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#{{ considering kaeya FAMILY?????????????????? I'm gone }}

animekpopsimp · 5 months

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A Fatal Decision (Kaeya and Diluc x sister reader part 4)

He's Kanreya's last hope, at least, that's what Kaeya's father told him before abandoning him in Mondstat. Those words kept haunting him every day of his life, they made him feel like he didn't belong. On one hand, the nation where he was born was seemingly counting on him, on the other hand, he had come to consider the city of freedom his home. Especially now since both he and Diluc have begun repairing their once damaged brotherly relationship. Kaeya felt relieved that he was finally able to explain to Diluc, it had been so many years of him trying, yet getting pushed away. It broke his heart, and if it weren't for you, then he would still be in that same position.

But deep down, Kaeya knew that he would choose Mondstat. After all, Kanreya had already been destroyed. He didn't see the need to remain loyal to a place that had been gone for 500 years. He had found a family right where he was, and he didn't want to lose that, ever. Which is why he was worried, he was aware that the abyss, or what was left of Kanreya would eventually attack the city, and he was determined to stop it.

"Kaeya?" The blue-haired male was suddenly snapped from his thoughts by your voice. He had agreed to train you, with some hesitation from Diluc. However, he was having trouble focusing today, something you noticed right away.

"Are you ok? You seem worried about something" you asked, gathering his thoughts, Kaeya plastered a smile on his face as he looked over at you.

"I'm fine" he tried to reassure you, but you weren't buying it.

"No, you're not. If you need to take a break, I don't mind." You said, Kaeya sighed, you had always been observant.

"I think you need to take a day off" you told him, arms crossed over your chest as you huffed.

"I promised I would help you learn how to fight" he argued, not wanting to let you down. You smiled, wrapping your arms around him in a hug.

"What matters more is you, why don't we go get some food. Maybe we could get Diluc to come with us" you laughed. Kaeya did as well as he let you pull him toward the city. He finally felt at home.

----------------------------------------------------------

Kaeya was startled awake by the sound of scream, jumping out of bed he ran over to the window, throwing it open. With wide eyes, he scanned the city, his heart starting to race. Mondstat was in chaos, people were running and monsters were attacking whoever was in sight. Kaeya wished what he was seeing was a nightmare, but he knew all too well that it wasn't. Without another thought, he grabbed his sword and ran outside, heart racing. It felt as if it was going to beat out of his chest. The smell of smoke filled his nose as he made his way outside. The Knights of Favonious were fighting off the creatures as best they could while getting the citizens to safety, luckily, as far as Kaeya could tell, no one was dead.

"Kaeya!" Jean called out, looking toward the woman, the male tried to calm himself down.

"We'll handle things here, get Diluc" Kaeya didn't waste any time as he turned and made his way toward the winery. He trusted that the others would keep Mondstat safe. He wasn't sure how long it took, but soon, Kaeya had arrived to his destination. That's when he spotted something horrific in the distance. You were surrounded by Hilichurls and an abys mage. The sight made Kaeya want to vomit. You held a weapon in one hand, but he could tell you were injured.

"(Y/N)!!" He called out, Kaeya ran toward you, praying he would reach you in time. The abyss mage raised its staff to attack you. Adrenaline coursing through him, Kaeya pushed himself forward as fast as his legs would go. He was so close, but not close enough. Kaeya was forced to watch as you did your best to block the attack, but your effort wasn't enough. The attack hit its target, knocking you to the ground. Finally reaching the group of monsters, Kaeya swung his sword, knocking them all to the ground at once.

Rage filled his body as Kaeya quickly dispatched the monsters before turning his attention to you. At the same time, Diluc arrived, breathing heavily. Both brothers stared down at you, blood pouring from a large wound. Kaeya fell to his knees, not minding the blood that began soaking into his clothes. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he pulled you into his arms. Your eyes were half closed, and you were having a hard time breathing.

"I'm sorry" he spoke, trying to put pressure on the wound. You winced as Diluc stared down, tears streaming down his face. You tried to speak, but you didn't have the strength. Kaeya pulled you closer, he closed his eyes, beginning to sob as your breathing became slow. Eventually, you went limp. Kaeya froze when he realized this, more tears sliding down his face. Diluc and Kaeya both lost someone important that day. Even if the city was saved, Kaeya still felt as if he should have done more.

#x reader #genshin impact #genshin #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #x reader angst #genshin impact x reader angst #x sister reader #genshin x sister reader #sister reader #angst #fem reader #reader death #Kaeya #Diluc #Kaeya x sister reader #Diluc x sister reader

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writing-with-gremworm · 5 months

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"If I had the chance, I would still choose you." (Part 1)

The first time I died was at the World's End. The abyssal tendrils encroached from a sinister center and consumed all that remained, both the living and the non-sentient. I don't know if you cried for me, but I thought you called my name.

The second time I died was at the hands of the man who killed our father. He was supposed to be my real father, but even if blood dictates he is, I have no love for him.

The third time I died, I was poisoned in your tavern. Everything seemed fine until blood, not wine, flowed from my lips, pouring onto the countertop below. My hearing faded before my vision, accented with a constant ring, your face contorted with despair.

I lived countless times, though this is the first time I remembered such deaths. Is there a reason for this? I couldn't tell you. I want to find the truth. Though, I want to make the amends I never made first.

"Diluc, we need to talk," I say, looking up from the beverage I hadn't finished.

"... Kaeya, I already told you to finish that drink and go. I've tolerated you for this long since there was another stubborn customer, but you have to go." Diluc sighs in annoyance, cleaning the glass in his hands before glaring at me.

"Normally I would say something playful and leave, but I have something to tell you before my trip to Sumeru." I begin, looking at Diluc seriously.

"If this is some new way to bother me, then drop it. I see no point in dawdling like this." Diluc scoffs, pulling the rag he was washing the glass with taut in his hands.

"Diluc, just hear me out. I won't bring this up again."

"... I ... ask you to leave." I bite my lip and sigh, this was getting nowhere.

"I'm sorry, for lying to you. Don't forgive me. I know you won't anyway. That's it." I smile sadly. Truthfully, I wanted to say so much more. I wanted to tell him everything I was thinking and feeling, I wanted to tell him I would always consider him my true family. I knew that even if I told him nothing would change, but there was some vain hope in me, "I'll be off then. Make sure not to be so lax with your hours next time, I might really keep you up for the whole night drinking." I add playfully, hoping to lighten the mood.

I turn around. I don't want to see what kind of expression Diluc is making. I can already guess it. I leave quietly after that and head off to collect the last of my things for my journey tomorrow. As I look around my quarters I take note of the papers on my desk. I know it's meaningless, but I decided to write a letter to Diluc anyway.

"He's gone." I sigh, looking at the half-full glass Kaeya left behind. This was unusual for him, even on his worst days, he tended to choke down the stuff with reckless abandon.

"Did he mean it? ... He really doesn't get it, does he?" I mutter, shaking my head and cleaning up the rest of the Angel's Share after locking the doors. I had come to terms with the fact that Kaeya had lied to me long ago. It wasn't exactly hard to piece together after doing my own research into why Crepus died. There were other lies, understandable lies. It was never the falsehoods that made me angry with him.

"... But why is he apologizing now? Usually, he'd speak his mind anyway... No, no I can't ask him. I know what kind of position he's in, he'll come back. ... Won't he?" I felt uncertain. I knew Kaeya would usually bring up anything he truly wanted to say again, but this time felt different. This time, felt serious.

"He said he's leaving for Sumeru. I'll talk to him when he gets back." I mutter to myself.

"Ah, Aether. Can I ask you for a favor?" I smile politely and place a hand on my chin.

"A favor? I can do that, but what do you want?"

"You see, Diluc and I had a disagreement, so I was hoping you'd be willing to give this to him in my stead." I hold out the gift I had prepared for Diluc. I wanted to change it up a little, so this time I opted to give him something practical.

"You should give it to him yourself. You still have that chance. If you had an argument that was bad enough you don't want to talk, that's all the more reason to." Ah, right. Aether doesn't have that choice.

"I-I see. Then you win. I'll give it to him tomorrow night." I don't particularly wish to rub more salt on Aether's wound.

The next night, I head to the Dawn Winery on my own. In other timelines, I had brought Aether, and he had picked grapes. I felt it was necessary to go alone this time.

"Haiz, it's not like he'll even want to converse with me."

"It's not like who will want to converse with you?" Diluc says, walking over to me with a complicated expression.

"Ah, Diluc. Don't tell me you missed me?"

"What is this?" Diluc pulls out the letter I had written. I blinked in surprise, I had never sent the letter, so I was a little perplexed as to how he had gotten it.

"Don't tell me you snuck into my room. You knew I'd be home in a few weeks." I tease.

"Think what you like, what matters now is what you wrote here. Should I read it to you? Or do I need to ask again? What is this?" Diluc's expression is more serious than normal. I wince a bit. I hadn't realized he'd take it so poorly. Though, perhaps some part of me did, since I had opted to write it down rather than tell him after our previous encounter.

"Ah, well you see." I start, thinking over where to begin, "I guess I should start with the first part, right?"

"Just explain."

"Right. Okay. You've known for a while who I was, my origin as a Khaenri'an. You may have been less familiar with my bloodline. As nobility yourself, I suppose it may have occurred to you that it could tie into how easily I adapted to the etiquette of high society despite our messing about." I look at Diluc carefully, measuring his gaze as he taps his arm impatiently, "As for the start of the letter, it's true that I lied about being our father's ... Your father's murderer. I felt responsible for it at the time."

"I knew it wasn't you. I've done some research into the truth of Crepus's death. Move on, I'm listening." Diluc's tone is a bit terse, but considering the discussion, I get it.

"Then I suppose the part you were the most confused about was that I still wished to call you my brother despite it all?"

"No, the part that I want you to address is this; 'Diluc, I have known for a long time that you would never forgive me. After coming back this time, I knew I had to at least apologize. I value you, and because of that I need to be honest with you. Khaenri'ah is not a place I consider home, nor do I wish to go back. If I must leave Mondstadt, then I will be saddened, but I understand. I know that when my identity is revealed I will be cut out, but until then, I hope you will remain my brother.'"

"Ah, that. I don't think it truly needs to be explained."

"Why do you think this will change how people see you? Do you think any of us are narrowminded enough to think you're twisted because of something you didn't choose? Kaeya. Look at me. Do you think so little of me that you assume I would call for your exile? We all have secrets, we all have reasons for silence. You never meant to send this to me, did you? Or when you did, you were going to leave quietly after telling Jean the truth, right?"

"..."

"I know you, we grew up together. You weren't the kind of kid who liked lying. You were so bad at telling lies back then that we got caught stealing wine from the cellar. Do you remember that?"

"I-I do. But that-"

"You were a child, forced by an adult to play a role you never asked for. Stop and think, do you really believe I blame you for that?"

"But you've ..."

"Been angry with you? Of course I've been angry with you, you constantly hurt yourself to protect everyone's ideal image of you. Hell, I believed it too."

"..."

"Kaeya, I don't care if you're the prince of Khaenri'ah. I don't care if you still have attachments to those who abandoned you. I just hate seeing what you've become."

"... You ... think it's your fault ..."

"It IS my fault! I wasn't there for you."

"You were grieving."

"I was your brother."

"So? You believed I killed him, however brief that may have been, you didn't know."

"I should have known!"

"No, you couldn't have known. You were a kid who was just torn away from the only person he allowed to consider his family."

"And you were a kid who lied because you thought it would be less painful to be alone than to have a brother who belonged to another country."

"Diluc-"

"Shut up."

"..."

"Kaeya I care about you. If we're being honest, then I should tell you this too. Kaeya I never got close to you because I became the person you pretended to be."

"Diluc you-"

"I killed people, countless people, and I don't regret what I did."

"..."

"You may have pretended it was your fault, but I actively hunted the people responsible for killing Crepus, the ones who convinced him to become a part of the Fatui."

"He- was a part of the Fatui?"

"Don't you think it was a little strange how easily you were accepted into our family by him despite your distinctive pupils?"

"He was a kind man."

"He was a smart man, and he did love us, but that's not why you were accepted by him initially. Kaeya, I need you to understand that he wasn't a good person."

"Diluc you- you've been carrying this belief alone, haven't you. Is he a bad person? Or did he just do bad things?"

"He was a bad person. I suppose it runs in the family."

"You are NOT a bad person. You have a strong moral code and a sense of justice that is rare even among the best people. Your methods may not align with the knights, but you're not completely wrong."

"But I'm still a murderer Kaeya."

"And you're my brother. Isn't it my job to be understanding at times like this?"

"Not for murder."

"Well, maybe not for murder, but I don't think that you were wrong. Diluc, I still want to be your brother. Is that okay?"

"... Hah, after everything. Do you really want to be my brother? A brother to someone like me who is willing to kill for his ideals?"

"I'm willing to be your brother because it's you."

#ragbros #genshin impact #genshin kaeya #diluc ragnvindr #ragnvindr brothers #This is purely familial #I don't ship them #Please keep that in mind for this #angst #briefly mentioned character death

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willow-jade · 11 months

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So people have said how Kaeya is clearly sentimental and values physical objects given the roof stash/decorating himself with Khaenri'ah's imagery, and people have connected his issue with the manor sale to repeatedly not having physical access to his home after being removed from it...

I'm also thinking of, "The legacy of Khaenri'ah is long gone; all that's left are the sinners, and they're not worth mentioning."

+ that line in Venti's quest where he (drunk) goes 'Oh, you mean how you destroyed our father's legacy by selling his manor/mansion/[whatever it was]?' to Diluc...

And it has me wondering if a legacy being tangible is also important to him, possibly in a similar way to his box items. The nation of Khaenri'ah is uninhabitable to it's (human) people. It is not an active, functioning country like the seven nations.

Their father's home, their home, quite likely a family home, is no longer associated with Crepus Ragnvindr, through them or otherwise. Except, perhaps that it belonged to him at some point.

Especially with the other "legacy" he's related to being erased via genocide. Like... not to make genshin impact people about important real world problems, or give too much information about myself, but *waves hand* so much of the culture behind what I'm from has been intentionally destroyed. This includes items and buildings. This makes those that were not that much more important for the right people to have and preserve.

I can see how it might give someone strong feelings about items or places that they consider important to a legacy that's important to them, even if it's a different one.

#mine #genshin impact #kaeya alberich #did i phrase that in a way that makes sense at all #yes he said it to be petty. not relevant to my point

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emilybn330 · 2 years

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Attitude

Kaeya Alberich x reader

As a Kaeya main, I'm very sad to only have C1 after a little under a year of playing.

Just imagine Kaeya calls you princess/prince/your Highness

Warnings: none

With a fierceness you had never mustered before and an impulsiveness which even surprised yourself, you slapped Kaeya. Or at least, that's what you intended. Of course, considering who he was, he was able to stop your hand in its tracks.

"Now, now, Y/N. No need to resort to violence. As much as we disagree, it's improper to hit your coworker, especially at work." Kaeya kept his grip on your hand firm as your temper cooled down. You pulled your hand out of his, glaring rather harshly. He didn't seem to mind your attitude, most likely used to it or as Lisa said, "He probably likes your temper," to which you could only scoff at.

"Don't talk about the past. You should know that.”

“Oh, but Y/N dearest, I am simply reminiscing with you,” He drawled. Just the sound of his voice was enough to annoy you. It was bad enough that you were having to listen to him, so the fact that you could see his smirk and his eye glistening with confidence only made your mood sink lower.

That being said, you had no intention of walking away. No. You were stuck and bound by a fate that others had placed on you. Obviously, Kaeya knew that and took advantage of your misfortune.

"I have no desire to reminisce with you, Captain," You spoke with defiance, even refusing to speak Kaeya's name. "If I were not bound by my family's oath, I'd have moved to Inazuma to get away from you."

"Of course. You tell me everytime."

"And yet, it does not seem to stick."

Your snarky attitude worsened with time as you spoke to Kaeya. It was obvious that he knew that and chose to ignore it. An open book, that's what you both were to each other. Years of dancing around the eyes of others and remaining as mysteries, but unable to hide from the other. If you were anyone else, maybe you would have thought of it as romantic.

Then again, you were only yourself, so your thoughts were not as positive. Kaeya was merely a promise that you could not escape. A demanding promise, at that. He always called upon you when you least desired it. It was made much worse when you began working together.

You knew that Jean was smart. That was a given. It was, yet she seemed so oblivious every time she paired you and Kaeya together to complete anything. There were times when you considered just telling her, but the trouble that would cause wouldn't be worth it. Of course, Kaeya never seemed to mind working with you, if you could even call it that.

Anyone who knew Kaeya knew he liked working alone. He was exceptionally good at working quickly and with the best quality without the help of anyone. You were no exception. You thanked Celestia—a bad habit picked up from living in Mondstadt—for that one fact.

A surprisingly gentle grasp took your hand, bringing it to Kaeya's lips. His attitude was gone, sincerity evident in his one eye.

"Forgive me, darling. Please remember how much I appreciate you," He spoke quietly, considering other knights of favonius were around and busy. You were powerless in his presence, truly.

"Don't bring up Khaenri'ah in public again. For both of our sakes," You paused, taking your hand from his. "And don't call me darling."

With a shrug, Kaeya nodded and did a small bow. "As you wish, Your Highness."

You sighed, rubbing your temple in hopes of rubbing away an oncoming headache. It was as if he had a never-ending list of nicknames to use.

"I am no royal, Kaeya." He smiled in response.

"But you will be."

#kaeya x y/n #kaeya alberich #genshin kaeya #genshin impact #kaeya #kaeya x reader #x reader

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pizzapasta23045 · 1 year

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So I just rewatched the archon quest again and I'm just gonna put down what I think? If that's okay. To help me like, gather my thoughts now that I've rewatched it and could take it all in better. I'm just theorizing and Idk if I should make my own post but I get embarrassed when I make posts related to fan things I like ahsjdjd, or posts at all. Anywho. So I'm thinking carebert was somehow cured of the curse and turned human again based on how chlothar says "he will be able to weave his own destiny anew" (idk how the loom of fate fits into it tbh, and I forgot what it even IS, but maybe the loom of fate is a thing that doesn't have to be one single person) and he can grow up and live a normal life? Dunno if he could still be immortal or not in his human form but I'll just say no rn since I believe he grew up to have a family and eventually kaeya is his descendant. And I guess maybe generational trauma. And also regarding how chlothar dies. Someone had to have buried him and I assume it was caribert considering the sill scarf. Unless... (Unlikely theory incoming) That IS carebert and chlothar is still immortal somewhere and because carebert ages normally now he dies eventually when he gets old and chlothar buried his son next to his mother? And chlothar never actually found a way to cure himself. Hmm... also! I'm guessing that maybe only mixed blood khaenrians only turn into monsters and not like say carebert mother who was purely from mondstadt? Based on how he says "those whose ancestry belonged to the domains of other gods". Well no nevermind I guess that could be wrong since she would ofc have ancestry in mondstadt so she still counts. But wait would the skeleton buried not appear human then? If she died while she was a monster? Because clearly she dies before that memory. Seeing as he presumably used her body to make the fertilizer for the red mushrooms... And he was dodgey when asked what happened to her and how we weren't allowed to see how he made it due to him sending us to get the water. Think I've gone off rail lol. So, I wonder if the alberichs really inherited the title of abyss leader or if abyss sibling took over or was given the title when chlothar disappeared? And the alberichs were doing something else? Or helped in a different way besides directly leading? Also I have question regarding abyss sibling too but that can be separate since I've rambled on far enough as is haha. I might as well come off anon at this point hahssj hi I'm 🐝 anon lol

Well! There is a lot to speculate about the Alberich and I'm hoping they talk about it more in an interlude quest. (Manifesting 3.7/8 abyss order quest man, manifesting so hard)

I'm assuming the mother died like before the curse, or like, (suicide mention beware) ended up killing herself at the beginnings of it, since it seems non-fullblooded Khaenri'ahns don't get immortality on them.

Also yeah I guess he did use his wife as fertilizer, never thought of it tbh but it is... Probably what happened lmao... Oh god that just got a lot more messed up. (I did have an half formed hc of Khaenri'ahns using corpses for nefarious purposes or the 'first come First serve' rule as i likes to call it... And that's.... Fun)

And also I have a theory on what the Alberich did before the fall lmao. And it's base on this tidbit in Hilichurl culture.

And yeah. Hilichurls, which are Khaenri'ahns slowly going insane, call the Lawa their leaders despite them not actually leading anything. Now in Khaenri'ah the sages seem to rule, but also they work under a king and possibly the Alberich??? Which is weird and I want explained.

Especially with the whole thing with king Irmin, I'm not sure if you've come across on my post but it's this whole thing...

#textpost #alberich clan #abyss order #genshin impact #kaeya's bio dad #kaeya's father #inquiries to a pizza

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lilyandthegenshinbrainrot · 2 years

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you say genshin siblings and everyone goes diluc and kaeya?? albedo and klee?? jean and barbara?? ayato and ayaka??? no the twins.

i think about the twins a lot, mostly in half developed musings and little details pieced together by youtube comparisons and a fair amount of projection, but my favorite thing to think about them is their relationship. twins, siblings, equal, older brother, younger sister

see, depending on who is chosen as the traveler, the one damned to the abyss takes on a new meaning beyond just being the one not picked. also worth noting that i'm so entirely sure that the abyss twin is grieving SO MUCH-

anyways, as aether is often the face of the traveler, i imagine his perspective would look like: he wakes up knowing that he couldn't protect his little sister from the unknown god, that as the older sibling he wasn't there when she needed him. it's funny because aether is quieter, he's faster, he's more defensive, so without him, lumine is without guidance, safety, and she's probably quick to make rash decisions and seems to be even quicker to fight. aether is in a very complicated spot where the youngest has more information and isn't willing to help, which is already weird in sibling dynamics but considering how much influence these two have is. it's kinda like making the oldest be coddled for once??

now lumine as the traveler gives a more familiar plot line in that the older sibling is more cynical and bitter, "they know best" kinda way. it's giving,,, not strong enough to protect the only person who ever protected me,,, aether's relationship as traveler fits more into "my identity is found in being the responsible sibling and in losing my sister and powers i don't know where my worth is" stereotype while lumine's is "aether is gone and there is no one else i can rely on, i am without my safety net and i have to be ready to fall"

i just. i cannot stop thinking about family dynamics and responsibilities and what that might look like for them

#aether #aether genshin impact #lumine #lumine genshin impact #abyss twin #genshin traveler #genshin impact lore #genshin impact world building #genshin impact

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xcrystalzero · 3 years

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Hi there~ I'm new to your blog but I just wanna say I love your headcanons! They're so cute~ 💘

if this hasn't been done already, could you possibly do Pomegranate tea + english breakfast tea for Kaeya or Diluc? Your choice! (Or even both?👀 whoever you feel more inspired to write about!)

Thank you in advance, stay safe!😊🙏

Hello! Thank you so much!! Well, I love both of those fine gentlemen, so I decided to write for both of them! Warning, contains spoilers for both Kaeya and Diluc's stories so do not read any further if you haven't gotten there yet and don't want to be spoiled.

Kaeya:

pomegranate tea: at what point did they know they loved their s/o?

For some people, love is just something that grows to be a part of their relationship, a simple progression of emotions. That however, is not the case for Kaeya Alberich.

The rain showed no sign of letting up. He had been caught by the storm on his way back to Mondstat from a scouting mission and had took refuge in a cave to wait it out. The rest of the party had gone on out of there before him so he had not doubt that they had already made it back to Mondstat before the storm had started.

Ah, just him and the rain. How nostalgic...

"Kaeya!" Well, apparently not. Kaeya pulled himself to his feet as he made his way to the entrance of the cave, glancing outside. There you were, completely drenched as you wandered back and forth, calling his name into the wind.

"[name], here!" he called out, managing to grab your attention. Even through the fog and downpour, he can see the grin on your face when you spot him and run over.

"What are you doing out here?"

You stand just out of the range of the rain now, seemingly unaware that you're soaked as you smile at him. "I came back to find you! This storm is kind of nasty so I just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

At that, Kaeya smiled. "Oh come on sweetheart, don't you know? Cryo is always stronger in the rain."

You scoffed at that as you set your bag down - whenever you had waterproofed your bag, he didn't know - had pulled out a towel as well as an apple which you offered to him.

"You might be stronger in it, but I know you don't like the rain."

How had you noticed? Kaeya aimed a quizzical gaze at you. "And why would you think that?"

"It's kind of obvious..." you remarked, rubbing the towel over your head in an attempt to dry off. "That's why I came over. Whatever it is, a little company should at least help a little bit right?"

It felt like Kaeya's heart had stopped in his chest. The feeling was strange, as though his chest was actually constricting at your words. What... was this? Eventually, he managed to speak.

"I suppose you're right..."

english breakfast tea: would they want a family?

I feel like this may let some of the Kaeya simps down, but it has to be said... I don't think that Kaeya would want a family in the near future, possibly even at all. Family is already a bit of a touchy subject for him. The only blood relative he remembers abandoned him under the pretense of fulfilling some old prophecy. He had thought he had found a new family with the Ragvindrs but that ended in nothing short of disaster.

Thus, Kaeya has come to a conclusion. He's just not cut out for families. Every one he's ever been a part of has come to a devastating end and he's convinced that he is the sole reason why.

Perhaps if one day, his internal struggles come to an end, he might consider it, but even then. He doesn't want to put himself or anyone else through the pain he's felt in the past. It's just safer to keep a distance.

Diluc:

pomegranate tea: at what point did they know they loved their s/o?

Diluc knew he loved you when he shared a secret he never thought he would, and yet, you still stayed.

"I tried to kill my brother." The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them.

You freeze in place, page from the book you were making your way through half-flipped as you slowly turned your face up towards his. You're silent for a moment and when you do speak, you pick your words carefully.

"I wasn't aware that you had a brother..."

Oh, you know the man he had once considered a brother and yet, Diluc knows that there's no way you could have made that connection with the knowledge you had. "We're not close anymore..."

"What happened?" You snapped your book shut, setting it down on the table beside you as you stood. Slowly, you made your way over to the couch Diluc sat on, sitting a comfortable distance away as you leaned in to listen.

And so, he told you. About the family he had once had and how in a single night, it had come to an end. He told you about the grief he felt, and then the shock, and then the anger and how he had taken it all out on a single person, and then things had never been the same.

He had been talking for a while but you've never once showed a sign that you wanted to leave. You continuously regarded him with that warm look as though his story was becoming your own as you listened.

Eventually, he ran out of words. You sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "You probably hate me don't you?"

"No." Your response was immediate, causing his head to fly up as he sought out your gaze. What he saw there wasn't an accusation or pity. It was a simple and straightforward resolution. "I am glad you trusted me enough to tell me all of this. And now, you don't have to suffer alone anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm here with you now. We can work through this together."

And just like that, Diluc Ragnvindr fell in love.

english breakfast tea: would they want a family?

In his heart, there is nothing he wants more, but he's just not sure that he's ready yet. Just like Kaeya, Diluc has already lost his family once. Unlike Kaeya, while he does feel guilty, Diluc understands on some personal level, that his experience is not what all families are destined to be like.

He's still scared though. Some strange part of him is sure that he's part of the reason why his family ended up the way it did and he doesn't want to transfer that burden to anyone else. With the correct person however, he might be convinced that it was not his fault and that there is in fact, a chance here for him to start over. To be able to start a new family and be able to protect them until the end.

It would take time, but he'd get there eventually.

request a tea prompt!

#genshin impact #genshin imagines #geshin impact kaeya #kaeyagenshinimpact #kaeya #kaeya x reader #diluc #genshin diluc #diluc ragnvindr #diluc x reader #diluc ragnivindr x reader #prompts #tea #tea prompts #pomegranate tea #english breakfast tea

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archived-kin · 3 years

Text

genshin modern au cheat sheet

i’m planning to do more pieces set in this au, so i’ve put together a quick list of the characters i'm planning to write about/include!

there are three main groups here - the zhao family, the ragnvindr family and friends, and the Miscellaneous Pals™

(the next volume in this au is going to be a xiao piece, and that should be up within the next two or so days!)

1. the zhao family

zhongli, 36: history professor at the local uni who also plays the guzheng very well, tea-enjoyer, a very proud and supportive dad who loves his kids more than anything in the universe - probably unironically has so many pictures of them in his wallet

xiao, 23: taking a degree in psychology at the local uni, has a cool motorbike, bit of a control freak, doesn’t like surprises, will drop-kick you if you look at him or his sister funny, wants a cat but his dad’s allergic, never really grew out of his emo phase

yanfei, 19: baby of the family, prodigy lawyer-in-training, far smarter than many people give her credit for, likes building snowmen, has to protect her unsuspecting dad from Evil Salespeople looking to make some extra money

xiao and yanfei are biological siblings, and zhongli adopted them when xiao was 11 and yanfei was 7. the circumstances of this adoption is a mystery that none of the zhao family members seem willing to divulge…

the zhao siblings can have a little bit of tragic backstory. as a treat.

basically they were born into poverty and often went hungry for days on end. biological parents were distant and neglecting (though not actually physically/emotionally abusive - yet.)

when xiao was caught shoplifting bread and fruit from a local grocery store so that he and yanfei could actually eat, both parents went ballistic and kicked him out the house in the middle of one of the coldest winters the town had seen

poor kid was practically freezing to death out there, and yanfei raised such a fuss back in the house that mum slapped her square in the face to get her to shut up, which xiao saw through the window, and he promptly decided that he Was Not Putting Up With This Shit for any longer

immediately went to a neighbour’s house and told them what was going on, neighbours promptly called cps, and an investigation was launched

parents were deemed unsuitable for raising kids and (after a lot of back and forth) the two kids were taken into care

meanwhile zhongli was kind of sad because he had no friends or family in this town and all he really did was write articles, read books, and mark work

then one of his co-workers mentioned hearing about xiao and yanfei’s story and it hit zhongli so hard that he immediately rang up the adoption centre and ended up taking them in

and from then on both yanfei and xiao were very happy and healthy because zhongli was literally the best dad ever and put everything into taking care of them

2. the ragnvindr family (+ friends)

diluc, 29: budding businessman who still works at his dad’s cafe but is looking to open up his own company some time soon, still buys himself juice in those little cartons with the straws, still doesn’t know how raising bread works?? how does it get bigger???

diona, 7: diluc’s adopted daughter who has her father firmly under her thumb, bit of a spitfire but can also be the sweetest kid ever, enjoys making ‘potions’ out of grass and flowers and water (diluc can and will actually drink these potions because his love for his daughter knows no bounds)

kaeya, 25: diluc’s idiot little brother who’s changed majors at least five times and still doesn’t really know what he wants to do, practises fencing and horse riding in his spare time like a nerd, spoils his niece rotten

lisa, 26: the first of kaeya’s three roommates, has a degree in english and could easily have gone on to become a leading scholar but chose to instead open a bookshop that gets way more business than expected because she’s pretty and men and women alike are all simps

albedo, 23: the second of kaeya’s roommates, bit of a genius, has already started his chemistry phd, is almost concerningly pale and exhausted at all times, has not gone a day without breaking one of the cups for at least two years

venti, 21: the third of kaeya’s roommates, studying music, acts way older than he is sometimes but is mostly just a child, asks at least one of his roommates to marry him every day without fail, was and still is both a music and a theatre kid

lisa’s actually the one who owns the roommates’ residence because it’s on top of her bookshop

i was going to keep the whole ragnvindr family trauma thing but i decided that diluc deserved to be happy in at least one au so the brothers are still happy brothers :D

unfortunately that means that i’ve transferred a lot of the family trauma over to diona

essentially her mother died when she was a baby and her father, draff, turned to alcohol to get him through the stress of raising a child alone. unfortunately this led to him drunk driving one day, and he crashed the car into one of the wall’s of diluc’s dad’s cafe.

draff died on impact since he was in the front seat, but three-year-old diona managed to pull through despite her injuries. one thing led to another, diluc ended up taking care of her for a bit while the authorities sorted the whole thing out, but then he got too attached and decided to adopt her permanently

now diona has a dad, three uncles and an aunt who are all willing to shower her with all the love she deserves :’)))))

3. the Miscellaneous Pals™:

xiangling, xingqiu, chongyun, 17: local high school kids, they’re all kind of dating each other, low-key got adopted by xiao at one point, guoba is xiangling’s guinea pig and they all have joint custody over him

barbara, bennett, razor, 17: also local high school kids, also kind of all dating each other (but a lot more tentatively), regulars at diluc’s cafe, almost never seen apart

lumine, aether, ??: they keep showing up here and there around town to climb a tree and just sit there throwing leaves at people on the streets, then disappear. no one knows who the fuck they are

tartaglia, 23: nicknamed childe by his friends, also known as Mr Moneybags, is always just hanging around the local uni campus but doesn’t actually study anything there. his real name is ajax, but he thought that was lame so he gave himself a cool new one

eula, 24: new teacher at the local high school, her father used to be headmaster and was notoriously cruel to his students so everyone’s kind of wary of her, but she’s just really sweet and wants the best for her pupils :(((

amber, 21: number one eula defender, teaches the younger kids at the local primary, likes bunsen burners a little bit too much, still can’t remember how to spell the word necessary

hu tao, 25?: shady local mortician who may or may not practise illegal things, was kind of dating yanfei at some point but zhongli sent her packing as soon as he realised who she was, no one knows what her deal is

xiangling’s already a budding master chef and has received several offers from culinary schools, xingqiu is planning to study literature/language at uni but also might just go straight to trying to get a book published, chongyun is going to continue the family tradition of studying the supernatural with maybe a side job at xiangling’s future restaurant so that he doesn’t end up with no money if he doesn’t get any supernatural work

barbara is planning to go to medical school and also sings/dances in her spare time, bennett still doesn’t know what he wants to do but is considering carpentry among other things, and razor is dead-set on working at either a zoo or an animal shelter when he’s older

tartaglia never leaves the house without at least three pocket knives and a water pistol. he’s never had to use them yet, but you never know...

eula and amber live together and are probably dating but they’ll both just dodge the question if you ask them about it

they’re most definitely together though because on eula’s birthday amber brought her entire class of little kids to say happy birthday and bring her flowers

(incidentally amber is diona’s teacher)

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cinnamonest · 3 years

Note

I've had this idea in my head all day oml

So consider: Diluc's mom hasn't been in the picture for a while, yeah? So Crepus decids that Diluc and Kaeya still need a maternal figure in their lives so he hires a nanny (Darling). Darling lives full time at the winery and doesn't really have a life beyond taking care of these two adorable children but as time goes on, Diluc and Kaeya outgrow the need for a nanny. Darling is given a new job as a maid and is free to get a house, leave at night, yadda yadda yadda and she does. Happy to actually have a life and put her child raising skills back into practice, she gets married to some rando from a village and gets pregnant and has a child.

Diluc and Kaeya are not happy to hear that /their/ darling has gone off and done something so silly so they decide to work together to get her back.

They go to her house at first to try to convince Darling to come back but are taken aback to find this little baby waddling out to say hi to the people at the door.

Darling turns the men away but soon comes to regret it when she returns from the winery one night to find her husband dead and her kid missing. Knowing who did this, she storms back to the winery to find Kaeya and Diluc flanking an Adeleine (?? Is that her name) with a sleeping baby in her arms.

"Stay with us and be our pretty little housewife and Adeleine will raise your baby with no connection to you or we kill the child and force you to stay with us. Either way you'll get a new baby eventually." They tell Darling.

Wanting to keep her baby alive, Darling agrees and obeys the terms unaware that the baby she sees with Adeleine looks nothing like Darling and it too fucked out to pay any attention to the new child the church took in that looks like the dead husband she's not allowed to think about anymore

(Lmao you can tell I'm not used to writing things like this but your work really inspired me)

EXCELLENT omg and it's so much better if darling knows. It's the reason you left to begin with. Like, from the time they were small, it was always clear something was... Wrong with them. They always demanded all of your time and attention, got mad if you spent even a second doing anything but being near them. Once they got older, it starts getting... Weirder. Touchy. Inappropriate. Uncomfortable.

You had a suspicion that it might be a bad idea to leave, but you couldn't handle it anymore... That's why you stiffen up and start trembling a bit when they first come find you again, and why when your family is gone, you immediately know what's happened.

And poor darling knows that walking back is sealing your fate, a death sentence to your freedom - you know once you go back, you're never leaving again. As you walk your legs feel like they're weighed down, but in the end, it's worth it if only for your kid.

#lena's asks #q

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slimepuparibaba · 3 years

Text

ChiLumi | Hidden Meaning

Okay, so, basically, this takes place in between the Archon missions and before Golden House.

I'm gonna leave bullet points just cuz it's easier that way and I'm so bad at writing. I might make a fic of it later though if enough people want me to XD

There might be some additional parts to this too cuz I wanna put in detail how the Golden House fight went down, how Childe's story mission worked, and every other ChiLumi headcanon after that so yeah.

They may be a bit OOC but this is how I imagine it playing out

So we're clear, Childe has used his charms to woo over many to gain information for the Fatui. He sees Lumine slightly falling for him so he decides to use this to his advantage no one tell the boy he is in love yet, he refuses to believe it

Childe invites Lumine out to run some errands around Liyue. His excuse? The group is running out of food and needs to cook up some more stuff for their future adventures.

His conditions? Everyone else must stay behind, including Paimon. Paimon says no to this, obviously, since she hasn't left Lumine's side.

Lumine, however, says yes.

Most of the team is heavily against this outing, but Kaeya, Barbara, Chongyun, and Xiangling seem to be on Lumine's side, letting her go and convince the rest to let Childe and Lumine do as they please. (Side note: Kaeya and Barbara are huge playing factors in this entire ChiLumi saga)

Childe and Lumine start wandering around Liyue and stop by the beach, where Lumine starts picking up some starconches behind Childe's back

She hands it over and says it's a gift for him. When he asks why, she says she wants to try and convince Childe to join them on their adventure.

Lumine isn't dumb; she knew Childe did this to try and squeeze info out of her, hence why she accepted. However, she decided that she wants to try and convince Childe to leave the Fatui and switch sides.

Childe isn't convinced, obviously, and says that he is her enemy--she can't expect him to switch sides that easily, could she? Especially not when he's made it clear that he, Tartaglia, the 11th Harbinger, wants to conquer the world!

Lumine, however, begs to differ

"How about we make a deal?" She asks. "I'll take you sightseeing around Liyue Harbor while we run errands. I want you to take a good look this time and see the people of Liyue not as people you collect debt from, not as people you need to defeat, nor as people you need to conquer. I want you to see the as people with families and lives, living their days out peacefully... as your average human being, like you or me. If you can do that, at least consider leaving the Fatui, okay?"

Childe scoffs, saying that he'll only take the deal because he knows it won't work. Lumine shoves the starconch into his hands and pulls him along, smiling sweetly. His heart slightly flutters but this stupid idiot thinks the world is black and white and he can't be in love with the enemy so he ignores it.

Lumine starts heading to some stalls and buying some food, sharing it with Childe. He states that he's already done this before, but she wants him to experience it from a different point of view. She leads him to Wanmin Restaraunt and the two feast.

Childe doesn't know why, but for some reason, the food tastes a bit better than when he tasted it the first time he came to Liyue. He looks to Lumine, who's enjoying every bite, and softly smiles.

After paying, she continues dragging him everywhere. To drink tea, to hear stories, or to even watch kids fly kites (and even convince him to fly a kite with her)

Then, they get to the middle of Yujing Terrace

Childe was having a great time so far and was almost forgetting that he was supposed to be dragging out information from her, but when they got to the scene where the Exuvia was supposed to be, where the crime scene had taken place days earlier, he remembered that he was a Fatui. What was he doing, having fun without getting his job done? He needed to get that Gnosis, after all, from Rex Lapis' corpse.

Lumine leads him to one of the altars and says that even if the Rite of Decension is no more, she still wants to make a wish with him. Childe is amused that she would do such a thing and agrees.

She lights the incense stick and lights the altar, making her wish. Childe starts to question her.

"Y'know... I would like to know what you wished for, Oujo-chan. Convince me that the Tsaritsa is wrong about this whole thing... that the world shouldn't be our enemy and that there's still hope."

Childe was expecting Lumine to turn him down, but she answered with her wish.

"...I want to be reunited with someone special to me. We were always attached to the hip whenever we traveled together, and even if we parted ways, I knew where to meet him. I knew where to go. But I lost him... and I'm so scared. I wake up in the middle of the night because I keep seeing nightmares where he walks away from me and I can never reach him."

She has a sad look in her eyes as she keeps continuing.

"If anything, I just want to see him again and know he's safe... and, along the way, maybe gather up more friends. I want to have the people of Teyvat united and happy together... if I can gather more people together, I'd like that... we can go hunt for treasure, solve puzzles, discover ruins, fight ruins... all while trying to find our own goals, we can come together, as a family."

Childe smiled at her answer, and when Lumine asked what he wished for, he hesitantly answered. He began to murmur, searching for the right words, but all he could come up with was the answer he knew all around him expected from him.

"...to become stronger and... conquer the world...?"

He sounded unsure, because he was. Lumine didn't pick up on that and just laughed, saying that sounded so like him. But, truth was, he was conflicted on his wish.

In truth, he wanted a resolve like Lumine.

He wished someone would tell him that he doesn't need to constantly fight and bring chaos.

He wished someone would treat him as a friend, or even as family, unlike the Fatui, who either despised him with their entire being or feared him, whether out of respect or their sheer will to survive in the Fatui.

He wished someone would tell him it's okay to feel vulnerable--that the world was okay, and that he can live as a person. Not as a Harbinger, not as a Fatui...

He wished someone would tell him that he can protect those he loves without constantly destroying others who are loved by their own families.

He looked to Lumine, who started gazing at the stars above and realized one thing and one thing only:

He wished that Lumine would tell him that he isn't alone anymore.

The next day, when Lumine woke up, Childe handed her a bouquet of Windwheel Asters.

When Lumine asked why, Childe brushed it off as telling her to get stronger for their upcoming battle.

Deep inside, though, those weren't Childe's true intentions. In fact, what he meant to say was this:

"When that fateful day comes, beat me... make me change sides. Become so strong that I have no choice but to listen to you."

"Prove to me that I'm a monster worth saving."

my heart aches for these two, because childe in this entire storyline is literally trying to convince himself that he can't switch sides and he's already gone too far deep to be saved

honey plz lumine is trying to show u that you're just like anyone else. you don't need to conquer the world to protect those you love oh my gOD

#chilumi #genshin impact #headcanon #genshin childe #childe #lumine #genshin traveler #genshin #angst #genshin angst #just pure and utter angst #childe for fucks sake please switch sides lumine didn't say it verbally but she loves you #yes lumine loves childe #she didn't say it verbally but she loves him #childe goddammit why are you so stuBBORN #plz excuse my bad writing hahahahahahaha #tartaglia

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lazycatmeowsalot · 3 years

Text

zodiac au

summary: In this world, there are known 12 zodiac animals that seven gods have assigned to their seven nations, and these animals look after the nation's inhabitants with their beloved partners. pairings: razor x lumine x dainsleif, xiao x aether x childe, kaeya x diluc, jean x lisa zodiac animals: lumine (rabbit), xiao (tiger), kaeya (snake), diluc (rooster), razor (dog). as for the others, i haven't think of it yet but venti and zhongli probably won't be one. they're the seven gods for one thing

lumine (rabbit) and dainsleif

lumine: if possible, i wish to be exorcised by you. i don't want to be a zodiac anymore. it's lonely dainsleif: you're asking me, your partner to essentially kill you?! lumine: i just don't want to experience the pain of losing you! i have lived so many years with so many partners dying and leaving me alone! also her: it feels like the archon's punishing me because i always loses my partners the most painful way! i'm a rabbit, i die from loneliness!

notes:

i don't know if rabbits truly die from loneliness, but i'm making it headcannon rabbit!lumine

she also gets attached easily and really likes aether here that dainsleif is jealous and insecure if she wants aether as her partner, that and dainsleif hates how lumine is so burdened as a zodiac animal

oddly enough, she's really close to the dog zodiac (razor) since they're both of the same generation, razor also always comfort her whenever her partner dies and lumine does the same for him when his partners die

dainsleif is not sure how he feels at the closeness between the two zodiac animals but he knows that this is better because at least, lumine won't be alone after he dies...he's only human, her partner but still a human

xiao (tiger) and childe

xiao: i don't need a partner so leave me alone! childe: aw, but i like you and aether thinks that we should get along well. he's also visiting xiao: what does another zodiac's partner have to do with me?! childe: you say that but your tail pops up and gives you away. it's wagging~

notes:

funny enough, i have a hard time choosing among dog, dragon or tiger here...but went with tiger because the manga this is based on. also, gotta admit i love the idea of xiao being a big cat because it totally fits him. i did think cat is nice but i had other ideas for that one

i was confused at first what i would be with his partner since i've decided not to make aether his so after thinking it through, i went with childe so i can make a threesome between them. another idea was qiqi because it'll be totally cute and fitting!

also headcannon of childe just being the teaser in this relationship like he knows his feelings but he also knows that it might not even bear fruit because xiao doesn't want to be involved with humans

kaeya (snake) and aether

aether: don't you think that you're teasing master diluc too much? kaeya: no, this is not that much different from how childe teases both you and xiao. and didn't i tell you that you can just call him diluc? aether: still, it's more appropriate that i call him that since he is a zodiac animal...and your bride-to-be kaeya: ...yeah, right. bride-to-be...who in the world even gave this idea to aether?

notes:

kaeya choose to abandon his real partner because they betrayed his trust and he found an unconscious aether who he felt a bond to form and decided to make aether his new partner

aether doesn't remember anything. his background identity is that he's supposed to be the cat zodiac but an incident made him turn into a human. he's lumine's twin who was declared gone so the two felt instant bond with each other

kaeya is a real big brother to both lumine and aether along with diluc so they have to be play along with each other despite kaeya and diluc not really getting along well

by the way, it's lumine who thought that diluc might be kaeya's bride and mentioned it to aether

diluc (rooster) and jean

jean: rather than a rooster, don't you look like an ordinary bird instead? diluc: it saves energy to transform into a small bird instead jean: are you sure that it's not because kaeya will find you easier when you're in your true form? diluc: ...you don't get to nitpick when you also use this smaller form to attract your friend

notes:

i wanted to have a platonic bond between these two so i partnered them up so i got easy picking his partner (although i did had the idea of him and kaeya partnering) but the zodiac animal was difficult

then i realized that phoenix suits him so bird...bird is rooster? so i went with it and also, it's so fitting in the manga that i based this from. one scene has the rooster spirit being all "i exterminate evil in this night time" thing which makes me think of diluc and i'm like laughing

jean knows her feelings for lisa here so she wants to try and court her and apparently lisa likes birds so she lucks out that diluc can turn into small birds and jean can try talking to lisa about him

headcannon is diluc always in his smaller bird form than his rooster form is because kaeya had one time made fun of his appearance (because he had accidentally went with a hen appearance than a rooster)

razor (dog) and lisa

lisa: i'll be working overnight. guard the house well, okay, razor? razor: razor will do his best! lumi visits today too lisa: i see. that's nice. i'm glad that you won't be alone today also her: should i still call jean today? it's the first time i'll be working overnight since i got him. i'm worried about lumine as well. isn't her owner simply irresponsible? letting such a cute small bunny go out often alone...

notes:

i went with the idea that lisa is the only partner that has no idea about they're all zodiac animals and that she's razor's partner. mostly because razor is not good at explaining

headcannon is that she likes birds but because of her ties with razor, most animals that consider dogs as predators like small birds will fear on sight. so she's extremely glad that jean's bird (aka diluc) doesn't fear her

in a stranger events of lisa living an ordinary life and being so packed with many things to do, she has no time for romance or can see jean's obvious feelings to her. she does like to flirt with jean whenever she got free time

razor is very affectionate and caring for his partners, treating them like families and he's more in tune with his animal characteristics because he's raised by the wolf clan who considers him as their own despite razor being dog zodiac than a wolf spirit

razor really likes lumine because they had gone through a lot. being in the same generation and being extremely attached with their partners. he really hates how lumine have depression and suicidal tendencies so he always look out for her

inspiration: Isami Matsuo Eto Irokoi Zoushi (manga) [short advice, don't read it in public because it's a yaoi manga if you're curious. it's cute and wholesome but some parts are intense]

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

Next Stop, Everywhere

Chapter 23: Things Change

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: 10th Doctor x Female OC

(Minerva’s face claim: Victoria Camacho)

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter summary: Minerva finally comes home to see someone very special to her and hopefully raise her spirits a bit.

// Story Masterlist //

The Doctor entered my room with another dessert in his hand, a hopeful look on his face as he approached my bed.

"Doctor, I said I wanted vanilla pudding," I informed, giggling when his hope turned into irritation. It was far too much fun irritating him like that. Since I'd been stuck in bed for a good while, I had to find a source of entertainment somewhere.

"Are you serious?" He frowned.

I nodded, "I said clearly that I wanted vanilla..." But my certainty faded when I started to think about it. This had been happening for a while too. "...or...maybe I did say chocolate...hm...no, wait, pistachio?"

The Doctor sighed and sat down on the chair beside my bed. He wasn't very surprised about my doubt, neither was I by this point. "Don't try to think too hard. It could hurt you."

"Sorry," I reached for the vanilla pudding, "But thank you for tolerating my indecision."

"It's alright, although I'm seriously not okay with you rejecting the banana pudding," he gave me a sharp look.

"I told you, I like banana in everything...except pudding form."

He shook his head, "Why would you say that?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "It's just its yellow color sort of reminds me of like the goop of your brain or something...ew."

"Seriously?" he raised an eyebrow, "That's your excuse?"

"I'm sorry if I don't want to eat a pudding brain," I said as innocently as possible, "It's what it reminds me of."

"Your comparisons are wrong," he pointed.

"And so is this," I waved the vanilla pudding, "I think I did say chocolate."

"Minerva just eat the bloody pudding," he snapped, "Or I'll force it down your throat."

"Ouch, you're rude today," I said innocently as I took a spoonful of my pudding.

"Sorry," he immediately apologized, his genuine sorriness making me feel bad because this wasn't such a big deal. Like I said, I'd been bedridden for some time now and I needed to find fun somewhere.

"I was just joking around, Martian, don't overreact."

"Is there anything else you need?" He stood up and fluffed the pillow behind me, "Are you thirsty? Do you want a milkshake?"

"I'm still eating my pudding," I reminded, waving my spoon as he stepped back.

"Right, right," he nodded, "Are you sure you're okay? Nothing hurts?"

I smiled, shaking my head, "Nope, I feel fine. Just fine. Why do you keep asking that? Martha does the same thing. So I lost my memory, but I'm okay."

For some reason, my memories of the last couple months had been lost. I could barely see the faint images of the Family shooting the Doctor, Martha and I in the TARDIS. And a watch...and Kaeya's necklace. But that was it. After that, I couldn't remember a thing.

About a week ago, I woke up in my room in the TARDIS without a clue of how I'd gotten there. It was a bit scary at first, not knowing what happened to me but the Doctor and Martha had quickly established I was alright despite the small memory loss. They explained two months had passed since we were shot down in the TARDIS. We'd gone into hiding in the year 1913, the Doctor posing as John Smith who was a school teacher. Martha and I had been assigned as his 'inherited' maids. Figures we'd end up serving the Martian. But according to them, we had been discovered a month early and chaos had arose. In the end, the Doctor returned and helped save us again. It sounded right, but I couldn't remember.

All I had as a memory from that adventure was a big ole burnt spot on my neck, which Martha continuously said was the origin of my memory loss. But no matter how many times I asked why she thought that, or what caused the burned spot, she wouldn't answer. I would even ask the Doctor and he would just wave it off or avoid the answer altogether. I knew there was more than they weren't telling me, it was especially obvious in the Doctor.

He seemed guilty, he seemed thoughtful, distracted. There were times where we were talking and suddenly I'd find that he wasn't listening to me; his mind was somewhere else. I wondered what made him think so much. I asked Martha about it but she seemed mad so she tended to divert the answer. She just said that it was his fault and he should know by now. That only made me more confused. I had one distracted friend and another angry friend. I suspected something else had happened in 1913, but neither of them would say more about it and I just couldn't remember anything.

But one thing that I clearly saw was how guilty the Doctor looked. I didn't understand why but I assumed he felt the memory loss was his fault for bringing us to 1913. As much as I told him it wasn't his fault, he claimed he wasn't guilty and that he was alright.

What a liar.

And due to the Doctor's guilt, he had taken the job of aiding me this last week very seriously. While he couldn't cook anything, I was always brought a good meal three times a day, made by Martha. He never left my side unless there was something truly wrong in the TARDIS that needed his services. Every five minutes, he always asked if I was alright and if I needed something. At first, I did care for his extra attention, but when I noticed how unhappy he was, how distracted and absent he was at times, it made me realize how wrong something was. I wanted to know what it was to then know how to fix it and then do it so he could be happy again.

"I'm sorry, Minerva," the Doctor took my hand, snapping me out of my thoughts, "I'm really sorry."

"Sorry about what?" I frowned, liking our hands interlocking but the fact he looked sad took it away.

"You don't remember?"

"Nothing yet, sorry," I shrugged.

He sighed, nodding and patting my hand, "It's alright. You don't have to be sorry for that."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Because you've been a terrible liar this past week."

"Everything's fine," he pulled a small smile, easily fake.

"You're lying," I whispered, watching his eyes intently. He did the same thing no matter how casual he wanted to act. It was fairly easy to catch when he couldn't even meet my gaze for more than a few seconds. "You're broken inside."

"How do you know that?" he tried acting like what I was saying had no relevancy.

"Because just like you could read my eyes, I can read yours. And right now, they're telling me they've seen something that broke you. You're not okay and it actually hurts me that you don't have the sufficient trust to tell me."

"I trust you, I do."

"No you don't, because we tell each other everything and right now you're choosing to hide it. Why?"

"There's just some things I'm not ready to say."

"Is it about Kaeya?"

"What?" He sounded edgy about that so I knew it had something to do with her.

"Kaeya's alive and you've made no remarks about it. No smiles, no happy dances, no nothing. She's the love of your life and you're not even smiling that she's still breathing somewhere in the world."

That was what confused me the most! A week ago, I informed him the love his life was alive and was returning for him. That was actually the only memory I had from 1913; Kaeya's message. As soon as I woke up in my room, her words ran through my head: "I am alive". While it broke my heart that she was coming back, it did make me just the slightest happy that the Doctor hadn't lost his love in the war. I thought he'd be extremely happy, giddy, jumping off the walls out of excitement...

...but there was nothing.

I would've thought he would've started his own search for the princess just to meet even earlier. But instead, he had stayed with the boring ole human that was me. He took care of me, even more than Martha I dare say because she had to go and sleep...but not him. He stayed, literally 24/7 all last week, just because I lost some memories of two months, and the necklace I had worn left me a bit weak. Bad as it was, I liked he chose me this time, even if it was just for a small moment.

"She's not the love of my life.." the Doctor said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"But you love her, don't you? You never stopped even if Rose was able to sneak her way into your hearts. You loved her too but it doesn't compare to Kaeya's love." I was a bit bitter but I think it's understandable.

He frowned, "I didn't love Rose."

"Yes you did. She loved you. I know it." It's not like her attitude or threats had anything to do with the fact she loved him...

"Well, perhaps she did but that doesn't mean I loved her. I mean, okay, yes, I admit it...I did have some affection for her, I was attracted...but love? No. I didn't. I don't."

My eyes widened as I processed his words, "...you...you don't?"

"No," he was smiling about this for some reason, "I don't. I never did, Minerva. Why would you think that?"

"Well, Doctor, you didn't exactly portray just friendship with Rose. You held hands, you were always together...and when I was there...there were times where you two would just...forget that I was even in the same room with you and you'd give each other these little looks that...that just yelled 'love'."

"Minerva, I will never finish apologizing for that time that you felt ignored, really...I am so sorry," he reached for my hand and took it into his. "And yes, I do admit there were times where I did consider Rose being...more than a friend...but something didn't feel right about that."

"Cos she's human?" I asked quietly, looking down as I thought about myself. What if he didn't want me solely because of that trait, that thing that made any fantasy about us being together for a lifetime impossible?

"Cos there was no actual spark."

"But you were attracted to her!"

"There's a difference between attraction and actual love. Yeah, alright, I was attracted to her in the beginning. I won't deny it. But...I don't know, there was just something that made it not happen."

"So...you never loved her?"

"No, I never loved her."

"Oh..." And I was smiling stupidly. Even if Rose wasn't here, it did make me feel somewhat better to learn that she had never gained his love. It was stupid, but...it made my heart skip just a littler faster to know that she had been wrong. The Doctor never loved her.

Of course then I remembered about Kaeya...

"But you still love Kaeya," I whispered, snatching my hand away from his as discreetly as possible.

"I..." he shook his head, "...let's talk about something else, yeah?"

"Why aren't you happy that she's coming back? I mean, she loves you, you love her, why aren't you happy?"

"Cos...cos, um..." He opened his mouth yet closed it as soon as he opened it. Instead, he just...stared at me. Normally, I'd be all giddy and smiley but this was another look he'd been doing all this week. While it did make me blush, I knew there was something more behind it. Something he didn't want to tell me...

"Cos what?" I asked, hoping that this time would be the lucky one that would give me all the answers I wanted.

"Have you ever felt like your head is just so...jumbled up?" He said instead. It was rather confusing how our conversation steered towards the new topic but I followed.

"Um...I suppose, with my family?" I shrugged, noticing how grim he had turned. "Why do you ask?"

"Cos that's what I've felt lately. Like, I think I know what I want, but..."

"There's doubt?"

"Maybe, I don't know," he sighed.

"What are you so jumbled about, then? A suit to wear?" I teased, getting a small laugh back.

"Ha, ha," he rolled his eyes, "I am being serious here."

"That doesn't sound like you, Martian," I smiled, "It must be serious, huh?"

"Very," he stared again for another minute or two.

I coughed, looking away as I blushed for his lingering looks, "What's it about? Kaeya?"

"Um...half."

"Half? What does that even mean?"

He just smiled sadly, "I'm just confused, that's all. But, enough about me, I don't want burden you with more things."

"Oh c'mon, I've told you my whole life story and you think you're burdening me with a small problem?"

"It's not small, it's really important," he sighed, "Consider it as something between life and death."

At that, I grew silent. I looked down to my hands and fiddled with my fingers as a recurrent thought ran through my mind, "Doctor...um...there's something that's been, uh, in my head for a couple of days now..."

"Did you remember something!?" He sounded alarmed for some reason, nearly jumping out of his seat.

"No," I looked up, a bit concerned. What did he looked so...jumpy about that?

"Oh...okay," he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he slumped back on his chair, "What's going on?"

"You told me that I risked my life in 1913, and I can't even remember what I did..." I sighed, "...and it's made me think, cos...what if whatever I was trying to do succeeded and I died?"

"Don't think of that, please," he shook his head.

"It really terrifies me that I can't remember being close to death...I was gonna die..."

"N-n-n-no, don't cry," he reached with a hand to wipe the tears that I hadn't even realized were going down my face.

"I'm sorry," I sniffled, half-smiling.

He didn't even say a word before he got on my bed, moving right beside me to give me a hug, "Okay, I know this is gonna make me sound so bad as a friend but...your life has been threatened a lot of times since you've met me. What's the difference now?"

I chuckled a little through my sniffles, "Because this time I can't remember it. What if I had died? I would've died in 1913, my family never knowing what happened to me...my grandmother..."

"But it didn't happen, it never will because I won't allow it," he moved his hand down to my waist and brought me closer to him, "Human or alien, I shall not."

"Yeah, thanks for whatever you did back there," I patted his hand, "But it's made me think, it's really had an impact on me. I don't want to die and leave my grandmother without the knowledge of my death. She doesn't deserve that."

"So what do you want to do about it?"

Silence.

"Minerva?"

I bit my lip and looked up at him, "I...I want to visit her..." I whispered.

He stiffened, silence falling for a mere minute before he became ecstatic, "Really!? You want to see her!?"

I nodded, "I don't want to die without seeing her again. I miss her so much, Doctor...I need to see her. Do you think I can go?"

"This must be a trick question, of course you can go!"

"So I can get out of bed now?"

"Yes, but no excess of movement," he warned letting go of me and standing up.

"We can go right now?" I barely breathed at the idea of seeing my sweet old grandmother again, "Yes?"

"C'mon!" he pulled me to my feet.

"I have to get changed," I ran to my mirror to get a good look at myself, "I have to fix my hair," I grabbed a piece of my hair, "Brush it, no! I've got to shower! And then brush it! And then find something acceptable to wear. No excessive heels, she hates it! She doesn't like brown either, but it's okay because I hate brown dresses! They make me look ugly!"

The Doctor just laughed, "Brown would look lovely on you and I'm sure your grandmother would agree."

"You don't know what you're saying, brown on me does not look good. But anyways, something serious here," I turned to him, my excitement all gone and replaced with seriousness, "Do you think my grandmother forgave me?"

"What?" he frowned and walked up to me, "What happened to the big smile on your face? Bring it back," he poked my cheek, making me chuckle for a moment.

"I'm serious. When I left, she was destroyed. She lost Olivia, and it wasn't too long ago that she lost my grandfather. Then I filed against my parents, against her daughter. I filed, despite knowing what it would do to her and when I won, I left her. She told me I could stay with her if I really wanted to leave my parents...but I ignored her and I left. I did that to her...I can't imagine she forgave me."

He set his hands on my shoulders, looking me straight in the eye, "Minerva, you are her granddaughter. The only one she has now. She doesn't have anything to forgive because she's not angry with you. She just wants to see you."

"But you can't be sure of that..."

"You're forgetting I had grandchildren of my own. I could never hate any of them, despite what they could've done. I loved them, and I always will. That's exactly how your grandmother feels about you."

"But is she proud of me? Would you be proud of them if they did everything I did?"

"I would always be proud of them," he smiled softly, "Just like she would always be proud of you."

"Thanks," I whispered, letting him hug me, "What would I do without you?"

"...your life would be a lot easier."

I pulled away, "And miserable," I walked for my closet, the thought of him never being in my life was just so unimaginable. I would never want to live in a world where he never met me. I couldn't.

"I'll call for Martha, then," the Doctor cleared his throat, walking for the door, "She can help you get ready."

"Yes because your sense of style is..." I looked him over, while I wanted to say how handsome he looked, I couldn't very well say that. Apart from my blushing, I would never hear the end of it from is smug lips. "...not so good."

"Says the girl in her nightie," his eyes looked me over with smirk.

"Shush," I hugged myself, "And get out."

"Oh go on then, I'll go call Martha to help you with your clothes. Take it easy, yeah?" I nodded and he pressed a kiss to my forehead, getting a blush from me.

"Yeah," I whispered, both of us smiling at each other in silence for couple seconds before he walked out.

I took a long sigh, knowing it wouldn't ever happen but still...I liked our closeness. Suddenly the idea of leaving the box of wonders and the Martian didn't seem so easy to do...

~0~

"Voila!" Martha clapped, forcing a little twirl out of me, "You know, maybe apart from being a doctor, I could have my own makeover show on the side."

I chuckled, "I'd be your number one fan." We both chuckled until I looked myself over. "Do you think she'll like it?"

"Mhm," Martha nodded.

"Thank you Martha," I hugged her.

"No problem," she pulled away, "I think you're grandmother is going to love it..." she stepped beside me, the usual innocent face she had before she made certain remarks. "...just like the Doctor will."

Ah, those remarks.

But actually, thinking on those two...something had changed. Martha was always telling me that I should tell the Doctor how I felt, but she had ceased to do that since last week. Instead, she focused on just turning his head. I thought it was extremely strange that she would stop altogether like that. But I also believed it was for the best; there was just no point in making a fool out of myself especially now that Kaeya was on her way back.

Martha had gotten right on the job as soon as the Doctor had told her I finally decided to see my grandmother. She had picked out an emerald-green, long-sleeve blouse that was tucked under a black skirt. I wore tights underneath with ankle-length black boots, my hair let down with only a black headband keeping it from my face.

"I really want to make a good impression on her," I sighed as I went for the door.

"Minerva, you're her granddaughter, impression kind of made already," Martha laughed as she followed.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm serious. When I left, I was just fourteen. I haven't seen her in three years, nearly four! I've grown, and I've...neglected her. I ignored her calls and when I did take them I hung up. Martha, I'm very, very, very nervous."

"I noticed," she moved besides me, "The world's noticed."

I bit my lip, "I just really hope she's forgiven me."

"She will, she will," Martha swung her arms around my shoulders and we walked off.

~0~

I stood in front of my grandmother's door and I'm pretty sure I've been stuck like this for a good fifteen minutes. The door was right there but my entire body was frozen in place. There were too many things running through my head and none of them were making me feel better about this. "You know what, I changed my mind," I turned around and moved to walk away.

"I don't think so," the Doctor blocked the way in time, almost looking like he had expected me to do something like this. "Knock."

Martha crossed her arms and nodded, "We're not going anywhere."

I sighed and turned back to the door, "But...what if she doesn't wanna see me...I just got up and left...I can't do this," I shook my head and turned around, determinedly making my way down the front steps of the porch.

They both grabbed my arms, actually lifting me up from the ground and pulled me back to the door. Martha knocked on the door while the Doctor took a tight hold of my arm.

"Martha! Don't do that!" I exclaimed, completely horrified.

"Too late," she smirked.

"But she might not wanna see me-"

"Would you shush it up already?" the Doctor snapped, "She is your grandmother and she definitely wants to see you. That guilt you have is nonsense."

"But-"

The door opened up suddenly, leaving me completely silent.

"Hm, so that's how you keep her quiet, then," the Doctor blinked, looking like he had the answer to the world. "Good to know."

I elbowed him in the ribs.

My sweet, old grandmother looked from the Doctor, Martha and I. She kept her eyes trained on me and when I met her gaze, I couldn't believe she was actually standing there. "...Minerva?"

The Martian let go of me and stepped back, Martha following seconds later.

I bit my lip, the tears stinging in my eyes. She didn't look so angry with me so that was a good sign. "Grandma?"

She hadn't changed a bit! Her short, grayish hair was neatly tucked in her short curls. Her piercing jade-green eyes remained youthful and colorful despite her actual age. She was a bit taller than I, but only by a few inches. Her skin was a bit wrinkled, but not as bad she always used to claim.

"It's you!" She exclaimed, opening her arms and coming up quite fast for a woman her age. She encased me in a big hug with such a tight grip. "It's you! It's you! My Minerva! Oh, it's you!"

Even though I was partially frozen for a few seconds, the sniffling still found a way out. "It is..."

"My granddaughter, my sweet little Minerva. It's you..."

My arms finally found their way around her for an equally tight hug. "Hi grandma," I whispered, resting my head on her shoulder, her sweet familiar caramel scent filling my nose.

"I can't believe you're back! Oh!" She laughed and pulled away, her hands on my arms as she looked me over, "Oh my Lord, you're so big! A proper, young woman. And ever so beautiful!"

"You're not the only one who thinks that," Martha muttered, a small grunt coming out of her seconds later. The Doctor had elbowed her. It seemed my little habit was contagious because now all of us did it to each other.

"You're so beautiful, Minerva!" And I got another hug from my grandmother. I would definitely keep accepting them!

"So are you," I mumbled. I had missed three years of seeing her and it was just now catching up to me.

But she just laughed, "Oh please, I got old!" she started wiping my tears off my face, "Now don't cry. Don't you ever get tired of that?"

"I ask her that all the time," the Doctor said, "Ow!"

Martha elbowed him.

"Oi, I was just agreeing," the Doctor mumbled.

"Well don't!"

My grandmother stared at them with amusement, "Are these your friends?" I nodded silently. She took my hand and walking us further through the porch, "Are you responsible for returning my granddaughter to me?"

"He's the designated driver," Martha pointed at the Doctor, "But I helped too."

Grandma just laughed, "Well thank you both! You have no idea how happy I am to see her back." She looked at me with a soft smile on her face, "So, so happy."

"Told you she'd be," the Doctor smirked.

"Martha," was all I said for her to elbow him.

"I'm gonna be quiet now," he murmured afterwards.

"That would be a first," I smirked.

"Hello there," Martha stepped up, holding her hand out for my grandmother, "I'm Martha Jones, Minerva's current best friend."

"Isadora Lozano," she shook Martha's hand, "And what happened to the other boy? The nice one, Mickey?" She glanced at me.

"Um...he's left for a trip..." I answered, sighing. That would be as much as I would be able to say about Mickey, unfortunately. "..a very long trip."

"Oh, good for him, then," she smiled and looked at the Doctor, "Hello, Isadora Lozano."

"Nice to meet you, I'm-"

"The Doctor," she flashed a grin, turning into a smirk at the surprise we all shared. "Ah, might be old but the memory is still on check."

"Have we met before?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow, studying her.

"Once," she nodded, "Seems like it hasn't happen it yet, huh?"

"How do you mean?" the Doctor smiled, easily confused yet suspicious. By the way she spoke one would think she knew of time traveling...

"Minerva, how old are you?" she asked, still looking at the Doctor.

"Seventeen." There was something going on in my grandmother's head but I probably wouldn't be able to figure that out right now.

"So it hasn't happened yet!" she snapped her fingers, "Right then, come on inside."

"Why does it sound like she knows of time travel?" Martha whispered as we followed.

"Because I think she just might," the Doctor breathed in.

I would've been more concerned but I was in my house, my real house. It hadn't even changed a bit. The living room was up first, two couches set up in the middle and two couch chairs on opposite sides with a table in the center and a television set up on the wall I walked over to a corner, seeing old toys of mine still laying there. Then the pictures of our family were still where I remembered them. Despite nothing really changing, it felt like a lot had. My grandfather's loss was still as fresh as ever and with all the pictures around that consisted of him...it wasn't helping. There were even pictures of Olivia and I...

Oh, things had definitely changed.

"You remember Stacey had a little sister, Tamara," Grandma said, seeing me pick up an old doll of mine, "She loves Lucy."

"Who's Stacey?" Martha asked.

"And Tamara?" added the Doctor.

I stood up with my doll in hand, turning to them, "Stacey was a childhood friend I used to play with all the time. And Lucy was, well," I waved the doll, "She was my favorite doll as a kid."

"Stacey has a little sister, she's about five," Grandma cut in, "She comes around because she claims Minerva's toys are the best."

"Well I did have good taste," I tucked a strand of my doll's hair. It was brunette just like mine. "She really likes Lucy?"

"Oh yes."

I walked back to them, setting Lucy on the couch, "Then I'll bring it over later. Do they still live in the same house?"

"Yes, two houses down, across the street. You know, Stacey left for college a couple months ago. Have you picked one out, yet?"

I made a face. That was certainly a topic I wouldn't have chosen to talk about right now. "Right...about that, I haven't graduated yet," I rubbed my neck.

"Why not? It's nearly October, you should've been done three months ago."

"I've gotten a bit distracted but I promise I am working."

"Let's just say Minerva's focus has shifted a bit in the last couple of months," Martha smirked.

"Martha, come over a sec?"

She stepped back, covering her stomach, "No you're gonna elbow me."

I mock-glared at her for a minute before returning to my grandmother, "I promise I'm still working. It'll just take a bit longer."

"I trust you," she pointed a warning finger at me, "But let's not talk about school, I wanna know what you've been up to. What have you done lately? Are you okay? You're healthy right? You've been sleeping well? Where've you gone lately?"

I chuckled at her curiosity, it was as big as mine, "I'll tel you, don't worry."

"Uh, Minerva, if you want, we can leave for some time," Martha offered, the Doctor nodding in agreement, "We can take a look at the city, San Diego was always a place on my bucket list."

"I don't know..." I did want to speak to my grandmother alone but I felt guilty for leaving my two friends alone in a place they've never been to. Well, the Doctor could handle himself...actually scratch that, Martha could handle herself.

"Oh go on," the Doctor grinned, "I'm sure Martha and I have lots to see in this place. Never been around here, mind you..."

"Please don't go ruining things," I pleaded, half joking yet another half dead serious, "This place isn't like the city, city. It's a small suburb. There are children in the streets, playing...don't start a riot."

"Minerva, you say such things," my grandmother chuckled.

"Oh grandma..." I smiled at her, discreetly showing the Doctor I was dead serious of my warning.

"We'll be out then," Martha walked around the couch, hugging me as I stood up, "Good luck," she whispered with an encouraging nod.

The Doctor came over next, giving me a hug as well, "You deserve it, Clever Girl."

"I still feel guilty," I whispered as we parted.

"All nonsense," he pressed a kiss to my forehead then looked past me to my grandmother, "Mrs. Lozano, you have a very stubborn granddaughter."

I glanced back at her, not even gonna argue on that one just because it was her. If it had been the Doctor all on his own I would've elbowed him already. But not my grandmother, she was just...she was here...I was here. We were here together.

"Sophia's stubbornness," she added, "Lord knows that's how she and her brother got into arguments."

"That's how these two get into arguments," Martha informed of the Doctor and I.

"Oi," we shot her a look.

"And we're off," Martha raised her hands in surrender and walked for the door.

"Don't be a danger," I warned the Doctor, gripping his hands so he wouldn't run off and then claim I never said such thing, "I'm serious."

"I will behave," he pulled for his freedom.

"Yeah?"

He sighed and put on a grin, "Yeah."

"I'm holding you to that," I gave him a warning look, "I'm serious."

"Yeah, yeah, okay, we'll be back later," he chuckled.

I cracked a smile, his laugh just contagious to me, "Alright," and I let go.

I watched them go until the door was shut. I took a deep breath and turned to face my grandmother who wore a smile, which if really focused enough looked more like a smirk, "Grandma?"

"Anything you want to tell me?"

"Hm?"

She raised an eyebrow, it was the same look she gave me as a child when I wouldn't do my chores.

"It's nothing, grandma," I looked around with discomfort. I fixed my skirt in an attempt to distract myself.

"Minerva, you may be almost grown up but I can still tell when you're lying," she took my hand and sat us down, "C'mon dear, it's been nearly four years since we've talked and now that I finally have you in front of me, I see that you're smitten!"

"Oh no..." I looked away from her, this was definitely not what I wanted to talk about with her as our first topic.

"Don't be embarrassed dear, you're forgetting I was married once. I also loved someone."

"I don't lo..." I paused when I really focused on that subject. Last time I remembered, I knew for a fact that what I felt for the Doctor was not love. It was just the first stage, a simple crush. Simple affection. But now that I think of it, as of now, I can't really say that anymore. I felt like, somehow, I was getting closer to being in love. It was like my heart had taken in a fresh new layer of feelings, but why? Why would I suddenly feel like that?

"Hmm?" My grandmother's smirk had turned into a playful, teasing smile, "What better way to start catching up then by explaining to me what's going on in your heart?"

I bit my lip, debating whether this was really appropriate. I mean, this was my grandmother! I'm supposed to talk about cookies and teach her modern phrases...not...not talk about men.

"Minerva? I'm waiting," she gave me a sharp look, "I'll understand you sweetie, if that's what you're worried about. I may not be your mother but we understand each other perfectly, so speak."

"Grandma, I...I never felt like this before. He's just so..." I sighed, smiling softly, my grandmother chuckling, "...unbelievable, to put it at best. He's impossible. Unlike anything and anyone you've ever met."

"Oh and he's got you locked in, doesn't he?" her laughter continued.

"Yeah," I answered quietly, blushing as I pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, "It's that obvious, huh?"

"Just a bit, dear," she patted my hand, "You're very smart, I know you are, but it is quite easy to see."

"Yeah, well, it's easy to see except for him. I'm just a friend," I shrugged.

"And that breaks your heart, doesn't it?" she rested a hand on my arm, sighing when I nodded, "You want to hear a story about your grandfather and I?"

"What's it about?"

"How we met!"

"How does it go?" I scooted closer, curiosity bursting out of me.

"Well, we were just friends. Your grandfather always said that what he liked about me was that I always pushed to learn and do things, not stick to the housewife stereotypes. Most women were preparing for marriage and I...I wouldn't have that," she chuckled lightly, "That's the reason he started talking to me, you know. He said I was like none other, completely different!"

I smiled, "That's what I'd like for the Doctor to see. I'm not like any other human. I'm not Rose, I'm not Martha, I'm me. I'm different."

What I really meant to say what that I was different from all human females. I wanted the Doctor to see that I could keep up with him most of the time whereas Martha or Rose usually couldn't. I wasn't trying to seem better than them because they were good in their own ways, but I just wanted him to see I was different. But nothing could compare to Rose or Kaeya...

"Rose, that was, um, your best friend's girlfriend, right? What was his name, Mickey!" she snapped her fingers, "Yeah! And it was Rose Tyler, daughter of Jackie Tyler."

"Yeah, that's them," I sighed.

"What's happened to them, dear? I usually tried Mickey's number but now it says it doesn't exist."

"They're gone, grandma. They're happy, but they're gone." Well, I mean, Rose wasn't happy...

"And back to the point, you are most definitely not any of them. You're Minerva Joycelin Souza Lozano, the most intelligent, not to mention gorgeous, granddaughter I have."

I smiled warmly, "Grandma, I'm your only grandchild...now..."

"And you expect me to believe you're the opposite? No!"

"It's just...it's hurtful. Cos, he gives me hope, you know, like there's a chance that he could like me back, like, today...he told me he didn't love Rose. I always thought he did love her...I was so sure he loved her and today he tells me he doesn't, that he never did cos something didn't seem right. It would give me hope that one day he could look at me and see someone he could like more than a friend...but then there's Kaeya...the woman he loves for sure. That hurt cos that princess, yes she's a princess," I explained when she gave me that look, "She's so amazing, she did things that I could never do. Even Rose was good. And me...well...let's be honest I won't ever measure up to either of them so I'll never be good enough to earn his feelings, and it breaks my heart, grandma. It just...shatters it to pieces..."

"Oh no, don't cry," she took me into her arms like she did when I was a kid, giving me a sweet hug, "I don't like seeing you cry. I spent years looking for you and all I wanna see is your big, happy smile."

"Did grandpa ever break your heart?" I looked up at her, "Before getting married?"

"No, I was lucky I suppose," she smiled softly, "I was always happy with him."

"It sounds nice," the absence of my grandfather began arising as well. How could it not? I was in his house, with his wife, on a couch we always sat on for games, television and eating.

"I don't like hearing you talk like that, though. You are amazing!"

"Everyone says that but I think it's more to keep me quiet."

"But you are," she pulled away, "And I know he sees that too."

"How? You just met him," I wiped my tears from my face.

She chuckled, "Just trust me. I know the looks and believe me, your grandfather used to give them to me," she sighed with content, "And the Doctor does seem to have the same looks for you."

"Really?" I asked, the little gleam of hope inside rising at her words.

"You just trust your grandmother, alright?" she kissed the top of my head, "I know what I've seen and I've seen a lot."

"Grandma, do you...do you know the Doctor?"

"Mmm?"

"Grandma," I gave her a sharp look, "When Martha's mother met him, she made a whole fuss about what his name was and what he was doing with us, but you...you haven't asked the usual questions."

"I can't tell you, not yet," she patted my head, "But anyways, why don't you tell me what you've done lately, huh? Tell me about you. What have you been doing?"

"Um...just, travelling,' I shrugged, "We went to New York..." In the past. "...to, um, a replication of a guinguette, uh, to China-"

"To China?" She blinked incredulously before laughing, "What were you doing in China?"

"Um...the Doctor surprised me with the festival of Lanterns..."

"Ooh, 'surprised' you?" she raised an eyebrow, a hint of smirk growing on her face.

I blushed and looked away, thinking of what exactly happened during the festival. Looking back at it, I had no idea where I garnered such courage...

"Minerva?" My grandmother nudged me.

"Huh?" I snapped my head back to her, blinking rapidly as I remembered where I was.

"Anything interesting happen there?"

"Um, we had a riddle contest," I shrugged, deciding to leave out who with, "And I won."

"Oh, good," she chuckled, "Smart one, you are. Where else did you go?"

"Just...to so many places, grandma," I sighed with content, "It's all amazing out there."

"You just love to travel don't you?"

I nodded, "One could say it's my life."

"That's what Aaron says," she shook her head, "Somehow I think you're more level-headed than he is."

"How is Uncle Aaron?"

The Doctor had promised to find my uncle for me, but for some reason it was being a bit more difficult. Apart from all the distractions our travels caused, it seemed like Uncle Aaron was a bit hidden. And it did disappoint me because apart from my grandmother, he was the only one I wanted to see again.

"Last time I heard he was in Brazil," my grandmother paused and got to thinking, "No, wait, that was two weeks ago. I think he's in Switzerland...no..."

I chuckled, "He's everywhere!"

"That he is," she looked at me, "You and him are so alike in personalities it's no wonder Sophia had arguments with you."

I looked down, fiddling with my fingers, "...yeah. It seemed like I always disappointed her."

She set a hand on my arm, offering a smile of comfort, "Not to me you weren't. And never to her."

I sighed, wishing that could be true. Deep down, all I wanted was for my mother to forgive me.

~0~

My grandmother and I sat at the kitchen table with a plate of sliced apples in front of us. I declined her lunch offers so many times that she gave up trying to cook something and settled for a simple snack.

"Minerva, why didn't you want to take my calls? Did I do something wrong?" She asked once we were sitting together at the table. I knew it was the burning question she'd been keeping hold of ever since she opened the door to find me on the other side. The way she looked made me feel so incredibly guilty. Here was this sweet, old woman who had done nothing but care for a child that wasn't even hers and how do I repay her? By making her feel like she did something wrong.

"Grandma, when I left home, things were ugly," I began, swallowing hard, not wanting any memories to resurface through my head but that was just impossible. "I just wanted to forget everything for a while. And Uncle Aaron helped me. But when we separated, I started getting phone calls from my mother, well more since uncle Aaron and I were together. The times I did pick up she did nothing but remind me of what I had done to Olivia and her...so when you called, I thought it'd be the same. Cos all mom wants me to do is come back home so she can keep an eye on me like I'm some child with disastrous tantrums that harm people."

"You know very well my opinions over Olivia's death. It was not your fault, sweetie. And truthfully, that is something I shall never forgive Sophia for. She forgot what being a mother was. But you sweetie, you," she put a hand under my chin, lifting my gaze to hers to see her warm smile, "You are innocent. And understand that I will never fault you for Olivia's death."

"I'm sorry," I said before I started sniffling, "I thought about you all the time though. The Christmas I spent with the Tylers, Jackie Tyler made this delicious Christmas dinner, though with turkey..." We both made a face at the food, which she broke with a laughter, causing me to do the same. "...still don't understand that British custom. But anyways, all I could think of were your snicker-doodles. Those sweet, warm cookies you used to make for me and grandpa every year. This past Christmas, actually," I chuckled at the memory, wiping my face of tears, "The Doctor went out and brought some snicker-doodle mix which we attempted to bake."

"And how'd it go?"

"Well, he's not...very good with baking," I remembered the kitchen being splattered with half the mix, shortening our cookie production in half but still actually filling, though I bet the TARDIS wasn't too happy to have her kitchen covered with cookie mix, "So we had about half the cookie mix as cookies. But even baked by my hands, they don't taste the same. Yours were just delicious...I bet they still are."

"Well if you stick around I'll bake some for you," she pointed, "In fact, stop by your birthday and I may have a batch for you done."

"My birthday?" I blinked, forgetting all about that day seeing as it was not important.

"Your 18th birthday! How can you forget?"

"Grandma, I'm already a legal adult. My birthdays have kind already lost significance to me," I shrugged.

It was true. Most teens looked forwards to the big 1-8, but me? I'm already an adult to the law so there was no specialty behind the date. It was just October 31st, another day.

"There is something you have to understand, Minerva. You are my granddaughter, you can be 50 and I'll still see you as the little girl who wanted to play dollies with her grandfather," I chuckled at all the times I had forced my poor grandfather to play with me and my massive mounts of dolls, my grandmother even joining in with a laugh, "I'll always see the little girl I tucked in nearly every night. And so, your birthdays are always going to be special."

"Oh grandma," I shook my head, I had the best grandmother!

"Don't 'oh grandma me', when you have your kids and grandchildren you'll see what I'm talking about."

"Oh dear Lord, let's not talk about that," I tool a slice of apple into my hand.

The thought of being a "mother" actually scared me. My mother wasn't the best and so for me to actually consider becoming a mother to a baby didn't seem like a very good idea. I didn't really have my mother growing up so I didn't know the do's and dont's of motherhood. I could get it all wrong like my mother did and I would never forgive myself for making my own child suffer. I never wanted to do that to anyone, much less someone that came out of me. The best way to prevent that would be not to be a mother.

"Speaking of mothers..." my grandmother slowly eyed me.

I sighed, placing down my piece of fruit, "Grandma, she doesn't want to see me."

"No, no, I've talked to Sophia, she says she does want you home."

"Yeah, to order me around like I'm still some five year old. Besides, she wants to keep me locked up because according to her I only hurt people and she will not allow it."

"She said that?" she frowned, the disappointment flourishing in her eyes.

My grandmother saw all the faults of my mother, and she sided with me in this whole Olivia fiasco, but the fact still remained...Sophia was her daughter. And despite saying she'd never forgive my mother, she would always try to make peace between my mother and I because this was her daughter we were talking about.

"Let's face it, my mother doesn't love me. And she'll never forgive me," I leaned back on my chair, "Ever."

"Sophia does love you," she tried to come with a good comeback but I stopped it with a scoff, "In her own way..."

"She had fourteen years to show it and she failed. I love her, I do. She's my mother, I can't possibly hate her...but I won't pretend. She's made me angry, sad, guilty, everything...she doesn't want me home and quite frankly I don't want to step foot on that house."

"And your father? You know, truthfully, Nick hasn't been the same since you left the house. He used to be energetic, focused, even jokeful...but he's different now. He barely talks to anyone anymore, barely makes a noise. I think he misses you a lot."

"But he's never called me...why?"

"Maybe he was afraid? I don't know, but maybe you should go visit him now that you're back. I bet that'll put a smile on him..." she got thinking, "...hm, haven't actually seen one in years."

I would like to visit my father, but I was afraid of what he'd say to me. Unlike my mother where she completely lost it and outlashed everything on me, he sort of just...shut down. Honestly, he wasn't the best father to me either but the day we lost Olivia was the day I completely lost him too. He stopped talking to me, nearly everyone, he just let my mom take over and speak for everything.

I wouldn't visit my mother because she would yell at me. I wouldn't visit my father because...I was simply afraid of what his words could be.

~0~

"Growing up here wasn't that bad," I remarked to the Doctor and Martha as we walked down the street, me holding my doll Lucy in my arm.

The pair had returned with a couple arguments, Martha claiming the Martian had nearly gotten them thrown out of three city shops for ridiculous reasons. She claimed it was the last time she went shopping with him. In an attempt to calm both parties down, I offered to show them around the neighborhood I had spent most of my life in and my grandmother promising to have some type of dinner started for us. She was so sweet!

So I brought the pair along with me to give my doll to Stacey's little sister. The neighborhood seemed to change in its different occupants and the size of the children. However, it still remained a quiet, calm, suburb neighborhood. Children were playing outside on the front yards, some parents outside watching them. I did recognize a few of the families from my childhood days and some of the children that were a bit older now. But everything was calm, everything was just...lovely. It made me realize how much I missed it all.

Back in my parent's house, which was right smack in the city, everything in the house was either too quiet or loud. On the quiet days, both my parents would be working, at times Liv would be free to play with me, but usually it was just me and my toys...alone. When it was loud, it was either because my mother was yelling at me for something or just yelling at the employees. With my grandparent's house, it was always wonderful! There were laughter, there was baking, there was children besides me. I always had one of my friends over, usually Stacey to play with. There was never anything wrong...

"The neighborhood was always fantastic," I sighed with content, "Still is apparently. All the apple trees are still in place, " I chuckled suddenly, remembering one dang tree that I had a grudge from a kid, "There's one apple tree in the backyard of my grandparent's that I could never reach as a child, even when I was fourteen. It has the biggest and most delicious apples and I couldn't reach them. But," I started smirking, "Now that I'm seventeen, I'll probably be able to get them with no problem."

"Something that's changed?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.

'Oh yes! But a good thing," I nodded.

"I'd like to raise my kids in a spot like this," Martha remarked, arms crossed as she studied around, "Barely any cars pass by, which is odd because we're in San Diego!"

"My grandparents like the peace," I shrugged, "They said this way they get to stay near their daughter and granddaughters, yet still live in a comfortable place," I turned on Stacey's front yard, opening the small gate and walking in, the pair behind me, "Gosh, I haven't seen nor talked to Stacey in four years!"

"Now would be the time to make it up," the Doctor suggested.

"Maybe," I shrugged, knocking on the door.

A couple seconds later, a bright ginger opened the door: Stacey's mother, Eliza, "Minerva? Minerva Souza? Is that you?" Her blue eyes blinked in shock.

"Hi Mrs. Donovan," I waved shyly.

"When did you get back?" she stepped out into the porch and hugged me.

"About a couple hours ago."

"Well it's very nice to see you again! Oh I'm sure Stacey would love this!"

"I'd love to see Stacey when she makes a trip back," I admitted.

"I'll be sure to let her know!"

I smiled, "...but for today, actually, I came because I heard a certain little girl had some attachment to one of my dolls," I waved my doll at her.

"Oh, I see," Mrs. Donovan nodded, stepping back inside and calling out for the little girl, "Tamara!"

"Coming, Mom!" a soft little voice called, a five year old brunette running up to the doorway a second later, "Hey, it's Lucy!" she pointed at my doll.

"This is Minerva, dear, you don't remember her," Mrs. Donovan shook her head, "She was only one at the time. Tamara, this is the owner of Lucy, Minerva."

"Hi Tamara," I waved, "You like my doll?"

She nodded, her eyes wandering to Martha and the Doctor behind me, "Mom..." she sheepishly moved behind her mother's legs.

"Oh, sorry," I had forgot about those two for a moment, oops, "Mrs. Donovan, Tamara, these are my friends. Perfectly safe and perfectly kind," I looked at Tamara who was peeking around her mother.

"Hello," she said quietly.

"Hi!" the pair grinned, waving at her.

"Tamara, I heard you liked my doll," I stepped up, bending down to her level, "And I was thinking, since I'm nearly eighteen, I don't really need my dolls anymore."

"You don't?"

"Nah, I want clothes! Well..." I glanced back at Martha and the Doctor, "...I want to travel, actually."

"So...Lucy..." Tamara stepped around her mother, her hands behind her back, her eyes glued to my doll.

"...can be yours if you like?" I wiggled an eyebrow, making her laugh and nod, "Well then, here you go." I held my doll to her.

She took it and grinned, "Thank you!" she threw her arms around me, "I'll take good care of her, you'll see! I'll brush her hair, I'll give her food, I'll put pretty clothes on!"

"I know you'll take good care of her," I chuckled, pulling away and standing up, fixing my skirt, "Well, that's pretty much it. If Stacey happens to call..."

Mrs. Donovan nodded, "I'll tell her, don't worry."

"Thank you," I turned around, walking away with my two friends, "That felt nice."

"She was adorable," Martha remarked.

"She was just one when I left. She could barely walk...talk..." I sighed, "Makes me realize how long I've been away."

"But you'll be back from now on," the Doctor reminded, "Anytime you wanna visit, just tell us."

"I think I just might," I nodded, never wanting to let my grandmother's hugs slip away from me again. Never again.

~0~

"So how's that apple thing going?" the Doctor called while I desperately hopped to reach for an apple off my grandparent's apple tree in the backyard.

I stopped hopping for a second to glance over and see him leaning against the doorway of the kitchen's back door, "Do not laugh," I pointed before continuing to hop, "You know, I'm seventeen, nearly eighteen," hop, "So why can't," hop, "I get," hop, "A damn," hop, "APPLE!" I waved my hand frantically, one of my nails just barely grazing one apple, "It's been four years!" I rounded the stupid tree, "I'm suppose to grow."

"You did," he walked towards me.

"Clearly not enough," I huffed, crossing my arms and looking up at the apples above me, "My grandfather used to get them for me and I thought now that time has passed I should get them on my own..."

You could tell he was biting back a teasing laughter, "So..."

"Shut up," I let my arms drop to my sides, "I'm getting an apple if it's the last thing I do!" I turned around and began my jumping, "Just," hop, "One," hop, "Apple," hop, "Plea-AH!" I nearly yelled when the Doctor's arms went around my waist, lifting me up, "What the hell!?" I looked back at him.

"Just hurry up, will you?" he grunted, "Those brownies and pasta sure are making you he-"

"Finish that sentence and you die right now," I warned with a deadly look.

"They've sure made you lovely," he finished with a big grin.

"Nice save," I reached for an apple, finally getting one, "Hey! I did it!"

"Um, I'm the one that's technically reaching for it since I'm lifting you so really, I did it," I didn't even have to look down to see he was smirking.

So instead...

"Ow!"

I made an apple fall on his head.

"You did that on purpose!" he cried.

"Whatever do you mean, Martian?" I reached for more apples, having about six of them when the Doctor finally set me down. I bent down and picked up the apple that had mysteriously fallen on his head, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he rubbed the top of his head, "Those apples are gigantic!"

"And delicious," I bit into one, turning to side so he could grab one from the pile I held.

"You know, Isadora says dinner will be ready soon. She says she's making your favorite by the way," he munched on his apple, "We should go inside."

I wagged a finger and moved around him, looking around for a place to set the rest of the apples, "I want to watch the sky for a moment."

"The sky? What for? There's barely any visible stars right now," he looked up to the dark sky, very correct with the amount of stars we could see.

It was night and while there were stars, they didn't compare to being in the TARDIS and actually see them in their true form. But I had a different reason for wanting to watch the sky tonight.

"I really want to stay here for a moment," I spun around, hoping to see something, even a bucket, for the apples, "It's really important, Martian."

He sighed and shook his coat off, placing it on the grass, gesturing for me to place the apples on it. I nodded my thanks and dropped to my knees, placing the apples in a neat pile.

"What's so important about these small number of stars, hm?" he took a seat on his coat, using his arms behind him to support him.

I sat beside him, my legs pulled to my chest, my arms draped over my knees, my head looking up with a sad smile, "My grandfather and I used to watch the sky at this hour, on this spot, with a pile of apples beside us...it's been a long time..."

"You okay?" he glanced at me.

"Yeah, I just figured if I visited my grandmother, I could do this for him. It sort of became a tradition, you know. My grandmother and I would bake minty-fresh brownies and snicker-doodles. My grandfather and I would gather apples and watch the stars, little as they were, but we were always here. It's funny how things change," I sighed, resting my chin on my arms, "Once upon a time a grandfather and his granddaughter watched the sky and now...now the granddaughter watches alone."

"And he watches you from above."

"You think so?" I blinked away some tears before I looked at him.

"Yeah," he nodded, "And, if you want, perhaps I could watch the stars with you?"

"I'd like that," I nodded, knowing it would never be the same with my grandfather and I, but perhaps this could be a new tradition, and it still made me feel all warm and happy.

"Every time we come back, we'll watch them whenever you want. How's that sound?"

"It sounds really nice," I mumbled.

He grinned and laid on his back, tilting his head as he studied the sky, "Well, if you focus really hard, you can see the constellation of Aquarius."

"Seriously?"

"Oh yeah, it's right there," he pointed up, like it would actually make a difference.

"Where? I can't see it!"

"C'mon," he moved a little to the side and patted the ground. Reluctantly, I laid down beside him, my heart beginning to pick up on its beats by our closeness, "It's right here," he pointed again.

"Doctor, I can't see anything," I frowned.

"Dear God you need glasses!"

"Says the man who only wears his to look cool."

"Which I do," he pointed, making me roll my eyes, "But it's right there," he picked up my hand and pointed it up to the damn constellation, "Look!" I would look, if I could stop focusing on his hand over mine, "Can you see it?"

"Sure..."

Not really.

"I suppose it's a bit hard to see with all these lights," he frowned, lowering our hands, yet still holding onto it.

"It doesn't compare to the desert," I sighed, remembering that fateful desert, "The one where I saw a man with your box of wonders."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, remember I told you about it?"

"In fairness, I was a bit distracted."

"Yeah, fixing a part of the console that wasn't broken, Honestly, I don't know why she hasn't locked you out already," I shook my head, "But anyways, it was the same box of wonders, at least that's what it looked like with all the smoke coming out of it. Then there was that man, which I'm pretty sure was you from the future. I'm just sad I couldn't get a real look, but Doctor: bow-ties. That's what I saw."

He made a face that showed his horror, his free hand going to his tie, "You liar."

I chuckled, "I swear I'm not. That's probably the only thing I saw with a good eye. I was more focused on your words...you were talking about me."

"I was?"

I nodded, "Mhm. You said you had to get back to Minerva. Doctor, we're still traveling together even after your regeneration."

"Well of course we are, were you planning on leaving me anytime soon?"

"...no."

I hadn't exactly mentioned to him nor Martha what my plans were for when Kaeya returned. And now that I thought about it, if the next Doctor and I traveled together, it meant things worked out...and if things worked out, then the whole Kaeya mess worked out and I wouldn't have to leave. Good...cos I really didn't. I really wished everything would work out in a way that I could perhaps...stick around?

"Good," I looked up at the sky with a big smile, for some reason feeling a big amount of hope, "One regeneration later and we're still together..." I blinked, realizing how that may have sounded and quickly spoke to fix it, "...no, wait! Not us as in together 'us' but as in...well..." I glanced at him, hoping I wasn't making this all too ridiculous, "...why are you looking at me like that?" he was just staring at me with a soft smile.

"What?"

"That look," I pointed, "You've been giving me that look for the last couple of days. It's like you're remembering something, or..." I shrugged, severely confused.

It was true. Since the fiasco with the Family, he and Martha had taken turns to take care of me and in all the times the Doctor was with me, he'd give me that same look. Sometimes I was just saying things and all of a sudden it was like I had said something grand or hypnotizing because I received that soft look with that soft smile that made my heart skip a beat or two and it was driving me mad because I didn't know why he was doing it!

"It's nothing..." he said quietly, his smile barely starting to fade.

"You're so weird," I rolled my eyes and looked up to the sky again, ignoring my blush with great struggle, "You're lucky I can tolerate it."

"Oh ha ha."

"No, I'm serious, what are you gonna do when Kaeya shows up and turns out she doesn't like your weirdness?"

Silence.

I glanced at him, concerned I had hit a topic that was off limits. I noticed there was a change when I spoke about Kaeya lately. Apart from barely showing actual happiness that the princess was alive, he almost seemed...angry. But what could he be angry for? That she survived? If not that, then...what could make him mad at a woman who supposedly was innocent and noble? Last time I remembered he couldn't stop rambling on about her and now he barely wanted to even touch the topic.

"If she doesn't then oh well," was all he had to say.

"Doctor, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Because I'm gonna believe that?" I took my hand out of his and became firm, wanting to know what had changed in the past two months with the Family.

"Alright, you wanna know what happened?"

"Yeah!"

"I came to the conclusion that no matter how much you care for someone, they are not allowed to hurt any of their friends," he turned to the side, facing me completely, "She hurt someone and I'm sort of in the process of debating whether or not to forgive her."

"Who did she hurt?" My voice became a low whisper as I turned as well, leaving us face to face.

"Someone important. No matter my feelings for her, I don't allow that. Period."

"What's gonna happen when she returns?"

"I...don't know," he sighed, "I honestly don't know."

"Well, a word of advice, if you love her, if you really love her, then it should be easy to forgive her because essentially you'll just want to be with her and be happy."

"It should be easy..." he mumbled to himself, pondering for a moment.

"Oi! You two?" Martha called, "Quit your little moment and get inside! Dinner is done and I can smell mint browniiies!" She sung the last word and hurried on inside.

I sat up, heaving a heavy sigh. "Just a thought, Doctor," I stood up, and picked up the apples, "Love is supposed to make you happy, not all depressive and thinky and stuff, otherwise it's just not love." I shook my head, did I just say...thinky? Oh that Martian was really rubbing off me!

"I'll think about it," he assured, "Really..."

"Well in the meantime, thank you for watching the sky with me," I looked up, "I know he's up there, though watching us now. Things change..." I shook my head and headed for the house.

"But sometimes change is good, isn't it?" He followed behind.

"Sometimes," I whispered, thinking of how my feelings had changed for him. Though I couldn't tell if it had been a wonderful thing or a curse because my chances were so slim.

~0~

"Do you like it?" My grandmother continuously asked as I took a visit of my old, well not so old as it had been refurnished after my departure, room.

"Grandma, it's so pretty!" I gawked, spinning around.

"I had it done in case you came back...fit for a proper young woman," she turned to me.

"Oh grandma, thank you," I walked up and hugged her, hugged her really tight because she was just so grand, "Thank you so much for caring this much for a granddaughter who doesn't deserve it."

"Don't say that," she mumbled, resting her head over mine, "You are my granddaughter, I am your grandmother, I will always care for you."

"Thank you," I pulled away.

"Wooow," Martha's voice made me turn around, seeing her and the Doctor stepping inside the bedroom, "Mrs. Lozano, can I be your granddaughter?"

"Oi! She's mine!" I stepped in front of my grandmother, "Get your own!"

Martha raised her hands in surrender, "Noted."

"Minerva, don't be so rude," my grandmother scolded, "If you keep that attitude up, you won't get any brownies to take with you."

"I'm sorry," I quickly said, the brownies had to come with me.

She chuckled and headed for the doorway, "Speaking of, I better go check on them. Will you three be alright?"

"It's okay, Mrs. Lozano, I'll take care of the pair," Martha smirked at us.

Then the Doctor elbowed her.

My grandmother just laughed and went on her way.

"She is my grandmother and you will not make those types of comments around her," I pointed.

"Yeah, yeah, I really like your room," she walked further inside.

"Very...intellectual," the Doctor remarked.

"It used to be a room for a kid," I looked around, sighing, "It's changed alright."

Instead of my small, twin bed, there now stood a queen size bed, a blue cover with white roses sprawled around. There were two nightstands beside the bed, one of them with a lamp and the other a clock. Across from the bed there was a large, white chest of drawers with an oval shaped mirror in on top of it. To its right, at a corner was my closet. To the far left, there was a bathroom which had its door closed. Beside it was the chest drawers and a medium-sized vanity desk. And beside the bed, to its left, was a bookshelf, all its shelves filled with books.

"There used to be toys over there," I pointed at a random corner, "Oh! My dollhouse over there," I pointed to another corner, "And then my dolls over here," point again, "Then my costumes over here! Oh! And my bed always had stuffed animals."

"You were the complete five year old princess, weren't you?" Martha narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Maaaaybe..." I smiled innocently.

"That's why she's sassy," the Doctor mumbled to her, "She got everything she wanted..."

"Don't insult me, Martian," I warned, moving up to him, "I wasn't spoiled by my grandparents."

"Parents?"

"They were never there so the least they did was get me all the toys I wanted."

"Wasn't enough, was it?" Martha asked softly, understanding it wasn't so glorifying to have all the toys I wanted.

"Never," I sighed and walked away, stopping at my bookshelf, "Sometimes, when Olivia wasn't home or she just didn't want to be with me, I would play with this amazing doll house...and I'd be all happy, rambling on with my dolls...until I looked around and saw I was alone. Then I stopped playing, cos I thought, what's the point? What's the point of this amazing doll house if I have to play by myself?"

"But you know that's not gonna happen anymore, right?" the Doctor walked over, gently turning me around, "You've got us now."

"You won't forget about me even when Kaeya comes back?" I whispered, terrorized by the appearance of the princess that could literally happen at any moment. Even if I did decide to leave, I didn't want him to completely forget about me. I still would expect some kind of visit from him, even a call?

He looked at me for a good minute, making me nervous that he had to actually think about it, "Never," he whispered, "Absolutely never."

I smiled with relief and went to hug him, resting my head on his chest and feeling his arms wrap around me. A couple seconds later, Martha joined us and together we hugged.

Things could change alright, but I would always remember when it was just the Martian, my doctor best friend, and me.

#ocappreciation #doctor who #10th doctor #doctor who fics #10th doctor fics #dw imagine #doctor who imagines #10th doctor imagines #oc: Minerva Souza #fic: next stop eveywhere

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