#even as the boat sinks these two clung together so tightly. they really really did love eachother so much. even after ten years of ROTTING | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dancingthesambaa · 3 years

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The Smell of Plum Blossom Tea Ch 10

Summary: Just like a butterfly wing, a single act of kindness can change the course of the future, it certainly did for MK as a black-furred monkey put out a hand towards him

Rating: Teen and up

Chapter 10: Do You See That?

MK moaned as he stumbled down to the restaurant.

“Still can’t find it,” Mei acquiesced as she saw him flop down on the counter.

She got a groan in response.

“Yikes, are you sure you check everywhere?”

“Yes! I looked everywhere!” He lifted his head to meet hers and began to rant. “I checked in my drawer, my nightstand, my closet, all of my pockets, under my bed, under the nightstand, under the floorboards, and I even tried to see if Bobo had it!”

“You tried to see if your stuffed monkey had it,” she raised her eyebrow.

“Have you seen what goes on in this city? You never doubt the unexpected! For I all know, Bobo could suddenly turn into a real monkey overnight!”

“Point, well have you retraced your steps?”

“Yes, and I even called all the places we’ve been to, but they found nothing.”

“You lost the skeleton key?” Pigsy deadpanned as he tossed the apron to MK.

“I didn’t mean to! I thought I'd put it in my room, but now I can’t find it!” He groaned as he put on his apron

“Hopefully it’ll come up eventually, I mean it’s for sure to make it to the news if any criminals decide to steal something from a tightly locked place and when that happens we’ll nab them like the dirtbags they are,” she pounded her fist together.

“Yeahh, I guess you're right,” he sighed as he got behind the counter, “speaking of, have you seen Red Son recently?”

“No,” she shook her head, “last time I saw him was when we were at that arcade trying to beat his score.” Let it be known that all three trio had at least one high score in a game at the arcade. For Mei it was the combat games, MK proudly took his dancing games, and for Red Son it was the shooting ones.

“Same, I hope he’s alright,” he said worriedly.

“If he isn’t, we'll bust him out,” Mei said as she got her food, “never liked his family and the whole taking over the city didn’t really help.”

“Count me in,” his eyes darken a bit, “I still don’t like the both of them.”

“You and me both, now time to get to work, noodle boy,” she teased him.

“Yeah, yeah,” he rolled his eyes as he helped with some of the prep.

The boat was in a comfortable silence as two demons were calmly drinking tea, or at least one of them as the other was nervously petting one of the very fat cats.

He opened his mouth to talk, but shut it right quick as he instead took a sip of his steaming tea.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Sandy comforted him when he said his actions, “we can just sit here and relax.”

“I know,” Red Son muttered as he held the tea in hand. “You always preach patience and confidentiality.”

“And I still do, remember if you don’t want to share something, you are under no obligation to say a word. This is your choice and your choice only,” he smiled as he took another sip.

“Yeah,” he put down his cup as he brought the car back to his lap, “I…I did something really bad, not in a physically harmful way, but I still feel ashamed of myself that I had to do it to someone I care-to someone I know,” he quickly said.

Sandy nodded his head as he continued to listen.

“I know I didn’t hurt them, but I still feel gross that I did that to them and they still don’t know it was me. They have even been asking about me and if I’m well and I don’t like this feeling, hell I don’t even know what I’m feeling, but it feels like a bunch of snakes slithering all through my stomach and trying to escape out of my throat,” he stilled his hands as it began to shake.

“Do you care for them?” He asked.

“No!” He yelled at first, but then he settled down as he silently nodded. He may have known Mei and MK for only a couple of months, but he cares fiercely about the two of them. He doesn’t know why he even does, but there is something about them that just makes him want to never let go.

“I think it’s that you feel that you took their trust for advantage,” the blue giant calmly said.

Red Son's eyes widened as that clicked in his head. He abused the trust in him and he feels utterly disgusted with himself. “What have I done,” he whispered out as his whole body dropped.

“That doesn’t mean that it’s the end,” Sandy quickly said. “All types of relationships go through this kind of struggle, it’s easy to just give in and think that it's all over, but it's not. It’s not over, after all, it doesn’t take one person to communicate, after all, you need someone else to talk to rather than you and your doubts, so why don’t you try to talk to them and explain why-”

“But I can’t,” he fiercely whispered out. “I had to do it! I had to.”

“…do you mind if I ask why you think you had to do it?”

“I had to!” He shot up, almost knocking down the cat in his lap, who just gave him a side glance before settling down next to him. “I had to! I can’t disappoint them even more than I am! I was a failure all those centuries ago and I am one now! I need to show them that I can be successful, I can help them when they need it, that I can be useful!”

Sandy’s lips pursed, he already had a good idea who Red Son was referring to and least to say that he doesn’t really have that high of an opinion on his parents and instead, he asked, “But did you want to do it?”

He froze as he looked at the blue demon, “What?”

“Did you want to do it?” He calmly asked once more as he could see the turmoils running all through his mind.

The Bull prince wanted to open his mouth and agree that he wanted to steal from his friend's home, that he wanted to abandon his friends for his family, that he wanted to betray his friends, but he couldn’t even force it open as it would just taste vile coming from his lips. So instead he sinks back down to his seat and tightly gripped his head as he shook his head in denial as his eyes were tightly squeezed shut.

He never wanted to do this in the first place.

The ship was in somber silence as two demons were silently sitting across from each other until the giant demon went to the other side and began to rub the smaller demon back as the fat cat climbed on back to the demon lap and began to purr.

There are no words that can be said at the moment, nothing that can be done or said that can magically make it all better. But there is that comfort that someone knows of his vile actions and still doesn’t harbor hate towards him.

And he can’t help, no matter how much he knows he doesn’t deserve this kind of warmth, but be fucking grateful for this.

“But wouldn’t it be best if I added the components before the pot settles,” MK asked as he held up the vials in his hand.

“Why is that?” Macaque hummed as he was scrunched his nose at the package he had received and was currently opening the note.

“It just wouldn’t make sense if I had to add the mixture after it has cooled down, I mean I know for some recipes it would be fine, but doesn’t this one account for the melting process later on? So it would be better to mix them while it’s still steaming right now so that they can be melded in properly,” he deduced.

“And you would be correct, nice job thinking ahead shooting star,” he smiled as he tossed both note and package in the trash.

“Thanks!” He perked up then he blinked as he looked to his dad, “you were testing me weren’t you.”

“Oh yeah,” he unashamedly said.

“And what would happen if I got it wrong?”

“Well I always did think that failure was the best way to learn from your mistakes,” he teased, “but I would have told you to add it in, I would rather not waste my products.”

“Ha Ha Ha,” he deadpanned as he poured the vials in and mixed the pot, “you’re hilarious.”

“I try to be.”

He rolled his eyes as he put the timer on, took off his gloves, and washed his hands. He couldn’t help but look towards the monkey's traditional methods as he continued to grind down the herbs. “So I’m curious, you have been alive for centuries and obviously kept up somewhat to the times, so why are you still using old methods for medications?” He was always a bit curious over this, but never really thought to ask until now.

The monkey just shrugged his shoulder, “honestly it’s both a habit at this point and relaxing. When Ping first taught me this, I couldn’t help but be frustrated at all the little details and accuracy you must have in order to correctly make the right dose, but now that is almost background noise as it comes almost instinctual.”

MK hummed as he sat on his stool, “so can you tell me more about Ping? Like, I know why you continue to go back to your friend and all and how he taught you how to make medicine, but you never did talk more about him.”

“Didn’t I say Ping was a normal ass bastard who was just way too chill about basically everything,” he smirked as he began to place the bright herbs into another pot.

“You did, but I’m still curiousss,” he whined. “You must have some more stories about him.”

“You must be bored.”

“No!”

He raised his eyebrow.

“Okay fine a little, but I am curious,” he huffed.

“Fine fine,” he gave in as he continued to mix his pot, “did I ever tell you the first time I ever found out that Ní was a fox?”

“No!” He eagerly exclaimed.

“Well it was the same day I found out that Kappa was an adrenaline junkie.”

MK didn’t twitch at the Shui Gui name given by his Dad as he listened to the story with open ears.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Macaque couldn’t help but yell out as he swung from tree to tree, hoping to outrun the enraged spirit, with crinkled gray skin and a long red tongue, chasing after them. “I’m going to kill you once this is over!” He yelled out.

“How was I supposed to know not to piss off their feeding!” Kappa yelled back as he clung onto the demon's back.

“That’s fucking common sense!”

“Spirits don’t even need to eat, so I don’t know why the hell they are so mad?!”

“Apparently this one does!”

They both yelled as they felt a fireball whizz by their faces.

“It even knows fire magic?!” The Shui Gui blanched as much as an already pale spirit could. “Now you're just showing off!”

“Less talking more thinking of a way out of this,” the monkey growled out as he had to jump up higher to the next branch of the tree to see if Kappa could get a better look of where they were going.

“Can’t you use your shadow magic?”

“Oh geez, I wonder why I haven’t thought of that? Oh right! You fucking fed me Mandrakes and now I can barely see shit let alone use my magic!” He snarled out. “Do you want me to send us down under to Yama's home cause that can happen if I happen to even try to go into my shadows?! Or do you want to be smothered by your own shadow cause that can also happen you stupid fuck!”

“Sorry! I really didn’t think that this would happen!” He did wince, he was trying to play a prank on his friend and it was funny at first at how he stumbled throughout the place, but now it has gotten less funny.

“Your very fucking lucky that I have great fucking hearing to manage to run this far without running into anything,” his lips curled up, but then he stopped as promptly jumped all the way down to the floor as a large fireball was aimed directly towards them.

Macaque stumbled for a bit as he couldn’t exactly see the tree branches as he was falling thus the two of them separated during the fall and were now lying on the ground.

“Fuuucckk,” the monkey groaned as he got up, “I am so killing you again when this is all done.”

“That’s fair,” Kappa moaned out.

The spirit let out a warning hiss as it drew closer to the both of them, their long tongue licking their lips as they couldn’t wait to drain their soul for their meal. They haven’t eaten in so long and they would take anything at this point, even if it means coming from something as dirty as a demon.

“I ain’t nobody meal,” Macaque growled out as he got into position, he may not be able to use his powers, but he can still kick ass without it.

He tensed as he heard the creature leap for him, but before it could even go near him a large plume of fire directly hit the crazed spirit.

“HIISSSSS!” They screamed out as the fire burned their skin, but no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t get it out until they were burned away into ashes.

“Uhhh what just happened?” The demon questioned as he tried to hear out on who did that cause all he can see was a blurry form and a large orange flame if he is correct judging by the smell.

“Ní you beautiful bastard!” Kappa threw his hands in the air. “You have amazing timing!”

“I wouldn’t if you would not run into danger every week,” they scoffed as they walked towards the tensed monkey. “I’m just gonna go out on a limb and say you still can’t see?”

“Not for shit,” he grumbled. “Also, when can you do fire magic?” He tried to see the best he could in the small bunny form, but for some reason, it was a very large form. “…are you not a fucking bunny?”

“Nope,” this time it was Ping's voice that said that as he handed him a jar filled with orange liquid. “Drink that, it should help.”

“Thanks,” he nodded as he wrinkled his nose as he chugged down the entire vial. “This is still the nastiest thing I have ever tasted.”

“If it tastes bad then you know it works,” he chuckled as he watched the monkey blink his eyes.

“I’ll give you that, I can finally see shit again,” he agreed as everything became much clearer, but he couldn’t help but rub his eyes as he saw that what he assumed was Ní was instead a large, brown, nine-tailed fox looking down at him. “You’re a Huli Jing?”

“Took you long enough,” they smirked.

“I’m sorry if I thought you were a regular damn bunny demon,” he snarked out as he rubbed his eyes.

“Apology accepted.”

He rolled his eyes and instead look towards Ping, “and you fucking knew about this?”

“Course, been living with them long enough to know that wasn’t no damn bunny with the way they eat,” he let out a toothy grin.

“And you just don’t care.”

“Nope,” the human chuckled at Macaque's twitching eye.

“Course you don’t, next thing you’ll tell me is that you routinely have a deity visiting you every day.”

“Well, not every day, but every once in a while.”

He whipped his head towards him, “what.”

“Probably once every few months,” he calculated as he began to walk back to his home.

“Hold on now! You can’t just say that and walk away!” The six eared demon quickly began to follow, “like what the hell do you mean you get visits from a fucking deity?!”

“One of the top pups in the Heavenly Realm at that,” Kappa grinned wider at his friend's befuddled look.

“What the fuck?! How in the fuck?! What?” He couldn’t comprehend how Ping, the most basic ass human who he ever met, knows so many creatures, demons, and now a celestial deity that apparently have a high ass position in one of the most sought out places, and still stays in this place. “I can’t even right now.”

“Awww is it too much for your brain to comprehend,” the spirit mocked as he then let out a yelp as he quickly began to run away from the ticked off monkey.

“I still haven’t forgotten what you did! Get back here and face vengeance you slimy bitch!” Macaque yelled out as he chased him.

“I have no regrets!”

“You will soon!”

“I didn’t think it could get more lively,” Ping chuckled as he watched those two run around. “It’s nice to see Shi Shi make a friend.”

“Pretty sure his friend is gonna kill him,” Ní snorted as they silently followed behind.

“That would be interesting to see and I bet even Shi Shi would enjoy it.”

“…you're not wrong.”

“Whoa, wait how does one person who stays in the same area get to know so many mythical beings?” MK tilted his head.

“You're asking the wrong monkey,” he shrugged, “but the deity still comes around every once in a while.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he may have a long life, but he still remembers Ping,” he had a somber smile on his face, “he even likes to visit his old home sometimes.”

The human couldn’t help but remember an old shack deep within the forest that he found when he was thirteen. He shook his head to get rid of the memory and instead asked, “So that's why you built the forest here, Ping home was like your first ever home?”

Macaque stilled his body then he shook his head, “technically second.”

“Second? Then what was your first? I thought you were a traveler before this?” The boy asked, while his Dad never really got into his own backstory, he can still safely assume that he was not born and raised in a warm and safe environment with kind and loving parents.

“Flower Fruit Mountain,” he rubbed the back of his neck.

“What?”

“Yeahh, that was my first ever home for a bit.”

MK leaned forward as much as he could on the stool. “Tell me everything.”

“Well, aren't you nosy today.”

“I’m hungry for knowledge about your past that you never speak of unless it has to do with others, so talk.”

“I have raised such a snarky child,” he mumbled.

“And you still love me for it, now talk.”

“Fine, fine,” he threw his hands up, “so I was currently enjoying my free time when Wukong decided to drag me over to his mountain.”

“Can I at least know why I’m being carried to your home instead of walking?” Macaque questioned why Wukong was currently carrying him while flying on his cloud.

“Cause this is the fastest way to get there!” He grinned.

“You could have just asked.”

“Yeah, but it was fun surprising you like this,” he won’t admit that he kinda likes having his friend close to him like this. He has an image to keep up after all.

“I literally can't escape dumbass, just let me go,” he groaned as he didn’t even attempt to break free of his grasp. He knew damn well how strong sunshine can be, he as seen him lift an entire fucking mountain for god’s sake.

“Alright,” he jumped down and when his feet reached the bottom he let go.

“…go fuck yourself,” Macaque couldn’t stop the low growl in his voice as he picked himself off the ground.

“Fuck me yourself,” he smiled as he earned a nice view of six ears flaring up in a fierce red.

“Wha-shut the fuck up dumbass!” The shadow demon shouted out as he stomped towards him.

“It was a joke, a joke,” he grinned as he began to run away.

“I’ll show you a joke.”

“Oooh?” They both paused their actions as they saw a few monkeys climb up the tree and pop their heads from the bushes of trees and hanging from the branches.

“Friends of yours,” the black furred demon muttered as he saw that more came to join.

“Yep,” he then said a little louder to the tribe of simians, “everyone this is Macaque!”

This got a reaction out of them as some of them began to chatter a bit louder and a few even hopped off their tree.

“Don’t worry, he only looks like an angst ridden demon, but that’s just his normal look.”

“I will tear out your tongue,” he side eyed him.

“But you love me too much~”

“You overestimate my fondness and patience I have for you,” he deadpanned as he still kept an eye out for one of the monkeys who was getting closer to him. He nervously shifted as he was about to take a step back, but he was stopped as Wukong wrapped his arm around his shoulder.”

“Take it easy moonshine, they just want to get to know you,” he comforted him as one of them stared up at Mac.

Said demon said nothing as he looked back down to the monkey as well. It was a weird standoff between the two monkeys, well it was until the smallest one seemed to decide something as he began to climb up the demon.

“Wha-hey?!” Macaque flinched at the actions but managed to not accidentally shake the monkey off thanks to Sun’s arms keeping him in place.

“It’s okay,” he softly whispered in his ears as the small simian made his way to the black furred head and began to groom him. “See, he just wanted to groom you.”

“Wow I couldn’t tell,” he snarked back and slowly began to feel his body ease up at the touch. He wasn’t use to anyone grooming him other than Wukong, so it was a new experience for him. “I guess it’s not so bad.”

“Great, cause here comes the rest,” he pointed out a few more making their way to them.

And soon enough many were crowding around the two demons and some were even brave enough to climb on the Six Eared demon.

“I don’t think I've ever seen them take a liking to anyone so fast,” Wukong smiled as he watched his friends climb all over him.

“Probably helps cause I’m a monkey,” he said and couldn’t help but smile as one of them that was hanging from his neck began to nuzzle him.

“Nah, they basically adopted you at this point,” he teased as he saw the interaction, “they practically are welcoming you home.”

“Heh…wait what?” He was startled by that last word, “Home?”

The brown furred monkey sucked in a breath as he facepalms. “Shit I knew I forgot something.”

“Forgot what?”

“Sooo, do you want to live here?” He grinned widely trying to hide his nerves.

“Huh?!” Macaque was not at all following the impulsive monkey train of thought.

“It’s just that I don’t think I've ever seen you have a house before and I know you usually spend your nights out on the streets or in the wild when you want to snooze. So I was just thinking that, hey I have a big ass mountain that has plenty of space and it would be awesome if we could just, you know, stay together here.” He didn’t know why he was going on a tangent right now, but he felt like he just needed to explain himself.

“…couldn’t you have asked instead of kidnaping me here then?” He raised an eyebrow as he tried to follow his friend's mindset.

“Kinda forgot that part and went straight here,” he grinned.

“Of course you did,” Macaque fondly rolled his eyes.

“So, what do you say?”

“Well,” the demon monkey looked down to one of the monkeys who was staring up at him and once they made eye contact he lifted his arms. He could tell that this was one of the younger ones so, with a small smile, he picked up the infant and held it close to his chest as he felt him begin to purr. “I wouldn’t mind living here, it's not so bad if they can deal with you.”

Wukong couldn’t think of a retort back as he watched his moonlight hold the infant close in an almost motherly way. He was treating the little one as if it was their own with the way his nimble hands slowly caress the infant head, how his sleek arms were supporting his body, how his beautiful golden eyes lovingly look down at him, how his lips…he stopped that train of thought as he felt his face flush up in a bright red.

“So how bout I take you to all my favorite spots later,” he accidentally shouted out as he quickly got rid of his thoughts.

“Favorite spots?”

“Best places to hide, best view, best fruit tree, you know the awesome stuff!”

“Oh right, how could I forget,” he smirked.

“Don’t worry, that’s why you have me here,” he puffed out his chest.

“Well then I can’t wait to see them,” Macaque said with a smile.

The Monkey King smiled back then he grabbed one of the monkeys that were about to jump off his shoulder. “You need to do better than that to steal from me,” he joked.

The hanging monkey just grinned as he tossed a bag filled with nuts to his other accomplices and they quickly began to run off.

“Hey! Get back here!” He yelled out as he began to chase his friends.

“Nice to see someone can keep him on his toes,” the black furred monkey grinned as he watches his friend, unsuccessfully, try to get his snack back.

“Ooh oo,” the small one in his arms chirped as it grabbed his nose.

“Yeah,” he chuckled and rubbed his head, “I think I’m gonna like it here.”

“I met some of those monkeys when I first cra-I mean landed on Flower Fruit Mountain,” MK abruptly changed his wording. He rather his monkey Dad not try to smother him again. “A few even like to torment me or climb on me too whenever I take a break during training.”

“How are they doing?” He curiously asked as he got up to check the mixture

“They seem fine, they tried to rob me a few times, but fine.” He had to stay on guard each time, but after the fifth time, it has sorta been a game between them all now. He even playfully stole a few fruits from them and they began to chase him as well.

“That’s good,” the six eared demon may have left the mountain, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care for the rest of the tribe that he had to leave behind.

“But I’m curious,” MK said after a few moments of silence.

“Hm?”

“…did…did you add the solution before the mixture or after?” He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t ask his original question. He couldn’t ask if he missed living with the Monkey King, he thinks he may already know the answer.

“After it would be much more malleable to combine that way and speaking of herbs, I’m running out of some of them, specifically the ones used for pain relief.” He eyed the almost empty jars, he has been restocking his supplies back up ever since the hospital demands have cooled down, this was one of the last things he needed. “I’ll have to grab some by the mountain later on in the week.”

“Ooh, can I come!” He excitedly asked, he hasn’t been herb gathering with his Dad in ages.

“Always comet,” he smirked as he watched his son squirm happily in his seat.

“Yes! Yes! Uh Huh! Oh yeah!-wait, my pot!” He immediately stopped and checked over his medicine.

“Still have nine minutes on the timer,” Macaque pointed out to the still ticking timer.

“Oh right,” he actually forgot he set it.

“I worry about you sometimes.”

“Psshh, my memory is not that bad.”

“Do I need to remind you of the vase incident?” The monkey deadpanned.

“Okay to be fair I wasn’t paying any attention to the history of it, so how was I supposed to know that it was a curse. Besides, Mei was playing with it as well.”

“And this is why the two of you were stuck at the hip, literally. You should just be lucky that Ahmed was around else you really would have been stuck together for a much longer time,” he bluntly said.

“I still think that curse was stupid,” MK mumbled.

“Just be glad that it was stupid and not deadly.”

“…point.”

Wukong silently watched his successor spar against one of his clones as he sat still on his cloud. He had to admit that while MK still tends to have his own burst of impulsiveness, a mild reckless streak, and a curiosity that could even rival his own, he can certainly still find new ways to surprise him.

SLAM

Like right now, he used a fake out move as when he swung high, only to go low instead while making sure to grab hold of his tail. It didn’t get the clone in time, but it was still a shock to see that he can be sneaky when he wants to be and this was just with the staff in hand.

He had a hand to hand session with him, in the beginning, to see what he was dealing with and he was very surprised to find that, while he couldn’t keep up with him, he can almost match his own pace, which is no easy feat.

So it really piqued his curiosity on just who his Dad was. After all, he could count a handful of demons and deities on both hands that could rival him in speed and it wasn’t that many.

He still was silently watching his protege when one of the monkeys, one of the immortal ones, hopped onto his cloud and watched with him. He did give a slight grin and scratched the back of his friend's head, they were the reason why he hasn’t gotten insane with isolation for all those years.

“Not feeling like playing,” he said.

The monkey shook her head, she liked playing with her tribe, don’t get her wrong, but even she needs some time away from them.

“I feel ya, lazing about is truly the best,” he stretched on his cloud. “We’ll almost, I still have to watch over my student after all.”

She looked to where he was pointing to and she cooed excitedly as she saw the familiar scent infant. She and the rest of the tribe absolutely loved playing with him whenever he was. He was really nice with sharing his food with them and they couldn’t help, but share their own games and food with him as well. It does help that he knows how to groom them, his fingers feel really nice.

“Familiar scent?” He questioned her words, he knew that the tribe had been hanging around MK, but what did they mean by the familiar scent? “What does it remind you of?”

“Ooh! Oohooh!” She told him as she watched the infant jump away from the strike.

“Like ginseng, earth, and…mango?” He paused at that last one, but he shook his head, “no it couldn’t, not after all this time.”

SLAM

His eyes widened as he watched MK pop up from the ground and grappled the clone from the back as he wrapped his arms around the neck and his legs around one of his clone legs. It didn’t work as the clone easily broke free and counterattack, but that grapple has been used countless times on him before, but not by MK.

His eyes became golden as he activated his eyes of truth and it wasn’t obvious at first, he still had the same bright golden aura tinted with a reddish-orange glow, but when he looked closer past the obvious glow he saw it. Right there flowing through his meridians and underneath the eye-catching colors, was a subtle violet aura gently coursing through.

He could feel his heartbeat fiercely in his ears and his body froze in time as he couldn’t stop staring at the familiar aura that was almost intertwined with MK.

What is Macaque doing with his student?

“Why are there so many mountains around this city?!” MK groaned as they trekked up the mountain carrying his own satchel of stored up plants. “Like one I can get, but we have so many that it’s spewed around like it’s nobody's business.

“I’m pretty sure that this was the aftermath of some deity and demons fighting, after all, we also have an ocean to one side, a forest on the other, a volcano between, and a desert just a ways past.” He said as he eyed his surroundings, never really clarified on why it was like this too, he has seen some areas like this, but to have so many different biomes all encircling this one area was more than a bit weird. All he knew about it was that there was some big battle with the city, before it was a city, being the center point of it all. Someone wanted something from the city, he didn’t know if it was the deity or demon, and the other party made sure to prevent the other from grabbing it. No one knew which side won as there was simply destruction one moment and a bleak silence the next.

“That is weird, I wonder what kind of beings would have that kind of power to make a whole new area,” he mused as he hopped over to another rock.

“Quite a few actually, maybe the library will help,” he said while his ears twitched.

“Or Ahmed and Tang.”

“Or Ahmed and Tang,” that lion is almost as big of a book nerd as the historian, the big lug even likes debating with him over what’s true and what’s fake. It’s sorta hilarious, Pigsy has to be the one to hold Tang back when he really gets into the debate and stops him from practically climbing Ahmed. “Now try going for that section over there and see if you can find any Lichens in your area.”

“Alrighty, but I still say it would be easier just growing it in the forest, I think you have just enough space,” he teased.

Macaque rolled his eyes, “You already know damn well that even I can’t forcibly grow certain plants.”

“So you're saying you can’t do it.”

“You can’t grow a goddamn plant that has adapted to the mountain to just grow in a forest.”

“You can’t do it~” His mischievous grin grew wider.

“Come here you,” the monkey began to chase after his child, who quickly began to run away from him.

“I think you’re getting slow in your age, old man,” he jumped from rock to rock until he landed on flat land.

“Me old?” MK suddenly felt an impact hit his back as he felt his head go into a headlock. “I’ll show you old,” the demon said as he began to roughly ruffle his head.

“I give! I give!” He laughed as clutched onto the furry arm.

“You better,” he was about to let go when he suddenly tightened his grasp and threw his son away from him.

“Whoa!”

There were few times where his hearing was a shortcoming compared to his other senses. His ears are the epitome of who he is, his whole name revolves around his six ears. But right now, even when he knew something didn’t sit quite right, it was the feeling that saved him as he felt a threatening aura press down upon him as he managed to leap away from that spot and-

BOOOM!

-safely avoid the crater that was dead center to where he was.

“What do you think you're doing with my student Macaque?” An oh so familiar voice hissed out at him as the dust settled.

This time his ears didn’t fail him as even before he spoke, he remembered the sound of his heartbeat echoing all throughout his mind. He first memorized it when they were far from immortality after he had come back to their meeting point broken and bruised. He had picked the wrong fight with a demon who had a gang backing behind him, he barely managed to win against them all and dragged his fractured body to him. Macaque had watched over him all night and, even when he knew he had advanced healing, couldn’t help but listen closely to the sound of his heart pulsing in his chest.

He didn’t want to wake up to his friend's lifeless corpse.

But luckily that didn’t happen, when that morning hit the impulsive idiot popped back up as if he just took a nap and complained that he was starving. Obviously, he smacked him upside the head before throwing his pile of stolen fruits in his face. Then the two ducked out of that area as soon as possible with wild grins on their faces as they went off to find their adventure. The two of them really did go through too much and seen so much together that he didn’t believe it would end.

But that was then and this now.

So, he put on his best theater grin and the most mocking voice he could muster up as he locked down that fragile piece in his head that held his fondness of the monkey glaring at him. He began to talk as he went into a defensive position.

“Sun Wukong! It’s good to see you bud!”

#monkie kid #mk #macaque #six eared macaque #monkey king #PlumTeaAU

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nataliedanovelist · 4 years

Text

GF - Growing Old(er)

Alternate Title: Growing Older

Summary: Everyone has a sinking realization that life is temporary and that we’re all gonna die, and unfortunately sweet Mabel has her’s.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Come on, Stanley, be serious!”

“I am serious! Dipper can have my boxing gloves and Mabel can have my old collection of photos.”

“This is an important document that goes above and beyond a few keepsakes!” Ford tried to explain this, yet again, to his brother. “We need to discuss more important arrangements…”

“Look, Wise Guy, the Shack already belongs to Soos…”

“But what about the car? What about the Stan O’ War?”

“The boat’s gonna be burned down with us in it.” Stan held up his hands in front of him and moved them apart as he elaborated. “Picture this: two old sailors lying in their boat, their friends and family shooting flaming arrows at it across the sea as some farewell-bar song plays. We’d go down like kings!”

“Yeah, no.” Ford said firmly. “We’re not doing that.”

Mabel skipped into the living room and found her grunkles at the card table. They had a bunch of stupid-looking documents covering the table, but Ford seemed like the only one really interested in it, a pen in his hand and he was leaning forward to work while Stan was sipping a can of soda and sat back in the chair. “Whatcha doin’?” She asked.

“Constructing our will and testimony.”

“WHAT?!” Mabel shrieked and covered her mouth with her hands. Her uncles stared at their niece as her eyes filled with tears and she struggled to ask with a choked whisper, “Are… are you guys…”

“Oh no, pumpkin.” Stan scooped her up into his lap and hugged her. Mabel clung onto his undershirt tightly and bit her lip as she tried not to cry. “Sixer and I are fine, I promise. He just thought it’d be a bright idea to get this outta the way for when we do kick the bucket.”

Ford leaned forward and rubbed her back. “I’m sorry, my dear, I never meant to scare you like this. I swear, we’re both perfectly healthy and going to be around for awhile.”

Mabel wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater and sniffed. “O-Okay. So… why are you making a will?”

“Well, unfortunately someone bypassed the downsides of faking your death and stealing another man’s name.” Ford said lightly as he gave Stan a crooked smile. His twin just stuck his tongue out at him. “So there are some things we need to discuss to simplify complicated actions and it would be a good idea to make certain arrangements.”

“Like what?”

“Well, since in a way we both share the name ‘Stanford Pines’, it would be wise to make such legal documents together. This will ensure that the right people receive the right gifts and inheritance, and that our bodies are properly taken care of in an orderly manner that best helps the living grieve and keeps the government off our backs.”

Mabel still didn’t like the sound of all of this. “But why do you guys need to talk about it? You said you’re fine.”

“We are, sweetie,” Stan said warmly and ruffled her hair. “But we’re not gonna be around forever. Eventually these old farts are gonna be sleeping with the fishes, and when that happens we just wanna make sure everything’s taken care of. At least that’s what Sixer wants. I don’t care what happens as long as my tombstone is bigger than his.”

“That is not going to happen.” Ford said firmly with a smile.

“Too bad, I called it.”

“Since when?!”

“Since the election last summer. The niblings can back me up, right Mabel?”

The brunette grinned and shrugged. “Sorry, but since you two aren’t fighting anymore it doesn’t count. Clean slate!”

“What?!” Stan gasped with a smile. “Betrayed by my own pumpkin! Fine! Someone’s not getting my old stop-motion movies!”

“Good!” Mabel laughed with her uncles for a little bit while Ford wrote some stuff down, still trying to complete the task. The teenage girl looked up at her hero and she remembered the reason why she came in here in the first place. “Hey, do you guys wanna go make some cupcakes with me? I’ve got extra sprinkles!”

“Sure,” Stan let Mabel slide off his lap and he stood, but his brother stopped him.

“Not so fast, Stan, we have to finish this at some point. Why don’t we make cupcakes after dinner?”

Mabel’s concerns were coming back. She looked at Ford carefully to try to pick up a lie. “I thought you said you two were okay.”

“We are, Mabel, I promise.” Ford even paused his work and crossed his heart for his niece, making her smile. “But no one lives forever. One day we won’t be here. It’s like Stanley said; we just want to make sure everything will be okay.”

“It’s the way it works.” Stan said with a shrug and plopped down in his chair. “We’re born, we live a little, and then we die. S’long as you don’t just survive but live too, it ain’t so bad.”

Mabel stared at her uncles. “Aren’t you scared?” Her voice was meek and lacked her usual confidence.

“Of death? Not really.” Ford admitted. “Death is nothing but the next great adventure. An unseen destiny awaiting all mortals at the end of their lifespans.”

“And hey, that doesn’t mean I’m ready to go just yet.” Stan added in. “I wanna see my kids graduate and get married and have their own little gremlins to terrorize them.”

“Oh, absolutely!” Ford quickly agreed with. “I didn’t mean we’re done with life, but the more familiar we become with death, the less frightening it is.”

“Besides, we’ve both faced the hooded dude so many times, leaving with him will be like seeing an old friend.” Stan barked a quick laugh and added, “Maybe I’ll grab drinks with him!”

Mabel giggled, but then slowly wandered onto a dark train of thought. The idea of death was not new to her; she and her brother had nearly died at the hands of an evil triangle (she still sometimes had nightmares about it). But even though she had come to terms with growing up, she hadn’t put two and two together and realized that growing up also means growing older and then dying. It was new territory Mabel had not yet ventured into, and suddenly she didn’t feel like making cupcakes anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day the subject was still on Mabel’s mind. One day, her favorite people in the whole world were going to die. Stan was going to die, Ford was going to die, Dipper was going to die. Then she would be all alone until she died. But then what? The end? Lights out? There were such things as ghosts, so maybe they could come back and haunt Gravity Falls as a family, but the ghosts didn’t seem quite like themselves on Earth; they were vengeful and angry and hurt. Mabel’s grunkles had enough of that in life, so maybe it was for the best that they don’t come back.

Mabel was so distracted that she tripped on a rock while walking in the woods and scraped her knee. She held it and winced with tears in her eyes, a little bit of blood trickling down from her small wound. “Ow, ow, ow! What the…”

She looked at the rock that had caused it and saw something odd by it. A necklace with a silver chain and a red ruby in a circle sparkled by the rock. Mabel picked it up and looked at it. Scratches of some kind were around the ruby and it sparkled and looked pretty. The ruby was a darker red than most normal rubies, but there was no denying the sparkling gem. “Wow, cool! I bet Grunkle Ford would love to look at this.” For safekeeping, Mabel put it around her neck and tucked it under her sweater as she stood.

She continued on her way to town and she smiled at the arcade. As she approached, she was oblivious to her changing body. She grew a few inches taller, now maybe slightly shorter than Wendy, and her hair was shorter, now only to her shoulders. A few zits littered her maturing skin and her curves were growing in. Mabel was so distracted by her thoughts and the need to think of something else that she didn’t even notice. Her clothes magically changed with her so she didn’t feel tight or uncomfortable.

Mabel entered the arcade and happily played that new battle video game she had her eye on. Shooting aliens made her feel a little bit better, but it also made her hungry. She left the arcade a little while later and talked to herself as she wandered around Gravity Falls for something to eat. “I mean, I get it. There’s nothing wrong with change. I know there’s nothing I can do about it, but I guess I never really thought about everything changing like that.”

As Mabel walked, her hair grew back to it’s normal length and her zits went away. Her vision was a little blurry, but Mabel just shrugged it off and dismissed it as a sign that she was tired. She did feel emotionally drained as she purchased a jelly-filled doughnut and munch on it, her mind now in a rut. She had no idea what to do or where to go to feel better, so maybe a walk in the woods would help.

Mabel strolled through the forest and continued to think about life and death. “Poor guys… what will happen to them if they’re not together? What if Grunkle Stan dies first? Grunkle Ford will be all alone, but what if Grunkle Ford dies first? Then Grunkle Stan will be all alone again. None of that’s fair.” Mabel then gasped in horror and her eyes became more blurry due to tears. “What if Dipper dies first and I end up all alone? Or what if I die first and then he’ll be all alone? Ugh, why can’t every twin die of duel heart attack?!”

Mabel was very tired. Her back ached and her legs ached and her knees ached and she had a headache… everything hurt. She realized she was at the lake and she decided to sit by the shoreline and rest. She held her knees by her chest and peered down at the water. “I guess I just gotta… WHAT?!” Mabel yelled in horror and jumped away from her reflection, but then forced herself to make sure she wasn’t crazy.

An old version of Mabel stared back at the thirteen-year-old. Her gray hair was the same shade as Grunkle Stan’s except for a stripe of darker gray down her long hair, kinda like Grunkle Ford. She had wrinkles from all of her past smiles and her hands were ached with arthritis. In fact, everything hurt, but if Mabel had to guess, her reflection was only in her fifties.

“Wow… I look so cool!” Mabel cheered as she peered down at the lake. “Look at me! I look like a silver fox! This is great! I can buy all the drinks and magazines I want! On weekdays I get half-priced dinners! I get free money from the government! And now I don’t have to go to high-school!” She laughed at her own joke, but then her back popped painfully and she yelped. “Ouch! Is this how the guys feel all the time?” Mabel asked as she looked at her curly gray hair and her wrinkling skin. A scary realization started to sink in. “Oh no. This… This is bad… What if I… Ford!” She gasped and quickly stood up. “Grunkle Ford will know what to do! He can fix me!”

Against better judgment, Mabel ran as fast as she could for home. Her hair became grayer and curlier as it began to lose it’s life. Mabel suddenly felt an overwhelming pain in her chest, making it hard to breathe, and she tripped over her own feet and fell, unable to get back up. The old lady moaned on the grass, helpless. She looked up and with her horrible vision she could have sworn she could see a brown triangle up ahead, indicating the Mystery Shack.

“Help… help…” She breathed weakly, but no one was coming. She sighed with exhaustion and laid back down on her front to try to regain some rest so she could move forward.

Dipper, meanwhile, had been looking for his sister. He guessed she was hanging out with Candy and Grenda, but in case she was somewhere in the house he wanted to ask her if she had borrowed his BABBA CD. “Mabel? Mabel?” He called on the porch. He shrugged and was about to head inside, forced to be patient, but then he heard and saw Waddles scamblering out of the woods alone; immediately Dipper suspected something was off; Mabel never lets her beloved pig explore alone, but maybe he had been adventurous and sneaky and now regretted it.

“Waddles?” Dipper scratched the top of his head to calm him down. “What’s up, buddy? You okay?”

Waddles suddenly bit his vest, tugged, and then let go and ran back to the edge of the woods. He oinked and squealed, begging Dipper to follow him. Taking his chances, Dipper followed, wondering if something - or someone - was out there. Only a few steps into the woods and Dipper saw a woman on the ground face-first. He saw the long gray hair and gasped with shock when he realized it was an old lady. “Whoa, hey, are you okay, miss?” He asked and was on his knees by her side, unsure how to help.

“Dipper…” The old lady sighed and looked up at the boy.

“Mabel?!” Dipper gasped; she may be old, but he could recognise her own twin. “What the heck happened?! Did you time travel? Are you from the future?!”

“N-No…” Mabel sighed. “Ford… Grunkle Ford… get…”

“Come on, I’ll take you to him.” Dipper said firmly to mask his fear. He draped one of his sister’s frail arms over his neck and helped her up to her feet. Slowly but surely they were heading back towards home.

Meanwhile, Ford was at the kitchen table, pleasantly munching on his lunch. Stan, on the other hand, shivered, put down his fork, and gulped down some soda.

“What, you don’t like my tuna salad?” The scientist asked.

“No. Who puts raisins in tuna salad?”

“The French.”

“Well, it’s not right.” Stan grumbled as he started on a new task: picking the raisins out of his meal.

Ford rolled his eyes and got up to refill his glass with water. The door opened and they heard Dipper’s voice before they saw him. “Grunkle Ford!”

He smiled kindly and turned, “What is it, m-” He dropped his glass, letting it shatter by his boots.

Mabel hung loosely by his shoulder, her hair gray and her skin in wrinkles. The elder twins rushed to her and Stan got to her first, holding her gently by the chin to look at her face. “Mabel, sweetie! Can you hear me? What happened?!”

“I don’t know, I just found her like this!” Dipper answered.

“Set her in the armchair.” Ford instructed. “We can fix this…”

“What if we can’t?!” Stan dared to ask. “I’m not just saying this cuz of her age, but she doesn’t look good.”

“No, you’re right.” Ford elaborated. “She’s not that much older than us, but the sudden change must have taken a toll on her body; we’ve had time to adjust and keep our bodies in good shape… or at least prevent aches, but she hasn’t had that kind of time. But she’ll be fine, we can reverse this, I’m sure of it.”

Dipper had Mabel sit on the armchair, her eyes closed, and now sitting back the amount of effort she had to put into breathing was more apparent. She groaned slightly and the boys were shocked to find her aging again more rapidly in front of them. Her wrinkles were deeper and her hair slowly turned white.

“Dipper, get the first aid kit, now!” Ford commanded and the teenager was off like a rocket.

Stan sat on the dino-skull and held her thin hand. “Just hang on, pumpkin, we’ve got this.” He soothed, his voice trembling slightly due to his tightening throat.

Mabel moaned slightly and tried to open her eyes. “Gr-Grunkle Stan…”

“Yeah, it’s me, sweetheart.” Stan smiled and squeezed her hand. “You’ll be fine, you’re a Pines for crying out loud, so just hang in there, okay?”

Mabel cracked a small smile and nodded.

Dipper was back. “Here!”

“Good,” Ford opened it and took her opposite hand, pulling out a stethoscope and listening to her heartbeat through her wrist. “Let’s see…”

Mabel was aging again; her hair was thinning and some of it was falling out of her scalp. Her hand in Stan’s grasp was now nothing more than skin on bones, her veins sensitive. She moaned and had to put more effort into her breathing; now she looked almost a hundred.

“No, no, no!” Stan called. “Mabel?”

“Hold on, sweetie, it’ll be okay.” Ford gently coached Mabel as he listened to her heartbeat, praying it would never stop.

“What the…” Dipper began to notice faint glowing behind Mabel’s sweater. He pulled down to see her neck and upper-chest and he gasped at a red ruby necklace with a silver chain. The gem was glowing and vibrating, almost looking like it was hot, and when Dipper went to touch it, it almost burned his skin and it was stuck to Mabel’s skin like it had been super-glued onto her.

“That’s not any gem!” Ford gasped. “That’s a Youth-Sucker! It drains the wearer’s youth until the host dies and then the necklace will feed off of the body.”

“What do we do, what do we do?!” Stan asked.

“We have to remove it, carefully.” Ford said and turned to Dipper. “Get the tool kit.” And the teenager was gone, again.

Too soon Mabel was aging again. More hair was falling out, now half of it was gone and the rest remaining was thin. Mabel tried to swallow a moan but it was very apparent on her face that she was in a lot of pain. The pain would definitely explain the sou-sucking leech. Ford eyed the anomaly on his niece’s chest as it began to pur happily over the approaching meal.

“Dipper, hurry!” Ford barked harshly.

Mabel struggled to open her eyes, but she was tired of looking at the darkness. “I… I love you…” Her voice was so quiet and so weak it was a miracle it could be heard.

Stan squeezed her hand as tightly as he could risk without hurting her. “We love you too, pumpkin, but don’t gimme any of that mushy stuff like it’s goodbye, okay?” He blinked to try to ease the stinging in his eyes.

“M’scared…”

“Here!” Dipper was back and practically threw the tool box at Ford so he could get to work.

The scientist pulled out one of his electronic gloves and a pair of tweezers and instructed,” Dipper, hold down the sweater’s neck so I can work.” Dipper helped the gem being showcased and it continued to vibrate and burn and pur. Mabel would probably have a very nasty burn on her chest for a while, but that didn’t matter nearly as much as saving her life.

“Easy, easy,” Ford said mostly to himself as he carefully pinched the gem by the hook where the string was, reading to pull when the anomaly was at its weakest. He would have to do it quickly to not worsen Mabel’s burn with his glove, and so in classic Stanford Pines action, with one swift movement he shocked the gem and pulled it off of Mabel’s chest the second it screeched with pain and anger.

The moment the Youth-Sucker was off Mabel her youth returned her to and soon she was a tired thirteen-year-old, rosy cheeked and with a full head of beautiful brown hair. She blinked her eyes open and rubbed them with her fists, like waking from a dream, and was surprised to find still electrocuting the Youth-Sucker in his fist as punishment for trying to kill his Mabel. “Whoa.”

“Mabel!” Stan cried out and swallowed her into his lap for a tight hug. “Don’t scare me like that, pumpkin, I thought I was gonna lose you!”

“I’m sorry, I just thought it looked cool.” Mabel tried to explain but her face was buried in his chest and she happily hugged him back.

“Well, all’s well that ends well.” Ford breathed, his anxiety finally going down as he stood normally and pocketed the Youth-Sucker to dissect for science. “I’m sure there’s a valuable lesson to take from all of this.”

“Meh, too tired to figure that out.” Mabel moaned as she nuzzled her face against her grunkle.

“Alright, then bed sweetie.” And Dipper and Ford knew better than to point out that he was taking her to his bedroom instead of the attic; Stan needed a nap, too, and there was no way he was going to let his little girl out of his arms for a while after that traumatizing scare.

#GF #fanfiction #nothing but angst #totally NOT based off an episode of Steven Universe #gravity falls #mabel pines

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julietandcinderellavocaloid · 4 years

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Broken Juliet Chapter 9

With the decision to put what had happened the night before behind them, Rin and Nero ate a small breakfast and began walking hand in hand back to their village. They arrived in time for Rin to meet with Merli and sell all her handkerchiefs to the Alice before she moved away. Merli would not accept the handkerchiefs at a discount, and Rin made more in that one transaction than she typically made during the Saturdays she used to spend selling to multiple customers.

"All I ask is you pay the kindness forward one day," Merli had simply replied after Rin tearfully thanked her.

As Rin and Nero returned home, Nero teased, "Looks like you'll get your hovercraft wish for sure now. We might be able to move to another district altogether."

"As long as there's plenty of country in the district we choose, then let's do it," Rin replied, her excitement for the day she could leave the village forever reignited.

The high of the date at the fair lingered even as the events afterwards slowly faded away, and things began to return to normal. Routine resumed. Leon's other workhands still thought of Rin as nothing more than furniture that worked in the fields alongside them.

After service two weeks later, Nero gently laid a hand on Rin's shoulder as the other churchgoers exited the building and said, "You know, today is great fishing weather."

"It is," Rin agreed, having gone with Nero a few times. Nero grinned, and Rin returned the gesture as she nodded along.

The two returned to the barn, changed into the most worn clothes they owned, grabbed their fishing supplies, and walked to the lake. They ate sandwiches for lunch along the way, bragging over who was going to catch the biggest fish. When they arrived, Nero began setting up the boat tied to the dock, left there by nobody knew whom but was used by anyone and everyone who wanted to use it.

Nero made sure Rin was safely inside before he hopped in. Using the oars, he and Rin paddled half a mile away from the dock. From there, it was only a matter of baiting their hooks and waiting for the fish to bite.

"To live close to a lake so we can keep doing this for years to come," Rin said quietly as the afternoon leisurely rolled by.

"To own a boat for ourselves so we can keep doing this without fear the boat is going to start leaking at any moment," Nero replied. Rin looked at Nero to see him frowning at the bottom. "I'm surprised this thing is still floating. Maybe after today, we should start fishing on the dock."

Rin didn't disagree. The wood did look old, and it did begin to look as if it struggled to hold up their weight. Not knowing how to swim, she decided for the future it would be better to not take any chances.

Time lolled by, and the sun dragged across the sky.

"No bites today." Rin sighed, disappointed. "I was really hoping for grilled fish for dinner."

"Let's give it another hour," Nero decided.

"You keep fishing. I think I'm going to sit back for a moment and rela—AHHHH!"

It was as Rin turned around the side of the boat finally gave away. Her back had barely begun to lean against the boat when the boards broke, but it was enough for Rin to lose balance and fall backwards. Reaching out, Rin tried to find something, anything to clasp onto, but her fingers grasped only air as her entire body hurled into the lake below.

Thrashing wildly, Rin tried with no success to break the surface. The more she kicked, the harder it became to move her limbs. It was as if snakes were wrapping their bodies around her to keep her from escaping. Rin was sinking quickly. Her lungs, not used to Rin holding her breath, already ached for air.

Eyes tightly shut, Rin couldn't see anything. The sounds around her were muffled, but she did hear what she believed to be a splash as someone else jumped into the water. Against her body's instincts to keep kicking and clawing, Rin stopped. Nero always promised to jump in after her if she ever fell into the lake, but he couldn't help her if she didn't let him. Trusting Nero, Rin remained still even as she felt something grab her, the snakes on her body and limbs coming loose.

It felt as if they were reaching the surface, but the momentum came to a sudden halt. Lungs on fire, Rin opened her eyes to try to figure out why they stopped. All she needed was to see Nero's concerned face to realize something was wrong.

Their chests pressed together, Nero looked at Rin as if her face was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen before hugging her close. It was the tightest hug he had ever given her. Then with a strength Rin didn't know Nero had, he threw her upwards hard enough for Rin's head to break the surface.

Rin gasped for air and clung to the boat. Adrenaline granting her the strength, Rin pulled herself back onto the boat through the opening that sent her into the water in the first place. Safely aboard, Rin stayed on her knees and turned around to help Nero back up.

But Nero never resurfaced.

Although Rin wasn't aware of it, and looking back she still didn't remember doing such a thing, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Her bloodcurdling shouts alerted nearby hikers that something was wrong. They rushed to her aid, one swimming all the way over to the boat while the others sought help.

Try as the hiker might, he could not calm Rin down. When Rin was finally able to string together the words to tell him what was wrong, he dived in after Nero. He reemerged alone, his shaking head the only way he could tell Rin it was already too late.

Overwhelmed by grief, shock, and summer heat, Rin collapsed as she fully understood what this news meant.

Nero was dead.

And it was all Rin's fault.

When Rin fell overboard, officials now knew from both investigating and hearing her own account multiple times, her thrashing stirred up a net anchored to the bottom of the lake. It began to tangle her in, but Nero arrived and pulled it off Rin. However, Nero himself got caught as well when he tried to kick to the surface, Rin in his arms. The anchor holding the net down was too heavy for Nero to move, and his ankles were too tied for him to break free on his own. Although he probably tried anyway to free himself after launching Rin upwards.

Only it wasn't enough. Nero was down there alone, and he didn't have a knife or anything to cut himself free. While Rin cried for help that didn't come till minutes later, he drowned.

Nero selflessly spent his final moments saving Rin. By diving in after her, he saved her life with his as the price. In an act of pure, genuine love, Nero gave up his life for Rin.

And it had become the shame and guilt Rin bore for the days, weeks, months that followed. The funeral was unbearable. His burial even more so. Brother Fukase tried his best to console her. Leon told Rin that this was her fault, breaking her tattooed wrist and forcing her to work through the pain as a reminder for what she had done, what she had cost.

Every night, before Rin went to sleep, she lied on the mattress that was Nero's before he gave it to her over a year ago, when they had barely been friends. She stared at the ceiling, knowing now more than ever that there was no mistake in the tattoo given to her that dreadful day over twelve years ago. Rin was a curse, and by loving her, Nero suffered the consequences.

#Juliet and Cinderella #Broken Juliet #Kagamine Rin #Rin Kagamine #Akita Nero #Nero Akita #Rin X Nero #Nero X Rin #Rinero #Vocaloid fanfic

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impishnature · 5 years

Text

Dream A Little Dream

AO3 Fandom: Gravity Falls Rating: T Summary: Stan’s not sure whats real anymore. Prompt: @fexiled “Please don’t let me be alone.” and “I’m right here, okay?”

(PS: please don’t be mad at me for this one. I took some... creative liberties with the prompt- the other one follows it better than this one does. I just really, really had to write this one too.)

"Hey, Ford?"

"Yes, Stan?"

"You forgive me... right?"

Stan waited with baited breath, his heart thudding deep within his chest as if the answer would put a stop to it without a seconds notice. His brother's nose had been deep within his book, it was almost a surprise that he had even heard him. But at his second, hesitant question, he saw his brother's shoulders seize up, his eyes widening as if it was taking longer than usual for him to process the question.

The book fell slowly to his desk, Stan's eyes following it until he winced as it hit the wood with a dull thud.

He wasn't sure if the swaying, sinking feeling that was whirling through his stomach was from a sudden bout of sea sickness or a twisted nervous nausea as Ford stared at him, lost and concerned.

"...What's brought this on, Stan?"

"Uhh- I mean- that is-" Stan coughed, turning his gaze away from Ford's worried one. "We just haven't really spoken about it, since- you know."

Oddly, Stan wasn't quite sure he even knew what he meant by that. Since Ford had come back through the portal? Since everything that had happened afterwards? Since- since, well, any when, he guessed.

Some things they just didn't talk about.

And maybe they really should.

At least to stop his insides from chewing themselves to pieces every night when he lay awake.

Ford continued to watch him, wary and thoughtful before a smile spread across his face. He stood up, clasping Stan's shoulder until Stan finally looked him in the eye once more. "Of course. You got me back, didn't you? I wouldn't have asked you to come sailing with me if I hadn't already forgiven you."

"Oh. Oh, right."

Ford's smile turned sadder, understanding etched into his expression. "It's still nice to hear sometimes, isn't it?"

Stan's smile turned sheepish. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is."

Ford nodded, tightening his grip before pulling him into a tight hug that Stan reciprocated quickly and with ease, his eyes shutting tightly to stop any tears from leaking out.

"I forgive you."

~~~

I forgive you.

The words were more of a whisper of a memory, or perhaps a wish, than reality.

Stan frowned, his eyes opening slowly. He could still feel the warmth of the hug around his shoulders but it was fading fast. What wasn't fading however was the darkness. He blinked, sitting up straight- when had he sat down? But to no avail, the darkness still pervaded. He scrubbed at his eyes, blinking over and over.

"Ford?"

Silence.

He swallowed, turning his head this way and that, his eyes slowly adjusting. There was something... off about the room, something not quite right...

It hit him that it wasn't shifting at all, wasn't moving quite like a boat should.

"F-Ford?"

His heart jack-hammered in his throat, the room becoming clearer as he grabbed at the glasses on his bedside cabinet. The sudden clarity made his heart fall through his chest, cracking when it hit the floorboards with a deafening thud.

He recognised this room, but it wasn't a room he'd ever expected to be in again. Not since- Not after-

"No. No, this isn't- Come on, don't do this to me."

He pulled himself out of bed, almost falling flat on his face as his feet caught in the blankets. But he didn't care, couldn't care, not when it felt like his world had been torn asunder all over again.

This couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare, there was no way he was back here.

He shivered as he walked, his feet picking up speed quickly as he slammed through his door and up the hallway, hand flicking on the light subconsciously as he went. The warmth of the hug had all but dissipated now, though he clung to its memory in the hopes of bringing it back to reality. his mind looped around and around, words spinning out of control. Ford- home- safe- brother- forgiven- Ford- a mixture of broken mantras that all ultimately meant one and the same at his very core.

It wasn't until he was halfway through the dimly lit corridor that he realised his thoughts at some point had started to spew from his mouth, plastering his words to the walls in a panicked babble of fear.

"Oh god, please don't let me be alone, please don't let me be-"

He skidded to a halt outside a familiar room, pushing open the door without hesitation.

Ford could yell at him later for waking him if he really wanted, but for right now- right now, all that mattered was that he was there, groggy and confused, he could even punch him if need be and he wouldn't even care-

The door opened with what felt like a cloud of dust, the echoing thud against the wall casting off more in it's wake. It billowed out, cold and clinging to his skin, making him cough as he pushed his head in.

The light from the hallway danced across the empty walls, the still made bed, and pulled curtains. It was all just the way he had left it, untouched, hoping that he would get him back before there was time for the bed to seem disused.

There was no one there though, no grumbling scientist, no concerned brother- no one.

Just the quiet, creaking house and his own panting, painful breaths.

"No. No, no, no-"

His feet were moving before he was fully aware of it, clambering, lumbering movements down the stairs two at a time, stumbling more than once but nothing stopped his forward momentum for more than a few seconds. He carried on regardless, ready to wake the whole house up if it meant somebody would appear, somebody would tell him that everything was OK and the world hadn't flipped upside down while he slept.

It can't have.

It mustn't have.

He couldn't bear to live through it all, not again.

Not when he'd been so sure he'd gotten him back.

Not when they had made amends and gone on the adventure they'd always promised they would.

It wasn't fair. Life couldn't be that unfair to him.

The ice cold stone steps brought him back from his spinning thoughts, his breakneck speed broken only by the prospect of an untimely demise down the flight of unyielding steps. He still took them fast, but carefully, hand sliding down the wall to keep him from falling as he traversed the small staircase that seemed to stretch every time he blinked.

The view at the bottom was everything he wished it wasn't.

His legs crumpled from under him.

There was the portal, it's gaping maw open wide and somehow staring at him judgmentally all at once.

You did this. You did this-

"No- I fixed you. I got him back."

And yet the portal said otherwise, still broken, still unlit, it's twisted, shards of metal not even close to being reconstructed to how it should be.

And yet he was sure he'd seen it complete, sure he'd twisted wires and hoisted panels into place. Sure he'd watched himself do everything he needed to do, inputted codes that he had no recollection of researching and yet still knew off by heart.

And if none of that was real, then did that mean-

Stan pushed himself up, gritted teeth and clenched fists pushing him on as he made his way back to another hidden room. It had taken him weeks to truly explore Ford's house, but his journal had helped. There were pages missing, but that didn't mean that most of the instructions weren't easy enough to follow, it had just been finding all the ingredients, all the materials that Ford supposedly had just lying around that had been the tricky part.

At least until he had found Ford's meditation area.

All he could do now was hope.

~~~

"Hey, hey, you alright there, kid?"

Stan breathed a sigh of relief, spinning round to the bright flickering yellow that was materialising between him and the now greyed out portal. "Bill." In the gloom of the mindscape, his fears began to fizzle, embarrassment licking at his heels as the impassive creature stared back at him, concern emanating but not quite reaching him. "I- that is- sorry, this is stupid."

"Hey, I'm right here, okay?"

Stan winced. Was it that obvious? Was he that easy to see through?

He hadn't even said that he'd been panicking about being alone and this thing knew about it.

Then again, that's what you got for tangling with a- well, whatever he was.

"Yeah. You're here. Sorry, just thought for a bit that I'd- dreamt everything up and- well, you know me." Stan's grin grew crooked, self-deprecating. "Not exactly gonna get Ford back on my own, am I?"

Bill drifted closer, eye wide and shocked. "Well, it's not like I could get him back on my own either. We need one another." Bill's eye crinkled, his strange makeshift smile obvious even without a mouth. Stan felt the need to shiver but refrained, not wanting to offend. "And I told you- I want him back as much as you do. I'll be right here, with you until we get him back- you do believe me, right?"

"Yes!" The word came out in a hurry, fear mingling once more that this creature that knew how the portal worked would up and leave him if he wasn't careful. Trust him? Maybe not. But it was his only ticket to Ford. "Of course, I do. Wouldn't be talking to you if I thought you were just a figment."

Bill laughed. "You're not smart enough to dream me up, kid."

That... smarted. But really, Stan didn't feel he had a leg to stand on arguing with that. "I reckon you wouldn't just be a yellow triangle either if I had."

Bill laughed harder, no offense taken at his words. "Well, if you can't sleep, how about you tackle some more of the heavy lifting for me?"

"Sounds like a plan. Who needs sleep anyway?" Stan stretched, settling himself back down over his body as Bill nodded in approval.

"Don't worry, kid, we'll get him back and the two of you will be sailing off together in no time."

Stan jolted out of his meditation, exhaustion plucking at his body but now filled with enough determination to ignore it. He pulled himself up, getting himself ready for the task at hand, his talk with Bill calming down his fears and keeping him in check.

There was a small fizzle of confusion though, a niggling strange doubt that sent a shiver down his spine though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

He just didn't ever remember telling the creature about their dreams of sailing.

AN: I really had this image of Bill saying the second prompt. Sorry not sorry- the next one will actually be Stan and Ford.

#gravity falls #stanford pines #stanley pines #bill cipher #grunkle stan #grunkle ford #gravity falls fanfiction #sorry not sorry

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strawberriestyles · 6 years

Text

Keep Yeh Safe

Alex X Reader: Angst & fluff

In which Alex finds comfort in the girl he met by chance.

Request? Yes:

Hi can you do an Alex imagine where he returns home from war and the reader is waiting at the train station for him and it's all really fluffy and shit thank you xxxx

I have a request for an Alex imagine in which Alex has like a PTSD nightmare and the reader (they can be in a long time romantic relationship or budding romance) comforts him because he's crying even though he's trying to act brave

Author’s note: This is a continuation of “Keep Yeh Warm!” I would suggest reading that one first, but I suppose you don’t really have to. I hope you enjoy!!

Part 1: Keep Yeh Warm

It’s been months upon months of fear.

In the few weeks of peace you had with Alex, the bond the two of you formed beneath that one thin blanket had grown into something that consumed you. With the little bit of money that the two of you had been able to scrounge up, you had moved into a cheap, little home in the middle of nowhere, and you didn’t think you had ever felt happier.

Alex had found a bakery not too far away, where he was able to barter for a job. Somehow, you found yourself in the midst of a factory, assembling parts for aircrafts to be used in the war. And every night, the two of you got to come home to each other, to get to know each other, to share stories and build a relationship. Alex was funny and kind and so gentle with you, it was as if he thought you would disintegrate at his touch.

Everything was incredible while it lasted, which wasn’t long. The troops had been thrown right back into training after the Dunkirk evacuation. Alex, who had disappeared immediately after arriving back in England, was just another casualty of war, or at least that’s what the two of you had thought. That was until a customer at the bakery turned out to be a military member looking for Alex. He offered him an easy out. Rejoin the troops, and Alex would be able to avoid any legal run-ins for his desertion.

Many months of loneliness later, after worrying about his treatment during training and then agonizing about his safety during the war, the soldiers are meant to come home. You’ve been pacing the platform at the train station for nearly an hour, feeling wave upon wave of anxiety. You never received news that anything had happened to him, but you still can’t be completely sure that he’s coming back. The waiting game is nothing but a racing heart and clammy palms.

It’s half past ten when you hear the shrill whistle of a train. Women and families begin to move forward on the platform, watching as the locomotive makes its way into the station. Your shaking fingers press to your lips. Your breathing is shallow and uneven.

The train brakes beside the platform with the sound of shrieking metal. Your eyes have begun to water for some unknown reason, but you think it might have to do with your pessimistic thoughts. There’s no guarantee that Alex is on this train. There’s no guarantee he’s on any train anywhere, or that he’s even breathing. What will you do when he doesn’t appear? If he doesn’t appear, you mean.

“Henry!” A middle-aged woman shouts, dropping the hand of a younger girl and springing forward as the first soldier exits the train. There’s a long line behind him.

It feels like hours that you’re waiting with bated breath on the platform. Soldiers file outside, some beaming, some wearing deep-set frowns, some with families awaiting them, others with no greeting. A tear has already leaked down your cheek. The emotional reunions all around you have proved to be too much. You really don’t know how you’ll be able to go home alone if—

Your thoughts almost cease completely. Your knees feel weak as a familiar face appears on the stairs of the train car directly in front of you. There’s mud smeared over his cheek, but he doesn’t look nearly as dirty as he did the first time you saw him, coated in oil. His eyebrows are drawn low, his hair skimming the top of them as he swings his head around the platform. When he sees you, it’s like you can see a weight visibly falling from his shoulders. His eyes lighten and the tension in his body seems to melt away.

“Alex,” you whisper beneath your breath, as though you’re testing the sound of it, savoring the taste of it on your tongue. His feet carry him to you at a slow pace, a stride that isn’t prepared when you throw yourself into his arms, sobbing into his neck.

“Y/N, love,” he whispers, taking a rocky step backwards but wrapping his arms firmly around your waist. He buries his face into your hair, taking deep breaths of your shampoo, of the smell of you. He hasn’t felt this at ease in months. “I’ve missed yeh so much.”

You’re having a full-on breakdown against him. Your breaths heave over his neck with each wracking sob. He can feel you shaking within his arms, fingers digging into his shoulder blades.

“Hey, angel,” he soothes, pressing a hard kiss to your temple. “Shh, ‘s okay. ‘M right here, love. ‘M fine. ‘S okay.”

It takes a minute or so for you to calm down enough for him to maneuver a kiss to your lips. When he does, it’s like he’s sipping water for the first time in weeks. You taste like home. His tongue licks into your mouth, drinking you in.

“God, I’ve missed yeh so much,” he mumbles when he breaks away, brushing hair out of your face from where it’s stuck to your drying tears. He rests his forehead against yours, running his thumbs along your cheeks to collect any dampness.

Your fingers have clung to the front of his jacket, and you think they’ve locked themselves in place. You won’t be able to let go of him for a long time, won’t be able to let him out of your sight.

“Let’s go home, yeah?” he says after another few minutes of taking each other in.

“Just kiss me again, first,” you beg. “Once more.”

Alex obeys, clasping his fingers gently onto either side of your jaw and pressing his lips to yours. His mouth is less hungry, more expressive. He’s missed you.

***

The ground quakes beneath Alex's feet. Wind carries plumes of black smoke into the air. All around him, all he can see is death and destruction. The beach is hell on Earth.

"Alex!"

Whipping his head around, Alex finds Tommy. His hair is plastered to his forehead and there's a wild look in his eyes. Before Alex can reply, Tommy has spun around and is racing across the sand, kicking it up in clouds behind him. Alex runs after him.

Explosions shower the beach. Alex's ears ring and he can feel his fingers trembling. He balls them into fists as he runs. Everywhere he looks, there are dead bodies, staring glassy-eyed at him. He tries to avoid their cold stares. Another bomb falls from the sky and Alex watches as Tommy is blown into fragments. He hears himself screaming.

“Alex! Alex, wake up!”

Alex bolts upright in bed, nearly smashing your heads together in his haste. His skin is coated in a cold sweat, his heart hammering beneath his ribcage. Your fingers are pressing to his damp back, combing through his sweaty hair, rubbing at his tensed shoulder. He sighs in relief.

“Are you okay?” you ask him in a soft whisper.

Alex runs a hand over his face, nodding gently. He pulls you to him, placing you in his lap, wrapping his arms around you, burying his face in your neck.

“What was it about,” you ask, threading your fingers into his hair and scratching at his scalp, “the nightmare?”

“Dunkirk,” he answers, squeezing tightly at your sides. He’s not there anymore. He’s here at home with you, but sometimes he just needs you to keep him grounded in the now.

You hum, pressing feather-light pecks to his cheek. He turns to capture your lips with his, kissing you sweetly.

Tonight isn’t the first night that he’s woken you up with wild nightmares. In the week he’s been home, there have only been four uninterrupted nights. Often, a few minutes of holding him and pressing kisses to his face will calm him enough to lull him back to sleep, and he doesn’t wake again until morning. The daytimes, however, have taken a toll. He seems sluggish and quiet. You don’t like to see him this way. You wish you could just make everything better for him, but you know that you can’t.

Another few minutes pass with your head on his shoulder, your fingers scratching comfortingly at his back. His breaths have slowed, his heartbeat steadied against your chest. “All right?” you whisper, pulling away enough to look at his face.

Alex hums, laying back and pulling you with him. He holds you atop his body, playing with the ends of your hair as he stares up at the ceiling. “Do you want to talk about it?” you ask, but he gives the same soft “no” as he always does. He doesn’t speak again before he’s pulled back to sleep.

***

The water is icy as it seeps through Alex’s uniform, weighing him down. He’s struggling just to stay above the surface of the water, to get enough air in his lungs before each wave rolls over him. All around him, there are shouts and orders being barked. It’s chaos.

Alex pushes away from the sinking boat beside him. His arms already ache as he tries to swim, pulling his heavy body along. He sees a craft where men have begun to climb aboard. There’s a girl there, helping them onto the deck. He thinks briefly that she’s beautiful, and then he realizes that it’s you.

Without a second thought, Alex is forcing his way through the cold water, heading directly for you. His heart is pounding and his lungs ache with a lack of oxygen. Waves seem to roll over him every time he tries to catch a breath.

It feels like hours before he reaches the boat. And then you’re standing above him, smiling with an outstretched hand. He reaches for you, is just about to touch your fingertips when a ship somewhere explodes. You’re rocked off your feet, back onto the deck of the boat. And Alex is sinking. He can’t pull himself up far enough to break the surface of the water. He’s being pulled further under with each violent wave. His lungs are out of air, but he can see your hand as you reach over the edge of the boat, can see your fingers breaking the surface, reaching for him. But he can’t reach back and water has forced its way up his nose.

“Alex!”

Alex wakes with a choking sound, sputtering into the quiet air of the bedroom. He reaches up to clutch at his throat, to tug at the collar of his shirt. But he can breathe. There’s no water in his lungs, no ocean pulling him deeper into its depths. Still, the feeling of helplessness is upon him and he can’t help the sob that escapes his lips.

It’s been nearly a week since his last episode. You were hopeful that perhaps he was getting better, but it was only wishful thinking. A person cannot see the things that Alex has and emerge unscathed. Whatever he’s dreamed of, it seems worse than anything else that’s awoken him.

“Hey.” Your voice is laced with your own panic as you take hold of his hand pulling it from his neck. You brush the hair from Alex’s forehead as his body wracks with another sob. You’ve never seen him cry before.

“Shh, shh.” You try to calm him, gripping tightly to his hand and pressing your other palm to the side of his face. Your thumb finds the damp trails of tears as the fall toward his hairline.

“‘M sorry,” he whispers in between cries.

“Sorry for what?” you ask, shaking your head. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

“Everything ‘ve done. Made mistakes. Deserted.” Alex’s voice is barely audible and he hiccups between words, but he’s gripping your hand so tightly that your fingers have begun to go numb. “‘M a coward.”

“You’re not, Alex.” You shake your head adamantly, wiping at the fresh set of tears that make their way down his cheeks. “You’re incredibly brave.”

“‘M not,” he resists, closing his glassy eyes when you turn his face toward you. “‘M selfish and afraid and yeh deserve better than—”

“Alex, listen to me,” you interrupt, brings his hand up to press kisses to his fingers. “It’s normal to be afraid of dying. Whatever you did at Dunkirk, even after, when you went back, it’s okay. It brought you home to me.”

“‘M not s’posed to be wakin’ yeh up every night and scarin’ yeh. ‘M meant to keep yeh calm. To keep yeh safe.” His voice is pained. He clings to your fingers, as if afraid that you’ll evaporate on the spot.

“Alex,” you whisper with a shake of your head. You turn into him, settling your chin on his shaking chest, repositioning his hand so you can press your lips to his fingertips. “You deserve to feel safe, too.”

“But I—”

You lean up, covering his trembling lips with your own. He sighs beneath you, seeming to let the tension roll off of him in a wave. His free hand presses to your cheek.

“You’ve been through more than anyone should be asked to go through. The nightmares, if you’re scared—” You shake your head again, kissing the corner of his mouth and mumbling against his skin, “It doesn’t make you weak, Alex. Okay? You’re the strongest person I know.”

He’s silent for some time, hand pressed tightly to your back, holding you against his body for fear that he’ll lose you. When he does speak, it’s not what you were expecting.

“I love yeh.”

You peer up at him cautiously. Perhaps you didn’t hear him properly. Maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. But he nods, squeezing your fingers.

“I do. I really love yeh. Glad I found yeh out there in the water. Didn’ have much hope left and then there yeh were. Like m’own guardian angel.”

You smile, twisting your neck to press a meaningful kiss over his heart.

“I love you, too, my brave soldier.”

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