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lilacpotter · 3 years

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Lillaaaccc!!!! Your layout is soo pretty 😭😭 I love the purple so much and thr header with planets and stars fhdjsjs 🥺🥺

Imma in love 😌💕

Also.. pls post some drabble 😭😭 I miss reading your work. Pls. Short drabble would work too. I smile sooo much when I read your drabbles fjdjd 😭😭

Pls 👉🏼👈🏼

Okay bye. Love you 😌💕

Broooo!! First of all, HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY DHARAA!! omgg ❤

And thank youuuUuU. <333

I’m so fucking sorry I’m this late but I got it finally done. And pleassseee, take this more than 8k words “drabble” as your birthday gifttt!! I’m not sure how it really is but I hope it’s gooddd aah. I had been writing and rewriting it for the past three days djhsfsf 😫😹

Here we gooo <3:-

5 and 7

“What if I stole your crown right now?”

Those were the last words little Isak got to hear before prince Even snatched the golden crown with a mischievous grin and started running away. He chased after him, screaming in agony. He was dramatic, yes, so what? He was five and he could throw a tantrum if he wanted to. And also, don’t you dare call him little. He was big for his age and smart too.

He sped up his pace, trying to run as fast as he could in this thorny garden with his little prince feet, his golden curls tossing here and there on his head. But Even was taller and faster than him, so he outran Isak within no time with his giraffe legs, and Isak came to a stop somewhere in the middle, panting and falling onto the grass backward with a dramatic sigh. He laid there star-fished and watched the sky instead for a while.

It was autumn and the leaves were falling on his small face and it was warm and Even was back here in Oslo after a whole year, at the Valtersen palace. Even’s parents ruled a small country named Phitogin in the east side, and even if it wasn’t nearly as big as Norsk was, they were really close to Isak’s parents since their own childhood. So, they always paid a visit to Oslo every year during autumn and that was the only time Isak ever got to see Even and play with him and make sandcastles and blanket forts.

He squinted up his eyes at the bright sun, as if commanding it to shine a bit lesser, but of course, that wasn’t possible. He knew the sun was way bigger than earth and way hotter than the royal soup that was served to him whenever he fell sick. He wouldn’t dare mess with the sun.

He was about to put a hand over his face to shield himself instead, surrender to the great sun, when a dark shadow blocked the light above him.

“Hello, my little prince,” Even was grinning down at him mischievously, his hands behind his back.

Isak narrowed his eyes and sat up straight. “Where is my crown?” he demanded.

“Who knows?” Even shrugged, still keeping his hands behind himself. And Isak knew he was hiding the crown there.

So he pounced up and tried to grab Even by the shirt, but Even was quicker because he moved away in time.

“Give it back to me!” Isak yelled, jumping again. Even grinned wider, dodging him.

“No, little prince. You will ruin my hard work if you see it.”

“Don’t call me that,” Isak said, offended. “I am not little!”

Even smirked. “Oh yes, you are. You are very little, tiny. Look, you are even smaller than me!” And then he burst out laughing.

“I am not!!” Isak glared at him. He was not little. So he launched himself on top of Even to attack him. They both wrestled for a few minutes furiously, punching each other’s stomachs before falling to the ground on top of each other, breathing heavily.

When Isak opened his green eyes back up again Even was hovering above him, putting his crown back on his head quietly. Isak frowned and moved his hands up to touch the crown and see for himself what Even had done to it, but he didn’t let him and instead removed the crown again.

“Even, show me my crown!” Isak complained, reaching up.

“No, you will ruin it!” Even refused, shaking his head.

Isak grew more suspicious, so with narrowed eyes, he warned Even, “If you broke it or put tiny worms on top of it then I am not going to share my space blanket with you tonight.” He poked his little finger into Even’s chest to tell him how serious he was being.

Both of them knew how much Isak loved his space blanket and how much he loved sharing it with Even and the people he liked. If Isak refused to share it with anyone then it meant he didn’t like them enough.

Even, instead of being scared of Isak’s warning, grinned back at him again, all teeth and crinkles.

“Oh no, little prince. I wouldn’t dare break it or do anything such horrendous to your precious crown!” He said, widening his eyes dramatically.

Isak squinted his eyes at him. “Really?”

Even nodded furiously before slowly bringing his hands to the front, holding Isak’s golden crown in between his palms. It was shining in the afternoon sun as usual, too bright and too lustrous, but as Isak leaned in a bit nearer he noticed designs of pretty flowers all over it. Even had doodled on his crown.

Isak took his crown gently before looking at all the doodles. There were so many colourful flowers and they were all really pretty. There was one of Isak sitting on a throne, and another one of Adolph, their pet dog, and another one of Isak and Even on the bed watching the stars above them. There were just so many of them and they made the crown look so much better!

Isak was smiling without even knowing, his heart was flying, but Even probably had noticed it because he suddenly asked, “Do you like it?”

Isak could hear the smile in his voice. So, he morphed his face back, trying to look more annoyed than pleased, and glared at Even.

“No, I hate it! You ruined my crown, Even.” He said to his face trying to sound furious.

But Even grinned at him instead. “Oh really? Then why is there a smile on your face?”

Isak widened his eyes, turning red. “What? No there isn’t!” he protested, but he couldn’t stop smiling. And soon within no time Even laughing loudly.

“Oh my god, you’re such a bad liar!” He giggled.

Isak rolled his eyes, pretending to be annoyed. “Shut up! I am leaving.” He said, before turning away and stomping dramatically to the castle.

“Of course you love what I did to your crown, little prince. I do too. I’ll make you more of these the next time we meet!” He heard Even shout from behind him loudly and Isak ducked his head, picked up a tiny rock, and threw it back at Even, missing him narrowly.

7 and 9

“Ugh, why do we always have to sleep together whenever you visit me? Why can’t you sleep in your own separate room?” Isak complained loudly to the dark, sighing when he got no reply.

So, he shuffled closer and pushed Even’s chest. “Evennnnnn!” he whined when the older boy let out another soft snore and pulled Isak’s blanket much tighter around himself.

“Hmph,” Isak sighed in defeat before slumping back and resorted to just staring at the dark instead when Even finally spoke.

“Maybe it’s because they think you are too little to be sleeping on your own at night.” There was too much sarcasm in his voice and Isak turned to him in surprise and suspicion.

“You were awake?!” He screamed in offense.

Even grinned at him in the dark, his teeth shining bright. “Did you actually think I had been sleeping this whole time?!”

Isak couldn’t believe him. “Oh my god,”

“Yes, and what’s wrong with me sleeping here?” said Even, shuffling closer to Isak noisily.

“Nothing is wrong.” Isak huffed. “You just keep stealing my blanket and I get cold!”

Even shuffled much closer until he was almost hugging Isak from the side. “Oh, I’m really sorry about that, your grace. But look! Sleeping together is not really that bad because you get to cuddle me and I’m much warmer than your precious blanket.” Even said, wrapping Isak’s little body with his arms and pulling the younger boy into himself.

Isak squirmed against him, groaning. “Ugh, go away!”

“Never in a million years,” Even mumbled, shoving his face on top of Isak’s fluff of curls. They were a tangle of skinny limbs.

“ugh,”

Isak tried moving away but he was failing so hard at it. So he gave up a while later and slumped against Even’s chest, feeling his chest rise and fall back as he breathed. He felt oddly at peace a while later and drifted into sleep easily. The blanket lay forgotten by the corner of the bed.

11 and 13

“What if we sneaked into the kitchen right now?” Even suddenly said, sounding excited.

Isak groaned at him. “No way. We won’t be sneaking out to the kitchen right now in the middle of the night.”

“But we will!”

“We won’t,”

He saw Even pout at him in the dark. He had gotten a new haircut and he looked ridiculous and although it shouldn’t have bothered Isak, it did. He couldn’t get to bury his fingers into those long blonde strands of hair from now on.

“But I’m hungry,” Even mumbled. “Pleaseeee, let’s go.”

Isak shook his head. “No one is hungry at night, Even. Stop making things up.”

“I’m not!”

“Yes, you are?”

But Even wasn’t listening. He got up and already started pulling Isak up by his hands. Isak let out a loud groan before giving in and following the older boy out of the room.

It was dark outside and so they tip-toed quietly down the stairs. At one point they were almost caught when a guard heard Even’s stomach growling in hunger. They giggled to themselves and sneaked through the corridors and halls until they finally reached the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, they both started shoving as many food items as they could in their pockets. Even tried carrying half-eaten raspberry cake from the day before but he slipped and ruined it instead. Isak laughed out so loud that he was sure he had woken someone up but thank god no one stopped them.

It was chaos. But they were finally done, looking more chubbier and puffed up because of all those food stuffed in their pockets. They were giggling silently as they walked back out of the kitchen when they stopped dead as they spotted a boy of about Isak’s age staring at them in shock.

It was Magnus. He was the butler’s son.

13 and 15

“Do you think any one of them will like me?” Magnus asked, sitting beside Isak and eating large ice cream.

Isak wasn’t paying much attention to what he was saying because his eyes were trained on Even. Even had gotten much taller recently and his hair was longer and he looked even more prettier. Shit. No, not pretty. He looked good. But Isak couldn’t help but think it was such an understatement. Even had even started getting a bit of muscle.

Isak watched him smile and beam and flirt with other girls in the castle hall. A weird kind of jealousy was stemming up in his body and he had no idea why. It was weird and new and made him feel all jittery.

“They look so pretty, don’t they?” Magnus was saying beside him.

Isak nodded absently. Yes, he is really pretty.

“I have never even talked to them, forget about touching them. Their skin looks so soft, Isak. I just want to touch them once. Isak, are you even listening?”

Magnus’s voice snapped Isak out of his thoughts and he blushed. “Uh, what?”

“The girls!” Magnus whined, nodding over to the bunch of girls who all looked way too interested in what Even had to say. Isak hated them. “Aren’t they beautiful? Why are girls so pretty?”

Isak bit his lip and nodded. “Even, uh, boys are pretty sometimes, I think.” He said slowly before he realised what he had just said and his heart sped up. Oh no.

Magnus hummed beside him, considering. “True. Even is really pretty if I’m being honest.” He stated it as a fact and Isak snapped his head up to look at him.

“What?” He couldn’t believe his ears.

“What?” Magnus laughed in confusion. “Even is pretty. That’s why girls love talking to him, isn’t it?”

Isak’s mouth was parted slightly. He just stared at Magnus for a few seconds before looking down, his cheeks flaming. “I guess so, yeah, um, Even is really pretty.”

“I told you!” Magnus hollered in joy. “I want to be pretty too. So girls would want to talk to me too. Don’t you think?”

Isak nodded again, biting his lip.

“I’m really pretty, huh?” Even’s voice came over and Isak looked up to see that he was walking over to them both. Oh, God. Had he heard what Isak had just said? It was going to be bad.

Isak flipped him off instead of saying anything and that earned him an ‘Oyy’ from a very surprised and an amused Even.

“We have already started learning this kind of things, I see.” He nodded over to Isak’s middle finger which was still sticking out in his direction.

“Magnus taught me.” Isak shrugged and then watched Magnus hug Even tightly for a moment before letting him go.

“We were just talking about how pretty you are, bro.” Magnus said, looking excited and Isak blushed again. Gosh, Magnus. Why couldn’t he just shut his mouth?

Even looked at Isak with his eyebrows raised. “Oh, really? Yeah, I did hear the prince say how pretty I am. It’s an honour for me really.” He smirked and Isak wanted to combust right then and there. “You should start calling me ‘pretty prince’ from now on then, Issy. It’s a nice name, isn’t it? Just like yours is, little prince.”

“Why are you such a dick?” Isak said, narrowing his eyes at the taller boy.

Even laughed out loud and when Isak flipped him off again, Even blew him a kiss instead went back to join the girls, this time taking a very excited Magnus along with him, leaving Isak feeling all flustered.

Gosh, why was he feeling like this recently? Isak did not like it. It was weird and just strange. He had never felt like this around Even before. And the fact that recently most of his dreams consisted only of Even touching him in weird places was also not helping things at all.

What the hell was really happening?

14 and 16

“Even, are you even listening?!” Isak said tiredly for the fourth time that day, but Even still kept staring blankly in the opposite direction.

So Isak reached his hand out that held his wooden sword and poked Even in the stomach. “Asshole!”

At that finally, Even looked up at him in surprise.

“Should I tell the queen you have started swearing nowadays? Hmm?” He broke into a mischievous grin.

Isak sighed exhaustedly. “We are learning to sword fight and you keep zoning out all the time! What’s up with you? Stop thinking of your girlfriend all the time.” He said, spitting the word ‘girlfriend’ out with as much spite as he could muster. Yes, he was frustrated and annoyed and pissed right now, so what?

Even had gotten himself a girlfriend two months back. Princess Sonja of the realm of Sweden. And she was all he ever talked about. Of course, Isak had a right to be pissed.

Even rolled his eyes this time. “I am not thinking of Sonja, excuse me. I’m listening.”

“No you are not!” Isak countered back, waving his wooden sword around.

“I am! I am not thinking of her, Issy, now come on, let’s practice.”

“Yes, you are!” Isak said back, pausing his practice entirely. “You are always thinking of Sonja. You always spend your time with her, kissing her and complimenting her and telling her she looks good and I bet you wouldn’t sleep in my room anymore if your mum allowed you to sleep along with Sonja! Of course, she is always on your mind. You forgot about me. It’s as if I don’t even exist to you! And now you can’t even practice sword fighting with me because you are always only thinking of her.”

He exhaled deeply after his outburst, and he knew there were tears in his eyes, hot, burning tears. but he was keeping them at bay from falling down and making him look weak. He wasn’t weak. Even was watching him back with wide eyes, his mouth falling open slightly.

“That’s not true.” He whispered finally, after a beat. “I didn’t forget you. I can never forget you, Is.”

His eyes were blue, blue, blue.

Isak stared into them for a few seconds before he couldn’t take it anymore and had to turn away. His heart broke a little inside. He never thought hearts could break, he had always believed that was all bullshit. But apparently, it was true.

Oh gosh, he was being super emotional again. So he wiped his tears and tried to shed off his sad feelings. He wasn’t weak.

“Doesn’t matter. I am just gonna practice and you can just keep thinking about your pretty girlfriend.” He mumbled before swinging his sword onto the big loaf of meat hanging in front of him.

He gave it a couple more shoves. Up and down. Right and left. Hard and quick. He hit the sack again and again, at various spots, from various angles, with various tricks and moves. It was hard, but he knew it was worth it. If he was going to be a king someday, then he had to be ready.

Even kept standing beside him, and Isak hated that no matter how much he tried he couldn’t not pay attention to Even. Had he zoned out again while standing there? Thinking of Sonja?

But then Even spoke and Isak groaned, “What if we ditched dinner and went to the garden right now?”

Isak frowned deeply. “No way, I’m not coming.”

“Yes, you are.” Even smirked before walking up to him and snatching the wooden sword and throwing it to a pile on the corner.

No way. Isak was not going to agree to him this time.

Isak found himself laying on the green grassy ground and staring up at the orange-hued sky half an hour later. His head was on Even’s lap and Even was weaving his long fingers through his sweaty curls.

“Stop doing that. I smell gross and I’m sweaty.” Isak mumbled when Even started running his fingers all over Isak’s face. It tickled him so he laughed.

“You look so beautiful when you laugh,” Even said softly, staring down into his eyes and cupping his jaw.

“Ugh, stop,” Isak rolled his eyes, but he was blushing.

“Never, not in a million years.”

Isak smelled in the flowers’ scent and relaxed. “I can’t believe I am actually here with my head on your fucking lap of all places.” He scoffed quietly.

Even chuckled from behind him. But he was too busy to reply apparently because he was ruffling around the garden, plucking something off. Isak couldn’t see properly so he watched the sky again, at the birds and the clouds. Everything was going good.

When he felt something on his head a while later he looked up at Even, silently asking him what it was.

“I made you a flower crown,” Even said simply, resuming to arrange it on Isak’s head properly.

“But flowers are for girls. Not for boys. You should keep it on Sonja’s head instead.” Isak mumbled.

Even scoffed from above him. “There is no such rule like that. Who’s teaching you all these?” He sounded truly disappointed.

Isak shrugged, his shoulders shaking Isak’s legs beneath them. “The royal teachers? People? Isn’t it how it always is?”

Even made a small sound, disagreeing with what Isak had just said. “Flowers are for everyone, Isak. For boys, for girls, for animals, and for everyone and everything, okay? There is no such thing as only meant for girls, or only meant for boys. You can do whatever you want. Stop believing this stuff you hear, Isak. You have always loved flowers, what happened to you now?”

Isak shrugged again, his heart felt heavy. He knew he loved flowers even now. He had always loved them. But mamma had always told him to not like girly things, that he was a boy and that he was supposed to like wars and horses and rough things, not things that are soft and pretty. He wasn’t a girl.

“Do you really think it’s okay if I like flowers?” He asked, his voice small.

Even sighed quietly above him and then he bent down slowly before kissing Isak’s forehead. Isak inhaled sharply at that.

“You are allowed to like whatever you want, okay? No one makes rules here, Is. Stop believing what others are telling you to do. You are my valiant prince and you will be a great king. A great king does not fear liking what he likes.” Even murmured to him, weaving through his curls again. “A great king is not afraid to be himself. Will you be a great king for me, Isak?”

“For you?” Isak licked his lips.

“Yes, for me.”

“Yes. I would do anything for you.” Isak admitted out loud, and he was surprised by his own boldness.

He heard Even smile when he said. “So would I,”

Isak blushed at that and ducked his gaze down, away from Even’s face. And watched the early stars. He loved spending time like this with Even. He hadn’t done this in so long. It felt good that Isak could take his mind off Sonja for a while.

“You look really pretty in a flower crown, do you know?” Even hummed from above him.

He retreated his hand back from his hair and cupped Isak’s jaw again, tilting his head so that he could look into his eyes. “You are so pretty,” he said, making Isak blush again.

“Ugh, fuck off,”

“What? I’m not lying. You are the prettiest thing I have ever seen,” Even said, widening his eyes in honesty but he was also grinning.

Isak wanted to punch him. “Even more prettier than Sonja?” He asked instead, averting his gaze away from Even’s intense gaze. He regretted it the moment it was out of his mouth. God, Isak.

He had no idea how long it was, but when they finally got up from there and got back to the castle, it was completely dark. The only thing that was shining were the moon, stars, and Even’s eyes.

Isak showered and got dressed in the softest pajamas before getting into his bed and reading some thick book that he had found in the library.

He wasn’t really expecting anything when Even finally climbed into his bed quietly an hour later and it was dark, pitch black. Isak pretended to be asleep, so he snored softly, and it also helped that he was turned away from Even.

Even tossed and turned around for a while, before cuddling Isak from the back. Isak tensed up a little in his hands before he melted against Even’s chest. Why was he being this tense? They did this all the time. So he leaned back and let Even cuddle him instead. It felt really good, and he felt warm and his eyes started fluttering on their own in no time. He wasn’t expecting anything even when he was just drifting into his sleep slowly, but then he heard Even softly murmur against his ear, “Even prettier than Sonja.”

It almost brought him out of his sleepy daze. Almost.

16 and 18

“Shut up,”

“What do you mean, ‘shut up,’ I’m just trying to fix your bangs. You look pretty when you are grumpy, you know?”

“Shut up!”

“Alright, but don’t you think it will be a bit too much if I pulled my shirt up right here at the hall?”

“Oh my god!”

“All the girls would start swooning at me because I am so hot- ouch!”

Isak punched him in the stomach before hastily pulling his hand back and smiling at the guests. Even watched him with wide eyes by his side.

“You don’t think I’m hot?!” He whispered in outrage. Isak didn’t give him the satisfaction of a grumpy snarky reply.

They were both in costly suits, standing at one side of the hall and greeting all the guests awkwardly. It was the royal ball and somehow people from many other countries visited here to have a nice time. Although most of them called him the ‘little prince Isak,” whenever they greeted him. Fuck you, he was not little anymore.

There was also this princess Emma who seemed way too fond of Isak because she kept looking over to him every now and then before turning away shyly.

Isak wasn’t fond of her.

“I can’t believe you just punched a prince in the stomach.” Even mumbled by his side.

Isak rolled his eyes at him. “I am a prince too.”

Even reached his hand out again and started fixing Isak’s collar with a concentrated look. “Yes you are, little prince.”

“ugh, stop,” Isak groaned.

“Never,”

“Hey guys!” It was Magnus, holding a tray of drinks and serving it to everyone. He looked adorable in his outfit.

“Hey, Mags! My bro.” Even greeted cheerily before hugging Magnus tightly.

Isak smiled at them both and took a drink off the tray. Magnus looked pleased to see two people he knew after all that crowd of new, strange, rich people.

“Bros, just look at all those princesses!” He said excitedly, leaning in and waving a hand over to the bunch of pretty girls with crowns on their forehead. They were all eyeing Isak and Even hungrily and Isak wished he could escape. But his mamma and papa were watching him, so he couldn’t do that. “They are all just eating you with their eyes. Isak, man, what are you waiting for?! Go get one of them!” Magnus hollered.

“Nah, Mags. Not yet.” Isak said, sipping his drink.

“What do you mean ‘not yet’, bro?! They all look so pretty though! Go get some, and tell me how it went.” Magnus demanded.

Before Isak could reply, Even jumped in. “Isak is waiting for the right moment to score with Princess Emma, Mags. That’s why,”

Magnus looked around and when he spotted Emma, his eyes went wide and mischievous. He wiggled his eyebrows at Isak. “Oooh. Princess Emma, Issy?”

Isak‘s jaw tightened a little but he nodded slowly. Emma caught his eyes just then and he waved back to her awkwardly. She looked pleased with that gesture while the remaining princesses were scowling at her.

“Fuck, man. She looks so into you. What are you waiting for? Go get it or she will go for me instead if you wait any longer!” Magnus yelled into his ear loudly before leaving them both to serve other guests.

Isak swallowed and looked up at Even, who was gazing back at him.

“I am gonna go get her then,” he said, fixing his shirt.

“You know you don’t have to, right?” Even said instead, helping him fix his shirt. He tucked Isak’s shirt tightly into his dark pants making him squirm under his touch.

“Yes, but I want to.” Isak lied.

“Don’t lie, Issy. Do you even like her?” Even frowned at him, keeping a hand on the small of his back.

“I’m not lying!” Isak lied. “I really like her. She is very pretty.” And then he shrugged himself off from Even’s touch and headed over to Emma.

An hour later, he found himself trying to dance with princess Emma. It was tough because they were both only teens and none of them knew how to dance or where to put their hands so they kept stomping each other’s feet instead. It was awkward, to say the least. But Emma didn’t seem to mind so much, she giggled and kissed his cheek and touched his hair, so Isak smiled back at her and tried his best because both his mamma and papa were watching and they looked really happy and proud of him. He was going to be the heir to the throne, after all, it was his duty to form strong bonds with other country rulers, and what was a better way than stealing their daughter’s hearts.

So, Isak danced and flirted and got drinks for Emma wishing there was another better way.

When they both were done, Isak headed out to the corridor to breathe in a bit of air and hoping to get away from Emma for a bit, but she found him again within no time. That girl really was too much. Isak felt like she was breathing down his neck every time she got too close to him. She was way too loud and way too giggly and kept falling all over Isak and touching him everywhere she could.

He wanted to combust right then and there. But Even appeared beside him just then like a knight in shining armour.

“You both are having a good time, I see,” he grinned at them both, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“We are! Prince Isak is really charming.” Emma giggled from where she had both her hands wrapped around Isak’s neck.

Isak blushed because for some reason he couldn’t stand Even watching him like this.

“What if I do something stupid to save your ass from princess Emma right now?” Even leaned in, whispering into Isak’s ear so quietly that only he could hear.

Isak widened his eyes at him at that, then shook his head minutely saying ‘no,’ but Even just shrugged and grinned back at Emma.

Oh god.

“Oh, he really is very charming. No doubt.” Even agreed, sipping on his drink and leaning suavely against the wall. “Girls all over the city have a massive crush on him, you know.”

Isak looked over to Even with wide eyes. But Even wasn’t looking at him, he was looking at Emma.

“Oh,” Emma said, her voice was filled with surprise. “Really?”

Even hummed. “Yes, most of those girls are even ready to jump in to marry Isak if he asks them. They are that gone for him. He really charms them all well.”

Isak was barely understanding what Even was on about. This was totally not true.

“Charms them? What do you mean?” Emma asked, sounding suspicious.

Even blinked once and averted his gaze to Isak’s once, before looking back at Emma in amusement. A smile playing on his lips.

“You haven’t heard? He charms them all so well that many of them try seducing him right then and there. He says he refuses them but I know it’s a lie. Why would he refuse them when he just flirted with all of them, right? You can only imagine what goes on between him and all the girls over the city.” Even was full-on grinning now and Isak was blushing furiously even though none of it was true. “No wonder every girl is crazy for him.”

He then leaned in and whispered into Emma’s ear, “I heard he is also dating one of them in secret.”

What the fucking fuck.

“Shut up, that’s not-“

“-oh my god, really?” Emma interrupted Isak, her eyes wide as she looked up at Isak. She looked shocked.

“Wha- no! No, of course not-“

“Look, he is lying again.” Even said, smirking.

Emma removed her hands from Isak’s neck slowly and took a step back, making space between them. Isak felt like he could finally breathe.

“I- wow- I just uh, I am sorry my prince,” she cracked a laugh that sounded more broken than anything else. “I didn’t know you had someone. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thrown myself at you this way-“

“-Emma, just don’t believe Even. He is an idiot. I’m not seeing anyone else.” Isak tried telling her, but she wasn’t looking at him.

“What? Oh, it’s okay, my prince. I don’t really care, but uh, I have some work, I’ll just leave I guess. Have a good time with uh, your secret lover.” Her face was comical as she excused herself from them both.

He watched her retreating back with his jaw hung open.

And Even had the audacity to speak. “You are seeing someone in secret? I’m hurt, Isak.”

“You fucking asshole.” Isak hissed at Even once Emma was gone.

“I was wondering why you hadn’t said that yet,” Even hummed, smiling.

“What’d you do that for?” Isak cried.

Even just shrugged at him. “Because you looked like you need help. Besides, that poor girl is gonna get nightmares of you every time she sees any other girl in the city. And you are mine so sorry, I can’t share you with anyone else.” He winked. He fucking winked.

“That was so fucking bad, Ev. I swear to god.” Isak groaned. “Ugh, I hate you so much right now.”

“No, you don’t. I saved you from a very clingy monster dressed like a princess.”

“Fucking hell, I am not talking to you again. I really liked her.”

Even raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh really? You liked her?”

“Yes. Why? Don’t you think I can’t like girls?” Isak said defensively, furrowing his brows.

Even only sighed at him. “No, that’s not what I meant, baby.”

“Don’t call me a baby. Then what, Even? Do you think only you are allowed to get a girlfriend but not me? That’s fucked up.” Isak spat, annoyed.

“No- fuck, I’m sorry, Isak.” Even’s eyes were wide, and he looked like he was really sorry. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

Isak stared at him for a beat or two before turning away. “Whatever. Go fucking enjoy with your girlfriend and leave me alone.”

He knew he had over-reacted as he fell on top of his king-sized bed that night. He and Even weren’t sleeping together anymore and Even had gotten his own big room. He couldn’t even get the point of making them both sleep together for all these years only to separate them now.

He was regretting his words and his reaction right now and was thinking of just sneaking into Even’s room to apologize to him when he heard loud familiar voices from his right wall. It was Even and Sonja. They were sleeping together now?

But then he started hearing words and curses and he knew they were arguing. Even had invited Sonja over here as well last week and Isak hated watching her stroll around arm-in-arm with Even day and night as if she owned him. He hated it, and he hated everything that wasn’t Even these days.

Another string of arguments pulled him out of his thoughts and he focused on that now. They were clearly arguing, fighting even. He had never heard Even yell like this at anyone, but Sonja’s voice was even louder. They were having issues, and Isak had no idea about what.

A few minutes after the continuous bickering, someone slammed something hard onto the ground, and then there was this loud sound of a door shutting close. Isak knew it was over and someone had stormed out.

What was happening?

Were they breaking up..?

Isak’s heart was beating quick when the door to his room slowly opened and Even entered inside, looking worn out.

“I’m sorry, Is. Can I sleep in your room for tonight? Please.”

“You were right. I didn’t like Emma. I never liked her.”

17 and 20

“What if I can make it up to you?”

“Even, I just fucking hate you, alright? Leave me alone.” Isak said, slamming the room to his door loudly. He didn’t want to hear any more of Even’s bullshit so he went straight to his bed and fell on top of it, burrowing his face into the pillow Even always slept. He inhaled the scent and felt something stirring inside him.

A weight dropped beside him and the next second someone was cuddling him from his side. Fucking Even. Of course, he followed Isak back into his room. Even literally had no sense of privacy. Not when it came to Isak at least.

“Ugh, why are you here?” Isak groaned into his pillow.

“What if I can make up to you?” Even repeated, to his ear this time. It gave Isak chills.

“How?”

This year, Even was back only for a week or so and Isak was already anticipating him leaving tomorrow when today Even had the audacity to leave the palace and spend his more than four hours flirting with the village girls and boys.

Look, Isak wasn’t being possessive, or fuck it, he had no idea, okay? But he knew he was definitely not controlling like Sonja was. Sonja and Even had broken up and Isak really knew now what that whole argument or fight was about.

But that’s not the matter right now. He wasn’t usually possessive, but look, he hated that Even just left him like that on the last day he was going to spend here in Oslo before he would be back in Bergen. He and Even were supposed to spend their whole day together but Even had ditched him in the evening to flirt with some girls and returned back at dinner and he was going to leave tomorrow morning.

Of course, Isak was pissed and annoyed. Why couldn’t Even flirt with him instead?

Fucking Even.

“I just can,” Even replied smoothly and Isak turned to him suspiciously.

“No, you can’t. I’m really hurt right now. Nothing can mend my broken heart.” Isak said instead. “And I really, really hate you right now.”

Even rolled his eyes at him fondly before cupping Isak’s chin with his hand. Then he leaned in and slowly asked, “Have you ever kissed anyone before?”

Isak shuddered at that. They were so close. “No, of course not, Even. You would know if I kissed someone. Stop asking all the weir-”

Even shut him up with his own lips, kissing him. Isak whimpered and let out a surprised squeak before furiously trying to kiss Even back. Holy fuck, he was definitely dreaming. He was kissing Even. And nothing had ever felt so right in the universe.

Even kissed him gently and softly, he wasn’t rushing it, like he was savouring Isak’s lips, memorizing the way it moved and the way it tasted. It felt like he was trying to please Isak and it definitely was working. Isak moaned and hummed around their lips. He couldn’t believe it. He went pliant in Even’s arms and let him kiss him again and again and again until Isak could only see and feel and touch only Even, Even, and Even.

“Did I succeed in making up to you?”

“Hell yeah,”

19 and 22

Isak was fucked. Literally. He just realized how much he was crushing on Even and how badly he wanted him that way. The way every boy wanted the girl. And he was fucked now.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Even’s naked back as he stretched and yawned in the early morning like a cat.

Isak watched his muscles flex and his spine stretch and shoulders move from where he was still pretending to be asleep with his blanket over his head.

Even looked good. He probably was one of the most handsome men Isak had ever seen all his life. Yes, Even was a man now and it made Isak swoon over him.

Just as Even got off the bed, he caught a glimpse of his collarbone, and Isak’s mouth watered as he imagined himself licking it. Gosh.

Even had returned back to Oslo again two years later and he looked so good. He had grown way taller and had gotten way more muscles. His hair was longer and swooped back on his head. It made him look so sexy and hot and Isak couldn’t breathe every time their eyes met. Someone kill him, God.

“Is it bad I want him to do every evil thing he can to me?”

He said out loud, still drooling over the new, tall and hot version of Even as he practiced his sword fighting while Magnus fed the sheep beside him in the shed. He was getting really good at it and he had even defeated and killed some of the sworn enemy’s sneaky conspirators a couple of times. This was his favorite sword and he named it ‘Illuminati,’ because it sounded cool.

He heard something clatter to the ground and turned to look at Magnus who was watching him with wide eyes. “What the fuck, bro?”

Isak nodded gravely, not even caring about the fact that he just said ‘he’ out loud instead of a ‘she’.

“Who are you even talking about?” Magnus squinted at him, looking shocked. When he looked at where Isak’s gaze was pointing to, his eyes widened.

“Fuck bro. Even?”

Isak nodded again. Even was there, riding his black horse and greeting everyone on the way with a huge beam. He looked so pretty.

“Mags, I think I like Even.” Isak couldn’t believe his own voice. How was the feeling this brave to admit that out loud? But he was also fucking tired of lying to himself. He liked Even that way and he had known it for a long time but he never let himself accept it. He couldn’t do that anymore though. He just didn’t think he could keep it in himself when Even had kissed the last time he was here. The only thing that was repeating in Isak’s head was their kiss and how good it had felt.

He had kissed many girls after that, but all of them felt wrong. He realized he didn’t like girls. He had never liked girls. It scared him, but also comforted him, made him realize why he could just never feel the same like all his other friends did.

“Seriously, bro?!” Magnus came over to him. He was almost as tall as Isak now.

“yes,” Isak nodded, licking his lips and aiming at the sack with his sharp steel sword. It cut it in two halves.

Magnus looked mind blown, as if he just discovered some great theory. “Fucking hell, bro. That is awesome. Shit, I think I always knew why you looked at Even that way.” He was beaming so huge Isak wanted to shut him up.

“What way?” He frowned instead.

“The way I watch the girls.” Magnus winked at him and Isak groaned, blushing furiously.

“Fuck off,”

“But bro. What about Even then? Have you told him about how you feel yet?” Magnus shuffled closer to him, lowering his voice so that no one could hear them.

Isak’s heart clenched at that and his jaw tightened. “No, Mags. He doesn’t like me that way.” He cast his gaze down and started fiddling with his fingers.

Magnus looked almost disappointed at that information. “What? But how do you know?”

“I just do.” Isak shrugged. If Even did like him, he would have told him.

“Bullshit bro. Have you ever seen the way Even looks at you? He looks at you like you are the most precious thing to him. Kid you not, I thought Even had a secret crush on you for several years after we became friends.” Magnus huffed. “He definitely fancies you, bro.”

Isak bit his lip, considering what Magnus had just said. Did Even really look at him that way? Did he really like Isak?

“We even kissed,” He admitted quietly.

A squeak. And Magnus was right in his face now. “Are you fucking kidding? You both kissed?” He yelled, making Isak flinch. A few of the guards watched them with a stone face and Isak slapped Magnus’s arm so he would shut up.

“Yes, we did. Two years back.” He said.

“Fucking hell. Who kissed first? Details, Isak. I need more details!” Magnus demanded and Isak let out a groan, slightly regretting telling Isak, but he started telling the story anyway. About him getting jealous whenever Even flirted with other girls or whenever he was with Sonja, about their kiss and how Isak couldn’t believe it was finally happening, about how they never talked about it again and Isak was too flustered to bring it up so he pretended that it never happened, about how even now Even would sneak into his room at night and slept along with Isak, about how Even would always call him pretty and it used to make Isak question his sexuality. He told him everything, every single thing. He poured his heart out. And when he was finally done, Magnus was full-on grinning now and Isak couldn’t believe he just poured his heart out to Magnus of all people.

“And now you can’t take your eyes off him,” Magnus concluded, looking back at Even out in the vast field.

“Now I can’t take my eyes off him.” Isak agreed.

“Fucking hell, this is like a fairy tale.” Magnus mused with a smile. Isak rolled his eyes.

“This is anything but a fairytale.”

Magnus waved him off and got up, dusting his dress and he went back to the shed. As he walked in, he shouted over back to Isak, “Looking at someone like they are their universe, kissing them, and sneaking into their bed every night doesn’t seem like something a normal friend would do, Isak. You should stop thinking so hard and tell him.” He winked before disappearing inside.

Isak stared back at him for several minutes before letting out a sigh. ‘A true king is not afraid to be himself.’ Even’s words rang in his mind after all these years.

He would have to do this then, wouldn’t he?

21 and 23

“Even, I swear to god if anyone hears and informs my parents-“

-calm down, baby. Just enjoy.”

“They are the fucking king and quee- ahh“

Even dived back in and Isak moaned so loud he panicked he alerted the guards outside. But luckily, none of them barged in. Even didn’t stop, he kept going up and down, up and down and soon Isak was panting.

When they both were coming down from their high finally, sweaty bodies on top of each other, Isak let out a giggle.

“Fucking hell,”

Even smiled down at him, then rolled back to his side. “I can’t believe I fucked the prince in his own room. I should get paid for this.”

Isak shoved him with a laugh before Even pulled him into himself and he rested his head on his shoulder.

“Did you know I begged my mum to let me sleep with you when we were younger because I liked you a lot and wanted to watch you sleep because you looked so adorable?” Even said, suddenly.

Isak widened his eyes at that. “What the fuck, really?” Even nodded back at him and Isak couldn’t believe it.

“Wow..”

“Yeah, I used to pretend that I was scared of sleeping alone here in your castle and somehow my mum believed it and your mum agreed to let us sleep together.” He laughed. Bright and loud.

And Isak laughed along with him too. Even rubbed his hand up and down his back and they calmed their giggles down after a while. They were together exactly for a year but only got to touch each other for two weeks and a half or so. Because they both got together the year before and Even had left again a week later and only came back here now one and a half week ago. So they were trying their best to spend as much time together as they could without making it more suspicious.

It was going fine, but they knew something had to happen first. They had to come out. They couldn’t keep living in secret like this forever. Isak didn’t want it and neither did Even. Isak was ready to die if he wanted, but he wasn’t going to let their love be imprisoned this way.

“What if we get caught one day?” Even said quietly, drawing circles on Isak's back.

“Then we explain to them. Tell them we are together,”

“And what if they don’t accept us?”

Isak shuffled closer to him. “We will flip them off and elope togteher.”

“Oh yeah?” There was a smile in Even’s voice.

“Yeah,”

“To where?”

“To a place where we are safe.”

“Okay. What if they torture Magnus over here because he supported us all this time.”

Isak scowled. “Then we take him along with us. Find him a girl. Marry them both.”

Even let out a small laugh. “That sounds really nice.”

“It does.”

“I’m so glad you asked me out that day, baby.” Isak lifted his face up and smiled down at Even.

“I am glad too. Or I wouldn’t be here with you right now, naked and kissing you.”

Even grinned up at him in the darkness. “And you wouldn’t have known how good I was at fucking you.”

“oh my god, you are so dirty.” Isak groaned, palming his face. They both laughed for another few minutes before Even resorted back to stroking his back softly.

“You don’t know how badly I wanted this. Us. You.” He said quietly, and Isak shook his head at him lightly.

“Trust me, I do. Because I wanted this too.”

Even stared into his eyes at that, a fond look on his face, and Isak did the same before they kissed each other again for a while. Isak slumped back into Even’s chest contently after that and they pulled the blanket tighter around themselves. It was a miracle no one ever came to check upon them.

“We really owe Magnus a lot, don’t we?”

24 and 26

They were in Bali. In fucking Bali, during the fuming hot, summer.

Isak couldn’t believe it. It had taken so long for them to arrive here. They had to spend so much time on various huge ships and here they were finally.

Relaxing on one of the finest beaches, shirtless and with lemonades resting on either side of them. Isak had his country to rule, his own palace, his personal advisor Magnus and most important of all, his lover, Prince Even. So yes, life was going great. Except for one small thing. But he wasn’t going to bring that topic up now.

Let’s talk about something else. First things first, Isak is a king now. Yes, he is a king but not Even. Because Isak’s father passed away two years back in the battle and now he was crowned the king of the Norsk. Even’s parents were safe and sound, thank you.

The year Isak became a king, he knew he had the power to come out as a homosexual and claim Even as his lover, openly and freely, and people wouldn’t object. Wouldn’t dare to. His own mum had accepted them both so of course, none of the people really cared very much. As for Even, it’s his story to tell, but in the end, he was accepted by his parents too.

And now, here they were, in Bali. Having a vacation after a successful battle the previous year. Even was Isak’s boyfriend and Isak was Even’s. It was good. Life was good.

Except for that one small thing that was bothering Isak for the past two months.

“I love it here so much, Isak, God.” Even whined from his side, interrupting Isak’s thoughts. He stretched and Isak stared at his beautiful, long body. His lover’s body.

His heart bloomed every time he referred to Even as a ‘lover’.

“What if we just stayed here for the rest of our lives?” Even asked, looking at Isak with a smile. He looked gorgeous in the sun. He had tanned a little in the past few days.

“Then we will.”

Even grinned wider and turned to his front before slowly making his way over to Isak with his elbows and finally stopping by his chest.

“No, because I want to see more of the world. I want to see the world with you.”

Isak stroked through his blonde hair and kissed him. “I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

Even melted in front of him and his smile turned much softer. “I love you,” he mumbled, kissing Isak’s nose and then hovering above his lips.

“I love you too,” Isak murmured back, and Even was kissing him the next moment.

They made out for a while in the sun, rolling on the beach sand like two horny starfishes until they both had to come up for air.

Even was watching him and he was feeling good. They both were feeling good and Isak thought this might be the right time to tell his lover.

“Um, baby,” He started, watching Even’s face trying to see all his reaction as he sat up straighter. “As much as I love hearing people call you my ‘lover’,” he emphasized on the last part and saw Even frowning slightly at right now. “I wonder how it would be if they called you my ‘husband.’”

He wished he could just freeze the exact moment when Even’s eyes widened and he looked so surprised it made Isak’s heart well inside his chest. But he was also very, very nervous right now.

Even wasn’t speaking anything, but his face was filled with emotions. He was red and flustered and shocked and bemused and looked surprised overall. As if he wasn’t expecting this.

But then, his upper lip quirked up and there was a hint of a smile. A smile that contained just too many emotions. And that was enough for Isak to go ahead.

He faced Even and pulled the ring out of his pocket. He opened it and held it shakily to Even.

“What if I asked you to marry me right now?”

A beat.

“I would say yes.”

#evak drabble #skam #evak #This is almost 9k fgsdkhfdk #my drabbles

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translations-by-aiimee · 3 years

Text

Dig a Grave to Dig Out a Ghost - Chapter 28

Original Title: 挖坟挖出鬼

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 28 - Immortal

In some remote mountainous areas in the south, Miao women used clay pots and menstrual blood to raise hundreds of insects. They sealed them, placed them in a damp place and cast curses on them. Once the day was done, the poisonous insects will have killed each other and the last one was embodied with Gu poison*. The curse made with Gu poison could make someone's love interest fall helplessly in love with them for the rest of his life, and it could also plague one's enemy with nightmares, madness, and even death. The women who concocted Gu poison were typically loners, often muttering to no one, avoided by the general public.

*(T/N: 蛊 - Gu poison was believed to be the combination of all the venoms from the insects that died and would be used for black magic in southern regions of China)

In Nanyang Black Magic, they would use the body of a baby that died recently, boiled out the toyol*, poured it on a puppet doused in human blood and placed it in the home. The imprisoned baby ghost would protect the house but the curse-caster will be punished. They would also carve birthdates into wood, causing the other to die.

*(T/N: 尸油 - literally 'corpse oil.' I'll spare you the graphic details but basically taking a dead body's chin and boiling it until oil drains out of it)

This black magic flourished in the Ming Dynasty. The Eastern Depot eunuchs* were in turmoil. Everyone was reporting each other, no one would speak to each other, eyes darting between each other daily. These curses were developed as a branch of Daoism to oppose political rivals. A-Yan said that the Daoist practices used to drive out ghosts and save people were declining, but this black magic has stuck around. It was one of the biggest spots in Daoist history.

*(T/N: 东厂 - a secret police & spy agency run by eunuchs meant to suppress political opposition towards the emperor)

Saturday morning was a beautiful day. The sun was shining but not to the point of being unbearably hot. The distant mountains stood silently under the blue sky. A black Audi passed quickly through the country’s tree-lined roads, raising a cloud of grit and dust. A white goose with its head held high on the roadside was startled by the car, flapping its wings and stretching its neck to hide behind a fence.

The car stopped at a small farmhouse in the northwest corner of the village.

In the courtyard, a tall Shuzi tree stretched out dense branches, looking extraordinarily vibrant. In contrast, the entire courtyard was strangely decrepit. A well was covered by a millstone and the stone-paced path was full of weeds. The doors of the three mud-brick houses were closed, with straw curtains covering the doors and windows covered with dust.

Everything was very different from a month ago. Lin Yan remembered that the last time he came here, there were hens and rabbits. The old lady in blue embroidered clothing was kneeling on the futon with her eyes closed. The small courtyard was filled with the mysterious atmosphere of the countryside. The current yard would give people the impression that the homeowner hadn't been home for years when, in fact, a fresh grave in the back of the mountain had only been built a month ago. Rural people were convinced that the houses inhabited by the living were blessed by the gods and sheltered from the elements for decades. Once the owner of the house dies, the gods will follow, so the empty house often collapsed and was destroyed in less than six months.

"When Second Immortal Gu was in the village, she would help children that fell sick with fever, and the adults that were dealing with evil spirits. Young men would ask her when they'd get married and, for the right price, she'd tell them." The village chief said with a cigarette in his mouth.

The village leader knew Yin Zhou’s mother well. He heard that Yin Zhou wanted to bring someone to pay tribute to Second Immortal Gu and waited at the entrance of the village to welcome them. It took ten minutes to drive from the village leader's house to Second Immortal Gu’s house. The village head smoked four cigarettes in a row. Yin Zhou squeezed his eyes shut while Lin Yan and the little Daoist priest twisted their heads out of the window every 30 seconds to gasp for a breath of fresh air. The village chief was the only one of them chatting in the smoky car. Lin Yan saw how the complaints of three people and a ghost just flew over his head.

If a ghost could complain.

Lin Yan found a roll of incense from the little Daoist's bag and lit it. He put the incense burner at the door of the mud-brick house and offered his respects.

"Last time, we left just before Second Immortal Gu had her accident. I should have come to offer some incense sooner, it's just things with school got busy and I haven't been able to make it until now." Lin Yan brushed the straw curtain and the accumulated dust fell on his face. "Cough, cough. Does - Does anyone take care of this place?"

"Of course not. You big city kids wouldn't know. Doing this line of work is only good for putting food on the table. Immortal Gu came out here in her twenties. In less than ten years, her husband and two sons had died and she was the only one left. She couldn't even save herself." The village leader stuffed his yellow striped shirt into his pants. "Don't feel bad. No immortal in this village could escape that fate."

"Come on, let's go, you guys are here to see her grave. We don't put up any gravestones here. We just build a stone platform, but the villagers will remember who it's for. I'll take you up there."

The sun was growing hotter. Several of them used broken branches to smack the grass in case of snakes while they hiked up the rugged mountain trail. A rural cemetery wasn't as neat as an urban cemetery. Each family claimed a spot, with every newly deceased buried next to the rest of their family. The grave was a prominent mound of dirt with a large stone on top. Some of the graves were too old to even make out the mound, the ground studded with small light blue flowers. A date palm tree grew wildly, and they needed to watch their step when walking so they wouldn't disturb the resting dead.

Second Immortal Gu's grave was off on its own. The mound was freshly dug. Other than a crooked wreath lying on it, it was indistinguishable from the older graves that had been abandoned for years.

The scene made Lin Yan feel incredibly guilty. He burned a large stack of paper dollars in front of the grave, playing with his branch while saying silently in his mind: Auntie, if you're still here, please come back and tell us who harmed you. We'll avenge your death.

The village chief took the cigarettes Lin Yan had bought him and squatted off in the distance to smoke. Lin Yan winked at the little Daoist priest and said softly, "Let's start?"

A-Yan nodded and took out a crumpled photo from his pocket that he had found in a frame in Immortal Gu's house. The immortal in the photo was still very young, wearing a floral cotton jacket and staring vacantly ahead.

"Now isn't a good time. The s-sun is too high. The mountains are filled with Yang energy, and the ghosts may not be able to be reached." A-Yan said. He jumped up and grabbed a twig from the date tree above his head. He hung a spirit summoning flag on it and patted the dust off his shoulders. "Here's a picture, here are the bones. Um, Lin Yan, I'm going to borrow your birthdate for this."

Before Lin Yan had time to ask, the little Daoist priest handed him a dagger. Unlike his usual mahogany sword, this one was actually made of metal. The handle seemed to be a few years old, and the tip of the blade gleaming a bright white in the sunlight.

"H-Hold this for a minute. You might feel a little uncomfortable, but don't let it go." A-Yan instructed: "I-I'll read one sentence and you read the next."

Yin Zhou chuckled but he felt that it probably wasn't the time to laugh so he quickly turned his laughter into a string of coughs.

Surprisingly, A-Yan never stuttered whenever he talked about Taoism and charms, Lin Yan muttered.

Time passed by and it was almost noon. The date trees in the mountains couldn't block the hot sun. After standing there for a long time, most of them were covered in a layer of sweat. The village leader couldn't bear the heat and left to join some nearby people to drink some tea. Lin Yan stood in front of the grave with the dagger in his hand. He rubbed the sweat on his cheeks off with his shoulder, hoping that this time it would be over quickly.

The little Daoist started reciting. His voice didn't sound like proper speech, but the slow rate of speech wasn't too difficult to follow. Lin Yan held the hilt of the dagger and along with the chant. Not even halfway through the incantation, Lin Yan already began to feel that something was wrong. The temperature around him began to drop, and the hot sweat condensed on his back. He kept shivering like he was suffering from heatstroke. A chill came from the handle of the dagger. First, the temperature seeped into his palm, and then his whole arm, up to his shoulders, through the bones in his spine to the back of his head in a numb wave. It was as if he wasn't holding a dagger but a frozen fish that had been left in the bottom tray of the freezer for a year.

The spirit summoning flag above his head began to move.

"It's cold." Lin Yan took a breath and scanned the silent mountains around him. "Have you reached the soul?"

"I t-think I found her." The little Daoist hesitated. "Huh. . . that's weird. . ."

After reciting two more incantations, the bone-chilling cold air had spread to his calves. Lin Yan's teeth chattered and he shivered out: "A-. . . A-Yan, are you sure this is okay. . . it's too. . . cold. . ."

The chanting continued, the little Daoist priest shot him a sideways glance, his eyes cold. Lin Yan can only brace himself to keep follow the mantra incantations, a heavy cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Hold on for a little longer. The soul is bound to something, I want to break it free." A-Yan gritted his teeth, and a piece of talisman paper was slapped against the blade. All of a sudden, the cold washed over him like a tsunami. Lin Yan's whole body felt like it was being stabbed by needles, veins popping on his forehead from the pain.

"A-Yan, what are you doing?!" Yin Zhou knew something wasn't right when he saw Lin Yan's lips turn blue. "If you can't do it now, someone's going to get hurt. Lin Yan, use the ghost that's following you!"

"Almost there. Don't let go!" The little Daoist was flushed a sickly pale colour and he rapidly chanted the mantra. The spirit summoning flag above his head was being whipped by the wind. There was a ripping sound and the whole piece of cloth was torn in half and fluttered down onto the old grave in the distance.

"I-It's okay. . . A-Yan, go faster. . ." Lin Yan was so cold that he could barely get his tongue to work. He tried to move the hand with the dagger to it but he found that his skin was stuck to the metal and he couldn't budge it. He was shivering from his arms all the way down to his legs. Lin Yan staggered back and stepped on the bag they'd brought, almost falling backwards.

A force of strength supported his back. Xiao Yu's voice sounded right when he needed him, but his low voice didn't let him retort: "Let go."

Xiao Yu's hand covered the back of Lin Yan's hand. Compared to the temperature of the dagger, his palm was actually warm. It was just right to block the cold air that kept pouring into Lin Yan's arm. A-Yan's expression changed in an instant and he shouted loudly: "Back off, beast!"

"I'll fucking finish this. . ." Lin Yan abruptly closed his eyes and pressed his palm to the blade. All at once, the bone-chilling cold air felt like ten thousand needles running through his palm up to his arm. At the same time, there was a cold that grew behind him. He quickly opened his eyes but Second Immortal Gu hadn't appeared. On the contrary, Xiao Yu snapped Lin Yan's wrist with completely overwhelming strength, forcing the sharp weapon out of his hand.

The moment the dagger was taken out of Lin Yan's hand, he felt like he was immediately torn out of an ice block and thrown into a fire. The ritual was broken, the hot sunlight licked his back, making his whole body numbly feel like it was going to dissolve. However, he couldn't care less about his body's reaction. What happened next made Lin Yan and Yin Zhou - who was freaking out off to the side - shocked. They saw Xiao Yu holding the dagger inching towards A-Yan, frigid eyes filled with killing intent. When the palm of his hand touched the hilt of the knife, it sounded like searing flesh. But he didn't care. He grabbed A-Yan's collar with one hand, and violently plunged the dagger toward his left eye with the other!

Lin Yan's mind kicked into action. He subconsciously rushed over to hold Xiao Yu's waist, using all his strength to drag him back. However, something was wrong with the little Daoist priest, too. His usual cowardice was gone and his eyes burned with rage. He rolled away and broke free, rapidly taking out a handful of cinnabar and tossing it towards Xiao Yu. His voice changed because of the trembling: "An evil beast is an evil beast. You can't stay!"

"What the fuck is going on!" Yin Zhou couldn't see Xiao Yu. He could only see the little Daoist tumbling on the ground alone trying to avoid a shimmering dagger. Lin Yan's nerves were fried. While dragging Xiao Yu back, he roared towards Yin Zhou: "How the hell should I know? You grab A-Yan!"

He had never seen Xiao Yu so angry. The midday sun was burning and blinding. The ghost's whole body was emitting a faint greenish-black aura. The knuckles of both hands snapped open, sharp claw-like nails grabbing the back of the Daoist priest's head. Lin Yan thought he was seeing things and closed his eyes, but the scene stayed the same. The place where the ghost stood glowed a greenish-black and the place where the human stood was a dancing orange fire, intertwining with each other, but the orangish-yellow flames were gradually dying out. . .

Later, he would learn that people have yang energy and ghosts have yin energy. When the energy was extremely concentrated, he could directly perceive the yin and yang without his eyes confusing it in his mind. This was the foundation of excellent Taoism. He had inadvertently opened a long-closed door to the mystical arts.

However, the current situation was extremely dangerous. Xiao Yu held A-Yan’s neck with one hand and the dagger cut inch by inch into the little Daoist priest's arm blocking it. The hand holding the knife was searing black from the contact with the blade of the evil spirit's. A Yan's face grew purple, his eyes bulging. Lin Yan didn't dare to hesitate for a moment and scrambled over to protect A-Yan from behind. There was a clanging sound and the dagger rolled to the ground.

The little Daoist broke free from the evil spirit's hands, clutching his bleeding wound and groaning intermittently: "Lin Yan. . . Immortal Gu. . . Immortal Gu's spirit is trapped. . . I couldn't get her. . ."

Lin Yan supported the little Daoist's shoulders. His eyes gleamed, and the soft deer-like eyes were different from those when he had when he cast the spell. "The curse. . . Be careful." A-Yan whispered. Lin Yan hadn't gotten the chance to ask what was going on before his thin body couldn't support his own weight. His eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Lin Yan and Yin Zhou looked at each other, shocked by the outcome, unable to utter a word.

#dig a grave to dig out a ghost #dig a grave to dig out a ghost translation #english translation #chinese bl #chinese novel #danmei novel #danmei #yaoi novel #yaoi #bl novel

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shigaraki-p · 4 years

Text

Doll

A collab with @morgana-ren . CW: Death, Abuse

S is me writing, M is Morgana. It starts more in a script form, until we get into the flow.

S Correct. I'm glad you understand this. The only one I would truly want to have anything for is the Queen. Bites your neck gently M Aren’t you quite the charmer? You’re making me blush. Kisses gently at your neck before biting deeply S Mm, now we have mutual bites. Brushes my fingers along the marks I made M I can always give you one on the matching side, if you’d like. You have plenty of free canvas. S Smiles I would like that, dear. Bite me good. M Just tell me where you want it. My mouth finds a way. S Right here. At the tender edge above my shoulder. I want to shudder from the pain. M Brushes your shirt out of the way gently; I can be as gentle or as rough as you want, but if you want to bleed, I can make that happen. Licks the spot for a moment before sinking my teeth in, pushing them as deeply as they’ll go, ripping at the muscle beneath the skin. My hand grips your shoulder for leverage, pulling you down to my height so I can have more room to sink my teeth into. Even when I feel the muscle strain between my teeth, I clamp down harder. S My mouth opens a bit and I take in a small breath audibly, while my hands start twitching slightly. I exhale slowly and put a hand on your rear, the middle finger splayed away. "That's good, love," I moan darkly. M I release you on your cue, kissing the bruise blossoming spot gently before licking my teeth and wiping away any blood that gathered. “That’ll be a nice one. It looks good already.” S "Mmm." My eyelids flutter closed, relishing this moment. "What would I do without you." I give a heady sigh, feeling elated. The fingers of my other hand brush up along your arm, leaving goosebumps. M “Have to find a way to bite yourself,” I place a gentle kiss on your chin. “Which just isn’t nearly as fun.” S I grumble and stick my tongue out at you. "Indeed you are fun." My hands suddenly dig into your rear and hold onto your arm tightly. "I have captured you." I open my eyes to stare at you with renewed vigor, contemplating my next move in advance. M “Oh no~, I guess some hero will have to come and save me from the big, bad villain.” I play struggle, chuckling under my breath. “Who knows what he’ll do if he’s not stopped.” S I grin more widely, showing my teeth. To anyone else, this would be considered blood-lust, but to you, it was something beautiful to uphold. Admire. You wanted to hold onto his face, even as he would claim you and bring you to the ultimate depths of pain and suffering that he is in, that he is a part of- his hell.

I throw you on the bed, then tear your dress from the bottom up with my strength. My eyes were hazy as the thoughts of bludgeoning and decaying heroes blurred my vision. I would make you a bitch in heat, for setting me off in this moment. You would pay, dearly.

"Dear." I say ominously, while very lusted. My fingers wrap coldly around your throat, my mouth is left open and I'm feeling the drive to destroy. My other hand is on my pants, massaging myself to full, but painful hardness in its confines.

"Let's have some fun." M I flutter my lashes at you, mouth quivering and eyes bleary. “Please don’t hurt me~” I eye the growing bulge in your pants, biting my lip. “I’ll do anything you want. Just please don’t hurt me.” I lean my head back, giving your hand a better grip around my throat as I shrug the bra straps down from my shoulders. The mix of rage and lust makes my thighs rub together, desperate for some form of friction. The need for death and decay is apparent in your eyes and from the way your muscles twitch, but it excites me where it should frighten me. Even enraged, you’re something I find irresistible. A vessel for your excitement or a willing victim of your rage; I’ll take either one. It’s good enough that I get to be a part of it. I whine, letting you take control as I lean back on the bed, powerless under your touch. S "You've already revoked that right the moment you uttered 'hero'. This is a consequence of that mistake." I muttered darkly, tightening the hold of my fingers. I wanted to hear you gasping. A little struggle. My body grew hotter. Soon I would be pummeling you into the bed, but not yet. My eyelids lowered, looking over your disheveled form, pale skin just ready for my teeth to sink into. Pale from fright? Who knew. But you would soon be mine. And only mine. For another to ever think about touching you, they would be destroyed.

It was at that moment that I undid my pants. A thumb hooking inside, my mind playing out scenarios and making me even more horny than before. What I would do to anyone who would touch my beautiful dark flower, marked by my bruises and bleeding bites...

My cock sprung out as I lowered my undergarments. My pants started sliding to my knees and I locked my eyes with yours, staring hungrily, that leering smile never leaving my face. M My mouth is stuck open in a wordless cry, gasping and choking as finger-shaped bruises start to form over the preexisting ones from before. My chest tries to heave in air but it’s not successful, only in-taking enough so as not to suffocate completely. Instinctively I struggle, my hands grabbing around your wrist, but it’s futile; you’re too strong. Even at full strength, I’m no match.

My eyes are glassed over all the same, hips rolling impatiently in anticipation. If my airway wasn’t blocked, I’d be whining, but it’s trapped by the large hand crushing down on my windpipe.

The grin on your face equal parts arouses me and terrified me. I find it beautiful, alluring, but I’m not naive enough to overlook the danger. That smile has been the last too many to count have seen before closing their eyes forever. It’s a deadly smile, laced with venom and greed. Even starved for breath and compromised in my position, I admire it. I want it. S My cock twitched at the sight of you struggling, and I started leaking a little. I closed my mouth and gulped, my saliva feeling a little overwhelming at the moment. I crawled over your body, slowly removing my fingers' grip as I gently brushed my lips across your ear. "Love." I whispered hoarsely, barely breathing. "I want to kill you, with my love." My thumb snaked into your mouth, while two of my other fingers wrapped tightly around your jaw. The nervous tension radiating from your body was so delicious. I wanted to get into that rhythm, that... Feeling.

My other hand went to your bare shoulder, ghosting along to where I find your bra strap, then I decay it, along with your whole bra. My knee found its way onto your stomach, and I lightly apply pressure there. I moaned then, feeling it slowly sink into you, while I bite the top part of your ear harshly. M I can’t help the coughing and sputtering that happens when the spindly hand anchored around my neck withdraws. I can practically feel the bruises forming, but don’t have time to dwell on it when the pad of your thumb pushes down on my tongue. I wrap my tongue around it, even as my gaze nervously flickers to your fingers latching onto my chin.

Your words make my blood run cold. My eyes widen, following your own line of sight, but your own eyes betray nothing of your intent.

I feel the ash splay across my chest when all five of your free fingers find bra, shivering as little speckles of grayed dust streak across my bare torso. I feel the knee on my abdomen but don’t have time to panic when I feel the teeth sink into the delicate skin.

My face contorts but I can’t help but moan; the juxtaposition of pain and pleasure too much for my body to fully decide which to react to. My fingers twist into the bed sheets, damp spot between my thighs growing larger despite the obvious and apparent danger.

“Shigaraki~“ S I unexpectedly rumble a moan in my throat, my eyes getting wet. It was like I was in a different world, these sensations seeming so real and true to me. I could feel it. I wanted it. I wanted you. And I would tear apart your body to get it.

I want your core. And I want to be one with it. You're a doll, that was made for me to be inside it.

I sat up on my knees, ignoring the fact that one of them was now pressing even more directly into your body. A pleasurable rapture ran through my body in waves, sending off my Quirk-activated circuitry like wildfire. So many points I wanted to touch on you and decay, my instinct was guiding me to do it all. Turn to dust. Turn you to dust. But I will still fuck you meanwhile.

My eyes were practically rolling back in my head when I grabbed the back of your head, not bothering to check if I was fully touching strands of your hair, before taking my thumb out of your mouth and forcing your head onto my cock. M My upper body seizes forward as the knee digs further and further into my ribs, forcing out my air reserve with a short heave of breath. I don’t have time to recover before the thick head of your cock is being jammed down into the back of my throat, tip pulsing in my airway. I try to pull away for breath, but there’s a sudden sharp pain and the feel of your fingers threaded through to my scalp, forcing my head back down all the way to your pubic bone, stuffing yourself even further down inside me.

I look up at you with watery, pleading eyes, gagging and suffering through suppressed sputters. Drool begins to fall from my lips and down onto my chest, mingling with the decayed remains of my clothing. I blink away tears and tap on your thighs desperately, face turning red and eyes glassy.

I try to beg and plead, but it comes out as incoherent babble, serving only to work my tongue around your thick length. The growing pain spreading through my head coupled with the lack of oxygen is making me dizzy. The knee on my stomach digs in further and my limbs go limp, losing the will to fight against the inevitable. Instead, I just hum quietly, losing focus as the vibrations stimulate you. S "Such a good slut, such a good, mmm," I mumble, not paying attention to your desperate attempts at gaining mine. You didn't matter anymore, but your throat and body still do. It was good, so far. You would become a rag-doll at the end of it all, battered and broken. That is your place.

Then maybe you'll remember not to rouse a King's anger, again. Mold you into the perfect little Queen. His own vessel for his hatred, lust, and cum. Then maybe one day, you would get to understand what a hell love was really like.

To Tomura, it was eternity, bliss. He would truly want nothing less than for it to be this way. Forever. M My vision dances and sparks, going dark and tunneling around the edges. Any desperate attempt to inhale is fruitless, chest heaving and convulsing to no avail. My hands slowly crawl down your thighs, falling limply at my sides.

I hear your words but they don’t register.

I can still feel the hate and loss of control in the burning pain in my scalp, but don’t have the capacity to fight it. Everything is fuzzy.

I guess that’s the end of that.

#Shigaraki #Tomura #Shigaraki x Reader #CW #OC #Morgana

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sherrybaby14 · 5 years

Text

What’s Next?

This is for the SS-horniest book club’s drabbles

Prompt: Bucky is teaching Steve how to pleasure a woman? Maybe set in the 40s. (I’m doing post-serum Steve, so very non-canon with the Peggy stuff). For the wonderful @lilbitofliah

Pairing: Steve x reader with Bucky giving instructions. (MAJOR emphasis on Bucky here tho, not really a Steve story)

Warnings: Oral, (This ended up super fluffy!)

This might have been the strangest thing you had agreed to, but one look at Sergeant Barnes and Captain Rogers made you nod your head. After all, being a part of the USO meant entertaining soldiers.

Knock. Knock. Knock. You turned to look at the bathroom door.

“Not getting cold feet are you Doll?” James’ voice came from the other side.

You blinked a few times and put on your biggest smile before opening the door. To your surprise both men were still in their full uniforms even though they had you get down to a towel.

“Ummm…I thought we were all getting ready.” James’ took your hand and led you to the hotel bed.

“I told you. Tonight is all about you.” He moved your hand to Steves.

“Alright Sergeant Barnes.” You looked up at him and smiled. “Whatever you say.”

“Mmmmm. As much as I appreciate the titles, call me Bucky.” He gave a wink.

You looked at Captain America and he nodded in agreement.

“Bucky and Steve then.” You grew warm, being so informal with the men.

“Let’s get started.” Bucky clapped his hands together. “Steve take off her towel.”

The blond went to the top and you almost lifted your hands to stop him.

“Not like that buddy.” Bucky grabbed his shoulder. “You really have a lot to learn. Give her a kiss first, warm her up.”

Steve leaned down and placed a peck on your lips. It wasn’t what you were expecting.

“Okay. That was a good start. How about more like this though?” Bucky stepped around Steve.

His hand gripped your cheek, his fingers spread wide as he dipped his mouth to yours. His tongue was soft as it pressed against your, wanting your lips to part. You moaned and did what he wanted, happy to oblige.

Bucky kissed you for a few more moments before slowing down and pulling away. You went up on your toes, eager to coax him back. He smiled and gave another wink before stepping to the side.

You barely looked away from him when Steve’s mouth was back on yours. His tongue repeated Bucky’s earlier movements and you found yourself with an equally as good kisser. You were impressed with the turn around, he was a good student. It made you get more excited for what was to come.

“Now, gently untuck the towel.” Steve’s hands went to your hips, he was barely touching you as he rose to the top and pulled the terry fiber away.

It dropped to the floor and you found yourself naked for the two men.

“That was good.” When Bucky spoke Steve started to slow down the kiss. “No, don’t stop kissing her. Try and guide her toward the bed, get her to sit down.”

Steve’s hands were back on your hips and he walked you backward too fast. Almost making you tumble on to the bed.

“That was a little quick.” Bucky chuckled. “Let’s keep things vanilla for tonight punk.”

You weren’t sure what that meant, but it seemed like Steve got the memo.

“Now lighten the kiss and work your way down her chin.” Bucky’s face appeared as Steve did what he was told.

The brunette was glaring at you, with eyes wide and full of lust. You wanted the lesson over and were back to the original hope of taking both of them.

“Keep kissing, down her neck, use a little tongue.” As Bucky spoke he pulled off his belt. “That’s it. Don’t be afraid to use some teeth.”

You hissed as Steve bit down on your collarbone.

“Less teeth.” Bucky undid his pants. “Now kiss down her chest, stop when you get to her nipple. Wrap your lips around it, suck lightly and flick your tongue.”

Steve did just as he was told. You moaned as he turned you into a hard pebble in his mouth, but your eyes never left Bucky who had pulled out his cock. It was the largest one you’d ever seen and you licked your lips, wanting to taste him.

He shook his head no at you and you whimpered.

“Not leave her other unattended. Use your fingers, pinch and roll.” Bucky spit in his hand.

“EHH!” You yelped as Steve’s fingers grabbed at you.

“Lighter.” Bucky’s eyes went wide with a flash of lust. “Remember, she’s a gentle flower.”

Steve’s finger’s relaxed and you caught your breath. You kept your eyes locked with Bucky and started lifting your hips as the need in your core grew.

“Good. See the way she is reacting?” Bucky started stroking his rock hard cock, you wished that was your hand, or your mouth, or even better your cunt. “Keep moving your way down. Don’t stop kissing as you move.”

Your chest grew heavy with anticipation as you watched Bucky pleasure himself.

“When you get to her pussy use your hand to spread her lips.” Bucky stepped closer, looking down at Steve.

You wanted to reach out and grab the Sergeant, help him with his beautiful dick. But then Steve’s lips left your body and he spread you open.

Bucky reached down with his other hand and ran a finger up your slit. He stopped when he got to your hood at pointed.

“Right there.” You wanted him to touch you again and moaned. “Take her clit in your mouth, be gentle. Use your tongue, a lot of saliva.”

Steve’s lips were on you again and you cried out as he gave you bundle of nerves the attention it needed. You found yourself gripping the sheets, your eyes not looking away from Bucky as he stroked away.

“How does that feel Doll?” Bucky locked eyes with you.

“Not enough.” You wanted your pussy stuffed.

“You heard the lady.” Bucky grunted. “Suck a little harder, move your tongue faster.”

You whimpered as Steve did as he was told. It felt amazing and your eyes almost closed, but you didn’t want to waste the beautiful image in front of you. Bucky’s fist rubbing up and down his shaft. You flexed your hips up again pushing yourself further into Steve’s mouth.

“She’s needs a finger inside. She’s dripping.” Bucky looked down at your pussy and you knees shook at his words. “Start with one. Push it in slow and then curl it toward you.”

“Ahhh!” It felt amazing as Steve did what he was told again.

“Keep the flicking motion. Still moving your finger in and out at the same time.” Bucky grabbed the tip of his cock and you saw the precum. “Don’t neglect your duties with your tongue. Keep it up.”

“Please!” You didn’t know what you were begging for. Was it for Bucky’s cock or Steve’s tongue.

“You’re doing so good.” Bucky bit his lip and you felt like he was talking to you and not Steve.

It made you even hotter.

“Feel the way her body response.” Bucky’s hand started to move faster. “The closer she gets the faster you move you finger, the harder you suck and the quicker you flick your tongue.”

Steve must have sensed something in you because he started doing all three.

“Shit.” You gasped for breath as the coil in your stomach started to tighten. “Please!”

“That’s it.” Bucky moved so he was next to you, his cock just out of reach. “Keep going. Even faster.”

You let out a squeal, your clit receiving more attention than you thought possible. You started to pant as the spring grew tighter and tighter. You found yourself bucking your hips against Steve while watching Bucky rapidly stroke his cock.

It was too much to handle and you were sure you were going to pass out before the release came.

“Steve?” Bucky didn’t look away from you.

“Ympf.” Steve’s muffled voice made you moan again.

“On the count of three give a very gently bite with your teeth and press down really hard with your finger, tap it fast.” Bucky’s eyes flashed again.

“Oooo.” You let out a strange sound you’d never made before, a little scared of what was to come.

“One.” Bucky stepped closer.

“Two.” He stroked his cock faster.

“Three.”

An inhuman noise left your throat as you through your head back, your body spinning out of control as the orgasm overtook you. You were seeing stars, your body contracting around Steve’s fingers. You’d never felt such pleasure.

Then you felt warmth. You lifted your head to see Bucky squirting white globs on your chest. Joining you in your finish.

Your lips parted and you wished he’d let you taste him. But you were not lucky enough as he let out a satisfied moan.

“What’s next?” Steve pulled his head off of you and his finger pulled out of your quaking pussy.

You were having a hard time catching your breath, but even you managed to turn toward Bucky. He looked at you and Steve before smiling.

“Yeah, what’s next?” You couldn’t wait to find out what the teacher had in store.

#Bucky x reader #steve x reader #stucky x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvel #Bucky barnes #Drabbles

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noir0neko · 4 years

Note

Would it be cool to request some sweet Namjoon fluff? I wouldn't even know what about. Feel free to make it about whatever you like. Also I hope you're healthy and safe, it's good to see you again

You look at him through the corner of your eye, taking in his dark eyes and bleach blonde hair. The dew of his skin glints off the setting sun, his smile almost blinding in the evening light. You and Namjoon have been attending this festival every single year, from when you were children with your parents until now, when it became the convenient halfway point between where you both went to college, on opposite sides of the state.

After seeing somebody nearly every day for eighteen years, it quickly became odd to see them only a handful of times every semester. Some days missing him was a heavy weight in your chest, pushing you down until you texted him some meme to start a conversation. Other days, you buried it in the bottom of a red solo cup, or another guy’s lips at a frat party just to feel something other than nostalgia. Most days it was just a dull ache, a silent stone in your heart that didn’t sit right, didn’t like you breathe until you saw him again.

“Are you alright?” Namjoon asks, waving his hand in front of your face. His pink lips are quirked into a half smile.

You blink, scrunching your nose and shaking your head as if to clear an invisible fog. “Yeah. Just happy to be here with you.”

His face softens, the corners of his eyes creasing. The music from the evening concert begins to flow, something melodic and sweet, almost as entrancing as the words Namjoon set to music in his garage studio. His long legs set an forgivable pace as he weaves through the crowd.

“Where are you going?” You ask, nearly panting. “Slow down.”

“Sorry,” he looks over his shoulder, throwing you a mischievous grin. “But we have to hurry.”

Before you can get in another word, Namjoon is reaching back to grab your hand, elegant fingers wrapping themselves around yours. You can feel your body temperature rise despite the chill in the air. His pulse is beating steadily in his wrist, yours seeming to skip and leap in response, keeping time. He reaches the edge of the festival and keeps going, cresting over a small hill, where the darkness has settled deeper from the lack of firelight.

“Where are we?” You ask as Namjoon’s pace slows.

“I figured it would be a good spot to watch the festival in peace.” Namjoon responds, licking his lips and stopping so abruptly you slam into his back. With a chuckle, he plants his hands on your shoulders and spins you around. The entire festival lights up the valley below you, lights and music and voices fluttering about. You can see the stage perfectly, bright beams of spotlight and loud instruments cascading through the grass.

“Namjoon...I-” You smile at him, at a loss for words. “It’s perfect. How did we not see this before?”

“We did,” he corrects, stepping closer. “Or I did. Someone else was always up here first. But this year,” he continues, cocking his head to the side slightly, “I wanted to get to it first. With you.”

Your smile widens, shaking your head. “What good is a plan if it doesn’t take more than ten years to happen?” You joke.

He is looking at you, his eyes deep and thoughtful. Your stomach pushes into your throat, smile fading as a blush threatens to color your cheeks. He takes another step towards you, his breath coming out in puffs from his lips. You try not to stare at them, try not to watch them as they form your name, the sound so deliciously sweet in your ears.

“I’ve missed you,” he says, voice a hundred times deeper than before.

As if on a whim, he reaches out to catch the hairs that float across your face in the wind, brushing them behind your ears with the most subtle touch. He leaves blooms in his wake, each point of contact watering some deep slumbering flower within you. He is like a spark, setting you ablaze with the swiftest touch.

“I missed you too. Everyday I do.” You return, breathless. “I wish we could go back to how it was.”

“I don’t” he says. His hand lingers in the air, a silent invitation. A question. You step into it, letting his palm rub against your face.

His hands are warm against your cheek and when his thumb parts your lips softly, your entire body ignites on fire. You are afraid to breathe. Afraid that one small sound or movement will disrupt this moment, despite the concert and people bellowing below you. He leans forward, the light glinting off his hair and creating illusions in your eyes, which are involuntary drifting shut.

It’s like he has a halo. An angel.

“I don’t want to go back to how it was.” His lips move right above yours with such quick honesty that you’re struggling not to fall off the cliff with every word he says. “Because back then I didn’t know how much I would hate being without you. Then I didn’t know how much you meant to me. How much you brightened up my life. Then I didn’t know that I love you.”

He whispers your name softly after he says it, the syllables like a prayer carried in the wind. Your hands itch to touch him, to pull him into you and never let go again. You had known the moment you saw him off, the second he closed that car door and disappeared around the corner, all of his belongings in the trunk and his engine roaring in your ears, that you wished to go with him. That you didn’t want to be where he wasn’t. That somehow, over the years, his nimble fingers and intelligent lips has weaseled their way into your heart. And that he had it. Stuffed among his things when he left.

And he is right here in front of you, lips a hairs breath from yours before they collide, two souls intertwining with such sweet serendipity. Your hands come out of their stupor, immediately tightening themselves around the back of his shirt, taking a fistful of the soft fabric in your fingers. His hair tickles your forehead, tongue parting your lips to slip along yours with a soft and gentle caress. It feels like he is blowing you a part and putting you back together at the same time.

You had known what this was all along. He had too. You had known the moment you became shovel buddies on the playground digging up sand and bark to build an empire all your own. You had continued building that empire for years, kindling the spark into a flame that burned brighter and hotter than any you had ever felt. An empire of passion. Of love.

Your breath catches, eyes staring into his with equal intensity when he pulls back slowly to look at you. You’re not sure whether to burst out crying or kiss him again. The water he had been pouring into you for years breaks from the dam you had carefully constructed, bursting into your heart and lifting away all of the stones. It is only him. All of him that flows through you. As he returns your heart and fills it with him. There could never be anyone but him. You always knew that. Most empires fall, but this one would not.

“I love you,” your voice breaks, emotion leaking from your lips.

And when he kisses you again, any notion of tears burn up inside of you as he continues to light your world on fire.

~Admin Eggplant

#ya know it takes me just as long to find a gif as it does write the fic lmao #namjoon fluff #rm fluff #bts fluff #kim namjoon fluff #fluff #bangtan fluff #kpop fluff #cute #bts cute #bts requests: drabbles

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aithrauniverse · 3 years

Text

Chapter 18-Astra

Aithne’s DAD.

Was anyone who they seemed they were?

I glanced over at Aithne. Her face was angled away from me and Laila, and she wasn’t complaining about our plight one single bit. Her silence was perhaps the most frightening thing I’d ever heard.

Laila and I exchanged wary looks, and I turned to stare into the distance. There wasn’t any sign of life in sight – it was just the same wasteland we’d arrived on, and the bright magma was still bubbling as merrily as ever, as if oblivious to the death cloaking the whole place.

“Uh... should I be shielding us?” I asked.

Aithne muttered, “Can you even do it with your hands tied?”

Frowning, I flailed my hand, trying to get it to do the same motion I always did to create shields – but I simply couldn’t perform the last twist.

Beside me, Laila was muttering some gibberish under her breath, apparently trying to cast some sort of spell. Finally, she shook her head, hard. “I don’t get it. I think this place is enchanted or something.”

“But how did Aithne’s - “ I stopped myself just in time, and changed my words to, “that man get this rope out of mid-air?”

“You would probably need some sort of amulet or bracelet or charm or – oh, whatever – to get your magic to work here,” Laila reasoned.

Come to think of it, I had seen Aithne’s dad wearing a necklace, with a garnet pendant on it.

From behind me, Aithne let out some sort of hiss-growl that made her sound like a demented angel.

“Okay. So-” I began, but Aithne interrupted me.

In a flat tone that was laced with hopelessness, she told us, “Look - it’s over. We won’t be able to fight this stupidity. Look at us – no magic. Completely useless. Think that’s going to make us overpower a crazy strong seventh spirit? That also just so happened to be a combination of all the previous spirits? Nope. SO not happening.”

I turned to her, waiting till she finally met my eyes. “Aithne, remember what you told me on that bridge?” I reminded her quietly. “We WILL get through this. This is only so little. There’s so much worse after this. We. Can. Do. This. But we won’t be able to if you don’t bring that stubborn streak of yours back.”

“Yeah, together, we’ll be better than any spirit that’s so busy—“ Laila rolled her eyes, “— that he’s late to his own fight.”

Aithne stared at us for so long, my eyes began to water.

At long last, the corners of her mouth curled up ever so slightly.

“Alright then.” she whispered, then repeated, in a louder and firmer voice, “Alright then!”

The three of us straightened our backs, and, as one, turned to face whatever lay before us, waiting for the spirit to show itself.

Right on cue, a firework of darkness, outlined by a faint trail of orange flame – it made the atmosphere so. Much. Hotter! - exploded before our very eyes.

As sweat trickled down my back, the shadow disappeared, taking the fire – and heat – with it.

I braced myself, thinking that what it would reveal would be something really horrible – I mean, what could you expect from a spirit that’s darkness, fear, arrogance, death, manipulation, ice and fire all mashed up together?

Yet nothing, nothing could have prepared me for what stood before us.

It was – it was – a swirling mass of shadows, with glowing veins running through all the darkness, some of them ice blue and some of them fiery red. That wasn’t all. It had a skull – a... charred skull – for a head, and as for eyes... Once I saw them, I averted my gaze immediately, feeling my own eyes burn. They were glowing, blinding, red spots – and the dots it had for pupils it had were black in its purest form. Yet under all that, I could still spot a glint of completely undiluted egotism.

That was, strangely, what scared me the most. How could any creature have such wholesome conceit in their body – and not be dead?

I could feel Laila and Aithne going slack beside me. To be honest, I felt like doing the same. But Endra’s chains flashed through my mind, and I kept my posture straight, staring at the beast.

“I see my servant has done exactly what he was supposed to.” the beast said. His voice was calm, almost sweet.

Laila hissed, “Don’t fall for his manipulative tricks. He can hypnotise us.”

The beast replied, “And I have super strong hearing as well.”

“You - “ Aithne unleashed a string of undignified words that wouldn’t look very good in a story.

An idea struck me. Pride. The beast would do anything for pride.

“So you’re going to kill us like this? Get your servant to tie us up – let him do all the dirty work for you? Or...” I paused, letting the words sink in, “do you think you’re not capable of defeating us if you returned us our powers and let us fight back?”

He inched closer, and growled. “I can defeat any bunch of puny teenagers who can’t even defend themselves from my accomplices.”

“I don’t believe you. Prove it. Or to me, you’ll forever just be a disgusting coward.” I said, doing my best to keep the tremble out of my voice.

Perhaps – perhaps we’d have a chance to win, if only he’d just let us use our powers... let us fight...

The beast growled, menace dripping from his voice as he leaned closer and bellowed, “NO ONE CAN CALL ME A COWARD! I’M THE MOST POWERFUL BEING IN ALMORIA!”

“Then prove it!” The three of us chorused in unison, Aithne and Laila finally catching on.

“Fine.” he spat at our feet, and sent a twisting shadow that undid our bonds and dropped heavy necklaces over our heads. The necklaces looked exactly the same as the one Aithne’s father was wearing.

I slipped mine over my head, and immediately trapped the three of us in a shield.

“Now you’re the one hiding. COWARD!” the monster cackled, the shimmering veins glowing even more with the words.

It sent a pulsating tendril of blackness into the shield, and no matter how quickly I added layers to the sphere, I simply couldn’t keep up with the speed of that stupid darkness as it ate its way through our shield.

Finally, Laila grabbed me and Aithne and teleported us away, into a clearing not very far from where the beast was. When she did, she put one arm around Aithne, who helped her stand upright. It obviously took out a lot of energy from her.

Panting, I set up another shield, and Aithne and I set to work thickening it, Aithne sending out tongues of fire (all while Laila still leaned on her) that I took the light from to add more layers to the bubble of light.

Meanwhile, Laila started murmuring something under her breath, and a huge brick wall dropped into place in front of us, separating us from the spirit, which had started charging to where we were. But Laila was faster, whispering gibberish as seven other walls appeared before she finally stopped to catch her breath.

The spirit gave a mighty roar. “YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO HIDE FOR LONG!” From the crackling sounds in the background, the glowing, spiderwebbed cracks in the stone-red brick and the instant increase in temperature, I guessed that it was using fire to burn the walls down.

We didn’t have much more time.

“Look - for the previous spirits, we could take on them one-on-one, which means that each of us can tackle the various abilities it has. Which means, Aithne battles the ice and fear, I’ll fight the darkness and look for ways to make use of its arrogance, and Laila will have to bring us back when it tries manipulation.” I told them, and Laila nodded (though hesitant).

“Uh... are you forgetting the fire?” Aithne interceded, and the paleness of her face suggested that she already knew my answer.

Hating myself for saying it, I whispered, “You’re the only one with the fire. Look - “ I waved my arms, and a blue light bubble appeared around Aithne, “ - when you need this, snap your fingers. Turning it off works the same way. It should protect you from the heat – its light reflected off the ice in Antarctica - and if you need to thicken it just snap both fingers. It will absorb light from around you and add another layer.”

Frowning, I formed a similar light bubble around Laila and myself as well. “I think it’s better for all of us to have it.”

Laila nodded. “Thanks. Oh, and if you feel him manipulating you...” she snapped her fingers, and a ring appeared on Aithne’s and my index fingers, “press the gem on that and it will teleport you far away from him. Don’t worry, you’ll still be within sight of all of us.”

Fidgeting, Aithne mumbled, “I guess I should include my own protective charm, then.” she circled a hand above Laila and my heads, and something warm seemed to form in my palm. Opening it, I saw a lotus with bright orange petals bloom, burning bright in the darkness. Looking away, Aithne said quietly, “My dad taught me how to do that. If you ever need fire, place one of its petals in your mouth. The rest of the flower will burn away— no, Laila, I do not know what it tastes like, probably not like chilli sauce— and voila, you can control fire. It lasts for around an hour only, though. I have no idea how long this battle is going to be, but hopefully it’s enough.” Nodding, I stuffed mine into my pocket.

With that, the beast let out one final grunt as the last of the brick walls crumbled into ash before us, and in a burst of the flames, he appeared, looking even more menacing than before.

Aithne muttered, “Hey, Astra, looks like your blue shield works.” True enough, I couldn’t feel the blasting heat of the flames – it was nothing more than a trickle of warmth.

The beast snarled, “Your silly charms won’t work against me, I, who have spent the last few decades perfecting myself to hold all the powers of the world!”

“Yet you left out the power of kindness and light,” I retorted.

“Oh, shut up, little girl – those are pathetic and will never work well in a full, all-out war of justice!” he roared, whipping its skull head around wildly. After a few seconds, he stopped, and fell still, ice filling the air as he whispered,

“Now, why don’t you lift that shield and let the fight begin?”

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marshmallowbee13 · 4 years

Text

Love Like Yours Fest 2020

Ch4: Fiery Kind of Love

🍋Warning: this chapter contains spicy lemons🍋

Everything Ramona had been taught of saving herself for marriage was thrown right out the window the instant Asra's lips were on hers. His warm hands were pressed against her back, holding her impossibly close. She no longer cared that there was a party going on, she just wanted to be close to Asra. But Asra slowed their kisses, pressing soft kisses down her neck. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

"Have I ever told you you look good in red?" Asra breathed against her lips. Ramona couldn't help but grin. "I... I helped enchant some of the rooms for tonight. I want to show them to you." Asra said. Ramona nodded and let Asra lead her through the garden, like they used to.

They played in the bubble room, pressed together in a cozy bubble and stealing kisses. Then there was the ocean room. You walk in and immediately feel like you're swimming. You can breathe perfectly fine and stay perfectly dry, but there are fish and other sea creatures that swim past. After that, was quite possibly Ramona's favorite: the paint room.

There were little booths tucked into one side of the darkened room and a table with a rainbow of paints. Asra chose a few he liked the most and they settled into a booth. Once the curtains were closed, the world around them disappeared. All sound from the outside world was muted. The inside of the booth was covered in star-like spots of light that glowed just enough to see the bare minimum. Despite the darkness, the paints were very visible, almost glowing in the darkness.

"These are edible paints." Asra said, laying each bowl beside the two of them.

"What are they for?" Ramona asked.

"I'll show you." Asra dipped a finger in a hot pink color and held her arm. He began to paint a little flower on her wrist. When he finished, he gave her a sultry look. He brought her wrist to his lips and licked the paint from it. Ramona's breath hitched. She watched, enthralled by the sight. Once all the paint was gone from her skin, Asra pressed a kiss there, then lowered her hand.

"Do you want to try?" Ramona chose a sparkly gold paint and dipped her finger in. She drew a heart right over Asra's lips. Before she could remove her finger, Asra took her finger into his mouth and sucked the paint away. Ramona removed her finger from his mouth and kissed him, sucking the paint from his lips. Asra parted and painted a pink line down Ramona's neck before going to town on it. This went on until Ramona's and Asra's bodies were aching for more, but ever the tease, Asra stopped.

"Why don't we grab something to eat, then we'll... retire for the night." Asra suggested. Ramona agreed and followed him into a massive dining room.

Foods from all over were piled high on golden trays. The two magicians filled their plates, then Asra took her through a secret portal that led to the gardens. He parted a bush, which revealed a hidden gazebo inside. They crawled inside, balancing their plates, only to find they had company.

She was beautiful, with dark skin and a turquoise dress made of very fine materials. She had intelligent ruby red eyes that seemed to look right through Ramona.

"Nadia, I see you had the same idea." Asra smiled.

"Great minds think alike." she commented. "And I don't believe we met. You are my husband's little miracle worker, correct?"

"Oh! You're the Countess?" Ramona asked.

"Yes, but please, call me Nadia. I am curious, how have you done what a hundred doctors could not?" Nadia asked, taking a sip from a wine glass.

"He's not cured. What I did was more like... flipping an hourglass before the last bit of sand runs out." Ramona popped a grape into her mouth.

"Asra, you two seem quite familiar. How long have you been together?" Nadia asked. Asra laughed nervously and scratched at the back of his head.

"Just tonight. But we've been friends for, what? Five years?" Asra looked to Ramona for confirmation, but she was stuffing her face. She gave him a thumbs up, though. Asra chuckled. Some things never changed.

Asra took a chocolate covered strawberry and offered it to Ramona. She let Asra feed her with a blush. Nadia just watched in silence, sipping her wine with an amused smile.

Asra was glad Ramona and Nadia got along so well. But Asra was feeling Ramona's energy dwindling. She had spent a lot of energy tonight and he didn't want her lagging when she inevitably had to deal with Lucio again.

"You look tired. Let's get you to bed. You'll need your energy for tomorrow." Asra said. Ramona sighed.

"Yeah... It was nice meeting you, Nadia."

"As was meeting you. Will I see you two at breakfast?" Ramona and Asra nodded their agreement before taking their leave. Asra escorted her to her room and once locked safely inside, he couldn't get enough of her. They kissed, moving towards the bed until Ramona fell into it. Upon parting, Asra asked for permission to continue.

"I... I want you, Asra. But this is my first time." Ramona confessed.

"Don't worry, I'll be gentle. Unless you say otherwise." The buttons down the back of Ramona's dress were undone, slowly and with plenty of kisses to her newly exposed skin, until it pooled around her feet. Asra gently guided her to lay down on the bed and began to strip down to his underwear. With the costume removed, Ramona could see her effect on him. She almost couldn't believe this was happening.

Again, Asra asked for permission to remove her panties, which she gave willingly. Sly fingers hooked into the waistband and pulled the fabric down her legs. When she was completely bared to him, he took a moment to admire her body. He was surprised that the freckles that graced her cheeks, shoulders, and arms also covered the rest of her body. And, oh how cute! There was one right on her hip shaped a little like a heart. Asra dipped his head and lightly nipped at it.

Ramona gasped. Asra slowly moved up her body, kissing and nipping his favorite things about her body. The stretch marks crossing her hips from puberty, her cute little bellybutton, the underside of her breasts, her rosy nipples. A beautiful flush spread across her cheeks, and her darkened eyes begged for more. And so, Asra gave her more.

He took her hand and placed it on his chest.

"You can touch me, you know." Ramona's hand ran over his smooth chest. She could feel his pounding heart beating inside, keeping time with hers. She ran her hands lower, curling her fingers around the waistband of his shorts. Her brown eyes looked to his for permission, which he gave. Ramona pulled them down, revealing his body completely. His cock bobbed free and Ramona couldn't resist running her fingers over it in curiosity. In theory, she had known that boys' anatomy was different, but this was the first time seeing it in person.

Asra moaned softly at her touch. He guided her hand to wrap around it and gently stroke it. Meanwhile, he dipped his fingers into her dripping slit, spreading the wetness and rubbing the little bundle of nerves that will make her feel so good.

"Asra~" Ramona breathed. Oh, he liked the way his name sounded when she moaned like that. His dick twitched in Ramona's hand.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this," Asra breathed against her neck, peppering kisses up and down it. "You don't know how often I laid here alone, wishing it was your hands touching me. Now you're here and I almost don't know what to do with myself. Tell me what you want. I want your first time to be enjoyable."

"I don't know, I just want you." Ramona replied. She was getting drunk off Asra's aura. The love and devotion pouring off him, plus the smoky scent of his skin was intoxicating.

"You mean you never thought of me? You never laid in your bed with your hands down your panties, moaning my name?" Ramona whimpered.

"I... I admit... I wondered what it might be like. You touching me." Ramona whispered.

"Where? Where do you want me to touch you, my love?" Asra asked.

"My breasts. But what you're doing to me down there feels so much better." Ramona said. She bucked her hips into Asra's hand.

"Does it?" Asra gave a mischievous smile. "Want it to feel even better?" Ramona nodded eagerly. Asra moved down her body until he was level with her most intimate place. Ramona watched as Asra spread her legs and settled between them. He used his fingers to spread her lower lips and gave her core a lick. Ramona gasped as she watched Asra clearly enjoying himself sucking on her clit.

Asra was right. That little pearl of pleasure really made all the difference and, combined with a few of Asra's fingers slipping into her pussy and crooking to make her feel even better, Ramona was panting, moaning, calling Asra's name. She had never felt so good in her life.

A little fire in her gut blazed hotter and hotter as Asra moved. She felt feverish, like she was at the apex of a waterfall, about to tip over the edge... Then Asra stopped. Ramona opened her eyes, not having noticed she even closed them, looking at Asra in confusion. Was that it? The sparkle in Asra's eyes told her no. This was just the beginning.

Asra crawled up her body, kissing her, letting her taste herself on his tongue. He reached down between them and pressed the swollen head of his cock between her lower lips. There was a gentle pressure and Asra slowly, slowly slid inside her, until their hips were flush with each other. Asra gave her a moment to get used to the feeling. When she started to move her hips, Asra knew she was ready for more.

Asra pulled out almost all the way, then slid back in, over and over. He started slowly at first, but at Ramona's insistence, he sped up. Ramona's breasts bounced with the force of every slap of his hips. Asra couldn't help but touch, gently massaging a breast in his hand. The other was blessed with kisses and sucks from Asra's talented mouth.

They were both climbing that peak again, so close, insides burning, but this time, Asra didn't stop. Ramona cried out, her insides clenching over and over around Asra, bringing him crashing along with her and moaning each other's names.

Asra slipped out of Ramona and stood up. He wet a cloth at the basin on her dresser and returned to the bed, cleaning her slick and his seed from between her legs. He finished with a spell over her pelvis, cool and soothing. It was a precaution to prevent them prematurely becoming parents.

Once clean, Asra settled beside Ramona on the bed, pulling the blankets up around them.

"Sleep, my love. You'll need all your energy tomorrow." Asra whispered. He ran his fingers over her scalp, further relaxing her until she was fast asleep in his arms.

@lovelikeyoursfest

#the arcana #the arcana game #lovelikeyours2020 #Apprentice Ramona

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unsarable · 5 years

Note

Hello! I have a request that is kinda specific.. if you don’t wanna do it that’s ok.. it’s definitely something that may or may not be a tearjerker. What would Kieran/Sean/Arthur/whoever you feel comfortable writing for do if they made a mistake, set up an explosive wrong or made a noise and alerted the enemy whatever, and it got their S/O killed? How would they deal with the guilt? Especially if the S/O was able to say “it’s not your fault, I love you” before they died...

Moonshine

*****Spoiler Warning (Spoiler for Chapter 3)*****

Author’s Note: I have decided that my brand now is angst lol, y’all really seem to enjoy it, which I don’t mind.

Warnings: Angst, not too gory but some implied, Fire (Idk if that’s a valid warning but ya’ never know)

Word Count: 974

Summary: You get stuck somewhere you don’t wanna be

***** Spoilers Past This Point *****

You had managed to talk the boys into letting you come along to burn the Grays tobacco fields, pleading and pleading to Arthur and Sean, who wasn’t so pleased about you wanting to put yourself in such danger

But they submit, and that’s how you ended up next to Sean on the wagon, Arthur hiding in the back of the cart filled with moonshine

The ride to Caliga Hall was filled with back and forth rambling between you and Sean, filling Arthur in on all the details

And listening to Sean’s insults, you often nodded in agreement with a chuckle

You couldn’t have said it better, Mrs. Braithwaite was a rather snotty old bitch

“Ya’ know… Moonshine? It burns faster than kerosene, I heard.” You chipped in, grinning, “It’ll be like lightin’ a giant cigar!”

And after explaining details to Arthur, Sean didn’t let a single moment of silence hold, beginning to speak once more, though his words were directed to you

Small flirts and pecks on the jaw, simple affections that he provided that you loved from him

When the three of you had pulled closer to Caliga Hall, Sean only further proved that he was the master of charm, finding an easy finesse in getting past the guards and into the property

The guard lead y’all to the barn, and when pulled in, Sean began his sweet charm once more, giving you the chance to sneak up behind the guard, sliding a knife easily into his neck, then pulling him into the barn as the boys quickly closed up the doors

Now… It was time to wait…

You found yourself helping Sean with the fire bottles, meanwhile, Arthur wasted time, whether it was sketching, writing or napping

After it was dark, it was time for the three of you to begin

Each loaded up 5 fire bottles and a jug of moonshine, each gun was fully loaded and prepared for trouble

You made sure to kiss Sean before you set out, this being a habit that the two of you adopted before every mission… In case one of you didn’t make it...

And with bandannas pulled up, you each snuck out quietly, getting to the tobacco fields

Crouched amongst the tobacco plants, you were well hidden, dousing the crops in moonshine

You had lost track of where Arthur and Sean were, but you couldn’t stand up to look around and find them without being caught…

Guards damn near surrounded you, trapping you in the field…

And when the field around you erupted in flame…

There was nowhere for you to go…

Without knowing, Sean and Arthur began throwing the fire bottles and lighting the fields and dry barn aflame…

Having lost track of you, they assumed you had either run off or were hiding and waiting for them to begin...

You began to panic, looking quickly around you…

The fire was on all sides, growing nearer to you as you stood there in the middle, gripping tight onto a glass jug of moonshine with 5 glass bottles of moonshine attached to your hip…

In no way did you stand a chance…

The gunfight had started and quickly you began searching for a way out, running amongst the plants, splashing moonshine on the ground and on your pants and boots…

And when you found there was no way out without barreling through flames…

You were left with no choice…

But as soon as you touched the flames, your pants were quickly engulfed…

Then engulfing you entirely…

The bottle shattered with the heat, glass shooting into your arms and legs, the added moonshine making the flames only hotter…

The pain was unbearable...

And when Sean heard your screams…

His heart stopped…

Even under the rain of bullets, he ran to find you and as your screams grew louder the closer he came to the burning flames…

He wasn’t sure what to think…

Or what he would find...

And that was when he saw your burnt body lying just outside the flaming field…

Your clothing still blazed, your screams absolutely horrid…

Sean felt tears in his eyes and soon… He was screaming as well, screaming out for you

He began to your burning body, the smell of burning hair and flesh making him want to throw up

But Arthur had grabbed his arm, pulling him back..

“C’mon kid… We gotta go..”

“No… N-No no.. no… No Art’ur! No we can’t leave ‘er!”

But there was no choice for him and Arthur dragged him along…

Getting themselves out of the bullet rain and to safety…

They had lost you and they didn’t need to lose Sean as well…

He never got to return to save your body…

And though he couldn’t bury you… He placed a cross just North of Clemens Point on a small hill under some trees that together, you would have often had picnics or simply visit to get away from camp

He had your name etched into the wood of the cross and for the short while longer that he lived, he would place a flower upon the ‘grave’ everyday

He had always kept a picture of you in his chest pocket but after your passing, he often found himself staring at it and drifting off in his own little dream world

Sean was often drunk, relying on the bottle to get him through without you

You were too young…

You didn’t deserve to die so miserably…

It was his fault...

And when Arthur, Micah, Bill and him had gathered together to walk through Rhodes, he had pressed a delicate kiss to your picture before stuffing it back in his pocket and beginning the walk down the eerily silent town

When Sean had soon passed he was buried right next to you, reuniting you both in a spot that you held oh-so-dear

#angst #Unsarable Requests #Unsarable Writes #This is my brand now

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debu-neko-kun · 6 years

Text

Annual, Part 9

The final part of Doom7591′s commission. This is probably the flabbiest, blushiest, sauciest thing I’ve done in a while >w> Involves a couple of huge guys in a bath together, lots of slime inflation, a massive flabby growth spurt, and big boy smooches! Enjoy :3

Edit: now with the actual story here

December 30th, Day of Giving The bathroom windows fogged as Delta checked the water in the massive basin, making sure it wasn’t too hot. “A-Are you sure you want to do this?” Dorian gulped. He stood with his arms cradling his chest, naked save for the tiny towel hugging his waist. “Of course, my plump friend. Unless you are not comfortable?” Dorian blushed and let out a small “hrmf.” “I just… I-I’ve never…” Delta nodded. “I completely understand, Dorian. Many are embarrassed the first time, but it’s really not so bad. Here, take my hand, and we’ll ease in…” Dorian took a deep breath, paused, and dropped the towel. Thankfully for him, his dignity was preserved by the apron of belly fat that dipped just past his knees, a titanic cascade of creamy lard. Still, he shivered as he took one wobbly step forward and gripped Delta’s fingers, naked for the first time in front of his host: indeed, in front of anyone. “That’s it… just a little closer…” he spoke softly, leading him forth. Dorian wanted to vanish, but continued regardless. Step by step, he climbed into the warm water, trying not to groan at the embarrassing fact that the less-than-half-filled basin quickly filled out as more of his body sank beneath the soapy water. “Almost… there. See, that wasn’t so bad, right?” Delta smiled. Dorian wanted to say no, but was too preoccupied with the feeling of his butt being so flabby it was touching the lowest rolls of his back. “Now then, let’s get you washed up!” Dorian buried his face in his hands, just waiting for a hand full of soap to caress his back, for a rag to wash over his blubbery cheeks. Instead, he felt the water ripple in front of his belly, which bobbed in the water like a fat island with a deep solitary lake in the center. He looked up, surprised to see Delta slipping his slender body into the water with the grace of a sea snake. “W-What are you doing?” Dorian stammered, leaning back as Delta joined him in the bath. “Washing you, dear.” he chuckled, settling down on the steps. “It’ll be just a moment, I have to get ready first.” “G-Get… ready?...” Dorian trailed off, transfixed by the odd gurgling coming from his bath-mate. The water began to recede, but the amount of pinkish goo began to grow. Delta’s slim belly began to puff, drooping down ever-so steadily, growing into a turgid mass of jiggly jelly. His arms swelled like inner tubes, mirroring his bulging thighs and fattening neck. “Are you… are you okay?” Dorian asked, the space between them growing smaller by the second. Delta ran his hands over his chest, fingers rolling over two swelling lumps and down to the waterlogged gut sitting on his pudgy snake lap. Dorian could feel his warm tail on his feet, feeling like he was being overtaken by a novelty water balloon. The water glunked and sloshed within as it was absorbed completely, leaving Dorian belly to belly with a naga only slightly smaller than him. “Aha, there we are! Perfect size for proper coverage.” he spoke. He looked pleased with himself, and even Dorian couldn’t deny he looked handsome as always… perhaps, even moreso. “Shall we begin?” A hot wave flushed over Dorian’s body, and not just from the leftover steam. “I-I, uhm- ah!” He yelped as Delta’s chubby tail slipped around his legs, enveloping him up to his thighs in swaths of warm jelly. “Just relax, darling. I’ll be gentle as a flower.” Dorian trembled in nervous embarrassment as Delta leaned forward, the fat, purple belly rubbing softly against his. Their combined rolls overlapped and rubbed together like two lumps of melting ice cream, soft and wet and sweet. He grabbed the soap, squeezed it into his palm, and began working it into a lather, but didn’t move back. Instead, he slathered it across Dorian’s blubbery chest, fingers working around his tender teets and to each side of the nearly-basketball-sized moobs, making sure to rub under and around. Dorian bit his lip; it was all he could do not to pass out from embarrassment, or the excitement he held deep within. “My, you’ve gotten so large,” Delta smiled, hands slipping down to his belly. “It really suits you, you know that?” Dorian’s soft brown eyes widened slightly, as though a great truth had been revealed. “Being so soft, so heavy, a deliciously plump pile of quivering cream… am I speaking out of turn? I apologize; you just look so cute when you’re blushing like that.” His bellybutton radiated a blotchy redness, so many pounds of flushed flesh, as Delta moved forward, rubbing along his lovehandles to the roll of fat at his back. “I have another prize for you, darling: rather, a gift of sorts. It’s just the day for it, after all…” Delta’s hands carressed his massive, blob-like buttcheeks, rubbing the soap around in gentle circles. Dorian released a small “Wuaah” in question, enraptured. “You see, the year is almost up, and soon the vacation will be over. I want to treat you to something today… something special.” He got closer, their breasts squeezing together like a bouquet of jiggly watermelons. His hands explored his rear, slipping around to the front to rub his underbelly, and sliding down to rub the creamy, roll-covered thighs obscured by his gut. “How does three custom meals sound? Whatever you want, and in infinite supply…” he whispered softly, hands moving back to his belly. Dorian took a deep breath, filled with elation, and brought his face forward. His flabby, stubby arms wrapped around Delta’s back as much as they could, and their lips locked. A definite yes. December 31st, Renewal Dorian waddled out of the elevator, panting like he’d just finished a race. Bag at his side (or rather, up on the side of his belly; his arms were far too fat to let him hang it below his middle) he lumbered to the bench in the hall and plopped down. The legs creaked and bowed ominously, unused to carrying anything this heavy. “Huff… gosh…” he breathed, clutching his bag against one fat moob. This was it, wasn’t it? The culmination of one year of vacationing… just a year ago, he was hard pressed to find pants that didn’t need a belt. Now, a belt was a fortification, the only thing keeping a deep breath from knocking buttons loose. He looked down, surveying his form. Might as well assess the damage while he waited for Delta to return with the rest of his things. The first thing he noticed was his obvious bust, the titanic breasts that wobbled with every slight movement. He felt like a boy-cow, with prize-winning udders begging to be milked… he had to wave away the notion before his cheeks got any hotter. Gently, he poked his belly, his finger lost to the dimpled knuckle in plush fat. He didn’t even try to lift it; in a sitting position, it pooled against the floor like a marshmallow on a hot plate, pushing over and between thighs thick enough to support a food truck. The tailor had given up trying to stay ahead of the game mid-December and simply created a tarp-like button-up for him, the bottom buttons eternally open to let his belly hang out. He’d lost much modesty in the past week, going so far as to lounge in his underwear in his room. Delta never seemed to mind; he delivered his feasts to his room, and spent nearly all day rubbing him down and giving gentle kisses. Letting the duffel bag sit on a roll, he raised his other hand to his cheek, which were almost always in his peripheral now, and patted it slightly. He could feel the wobble ripple through his face, into his neck, and settle between his breasts. It reminded him of skipping a stone, only he was the lake: a lake of lard, a pond of pudge. His butt pooled over each side of the bench like a waterfall, trousers doing next to nothing to hide the beach-balls of blubber that oozed up and over his pant line and showed off the waistband of his underwear that tucked deep between his cheeks. He leaned back against the rolls of back fat that hid all definition of a spine or shoulders, or of any real curve to his back. In fact, it was all one fat collection of smooth expanses, graspable lovehandles, and huggable overhangs. As fat as he was, he didn’t regret it. He thought about the lazy days in the sun, the moments at dinner, the sweet “good mornings” and the kisses good night. He thought about cookies with Delta, the impossibly stuffed bellies, the picnics in the garden, fresh berries and hugs, novels and milkshakes. It was a momentous, wonderful year, and he was just feeling the side effects. The elevator doors dinged open, and out slid Delta with a bag in each hand. “Sorry about the wait, darling. I’ve never had the pleasure of folding shirts quite that large.” he grinned, his purple cheeks glowing a faint pink. The still-chubby snake walked to the door, set down the bags, and waited for him to join. Dorian took a deep breath and rocked himself forward to a standing position, a skill he’d picked up with plenty of practice. Even standing, his belly nearly touched the tops of his sneakers and patted his knees with every laborious step. “Hard to believe it, isn’t it?” Delta mused, hands on his wide sides. “Your vacation, so close to ending.” “Hrff… yeah…” he huffed, already exhausted. He took a few deep breaths to get himself composed. “It’s been really nice, Delta. I… I hope you’ll let me visit sometime?” “Of course! Visitors are welcome at any of my residences, be it the restaurant, my summer home, or this manor. And, I must say, I wouldn’t mind cooking for you again any time of the day.” Delta smirked. Dorian looked away, bashful as ever. Delta put a hand on his wide shoulder and squeezed. “I actually have a gift for you, dear Dorian. The last of your vacation.” Dorian looked up at him. “I… hope you’ll allow it? I’ve been saving it all year, just for you. A commemoration of all of our meals together.” He slid his hand to his cheek, gently sliding his thumb across the bulging flesh. “Y-Yes… please.” he stammered. No matter how many times he’d massaged, kissed, and rubbed him, Dorian could never keep himself from melting in his soft hands. Delta pulled him close, into the deepest embrace yet. Their flab mingled, fat cheeks and massive bellies squishing heavy between them as Delta’s tongue mixed with his. Dorian’s arms wobbled as he brought his hands to his sides, Delta rubbing the side of his belly softly. Delta’s mouth was soft, like a warm cranberry jelly, but a thousand times sweeter. Suddenly, his tongue changed, melting into a globby stream, a burst of flavor, a fantastic mix of heavenly dishes. Apple pie and mocha cake, lemon chicken and fresh salmon… a flashback to the early months, light dishes and delicate flavors. The goop continued to pour and Dorian greedily guzzled it down his gullet, a thin trickle turning rapidly into a gushing hose of delicious slime. “Omph…” he murmured in delight, the tightening in his belt going unnoticed. More and more poured in; every dessert and orderve, every snack and main course, everything he never finished over the year was flooding into him, and he couldn’t be happier. The leather belt around his waist groaned. His shirt grew taut around his shoulders. The fabric of his pants began to pull thin. Yet he gulped like a hamster on a spigot, unwilling to pull away. *POP!* His shirt button bounced off Delta’s shrinking belly and clattered to the floor. *POP!* *POP!* Two more disappeared. As quick as Delta’s belly receded, Dorian’s grew to fill in the space between them. Wider and wider he bulged, bloated hips yanking the belt to extremes until it finally burst, his belly quivering in its wake. His chest bulged, and finally gained the freedom his belly earned with a few more broken buttons, his pink topped breasts wobbling as they bounced back to the top of his belly and oozed outwards. Every new roll presented another rip, another tear. Seams burst, and fat moved through the patches they made, all silky sagging flesh. Even his shoes groaned, laces separating even as his belly covered them. *SHRIP!* His pants split down the middle, creating a chain reaction of ripped fabric that left him in just a pair of strained underwear more akin to stressed panties than briefs. His butt wobbled together, touched the backs of his thighs, and kept growing, marching out like the rest of him. March, April… the meals marched on. 30 lbs from May, 50 from June, 60 from July, the calories of his core filled Dorian with fat like his slime filled his ever-growing belly. He was impossibly fat, a mimic of the paintings behind him, and yet fatter he grew, engulfed in himself and the decadence in his mind. Thighs thickened, chins grew, chest doubled. By the time Delta pulled away and Dorian opened his eyes, his arms had become permanently propped up by his sides. “Mrph… ah…” he panted, licking the last of the slime off his lips. Delta’s tail slowly unfurled itself from his butt, and the once again slender naga stood back to admire him. “There. Every meal I ever cooked, at home in the proper place.” he smiled happily, hands clasped behind him in a dignified pose. Dorian took a deep breath, belly heaving just above his toes and back down to cover them again. “Thank… y-you.” he smiled, still in a haze ecstacy. “Anything for my sweet dumpling.” he chuckled. “Allow me to get the door for you.” Delta slithered over and swung the double doors wide, the frosty air cooling the sweat on Delta’s slick skin. With a great effort, he shifted his body to one foot, then the other, every inch of him wobbling like great globs of vanilla pudding. Carefully, he made his way to the threshold, and with a grunt, stepped out to the front of the house for the first time in ages. ...Or would have, had he not been stopped in his tracks. “W-Wha?...” he spoke, surprised. He tried again, willing himself forward, but it was no use. “Are you… are you stuck, dear Dorian?” Delta asked, stifling a laugh. “Hnng… n-no, I-” He looked to his left, noticing the slab of fat hip pooling against the frame like molten rubber. He shifted himself, but it remained wedged. To his right, the same story: he was stuck tight. “Allow me to assist.” Dorian yelped as Delta’s hands sank into his butt, pushing firmly forward. Still, he did not budge. He tried again, pushing his whole body against his soft rear. Nothing. “Hmm… it would appear you are a tad too wide.” Delta sighed, stepping back. Dorian pulled himself backwards, his body slowly unwedging itself like jelly from a can. “Huh…” Dorian spoke. “What do I do now?...” Delta straightened himself up. “Well, seeing as you are far too large for the door, and as I would never ask you to change your body, the only option is to have the door widened. I can send for a carpenter in a week. It is a holiday, you know.” “How will I get back to my room?” he asked. “I can’t even fit back in the elevator...” “There is a guest bedroom, close to the lounge. I keep it locked as there are a number of valuable machines above it, but I’ve come to trust you, Dorian. Besides, I doubt you’ll be doing much climbing soon.” he laughed, a happy laugh. Dorian blushed, and nodded his head. “T-Thank you…” “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s got an extra wide bed, and an angled television; go, rest yourself, and I’ll bring you your dinner when it’s ready.” Dorian simply nodded, and began to the long waddle to the wide opening of the lounge. Delta turned, slithered back to the open doors, and swung them closed once more.

#slime inflation #slime gain #male slime inflation #male slime gain #weight gain #ssbhm #bhm #gay fats

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saintheartwing · 4 years

Text

May the Force Be With You, Part 1

I’ve been meaning to do a story with my character Kendall for quite some time now, and at long last, I finally got a chance. So here’s the beginning of my little story. Enjoy!

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The noose is tight and heavy around his neck, feeling like a heavy snake constricting harder and harder with every passing moment. Jeers fill the air, foul, rotten smiles, disgusting-looking grins on face after face. How can a smile make someone look so, so much uglier? And it kept getting harder to breath. His lungs were burning, it’s as if someone stuffed newspaper inside them and set them on fire, and now they’re just slowly watching him die...and, well...they are. They tore off his beautiful blue jacket when he tried to run, and not a single one of them stopped to ask why someone like him had so many scars and cuts on his body.

Why would they? People like them...even some OF these “fine folks” had given him those ugly marks on his frame. He’d almost made it into the house to close and lock the door when someone got lucky and actually lasso’d him, yanking him down the front steps, and now...now they were hanging him in front of his own home. If this was only just a month ago maybe his father would be rushing out to save him, but no he’s on his own. He was vulnerable, and he had made it clear to others in his community he was gay.

This was something they couldn’t accept. To them, it meant he’d been born morally blackened. It went against their beliefs in a just, fair God. And so such a blackened thing had to be gotten rid of. HE would have to be gotten rid of. God forbid his very presence make them question their faith a little. And God forbid some of them perhaps found the red-haired young man attractive, with his well-built frame. They had to kill their shame.

Kendalll can’t breathe.

He can’t breathe.

He can’t...breathe…

Can’t...head...swimmy...spots...flaring up...before his...eyes…

Is that...a barbeque he smells…? Something’s cooking nearby? Why does it feel so much hotter all around-

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The red-haired young man awoke with a horrific start. His hair was a mess, even more fringe flopping over his face than normal as he groaned and held his head in his hands, taking in deep, long breaths, trying to calm himself down. In through the nose, out through the mouth. In through the nose, out through the mouth, and think of some calming scenery. A beach, long sand, the ocean stretching out before you. A huge, grassy valley. Fields of flowers. A soothing clearing in a deep forest with cute little woodland critters.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

“Okay...okay...okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Zachary Archimedes Cadence Kendall reached across from his bed, his thick, grey and white comforter blankets he slept in utterly soaked in sweat from his body as he grabbed hold of a bottle of water on a nearby bedstand, and a small bottle of pills. He popped the top open of both, and tossed a couple of little, tic-tac-sized, pastel blue pills into his mouth and sloshed them around with the water before giving a loud gulp. Then he put both the bottles away and stood up, walking to the bathroom and deciding to pour himself a relaxing bath.

He tossed in a “bath bomb” from the little cupboard he kept his medical and bathroom supplies in, and the bath began to fill up with soothing blue crystals as the water finished pouring and he eased himself in, taking a deep, long sigh. He felt disappointed in himself. He was sure he’d had the PTSD symptoms under control, he’d been taking the medication every single night and he hadn’t had a dream like that for months now.

But...evidently not. He supposed that it was a relapse. He didn’t know what he expected, an attempted lynching wasn’t something most people would get over, not ever. But he should look at himself as lucky, he was alive. And despite the many scars and cuts and worst of all, the ugly, FOUL garroted ring around his neck that made it clear what had befallen him...he was alive. He was ALIVE.

And he had a big day today. Today, at long last, was his first day as head nurse at the free clinic on Nar Shadaa.

He let out a yawn as he rose out of the bath and got himself dry, getting his clothing on. His favorite dark blue jacket, big and thick and kinda floppy, his camo pants, black shoes, he looked himself over in the mirror, his blue eyes a-shining. His kind, Logosian, were very similar to humans, save for the rather unusual shine in their eye. A white geam that faintly brimmed around the pupil, and when the light caught it, it seemed to make the pupil itself turn white. There were, of course, other advantages to being Logosian, including a tremendous control over every single part of your body in a way few others had…

It was that control that made him such a good nurse and a great assistant to Dr. Morgan, who ran the free clinic. Kendall was soon making his way down from his apartment, and down the street, the towering, dark structures of the back alleys of Nar Shadaa rising high around him. Occasionally a window would gleam as a light turned on, but for the most part, it was early morning and all was dark, almost like night itself. The streets were a dark grey color, only a few people walking around as hovercars soared overhead, streaking like small, gleaming little boxes.

The clinic was in a building a block away in a rounded-top little place, with a large sign that read “Morgan Medical Clinic” on the front in bright neon during the night. When the day came, it switched to a slightly gaudier color scheme, but it got people’s attention all the same. Through the revolving door Kendall went, passing by a few people in the waiting room outside, the secretary sighing as he looked over a chart that a black-eyed, green-skinned alien with small spikes a-jutting from his head and bulbous-tipped fingers had given to him. The secretary got a small pair of pince-nez glasses off his desk with a tentacle, the rather octopus-esque being examining the chart.

“Okay, this all looks good. You should be warned though sir, Rodanian medicine isn’t Dr. Morgan’s specialty.” “Luckily I know a lot about them.” Kendall remarked aloud as he stopped and turned back to pat the patient on the back. “I’ll be happy to help you, sir, once I get my uniform on.” He nodded and turned to the secretary. “It’ll be fine, Orville, I’ve got it.” The Rodanian’s tubular-esque mouth turned into a smile as he sat down, Orville giving Kendall a nod of his big, slightly rubbery head. Orville was a really sweet guy who’d worked at the Hutt palace for a good decade before losing his job because he was caught sneaking snacks the Hutts were allergic to into work. He’d been lucky to get away with all his tentacles intact. Now he worked for them, and thankfully, none of the nursing staff nor Dr. Morgan were allergic to “Poofy Bites”.

Eager to get to work, Kendall headed into the small closet, getting on his uniform. Nice white gloves, shirt, pants, a facial mask, gloves, the whole shebang. And, of course, his little nametag. “Hi! I’m Kendall!” And TODAY...underneath that…

“Head Nurse”. Not “Nurse Practioner”. Head. Nurse.

“I got a good, good feeling about today.” He thought to himself as he walked back to let the Rodanian from before come on inside the clinic officially, into one of the patient rooms. Dr. Morgan waved at him from across the way, in the next room. He was, at the moment, tending to a normal human teen who had some very unpleasant wounds. Luckily, the Killik doctor was very skilled.

Like all Killiks, he was insectoid in appearance, looking like a mix of coleoptera and hymenoptera. Big sort of beetle-esque backside, a faintly hornet-esque head with a mandibled maw, four arms with sharp claws, several antannae sliding back from his skull and with deep orange eyes with dark black pupils as he looked the brown-haired young woman over. “These are some very unpleasant wounds indeed, how did you say you got them?” He asked aloud. He couldn’t “speak” with his mouth, like most Kiliks, he communicated with a mixture of methods, inlcuding pheremonal and electromagnetic transmissions to similar aliens to his kind, and outright telepathy to others. “I...fell in the shower.” The woman mumbled. Dr. Morgan knew she was lying through her teeth. You didn’t have to be psychic to know when someone was lying. He had seen this sort of injury many times before. It was, without a doubt, abuse. But since she was so young, being only 13, he had to ask. “Is everything alright with your parents?” “My mom isn’t handling my father’s death well.” She said quickly. “He got killed at those protests a while back, the Dyad’s men found him at work and...look, can you just patch me up?”

“It would appear you actually have some internal injuries, based on the scans. I will have to take more time than a simple application of Bacta.” He told her.

Luckily for Kendall, HIS patient didn’t need internal surgery. He smiled at one of the other nurses, Nurse Therra, who helped him get the Rodanian into the chair in the patient room, the twi’lek’s floppy head tentacles sliding down past her red-skinned cheeks as she adjusted the chair. “There. Is that good?” “Yes, it feels very nice.” He said as she took the Rodanian’s temperature and Kendall looked over the chart the patient had.

“Okay, we’re going to do a simple blood test.” He told the Rodanian. “We’ll find the right dosage depending on the results we get back.” He added as he held up a small injector that would take a little blood from the patient just by pushing it onto his skin. “Now, you’re going to feel just a little PINCH. Are you ready?” He inquired softly.

The Rodanian nodded as Kendall patted his shoulder and then knelt down and applied it to his arm. Soon he was analyzing the blood as Dr. Morgan called Therra into the room with him, as well as Nurse Jane, “Painkiller Jane” as Kendall liked to think of her as because she was so good at applying anesthetics, and Nurse Lomi, another Gran like Jane. The two almost coulda been twins, it was scary how much the multiple-eye-stalk-having aliens looked alike. Nice, big, muscular build, same smile, they even wore similar clothing.

It was a good thing that a lot of people came to the clinic lately. It showed a real need existed, that their work here was important. Especially with those awful protest injuries. People exercising their most basic of rights, the right of free speech, had been attacked. They’d first done meetings in the privacy of their own homes, then loosely organized gatherings, then finally in Nar Shadaa, out in the open. But the reactions from those who ran Nar Shadaa weren’t really pleasant at all. In the Outer Rim territories, dissent against people like Grakkus the Hutt or his compatriots was not tolerated.

It didn’t help that the place was already a haven for outlaws who were just fine with the Hutt Clan offering money to basically beat the shit out of unarmed protestors...or to kill them. Hey, if your money was good...free speech, schmee speech. Luckily, most of the protestors had gotten away, much to the local commandant’s embarrassment. But just because most got away it didn’t mean they got away scott free, a lot of them had been very badly hurt.

Thank goodness for this clinic, and for Dr. Morgan. It was good work they did there, Kendall thought to himself. Had he still been on Logos, his people might have said he was doing God’s work, but Kendall didn’t much believe in God at all. He never really had, and never really would. Kendall put no real stock in things he couldn’t truly verify, be it a god, be it the Force, be it the innate goodness of people. He put his trust in those who earned it, and Dr. Morgan had earned his ten times over by being a wonderful employer and just a great, decent person.

That wasn’t to say that Kendall didn’t sympathize with the protestors and their causes. He understood the philosophy of nonviolent resistance. And the strategy tended to work in the long run. The problem was the “long run” could take years, maybe even decades, and millions could die in the meantime. Yes, nonviolent resistance required more courage than combat, but honestly, armed resistance would be, in the end, what brought people like the Hutts and their compatriots, the “Dyad”, down. Kendall sometimes wondered if he should contact the resistance directly and get more involved, but he had a pretty good job here, and he was doing good work. So if it wasn’t broke...don’t fix it.

“Okay, based on the results of the blood test, you definitely have a mild case of Nobliar’s Syndrome, so here…” Kendall began looking through the cupboard up above the table in “Patient Room 3”. “You’re going to want to take several of these. Two a day ideally, if you feel even worse, three.” He handed the Rodanian a bottle of pills and nodded. “Now listen, these will combat the symptoms and, also ideally, will allow your body to fight Nobliar’s Syndrome off. But if it gets worse, we’ll have to bring you in for a hardcore Bacta bath, and we’ll take the next necessary steps.” Kendall told him as he showed off a small little tank of Bacta, the colorless, viscous fluid slopping about in the tank. “What’s IN bacta anyway?” The Rodanian wanted to know as Kendall beamed, his eyes practically glowing.

“Oh, it’s fascinating! It’s a mix of red alazhi and kavam bacterial particles. You mix them together with ambori, and the particles seek out wounds and promote rapid tissue regeneration while preventing the emergence of scar tissue. It really is astounding.” “Miraculous, really.” “Nah, just science, my friend.” Kendall chuckled. “The “miracle” of modern medicine and thank goodness we use it over kolto. Kolto’s less effective, takes far longer to heal you. A kolto for your cuts, sure, but no more than that.”

“Have you ever considered trying to get your throat healed with bacta, sir?” The Rodanian asked Kendall as Kendall inwardly cringed. He knew that, when people asked about his throat, most of them meant well, and were just legitimately concerned about what appeared to be a really awful, horrible injury. The tenets of the Logosian way of life had stressed that to forgive was divine. God, if you were willing, forgave all your sins. Well...he wasn’t God. So he didn’t have to forgive those motherfuckers who’d lynched him.

“Thanks, but...I actually want to keep it. Sometimes you want the scars.” He remarked as he led the Rodanian out of the room, and down the hallway to the waiting room, noticing something very odd. Orville was slightly quivering in fear and emanating a clear sense of nervousness, all the other patients were gone, and a slightly irritated-looking human woman with brown hair tied back into a small ponytail with dark brown eyes and two earrings in her left ear was standing there in the doorway. She had her hands on her hips and she looked very impatient indeed, and was wearing a white shirt with a dark brown vest, a pair of pants that didn’t reach all the way down to the top of her darker boots, a thick belt loaded up with various pouches, and a small pack on her back. She had armbands on as well, the same color as her dark brown belt, and she tilted her head a bit as she looked at Kendall. She looked VERY familiar, and yet, Kendall couldn’t quite place her. He was good with faces, but not with names, a problem he’d had for years and years.

“You’re a nurse? Ah, Head Nurse. Can you let the doctor know I need to see him immediately?”

“Oh, uh...he’s rather busy with a patient who has internal injuries. I can treat you though, depending on the nature of your injury, ma’am.” Kendall offered as the Rodanian headed out the door and Orville gulped.

“Kendall, she really, REEEEAAALLY wants to see the doctor.” “Indeed. Still…” The woman looked him over. “You might suffice. I happen to have my own internal injuries, I was regrettably badly wounded in a fight and my stomach feels as though it’s on fire.” She said, her voice having a faint, almost fancy-sounding accent to it. Kendall thought, very faintly, he could feel a strange, weird tingling sensation in the back of his head, that was creeping over his fingers as he led her into the patient room. She put her little pack down as she sat in the chair, and he began to scan her over

“Oh my, this is terrible!” He proclaimed, looking mortified. “Yes, your...your stomach and your intestines are…” Kendall was positively stunned. “However are you still alive, ma’am?” “I’m a very skilled healer in my own right, Logosian. Its not a miracle, it’s my own skill. But I can’t do THIS, unfortunately. I could only keep myself alive through sheer...well, I suppose you’d call it willpower. But there’s a limit even to that. So, I need your assistance posthaste.” She insisted as Kendall nodded and quickly got out an anesthetic from the closet. “No. No, no, I want to be AWAKE for this.” “Ah, I wouldn’t call it a miracle, ma’am. I don’t believe in the like. As for the medicine here, I can...ease the dosage so it doesn’t knock you out, but you’ll still feel a lot of pain even with the dosage level.” Kendall admitted. “I mean, if I don’t use a full dose, it’ll feel like your insides are being squeezed and kneaded...because, frankly, I’m going to have to do that to get them back in their proper place!” The woman looked surprised that Kendall was atheistic, most of the galaxy knew the Logosian people as ridiculously religious. This was very unusual. But before she could ask about this oddity, the pain flared up in her anew as she cringed. “No higher dosage. I want. To be. Awake.” She insisted as Kendall nodded and held up the injector, giving her a smaller dose of the anesthetic. The woman’s eyelids fluttered as she laid back in the chair, Kendall quickly getting his facial mask on, and pulling out tools from the nearby drawer built into the counter to his left.

A laser cutter would be what he’d use to open up her body to begin repairing the internal injuries. He bit his lip, carefully, slowly making the proper cuts as the woman chewed on her own lip, gripping the handles of the chair tightly and cringing. “ERGH...k-keep it up…” She insisted. “I can...take it.” The stomach was soon opened up, layers of flesh peeled back. It was truly terrible, obviously someone had tried to stab the woman and as a result of her attempt to heal the injury, her organs were where they shouldn’t be. It was as if she was trying to stop the bleeding by making a tourniquet within her very body. This was going to be immensely tricky.

He got his Bacta ready as he began slowly, carefully unwinding the intestines, spraying Bacta every once in a while. His grip was astoundingly steady, his eyes slightly narrowed as he peered into her insides. Gently does it, he thought to himself, her frame shuddering as she cringed, sweat dribbling down past her cheeks, her forehead. She was moaning in pain, and trying in vain to hold back the clear tears she wanted to shed.

Luckily, he was nearly done, after what seemed like HOURS, he’d finally gotten the organs in their proper place as he applied the Bacta spray again, and then pulled out the clear culprit...a knife, foul, twisted and with little spikes atop the blade. Ah ha, that’s what had done it. “C-Careful, it’s got a trap on it, don’t hold the handle close to the bottom-” The woman began to say. Kendall let go of the knife, but too late! SPLORGHK! A foul, wet nose rang through the air, his hand had been cut...cut right off! The woman stared in surprise, Kendall cringing, gripping his stump as he looked down at the ground and the ugly trick knife, an extra blade popped out of the end. “It got me that way too.” She muttered.

“Oh my, look at that, that’s no good. Hold on. You may want to look away.” Kendall said as he held up his stumpy hand section, the woman stunned. It...it wasn’t bleeding. The wound was clearly open, but neither the arm nor hand were bleeding. Kendall focused a bit, and the hand then “walked”, skitting over to the knife, “kicking” it to the far side across the ground. “I’ll pick it up later.” He remarked as the hand leaped up, onto the chair, then THWUMP! Attached itself back onto his arm.

It was as if it had never been cut off. The woman stared as Kendall smiled back at her. “I’m from the planet Logos, ma’am. An advantage to our bodies is that, if someone cuts a body part of, well, we can control such parts, and force them right back to us. It’s quite helpful, really.” He told her. “I’ve learned how to do operations and the like with one hand whilst the other goes to get supplies from the next room or tends to Dr. Morgan.” “Very intriguing.” The woman said as she cringed and rubbed her forehead. “At any rate, I need to be going. I seem to be just fine at the moment and I need to meet my girlfriend at a restaurant to celebrate our anniversary together-” She looked up at the clock on the wall. “Oh shit. OH SHIT. I’m going to miss brunch if I don’t get there NOW!” She yelled, immediately bolting out of the room, down the hall and out the door, Kendall sighing as he began to take off the gloves and to wash his hands, removing his facial mask before noticing that the woman had left behind her little pack. She had taken it off when she’d sat down.

Maybe she had her wallet in there, some way to identify her so he could give her things back. At the same time though, it was his break! He’d been working at the woman for a long time and he could finally take a little break. He peeked outside…

Ah, Dr. Morgan was still hard at work. Guess he would be eating alone. Kendall took the bag with him after he took his uniform off in the bathroom nearby, and he entered the little lounge room, going to the replicator they had to order himself a little something for brunch as well. He sat down with his usual mixture of eggs, a fruit or two, some strips of bacon and a few nice slices of cheese but then he felt that odd, strange, tingling sensation rise in him.

He turned, looking at the little dark brownish/black pack the woman had had. Hmm. He was so tempted to look in there right now. Then again, the woman would probably be back once she realized she’d left it behind.

...maybe just a tiny peek. Just in case she didn’t come back. He wasn’t going to rob her, he’d never do anything like that. He’d just look for her wallet, maybe she had a phone in there and he could call her girlfriend up from that and say “Hey, your girlfriend left her stuff at Dr. Morgan’s clinic”. So he reached inside the pack, and-

He stiffened. He felt something. Something in a specific shape, a shape he had read about, seen in books, seen on the news and in movies and in plays and in games. A very, very familiar shape that was positively legendary.

Kendall slowly lifted the dark black cylindrical thing out of the pack. It was about...30 centimeters long, a pommel cap at the bottom, a ringed top, a silver streak going down the middle of the cylinder, with an activating button, an adjuster for the length of the blade and for the power, and when he turned the thing on...out it came. A distinctly reddish blade of pure power. This was not a knife. This was not a simple sword.

This was a lightsaber.

He held, in his hands, an actual lightsaber. He could feel a sense of real, true energy pulsating off of it, a reddish glow that coalesced and danced around the blade, and...the humming. It was faintly humming as he held it, almost...in a musical way? Such a strange note it was holding, strange, but not...not a bad sound. Just...different.

He felt so...strange holding it. He felt...good. He felt real good holding it. At peace in a way he’d never been before. It was as if he was hugging an old friend.

Then he realized what he should have thought of five minutes ago. A red lightsaber meant one thing and one thing only. This was not a Jedi weapon. This was a Sith weapon. He had unknowingly treated a Sith, and had probably saved her life. And he was damn, DAMN sure she’d be back for this lightsaber. She may have been in a rush to see her beloved, but no Jedi or Sith worth their salt was going to just abandon their lightsaber by accident, once she realized it was gone, she would come back for her pack, and her weapon, especially.

What was he going to do? Maybe he should just put it back into the pack, put it back where it had been, and pretend he’d never gone into it. Maybe he should give it to the secretary, have Orville give it back to her, be all “Oh, you left this in our office, here’s your pack back” and she wouldn’t be the wiser-

Then he heard a distinct voice yelling loudly. “I know I left it here, where is it?”

Oh crap.

She was here.

Crap. Crap. CRAP.

Kendall tried to calm himself as she raced into the room she’d been in, looking around before turning to see him, holding the lightsaber up. She stared at him, her mouth agape.

“I just...thought I’d take a peek inside for your phone to call you up and…” Kendall trailed off as the Sith’s eyes narrowed and her mouth became taut.

“You’re going to give me that lightsaber NOW, and then you’re going to take that knife and stab yourself in the eyes. I know it can’t REALLY hurt you, but you need to be punished anyway for picking it up. And then you’re going to forget you ever saw me!” She said as a sensation of deep, hard crushing weight seemed to barrel down on his skull for a brief moment before Kendall spoke up.

“No.”

The woman stared at him. Now her furious, sinister visage was one of sheer, dumbfounded stunned surprise. “...I SAID...you’re going to give me my lightsaber, stab yourself with that knife on the table, and then forget you saw me!” “...no.” Kendall said again. “No, I don’t think I will.” He remarked as he frowned a bit. “...what the hell are you talking about?” “...so you’re immune to mind tricks.” She murmured aloud. “...well...that changes things a bit. Yes...yes, I can tell, you’ve got a distinct Force presence in you. It’s...rather marginal compared to me, really, but...it is most definitely there.” She intoned as she shook her head, and then she held up her hand. THWOOSH! Everything in the room that wasn’t bolted or nailed down in some way now was floating up!

Kendall could no longer treat the Force as just a legend. While he knew some species were telepathic and telekinetic, finding the lightsaber and this sort of power, combined with that odd sensation he’d had on his skull and how he’d been feeling since he found the saber now made him more prone to believing that all he’d heard about the Force was real. And he needed to do something, and quick, if he wanted to survive against someone who could use the Force so easily.

She flung all of the objects at him, and it was as if all of time stood still. He could feel the blood pounding in his ears as he let loose a loud, terrifying, furious roar, and suddenly there was red slashing and slicing all around him with a swift series of motions. The humming melody from the saber throbbed in his ears as he felt his heart pumping all the more swiftly, and then, an instant later, the Sith was gazing at him in sheer, absolute shock.

Every single thing she’d tossed at him had been cut into pieces. Now there was a real sense of fear faintly visible in her eyes that glimmered a bit, but her mouth became a taunt line as she reached into her vest, pulling out...another saber.

With a KRSSSH noise that rang through the air, she activated the red blade and held it up at him. “So you’ve got some blade skill. Not bad. But let’s see how you handle against a true Sith!” She proclaimed as she launched herself at Kendall. Kendall barely got the lightsaber he had up in time to block her blow, a loud SSSSSSZTTT sound ringing through the air as the two sabers met.

They tried to force the other back, both Kendall and the Sith cringing, gritting their teeth, circling around each other. They broke the lock of blades, then swung again and again! Over and over the blades met each other, loud, hissing cries echoing as the lightsabers struck one another. The Sith did a backstep, flexing with one hand, trying to yank Kendall towards her, but his resistance extended even to that, he cringed hard, biting his lip as he held his ground.

She kept trying to yank the blade out of his hand, it was as if Kendall was straining against a mighty tornado that was trying to yank him off his feet! But it wasn’t working. Then all of a sudden he sliced at the floor, and sent sparks flying up. She reeled back to avoid being blinded, and he leapt through the air, spinning, landing and doing a kick to knock her off her feet.

The Sith leapt up, avoiding his leg sweep, slashing with her saber. “HA!” She cried out, slicing his arm off, but then she remembered, a moment later, after a brief fleeting sensation of triumph slid into her…

Logosian.

His free hand grabbed hold of the nearby chair and he swung it at her as she, in turn, sliced down to cut it in half...as his arm, still holding the saber, tossed the lightsaber. SCHA-THWUUULPP!

It soared right through the air, stabbing her clear in the shoulder, and she let out a howl. It was the same shoulder on the same arm she held her current saber in,and Kendall leapt up into the air, catching the thrown saber, holding it up at her face as his arm hopped on back to him, and reattached itself with a faint POP. “A good thing these sabers cut so good and clean. I didn’t even get a BIT of shock from losing that off my body.” He remarked aloud. “Now. You’re...going to get out of this clinic. You’re going to leave. You’re going to forget you ever saw me. And you are never, ever going to come back.” “Oh, I don’t need to come back.” The woman snapped as she headed for the door. “...I can have my associates do it for me!” She proclaimed, as Kendall wiped his brow, his chest no longer feeling like his heart was screaming to leap free of his ribcage. Kendall made his way back to the waiting room, Orville fearfully looking over in his direction.

“Kendall...do you not know what you’ve done?” He inquired softly.

Kendall stared. “I know she’s a Sith. But I don’t think she’s going to come back. And if she does and with help, I’ll just report her to the authorities, I’m sure they’re not interested in Force wielder shenanigans causing trouble in their little corner of the galaxy, being a threat to their authority. After all, most Hutt HATE force-wielders.” “Not the Dyad!” Orville squealed as Kendall turned pale, and it felt like an icy knife was stabbed into the back of his spine. “Kendall, that was one half of the Dyad! I recognized her from when I used to work at the Hutt palace in the capital! She used to call me “Fishbait” and everything!” He squeaked out, covering his head in his many tentacles and groaning. “She’s Darth Raize! She and Darth Furiosa are the Dyad Sith that control Nar Shadaa along with the Hutts, and you just...you just tossed her out and stole her stuff, man! She’s going to come back with a whole squad of troopers and they’re gonna MURDER US!”

Kendall looked down at the lightsaber in his hand. So THAT was where he’d seen her. What a moron he’d been. What a total brain fart, how did you just FORGET the Dyad, he thought to himself. And now what?

The answer came in an instant.

“...well. Then I guess I’m just going to have to do something about the Dyad.” He decided in a quiet, scary tone, as a glint came to his eyes that had never been there before...

#Star Wars #fanfic #drama #action #Kendall #LGBT #gay representation

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ashen-maiden · 6 years

Text

It wasn’t much, but the old chantry would provide some shelter from the oncoming storm. A fair number of the windows had since lost their stained glass, though some charitable soul had come by within the past few decades to board up a few of them as best they could. It was cold, dank, and filthy, but the wind was kept mostly at bay, and the holes in the roof were spaced far enough apart that they could set up a small fire without fear of the rain putting it out in the middle of the night.

They searched fruitlessly for any old candles or thuribles that might have held kindling to no avail, though Rafe found an old bowl that must have been used for ablutions once upon a time, which he placed beneath a hole in the ceiling to fill with rain water. Besides that, the only wood that remained was up on the windows, or had been crafted into furniture.

“We could pull a few of the pews in for the firewood,” Livia suggested.

“It feels disrespectful,” Winnie insisted. “I know this church hasn’t been used in years, but...it was still a place of worship. It feels wrong to pull it apart like that.”

Rhoan pulled a face. “Don’t think we can avoid it, Lady Ash.”

Livia was inclined to agree. “I don’t want to risk going back out there,” she said, nodding at the doors. “Better we board it up for the night before the rain starts.”

Winnie pursed her lips but didn’t argue as they had her get the driest bits of twigs and grass she could for kindling, while Rhoan pushed the massive doors closed, fighting their rusted hinges all the way. Rafe and Livia tried their best to respectfully pull a pew apart, each crack sending a shard of guilt into Winnie’s heart. She sent up a whispered prayer, apologizing to the saints and whichever god this church had worshiped. No frescoes or patterns in the stained glass offered any hints, and the altar had been cleared of any symbols long ago, either intentionally or due to looting Winnie didn’t know. She deposited her sad armful of kindling beneath the slats of wood Livia had deemed dry enough to use, and stood back.

“At least it’s old wood,” Rhoan tried with a grin, taking her arm, much to Rafe’s disapproval. “The varnish would have smelled worse than I do if it hadn’t all rotted away like that.”

She wasn’t convinced. Still, Livia got the fire started quickly enough with little more than the smell of wood smoke travelling up through the nave to the vaulted ceiling overhead. Winnie watched it as she set up her bedroll, gathering in the vaulted ceiling before spreading out, disappearing through the holes and into the night beyond. Bats must have been roosting up there, or perhaps crows roosting for the night. Either way, something shifted when the smoke came too close, but kept well away from the rain itself.

It was a small, sad meal of whatever rations they had left over from the night before, though Rhoan pulled out a handful of Sage and entreated a few Fee to leave their hiding holes beneath the altar and grow a few wild berries into bushes.

They leered their big eyes on Rafe and Winnie both. Only when Rhoan approached them, bowing his head and offering a hand to Winnie did the Fee dare to come closer, sniffing and eyeing her while Rafe demurred a few steps backwards. It seemed to be enough and they flitted across Rhoan’s arms to snatch up the berries and place them gently into patches of moss between a few cobbles on the floor. In seconds, they began to glow with the faint light of the Fee’s power, sprouting roots, stems, leaves, then flowers and eventually berries, ripe as spring, a spot of life in this dreary old place.

Rhoan bowed deeply when they were done, Winnie close behind. Livia reluctantly did the same, though Rafe continued to hold back. The fee seemed to ignore him easily enough, however, and let out a faint metallic ringing when Rhoan thanked them aloud. They took their pick of the berries, as well as the sage leaves Rhoan placed on the ground for them, and skittered back into their holes.

The wind bit into her very bones, but the smoke was worse, stinging her eyes and sticking in her throat, but she kept herself still, watching and waiting, though this last display had made her bold enough to stick her neck out, just enough into the light that her golden eyes glittered in the firelight. Fee never came out so brazenly to anyone, much less four human beings. What had this one done? He’d pulled something from his pack. If she could just get down there and see what it had been ...

They ate little -- a bit of dry rabbit, berries from the new bushes growing right out of the altar. Her stomach still groaned at the smell. How long since she had eaten a proper meal? More than two weeks, at least. Surely they wouldn’t miss one leg, just a handful of berries … and that woman’s blade did look frightfully shiny. Shiny enough that she saw gold in her future, very soon.

And the two pale ones -- twins? She was sure their eyes were red. Was it glamour, or were these folk really walking with demons into Veroesse? Curiosity burned hotter than branding irons. She rubbed the back of her hand, memory all too fresh in her mind.

She waited until they slept. She was good at this part, the waiting. Listening to them talk and figuring them out. The pale woman was from money, even if she hardly dressed the part now. What was a toff like her doing covered in mud like that? The dark man, though, he was could have been from any number of places. There was something Suvi about his lilt, but it was mixed in with too many other accents to tell. At least the other two made sense. The woman was from Guisson, if ever she heard it, and the pale man from south Merveaux. Lower middling class at most.

Still, they washed their hands and said their prayers and curled up as comfortably as they could in such a miserable place, every single one lying still.

Another hour after that, and she allowed herself to move, ignoring the protesting in her knees as she finally lifted herself from the croutch and slowly, silently eased herself down from the vaulted ceilings to the rafters, and finally leaping the final distance to the flagstones below, slippered feet silent as the sleeping travellers. One of them stirred.

She froze.

The woman from Guisson rolled over, batting her long dark braid away from her face, and went still.

She counted to fifty before moving again, silent and still. First to the bush, picking as many berries as could fit in her pockets. Doubtless she’d get tired of them in less than a week, but it was better than starving. Next, to the man’s pack, fishing out what she could. Smelly leaves -- she sniffed them once and put them back inside. A coin purse -- irritatingly light, but she wasn’t about to be picky, and a few whittled animals. No doubt she could get a silver or two if she sold them all together. She stuffed them all into the coin purse, and hid it down her tunic.

Now on to that sword -- that beautiful, glittering sword that…

Was now pointed beneath her chin, pressing against the soft skin of her throat.

She looked along the blade, past the grip and up into the dark, dangerous eyes of its weilder.

“I hope you have a good explanation for this,” she said in that low Gisson accent.

Shit.

“Now you’re just being dramatic, Liv.” The Suvi man. He pressed a hand against the back of her neck, fingers large enough to wrap around it -- and no doubt snap her spine without a second thought.

Double shit.

The woman glanced to the man behind her, hatred no less strong in her eyes. “Call me Liv again, and I’ll point this at you instead.”

“All right, I understand. We’re not there in our friendship yet. No need to get angry.”

“Friendship isn’t the word I’d use.”

Her head swam. Were they really bickering while holding someone’s life in their hands? What sort of people were they?

Something moved in the corner of her eye -- the other woman. She was slight, almost frail, and her voice sounded too soft to ever hold any strength as she asked, “What are you doing?”

Winnie hadn’t been able to sleep. It wasn’t the thunder or the howling wind that kept her up, but the lack of noise beside her. Rhoan’s constant tossing had become almost a comfort to her in the past few weeks, reassuring her that nothing dangerous was nearby. But he’d been still tonight -- wide awake, no doubt, thinking of something. Or watching for something.

Exhaustion tugged at her, but as hard as she tried to give in, anxiety and anticipation kept her irritatingly awake.

At least she hadn’t missed the ambush -- or, rather, the ambush of the would-be thief. They had been nearly silent, but her mouth watered at the smell of fabricant blood, and there was no hiding the soft snapping of berries being plucked from twigs, or the rustle as the thief had gone through Rhoan’s pack.

She kept herself perfectly still, hardly breathing as they came near, waiting for Rhoan or Livia to do something. Wondering if she ought to reach out and nudge Rafe awake.

Once the bickering started, Winnie finally exhaled. They were safe, then, and the thief had been subdued. She allowed herself to sit up and look over -- and freeze.

That was a child.

Livia and Rhoan had overpowered the girl in a second, and with good reason. She couldn’t have been much more than thirteen, with a hollow, freckled face and ratty yellow hair. Even her faded red tunic and woolen pants looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years, judging by the fraying and the way her ankles and wrists poked out the hems. Her heart broke at the sight, and she spoke without thinking.

“What are you doing?” There was no strength behind her words, no confidence. Barely anything but fear.

All eyes turned on her, though Livia kept her blade at the girl’s throat, Rhoan’s hand wrapped tightly around it like he was about to pick her up and throw her aside like an old sack of flour.

“Well I’d have thought that was obvious, Lady Ash,” Rhoan answered, though he seemed to wilt a bit under her soft stare.

Livia, however, held her ground. “She’s got your coin purse in her tunic. I’m sure that wasn’t all she intended to make off with tonight.”

“You always like to ruin the mystery, don’t you?” Rhoan pouted even as Livia glared.

Winnie would have none of it. She smoothed her curls back best she could and stood, turning her soft eyes onto the young thief. “What’s your name, dear?”

“Miss Ashley--” Livia managed to say before the girl answered, stern and blunt.

“Rat.”

It caught them all off guard.

“Rat?” Rafe’s voice echoed behind Winnie, and she turned to see him standing tall just behind her. When had he woken up?

“‘S right. Rat.”

“But surely that’s…” Winnie fumbled. It wasn’t an unfair comparison, with her mousey features and buck teeth, but she felt guilty for even thinking about it. “That’s not a real name, is it?”

“Don’t see how it’s your problem.” Rat made a face. “‘S my name to do with as I please.”

“Well -- er, Miss Rat--”

“Just Rat. Ain’t no miss about it.”

“Right, of course, er. Rat, then. How old are you?”

“Old enough.” She sneered.

Livia pressed the tip of her blade against the skin of Rat’s throat, gently but definitively. “Miss Ashley, does any of this matter? She’s a child who thought to steal from us.”

“So you threaten her life?” Something like fire lit up her red eyes, and Rhoan’s grip faltered, even if Livia’s did not. “I thought you’d left the Chatvaliers to protect people, not to kill them.” It wasn’t a fair argument, and Winnie knew it. But she wasn’t about to let this slide. “Rhoan, let her go.”

He grimaced.

“Rhoan.”

He obeyed, and Rat slipped out of reach, rubbing her neck, scowling as she turned her big golden eyes on the rest of them, but she made no further move to escape or attack, or even reach for the small blade strapped to her belt, glinting in the firelight. Doubtless Rat understood what Winnie was reluctant to accept -- one wrong move, and at least two deadly warriors would strike her down in an instant.

Winnie would ensure it did not come to that. She stepped forward again, well aware of Rhoan and Rafe’s eyes on her, Livia’s still trained on Rat. No doubt she was being foolish -- one of the easy pickings for young pickpockets who would fall for a sad story. But she still figured foolishness was better than coldness.

“Rat, could you please answer my question?”

“Already did.”

“I’d like a number, please.”

Rat set her jaw, buck teeth barely poking out from between her lips. “Forteen.”

“Winnie, maybe we…” Rafe tried, but trailed off quickly under Livia’s scrutiny.

“And how long since you’ve last eaten?” Winnie pressed on, no less gently than before.

“Miss Ashley, enough.” Livia stepped forwards again, and Rat backed away. “She could be lying about any of this. If you’re intent on sparing a thief from persecution, turn her out and be done with it.”

“She’s a child, Livia.”

“So are half the criminals in Veroesse. She’s one of the older ones, too.”

“Am not! You’re an ugly liar.”

Livia snarled and grabbed at Rat’s hand. She yanked the glove off and pulled her into the firelight, even as the girl protested and swore. A pale brand bloomed on the back of her hand in the shape of an eagle in flight. “Talonpalm.”

Winnie winced. The talonpalms were tne of the three largest thieve’s guilds in Veroesse. She looked away in shame, even as Rat continued to struggle, face pale, squeezing her eyes shut and turning her face away.

Rafe found his voice once more, stepping closer and placing a hand on Winnie’s back. “Where’s her talon, then?”

She opened her eyes, looking from him to Rat, cowering from the fire’s heat.

“Least someone has some workin’ eyes,” Rat hissed, still clawing at Livia’s hand.

He squeezed his hand, fighting for strength, and spoke up once more. “Talonpalms are branded for life, but they’re only part of the guild so long as they have their ring. She doesn’t have one anymore.”

“Course not.” But her resolve was fading. She was no further from the fire than when Livia first pulled her over, and sweat was beading on her face.

“Livia, would you please let her go?” Winnie demanded.

She did not.

“She hasn’t reached for her knife once. And look at her, she’s scared.”

Rat opened her mouth to protest, but one last glance to the fire had her shutting her mouth again, and looked to Livia pleadingly.

Finally, she did. Rat nearly fell backwards, and instead bolted to Winnie.

Livia’s sword was raised again, and Rhoan spread his hands wide to hold her. But Winnie held a hand up, towards them, catching Rat as she wrapped her arms around Winnie’s middle. She was small, even compared to Winnie, and her head only barely came up to Winnie’s shoulder as she pressed in tight, eyes trained on the other two as if daring them to come any closer.

Winnie wrapped her own arms around Rat’s shoulders. “Let her eat first, at least. It’s not like we’re going to pick the bushes clean on our own, right?”

Somethingsomething

She talked around the berries, only half seeming to notice when pips flew out of her mouth. Winnie politely brushed them off herself, and said nothing.

Rat recounts her story of how she was banished from the talonpalms for being too smart obviously and not because she stole from the guild leader’s second since that guy had no idea his precious whatever was even gone. Still doesn’t know, so far as she could tell. What did she do withit? Traded it for a new pair of shoes of course. Course, they weren’t done by the time rat had to skip town, but it was nice knowing she could have done that, at least.

Fkn ugh hate internet also wow my phoneis dying probably ALSO also tfw you realize you accidentally gave 3 of winnie’s friends monosyllabic names that start with R wow. Rafe Rat Rhoan. Help.

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