#to be clear: while I dislike that they’re half cousins I’ve come to accept that in this fandom | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

true-blue-megamind · 3 years

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Daylight and Dark Ch. 1 - First Night

Photo by Joe Waranont

Read the full fan fiction HERE

This is an excerpt. Due to Tumblr’s regulations, the second half of this chapter is only available on AO3. The full fiction is not child-friendly!

Summary: Months after Titan's defeat, Roxanne faces concerns as she and Megamind's relationship grows more serious. Soon, however, she learns that may be the least of her problems. Metro City's new hero has a dangerous past, and loving him comes with as many perils as benefits. Mystery, drama, romance, and humor. RATING: Explicit. WARNINGS: violence, sex, language, references to prior domestic abuse, and rock n’ roll!

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f I should labor through daylight and dark, Consecrate, valorous, serious, true, Then on the world I may blazon my mark; And what if I don't, and what if I do?

—Dorothy Parker

Roxanne Ritchi stared at her reflection without really seeing it.

Tonight. It was going to be tonight. She had waited, fretted, but no more. It had to be tonight.

Perhaps this moment had been too long in coming. It wasn't as if she didn't want it to—she adored him, she was undeniably attracted to him, and she was completely unbothered by their physical differences—but there was a part of Roxanne that had been affected more than she liked to admit by past disappointments. She described her approach to relationships as "circumspect" and "judicious," but, if she was honest, she was, in reality, a coward. Not that she was afraid of Megamind, of course; that would have been ridiculous. Her concerns were harder to define than that. What she feared was, she supposed, perfection, or rather the relentless feeling that anything this perfect had to be inevitably doomed. After all, past experiences with men had all ended in disaster—she was either too aloof or too intense, depending on which of her exes you asked— and it seemed that the better relationships were in the beginning, the more spectacularly they failed in the end. In fact, the reporter had already resigned herself to a single life, throwing herself completely into her work, when along came a certain blue alien. Now, deep down, she was afraid that something would go wrong—especially when their relationship was already complicated by its very nature. Perhaps that was the real heart of the issue: her love affair with Megamind was complex in so many ways, even more than the expected difficulties entailed in dating any Defender, and some of those issues revolved around things neither she nor her blue boyfriend could control.

Even so, she had made her decision, and she wasn't going to back down. It was going to be tonight.

A knock snapped Roxanne's eyes back into focus, and she frowned at her incomplete makeup. Hurriedly finishing her mascara and applying some russet red, long-wear lipstick, she swept all her cosmetics back into a drawer. An extra spray of perfume for good measure, and that would have to do. Fanning her mouth with her hands to dry the lip color, Roxanne walked briskly through the living room to her apartment's front door.

Megamind was standing in the hall, eyes fixed pensively off into the distance. It was a look she was growing to expect whenever she left him waiting too long; the double-edge sword of his massive intellect was that he was always thinking, always wondering, his thoughts never still. The sound of the door brought him back to attention, and he smiled. She threw her arms around him— their usual greeting— and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

Nerves sang and sparked. She hated that she was as fidgety as a maiden bride. While she believed that, like alcohol and tobacco, sex should be "enjoyed responsibly," Roxanne had slept with a respectable number of men. It had been years since the idea of it had made her jittery. Until now. Maybe it was her long hiatus from the dating pool—very few men were willing to move on a woman supposedly dating someone with lasers in his eyes—or maybe it was Megamind's charm coupled with the intensity of her feelings for him, but, whatever the reason, something about the city's hero made her feel like she was in high school once more: heart fluttering and stomach slightly queasy. If only that were the sole reason for the butterflies beneath her skin.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she smiled again, looking into eyes so green they glowed.

His expression was tender as he turned his gaze down to her's— something that, at only two inches taller than Roxanne, he only managed to do when they were this close. And when she was wearing flats. For a moment Roxanne silently praised the work-sore feet that had prompted her to opt for more comfortable shoes this evening.

Clearly, the blue alien had been on duty today as he was dressed in his familiar dark leathers. For a short time, Megamind had tried wearing white— had even gone as far as to build a new super suit that imitated Metro Man's powers— but thankfully Minion had convinced him that it was better to be his own brand of hero. And he'd been right. Not only did Roxanne prefer her boyfriend's bad boy look for reasons of her own, but even the most hardened criminals had grown to fear the black-clad Defender of Metro City while citizens had grown to accept Megamind for himself.

Will that continue after tonight, if people find out? Or will the same public that praises him today turn against him tomorrow?

"Don't worry, it's alright," the blue hero assured her. Roxanne startled for a moment— how did he know what she was thinking?— before she realized that he'd been referring to the wait. "I was just considering how I might turn one of your windows into a transparent glass monitor," he continued. "It would require some creative engineering, but I think it could be done. Then I could build you a smaller version of the supercomputer in my lair, and ta-da! It could function as a window until activated, and then you could use it to communicate with me in my workroom, or research, or to—" seeing her quizzically amused expression, he caught himself in mid-thought and cleared his throat. He and Roxanne had agreed to just have a normal, relaxing date, and it seemed to occur to him that this might not fit the description. "Erm, these are for you," he finished sheepishly, proffering a bouquet of yellow daisies, orange and gold cosmos, gardenias, and red and white roses.

He always brought her daisies, ever since she had mentioned once in passing how much she loved the ones in Hill Top Park. Bouquets turned up at her office every Thursday like clockwork. She didn't even mind that some of the interns got all girlish and giggly about it.

Roxanne accepted the flowers, inhaling the blossoms' sweet scents before saying: "They're beautiful. Come on inside." She pulled him in, leaning up to give him another kiss as she reached around him to shut the door. "I've always wondered: what are these?" she continued, touching tiny white clustered flowers with one hand. "It seems like they're in every single bouquet I've ever seen, but no one ever mentions what they're called."

"Ah, yes, that's Gypsophila, Baby's Breath. And you're right, it is a common addition to bouquets... I think for artistic reasons. What's wrong? Do you dislike it?"

"What? No, not at all..."

"What is it? You look like you just smelled something horrible. I can take the Gypsophila out."

"Oh, no, that's not necessary. It's nothing... just..."

Baby's breath. Oh God. Roxanne tried to ignore the skittering tightness in her heart.

What if she got pregnant? What would the world say to the first half-human child? She was a responsible adult, of course, and she wasn't rushing into this unprepared, but even so... Sex was designed to make babies, and no matter how careful a girl was, sometimes it did just that. Her cousin Theresa, who had conceived her third child while she and her husband were using both pills and condoms, was living proof.

Realizing she'd been quiet too long, Roxanne thought quickly. "It's just that that's an odd name for a flower, isn't it? I mean, it doesn't really look like breath."

"No stranger than Forget-Me-Nots or Grandmother's Lace." He shrugged. "Flower names are just weird."

"At least Grandmother's Lace sort of looks like lace," she laughed, more at herself than anything else. "But you're probably right. Either way, these really are gorgeous," Roxanne smiled again. "I love them."

"I'm glad," he grinned. "I've been studying Floriography."

"Flori-what?"

"The language of flowers."

"I didn't know flowers talked," she joked.

"Very funny. You've read enough classic literature to know what I mean."

"I do, and you're very sweet," she answered, retrieving a vase from the small china hutch in her living room, and leading him into the kitchen. "Let's see… Roses are for love, right?"

"Love and affection, depending on the color."

"And these colors are?" She asked, setting the vase on the counter and turning to face him.

His cheeks flushed a little, the expression of shy pleasure at odds with his tough-guy persona. It was unreasonably adorable. "The red ones mean: 'my love for you is passionate,'" he explained. "And the white ones mean: 'my love for you is pure.'"

She felt her heart do a happy, ridiculous little flip, and turned her head to give him a smile that felt embarrassingly shy and girlish. "Oh."

This was always his way: thoughtful, charming, romantic, foolishly sentimental… Yet he never begrudged her her independence; never complained when she had to break a date for a hot news story or an overdue deadline. He just told her to stop by the Lair on the way home if she had the time, and sent over a packed dinner via brainbot with a note saying something like: "You won't forget to eat, will you? Love, MM." And then there was the way he fully embraced her for who she was, skipping typical dates in favor of afternoons in bookshops, long days in the park, weekends exploring quirky little-known museums, and dinners at hidden gems serving unexpectedly excellent cuisine or wonderfully authentic international dishes.

"Are you sure you're not telepathic?" she asked, only half in jest. It was something she'd questioned him about before.

"I think I would notice if I were." His expression turned teasing. "Perhaps, Miss Ritchi, you are simply too... Predictable."

"Jerk," she laughed, trimming the edges of the flowers under the running tap.

"Villain," he corrected, gesturing to himself. "One of the good guys, now, but still a villain," he moved close. "And a devilishly handsome one at that."

"Hmm. I can't argue with the last part."

"That's because you have excellent taste." God, why did his smirk have to look like dark secrets and wanton promises? "Really, though, Sweetheart," he added, his smile gentling. "I know you because I love you."

"I love you, too."

She truly did, and the fact that someone as brilliant and charming as Megamind loved her back sometimes still filled her with soft surprise. More than that, however, he respected her. He trusted her. Following their defeat of Titan, Megamind had not only granted her nearly unfettered access to his secret Lair— something unheard of in the past— but, keenly aware that the sudden cessation of her regular kidnappings could affect her career, he had also allowed her to join him in some of his more noteworthy heroic battles. While her blue beau insisted that she steer clear of the dangerous Doom Syndicate, together they had taken down two minor would-be villains: the first an ex-model with a scarred face and a terrible idea of revenge, the second a balding science teacher with an insane plan to make the pigeons in the park emulate Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. That last had been a monumental failure even by Megamind's standards. The chemical compound the man had fed the birds had only succeeded in giving them explosive diarrhea. It had been an incredible mess.

Thank God for brainbot cleanup crews!

"And just what are you snickering about?" Megamind asked her, cocking one eyebrow, green eyes shining with curious mirth. "It's mean not to share," he added, adopting his best Hero-Giving-a-Life-Lesson voice. Roxanne laughed harder. That particular part of his new persona was definitely a work in progress.

"I was just thinking about the bird guy," she answered, turning to fill the vase from the faucet.

"The bird—Oh! Ravenous!" he gave the word an odd inflection, putting an emphasis on "raven," just as the aspiring villain had.

"That was it!" she chortled. "God, even his name sucked! He got so mad at you for pronouncing it wrong, too."

"Excuse me," he grinned, leaning back against the counter to catch her eye. "I was pronouncing the word ravenous correctly. It's not my fault he had an unnatural obsession with avians. And, as I recall, it was you, my Dear Miss Ritchi, who insisted on pronouncing his name wrong—or rather right— on air, until you had the whole city doing it.

"Me?" she couldn't hide her smile. "Look at this innocent face. Would I do something like that?"

His laugh rang through the kitchen. "Oh, yes, you would. I always said you would have made an excellent Evil Queen!"

It was absurd how much her heart sped up when he said that. "When did you decide to learn floriography? I mean, it can't have been just for this," she asked, arranging the bouquet with more care and concentration than was really necessary. "I can't imagine you taking an interest in it before."

"Yes and no. I did learn for you, Roxanne, but," he seemed to swallow his sheepishness, "I've studied the language of flowers for years. I... I used to imagine what I would say to you if I only had the courage to leave a tower of blossoms on your table after a kidnapping. I never did. I didn't want you to feel... uncomfortable, frightened, but... Roxanne, I revolve around you. Your smiles have been my drug for a long time."

She swallowed turned her head back quickly. Her face felt like fire and she knew she was losing the battle for suave composure. Damn it, I'm supposed to be the one seducing him!

How could she not love him when he said things like that—said them and actually meant them? Surely that was too much for any reasonable world to expect? And if others might not like it, well, so what? She'd endured criticism of everything from her political stances to her hair, and God knew Megamind was no stranger to animosity. Whatever storms this might brew, they would weather them together.

"The Gypsophila represent purity, too," Megamind informed her. She could hear him grinning at her blush. "The cosmos are joy and harmony," he added, moving closer again. "Yellow daisies are for both true love, because each flower is actually two joined as one, and for new beginnings. Gardenias, now those are interesting. They represent feminine beauty, and can refer to a secret love, but," Roxanne nearly dropped the vase as he leaned against her back to breathe the last words against her ear. "Gardenias also mean: 'I will always protect you.'"

"Megamind," she breathed, gently setting the vase on the counter and turning to bury herself in him. He smelled like hot metal— he'd probably been welding something earlier— and expensive cologne, but beneath that was his familiar musk of leather, spices, and something warm and woody.

He began kissing along her ear and down toward her shoulder— something he had become extremely good at in the last few months. His goatee, warm breath, and gentle teeth were sweet torture against her sensitive skin. Clever fingers tickled up the nape of her neck and slid around to gently tangle in her short hair, making her shiver. She sighed his name again, tasting the syllables like a prayer.

Megamind. This was Megamind: fiercely loyal and endlessly affectionate. Of course, he would always protect her. Let the whole entire city, or even the entire planet, turn against them, and he would remain steadfastly at her side, determined and immovable as stone. Certainly, they had had their share of arguments—what couple didn't?—but, in the end, he always had her back. He'd probably even do his best to shield her from the worst of people's biases. Because that was the sort of man he was.

To hell with what people might think. I want this, now and always.

Roxanne leaned back just enough to kiss him with thorough passion, giving his mouth the full and undivided attention it deserved. He matched her passion, tongue gliding past her lips to tempt and tumble against her own. Almost of their own accord, her arms wrapped about his slender neck, pulling him closer, urging him on...

And her stupid phone timer went off, shattering the moment with an annoyingly jaunty little tune.

"I… um… I have dinner in the oven," she stumbled over her own words. "It should be... ready… almost... almost ready."

Mercifully, he took his cue. "Oh-ho!" he laughed, giving her one last peck on the lips. "Home cooking twice in one week! Just what are you up to, Miss Ritchi?"

Although Roxanne had learned to cook at her grandmother's elbow, she'd rarely felt it worth her time when she was single, preferring quick frozen meals she could leave in the crockpot or even pop into the microwave. Since she had started dating Megamind, however, she'd dusted off the old cookbooks she'd inherited and started making meals from scratch once a week. True, the hero had Minion to cook for him— and her skills were nowhere near the henchman's gourmet standards— but this was one of the ways she could show her affection, and it always seemed to please the blue alien. Things like that had become important to the reporter as Megamind took up residence in her heart, which is why she found herself constantly making little gestures like buying him a blue teddy bear in a black leather jacket, or texting him funny pictures and thoughts she knew would make him smile. So she had gotten into the habit of planning one special dinner each week. But, up until now, it had always been only one.

I'd hoped he wouldn't notice. I should have known better.

She gave him her best calm reporter stare. It was ruined by the fact that her face still felt like it was glowing red. "Why should I be up to anything?" she asked coyly.

He lifted an eyebrow, his grin playful. "Your wiles won't work on me."

That earned him a sultry look. "I was under the impression they were working pretty well just now."

"Wicked girl," he teased. Following Roxanne across the small kitchen, Megamind opened the oven and sniffed eagerly. "Mmmm... Lasag-na. My favorite. Now I'm definitely suspicious."

"It's lasagna, silly," Roxanne corrected fondly, moving past him to set her bouquet on the dinette table. "And can't a girl make her favorite hero a nice dinner without him getting into conspiracy theories?"

He only grinned at her again. "La. Sag. Na." That was one of the things Roxanne loved most about Megamind. He never let himself be embarrassed. Most people would have been mortified by constant mispronunciations, but he brushed them off with a smile.

Giggling, Roxanne swatted him playfully out of her way and found two oven mitts in a drawer before retrieving the dish from the oven. "Maybe I'll make you learn to say it correctly before I let you have any."

"Oh, you could never be so cruel!" he answered over his shoulder as he selected plates from the cabinet. "I should have brought a bottle of wine."

"I still have two from the last time you came over," laughed Roxanne. "I think we'll be okay."

"You make me sound like an alcoholic," Megamind complained, but he couldn't quite tame his playful expression as he began setting the table. "I simply couldn't decide what would compliment the dish best. Besides, I wanted to make sure I had something to eat my breakfast cereal with in the morning."

"Ewww!"

Roxanne loved Megamind's laugh. He was the city's hero now, but his rolling chortle still had a dark ring in it, and something about it sent delicious shivers down her spine.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding" he assured her.

"I know, but... Ewww!"

He laughed again and motioned her to her chair. "Alright, okay," he said, helping her into her seat. "Whenever I stay here overnight, I solemnly promise that I will not eat cereal and wine for breakfast."

Roxanne tried to giggle but found her throat suddenly tight. Funny how that comment brought the conversation to the matter at hand.

Come on, Roxanne. For God's sake. Just ask.

She looked up at him, his face still glowing with humor, and gently placed her hand on his.

"Megamind, I was thinking, what about tonight?"

He looked confused. "What about tonight?"

"For that. For you to stay over. I mean..." she sighed. Ugh... Why is this so hard? "Will you stay here with me tonight?"

"Of course!" his easy tone implied he still didn't get her meaning. It wasn't as if he had never stayed over, after all... It was simply that they had never done any more than cuddle.

"No, I mean, will you—" Oh, God, I'm going to have to be specific, aren't I?— "Will you sleep with me? Will you spend the night here as my lover?"

That finally did it. His eyes widened in surprise, and then he glanced quickly down, trying unsuccessfully to hide his little up-to-no-good grin.

When he lifted his gaze again, however, his expression turned serious. "Are you... sure? I want you to be sure, Roxanne. Absolutely certain." He lifted his free hand to push a strand of her short hair tenderly back from her face. "No regrets between us. Ever."

She smiled. Doesn't he understand that that's what makes me so certain? He's always ready to put me first.

Yes, he was an alien. Yes, she was going to be the first known human to sleep with someone from a different planet. Yes, in a society where too many still objected to relationships between different races and same genders, sharing her bed with an extraterrestrial was sure to stir up trouble. But it didn't matter. She had given him her whole heart, and after five months of dating— more if you counted the dates with "Bernard"— she wanted to give him her body, too. The time had come. Their relationship couldn't continue in this state of limbo. Either she stopped holding back or she broke things off, and she couldn't bear the thought of the latter. No matter what happened, no matter who judged them, no matter how many snide comments she had to hear about Stockholm Syndrome and tentacle porn, she would not—could not—let him go.

Fully meeting his look, Roxanne let her emotions— love, desire, trust, longing— fill her blue eyes. Her hands caressed the sides of his face as she pulled him down for another slow-burn kiss.

"I'm sure," she breathed when they parted for air. "I'm very, very sure."

He smiled and leaned back in, kissing her again, letting years of contained passion spill over her. The chair skittered back as she rose, tangling her arms around him. Clutching her, Megamind ran eager hands over her back, cupped her hips, and pressed her close to feel the proof of his desire. His kisses were hot, desperate, as if he were drowning and her lips held his only salvation.

Panting and flushed, the hero was the first to pull back. "I'm sorry," he said, motioning to the cooling meal on the table. "I don't mean to let all your hard work go to waste, but—"

"I have a microwave. We can heat it up."

He grinned. "Well, in that case..." he purred. Scooping her up in his deceptively thin arms, Metro City's blue hero carried Roxanne to the bedroom.

Tonight. It was going to be tonight.

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samwpmarleau · 6 years

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strange bedfellows: prelude

No matter how much they make love, Rhaegar’s seed will not quicken, and Elia is desperate for an heir with Aerys as her good-father. (x)

“I’m sure of it this time, Maester. I haven’t bled for two moons now.”

He is paid well, she knows, for in his face there is no annoyance or pity, only encouragement. “Well, let’s have a look.”

She had been sure, and even the maester hadn’t been able to conclusively refute her findings, but weeks continue to pass with no change, and then one morning Elia awakened to find her sheets spotted with blood—a normal amount, a monthly amount, nothing to indicate a lost child. Which would have been devastating, but at least then she’d know it was only a matter of time.

It’s been five years since she and Rhaegar wed, five years of regularly taking him into her bed and praying until her throat ran hoarse that she would finally bear his heir. The whispers have been growing stronger for ages: when they’re not about her health, they’re about how she must be broken, how it’s her fault nothing is quickening, how it serves the crown right for choosing a Dornishwoman as Rhaegar’s bride.

She grows sad at that. Throughout it all, he’s never once been unkind to her, nor blamed her, simply came to do his duty. But in the last year or two, she’s begun to see the strain, for he, too, feels the pressure behind needing a child. Especially with Aerys growing madder by the hour, in case anything happened to Rhaegar in the meanwhile, it’s imperative he leave a legacy.

Greeting the dawn, Elia wanders through the dreary halls of Dragonstone until she reaches Aegon’s Garden. Being winter, nothing especially beautiful is growing, but it’s quiet, and the plants don’t snicker at her. She sits on one of the stone benches, staring into the sparse flowerbeds and wondering what exactly would happen if she never bore Rhaegar a child. Oh, she’d be set aside, surely, but then what? Back to Sunspear to see if there are any men left who want a prince’s cast-off? Or else she’d live out her days as nothing more than an aunt, nothing to show for her efforts but failure.

The scent of iron and leather passes over her, and with a jolt she looks up at the passerby, only relaxing when she recognizes the face. A comely one, it has to be said, though usually always solemn. “Ser Arthur, what brings you here?”

“I have a gift for you, princess,” he says. In one of his hands he has a single wildflower bloom, bright yellow with a sunburst of white at the center. “Mother always said the brightest flowers bloom when winter is at its fiercest.”

“Ever the romantic, your mother.” She takes the flower from him anyway, twirling it between her fingers. “Is there some occasion I’ve missed?”

“No occasion, only a flower I happened upon and a maiden who looked like she might need it.”

His use of happened upon has her sighing. “Rhaegar sent you after me, didn’t he?”

“In a fashion,” he admits. “He wishes to speak with us and I knew where to find you.” At her confusion, he elaborates, “You used to hide away for hours in the gardens of Sunspear when you were unwell. You do the same here.”

Elia blinks, surprised at the information. She’d never told him that. Then again, there’s not much she has told him. They’d not spent a lot of time together during his squireship, what with having different interests and him engaged in training more often than not. He was always polite, though, she remembers that.

“What is it that ails you?” he asks.

“What usually ails me? I thought I was pregnant, again, and I’m not. Aerys grows madder by the hour, and I can’t give the realm a prince. Not for lack of trying, mind.”

He seems unsure of what to say to that. “Well, mayhaps Rhaegar has good news for you.”

She can’t possibly imagine what news would assuage her worries, but she has nothing to lose by meeting with him either. She and Arthur make their way to Rhaegar’s solar; as they enter, she can tell from the grave expression on Rhaegar’s face that this will not be the pleasant visit Arthur had proposed. They are both invited to sit.

“I hold the two of you in too high of regard to mince words, so let me get to it,” Rhaegar begins. “I need an heir. That much is for certain, as is the fact that thus far there has been no sign of one.” Elia flushes, but Rhaegar’s tone softens. “This is no aspersion on you. My mother had troubles conceiving after me, and when her womb did quicken, more often than not the child didn’t live long. But there is a decision that needs to be made.”

She knows where this is going. “I understand what you must do.”

“I very much doubt that,” says Rhaegar. “Many would say I must find a new wife, but I am not so callous, nor am I so sure that is the best solution. I’ve spoken candidly with the maester, who mentioned that sometimes it is…sometimes the deficiency does not lie with the wife. I’m quite fond of you, Elia. Your counsel and your company have been invaluable to me, and I don’t want to send you away, especially if you are not the problem.”

Her confusion only deepens. “What are you saying? You wish to try with someone new?”

She’d almost suggested it herself, more than once. It’s not a thought she ever particularly liked to entertain, but it was hardly without precedent. Fewer kings didn’t take mistresses than those who did.

“No. I want you to.”

For a moment, she’s as perplexed as ever. And then Rhaegar’s meaning hits her like a spear. She looks from Rhaegar to the seated Kingsguard, aghast. “Arthur? You want me to take Arthur as a paramour?”

Judging by how white Arthur has gone, he’d had no idea this was coming either. “Sire, I don’t—I don’t understand.”

“There are no options for me to pursue a woman outside the bonds of marriage without publicly declaring that bastards can now be in line for the throne, and I have no intention of following in Aegon the Unworthy’s footsteps.”

“How is this any different?” Elia asks weakly.

“Because no one would know.” Not bothering to restrain a grimace, he continues, “My heir would not be of my blood, it is true, but what other recourse do I have? I fear Viserys is more like our father than anyone would like, and I would rather impale myself than risk my pugnacious cousin of Storm’s End getting anywhere near the throne.”

“Why me?” Arthur asks from beside her. “I respect you, Your Grace, but this is…you want me to break my vows in the most egregious of ways. They would be shattered beyond repair. My integrity, my honor, everything.”

“I know,” says Rhaegar. “But you are the only one I would trust with this. And also…forgive me, but pragmatically, you are the only one. No matter what comes through, the child would look either Targaryen or Martell. There would be little room for suspicion.”

Arthur stares at his lap, as if to hide his damning purple eyes. All Rhaegar says is true, of course. Though Arthur has the pitch-black hair of his mother, his late father’s was a sandy blond. Outwardly, any feature could, theoretically, be passed off as inherited from Rhaegar.

For as much as her husband is concerned for her, Elia’s concern lies more for Arthur. Her part in all of this would not be particularly difficult. Arthur is kind, the brother of her dearest friend whom she’s known for most of her life, and not hard to look upon either. While she dislikes the underhanded, twisted nature of the situation, physically it would be no hard task to lie with him.

But Arthur…he would be going against every oath he’d sworn. He would father a babe he could never claim, carry the burden of knowing the future of House Targaryen would be borne of no Targaryen at all.

“You need not give me an answer now,” hastens Rhaegar, seeing Arthur’s burgeoning resentment. “Just please think on it.”

Arthur leaves the room so abruptly that his chair is nearly knocked over. The door slams, and Elia fixes Rhaegar with a withering glare. “You ask too much.”

“I did not come to this decision lightly,” he says. “You think I want to call as my heir a child that isn’t even mine? You think I want to spend every day praying rumors don’t spread? You think I want to face the possibility that it is I who’s barren? It’s shameful every way around. Yet what are my alternatives?” He runs a hand over his face, looking far older than his twenty-six years would suggest. “Do I ask too much of you?”

“Me? My life has not been easy, Rhaegar, but I do not think this needs to be counted amongst my trials. It is not me you should worry for.”

“Do you think he will accept?”

“I can’t say,” she replies honestly. “You’ve known him half your life—what do you think?”

For once, Rhaegar looks at a loss.

A week later, she is once more called into his solar; she’s alone, this time, which gives her a sense of foreboding. “You have received an answer, then?”

“Arthur has agreed. He told me this morning.”

“Just like that?”

“Not entirely. He did have one stipulation.”

“Which was?”

Rhaegar doesn’t have any particular expression on his face other than resignation. “If it works, he says he will wait until the baby’s born, to be sure of its health. After which, he has requested to be stationed back in the Red Keep and have Ser Oswell come to Dragonstone in his stead.”

“I didn’t realize he was so eager to leave.”

“He wasn’t,” Rhaegar says. “He doesn’t want to be around the child in case of a resemblance. I accepted, of course. It was a noble request.”

“Oh. Yes, that is very noble. How soon are we to begin?”

“I would rather not know the details,” Rhaegar says, “but the sooner the better.”

Tonight, then. She can’t help but feel rather like a broodmare. “I suppose you may tell him that I’ll see him later this evening.”

“Very well.”

The tension is too much to bear, and she excuses herself back to her chambers. Absurdly, her only clear thought is:

What shall I wear?

Part 2

#elia martell #arthur dayne #arthur x elia #asoiaf #gotfic #rhaegar targaryen #my fic #verse: shooting blanks #compliance: canon au

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aroacehogwarts · 7 years

Note

Hugo Weasley is aromantic, and he's gay. He's down for a friends with benefits type situation as he craves sexual intimacy. He's quite insecure about it because he's afraid of people falling in live with him and him not being able to give them the relationship his partner desires. - H

Warnings: brief mention of a mental breakdown, self-hatred, internalized arophobia, mentions of self-harm, sex mention, alcohol abuse mention, suicide mention but no attempts, (I gave this a happy ending, though, I promise!)

“He just used to be so outgoing. I worry for him,” Hugo overhears his mom telling his dad one night as he sits in the hallway, silent tears trailing their way down his face.

“’Mione, I know it’s hard to judge what teenagers who aren’t growing up in a blooming war act like, but he’s just being a teenager. He’ll grow out of it,” his dad tries to soothe his mom. Hugo’s heart aches at this. Four months ago he realized he was aromantic. Three months before that he realized he was gay.

It’d been easy to accept he was gay. Scary but easy. The magical world wasn’t always so accepting of mogai kids like him, but his mum was queer, his dad, Uncle Harry, and Uncle Bill were bi, Aunt Ginny was trans and poly, Uncle George was trans, and Uncle Percy was gay. That wasn’t to mention all his cousins that had come out so far. Gay just fit Hugo. He felt connected with it. He knew he was gay. It was kind of a relief to really realize it.

But being aromantic? That was terrifying. That realization sent Hugo into a tailspin. Uncle Charlie never said it, but he was an aromantic asexual. And Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry were in a qpp with Aunt Luna, who was arospec and acespec. But Hugo wasn’t aromantic and asexual. He wasn’t in the middle of the road like his aunt. He wasn’t sure either his aunt or his uncle could help him even if he was brave enough to talk to him. Hugo was afraid.

He wasn’t particularly afraid of being aromantic. He was afraid of being aromantic and gay. Would his attraction be considered inappropriate or invalid because it was sexual but not romantic? What if he ended up leading someone on and hurting them because he was aromantic? Could he still have any non-platonic relationships and be a good person?

“I don’t think it’s normal, Ron,” his mom started, but Hugo left the hallway before he could hear more and feel worse about himself.

Hugo’s school years became fraught with loneliness and doubt and bad self-esteem, which was actually quite an accomplishment considering how many of his cousins were at school. Hugo did his best to alienate them and anger them so he could be left alone. Albus helped take attention off Hugo by having a very serious breakdown. Hugo wasn’t at all happy about it, nor was he happy he didn’t feel like he could try and help or support Albus before or after he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety (nor that later borderline would be added to these diagnoses), but he couldn’t help the relief that more of his cousins started ignoring him.

The one person who refused to leave his side, no matter how mean or self-destructive Hugo became, was Rose. Hugo hated and loved her for it.

“No, I do get it!” Rose was yelling. She did that when scared or threatened. Or worried. “You think you can’t get hurt if you just stay away from everyone, if you never even try, but you are hurting, Hugo. You’re hurting yourself doing this. Please,” his sister’s voice quieted. “Please stop. I’m afraid I’m going to find you dead one of these days. Our parents don’t deserve this. They shouldn’t have had to grow up in a war trying to make the world a better place just to end up having their son commit suicide. I don’t deserve this. I wanna see you live and be happy like I’ve gotten to see our cousins do. Please,” Rose’s voice cracked, “please don’t do this.”

Tears had long since stopped coming for Hugo, but if he cried anymore, he’d be crying now.

“I haven’t been staying away from people, Rose.” Hugo’s voice sounded hollow even to his own ears. “I’ve had one nighters every day this month. Sometimes more than one a day. Does that sound like I’m staying away from people to you?” Hatred for himself burned his throat.

Rose was crying now. “Yes, Hugo. It does. Did any of them even know your name? Did you even want to sleep with all of them? And how drunk were you? You’re not happy, Hugo. I get that you’re afraid, but you don’t have to punish yourself. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s not okay to hurt yourself like this.”

“You ever had an orgasm, Rose?” he dug. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Rose took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She stood up straight. This time, her voice was clear, as deep with emotion as it was. “It doesn’t feel good either. What you’re doing may not physically hurt but it doesn’t feel good.” She walked out before Hugo could get in the last word.

Truthfully, Hugo didn’t have any more words.

“Here,” Albus was handing him a card. Hugo stared blankly at it.

His mom tried to firecall often. She and dad would show up at his door sometimes. Rose would show up. Lily used to show up. Teddy still tried, just not often. But rarely anybody else. Albus was one of the last people Hugo expected.

Albus held his hand higher. “It’s the name of the therapist I really liked. They’re a - they’re a squib. They went to muggle school for muggle therapy. It’s just someone you can talk to about what you’re going through. They’re a more objective sounding board, and they can help you come to terms what what you’re going through. They can help you figure out techniques for how to heal. It helps, Hugo. It’s a lot better than what we do in the magical world, which is just ignore it and sweep it under the rug and hide people away in St. Mungo’s. Your mum was the one who suggested therapy to my parents. I’m glad she did. I got my life back, Hugo. You need help, and none of us have been able to give it. Please, take the card.” When Hugo stood there silently for a few minutes, Albus continued. “Look, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want. Wait until you’re ready. But when you’re ready - you’ll want the card.”

Hugo finally figured Albus wouldn’t leave until he took the card, so he took it. With little more than a nod at Al, he shut the door and blocked out the face of his cousin.

He meant to tear up the card and throw it in the fire. Hugo doesn’t know why, but he didn’t. He sets the card on his coffee table.

Two weeks later, when Rose doesn’t show up to his door at her normal time, Hugo picks the card up, goes outside to the nearest muggle payphone, and calls the number. The card says firecall is available but saying he needs help is hard enough without having to look someone in the eyes while doing it. It’s easier than Hugo thinks it will be to set the appointment. His heart pounds in his chest, hard, until he falls asleep. It’s the first night in a long while he goes to bed alone. It’s scary, but something about it feels… better.

After a year and a half of therapy, Hugo’s ready to try again. This time he goes to a coffee shop, not a bar. This time, when the handsome black wizard with soulful eyes sits next to Hugo, he smiles, holds out his hand, and introduces himself. This time, he laughs with his new acquaintance and they bond over their mutual dislike of butterbeer and their interest in muggle rock bands. This time, Hugo communicates with his partner and sets boundaries.

This time, it’s beautiful. And this time, it’s not the only time because his handsome new friend understands and agrees with the boundaries set.

(And when Hugo meets Oliver’s boyfriend, whom he’s in an open relationship with, there’s laughter and smiles all around and Hugo is happy.)

After two years and some change of therapy, Hugo’s ready to make amends.

He apologizes to Rose. He apologizes to his parents. He apologizes to Lily and Teddy. He apologizes to Al. He apologizes to everyone in his very large family. He doesn’t ask for forgiveness. Everyone gives it anyway because they’re family and that’s what their family does.

~Hufflepuff Mod

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thelordpaladin · 6 years

Text

Keldran academy, chapter one of my newest project.

I started this novel about three months ago, then got some bad news health wise. Since then watching and reviewing anime seems to have gotten me through the worst of it and I feel confident writing once again. The following chapter has had a single edit by myself, so nothing is set in stone so I’d love any comments on improvements or flaws in the narrative. But most of all I hope you enjoy reading it as I’ll be posting up new chapters as they’re completed.

Chapter 1

Daris threaded his tie carefully, it was his first day at the Keldran academy and this place was certainly different to his hometown in Vesparia where it was almost year-round good weather. A good first impression, that’s what was needed here. His white shirt was freshly ironed and his blue blazer spotless. Daris ran a hand through his dark hair, making sure it stayed swept to one side with styling mousse. Taking a deep breath he picked up his bag and took a long look at his apartment. The place was tiny, a bedroom and a living area, but as a student it was free so he couldn’t complain, his parents were poor farmers after all. Daris left his apartment, locking the door behind himself. The corridors here were huge, with hundreds upon hundreds of rooms. Rumour was, this place had been a prison in times past, but there had been little use for it... until the elves had lost the war of course. Daris could only hear the echoes of his footsteps on the stone floor until he reached the reception area that was vacant as usual, he’d only seen the manager once and even then it was only to receive his apartment key. Daris pushed open the front door, a buzzer going off at reception to indicate it had opened. He stepped out onto the street, the busy bustle of the city a welcome change to the clingy silence of the apartment block. Looking up he spotted the intercity sky train speeding by, a leftover from the old times. Daris set off walking towards one of the many squares throughout the city, here within the city walls the city was kept beautiful, patrolled by the top police force that only the rich long-lived elves could afford. He moved out of the square and onto a sloping street that would take him directly to the academy, at the top of the sloping hill Daris looked back down... the sight was truly breathtaking as he looked over the pristine white walls, that radiated light and the houses that had remained almost unchanged for thousands of years.

A short time later Daris arrived at the academy gates, walking in as the other students began to arrive... he’d always prided himself on being early and that view had certainly been worth it. He was snapped from his thoughts as someone bumped into him, nearly knocking them both over.

“Ah, I’m so sorry!” a short, dark-haired boy said, bowing his head.

“Don’t worry about it, accidents happen” Daris replied, waiting for the other boy to raise his head.

“Wow, look how brown your skin is. You must be from Vesparia, I’ve only seen your people in visual dramas” the boy said in genuine giddiness.

It was a strange reaction, but Daris supposed few people here would’ve met anyone from his homeland.

“Yeah, my mother wanted me to be a visual actor, but I preferred learning, besides, everyone wants to be a vis actor right?” He replied, offering the other boy a hand. “I’m Daris, Daris Brevar.”

The dark haired boy shook his hand. “Nice to meet you Daris, I’m Kian Fei, my family are all Mages, but I have little aptitude for magic so I threw my self into school... can you believe it though, we’re amongst the top two hundred in the world, I can’t wait to start.”

The two of them walked across the yard together, passing by a large fountain in the centre that had a statue of Sollest perched atop a large plinth, he had been the previous king of Keldran, having died during the human elf war hundreds of years ago.

“Where did you place in your school then?” Kian asked him suddenly as they entered the school through its automated main doors.

“Oh, I placed first... I was the only one in my whole school that made it through to higher education” he replied with a slight smile. “Don’t get me wrong, my classmates weren’t stupid, it’s just that agricultural work takes priority in Vesparia, normally our only way out is as visual actors, but my mother pushed me hard through school. Guess it paid off though.”

“Well, in three years we’ll be able to take our pick of universities Daris,” Kian said happily, confident he’d pass through school like a breeze.

As they talked aimlessly Daris found they’d be in the same class, he could breathe a sigh of relief now that he at least knew someone here. Their form room was a large room with twenty enclosed, black desks arranged in a four by five rectangle, each one had the students name engraved on a bronze plaque. Daris marvelled as Kian found his desk first and sat down, a scanner built into the desk ran over him.

“This is so weird Daris” he announced, a little perturbed at the sudden scan.

The desk finished scanning and began to open up, Daris came to stand behind Kian and watch. A built-in monitor lit up as a touch keyboard appeared by his hands.

“This is so cool!” Kian declared.

“We didn’t have anything like this... not even in the capital” Daris responded in awe.

“It’s just a desk,” a girl said from another desk. “What backwater are you two from?”

Daris wanted to take a dislike to her... but she was so pretty, he felt mesmerised as she flicked her long brown hair over her shoulder. The girl’s pale skin seeming to illuminate against her green eyes.

“I’m from Vesparia, my name’s Daris, Daris Brevar,” He said nervously, though he managed not to stumble over his words.

“How sweet, a country bumpkin made it to Keldran academy” she declared happily, getting up from her desk to examine him.

She skipped over, her thigh length green skirt flowing as she went.

“Are you two okay? Your faces are red” she asked, her face the picture of feigned innocence.

“Yes... we’re fine... what’s your name anyway?” Kian asked, obviously annoyed by her.

“Oh my, how rude of me!” she declared. “I’m Gena Highwater, I finished top of the year for Cerdic, pleased to meet you,” she told them with a perfect smile, Daris felt his heart melt.

Then without another word she went back to her desk as more students funnelled into the form room.

“I’d best find my desk,” he said to Kian before moving off.

His desk, it turned out was behind Gena, behind him was a pretty, blonde, half-elf girl and to his left side a red-haired girl, both had long hair tied back in a ponytail. He looked down at his screen as a message popped up.

‘Hi,’ it read.

As he looked around Daris saw the elf girl waving at him, her cheeks a little flushed. He turned his chair around, glad they were on wheels.

“Hi, I’m Daris, Daris Brevar,” He said as kindly as possible.

“Oh, I’m... I’m Kaitlyn Lassit...” she replied shyly, trying not to make eye contact.

“It’s a pleasure, Kaitlyn... I’ve never met a half-elf before, are you all this pretty?” he asked, his words coming out before realising what he was saying.

Kaitlyn’s face went red as she began to mumble, fidgeting with her desk... he’d made things awkward with ten percent of his classmates now, perhaps he should quit talking to people for a while. Daris turned back to his desk once more, hoping he hadn’t ruined Kaitlyn’s first day. The door slid open and Daris looked up, seeing a tall, handsome elf stride into the room wearing an expensive looking suit, his long dark hair swept back behind his ears.

“Good morning form one A, I will be your tutor for the next three years. My name is Falhion Vendrass, but you will call me Mister Drass or teacher... non-compliance will be punished. Mercilessly... are we all clear?” He told them, his voice dripping with scorn.

The class nodded in response, it seemed like everyone was as terrified as he was.

“I will now take roll call, respond with ‘here.’ Failure to comply will be dealt with... swiftly” Mister Drass told them all, scanning the classroom like a hawk.

He began roll call, with his name being first. “Daris Brevar!”

“Here!” He replied stiffly and not without a little fear.

“From Vesparia I see,” Mister Drass said to himself, but loudly enough for everyone to hear. “It was such a lovely place... until it was infested by humans anyway.”

Daris has never felt so small as he tried to hide pathetically behind his desk. Mister Drass continued through the register, though everyone else got away without comment.

“Kaitlyn Lassit,” he called out finally, though his demeanour changed somewhat.

“Are you a follower of Yindar?” He asked.

“N...no sir, followers of Yindar would’ve seen my mother executed,” she replied nervously.

Daris knew there was tension between elves and their half-elf cousins, but execution seemed harsh.

“Well, you have nothing to fear in Keldran. You’ve been accepted here since Queen Lunathion started her rule, her joined is quite fond of your people as well” Mister Drass told her, sounding quite comforting... in his own way.

Their tutor then proceeded to lay out their timetable for the day, though as it was orientation, there were few actual lessons, with most of the day being taken up with a tour of the school grounds. They started by receiving a tutorial on how to use their desks properly, though most had already figured it out and now proceeded to send messages to each other.

“Please note” Mister Drass said suddenly. “That inappropriate messages will be flagged, then be sent to my screen.”

Several of his classmates looked mortified at the news.

“Yes Lisa, I’m aware that students think of me like that... now then, our first stop will be the gymnasium, how about you run a hundred laps of it for me,” he said in a kindly manner that belied his malevolence.

Lisa, a small girl with blonde hair, streaked with pink, went bright red and hid behind her desk, much as he had. He caught a glimpse of Kian, who seemed to be keeping a low profile... it was a good plan. The class stood when Mister Drass commanded, following the intimidating elf down the hall before descending a staircase at the end. Daris wondered how he was to remember where everything was, the school looked pristine, with few distinguishing features between rooms. All thoughts of the school vanished though as they entered the gymnasium, he couldn’t believe the scale of it.

“Lisa, please remove those pretty shoes of yours,” Mister Drass asked calmly. “I do hope you brought your gym trainers today.”

“Y...yes sir,” she replied nervously, changing her footwear as quickly as her trembling hands would allow.

“Well?” Mister Drass asked after a minute. “Get running girl, clockwise if you will.”

Lisa began running and Daris wondered if they’d survive the years here. Realising he was staring, Daris turned his gaze back, but Mr. Drass had already noticed.

“You thinking that’s what you’d like to be doing?” his teacher asked calmly.

Daris felt his face go red as he panicked. “No sir, not all.”

“That’s a shame then... get running, follow Lisa if you will.”

Daris’ head dropped before he set off after Lisa, unlike her though, Daris still wore his regular shoes. After only a short time he’d caught up to Lisa, his fitness level was pretty high after all, he doubted many did much exercise, Daris’ own fitness a result of hard labour on his parent's farm back home.

“Can’t. Keep. Running” Lisa panted, out of breath after such a short time.

“Talking will only drain your stamina faster” he replied curtly, if only he hadn’t been checking her out.

“Why are you running laps?” she asked after a short time. “Were you sending messages about how hot Mr. Drass is too?”

Daris baulked as his face went red, seriously? he’d thought she’d been bad mouthing him... what was wrong with her, Mr. Drass was scary as all hell.

“Not exactly, I...” He broke off, jogging on ahead of her slightly.

All the girls here were so cute, not like back home... though he missed his friends, especially Gailia...

“Wait up!” Lisa called, coming up beside him. “Don’t leave me behind, Mr. Drass’ll kill me if you pull ahead.”

Daris sighed, keeping pace with her would certainly conserve his energy after all.

“Alright then, but you owe me.”

“O... okay then, I can’t believe this is happening on our first day” she replied, her eyes tearing up in frustration.

Daris nodded in reply, this was certainly more in line with school life in Vesparia. He ground his teeth in frustration, this Mr. Drass definitely had a vendetta against him. They continued to run the perimeter of the gymnasium together, though Daris always kept an eye on his classmates where possible, what were they being told while he and Lisa endured this torment?

Daris heard his and Lisa’s names called, looking up at the gym clock he realised they’d been running for an hour and a half... this place was insane!

“How did you both find the tour?” Mr. Drass asked them, a smirk on his face.

Lisa tried to reply but was completely out of breath, her chest heaving as she sucked in air desperately.

“It’s impressive” Daris replied coolly. “The best engineers in the commonwealth must have built it.”

Mr. Drass didn’t rise to his baiting, instead, he seemed impressed at Daris’ defiance.

“Indeed, humans can certainly build to a functional degree, but you lack the ability to create something truly beautiful like my people” he replied, such a statement should’ve felt insulting, yet there was a respect under the words.

“Come now class, as the top tier in the world, there is someone that wishes to meet you.”

Mr. Drass led them back out of the gymnasium, Daris having to carry Lisa out, her legs like jelly as they left.

“Thanks for carrying me” she whispered in his ear.

Daris went a little red, her warm breath tantalising on his ear.

“D...don’t worry about it, I could hardly leave a friend behind” he replied, trying to hide his embarrassment.

“And I was so worried no one would like me” Lisa sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I felt the same... but everyone is nice here” he replied, feeling Lisa’s hair brush against his cheek.

What was he doing? He’d seen everyone glancing at the two of them, if rumour milling had been bad at his school, it would certainly be worse here. Though, would being linked with Lisa really be that bad?

They walked back down the hallways and turned left before their homeroom, exiting the school building and entering into an open space. Inside stood the Keldran royal guard, each of them dressed in blue combat armour and white suits, with the infinite dragon on their breast. All of them carried tactical assault rifles, a pistol on their hip and an arming sword on the other, they looked regal with their long white capes, nearly as regal as the two figures that sat waiting at the far side of the quad.

“Kneel before the queen!” announced Mr. Drass before dropping to one knee himself.

Daris lowered Lisa down gently, steadying her as she tried to stay balanced. He heard footsteps as the two previously seated elves came to them, surely they should have remained seated.

“Please Falhion, there’s no need for you to kneel. And please, the rest of you stand” the woman said, her voice was gentle, yet resonated with a surprising strength.

Daris stood with the others, helping Lisa to her feet... at least she could stand by herself now.

“I see you’ve been pushing them hard again Falhion, it’s nice to see some things don’t change” the tall, regally dressed elf said with a chuckle.

Daris hadn’t expected to meet the Queen of Keldran... Lunathion, the name was legendary, a warrior queen that had witnessed the emergence of humanities domination. She was beautiful, as all elves were... yet more so, standing at least half a head taller than himself, she wore a flowing white dress, embroidered with lace and the symbol of Keldran, the infinite dragon.

“Prince Kiernon, it seems you too have changed little since our last encounter” Mr. Drass replied, a wide smile on his face.

Daris had found his homeroom teacher intimidating, but Prince Kiernon was on a whole new level, he was taller and more heavily muscled, a strange contrast to the other lithe elves around them. He also had an artificial arm, though it was an old metal style rather than the synthetic ones used nowadays. He wore similarly fancy clothing, knee-high black leather boots, white britches and a blue jacket woven with silver thread over a white ruffled shirt. It I’ll suited him though, his long wild hair more suited to the warriors of legend.

“I can’t deny that, but I'm sure these youngsters are loathe to stand and listen to us all day" Prince Kiernon replied with a smile, a kindly smile that lightened what was a hard face.

Queen Lunathion shook her head, perhaps having expected better from her husband.

"As class one A you are the very best the world over. Keldran academy accepts only a hundred students a year and so getting here alone is something worthy of praise. I know many of you are from prestigious families, though it makes me happy to see those from less... affluent backgrounds here."

Daris knew she was addressing him... but he felt pride, knowing that he'd be the first of many to make it from Vesparia. Queen Lunathion smiled at him before continuing.

"So study hard and keep our school at the top of the academic league. But most of all, enjoy your time here."

Mr. Drass bowed, shooting them all a stare that said there'd be trouble if they didn't follow suit immediately. They all bowed, Lisa swaying a little as she leant over. The royal party left, and as the final few guards exited the area, chattering broke out amongst the other students.

"Can you believe that Daris?" Kian asked, his face still bearing a broad smile.

"Not really, who'd have thought a farm kid from Vesparia would meet royalty" he replied earnestly.

"Not that, I meant how hot is Queen Lunathion?" he whispered so Mr. Drass didn't hear.

"You know she's over a thousand years old right?" Lisa whispered from beside them, she seemed recovered now that gossip was flowing.

"Maybe I like older women" Kian replied defensively.

"And here I was thinking you'd fallen in love with me," Gena said in mock exasperation, passing Kian by with a flick of her hair.

"Ah... well, I... er..." he stammered.

Daris felt bad for his friend, he needed to develop a quick wit, and fast, especially if there were more girls like Gena about.

"So Daris, are you going to take advantage of this broken-hearted damsel?" she teased, grabbing onto his arm and smiling seductively at him.

"We'll see how the day goes shall we?" he stated, not rising to her teasing.

There had been a lot of girls like Gena back home, they tried to break up couples and friends... though none were as pretty as she was.

"And you're confident! Keep this one close Lisa, I might want him" Gena told her, though she squeezed his arm tighter whilst speaking.

"He's not my boyfriend Gena, but he is nice, so don't mess with him," Lisa told her, a stern look on her face.

"Alright, alright..." Gena said as she waved off Lisa with her free hand.

"But you intrigue me, Daris Brevar" she whispered in his ear before squeezing his rear playfully.

Gena walked back towards the rest of the class, Kian shaking his fist at her in anger.

"I really hate her" he declared angrily, Daris was sure he could see steam rising from his friends shaved head.

"Just ignore her act" Lisa chipped in. "She's been like that since high school..."

"Right class, back to homeroom!" Mr. Drass bellowed suddenly, all conversation ceasing immediately.

Daris couldn't help wondering what Lisa was going to add about Gena, Kian seemed content to hate her though as they filed back through the corridors and into their homeroom. Daris sat back at his desk and was greeted by a message from Kaitlyn, her name now coming up as the sender.

'You didn't make me feel uncomfortable, what you said was really nice.'

Daris turned round to see Kaitlyn blushing. He smiled and turned around once more, catching Gena quickly look away from him... what was with that girl.

"Now that you're all seated, I have something pleasant to announce," Mr. Drass told them, which meant it wasn't going to be nice at all. "That's right, aptitude tests. Don't worry about scores, it'll only determine your future in the school, top boy and girl will be your class representatives."

The test appeared and stayed sealed, probably until Mr. Drass unlocked them.

"Is there any benefits to being class rep Mr. Drass sir?" the red-haired girl beside him asked.

"No Jane, there are not" he replied happily.

"Then, can we turn down the position?" she asked, a little concerned.

"No, no you can't," Mr. Drass said with an evil smile.

Perhaps Prince Kiernon had defeated Mr. Drass years ago and forced him to be a teacher, Daris had never seen a man delight this much in others suffering. Mr. Drass sat down at his desk and hovered his finger over his tablet.

"You will have one hour to finish, it's multiple subjects so do your best... oh, and anyone that scores under eighty percent will be running a lap of the gym per percent you fail by. I hope you're all as fit as Daris... and begin!" he declared.

As soon as the lock on his screen turned green Daris opened the file, he was worried, had his tests been easier because he lived in Vesparia? Could he even compete with the other students? The questions posed though seemed simple to him though and after a half hour Daris sat back in his chair, letting out a sigh, the test had been pretty easy after all that worry. Though keeping up with his studies whilst moving had probably helped. He shot a quick glance around, everyone else still had their heads down, focusing on the test... except Gena, she just looked bored now. Daris locked his test paper, and after confirming it was finished the system sent it to Mr. Drass' computer. His tutor looked up, an eyebrow raised at his quick completion. His screen unlocked a few moments later with only Gena available to message. There was little else to do so he tapped out a quick message.

‘How’d you find the test?’

Gena looked up from what he assumed was a daydream and peered at her monitor.

‘You've finished already? you guess all the questions?’ Gena replied a moment later, smirking as she half turned towards him.

Daris smiled, she really was bitchy.

‘Yeah, I was only just clever enough to get in... this stuffs beyond me’ he lied, two could play at this game.

Gena snorted as she stifled a laugh, but she sent no more messages. The time passed slowly as a steady stream of students finished and their messaging systems unlocked. Lisa finished with ten minutes to spare and he quickly shot her a message asking her how it had gone. All he got back was ‘:(‘ in reply. She really was kind of hopeless. As Kaitlyn finished he received a message from her.

‘Can we talk after school? By the fountain at the gates?’

Daris wondered what she wanted, but there didn’t seem any reason not to.

‘Sure, looking forward to it x.’

Before he’d realised he’d put a kiss at the end Daris had sent it, his face turning crimson in embarrassment. He quickly ventured a look back at Kaitlyn to see her smiling happily at him... that was good, he supposed.

“And stop!” Me. Drass shouted suddenly, making everyone jump involuntarily.

“While we wait on the results to be processed, I was surprised to find that some students must be guessing answers... not a good start to your term,” he told them, but staring dead straight at Daris.

Even his tutor thought he was thick, did they all really believe he’d taken easier tests? that he was just some bumpkin from the rural south? He felt angry, angrier than he thought he would have. Kaitlyn sent him another message as they waited.

‘I bet we both did well, minority power!’

He looked round to see her pumping her fist, Daris couldn’t help laughing.

“Something funny Daris?” Mr. Drass asked menacingly.

“No sir, well... not really” he replied awkwardly.

“Then be silent, why do you think I let you message each other?”

Daris shrank back behind his desk, Mr. Drass standing slowly as he held up the test results.

“For a bit of fun, the results are hidden... until I swipe the row. Are you all ready?” He asked.

Many shook their heads, others looked mortified, Gena though looked calm and composed, seeming more bored than anything.

He swiped the bottom result. “Lisa, why you must love exercise. Though, seventy-eight percent is commendable.”

Lisa shuddered at the thought of running even two laps and dropped her head onto her desk. Two more failed by one percent, though in reality, a sixty-nine percent was a pass at exam level. Kian had scored eighty-six and Kaitlyn a ninety... yet as the last boy's name was read out his name hadn’t come up yet... which made him the top boy... and Gena top girl, had he beaten her?

“So second in the class is... Gena?” Mr. Drass said, a little in awe.

“So by process of elimination Daris, you’re first... though it seems you both scored a hundred percent, you go ahead in alphabetical order. I guess congratulations are in order, I sorely underestimated you Brevar, my apologies” Mr. Drass told him, a nod of respect being sent his way.

“Thank you, sir, I tried my hardest” he replied rather stiffly, perhaps he wouldn’t have to battle his tutor for three years after all.

“You too Gena, but we both knew you’d ace this” Mr. Drass said to her, Gena though simply stared at Daris, he couldn’t tell if it was out of shock or utter contempt.

The rest of their school time was spent going through school policies and locations, Mr. Drass explaining that the roof area had been off limits until last year, when, after years of it being a confession and lovers spot, it had been turned into a summer cafeteria. Finally, as four o'clock came and the end of school bell rang Daris stretched out, feeling like he'd been sitting forever.

"Alright class, today was easy. Be prepared to work hard, Keldran academy has a high standard to maintain. Lisa, Mika and Francis, get to the gymnasium... you owe me some laps" Mr. Drass told them as the mentioned pupils baulked, looking like they were about to cry.

"Daris take my place" Lisa begged, kneeling before him and tugging on his blazer.

"Well, I would, but I promised to meet Kaitlyn... like, now" he replied, prying her hands away.

Lisa shot up, pushing him towards the classroom's door.

"Then get going you dumbass, don't keep a lady waiting" Lisa reprimanded him.

"Lisa! get to the gymnasium now!" Mr. Drass bellowed, making Lisa shoot to attention before running from the classroom.

"That girl's going to be the death of me this year" Mr. Drass lamented, walking from the classroom ahead of him.

"Lisa! I said move it!" Daris heard a moment later.

Daris found Kaitlyn waiting by the fountain, the crowds of students having mostly left now. She looked nervous, and now he was feeling the same, what did she want? was she going to chew him out for his message earlier. The last of the students passed them by as he came within a few feet of her, Kaitlyn's face seemed flushed, she looked so cute.

"I'm glad you came. I, I wanted to ask you something... Daris" she said shyly as she clasped her hands nervously.

Was she going to tell him she liked him? they'd just met, but, wow, that someone as pretty as Kaitlyn was interested... he'd accept in a heartbeat.

"Daris I, well, I..."

Before she could finish, Daris felt someone grab him from behind.

"What's going on here? are we making plans for the weekend?" Gena asked from behind, mischief clear in her voice.

"Well, I... was going to..." Kaitlyn stammered, Gena's interference shaking her frail confidence.

"Why don't we all go into central Keldran tomorrow?" Gena butted in, pointing to a nearby wall.

A moment later Lisa and Kian appeared from behind it looking guilty.

"It's not what it looks like" Kian protested, his nervous expression saying otherwise.

"Seems like you were eavesdropping," Gena said in a disappointed tone, Daris noted she still hadn't let go of his arm though.

"No, we wouldn't... well, perhaps a little" Lisa replied with a nervous laugh.

Daris wasn't disappointed, he was glad he had some friends who were interested in him.

"How about it Kaitlyn? Shall we see Keldran together?" he asked the young half-elf, hoping she would read the subtext.

"Yes," she said immediately, then composed herself. "I mean, that would be lovely."

"It's a date then, we'll all meet up here tomorrow morning, say nineish?" Gena said cheerfully, rubbing herself up against him.

Kaitlyn's fists clenched as she nodded, turning and walking away. Kaitlyn's hair seemed to flow in her wake, the ethereal majesty of the elves Daris thought.

"Why are you still clinging to me, Gena? You already ruined Kaitlyn's moment" Daris told the irritating woman, shaking her off his arm.

"Oh, did I?" she replied innocently, her pretty face would almost be enough to convince anyone else.

"Of course you did. This is because I beat you in the test isn't it?" Daris raged, instinctively grabbing her arm.

"Are you getting rough with me? Don't be shy now" she teased, controlling him easily.

Daris let go and composed himself, then Gena grabbed his shirt and pulled him in close, so close the others might get the wrong idea.

"Of course it's about that test! how can a bumpkin like you beat me? I can't decide whether I want to date you or kick your ass."

Gena let go of his shirt, leaving him perplexed at the sudden shift in personality. Gena walked past him, stopping a few feet away before turning back to him.

"Don't disappoint me Daris Brevar, I haven't had a rival, Ever. And here I thought school would be boring again this year."

Gena looked him dead in the eye, a dangerous look that threatened to devour him whole.

"See you tomorrow then. Don't forget now Lisa, or you, you strange short person" she laughed, pointing to Kian who ground his teeth in anger.

Once Gena had left it felt like he'd survived a whirlwind passing by. Lisa and Kian came over to stand by him.

"You couldn't have attracted a normal girl Daris?" Kian asked, letting out a deep sigh.

"It's not like I tried to... I mean Kaitlyn certainly. But Gena? she seems a bit intense for me" Daris reasoned, though Gena had a dangerous attraction to her he couldn’t deny.

"Please date Kaitlyn, I really hate Gena. Besides, if you reject her I can rub it in her face" Kian said with a manic delight.

"Dude, that's pretty dark" Daris chided him, shaking his head.

"Yeah, too far Kian" Lisa agreed, mirroring Daris.

"Give me a break, the girl's pure evil."

Daris wasn't sure about that, but he knew he hadn't seen the real Gena yet, just the mask she wore... that's what Lisa had meant to tell them earlier, he was sure of it.

“Lisa?” He asked suddenly.

“Yeah” she replied with a puzzled look.

“Weren’t you meant to run laps?”

“I ditched Mr. Drass a while ago” she stated without fear.

“You know he’ll probably kill you, right” Kian chipped in.

Lisa walked towards the school gates shakily.

“Then I’ll have to make the most of this weekend won’t I.”

Before anyone had noticed, Mr. Drass was stood behind her, smoke flitting away on the summer breeze.

“No one escapes Archmage Falhion Vendrass” he stated menacingly, grabbing her shoulders before they both vanished.

“Is she dead?” Kian asked, a little terrified.

“I think that might be a more merciful fate” Daris replied.

He could only imagine Lisa's fate as the two of them walked home.

#new novel #high school #romance #future fantasy #chapter 1 #DavidMMSidders #keldran academy #year 1

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