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marriedtolike18fictionalmen · 6 months

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Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 4)

Hey y'all!! Sorry its a bit later than usual, I totally forgot to do the timed posting thing. My bad lol

on an unrelated note:

ITS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY (gonna be honest, it wasn't the best one yet, but def not the worst...)

Anywho, as always, I appreciate you guys so much, hope y'all like this part, I'm close to done writing the story, just need to get it chunked out for posting.

Enjoy lovelies!!

After a long day, everyone gathered on a rock on the far end of the beach furthest down from the village, a place all the older kids liked to hang out. Tuk had wanted to go home, exhausted from the play and swimming of the day. The rest of us, The older Sully kids, my siblings and I, the metkayina kids, all started trading stories of our lives.

“Okay, I am dying to ask.” I had turned to where Neteyam sat across the fire from me. “How in the hell did you become Toruk Makto? The full story, not the half-assed version from the other day.”

A proud grin slid across his features as he launched into the story, sitting down next to me.

“I was in the midst of battle. The clan next to ours had been relentless and were closing in. My ikran, Seze, may the great mother reunite our souls, had been shot down. As I fell, a great shadow, the last shadow, dove after me. He extended a kuru towards me and safely got us to the rockface. I was, of course, terrified. I was injured, couldn’t walk, and he knew that. As I tried to hide away in a small cave I knew he couldn’t follow me into, he stepped in my path and hissed before extending the kuru again.

When we flew back into that battle, the last big battle, it rallied the spirits of the warriors. We somehow drove away those cowards. They haven’t been too much trouble since.

Anywho, it was easier to get more stuff to bring with us when we had Takutai with us, bigger back and stronger wings and all.”

The group stared wide-eyed at him, and I shared a smirk with Adib. “Somebody needs to be more original, one of the best warriors of his generation, Toruk Makto, became so the same way his mother became Palulukan Makto, c’mon ‘Teyam, be more original.”

“Somebody’s jealous.” He chided, wrinkling his nose at me.

Everyone laughed, and a new group of the other teenagers neared, introducing themselves as they sat down.

“Toruk Makto, that’s a huge title.” One of the girls, Leilani, commented to Neteyam, a hand brushing over his arm.

He pushed her touch away politely, “Yes, I just did what my people needed from me.”

I looked back towards the beach where a training party had just returned, their raucous laughter carrying over even the crash of the waves against the rock.

Everyone shifted as they neared, making room for everyone. I cringed as Ralak situated himself in between myself and Neteyam, knowing I was in for a long evening.

“Rani, what was the salve you gave me earlier? It worked wonders.” Adib’s voice drifted across the fire to me.

“It’s dapophet and a mixture of other roots.” I responded, happy for the distraction. “A recipe from back home, but with the numbing properties of some other plants from around here.”

Adib nodded, and Ninat started asking me more about the mixture. I shifted to go and sit next to her, shooting a small smile across to Neteyam and the Sullys as I went.

We talked more about our shared passion in healing, and sometime along Kiri joined in our conversations alongside Tsireya. The other girls formed their own group and the boys wandered off to do their own thing. After yawning for the fifth time in a row, I finally stood. “Sorry guys, I’m getting really tired. Gonna head home.”

The girls all agreed, and as a group we all walked back towards the village, separating once we entered it with soft goodnights and smiles.

“Princess! Wait up!” I turned to see Neteyam jogging up the beach towards me, and I stopped to let him catch up. “I’m surprised you're still out and about. Last I remember you had a strict curfew of two hours past eclipse.”

Laughing I replied, “Yeah, well that was your curfew, and I didn’t want to have to hang around your fan club after you were gone.”

He shoved me lightly. “They were not a fan club. More like stalkers who ruined half my solo-hunts.”

We continued to banter, stopping a bit away from the other mauris so we could continue talking without worrying about waking anybody, sitting down on the beach in a small cove area just around the corner.

“The water is so beautiful at night. I thought the forest had nice lakes and whatnot, but this is breathtaking.” Neteyam breathed, eyes focused on the water swirling around his ankles. He smirked as he looked over to where I had splashed the water to make the algae glow brighter. “Baby legs. You have to sit so much closer to the water to make your ankles reach.”

I feigned insult. “It’s not my fault your legs are like a gazillion feet tall!”

He laughed and splashed me lightly, not saying anything.

“I always preferred the stars.” I stood and moved back from the water’s edge, to where no trees would obscure my vision. “You can always find the same ones no matter where you are.” Neteyam laid down on the sand next to my feet, patting the spot next to him silently.

I sat down, immediately shivering at the cool breeze that had stirred up from across the waves, and Neteyam pulled me into his side, an arm around me to keep me there and awakening butterflies in my stomach. “How the hell do you always run so warm?” I asked, calming my voice and wrapping an arm around his middle to stay in his warm embrace.

He rubbed a large hand up and down my side, trying to create friction. “Not my fault you always run so cold.” he mumbled into my hair. I played with the beads of his songcord, rubbing my thumb on the reef shell he’d strung on to the end.

He shifted a little under me, and I glanced up. “My arm’s going a little numb.” He explained.

I shifted onto his chest, “Better for me, I get to be warmer.” I muttered against the necklace he always wore. A chuckle sounded through his chest, and I smiled at the sound, ignoring the tingling in my gut. We stared up at the stars, and I let my eyes slide shut as I listened to the rumble of his voice through his chest as he told me his father’s stories of life beyond the stars.

~ᐧ~ “What the hell is going on here?” I awoke to see Ralak standing over me, hands on his hips as he scowled at Neteyam.

I blinked the spots from my vision as I gathered my surroundings. “Shit, we fell asleep.” I groaned to Neteyam. He hummed in response, offering a hand to pull me up.

I saw as Ralak straightened up as if he was about to start something, so I made up some excuse of Tsahik Ronal needing Neteyam and I today.

We did end up at the tent, but there was no help the Tsahik needed, so we decided to go search out the other Sullys, who were sure to be with my brother. “I’m not going to go looking for Rina or Ateyo, I’m sure they’ll show up soon.”

“Maybe they’re all at the beach, they mentioned really liking that one spot with the shade one time.”

I nodded, and we set off in that direction.

“Aw, look at his little baby tail!” I saw the Metkayina boys circling around Lo’ak and Adib, who were pushing their way out of their grip.

“Leave us alone!” I saw Kiri standing off to the side, and without a second thought, both Neteyam and I ran towards the group.

Neteyam strode over to Aonung, shoving him off of Lo’ak as I put myself in front of Kiri, both of us knowing Adib can very well hold his own, but also that Lo’ak was young and angry, and Kiri was more of a pacifist.

“Leave them alone.” Neteyam growled out. He pushed a finger into Aonung’s chest, “back off.” He warned.

Aonung stepped back, hands raised in surrender.

“Good choice. And from now on, I’m gonna need you to respect my sister.” Neteyam looked at the group, making sure each heard his words.

The Metkayina boys had backed away, and I turned to see Kiri sticking her tongue out at them. I smirked, inclinding my head to signal them to leave. Neteyam pushed Lo’aks head as he turned, and I stood next to him, waiting for Lo’ak to start walking. I glanced back at Neteyam, who again tried to get Lo’ak to leave.

Lo’ak got into Aonung’s face, balling up a fist. I glanced up at the sky before making eye contact with Adib. “Hey, ‘Dib, I think Kiri wanted to ask you something.”

He nodded and walked away from the group, knowing it’d be too messy for him to get more involved. By the time he reached her, Lo’ak had already knocked Aonung to the ground, and Aonung was launching himself at Lo’ak’s legs.

They scuffled, and then one of Aonung’s goons slapped Lo’ak in the face with his tail.

Neteyam scratched his head, and joined in the fight. “You’re stupid!” Kiri shouted from next to Adib. Lo’ak was screeching about his tail, and was dragging a whining Aonung by the ear as he was pulled back. I giggled as I watched the fight, and after a few minutes saw that the Sully’s were outnumbered.

“That’s enough now!” I tried to stop them, but of course I was ignored. With an exaggerated salute to Adib and Kiri, I stepped into the fray and tried again to get their attention. Aonung tried shoving me out of his way, and within a second he was on his back holding his nose and curled in a ball. The fighting ceased, and I brushed off the sand from my leg as I straightened up. “Are you done?” I raised a brow at all the boys, then cringed as I heard Jake’s voice boom from behind me. “What the fuck do you think you are doing?”

~ᐧ~ “What was the one thing I asked? The one thing!” Jake had diffused the situation and was now shouting at the three of us, the boys sporting some cuts, bruises, and scrapes while I had only bruised knuckles.

We all hung our heads and answered, “Stay out of trouble.”

Neteyam stepped up, myself right on his heels. “It was my fault.”

Jake narrowed his eyes, ears twitching backwards. “I don’t think so. You gotta stop takin’ the heat for this knucklehead.”

Lo’ak stepped forward, “Look Dad, Aonung was Picking on Kiri. Called her a freak.”

Jake sighed, then sent us off to go make peace. He grabbed Neteyam and I before we could walk out. “So what’d the other guys look like?”

“Worse.”

“That’s good.”

Neteyam grinned, glancing over at me. “Alot worse.”

Jake sent us off, clearly looking to find Kiri to make sure she was okay. “C’mon “Teyam. Let’s fix you up.” The two of us ducked into my tent, and I grabbed a bowl of clean water and a towel to wipe up his scratches. “Sit on the counter, it’ll be easier for everybody.”

Neteyam compiled, and I settled myself between his legs as I started to carefully wipe at his wounds, crouching down to get a nasty one on his calf. I worked my way up, changing towels as I moved from his legs to his arms, and then again to his torso.

“Did it hurt to get these?” Neteyam asked as he traced the tattoo that ran from the side of my ribcage dowm my thigh, resembling the markings on Syura. His eyes were glued to my skin as he felt the slight raised texture of the marking.

I smiled, “At first, yes. But I had already gotten a few,” I shifted to show him the art on the inside of my bicep, “It’s an ikran made in the traditional Metkayina style.” I explained and his fingers traced the lines of it too.

One arm wrapped around to trace my spine, “And this one?” He whispered as he finally looked up at me.

I wrinkled my nose, “That one wasn’t very fun. I made it really simple on purpose.”

The hand that was still resting on my hip twirled me around, and he traced the linework of the simple pattern that ran down my back. “Your songcord?” Neteyam asked, resting his chin on my shoulder.

I nodded, and he leaned back to once again feel the swirls underneath his touch. “Your birth stuck between two clans, your siblings…” He trailed off, and I looked over my shoulder to a furrow on his brow. “Is this one Syura?”

“Mhm. Syura means energy, so energy symbols kinda in a very abstract shape of wings.”

His finger trailed to the next shape, “being old enough for curfew to be pushed back but still sneaking out for stargazing?”

“It was a fun experience!”

He huffed out a laugh, “Whatever you say, princess. Getting ranked as a top warrior, becoming part of my family, completing your tsakarem training, and this one?”

His hands had stopped on my lower back, near a large diamond shape. “That’s for when Ateyo officially stole my sister away. The next one too. Evil twins, ugh. Gotta hate ‘em.”

Neteyam grinned, “yeah, I can’t believe he won that bet.”

“What bet?”

Neteyam gaped for a moment, before sighing. “We kinda made a bet when we were like 12 over which one of us will get a mate first. I had to do any punishments Ateyo got for two months after he won.”

“And what if you’d won?” I asked, twisting around to face him.

“He’d have had to teach the soon-to-be warriors for two months. The ones who had decided that they already were ready to go off on their hunts and everything.”

I laughed, leaning into his chest as his arms once again hooked around to rest on the last marking on the chain. “And this one?”

“That’s for when we joined the Metkayina clan.” I pulled back to reach around him and grab a new cloth. “Close your eyes.” I softly instructed.

He complied, resting his hands on my hips again as I dabbed cool water on the black eye already forming. He hissed as I got to a particularly sensitive part, tapping twice on my hip in our silent signal of ‘it’s alright’ at my quick apology.

“Okay, you can open.” I stepped back to grab another, gentler salve for the cuts on his face. I applied the salve and lightly blew on it to help with the sting when I saw his face twitch in pain. “Must you always put others first? You protect your family, sure. Take the blame for Lo’ak every time, fine. But you don’t have to silence your pain just for me. I swear, I don’t feel bad in the slightest about making your wounds sting.”

Neteyam’s lips pulled into a wide grin, and this time he didn’t try to hide his wince as it pulled on the cut situated there. “And why’s that, Paskalin?”

I grabbed his chin and started wiping at the wound. “Paskalin? You haven’t called me that in ages.”

“Well, you’re sweet, and you like berries, so ‘sweet berry’ is a fitting pet name. You never answered my question though.”

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the salve. “Like I said, you like putting yourself in danger too much, and you put everyone and everything above your own needs. This is my little revenge.”

The side of his mouth I wasn’t working on quirked. “So basically your ‘v’ is for vendetta?”

I lightly slapped his bicep, laughing at his pouting expression. “Pretty much, yeah you could say that. But seriously though,” I grabbed his face to make sure he was hearing me. “Stop putting others above yourself.”

He raised a hand from my hip, holding up his last finger. “Pinky promise.”

“You do know those are practically legally binding, right?” I said, hooking my own ‘pinky’ with his.

“I know. And I also know you’ve gotta-” he pecked my cheek “seal it with a kiss.”

I scrunch my nose before lightly placing a kiss on his nose. “Happy?”

“It’ll do.” He hopped off the counter. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”

He strode to the entrance as I asked “What kind of business, exactly?”

He turned in the doorway as I gathered the towels from cleaning him up. “The kind where I ‘apologize’ and vaguely threaten that skawng for calling my sister a freak.”

I threw one of the towels at his head, which he deftly ducked and caught. “Nice try, paskalin!” He shouted as he walked away tossing the towel in his own mauri as he went.

“So you’re just fucking him now, huh?”

I turned to see Ralak’s tall frame standing right behind the side of my mauri, a disgusted look across his face.

“Were you eavesdropping the entire time?” I was shocked and backed away out of the entrance to my mauri

“Long enough to hear you kiss him. We ended things two months ago. They’ve been here a week at best. What-”

I had stopped listening, “I thought I told you to stay away from me.” I turned and started walking away, but his hand grabbed my wrist and stopped me, his face had morphed into one of pain.

“Please, ‘Rani. I asked you to be my mate, I proposed to you. Please don’t leave me like this. I can’t lose you.”

“You did the moment you went and slept with someone else the second we disagreed about something. I’m sorry you can’t live with your own actions, but that’s for you to figure out. Without me. Say hi to Leilani for me.” With this, I quickly walked the other direction from Ralak, not bothering to turn, the Tsahik always needs some kind of help. She’ll be able to stop Ralak as well, should he follow me.

#neteyam sully #avatar 2 #avatar way of water #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan #our infinity of stars

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here4theheartbreak · 4 years

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The Fairy Garden (NamKook)

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: Jungkook x Namjoon Genre(s): fluff Rating: General Audiences (G)

Tags: fluff, fairy AU, fairy!Jungkook, fairy!Jimin, werewolf!Taehyung, getting togeher, first kiss

Summary: When Namjoon opened The Fairy Garden, the last customer he expected was an actual fairy. Word Count: ~10.9k

Running his own business was Namjoon’s dream. It wasn’t until he was a teenager, and discovered the true joy of nature and growth and all things green, that he realized running a natural business was his destiny.

Starting hadn’t been easy. His parents thought he was crazy, his friends rolled their eyes. But Namjoon proved them wrong. He was the proud solo owner of The Fairy Garden, an organic store selling herbs, supplements, plants, and gardening tools.

Some months were slower than others, but the business had a good client base, a great online presence, and word of mouth was always positive. Namjoon went out of his way for his clientele, and it showed. Whenever someone new came in the story was the same. So and so said I should come here for any of my garden needs. Can you help?

So when the tall, muscular boy with a streak of rainbow gradient in his black hair walked in with an obscenely bright pink flower in a pot, Namjoon barely blinked.

“Can you help me? I heard you can help plants.”

“I can sure try,” Namjoon said. He pushed some magazines and papers to the side of the counter. “What’s going on?”

“She’s really sick. She won’t eat anything and she hasn’t bloomed in days.”

Namjoon scowled. He took the plant from the boy, turning it in his hands. “What… Is this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never seen a flower like this, do you know its name?”

“Sure, we call her Serendipity.”

“No, I mean..” Namjoon set the plant down, scratching his forehead. “Like the breed.”

“Oh, she’s a Faun Spit.”

“Fawn… Spit?”

The boy nodded. “Mhm. Do you think you can help her?”

Namjoon looked at the plant. It seemed like it had shrunk a half inch even in the few minutes they were speaking. “I’ve never worked with one of these before, but I can certainly give it a shot. No promises though.”

The boy beamed brightly, and Namjoon felt his heart skip a beat. He’d never seen a more brilliant smile. “Great! Thank you.”

“What’s your name?”

“Jungkook.”

“And number?”

Jungkook laughed a little. “I don’t have a phone. Why would I?”

“Well, I- I mean — It’s 2020. Doesn’t, everyone?”

“Humans maybe.” Jungkook wrinkled his nose, showing his front teeth in a cute smile. “Humans are weird. Even with the sight, you’re all so silly.”

Namjoon blinked owlishly. He adjusted his glasses. “Well, I need to contact you - if the plant gets better, or worse.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll come by in a few days to check.”

Namjoon shrugged. “Suit yourself. Anything else I can help with?”

“No… I’d be so grateful if you could save her… She’s my favorite girl,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll certainly try.”

He nodded. He stroked the flower’s leaves gently for a moment before nodding and hurrying toward the door.

“Wait, is it poisonous?” Namjoon called after.

“Not if you don’t get her spit in your mouth.” Jungkook said. He hurried out before Namjoon could question him further, leaving the shop owner staring baffled at the door.

***

Namjoon poked his head over the stack of books on his desk when the door to his room opened. He did have an apartment, but most nights he was at the shop so late it made no sense to go home, so he set up a room in the basement. More than once his friends had made various Little Shop of Horrors jokes, and given his current predicament with this strange plant, he was starting to worry a little himself.

“Joon?”

“Over here,” Namjoon called. Yoongi waved. “What’s with the bookstore?”

“This plant. I’ve never seen it before and I can’t find it any books.”

“Oh no.”

“What?” Namjoon looked up, taking in Yoongi’s panicked expression.

“Where did you get that strange and interesting plant?”

“Well, I was in the shop and—“

“Was there a total eclipse of the sun?” Yoongi pressed, his mouth curving up into a grin.

“No, I—“ The connection hit Namjoon then and he scowled, picking up a pair of pruning shears from the desk. “You know these are sharp, right? I will stab you.”

“Sorry, Seymour. Just too good to pass up,” Yoongi teased. He didn’t flinch even when Namjoon jabbed the shears toward him in a mock threat. “Anyway, so where did you get this thing?”

“A man came into my shop today with it. Real weird kid, really handsome…”

“That so?” Yoongi smirked. He shook his head. “So what’s wrong with it?”

“Sick. It’s wilted even more in just the few hours I’ve had it. But I don’t know where to begin treating it. The soil is damp so I know it’s not too little water — But it doesn’t seem the right type of plant to survive in a desert or even dry environment. Based on the colors and petals I’d say it’s something tropical, so hot and wet are kinda the go to.”

“Aren’t they everyone’s go to?”

“You’re a pig, thank you,” Namjoon said, waving his hand. “So I don’t know.”

“Well - What did the plant in that movie end up needing?”

“You know damn well what it needed. Blood.” Namjoon hesitated, glancing at the shears on his desk. “Blood…”

“You aren’t gonna cut yourself on a plant, you fool,” Yoongi scolded, yanking the shears off the desk.

“No, of course not. But iron. What if the soil itself is the problem?”

“How would you check that?”

“Easy enough.” Namjoon rose, circling around Yoongi to dig around a few shelves. Yoongi approached the plant, picking it up. “It looks like a neon pink like... that weird bug eating plant you have upstairs. If you ask me.”

Namjoon glanced over, scowling. “Bug eating—You mean my sundew?”

“Is that what it is? The one that always looks wet.”

“Yeah – Why do you figure?”

“Well the flowers. I know the real attraction is the leaf stuff that closes up, but it’s got those pretty little flowers. If those were bigger and leathery like this one, they’d look close. Especially if you folded them up a little like a bud thing.”

Namjoon circled back to Yoongi, taking the plant and examining it closer. “You know… You’re actually right. I wonder if this plant is carnivorous.”

“How can you tell?”

“Feed it a bug, mostly. The boy did tell me not to get any of its ‘spit’ in my mouth. I thought he was being facetious, but now I’m wondering if he meant whatever it gives off to consume its prey.”

“Its spit? Dude… That kid sounds like a freak.”

Namjoon shrugged. He sat back at his desk, grabbing a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers to peek closer at the plant’s leaves. “What did you come by for, by the way?” He asked, brows creased as he examined the plant.

“Just to check up on you. You weren’t home so I figured you’d be here.”

“I’m okay—Did you think something was wrong?”

“Funny feeling.” Yoongi sat down across from him, shoving a few books out of the way to place his elbows on the desk. “How are you anyway, Joonie?”

“Eh. One day at a time. Arguing with my parents again.”

“Over what?”

“The usual. This shop. They hate that it’s successful, by any standards. I’m not rolling in the money so they consider it a failure.”

“I feel like that’s just how their generation is. Mine are the same.”

“You make a ton with your photography,” Namjoon argued, poking at a leaf with the blunted tip of the tweezers. He made a small noise when it curled weakly around the metal. “And you figured out the plant’s species, at least – So that narrows my search for a fix.”

“I make some. Most of what I make goes back into the business – cameras and software and development tools, as well as marketing. I make enough, but I’m not living easy. It’s why I do the vet stuff.”

“You do the vet stuff because you’re a giant softie for animals and you just won’t admit it, Min Yoongi.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Well, I’m just gonna leave if you’re gonna go around insulting me like this.”

Namjoon huffed without really responding, flipping through one of his books. “Either way though, I’m fine. This plant is gonna give me grey hair if I can’t save it though.”

“Hm. Why?”

Namjoon hesitated, fingers twitching above the page. He scowled at the book, and then turned the look to Yoongi. “I don’t know.”

“You’re passionate about flowers but not like this. So maybe it’s the boy that brought you the flower.”

“Most definitely not. I don’t flirt with my customers.”

“You ever seen him before?”

Namjoon shook his head, rising to gather something from the shelves.

“Did he pay in advance?”

“Of course not,” Namjoon said, standing on his tip toes to grab a jar.

“So then he’s not a customer yet. What did he look like?”

Namjoon didn’t bother to hide the small smile on his face as he sat back down with the jars. “Tall, broad… Longish hair, dark but this wild streak of rainbow, I’ve never see hair dyed so bright. Big brown eyes and this smile that… I don’t even know how to describe it. It was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You’ve got it bad.”

“Do not. I’m not dating one right now.”

“Might be, if you get the balls to ask out plant boy when he comes back for this one.”

Namjoon opted to ignore Yoongi this time, focusing instead on the plant. He heard Yoongi rise, barely sparing a glance as he flopped down on his bed, intending to make himself comfortable until Namjoon was finished. Not that he minded; Yoongi was Namjoon’s best friend, and had been since high school. They had done everything together and stayed close even into adulthood despite their very different career paths. They had come out to one another at sixteen, and even shared a first kiss on an attempted date – but realized that their affection was no more than brotherly when it was by far the most awkward experience of either’s life.

Namjoon didn’t have the heart to tell Yoongi that that had been his only actual date, even now eight years later. Sure, he’d had one night stands but, dates… Never. As he worked, his mind wandered to the strange boy. Jungkook. He had such a cute smile, and a bright gaze that was almost otherworldly. What would happen if Namjoon did ask him out. Aside from being beaten to a bloody pulp if the guy was straight, of course. But the rainbow in his hair… And just the general feeling that Namjoon got from him. Safety.

“I’ll ask him out,” he finally mumbled.

“What?” Yoongi’s voice was thick with sleepiness; Namjoon realized he’d likely been sitting in silence far longer than he realized.

“I’m going to ask Jungkook out when he comes back.”

“Tell me how it goes. I’m sleeping here.”

“Leave room in the bed for me,” Namjoon said. He got a grunt in a response, but Yoongi rolled over to one side of the bed, burying himself under the blankets. Namjoon continued to work until he could keep his eyes open no longer.

***

It took three days for Jungkook to wander back into the shop looking for his plant. When he did, Namjoon was sitting at the counter, filling out the upcoming month’s order form.

“Did you—”

“Jungkook!” Namjoon beamed. “I’m glad you came by. Great news.”

“You saved her?”

Namjoon hopped off the stool. He hurried to the nearby window, tripping over a stray cord and barely keeping his balance. He plucked the plant from the sill and turned, holding it out. “Good as new.”

“What was wrong?” Jungkook asked, hurrying over with a bright grin on his face. Namjoon smiled crookedly himself, drinking in how perfect that expression was.

“Just bad soil, mostly. I transplanted her into some healthy soil, and added some fertilizer and food. She’s carnivorous, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Make sure you supplement her diet too. Catching dinner in the wild is easy for carnivorous plants, but in captivity, we gotta help them out a little. Spiders or beetles if you don’t want to do too much feeding, I know it can be gross.”

Jungkook nodded eagerly, holding the pot close to him. “I can’t thank you enough. What do I pay you?”

“Uh… Oh it’s, twenty-five. But… I’d be willing to call it even if..” Namjoon froze then, his voice sticking in his throat. Was he really about to do this?

Jungkook tilted his head, his eyes bright and curious, focused entirely on Namjoon. The bright streak in his hair had changed, still a rainbow, but a more pastel gradient now that complimented the dark of his eyes in a stunning way. “If what?” Jungkook pressed.

“If you’d—A date,” Namjoon mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You’re asking me on a date?”

“I am.”

Jungkook bit his lip, glancing Namjoon head to toe. “I’ve never dated your kind before.”

“My—My kind?”

Jungkook laughed then – a peal of high, wild laughter that took Namjoon’s breath and made his heart skip a beat.

“Sure,” Jungkook said. “But you gotta pick the place. I don’t any human places to eat.”

“Human?” Namjoon scratched the back of his head. “Sure. You have anything you don’t eat?”

“Hm. Nope. I’ll eat anything. Bit of a scavenger. When?”

“Tonight? Six?”

“I’ll be here.”

Namjoon nodded. Jungkook leaned forward, placing a kiss against his cheek that was far more delicate than expected. Namjoon gasped, the edges of his vision fading a little. He barely focused enough to wave as Jungkook skipped out of the shop, flower in his arms.

Namjoon was surprised when Jungkook rushed back into the shop only three hours later. His cheeks were pink from exertion, his hair mussed.

“Jungkook? Are you okay?”

“Do you have wolfsbane?”

“Wolfsbane? Why?” Namjoon scrambled to his feet, circling around the counter.

“I need it.”

“Jungkook, that plant is poison.”

“Not to me. Not to my kind, please, do you? Dried, powdered, fresh – doesn’t matter.”

“I might. Maybe. But you have got to be careful with this stuff, Jungkook. Do you know what it can do?”

“I know it can save my friend.”

Namjoon scowled. “You—Jungkook, you’re sounding a bit manic.”

“You don’t have the sight do you?” Jungkook asked. His mouth turned down into a scowl. “You are just a human.”

“Well yeah, so are you. What are you talking about?”

“Wolfsbane. I don’t have time for this.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a handful of paper money, dropping it on the counter. “Here, you humans ask for this. Please.”

Namjoon sighed. He nodded and hurried into a back room, donning gloves and shuffling through some of his more dangerous plants. He normally kept a few on hand; there were some collectors that often wanted fresh products or ones to crossbreed. Finding the rich, purple flowers, he snagged the pot and rose. He grabbed an extra set of gloves and headed back out, placing the pot on the counter and holding the gloves out to Jungkook.

Jungkook made a face of annoyance, his mouth in a fine line and his eyes narrowing. He batted the gloves out of the way and reached out, plucking one bud from the plant bare handed.

“Jungkook!” Namjoon cried, panic knotting his stomach.

Jungkook dropped the bud into a small jar, sealing it and pocketing it. “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt the plant, it’ll regrow.”

“I’m not worried about the plant, you fool, you’re going to get poisoned!” Namjoon reached for Jungkook’s hand.

“No, I won’t. I’m not human.”

“Wh—”

“I have to go; my friend needs me. I’ll see you tonight.” Jungkook rushed out. Namjoon chased after him, smacking his hand painfully off the door as he yanked it open. He looked left and right, but could find no sign of which direction his strange suitor had gone in.

The next few hours were spent in peace in the sense of the shop, only a few customers, regulars, and no serious plant related crises. But Namjoon was a wreck. He kept replaying Jungkook’s actions and words – grabbing the poisonous plant with no care, ‘I’m not human’, ‘you don’t have the sight’. What the hell did any of that mean? Namjoon wondered if Jungkook would arrive for their date, or if he’d see on the news a young man with pastel rainbow streaked hair was in the ER due to Aconite poisoning. Would he be held responsible? Would he be charged? The cameras in the shop would show he tried to hand Jungkook gloves. Surely he couldn’t be held accountable – he warned him. The worry devolved into anxiety as the clock ticked closer to closing time. At five he closed shop and hurried home, showering and changing before heading back.

Just as the clock struck six, a knock sounded at the door. Namjoon perked his head up immediately, beaming when he saw Jungkook’s face through the window. He scrambled to his feet, opening the door and stepping out into the evening.

“You made it.”

Jungkook tilted his head. “Of course I did. I owe you a debt.”

“That’s… The only reason you came?” Namjoon asked, a twinge of guilt and self-doubt twisting his stomach into uncomfortable little knots.

Jungkook shrugged in response. Namjoon felt any shred of excitement that was building deflate.

“Oh… Well, I’m… I’m sorry, then. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” He backed up a little toward the door. “Look, you overpaid me today for that flower. Why don’t we just call that payment for the plant too. You don’t need to do this.”

Jungkook furrowed his brows, his lips pushing out in a small pout. “Why not? I thought we were gonna go eat?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to do this if you’re just doing it because you feel like you have to. That’s not what I wanted.”

“But I’m hungry.”

Namjoon blinked at Jungkook’s response. He tilted his own head a little, as if looking at Jungkook’s face from a different angle would answer what the hell was up with this strange young man he’d somehow found himself involved in.

“Who are you?” Namjoon asked.

“Jungkook? Who are you?”

“No… You… There’s something about you. What is it?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You say such weird things. And today with the wolfsbane.” He pointed to Jungkook’s hand. “That plant is toxic. You should be sick. But you’re fine.”

“I already told you, I’m not human.”

“That’s what I mean, Jungkook. What are you? Are you crazy? You look human.”

Jungkook smiled softly. He reached out, touching Namjoon’s cheek. “Humans are so sweet. But their minds are limited. I didn’t mean to get you involved. I was mistaken – I thought you knew about us.”

“Us? Jungkook, please. I feel like I’m going crazy.”

“You’re not. You just know things you shouldn’t.”

“Stop!” Namjoon snapped, and Jungkook startled, shying back. Namjoon took a steadying breath, raising his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, I just—You need to stop speaking in riddle. Please, I can’t handle this. I’m sorry.” Namjoon turned, fishing for the keys to the shop to let himself back in.

“Wait,” Jungkook said softly.

“I didn’t mean to make you come out like this,” Namjoon mumbled, struggling to get the key in the slot. His hands were shaking.

“Please wait, Namjoon. I don’t want you to go. You were so kind to me. I didn’t mean to scare you. I… I was like this because I thought you knew what I was. I’m bad at what I am. I always have been. Everyone thinks I’m a failure and now when they find out I revealed us to a human, I—I’ll be a laughing stock. But you were still so nice and I’m sorry I’ve scared you. I was excited about our date. I’ve never been on a date with someone at all… Not just never a human. Please don’t leave.”

Namjoon hesitated as Jungkook spoke, staring at the keys in his hand. He looked over his shoulder, meeting Jungkook’s large, pleading eyes. In the setting sun, they looked far brighter than they’d been in the store, almost amber colored.

“What you are.” Namjoon turned, crossing his arms. “Tell me what you are.”

Jungkook hung his head. “Well, I’m a fairy.”

Namjoon stared at Jungkook. The punchline would come any moment now, he was sure. When Jungkook remained quiet and stoic, his eyes wide as he searched Namjoon’s face, Namjoon blinked.

“What?”

“A fairy. You asked, I answered.”

“But—No, you—Fairies aren’t real.”

“Yes, they are. I’m one.”

“You’re like six feet tall. And you don’t have wings.”

“Well, I do. But I can hide them. They’re far too big to have out and about in the world. Plus, can you imagine what the humans would say? And not all fairies are tiny, that’s just a myth. You humans come up with some pretty silly stuff.”

“You’re insane.”

“Not really. A little crazy, probably, from all the fairy dust, but, not insane.”

Namjoon shook his head, backing up against the door of the shop. “Fairies aren’t real.”

“Well…” Jungkook shrugged. “You’re standing in front of one, so… How do you explain that?”

“You’re lying.”

“I can’t lie. Curse of my kind.”

“Bullshit.”

“I really can’t. Ask me something a human would lie about.”

“I—” Namjoon went quiet, unsure. “I have no idea.”

“Anything.”

“Wh.. Do you cry during movies?”

“Regularly. Something harder than that. That’s nothing to lie about.”

“I have no idea!” Namjoon cried. “You could be lying about anything. How do you prove you aren’t?”

“Should I show you my wings then? Unlock the door. I don’t want another human to see.”

“No, this is nuts. Just… Go.” Namjoon turned, his heart pounding a mile a minute. He unlocked the shop and rushed in, pushing the door closed before Jungkook could enter. Jungkook stood outside, looking at Namjoon through the glass.

“Please,” he mouthed. Namjoon swallowed hard. He shook head.

“Go away.” He locked the door and hurried down the stairs, fear and nerves clouding his mind.

Namjoon didn’t leave the small work room downstairs until the next morning when it was time to open the shop. He rubbed his tired eyes as he climbed the steps, having barely slept. The things Jungkook had said weighed so heavily on him. The boy had to be mentally ill – there was no such thing as fairies. But he’d spoken with such conviction. And he seemed so normal otherwise.

Namjoon went to the door to unlock it, and did a double take. Jungkook was sitting cross legged by the door, his chin to his chest as he dozed. He was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, implying he had not moved from the spot. Namjoon yanked open the door, startling Jungkook.

“What the hell?!”

“You’re back.” Jungkook rose, trying to straighten his wrinkled shirt. “I was waiting for you.”

“It’s morning!”

“That’s fine. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Well now I’m just worried.” Namjoon dragged Jungkook inside. “It was cold last night.”

“I don’t feel the cold the same way.”

“Don’t start that shit again.”

“We’re inside. I’ll show you them.”

Namjoon bit back a sigh. Maybe if he humored the kid, he’d let him get some help. “Fine, you can show me, but when you do, then it’s time for you to go. A doctor maybe, or the hospital…”

“Why would I need a hospital?”

“Jungkook – You don’t have wings. You’re… Something’s… Going on.” He tapped his own temple for emphasis. Jungkook only grinned.

“You’ll see. Just wait.”

Namjoon crossed his arms, nodding. “Fine. Show me these wings.”

Jungkook’s nose crinkled. He glanced out the window at the quiet street. Seeming satisfied, he shook his shoulders loose and took a deep breath. Namjoon cocked an eyebrow, wondering what was supposed to happen. Before he could consider saying a word, a breeze shifted through the shop, ruffling his hair and clothes. In front of him, Jungkook seemed to shimmer for a moment before settling. Same black clothes, tousled hair with a streak of rainbow, same crinkly smile… But new was the set of green and blue wings, extending at least a foot above Jungkook’s head and down to his knees. They were heavy looking, thick like the skin of a bat, but at the same time sheer, Namjoon could see the shop through some spots when they shifted. Jungkook’s eyes had changed too – into a bright amber color, vibrant and very inhuman.

He stumbled backwards, tripping over his feet and landing on his ass. Jungkook gasped, moving forward. The wings caught a little air, lifting his feet from the ground for a second. He crouched, looking at Namjoon worriedly. “Are you alright?”

“You—Those are wings!”

Jungkook smiled. “Well, I said I had them. I told you, I can’t lie. Do you like them?”

Namjoon reached one shaking hand up, touching Jungkook’s shoulder first. He extended his arm further, brushing his fingers over one of the wings. It was silky smooth, like the petals of a rose. The wing twitched under Namjoon’s touch and Jungkook giggled a little. Namjoon yanked his hand back.

“It’s okay,” Jungkook said. “They’re just sensitive. It tickles. You can touch them.”

“I’m dreaming.”

Jungkook reached out and pinched Namjoon’s cheek. He hissed in pain. “Ow! What was that for!”

“Aren’t people supposed to pinch themselves to prove they aren’t dreaming? It’s real.” Jungkook rose and tugged Namjoon up, going almost nose to nose with him. “I’m a fairy, Namjoon, just like I said. I’m sorry I got you mixed up. Your shop… It’s the Fairy Garden. I just… I assumed you were a human that could feel our… Presence.”

“Presence?”

“The sight. Like.. Some humans can sense we’re not human and build stuff like this for us. I’ve always been kind of a crappy fairy – I’m not surprised I couldn’t tell right away that you were just a normal human. Are you okay?”

Namjoon frowned a little, his brows furrowed. “No. I mean… I think I’m in shock… I—I don’t want to believe you but…” He touched the wing lightly again, and Jungkook gasped a little this time, stepping closer to Namjoon.

“But this is… I’m feeling this, it’s real.”

Jungkook nodded slowly. “I’m real.”

“So what now?” Namjoon asked. “Do I—Is it safe for me to know?”

“Would anyone you know believe you if you told them? Would you tell them?”

“My best friend maybe… But he’d never believe me.”

“Then it’s safe… But… Namjoon, I still owe you that date.”

Namjoon laughed a little. He let his hand drop. “You should put those away – I could get customers at any second. We’ll talk.”

“Hm… Yes.” Jungkook stepped back. Again, his body seemed to shimmer in front of Namjoon’s eyes, and suddenly the wings were gone.

Namjoon blinked. He circled around Jungkook, touching his back. “Where do they go?”

“They’re just… Away.”

“So am I like… Walking through them or something?”

“No. It’s kind of like folding them up like a bird? But they shrink a little. Lift my shirt up.”

“What?”

“Just do it.” Jungkook reached back and grabbed the hem of his shirt. Namjoon sighed but obeyed, gasping. Jungkook’s back was tattooed with the same intricate designs on his wings, the colors vibrant on his tanned skin.

“Wow…”

“That’s where they go.”

“I—I don’t know how to process this.”

Jungkook turned and smiled, setting his hands on Namjoon’s shoulders. “You can ask me anything, okay?”

“Are you—I mean you’re this… How?”

“I was born, same as you. Just my parents were fairies. We’ve been around for ages, as long as humans – longer probably. We’ve always lived among you guys, you just don’t notice.”

“What do you do?”

“What do you mean?”

Namjoon shook his head. He walked over to the counter and began to set up for the morning. “I mean, in the stories fairies are either good and help or they’re tricksters. So what is it? What magic do you have?”

“Hm, well, we can’t lie. We can fly. We are very good with plants, normally – But I’m not so good… We help the other supernatural creatures among us.”

“Others?”

“Wolves, shapeshifters, chimera, even some lost demons and spirits… All sorts.”

“That’s not all real…”

“Why do think I needed the wolfsbane, Namjoon?” Jungkook went over to the counter and leaned on it. “My best friend’s a werewolf.”

“Isn’t wolfsbane supposed to kill those?”

“That’s a legend. And a bad one. It helps the sick ones. See, he got stuck in his last turn. We can’t figure out why. He can’t shift back, but the problem is if he stays as a wolf too long… He’ll be stuck forever and lose his humanity.”

“That sounds… Awful.”

“It is. The wolfsbane staves off that final shift. But either way. We’re helpers. We also help humans that seek us out, for a price… And I guess sometimes we scare humans who are trying to help.” He smiled almost shyly then, and Namjoon rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sorry I flipped out. This is so much.”

“I get it. But I wasn’t lying when I said I did want that date. I want to get to know you, Namjoon. Even if you are a human. You feel nice to be around.”

“You… Feel nice too,” Namjoon admitted, surprising himself. “But won’t your… People be mad? You dating a human?”

“Nah. I’m not a very good fairy, like I said. They wouldn’t be surprised. So… Can we try that date again?”

Namjoon smiled softly. “I’d like that… Yes.”

“Tonight?”

“Deal. Six.”

“Okay… But… I have something happening tonight with my people. How about I take you?”

“What? No. I’m—Jungkook, I couldn’t.”

“Why not? Are you scared of us?”

“A little.”

“Don’t be. The only ones you gotta worry about are the gnomes, and they won’t be there. Just my family. It’s sorta a tea party.”

Namjoon chuckled. “A fairy tea party?”

“We’re quite fond of them. And we make amazing food. Please?”

Namjoon looked down at the counter, trying to weigh his choices. Jungkook was… So endearing and now that he knew he wasn’t insane, he really did want to try this. But… Fairies. He sighed. “What do I wear?”

Jungkook grinned. “Casual. But good shoes, we’ll be going into the woods. I’ll pick you up at six.” He leaned over the counter. Instead of pecking Namjoon’s cheek, this time he pressed their lips together.

Namjoon gasped, his heart picking up three speeds. Jungkook pulled back much too quickly, and Namjoon chased his mouth for a second, blinking dumbly. Jungkook smiled.

“Wow…” He bit his lip. “That was nice…”

“Yeah…” Namjoon swallowed hard. “Normally that comes after the date.”

“Hm. But I wanted to know what you tasted like. I’ll see you tonight.” He grinned and hurried out, throwing a glance – and an accompanying laugh – behind him as he did.

Namjoon was twice as nervous as he got ready for dinner that night. The initial failed date notwithstanding, Namjoon had no clue what he was in for with the fairy tea party. He could still feel Jungkook’s mouth on his own though, even hours later, and he longed to not only feel that kiss again… But hopefully get to know the boy that had given it.

As with the night before, Jungkook was right on time, this time wearing a bright, fluffy sweater that Namjoon instantly wanted to cuddle against to see if it was as soft as it looked. He beamed when Namjoon stepped out of the shop.

“Not gonna run from me this time, right?”

“No. I’ve been looking forward to this all day. Are there any customs or… Anything I need to know?”

“Not really. Don’t touch anyone’s wings but mine, we’re all pretty sensitive about our wings. Oh, and there’ll be a few other kinds of beings there… Try not to stare too much, okay?”

“Will there be other humans?”

Jungkook nodded. “Mhm, my Jiminie has a boyfriend who’s a human. He’ll be there. And probably a few others that are close with us. So you won’t be the only one.” Jungkook took Namjoon’s hand and led him down the sidewalk.

“So how far away is this place?”

“Right here.” Jungkook waved his hand in front of them.

“I… Am not seeing anything but the street.”

“Trust me?”

“Well, you did show your wings to me. I guess I owe you trust for that.”

“Good. Hold my hand tight.”

Namjoon scowled but did as Jungkook requested. Jungkook nodded and stepped forward. The air around them seemed to get heavier and tighter, squeezing the breath from Namjoon’s lungs. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to breathe. Jungkook’s grip tightened, seeming to pull him through the compression, and then it released.

Namjoon dragged in a deep breath, surprised to smell the rich scent of pine and dirt. He opened his eyes, looking around. The sun was still setting, casting a hazy orange glow through a multitude of rich green trees. The ground was littered with blossoms that Namjoon had never seen before, all colors and shades he could imagine. “How—”

“Magic. Welcome to my home. Stay close okay? These woods play tricks on humans. It’s not quite the forests you’re used to.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“Don’t worry.” Jungkook smiled. “You’re safe with me.”

Namjoon nodded, looking around with wide eyes as Jungkook led him down a dirt path. Everything was so vibrant, he was smelling scents he’d never smelled before, the flowers were nearly calling his name. More than once Jungkook needed to tug his hand to keep him from straying toward various bursts of blossoms.

“Can you show me around? These flowers… They’re amazing.” Namjoon said softly.

“Sure. Later, okay? We don’t wanna be late. I’ll take you to all my favorite spots.”

He turned down the path and pushed back a heavy layer of leaves. Namjoon gasped. The woods seemed to open completely into an open field. Despite the setting sun in the rest of the woods, this area was as vibrant as high noon. Tables of various colors were filled with a whole assortment of individuals. There were lot of winged people, fairies like Jungkook, Namjoon assumed. Some looked human, others had ears like wolves or cats, or large antlers like deer. A few children rushed around, flowers in their hair and their skin dark from the sun. A wolf too big to be real was stretched out on the grass, lapping at its front paw.

When Jungkook pulled them into the field, a shorter, slender man with silver hair and a pair of vibrant yellow and white wings raced up to them. His wings flapped sporadically, giving him the appearance of floating on the air as he ran.

“Jungkookie!” He grabbed Jungkook and spun him in a hug. “You came! When you didn’t come home last night we were worried. Were you with…” The boy met Namjoon’s wide eyes. His own were a vibrant blue, startling and icy. “This is the human?”

“Yes. This is Namjoon.”

The boy tilted his head. “You look scared. You’re not…”

“He doesn’t have the sight… I messed up. But he’s understanding.”

The boy nodded. He stuck out his hand. “My name is Jimin.”

“Nice to meet you,” Namjoon said. He shook his hand, still looking around.

“It’s a lot to take in, huh?”

Namjoon nodded.

“Well you’re safe here. My boyfriend is over there.” He pointed to a man dressed in bright colors from head to toe. His hair was a deep brown. “He’s human too. You two might get along. His name is Hoseok. He’s a dancer. What do you do?”

“Flowers.”

“He saved Serendipity,” Jungkook said, taking Namjoon’s hand. He looked over, startled to see that Jungkook’s wings were once again on full display.

“Ah, that was you. She’s doing amazingly now that you worked on her. Thank you. She’s mine,” Jimin said.

“Oh! My honor. Do you grow many flowers?”

“Just a few.”

“I’d love to see them sometime. I really enjoy flowers and this place – I’ve never seen these types of blossoms before.”

“Of course not, they’re from our realm. Humans don’t get to see this unless we let them.” Jimin smiled. “Enjoy yourself. Everything here is safe for humans as well as us, and there are no predators as long as you stay within the field. Don’t go into the woods without one of us or one of the wolves.”

Namjoon nodded his understanding. He watched Jimin walk – more float – off toward Hoseok.

“He’s quite kind.”

“He is. He’s my best friend. Are you hungry?” Jungkook led Namjoon around, introducing him to various individuals and giving him bites of some of the sweetest food Namjoon had ever had the pleasure of tasting. They finally settled at a table, plates filled with various treats and mugs of warm tea that tasted of honey and sweet and rich.

“Is that your wolf friend?” Namjoon asked, motioning to the large wolf he’d noticed when they first came to the field.

“No, that’s Taemin. He’s a wolf, but not my close friend. He just prefers his wolf form. My friend is Taehyung. He’s too sick to come.”

“What do you guys figure is wrong?”

“We’re wondering if it might actually be something human. He was playing in the human’s forests last shift. Sometimes when wolves or other shifters catch diseases that they can only have in animal form, they’re stuck that way until it starts to pass. It’s just been a while and... We’re worried it won’t pass this time.”

Namjoon bit his lip. “This is going to sound strange. But… My best friend is a vet tech. Do you want him to take a look at your friend?”

Jungkook’s eyes widened. “You think he’d do it?”

“Well… He might be kinda freaked out about it being a big ass wolf but… Yeah, I mean, we could say your friend is like, I don’t know, your pet.”

“Taehyung would kill me.”

“Better than finding out werewolves exist, right?”

Jungkook rolled his eyes up, then chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. Is he… Friendly? Like you?”

“He tries to be some tough guy but he’s sweet. We’ve been friends since we were little. Can your friend move around, or would we have to bring him here?”

“Let me talk to Jimin.” Jungkook rose and hurried toward where Jimin was chatting with a group of shifters. Namjoon watched him go, unable to keep the smile from his face.

Jimin glanced over at Namjoon while the two talked, nodding at whatever Jungkook was saying. He pulled a face of concern, shaking his head. Jungkook shrugged, placing his hands on his hips. Namjoon chuckled a little.

“You like him don’t you?” Namjoon startled, looking up at the man that had addressed him. It was Jimin’s boyfriend, Hoseok.

“What?”

“Jungkook. You haven’t taken your eyes off him.”

“He’s… Yeah. I like him.”

Hoseok sat down across from Namjoon. “Dating their kind is hard, you need to know that.”

“How do you mean?”

“They talk in riddles, they’re impossible to understand sometimes. And they aren’t the best with emotions. Because they can’t lie, they aren’t used to being subtle. They say what’s on their mind. Sometimes it hurts – even if they’re well intentioned.”

Namjoon nodded. “I get that. The riddles definitely. I – He had me so confused the first time we met.”

“I bet. Jimin said you don’t have the sight?”

“Nope. Before Jungkook walked into my shop I thought fairies and wolves and all this,” he waved his hand, “was just the stuff of fairytales. Fiction.”

“There is such a world out there that we don’t know. It’s terrifying and amazing.”

“Is it… This is a strange question but, do they… Feel the same things we do?”

“Oh yeah. Love, sex, intimacy – it’s all the same. Jimin and I are regular old boyfriends most of the time, until we’re here. Then it’s like… Well, look around. Neither of us fit in. You can pick out the humans easy. It’s like there’s this dullness about us. We don’t belong.”

Namjoon looked around, noticing for the first time what Hoseok was saying. He could pick the humans out even without the animal features or wings. They were just less bright.

“Does it… I mean Jimin, he loves you still right?”

“Oh yeah. He does. I trust him wholly. It’s just something that weighs on you a bit, the longer you date one. Just be prepared for that.”

“Of course. Thank you for the advice.”

Jungkook approached, settling in his empty spot. “Scaring him off, Hobi?”

“Never. Warning him about the flirty, flighty nature of you fae boys.” Hoseok thumbed Jungkook’s nose playfully.

Jungkook laughed. “So Jimin thinks we will be okay to bring Tae to your world. It’s safer for ours if we don’t bring in more humans than necessary. No offense to your friend, but…”

“Oh, no I get it. Trust and safety. But you say world like – We’re still on Earth, right?”

“Sorta. It’s like…” Jungkook picked up a sandwich and turned it so the side was facing Namjoon. “The whole sandwich is Earth. This bottom slice is your world. What you see. Where your shop is, where we met. And then… Our world.” He pointed to the top slice. “What you’re in now. Humans can’t get through the filling, so they just assume the bottom slice is all there is. Fairies, shifters – anyone with supernatural blood like us, we can. So we see both. And we can pull humans through it, like I did with you.”

“Why can you guys get through it?”

“Well, we made it.”

Namjoon cocked an eyebrow.

“Magic. It’s all magic. And magic comes from – largely – fairies. Our ancestors, at least. Either way, we’ll pull Tae through to your shop – You have that downstairs area right? Could he stay there while your friend looks at him?”

“Sure, I have a bed down there, he can rest in it.”

“Good. Jimin and I can bring him tonight.”

“Tonight? I should call Yoongi…” Namjoon fished his cell phone out of his pocket, scowling when it didn’t turn on.

“Oh, that doesn’t work here,” Jungkook said, laughing. “Don’t worry – you can call him when you get back. You’ll have a few hours before we get Taehyung through.”

“Should I go back now?”

“Do you want to?”

Namjoon looked around for a moment. “No. But…” He moved a little closer to Jungkook. “I do want to kinda make this more of a date.”

“How do you mean?”

“I want to get to know you. Let you get to know me.”

Jungkook grinned broadly. “Sure. You have my undivided attention.”

Namjoon reached out, touching Jungkook’s hand. He hesitated for a moment before diving in, asking everything from Jungkook’s favorite color and animal to how he grew up. He listened intently to each answer, giving his own in response. Knowing Jungkook couldn’t lie was both comforting and unnerving; he felt like he couldn’t leave things out either, no matter how embarrassing. But Jungkook never teased or taunted, only listened with the same rapt attention and asked questions here and there.

The two talked for what felt like hours. Namjoon was vaguely aware of others around them, milling about, music playing, laughter and some dancing, but their attention remained on one another. Jungkook was by far the most interesting person he’d ever met. And it wasn’t the otherworldliness of him or the general magic – it was just Jungkook. Even the most mundane of stories, Namjoon loved them all. The crinkle of Jungkook’s nose, the way he barked out the most un-fairy-like laughter when he really found something funny, the way he’d shake his head, hair falling over his bright eyes.

As the party wound down, Namjoon knew he had no choice, really. During a quiet, peaceful lull in the conversation, he leaned forward, catching Jungkook’s mouth in a gentle kiss. Jungkook inhaled quickly, his lips curving up into a small smile. Namjoon felt Jungkook’s hands cup his cheeks before he deepened the kiss. Their tongues brushed together, almost timidly, and Jungkook giggled against his mouth. He pulled back, pressing their foreheads together.

“I like kissing you.”

Namjoon chuckled. He reached up, holding lightly to Jungkook’s wrists, hands still on his cheeks. “I like kissing you too.”

“We should do that more often.”

“I agree.” Namjoon leaned in, brushing their lips together once more.

“Hate to break up the party,” Jimin said, clapping Jungkook on the shoulder. “You guys should head back and call his human friend. I’ll start getting Tae ready to move.”

Jungkook rose. “I’m gonna say bye to some friends real quick. Meet you in a second.” He bounced off toward a group.

Jimin smiled, his eyes narrowing. “He likes you.”

“I like him too,” Namjoon admitted. “This is all so… New. I’m still not sure what to make of it, but… I know I like him, and I want to make things work with him.”

“Jungkook is special to all of us,” Jimin said, the threat clear in his voice.

“I believe that. I won’t hurt him.”

“Don’t. The thing about fairies… We’re not all Tinkerbell and glitter dust. We can be dangerous.”

Namjoon met Jimin’s gaze, rising. “I believe that. And I expect no less. If you care as much about him as you say you do, I fully expect you to protect him with everything you have. I’d like to – someday – be able to say the same.”

Jimin’s mouth thinned, searching Namjoon’s face. “I hate that humans can lie. I never trust you.”

“You’re dating a human.”

“And it took me a long time to trust him.”

“Then you’ll grow to trust me, I hope. Perhaps helping your friend will be step one in that.”

“Hm.” Jimin nodded. “Maybe.” He tilted his head a little, smiling then. “You two are cute together. I’ll give you that.”

Namjoon grinned crookedly. “Thanks.”

Jungkook slid up to them, wrapping an arm around Namjoon’s middle. “Ready?”

“As ever.” He nodded to Jimin. “See you shortly?”

“Yes.”

They walked back into the forest, now nearly pitch black, save for the splinters of moonlight filtering through the trees. They walked in silence, fingers twined. Namjoon felt like eyes were watching from every direction – and something about the way Jungkook’s hand squeezed around his own told him maybe he wasn’t so off with that theory. But they made it to the space they’d entered from easily, and Jungkook didn’t need to warn Namjoon to hold tight this time.

The cold air of the night smacked him in the face, the stink of the city rising and erasing almost all but a whisper of the sweet woods he’d just been in. He released Jungkook’s hand and dug out his phone, dialing Yoongi.

“What?”

“Hello to you too, grump. I have a favor to ask you.” Namjoon heard a shuffling on the other end of the line.

“Whatcha need?”

“Can you bring your vet kit and get to my shop? About… An hour?” Namjoon looked to Jungkook, who nodded in agreement.

“My vet—Why?”

“Well… Remember that boy? With the weird plant?”

“Uh-huh…”

“He’s got a pet. A dog. Who is sick. But he can’t really afford vet fees if it ends up being nothing, so I figured maybe… You could take a look? See if he needs to take him to the vet clinic or if it’ll pass on its own?”

“Namjoon…” Yoongi sighed heavily. “Is it up to date on its shots?”

“Uh, hold on… Shots?” Jungkook furrowed his brow.

“I have no idea what can be passed to his kind in that form,” Jungkook admitted, shrugging.

“We aren’t sure. He… Recently got the dog.”

“Alright. Well, I’ll bring along some simple vaccines just in case. Can’t hurt. I’ll be there in a while. Bring him downstairs, hope you don’t mind dog hair on your bed.”

“Not a problem. Thank you for this, Yoongi.”

“Just doing my part to make sure you get laid. Saving innocent boy’s puppies generally helps that.”

“Asshole.”

Yoongi laughed as he hung up, and Namjoon nodded. “Okay, you can tell Jimin to bring him. I’ll leave the shop unlocked and wait upstairs for you guys.”

Jungkook shouldered his way into the shop first, holding the door open for the lumbering honey colored canine. Namjoon gasped audibly, his stomach twisting into a nauseous fear.

“Tha—That’s a big wolf.”

The wolf in question tilted his head, sitting back. He whimpered, nosing Jungkook’s side.

“This is Taehyung.”

Jimin entered, shutting the door behind them. “Where can he rest? Walking tires him out so much lately.”

“Right down these stairs. If he can’t make it… The three of us could probably carry him?” Namjoon offered, though he wasn’t very keen on the idea of carrying a giant wolf – Jungkook’s friend or not. He was far bigger than the other that Namjoon had seen at the party, but even he could tell the animal – boy – wasn’t feeling well.

“Should I grab the wolfsbane plant?”

“No, too much won’t help him any.” Jungkook followed Namjoon to the door, heading down first. He turned, walking slowly backwards to watch as Taehyung began down the stairs.

Jimin held back, looking at Namjoon. “I want to thank you for this. I know it’s probably a bit of a risk.”

“Well, worst thing that happens is Yoongi tells everyone. Nobody would believe him.”

“I suppose not. But still. We’re all worried about Tae.”

“I get it. If I were in your place I’d want to do anything I could for my best friend.”

“And who is your best friend?”

Namjoon smiled. “Yoongi. The man who – I hope – can help yours.”

Jimin nodded. He set a hand on Namjoon’s shoulder and headed down the stairs. They got Taehyung settled onto the bed as best they could, and Jimin gave Jungkook a hug. “I’m going to head back. I’ll return in a while – see if there’s any change.”

“If it’s an emergency I’ll come for you,” Jungkook agreed.

Namjoon walked Jimin out before settling back behind the counter to await Yoongi’s arrival.

When he did show up, Namjoon blocked the steps. “First, a warning. It’s a big animal.”

“It’s a dog, I’ve dealt with big dogs.”

“Well… Kinda.”

“Namjoon…” The threat was clear in Yoongi’s voice, his eyes narrowing. “What did you get me into?”

“It’s a dog. As in, it’s a furry, four-legged creature of the canine variety.”

“There’s a but coming.”

“It’s… Less of a domesticus and more of a lupus.”

“A wolf?” Yoongi sputtered. “You have a fucking wolf in your flower shop?”

“He’s tame.”

“Yeah, they all are until they bite your fucking head off, what does that kid have a wolf for?”

“His cousins had him. He got him a few days ago,” Namjoon lied smoothly as Jungkook came up the stairs. He smiled sheepishly at Yoongi. “I’m Jungkook. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please. He’s family.”

Yoongi sighed heavily. “Well my shots will do no good if it’s a pure wolf. But I’ll see if I can figure out what’s wrong with him. I’m more used to working on, you know, fluffy poodles.”

Jungkook smiled sheepishly. “He’s about as aggressive as one, if that helps?”

“Yeah, we’ll see.” Yoongi pushed past Namjoon, following Jungkook down the steps.

He gasped visibly when he saw Taehyung on the bed. “Holy shit, that’s a big wolf.”

“You know, everyone seems to say that,” Jungkook agreed, going over and stroking Taehyung’s soft ear.

“He’s huge.” Yoongi circled around and crouched, putting his hand up to Taehyung’s nose. “Hey, buddy. So, I’m Yoongi. I’m gonna poke and prod for a bit to see what’s got you sick. I would really, really appreciate it if you didn’t eat me, okay?”

Taehyung made a soft whuffing noise, pressing his nose against Yoongi’s palm. He chuckled and scratched his muzzle. “Atta boy. Don’t feel good, huh? We’ll see if we can get you fixed up without any of those nasty vet clinics. I know they’re scary. And they don’t like treating pups like you anyway. Maybe afraid you’ll scare their kittens.” As he spoke, he opened his bag, pulling out various instruments.

“How long has he been like this, Jungkook?”

“Few days. Since the last full moon.”

“What was he doing before he got sick?”

“Playing. Outside.”

“Fenced yard?”

“Nah, woods.”

Yoongi nodded. He lifted Taehyung’s lip and chuckled. “Oh my, what big teeth you have. All the better to eat me with, huh?”

Taehyung sneezed, and Yoongi grimaced, wiping his hand. “Gross, dude.”

He grabbed Taehyung’s back leg lightly, shifting it up. The movement earned a whine and a warning growl.

“Okay, okay… Settle down.” Yoongi stroked over his side slowly. “Give me a few with him, if you would? You could help Namjoon fetch some water, some gauze, and one of those microscopes I’ve seen him use for some of his plant things.”

Namjoon helped Jungkook with the things Yoongi had requested, watching Yoongi and Taehyung as best he could. Yoongi shouted questions across the shop every now and then about Taehyung’s diet, exercise, and other information, and Jungkook answered honestly, skirting the truth with an ease that surprised even Namjoon at times.

Finally, Yoongi rose, pulling a syringe from his bag. “I gotta get blood, and I don’t want my arm bitten off.”

“What can we do?” Namjoon asked.

“Try to distract him. I know it’s not super great of a choice but I want someone holding his head and keeping him calm. Wolves are strong but he’s sick, so… Hopefully no one gets their face ripped off.”

Jungkook chuckled. He scratched Taehyung’s ear. “He won’t bite me. He’s a big boy, can handle a little needle stick. I’ll stay by his face.”

“Okay. Joonie, I need you to help me with holding his back leg okay? I’ve done this a ton, but not on a dog this size.”

Namjoon nodded. “Just tell me what to do.”

Yoongi motioned around his back. “Kneel behind him and you’ll be holding his thigh. Hold on and I’ll show you in a second.”

Yoongi pulled out a pair of scissors. He stroked Taehyung’s side gently, soothing him as he trimmed away a bit of fur on his leg. “This is only gonna sting for a second, okay, buddy?” He spoke softly feeling around for the vein he was looking for. He grabbed Namjoon’s hands. “Grab here, hold firm and do not let him pull back.”

He patted Taehyung’s side again. “Quick stick then I promise we’ll find a nice treat for you, okay, big boy? Gonna figure out how to make you better.” He inserted the needle as he spoke, wincing when Taehyung whined.

Namjoon grunted, working to keep Taehyung’s leg still as Yoongi drew the blood. He finished, quickly pressing a piece of gauze over it. “Jungkook, wrap that up.”

He moved away, but not before offering Taehyung a scratch. “Good patient.”

“What are you doing?” Namjoon asked, watching Yoongi go to the table to set up the microsocope.

“Well, if he has what I think he has, I should see it in his blood.”

“And if he does?”

“Depends. There’s about four things I think I might see. Each one varying degrees of bad or good. Give me like ten minutes of silence while I figure it out.”

Namjoon went over to Jungkook, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Do you want to go upstairs, or stay?”

“I might make noise, I should go upstairs. Come with me?”

Namjoon rose, watching Jungkook press a kiss to Taehyung’s furry head. “Be right back. Rest, buddy.”

Once upstairs, Jungkook curled against Namjoon, wrapping his arms around him. “Your friend is very kind.”

Namjoon smiled. “He really is. He and I have been close forever. What about you and Taehyung?”

“Pretty much the same. We’ve always been together, with Jimin.”

“Yoongi will find a fix.”

“I trust that.” Jungkook walked away, leaning on the window sill. He looked up at the night sky, sighing softly.

With the moonlight filtering in on his face, Jungkook looked every bit the otherworldly creature he was. His shaggy hair, still streaked with pastel, hung over his face in wild curls. His damp lips were parted, just enough to breathe a soft thread of condensation onto the window, and the pale light highlighted the glow of his rosy cheeks. Though his wings were hidden, Namjoon could almost picture them, splayed and fluttering, lifting Jungkook’s heels from the ground as he gazed off into the stars.

“Jungkook—” Namjoon whispered, his heart pounding a mile a minute. He took a few steps toward Jungkook, almost afraid to break the serene beauty of the scene in front of him.

Yoongi’s piercing shout did that for him.

Both men turned, racing for the stairs and down them. Namjoon missed a step, sliding down the final few as he gripped the guardrail. Jungkook leapt over him without difficulty.

“Taehyung!”

In Namjoon’s bed, where the wolf had previously been laying, was a tall, slender boy. He was entirely nude and shivering, his hair curly and shaggy, the same rich honey of the wolf’s fur.

Yoongi was on the floor a few feet away, his mouthing hanging open as he motioned wildly at the bed. “He—Wolf—I—”

Namjoon rose, putting both hands up. “Yoongi, take a breath.”

“No fucking way!” Yoongi scrambled to his feet, backing up. “What the hell is happening?!”

“You need to calm down. I’ll explain everything,” Namjoon said, approaching his friend slowly.

“Why are you not freaking out?!”

“Because I knew he was a human. Sort of.”

“He was a dog!”

“I was a wolf,” Taehyung stuttered. Jungkook had wrapped him in one of Namjoon’s blankets and was rubbing his shoulders quickly to warm him up.

“Wh— Joonie,” Yoongi whined, panic crossing his features.

“He’s a werewolf, Yoongi.”

“What? You’re playing some prank on me.”

“Why don’t we have a drink… You and I need to talk about some stuff, okay?”

“I—No, this—” Yoongi shook his head. He put his fists to his temples, screwing his eyes shut.

“Should we go?” Jungkook asked softly.

“No. You should stay. I might need your help, explaining. And we still don’t know what was wrong with Taehyung,” Namjoon said. “Just give me a minute.”

He went forward, grabbing Yoongi’s wrists. He brought his fists down and gave Yoongi a shake. “Look at me.”

When Yoongi opened his eyes, focusing on Namjoon, Namjoon smiled. “You aren’t going crazy. I thought the same thing. Okay? But this is real. Listen to me, Yoongi. Do you trust me?”

“You’re my best friend.”

“Do you trust me?”

Yoongi drew in a shaky breath. He nodded. Namjoon nodded as well.

“Then listen. This. Is. Real. On the bed. The wolf you were dealing with. He is still there.”

“But—”

“Shh. He is still there. He’s just a man. His name is Taehyung.”

“How?”

“He’s a werewolf.”

“Joon—”

Namjoon shook his head. “The boy I am dating. The one sitting with him. He is a fairy.”

Yoongi laughed nervously. “Not very nice.”

“Well, jokes are a good sign. Do you want to see his wings?”

“This is a joke.”

“Afraid not. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but we hoped you wouldn’t find out. We didn’t know Taehyung would shift, he’s be stuck in his wolf for a few days because he was sick. We needed a vet. You were the only one I could think of that I could trust.”

“He’s—A were… Werewolf.”

“Yes.” “Will—He won’t—” Yoongi looked over Namjoon’s shoulder at the two on the bed. “I need that drink now.”

Namjoon stepped back, hurrying to his small fridge. He withdrew a beer and opened it, passing it to Yoongi. “Want one, Jungkook?” Jungkook nodded. “Taehyung?”

“I— The medicine?” Taehyung said softly. His voice was deep and rich, with a raspy quality that Namjoon found absolutely mesmerizing.

“Right – Yoongi. What did you give him?”

“An antibiotic.”

“Can he drink?”

“Well, it’s not advised but one beer won’t hurt him.” Namjoon took two bottles, passing them to Jungkook. He took one of his own and settled in a chair near the bed. Slowly, Yoongi stepped over, sitting in the desk chair nearby. He continued to watch Taehyung, his eyes wide even as the four sipped in silence.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Taehyung finally whispered. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know I was going to shift, but when I started – I can’t stop it. I feel like I hit you – Did I hurt you?”

“No. I jumped back. You just scared me,” Yoongi said softly.

“So what did he have?” Jungkook asked.

“He still has it. But a month of antibiotics should clear it for the most part. It’s called anaplasmosis. I’d guess he got it from a tick bite while he was in the woods. It’s sort of like Lyme disease – He may have it forever, but it won’t bug him, probably. If it does, it’s pretty easy to get rid of with the medicine. I happened to have some in my bag, so I thought I’d give him a dose. It starts working pretty quick, so I didn’t bother waiting.”

“I guess once it hit his blood stream, the shift happened,” Jungkook said.

“So you’re a werewolf,” Yoongi said. “And he’s a fairy. But he’s huge.”

“Hey,” Jungkook said, pouting.

“Not all fairies are tiny,” Namjoon explained, meeting Jungkook’s gaze. “He’s quite beautiful when he’s got his wings out.”

“He can fly?”

Jungkook nodded, his chin jutting out in defiance. “You bet I can. And I can curse you, so don’t be mean.”

Yoongi chuckled a little. “Cute… And you…” He looked at Taehyung. “What is it, were you bit, or? Does silver hurt?”

“Nah. I was born like this. Most of us are. The biting is a wives tale made up by humans. So is the silver thing. We do turn on the moons, but we’re not some vicious killing machines. And we can shift freely, normally. But I was stuck. I’d guess because of the bite.”

“Well, you’re okay now. I’ll have to check your blood in a few days, or if you… Get sick again or shift, or… Something.”

“Right… Is the medicine okay for me to take in this form?”

“Sure, I’ll have to change the dose – You’re smaller as a human.” Yoongi chuckled. “But you should stay here for the night, let me keep an eye on you.”

Namjoon looked over, his eyebrows raised. “Excuse me, that’s my bed.”

“You have an apartment.”

“So you want to stay here with the werewolf.”

“I’m not gonna eat him,” Taehyung complained, pouting a little.

Jungkook giggled. “No, but he might lick you.” He teased. Taehyung elbowed him.

“Well, if you do stay, we should find you some clothes. You might fit into something I have,” Namjoon offered. He rose and padded over to a bag in the corner. “They’re probably wrinkled, I keep them when I stay here instead of going back to the apartment, but…” He fished out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, bringing them to Taehyung. “That way you’re not naked in front of a stranger at least.”

“He’s not a stranger.” Taehyung grinned at Yoongi, his smile bright and boxy. “He saved me.”

Yoongi smiled sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just… Doing my job.”

Namjoon looked between the two and rolled his eyes. “So. I’m going to go home. Jungkook? You’re welcome to stay. Or… If you want to go home with me… Not for that. I mean, unless you want to—But I’m not—”

Jungkook rose, pressing a kiss to Namjoon’s mouth to silence him. He smiled. “You talk a lot. I’ll come home with you.”

He looked back at Taehyung. “You gonna be okay here?”

Taehyung was watching Yoongi, and barely nodded. “Oh, I’m fine.”

“And you?” Namjoon judged Yoongi’s foot with his own. Yoongi nodded. He was doing his best to look anywhere but at Taehyung, but the pink in his cheeks was giving him away.

“See you two in the morning. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Namjoon called, heading up the stairs.

When they reached the top, Jungkook giggled. “They’re going to kiss,” he said softly.

“Oh, I know it. They might do a lot more than that from the way Yoongi was looking… Once Taehyung feels better.”

Jungkook took Namjoon’s hand. “Do you want to do more than kiss me someday?”

Namjoon smiled softly, meeting Jungkook’s gaze. He nodded. “Yeah. I’d like to.”

“Hm… You should show me your apartment.”

Namjoon’s heart may have stopped for a second. It kickstarted again as soon as Jungkook’s lips brushed his own. “Come on.” He tugged him toward the door. Namjoon smiled crookedly, following helplessly. He locked up the door to The Fairy Garden, and had never been more glad he’d followed his calling. It led him to the man of his dreams, and a world he had never imagined.

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shinidamachu · 5 years

Text

Haunted

Summary: today's prompt of @inukag-week is "Haunted" so I named this... da da da... Haunted. Got it? Oh my God I'm so original and good at titles.

Word Count: 1544 Genre: Inukangst Fandom: InuYasha Pairing: Inukag Format: oneshot AO3 Link: 🌹 Fanfic.Net Link: 🌹

When it first happened, InuYasha thought he had finally gone insane.

That day had started, like so many others lately, with bashful hope turning into heartbreak as autumn’s wind made the walk back from the Honekui no Ido even harder.

Since Miroku and Sango were busy with the twins and Shippo was leaving in a few hours to take his Fox Demon Promotion Exam, it seemed inevitable that the solitude he always worked so hard to keep at bay would crept in.

Deciding the cold was the only issue he could do something about, InuYasha had concentrated on picking up the logs he had cutted to keep the fire alive. Halfway through it he heard it, the voice he would give anything to and do anything for.

“You forgot that one.” The girl pointed to the wood next to his left foot with the hand that wasn’t holding what InuYasha immediately recognized as chips. Blinking slowly at his astonished expression, she jammed a portion of it on her mouth.

“K-Kagome?” Incredulous that his senses had failed to perceive her presence on the spot, InuYasha felt the weight of the logs left his arms as they dropped to the ground.

“InuYasha!” Kagome greated, waiting for a reply that got lost on his dry throat. “So that’s it? First time you see me in ages and all we are gonna do is call each other’s names?” After a short pause she contemplatively brought a finger to her lips. “Do you think we do that a lot?”

His instincts had tried to preserve him, screaming that Kagome wasn’t there, she couldn’t be. Nevertheless, he ran to her — only to have his expectations crushed when he finally reached the girl and watched her vanish at the touch of his fingers.

“Just what the hell is happening?” Hurt and alert, InuYasha pulled Tessaiga out, already pitying the unadvised bastard who dared to mess with his head like that. Jaw locking along with his grip on the sword, he searched around for anything out of ordinary. There was none.

“Would you calm down?” Once again her sudden appearance caught him off-balance. The more he tried to make sense of it all, the less he understood. “There’s no reason to be grouchy, it’s just me.” Kagome — or so it seemed — spoke with the simplicity of someone who ignored how much he had waited to hear precisely that.

“You’re not her.” It was the one thing InuYasha was convinced of by then. Of course he was somewhat aware of this possibility when he jumped head first, but the previous knowledgment didn’t help soft the blow.

“I’m pretty sure I am.”

“But you’re not really here.” The hanyo put Tessaiga back in its sheath, habitual torpor taking over his movements without even giving him a chance to loath himself for being so stupid. He was about to go home when she explained.

“I am. To you, at least. You know, being a creation of your mind and all.” His ears twitched. Creation of his mind? InuYasha had only began to assimilate what she said as he noticed someone approaching. The girl opened the biggest smile. “Is this who I think it is?” She turned away to confirm her guess the moment he arrived.

“InuYasha? Are you alright? Why is your mouth open? You look like a fish.”

The half demon set his lips in a hard line.

“Shippo-Chan! Look at you all grown up!” Pride overflowed every word as she leaned down to admire the few inches he had gained up close. The demon fox, however, stayed oblivious to her presence.

“I’m fine.” That sentence had lost its meaning for a while now. “Are you leaving already?”

“Yeah, I’ll be back in a few days.” Shippo frowned at the abandoned logs on the ground. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Is it safe for him to go alone?”

“Yeah, now shuddap!” InuYasha didn’t know whose question he was answering but he desperately needed silence to try and put his thoughts in order.

“Now you sound like yourself. I just came to say goodbye.” He popped into his pink, bubbled self and took off. “See you soon!”

“Banzai!” She had hailed, encouraging InuYasha to do the same while he stared at her in astonishment.

Now, a couple of moons had come and passed and InuYasha knew for a fact he was positively mad — because there she was still, lying on the ground beside him with the same intimacy her real version used to.

“You’re not mad, silly. You just miss me. And that’s okay.”

“Quit reading my mind!”

It felt like a miracle at first, to have her back. Even if their interactions were exclusively restricted to his head, he figured half of her was still better than nothing at all.

Over time, though, InuYasha learned that it wasn’t nearly enough. It did not do to see Kagome without touching her. To hear her voice and not her heartbeat. To have her so close yet not be able to inhale her scent. It wasn’t a miracle, after all. Just an ethereal reminder of everything he had lost.

“Geez! I can go if you don’t want me around anymore.”

“Great. Leave.”

“You have to mean it.”

“I did!”

“Then what I’m still doing here?” Her eyebrows raised in defiance.

If Kagome had never came along, he could do it in the blink of an eye. Everything was easier in the days he had nothing to lose and lived like it, before she showed him how lonely it actually was and addicted him to her company.

Then she left. There was no going back to the way it was and InuYasha found himself hostage of all those stupid human feelings that always got under his skin. If he could get rid of them, letting her go wouldn’t seem so impossible.

For the first time a sketch of a plan started to unfold. He could find a way to lock his human side for good, like he had always intended. Even though the jewel was gone, maybe he could track down a witch powerful enough. It was a shot in the dark but the perspective of not caring for anything anymore was very appealing.

“Oh, don’t you dare!” She warned, in the bossy tone InuYasha inexplicably had become fond of years ago. He stood up and walked away, doing his best to ignore her begging him to stay.

When he got to the door, she bursted in front of him.

“Please, don’t. I had always loved this part of you so much.” She tenderly reached for his right cheek and InuYasha absentmindedly leaned on the touch he could not feel.

Fearing his knees would gave in or his mouth would howl the unfairness of it all, he made his way out, ready to search through the night for something — anything — to placate the sinking feeling that involved him.

“InuYasha, osuwari!”

InuYasha froze as the sound of the word he haven’t heard in so long echoed through his mind, waiting out of habit to be dragged by that familiar, invisible force. The Kotodama no Nenju, however, remained oblivious at the command. And how pathetic of him to be disappointed by that.

“I can’t let you do this.” Her lower lip trembled and she swallowed, eyes glowing with odorless tears. Real or not, InuYasha hated that the sight affected him just the same.

“There’s nothing you can do to stop me! If you gotta problem with it, then don’t be a whole fucking world away, how ‘bout that?” He roared, expecting she would either shout back or disappear for good. Instead, the illusion held his gaze, her face immutable.

“And what happens when I come back and you’re not here? What happens when I come back and you are not you anymore?” He tried to snort, but it came out sadder than the intended.

“You won’t.” InuYasha felt the weight of the words as soon as they sunk in and an insane fear that he could be right eclipsed what was left of his rationality. A cold night welcomed him on his way out.

“InuYasha.”

He refused to do anything beyond walking, every new step even more obstinate than the later, urging to get somewhere, anywhere.

And before he knew it, he was running.

“InuYasha!”

But not matter how hard he tried to shake her off, InuYasha just couldn’t. Not when her voice was the only thing he could focus on. Not when it was calling his name so hopelessly. It was only a matter of time before he gave in.

“InuYasha!”

“WHAT?” Breath as heavy as the silence that followed, he stopped to face the beautiful phantom he had conjured out of memories and longing, daring her to go on.

“If going on this stupid journey is what you really want to do, I don’t think you heading the right way.” Then, like the green on the autumn leaves, she faded away, leaving him alone to at last realize where his path had ended. Right, he thought, it has been three days, after all. InuYasha stood there, looking at the old well, wondering how long it would remain as empty as he felt.

A/N: and I would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for this demon dog and that episode of HIMYM which totally inspired this. You know the one.

#Inukag Week #InuYasha #Inukag #Kagome Higurashi #Inukag Oneshot #Inukag Angst #Sid writes

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nerdy-flower · 5 years

Text

Folks on AO3 seemed to like this one, so I decided to cross-post it here! Enjoy!~

Solstice

Jesse and Hanzo's wedding ceremony + Genji's best-man-by-default speech, absolutely the sappiest nonsense I have ever written.

The tile of Fareeha and Angela's master bathroom is cool beneath Jesse's dress socks as he leans closer to the mirror. A delicate touch is needed with the comb to coax his hair into the nice, slightly slicked-back look he wants without raising any cowlicks. He sings to himself, a low echo beneath the struggling air conditioner and the chaotic din of their charming cabin-type setup.

Weddings have oddly never meant much to Jesse. The slivers he remembers of his mom indicate he was born on the wrong side of the blanket. His grandfather was just a photo over the piano and a pair of boots in the hall closet, his and Gran's rings pawned to pay for something or other back then. In Deadlock, no one could afford to end up on paper, even at a drive-thru chapel out of Vegas, so relationships had to be memorialized in other, louder ways. He's been to the occasional engagement happy hour for various coworkers since, but hadn't so much as attended a wedding until Genji and Zen got hitched last year.

“Oh I'm, gonna do this ri-ight,” Jesse hums, lips sticking together as he smooths his recently trimmed, still-damp beard into tidiness. “Show you I'm not movin', wherever you go-”

“Are you done yet, Jesse?” Ana raps on the half-open door, looking like she stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine. Forever classy, despite maintaining the highest kill-count in her division. She chuckles at his suit, seeing it for the first time. “Very handsome! But I thought white was only for virgins?”

“Nah, see? It's hussy white.” Jesse gestures to the cream-coloured jacket as he shrugs it on, satisfied with his face.

Ana snorts into her hand and brandishes a red rose, its stem wrapped with ribbon and baby's breath or whatever those little white things are called. “The flowers arrived, let me.”

“Thanks, Ma.” Jesse smiles warmly, sticking his chest out so she can pin the boutonniere to his lapel. “Everything goin' okay out there?”

The theme of their wedding might be “no fuss, for chrissakes” but Jesse still wants it to be a good time. Everybody had worked so hard to put this on for them. It might not be a big shindig, but he wants it to be a memorable, relatively disaster-free one.

“Of course,” Ana demures with a smile and a slow wave of her hand. “Everything's fine, nothing's on fire, these are not the droids you're looking for.”

Jesse laughs and gets an affectionate pat to the cheek before she hurries off to check on something or other. The younger Ms. Amari appears in her wake, plum-painted lips all pursed. “Get out of my toilet, I need to unfuck this eyeliner.”

“Told ya not to use your phone,” Jesse smirks, glancing at her enormous bunny slippers as they swap places. “Oh, please tell me you're wearing those for the photos.”

“I have hose on!” Fareeha gestures exasperatedly at her legs before rubbing a q-tip over her tongue. She looks real cute, all dolled up in that blue number Angie's sure to love.

Jesse shuffles down the hall in a mild fugue state, fixing his cuffs unnecessarily. He ought to be doing something, but he doesn't know what. The reception is a while away yet, that had been more his bag. He's less about ceremony and more about celebration, he supposes, but that's a bit reductive, isn't it? The faint burn of a red dragon recently inked into his upper arm is telling. He has a poetic heart, so he's told, a love for a symbol's secret meaning rather than its apparent one.

“There it is,” Gabe says behind him, Jesse turning on his heel to see Genji jogging up the stairs, a flush in his cheeks. “You alright? I heard shouting.”

“Oh yeah, just Hanzo being himself.” Genji rolls his eyes as he passes off Jesse's missing tie, nodding at him. “Do you have the lint-roller?”

“Olivia had it, last I saw.” Jesse answers, sending Genji hurrying back to the living room, hopefully to put on something besides pants and a tank top. “D'ya mind- ah, thanks.”

Gabe smiles as he leans into Jesse's space to fix his collar and tie the tie. “So, you ready to stand up in front of God and everyone and bet half your stuff that you'll love this guy forever?”

“Damn skippy I am,” Jesse laughs, watching Gabe's scarred hands work on a perfect knot. “Oh, by the way, I had Lúcio put 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' on the playlist for you two.”

“Aw, how thoughtful.” Gabe drawls, doing that fake-grin that stretches out the hole in his cheek for effect. “Are you gonna cry?”

“'Course not, we live together. There's nothin' to cry about.”

“He's gonna cry,” Jack says confidently, leaning on the banister while Gabe fixes the tie just so and steps away to grab some things. “Hana put tissues in your inside pocket.”

“You might need some, I won't.” Jesse retorts, jokingly defiant. He rocks back on his heels and takes a second to breathe. The last six weeks were a blur, but he remembers the next steps. Enter with Gabe and Ana on his arms, stand tall and look pretty waiting for Hanzo, everything else is on note-cards. Easy as pie.

“Hey.” Jesse adds after a moment's thought, and after Jack's screen-reader finishes telling him that Lulu ate her food and is doing fine at the kennel, thanks so much. “You don't feel- left out of this, do ya?”

He isn't sure what he'd do if Jack did, at this point, but it seems worth asking. Jesse's time in their patchwork family had seen him through their good times and their not-talking periods where Gabe continually said he was fine, but played way too much shitty music to mean it. His attitude had clashed with the former soldier's early and often, and at times it felt like it was him and Gabe versus Jack. He's way too old for that shit now, and the guy had paid for his GED, amongst other things in his quest to accidentally parent everyone he ran across.

“Hm? Oh, god no.” Jack breathes a laugh, folding his arms. “Honestly, I'll be happy to sit down and relax for the rest of the day.”

“You sat down the whole way here,” Gabe notes, handing Jesse his fancy shoes. “At least you got to nap.”

“I got out and pumped gas,” Jack replies, with an almost petulant cock of his head. “And do you know how boring that highway is without the scenery? I nearly lost my mind.”

“I know, I know,” Gabe scoffs, gripping the man's bicep in a manner that could be construed as loving. “And you did such a good job pumping that gas, it's what I keep you around for.”

“Hmph.” But there's an entirely fond smile with it, his fingers curling over Gabe's. Goddamn they're cute, in their black and slate suits with the little matching pocket squares. They had best not start making out at the wet bar, though that would be an improvement on Jack pretending he knows how to do the running man.

As they step out of the sliding-glass patio doors into the heady summer air, Gabe squeezes the back of his neck in what Olivia calls a 'man-hug,' though Gabe is far from the too-insecure-to-actually-hug type. “No la cagues, alright, mijo?”

Jesse snorts, knowing he doesn't mean walking down the aisle. “I won't.”

There's nothing fancy to it, not even a proper altar, just a bunch of folding chairs and a borrowed music stand for Mondatta to set his notes on. Camping tents off to the side, lights and flowers strung through the surrounding trees, music playing softly through Lucio's speakers- a piano version of the ending credits theme to a movie they both love. But then Hanzo walks out, in the same outfit he'd tied Genji into last year, his brother on one arm and Amélie on the other. There's some shuffling and laughing over how to link elbows properly, but then their eyes meet while everyone's backs are turned and he smiles so sweet and Jesse's chest feels so full- “Oh god, he's so gorgeous.”

“Called it,” Fareeha whispers, smug as anything at his side, rose pinned to her chest and ringbox in hand. Jesse smacks her discreetly, to the amusement of the spiritual leader behind them, but can't say anything around the lump in his throat.

It's all he can do not to smooch those lips right there while Genji steps to one side and Amélie takes her seat. Hanzo takes his hands and grips tight, the afternoon sunlight doing wonderful things to his brown eyes, and it's enough for now.

“Dear friends, we gather here today to celebrate what will hopefully be only one of many happy days shared by Jesse and Hanzo. They have asked me to thank you on their behalf, for coming together to support them.” Mondatta begins, and goddamn if he doesn't sound straight out of a movie with the gravitas in his voice. Add the resplendent, silvery robes on top, and Jesse gets the draw of his speeches, and why Lena looks like she might explode whenever he's around. Dude's got charisma for days. “There are so many people who influence our lives and the paths we take, from before we are born until after we have gone. If you'll permit me a moment's indulgence, I would like all of us to close our eyes for a minute and think about those people, perhaps especially the ones who cannot be with us today. I'll keep the time.”

In the head-bent pause, Jesse feels Hanzo's hands shake minutely and he squeezes back tight. It's one thing to wonder, with gratitude and frustration, about how he got here and why. It's another to know, and speculate with all the acute pain of memory.

“Thank you,” Mondatta says, looking up from his simple wristwatch and back to his notes, a smile in his voice. “As we stand in recognition of the commitment that these two are making to each other, we acknowledge that their life together is not starting, but has already begun. They have withstood many hardships and experienced many joys that have led them to make this proclamation not lightly, but gladly, solemnly, and with great courage. In your shared life, we all wish you peace, but acknowledge the yet-unknown hardships that will test you and the bond you share. Are you prepared to take on these challenges together?”

“We are,” they manage in almost-unison, Jesse half a beat behind. Hanzo smiles at him sideways, sweat building at his temples as the sun beats down on the black cotton of his kimono.

Mondatta nods, almost cat-like in his satisfaction. “Good. Now, while you are self-sufficient adults-” Oof, that might be a stretch. “-You will still need a community to nurture you, and many hands to help you on the road ahead. So I ask all of you here today, do you pledge to support these two and the family they've created, to speak the truth kindly to them, and to lend them your strength in times of need?”

Scarcely a second passes before the air rings with “We do!” and the occasional “Hell yeah!”- even an impressive whistle from someone. Hanzo's eyes well up then, as they smile out over the crowd, though he thumbs the tears away quick as can be. Heaven forbid someone capture him having an emotion on film, Genji's quip materializes in Jesse's mind with only a sharp smirk over his brother's shoulder.

“How wonderful,” Mondatta continues, off-script and genuine. “The two will now exchange the vows they have written. Jesse, I believe you 'called first dibs.'”

Jesse's face aches from smiling while the titter dies down. He locks his eyes on his fiancé's and tries not to talk too fast. “Hanzo, you know me better than anyone else in the world and somehow, you still love me.” Muted laughter again, and an endeared chuckle from Hanzo, the same one he'll never get enough of. “You tell me all the time how I've made you a better man, but I don't think you realize that you've done the same to me and more. So, I promise to remind you of that every day, and I'll do everything I can to look after you and make sure you don't regret this, till death do us part.”

Hanzo's laugh turns wet, but his smile doesn't flag. He clears his throat at Mondatta's nod, shutting his eyes a moment to block everyone out. They had purposefully kept it short, Hanzo struggling to be sentimental in public. Even still, there isn't an ounce of hesitance in his serious, stage-worthy tone. “Jesse, I promise to always give you the best of myself, though you have often put up with my worst. I will take your family as my family, as you have already taken mine. I will work hard to make you at least half as happy as you've made me, to ensure our life together is well-lived, and I'll always draw you handsome.”

The laughter is mixed with sniffles now, one at Jesse's back and surprisingly none at Hanzo's, though Genji's glasses do nothing to hide the red in his eyes. The 'boring bit,' as their rehearsal sticky notes read, allows Jesse to catch his breath. They sign the register with their loopiest signatures, Genji and Fareeha stepping forward to do the same. Genji pours the sake for the san-san-ku-do ceremony Hanzo taught him the week before, Jesse kneading his chest afterwards. “Oof, shoulda had breakfast.”

“Do not vomit,” Hanzo whispers in that crisp, eye-narrowing tone Jesse's come to know and adore. He just snickers, though he hopes somebody remembered to make dinner rolls.

In the slim moment where the cups and bottle are cleared away, Jesse looks back. Zen's in the front row, neatly dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief, cute guy that he is. Ana is beaming, a single tear slipping down her cheek while she there-there pats a weepy Reinhardt. Gabe and Jack sit in similar tired old men poses, but their eyes tell all, Jack's arm looped around Gabe's shoulders. Torbjörn's brood takes up the two back rows, Brigitte shushing some of the younger ones as they fidget in the formal clothing they were wrestled into this morning. The rest of their friends sit rapt and smiling, leaning on each other and fanning themselves in the sticky heat. Even Amélie's smile is softer than usual.

“Now it is time for the exchange of rings,” Mondatta intones with something like giddiness, or as close as someone like him gets. He pauses so that Genji can open the box for his brother to take the ring, the glance between them speaking volumes. “Hanzo, if you would please take Jesse's hand and tell him first why you love him, second why this day is important to you.”

Hanzo obeys, having requested to go first so that he might 'maintain some dignity,' since Jesse's dignity obviously up and went a long time ago. He takes Jesse's flesh hand in his, his smile more than blue skies and sunshine to his fiancé in that moment. “I love you because you are a truly good man, one stubborn enough to love me.” Everyone gets a good laugh at that while Hanzo pushes his braid back over his shoulder. “And because I wished to show you that I'll never leave your side.”

The multicoloured band slips on with ease. They've worn them as engagement rings all this time, but slim tears still join at Jesse's chin. The levity in Hanzo's words somehow keeps the tremble from his own, but only just. Fareeha's grin is as big as his while she holds out the box, Hanzo's right hand almost fragile in the grip of his metal fingers. “I love you because you showed me that my dreams weren't anywhere near as good as reality.” Hanzo's lips pull thin at that. Who knew they'd both grow up to be such sappy bastards? “And because I wanted to prove how serious I've always been.”

The weight of Mondatta's hands on their shoulders is almost paternal, pride shining in his face as he speaks that much louder than his previous words. “What the two of you have made together, let no one unmake. You may-”

Hanzo's patience flames out exactly then. He cups Jesse's jaw and pulls him down for a chaste, but very firm and knee-weakening kiss in front of everyone they know.

***

Genji stands up and rolls his shoulders, much like their judo instructor taught them to do as boys. Lena passes him an unopened bottle of champagne (the good kind, he owes Winston a hug) with a cheeky grin. Hanzo and Jesse's thank-you speech was cute and all, but he'll never let his brother get one up on him.

“Several years ago,” Genji begins, minding his feet as he steps outside the circle of guests around the fire pit. “I agreed to go shoot pool with some weirdo I met in our dear Doctor Ziegler's waiting room, with the sole intention of getting him to stop bothering me. Spoiler: It didn't work, but at least I got him to quit calling me Shimada-san.”

That nets a laugh and Genji smiles, warmed by the setting sun and the half-finished fourth mojito in his other hand. He doesn't often drink now, beginning to fret over what medicine and addiction have done to his liver, but he's been working harder than Cinderella's mice this week and getting lit once a year never killed anybody. “Jesse and I spent a lot of time together back then, mostly eating and binge-watching stupid TV shows on a streaming account belonging to someone who shall remain nameless.” He gestures with the neck of the bottle. “But on an unrelated note, Fareeha, you should really change your passwords once in a while.”

“Son of a bitch!” Fareeha shouts from across the fire, firing a chunk of cake at Jesse which he catches and promptly eats just to spite her.

“I came to consider Jesse a good friend, one of the first I'd had in some time.” Genji keeps an edge to his smile while the crowd softens. No need to bust that emotional nut too early. “Luckily we never slept together, or this would be really awkward.”

Another chorus of giggles and snorts, the first groan of distaste from Hanzo. Perfect. “Around this time, a wild brother of mine appeared.” Genji quickly dances past the smoke, not wanting to linger on a painful point by collapsing into a coughing fit. “And in accordance with his lifelong pattern of terrible taste, developed a big fat crush on one Jesse McCree.”

“Love ya too, asshole.” Jesse smacks him on the way by, but Genji keeps going. At this point, he might need the perpetual motion to stay upright and dignified. Hanzo's eyes are trained on him, but he's not done yet.

“But unbeknownst to him, Jesse had also caught feelings,” Genji takes a sip of his drink for a brief dramatic pause. “Despite the fact that my brother is a stuck-up grouch who sucked his thumb until he was twelve.”

A proper snarl of his name sets him cackling, though Jesse is kind enough to restrain and smooch Hanzo into submission. He pushes his glasses back up, realizes he isn't wearing them, and carries on. “Jesse's approach to this situation was to drive to the other side of town every day for terrible sandwiches and a chance to glimpse his beloved's perpetually exhausted visage. Hanzo's approach was to do absolutely nothing.”

More laughter, more Hanzo grumbles. “They did finally go on a date with no insignificant amount of prodding from yours truly, but since it's their special day, I won't congratulate myself too much. Except to say, you're welcome!”

That inspires some gentle jeering aimed at the two of them, Genji bouncing back on his heels and almost slipping, gesturing with both arms. “But truly, I never expected things to turn out this way; Hanzo marrying the guy who taught me how to roll joints specifically because doing it one-handed is a pain in the ass.”

A deeper groan at that one while the others laugh and shout. “Relax, Jesse, it's not like your entire family's here or anything!” He slows his wandering to one side of the fire to avoid further swipes, lifting the bottle to draw attention to his left hand. “Being married myself now, I get to incorrectly call myself an expert and assure you that it's totally great- no, honest! Hey, I'm not here for those ball-and-chain jokes, you've all seen my husband. He's literally right over there, look at him.”

Zenyatta has been watching him with that knowing 'I will save you from yourself if necessary' look this whole time, but his posture softens noticeably, his hand on his cheek as he sits curled up on their blanket. So goddamn cute, it isn't fair.

“You already know exactly how annoying you both are, so I won't bother reminding you.” Genji grins again, lifting one finger from the stem of his drink. “Though by the same token, don't say I never warned you!

“Thanks again for letting us use your matrimony as an excuse to throw a party, that was cool of you.” He pauses for a chorus of cheers and glasses clinking, the sun nearly gone now and their friends' movements reflected in flickering shadows. “I think I speak for all of us when I say I look forward to you two enjoying a long and happy life together, and bickering like old hens when the sex gets boring.”

Another loud groan from Hanzo. Zen mouths 'be nice' at him on his way by, but Genji can tell he doesn't mean it. “Just kidding, a Shimada's stamina never dies! Don't skip physio, McCree!”

More jeering, a request from his brother to be put out of his misery. He paces again, his cheeks buzzing with laughter. “Hanzo and Jesse specifically requested no gifts- but we all ignored that and put money in the cards, right?” A beat before a series of nods and sarcastic put-offs, eliciting some whinging from the couple. “Okay good, otherwise I'd want my five dollars back.”

The laughter rises again and he speaks again before it falls, slowing the groove he's wearing into Angela's lawn. “What these two nerds don't realize is that I'm taking home the biggest gift of all, and they gave it to me without even realizing. Can anyone guess what it is?”

A few shout over each other, making Genji knit his brows together. “You guys are gross.” He smiles then, holding up his glass in proper toast. “The truth is that I've spent more time worrying about both of you than I care to say. When you two finally got serious, I was so relieved. Partly because I no longer had to listen to Hanzo's bitching, and partly because I knew I didn't have to worry so much anymore.”

Hanzo's face is rather blurry at this distance, but he can see the change in it. The way his eyes get big and how his spine straightens up. Genji's smile stretches impossibly wider. “The rest of you can laugh at this part if you want- but I honestly can't tell you how grateful I am that I get to watch you become who you always deserved to be.”

He keeps his gaze over everyone's heads because if he makes eye contact with anyone right now, he might cry and he cries super gross. “And I never thought I'd say this, but I couldn't be happier to have a new big brother.” Genji tips his glass in their direction, giggling at the odd feeling of the words in his mouth. “Thanks for sticking around, Jesse. God knows we haven't made it easy for you.”

He doesn't let more than a couple “aw's” and fond chuckles escape before interrupting, shaking the bottle as hard as he possibly can. “And on that note, congratulations! Let's get this party-”

The cork pops off suddenly, hitting the metal gutter of the porch with a spectacular bang while those nearest to him shriek and dodge the spray of foam. “Oh, whoops.”

“Trying to break my windows, are we?” Angela appears at his side with eyebrow arched, yanking him down by the tie as the others scramble up, Lúcio dashing to the DJ station he'd set up beside the bar.

“Now how was I supposed to know it would do that?” Genji giggles, filling her empty glass with flat champagne and kissing her cheek. She seems appeased as they finish it themselves, good. He's ninety-nine percent sure she could suplex him without breaking a sweat.

Hanzo and Jesse had opted out of the first-dance business because “It's embarrassing and I don't want to,” blah blah. That means Lúcio cranks the beats right from the start, to which Genji is not at all opposed. He lets Angela spin and dip him before shaking and shimmying his way to Zenyatta's side, then bouncing from person to person across the rented dancefloor like a tipsy pachinko ball.

It's not a huge group, the younger half of the Lindholm children already back at the monastery for a monk-supervised sleepover. The older half put the trampoline through its paces while the adults make fools of themselves. But damn, if there isn't a perfect energy to the night, both excitable and intimate. Emily pours him another drink and he revels in it.

Zarya ends up stealing a table to arm-wrestle any willing participants, which include his husband, who lasts an entire minute before she puts him down. Twice as long as Genji last time, he's impressed.

“You are like bamboo branch!” Zarya declares, lifting Zen's lean arm by the wrist and affectionately slapping his bicep. “Lean, but surprisingly strong!”

Zenyatta flushes, looking adorably sheepish as Gabe, Jack, Ana, Mei, and Lena clap for him and wait their turn. Genji's just about to walk up and tease the hell out of him when he feels someone grip his shoulder from behind. It's Hanzo, frowning slightly, how entirely unexpected.

“What's-” Hanzo wraps his arms around him before he can finish, his face pressed against Genji's shoulder. He can't help but laugh, though the tight embrace constricts his ribs. “Aw, two hugs in one day? You do love me.”

“Shut up,” is Hanzo's only reply, because of course it is. His eyes are doing the sad puppy thing when he pulls back. He was sort of born looking sad, but it's still concerning. “My speech at your wedding wasn't nearly as good.”

“You know, you're right! Tell you what, I'll get married again so you can do it over. Will that make you feel better?”

Hanzo scowls at him. Ah, such a nostalgic sight. “Can you stop ruining the moment for ten seconds?”

Genji downs the last of his cocktail and snaps his fingers into a point. “Nope.”

Hanzo sighs, his brow pinched like he has a headache but his eyes remain gentle, shining in the glow of the string-light canopy. He toys with the cord of his obi. “I will pay you back for this if it's the last thing I do.”

“The hell you will,” Genji huffs. “You don't have to wear that damn thing all night, you know. I didn't.”

“I like it, it's comfortable.” Hanzo insists, having not removed so much as the haori despite the heat. He folds his arms across his chest, his eyes lowered, the many piercings he chose to leave in because they were 'more attractive than empty holes' glinting slightly. His voice is barely audible when he finally speaks. “There is much I admire in you, and much I can never repay you for.”

Genji's response is stolen by the approach of Jesse. Hair askew, jacket off, and a big stupid grin on his face. “C'mere, you shit.” He hauls Genji into a bear-hug as soon as he raises his arms for it, gladly accepting it in lieu of the ones he used to dodge.

He groans as his toes leave the ground. “Ugh yes, crush me so I can skip this hangover.”

“Not a chance.” Jesse laughs, dropping him and slinging his arm around Hanzo, bending to kiss his forehead. The way he acts around him still makes Genji shake his head in disbelief. All Velcro eyes and little sighs and darlin'-honey-sugarbean's. Unbelievable.

Even more surprising is the ease with which Hanzo turns into his touch, lifts his chin to hold his gaze, lets his arm be stroked as they speak. To see his big brother smile again, watch him do the things he wants, not what he feels he must or is ordered to do- it's worth the world to him.

As he's having that realization, a certain slow song comes on and Jesse gets excited, tugging Hanzo towards the dance floor. He looks back at Genji for permission, legitimately concerned about his brother feeling ditched. Genji can't help but grab his face, squishing his cheeks and planting a smacking kiss on his forehead. “Pft, you're so cute, anija! Go have fun!”

“Ugh, don't.” Hanzo recoils from him like an angry cat before Jesse laughs and hurries him along.

He giggles and leans against the wall of Angela's house, considering asking Lúcio to put on something loud and fast after this so he can do an ill-advised handstand or twerk towards Bastion or something. No meds plus rum certainly leaves him with lots of ideas.

Zenyatta rolls up beside him then, merely smiling and setting his brakes when Genji plops himself into his lap, perhaps ten percent too confident his presence is desired there. God, he looks and smells so good. Buttoned into one of those gauzy pastel tops he prefers, features ringed with thin gold jewellery, nails painted and eyes lined in deep blue. His hand is so soft against Genji's cheek. He's beautiful. “You're beautiful.”

“And you're very warm,” Zenyatta observes, reaching for the buttons of his black vest. “Let's get this off before you overheat.”

Genji chooses comedy over tenderness, striking a pose worthy of a soap opera. “Ooh, Mister Tekhartha, are you trying to undress me?”

“Oh, you are drunk.” Zen replies, an amused statement of fact rather than a question, fixing him with a cheeky, freckle-bunching smile once he helps him out of it. “Try not to let your lips write cheques your body can't cash this time, hm?”

“I said I was sorry, I got the spins!” Genji whines in his defence, but quickly abandons that in favour of sweetly kissing Zen. He fits so perfectly in Genji's arms when he cuddles up to him afterwards, nuzzling against his temple.

“Do you want to go dance, dear one?”

Genji looks back, catching a glimpse of Hanzo tucked under Jesse's chin, Jesse's cheek on his crown, their hands clasped. With his glasses back on, their smiles are easy to see even from here. They both look so- safe, is the only word he can come up with.

“In a minute,” he murmurs, turning to share another, slower kiss with his husband in the electric night air.

#mchanzo #genyatta #background r76 and pharmercy #mchanzo fic #married mchanzo #5000+ words #shimada brothers #shimada brothers need healing

105 notes · View notes

echodrops · 6 years

Note

Tododeku for the shipping meme if you're still doing it?

This is gonna be the last one I have time for today, but don’t worry, I’ll continue working on these, so if I haven’t answered a ship you’ve sent yet, I will get to it, promise!

TodoDeku:

vomit / don’t ship / okay / cute / adorable / perfect / beyond flawless / hot damn / screaming and crying / i will ship them in hell

TodoDeku is my preferred Midoriya ship, but I do have a teeny, tiny, itty-bitty confession to make: I like Midoriya, but he’s kind of low on my list of favorite Boku no Hero Academia characters. There’s nothing wrong with him at all, and of course I find him to be a good protagonist with a cute story line, wonderful relationship with his mother, and a sweet heart. Well-written character; he’s doing everything right for a shounen protagonist on the path to becoming a great hero.

It’s just that I’ve always, always been the kind of person who is more attracted to characters that defy genre expectations, or characters with mysterious aspects, or characters who have just… more drama about them as a whole. Characters like Dabi, Shigaraki, Shinsou, Bakugou, even Todoroki himself… I won’t deny that I’ve certainly got a type and usually the “good boy” protagonist isn’t it. XP

So while there’s nothing wrong with Midoriya and I wouldn’t change him in the slightest (I don’t even really enjoy reading the villain!Midoriya AUs because Midoriya should just be the hero, forever, always), I think I’m just slightly less gung-ho about Midoriya ships than I am about more dark/mysterious/dramatic ships with angst potential like Dabi/Hawks for example. I like Midoriya ships, but I’m not obsessed with them, is what I mean. XD

THAT SAID, TodoDeku is my favorite of the Midoriya ships. I talked a bit about in my shipping meta, but the positive impact that Midoriya had on Todoroki is so important and so understated by a lot of the fandom I think. It’s easy to forget, under the shipping, that Todoroki was a literal abuse victim who took the terrifying step of confessing what happened/was happening to him to a total stranger. In the manga when this first happens, he comes across as totally nonchalant about it, but especially in retrospect when you read those early chapters, this looks a lot like Todoroki having no idea how to handle all the stuff he was experiencing at the time and telling Midoriya what happened to him because that was the only way he could justify his thoughts and behaviors during the Sports Festival.

Todoroki desperately needed someone to know the truth about his situation, and until someone did, until someone helped him work through the memory of what occurred with his mother and where and who he wanted to become, Todoroki was essentially frozen in place, unable to move forward. If Todoroki had not had Midoriya in his life, he would be a very different–and probably far more unlikable–character right now. The place that Midoriya fills in Todoroki’s life could probably not have been filled by any other character, and his importance in Todoroki’s story line would be incredibly difficult to eclipse by others. Midoriya made Todoroki a better, happier person, and that’s what relationships should be about, right?

But there are really a LOT of cute fics for TodoDeku though. Lately I’ve been reading a fake dating one set in the future when they’re both pro heroes, and man, that’s been great!

#tododeku #todoroki shouto #midoriya izuku #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #shipping #ship ask game #echo answers asks

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inklingleesquidly · 6 years

Text

YO-FEST

CHAPTER 3

Lee Squidly gets a special call by the headpriestess of Knifefish Shrine to take part in special preparations for one of the biggest Holidays celebrated by Inkopolis’ ghostly neighbors, Yokai. Yo-Fest is only a week away and it’s up to Lee to make sure the fesitivies go off without a hitch.

He’s not alone though; joining him is his pals Guist, Juddinyan, and his many Yokai friends who are just a dial away via his Yokai Smartwatch.

Featuring the characters of @askvincent

Chapter 2 can be found here

Word count: 7,791 words

It was another day at the scenic Knifefish Shrine and Yo-Fest, one of the most cherished celebrations for all Yokai was fast approaching. The bamboo harvest to commemorate the event was growing perfectly even after all theincidents that hampered its progress.

Strolling through the dense orchard was the harvest's own reluctant protector, Lee Squidly. Joining him on his morning walk was his trusty Yokai chums, Guist; the guiding spirit of wayward squids, and Juddinyan; the ghost of the most famous cat in the world.

The feline poltergeist had gotten distracted with a random tall blade of grass; pawing at it, jumping at it to catch it, and gnawing at it. While he was busy being a cat, Guist fluttered about gleefully. "Woohoo, the bamboo's looking sa-weet today, Cus!" He received a calm nod from Lee in reply before he shared more, "And how radical is it that there's an excellent eclipse tonight too?”

That certainly was quite the coincidence that a total solar eclipse was occurring so close to the holiday. The shrine had no formal plans to celebrate the event but the maidens who tended to the grounds were positively atwitter with their plans to view the astrological event together. As for Lee as much as he was fascinated by outer space phenomena he had other interests in mind."It's gonna be great," he agreed, "Especially since a couple of my friends are coming by to watch it to."

That came as a bit of a surprise to Guist. "Issat right?" He wondered.

"Meow?" Juddinyan was equally taken aback at hearing that.

Going off the path of the bamboo orchard, they walked through the surrounding forest where the two curious yokai trying to make sense of what they heard. Guist asked, "That's wicked cool we get to meet more of your buds but is something up, Cus?"

"Meah? Are yanyot having fun with us anymore?" Juddinyan spoke with a joking inflection, adding to it by tapping his foot and crossing his paws over his front.

Lee wasn't receptive to the gentle sarcasm so he quickly stuttered out an answer. "No no no, you guys are great fun, honest." He gave a sigh and explained, "It's been a blast getting to hang out here but it's just, I've been here awhile and I really miss my mom and my friends at school and--." He passed under a tree where suddenly it began to shake. With it all of the morning dew collected on its leaves was thrown off. The scattered droplets all fell on Lee, dousing him, leaving him a damp and dripping mess.

In the aftermath; Guist and Juddinyan stepped back in confusion with the baffled and drenched Lee left frozen in dismay. Then came some sort of noise. "Ya ha ha ha." It was a laugh, a ghastly laugh followed by a snickering shout, "Gotcha again, Leeker." Peeking out from the dense growth of leaves with the most pleased grin was the culprit herself, Leakina.

As she flew away, satisfied with her deed, Lee began to tremble. He balled up his fists, bared his teeth, and wrinkled his cheek while the side of his eye twitched. "I MISS BEING DRY!" He screamed out to the heavens.

As upsetting as that was, he wasn't going to let such trickery get him down. Later with Guist and Juddinyan in tow, Lee waited at a rustic, worn-down bus stop near the shrine. Visibly vibrating with excitement; it was clear to see how eager he was over the impending arrival of his two friends. Eventually the sight of the Inkopolis city bus he anticipated made him eke out a tiny squeal from between his clenched teeth. It came rolling to a stop at the quaint little station and his tightly balled fists shook when the door swung open. It seemed like that giddy look just wouldn't fade from his face.

Then he bared witness to the only passengers disembarking from the bus; of all things it was a pair of yokai.

“Hi!” One of them, a cheerful little blue cat yokai raised his paw in a friendly greeting.

“What's good?” The second; what appeared to be a jellyfish with bright, burning eyebrows, a little backpack, and a hip disposition addressed coldly.

Lee's smile and optimism faded as he watched the bus shut its door and speed away. Stuttering, he began, “D—are you— you--?”

The ghoulish jellyfish gestured with his tentacles as he said, “Yo if you lookin’ for Ronnie she couldn’t make it ya hurr?” He spoke with such a definable urban droll.

Before Lee could attempt to reply, the cuddly cat added, “Nyanmi couldn’t make it either so they sent us instead.”

“Here's ya homework, homeboy.” The jellyfish said, handing him a thin packet of papers from his knapsack.

Taking the collection of assignments, Lee found himself glaring questioningly at the offbeat visitors with one question above all others prevailing in his mind. “You two know--?” He found himself unable to complete the inquiry as whatever answer they had would only create more questions.

The blue cat seemed to read his mind as he happily exclaimed, "Ya-huh, Nyanmi is my bestest bestie in the whole world and I want to be yours too! I'm Kakkonyan!” He introduced himself with a gaily double fist pump and a giddy, adorable grin. He certainly had a polarizing demeanor to the jellyfish.

That became clear when Guist fluttered in with his Y-pad in hand, identifying the enigmatic poltergeist. “Whoa Cus, that babe you know is buds with a local Legend! He’s Wonderzan; the ultimate Spirit of Wanderlust. They say he only appears to dudes and dudettes that reach all the safe travel shrines in Inkopolis.” That's where Lee recognized him! Throughout all of Inkopolis's main roads and rail lines there were small shrines housing tiny figurines in honor of the workers who built the roads when Inkopolis was first founded. The workforce was mainly comprised of jellyfish. It was said that travelers who honored the shrines were granted safe travels throughout the city but who knew there was a yokai attached to the legend?

Something seemed to set Wanderzan off though as he fired back at Guist with heated anger. “Eyyyo, don’t be showin' disrespeck to my girl by callin’ her a babe!”

Worried, Geist held up his pale tentacles in defense. “Whoa dude, chill, chill, I didn't mean anything bad by it, honest.”

"You better." Wanderzan wasn't convinced so he bumped his chest against Guist in a threatening display. "Cuz if you don't, we gonna have a big problem, ya feel me?"

"Ye-yeah, no problem-o," Guist timidly answered, finally getting the spectral jelly to back off.

Wanting to dispel the air of anger, Kakkonyan excused, "Oh don't mind him; he's just overprotective." Wanting to help more, he opened his arms to Guist, asking, "D'ya want a hug?"

Seemingly snapping back to his usual mood, Guist gladly accepted. "Sure furry dude, who would say no to a hug?"

As the two embraced, Lee took note of a distinctly relaxed smile washing over Guist's face. As he seemed to lull into Kakkonyan’s arms, Juddinyan snickered, “Meow, meow, meow, I never would have thought I'd see you two this far out in the fish sticks.”

Seeing the famous feline made the other cat delighted. “Eee, Juddinyan, it's so exciting to meet you! D'ya want a hug?”

Friendly intrigue came to Wanderzan as he said, "Yehyeh, good to see ya!" Lee watched as he and Juddinyan slapped fists in a complicated handshake.It was safe to say even among Yokai; Juddinyan was just as much a celebrity as he was with Inklings. Afterward Wanderzan encouraged, “Yah dawg give ‘em all the hugs you got.”

Hearing this got a giggle out of Kakkonyan. “Mew mew, aww don't worry,” he said, “I'll always have plenty of hugs set aside for my best buddy ever.”

“Turn down Homey,” was all Wanderzan dryly had to say.

Guist twirled through the air, urging the group along, "C'mon dudes, the party is goin' on up at the shrine, let's quit bummin' roun' the bus stop and head out." He took a minute to peak over what could pass for his shoulder and call back. "Yo Cus, you comin'?"

No one else had noticed Lee lagged behind to twiddle his fingers. "Y-Yeah, I'm coming," he answered with a muttering stutter.

Sometime after, the advent of the eclipse was at hand. In all the laughter and merriment of the gathered shrine maidens and Yokai, one seemed uninterested in interacting with the assembly. Nobody paid any mind to Lee who sat on the stoop of one of the shrine's many small buildings, fiddling with his phone. He first messaged his friends who were supposed to arrive; both expressing an equal amount of regret at having to cancel on him but were far more thrilled to know he was friends with Yokai and bore a Yokai Watch just like them. He found himself wanting to smile at this newfound sense of comradery with them but couldn't. There may have been one last bastion of hope but the unreplied message he returned to dashed that away.

He had invited his mother to come view the eclipse but she declined. "Ohh sweetie I'm so sorry your friends couldn't come to see you. I wish I could watch the eclipse with you but I'm stuck at work until late tonight. :,( But cheer up honey; I'll definitely make it to Olden Days I promise. I'm so so so excited to see how it's coming along. Anyway, be sure to remember to not look directly at the sun and remember to brush and floss before bed. Love you, XOXOXO"

Giving a sigh, he knew that was it. Same went for the many other declined invitations across his contact list.

"Where's Lee and what have you done with him?" Lee peered up to see that serious voice came from Lyra who was approaching him. As she sat beside him she asked, "You look like the kind of kid who would be the life of the party but here you are suking—ahem, sorry, sulking in the corner like you want to go home."

Did he have the heart to tell her how apropos that assumption was? He didn't so instead he answered, "No no Miss Lyra, I'm fine, honest I am." He was being truthful, at least partially. As great as Guist and Juddinyan were for keeping company, Lee was used to meeting and interacting with many others in his day-to-day life. Here, it just wasn't the same; he couldn't bother Lyra or the other the shrine maidens as they busied themselves with their duties. When it came to Leakina he would say the less seen of her, the better. "I just miss my mom and friends back in Shee-Booyah," the worried boy admitted.

Lyra expressed her sympathy with a gentle cupping of his shoulder. "I'm really sorry you're feeling homesick but think of like this; they'll still be there when you get back," she softly persuaded. She then patted him on the shoulder and gesturing outward. The priestess reminded, "But for now look at all the Yokai friends you have here."

Following the wave of her arm; among the gaggle of shrine maidens were Guist and Juddinyan mingling with Kakkonyan and Wanderzan, a group of Moleymoreys accompanying Boss Moley, and Leakina chatting with Tropicanna and her father. They all looked to be having so much fun in anticipation of the eclipse—but Lee could only look at the crowd with a grimace that made it clear to Lyra that wasn't going to improve his mood. She hadn't the patience for that kind of inexplicable teen angst.

Standing up and lifting her hand away, Lee was face to face with that same strict and rigid glare he knew her to have. The gentle concern she seemed to have gave way to her usual seriousness as well. "Listen, I think you need to learn to appreciate what you've got. Take me, I'm getting close to my 30's and have devoted my life to my faith. I never even knew my parents but I'm thankful for my grandmother and grandfather for taking care of me and for training me through priestesshood. Now I get to pass that onto the other maidens, and all of them I consider my family." She paused for a breath and finished, "What I'm trying to say is even if things aren't how you want them to be, you can still be happy about what you have. So for your own sake try and think about that."

"Hey Lyra, Leeker, the eclipse is about to start!" Their conversation was ended by Leakina summoning them and everyone fitting themselves with special sunglasses if they didn't already have them on. Even over the ooo's and ahh's around him with everyone watching the moon roll into place in front of the sun, Lee's thoughts lingered on Lyra's words. What made this astronomical event extra special was that the moon would follow the sun until it completely set in the evening, creating the longest night of the year.

Later on, after all the shrine maidens departed for the day, Lee was getting ready for bed. Though he was still feeling confused in contemplating what Lyra had said to him he felt a sense of joy knowing that as of tomorrow he was officially over half way to his goal of reaching Yo-Fest. The sooner it gets here, the sooner I can get to go home, he thought, ever more motivated as he slid open the wood and paper door leading to his quarters.

"Yo get off that roof and fight f'real!"

"Why don't ya make me get off, dude?"

"Meow, don't you dare grab that hammer!"

"Nyah'm gonna get it, and you're gonna get it, mew mew."

Lee didn't expect to see all four of the small yokai together all playing some kind of game on four separate Y-pad tablets. "You guys are still here?" He aimed the question at Wanderzan and Kakkonyan.

Pausing the game, Kakkonyan replied with a visible shiver, "It's too dark for us to go home on the bus."

Wanderzan rolled his eyes. "Yo’ tails light up and I'm brighter than any street light, what you worried about?"

"We might get catnapped!" Kakkonyan shook, his paws held over his mouth.

Letting out an annoyed groan, Wanderzan reasoned, "But nobody can see us!"

Timid and fearful, Kakkonyan mumbled, "I'm scared though."

The gelatinous poltergeist shot his companion the most irritated glare. The answer he gave was a sigh of defeat before begrudgingly turning to Lee. "So, you gonna be real and let us stay here?"

Puffing out his cheek, Lee stuttered, "I-it's not really my decision to make," he admitted.

They seemed to take that as an invitation as Kakkonyan happily cheered, "Yay, we're gonna have a sleepover!"

Lee watched as Wanderzan slipped his backpack off of his shoulders to use it as a pillow. Rolling onto his side, the street-smart Yokai grumbled, "Least this place is comfy," before he seemed to drift off to sleep. Turning around, he spotted Guist sound asleep, vacantly hovering in the air with a bubble blowing out of his mouth. It all seemed to be happening so fast that he didn't notice Juddinyan and Kakkonyan went to sleep as well, picking the futon laid out for him as their resting place.

Seeing that made Lee click his tongue and mutter to himself, "The one thing worse than a cat taking up your bed is two cats." Not wanting to disturb them, he did his best to crawl into his bed but even huddling as close as he could, he could only cover half of his body with the blanket.

As uncomfortable as it was on its own having his back exposed to the air, Lee slept sporadically and restlessly throughout the night. He couldn’t explain why but it felt as though there was such a strange heaviness lingering in the air around him, making it impossible to relax. Where did that feeling come from? Time slipped by in the dead stillness of the night and eventually he felt exhausted enough to drift off to sleep despite his discomfort. Until—

“Wake up! Get up, get up!! We've got a big problem!!!”

“Get up ya bunch of puddles or it’s cold showers for you!”

The five amassed in the shrine's common room all jolted awake in a mass startle. In Lee's panic he suddenly awoke to find that he couldn't breathe. “Mmmf, muh— pleh!” Fully regaining consciousness, he sat up and found Kakkonyan sliding down his front. “Haah,” he finally breathed, “Kakkonyan what are you doing?”

The cuddly yokai explained, “You looked cold so I wanted to warm n'you up.”

“But why did you sit on my face?”

The little blue Ghost rubbed his hands together as he reasoned, “Because your face looked the most cold. D'ya want a hug?”

Lyra was quick to silence the entire group with a stern, "Can it!" She then exclaimed, "We've got a big problem here."

She seemed tense, more so than usual so Lee tried to reason with her. "Ms. Lyra if it's about the bamboo harvest, I promise we'll go check on it first thing when the sun comes up."

"It's 1 in the afternoon," Lyra said wryly.

"Acck! WHAT?!" His voice came out in an incredulous bark before he darted past the priestess and her watery companion. Bursting through the open sliding door of the shrine, Lee was able to put it all together. Despite his Yokai Smartwatch reading 1:00 pm it was still dark as night outside. As if that weren't odd enough there was some mysterious chill in the air that made his short breaths visible.

Lyra joined him on the balcony in order to explain, "There's been some kind of shadow hanging over not just the shrine but all of Ikabashi according to the rest of the girls. I've told them not to come to the shrine today until we can figure out what's going on. I'm sure a Yokai is responsible for this."

There was a loud protest from Guist who zipped between them. "That's just unfair shrine-babe, you can't just go blaming everything on Yokai! How do you know this is--," he turned around to be met with a terrifying rigid stare from Lyra. "--Okay, maybe there is a big bad Yokai around.” That quickly shut him up and made him sink behind Lee's shoulder.

With that, Lyra instructed, “Lee, I need you to find out what’s going on around here; that bamboo needs as much direct sunlight as possible if we're going to stay on schedule. If there is another bad Yokai then I want you to deal widdum—deal with them, sorry, however you see fit.”

“B-but Ms. Lyra, aren't you going to help me?” Lee stuttered in protest.

The answer was a shake of the head, confirming no. “I have to stay here and put up wards to protect the shrine.”

Leakina quickly interjected, “And I'll help protect the baths!”

His natural timidity left Lee still feeling uncertain about his new mission. “But Ms. Lyra, I can't do it by myself; if this Yokai's doing all this then--.”

“--You're not alone,” Lyra reminded, “You have them.” She pointed to the four pint-sized poltergeists; all meandering about close by in the chilly darkness, each reacting in a manner of curiosity and bewilderment by the new environment they found themselves in. “Have faith in your friends, they'll help you out.” When she turned her back and Leakina followed there was no getting around doing what needed to be done—no matter how dangerous it could be.

Directionless was a more fitting description for what the apprehensive Inkling and his Yokai troop found themselves in. "I can barely see my nose in front of my face," Lee complained, struggling to see with the aid of his cell phone screen's light.

Guist followed his lead in attempting to shine through the utter darkness with the glow from his tablet computer. "I can't see anything either, Cus." He gave up and tucked the handheld computer away. "We need a better source of light, we need--," he paused, coming to a sudden realization as he, Juddinyan, and Lee all looked back.

Together, they focused on Wanderzan who annoyingly struggled to free his arm from the iron grip of the needy, cowardly Kakkonyan. His powerfully luminescent brows gave them all an idea; one the street tough spirit was not keen on given the looks they threw his way. "Yo," he said with a defensive stance, "Keep cool homies."

They pounced on him; kicking up a cloud of dust with arms flailing and shouts flinging every which way. Finally, the dust settled and a wriggling, snarling Wanderzan was immobilized, taped to a tall plank held up by Guist and Juddinyan. "Eyyo, you dawgs be trippin', this ain't cool, this ain't cool at all!" He was hoisted up into the air, having been made into a makeshift lantern.

Over Wanderzan's angry curses, Lee said, "Umm, guys, I had their card, I could've called Bulbysaur to come help us." In his hand he held up a Yokai card depicting a pint-sized dinosaur creature with a glowing light bulb for a head.

Guist replied, "Too late Cus, besides this is more fun." Their mischievous nature shown through and that exclamation was met with more angry curses from Wanderzan as they continued to roam the frightfully dark grounds.

"Don't worry, I'll have a hug just for you when we finish," Kakkonyan offered in hopes of pacifying Wanderzan. That only served to make him groan and roll his eyes.

The longer they walked the more they noticed aside from the utter absence of light and warmth there was a startling sense of emptiness encompassing them. The shrine was normally made so warm by the countryside sun and was so teeming with life. The sounds and sights of insects, birds, running water, and sometimes even a visitor in the middle of their pilgrimage were so welcoming. Now though—nothing, what could be powerful enough to create this feeling of emptiness? That thought was so all consuming that Lee failed to notice his Yokai entourage taking a turn toward the bamboo orchard. He just shuffled along into the woods, accidentally separating himself from them.

It was so unbearably quiet; Lee could swear he couldn't even hear the crunching of leaves and dirt beneath his feet. "This doesn't even feel like the same place, it's so creepy." He expected to hear a response from one of his companions but he found himself met with only silence.

"Guys?" He stopped in his tracks.

"Guys?" He looked back and forth, finally realized he had gotten separated from the group.

Taking a cautious step back, trying to regain his bearings but finding the complete absence of light left him utterly lost. There was no point of reference he could find to focus a single one of his senses on until he felt something whiz past his feet.

"Huh," he gasped, "J-Juddinyan, is that you?"

He tread as lightly as he could, his feet shuffling along in a slow, nervous pursuit of whatever it was that ran past him.

It was all quiet again, and still impossible to see. "Hello? Hello? Whoever's there please come out." He swallowed a hard breath and ran his teeth over his dried lip. "I'm really scared," he confessed under his breath.

This kind of isolation and utter lack of stimulation was growing more unbearable, that is until something caught his eye. Though the darkness was so muddling he could see something clear as day, something that made him gasp with joy, something that was indistinguishable to him. It was another person. Their height and the way they moved, it was all too good to be true. "Mom," he breathed in disbelief. There was no doubt about it, he could see her, and for some reason she was walking away deeper into the night. "Mom! Mom, wait!" His breaths may have been cold but the fire in his heart blazed fiercely as he began to give chase, wanting to catch up to his mother.

No matter how hard he tried to focus he couldn't make out any more than her vague silhouette. Not only that but despite how fast he tried to run he couldn't catch up to her even though she only seemed to be walking at a casual stride. "Mom! Please! Stop! Wait for me, please! Please!" That didn't matter to him though, he had to see her. He pleaded to her in short bursts until somehow, mysteriously; she faded away right before his eyes.

"Mom?" Lee whispered in a pleading voice.

As if hearing him, she appeared again out of the dark. From what he could see of her she had her arms crossed over her front, and her stance was lofty and unmoving. "Mom!" He repeated breathlessly, rushing forward to meet her—only for her to swipe her arm through the air and turn on her heel. He skidded to a halt, finding this behavior rather odd for her? "M-Mom, are you okay? Mom? Mommy..." Why was she so cold and detached from him? Why wouldn't she look at him or even acknowledge him. He sputtered out his questions.

Reaching out his hand to her, she faded away before his eyes.

As bewildering as that was, Lee's breath hung in his throat as he stared long at his empty hand. He was so happy to see his mother—and she vanished without a word. That wasn't the end for Lee; all around him more figures obscured by the darkness began to seemingly materialize out of nowhere. He recognized them, every last one of them; they were classmates from school, acquaintances from town, and friends he knew personally.

Lee began to walk through the figurative sea of familiar silhouettes, calling out names along the way. Each one would respond similarly; some would turn away from him, others would turn their noses up at him, and many still would just dissapear right in front of him. Name after name, he could identify all of them and they wanted nothing to do with him. Each attempt became more desperate; his voice going hoarse, and his face turning red as he couldn't gain acknowledgement from a single person.

"Somebody please! Answer me!" He frantically shouted, his voice breaking, his legs wobbling as he stumbled in the darkness. Nothing could prepare him for what he would see next.

In the midst of the crowd was someone unmistakable to the shaken young Inkling. With their tall and confident stature, long tentacles secured in a big bow, there was no doubt about who it was. Their appearance made Lee's eyes begin to dampen and widen. His bottom lip quivered; he couldn't believe it, was it really her? Unlike the rest of the mysterious appearances, this one seemed to finally acknowledge him and even begin to approach him.

So focused on her; he failed to see the others around him dissipate into nothing, leaving him alone to face her one on one. His whole body shook, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. He fought to maintain himself; his mind had shut down from the overload of overwhelming thoughts as she got closer and closer. There wasn't anything he could do to prepare for this encounter, and there was even less he could do to keep himself stable in facing her once more...

"Leeker!"

"Leeker!!"

What are you doing? WAKE UP!"

SPLASH!

Every last one of those feelings dissapeared in an instant thanks to the biting sensation of cold water drenching his face. "KOFF, KAK, KUH, KAH." Lee hacked and wheezed as the water dripped down his face, and he was vigorously shaken into full consciousness by none other than Leakina. "Huh-wha—what happened?" He stammered in a frightful stupor.

Leakina clenched his shoulders, wondering, "What were you doing out in the middle of the woods screaming and crying?"

"I—I was?" He seemed so completely lost on what had happened to him in such a short amount of time. There wasn't any time to think about it as the sounds of hissing, yowling, and shouting all at once was happening within close proximity to them. Without uttering another word, Lee and Leakina dashed to the source of the noise.

They first came upon Kakkonyan; clutching his paws and whimpering. He gave a weak plea, “Everyone please, there's n'yo need to fight. We can work it all out if we just have a hug.”

"You pulled Juddin-dude's tail ya dillweed, don't deny it!"

"M'you were smashing Guist, meow, admit it!"

"Both ya'll finna get these hands f'what you did to Ronnie, now what'd you do with her?"

Right before their eyes, the three began to brawl; punching, kicking, biting, and scratching. The whole scene made Kakkonyan cover his eyes and begin to snivel, weeping at the sight of the others fighting. Lee on the other hand wasn't about to sit idly by. "There's definitely a Yokai messing with us," he confirmed, activating the search function on his smartwatch in order to scan the area. He shined the blue light all around; training it on Guist, Juddinyan, Wanderzan, and even on the worried Kakkonyan before looking over the surrounding scenery. "Ucck, what's going on, there's nothing here!" Despite his assumptions, he was unable to detect anything or anybody hidden from their sight.

Leakina hovered in front of him, quickly instructing, "Shine your light through me, Leeker," as she pointed to the back of her head. That proposition confused him until she elaborated, "Water refracts light; if you shine it through me it'll spread out everywhere, and he'll have no place to hide."

"I'll try anything once." Lee admitted before pointing the bright blue light of his Yokai Smartwatch through Leakina's liquidy cranium. It spread out in a cone; coating a wide area in blue shine and sure enough--.

POING PANG PANG PONG

The Yokai Watch did detect something, something all around them. It was some kind of viscous inky black mass that moved and bubbled in a smooth, ropey undulation that looked like molten lava. Once it had been revealed the strange substance began to ascend up toward the sky, even lifting off of the three brawling Yokai and mysteriously freeing them of their aggression. The stringy goo floated up and up before mysteriously dissapearing before their eyes, leaving Lee and his group in the same silence as before.

"Well, well, looks like I've been found."

There was some voice, one that sounded like it was all around them, but nobody could see it until Guist pointed upward. "Dudes, look, up there!" His call came out as a shriek as he gestured toward the moon where they were met by some kind of ghostly grinning figure on the satellite's face.

"But do you think that will help you against the shadows of darkness itself?"

Scratching his siphon, Guist asked, "Who's that?"

Juddinyan seemed to know but it was expressed with a fearful yowl, "HOLY SHRIMP!"

Recognizing their adversary as well, Kakkoynan also cried out. "OHH N'YO!" He yelled and joined Juddinyan in scampering up Lee's legs and hiding underneath the boy's shirt.

"Not again," Lee yelped, "Oww, ooo, eee, st-stop, ahh, the claws, not the claws, oww-hoo, yow!." He stumbled about, imbalanced as the two scaredy cat yokai struggled to find a safe, secure foothold against his body.

Pulling at Lee's shirt collar, Guist spoke to the two quivering lumps clinging to Lee's thorax. "Yo dudes whats got you all bugged out?"

Kakkonyan answered, "Don't n'ya know?"

"That's Paranyahmbra," Juddinyan quaked as he answered.

"Paranumbra?" Guist repeated.

His voice came out through cries but Kakkonyan added, "He's one of the baddest of the bad!"

Juddinyan gave a swipe at Guist to urge him to leave them. "He's a Meowkai criminal that makes you feel scared at night, meow, he's supposed to be in the Hoosegow forever!"

"I ain't scared of him," Wanderzan declared, "I ain't scared of nothin'!" He bravely stepped forward, rooting around in his backpack until he unveiled a cracked wooden baseball bat.

Leakina hovered to the front, determination flaring in her gaze and her voice. "I'm not either," she said, hiking up the front of her dress over her chest and yanking up her shoulder straps. "These Yo-criminals have been nothing but wet heads; I'll take him on myself!" She swung her fists in a challenging gesture, damanding to Paranumbra, "Come down here you! I'm gonna wash you away! I'm gonna--!"

SMASH!

Seemingly out of nowhere, a massive, shadowy foot materialized out of thin air, stomping on Leakina until she was crushed flat.

"Leakina!" Lee cried in absolute dismay. The group did a double take with the cat yokai popping their heads out to view the scene. What they saw was the puddley remains of the powerful A-Ranked Yokai who got positively floored.

"I'm okay," they heard her call out, "Just wait 'till I reform." They hadn't the time to wait on her as Paranumbra continued his attack on Lee and the rest of the Yokai. Shadowy apparitions appeared all around them, forcing them all to run around in a screaming panic.

Wanderzan proved to be the bravest of the bunch as he swung and smashed his cudgel at the shady pawns but it did no damage to them. In no time they overwhelmed the tough jellyfish spirit, taunting him by tossing him back and forth between each other. Lee, Guist, and Juddinyan didn't fare better; they attempted to run away but were impeded and attacked multiple times by Paranumbra. The Boss Yokai gave a maniacal laugh as it battered and bashed them about.

The only one left was Kakkonyan who hid behind a tree, his whole body quaking as he watched the scene unfold. Soon enough, the inky specters all merged together into one and they approached. The little cat yokai looked up at the frightful, towering entity; through his whimpers his gaze shifted all around to see his allies were all down and out, leaving him utterly alone. Even in this situation his first instinct was to sweetly ask, "D''ya want a hug?"

The response he received was a backhanded smack that sent him careening through the air. "Daaaaaaagh—tuet!" Kakkoynyan let out as a scream, tumbling helpessly before crashing against a tree. The shadowy yokai's laughter rang out again as it reveled in overpowering them all. That laugh, the violence, and the skullduggery was too much for Kakkonyan to contend with any longer. His fangs bared, his paws curled into fists, and he shot up to his feet. He growled, "That tears it! I might love a lot but I can hate a lot to! You're gonna get it, ya big bully! Nyah!" He finished with a mighty mew, pulling out from behind his back, of all things, a pair of Tentamissile launchers.

Despite the damage he had taken, Guist floated over. "Whoa dude, where did you get those?" He gasped in astonishment.

"From the inter-n'yet," Kakkonyan answered. He took aim at the bewildered Paranumbra and declared, "Eat this," before firing a volley of missiles at the big bad yokai. The missiles all struck true, repeatedly blasting their enemy until he was sent careening to the ground.

Collecting themselves, the entire group joined together in congratulating Kakkonyan for felling the boss. Leakina was the first to offer praise. "Way to go Scaredy Cat, you mopped the floor with him!"

Juddinyan added, “Mew really saved us, meow.”

Out of them all, Wanderzan was the most awed and amazed by his companion's show of bravado. “That was tight; I didn't know you had it in ya!” Pride echoed in his words as he touched his tentacle to Kakkonyan's shoulder, making the feline poltergeist emit a gasp.

That wasn't the end though, Guist frantically pointed, “That lame-o is tryin' to get up!” Sure enough, Paranumbra was shakily struggling to push himself up to his feet but he wasn't going to get away that easy.

Snickering, Kakkonyan readied his missile launcher. “I've got one more left,” he said, training his sights on the disabled enemy.

“Ey, lemme give ya hand,” Wanderzan suggested. He fired an orb of ghostly fire at Paranumbra which stuck to his wobbling body. The orb was like a beacon in the darkness as explained by the street tough yokai, “You ain'tgonna miss dat, now blow that sucka back to the Yokai Realm.”

Readying his aim, Kakkonyan said, “This is all for you, nyah.”

“WAIT! STOP!”

Just as Kakkonyan’s paw squeezed the trigger, Lee shoved his way through and smacked his palm on the heavy weapon, causing the missile's trajectory to be diverted. It rocketed past its target, winding through the woods before exploding in the pitch black sky.

All eyes were now on him. As confused as the new arrivals of the team were, Leakina was the first to voice her disbelief. "Leeker, you can't be serious right now," she said, impatiently crossing her arms over her front.

"Serious about what?" Kakkonyan asked in confusion.

Guist held up his tentacles, attempting to stop Lee from advancing. "Cus, I love you like a cousin, but I don't think that's gonna work this time."

"What's not gonna work?" Kakkonyan added.

Lee let out a long breath, justifying, "It's worked before, just let me try, okay?"

As the Inkling boy began to cautiously make his way to Paranumbra, Wanderzan could only shake his head. He exclaimed, "This the last time I come out to the boonies."

His approach was cautious and his nerves showed in his voice as he shakily raised his hand to greet the Yokai. "Heh-eh, umm, hi."

Paranumbra lifted his head in surprise then quickly acted. "BOO!" He weakly held his shadowy hands up to his face in an attempt to startle the corporeal teenager.

He stopped in his tracks, looked from side to side, and then vocalized the extent of his surprise, "Uhh—I never thought Yokai actually did that."

"Wait, you can see me?" IT was Paranumbra's turn to be dumbfounded.

Lee answered, “E-Yeah, yeah I can.” He scritched his cheek with the same hand he wore his Yokai Watch. Even though he wanted to talk to the big bad boss he did not think of how to approach someone who forced him to contend with his deepest, darkest fears. In the end, he kept his question as simple as could be. “So umm—can I ask why did you attack us?”

Perhaps it was his weakened helpless state, or the death glares fired his way by the gang of Yokai just beyond Lee's shoulder but Paranumbra answered honestly. “I was told that if I block that field from getting sunlight I'd go free and have my Lot changed. And I happened to see all of you roaming around in the dark and thought I'd have a little fun.”

There was one part that stuck out to Lee most of all. “What's a Lot,” he queried?

Floating up beside him, Guist scoffed, “Chyah, Cus, you hang around Yokai so much and you don't know what a Lot is? It's a-- it's like a—kinda like--,” he scrambled for his tablet, “It's a lotta something.”

Just as he was struggling to find the information, Juddinyan chimed in. “When Meowkai are born they're given an order of how they live their afterlife. Every Meowkai has one and it dictates our very being.” Lee looked around at the gathering he had come to know. He knew Yokai had an all consuming compulsion to inspirit and haunt but he didn't think that it would extend to their entire reason for existing. His eyes scanned them all; they were all so complacent with this idea, even Guist who was hurriedly agreeing and confirming Juddinyan's explanation. That is except for Leakina; when Lee's eyes met hers she diverted her gaze and clutched her arm.

As curious as that made him, Paranumbra returned to the center stage of the conversation to admit to his woes. “Ohh sure, centuries ago it was great! Everybody was afraid of the dark, and was so afraid of what hid in the dark. I could scare the ink out of anybody who dared to wander around in the veil of night. But now--.” He lowered his head in defeat as he mumbled, “No one is scared of the dark anymore. All I want to do is be the shadow of something else, something big, important, that gets a lot of sunshine everyday.”

His voice sounded so desperate, so lamentful; it wasn't a good reason but he had one for attacking them. The thought of questioning who put him up to this passed by Lee as he said, “I think I might have an idea.” He guided the wayward Yokai toward the main area of the shrine. “It's a bit out of the way from most things but why not be the shadow of this shrine?”

“You would let me do that?” Paranumbra wondered with his mouth agape. “Do I still have to scare people?”

It suddenly occurred to Lee that this certainly wasn’t his decision to make but it was the best thing he could think of to soothe the Yokai.“Y-yeah,” he stuttered, “And you probably don't want to do that.” The only excuse he could think to give was, “I mean Yo-Fest is really close so--.”

“--Yo-Fest?!” Paranumbra suddenly gasped and smiled, “I've been locked up for so long I forgot when Yo-Fest even is. Say, as thanks for letting me stay here I tell you what, I'll move the shadows in a way that your bamboo will get as much sunshine as possible.”

Lee nearly bit his tongue. “You would do that for us?” He asked, still taken aback by how much Yo-Fest meant to Yokai.

Paranumbra swiftly answered, “Absolutely! And between you and me; scaring the Jeepers out of folks isn’t even fun anymore.” Lee never thought he would hear something like that from a Yokai but everything seemed just fine as Paranumbra bid farewell. "I guess I'll see you around, thanks again."

Right before his eyes, Lee watched the Yokai sink into the ground, their inky black body molding with his shadow. Suddenly, he then felt a hint of warmth at his back. The boy turned around, only to have to shield his eyes as a sliver of sunlight pierced through a wafer-thin split in the eclipsing moon. The moon seemed to sprout more cracks over time until it shattered into many pieces like a broken glass plate. The broken pieces of the moon disintegrated into nothing, finally allowing the sun to bathe Knifefish Shrine in its healing light.

He was in a state of awe that his solution appeared to work. As usual he was shaken back to reality by a bombastic cheer from Guist, “Whoa Cus, you were totally there again bein' the Yokai Whisperer!”

Juddinyan joined in, “Score another victory for mew, meow,” he said as he waved a tiny green pennant with Lee's face on it.

“Ya ha ha,” Leakina snickered deviously, “Wait till Lyra hears you're letting another Yokai live here.” He didn't think about that. With Lyra it was hard to tell but he knew he was pushing his luck as it was letting all the Yokai they’ve met squat at the shrine.

Not wanting to be out of the celebration, Kakkonyan dispatched with his usual polite requests and jumped onto Lee's chest to give him a hug. “That was a-meow-zing, I lost my cool but mew saved the day by being n'yice.” He said after living his head up from nuzzling in Lee's front.

Lee modestly replied, “Hey now, don’t look at it like that. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have had a chance to even try and talk. You helped out a whole bunch.”

“Really?” Kakkonyan said. His eyes sparkled with delight at his sincere compliment. He was so overjoyed that a bright, glowing light instantaneously irradiated between them. It flashed and, in that moment, Kakkonyan hopped off of Lee, leaving his Yokai Card in the child's hands.

Before Lee could even look over it, “Ahem,” Wanderzan cleared his throat. “Eyy, Imma say you was really some'n else out there.” He clutched the straps of his backpack and kept his head tilted away, avoiding eye contact with Lee. “I see now why Ronnie finna think you so hot."

"She-she really said that?" Lee stuttered.

Wanderzan clarified, "Not in those words but a lotta things she says about you is true so--," he mysteriously held a tentacle out in the air. Lee stared at it for a moment only for the urban spirit to shake it in frustration. "Go on already, take it!" He didn't understand gripped the outstretched hand of the little Yokai. Once they came into contact there was another glowing light that once faded away left Wanderzan's own Yokai card in Lee's hand.

It was always such an event to receive a Yokai's symbol of friendship, but to get two in one day was nearly overwhelming to him. "Wow, y-you guys really want me to have these?"

"Nya'of course," Kakkoynyan confirmed, "We wanna be your bestest besties to!"

The writing was on the wall for Wanderzan who added, "Yehyeh." Though he actually had some choice words for his own companion, "But youI don't give you the credit you deserve, 'specially after what you did back there. Keep cool homey but I'm proud t'be your friend."

As gratifying as his previous praises were, nothing could compare to that declaration in Kakkonyan's heart. He was so thrilled that he gasped before speedily throwing his paws around Wanderzan, hugging him with the tightest, unbreakable lock. As he lifted the jellyfish off the ground and swung him about in his arms, Wanderzan quickly realized the error of his ways. "Aww jees, I said keep cool homey!" Much to his even greater dismay, Lee and the other Yokai all began to heartily laugh at his dilemma.

Even Lee couldn't help but laugh at his new friends's affectionate display. Friends—he looked over the assembled entourage and remembered what Lyra had told him. While he still missed his family, and acquaintances back in Shee-Booyah he couldn't devalue the ones he had here. He needed to do as she said and have faith that they were here for him, and he could count on them no matter what.

Could he...?

#splatoon #nintendo #inkling #yokai #fanfiction

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theonion · 7 years

Photo

ADAMS, TN—Saying the celestial phenomenon was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her, a local cow announced Monday that she was excited to freak the fuck out during the solar eclipse. “I’m gonna be long gone before this pasture is in the path of totality again, so from the moment the moon begins to obstruct the sun to the final seconds before the light of day returns, I’m going to absolutely lose my goddamn mind,” said the 4-year-old Holstein, confirming that while she normally spends the afternoon grazing, the abrupt, all-encompassing blackness from the eclipse would be a great opportunity to run back and forth aimlessly while mooing like a “fucking maniac.” “I’ll probably book it straight towards the electric fence but then kind of veer off and charge through the herd like a lunatic to get the other cows as freaked out as I am. Then maybe I’ll suddenly stop and just stand there frozen solid for a few minutes before bolting again. Either way, I’m fortunate to be coming completely unglued during a spectacular event like this.” The cow went on to say that if any human tried to approach her during the eclipse event, she was definitely going to bite the shit out of them.

#The Onion

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sapphicscholar · 7 years

Note

For the high school AU, how about Sanvers celebrating some kind of milestone in their relationship (6 month anniversary, etc.) and having a nice date? Ooh, and there's a solar eclipse next week so maybe Maggie and Alex can do something special together since Alex loves Astonomy.

Sanvers High School AU Part 11 - Posted on AO3 as well

A/N: This one jumped the queue because timeliness. So enjoy and remember, if you’re going to look up at the eclipse, make sure you’re wearing certified glasses! And excuse any mistakes on California geography…I had to make some guesses about where Midvale might be.

A/N 2: This exists in the same high school AU universe as all of the rest, save for the party ones, but we’re jumping forward a bit in time to the summer after graduation (last we saw these two, they were checking out colleges together in Chapters 64 and 68). Since they got together pretty early in the school year, they’re closer to a year than any kind of 6 month anniversary, but we’ll have them celebrating their last week together before leaving for college.

Chapter Text

“And you’ll be safe?” Eliza asked, looking sternly at Alex.

“Yes, Mom,” Alex promised for what felt like the twentieth time that day. “It’s only going to be for one night.”

“You know I have to worry; it’s my job.”

“I know,” Alex finally relented. “But I promise, we’ll be back tomorrow night. And we’re only a couple of hours away if you need anything.”

“And you’ll watch out for your sister?”

“I’m perfectly capable,” Kara announced, bounding down the stairs and landing next to Alex, her duffel bag already packed and ready.

“I know, dear,” Eliza sighed. “Now when are James and Maggie getting here?”

As if on cue, a loud knock on the door echoed through the living room. “I’ll get it!” Kara yelled, bounding to the door and swinging it open to reveal Maggie and James standing together with matching grins.

“Hey, Little Danvers,” Maggie waved, stepping inside as James gave Kara a kiss hello. “Good morning, Eliza!”

“Good morning, Maggie. Are you all packed and ready?”

“Yep, our backpacks and camping gear are already loaded in James’ car,” Maggie answered, reaching out to help Alex carry her things out as well.

Once they got everything packed into the trunk and after one more round of goodbyes and promises to be safe to Eliza, they were off. Alex didn’t even fight Kara for shotgun, content to snuggle with Maggie in the backseat, even if it meant Kara got to control the music for the entirety of the trip.

“So, how excited are you for the eclipse tonight?” James asked, looking in the rearview mirror at Alex, their resident astronomy nerd.

“Very,” Alex answered. “I mean, it’d be cooler if Mom would have let us go up to Oregon to be in the path of totality, but at least we’re getting out far enough away from the light pollution of the cities and towns that it should seem pretty dark.”

“You leave for Stanford this week, Alex,” Kara reminded her sister, craning back to look at her.

“Yes, and I’m already packed.”

“Still, I’m sure she just wants to spend time with you,” Maggie chimed in. “Plus, now you have all that extra time to help me pack.”

“Ugh, fine,” Alex relented, sighing dramatically, even though she knew that Maggie’s aunt was working extra shifts that week to be able to take time off to drive Maggie up to National City University to help her move into the honors dorms and go to the Parent’s Weekend events, which meant that she and Maggie would probably do a lot more making out than packing.

“So, Alex was telling me this is the first time this has happened since the 70s,” Kara told James.

“1979,” Alex chimed in from the backseat, though she sat back, knowing she had already told them all pretty much everything she knew.

“Mhm,” Kara nodded. “And did we all remember our glasses?”

“I’ve got ours packed,” Alex told Maggie. “And I gave you yours,” she said, looking at Kara.

“I know, I’ve got them,” Kara said.

“And I’ve got mine,” James noted. “Now, do we want to play some games to pass the journey?”

Two hours of carpool karaoke, I Spy, 20 Questions, and a rather limited round of Truth or Dare later, they got to the campsite and quickly made their way to the space they had reserved at the top of the hill, right in the middle of one of the larger clearings—a space Alex assured them she had pre-vetted and would be perfect for their late afternoon viewing time for the eclipse.

“Do we race for setting up the tents?” Kara asked, arching an eyebrow in challenge at Alex.

“May the best couple win,” Alex added, offering her hand out in a bet to Kara, even as both James and Maggie shook their heads and rolled their eyes. “And no cheating, Kara,” Alex added, looking pointedly at her sister, who shook her head; she knew to be careful about using her powers out in public.

But, once the games began, neither Maggie nor James was willing to lose, so they all took off, quickly claiming their spots as they got to work on the tents.

“Pole!” Alex yelled, holding out a hand as Maggie fumbled in their bag.

“Base first!” Kara yelled to James, who had started trying to build the frame.

“I don’t know why this stupid stake won’t go into the ground,” Maggie grumbled, trying to put all of her weight into her effort and getting nowhere.

“You might have hit a root system,” Alex suggested, feeling rather proud of herself for not snapping, even if it did look like Kara and James might win. “Here, let me help.”

“Thanks,” Maggie muttered, wiping the sweat off her forehead and the back of her neck as she stepped back to let Alex take over. She had intended to start working on the frame while Alex got the stakes into the ground, but then Alex looked so good—her muscles being put to work as she got a little sweaty.

“Want a hand? Need someone to spot you?” Maggie flirted, her hands wrapping around Alex’s waist.

Clearing her throat, Alex turned around in Maggie’s arms. “If you want somewhere to do anything tonight, you’ll get your butt in gear and help me win this bet.”

“Roger that,” Maggie sighed, turning back to the bag of equipment that would theoretically create their dwelling for the night.

After another half hour or so, Kara gleefully called out, “We win!”

“Ugh, whatever, if we didn’t have trouble with the stakes, we totally would have won,” Alex grumbled, working with Maggie to secure the last of their anchors.

“At least it was a respectable second, Danvers,” Maggie tried comforting Alex, patting her shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah, second out of two. Now let’s get everything in our tents so we’re all ready in plenty of time for the eclipse.”

—

“Wow,” Maggie sighed, relaxing into Alex’s chest as they both watched the moon slowly slide in front of the sun, blocking out all but a small sliver of it as a premature night fell on the campground.

“Thanks for being here,” Alex whispered as she hugged Maggie closer. As amazing as the experience would have been no matter what, it felt that much better to be seeing it with Maggie in her arms.

“Wouldn’t miss it, Danvers.”

And they were both too wrapped up in each other, in the moment, to notice Kara making silent “aww” noises and pointing at them until James finally got the hint and snapped a few pictures of them in addition to the eclipse.

Alex insisted on sitting through the whole experience, even as the sun gradually reemerged—only to set what felt like moments later—while Kara and James eventually got up to go find a few more good sticks to get the fire going again.

“You two lovebirds ready to help make dinner?” Kara called from the fire she and James had finally got going.

“Yeah, yeah,” Alex called back, kissing Maggie’s cheek before finally dragging herself up and stretching. “What’s for dinner?”

“Hot dogs – and don’t worry, we got plenty of veggie ones for you, Maggie,” Kara answered, beaming at Maggie.

“Could I get one of those too?” Alex asked.

“Really?” James laughed, never knowing Alex to choose the vegan option unless Maggie had cooked for her.

“I don’t need food poisoning,” Alex shuddered, earning a glare from Kara and a knowing laugh from James.

“I suppose we don’t all have Kara’s stomach of steel,” he mused.

“You’re all just jealous,” Kara huffed, helping James to get the hot dogs set up on their small campfire grill.

While Kara and James took care of cooking the hot dogs, Maggie helped Alex to mix up a pitcher of lemonade and find a few good sticks for cooking their (vegan) marshmallows later.

—

While they sat around the campfire roasting marshmallows, the conversation shifted from the scary stories they’d been telling (much to Kara’s disappointment) to the three seniors’ discussing the classes they’d signed up for, the dorms they’d been assigned to, their future roommates, and their fears about college. Knowing how close Alex would be made the conversation a bit easier on Kara, though she was still sad thinking about how lonely Midvale High would feel the following year without all of them, especially with James flying all the way across the country to go to school in Metropolis.

“So, what class are you most excited about and which one are you dreading?” James asked the group, knowing that Kara also had a bit of flexibility in her schedule as an upperclassman.

“I’m really excited about my journalism elective with Ms. Grant,” Kara offered.

“With your big teacher crush, you mean,” Alex teased.

“Whatever,” Kara huffed. “And I’m not looking forward to…hmm…oh, my math class. I hear Mr. Lauren is so boring.”

“Ugh, he really is,” James sighed, feeling himself getting sleepy at the memory. “I actually got into an elective on newsroom ethics that they’re offering in light of, well, you know, everything going on. I think it’ll be great!”

“Mhm, one day you’re totally gonna win the Pulitzer or something,” Kara gushed, letting her head drop to James’ shoulder.

Chuckling, James just shook his head. “It’s sweet that you believe in me, but let’s not get too excited just yet.”

“Whatever, you’ll see,” Kara teased. “Now what are you dreading?”

“I’m taking an international relations course with a professor who’s apparently pretty awful,” James sighed. “Hopefully the readings will be interesting enough to make up for it. What about you, Alex? Maggie?”

“To be honest, I’m kind of dreading the required gen-chem course. I mean, I like chemistry, but I feel like it’s going to repeat so much of what we did in AP Chem. It’s literally the same textbook. And it’s a huge lecture course that’s just for weeding people out of pre-med.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry,” James commiserated.

“It’s whatever. I’m getting to take an astrobiology seminar that should be amazing enough to make up for it!”

“Very cool!” Maggie exclaimed, loving how enthusiastic Alex got about her classes. “I’m taking this course in the Philosophy Department on the ethics of criminal law that sounds amazing! The professor worked as a prosecutor for a long time and did some pro bono defense work before going back to school for a PhD in Philosophy, and so she apparently has really great insights into it from both sides. And I’m dreading my French class. I’m just not great at learning new languages.”

“You’ve already speak two fluently, though, don’t you?” Kara asked.

“Yeah, but my aunt wants me to have a third,” Maggie explained.

“Oh, okay,” Kara nodded.

—

After a bit of stargazing, the two couples gradually made their way to the tents for the night. “Want to zip our sleeping bags together?” Alex suggested, not really wanting to be so separated from Maggie just yet.

“Sounds good,” Maggie replied with a grin, helping Alex to get their bags zipped together and giggling as she had to hunch over to change into her pajamas and not hit her head on the tent.

Once they were finally settled, Alex let herself be pulled closer to Maggie. “I’m gonna miss you this year,” Alex finally whispered.

“I’ll miss you too, but we’re not that far away.”

“I know,” Alex admitted. “Still, it’ll be different not to see you everyday, not to eat lunch with you and take classes with you. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about Stanford!”

“I know, I get it,” Maggie assured Alex, her voice soft and low. “I’ll miss you like crazy too. But I think we’re both doing what’s best for us, you know?” And she knew they were. They’d gone over their pro/con lists together, had compared all the different ways it could play out. But at the end of the day, Maggie could go to NCU pretty much for free, and their programs were better suited to her interests, while Alex already had professors at Stanford itching to have her working in their labs, and they did more in the fields she wanted to pursue.

“Yeah, I get that.” After a pause, Alex asked, her voice exceptionally quiet, “You won’t forget me, will you?”

“What? Alex, no, never,” Maggie insisted, propping herself up on her elbows to better look at Alex. “I could never forget you.”

“I mean, you’re going to a brand new place. Maybe you’ll find someone cooler, you know? And that’d be okay. I want you to be happy. But I don’t want to lose you as a friend too.”

“Alex, I love you. And you are my best friend and a huge dork and perfect for me, okay? Plus, you think I don’t worry about all of the brilliant nerds you’re going to find at Stanford?”

“You have no reason to worry, Maggie. You’re smart and driven and beautiful; no one is going to compare.”

“You’re such a sap, Danvers.”

“You started it.”

“Mm, maybe I should finish it too,” Maggie mused, leaning over and letting her lips find Alex’s as they cuddled together, holding each other tightly and letting their lips and hands tenderly map out each other’s bodies until the sun rose.

#sanvers #fanfic #prompt fill #hsau #solar eclipse #date #alex x maggie #alex danvers #maggie sawyer #ao3feed #kara danvers #james olsen #kara x james #double date #fluff #karolsen

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nobszone · 7 years

Text

Hate and Anger

(With apologies to Jonathan Pie)

So, what plans do you all have for this week?

Me? I’m gonna go to work, try out a tabletop RPG with some friends, and get set for my trip down to the heartland next week for the Solar Eclipse.

I mean, I’m just trying to carry on as normal.

Because isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Whenever something disturbing happens in this country, we’re just supposed to carry on as if nothing is wrong, right?

Actually, this week isn’t normal for me. This is a break from normal, because these days “normal” for me involves me getting annoyed at people. And who I get annoyed by depends largely on the day.

On some days it’s the right, because they have the most control they’ve had over the Federal Government since the Civil War, and they’re using it for the sole purpose of shitting on Barack Obama’s legacy no matter how much it fucks up the nation in the process.

On some days, it’s the left because they’ve still shown a complete and total obliviousness to why they lost in 2016, and now they’ve become obsessed with diversity as long as it’s not diversity of opinion.

I mean, some days I just need a break from that. Some days I just want to go to my place of work and hang out with a red-tailed hawk that happens to reside on the premises.

You know what she does? She just perches in a tree all day. No terrorist is gonna stop her from doing that. She doesn’t attack people, she doesn’t annoy them, she minds her own business. Good on her.

Oh, I’ve also been playing Rainbow Six. Because I get to pretend the terrorists in those games are Neo-Nazi’s. In fact, in one of the games, the terrorists are Neo-Nazi’s.

Right now, Tom Clancy might be the only thing keeping me from starting down on the path to serious radicalization.

You guys know why there’s so many radical leftist groups out there? Why AntiFa, BAMN and others exist? Why people are willing to condone violence from the left?

Because in this day and age, “carrying on as normal” feels apathetic. You don’t feel like you’ve accomplished anything.

I mean this whole weekend, my social media pages were flooded with what was going on down in Charlottesville, and since I wasn’t out there protesting or counter-protesting or whatever you want to call it, I felt like my only choices were to either carry on as normal, or write a Twitter thread.

I only made that one post about it here, because what was I supposed to do otherwise? Write a Twitter thread on “what if these people faced REAL oppression” or go on Facebook saying “FUCK THIS COUNTRY AND FUCK WHITE PEOPLE” or just write some feel-good message about unity or solidarity or how we’re better than this?

I’m sick of it, folks. I don’t want to Tweet anymore. I want to fucking scream.

I wanted to fly down to Charlottesville, go up to every one of those alt-right fuckers, and make them proper skinheads by ripping out every one of their goddamned hairs, and then smash in their faces for good measure.

But I couldn’t do that.

Why?

1. It’s technically illegal in this country to assault someone.

2. Apparently, if I get mad, or if I fight back, they’ve won.

Because we have one weapon those assholes don’t, and that’s love, right? We’re not going to fight them with fistcuffs, or pepper spray or anything like that, we’re just gonna sing fucking My Little Pony songs at them. That’ll show those punks!

Look, I understand the need for nonviolence. You’ve all heard me express that viewpoint on a constant basis.

I understand that if a guy is standing on the corner and doing nothing except shouting at the top of his lungs, if you run up to him and sock him in the face for no reason besides you don’t like what he says, then you’ve lost. You’ve given him the moral high ground, and you’re getting hauled off to jail.

I get all that.

But I gotta be honest with you folks, as the days go by it gets harder and harder for me to stick with that mindset.

Because right now? I’m not feeling the love. To be perfectly honest, I feel nothing but hate.

I feel nothing but hate for a group of people who think plowing their car into a crowd of civilians and advocating for an ideology that was responsible for the worst conflict in the history of mankind is going to “Make America Great Again.”

Who the fuck told them that?!

David Duke was down there with those assholes saying “This is what President Trump wants.”

Who the fuck gave him that idea?! That’s what I want to know.

And yes, I know the alt-right doesn’t represent the GOP or all the Conservative voices in America. They don’t even represent all white people. I get that.

But it’s time to stop pretending these people just showed up, and we have no idea why.

Trump is up there, looking flabbergasted that people that support him are committing this violence. Why would they do it? What is their goal?

Just check their fucking Twitter feeds. Look at the pictures of them doing the fucking Nazi salute. It’s not hard to figure out.

For better or worse, there is an entire generation of white Americans who looked at the KKK and the Nazi’s and apparently ISIS and said “You know what, they were on to something.”

Why can’t we talk about that?

Why should we pretend that this has nothing to do with ideology? That this has nothing to do with the growing radicalization of the hardline elements of the right wing? That this is not an extension of the racism that existed in this country’s past?

I mean, they went to Charlottesville for a reason. Despite the fact that it’s one of the more progressive cities in the US, it also has a history of segregation. Hell the apparent motivation for the protest was the removal of a state of Robert E. Lee.

They went there for a reason.

The alt-right subscribes to a twisted version of Conservative ideology, but it feeds off of the biases and prejudices that still exist in parts of America. If you pretend that’s not the case, it doesn’t go away.

We need to have a conversation about this.

There are sensitive issues in this country, and they need MORE discussion, not LESS.

And don’t think the left is immune to criticism here, either. A guy at Google wrote a memo saying he was concerned that certain political views were frowned upon, and Google fired him for it, thereby proving his point.

I mean what the hell am I supposed to do if I work at Google someday? Never talk about my beliefs because I might offend someone? What the fuck happened to freedom of speech?

But this isn’t the day to talk about the cntrl-left. This is the day to talk about the alt-right.

Why? Because when it comes to my own line in the sand, my own definition of terrorism, the alt-right crossed it first.

An innocent person is dead because of the actions of a member of the alt-right.

These are FACTS. They are undisputed.

This is something that should not have happened. IT HAS HAPPENED.

Oh and by the way, someone dressed up in riot gear and carrying around an AR-15 does not need protection from someone who has opposing political views.

Seriously, if they weren't carrying military grade weapons, I’d have told them to fuck off.

Anyway, please excuse the fact that this post is a tad more emotional than what you’d usually see around here, but I just don’t know how much longer I can put up with this.

Because a little more than a year ago, when Trump won the nomination, I wrote a post that talked about the message the alt-right was sending, and that message is ringing loud and clear today:

Be afraid. Be terrified. And give into that fear, embrace the darkest part of your soul, and do everything to them that they’ll do to us.

And seeing as the cntrl-left has no problem repeating that message to their followers, I think it’s only a matter of time before we see more bloodshed.

Fuck it, maybe we should all get Rainbow Six. We can resolve our differences with fantasy violence. Everyone wins.

I need folks to do terror hunt with anyway.

#charlottesville #rant #alt-right #cntrl-left #I'm trying followers #I'm trying real hard to be the shepard

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kasiopeiae · 7 years

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Another Man’s Treasure

A/N: This is a completed five-part mini-series because @alrightpetal and I have this thing about making Harry super vulnerable and flawed. So here you go.

// Another Man’s Treasure // Mind on a Mission // Take the Lead // Worth the Pain // Wings of Butterflies

#i hope to post part 2 tomorrow #and 3 on sunday #so #stick with me #let me know how you like it #so much more to come #harry styles fanfic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles one shot #harry fanfic #harry fanfiction #harry one shot #harry styles writing #harry writing #harry styles smut #harry smut #harry styles imagine #harry imagine

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lazybarbarians · 7 years

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Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig

Ragnell: So over the past two weeks we finished up the Aftermath trilogy with Empire’s End and now we are totally up to date on the state of the Star Wars universe one-year post-RotJ as pertains to everyone but Luke Skywalker.

And Ezra Bridger, and Kanan Jarrus, and Ahsoka Tano or really any of the animated-verse Jedi or Sith and any of the EU Jedi or Sith like Mara Jade who still might exist in some way.

But for the soldiers and scoundrels and surviving Imperials we have a status quo for about 29 years. We also know what happens to the core characters from the first Aftermath book which is honestly (and impressively, considering how little patience I have for original SW characters) what we read this thing for anyway. (As usual, I pretty much spoil everything in this recap below.)

So we open with several threads going on. Gallius Rax is flashing back to his Tuesdays with Palpatine excerpts, and gathering the pathetic remnants of the Imperial Navy on Jakku. Because Palpatine had a big secret project there, of which Gallius was an integral part. So integral that Palpatine appoints Gallius Rax as The Contingency which we can immediately tell will be a great pain in the ass to the whole galaxy.

Norra and Company are hunting down Mercurial Swift, so they can track down Rae Sloane. Temmin is annoyed he’s always stuck on getaway driver duty. The bounties on Jas from her old bosses are mounting. Sinjir is still having his career regrets, which are worsened by the fact that without Luke Skywalker around to point out sensible things like “I don’t think that’s good for the soul”, Sinjir basically still has to do the same job only for Norra. And Norra has entered Terminator Revenge mode, which is basically what has her asking Sinjir to do the same job and limiting Temmin to getaway driver duty. This is generally what everyone has to work past the entire story. They find out Rae Sloane is on Jakku and follow.

Surprise surprise, the pathetic in comparison to its former glory but still a really really lot of ships remnants of the Imperial Navy are there. This leads the good guys to split up, with Norra and Jas taking an escape pod to the surface because Norra’s in revenge mode (followed by Mr. Bones because Temmin is worried about his mother) and Temmin and Sinjir to go back to Chandrila to get embroiled in the political plot.

Kalinara: I actually thought Norra in revenge mode was one of the weaker parts of the story, unfortunately. It’s understandable that she’d be conflicted and angry, but there were points where she just seemed cartoonishly irrational. Norra was my favorite in the previous books, but I wasn’t as big a fan of her here.

R: Mon Mothma is facing a election challenge from the appropriately named Senator Wartol, a hardline warhawk who accuses her of weakness that led to the Liberation Day attack last book. Long story short, her challenger is a corrupt asshole who has criminal ties and uses them to rig a vote to actually PREVENT attacking Jakku so that he can say he voted for it but she’s a shit Chancellor for not even being able to put this together. Sinjir teams up with the Organa-Solo family and his ex-boyfriend Conder to resolve this. He does so well that Mon Mothma offers him a job as her aide, which resolves his career path crisis, enables him to skip the Jakku attack and settle down happily with Conder.

K:: How’s that for one of the first, explicitly gay characters in Star Wars? He and his boyfriend both get to live, AND get a happy ending to boot!

R: Temmin spends his time pestering Wedge Antilles to put him on a ship and send him to Jakku. Wedge, after last book’s mini-rebellion, isn’t even allowed to go himself and is stuck being an expeditor in the hangers. After several guilt-trips, Wedge finally relents and puts together the same group of outcasts from last book to sneak, unauthorized, into the battle and lets the 16 year old join them because Wedge Antilles has spent way too much time with Luke, Leia, and Han over the last 5 years.

Temmin’s been wanting to go back to Jakku, of course, because that’s where his mother, his droid and his.. Jas have been. Both Jas and Norra got captured by Niima the Hutt, who is horrible even as Hutts go. Norra was on some work-detail where Mr Bones the droid broke her out. Jas got to pull ever-increasing acts of badassery to avoid being taken in for her bounty, steal Swift’s ship AND steal Swift’s crew.

Also in Niima’s area, Rae Sloane and Brentin Wexley, who convince her to lead them to the Imperial Secret Squirrel place where they are promptly captured and forced to witness a ridiculous speech by Gallius Rax. Sloane undergoes some of her own career angst while Brentin actually manages to get them both free. They proceed to try to fuck up Gallius Rax’s mysterious plan, and go into the Imperial Secret Squirrel place.

While in there, Norra catches up to them and they all find out that due to an overly emphatic chess metaphor Gallius Rax has activated a weapon in the core of Jakku that will destroy the whole planet and both fleets. He’s also sent the Huxes off with a bunch of children to outside the Galaxy to meet other ships with imperials and children, and the Eclipse, so that Palpatine can continue to vex the Galaxy from beyond the grave. On the bright side he kills Tashu, who was actually such a dick I was hoping they’d save him for the Jedi to kill in a later story.

Norra, Brentin, and Rae have a great deal of emotional interaction about trust and distrust, and a rather kickass three-against-one fight with Gallius in between trying to shut down the weapon. Brentin gets through all the defenses but stops to save Norra and gets killed. Rae actually turns down the weapon while Norra, feeling that her trust of Sloane was justified, drags her husband’s body out for burial. Rae then boards a ship with the Huxes and a bunch of feral brainwashed proto-Stormtroopers for the Eclipse, because she is not actually finished being evil yet.

K:: I was surprised by how much I liked Brentin, in particular, in this book. He was more plot point than character last time (even if he was a helpful juxtaposition against all those “no, Kylo is BRAINWASHED!” justifications), but here, we got to see more of who he is as a man. I was rather disappointed they killed him off. I might have liked the novelty of Norra and Brentin going through an amiable divorce.

Sloane was pretty great too. And for all of my complaints about Norra previously, she and Sloane had such a great dynamic once they finally met up. And I’m thrilled at the idea that we might see her again.

R: Wartol is arrested because he tries to kill Mon Mothma, but really only manages to destroy her office and kill the advisor who hadn’t been fleshed out until this book so we could feel bad about her. Mas Amedda manages to escape Coruscant and sign a surrender treaty. Leia attends the signing, during labor (because kid, you are gonna have to wait until galactic peace gawddammit) and thus manages to freak out her husband, attain galactic peace AND have a baby. Nothing in this book manages to excuse Kylo Ren’s horrible horrible crimes, and in fact knowing what’s coming you kind of cringe at one scene. Wedge Antilles and the Wexleys all go to the new pilot academy. Jas sets up shop with the crew she stole from Swift, and grieves Jom who went to Jakku to find her and was killed in the battle. Sinjir settles down with his new career and Conder.

K: Seriously. I didn’t see anything that remotely indicated any “mind control from birth” or whatever nonsense. It isn’t even clear that Snoke EXISTS at this point in time. Any passage that could even be remotely stretched to mean some kind of fetus communication actually has a clear explanation in the text itself.

R: Actually, every character that we might have speculated would BE Snoke was specifically killed off

For the rest of the Galaxy, Chewbacca finds his son. Lando Calrissian regains his rightful place as Baron Administrator of Cloud City (which I believe is a 4-point Freehold if you’re tracking SW characters with White Wolf rules). Jar Jar Binks makes a friend and lives out the rest of his days entertaining orphans and avoiding politics. Coruscant ends up run by Mas Amedda anyway, but technically part of the New Republic. The Sith-worshipping Acolyte group from the Interludes was revealed to be sponsored by Tashu and dedicates itself to causing shit across the Galaxy and will almost certainly factor into the Jedi storyline. A charismatic leader, Brin, forms the Church of the Force which we already know factors into the Jedi storyline. It’s revealed that there are facilities known as Observatories, set up by Palpatine, that have been receiving data from outside the known galaxy all over the galaxy and not just on Jakku and that’s probably going to come into play somewhere too. The crazy pirate who found a Super Star Destroyer Dreadnought last book has cobbled together a functioning society of pirates around the ship. The residents of Tattooine have decided to just raise their own damned Hutt, Borgo, from childhood so they can have one who’s more compassionate than Jabba was. Luke is stated to be looking for old Jedi stuff.

That was a long recap, but one of the most tantalizing aspects of this trilogy is finding out just what the status quo in the Galaxy was after they finally wiped the bloated corpse of the Empire’s bureaucracy off of the map and got their new government underway. In general, it’s pretty satisfying. You follow your six Republic heroes, with some of the named characters from the movies as supporting cast, and your two main Imperials and their support, and get kind of a view of the rest of the universe. In a couple of places, these interludes tie into the main climax but others are just epilogues for the locations in the movies or tantalizing threads for when we find out what Luke has been up to.

K: I admit, that’s what I’m waiting for most. This was a fun side trek, but where is my favorite character, damnit?

R: I’m hoping we get another trilogy explaining this after The Last Jedi premieres. Or it’s the focus of the next animated series. Ezra seems custom-made to work as a foil for Luke, and Ahsoka was written out in a way that places her in safe-keeping until after RotJ.

One thing I found myself thinking from this last book, though, is that I feel better about The Force Awakens. I know a few OT fans who were very upset about everything Luke and Leia lost in the prelude to that movie and during it. I know a couple I saw who commented that they didn’t think Luke’s actions in RotJ were even that big an effect, since the Death Star was destroyed anyway. The view of the galaxy as seen in this trilogy, PARTICULARLY Jakku as compared to what we saw in the movie, changes that. You get the impression that even though there are still darksiders active, that a remnant of the Empire has left to regroup, that there’s still corruption and pirates and bullies and innocent people languishing in extreme poverty and hardship… that there’s still been a lasting improvement directly attributable to the actions of the heroes in the movies and the heroes in these books. Jakku at Rey’s time is actually a less horrible place than seen in this book. Many of the locations from the movies show people taking action and spreading hope. The remains of the Empire are the Emperor’s last middle finger to the Galaxy, and even after thirty years of gaining strength are still not the relentless, overwhelming presence in everyone’s life they were in Rogue One. The Galaxy was not instantly fixed, and much of the progress was wiped away, but there’s still a lot to hold onto. They came a long way between RotJ and TFA.

There’s really only one disappointment about this book. Tashu’s death. I joked above, but in the first book of this trilogy his main role is torturing a captive Wedge Antilles. The fallout from this is more realistic than you usually see in action-adventure fiction, where Wedge is still recovering throughout the second book both physically and emotionally. They’re unclear on whether he’s still using a cane this book or not, but either way it’s a long-term lingering impairment. He gets to staredown and work a little on his rage at Sloane last book, but he is never shown confronting Tashu. He’s never in the same room as the villain who put him through all of that. Tashu also never has a greater impact on any other main characters either from just this trilogy or the movies, meaning this villain was specific to one major hero and had a huge impact on that hero’s life and role in a story that covers at least half a year. Tashu isn’t saved for a later book or confrontation, he gets offed by Gallius and that’s a bit of a bummer.

#The Secret Origin of Snap Wexley: Resistance Pilot 3 #State of the Galaxy #Missing: Luke Skywalker If Found Please Return to Grateful Fandom #A Happy Ending for the Gay Guy #All the het couples are kinda screwed #Even that one because you can see it coming #Hux was always a little douche #There is no justification for patricide #Lots of Dark Side Activity for Jedi to deal with #Politics is a bloodsport #The Evil is coming from OUTSIDE the Galaxy!#The Evil is also coming from INSIDE the Galaxy!#Palpatine was a sore loser #Star Wars #Aftermath: Empire's End #A Disney Prince(ss) in Space #Chuck Wendig #Ragnell's Pick

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