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larluce · 9 days

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Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @star-rie , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 , @hairdryerducks , @hopeaha FINALLY STARTING WITH YOUR REQUESTS!! :D

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 , PART 15

In "The Dragon's Call"

Uther talking with Arthur in the throne room.

Uther: (warnly) Who is he?

Arthur: (mad and anxious cause Merlin was stabbed and he's not there with him) You called me all the way here just for that? He's Gaius' appreantice. He told you that!

Uther: Don't take me for a fool, Arthur. I'm asking who is he TO YOU. (looks at Arthur, sternly) It's obvious that you knew him from before.

Arthur: (thinking) Shit... (says) We... met just 3 days ago.

Uther: (increasenly raises his voice in anger) And you expect me to believe that you made such a tremendous display just for some peasant man that you've known for 3 days?!

Arthur: That 'peasant man' just saved my life!

Uther: For which I'm greatful... but also suspicious.

Arthur: What?!

Uther: He took a knife for you, shielded you with his body... and called you by your name. Yet you insist you've only known each other for 3 days. (pauses dramatically) I'll ask again. What is that man to you?

Arthur: (sweats)

Gaius: (enters) You called for me, your Majesty?

Arthur: (surprised) Gaius! What are you doing here? You should be attending Merlin!

Uther: (sarcastic) Oh, you know his name too. What a surprise.

Gaius: (Looking at Uther, but reassuring Arthur) The boy is stable. The blade didn't puncture anything vital, but it was poisoned. I managed to extract the poison thought, so he is out of danger now.

Uther: You told me you recently hired this boy as your apprentice, right Gaius?

Gaius: Yes, sire.

Uther: How long has he been in The Citadel?

Gaius: Just a few days, sire.

Uther: Are you sure?

Gaius: Yes, he just arrived 3 days ago.

Uther: And he has never been in The Citadel before.

Gaius: Oh, no sire. Merlin is from Ealdor, an Essetir village located on the border. He's never been in Camelot before.

Arthur: (smiles smuggly) See?

Uther: (still not convinced but lets the matter be for now) You shouldn't act so distrough about strangers, Arthur. I expect better composure from you in the future.

Arthur: (hangs his head in a shame he doesn't feel) Yes, father.

Uther: (to Gaius) Your ward deserves a reward for his heroic act today.

Arthur: (thinking) Finally!

Uther: I'll give him 20 pieces of gold.

Arthur: (thinking) What?! (says) No! You can't reward him with that.

Uther: You think it's too much?

Arthur: Too little! He saved your son! Your heir to the throne! Or do you really think that my life it's worth just 20 pieces of gold?

Uther: (thoughful) I guess you have a point. How do you think I should reward him then?

Arthur: Status. Gold is precious but it ends eventually. Status is forever.

Uther: You want me to lord him? I can't do that. He's a peasant.

Arthur: But you can give him a position, maybe? In the royal household?

Uther: Hmm... It's not a bad idea. I'll have to check if there's an avaible position-

Arthur: (quickly) There's one!

Uther: (surprised) Really?

Arthur: (smiling) Well... I still need a personal manservant.

Uther: ...

Gaius: ...

Time skip. Uther talking to a servant.

Uther: (incredulous) He really did that?

Servant: (who had to confess under pressure) Yes, sire. The prince paid me to act as a victim while he pretended to bully me.

Uther: With what purpose?

Servant: (nervous) I... I don't know, sire. He didn't tell me, sire.

Uther: But you have a guess.

Servant: ...

Uther: You can speak freely. Nothing will be hold against you.

Servant: Well... my guess is that... the prince wanted to... get his now personal manservant's attention, sire. The prince stopped 'bullying' me when he arrived and defended me.

Uther: I've heard. He also let the boy go unharmed after he insulted him. After calling him... What did he call my son again?

Servant: A... prat... and an... ass, sire.

Uther: I see... (sighs) You're dismissed.

Servant: (between surprised and relieved) Really? I'm not in trouble, sire?

Uther: No, you aren't.

Servant: And I don't have to give the gold back?

Uther: (opens his eye wide) He gave you gold?!

Time skip. After the events of "The Mark of Nimueh"

Uther watches the knights coming back from a trip all cover in leaves and mud at night.

Uther: Where do you come from so late? (looks at them up and down) And so dirty.

Leon: Ahm... The prince entrusted us with an important mission-

Knight 1: (exhausted) We're looking for a flower.

Leon: (hits him)

Uther: A... flower?

Knight 2: A purple lily, sire.

Uther: Is it a lily with healing properties? A magic plant that endangers my citizens?

Leon: Ehm... no, just a regular purple lily, sire.

Uther: So my son order you to search for a purple lily in the middle of the night.

Knight 1: And he's still searching for one too as we speak.

Leon: (hits him again)

Uther: May I know why?

Knight 2: I think he wants to gift the flower to-

Leon: To a woman! We think he wants to gift a flower to a woman, sire. Though it's just a guess.

Uther: Right... (thinking) What a fussy woman. (says) He could have sent the flower to be painted if he needed a purple one that much.

Leon: He insisted it had to be naturally purple, sire.

Uther: Painting a lily purple is a luxury only royal can afford. I'm sure the girl would still appreciate it.

Knight 1: We told his highness that.

Knight 2: But he still insisted it had to be naturally purple, sire.

Uther: (thinking) I very fussy woman indeed. (says) I'm going to talk with him. This is ridiculous. There's a reason why we prefer to paint lilies purple. It's nearly impossible to find one that is naturally purple. He is never going to find-

Arthur: (entering, all cover in mud and leaves and with a purple lily in an improvised container in hand, very excited) I found it! Leon I... (stops himself when he sees Uther and composes himself) Good evening, father. (bows)

Uther: (explodes at seeing his son's embarrassing appearence) That woman is too fussy, she's making you act like a fool! Is not like she is your fiancée. If for her vagary of wanting a naturally purple flower you stoop to acting slavishly like a servant then Camelot is doomed! You are the prince! How can you give this image? have dignity! What kind of ignorant, uneducated, vulgar woman are you involving yourself with?!

Knight 1: (confused) I thought the flower was for his manser-

Leon: (covers the knight's mouth)

Arthur: (to the knight, seriously considering making him kill number 2) Innprudance*!

Uther: (his right eye ticing)... What?

Arthur: (thinking, kind of concerned) Has he always had a tic in his eye?

Time skip. After Lancelot's imprisonment.

Uther scolding Arthur in his chambers.

Uther: (furious) You imprisoned a man just because he touched your manservant?

Arthur: No, I imprisoned him because he was found in suspicious circunstances.

Uther: What suspicious circunstances?

Arthur: The part of the woods we found him in was burned! There was still spots of fire there and a big hole in the ground! The earth was shaking just before we encountered him, that's clearly sorcery! He could be in alliance with Nimueh for all we know!

Uther: (incredulous) Right... and it had nothing to do with the fact he was caring your servant in his arms when you arrived.

Arthur: Of course not! Do you really believe me that unreasonable?

Uther: Yes! You know why? Because everyone seems to believe that! Since you came back from your search of Nimueh, the whole castle doesn't stop talking about how you got a man arrested because he dare to touch your manservant!

Arthur: Well, it's not true.

Uther: Fine, if you're so sure he did sorcery, I'll prepare his execution inmediatly.

Arthur: I never said I was sure, just that I found him in-

Uther: Suspicious circunstances, I know.

Arthur: Like I said, I'm not unreasonable. I can't execute him for sorcery without solid prove.

Uther: But you're not going to free him either.

Arthur: Because of the suspicious circunstances.

Uther: So you're just... going to keep him in there.

Arthur: Yeah.

Uther: ...

Arthur: ...

Uther: I'm too old for this. (leaves)

Time skip. After Merlin moved in to Arthur's antechambers.

Uther being attended by Gaius in his chambers.

Gaius: (mixing a concoction in the king's tea) This should help you with your nerves, Sire. I don't know what to do about the tic in your eye though. I would recommend you to rest more.

Uther: How could I? I'm the king! I have a lot of duties to do!

Gaius: You could delegate some of your duties to prince Arthur-

Uther: Arthur! He's the reason I'm like this! Him and his greedy manservant! No offense, Gaius.

Gaius: None taken, sire. And I can assure you Merlin is nothing like that. He's just an innocent country boy. I think he's not even aware of the prince's affections for him yet.

Uther: That's what he's making everyone believe! But it's all an act, I can see it! He used his seductive arts to have my son in the palm of his hand!

Gaius: (puts the cup of tea in the king's hand) Whatever you say, sire. Your tea.

Servant: (Knocks door from outside)

Uther: Come in. (takes sip of his tea)

Servant: Your Majesty, (Bows) You asked to keep you informed of... uhm.. any important change related to the prince and his manservant.

Uther: (sighs and take another sip) What did he do this time?

Servant: The prince asked his manservant to move to his antechambers, sire.

Uther: (relieved) Oh... That's not so bad.

Gaius: (cheering Uther up) Is not bad at all! As his personal manservant he should have moved there from the start. I'm surprised the prince didn't ask him to move before.

Servant: (sweating, nervous) Yeah...

Uther: (sighs) There's more, isn't it?

Servant: Uhm... well... there are rumors, sire...that says that..ahm...

Uther: (demands) What?

Servant: The reason the prince asked his servant to move was because he brought another man to his room, sire.

Uther: (breaks the cup of tea in his hand)

Gaius: (sighs, to the servant, calmly) Bring me another cup and some bandages, please.

Servant: (bows and leaves)

Uther: Gaius.

Gaius: Yes, sire?

Uther: You have brought a seductive demon to the castle.

...

Uther finding out about arthur's weird obsession with merlin ☑︎

*Innprudance is the actual name of the Knight just so you know. And it fits him perfectly.

Credits to my best friend Rosangela, who helped me with some dialogues and situations, no only in this part, but several ones. Love you so much! ❤️

#merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin #merthur #merlin fanfic #merlin prompt #merlin fic #merthur fic #arthur and merlin #merlin and arthur #merthur fanfiction #merthur fanfic #merthur prompt #Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

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joyfuladorable · 3 months

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Fuck it, here's all my favorite Mikey-centric fanfics!!

There's A LOT + personal blurbs, so they're going under the cut (Mostly AO3, but there are some FFN links, too. Also, besides like the first two, there's no favoritism in the order)

2k3:

Pretend That I Never Left by redstringraven(sirimiri) - Complete/Plans for an Epilogue & Sequel!!

Fic that changed my BRAIN?! If my fanart [1 | 2 | 3] for it is any indicator, lol. I'll say for the umpteenth time that if you're looking for an Excellent Mikey fic with Perfect Characterization, this is IT (and you don't need to know ANYTHING about HZD trust me TRUST ME this fic deserves WAY more love) His swift ride-or-die friendship with Aloy will melt your damn heart!

Dragon of the Sun by ForestWhisper3 - Ongoing

My Other TOP favorite Mikey fic!! Again, fanart [1 | 2 | 3] indicator! Slow Burn(ish) Canon Divergence of Mikey unlocking his Mystic Powers as his family looks on in dismay as they struggle to protect him. The Good Shit!!!

Of Darkness And Light by Bayluff - Complete

OOOOOOO THIS ONE! Very good (also drew fanart for it)! Evil creature literally trying to consume Mikey's lifeforce from within as his family scrambles to help

A Chat With The Titan by secreterces5 - Complete

Mikey has a fun one-on-one talk with the supposedly reformed Bishop in Fast Forward. Mikey vaguely threatening Bishop, HEEHEE

A Simple Act Of Kindness by UlisaBarbic - Complete

That feel when you put your worth in what you can DO and the wish to be Acknowledged and the ONE thing you thought you did right was taken away OOGH AGH OOOOGH

Difficulty Breathing by RealityBreakGirl - Complete

Mikey did not come out of Grudge Match unscathed *smile* Truly one of my favorite 03 Mikey prompts to read about (honestly just check the entirety of the Grudge Match tag on AO3 for a fun time)

"A delivery boy! Uh, or turtle." by LollyHolly99 - Complete

Fic that has the distinction of being the first one I ever did fanart for! Gender Feels for Mikey cuz they're just like me FR!!

What Darkness Most Fears by UlisaBarbic - Complete

OOOGH AGH I LOVE THIS ONE!! Mikey has to save his bros from the clutches of an evil spirit while surviving horrifying monsters and battling a wicked fever!

Michelangelo by ForestWhisper3 - Complete

Mikey through the eyes of his family and how much they respect him and know him UwU

Mikey's Jigsaw by SailorSaysAhoy - Complete

Another awesome gender Mikey fic HOOHAA

Train-Wreck of Thought by halogalopaghost - Complete

When you're so talented you learn how to astral project but you start using it for pranks instead of understanding the drawbacks of said power and that bites you majorly in the ass big time (very good my stomach turned while reading this /pos)

A Brother's Bond by SuperKat - Complete

Mikey gets Real Sick and the fam can't help but remember last time one of them got so ill. OH MAN heartstrings WILL be pulled in this one!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by moogsthewriter - Complete

Why can't Mikey ever catch a break during Christmas! A short fic that I enjoy Immensely for Mikey being stubbornly heroic and his family desperately trying to play catch up to help him

Questioning Choices by Mystic Medjai - Complete

Fun day at the beach goes catastrophically bad and the fam has to make difficult decisions to keep Mikey alive. THIS THIS THIS!! If I could pour this into my veins for the perfectly paced plot and characterization...

When It Counts by Kallasilya - Complete

Short fic of Mikey stubbornly and bitterly proving his brothers wrong (+ Don being a good brother)

Favourite Disease by devirnis - Complete

Mikey is forced to save his brothers as his body gradually falls apart from the inside. SO GOOD UGH Mikey being forced to deal with situations on his own always show how far he can Shine!

Nowhere Boy by taizi - Complete

OOOH I dunno how I can summarize this without giving the plot away but just know Mikey pulls through by thinking of his family

To Fit the Crime by T33la - Complete

AHHH AHHHH AHHHHH AHHHHHHHH!! Mikey is accused of Murder and receives his sentence before his brothers can even jump to his defense! Oh the twists and turns of this murder mystery!!

you want to know why i sit and sigh (the night is so young it hurts) by love_killed_the_superstar - Complete

Angel and Mikey bonding over comics and unsupportive brothers So Cute)

imma be real with you (cause i started being real with me) by love_killed_the_superstar - Complete

Leo and Usagi being supportive of Mikey as he struggles to train for the upcoming Battle Nexus fight (and also maybe they flirt with each other a teensy bit)

just a hop, skip, and a jump away by baba_buoy - Complete

Mikey sick fic. Heart melting amounts of comfort UwU

Weak Link by yellowhollyhock - Complete

Sweet fic of Mikey feeling insecure about his place on the team, and Leo going through great lengths to prove him wrong like a good older brother :')

'Cause you are the sun, he is your moon/And though he can't speak, he will thank you soon by naivesilver - Complete

Post-Grudge Match Mikey waking up in the middle of the night bitter and sore and gods damn why's Raph awake, too?

Hunted by DysfunctionalRequest - Complete

Mikey wandering the woods alone in the middle of the night and having a VERY unfortunate encounter with hunters

Flipbook by T33la - Complete

Heartfelt moment between Mikey and Don concerning SAINW that makes me want to smash a cinder block against my head /pos

Dramaturgy by Completely_Unaware - Ongoing

Mind the tags! Mikey deals with a Battle Nexus loss in an unhealthy way (UmU)

The Red Means I Love You (Work) by AnonymousCritter - Ongoing

MIND THE TAGS! AU of Fast Forward. Mikey isn't saved from the traffickers in time and things spiral from there

The So-Called "Champion of the Battle Nexus" by 0ozero0 - Ongoing

Grudge Match canon divergence where Mikey gets hurt a little more seriously than in canon (but still wins)

2012:

Devil took your hand by moogsthewriter & taizi - Complete

Mikey mind controlled by the Shredder moment!! *laughs through my pain and tears and screaming*

walk with open hands by taizi - Complete

Mikey gets his hands on one of Renet's watches and things go topsy turvy from there (and it HURTS ME)

(un)reality by SpectrumWriting - Complete

Mind the Tags! Dimension X AU where Mikey is captured by the Kraang and is put through the wringer in more ways than one (OWIE)

evermore (Dimension X AU) series by coffeejellyenthusiast - Complete?

Mind the Tags! Mikey was in Dimension X for over a year and he's NOT OKAY

Gravitational Collapse series by Writing_In_Denial - Ongoing

MIND THE TAGS!! An Incredible it gets worse before it gets better series of Mikey being unintentionally abandoned by his brothers post-series and dealing with some Major Isolation and OOOGH IT HURTS ME SO MUCH BUT I WILL KEEP READING FOR THE EVENTUAL COMFORT

traveling so far to get there by taizi - Complete

Mikey and Raph getting stuck in an empty, post-apocalyptic world and struggling to survive (their BOND IN THIS IS SO SWEET WEH)

Rise:

nice, nice by postergirlsprank - Complete

Short fic of Casey Sr and Mikey bonding after an unfortunate encounter while on a snack run (Hey if you want more context for how this author writes Casey, go read his fic Imperfect Animals too heehoo)

either way, we're not alone by sinaesthesis - Complete

Mikey throughout the years of the Kraang Apocalypse (Lots of Loss and Hurt and Badassery)

going under by redhairedmuses - Complete

Mikey almost drowns during a fight with a mutant

Hyperactive Hypothermia by VeryAngryGremlin - Complete

After Mikey's winter wear accidentally goes in flames and a villain-enduced avalanche, Donnie struggles to keep his baby brother warm

that’s where the blood’s supposed to be! by Dragon_Scales_and_Fairy_Tales - Complete

With Raph and Leo constantly bickering, Mikey ignores a very serious injury after a fight with Meat Sweats

Clever Little Dino! by VeryAngryGremlin - Complete

Mikey trying to keep a robot pet a secret and suffering the consequences

Vs The World by DysfunctionalRequest - Complete

The aftermath of the Kraang strains the family's bonds, and Mikey feels hopelessly alone (and definitely isn't dealing with his trauma properly)

Empathy Amplified by Filsamek - Complete

When you accidentally use your powers to connect with your brothers' emotions then purposefully use them to ease their pain

Sunshine in the Rain by Carnati0n_bl00m - Complete

Probably the first fic I read after watching the Rise movie cuz I wanted to find something Mikey-centric involving Bishop and BOY does it deliver with the additional bonus of Leatherhead!! (also hey look fanart)

A Mystic Connection by rytheoneandonly - Complete

Mikey's mystic powers manifesting and evolving in ways he could never predict (aka Long Fic of Mikey stumbling to figure out why he wakes up exhausted and hurt every night)

The whole world in your corner series by GibbousLunation - Complete

Two fics of Mikey being Mikey and his bros being protective

Better Check Twice by Marz_Zero - Ongoing

Bishop captures a turtle with a bear trap (OW) and is an absolute bastard about it

Come Home Soon by Sherlock_Brolmes - Ongoing

With his brothers unavailable, Mikey (with the help of a former enemy) uncovers a massive conspiracy involving New York and the Hidden City. I LOVE THIS I LOVE SOLO DUO TEAM-UPS!!!! *PUNCHES THE AIR 13 TIMES*

Mikey's Artistic Guide to Dealing with Trauma and Fame by Origami_Nami - Ongoing

Mikey using graffiti as an outlet and accidentally becoming famous

Rook by unorthodoxx - Ongoing

Another Bishop fic of him outwitting the turtles to abduct one of them (Mikey)

Multi/Other:

Mystic Malfunction by VanillaVengeance - Ongoing

Rise Mikey accidentally portals himself to the 2012 Universe and struggles to survive and avoid this other version of his family (with mixed success). The progression of familial bonds in this is just *Chef's Kiss*

The Gauntlet by T33la - Complete

A mix of IDW & 03, a wonderful showcase of how Donnie and Mikey support each other (also, a cool invention and a big rocket and a terrifying near-death experience are involved)

I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again) by Justalittleobsessed - Ongoing

MIND THE TAGS!!! Set in its own original iteration, Mikey has been immortal for as long as he can remember, and he's used to his occasional deaths (and revivals). But then his brothers find out... (AGH AGH THIS ALSO HURTS MEEEEE BUT OOGH the comfort and hope of the later chapters is so Worth It)

Whumptober 2023 series by Justalittleobsessed - Ongoing?

Collection of Mikey-centric one-shots from different iterations and feeling the HURT (Personal favorites are If Only the World Could Stop Spinning..., Just a Flesh Wound, and Not the Best of Days)

To Know Peace (You Gotta Let Go) by Deadpool1763492 - Ongoing (technically)

The Last Ronin Spoilers!! Mikey survives and whisks the new turtle tots away to live on a farm instead of being raised as soldiers. (AUUUUUU THE FEELS!! THE TOTS! MIKEYYYY!!!)

How to accidentally kidnap yourself several times over by Camildeni - Ongoing

Rise Mikey gets captured and accidentally summons other iterations (03, 12, and Bay) of himself trying to get out! They do NOT have a good time!! (but at least they have each other)

the dad diaries by angelmichelangelo - Ongoing

More TLR Mikey being a Dad (and dealing with his trauma sorta kinda)

The neighboring cell by SaltyYagi - Ongoing

2012 Mikey and Rise Leo trying to escape Dimension X together (and bonding)

Bonus Non-Mikey-centric:

Weathered Strings, Tethered Wings by Deadpool1763492 - Ongoing

(2003) SAINW AU!!! With the possibility of Don being alive dangled in front of them, the remaining turtles begrudgingly reunite to save him. Drew a cover for this with more art to come! LOVING the slow burn of reconciliation between these bitter old turtles UwU (Bitter Old Mikey my poor Bestie)

Mutant Nightmare by HamsterMasterSamster - Complete

(2003) The immediate aftermath of Worlds Collide

Hanging By A Turtle by CamsthiSky - Complete

(Rise) Literally the turtles struggling to get out of a deep pit they're hanging over

Shell Game by T33la - Complete

(2003) OKAY OKAY SO!!! OOGH Don encounters something Impossible while prepping a tracking device (for himself) and it snowballs into another Renet-involved time adventure (AND UMMM lots of existential contemplation and a surprise historical guest who's Very Cool)

Turtle Power by halogalopaghost - Complete

(2003) Immediate aftermath of the star ship reactor explosion in Exodus

Disposable by orphan_account (kudos to you wherever you are, author) - Complete

(2003) Bishop captures Don and Mikey and gives them a terrible choice

Dissection by AmevelloBlue - Complete

(2003) So much Comfort after the trauma of Worlds Collide (ie Don's interrogation and Mikey almost getting sliced open)

Find the Road by SillySocks - Complete

(2003) Perfect encapsulation of the family as they cope with Leo's absence while he trains with the Ancient One

Handle with Care by HamsterMasterSamster - Complete

(2003) April is seriously injured during a mission and has to deal with the turtles distancing themselves from her as she recovers

mind-body problem by hiraethseok - Complete

(2003) April and the Turtles Being Siblings the Fic

Healing in Tandem by Eggstasy - Complete

(2003) Canon divergence of Worlds Collide where Splinter is just a little too late to intervene before Bishop starts sawing into Mikey's shell

Let's Take Ibuprofen Together by GreenGoddessSmoothie - Ongoing

(2003) The turtles swap body and have learn to cope with each other's chronic pain

Not the Face I Know by GreenGoddessSmoothie - Ongoing

(2003) Mikey accidentally makes a wish that changes his family's lives forever (THEY'RE HUMAN THEY BECOME HUMAN AND THE PLOT IS COOL AND ALSO QUEER THEMES MY BELOVED)

The Great Skittle Heist of 2105 by AmevelloBlue - Ongoing

(2003) AU of Fast Forward where the Dark Turtles are babies instead and are very swiftly adopted by the Fam

The Labyrinth by HALFnHALF1 - Ongoing

(Mix of IDW/03) The Turtles wake up separated in a labyrinth with only a mysterious voice in their heads to guide them (and manipulate them)

“You didn’t tell me your extended family was in town!” by BoStaffsAreCool - Ongoing

Post-Turtles Forever. The 03 fam is Just beginning to wind down after the events of the movie and look who's knocking at April's door (the 87 turtles)

#tmnt #tmnt 2003 #tmnt 2k3 #tmnt 2012 #rottmnt #tmnt Mikey #fic recs #bamf mikey #all day every day #hurt/comfort #angst #whump #no hurt/no comfort though!!! I don't really like fics where it's doom and gloom with no comfort catharsis at the end #let me know if I should add Mind the Tags to other fics my gauge for hurt is a little wonky #lots of gender feels for 2k3 Mikey because that's just who he is #I added the bonus fics cuz I wasn't gonna make a separate post for them so cope and enjoy if you wanna #sorry there's not that many 12 or even Rise ones I don't look for those as much as 03 (I am biased lol)#wow can y'all believe I started drafting this in like May of Last Year???#anyways anyways I'll update this whenever I find another good Mikey fic #feel free to drop Mikey fic recs in my askbox and I'll let you know if I've tried reading them or not (I probably have)#lokibeann if you're reading this sorry it took longer than I said it would to post this I underestimated how long it would take and-#overestimated my ability to remember the plots of the ones I haven't read in a while lol

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horizon-verizon · 11 days

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Honestly as a neutral party I would prefer Jaehaera living to Daenaera being introduced. Jaehaera is an innocent, mentally disabled child and her death is needlessly cruel. Her death is the least plot relevant of all of the child deaths that have happened in the dance and it's reasonable for people to want that changed since it comes off as pointlessly cruel. Killing Alicent or even just focusing on her imprisonment more is enough to show that the greens have paid for their betrayal. At least Daenaera can still be introduced and do something else in the narrative even if she doesn't marry Aegon.

I've already explained why Jaehaera's death was plot relevant HERE and HERE.

Daenaera's entire narrative purpose was to marry Aegon and have his children to propagate the Targ line AND to become part of Aegon's mental rehabilitation from the effects of the civil war and watching his own mother get eaten burned/alive by a dragon. This is also reason why she's a fan fav in the first place; it's seen as a noble undertaking to some and a way for the Targs to move away from the greens finally. What other narrative use would you have her have?!

We can't bring up how after the War of the Roses the two fighting houses (Yorks and Lancasters) were successfully brought together in marriage to justify Jaehaera marrying and having a family with Aegon. Because:

Elizabeth of York wasn't disabled like Jaehaera

neither her nor Henry Tudor were little kids when they married

this is a fictional tale that, while modeled after some real events and people, is using them as springboards for a specific, purposefully created "message" unique to the author's

and imagine what it would being pregnant several times really be like for a very mentally incapacitated and traumatized girl like her?!!

Much less the other traumatized boy who's to be her husband? What the consummation and all the...impregnating times looked like?! Then, imagine what the family life would have been like, with these parents unable to ever connect thus the resentment is worse and their kids seeing that?

This doesn't justify Unwin Peake murdering Jaehaera, but no she never should have been married off to Aegon or anyone in the first place and that was not Unwin's doing but a larger group's--Aegon's council/patriarchal feudalism. This is what GRRM's trying to tell you, stop resisting it.

I can believe that it is the way she died and the other context of so much violence men and adults perform against women and girls in this world is what really offends people enough for them to say that somehow, this a narratively irrelevant death. Because they're just that horrified.

The feelings are valid. But the action to erase the significance of the death is not valid. You definitely can wish for a much less violent one, like a poisoning that puts her to sleep or something. The death is supposed to be tragic and make you feel that it wasn't deserved, was horrible, etc. Because it was all those things.

And to say such an untrue thing as "not narratively relevant" also leads me to suspect that some people don't like Jaehaera's death either bc they just:

wanted the greens to win in some way bc they favor them and their cause (my second linked post)

you--knowing that Daenaera will likely be black in the show IF they ever get to the Maiden's Ball--go so hard for Jaehaera bc she at least is a white girl in the universe of HotD

want excessively centrist politics to sway the story at the expense of actual understanding of why we should change and upend the status quo entirely (here the feudal entrapment of girls and women); deny a reality, discourage learning to the oppressive status quo can prevail [on this trend of neutrality]...the truth is the villains/antagonists were always the greens

AND/OR, are avoidant of facing ugly, sordid truths of oppression because they are close to it in real life and haven't found ways of separating that from collective understanding of oppressive systems/coping mechanism

Look anon, Alicent's imprisonment doesn't make up for mass death. Because it's not even just about Alicent as the individual, the grandmother, the mother, etc. It's the effect of her actions on a population. Jaehaera was one of many girls Otto AND Alicent endangered (another being Halaena). Though her actions became something much bigger than her & things went out of her control, that doesn't stop them from being hers AND having affected thousands of lives. Her main aim was to accrue power through her kids and grandkids--who she chose to risk by usurping Rhaenyra and beginning the war--the consequence is she loses said kids and grandkids through other's similar ambition. Again, bc even though those kids were noble and were supposed to be relatively safe, because they are all technically heirs or adults around them can use them accrue power (whether by killing them or through marriages or whatever), they were also targets. We could say similar for Rhaenyra's children, as what happens to her youngest 2; all of them in one way or another die because they were or could be used. however, they AND the greens' kids were all safer if the greens had not usurped Rhaenyra.

The greens were the aggressors and transgressors. The ones who started this war and looked for something out of it. They tried to act worse against Rhaenrya before/during the war AND the whole of Westeros before/during/after, thus they get the worse punishment and lose more than she did.

The entire point is that the greens lose everything, because they went after "everything". They lose everything, including their kids bc they relentlessly and hypocritically ran to obtain more power for themselves by attempting to exclude a woman from the position she never would have had without the will of a man.

They went on the basis that a girl/woman should not rule or become an heir before any direct male relatives...so Jaehaera was cut out of the line of succession by her own side of the family, thus she was also less prioritized, thus she was made into a baby factory for Aegon III. She became their last chance to get their blood to at least be part of the future line, but even that's dashed by a man who had similar ambitions as Otto and Alicent.

In trying to go against the king's word/an actual law, the greens also made it much more justified for someone to not care much for Aegon II's claim or authority...bc if you can so easily flout a king's word, why should you care about the guy you're trying to make king?! And using people who themselves are willing to be so dishonest creates a higher likelihood that they'd betray you, as similar to Ulf and Hugh betraying Rhaenyra. (And somehow, Rhaenyra is the only naive one when she expects people to follow through with their oaths 🙄)

Have you ever thought, anon, about those other girls who were maimed or terrorized into not appearing before Aegon III in the Maiden's Ball? Sure, most of them weren't disabled (Priscella Hogg was, I think), but what happens to Jaehaera is because she was girl in the way of a man's ambitions and not because she was disabled. What about all those Tumbleton folk, Bitterbridge refugees (the raped septas and girls as young as 8!), and riverland peasants--most of them children! Undoubtedly, you will have disabled children in those populations, anon. Why is Jaehaera's death so much more valuable than these mass deaths of also children? Remember that Alicent raised her kids to easier justify committing these atrocities. Maelor and Jaehaerys' deaths also reflect these events. Jaehaera's death was markedly different in meaning from theirs (to open up space for another girls who's being used) because she was female. In the first linked post, I talk about why and how people used Jaehaera's marriage to Aegon and how that reflects on her death being unique from her brothers' because of her gender.

GRRM comments, through Jaehaera and these girls and Rhaenyra what one pattern of F&B has: being female is dangerous because it is to be more of an object or property in lieu of self-concerned ambitious men to the point where the most vulnerable and those who cannot practice some of the same sort of agency can experience gruesome consequences--sometimes to become terrors themselves in their attempts to gain denied agency or defend themselves.

#jaehaera targaryen #daenaera velaryon #asoiaf asks to me #jaehaera's death #fire and blood writing #the greens vs the blacks #fandom critical #hotd fandom #green stan nonsense #fandom nonsense

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1800-fight-me · 1 year

Text

Little moments

Aemond Targaryen x Female!reader

Rating: T

Warnings: Pregnant reader, no others - this is pure fluff

Word count: Almost 600- it’s a lil one

Synopsis: Aemond takes pleasure in the little moments with his little family.

Author’s note: This came to me before I fell asleep last night and I wrote it in between sets at the gym this morning lmao

P.S. Here’s a link to my masterlist if you’d like to check out my other writing! My askbox and taglist are always open! Come interact with me! Reblogs and feedback are greatly appreciated!

Aemond Masterlist

Aemond sighed as he strode into his chambers.

Another lengthy small council meeting that he wished he could’ve resolved with force rather than listen to the squabbling of power hungry old men.

Of course Aegon would do his best to sluff off this responsibility to Aemond.

His head and scar were beginning to ache from stress and exhaustion.

He shut the door quietly behind him and his lips already began to curve into a smile as he thought of what would be awaiting him.

The candles were extinguished, the only light provided by the quickly dying fire in the hearth.

He unlaced his boots and left them along with his outer coat and weapons by the door.

He strode over to his massive bed and smiled softly at the sight of you sleeping soundly.

What he didn’t expect, however, was his son also sleeping in the bed, curled into your side.

His tiny hand rested on your rounded stomach. He must’ve been eagerly waiting to feel his sibling move within your belly before he fell asleep.

Though he often chided you for being too soft on the boy, he loved the bond you shared with your son.

He leaned over and scooped up the little four year old in his arms.

He blinked his eyes open and looked up at Aemond.

“Kepa,” he murmured before he snuggled into Aemond’s chest.

Aemond hugged him tighter as he walked to the adjourning room that was his son’s.

He laid him down in his bed and knelt down next to it.

He ruffled his white hair and kissed him on the forehead.

“I thought we discussed you sleeping in your own bed,” he chided softly.

The boy yawned as he looked at his father.

“But I like sleeping with you and muña,” the child whined.

Aemond chuckled softly.

“I also like sleeping with her, alone, without a child in my bed,” he teased and the boy sighed.

He kissed him on the forehead once more.

“We are only in the next room if you truly feel like you need us,” he whispered.

The boy nodded, a smile on his lips that were the same shape as his father, and his eyes fluttered closed.

“Sleep, little dragon,” Aemond murmured as he rose to his feet once again.

He was fast asleep once again before Aemond even finished crossing the room.

He closed the door softly and made his way towards you, once again relishing in your beauty as you slept.

He tugged off the remainder of his clothes, leaving him shirtless and only in his underclothes before he climbed into bed with you.

You immediately, as if on instinct, rolled over and curled into him.

He wrapped his arms around you and led you to rest your head on his chest.

“‘mond,” you mumbled, “missed you.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss to the crown of your head as his hand rubbed your swollen stomach where his child grew.

“I’m here now, my love,” he replied.

You pressed a sleepy kiss to his chest.

You quickly fell back asleep in the safety of his embrace.

He took a deep breath and felt calm and relaxed, at home, with your scent around him and your warmth against him.

As sleep took him too, he couldn’t help but ponder on the joy that you brought to his life. Happiness he never thought he could experience, that he was sure he didn’t deserve, filled him, and a soft smile remained on his lips as he slept.

Everything taglist:

@spideysimpossiblegirl @dinandgone @ohpedromypedro @littlemisspascal @tombraider42017 @kirsteng42 @just-here-for-the-moment @salome-c @hb8301

Aemond taglist:

@fultimefangirl @dumpsterfirecee @adderess @flowerpotmage @theold-ultraviolence @lady-phasma @aemonds-war-crime @schniiipsel @mommyslittlewarcriminal @batsyforyou @signyvenetia @sirenofavalon @ellathefriendlyalpacaaa @padfooteyes @percyjacksonspeen @aemonds-sapphire @wrendermeuseless @mllemarianne @slutforaemond @a-beaverhausen

#aemond targaryen #house of the dragon #hotd #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond targaryen x y/n #aemond targaryen fluff #aemond targaryen x wife!reader #aemond targaryen x female!reader #aemond targaryen fanfic #house of the dragon fanfic #aemond

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corrodedseraphine · 1 year

Text

alone together | one shot

pairing: eddie munson x fem!reader

summary: When nightmares and lack of sleep become too overwhelming for you you try to find solutions in weed. It turns out that the day you turned to Eddie Munson for help, the deal you made involved much more than that. angst/fluff, stragners to friends to lovers

10 337 words (including alternative ending)

TW: mentions of death, nightmares, weed use, mentions of an accident

the one shot is also avaliable on ao3

I got inspired while listening to Alone Together by Fall Out Boy

In this story I wrote two endings, the alternative ending can be found as a link in the story, also the very last part is an extra, you don't have to read it if you don't want to, I just decided that reader kinda deserves this kind of It's finally here!

Big big big shout out and many thanks to my friend @i-me-mine for wearing shining armor and figting with the insecurity dragon in my head like a pro, I wouldn't finish this story if not her support and advice ♥

eddie munson masterlist | general masterlist

Darkness and sudden blinding brightness ran through your head alternately. A deafening bang and then Steve And Robin carrying you out of the mall. Where is he? Joyce is running. She is running terrified toward Will and Jonathan. After making sure her boys are safe she sees you. She runs up all crying repeating over and over how sorry she is and hugs you tightly. Still dazed you don't know what's going on. Where is he? You look at the despair in Joyce's eyes, your senses slowly returning to you and with them the ability to understand what is happening and why she might be sorry. You jerk out of her embrace, your legs trembling but running ahead towards the gallery entrance. You stumble over the untied laces in your shoes, then you fall for the first time. Joyce is at your side again, asking you not to go back there, but you don't listen to her. Once again you tear yourself away from her and run on, calling out to him, hoping that he will come out soon, safe and sound, but nothing happens. You are already at the door when you feel Steve and Jonathan pulling you aside with all their strength. They are stronger than Joyce. You can't get away from them so you scream even more. You beg them to let you go but they don't listen to you. With all your strength you try to escape them, kicking, screaming, choking on your own tears but they won't let go. Steve pulls you to him even tighter and you drop your strength letting him hide you in his arms tightening your fists on his Scoops Ahoy uniform. From afar you hear the sirens of police cars and ambulances, when they arrive on the scene and approach the three of you, you repeat over and over that he is inside there, that they need to save him, that he needs help. A group of firefighters goes inside. Time begins to pass a million times slower, an eternity passes before one of them comes out saying that there is not a living soul inside. This is impossible. Feeling you trying to break free again, Steve squeezes you even harder.

The nightmare of memories of that night comes back to you several times a week. It has been months since the final battle with the mind flyer and the Russians, and yet although the wounds on your body look healed, the mental ones seem to grow deeper by the day. Nightmares, pain and longing are devastating you from the inside. You can't remember the last time you slept a full night, the last time you didn't wake up feeling exhausted.

Plunged into your thoughts, you sat next to Robin on the benches in front of the school watching Eddie Munson and a boy you don't recognize disappear into the woods, the place where he handles all his not necessarily legal business. Then an idea popped into your head. You sprang to your feet and told your friend that you need to do something urgently. As you reached the picnic table you see the boy closing the metal box and about to go back to school. In the distance you hear the bell ringing to signify the end of break.

"Eddie!" you shout, not wanting to miss your chance.

The metalhead turns around at the sound of your voice. Of course he recognizes you. From the very beginning of school you've attracted his attention. From the very beginning he has been fighting a dangerous fascination with you. He never thought in his life that his name would come out of your mouth, so he turns puzzled in your direction and what he sees begins to worry him. Your pale face and the shadows under your eyes speak for themselves. Ever since the starcout fire in which your father died, you have been languishing. You were less and less every day, which he understood perfectly, but he couldn't help but want to approach you and offer any kind of support. Your situation was already so awful that he quickly gave up the idea because he claimed that if the rest of the school saw you in the company of The Freak it would make everything even worse. Now that you were standing in front of him he had two choices. Ignore you for your own good or stay.

"Hey," he said, smiling. "What's up?"

"How much weed can I buy for this?" you asked, pulling a few bills out of your pocket.

He knew he shouldn't pry. He knew he should never pry into the reasons why people turn to him for drugs, but, damn, after all, you weren't some ordinary customer. "Are you okay?" he asked, approaching slowly. "Have you ever smoked it?"

"No, but I've heard it makes you calmer. I need it Eddie, please." Your desperation was evident at first glance.

"Let's make a deal, okay?" he said sitting back down at the picnic table and opened the container. Later he patted the seat next to him indicating for you to sit on it. When you were next to him he began to speak further. "You tell me what's going on, and you'll get your first dose for free," he said.

"I can pay you, you can't just give it to me." you muttered.

"'kay, then another way... I won't sell you anything until you tell me why you need it." Nervously, you stared dully into the tree in front of you. You didn't know what, but there was something about him that made you feel safe. Your heart told you that you could trust him, but your brain screamed that confiding in a drug dealer might be a bad idea. Then you looked at him. Big chocolate eyes full of warmth kept their gaze on you.

"I really don't want to hurt you y/n." he said with concern. "I know you might have heard different things about me, but I have to worry you, most of them are not true." he laughed lightly.

"I'm not afraid of you Eddie..." you said quickly. "I'm just not sure I'm ready to talk about all this." You lowered your gaze locating it on your hands.

"Is it about your dad?" he asked quietly.

"Have you ever had nightmares?" you asked without raising your eyes. You didn't want him to see the tears in your eyes. You didn't want him to see what a mess you were in.

"It happens, usually when I watch too many horror movies, then I dream about Michael Myers chasing me all over Hawkins, and because I avoid PE like a fire I don't even have the energy to run away." he tried to make a joke to lighten the situation, but seeing that they were a bit out of the mood for jokes he stopped right away. "Sorry..."

" 's okay"

"Y/n look at me, please." When you raised your eyes he frowned. He had never had the chance to look at you from such a close distance. And now that your glazed eyes were looking at him he couldn't get out of admiration of how beautiful they looked. The tears added to their shine. However, he quickly chased these thoughts aside. He will be in awe of you later, because this situation will definitely not leave his thoughts for a very long time.

"That night..." you began, breathing deeper and deeper. "At Starcourt. It comes back almost every night. I relive it all over again, every time I close my eyes I see everything all too clearly." You hid your face in your hands ashamed of how your tears began to get out of control. In truth, you didn't want to break down in front of him, but day by day you had less and less strength to somehow keep yourself grounded. "I heard that it helps to calm down...I thought that if I calm down I will finally be able to sleep normally, I can't remember the last time I slept through the night, I'm so damn tired, Eddie, so damn tired..."

Then he decided to take a chance. He expected many things. Most of all that you would get up and start yelling at him that he should stay away from you, that what was he thinking. What he didn't expect, however, was that when he embraced you you immediately leaned toward him cuddling your face into his chest. Robin hugged you many times. Steve hugged you many times. Jonathan hugged you many times before they left for California. However, none of this equaled the feeling you got when Eddie hugged you. Seeing your silent permission he pulled you closer to him and began stroking your back. When your sobs subsided he still embraced you with one hand, and with the other he opened the box taking out a small sachet and handed it to you stopping his hand on yours a moment longer than he should have. As you began to pull the money from your pocket he half-stopped you saying it was a special offer for the first deal, but you put them in his jacket pocket with a quick motion.

"Can you show me how to do it?" you asked staring at the object in your hand.

He knew it was completely out of place but he couldn't hold back a soft chuckle when he heard the question. As you embarrassedly began to move away from him and stood up from the bench heading in the opposite direction from the school.

"y/n!" he called out standing up quickly. "I don't know where you're going, but do you have room for one more troubled soul?" He didn't know how many months he had spent wondering what it would be like if he could talk to you, spend some time with you. He didn't know how long he had been trying to get rid of his hopeless fixation on you, but nothing was working. While chastising himself in his mind for taking advantage of such a delicate situation, he knew he had to give it a shot, as it might be the only opportunity he would get. "Since this will be your first time with this kind of thing I could be with you then, y'know, just in case..."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes Eddie..."

"I know and I'm sorry! But I promise not to make a single hopeless and stupid joke again!" You could have just ignored him at that moment, but something inside prevented you from doing so. Some strange attraction and the need to feel again as you did the first time he hugged you wouldn't let you just walk away. You wanted his company, you wanted him to be close.

"I don't know where I'm going..." was all you answered.

"We can go to my place." he suggested, and you agreed.

When the last bell rang for today you left the school heading towards the parking lot. Right next to you walked Robin. When you told her that you wouldn't be going home with her and Steve today she insisted that she needed to "explore the area."

"Hey Munson!" she called out walking up to the van he was standing by.

"Hi?" he said surprised as she measured him from head to toe.

"I just wanted to see for who my best friend was ditching me today, and you have my blessing. You two have fun!" she exclaimed, hugged you goodbye and disappeared.

"Sorry about her." you said quickly. "I don't have a lot of friends here besides her and Steve, so she was a little surprised when I told her I was coming back with you today."

"Understandable." He nodded thoughtfully. Did that mean you now treated him as a friend?

"Anyway, my presence in your company has been approved, so shall we?" he smiled charmingly, opening the door for you like a true gentleman. You ignored the fact that your heart skipped a beat when you noticed the dimples in his cheeks.

It wasn't until you pulled into the Forest Hills Trailer Park that Eddie's excitement turned to concern. He didn't hide where he lived but he realized that his place of residence was one of the reasons he was being laughed at. He hesitantly looked in your direction and noticed that you were looking at him. When your gazes met you smiled slightly and got out of the car. Was he hallucinating or did you blush for that brief moment?

"Welcome to my kingdom," he said letting you into the trailer. You looked around with curious eyes.

"Wow, that's huge." you said when a collection of caps and mugs caught your attention.

"My uncle is crazy about them, whenever he is in some new place he has to bring back at least one cap and mug from it." he laughed.

"This is so cool!" you said. "My dad used to do the same thing with lighters. At home we have a lighter from every possible state." After a while, only sadness got to you, reminding you of the real reason for this visit.

"So, are you ready?" he asked seeing your face slowly fade.

When you entered his room, for the first time in his life he regretted that he had not cleaned up. The room was in chaos, but you didn't seem to care. When you sat down on the bed, step by step he showed you how to roll a joint and you fired it up. The first few gushes made you cough, but eventually it calmed down. Feeling the stress caused by this meeting drain out of you, you began to feel more and more comfortable.

"How are you feelin?" he asked with a grin.

"Good I guess," you shrugged your shoulders. "Thank you for inviting me here," you said.

"Believe me, the pleasure is definitely on my side." his smile was now much wider.

"I like your smile a lot," you giggled, feeling increasingly relaxed and funny.

Normally he would have said it was some strange weed-induced hallucination, but this time he was completely sober. The situation seemed so surreal that he pinched his arm to make sure it wasn't a dream. "That's a good thing, because I really like yours." he finally replied.

"Will you tell me more about this game?" you asked changing the subject. When he noticed the small figure in your hand he had to think for a moment. You didn't seem to be one of those people who would suspect him of worshipping Satan through a board game, but somewhere deep down he still felt insecure. "My friends play it too, but somehow I never got into it," you said.

"Do you really want to hear about it?"

"Yeah, if you feel like it."

Needing no further encouragement, he began to explain to you what it was all about. Later the topic descended to the campaigns he was involved in, and you absorbed every word he said. He was an amazing storyteller, and you were happy to be drawn into his adventures forgetting everything else.

"This really seems like fun." you said leaning against the wall taking one last inhale. "What if I told you that Demogorgons exist?" the words slipped out of your mouth before you had time to think them through.

"Part of me would think it was pretty sick and metal but the other part would go insane of fear." he laughed. You wanted to reply however you were overtaken by the loud sound of your stomach burping.

"Shit, sorry." you said embarrassed.

"How about some pizza? A pretty girl shoved some cash in my pocket today, she stubbornly refused to take advantage of my special offer." He winked at you while standing up.

"Apparently she appreciates your work." you said back.

Thus, the evening passed exceptionally quickly for you in Eddie's company. You ate pizza, and in the meantime he told you about his ideas for new campaigns. When at some point he left and went to the bathroom you were left alone in silence. Suddenly his bed began to seem a little too comfortable for you. You lay down for a while inhaling his scent from the soft pillow. Without even realizing it, you fell asleep with peace of mind.

When he returned to the room and saw you lying snuggled into his pillow he stood up as if he were stunned. It must be a dream. It must be the most beautiful dream of his entire life. Still unmoving from his spot he wondered if he should wake you up or let you sleep on. After all, that's what this was all about, right? That you would finally get some sleep. Selfishly, he allowed himself to enjoy your presence for as long as possible. Pulling an old blanket from the closet and taking a pillow from the living room couch, he made himself a makeshift bed on the floor next to the bed. He nervously wriggled and were sitting up from time to time reassuring himself that all this was not a product of his imagination and what was happening was true. You were there. You were sleeping peacefully in his bed. At the very thought that you felt safe enough to do so he had the feeling that his heart would explode.

It was reaching nine in the morning when you woke up. For the first time in a long time you were well rested. Slowly opening your eyes and lazily stretching, you noticed that you were wearing yesterday's clothes. Later you remembered that the bed you were lying in did not belong to you at all.

"Shit!" you cussed quietly, jumping off quickly.

"What happened?" asked an alarmed Eddie from the floor.

"I am so sorry!" you began. "I don't even know when I fell asleep!"

"Hey, it's fine, chill." tried to calm you down.

"Did you sleep on the floor?"

"Apparently it's good for your back" He smiled broadly. "So, we achieved the goal?"

"No nigthmares, and I haven't felt so rested in a long time." You said calming down slightly.

"I'm glad I could help."

"I should go now, Robin must have lost her mind by now that I missed the first lesson."

"Yeah, okay." He didn't want you to go, but nothing was coming to mind that he could stop you with. "My uncle- he uh, he's just sleeping on the couch in the living room, poor guys work night shifts so we have to be quiet."

You tiptoed out of the room and quickly put on your shoes, then left the trailer, and Eddie gently closed the door behind you.

"I'm sorry again," you expressed, standing in front of him.

"You really have nothing to apologize for." he said, sitting down on the stairs. "I spent a very nice evening." There was that smile again. What was going on with you? His presence made you nervous, but it wasn't the nerves you were used to in recent times. This was something new, something that made you want even more Eddie Munson in your life.

"Me too, but I made you sleep on the floor, it feels bad." you sighed.

"And I feel great." he lied. The truth was that the pain in his neck after that night was killing him, but it was definitely worth.

"Thank you Eddie. For everything."

"At your service, m'lady. Shall I give you a ride home?"

"No, no need." Then, with an uncertain step, you approached the stairs and bent down to hug him. "You don't even know how much you've helped me." you muttered into his neck. Stepping back, you waved goodbye to him and headed for home.

Looking at your receding silhouette, he recalled with disbelief everything that had happened since you ran up to him in the woods. That day he came to one more conclusion. Eddie Munson was in love with you and this time he had no intention of denying it.

Full of hope in the middle of the night you did everything as Eddie showed you, unfortunately your sleep did not last long. Woken up by the same nightmare as always since four o'clock, you didn't sleep a wink. On Thursday you fell asleep and woke up every two hours or so. You didn't understand anything. After all, everything had worked the first time.

When Eddie heard a knock on the door on Friday night, not knowing who it might be, he didn't open it at first. He was too busy thinking what to do to get the courage to do more than smile at you in the hallway. Many times seeing you somewhere he felt like coming up and talking to you but always halfway through he gave up and changed direction. What if you didn't want to be seen in his company? What if that evening meant nothing? And he would never have the chance to spend time with you again? But you had to run out of pot at some point, and then you would come for more, right? Seeing your overtired face at school and blackened eyes, he was beginning to doubt if you were even using it. All the what ifs stuck in his head were definitely holding him back.

The knocking on the door was getting more and more overbearing, adding to his irritation.

"Jesus H Christ, WHAT?!" he shouted annoyed opening the door immediately regretting it. You stood in the doorway shocked by his reaction. You glared at him with wide hard eyes, noticing that he immediately softened at the sight of you, but you still couldn't get a word out. Thinking that coming here was a mistake you began to back away slowly.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you." you muttered.

"Wait, please!" he stopped you by grabbing your wrist. "I didn't mean to shout, I just had a shitty day today wasn't expecting anyone..." he began to explain.

"Sorry, I'll just go." you interrupted him.

"No, come in, please." he said quickly. He hoped you didn't notice how desperate he felt for you not to leave. "We can be alone together, right?"

"I just... I don't understand. I did everything as you showed me and it still didn't help. It's like it stopped working...Maybe I need something stronger?" you said stepping into the trailer.

"Woah! not so fast, okay? Come on, we'll try again, if that doesn't help, we'll think about another solution."

"But..." You weren't convinced, your desperation to finally start sleeping normally without nightmarish memories recurring in your dreams was pushing you very far.

"Please, let's just try." He really cared about helping you, but he knew that something stronger instead of solving the situation could only make it worse, and he definitely didn't want to be responsible for that.

You sat down more comfortably on his bed this time sharing a joint in half. One puff for you, the other for him. The first few minutes passed in silence between you.

"What, do I have something on my face?" you asked when you noticed him looking at you.

"Yes, tiredness." he said with a wince.

"Really? I didn't notice." You rolled your eyes.

"In that case, you're welcome." He winked at you.

"Thank you, you're a great friend!" you laughed throwing a pillow at him. Being with him was easy for you. In his presence you forgot all your worries, he was like a lifebelt when you were drowning in your nightmares and fatigue.

"Are we friends?" he asked raising his eyebrows.

"I mean... I would like to be your friend, I know we haven't known each other very long, but I really like you Eddie." You said confused not knowing how to read his reaction.

"It will be an honor for me." He nodded handing you the joint.

"So, firend, what do you usually do when you can't sleep?"

"I don't have much trouble sleeping, but I remember that when my mother died I was in a similar situation as you."

"Oh, I am so sorry, I didn't know..."

"It's fine." he waved his hand. "I remember at the time I was unlikely to have nightmares, but there were nights when I couldn't sleep at all. Then Wayne would come to my rescue and read me books until I fell asleep."

"Sounds nice." You smiled slightly. "When I was little my dad always told me bedtime stories. He always preferred to make up something himself rather than read." your heart contracted at the mere mention. You could still hear his voice in your thoughts. "Now all I can do is read to myself." you sighed.

"What about your friends?"

"All of them... have moved on. They are there for me when I need them, I know they care about me, but they are starting to put their lives back together after all that has happened. I know that if I just asked them in the middle of the night they would come to me without hesitation, but I don't want to be a burden. I don't want to disturb them. Just because I didn't move on it doesn't mean they have to, too." Tears came to your eyes. You had just considered each other firends and here you were already pouring your heart out in front of him.

"You don't feel like a burden now do you?" he asked as if reading your mind. Embarrassed you just lowered your head and drowned your gaze in your hands. "Y/n look at me." he asked. "Please don't feel that way."

"I'm sorry." You mumbled.

"You're more than welcome here y/n, trust me." he moved closer to you. "I had a shitty day today, but you being here made me have a really good evening, y'know?" He smiled slightly. "And damn, today I gained a new friend! What could be better?" His smile was contagious, and seeing that, he continued. "As your new friend, I want to offer some help." He grabbed a book lying on the bedside table. "But maybe you want to change first? I mean not the way you are thinking, Jesus- I mean sleeping in jeans can't be very comfortable, I can get you something to change into," he began to explain and turned towards the cabinet looking through his clothes. Luckily he was standing with his back to you so you couldn't see his burning cheeks. When he handed you some clothes, you thanked him and disappeared into the bathroom. When you returned his heart froze. He didn't expect the sight of you in his clothes to be so overwhelming. His old gym shorts fit you perfectly emphasizing your curves. The old T-shirt with the Metallica logo was a bit too big, but the whole thing made for a really beautiful view. A view that made him hot. He pushed all thoughts aside focusing on his task.

"Lie back and get comfortable, I would like to invite you to go on an amazing adventure with me."

"I don't want you to sleep on the floor again because of me, Eddie."

"I will be fine, promise."

"Maybe...we can share the bed? It's big enough for both of us, friends can sleep in the same bed and it won't be weird, right?" even though your voice was quiet in his head it sounded like the world's loudest bell.

"S-sure." he replied. With each meeting you surprised him more and more with how willingly you allowed him to be close to you. When most people rather avoided him like a plague you circled around coming closer with every step.

Reading Eddie in truth took you on an adventure. The Hobbit absorbed you to the point that instead of falling asleep you listened avidly to the continuation, constantly asking Eddie for one more chapter. His voice enchanted you, you felt like you were being transported to a completely different dimension. One in which only the two of you existed. You didn't know when you found yourselves so close to each other.

"Eddie?"

"Yeah?" he looked away from the book. He looked beautiful. How could you not notice before how handsome he was? Mesmerized with the veiw you forgot what you wanted to say. Why did his lips suddenly look so kissable? "y/n?" he asked seeing the lack of response on your part.

"Yeah?" you shrugged.

"Did you want to say something?" he chuckled.

"Oh, yes I um-" you began to stammer. "Thank you." that was the first thing that came to mind.

"That you didn't leave me alone with all this."

"I was serious when I said we could be alone together."

"I'm glad to have a friend like you Eddie." you laughed quietly charmed by his words.

You went back to reading. You made it through the next two chapters when finally your exhaustion won out. As you listened to his words slowly begin to blend together you drifted off.

That night there was no trace of the nightmares. Instead, you dreamed of green hills, and gardens among them. At one of them was working a contented Dustin who was much shorter than usual. Walking further you heard the sound of a guitar, intrigued you entered the house placed in the hill. There you were greeted by Eddie with a broad smile that you were beginning to adore.

"Hello m'lady." he said putting down his guitar. "Are you ready for an adventure?" he extended his hand toward you, and without hesitation you grabbed it. Feeling happiness and excitement fill your soul you knew you would have followed him to the end of the world.

The tranquility of your dream didn't seem to be shared by Eddie. This time he was the one who didn't sleep a wink all night. His initial delight at the fact that the girl he had long dreamed of felt safe enough with him to just sleep in his bed was gradually overshadowed by anxiety. Eddie was never one of the optimists, so all the dark scenarios easily possessed his mind without letting him fall asleep.

As the sun began to rise over Hawkins Wayne found his nephew on the steps in front of the trailer. His face was worried and his leg was shaking nervously.

"What's wrong, boy?" he asked, sitting down next to him.

"Can you promise me you won't freak out?" Eddie asked in a slightly trembling voice.

"I'll do my best.""Do you remember Hopper?"

"Of course I do, we were buddies back in high school," Wayne responded.

"His daughter is sleeping in my bed now." Seeing the surprise on his uncle's face, he continued before his thoughts moved in the wrong direction. "It's not what you think! She came to me for weed. Yes, I know you don't approve of what I'm doing, but we're not talking about it now..." he explained step by step how the development of your relationship looked. He admitted that that day you also slept at their place, and then for the next few days nothing helped. Now, once again being in bed with him, you had no trouble falling asleep. "I don't understand it, why does it only work when she's here? What if she will think that I am giving her something else? That I'm intentionally drugging her with something? Jesus, Wayne what if she thinks I want to gain her trust just to hurt her?"

"Slow down a bit son! First of all you are overthinking, and second of all I think you've watched too many movies."

"But-"

"If I were you, I would think about whether weed is actually the solution in this situation. It seems to me that something else might be her calming factor." the man smiled slightly as he saw how his nephew still couldn't comprehend it. "That poor girl is alone every night in an empty house that reminds her of her father's death, no wonder she can't fall asleep there," he said.

"She said she still has nightmares about that night..."

"What time did she fall asleep?" asked Wayne looking at his watch.

"Uh, I don't know, around eleven?"

"So she's been sleeping for about eight hours now without nightmares or awakenings. As a serious parent, I should give you a pep talk and a scolding about bringing girls home at night." he laughed. "But our family has never been normal, so I guess I need to make you aware that you're probably the one calming her down, my boy."

"What?" That was impossible. Or was it?

"You heard me. Now come inside." he patted the boy on the back. "Eddie?" he whispered as the younger Munson headed back into the room. Metalhead turned around with a questioning look. "Make sure he stays for breakfast, or lunch, whatever is ready when you get up."

When he returned to the room he found you sitting on the bed.

"Hey are you okay?" he asked sitting down next to you.

"Yeah, but still probably a little tired." you yawned. "Are you okay? You look worried."

"You know I want to help you right?" he asked quietly.

"I know, and I'm very grateful to you for that." You placed your hand on his. "I've always thought you were a good person. I know that everything others say about you is nonsense. Believe me." You sent him a reassuring smile.

"Do you want to sleep for a little while longer?" he asked smiling back.

"Sounds great."

Once again, you fell asleep without the slightest problem in no time. Eddie, wondering about his uncle's theory, also finally gave in to tiredness. He also thought that seeing you as the last thing before sleeping was like winning the lottery.

Days slowly turned into weeks, breakfasts into lunches and lunches into dinners, and you became a regular visitor in the Munson's trailer. Wayne as well as Eddie very quickly adopted you into their warm and family home. When you weren't spending time at school or with Robin and Steve the only place you could be found was at the Forest Hill Trailer Park. You spent very little time in your house and when you did it was mostly talking to Joyce and the rest of the family about how they were living in California. You missed them terribly, but you didn't want to move to them despite the many times they convinced you to do so.

Your friendship with Eddie was developing at a deadly fast speed and the boundary between you was blurring just as fast. So was the distance between you shrinking in every way. The closer you got to knowing him, the deeper you fell into the hole. He was there for you whenever you needed him. He always listened with patience to what you had to say, offered a shoulder when you needed to cry, and immediately afterwards, as if by magic, he made you laugh and made the sun shine in the sky again. He was more than happy to let you in closer, telling you about his childhood, how he ended up at Hawkins, trusting you like he had never trusted anyone before, revealing his darkest corners to you, and when, in a gesture of comfort, your hand touched his or he felt your arms wrap around his waist he felt something entirely new. He felt peacefulness. He was used to being alone, and knowing that you were now alone together brought with it a significant improvement in his life. Until now, he hadn't cared much about his own fate, but your presence made him realize that he was capable of so much more. With your support, he felt as if he was actually able to reach the stars. You have always held a special place in his thoughts, while he was convinced that you were just a silly high school crush, but now you have made a warm nest in his heart. Little did he know that in the meantime he had also found a way into your heart and for that moment he was already knocking on his door.

You were sitting with Robin on the benches in front of the school when you noticed a familiar silhouette approaching in your direction

"Hey!" he greeted you. "You left this at my place yesterday, good thing Wayne noticed because otherwise you could have said goodbye to your reputation as a perfect student." He handed you your homework.

"Shit, I completely forgot about it! Thank you my knight."

"You're welcome my lady." he bowed low. "See you later?"

"Sure!" you replied with a broad smile.

"In that case, dear ladies, let me take my leave for this moment."

"Be safe my dear friend!" you waved goodbye. As he was walking away halfway he turned in your direction once again due to which he missed and bumped into a trash container standing in front of the school. Seeing this you chuckled.

"When are you going to tell me about it?" your friend asked, bringing you back to the ground.

"About what?" you asked surprised.

"About what's between you two? Don't get me wrong, because I love the fact that it happened, but I haven't seen you as happy as this in a long time. You spend almost every free moment with him!"

"Because we are friends Robin!"

"I don't recall me or Steve making you turn red like a tomato."

"Well, okay maybe you're right, but how do I know he feels the same way?"

"Moments ago he called you his lady, he looks at you with the same admiration with which he would look at Ozzie, for heaven's sake!"

"What should I do?"

"Ask him out on a date."

"Do you think I should?"

"I think you should."

"Yeah, maybe I should." you slowly nodded.

The first lesson for Eddie lasted an unmercifully long time. Completely uninterested in what the teacher was saying, he was scribbling in his notebook when someone said your name. It was one of the cheerleaders who sat in front of him.

"Did you hear that y/n is now hanging out with The Freak?" whispered one of them. Unfortunately loud enough that Eddie could easily understand everything.

"Some say they're dating." replied the other.

"No way, I don't think she would ever fall that low."

"People do strange things to deal with grief. Maybe he gives her drugs for free?"

"I don't know, but after her father died, she got really weird. Maybe they even fit together?" she shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe. What are you wearing to Saturday's party?" they changed the subject.

Listening to their conversation about himself, all his happiness evaporated. He felt as if he had defied the wall. When the bell finally rang he wanted to leave the classroom in front of which you were already waiting for him.

"Hey!"

"Oh, hello." Seeing your wide smile, he couldn't help but reciprocate it.

"Are you okay?" you asked sensing his sad mood.

"Yeah." he lied. Even if he wanted to tell you what was going on he couldn't.

"I wanted to ask you something." you said nervously. "I heard there's a drive-in cinema event this weekend..." you took a deep breath. "Maybe you would like to go there with me? For a date?" You did it. You managed not to panic and get the last two words out. Your pride in yourself, however, did not last long. After a moment of silence, Eddie burst out laughing. That was the moment when everything fell to pieces.

"I see you're in a joking mood today." he replied. Fortunately, the doorbell rang.

"I have to go." you muttered, turning your back to him. Grateful that you could get lost in the crowd of students going to classrooms you thanked god that Eddie didn't witness your demise.

you can find an alternative ending here

From that moment on you avoided him like a fire. You didn't even look in his direction. Eddie didn't quite understand why there was such a change in your behavior. He missed you unimaginably, and the pain he felt when you changed the direction of your path when you saw that he was going your way broke his heart. Maybe the cheerleaders were right? Recently your condition had improved so maybe you didn't need him anymore? Maybe everything you managed to build over that time was not as important to you as it was to him? Maybe, in fact, this whole friendship existed mainly for you to have free access to drugs? There were many options in his mind, but none of them were true. Still sanctimoniously convinced that your idea about the date was just a silly joke, he was still looking for a reason why you pushed away so suddenly.

After your feelings and the very idea that you could be more than friends were violently erased your sleeping problems returned. The first night you kept waking up time after time, the second night you didn't sleep at all. Many times you wanted to pick up the phone and call him but when your hand reached for the receiver the reason why you couldn't do it appeared as a painful memory.

At lunch on Thursday, he watched you closely. Bags appeared under your eyes again, and after a while he noticed you struggling with your eyelids which were getting heavier and heavier. You tried to stay awake at the table. How tired did you have to be if you wanted to sleep in the damn noisy cafeteria? Did your sleep problems come back? Why didn't you call him? Why didn't you come to him?

Fighting fatigue was harder than you thought. You rested your head on your hands placed on the table feeling how you could no longer defend against it.

"Can we talk?" a voice came from behind you, at the sound of which your heart wanted to jump out of its cage. The voice you longed for. "In private." he said pointing with his head toward the corridor which was empty at lunchtime. Seeing his serious face, your nerves immediately drove the sleepiness away.

"What's up?" you asked once you were alone. As quickly as those words left your mouth you felt waves of embarrassment. What's up? Was that really the only thing you could get out of yourself at that moment?

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked. "I thought we were friends, that we could trust each other."

"Eddie I don't think I understand what you mean..."

"You can't sleep again, you stopped talking to me, why?"

You were about to lie that everything was fine, but before that lie could make a sound you were interrupted by the school secretary.

"Eddie?" she asked standing behind him. He rolled his eyes in annoyance and turned toward her, thinking that now he didn't have time to listen to what he had done this time that he was going to face another visit in the principal's office. "We just received a call from the hospital. Your uncle was in a car accident." When he heard this news he felt himself grow weak leaning against the wall. His world was taken over by darkness and a cold he hadn't felt in ages. The memories came back with redoubled pain. Suddenly he was twelve years old again in his old elementary school when one of the teachers told him to pack his backpack because his Uncle Wayne had come to pick him up from school. Not understanding much he happily ran out of the classroom. Only Wayne's worried expression and reddened eyes showed that something was wrong. That day, 12-year-old Eddie had to understand that he would never see his mom again in his life, and his dad would be in jail for years to come.

"Eddie?" Your voice snapped him out of his trance.

"I have to go to the hospital." He said running toward the exit, you, not thinking much, ran after him. At that moment, your heartbreak caused by his rejection didn't matter. He was there for you when you needed him. Now it was time for you to be the strong one for the two of you.

There was silence in the hospital, where bad omens lurked alone. When you were informed that Wayne was currently being examined you sat down in uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. Eddie nervously moved his leg rubbing his face with his hands. He was trying to be calm but the thought that he might lose another parent made him nauseous. He didn't even notice when tears started to run down his cheeks. You noticed it much sooner and crouched down in front of him cupping his face and rubbing the wet marks with your thumbs.

"I can't lose him." His voice was breaking and his lower lip was trembling. "I can't stay alone without him."

"You won't lose him." you answered immediately. You rose up and sat on his lap so you could hug him and be as close to him as possible. He immediately melted into you sobbing against the bend of your neck. He felt all his walls cracking. He couldn't remember the last time he allowed himself to cry, but now in your embrace he felt safe. He reciprocated the hug clinging tightly to the material of your shirt. With one hand you gently stroked his hair and every now and then whispered that everything would be fine.

You didn't ask questions, you didn't interrupt him, you just let him cry out all his fears and worries. When he began to calm down and his grip loosened you moved slightly so that you could see his face.

"You are not alone with this." you said quietly placing your hand on his cheek which you stroked with your thumb. "We are alone together, remember?"

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore..." he muttered while sniffling still holding his hands on your back.

"I'm sorry. But I want you to know that even though you don't feel the same way I feel about you I still want to be your friend. I still want you in my life Eddie."

"What-" Confused he tried to follow your words. What feelings are you talking about? Still, he didn't have time to finish the question because, seeing the doctor walking down the corridor and right next to him Wayne with his arm in a cast, you immediately jumped off his lap and ran towards them. Fortunately, apart from his broken arm, nothing was wrong with him. Eddie hugged his uncle with relief, cursing how much he had scared him. Wayne joked that he wouldn't get rid of him so easily, but there was an audible emotion in his voice. The three of you returned to the trailer, where the older Munson immediately stated that he needed to go to bed. Eddie suggested he go to his room to sleep, and this time he would be the one sleeping on the couch.

"What a day, huh?" he ventured, falling back on it.

"Yeah..." sat down next to him. "I'm glad your uncle is okay," he said.

"Yeah, me too..." he sighed looking at the ceiling, after a moment he looked at you. "Thank you for being there for me."

"Alone together, right?" you smiled slightly.

"You really mean it?"

"It's going to be a little hard at first, but yes."

"I don't think I understand..." Was being with him really that hard? Was he really that annoying?

"Stop overthinking Eddie." You interrupted seeing his thoughtful expression mixed with worry. "I understand that you don't feel the same way I do, and that's okay. You don't have to feel guilty about it."

"I still don't understand. What kind of feeling are you talking about? You have to explain it to me."

"Eddie I swear if you're trying to make me feel like an idiot now or this is some kind of joke then please stop."

"No y/n, wait. I really don't know what you mean, what feelings?"

You took a deep breath. To be honest, it looked like he still hadn't guessed anything. After everything, you asking him out, how come he still couldn't figure it out? "I like you Eddie, much more than a friend could like a friend."

He would be lying if he said he never thought about that moment. Of course he thought about it. But it was never from this side. In his thoughts, he was always the first to say what he felt. There were days when hope allowed him to imagine you throwing yourself into his arms in response. There were also days when he self-inflicted punches thinking that when he did that you would laugh at him because of it. And then he understood everything.

"When you were talking about a date...You weren't joking?" he muttered uncertainly.

"Of course not! Why would I?"

"Jesus, I'm a fucking idiot! I'm sorry! For real- I'm sorry. Damn fool! The girl I've had a crush on for ages asks me out, and I what? I laugh about it?" He was angry with himself. "Damn it!" he slammed his fists on the pillow panicking.

"Leave this poor pillow alone!" you joked moving closer to him. "Have you had a crush on me for a long time?" why the sudden courage and confidence in you? You had no idea, but this time you weren't going to just walk away.

"It wasn't obvious?" he muttered and took a strand of hair covering his mouth with it.

"Eddie I asked you out and you laughed at me. How could it be obvious?" You took his hand.

"I don't know." A part of you wanted to be angry with him, but you didn't hide the happiness you felt about this confession. In addition, the sight of him so shy melted you up to the limit. "I seriously thought you were joking," he said.

"I wasn't. And the proposition still stands if you're interested."

"Of course I am!" he said and pulled you into his lap and embraced you tightly. He never wanted to let you out of them again. "So dreams can come true after all." Pure happiness was painted on his face. He looked at you with a dreamy gaze, wondering what he deserved such a miracle in his life. He wondered how such a beautiful and amazing person could have chosen him. You, on the other hand, were also drowning in thoughts about how Eddie Munson became your home. About how your first deal was so much more than pot.

"What else have you dreamed of Eddie?" you asked quietly running your hand over his cheek.

"I'm afraid if I tell you it won't come true," he said.

"What if I help you make them come true?"

He brushed a strand of your hair behind your ear and, after a moment's hesitation, kissed you gently. It was the sealing of a promise that you would always be alone together.

a few months later

The white blinding light inflicted pain on him. Only after his eyesight adjusted to it he was able to see where he was. Several cables hooked up to his body and an IV stuck in a vein. An unbearable burning pain over almost his entire body. The last thing he remembers was your weeping face, Dustin's screams and the feeling of all his life escaping. Scene after scene he recalled what had happened, and Steve's words about not being heroes echoed in his head. He remembered coming to terms with his death. He remembered how his last words were I love you directed toward you. He had no idea how he survived it. He had no idea what or how a powerful force allowed him to remain in this world, but when he turned his head and saw you sitting by his side he thought that maybe it was because of your love that he was still here. You were a walking example to him that true love exists and is able to overcome everything. Maybe it was also able to overcome death?

"Eddie? Eddie, baby, oh my god!" you shouted, waking up Wayne who was snoozing in the chair across from you, and quickly ran to get a doctor. After a series of examinations, you were finally able to re-enter the room. Wayne not waiting much you sat down next to him catching his hand.

"You scared the shit out of me, son." His voice was breaking and his cheeks were already wet with tears. Every day that Eddie spent in a coma was a nightmare. Worry about whether he would ever wake up sucked all the strength out of both of you. No wonder you yourself couldn't control your tears. But not wanting to spoil the moment between them, you stood by the door with your hand pressed to your mouth.

"Sorry, I had to do something... I had to keep them safe." His voice was weak, but it was the most beautiful sound in the world. A sound that was confirmation that your Eddie was not gone. That he is here with you.

"Come here, kid." said Wayne extending his hand in your direction. Needing no further encouragement, with a quick step you covered the distance between you. You sat down in the vacant seat on the bed.

"I thought I had lost you," you sobbed out.

"Sweetheart..." he squeaked out. "I'm so sorry..." Now he too began to cry. All three of you didn't have the strength to hold back the emotions that were gripping you at that moment.

"It's okay now Eddie, you're here, we all are. It's okay now." you took his hand and kissed the top of it. "I love you so much. The most in the world."

"I love you too, very much."

Wayne's heart grew at the sight of the two of you. His son deserved the best, and he was sure you were able to provide it all for him. Your moment was interrupted by the loud sound of the door opening, through which a breathless Joyce rushed in.

"Y/n!" she exclaimed upon seeing you. "Oh Thank God!"

"Joyce!" you quickly got up and threw yourself into her arms. "I'm all right. I'm fine."

"I'm so happy, baby." she said squeezing you even tighter.

"This is Eddie." you said when you pulled away from her after a moment. "My boyfriend, I told you about him on the phone."

"Yes, I remember! Hi, Wayne, Hi Eddie." she greeted them. "The kids told me everything, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that."

"I am fine now." Eddie sent her a slight smile.

"Y/n, honey, I'd like you to see someone, okay?" she cupped your face. "This may come as a bit of a shock to you, but..."

"Where is she?" before Joyce finished her sentence a familiar voice reached you. In that moment, the world came to a standstill. Was it a dream? Did you really die during your last mission in the Upside Down and now you are in heaven? Is that why you are seeing him now? "My Little girl." Hopper's voice broke in mid-word. After the hell he had been through, he was finally home. He was finally with his daughters. Seeing how dazed you were standing motionless just staring at him, he approached you with a slow step not wanting to scare you. He realized that his sudden resurrection was a shock to you.

"Dad?" you whispered slowly reaching out your hand toward him, and he immediately grabbed it. He was there for real. His hand was warm. He was breathing. He was alive. Emaciated and down-at-heel but alive.

"It's me y/n. Really me." he said pulling you slightly toward him. When you were close enough he locked you in a bear hug.

"You are alive. You're alive." you began to repeat to convince yourself that what was happening was real.

"Yes, I am alive I am back. I will never disappear again, I promise."

Eddie Joyce and Wayne watched your reunion with joy. Neither of them dared to speak up to let you enjoy it to the fullest while sending each other tearful happy glances.

"Hi Wayne and... Eddie." he said looking toward the hospital bed as he moved away from you.

"Hi Chief." said Eddie hesitantly feeling his heart about to fail from nerves. He expected a rant that he should stay away from his daughter.

"Do you know each other?" you asked surprised.

"Your boyfriend occasionally liked to take rides with me in the police car." he smiled slightly and walked toward the bed. "Thank you for keeping my daughter safe, boy." he patted him on his healthy shoulder.

That day was definitely destined for miracles. That day you regained everything that was most important to you. You got your family back and swore to yourself that you would never again allow the loss of any of them.

183 notes · View notes

appeypie · 7 months

Note

Did you ever post that Komalink essay that was in your head

I saw you're one post and how you said Zora royalty crush on Link and I might be converted to that ship now 🤭

sorry this took me so much time to answer anon but I WILL GLADLY SHARE IT!!!!

my long awaited KOMALINK TRUTHER ESSAY!!

To start, I adore the parallels between these two... they're both coming of age in their respective cultures! and having a rough time of it, it seems..

They're both very close with their grandmas, though sadly Komali's has passed away... they both have sisters, too!! (or, for Komali, a sister figure. Medli acts very maternal and caring towards him throughout the game, even commenting on watching him grow up saying something to the effect of, "he's grown into a fine young rito, is this how a mother feels?")

Between the coming of age stories, the alive and deceased grandmas, the little and big sisters... they both mirror each other perfectly!!

Of course Komali is going through some major anxiety issues, understandably. link is able to help him through it, which is very sweet to see :)

Before and after finishing dragon roost cavern. I just love the insight this NPC gives us! after Link inspires the confidence in him, he gets so happy!!

At first it's easy to see it as him just simply looking up to link, and I'm sure it started that way, but it starts leaning into crush territory...!

.. EVERY conversation?!?!

Komali's name comes from "hikikomori" in Japanese, which refers to severe social reclusiveness. he seems to be a very sheltered boy who wouldn't have very many friends off island... so who could he be talking about hmm ??? who's the one guy we know he likes off island...? who he wont shut up about....????

There's also this dialogue from a random Rito NPC (sadly I don't have the game caps, but here's it from a text dump):

(If it's too hard to read, it says:

"We used to have such nice breezes blowing through here... Now the air is crazy. I'm positive the strange winds are a result of the wind god's anger. See, there's an important shrine below here that got broken...and now we're paying the price. What cursed luck...

We Rito cannot live without the wind. Before we take to the skies, we always go down and visit the wind god's shrine. That's the way it's always been.")

The Rito and the wind are intertwined... very fitting that the prince would fall for someone who could control it 🥺

And Yes !! LOZ has a pattern of having the Zora princesses fall in love with link...

Since the Zora evolved into the Rito in WW, they decided to mix it up and make it the prince!

We're at the point of this post where I'm out of Ship 'Evidence' and I'm now just throwing images from my files at you. I love this one at the end of the game where Komali is the first one to greet them coming back from what was left of Hyrule (also very exciting for baby me, who was a huge Komali fan)

Link just stares at him...

I also adore how this is the only ship I know where you get TWO!! Height differences. Hard to get a pic of them standing next to each other pre-Valoo scale, but you get the idea

Of course we don't fully know how Link feels about him, but I like to think he was a bit annoyed with him at first (as Komali was with him)... Like why couldn't this guy just suck it up and do what had to be done? It's what Link had to do for his family. But he realized Komali had gone through a huge loss, and his Dad was a little absent. He has this huge sense of duty placed over him, and not much support. Then once he got his confidence back, he was able to really shine! Link could see that!

I feel like I might be missing something, but that's the gist of why I love them so much! Foils that grow to deeply appreciate each other :) cute little themes like royalty falling for Link & the Rito's ties to the wind. they make me so happy. they don't get the attention they deserve tbh

#the legend of zelda #loz #link #prince komali #komalink #komali #wind waker #loz ww

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friendlyneighborhoodamara · 1 year

Text

What Your Favorite Zelda Ship Says About You (for the games I’m familiar with)

General:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent beauty of two souls coming together, again and again, through reincarnation after reincarnation.

Hylia x Hero: …see above. Also, you read the Skyward Sword manga.

Ocarina of Time:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You think classic Disney Princess movies are more feminist than given credit, and that Cinderella is more badass than she’s given credit.

Link x Sheik: You were absolutely fucking pissed to learn that you can only play as Sheik in Super Smash Bros. Also you are almost definitely some flavor of trans.

Link x Dark Link: Looking back on your childhood, you can pinpoint Ocarina of Time as the beginning of your crippling addiction to “Enemies to Lovers”.

(Child) Link x Saria: You really like Disney Channel movies where the popular kid’s girlfriend is nice to the loser protagonist.

Link x Malon: You just want good things for Link. And really, who wouldn’t? Also, you’re a horse girl.

(Adult) Link x Nabooru: Your favorite Champion is Urbosa.

Link x Ruto: You love the scene in Dragon Ball where Goku accidentally proposes to Chi-Chi but holds up to that promise when they’re adults.

Twilight Princess:

Link x Midna (MidLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent eroticism of getting dunked on.

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in keeping things canon and keeping things wholesome.

Link x Ilia (IliaLink): You believe that the Hero of Time settled down with Malon.

Midna x Zelda (Midzel): You hypothetically want a girlfriend who can kick your ass but realistically you just want to be bridle carried. Also, you read the manga.

Midna x Zelda x Link (Midzelink): Your solution to a love triangle is ALWAYS polyamory.

Midna x Zant (MidZant): Your AO3 history is about 50% Reylo fanfiction.

Zant x Ganondorf (Zandorf): You definitely got your start in the Star Wars fandom by writing Kylo x Hux slash fic.

Skyward Sword:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You have gotten into at least five heated Internet arguments about Skyward Sword being underrated. Also you cried at that ZeLink shot in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer.

Hylia x (Original) Link (Hylink): You cried at that other shot in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer of maybe Link’s metal arm holding maybe Hylia’s arm. Also you read the manga.

Link x Ghirahim (GhiraLink): You are still pissed Ghirahim wasn’t in Smash.

Link x Groose (GroosLink): Your mom told you that that mean boy on the playground pulled your hair because he likes you and you never let go of that.

Zelda x Groose (Zeloose): You are painfully heterosexual. Alternatively, you are Groose.

Breath of the Wild:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent romanticism of shared trauma and Knight x Princess dynamics.

Link x Mipha (MiphLink): Your ideal relationship dynamic is one-sided, tragic pining. Press F to pay respects.

Link x Paya (PayLink): You just want good things for Paya. And really, who wouldn’t?

Link x Sidon (SidLink): You’re always a slut for beautiful cinnamon rolls, too good for this world, too pure.

Link x Revali (RevaLink): You love the Tumblr meme that’s like “You want to fuck me so bad, it makes you look stupid.” Also, you think people are too mean to Revali.

Zelda x Revali (ZeReval (?)): You are heterosexual.

Urbosa x Zelda’s Mom: You are a strong supporter of two women who are sick of a man’s bullshit.

King Rhoam x Literally Anyone: You think Endeavor deserves a redemption arc.

EDIT: the sequel

#legend of zelda #what your favorite ship says about you #ocarina of time #twilight princess #skyward sword #breath of the wild #zelink

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dark-angel-of-muses · 10 months

Text

Went back to play Skyward Sword, and I'd like to do an appreciation post for how expressive Link is in this game. It's better in motion, they give him a lot of good acting, but even in stills you can tell.

Sleepy boy

Look how happy he is to see Zelda

Surprised and terrified

Look how sad he is! Lool at the framing of the camera showing how much he cares about Zelda!!!

They really let him be disgusted and terrified of Ghirahim. He is so ready to bolt if his friend weren't at stake.

He's so angry and disappointed when he finds Zelda again only to be told he's a failure that doesn't deserve to see her because he was too late.

I love how they animate him jamming on his harp, he gets so into every song, you can see how he enjoys dueting with Fi a lot.

Can't forget this absolute gem, where he clearly has no idea what the hell Zelda is talking about. Either that or he is so physically unable to take a compliment he just blue screens. Either way, love this goofy child.

The moment he realized Zelda is trying to pay penance by being locked as a living seal on Demise, the desperation in his face as he runs up to her. *chefs kiss*

And then when he realizes she's Gone. It's so heartbreaking, and you can tell he needs that second to collect himself before he turns his back on her to continue on his quest. The sound design and voice acting really helps elevate this too.

Also! How much he loves music!!! Every time a dragon sings for Link, he basks in it, he loves listening and playing music so much and it's a really sweet detail they convey entirely through his expressions.

Look at them laughing together! He's so happy!!

And the pure unadulterated Rage when Ghirahim steals away Zelda.

They gave him a nose crinkle texture!! And the added dramatic lighting. Ghirahim my boy you done fucked up!

How much you can tell he Hates Demise. Beyond the times he was angry at Ghirahim, this is a cold, determined willingness to kill this so-called God that just took away Zelda from him.

This bittersweet expression, where he has to say Goodbye to Fi. You can tell he's happy this is all over, but conflicted at having to lose his friend, especially since Fi is essentially just taking over for Zelda here in an eternal slumber.

And even without dialogue options, you know Link's answer when Zelda essentially asks if he'll live with her on the surface together. You can see it's a resounding Yes.

#skyward sword #legend of zelda #loz #muse rambles

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writingsofwesteros · 1 year

Note

Congratulations on the 2k followers 🎆🎆🎆🎆 you deserve that and much more 🎉🎊🎉🎊

(if you have time you could do another part 3 of HIS yandere/obsessive otto (and alicent) x inocente reader reader maybe she had twin boys in her last pregnancy (they are 5 years old) and she is pregnant again (otto's fault 😉) (also now helaena and aemond were born 💚😍) they and their children went to Laena's funeral Velaryon reader was a little excited to see her sister and nephews (and daemon) so that her children finally meet and be a family again, but daemon He warns her of the Hightower and how they manipulate her, in addition to being disappointed that she wears green instead of the red of her house, after that the scandal of the eye of Aemond is armed, for which the reader was left scared and confused by the attitude from rhae and alicent, when she talks to otto she tells him that she is betraying his family and he tells her that they are his family (with smut if you want 😉😋😋) (his kids are team green like their dad 💚) (all his children have dragons) (his children and Alicent are the best it's friends 😍💚) thank you.

AN: Hi, I hope you like it x

“Try not to run off.” You whispered into their ears as you gracefully stepped from the royal ship. Your slightly swollen stomach is on display in a beautiful, emerald dress that hugged at your figure. The sight of the Queen’s children close by your own warmed your heart; you knew they were safe.

“They seem to be getting on well.” You whispered up to Alicent who walked with you towards the outside viewing platform where the rest of the crowds awaited. “They do, are you glad about that?” Alicent hummed. “Of course.” You smiled brightly up at your dear friend before linking arms with her.

It only ever brought you happiness as you watched them play. Your twins eagerly follow their cousins. It was a heartwarming sight, you thought to yourself even at such a sad occasion. The sun was bright and shining beautifully; the emeralds you wore glittered as you began to walk towards your husband.

Your hand reached for his arm as you settled beside him. The conversation he continued with Corlys’ brother whilst his hand moved into your own. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Princess.” Vaymond nodded his head politely whilst your smile brightened. “And you too.” You whispered.

The sight of your uncle just out of reach had your eyes widening. “Excuse me.” You gently hummed. Your hand slipped from Otto before he could stop the exchange. “Uncle..” You called excitedly. Your smile wide and eyes so bright as you finally stopped in front of Daemon whose eyes had softened if only for a moment.

“I have missed you.” You softly whispered as you gently took his hand. “Apologies for your wife.” You continued as your sweet nature would allow. Oh, how Daemon wished he could be soft back. You were a darling truly…but you were swaying from the family so much. He could no longer trust you.

“I see you are wearing green.” Daemon hummed; his bright eyes moving over your body; catching your swollen stomach. He had seen your trio of boys with the Queen’s offspring too and hated to see what his family had become. “Oh, well, I like the colour.” You whispered so innocently.

He had to turn away. Gods, Otto had his claws so deep inside you. His seed too. It was disgusting. Daemon could hardly look at you. It was hard not to notice as you ducked your head. Unsure why everything was falling apart. “They have dragons,” You whispered out, hoping to peak his interest but Daemon only hummed.

The hours that followed completely ruined the family it seemed to you anyway. You could have watched with wide eyes as Aemond grabbed onto your hand. Your sweet boys had never left his side. A hand rested on your stomach as you moved to reach for Alicent whilst the hands of her father brought you against him.

“It would not be best to get involved.” He whispered into your ear. His hand moved up and down your sides as you continued to watch. Unknowingly to you, Daemon looked over and saw the embrace. Otto’s dark smile spread across his face as he locked eyes with the rogue Prince. Another dragon was on their side; in more ways than one.

“Let us leave, everything is fine now.” He whispered into your ear but you knew the words were lies. How could everything be fine now? But still, you followed him. You looked over your shoulder once more to see your boys crowding Alicent and you could only softly smile. They were precious.

Otto’s hand stayed on your thigh as he kept you impossibly closer. “I do not think it will be.” You finally whispered out. Those big eyes of yours full of worry as you looked up at your husband. He gently shushed you and guided you into the first private room he could find. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Your heart still raced; the sight you had just witnessed of your sisters stepping over a line that there was no coming back from. Otto gently cupped your face as your eyes locked together. His thumb brushing against your cheek. He gently rested his head on yours and you could feel yourself calming.

“I don’t know what to do…they are my family.” You began to babble out now as his fingers brushed through your locks. “Shhh…are we not your family?” Otto gently asked; his hand taking yours. You could only nod your head. You were family, of course you were..your precious sons. Gods, you couldn’t think straight.

“I do not know what to do.” You whispered up to him. Those big eyes of yours welling up with unshed tears. You gently placed the still clasped hands on his chest; above his heart as your mind raced still. “You do…you know what to do.” Otto hummed; his thumb brushing over your cheek.

“Our boys, they need you.” Truer words had never been spoken, you thought to yourself as your hands moved to his once more. “I know..I know that.” You whispered; chewing nervously on your bottom lip now. “Then you know the answer.” Otto hummed and leant closer to press a soft kiss to your forehead.

His arms wrapped around you and kept you closer. His head rested on top of your own for a moment. A soft smirk threatening to tug on his lips as you hummed happily into his chest. His hand still moved up and down your back; bringing you comfort as best he could. “There, there..” Otto whispered.

You hummed happily as you could be whilst your mind was still thinking of the other part of your family. “We should start to leave now.” Otto hummed; his fingers brushing through your hair once more. You looked up from under your lashes with a soft smile coming over your face as you leaned in.

Your lips lovingly captured his whilst Otto moved his hand to the back of your neck and brought you closer. Your noses brushed together as your fingers moved over his hair; deepening the kiss some more. His tongue brushed against your bottom lip for a moment as you gently pushed him against the wall in passion.

TAGLIST

@girlonfireice

#otto hightower x reader #otto hightower x y/n #request

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unusual-raccoon · 11 months

Text

Silver Son (Ch. 1) | by Unusual_Raccoon (JaceLuke)

for @greeksorceress

@livinginafantasysposts, @angelicpraxis, @bimyself06

Warnings: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Dark Jacaerys Velaryon, Blonde Jacaerys Velaryon, Jace is Daemon's Biological Son, Complicated Relationships, Political Alliances, Canon-Typical Violence, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Jacaerys Velaryon, Omega Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra), Episode: s01e08 The Lord of the Tides (House of the Dragon), Viserys I Targaryen Lives, Daemyra Have Disney Parent-itis = they died

Summary:

The startling death of both his mother and step-father leaves Lucerys reeling and taken to ward in the Vale. When his claim to Driftmark is threatened, he is left defenseless, with only an estranged elder half brother to call upon for aid: Jacaerys Targaryen - the prince of Dragonstone.

WC: 5,4K+

Ao3 Link

It began with a letter.

A scroll had arrived upon Dragonstone, to his ancestral seat, the seat inherited from his mother and bestowed upon him by the king. His grandsire had been benevolent, loving even, in his decision. In addition to retaining his mother’s seat upon Dragonstone, it was the King’s wish that he also take the family name.

Jacaerys ran reverent fingers over the practiced effete hand scrawled across the parchment.

To the Prince of Dragonstone,

I write to you in my time of need. The passing of our mother has been a time of great sorrow, which has only been worsened by my claim upon Driftmark being challenged by Ser Vaemond Velaryon. He believes himself to be more deserving of the seat and seeks to use our mother’s passing and my status as an Omega to strengthen his own claim. Had I closer kin to call upon, I assure you, this burden would be placed upon them and not you. However the enormity of your presence at the proceedings cannot be understated. Your support as my blood, our mother’s eldest male, and as the holder of our family’s ancestral seat would be invaluable. I am currently a ward of the Lady Jeyne Arryn in the Vale, any further correspondence should be sent to the Eyrie.

Your estranged yet hopeful brother,

Prince Lucerys Velaryon

The letter was passed to his sisters, Baela and Rhaena, who unsurprisingly read it together, their white-gold heads tilted together, lips moving in unison as they read.

He was certain if their father had yet lived, he would insist on Jacaerys wedding them both. As of yet, he had married neither.

“Gerardys thinks discretion is best,” Jacaerys informed.

“I want to know your thoughts.”

“He is in the Vale,” Rhaena began.

“And Jeyne Arryn hated father.” Baela added, “Write to him if you wish…”

“I doubt the Lady Jeyne will permit my letters to get very far.” Jacaerys concluded with a frown, resting his chin against a closed fist.

“Jace,” Baela called, voice beseeching, yet firm, her small copper hand framed over his, “he is your brother,” she looked briefly towards Rhaena with intention before turning back to Jacaerys, “and he is alone…do what you must and know that we will support you.”

The proceedings would be soon, no doubt. He would fly to King’s Landing, support his brother and return home before long. If only to honor their mother’s legacy.

“Ser Steffon,” He called, the knight had been loyal to his mother and Jacaerys had squired for him for a time when he was a boy. Daemon had trusted him.

“Please inform Maester Gerardys that we will be departing for King’s Landing.”

The older man gave a nod, and a curt, “my prince.”

. . .

It had been days since he had sent his letter and the lady of the Vale had been adamant in sharing her opinion on the matter.

It had been days and he had yet to receive word from his elder brother. Not so much as a single scroll from a raven. Nothing.

Days and he, himself, was now awaiting the proceedings in King’s Landing. A boy of four and ten, left to contest the claims of a landed knight of noble blood, alone. If the Sea Snake survived the wounds he sustained in the Stepstones, then mayhaps he’d receive some support. The whispers that floated around court were far from promising though.

Ser Corwyn of House Corbray had traveled with him at Jeyne Arryn’s behest to ensure his safety, though Lucerys was not so oblivious, he knew her motives in part. Aside from offering protection, should the proceedings conclude in a manner that was unfavorable, Lucerys would return to the Vale with Corwyn, with little else to protect him but his shared blood with House Arryn, and little to offer but his hand.

Corwyn was genial and handsome, a level-headed Beta with an adequate inheritance. Given the circumstances, should the worst come to pass it was the best he could hope for.

Vaemond Velaryon droned on about the storied past of House Velaryon, and if, perhaps the lecture were regarding anything other than the contesting of Lucerys’ claim upon Driftmark, he may have been moved by the impassioned words.

Misfortune was more than a friend to him, she was a lover, a cruel mistress - his grandsire, the King Viserys did not sit the throne. His hand, Otto Hightower and lady wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, did in his stead.

Hope was a diminishing thing.

He swallowed a breath and made his peace. Mayhaps Corwyn wouldn’t mind if Joffrey lived with them, Lucerys would hate to lose contact with his younger brother as he had with Aegon and Viserys when mother passed.

The doors to the throne room promptly swing open as a member of the Kingsguard heralds the arrival of something Lucerys had dared not dream of - hope.

“Jacaerys Targaryen, son of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone!”

It resounded through the throne room, clear and strong. A shiver bolted down Lucerys' spine, crackling to trembling, cold fingertips.

“The princesses Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, daughters of Daemon Targaryen!”

His chest constricted as three white-gold heads came into view. He came, he came, he came.

Dressed in the colors of their house, Valyrian steel upon his hip and sisters at his side, there was no denying his elder brother cut the image of the conqueror. His mother’s first born, her beloved Jacaerys, her silver son.

Envy and something warmer prickled in Lucerys’ belly as he witnessed his brother carve his way into the room.

It was a horror to face Alicent and her parade of snide silver-haired children, yet as Jacaerys and their cousins came to a halt silently by his side, Lucerys felt…bolstered. Unafraid.

He swallowed dumbly, too stunned to speak.

“Prince Jacaerys,” Otto Hightower began in his slithering way, “I was unaware you had been summoned to the proceedings.”

“As they do not concern you,” Vaemond Velaryon added pointedly.

“These proceedings concern my brother, ser, therefore they are indeed my concern. Do you intend to remove me from the proceedings, or am I no longer my father’s son?”

Sweat clung thickly to Lucerys’ nape.

Vaemond’s eyes darted to the dragon’s egg pommel of Dark Sister at Jacaerys’ hip.

“Indeed…you are.” Vaemond drawled.

Jacaerys rested an easy palm upon his sword - the sword of his true father. Lips tilted in the smile of someone who was well versed in their games.

Thank the gods, Lucerys thought.

“Be calm,” his brother said in a whisper, “all is well.”

Lucerys blinked up at his brother owlishly, as Jacaerys faced the likes of the greens with a steely expression, utterly statuesque.

“Continue, Ser Vaemond.” The Lady Alicent Hightower bade, though as he made to speak, the doors to the throne room were parted a second time.

And heralded was not only further hope, but the head of their house. The King.

Lucerys watched with a delirious sort of relief as the hand of the king slithered from the throne he coveted so dearly.

The death of both his daughter and brother had worsened the king’s rapidly declining health, and yet, the man appeared to fend off the Stranger time and again, if only out of spite.

His frail form hobbled across the throne room, short of breath. All seemed cowed by the appearance of their poorly sovereign. Yet, it was the prince of Dragonstone that stood tall with pride at the sight of him.

Every head bowed as the king passed, Lucerys discerned his brother’s silver head lowered in deep deference.

Their grandsire paused before the throne, breathing a labor and grip tight on the ivory dragon’s head upon his cane.

He soldiered up the first few steps before his footing grew encumbered by his weakened state, and his crown clattered to the floor of the throne room with a deafening clang.

Members of the kingsguard rushed to his side, yet Viserys denied their aid. Grip coiled so tightly upon his cane that Lucerys feared the handle might snap.

Lucerys wondered his elder brother’s thoughts on the matter, yet turned to his side and found Jacaerys…gone.

It was neither the king's own sons, nor his lady wife that stood beside him, but rather, Jacaerys. His brother had collected the King’s crown, and offered a hand to their grandsire.

To the surprise of all, Lucerys included, this was support he accepted. Viserys hissed and groaned in pain as he forced his decaying body and atrophied limbs to scale each step.

It was with Jacaerys’ aid that their frail king was lowered into his rightful seat, crown upon his head.

Lucerys watched as Jacaerys stalked to his side once more…blood rushed to his cheeks.

His brother’s scent wafted in a curious curl, the woodsy aroma white oak and the crackling sweetness of an open flame exacerbated the throbbing ache of his blush that burned upon his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

Their grandsire huffed upon the throne.

“I must…admit my confusion…” their grandsire began, the affable thoughtlessness of an old, sickly man, or so it seemed, “I do not understand…why petitions are being heard over a settled succession?”

The hazy memory of Driftmark’s white sands came in like the tide. His cold little feet tucked against the backs of warm knees, secreted away in a bed that was not his own. Hushed, giggling whispers, then frantic ones. Something had been stolen, something important. Pale hair so unlike his own stained more crimson than silver in milky moonlight, a single hefty stone caked wet with blood, a single eye slashed in defense.

Lucerys’ succession had been settled there, he supposed, he recalled very little of his youth.

Driftmark, Lucerys swallowed, was that the last time he had seen his elder brother?

Viserys’ voice pulled him from his thoughts, much like Valyrian steel, it seemed the aged and peaceful king had never quite lost his edge, nor wit.

Their grandmother Rhaenys was summoned forth, Lucerys had written to her as well, but her support had been just as uncertain as that of his illusory elder half-brother, Jacaerys.

Yet, when Rhaenys voiced Lord Corlys’ unwavering desire for Lucerys to inherit the driftwood throne, and came to the aid of her grandson above that of her good-brother, Vaemond began to unravel with a manic air about him.

“Well…” their grandsire huffed,“the matter is settled…again.”

“I hereby reaffirm Prince Lucerys of House Velaryon, as the heir to Driftmark, the driftwood throne, and the next lord of the tides.”

By his side, Jacaerys straightened with a satisfied smirk. His cousins - cousins Jacaerys had once defended - smiled upon his other side.

“You break law…” Vaemond began, voice awed, deepening with festering outrage, “and centuries of tradition to install your daughter as heir, hubris that the gods have paid you for, yet you would dare tell me who should inherit the name Velaryon?”

Lucerys gasped, a shaking hand pressed to his open mouth. Tears stung in his eyes, to invoke the memory of their mother in such a manner - his chest ached.

“No - I will not allow it.” The hoarse whisper of his voice sent tremors of icy dread down Lucerys spine. Subtly, he noticed Jacaerys’ grip curl white-knuckled upon Dark Sister’s hilt.

The irony of Vaemond’s arrogance and talk of hubris was not lost upon the young prince as every word was but a whetstone to a headsman's axe. Such was the irrevocable ego of a noble alpha, something he was certain his elder brother possessed.

“Allow it?” Viserys echoed in a rasp, the visible side of his face spasmed with rage and grief.

“Do not forget yourself, Vaemond.” Viserys reprimanded, gravitas in his voice.

Ser Vaemond whirled upon them quickly, a growl in his voice as he pointed to Lucerys.

“That-” a finger was held in accusation, a lance set to pierce, “is no true Velaryon! He is certainly no nephew of mine.”

Lucerys wished to shrink from the attention, but instead mimed the set of his elder brother’s shoulders, channeling the power of their blood.

Vaemond’s threat was met in kind as Jacaerys growled a warning, tangible, the single building flange of his subvocals said ‘Mind your waggling tongue, great-uncle, or I shall mind it for you’.

The sound was that of a young, powerful, and virile alpha. Lucerys felt his brain begin to grow heavy with responsive pheromones. The sweetness of vanilla and browned butter softened the air, the faint twinge of sourness like curdled milk betrayed his distress.

Jacaerys stared at the man, their supposed kin, with disdainful violet eyes and a tense jaw. A knight decades his senior, and his elder brother did not flinch.

The urge to tug upon Jacaerys’ sleeve became overwhelming, a reflexive motion that he had no memory of learning, but nonetheless it was a desire he felt compelled to sate. He felt an itch in his bones to anchor himself to his elder brother.

At the rate the petition was going, Lucerys would rather simply wed Corwyn Corbray and hand his claim over - it was only in his mother’s name that he fought.

She had been adamant throughout his life regarding his legitimacy, regardless of how greensick he got amidst the swaying of a ship, or the fairness of his skin, or darkness of his hair - he was a Velaryon.

“My house has survived the Doom, and a thousand tribulations besides,” Vaemond raged, tempestuous, “and I will not see it ended on account of this b-”

His lips pursed tightly as if to hold the word back.

Jacaerys did not hide the flash of pointed teeth then. Oh, but his brother was clever, forcing his snarling lips into a smile. Goading.

“Say it…” Jace challenged in a chilling whisper.

Lucerys could scarcely find his breath, his cheeks burned with mortification. He could feel the leer of a vindicated one-eyed gaze. The unspoken truth hung heavy in the air.

Bastard.

The rush of blood to his ears muffled all else.

“Your daughter was a whore, and her children are bastards!”

His brother’s scent thickened, more open flame than white oak as the king staggered to his feet with a growl.

Their grandsire tore his dagger from its sheath.

“I…will have your tongue for that.” The king demanded with bared, rotting teeth.

Lucerys’ hand shook, desperate for the finery of his brother’s sleeve…

He heard the scrape of steel being pulled from a scabbard. The whistling swing of it as it split the air. It happened quickly. Too quickly.

A wet slice, and the throne room echoed with cries of horror.

Ser Vaemond’s corpse slumped to the ground in two pieces.

The severed half of his head on one side, the motionless majority of his body upon the other. Betwixt the two pieces stood Jacaerys, Dark Sister in hand.

“You needn’t trouble yourself, your grace.” His elder brother said, reaching down with a twist of the blade before a wet hunk of pink flesh, oozing blood, was held between crimson fingers like a prize.

“Disarm him!” Otto Hightower demanded, yet the king merely held up a shaking hand to draw the swarm of Kingsguard to a swift halt; there was no ambiguity whom they served.

Jacaerys’ white-gold head lowered in deference as he cleaned the blade upon the velvet sleeve of his doublet. His sword returned to its sheath.

Lucerys felt bile burn in his throat as he stared at Vaemond’s corpse, utterly dazed. The overwhelming scent of iron flooded his olfactory senses; aside from Jacaerys, it was all he could smell, fire and blood.

He blinked and found tears in his eyes, his chest ached as he found the violet eyes of his elder brother; a stranger…

“Let this…stand as a reminder to those that would speak ill against the blood of House Targaryen…This proceeding is adjourned.”

The king declared, short of breath, expression pained.

Lucerys watched in horror as Vaemond’s head was plucked from the ground, held aloft in his brother’s fist; wet chunks of unspooled brains decorated the throne room’s polished floors like a great many wriggling worms.

As nobles and attending parties filed out, Lucerys had all but fled the throne room in a flurry of blue silks; some shades of aquamarine and seafoam to honor the Velaryon name, others in shades of sky blue to give thanks to his hosts in the Eyrie.

Thankfully, he discovered Ser Corwyn, who regarded him with a concerned expression, displaying none of the mania of Lucerys’ elder brother.

“Ready the horses,” Lucerys panted, steadying himself upon the proffered width of the knight’s forearm,“please.”

Corwyn’s hand was warm where it settled atop Luke’s fine little knuckles.

“Shall I fetch a maester, my prince, you look unwell-”

“Just the horses, please,” He hissed, “the sooner we might return to the Vale, the better.”

Corwyn’s gaze softened with what appeared to be fondness.

“Of course.”

Lucerys hurried to guest chambers provided to him within the keep, his face pressed between shaking hands. Gods, what had he done?

It had been a mistake to ever seek out his brother’s help. He sat upon the bed, head held in his hands - the image of Vaemond’s severed head swaying in Jacaerys’ grasp flashed behind closed eyes.

He flinched at a loud knock at the door, a shaking hand pressed to his ashen lips.

The image of pale hair stained more crimson than silver flashed through his mind.

“My prince,” a voice called, muffled through the door, “it is Ser Corwyn…”

“Ser Corwyn,” Lucerys echoed shakily, “enter.”

The Valeman offered a courteous nod, arms clasped behind his back, Lady Forlorn gleamed upon his hip.

“The horses have been readied, my prince,” Ser Corwyn informed.

Lucerys nodded shakily, “You have my gratitude, Ser Corwyn…” he uttered, “Your companionship has been…cherished in these times.”

The knight swallowed, standing a bit straighter. Betas had no scent to speak of, not in the way Alphas and Omegas did, but Lucerys discerned his words had the desired effect when his escort’s cheeks took a faint dusky hue.

“You honor me, my prince. Find me in the stables when you are prepared to depart.”

“Yes, of course.”

Not one to overstay his welcome, Corwyn departed, letting the door to Lucerys' chambers slide shut - yet it never did.

Lucerys gasped as he turned to find crimson fingers jammed in the door’s path, a figure garbed in the colors of their house slipped into the sanctity of his rooms soundlessly.

Jacaerys.

“I was wondering where you had gone.” His brother huffed, miraculously Vaemond’s head was nowhere in sight, which mayhaps was more disturbing a thought than if his brother was still carrying it about.

“The proceedings had concluded-” Lucerys began, pulse leaping hard.

“Aye,” his brother said, “And not so much as a ‘thank you’.”

Luke’s cheeks burned with a fierce blush.

“I- forgive me, of course, you have my thanks.”

His brother’s nose - mother’s nose, in fact, - curled in disapproval. He scratched idly at a speck of dried blood upon his cheek.

“You did not seem particularly enthused.” Jacaerys informed, with a dour turn of his lips.

Lucerys stared at his elder half-brother in disbelief.

“By your theatrics?”

“Theatrics?” His brother scoffed. The scent of white oak and open flames muddied his good sense.

“Yes, forgive me, Jacaerys, if I do not fall to your feet with gratitude - you have entirely sullied my claim to Driftmark with the murder of Ser Vaemond Velaryon.”

Mayhaps it was his grief that fueled the fire burning within him, mayhaps it was something more…

“I shall be remembered as nothing more than a kinslayer who spilled blood for a seat he did not even want… thank you, brother.”

“A kinslayer?” Jacaerys echoed, apparently amused, “let us speak plainly, he was not your kin, and you had no hand in his murder.”

Bastard, the word rang in his head.

“Do you truly believe the courts will see it as such? That they will believe that I had not commanded it of you-”

“Commanded it?” His brother laughed, “I do not think the courts view you as capable of commanding a dog.”

Lucerys let out an indignant noise. His jaw clenched to the point of pain. His words were unbefitting of an Omega, especially a prince, regardless of his outrage. He was to conduct himself with aplomb.

“I - perhaps you are right,” Luke said coolly.

Curiosity flashed in the violet of his brother’s eyes.

“I am…grateful for your presence at the proceedings today.”

Jacaerys’ brow furrowed slightly, disdainfully plush lips flattened into an unamused expression.

His brother took a step closer and Lucerys shivered, feeling as he passed into the sphere of his brother’s blanketing scent. The odor of white oak and sweetness of open flames saturated his palate.

Lucerys felt his spine begin to lose rigidly, the tight furl of his fists begin to wane.

His heart pounded faster, harder, lodged in his throat. Horror spread through him like a sickness as his wretched hindbrain poisoned him with pacifying pheromones. He knew little of his brother for certain, save that he was entirely mad.

His head lolled back effortlessly, white throat exposed. Reddened fingers reached for him.

“Do not, I-” He shuddered as the space between himself and his brother shrank too much, “I will…scream.”

Jacaerys paused, his expression neutral, had he remained placid Lucerys might have admitted that his elder half-brother was handsome.

“I am your kin,” Jacaerys said carefully, as if that might ease Lucerys’ worry.

It did not.

“There are many people in this very keep that are my kin, all of whom would gladly see me dead.”

His brother held up large placating hands.

“Luke,” he exhaled and it startled Lucerys how natural his name sounded upon his brother’s tongue, “I am not one of them.”

He swallowed. Telling friends from foe became increasingly difficult, even more so following the passing of their mother.

“Swear it,” Lucerys demanded, “Swear that you will not harm me.”

He stared at his brother, silver haired, Valyrian steel upon his hip - the antithesis of all that Lucerys was, and yet the same.

“Swear it up your father’s sword.”

His brother smiled down at the dragon’s egg pommel of Dark Sister…

“Is my presence in this wretched place not proof enough of my concern for you?”

Lucerys shook his head with a small sound, “For all I know you came today to secure Driftmark’s seat for one of your wives.”

His brother’s expression remained infuriatingly unreadable.

“I came only in support of my brother who needed me.”

“‘Tis very virtuous of you,” Lucerys replied with a small sneer, “Swear it now, that we might ally ourselves, and when you are in want of your crown in the future, know that you might pursue it with the Velaryon fleet at your back.”

Jacaerys smirked.

“Your proposal is sound…”

Luke nodded.

“Though, there is a way we might ally ourselves more…officially, in turn strengthening both your claim to Driftmark and mine to the throne.”

Lucerys narrowed dark eyes at his brother.

“How…?”

The scent of vanilla and browned butter melted into the air.

Jacaerys’ smile widened.

“Marry me” he said, as though it were the simplest thing there was.

Luke tensed, mouth hanging open.

“I - what?”

His brother stepped closer, but halted swiftly as if remembering Lucerys’ warning.

“Think of it - we could marry upon Dragonstone, none would oppose it. None would dare contest your claim or parentage without knowing my wroth. You would be spared the horror of being sold like chattel to the highest bidder, should you return to the Eyrie with that pretentious fool of a Beta. Marrying within our house, in a ceremony steeped in tradition, it would do well for your image,”

He patted the hilt of his sword, “A marriage is as binding as any oath…Were you my wife, I would allow no harm to befall you. You have gone too long without an Alpha. Too long without proper protection.”

Lucerys licked his lips, spine tingling.

“How is - I cannot imagine your wives are amenable to the idea.”

Jacaerys chuckled and oh, it was a pleasant sound that buzzed in his ears.

“I am unmarried. As are my sisters.”

Lucerys stared at his brother, as his aggravatingly handsome half-smile, the pointed peek of a canine visible. A speck of blood dried upon his cheek.

“I-”

Jacaerys stepped closer and Lucerys’ head swam with his scent, the lulling tide of pheromones that dampened his senses and dulled his shrewdness.

His brother was a stranger in truth, one that seemed too unpredictable to trust. Yet, Lucerys found himself in the weakened state of needing allies - powerful ones.

His brother held the dragon seat. His brother was the prince of Dragonstone. Their mother’s eldest son. Trained in the likes of history and swordplay in the North. He wielded Dark Sister. He was the blood of the dragon.

“Allow me to consider the matter further?”

His brother’s mouth twisted in a frown. His jaw flexed tightly.

“I- I have things in the Vale that I must think of,”

“Lovers?” There was the flange of an unrealized growl in his brother’s throat that turned his knees to liquid.

“No,” he huffed, “things of greater importance-”

“If they are important, I will have them brought to Dragonstone-”

“Gods, it is my dragon!” He cried out, “And my brother, my full-blooded brother. Joffrey.”

Jacaerys’ brow furrowed.

“I will not part with him - I will not.”

Joffrey had been through too much, he had lost too much. He refused to simply abandon him. He would sooner incur Jacaerys’ wroth himself, before leaving Joffrey behind.

His brother’s gaze stilled upon his lips and Lucerys felt the pump of his heart within his chest like a frightened hare.

“You will not.” Jacaerys echoed with deep meaning.

“Return to the Vale,” His brother instructed, “both are welcome home.”

Home… Lucerys thought, Gods, he hadn’t dared to dream of having one since the passing of his mother.

He wrung fine blue silks between damp palms.

“Jacaerys?” Luke called, throat tight, “why are you doing this?”

His body burned warm with the heat of that violet gaze upon his lips once more.

“Why help me?”

His brother offered a smile that softened his features and creased the corners of his eyes.

“I,” he paused, not one wont for hesitation, the mere hitch in his breath seemed significant, “I believe it is what our mother would have wanted.”

Lucerys sucked in a sharp breath. His vision waned and the unsteadiness of his legs threatened to give out. He braced a hand upon whatever he could reach - evidently, that was Jacaerys.

His fingers felt smooth velvet and the coarseness of dried blood - Vaemond’s blood, blood Jacaerys had spilled in hisname…

He clung to his brother’s sleeve, the motion was the burn of an itch being scratched to the point of pain and drawn blood.

The memory of High Tide returned in fractured pieces, the pair of them bloody, the left side of Jacaerys face was streaked red, Luke’s nose had been broken, his hand was clutched to his elder brother’s sleeve…

“Two weeks,” his brother murmured, breath warm and so very near Lucerys’ parted lips, “A fortnight from here to the Vale - no stops. Be sure to inform your pet, you have appointments to keep.”

Appointments, Lucerys thought dizzily, a wedding.

“I must consider it further, my departure from the Vale will crush Ser Corwyn,”

Jacaerys smiled, all sharp teeth, “Have care, I will crush him if he intends to deny your departure.”

Lucerys felt the incandescent swell of whine in his throat. His brother pressed him more firmly to his chest. Aquiline nose touching Lucerys’ temple. The scent of white oak and the sweetness of an open flame was all around him.

“He will not, he is an honorable sort. Not at all the kind of man to murder a knight unawares like a cutthroat.”

Jacaerys chuckled.

“Let him keep his honor,” His elder-brother hummed as Lucerys’ eyes fluttered shut, “So long as he does not keep you…”

His head swam as he was carefully lowered to a plush seat upon the edge of the bed within his chambers. The happenings of the day had drawn the vigor from him, his adrenaline fizzled dry in his veins.

“I have not agreed to anything,” Lucerys slurred, slumping in his brother’s arms.

We lived here once, he thought to himself, wrapped in his brother’s scent, together.

Yet, when he awoke, it was to an empty bed and a sore head and the flake of dried blood beneath his nails.

. . .

Jacaerys had answered the king's summons, pausing at the sound of fervent discussion and what sounded like the queen’s voice echoing from the king’s chambers.

“-the boy is entirely mad, Viserys. He was seen feeding Ser Vaemond’s head to his horrid dragon-”

Jace smirked to himself.

“Who has seen such things?” His grandsire asked.

“I- what?” The queen stammered.

“The guards reported he entered the dragonpit with Ser Vaemond’s head and exited the pit without it.”

“How do you know Vaemond’s head was fed to a dragon? Did you witness the act itself?” Viserys asked, a shrewdness about his words that made the queen hiss in frustration.

The doors to the king’s chambers were thrown open and the queen emerged, face bloodless at the sight of him.

“Your grace,” Jacaerys greeted with a nod.

He knocked gently upon his grandsire’s door.

“You wished to see me, your grace.”

Viserys eyed him behind the copious layers of fresh linen bandages. His grandsire gave a stiff nod and motioned for Jace to close the door to his chambers.

He seemed a smaller man, bundled beneath blankets, frail. Yet, there had not been a sight more powerful than his entry into the throne room.

“Sit.” The king bade, his liver-spotted head with its lank silver strands tilted towards an empty seat near enough to his own.

Jacaerys nodded and took his seat.

“The queen thinks me a monster,” He said, though the thought did not unsettle him, in fact, he took a great deal of comfort at the thought of Alicent Hightower fearing him. His grandsire coughed noisily into a kerchief.

“She speaks out of fear, many would given what you did today.” His grandsire said, a milky violet eye narrowed knowingly.

“I defended the honor of my house, of my brother’s name, my mother’s name. The man was bound for a traitor’s death given how he spoke to you.”

Viserys said nothing for a time.

“Were you not my blood you would be bound for the same, you know this.”

“Your grace-”

“Jacaerys,” His grandsire huffed in irritation, “you are the worst of them at times,” He murmured, remaining eye wet with tears, “their stubbornness, their entitlement, their restlessness, his brashness, his arrogance-”

His throat tightened and he shied from the bluntness of his grandsire’s words. Softening at the affectionate brush of aged fingers against his cheek.

“And yet, you are the best of him at times, loyal, brave, cunning…”

They lapsed into a raw, red silence.

“For the gods to take them both-” His grandsire inhaled a deep, shaking breath, “I am sorry, my boy, that we have not spoken sooner.”

A shaking hand settled atop his where it clung to the arm of his chair, “I could not condemn your actions, child. Let the hens at court cluck and gossip as they like about the matter, but what you say is true, you were defending your family; and the blood of the dragon runs thick. Worry not for the queen nor her ilk, do you understand?”

Jacaerys nodded, cheeks damp.

“Thank you,” Jace murmured, clutching tight to his grandsire’s hand as the elder Alpha nodded, his exhaustion clear in his every movement.

“You must swear something to me, Jacaerys.”

“Anything-”

“Be better than we were, dear boy. The loss of a parent is…dire. It wounds here,” his grandsire’s shaking fingers poked at his chest, at the three-headed dragon sewn upon Jacaerys’s doublet, “in the soul.”

“As grievous the loss, do not let it be the cause for any more… you have spent much time away from your brother, he may not say it, Jacaerys, but he needs you...and I speak with authority on the matter when I say, you need him just as well. Swear that you will guard one another, always, regardless of childish disagreements - swear that you will let nothing divide you."

Jace swallowed beyond the lump in his throat, found the taste of vanilla and browned butter upon his tongue.

He met his grandsire’s gaze, gripped their aged king’s hand in his with intention.

“I swear it.”

#my writing #jaceluke #jaceluke agenda #jacaerys velaryon #dark jacaerys velaryon #lucerys velaryon #jacaerys x lucerys #hotd fanfic

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liaa--qb · 8 months

Text

'The Viper and nightingale game '

[ Dark mean Aemond x strong niece] Part 4

chapter 4 : first heart break

Summary : Rheawina recalls her sweet and sour childhood moments. (We will go through their childhood memories )

( likes, comments and sharing would be appreciated🧡)

[ chapter 3 link]

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It was amusing how she should have been with Jace and Luke, her brothers, but here she was, the first to reach him. Aemond abandoned his punching for a moment but then picked up a decayed, hefty sword, using it forcefully against a large rock, his voice dripping with disdain. "Those lowborn fools had the audacity to claim that a boy without a dragon is like a eunuch—no manhood to speak of. These wretched bastards dared say this to me, the prince."

His sword strikes grew louder and more aggressive, unsettling Rhaewina, as if his cursing weren't alarming enough. Aemond rarely used such strong language in front of his elders or other people, but in private, he often vented his frustrations. Still, he had never been this crude in her presence or Helaena's.

She stepped closer, attempting to touch his arm with her gentle hand. "I told you not to take them seriously. Their words can't define you. You surpass them in every conceivable way. My mother has always told me that having dragons doesn't make anyone courageous. She loves me for who I am, regardless. You don't need to let their words consume you entirely."

Her soothing words did little to calm his fury, as his response made evident. "Huh! Easy for a lady whose sons both have dragons and get everything they desire without hesitation, unlike me"

His words stung, and she hadn't expected such a response, particularly about her mother, who was also his sister. How could he say such things? Yes, he was angry, but he had no right to speak ill of her mother. She fired back with determination, "What do you mean by that? I don't have a dragon either. I've never shed a tear in front of her because of a dragon. You excel in everything, yet you harbor jealousy toward Jace, Aegon, and the others. Why ? You're never content with yourself, and that's your issue. Don't speak ill of my brothers and mother"

Aemond replied with a mirthless laugh, recognizing something. "Of course, how could you understand...could you? You certainly can't."

She yearned to comprehend the meaning behind his words. What could there possibly be that she wouldn't grasp?

Though Rhaewina was just a child, her youthful heart imbued her with the belief that she could conquer anything, achieve anything. She had never regarded herself as inferior. Her age might pose some limitations in understanding certain matters, but she always tried her best, listened intently, and feigned comprehension when necessary.

Overflowing with eagerness, she implored, "What ?... What won't I understand? Please tell me. I promise not to tell anyone. I'll even share my secret with you. Please, just tell me !"

Aemond gazed at her, pondering for a moment before finally speaking, "Helaena. Helaena is going to marry Aegon. There's talk of it throughout the Red Keep." He looked downward, as though losing something.

Rhaewina was aware of this, but she couldn't discern the connection. "So what? I do feel bad for her, but they'll surely take care of each other with time. Don't worry about her; she'll be happy," she reassured.

Aemond interrupted her, his tone seething with frustration. "I don't want her to marry Aegon... I want to marry her. Aegon doesn't deserve her... he doesn't deserve anything he's getting. I'll take care of Helaena better. Even Jace was asked for her hand in marriage, not me. And Mother didn't even tell me about this. All these low, contemptible boys were taunting me..."

He paused, clenching his fists, his anger palpable. "They said I wasn't asked for her hand because I don't have a dragon. They claimed that a targaryen boy without a dragon has no manhood. That's why Helaena would never marry me. They all laughed, they all damn well laughed. How dare they? How can they even be alive after saying such things?" this almost came as a shout from his mouth.

Aemond's fists were red with anger, but for Rhaewina, everything came to a halt at that moment. Her little heart felt like it was on the verge of shattering. Tears welled up in her eyes. What she had just heard wasn't what she had expected. Aemond liked Helaena and wanted to marry her. This notion wounded her deeply, beginning to break her fragile heart. She didn't comprehend why this was happening or why she felt such anguish. She wanted to cry out loud, to reach out to Aemond, but she didn't know how to deal with this pain.

She simply hung her head, clutching her skirt tightly to keep from breaking down right there. She didn't want to reveal this vulnerability to Aemond, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to hold back her tears. They refused to be contained.

Aemond continued to pour out his anguish, oblivious to the fact that someone else nearby was also suffering. "I'm telling you, she would never be happy with Aegon," he lamented. "While Helaena and I would have been such a better match. She's lovely, so soft-spoken, an angel descended from heaven itself. Sometimes she shares these unique views that I find absolutely amazing. No one else understands, but I try to appreciate them just to make her happy. Aegon mocks her for it, you know? I understand that her thoughts are simply beautiful musings from her own world, but I love to indulge her and myself by calling her a dreamer just to bring happiness to her. She deserves happiness and nothing less.

She's a Targaryen princess, and I am a Targaryen prince. Our betrothal would have been perfect... so perfect. It would have helped us preserve our Valyrian bloodline's purity. Why can't anyone understand that ? They were even discussing your grandsire, the king, considering Jace for it. Why, and not me ?"

He turned to Rhaewina, his grip tightening on her shoulder as he continued, "Tell me now, why shouldn't I have Helaena just because I don't have a dragon? Why should everything I desire be handed over to someone else just because I lack a dragon ? The dragon has always been a dream for me, a symbol of power and our Targaryen heritage. I wanted it because I loved it, the thrill of riding and soaring high in the sky. But why has it become a necessity now? Tell me !". His beautiful blue eyes were full of anger and pain now, looking like they were becoming darker sec by sec.

Aemond, though for just a 10-year-old boy, had rough hands through cuts and training that now clung tightly to her delicate shoulders. Her tears refused to recede as he pressed her with these questions. She attempted to speak, but her words emerged as sobbing whispers, her voice trembling. "Yes, they are wrong, Aemond... I... I need to go for my dance lessons"

She couldn't endure any more of this conversation. She was on the verge of tears. Pushing Aemond's hand down, she hurriedly fled from the scene. Aemond, deeply saddened by his own predicament, was taken aback by her reaction. He watched her run away but couldn't muster any further concern at the moment. His own pain weighed heavily on him, reinforcing the belief that no one wanted to be close to him anymore. He resumed striking the rock with his sword.

*******************************************************************

Some days later :

In the days that followed, Rhaewina refrained from speaking to Aemond. She gravitated more towards her group of friends, silently finding comfort in the company of Felicia and Joyce. She was profoundly sad, a feeling she couldn't shake. It was astonishing that she even distanced herself from Helaena, her closest friend and dearest sister. The girls who used to be inseparable were now worlds apart, one engrossed in wedding preparations, and the other... well, call it jealousy. She loved Helaena deeply and cared for her, but after the incident, she needed some space. It was the first time she ever doubted herself. She wondered what Helaena possessed that she didn't. Perhaps it was because Helaena was older, or maybe it was something else. These thoughts gnawed at her, and it hurt her to think about how dedicated Aemond was to Helaena.

Many times during these days, she didn't even catch sight of Aemond with the boys during their breaks between training, a clear sign that he was with Helaena. While she sat with her friends and handmaidens. Her heart ached, thinking about how devoted Aemond was to Helaena.

As the wedding ceremony approached, many noble houses were arriving as guests. Even Maris and her sisters attended. Felicia, toying with her necklace, looked at Maris with excitement and asked, "Hey, did you see Prince Aemond?"

Maris replied irritably, "Yes, we went to meet Helaena, who was selecting her rings. I found Aemond there too. He was helping her with everything. I don't understand why ? When Helaena has handmaidens and other private maids, he's there with her the whole time, sticking to her like glue. What does he have to do with a girl's jewelry? The queen asked Aemond to escort me and my sisters to the hall and guide us for our first visit to King's Landing, but after the queen left, he told his servant to take care of that task and said he had to be with Helaena because it was important. She needed him"

Joyce couldn't help but laugh. "Maris, dear, he always does this with you. It's a bit sad. Maybe you should consider waiting for Prince Daeron to grow up."

This comment prompted peals of taunting laughter, even from Maris's sisters. Maris retorted angrily, "I'm not going to follow him around everywhere. Yes, I like him, but his attitude can be insufferable sometimes. What's with his arrogance? Being skilled with a sword and a Valyrian prince isn't that extraordinary. Even a commoner could outfight those Targaryen princes, wielding their Blackfyres and Dark Sisters. Didn't you all see how Ser Criston Cole easily bested Prince Daemon twice, despite the prince having better weapons and the famous Dark Sister that everyone raves about? Aemond doesn't even have a dragon now."

In a seemingly inconsequential moment, Maris's little sister Floris chimed in, looking perplexed. "But sister, he's not that bad. He once told me that I was quite pretty compared to other princesses he had seen when he visited us last time. He even bought me a rose when I couldn't reach it on a tall branch because, you know, I'm short."

Maris swiftly scolded her sister, giving her a playful hit on the back, saying, "Shut up! Stop interrupting me."

Joyce couldn't resist adding, "See, Maris, this is what happens behind your back. Poor you." Laughter echoed among the young princesses once more.

Despite the unfolding events, Rhaewina's heartache grew steadily. Maris's gossip only intensified her melancholy. She couldn't help but ponder why Aemond didn't see her as more than a friend. Why was Helaena, in his eyes, so breathtakingly beautiful that she felt invisible whenever they were together? Did Aemond find Helaena's dreams and fantasies more enchanting? Did he believe that Rhaewina might marry someone else? These thoughts gnawed at her, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to bear.Right now in her daydreams she was somewhere else.. lost in thoughts:

How much care is he taking of Helaena? Does Helaena know this? If so, why isn't she fighting with the queen to stop her marriage preparations with Aegon? I wouldn't have married someone else in any way if Aemond had ever cherished me like this. I would even fight for him. We would run away with each other to Pentos or the North if no one allowed us to marry. Aemond would definitely fight for me with everyone else because if he loves something, not even the Gods can take it away from him. We will live together far away in another beautiful palace.

Aemond would build a grand palace for me on my nameday. I would ask him to add more lakes and all types of pretty flowers there, even more than the Red Keep. He might be initially against the idea of having a huge bunch of flowers everywhere, but I would make him agree, as I always do. Our palace would be immense with white and rosy walls, large gardens filled with lakes and swans. It would be the most beautiful palace among all the kingdoms. He would keep me safe and bring me gifts daily, especially a necklace; I want him to give me a beautiful necklace. Later, if the Gods will provide Aemond with his dragon, he would take me far away from these boys if they tried to force me to marry any of them. I might ask Aemond to protect me by dealing with them on my behalf. Wouldn't it be right for me to be happy if he killed people on my behalf?

As a crown princess, it's wrong of me, but if other men hurt me, then it's right for Aemond to take action. I might be sitting behind Aemond on his dragon. Which dragon would Aemond choose? It should be more beautiful than Sunfyre. Aemond said he would love Cannibal, but that's too scary. I don't know what his obsession is with dangerous dragons like Cannibal and Vermithor. Last time, he was bragging about Grey Ghost... Eww, dear God! He should stay away from those huge, horrible-looking beasts. He's small, and they could harm him so badly. I dearly wish he gets a dragon like Syrax or Sunfyre, someone really slender and beautiful, if he's against hatchlings.

Her reverie was abruptly interrupted by Maris calling her name urgently, "Rhaewina... Rhaewina, our clown princess, are you listening?" Rhaewina reluctantly returned to the present, her eyes clouded with disinterest. "What, Maris?"

Maris rolled her eyes and continued, "They were telling me that you're going to marry Aemond. Is it true? Do you and Prince Aemond have feelings for each other? Did your favorite grandsire suggest this?"

Felicia couldn't help but join the conversation with a teasing tone, "Maris, you see, now you don't stand a chance. Even our clown princess likes Prince Aemond. Aemond, who barely talks to princesses, and is notoriously difficult to approach, liked Floris more than you. He'd probably ask his favorite little brother Daeron to marry Floris instead of you now"

Maris's irritation was palpable, and she responded sharply, "Felicia, shut your mouth. I'm not desperate to marry any prince, especially a dragonless Targaryen prince. Prince Lucerys might be little clumsy and small, but he still has his dragon. It's a disgrace if Aemond never acquires one. What's the point of his marriage then? He's the second prince, after all. I, on the other hand, have Blackwoods as an option."

Maris turned her attention to Rhaewina, her tone more serious, "Tell me, Rhaewina, are you planning to marry Aemond? Is that right?.. I would advise against it. Why don't you consider Jacaerys? You Targaryens have your customs, right?". After a pause while looking at her friends she continued " I'm just saying that if you wanted to stay within your house... I mean, you and Jacaerys would be a suitable match. Even Lucerys, perhaps. They seem more like your type, don't you think?"

The others in the group nodded and chimed in with agreements, sharing a small giggle. Rhaewina, although dying inside, pretended to go along with the conversation, wearing a fake smile. She had to keep up appearances, even if it meant hiding her true feelings. "No, Maris, you're absolutely right. While I might have considered Aemond at some point, I don't see it now. I think you've made a valid point. As for my brother Lucerys, I can't say, but I'm open to other possibilities. Don't worry about Aemond; he's just preoccupied with Helaena, his dearest sister. I care for her deeply as well, which is why he's probably not able to spend time with you. I also know that Aemond cares for you, and someday, you two might find happiness together. After all, our queen holds House Baratheon in high regard, even more than the Lannisters and Strong."

As she uttered these words, Rhaewina couldn't believe how she managed to speak so convincingly, concealing the turmoil within her.

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