#Branching onto Paradise AU
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more zombie au :] (1.2k words)
The odor of rot has joined the damp growth of life from pots. Even if some things die off without human aid, there are always stronger elements that thrive in their absence.
The aisles are overgrown. Ritsu brushes past the vines as gently as he can, wooden floor groaning under his worn soles. There’s a gap of empty space in the middle of each aisle that he slots through, eyes roaming the shelves of largely useless things. Stronger stems snag onto his backpack and he tugs distractedly while perusing the labeled pots along the tables.
The barn is quaint, and Ritsu thinks he would love to stay. Moss eats at the boards under his feet and bugs swarm around him in the hot air incessantly, but it’s peaceful and there’s a constant sprinkle of sound to his ears that have grown so used to silence. Whoever owned this place beforehand put up a few wind chimes indoors—they must’ve always had the front entrance open for customers.
It’s a quiet little homemade garden center, or something similar, on the side of the highway. It’s an overgrown property with something dead in the backyard that Ritsu refuses to acknowledge or let Shigeo near. The shingles and boards in the roof have been replaced with polyethylene sheets—a barn-turned-greenhouse, uprooted from the hay and cattle it likely used to house and settled back into the Earth to be a paradise for plants.
There’s a large branch hanging through a hole poked into the plastic overhead. It sways with the wind and the chimes that follow, and Ritsu whistles with the leadless melody and gives it a direction while he studies old seed packets.
They didn’t stop here for any particular reason—a garden center doesn’t have much for apocalypse survivors, but Shigeo has always liked overgrown things. He’d always enjoyed taking care of their mother’s plants back home, and then Reigen’s at the office. His brother likes the humidity of greenhouses and the smell of soil and dirt and must.
He sees the top of Shigeo’s head over the aisles, across the barn. He walks past a shovel hanging on the wall and yelps out a grunt when it clangs to the floor behind him. Ritsu shakes his head and smiles, running his fingers along faded price tags.
The feeling of greenhouses has always had this… wet fullness, to Ritsu.
When he breathes in it’s like he can taste the life that breathes out and it feels like a conversation, a question and an answer, both of which he’s not sure how to articulate. The leaves wave to him and he waves back, the once-active sprinklers pepper his skin with dots, with compliments, with proclamations they are eager to share. The vines weave between fencing just to reach him, just to talk.
He understands why Shigeo likes it, and why he’d always asked to accompany their mother on trips to get new seeds. Ritsu hadn’t really understood, then, how pretty it could be, how full it could feel.
Shigeo had always been right about loving the little things. Ritsu wishes he’d seen that sooner.
His brother ambles down the aisle ahead of him and he listens to the quiet patter of his sloppy footwork, moving around a table of seed trays. His whistles carry across the barn, sort of aimless in their own right instead of leading the wind and the chimes somewhere worthwhile, but the sounds soak into the overhead plastic nicely, so he keeps going.
He pulls back a layering of vines and leaves to scan the contents of another shelf, and then he notices Shigeo stop in his peripherals. His dirty shoes stay planted in the corner of his vision, leaves burying the toes, and Ritsu looks away from the products.
He means to say something, to ask him what’s up even if saying things to Shigeo very rarely results in productivity, but he stops when he realizes his brother’s head is… tilted.
He’s looking at him with as much inquisitiveness as his dulled down awareness can muster, pale eyes flickering across Ritsu’s face like he’s working out some puzzle. He instinctively stops whistling, brain lagging behind on this new info of this new behavior, and the sound fizzles out into a little huff of air that leaves the greenhouse feeling oddly empty.
Shigeo studies him for a moment longer, blinking slowly, and then he straightens his head out as Ritsu stares back. His brother’s gaze lingers there on his mouth, like he’s still confused, like he still expects something to happen.
Ritsu blinks once, twice. The wind chimes call as wind pokes at his greasy spikes, as it prods at the ends of his jacket and fills the silence with a different flavor of itself. The interest in the zombie’s eyes fades a little, gaze straying to the vines around them.
Very tentatively, Ritsu wets his lips and blows. The whistle grabs his brother’s attention immediately, and he’s suddenly tilting his head like a curious dog.
He can’t help the laugh that spills out and makes the whistle a mess of exhales. His shoulders shake a little and he hurries to keep the tune steady and consistent; a few seconds pass and Shigeo tilts his head the other way, exhausted eyes big and more alert than they’ve been in days.
Ritsu experiments, and ventures around with the sound—goes lower and higher and watches his brother twist his head back and forth like he’s trying to understand calculus. There’s something very innocent about it, about the look in his eyes that reminds him of when they were kids and their father would show them magic tricks.
It’s muted by the ever-present fog there in his pupils, but Ritsu thinks he sees a spark of that life in them, of that curiosity born from a mind that knows little. He gives him a simple sensation, a simple experience, and his brother is eating it all up like he’s four again, like he’s new and everything is colorful and unknown and big.
Ritsu watches Shigeo tilt his head back and forth, watches the rusty gears behind his window panes move. He changes tactics, because some sad part of him tells him to, and whistles Shigeo’s favorite song instead.
He remembers the name, but he doesn’t need the name because when he thinks of the tune he thinks of his brother, and that’s all that matters. It’s happy, because Shigeo likes happy music. It’s chipper and yet it meanders, like it’s willingly getting lost, like it’s wandering where it wants to and it’ll eventually find its roots again. It’s happy the whole time. The whole adventure.
Shigeo stops tilting his head, and the gears behind his eyes churn a little bit faster. His gaze clings to Ritsu’s and his brother makes actual eye contact, sinks his own being into Ritsu’s head when he’s least prepared for it. The recognition in his gaze has his soul souring.
He keeps whistling. He doesn’t want to stop, because Shigeo feels like Shigeo right now, and he doesn’t want that to stop.
His brother stares. Ritsu’s grief tints the music.
#qkwrites#zombie au#mp100 ritsu#ritsu kageyama#shigeo kageyama#mp100 shigeo#mp100 mob#every time i think about this au too long i am filled with despair#last line of this . damn i was cookin#ritsu's grief tints Everything he does in this world#he's fucking haunted by it and it's awful bc it's not like he can just.not think abt it#bc the source of his grief is Shigeo. and shigeo still breathes and walks and reacts to things ritsu does like he's alive#and he Is alive. he's very much alive#but there is a lot missing. and ritsu Feels the absence every fucking second#it's like walking into a house that used to have another person in it. and all the familiar sounds ur used to will never be made again#it's very empty and stagnant and the things that Do stay are Different#and it changes a lot. one minute ritsu will be having an okay day—best mood u could possibly have in an apocalypse anyway#and then he looks over and shigeo is doing smth that he used to do Before but it's wrong and a little bit to the left#and without the life in it#pure muscle memory on shigeo's part#and suddenly ritsu's mood drops So fast and he's so Exhausted from these mood swings he keeps having#u know that thing that goes like .uhhhh grief doesn't fade life just gets bigger around it. or smth#yeah ritsu's life isn't rly getting bigger. he is not moving away from the grief bc the source of it keeps staring him in the face
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Island Paradise
Summary: You and your friend get stuck on a remote island after a tragic ship accident and have to figure everything out on your own.
Remote island AU - reader insert
Warnings: pregnancy (and all the thing that come with it), very detailed childbirth! small age gap (6 years), vomiting, argument, breastfeeding
Word count: 15.5K
Inspired by the movie Blue Lagoon (1980) and Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)
- Tae?
- Yes?
- Can I eat this? - tiny little hands reach up to show the older boy the berries.
- No, Y/n! You can't eat anything we aren't entirely sure about! - the boy scolds the little girl.
A pout takes over the girl's lips, as she throws the berries to the ground.
- Can you help me put these branches in my arms?
The little girl squeals in happiness and picks up the branches one by one.
- Will we build a big, big house? - she asks with wide eyes.
- I'm not sure how bit, or steady it will be, but I promise to try my best!
Y/n claps his hands at his answer. Usually, anything Taehyung promises will happen, so the girl is sure that in just a few days they will own the house of her dreams on this small island that is just theirs, no one else's.
~
The ocean was swaying behind the two kids in the rising sun. Tae hasn't slept almost the entire night, too busy making the finishing touches on the little house they built.
- It's done! It's done, Tae! I'm so happy! - a little girl squealed as the last little details were done as well.
- It is, Y/n! - the boy smiled sleepily. - Have you seen your room yet?
- My woom? I have my own woom?!
- You sure do! - the boy grabbed Y/n's tiny hands and lead her in front of one of the rooms in the wooden house.
There were beautiful shells stuck to the door and formed letters and words. The y read: Y/n's room.
- Happy Birthday, Y/n!
- It's my biwthday? - the girl asked wide-eyed.
- It is, silly. - he chuckled. - It's the 3rd of July.
- How do you know?
- I've been keeping track on the wall of the cave.
- Wow!
- So, do you want to see your room? It's your present from me.
Without another word, the girl pushed the bamboo door open with tiny, clumsy hands. The sight in front of her left Y/n speechless.
The room wasn't large but it was extremely cosy. There was everything the little girl needed. A bed-like creation to sleep on, a small wardrobe she could fill with the clothes that were saved from the ship or washed to shore, and even a window, giving a fantastic view of the infinite water, covered by curtains. Adorable decorations made out of shells and leaves were hung on the sealing.
- Tae... It's so beautiful! Thank you! - she wrapped her short arms around the boy's thighs and hid her face in his stomach.
- Of course, Y/n. You deserve it. - he picked up the girl and held her securely on his waist. - But only if you show me how old you turned!
Little Y/n slowly held up her fingers while counting each one until she stopped.
- Five! - she laughed.
- That's right! You're a big girl now! - he kissed her cheek and gently lowered her light body to the ground. - Today is all about you, Sweetheart! We'll celebrate!
- A pawty?
- Yes, a party.
- Will mama and dada be thewe?
The boy's eyes darkened, sadness washing over his figure.
- No, Y/n... T-they won't be there, unfortunately... - he brushed a hand over the girl's soft cheeks as a pout spread across her lips.
- Then youw mama and youw dada?
The boy only sighed and shook his head, holding back tears that were so eager to spill onto his cheeks.
- Why?
- Remember the fire on the ship? - she nodded. - Well... you and I are very lucky, you know? Mama and dada couldn't get out as we did... I... t-they got stuck in the fire...
- But we awe they now?
- Y/n... they are at a better place... I guess... - a tear managed to slip out. - But that place is very far away from us.
- It doesn't, matter how far away they are, Tae. I want to go there.
- Oh, Y/n, no! That place... that place is for people who don't live anymore.
The little girl started to realize what her friend was trying to tell her. There was no coming back for her mama and papa... They were gone.
Tears started welling up in the girl's eyes and looked up at the boy almost as if she was asking for help of some sort.
- A-are they d-dead?
All the boy did was nod slightly, his own heart breaking at the sight of the little girl's tear-streamed face. The girl once again buried her face into the boy's stomach, painful sobs erupting from her lips.
5 year later
Y/n took careful steps as she climbed the little hill which had turned into her safe place over the years. Whenever she was feeling down, or times were rough, she would come out there and pray. She believed this was the place where she could talk to her parents. even though they never answered through words, Y/n knew they were listening.
The delicately carved piece of rock was placed on the top of the hill, with the beautiful ocean behind it.
Y/n placed the blossoming bouquet next to the headstone and a small tear escaped her eyes.
- Mama? Papa? - she began. - I hope you can hear me. I'm sure you can. - she smiled. - I turned 10 a couple of days ago. I'm a big girl now... Tae is 16 now. He's so, so, so smart. He built a whole house, and I even have my own room! He also taught me many, many things, so I could be smart just like him. Although, I still have a long way to go. He truly is amazing. He's the sibling I never had. My wise, big brother. He hunts and catches fish for us to eat, and I collect fruits and veggies around the island. I even made my own little garden where I can grow all the delicious plants. But Tae is the one who does most of the things. I always try to help him as much as I can...
It started raining. Y/n would have had so much more to tell her parents, but the worried boy's voice stopped her.
- Y/n, come inside! - his voice echoed from a distance.
- Bye, mama! Bye, dada! - she blew a kiss above her head.
Taehyung told her they must be up there, far, far away above the clouds.
~
What is happening to me?
Taehyung thought to himself as he stood in front of the small mirror that got washed up to shore a few days after the accident.
He didn't things were happening to his body. He was overly confused. He was inspecting his bare chest. It had gotten much... bigger? More muscular! His arms weren't as thin as they used to be.
And what is that thing coming out of my...
Nevermind.
This was puberty... he knew it. But he thought his voice is going to get deeper, or a little facial hair and that's it. But oh boy, no...
He just wished his dad would be there to explain it all... His big sister, Tiana, explained some girly stuff to him, but she never told him about the things boys experienced.
He had a lot to figure out on his own.
~
- Careful around the fire, Y/n!
- Sorry... - she apologized and stopped getting closer to the intriguing flames. - Can I have the coconut, please?
- Of course.
- But you love coconut too and we only have one. We could always share.
- Thank you, Y/n! You are very sweet, but we don't have to. We only found a small coconut this time, so I want you to eat as much of it as possible.
- But why? - the girl asked with curious eyes.
Tae could see she wasn't developing as she should. She was still extremely thin and shorter than an average 10-year-old should be. He was on a mission to fix this issue. He went hunting every day for hours, coming home with different animals and fruits, hoping they would help the girl. She was fragile.
But he didn't want to worry Y/n or make her think she was weak.
- I don't even like them that much, so you can have it.
- Really? - she gasped. - I thought you loved coconuts...
- I changed my mind. - he smiled.
- Okay... More for me then! - she giggled cheekily.
- Eat up sweetheart. - he chuckled, happy to see his sunshine eat.
Because it was true. Y/n was his sunshine. His everything since getting stuck on this island. He lost his whole family in the ship catastrophe. His parents, all 4 of his little sisters, and his big sister, who he looked up to very much. He missed them incredibly. He missed braiding their hair, their laughs and just having them in general. He wished he cherished those moments more before it all came to an end.
And for Y/n's parents, Y/n was their only child, and he swore he would protect her with all he had.
2 years later
- TAE! TAE!!! - the 12-year-old girl shouted from the edge of the forest.
- Y/N? Y/N WHERE ARE YOU?! - his worried voice called out.
Y/n's frightened form emerged from under the trees. She was running and chased by a little fluff ball.
- What is this, Tae?! Oh my God! It's gonna kill me!
The boy burst into laughter.
- Y/n! - he was laughing so hard. - H-have you e-ever seen a dog?
- Yes, but Tae! This isn't a dog. It's much smaller and its barks are ear-piercing.
- Y/n, this is a dog, just a different kind. Maybe you haven't seen one of them before. Look.
He caught the girl, who jumped onto him, seeking a place to hide. A place where she could be safe. And it was always her protector, her big brother. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, burying her face into its crock.
The tiny, fluffy dog stopped at the boy's legs at last and started jumping to reach the little girl, but it was too small and couldn't jump that high.
The boy slowly sat the girl down on her legs and the puppy immediately sniffed her, memorizing her fragrance. Taehyung wiped away the tears that rolled down the girl's cheeks.
- See? He's friendly.
- He? It's a boy? - she smiled, finally calming down.
- Yes.
- How do you know?
- Uhm... well... see that thing there? - he pointed between the dog's legs at the back.
The girl nodded.
- Well... that means he is a boy.
- Oh! Okay.
- Do you want to pet him?
- No! - she buried her face into his chest once more.
- But he's friendly! Look, he's so small.
The little girl opened her eyes and looked at the tiny creature, crouching down finally and carefully lowering her hand to pet the fluff ball's head.
- See?
A soft giggle erupted from Y/n.
- Give him a name, Tae!
- Me? Don't you have any pretty names?
She shook her head. Taehyung thought for a second. he always wanted a dog, but there was already so much hectic in their house at home, that adding a dog to 6 kids would have been a disaster.
But there was one name he liked, despite not being able to give it to any animal.
- How about Yeontan? - he said.
- Yeontan?
- Do you not like it?
- I do! Yeontan... That's such a unique name. Tannie!
- Tannie? What is that?
- His nickname! Yeontan and Tannie! Is it okay?
- Of course! I love it.
With that, he pressed a kiss onto her cheeks. Their little family had 3 members now. They weren't alone. They had each other. And that's what matters the most.
2 years later
Oh, God...
Oh, please, no!
- No! Tannie, go away! - she scolded the dog, who was curiously smelling the red stain on the white fabric.
The blood on her bed was the first thing Y/n noticed after she woke up. And the throbbing pain in her tummy didn't go away either... She thought it was from accidentally swallowing a lot of salt water while swimming the day before. It had happened before but didn't usually last this long.
This was different.
And where was the blood coming from? - she figured that one out pretty quickly... Panic rose in her. What was she supposed to do now? Tell Tae? But this is so embarrassing... There was no way she was going to keep this to herself. She shared everything with him.
So she shyly got off of her bed and yanked the stained material it was covered with.
- Tae? - she called out for him as she stepped out of the house.
The boy was just returning from collecting useful things around one part of the island.
- Yes, sweetheart?
- I... - she swallowed hard. - I'm really sorry, Tae... I don't know what happened.
She unraveled the fabric to reveal the bloodstain. However, she didn't receive the reaction she was nervous about. The boy inspected the red spot and a soft smile appeared on his face.
- Y/n, there's nothing to worry about, okay? This is completely normal for girls. It's called menstruation or a period when big and mature girls like you bleed from down there once a month or so. It's totally natural.
Y/n processed his words. She had so many questions and she wasn't afraid to ask him. Turns out, he knew a lot of things about periods.
- If only girls get this, then... how do you know so much about it?
- From my big sister. She taught me many things. Stuff about girls, what changes their bodies go through, and everything else that comes with it.
And so he shared all his knowledge about menstruation cycles with her, starting from cramps and bleeding, to mood swings and cravings. She looked up to him so much.
- Come, let's get you cleaned up and prepare the stuff we need, sweetheart.
He noticed her flushed cheeks and her hesitation to go with him.
- Y/n, this is pure nature. There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Please, let me take care of you! - he enveloped her in a big hug.
- Thank you, Tae!
~
- Here. - Taehyung put the small cloth full of hot rocks from the beach on Y/n's tummy. He made sure it wasn't too heavy for her stomach. - Tell me when it runs cold and I'll collect more from the sand.
- How is this supposed to help?
- Hot temperatures usually help with cramps like such.
- Oh! Okay, thanks. - she smiled through her tears.
The boy pressed a soft kiss onto her temple.
- Woof! - a high-pitched bark came from the door.
- Hi Tannie! Come here.
The puppy paddled his legs with his tongue hanging from its mouth and jumped into Taehyung's huge hands. The boy placed him next to the girl's cramping stomach. The Yeontan sniffed along her tummy and let out whimpering noises.
- Shh... It's okay, Tannie. - the boy called. - Mamma's okay. Just some cramps that will go away soon.
But for Yeontan it didn't look like his Mamma is okay.
The sight of the girl he has become so protective of in tears worried him. Turns out, those stupid cramps were bothering her, and even though Taehyung told her about these pains during periods, she still got a little scared.
Being in pain was never a good sign, she learned that pretty early on. They had no doctors, medicines, or gauze to wrap their wounds. They could only rely on each other.
There was one time when Taehyung got badly hurt while climbing on a tree to reach those huge coconuts for Y/n. He knew they were her favorite. A branch broke underneath his weight and while gravity pulled him harshly to the ground, another branch cut his right thigh. It was a nasty cut. In a couple of days, the wound got infected. It got to the point where he couldn't even feel his toes. He thought he was losing his leg.
The little girl was terrified at that time. She was still very young and had no idea how to help her best friend.
From then on they swore to tell each other if they experienced any sort of pain, no matter how small it was.
- Is it working? - he asked after a while.
- Mhm... It doesn't hurt as much anymore.
- Thank God! - he smiled. - Sleep, sweetheart. It will be even better after you wake up. And guess what...
- What? - the girl perked up at his excited voice.
- Maybe a little surprise will be waiting for you when you wake up.
- What surprise? Coconut?!
- If I told you it won't be a surprise anymore, silly.
Y/n pouted.
- Okay... I'll sleep quickly then!
- Take your time, Y/n. - and there goes another kiss on the cheeks. - Yeontan, guard Mamma's dreams, okay?
- Woof!
- Good boy! - he scratched behind his ears.
And with a cute chuckle, the girl closed her eyes and drifted off into a shallow slumber.
~
- I'm up!
- This was barely 20 minutes, sweetheart...
- But I was so excited... I couldn't sleep any longer.
- Alright, come outside then.
Taehyung could hear quick feel paddle on the bamboo stairs. Soon enough she appeared with the tiny puppy following close behind.
- What's the surprise?
Taehyung laughed at her nosiness.
- Patience, Y/n!
- Okay... - she pouted.
- Come with me.
With that, he took her hand and lead her to the mountainside where thousands of white stripes showed the number of days they'd been calling this island home.
But there was so much more room on the huge rock.
In front of the empty surface, half coconut shells were sitting in the sand. Y/n curiously stepped closer to them.
- Colours? - she asked confused.
- They are paints. Look! - he crouched down next to the girl. Green, red, purple, and this blueish color. I tried to make yellow as well but... it didn't turn out quite that well.
A huge smile crept onto her face.
- But it turned into a beautiful cream color! - she clapped her hands in excitement.
- Do you like them? - he asked. - Here's a brush you can use to put them on the wall.
He picked up the paintbrush-like creation and handed it to her.
- I love them!!! - she jumped onto the boy who fell into the sand with a soft thud, with one hand tight around Y/n's body and the other pressed her head into the crook of his neck. - Thank you, Tae!
- Thank me by showing what you can create with them.
Her cheeks flushed red.
- Well... I've never really painted before. I'm not very good.
- That's okay! Do something simple. Like... the ocean during sunset!
- Okay.
The boy set aside. He watched as Y/n sipped the brush in each color. She was so concentrated on her art, her tongue stuck out.
In a few minutes, the picture started to come together, even though the colors didn't show up quite vibrant on the dark rock. The wavy blue line was obviously the water, the red half circle above it the setting sun. She even managed to paint pretty clouds with the cream color.
- It's beautiful, Y/n!
- Thanks! - she showed a shy smile.
~
3 years later
From then on, whenever Tae was away, this large canvas became her safe place. She painted away and eventually with a lot of practice, her skills became better and better. She even experimented with the whole paint-making process and improved the quality of her paints each time.
Y/n was a grown woman now. Her curves have gotten more prominent and they were beautiful nonetheless.
It didn't miss Taehyung's eyes either. The way her chest pushed out the otherwise loose-fitting cloth around her body, how the fabric hugged the soft curve of her hip... As he watched her work on another masterpiece on the canvas given by nature with their dog by her feet, who hasn't grown much, all he could think about was how he would-
No!
Stop that!
He couldn't think like that. She was his little sister. he has been taking care of her, raising her ever since she turned 5...
Well... he wasn't actually his sister-
STOP! - he scolded himself.
He couldn't take watching her anymore...
- Y/n, I'm going hunting! - he called.
- Okay. Do you want me to come with you?
- No, you just paint.
Y/n pouted a little. His oh-so-loved big brother has been so distant lately... It made her sad. So, so sad.
She didn't understand... They used to be best buddies. Telling each other everything and anything. Now he didn't even cuddle her to sleep anymore. He started wearing clothing while swimming, which was something neither of them did before. So Y/n decided to do the same. She made her own hand-made swimwear.
That gave her the idea to spend the remainder of the day swimming a little. She finished her painting of Tannie, packed up her pieces of equipment, and made the short walk to their house with the small dog trailing behind her.
At this point, Yeontan had his own corner with a little swing and a half coconut shell as a food bowl. He quickly nestled himself in his swing and dosed off right away.
The cool water felt refreshing on her skin after such a hot day. She could tell the sun still had about 45 minutes before starting to set. She would be back before it was completely under the horizon.
This was the time to let out all the frustration, confusion, and hurt. It came in the form of tears. They blended perfectly with the salty ocean water.
She just swam and swam, letting all the droplets exit her eyes.
She didn't realize how far she has gone. She wasn't far from shore. In fact, the island was almost at arm's reach, however, she no longer recognized which part of the island she was facing. She must be on the other side... But that was so far! And-
Oh no!
The sky had gotten dark. There was no way she could find her way back in pitch black.
She started to panic. She couldn't swim to shore because of the sudden cramp in her limbs. The anxiety of not knowing her surroundings pulled her under the surface. She wanted to shout, but not even a broken sound came out of his throat.
All she could do was splash the water around in hopes of getting Taehyung's attention. But he was so far from her right now. There was no way it will reach his ears.
She couldn't keep fighting anymore... The harsh waves pushed her to the bottom.
~
Where is she?!
The boy was freaking out. He checked their entire house, only to be met with their peacefully sleeping dog. But he awoke because of his owner's distressed shuffles around the room.
- Tannie! Where is Mamma? - his voice was panicked, which caused Yeontan to worry as well.
- Woof! - he jumped off his swing and ran outside.
Taehyung followed right behind, but the dog was only barking at the water.
- Did Mamma go swimming?
- Woof!
But she should be back already!
It was their rule that if they ever went swimming alone, they would be back before sunset. It was night now...
- Y/N!!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!
He ran along the waves, but there was no sight or sound of Y/n. He was starting to lose his mind.
I swear if anything happens to her I-
- Y/N!!!
He ran straight through the forest behind their house, still screaming her name, not caring if he draws the attention of predators to himself.
What was that?
There was something in the water nearby. Something was violently splashing. Before it stopped. Taehyung went to check on the source of the noise, only to find familiar strands of hair sinking under the water.
- Y/N!!! Oh my God!
He jumped into the cool water and swam towards the girl like his life depended on it. And it did. But mostly hers.
As soon as he managed to drag her body to stable grounds he checked for a pulse.
There wasn't any.
He immediately began pushing down on her chest at a fast pace. He was terrified. He didn't know what he was doing. He remembered something about having to blow air into the person's mouth. So he did that. He opened her mouth and blew into it just like how a small child would blow out the candles on a birthday cake.
- Y/n, please wake up! - he began sobbing.
The blowing didn't work, so he continued pushing on her chest.
Eventually, Y/n coughed up water. A lot of it. But she was alive and awake.
- Y/n! Y/n, sweetheart!
Water continued flowing out of her mouth. He just sat there with her head on his lap and stroked her hair until every bit of water left her lungs. Even after that, she was left breathing heavily and weak.
- Tae... - she panted.
- It's okay, I'm here.
- Tae, I-
- Shhh... just sleep, I'll carry you back.
The girl didn't have enough strength to say another word, so she obeyed and shut her eyes.
~
Taehyung quietly watched as she slept peacefully, with Yeontan right by her side. She was okay, and that meant everything to him.
He was, however, angry at her for wandering off so far from their house and not coming back by sunset. It was their rule and she had broken it. Taehyung had never felt such fear before.
- Tae... - her soft, sleepy voice was heard.
She slowly sat up.
- Why? - the boy said.
- I'm sorry, Tae, I-
- I told you! I told you not to go that far or be back in time! - he rose his voice.
- I know and I-
- Do you know how scared I was?
- Tae, I-
- NO YOU DON'T! - he shouted.
The girl flinched and scooted as far away from him on the bed as possible. She knew she made a mistake, but she never could have imagined the effect it had on Taehyung. The boy, who was always so gentle and soft around her. The boy she felt safe with.
- I WAS FUCKING TERRIFIED, OKAY! - this was the first time he used a curse word in front of her.
He wasn't even sure she knew what it meant, but he didn't care at the moment.
Y/n had tears running down her cheeks, but gathered enough strength.
- WHO ARE YOU TO SET RULES, HUH?! - she shouted. - YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! HE'S DEAD AND SO IS YOURS!
Taehyung was taken aback by her behavior. He's never heard her raise her voice like that before.
- I'm almost 18 years old!!! I can do whatever I want, and you are NOT the one to control me!
- I am! I fucking am! I've raised you since you were 5! I was only 11 at the time, but I still made sure YOU never felt alone and had everything you needed! And after everything I've done for you over these twelve years, you still have the AUDACITY to be an ungrateful bitc-
He stopped just in time and didn't finish the last word.
- If I'm that much of a burden to you, then why did you even bother with me?!
- I NEVER said you were a burden! Stop twisting my words!
- Well, regardless, you won't have to bother anymore!
With that, she stood up and barged into her room to grab some of her belongings. She reemerged with a huge pile of her stuff covering her face and marched out of the house... their home.
- Where are you going? - he asked in a calmer tone.
- I'm leaving, if you couldn't tell... I don't want to bother you any further. - her voice could be heard, but he didn't see her anymore.
He hurriedly stood up and ran after her.
- Y/n, stop right now!
- Just leave it, Taehyung!
- Come back, now!
- DON'T CONTROL ME!
- I'M NOT CONTROLLING YOU! YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
- See? You ARE controlling me!
- Okay then! LEAVE! And we'll see how you manage out there alone!
- We damn well will!
~
And she did manage pretty well. When you are trapped on an island, you don't have a choice, but to adapt to the changes in life and learn to survive.
She found shelter in a spacious cave and she settled there. She set up her little sleeping area, organized her painting supplies, and so on.
But she missed him. And it was different from before. She no longer missed him as a sister would her brother she hadn't seen in a long time. She couldn't quite put a hand on what she was feeling. One thing was for sure: she couldn't sleep without his touch on her waist or his kisses on her cheeks.
She felt so alone. Something that she hasn't felt in 12 years.
She would sometimes see him when she went out fishing, but emotionless glances were all they sent each other.
~
He was in absolute agony. He was upset with her, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push away the worry he felt when she didn't show up for days at her usual fishing spot.
And now it has been a whole month since she left. The 5th of July. Her 18th birthday passed without him giving her happy birthday kisses or surprising her with something, just like he did every year.
He went looking for her before, but gave up, thinking she needed space. If he was sure she wanted him to find him, he would've found her already. The island isn't that big after all...
But he respected her decision of wanting to be alone. No matter how much that hurt him.
~
He hasn't seen her in a week now. This was strange since she showed up every other day close to their home. He was very worried.
He didn't care anymore. He went looking for her.
It didn't take him long to find her.
He entered the cave with a little bit of trouble. The entrance was too tight for him, but she didn't have any problem getting in with her tiny frame. It was dark inside, only a little bit of sunlight slipped through the small entrance.
The moment he spotted her laying in the corner, he knew something wasn't right. She was breathing heavily and as he felt her forehead, it was obvious she was burning up.
- Sweetheart? - he whispered.
- Tae? - her voice was nearly non-existent.
Then a broken sob escaped her lips.
- Shh... It's okay. You're okay, sweet girl! - he kept his voice low, knowing how sensitive her hearing must be right now.
He lifted her gently but soon realized, there was no way he could squeeze the both of them through that tiny hole. So he slowly lowered her back to where she has been laying and covered her from head to toe with her blankets, so she wouldn't get hurt. He then launched himself at the rocks around the entrance and gave it a harsh kick, which sent chunks of debris flying everywhere.
This was he was able to get her back to where she belonged to. Their home, with him.
He layed her wack and tended to her needs. Starting with making her drink a lot of water, then feeding her small bits of food.
The fever was still there after a few days, but she looked so much better. Her face was no longer that pale, and her eyes regained that shine she always had in them.
He was so relieved.
- Tae?
- Yes?
- I love you.
- Love you two, Sweetheart.
- I'm sorry for everything. - she was so guilty.
- I'm sorry too. For the yelling, you know. You didn't deserve that.
- I kind of did...
- Yeah... maybe. - they chuckled. - I'm just happy we made up. So we're good now, right?
- We always were, Tae!
He looked down at her lips and felt the urge to press his onto them. He tried stopping himself, but at the same time, she leaned in and finished what he started.
~
Y/n was confused. She had no idea what they did that day, what it was called. He saw her mother and father do that a lot. That much she remembered.
It was a gesture of love. She knew that.
She loved Taehyung, of course. That wasn't a question. But it was different now, for sure.
She had to figure out what was going on.
~
She turned 18. Taehyung explained how this was a special age and that she was an adult now. An adult, just like him.
- Y/n, I love you but can you please get off my lap?
- Am I too heavy? - she pouted.
- No! Or course not! But I just need you to get off for a little...
- Okay...
She reluctantly got off of the boy's lap and he immediately covered the area where she'd been with his arms.
Luckily she didn't realize.
- I'm going for a quick walk, okay? Will you be okay on your own for a while? - he asked.
- Can't I come with you?
- Uhm... I'm afraid not, Sweetheart.
- But why?
- I just need some time alone.
- I don't like this, Tae... - she sighed. - You've been acting weird since a long time ago. And after that day when... o-our l-lips touched...
- Things haven't been the same? - he finished for her.
She just nodded. He desperately tried to think of something that will help with his... situation down there, and eventually succeeded.
- I'm sorry, Y/n. There are things that my sister never explained to me and I'm confused.
- I'm confused too! We can be confused together. - she smiled.
He giggled at her cuteness.
- I know.
Y/n was looking at the waves that were crashing against the solid wall of rocks on the other end of the coast, clearly submerged in thoughts. The boy, who was much rather a grown man now, just stared at her side profile in the soft light of the setting sun.
- Y/n?
She turned her head towards him.
- I love you, Y/n. - he whispered.
- I love you too, Tae. - she turned her head back.
- I'm in love with you.
She looked back at him. In love? She'd never heard that before. What does it mean?
- Not like a brother would love her sister, or not how we love Yeontan.
- Then?
- Like your dad loved your mom, or like your mom loved your dad.
- Like lovers? In love? - she finally understood.
- Yes. - he sent her a soft smile.
Was that what she felt all along. Were the feelings mutual?
The answer was simply yes. She could finally label it and get rid of the mess taking over her thoughts.
She was in love. they were in love.
Whit that, their lips crashed against each other for the second time, but this time none of them broke it for a long, long time.
~
3 years later
- Love, I'm home! - Taehyung called.
- Finally! - she laughed. - I couldn't imagine where you have gone off to.
Taehyung walked up to her where she was hanging up their clean fabrics and clothes. He laced his arm around her waist and kissed her temple.
- I was just on a quick hunt. I noticed you developed a pretty good appetite lately. - he chuckled.
- Hey! - she smacked his chest lightly. - You eat twice as much as me!
- Yeah yeah... I'm just saying that you've been eating a bit more compared to the amount you used to. I'm not saying that's bad-
- Well you sure make it seem like it is. - Y/n cut him off, this time with a sharper tone.
- No, no! Don't think like that. What I meant is that since we consume more food now I went hunting a bit so we wouldn't run out! - he was becoming a little annoyed this time around. - But you know what? Forget I said anything.
- Fuck you, Taehyung!
With that, she threw the remaining clothes at the stunned boy next to her and angrily stormed off.
~
Taehyung finished hanging the laundry on the string tied between two palm trees and returned to the house.
- Y/n-ie... - he called out in a gentle, apologetic voice.
Y/n was lying in her bed, which wasn't in her room anymore, much rather pressed as close to Taehyung's as possible. She was turned towards the wall and had the blanket draped over her face. She clearly heard him, but intentionally ignored him.
God... Why is she like this?
Maybe she'll get her period soon...
But she's never behaved like this before. Not even during that time of the month...
He assumed giving in and apologizing was the best option. Even if he felt like he wasn't guilty...
- Y/n, I'm sorry! - he sat down next to her head.
He attempted to pull the fabric off of her head, but she had a strong grip on the material, so in the end, he settled for stroking her hair.
- You aren't eating too much. I was wrong about it all!
- No you weren't... - she sobbed. - I do eat more and I'm getting fat!
- Now that's just ridiculous-
- I'm serious, Tae! I think I'm sick. I'm eating more and haven't bled this month...
What?
- I thought I miscounted the days but I didn't... - she continued. - I mean, I'm not sad about it. Periods are horrible, but this could mean I'm sick. And that's even worse.
- Hold up! Y-you... You haven't had your period?
- No?
It was all making sense. Her appetite, missed period...
- Baby, I-... I think you are pregnant. - he announced in shock.
- Pregnant?
- Yeah... Like a baby. I mean... We're having a baby.
- How? Where? - she was confused.
With shaky hands, the boy reached for the girl's middle and layed a protective hand on the flat surface.
- Here. You have a baby in your belly.
- B-but... How? - her eyes widened.
- Uhm... Well, you know how we... how we...
- Yeah. - she understood and a naughty smile spread across her face.
- That's how it must have happened. I-I'm not s-so sure though... Nobody really told me much about that.
There was a moment when nothing outside them mattered. It was just him, her, and the little being within the body of the girl, now the woman he loved so dearly. Their precious creation.
His hand remained over the spot his baby was settled in. Not wanting to leave. Ever.
- We're having a child. - tears streamed down both of their faces.
- We are!
His lips captured hers in a deep, emotional kiss.
~
Y/n woke up to an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She ran outside and launched forward to vomit in the sand.
Oh, God...
This has never happened to me before.
She was beyond scared. Every sickness they ever experienced on this island was scary.
- Y/n?! - Taehyung came jogging on the coast.
She couldn't answer. Her stomach continuously emptied itself. There was no break.
- It's okay, Love! It's totally normal. - he rubbed her back and held her hair with his free hand.
Once she finished the girl looked up at him with pleading eyes. That's when he noticed the tears in her eyes.
- Oh my darling.
He cradled her head close to his chest, not caring if she just threw up.
- W-what was t-this Tae?
- Calm down. It's normal, okay? This is what comes with pregnancy, unfortunately.
- So I'll have to deal with this for a year?! - she worried.
Y/n knew nothing about pregnancy. Not how long it lasted, not the symptoms, stages... Nothing.
And then came the lesson about pregnancy and all of those details that Taehyung knew.
- A pregnancy lasts for about 9 months, 40 weeks. The baby continues to grow bigger as it develops. This period is divided into 3 trimesters. You're in the first one right now. As your body adapts to the changes of accommodating a human being inside, you may experience some of the first-trimester symptoms, like nausea, or backaches. There might be more, but I'm not that educated on it...
Y/n stood there in an ave.
-How do you know so many things? - she wondered.
- My mom was pregnant many times and I was present for all of the home births. Except for my older sister's, of course.
The girl hugged her love dearly.
- What would I do without you?
- What would I do, angel? - he kissed her head. - Let's get something into your tummy, okay?
- Mhmm... I'm quite hungry.
- Let's go then.
Taehyung made her sit comfortably on the bed-like creation, with her back against the cushioned frame and her legs crossed together.
He prepared some of the things he remembered her mom ate while expecting. However, there wasn't much he could put together. They didn't have all those resources. He remembered something about having to be careful with fish. But what was it?
In the end, he cooked the fish really good to make sure he got rid of the bacteria on it.
- Here, eat up!
Y/n didn't know what was going on. Her stomach turned at the smell, but there was nothing it could rid itself of.
- Tae, I... I don't think I can eat right now. It smells weird.
- Oh, my love. That's okay! I think it's one of the symptoms I think.
- This sucks...
- I know, I'm sorry... But it will go away eventually.
~
During the next few weeks, Taehyung's favorite way to spend time became cuddling her either in their bed or in the sand close to the crashing waves.
Y/n developed a small bump that kept growing and growing. It fascinated them both. One because she has never seen, let alone experience such a thing, and the other wasn't used to seeing someone carrying a baby outside of his mother. And when it was his baby that person, the love of his life was carrying, it was a whole new story.
They were walking hand in hand in the forest. Taehyung remembered his mother taking small walks during her pregnancy with her younger sisters. She said it was healthy for both the baby and her. So that's what he made Y/n do.
- Your bump is adorable, love.
- It's still weird to me... - she answered with a hand on her lower tummy.
- You'll get used to it as it gets bigger.
They continued to walk under the trees, which provided shade from the shining sun, in complete silence.
- Tae... I'm scared.
He stopped and turned her so they were looking into each other's eyes.
- I know, baby. It's totally normal, but don't worry. I'm gonna be here for all of it. And the little I know, I'm going to teach you.
~
- Yeontan! Come here! - Y/n yelled, calling the dog for his feed. - Hi, Tannie. You were close to the house, huh? You usually wander far away from home.
The dog, who was still the size of a small puppy, jumped around the girl's leg as she squatted down next to his bowl. She did that with minor difficulties since the protruding extension of her bump got in the way of many activities she would usually do with ease. That was one of the reasons Taehyung was the one on a hunt at the moment. He wouldn't allow Y/n to do that. Not right now.
- Tannie! - she chuckled in surprise.
The puppy was rubbing against her tummy with such care, it seemed like the pet knew about her state. The pup wouldn't touch his food. He was so caught up in admiring the girl's middle. He could feel something was going on. Something very important indeed.
- Woof, woof!
- Tannie... You're scaring baby. - she giggled.
- What's going on in there? - a deep voice sounded from outside.
- Tae!!! - she jumped up as her love appeared at the door.
- Y/n! - he breathed as she practically launched herself at him. - Easy there, my love.
- How did your hunt go?
- Got some goodies...
- Let me see!!!
- Here... - he led her out of the house. - Coconuts, bananas, and even the mangos had ripened! I'll still have to go fishing since I didn't come across any animals that are worth hunting down.
- Mangoes?!
- Yeah!
- Oh my goodness! I love them! Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!!!
- You're silly! - he giggled at her cuteness.
The girl giggled while excitedly emptying the makeshift sack Taehyung put the fruits in. He just stood there, staring in admiration.
This was his life on the island. It started out as a tragedy, but now it's a complete paradise. Living in peace with his love and baby on the way. He lost his family, just to welcome a special someone in his life. He had to mature and leave his childhood behind too early, but he believes it was all worth it. He did all of it for his little girl.
That little girl, who knew very little about the world, was now in front of him, carrying his child with such grace, he couldn't imagine loving someone more than he loves his Y/n.
~
Why does this thing not fit me anymore? - she wondered.
No matter how hard she pulled on the soft material of her top, it wouldn't loosen. It was suffocating her.
She tried to ignore the stabbing pain in her chest and went on with her daily activities. She did some laundry, made herself a little snack out of coconuts and mangoes while Taehyung was away, and played with Yeontan.
Taehyung was still away when she noticed the two wet patches on the front of her top.
Where did these come from?
She took it off quickly and put another one on after cleaning herself up.
- Good evening, love! - she was greeted by the sweetest voice she knew on this planet. - How was your day?
She thought about that for a second. She felt embarrassed because of what happened earlier that day. Should she tell him about the patches on her top? Was it something to worry about? She was in a precious state, after all. Taehyung explained to her all the possible complications a woman can experience during their pregnancy. She was scared, frightened even. She didn't want her baby to live through that. She loved her baby.
So it was obvious she should tell her partner about what happened, to make sure it was nothing to worry about and her baby was okay.
- Taehyung… - she coughed in an attempt to disguise her embarrassment. – So… today my top felt really… tight around my chest and then there were two wet patches on the material. I-Is our baby alright?
The boy standing in front of her smiled and immediately understood what was going on.
- My love, - he stepped closer setting one hand on top of her growing bump and the other around her waist to pull her closer. - I forgot to tell you about this, but around this time women start producing milk for their babies. There are some different stages to this and I'm not even sure myself but that's a beautiful thing and I'm so happy we got to this point.
- So… I'm making milk in my... - he asked with a small voice.
- Mhmm… - he smiled. - But cheer up, my darling! - he stroked her cheek as he saw mixed emotions in her eyes. - This is good and it's only natural! Isn't it amazing how your body is doing that for our child? It's preparing itself for when he or she is born.
The girl smiled.
- Yes, it's amazing!
~
Deep sound of drums, rocks being thrown, sticks smacked together. The deep voices of strange humans.
Rain was pouring, but it was clear...
The island has new visitors. And they weren't up to anything good.
A loud scream, a heavy object falling to the floor with a muffled thud and rolling away.
Then there was silence, which was only crushed by the continuous sound of flesh being ripped apart and the faint noise of fire.
~
- Oh my God!
- Are you okay?! - Taehyung sat up in bed with urgency.
When he didn't hear a response, he reached for her in the dark in an attempt to calm her.
- I… I felt something! - her voice was laced with worry.
- Tell me…
- I'm not sure… I-I felt like... Like a push against my skin from the inside. It's scary, Tae!
- Does it hurt?
- No, but… what is this Tae? I don't like it…
The boy placed his big palms on either side of the girl’s tummy. He left it there for a while until he felt it too… A soft little push against his hands, one on each side. Must have been a foot, a knee, an elbow, or a tiny little hand but it didn't matter. It was beautiful either way and the best feeling in the world.
- Love... I think… our baby! That's our baby! – he exclaimed happily.
- Our baby?
- Yes, our baby is kicking! Isn't it beautiful? – he sighed in ave.
- Wow! This… this is amazing!
It wasn’t scary or unpleasant anymore. She felt ecstatic.
They sat there, in a room filled with joyful giggles, as the precious creature within the girl sent its first signs of communication to the outside world. If only time can stop! They wished to be frozen in that moment then and there.
~
- Wow... This feels amazing! - she sighed as she submerged her body further in the water. - It takes so much pressure off my back.
- I'm glad, my love! - he smiled and kissed the crown of her head. - There it is, hold onto me, sweetheart.
He slowly lowered her into the ocean, but left his arm around her body. Taehyung has become extremely protective over Y/n ever since she had trouble breathing, rubbed her back with a deep groan and randomly placed a hand onto the bottom of the protruding bump even after the simplest activities she did throughout the day. Of course, he noticed these small signs or the girl's disconfort without her having to tell him anything, and now he was determined to make it all better.
- Is the water okay? Isn't it too cold?
- Tae... - she giggled. - Calm down, its perfect. Feels amazing.
- Alright then.
They shared a passionate kiss, surrounded by the waves and singing birds. The whole scene was more then idyllic. Anyone judging from outside would envy their lives. It was a real paradise there.
Taehyung's mind was never at ease though.
Ever since those strange men came to the island and ate that girl, he didn't even dare to leave Y/n alone. He barely slept, always had both ears focused on their surroundings.
He kept it all to himself and it was slowly eating him up from the inside. But there was no way he could tell Y/n about there concerns. He remembered his father tell him not to make mama mad when she had her sisters in her belly. She needed to stay away from stress. So that's why he swore to keep his girl calm.
- What's on your mind, love? - her sweet voice ripped him away from his trans.
- Nothing serious, don't worry. - he smiled.
- I can see there's something up.
The girls felt something was wrong and instantly became concerned. She slipped away from the boy's arms so she could look into his eyes from across.
- Tell me.
It was simple amd a bit demanding. Taehyung new he had to think of something. He wasn't going to worry you with this.
- I was just wondering when I should go for a hunt. We are running out of food but you're too far along for me to leave you on your own.
- Was this the thing bothering you? - she chuckled. - You are babying me too much! I'll be okay for a few hours.
- I know but just want to make sure. You now, one of my aunts lost their baby because she fell and lost her consciousness, and because nobody was at home she was left there bleeding for long hours. They couldn't save the baby.
That's when he caught a single tear roll down the girl's cheek.
- Baby? Are you okay? Hurt?
- I don't want to lose my baby! - she sniffles.
- You won't, love, you won't. It was and accident many years ago. They had a long flight of stairs. We don't have stairs to fall off of.
- We have ladders though.
- Well I already forbade you to go on those... Even moved our bed to the first floor.
That's right.
- And I'm not leaving you anyway.
- And who is going to hunt?
- We can go fishing together. - he suggested. - Or collect some berries and fruits. - he paused. - We won't go too far into the woods though.
- Why?
Because of the men.
- I don't want you to walk that much.
- W-would that... kill the b-baby? - she hesitated.
- No, it's just that... Well, mom went into labor early with the twins because she wasn't well rested. I don't want that to happen to you too.
- Oh... Okay! - she smiled after thinking about what she'd just heard. - I'll rest a lot then.
Taehyung smiled back and kissed her head.
- When will I give birth? - she asked after a while.
- I don't know. Honestly. Mom had appointments with the doctor. I went to a few too. It was so cool, Y/n!
The girl listened with adoration. The boy was recalling these old memories with so much joy, it made her happy too. He surely misses his family. She does too.
- Imagine! We could see my sisters while they were in the belly!
- Wow! - she gasped. - Can we do that too?
- Oh... Unfortunately not, because at the doctor's they had all sorts of modern machines. I think the one he used on mom was called an ultrasong? I'm not sure though.
- That's fine. We'll just see them when they're born.
- That's right, love!
~
- Are you okay?
- Yes, Tae! Why wouldn't I be?
- We've been walking for so long...
She chuckled.
- Calm down! I'm perfectly fine. I just want to show you that pretty place where there are many fish.
- Okay, just... make sure to tell me if you get tired.
It would have been clear to anybody that she had trouble walking. Her large belly was beginning to hang lower than it had been in the last 2 months. The baby had dropped, and Taehyung knew exactly what that meant. The baby was coming soon.
But at the same time he didn't want to make her nervous. He had tried to explain a few things he knew about childbirth from when her mother had home births. She seemed worried whenever he talked about contractions or dilation. And he didn't want to scare her with the idea of having to go through that soon.
And besides... this was different. Her mother had the help of either doctors, midwife or a doula. Y/n, on the other hand, had no one else rather than him. And even though he witnessed most of his sister's birth, he new very little about the whole thing.
He too was scared.
- Here. Isn't it beautiful? - she stopped to lean against the boy's body, clearly exhausted.
- It truly is, baby. - he peccked her head. - But its time for you to sit down a bit, okay?
- Alright.
He helped her down on a sturdy-looking rock on the beach. As she sat she felt great pressure on her lap, between her thighs.
- Baby is getting quite heavy, not gonna lie. - she giggled through her shaky breaths.
- Oh, sweetheart! Here.
With that he stepped over the rock with one leg to sit behind her. As he lowered himself, he slipped both hands under her bump, so it wasn't in contact with her thighs, and gently lifted it, so the weight of his baby, the amniotic fluid it was in and, and thier placenta was all on him.
It is very heavy. - he noted.
If it was even possible, he started to appreciate everything Y/n has been enduring while growing their child even more. And she walked all the way here, carrying thins massive cargo?! His hands were already getting tired even from just holding it for a minute.
- Oh my...! T-thank you! This f-feels amazing! - she panted.
- Anything for you, my love! Anything.
They were sitting like that for quite a while. Taehyung's hands were nearly killing him. His muscles were begging for a break. But at the same time he knew this was the least he could do. And the sight of his love rested against his chest with a satisfied smile on her face made it all worth it.
- Thank you Tae! - she sat up a bit. - You can put it down now.
- No, I've got you, don't worry!
- I can tell you are tired. Your hands are shaking.
- Baby, you carry all this around all day, and have been for months now. You're not allowed breaks. This is the least I can do.
- Seriously, it's okay. I'm used to it. - she laughed with a slight bitterness in her voice. - Let's go fishing! - she added.
In about two hours they were satisfied with the amount of fish they captured, so the man packed up their things and took everything out of the girl's hand.
- Hey! - she whined. - I can carry that.
- You just carry our baby, okay?
Y/n huffed, but new she couldn't object.
That's how they made their way home, where Taehyung immediately got to cooking the fish they got. He made sure it was well cooked. That's what he remembered from his mother after all.
-Love, ... - Y/n began in a muffled voice.
- Yes?
- I... uhm... I d-don't really feel like eating this right now. I'm so sorry.
- Oh, you don't have to be sorry, lovely. It's okay if you don't want it.
- It's just that I don't want it to go to waste.
- Don't worry about it, it won't. I'll eat it, or give some to Yeontan.
- Are you sure? - she asked. - I-
- What do you feel like eating?
- Maybe... coconut or bananas.
- That's all?
- Yeah... I'm not very hungry.
The boy got up in a second and brought exactly what Y/n told him about from their little storage. He opened up the coconut for her and even peeled the banana.
- Here, baby.
- Thank you! - she shined a wonderful smile to him. - I love you.
Taehyung was a bit worried about her not eating much. Didn't she need more food now that she was so close to giving birth?
Truth to be told, the baby was getting a bit too big in there for her to be comfortable. The space in her stomach was taken up by the precious creature in her womb, so there was not much left fot the food. But it's okay. Taehyung was worried about the pregnancy. He saw his mother go through it with all that medical help, the babies were regularly monitored and his mother was often checked over. Here, though, they were on their own and had no idea what was going on behind the skin of the girl's stomach.
- Let's go inside, it's getting late. - he offered after both of them finished their meal.
- It's not that late and I'm not very tired yet. - she looked at his stiff posture. - Are you? You can go ahead, I'd like to stay out here a bit.
- No! - his tone was terrifyingly demanding. - You are not staying out here.
- Stop that! I already told you I am not a child you could boss around.
- But you are carrying mine! That's my child in your stomach, or did you forget? - he
- Taehyung! I'm pregnant, not made out of glass!
- I get that, but don't you understand, I want this baby healthy, and the delivery to be smooth. And you-
- Just because I'm sitting at the beach it doesn't mean the delivery won't be smooth.
- You need to rest!
Luckily he calmed down enough to think rational, and his voice calmed down too. He didn't want to tell her about those people that have been coming to their island every few weeks, and haven't been up to any good, obviously. It was a miracle Y/n slept through all the noise.
He couldn't risk having his love all alone and being kidnapped and killed by those strangers.
- What's going on, Taetae?
- I'm just worried, you know... I want you to be okay.
Y/n crawled to the boy, clearly with major difficulties because of her bump. She sat in his lap so that she was facing him. The cracking bonfire lit half of their faces and some of the palm trees behind the house. Furthermore, the calming sound of waves crashing and the gentle kicks of their baby, coming from her rounded tummy against his flat one, made the moment idyllic.
- Taetae... I'm okay, I promise. I know you're worried. I am too... I want our baby to be healthy too. But you have to stop treating me like a dependent child, okay? I'm so grateful for all you've been doing for me. Your love, patience and unselfishness.
- I'll try, I promise.
Their baby made another movement and it casted loving smiles on both of the olders' faces.
- Thank you, love you.
- Love you more!
- Impossible...
~
The sun was barely up on the morning sky, Taehyung was already woken by the tiny dog. Its loud barks were impossible to ignore.
The man groaned.
- Tannie? What is it little one?
- Woof, woof! - the barks wouldn't stop.
Taehyung looked to his right where the precious pregnant girl should've been sleeping.
- Y/n? - he jumped up. - Y/n?!?!
Pure panic flooded his mind and body. Where was she?
- Y/N?!?
He urgently ran around the house, the beach and the front of the forest.
After a few minutes of searching, he realized that Yeontan was trying to tell him something and lead him the right way.
- Woofff!!
And he ran off into the woods, looking behind him once in a while to make sure his human was following him.
After some time of running in the woods he was led to a dark cave. The pup stopped at the entrance. He didn't dare to enter. Taehyung, however, had no hesitation.
- Y/n? - he whisper shouted. He was terrified too.
- Tae... - the girl's faint voice sounded.
- Y/n! I'm here, love! Almost there.
A horrified looked spread across his face as she came into his view. She was tied down by all of her limbs, her skin irritated and bloody where the ropes touched. Her hair dishevelled from all the tossing and turning.
But the most terrifying detail was the wet patch under her bum.
- Tae, help! - she cried.
- I-I've got you.
He struggled to undo the knots, but as soon as he did he gently lifted the girl into the air and headed towards the exit with her pressed firmly but softly against his chest. It seemed to him as if her body could break any second with how fragile it was. He could feel her bump against his stomach. There was something different about it... it was soft before, now it's rock hard.
Just as he realized this, a whimper came from the girl's mouth.
- It hurts...
- I k-know, I'm sorry... - he mumbled. - We'll be home in a few minutes, I promise.
Outside he was met with a worried-looking puppy.
- It's okay, Tannie! Mamma's here, she's going to be okay.
- Wooof!
He was desperately trying to warn them about something.
And that something happened to stand right next to the cave, observing the pair with wide eves.
What could that big bulge be on the woman's stomach? - it wondered. - It was soft, but then hard when I pressed it...
It wasn't done with it's little experiment just yet.
He was going to have to figure out more next time...
~
- Deep breaths, love. Right there! You're doing so, so good!
- Why was I there?! - she whispered after the contraction subsided.
- I don't know...
- I was tied down! Tae? Was it you?!
- No! No, why would've I done that?
- Why was I tied down like that? I... Are there others living on the island?
The boy thought back to that night with all that shouting and screaming. He was petrified that something like this would happen. He tried to prevent it as best as he could, he made sure Y/n was never out of his sight, but his attempts seemed useless.
And now the girl was horrified and in labor. The worst combination...
What have they done to her?! Was it their fault she went into labor? True, she was already really far into her pregnancy, but still. There must have been something that has triggered it. Live with his mother. Once she went on a long walk with his father and she went into labor a few hour later... Of course he wasn't an expert, so he was full of questions.
Just like that, the girl was hit with another tightening in her abdomen. She curled in a ball around her stomach. Taehyung tried remembering all the thing his father did to his mother while laboring. He rubbed her back, thighs, arms... So he did just that.
But he felt utterly useless. Something he didn't expect, as he was sure he was going to be of at least some help when the time came, because of all the knowledge and experience he gathered during his sister's births.
- Tell me what I can do... - he whisper in desperation.
- Ugh... I... I d-don't know.
- Some water maybe? - he tried.
- Okay.
He reluctantly left her for a few seconds to bring her water from thier cans. He used a little homemade cup for that. He knew it was her favorite, because she has been using it all the time, ever since she got it from him as a gift for her 16th birthday. The little painting of the two of them and their sweet puppy became a bit shabby, but she loved it anyway.
- Thank you. - she said as he handed it to her.
- Slow sips, lovely.
She listened and finished the cup rather slowly, as requested.
- How are you feeling? - he asked while taking the cup away.
- Uhm... I... I'm so scared, Tae.
- I know, Y/n, but think about how we are going to have our little baby with us in a few hours! Isn't that just magical?
- A few hours?! I can't, Tae... This is too much already.
The boy was devastated. One of his worst nightmares was seeing his love in pain. And not being able to do anything against it made it even worse.
What should I do?
Luckily Y/n's instincts kicked in pretty quickly. She got into positions that helped momentarily with the pain, or enabled easier breathing. She was on all fours most of the time.
They didn't have a great sense of time on the island, however, it was clear that the contractions were getting closer and closer together. Her abdomen tightened around her struggling womb, which was filled with a due baby.
At one point, the girl had a sudden gush of blood squeezed out of her, which scared her, but Taehyung remembered this bit from the past. It was her bloody show, but the exact name didn't come to his mind.
What was important was that all of these changes lead them closer to their baby's arrival.
- Make it stop! Make it stop! MAKE IT STOOOP!!!
At her ear-piercing scream he could only envelope her deeper into his embrace. He caressed her tummy with loving hands, but frowned at the feeling of his baby being so wrestles inside its mother.
So he leaned closer to the bump.
- Baby, calm down please, okay? You're hurting mamma more than necessary.
At that the wrestles little creature calmed down significantly, and Y/n was left only with soft wiggles here and there. That, however, didn't change the fact that her contractions were unbearable. Only thi final birth of the child would bring that to an end.
- Should I check the water now? - he asked referring to the huge jug of water he placed on the hot rockt on the burning sun, in hopes of heating it up and ending up with warm water to be used for some kind of pain relief.
- Okay...
He was quick to bring the jug inside.
- It's nice and warm. - he announced.
He grabbed a cloth and soaked it in the water. He spread the warm material across Y/n's belly, which calmed the baby down even more
- How does that feel, sweetheart?
- Oh my God, Tae! It's so amazing. You're a genius!
- No, you are a warrior. The strongest woman on this island.
They chuckled.
- Hey! I'm the only woman on this island... - she slapped his hand jokingly.
Well maybe you aren't...
- I know! I was kidding.
More then an hour passed with them chatting away, breathing through contractions, and Taehyung redipping the washcloth in the warm water to reapply it on the belly. It meant great comfort to her, so the boy, for the first time since she started laboring, felt proud of himself. He felt useful, because he managed to relief a tiny bit of her pain with one of his ideas.
He wished it could stay that way.
But once her stomach sized with the roughest contraction yet, all hell broke loose again. The skin of her bump turned angry red and was so tight Taehyung could almost see the outline of their baby's body through all the layers it was tucked under.
Suddenly she leaned over the edge of the bed and threw up the contest of her stomach, which wasn't much to begin with, seeing as she had barely eaten anything that day. She was mostly dry heaving, which, for her, was even more unpleasant.
- It's okay, I've got you! Let it all out! There it is, good job!
He rubbed her back, not caring that some of the vomit landed on his leg.
- Oh my... Tae, I'm so sorry! - she apologized embarrassed, once she finished and realized what had happened.
- No, no, love. There's nothing to apologize for! - he handed her some more water to rehydrate her. - Here, drink this, then lay back. I'll clean this up while you do that, okay?
Y/n rinsed the bad taste from her mouth, and laid back just as another contraction crept up.
- Ugh, God...
She had a death grip on the sheets, her knuckles were turning white.
- I'm here, I'm here! - Taehyung was quickly back on her side.
He changed the hot cloth on her stomach and pulled out another one, this time ice cold, to dab it on her sweaty forehead.
- My back, my back, my back! - she shouted in pure agony.
The boy didn't waist a second. He positioned himself behind her on the bed so he could rub soothing circles into her lower back.
- Is this helping, Y/n?
- Mhm... yeah... - she sighed. - Wow, this is so good! Thank you!
- This is the least I can do.
Taehyung felt useless, Y/n, on the other hand, found great comfort in his presence and all the little things he did. She felt supported, and that helped her calm a little.
They had thousands of conversations about what to expect towards the end of the pregnancy, the boy explained the stages of labor, at least the ones he could remember, but nothing could quite prepare Y/n for what she was feeling at that moment. Both physically and mentally. She had a faint idea about the pain, but this was much, much worse than what she had imagined.
- Oh... - she huffed. - I need to get up.
- Okay, here, hold onto me.
He wrapped her arms around his neck and made sure she held onto him securely before lifting her up into a standing position.
Suddenly, a restless dog appeared in the doorway. He was worried about his momma. He could tell hiw much she was struggling.
- Can we go for a walk? - she asked.
- You sure?
- Yeah... I don't know, it just sounds good right now.
- Of course, I get it. - he kissed her pouty lips. - Come on. Slow steps!
- Woof!
- Tannie! Are you coming with us for a walk too? - she laughed lightheartedly.
- Woof!!
- I take that as a yes!
They walked on the beach, letting the waves wash against their feet. The puppy was running back and forth, avoiding getting wet, but wanting to stay close to the pregnant girl. Taehyung had a strong, supportive arm around the girl's waist. He actually tried to lift some of her and the baby's weight off of her, so she didn't have a hard time walking.
While on their walk, Taehyung counted seven contractions. They were really close... One every few steps.
- Should we head back? - he began.
- Okay.
Despite Taehyung's calming presence, Y/n was still terrified, and the boy could clearly tell that by the stern face she kept in-between the pains.
Suddenly, she collapsed into his side. Luckily he caught her, but she wasn't able to get back on her feet.
- Y/n?! - he worried while gathering her tired body into his arms.
- Woof!
- I'm okay... - she tried to be reassuring, but failed as her face went pale.
- Y/n don't close your eyes, please!
- Wooof! - the pup ran infront of them.
He quickened his steps, but was still making sure he didn't shake her too much. They hadn't gone very far from their hous, it was still visible from where he stood with her against his chest.
His quickened heartbeat calmed her, almost lulled her to sleep.
- No, no, Y/n! Keep them open!
- Okay... - she breathed. - Tae... I can't. I-
- Yes you can! Just keep breathing's okay? Everything's going to be alright.
Once home, he laid her exhausted form back on the bed. Yeontan, horrified, hid in the corner. The boy didn't know what to do. Her state scared him. When her mother was in labor with his twin sisters, she had to have an emergency C-section after she went this pale and Taehyung with her big sister was taken away from his mother into the waitingroom. But she was under the supervision of experienced doctors and nurses, who knew exactly what to do.
They were alone...
- Tae... What's happening?
- You're okay. - that was all he could say.
Perhaps he was trying to convince himself. He wasn't so sure anymore.
- Theres so much pressure! Tae! TAE!!!
A big force urged her muscles around her uterus to clench, to which she bore down with all her strength.
- There you go, Y/n! Perfect! You are pushing.
- Grrrrr..... Uhh. I need to... I nee-
She gave another big push against her will. It was her body's reflex. Like the sudden urge tu change positions and get into a low squat. She did exactly that. Her belly was now hanging low between her open legs, the boy could clearly see how red the underside of it was even from behind.
- Okay, love, I am going to try and feel if the baby's close. Are you okay with that? - he asked, just to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable with the idea.
He didn't want to scare her with his sudden action.
- D-do what y-you have to, T-Tae... - she panted in response.
- Alright, here we go.
He slowly reached to her opening and sure enough he felt a slimy, teardrop shaped something against his finders. He assumed it was the baby's head.
From his position behind her, he reached over her left thigh with his other hand to caress the top of the bump. It was rock hard.
- Can you give me another push, sweetheart?
- Ugh... I'll try.
With that, she bore down once again, this time her actions were in her control.
Taehyung could feel the head emerge ever further than before.
- It burns! I can't!
- I'm so sorry, Y/n, so sorry, love! But try to push through the burn, for the baby, for me.
- Baby...
- That's right, our baby is almost here. You just need to help them come out, okay? I know you can!
After two more big pushes the head was out, it straight out popped in the boy's palm. He leaned down to take a look. He was met with his baby's scrunched up face which was slimy and covered in gunk, but it was his never the less. His and the love of his life's.
- Our baby is almost here! Come on, lovely, just a bit more!
- TAE! OW... I CAN'T, I CAN'T!!! - she screamed.
- That's it! The shoulders are almost out, it's smooth sailing after that!
And with one last push and a heart-wrenching scream, the beautiful, crying baby slipped into its father's hands.
- A girl!
- Girl?
Y/n panted and turned around in her position on the floor. Taehyung held his daughter securely in one arm and lifted the girl onto the bed, so she wasn't sitting on the dirty floor just after giving birth.
- Let me hold her. - she requested with tears in her eyes.
But these tears were no longer the result of pain or agony. They were out of pure joy.
- Oh yeah, sorry. - he sobbed too. - Here.
The tiny body was gently placed on her chest. The boy was quick to cover their bodies with the blanket, which was now stained with a bit of blood and other fluids, but that didn't matter. It could get quite windy on shore and the bamboo walls let through most of it.
- Tae! Our little girl! So tiny...
- Our little girl! I think she's perfect. The rigth weight and size.
- I know, she just felt so much heavier when she was inside my tummy...
- Well it wasn't just her in there. There was the p-pla... plac-something too. A-and the water... And a few more things, or I don't know...
- Oh, okay. But she's perfect, and healthy. That's what's important!
- Exactly!
They sat together and admired their small creation. Her delicate hands, which flew around between her parents, even slapping the boy in the face on accident. It made them both laugh, and coo at their daughter.
She is so precious.
Taehyung thought back to when his sisters were born. He was so happy then, but now he was ecstatic!
- Tae... I-I feel... - Y/n suddenly groaned.
- What's wrong? - he looked at her with worry.
- I have to-
She quickly but carefully handed the little bundle over to the boy who was taken aback by her sudden actions. She crawled out of bed and got into the squatting position she was in before.
- What is happening?
She couldn't answer. She gave a.few small pushed and a slimy tud was heard. She looked down. The sight disgusted her and because of that a gasp left her lips.
- Ew!
The boy looked at it too. He thought for a second.
- Wow! - he didn't feel disgusted about it. - I think this is that plac-thing. This used to protect and nourish our little girl.
It couldn't have been disgusting for him... How could it be when this was something that kept his girl well fed all the time. The thing that was the baby's blood and oxygen supply.
- Oh... Uhm... Well what do we do with it?
- I take care of that, don't worry. Get back to bed.
- I want to wash myself. Can I?
- Of course, you can! I think the water cooled down to a great temperature.
He picked up the washcloth he used on her belly earlier and threw it over his shoulder. That's how they went outside, with their lovely baby girl in Taehyung's right arm and his left around Y/n's waist to support her as they walked.
After Y/n cleaned herself with the warm freshwater, both of their attention shifted to the baby, who had calmed down and was suckling on her father's finger.
- Oh, baby! I think she's hungry. - he stated.
- Yeah... And how do I take the milk out of my breasts?
- I-I'll explain once we bathed her.
Y/n took the cloth from Taehyung's shoulder and dipped it into the water. She cleaned off all the gunk from birth with cautious wipes.
- Can I hand her to you for a second? I'll be right back. - he asked suddenly.
- Of course!
She was filled with so much love towards her girl, she couldn't help but place tiny kisses on her tiny forehead as she finished cleaning her off.
The boy, who was busy with cleaning up the birth scene and burying the plac-thing in the woods, returned to them.
- My girls! - he beamed while smiling.
He helped them dry off and lead them back to their house.
- Lay down, love. And you'll feed our girl, okay?
- How do I do that?
- So... You just put her on your chest. Like this.
He showed her just how, and guided the baby's head to her nipple.
- Can you... Squeeze it a bit?
- My... my nipple?
Her face burned red with embarrassment.
- Yeah... But gently!
She did so, but winced at the stabbing sensation that shot through her breast.
- Careful!
- Ow... What was that.
- It's expected to be a bit sore, I think. But see that?
He asked pointing to the light yellow drop that rolled down the curve of her breast.
- That is your milk, sweetheart! And the baby will smell it...
Just on que, the tiny girl turned her head and latched onto her mother's nipple. She began suckling the delicious liquid out of it.
- See! - Taehyung smiled proudly.
- But it hurts... - she pouted.
- Oh, my love... I'm sorry. I don't know how to make it stop... Maybe you'll get used to it.
- Ugh... I hope.
But it was okay, because her girl was getting the nutritions she needed and she would endure every pain for her. Hell, she would even go through labor again fer their baby!
- We should name her, no? - she said.
- What do you have in mind?
- Umm... I don't really know. You?
- How about Emma?
- Woof!
The puppy, who was scrunched up in the corner for the past hour and something, got closer to the trio. He couldn't see over the bedframe, though.
-Woof?
- Aww, Tannie!
With that Taehyung lifted the pup's tiny body up and rested him against his chest.
- See, that's your sissy. - he began. - Baby... Emma? Do you like it, Y/n?
- It sounds beautiful! I love it! - she looked back down at their daughter.
- Emma it is then!
- Hello, little Emma! - she giggled at her feeding girl.
All tree pairs of eyes were on the suckling little body. They couldn't get enough of the sight.
- Hi, my precious baby! Baby Emma. Sounds magical.
- Mhm... It does.
- Are you tired, love?
- A bit, yeah... - she yawned. - Can I take a nap after she's done?
- Of course! A very long, long nap indeed. You deserve it, lovely.
- Thank you Tae. For everything.
- I did nothing, Y/n...
- You did so much! You are the reason I could get through with it. I felt like giving up.
- You are the strongest woman on this island. - he said, wanting to shift the mood, as he wasn't good at taking the compliment.
- Don't start! - she laughed.
- Kidding! - he chuckled too. - You are the strongest woman on this planet.
And with a kiss to the crown of her head, she fell into a deep slumber.
Taehyung smiled at the sight. He put the puppy down on the bed, who immediately padded over to the sleeping girl and curled up by her side. The dog sniffed her stomach and neck. He could tell something was different about her. Not just the fact that there wasn't a bump anymore, but her smell changed too. It changed back to the sweet sent she had so many months ago. He loved it.
Meanwhile, Taehyung took Emma out of her momma's arms. He covered her exposed chest with the blanked and walked to the other side of the small room with the baby in his hand.
- My little baby! - he whispered. - I know you have a name, Emma, but I still need to get used to it, so bare with me, please!
He chuckled.
The boy placed his tiny child in the small baby bassinet he made while she was still in Y/n's stomach. He grabbed a brand new cloth from their drawer. He attemped to make a diaper on her little bum. It wasn't perfect, but will do...
- You can sleep now too, if you want. Let's give mamma some time to rest. She workd to hard and long to get you here.
Emma let out an adorable babble at that.
- I know. - the boy giggled quietly. - You worked hard too.
He leaned down to kiss her head and as he straighten back up she was already fast asleep. He smiled at that.
Perfect! - he thought as he looked around the quiet room.
His daughter in her makeshift bassinet, his love on the bed, with the puppy at her tummy. All sound asleep. Was there anything better than that?
He couldn't be one hundred percent calm, though... Not until those men were on their island.
~
2 years later
There's no bulge anymore...
The man remembered the time she was in his cave all those years ago. With that big, rigid belly.
He remembered how when he pressed down on it that watery liquid poured from her legs.
I want to try that again!
But the beautiful woman's stomach was completely flat now... Would it still work?
What the...?
- Mamma! - a high-pitched voice could be heard from afar. - Look, look! A shell on a tuwtuw!
- A turtle! Good job Emma!
The man inspected the little creature from behind the trees.
It would cook qiukly...
I'm getting hungry anyway.
~
- Let's check on Dadda! What do you say? - Y/n asked her daughter.
- Owkay!
- Put back the turtle where you found it, Emma!
- I want to keep him, Ma!
- You have to put him back, or he won't live long.
- Oh... mkay... - the little girl pouted, but obeyed.
Her brunette locks bounced up and down as she padded in the shallow water.
- C'mon! - Y/n held her hand out for the little girl.
She grabbed it and ran with her mother towards their home.
As they neared the house, Taehyung jumped out from behind it with a dagger-like weapon in his hand ready to use. He was also in an attacking position.
- Oh my God, Tae? What's wrong with you?
- Oh, sorry... I...
- What's all this, Dadda? - the girl asked pointing to the strange ropes around their place.
- It's just to keep bad people away.
- Bad people? But we are the only ones here...
- Then whoever comes to the island.
- But won't that mean we have a chance to get back to civilization?
Taehyung looked from Y/n to his daughter with wondering eyes.
- Tae? Don't you want to get back one day?
- I-I... I'm not sure anymore.
- Why's that?
Emma let go of her mother's hand. She was getting bored of her parents' conversation, she was much more interested in the sleeping puppy in the hot sand.
- We have such a great life here. I don't want to change that. All that worry about working, finaces, housing... We don't need it!
- But isn't that how life is supposed to work? Emma could go to school, make friends-
- She can get another sibling here...
- Yeah... She could. - she smiled.
The boy retured the smile and walked over to his love. He gathered her into his embrace and kissed her passionately.
- Don't we have a wonderful life as it is? - he murmured softly against her forehead.
- We do. I love you.
- I love you more. You and Emma.
- You, Emma and Tannie.
- That's right! You, Emma and Tannie.
~
He got up quietly and grabbed his dagger. He went back to their bed and leaned close to the pup's head.
It was late at night. Taehyung couldn't sleep. He watched his little family's peaceful form in the moonlight that was coming though the thin walls. It was full moon, but he didn't hear those strange people this time, as he does every month around this time. But he still had a weird feeling roaming inside his body.
- Yeontan, protect our girls, okay? Daddy's gonna come back, but you have to promise me they are safe with you!
His palm squeezed tightly against the handle of the dagger as he ran through the woods. He had flames in his eyes. Nobody can harm his family!
The puppy didn't budge, remained fast asleep on the bed, between the two girls. Taehyung exited the house, but didn't leave until he made sure the door was securely locked. Only he can know how to get inside! His whole world was in there.
His legs led him to that mysterious cave he found his pregnant Y/n in all those years ago. It was muscle memory. He felt danger there. He had to get rid of it for the sake of his family. For the safety of his girls!
He dragged the bloody body through the woods, to the opposite side of the island as where their house was. He reached the shore and threw the body in the water. He got inside himself, a bit disgusted by the blood pooling around him, but started swimming deep inside the ocean, all while pushing the body infront of him.
He slowed his steps as he neared the place. And sure enough, there he was. He was hit with strong deja vu as he stood infront of the entrance. He took quiet steps once inside. He felt the presence of someone unwanted in there. He was going to end this once and for all. And there is was. The dark skinned man was laying on the floor, asleep. Taehyung didn't hesitate. He raised his dagger and stapped it right through the man's chest, and with a loud and ugly groan, the life left his body.
Was he a bad person for this? He was just protecting his family... This man attacked his love, who knows what else he was up to?
Once he was satisfied with the distance, he gave the body one last push and swam back. In the shallow water he made sure his body was free of blood, which it was but it left a stain on his skin. Not on his skin, but in his whole being. It read: murderer.
~
He got home fairly quick and unlocked the door. The sun was beginning to peack from the horizon, but the girls and Yeontan were still asleep. Let them stay in their dreamland as long as needed. God, let them be guilt free their whole life!
3 years later
- And you just hang them up like this! See? Very easy.
- Wow! Thanks mommy! I can finally help with the dirty clothes too!
- Yes, my lovely girl, you can! - she kissed her head.
- Lets so and check what Dadda and Noah are up to, okay?
- Noey!!!
The girl cheered and ran in her brother's direction, forgetting her mother with the heavy basked the clothes were in.
- Silly. - the woman chuckled.
- Dadda! What is Noey doing?
- I'm teaching him how to swim, baby.
- Me too, me too!
With that she stripped herself from her clothes and ran through the waves to her father and brother.
- Mamma! Come too! - the little boy squealed.
- Comin'!
The woman threw her clothes in the sand too and joined the trio.
- Tannie too? - Emma asked.
- Tannie hates the water, Emma.
- Besides, he is a bit old now. - Taehyung continued.
It was right. The puppy, who was only a puppy in size, has aged enough for him to take great effort when running after the two lively kids. He wasn't like before... He was perfectly happy with laying in the cool shades and watching them go through their day. It was all he could do now.
The little boy and the slightly taller girl paddled together around their parents. Emma has become an excellent swimmer, and his brother, Noah was on the straight path to reach her level too.
- You look beautiful, my darling. - the man told Y/n while attaching her body to his.
- You don't look bad yourself, my love...
They giggled.
- I have some news for you. - she continued.
- You do?
- Mhmm...
She grabbed his large hand and placed it on her stomach under the water.
His eyes widened in realisation. He smoothed his palm over the slight, but definitely noticeable bump.
How could he have missed it?!
- Oh my... Baby! You have a baby in there?! - he grinned.
- I'm pretty sure.
- Love! That is magical! I can't believe it! I can't! Thank you.
He captured her lips between his and didn't pull away for long, long minutes.
His life was truely perfect. There was nothing more he could wish for. He had everything. His lovely Emma, Noah, his beautiful Y/n, and now...
...his precious little baby on the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The end... Woow I had this in my drafts for months!!! But I finally finished and I'm so happy. Of course, I didn't check it, as usual... 😅 so I'm sorry for the mistakes... And it is looong. Oh my God... The longest oneshot I've ever written. But anyway... I hope you enjoy it. If you do, leave a comment or write me, because it always makes my day! ♥️♥️
#bts#bts taehyung#pregnancy#bts pregnancy#bts pregnancy au#pregnancy au#island#abandoned#remote island#survival#tae#taehyung#kim taehyung#tae tae#reader#shipwreck#romance#bts angst#bts fluff#fluff#angst#parents#baby#babies#bts father#bts ff#bts parents#taehyung x reader#self insert
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Aziraphale Fell, Duke of Oxfordshire, was rather glad to be out of London and on tour with his dearest aunt, the Baroness of Sandwich. She was delightful company - and made a great change from the meddling mothers of the Ton who were determined to pair Aziraphale off with their pretty daughters, and even prettier sons. Instead, he preferred to tour elegant gardens, observe priceless works of art. Steal away into an unloved library until his beloved aunt would have to drag him out, with a curt apology to the housekeeper.
Today, however, Aziraphale was observing a different kind of beauty.
Anthony Crowley, Viscount of Eden House, had been tending to the plants on his estate. Sleeves rolled high on his arms, sweat beading upon his brow. He trimmed and plucked and maintained his gardens with dedication and care. Then, as the midday sun had beaten down upon his back, Crowley had divested himself of his shirt and cooled himself down in the large, ornate pond in the middle of his grounds.
Aziraphale wet his top lip. His top hat had already left his head and was placed delicately in front of his trousers, hiding the burgeoning erection straining the seams of his trousers. Beautiful. So beautiful. Aziraphale continued to watch as Crowley strode from the pond, a hand sluicing the water from his torso. Teeth sunk into Aziraphale's bottom lip, never gladder of his need to be dressed appropriately at all times.
"Viscount Crowley!" Crowley's attention was suddenly taken by his valet, joining him by the edge of the pond, with Aziraphale's aunt, no less. "Sir, may I present the Baroness of Sandwich. She is in the county on tour with her nephew, the Duke of Oxfordshire."
Even whilst obscured by Crowley's apple tree, Aziraphale could not miss the delight that crossed Crowley's features at the mention of his name. "I know the Duke. We regularly do business in London."
Bah. They had never done business together in their lives. They just pretended they did, so they could avoid the mothers of the Ton. But that was before the Queen's new edict, that a man could slide a ring onto another man's finger and call him his. Before Aziraphale had wanted to indulge in those meddling mothers and the dancing and the courting. Before Aziraphale had realised all he'd wanted was Crowley, who had no desire to marry whatsoever.
Slipping into melancholy, Aziraphale realised he had missed his aunt's departure back inside while lost in his reverie. He had also missed Crowley's departure. Frowning at his own daydreams that cost him the sight of Crowley's backside, Aziraphale made to return to Crowley's library. The snap of a branch, the crunch of an apple, however, halted his movement.
"Nice hat, Aziraphale." Crowley came into view, the juice of a crimson apple running down his chin. His white shirt was damp against his torso and Aziraphale clutched the brim of his hat to stop him clutching other, more tempting material. "You didn't write to say you were coming."
"I didn't realise I was, until I was here." He swallowed. "I can leave—"
"—no." Crowley's tone was abrupt. He covered the harshness of the syllable with another bite of his apple. "Stay, Angel." He grinned. "I want to show you paradise."
Give me a number - that’s how many seconds I’ll spend thinking of an Aziraphale/Crowley AU to write for you in 200 words or more.
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Giving the Pillars (and the youths™) names. +Something else.
(Note: to distinguish this AU from canon, I've taken to referring the 12-Pillars as, well, the Pillars, while the Pillars-12 remain the Hashira in canon. Additionally, everyone's names are written last-name-first.)
Moon Pillar Tsugikune Michikatsu
Nicknamed "Kokushibo" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps as a sort of redemption of what he had done as a Demon in the service of Oyakata-dono (Kagaya, having swapped places with Muzan). Seems to distance himself from the other Pillars, but on a closer look, it's clear that the other's are distancing themselves from him. Why? They're all terrified of him. Plus, he's just introverted. Doesn't wear the standard uniform (again, tying into his "redemption", and the belief that someone unclean, something like him shouldn't be wearing that), but he did etch the "destroy" "kanji" (I think? I don't know...) onto his standard garb and prized sword. Has ever only had one tsuguko, Kaigaku, and it's clear he doesn't respect him at all (or is it? no matter...). His crow doesn't seem to respect him either. Actually, he's terrified of him. Enjoy's the Music Pillar's presence, and her music especially. The Paradise Pillar claims he saw him shed a single tear from something, but no one is in a hurry to know why. His mark, like in canon, is on his face, but it will fade if he becomes human again. Moon Breathing syncs up, and is based on, the moon's changing face, and the way he pulls it off makes it appear as if he's dancing.
Paradise Pillar Fuyuyoshi Douma
Given name is lost to history, as far as he cares. His nickname became his given name, and he likes the way it sounds better. Joined the Corps on a whim, seeing no other (fun, foreseeable) future for himself when his cult was nearly annihilated and then disbanded. He likes chatting to everyone around him, especially his fellow Pillars, but only the Fish Pillar seems to reciprocate... enough. Trained the current Balance Pillar and the Silk "Pillar" as tsuguko way back when, and is still quite parental to them. Prefers to use two nichirin war fans, but knows a thing or two on the sword. Trained under the former Ice Pillar alongside the Blizzard Pillar, but they both branched out after it was "complete", with both of them altering Ice Breathing to suit themselves. He killed the former Lower Moon 2 (Kanae) somehow, and took her hair-clip as a prize, which is what netted him his promotion. Since he became a Pillar in half the time the Blizzard Pillar did, he hates him for it (and his attitude and... everything else). Actually, everyone hates him now (since he's annoying). Spoils his crow, and even gave her the hair-clip. His mark would've appeared on his tongue, and resembles Gluttony's ouroboros tattoo. Paradise is an empty promise, as your loved ones appearing suddenly is but one of the many hallucinations in battle with him.
Blizzard Pillar Soyama Hakuji
Nicknamed "Akaza" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps to secure a good future for his beloved fiancé. Doesn't seem to like using his sword unless needed, and sticks to nichirin-style knuckles, although he's aware that only the sword can kill. His lively stubbornness in all things wins admiration for some and intolerance for others. Refuses to train any tsuguko, for he hates feeling like he's babysitting them. That's not to say he doesn't care for his subordinates, no, quite the opposite, he even let's them call him "brother", but he just doesn't like watching over them for more then a few hours. Blizzard Breathing is simply Ice Breathing, edited to better suit himself. Lives for the thrill of battles, and it was this that caused his promotion to Pillar somewhat quickly. Though he lives for his work because of this, he isn't particularly liked among the younger ones, ironically enough. His crow is pretty old, but it still has an attitude. She hates the Paradise Pillar as much as he does. His mark would've appeared on his arms, amplifying his prison tattoos to resemble snowflake strips. With unrelenting blows, syncing with his training in that Soryu style, opponents are staggered, under a blizzard, almost.
Hatred Pillar Hantengu Shiko (anyone who's played Persona Q understands this concept of such a basic name for someone)
It's a tossup as to whether or not the others actually know his given name. Joined the Corps hoping to exact revenge on the Demons that attacked him and left himself disfigured. Now, he resembles some of the Demons he so despises, gaining a swollen look on the top of his face, and paired with horns and cat eyes (think of Iguro's, but inlaid with red-green-blue-yellow-purple). Prone to violent mood swings that always originate with his nerves. Trains several tsuguko, and their hallmark is wooden masks that bears the face of a Demon, just like him (his mask resembles his canon self's face specifically, tears included), the ones which stick out the most are the "brothers" Sekido, Urogi, Aizetsu, Karaku and Zohakuten (they're actually his adopted sons, too). He's constantly unnerved by pretty much everything, apart from his best friend the Fish Pillar, at times... Very polarizing among everyone due to his uh... mood swings, but this is ironically the fuel for his fighting style, which IS liked (it's the *Fire Breathing Spawn*). His crow is just as jittery as his owner. It's a miracle they haven't dropped from a stroke. His mark appeared on his neck, and covered it whole with the Chinese character for "calamity". Hatred for the enemy is all that's the fuel for the eponymous technique, and deals with the bitter lash with emotions.
Fish Pillar Mizumura Managi
Nicknamed "Gyokko" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps in an attempt to find a better "voice" for his art and inspiration. Probably the most colorful in the whole Corps had it not been for the Paradise Pillar, maybe. Maybe not. Though colorful, he's quite macabre, which is off-putting with his effeminate...ness. Was trained under the former Water Pillar way back when, but got bored with Water Breathing, so he put his own spin on it. Is hoping to train young Kamunue as a tsuguko, but it'll be awhile before he actually grows a pair and doesn't get scared of his mask. Probably the most extroverted of the Pillars, but that doesn't mean nicest. Probably the only one who the Hatred Pillar regularly speaks to, and they seem to be quite affectionate towards each other, but... His crow is annoyed by his flash and ego, and his attitude is the only thing to break her stoicism regularly. His Mark appears on his upper lip, as a long, wispy mustache (like those fish molesting harassing Kotetsu), plus some disconnected extensions resembling needles. His technique utilizes the macabre, yet beautiful ocean to it's fullest, and some say you can see the Sanzu river (or Cthulhu-) when he fights.
Music Pillar Otokawa Kaguya
Nicknamed "Nakime" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps to hide from the police from her killing her husband. Considered to be the babysitter of Shikeishū-sama's (Muzan's, that word refers to those on death row, so he's a head criminal in a sense) children. Goth and silent, she is often shown playing a simple tune on her prized biwa, which some say it's to ignore the stupidity of the room, while others say it's just to sound nice. Trained under the former Sound Pillar alongside the current one way back when, and based her current technique off of her own self. Training Kaede Mitarai (Mukago) as her tsuguko, you can tell because the two have the same hair clip. Despite being practically a cryptid in her own right, she enjoys a massive popularity thanks to being actually quite easy-going and nice. The only one the Moon Pillar speaks to regularly while the process isn't akin to shoving a crinkled dollar in a vending machine. Her crow is also spoiled, perhaps even more than the Blizzard Pillar's, so a few of the crows wish they helped her instead. Her Mark would've appeared on her cheeks, and resembles thorny brambles (think: Jesus' crown of thorns). Her technique syncs up with her music, and seems to put the target at ease, before getting swathed with a single hit "from" hell. Even her sword looks like a tuning fork.
Sound Pillar Shirogane Leon
Nicknamed "Kyogai" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps out of gratitude for the previous Sound Pillar raising him after what remained of his family were slaughtered by Demons. Trying to be bad, but fails miserably at it, and is, more often than not, much more caring than most of his fellow Pillars. But he DOES have the potential for nastiness, if his works are insulted somehow. Uninterested in tsuguko, seeing what happened after the disastrous mission on the Flower House. Cares too much for his juniors, and would fight tooth and limb to ensure their safety anywhere. Trained alongside the current Music Pillar, so they seem to get along well. The juniors love him, the other Pillars, not so much. Is shown speaking to the Fish, Paradise, and Blizzard Pillar the most. His crow is attracted to his demonic visage, and their attitude bounces off his so well. His Mark would've appeared on his chest, and formed an ornate X shape across it. His technique focuses on the cultural aspects of sound, and delves deep into spoken words and phrases that may be carved into the target, or the landscape.
Spider Pillar Ayaki Rui
Joined the Corps on the recommendation of his adoptive father, a former-once removed Flame-turned-Spider user. A young and talented one, he is the youngest pillar. Stoic, reserved, and something of a control freak, he still has a heart. Obeys the Corp rules to the letter, and becomes annoyed when others don't, but if Shikeishū-sama has a final verdict in things, he'll ignore it. Training his adoptive siblings, Setsuji and Akemi, as his tsuguko, but it looks weird since a 14 yr is training two 16 year olds. A Pillar (and Slayer) for the least amount of time, he's often shown concern because he's so young and frail-looking. His preferred weapon is an odd one: a reel of nichirin wiring made to order, hanging somewhere hidden on his waist. Liked a lot because he's so small and cute, and for his genuine talent. Though the favoritism exhibited on him from the Master is a sore point. His crow had practice a bit to lower its voice by a bit since his owner has strong hearing, and hates loud noises. His Mark appeared on his face, forming as streaks of haze that lean to his nose or hair. His technique embraces the ugly (youkai-esque) aspect of spiders: sometimes it's clean and elegant, sometimes it's filthy and rugged.
Dream Pillar Tamio Ayumu
Nicknamed "Enmu" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps, as he saw it was his duty to his family and country. Calm, sensible, yet sadistic, and madly devoted to his Master above all else. Wants tsuguko to train a lot, but none interested like him for the fact that he get's off of killing Demons, and because he's perpetually smiling. Had no formal training by a former Slayer, was merely inspired to do so after hearing rumors on it. Flirtatious, and especially protective of those Shikeishū-sama puts value on, like the Spider Pillar, who's annoyed by his... *gestures to everything*. He is quite fond of the Moon, Paradise, and Blizzard Pillars, outside of this. His crow forgets that it works for him, so it's often just out an about, doing its own thing. His Mark appears on his forehead, and resembles minimalistic lavender and spider lilies (lavenders represent faith, the latter represents abandonment). His technique is more subdued, less saccharine than Paradise Breathing, and all the more deceptive since it derived from Mist Breathing. With a fading blow, targets' feel they have something vital other then the neck severed, like nerve endings or blind spots.
Rumble* Pillar Indama Kaigaku
Usually referred to by his demon name of "Susano-o" His demonic status provides controversy even now. Joined the Corps basically out of force, was effectively made a Slayer by the Moon Pillar, and promoted after the death of the Blizzard Pillar (sorry not sorry). Snappy and cowardly, he can fight when push comes to shove, though. Monumentally unpopular, just because of the fact that he's a Demon, and had a long string of dishonorable actions before and after. Despite this, he seems to be fond of the young Poison Pillar and his gang. Has been training under the Moon Pillar up until the retirement of the Sound Pillar. Not allowed to have tsuguko, or even a crow, since his hearing is normally just that good. He fights with confidence in nothing but the sword, and the flashy upgrade with his Blood Demon Arts may be a cover-up for the fact that he hasn't learned the old breathing art's first style.
Poison Pillar Shabana Katsuya
Nicknamed "Gyutaro" among the Pillars. Joined the Corps in the vain (in his mind) hopes that his beloved sister can become human again. Cryptic and harsh, whiny (in tone) and cruel, he doesn't lay off the insults to anyone, friends, family, or superiors. "Training" the young Ume as a "tsuguko" (honestly it's left ambiguous as to if she even is), but there's something off about her... Was decently respected among the Corps, but after the botched raid on Mt. Natagumo, it plummeted. Still, despite his nastiness to the upper ranks especially, he seems to deeply trust the Paradise and Blizzard Pillars. His crow is just as abrasive as he is, and had been slated for being swapped out for pecking a few Slayers in the eye a few times, but I'm sure he'll be fine... Actually, he couldn't cut off a Demon's neck for the longest time due to extended malnutrition. The first time he did was in the battle against Upper Moon Six duo Amanozako (Nezuko) and Kagatsuchi (Tanjiro), which coincides with his Mark giving form, AND finally recalling, learning and initially using the holy Sun Breathing, which he heavily struggled to use due to his weak body. Said Mark amplifies his facial rashes to demonic levels.
#the spider lily crest au#<- new name for this AU#*I looked up all the breath techniques and apparently the thunder hashira is actually called the rumble hashira#kokushibo#michikatsu tsugikuni#moon pillar tsugikuni michikatsu#paradise pillar fuyuyoshi douma#blizzard pillar soyama hakuji#hatred pillar hantengu shiko#fish pillar mizumura managi#music pillar otokawa kaguya#sound pillar shirogane leon#spider pillar ayaki rui#dream pillar tamio ayumu#rumble pillar indama kaigaku#poison pillar shabana katsuya#douma#akaza#hantengu#gyokko#nakime#kyogai#kny rui#rui ayaki#enmu#enmu tamio#kaigaku#kaigaku inadama#gyutaro#gyutaro shabana
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Fury of Their Scales
m.yoongi / reader
genre: dragon!au, wyvern!yoongi, human/herbalist!reader,
warning(s)!!: isolation/alienation, mentions of war, injuries/blood/violence, dragon boy yoongles is stuck in a trap bc he’s dumb, y/n is so sO pure, protective dragon yoonyoon, villagers physically bully y/n a lot :(, unfair situations, y/n takes so much shit like a champ she deserves an award, dragon boy is a dragon for the first half of this (sorry, not sorry), don’t be scared there's actual humor and wholesome stuff too :D, slow burn (kinda)?
w.count: 17.7k
Series | One-shot | Two-shot | Drabble | [Rated: T]
synopsis: a world of dragons, demons, devils, gods and ghouls- humans were of small number. you’ve lived on the outskirts of your human village in the woods ever since you could remember. living alone in a small cabin with nothing but woodland trees, ponds, lakes and animals was like a small paradise- with the occasional bump in the road. as someone who’s studied and experimented with nature to make all sorts of concoctions- your home was ideal. it didn’t matter that your village didn’t like it or that they rejected your life of medicine. what did matter, however, was the dragon stuck in a trap not too far from your home that you just discovered.
a/n: i literally haven’t sat down to write fanfiction in over a month bc my brain was fried and i got sucked balls deep into a fandom of an anime i dont even watch (yet). It took me three hours to edit this bc i pass tf out, pls be easy on me LOL
A shrill whine echoed through the woodland area. Bouncing off trees, echoing in caves, spooking off wildlife of rodents and critters that crept along the ground with far too many spindly legs. Rustling in the wind, entangling with the leaves that blew and then erupting when a campfire crackled, settling in it’s burning pit of wood and stone.
-x-x-x-
You shot awake in bed, the morning light peeking in through your bedroom window that was covered in a beginning to tear curtain. You breathed out a heavy sigh as you flopped back down onto your mattress that squeaked at your movement. You really should be getting a new bed sometime soon. This one was old and did nothing for your pressure points or back while you slept. What was the point of a good night rest when you wake up feeling like you just wrestled a bear and lost?
You looked at the small streaks of light that soaked into your wooden home as you closed your eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again before getting out of bed. You threw your covers off, your nightdress coming down to your knees as you started to stretch. Your arms reached above your head as you stifled a yawn.
You could hear the birds outside and from the way the sun angled into the room through the drapes, you assumed it was still fairly early. You hated that you could never seem to sleep until later into the morning, but you couldn’t help the fact that when you're up, you're up for the day unless you’re ill.
Walking to your window, you drew open the curtains and immediately shut your eyes. Peeling them open slowly in a squint, the morning light was brilliant until you finally adjusted to the sudden light difference. Letting the morning sun warm your room with sunspots, you started to change.
Tossing away your nightdress, you changed into your everyday- not at all flattering- attire.
A dress of a faded moss green skirt and a stretched, overly used leather corset around your waist that tucked around the white top half of your dress. Tying your hair back you slipped on some socks.
Leaving your room, you immediately dashed to your fire place where a kettle of day old water hung from the single hook inside the top of the pit. Striking a match, you ignited the wood that had not yet been completely burnt and noted to refill the kettle with fresh water later on- too lazy to do it right off the bat.
You walked around your small, cabin home jumping place to place with small tasks or chores that took a mere few seconds to complete to start your day off waiting for your kettle to whistle with hot water. When it finally did, you carefully took your kettle with a cloth wrapped around your hand and set it on your countertop. Grabbing a clay mug from your cupboard (that you made on your own to your pride), you dropped in a few leaves from a box of herbs you had and poured the steaming hot water over them.
“Alright,” you assured yourself as you left your kettle to cool off again. After a handful of minutes, you took your mug and sat yourself at your small table that was made for two- but only occupied by yourself. You lifted open your window and let out a breathy sigh at the fresh air. You placed a small plate of grain and food on the open window seal and soon enough, birds were flocking to it to grab something.
“Good morning you guys,” you chuckled as you basked in the small moment of peace before the day ahead. You weren’t sure how long you were sitting there in your spot of sunlight and birds with the occasional squirrel, but after the sun had shifted just enough to get you to notice, you deemed it long enough.
Getting up, you set your mug into your sink and took the plate that was previously filled on the widow as you walked to your door. Grabbing a white cloak to tie around your shoulders, a small gathering basket and placing a pair of worn down, brown boots on, you were leaving your home. Grabbing the key that hung on a nail beside the door, you locked your cabin door behind you and placed the key around your neck.
Taking a list from beneath the small cloth in your basket, you started reading aloud to none other than yourself. You kept yourself company, that’s the only way you stayed somewhat entertained in your lonesome cabin.
You lived on the outskirts of your village, having been born in this cabin and growing up in it even when your parents left you there as a child. You found out quickly how to grow and live independently and by now it was just second nature. Sure, you had your rough days of work and weather, but it was manageable. At least you didn’t have neighbors that stressed you out- only the occasional bird, bat or squirrel that got stuck in your chimney that you had to chase out.
“I need to find some goldenrod for sure,” you muttered. “I’ll need to make sure not to grab yarrow in its place; although, I guess it wouldn’t be all that bad if I did.” Your knowledge and interest in medicine was also another reason why you never branched further into the village as a person. All they did was ridicule you for not following the status quo. “I need honey too, but I’d have to go to the village for that unless some merchant runs into me while I’m out.” You sighed, “I doubt it. I’m never that lucky.”
You started your way off, passing by the small well in your front yard and bypassing the small station of firewood you had yet to cut and move. A pile of logs sat sliced into thirds under a tarp beside your front door. The hardest part of your life was building the muscle and stamina to cut your own firewood, not to mention swinging and actually hitting the wood with your axe instead of magnificently missing it and getting the blade stuck in the stump you used to chop on.
As you walked away from your cabin, the trees becoming thicker as you followed the dirt trail further into the woods, you started looking around. Scanning for any signs of any herb that you may want to snag along the search for the days main goal: goldenrod. You started off the path and began walking between trees and away from small holes from rabbits and moles so you don’t jeopardize your ankles and fall.
You were searching for a while as you were knelt into the grass, scanning leaves and flower petals to identify what was what when you thought you heard something. From somewhere beyond the trees, past the wall of foliage, you though you heard a sort of... whining? Or maybe howl?
A sense of deja-vu washed over you. Had you heard this whining somewhere before? Was it a wolf cub or maybe a bear? No, it sounded too rough to be either of those. A cry echoed after a moment of silence and then the whines from before returned shortly after.
A part of you wanted to forget about it and leave the area immediately. Something about the way it seemed to bend and mold the air around you with it’s unfamiliar cry made your skin crawl. However, the bigger part of your heart that knew that the cries you were hearing were cries for help made you think otherwise.
Rising to your feet, you tucked your basket to your side closer in a pitiful sense of self-comfort as you made your way towards the cries. The trees became less dense and soon you were approaching a small opening. You could hear the sounds of metal clanking together along with the loud cries and whines. Perhaps an animal had gotten snagged in a trap? If that were the case, you wondered if you should free it or not.
Although you felt bad for the animals in the moment, you knew that they were someone else's food source or something important to help somehow; whether it be a pelt for warmth or their claws for weaponry. You had no right to free an animal that wasn’t your prey- so you decided that if it was an animal you’d leave no matter how much your heart ached.
When you could see the clearing ahead, you slowed your footsteps and slowly crept up behind a tree to peer around it. As you did so, your breath caught in your throat as you gasped and slapped a hand over your mouth to keep from choking and making a sound. You spun around, nearly dropping your basket from your arm as you hid behind the tree you had peered around and pressed your back firmly to it’s trunk.
Your breath shuttered, shook, halted and repeated. You couldn’t remember how to breathe properly as you tried to be as quiet as possible. Around that tree trunk and indeed caught in a metal trap was no animal.
It was a dragon.
You racked your brain trying to be reasonable. Perhaps it was just a trick of the mind? A hallucination? Maybe the leaves you boiled earlier that morning were hallucinogenic and you were simply too careless about what you were brewing in your morning daze?
You peered one more time around the tree trunk to verify and your entire body ceased up again at the same dragon from the first time you saw it. You didn’t hide immediately this time. You stayed hidden, tucked away but examined the situation the best you could; even if every orifice of your body was telling you to run.
You weren’t too well versed on the dragon race, but this particular dragon you had read about before in a book once- but only briefly. A wyvern you think it was called.
The creature was large, as tall as the trees- one not quiet fully grown yet you imagined. Or maybe it was because the creature was folded in on itself, crouched to the ground as it tugged on it’s trapped legs- so it appeared smaller en masse.
A large bear trap had sunk it’s sharp metal teeth into the scaled leg of the mighty creature. With nowhere near enough space to try and fly away- trap attached or not- and no room to try and back away, shake it off or even break the chain that held the trap in place, the dragon was ultimately stuck in whining pain.
It’s scales were that of ashen red; the color of a fine blush, but rough to the texture like brick. It’s arms were large and folded inwards, the talons of one digging into the earth to steady itself and the other crawling at the trap futility. It’s long tail was curled around it’s back and the length of it disappeared behind the tree line where you suspected it was barbed at the end. It’s head was long, thin and had three horns- one on the end of its nose and two on either side of it’s head.
Needless to say, it was a wonder to witness. A dangerous wonder, but a wonder no less.
Dragons were a very rare sight around human territory. They hated the human race and for reasons that you couldn’t blame them for. Years ago, you had read about a war- if you could call it that- that took place between human and dragon.
The humans in their invincible high from all sorts of discoveries and conquering of other places had decided to set their sights on the dragons. If they could tame the mighty beasts of the skies and elements and use them as war creatures- the people would reign over all. That’s what they had assumed.
They had no idea just what they had signed themselves up for when they marched into Dragon Country. The doom that took place was instantaneous for the first brave and foolish group of marchers and it only got worse.
A group of nearly 400 men were slaughtered at the hands of just a few dragons who were the first to be approached as mere animals. Burned alive, crushed, eaten, slashed into ribbons- the humans stood no chance in hell.
Then, the dragon’s returned the favor. If the humans wanted war, so be it. The dragon race was smart, far smarter than the average genius human being. With magic on their side along with their mighty strength and numbers, they took to the Humanlands and burned it to the ground.
This pathetic war lasted no longer than a week and nearly one-third of the human population was blown away from the very beasts they had wanted to tame and use.
The two had long since left each other alone, no one wanting to repeat the past. Humans fear dragons due to the stories- that was unavoidable. However, dragons live long and hate even longer. They can hold a grudge longer than that of a devil or demon.
That is what shook you to your core as you gazed at this one single dragon caught in the woods of the Humanslands. Why was it so far from Dragon Country? Had it wandered here because of boredom? Perhaps it was banished by the king of dragons you had known about. Or maybe this dragon was just foolish. You weren’t sure and you less sure if you’d stick around long to find out.
The creature was a terror and the snarls and whines and cries that came from it were something that would surely haunt you in the middle of the night when you hear the wind howl. Regardless of that however, you felt pity for this dragon.
As of the moment, it had hurt no one and you had heard no word of any dragon attacks. It was just stuck, injured and helpless. Before you could muster up the conscience to quietly leave, you stepped forwards just an inch and knocked a small rock from its place on a tree root.
The dragon’s head whipped up, it’s sensitive nose finally catching a whiff of a different scent that wasn’t of Woodland descent now that it wasn’t as preoccupied with the stupid bear trap.
It’s black coal eyes narrowed as it’s mouth opened to show its rows of white fangs that could easily devour you. A violent shiver ran through your entire body as your eyes connected with its own. You were discovered and there was no going back down.
Swallowing the lump in your throat felt like a massive stone was lodged inside. You took a few more shaky steps forward, showing your entire body to the beast. It’s winged arms lifted in defensive as it’s head lowered; it’s chin becoming level with the ground and still growling. You could see plumes of steam coming from its mouth due to it’s hot breath.
It was clear this particular creature wanted nothing to do with you- a human- and you couldn’t blame it. You didn’t want to be here either. This situation could end with you getting killed, but your morality and ability to sympathize with the weak or injured was larger than the risk of your safety.
Lifting your arms to show you had nothing on you, you started to enter the small clearing.
“Easy,” you hushed softly as the dragon snapped it’s jaw just one time in warning. You gulped again, daring to take another stupid and foolish step. “I want to help,” you said. Earning another growl in response didn’t shock you.
It took several minutes, a handful of snaps to stay away, constant growls and steam filled breaths for you to even get within arms reach of the trap. You were sure that if you made one wrong move the creature would bite you in half- but you had to take a chance.
You think the dragon knew this too. You were the closest thing to an escape it would probably find that wasn’t going to go and tell other humans to capture or kill it. It would cooperate until it was free, you were sure of that- but after? You could only imagine.
It’s winged arms were around you, shading you from the sunlight that the tree’s didn’t cover as your fingers brushed the cool metal of the trap. As you eyed it you wondered why someone would make such a large trap in the first place. It seemed far too large and frankly a bit overkill for a just a bear trap.
You look over your shoulder to see the head of the dragon that was the size of your body staring down at you just above your head. You swallowed for the nth time that morning in nervousness.
“I’m going to try and release it,” you say. “It’s going to hurt.”
You carefully pulled the sleeves of your dress up as you curled your fingers around the thick metal teeth. The scales of the dragon were broken and destroyed as the trap dug into it’s reptilian-like skin.
Blood had already begun to stain the metal. The trap’s teeth were warm- warmer than the rest of the trap due to the dragon's blood being so much hotter than an average animal or human. It’s hot, like steamed bathwater, and it steamed the metal to warm your hands almost uncomfortably.
You took a breath before you started to pull your arms away, fingers aching from pulling on the teeth to try and open the trap. You had been thankful in the moment that you did indeed chop your own firewood because it built up some bit of muscle in the grand scheme of things. The trap began to give and slowly creaked open bit by bit. The dragon’s coal black eyes widened a fraction as it started to wriggle it’s leg.
“Stop moving,” you hissed instinctively. If it thrashed too much, you could loose your grip and then it would just clamp down on it’s leg again. With a whining and grunting mixture of sounds, you soon pried it open enough to where you were almost certain the creature could free itself. “Okay,” you huffed in endurance as you held it open, “move!”
The dragon was quick to rip it’s leg out of the trap and send it, and you, off the ground. The rapid motion tore you away from the trap, the metal scratching your fingers as you fell to your ass and then onto your back in the dirt as the trap snapped shut again away from you. It fell to the Woodland floors empty and bloody as you hissed on your back.
You pain and breathlessness were soon replaced by fear and anxiety when you felt the dragon you had just freed hover over you. It’s taloned, long, winged arms were on other side of your body and it’s hind legs- one of them being the proffered injured one that still bled over it’s brick colored scales- were perched like it was ready to pounce.
It’s nostrils were hovering above your chin as it’s eyes bore dangerously into your own.
This was it. You were going to die, you were almost certain of it now.
The dragon huffed as it opened its mouth. Small licks of fire fanned across it’s tongue in the dark cavern of it’s fang lined mouth and steam pushed from it’s nostrils like a chimney that hadn’t been opened to let out the smoke of the fire in it’s hearth.
You were petrified, frozen in fear and weren’t even capable of breathing. All of your senses were focused on the threat of death inches away from you and you knew that no one would know that you died. No one would find it odd that you weren’t in the village like you were every few weeks or so. They wouldn't find it strange that your cabin was abandoned. And you were certain that they would not conduct a search for you- you didn’t matter to them in the long run.
You were going to die and you were going to do so alone and your body would stay alone until the earth reclaimed it in it’s soil.
The dragon only then opened its mouth further, roared into your face and then sprung off you. It plunged into the tree line, knocking down and busting through the trees and tearing up the soil beneath its claws and talons as it escaped. Running from you and leaving you alive.
“What,” you breathed as you soon let out a strong, almost painful, burst of air that had been held and contained in your chest. Your heart beat strong like it would burst straight from your chest into the sky. You weren’t sure how long you lay in the dirt just trying to regain control of your body that had been previously paralyzed.
When you did manage to pick yourself up- albeit pathetically- you grabbed your discarded basket once again and rushed home.
“No more outside,” you declared to yourself in the clearing of trees and the one bloody trap left behind.
-x-x-x-
Despite the events of the day behind you, once your heart calmed itself and you were able to finally rationally think again instead of assuming you were at death’s door, your mind would flutter back to the dragon and it’s injury.
As you carried in buckets of water from your well or logs of wood for your fireplace, you worried. You felt silly worrying over such a mighty and strong being, but you couldn't stop that cloud from covering your mind. You wondered how it was doing or if it made its way out of the Woodlands- only briefly thinking about the damaged and torn or uprooted trees in its wake.
You went to bed that night far earlier than usual. The blanket of black had not yet completely enveloped the sky of deep orange and red. However, maybe the early bedtime hadn’t been a bad idea, considering you were awoken in the middle of the night anyway.
It was a small noise in the distance. A sound like the padding of paws of a dog running on wood or horse clops on cobblestone. Small and forgettable, but almost irritating and grinding on the nerves of the listener.
Crawling out of bed almost at zero energy levels from your previous encounters, you shook your head to try and shake the sleepiness away. Trudging to your door, you cracked it open to try and see if it was some foxes scraping in the glory of midnight or maybe some critter getting into trouble. Instead, when your door opened, the sounds of an eerily familiar growl filtered through the air.
All tiredness from before flew away as you shut the door harshly and grabbed your cloak to throw over your nightdress. You rushed to your table to grab your glass covered lantern and lit it before blowing out the match and tossing it. Going back to your door you threw it open again and ran out of it. You didn’t even bother locking it, the key still hanging on it’s key as it flopped against the wall from the air of the forcefully shut door.
You ran through the woods, trying your best not to trip on any rocks or sticks. You let out an occasional wince from your bare feet scraping too hard on the dirt or catching on the rough end of a stone. You were going down hill when you saw in the shadows a series of trees uprooted or knocked in two with claw marks on the trunks.
You tried skidding to a stop when the hill started to level out steadily, but there was a fat chance of that happening. You threw open your arms and snagged a tree trunk to forcefully stop yourself from going further. Your legs flew out in front of you far too dramatically for a spontaneous run in the woodlands at midnight as your lantern nearly flew out of your grasp.
You huffed as you heard the same growls you had heard before echo around you. You could hardly see, but you could tell the outline of the dragon in the darkness. You looked around as your lantern had lost it’s flame.
You dug in the pocket you had sewn into your nightdress and struck another match, lighting it again as the fire dimly lit up your face. You were now fully aware you were seen- even though you knew it already to begin with.
The dragon had previously been nipping and lapping at it’s wound with it’s split tongue before you had interrupted it’s silence.
“I knew it,” you whispered as you saw the same dragon from before. You slowly approached it, somehow feeling a little more confident than earlier even though it still growled at you. “Hey,” you soothe, “you know me. Just let me see,” you said as you walked around it’s curled body to it’s injured leg. Lifting your lantern up to see better, you weren’t shocked to see the scales still wet with troves of blood. Just how much blood did dragons have?
If a human bled this much for this long, you were sure they’d be long dead by now.
You carefully set your lantern aside and worked around your neck to remove your white cloak from your shoulders. “Hold still,” you instructed as you started to rather sloppily wrap the wound. You couldn’t let it just keep bleeding and it wasn’t like you had anything else to try and wrap it in- you’d just have to sew a new cloak or buy a new one in the village.
You didn’t even take the time to be shocked that the dragon once again let you do as you pleased in aiding it’s unfortunate situation. In fact, it was silent. There was no growling or snarling, just the sound of hissing when you brushed against the wound or wrapped your cloak around it too tight.
When you finished, you almost pouted at the sight of your cloak already starting to dot with the dragon’s hot blood seeping through the fabric. A loss, yes, but you felt like it was worth it from the relief you felt in your chest at the dragon’s ease of tension.
“If you stay put,” you started, grabbing your lantern again and looking up at the dark eyes of the dragon you were becoming almost familiar with, “I can come back in the morning with something to help you.” The dragon showed no sign of obeying or denying you and you weren’t going to stick around and press the issue.
At the end of the day, it could still very well tear you apart.
You soon left the dragon’s side, the fire of your lantern lighting your way back home. You’d come back just as you said you would and if the dragon was still there, then you’d try and help further so that it can eventually go back home. Even you knew that it had a home somewhere and you were sure that home was missed to some degree.
When you returned to your cabin, you breathed a small sigh of relief when you saw that in your haste of not locking your door behind you- no nightcrawler had snuck in and wrecked your home or stole anything. You walked inside, shutting and tightly locking up behind you as you set your lantern on your table.
Wincing at your sore feet, you wrapped them in cloth and a paste of herbs you had in a jar to help soothe aches and pain before you tucked yourself back into bed. Hopefully, you could stay asleep until the sun rises this time.
-x-x-x-
You were pleased to see that when you opened your eyes again, you could hear the birds and see the sunlight of what looked like late morning. At least you managed to get some decent sleep- although you weren’t all too surprised looking back on the last 24 hours. A lot had happened and to say it was taxing was an understatement.
You were slow moving this morning; another thing you weren’t shocked about.
Trudging around your cabin, you walked around in your nightdress gathering small jars of salves and ointments that could be useful to the dragon in the woods that may or may not still be there with your- no doubt- beyond salvaging cloak.
When you finally got changed, you threw on a dress of a fairly unflattering shade of brown since you may be kneeling on the ground or thrown into the dirt again from the dragon. You wrapped up a new layer of paste for your still sore feet before pulling them into your boots. You grabbed your basket with your half-hazardly thrown together first aid treatments and left your cabin- actually locking the door this time.
It was all a blur on what direction you rushed to last night in your sleepy, adrenaline pumped haze, but you were able to clearly see where your footsteps pressed into the soil. Following your own trail, you carefully descended the hill you flew down the night before and when it all leveled out, you smiled at seeing the dragon sleeping peacefully in the same spot you left it.
“Good,” you breathed happily. You were glad it stayed put- whether it was because you asked or not didn’t matter. You would be able to help more now and nothing filled your chest with more glee than being of use to someone, or rather something in this way. Healing was your passion after all.
You slowly padded up to the sleeping dragon and decided against working on it while it slept. It could spring to life and attack you out of instinct for all you knew. You sat a good distance from its body and in view of it’s line sight for when it woke up you wouldn’t be hidden. You sat on the ground, you're back against the trunk of a tree as you started digging around your basket for the folded and wrapped up herbs you had.
You weren’t sure how long you sat in the tree shaded morning sun plucking, grinding and mixing different herbs together in a cloth draw pouched you had with you. Eventually you started to hear groans from the dragon ahead of you. You figured that if the first thing the creature sees when waking up was you staring at it, then you’d push away any future idea of treating its leg. So, you kept yourself occupied with your herbs until it made a noise of awareness.
A handful of minutes pass when you feel a warm wind push towards you. Instinctively, you look up to see the dragon’s dark eyes looking at you. You smile at the mighty beast, the polar opposite of yesterday’s fear stricken paralysis.
You finished grinding a handful of mint smelling herbs between your palms to sprinkle into an oil you had with you as you swashed it around in it’s cork plugged jar. It was odd, doing your everyday tasks with a dragon for an audience.
When you finished, you stood up after placing the jar back under the cloth of your basket and brushed off your dress’s skirt. You fumbled around to grab the small oval container of salve before you started to approach the dragon.
It didn’t growl and it didn’t snarl. It extended it’s winged arms as it’s head dropped to the ground and it’s leg that was wound with your cloak that was now a deep shade of red was pushed out further for you to inspect. You didn’t want to let it get to your head that maybe, just maybe, this dragon was learning to trust you.
You knew that dragon’s had to have good instincts, so maybe it just realized that you weren’t a threat.
You carefully unwound your awfully tied cloak as you tossed it to the ground in a heap. You were glad to see that the hot blood that had been continuously seeping through brick red scales had finally stopped. You twisted open the container and began to smear the salve over and between the thick scales to the broken skin beneath.
You had expected them to be cooler to the touch like a lizard’s skin, but the scales and skin of the beast was warm like a freshly doused warm towel.
The dragon let you work in peace as it watched you without disruptions or growls. It didn’t even twitch if you touched a particularly pain-sensitive area.
When you finished, you placed the cap back over the salve and looked up at the dragon to address it. “The bleeding looks to be done, but we should cover it with something.” You looked down at your soiled cloak. “We can’t reuse that, it’s already used and we can’t put dried blood back on a wound.” You started to walk away to your basket to place the salve back and maybe take your cloth in your basket to try and at least tuck it into it’s scales or something when something snagged your dress skirt.
Yelping, you spun around and took a moment to process that the dragon had moved it’s winged talon to step on your dress to keep you from moving. Looking up to its face, you saw it looked at you with a calm expression flitting through its eyes and it shook its head.
“What?” You asked more to yourself than the dragon. “You don’t want it to be wrapped?” The dragon only moved it’s head back to look at it’s leg before lifting it’s arm back up and freeing you. You trotted back to the dragon’s leg and squinted at it like he was trying to tell you to.
You gasped at seeing how the wound already looked way better than it had just twenty minutes ago. You saw the damaged scales start to repair themselves as the skin below it’s scaled armor pulled itself back together and became covered again. You looked back to the dragon’s face, relief evident in your expression as you breathed out a sigh of happiness with a hand on your chest like a weight had been lifted off you.
“Oh, thank goodness. I’m glad that the rumors of a dragon’s healing potential are true at least.” You went back to your basket, dropping the container of salve inside as you lifted it back into your arms. “I’m going to be on my way then,” you said. You felt a little bad for leaving so soon, but you had hardly gotten anything down yesterday because of your meeting with the beast, so you were already behind on your own personal tasks.
You still needed to find some goldenrod and if you were honest, plucking some stuff to replace the amount of salve you used on the dragon’s leg wouldn’t be so bad either.
As you left into the thick Woodland, you couldn’t help but feel like you were being watched. You peered over your shoulder several times and from somewhere you could almost tell that the dragon was watching you from beyond the trees. Dragons had eyesight far stronger than human eyes, so when you felt a stare on your back, you didn’t doubt it.
It was obvious that it couldn’t travel through the Woodlands like you could without plowing down trees in its wake and it wasn’t exactly spacious enough to spread its wings and take off in this section of the woods.
When you left a location you could feel the eyes following you and even heard stomping in the distance of the dragon moving so it could keep you in it’s sights. You wondered briefly why it would be following you around if not for it wanting to eat you, but you just shrugged it off.
It was just past midday when you had finally started to depart back to your cabin. As you unloaded your basket inside your cabin and began to put everything away, you went back outside to gather a bucket of water from your well and you nearly jumped out of your skin from the sounds rustling behind your home.
If the glimpse of horns and wings was anything to go by, you knew that the dragon had somehow squeezed around the trees and followed you back to your cabin. Even closer to human territory. You crept around the cabin and met the dragon face to face for yet another time as you just smiled at it. It seemed relaxed and at ease to your surprise.
“Are you going to follow me around now?” You playfully asked as all it did was let out a small huff. “I know you can understand me,” you teased as you looked it up and down. You felt bad mentally referred to it as ‘it’ all this time, but you had no idea how to tell what this wyvern was. “If you’re going to follow me around girl-” your sentence was stopped short at a small growl. You perched your brow up at the dragon as it glared down at you. “Boy?” You corrected as the unpleasant look left his eyes.
You ticked your head a bit, nodding to yourself.
“Okay, that settles that.”
Throughout your day, you had the company of a dragon sitting in your yard watching you work. When you were inside, you kept the front door propped open with a piece of wood at the bottom and the windows were open so the dragon could still see you and you could still talk to him.
You rambled- a lot. It felt silly to be having a one-sided conversation with a dragon, but you couldn’t help it. You didn’t want him to feel left out- as odd as it was to say in terms of the beast- so you talked about a lot of things. Your hobbies, the process of making an ointment or what herbs to crush and mix with something to get the smell of berries. How you cooked and what it was; you even offered him a loaf of bread; he denied it (which you were glad for because that would have been an expensive sacrifice).
“I actually live here alone,” you speak aloud from the inside of your house so he could hear you through the open window his head rested next to on the ground outside. “I’ve lived here all my life practicing medicine and plants. I take care of myself decently well considering I live in the Woodlands.” You paused, mixing some broth with a pot of steamed vegetables and spices you had been boiling. “My village doesn’t exactly like me or my studies all that much, so my life here works out in the long run.”
You wondered if he found your babbling annoying since he was just stuck listening to you ramble on about whatever came to mind to keep him somewhat entertained. Spilling your life story wasn’t a thrilling tale, but it was a silence filler. You figured he didn’t mind as much as you may think since he stuck around.
When the day was ending, he made a sound of disgruntled groaning that wasn’t exactly a growl, but a sound of attention. He was apparently announcing his departure. You waved the dragon off through the open window as he left back into the Woodlands and you assumed that this would be the final time you met him.
You would be wrong.
Because that following day as the sun was high at just past midday, there he was again. Steadily, he was visiting you often and he became a normal part of your life.
-x-x-x-
“Hey, Suga,” you called when the dragon came into view from your window as you read in the morning light. You had started calling him by the name weeks ago when you caught him sniffing through your window at whatever you were baking at the time and accidentally sucked a bag of sugar up his nostril. You would have called him Sugar, but he just growled at the soft sounding name, so removing the R was the best deal you could cut him. He didn’t indicate what his name actually was, but you couldn’t just keep calling him ‘dragon’ or ‘wyvern’.
You had some decency.
You shut your book, setting it in the open window as you got up and made your way out. The leg that had been injured weeks ago had healed like it wasn’t hurt in the first place. No scar left behind and no scale left tarnished- it pleased you in all honesty.
Walking to him, he lowered his head to the ground with a small sigh through his nostrils as you brought you hand to run along the scales of his nose and head. It was like having a giant lizard fawn over your touch- or rather that was exactly what it was.
“Good morning, I haven’t seen you in a few days. Did you have a safe trip?” You asked as he just let out a small swooned dragon sound. You had gotten good at deciphering what his sounds and noises meant to a certain degree.
You had noted that every so often he would disappear for days on end and then return- be it a few days to a week or more later. He would travel to Dragon Country and then return to check and visit with you, or so you highly assumed. You knew that was his country and his home, so it was no shock to you that he went back. The shock was that he kept coming back to your cabin in the Woodlands.
You had read dragons were loyal, but this was astonishing. If regular visits with a mighty dragon was your reward for treating and freeing him from a trap, you had no regrets in doing so.
You stopped your ministrations on his head as you turned to go check off whatever chore you had left to do this morning off your to-do list when you felt his nose push into your back. Shoving you playfully forwards, you stumbled on your feet as you turned around with a playful smile and lifted brows.
“Oh you wanna play that way, huh?” You riled as he just huffed steam into your face. Your hair and dress whipped behind you as you just scoffed and jumped at him. The dragon shot to it’s legs and winged talons, skillfully dodging your puny, human lunges.
When you snagged your foot on your dress skirt and was ready to take a tumbling, ungraceful fall to eat dirt, his nose shot under you and caught you before you even made it close to the ground. Hooking your wasit with his horn, he nudged you back up to your feet as you just laughed at him and stroked his nose once again in gleeful thanks.
Suga almost purred- if dragon’s could ever.
As you spent your day with your companion, the sky started to tell you that night was coming and Suga’s departure once again was near. You were out in the yard, sitting on the grass with your basket beside you and all sorts of herbs, a grinding stone and jars and jugs to mix and create with. Suga lay behind you, curled around you like a protective wall, lazing away silently, but not sleeping. Just relaxed.
“Will you be back tomorrow?” You asked as you sprinkled some flower petals into a bottle of clear oil. He whined- a signal for no. “Going back to Dragon Country already, huh?” He huffed in agreeance as you chuckled. He sounded so sulky. “Will you be gone for a while this time?” He made no noise, but his head moved to affirm a yes. Another handful of quiet, dragonless days were in your future it seemed. “Well, be safe on your way. Watch out for traps,” you teased as he moved his body back just a bit for you to teeter backward from where you were leaning against him.
When he left you that night, his nose pressed against your torso as your arms wrapped around it in farewell. He had only started doing that recently- after his last trip back to Dragon Country in fact.
You always felt a little bit colder when he left you like that.
Four days passed and on the morning of the fifth, you had walked out of your house early in the morning with a freshly sown cloak of brick red and an empty basket. You dreaded going into the village for a great many reasons. But you simply couldn’t push it off any further and you needed things that only the merchants and shops in town would have.
It helped that when strangers would come into the woodlands and see your house, they would almost always knock on your door from curiosity and you’d always take any chance to sell something of your creation for a decent amount.
Locking your cabin door, you started your trip. You sighed. Hopefully, you’d be able to get into town and then get out just as quickly.
Suga had returned that day as he approached your cabin. He heard nothing inside and saw no sign of you around. Peering into our windows, you weren’t inside from what he could tell and he pouted at not seeing you. He lay at the side of your cabin, his head lay by your front door as he waited for you to come back.
A few hours passed and his ears picked up on the sound of your footsteps- he had familiarized himself with the sound and weight you put into your steps- as his eyes opened ready to greet you. However, a growl slipped past his fangs as he saw you come from the dirt trail between the trees that lead further out of the Woodlands.
You were shocked to see him back so soon as you wiped some sweat off your brow. Sweat that was mixed with dirt and the smallest dried patch of blood.
You had forgotten that Suga had never seen you go into and back from your village before, so the growl pulled from his throat made you shiver. Your forehead had a small cut about the length of your knuckle and your lip had a split in it. Your dress had grass strains in the knees and up the side of it as specks of dirt spotted your face and neck.
You walked to your door, setting your basket down with a cloth over it, the items you had gotten covered as you walked to Suga and placed your hand on the horn at the end of his scaled nose.
“What is it?” You ask, oblivious that it was your current state of disarray that made him fume with unease. He pulled his horn from your palm as he moved to nuzzle his nose into your torso. You stretched your arm to stroke under his eye as you soothed him. “Suga?” It wasn’t until he refused to move that you realized he was wondering if you were well and then you realized. “Oh,” you breathed, “I’m alright.”
He finally moved away from you and stared at you. You moved to pat his horn once before your fingers went under his scaled chin to lazily rub there. He almost hummed at the actions as you smiled with your split lip.
“This happens every time I go down to the village. Don’t worry too much, Scaly Hide.” As you soothed him, you weren’t completely aware of just how your injures made his dragon blood boil hotter than usual. You had been nothing but kind and vulnerable and truthful to him- a dragon- for no other reason than that’s just who you were as a person. Seeing you all cut up because of others? He found it absolutely preposterous.
As you rubbed beneath his chin, you started talking again. Your voice taking on a small wave of emotion he hadn’t heard from you before.
“I’m almost jealous of you,” you told him. His barbed tail twitched at your words. “I don’t know what the world of dragons is like, so I can’t say whether or not you understand the scorn of others. The prospect of you not having to deal with other humans though is one to be envious of.” Your eyes had a far off look of sadness that riddled his scaled body with pain.
He pulled his head from your hand and moved to nudge it behind you. He pushed your body against the giant wall of scales that is his own body as you started laughing at him. It wasn’t hard to understand an awkward attempt of a dragon wanting to console you. You raised your arms, reaching around what you could as you hugged his neck while his head stayed pushed against your back over your shoulder.
Suga didn’t understand how humans could do this to others of the same race. Dragon’s weren’t just comrades in arms in battle, but they were kin. They were branches of family, dear friends and reliant to each other in a way that didn’t just revolve around war and destruction. Of course, his race wasn’t perfect either with the occasional rouge or traitorous dragon, but those specific turncoats were always taken care of.
He couldn’t understand why humans hurt you, and he didn’t want to understand why. He just wanted it to stop.
When you finally stepped away from him and got back into his line of sight in front of him the look on your face made him feel better. It looked like you were already recovering from all the bad emotions that plagued you earlier. He blew a small huff of steam into your face playfully as you swatted at his horn.
“I’ve been curious,” you started, “I read once that dragons have large quantities of magic and even have a second form they can change into. A human form that is different with each species. Do you have one?” His chin dipped as he let out a noise of confirmation. He did have one, though it had been years, maybe even centuries since he last changed into it. He didn’t even remember what it looked like anymore- he had forgotten about it truthfully.
Your eyes light up in excitement at the discovery.
“You do! That’s so cool!” Your over-excitement almost startled the poor beast. You let out a small sigh of contentment as you turned back to head inside and put your things away and to wash off the grime of your injuries. “I kind of want to see what it looks like,” you mutter, unable to realize that your thoughts slipped out in the form of words that were just loud enough for the dragon to hear.
Suga was quiet as he stood guard outside your home for the rest of the afternoon. The only time you left was when you went down to the small lake nearby and washed up. He was a distance away to keep anything or anyone else from intruding on your privacy. He seemed tense, but also not- even if it didn’t make sense. You tried asking him what was wrong with him, but he just nuzzled his head into your chest without a sound.
When you told him goodnight he left in the same silence he had been sitting in all day. It took a little longer for you to go to sleep because of your worry.
The next morning, you woke up and did what you always did. Same old routine with the label of a different day. Though, when you left your home to go and grab a few pieces of cut up wood for your fireplace, you stopped short. Outside your door, sleeping against the side of your house on the ground was a man.
You hadn’t seen this man before in your life and you were shocked speechless as you looked him over. He was dressed oddly, far different than the men in your village dressed.
His body was lean and covered in small scars around his chest, as shown from the absences of a shirt. A long, black cape hung at his back that he used to lounge on instead of the hard, dirt ground as the collar of it was covered in fur that covered his shoulders and brushed against his chin. His pants were brown and baggy that wrapped around his ankles and displayed his bare feet that were no doubt covered in calluses. Red gauntlets ran from his wrists to his elbows on both arms that were crossed against his bare chest.
You were hesitant to wake him up, but this was your cabin and it was early in the morning. If Suga came by to see another man here, he could get defensive and that was a scenario you really didn’t want to witness.
You knelt at his side, the door to your cabin still open behind you just in case he was hostile and you had to retreat back inside in a rush. You reached out and grabbed his shoulder- his skin was hot. You shook him once- nothing.
“Excuse me?” You squeaked as you shook him again. He groaned as his head nodded off to the side before his chin dipped and you saw his brows moving underneath the fridge of his black hair. You retracted your hand when you felt his shoulders move up and heard him take in a breath of awakening. “Sir, are you alright?”
Lifting his head, his eye were narrow and dazed in sleep as he looked up at you. They were beautiful. They were dark, black and shining like obsidian jewels. They were... familiar? You squinted at him as he opened his mouth.
“Oh,” he lazily breathed out. His voice felt like a breeze of summer wind. “You finally woke up,” he told you as you just started inquisitively at him.
“Isn’t that my line,” you quipped back. “Do I,” you hesitated, “have we met before?” He didn’t answer you as he just sat up straighter and raised his hand to your face. His warm hand ran along your jaw to your lip where he pushed against the scabbed over split in it. You flinched away from his touch as you backed away from him, your eyes locked onto his without any will power to break the contact.
“You said you wanted to see what my human form was like,” he point forwardly told you. You looked him over one more time before returning to his eyes. So that’s why they looked so familiar.
“Suga?” You asked with a pitched voice.
“My name is actually, Yoongi,” he smirked as an unfamiliar heat rose in your cheeks.
-x-x-x-
Yoongi’s visits continued and he often stayed in his human form around you now. He would waltz into your home with you and even started helping you with chores around the cabin. He’s taken to splitting your firewood (although he wouldn’t use your hatchet, he’d just rip the logs in half), and would carry things for you when you were moving to and fro. He’d watch you cook and learn if you offered to teach him something.
You had to admit that having him walking and working around with you as a human instead of a wyvern was a lot more convenient. Plus, this way he was able to have actual conversations with you.
The season’s started to change and the cool breath of autumn began to creep into the air. You would often wonder if Yoongi would stop coming to visit when the temperature drops.
“Yoongi?” You called as he sat in the middle of your floor in front of the burning fire. It was late in the afternoon as you were cooped up inside away from the chilly air. He turned to look over his shoulder at you over his fur lined cape collar.
“Hmm?”
“When winter comes, will you still visit me?” You asked as you took a drink from your warm tea before setting it back down on the table with the book you had been reading before. “I mean, you’re still technically a reptile in basic regards, so you must not like the cold that much.”
“It’s true that I don't like the cold,” he said, “I hate it. It makes my scales rough and then that makes it tough to move around.” You let out a small, nearly silent sigh. “However, if you get lonely, I’ll still come see you.” You looked back at him as he was staring at you completely serious.
The conversation died after that, you not having the heart to ask him to keep visiting. You couldn’t ask that of him if he disliked the cold that much. Surely, you’d be okay without him by your side for a few months, right? Besides, you still had until the first snow to spend with him, autumn had just started after all.
Another week passed and you had once more traveled into the village for some items you needed that you had run out of. It was no shock seeing a trip to the village so soon after the last considering you had been feeding and caring for Yoongi when he came to your cabin. Supplies run a lot faster on two figures instead of just one.
Yoongi had been gone the last couple days, so you assumed he’d be popping by anytime now so you went as soon as you could. To your misfortune, when you returned once again roughed up, Yoongi was sitting in front of your cabin door waiting for you. You had half a mind to sneak in through your bedroom window and avoid him for a bit before you let him in to avoid him seeing your freshly beat body.
Though, you spent just enough time in mental turmoil that he had seen you already.
He jumped to his feet, his face an expression of shock as he ran to meet you half way as you walked to your cabin. You greeted him with a smile just as you always did.
“Good-”
“Hush,” he shushed you as he quickly took the basket from your arms and set it on the ground at your feet. He took your chin between his fingers and started tilting and moving your head around in different angles looking you over. Your cheeks flushed as he stared intently at you. You knew it was just an inspection of your wounds, but it still made your heart pound in your chest. “They hit you again,” he growled.
“Yoongi, it’s alright.”
“No,” he seethed, “it is not.” You swore you started to see small wisps of smoke seep from his nose as he breathed steam. He must be really angry, you though. “They cannot just keep treating you like this just because you’re you.” The hand that held your chin moved to rest on your cheek before gliding up to your forehead- pushing your hair back as his hand moved to rest on the back of your head. “Human’s really are cruel,” he whispered.
You couldn't argue with that.
“I’m already used to their treatment,” you attempt to sooth. The physical pain may still occur with each lashing, but you had long since grown emotionally distant from them. They couldn’t break you any further.
“You shouldn’t be. You should be treated with respect and kindness.”
“Like how you treat me,” you teased, trying to lighten the mood. Yoongi paused, his hand coming down to rest on the crook of your neck, his long nails running over your pulse point as his eye softened.
“No,” he whispered. “I’m the only one who can treat you this way.”
“What?” You were confused. He treated you exceedingly well and he wanted other people to treat you better too, but not like him? “That doesn’t make much sense, Yoongi.”
“It does to me.”
“Well, then the argument is officially over, huh?” You chuckled as he brought his hand off you and reached for your basket. He let a smirk grace his lips as he turned and led you back to your cabin so he could help you clean your injuries.
As he helped treat and dress your wounds and even helped you make the daily meals, he would nit pick about you going into town. He offered to start going with you, or at least waiting on the edge of the village so he wouldn’t make a fuss in human society with his less than human approach to things, but you denied him.
He wanted to argue with you, to let him do as he wanted, but you just told him that you usually only went on days he wasn’t with you. It was never planned, but things just always seemed to fall in that manner.
In the end, he yielded on the subject; however, before he left that night, he presented you with something. A flower-sized, brick red scale. He placed it in your palm before he left you.
“If something ever happens, you use that scale and call for me. I’ll come flying over as quickly as I can.” You laughed at his over protectiveness. Dragon Country was miles off from here, so it would take him more than a handful of minutes to get to your cabin depending on where in the world of his kind he was at in the given situation. You accepted the scale nonetheless, grateful for his tender gesture.
Everything seemed fine again for time, until Yoongi came to your cabin and saw you prepping to go into the village yet again one morning. He scowled as he watched you pull your red cloak over your shoulders and grab your basket as you pulled on your boots. He hid behind the wall of your home as you locked the door and were on your way.
Yoongi didn’t want you to know he was there following you. He stayed behind you as you walked the Woodlands trail back to society and the entire way he pouted that you had once again not told him you were going.
He stood on the outskirts of the village that brought you harm, sitting high up in a treetop to avoid being seen. He knew going into the village after you would get him caught and he knew that if someone even looked at you strangely, he’d probably snap.
He sat there for a while, just waiting and watching until you finally showed up again, ready to head back home. His back straightened as he almost smiled seeing you unharmed. He was going to jump down and greet you, fess up that he had followed you and let you scold him as he walked you back home, but before he could even begin moving, he stiffened.
Knelt on the tree branch he hid behind the brown, red and yellow leaves that hadn’t fallen to the ground and the black of his cape as a group of boys not much older than yourself ran up behind you. You were just at the tree line of the Woodlands when they had taken your basket from you and shoved you from behind, making you fall to your knees with a cry.
He was technically in Woodland territory, he had no problem showing himself outside of your village.
As you rolled onto your back, ready to shove your way to your basket and scurry away just as you had a million times before, something fell from the treetops behind you. Twisting your body, you only saw a blur shoot past you before one of the three boys was on his ass in the dirt groaning.
Turning back to your front, your mouth dropped open.
“Yoongi?!” One boy had helped the other off the ground as the last was squaring up to start a scrap with this random guy who had popped out of the Woodlands. You wanted to shoot up and tell them to stop it and leave Yoongi alone, but they froze before you could even warn them.
The three of them swallowed as they started taking small steps backward in retreat.
Yoongi had tensed his whole body, fingers curled with his claws out. His face had scales trailing from his cheekbones to his chin as his eyes seeped with complete blackness. It was like his hair was standing on end as he snarled and raised his lips to bare his fangs at the offenders. He was daring them to try him.
Anyone with two eyes, even one eye, could clearly see this man was a dragon and nothing short of a fierce one who didn’t know how to stand down. Not willing to pick a fight with a being of that caliber and not being properly prepared to boot, the trio turned tail and ran back into the village.
It was deathly silent as they retreated and Yoongi’s body seemed to relax as you started at his back. His still shoulders went slack as his squared and ready to pounce stance calmed and straightened back out. His hair settled and the small growls you had heard before disappeared.
“Uh, Yoongi?” You call softly, not knowing if he was going to whip around and start yelling at you or not.
He did not.
He calmly walked to the basket they had taken from you, picking it up and walked back to your side. He set it down before he grabbed your arms gently and started to pull you off the ground. Once you stood on your feet, he straightened out your cloak as you brushed off your dress skirt.
“What are you doing out here?” You asked him, but he didn’t answer you. He just placed his hand on the small of your back, turning you around before he gently pushed you forward to start you off back into the Woodlands and back to your cabin.
No matter how you tried to talk to him, he never answered the entire trip. He was completely silent and he didn’t give you any facial ques on what his problem was either. He stayed quiet, a still canvas all the way into your cabin where he sat your basket on your table then sat himself in front of your fireplace that wasn’t even lit yet. It was like the might dragon was pouting.
“Yoongi, please just come over here,” you plead. You walk behind him as you see his shoulders slump in a silent sigh before he’s standing in front of you again. He turns and looks down at you and instead of an angry look in his eyes like you were expecting, you see them shine with unshed tears. “Yoongi-”
He pushes the words from your throat out of you as he wraps his arms around your shoulders and pushes you face into his warm, bare chest. He lets out a small, shaky breath as his hold tightens around you. The hand on the back of your head holding you to him felt desperate and sad. You reach around him and snag you hands on the inside of his fur lined cape behind his back.
“I was worried about you,” he all but whimpers. “I know I shouldn’t have followed you, but you didn’t tell me that you were going to that village again and I just couldn’t stop myself. I was so relieved to see you unharmed as you were leaving, but then those scumbags,” he cut himself off with a harsh breath. “Does that really always happen to you?”
You nod and give a weak ‘yes’ in reply.
“No more,” he tells you. “I won’t let it happen anymore. I’ll keep you safe and I’ll protect you from them. Even when winter comes, I won’t stop visiting you. I’ll keep coming back, I promise.” You wanted to deny him, tell him not to worry about it since he can’t stand the cold. But, you felt selfish and you wanted him to keep coming back. You wanted him to dote on you and to keep you safe like he says.
“I’ll be relying on you then,” was all you told him. When the moment is past, you pull away from his warm chest to look up at him with a playful grin. “You’re pretty pushy when it comes to my safety, it’s almost cute.”
He shoves you at your jest as he tells you to sit down and go unpack your things. He plops himself back in front of the fireplace, huffing a ball of fire to get it going in a hurry. You weren’t sure if it was the light from the fire or not that painted his cheeks pink.
-x-x-x-
You went without village harm for a month now. Just as he said, Yoongi was at your side at least every other day instead of a few days away at a time. He’d always ask if you were alright or anyone had given you any trouble. He knew when you were lying, he had gotten good at telling apart your quirks, so when you told him you were alright he was always relieved.
The weather kept getting colder and you kept getting more concerned about Yoongi’s choice to go against the cold to come see you as often as possible. You always thought about how to tell him to not come after the first winter snow to help his overall health; you just had to figure out a way to phrase it so that he’d actually listen.
It was one of those nights where you hadn’t gotten to sleep very early with your thoughts, and you had just drifted to sleep. You were somewhere between unconscious, yet aware as you briefly heard something in the distance. You weren’t awake enough to care and you weren’t aware enough to think it was something other than the nighttime animals.
A handful of minutes pass when you’re suddenly ripped from your sleep just as you were equally ripped from your bed. A grip on the back of your nightdress yanked you from your side sleeping position and pulled the fabric against your neck as you choked out a surprised gasp.
You kicked your legs in panic, your blanket hitting the floor of your room as you were pulled off your mattress and onto the floor. Hands grasped your biceps and began to drag you backward. You finally found your voice in the form of small screams and protests. You stumbled from the balls of your feet to your heels as you were pulled backward through your cabin before you were through the front door and on the ground.
Laying in the dirt and covered in goosebumps from the cold night air, you rolled to your back and propped yourself up with your elbows to see who just evicted you from your home. You shouldn’t have been shocked to see a band of men from the village, yet you were. You instantly started trying to scoot backward on your elbows and heels.
They were covered in furs and boots with torches in hand to light their way through the darkness. You looked at them in fear and confusion. What were they doing this far from the village and why were they here at all?
“What are you doing?!” You scream, your heels kicked into the dirt as your nails dig into the earth trying to back you away from one oncoming man, a blond one. You squirmed as one of his feet kicked at your wrist and pushed your back to the ground as he grabbed you by the collar of your nightdress. You whined, grabbing his wrist as you grimaced with squeezed shut eyes.
“You witch,” he accused as you peeked open your eyes. “We’ve let you live close to us, but you’ve gone and made a pact with a demon- a dragon!” Your eyes widened. Is this because Yoongi just popped out of nowhere a month ago when he followed you?
“You’re wrong!” You denied. You had no pact with him. He was just- you paused mentally. Was Yoongi a friend to you? You had been unconsciously thinking that for several weeks, but saying that out loud and admitting it to yourself as well as someone else- friendship didn’t feel like it did it justice. Was the connection you had with the dragon you saved from that trap- the same dragon who snarled in your face and decided not to kill you all those weeks ago- really just a friend? You swallowed.
Your breath lurched in your throat when the grip of your collar was released in turn for the hand to now encase around your throat fully. You gagged for a moment as the blond’s nails burned against your skin.
“Ransack the place!” The man who held your throat shouted over his shoulder. The two other men with him ran into your cabin and your squeezed shut eyes opened. You shoved the man’s hand off you, your neck burning as you pushed against his chest. He fell on the dirt as he groaned.
“Don’t! Leave my cabin alone!” You cried as you scurried to your feet. You didn’t get far before your ankle was grabbed and your leg yanked back. You tumbled ungracefully onto your chest, your nightdress riding up your legs and bum as you felt a weight on your back. The blond was sitting on you as you kicked. He held one of your arms behind your back and his other hand pushed your cheek into the dirt, holding your head down. “Stop it!” You cried into the earth as you heard sounds of destruction in your home.
Glass being thrown to the ground and broken, your shelves being pulled from the wall. You heard doors of cabinets opening and slamming shut after everything was pulled from them. The distant sounds of mess told you they were evening throwing things around in your room. You weren’t sure what they were looking for- evidence? But for what? Your connection with Yoongi to use against you?
“Hey!” One called from inside. “I found something!” Footsteps came back outside and stopped above your head. You were yanked up to sit on your knees- nightdress dirty and covered in small tears and frays of fabric- as the blond behind you snagged a hand in your hair pulling your head to look up. You winced as your eyes instinctively shut in pain before your chin was grabbed in a new hand.
A man stood in front of you, brown hair and accusatory eyes. In front of you, he dangled the scale of Yoongi’s he had given you that you had placed inside of a glass locket to keep it safe. You jolted in the blond’s grip, ripping your chin from the brunettes touch.
“Don’t touch that!” You screamed. The blond restrained you tighter. “Stop! That hurts!” You felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes.
You weren’t sure how long those men kept you outside your home as they continued to trash it. You were less sure how long you were out in the cold, pinned to the ground and jerked around like a toddlers ragdoll.
Stomps to your legs to keep you from crawling or getting up and away. Jabs to the stomach to subdue you just long enough to restraining you as you tried to get your breath back. Knocks to the head to try and knock you out as you kept on fighting back. The cold was starting to get to you, your fingers and toes going numb. Scraps on your knees and elbows from the cold, autumn chilled dirt.
You were on your back on the ground, the same blond over your, pushing your face down as your arms were trapped under his knees that pinned you on either side.
You were close to giving up. You were going to lose your home- you expected them to set it on fire- and you were going to no doubt end up losing your life if this kept up. Would they take you back to the village and execute you? Tears trailed down the side of your face as you chewed on your lip.
This wasn’t fair.
“Yoongi,” you whimpered as your palms pushed into the earth, the dirt and rocks pushing into your skin just painful enough to keep you conscious.
It seemed instantaneous to you. It felt like a whirlwind just formed at the center of your small world as the gusts of wind blew around you. The man above you was blown off as he rolled in the dirt away from your tired, weak, and beaten body. Whimpers of terror rang in your ears from the other men as growling accompanied those whimpers.
Stomping and rushes of heat surrounded you with ignited sparks in the night sky. You managed to push yourself over to weakly roll onto your side and twist onto your stomach to look up at exactly what was happening. You didn’t see anything in front of you other than your cabin and the three men all on the ground cowering from the sight of something.
Your dazed eyes narrowed before you heard another growl and the feeling of something massive standing over you. Coming to a stomping halt at either side of you with distance to spare and to not make you feel suffocated, your eyes widened. You felt more awake now than the rest of the evening.
Twisting to look up, you were met with the mighty, giant form of the wyvern you had freed from the metal trap of men. Snarling with bared fangs and small puffs of fire on his tongue, Yoongi stood over you protectively.
Tears ran down your shocked face without your control at seeing him really showing up at your side when you truly, desperately needed him with you. You felt weak, but before your body could slump onto the ground, something grabbed you.
Another new body had looped their arms under yours to keep your chest off the ground and held you to them. You didn't recognize this person as you looked up at them. Another man, but this seemed far more mystic.
Snow white eyes with no iris or pupils to sit in their seas of white. Illuminated scales of white shone on their cheeks and their ears were pointed and finned. Hair as silver as the moon and skin as tanned as cooper. Was this another dragon? You couldn’t tell anymore; all you knew was that you felt safe in this person’s arms with Yoongi above you.
You slumped against them, your consciousness finally starting to fade on you with the adrenaline running low now that you felt a sense of safety. You couldn’t lose it yet, however; you had to calm Yoongi down. The men had stopped their attack in fear, so Yoongi didn’t need to instigate further.
“Yoongi,” you called weakly against the second dragon’s chest. “Don’t,” you pleaded. There was a small hush before the wind picked up and the stomping that was present before was replaced with harsh footsteps. Yoongi had reverted back to human form as he ran at the blond man who had previously held you down.
Yoongi’s long claws tore and pierced through the shirt fabric of the blond’s collar as he brought him up to his nose, snarling down at him. His fists shook in rage as his body trembled with restraint in your presence. Had you not been there, he was certain he would have killed all three of them without hesitation.
He picked the blond off the ground just enough to make his toes leave the grass as he threw him at the other two. He huffed, steam blowing out of his nose as his face remained angry.
“You ever come back here and I, as Y/n’s personal dragon, will tear you apart,” he threatened. “Now, leave!” He roared as the three men scrambled embarrassingly to their feet and down the trail back to whatever hole they crawled out of.
Yoongi huffed, breathless as he quickly heard your whimpers behind him. He spun around, rushing back to your side as he knelt on the ground beside you and took you from the other dragon’s grasp. He ran the back of his fingers along your cheek as you saw him. His calm, worried face brought you a sense of peace as you knew the trouble had left.
“Rest,” he whispered as you finally lost yourself to the unconsciousness that had been choking you around the throat.
-x-x-x-
You groaned slightly as your eyes cracked open. You were on your back as your lidded eyes were blurred staring up at the ceiling of your room. You were in a haze as you looked into nowhere. Thoughts were muddled in your head as you were aware of nothing for a handful of minutes, still high from sleep and drowsiness.
The sun shone through your open window as you heard the birds outside sing. It was bright- far brighter than you were used to waking up to.
It all came back to you all at once like a punch to the jaw. Memories of being dragged out of your bed, your home, to outside and pummeled until you were weak in the dirt as your home was broken into and wrecked.
Your arms shot up from under your blanket as they threw the covers off and you sat up straight as a rob. You sucked in a deep breath that hitched in your throat from the sudden movement that clouded you with a wave of dizziness.
Your palm moved to push into your forehead as your eyes squeezed shut and you hissed. Cracking them open, you felt something burn into your side like someone staring at you. Looking beside your bed, you weren’t wrong.
Sat on a stool beside your bedroom door was that same unfamiliar dragon with snow white eyes from the night before. You stared back at the unmoving dragon. Was he… sleeping? His eyes were open, but his arms that were crossed didn’t even twitch and his body was still as a corpse. He sat straight up and showed no signs of movement.
Did some dragon’s sleep with their eyes open? Yoongi didn’t, but maybe other breeds did.
“It is a relief to see you’ve awakened,” he suddenly spoke. You squeaked in shock, not expecting him to do- much less say- anything. “It has been a handful of hours since you lost consciousness.”
You looked away from him as you looked down at your lap. You scrunch your blanket in your palms, the same palms that you were finally starting to feel the stinging sensation of when you were thrown to the dirt. The small cuts and scrapes on your knees and legs and arms all started to tingle with an indescribably unpleasant feeling.
“So, that wasn’t just a nightmare after all,” you sulked to yourself.
“It seems that Sire holds a great deal of worry about your condition.”
Your brows drew close together in confusion.
“Excuse me?” You asked, confusion painting around your eyes. This dragon with no expression and no irises with the pure white eyes just stared at you. “Sire? Who are you talking about? No,” you cut yourself off, shaking your head. “Who are you?” You re-ask, wanting to know this stranger dragon first. He was just sitting in your room watching over you, you figured an introduction wasn’t out of the question.
The dragon brought a webbed hand up to their chest, lowering their head to you in a small bow. You recoiled at such an action. No one had bowed to you before in your life- that was reserved for royals and people of importance. Not someone like you, a Woodlands hermit. The action made a blush fan across your cheeks in embarrassment.
“I am Navia. I work under Sire as the leader of the Dragon Guard of His Majesties palace. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. It is a pleasure, My Lady.” His voice was smooth like the surface of a peaceful lake surrounded by nature. His usage of honorifics only made the embarrassing red cheeks of yours darken.
“Y-you don’t need to address me like that!” You sputtered as you twisted on your bed to slide your legs out of your covers and hang them over the bedside. “Just Y/n, is fine. I don’t need any titles,” your voice wavered in embarrassment as the white eyes of Navia returned to you.
“I do not know if I will be able to address you so casually. It may displease him.”
“You keep mentioning someone; Sire? Who is that exactly?” Navia never got a chance to answer when their was three knocks on your bedroom door before it was opened. The redness in your cheeks was broken and a smile pulled on your lips on seeing Yoongi in your doorway. “Yoongi!” You happily called as he quickly made his way to your bed, kneeling in front of you taking your hands into his own.
“How long have you been awake? Are you in pain?”
“I haven’t been up long, I was just talking to Navia and introducing ourselves. I don’t feel particularly good, but I don’t feel particularly bad either. Though, I feel better than I did if that’s anything to be accounted for.”
Yoongi’s eyes softened at your smile. You talked so easily and so soon after you were attacked so brutally. He wondered where you found the strength to do so. If he was in your position he’d be a pot of boiling rage, but he didn’t sense anything like that from you. Yet, instead he could see the sorrow behind your eyes.
“Navia,” he spoke as the dragon behind him stood at the call of his name. “Give us a moment,” Yoongi’s voice was stern with instruction.
“As you wish, Sire.” You looked at Navia as he left. You looked back down to Yoongi who was already looking at you as if you were the only thing he wanted to look at for the remainder of his life.
“Sire? So, he’s been talking about you?” You quirked your brow as Yoongi’s hand left yours and moved to cup around your cheek. “Yoongi?”
“There is a lot I haven’t told you and there are a lot of things we need to talk about. I didn't mean to lie- to keep it from you, but I just never had the chance to bring it up. Things about me I’ve kept from you.” You remained silent as he spoke no more. You both sat in silence for a while as you gathered your bearing.
Yoongi had taken to tending to you. You showed him once how to properly wrap bandages around wounds, and so he did. He wrapped any wound that seemed painful (which was many to his eyes) before he was helping you off your bed.
“Yoongi, I’m not so hurt I can’t walk myself,” you chuckled as he wrapped his arm around your back to support you. One of your arms clutched at the cape behind him as the other supported your balance on his chest. He held you to his side as he was careful not to rush his steps and trip you up.
“Still, you’re in no condition to be completely independent right now. Allow me to help you.” You almost scoffed at his aid as if you weren’t able to handle yourself, but you did appreciate it- especially when he didn’t need to offer such kindness.
As he helped you out of your room, you were shocked to see not a trashed cabin like you expected, but it was almost completely clean aside from the broken cabinet doors that sat against the wall in a pile. Whatever would have been broken was picked up and things were on the counter and on the table out of the way and where they belonged. A fire was even lit in the hearth of the fireplace.
You looked up to Yoongi. Did he clean it up? He helped you to the table where he sat you down on the chair by the window where you would normally drink something warm. You felt a little bad you hadn’t set out a plate of feed for the birds and critters today- but allowed yourself a pass considering your situation.
Navia was sitting by the fireplace as he watched the two of you. Yoongi moved to sit on the table’s edge- as unmanneristic as it was, it somehow suited him. He was in front of you against the wooden table, his fingers brushing along your cheek that had a patch over it to cover your cuts.
“Where would you like me to start, Scale?” He asked you. Your face deepened when he addressed you like that. Was that his form of a nickname? You shook the thought away as you opened your mouth.
“My cabin, I guess?” You realize you didn’t give him much of a specific answer. “I mean, I was expecting it to be a nightmare, but it’s so clean?”
“That is because I cleaned it up,” he softly told you with a small smile. So, you were right. “The times I have been here, I was familiar with the placements of most of your belongings. Others I admit I guessed, but I couldn’t leave it like it was. You have enough to worry about.”
“Well, thank you for that,” you graciously tell him.
“It was nothing.” You spent a good portion of that day talking to Yoongi where you were. If you wanted to get up and move to take a break from the flood of answers to any question you had, he would help. Navia would walk around and do small chores for you if you were kind enough to ask- or have Yoongi tell him to. The tanned dragon was awfully obedient, yet kind to a fault it seemed.
The shortened days of winter were showing as the sky started to progressively darken. You watched it from the window of the cabin you had been in all day. It had been a long time since you spent all your time inside without much of anything to do. It was relaxing even if under unpleasant circumstances.
Yoongi had handed you a mug of something warm for your throat as you thanked him and took small, cautious sips due to its heat. Yoongi watched you as you watched outside, the occasional chuckles slipping past your lips when you saw birds or squirrels chase each other around.
“Y/n,” Yoongi called as Navia had taken his place back by the fireplace. He was, unsurprisingly, not fond of the cold so he had stuck to the fireplace like glue as often as he could. “Do you want to leave this cabin?”
His question caught you off guard. You lowered your mug to the table top as you looked at him.
“What?”
Yoongi’s mouth was pressed into a thin line as his eyes were narrowed in a veil of anxiousness. In truth he didn’t want you to live here anymore. What happened the night before could very well happen again and what if he didn’t get to you in time next time? What if next time they drag you off or even kill you? He couldn’t handle that. He didn’t even want to think about it.
“If I left,” you chuckled bitterly as you looked back outside, “where would I go? I can’t just live in a cave or in trees.”
“You could come back with me.” There was silence in the cabin’s front room. The sound of the fire crackling and the small sounds from outside your walls. “Come back with me to Dragon Country and live there.”
“That’s impossible,” you told him. “I am no dragon. How could I live there?” You half expected Navia from behind to slip into the conversation and throw in his opinion on the matter. You, a human leaving the Woodlands and running off to live in Dragon Country? There was no way, it was preposterous. “Why take me back anyways?”
“Dragon’s are only able to choose one being to become absolutely loyal to without fault in their lives. We live for years, decades, centuries. The oldest of dragon’s can live for hundreds of human lifetimes, so we are especially picky when it comes to our choice.”
“What does that have to do with me?” You asked.
“I said so before, I am your dragon.” That’s right. You did remember him saying that in his rage the night before. Something about being your personal dragon and threatening the men not to try another attack stunt again.
“So, then-”
“I chose you,” he admitted. You felt your air leave you in silent waves. “Out of all things I’ve met of my years alive, you were the first to treat me kindly without expecting anything in return. You were my first in many things that warmed my being. That is why I want you to come back with me.”
You opened your mouth then shut it again before you shook your head, trying to process his words. You took a shaky breath and looked back to him again.
“Say I agreed, isn’t it too dangerous? I mean, you might be with me, sure, but I’m still just a human woman. What could I possibly do so you wouldn’t have to protect me all the time? Wouldn’t I just be a constant risk?”
“That would not be the case,” he told you sternly. “I would see to it that every dragon be made aware of who you are. Once they know, they wouldn’t dare lay a talon on you unless they’re turncoats.” Yoongi sounded so serious, you almost believed him. “They would treat you better than these humans ever have,” he promised.
“How are you so sure?” You narrowed your eyes at him, challenging his word. He sure sounded high and mighty for proposing something that sounded so risky.
“Because I’m your dragon,” he repeated. You almost groaned and rolled your eyes. You felt like you were running in circles with him.
“What does that have to do with anything?” So what? You get to boss around and rely on a dragon. As legitimately remarkable as that is, you didn’t seem to connect that to your safety in his country.
“Because my Master in question- you- would be commanding the dragon in charge of Dragon Country.” There was a beat of silence.
What.
“So, you’re claiming to be what? The King of Dragon Country? Am I just supposed to believe that?”
“Yes, you are.” He told you with a straight face. There was no sign of lying or hesitation. He seemed so sure and serious of himself that you were questioning yourself of his truth.
“But that’s-”
“If I may,” Navia spoke, cutting you off from behind you as Yoongi shot him a glare for interrupting you. You turned to look at the white-eyed dragon as his tanned skin shone with the fire’s casted light. “It’s wise to know that the King detests liars and lies in general.”
Your eyes widened as you whipped your head back to Yoongi who was still shooting the other dragon a look before he returned his sights back to you.
“Oh my Gods, you’re serious.”
The night concluded a long, well-rounded talk about just who Yoongi really was. Finding out he was a king was one thing, but it was harder to understand that you were now in charge and in command of that king. You felt simultaneously all powerful and powerless.
In the end, you did agree to go back with him; however, under one condition.
-x-x-x-
You sat at your desk in your room, scribbling line after line of ink on a piece of parchment. It had been a week since your ‘unfortunate situation’ as you called it and you were healing well. You fixed your cabin the best you could and moving around like normal again was easier by the day. You could already almost chop firewood again- not that you actually were. You had no reason to stock up anymore.
On your bed was a bag. One that was large and had the flap open to show the contents inside. A few folded dresses and one of your leather corsets that wasn’t completely ruined. Jars and bottles of salves, potions, crushed herbs, flowers, and sacks of roots and leaves. Even your favorite cup and a knowledgeable book about medicine. All neatly packed.
You stretched as you leaned back in your chair and looked out the window to your room. You smiled as a bittersweet feeling fluttered in your stomach.
You looked down at the letter you had just finished as you folded it up and placed it inside of an envelope before writing the name of to whom it would be addressed on the front.
Your windows rattled with a gust of wind outside. You smiled as you got up from your desk and grabbed your bag. You tossed the flap of ti over the bag, the large button in the flap of it looping through a latch to close it securely. You threw the long strap over your shoulder as you grabbed the letter from your desk and opened your bedroom door.
You stopped, turning to look at the room once more. It was clean, bed made and everything neat and tidy. You smiled sadly at your space before you said goodbye to it. You felt silly saying farewell to a room.
When you walked into the main room, Yoongi had already let himself in. He smiled at you when he saw you. Just as you had asked him a week ago, he had left you alone for the last 7 days. That was your condition, even if he grumbled about it. You wanted one last week on your own in your lifelong home- that was all.
He walked to you and grabbed your arm gently before bending to softly push his lips against his cheek. You jolted as you covered your skin with your hand.
“What was that for?” You asked, flushed.
“Simply, because.”
“That is not an answer,” you scowled. “Did Navia come with you?” You asked peering around his back to look.
“Of course he didn’t. I don’t need an escort.”
“Of course you don’t,” you giggle. You walked around your cabin, running your fingers over the surface of your counters, your fireplace’s bricks, your dining table and around the window frames. You took everything into your memory even though this was the only home you ever had. Maybe that was why you felt like crying.
“Are you unwell?” Yoongi asked, coming up behind you and placing his hands on your shoulders. He could see how hard this was for you even without you looking at him directly. He knew this was his selfish wish, but if you really wanted to stay he wouldn’t drag you away.
“I feel like I'm homesick, but I haven’t even left yet,” you chuckle as your eyes stung. One of Yoongi’s hands moved to rest on your head as he pushed his cheek against the top of his hand to lean against your head.
“It will be alright,” he soothed.
“I know,” you chocked.
You spent a little while longer in your lifelong home before you felt like you were finally as ready as you’d ever be to leave. You feared if you stayed too much longer you’d root into your floorboard and then you’d never move again. As you walked out of the house, you took the key that hung on the inside of the door frame and took it out with you. You didn’t lock the cabin door, instead you placed the key on the outside doorknob.
This cabin would be welcoming to anyone who needed it, that was what the key hanging outside the space signified.
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Yoongi asked for the umpteenth time, earning him an eye roll from you.
“Yes, now take me away or else I’ll start ugly crying.” He chuckled before he was walking with you out of the Woodlands and when you reached the edge of the lands, he transformed into his wyvern form. You climbed onto his neck just behind his head so you could clutch onto his horns (or his ears, whichever worked best with your grip) before he was flying off with you completely.
Leaving that cabin, the humans and one single letter on the dining table addressed to ‘Villagers’ behind for good.
-x-x-x-
“Father! Look, is this what you were talking about?” A small child cheered as he ran through the Woodlands and came across a small cabin that was covered in overgrowth. The wood had been overrun with vines and moss. Small tree saplings sprung from the wood above on the roof and weeds overtook the ground that was once all dirt. The trunk that had once been used to chop wood years and years ago had a sapling of a new tree ready to grow in the next hundred years.
Nests of birds, holes and burrows of moles and squirrels littered the area.
The child ran around the perimeter of the cabin, eyeing it up and down as small plumes of red smoke puffed through their nostrils in excitement.
“I’ve never seen a human house before!”
“Juilius, come back to me before you trip or get caught in a vine.”
The child trotted back to his father who had come to the Woodlands simply to show his son what the home of a human looked like. Although, times have changed and this is certainly not how humans lived anymore. This cabin was long forgotten to time and nature had long since reclaimed it.
The visit was short and sweet to a degree as the child was soon ushered to be ready to leave. “Your mother wants you home at a reasonable time. We can’t keep her waiting.”
“I’m coming,” the child cheered as he started leaving the Woodlands with his father’s hand in his own. “Will I get to fly part of the way back this time? I swear I can!”
“Alright, you can until we hit the first mountain peak; but don’t tell your mother.”
“I won’t!” He promised.
Landing peacefully in Dragon Country and arriving safely at the palace, the child giggled happily to himself on how well he was able to fly on his own and how his wings were getting stronger day by day.
“Yes, but you still can’t retract your scales yet, now can you?” His father teased. Juilius pouted as his brick red scales refused to fade in his human form.
“Well,” a voice called to them in a happy tone. “You look just like your father when you pout like that with your scales out.”
“Mother!” Juilius cheered as he ran to his mother’s arm, clinging to her as he was picked up and nuzzled into her neck. “Father took me to the Woodlands today. He said that there was a cabin in the woods where you used to live, so he let me see it!”
You blinked down at your blush-cheeked scaled child. “Oh did he? I hope he didn’t let you fly at that dangerous height.”
“Nope!” The child grinned as innocent as can be- keeping his promise to his father in the small little white lie.
“You always assume the worst of me. Don’t you, Scale?” Yoongi teased as he came to your side with your child on your chest as his legs kicked playfully on either side of your hips. He was young, only a decade old. He was still a hatchling when it came right down to dragon ages.
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Mother, can you tell me about the humans?”
“You’re always so curious about them. Why do you want to know, Hatchling?”
“Well, you used to be one right? Father said you only got your scales and horns when you came here.”
“Well, then that is going to be a long story. It’s only right if your father helps tell part of it too. It is his fault I became a dragon in the first place,” you looked at Yoongi as he cleared his throat. “Isn’t that right, Your Majesty.”
“I really don’t know what you could be referring to,” he sheepishly retorted, looking away. As Juilius tried annoying the answer out of his father, he just shushed him. “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
“That’s not fair,” the child pouted.
“My Lady,” your attention was called from Navia who had finally tracked you down. His white eyes glowing down the halls like nighttime fireflies as he approached. “A new hatchling was born in the valley this morning and it’s mother asked if you would be gracious enough to name them.”
Your eyes shined. “I’d love to,” you said as you set Juilius down and kissed his forehead. You moved to kiss Yoongi’s cheek as you allowed Navia to escort you away. The dragon child took his father’s hand.
“So, what mother said about how she became a dragon; why do I need to wait until I grow up to know? Is it some kind of big dragon secret?” Yoongi’s face flushed as he cleared his throat again and was soon leading his son off somewhere else to clean up after his day out.
“I already told you, not until you’re older.”
Who knew that the exchanging of the blood and saliva of the king of dragons was able to gradually change humans into dragons? Yoongi certainly never knew until one morning you woke up with scales dusting your cheeks after a rather specific night.
To which would soon be the outcome of the pestering royal child, Juilius.
-END-
#btsboulangerie#btsbookclub#btswriterscollective#bangtanidx#min yoongi#yoongi fic#yoongi angst#yoongi fluff#yoongi romance#yoongi fanfic#suga#suga fic#suga fanfic#suga fanfiction#yoongi fanfiction#yoongi x reader#yoongi x reader au#suga x reader#suga x reader au#au#dragon yoongi#herbalist reader#female reader#dragon#wyvern#wyvern yoongi#bts#bts au#bts yoongi#bts suga
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in a different life we lived.
"i think that in a different life, the two of us actually, you know, fell in love."
with xiao.
in 1.9k words.
tags reincarnation au, fluff with angst if you look hard enough, but its really just fluff, ft. xingqiu but just a little.
“...And my dream was so detailed, you know? As if I’ve actually lived it out in real life. But the thing is… I’ve never lived that out before, all that falling in love and stuff, and especially not in the way I had in my dream. We were holding hands, even though skinship wasn’t his favorite.
“He took me to his favorite spot, hidden away where no one else could find it, and told me that he went there often, just so he could be alone. And, he said, that now that I was with him, we could be alone together. Ah, I don’t even know how I remember all of this. It’s so vivid, like it was a past memory of mine.
“Do you think it’s something like my past life…?” You turn to the boy next to you. “Are you even listening?”
The boy pulls his nose away from the book and turns to you with a soft gaze. “Ah, sorry. Could you repeat that again?” You hardly know this young man—just having only met him—and yet he’s getting on your nerves.
“Xingqiu—if that’s your name—you invited me to sit next to you and talk with you. You said, what, that I looked like I had a lot on my mind and that I could talk to you about whatever was troubling me,” you say, exasperated.
“And you are,” he tells you calmly, and this time he turns to you. “You know, reincarnation could be real. Do you really believe that what you’re dreaming of are the memories of your past? It’s very plausible.”
“Maybe, I don’t know.” You turn away from the scenic view in front of you and face reality. “Well, I’ll just head back home. It was nice meeting you. Hopefully, if I ever see you again, we can have a nice talk once more.”
“Farewell,” he says, eyes glossing over inked words on paper. Then, he turns back to call out one last thing before you disappear. “Ah, also, maybe you should try visiting that spot you mentioned in your dream.”
You scoff—so he was listening, after all. You gather your things and make your way back to Wangshu Inn. You’re grateful for their warm and welcoming arms that have allowed you to stay since last night. Though there were few backs that have faced you upon your arrival, you paid no attention to those cold gazes. Now that it’s getting late, you’d best be returning before your place gets dusty.
Though, you realize, Xingqiu’s parting words do have some sense to them— you turn to walk towards not the Inn but where your legs seem to know the location of your supposed hidden paradise. It’s like this place is of this world, though you have no recollection of it, but as you near the area, the empty feeling in your hands increases. You put your hands to your chest, in hopes to relieve it of the loneliness, and you continue on in your path.
The scenery around you grows familiar, and you see the placement of trees and their branches in all the right places. Ducking beneath leaves, you enter the secluded area—it’s just as you remembered in your dream. In fact, the entire location is identical.
Even more so, there’s someone sitting on the patch of grass that the sunset blesses among the shaded area. His arms are behind him, hands planted on the ground, and one of his arms is fixated in such a position that it looks like he’s made room for someone to sit next to him, as if he was waiting for someone. What catches your eye, however, are the tattoos on his right arm that remind you of memories that never existed.
“Who’s there?” he asks calmly, as if he’d been expecting someone to arrive. He doesn’t look behind.
You stop in your tracks, wondering whether you should leave or not. Your hands grab hold of the surrounding branches behind you, ready to push them aside as you’re about to leave before saying, “Ah, sorry. I really… don’t know why I’m here.” You turn to leave, head hanging down, but before you could take a step further, you notice that there’s a little dandelion standing tall next to your feet.
You bend down to pluck at it, telling him before finally returning to the Inn, “Sorry, I just saw this dandelion. It’s my superstition that if you pluck one and then blow the seeds away, it provides you with good luck and happiness.” You pause— you’ve spoken far more than you had wanted. “Okay, I’ll take my leave now.”
The man turns around. “Do tell me,” he tells you, “more about the dandelion you’re holding.”
“What do you want me to tell you?” You stand still. The space between you two grows awkward, and you’re left with discomfort settling in your chest. Now you feel you’ve invaded someone’s privacy and yet they’re asking you to stay, despite how uncomforting it must be for the man.
Though, he seems to be interested in you; he prods for more information about topics you know hardly anything about. “Just anything that you know,” he says.
You think for a second. “Well, I heard that if you give this,” you motion to the dandelion in your hand, “to a loved one, it is a promise of total faithfulness.”
The man exhales and turns back around.
‘Somebody else once told me that, long ago,’ he thinks.
“Come,” he tells you, not once looking back. With the way he stiffly pats the spot at which he beckons you to sit, you think that he’s not used to having people intrigue him—or talk to him, for that matter—that often. “Sit by me. You remind me of someone.”
You hesitate, then you deny the offer. “Ah, no. I really shouldn’t— it’s getting late, and I’d best be heading back before something comes up and…” You trail off, not knowing what to say next. However, his silence makes you question your decision, and as much as you’re unwilling to loiter any longer, you take your seat next to him, save for some space between you two as you’re still wary of him.
He looks solemnly up at the sunset that dips behind mountains. Camps from far away have lit up their torches, and if you look hard enough, you could see the orange lights of Liyue harbor that awaken. No words are exchanged between the two of you until the man beside you introduces himself.
“My name is Xiao.”
Though, why does that not seem like an introduction but more of a reminder?
You introduce yourself with the same lowness in your voice.
Xiao dips his head down to look at the ground below him. ‘Even their names are similar,’ he ponders.
Again, silence falls like the night sky that makes itself known. You wouldn’t have thought you’d have roped yourself into this situation, finding yourself sitting next to a stranger that you seem to know. “Life really does have its strange twists,” is what Xingqiu would say. You smile to yourself.
“Why do I remind you of someone?” you ask him after the millionth star in the sky flashes into existence.
“A time ago, I met someone— you could call them my lover. They had the same superstition as you, the one about dandelions, and they were the only one I told about this hidden spot of mine.
“One day, they had to leave so suddenly. Before they did, they took a dandelion by the grass and gave it to me, telling me, ‘I was once told that if you give a dandelion to a loved one, it is a sign of total faithfulness.’ They said that one day, they would return, and that I would know, because I must have faith in them. Then, I was told to blow the seeds away the second they were out of view, as it would provide me with great luck in finding them once more.
“Ever since that day, they never returned.” Xiao never once turns to look at you. His amber eyes fixate on the stars above you two, hoping that one day they align and he’d find his lover once more— or, at least that’s what you assume. He’s wondering if he should tell you if he’s found his lover in you, and he does. “I believe that today, they returned.”
You’re not sure what to say, so you stutter out a “You think I’m…?”
He nods his head once. “The reincarnation of whom I once loved.”
—
Xiao’s hands are on your waist, one of yours holding onto his shoulder with the other over his cheek. He seems to melt into your touch, despite claiming in the past that being close to him could harm you, but as his kisses against your jaw and over your lips grow more fervent, you know he’s thrown all those words over the shoulder. Your heart feels so full; his allowing you to kiss him and letting you know how much he loves you brings your head down into the crook of his neck.
Then, you pull away and look up at the night sky. The view is extraordinary from the hidden spot the two of you share, much better than wherever you were previously located. The lanterns up in the night sky do wonders to let you notice the blush dusting on his cheeks when you turn to face him, even though you know that if you were to mention it to Xiao, he’d deny it outright.
“Look up, Xiao,” you tell him softly. “One of those lanterns up there is mine.”
His eyes stay fixated on you. “What did you wish for?”
“Now, I can’t tell you that,” you jest. “But maybe if you look up at the lanterns, you might find mine and see what’s written on it.” It’s a desire you hope will pass into your next life.
So, he does. Xiao’s eyes light up like they’re lanterns too, and he’s just in awe. He’s never paid much attention to the annual festival, as it’s become redundant to him, but now that he’s spent this year with you, perhaps he’ll get to view the lanterns a little differently. Xiao doesn’t want to admit that his jaw drops just a little, but you can see how his mouth opens in amazement. Have lights always been this beautiful?
“I should make a wish as well,” he tells you.
“You should,” you urge. “You should have come down with me to the harbor. We could have written our wishes on the lanterns together.”
Xiao shakes his head. “I don’t know about that,” he says. “I’m not particular with crowds, you know.”
You agree. “But you like me, though, right?”
“Of course I do— I love you. Now, as for my wish… It should be fairly obvious as to what it is.”
You tease Xiao, telling him you’re clueless. You really are, though— there’s no telling behind his cold features.
All he does is sigh. “It’s… for you to return to me once you’ve gone away.”
For a moment, you go silent. All that you hear is the bustling of the festival-goers down in the harbor and the beating of your heart. You swallow dryly and embrace him in your arms. Xiao takes a while before he wraps his own around you.
He’s reciprocated your wish.
“...I’ll never leave you. With all my lives I have yet to live, I’ll always come back to you.”
#genshin impact x reader#genshin x reader#xiao x reader#genshin xiao x reader#gi xiao x reader#genshin impact fluff#xiao fluff
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Dangerous and Divine - Part 17
Billy Russo x Reader
Summary: Billy Russo is an itch you don’t want to scratch. But he’s all over you like a rash.
A/N: This does not follow canon, it’s mainly fluff & lemon zest 🍋 Hopefully you’ve guessed by now that is my “Billy Russo Deserves Real Love AU” as I totally refuse to accept what happened in S2! The GIF is from Exposed, unreleased pilot show in case you’re wondering 😌... Billy vibes.
Warnings: 18+ NSFW due to sexual content including oral and unprotected* sex between consenting adults. Some drinking & swearing.
*Irl, please don’t go wild in the country without protection.
(My GIF)
“Are you sure about that, Billy?” He laughed nervously, but replied, “Very sure, sweetheart.”
You thought that was really brave of him, considering you were holding his favourite weapon in your hand. You shrugged, “I’ll get the information out of you one way or another, Russo.”
He laughed, “You’ll need to get past all the Marine training first, sweetheart!”
You rolled his cock between your palms then gave his balls a long firm squeeze, hearing a loud groan from him. “What was that you were you saying, sweetheart?” you snarked back at him. Laughing, he gasped, “Do your worst!”
You wrapped two fingers round his tip and squeezed quite hard, eliciting a low grunt from Billy. Then you really set to work on him, using a lethal combination of your mouth and hands. You could hear him whimpering above you, but thought you’d better not risk calling him a puppy again.
“What’s this surprise, hmm Russo?” you asked, before swirling your tongue right around his tip and down onto his slit, teasing it before dragging your teeth very gently down his length. Billy thrashed on the bed, crying out and grabbing a handful of your hair, “uhhh... unnhh!!!” You were now licking his cock very slowly and deliberately; all of a sudden Billy’s hips jerked forward like a pile driver, he shouted “Fuck!!!” and came, really hard.
You daintily wiped a finger across your lips once you’d finished swallowing Billy’s come and rested your chin on his chest, giving him your version of puppydog eyes. “Aww, c’mon Billy, tell me!” You tickled his lower stomach and smiled when you saw the muscles rippling and contracting under your touch. His head was lying right back on the pillows, chin upturned towards the ceiling and you gazed fondly at his beardy neck. He was huffing out breaths and finally tilted his head down towards you, gazing at you with wide eyes.
He merely shook his head, saying nothing and still gasping. “Cat got your tongue?” you teased, remembering how he’d ribbed you for being speechless after sex. His husky voice said, “No, an angel’s got it,” smiling down at you and you stuck your tongue out at him. “Whilst that little session just blew my goddamn fuckin’ mind as well as my balls, I’m not cavin’, sweetheart,” he smirked. “You’re just gonna have to be patient.”
»»————————————-———- ⚜ ———————————-————-««
The next morning, you were gently shaken awake. You forced your eyes open, rubbing them while yawning, only to see Billy standing over you, bare naked and holding a tray. “Breakfast in bed, sweetheart,” he cooed, putting the tray down on the bedside table beside you. Trying to drag your eyes away from the view currently being presented to you, eventually you managed to stutter, “That.. uh, that’s uhh really sweet of you, Billy.”
Of course the Russo Smirk was in place, and his hands were now on his hips. He knew exactly what you were looking at, and why you were losing your words. He was putting himself on display for you like a peacock, you thought. Then your mind skipped to all those nature programmes you’d watched, where the female of the species sat on a branch and watched the males displaying themselves, before picking the best of the bunch and mating with them.
Hmmm, you thought, Mother Nature had something there - better than the humans did. Although you did take offence over the fact that the females were usually always small and dowdy and boring-looking. While they did get the pick of the males at the end of the day, you weren’t happy with that aspect of things. However, you suspected that underneath those unassuming exteriors, the females were actually done up like guest contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and gave their chosen males a massive shock when they reached the bedroom (nest, hole in a tree, rainforest, whatever) and unveiled themselves in all their true splendour.
You tore your thoughts away from nature and its mysteries, and found yourself still staring at Billy’s lush body. Then you realised he was waving his hand in front of your face, “Hey! Hello! Hey, sweetheart!” You stared up at him, “Oh, uhhh, sorry - I was thinking about birds of paradise.” He burst out laughing, “Huh?” You shook your head, “I’ll explain it to you sometime. I’m not as crazy as I sound.”
He leapt full-length onto the bed beside you, bouncing you up slightly off the bed in the process. Reaching over and picking up the tray from the side, he placed it carefully on your lap. Your eyes widened in pleasure as you looked down at the plate... he’d made Eggs Benedict! “Oh my god, Billy - you didn’t!” He smiled, looking smug, “You told me it’s your favourite! Well, alongside scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. An’ I’ve already shown off my scrambled eggs to you, so here ya go... my Eggs Benedict but without the ham. Just like the lady ordered.”
You picked up the paper napkin and unfolded it, noticing that Billy had drawn a big heart on it with a little smiley face in the middle. Chuckling, you turned it towards him, “Really? Are you sure you were in the Marines, Billy Russo? A sniper? Trained in unarmed combat and still walking around with weapons concealed in every available part of your body??!!” He smiled, looking down at the tray and fiddling with the edge of it, face that cute shade of pink again.
His eyes came up and met yours again, “I know, I know!” Laughing, he carried on, “Look, angel... this is all still a bit unreal for me, okay? Spent my whole life bein’ a ‘never get involved’ kinda guy, to put it mildly - and politely.” His hand went to your face, and his thumb ran gently over your bottom lip. “Met you, an’... an’....boom! It’s like I’ve been hit by a fuckin’ grenade or sumthin’.” He laughed, “Knocked me clean out I reckon, yeah. Woke up and hey - I’m stoned in love with you. Still tryin’ to get my head round it, but it’s how I feel...” he shrugged, still stroking softly, “...maybe this is payback, y’know? Fate just thought, there’s that Billy Russo runnin’ all over town with lots of different women, let’s just teach him a lesson.”
His big dark eyes met yours, an apologetic look in them and a lock of hair falling cutely over one temple. He continued, “Let’s hit him so hard with a case of love at first sight it’ll knock him into next year, never mind next week.” His hand moved to your cheek, laying it gently against it, “And here I am. A lovesick Romeo, as a certain person put it. I’ve fallen so hard and so fast for you and it really, really scares me. I think if you left me, I... well, I think I’d die. I love you so damn much, angel.”
You were staring at him, mesmerised, as he spilled this to you. Couldn’t even get irritated at the passing mention of the Scorned Woman. Feeling your face blush, and sure you’d melted into a human puddle, you leant towards him and kissed him. With passion. He kissed you back, arm going round your neck and pulling you closer to him. You pulled away, putting your lips to his ear and whispering, “I love you, Russo.”
He reared back, a huge smile on his face, “You said it! You said ‘I love you’ to me!!!”
Still blushing, you nodded, “Uh-huh, I did.”
He grabbed you and pulled you up against his chest, and you heard a deep chuckle, “I knew pester power would work one-a these days!”
»»————————————-———- ⚜ ———————————-————-««
You’d untangled yourself from him after that, saying that your eggs were getting cold. “Hey!” he said, “.... we’re talkin’ ’bout serious stuff here, sweetheart!”
You smiled, “Food is serious to me too, y’know!” He’d shaken his head, mock-sulking, “Okay then, here we go.” Your hand went to the cutlery, but he grabbed it before you could. Then he cut into one of the poached eggs and toasted sourdough base, and you watched entranced as the egg yolk slowly ran out of it like liquid gold and mixed in with the hollandaise sauce.
He made another couple of cuts with the knife and then stuck the fork into the bit of egg he’d cut off for you, swirling it around to pick up more sauce. “Open up, sweetheart,” he grinned, a suggestive look on his face. Rolling your eyes, you did as he said, and he placed the dripping forkload carefully into your mouth. Savouring it as you chewed, you mumbled round the mouthful, “This is really good! Did you make the sauce yourself? Or did it come out of a jar?”
Billy looked outraged, “A jar!! A jar??” he growled, “No, it did not! It was made from scratch by these fair hands,” and he held up his big hands in front of you, turning them back and forward. You looked lovingly at them; you adored Billy’s long slim fingers. “Okay, Chef - sorry I’m sure!” you laughed.
You’d let Billy feed you another forkful before grabbing the knife and fork off him, and then you started cutting up and shovelling the eggs into your mouth in a rather unladylike manner. Billy looked a bit offended, and you realised you’d spoiled his little romantic moment, so you ran your fingers through his hair, saying guiltily between mouthfuls, “Too slow, sweets. They’re getting cold, plus I’m really enjoying this so I needed to speed up my intake.” A small smile played over his lips, “Okay, then.”
»»————————————-———- ⚜ ———————————-————-««
After breakfast and a nice soak in the bath together, where you absolutely didn’t give Billy a helping hand when he got a sudden and rampant hard-on (okay, yes - you did), the two of you threw on some casual clothes and went out for a walk to make the most of the sunny morning. He slid his hand into yours and interlinked fingers with you.
Billy’s place was on the Upper East Side in Lenox Hill, while you lived on the Upper West Side in the Lincoln Square neighbourhood, so you were on familiar territory as he steered you towards Central Park. Strolling through the park, no particular place to go, people-watching as you sat beside The Lake in the sun for a while. The two of you talked about a whole load of nothing before deciding to go for a late lunch in a diner Billy knew and liked back in his neighbourhood.
As you ate, you noticed that Billy was fidgeting quite a bit and kept looking at his watch. You poked him with the blunt end of your fork, “Billy!” He jumped slightly, and you carried on, “You’re fidgeting. Have you got somewhere to be or something? - you’re checking your watch every two seconds!” Not meeting your eyes, he cleared his throat while shaking his head, “Nah, angel - just keen to get back out for some sun and fresh air.” You laughed, “Well, Manhattan fresh air.” “Yeah, true,” he said, now looking at you, “...you nearly done?” “Not quite, Billy, got some beer left too.” He stroked your hand, “Oh, no rush!”
You continued to chew on your chicken wrap, watching Billy as you did so. He’d already finished his food and beer, and was still fidgety - pulling at the sleeves of his leather jacket, fiddling with his hair, moving the ketchup bottles around the table and back again.
What is wrong with that boy? you thought. He’s like the proverbial cat on a hot tin roof. Finally you finished your food and drained the last of your beer. Billy had already paid, bounding over to the counter to settle up without even waiting for the waitress to bring the check.
Once outside and heading back to the park for a further stroll, you tugged at his hand... you were being disgustingly ’coupley’ today, you thought, a bit annoyed at yourself, but what the hell... and asked, “Billy, what’s the surprise?” He just laughed, shaking his head. “Tell me!” Aware that you were sounding more than a bit brattish, you added, “...please, Billy, go on!”
“No, angel, cos then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?” You managed to resist the need to stamp your foot, but your bottom lip was pouting of its own accord. He leant down and gave you a long, sexy kiss and you gave in, resigning yourself to the fact that the tall ex-Marine was not going to confess anything so you’d better stop sulking. You grabbed a handful of hair, and Billy laughed, taking his mouth off yours, “C’mon, sweetheart - let’s head back to my place. We’ll take the scenic route.”
»»————————————-———- ⚜ ———————————-————-««
Billy took you on a very circuitous route back to his place, and it took well over an hour to make it back there. As you both walked along the hallway towards his apartment, he dug out his keys and then promptly dropped them before he could slot the key into the lock. You stared at him, what the hell was wrong with Russo? Whatever he might be, he was all about precision and attention to detail - he was not a klutz! Now you - yeah, you’d be the one to drop your keys but not Billy!
However, he’d quickly bent down and grabbed them off the floor, successfully unlocking and opening the door this time. You followed him inside, and then your mouth dropped open.
Soft music was playing on Billy’s state-of-the-art music system. There was an intimate little round table sitting in front of the big picture window in the lounge. A string of LED stars was strung across and down the sides of the window. The table was laid for two, looking like a restaurant place setting - gleaming champagne flutes, plates and cutlery, fancily folded linen napkins, a pearly pink peony in a slim vase in the middle, an ice bucket on a stand next to the table, a bottle of Krug champagne sitting up perkily in it. You swung round to Billy, “What....?”
But you looked up into empty space. Your eyes travelled downwards until they found Billy - down on one knee in front of you. A small velvet ring box was held - unopened as yet - in a vice-like grip in those long, slender fingers you loved so much, and Billy’s big dark eyes were gazing fearfully into yours.
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
»»————————————-———- ⚜ ———————————-————-««
@blackbirddaredevil23 @galaxyjane @omgrachwrites @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @ourloveisforthelovely @swthxrry
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If you like your history bitchy, look no further than the ‘Girt’ series by David Hunt! Here is a fun excerpt from his most recent volume, Girt Nation, where, within the context of Australian history, he lays into Thomas the Tank Engine
Girt Nation: The Unauthorised History of Australia, Volume 3, by David Hunt
Get this onto the Aus Curriculum stat!
Transcript below the cut, whoo
[ … Thomas & Friends is capitalist, colonialist, classist, ageist, racist, sexist, fattest, homophobic, transphobic and climate change denying. 27
27 Thomas and his friends live on the island of Sodor, a society that runs entirely on diesel and coal. There they are conditioned by an authoritarian Englishman, The Fat Controller, to believe they are living in a working train’s paradise. Sodor is a much better place than the rest of the world, as Gordon, an over-confident Scottish engine, discovers in ‘Gordon Goes Foreign’. Thomas the Tank Engine is a collaborator train who keeps the other trains in line, and regularly does them in to the Controller. The Controller rewards Thomas by giving him women, Annie and Clarabel, who are forced to roll behind him and do whatever he tells them to do. Thomas is also allowed significant autonomy in running the Ffarquhar Branch Line. The trains compete with each other in being ‘Really Useful’ because the Controller sends old trains, and other trains unable to work, to the Smelting Yard. Any trains who do unauthorised jobs are punished, as are trains who refuse to work when the Controller tells them to (in ‘The Sad Story of Henry’, Henry is bricked into a dark tunnel for refusing to work in the rain). The trains are not paid, but compete for new paint jobs, and make fun of trains with old or damaged. The steam engines are superior to the ‘dirty diesels’. The main diesel is not given is a name - he is just called Diesel, or sometimes Devious Diesel. He comes from ‘the Other Railway’, is black and steals jobs wood, a valuable Sodorian export. Bad engines can be identified from the black smoke the emit and, in the original version of ‘Henry’s Sneeze’, Henry sneezes on two naughty schoolboys who ‘ran away as black as n*****s’. In ‘Tickled Pink’, the trains mock James for a pink paint job, but James picks up the Controller’s granddaughter and her friends who, being girls, all love pink, so James feels better about himself. Female engines are under-represented and there are no trans trains. The Thomas franchise has recently introduced new lady trains and trains of colour to improve Sodor’s diversity. Latin Gina is a stylish head turner, if you are into lady trains. Ashima is a ‘fun and feisty’ hot-pink lady engine with henna-like decorations, who says, ‘Just because we’re well painted doesn’t mean we can’t do anything else’ - she wins the Shunting Challenge at the Great Railway Show (an international exhibition for trains), but submissively defers to Thomas in letting him share first place. Frieda is reminiscent of an East German shot putter - a big grumpy German lady train who likes to compete in feats of strength and is mistaken for a male train. Do not let your children watch Thomas & Friends.
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Misalignment (Chapter 10)
Fandom: Steven Universe
Rating: T
Words: 550~
Summary: His family’s not present, the third time he runs away. They never see the creature he becomes.
Early corruption AU.
In which we catch up with Kaiju Steeb for a brief moment.
Hi, so link posts on tumblr dot hell are broken today! I’ll be posting the AO3 link in the reblogs, so I can really use your help in boosting that specific reblog. If you read this and enjoy, I’d greatly appreciate your support through reblogs here, or kudos/comments on AO3 as well. Thank you! <3
____
The gargantuan creature reaches a new landform by daybreak.
With a pitiable whine escaping from between its piercing fangs, it collapses onto its side in the fine grained, picturesque shores of an island paradise all but untouched by the humans who call this planet home. Blinking granules of sand away from mournful eyes, it slowly shifts its gaze, likely to take account of its new surroundings. Impressively large mineral formations jut out from fertile soil, rising above the palm trees and bushy foliage like crystalline mountains. They almost look like geodes, the way these crystals cluster and propagate across the concave surfaces of the various caves and cliffs scattered across the area. While it’s unlikely that this creature actually recognizes its surroundings, in truth, it has explored this island before. But that was years ago... back when it had a name. A family. A home, a purpose.
Now, the only notable stimuli that floods this being’s synapses beyond muscle exhaustion is hunger. Untamed, ravenous hunger, the sort that normally bows to no amount of logic or self-control. A great line of saliva— glistening and pink— slops from its mouth and into the sandy brush grass below. The patch of grass wilts upon contact, its blades turning a sickly grey.
Finally rising onto its hind feet, the digitigrade beast begins to explore. It strips away whole leafy branches with its wide, clawed hands as it goes, consuming them whole. Deeper and deeper into the dense jungle it stalks. No quantity of foliage seems to be an adequate match for the cravings of a creature who has just swam endless miles without rest, however. The desperate cries of its stomach have settled, but have not yet been fully satiated.
Soon enough, it finds itself emerging into a wide clearing resting under the morning shadows of a crystal encrusted cliff. Neat rows of identical bamboo houses with thatched roofs frame the edges of this valley, a sprawling garden of verdant vegetables, fruits, and ancient grains stretching far beyond those doorsteps. The locals— small sentient watermelon folk all wearing grassy skirts, necklaces, or headbands— peer at their unexpected visitor curiously. (Although some, recalling legends of sacrifice to their ocean gods, clutch their pitchforks and hoes ever closer to their striped chests.) The creature drools as it catches a strong whiff of sweetness emanating from this entire valley, from the cores of all those tiny living things. A grand solution to its fathomless hunger...
It falls on its haunches, slowly creeping closer to the edge of this peaceful agrarian civilization. But as its massive paws scrape against a plot of tilled dirt just an arm’s length away from one of the terrified watermelons, a bizarre pang of restraint rises from within. Like a solitary sunbeam cutting through thick, black clouds amidst a troubling squall, a singular coherent thought manages to push its way through all the disorientation of this creature’s mind.
Stop, this weakened inner voice whispers. We can’t.
Sharpened claws scour thick lines through the soil, every waking instinct this creature has fighting against the iron will of that quiet voice. So sweet... so hungry...
Minutes later, the towering figure disappears from the village’s sky, every member of the community safe and accounted for. The coconuts and dragonfruits of this island, however, are not as lucky.
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Shattered Upside Down
A kotlc wings au
summary: When the world begins to crawl with unnaturally made monsters, the Keeper crew continue to fight like they always have. But a wrench is thrown in those plans when they themselves become less than human.
Chapter 1: The Descent
Word count: 7k
warnings: mild fantasy violence (nothing more than in canon), swearing
taglist: listed at the end beneath the cut, but let me know if you want to be added or removed
!!! Y’all!! It’s finally here!!! And you might be thinking, Quil they don’t have wings. To which I say: be patient!! this is a multi-chapter fic! this is just the groundwork <3
ao3 link here
or read beneath the cut
It was comical, really, just how quickly their security had crumbled into unbridled, ravaged chaos. They had relied on the extravagance of the Neverseen, always too brash, too bold, too eager for attention. They were self-sabotaging. They revealed their plans a moment too soon, wanting the world around them to see the cunning, the thought, to know which moments were their last.
And they’d played the part so clever, it hadn’t crossed a single mind that they were gracing more than one stage. That even when they weren’t putting on a show, they remained ingenuine.
The Black Swan had thought them comical storybook villains, all talk and poise. And then they’d slip, underestimating you and letting you swoop in last second, tossing wrenches in their gears and bringing them up short. A hero. Classic and overused, but a hero nonetheless.
It had been ludicrous to entertain the notion they could be capable of anything greater, anything deadlier. That they wanted to be stopped again and again. That they wanted to build the Black Swan’s confidence in themselves, wanted to be broken and bruised and battered and defeated again and again and again.
Because then who could consider them a threat?
Who would look for them, frail and scattered as they were?
They had all been lured into a false sense of security, taking the first deep, fulfilling breaths they’d had in years. And each day it came easier. Every passing second without disturbance relaxed their bodies and eased their minds. It had been months and months, long enough they felt safe. Actually safe. The idea was laughable now, but it had been true. The Neverseen were gone, dead and buried.
But villains work best from the grave.
The Ruewens noticed the shift first, although if you asked either of them they wouldn’t be able to tell you quite what it was. The subtle gleam gracing the teeth of each new animal they took in, each creature becoming more violent and vocal, tails thumping just a touch harder against the ground.
It was only a coincidence that seven times in a row the creatures were “uncharacteristically rough and wild for their species.” It only became worrisome when the docile creatures began to growl at anyone’s approach, even the ones that had already been tamed.
Then it all went to shit.
Absolute
fucking
shit.
You wouldn’t have been able to tell from the outside; it was surrounded by one-way glass. Look through and all you’d see were splotches of amorphous green, running streams, sunlight soft and secure. But the view from inside was a completely different story. From inside you could see the creeping mold and blood caked along the sides of streams, the marks in the trees and the torn roots, ash where the sun had burned too bright, rusted mist raining down.
What a nightmare they’d made of paradise.
Except, somehow, the Lost Cities themselves had ended up on the outside of the glass, content to pretend the creatures roaming the hills were only a problem if they were near you, which they weren’t. So what a pack of rabid unidentifiable beasts attacked? They hadn’t been here, so it wasn’t a problem.
Then it became a problem.
The creatures moved closer, working their way through the land, ravaging their way towards the Lost Cities. The elves blinked and they were surrounded. Crystal castles tumbled into sand, stone pavement was ripped from the ground, trees torn and shredded, dripping with infection.
They’d had no choice but to leave it all behind. There’d been backlash of course, despite it being in everyone’s best interest. Those who were so attached to what they had, what had remained a constant in the past millennia of their lives that they were fully willing to risk themselves for it. There was no doubt though, that had they been allowed to remain they would’ve regretted it the moment those creatures came to their door, the ones they’d refused to believe were their problem.
So they’d all moved below ground, deep enough they couldn’t be reached. Every inch of surface available to them was dangerous, so they’d gone beneath it. The dwarves had graciously worked to hollow out living space for them all, creating entire kingdoms beneath the sand. And now they were much more powerful, carried more weight with each step, the responsibility they’d risen to clinging to them and eating them respect no one could deny.
They’d all be dead without them.
Not everyone was in one place, a few spots underground scattered throughout the world and it nearly impossible to travel between them. Light leaping didn’t work underground, and it was an incredible risk to brave the surface for a single leap. Once everyone had been settled, they’d stayed there. And they were still there.
I mean, what else could they do?
It had taken them a bit to work out just where these volatile creatures had come from, the ones now spanning the entirety of the world--although the humans were still unaware. Something about the pollution and overall vibe of the forbidden cities kept the monsters away from them.
A few had suggested moving to the forbidden cities as an alternative to living underground, but the disgust for the places quickly killed that idea.
The Black Swan was adamant that somehow the Neverseen had to be behind this. The organization had been the only enemy they’d ever had--and they were right, in a way. Despite months of silence, of nothing, of security, they must’ve done something.
But how, was the question.
Perhaps it would’ve been better had the question never been answered, if they’d all remained ignorant of what had been hidden right beneath them. Certainly, there would’ve been more resistance had every single elf shoved underground been kept in the dark.
But alas, illumination came tied with a silver ribbon.
One of the smaller creatures, really not much larger than a candle, had slipped into the residences, stirring up a ruckus in its frantic attempts to escape as it realized it was trapped below ground. It had been caught in a corner, hunched over away from the lights. The entirety of its body had been shaded by the large mushroom cap covering its head. It was only on closer inspection they realized the red, dripping mushroom was attached to its head. The rest of its body was disproportionately small and warped, grooves scorn into the skin.
They had been taking it back towards a small air vent--so they could release it onto the surface--when they’d seen the small clasp. It was imperceptibly small, silver in color, piercing the underside of the mushroom cap. It was a tag. An identification tag complete with a pin number.
If that hadn’t been enough proof that the creatures had been intentional, the symbolic eye entwined with a sturdy chain would’ve been enough. Their hearts stopped dead. That eye was unmistakably the Neverseen’s symbol, but that chain…
It was clearly another symbol, the two mixed. But--
Fuck. The creature in their hands had grown panicked and impatient, the space they’d thought was its body leering open to reveal rows upon rows of stubby teeth, all sharp edges and imperfections. They’d nearly dropped the creature in their panic to shove it into the air vent, closing it quickly behind as the sharp, tiny stomps faded as it climbed further and further away.
That creature had been created intentionally and the Neverseen had been a part of it, that much was certain. But there was someone else. Another force out there with enough influence and power to corrupt the entirety of nature’s balance, able to rewrite the story of evolution, and they were represented by a chain.
But who was it?
No matter how shallow her breaths, the overwhelming stench of musk and mold continued to coat her tongue and turn her stomach sour. Sophie exhaled slowly; it would do no good to dwell on what she couldn’t change. The rest of them weren’t faring much better, but the thin cloths over their faces provided a sliver of relief.
Sophie, Fitz, Keefe, Biana, Dex, Tam, Linh, Marella, Maruca, and Wylie. More people than they’d usually risk bringing on a mission, but it was a necessary risk for one of this magnitude.
She assumed the thick scent was coming from the swaths of unidentified plant life gorging it way up the sides of the tunnel, clinging to wet, crumbling rock and glowing faintly blue in the light. At the very least it provided slight illumination of the tunnel ahead, along with the branching pathways they occasionally crossed that likely led to collapsed rooms and dead ends. Mere months ago she would’ve been anxious over the thought that the ground above her would give way and crush them all in moments. Now, however, months living underground had made the ground above her a comfort more than anything. If there was enough soil between her and the surface, the creatures that roamed freely couldn’t get to her.
Although that didn’t exactly apply when they were heading straight into the breeding facility; the heart of the creatures, their origin, where they still poured out in lucrative amounts, a constant supply keeping the surface a hazard.
We’re only about a half-mile away, Dex informed them. He spoke into their shared mental space, kept in place by Sophie and Fitz’s combined efforts, eliminating the need for out-loud conversation. Some of the creatures--especially the ones that liked the dark--had particularly keen hearing, and the closer they got, the riskier any noise would be.
Her head snapped to the side as Biana skidded for a moment on a patch of gravel, sucking in a sharp, silent breath as she caught herself. They all winced, pausing to listen if the sound had caught the attention of anything nearby.
Biana didn’t bother to apologize, they all knew it was inevitable and unavoidable--and it couldn’t be undone.
Remember the plan? It was Fitz’s voice echoing through their heads this time, although it felt like he was trying to whisper despite it being mental. They all nodded in response, and Keefe patted his pocket, bulging with the same explosives they all carried.
Sophie cleared her mind, running through the plan--which she’d done so many times by now the exact words were likely permanently etched into her brain. At the end of this system of tunnels--which Dex was navigating them through--was the breeding facility. This breeding facility was where the creatures on the surface were created, and where they were still coming from. Old and new types alike. Sophie had a basic outline of the facility--it had been difficult enough to find the location, buried deep beneath the earth, getting specifics was impossible--and the areas they were to hit. Everyone had a stash of explosives, black cubes small enough you could wrap your fingers around them. They’d get in, set up the devices, get out, and detonate them once they were a safe distance away.
It was supposedly simple, but everyone had their own speculations about what could possibly go wrong; the most likely was that they would be caught in the act.
The tunnel began to widen, opening into a large cavern; but, as they looked up, they realized it hadn’t always been. Pillars rose around them towards an arching ceiling, carved designs gracing the stone. It appeared this place had once been a grand room, almost reminding her of Victorian castles, but the floor had collapsed into rubble, green vegetation covering nearly every inch.
Linh rotated her hand as she fluttered her fingers, seemingly almost absentmindedly. The leaves rustled faintly, in response to her call. She said nothing for a moment, and Sophie’d almost forgotten about it when Linh spoke up.
I wonder how these plants are able to flourish so far underground, seemingly on their own. A memory from only a few seconds ago flashed through the mindbubble--Keefe’s nickname that had stuck-- and as Sophie watched it she could feel the body memories of Linh tracing the water through the roots of the plants and into the ground, trying to find a source large enough to sustain this vegetation.
Linh shook her head, nodding to herself and to assure the others she remembered their goal, their mission. The reason they were here.
Adrenaline hummed through Sophie’s veins as she began to survey the walls, the bases of which were a good ten feet above her head. She could sense the rest of the group doing the same, but it was Tam’s searching shadows that found the entrance.
It was nearly buried in a corner, obscured by mounds of rock and swaths of green, but it was there.
Sophie briefly sent out a wave of consciousness into the mindbubble, assessing her team and assuring they were all prepared. They seemed to be, although Linh still seemed to be ruminating on the water in the room, fingers rubbing together rhythmically.
Releasing a slow breath, she crawled into the hole, small enough she couldn’t have even sat up comfortably. If Dex’s directions were to be trusted, this hole would lead into an old ductwork system in the back of the facility, and from there they could drop down and continue as planned. The ground was jagged against her palms, but at the very least her hands were slightly protected by her gloves--the same black everyone was wearing now. They must’ve donned them before crawling in behind her-including Linh.
It’s dead ahead, she said, having spotted the reflection of the ductwork up ahead. She couldn’t imagine it led to anywhere particularly important in the facility, as the air it would’ve brought in was absolutely foul. Whatever glistening substance coated her hands and soaked her knees was going to linger.
She came to a stop at the edge where the rock gave way to rusted metal, but a moment was all she allowed herself. Bracing, she slowly lowered her hand and weight onto the ductwork, hoping it would remain silent.
A small thud resounded as the metal bent, but that was it. She gave the clear to the group and continued forward, already wishing this part were over. The duct was significantly smaller than the already cramped tunnel, but at least the tunnel had glowing fungus to light the path. This was pitch black and tiny, requiring them to shimmy on their elbows with only the light of their pendants to guide them. She wasn’t good enough at night vision for it to help, and she wasn’t going to waste energy trying. She needed to save everything she had.
The group continued forward with bated breath as they searched for an opening in the pathway, everyone eager to escape this claustrophobic nightmare. It’ll be over soon, she reminded herself, but when Biana echoed back, Soon, she realized she’d spoken into the mindbubble. Her cheeks flushed for a moment, but it was quickly put out of her mind when she saw a change in the lighting up ahead.
There’s something coming up, she transmitted, hushed. Don’t know what though. There was palpable hope in the air; they were all wishing it was the opening they’d been waiting for, but no one wanted to be let down if it turned out it wasn’t.
Sophie attempted to maintain the quickest pace she could without making sound, but in her urge to get to that possible opening, she nearly kicked the side of the duct. The person behind her--likely Marella, she hadn’t looked--sucked in a breath as everyone froze.
After only a moment's pause, she began forward again, now at a much more reasonable pace as the shift ahead was confirmed to be a vent.
She came to a stop before the slits of the vent, peering down into the room below, sending out a sweep of her consciousness to see if she could hear any thoughts indicating people nearby. Determining it was clear, she slipped the small multipurpose tool from where it’d been stored in her sleeve and began to undo the screws. It made an awful groan when she tugged off the grate, and she gripped it tight in one hand as she gently slid out face first, catching herself and levitating the rest of the way down.
The ground was surprisingly further than she’d been expecting, a good thirty feet from the vent in the ceiling to the dusty ground. Her landing left footprints in the dust, but if everything went according to plan the place would be crumbling long before that would become a problem.
The rest of the group slowly drifted to the ground, emerging from the vent one-by-one in a way that almost made Sophie want to laugh. The fear curdling her blood was enough to keep it in her throat, though.
There didn’t seem to be anything in this room besides storage, discarded crates stacked surprisingly aligned, towers reaching up towards the ceiling. Brushing her fingers over the top of a nearby crate, she saw it had a label.
Curious, she tried to read it. Unfortunately, it was either written in ancient elven or some sort of cipher she didn’t understand. Still, she not only wanted to know what was inside, she needed to. If this was something that could be used to create more monsters, it needed to be destroyed.
As she set about opening the case, the others assumed their positions. Dex was already working on something in the corner, hacking the security system so they could monitor the cameras and place them on loop. Biana was near the door with Fitz, who appeared to be mentally scanning the nearby area for thoughts.
She grunted as she pushed the lid open, bracing it on her shoulder as she peered inside. Her stomach squirmed uncomfortably, and she very quickly closed the crate before anyone else could peek inside. She didn’t want them to see that.
This room has got to go, she whispered into the mindbubble, and while she could feel their curiosity, they didn’t push the issue. Wylie only nodded, removing one of his explosives from his pocket and wedging it between a few crates near the center of the room.
We’re clear to move ahead, Fitz said, and Dex seconded him, holding up his modified imparter. It appeared to connect directly into the camera feeds, where he could switch between different cameras and assess their surroundings.
As we move I’ll be placing the cameras each group is near on a loop, but try not to linger; it’s not a guarantee. Sophie nodded, and Dex passed his imparter near the door, which clicked unlocked.
The door pushed open, presumably by the now-invisible Biana, and they all filed out into the hall. It seemed to hit them all then, that this was truly happening; this was high stakes. At any moment they could be caught, but if they succeeded the entire place would hopefully fall on top of itself, burying these horrors permanently.
The halls were all the same murky, metal grey, as though trying to imitate the stone it had been carved from. Faint gouges could be seen in the walls, and the lights were flickering balefire, every few feet another ball of flame was placed, providing inconsistent illumination.
Sophie went left with Biana, Linh, Dex, and Maruca; Fitz went right with Keefe, Tam, Marella, and Wylie. They’d done their best to disperse abilities across the groups, but it still left each one lacking key assets. But that was unavoidable.
Biana--with Sophie’s help--ensured that their group remained visibly undetected, and she was grateful they had practiced moving in sync back home, otherwise, everyone would’ve tripped over each other. Systematically they made their way through the facility, not actively trying to hide evidence they’d been there but not going out of their way to make it obvious. The intention was that the plan would be executed and the place would be falling long before anyone would notice anything, so speed was their true ally.
Each explosive placed had the lump of anticipation in her throat rising steadily higher. This was truly happening. She kept reminding herself that in just an hour this would be over. However it ended, it would be over.
Footsteps sounded off to the side, and the group froze, pressing themselves into the corner of the room. Similar to all the others, it was stacked high with crates and racks of vials nearly up to hip height, organized this time by color. Sophie had placed her explosive underneath one of the vials, clearly visible to anyone who walked into the room.
Now they could hear voices as well, murmuring sharply as they came closer and closer to the room. Sophie could hear Biana’s pained gasps in the mindbubble, exerting extra energy to keep all five of them expertly hidden. Her fingers were clamped around Sophie’s own, nails digging into Sophie’s skin as she shook with the exertion.
There was a window in this particular room, so even a moment's slip could reveal them to the figures they watched stop in front of the glass. She memorized their faces, and could feel the others doing the same. A man with curling black hair and light brown skin, talking to someone much shorter than him, who looked to be no more than a child in a frilly gown, hair tangled and red. They were clearly having an argument of some sort, the girl stomping her foot dramatically.
Please don’t come in here. She wasn’t sure which of them had said it, but they’d all been thinking it. Biana would’ve if all her energy wasn’t going into keeping them invisible.
Is something wrong? Their anxiety must’ve been enough to send the message throughout the entirety of the mindbubble, not just their group, and Keefe’s concern echoed throughout their heads. When he got no response the others started chiming in, which at least meant they weren’t in any immediate danger if they had the luxury of checking in on them.
The nails dug further into her skin as the man outside the door sighed, swiping a keycard and unlocking the door, shoving it open with his shoulder as he continued to scold the girl.
“Absolutely you may not--” he began to say, one foot through the door frame, yet he still hadn’t looked, eyes on the girl. The voices in her head went silent, the adrenaline flooding her system drowning her alive until it was only that man and the explosive on the table, ever so visible.
He began to turn, eyes moving inside the room, door fully open as he stepped in.
The girl screamed. She screamed in frustration and stomped her feet and darted down the hallway, barely avoiding tripping on her elaborate gown.
The man’s attention whipped after her and he snarled something incoherent, stalking briskly after her, the door thudding shut behind him.
He left behind a thick silence, and it took a full thirty seconds before Biana’s grip on her loosened, a faint panting coming from the empty space near her as Biana swayed slightly, leaning heavily on whoever was next to her.
They lingered only a few more seconds, just barely enough for Biana to regain her composure. It was imperative they move on as quickly as possible; they had no clue when that man would be back, but it was certain he would return before they'd blown the building.
As they left she took a brief moment to hide the explosive, somewhere that wouldn’t be so easily visible for when that man returned. It would buy them time, hopefully.
Work quickly, Sophie transmitted, sending the message echoing towards the others. That had been much too close, and her urgency must’ve been obvious because she could feel the others perking up.
She could see her group’s minds lingering on that little girl, the one who’d thrown a tantrum and saved their lives. They’d known, theoretically, that there were people in this building, not just supplies and serums and whatever else created monsters, but they’d reasoned their way through the guilt. Anyone in the building was actively harming the planet and helping produce those creatures in some way; they were all complicit, so the world would be better if it were rid of them. That was something they could deal with if it saved their families, their friends stuck underground as the world above was ravaged.
That little girl was just that: a little girl. She couldn’t have been older than five; she played no part in these deadly games, yet she’d pay the same price.
Sophie hauled them through the hallways, ducking into a particularly shadowed corner away from the balefire light, the rest of her team slightly dazed. Someone's memory of that feisty girl lingered in the mindbubble, a silent question, hesitance. She could feel the other group somewhere else in the facility stop dead at the sight of her, dread tightening their stomachs as their minds cycled through the possibilities. How many just like her were hidden somewhere within these walls, unaware of the horror and grief surrounding them, coating the floors and washing through the halls; how many?
There’s nothing we can do about that right now, she transmitted to everyone, desperately trying to return them to their senses. They couldn’t do anything with everyone in such a state, clouded minds and stumbling limbs, and her panic alongside her upbringing fraught with human horror gave her enough lucidity to be the leading voice of reason. Perhaps they’d abandon the mission--although that was a last resort. They’d already gone to so much trouble--but they couldn’t do anything just standing about, practically begging to be caught.
Their minds sharpened, and someone gave her arm a reassuring squeeze, telling her they were there and they were okay. She exhaled quietly, glancing around anxiously to double-check they’d remained undetected.
Sophie was almost certain she could feel the heavy, fluttering pulses of her friends reverberating through the air as they continued on, jumping at each faint sound. Their near disaster had sombered the group, and they all appeared infinitely more aware of their surroundings, expecting someone to appear any moment.
They weren’t communicating exactly, but when they’d gotten down to their last two explosives she mindlessly reached out into the mindbubble, searching for Fitz and the others. She could feel rather than hear his response, although he seemed to be just as distracted. The others in her own group placed the last two as she scanned the surrounding space for thoughts; they made their way through the halls, peering through windows into the rooms--which were surprisingly abandoned. Apparently, the storage units were not a priority when it came to security.
Or they were guarded by something much more sinister than mere guards. The gouge marks in the walls seemed to leer at her, more ominous than they’d been a moment before.
It turned her stomach, thinking about just how expansive the facility was. It appeared infinite, spanning several stories above and a few below them, each floor impossibly tall and wide. They’d made their way down about two flights, targeting the structural supports of the building so everything would be crushed in the downfall. She intentionally kept herself from thinking about that little girl.
There’s the rendezvous room, Dex said, and Sophie shook herself internally, pulling the group forward. When they’d first come up with the plan, they’d intended to retrace their steps and exit the way they’d come, but it was deemed too high of a risk to sneak back up through the floors of the facility, and they had instead designated the room ahead as a meeting spot. It, too, had large enough vents to crawl through, which eventually made their way to an opening that should allow enough sunlight down for them to leap away with; although, if that didn’t work, they could always work their way through the vents until they’d completely retraced their steps.
Like electricity jolting through water, Fitz reached out to her, giving her a direct line to him to allow her to track his location more easily. The tether between them led to just around the corner up ahead. They were coming from opposite sides, and if you knew exactly what you were looking for you could see a large shadow creeping unnaturally against the wall, so crisp it was practically imperceptible despite her knowing where to look.
Sophie’s group made it to the door first, and Dex’s hands shook slightly as he crouched down to fiddle with the lock. He swiped his imparter across it, but nothing happened. She watched him work through his own eyes, peering through the mindbubble as he let them in. The tension grew as the others caught up to them, Tam’s shadows spreading over them slightly, enough so that Dex could disconnect from the chain, lighting the strain on Biana.
She could see him gnawing slightly at his lip as he tapped on his imparter in quick succession. Someone began breathing deeply and slowly, and she started to scan their surroundings again. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t let them be caught off guard.
Marella shook out her hands, sparks flickering between her fingers, growing with each passing moment that door refused to open. The veins in Wylie’s hands shone for a brief moment as he clenched his fist, the shimmer fading as he relaxed his fingers, glancing around.
There’s a different lock on this door, Dex mumbled, mental voice sounding faintly panicked, as though he were putting effort into sounding in control.
Yeah, no shit, Keefe grumbled, but there was a tension lacing the words that shouldn’t have been there.
Just give me...a...little longer. I think...I’ve got it.
Each pause was accentuated by a small tap as he lost his train of thought, fiddling with the locks. Cold dreaded settled itself in the center of her stomach, reaching dripping tentacles about and curling them around her insides, squeezing tight as the oxygen levels in the room seemed to dip-- and the problem didn’t appear to be the kind she could fix with a few deep breaths.
There was virtually nothing they could do but wait for him to finish, and it was agony to sit there, eyes frantically pacing the gouged walls hoping no one was approaching. Fitz’s mind reached across the mindbubble towards her, and she let him in, pooling their energy together to send pulsing waves of consciousness out around them, searching the nearby areas.
With each pulse that passed over them, the thoughts of their friends flared for a moment before dimming as it passed, but there was no one else nearby. No other flashes of thought near them that they could identify.
Wait.
There.
Fitz made a muffled sound of distress, and she could see the others’ heads snap up towards the both of them.
Shit, they transmitted. Opening their minds, they showed the others what they’d found--or rather, what was about to find them. A few halls away were thoughts, approaching quickly in their direction.
Holy shit they’re close, Biana breathed. And she was right. Normally, they’d be able to detect someone this close clear and simple, but there was a haze over their thoughts that she’d never seen before. It was as though they’d made their thoughts invisible, and she’d only barely been able to see through the deception.
There was nothing to be done about it, however, except fervently hope Dex could open that goddamn door before that person walked around the corner and saw the conglomeration of shadows and a door opening on its own. Which would happen in approximately...thirty seconds.
C’mon, I’m so close, Dex strained, mental voice shaking.
Footsteps echoed just a few moments away, and she began to bounce in place, squeezing her fingers so tight she was surprised the bones didn’t snap.
GOT IT, he cried, wrenching the door open as the lock unlatched. It was a race as everyone scrambled into the room, the footsteps and their hidden thoughts growing closer and closer each second. She couldn’t even think through the adrenaline, her arms shaking so badly there was nothing but the colors in front of her and her goal.
The door clicked shut behind them, just as the person rounded the corner.
They’d made it. Her breath came out in harsh pants, and none of the sounds around her made much sense, but she just couldn’t take her eyes off that door.
FUCK, Tam yelled, and as a force field flickered into place around them, Sophie finally turned around.
To find a room full of various guards, all of whom were staring back, malice and shock glimmering on their faces. But what was even worse were the caged creatures behind them.
Viscous pale syrup dripped from vats spread throughout the room, pulsing with thick spiderwebs of veins and mucous. Her stomach dropped as she tilted her head back to see them more fully, vaguely humanoid but distorted. Limbs stretched out like sticky candy, skin close to wreaking, appendages ending in blunt bone creeping its way out of the body. Hair floated around them in the thick substances, matted and black and shining.
They seemed dormant, but their appendages twitched in time to their thunderous heartbeat, sending waves throughout their liquid enclosures.
That was all she had the chance to see before the guards closest to them pulled out their melders.
Everything seemed to be moving at twice the speed it was supposed to be, throwing her completely off her rhythm.
Maruca stood in front of them, arms spread wide as she held a force-field around them all, Biana had let go of her, choosing to spend her energy in a fight rather than vanishing them, and it was as they broke contact that she realized just how much of her energy Biana had taken.
She swayed on her feet for a brief moment, casting out her mind and trying to get a sense of how many there were in this room that appeared infinite.
Rows of vats spread farther than she could see, although not all seemed to be occupied. None of them should’ve been. They’d gone out of their way to ensure they’d stay far away from any creatures, no matter the potential benefits. There was nothing that could be done against them.
Maruca grunted as pangs clattered against the force field, trying to find a way through. Sophie’s breathing quickened as she realized she couldn’t feel the presence of anyone in the room. It was although she was entirely alone. She couldn’t feel Fitz next to her, or anyone under the force field, and she couldn’t detect anyone outside of it.
There was an ominous silence, despite the shouts of the people around her. Security personnel were murmuring into communication devices, alerting others of a “disturbance in sector 34, room B12.” But no one in her group said a word. They’d learned not to. They spoke in the mindspace however, hysterical and screaming.
This was not the room they were supposed to be in.
There was nothing they could do as warning lights began to flash around them, strobing effects searing her eyes as alarm bells tolled, shrill and vibrating.
It couldn’t have been more than five seconds since they’d walked through that door.
She steeled herself, drawing on that knot of power she kept stored beneath her ribs, feeling the energy channel from her chest towards her head, building and building until almost painful. But she couldn’t release it. She couldn’t attack through the force field, and Maruca couldn’t drop it because then those melders would hit them head-on and they couldn’t withstand that.
Everyone else was in a similar predicament.
Then it got worse.
She didn’t think it could get worse.
How could it get worse?
The creature in the tank seemed to be reacting to either the lights or the sounds--it didn’t really matter which. What mattered was that it was moving; it was opening its gaping maw and screaming within that tank, air bubbles shooting their way towards the ceiling and lingering, a never-ending stream as its body began to buck and thrash sporadically, sharp limbs colliding with glass.
The cylindrical vat cracked, a spiderweb of broken veins spreading from the point of impact, growing with each collision as it began pounding against the glass.
The muffled sounds it made were absolutely horrible, and she slapped her palms over her ears, grimacing. But what truly stopped her heart was the sound of falling glass, wet and raining down, clattering about and bouncing off the force field.
Because now the creature was loose.
The figures who had been attacking them now swore, looking back and forth between each other before darting out of the room; their weapons still raised despite them being little threat beneath their bubble.
The door latched behind them, and Sophie seemed to come to the horrifying reality at the same time as the others.
They had no way out of this room.
SCATTER! Maruca screamed as she dropped the force field, and everyone complied, darting around the room, trying to get out of the way, hoping hoping hoping that creature wasn’t the exceptionally violent kind, and that it would leave them alone.
All of the creatures they’d encountered so far had been aggressive in some way or another--some simply left you alone unless you got close, others would attack on sight. They’d started a notebook to keep track of all the kinds they knew about, but this one was entirely new.
The only solace that could be found was that it seemed to be the only one that escaped its tank, the others appearing undisturbed.
Watching it from behind a stack of crates, Sophie could see it growing more and more agitated, banging its appendages against what seemed to be its head in distress, a warbled screech piercing the air as it began to flail about.
She ducked at the distinct sound of tables and boxes being crushed as the creature stumbled, tearing at the ground. She began to frantically search the room, looking for something--anything--that could help them at all. There had to be another exit, there had to be something they could do.
Her eyes met Keefe’s across the room, and for the strangest moment, she wasn’t concerned about the creature killing them all, or the guards capturing them and holding them hostage, or their explosives going off when they were still in the building. She was just worried he could feel her panic and it would be too overwhelming for him to concentrate.
Wait.
That was it.
Her mind clicked the pieces together and she sank to the floor, pressing her back against the shelves embedded in the wall behind her, putting her fingers to her temples. The creature was overwhelmed and overstimulated, and it was reacting poorly. She’d never tried to communicate with or inflict on any of the creatures before...but she’d never had a reason to.
She just hoped it would work.
Using that gathered energy, she reached out towards the creature, a mental hand fumbling in the dark. But it appeared she couldn’t...find it. There was just...nothingness...wherever she reached.
Opening her eyes slightly, she squinted up at the creature, which was still stumbling around in response to the overstimulation. The visual helped her narrow in on its mind, and as she reached for it she began to realize... its mind was the silence. She hadn’t been able to detect the mind of the people in the room or her friends because this creature’s mind was so incredibly silent; it broadcasted a blanket over everyone nearby.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, someone hissed into the mindbubble. But she was so far gone that it barely registered as more than a gentle, far-off whisper.
Desperately trying to control herself, Sophie began bringing forward peaceful, calmer memories; she had to reach further back than she’d expected; life hadn’t been particularly relaxing as of late. Finally, when her head seemed to overflow with calming vibes, she sent them out like a shockwave around her, a ripple in the empty.
Anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention could identify the exact moment the wave hit the creature. Its spine went rigid, snapping straight as its head jerked up, their gazes meeting. Each noise fizzled out in the same instant. No one dared breath in that poignant silence, the space almost empty now, and for the briefest moment, she wished that it weren’t so empty, so quiet.
Her wish was answered.
There was no warning as the creature’s head cocked to the side, staring her down with those empty, glistening black eyes, no warning as it lunged towards her.
Well FUCK, was the only thought in her head as it careened towards her, stumbling as though it’d only learned to walk that day, which it might have.
Its movements were uncoordinated, but that didn’t make them any less violent as the tables around them crashed into each other as it crashed onto all limbs, moving with such speed it could cross the room in less than a blink.
She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. Her friends were screaming, but she couldn’t make a sound. Her eyelids were fluttering shut as that suffocating silence pressed in closer and closer.
The creature was charging straight towards her and she couldn’t think. It lost its balance, coming down hard on top of her, but its limbs were too long to crush her, and instead, it was crashing into the shelves behind her and crushing glass and breaking rock and its own bones and she. Couldn’t. Think.
Crystal shattered behind her as the shelves were wrenched from the walls, the creature desperately trying to right itself, shrieking that inhuman sound. Vials began to rain down behind her, crashing on the hard floor.
The noxious scents of the spilling bottles began to flood the room, visible gases blooming from where the colors mixed, sizzling and bubbling on the floor. The creature bucked its head, scrambling away, limbs bashing the floor as it dashed far, far away into the hollows of the room.
The silence was back, but this time it was accompanied by fumes and watering eyes as everyone pushed to their feet, stumbling and coughing.
We havetoget...Dex began, eyeing the frothing liquids….out ofhere. He was standing so far away. How had he gotten there? She might’ve been nodding her head, agreeing with him, but without the adrenaline, everything was...so slow...and the floor seemed liquid and plush.
She couldn’t see who began coughing, their whole body wracked in a fit as the vapors became so thick she couldn’t see. It occurred to her too late to try holding her breath, her eyelids fluttering as she stumbled a few steps, but she didn’t actually know where she was going.
A thud sounded behind her, and she turned, the room seeming to lag as she did so. Biana. It had been...Biana. She’d made the sound. Her body was crumpled on the ground, unconscious. That should’ve sent a spike of alarm through her, telling her to move. To go. Get out.
But she couldn’t think. And the others quickly followed, a series of thuds echoing throughout the space as one by one, they succumbed to the fumes.
Sophie was still standing, and she briefly made eye contact with Dex--why was he so far--watching him fumble with his imparter. An explosive rumbling sounded in the distance, growing stronger and closer with each moment her eyes remained open. She was upright only long enough to see Dex fall before she felt her muscles give, and she crashed down hard.
Wings AU Taglist:
@loudnerdfest @rainbowtay-11 @cadence-talle @pyrokinetic-loser @ahecktonoffandomsinoneblog @itstiger720 @loverofallthingssmart @cowboypossume @jolieharkness @wings-of-hell-and-beyond @shellyseashell @blossomjenniie @imaramennoodle @booknerdddddd @akotlcblog
#that might've been confusing to read#but you can always ask me questions about the au!!#and now i can answer them more because you actually have some content lol#also can I say i hate formatting#cause I do#anyways please give me your thoughts because I've had this au for so long it feels like it doesn't exist outside my mind#so i'd love to know what you think of it#kinda apocalytic if i do say so myself#anyways ill stop now but thanks for readingggg#no clue how many chapters there'll be but definitely at least a few more#kotlc#keeper of the lost cities#kotlc wings au#kotlc fic#my writing <3#shattered upside down#oh also yea it has an actual name lol#tw swearing
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Worshipers of the Soul
Part of the Worshipers Series
➜ Words: 5.4k
➜ Genres: 95% Angst, 4% Fluff, 1% Smut, God!AU
➜ Summary: The King of the Underworld was denounced and exiled from Heaven as a god. But with your help, he may rise to power once more and claim his rightful throne.
The god is forced onto his knees.
The marble floor is cold and hard, but never for a moment does the God of the Underworld appear weak. He lifts his head, gaze steadfast even when he is at the feet of the council.
“Namjoon, you are arrogant,” the God of Sun says from his seat, the highest throne of the entire room. His low voice thunders across the sky, thrumming all around the land as he announces his sentence. “Unlike the Goddess of Spring, you show no remorse for your actions. I have known of your contempt and insolence for long, but your hubris has exceeded that of all gods. Even now when you have lost and must beg for mercy and forgiveness, you choose silence.”
It is a sad day in Heaven for a god like him to be in this position. A shame of how ignorant the other gods are for choosing to follow a weaker leader when he could lead them to glory. Truly, the universe was meant to cry for this disgrace and dishonour.
Namjoon’s eyes stray around the council to his wife who remains impassive, looking down at him. Of all gods, she was the most foolish — for choosing the God of Sun’s leadership and not recognizing her own husband’s true strengths. Had she been his dutiful wife, he would not be in this place.
The silence is held in the room.
The God of the Underworld makes no defence, makes no pleads nor begs for mercy.
Seokjin sighs and stands on his feet, making his final declaration and his timbre echoes throughout the space. “For the devastation and destruction you have caused in this needless war, I hereby denounce you from the council and your position as a divine being.”
Namjoon’s eyes widen in mortification, yet the God of Sun does not cease.
“You will spend the rest of your eternity atoning for your sins, but you will not be doing it here. You are exiled from Heaven, never to step foot into this paradise again effective immediately. You are no longer the God of the Underworld.”
The guards grab hold on his limbs but he easily wards them off, rising to his feet. “It is not me who has more hubris than the gods. You, Seokjin! Everything was caused because of you! How dare you take away something that is rightfully a god’s! What audacity do you have?!”
One of the council members lift their hands and a violent wind bursts forth, forcibly pushing him out of the room against his will. But still he shouts and makes his last curses for all of Heaven to hear—
“I will return! And someday it is you who will be begging for forgiveness!”
There is nothing.
You are the essence of neutrality. Neither pain nor comfort has reached you, nor sorrow or anger. It is a calm serenity that has enveloped you, impartiality that makes it easy to mindlessly float in the empty area. You wander aimlessly, without a destination or goal, without motivation or discouragement.
It simply is.
But then you drift into the wrong place at the wrong time.
A figure stands from afar, his presence forcibly holding you in place before you can stray without thought. He wears blackened robes, the tulle layer on top decorated with white chrysanthemum flower patterns. His hair is ebony, eyes even darker and his brows are furrowed deep as if it has become his common expression. He stands with his shoulders wide, facing you while his arms are placed behind his back. His aura is intimidating and commanding — it holds you from leaving and puts you in a trance.
“Are you discontented?”
His voice resonates and you manifest yourself into a tangible form, body translucent and flickering like a flame or rising smoke, never quite rooted.
You blink at him.
The corner of the man’s mouth quirks and his hand raises towards you. Suddenly, the fog clears from your mind. It lifts and your thoughts become grounded and traceable. But with the ignorance gone, the feeling of neutrality billows away from you.
For the first time, you get to truly look around and take in your surroundings.
The land is barren and desolate, without warmth or presence. The darkness seems to consume all that is in its wake, shadows that murmur and giggle, bare trees with branches that twist in odd directions. And the horizon is blanketed in black, but something round at the top that glows, providing the smallest amount of luminescence.
You know you’ve been here for a long time. But you’re not sure how long exactly — you can’t seem to recall anything aside from your name.
“Who are you?”
The figure smirks, his chin lifting as he proudly announces himself— “I am the King of the Underworld, Namjoon. I lead the souls that wander, the mortals that have long perished, the beck and call of Death itself. I give and take the sins that corrupt your being. And I have chosen to grant you with clarity of mind. Fall on your knees, beg for mercy and I will lead you to glory!”
Not knowing what else to do, you obey.
Your knees meet the ground and Namjoon smirks yet again.
The King approaches you in three large strides and tilts your chin up with his forefinger, allowing your neck to snap back to gaze upon him. His lips curl and he leans in, eyes laid on your mouth.
But before his lips can graze against yours, you instinctively lean away from him. Instead, you blink and stare blankly — unable to understand what his intentions are.
He halts, seemingly caught off guard with how you moved away as if he didn’t expect you to resist, but then he, too, shifts. The King stands back, facing the bleak oblivion with amusement evident on his features. “You are naive and because I pity your ignorance, I will grant you the gift of becoming my servant as you have no other purpose. If you refuse, your mind will be clouded again and you will waste away as you have.”
You say nothing, merely stumbling to your feet again.
“Where am I?”
“The Underworld,” he says simply. “You were human once. This is where you go after death. If you’re not in perpetual pain, it must mean you lived a decent enough life and you’ve been judged that way.”
In spite of what he tells you, you don’t remember your life. You can’t recall anything about it. All you’ve known is obliviously wayfaring.
Namjoon doesn’t allow you to dwell. He leads you away and you follow closely behind without a word. And the two of you come to the highest point of the Underworld. It’s a cliffside and he looks over the devoid abyss, the trees without leaves or flowers, the creeping darkness.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
The King of the Dead takes a seat on the throne beside him, a single chair on the dry dirt. He seems to enjoy the view — but you don’t think this place has much to offer.
“You’re quiet,” Namjoon comments carelessly. “More than the others.”
You remain silent, contemplating that there’s been others like you.
The King turns his head to you, eyes dark. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m wondering if this is where you reside,” you say, exposing your mind so he does not get angry being oblivious to your intentions and thoughts. “I’m pondering if you have a home.”
Namjoon scoffs lightly. “I don’t need one. You didn’t have a home while you were wandering, foolish girl. And there are no homes in the Underworld.”
You come to stand by his side, looking out at the desolate darkness.
//
There’s pitched, marbled moans and groans that echo all around — sounds of unrestrained pleasure that knows no dignity or shame.
You’ve turned away, trying to offer a sense of privacy. But it’s difficult when there’s nowhere to go, nowhere to cover yourself and you have to stay close. It doesn’t take long, however, and he’s soon joining you once more with a pleased expression.
“We can leave now.”
The King of the Underworld often fornicates with wandering souls, something you’ve learnt quickly. But you wonder for what purpose he does so and once you ask, he answers—
“It’s fun to corrupt minds and souls,” he plainly says, “and a satisfying pastime.”
You look over, peeking over your shoulder out of curiosity and you find the ghost gone. There’s no gliding orb of light, no translucent form drifting away. The soul he was copulated with has completely vanished.
“You’ve taken it,” the murmur befalls your lips without a second consideration when the realization has sunk into you.
The corner of Namjoon’s mouth quirks before he brushes past you. “You’re quick-witted, aren’t you? I’m glad I decided to keep you around.”
//
You’ve always aimlessly drifted, flitted and floated through the land, past trees and empty spaces permeated with pulsating darkness. You relished in the state of neutrality as you skimmed over the ground and rivers with no name. But Namjoon seems to know how to navigate this oblivion.
In the vast area that seems to stretch for eternity, he needs no map or directions told to him. He always knows where he’s going and how to come back. Never once does he frown, not knowing where to turn or which course to take. From the field of littered bones and skulls to the black river that runs through the Underworld and even back to the cliffside where his throne is.
Namjoon knows all. It is his domain — the back of his hand.
But it’s hard to learn from him, to conceive spatial awareness when all the darkness appears the same.
There was a time though…..a time you were sure you were not as lost as you are now.
A time when you did not pointlessly wander around the Underworld.
They feel like dreams — like memories of childhood, but much farther and faint. They’re the smoke of a flame, unable to be grasped fully and sometimes you doubt their true existence. Perhaps they are merely conceptions of your imaginations born from your new clarity of mind that knows boredom and seeks exhilaration. But you have dwelled on them.
And while you cannot discern faces or places, you know the ground you once stepped on wasn’t dry and cracked. It was green, a verdant shade, and soft beneath your feet. And the horizon was once azure and bright. Sometimes it was tangerine and rose-coloured, other times a darkening navy and maybe pitch black, but always with some kind of milky light piercing through to shed away the gloom…..
And you can recall fickle emotions.
Things other than neutrality tinged with contentment.
“This is the place I will raise my palace someday Y/N,” the King of the Underworld suddenly declares, removing you from your internal trance and pulling you away from thoughts.
Namjoon has his arms wide open in front of a creeping space with a few twisting trees occupying it. He may wear a satisfied and pompous expression, but you find it awfully dull.
“I thought you didn’t need a home.”
The tall figure turns to you and cocks a brow. “Every king needs a palace, foolish girl. Perhaps not a home, but a place to rule from.”
You watch him as he paces around the area as if envisioning the grand dwelling being assembled in front of him.
“There will be a hundred servants at my feet. My sacrifices will work on erecting my statues in the courtyard and in the garden. In my magnificent dining hall, there will be a hundred paintings of me on the wall, each from the different eons I have ruled in. And the doors to all of it will be right here. They will be imposing and will not open no matter how hard someone begs or screams.”
The King of the Underworld steps back and for a moment, you could see it too.
Blackened doors engraved with white chrysanthemums that would hurt your neck when you’d try to see the top, made of steel and iron so that your fists would bruise when you knock against it.
“How will you achieve it?” you ask, a murmur sounding from your lips.
“I will rise again, silly girl.” Namjoon twists on his heel, his arms behind his back and his shoulders broad. He faces the dark horizon as if there was something beautiful to see, something worthy to be proud of — even when there is really nothing. “I will make the gods pay for what they have done to me, for daring to exile the most powerful god in the universe.”
Your brows furrow. “They exiled you?”
“Because they were afraid of me.” The corner of his mouth pulls into a smirk and he faces you, eyes meeting yours. “But one day I will rise again — and if your loyalty remains, I will allow you a position in my court. I’m kind, aren’t I?” The King of the Underworld does not take your silence as a response. “You should be grateful I have spared you and didn’t consume your soul.”
Your head lowers. “Thank you.”
Namjoon smirks and you peek a glance at him past your lashes.
For such a domineering king, he is imaginative. Some might say, delusional. But you wonder what it is that made him lose his status and come here to such a sad, lonely place by himself.
//
The souls of the Underworld drift — unrestrained and without a planned destination. They are orbs of lights, some brighter and others dimmer, some that shine and others that glow, but all are able to take the shape of ghosts, of who they once were.
The bending, lazy river is filled with a dark and mysterious liquid. You’re unsure if it’s water and don’t dare to take a sip when you don’t need to, but you wouldn’t be surprised if some menacing beast was brewing underneath. Yet, that doesn’t deter you from leaning in and staring at your reflection.
You wonder if this is what you once looked like as a human.
If you had skin and hair and eyes like this….
Your head tilts to look at the horizon, something that resembles the moon hanging at the top, allowing you to see right in front of you but never farther. But hazily in your mind, you can stitch together an image of something else that was once above you — a rounded ceiling with paintings of yellow round spheres and pinpricks of twinkling sparkles, white bleeding into black, someone standing tall with a creature behind him in blazing glory. It is lucid in your eyes, something you can envision so clearly that it is almost real. Almost tangible.
A radiant place of white with marble and pillars — steps leading up to grand doors — golden letters etched into it.
But when you look back, blink a few times, the vision has dispelled away. The truth sinks in.
All you see is emptiness. A void of black.
Your eyes stray to Namjoon and your eyes soften at the way he’s fixing his sights on the surroundings with a proud smile.
“How do you plan to rise?” you ask quietly, joining his side as he strides through the trees.
“The souls I consume give me some power. Enough of them and I will be able to escape the Underworld and storm Heaven.”
“Then why don’t you consume my soul?”
“Because I know when to be gracious,” he declares with a smile, looking upon you. “You should be happy that I am merciful to you.”
Namjoon is indeed merciful. But he is not fair or just, and those are qualities a leader must have.
//
It’s uncertain how long you truly accompany Namjoon’s side for. All you know is that wherever he is, you are also there beside him. When he’s fornicating with souls, corrupting them to bring him pleasure and then consuming them after he’s finished, you’re there meters away with your back turned. When he’s bracing through the Underworld, traveling past the river and the desolate forests, you’ve become his shadow, trailing after his feet. And when he’s seated at his small throne by the cliffside, you’re standing next to him, staring out at the same sights.
You’ve come to realize that Namjoon didn’t suddenly take a liking to you and decided to spare you from his ambitions.
He is lonely. And he needed someone with him.
You don’t blame him — it is easy to go mad in this constant darkness. You only blame him for being too proud to admit his true intentions.
“You’re quiet.”
“I don’t have much to say.”
“But it looks like you have lots to think about.”
The smallest of smiles graces your features and you turn to him. “If I say something unbecoming to you, you’ll kill me.”
Namjoon bursts out laughing, the noise hearty and loud. It echoes around the spaces. “You can’t die again, silly girl. But don’t worry, you have nothing to fear. I have no plans of taking your soul as long as you continue to show me respect.”
You decide to grant his wish and speak to disrupt the eerie silence— “What is the living world like?”
“The moral realm? It’s full of lowly and greedy mortals who only know how to beg and destroy. They are selfish and ruin everything they touch. They’re not to be trusted,” he seethes and exhales. “When I rise to power, I will do what every god has been fearful of and liberate the universe from them. But…” Namjoon glances at you. “I suppose a few places are worthy to see.”
“Like what?”
“The mountains. Some oceans. They’re a glorious view where you can’t see where the land ends or begins. If you remain devoted to me, someday you may have the privilege of seeing them.”
You nod and the King of the Underworld continues, “I am leaving soon.”
“Where to?”
“It is none of your concern. If you fear abandonment, then you don’t need to.” After a moment, he softens. “I will return sooner than expected. I need to speak to an...old friend and reclaim what is rightfully mine.”
You nod once more, staying by his side as you look out at the dismal Underworld.
The grandiose black entrance parts, doors swinging open and then she’s sauntering into the vast throne room while rolling her shoulders while the train of her black robes sweep the floor behind her. “Sihyuk! I need a foot rub! Stop dilly dallying!”
He jolts and lowers his head. “Right away, your highness…”
“Gods, I’m so exhauste—” Her complaint morphs into a pitched shriek.
The Goddess of Dreams and Underworld stumbles back in startlement, a hand placed over her chest as her expression washes over into unadulterated terror.
But Namjoon merely smirks from the corner of the room, placing the white chrysanthemum flower back in its vase. “You haven’t changed one bit, Miyin, despite being reborn...twice now?”
The servant dwarf’s eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. His mouth opens and closes, knowing exactly who he is. “Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-your...r-r-royal highness…”
“Leave.” Miyin lifts her palm, dismissing Sihyuk and he swallows hard before running off. The goddess faces him, but keeps a wide distance between the both of them. Her chin lifts and her gaze steadies itself. “What are you doing here, Namjoon?”
It has been over a century since they’ve seen one another, since that time when he was denounced in front of the entire council, but Namjoon is not ignorant to the changes that were made. He knows she’s taken his place — that she’s become the Goddess of the Underworld.
“Do I need a reason?” he asks. “You should not be afraid of your husband visiting you.”
“You are no husband of mine,” she hisses and malice, and the shadows of the room seem to grow.
But the self-proclaimed King of the Underworld merely smiles. “I noticed the sword of the Immortal Being is gone.” The sword is the only weapon that can kill a god, that will help him achieve his glory once more. But when he came to find it and tore the palace apart to look for where it might be hidden, it had disappeared — much like during the war a hundred years ago.
He couldn’t find it then — and he can’t find it now.
“It’s no longer in the Underworld and it will never be,” Miyin spits and a smirk grows at her red lips, spine straightening with confidence. “You will never find the sword again. It will never be in your reach. I knew you would try to come back for it, so I’ve given it to the Controller of the Sky.”
Namjoon’s brows furrow. “There is no such thing.”
The Goddess of Dreams and Underworld laughs mockingly. “Things have changed since you’ve last been to Heaven, Namjoon. The weapon that you seek for your vengeance has been handed to a mortal sacrifice of the Goddess of the Sky that had been unjustly forsaken.” A fond smile graces her features. “He will use it to protect her.”
“You gave it to a mortal?!” Namjoon’s angered shout echoes throughout the throne room, resonating through the space until silence takes its place once more. His hands crumple and he shakes, enraged. “You are a fool for allowing the sword into another mortal’s hands!”
“And you are a fool for returning!” She challenges with equal malice. “For thinking you have a rightful place here!”
“I will come back and rule as I meant to,” he declares through gritted teeth, pointing at her with a finger that trembles from wrath. “I will become the god that I was meant to be!”
A muscle in Miyin’s cheek jumps. She outright scoffs at him and curses, “Your pride and greed will destroy you as the Immortal Being had destroyed himself! Leave! And never step foot here again and dare to face me! If you ignore my warnings, even Seokjin will not be able to help you if you beg for it! This is my oath.”
Yet again, he has been banished. And from a place he once called home.
The shadows creep from their corners, expanding in size to loom over his figure and grab hold of his limbs. But he has lived amongst them for long and won’t be pushed out so easily.
Namjoon dispels the shadows away like they are bugs and he shakes his head with his jaw clenched at the audacity she has to treat him with such disrespect. “You cannot control me, Miyin. I am still a god by blood and I choose how I come and go. If I leave, it will be of my own accord.”
With his last words spoken, he twists on his heel and marches out.
The palace doors shut behind him and the true Goddess of the Underworld is left quaking.
//
The sky is azure, the horizon wide with the sun beaming from the highest point. But as soon as she steps onto the lower part of Heaven, crossing the bridge and moving past the thick fog, darker clouds begin to fill the sky and the goddess comes into view with her arms crossed and a feigned pout on her lips.
“What are you doing here, Miyin?” the Goddess of Sky questions with her eyes playfully narrowed. Her servants nor her companion are seen by her side.
But Miyin doesn’t match the goddess’ lightheartedness. Her expression remains solemn and her brows furrowed. “There’s something I need to talk about with you urgently.”
The goddess speaks no further, quickly assessing the situation and her arms drops to her side.
Miyin is led to a small garden house and they sit across from each other with the low table in between. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to use that favour.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“It’s about Namjoon,” Miyin murmurs and the Goddess of the Sky takes less than a moment to recall the name she had not heard spoken in so long. No matter how many times the gods are reborn, they can’t forget the history that has happened. “He has returned.”
“What? Have you told Jin?!”
“No.” She shakes her head. “He is why I’ve come to you. You and I know Seokjin is afraid that history will repeat and rhyme, that there will be war and devastation. It’s why he changed his approach. Why he led the other gods to be merciful and forgiving as well. And I fear someday, he might find it in himself to grant Namjoon the same kind of mercy. But I….I can’t forgive him.”
The goddess’ brows furrow. “Miyin....”
Yet the Goddess of Dreams remains undeterred and clenches her fist within her lap. “Namjoon has violated and destroyed our marriage, brought down his dignity and my own. His punishment of betraying my trust is to never be reborn, to never refresh his soul. At least not until I see fit.”
“He has learnt nothing in the time spent wandering the Underworld. He still claims vengeance, claims that he will rise again and make the gods pay for banishing him.” She trembles with ire and then calls the Goddess of the Sky’s name, eyes meeting her once more. “Promise me that if Namjoon ever steps above my domain....if he ever manages to crawl above the Underworld without my permission, you will conjure a huge storm to send him back.”
No one is allowed to forgive Namjoon — not without Miyin’s agreement.
She refuses to be blindsided. Refuses to be startled again.
“Miyin, you know I cannot control the weather as I please.”
“I know, but you can still try your best. You are the only one I can depend on, the only one who could match Seokjin’s powers if he were to ever absolve Namjoon.” The Goddess of the Underworld remains steadfast. “I will try my hardest too. He will stay where he rightfully belongs in my domain. I just need someone else to fall back on. I need someone I can trust.”
There’s a moment of silence.
And then the Goddess of the Sky nods.
You look at the horizon.
It once was a blue sky. Sunlight. You can recall children rushing about and giggling under the light, chasing after the sparse clouds. But most of all, you remember being dressed in white, pressing your palms together, and others around you murmuring incantations together….
“Tonight...” Namjoon’s voice thunders, interrupting your thoughts. “We launch our first attack.”
You turn to him and then towards the shadow of the Underworld palace outlined in the darkness. All the souls he’s taken has been for this hour. Namjoon finally has enough strength and he’s moments away from destruction.
“Once I take over the Underworld realm, I will have power again. The universe cannot go without a place for the dead to rest after all.” He wears a victorious smile, glancing at you as if you should be grateful to be the first to witness his claim. “Someday all will worship me.”
Worship — the word sticks to you.
Suddenly, visions billow through your mind. Worship.
Worship. You see temples and rituals beneath your eyelids, the grand sky shining above you, exhaustion taking hold of your frame as the fire spreads through the village.
Worshiping — it was what you dedicated your life to.
You can recall, like a distant memory of childhood, foggy but present. You were a priestess in your past life and revered the God of Sun, Seokjin. You devoted your life to devout prayer and sacred worship. You mediated and gave sacrifices, intently read the stars and charted them, and once blessed a sword of a mortal man. The memories rush through you, striking you speechless, filling you with the sorrow of loss to contentment. You were fulfilled in spite of dying so young and being unable to accomplish all you sought to do. You had met your purpose.
But perhaps there is another purpose for you here.
You shift towards Namjoon, expression crumpled rather than the neutral state he has become accustomed to. “I….remember,” you murmur, “I remember my life.”
And you remember him.
Namjoon — God of the Underworld.
You know of his tales, read about them, had seen paintings and states of him. Except, you didn’t know that after your death, he was banished from his position. You didn’t know he would be holding onto his anger when everyone else had forgotten about him.
His brows lift, amused. “Strange, but your clarity of mind must’ve made your memories return. So what kind of peasant were you? Did you die of illness or hunger?”
You shake your head.
“I was a priestess.”
You approach the King of Dead within three strides and before he can stagger back, your palms lift to cradle his cheeks and you lift yourself to press your mouth against his in a searing kiss.
It’s soft. His lips are plusher than you could’ve thought possible. And you keep the affection gentle and chaste — something you’re sure he is not used to. Your eyes shut and you can feel his gaze placed on your features, eyes widen in slight surprise. But it is not simply a gesture made out of desire or lust.
It is part of your ritual.
After a moment, you part from Namjoon.
“Oh, great god who has fallen and been forgotten, free yourself from your burdens,” you murmur the incantation, one of the thousands that you had learnt to memory. “Allow the souls you have led astray, corrupted and consumed to grant you mercy. You who have abandoned humanity, hear my prayers. Allow my pity to liberate you from your sufferings. God of Underworld, God of Death, great god who has fallen and been forgotten, be free of your misery and despair.”
It is your final sacrifice.
The final remains of your soul is used to protect the living from Namjoon’s reprisal.
The last remnants of your strength is used to shield all you have known and love — mankind who will never know your offering and the glory of Heaven which you will never see.
In an instant, your soul bursts.
The final pieces of the energy you have left is used and your form begins to fade.
Namjoon lurches back, his skin aglow. “No...no….NO!” He stares at his open hands, eyes widened at the way his flesh is illuminated like the stars, the power that he had collected for over a century surges out of him in a flood, past the gaps of his fingertips, not allowing him to grasp on.
He can feel his wrath escaping. The intense fervour of his spirit dying.
In the last moments of your consciousness, before your translucent form succumbs to the darkness, you gaze at the fallen god. And your eyes speak purely of pity.
But never does he notice. He does not look at you in your final moments.
Namjoon screams. His eyes are placed on his own body, into his hands that were supposed to take back what was rightfully his. And once more, the exiled god falls onto his knees.
There is nothing.
All that was left of him was his anger, sadness and despair. Without it, the anguish and hatred, he has become empty. Like the darkness that surrounds him, his spirit has become a void.
He is lifeless.
Namjoon moves sluggishly, lurching forward until he sits on his throne. It is a thoughtless action, something that has been entrenched into his muscle memory. His body is cold but he does not feel it. He merely grabs hold of the armrests in a listless manner, settling in as he mindlessly stares at the oblivion with eyes hollowed and glazed over. A vegetative state on auto-pilot.
His throne is placed on a mountain of bones and corpses of which he knows no name of.
Namjoon has truly become the King of the Dead.
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lost in love and time - chapter 2
CATCH UP - PROLOGUE PART 1, PROLOGUE PART 2, CHAPTER 1
pairing: bucky barnes x reader
summary: haunted mansion au - now that you, sam, and natasha have arrived at the manor, it is time to meet the person who summoned you and learn what exactly you are there to do
warnings: none
words: 2885
a/n: it’s been a hot minute since I updated, but here is another part! once again, bucky is back in the picture and I’m so excited that the plot is starting to move forward, the action, the drama, and the romance is coming! also, I think this picture really represents how I sorta picture bucky in this series! please enjoy this chapter and have a lovely day!
(this chapter does contain some dialogue from the movie, which I am not taking credit for)
oOoOo
“Now how do we get through the gates?” Sam asked.
Instead of Sam’s question, your ears caught onto to something else that had your eyes darting back and forth to find the source. “Do you guys hear that?” you asked.
Not waiting for a response from Sam or Natasha, you stepped out of the car, walking closer to the gates that separated you from the beautiful mansion. There was a tug of familiarity as you heard the soft, yet frustrating, melody of the waltz that was so often stuck in your head. It seemed as though as it was coming directly from the mansion, and the closer you walked to the gates, the louder the noise got. A frustrated sigh left your lips at the heavy, padded lock that denied you access to the answers you were looking for.
Sam and Natasha gave each other a nervous look, for they heard nothing except the wind rustling the leaves and tree branches. “Hear what, y/n?” Natasha asked, taking a few, cautious, steps toward you.
As it did the other day, her voice brought you out of your trance like state and back to reality. “Uh, never mind.” you said, dismissing your behavior with a wave of your hand. A quick glance around the property showed that there weren’t any other ways in, and there wasn’t a call box by the gate to alert anyone of your arrival.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Sam asked, inspecting the heavy lock for himself.
“This is what our potential client told me.” you defended and unlocked your phone to double check that the GPS had brought you to the right address, but you quickly realized there was no signal this far removed from the city.
Natasha tried her luck with the reception on her phone, to no avail. “Maybe we should just head out.” she suggested. “If they really wanted you to look at the house, they would have left the gates opened. I’m sure they’ll call back on Monday.”
Right as you were about to agree, a large gust of wind rushed past you, and there was a long, slow creak as the gates seemingly opened by themselves. All three of you looked at each other in confusion, before you briskly walked to the car and motioned for Sam and Natasha to do the same. Driving down the grand, gravel road, you found a place to park your car, and stepped out, ready to head towards the front door. Yet, it was Sam’s voice calling your attention to a small, stone patio off to the side that piqued your interest.
“Do all houses have a personal cemetery in their backyard?” he asked half joking, half petrified.
Following his gaze, you looked out onto the expansive, private cemetery that took up most of the land’s space. Rows and rows of graves, worn and weathered from exposure to the harsh elements rested before your eyes. To top it all off, a mausoleum further back, stood tall and confident. A shudder ran through your body as you took in the sight, but you tried to roll the feeling off your back. Maybe it was a family house – to each their own.
“You can’t say it isn’t unique, Sam.” you joked and would have continued, but rain began to pour, soaking you to the bone instantly.
The three of you ran for cover under the awning over the front steps and looked for a doorbell to announce your presence. Not noticing one, you picked up the heavy and intricate door knocker and knocked three times. After a few moments there was no response, and you worried that no one had heard you inside the sprawling mansion, but as you raised your hand, the door opened.
On the other side of the door, stood a tall man with blonde hair and kind, blue eyes. He wore a slightly dated suit, which raised an eyebrow, but when he graciously let you inside, you couldn’t care less. Warmth flooded your body once you stepped inside and out of the chilling rain. Trying, and failing, to not get water everywhere, you took in your surroundings and you were in awe. If the outside of the house had been beautiful, this was magnificent.
A grand, entrance way, with polished marble floors, greeted you, which led to a set of twin staircases that joined in the middle, all with intricate carvings along the sides and the railings. Your feet led you around as you admired all the fine pieces of decoration, not noticing Sam or Natasha’s looks, or the kind smile from the man who let you in. This mansion was a designer’s paradise, and there you were, standing right in the middle of it.
“See something you enjoy?” the man asked with a small smile.
Embarrassed, you looked down at the floor, hoping he didn’t think you to be rude. “I’m sorry, it’s just this place is so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.” you admitted.
“It’s quite alright” he said, warmly. “It is truly magnificent. Built in the mid 1800’s, and still standing today. You don’t see many buildings like this nowadays.” he said.
“No, you don’t.” you agreed, still marveling at how many pieces looked to be originals from the 19th-century.
It wasn’t until Natasha spoke that you remembered why you were there. “Yes, it is very lovely. What exactly was it you were hoping that Stark Realtors could help you with, Mr.- I’m sorry, we never got your name.”
The way his eyes widened before he answered quietly, suggested that the man had not truly noticed Sam nor Natasha when they stepped inside with you. “My name is Steven Rogers, and I was not away you were bringing guests with you, Miss. y/l/n.”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Rogers. We are about to leave for a trip, and this was the only way I could swing by today.” you explained and hoped that this wouldn’t ruin his employer’s interest in you as a designer. “I apologize again, I should have called ahead.”
“T-that’s alright.” Steve stuttered. “I will just let the staff know we need two extra spaces for dinner.”
Sam was the one who spoke up next. “Woah, woah. Dinner? I’m sorry Mr. Rogers, but as y/n explained, we cannot stay very long.”
Before Steve could respond, another pair of footsteps echoed from the hall and grew louder with each step. Steve nearly flinched once the older man with thin, grey hair stood next to him. “What do we have here, Steven?” the man asked, harshly.
He took the time to look over Sam and Natasha, and when he stopped to look at you, he glared. You swore you felt a chill run through your spine as the new presence seemed to look directly through you, but you pushed that aside and step forward with your hand outstretched. “y/n y/l/n, sir. Are you Mr. Rogers employer who asked for the services of Stark Realtors?” you questioned.
The man gave Steve a glare before he looked to you. “The name is Pierce, and no, I am not the master of the manor. I was unaware that we would be having guests, though.”
There was a moment of tension between the five of you, and Sam saw this as an opportunity to take your leave. “Well we don’t want to be a bother, Mr. Pierce, and as we said, we really can’t stay long. So, we will take our leave now, and y/n can come back on Monday.” he said, his hand on your shoulder, leading you towards the door.
“No!” came Pierce’s harsh reply. “What’s done is done. I will see to it that there are extra places set at the dinner table. Steven, if you will guide them towards the dining room, Master Barnes is waiting for Mrs. Rogers to serve dinner.”
He disappeared as quickly as he appeared, and Steve relaxed slightly at the sound of Pierce’s retreating footsteps. “My apologies.” he chuckled in an attempt to defuse any awkwardness. “If you’ll follow me to the dining room.”
Steve began to walk ahead, and you followed, giving Natasha and Sam and sharp look to follow you. It was your job to keep potential clients happy, and you could spare thirty minutes for dinner. At the end of the hallway, Steve opened a massive door that lead to an equally massive, and enchanting room. There was a long table in the center, intricately set, with candles lit throughout the room, providing a warm glow that contrasted the jolts of lightning that strike every few minutes.
With all three of you scattered about the hall, Natasha stood in front of the fireplace and called you over. “This is beautiful. I haven’t seen anything like this before.” she said.
“Haven’t you?” yet another new voice spoke, and you turned to see a handsome man, with dark hair and entrancing eyes a few feet away from you, watching as you admired the grand room. “My grandfather spared no expense when building this mansion.”
The man walked closer to you, and as he did, he stopped in his tracks and gasped. The way he looked at you was closer to that of seeing an old friend, not a stranger, but you dismissed that thought and smiled as you reached your hand out to him. “y/n y/l/n, sir.”
“y-y/n?” he stuttered, but quickly regained his charm. “I am James Barnes.” he said and kissed the back of your hand. “May I ask what you are doing here?” he asked, though more so to Steve who stood in the shadows than to you.
“They are here to look at the house.” Steve explained, his eyes telling James to just ‘roll with it’. “I believe Peggy is about to bring in dinner, if you will take your seats.” he said and motioned towards the table. “Miss. y/l/n, you can sit on this side, and your colleagues on the left.”
James gallantly pulled a chair out for you, then took his place in the one next to you. The whole time you couldn’t keep the smile of your face or the flutter from your heart. There was something about James that had you under a spell – it was the feeling that all your previous dates were missing. Meanwhile, you were so caught up in your own world that you missed Natasha and Sam’s looks of concern.
“What do you think of the house, Miss. y/l/n?” James asked, eager to see how you felt about his family’s home.
“Oh, well.” you began, trying to contain your excitement for what you felt for the house, but failing. “I think it’s truly magnificent. The Italian influence, the Renaissance style of the molding, the attention to detail. You truly have a wonderful house here, Mr. Barnes.”
He smiled at your words as though you had given him the greatest compliment. “I’m so glad you think so. And please, call me Bucky. Only Pierce calls me James, and that’s only when he’s mad at me.” Bucky said.
There was a long pause as you and Bucky simply gazed into each other’s eyes. Sitting next to him in that mansion, strangely enough, felt as though you had come home to a familiar presence after being gone for an extended period of time. Though you had only met the man minutes before, there was a gut instinct that told you need to get to know Bucky more. It wasn’t until Sam cleared his throat that either of you remembered you were not alone.
“So, what exactly were you looking to do with the house?” Natasha asked, never one to be afraid to steer the conversation back in the right direction.
Just as Bucky was about to answer, Steve returned, this time accompanied by a woman who looked to be about your age. Her dark hair was pulled out of her face and she was dressed in an outfit that looked like something out of a period drama – just like Steve’s suit. Tucking that thought in the back of your mind, you were distracted by the smell of the stew that wafted from the bowls on the cart. It wasn’t until that moment you realized how hungry you truly were.
“Peggy, you spoil us. This looks wonderful.” Bucky complimented.
“Bucky, don’t try and flatter me. Just because you compliment my cooking does not mean I’m going to easily forgive you for underestimating my skills in our poker game.” Peggy teased as she placed a bowl in front of Bucky and one in front of you, while Steve placed bowls before Sam and Natasha.
Bucky rolled his eyes good naturedly. “Peggy, this is y/n.” he introduced, and you turned to smile at the woman.
Peggy took one look at you and had a similar reaction to Bucky, “y/n, you say?” she asked, almost in disbelief. Then, just as quickly as it happened, she composed herself and shook your hand. “It’s nice to meet you, dear.”
A comfortable silence fell over the table as you all dug into the stew that Peggy had made that evening. Even Sam and Natasha, who were so eager to leave before, couldn’t resist the homemade meal. A comfortable silence fell over the room, the only sound coming from the clinking of spoons against the china bowls
“To answer your question from earlier,” Bucky eventually gestured towards Natasha, after wiping his mouth. “this house is my inheritance. However, lately, it’s been too much for me to bear.”
Wordlessly, Natasha nodded, but before she could comment, Bucky continued. “Tell me. Do you believe in ghosts?” he asked the room, though his eyes focused solely on you.
Natasha thought about it for a moment. “I’m not sure I’ve really given it much though before, Mr. Barnes.”
“Asks the man whose house has its own private cemetery.” Sam mumbles, to which you deliver a swift kick to his shin under the table.
“Well, I believe that there are many things unknown to us, so why should we say that they don’t exist?” you answered quietly, feeling bashful under Bucky’s passionate gaze.
With a glance at his watch, Sam pushed his bowl to the side and clapped his hands together before he addressed Bucky. “Thank you for a lovely meal, but it’s best we get going. y/n can call you on Monday to further discuss what changes you wished to make to your house.”
However, without missing a beat, there was a flash of lightning that ominously illuminated Pierce’s figure by the window. “The storm has swollen the river.”
“Excuse me?” Natasha questioned.
Pierce turned towards the table and rephrased. “The storm has flooded the river. I’m afraid no one will be leaving the mansion tonight.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s just not possible.” Sam argued. “We have to be on our way.”
Despite Sam and Natasha’s protests, you stayed silent, finding that your heart fluttered a bit at the thought of spending more time with Bucky. Maybe you were reading too much into it, but you saw this storm as fate gifting you with more time to get to know the dashing stranger that sat before you. Could the missing piece of your life be just feet away from you?
“Of course, you are all more than welcome to spend the night here.” Bucky offered as he quickly stood up. With a final glance at you, he slowly began to back away from the table, seemingly nervous. “Pierce and Steve will show you to your rooms.” he said before he disappeared through another door.
“Miss. y/l/n, if you’ll follow me.” Steve offered, and you turned to shrug at Sam and Natasha before following Steve in the opposite direction Bucky had exited.
The two stared at your retreating figure in shocked until Pierce motioned for Sam and Natasha to follow him. Reluctantly, the duo did so, and traveled in uncomfortable silence until they reached a room. “I expect this is sufficient.” Pierce said, almost sounding bored.
One look in the room showed dusty furniture with a singular bed that look as though it hadn’t been slept on in decades. Outdated curtains hide the storm from view, and there was a strange smell that both Sam and Natasha knew they would not quickly get used to. However, when they turned to voice their concerns, Pierce had already disappeared, leaving the two of them alone.
"That chair looks mighty comfy, Sam.” Natasha said, referring to the cushioned chair that sat in the corner of the room.
“No way I’m sleeping on that thing.” Sam tried to argue, but found himself talking to the bathroom door Natasha had just shut. With a sigh, he threw himself on the bed that groaned underneath his weight. As he made his best efforts to get comfortable, there was a knock at the door, which Sam reluctantly opened.
Pierce, who had suddenly returned, stood on the other side. “The master was wondering if he might have a word with you in the library.” he said, his voice sounding bored.
"Yeah, I guess.” Sam answered. “I’ll be back soon, Nat.” he called out over his shoulder and, once more, followed Pierce through the mansion, not sure what laid ahead of the three of you.
oOoOo
tagging: @readermia, @mgk-rooklover1997, @crazinessgraveyardsandcartoons, @dabooks23, @loser-alert, @themeanestlittlewitch, @peaches-roses-sins, @tiffanynguyen03 @t33n-tw4t
#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes imagine#marvel x reader#marvel imagine#bucky barnes x y/n#haunted mansion au#lost in love and time
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The Prince and the Pirate - CH 5
For SoKai Week - Day 5
Story Summary: Sora finds himself far away from the walls of the Radiant Garden he's known his whole life, kidnapped by a rowdy group of pirates whose captain is as alluring as she is mysterious. What he thought was a simple hostage negotiation turns into an adventure that Sora couldn't have anticipated. He doesn't know which is worse, not knowing what's up ahead, or liking it that way.
Rating: T
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Pirate AU
Length: ~ 2900 words
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Links for story navigation:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 6 | Part 7
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The first sensation that hit Sora was just how cold he was.
No, it wasn't just cold, he was soaking wet in his clothes, his hair, everything. He tried to breathe in but only found himself choking.
Breathe.
I can't breathe!
Waking in a startle, his lungs forcefully coughed up sea water until air rushed into his lungs.
The lullaby of gently tossing waves almost tempted him to lay back down, but then his memories came flooding back to him. Specifically, his memories of the one who'd saved him from drowning.
"Kairi!"
He pushed himself onto his knees and glanced around. Besides the beach sand, whatever island they'd washed ashore was covered almost entirely in green, from the lush bushes to the tall palm trees.
Well, atleast it seems livable, he thought to himself.
Then his eyes caught a splash of pink, and he was on his feet not a moment later.
"Kairi!" He shouted over and over as his weakened legs carried him across the beach.
Besides the wind tossing her damp hair, she wasn't moving. His knees crashed into the sand beside her.
She lay on her back, breathing - thank the gods - but he knew the sight of a broken leg anywhere. His heart ached, like he'd just watched priceless porcelain shatter. She wasn't going to feel great when she woke up, and she wasn't going to like what he'd have to do.
The break was recent enough that there was still time to set it back into place. It wouldn't heal perfectly, but atleast she'd be able to walk normally again.
"Kairi." He lifted her torso and brushed the hair out of her face. "Please, wake up."
His only warning was a gurgling sound in the back of her throat before she began coughing sea water into the sand. Her eyes slowly opened, and for a moment relief washed across her face before it was replaced with a painful wince.
She glanced down by her leg, but he kept her down. "It's broken pretty bad," he said. "Probably best that you don't look before I… I have to…"
She nodded in understanding. "Just give me something to bite."
That part was easy. With the amount of plants and trees just in their vicinity, spare branches and sticks lay just beyond the shore. Sora picked one that was hard enough to do the trick, but soft enough to not damage her teeth. At the same time, he gathered sticks and vines sturdy enough to serve as a temporary splint.
He returned quickly, dusted it off, and silently handed it to her. No words could properly communicate how hard it would be for both of them, but the quicker it was over with, the better.
Kairi bit down on it and rested back on her elbows. Closing her eyes, she nodded in preparation.
Sora knelt by her leg. In any other circumstance the act would've felt much more intimate. Her legs were so smooth yet hardened from her life on the sea. Sora took several deep breaths before gently placing his hands above and below the break.
Just focus on putting it back in place.
Don't think about who it is.
Counting down would only make it worse, so he just went for it. After a final inhale, he flexed his hands and moved her bone back into place.
Even when muffled, the blood-curdling scream that followed made Sora shudder. In that moment, he felt like a worse monster than the Kraken that had caused this. Her back arched as she kicked and tore through the sand with her healthy limbs. After securing her leg with his improvised splint, He rushed back up to her upper half and pulled her close.
"The worst is over, Kairi," he tried to remain calm despite his accelerating heartbeat. "I'm so sorry."
She muffled more cries of pain in his chest, and he endured the punches to his torso. The stick finally fell from her teeth as her breathing steadied. Jabs turned into tight grips on his jacket.
"Thanks," she breathed.
Now that he knew she'd be okay, the reality of their proximity hit him. He'd barely done more than shake her hand before, and now she was lying in his arms. Even the chilled ocean breeze couldn't stop his face from warming. Afraid he'd crossed a line, he set her back down to support her own weight once she relaxed.
"I should be thanking you," he said. "You saved me."
She met his eyes for the first time since waking up, though her own were still wide and unfocussed from the pain.
"And you saved my crew," she smiled before turning her gaze away. "Besides, I worked hard to get you. I wasn't about to lose you to some sea monster."
Sora wasn't about to let her sincerity hide away again. "Oh, so you'll just toss me to the sea once we're done?"
She tensed up. "No, of course not! I-" her eyes narrowed once she noticed his smirk. "How mean, to tease a girl when she's down."
"Couldn't help it," he smiled. "Speaking of which, though, what do we do now?"
She sat up further and turned her gaze to the sea. "Now we wait. I told my crew to get the rescued to safety first, then circle back for us. It hopefully shouldn't take more than a few days."
"A few days is pretty fast."
"You're right. Plus, the Leviathan won't be as fast without my magic." She closed her eyes, but the growing anxiety showed itself all over her face. "Let's make it a week."
"Hey, on the bright side, this isn't the worst island to be stuck on," he smiled.
Careful of her leg, she turned around and took in the cliffs, waterfalls, and endless green that stretched all around the beach. The island was small, but not uninhabitable. Under different circumstances, it would've been a paradise. Some relief washed over her, and she relaxed again.
"First thing's first, though," he continued, "we gotta make you a better splint."
One thing neither of them could deny was that the island was beautiful. It transformed as the sun moved through the sky. The tide crept up the beach, but not too far or too violently. Salty air complimented the scent of life-filled trees and shrubbery.
But what caught their eyes the most was a small sub island just off the shore.
During their slow journey up the beach, with Sora practically needing to carry Kairi, they'd spotted food like mushrooms and coconuts - nothing as bright and yellow as the star-shaped fruit that rested on that tiny island. Sora laid her down within some nearby shade and stared out at it.
"I'm sorry," Kairi said after a moment.
He sat beside her. "It's okay, Kairi, but you'll have to get more specific," he cracked a smile in an attempt to lift her spirits.
"For not being entirely honest, from the beginning."
He lay back and laced his hands behind his head. "You were being vague for sure, but anything that pulled me from home was going to be exciting."
Her fingers traced random lines in the sand. "Remember the story from the other night?"
"The Leviathan one? That's the quest you're on, right?"
She nodded. "There's more to it. I'm not the only piece to the puzzle. Although the Kraken is powerful, he's not omnipotent. Remember how I said he had to lock away her heart?"
Sora sat up and regarded her curiously.
"Well, where there is a lock, there is also…"
His heart stopped. She'd paused to let him think, but Sora blurted the answer before he could stop himself.
"A key."
Besides the smile that graced her features, Sora couldn't pay attention to the rest of her explanation. Something about the same light creating a key and bestowing it upon a worthy heart. His mind was racing. It all made perfect sense why she needed him and why the Kraken had attacked him. But why had Kairi been so...forceful?
"You figured it out," her voice drew him back from the pit in his stomach.
"Why didn't you just ask?" he shook his head. "I would've gone with you still, without the kidnapping or anything."
She hummed. "Maybe you would've, but would your kingdom have let you?"
"What about your powers?" he asked. "They come from Leviathan. People would believe you in a heartbeat."
She laughed, "As always, you give people too much credit, Sora." Her gaze drifted out to sea. Though the evening had begun to darken their surroundings, she seemed focussed, possibly on the sound of tossing waves or the smell of the ocean breeze.
"In a world where the ocean is terrifying and monster-infested, what would people think of a girl with water-based magic?"
Her eyes were filled with sadness, and Sora wasn't sure if he wanted to know how many times she'd tried to win people over, only to be feared and tossed out.
"I suppose I've always been believed." His hand extended forward between them, and his Keyblade manifested before her. Her eyes grew wide, and she shuffled closer. "When my Keyblade appeared, my father took it as a sign of strength and heroism, and therefore that our family must be blessed. The irony is, I don't think I've done a single heroic deed with this blade. Fought some battles, sure, but nothing to actively help people." He chuckled, "If this whole time I'd been kept locked away, I was supposed to be helping people by ridding the ocean of those monsters, then my life's been a waste."
She reached a hand out and hovered it over the neck of the blade. Her eyes asked for permission, which he answered with a simple nod. She waited not a moment longer before touching the cold metal. Her fingers ran slowly from the hilt to the teeth a few times before she glanced up to him again.
"You're here now," she said, "that's not a waste." With her curiosity satisfied, she drew her hand back and regarded him fully. "It seems we're both missing something the other can provide. You need a heroic quest, and I need a hero to complete my quest."
The chilled night air suddenly grew warmer. Sora's chest tightened, but in a way that just made him want to sit closer to her. Instead, he cleared his throat and turned away.
"Well, we both need a way off of this island first."
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A day passed, and still Sora couldn't shake the island with the star-shaped fruit from his mind. Though it sat easily within swimming range, even at high tide, he found the rock and soil too slippery to climb.
It was a strange little sub-island, able to sustain a single tree that didn't grow anywhere else. He swam back to the main shore, bested again by the mysterious island.
"Still trying, huh?" Kairi giggled.
"It's killing me." He turned back to face it with his hands on his hips. It mocked him, standing just out of reach.
Kairi sat up and began unfastening her splint. "I have an idea," she said. "Take me with you."
"What? No! Kairi your leg-"
"Will be fine," she finished for him with that stubborn smirk of hers. "See, I'm taking the splint off so it doesn't get wet."
He was never given the chance to deny her again, for as soon as it was off she extended her hands out for assistance. He pulled her to her feet and supported her weight as they made their way back into the water. A hum of delight escaped her throat when the water hit her ankles. He hadn't thought of how much she must have missed the water. It probably pained her to be sitting a few feet from it all day yet unable to go in.
Once waist-deep, Kairi sighed and let her legs float. "Oh man, why didn't I think of this earlier?"
Sora chuckled. "Feel better?"
"Amazing." She closed her eyes and let her legs suspend in the gentle waves while Sora supported the rest of her weight.
If she hadn't been injured, this would've been the perfect moment to splash her while she'd been distracted. Later, Sora promised himself.
He shifted so they both floated on their backs, with her upper body weight supported on his chest. Through the blush spreading across his face, he told himself the position was necessary to get them to the small island. Gently, he began to kick his legs and guide them along. He half-expected Kairi to use her abilities to push them through the water, but she remained still in his grasp.
"Letting me do all the work, huh?" He teased.
Her torso shook as she laughed. "You'll see."
Sora's feet soon touched sand again as they neared the island.
"Stop here," she commanded, "and stand with me."
He did as she said. Using one hand for balance on him, she brought her other up in a familiar elegant motion. As expected, the water followed her lead and swelled around them. He suddenly felt less like he was in the water and more like the water was gripping him.
His instinct proved true when she raised her hand even further, and the water lifted them. Quickly, he was the one clinging to her for support as their roles reversed. In one smooth wave, they glided up and onto the raised sandy platform.
Even up close, it looked like any tropical tree that bore colorful fruit. Sora couldn't quite place what had drawn him so deeply to this tree, whether it was the fact that it only grew there or just his own stubbornness wanting to prove itself. Regardless, it felt anticlimactic as he stood beneath it.
"Well?" Kairi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Only then did he notice she'd hopped herself over to the tree and pulled herself up to sit on its tilted trunk. "Are you gonna stand there, or are we gonna try this fruit?"
He joined her side and stood under the star-shaped fruit. "I was just thinking, how do we know it's not poisonous?"
She shrugged, "We don't, but something tells me it isn't." Without further hesitation, she reached back and plucked one from the leaves.
Sora winced, feeling a bubble of guilt for ridding this tree of half of its harvest. As she offered the fruit to him, however, the guilt subsided into a sense of peace. They knew this was a one-time trip, and surely the tree would grow more fruit soon in the perfect environment. He picked the final fruit, sat beside her on the trunk, and extended it to her in return. The fruit she'd picked was much larger than his, and she smiled victoriously.
Instead of taking the fruit from his hand, she leaned her head down and bit from it.
The sight sent Sora's mind spiraling, compounded by the pleased look on her face as she took in the flavor. His eyes glanced down at her own offering staring him in the face. With a move like that, how could he not respond in kind?
The flavor burst onto his tongue immediately, and he understood Kairi's expression. It was sweet, unbelievably so even for an island fruit. A bite of tang danced across his mouth just enough to purse his lips a little. The flavor only deepened with each second, and this was only the first bite.
A pleasant aftertaste lingered, enough to leave him happy for the day, but when he opened his eyes to the woman beside him, he found his heart stuttering.
He knew her appearance, understood her cause, and had seen her in both joy and pain, yet as he took her in again, he saw much deeper into her as a person. It wasn't only understanding her, but knowing her, feeling her emotions right alongside her. Not only appreciating her beauty, but cherishing every inch of her. Not only tagging along with her mission, but desiring nothing more than to see it through to the end and beyond.
And based on her wide eyes, she was experiencing something similar.
"Sora…" She dared to speak, with an affectionate hint in her voice that drew him in further.
Sora blinked and shook his head. This was the woman who had him kidnapped to use for his abilities. She was a pirate.
A pirate who was kind and hospitable. And only raided those who committed evil. And cared for her crew. And was drop-dead gorgeous even after washing ashore a deserted island.
Her hand touched his arm and startled him. "You felt it too, didn't you?" she asked.
He couldn't even parse what had happened in his own mind, so how was he supposed to articulate it to her, whatever "it" was?
"Yeah," he responded as calmly as he could, turning away.
Her hand retreated. "Must just be something in the fruit." her voice had returned to normal.
He nodded, trying to convince himself that was the case. Even when each subsequent bite hadn't caused the same reaction as the first. Even when the sensation hadn't subsided hours after they'd returned to the main island.
Up until the very moment he admitted it to himself:
He didn't want to leave her side…
Because he was in love with her.
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A/N: This whole fic began when I asked myself, "What if two pirates reluctantly working together were stranded on a pre-civilization Destiny Islands, unknowingly shared paopu fruits, and intertwined their destinies forever?". Then of course I answered myself, "Yes, and make it SoKai," and it just kept building from there! There's still much more to happen though, so I hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading and leaving your feedback :)
#sokaiweek2020#sokaiweek#kingdom hearts#kh fanfiction#sokai#sora#kairi#pirate au#romance#adventure#pirate sora#pirate kairi#major character injury#paopu fruit#long post#dusky writing
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This is for one of my favorite pairings and for romnor week. Also, this is going to be an afterlife type au that I haven't came up for a name yet. I am going to be using this au for most of my entries so look forward to that. ^^
Theme: Nature
Warnings: Mentions of Death and OCness
Norway- Eindride
Romania- Viorel
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Eindride could no longer hear the beeping of the machines. In fact, he could no longer feel his body. He felt as if he was floating on a float gently down the river while being surrounded by nothing, but complete and utter darkness.
He knew he succumbed to the cancer that had slowly been killing his body for years. He no longer felt the connection to world of the living and he no longer could feel any more of that pain miserable pain. He was finally free and he could finally be with his little brother again...at least he hoped.
When Emil was on his death bed, Eindride had signed the paperwork so when they die, their souls would be send off to a virtual paradise that scientists created with some help of magic. He didn't understand how that worked or how they made this happened, but he would rather put his trust in the scientists then in gods.
After all, the gods had abandoned him and his little brother a long time ago so he didn't trust the heavenly beings to keep him and his brother together.
He was brought out his thoughts quickly when he felt him being jerked harshly towards a bright white light.
His eyes snapped opened to a black starry sky as his heart pounded wildly in his chest. He gave his heart a moment to settle as he brought his hand up towards the sky.
That was when he noticed the strange markings going down and up his arms. He sat up and to see if he had any more markings. The tattoo, if he could even call it that, started from the tips of his toes and ended at the tips of his fingers. The design is that of a tree where the roots were his feet to his ankles, the trunk being his legs to his stomach before branching out into branches and twigs.
However, the strangest part of this all, was the tattoo was glowing an eerie bright blue as small purple lights flowed through his body. He reached out and gently ran his finger against the markings as the little purple lights went by, but he didn't feel anything different...it just felt like normal skin. Maybe the lights were his life source? He didn't really know, but he was mesmerized by it all.
Once he finished staring at his markings, he stood up to take in his surroundings. He felt like he either stepped into a fantasy novel or he stumbled onto a alien planet...either way it was beautiful.
He was standing on a little, green sandy island in the middle of a lake that looked like it was connected to a river coming from the south while being surrounded by a forest on all three sides. The trees were black with many different colors of lights that arranged from many different shades of the colors in rainbow. From the trees's branches there hanged a string of white crystals that reached almost to the ground with a golden flowers hanging upside down at the end like a bell. Those trees were surrounded by dark red, white, and black grass with the same flowing lights as the trees.
The water in the lake was pitch black, but Eindride could see the bottom of the lake thanks to the natural light given off by the plants and other underwater creatures that lived there. To be honest, he didn't recognized any of the creatures under the water. They looked so alien to him and yet so beautiful that he wanted to touch them, but he knew it would be impossible to do so.
He was so caught up being fascinated by the nature that surrounded him that Eindride didn't even realized someone had snuck up right behind him until it was too late.
"Never expected to see anyone in this forest."
Eindride jumped when he heard a voice behind him and almost fell into the lake when he slid a little on the sand. He let out some very colorful Norwegian words before turning his violet eyes and body towards where the voice was coming from.
There standing on top of the surface of the lake was an unusual, but beautiful looking man. He seemed to be a bit shorter then Eindride and it looked like he only reach about his chin. His strawberry blond hair seemed a bit on the messy side reached to his shoulder. He wore a simple red shirt and black pants, but he had nothing covering his feet. Just like Eindride, he hand strange markings as well, but his was black twisted vines that had little red lights going through his and under his eyes lids he had black and red crystals or lights that spread out a little onto his cheek. When Eindride's eyes met with the stranger's red ones, he noticed his eyes were glistening in amusement and curiosity with a smirk that showed his little fang off as he studied Eindride.
"So why are you in Crystal Night Forest?" The man spoke again in a accent that might be Romanian, but he wasn't sure. "Shouldn't you be in the town?"
"I woke up here. In this exact spot actually..." Eindride responded. "I should be asking you how you are walking on water...well standing on it to be exact."
The man chuckled before walking towards him and with every step he took little pops of color would appear on the surface of the water. It was as if someone would splatter paint on a black canvas and it was really beautiful.
He stopped in front of Eindride and held his hand out to him. "Anything in this world is possible." He said. "If you want to swim, you can swim. If you wish to fly, you can fly. I mean its day and night here and the sun and the moon exist in the same sky. It should be impossible, but it isn't."
Eindride couldn't agrue with that. There was a lot of things that should be impossible like creating a new afterlife for dead, magic, and to be honest everything he had seen in this world should be impossible, but it wasn't. This place really was paradise in his eyes.
He noticed that the man still had his hand held out to him. He placed his hand into his and allowed him to lead him out onto the lake. A smile tug at his lips as colors appeared under his feet everytime he walked until they reach the otherside of the lake.
He let go of his hand as he looked around as he walked into the forest and when he moved the crystals out of the way, the bell like flowers on the end made beautiful chiming noises.
"The forest is quite beautiful isn't it?" The man said as he followed behind him as he had a small smile on his face.
Eindride nodded his head as he turned to look at him. "It is," he said. "I take it a lot of people live in here?"
His whole demeanor changed when Eindride said that. His eyes seemed a lot more sadder then before as he didn't want to look him in the eye.
"No, just the creatures of the forest and myself live here." He whispered. "People are afraid of unusual and unnatural things...so no one comes here."
Eindride nodded his head. He could understand that since history many times over has shown people being scared of things that were unnatural or not easily explained.
"Anyways, I should take you to town so you can meet the others and see what the day side looks like." The man said before he waved for him to follow after him.
On their way to the town, the man described the other side which sounded pretty normal with green grass, actual leaves on trees, and everything else. The only catch was that it was always day on that side, but since the dead don't need sleep and apparently, it never gets too hot there so it is all fine.
As they were talking, well Eindride only made a few comments here and there while he let the other do most of the talking, he found out the man's name was Viorel.
Viorel was very friendly, cheerful, and quite playful overall a ball of sunshine if Eindride could describe it. He also seemed to have an interest in magic and magical creatures and that sparked a deep conversation between the two of them. To be honest, Eindride was enjoying his company so far and found Viorel quite adorable.
With Viorel's company, it didn't seem to take too long to reach the line were day and night meet, but Viorel stopped walking and didn't move towards the line so Eindride stopped as well.
"Why did you stop?" Eindride asked.
"Let me show you why." Viorel whispered as moved towards the meeting point.
Eindride watched in curiosity as Viorel raised his hand before trying to reach out to the day side of the world. Suddenly, a glass wall appeared from the ground and blocked his hand from crossing over.
"I am not allowed to...I can never cross to the other side while others can and I don't even know why." Viorel's eyes seemed to sadden again as Eindride watched him remove his hand as the wall disappeared. "I am forever trapped on this side of the world. I can't be where the other souls are."
No one comes here. If no one ever goes to the forest and if he couldn't leave, then Viorel must be very lonely. He could understand that type of loneliness for it had always been just Emil and him. When his little brother passed away, he had no one, but the medical staff as his only company. That kind of loneliness eats you alive inside until there is nothing left. He never had the chance to make friends before so he could perhaps give it a shot with Viorel.
"I need to find my brother..." Eindride said. "...but I would like to see you again. How would I find you again?"
Eindride couldn't stop the smile appearing when he saw Viorel's eyes widen in such a comedic way. "Do you mean it?" There was uncertainty in his voice, but he just nod his head yes to confirm it.
Eindride wasn't prepared for the hug to come his way. He stiffened up for a second before he awkwardly patted Viorel's back gently. He finally pulled away as a blush dusted his cheeks gently while Viorel smiled brightly at him.
"To answer your question, you can always find me at the lake." Viorel said. "If you ever want to meet, you can go to the little sand spot where I met you and I can find you there."
Eindride nodded his head before walking to the line before stopping and turning to look at Viorel. "Goodbye Viorel," he said.
"Bye, I wish you luck on finding your brother!" Viorel waved.
Eindride turned his back to him before stepping over to the day side, but when he did his strange markings disappeared and he could no longer see the little purple lights going through his body. "Hey Viorel, why did my..." He turned around to ask him, but the man had already disappeared.
He just shrugged before turning around and heading towards the town to find his little brother.
#hetalia#aph romania#aph norway#hws romania#hws norway#romnor#aph romnor#romnorweek2020#au#character death#also read more hates me sorry
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