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wandamaximoffsbadgirl · 2 months

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Let's Talk About That Chapter 8

Psychiatrist!Avenger!fem!Reader x Wanda Maximoff

Summary: The team discusses what to do about Thanos

Word Count: 3.1K

Warning: Mostly angst, but some fluff too!

A/N: Writing through Infinity War has been a hell of a journey and I still have more to do!

"Hello secretary." Steve said to the hologram of secretary Ross as we entered the compound. You held Natasha’s hand with Wanda and Vision behind you.

"You have some nerve coming here." Secretary Ross spoke.

"Looks like you could use some of that right about now." Natasha stated bluntly.

"The world's on fire and you think all's forgiven?" Ross asks Steve.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness and I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender so we're here to fight and if you want to stand in our way then we can fight you too." Steve stated to Ross who turned his attention to Rhodey.

"Aresst them." Ross said.

"Will do." Rhodey pushed the holograms effectively ending the virtual call.

"That sounded like a court marshal." Rhodey stated flatly before smiling. "It's good to see you Cap." Holding out his hand which Cap shook. Then Natasha let go of your hand giving Rhodey a hug.

"Well you guys all look like crap." Rhodey jokes and you let out a chuckle.

"You should have seen the other guys. I got there and they ran with their tails between their legs." You told him a big smile on your face.

"Went all power stone on then didn't you?" You nodded, earning a hair ruffle from Rhodey.

"Of course they were hurting people I care about." You looked back at Wanda and Vision with a smile. "No one gets away with hurting the people I care about."

"I think you guys look great." You hear as you turn your head to the familiar voice of Bruce. Natasha doesn't move, but you do, running up to hug him.

"Missed you big guy. Both of you." You say as he picks you up.

"Missed you little lady."

"Hi Bruce." Natasha speaks and you let go looking back at her. The faintest smile in the corners of her lips.

"Nat." He does a nod of his head.

You run back over to Tasha. "Go." You whisper through your teeth. She shakes her head ever so slightly. "If I did it you can do it. Go." You move behind her and push her. Making her stumble forward, Bruce catching her as you move back next to Wanda and sigh. "Young love...or old...I'm not quite sure anymore with those two." You state to the now red head, last you had seen her Wanda still had brunette hair.

As you glanced back at Natasha and Bruce, a sense of hope flickered within you, a reminder that even amidst chaos and uncertainty, love and connection could endure, serving as a beacon of light in the darkness.

When Vision is taken by Bruce to be examined and Nat talks with Steve, Rhodey, and Sam, Wanda pulls you away into the compound. You trail behind her, relishing in the way her hand feels in yours. You had missed how it felt; almost forgot how it felt actually.

You don't realize it until she opens the door that she's taken you to your office. She looked back at you and gave a small smile as she sat on the couch like she always used to. You walk to your desk, seeing everything as you had left it. Your notebook for Wanda sitting there. You smile, picking it up along with the red pen you always used for her notes, testing the pen to make sure it still works.

You move back over sitting across from her, clicking your pen as you look at her over your glasses.

"Are you happier with her?" Wanda asks, making your throat dry up instantly. It felt hard to swallow, hard to breath.

"Don't make me answer that." You manage to say.

"Why? 'Cause it's true?"

"You know it's not. I love Natasha. Truly I do, but I'm not happier with her. The only thing that makes me happier is knowing she's made me a better person for you if you can ever give me a second chance and if not. I'll settle for her." You tell her flat out, putting your feelings out there. "My heart has always been yours."

"Does she know that?"

"Of course she does. She's not stupid." You respond with a slight bite to your words as you write in your note book.

Feeling a need to lay bare the depth of your feelings, you flipped through the pages of the notebook, searching for a particular entry. As you found the right page, you turned the notebook toward Wanda, revealing a love note you had penned after she returned from Lagos, a moment etched in my memory where she broke down, finding solace in your arms.

The emotions spilled across the page, a raw expression of love, hurt, and comfort. You saw the reflection of those sentiments in Wanda's eyes as tears glistened, capturing the spectrum of her feelings in a poignant dance of colors. The room held a heavy silence, interrupted only by the quiet sobs that reverberated between the two of you, bridging the gap between past and present.

"You took my hurt away...?" Wanda's voice was soft, laced with disbelief and a hint of wonder. You nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of your actions settle heavily on your shoulders.

"I know I said I'd never do it without your permission, but I had to take some of it. I could see it overtaking you. It was bitter and tasted like bile," You explained, a shiver coursing through you at the memory. "You know I don't like eating emotions, especially negative ones."

Wanda nodded in understanding before rising from her seat, crossing the space between you until your knees touched. Her touch was gentle as she cupped your cheek, coaxing you to meet her gaze. You hesitated, but her commanding tone compelled you to look into her deep green eyes, the same eyes you had always found solace in.

"Hey. Look at me," she urged softly, her voice carrying a mixture of warmth and familiarity. You met her gaze, feeling a sense of calm wash over you as your eyes locked.

"I missed the fuck out of you. I was upset with you about that jealous outburst, but you were just a kid still, and I forgot that along the way because you're you and so smart and mature," she confessed, her words washing over you like a soothing balm. You leaned into her touch, finally allowing yourself to relax in her presence.

"I'm sorry for what happened to us two years ago, Y/N," Wanda apologized, her voice laced with genuine remorse. You smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her hand in response.

"I'm sorry too, Wanda. If it hadn't been for those stupid accords..."

"We don't know what could have or would have happened, Y/N, and we shouldn't dwell on that. All we can do is move forward and see where that takes us," she reassured you, her words resonating deeply within you.

You nodded in agreement, pulling her into a tight hug, reveling in the familiar warmth of her embrace. As you buried your face in her neck, you breathed in her intoxicating scent of vanilla, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. Opening your eyes, you saw the telltale red aura surrounding her, a manifestation of love and passion that stirred something deep within you. With a smile, you allowed yourself to fully embrace the moment, knowing that your journey forward held endless possibilities.

"Vision and I have a connection through the mind stone, and I do love him just like how I know you love Nat. What you and I had, I will always hold close, but I can't just leave Vision," Wanda's words cut through you like a knife, each syllable piercing deeper into your heart.

You struggled to find a response, your mind reeling with a mix of emotions—heartache, disappointment, and a lingering sense of resignation. Before you could gather your thoughts to form a coherent reply, Tasha's voice interrupted the heavy silence, drawing your attention to the doorway where she stood.

"Figured I'd find you two here. Time for a meeting on what we're going to be doing," Tasha announced, her presence offering a temporary respite from the weight of the conversation.

You stood up at Tasha's words, leaving Wanda behind in the office. Tasha pulled you close, her kiss on your cheek a fleeting reassurance amidst the turmoil brewing inside you. Her whispered question echoed in your ear, and you offered only a small shrug in response as she wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"We'll talk later, okay?" You assured Tasha, and she simply nodded in understanding as Wanda joined you, her presence feeling like a heavy weight on your shoulders. You didn't pay much attention to her, but you noticed Tasha's subtle glance back at Wanda, a silent warning simmering beneath the surface of her gaze. If looks could kill, Wanda would be dead from whatever Tasha had conveyed in that single glance.

"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Bruce asks, his tone laced with concern as he scans the room for answers.

"And they can clearly find us," Wanda reminds the group, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

"We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint?" Bruce inquires, his gaze sweeping the room for any sign of the absent Avenger.

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families. They're on house arrest," Nat explains to Bruce, filling him in on the latest developments.

"Who's Scott?" Bruce's confusion is palpable as he seeks clarification.

"Ant-Man," Cap offers, providing the missing link.

"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?" Bruce's incredulity is evident as he processes the information.

"Look, Thanos has the biggest army in the universe... and he is not gonna stop until he gets..." Bruce's voice trails off, his gaze shifting between Vision and you, hesitating to voice his next words. "Till he gets those stones," he finally concludes, pointing at the two of you.

You feel a surge of anxiety grip you as Bruce's words sink in. Tasha, sensing your unease, moves closer to Bruce, her protective instincts kicking in.

"Well then, we have to protect them," Tasha declares firmly, her eyes darting between Bruce and you, a silent vow of defense.

"No, we have to destroy them," Vision interjects, his tone resolute and unwavering.

You can't help but chuckle at Vision's suggestion, though the humor quickly fades as the gravity of his words settles over you.

"Ha! No. Hell fucking no. I don't plan on dying, or did you forget I said that? I will die without the stone," You retort, your defiance clear to everyone in the room, especially Vision.

"I've given this a great deal of thought, Y/N. I do not say it lightly, but if he does get his hands on these stones... especially yours, he'll be unstoppable," Vision insists, meeting your gaze with a solemn intensity that sends a shiver down your spine.

You struggle to catch my breath, the weight of Vision's words bearing down on you like a suffocating blanket. Your hand instinctively reaches for your chest, as if seeking reassurance from the stone that rests within you.

"I've thought about the nature of my stone, along with yours and some of the last words you said while we were allies. Knowing what your stone is capable of. We must destroy them and I think if they were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source," Vision explains, his voice tinged with determination as he approaches Wanda.

You rise from your spot, brushing off Tasha's attempt to stop you, and step closer, feeling Wanda's eyes flicker to you before returning to Vision, who gently places his hands on her arms. "Something very similar to their own signature perhaps," he continues, his touch reminiscent of the way you used to hold her, though his hands are much larger than your own. "Its molecular integrity could fail."

"Yeah, and both of you with it," Wanda responds, her gaze shifting between Vision and you. "We aren't having this discussion. It's too high a price to lose both of you," she declares firmly, trying to contain her frustration.

Vision's hands move to Wanda's cheeks, holding her gently, but she steps away from him, her resolve evident. You move closer to her, feeling the tension in the air thickening.

"Y/N, don't," You hear the tremor in her voice, the raw emotion threatening to spill over.

You bite the inside of my cheek, grappling with the gravity of the situation. "Wanda," You address her firmly, reaching out to grasp her shoulder. "If you refuse... I will take Vision's stone out of his head because I know I can, and I will personally crush it, and then my own if that is our last resort," You declare, your tone unyielding. "And I will do it in front of you," You add, squeezing her shoulder for emphasis. "I don't say this lightly because I'd rather not die. I personally think that between the three of us we can take him down, but if you won't do it, I will," You assert, speaking with a deadly seriousness before returning to your spot, your heart heavy with the weight of your words.

"I won't entertain the idea of trading lives," Cap asserts firmly.

"Seventy years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people?" Vision responds, his voice carrying a weight of history. You tune out their exchange, feeling a sense of unease settling over you. You lean forward, pulling Tasha back to you, seeking comfort in her presence. Wrapping your arms around her waist, you settle her between your legs, resting your chin on her shoulder as you gaze at Wanda. Regret and guilt weigh heavy on your heart, and you grip Tasha tighter until she makes a small noise of discomfort. Quickly, you release your hold, whispering an apology.

"Sorry..." You murmur softly, your voice barely audible.

Tasha responds with a gentle pat on your arm, understanding in her touch. "It's okay, Y/N," she whispers back.

As Bruce delves into an explanation about Vision's complex composition, your brows furrow in confusion. "What?" You whisper, turning to Bruce. "How did I not know there's parts of me in him?" You ask, bewildered by the revelation.

"Tony put everything of you that Jarvis collected over the years of your sessions," Bruce explains matter-of-factly.

"Good to know my sessions were private," You mutter sarcastically against Tasha's shoulder.

"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda interjects, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there is still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts," Bruce elaborates, prompting a moment of contemplative silence.

"What about me?" You inquire, releasing Tasha and standing up once more, your emotions bubbling to the surface. "You told me years ago that this stone is attached. It's wrapped around my lungs and my heart. If we take it out of me..." Your voice cracks, tears spilling down your cheeks. "I will die," You confess, your vulnerability laid bare for all to see.

Bruce places his hands on your shoulders, offering reassurance as you struggle to maintain composure. "I've thought about it a lot over the years, and I was thinking maybe, similar to Tony, we could do an open-heart surgery. Open you up and basically cut away the tendrils that the stone has put around your heart and lungs. Take the stone out and put an arc reactor in its place to keep you going," he suggests, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"D-do you think we can do that?" Tasha's voice quivers with fear and concern.

"Not me. Not here," Bruce replies solemnly, withdrawing his hands as you retreat back to Tasha's embrace.

"Well, you better find someone and somewhere fast," Rhodes interjects, breaking the somber atmosphere with a practical reminder.

"I know somewhere," Cap offers, his voice cutting through the tension with a sense of urgency.

As you holed yourself away in the small room of the Quinjet, facing the wall to hide your tears, the weight of your emotions overwhelmed you. Sobs wracked your body, your throat burning with the effort to contain your grief. In moments like these, you longed for the ability to numb your own emotions, to escape the pain that threatened to consume you.

A knock at the door startled you, and you called out for whoever it was to go away. Despite your plea, the door opened, and you tensed, expecting Tasha's presence. Yet, as the cot beside you shifted, you realized it was someone else. you didn't dare look, even when I felt soft lips press against the back of my shoulder, and tears dampened my shirt.

"I can't lose you," came the whispered confession, confirming your suspicion that it was Wanda behind you.

"Why not? You have Vision," you replied, your voice strained and cracked from crying.

"I do, but I don't want to lose you. You're too important. I meant what I said," Wanda insisted, her arm tightening around you as she pulled you closer.

"It's too high a price," she added, sending a shiver down your spine. You reached out, placing your hand over hers, and then turned to face her, allowing her to pull you into her embrace.

"Come here," You whispered, giving in to the flood of emotions as you cried in her arms. "Wands, I don't want to die... I know we're Avengers, but I'm terrified of death," You confessed, your tears flowing freely as she rubbed your back in a comforting gesture, mirroring the care you had shown her countless times before.

"I won't let that happen. I promise," Wanda whispered soothingly. "Just rest for now. We'll be in Wakanda soon enough, and I don't want you thinking about it anymore."

Looking up at her, you found the courage to ask something you had never asked before, a desperate plea born out of fear and desperation. "Can you take it away? Can you make me forget it?"

Wanda cupped your cheek, her touch gentle yet determined as she searched through your thoughts, sensing the depth of your distress. With a nod, she moved her fingers to your temples, her crimson tendrils reaching out as you closed your eyes, surrendering to her power.

"Shhhh, don't worry anymore, Detka... rest now," were the last words you heard, and you swore you felt her lips brush against yours before sleep claimed you, offering temporary respite from the weight of your fears.

#ley speaks #ley writes #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #wanda x you #natasha romanoff #natasha x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff smut #natasha romanov #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff fluff #wandavision #wanda maximoff fluff

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lovemebutleavemewild · 9 days

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Leave it to the land - Chapter 7

The world has ended, it's over—except some people can't seem to accept that. Those same people think the cure lies in people like you and your little sister. And they're willing to do anything to find it.

The road to safety is a long one, and you're about to learn that it isn't one you can walk alone.

Read it on ao3

Tag list: @elentiyaiswriting @sxnshinebxcky

"This wasn't part of the plan, Gaz."

Kyle rubs his hands over his face for the hundredth time but Ghost doesn't relent.

"You were meant to get on the inside and see if they were making any strides with research, not invite them all back to one of our fuckin' safe houses."

"Yeah, well things went a bit tits up, didn't they? It took them a while to warm up to me and then the place got overrun. But Ghost, listen-"

Kyle lowers his voice and takes a step to close the distance between them, which isn't hard— he’s got them crammed into what looks like a linen cupboard and it’s cramped enough as it is.

"They are making progress, alright? More than we were managing-"

"Easy to do when you don't care if the people you test on live or die," Ghost gripes.

"You don't think I know that?" Kyle shouts,then stops, taking a breath and visibly calming himself.

"I know how they do things isn't right, but our lot weren't getting anywhere, alright? Not for months." Kyle looks wild-eyed now and Ghost reaches out a hand, shaking his shoulder roughly. That seems to help, seems to ground him slightly. He takes a deep breath and looks steadily at Ghost

"He's not going to test on humans, Si. We were able to take enough of his samples and equipment and he's going to finish his work without all that. He's going to find a cure."

He looks at Ghost fiercely, as if daring him to disagree. Simon, looking down at him, feels pity for his friend. But he also feels ... something else.

"So … that's not why you told her and the kid to come here?"

The pain on Kyle's face is answer enough.

"I'd never do that, never. Fuck, Ghost."

He turns away, running his hands through his hair again. After a few minutes, he looks up, looking even more desperate than he did before.

"You believe me, don't you, mate?"

And he does. But then he looks up at the ceiling. You'd been convinced to hang around, at least for the night, and you'd silently accepted Kyle's offer that you and Dot take his room, while he slept on a sofa downstairs.

"I believe you, mate. I’m just not sure she's going to believe it, mate."

And Gaz' silence is evidence enough that he agrees.

“Everyone pitches in here. That's how it works, no exceptions.”

It's the guy from the roof, Jeremy. He speaks flatly, with dislike in every syllable. Ghost doesn't mind, he's well used to people not liking him.

Except, strangely enough, you don't seem to dislike him as much now. You'd sat next to him this morning, at breakfast,which had been served in one of the other barns, squeezing Dot between you and the wall. Neither of you spoke but it was still the most civil meal you'd had in your time together.

After breakfast, when the room had emptied, you'd been approached by Jeremy. He'd felt you tense up as soon as the man sat across from you, which made sense, considering his eye was still swollen from where you'd hit him. Ghost smirked under his mask—you really had got him good.

“If you're staying, we'll assign you a job, based on your skills. We're trying to get set up to be totally self-sufficient here—running water, vegetable gardens, livestock. And, of course, we need round the clock security.”

He glances at Ghost, then quickly away.

“Kyle's already told us about you—you've been assigned to help there. But you,”

He looks at you and his mouth twitches up at the sides cruelly.

“What can you do?”

You tense up even more, then tilt your chin up.

“You don't think I'm up for doing security? I'm pretty good at holding my own.”

You look at him pointedly and Ghost huffs out a laugh. Jeremy flushes.

“That was a fluke,” he hisses. “You came at me from the side, I wasn't even looking in your direction.”

“Good thing the tier fives always announce themselves before they attack, then,” you say sarcastically.

Jeremy stands up, slamming his hands down on the table. To your credit, you don't flinch, just crane your neck back to keep eye contact.

“You're on security.” He jabs a finger in Ghost's direction, without looking away from you.

“You're on kitchen duty. Food prep.”

He leans in close, face a few inches from yours.

“And don't forget that you're working to feed two.” His eyes flicker to Dot for a second, then back to you. You're rigid now. He taps his hands on the table again, lighter this time.

“No slacking. Kitchen in 10 minutes. You find Kyle.” He points at Ghost and walks off.

“Dick,” you mutter and when Ghost laughs again, you almost smile. Almost.

You don't find another opportunity to smile all day.

The woman in charge of running the kitchen, Maureen, informs you that, with their “new arrivals”, their numbers are at over 50, with meals for all of them being cooked in the kitchen in the main house. That means there’s a lot of work. For both of you.

She's nice enough, gives Dot a brownie and sits her at the table with some sheets of paper to draw.

“This is just for today, y’hear? There’s a bunch of other kids running around here for you to play with. Some folks run classes for them during the day too, to keep them outta my kitchen. But just today you can stay close to your mom.”

“She's not my mom.” That shouldn't hurt, when Dot says that but for some reason, it does. You laugh it off.

“I'm not that old, even if I feel it sometimes. And I think I am here to stay so put me to work!”

You're doing your best to have a can-do attitude and Maureen is nice enough not to laugh at you.

She’s a big talker, jabbering away as you work, you cutting vegetables while she hacks apart a chicken at the table behind you. As it goes, it takes a while for you to get a word in edgeways.

“So, what was this place? Before the visitors came, I mean.”

“Safehouse. For members of the wider 141.”

“141?” you ask.

“You know, your man's unit. Old unit now, I suppose.”

“My m-, you mean Ghost?”

She nods.

“He was an original member, of course. Causing quite the stir, having two members here, I don't mind tellin’ ya’. Plus, Kyle spoke very highly of you at the meeting this morning, from what I’ve heard.”

Your head is spinning.

“Okay, I’m going to need you to explain this to me like I'm five years old. Please.”

You hear her put her knife down and turn around to find her watching you carefully.

“You really don't know?”

You don't know what it is you're supposed to know, which amounts to the same thing, so you shake your head.

“Neither of them told you? Huh.” She appraises you again, pursing her lips, then strolls around the table to lean against it, arms folded.

“The 141 were a military unit before all this happened. They were called in to help control the situation, back when the outbreak happened, but by the time they got back from overseas, that was impossible.”

You nod, following so far.

“They travelled to the main testing centre, I'm assuming to get some idea of what was going on, and when they got there, they were asked to help secure the testing centres, which they did for a while.”

She stresses this last sentence, seeing your lip curl.

“After a while, they started to disagree with how things were bein’ run. What they were doing to the people there-”

You don't know if you imagine her glancing at your wrist, where your tattoo is just visible. You fold your own arms.

“Anyway, they cleared out and started a new programme, still focused on finding a cure, just with different … different methods, I guess you could say. Some a’ the doctors there went with ‘em and this original crowd weren't very happy about that. Don't reckon they'll be happy that we've got a few more on our side now too.”

She glances out the window suddenly.

“Probably for the best your man got here. I got a feelin’ people here are gearing up for a fight—somethin’s brewin’ alright.”

“Argyle isn't on our side. Your side,” you correct. “He's evil, pure and simple and if he's pretending otherwise, it's only because he thinks there's something in it for him.”

Maureen raises an eyebrow.

“People do change, y’know.”

“Not that much,” your retort.

She looks at you for another second, then nods.

“Well, you're entitled to your opinion. Lord knows, I won't try and change it. And if Kyle says you're a good’un, I'll take that to the bank. Good boy, he is. Good head on his shoulders.”

She looks sideways at you, suddenly shrewd.

“He, uh, he know about you and Ghost? Is that why y’all argued?”

You feel your face heating.

“There is no me and Ghost,” you splutter. “We met Ghost and he wanted to find Kyle—I was just … just showing him the way.”

It sounds pathetic even to your ears, but Maureen just hums.

“Whatever you say, darlin’. I sure as hell won't try and change your mind on that neither.”

Dinner is served in the same room as breakfast and you and Maureen are expected to serve it.

“We’d usually have more help but the other girl is sick today,” Maureen tells you in an undertone. “Once we're done here, you're done for the day. There's another crew that does cleanup.”

The last hour of your shift passes in a blur. You dole out bowls of food, keeping one eye on Dot. Maureen had parked her at a table of kids around her age but the whole time you watch her she doesn't say a word. You're not sure what’s worse: the idea of her becoming comfortable around people her own age, with all the risks that come with trusting strangers, or the idea of her not being comfortable with anyone, ever.

When you're done, you hover, not sure whether to pull her away so the two of you can sit alone or not. While you're deciding, you accidentally catch Kyle's eye. He's looking at you from across the room and when you meet his eyes, he makes a gesture, like he wants you to come over. You recognise the back of Ghost's head from where he sits across from him.

You turn your head away, just in time to see that Dot has started talking to a girl sitting next to her. You haven't seen her speak to a kid her own age in years.

You stare for a second more, then plop yourself down at the closest table to eat your dinner alone.

#read on ao3 #fanfic #simon ghost riley #zombie #alternate universe #call of duty #john soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #original character #simon riley x reader #leave it to the land

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fueledbysano · 1 year

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𝟎𝟏𝟐 | Don't Let Me Go

summary: while in the middle of a deeply personal mission in her hometown, [ Y / N ] recalls the night of her runaway. Mikey unknowingly initiates a big deal in their relationship. Takemichi encourages Moein to meet the two.

content/warnings: this story contains major Tokyo Revengers manga spoilers, canon divergence setting, tenjiku arc setting, comfort, fluff, angst, detailed writing of violence, weapons, blood, death, and strong language.

wc: 3k

a/n: so i just discovered a manga called nine peaks and it has the same idea to the plot of this story!

series masterlist | previous | next

“What did I do?” [ Y / N ] spoke, establishing an annoyed tone.

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to chat.” Izana answered.

“What could we possibly chat about?” She pointed out.

“She doesn’t remember, doesn’t she?” Izana turned to his right-man.

“I don’t think so.” Kakucho answered.

“[ Y / N ] [ L / N ]. 17, born in Yokohama, left at a fire station and tossed around four foster homes. Went by the names; [ Y / N ] Mikami, [ Y / N ] Kaji, [ Y / N ] Ando, and then back to [ Y / N ] [ L / N ].” Izana paced in circles, unraveling the girl's past right before her and his men.

[ Y / N ] was flabbergasted, to say at least. Having heard those words from a man that she's only heard of, and only met today. “Who told you that?” She flatly spoke.

“I can also go on with your real parents, but I only have your father’s file here.” Izana replied, holding up a brown envelope similar to the one in her car.

“Where did you get that?” She folded, failing to conceal the confusion in her voice.

“Here’s your dinner, [ Y / N ].” The same stale bread and bland soup was served in front of [ Y / N ], just like a thousand times before. Being thirteen years old in an orphanage was quite a rare case, considering that kids are typically adopted before hitting adolescence.

[ Y / N ] has, though. Not once, but three times; by different families. However, she still felt foreign in any home she stayed in, not as different from the orphanage, urging her to transfer with every return.

This was something that no teenager dreamt of. Today, she decided to break the cycle and live on her own, if no one would take her in.

[ Y / N ] had no choice but to take the food for one last time, knowing that it will be a long night ahead of her.

She shortly followed her roommates when she finished eating, blending in to the wave of kids as they prepared for bedtime.

“Why aren't you in your pajamas yet?" The girl on top of her bunk bed asks.

“These are my sleeping clothes.” She simply answered, slowly lifting the blankets and tuckig herself in.

Underneath it was also a duffel bag, containing her clothes, a crowbar and wire cutter which she’d earlier stole from the storage unit. After all, those are the basics of hijacking a car according to her mechanics book.

The rest of rhe kids are starting to return to the room, which indicates bedtime. [ Y / N ] immediately knew that she was now in the hardest phase of her escape plan.

In the future where she may decide to learn about her real family, she would need her personal file that’s being kept in the office. She’d tried asking for it before, but was always denied or ignored. So she took the matter in her own hands.

“Good night, kids.” The headmistress spoke before shutting the lights off.

Reaching to her pockets, [ Y / N ] proudly smiled at herself when she quietly took the keys of the admin office.

She'd snatched it from the lady just minutes ago, as she was having dinner. [ Y / N ] had never pickpocketed her whole life, and she was surprised that she pulled it off just fine.

A couple of minutes had already passed. [ Y / N ] was growing impatient but some kids may still be awake. She tossed and turned under the sheets, recalling the plan in her head over and over as time passed.

Gray cabinet. Low drawer.

“Hello?” When [ Y / N ] was sure that the her roommates were asleep, she quietly snuck to the door and into the hallway.

Normally, an eerie-looking dark hallway would scare her. But she was too focused to the office ahead and she was determined that she can pull this off.

Upon unlocking the office, she headed straight to the file cabinet which contained her file, based on her observations. “Yes!” Upon seeing her name, she retrieved it from the drawer, not bothering to close it back or lock the door on the way out.

Some kids were already asleep when [ Y / N ] took her duffel bag in one go. She jumped through the window, and over the fence, heading to the driveway where the social worker’s sedan was parked.

She jammed the crowbar onto the window and jimmied the lock, moving it in left-to-right motions, just like her book stated.

Under the steering wheel were the bundle of wires she pulled on, not seeing the wire she was supposed to pull, due to the dim lights.

“I’m so screwed.” She chanted, almost out of breath as she attempted to look for the wires that connected to the engine. Reaching for her bag, she scanned through the pages and looked for the information, using it as some sort of manual.

“There you go.” She snipped the orange wire, ready to hotwire it, just like in the shows. However, she started to realize that this will be her first time driving. Luckily, it’s an automatic vehicle. She’s read about it and watched shows, but never really put it to practice.

“Is that [ Y / N ]?” Her nerves chilled when she heard her name from a distance, realizing that the lights to her dorm room were open, and one kid was looking through the window.

“Oh no.” She slammed the wires faster as the engine sputtered, giving one last spark before it finally started.

“No turning back.” She reminded herself before putting a seatbelt on and then shifting to drive.

She didn’t anticipate the sudden movement when she stepped on the gas and went, bumping into another car on the way. The SUV alarmed the street, which brought [ Y / N ] to a sense of urgency.

Luckily, the orphanage was in a suburban area which didn’t have lots of turns, giving her the chance to just simply… drive. Upon reaching a fairly far distance, the rush had already started to die down, and [ Y / N ] felt like she’d just escaped a prison. She chuckled to herself, taking in that she actually pulled it off.

The chuckling turned into a whole laugh, until she was fully cackling and driving at high speed.

It’s only a matter of time before someone realizes that a kid is driving, so she has to find a stopover soon.

However, at this time, most places were already closed and dark. [ Y / N ] could already see the city lights and the highway with bustling cars. She didn’t have the courage to drive on it yet, but she had nowhere to go at this point.

Pulling over at a convenience store, [ Y / N ] took her bag and untangled the ignition wires which brought the car to a stop.

Reaching for her pockets, She realized that her money wasn't enough to buy even a bottle of water. Leaning against the hood and out of breath, [ Y / N ] took a big sigh and calmed her nerves. Running away was her grand plan and she pulled it off. She was actually on her own now.

[ Y / N ] didn’t hear the store bell chiming and the quick footsteps receding until a guard showed up and yelled, “Damn brats! Give it back here!”

She looked up to see two kids in the distance, running off with their clothes stuffed.

“Hey, you with those two?” She flinched when the guard walked up to her.

“No sir, I just got here.” She stood up straight.

“What kind of scam are you pulling, huh? Where are your parents? I’ll get you picked up right no—” Although she wasn’t guilty of stealing from the store, the thought of being sent back to the orphanage frightened [ Y / N ]. So with a big swing, she hit her bag at the guard and followed the direction where the two kids were running off to.

“Hey, wait up!” She tried to call, but they only ran faster. She noticed that one kid had white hair, while the other had black before they disappeared after turning right.

When she followed, [ Y / N ] was met by an abandoned nursing home. The front was blocked with metal scraps and caution signs, which she ignored and decided to jump and climb through.

In the distance was a stairway leading underground, where footsteps were heard and she followed.

Upon reaching the floor, [ Y / N ] yelped when she saw the two boys standing in the middle of the room with stolen chips, drinks, and noodle cups from the store.

“Okay, I think we lost them both.” The black haired kid spoke.

“You think?” The tan-skinned kid says upon seeing [ Y / N ] on the stairs, who was in silence.

“So, what’s your story?’ He asked.

“Where are your parents?” The other one spoke.

“Don’t have ‘em.” [ Y / N ] simply answered, holding onto the railings as she headed soon and observed the place.

“I think you should stay here, be a part of our gang.” She grew confused once the older kid spoke.

“She— what? This has not been discussed.” the other one said.

“It is now. We could use a girl to look innocent and as a distraction.” He explained, while [ Y / N ] listened to their conversation. Soon enough, she realized what he may be talking about.

“I… want to be an F1 driver. Not a thief.” She spoke out.

“You don’t have many options. It’s just us.” The white-haired kid pointed out.

“I’m Kakucho, this is Izana.” The other one introduced themselves.

He was right. She was a fugitive now. Maybe staying with other stray kids is her safest option for now. However, nothing beyond the escape was in her anticipation. She was anxious about living out in a sketchy place with basically nothing.

To say that she was speechless is an understatement. All the feelings from her body seemed to have drained up along with the rush, leaving her staring into the ground; no home, no friends, her life is basically to be rebuilt.

“Is she crying?” Kakucho asks as they observe the girl.

“She’s got no parents. We both remember what that’s like.” Izana says.

“Where can I leave my coat?” [ Y / N ] finally spoke, still not breaking her gaze.

“You can keep your clothes over there.” Izana gestured to an empty cabinet.

“I have to take my other stuff from the car.” [ Y / N ] spoke, remembering about her file.

“Be careful,okay? Dinner will be ready when you’re back!” Kakucho says, taking the food in his arms.

“Took you so long?” Izana asks, pouring a bag of potato chips over the hot noodles.

“He thought you chickened out and bailed.” He laughed, gesturing at Kakucho.

“No, I got us more food.” [ Y / N ] chuckled, ,showing them a take-out bag.

“Stir fry?! Amazing!” Kakucho exclaimed upon recognizing the logo on the bag.

“How did you get this?” Izana asks as she sets the food down. [ Y / N ] remained silent, placing her file on the makeshift table.

“I have my ways.” She put it simply— pickpocketed a middle-class man and bought take out with the money. Izana knew right away what she meant. Maybe, the two of them were meant to meet her and have her join their little team. And she seemed tough, too. With a smile, he slung an arm over her shoulder, “Welcome to our kingdom!” He chuckled before proceeding to feast on their dinner.

After a while, it was the middle of the night when [ Y / N ] decided to shower in the only bathroom that still worked. “I apologize if the water in there was slow.” Izana spoke upon seeing her return to the makeshift common room.

“No worries. I’ve been to worse ones.” [ Y / N ] admitted, watching him pick up a run-down guitar while Kakucho started to make himself comfortable on the futon.

“I play this acoustic guitar before we sleep because it helps Kaku, I hope you don’t mind. And, I’m still learning.” Izana explained.

“Of course. This is your home, after all.” She nodded, letting the boy strum off-key chords and strings.

“Our home now.” Izana corrected, flashing her a kind smile.

Three A.M. and both boys were fast asleep, while [ Y / N ] still laid awake. Izana and Kakucho seemed to be nice kids who were put into this circumstance with only having each other as family. However, Living in an abandoned nursing home with two other orphans wasn’t something she anticipated at all.

While they were kind, and seemed to be safe in the place, [ Y / N ] is still in Yokohama— the exact city she was running away from.

While staying with Izana and Kakucho may seem the safest option, she wasn’t sure of how things would turn out in the long run. Although risky, living on her own is in her best interests.

And that night, [ Y / N ] quietly walked past the sleeping Izana and Kakucho, navigating herself through the candle-lit room as she gathered her stuff to leave.

Reaching to her pockets, she left the spare change on their makeshift dinner table, making sure to take the envelope that contained her file.

But what she didn’t notice is one important document slipping out of it, left out in the dark as [ Y / N ] quietly left, careful not to wake the sleeping boys.

“You seem… different.” Was the only words she could say upon looking back at the memory. The day she ran away was simply to put it, full of emotions. Some experiences that didn’t turn out the way we expected tend to be concealed with different memories— something vague and not so memorable.

Hence, not remembering their meeting until Izana and Kakucho mentioned it.

“Right. The fuck happened to me?” Izana chuckled. [ Y / N ] silently agreed. The young Izana she met at the abandoned nursing home seemed to be far from who he turned out to be.

“I guess you’re really pushing to your F1 racer dream, huh?” He mentioned.

“Look, I’m sorry I left. I just can't stand staying here any longer.” She explained.

“I know. I think it’s the perfect time to return this to you.” Izana spoke, holding out a brown envelope. “You left it behind.”

“What do you want?” She spat.

“Like I said, I just wanted to return what’s yours. Don’t you want to meet your father?” He asks, displaying the document in front of her.

So that’s where it ended up, [ Y / N ] had always assumed that it had been left somewhere, thrown away, or simply stolen. She also figured that as long as she still had her mother’s information, it wouldn’t be difficult to know her father.

Yet, she knows nothing about the circumstances she was born into. Simply obtaining her father’s file would save her from all the confrontations that may arise.

But knowing the men who ran gangs and being friends with some, she knew that this information wouldn’t just be given back to her for free.. They surely want something from her in return. Not to mention the fact that Tenjiku and Toman are not on good terms at the moment.

“Is that all? Can I go now?” She answered, making up a decision to refuse the offer.

With a sigh, Izana nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets, “What a pity,” He says, stepping in front of [ Y / N ], practically towering her figure. “Everything could’ve turned out so differently if you stayed.” He pointed out.

“See her outside boys.” Izana demanded, which Rindou and Ran immediately obeyed. The Haitanis escorted [ Y / N ] out of the hideout and back into her car, remaining silent as they could feel the tension practically surrounding [ Y / N ]’s aura.

It was until [ Y / N ] reached for the car door when Ran spoke up, “He takes ‘no’ for an answer. Just take it.” He says while Rindou handed her the envelope she just declined.

The midday skies take on a pink-amethyst hue. The darkness brought a crown of moonlight, smiling upward at the morning heavens and dimming up the busy city. Mikey opened the garage door upon hearing the blaring engine of [ Y / N ]’s car. He trotted to the driver’s side, his locks weaving before opening it to reveal a flustered [ Y / N ].

“Hey…” He asks, eyes searching hers to try and get her to talk. “Come here.” He immediately ushered her out of the car and back to the working shed, carrying the parts she bought from her run.

“What took you so long?” Mikey asks, as if he hadn’t already figured out her whereabouts.

“I feel really stupid, but uh… I couldn’t find the parts I’m looking for.” She explained and headed to Mikey’s motor parts, sparing a soft smile to him. She knew her lie would eventually backfire, knowing well that Mikey is not a stupid person.

Of course, she plans to tell everything one day when things are settled. But, now’s just not exactly divine timing.

“You gotta go all the way to Yokohama? Really?” He finally muttered. Mikey mentally scolded himself from the sudden word spill, unsure of how [ Y / N ] will react to his speculations. Now [ Y / N ] was truly confused. She froze on the spot and her mind was cornered. There was no point in denying.

“Hey, were you following me?” She turns to him with a scoff.

“I don’t need to. Why are you always sneaking off there? Huh?” Mikey questioned, crossing his arms and giving her a confrontational look.

“No, can we circle back to the fact that you are stalking me?!” She asks once more, realizing that the trips to her hometown were not as low-key as she thought.

With a sigh, Mikey put away the wrench and stepped closer to the girl. “[ Y / N ], You’re in the enemy’s territory.” He pointed out, as if she hadn’t already known. [ Y / N ], of course, kept it in mind during her last visits. She just didn’t think that she was relevant enough to be targeted by the Tenjiku executives. Hell, she wasn’t even a member of Toman in the first place.

Yet, she was taken into their hideout into a serious talk, but mentioned nothing about the ongoing fight at all. Something about the whole interaction was just… off.

Maybe, they do see her as an important figure to Toman now, especially to their president.

“And you’re my girlfriend, I’m allowed to worry about you!” She looked up and over just in time to see Mikey’s expression. His words rang through her like a bell, a particular word reverberating through her mind.

There was no denying that the feelings were present. Although nothing was formally agreed upon, it just registered to Mikey that he just called her his girlfriend for the very first time.

“I am?” She asks abruptly, her eyes as wide as the boy who just confessed.

“Uh…” The fluster in Mikey’s voice was enough to make [ Y / N ] realize how awkward the situation has shifted to.

“Well…” [ Y / N ]’s body immediately tensed as his response finally reached her. Maybe he wasn’t sure either? Was it something he said out of a “spur of the moment”?

Before either of them could speak, their heads turned to the garage door where insistent knocking could be heard from the other side.

“Hey, it’s evening. Don’t knock so barbarically.” [ Y / N ] scolded as they both made their way towards the heavy doors, lifting it at the same time.

“I’m sorry, is this a bad time?” Takemichi asks as the two appear.

“Yeah.” [ Y / N ] and Mikey answered in unison.

“Mikey-kun, Mucho is Toman’s traitor! He took Koko with Tenjiku.” Takemichi immediately blurted. Mikey listened to the urgency in his voice, and noticed his and Inui’s bruised faces, indicating that they were attacked and brought into this moment.

In a distance, just behind Inui, Mikey sees an unfamiliar girl who stood by Inui’s motorcycle.

“Get everyone. We’ll have a meeting.” He demanded.

“Yes.” The two nodded.

“Mikey-kun, can we talk?” Inupi chimed.

“Wait at the shrine. I’ll get my uniform real quick.” Mikey replied and searched for his motorcycle keys while Inui headed off to his own ride.

“Hey, uh, I just washed the one you left here last time… it’s in my dresser.” [ Y / N ] pointed at the door to her room. “Oh, thanks.” He scurried past her and into the room to get changed.

[ Y / N ] remained in place as the door shut, recalling the exact flow of their conversation.

Girlfriend. Dating exclusively? A relationship? Had she been a girlfriend to him all this time?

While deep into thought, Takemichi gestured Morin to come closer while he approached a static [ Y / N ]. “Uh, [ Y / N ]-chan, I have—”

“Mikey just called me his ‘girlfriend’!” She suddenly blurted, yet keeping a toned down voice, keeping in mind that the boy was just in the next room. “I mean, we’ve never really talked about it! It feels like we are, but, like I said, we never really made anything official so I don’t think much— but— Do we seem like boyfriend-girlfriend to you guys?” She rambled, toying with the zipper of her racer jacket.

In the distance, Morin now observed in confusion. [ Y / N ] seemed to be tense, looking as if she was scolding the blonde. “Man, what are you doing?” She whispered to herself.

Takemichi was puzzled, to say the least, thinking that [ Y / N ] and Mikey had been long boyfriend-girlfriend to each other. “Well…” The words were just at the tip of his tongue before [ Y / N ] rambled again.

“How did you handle it with Hina? Did you ask her with flowers and all that cheesy shit? Did you talk or something? Or it just happened?” She asked. He scratched his head, “Not really flowers, but—”

“Oh, I’m sorry, what were you saying earlier? You have what?” [ Y / N ] suddenly remembered and felt rude, shaking her head.

“Let’s wait for Mikey-kun.” Takemichi sighed. “Right.” She nodded in response. “Holy shit Mucho took Koko with them?!” [ Y / N ] exclaimed.

“Pretty much. He set me up too. If it wasn’t for Koko… Me and Inupi will be in bad shape right now.” He explained. “Holy shit.” [ Y / N ] shook her head.

Shortly, their heads both turn to the door once Mikey is finished, “Okay, let’s go.” He gestured. Takemichi followed shortly while [ Y / N ] stayed close to the Toman president.

“Come here.” Morin was too dazed to hear Takemichi’s cue; looking at [ Y / N ] smoothen the wrinkles on Mikey’s shirt while he looked down at her with pure adoration, as if they weren’t just throwing words at each other earlier. A single glance at them would leave no questions if they were in fact— smitten for each other.

She felt a sudden sense of nostalgia; remembering how [ Y / N ] would tell her stories about how much she loved Mikey. It’s unbelievable how she could see it with her own eyes, even without them speaking a single word.

“Uh, guys?” Takemichi spoke, all their heads turning to him.

“Yeah?” Mikey and [ Y / N ] ask in unison.

“Meet Morin.” He gestured towards the dirty-blonde-haired girl.

“...Hi.” She paused for a moment, before remembering to politely bow.

“She’s uh… my cousin.” Takemichi instilled, insisting to carry on with the “cousin” lie.

“What’s up…” [ Y / N ] nodded politely.

Upon seeing the unknown girl up close, Mikey was jumbled, to say the least, as if his brain was being fogged from a picture. “Did you have Dojo classes with my grandpa?” He questioned.

“No, I don’t think so.” Morin shook her head, finding the response rather odd.

“Huh. You looked like one of the kids there.” He casually spoke, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he headed to his motorcycle. He thought that she looks almost like Emma, but also doesn't. He could not pin it, but he could also see a bit of someone else in her features.

“Huh…” Morin simply nodded.

“I’ll see you later.” Mikey turned to [ Y / N ]. She returned a small wave and a smile, watching the two boys get on the motorcycle and coming out of sight.

[ Y / N ] stayed silent for a moment until the notable engine sounds were gone too. “So…” She slowly turned her head to Morin.

It’s rather odd, considering she’s never told anyone when she was just thinking of it the other day. She’s never met a person who had the name in mind, yet, one actually came up today.

“What did he say your name was again?” [ Y / N ] questioned, ensuring if she heard it right and clear.

tag list [ open ]: @haimyvu @rizakari @httpsplanetmarsdotcom @mitsurisupremacy @moontofu @psmslove @slutaholic69 @im-like-yeah-hes-fine @keomi-kimo @springtimewolf1995 @bebesanzu @imshittingforyelena @dailyakira @idunnomynamesince2005 @juanaisdead @emilymikado @haruu-i @keisaint @misinfe @fxshigurosbae @xxserenitysnow666xx @emyrl @xngelsau @melody005 @daichisbabymama @4leafcloverwithawhitecraneforyou @r-xochitl @sleezy-axeriix @pandabooster @amerillyss @tellynojelly @kenkenmaaa @astrodiamond @ikilledsparky2 @soushswag @eriskaitto @secretanimesimp

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#tokyo revengers #mikey x reader #manjiro sano #mikey #manjiro x reader #tokyo revengers fanfiction #mikey imagines #mikey x you #manjiro sano x you

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midnightactual · 11 months

Text

Hey, so, what do these banners on the walls mean?

Well these aren't real kanji. You don't have to take it from me:

Q: BLEACH の中央四十六室が斬殺されている場面に書いてある四つの漢字何て書いてあるのでしょうか？ A: 作者の創作漢字です東西南北と青龍朱雀玄武白虎の頭文字からとり一つの漢字として組み合わせたものです意味はまぁ東西南北あらゆるものから世界を護るような感じでしょうか四方と守護神なので

Or rather, via Google Translate with some cleanup:

Q: What are the four kanji characters written in the scene where the central 46 rooms of Bleach are being killed? A: It is a kanji created by the author. It is a combination of the initials of east, west, north, south, and blue dragon, vermillion bird, black tortoise, and white tiger as one kanji.

That is to say, they're an allusion to the Four Symbols of Chinese mythology. So you know how I said it made sense that Chinese be known by the elites? Yeah. You know how I also said it made sense that Central 46 exist as a rival institution to the Four Great Noble Houses? These appeals to heavenly authority are essentially in direct opposition to similar claims from the Four Great Noble Houses! Let's review. Tokinada says in CFYOW vol. I:

"But that’s the Soul Society. The Central 46 are the five noble clan’s yes-men, especially when it comes to the powerful Tsunayashiro house.”

Tokinada is obviously trying to mess with Kaname, and this happened over 100 years prior. Later we get:

The Central 46 was the acting voice of the Soul King and so led the Soul Reapers. Occasionally they acted as the supreme judiciary body and meted out judgments. Nayura Amakado was the youngest member of that body—a girl who appeared to be just ten years old. But both Kyoraku and Nanao recognized that the girl had a sharpness that came from living many years longer than her looks suggested, and that she had initiated steady changes in the Central 46, which had on principle previously served the aristocrats foremost.

(This incidentally confirms my statements about how soul growth slows down sometime after five years of age.) Later we get this:

“So, about that. The higher-ups have something they want announced directly in the Bulletin. I thought I’d at least tell you about it, since you’re the captain.” “They want something announced? By ‘higher-ups,’ do you mean Squad Zero?” “No, the Central 46. Or the aristocrats behind the scenes, to be exact.” Kyoraku turned to Hisagi for just a moment before he continued.

We also get told:

Kyoraku didn’t smile back. He simply asked flatly, “And so? What business brought you all the way up here? If you have complaints about the Court Guard, I’d rather you send those through the Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly or the Central 46.” “Oh, it’s a simple matter. I want you to get in touch with some people for me. Yoruichi Shihoin doesn’t seem to receive communications through the aristocratic network. Even the Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly don’t know where she is. Kuchiki is another matter entirely, but you should at least know how to get in touch with that shrew, am I right?” Tokinada handed Kyoraku a paper with a message for Yoruichi

Later still we get this:

“I want to get the five families on my side, and if I can obtain the formal consent of the Reio, I want to make the Five Great Noble Clans as a body equal in rank to the king. Then the clans would surpass the Central 46 in power as a decision-making body. In fact, I suspect the reason the Central 46 crushed the Shiba house was to make sure something like this never happened.” Tokinada chuckled as he continued. “Haven’t you had your doubts? Why did the Shiba family get such a cold reception from the Five Great Noble Clans? Officially, the Shiba set up in the Rukongai in order to build their secret fortifications. But even before they were stripped of their noble position, the Shiba were treated like they were lower than the poorest of the lower aristocracy. Doesn’t it bother you that the Shiba family allowed that?”

In CFYOW vol. III, we get this:

It was clearly a problem that a man like this was the head of the Four Great Noble Clans, a position within the Soul Society that was on equal footing with the Central 46.

Okay, so let's bring it all together. There are at least four major bodies in the government of Soul Society:

The Soul King and Royal Family: figurehead; ostensibly head of state and highest authority, but in truth essentially fiction.

The Four Great Noble Houses (formerly Five Great Noble Houses): functionally the executive branch; the Shōichī or First Rank nobility who hold the ranks of Dukes, having sealed the Soul King originally and established the system. Nominally safeguard the system.

Central 46: functionally the judicial branch, a court made up of 6 judges and 40 sages on par with the Four Great Noble Houses, was formerly under their sway when they were the Five Great Noble Houses but has now tilted to the Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly and is under their sway. Nominally speak on behalf of the Soul King.

Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly: functionally the legislative branch; ostensibly composed of lesser nobles below the rank of Shōichī and by process of elimination now currently actually in charge.

I've been back and forth over this before (see here and here) with some different terminology and framing, but I think it's easy to see that, as I've said before, Soul Society is fundamentally defined by political infighting among different political classes, chiefly the Great Nobles versus the Nobles.

We can understand that Central 46 used to be the tool of the Five Great Noble Houses, but the demotion of House Shiba and its reduction to Four Great Noble Houses was functionally a coup d'état that realigned Central 46 to serving the interests of the comparatively mysterious Gilded Seal Aristocratic Assembly. Tokinada is truly only attempting to cause chaos and anarchy, but doing so under the guise of restoring the Five Great Noble Houses to their former primacy. What Nayura Amakado is doing is effectively trying to make Central 46 independent of either group rather than their cat's paw.

In other words, Soul Society is what happens when separation of powers goes bad and is not regulated by anything except self-interest and violence-making ability:

According to the principle of checks and balances, each of the branches of the state should have the power to limit or check the other two, creating a balance between the three separate powers of the state. Each branch's efforts to prevent either of the other branches becoming supreme form part of an eternal conflict, which leaves the people free from government abuses. Immanuel Kant was an advocate of this, noting that "the problem of setting up a state can be solved even by a nation of devils" so long as they possess an appropriate constitution to pit opposing factions against each other.

You can also take it as a warning about the perils of a judiciary which isn't independent of and separate from political concerns, which, uh, topical.

#Out Of Character #Bleach #Meta #Long Post #Blood TW #Death TW #[ this isn't as rigorous as I'd like ]#[ but writing about imaginary sociopolitical arrangements ]#[ takes a lot of effort for little actual return ]#[ so just deal with these kinda more rambling remarks ig ]

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photogirl894 · 2 years

Text

"Sun and Rain"

Chapter 48

"An Unforeseen Chain of Events"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Wow, I cranked this one out faster than I had anticipated 😆

I'm going to apologize upfront because, once again, this is another dialogue-heavy chapter, but it's full of information, so it just worked best that way 😁 Hope y'all don't mind!

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @tmntchick677 , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettroseog , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend

《 Chapter 47

》 Chapter 49

All chapters

Explanation: On the shady planet of Balmorra, Kimber and Rex get the shocking answers they seek and formulate a plan to rescue the Bad Batch with the help of a new group of female companions.

Upon being introduced to the three other ladies in the room, Kimber and Rex took in their appearances.

Kida Firestar, the Pantoran leaning on the left wall, had light blue skin and yellow markings on her cheeks. Her eyes were a dull gold and her lips a slightly darker shade of blue than the rest of her skin. Her dark magenta hair that curled up at the ends fell to her shoulders and a black metal band adorned her head, straight cut bangs hanging across her forehead. She wore a black dress with alternating dark purple stripes on the shoulders and gloves of the same color. Her dress had slits down the front, showing she had on trousers underneath. She gave Rex and Kimber a welcoming smirk.

The Togruta at the computers, Irys Montari, had golden skin, light gold marks on her face and her lekku and montrals were a swirling mix of white and golden brown. On her montrals was a black headress that looped over the tips of her horns. She donned gray and black leather armor and boots, her lips were colored a shimmering black and she looked at Kimber and Rex with piercing pink eyes, which served a sharp contrast to the rest of her appearance.

Then Lex Valen, the Zabrak on the sofa, had light tan skin covered in dark marks and tattoos. Her head was covered in small horns that poked out from beneath her thick, navy blue-toned black hair that was done up in several braids and pulled back into a ponytail. She had violet eyes and rouge-colored lips with dark outliner around the edges and had a single vertical dark stripe down the center of her bottom lip. She was clothed in simple garments: a red tank top with a leather corset, black trousers and boots. She offered Kimber and Rex a casual nod as they came in.

"A very curious group," Kimber said aloud.

Lex ceased twirling her blade and droned at her in a cool voice, "What, are we not good enough for you?"

Startled at such an abrupt response, Kimber held up her hands and said defensively, "No, no, I just...wasn't expecting there to be more people here."

Irys then said in a thick Togruti accent as she turned back to her computers, "Well, it's imperative we keep our existence under wraps for now. Hence why Rina didn't tell you about us."

"Well, I think it's marvelous that Rina finally got you to come here, Kimber," said Kida, her Pantoran accent quite prominent, as she came up and ran her index finger under Kimber's chin. "She's told us about you and we've been dying to meet you."

"Correction: Rina didn't get me here. I called her and came here because I needed help," Kimber clarified.

Rina stepped forward and said, "Trust me, you'll get it. You said you needed information, so maybe we all can help. Everyone here has ins within the shadier parts of the galaxy."

Rex leaned to Kimber and whispered flatly, "That's reassuring."

Having not heard his comment, Rina then pointed to Irys and said, "Irys, especially. She's got pretty much every corner of the holonet wired. News, reports, records, communications, both public and private; just about anything you want, she can get."

That was exactly what Kimber was hoping to hear and she and Rex looked to each other, feeling confident that this was what they needed.

"There's been multiple reports recently of Clone soldiers disappearing and a couple of days ago, my entire squad went missing, too," she explained to the ladies.

"Is this the same group you were with when we met?" asked Rina.

Kimber shook her head. "No, they were only temporary. This is a different squad."

Rina raised her eyebrows in an impressed manner. "You sure get around, don't you?"

Ignoring that, Kimber added, "They're Clone Force 99, otherwise known as the Bad Batch."

"The Bad Batch, huh?" repeated Rina with a contemplative look. "Sounds like a group of troublemakers...I like that."

In response, Kimber just rolled her eyes. Then she looked over to the Togruta and inquired, "Irys, would you be able to find anything on these disappearances?"

Irys looked back over her shoulder and stated in reply, "I'm going to assume that's rhetorical." When Kimber just smirked in reply, she then added, "It'll take me some time, but I'll get you the information you need." Without any further encouragement, she whipped back to the computers and started typing on the keys in front of her.

Kida came up on Kimber's other side and put an arm around her shoulders. "Come now, you must be exhausted. Sit down, relax and have some drinks," she said with a smile, urging Kimber and Rex towards the sofa. Then she turned to Lex, snapped her fingers at her and ordered, "Move it, Lex. Make room for our guests."

Despite moving to get off the sofa, Lex replied, "Since when did you become my mom?"

"Since now. Deal with it," Kida said with a teasing grin, giving Lex a light shove in the arm.

Kimber sat down on the sofa while Rex decided to remain standing on the side. Kida grabbed two goblets of a bright pink drink from a nearby table and gave them to the two of them, which they accepted.

"You're a Clone, too, aren't you, Rex?" inquired Kida.

"I am, yes," he replied.

Her grin widened as she looked him over from head to toe. "Hmm...I've never been with a Clone before," she said back, looking up at him through hooded eyes and batting her eyelashes at him.

Rex's throat tightened as he nearly choked on his drink and Kimber raised her eyebrows in shock.

"Kida, this isn't the time for any of your dalliances or seduction," Irys chided her, annoyed, without looking away from her screens.

"What? There's always time for fun," Kida refuted, flashing Rex another flirty grin before walking away.

The poor Clone Captain had no idea how to respond. He was far too flustered to form a coherent sentence. Kimber had to suppress a giggle at seeing the usually confident and put together Captain at a loss for words, for once. It showed her that perhaps he hadn’t had much experience with women.

To direct the conversation away from the awkwardness, and to give Rex a chance to relax, Rina asked them, “So if there are Clones missing, why are you coming to us? Doesn’t the Republic usually handle things like that?”

Kimber answered firmly, “First of all, this is personal for me since it was my squad that was just taken. They were captured and I was left behind. Secondly, we believe whoever is behind the disappearances either has access to money or the black market.”

That’s when Rina understood everything. She nodded, took another puff from her mod and said, “Ah, you need...less than savory sources to help you out. Our specialty.”

“What makes you think the kidnappers have any illegal connections?” asked Lex, who was now standing beside Irys and leaning against her desk with her arms folded.

“They had stealth technology that allowed them to sneak up on us and get past our sensors,” Kimber explained, “and they also had an ion cannon, which took out all our ship’s systems and power.”

It was then Irys piped in, still hard at work at her computers, “Technology such as those haven’t been used in years. The Republic used stealth technology early on in the war and an ion cannon of that caliber hasn’t been used since--”

“The Malevolence cruiser used by the Separatists, yes,” Kimber finished for her. She was getting a sense of deja vu since very similar words were spoken by Tech just moments before the Marauder had been boarded. She got the feeling that Tech would get along with Irys. The Togruta was intelligent and full of knowledge, like he was.

However, the fact that Irys knew those facts was concerning. Kimber narrowed her eyes at Irys, even though she wasn’t facing her, and asked, “How would you know all that? That’s confidential information outside of the military and the government. Did you work for the Republic?”

“No,” Irys simply stated. “It’s like Rina said: any information I want, I can get.”

Kimber glanced over at Rex and knew right away before her eyes caught him that he was tensing up. As a soldier who respected his post and usually followed orders to the letter, she knew that hearing such things would be unnerving for him.

Additionally, Irys must’ve known there would be tension because she then turned her chair around, faced Kimber and Rex and reassured them with a dismissive wave, “Don’t worry, I’m not selling this information to anyone. That doesn’t interest me.”

“You hack into secure military databases and view classified reports...for what?” questioned Rex, his tone getting stern.

Irys just shrugged. “I get bored...and just to prove I can do it.”

Kimber saw Rex’s fists clench at his sides. This wasn’t going to be good. She reached out and gently grabbed his wrist, saying, “If she’s not selling the information, Rex, then that’s what matters.”

Rex was going to respond, but Irys spoke up first, “Information is power and if I can use it in any capacity, I will. I don’t believe in being bought for it. That’s why I’ve had to go underground. People see my skills as dangerous.”

“For good reason,” Rex said back.

“Rex...!” Kimber implored. Once again, to keep the conversation moving, Kimber turned to Irys and asked her, “If you’re aware of that technology, do you know who would have access to it now or where it possibly came from?”

“I can certainly figure it out after I get information on who might be behind the Clone disappearances,” answered Irys before turning back to her computers and resuming her work.

Interacting with all these women was making Kimber even more curious, especially since she wasn’t even expecting the other three anyway. Her attention returned to Rina taking another smoke as she proceeded to ask, “Where did you find these ladies?"

Rina blew the smoke out and responded, "Well, this place belongs to Irys, for one thing. Kida's been living here, too. Lex, I got out of a scrap on Nar Shadaa. We all were either on the run, living underground or hiding in the shadows, so we figured us ladies ought to stick together."

"Then why did you try to recruit me to...whatever this is when you saw I was none of those things?" was Kimber's follow-up question.

Rina smirked. "Because you got spunk and spirit. I saw you helping call out orders with that bald tattooed Clone back during the fiasco on Jakku. You got the makings of a leader, which I thought we could use. Plus, why be an armor chaser when you can stick it out with us? Men can get the job done...but women get it done efficiently." She looked to Rex. "No offense."

Rex just pursed his lips, not particularly amused.

"My offer's still on the table, you know," she also said back to Kimber.

"Rina, if I had any interest in being on my own or with a group like yours, I would already have that," Kimber told her. "Besides, you don't know my squad. They're an elite group who gets things done just as efficiently."

"Yet that didn't keep them from getting captured," Lex commented flatly.

"Says the woman who couldn't get out of a bind herself," Kimber fired back before she could stop herself, not appreciating Lex's remark.

The Zabrak's eyes flashed with anger and she stepped away from Irys's desk. "You got a problem, princess?" she demanded, her body language showing she was getting ready for a fight.

Kida moved in between their lines of sight, holding up her hands at her sides, and stated, "Ladies, please, let's all calm down."

"Huh...that escalated quickly," Rina observed, nonchalantly inhaling another drag of her mod.

"I got something," declared Irys, garnering everyone's attention.

Kimber stood up from the sofa and Rex moved beside her. "Already?" she asked, astonished.

Over her shoulder, Irys replied, "Yeah, sorry it took so long."

"Wow, she really is like Tech," Kimber thought.

Irys pulled up a map of the galaxy that showed a few yellow dots scattered across it. "These are all the reported disappearances across the galaxy, including your squad's," she said, pointing to a dot near Zeffo, though that one was red. "You see how the indication for yours is different than the rest?"

"Why is that?" asked Kimber.

"Because it would seem Clone Force 99 was the primary target," Irys answered.

Rex and Kimber turned to each other, concerned.

"Why? Who was targeting them?" asked Rex.

Going on, Irys minimized the report and brought up a series of private communications. “There are members of this movement spread out throughout the galaxy. They started out simply protesting against Clones or starting physical altercations with them on occasion, wanting to...well, eradicate the Clones, but these communications indicate that, within the last few months, their actions have become more extreme and they’ve started actually kidnapping Clones where they can.”

Irys tapped a few keys and brought up a biographical report. "There appears to be a group out there called the Eradicators. Forgive me for this, but I’m just passing on the facts...they’re an anti-Clone movement who oppose the continued creation and mere existence of Clones.”

Kimber couldn’t help but look at Rex in disbelief, her chest constricting at the thought of such a group even existing. He looked back at her with a resigned expression. He didn’t like what he was hearing either.

“What made them make such a drastic change?” asked Kida.

Irys pulled up a specific communication log and explained as she read it, “According to this report, it seems that one of the Eradicators’ most prominent members was killed by a Clone. They claim the security they heard from regarding the event said it was self-defense, but they believe otherwise.”

“Who was it that was killed?” then inquired Lex.

With a scoff, Rina said in addition, “I’ll bet it was some hot shot who had it coming.”

As she said this, Irys answered, “It appears it was a Rodian male killed on Kuat named Carson D’gall.”

Then she pulled up the picture of a Rodian male that Kimber recognized on sight and she gasped loudly, her hands flying up to her mouth.

It was the Rodian Crosshair had killed on Kuat to save her life.

“Oh no...!” she gasped out.

Everyone’s bewildered eyes were now on her.

“Kimber, do you know who this is?” Rex asked her.

With wide eyes and a rapidly beating heart that was threatening to tear her chest apart, she said back, her eyes still on the screen, “I do...and I was there when he was killed. I’m the reason he’s dead.”

“There was some security footage of the incident included in the report from the Kuat police,” then said Irys, already pulling up the video feed.

Everyone watched as the video started and Kimber’s fists clenched as she saw herself come into frame being pulled by two large Kuati men into an alley, the flood of memories of that day drowning her mind.

“Wait...that’s you, Kimber,” Rex observed.

Kimber said nothing, her focus on the screen.

They all continued watching in silence as Carson spoke to her, struck her and then the Kuati men began beating her with their batons. She tried to control her shaky breathing as the ghosts of the pain she felt that day returned as if they were beating her again in that very moment.

“Completely barbaric” commented Kida.

The next moment, they saw movement at the end of the alleyway and Kimber’s breath hitched as Crosshair came into view, firing the first warning shot with his rifle. A few seconds later, Carson withdrew his blaster, Crosshair fired and then Carson collapsed to the ground dead.

"Well, you weren't wrong about being the reason he's dead," stated Lex.

“Was that Clone one of your friends?” asked Kida.

Kimber was just too much in shock at the moment to say anything right away, but everyone could tell from the look of horror in her eyes that the answer would be “yes”. She felt Rex lay a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Now, everything made sense. Carson had said horribly prejudiced things against Clones, which now explained his involvement with the Eradicators, but in saving her life, Crosshair killing him had started a chain of events she never could’ve imagined. Because of that, now these anti-Clone people were going around capturing Clones...and now, she understood why the Bad Batch was now their primary target.

Right on cue, Rina then said, “Well...I guess now we know why those freaks went after your boys. By killing that Rodian, your friend essentially put a target on his back as well as the rest of them.”

“He was saving my life,” countered Kimber. “You saw what Carson and his thugs did to me.”

“Hey, I’m not saying I don’t agree with his actions. Personally, he should’ve offed all of them for what they did to you,” said Rina.

“Though, it looks like the Eradicators don’t care about that,” Lex put in. “They only see a Clone killing one of their members, despite either of their intentions. Now, they want revenge.”

Once again, Irys pulled up a set of private communications and Kimber spotted the words “Clone Force 99″ in them. Irys went on to say, looking over the images on the screen, “After word of Carson’s death reached the Eradicators, it seemed they had their own people dig up information on the Clone called Crosshair, which I assume was the one we just saw. They found out he belonged to Clone Force 99 and they wanted everything they could find on that squad. Once they discovered Clone Force 99 was an elite Clone squad that were primarily called in for more difficult missions, the Eradicators decided to start capturing as many groups of Clones as they could to catch the Grand Army’s attention and eventually get the Bad Batch to come to them. Additionally, that would give them an excuse to take more forceful and pervasive actions against Clones.”

“Killing two Mynocks with one stone,” Rina commented.

“However, that plan wasn’t working,” Irys continued as she kept scrolling through the messages. “Clones were disappearing, but no moves were made to call in the Bad Batch for it yet, so they moved on to an alternative: staging an attack on the planet, Zeffo, where a well-known Jedi Master and a group of archeologists would be trapped and need extracting, which would certainly bring the Bad Batch in for sure.”

Kimber heard Rina hum and go, “Oh, so that’s why you were on Zeffo.”

Begrudgingly, Kimber replied, crossing her arms, “Yes...and unfortunately, that plan worked...because now the Eradicators have my boys.”

“What else is there?” Rex questioned Irys. “Did you find anything about the stealth tech?”

“As a matter of fact, I did,” Irys answered. “I saw a name repeated multiple times connected to the Eradicators that put in special covert requests to a black market manufacturer for stealth tech as well as the ion cannon.”

“Who was it?” asked Lex.

Irys tapped a key and read the name, “His name is Jax Orroco, the leader of the Eradicators.”

Kimber froze again in shock and fear. “Oh no, twin suns have mercy!” she gasped, her hands covering her face. “Please, don’t let it be him....”

“What is it?” Rex asked, concerned at her reaction.

Pulling her hands away, Kimber told Irys, “Irys, pull up a picture of Jax.”

Without a word, Irys did as she was told, hit a few buttons on the panel and then an image of Jax Orroco appeared on the screen. He was a human male with a close-trimmed beard, salt and pepper hair and dressed in fine, expensive attire.

Kimber’s eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding me...it can’t be!” She whipped around to face Rex, who once again looked confused, and she blurted out, grasping at his arms, “Jax is the man who started the brawl at 79′s the night I got back to Coruscant!"

"Wow, do you just know everyone?" asked Rina, flabbergasted.

Kimber quickly glanced at Rina, but didn't respond to her. Instead, she looked back at Rex and told him, "He came in claiming Jesse had stolen his girl and wanted to kill him! I fought him!”

Rex looked shocked to hear this, but before he could respond, Kida asked, astonished, "Whoa, wait, you fought this rich boy?"

"Yeah, I did. Left a pretty good wound on his head with a bottle, too," explained Kimber. Then she ran her hands through her hair and exhaled sharply. "I can’t believe this...this is all my fault!"

As she stepped away to silently freak out about these newfound revelations, Rex turned back to Irys and asked, "Is there anything else you've found?"

Irys tapped a few more keys and stated, "While Jax hails from Coruscant, the Eradicators' base of operations runs out of Nar Shadaa."

"That's why it sounded familiar," commented Lex. "I remember hearing that mentioned once or twice in the underground on Nar Shadaa, but I didn't know anything about them."

Irys then said to Rex, "That's all I know for now, but I can keep doing some digging."

"See what else can you find, anything that can help us find either the Eradicators or the missing Clones," ordered Rex, stepping away from the other ladies towards Kimber. He laid a hand on her arm and told her, "We should report all of this to Commander Cody."

Coming down from her anxiety, she took a couple deep breaths and said, "Okay. You're right."

After asking Rina if there was another room they could use to make contact with Cody, she pointed them to another nearby room. With that, the two of them went into the room, ready to make their report to their Commander of their findings.

It was no exaggeration to say that Commander Cody was completely bewildered by the news given to him by Captain Rex and Kimber. He had never heard of the Eradicators and was even more surprised to learn of the Bad Batch and Kimber's involvement in everything. His orders were to continue their search for information and to keep him informed of anything else they discovered or of any plans they formulated.

Once they ended the communication with Cody some minutes later, Rex removed his helmet, tucked it under his arm, turned to Kimber and then asked her, "What happened on Kuat?"

She exhaled heavily and explained to him, "After the Kuat Operation, we spent some extra time there…mainly me and Hunter. We had been at a bar, Hunter had stepped out briefly and Carson approached me. He was saying horrible things about Clones. I got angry, I fought him and humiliated him in front of everyone. He didn't like that and so he wanted to retaliate. The next morning, he came after me…and that was what you saw in the security footage." She looked up at Rex with melancholic eyes. "Rex, I can't help but feel responsible for all of this. My actions started an unforeseen chain of events that have now put several Clone lives in danger, including my boys, and there may be more at stake."

Rex told her firmly, "Kimber, do not blame yourself for this. You couldn't have known this would happen. Carson D’gall made his choice by hurting you and I don't fault Crosshair for killing him to save you. I would've done the same."

Despite his reassurance, she couldn't help but still feel guilty for everything that had occurred. If she hadn't reacted emotionally and physically assaulted Carson, then maybe none of this would've happened. If she had just walked away…things would be different.

Rex could tell that remorse was still eating away at her, so he said to console her, "You did nothing wrong. What matters now is finding out what more we can about the Eradicators' plan for your squad and figuring out a way to get them back."

"What if we're too late?" she asked back. "They clearly want revenge against Crosshair as well as the rest of them, which means they're going to kill them. What if my boys are already--"

"Don't think like that, Kimber," he cut her off. "We are going to rescue them. You can't give up now."

Just then, there was a knock at the door and then Rina poked her head in. "Hey, you two, Irys has got some more information for you. This, you're definitely going to want to hear."

They followed Rina out back into the computer room, where Irys was still at her desk with Lex standing directly behind her and Kida at Lex's side, and Kimber asked aloud, "What do you have, Irys?"

"Oh, you're going to like this," said Irys with confidence. "I've got information that'll certainly help you get your squad back." Seeing she had Kimber and Rex's undivided attention, she informed them, "Firstly, good news: it's been confirmed your squad is still alive."

Kimber's eyes went wide immediately. "How do you know?" she questioned.

"There were recent messages sent out to multiple members of the movement saying they're planning a special event at their headquarters on Nar Shadaa," said Irys. Though her demeanor then grew timid as she awkwardly shared, "An event where they're going to celebrate their first Clone eradication...which will be Clone Force 99."

Neither Kimber nor Rex liked that at all. Kimber started wringing her hands nervously, wondering how exactly this was good news, and Rex just closed his eyes, keeping his calm despite having just heard about people celebrating killing Clones.

Then Kida jumped in and stated as a matter of factly, "The event is taking place in three days, so your boys are still alive. There's still time to rescue them as well as the other Clones that have been taken."

That made Kimber and Rex relax a little bit. They had confirmation that the Bad Batch were still alive and that was enough to set their minds at ease for the moment.

Irys then spoke up again, "Secondly, not only are the Eradicators collecting Clones on their own, they also put out a call for any bounty hunters who will bring more Clones to them and promised a handsome reward for any who do. Any hunters are also welcome to the event, should they choose to, where they can witness the eradication or even buy or sell the Clones for profit."

"All right," Kimber acknowledged, uncomfortable with what she was hearing.

Rina stepped up, taking another smoke and said, "With that information in mind, we have an idea on how we can infiltrate the eradication."

"We?" asked Rex.

"Yeah, 'we'. Got a problem with that, blondie?" Rina retorted, making Rex rear back in surprise. "What, you think you're the only one that can come up with a plan?" She turned to Kimber and inquired, "You sure the Cap can hang? He seems a bit jumpy, especially around me."

"Pretty sure he's not used to being addressed so informally," Kimber clarified.

She snickered. "Well, if he's looking for anything else, he's in the wrong place."

Rex just scowled, unamused.

Lex then explained, steering the conversation back, "It's not going to do you guys any good to try and crash the event or even attack before then with an army of Clones. If anything, the Eradicators are probably expecting you to take that very action and that'll be playing right into their hands, giving them more Clones to capture."

"Then what do you suggest?" questioned Kimber.

"They want bounty hunters to bring them more Clones," then said Kida, "so our thought is that we infiltrate their base disguised as a group of bounty hunters bringing in another Clone...a very famous Clone Captain at that, according to the reports Irys found, that the Eradicators would be thrilled to have as their prisoner."

Her eyes were on Captain Rex.

Irys then added right after that, "If we're posing as bounty hunters and using Rex as bait, it will give us access into their headquarters where we can free all of the Clones and bring down their operations from the inside."

However, Kimber shot the idea down by declaring, "No. I'm not putting Rex at risk."

"Kimber, it's the only way that we'll get inside the base," argued Lex.

"We'll find another way, but not like this," Kimber refuted again.

Rex gently nudged her shoulder back and said quietly in her ear, "Kimber, remember Kuat. You're sounding like Hunter."

His words struck her to her core and words failed her for a moment. He was reminding her of the Kuat Operation, when Rex and Cody had wanted her to go undercover for the first time and Hunter outright refused to let her do it, at first, thinking he was protecting her. She had hated that he was trying to control her choices...and that was exactly what she was doing with Rex. It was right then that it hit her how Hunter had to have felt all that time ago regarding her; how difficult it must've been to knowingly put someone he cared about in danger like that. How did he do this all the time? Is this what it felt like to be a leader?

Her head turned and her eyes found Rex's calm and collected gaze.

"I'll do it," he simply said. "For my brothers."

"Rex...I can't lose you, too. You're all I have right now," she pleaded with him, the look in her eyes begging him to reconsider.

Shaking his head and the smallest comforting smile crossing his face, he promised, "You won't lose me. Trust me, if I can survive being trapped in a Zygerrian slave hold, then I can definitely survive this."

Then Kimber felt a hand on her arm and looked down to see Rina standing next to her.

"Besides, he's not the only one you got," Rina said. Gesturing back with her head to the others, she added, "You've got us, too. We're a team now and we're gonna help you get your boys back whether you like it or not." She then bobbed her head a little from side to side, saying, "I know this is probably getting old, but I really think you ought to take the lead on this one. It's your squad we're going after and you know the Clones best. Plus, you're the soldier. You've got the brains when it comes to undercover missions and it's like I said before: you got spunk and spirit. We're gonna need all of that. What do you say?"

Kimber stole a look at the other three women. Kida, Irys and Lex were all giving her encouraging looks, showing that they were silently echoing Rina's sentiments. They were going to help her get through this and they looked to her for leadership, supporting Rina's suggestion. Even though she still barely knew them, they'd already done a lot for her in a short time and she couldn't shake the feeling that these women were people she could trust, even if their backgrounds were a bit shady. They didn't have to help her like this, but they were choosing to anyway.

She still felt unfit to be a leader...but if there was a group she was meant to lead, she was glad it was these ladies.

In response, she turned back to Rina, a defeated half-smirk on her lips, and said, "Well...I guess I'm accepting your offer after all."

With a satisfied grin on her face, Rina took one more drag from her vape mod, blew out the smoke and stated, "I never doubted it for a second, boss lady."

Kimber grinned. With a plan now set in motion, it was time to get her family back.

#star wars the bad batch #the bad batch #bad batch hunter #bad batch fanfic #hunter x oc fic #sun and rain fanfic

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simonrileyss · 1 year

Text

Nightmare / Simon Riley "Ghost"

(Don't know how to write a Y/N fiction that's why I'm writing like this)

Summary: Harley stays at Ghost's place after Makarov kills her family

Warning: blood, PTSD

Wordcount: 3752

I haven’t said a word since I got into the car with Ghost.

The best thing about the lieutenant was that he never asked many questions. In fact, he didn't ask anything.

To my surprise, I was relieved that I didn't hear his voice. I couldn't even imagine him being all empathetic, he was the embodiment of numbness.

Sometimes I wondered what had happened that made him this cold-hearted. Then I realized that I've had enough headaches to deal with, so I stopped wondering.

The other members of Task Force 141 were quick to pay their condolences but I didn't want to hear any of it.

Not because I didn't appreciate their kindness but because I hated to be reminded that I failed.

I failed as a daughter of two amazing people and I failed as a sister. And I can never forgive myself for that.

I had no tears left. I cried for days when I saw their crushed bodies in my bed after I promised them that I'd come home for Christmas.

Makarov made it clear that it was better if we didn't go after him and we didn't listen.

Now that he made his step and I was left with nothing, I felt less than nothing.

Finally hitting that certain hole in my life, I wasn't able to smile or even try to act like everything was fine.

I didn't want to give Ghost the satisfaction that he knew something like this would happen.

He'd always told me that I was putting my family in danger whenever I got onto the plane and did my duty.

And I always told him to go fuck himself.

I barely even looked at him after Price forbade me to go to the field then against my stubborn attitude, ordered me to put down my ghost mask.

I could only catch a glimpse of Ghost's eyes when Price let him know he’d be the one to ensure I was staying in my place.

So, here I was. Riding with Ghost to his home where I'd be completely cut off from the world.

No phones, no e-mails, nothing.

It was my job to grieve and let my family go but how could I do such a thing if I wasn't even able to look into the mirror?

Ghost turned the engine off and cleared his throat.

"This is it."

I sniffed and looked out the window. We were parked beside a one-story brick house with a small garden and a garage. The neighborhood was silent as if no one was living here except him.

I didn't even know what would I have expected from someone like Ghost but it fit him, I guessed.

"Are you planning on staying in the car?" Ghost interrupted my thoughts.

He was wearing his ski mask , which only exposed his intense eyes, but I could still tell he was getting impatient with me.

"If staying and spending the night in the car means that I wouldn't need to put up with your shit then yes." I fired back.

Ghost let out a tired sigh and got out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

As I watched him gather my bags from the back of the truck before heading toward the house, I realized that I had already changed, and not in a good way.

I was in no position to talk to him like that but I couldn't fight the anger that I felt toward everyone and myself.

A part of me could only hope that he understood why I was acting like that.

I climbed out and followed him to the entrance while studying my surroundings. I saw an older woman gazing through her window with curious eyes for a brief moment.

After serving with him for years, Ghost still looked intimidating and tall compared to me if we were next to each other.

I always felt small and fragile compared to him, and this time was no different.

”Any green or red lights, lieutenant?” I asked.

Ghost was fidgeting with his keys before opening the door.

”Just don’t touch anything,” he said flatly, gesturing for me to step inside.

Avoiding his cold stare, I walked into his house and looked around as he closed the door.

Ghost’s home represented his personality. It was silent, gray, and lonely.

There weren’t any pictures or colors to contrast the heaviness of his house.

”Do you live here alone?” I asked even though the answer was obvious.

Ghost walked past me to place my bags on the black couch that was fair.

”Yes,” his accent was thicker now.

I nodded and rubbed the back of my neck.

”Doesn’t it get lonely?” I asked and he froze in his place for a second.

I swear, I could see something flash through his eyes but it was almost unrecognizable. I didn’t know if it was sadness or something worse.

I had never seen Ghost be anything than firm and deadly serious, so finally seeing his mask cracking a little was something refreshing.

”No.”

I swallowed as I remembered how happy my family was whenever I got home from a mission. They were always worried but they believed that I’d come back for them.

And I always did.

Until it was too late.

Pain stabbed through my heart as I looked around Ghost’s house.

I couldn’t imagine living like that. Not having any connections or someone who’d care for me.

”It feels good,” I started and his eyes found me. ”I mean, coming home to someone.”

Ghost stared at me for a second before tearing his gaze away, shutting off once again.

”Does it?” Ghost echoed.

”Yes, my parents and my sister were always happy for me.”

Ghost remained in silence before speaking.

”And see how things ended for them.”

I felt my breath get caught in my throat. The coldness in Ghost’s eyes felt like someone just kicked me in the stomach.

I should have known that he was incapable of showing his emotions but I would have never expected him to throw the deaths of my loved ones back into my face when I was trying to reason with him.

This was low, even from him.

I could never understand how Soap or Alejandro could put up with him. He was always pushing my buttons because it was never enough what I’d done whenever we were on a mission.

I didn’t know if he enjoyed running down me or if he just didn’t feel where the line was but I was sick of his comments.

Ghost could probably see the brokenness in my eyes that was mixed with rage because something has changed in his posture and eyes.

Maybe now he did realize that he has gone too far.

”You know what?” I asked, my voice sharp.

Ghost didn’t say anything, just studied me as I stepped closer to him.

For the first time in these years, I was sorry that I was much shorter than he was.

Maybe if I got lucky I could punch him in the stomach but that would only happen if I was fast.

”I get it, okay?” I asked desperately, my emotions weighing me down like rocks. ”You are all alone and you have nothing to lose, good for you. But just because you choose to be alone doesn’t mean that other people, like me, are weak because they dare to love someone. And yes, I did hear you multiple times when you warned me that I was putting my family in danger. What do you want me to say? That you were right? Isn’t it enough for your ego to witness my downfall now that I lost everything?”

”Harley…” Ghost said in a soft tone.

”Of course, Simon Riley is perfect and knows everything, right?” I asked, ignoring his attempt to interrupt me. ”Well, guess what, not everyone is invincible like you. No one could ever compare to you. I’ll never be enough to do half the things you do. I’m not strong or unstoppable. I’m just a survivor. And I’m sorry that I have a heart.”

My eyes were burning and my stomach was flipping until the last word left my tongue.

I didn’t know what would come after this. He’ll probably kick me out. He’d have every right after the hateful speech I just gave him.

I thought I’d be relieved now that I lashed out at him but in reality, I felt even worse because he’s got nothing to do with any of this.

To my surprise, I saw no anger or frustration in Ghost’s eyes. How come a big guy with a skull mask wouldn’t put me in my place?

I rubbed my hand against my face as Ghost dropped his gaze to the ground.

Just when I was about to open my mouth to apologize, he beat me to it.

”You should be never sorry to have a heart.” Ghost said, his deep voice leaving no room for argument.

I watched him step closer to me with a dedicated look in his eyes.

”I’m giving you this one order and you better complete it, sergeant.”

It didn’t matter how much I wanted to turn away and hide from his glare, his eyes were always searching for me.

”Yes, lieutenant.”

Ghost stirred under my eyes for a few seconds.

”You’ll grieve your family and never leave this house until I say so.” Ghost said in a firm tone.

Despite my desire to speak my mind, I bit my tongue because I knew that it wouldn’t end well if I’d disobey him.

”Yes, sir.” I whispered and dropped my eyes to his chest.

Ghost gave me a small nod before grabbing my bags and walking away.

”This is where you’ll sleep,” he said and I turned around.

”I can sleep on the couch.” I offered. I was already a guest and knowing his hunger for loneliness, I was sure that he only had one bed.

Ghost stopped talking and glanced back at me.

”You really think that I’d let you sleep on the couch?”

I wiped my hair out of my face and blinked a few times.

”It looks comfortable.”

”That’s why I’ll sleep there and not on the floor.” Ghost finished.

I watched him in silence walk to the other side of the house before giving in and following him. I was already uncomfortable by being at his house, how would I manage to sleep in his bed?

Ghost’s bedroom was simple and somewhat small. There was a bed against the wall with a white bedside table and a closed wardrobe in front of them.

He put the bags down before glancing around the room and then turning back to me.

”It’s not a villa but it’ll do, I hope.”

I looked up at him, letting him see my most vulnerable side.

”Thank you.”

Ghost looked a little startled by my affection but he managed to pull himself together and give me a nod before walking away.

***

In the last few hours, I was sitting on Ghost’s bed and staring at pictures of my family. Some of them were torn but at least still were here for me.

My mother always insisted that I’d stay with them longer than I always did but duty was a duty.

Now I was sorry that I didn’t spend much time with them. I was always homesick whenever I was on a mission but the thought that I was doing the right thing helped me cope.

Three soft knocks dragged me out of my thoughts and I wiped my eyes before loosening my grip on the pictures.

”Yes?”

Ghost opened the door and glanced around before fully stepping in. He was wearing a black shirt with gray sweatpants that looked good on him.

I would have never thought that I’d see him wearing anything else than jeans and a vest but nothing was impossible now that I had to stay at his place.

He was holding a plate in his hand with a full taco on it.

I could feel my stomach grumble at the delicious smell of what he had just done.

”I made dinner.” Ghost said silently and walked toward me.

I put my photos aside and crossed my legs as he sat down beside me with a quick breath.

Eyeing the steamy taco on the plate, I felt my chest warm up a little.

”Taco?”

He glanced down at me before looking at the plate in his hands.

”You still like it, right?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and took the plate from him before he’d walk away with it and I’d end up starving for the rest of the night.

”I never told you what I liked.” I said and leaned against the cold wall behind us.

Ghost leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He fixed his gaze on the tattoos covering his arm.

”You and Soap keep talking about foods on missions.” Ghost reminded me. ”It’s kind of hard to ignore your drooling over fast food.”

I almost smiled but my face hurt too much. It was nice to know that he was aware of his surroundings.

”It has chicken and a little chili in it.” Ghost added before I started eating. ”You won’t even feel it.”

I didn’t like chili that much but I knew that it made tacos even better than it already was.

It was fascinating to realize that Ghost has been paying attention all along.

”Perhaps in the future, you might try eating something healthy.” Ghost said as I took a bite.

I gave him a side glance before swallowing.

”I didn’t know that you were quite the cook, lieutenant.” I teased him as I wiped the corner of my mouth.

”What, am I not allowed to have secrets?”

”Of course you are but after this don’t expect me to not want you to make dinner whenever we are working.”

Ghost tilted his head to the side.

”Don’t get used to it.”

As I enjoyed his food and while he was trusting me to let me find out certain things about him made I realized that he wasn’t numb at all.

”What if I tell Soap your secret?”

Ghost stood up and adjusted his shirt, his muscles jumping under his skin while his veins were hugging his lower arms like ropes.

”Then you are more than welcome to sleep on the couch.”

I shrugged as I continued to eat my dinner.

”My lips are sealed then.”

Ghost stopped in the doorway and I could have killed to see his face now.

”Good girl.” Ghost teased me before closing the door.

I felt better now that I wasn’t completely alone.

At first, I was afraid of how this would end but now I was more than sure that the broken pieces would eventually fall back into their places.

It was only a question of time.

***

”Mom? I’m here.” I called out with my hands full of bags, my hair crossing my eyes.

The silence was the only answer to my appearance which made me confused.

The lights were off, leaving me in wonder if they were already asleep.

Dropping my bags in the living room, I tiptoed up the stairs, coming to a stop in front of my sister’s door.

Creeping into her room, I was faced with darkness and when turning the light on, her absence was another question.

She rarely went out, especially if it was this late. There was no way she was outside.

Maybe they were awake after all.

I thought that I should fix myself before surprising them. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I fixed my hair and hurried toward my room.

I could hear their excited and relieved voices in my head as I opened my bedroom door.

It felt good to be home. I spent too much time hiding in ditches and targeting enemies.

I turned the light on and I almost fell to my knees.

There was blood everywhere. The carpet underneath my shoes was stained and the wall was crimson instead of sky blue.

I could feel my breath dragging as my eyes landed on my bed which was already occupied.

The lifeless body of my mother, father, and sister was thrown on each other, bathing in each other’s wet blood.

I didn’t know how long I screamed but it was long enough to make me lose my voice for the next few hours.

The longer I looked at their bodies and empty eyes, the more my heart broke and I eventually fell to the ground, their blood covering me.

I’ve never had a panic attack but I was sure I was suffering through one now.

My tears never stopped coming as an uncontrollable wave of sobs broke out of me.

It felt like someone kept tearing my heart out of its place over and over again.

It was jarring that it only took a few seconds of my life to completely turn upside down.

My screams were echoing in my ears and my throat was burning. The blood that was covering my clothes and hands felt like poison.

”Harley?”

My heart almost tore through my ribcage while an invisible hand was suffocating me.

”Harley!”

My bones were shaking as I saw cameras flashing in my bedroom, the sudden light blinding me.

Then the cordon slowly found its place like at every crime scene.

”Wake up!”

My eyes shot open and for a second I only saw a blurry figure blocking my vision.

I didn’t even think at first, I clenched my fist and swung my right arm but it was stopped midway by a strong hand.

”Easy now.” Ghost’s voice slowly sunk into my mind as I was trying to catch my breath.

Even though sweat covered my body, I was shivering. Coldness ran down my spine as Ghost’s grip was still holding me.

”Recognize me, now?” Ghost asked quietly.

I sighed and nodded. My chest was burning after all the pressure that’s been weighing me down in my nightmare.

Ghost’s eyes ran over me which made me feel exposed and vulnerable. Too vulnerable.

I didn’t like being this way and I especially hated that it was my lieutenant that had to witness this.

He was probably laughing at me on the inside. A grown woman crying in her sleep, how childish.

”Everything is all right, it was just a nightmare.”

His words cut through my flesh, opening my wounds, painful blood filling my heart.

”Not just a nightmare,” I whispered and pulled my hand out of his grasp.

He recoiled a little at my sudden outburst but watched me in silence as I backed up until my back hit the wall.

Suddenly, it felt like I couldn’t get enough space between us.

I had to make such noise in my sleep to startle him up while he was on the other side of the house. I was pathetic.

I didn’t even dare look at him.

”Do you need anything?” asked Ghost after a few moments of silence.

I wiped my face, trying to stop my lips from trembling.

”No.” I said. ”Unless you have a dream catcher somewhere in the house.”

Ghost let out a quick breath.

”I don’t believe in such things,” he answered.

I slowly looked up at him hopelessly.

”What do you believe in?” I asked, not wanting to stop him from talking.

His voice calmed me a little and I was selfish enough to keep him talking until he’d leave me alone again.

”That everything happens for a reason,” he said, looking out the window.

The sky was blurred with gray clouds, a soft thunder shaking them in the distance.

”What would be the reason behind all of this?” I asked. ” I chose an atrocious career? That I’m the reason they are dead?”

”I know that you don’t want to believe this but none of it is your fault.”

His answer frustrated me even though I knew he was trying to help in a way.

”How could it be not my fault? The only reason they were considered a target is because of me.” I choked out.

I was thankful that Ghost didn’t say anything or tried to convince me otherwise.

Probably because he knew that in this kind of state no one and nothing could change my mind.

”Come here,” he murmured and spread his long arms.

”I almost believed that you hug people.” I said flatly.

Ghost’s eyes glimmered in humor before he tilted his head to the side.

”I won’t ask you again.”

I furrowed my brows at his gesture but when I realized that he wasn’t joking or testing me, I pushed the blanket off myself.

Scooching over to him, my heart skipped a beat at his closeness.

Pushing my negative thoughts aside, I wrapped my arms around his torso. It didn’t even take a second for him to close his arms around me, pushing me into his firm chest.

At that moment I promised to never judge him or let my anger control my tongue.

I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat as he gently stroked my back, his other hand finding my hair.

It was crazy how fast someone’s opinion can change in only a matter of seconds or hours.

Simon Riley was a complex and morally gray person, I knew it. But I had no doubt that despite everything he had gone through that changed him into this cold person, he still had feelings.

When I felt myself relax in his arms, I knew that he’d keep me safe anytime if I’d let him.

”No one can compare to you, Simon.” I said, breathing his scent in.

I felt him move his head a little above mine before he dropped his chin on top of my head.

”That makes two of us then.”

#simonriley #ghost #call of duty #modern warfare #simon ghost riley #simon riley ghost #cod mwii #call of duty mw2 #mw2022 #task force 141 #cod #cod ghost #cod mw2 fic #codmw2022 #simon riley fanfic #mw2 ghost #ghost mw2 #ghost team #video games

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the-badger-mole · 2 years

Text

No Sound but Silence: Ice Storm Part 2

In hindsight, Zuko thought he shouldn't have been surprised, but he really hadn't expected to find Azula waiting for him when he got home that night.

"You got that tramp pregnant?" she demanded as soon as Zuko had stepped out of his car.

"Hello, Azula," he said. "Nice to see you, too. Me, I'm just fine. So you've head I'm going to be a father. Yeah, I'm excited, too."

"Excited!" Azula scoffed. She followed Zuko to the door leading up to his apartment. "You're happy about this?"

Zuko considered shutting the door on his sister, but there was more than a small chance that she would cause a scene on the street in front of his uncle's shop if he did. He left the door open and let Azula decide whether or not to follow him upstairs. She did.

"What do you want, Azula?" Zuko asked wearily. He tossed his bookbag aside and sprawled on his favorite easy chair.

"I want to talk some sense into my only brother," she said snidely. She perched on the end of Zuko's well-worn sofa. "Just because she tricked you into getting her pregnant, it doesn't mean you're stuck."

"She didn't trick me," Zuko groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. "Believe it or not, I did know that this was a potential consequence of sleeping with her. We talked about all of our options and we decided to keep her."

"Her...?" Azula gaped at Zuko.

"Or him," he shrugged. "We don't actually know yet. We haven't decided if we want to find out."

"You can't be serious!" Azula's face contorted in disgust. "Dad was so close to asking you to come back. Zuko, you have a shot to reclaim your rightful place in our family, but not if you insist on throwing your lot in with hers!"

"Are you suggesting I abandon my kid?" Zuko glared at Azula frostily.

"You have an entire future ahead of you!" Azula reminded him. "You are a Kaji!"

"Actually, Katara and I are discussing me taking her name." Zuko smirked, but Azula apparently failed to see the humor in it.

"So it's true?" she asked flatly. "You're planning to marry her?"

"I asked and she said yes," Zuko confirmed with a shrug. "If you want to come to the wedding, I'll put you on the invite list." Azula recoiled and almost hissed.

"I always thought you were stupid," she told her brother, "I never thought you were a complete idiot, though. How do you even know it's yours?"

"I know," Zuko said.

"You'd give up your place in this family for her? You'd give up your chance to reconcile with Dad for her?"

"Azula, I would give up being Ozai's son for a tank of gas and a bag of jian dui. I stopped caring about that man five years ago, and he certainly stopped caring about me long before that."

"All you're doing is proving him right, you know. He always said you were a disappointment, and you're proving him right."

"Well, I aim to please." Zuko fought the urge to roll his eyes. He had hoped that he and Katara could move on with their lives without his father or sister knowing too many details, but it was always a foolish hope.

"What exactly is your plan? Are you going to raise a family in this dump? Is the baby going to sleep in the closet?" Azula motioned around the small studio apartment. Aside from the small sofa and the easy chair, there was a full-sized bed, a dining table just big enough for two if they didn't mind knocking elbows, and a combination hotplate, sink and minifridge that served as the kitchen. Azula shook her head in disbelief at her brother.

"We're not staying here," Zuko said. "Not that it's any of your business, but Katara and I will be moving after the wedding."

"I can't believe you're serious about her! Some low-class slut who baby trapped you!" Azula had never liked Katara. Zuko was never quite sure what started their rivalry, but his sister seemed to be the most invested in continuing it.

"I'm dead serious," he told Azula. "And you will not talk about Katara that way. She hasn't trapped me. I want this baby, too. They are my family now, and if you want to stay a part of my life, you'll show Katara some respect."

"I will never acknowledge her as family!" Azula declared. "And as far as I'm concerned, her bastard will never be a Kaji."

"Promise?" Zuko temper was rising to match his sister's. He took a deep breath and sank into his seat. "Azula, why did you come?"

"I came to talk some sense into you!" Azula's frustration was palpable. She stood abruptly and began pacing the floor. "You have your own future to think about. What are you going to do saddled with a wife and a child at nineteen?"

"Azula, I've had the what about your future talk with just about every member of Katara's family, Uncle, and Katara. If you're truly worried about us, I promise you we'll be okay. We know we're young and there's a lot stacked against us, but we've got a plan, and we've got each other." Azula stared at Zuko for a long moment, her lip curled into a sneer. She looked her brother up and down, taking his measure and finding him lacking. It didn't bother Zuko the way it would have once.

"You've got gravel for brains," she sniffed. "And when this little experiment of yours crumbles, you'd better hope Dad is still in a forgiving mood. I hope you come to your senses soon." Zuko sighed, and slapped his hands against his thighs. He stood up and crossed the room to the door.

"I hope the same for you," he told his sister. He held the door open for her. Azula fixed her cold glare on him once again. Then she straightened her shoulders and stormed out of the studio. A moment later, Zuko heard her car peel off down the street. He breathed a sigh of relief and shut the door.

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, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22

#atla #zutara #no sound but silence #azula has more words #she is NOT happy to be an auntie

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vrishchikawrites · 3 years

Note

Hello :) Here's another prompt if you're still taking them? WWX & LWJ met as children and declared that they would marry upon their first meeting. Their guardians just thought that it was cute, and that they will forget about it over time. (They don't)

(SOFT. SO SOFT. AU without SSC and GC transfer)

They first meet when Cansge Sanren and Wei Changze are still alive. The wandering cultivators find themselves in Caiyi town and Lan Qiren is reluctantly dragged from his duties to have lunch with a cheerful Cangse Sanren.

He brings little a-Zhan along.

His nephew has just recovered from a fever and is feeling a little clingy. Lan Qiren will never admit it, but something is in his chest softens when his little nephew clings to him with a pout, refusing to let go.

Cangse Sanren's son is exactly when Lan Qiren expected him to be; excitable, curious, restless, and frustratingly intelligent. Bright silver eyes track everything, fascinated and eager to know more.

Lan Qiren reluctantly nudges a-Zhan forward at Cangse Sanren's pointed stare. She's a protective mother and if he so much as implies her son is unworthy of making acquaintance with his nephew, she will cheerfully gut him.

a-Zhan is reluctant at first. He has never been the most social child, rarely interacting with anyone but his immediate family.

But Wei Ying, also a bit shy and reluctant, peeks from behind his father's robes and smiles.

Lan Qiren has to admit it is a pretty sight. The child is plump and healthy with bright eyes and a wide, sincere smile.

a-Zhan is enamored at first sight.

Lan Qiren is astonished when a-Zhan steps forward and grabs Wei Ying's hand, pulling him from behind Wei Changze and towards Lan Qiren.

Wei Ying comes willingly, curious and entertained by the unusual situation. Lan Qiren doesn't doubt he has had even fewer interactions with children his age than a-Zhan, being the son of traveling cultivators.

"Shufu," He pulls Wei Ying's arm up as though presenting him to Lan Qiren, "a-Ying."

"Indeed," He says, secretly amused but refusing to show it, "I am Lan Qiren, Wei Ying."

Apparently, the child doesn't lack manners because he attempts to bow even with his hand still firmly held in a-Zhan's grasp.

Lan Qiren is somewhat charmed.

He is less charmed when their lunch comes to an end and a-Zhan reaches for a-Ying's hand once again, refusing to let go.

"a-Zhan, it's time to go home. Don't you want to see a-Huan?"

"Show a-Ying to a-Huan." a-Zhan insists, "a-Huan sees too!"

"a-Huan can meet a-Ying later." Lan Qiren says patiently but he feels his eyebrow twitch at a-Zhan's stubborn pout, "a-Ying is staying in Caiyi for a few weeks, a-Zhan, I'm sure we can bring a-Huan next time."

"a-Huan see pretty now."

Lan Qiren winces when Cangse Sanren muffles a laugh in her husband's shoulder and the man looks at the sky, amused but too dignified to react.

a-Ying tugs at his hand, trying to free it only to pout when he can't escape.

The scene is too adorable for Lan Qiren's poor heart. He sighs.

"Alright, let's show a-Huan the 'pretty'."

---

The little wandering cultivator family stays in Caiyi for three weeks to rest, replenish their supplies, and give their child some time to play with others.

a-Huan, of course, is just as enamored by a-Ying as his little brother. Lan Qiren is getting accustomed to the sight of a little white-clad Wei child lead around Cloud Recesses by one nephew in the morning and another in the evening.

a-Huan is at least gracious enough to let Wei Ying walk on his own. a-Zhan is stubborn. If he's in a-Ying's company, he's holding the child's hand.

Wei Ying is a free spirit and being dragged around annoys the child at first. He tugs and pouts but eventually starts reaching for a-Zhan's hand on his own accord.

There's not a single person in Cloud Recesses that doesn't adore the sight.

---

"a-Zhan," Lan Qiren sighs, "a-Ying must leave with his parents. He belongs to them."

a-Zhan is red-faced and angry, his eyes wet with frustrated tears, "a-Ying stay. a-Ying stay, stay, stay!"

Oh goodness, a tantrum.

It is, unfortunately, a drama with three actors.

a-Huan is weeping with a tragic appearance of a love-scorned maiden; eyes wide and imploring, lips trembling, and face wet with silent tears.

a-Ying is burying sobs into his father's shoulder, his little body trembling with acute distress. "a-Ying not leave," He wails, "a-Ying wants stay with a-Zhan!"

"a-Ying," Wei Changze is compassionate instead of amused, his expression soft with sympathy. He rubs his son's back in gentle motions, rocking the child soothingly, "Baba promises we'll return. We'll be back before you even have a chance to miss your friends."

"Aiya! What a mess," Cangse Sanren says, amused, "a-Ying, do you want to leave us and stay with a-Zhan? We must go so you need to choose."

"Xingan," Wei Changze chides as Wei Ying looks up with wide eyes and shakes his head, looking heartbreakingly distressed, "Be gentle with our child."

Lan Qiren huffs in disapproval, glaring at her as she smiles sheepishly and presses a kiss to Wei Ying's head, "Aiya, baobao, you'll break your mother's heart. It's alright, little treasure," She plucks him from Wei Changze's arms, her face incandescent with love, "We'll bring you to your a-Zhan every two months, I promise! We would never keep you from your friends!"

Perhaps she knows something about raising children, after all. The definite timeline goes a long way to soothe all three children.

There are still many tears at their parting. a-Zhan and a-Huan sulk for days. Sometimes Lan Qiren catches a-Zhan looking at his hand with a forlorn expression.

"a-Zhan," He sighs one day, when his nephew spends an entire evening pouting and staring at his hand, "He'll be back soon."

a-Zhan doesn't say anything, just nodding gently and tucking his hand away.

The expression on his face melts Lan Qiren's heart, "I'll convince Cangse Sanren to stay a bit longer." He thinks about asking her to just let the child attend Cloud Recesses for his education. He's very bright, possessing a native intelligence that must be nurtured.

"Mn."

"Missing a friend is natural," He says softly, "But you must understand that everyone has their own life and obligations. a-Ying belongs to his parents. He must live with them."

"Mn. Will marry a-Ying so he belongs to me."

Lan Qiren chokes on his tea, "What...?"

"a-Ying promised he'll be my wife," a-Zhan nods solemnly, like he isn't nudging his uncle towards qi deviation, "a-Huan saw."

Lan Qiren turns to his older nephew, who nods with a cheerful smile, "They bowed to me and each other. I told them bowing to ancestors can wait until they're older!"

... what?

---

Tragedy strikes and Lan Qiren sees his nephew's heart break. Once. Twice. Three times.

Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren are killed. a-Ying is nowhere to be found.

Madam Lan perishes, and his little nephew deals with the weight of grief again, silent and solemn at her doorstep.

His brother retreats entirely and his nephews are left without a father.

They don't see Wei Ying again for well over a decade.

---

Wei Wuxian arrives at Cloud Recesses like an unstoppable storm.

Lan Qiren takes one look at him, sees the jaded edge in his eyes, watches his appeasing smile, and feels nothing but wrath.

This isn't the boy he remembers, raised under the boundless love of his parents. This one has faced injustice and doesn't trust the world.

The first time the boy challenges him in class, silver eyes sharp and assessing, he throws a book at him and assigns punishment with Wangji.

Let his nephew handle his cherished friend. He needs to look at the situation at the Lotus Pier.

He keeps assigning him lines, even for offenses that warrant the cane. Wei Ying doesn't remember much of his childhood but it is clear that the connection is still there.

The three children fall into their old friendship quickly. Xichen being amused and indulgent. Wei Ying being annoying and lively. Wangji never letting go.

Lan Qiren investigates.

What he finds doesn't please him.

He pens a scathing letter.

'She entrusted you with her treasure. You've made a hash of it. What do you mean by sending that child here in such a state? Did you think I would ignore it? Will you tell me the scars on his back are warranted?

Your audacity appalls me. You swore on your honor that you would raise him as your own son. I offered to take him in when you found him but you swore he was happy with you and his martial siblings.

My nephews love him. Your son only berates him.

You have deceived me.

I swear on my honor that I will find a way to wrest him from your sect, Fengmian.

You do not deserve him.'

---

Wei Ying is a naturally good-humored child. It takes just a month of being in Wangji and Xichen's company to soften all of his edges. His mischief no longer has a jaded edge to it.

He's still far too unruly for Lan Qiren's liking but he supposes that is a symptom of his youth.

"Jiang Yanli is betrothed," Xichen says as he serves them tea. He has a solemn expression but his eyes are sharp. He's almost as fond of Wei Ying as Wangji, after all, "I see no reason why Wangji and a-Xian can't be too."

Lan Qiren stills, staring at his nephew, "Betrothal." He repeats flatly.

Xichen dares to shrug, discarding his habitual poise in his anger, "Wangji has never loved another. It's unlikely he ever will." He looks up to meet Lan Qiren's gaze, "We wouldn't be able to separate them now, Shufu, not after Wangji saw-" He grimaces.

Lan Qiren looks away with a scowl, combing his beard furiously. His youngest nephew had discovered Wei Ying's scars, after all.

"We have letters from Wei Changze," Lan Qiren says, "Discussing a-Ying and a-Zhan's formal marriage arrangements." It had all been in jest, of course. When they found out the children had 'wed' with Xichen as a witness, their amusement had known no bounds.

Lan Qiren had quite enjoyed carrying out mock betrothal negotiations.

He clears his throat, "Very well."

---

Wangji and Wei Ying are officially betrothed before the lectures at Cloud Recesses come to an end.

Yu-furen's wrath knows no bounds. Soon enough, Jiang Fengmian sends Wei Ying back to Cloud Recesses with a letter full of excuses.

Wangji takes one look at his beloved's ashen expression and turns to Lan Qiren, "No more."

Lan Qiren nods.

It is difficult to negotiate but they pull it off. It helps that Wei Changze's letters speak of the marriage as an inevitable fact rather than a joke between parents.

The Jiangs lose their Head Disciple by the time the boy is seventeen. Lan Qiren arranges their marriage by the time they're twenty.

Wei Ying never leaves Wangji's side again.

#short prompts #wei wuxian #lan wangji #lan xichen #lan qiren #wei changze #cangse sanren #anti jiang sect

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bloodskipper · 2 years

Text

Bo Sinclair x reader | Hell or High Water | Pt. 15

CONTENT WARNINGS: restraint (haha yeah again), tsundere-vibes, terror, knives, blood, violence

Your eyes fluttered open and the sun was already shining strongly through the curtains in the bedroom. A yawn scrunched up your face and you tried to stretch your arms above your head... only to realize your hands were tied to the headboard. A burst of panic shot through you as you frantically tugged on the rope in an effort to free yourself, but you soon relaxed with a bitter sigh.

At this point, it was hard to surprise you.

With everything that had cursed you up to this point, you figured Bo had done this for whatever reasons Bo might have - no matter how scared of him you were in the moment, you knew he personally was never going to follow through with the sinister plans he may have had in mind. According to him, however, his brothers were a different story. On surface level, they seemed harmless, but there was hardly any sliver of trust to cling to here.

You lay sprawled for several minutes with your eyes closed, waiting for Bo to return and serve you some kind of bullshit as to why he did this. The front door squeaked open and you heard someone climbing the stairs.

Thank god, you thought. My arms are fucking tired.

An annoyed scowl darkened your face as the doorknob turned; you were ready to give Bo another "what the fuck" and "if you like me, you have to stop doing this kind of shit" talk. To your surprise, it wasn't Bo at all.

"Hey, Y/N!" Lester beamed, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind him. "Ya miss me?"

Your scowl dropped to blank disbelief.

"Did Bo set this up?" you asked flatly.

"Hell, no," Lester replied, still with a smile. "We been out lookin' fer ya, well... seems like forever! But I know Bo's gonna be real happy when he sees this." His eyes scanned your sprawled body, causing you to draw up your knees to your torso.

"Now, now, don't think yer gettin' outta this one, Y/N," Lester hastily chuckled as he snatched your ankles to secure them to the bedposts.

"God, would you guys get over yourselves already?" you asked in the same bored tone while Lester tied the final knot. He perked up at your comment, blinking and jutting his head backward.

"This ain't about us. Ain't Bo tell you that already?"

Before you could speak, another pair of footsteps was heard clammering up staircase and was soon in the room with you and Lester.

"I told ya, Vincent! I got 'em!" Lester pointed happily at your restraints. The taller man said nothing and stood behind his brother with his eyes on you.

"Is this really necessary?" you questioned. "If you haven't killed me by now, then what's the point?"

"It's not that we want to kill you, Y/N. We just can't trust ya now," explained Lester, brandishing a bowie knife, its blade coated in dried blood. He lightly scraped it off on his jeans and took a step toward you, biting his lips in an eager grin. Vincent stood silently in the corner, cocking his head slightly every now and then.

Lester traced his knife's tip lightly up your leg, occasionally stopping just to look up and watch you squirm.

"You won't do it," you bluffed, a layer of sweat sheathing your face.

"Oh, you can bet your sweet little ass I will," he spat back, raising the knife to your chin. "This is it. Say your prayers, er whatever ya want."

The stained metal pressed coldly into your skin and, for a second, you accepted your fate.

A third pair of steps was finally heard bounding upstairs. The bedroom door flung open, revealing a flustered Bo.

"Y/N!" he exclaimed upon finding your state. His attention turned to his brothers with obvious confusion: "Lester? Vince? The fuck?"

"Bo, we finally got 'em!" the youngest brother interrupted.

Bo instantly reached up and squeezed Lester's elbow until he dropped the knife.

"Ow! Goddammit, the hell is wrong with you?" Lester cried, clutching his arm.

"And you," Bo said shoving Vincent in the shoulder, causing him to fall back against the wall. "You just stood here and let it happen?" He raised a fist to strike Vincent again, but you couldn't bear to see more violence.

"Bo! Stop!" you demanded. All eyes were now fixed on you; everyone's cumulative frantic breaths kept the tension level high. Bo slowly relaxed his fist.

"What the fuck's got into you?" Lester asked Bo accusingly.

"I, uh... well... nothin's got into me!" Bo stammered. He straightened his posture and squinted at Lester.

"This just ain't like you, man. They're perfect for the collection - just look at 'em." Lester nodded his head in your direction.

"That's why we can't! We can't... do it." Bo sat beside your restrained body and let his head fall into his hands. Vincent stood to his normal towering position and approached Bo tenderly to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you really goin' soft on us? On Mama?" questioned Lester with the same sour tone.

"Well, Mama ain't here, now, is she?" Bo replied distantly.

"... collection?" you squeaked.

"Come on, brother! Just finish the job," Lester said, thrusting the bowie knife into Bo's hand.

Briefly Bo glared up at his siblings, clutching the knife's handle with white knuckles. In what seemed like a second, he sliced off your bindings and stood as a barrier between you and the other two in the room in an effort to guard you.

"Try anythin' else, and I'll finish you," he growled.

Holy fuck, thanks again for waiting! As mentioned in another post: "I was sad... hehe!"

But can you believe Bo jumped to your rescue????? Real king vibes <3

Link to Pt. 14

#bo sinclair x reader #bo sinclair #horror #slashers #slasher x reader #slasher fucker #horror movies #bo sinclair fanfic #bo sinclair house of wax #bo sinclair imagine #bo sinclair x you #tw violence #tw knives #tw restraints #tw blood #tw terror #tw tsundere

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recurring-polynya · 3 years

Note

For Stuff For Renji's Birthday Prompts: 1) time travel turn back the clock nonsense, bc I'm an enabler and Karakura teens plus shithead Renruki teens has *Byakuya voice* strong comedic potential OR 2) Hisana lives but due to wacky circumstances, nobody notices Rukia's existence at the Academy... until they've graduated and Renruki have joined Squad 11. Dealer's choice! (Honestly whichever you pick, I might try writing the one you don't. I am not a writer these 2 just live in my head rent free)

Why would you make me choose between these, whyyyyyyyyyy?

To be honest, I almost did them both, but this was the second one I did, and I figured that I should probably do some other people’s prompts, and then I ran out of time. I might do you some time travel shenanigans later. (This should in no way stop you from writing these, I would flip my chips if you wrote something, let alone something based on my horrible ideas)

In any case, I couldn’t resist the second options and I have spun it out into a delightful bit of Byakuya-torture. Please enjoy!!!

Special thanks to @kaicko for helping me come up with the clerical error, because you all know me, I can’t just say “a clerical error.” 😂

Read on ao3 or ff.net

💀 💀 💀

“How is the tea?” Aizen Sousuke asked smoothly.

The tea was excellent, but Byakuya wasn’t in the mood for Aizen’s needy attempts to ingratiate himself. “Adequate,” he replied dryly. “You said you had something to discuss with me.”

“Ah, diligent as always, Byakuya,” Aizen sighed, “always eager to get back to work. I’ll get to the point: I happened to speak with your wife recently at a fundraising event. She’s very interested in the people of the deep Rukon, and said she travels to South Rukongai frequently.”

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. “What is your point?”

“Well, I thought it was a bit of a strange occupation for a woman of your wife’s noble standing, but then Gin reminded me that she was actually from there herself, that there had been a bit of a to-do when you two married. I don’t tend to follow gossip myself--”

“I repeat, what is your point?” Byakuya gritted your teeth.

Aizen made a pissy little throat clearing noise and fiddled with a folder on his desk. “The fact is, Byakuya, your wife reminds me a great deal of a young woman who served in my squad a few years ago, whom I recalled also hailing from the Rukon. I wondered if there might be a.... connection.”

Byakuya’s shoulders stiffened. Impossible. He had put watches on all immigrants to the Seireitei. He would have reviewed anyone who came from the South 78th.

“Inuzuri Rukia,” Aizen read from his file, and Byakuya’s blood ran cold. “Shin’ou class of 2066. Unseated. Petite, like your wife. Dark hair. Very striking eyes. Unfortunately, an unremarkable shinigami. Potential for a good kidou user, but didn’t take direction well. More interested in sword combat, although she had little aptitude for it. Ah, here it is. Hometown: District 48, South Rukongai.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Byakuya said flatly. “Inuzuri is the 78th district of South Rukongai. Why would she carry a surname from a different district?”

Aizen made an exaggerated frown. “Very strange! A clerical error perhaps? Hold on a moment.” He stuck his head out of his office door and said something to the shinigami on reception duty. “Fortunately, there’s an easy way to clear this up. It’ll just be a minute.”

Byakuya gripped his teacup, unsure of how to feel. A clerical error. Class of 2066… she would have enrolled in 2060, in the middle of Hisana’s worst turn, when she had been bedridden for nearly four years. Their attention would have lapsed. It made sense.

“She does not sound like your usual recruit,” Byakuya accused. Aizen was constantly finding ways to skim the highest performers from the Academy, all the gifted children.

Aizen looked sheepish. “Ah, well, you see, there was a young man of some talent that I was eager to recruit who was… attached to her. I thought she might have some potential if properly guided, but it never panned out.”

Aizen’s good deed was suddenly beginning to make sense. The girl had transferred out and taken Aizen’s prize with her. He wanted Byakuya to go fetch her away in hopes that the talented one would come home. Byakuya actually felt much better now that he’d identified Aizen’s ulterior motive, and further, that it had more to do with his own petty recruiting schemes than Byakuya’s family (specifically, Byakuya’s wife).

There was a knock at the office door, and upon being bid entry, a young woman walked in. Although indeed petite and dark-haired, she looked nothing like Hisana, and Byakuya remarked as much.

“Oh, no, this is my Seventh Seat!” Aizen chuckled. “Miss Hinamori, you were friends with Inuzuri Rukia, isn’t that correct?”

The young woman’s eyes had gone wide when she recognized Byakuya. “Er, yes, sir,” she said, her eyes darting between the two captains. “We shared a room while she served here.”

“Do you happen to remember what district she was from?” Aizen asked in an overly friendly manner.

“Oh, sure, it was South 78,” Hinamori replied. “Inuzuri, of course.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know all the outermost ones,” Aizen said in his goofy voice again. “Her paperwork says 48.”

Hinamori’s brow furrowed for a moment and then her face brightened. “She and Abarai had very heavy accents when they first came to the Academy, and used a lot of deep Rukongai language quirks. I don’t remember all of it, but they both used to use ‘shichi’ instead of ‘nana’ for seven, especially when referring to their district. They weren’t very fond of their home district. I wonder if the registrar misheard.”

“Well, there you go!” Aizen said, slapping his hands on his desk. “A very logical explanation!”

Hinamori beamed.

Byakuya found Aizen’s need to be liked by his subordinates very unprofessional and off-putting, but he tried to push it aside. He was trying not to be too eager, but this was probably the best lead he’d had on Hisana’s sister in all the years they had been searching. “Where is she now?” he grumbled.

Aizen turned his doe eyes on his fawning subordinate once more. “I don’t suppose you still keep in touch? She couldn’t have lasted very long there, they must have transferred again?”

Hinamori made a face like she didn’t want to say the answer. “I’m afraid that Kira and I had a bit of a falling out with Abarai and Inuzuri when they left. I haven’t talked to them in a few years, although we still have some mutual friends. As far as I know, though, they’re both still at Squad Eleven. I heard they were doing fairly well there, actually.”

The room seemed to retreat around Byakuya. All he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears and the reverberations of the most horrible words he could possibly think of: Squad Eleven.

---

Byakuya knew it was poor etiquette to visit another captain’s squad when the man was out, but he absolutely could not stomach the idea of discussing the matter of his wife’s sister with the Kenpachi, so he waited until Zaraki and his miniature lieutenant were sent out to go trample half of East Rukongai before visiting.

He also knew that he probably should have said something to Hisana, but he couldn’t bring himself to get his wife’s hopes up, only to dash them, should this turn out to be nothing, like so many leads before it. So, the secret sat in his stomach, heavy and acidic, jostling with the guilt of his breach of etiquette.

“Is there someone here,” he gingerly asked one of the gentlemen on gate duty, “who takes care of administrative matters for the squad?”

The man swiveled his head, which appeared to grow directly from his torso with no need for an intervening neck, to his fellow guardsman. “What?”

The other fellow had been busy trying to remove wax from his ear with a pinky. “WHAT?” he shouted back.

“Paperwork!” Byakuya said a little louder. “Is there an office of some sort? A person who knows what’s going on?”

He supposed he could have asked for the girl, Inuzuri, directly, but he didn’t feel… ready.

“I think he wants Ayasegawa,” the neckless guard hazarded.

“WHAT?”

“I’ll be right back.”

Eventually, the burly gentleman returned. With him was a strangely elegant person with a silky curtain of hair cut severely to chin length and piercing violet eyes. “It really is you,” the lovely man said with a level of disdain that Byakuya almost had to admire. Before he had a chance to get offended, the man dipped into a respectful bow. “Welcome to the Eleventh, Captain Kuchiki. Fifth Seat Ayasegawa at your service. What in Soul Society can I possibly do for you?”

“Apologies for visiting while your captain is abroad,” Byakuya replied, not meaning a word of it.

“Oh, he’ll be very sorry to have missed you,” Ayasegawa frowned. “But I’m sure you could make it up to him later.”

Byakuya’s eye twitched. “Perhaps. I have come to enquire about a young woman whom I am told transferred to your squad three years ago.”

“Does she have a name? That might make it a little easier.”

“Inuzuri Rukia.”

Both of Ayasegawa’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth curved into a feline grin. “Ninth Seat Inuzuri, of course!”

Byakuya blinked. “Ninth Seat? Captain Aizen told me she was middling at best.”

Ayasegawa's face suddenly went stiff. “She was not well-served at the Fifth, but she has bloomed here most beautifully. Inuzuri is my personal protege, you know.” He stared at Byakuya under hooded eyes. “What is your interest in her? Captain?”

Byakuya took a deep breath through his nose. “My wife is also from Inuzuri. She is trying to locate someone she knew there. It is possible this Rukia is that someone.”

Ayasegawa frowned. “Well, I can introduce you, if you like. I should warn you, though, Rukia doesn’t have a lot of lost love for her hometown.”

“My understanding is that there isn’t much to love about it.”

“Mmm,” Ayasegawa agreed. “Well, come along, let’s go find her.” He concentrated for a moment, clearly trying to find her reiatsu. She must be a woman of some power, after all. “Ugh! She and Abarai are at it again! Every day!”

Byakuya swallowed stiffly.

“Well come on! She’s out at the training fields, clobbering our Tenth Seat, yet again.”

Oh. That kind of “going at it.”

Ayasegawa was shaking his head. “The two of them are literally an unstoppable force and an immovable object.”

“Abarai was also at the Fifth?,” Byakuya probed cautiously. “I was told they were close.”

“Of course they’re close!” Ayasegawa scoffed. “They’re partners!” He thought for a moment. “Abarai is from the 78th as well, you know. If Rukia turns out to not be your girl, perhaps one or the other of them knew the person you’re looking for. Abarai is one of those people who just… knows everyone. He’s the personable half of the pair.”

“‘Partners’?” Byakuya echoed. “What… kind of partners?”

Ayasegawa stared back at him like he was insane. “Partners.”

This path of inquiry clearly wasn’t going to get him anywhere, but wasn’t particularly relevant, either. “I did not think kidou-type zanpakutou were permitted in the Eleventh,” Byakuya sniffed. “Aizen’s records indicated Inuzuri wields an ice-and-snow type.”

Ayasegawa gave a little shrug. “Zanpakutou classifications are arbitrary. Obviously, if she had a bunch of showy blizzard attacks like Matsumoto’s little prodigy friend, it would be a no-go. Rukia can take the blade of her sword down to sub-zero temperatures. She has a weapon-shattering attack and she doesn’t feel pain when she’s fighting. It’s fundamentally no different than a zanpakutou so massive that only the wielder can lift it, or a whip sword that’s controlled with one’s reiatsu.”

This sounded like a quibble to Byakuya, but it’s not like he had come to the Eleventh looking for sound logic.

“She’s incredibly fast, probably the fastest person in the Eleventh, although no one’s really sure what Yachiru’s top speed is,” Ayasegawa continued on. He glanced at Byakuya slyly. “I hear you are very fast.”

“You have heard correctly.”

“That’s why Abarai can’t beat her. If he could land one really hard hit on her, she’d go down, but he’s not fast enough and she’s just too agile. He’s my partner’s protege, you see, so I have to take their little scraps very personally.”

How did this man talk so much?

“What did you say your wife’s relationship was to her again?”

“I did not.”

“Ah, right. Oops, look out!” Ayasegawa abruptly dove to one side as a giant mass of shihakushou and pink hair and what might be a sword came crashing through the split rail fence surrounding the training field.

Byakuya was not in the habit of ducking, so he merely plunged the force of his reiatsu down into the earth like a piton. It was almost, but not entirely sufficient. Byakuya gritted his teeth as he was driven back, dirt piling up behind his heels as he skidded backwards.

When they finally came to a halt, Byakuya looked down at the meaty youth lying at his feet. This must be the infamous Abarai, although he certainly didn’t look like one of Aizen’s usual simpering overachievers. The first thing Byakuya observed was the eye makeup. Most shinigami applied at least a little eyeliner, on grounds of tradition, but few bothered to blacken the entire eye socket, as in the skeletal facepaint of old. The second thing Byakuya noticed were the tattoos painted across his forehead and neck. They were black and spikey and horrible. The third thing was the hair, which was bright pink and spikey, and utterly at odds with the makeup and tattoos. The fourth thing was the big, sheepish grin, which honestly just tied the whole hideous tableau together.

Byakuya glared down at the lout, and in a moment of pettiness, flared his reiatsu to a level that should have sent blood spurting out of his ears.

“I’m afraid that’s not going to do much to someone who has a weekly sparring slot with the Kenpachi,” Ayasegawa commented dryly.

“Sorry ‘bout that!” the lummox cheerfully apologized as he sat up and brushed himself off. He had an Inuzuri accent so thick you could spread it on toast, an accent that Hisana tended to slip into only when she was extremely bent out of shape. Abarai snapped the sword hilt in his hand, and the tangled pile of steel on the ground neatly retracted into something that looked a little more like a weapon, if a weapon were designed by a creative and overly violent child.

“That’s a captain, you buffoon!” another voice rang out, and every muscle in Byakuya’s body locked. “Show your respects!”

The voice clearly affected Abarai as well, because he leapt to his feet, spun, and slammed into a bow. “My apologies, Captain…” his eyes glanced up and abruptly widened, “Kuchiki.”

“Greetings, Captain Kuchiki! Welcome to the Eleventh Division! I apologize very profusely for throwing Tenth Seat Abarai at you!” A second young person had come to join Abarai in his bow, and they both rose in unison, Abarai looking suddenly pale and nervous, his companion looking calm and confident.

So this was Inuzuri Rukia. She had Hisana’s voice. She had Hisana’s stature, and standing next to Abarai made her look positively childlike. She wore the same dreadful eyeblack, but the eyes that shone out of it were a variation on Hisana’s, harder and three shades more purple. The rest of the face was Hisana’s. Her hair was dark, shaved on the sides, arranged into porcupine spikes on top, although one lock hung down stubbornly between her eyes. Her ears glittered with silver piercings. At least she was free of awful tatt-- wait, no. Byakuya had missed them at first, because they were white. Abarai’s tattoos were spiky and sharp, but Inuzuri’s were graceful swirls, like ribbons wrapping lazily down her forearms. Even her reiatsu was like Hisana’s-- but instead of a cool, refreshing wintergreen, Inuzuri’s was the bone-deep cold of winter, a cold so harsh it burnt in the lungs.

There was no doubt.

This atrocious delinquent was his long-lost sister-in-law.

“Can we help you with something, sir?” Inuzuri prompted. “Abarai here’s a big fan of yours.”

“Shut up, Rukia,” Abarai managed through gritted molars.

“Inuzuri Rukia, you died as an infant thirty-six years ago and were sent to the 78th District of South Rukongai, is that correct?” Byakuya said stiffly.

Inuzuri and Abarai both bristled, a pair of mongrels raising their haunches. “That seems about right,” Inuzuri replied slowly. “My early years are a little hazy.”

“My wife, Hisana also died thirty-six years ago and was sent to Inuzuri with her infant sister,” Byakuya went on. “They were separated. My wife has been looking for her sister ever since. You… resemble her greatly.” Byakuya let the implication hang in the air. He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

There was silence for a moment. Then there was the distinct noise of a laugh that, having been held in, had escaped through someone’s nose. “Sorry! Pardon me!” Ayasegawa wheezed, clapping one hand over his mouth and looking away. “Bit of. Dust. In my throat.”

“I told you! I told you, you looked like that picture of her in the Bulletin!” Abarai was hissing.

“I thought you were lying because you thought she was pretty!” Inuzuri hissed back.

“I thought she was pretty because she looks just like you!”

“Now is really not the time, Abarai!” She cleared her throat and tried to stand up a bit taller, a futile effort. “So, uh, so what? What does that mean, if I am her sister? Does that… does that make me noble?”

A higher pitched wheezing came out of Ayasegawa. The level of impudence was extraordinary.

“I would like you to come to my home to meet her, first,” Byakuya put off making any promises. “We can discuss what comes next. As a family.”

“I’m at work right now,” Inuzuri excused.

“Inuzuri, I need to know how this pans out, you can have the afternoon off,” Ayasegawa informed her.

Inuzuri’s confidence seemed to be draining out of her. She took a tiny step closer to Abarai and groped for his hand. “I’m bringing Renji,” she declared.

“Is he compulsory?” Byakuya asked. Inuzuri was absurd looking too, but at least she was small.

“He’s my family,” Inuzuri insisted.

Byakuya’s brows furrowed. This could prove problematic. “In any sort of legally binding sense?”

“We’re engaged!” Inuzuri announced.

“We are?” Abarai goggled.

“I told you I’d marry you if you could ever manage to beat me in a fight! What else would you call that?” Rukia hissed at him in a voice that was still, unfortunately, perfectly audible.

“I’ve been trying every day, and honestly, Rukia, it’s not looking good for me!”

“Can you just go with it for once, instead of arguing with me every time?”

“If you want to leave and never tell anyone you found her,” Ayasegawa put in, “I am very bribable.”

Byakuya was sorely tempted.

---

End note: To further explain the number mix-up, as I understand it “seven” in Japanese can either be said as “nana” or “shichi”. People usually say “nana” for two reasons-- 1) to avoid confusion with 4 (”shi”, although you can also say “yon”) and because “shi” is a homophone for death. Given how shitty the districts in the 70s are, I rather liked the idea that they residents use the “shichi” pronunciation as a bit of gallows humor. (And if you don’t have a rude nickname for the town you grew up in, well, congrats for not growing up somewhere shitty)

I don’t actually speak Japanese, tho, so forgive me if this is all nonsense. 😁

#renji's birthday 2k21 #my writing #i loved writing this with my entire being #thank you so much #all i ever want in the way of prompts is cursed suggestions that come out of conversations i have in the bowels of my ao3 comments #strictly speaking this isn't very renji-centric but he does reach new peaks of himbo-dom in this au so i will allow it #the byakuya - yumichika interaction in this fic is so powerful #also a i z e n

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athena-is-a-chaotic-lil-shit · 3 years

Text

Of Ice and Blood

Part 4

Welcome back! Hope you enjoy✨

Pairing: Tai'chi Kashharzol (Orc) x Pearl Blackbell (Human OC/Reader)

Warnings: Violence, cursing, shouting, and fighting. No blood mention. Just broken bones and stuff.

2.1k+ words [originally 1.6k but I revised it and added more details!]

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 5 Part 6

Sensing another one behind me, I went low and struck his leg with mine, using his fall to punch his chin with my right fist this time, being careful to use a controlled amount of force or else the nerve I hit will result to permanent brain injury and can be fatal.

I got up, swift in my actions as I saw the guy with a raised baseball bat heading towards me from my left flank, and the other one from the right, fast.

On reflex, I leaned back, the bat that was aimed at me hitting his comrade on the shoulder instead. Guy's lucky, actually. He would have suffered internal bleeding if it bashed the side of his skull.

Four down, two to go.

I took my stance once again to ready myself. This dude was a foot taller than me, with muscles packed with raw strength, but even so, pale in comparison to Tai'chi's p—

Stop thinking that! Focus!

"Smash her head Dan!" The man behind him yelled.

This 'Dan' went straight to me with his bat raised with intent once more.

Breathe in.

Everything slowed down. I let my heart rate decelerate, my hearing sharpened, my sense of smell heightening even further.

I closed my eyes, letting the rest of my senses take over. Years of practice, days of pain from training, each motion engraved to my entire body with purpose. To defend not only myself, but also those who are looked down upon, discriminated and stepped on like dirt. My parents had always taught me to defend myself. Me. Don't get me wrong, my parents are good people, albeit wary of the other races in our community. But the moment I left the roof of my home, I knew it was time for me to defend someone other than myself. I don't give a damn about where we come from or what kind of blood flows within our veins. I will protect those who need protecting, and set anyone straight and down to the ground when they deserve it.

Breathe out.

At the last few moments, with my eyes still shut, I changed my form. I followed his aura and pictured out the shape that was drawing up to land a serious blow to my head. Dan is solid and heavy, but everyone has at least one weakness. And this guy is not spared from that.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

I opened my right fist, right foot forward and relaxed my arms, my legs serving as a firm foundation for my upper body. With the bat inches away from me, I smoothly dodged to the side, using my palm to push away the hand holding the weapon and punched a vital pressure point right under his bicep.

I bent my legs even lower and struck the center of his ribs with my thumb, closing my hands as I jabbed his sciatic nerve on each side at the same time, both located in the middle line of the thigh between the groin and the knee. A solid blow to those nerve points will cause intense pain and shock to the person, along with a temporary immobility of the feet.

a/n: Self defense 101! Remember that dear readers♥

With the support of my left leg, I went behind the man, standing straight and proud. Calm, I opened my eyes when I heard his fall, staring right into the fearful ones of the moron that started all of this.

"Y-You- You killed them!"

Is he that dumb?

"Correction, I didn't. I knocked them unconscious is all. And the fellow that attacked me first? Well, he passed out from the pain of his now funny-looking arm." I stated flatly as I trudged to where he was standing.

"S-Stay away from me! Monster! Freak!" He stumbled, his ass on the ground and away from me until he felt a tree trunk on his back.

I scoffed and withdrew my knuckle dusters back under my baggy sleeve.

"You wanna know who the real monster is?" I stopped and held him in place with my scrutinizing gaze. He was trembling like a wimp at this point.

"It's you.

"You and your disgusting racist friends.

"You, along with all the people who view and treats anyone other than humankind as lowlifes and pests that are meant to be squished and eradicated from the society.

"No, it's you, and the ones who have the same mentality as you, who are monsters under the guise of a human."

I paused, not even blinking as I bore holes into his skull.

"I am human, down to every inch of my being. But unlike you, I respect and treat everyone, regardless of kind or gender, and to those who deserve it, fair and right."

Before I could continue, I scented new people coming into the scene. It was the teaching staff, along with the uni's guard.

Shocked of what they have seen, they turned towards me, angry, surprised, confused expressions on different faces.

"What have you done?!" A female, human instructor, looking to be around her late 20s shouted.

"Ma'am, if you would just let me explain—"

"You are hereby expelled from this institution, young lady!"

All the color of my skin left me as I heard the words I have dreaded even before I set foot in the campus grounds.

"Now let's not go straight to conclusions. We need to deal with this professionally AND properly Miss Holson. You are also not in authority to suspend this student." A heavily bearded dwarven professor, clad in a brown suit and Oxfords, told her off firmly.

"What are you saying Mr. Dulrik? Look at her! Look at this! She murdered students and oh my God, is that the dean's son?!"

For the love of— she blind? Why does everybody think I killed someone???

"Ma'am they are—" I was about to tell her but got cut off, again!

"Helpmehelpmehelpme!" He scrambled away from me and ran to the group of teachers and hugged the young instructor. "I don't know what came over her! She just attacked us out of nowhere!"

The audacity of this fucking bitch!

"Pardon me? Attacked you? YOU were the one who followed me out here! You and your" —I gestured to the bodies laying flat on the ground— " buddies over there!"

"She is lying! The orc was with her and and and—"

It dawned on me that I almost forgot about Tai'chi. My eyes widened, and I frantically scanned the area around for him. And there he was, standing by the oak tree, right where I told him not to move.

He seemed...irritated?

Oh no. At me?

"I have not moved an inch from where I am standing ever since I planted my feet here." He said with his deep baritone voice, turning to confront the staff. "What she's speaking is the truth. They were the ones who followed her here and attacked her, first."

"And how can we be sure you are telling the truth, orc?" Miss Holson replied spitefully.

Even the teacher, huh? Her odor smells like vomit. I mean, I knew she was...foul, but I thought it was because of the situation. Guess not.

Tai'chi did not respond. Instead, he moved to look at me in the eyes. His gaze, searching, but not in an awful way. Was he asking me what I'll do?

"How about we discuss this in the office, shall we?" An elderly professor spoke. She was wearing the university's formal teaching uniform together with black, flat, closed toe sandals. "And Miss Holson, please quiet down. As Mr. Dulrik said, we should not jump into baseless conclusions."

Miss Holson fumed and shut her mouth, holding the coward in her arms.

"Now then, Miss...?"

"Blackbell."

The woman paused. I caught a smell of surprise and... astonishment?

She cleared her throat "Well, then Miss Blackbell, please follow us to the Dean's office, along with your, companion."

Weird.

"Oh and Mr. Smith, kindly call for assistance and take the unconscious students to the infirmary to be treated and looked unto. Thank you." She told the guard. With that, she and the rest of the faculty started walking back.

I glanced at Tai'chi once more to find him, again, staring. I approached him warily, expecting him to be mad at me.

"Uh. Hi?"

I let out a long exhale when he replied, with a slight tug of his lips, his tusk jutting out. "Hi."

I fidgeted, trying to come up with words to explain myself.

"I uh, uhm. Are you mad?"

With his brow raised, "Why would I be?"

Yeah why would he be?

"I-I never told why I keep wearing my mask." I stuttered, "You see I—"

"You two! Start moving before I force you to." A teacher yelled at us from a distance.

"We'll talk later, Pearl. For now let's get this resolved first. I know for a fact that they won't expel you unless they ignore the ill intentions of the ones who attempted to harm you first. But better be safe than sorry, he was the dean's son afterall."

"Yeah... Thanks. We should.. go." I turned and started walking along his side.

******pov shift for a bit*******

Little did Pearl know, he was thinking about how...nice, yeah that's the word, definitely not sexy, you were when he witnessed your skills in combat. It awakened something in him that it took a lot of control not to get aroused there and then, which was the real reason why he stood there, unmoving from his place. Not once did he leave his eyes from you, almost jumping to help you when the guy with the baseball bat was closer than we would have liked. But oh no, he was not surprised, he was astonished and shookt , amazed when you pulled that last technique, sending the human plummeting to the ground almost soundlessly. And the way you stood right after, he knew he was smitten. That proud and intense aura you gave off was enough to make him bow down at your feet. He could feel it. He could smell it. That was his secret, he can scent people and catch any mood shift they make. Even though he told her that her eyes and brows gave it away, it was not entirely true as he could smell, literally, you and the changes on your scent.

Oh but little did he know you could to. Just not as observant as he is.

*******************************

Wow— when I copy pasted the original thing from my notes to my drafts in Tumblr I was like "okay, so. I should read it AGAIN before I post it if I wanna avoid more unnoticed mistakes and keep editing it again and again even though I posted it already! " And I never though it would lead me to adding almost a half thousand words and a pov shift— which i found interesting and really nice! Should I do it more often? Like little inserts of what Tai'chi or another characters thoughts in second pov in between fics if necessary? It's just, nice, to put them in and write all out about what they were thinking outside of Pearl's pov! Let me know what you think and I hope you enjoyed reading❤

Tags: @kokokatsworld @crackinanutshell

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nakedmossy · 4 years

Text

Depth Over Distance - Part Four (1/2) [Rudy x Reader]

[A/N: I haven’t found a hometown Rudy fic yet soooo I wrote one. I have no idea where this story is going to go and I’m honestly finding it hard to get out of writing JJ and get into writing Rudy, but here we go anyways. I wanted to write something where the reader and Rudy were hometown friends before he moved to LA, and to explore the idea of how that would change/what it would look like when he comes back. Get ready for a S L O W. B U R N. my dudes. Peace and love, Mossy x]

Two days after Rudy got home you had left for your fishing trip with your Dad. It had been a typical trip for the time of year, sketchy weather at best that made for some interesting maneuvering of waves and necessary local knowledge of how the channels and tides worked. It hardly phased you, you had become something of an expert in navigating rough waters lately.

The fishing had been scant and after the first day the youngest member of the crew had gotten so bored with the older gentlemen he was accompanying that he took to flirting with you for the next two days, which was both a blessing and a curse. It gave you a distraction from your incessant thoughts about Rudy being home, but served as a reminder that even in the face of an (arguably very attractive) tourist who was clearly making an effort, you couldn’t think about anyone else but Rudy. The one hour of peace you got every afternoon when the boat was anchored so the crew could fish the shoreline gave you time to concoct the idea of a welcome home party for Rudy.

After some collaboration with Lizzy and a few people you had graduated with, it ended up becoming a pallet party with a keg in the bush near the Viewpoint (the popular make out spot when you were 15, but also the best clearing/parking lot for more than 5 cars). Half the town had shown up - it was a roaring success, so much so that you had seen Rudy for a total of 10 minutes since the party started.

Lizzy had invited Junior in spite of your numerous attempts to dissuade her (Junior was obnoxious when he was drunk), but she had persisted, noting that she thought they had had a ‘moment’ when she had hopped in his rental truck that day at the beach, and she wanted to investigate further. Naturally this had led to Junior giving her the cold shoulder, her binge drinking and making out with one of the contract fisherman, and Junior following you around for the next hour while you tried to keep him at arms length. He had spotted you on your way to your car and was tripping down the pathway after you now.

“Forget it Junior...just leave me alone” you waved your hand behind you, shooing him away as you walked down the path towards the cars.

“Ah, don’t be like that Y/N” he slurred, stumbling over a root and steadying himself with your shoulder. “I just wanna talk”

“Tough luck” You walked straight ahead and kept your eyes forward, no step faltering, no patience. “Get outta here before I whack you with a stick.”

“Whack me. With a stick.” He repeated, snorting. “Yeah rig- OUCH!”

You threw the stick back down on the ground and continued walking, not looking behind you but knowing he was still following you, albeit now clutching his arm in pain.

“You know, you got really aggressive after we broke up and part of me feels like I could help you fix that” Junior was slurring so disgustingly that a dribble of spit had built up on the side of his lip. You had stopped walking and turned to face him, putting your hand out to stop him from coming closer.

“If anything makes me aggressive Junior, its the fact you STILL follow me around like a lost puppy when you’re drinking. We broke up 5 years ago. Move on man.” You said flatly, pointing back towards the party. You didn’t bother lowering your voice or speaking quietly, the party was so loud that nobody would hear you anyways. “Now fuck off and leave me alone.”

Junior stood his ground resiliently and locked his (dilated) pupils on you, setting his jaw. He tried to cross his arms but he lost balance and had to side step to stop from falling over.

“Hey man, you good?” Rudy appeared behind him down the path, a can in his hand, walking with distinct purpose directly towards you. Junior looked behind him and groaned, his face souring.

“Dude you really gotta mind your own.” He said with an ego-soaked tone, staring at Rudy for a few seconds before Rudy’s significantly stronger and more sober grip dug into Junior’s shoulder and Junior stiffened.

“I think you should walk away and go back to the party.” Rudy nodded, guiding Junior around him and back down the trail. He stood his ground until Junior looked at you and shook his head.

‘Whatever’ he mumbled before shoving Rudy’s hand off and tripping a few steps backwards.

“You know, this is so typical. Even after you bailed on her and disappeared, she STILL picks you.” He said, swinging his arm out and frowning directly at you know. “When he puts you in the hospital this time, don’t come running to me.”

With that, he turned and started back down the path towards the fire. Rudy watched him for a few seconds before turning back and looking at you, his face dark with shadows. The moonlight streaming through the trees illuminated your face, showing him your eyes wet with tears. You shook your head and ran a hand over your face, throwing your hands in the air defeatedly.

“What was he talking about?” Rudy took a step towards you but you turned away from him and put your hands on your head, taking a deep breath.

“Nothing. Drunk rambling. He’s an idiot.” You said quietly, breathing steadily and calming yourself.

“Well, no disputing that.” Rudy said quickly, then walked around to see you. “What did he mean about the hospital?”

You put your arms down and put your hands in your sweater pockets, shrugging.

“Like I said, drunk rambling.”

Rudy held your eyes for a few seconds then reached in his pocket and grabbed a beer, passing it to you slowly. You smiled apologetically and accepted it, cracking it open loudly. He spun to look down the path towards the cars, shoulder to shoulder with you, and fell in step when you started walking again.

“You never mentioned you were in the hospital.” He spoke after a few quiet moments.

“It was a long time ago.” You shrugged, taking a swig of the beer he had given you. Your head was starting to get fuzzy. You really didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Or like...ever, actually. “I told you about the specialists...I thought I mentioned it.” You lied.

“You for sure did not mention being in the hospital, Y/N.” He spoke intently, clearly, you could feel him looking at you. “Why?”

You bit your tongue and groaned internally, knowing there was nothing for it now.

“I don’t know” Lie. You knew perfectly well. “I guess it just seemed selfish to burden you with it...you were busy, you had just moved to LA.” A half lie, you knew if he knew you were in the hospital he would want to come back and you didn’t want to interfere with his shot. “Besides, it wasn’t anything major.” A big lie.

Rudy cleared his throat and stopped walking, putting his arm out to stop you as well. Confused, you looked at him and waited, the darkness from the tree cover making it hard to see anything but the outline of his features.

“Just...will you please be honest with me for a few minutes.” He started shaking his empty beer can against his leg nervously.

You nodded, acutely aware of how close you were standing to him. You were dreading this conversation but it felt inevitable now.

“How bad was it. Actually.”

You crinkled your nose and looked around, wanting desperately to lie to him again but knowing that you couldn’t. You took a long swig and swallowed slowly, biding your time. Finally, you looked at him as you spoke.

“Pretty bad.” You chose your words carefully. “I was in there for a few weeks...I had some heart complications due to malnutrition and it took a bit to get it stable again. When they discharged me I had to see some specialists, monitor everything to make sure there was no permanent damage.”

Rudy watched you intently, breathing but not moving.

“I didn’t want to tell you because I was embarrassed.” You said finally, looking directly back at him now. He didn’t speak, he just held your gaze silently. You turned, take a few small steps forward slowly. He followed.

“I mean it didn’t even make sense at the time, to me anyways. I had never been that person, I was healthy. Then suddenly...I don't know. Something changed. I just...I didn’t want to eat. Food wasn’t appealing. It wasn’t like I chose not to or was counting calories or anything...it wasn’t like that.” You looked over at him to reinforce the importance of your point. He nodded and kept close to you as you kept walked. “It just...I felt like I lost interest. Not just in food...in a lot of things. I sorta just lost my purpose...shit.” You laughed humourlessly and sniffed your nose, which was cold from the wet air. “I guess I kinda lost myself.”

It felt peculiar to speak this openly about it, especially with Rudy, when you hadn’t talked to anyone aside from your therapist about it since it happened.

“Thank you” Rudy said quietly, after a few moments of silence. You had reached the end of the path that led to the viewpoint clearing, both illuminated fully in the moonlight. Now that you could see him properly you could see that his face was covered in a pained expression, his shoulders slightly sagging.

“For what” You questioned, slowing down and turning more towards him as you walked.

“For telling me all that.” He smiled at you, a small, sad smile. “Its not easy to open up like that.”

Something passed over his face and his eyes glazed momentarily, drifting somewhere else. You felt yourself take a step closer to him, tipping your head to catch his eye. He smiled down at you and blinked back into the present, sighing lightly.

“I almost called you...a hundred times over.” He said finally, looking over your head at the trees and then back to you. “I never did. Then so much time passed I felt like I couldn’t and...” He closed his mouth and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “and now I wish I had just picked up the phone” He choked out, struggling to form the words.

You felt a weight on your shoulders and a tightness in your chest as he spoke, he looked distraught. You didn’t know what to say, or if there was anything to say, so you stood still, keeping hold of his gaze and praying he would say something else. He didn’t.

Instead, he put his arm over your shoulders and pulled you in beside him, walking you both forward into the clearing towards the viewpoint fence. He leaned his head down and pressed a kiss into your hair firmly, you closed your eyes and breathed in the scent of his cologne mixed with the smell of the wet earth and cedar trees. You felt lightheaded and calm, more calm than you had felt in months. When you reached the fence, he removed his arm and leaned both forearms on the top of the fence, rocking on his feet and looking out across the valley and down at the mudflats.

“Why didn’t you call?” You asked out of curiosity, matching his posture and leaning over the fence.

“I didn’t think you wanted me to.” He said mindlessly, as if the answer was just under the surface. “After I left you on the beach I was pretty certain you didn’t want to talk to me.”

“I didn’t” You breathed, looking at the side of his face, he winced when you spoke. “I wasted a lot of time being angry at you that year.”

He met your eyes and his face relaxed when he saw your expression. You smiled and bumped his shoulder with yours.

“I’m happy you’re here now,” You said gently, picking at a piece of the metal. “For the record.”

“Me too.” He placed his chin on his fist, watching you again.

“My turn” You raised your eyebrows and smiled at him, watching his eyes roll and a small laugh escape.

“Fair enough. Fire away captain.”

“Tell me about Anna.”

He looked over at you with a confused expression at first, which slowly shifted to a straight face, then his shoulders sagged and he leaned into the fence, grunting.

“She is my agent. That’s it.” He said firmly, staring at a tree top on the hillside down the embankment below you.

You waited, when he didn’t continue you closed your mouth and took a step back, turning towards the pathway back to the party.

“Alright” You said airily, gesturing to the path when he looked up at you. “Fine.”

“What” He watched you backing away from him. You inhaled sharply and shook your head, smiling.

“We can have that conversation a different time then, but...you cannot lie to me, Rudy Pankow. You are terrible at it. Truly.”

You made the comment lightheartedly but you both recognized the truth in it. Rudy looked around and up at the clear night sky for a moment before looking back at you and smiling knowingly.

“Just give me a couple days to enjoy you before I ruin it with my E! True Hollywood Story, alright?” He said sarcastically, walking towards you and stopping a breath from your face. “Now, lets go get drunk.”

You felt your breath catch in your throat and you replayed him saying give me a couple days to enjoy you until the imprint of his voice faded from your brain. You followed him in a daze back to the party, making easy conversation about how the fishing trip had been, stopping when you reached the keg and grabbing cups. You took it gratefully and raised it to your lips, taking a few large gulps quickly. When you lowered the cup and raised your arm to wipe your mouth, you noticed Rudy was watching you, laughing lightly, his cup still full.

“What - do I have ...is there something on my face?” You wiped your sleeve around your mouth, suddenly self conscious. Someone behind you bumped you and you fell forward, Rudy steadying you with his hands.

“Easy there, Little Fern” He laughed, helping you stand straight again.

You cringed, wiping the beer that had spilled on your hand.

“Sorry” You looked around for the culprit, but it was impossible to tell who had bumped you. Rudy’s eyes focussed on you and he lifted his full cup, nodding.

“To you.” He tipped his cup when you lifted yours to cheers him. “To us. To...making up for lost time.” His expression was hard to read, but you thought you understood it, it was recognition and happiness and gratefulness and hopefulness all wrapped up in one.

“Cheers” You said almost inaudibly, lost in his gaze. The fire cracked behind you, breaking your concentration on him.

“A-and-” You stuttered, blinking hazily. “-Cheers to you. Being here. With Me.”

Rudy grinned at you, winking, before clinking his cup to yours and then proceeding to down the entire thing in one go. He chucked the empty cup into the fire and let out a loud yelp, several people around you raising their cups in the air and shouting encouragements. When he looked at you again you swore you saw the breath leave his lungs. He was looking at you with a hazy yet intense expression, his smile rising and falling but his eyes firm, making you feel like the only person he could see.

“What...” You smiled, chuckling lightly. Rudy blinked at you a few times before taking a step forward and swallowing, dipping his head closer to yours so you could hear over the roar of the fire and conversation.

“Let’s go” He spoke clearly, keeping his face near yours.

“What? Where? We can’t leave YOUR welcome home party” You clamoured for words, your stomach fluttering.

“Yes, we can. Come on, they’re not here for me, they’re here for the beer and the fire. Lets go.”

“Where?” You turned your face to look at him, your nose brushing his cheek. You felt blood rushing to your face.

“Anywhere” He said in a low voice, hot breath that smelled of beer wafting over you.

You didn’t answer, you simply leaned your head back a bit to see his eyes clearly, and smiled, nodding once. He grabbed your hand firmly and led you away from the keg towards the cars.

Continued in Part 4.2

____________________________________________

Tag List: @bluebirdsbluebells, @sunshinemadds, @lovelymaybankk, @poguestyleskye, @alexa-playafricabytoto, @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch, @k-k0129, @kimyeon-tae, @ellystone, @faded-blue, @thebeautifulbookworm

#rudy pankow #reader x rudy #obx #outer banks #obx fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction #jj x reader #jj maybank #nakedmossywrites #depth over distance

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xbellaxcarolinax · 4 years

Text

Forging A Heart (Ivar the Boneless) 13- Wessex

Pairings: Ivar x Artemis (OFC)

Word Count: 2877

Warnings: None I don't think.

AN: I hope I don't disappoint anyone with how this chapter starts 😅😅 Slooooow Burrrrrn.

12- Northumbria

...

Her head hurt.

It was a pounding that rattled the side of her temple that seemed intune with her heartbeat.

She couldn't sleep.

Whenever she closed her tired eyes, Bjorn's bloody knife tortured her. It was one of the many more tragedies she knew was to come.

She would be lying to say her lack of sleep that night had nothing to do with the heathen nestled within the furs beside her. Like her, he did not rest easy. He was in pain, she could hear it in the small grunts mutterred in his sleep. She was almost sure that his brows were knitted in that look he couldn't hide on particular days when he struggled with pain.

Sighing internally, she removes herself from the comfort of the furs to light a candle, bringing it up to the bed. Ivar's broad back was suddenly illuminated, his muscles expanding with every breath he took.

She watches him for a while, wondering how the Ivar in the daytime was the same one that slept fitfully beside her. He looked harmless, curled up on his side with bedridden hair. He even pouted in his sleep. It was almost enough to make her smile, but she refrained from doing so.

His legs were exposed from under the fleece, heavily covered in thick trousers. Sometimes she wondered what his legs might look like underneath all that fabric. Thin and frail, perhaps, from lack of use. For obvious reasons, she was never to be near when he bathed or dressed, his legs being a vulnerability that he didn't want her or anyone else to see.

Artemis didn't blame him.

Carefully, and with subtle movement, she crosses her legs bringing the flame to hold between her hands. She supposed she had Ivar to thank for...whatever it is he did for her. He was being uncharacteristically kind, though she knew the only reason was his newfound use of her. She had much more to offer than the average slave, and now there were certain expectations of her.

She must serve this heathen army, the people who will continue to murder others that she was connected to through Christ. But even so, Ivar treated her in the best way he could. Somehow, he came to tolerate her.

She brings a hand to the golden cross hidden in her bodice, tugging at the string that kept it round her neck. It felt so much more significant to her now than it did before. Her traitorous thoughts caused her cheeks to blaze like a bad sunburn.

Her eyes lingered over him once more before sliding from the bed and onto the moist ground. She needed to pray and ease her mind, and perhaps she would receive an answer. She begins to recite.

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth at it is in heaven,"

Ivar's eyes snap open at the intrusive words, hand already gripping the hilt of his dagger under his pillow. He looks out over his shoulder, immediately noticing the empty bed side before rolling his body over to the other side. Pushing the furs aside, he peers down over the edge of the bed to find his thrall on her knees in a Christian prayer.

He blinked his eyes to adjust to the dim light of the candle beside her, getting a better view of her muttering lips. It took him a minute to realize her babbling was in Greek.

"Give us this day, our daily bread, and-"

"What are you going on about?" Ivar interupts, sitting up on his elbows to rub the sleep from his eyes. Artemis looks up at him as if she were caught stealing something of value. He notices the dark hues under her eyes.

"Were you praying?" He asks in exaggerated disbelief. He's never seen her do that before.

"...Yes."

"Why?"

"I could not sleep." She replies sheepishly, lowering her hands to her knees to scrape at the fabric in her nervousness.

"And so you decide to pray," Ivar replies flatly, rolling his eyes before flopping back onto the bed, "After all that I have been teaching you?" The whole journey to England was spent teaching her of his gods and their stories. Clearly a waste.

"I have been learning," She insists, bringing her hands to the edge of the bed, shyly leaning in closer to him, "But I am still a Christian." Ivar sucks his teeth in utter displeasure.

"Perhaps you are delusional," He mutters, "A delusional girl who believes in fairytales." She wastes no time in moving away from him. She wouldn't say that his beliefs sounded like fairytales, though it threatened to leak from the very tip of her tongue. She decides to occupy herself instead, standing to light the candles around the tent as a distraction and to put much needed distance between them.

"What were you praying for anyway?" He asks curiously, stretching his upper body as he watched her move about. As usual, Artemis takes a moment to respond, until finally going over to the candles at his bedside , lighting the up wicks. The flames immediately lit up her sour features.

"Wisdom." She reveals.

"Wisdom." He repeats.

"Yes." Artemis lowers herself again onto her knees, leaning against the makeshift bed. She refused to look at him, merely staring into the little flames as she often did. Ivar teasingly pokes her temple with little force, just enough to make her head sway.

"You have many things running rampant in there, hm?"

"It seems I am plagued by my own thoughts." She agrees dully.

"What worries you so?" Ivar demands, "Do I not treat you well?"

"Of course, you treat me well," She drags her her eyes to his, "And I am grateful, but I am afraid these are matters of the heart." Ivar purses his lips, his mood quickly souring.

"Matters of the heart?" He chuckles darkly, "Is it Arvid's marriage that ails you?" He then snorts unbecomingly, crossing his arms as he feels jealousy's grip around him like iron chains. She looks at him with an odd expression that he couldn't read.

"That is far from the torment that ails me."

"Then what is it?" He demands again. He watches her struggle to form her words, a hint of fear rising in her eyes at exposing herself.

"My path," She says, "My path is uncertain."

"The gods led your path right where we need you," He grunts, "You have purpose here with us."

"To support those who have forced me into slavery?" She was over stepping her boundaries again. That annoys him.

"Your purpose is to aid our army. Your purpose is to aid me," His words were forceful, "We have discussed this already, Artemis."

"Of course, Prince Ivar." She replies bitterly. She was just a tool to be used. Perhaps she should be grateful. Her use would not be in bed like so many others have been subjected to.

"Yet, you are not pleased." Ivar notes with a tired sigh, running a hand through his thick hair.

"With respect, Prince, it pleases no one to be a slave."

"Freedom is earned," He stresses, "And you have not yet earned it." Ivar notices the weak sunlight filtering into the tent, hearing the sounds of warriors waking and mingling within the camp. It was nearly sunrise. He removes the fleece blanket from over him, swinging his buckled legs to dangle off the edge of the bed.

"Help me dress. Go to Arvid and see to whatever needs to be repaired. We leave to Wessex by midday."

...

Men were childish.

Arvid was in no talking mood, still fuming over the events of the previous day. She'd try to make simple conversation but found it difficult to engage him, so after a while she left him alone with his thoughts after completing her duties.

The rest of the morning was spent preparing their departure, and by noon they marched towards Wessex.

The journey was short, and the warriors passed the time by singing some kind of folk song she didn't really understand. After a long debate, Ivar allowed her to travel alongside Helga and Tanaruz. She was happy to sit beside the older woman and the young girl on a horse drawn cart led by Floki.

Helga recounts the stories of the Valkyries, warrior women that take men fallen in battle into Odin's hall in Valhalla to dine with him. She tells them of Freyja's beautiful fields, where fallen men also reside. The story was odd when comparing it to heaven, but it was still an intriguing tale to keep them entertained. Artemis attempts many times to translate them to Tanaruz, but the young girl hardly cared, her unfocused eyes glaring at the passing dirt road.

It was quiet when the army reached their destination. There was no Saxon army that greeted them, nor a single warrior to face.

King Ecbert's settlement was completely deserted.

Walking in through the gates was too easy, and all the warriors braced themselves for a possible attack, but none came. Bjorn cautiously enters, sending a few men to scout the perimeter, but once they returned safely, it was known they were victorious in a battle they had no need to fight.

Suddenly, an old man emerged from some part of the settlement. He held his hands up in surrender, yet he appeared at peace, accepting his fate.

"It is King Ecbert!" Bjorn yells, pointing his axe as did the men surrounding him.

Artemis scans her eyes over the so called king, wondering if all western kings were this unkempt. He wore a simple shift, long and dirty, as was his gray hair and long beard. He walked towards them with a strange smile on his face. She had never seen a proper king in person, only a portrait of the Emperor once in all his glory, the complete opposite of how the English kings have presented themselves. With no need for a fight, King Ecbert was easily siezed.

The Ragnarsons all headed inside the settlement with Bjorn leading the way as the old king stumbled along with them. Many entered the hall, warrirors stomping with glee as they held torches in pursuit of destruction. The scent of smoke and burning filled the air.

"Go on with the other slaves," Ivar tells her, "A feast must be prepared." He grins, disappearing with the rest of his brothers.

She did as was told, moving to place pitchers of ale and platters of bread and meats on makeshift tables. Then she waited, digging her boots into the earth in boredom until she heard whispers among the crowd. Turning to the source of the whispers, Artemis's face pales.

Floki walked with his beloved Helga in his arms, her lifeless body hanging off him like a rag doll. Her heart began to thump uncontrollably at the sight, immediately noticing the blood that coated his hands.

He walked a distance, and she sneaks away to follow him in haste, only stopping to watch as he decided on a spot at the nearest hill. Gently, he places Helga under a tree as he began to work on digging her grave. She watches for a while, waiting for Floki to have a moment to mourn his wife.

He cries, carefully placing his wife's body into the pit that he had dug for her, and once she was made ready with the little items she had brought with her, he began to sob.

Artemis's eyes swell with tears until she couldn't hold on to them any longer, pouring down her cheeks in salty streaks. She wipes them away furiously, angry at the turn of events. Helga was with her just moments ago.

Nothing good came from coming to England, only fear and broken hearts.

She continues to wait until she deemed it appropriate to approach the mourning man. Quietly approaching the scene, she kneels beside Floki. She glances at him but he doesn't utter word, nor make any indication of acknowledging her presence. He only stares at his dead wife who looked quite comfortable in her new home. Artemis notices her skin had already changed from its healthy glow to a sickening gray, her body quick to deteriorate.

The wound was over her heart, quickly patched over by Floki in haste to stop the blood. Artemis did a sign of the cross, to which Floki says nothing, just glares down at his wife's grave with balled fists.

"I will pray for her soul," She says to him, shifting her hair to get access to the small golden drops on her ears. Helga had always admired them, and so she decides that Helga should be the one to keep them. Cautiously, she leans forward, glancing back at Floki who still did nothing but watch her movements closely with those beady eyes.

She carefully places the earrings beside each ear, bringing a hand to Helga's cold cheek, as if her warmth would bring life back into her. She sniffles, mentally reciting a prayer, before standing and dusting off her knees.

"May she rest in peace." She says, quickly wiping her eyes and turning to head back to the settlment.

"Christian." Floki calls out to her, and she stops in her tracks, meeting the eyes of the grieving man.

"It was Tanaruz," He growls out, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. Artemis takes in a shaky breath.

"Where is she?"

Floki snorts, releasing a hysteric giggle that emphasized his vulnerability. He then sighs, pressing the heels of his palms onto his black lined eyes before answering.

"She took her own life with the same blade." Artemis says nothing, choosing to look up towards the fading english sun.

Tanaruz was such an ill fated Moorish child. In her melancholic ruse, she murdered the one person that had a gentle heart.

Helga was in the hands of the Lord now, or perhaps, in Freyja's lovely fields.

...

The crowd was boisterous, men and women clinking their cups of ale in joy. Artemis watches them solemnly. There was no room for celebration, not in her mind. She watches with heavy eyes at the festive scene before her.

She tried to distract herself with Prince Sigurd's lute playing, the rhythmic tune celebrating the death of a king laying in a pool of his own blood that leaked from his wrists.

The brothers had their celebratory meal, quite satisfied with themselves. Whatever they had sought out to do was successful.

Floki was not there to share in their merriment, to no surprise. The reckless man continued to mourn on his own. Arvid sat beside his wife, though his eyes searched for someone in the crowd. When he finally finds Artemis, he offers her a gentle smile, an attempt to an apology. He raises his cup to her, a symbol of friendship. She smiles back at in return, nodding her head in acknowledgment.

She watches him place an arm around his wife, and she smiles up at him lovingly. It was a lovely sight, and although Artemis felt the smallest feelings in her damaged heart for the young blacksmith, she was happy for their union. Alfhild was a good woman.

Bjorn suddenly addresses the crowd, reminding them of his fathers dream. He goes on to inform them that he would not be going to push that dream forward as his true calling was to return to the Mediterranean.

Artemis interest is peaked, watching as Bjorn gave Halfdan an embrace once it was decided that he would join in the voyage. If they were to return to the Mediterranean, would Crete be part of their plan?

The commotion happened suddenly, an argument between Ivar and Sigurd. It was nothing new of course, but she was not following their discussion to know where their harsh words stemmed from. Ivar's brow twitched in that familiar way, the angry way, and even from quite a distance Artemis could see his hand moving towards his most favored axe.

"-You are crazy. You have the mind of a child." Sigurd's spits, standing up in a show of defiance. Ivar growls, nose flaring and brows arched. The bickering continued.

Ivar didn't wish to settle down and plough land like a farmer, he wished to raid, pillage bigger cities and conquer them, but most of all, he wanted to take charge and be a leader, something Sigurd was clearly against.

Ivar was such an ambitious youth, an impulsive one too, for in mere seconds he took his axe and hurled it, lodging it in Sigurd's ribs.

A deafening silence spread over the entire settlement, all eyes watching as Sigurd dropped to his knees. Despite the pain he must have suffered, he found the energy to rip the axe out from his skin and tossing it aside before falling over. The madness that would ensue was inevitable, and the look on Ivar's face expressed it all.

It was the second death of the day, though most had not realized it. Ubbe and Hvitserk kneeled down beside their brother, immediately mourning his death.

Artemis watches in stunned silence, her hands trembling at her sides. Ivar's eyes caught her own, revealing nothing but remorse.

...

#ivar #ivar imagine #ivarfanfiction #vikings #ivar lothbrok #ivarxofc #vikings ivar #hvitserk #alex hogh andersen

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cruciferousjex · 4 years

Text

The Attendant Four:

Girls All Day

(aka a requiem for this poor fucker ^):

***

The soup was, as promised, absolutely delicious. It would have been the single best soup they'd ever tasted if not for the knowledge of what it was.

"See? I told you you'd enjoy it!" Prime said, grinning. "The cognitive dissonance only adds to the experience, or so I'm told. I'd never do anything so vulgar as eat with my mouth." He watched then for moment. "Do you ever think about chewing? What that actually is? And that you do it in public?"

They stared at their soup.

"And how do you eat, Prime?" Catra asked.

"All the nutrients I need are brewed in a vat and ported directly in," he said, showing her a port on his arm. "The same as my brothers."

"Sure, that's way less disgusting," Catra replied

"I'm so glad you agree! I could fit you with a port if you'd prefer?"

Catra blinked. "I… I'll stick with...uh...good ol' mouth eating, thanks. It's how I was raised."

"Yes, we grew up eating," Glimmer said quickly. "We grew up eating absolutely everything."

"Are you sure? You absorb far more essential nutrients with the port method. And there's no...nasty business on the tail end of the process." Prime shuddered. "You need not fall victim to the brutality nature has inflicted on you, my dears. Just say the word."

"We'll uh...definitely keep that in mind," Glimmer said, stirring her soup.

"Suit yourselves!" Prime said, leaning back in his chair. "Hardly anyone I ask chooses to go that route. It's a mystery to me, honestly. All I want is to make things better for people. No one understands that."

"I can't imagine why, " Catra said. "It seems obvious this is an intergalactic charity mission."

Prime paused for a moment. Blinked. Then burst out laughing.

"A charity mission! Oh! Oh that's good!' he said, wiping all four of his eyes. "Charity. Oh, imagine. Heh heh. Your Lady has quite the sense of humor, Queen Glimmer. I see why you keep her around."

"Yup, she's a funny one," Glimmer said.

"And she's not entirely wrong!" Prime began, but then suddenly stopped. Turned towards an attendant clone and glared. "Will you tell your brothers to give me a moment's PEACE?" He shouted at it, slamming his hand on the table. The clone flinched and shrunk away. "I. Have. Company!"

Glimmer and Catra stared at him.

"Excuse my outburst," Prime said, smoothing his hair. "Tell me, have you ever had a pet cat?"

"Other than her?" Glimmer said.

"No no, I mean a full actual cat, not a half breed like whatever your Lady is. Four legs. They're on almost every mammalian life-bearing planet, if you can believe it. Nature clearly favors that design," he said. "In any case, have you ever had one? Either of you?"

"No," Catra said flatly. "They weird me out."

"My mother did," Glimmer said softly. "She loved cats."

"Ah. Then you will know how annoying they can be when they are hungry. How they scream, nonstop, until they are fed." Prime turned to glare at the attendant clone, who averted his eyes. "My brothers are hungry, my dears. The poor things haven't seen battle in months. It's hard on them, they simply live for it. They've been longing to be allowed down to your planet and raze it to the ground. To kill every living thing. Isn't that right?" he asked the attendant clone, who looked terrified. "Isn't that right, you bloodthirtsy little things? Come here."

The attendant, though clearly afraid, approached Prime without hesitation. The second he was within his reach Prime grabbed him quite brutally by the hair.

"Please excuse his inexcusable rudeness," Prime said. The clone twitched in his grasp, green eyes wide with terror. "The cheek of him. Honestly."

"He didn't say anything," Glimmer said quickly.

"Well not to you," Prime said. "You can't hear their every thought, but I can."

"Was he...standing there thinking how he wants to destroy Etheria?" Catra asked.

"Not him specifically," Prime said, narrowing his eyes at the clone. "No, this one is quite peaceful. Never seen battle. Rather likes being an attendant. Liked making your dress, and serving your food. Ah, you do like being near the fascinating pretty girls, don't you?" he asked, shaking him by the hair. The clone made the tiniest of fearful whimpers. " But you must understand, the clones are all the same. All connected. Their thoughts can be transmitted to me, as one, through the clone with the closest physical proximity. I can taste their bloodlust through this one. And at times like this, I must remind them they are being inexcusably rude."

With that a long, scalpel-like blade shot out of an unforeseen slot in Prime's forearm.

"No-" Glimmer protested, but it was too late. Prime put the blade directly into, and across, the clone's throat, spraying blood across the table, into the soup, onto their clothes.

"There is nuance in conquering!" Prime shouted into the dying clone's face. "Artistry! Subtlety! It's not just kill, kill, kill all the time! Tell your brothers to grow the hell up!" Prime glanced towards the table and guests, ruined with blood. "LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!" He shouted at the now very dead clone. "You've spoiled their meal! And Lady Catra's gown! Imbecile!"

He threw the clone to the floor with a disgusted look.

"Oh, how they try me. Oh, the chore of rulership! The burden of it!" he moaned. "Queen Glimmer, you understand."

Glimmer was wide-eyed, unable to respond in her shock.

"Such a trying time, keeping them at bay," Prime said, gesturing to the dead clones littering the floor. "No manners. Ah well. That's what I get for having a standing army," he said, looking for something to wipe his hands on. "Could one of you mass produced morons get me a napkin or shall I use the tablecloth?" he shouted. "And some fresh soup for the ladies? Must I spell everything out for you?"

Four clones immediately presented Prime with napkins and the girls with new, unblooded soup.

"Speaking of unsubtle morons, how is your attendant performing?" Prime asked.

"Fine!" Glimmer said quickly.

"Perfect!" Catra added.

"Perfectly polite, he's perfect," Glimmer said. "Please don't hurt him."

"Don't hurt him? Whyever not, didn't he destroy a large portion of your planet with a garish fifty year ground war? I'm surprised you haven't taken him out yourself, little Queen."

He eyed Glimmer suspiciously.

"It's… he's…he's had excellent manners since you reconditioned him, Prime. The best. Excellent, uh...such excellent servants are difficult to come by."

He shrugged. "Keeping him as a trophy then? Suit yourself. Make of him what you will. Humiliate him, keep him as a pet. Fuck him if you like. He'll make you absolutely squeal," he said. "Or I will, if you prefer."

He grinned creepishly.

"I like girls," Catra said.

"Me too," Glimmer said quickly. "Girls all day."

Catra looked up at Glimmer in surprise.

"We're super into women," Glimmer continued. "I mean like...boobs, amirite?"

"You are right," Prime said.

"She is so right," Catra said.

"Then we're all in agreement," Prime said, folding his hands on the bloodsoaked table. "Boobs."

#horde prime #prime #glitra #catra #glimmer #Hordak #blood #killing #murder #the attendant #that went....weirdly

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haik-whoo · 4 years

Text

Touched

Tsukishima x OC! Setter Emiko

Summary: Kei has a girlfriend that no one ever knew about. She plays volleyball just like he does. They’ve been dating for sometime after their parents revealed they were long time bestfriends. Kei isn’t a fan of PDA but he’s willing to omit that to make sure the team knows Emiko is his.

W/C: 1500+

A/N: Well first haikyuu fic, here we go 😇 let me know what you think 🧡🧡 ~Sho

Emiko ran into the stadium huffing because she was late. Hopefully Kei wouldn't mind too much, since he hadn't actually asked her to come. She just wanted to support her love while he did the one thing he was starting to love to do. It made her heart warm that after all this time he was starting to love volleyball as much as she did. She was still dressed in her uniform, a jacket hastily thrown over her back reading Ubugawa high. Her team had advanced to the semifinals and would start fresh tomorrow.

Emiko stood at 5'9 with bright green eyes and natural blonde hair pulled up in a long ponytail that was giving her a headache. "Emiko? Hey what are you doing here?" One of her teammates asked as they walked up behind her.

"Watching my boyfriend" she said in a half duh tone, why else would she be watching seijoh and karasuno play, they hated Aobajohsai with a passion. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend" the libero Ailee said from next to emiko, bumping her shoulder with a smile. "Which one is it? Don't you hate Seijoh?" The small brunette asked looking at the team in baby blue and white with a critical eye. Emiko groaned when Tsukishima got blocked. Knowing he would complain about it later while they were in bed.

"He's not on that team" emi said with a straight face, just wishing they would leave her alone so she could watch in peace. They were getting on her nerves with all the questions and prodding, this was why she never told them she was dating anyone at all. Let alone the tall, intimidating looking middle blocker they had on the karasuno team.

"Look guys, i promise to get enough sleep and be here early tomorrow but i would like to watch this, in peace" emiko said it in the nicest way possible, and Ailee and their captain Josie nodded, patting her on the back and walking away. Down further she saw the karasuno fan club and snorted a little, watching a small blonde girl yell over the seijoh chants from the other side.

Emiko wandered down toward her and stood next to her. "You must be yachi" she said softly, not taking her eyes off Kei who was serving. He looked so good when he served, all the icy stone wall shed fallen in love with. "I-i yes! I am!" The small blonde screeched a frantic look in her eye like she was trying to remember a name she'd never been given.

"I'm Emiko, Kei is my boyfriend" she tightly smiled and turned her attention back to the court. "Kei?" Yachi questioned, looking at the court as well. "TSUKISHIMA!!" She yelled out just as soon as the gym had quieted down, causing the straight faced blonde to sweep his hard gaze up to where they were standing. As soon as they locked eyes Emiko saw how they softened and portrayed a smile, even though his lips didn't move. A soft blush coated Emiko's cheeks and she bowed her head slightly.

Before cutting a look at the small first year. "Thanks" she said flatly, totally embarrassed because the entire team looked over in curiosity. "S-so- sorry!!" Yachi bowed, a blush of her own flooding over her face the color of beet juice. Emiko waved her off, "it's fine" she moved to pull her knee pads off and pull on her track pants. Pulling the ponytail out.

The game went down to the very end, and karasuno pulled through with a glorious win. Emiko cheered happily for Kei and the team. "Do you want to walk down with me?" Yachi asked, now calm and comfortable in the taller blondes presence. "Sure, thank you" emi gave a small smile and walked behind the first year.

When Tsukishima came into view she had to refrain from running into his arms and leaping on him like she usually would. When they were alone, Kei was an entirely different person. Never letting her venture too far without him, his hand always wrapped around hers. He never overdid it but it was a constant touch that she'd grown accustomed to when she was with him.

As they got closer his teammates looked over her with almost hungry eyes. A shorter boy, no doubt the libero gave a dashingly wide smile "yachi! Who'd you pick up, and must i say thank you" he started to amble close, another boy with a shaved head and a good twinkle in his eye at his heels. Until they were basically snatched up like small toddlers by an older looking boy. He looked like Daichi from Kei's descriptions.

The small team manager opened her mouth but Kei beat her to it. "She's my girlfriend" he said with a straight face, walking over with a sly smile that made one break out on Emiko's face as well. "Great game Kei" she whispered paying no mind to the shocked faces of his team.

"Oh my god!" "She called him Kei" "i didn't think anyone was able to do that" "She's pretty! How did he-" someone started but a swift smack was heard. The entire team was mumbling amongst themselves with the older team manager came over. "I'm kiyoko, it's nice to meet you" she smiled and Emiko bowed "Emiko, it's a pleasure Kiyoko senpai" when she stood she felt the familiar weight of Kei's arm around her back. That brought a new wave of shocked gasps and mumbling.

Followed by a half yell "damn first year! No way he has a girlfriend before me"

Kei walked back toward where they'd been keeping their things, his silence was not uncommon and Emiko walked next to him, her own arm around his waist. They all sat down with food that had been ordered many questions were as,Ed, mostly by the small middle blocker Hinata that Emiko had decided was the cutest little thing no matter what Kei said.

"Is he nice to you? He's not nice to any of us, except tadashi" he grumbled into his rice. Tadashi, who Emiko already knew, smiled and waved. Emi waved back from the e d of the table. The quietest one was kageyama. He looked like he was stewing on something that made Emiko giggle.

Kei had always been the one to initiate physical contact, and it was easy to forget about the other people at the table when his hand slid up her leg and wound around her waist. Settling heavily on her hip and it caught her breath in her lungs, a hot blush flying over her cheeks and she turned toward Kei with a hard look.

"Stop it" she chided but he only smirked at her, his long deft fingers discreetly moving over her hip, since she was at the end of the table no one was on her other side to call him out on it. Emiko started to squirm in her seat as they ate together, until Kei leaned over "look at how they look at you Flower, even asahi is taken by your beauty, but your mine aren't you" he whispered and it was deep in his throat, barely heard and absolutely melting. When he was finished he pulled away his eyes dark as he looked at her.

In her haste to prove she was, her body had a mind of its own, leaning forward softly, connecting their lips in the softest kiss. It was so short, barely a touch but it swirled inside her body, making her come alive. It was like they were in a small bubble of their own. So wrapped up in their gazes they barely registered the clearing of a throat from the other end of the table.

All the boys were red in the face, suga and Daichi softly smiling. Kei shyly laughed and kissed the side of her head, before settling back into a straight face. Emiko as well, emulated a flat face void of emotion.

"They are the same person, Emiko what position do you play" kageyama finally said over the silence and shock. "I'm a setter" the blonde leveled him with a look of almost disinterest, the look she had on her face made Hinata snort. "A setter!!!" The small Ginger then gasped with a wide smile on his face. Emiko nodded, shrugging as she put more rice in her mouth.

"Kageyama she's a setter!" Hinata said, a shining look in his face. "I heard her dumbass" he grumbled at the ball of sunshine.

"I have to go Kei, I'll see you back at your house okay, congratulations again" she whispered to him, smiling. She waved to his team and gathered her things. She didn't make it very far before she was pushed against the wall outside the room where karasuno sat together.

"I love you I'll see you at home" he said, his lips descending quickly onto hers in a passionate and gorgeous kiss. It made her body ache for him like she always did. "I love you too" she offered breathlessly, stalking away until later, when he returned. Not knowing that as soon as Kei returned to the room he was met with half the team crowded at the door listening.

——————————

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#haikyuu!!#haikyuu #tsukishima kei #haikyuu tsukki #tsukishima x oc #haikyuu fic #volleyball fic #kei x oc #hinata shouyou #hinata #sugawara koushi #saeki daichi #tanaka ryuunosuke #yū nishinoya #tadashi yamaguchi #dating fic #kageyama tobio

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