to come home at 10 PM.

You decide my word’s worth shit to you and go to work without even stopping by.

A whole week goes by and neither you nor the hospital could be bothered to contact me.

You’re never at home, you’re never in bed, and I’m sick of you neglecting me and acting like I don’t exist, just because I tell you things that you don’t wanna hear.

Sorry, but the fire’s just not there anymore.

Theo.”

#from the ashes #orizzinal content

0 notes