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pomegranates-and-blood · 3 years

Text

Lips of an Angel

My Masterlist

Pairing: Ivar/Danish!Reader, Ivar/Freydis, Reader/OC

Summary: “Well, I had this idea of Ivar x reader based off the song Lips of an Angel. (If you feel like a Modern AU works best that's fine) Where Ivar is with Freydis, but Ivar never let go of his feelings for the reader and she never let go of hers, and you can decide how you want it to end.”

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: Angst, lost love, implied sex/cheating, mention of polygamy

A/N: This is the closest I’ll get I’ve gotten to writting 5b Ivar, and it still is ooc probably. I feel like a horrible writer for ignoring canon like this, but istg that season almost made me give up on Vikings altogether and I just can’t write it, or any of the characters as they were then.

Anyhow, hope you like this, I was on the fence about making it a modern!au or not, so I decided to write both a Viking times version and a Modern version. Different story completely, of course.

You can find the Modern!AU version of this request right here

Kattegat is still the same, you realize, it is as if Aslaug still sits on that throne.

In a way, you think she still does.

Álfarr’s hand is a comfortable weight on your back, and his warmth helps you thaw from the cold of memories and regret that took a hold of you the moment you crossed those walls.

“You cannot leave me!” His voice is an enraged snarl, his hand is gripping tight at the axe on the table.

You know it is madness to turn your back on Ivar the Boneless, you know it is madness to ignore the rage in his eyes. Still, you walk out of that worn-down church, and surprisingly, you survive.

And because the man you are travelling with, the man that claims to love you and to know you love him too, is too smart for his own good, he notices the way you wish for nothing more than to leave this place you just returned to.

And so he tries reminding you of what you have returned for, of the life you will be able to have once you spend one winter in Kattegat.

“I was thinking, after this, we could travel to Ribe,” Álfarr offers casually, glancing at you from the corner of his eye, “The Danes are sure to welcome you back.”

“Hmm,” You reply, nodding your head, and because he deserves it, because you can’t forget what made you left Kattegat or what has made you return, you offer a smile, “I don’t know if they would welcome you, though.”

“I fought against Angantyr once,” He reminds you with a chuckle. After a moment, he brings you close and presses a kiss to the side of your head, “Besides, more than a year ago I was convinced-…”

“Convinced? You make it sound as if-…”

“I was convinced by a beautiful Danish woman to leave those wars behind,” Álfarr continues with a knowing smile, ignoring your glare of protest. “And I don’t regret it.”

“Well let’s hope she doesn’t regret this, eh?” You try around a deep breath, a smile that feels fake.

One winter. Only one winter in Kattegat, and then Álfarr will be at your side wherever the Gods will take you. Such was the pledge he made, and the deal you agreed to.

____

Long before the night that now envelops you had settled, word had reached you that the King calls for you, and all you’ve been able to do since that thrall delivered the message was to consider the cost of running away, cowardly as it may be.

Reminiscent of those last weeks before he drove you away, before you left him behind.

“Ivar calls for you.” Hvitserk tells you with a sigh, taking a seat at your side with an exhaustion that is more than physical.

“What for? He listens only to his own voice lately.” You quip bitterly, but still stand up and with a soft touch of the Prince’s shoulder, you answer a call that hurts your pride, your hope.

Álfarr’s steps approaching you take you away from the dangerous lull of memories.

“Are you going to go?” He asks without preamble, taking a seat in front of you.

You sigh, “If the King calls for me-…”

Álfarr chuckles bitterly, interrupting you, “Ah, of course. The King summoning a Völva, nothing more. Surely not your ex-lover wanting to see you again.”

“Do you want me to say no? Not many survive denying Ivar.”

“You survived leaving him.”

“Yes. I left him,” You repeat pointedly, not intending to withstand foolish jealousy. But because what the years made out of you isn’t happy with the way he is soothed slightly at your reminder, you add, “I left him when he tried keeping me chained.”

And Álfarr was always a smart man, it was one of the reasons you first trusted him. So in response to the threat you don’t voice, he only shrugs, “You wouldn’t leave me.”

Your eyebrows raise at the unwavering certainty, “What makes you think that?”

“Nothing could make you wish to return to Kattegat until me,” Álfarr offers you a smile, that you almost start returning, “I still consider it a feat, to have been able to sway you.”

You drink down the last of your mead, tilting your head back and trying to chase away bitterness with the honeyed drink.

“You swayed me the moment I found you dying and chose to save you, you fool.” You quip, betraying a fond smile that he returns.

Without any more words, you stand up. Your hand traces the outline of his shoulders, strong and familiar, as you walk out the door.

____

Ivar waits for you sitting in what looks like an adjacent room to the throne room.

You wish you could say he looks the same, you wish you could say he still has the face, the eyes, of the man you once loved.

But his face is darkened by shadows and something more sinister than that, his eyes are colder and crueler than you ever had the misfortune of seeing them.

It still makes a pang of pain travel to your chest, to the place where your heart ought to be if you hadn’t carelessly given it away years ago, to see him before you, in the flesh, not a dream or a memory.

“My King.” You bow your head.

“Say my name,” Ivar orders gruffly, and at your startled expression when you lift your gaze to his, he amends, “We’ve-…Don’t act like we are strangers. Call me by my name.”

“Alright, Ivar,” You concede, the familiar sound of his name on your lips still managing to make your chest tighten. You take a seat in the chair across from him that was offered, and fold your hands over your lap to keep yourself from fidgeting. “Why did you call for me?”

“You arrive at a Kingdom and don’t dare visit the King, hm?” He taunts without missing a beat, “You used to have better manners.”

And you used to avoid playing these games with me, you think, but bite back the words.

“I needn’t bother any king with an announcement of my arrival,” You remind him, “I am no one of importance, of fame.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” A soft and dainty voice says, making a chill run down your spine even before you see the blonde approaching from the shadows. She offers a smile, but the eyes of the Queen of Kattegat are as cold as the King’s. “You’re the Völva that granted the Black Danes many victories, aren’t you?”

You watch, frozen in your place, as she approaches Ivar with ease, resting one delicate hand on his shoulder, standing by his side.

Trying to keep your eyes from following the movement of Ivar’s hand that goes to touch hers where it rests on his shoulder, you reply, “I have granted no man any victory.”

“The Gods did, but in no little thanks to your work, your magic. I have heard of you,” She insists, and you frankly do not know what to do with her false warmth. Looking into her eyes feels like watching a flame from the other side of a glass window, an illusion, a façade. “And I am honored you’re here.”

You bow your head in acceptance, “Thank you, Queen Freydis.”

She betrays a wider smile, a more feral smile, and your blood runs cold.

“Ah, you know my name. You have heard of me too, then?”

You feel like you’re being ambushed, so instead of giving her an answer, you return your gaze to the King.

“Why was I summoned here?”

Ivar regards you in silence, eyes slightly narrowed and a cold cruelty in the slight curve of his smile.

Still, he gestures with his hand, dismissing his wife, ordering her to leave the two of you alone.

“Word is you aren’t here to stay.”

“Just for the winter.”

“A Völva, and one always close to the sons of Ragnar at that,” He lists, leaning forward in his seat, elbows resting on armored knees, “I could have use for you.”

You feel cold creeping over you, and lean back.

“Use?”

“It is a matter of time before Freydis becomes pregnant with my child,” Ivar comments with what to anyone else would look like nonchalance, but you hear the cruelty behind the words. “I could use a witch weaving her magic to protect my child and wife.”

It hurts, it hurts at a deep part of your chest, so much so you almost want to look down to see if there’s a gaping wound where your heart should be.

“There’s many that would be willing to do so, but not me.”

“Why not?”

“My home isn’t Kattegat.”

“Where is it, then? With that blacksmith?” He accuses without missing a beat. The anger in his tone, the accusation, the vitriol, the rage, it is all so familiar.

It is all you left behind, with reason to do so.

“I will put word that Kattegat is in search of a Völva to protect the King and his family,” You say around the foolish and hopeless knot of pain at your throat, “I’m sure someone will be of help.”

Standing up from your seat, you mutter a goodbye and turn your back to the King.

His voice, loud and enraged as he calls your name, makes all of this a familiar scene, and it makes you stop dead on your tracks.

“I didn’t give you permission to leave.” Ivar snarls at you, the sound of a crutch stabbing the ground as he stands up as well.

You take a deep breath, but don’t turn around.

“May I leave, then?”

“No,” He sentences, walking closer, “Not now, and not when winter is over.”

You gasp, “What?”

“I’m keeping you here in Kattegat,” Ivar states, intimidating, venomous, unfamiliar as he towers over you, “I’m King, I can do as I wish with you.”

“I am a free woman,” You remind him, “Only my blood would rule over me, and they are all dead. My blood or my husband, and you, Ivar, are neither.”

“You cannot command me!” You insist with a laugh, defiant even as you tilt your head to the side to let him continue his thorough exploration of your neck with his lips and tongue.

“Hm, you forget who leads the army you fight for, witch.” He teases, a breathed laugh against your neck when you pull on his hair, offended at the title

“No one but my family commands me, Ivar.”

“They are all dead.”

“Not all of them,” You quip, a foolish knot on your stomach tightening at the conversation you’re about to start, “Family isn’t just blood. One day I will be married, and my husband will be my family.”

“So, no one but your blood or your husband would dare rule over you,” He intones, pulling back and searching your eyes, “Why do I have the feeling it wouldn’t be so easy to make you surrender?”

“Because you have good judgement?” You offer with a tentative laugh.

Ivar only smiles, and leans down to capture your mouth in his. His kisses never fail to make your heart beat so fast you hear it in your head.

In the way his hands tighten over whatever part of you he has a hold of, in the way his tongue demands entrance to your mouth, in the way you feel the soft sounds he cannot keep trapped; you find yourself gone, enthralled, his.

When he pulls back, his eyes, darkened and burning, linger on your kiss-bitten lips for a few moments.

“With those lips of yours, love, it would be very easy to make any man surrender.” Ivar confesses in a hoarse whisper, and past the pang of heat his words and the way he’s looking at you send through you, you smile.

“My lips?” He hums an agreement, and in the few moments you have him enthralled, your smile turns devious, “Where?”

Ivar grits his teeth at the reminder, and the flash of pain you imagine seeing for a moment could make you believe he remembers the same moments you do, the same life you wish you could have lived till your last breath, the same world you wish you had never left behind.

“That blacksmith you came with.”

“He’s a warrior, and you know his name.” You tell him, aware you’re prodding a dangerous beast but still doing so with an arrogant tilt of your chin.

“Does he know about me?” Ivar asks, voice low and dangerous, “About us? About what you promised me?”

“Does she?” You ask, unable to keep the bitterness from your tone.

Ivar’s reply is immediate, “Yes.”

And with a simple word weighs on you the realization that either she means much more to him than you ever imagined, or you still do. You aren’t sure you want to know the answer.

“I have to go,” You tell him, stepping back and lowering your gaze to the dark wood under your feet. “Tell your brother I would love to see him. I’ve missed him.”

“You’ll just leave?”

“No, I will stay until winter passes. I-…”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean, and you know it,” He accuses, furious movements of his crutch as he approaches you again. “You’ll leave me again.”

The words tug at a pathetic and foolish part of your heart, a part of your heart that you never got back. A part of your heart that was left behind in some old church in York.

Still, you offer truth, a truth that lacerates at your throat on the way out, “I never returned to you, Ivar.”

His free hand grabs roughly at your arm, and his breathing is fast, his eyes are searching yours desperately.

The furious glint in his eye, the twinge of madness in his scowl, the phrase he would repeat over and over as if he could make it truth by will alone, “You will not leave me.”

“You are here, Fate brought you back to me.”

“Fate brought your wife to you,” You remind him, pain interwoven in your every word, “Fate brought Álfarr to my side. Fate pulled us apart, Ivar.”

But he shakes his head, stubborn and desperate. For a moment, in the way the snarl in his lips trembles, in the way he blinks quickly, you see the man you love.

“No.” Is all he says, before he brings you to him roughly, and claims your mouth.

You have been familiar with magic all your life, and you know it is something other than it, but it feels like magic when you let yourself give into his kiss. It feels like something stronger than magic when you find yourself giving in to Ivar, breaths quickened as you watch him answer the command of the gentle push of your hand and sit on the chair at his back.

Kissing him, it is anger, it is anger and lust and grief and love, you won’t deny it. It is biting and demanding and rough and him.

Getting lost in the feel, the smell, the taste, of him was always easy. Terrifyingly easy, once.

And so you lose yourself in the push and pull of your bodies moving as one, in the way he demands with bites and kisses and soft sounds breathed against your lips the surrender you refuse to give, in the way he lets you try and lure him to that same surrender with your lips on his skin and the intonation of his name on your lips that still makes him tremble.

His hands are rough and demanding as they grip your hips, and he makes you move above him with a punishing pace. And it feels like he is trying to punish you. For leaving him. For returning.

Your own hands grip onto his shoulders, nails digging into the skin and drawing blood, traying to dispel the touch of any other with each drop. So that there’s a bit of you left with him, a proof. Of how you once were his. Of how he’s still yours.

____

You lay in the quiet that lets you pretend you never left that world you once loved so much, in the peace that makes your chest ache for the unsaid vows you broke.

Ivar’s head rests against your chest, letting you every once in a while feel the drag of his mouth over your skin, lazily retracing a path he bit and kissed his way through earlier. Your fingers, aching to be once again familiar with the feel of his skin, the softness of his hair, travel wherever you can reach, ceaselessly.

It is as if in each breath shared, in each moan that trembled past parted lips, in each moment of ecstasy and of pain; the anger and the resentment and the hate gave way, let the world that once was take a hold of the moment you live -bask- in now.

The quiet is broken by a soft murmur of your name, and your chest pulls tight at the sound of it in Ivar’s voice, at the return of the fragile softness, the hidden gentleness, you once were the sole recipient of.

“I have…dreamt of you, these passing years,” He tells you, even a confession such as this traced by underlying anger. He presses yet another kiss to the skin above your heart, “I have missed you.”

“So have I, more…more than I could ever say.” You offer, closing your eyes to keep tears from filling your eyes.

“I don’t want you to leave me again.” Ivar whispers, voice so, so quiet.

You release a breath that shakes and trembles past your lips, “You and I are fated to say goodbye, I think. Always were.”

He lifts his head, strikingly blue eyes meeting yours.

“It doesn’t have to be like that.”

“You have a wife, Ivar, I can’t-…”

“You can be my wife too,” He offers, making your heart both soar and break. “You wouldn’t be queen, but you never minded for pow-…”

“Ivar,” You interrupt, voice shaking, “Listen to what you’re saying. You’re asking me to be your second wife. To take Freydis as my sister-wife.”

“She won’t object,” He says it with such certainty that it sickens you, and you scramble to stand, to part from his embrace. “She’d do anything I asked her to. She will accept.”

You are shaking your head, putting the shield your dress serves as back up over your skin.

“I could never accept,” You tell him, and because you want to linger for a moment longer in the sun, in the brief paradise where you’re allowed to see the real him shining in his blue eyes; you walk closer one last time and let your fingers trace the side of his face lovingly, smiling even if it is a goodbye, “No woman that loves you would settle for half of you.”

Whether you speak of her and her faults, or you and your hopeless heart; you don’t know.

____ ____ ____

Hope you liked this! Thank you so much for reading!!

Taglist: @youbloodymadgenius @xbellaxcarolinax @1950schick @ietss @peachyboneless @encounterthepast @maggiescarborough @chibisgotovalhalla @fae-sedai

#ivar x reader #ivar the boneless x reader #ivar the boneless imagine #ivar the boneless #ivar

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thebountyfucker · 3 years

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Demon!Embo because demons are usually mean but I think Em would be different... Unless we're talking feral Demon!Embo 👀👀👀👀👀

18+ ONLY - NSFW

Tags: blood, some dubcon elements (demonic possession)

“It’ll be fun!” This meaningless, manipulative sentence rang in your head as you sat around a Ouiji board with a few of your supposed ‘friends’. You had not been too keen on this idea to begin with, as your luck with the paranormal was notoriously shitty. You had a spirit leech attached to your aura for a few years, and just about every place you lived in was haunted in some respect. And yet, here these assholes were, laughing and talking to some spirit purportedly named ‘Bo’. Dumbass name. Dumbass friends. They asked when he was born and he said never. They asked where he was and he said he was right there with them. The entire thing sent chills down your spine and you hated it.

You broke apart from the group, deciding to call it a night. Really, you just wanted an excuse to get away from their idiocy. You’d never call them again, you decided. You were done with them…

You slipped into your bedroom and locked the door behind you. The last thing you wanted was for them to get cheeky and decide to play some prank on you. You undressed, tossing your clothes into the hamper near the door, and hit the lights; from the corner of your eye, you swore you saw something sitting in the chair on the other side of the room. When you turned to face it, though, nothing was there. You breathed a sigh of relief and slipped under your covers, pulling them up to your chin. You weren’t usually afraid, but the air tonight felt… different. It felt heavy, and wicked…

You closed your eyes, and tried to get some sleep, but sleep didn’t come. It felt as though something - or someone - was watching you. You popped an eye open and looked around, noting with a sigh that there was nothing. Then, movement from the mirror on your dresser caught your attention. You closed your eyes, debating on whether to ignore it, before hearing a low, incessant hum. You sat up, opening your eyes, and found yourself face to face with a demon.

“Well, well, well… what do we have here?” His golden eyes pierced through the otherwise unrelenting dark, and you lifted your hand to cover your mouth. He took a step forward, reaching out to tip your chin upward with the tip of his pointed staff. “A pretty little morsel, all for me?”

“W-what are you doing here?” You tried to sound strong but your voice quivered in fear. The tip of his staff pressed into your neck, just barely cutting through the skin. You felt the blood drip down, but you were too afraid to reach up to wipe it away.

“What am I doing here? You summoned me with that silly little game of yours.” He drew closer, tossing his staff aside. You swallowed hard as he stared down at you, his wings fluttering.

“I didn’t… that wasn’t me.”

“That is not my problem. I would bother your idiot friends but… they are otherwise occupied.” He smirked, his lips pulling back to reveal his fangs. Screams filled the air, and you froze, listening to your house guests flee down the hallway.

“What did you do?!” You screeched, listening to hisses in an ancient tongue. He chuckled as he reached out to stroke your lips; they trembled under his touch.

“They are not too smart, are they?” He avoided your question as he reached out with his other hand to wipe at the blood trailing down your throat and between your breasts. You gasped at the touch, arching toward him, He smeared the blood around and brought it to his mouth to taste. “Mmm… mortal blood… intoxicating…”

“You aren’t going to hurt them, are you?”

“I will not.” He answered, and your heart clenched. Screams rang out from the end of the hall and then… silence. “Do not be too loud. I would hate for my brethren to come join the fun.”

He crawled up onto the bed, mere inches away from your face. His long, wicked tongue slipped out to lap at your blood with a purr; he met your gaze, and your pussy dampened.

“What is that I smell?” In an instance, he had shoved you down on your stomach, a strong hand pressing into your back. He leaned in closed, his fiery hot breath on your ear and neck. “Are you aroused, little toy, for a lord of the dark?”

You managed a small nod and found your hands restrained behind your back by… something. You went to speak but your voice caught in your throat. He chuckled as one clawed hand trailed down your neck, while the other spread your legs apart. Almost instantaneously, his cock filled you up. You didn’t feel it breach your cunt, nor did you feel it push in… but you could feel it inside you. It burned with the heat of hell, and you let out a cry of pain.

“Hush now, little toy… this is not going to be a painless endeavor.” He purred, drawing his clawed hand up your back, before digging his claws into your skin. Blood trickled from the wounds, and he was eager to lap it up. At the same time, he started thrusting, quick and rough, driving his cock deeper and deeper into you. You moaned, your toes curling and your eyes slamming shut. “I forget how delicious mortal cunts are. Maybe I should stick around for a while.”

You ignored him as he continued to thrust; the edges of your vision blurred and your head began to swim. You let out a cry which rose in pitch, hardly noticing down he was biting down on your skin. What you did notice, however, was the sudden encompassment of his warmth. And then… his body merged into yours, slowly and surely vanishing beneath your skin.

For a moment, you had control of your form. But soon, he wrenched control from you, shoving your consciousness into the background. He drew your hand down to your cunt, and shoved your fingers inside; your other hand rubbed at your clit furiously, and the warmth in your belly threatened to spill over.

“Feels good… feels so good!” He moaned in your head. You moaned in tandem. Your body arched in a way that was unnatural, your eyes rolling back. He set every nerve ablaze, as your hand slipped into your cunt to the wrist, while the other pinched at your clit. You were so close! So goddamn close!!

He curled your fingers against your g-spot, and that was enough to do you in. You came in a loud cry and rush of fluids, soaking your sheets and likely the mattress underneath. Your body flopped uselessly onto the bed, shaking. He left your body, materializing before you once more. It took a while for you to come to, but when you did, he was on top of you again.

“I like it here… I think I will stick around.” And he plunged his cock in again.

#iri writes #my fanfiction #star wars smut #smut

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misc-headcanons · 4 years

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Kid/Reader Scenario: Schadenfreude

For @mooshs-crack-headcanons ‘s 300+ Follower Special! I got the prompt: "Fuck! Ow...that was my dick!"

Whenever the Kid Pirates have finished ransacking an island and are hauling their newest loot onto the Victoria Punk, the deck of the intimidating ship is littered with all sorts of various treasures, coins, and random junk that the various pirates thought was interesting. Kid's interest in wanton violence and destruction was rivaled only by his interest in all things mechanical; his bedroom on the ship was decorated like a crow's collection of shiny trinkets, with all sorts of gadgets and weapons lining his shelves and every available surface.

____ shoved a heavy crate full of new loot across the deck of the ship while Kid lifted the ship's anchor using his Devil Fruit. While it was filled with a few different items they knew would probably interest Kid, there was one item they had decided to keep for themselves--a wickedly sharp dagger with an ornate carving of a dragon on the handle and sheath. "Hey babe," they called out, trying to hide the knife behind their back with one hand. "You wanna go through this one first?"

Kid turned around and immediately noticed that one of ____'s hands was behind their back, and he raised an eyebrow. "You wanna tell me what you're hiding, first?"

____ stiffened and self-consciously gripped the blade in their hand. "Uhh...no," they replied awkwardly. "It's nothing, really, just some junk I found on the island." They fidgeted with the loops of their pants and attached the dagger to them.

Kid smirked and headed towards them. "So if it's junk," he said slowly, "You wouldn't mind if I took a look, right?" He noticed that the "junk" was now attached to ____'s backside and, after seeing it glint and shine in the sunlight, raised his arm to summon it with his Devil Fruit. The dagger immediately ripped the belt loop of ____’s pants and started to fly towards Kid, but ____ snatched it in midair and desperately clung to it as they planted their feet into the ground.

“You are such an asshole,” ____ snapped, pulling with all their might against Kid’s magnetism. “Come on, just let me have this one thing and you can have literally EVERYTHING ELSE WE GOT TODAY!”

Kid clenched his fist and pulled his arm back further, but ____ stubbornly refused to back down as their heels dragged on the wood of the deck. “Captain” Kid doesn’t get told what to do by anyone, not even his s/o. And what he wants, he gets--even if it’s one blade amidst the small mountain of loot he and his crew had taken aboard the Victoria Punk. He barked out a harsh laugh as ____ struggled in vain to pull back against the force of Kid’s Devil Fruit, and he saw his s/o’s features distort into an angry scowl as they gritted their teeth and yanked their arms back to pull the dagger in the opposite direction of Kid.

____ glared at Kid as he watched them struggle, and suddenly an idea came to their mind. If Kid was pulling at this dagger with that much magnetism, and they were causing more resistance by pulling back...would letting go cause the dagger to fly towards him in a kind of slingshot effect? They smirked mischievously, eager to see the look on Kid’s stupid (and handsome, but right now they were too pissed to acknowledge that) face when the blade and scabbard collided into him, ideally right between his eyes so he could get some humility knocked into him. ____ suddenly let go of the dagger completely and watched with glee as it shot across the deck of the ship; instead of hitting him in the face, however, it sailed lower and hit the Supernova squarely in the middle of his pelvis. Kid stumbled back a bit and his eyes widened in surprise before they squeezed shut as the full pain of a dagger (thankfully in its sheath) hitting a man in the balls washed over him like a riptide current, pulling him from reality and into a world of pain...of true, testicle-torturing Hell. “Fuuuuuuuck…” He let out a hiss of pain as he cursed and clenched his jaw. For a few moments, he was silent--a seriously rare thing for Eustass Kid to be.

Killer, Heat, and Wire looked on with wide eyes and the three of them stood in place with crates of loot in their arms. Even if they were nowhere near the point of impact, the three of them winced and cringed sympathetically at seeing their captain so cruelly assaulted--and trying not to smile or laugh afterwards, considering it was his own fault. ____’s mouth dropped open as they goggled at Kid; they were wanting to bruise his pride, yes, but...damn.

“Ow,” Kid wheezed, gritting his teeth as he stubbornly refused to let his knees fall to the ground. He moved his mechanical arm to protect his lower body from any more injury and glared at ____ (and desperately blinking away the instinctive tears of pain welling up in his eyes). “That was my dick!” His voice was strangled, and it rose a bit in pitch at the end of his sentence.

____ immediately put a hand over their mouth and bit their finger to keep from laughing at how high Kid’s voice had become at the word “dick.” Kid noticed the corners of their mouth immediately turning into a smile and he glared at them, baring his teeth like a feral animal. ____ took a step forward and held their hands out defensively, trying to calm Kid down and take a diplomatic approach. “Okay,” they started carefully, “So first of all, I need you to know that I did not mean for you to get hit....there.” They took another step forward as Kid remained uncharacteristically silent. “And second…” They licked their lips nervously. “I know this is probably the worst time to ask, but...do you still want the dagger?”

Kid narrowed his eyes, and then sighed through his nose as he continued to glare at them. Without breaking eye contact, he awkwardly shuffled a bit in his hunched-over position and sent the sheathed dagger across the deck with his magnetism as he shoved his arm forward. It skidded over the wooden planks and collided with ____’s pinky toe. “Oh, shit,” Kid muttered, apparently surprised when the blade had smashed into his s/o’s foot with how harshly he’d sent it to them. When he watched as ____’s eyes immediately welled up and they fell on one knee like they’d been shot on a battlefield, the immature, egotistical part of him felt a bit of pleasure amidst the dulling echo of pain in his balls. At least now, they were even.

#moosh’s 300 follower - how did this HAPPEN special?!#one piece #one piece scenario #one piece scenarios #kid #eustass kid #light ns.fw #mine

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lisbonsteresa · 3 years

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There’s Gotta Be Some Butterflies Somewhere (Wanna Share?)

this was originally going to be a fun little holiday gift for @cachekakusu (but now it’s more of an apology for making her relive her past 🌸✨ LiTerArY tRaUmA ✨🌸). In either case, it’s essentially a longer version of our chat threads, but i tried to make it as fluffy as possible to atone for my actions

hopefully it works aflksdj

At first only a dark screen was displayed, with shuffling and whispers heard in the background. Then someone hissed “Lens cap!!” and a picture suddenly appeared of two teenagers sitting at a long table; a laptop sitting in front of the girl and bright smiles on both their faces. “Hi everyone!” the girl spoke, directing her words straight ahead at what must have been the camera lens. “Welcome back to our channel. If you don’t already know, my name’s Lyra and this is Will.” The boy next to her raised his hand in a slight wave. “And we decided we wanted to do something a little special for today’s video.” “That’s right.” the boy continued, “To celebrate reaching five thousand subscribers – and thank you so much for that, by the way –” Lyra nodded fiercely next to him, echoing his statement. “we’re going to do a little ‘Get to Know Us’ Q&A.”

“We are!” Lyra finished. “And, point of notice; this is a livestream, so we’re just going to take the questions as they come, and you’ll get to see our completely unedited reactions to them. But please keep the questions like PG-13,” she added, “because I’m pretty sure Will’s mum still watches our videos.” “Oh she definitely does.” Will confirmed. “And she and I would both appreciate everything staying mum-appropriate.” Lyra laughed “Excellent. And hi Elaine!” she looked directly at the camera with a grin and a wave, then focused her attention on the laptop screen in front of her. “Oh wow and we already have our first question: from aeronaut_txn: how long have you known each other? Hm, it really has been a while hasn’t it?” she paused, thinking, “Will and I met when we were – what, 12?” she glanced over at Will and he nodded in agreement. “Actually it’s kind of a funny story; I first met Will after he got stuck under my porch chasing his cat.” “Not Kirjava, by the way.” Will interrupted, looking only mildly embarrassed at Lyra’s last statement. “Our old cat, Moxie.”

“Of course not Kirjava,” Lyra snorted, “she barely ever leaves your side.” As if summoned by the mention of her name, the unusually large cat in question suddenly leapt up onto the table, fixing Lyra a look that would have been very judgmental were it coming from a human. Will grinned and reached up to scratch at Kirjava’s ears and the feline happily moved her attention to him, purring softly and butting her head against his hand while Lyra continued. “I’m convinced that if you could find a way to sneak her into school she’d never leave you alone.” “Says the girl who hides Pan in her backpack every other day.”

“That’s because Pan is quiet, and sneaky, and good at hiding. And besides, Kirjava’s like three times his size.” Kirjava suddenly let out a low growl and leapt across the table to bat at Lyra with her paw. “Er….no offense.” Lyra reached slowly out and Kirjava seemed to let the slight pass, letting the teen scratch under her chin. There was a sudden squeak and flash of fur as Lyra’s pine marten scrambled down from his usual perch on her shoulder and onto Kirjava’s back. “And now you’ve gone and woke him up.” Lyra huffed, but there was a smile on her face as she watched Pan and Kirjava start to chase each other around the table.

“I think if anyone’s to blame for that, it’s you.” Will laughed, gently shooing the animals off the table before they knocked something over. “Anyway, Moxie was….. let’s say she was a free spirit.” “A very nice way to say she just did whatever she wanted.” “Well yes, but she was a very good cat all the same. Although she did have a habit of running out of the house whenever she got the chance despite not being an outside cat at all. One morning a few summers ago I was helping my mum unload groceries and Moxie just sprinted out the door and was halfway across the neighbor’s yard before we even realized what was happening. I ran out to go get her, but by that point she had already sequestered herself under their back porch. Should’ve been easy to grab her, but the space was a little…..narrower than I was expecting.

“I was on my way downstairs when there was this yowling noise out of nowhere; maybe the angriest sound I’d ever heard a cat make.” Lyra looked as though she was trying very had to hold back a laugh. “And then someone was calling ‘help’ from our backyard, so I went outside to look and all I see is Will’s little Spider-Man pajama pant-covered legs sticking out from under our porch.”

At this point Lyra was laughing fully, and Will wrinkled his nose in indignation. “It should be mentioned that my mum does her shopping very early; I wouldn’t have been wearing the pajamas otherwise. And anyway, they were cool for a 12-year-old.” “Oh yes, very cool.” Lyra snickered. “Especially when I had to pull you out by your ankles and they almost fell dow-” “Lyra!” Will snapped, clapping a hand over her mouth and glaring at her. “We don’t have to mention that part on camera.”

‘Right, right, sorry” she snorted, still looking very pleased with herself as she pulled Will’s hand down and addressed the camera directly. “Anyway, the point is, we were able to get Will successfully extracted, and luckily for him, I knew the easiest way to squeeze back under and grab Moxie.” “Oh yes, we’re all very lucky that you liked acting like a feral child and digging tunnels into the mud under your back porch” Will muttered, rolling his eyes. “Sounds like someone’s still stuck on the pajama pants and forgetting the great sacrifice I made in getting that cat back.” Will let out an exasperated sigh “Not the scar-” “You mean the giant scar I still have on my arm after your cat fought me tooth and claw on the way out from under that porch? That scar?”

Will covered his face and groaned “You know I think I’d rather deal with your mum twenty times over than have you keep holding that scar over my head.” Lyra laughed at that. “You sure about that? She was steaming mad when she saw it – came running out the back door yelling about rabies and ruined clothes and ‘undignified behavior’ as if I wasn’t wearing a Mickey Mouse jumper and dungarees and, you know, twelve.” “She was pretty imposing though.” Will admitted. “She usually is.” Lyra sighed. “But you didn’t miss a beat – looked her right in the eyes and said ‘don’t worry ma’am, Moxie’s had all her shots’ and then….what was it?” Will shrugged. “Something about how she should be proud to have raised such an upstanding citizen for a daughter – which is an hilarious statement, by the way, knowing you the way I do now –” Lyra snorted and stuck her tongue back at him. “and it seemed to satisfy her.” “Oh the best way to appease my mum is definitely through compliments.” There was a slightly sour tone in Lyra’s voice, but it faded as quickly as it came. “I think that was when she decided she liked you.” “She likes me?” Will sounded shocked. “Well, not that she’d ever say as much, but I think she sees you as my most mature friend.” Lyra shrugged. “Sometimes I think she might even be a little intimidated by you. You might not know it for looking at him,” she said to the camera, “but Will can be very serious when he wants to be.” “Well I have to balance you out somehow, haven’t I?”

“Oh shut it.” Lyra rolled her eyes and knocked her shoulder against Will’s, but there was a fond smile on her face nonetheless. “Anyway we didn’t really talk much after that and Will went back to his house, but we spent the rest of the summer in one of our backyards or the other, and when school started we found out we were in the same class, and things just kind of went from there.” “And now here we are: four years later and I’m still stuck with her.” Will said through a smirk. Lyra’s smirk matched his. “Mhm, lucky you. Anyway, next question.” Her eyes moved to the laptop screen in front of her and she began to read through the options. “Ok let’s see… sky-iron-soul asked…what was your favorite film of the year?” Lyra immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, just barely stifling her laugh as she looked over at a groaning Will. “Oh I don’t know,” she began, removing her hand to rest her chin on it while she smirked at the irritated boy, “what was your favorite film this year Will?”

“Lyra, please-” “Funny thing is,” she grinned towards the camera, “Will here has fallen asleep during every film we’ve ever gone to see.” “Not every film!”

“Oh right, sorry, you did manage to stay awake for all of Cats. Would you say that’s because it was your favorite though?” Will fixed Lyra with a deadpan stare. “No, I would say that was because you kept poking me in the side every five minutes to ask me what the hell was going on, as if I would possibly have any more idea than you”.

“Right, well, in my defense…” Lyra shrugged, “Cats”.

“Actually,” a voice spoke up from somewhere off-screen, “if you pay attention, Cats does have a fairly well thought out plot that you can follow-” But the rest of the sentence was drowned out by the collective groans of the other two teens. “Roger, not the Cats debate again.” Will sighed, turning his attention to the unseen boy. “It’s bad enough you made us sit through two hours of that monstrosity.” Lyra agreed. “Must you continue to torment us with it now?” “Fine, fine,” Were Roger in front of the camera, it was easy to imagine he would be holding his hands up in in mock surrender. “I guess there’s no accounting for bad taste. But seriously Will,” he continued, seeming to pointedly ignore Lyra’s fake cough-covered ‘yeah, yours’ “The cinema’s the worst place to fall asleep. Why don’t you just nap in class like me and Billy?” “Listen it’s not like I mean to-” Will paused as if he had just realized what had been said. “Actually, first of all, don’t do that, that’s bad” he continued, looking for all the world like a disapproving lecturer while Lyra snickered next to him like the teacher’s pet. “But I don’t go into the cinema planning on falling asleep, it just happens. I mean it’s dark and the seats recline and they’re actually weirdly comfortable-”

“And you constantly overwork yourself to the point of exhaustion.” Lyra interrupted. “Lyra, please don’t start this again.” Will sighed, rubbing his eyes as if he was already tired of the topic. Lyra was undeterred. “I’m not starting anything; I’m continuing a conversation you keep refusing to participate in.” Her face softened. “I’m not trying to berate you, but you do too much Will. I mean, A-levels, and your apprenticeship, and tutoring, and helping your mum around the house…. you do it all wonderfully, of course, but it’s still too much.” Will shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding eye contact with Lyra. “I just wish you’d get how important it is to take a break sometimes and relax, which is what I thought going to the cinema would be, but you always end up just snoring into my shoulder.” Will squinted at her in disbelief. “I don’t snore.” “Yes you do, but that’s not the point.” Lyra replied, cutting him off before he could argue further. “Honestly I don’t know why you even come anymore. I mean, what are you getting out of it?”

Will glanced at the camera, suddenly looking as if he wished very much they were having this conversation anywhere but in front of it. “Because…. you’re always so excited when something new comes out.” Lyra paused, taken aback for a moment. “And because you’re absolutely impossible to say no to.” He seemed to relax more as he settled back into his usual teasing tone. “Seriously,” he continued, grinning up at the camera now, “the second she hears ‘no’ she pulls this sad, pouty face like you just kicked Pan across the room.” Still smiling, he turned his attention to Lyra, expecting a laugh or a sarcastic response, but found instead that she was simply looking at him with wide eyes. “So you mean you’ve only been going…for me? Her voice was uncommonly gentle and her cheeks were unusually pink. The teasing mood seemed to dissipate. “Well, I mean, not just for you,” Will began, nervously rubbing the back of his neck, “sometimes we go with Roger and Billy, after all…” Lyra’s eyes hadn’t left his face. “but yeah. Mostly, I guess.” Lyra’s face broke into a wide smile. “Oh Will-”

“Now don’t go getting sappy on me.” He interrupted, nudging her shoulder gently with his own. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that I like seeing my best friend happy. Besides, it’s the same as you going to all those cooking classes with me, even though you burn everything you make.” “I don’t burn everything.” Lyra sniffed, looking offended at the accusation. “Nearly everything, then.” Will shot back. “Alright fine point taken.” She replied with a grin and an eye roll. “And you’re right, it’s not a surprise. It’s just…..really sweet.” She smiled warmly at him and reached her hand out to hold his atop the table. “Thank you Will.” Will grinned back at her and squeezed her hand lightly “Of course. So we’re still on for Friday?”

“Definitely. But from now on, I’m buying the tickets.” “What – who says?” “I say.” She smirked. “If someone’s going to pay for you to take a nap in a sticky-floored auditorium, then that someone’s going to be me.” Will grimaced “But you’re already buying the popcorn!” “Of course I am; I’m the one who eats all of it!”

“Fine” Will conceded with a roll of his eyes. “But from now on you can’t complain if I fall asleep on your shoulder.” “Hey I never complained about that; I complained about your snoring.” “I don’t snore!” “And the drooling.”

“I do not-” They were cut off by a very loud – and fairly irritated – “Ahem” from off-screen. Both teens jumped slightly, blinking in surprise when they found that their faces had somehow grown much closer during their bickering, and that they had yet to release their hold on each other’s hand. “Not to interrupt,” Roger’s voice came again (sounding like interrupting was in fact the very thing he had had in mind). “But you do have other questions here guys.” “Right,” Lyra seemed to collect herself; pulling her hand away from Will’s and clearing her throat. “So anyway, next question. Ok, from nobiggerthanamustardseed: do you have any plans for the future? Wow mustardseed, you sure know how to bring the excitement.” They both stopped to think for a moment. “Well,” Lyra began, “we’re both studying our A-levels right now, but I think Will has a more concrete idea for his further education than I do. There’s a lot of different subjects I’m interested in, but lately I’ve been focusing more on language.” “Yeah you mentioned that,” Will broke in, “more ancient languages right? Like symbology?” Lyra nodded. “But I’ve also been thinking about taking a gap year. Dr. Malone’s been saying she might need an assistant on her research trip next year, and her last paper on dark matter was fascinating. It’d be nice to do a little traveling too. I’d have to make sure I force you to visit me though,” she looked over at Will with a smirk. “Get your head out of the books.” Will snorted in response. “As I remember it, having my head in the books wasn’t a problem when I was helping you study.” “Yes, how could I forget, oh great Professor Parry” Lyra’s voice was dripping with sarcasm; Will only rolled his eyes in return. “No to be fair, I probably wouldn’t have passed my anatomy exam without your help, even if you were a bit of a drill sargent.” “No, you definitely wouldn’t have.”

Lyra clicked her tongue in mock annoyance. “And just when I was trying to give you a compliment-” “That’s what you call a compliment?” “When it’s directed at you, yes. Anyway, enough about me; tell the people what you’re going to do.” But before Will could open his mouth to respond, Lyra was already talking again. “He’s going to be a doctor.” Will laughed. “Well you don’t have to say it like that.” “I can’t help it.” Lyra responded. “You’ve only been talking about it since KS3.” “What, and now it’s a bad thing to have goals?” “Of course not, it just gets old talking about all the courses you’ll need to take and the admittance requirements that need to be met.” Lyra sighed, but it was clear to see her complaints weren’t serious. She turned her attention to the camera: “But since you all haven’t had to suffer through all of that, I’ll tell you that Will is absolutely brilliant – got nearly perfect scores on his GCSE this year, an apprenticeship with NHS, and he’s already fielding scholarship offers for uni.” Next to her, Will had covered his suddenly pink face in embarrassment, but couldn’t seem to stop a wide grin from spreading across it. “Even though you’re almost insufferably noble about it,” Lyra continued, “I am very proud of you, and I know you’ll make an amazing doctor.”

Will’s grin only grew as he uncovered his face to meet Lyra’s eyes. “Thank you.”

A beat of sincerity passed between them, interrupted almost immediately by Lyra. “And even though I cannot stand the thought of being forced to share you with the world, your gift is too great to keep you all to myself.” Will rolled his eyes at his friend’s antics. “So long as you promise not to forget little old me while you’re off saving lives.” Lyra continued, throwing a melodramatic arm across Will’s shoulders.

“You’re such a ham.” He laughed, gently shrugging her arm away. “Weren’t you the one saying you wanted to go to a different continent with Dr. Malone a few minutes ago?” “I don’t recall that, no.” “Besides,” he continued with a roll of his eyes, “we live in Oxford. Any university I’d want to go to is an hour away at most. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Belacqua.” Lyra seemed to drop her theatrics, looking instead at Will with soft eyes and a gentle smile. “Is that so, Parry?” “It is.” He answered, his expression mirroring hers.

Another beat passed between them, longer than the first, before Lyra’s attention shift back towards the laptop screen. “Alright everyone, I think we have time for one more question. Let’s see… here we go, from EP1985: how long have you two been dat – ” her sentence cut off suddenly, and she glanced nervously over at Will then up at the camera before continuing. “Oh no, we’re not –” but her words stopped suddenly again, her face very rapidly turning red. His curiosity piqued, Will leaned closer to Lyra to read the question over her shoulder “We’re not what?” he asked, squinting at the screen to make it out, before his eyes grew wide and his cheeks grew red to match Lyra’s. “Oh! No, no, definitely not.” He continued with an awkward laugh, leaning back to sit ramrod straight in his chair and stare directly at the table in front of him, while all the time Lyra seemed as if she was trying to both watch his every move and pretend he didn’t exist. There was a moment of silence as both teens avoided eye contact with each other, the camera, or – presumably – Roger. Finally Lyra cleared her throat and said, her voice slightly strained, “Sorry to disappoint anyone, I guess, but Will and I are… just friends.” Her eyes flickered quickly over to Will, who nodded quickly in agreement. “Exactly. We didn’t mean to give you guys the wrong impression, but there’s nothing but friendship here.”

Hearing the other’s words seemed to let them both relax, although their faces were still flushed. “It’s kind of funny, actually,” Lyra began, catching Will’s gaze again, but with amusement rather than worry in her eyes, “how many times we’ve heard that since we started making videos.”

“Yeah it’s weird,” he replied, a grin slowly forming, “don’t know how everyone keeps coming to such a crazy conclusion.”

“Anyway, that’s all the time we have for today!” Lyra said, addressing the camera directly. “Thanks so much for your questions guys and we’ll –” Will’s voice joined her’s for their usual sign-off. “ – see you back here next week!” Outro music began playing as Will and Lyra leaned their heads close in a now inaudible conversation, and the very last thing that was heard before the picture faded completely to black was Roger’s voice muttering a weary “Absolutely hopeless.”

#DON'T JUDGE ME THEY DESERVE STUPID OBLIVIOUS NORMAL TEEN AUS!!!!#LET THEM BE HAPPY UNIVERSE #IT'S THE LEAST YOU CAN DO #(also if anyone who spent any time in the uk reads this......no you didn't.#i did maybe 5 minutes of research into how schooling works there and i still don't fully understand it)#longpost

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ottostherapy · 4 years

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How to not be an adult - Reunion

Severus Snape x OC

a/n: Still a Snape appreciation month story, cause Snape deserves some love. Excuse my language, not my mother tongue.

post-war au, where Snape survives and returns to teaching at Hogwarts. After disappearing for almost four month, he is to meet his new colleagues.

warnings: none

word count: 1358

Part 1

(gif’s not mine)

Soon the other teachers arrived, some of which Severus knew, some of which he couldn’t recall having met before. Filius Flitwick was late to the feast they had in the Great Hall, which was not to his surprise. The short wizard continuously had a hard time letting go of his wife, or the other way around, Severus didn’t know.

He, himself was sat next to Minerva and Horace Slughorn.

While his former potions professor had a lot to talk about, Severus kept to himself. He watched Septima Vector talking to a rather small, chubby witch, with puffy dark hair, standing to all directions, listened to a vivid conversation between Rolanda Hooch and Pomona Sprout about the effect of Fluxweed in brooms. Nearby sat Poppy Pomfrey, who had taken interest in a neatly dressed witch. All around the staff chattered, yet the air glimmered in a tense.

Minerva cleared her throat and stood up. “I want to welcome you all to this years’ Hogwarts staff!” The professors quickly silenced. “I hope you enjoyed our first meal together.”

Here and there Severus saw a nod. Rubeus Hagrid even managed to rasp an “Of course” between slugs out his massive cup.

“Since we are now a vast mixture of common and new members, I reckoned we get to know each other a bit better before the year starts.” A whisper went through the table of teachers.

Severus and his long-established colleagues vividly remembered the silly games Albus had made them play over and over again.

“I think a quick introduction, a few words about yourself will suffice for tonight.” Minerva paused. “Due to the recent events, I have permitted myself to take a few changes in structure and curriculum, so for the next year we are joined by mental-health experts.” She looked to the neat witch next to Poppy. “At Rolanda’s and Poppy’s request, I have also decided to include a teacher for the sportive students, who are less interested in performing Quidditch, whereas I do question their common sense.”

Severus smiled faintly at her words. Ever since he remembered the older witch, she had been overly-engaged in cheering for Gryffindor to win the Quidditch-Cup. Admittedly, he himself was competitive, ambitious, one could say and he was glad to have been able to smear the victory of his house into Minerva’s face for a few years. Of course, this had never felt as good as the year his friend Regulus Black, captain of the Slytherin team while Severus was still learning had beat the arrogant James Potter in Gryffindor team.

“I did include a little twist for our introductory round”, Minerva summoned a good amount of parchment snippets. “These are quotes I have collected from you throughout the years knowing you, for those whom I don’t know as long, I chose quotes that do not immediately give away they are taken from the interview.” She had the snippets fly to the staff, one for each of them. “Once you introduced yourself you read the quote and then it’s everyone’s turn to guess.”

Horace nudged Severus’ side. “Don’t give me away, Severus.” The elder wizard wiggled his eyebrows at his former student.

“I will be silent as the dead.”

Horace twitched. “Oh no, no. Please don’t say that, dear.” Severus felt his heart sting. For the past years, he had lived knowing he had to die, knowing he had to kill Albus, knowing there were few people who appreciated him. Not to mention his father or his bullies. He was aware Horace valued him as a wizard, he had not expected him to appreciate him as a human being.

“Can I go firs’, Minerva?”, Severus heard Hagrid holler in excitement, to which she nodded.

The giant Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures-Professor nonchalantly stood up. “Erm, well. My name’s Rubeus Hagrid an’ I am proud to stand ‘ere as the schools Keeper of Keys an’ Grouns, all thanks to Albus Dumbledore. Err, an’ I am also teaching the kids the Care of Magical Creatures.” He raised a hand to scratch his chin underneath the feral beard.

“Thank you, Rubeus.” Minerva gave him an affirming smile. “The quote?”

“Oi!” Hagrid unfolded the paper. “It says: I was expec’ing to see more blood today.”

Severus could barely contain the sneer, that was crawling the muscles around his mouth. He glanced at the very red, laughing Poppy, remembering the remark she had given towards the Slytherin-Gryffindor match a few years ago.

Against his anticipation, the quote-guessing game was a rather fun occurrence.

He found out Filius had gotten an anonymous love-letter the year, that the annoying Lockard had been employed, Pomona regularly talked to random cats around the greenhouses, hoping them to be Minerva, Maia Reed, the witch right next to Poppy had specialised in psychology at a muggle university and even though she looked so strict was a huge nerd for karaoke. Upon the mention of her degree at the muggle university the new professor for Muggle Studies shot her an envious look.

He, Baldwin Sivit, reminded Severus of Arthur Weasley, except he was less red-headed and did probably not have numerous children, he did however, raise the same energy, being all-interested in Muggle artefacts and such. Severus already knew he was not going to deliberately make friends with this person.

“Look, this one even copied his name on the test, we are teaching a year of dunderheads.” Severus shifted. He took a large sip red-wine and tried to look as indifferent as possible. Of course, all of the common professors laughed, knowing exactly, there was only one person in the room to be making these kinds of remarks.

Much to his surprise the small witch with the puffy locks snorted, before she blushed furiously. She searched the other adults’ faces with a curious look. As she reached his dark eyes, Severus couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her.

“Definitely him!”, she blurted out, pointing at Severus. Her voice was low, raspy, with a delicate accent, he could not match. And if he didn’t know better, he would say she had stuck his tongue out at him.

“Why would you insult a student like this?” Sivit glared at Severus.

Before Severus could speak – he had something along the lines of “It’s not an insult if it’s true” in mind – Minerva intervened. “Professor Snape slips sarcastic remarks every now and then.” She paused, inspecting both Sivit and Severus strictly.

What an understatement, he thought to himself, but Minerva quickly continued: “He however, beholds very high aspiration regarding his students, which usually results in very well-educated young adults.”

“Indeed, indeed. You have, to this day, excelled every student I taught. Besides, did I ever tell you? The students I took over, are without exception experts at basic-knowledge.” Horace nodded in excitement.

“Even Longbottom?”, Severus asked raising an eyebrow. He did not turn his head to face the Potions Master, but his eyes scanned the wizard to his side cautiously.

Horace didn’t answer, instead the witch, who outed him, started introducing herself. “My name is Lilou Frei, I am the new Transfiguration Professor, I have attended Hogwarts for my own education from 74 to 81, some of you might remember me”, she winked at Pomona Sprout, then searched Severus’ face for any emotion, but he kept a straight face. He did not remember Lilou, and he certainly was very displeased with her name. “After graduating, I spent my years in my mother’s hometown in Switzerland, studying the art of turning one thing into another and also turning myself into a duck, because honestly, who doesn’t like ducks, they are lovely!” She cupped her face with her hands, probably thinking of the ducks she was referring to. Severus could not recall having seen a lovely duck, ever. “Oh, and I have an undying love for bouncy castles.” She added straight-faced.

Severus couldn’t help but grin. Ducks, an undying love for bouncy-castles and that bubbly energy of hers. This year would be … interesting.

“My sentence says: You will not regret this; I can turn myself into a duck!” Lilou giggled. “Oh how very unfortunate. This is me!”

#Severus Snape #prosnape #snape appreciation month #snape fanfiction #snape fanfic #snapeloveposts #snape lives au #snapedom #snape x oc #hp

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weroboutteg · 4 years

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Megaman X FanFic

The story takes place during the Nightmare phenomena in X6. I intend to abolish the idea that Zero ‘had hid and healed himself’. Though my version is not altogether superior, at least I aim to make it more organic despite the fact that Zero was meant to be dead after X5. Lastly, this setting ignores the ending at X6, where Zero asked to be put into a long sleep.

Part I – Solitude is Breakable

X is in the middle of the investigation of the Nightmare incident as he is heading towards the north pole area to seek Blizzard Wolfang, one of the eight nightmare investigators, while Alia de-briefs X in a somewhat dismissive way, hiding her dark past with the said reploid.

Alia: X, Blizzard Wolfang can be proved challenging even for you, so do be careful if things went sour...

Alia said in a weary tone, which is unlike her. X notices her tone, decides to inquire further. X: What is it Alia, do you know him...?

Alia: Well... yes, I... Never mind X, just be careful. Hearing Alia’s dismissive response bewilders X even further, but he simply replied, “Noted, Alia”.

X traveled through the teleportation since the location is simply too far. The climate is punishing as X feels encumbered after fifteen minutes struggling to make his way through, his blue armor is now covered by thick snow. In the next hour, frostbite may be a thing had X is an organic being, his metal joints are immune to such triviality. He then accesses his data bank to search for his armors, and almost instantly, the armor from data turns into energies, and materializes into X’s previously blue armor. Attached with a flight unit in a shape of ‘V’ on his back, X turns pre-dominantly white with blue and yellow accents, a blue beak appears in his chest housing X’s green colored power core, and his gloves red – it's the Falcon armor. Now, he can stride mid-air escaping from the snow. Upon flying for some time, X met minimal resistance from the mavericks; however, since the nightmare virus is somewhat concentrated in this area, they are the bigger concern here. A virus, which is so strong that it decides to haunt the reality, tearing it apart and takes a physical form. Breaking the silence, Alia, being worrywart per usual, opens a transmission to X.

Alia: H-h-how is *static* over there, X?

Her transmission let out a discordant message and her words are hacked apart by constant static noise.

X: Everything’s fine so far. You’re breaking up.

As X’s voice also somewhat jumbled, Alia is slightly worried that he might run into trouble. She, then adjusts the frequency from her console back at Maverick Hunter HQ, she manages to clear most of the static noises.

Alia: Your voice is breaking up too. Could this be disturbance from the virus?

X: Doubt it, probably because of the weather here.

Alia: I see, my radar hasn’t shown up anything significant yet, by the way X...

Alia’s tone changes, as she wishes to talk about something important.

Alia: I owe you an explanation about... before, about my past with Blizzard Wolfang.

X: Alia, you owe me nothing, we can talk later once I returned.

Alia: Y-yes. That might be wise. I...

An intense beeping summons Alia’s , disabling her sentences – it’s a decent size nightmare signal.

Alia: X! I am detecting... *static*

The static decides to retaliate back. However, X heard just enough, X thought that it maybe the investigator’ signal. X readies himself and cut off the transmission, leaving Alia into the dark.

Back at HQ, Signas notices that Alia looks disturbed so he decides to investigate.

Signas: What is it Alia, is there something amiss with the mission?

A towering reploid amongst the staffs, covered in black predominantly with a cap, in black no less. His voice is stern and commanding at the same time.

Alia: Oh, n-nothing to worry about sir. It’s just I have something to tell to X after he returned. But it seems that X turns off his transmission, I heard statics, and then now nothing.

Signas: I see, is the information anything related to his current mission by any chance?

Alia: Not quite, it’s about the investigator he is about to face, I am familiar with him.

Signas: Is this before you become a navigator?

Alia: Yes, I am also familiar with his creator, a close friend of mine. Well, used to... when I was still a researcher.

Signas: Affirmative Alia, it would be best to wait after the mission then, do continue. X might open his channel again.

Alia slightly surprised being approached by Signas, nodded a yes to him, and continue to check X’s progress. Thankfully, the radar is still working, and she could see X’s signal is still active.

Not long after cutting out his channel, X is greeted by a medium-sized animaloid in a shape of wolf. Its appearance is menacing shown by not only by its size, but the pair of claws. The back of its upper body has fur... or precisely a thick, sharp crystalized fur instead of fibers. It’s currently standing with its four feet.

X closes-in a little bit and takes aim at the wolf figure begins to yell.

X: You there, are you the Nightmare investigator?

Hearing that, Wolfang replies with a soft-spoken tone.

Blizzard Wolfang: Indeed, I am and you must be X, I have been well-informed that I might run into you. What is it that the maverick hunters wish to do with me?

X: I want information about the Nightmare virus, what can you tell me about it?

Blizzard Wolfang: I did not take your group to be the curious type, I can tell you nothing about it. I am here in an important mission to repay my debt, as well to redeem myself. The past is the past, yet I aim to fix it however I can now, and that is by eliminating you, Hunter!

As Wolfang about to finish his sentence, his stance turns aggresive – ready to prowl. Noticing that, X decides that the diplomatic session is over. The silence is broken by Wolfang’s growl and the continuous hum from X’s buster then turns into an ear-rending noise, X takes his initiative by letting out a big plasma energy, throwing his right arm upwards upon releasing it. Being an animaloid, and well adapted to the terrain, Wolfang avoids it with relative ease, in fact he isn't shy to turn the table around by charging at X’s direction with intense feral look at his eyes, betraying his earlier soft-spoken demeanor. As he is about to reach X, he leaps readying his menacing pair of claws

Donned in the Falcon armor makes X flexible, he jumps backwards by a decent pace, avoiding Wolfang’s claw with ease; sparring with Zero has its fruits. Noticing the crackling energy starts to emit from X’s buster, Wolfang decides to continue his relentless assault, hoping to close-in into X within close-quarter, suspecting that the claw would reach into him before his buster is completely charged, as well as to shut off X’s shooting. Wolfang’s claw now met its match as a light green, crackling energy appears – resisting Wolfang’s momentum. With that, Wolfang pulls himself away from his assault, decides that there’s only one way to deliver his claws into X’s inner circuitries. Wolfang takes a prowling stance once again, but this time, he allocates his all of his power into his feet, hoping to create a momentum strong enough to break through X’s saber.

X being wary that Wolfang is about to leap again, decides to stay put and times his dash, hoping to catch Wolfang by his underbelly, as Wolfang always leap before closing in to melee. Being an experienced hunter, X quickly familiarize himself with his adversaries’ tactic. For a moment, the falling snow can be heard as the two figures mute themselves. Both know what they are about to do might be their final strike, and only one of them may walk only with some injury at best. This is it, Wolfang thought, as his feet can no longer sustain the burst energy, Wolfang leaps a bit higher, faster as a result of his feet’s power output, throwing himself into X and ready to deliver its feral retribution. Now it’s X’s turn, he dashes forward and leap into the air, catching Wolfang by surprise because X’s speed is faster than Wolfang’s CPU has simulated, then swings upward. Wolfang cried, but being stubborn not to let the pain give in manages to shred X’s left shoulder, revealing its shoulder joint, and falls to the ground hard releasing a gush of coolant and armor scraps. The mesmerizing, pure white snow now is tainted by the dark red color, almost black, from Wolfang’s coolant, while X also stumbles into the ground, letting out a cry of pain, as he notices that he almost lost his left arm completely had Wolfang’s momentum is not resisted. Having his abdomen slashed apart, Wolfang no longer could stand so he decides to give up trying and lie helplessly, embracing the softness of the snow, but he doesn’t feel cold, and notices that X is approaching, he let out a soft-spoken voice, back to his initialdemeanor.

Blizzard Wolfang: Heh, looks like I have failed my creator again, but at least, I... died a good death this time around, without any foul trickery.

X, looking suspicious, considering what Alia was trying to say for the last couple of hours began to probe with discomfort look in his eyes.

X: What are you implying this time?

Blizzard Wolfang: My first death was caused by jealousy by other researchers, and I was sent to my death in the ocean for that and my sins, failing to protect my team. The one who sent me to my demise was a researcher reploid named Alia.

X wasn’t expecting this dark past belong to one of his closest friends, but then X realized that he only has known Alia for... not so long only since the start of the Eurasia colony incident. Nonetheless, Alia remains close to him, as she has proven to be an expert navigator in X’s opinion, he retorts back, denouncing Wolfang.

X: I-impossible, Alia wouldn’t do that, she is not the type who would do that.

Blizzard Wolfang: Heh, just ask her yourself would you. What I told you was the truth, you could check my memory drive later, your choice. I thought I could redeem myself, but it appears I cannot move on from my past and get stuck there. Finish your job, Hunter, before I tear you into pieces!

Wolfang’s soft-spoken voice turned into feral growl just when he uttered his last words. Wolfang knocks his second death door without hesitation as his core shatters beyond recovery, while X looks at the scrap metals that used to be Blizzard Wolfang, clenches his fist feeling frustrated. Another good reploid that he sent to the afterlife – if such thing exists... It’s an enigma for both reploid and human alike, as many depicts the afterlife either a purgatory or paradise – none can really tell.

Being the original android left by Dr. Light for a century after his creation only to be awoken by Dr. Cain, then his design is used as a template to produce en masse the Reploid – Replicate Android. X feels a sentiment towards his reploid siblings; a moral responsibility mayhap because X blames himself for whatever turns the reploids into mavericks. Perhaps there is good reason why Dr. Light has originally intended to test X’s system for over thirthy years – making him immune to faulty circuits that turns reploids into mavericks.

As soon he receives a feedback in the comm, he calls for Alia.

X: Alia, this is X, send me back.

Alia: X! Is everything alright? You turned off your comm earlier!

X: Well, my left arm is about to fall off, but aside from that I’m fine. Wolfang doesn’t survive, Alia.

Hearing that X is injured and Wolfang now dead, again, Alia’s worry sinks her feeling of sadness over Wolfang’s demise.

Alia: Oh my... Right, I’m initiating the sequence now. Hold tight.

X’s physical body transforms into a light blue energy, and with that he left, leaving only his footprints on the snow – the scene in the vicinity turns silent for good...

As X retains his physical form, he opens his eyes, greeted by a door with the Maverick Hunter logo on it, begins to walk towards the command center to give quick report. Walking through the hallway, X attracts other staffs’ attention as they couldn’t help to wonder, while glaring at X’s left arm that almost gives away its last screws, only be hold together by his other arm. What did he fight to get badly damaged like that since X is an experienced hunter among the rest, in fact he is one of the S-Rank hunters class just like his late friend, Zero. Finally arriving in front of the door, X enters the command center, still holding his exposed shoulder.

Signas: X! Shouldn’t you go to the infirmary before reporting in?

Alia, being the most worrywart in the group, joins Signas’ concern.

Alia: He is right, X, you look pretty bad.

X: Don’t worry, I’ve been in much worse, I’m sure my shoulder should be fine in no time.

X then proceeds to his report about Blizzard Wolfang and the nightmare virus, but not about Blizzard’s past.

Signas: I see, I believe it’s safe to assume that the other six investigators would not be cooperative at this point. But if there is a slightest chance we can work together, please try X. Our lack of information about the virus is making us desperate.

X: Understood, sir! Now if you both may excuse me, I have to get Lifesaver to look into this.

Signas: Acknowledged, you may go X. Good job out there.

With that X leaves the room, heading towards the clinic, while Alia follows. She couldn’t help, but to feel a bit uptight since Wolfang might have said something, but unsure how she would talk to X. As X enters the clinic, he notices there are other patients, one human and one reploid, they are both hunters from the 08th unit. Perhaps something went wrong with their patrol mission, X hopes that nothing goes wrong with his 17th unit. X returns his attention to the green reploid wearing a labcoat attending to the injured reploid, and soon after walks up to X, as he finished administering the patch, then greets X.

Lifesaver: X! What happened this time, huh?

X: Uhm yeah, I got clawed by a large wolfloid, I was not expecting that I only lost my shoulder at that point.

Lifesaver: Damn right, you are darn lucky that your left arm is still even clinging to your torso.

X grins towards the doctor, as he shares his experience with Wolfang, and then Alia enters the room.

Alia: X, I... we need to talk...

Hearing that, X turns backward only to find Alia looking away from his gaze. “It’s going to be that talk again, huh”, thought X to himself. The hard talk, which happened now and then, usually when X sustained heavy battle damage after a mission. It’s simple, and in fact natural that a navigator to care deeply about the hunter, romance or not, as the navigators’ job is to make sure that the hunter to return, as intact as possible.

X: We can talk in my private quarter, after I’m done here. Would that be okay, Alia?

Alia: R-right, of course. I will wait outside.

Alia is enamored with her emotions that she forgets that X still needs attention from Lifesaver, she decides to leave the operating room, to wait outside while she collects her thoughts together.

Lifesaver: How you two been doing?

Lifesaver asks with a sarcastic grin, hoping to get something out of it – as if something important depends on it.

X: H-huh, what do you mean? We are fine, well... everything is a little blue for the moment for everyone, and for me especially since Zero’s body hasn’t been found.

Lifesaver doesn’t expect that the innocent topic turns to end in a somber atmosphere. Now he feels a bit uptight, while trying to dismantle X’s shoulder joints so he can repair his skeleton, and to see if the joint is dislocated due to the heavy shock. But knowing X, his shock absorber should be able to prevent it.

Lifesaver: *Ahem* Everyone feels the same X, I’m sure of it. In the case we find his body, I will do my best to do what I can to help.

X replied with a sorrowful tone, “Thanks, I appreciate the sentiment.” and smiled afterwards, not wanting to make the conversation to be bleak. About an hour or so, the repair on his left shoulder casing is done, but his left shoulder armor has to be checked by Alia since only she’s capable of doing the work, as Dr. Light, in his holographic form entrusts Alia to be the only capable to work with X’s special armor parts. Lifesaver proceeds by telling X to check his shoulder movement, and asked if anything feels to be out of comfort, and X replied with a confident no, and he left the room, before appreciating the doctor with a warm “thanks”. As soon, X appears, Alia approaches him, but her CPU is still working hard processing her frustration.

Alia: So... how’s your shoulder?

X: Yep, it’s solid now, but I need your help with the broken armor, sorry Alia.

Alia: Yeah, I’ll look into it, do you want me to do it now?

X: It can wait, perhaps we should talk? How about we discuss things in my room?

Alia replies with a weak nod and both leaves the clinic.

The two walks side-by-side without talking, as Alia is still busy with her own thoughts, while X is the same. They aren’t used to the quite now, since Zero is gone, as his bod hasn’t been found in the Eurasia drop site. Everyone, especially both of them are still mourning to Zero’s death. They believed that it’s a matter of finding his body and hope for the best that his DNA survives in the aftermath, then it’s a matter of rebuilding the body and the memory chip, hopefully still intact, will do the rest. A reploid is considered to be dead, when their soul – DNA in this matter is intact as it contains his/her personality, whereas the memory is intact as long the memory drive is. The body and their CPU are the only hardware that can be simply rebuild, except for X and Zero that is, as both of them are original Android with more sophisticated system than the rest of the reploids.

As the pair reaches the door, X enters his passcode in the control panel besides the door, while Alia looked away, trying to be polite, as only Signas and Zero knows his passcode. X notices this, couldn’t help but to feel the deafening silence begins to bother him too much, decides to tear the silence apart hoping that would lighten up their moods.

X: Heh, haven’t we known long enough?

Alia: I suppose so, but still, I would prefer my privacy to be respected if I were you.

X: Right, as you please Madame Alia.

She appreciates the light-hearted sentiment, and let out a chuckle.

It’s what would you expect from a character like X, the room is clean, his collections of books are superb, ranging from literatures and histories from various historical timelines. It appears that books are his way of distracting himself from all the chaos outside. Aside from that, not much about his room. X is a very busy individual, as he has been in the HQ for most of his lifetime, except for tiny breaks, but it is known to Signas that X has never taken a day off, even in peace times. He is a workaholic, driven by his ultimate desire – a peaceful existence that’s going to last. However, he also keeps his CPU occupied so he can escape from thinking of Zero’s absence. Upon entering the room, X sits on his bed and removing his helmet, allowing Alia to sit on the chair, and initiates the conversation.

X: I know you have something to say to me Alia, and this is not going to be easy for both of us.

X takes a pause, before continuing.

X: Before I put him down, Wolfang mentioned your name. But before you talk, I want you to know that nothing is going to change, as you will remain to be my navigator, and I will always rely on your help during missions. You are valuable to me, Alia.

Alia is perplexed at first, but somewhat relaxed after X reassured her about nothing is going to change between the two. Before she responds, she takes a deep breath, as her CPU processes all this, and finally ready to send back the output to Alia’s voice transmitter.

Alia: So, he mentioned my name, huh? Well here goes nothing. I was a researcher before I came here, in the field of reploid specifically.

She explains briefly about her past as a reploid researcher, and mentions Gate. How close they once were, but after several incidents, Gate sees Alia as a rival, pushing her away and the other researchers, while Alia continues her work diligently, earning favors from her peers. Finally, she shares her dark past.

Alia: … I was deceived by my peers to dispose Wolfang, shortly after the incident when Wolfang had just lost his team members in a Maverick attack during his mission. I was told that Wolfang had gone maverick after the incident, believing that he was infected during the assault. During one of my deployment, he came along, we were supposed to take a ship to the north pole area for a study; however, I also, in disguise, asked him to collect samples in the ocean prior to our arrival at the north pole facility, and that’s when I had the chance to dispose him. I cut off the link to his pod, and locks him within. To spend his time at the bottom of the ocean until he expires in... the pod... I...

Alia voice becomes shaky, as water droplet forms in her eye sockets, letting out a drop at first, but then turns into stream of water. It is unknown how a reploid could shed tears, but it is common knowledge that they can feel pain – emotional pain. In her sobbing voice, she continues the story.

Alia: I thought I was doing the right thing, but in the end, I feel something was wrong upon returning from the charade only to find out that Wolfang has been checked by Gate that he is free from Sigma virus. Since then, I... never felt the same about the others. Wolfang is not the only one... X... I... I...

As she fails to continue, now both her hands cover her face, X walks to her side, put his left hand to her back, gently rubbing it, just like a parent would comfort their children when they woke up from a sudden thundercrack.

X: I think I got the idea, Alia. I also was shocked when Wolfang mentioned your name, and I found myself at great disbelief that you are involved. Look, the past is the past, we will be fine.

Hearing this comforts Alia for the moment, she stops crying at the very least, as she rests her palms on her thighs, and continues her story, as she hasn’t finished with her burdens.

Alia: Thank you X, I needed that... But, there’s one more, the one that was investigating the central museum, I was also responsible for his disposal.

X is shocked that Wolfang was not the only one. Alia gazes towards X’s bed, avoiding X’s eyes, perhaps making her easier to continue.

Alia: I was also responsible for the disposal of Ground Scaravich. He was sent by Gate to study the site where Dr. Cain has found you, and as I was there, I know that I had to take him out, as protocols dictated. That was the first instance that I actually murdered someone behind their back, and I have been trying to move away from it, but I can’t.

X notices Alia’s palms begin to form into fists, and it shakes heavily, and X could hear that Alia begins to sob again. He remembers the first time he was deployed, a construction mechanoid was rampaging in the city. He aimed at it, but only able to shake, hesitating to take a shot because there was a reploid hunter held by one of the mechanoid many arms. Just like how Alia’s hands are shaking right now, maybe not for the same reason, but it was a similar sentiment, known as fear of guilt. The difference is, Alia pulled her trigger, while X didn’t at that time. X, figures that Alia needed emotional support, otherwise her questioning towards herself would not stop, just how X is experiencing, he kneels in front of Alia, and hold her hands tightly, showing assurance, letting out a soft-spoken tone, yet his eyes is serious.

X: I am glad that you share this with me Alia, before you plunge yourself into the ocean of doubts, as I’ve had done multiple times. In fact, I often still do it out of habit, and then Zero would be there for me to listen to my ramblings about world peace and those sorts of stuff. However, let me reassure you, I believe that you did nothing wrong, and you were simply act out of morality – you did what you thought was right for everyone and speaking of personal experience, I... *letting out a sigh* I know how difficult that is, to stick with our guts and face the consequence, the guilt that harbors deep within my conscience, which makes me question a lot about myself, to ask myself, if I did the right thing.

Alia’s previous sobbing turns into cry, and throws herself towards X. She is glad that she is carrying less burdens after opening it up to someone for the first time, and she was glad that the person is X, her closest friend in the HQ since she is assigned to the Commander of the 17th unit.

X responds by embracing her hug, rubbing his hands onto her back and head, as X sympathizes with her. X is by far more sensitive than most of his siblings. Is this the intended act of Dr. Light or perhaps this is X’s true potential, the best example of a truly sentient android, capable of feeling emotions just like any normal human being.

Alia continues her crying for fifteen minutes, while X patiently sits there with her, caring for her, and begins to realize that he cares for her deeply, similar how to he feels about Zero, but different altogether. He is not sure what it is actually that makes it different for as far as he knows, he understands that Zero too feels this feeling towards Iris. Alia has stopped crying, begins to talk with a very soft tone.

Alia: Well, thank you X. Thank you for listening to me, I feel much better now.

Alia pushes herself away from X, and stands up to sit back again on the chair, while X returns to his bed. Silence returns to the room, making both of them feel awkward.

X: Good, anytime Alia. I figure that you need the support just how I felt when I was down.

X let out an innocent smile, unbeknownst to Alia that X is capable pulling this, despite the fact he always looked serious for most of the time. Alia begins to blush, slightly surprised, yet finds his smiles comforting after what just happened few moments ago. Both of them realized that they have just grown closer, their bond manifest into something else, but they don’t know what to call it as both of them have never experienced what human would call love, perhaps Alia is more familiar with this. To break the awkward silence, Alia begins to speak, showing her shyness.

Alia: Well, uhm, now everything’s good, I’ll go check up your Falcon armor. Send the data to me, and I’ll see what I can do by tomorrow morning. Later X.

X replies with a quick thanks, as he feels something within him, but unsure what that feeling is. He decides to ponder it for some time, and gives up trying, and turns to the books. Meanwhile Alia heads to the armory, hoping that she could begin the repair. As she enters the room, she is greeted by a BANG, and quickly run towards the source. A green reploid, darker in tone in comparison than Lifesaver, covered with black soot, with broken glasses above his eyes – the Chief Engineer, Douglas with another failed experiment it seems. Who knows what he’s working on this time? As Douglas notices Alia’s presence, he lets out a huge grin and greets her.

Douglas: Heya there, what brings you here?

Alia: I need your help to repair X’s Falcon armor parts... what you were up to this time?

Alia asks with a teasing smile, but Douglas seems to take her smile to be innocent enough.

Douglas: Uhm, well... I thought if I could try to make a buster weapon similar to X’s. But, as you can see, my version could only contain so much energy until it gives up and, well... as you can see.

Douglas points out to what was left of his buster experiment – scraps of metal, which turns Alia’s grin to chuckles.

Alia: Well... it takes more than one tries, I suppose? X’s design isn’t normal by any means.

Douglas: Yeah, I suppose, but let me clean my workshop so we can begin... we ain’t gonna build the whole thing, yeah?

Alia: No, no, just one of the shoulder armors, some maverick decided to remove it from X during their fight.

Douglas: Yeesh, those folks really like to add things to my work.

Douglas is cleaning up his mess as he replies to Alia, and she decides to help so they can begin soon.

It takes them the remaining day to build just a shoulder armor, imagine how long does it take for Dr. Light to design and build all of those X’s special armor parts. Who knows, as Dr. Light is no longer here for more than a century, leaving X alone in an unpredictable future, entrusting him with his ambition.

The next day, X decides to investigate the Amazon area, but before he rolls out, Alia looking somewhat exhausted hands out the shoulder armor.

X: Oh wow, you weren’t jesting when you said “tomorrow’ morning”. Did you get enough rest last night?

Reploids don’t need sleep, but just like any hardware, a peaceful rest always helps.

Alia: I thought the sooner the better; you may find this useful in the Amazon area, especially with the area around ravines.

X: Thanks, point taken. Be right back.

With that X leaves the command center, off to the Amazon area, again through teleportation, as Alia returns to her console to support X. After a while, X finally encouters the investigator, an insectoid reploid in the form of green dragonfly – the investigator is wearing a red visor to imitate the said insect. With not much said between the two, X’s buster is filled with thunderous energy, X sends a powerful plasma ball towards Commander Yammark, the Nightmare investigator. X misses, then Yammark retaliates by commanding his small dragonfly robots to shoot back in an imppresive formation. The fight goes on like this as the two exchanging shots, the kind of fight that X excels, and this time is no different, as Yammark’s chest takes a direct hit from X’s fully charged shot, and tumbles down to the ground – lifeless.

Just as X is about to open a channel back to Alia, suddenly a blast of energy from sky above lands on X. X manages to avoid that one, and takes notice a Black, decent-size maverick that he has encountered before, just after the Nightmare incident starts to appear near the Eurasia crash site. The black reploid is known as High Max, as X has fought with him before with no luck. High Max’s body is resilient, almost rivals to Sigma’s robustness. As High Max comes in hard to X, assaulting him with his barrage of plasma, X takes evasive maneuvers mid-air, and soon transforms into his black and translucent blue – the Ultimate armor. X realizes that he needs all the power he can get to pierce through High Max’s revoltingly resilient armor. Still in mid-air, X throws himself, embalming his body with a powerful yellow energy, towards High Max, and to his surprise, High Max manages to resist by summoning an energy barrier to absorb X’s powerful Giga attack. Before X descends to the ground, he grabs the Z-Saber, and attempts to strike Max only manage to scratch the paintjob of Max’s right arm. X lands hard onto the ground, as Max releases a powerful jab to X’s temple. Just as X recuperates, he dashes away, as now the ground that he just hugged turns into crater after High Max bombards it.

X decides to attempt a breakthrough, if plasma energies won’t do a thing, then he should try hit Max with something else, something hard. X charges his buster and dashes around, avoiding Max’s barrage, and as the buster is ready, X takes aim and releases a giant boulder towards Max mid-air. Unable to reacts, Max suffers from the force impact upon his body, and stumble to the round only to be greeted by X’s Giga attack, this time takes the full force. High Max’s paintjob is his least worry now, as his armor cracks, while X lands to Max’s back, and already with a charged buster, releases a thunderous, giant ball of plasma towards Max. Unable to move at the moment, Max could only throw his Death Ball towards the plasma in hope to keep the plasma at bay; however, upon impact, the burst of raw, wild energies explode, throwing them both with a great force. As soon as High Max’s armor begins to fall off, he quickly teleports away, retreating, as X collapses to the ground, his Ultimate armor, this time gives in due to the impact. His display turns red, indicating that he is badly damaged. X quickly opens his channel, requesting for immediate evac.

X: A-A-Alia, send me back n-n-ow.... my system is in c-c-critical.

Alia: X!? Hold tight, I’m initiating the sequence as we speak.

X drops to the floor, unable to move – his damage is severe, as his power unit refuses to work upon landing on HQ. Alia, already with Lifesaver, as well as a stretcher ready to carry him to the infirmary. X is still conscious, running from his backup power supply, but it’s not enough for X to stand up as his power is almost depleted after fighting Commander Yammark and High Max. Alia’s hands hold the stretcher tightly, couldn’t help to feel very worried, but unable to mutter a word to X, instead, she let out tears from her right eye followed by the left.

There’s not much left that she could do, as Lifesaver is taking his time to assess X’s damage, and begins to work. Feeling very worried about X, she decides not going to leave him alone, so she grabs a chair, and tries her best to distract her from the worry by doing minor work on her work pad. She is distracted, but by something else, by her deep feeling towards X. She felt this before, towards Gate, but it has never transcended into anything but a bitter rivalry in the end. She is not sure if she should express this feeling towards X, as she fears that one day when X doesn’t come back to HQ, she is worried that she might not be able to recover.

An hour passes, as Lifesaver’s look is still intense, but Alia couldn’t tell if X is safe from his critical situation or perhaps the worst has yet to come. Another hour passes, and Alia gives up trying to work from the pad, as her CPU is at its full capacity, processing her dilemma. Alia walks into the waiting room, hoping to be able to clear her thought there. An hour and a half pass, Alia now determined to stand by with X no matter the odds just when X has just liberated her from her deepest, darkest fear. She wants to give back to X. Something.

After another hour has passed, X walks out from the operating room, looking pretty fine, except for his cracked armor, which will be up to Alia’s hands again... and Douglass too. With one hand on his head, X looks disoriented, and Alia immediately comes to his side, allowing X’s hand to hang on to her shoulder.

Alia: X, how do you feel?

X: I-I'm not fine... not yet anyway, Lifesaver may have patched me up, but he decides that my auto-repair will do the rest by tomorrow.

X notices that Alia’s eyes are wet, and before she speaks. X continues.

X: But don’t worry, I’m gonna be just fine. Sorry for making you worried.

Hearing that makes Alia feel relieved, and she wipes her eyes with one hand before speaks again.

Alia: Don’t worry about it, X. What happened out there?

The two now are walking out, heading to X’s room as Alia continues to escort X, his hand still resting on her shoulder.

X: High Max ambushed me after I finished Commander Yammark, and... yeah, I made him to retreat, but I was barely surviving.

Alia: Oh my... that was unexpected, I didn’t pick up any signal from him in the vicinity.

X: He must be equipped with something that allows him to go in and out under the radar. Geez, that guy’s armor is really something.

As the two reaches X’s room, Alia escorts X to his bed and she is leaving.

Alia: Well, glad that you are back with us X, get some rest now, would you?

X: T-thanks Alia, I will. Talk to you later.

Before leaving, Alia smiles at X, and head back to her own room.

Her room is tidy, even more so than X’s room, as she also has her own collection of books, mostly about reploids, as she used to study and research about reploids before she meets X. Her head is clear now, as she has stopped worrying about X, she decides to do some paperwork before hitting the bed early.

Meanwhile, X now currently sleeping, begins dreaming. At first, he dreams about Zero as he misses him dearly, couldn’t help to feel lonely after his death – fighting alone by himself, but then another figure approaches, this time... to his surprise it’s Dr. Light, his appearance is exactly similar from his hologram in the capsule that X found.

Dr. Light: X, how do you do?

X: You... you are my creator, aren’t you?

Dr. Light: Indeed, I am my boy, how are you holding up?

X: I don’t know to be honest; I feel that the fighting just keeps coming, and now I lost Zero. I simply don’t know if I can fight all by myself.

Dr. Light: I am sorry for your loss, X, as well as the fact that I cannot help you further aside from aiding you through the capsules; however, I am glad that you are questioning yourself X because that’s what makes you strong. Strong in our own ways that is.

X: How come you see this a strength instead of a weakness, I don’t understand.

Dr. Light: X, strong leaders throughout histories always ask themselves, to question themselves is a mean to check their sense of humility. Because without humility, they are arrogant, and arrogance creates vulnerability. If you have the sense of humility, that’s when you are at the strongest X. Do remember that you are not alone, even without Zero, it appears that you there’s already someone else who cares at you, and you care for her.

As the dream ends, X wakes up with a mixed feeling, a feeling of confused, happiness, sadness, all mixed together, but he doesn’t stand up from his bed, as his CPU is processing all this. X curls up on his bed, refusing to wake up, as he continues to ponder on his bed for some time. His recovery rest isn’t finished yet, but now he is somewhat recovered enough to exit his room, he walks up and without realizing, he comes across Zero’s private quarter, and he walks in.

“Zero, I miss you bud, we all do...”, he speaks to himself. Then he walks out, this time he stumbles Alia’s room, and without realizing what time it is, he knocks. Alia, to her surprise as of who knocks to her room at this time, as she is in the middle of removing her armor plates. She yells, “Hold on, I am changing”, as she quickly removes her last armor plate, and adorns her civilian clothing to cover her black inner suits, which all Reploid wears when donning their armor plates. Her clothing is nothing fancy, as she grabs whatever is within her reach, a pink T-shirt and an olive short, and she opens the door only to bewildered even further to see, it was X, assuming that his recovery cycle would be until tomorrow morning. X then asked if he could come in, and Alia, still bewildered, comply nonetheless. As she walks to invite him further, and before she could talk, this time X lunges forward and hugs Alia from the back. Shocked with X doing that, but can’t deny that she’s surprised in a good way. She begins to so speak, a little bit flustered.

Alia: X-X, what happened? I thought your wake-up time would not be until tomorrow morning at its earliest.

X returns with a soft whisper, mumbling

X: Thank you for today.

Alia: W-why, but of course X, don’t mention it. You also helped me a great deal yesterday...

Before Alia could finish her sentence, X interrupts with his soft-spoken tone, stopping his mumbling

X: Thank you for caring for me, I just realized how important you are to me right now, especially since I lost Zero. I hate to think that I have to fight alone, and without Zero... it’s proven to be challenging.

Is this what they meant by confession!? She thought to herself. Despite X’s sad circumstance and how he feels about losing Zero, she is happy that she is here for him. Still blushing and flustered, she replies to X.

Alia: X, d-do you mind letting go of me? I notice that you are still heavy with that gear of yours. Please remember that I am a non-combat operative.

X: Certainly, I’m sorry. Do you mind if I sit down? My body feels heavy.

Alia: Of course, you silly, you are supposed to rest now, not coming to my room to tell me this.

As Alia was talking, she walks onto her bed, and sits there, facing X eye-to-eye.

Alia: But... I am glad that you came by here to tell me this, it means a lot to me as well. For some time, I have been caring for you, but since yesterday, I... my feelings for you grow for some reason.

This time, X starts to stammer, mustering all the confidence that could get before continue speaking in a flustered manner, removing his previous demeanor.

X: Oh... uh... me too Alia, I guess I don’t like the idea of being alone anymore, not after losing so much conflict after conflicts, as fighting by myself makes me doubtful about myself. Without someone to help me to find answers to my endless questions, I just feel... weak and hesitant. And it occurs to me, that it seems I feel for you too. I care for you, just how I care for Zero, but... it’s different altogether. I just feel the need to talk to you and to spend time with you more often. I’m sorry if I’m confusing you.

After hearing this, Alia smiles gracefully towards X, stands up, and hugs him. Of course, she knows what he’s talking about, she too feels the same way towards Gate a long time ago. Though she never was in a romantic relationship before, she knows what love is despite she only possesses an artificial heart – her core, yet her feelings are genuine.

She lets out a soft whisper, “I know what you are trying to say, X, and I have been asking myself if I could bring this up to you.”. She put her face closer to X, and closer until their lips connected. As they started kissing, X feels warmth for some reason. Finally, X understands what this is, this feeling of happiness, it’s different than friendship and brotherhood that X shared with Zero. This new feeling transcends that of camaraderie, this is what we refer as an intimate love.

As they have finished embracing each other, X complains how heavy Alia is, probably because of his auto-repair is still running, rendering X to be in a weakened state. Yet, Alia is not amused with his insensitive comment, which resulted her to be slightly upset. X notices this, and quickly explains that what he meant was him being too weak to even support Alia’s bodyweight even without adorning her armor plates, and Alia quickly realizes that X really needs to rest, and she walks with him back to his room, and drops him off outside his room. Before leaving though, she gives a very tight hug, turning X’s face to red, not literally, but relieved that nobody is around at this hour to witness them aside from the security camera.

Unbeknownst to them the HQ members are running a bet behind X and Alia’s back, to see whether or not they will become a couple, one of security officer at that time noticed this event from the back of camera lens, smirked, and with a big smug on her face asked for her winning money against her male colleague, “Curses, I thought they are strictly professional”, he retorted to his friend who is now grinning.

The next day, however, Signas being a very happy man himself, smiles widely. He wins a lot of money, as he is also part of the bet; in fact, it’s rumored that Signas, the Man in the HQ is the brain behind this. The mood in the command room, in a sense, also becomes joyous, as people in the command center know the best what transpire between X and Alia; hence, they also get the payday, while Lifesaver gets some from Douglas. As the pair comes into the command room, they can’t help but feel as if they are attracting a lot of attention, oblivious of the fact that everyone is betting against them behind their backs.

#megamanx #megaman x #x6 #x/alia #fanfic #romance #character development #alia x #relationship development #megaman x fanfic

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masshirohebi-moved · 5 years

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@super-kame-love asked: "Do...d'you still love me? I mean, in any way a'tall?"

This time, the question hadn’t been unfounded. It hadn’t crept up from her paranoid thoughts one night, and materialized on the air without any further prompting. They had been particularly volatile to her these last few days. Or were they weeks? They can’t remember, they have lost the ability to separate themself from their spite and anger. Her fault, it was all her fault. Or so they had thought. But they are starting to question their own emotions more lately, have brooded over the complexity of their own heart. It had been so simple before she came. No one could dent their impenetrable armor, no one could say or do anything to rub them the wrong way. Then she came, and suddenly, their eyes opened up to the side of the world they had fled from as a child. Was it sympathy? No, it isn’t selfless enough to be that. Perhaps, just greater consciousness. With this however, comes the added baggage of caring. That weakness will be the death of them.

It had all begun with her comment. When she had caught them with a man they had found interest in. When she had loudly declared them to be a queen cat, and a few other choice words that described them as feral, desperate and whorish. From there, she had clearly taken to the name, how pleased she must have been to be the first shinobi alive to live through insulting the viper. To coin the phrase and leave them stuck with the label. For she had thrown it back in their face again, the next time she met them in a bar surrounded by strangers. Drunks however, were easily amused. And if their pride wasn’t wounded enough by being called such a thing in public for the second time, it certainly had been gutted when they decided to leave. When walking out in to the street causes them to spot a group of snickering men. At first, they assume the group to be calling a stray cat, the ‘kss kss kss‘ pet call falling from a mans lips. And then, when the serpent finally realizes it is them that the men are calling, the group follows their game with a few ‘here, kitty, kitty’, for no other purpose than to rub salt in the wound. The men evidently pissed, and genuinely amused by the call out they had witnessed in the bar. They don’t know what they regret more, not beheading the group on the spot, or having let the comment stop them in their tracks. To have stared blankly at the group in unshed fury. It hadn’t bubbled over the surface and in to their gaze until they returned to their group. And since then, their mood had never lifted. A comment such as that would never had irked them before. They would have found a way to turn the joke around. They would have twisted the strangers game in to their own game. They would have found sadistic amusement in proving themself immune to others. As the days have passed however, they begin to wonder if perhaps it is not the men at all that bother them. But instead, that the reflection has them wondering more and more what she thinks of them. Since they are juvenile at the worst of times, they can not offer this truth to her and work it out. They become bitter, they become ratty. Everything they put down is with a touch more force, because they know she hates noise. The kettle slammed to its post, the laboratory tools or cooking cutlery all dropped loudly to clang against the sink. When they cook, for they refuse to eat anything she touches, it is a steady sound of volatile quickness. She isn’t permitted in to their chambers, the summons about hissing with obvious threat, the room sealed when they are not in it. Even their work place has become locked off. Only their figure passing through the web of seal work binding the laboratory. They don’t greet her when she passes them, they barely greet anyone. Kabuto is perhaps, the only one they speak to. Quick words, short sentences. They disappear without anyone knowing, and the prison cells have become abundantly empty. While their experimentation has declined, so has their patience. Uncalled for comments, hands snatching at them through bars - all crimes that warrant execution.

"Do...d'you still love me? I mean, in any way a'tall?" She has caught them in the hallway, midway through the thoughts that had kept them up most nights. They had caught word she would be leaving, but they can not tell if it is mere rumour, or if it is true. To their knowledge, it was well known that she was the one who had caused the serpents mood to shift so terribly. And with their mood being such, the hideout itself became just as volatile. They imagine, since she was the easiest person to blame, the current residents had snatched the opportunity. She wouldn’t be a favourite within the dark labyrinth. While everyone else may be thinking how much they disliked her, the Sannin had been stuck on the opposite. They couldn’t let her leave. They know that now. They had become too dependent, and perhaps admitting to that weakness gave them the opportunity to rise from it. As she had once told them, you couldn’t fix a problem if you did not admit it was there. Now they had admitted to it. Now came the task of securing themself despite this weakness. Which only needed one current question to be answered: what would make her stay? The answer is easy, she has said it a hundred times or more. She wanted them. And right now, they feel as if she has won. That thought however, is not a bitter one. They can admit defeat, she had been a worthy opponent. “I’ll do it.” The words are spoken after a brief pause, golden eyes without any previous anger, that had lost its flame. Even self pity and defeat had ached away. This feeling, was entirely new. Good or bad, they could not tell. But certainly, they were in motion again, and nothing scared them more than being stuck in a cycle they had no control over. So perhaps losing, was its own form of winning this time. The only way to break out of this mess. “I’ll marry you.” For what was marriage? They could not claim it to mean nothing to them, and then simultaneously fight against it. That was like a child never parting with a toy they never played with. Illogical. Besides, they didn’t find her unattractive. They liked her dark skin, they liked her curly hair, they liked her more durable build and honey brown eyes. They had merely never felt a connection due to her nature. Submissive, a push over - fragile. But if they had learnt anything this year... it was that they had greatly underestimated her. That instead, she was far more resilient than they were. And when they had tried pushing her over, she had pushed back so hard that she toppled them off their high and mighty throne. It’s a final realization - she had won, she had beaten the devil at their own game.

#||○MISSING-NIN-❝every face wears a mask❞#super-kame-love #/long post

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p-artsypants · 5 years

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Rage Awakened (1)

Ten years ago, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus lost their fellow apprentice, Sora, in Deep Jungle. Now, they are to return with two new students, Riku and Kairi, to lock the heart of the world. All the while, something watches from the trees. Feral!Sora AU

Ao3 | FF.net

This was inspired by @chachacharlieco and @violetstar-writes Tarzan AU, but just Sora. I just got a new job, which is just daydreaming for ten hours a day, and I came up with this. I will write it on my breaks, but I have no idea when the next update will come!

The Land of Departure. Home to Master Eraqus and his seven keyblade warriors.

The oldest was Terra, 28, a Master. He specialized in brute strength and using his environment to his advantage.

The second was Aqua, 27, the first Master. A mage with a gift of elemental magics.

The next oldest was Riku, 23, the third Master. He had been chosen by the keyblade, but fell to darkness before he could wield it. Once he recovered himself, he came to Master Eraqus to train and banish the darkness from himself.

Next in the line was Ventus, 22, a boy who had been studying under Eraqus for years. He had arrived in the Land of Departure with no memory of his past, and no darkness in his heart. Though he is not a master yet, his strikes continue to be the swiftest and most accurate, though not always the strongest.

Next was Kairi, 16, a Princess from Radiant Garden. The newest student under Eraqus. She, like Ventus, has no darkness in her heart. Many in her home world believe that’s why she is able to wield the Keyblade.

Finally, the youngest: Sora. Able to summon the keyblade at the age of three, the youngest anyone had in known history. Though, this is all that anyone knows about him anymore. The memories of those who knew him are bittersweet, and therefore, forbidden.

As of late, the students had been busy on the field. Darkness was growing, taking over and swallowing worlds. The job of the keyblade warrior was to go out, find the heart of a world, and lock it with the keyblade, forbidding the darkness from overwhelming it and taking it over. So far, their efforts hadn’t been in vain.

But as Master Eraqus waited for everyone to return from their latest missions before assigning more, the pupils began to worry that something was dire.

They assembled in the foyer, preparing to depart for the next assignment.

“I want to express my pride and gratitude for all the hard work you all have done in these hard times. Because of your efforts, almost all the worlds that were in jeopardy have been saved. Though some were lost to the darkness, we cannot dwell in what was.

“There is one world left that needs to be locked. It requires all of you to go. Terra and Aqua are prepared to administer the Mark of Mastery exam to Ventus during your mission. Riku, your job will be to accompany Kairi whenever the party separates. This world is treacherous, and should not be traversed lightly.”

“Master Eraqus,” Terra spoke up. “Though you gave Aqua and I instructions on what to look for in the exam, you didn’t actually say what world we were going to.”

Eraqus looked down to the floor, hesitating. Finally he answered, “Terra, it is the world in which you took your Mark of Mastery Exam.”

Aqua and Terra both gasped in shock and fell silent.

Riku, Kairi, and Ventus studied the reaction quietly. Aqua often talked about her exam, and everyone had been around to witness Riku’s, but when questioned, Terra would simply supply, “I passed, that’s all that matters.” Eraqus and Aqua didn’t elaborate on it much either, only saying that the exam itself was a success, but something tragic had happened immediately afterward that was still too painful to talk about.

Even ten years after the fact.

“Master, surely there’s no reason to lock that world? There’s no people there.”

“Whether or not a world is worth saving is not up to you to decide. I do understand your concerns and reservations. But as keyblade wielders, it is our job to protect all worlds from the darkness. No matter how rugged or barren it may be.”

Kairi was the brave one that spoke up, “Master? What happened that was so...traumatizing?”

Aqua, Terra, and Eraqus looked at each other, considering. Finally, Eraqus answered. “Ten years ago, not long after Ventus came to be with us, the five of us travelled to this world, Deep Jungle.”

“Wait, the five of you? Eraqus, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.” Riku counted off on his fingers. “Who was the fifth?”

“Sora. A former wielder.”

Kairi, Riku, and Ventus all gasped.

“There was another one?” Asked Ventus, “Why haven’t you ever talked about them? And...why don’t I remember?”

“It’s still too painful to talk about.” Terra admitted.

“When you first came here, Ven, you weren’t really all there.”

“I know,” he agreed. “But I thought I would be able to remember a whole other person.”

Aqua smiled fondly, though it was bittersweet. “Sora loved you. When you were introduced to us, he started asking questions a mile a minute, so much so that you started crying because you were overwhelmed. He did his best to make sure you were always included in things. He actually got you to smile and laugh.”

Ventus felt his heart ache. “Really? How old was he?”

“At the time, he was six.” Eraqus explained. “Sora was...a prodigy. He was able to summon a keyblade at only the age of three. He couldn’t even speak in full sentences, but he was swinging a full length keyblade around.”

“At three years old? That’s amazing!”

“It was remarkable. The youngest in recorded history. He came from Riku’s world.”

“The Destiny Islands? Really?”

“Yes. It took his parents some convincing. I assured them that his training would be light until he got older, and that he would remain safe...but...” He trailed off, thinking. “It was the first world we took Ventus to. All of us went. Besides Terra’s exam, I thought it would be a good way to bond. When the exam time came, Sora and Ventus stayed behind at camp. And when we returned…” Master Eraqus stopped, clenching his eyes shut and shaking his head.

Terra continued for him, seeing that Eraqus was having a hard time speaking. “When we came back, the camp was trashed. The tents were ripped to shreds, Ven was scratched and bloody, and Sora was nowhere to be found. When we asked what happened, Ven totally shut down. We searched for three days, but all we could find were his clothes, ripped and covered in blood. Ven found them first, and held them the whole way home. He finally came around to speaking three weeks later, and when we broached the topic of Sora, he had no idea who we were talking about. It seemed like the event was so traumatic he unintentionally blocked it out.”

Ventus wanted to cry. His hazy memories at the beginning were often a sore spot for him, but to completely forget a person? A friend? It was heartbreaking.

“Since that incident, I had placed a ban on Deep Jungle, but now since you are all capable of protecting yourselves, I am lifting that ban, with the hope that you will lock the heart of the world, and return safely. And for Aqua and Terra, the world may provide you with closure.”

“Yes Master,” everyone agreed with a bow.

—

The flight was quiet. This was the first mission on another world where everyone was present. For this occasion, they borrowed a gummi ship from Disney Castle to get everyone there together.

“What’s Deep Jungle like?” Asked Kairi, breaking everyone’s thoughts.

“Well,” said Terra with a little laugh. “It’s a Deep Jungle. The trees stretch up hundreds of feet, and there’s all kinds of vines and plants everywhere.”

“We set up camp in a bamboo grove when we went. But, it might be a good idea to set up somewhere else instead.” Aqua posed. “There’s no telling how much the world has changed since we were there.”

“There’s no people there?” Kairi clarified.

“No, but there were a lot of gorillas, if I remember correctly.”

“Gorillas!?” Ventus and Kairi shouted in unison.

“Now don’t get too excited!” Aqua reprimanded. “They’re still wild animals. This isn’t the zoo, and they will rip your arms off if you get too close. If you see them, leave them alone. Along with any other wildlife you see. We still don’t know what trashed the camp and took Sora. It could be anything.”

Despite Kairi’s efforts, the ride fell silent once again.

—

They landed in the evening. The light fading under the canopy of leaves.

“Well, doesn’t like we’re going to get much searching in for the time being.” Riku noted, peering up to the treetops.

“You’re right,” Aqua agreed. “We best find a place to camp first, and then we can begin our search in the morning.”

All together, they started hiking through the brush, taking care to watch out for snakes and other creatures.

Kairi did her best to take it all in, the patterns on the leaves, the flowers desperately sprouting among the tree roots, the vines that twisted and tangled together to create lacy patterns.

She stopped suddenly at a vine that looked brown, and oddly like a rope and not a vine. She followed it up with her eyes, and then announced to the group, “Hey, what if we camped up there?”

The group halted and followed Kairi’s point, only to see a tree house sitting in the branches of the huge tree next to them.

“I don’t remember seeing that the last time we were here.” Terra thought aloud.

Riku summoned his armor. “I’ll go check it out, make sure it’s stable.” He transformed his keyblade into a hover board and ascended into the trees. A few minutes later, a boat lowered to the ground. “Hop in!” Riku shouted from above.

They went one at a time, just to be safe, until everyone was up in the tree.

“Wow, this place is really nice!” Kairi exclaimed, looking over the multiple floors.

“That’s not the word I would use,” said Ventus, staring at the moss growing on the wall.

Aqua spoke with Terra. “So there are people here after all.”

“At least there were at one time,” he winced. “Who knows how long this has been here?”

“At least a few years, considering the wood rot.” She kicked at a wall at the corner. “But it looks stable enough.”

“Hello?” Kairi shouted up to the rafters. “Is anybody here? Do you mind if we camp here for the night?”

“Don’t bother, Kai,” Said Riku, “this place is totally abandoned.”

“I don’t know,” said Ventus, looking over some barrels and crates in the corner. “There’s some good stuff here. It might still be occupied.”

“What person in their right mind would live in a place like this?”

“If they aren’t expecting guests, I’m sure the place would look like junk.”

“Hey, check this out.” Riku shoved a crate out of the way, revealing a fireplace made of rocks and clay built into the wall. “Looks like we’ll stay nice and toasty, and Ventus can make us Hobo pies.”

“Yay camping!!”

The group set to work setting up camp. There was no need for tents, but the boys strung up mosquito nets for some protection. Aqua and Kairi laid out the sleeping bags and stacked crates to make a dressing area.

“If someone built this treehouse here, there must be water nearby.” Riku posed, “Aqua come with me.”

“Why me?”

“It’s only appropriate.”

“Oh haha.” She said sarcastically, picking up her canteen. “Then I expect everyone else to get started on dinner while we’re gone.”

“Yes ma’am!” Ventus saluted.

Terra and Ventus worked together to put the ingredients for dinner together, while Kairi climbed up on the second level, which was just a balcony.

There was a pile of rags laid out on the ground, and she wondered if it was supposed to be a bed.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move.

“Hello?” She called.

“Yes Kairi?” Asked Ventus from below.

“No...I just thought—never mind.”

Soon, the sun set, and the team called it a day. They sat around talking for a little while, the excitement of all being together in a new world buzzing between them.

“We should get to bed,” Aqua reminded, motherly. “The sooner we get up, the sooner we can get started looking for the heart.”

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man, healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Ventus parroted, like a good noodle.

“Ah,” Riku chimed in. “But early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, but socially dead.”

“Good night everyone!” Terra shouted, ending the argument.

—

Kairi was an early riser. Awaking with the sun. Ventus was usually shortly behind. Eraqus had theorized that it was the light in their hearts that resonated with the early sun. That theory was held strongly, considering Terra and Riku were often up late into the night, and therefore up long after breakfast had been made.

Just as usual, Kairi was the first to wake at the crack of dawn. The sun’s rays filtered in through the gaps in the wood of the walls. She blinked once, twice, and then realized what she was seeing.

A pair of eyes were staring into hers, watching.

She screamed, as expected.

The shriek woke everyone in camp, as well as scared off whatever had been studying her before she had the chance to get a good look at it.

“Geez, What gives Kai?” Asked Riku, just barely awake.

“I was—there—it was—something was staring at me!”

The rest of the team looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

“Did you forget we’re in a jungle? I’m sure there’s lots of things watching us.” Aqua tried to pacify.

“Oh great, thanks for bringing that up. Now I’ll never get back to sleep!” Terra whined.

“Oh grow up. We should all get up and get to work already. This isn’t a pleasure outing!”

“Hey Kai, do us a favor and next time you make eye contact with something, try not to scream, okay?” Riku muttered, still moments away from falling back to sleep.

Kairi didn’t respond. She didn’t bother. But she knew one thing for certain:

Those were human eyes, and they were the bluest she’d ever seen.

#kingdom hearts #sora #Kairi #riku #terra #aqua #ventus #feral!sora #kingdom hearts 2 #kh #kh2 #Birth By Sleep #deep jungle #tarzan au

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sollea · 5 years

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Dolorem et Consolationem Ch6

Ch1, Ch2, Ch3, Ch4, Ch5 - Read all of it on AO3 Words: 2086 Brief sparring, near-berserk, dark corridors.

“Pick up that keyblade and fight me,” Isa stated as he held his claymore behind his back with one hand, large weapon held off the ground as if it was nothing. He didn’t even have to berserk to make it look like the heavy claymore was being lifted with absolutely no effort.

Lea thought back to when Isa was learning to really wield the weapon and how often he’d need to split that scar open just to use it. Saïx had always been a force to be reckoned with and Axel had never been willing to let himself be left behind, despite Saïx’s racing forward. Looking at Isa and that sword, that sword that wasn’t quite the same as it used to be, made Lea feel a deep sense of dread.

Sparring should have been a fantastic outlet, it always had been before, but fighting Isa just kept ending with his keyblade launched across the field they had decided to use. Again, he summoned it into his hand, wiping sweat off his face with his free hand. Watching a weapon vanish and reappear into his hand was something of a comfort, a reminder that it was harder to disarm him than simply knocking something away.

“You gonna go at me for real this time?” The irony of Lea asking Isa to go full out wasn’t lost on Lea, but that didn’t really matter. “You gonna hit me with everything you have?”

Isa relaxed his stance while looking at Lea from across the field. Lea couldn’t see it, but he knew Isa rolled his eyes at him. “Incredibly bold to act like I’m not. What I’m not hitting you with is everything I don’t have. Now fight me for real if you’re going to talk like that. You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t drop that tendency to play defense every fight.”

“Oh? You want me to take the lead, then?”

“Yes, Lea. Yes. This isn’t banter, this is actually what you have a problem with.”

“Alright, I’ll take the lead, then,” Lea said with perhaps too much emphasis on the first half of the word ‘lead’ as he began charging forward, dropping his keyblade and summoning chakrams mid-run. He twirled them in his hands once before throwing the first one, watching with frustration as Isa blocked it easily as he moved back into a fighting stance.

Had he always looked so feral when fighting? Lea didn’t like that the answer was no. There had been a time where he’d struggled to learn an unfamiliar weapon, there had been a time where Isa didn’t sound like he was growling while attacking. At least without berserk, he wasn’t yelling for Lea to get back…

Lea pushed thoughts away as he threw the second chakram at Isa, willing them both to disappear as he took his keyblade with both hands and slammed it down towards Isa, hitting the claymore.

“I said fight me for real, Lea!” Isa’s voice was a growl as he pushed away the keyblade easily. It was as if Lea wasn’t putting any fight into pushing down against the claymore. Isa could easily block any hit with how sturdy Lunatic was and Lea knew that. It seemed to be annoying Isa, Lea could see it in Isa’s face as he stared at his best friend instead of the weapon that had just been knocked from his grip.

“Why are you letting go of your weapon? You’re losing distance and protection, Lea.” It was too obvious that Isa wasn’t trying to fight at his full ability, Lunatic was dropped immediately after the keyblade was dropped. Isa could have easily swung his sword directly at Lea to finish the match.

Lea’s fingers twitched as he stood in front of Isa. He locked eyes with the other man, summoning his keyblade and holding it up, tilting Isa’s head up with the tip. “Maybe I’d try harder if you did.”

Isa took the threat as if it was nothing, because it was. No real fight would ever allow for an opening like that. He sighed. “I’m fighting you off without trying.”

“So you admit it? You’re going easy on me?”

“Of course I am, I’m not about to throw my sword into a fully formed and living man who isn’t trying to fight back.”

Lea made his keyblade vanish and Isa relaxed, looking at Lea with a tired expression. He almost looked disappointed and that hurt Lea. Having Isa disappointed in him wasn’t something he wanted and it had been his suggestion, sparring to try to feel better. It wasn’t on Isa that Lea regretted that suggestion with every fiber of his being.

“Alright, mind taking a raincheck on this one?”

“Lea, if you’re not comfortable sparring me, you can just tell me.”

“Nah, I’m fine,” he said, jumping back to get back to a starting position. Spinning his keyblade as he summoned it and moved it to rest against his back. He grinned. Anyone else would’ve fallen for his cocky grin, Lea was sure of it, but he could see the concern on Isa’s face, veiled only by slight irritation. “I’m not here to chicken out.”

“Perhaps it’s for the best that we stop this.”

“I told you, Isa, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Alright, if you say so. You wanted me to go all the way, is that right?”

“Yeah! ‘Course I do! Maybe if you actually tried to fight, I’d be able to focus an-”

Lea was interrupted by Isa speaking while he straightened his stance and looked up to the sky with both arms outstretched. “I call on the-”

And, just as Lea had been interrupted, Isa was as well. “Isa, stop it!” Lea dropped his hands to his sides, letting go of his keyblade yet again.

It was obvious Isa hadn’t fully expected Lea to interrupt him and Lea hadn’t expected to react at all. Lea looked down, staring at his hand as he tried desperately to summon his keyblade back into his hand again. His breathing had turned sharp. He looked up from shaking hands and stared right through his best friend. “Isa, stop it…”

Isa dropped his sword, letting the clang of it hitting the ground sound as he rushed to Lea’s side. Lea could barely comprehend what was happening while his heart continued to race, bracing himself for impact when he processed that Isa was running towards him.

“Lea, I stopped. I stopped.” Isa reached out a hand to touch Lea’s shoulder gently, feeling the pain when Lea flinched. “You look like you need your charms again.”

Lea pushed Isa’s hand away as he managed to catch his breath again. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not. I’m worried,” Isa spoke softly as he reached again for Lea’s shoulder. “You haven’t let me see you hurting since the kitchen, Lea. We need to talk about these things, you can’t just ignore me.”

“This’s a chicken hate crime.”

Isa blinked and tilted his head. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“This is a chicken hate crime. You heard me, Isa.”

“Lea, did you hit your head?”

“Nah, but you’ve hurt my heart.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I dunno, I’m just saying stuff now. Don’t need the charms, I’m fine.”

Isa sighed and shook his head, cupping Lea’s face gently, placing his thumb where the upside down tears went. “Talk to me.”

“I thought I could handle it in a sparring condition, alright? It’s nothing really special, I’m just being a chicken.”

“Demyx is a chicken.”

“Yeah, so? There can be two of us.”

“No, you know what a chicken looks like. Running away from problems, fights, everything. You don’t do that.”

“Isa, stop it.”

“Lea, stop telling me to stop.”

“Ah, yeah, right. Uh. I really just don’t want to bother you. You went through so much to help us. You got Even to bring Xion and Roxas back after everything that happened. Hell, you helped train Xion to hold her own even better than before, as if that was necessary. What’ve I done for you? Make you wake up in the middle of the night to find me contemplating… tearing out the heart you fought so hard to get back for me? Really cool of me.”

Isa ran his thumb over Lea’s cheekbone and sighed. “Don’t apologize for being hurt, Lea.”

“I’ll apologize for whatever I damn well please.”

“You don’t need to. What’d I tell you when I found you in the kitchen?”

“Uh. That I’m an idiot and needed to stop crying?”

“Lea.”

“I don’t remember. What was it?”

“You wouldn’t expect that from me, would you? If I hadn’t gone and done something that big to help, you’d still want me home? Would you tell me to leave you alone if all you had was my asking for forgiveness?” Isa began to move his hand from Lea’s face, but noted the movement of Lea’s head towards the moving hand and decided to leave it there. “Stop expecting more from yourself than you do from others. I can handle you not wanting to fight me. I’m sure seeing Lunatic is bad enough without me calling for help from the moon. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Isa, stop with the apologizing. Thought I wasn’t going to get anything outta you after you got back.”

“I never said I wouldn’t apologize, just that you’d never hear me admit to something so ridiculous ever again. I’m proud, but I want you to…” Isa stopped mid-sentence, trailing off and looking past Lea. “I could explain how it works, would that help?”

“Berserking? I dunno, I’m pretty sure that’d make it worse. It’s terrifying, I know you think it is too.”

“It can be, yes.”

“Then I don’t want to hear it. I just don’t really want to see you do it for now, that’s it.”

“I can do that for you.”

“Thanks.”

Lea raised his hand to rest it over Isa’s, taking in a deep breath. It was easier to calm down than it normally was, gentle touches from Isa helping an immeasurable amount. Standing in the middle of a field and fighting back tears wasn’t exactly the kind of fighting that had been planned for that day.

“If you’re done with this,” Isa said, moving his hand back down to his side. “We should head home.”

“Huh? Yeah, alright. Sounds good.”

Isa reached out a hand towards Lea and Lead, with some hesitation, grabbed the hand and held it tight.

Ienzo had no explanation as to how Lea and Isa could still traverse worlds through use of the corridors, they’d asked and he’d tried to figure it out. There were theories about what had happened, but that’s all they were and it didn’t really matter. Isa raised his hand and summoned a dark portal, leading Lea through the deep purple. They walked along swirling ground carefully, continuously moving forward to avoid getting overrun by the darkness.

With Isa leading the way, he found their exit easily, new portal forming to let them leave the dark world. Their exit wasn’t the home Lea had expected, lights from street lamps filled his vision.

“Twilight Town?”

“Don’t you want to see your family? Remember we’re all safe? There’s nothing to be afraid of?”

Lea couldn’t help the smile that seemed to return to his face. “Yeah, good idea.”

“You go invite them to the clocktower, I’ll be back with ice cream. Like we did a few months ago? But without the other kids preferably, no offense to them.”

Lea squeezed Isa’s hand before letting go with a nod. “Yeah, just the family. I think Naminé’s been hanging around in Twilight Town too, so grab an ice cream for her? Just in case.”

“You have a phone, I could just wait.”

“No, I think you should grab her one and just risk the extra.”

“You can just tell me you want an extra Isa cream for yourself.”

“Huh? What’d you say?”

“Another ice cream? Lea, go get the kids. Go.”

“Okay! Get an ice cream for Naminé!”

“Of course. It’ll take you a longer time to get them.”

Lea blinked and looked to the side quickly, thinking. “Ah, you’re right.” Lea grabbed Isa’s hand to tug him close, kissing his cheek before jogging off backwards, waving and watching Isa roll his eyes then laugh. Lea turned around with a warm feeling in his chest. He had a family again, even if it was missing some things.

He pulled out his phone to call Roxas.

#kingdom hearts #lea #isa #leaisa #akusai #next chapter's gonna have the kids

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temptation-narnia-chronicles · 5 years

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From Upon the Golden Thrones

Episode 29: To The Bone

Peter sucked in a deep breath as he sat outside brandishing his sword under the stars. He thought of his family and his home, of everything he held dear, when the door swung open and a figure cloaked in darkness approached. “So, I heard you wanted to talk?”

A part of him felt incredibly pissed off that it had taken Bone this long to come and speak with him but now that he was here, the High King was not about to complain. He patted the space next to him, inviting Bone to sit, and surprisingly enough he accepted the offer. Then, leaning back, Captain Bone knocked loudly on the window and summoned Rosalie, requesting a pint of ale and two mugs. She nodded and scurried off to fulfill the request.

“Has she always been this obedient?” Peter asked, eyes locked on his sword. He didn’t expect to sound as harsh as he did but was partially grateful for it. He supposed all the pent up frustration of the day was acting on it’s own accord.

Bone scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Rosalie is of no concern to you” he remarked. “And I’m sure that’s not what you were whingeing on about all day, either.” Peter rolled his eyes, a part of him beginning to regret ever wanting to confide in this man. He seemingly had no respect for anyone, not even his own king. Peter continued brandishing his sword without a word. “I don’t have all night, you know” Bone said. “All this time and now you won’t even tell me what the hell you wanted. Typical.”

“Fine” Peter sighed in exasperation. “I wanted battle advice seeing as how you undermined all of my plans and therefore wasted my day. You made both myself and my men uncertain of what we had previously decided on and now we can’t even decide on an alternative tactic.”

The captain listened with intrigue before chuckling darkly. “And how is that my fault? I simply directed your attention to the flaws in your plan for the sake of your men’s lives. It really bothers you being wrong, doesn’t it?”

“That’s not what this is about!” Peter shouted. “You undermined my authority and made my soldiers question their leader.”

Captain Bone then shrugged and replied, “That’s just politics.” He was really starting to get underneath Peter’s skin, the magnificent groaning and burying his face in his hands. Behind Bone’s mask, he was grinning. “You said you wanted advice on battle tactics, so I have a proposition for you: why not try backing down and returning to that glittery castle on the shore and letting the real men handle a fight of this magnitude.”

It was bad enough when Bone insulted his title, but now his masculinity? Peter was veering closer and closer to the edge of his sanity. “What do you mean ‘real men’? Do you dare to deface my skill? I was knighted by Aslan himself! I fought alongside him in the Battle of Beruna against the White Witch and her armies. I am the High King, dammit! And this is my land, regardless of what you think. I have every right to fight for it’s safety just as you do, if not more.”

“You don’t have a single clue what you’re up against, boy” Bone countered. “You would be better off sticking to what you know, sitting on a fancy throne and kissing babies. Stop trying to be all high and mighty just because you’re a king. You can’t possibly fight a battle that’s too big for you. I don’t care who knighted you, or what your credentials say. Your skill is no longer important. My seniority ought to be enough to make you think twice of your commands, your majesty. You don’t always know best, you know.”

Bone expected the young king to fire back at him, but instead Peter simply paused a moment, shook his head, and chuckled under his breath. There was a hint of sadness in his voice as he muttered, “I’ve missed this.”

The captain froze, unsure if he heard the king correctly. Perhaps it was all just a trick of the ears and he was hallucinating. “What did you say?”

It was then that Peter realized how ridiculous a thing it was that he had said. “It’s nothing” he replied quietly. Then, furrowing his brows, he asked, “Have we met before, Captain Bone? I can’t help but feel like there’s something about you that’s awfully familiar.” He couldn’t put his finger on it before, but now it was clear to him. It was in the man’s words where he found it, memories of a night long ago at Aslan’s camp. The humid night air suffocated him in that tent, his heart pounding out of his chest and the diadems of that necklace digging into his palms. He remembered her face, red and angry. She wanted to know why he wouldn’t let her fight alongside him. I think I at least deserve an explanation as to why you’re treating me like…like some child!, she had shouted. My seniority ought to be enough to make you think twice of your commands, your majesty. I’d be an invaluable asset to Aslan’s army and you know that. Peter remembered how angry he had become, how hard it was for him to just tell her that he loved her. How difficult she always made things. Your skill is no longer important, he fired back. Your disobedience, however, is! Why can’t you just listen to someone other than yourself for once in your life? You don’t always know best, Eilonwy!

Bone studied the magnificent’s face for a moment as Peter dwelled on the past. His question bounced around inside his head, screaming. Have we met before, Captain Bone? The rugged man scoffed and jerked his head so as to face in the opposite direction. “Blasphemous. I wouldn’t dream of associating with the likes of you and your family.”

The defensive tone, the certainty, shut down Peter’s suspicion immediately. Why did he ever think he had known this man once before? The more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn’t possibly place him anywhere in the timeline. There was no way. Perhaps he was more of a reminder, a phantasm of the familiar, than a relic of the past. “Perhaps not, then” he replied, but then added quietly, “You really do remind me of her sometimes, though.”

Captain Bone rolled his eyes at the prospect. “I remind you of no one, your majesty. There is no one else quite like me anywhere” he muttered sourly. Somehow, that defiance made him an even stronger reminder of that girl Peter once knew and loved.

A few moments of silence then enveloped the king and this rogue, and in that silence Peter’s mind began to spin. Somehow the grave reminder of his lost lover opened the flood gates he had fought to keep locked for the past year. Now everything was spilling out at a rapid rate and Peter was powerless to stop it. He couldn’t believe he was doing this, but he sucked in a deep breath and asked the question anyway. “Captain Bone, have you ever heard the stories of Princess Eilonwy the Pure?”

Captain Bone scoffed and shook his head. “The name sounds familiar but I don’t waste my time reading history books.”

I should’ve known, Peter thought. “She was the youngest daughter of the last reigning king and queen of Narnia before Jadis took over. Legend had it that she was the sole survivor of the massacre that killed the entire royal family and led to Jadis usurping the throne” he explained. He could tell deep down, Bone was trying to decipher why the young king was telling him all of this, so he then added in a much softer, more sentimental tone, “You remind me of her.”

The moment the sentence spilled from Peter’s lips, he was met with a wide-eyed gaze from the Captain. It was perhaps the most emotion he had seen the rogue elicit thus far, and perhaps the least threatening. He had forgotten that not everyone knew of Eilonwy’s true story, of that wretched curse. Somehow Captain Bone’s presence (or maybe it was just the ethereal atmosphere) made him feel as if he didn’t need to filter himself of fantastical thoughts, but then he reminded himself he was just growing lazy and tired and that Bone was an unforgiving man who certainly did not believe in fairytales.

“I mean, you both have the same ruthless nature” Peter quickly corrected himself. He could feel Bone’s soulless eyes boring holes into him, however, and suddenly Peter decided he didn’t care. He had hardly been honest about Eilonwy during the course of his bereavement and now, knowing he may very well die in the next few days, he no longer cared about restraint. With a sigh, he began explaining everything. He told Bone of his family’s journey from a far off world and the role Eilonwy played in their fight to restore Narnia. He explained the way in which he fell in love with her, this feral warrior of the woods. Bone seemed rather indifferent to the tale, almost bored, until Peter reached the case of Christmas, of the proposal gone wrong. “She disappeared on Christmas Eve night, saying she couldn’t do this any longer. I suppose she felt as if she didn’t really belong there, with me, as if life in Cair Paravel wasn’t meant for her even though it was her true home. I haven’t seen her since. It’s been so long.”

There was a certain brand of pain Peter’s voice that piqued Captain Bone’s interest. If Peter hadn’t known any better, he would even guess that it scared the man, though for whatever reason he was unsure. He turned to the king and looked him dead in the eyes, the eye contact shocking. Peter felt exposed and vulnerable in those moments, like a mouse staring back at a tiger eyeing him as prey. Bone’s voice was softer now than usual, as if any louder volume would shatter the moment, and Peter grew terrified of what he would say next. He feared that Captain Bone was about to reveal a drastic, life-changing secret to the king about love and life and the way of the world, but instead he simply asked, “What did this girl look like again?”

Peter blinked a few times, then rattled off the details: short, no taller than five foot, with wild dark hair reaching her hips, pale skin, thick brows, eyes like the bark on trees, crooked teeth, knotted muscles and sharp bones poking from beneath her skin. Bone watched the young king carefully as he described this girl, the look on his face as he recounted everything about her. It was clear he truly loved her, that the time and distance between them meant nothing in regards to his feelings. As Peter sketched her out in his mind, as vivid as ever, his heart ached and he felt himself fighting back tears. In that moment, nothing else mattered. His hands itched to hold her in his arms again, to be hear her laughter, to brush her hair from her beautiful face. He felt as if his heart was breaking all over again at the mere thought of her.

Bone nodded slowly as he pieced together all the details Peter fed him. And then, after a moment of silence, he muttered, “Yes, yes…I remember her.”

Peter’s ears immediately perked up. Remembers her? How? He stared upon this rogue with wild eyes, gripping his shoulders. “What do you mean you remember her? How? Do you know where she is? Tell me everything, or so help me—”

“Calm down” Bone commanded, shoving Peter off of him. He straightened his dirty leather coat and caught his breath before explaining. Peter would need all his strength for what he was about to hear, anyway. “She trespassed on my property last winter, if I remember correctly. She looked scared and confused and she was bloody defensive, begging for refuge. A complete mess, if I’m going to be honest, after being attacked by a pack of wolves who were once Jadis’s secret police. We guessed they may have been rabid, by the looks of things. I didn’t want a damn thing to do with her. I wanted to let nature take it’s course—survival of the fittest and whatnot. Of course, Rosalie begged to differ and I couldn’t argue with her. We took her in, but she was damaged beyond repair. Rosalie did everything in her power to help her but it was no use. Your friend, Eilonwy, died that night.”

There was no way this was happening. The words rang in Peter’s ears like a haunting, foreign lullaby. Your friend, Eilonwy, died that night. Eilonwy died. His heart was racing and his hands began to shake and he swore he couldn’t breathe. Tears choked him but he refused to let himself cry. None of this was really happening. It couldn’t be. Maybe he had the wrong girl. Maybe this was someone completely different. Maybe his Eilonwy was somehow still out there, alive and well. After all, how much could he really trust this Captain Bone anyway? But then again, how many more like Eilonwy were out there? She was one of a kind, irreplaceable. There was no one else quite like her anywhere, not in this world or his own. It had to be her. Every memory of her flickered through his mind at warp speed, every argument and horrific moment highlighted. He should’ve been kinder to her. He should’ve taken better care of her. He should’ve told her he loved her sooner, and he never should’ve let her run off that night. If he had known that was the last time he would ever see her…

Perhaps the worst part was the way in which she had apparently died. Taken down by a pack of rabid wolves. “What an awful, underwhelming way to go…” he murmured. It sounded so unlike her. It wasn’t like Eilonwy to not fight back, to accept defeat and beg for help. If Eilonwy had to die, he would’ve thought she’d more likely be taken down by a skilled enemy, a noble death in combat where she’d fight until her very last breath. The death of a true warrior.

It was clear that Peter was having an internal crisis, that he was dying inside at the mere thought. More importantly, however, Captain Bone knew that Peter was bargaining with himself over the reality of the subject. Of course he didn’t believe any of this. How could he? Bone didn’t know the true extent of his suffering, but he knew enough to understand that Peter had held onto hope all this time. There was only one way to fully convince Peter of the truth. Captain Bone reached into a pocket and dug around until he pulled out a small scrap of cloth, red on one side and invisible on the other. A piece of Eilonwy’s cloak. “I don’t know what it means to you, but this was all that was left behind of her if you care about it.”

Peter snatched the fabric from the man’s hand and stared at it longingly, rubbing his thumb against the crimson velvet. This was the last bit of her he had left, the last bit of her he would ever get. He remembered the day she got that cloak, when Father Christmas presented them with gifts to prepare for the impending war. He gave her this red cloak and a little box with a scrying stone. He wondered what ever became of that box, and what he would see if he pressed his palm to the stone and willed it to show him whatever he pleased. He wondered if it would show him the truth, if it would replay her death for him cinematically. He didn’t think he wanted to see it. He wanted to remember Eilonwy as he knew her then: unpleasant and determined and earthy but beautiful.

“I know this is hard for you” Captain Bone stated after a long silence, “But I want you to know this isn’t going to make me sympathetic toward your dumbass ideas. This is the past. She’s gone and you can’t change that. I wouldn’t dwell on it if I were you.”

A hard rock of anger lodged itself in Peter’s chest. He set his sword aside and rose from the porch, clenching the fabric in his fist. Without meeting Captain Bone’s eyes, he growled, “I doubt you’ve ever loved anything in your entire life, so I know you won’t understand. But so long as Eilonwy is dead, I’ll never feel alive again.” And with that, he excused himself to the outhouse. Bone watched him for a moment longer, but felt no sympathy or regret. Peter needed to know and if this affected the way he fought in the coming days, then that was his fault. He couldn’t change the past. It was finished. He was granted closure and now it was time for him to move on.

But he couldn’t move on. Not yet. All that time of believing she was out there somewhere, that she would eventually make her way back to him, confess she can’t live without him. Now it was all for nothing. Peter slammed the outhouse door shut and locked it so that no one would know what he was about to do. He was all alone in the dark, tight confinement. The moment he was certain of his solitude, he let himself completely break. All the tears he had held back spilled down his cheeks with monstrous wails, kicking and pounding at the walls with so much force his knuckles began to bleed. He felt like he was trapped in the worst nightmare except there was no way out. He couldn’t just wake up to find everything was alright. This was reality and he hated every second of it. His entire body was trembling and his stomach churned. He leaned over the toilet convinced he was going to be sick. Snot rested on his upper lip and despite the freezing temperatures, sweat beaded on his brow. He clutched that little scrap of fabric all the while, refusing to let go. This was the last shred of her he had left. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and tried to envision her standing before him, every little detail, in the sudden fear that one day she would fade from his memory and she would forget the color of her eyes or the feel of her grip or the taste of her lips or the sound of her voice murmuring she loved him when she was sick and he refused to leave her side. He needed to cling to all of these little things before he lost them, too. The reality of everything suffocated him. He was never, ever going to see her again. Eilonwy was dead and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

#happy crying!#t: futgt #t: futgt c: twenty nine #narnia #the chronicles of narnia #fanfiction #narniaff

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bigmuuk-blog · 6 years

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Kroq-Gar and the Last Defenders

What follows is a short story written by me to be used as a script during the production of a YouTube video. The video is the beginning of the Last Defenders campaign in Total War: Warhammer 2 - Mortal Empires video game. I played and documented the actions I chose, the effects of those choices, the AI's actions and the events I observed during my gameplay. I included my knowledge of the Warhammer Fantasy World's lore to flesh out the story. With that said, enjoy the story and feel free to leave constructive critcism.

Kroq-Gar strode up the main thoroughfare toward the huge temple at the center of Hexoatl. Each of his strides were slow, but long, methodical and rhythmic. Almost as if he were marching to the sound of a drummer that only he could hear. His dispassionate gaze never strayed from his line of travel, as if nothing could distract him fom single mindedly pursuing his mission. The skink priest sent to escort him scurried to stay ahead of him. He was trying to escort him as commanded by Lord Mazdamundi, but it seemed as if this Saurus didn't even know he was there. What was not known to the priest however, was that this "saurus" had spawned in this very city thousands of years ago. Kroq-Gar had become a Lord of Legendary reputation when he and his brethren had fought to the last man defending this city from the hordes of Chaos during the wars following the "Great Catastrophe", long before this skink had emerged from the spawning pool.

Before they reached the Great Pyramid Temple, they came to a place in the road where there stood two full contingents of the Temple Guard. They were all Armed with great halberds and armored in gold and bone plates. They stood silently, blocking the way forward. Behind them, the great floating palaquin of Lord Mazdamundi could be seen gently bobbing on the magical energies used to move the enormous gold and stone throne. When Kroq-Gar and his escort approached, the two units of Temple Guard wordlessly opened a pathway between them as they wheeled to face each other. When the movement was complete, each guard lifted his halberd and quickly slammed the butt on the ground. The maneuver was so perfectly timed that only a single thunderous "boom" could be heard. Before the Saurus Lord proceeded, he saluted the highly revered Temple Guardsmen and his salute was returned by every one of the guards in unison before a single heartbeat had passed.

On the other side of the Temple Guard units, he found the Legendary Slann Priest waiting for him. Lord Mazdamundi, sitting cross-legged atop his floating palaquin, was dressed for battle wearing his ceremonial helmet and wielding his scepter that doubled as a mace. His skink attendants were near his side, and behind Mazdamundi, Kroq-Gar saw other units of lizardmen warriors in marching formations. It was clear to Kroq-Gar that Mazdamundi was setting out on an expedition. When Kroq-Gar reached a point approximately three sword lengths from the front of the palaquin, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

Kroq-Gar's consciousness was filled with the voice of Mazdamundi as if the Slaan were speaking directly into both of his ears at once. "Rise Mighty Kroq-Gar, I summoned you not for your submission, but to fulfil your part in the Great Plan". Kroq-Gar stood. In his mind's eye he could see images flashing by. Images of Chaos Warriors and demons marching into the world of man from the wastelands. Images of Dark Elves raiding costal settlements and herding slaves onto their ships. Images of Beastmen attacking caravans and plundering villages. Images of Vampire Lords spreading their vampiric corruption from behind armies of those who had already fallen in battle. And worst of all, images of Skaven, the most hated enemy of the Lizardmen. The vile rat-men had returned to spread their diseases and plagues across the land.

Kroq-gar growled at the revelations Mazdamundi was presenting to him. "Yes Kroq-Gar, the servants of evil and chaos again seek to unbalance this world. Again we must got to war".

Kroq-Gar's one word reply was both question and answer, "Where?".

Mazdamundi had forseen the Saurus Lords reply and had barely paused to receive it before continuing on. "The Southlands are in peril. The area is without leadership. The Geomantic Web is weak. Go there. Rebuild the web so that it's strands will again join with those of Lustria". Mazdamundi spoke in short sentences to avoid overwhelming Kroq-Gar's mind. While he was a very gifted Saurus, he was still just a Saurus.

"How much war?", the Saurus Lord asked, contemplating any possible limitations.

"Total War!", came the reply. "Do what you must".

To this Kroq-Gar slowly lifted his chin while extending his head forward. He emitted two growling bark like shouts. All nearby activity ceased. Because, no one else was privy to the conversation taking place in Kroq-Gar's mind, the skink attendants, the temple guard, and the nearest formations of warriors, all struggled to decipher whether or not they or their Lord were in danger. Every eye in the vicinity watched as Kroq-Gar slowly brought his head back down to meet the gaze of Mazdamundi. It's usually hard to tell with Saurus, especially with Saurus as old and distinguished as Kroq-Gar, but those present had no doubt that the expression on the old warrior's face was a smile.

"Take with you Ra'tok, the priest that escorted you to this place. Make use of his talents and consider his counsel. Fight well Mighty Kroq-Gar".

A few weeks travel by ship brought Kroq-Gar to the Temple City called The Temple of Skulls, in the province known as "The Kingdom of Beasts". Upon his arrival, he inspected the ancient Temple City. He found that the city had been neglected and was nearly deserted. The Temple of Skulls had fallen from it's former glory since the time of the Old Ones, and his mission here was clear. His first order of business was to have the ceremonial spawning pools cleared and prepared for use. Kroq-Gar mustered what few units of troops were available and headed out into the nearby jungle to get the lay of the land.

A single unit of saurus warriors armed with spears and shields, a unit of mace wielding saurus warriors, two units of skinks armed with javelins and shields, a unit of saurus spearmen mounted on cold ones and a feral stegadon were all that could be mustered on such short notice. In addition to being few in number, they were unblooded. Meaning that Kroq-Gar's new units had yet to see battle. He marched anyway. Seeing the impenetrable mountain range to his west, he decided to march east, towards the coast.

Ra'tok, the skink priest, was overseeing the clearing of the spawning pools when he heard the shouts of the warriors manning the gatehouse. He quickly got himself into a position where he could see the gates and witnessed Kroq-Gar marching from the city with a small contingent of troops. Mazdamundi's words came back to him, "Stay with Kroq-Gar and assist him in all that he does. His importance to the great plan cannot be measured. He will need your magic, and your counsel". Ra'tok, realizing that Kroq-Gar was about to leave him behind, scrambled down from his observation point and hurried off to catch up with him.

Kroq-Gar had marched his troops up the road north and east of the city when a familiar smell came to him on the breeze. Skaven! He was absolutely incensed that the disgusting ratmen were close enough to the Temple City that he could smell them. He took his small force and marched them into the wind. His predatory instincts leading him toward the unseen enemy. He watched his troops carefully as they marched. The Saurus warriors were the first to show signs of agitation. He could see their heads lifted to the wind, their nostrils flaring and their anxious glances at the tree lines. A short time later, the Skinks and the Stegadon could be seen lifting their noses to the wind as well. Even Ra'tok, the city dwelling priest, seemed to notice. Once he was sure they all could smell that something was awry, he halted the march and addressed his troops. "Skaven!", he spat out the word as if it were rancid meat. "That is smell that fouls the air! That is the smell that tightens your jaw and speeds your heart. Skaven must die! All Skaven must die! When you smell Skaven, ready your arms!" he shouted. "Arms ready!?" he bellowed. The troops all immediately answered in unison by banging their weapons on their shields, or by beating their chest with their free hand.

Sure that his troops were ready to fight, both physically and mentally, he marched them forward. As they crested a ridge, they could see the Skaven formation in the valley below them. Kroq-Gar estimated that the forces were almost evenly matched, but the ratmen were just out of the reach of a good charge. The Skaven lookouts shouted their warnings, and the enemy had already started to react. The Lizardmen had exposed themselves too soon. Had Kroq-Gar not been so angry when he set off towards them, it may have occured to him to approach more stealthily. A surprise attack would have tipped the scales decidedly in his favor.

Kroq-Gar noted his mistake and wasted no more energy on mourning the missed opportunity. The Saurus Lord and his troops continued forward. He could sense the anticipation building in his formation and observed his warriors as they struggled to restrain themselves and maintain formation. He was pleased that his warriors were both aggressive and disciplined. As his formation marched down into the valley, the Skaven formed up and rapidly marched away from them. The man rats were known to be light on their feet and were able to outpace the Lizardmen. The Saurus Lord's formation, slowed by the heavier Saurus Warriors and the Stegadon, pursued at a steady, disciplined pace until the ratmen disappeared into the tree line.

After considering the possibilities, Kroq-Gar ordered his formation to halt. The Lizardmen could pursue the Skaven into the forest, but should there be a battle, his troops would be exhausted before it even started. He also had no knowledge of what else may be in the forest awaiting him. So, instead of marching into a possible ambush, the battle wizened General elected to take some time to gather more information and possibly more troops. He motioned to his skink leaders, and they immediately sent a half dozen scouts into the forest.

Further to the northeast, Kroq-Gar could see the tops of humanoid crafted structures sticking up above the tree line. He looked to Ra'tok and spoke, "we know not what is in the forest," he gestured to the tree line where the Skaven had disappeared. "Kroq-Gar not march into forest until scouts return." "We know not what is in the city," he gestured to the northeast. "You go to city. Watch. Listen. Smell. Come back to camp and tell me what you find". "We make new camp up on hill, where we can see far around us," he gestured to the ridge behind them. "I send for more troops while we wait". Ra'tok nodded in understanding, grabbed a few skink runners and set off toward the ruins.

After the priest had left, Kroq-Gar marched his troops back to the top of the ridge. When he found a place that suited him, he halted the march and ordered that camp be made and watches be set. He then called for one of his skink unit leaders to send his fastest runner to The Temple of Skulls to requisition more Saurus Warriors. Satisfied that he had done all that he could for the time being, he settled in to await developments.

Ra'tok traveled just inside the tree line along the road headed northeast until he came upon the outskirts of what appeared to be the ruins of a city. According to the plaques along the roadside, the city was last known to be a Lizardmen Temple City called The Serpent Coast. The closer he got to the city, the thicker the air became with the stench of disease, decay and Skaven. He found a place from which he could observe most of the city and remain hidden. If the city had walls in the past, there was no sign of them now. In fact, there were no defensive preparations left intact, and not a single inhabitant could be seen. At night, while he was practicing his newly learned incantation, "Harmonic Convergence," his eyes could just make out the faint sickly green glow of warpstone, and the movement of shadowy figures amongst the rubble. It was on the third day when he witnessed the Skaven garrison emerge from the city, form up and go out on patrol. He counted six units, all flying the banner of Clan Mordkin. One unit had further Skaven markings that announced the garrison leader was present in the formation, and that he was called Scalpite the Fabricator. The priest sent a runner out to Kroq-Gar immediately.

When the skink scouts returned to camp, they had come with news that the Skaven formation they had pursued had ran to a location west of the ruined city that Kroq-Gar had spied to his northeast. From there, the Skaven had turned and were last seen heading northwest. When Ra'tok's runner arrived, he brought news that there was Skaven activity within the ruins of what once was a Temple City called The Serpent Coast. Ra'tok had sent word that the six units of Skaven he had observed all appeared to be low born Skaven and skaven slaves. As Kroq-Gar was receiving his brief, his lookouts reported that three units of Saurus Warriors could be seen approaching from the west. The Saurus Lord immediately gave the order to strike camp, and to form up. He wanted to march as soon as the reinforcements reached the camp site. Today was the last day that the vile ratmen would defile the former Temple City.

When the reinforcements arrived, Kroq-Gar inspected his new troops. They were armed only with single handed melee weapons. Kroq-Gar had hoped that they would be bearing shields as well, but the runner had advised him that the blacksmiths were struggling to get ahead of the new demand for supplies. He knew there wasn't much use in bemoaning the circumstances and he would just have to be satisfied in the knowledge that his troops were more than up to the task of pounding some ratmen in to oblivion. With his inspection completed, he issued the order to march on The Serpent Coast and exterminate any Skaven they could find.

Kroq-Gar made his approach to the ruined city by marching right down the road. He knew there was no approach to the city that the Skaven would not be watching. He also knew the Skaven may attempt to ambush his formation. In fact, he welcomed it. If he could draw the entirety of the Skaven garrison out to ambush his troops, it would make the task of clearing out the city after he annihilated them, just that much easier.

To guard against ambush, he had set up his formation in a defensive posture that could be quickly shifted into a more aggressive stance. Kroq-Gar put his Saurus warriors up front and backed them up with his Javelin throwers. Anybody approaching from the front would do so under heavy fire and ultimately end up nose to nose with his warriors. The rear of the formation was covered by his unit of spearmen, the Feral Stegadon, and his reptilian cavalry. Anybody approaching from the rear would do so at the risk of being trampled or gored by the monstrous creature, run through by a Saurus spear or eaten alive by a Cold One.

Kroq-Gar positioned himself near the center of his formation where he could be aware of all that happened, and respond accordingly. When he got to the point that there was but one line of trees left between him and the first structures on the outskirts of the city, he had yet to see his enemy. Regardless, he knew they were there. He could smell them.

As he marched his formation over a small rise, he finally caught sight of his enemy. There were two units of Skaven perched atop a hill next to a ruined structure; they looked like skirmishers from this distance. There were also four units forming a battle line behind the hill. Straight ahead, Kroq-Gar could see two hilltops between him and the city. If he could make it to the second hill, he would have his force directly between the Skaven force and the city. Which meant that if they broke and ran, as the ratmen were known to do, they would be running away from the city. Exactly the direction he wanted them to go.

Kroq-Gar kept his units marching forward at a brisk but efficient pace. He wanted to conserve their energy for fighting. The formation descended from the ridge, down into the trees that filled the little valley, the last view Kroq-Gar had of his foe put them off of his left front flank. He could tell his troops were anxious to get to grips with the enemy, because he could hear the unit commanders barking orders at their troops as their soldiers struggled to keep their aggression in check and their formations tight. Using the forest to obscure their movements, he sent his Cold One Riders to a position near the closest flank of the enemy formation. If the enemy approached through the trees, his cavalry should be able to alert him in time to intercept. This also put the cavalry in a good position to flank, so long as they remained undetected.

When they ascended the first hill, the Skaven didn't react but to pivot their formation to face the Lizardmen. Kroq-Gar pressed on. He knew that if he hesitated, they may not make it to the hill he was aiming for. His troops kept a wary eye to their left as their movement was exposing the left flank of their formation to the enemy. Some even snarled their disapproval. All the while, the Skaven just watched.

As they crested the second hill, Kroq-Gar wheeled his formation around to the left so that his lines were parallel to the Skaven formation and called for a halt. As his troops settled into their spots, he watched and waited. He waited for the Skaven commander to realize that the Lizardmen were now between him and the city he was supposed to be defending. If the head ratman ever figured it out, there was no outward sign of it. The Skaven just seemed to be standing across from the Lizardmen as if they were waiting for something to happen. Kroq-Gar waited for something to happen as well. When no ambush came, when no reinforcements arrived, when no charge came, the Saurus Lord realized that the initiative was his. The Skaven had no surprises. They had no chance.

The ground between his position and that of the Skaven contained a descent into a small valley lined with trees, and then an ascent up to a ridge line on the opposing side. He ordered his formation forward. They descended the hill and moved into the trees. Just as the front of his formation broke the tree line, the skirmishers atop the ridge moved forward. Presumably to make room for the Skaven line to take the ridge behind them.

Kroq-Gar had anticipated this and had planned to use the cover of the trees to obscure the execution of the surprise he had planned. He shouted a command and instantly the Stegadon charged forward to take the hill top before the Skaven could reoccupy it. Saurus and Skink alike dove out of the way as the Stegadon thundered through the middle of the formation and broke clear of the tree line. Kroq-gar halted his skink troops at the edge of the tree line and had them fire at the Night Runners as they came down the hill throwing weapons of their own. Almost immediately, the Skaven skirmishers broke off to Kroq-Gar's right, away from the flying javelins and the raging Stegadon. Behind the Stegadon, he led his Saurus Warriors straight up the hill.

The Skaven front line advanced toward the ridge. When they crested the hill, they had expected to see Lizardmen struggling up the incline and to easily cut down them down because they held the high ground. What they saw instead was several hundred tons of muscle, bone, and fury running at a dead sprint from the trees right toward the middle of their lines. Just before impact, the Stegadon lowered his head, exposing his deadly horns and turning his bony skull into a giant plow. The stegadon was deep into the Skaven ranks when he pitched his head back and flung scores of Skaven into the air. Some flew into the air high above the trees and then crashed to the earth in and around the formation, while others flew just barely over the heads of their compatriots, only to land in a broken heap dozens of yards behind the formation. Those in the path of the great beast were either gored or tossed away like leaves on the wind. Others were trampled under the enormous weight of the beast, or swept aside by the creature's tail as he spun, lunged and stomped through the ratmen's formations. The initial assault was so terrible, it caused one unit of Clanrats to flee in terror almost immediately.

The Skaven tried in vain to stab and slash the Stegadon, but the creature's hide was just too thick and the scales too hard. As the four Skaven units moved to encircle the Stegadon, they noticed the Lizardmen charging up the hill. Initially, they moved to surround the Stegadon, but the Skaven commander caught his error and sent two of his units down to meet the Lizardmen. But even that was a mistake, Kroq-Gar quickly sandwiched each of the two units between two of his own units.

Kroq-Gar spotted an opening and ordered the Cold one riders around the open flank on the left side. Then, the Saurus Lord roared and charged into the fray himself. He grabbed one unlucky rat by the throat, lifted him high overhead and then, with his spear, he struck the wretched creature with such force that his broken corpse landed a good thirty yards away. Seeing this, the enemy unit realized that they were grossly outclassed and they routed. Kroq-Gar and his infantry continued to bludgeon, hack and stab any rat too slow to escape.

The Cold One Riders emerged from the trees and circled around to the Skaven's rear unopposed. The skirmishers were their target.

Scalpite and his unit were fighting on two fronts, as was the other unit he had sent to contest the Lizardman battle line. The last second maneuver he'd ordered had completely compromised the Skaven's flank on their right side. He could see the cavalry sweeping around through the opening, circling behind his formation. His troops, following his gaze, also witnessed his blunder and began to look for a way out. A few of the more opportunistic Clanrats in his unit spotted an open path back toward the ruins and decided to use their speed advantage to escape the brutish Lizardmen. The less opportunistic, seeing their compatriots on the move, became a lot more opportunistic right around that time and followed.

As the Night Runners hurled their thrown weapons at the Stegadon, almost all of them bounced harmlessly off of the beast's scales. The weapons were too light to get much penetration. In front of them, the Skaven line had started to falter, and some were fleeing. The skirmishers, were already backpedaling, when they noticed the mounted Saurus Warriors bearing down on them. They tried to run away, and some even hurled missiles at the cavalry in an effort to slow their advance. But, it was too late, most of the unit had their backs turned when they were overrun by the Cold One Riders.

The Cold One Riders ran down the Night Runner unit under a hail of thrown missiles. With their shields held high to protect their heads, they ruthlessly charged into the rear of the formation. Some of the mounts leapt into the air to add their momentum to their rider's spear thrust, others grabbed cowering rats in their massive jaws and flung them across the formation. The Skaven tried to use their superior numbers to surround and overwhelm the dozen or so Cavalry units, but the lizards didn't seem to mind.

Kroq-Gar order a few of his units to hold the ground that the Skaven had relinquished, and allowed the others continue pursuing the fleeing Skaven to keep them on the run. The unit of Night Runners pinned down by his cavalry had proven to be rather tenacious. Even under heavy pressure, they stood and fought. Seeing this, he motioned to the Stegadon and the great beast lowered his head and charged through their ranks. Still they fought on. It wasn't until Kroq-Gar himself charged in their direction that they faltered. When they finally broke and ran, Kroq-Gar sent the cavalry after the other unit of Night Runners, they were the only real threat left on the field at this point.

The remaining Night Runners had seen what happened to the other unit of skirmishers. So, as soon as they saw the Cavalry turn their way, they began hurling missiles at them and ran into the tree line. By weaving through the trees, the ratmen had hoped to slow the much larger Cold Ones and perhaps evade them in the forest. They continued to hurl weapons at them, but the reptiles' hard scales and shields diminished the effect their light weapons. The Skaven ran as fast as they could, but the lizards relentlessly pursued them. The inevitable came to pass as the cavalry caught up with them and the Night Runners began to fall to spear and tooth and claw. The only survivors were those who didn't look back and ran with reckless abandon.

Scalpite was able to rally his fleeing unit and attempted to reengage the Lizardmen. The fight didn't last long as a unit of Saurus Warriors had been pursuing them and descended upon his battered unit only to resume savagely bludgeoning his troops into the afterlife. The sight of a second unit of Lizardmen charging in their direction convinced his troops that all was lost and they broke and ran. All across the battlefield, the Skaven Commander could see his units running away, trailing corpses as the Lizardmen nipped at their heels. As the last of his units quit looking over their shoulder for leadership, and focused on running away, so too did he. The Skaven Garrison at The Serpent Coast was scattered into the four winds.

With the last of the Skaven disappearing into the distance, Kroq-Gar turned his attention to the battlefield. He rallied his troops and they all searched for survivors. As they searched the piles of corpses, they discovered that they were all Skaven. Some of the Lizardmen were wounded, but all were accounted for. As for the Skaven, over half of their number lay about the battlefield. Discovered amongst the casualties was a flaming sword. The Saurus that found it brought it to his General. Kroq-Gar recognized it immediately. He saluted his soldier and took the weapon.

"The Burning Blade of Chotec," he announced, holding it high above his head for all to see. "We take back great weapon from the rats!". "Kroq-Gar use fire of Chotec to kill more Skaven! Cleanse all temple cities in Southlands!"

The troops all roared at the proclamation.

Kroq-Gar commanded that the Temple City be purged of all Skaven influence. All of the corpses from the battle and the garbage that had been cleared out of the ruins were piled onto a great pyre. With all of his warriors present, Krog-Gar wordlessly ignited the pyre with the Burning Blade of Chotec and they all watched the fire as it eradicated all traces of the ratmen. With the cleansing ceremony completed, he set his workers to work rebuilding the temple and getting a skink foraging camp up and running. He was going to need food. Lots of food to support his troops, laborers, tradesmen and surrounding citizens.

The next day, while Kroq-Gar and Ra'tok were going over a new marching formation that showed promise of increasing the distance his troops could cover each day, a skink emissary was brought into the camp by Kroq-Gar's sentries. The emissary reported that the Dwarven Lord Thrund Holdfast of Karak Norn had agreed to the non-aggression pact proposed by Kroq-Gar. "a pact with the Dwarves?," Ra'tok asked incredulously.

"Yes. Dwarves are enemy of our enemies. Dwarves like to stay in mountains. With our promise, Dwarves stay in mountains and fight enemies there," explained Kroq-Gar. "Dwarves like trade. We need resources to build army." Kroq-Gar went back to working on his "Route Marching" formation, effectively ending the discussion on the topic.

Ra'tok saw the wisdom in the Saurus Lord's words, but he was still distrustful of the other races. He would have to learn more about diplomacy if he were to be effective counsel for Kroq-Gar. This Saurus was different than the others it seemed. Kroq-Gar was far more capable than what he had come to expect from the other Saurus that he'd had dealings with. Perhaps he will ask Lord Mazdamundi more about him the next time they commune.

The Saurus Lord surveyed his camp and decided that he had done what he could for the day. Tonight his troops would rest, but tomorrow at first light, they would be marching. There were Skaven to kill.

Should you be interested, the video version of this story can be found at:

https://youtu.be/yIrPRsahzHU

#wip #amwriting #writingtip #writing #warhammer

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bolbianddolanhouse · 4 years

Text

BNHA self insert AU

New to the AU? Start here!

Chapter 40: What the FUCK is Up Kyle?!

My new job as an independent agent is really what I needed in my life. I can do everything I want to focus on with more time now! My relationship improved and less stress in my life! What more could I ask for?

“Oh girkies, you are not gonna like your new assignment” Jin winced as he entered the room with files in his hands “we all got called upon for different things.”

Mimi opens her file and skims the cover page “I’m getting sent to Hiroshima for a WEEK?!” she slams the file closed “what in the actual fuck!”

I open mine and skim “I’m being summoned to Shinjuku for an undisclosed amount of time” I squint to see if I’m reading the mission briefing “for a new conjugation?” I scowl in confusion “like a new agency or what?”

“That confused me too but then look how it’s coded” Jin tapped on the tab on the file “its Blue, it’s a personal invitation, the person summoning knows you personally and asked specifically for you.”

“But I don’t know anybody out there” I’m more confused “and the crime rate there is pretty low, but I guess if they need me” I sigh and close the file “I guess I should help them.” I do some research on the area and recent crime before I went on the meeting day. Nervous as hell, I show up to this un-marked but guarded building.

“State your identity and purpose” sternly spoke one of the guards.

“I’m Agent 19 of the Emperor’s Coup” I present them with my agent license and agent crest “I’m here for a summoning of high sensitivity.”

“Oh my goodness, it’s her!” gasped the other guard “the agent that knows! ahem, um, please come in and head upstairs to meeting room 2-J.”

“Thank you” I walk in as they moved aside for me “take care.” There was nobody where I first walked in so I just quickly made my way up the stairs, steel toe boots clacking on the tile stairs. It was uneasy feeling to be alone in this place, no trace of others occupying the space, just empty office cubicles. I get to the meeting room and the glass wall to look in was boarded off like nobody is supposed to know what or who’s inside. I slip on my anti-prints gloves on and put my left hand on my holster, whatever the hell is behind that door, I wasn’t going to risk it. I knock “Hello? Anybody in there? This is Agent 19 of-” before I could finish my sentence, I heard hollering inside of the room and bust open the door “FREEZE!” I do my power stance and get my gun locked and loaded.

“Please don’t shoot! Put the gun down!” it was a very familiar whiny voice.

I lower my gun and saw a familiar mix of pro heroes “Midoriya?!” I identify the green clad man, I put my gun back in my holster “Oh man, what the fuck is up?!” I took a better look around “Oh shit Tenya, I didn’t know you got summoned too.”

“I was wondering why Midoriya wasn’t telling us who he recruited” he wiped his glasses “he was saying it was somebody we could trust and knows about his secret.”

“Well now that I have everyone here, please take a seat” Midoriya motioned me to sit as everyone else readjusted themselves “there’s somebody after my secret and they know somewhat about it. Lately somebody is getting a little too close to me to know more and I just know it’s the League of Villains.”

“They’re STILL at it?” I blurt “but one of their most powerful left the group about a year ago, how are they functioning?”

“See, we didn’t know that” Mina responded to me “but we suspect it’s one of us.”

“And that’s what makes it hard to know” Midoriya sighed “that’s why I recruited you, over the years of living and working with us, you know more about our habits and routine.”

“So you want me to find the traitor among y’all huh?” I pieced the logic together and he nodded “easy peasy! Why didn’t you say so earlier?!” I whipped out my gun and pointed to Mineta.

“IT’S NOT ME! SWEAR! PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME!” Mineta literally cried and sobbed like the little bitch he is.

“Dang, I really hoped it was him” I pouted and put my gun away.

“You should’ve made the shot anyways” Jiro sneered.

“Okay, what do you need us to do to determine the traitor?” Midoriya reshifted to the pressing matter.

I scan the room “well, not to be that bitch but we gotta get on lockdown” the room erupts in murmuring “I haven’t seen or talked to some of you guys since my rise to fame. Think of it as a sleepover! Where we go home after I solve a puzzle.”

“So be it! Nobody is to leave this building until she figures it out.”

And so we all just awkwardly hang out in one space. I was more on guard than anyone else there, seeing all these old classmates again got me a little fucked up. I decide to explore the building a bit when something a little strange happens.

“Wait up, where are you going?” Tenya asked me as I wander away from the group “can I come?”

“You can come along” I said as I pointed to the stairwell “I wanted to see more of this building.” As we walk up the stairs, I wonder if this is MY Tenya. I hate to think those things but only one way to find out. “Hey question, what did I cook for breakfast today?”

“You made huevos rancheros with toast because we had too much sliced bread before grocery shopping day” he described with no hesitation.

“Whew okay” I sighed in relief “I was going to go feral if you were the traitor.”

“I know baby” he held my hand as we got to the next floor “I’d never betray my friends or you, plus I have a lead on who it may be.”

“What’s the suspicion?”

“I wasn’t feeling too keen around some of the girls” he lowered his voice “usually they’d ask me about you but today only Mina and Uraraka asked while Momo, Kendo, Tsuyu and Jiro didn’t.”

“That is some odd behavior” I pondered as I walked around the third floor “in that case, lets go back down there, I have a plan.” I teleport us back to the others and checked if that provoked any type of new reaction. Noting unusual yet, the day progressed and it was night time when I came up with a new idea.

“Hey Shoto” I whispered to get his attention “come! I have to ask you something.”

“What is it Ita?” he jogged over to me “why are you hiding behind these boxes?”

“Can I borrow your face?” I asked as he leaned in for me to copy his quirk “Hmm, you’re definitely not the traitor” I take my hand off his face “also, how’s Touya? I haven’t swung by to see how’s the fam.”

“Oh he’s doing great, he asks about you time to time” a smile breaks on his face “he has a crush on you and it’s silly because you’re with Iida-kun now and Touya is just being irrationally jealous.”

“Oh bitch that’s cute” I giggle and stand up from my hiding place “I’m hungies! TENYA!”

“YES?!” he yells from a distance.

“I’M HUNGIES!”

“YOU HUNGIES?! WHAT DOES YOUR TUM TUM WANT?”

“NEED MEAT! AND NOODLES AND KISSIES!” I look around at the others to see their reactions to our baby talk.

“Ugh that’s cringe” Kaminari said disgusted “I’d never get pussy whipped like that! My girl does things for herself.”

Jiro stabs Kaminari with her jacks “Stupid he’s not pussy whipped! It’s called loving your partner and communicating” she huffed “you never want to do couple things with me like that!”

From the sounds and looks of their argument, I’d say Jiro and Kaminari aren’t the traitors. I turn to Kendo, I haven’t seen her since graduation and I really want to know what’s going on in her life.

“Yo Kendo, haven’t talked to you in a hot minute” I opened up casually.

“Yeah! Since graduation but I’ve been doing well” she smiled “heard about you and Iida finally dating. I’ve been going strong with Tetsutetsu, 3 years now.”

“Oh wow I didn’t know you two were dating, we should go on a double date sometime!” I really missed out on a lot, last I heard, Yuka and Tetsu were still together “it’s so weird how time has flown by and you just forget to keep in touch.”

“Yea, I was shocked to find out about Shinso breaking up with you” she put her hand on my shoulder “I was really rooting for you two to get married and such but he just ran off like that. But now that he’s back in Chiyoda, I’m sure we’ll all get reunited as some point.”

“Wait, he’s in Chiyoda?”

“Yea, he moved in a few months back with Monoma” she pulled up a picture on her phone “see, Tetsu and I went to see him when he moved in.”

I looked at the picture, it was all four of them in the living room just hanging out. Shinso looked different, it was just strange to me that he lived with me and I’ve been trying to chase him down for years for closure. “What a cozy home, I heard about the suburbs there being a really nice place for peaceful living.” I said to prevent myself from breaking down. So Kendo wasn’t the traitor either, it now comes down to Momo, Tsuyu, Kirishima, Ojiro and Tokoyami. I later determine that Momo, Kirishima and Tokoyami aren’t the traitor because they used their quirks and interacted with me like they usually do. It’s 2am and it’s down to Oijiro and Tsuyu.

“Are you doing alright love?” Tenya softly asked as I was floating around “can’t think?”

“It’s so hard to determine between the two” I sigh “I can’t think of another method! Too hungry to think straight” I loosed my uniform collar “and stuffy, wheres the thermostat?”

“I believe Kirishima found it in that weirdly spacious break room on this floor”

“Thanks, I’m going to clear my head” I floated down to walk “I’ll be back in a few.” I make my way to the break room and to my surprise Tsuyu was already there boiling water “Oh hey, couldn’t sleep?”

“Nope, I miss my bed.” she spoke tiredly.

Something wasn’t quite right on how she was speaking to me “Same here, but hows the fam?” I start to make casual conversation to not raise suspicion “I remember you saying that little bro wanted to follow in your footsteps.”

“Oh yea it’s almost time for him to make the decision” she poured the hot water into a cup “they grow up so fast.”

As she was talking, I locate the thermostat and start to drop the temperature “They sure do! Say, we haven’t spent quality time in a long time” I stop the thermostat at 49 degrees “we should organize a reunion cook out! Have yall together like this oddly makes me miss yall!”

“Oh that sounds lovely!” she smiled “I missed having you around too!”

Tenya walks in the room shivering “Hey is the thermostat broken? It’s too cold.”

I felt the chill of the temperature drop and saw that Tsuyu wasn’t even flinching... that’s not very frog-like of her.

“Will you get me my visor from the meeting room dear?” I politely asked Tenya “I’m going to try to fix it.” I wait for him to walk out the room to slam the door closed and get locked and loaded “THE GIG IS UP IMPOSTER!”

“What are you talking about 19! It’s me!” she was frightened.

“Say my name then” I cock my gun “my real name.”

The sweat pours from her face and her eyes read ‘I’m in danger!’ “Um...Ai-” I didn’t let them finish and I just shot them in the leg. Instantly, their body melted into grey sludge. Everyone ran to the room in high alert.

“What happened? Who was it?!” cried out Midoriya.

“It was a Tsuyu clone” I put all the pieces together “I noticed her speech was different, no ‘kero’ at the end of her sentences. Plus when I dropped the temp to almost freezing, she didn’t get into hibernation mode.” I came to a terrifying realization “where’s the real Froppy?”

The others gasped and franticly tried to reach out to her and the agency she works at to know her whereabouts. It didn’t take long to find out she was safe at home and didn��t know that she was summoned to this meeting. The tempering of this information started at work, to my surprise, it was the work of the League of Villains. If I didn’t already rescue Touya, I would’ve thrown hands instantly! But I have to keep things undercover until I catch the mimic villain or I’ll be a victim of their game.

-3 weeks later-

“Thank you again for inputing a system in our agency” thanked Midoriya as I was installing said system “I knew I could depend on you!”

“No need for all that, I’m just doing what I do best” I press the activate button and start inputing some code “aaaand it’s loaded up and ready to serve! With this new boost to your already existing security system” I pat the device on the wall “this baby will keep the imposters and villains away.”

“That’s incredible!” awed Midoriya “I never thought you’d be a security tech mogul that’d save my livelihood.”

“Shut up, you’re still a broccoli ass twink!” I punched his arm playfully “don’t forget who protected you and Bakugo’s ass back in the day!”

“I suppose it’s all the same” he laughed “let me treat you to lunch! Ochako and I want to say our thanks.”

“Sure, I didn’t have lunch plans anyways” I shrugged as we headed up stairs to the main floor of the agency.

“Great! Let me get my bag” he jogged to the locker room “I’ll be right back!”

I stand there and check my phone for any updates from work. Today was my day off from CEO work but lately the company has been swamped with custom orders and consultations since we added rabbits and reptiles to our companion line. I’m just waiting to get called in by Beizu or Jin to help them out with coat production or new consultations.

“Oh my goodness! If it isn’t Miss CEO herself!” said a very familiar voice.

I look around and don’t see anybody looking my way or trying to get my attention “Who the hell said that?”

“On your left”

I look to my left and there was a face on the wall “oh...it’s you” I said flatly and uninterested “Hello Mirio.”

“Aww you don’t sound excited to see me!” he completely phased out of the wall.

“I’m never excited to see you, I’m not a teenager” I didn’t have to look down to know he was naked “and please for love of SIR NIGHTEYE put on some pants!”

“I heard my name” sternly spoke Nighteye himself “Togata please put on some pants, you’re embarrassing me in front of our esteemed partner here.”

“Yes Sir!” Mirio phased away, almost comical like.

“He was much more bearable without the quirk” he rubbed his temples “at least I didn’t have to get my eyes harassed by nudity in the workplace!” the man sighed as he fixed his glasses “Miss Palma, I thank you for your services, they mean a lot to me. My visions have changed now that you’ve installed that security boost.”

“Didn’t you foresee me installing it?” I questioned his statement, I didn’t believe my choice made that much of a change.

“I didn’t, I think you’re an anomaly to this timeline” he smiled “that’s a good thing, you’ve altered the fates of everyone and everything you come across with, including your own.”

“I have?”

“Yes, thanks to you, a second war between villains and heroes has been replaced by a time of peace” I see the glow of his quirk “and see myself aging gracefully into old age instead of dying before I get a chance to retire.”

“If you say so” I smiled “then I guess it’s what I do best.”

Midoriya jogged back “Sir! Palma-san and I were going to lunch with Ochako” he stopped in front of us “was there something you needed?”

“Oh no, I was just talking” he turned to go back to his office “have a good lunch, tell your wife I said hello.”

We head to lunch and Ochako dropped the biggest news on me.

“You’re pregnant?!” I nearly choked on my water “Oh my god congrats you two! When are you due?”

“In May! I’m so excited to be a mom!” she gushed “but it looks like you have some news to tell us too!”

“I...don’t?” I said confused as they leaned in and looked at my hands.

“You have a ring on, are you and Iida-kun getting married?!” Midoriya had a big dumb smile on his face “how did he propose?!”

“Oh I bet he made it extra perfect with flowers and candles-” Ochako was getting into the fantasy before I interrupted her.

“He hasn’t popped the question yet, I told him to take his time with asking me” I pointed to my ring “this is my official Emperor’s Coup Agent ring. Engagement rings go on the left hand, this is on my right hand.”

“But Palma-san, why aren’t you married yet?” Ochako asked my curiously “you and Shinso were so close that everyone thought you’d get married first. But now that you’re with Iida-kun and seem to have a better dynamic, why take your time for marriage?”

“Well, I learned that nothing good comes out of impatience. I love Tenya with all of my heart, body and soul BUT I want him to feel like he doesn’t have to trap me with marriage right away” I wipe my mouth of the water I choked on earlier “he’s learning how to love me and be a better partner everyday, with all the effort he puts in to make me feel loved, I’m not worried about marriage or kids. Our time will come.”

“I didn’t think of it like that” Midoriya thought about what I said “you must really love him to have him take his time.”

The subject was dropped for the rest of lunch and we parted ways. I got home to wait for Tenya to get out of work but I slipped into deep thought. I’m 23, with 24 fast approaching, all my old classmates are getting married or having kids at this point...my biological clock is ticking and I don’t know if I can carry a baby past my prime. Maybe I should stop my birth control? What a shitty way to make me feel like I’m wasting my prime years on making robotic animals and crunching crime statistics! I try to make myself not fall further into this hole by playing my cheer up playlist but then I fell down the Joji hole and got emo.

“I’m home” Tenya said as he entered the house “I don’t like the sound of that music, that’s some sad hours music” he checked the time “it’s almost 7! Sad hours isn’t for another 5 hours!” he opened the office door to see me slow whip to Fried Noodles (Getter Remix) in my Ingenium hoodie and fuzzy socks “this... is a mood that I don’t understand” he rubbed his chin “what happened?”

“I’m just tryna vibe again” I slow dabbed “the Midoriyas got me fucked up on their vibe, I’ve been a bad mood since I got home but I’ll get over it” I sigh “I didn’t cook a whole lot, I diced some fish and tossed it in some sauces to make poke and there’s rice.”

“Oh alright, I’m here if you want to talk about it some more” he coaxed her to open up more “come eat with me.”

“I already ate, I was trying to get a hold of one of my friends right now” I floated back to my computer desk “it might take a while, so just eat and I’ll come to bed soon.”

“You ate already?” he was a little taken back from this sudden change “well, don’t come to bed too late.” He closed the door behind him to eat dinner, by himself. Tenya didn’t read too much into her dismissive behavior as she teleported to her side of the bed at bedtime.

-The next day, at work-

“Thanks for the extra hand Iida-kun!” Sero thanked Tenya for helping him at a moment’s notice “I really needed help with crowd control today! Who knew the shopping district was going to be this wild today?!”

“It’s no problem! I’m happy to help” Tenya chirps as he takes off his helmet in the safety of the agency building “it’s been a while since I’ve seen you and the others here!”

“Oh shucks Iida-kun, with a girl like Palma-san, I’d be too busy to spend time with the boys too” he nudged “how are you and Palma-san? Anything exciting?!”

“Nothing exciting lately, she’s just really busy but it’s all good” Tenya recalled last night “just last night she was doing work even though it was her day off! So busy that she didn’t cook and ate before I got home for dinner.”

Sero’s smile disappeared “Wait, did she just make rice and made a quick cold dish and told you to serve yourself?”

“Yes actually! She made poke.”

“Oh man F in the chat fellas” Sero pray squatted and Tetsutetsu, Kaminari and Sato followed suite.

“What are you-”

“Iida-kun what did you do to that poor girl?” asked Sato “she never gets upset.”

“I didn’t do anything, she said the Midoriya’s ruined her vibe” he recalled “she said she’ll get over it and it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Naw my man” Tetsutetsu put his arm around Tenya “when your girl does things without you and puts the least amount of effort on dinner, she’s mad at you.”

“She didn’t look-”

“Next thing you know, she’ll be going out with her friends again and stop cooking for you altogether” Sero puts his hand on Tenya’s shoulder “she’s mad because she caught baby fever! Ochako’s preggo and all the girls they know are catching it.”

“I don’t think she wants to have a baby right now” he chopped “we aren’t even married.”

“Even worse! Dude you gotta propose soon or she’s going to leave you” Kaminari warned “do you at least spice it up in the bedroom?”

“We have fun in bed” he turns red in embarrassment “that’s none of your business!”

Sero shakes his head “Oh boy, what did we keep telling you in high school?! DON’T WAIT OR YOU’LL LOSE HER TO SOMEONE ELSE!”

“Thank you for your concerns but we’re fine” he politely said even though he wants to yell “we don’t need any meddling in our relationship, when the time is right, I’ll ask for her hand.”

“If you say so Iida-kun” Sero pat his head “she’s unpredictable.”

This bothered Tenya all day, in his mind he knows it’s illogical for her to run off because of her line of work and in his heart he’s confident that she’ll be loyal and voice her burdens.

“I’m home” he called out as routine.

“I’m in the room!” called out Ita.

He walks up to the room and saw her get ready for a night out “What all this for?” she turned around and he saw that she was wearing the boob window dress “that’s a new dress.”

“I’m going out remember?” I put on my earrings “it’s Mimi’s birthday and we’re going to Daggers.”

“Oh that’s right!” he forgot that she told him 2 weeks ago “you look really tempting in that dress” he put his hand on her shoulder “are you sure we can’t have a little bit of fun before you go?”

“Babe please, the limo is going to be here any minute to come for me” I block his attempt at a quicky “maybe when I get home” I kiss his cheek “I made beef stew, help yourself” I get a text and saw that it was Jin asking me to teleport to Mimi’s place “oof gotta go! I’ll be back before sun up, love you.”

She teleported away before he had a chance to say it back. As he ate dinner alone, he wondered if what the others were right and he should just ask her despite what she said. The days and weeks pass and she’s getting held up at work some nights and there’s no dinner ready or there’s a cold-dish and rice dinner for him on nights she was on-call. Tenya was scared, it’s December and everything that the boys warned him about happened except for her leaving him.

“You have one request from Mama to video-call, would you like to answer?” yipped Muffin 2.0.

“Yes please, pull it up on the office computer” I get up from the couch “I gotta take this, it’s important.”

“Is there something wrong?” asked Tenya as he paused the movie they were watching “don’t you want to answer it on the widescreen?”

“Not this time, I’ll explain later” I dash to the stairs “keep watching without me, it’s cool and I might take a while.”

Tenya sat in silence, staring at the paused screen. It’s her day off and the first one in a while where she wasn’t occupied with something and actually spent time with him. To be fair it was a half day for him but still. They’ve gotten into arguments on her scheduling and sleeping habits, but only because he brought them up to understand why they haven’t spent any time together. He feels like she’s bending his way and isn’t happy. After nearly an hour, she pops back down stairs.

“How was it?”

“Hm? Oh it looks like my family is going to be alright” I was confused for a bit “my brother got injured and they couldn’t afford treatment for a while, I sent them money a few weeks ago to cover everything and my brother is going to be alright.”

“Oh that’s good to hear” he was washed over with relief “also, it’s dinner time, come help me cook.”

I check the time “Cook? Well I guess, it’s already 7″ I sigh with a little lazy groan “let me get my phone real quick.”

At that moment, Tenya was struck with realization, he forced routine onto her! She’s not having fun because of the lack of chaos, she THRIVES in chaos and disorder! He has to think quick!

“Actually, gets go out to eat”

“Go out? But I’m not in the mood for a sit-down restaurant” I whined “I wanna stay in my fuzzy pants and hoodie.”

“That’s fine” he smirked “lets go to McDonalds.”

“Deadass?!” I yelled as I could not believe he suggested it “well lets hop in my car and-”

“No babe, I’M driving” he grabbed his keys before she could argue “I know you love the seat warmers on high.”

“Oh si? alrighty then” I jump onto his back “lets go! I’m hungies.”

We get to the drive through and Tenya realizes that the last time he had McDonalds was in High school only because Ochako and Midoriya were broke and didn’t want him to pay for their food.

“What’s good at McDonalds?” he asked her “do they still have those little cheese burgers?”

“Tenya, did your parents not love you enough to take you to McDonalds past the age of 5?” I question as I know it’s common knowledge what’s good at McDonalds because of all the advertisements on tv and in public “personally, the triple cheeseburgers and sweet tea are my go to’s but anything on the deluxe menu is the good stuff.”

“Can you order for me?” he asked shyly, like a child asking their mother for help “I trust your food judgment and I don’t know what to get.”

When it was our turn to order, I ordered all of my favorites like the McMuffins, Triple cheeseburgers, nuggets, a cone, McDonald’s Sprite and Sweet Tea. I got recognized only because I frequent that McDonalds.

“Okay we should go home and-” I say as I set the food on my side of the car with a cone floating in my face.

“Lets go eat at the peer-over” Tenya interrupted her “I don’t want to go home to eat.”

I was in shock “Excuse me Mr. Don’t Eat In My Car! but did you just suggest we eat in YOUR car?” I watch him nod and flip his turn signal the opposite way from home “well if you say so.” We park at the peer-over and we’re the only car there. To be fair it was too cold to go on the walking trail that connects to the peer over and it was dark. We start eating and Tenya gets his first taste of that McDonald’s Sprite.

“Oh that’s why the boys get large cups of this” he shivers a bit “it tastes like electricity.”

“RIGHT?! It will baffle me on why it tastes better than canned or anyone else’s Sprite!” I laugh as I see him another sip and shiver again “what impulsed you to do this?” I poked his forehead “what’s going on in here?”

“I just felt the need to try something new” he didn’t want to admit the truth “and I thought you might want to go out because it’s been a while since we went on a date.”

“Hm...” I didn’t believe him and squinted at him “fine, keep your secrets” I eat my triple cheeseburger “but it has been a while since we’ve gone on a date, routine got me fucked up.”

That made Tenya’s jazz music stop in his head, she just confirmed his fear. What is he going to do?! What can he do to make the situation better or change? “Yeah! Isn’t it nice to just get away from home for a bit?”

“Yeah, it’s nice” I pulled the seat recliner all the way down so I could lay down and eat “I needed this, I love you.”

He reclined back too to see her better, the most he looks at her, the more he feels at ease. It’s a full moon tonight and the moonlight peers through the sunroof and illuminates her. In his mind, this was a sign from the universe and who was he to ignore the universe?

“I could get used to this sight” he sighed lovingly at her messy eating, a fry in her hair, licking the sauce from her fingers “from now, into forever.”

“Heh was that a proposal?” I joked at what he said because it sounded overly romantic for what’s actually going on.

He grabbed her hand and held it with both of his hands “Yes actually” he cleared his throat “I want to spend the rest of my life in your world, your the disorder that balances my routine, the spice in my food and the moonlight when the daylight leaves. Will you marry me?”

I couldn’t believe what was going on that I almost dropped my nugget “Oh Tenya, of course I’ll marry you!” I laughed and almost started crying “how the hell did I end up getting off guard like that! You sneaky little boy!”

“I can’t believe you said yes! To be honest I didn’t set out with the intention of proposing” he laughed with me “but the universe was swaying me to ask you at this moment” he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles “No ring or anything, just my aching heart and soul.”

“I don’t care if you gave me the biggest pearl in the ocean or the rarest rock in the galaxy” I squeezed his hand “I don’t need a ring to prove that you love me, money can’t buy what we have.”

They spent the rest of the evening scheming how they were going to tell their family and friends. It was exciting to see how this new chapter in their lives was going to unfold, in more ways than one.

To be continued...

#bnha #mha #self insert au #chapter 40 #not canon #will update regularly #ask me anything #//Palma-sama Speaks #yall like this Nighteye cameo? He'll show up later too!#since this part of the AU is so big; I decided to split it up in 3 parts. Kinda telenovela style when they have wedding eps or season finale #after this part of the AU comes some mini-chapters that are just life events that pivot the plot THEN comes a big time skip #yall gonna like this big time skip into the next part! It ties in everything before the 'will I return home?' conclusion

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shadowflame-117 · 7 years

Text

Summertime Sadness

So this is what happens when I listen to sad music... Kit and Ignis and their brief fling together when they were 17.

It started with a kiss.

Kit had had a crush on Ignis ever since she’d first noticed boys in that way, but she’d always just chalked it up to their spending so much time together, and had kept it to herself. But after a particularly bad day where everything that could have gone wrong had, Ignis had come over and cooked her favorite meal, giving her a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. When the worst had passed, she’d gone to kiss Iggy on the cheek in silent thanks for always being there, but he’d turned his head, about to ask her something, so she’d kissed his lips instead. When she would have pulled back in embarrassment, Ignis had pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. At 17, neither of them had had any experience in making out, but they were both more than willing to practice.

The spring was a time of firsts. He called her his angel, because she had saved him so many times, in so many ways, since coming into his life. They spent every moment they could together, and soon that first kiss led to firsts of a more heated nature. As cautious exploration turned into heated passion, so to did the cool days of spring also bleed into the blistering heat of summer.

With summer came excuses. Not at first, but with Noctis out of school, Ignis’ workload tripled. Kit was busier as well, as her training intensified in preparation of her joining the crownsguard next spring. So when one made an excuse, the other accepted with grace and a “maybe next time.” They would still try to spend together, even if it was just lying in bed next to each other as the craziness of the day took its toll on them both.

But soon it was just Ignis that had to cancel, or leave in the middle of a date. Kit would smile, kiss him goodbye and send him on his way, but Ignis knew her to well. He saw the pain that would flash in her eyes, and hated that he was the cause. But despite the pain, she waited for him, determined to fight for the future she knew they could have.

Ignis hadn’t meant to ignore her. But he had been so busy that week, leaving work well after midnight and collapsing into his bed, just to wake up a few hours later to do it all again. It was easy to tell himself he’d reach out later, or do something to make it up to her, before focusing on his current task and putting her out of his mind for the moment. She’d texted once, jokingly reminding him to eat since he’d been missing their lunches together, but when he didn’t hear from her again, he figured she was just as busy as he was. He was going over the latest reports with a very bored Noctis, when the prince alerted him to just how wrong he was.

“Kit seems…off lately, have you noticed?”

Ignis looked up sharply. “What do you mean?”

Noct shrugged, not sure how to describe it. “Distracted I guess? She seemed pretty upset when she checked her phone at one point, and during training today Gladio managed to pin her to the mat twice, and it’s been years since he’s done that. He chewed into her pretty good and she just stormed off, didn’t even argue back.”

Ignis frowned. “I have tomorrow off. I’ll see if I can find out what’s bothering her.” But he had a feeling he already knew.

Kit had smiled when he’d shown up on her door unannounced, and seeing her made Ignis realize just how much he’d missed her. But something felt off, and Ignis realized she was holding herself back, as if bracing for when he would inevitably rush off. It hurt, but he couldn’t blame her. As much as he wanted to tell her it would be better soon, he refused to make a promise he couldn’t keep. Noct and the kingdom would always have to come first, and it wasn’t fair to her. She deserved better. Swallowing past the sudden tightness in his throat, he sat on the couch next to Kit.

“Ray, can we talk?”

Kit smiled, but it was strained, revealing her nerves and apprehension. “Of course, Iggy. What’s up?”

Ignis sighed. “You probably hate me by now, with how I’ve been distant lately.”

Kit laughed. “Iggy I could never hate you. I know Noct is your top priority, and I’m fine with it. Truly. I’m willing to-“

“But I’m not.” Ignis interrupted. Kit snapped her mouth shut and closed her eyes as Ignis continued. “It’s not fair. To either of us. I’m sorry, my angel. I love you, truly. Our time together…I felt free, for the first time in my life. And as much as I want to be selfish and beg you to wait, I refuse to make you put your life on hold for me.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She didn’t open her eyes. “I don’t want to cause you any more pain than I already have. One day you’ll meet someone who will make you the center of their world-responsibilities be damned-but I can’t, as badly as I wish otherwise.” He took a breath, and his next sentence was barely above a whisper. “Maybe in another few years that could have been us, but the timing was off.”

Ignis rose, kissing Kit’s forehead gently as she sat frozen. “I hope in time…I hope we can still remain friends. But I will understand if you decide otherwise.” He turned and walked away, his heart shattering into thousands of pieces with every step away from Kit he took.

Kit wasn’t sure how long she sat on the couch after Ignis left, but suddenly being in the apartment was just too much. She grabbed her keys and drove to the Citadel, determined to distract herself from the pain. She had just finished warming up when Gladio approached her. Knowing he was probably about to give her hell for the other day, she held up a hand.

“Leave me alone, Gladio. I’m not in the mood. Whatever it is can wait til our next session.”

Gladio raised an eyebrow. “Bad breakup?”

Kit laughed bitterly. “You’d actually have to date before you can break up. No this was ending a fling just as it was turning into…” Kit grit her teeth, refusing to shed a single tear. Gladio was silent for a moment as he watched her struggle with herself.

“Grab your scythe and get in the ring.”

Kit glared at Gladio. “I don’t need your pity, Amicitia.” Her voice was as sharp as the scythe she wielded, and was intended to cut him just as deep. Gladio just gave a slightly feral grin in response.

“This isn’t pity, Kitten. Now get your ass in the ring.”

Figuring that beating on Gladio was just as good as a training dummy, Kit finally nodded. She summoned her scythe as Gladio called on his greatsword, and they began to circle each other.

“When you get a squad of your own, they’ll want to know that you can keep a level head no matter what life throws at you. They don’t want a leader who will collapse at the first sign of trouble and get them all killed. So swallow the pain, or use it to help fuel you as you accomplish your objective.” Gladio grinned again. “You won’t like what I have in store if I put you on the mat again.”

Kit just nodded, harnessing her grief and pain the same way she had learned to harness her anger so long ago. She focused it all on Gladio, landing blow after blow and putting him immediately on the defensive. She was a force of nature as they sparred, and while Gladio gave it his all, he didn’t come anywhere near landing a blow, or pinning her. He finally called a halt when they were both covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and he saw the faint muscle tremors from exhaustion Kit was trying to hide. Without a word, Kit dismissed her scythe and started to leave the training room, freezing for only the briefest moment when Ignis walked in, before pushing past him.

Gladio watched Kit leave, hands fisted in frustration and anger, though none of that was directed at her. He knew she was still hurting badly, but he knew channeling some of that pain into her attacks had definitely helped-though she might not think so at the moment. He watched as Ignis came up to him, nodding in greeting.

“Is she alright?” Ignis asked quietly. Gladio shook his head.

“Not yet, but she will be. And if I ever find out who caused her this much pain, I swear I’ll punch them so hard they won’t remember their own name, I don’t care who it is.”

Ignis gave a sardonic laugh. “Trust me Gladio, when I say they’re in enough pain as it is, giving up someone like her. Physical pain would just be a blessing, a way to drown out the hurt they caused themselves and her.” Ignis was quiet a moment as he looked over at Gladio, who was eyeing him skeptically. Part of him hoped Gladio realized he was talking about himself, but another part was curious at the big man’s reaction. “And since when do you care about Kit’s…wellbeing?”

Gladio grimaced, but finally shrugged and let out a little sigh. “From day one. She was so timid, but there was this…spark…in her, and when it finally ignited, it was an inferno. I saw the real her, the one not plagued by doubt, and I was lost…”

Ignis started at him in confusion. “Then why rile her up and provoke her at every opportunity? If that was your way of winning her over, you failed miserably.”

Gladio gave a self-depreciating laugh. “Because she forgets to be timid, or lost, when she’s angry. Even as upset as she was, I watched her harness what she needed to fight and shove the rest away as easy as breathing. And she was spectacular. So yeah, I would rather her hate me and stay alive, and be able to take on all comers, than to be my friend, or more, and die because she hesitated at the wrong moment.”

Both men were silent for a moment, until finally Gladio turned to face his friend. “And don’t you dare breathe a word of this to her or the others, Specs. I mean it.”

Ignis chuckled mirthlessly. “She won’t hear a word about it from me, I assure you. I doubt she’d even believe me if I did say something.” He cast a look over at Gladio. “You’ve done quite a good job of… keeping her alive.”

Gladio sighed. “Don’t I know it?”

When they were done sparring, Ignis checked his phone as Gladio headed to the locker room. There was one message.

I still want to be friends. But that’s all we can ever be. I can’t go through this pain again. I just...need time to get over you first.

Ignis closed his eyes as both relief and pain ripped through him.

I understand. Just let me know when you’re ready.

He hadn’t lost her, not completely. But he knew, without a doubt, he would never be over her. He’d never known just how much he could love someone, until he had to let her go.

#Ignis Stupeo Scientia #ignis scientia #ignis scientia x oc #ffxv angst #final fantasy xv #final fantasy 15 #ff15 #ffxv #ffxv fanfiction #kit leonis #Kit Leonis oneshot

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