#no but what if she just uses summers weapons to kill off that cat | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

boldlyvoid · 3 years

Text

Amoreena | chapter eleven

chapter eleven

main summary: Heaven is a real place and it's located exactly 14.6 miles away from the FBI, Quantico Headquarters. Off behind a small park, under a fantastical willow tree surrounded by wildflowers, in every colour young minds can imagine.

Don't forget, heaven also comes with angels.

Chapter Warnings: Y/N POV: details of what happened to Stephen, her grandmas cancer, and very detailed explanations of how babies are made (as biologically accurate and not very graphic as possible) this is an angsty trauma filled chapter that made me cry a lot just writing it so I'm sorry in advance

word count: 3K

from the beginning <3

June 13th, 2010

There’s a knock on her parent's door at 4 in the morning, Y/N’s sound asleep on the couch back at her grandma’s, awoken by said grandmother as she hears all the noise beyond the porch. There are 2 cop cars at the main house, worry starts to settle over them.

She puts on a pair of shoes, taking her grandmother's hand in hers as they begin the early morning trek up the road, anxiety seeping in deeper and deeper as they get closer to the lights illuminating their driveway.

Her father is talking to an officer on the steps, her mother is crying behind him. “We’re so sorry for your loss,” the officer says and Y/N’s blood runs cold, numbing her from the impending despair.

“What happened?” Her grandmother asks, rubbing a hand along Y/N’s back in preparation for the worst.

“Evan was in a car accident,” her father says softly, knowing that Y/N knows Stephen was with him tonight. She breaks away from her grandma and without thinking she’s right in the officer's face.

“Which one of them died?”

“Ma’am,” it was never a good way to start the worst conversation of her life with that word or in that tone. She felt like a '40s housewife learning her husband wasn’t coming home from the war, only he wasn’t even her husband yet.

He would have been on next Saturday.

“I’m sorry, Stephen was pronounced dead on the scene,” he says the worst sentence she’s ever heard, and now she’ll never forget it. “The passenger side took the worst of it, once again, I am so sorry for your loss.”

She’s surprisingly calm, managing to whisper, “thank you,” before she’s walking off into the field, pushing everyone's hands away as she travels as far as he feet will take her.

She ends up at the willow tree by the pond as soon as the sun is rising, it happened a lot earlier in June than the rest of the year. The birds singing, the wind blowing against the leaves making them carry a tune in harmony together. The world is still spinning, life is moving on, but how?

She sat there against the tree for a while, picking blades of grass and weaving them into a chain, soothing her brain as she makes a pattern. Giving her hands something to do so they stop going numb, it’s the only thing that really reminds her that she's real, that she’s controlling the twists and tucks, the shape and length and the fact that it was created at all.

Ending the life of the single blade of grass as she picks it, never to be whole again. Snatched from its happy place, where it grew loved and surrounded by other matching green strands as they blew in the wind.

Then she's pulling fist full after fist full of grass out of the dirt, her hands covered in mud as she shouts, throwing handfuls of grass and dirt towards the pond. The once blue water starting to turn cloudy; disrupted and upset with her anger as it swallows her weapons, but it doesn’t make her feel better. All she did was disrupt the earth, changing the way this once beautiful patch of land used to look. She couldn’t help but sob, realizing that she was like this field now and her beautiful green pasture was disrupted, overturned and ruined.

The life that flowed through her died along with the love of her life.

“Stephen was pronounced dead on the scene,” the words echo in her mind in a constant circle like she’s stuck in a tin can.

It starts to reverberate, getting louder and louder as the same 7 words all run around in her head. Bouncing off the walls, smacking her down again and again as she hears them over and over and over… she’s holding her hands on her ears, shaking back and forth, sobbing when she feels someone wrap their arms around her.

She doesn’t open her eyes, instead, she's rushing to push them off of her, struggling out of their grasp as she fights them. Finally, she loses, being held in her brother's embrace as they both cry, he barely has a scratch on him when she finally looks at him.

she’s never been physical in her life, but she punched him right in the face. Her twin brother, best friend in childhood and the person she’s known the longest in her life. He held her close in the womb, crying if they separated as soon as they were born, she loved him deeply and yet she hated him something fierce at that moment.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Evan cries, “we were stopped at a red light, Y/N!”

“I don’t care! He was supposed to be my husband!” She swats at him, smacking his arms again and again as he tries to hold them back, holding her so tightly as she basically screams bloody murder in the field.

All she can see is his face, her beautiful happy Stephen. The first time she ever saw him, standing under a street light in Boston, papers in his hand and wonder in his eyes. The way he looked up at her, the glow of the light making a halo glow over his head.

She should have known he was too good to be true. Always destined to return to the heavens, he was truly angelic with his big emerald eyes that were only the tiniest bit yellow on the edge of the pupil, the way her name sounded on his tongue like a blessing coming true.

They buried him 2 days after what was supposed to be their wedding. Disrupting another beautiful patch of earth to hide him away forever, she placed a single rose on his casket, she never said goodbye and she never planned to.

“See you later, superstar,” she patted the glossy black box once last time before sending him down into the earth.

—

September 2012

This fucking willow tree and 7-word sentences…

“What do you mean you have cancer?”

Her grandma let a tear slip from her eye, “I’ve got colon cancer, honey, the doctors said I have another 2 years, maybe 5 if I'm lucky.”

Every time someone sat beside her in this one spot, she learned the worst information in the world. Sure Evan didn’t mean to kill Stephen, doesn’t mean she’s talked to him at all in the last year. with Grandpa dying only a few summers back, her favourite house cat now buried in the yard, she can’t lose her grandma now too.

“Okay,” she starts to plan in her head, her eyes about ready to jump out of her skull as she tries to think of all the things they need to do before it’s too late, “let’s go to England, let’s blow my bank account, you can’t leave me without going to England with me? We were supposed to get tea and pretend to be the queen and princess?”

She couldn’t stop the tears, her whole body heaving as she sobbed into her grandma’s dress, “you can’t leave me too!”

“Your grandfather and I have a fund for you, you were the last baby we got to raise when your mom went back to work, I want you to use it for that baby we talked about,” her grandma’s voice is barely a whisper, softly getting the words over her vocal cords as the tears joined Y/N’s on her dress.

Without another word, she took her hand and walked home, getting in her car together and heading to the closest fertility clinic, she booked her first insemination for February, pre-paying for a round of IVF hormones and everything to start in January, she had 3 months to plan.

Finding the perfect donor was the only hard part. She had 3 different books to choose from with all the clinics in the DC area sharing 1 sperm bank. She finally made her decision 3 weeks before they were set to get her pregnant when they updated the books.

Sample 2319, male 30’s, healthy, high IQ, 6’1, brown eyes, brown hair (curly). “Sounds a lot like Stephen,” her grandma agreed, saying his name for the first time in over 2 years, she knew this was her guy.

—

June 14th, 2021

Peeing on a stick shouldn’t be as terrifying as it is.

She hasn’t been this nervous since the first time Dr. Collins inseminated her. Laying back on the table at a weird elevation to make sure she got pregnant, her whole body tense as she thought of the possibilities of her future child.

Sample 2319 sitting in a cup not too far from her face as she prepared for a man she barely knew to put the semen of another man she didn’t know, inside her. She only picked this guy cause he was smart and tall, no health issues to report and the number made her think of Monsters Inc.

In her mind, she made a baby with a man she named mike wazowski, not knowing his real name was actually Spencer Reid and he was only just down the road at Quantico the whole time. It was the weirdest day ever, and then it became the second-best day of her life

Nothing could top holding her baby in her arms for the first time. Her grandma and mother beside her as they all cried, the perfect purple baby screaming on her chest as they tried to wipe the white gunk off her tiny body. her sweet little coos, seeing her swollen eyes open for the first time, the silence that overcame her as they made their first introduction to each other. Her little person, the love of her life, her wonderful Amoreena.

Her cry was perfect, like music to her ears she wanted to hear her little voice as long as she could because it meant she was alive and real. She was healthy and beautiful and the most perfect bundle of joy she could have ever made.

Now she was hiding in the bathroom to pee on a stick while her 7-year-old had breakfast in the next room. Oh, how times changed, but one thing remained the same, she was finding out alone again. Only this time she meant for that to happen, it was exactly 4 days since her period was supposed to start and it wasn’t there, neither was Spencer.

He had something to do that morning, but he’d be meeting them later that afternoon, it was Amoreena’s last day of kindergarten after all. She wanted time to either enjoy the thought of having another baby or cry in peace because for once it didn’t work, giving her a week to recover before trying again.

Amoreena was a miracle, the easiest IVF baby they ever made at the clinic, apparently. If she was pregnant this easily again it was a sure sign that he was Amoreena’s father too, only he could get her knocked up while not even trying.

She didn’t remember pregnancy tests taking this long, she flipped it over and walked out of the room, unable to think of anything else while she waited for 3 minutes to pass. Amoreena noticed she was being weird, studying her mother's movements as she paced the hall outside of the bathroom door.

“What are you doing?” She asked, curious as ever as she twirled lightly in her new princess dress.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Always mom, I’m the best secret keeper in all the kingdom, remember?” Amoreena smiled, holding onto her leg as she stared up at her.

“Your dad and I tried to make a baby,” she whispered, petting the litter hairs on her forehead as Amoreena looked up at her, her first little baby. “I’m waiting to find out if it worked, but we can’t tell anyone in case it didn’t, okay?”

Amoreena’s eyes were wider than she’s ever seen them, her mouth opened slowly as she understood the words in her mind. She didn’t look happy or surprised, nor upset or worried. She looked confused, “how?”

She laughed then, shaking her head as she lifted Amoreena into her arms, she would have to know soon anyway. “You know how every month mummy has a bad week where she bleeds and her tummy hurts?”

“Yeah?”

“When people with our parts grow up they make little tiny eggs but we don’t lay them like chickens do, they stay inside our tummies and wait to become babies and if they don’t we have a period and release all the stuff our bodies saved up that month to make a little person. You’ll have one soon too in a few years, probably when you're 12 like I was, and when people with a penis get old enough they’re able to help us make the babies like roosters help the chickens. Our bodies are really special and make some really cool things when we try to,” she explained it in the most simple farmhouse way she could.

“Like when the goats are all born in the spring and they just show up?” She tried to clarify, understanding it at the basic level.

“Kinda, you’ve seen the photos of you in my tummy and how aunty Shannon’s stomach grew when she had your cousins, I’ll get really big like that too if I’m pregnant, the baby will grow for 9 long months till they’re nice and healthy and then we’ll have another person in the family,” she couldn’t help but smile as she thought about it.

“How do we find out?”

She opened the bathroom door then and carried Amoreena inside, setting her down on the sink and pointing at the upside-down test stick. “We create a special hormone when we’re pregnant, it’s something that can be detected in our pee!” she explained it like it was magic, watching her get excited instead of grossed out.

“So I peed on that stick and if it has 2 lines I have a baby in my tummy, if not then your dad and I have to try again.”

Amoreena picked up the test and looked at it, keeping it out of her mothers sight as she did so, “there’s two lines,” she lit up waving the stick lightly as she squealed.

Y/N wrapped her up in her arms and twirled her around, “you’re gonna be the best big sister ever!”

“How do we tell dad?” Amoreena’s soft voice whispered in her ear as she snuggled into her shoulder.

“I have an idea,” she whispered back before carrying her back into the kitchen.

Her All About Me project was sitting on the counter, ready for Y/N to drive her into school today. She set Amoreena down on the floor to watch her as she took some tape and taped the stick to the bottom corner of the project. “Pass me the marker, please?”

Amoreena ran to the counter to get it, coming back and placing it in her mom's hand before leaning in to watch what she was writing.

“I’m going to be a big sister sometime next February!” Amoreena read the words as her mother wrote them, unbelievably excited.

“Your dad can read that at the ceremony tonight!”

“I thought you said we can’t tell anyone yet?” Amoreena questioned her, like always.

“Your teacher can know, the other kids won't know what it means, it’s just important Spencer sees it, but we will wait to tell nanny and poppy, okay? Sometimes the babies don’t always stay, it’s sad so we keep it a secret until they’ve got a tiny little heartbeat in there,” she didn’t want to scare her, but she knew it was always a possibility.

“Then we try again,” Amoreena smiled, “It’ll be easier now that you don’t need Dr. Collins to help you, how did you even make me without Spencer?” She didn't use his real name often anymore, only in times when she wasn't referring to him as her father.

She sat down then, pulling Amoreena into her lap so she could hold her while she thought of the right words. “So we have eggs, but people with penises have something called sperm. When adults, and I mean adults you have to be at least 25 to have a baby it’s the rules,” she teased her slightly, ticking her arms.

“Adults have sex, babies are made when someone with a vagina and someone with a penis get together. But when you don’t have a partner with a penis to help, sometimes they’ll donate their sperm to the doctor's offices to help people like me make their perfect little families all by themselves.”

“Interesting,” is all her little mind can say, she has learned so much in one day, Y/N was surprised she was still listening and surprisingly still for once. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

“We won't know for a while,” she smiled, holding Amoreena closer to her chest. “How do you feel about all this?”

Amoreena was quiet as she thought about it, “is Spencer the guy who gave the doctors the sperm for me?”

“We think so, but we don’t know, why?”

Amoreena looked at her softly, “it wouldn’t be fair, I know he said I don’t need a father but why do they get to have him for both?”

“I think Spencer is your father, you’re just as smart and wonderful as he is, there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re his baby too. but if you want to know if he isn't, when you turn 18 the doctors will tell you who it is, it's completely up to you to find out,” she whispered, the tears starting to fall down her cheeks as Amoreena tried to wipe them away.

"I like thinking he's my father, so he is." Her mind worked in the most wonderful way. Y/N couldn’t help but hold her close as she lightly cried, “I had a dream yesterday that I had 8 sisters,” her voice was so soft and innocent as her tiny hand cupped her mother's cheek.

She gasped lightly at the words, remembering Spencer’s panic in the middle of the night last night, how scared he was to leave her all alone with 9 babies and no one to help her. They knew something that she didn’t yet, cheaper by the dozen seemed less like a dream and more like a prophecy.

“I’m so happy to make your dream come true,” Y/N whispered, “I promise I’m happy, the baby just makes me emotional.”

Amoreena placed her hand on her tummy then, “I love you, baby.”

Y/N stuck her tummy out as far as she could, “I love you too, big sister,” she said in a funny voice to make Amoreena laugh, leaning back in the chair as she held her.

And just like that, getting pregnant with Amoreena was bumped into 3rd place for the best day of her life. Sharing the moment with her and no one else was perfect, insuring she knew that she was just as important moving forward as the little person she was growing this time.

tag list: @shemarmooresfedora @spencers-dria @spookyspence @reidsfish @manuosorioh @mochionly @samuel-de-champagne-problems @jswessie187 let me know if you would like to be added as well!!

#spencer reid #spencer reid smut #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x you #spencer reid self insert #spencer reid request #criminal minds smut #criminal minds imagine #amoreena

102 notes · View notes

miraculouswolf99 · 3 years

Text

Breaking Into The Watchtower Part 2

Part 2, and the final part, of my Miraculous-Justice League crossover. Prepare for a long one, readers.

*****

After recharging, the masked teens all gathered back in front of the heroes. Since the ones that had used their powers had to recharge, their power effects lifted from Dr. Fate and Superman. It allowed both heroes to be free once more. The Justice League and Young Justice all returned to their seats. If Wonder Woman was honored to meet them, then they should hear them out before deciding what to do with them.

The group was about evenly split to be on either side of who seemed to be the leaders of their group. The ladybug and butterfly girls as well as the wolf and black cat boys.

“Introductions would certainly be the best way to start,” the ladybug girl said. “My name is Ladybug and I am one of the leaders of the Miraculous hero team of Paris. Right next to me is my partner, Cat Noir.”

The black cat boy nodded at the heroes.

“My name is White Wolf and I am the co-leader of the Miraculous team along with Cat Noir, Ladybug, and my partner Beautifly,” the wolf boy motioned to the butterfly girl when he mentioned her.

“Pleasure,” she nodded to the heroes like Cat Noir.

“With us are all of our team members,” Ladybug motioned to the rest of the heroes. “To my right is Vulpix, Emerald Shell, Queen Bee, Tigress, Lady Unicorn, and Shadow Cat.”

“To my left is the rest of our team,” White Wolf says. “Viperion, Ryuko, Ocean Mage, King Monkey, Gladiator, and Bunnix.”

All of the other heroes nodded when they were introduced.

“For three years, Paris has been terrorized by a terrorist known as Hawkmoth and as have come to personally ask for your help,” Beautifly says.

Ladybug then stepped forward and took the yo-yo off of her wait. She opened it and typed in a few commands. A hologram appeared out of it, like the holographic screams and projectors that the league uses. Ladybug put her yo-yo on the ground so that the others could use their weapons/communicators to control the images that are seen. Cat Noir took out his staff and used it to punch in a command. The hologram then showed images of a few of the miraculous. The most well-known ones, such as the ladybug and black cat as well as the moth/butterfly.

“The miraculous are an ancient set of jewelry enchanted and bonded to gods known as the kwami,” Ladybug explains. “Each piece, along with the kwami that it is bonded to, represents a specific aspect of magic. Creation, destruction, illusion, protection, and more. But that is specifically the miraculous of ancient China, where most of our miraculous come from.

“The miraculous that are used by myself, Beautifly, Tigress, and Gladiator use miraculous that originate from ancient Greece,” White Wolf says. “Our representations are more general but also more specific at the same time. Mine represents Winter’s Hope, as in the hope that comes when you know and hope about how the frost protects the earth before it gives way to the flowers of spring. Beautifly’s represents Spring Love, coming from the original belief of flowers and Spring being associated with love.”

“My miraculous comes from the mystical creature miraculous, where each represents a magical creature and what their core is all about,” Ocean Mage said. “Mine is the miraculous of the mermaid.”

The Justice League paid close attention to what the group was saying. Most of Young Justice was looking at Kid Flash, who was glaring at the teen heroes. He was probably itching to yell at them that “magic wasn’t real” because of his extreme disbelief in it. But the Flash was next to him and making sure that he did not let his former sidekick’s delusions interrupt the Miraculous Team.

“So, it would be a magical threat, right,” Aqualad guessed. “That would be the only reason why the miraculous would be called into action, correct?”

“Exactly,” Beautifly answered the Atlantean.

Cat Noir punched in a command into his baton and the hologram changed. It now showed an image of Hawkmoth.

“He looks like a Mexican wrestler reject,” Red Hood said.

Most of Team Miraculous had to hold their hands over their mouths to stop them from bursting into laughter and ruining their aura of seriousness.

“This is the terrorist that we have been fighting,” Cat Noir says. “He showed up about three years also, almost four. He has been using the stolen butterfly/moth miraculous in order to turn unsuspecting people into superpowered villains.”

“How can he do that,” Flash asked, curious. “What exactly is the power of his miraculous?”

“The power is originally known as Empowerment,” Cat Noir said. “The miraculous are not meant to be used for evil, so Hawmoth has turned the power into Metamorphasis. He uses it to sense those that are feeling intense negative emotions and takes advantage of them in order to turn them into his villains. Anger, sadness, betrayal, heartbreak, anything negative.”

“His goal has remained the same for the entire time that he has been active,” Viperion says. “He desires to obtain the ladybug and black cat miraculous.”

“What is it about those two that he specifically wants them above all the others,” Black Canary asked them.

“The ladybug and black cat are the most powerful of the ancient China miraculous,” Ryuko tells the league. “They’re the complete opposite of each other with the ladybug being creation and good luck while the black cat is destruction and bad luck. When you combine them, the person wielding them is given the power to bend reality in order to make a wish.”

“So this guy is terrorizing your city just to make a single wish,” Green Arrow raised an eyebrow.

“Must be something that can not be obtained any other way or he is just really desperate for a quick solution,” Red Arrow said.

“If it was a simple wish, there would not be much of an issue,” Ladybug says. “But because the ladybug and black cat need each other to balance the other, the wish itself would also require balance.”

Viperion was the one to put in the next command. How he was able to do that with a harp, none of them ever asked. Three more images appeared, replacing Hawmoth’s. Pompeii, the Black Plague, and even the Salem Witch Trials.

“All of these things were caused by a wish,” Superman sounded skeptical.

“There are many examples of magic throughout history,” White Wolf says. “You just have to know where to look.”

Vulpix took his turn to speak. He used his flute to point at specific images when he was talking about them.

“In Pompeii, someone wished for their family to not be killed by disease,” Vulpix said. “But that ended up causing a volcano that wipes out a majority of the city and most of its population. A man’s wife was sick and he wished for her illness to go away. But then the illness spread since it left one person and turned into a plague. Last was a miraculous holder that was deeply afraid of being discovered and wished to never be accused of using magic. But then dozens upon hundreds of innocent people were convicted and executed during the witch trials.”

“The balance is why the wish is so dangerous,” Emerald Shell says. “Everything that is wished for usually ends in disaster. Even those with pure intentions are not spared. But since Hawkmoth definitely is planning on using the wish, it is either for something extremely wrong or just extremely selfish. Either would end in hell on Earth.”

“It’s so hard to believe that a wish could do all of that,” Black Lightning was shocked.

“Magic does that,” Beautifly says. “It makes the impossible turn possible.”

“If it is the miraculous of ancient China that Hawkmoth wants, why not use the others you have access to,” Red Tornado asked. “It is the logical choice to keep the miraculous that he desires out of his reach. You do have access to the ancient Greek miraculous, given White Wolf, Beautifly, Gladiator, and Tigress.”

“We wish it was that simple,” Lady Unicorn said.

“The problem is that the powers of Hawkmoth’s miraculous can only be undone by the ladybug miraculous,” Ladybug says. “And since the ladybug and black cat have to balance each other, both have to be active at the same time or neither of them can be active. I am the only one that can purify his akumas and then fix all the damage that they cause with my Miraculous Cure.”

Queen Bee typed a command into her top. A video replaced the images of the disasters that the wish caused. The video was from the Ladyblog and it was of the first akuma attack. It showed Ladybug casting her first-ever cure and everything being fixed by it.

“This was only the first of Hawkmoth’s attacks,” she said.

“There is also the added issue that the Greek miraculous also have a wish tied to the most powerful ones,” White Wolf says.

“They do,” Wonder Woman did not know about the Greek miraculous since neither she nor any other Amazon came into contact with them.

“As we have said, the wolf and butterfly miraculous are each themed by elements of Winter and Spring,” White Wolf says. “So you know that would leave the other two seasons. Those two exist in the power of Summer’s Heart for the songbird miraculous along with the Wildness of Autumn for the panther miraculous. Combining all four seasons gives the same wish ability as the combined ladybug and black cat.”

“But there is still the balance issue even with a different set of miraculous,” Tigress added. “Magic always comes at a price. That is the universal law of magic.”

The Justice League all nodded, most of them understanding the price that could come when you use magic. The Young Justice team remembered Zatanna explaining her powers to them when she had first met them. She had said that the power of her spells usually has to come from within, meaning that the more powerful spells would seriously drain her energy. Plus, there is also the known fact that Dr. Fate was never controlled by who wore the helmet. They were like a coat that the lord of order would put on in order to be active. Zatara was still in there but the price he paid was only being able to see his daughter once a year.

“So, what exactly is it that you need from us,” Batman asked the teens.

He was surprised to have heard about the villain in Paris before. Sure, he rarely ever left Gotham unless it was an international emergency, but this was a serious problem. If this villain, or any villain, got their hands on the miraculous, it would be a complete hell on earth. Lord knows what disaster would happen if the Joker made a wish.

“We actually have been requesting help for years,” Queen Bee glared at the league. “Ladybug has called, Cat Noir has called, even the mayor of Paris has called. You all brush us aside and have even told us to stop calling the League to trick them with ‘such an unrealistic prank.’ It’s ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”

“While Queen Bee could have been a bit more diplomatic, she is correct,” Ryuko says. “The miraculous are not so unrealistic when you have magic-users like Zatanna as a part of the League while also having Dr. Fate, whose helmet inhabits a lord of order that possesses whoever wears the helmet. That is not unlike the miraculous, only slightly different.”

Guy Gardner looked particularly embarrassed by that. That made the rest of the league realize who had been ignoring their calls for help, waving it off as a prank. You would think that someone with a powerful piece of jewelry himself would believe in the miraculous.

“As much as it pains us to admit, we no longer know what to do,” Cat Noir says. “Hawkmoth has been growing in power ever since Heroes Day almost two years ago. That was also the first time that his partner revealed herself.”

Vulpix was the one that typed in the command this time, into his flute. The hologram changed to show Mayura. The elegant woman looked even more dangerous with her fan allowing only access to her deadly gaze.

“This is Mayura,” Emerald Shell said. “She appeared on Heroes Day and foiled the closest time that the team had ever come to defeating Hawkmoth. She wields the peacock miraculous, which grants the power of Emotion, which allows her to make inanimate objects into guardians. Only they are now called sentimonsters. They are a monster created by a person’s negative emotions just like Hawkmoth’s akumas. While she is not as common as Hawkmoth, the two of them do combine their powers to give akumas a powerful allie.”

Emerald Shell typed in a command and pictures of some of her sentimonsters appeared around the image of Mayura. The moth creature that she usually gives Hawkmoth, Refleckdoll, the lollypop monster, and Feast.

“Why does she not appear as often as Hawkmoth,” Martian Manhunter asked.

“From our own research, and from what our kwami have told us, the peacock miraculous is broken,” Ladybug says. “In an effort to repair itself, it takes away the energy and life force of the person using it. Each time that Mayura transforms, she is risking her life.”

“You think she would actually risk her life just for Hawkmoth to succeed,” Captain Atom asked.

“Mayura has shown to be loyal to a fault,” Shadow Cat said. “The fault being that she is loyal to Hawkmoth. We also suspect that whoever she was had also allowed herself to be akumatized into Catalyst on Heroes Day in order to give Hawkmoth the needed power-up that he needed to do what he did.”

“What exactly did he do,” Green Lantern (John) asked.

“Catalyst gave Hawkmoth a power boost that he used in order to use his power on a massive level, allowing him to become Scarlet Moth,” Beautifly says. “He akumatized almost everyone that had previously been victimized by him. Dozens of his akumas flooded the streets while more of his akuma waited for others to feel negative emotions to infect them as well if they were not under the control of the mind-controlling akumas like Darkblade or Queen Wasp.”

Queen Bee shifted a bit at the mention of her second akuma form, but she got her composure back quickly.

“Hawkmoth had been able to accomplish that when he used a previous akuma to create an illusion of Ladybug being akumatized and killing Cat Noir,” Gladiator said. “All those people feeling the same negative emotion of fear and hopelessness was what allowed him to akumatize so many people at once.”

He typed in a command and the image of Mayura and her sentimonsters were replaced by a clip of what had happened during the parade played.

“And ever since Heroes Day, Hawkmoth has been getting a lot worse,” White Wolf says. “His akumas used to be a lot easier and were relatively harmless to even those affected by them. Like Princess Frangrance only hypnotized those that smelled her perfume and Silencer only took people’s voices. But then you compare that to Syren and Stormy Weather, both have caused natural disasters. Hawkmoth is getting deadly in his desperation for the miraculous.”

He typed in a command and the image changed to show the range of akuma that have happened over the years. Harmless ones like Mr.Pigeon, deadly ones like Queen Of Hearts, and natural disaster ones like Syren.

“We can deal with the akumas,” Ladybug says. “But with Hawkmoth constantly sending them out, we have no time or energy to put toward finding him and taking him and Mayura down for good.”

“Do you have any suspects,” Nightwing asked.

“We had a promising suspect in fashion designer, Gabriel Agreste,” Ocean Mage said. “He lives a secluded life away from people, butterflies are pretty common in a lot of his designs, and there was also that a lost grimoire had also been found in a secret vault by his son.”

“But we had to cross him off the suspect list when he was akumatized,” Tigress says. “But even our only suspect for Mayura puts him right back in the suspect pool.”

“You mean his assistant, right,” Red Robin was looking at the holographic screen over his glove, same as Oracle. “Nathalie Sancoeur.”

“She had had multiple doctor’s appointments ever since this Heroes Day you told us about,” Oracle continued for him. “And every time it is for the same thing. Dizziness, fatigue, constant headaches, and multiple coughing fits.”

“Yes, she is his assistant,” Shadow Cat answered. “She has also shown that she is incredibly loyal to Gabriel no matter how inhumane the things that he wants his son to do are. His diets and constant photoshoots should never be given to a teenager.”

“He also has a motive,” Cat Noir looked to be the most reluctant out of all of them on this topic. “Gabriel Agreste’s wife vanished about six months before Hawkmoth appeared and many assume that she is dead by now. He could desire to use the wish to either bring her back or to bring her back to life. Either would probably cause the balance to cause something horrible to happen.”

“If you suspect those two, do you also suspect Agreste’s son, as well,” Red Robin asked.

“That is the thing that we want to avoid,” Shadow Cat says. “Most of us know his son or have met him because he was targetted by an akuma. Adrien is known as the Sunshine of Paris. There is no way that he is involved even if those two are behind it.”

“We also do not want it to be true because that would also mean that Mr.Agreste put his own son in danger by sending akumas after him,” Lady Unicorn added. “It would also mean that Adrien would probably have his life destroyed if those two really are behind the attacks.”

“I am sure that he would greatly appreciate you all standing up for him,” Wonder Woman smiles at the teen heroes.

Robin had been staring at the group the entire time. He was not only the only blood son of the world’s greatest detective, but he also had a trained assassin’s eye. He noticed things that others didn’t. Like there was an unspoken bond and closeness between the black cat boy and the wolf boy. The other obvious couples seemed to be the horse and tiger girls as well as the dragon girl and snake boy. The fox and turtle boys were also definitely together.

“Is there anything else,” Superman asked.

The teens shared a look with each other. It seemed that this part was probably something that they had discussed before. Ladybug nodded to Cat Noir. He typed in a command and the image of a civilian girl appeared.

“Why does this girl have sausages on her head,” Red Hood asked.

Most of Team Miraculous did not even try to hold in their laughter this time. But they had to soon get back their composure since this was a very serious situation.

“This is Lila Rossi, daughter of an Italian diplomate,” Ladybug said. “She has been akumatized almost fifty times. She is mostly akumatized as Volpina, which is a poor copy of Vulpix and his powers. But she also has been akumatized into Chameleon, which is an akuma that can shapeshift into anyone or anything that she kisses, as well as Miracle Queen, which can create illusions that can hypnotize people. We believe that she is working for Hawkmoth since Volpina is the only akuma that could have created the illusion on Heroes Day.”

“Why does that make her a suspect,” Green Arrow asked.

“Because I didn’t purify Volpina’s akuma that day,” Ladybug says. “And since Hawkmoth had to akumatize another person into Catalyst after the illusion that was created, that meant that she was akumatized and didn’t tell anyone.”

“There is also that the mayor’s daughter, Chloe Bourgeois, sent us this,” Queen Bee types in a command.

Next to the image of Lila appeared a video that was obviously taken on a cell phone while a person was hiding. It showed Lila running toward an akuma and literally jumping up to snatch it out of the air. She then placed the akuma into the necklace that she was wearing and actually smirked as a glowing butterfly outline appeared over her eyes.

“Because of Chloe’s previous reputation of being a bully and a spoiled brat that likes getting others into trouble, she knew that only we would actually believe her when she gave us this video,” Ladybug says.

“There is also the fact that Lila is a pathological liar that puts on a sweet and innocent front that makes it almost impossible for people to see her as the horrible person that she really is,” Emerald Shell of all people basically growled.

“Lila has spent years telling tall tales about being Ladybug’s best friend,” Vulpix said. “As well lies about musicians like Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale, comic book artists like the writers of the Miraculous Adventures comic, fashion designers like Style Queen and MDC, as well as Adrien Agreste himself. Anyone that has ever called her out has had their lives ruined.”

“More research into her revealed that at every single school that Lila has ever attended, there has been either a suicide, a deadly accident, or a person getting greatly injured,” Viperion says. “All of them have been about kids that were once popular and loved, but their lives went to hell once Lila attended their schools.”

“You believe that this Lila girl is behind all of these things,” Superboy asked.

“We connected everyone that we could that was connected to her past victims,” Gladiator said. “They all said the same thing, that Lila came to the school with tales of grand adventures and their friend or child realized that she was lying. Then she would start whispering lies about these kids to all of her loyal listeners. She would make up stories about them bullying her, threatening her, stealing from her, talking behind their backs, anything that she could think of.”

“She would turn everyone that she could against them,” Ocean Mage crossed his arms. “Friends, teachers, principals, even family. There were those that killed themselves over the bullying they received, but it was actually worse for those that were too strong for that. Lila would then either cause an accident that would kill them or injure them in a way that broke them even further.”

“Take a look at this,” Tigress made an image appear of a kind-looking boy that looked to be from Spain from the background of the image. “This is Mateo Santiago. He went to the same school as Lila when she was in Spain. He was once a popular boy that had a gift for singing. He won countless youth singing contests all over Spain. When he heard Lila’s tales, he did his research and found her to be a liar. But just like all the others, she turned everyone but his family against him. But Mateo remained strong and did not let her or anyone get to him, confident because of how much he performed in front of others. So, Lila took that away from him.”

“See, Mateo was allergic to fish,” Beautifly took over the story. “It gave his throat a bad reaction, so he stayed away from it to keep his vocal cords safe. But one day, Lila managed to get into his locker and pour fish sauce all over his lunch salad. So when lunch came, he had an allergic reaction. He was taken to the hospital and the procedure that saved his life also damaged his vocal cords. He would be mute for the rest of his life. All of that because he knew Lila was a liar and tried to expose her.”

“Lila has been trying to do the same in Paris as well,” White Wolf says, making an image of a Chinese-French girl be exchanged for Mateo’s. “This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Lila’s latest victim. See, Marinette is a fashion design hopeful and has already designed for those like Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, Adrien Agreste, and even been noticed by Style Queen herself for a simple hat. Since she has her own connections, she knew right away that Lila was a liar.”

“You may notice from any research that you do that Vulpix, Emerald Shell, and Lady Unicorn have not always been those that wield the fox, turtle, and horse miraculous,” Cat Noir says, making images of three previous holders appear next to Marinette’s picture. “This is Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Pegasus. They were the previous holders of those three miraculous.”

“Did something happen to them,” Red Arrow asked.

“Lila happened,” King Monkey crossed his arms. “These three used to be friends of Marinette’s. Especially Rena and Carapace. But then Lila came along and Marinette tried to expose her. Lila managed to sway half of Marinette’s class into being her attack dogs to attack Marinette even if Lila looks even the slightest bit upset.”

“Marinette is a sweetheart,” Shadow Cat added. “She was the class president, got some of the best grades in her class, does charity work, babysits, helps her parents in their bakery, and has always bent over backward to help others. But Lila took most of that away with her lies. She probably would have destroyed Marinette if not for her having loyal friends.”

“Marinette has been the victim of physical, mental, and emotional bullying for years because of Lila,” Cat Noir looked ready to hiss. “But she remains positive the entire time. She’s transferred classes, has gotten a new phone number, and even uses a secret identity when she designs to keep Lila from claiming her designs as her own.”

“Lila has also chosen to act as a spy for Gabriel Agreste,” Ladybug’s fists were clenched tight. “She has used her lies to get close to him and he uses her to try and separate Adrien from ‘bad influences.’ Which is basically just Lila using more lies to try and isolate Adrien so that he would only have her. Adrien actually stays away as best she can, especially since she is sexually harassing him, but his father always gives them photoshoots together. She constantly threatens him by saying that with one word, Adrien will be back under house arrest by his father no longer letting him leave the house.

“Between her causing akumas, being akumas, Hawkmoth, and Mayura, we need help,” Beautifly says. “There must be something that you can do to help us.”

The league all shared looks with each other. These heroes have obviously been doing a great help if Paris is still standing, but they also look so tired and in dire need of their help.

“We’ll help,” Robin tells the heroes before the league actually answered.

#crossovers are the best #CrossOver #miraculous #miraculous ladybug #miraculous fandom #original character #original heroes #original miraculous #lila salt #i hate lila rossi #i love salt #alya salt #nino salt #ml salt #part 2 electric boogaloo

178 notes · View notes

missinghan · 3 years

Text

caged in this lullaby ⤖ lee felix

❖ genre : assassin au; cop au; action; fluff; angst

❖ word count : 7,2k.

❖ warning : explicit language, mentions of blood, arson & violence

❖ summary : felix ultimately lets go of all and allows himself to drown in the ashes of bitter tragedy to see what stays. the last thing he’d expect is a stranger with his greatest secret.

❖ dedicated to @blueprint-han : a continuation of aria of an assassin. song used — the lullaby by sophism, all credits to the owner.

prologue.

Fire cares not for the time it vanishes, only that it gives the world heat and light.

The entire building burns deeply in red, orange, and yellow. The cries of the neighborhood echoes into the night with sirens blaring in the background. Your frozen figure can only watch in terror as glowing embers dance and twirl, searing through the ground, ripping through the roof in despair. Tendrils of smoke are reaching into the sky desperately as if attempting to escape the blazing inferno below.

“Kid, I wanna have Chinese for dinner today.”

“Okay, and I should care because…?”

“Because I’m housing your ungrateful ass.”

No. No!

You drop the plastic bags in your hand, your muscles move before your mind can register what’s happening. The next thing you know, you’re racing to the heart of danger, utterly unfazed about the fact that fire is the most beautiful weapon of them all. Powerful. Destructive. Heartless. In mere moments, everything you love can be reduced into nothing but sheer ashes.

“But we always have Chinese!”

“Who’s paying again? Was it you? No, I don’t think so.”

Tears blur your vision and you elect to ignore every white noise buzzing at the back of your head. Each step you take is rather a negotiation than an order. Your limbs move like they never belonged to you. This agony has an unpleasant warmth to it, eating at your stomach and searing inside your rib cage. Your body concedes to the torment, unable to bring a single thought into consideration. The entirety of your existence yearns to curl into something fetal, something primeval, and all while the pain burns and radiates.

“Officer! Stop her! She’s running into the fire!”

“Child! What are you doing?! It’s dangerous!”

But what you’re going through is nothing compared to his torment. He’s in there. Writhing and suffering alone. It must be so painful, so cold despite the enraged flames around him.

When a strong pair of arms slip around your body and every motion comes to a stop, there is a scream of the mouth and lungs, the sound of his name lingers on the tip of your tongue. Because a response is impossible, there comes a scream of the eyes and soul, the kind that bypasses the ears and speaks right to the heart.

You forget how to scream from that day on because you are either left with dead silence or punished with cruelty.

Because you couldn’t save him.

one.

The housekeeper wakes with a tight knot in her stomach. Her body topples the sheets over to reach for her nightstand, flickering on some source of light. Only silence accompanies the hard throbbing inside her chest until a loud thud comes from the hallway. Her body jolts up instantly, a hand over her chest as a soft string of melody saunters into the emptiness of the night.

“When the night is falling, and you have lost your way.”

Her quivering figure quickly exits her room with a flashlight. Her right hand clutches at her other one as an attempt to stop the shaking as adrenaline sears through her vessels. With dreaded steps, the housekeeper manages to reach the staircase, approaches the end of it, and proceeds toward the living room.

“When the rain is storming, and your world’s turned to gray.”

The voice smoothly slips through the chilling nightfall like an allure yet there’s nothing musical about it. The lullaby sometimes goes off-tune or comes out in broken waves as though whoever’s singing genuinely doesn’t care. They sound more dead than angry, more tired than irate, making her innards shift uneasily.

“When the wolves await outside, and you feel like you’ve nowhere to hide.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, just remember. Remember when I said.”

And they stop. The housekeeper musters up every bit of courage left. A breath in. A breath out.

In the darkroom, even the ticking clock has a relaxed feeling, as if it’s merely a heart-beat at rest. She feels as though the air moves like cool water and the aroma of the house owner’s scented candles infuse her far more deeply than it did in the light of day. The hollow space is etched with charcoal, the fabrics are muted hues as if they too await dawn to ignite their colors for all to see. The moment she heaves a sigh of relief, her eyes make the mistake of averting to the ceiling, unveiling a scene of unimaginable terror.

Fear floods her system, it pumps and beats like it’s trying to escape. Her heart might as well explode right now because even her jaw is shaking non-stop. Her body urges her to either run fast, away from the horror laid out flat in front of her eyes, or to stay quiet and do the right thing, calling the police. But instead, she remains where she’s standing.

There is Mr. Yuuki, the house owner she’s been working for over three years, hung upon the crystal chandelier. His limp body lets its limbs stick out awkwardly, white eyes rolled to the back of his head as blood drips to the floor, forming a dark pool. The flashlight drops to the floor, and so does her trembling gaze. She gasps sharply when a thick smear of crimson is splattered across the wooden tiles, sinking into the cracks like poison.

Her adrenaline surges so fast she almost vomits, she can taste saliva thickening in her throat and beads of sweat trickling down on her forehead. At some point, she’ll have to move and risk the chance of getting herself killed.

Just then, a shadow comes into view and her legs go weak, letting her body collapse to the ground like a crooked puppet. Incoherent pleas pour from her lips as she screws her eyes shut, bracing herself for whatever comes next. “Please! I’ll do anything! I won’t call the police! Just don’t kill me, please! Please!”

Footsteps are advancing toward her, getting louder by the tick of the clock. They echo listlessly until the sound slowly fades away, only a soft response comes afterward.

“Greetings to his boss for me.”

two.

The mansion has been his home for decade upon decade, embraced by nature on the outskirts of the city, away from all the noises, the buzzing flow of time people have signed their souls up for. It is all concrete and tall glass windows that give overlooking views of the clear horizon, a chance to relax and take in the changing of the seasons from the comfort of an easy chair.

Yet coming from the hollow building is a strange sound, a melodic voice of pain and sorrow, of heartache and loss. The tune is soft, like grass on a summer day, or the tenderness in the air in which only spring possesses. It can fill one with warmth while weaving a sad tale of indescribable, rather forgotten memories.

“Darling, close your weary eyes. Everything will be fine.”

“Let the breeze wipe away your tears. There is no need to cry.”

He’s seated at the edge with his back straight, he no longer feels dwarfed by the grand piano as he used to as a kid. His fingers are limber as they glide on ivory first and ebony after, his neck slightly bent down, tousling his hair to the front while his eyes flutter shut in serene.

“You can lay down. No one will hurt you.”

The music stand lies empty, has been so for years. He only ever reads the notes within his mind because he goes as far as playing the instrument to this day for this peculiar lullaby. Slowly, the music seems to fill the room to the brim, then spills out through doors and windows and the cracks in the walls, while at the source trembling fingers dance sweetly on.

He knows that he needs to calm down.

“Let your fears be carried by the streams. The twilight gleam watches over you.”

In his head, he reads through the music scrupulously as though he’s practicing during the old, innocent days, beat by beat, bar by bar, note by note. His fingers know precisely where to go and how each key reacts when he applies the same, adequate amount of pressure. It’s as though he can make the hammer hit each string in a way to resonate with the most beautiful of sounds.

The thought of playing as a kid eases the spike in his heartbeat and clears his mind. He can still vividly remember the first time he got lifted onto the bench on his sixth birthday, his tiny legs dangled over the edge and his figure completely overwhelmed by the mammoth-sized instrument. His arms could barely span the length of the keyboard, his feet could only do so much as graze the pedal below.

“And when the morning arises…”

He recalls the mounts of sheets cluttering his father’s old bookshelves in such ways that he himself can’t remember their initial color. He recalls the tall figure seating beside him each time, guiding his hands across the keys, ones that were unfamiliar to music and the swell it can bring to one’s chest. He recalls those starry eyes staring down at him, the outburst of laughter, and the cat-like smile that brings love and harmony to his fragile soul.

“I shall be by your side…”

Yet he never recalls a proper goodbye, only tears.

“Minho.”

The melody pauses sharply, his body stiffens at the name. Minho isn’t here.

“Minho, is that you?” Minho isn’t here, a voice inside him snaps.

A deep breath. He elects to ignore the strings that are bound to break inside his chest before pushing himself off the wooden bench. With a swift turn, he sees Mrs. Lee standing by the door with her hair in her face, her soulless eyes lighting up once they graze the sight of him. “Minho, my sweet child. You’ve come home. You’ve finally come home!” Her voice echoes in joy, a hand clamped over her mouth as her eyes brim with tears.

Minho isn’t here! His heart yells aloud, yet his mind can’t comply.

He doesn’t know what’s urging him to approach her, to let her lean on him. Perhaps, it’s guilt. Or the yearning for the warmth of a mother who abandoned him long ago. “Yes, mother, I’m home,” he sighs softly when she clutches at his shirt. “I’m never going to leave you again.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here.”

Hurried footsteps flood the hallway rapidly until the housekeeper barges through the door, simply breaking the agonizing silence. “Good gracious, Mrs. Lee! Goodness, she must have forgotten about her sleeping pills again.” She then hastily rushes to his side, supporting Mrs. Lee by her waist while bowing continuously. “Young Master, please, allow me.”

“It’s alright, you’ve done enough,” he waves his hands with a small smile. “I’ll tuck her back to bed, today is my day off anyway. You may go home and rest now.”

He can’t forget how much lighter Mrs. Lee has gotten, how paler her face has been. He’s afraid that one wrong movement and he might send her frail body flying to the floor. Only when she’s fully covered by her blanket, the stars come out to play and the evening takes on the aroma of a breezy night. He likes this, the softness, the quietness of the sense of resting. Moonlight is streaming through the windows yet his mind, clouded with grey, throbs uncontrollably when he realizes the sudden pang inside his chest.

It’s been fifteen years…

His phone rings. “Sergeant Lee Felix, Seoul P.D,” he keeps his voice from shaking. Suddenly, his eyes grow wide. “I’ll be there.”

And I still couldn’t do anything for you.

three.

Light fog seeps into the depthless night when Felix exits his car, throwing on his blazer in a hurry as he staggers toward a water fountain. There’s barely any vehicles operating at this hour, leaving the streets chilling and empty. He quickly checks his watch one last time. One AM on the dot. Another sleepless night.

“Lix! Over here!”

His blank expression breaks into a grin when two familiar faces come into view. “Changbin? Hyunjin? You both got called in too?”

“Yeah, can’t believe the Chief had the audacity to interrupt my beauty sleep for a simple homicide,” the taller officer, Hyunjin, has his face contorted in faint annoyance, brushing through his long locks of hair with his gloved hand.

“The night duty squad is handling another case on the other side of the city. We know the neighborhood like the back of our hands,” Changbin gives him a hard smack on the chest, only to wince quietly later to himself. Ugh, I’m so out of shape. “If anything, we have the best chance to catch up to the culprit.”

Hyunjin protests with a forced smile, “Shut up, Lieutenant, I know that.”

“Alright, let’s review,” Felix hops into the conversation, clasping his hands together in feigned excitement. “Someone dialed 911 with a murder case on the line. The culprit, escaped or not, we’re still uncertain of. But they did leave behind a witness.”

His coworkers nod simultaneously as he recaps what Seungmin told him on the phone earlier and the three of them find themselves standing right before the provided address. The house seems oddly quiet for someone getting murdered. “Right, chances are they’re still in there. We’d better-”

The front door comes flying open. A woman dressed in her nightgown collapses to the ground instantly, fear echoing through the rumble of her voice. “Help! P-Please! Mr. Yuuki! He-He’s dying! Please, I beg you! Save him!” With her face buried in her hands, a wave of laughter bubbles up her windpipe, shaking her core tremendously. “They did it again! They’ve claimed another victim!”

Changbin is the first one to step up, helping the housekeeper to her feet. “Miss, please try your best to stay calm. Everything is alright now, we’re here because you did the right thing of calling us. You’re safe with us,” he gently supports her by the shoulders, his voice soft but serious. “If it’s okay for me to ask, what exactly happened to Mr. Yuuki? Is there anyone else inside?”

The housekeeper seems to still be shaken. Tears are threatening to fall but she bites them back, shaking her head to answer the second question first. “N-No, Mr. Yuuki has a son but he’s currently studying in Europe so I’m the only one other than…”

Her voice trails off, the pools of tears in her eyes are clouded with those moments of horror she wishes she could erase forever. “It was horrible! I-I was having trouble sleeping before a strange sound woke me up completely. Someone was singing. Th-The culprit was singing. And there was s-so much blood. Mr. Yuuki was hung upon the chandelier when I went downstairs! So-So much blood. I didn’t know how- or why- I- I don’t know! I don’t know! I don’t know!”

“Miss, please try to stay calm. I won’t ask you any more questions, I am not here to interrogate you,” Changbin exhales deeply, looking over at his underlings. “Hyunjin, go check up on Mr. Yuuki. Felix, look for the culprit. I’ll call Seungmin for more back-ups.”

The two officers comply, “Roger that.”

Entering the house, Felix is bathed in a whirlwind of chilling silence and utter darkness. The smell of blood makes something inside him twitch, prompting him to look over at his friend. “I’ll go upstairs, you stay down here and handle the body until Jisung or Seungmin comes.”

The Sergeant advances up the long flight of stairs with his gun clutched between his hands. Almost immediately, he takes notice in the stream of moonlight illuminating the end of the hallway and rushes toward the wide-opened door. His figure barges into the room with caution and is met with the night breeze kissing his face and white curtains fluttering gently.

Just then, a loud bang is heard in the distance.

Felix feels himself tense up, eyes darting from one place to another in hopes of finding- there! On the rooftop from across the streets.

In a heartbeat, he picks up his transceiver and speaks, “I have eyes on the suspect. Pursuing on foot.” With his feet on the window frame and his arms on the tiles of the roof, he manages to lift himself while his muscles contract in pain. Facing forward, Felix begins to sprint.

The wind screams into his ears, his feet flying over steel and leaves. His shoes pound heavily across the hard surface, causing what’s remaining of the downpour this morning to slash up his legs. From one rooftop to another, his calves burn tremendously yet he keeps darting past houses, buildings, and trees with his eyes glued onto the shadow before his eyes.

Adrenaline courses throughout his system; he can feel his whole body working, his leg muscles running warm, a thin layer of sweat covers his nape. The cold air keeps biting at his blood and lungs but he keeps his breaths as steady as he can, pushing harder and going faster. For a split moment, his foot slips when his mind is frantic with cloudy thoughts. How is it possible for one to move this fast?

The hooded figure a few feet ahead of him speaks volumes in the silence; they’re running. They’re running like the devil himself is in pursuit. Only it’s worse because the felon is flesh and blood and means to send people straight to hell just the same way. His breathing quickens at the thought process, trying to appease his need for oxygen.

Several thuds of footfalls later, he finally decreases the proximity although fresh air now shocks his lungs, making him want to spurt and pass out in exhaustion. His body trembles from the consistent pace he’s forced himself into, yet his hands lift the firearm swiftly, his gaze shaking with the pounding inside his chest.

It only takes so much strength to pull the trigger. He shouldn’t be hesitating like this. Felix stops himself completely, regains his composure, and raises his gun once again. He elects to ignore the blood roaring in his ears, the throbbing of his anxious heart, and squeezes the trigger.

The bullet cuts through air and comes flying toward the wanted figure, missing them by a strand of hair. His face contorts in anger as he mumbles out a curse word. He missed. He shouldn’t have. He can’t miss. Missing isn’t an option.

Felix pumps his legs, gaining momentum with each push. But it feels gut-wrenching all of a sudden after a few thrusts forward—his body is giving in. He watches the culprit quicken their pace until their steps turn into leaps. Just a few more feet and they’ll jump the other side of the neighborhood.

He won’t make it in time.

Three. Two. One. The figure gathers enough strength and takes one final leap into the night. His heart immediately drops to the pit of his stomach, every movement comes to a full stop like the sudden stretch of silence within his rib cage.

“Shit!” He perks up at the scream and glass shattering. “Ow! Ah! Ouch! Ugh…” And...dogs barking?

“Oh come on!”

four.

His feet slip outwards on the wet autumn leaves as he rounds the corner, his breaths coming out in spurts, hot and nervous as he inhales deeper, faster. With each footfall, a jarring pain shoots ankle to knee, ankle to knee. Perhaps jumping off someone’s rooftop in a time crunch wasn’t the smartest decision.

“Give me a break. Do you have any idea how much time it took me to outrun those dogs?”

“I won’t let you slip away. It’s best for either party if you cooperate. Don’t do anything foolish and mercy might be an option,” Felix clicks a bullet into the chamber, gaze falling onto the hooded figure.

In the dim light that oozes through a narrow gap lies the alleyway. It's the underworld of any town: gloomy and unpleasant. Darkness is lurking in every corner inside the labyrinth of narrow passages and dead ends. Litter is dumped on the street and birds nest amongst the sprawling rot. Moonlight lights up the pathway for him, making it easier to back the felon up into the corner.

“One more step, officer, I dare you.” A warning like poison pours into his ears.

Although something seems different this time. They sound more frantic. Is there something that’s bothering them? “You just committed murder, you filthy scumbag. One more step, I dare you.”

“Oh, you’re so unoriginal,” they clutch their right arm and chuckle lightly. Felix squints his eyes with the limited source of light; inevitably, they go wide upon seeing crimson dripping to the ground. But as the second ticks by, less and less blood pour from the wound as though the muscles and skin are simultaneously closing up the seams.

What the hell am I looking at?

A smirk. “Don’t mind if I do.”

What are they... Wait, shit-

At the kind of speed he never thought humans could acquire, the hooded figure approaches him in what seems like seconds. The sudden whiplash blows the hood back and allows them to bathe in the moonlight raw.

“Say, what are you going to do with a filthy scumbag like me again?” Something sharp and shiny comes into contact with the warmth of his flesh but he can’t bring himself to register or counter it.

Your features flash before his eyes, glowing from within, leaving him in complete awe. Although you’re talking nothing but venom, pain is evident in the crease of your lovely brows and the way your lips are pressed into a straight line. Your eyes are deep pools of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless grief. There’s something so damn familiar about you. Felix almost finds himself resonating within your agony. He almost gasps.

In this growing light, your dark silhouette becomes full colors.

But why aren’t you moving? He’s completely open like this.

“You!” Your voice suddenly trembles and so do your pupils. “You-You’re-”

Snapping back to his senses, Felix leaves no time for you to finish your sentence and grabs your armed limb with one hand while striking a harsh blow at your stomach with the other. You let out a hushed wince at the impact, falling to the cement ground along with the blade in your palm. He swiftly flips you over, cuffs your hands, and puts his gun at the back of your head.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.”

“Oh, spare me, Robin,” you involuntarily snort. “I’ll be gone before you can finish reading my rights.”

He nearly sneers, “Move an inch and I’ll put a bullet through your head. Your hands are cuffed, don’t you try to make your face worse than it already is.”

“I’m an Ace, darling. It’d be insulting if a pair of handcuffs and your scrawny little ass could stop me.”

His grip on the gun grows a fraction tighter, his heart starts beating faster at the name. “You work for the House of Cards?” The name rolls off his tongue bitterly, leaving a lick of fury consuming the rational side of his brain.

House of Cards—thieves, terrorists, assassins, dealers—the largest criminal organization that has been the dread of the country for decades. Just like the playing cards, the organization consists of four main groups: Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts, and Spades. The Kings and Queens lead these groups for they’re either new or incompetent for the higher ranks. The Jacks come second in commanding and are often advisors while the Jokers remain anonymous to all as messengers. The four Aces are the most trusted by the chairman and only take orders from him themselves.

“I do,” you reply flatly, a sigh going unnoticed. “Shouldn’t you be fleeing by now upon receiving this information?”

“A murder. A gunshot right across the street. A living witness,” he grits with a timid smile. “All that and you call yourself an Ace? We’ve encountered worse than amateurs like you. You’ll be rotting behind the bars before you know it.”

“I like your optimism, officer. Genuinely, it's a blessing for you to bring us light in this time of darkness,” you turn sideways, smirk, and make sure that he sees it. “Ignorance is truly bliss sometimes.”

Something inside him snaps, water overflows the cup and he instantly grabs you by your head, burying it further into dust and cement. “I don’t know who you think you are. But you clearly don’t know what I’m capable of and the fact that I will stop at nothing to bring your boss down. I will make him face justice as you’re hearing it from the news in prison. I’ve promised. I’ve sworn.”

“Oh?” You dare to glance at him again. “I never knew cops detested my boss so much. Or is it just you? Is your hatred personal? You’ve broken a protocol from the get-go, haven’t you? Is it the reason why you even became an officer in the first place?”

Shit, Felix curses inwardly as your words stab him in the chest, twisting the tip of the blade deeper and deeper as though you’re not allowing him to breathe properly. His hands start shaking; the vibration against your nape makes you exhale, drawing yet another grin on your lips. “Tell me, who did they kill?”

To hell would he ever tell you.

“A family member?” Focus.

“Your loved one?” Cover your ears.

“Or a close friend, perhaps?” One wrong move.

His shaking freezes midway, his voice comes out monotonous. “Shut up.” And you’ll die.

“Bingo,” you feign excitement before clearing your throat. “Also, I wouldn’t pull the trigger if I were you. Because I am your best asset to get to my boss. You and I aren’t so different, trust me. After all, we both want his head.”

He yelps in surprise when you twist your back slightly, swinging your arm and elbowing his jaw while disarming him simultaneously. With a swing of your leg, he loses his balance on the knees and lands harshly on his back.

With your knife pointed at his neck, your orbs bore onto his like you’re about to set him on fire. He gulps nervously, “What? How did you?”

“Listen up, I have a deal for you.”

You were injured, how could you risk tearing your wound up like that? His chest rises then falls inconsistently, eyes darting to your forearm. It’s no longer bleeding. There’s no way!

“...what are you?”

“Call me what you want. Murderer. Killer. An assassin. A monster.”

Felix squirms under your grip, spatting in aggression, “If so, you’re daydreaming if you have the audacity to believe that I will get my hands bloodied with you.”

“I’m not telling you to pick a side, officer. I’m just trying to say that I know something you don’t and you know something I don’t. If we pool our information we might actually have a good shot at capturing the bastard. If you brought me back to headquarters now, I’d escape either way and you’d get nothing from me. But if you pretend like our encounter never happens, you’ve got yourself a new partner.”

“What feud do you have with your boss so bad that you’re willing to work with a police officer like me?”

“I never considered him as my boss. I never considered the organization as a place that I belonged to. No one knows who the leader is. I’ve been tracking him down for years already.”

“...what? That’s-“

“They killed someone very important to me, too.”

five.

Chan murmurs tiredly at the knock on his door, “Who’s there?”

“Sergeant Lee’s present to report on the assassin from last night, Chief.”

“Come in.”

Chan fixes his collar as Felix closes the door shut, strides straight into his office, and collapses on the nearest armchair. Usually, he’d be complaining about the lack of sunlight in the Chief’s working space. Because like any other civil office, there are enough windows for one not to choke to death but Chan has made a habit of keeping them close. Now, he decides to open the blinds and lets the light in completely, prompting Felix to throw an arm over his eyes dramatically.

“Shut it. The lights are killing me,” he groans aloud, forehead creasing in frustration. Focus.

Chan says pointedly, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms, “But you look like shit.”

“Of course I look like shit. You should try chasing down an Ace yourself some time. Really, it’s been a pleasant distraction from my unfinished paperwork and impotent stress,” the junior officer mumbles, dropping his arm and staring blankly at the space ahead.

“Yeah, I’ve heard,” Chan sighs, sitting back. “It just makes sense, you know. Yuuki and his neighbor were moles the Yakuza planted in that filthy organization. No wonder their leader had to send one of the four Aces to finish him off.”

Felix closes his eyes for a moment, resting his arms on his knees, the muscles are still aching from last night’s incident. His fingers unconsciously reach for his bare neck, tracing the shallow cut as goosebumps bubble upon his skin. Focus. “Enough being mopey,” Chan grins and slaps something cold against his cheek, causing his friend to jolt up in surprise. “Aren’t you here to report?”

He flashes Felix a cheeky smile when the younger clenches the cold towel on his face in annoyance. Nonetheless, there’s a twinge of faint nostalgia and affection lighting up inside his stomach—the kind that comes from long-time friends. “Alright, I gotta come back to my desk before Changbin goes off about my productivity anyway.”

“Good, elaborate,” Chan whips out a pen with his crusty notebook, eyes narrowing and turning serious.

“The Ace escaped,” Felix starts, “After checking in with Yuuki’s housekeeper, Hyunjin and I went inside the house. He handled the body while I was heading upstairs. I pursued them as soon as I heard the gunshot from across the streets. I only managed to wound them from afar, but it’s not enough to slow them down. They were too fast so I was outpaced at the end.”

The Chief raises a dark brow, eyeing the cut on his throat, “I can see that you’re injured, too. Did they shoot you? Seungmin only found a semi-auto pistol next to the second victim.”

“No… I did this to myself during the chase,” Felix touches his wound again, gulping, “They only carried a knife, of all the things.” Don’t be obvious. You can’t risk getting them to suspect you.

“You couldn’t get close enough to see if we’re dealing with a man or a woman, right?” Chan then casts a meaningful look at the mountain of unfiled paperwork upon his desk, feigning interest in the light reading that awaits him for the rest of the day.

“Unfortunately, no. They have a good physique, clearly well-trained and more skilled than the little fries we’d managed to throw behind the bars,” Felix shakes his head, eventually pushing himself off the black armchair. “What about the housekeeper? According to what I’m able to recall, she did, in fact, see the Ace.”

Chan wants to scream at the mention, fingers massaging his temples. “That woman is far too traumatized to even speak a word right now. She’s been giving Seungmin headaches all morning.”

“Yeah, about that...sorry, I couldn’t be more helpful,” Felix bites his lips as he can feel his own lies suffocating the space around him, filling his lungs with water and squeezing at his windpipe. He needs to get the fuck out of here.

The Chief chuckles lightly and waves his hands, “No, no, we’re all kinda impressed, actually. No one has ever been able to propose a mere chase with them before. It’s already a miracle that you came back alive.”

His heart instantly sinks, his fists curl up unconsciously. Felix could have died. He should have died last night. But you hesitated. Why? Why would you spare him? And why were you looking at him like that? “Hey.” A hand on his shoulder snaps him out of it. “Don’t worry about it. You should take a day off today. You look unwell.”

“But-”

A figure lands soundlessly on Chan’s balcony, swiftly turning around to face Felix.

His brain stutters for a moment and his eyes take in more light than they should, still, they widen when shock riddles his senses. Every part of his body tries to catch up and his thoughts go on a dreadfully long pause. It’s you. Standing in broad daylight without anything to cover up. Distanced a few feet from his grasp.

One shout and you’ll be cuffed in mere moments. It’d be insulting if a pair of handcuffs and your scrawny little ass could stop me. His precinct has been desperate, ramming into one dead-end after another for a single lead to House of Cards.

Felix can turn you in right here. Right now. If you brought me back to headquarters now, I’d escape either way and you’d get nothing from me.

“That is an order, Sergeant,” Chan grins, not noticing how pale his friend has gotten in such mere moments. “You’ll collapse the moment you head out for patrol, trust me.”

“No, Chan! You don’t understand, I-”

“Do it,” you mouth, sealing his lips instantly.

“I just didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’ll take a nap in the infirmary.” You slap on a devilish smile at his words, wiggling your phone high enough for him to see.

As soon as Felix closes the door behind him, the spike in his heartbeat finally falls with the stiff smile on his face, his breaths short and uneven. The urge to punch something is cut short when his phone vibrates timely. A message from an unknown number: “Ten PM. The waterfall in Yellow Woods. You’ve got one chance.”

six.

Felix has underestimated the cold since nightfall. His muscles ache and shiver all at the same time, momentarily yelling at him to turn around to head back to the comfort of his family’s mansion. Yet the dark Yellow Woods seems to silence time and space, only leaving him with the urge to march forward.

He lied to Chan about your encounter, lied to Changbin so he wouldn’t have to go on his night shift, lied to Hyunjin that he’d go home and rest like his friend always told him to. Humans have been taught not to lie but deception still exists and one cannot escape its grasp. Even Felix never knew there would be a day where he’d become this desperate. Just thinking about it makes him want to vomit, utterly disgusted.

Clutching his gun tightly, he begins walking faster into the light fog.

“My my, look who it is.” His frantic steps come to a halt, his head snapping back immediately. “Someone was so hellbent on giving me a headshot the last time we met. What changed?”

Felix raises a brow in confusion. “What the- Didn’t you ask me to meet up at the waterfall?”

“The waterfall is the other way, you fool,” you jerk your head back, clearly unimpressed.

“Cut me some slack, my phone was dead! Wait, how did you- were you stalking me?!”

You can’t help but stifle a chuckle; his face is priceless. “Tracking sounds more appropriate, don’t you think?”

“You-”

“You’d better pick up the pace if you want to survive this little partnership of ours, officer.”

Eventually, he complies and stumbles through the woods with you, his feet feeling like they’re being dragged across cement. During the day, Yellow Woods is alight with the serenity one yearns for at their lowest, birds chirping and leaves rustling to one united song of Mother Nature. In contrast, it is now hollow, colorless, almost empty to a sense with all this darkness around him.

“I never said that we had a deal,” Felix says while trailing after you, cautious not to trip over any branches.

You turn around for a meager moment, giving him that sly grin of yours. “Suppose that you do, we need a contract. Some simple protocols between comrades. What do you expect from me? Keep it simple. Excessive details bore the shit out of me.”

“First, no with-holding information. If you know something, I need to know it and vice versa. Second, no personal questions. I don’t want you in my life nor do I want me getting my hands dirty with you.”

You hum in response, “Hmm, short and sweet. But I have my own as well.”

He gulps, “Go on.”

“I don’t work with dogs. I don’t care if it’s licensed as emotional support. I won’t hesitate to shoot if you even let one do so much as breathe in the same room as me.”

“...that makes way too much sense.” So that explains why-

“What about you? Afraid of the dark?”

“I wasn’t born this morning.”

To the East lies the waterfall you’ve mentioned this morning, which you lead him down a dirt road and right behind it, straight into a small cave. There are two paths diverged that catch him by surprise but there’s nothing he can do other than taking the left side, hastily following the source of light from your phone. Your final destination unveils before his eyes as a small, underground lair.

Felix suddenly feels cold for no reason. “How do you even sleep?” He scrunches his nose while rubbing his hands together.

“I don’t,” you say without looking at him, exhaling and shrugging off your coat. “Make yourself at home. I’ll go heat up some tea before you freeze to death.”

Not knowing what to do with himself, his eyes roll around the seemingly confined but commodious space in curiosity. Your working desk is as big as the one in the conference back at headquarters, mounted with an overwhelming amount of files. To the right, the wall is lined with weapons, target boards, and rag dolls; you seem to prefer blades over firearms. The whole place is lighted up with candles all around, giving it that eerie feeling like something straight out of an old movie.

Still, not bad.

His careless feet drag him across the concrete, subconsciously reaching out for the files on your desk. He can’t fight the urge, he can’t resist it. Before his mind can register and his conscience can yell at him, the plastic binder is already yanked open. Experiment #180108–Y/N, it reads. “What the hell… Enhanced strength and agility… Instant self-healing… Metamorphosis? Is this what they’ve been doing under our noses all this time?”

“No, only my parents.” Your voice snaps him out of it, prompting him to drop the files. “Your office was giving me anxiety, by the way. Thank god for home sweet home.”

“What the hell were you doing in my-“ A dagger flies past his head, missing him by a strand of hair and ending up embedding itself on the bull’s eye of a nearby target. “Daughter of a bastard,” he breathes out in disbelief, eyes boring holes on you. “What kind of tea was that?!”

“Lee Felix. Only son of the Prime Minister. Ranked Sergeant at the eighth precinct, Seoul P.D. The precious heir to one of the five great families.” Words leave you. You only stare into those bright, brown eyes burning with anger, his heart almost falling silent. “Gosh, you’ve got quite the profile. Shouldn’t you be worried about the image of your family instead of shaking hands with the devil like this?”

Felix clenches his jaw, everything is slow and warbled as he looks down, shaking violently. “And yet you still thought I’d be crazy enough to make a deal with an Ace?”

“You’re not crazy,” you sigh, grinning internally. “Just extremely desperate-“

“I am not desperate!” A lie spats out, leaving him with a bitter aftertaste. “I have no reason to be.” Focus.

A mocking shrug. “Right, you’re not desperate. You just followed me all the way here without taking out your gun or rambling on with your boring death threats. Like a little, perfect pet. Exactly what I needed.”

“Death threats don’t work on monsters,” he croaks, fists balled and eyes wide. Even so, the way you gaze darken still goes unnoticed. “I’ve seen your kind kill anyone without hesitation. Getting blood on your hands without even blinking. You, all of you, aren’t humans anymore. You’re all a complete write-off of a species.”

Felix lifts his head, pupils trembling at the sight in front of him. For a moment there, you look sad and broken. Raw, naked, and vulnerable like the rest of humanity. It makes him ponder, how can humans be so weak yet so cruel at the same time?

“...why? Why are you doing this?” he inquires shakily, head racing with a thousand thoughts. “I don’t understand. Actually, there’s a lot that I don’t understand about you.” No! Focus, you idiot!

“You don’t have to.” Finally, you speak after the long dread of silence, combing a hand through your hair tiredly. “You know. It’s funny how the same thing happened to us. And now look at where we ended up individually.”

His brain pauses and chokes up. “What are you saying?” Cover your ears. Do not be misled!

You look away, simply knowing that you won’t be able to hold it in if you’re making eye contact. “I know you’re not the rightful heir of the Lees. You weren’t part of the bloodline in the first place. You’re simply a replacement. A second option. Nothing but an afterthought-“

“No! Shut up! Just shut u-“ Cover your ears. Do not trust anyone!

“—the real heir supposedly went missing during the Eiji Station tragedy where my organization ordered a bombing fifteen years ago. It’s been over a decade and they’ve already concluded his death even though a body was never found. Am I right, officer?”

Choose the wrong path.

Felix buries his face into the palms of his hands as streaks of silvery tears burn his cheek. His exhausted shoulders shake in each rake of emotion through his frame, the fire of anger and despair boils past the seams he can no longer hold together. With his knees weak, he can only sob and drops down on his knees, screaming with all his might.

And you’ll die.

But even you, the devil itself, can’t save the man who’s drowning himself in his own tears of hell.

“Welcome to the team. The name is Y/N,” you offer him a hand, blankly eyeing his quivering figure. He finally picks himself up with difficulties, eyes glowing with tears and fury. After a split moment of hesitation, his hand reaches for yours, firmly clasped and sealing your deal.

Because he’s falling down the same bottomless abyss with you.

Because you both couldn’t save him. You couldn’t save Minho.

epilogue.

__ fifteen years ago

“Hey, Minho, you’re really good at playing the piano. Are you gonna be a musician?”

“Hmm, I do like music. But I’d rather become a police officer.

“Why? Didn’t you say that you like music?”

“I’ll become anything for my mother.”

“Then, I’ll be a doctor when I grow up! And we can save people together.”

“Okay. It’s a promise, Lix.”

164 notes · View notes

keichanz · 3 years

Text

Fearless

@lavendertwilight89 @born-for-eachother @mandirox89 @arcprz @bluejay785 @malditamigs @xfangheartx @bluehawaiicat @zelink-inukag @clearwillow @wenchster @anabananaxq @superpixie42 @midnightsilver16830 @heathersmusings @theinuyashareader @danycontreras90 @liz8080 @blairex @lordofthechips @itzatakahashi @sailorbabydoll92 @raisinraven @sticky-llama-perfection @dangerouspompadour @digital-art-monster @joaniemae @boostyourmind-blog @anxietyaardvark @simply-zerah @nsr0716 @caribmiko @witchygirl99 @mamabearcat @redflamesofpassion @tuxedochevaleresse @umacaking @hnn-wnchstr @juliatheanimelover7 @lemonlushff @eringobroke @youarenotmyhomelandanymore @hikaruwrites @horriblehowl @lady-dark-69 @sssuperbartola @eternalnight8806-3 @morganashimi83 @shnuggletea @pinkpigeonstudio @memusicmuse @cyncyn981 @yurawiththegoodhair @kagometaishostory @chickpow @ladyphoenix0711 @the-rebel-alchemist @nartista

Read on AO3

He didn’t know why he expected it to be different from any other village. Maybe it was because the attention hadn’t been immediately drawn to him this time, but a large two-tailed cat bearing an injured woman and a man of the cloth. Perhaps it was the way Kagome’s unconventional clothing as she’d explained their situation hadn’t even warranted a second glance from the headman when he came rushing out of his home to investigate the sudden ruckus. Or, hell, maybe it had to do with how the runt hadn’t even seemed to be cause for concern despite his tail and feet being clear markers as to what he was.

Whatever the reason was, however, in the end it didn’t even matter. At the first fearful whisper, the second baleful glance, and the sneers of disgust when realization dawned, the hope that perhaps this time would be different abruptly died and Inuyasha carefully blanked his features into a mask of cool indifference. The familiar anger surfaced, roiling in his gut, tensing his muscles and making his jaw clench tightly while his hands balled into fists, but he didn’t allow himself to react otherwise.

He really should be used to this by now. The suspicious glares, the frightened gasps, the scoffs of contempt and derision. God knew he’d dealt with it for most of his life, if not all of it, so ignoring the less than receptive welcome should have been a breeze. He should have been able to brush it off, roll his eyes at their ignorance and distrustful behavior, simply shrug his unconcern and call it a day.

The thing of it was, though, the real kick in the fucking ass, was that no matter how many times he told himself he didn’t care, no matter how hardened against the cruel realties of the world he thought himself to be, it never got any easier. There was always the flare of indignant anger, the hollow pain from yet again being rejected, and then riding the coattails of that pain always came the curious emptiness, the cold numbness settling into the very core of his being from the realization that it was never going to change. No amount of wishing, hoping, and longing was never going to make a damn bit of difference. Not when you were hated on sight, when you were ruthlessly and unfairly judged before even drawing a single breath to plead your case.

Not when you were a half-breed.

Gentle warmth landed on his arm as the pleasant scent of rainwater and flowers teased his nose. Inuyasha glanced down into large brown eyes, the concern in them unmistakable and he had no problem reading the silent question in them. Almost instinctively his body relaxed and it became a little easier to breathe, as what always happened at her touch. He should have known she’d catch on; damn girl had always been too perceptive for her own good.

“Keh,” he muttered, though his face softened somewhat as he sighed. “I’m fine, wench. Go with the others. Sango needs you, and I’m sure the monk is useless right now with how worried he is.”

Kagome looked like she didn’t believe him, her brow knitted as she studied him quietly. Inuyasha fought back a grimace and looked away, clenching his jaw as his ear flicked. Another few seconds passed in which he refused to meet her gaze, and then with a quiet sigh Kagome squeezed his arm before turning and heading toward the hut where the injured taijiya was taken.

His ears flattened and he stared after her, shoulders slumped and a frown marring his features. He appreciated her concern, he really did, but he’d get over it. Sango was their main concern right now. After tracking down a buck with a jewel shard in its neck that had the temperament of an angry bear, they had spent the better part of the morning trying to trap the thing in order for Kagome to safely retrieve the jewel, per her request. Inuyasha had just wanted to kill it, but after Kagome had pleaded with him to at least try and spare its life – it was only a regular woodland creature after all that had the bad luck of getting a shard embedded in its neck – he of course couldn’t say no. And well, suffice to say, Inuyasha was sporting quite a few fading bruises courtesy of a pair of gigantic antlers.

Sango had been the one to finally pin it down, hurling Hiraikotsu with just the right twist so that the buck’s neck had been trapped beneath the crooked weapon as it had embedded into the ground. The price had been a harsh blow to the head from a flailing back leg when the slayer had gotten too close and she’d been out for the count ever since. Miroku was sick with worry and he’d all but demanded they find the nearest village so she could get the proper care, hardly even waiting for Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippou before loading Sango onto Kirara, hopping behind her, and taking off.

And so with little choice in the matter, Kagome had retrieved the shard, Inuyasha collected the bone boomerang and with his wench and the fox on his back, he took off after them.

Now here they were, dusk still hours away, in a random village in which thankfully had taken Sango in without question, however his presence did not receive the same welcome. Despite the stares and whispers, however, Inuyasha refused to leave, refused to abandon his friends just because of his own discomfort. Kagome had asked on the way over if he was alright with going to a village they’d never been to before, knowing his thoughts on the matter. Although he’d been touched by her concern, he could only give one answer, couldn’t he. Sango was his friend, his comrade; despite his own misgivings and experiences, he would just have to ignore them in favor of getting Sango the proper care she needed.

He’d told Kagome as much, not in so many words, but enough to get his point across. Though he knew she was still worried, thankfully she hadn’t pressed and she’d fallen quiet for the duration of their travel.

“Bah.”

Inuyasha frowned as his ear flicked and he stared pensively at the hut his friends resided in, located on top of a little knoll not far from where he stood. He’d gotten a glimpse of a rather nasty cut on Sango’s temple with a dark bruise blooming down across her cheek and he severely hoped it hadn’t caused any lasting damage. He knew head wounds were among the worst to receive and he recalled Kagome mentioning something about “concussions.”

“Aah?”

While the word meant nothing to him, he trusted Kagome, knew that she had knowledge that he was not privy to, and so didn’t question it. From his understanding though, he figured concussions were bad and the concussed individual had to be monitored very closely so their health did not decline. Being days away from Kaede’s village was not optimal conditions to monitor Sango’s health, and so the only thing left to do was find a village. And the rest, as they say, was history.

“Phhhbbbbttt. Bababababa.”

Inuyasha recalled the horrified, stricken look that had been on Miroku’s face when Sango had fallen and he grimaced. He could only imagine what the poor lech was going through right now. Had it been Kagome, he would no doubt be beside himself—

A gentle tug on his hakama promptly distracted Inuyasha from his thoughts and he looked down at his feet. Big brown eyes blinked back up at him. As Inuyasha gaped down in shock, he was rewarded with a wide gummy grin and a squeal of delight.

His ear flicked at the sound and a puzzled frown drew his brows down low over his eyes. What the hell? Tearing his gaze away from the pup that was pulling herself up by way of his pants, Inuyasha looked around, cocking his ears for the frantic calls of the parents looking for their lost child, but he saw no one, heard nothing but the regular sounds of a village. The street was deserted, nobody wanting to be around the dirty hanyou that was tainting their home.

He looked down at the pup that couldn’t be more than a summer old again as she blew raspberries and seemed content to cling to his hakama. Then she abruptly fell back onto her bottom with a tiny grunt and perplexed, but amused, Inuyasha knelt down and propped his elbows on his knees.

“Oi, squirt,” he rumbled, drawing those brown eyes his way again. She smiled and his face softened. “What’re you doing out here alone? Where’re your parents?”

The baby stuck her tiny fist in her mouth and waved her other at him before reaching forward and pawing at his own hand. With raised eyebrows and a small quirk to his lips, Inuyasha nudged his hand forward. He watched as pudgy little fingers grasped his thumb and held on with a surprisingly strong grip.

“Heh. Fearless little thing, ain’t ya.”

Something warm bloomed in his chest as her slobber covered hand joined her other in examining his much larger hand, burbling softly to herself. He made sure to keep his claws away from her soft skin, adjusting his hand as needed and curling his fingers away. Though only dangerous from the amount of force he exerted when eliminating an enemy, he knew how fragile pups were and figured it was better to err on the side of caution.

Inuyasha tugged and brought the pup to her feet. She giggled and clutched at his hand. Though she remained standing, she did not release him, so he figured she wasn’t quite old enough to walk yet. He reached out with his other hand and she caught that one too, using the grips she had on his fingers to keep her balance. God, she was so small, her weight barely registering as he helped her take a few steps around, her giggles a peasant sound in his ears.

“Too bad Kagome ain’t here,” he rumbled and had to chuckle when she bounced a few times as more babble reached his ears. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind trying to find your—”

The horrified, frightened gasp that drifted over to him had his back stiffening and his muscles tensing. His ears flattened, his jaw clenched and he whipped his head around to find what was no doubt the pup’s mother staring at him in abject horror, her face pale, a hand fluttering at her mouth. Her fear was radiating off of her in waves and though Inuyasha knew the fear was for her daughter it still stung.

“Don’t hurt her!” she begged him, taking a step forward and reaching a trembling hand out. Inuyasha visibly flinched.

Expression going blank, Inuyasha carefully extracted his hands from the pup’s grip and slowly lowered her to sit on the ground before pushing to his feet and taking a step back, crossing his arms. Immediately and with a choked gasp the woman darted forward, snatching her child up in her arms and clutching her desperately to her chest. The babe whimpered in her arms, squirming around as she pushed and tried to turn her head despite the hand on the back of her head. The woman gazed at him in wide-eyed terror, stepping backward as if afraid to take her eyes off of him even for an instant.

Distrustful. Fearful.

Painful.

With eyes giving nothing away Inuyasha watched as she abruptly turned and took off, ears low on his head, listening as the pup’s wails of distress grew fainter with each passing second until there was silence. He stood there for a minute more before wordlessly reaching down to heft Hiraikotsu over his shoulder and headed towards the hut his friends were located, that familiar numbness creeping in and swiftly replacing any warmth he might have felt.

When he stepped inside, thankfully – mercifully – the only occupants were his friends, sans a certain dark-haired wench, but her scent was fresh so he wasn’t too worried. He leaned Sango’s weapon against the wall and knelt down next to the resting woman. Miroku was sitting next to Sango, eyes riveted on her face, and his hand clutched her own while she slept, oblivious. Her head was wrapped in a bandage and her heartbeat was slow, steady. She’d be fine, Inuyasha was positive, and he felt the part of him worried over her health finally relax.

“She hasn’t gained consciousness yet,” Miroku supplied without prompting. “However, the village physician assured that she will be fine after some rest. Says her wound looks worse than it actually is.”

He sighed and thrust his free hand through his hair before giving a tiny, relieved smile as he glanced at the half-demon.

“Still,” he murmured. “I don’t believe I’ll be getting any sleep tonight.”

Inuyasha understood. Had it been Kagome on that bedroll, head bandaged and dead to the world, he wouldn’t be able to relax until she was up and about either.

“Keh,” he muttered, eyes lingering on his friend’s face before he got to his feet. “Sango’s tough. She’ll be fine.” He paused. “Where’s Kagome?”

“Talking with the headman, I believe,” Miroku answered, gaze already back on the slumbering woman, distracted.

Inuyasha nodded, glanced at the sleeping kitsune snuggled up with Kirara against Sango’s side, and left the hut. Usually the thought of Kagome alone with another man was enough to ignite his temper and he’d go stomping after her, but this time he let it slide. No doubt storming through the village scowling and growling would not be a good idea given the general opinion these villagers had of him.

The woman’s face, twisted in fear, flashed through his mind and he shook his head to dispel the image. No, it would just do more harm than good, so it was stuck waiting with nothing to do until she returned, and god knew how long that would be.

With a resigned, if a little annoyed sigh, Inuyasha strode over to a tree a little ways from the hut, launched himself into it, and settled on a thick branch to wait. Maybe if he stayed hidden his presence would be forgotten, or the villagers would think he left, and his friends would at least get treated fairly. Frankly he was amazed the headman hadn’t kicked his ass out yet, but then again, it was still early.

He snorted, wondering the reason for that was due to a certain wench’s influence. No doubt the unrest and whispers hadn’t escaped the man’s notice, and it was the headman’s job to make sure his village was kept peaceful and safe. Having a half-breed within the perimeter jeopardized that safety – or so they thought, anyway – so it made sense to eliminate the threat. No doubt he had Kagome to thank for that because why else would she be talking to him.

Inuyasha sighed and closed his eyes as he stretched his arms behind his head, but he didn’t doze off. Sleeping was dangerous when the general consensus of the village was not in your favor, and to put down your guard, even for a minute, could be fatal. You couldn’t relax, not when you had more enemies than friends.

Not when you were a half-breed.

Nanami whined and squirmed to be put down, her little face red and screwed up into a pout.

“Hush, my darling. All is well.”

Cradling her little girl in her arms, distractedly murmuring to her in soothing tones, Saeko peered up into the tree in which the demon vanished and bit her lip, frowning in a mixture of apprehension and confusion.

This was…strange. She had fully expected the demon to hunt her down after taking away his meal from him, and yet he’d simply…walked away. What was even more befuddling was that Nanami hadn’t had a single scratch on her. After whisking her away as fast as she could, Saeko had frantically searched her one-year-old’s small body for any abrasions, scratches, or bruises. But after checking three times, curiously she could find nothing. She had thought that when Nanami continued to fuss and wriggle about, clearly distressed, she had to have been injured somewhere. Why else would she be acting like this?

Even now she wanted to be put down, pushing at her arms and emitting little sounds of upset. Still, no matter how many times she stripped her down and looked for anything out of the norm, her daughter’s skin was perfectly unblemished, just as soft and clear as before she’d wandered off by herself.

Which made no sense. Hadn’t the demon wanted to eat her? Why else would he be paying attention to such a weak, small human being?

Worrying her bottom lip, Saeko glanced down at her fussy daughter and thought back to how she had given her a fright earlier. Chatting with her parents while Nanami played on the ground beside her, their conversation had been abruptly put on hold when a large two-tailed cat demon had landed within the village proper. Seconds later a man cloaked in purple robes – a monk? – had started desperately calling for their healer. The woman in his arms was limp, unresponsive, and it hadn’t taken long to figure out she was injured.

Saeko had been utterly distracted when two more people had shown up and a single glance was enough to discern that one of them was not human. Stricken and immediately worried for her little girl’s safety, she had gone to pick Nanami up and flee the area, but upon looking down, her daughter was nowhere to be seen.

It amazed Saeko, how a child that wasn’t even able to walk yet could be so darned fast. It had felt like a small lifetime as she and her parents searched for her baby, calling her name, looking under bushes where she liked to hide sometimes, inside crates, and asking anyone if they’d seen her. Just when she had been about to break down sobbing, Saeko had heard a familiar laugh and went running in the direction it came from.

The fear that had seized her upon seeing her baby girl in the hands of the demon had been swift, intense, and so powerful she had nearly collapsed to her knees. The gasp that left her throat had been completely involuntary, and she watched with wide eyes as the demon looked over at her with the most peculiar colored eyes she had ever seen.

Fear for her daughter had kept her rooted to the spot and she’d pleaded him not to harm her, ready to run forward and snatch her away from his grasp if she needed to. So she’d been understandably shocked when the demon had simply released her and stepped back. She hadn’t wasted the time wondering at his odd behavior. Saeko had run forward, grabbed her little girl, and escaped as fast as she was able, fearful he would give chase and make a meal out of her as well.

She’d hidden behind a hut, catching her breath while Nanami cried and wiggled in her arms. Upon peering around the corner, expecting him to be on her tail, instead she saw him calmly walking away, a gigantic boomerang slung over his shoulder.

Saeko hadn’t known if she had been reprieved, or if she should be even more afraid. Was he biding his time? Waiting for the right moment to strike when she was unawares? She had no idea, and so she hadn’t been able to relax.

And just now she had been on her way back to her parents’ house, to both make sure they were safe and for extra protection for Nanami – her father was excellent with an axe – when she spotted him coming out of the hut the injured woman had been taken to. Saeko had been getting ready to bolt, certain that he would see her and finish what he’d been unable to earlier. But then he’d befuddled for the second time by not even sparing her a glance before hopping into a tree and disappearing from sight.

Saeko didn’t understand. All demons were vicious, bloodthirsty creatures, hell-bent on the destruction and suffering of those weaker than them. They ate human flesh, hunted their livestock, preyed upon them during the night, and were menaces to humans. Demons had no regret, had no mercy; you were as good as dead if a terrifying demon had you in its sights. Demons were evil, demons were bad, and that was the short and sweet of it.

…Weren’t they?

She sighed and once more stared up into the tree, again wondering why this demon hadn’t done any of those things. Frowning and deciding that Tsuyo could perhaps provide a little insight – her friend always been more openminded than herself – Saeko moved to continue down the path, but a woman’s voice calling out gave her pause and she turned back around.

She blinked, recognizing the young woman that had accompanied the demon earlier. Saeko frowned; the demon had companions? But—but that was unheard of! Demons did not have friends! But even as she thought this, she watched the silver-haired beast drop from the tree and she saw the girl smile before walking over to him.

Nanami fussed again and Saeko distractedly shushed her, patting her back as she watched, curious despite herself, the demon and young woman chat. She was too far away to hear what was being said, but the longer she watched, the clearer it became that this woman was in no danger of being eaten or harmed in any way.

Nanami whined and stretched out her arms, as if she wanted to go to the demon, but Saeko shushed her gently and kept her eyes on the twosome. With every second that passed she became more bewildered – this demon was disproving everything she knew about them! – but what happened next had Saeko gasping in alarm even as her face turned red from shocked embarrassment.

Discussion apparently concluded, the girl grabbed a strand of his hair and tugged gently. He obliged, bending his head and allowing her to brush a kiss across his cheek. She made to move away with another warm smile, already turning around, but Saeko watched, dumbstruck, as he grabbed her hand, reeled her back in, then caught her chin with his other hand and kissed her straight on the lips.

Saeko fully expected her to pull away. This was outrageous! He was a dangerous demon, incapable of feelings! But then even more shockingly, instead of pulling away she let the demon kiss her and even put her hand on his face, like a lover would, affectionately and reverently.

Face burning, Saeko couldn’t look away as the two parted a few seconds later. With one final smile the girl reached up, affectionately tweaked one of his ears – he had dog ears! – before turning and he released her hand, watching her go. She was not expecting a second later for those amber eyes to suddenly turn and look directly at her. With a gasp that was borne of embarrassed surprise, Saeko ducked behind the nearest hut and fled that penetrating gaze, heart beating a mile a minute.

Oh, goodness…! What had she just witnessed? It defied everything she’d learned, everything she knew about demons. None of it made any sense, and Saeko’s head was whirling, trying to piece together what she had witnessed, attempting to come up with some sort of logical excuse, but her frantic mind refused to provide an answer no matter how desperately she tried.

Nanami made a soft sound of distress and with another gasp Saeko forced herself to slow down and slacken her desperate grip on her baby. Her daughter was once again struggling to escape her arms, whining and whimpering as she pushed against her arms and used her tiny feet to dig into her stomach in an attempt to free herself.

Saeko frowned and came to a stop in the middle of the path. Nanami only acted this way whenever she wanted someone other than her mother to hold her, like her grandfather or Saeko’s best friend Tsuyo. She thought back to how upset her daughter had been after she had taken her away from the demon the first time, fearful she would become his next meal. She had refused to calm down, reaching out her arms as if silently pleading for someone to pluck her from her mother’s arms.

Someone…the demon?

No. No, that was impossible, surely her precious Nanami couldn’t…but…

Saeko’s shoulders slumped and she sighed, gazing down at her daughter who clearly wanted to be put down. Her little face scrunched up and turned pink, which was a clear sign that Nanami was about to have a tantrum, complete with high-pitched shrieks of discontent and endless tears. It was one of the less desirable traits she’d picked up when she didn’t get her way, and there were only two surefire ways that were successful in halting the hysterics, either before they started or during.

One, let her cry it out and exhaust herself into slumber, or two…give her that which she desired. And what Nanami desired came equipped with claws, fangs, and the most befuddling, contradictive behavior she had ever witnessed in a being like him.

Nanami emitted a garbled keening sound, a sound in which Saeko knew heralded the full-blown fit soon to follow. Instead of obliging her, however, the young woman clutched her tighter and continued determinedly down the path to her friend’s home.

She had a lot to think about.

“Inuyasha?”

Said hanyou’s ear flicked as a familiar voice reached him from within the boughs of the tree and wordlessly Inuyasha dropped down. Kagome smiled and ambled over to him as he slipped his hands into his opposite sleeves and made sure to school his features. He heard a soft whimper somewhere to his right but he didn’t turn his head as Kagome stopped in front of him, brown eyes searching his.

“Hey,” she greeted softly, gentle smile still in place. “I just checked in with Miroku. Sango was awake for a while and she managed to drink a bit of tea before going back to sleep. I think she’ll be just fine.”

Inuyasha grunted but otherwise didn’t reply, however she didn’t fail to miss the way his shoulders lost some of their tension.

Kagome’s smile dimmed a little and she sighed. “I talked with the headman,” she revealed but said nothing more, gaze drifting to the side.

He clenched his jaw as his ears flattened into his hair. “Yeah?” he growled, glaring over her head. “What did he have to say?”

“…Nothing…”

Inuyasha sighed, suddenly tired. “Kagome.”

“Don’t make me repeat it, please,” she whispered and just by those words alone Inuyasha had a pretty good idea what she had been forced to agree to in order for him to stay in the village.

He shook his head, grimacing slightly and avoiding her eyes when she looked up at him.

“Sorry,” he murmured, the guilt sitting heavy on his shoulders. “You shouldn’t have to deal with that—”

“Please stop,” Kagome gently beseeched him and he lifted his gaze to find her staring at him with caramel eyes filled not with pity, but warmth and understanding. “It’s not your fault these people are biased, Inuyasha. If it means that you can spend the night in relative peace without threat of harm, then I don’t care what I have to promise to ensure that. I know you would do the same for me.”

Inuyasha made a face, because she was right. He would do the same for her, ten times over if he had to, and endure unimaginable pain if it meant she was unharmed. It never failed to boggle his mind, how stupid and yet so brave, so fierce this slip of a woman was, this beautiful brown-eyed girl that had come to mean so much to him that sometimes it scared him. Her dedication was staggering, her strength at times seeming endless, her stubbornness damn near rivaling his own, and to put it simply, Kagome awed him in more ways than one.

Speechless, Inuyasha could only shake his head and emit a resigned sigh.

“Damn wench takes away my best arguments,” he muttered. He was rewarded by one of Kagome’s genuine smiles, the one that made his gut flip-flip and his heart to race in his chest.

“I do no such thing,” Kagome chirped, her eyes glinting impishly as she reached up and affectionately tugged on a strand of hair that hung over his shoulder. “I’m gonna go take advantage of the nice bathhouse the headman told me about. You should too. You reek.”

Inuyasha snorted loudly. With a laugh, she tugged again. Rolling his eyes, he obliged and bent his head, feeling the warmth of her lips brush against his cheek.

“Later, dogboy,” she said fondly and gave him one last smile before turning to walk away.

He didn’t think. Darting a hand out, Inuyasha caught her wrist, dragged her back. When she turned inquisitive eyes his way, he wordlessly grasped her chin with his free hand, tipped her face up, and covered her mouth with his.

Kagome hummed and returned his kiss, lifting a hand to cup his cheek as he sighed against her lips. He indulged in her taste for a few blissful seconds, and though he wanted to deepen the connection, he kept it chaste and sweet. Kagome, however, had no such qualms. His only warning was a slight curl to her lips before she nipped his lip and slipped inside his mouth for a deeper taste, eliciting a heady growl. He reciprocated, but only briefly; he couldn’t allow them to get carried away, especially out in the open in unfamiliar territory.

With another growl Inuyasha forced himself to pull away and he was gratified to see Kagome’s face was flushed, her lips swollen and red. He was tempted to dive back in but she smiled, tweaked his ear, and sashayed away before he could carry out that temptation.

He sighed and watched her go, the taste of her still on his lips. The same whimper drifted to his ears and when he turned his head, burnished amber collided with startled gray. Inuyasha said nothing as the woman from earlier fled, the child held securely in her arms.

That hollow ache appeared again, right where his heart was. Instead of launching himself back into the tree, Inuyasha strode over to the base and sank down. Maybe it was foolish, or maybe he was just setting himself up for more disappointment, but perhaps if the villagers saw him just minding his own business, trying to look as unthreatening as possible and ignoring everything around him, they wouldn’t think…there was a possibility they might…

Shaking his head, Inuyasha dragged a hand down his face with a weary sigh, grimacing at his own wistful thoughts. Who the hell was he kidding? He would always be looked upon as a monster in their eyes, a bloodthirsty, murdering demon who preyed upon the innocent and slaughtered everything in his path without mercy. It would never change, no matter how badly he wished it would, and not even with how many humans he’d rescued, how many villages he’d saved from utter destruction from other demons plaguing it. His half-breed status was a stigma he’d have to live with for the rest of his life, and no amount of wishing or hoping would change that fact.

But does it really need to? The niggling little voice in the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like a certain dark-eyed wench of his suddenly piped up and Inuyasha blinked. What does it really matter what everybody thinks of you, so long as you have your friends and—

“Kagome,” he murmured and felt the beginnings of a smile turn the corners of his lips upward.

Lost as he was in pleasant thoughts of warm smiles, laughing eyes, and smiling lips that had the ability to make him forget his own name with kisses so sweet, Inuyasha didn’t detect the familiar scent drifting up from the road below. Didn’t hear the rustling of grass as something pushed itself through it, nor the tinkling giggle of a happy child amidst little grunts of effort. So engrossed in his musings, the half-demon wasn’t aware of anything until something soft, warm, and nice smelling plopped heavily into his lap with a happy squeal and he started so bad he nearly dumped the wriggling mass of curls and giggles onto the ground.

“What the f—what—seriously, kid? You trying to get me in trouble?”

He received a bright grin and wide brown eyes gazing happily up at him as his answer. Inuyasha sighed and muttered a curse under his breath.

A quick scan of the surroundings revealed her mother was yet again nowhere in sight and Inuyasha bit back a groan. Dammit all, the little runt had probably snuck off again from under her mother’s watchful eye and he was reluctant to go and find her himself. No doubt it would not look good if a half-breed was walking around the village with a helpless pup in his arms, even if said pup was giving every sign of being unharmed and more or less content. He knew enough to know that people wouldn’t care; they’d take one look at him and assume the worst.

Like the woman had the first time the child had managed to find her way to him.

“Y’know,” Inuyasha drawled as the kid levered herself up onto her feet using the grip she had on his finger. “You’re not giving me a lot of options here, runt.”

Unthinkingly he adjusted his position, uncrossing his legs and bending them at the knee so she stood between them. Unsurprisingly she reached for his kotodama, tiny fingers wrapping around the beads and lifting them up and down. The resulting clinking noise made her laugh and despite himself the corners of his lips tugged upward.

“You’re gonna give your mother fits if you keep disappearing on her like this,” he told her casually, his smile melting into a thoughtful frown. “Fact, it’s a wonder she even let you outta her sight after—”

A whisper of cloth, the soft crunch of dirt beneath feet, and a familiar scent wafting over to him on the breeze had Inuyasha snapping his head up with a gasp as amber eyes grew wide with a mixture of surprise and soft panic. His body stiffened, his hackles raised, and his ears flattened into his hair as his mouth parted, ready to either one, flee the accusations that he knew were about to be callously flung his way, or two, negate the claims and—

“It’s alright,” she assured softly and her smile was apologetic. “I know you will not harm her.”

Inuyasha froze and his jaw snapped closed with an audible click. He stared at her, dumbstruck for a few seconds, and then suspicion slowly etched itself onto his features before gradually twisting into a disbelieving scowl. His ears lifted slowly from his scalp, as if testing the waters, but then hastily pinned once more, skeptical, wary.

“You didn’t seem to have that mindset before,” he reminded bitterly, unable to right away accept what seemed to be happening. He didn’t understand; what had changed?

Saeko grimaced and looked appropriately contrite, flushing as she jerked her head in a nod and turned her gaze toward the reason for this confrontation. With her tiny hand wrapped around a single clawed finger, the child was content to stand there between his knees and play with the beads around his neck with her free hand. Despite herself she had to smile; utterly fearless, her precious daughter seemed to have instinctively known somehow the hanyou was completely harmless, and the young mother realized now she should have trusted the toddler.

As it turned out, she hadn’t even made it to Tsuyo’s house before she’d turned back around to head back from whence she came. While her best friend could indeed shed a little light on the situation, Saeko had belatedly realized that the only insight she truly needed was already with her, with a pouting face, raven curls, and big brown eyes – her father’s eyes – that pleaded with her every step of the way. And suddenly it had been so easy, to forget her inhibitions and trust her daughter. After all, weren’t animals and babies the most honest beings on this earth?

“Yes,” she finally answered him and lifted her gaze to find him already staring at her with those unusual yet stunning golden eyes of his. She blinked in surprise as her cheeks pinked for a completely different reason. My, but he really was quite handsome, wasn’t he?

“I realize now that I was too hasty in my judgement earlier,” she continued, smiling once again, “and I have come to express my regret for my unfair assumption.”

Then she surprised him by bowing at the waist and Inuyasha gaped at her while the child, oblivious to her mother’s actions, cooed softly as she used the grip on hanyou’s finger to wave his hand back and forth. She giggled and his ears swiveled toward the pleasant sound.

The surprise faded quickly and he ducked his head to hide his red face, scowling lightly though it held no heat as he stared at the tiny human clinging to his finger. She gave him a big gummy grin and his face softened. He looked at the tot’s mother again and sighed at her bowed figure. Slowly be began to relax, his fight or flight instinct dwindling down once the realization that she spoke the truth started to sink in. It was strange, how she seemed to have a change of heart within such a short amount of time, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Keh,” he muttered, brows dipping into a slight frown as he watched the baby between his knees stare at his ears in wide-eyed interest. “Knock that off. You ain’t the first to assume it, and I doubt you’ll be the last. Forget about it.”

The young mother straightened from her bow and frowned at his words, her confusion evident as she said, “But…that hardly seems fair.”

Inuyasha shrugged. “Fair ain’t got a damn thing to do with it,” he replied, keeping his eyes on the child before him. “Not when you’re a half-breed.”

The human woman looked truly appalled, lifting a hand to press against her chest. “But that’s horrible!”

The hanyou paused and flicked a glance at her, his frown a little more pronounced. He studied her quietly for a moment and then shook his head, wondering if this was all an act, or if she truly was ignorant to the harsh realities of the world.

“That’s just the way it is, lady,” Inuyasha murmured. “Someone once told me a long time ago that people fear what they don’t understand and I’ve come to expect that now. Hell, if your initial reaction hadn’t been to snatch your kid and run away, then I’d start questioning your sanity. It’s complete bullshit, yeah, but there ain’t nothin’ you or I can do about it, so there ain’t no use worrying about it. And anyway, what do I care what people think of me? I don’t know ‘em so they don’t matter. Simple as that.”

He shrugged and turned his attention to the toddler between his knees that was trying to regain his attention by pulling on the beads around his neck and babbling nonsense at him.

“Bah,” she said and blinked great brown eyes at him.

Inuyasha cocked a brow. “Really,” he drawled, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “You don’t say.”

“Aah!” She giggled and bounced up and down a few times, her excitement palpable.

Inuyasha chuckled and a little ways away, Saeko smiled knowingly. He may claim that he didn’t care, that it didn’t matter what people thought of him, but she knew better. There had been something in his voice, in the way he avoided her eyes as he’d said it; he did care, more than he was obviously willing to admit, and she had the insane urge to go over to him and hug him tightly. Perhaps it was her newly acquired motherly instincts, but she wanted to comfort this man. She highly doubted he would let her, however, so she refrained and silently watched as he played with her daughter.

She was a fool to think this hanyou would be a danger to her precious one-year-old girl. Heavens, but he was gentler than some of the men in the village! She realized he must be purposely trying to be as gentle as possible so as to not accidentally hurt her – no doubt he was considerably stronger than the average man – and that only confirmed even more what she had already come to understand. Still, she appreciated his effort even as her heart went out to him at the knowledge that he’d had to face such cruelty.

Her smile dimmed. It really was unfair, but unfortunately he was right; there truly wasn’t anything she or him could do to change that fact, so she would just have to accept it, as he had.

There was one thing, however, that she could do. Turning her gaze toward her little girl who now had a strand of his silver hair caught in her tiny fist, the young woman’s smile returned as she made a decision. She would teach her little girl, her precious Nanami, to not repeat her mother’s folly and jump to conclusions. She would grow up knowing the difference between a good demon and a bad one – she refused to think that all demons were bad now after meeting him – she should always consider giving second chances, and she would do her level best to make sure her daughter never judged someone before she knew them.

Perhaps this way, if she raised Nanami right, she would be able to brighten some of the dark truths of the world. Maybe her kindness and understanding would reach somebody else that needed the same lesson, and that person would in turn spread it to others. She liked to think it would be a sort of chain effect until perhaps someday, in the very distant future, beings like him wouldn’t have to live in such a cruel world. By teaching her daughter the error of her mother’s ways, slowly but surely, situations such as what had happened that very morning would cease to exist altogether.

It was a nice thought and a good way to atone for her mistake, though Saeko suspected the guilt might take a little while longer to diminish completely. Still, it was a start, and her heart felt lighter as she gathered up her kimono and climbed up the small knoll to join him beneath the tree.

She didn’t fail to notice the way the hanyou tensed as she settled beside him, but she thought nothing of it. No doubt he was not used to people he did not know being comfortable around him, so she took no offense. She simply smiled and wrapped her arms around her bent knees, completely at ease. Utterly enamored with the silver-haired hanyou, Nanami didn’t even notice the presence of her mother and continued carrying on a one-sided conversation with him.

Pretending not to notice the way he studied her discreetly out of the corner of his eye, Saeko kept her eyes on Nanami and it wasn’t until he started to relax did she finally steal a glance at him. Though he had one ear cocked toward her – Saeko had to admit that those ears of his were simply adorable! - his attention was mainly focused on the toddler he was keeping upright just by letting her hold his finger and she was amazed at the soft expression on his face.

Saeko wondered how often it was that he had this opportunity, to be this close to a young child without them being fearful of him. She could only imagine what his life had been before he met his friends, and the thought that he had been alone for so long, without the warmth of companionship, was heartbreaking to her. It was no wonder his personality was a little gruff and he was quick to snap; being looked down upon for simply being what he was must have left some pretty deep emotional scars that would take time to heal.

Saeko was suddenly doubly glad she had taken a chance and approached him when she did. If she could offer him at least a little happiness, some peace in his otherwise turbulent life, then she could count that as a success, no matter how small.

“It must have been lonely,” she mused aloud without warning and at the sound of her voice Nanami swung her head around with a big smile. She smiled back, laughing softly when her one-year-old started babbling to her while waving her hand around. Then quite suddenly she fell back onto her bottom with a little grunt and heaved a gusty sigh.

Beside her the hanyou shifted and she glanced at him as he crossed his legs and leaned forward, propping an elbow on his thigh and resting his chin in his palm. His brow was slightly furrowed as he watched the child before him crawl around in the grass, happy as can be.

“Lonely?” he echoed and then shrugged, surprising her since she didn’t think he was going to answer. “Yeah, maybe. To be honest I’ve never really thought about it before. Don’t think I ever had the time to because I was too busy trying to survive.”

Then he blinked and frowned down at her as if he couldn’t believe he’d actually admitted that out loud to a stranger. Saeko watched in amusement as a light pink dusted the bridge of his nose before he looked away with a soft scoff. His gaze landed on Nanami and unsurprisingly the tot propelled herself toward him with a gleeful giggle. She pushed to her feet and before Saeko could even move clawed hands darted out to catch her as she stumbled forward.

Swallowing the gasp before it escaped her lips, Saeko relaxed and shook her head. Truly, she should have known he’d catch her; hadn’t he already proved that he could be trusted?

She heard a soft chuckle beside her and she focused her attention back on the hanyou, her daughter held safely within his hands as he helped her regain her balance. The toddler started climbing up into his lap and he let her, keeping her steady and bearing her slight weight on his thigh. He bounced his leg up and down and Nanami laughed her joy.

“Clumsy,” he said and she admired the small, fond smile on his face. “I know someone just like you. Always tripping over everything and falling down. I’m always tellin’ her to be more careful but she never listens, wench that she is.”

Saeko smiled. “Your friends seem like good people,” she remarked, her gaze drifting over to the dwelling the headman had set them up for the night.

He snorted. “Pain in my ass. All of ‘em.” His expression softened even as he said it, however, and Saeko knew he didn’t truly mean that.

The young woman tilted her head and her smile turned a tad sly. “Perhaps,” she mused, reaching out to take her daughter’s other hand. Tiny fingers wrapped around her thumb and absurdly her throat tightened. She didn’t think she could love her little girl more than she already did, but she was always surprised.

“But they are your friends,” Saeko continued as if that explained everything. “They are there for you, and it means you don’t have to be alone anymore.”

He snorted and they settled into a comfortable silence with the only sounds being Nanami’s happy cooing and the occasional giggle. The hanyou seemed content to allow her the small joy of balancing on his knee and Saeko was content to watch, somehow knowing he would not let her fall.

“What’s, uh…what’s her name?” Inuyasha asked a few minutes later and he sounded cautious but genuinely curious.

Saeko’s smile was fond yet sad as she answered, “Nanami.”

Inuyasha frowned. “Beautiful sea.”

“Yes,” she replied and offered a shrug. “I know it’s a little unconventional, but I never did like that belief that a water-based name was considered fragile. Her father loved the sea and loved to fish.” She paused. “My husband died before she was born doing what he loved most, and I wanted to honor her by blessing her with a name I know he would like.”

Amber eyes studied her silently for a moment, searching for what Saeko didn’t know. But apparently, he found it because he nodded his approval and turned his gaze back to the child in his lap.

“Nanami,” he murmured and the child beamed at him. He grinned back despite himself.

“I’m Saeko, by the way,” she volunteered and smiled at him expectantly.

Inuyasha made a face, clearly reluctant to share his own name, but when a tiny hand reached out and patted his cheek, he sighed and gave in.

“Inuyasha,” he mumbled and snagged her hand, secretly marveling at how small it was in his own.

Everything about the pup was small, except maybe her laugh and bubbly personality. And, well, damn, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she was like a mini Kagome, right down to the big brown eyes and the jet black hair. Fearless, happy, and…okay fine, she was cute, but cute in a way only a pup could be.

His wench, though…she was more than just cute. Kagome was…hell, he had no idea. Softness and strength, innocence and determination, Kagome had always been a contradiction to him, something that puzzled him with her endless reserves of forgiveness almost as much as her presence beside him made complete sense. Her smile illuminated the darkest corners of his heart, her touch eased the turbulent sorrow of his soul, and his name on her lips had the ability to make him forget every deep seeded ache, every troubled thought, and every doubt he’d ever had.

Kagome was healing, and with a start Inuyasha realized that this little pup, this little girl named Nanami, had the same healing spirit because she effortlessly managed to assuage a fear that he hadn’t even realized he’d had until then, a fear that he’d thought he had long ago suppressed.

Maybe…maybe it was possible, then, to someday enter a village like this one and not have people react so negatively. Maybe someday people wouldn’t automatically fear him and pups wouldn’t run away from him. And with this new realization, Inuyasha finally understood why he was so drawn to children to begin with, why he was never able to deny Kagome whenever she pleaded for them to stay the night in a village.

With just one child’s fearlessness of him, she had given him the belief, the hope that he wasn’t just the vicious monster that people callously made him out to be.

“You’re smiling.”

Inuyasha blinked, flushed, and the smile dropped from his face.

“Keh,” he mumbled and scowled. “I’m not.”

Saeko smiled knowingly but didn’t comment on his denial. She did wonder, however, what he had been thinking about to get him to smile like that. She was beginning to realize that he was rather shy and got pretty defensive if anyone pointed out something that could be considered a vulnerability or weakness. It was endearing, and Saeko’s urge to hug him strengthened.

“Well, Inuyasha,” she said and golden eyes glanced her way. “I hope that after you leave, you’ll come back again sometime and visit us. I’m sure Nanami would like to see you again.”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened and he looked stunned at the request as his blush made a reappearance on his cheeks. He opened his mouth, but Saeko never heard what he was going to say because Nanami chose that moment to emit a loud yawn, recapturing the hanyou’s attention, before heavily plopping down in the cradle of his lap and snuggling against his stomach. They both stared as she clutched a fistful of his suikan in her tiny hand, heaved a gusty sigh, and then promptly dozed off.

Inuyasha’s jaw clicked shut and his throat tightened as emotion, soft and swift, welled up without warning.

Beside him Saeko was feeling a little choked up herself as she reached over and smoothed her daughter’s hair away from her eyes.

“You know,” she whispered, her eyes soft, “not even my mother can get her to fall asleep in her arms like this. You are truly something special, Inuyasha.”

Said hanyou had no idea what to say to that so he remained silent, staring down at the sleeping pup in his arms, the slight weight of her in his lap pleasant and warm. Without thinking he brushed the back of his finger against the downy softness of her cheek, marveling not for the first time at this tiny creature’s unwavering trust in him. Far as he knew the only kid that had ever been comfortable enough to sleep around him, or hell even on him, was Shippou but he didn’t count. For one he was a demon, and two, he was an annoying runt.

Nanami, though…she was none of those things and that, in Inuyasha’s opinion, made a world of difference.

“Inuyasha.”

Ears flicking toward the voice, Inuyasha looked up to find that Saeko was kneeling and facing his way. Once their eyes connected, she reached out and caught one of his hands in both of hers, her expression pleading.

“I know I’ve already said it,” she began and her smile was equal parts hopeful and cautious. “But I do want you to know how sorry I am for the way I acted this afternoon. It was unfair to you, and I will not be able to get any rest until you accept my apology. Will you?”

Inuyasha’s ears flattened into his hair and he grimaced, looking away. Almost of their own accord his eyes landed on the sleeping pup in his lap and he sighed, shaking his head.

“No, really, you don’t need to,” he muttered, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s fine, I understand why—”

“But it’s not fine,” Saeko gently interrupted him with a shake of her head. “And just because you understand does not make it okay. It was wrong of me to judge you so quickly, Inuyasha, especially when you have done nothing to warrant such distrust. I feel horrible, truly, so please will you accept it? Do not make me beg.”

She smiled as she raised her eyebrows and somehow Inuyasha knew she was completely serious. And since he really didn’t want that to happen, he supposed he didn’t really have a choice, did he?

Rolling his eyes and grumbling under his breath, ignoring the way Saeko’s smile widened as she no doubt sensed her victory, Inuyasha sighed, pouted a bit, and gave in.

“Fine,” he grumbled, cutting her a narrow-eyed look that bespoke of his irritation, though it lacked any real heat. “I accept it. Now cut it out, you’re creeping me out. And you know how hard it is to creep out a hanyou? Damn women.”

Saeko blinked and wiped the smile off her face, nodding sagely. It didn’t last long however, and when Inuyasha scowled, she couldn’t hold back and started snickering. Goodness, but he was so easy to tease!

Recovering from her mirth in short order, Saeko nonetheless kept the smile on her face as she said sincerely, “Thank you, Inuyasha. Even if it wasn’t needed, I’m grateful all the same.”

He grunted but gave a curt nod.

“It’s late,” she announced with a sigh and an apologetic smile. “Though I wish I could give you more time with her, I should get Nanami to bed.”

Inuyasha echoed her sigh and for another moment simply stared down at the snoozing babe, enjoying the pleasant scent and the soft warmth of her in his lap, before giving a reluctant nod. He wanted to keep holding her, but knew Saeko was right. Carefully he lifted her up in his arms, gaze lingering on her peaceful face, and then transferred her over into her mother’s waiting arms.

Saeko smiled her thanks, adjusted the toddler so she was cradled against her chest with her head on her shoulder, and slowly got to her feet. Inuyasha remained sitting, slipping his hands into his opposite sleeves as he sat back against the tree.

“I do hope you’ll consider what I said and come visit your friends here again sometime,” Saeko said softly. “If it’s not too much trouble, anyway.”

Still a little surprised she had called him a friend, though secretly enjoying that fact, Inuyasha frowned slightly and gave a single nod. He supposed it couldn’t hurt to maybe stop by if he and the others just so happened to be traveling in this direction. He doubted Kagome would mind with how fast she took off for that damn bathhouse…

Saeko beamed and continued genuinely, “I’m glad I met you, Inuyasha. Have a good night.”

Inuyasha rumbled his own goodbye and watched as she descended the little knoll back to the path and headed toward her home, Nanami sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms. He was surprised at how much he missed holding her, at how fast he’d gotten used to having her in his arms. He decided right then that he’d definitely have to make an effort to come back and see them again.

Heaving a sigh, Inuyasha let his head fall back against the tree and dropped his hands to drape loosely over his knees.

His face was blank as he stared out at the village in front of him before he said suddenly, “She came to apologize.”

“Are you surprised?”

Silence was his reply and after a moment she settled beside him, smelling like water and jasmine, and her scent erased any remaining tension in his body. He sighed and closed his eyes, deliberated for half a second, then abruptly reached out and tugged her closer, into his side. Maybe it was Saeko’s gentle influence, or the way Nanami’s sleeping face kept flashing before his mind’s eye, but whatever it was Inuyasha didn’t feel the need to keep his defenses up tonight – at least when it came to her – and allowed himself to be selfish, just for a little while.

Kagome settled against him with a happy sigh and let her head fall onto his shoulder.

“You know,” Inuyasha said after a while and Kagome tilted her head to see him staring up at the dark sky. “She reminds me of you.”

Kagome sent him a curious glance. “Who? The woman?”

“No,” he murmured, shaking his head. “The pup. Nanami.”

“Nanami.” She frowned. “That’s unusual.”

“She’s named in honor of her old man,” Inuyasha supplied. “He loved the sea and Saeko thought it was fitting.”

Kagome’s expression gentled into a smile. “That’s so sweet.”

“Keh.”

“It is,” she insisted and swatted his arm. Inuyasha chuckled and Kagome smiled. “How does she remind you of me?”

Inuyasha suddenly grinned. “She’s loud, annoying, and cries too much.”

Kagome gasped in outrage and jerked upright so she could punch him in the stomach, but Inuyasha caught her hand with a laugh and dragged her into his lap.

“You’re such a jerk,” Kagome huffed, though she was smiling as she said it, her face an endearing shade of scarlet.

“Yeah, I know,” he said pleasantly and wrapped his arms around her, dragging her back against his chest. Kagome wiggled around to get comfortable before relaxing against him as he knew she would.

Sighing, Inuyasha closed his eyes and tightened his arms around her as he rumbled into her hair, “Fearless.”

“What?”

“She’s fearless,” he repeated and dropped his chin to rest on her shoulder. “Just like you are, and I’m not talking about all those times we’ve faced Naraku without you even batting an eye. You’ve never been scared of me, Kagome. Not once, not even when I was purposely trying to scare you when we first met, and you don’t know what that means to me.”

Blushing but infinitely pleased, it was impossible to stop the smile from spreading across her face as she ducked her head and shyly slipped a hand beneath one of his. Her heart was racing in her chest as his fingers threaded through hers, holding fast, and Kagome couldn’t remember a time when she had been so happy as she was right now.

“I have a pretty good idea,” she murmured and squeezed his hand.

Inuyasha smiled because yeah—she probably did know what it meant to him. Because she was Kagome, and nobody had ever understood him quite like she did.

“But you know, Inuyasha,” Kagome continued softly and he turned his head slightly to glance at her face. She caught his gaze, smiled, and breathed, “Those times we went against Naraku or any other time we were in a dangerous situation, I was only fearless because you were there. I don’t need to be scared when I have you with me.”

Swallowing thickly and staring into her eyes as warmth bloomed in his chest and spread outward, Inuyasha had no idea what to say so he just settled for murmuring her name before lifting a hand and slipping it into her hair, cupping the back of her head as he pressed his forehead against her own. Kagome’s hand cradled his jaw and his own name fell from her lips in a soundless whisper.

He closed his eyes, felt the warmth of her breath ghost over his lips as she gave a shaky sigh, and no words were exchanged. Together they sat there, reveling in one another and content, until the dawn’s first rays stretched over the horizon.

Sitting on the blanket, blowing raspberries and playing with some wooden toys her grandfather had fashioned for her, Nanami looked over at her mother and grinned happily. Dirt smudged her face and dried mud was in her hair, but none of that seemed to bother her as she waved around the toys covered in saliva and teeth marks.

From the garden a few feet away, Saeko paused in her task of pulling weeds and smiled back at her daughter. Nanami was in desperate need of a bath and some clean clothes, but it was almost time for breakfast anyway, so she figured a little more time outside couldn’t hurt while she finished the garden. It was a beautiful morning and Saeko wanted to take advantage of it before it got too hot.

Distracted by a butterfly, Nanami looked away from her mother to follow the creature and Saeko sighed softly as she sat back on her heels, pushing her bangs away from her eyes. She glanced down the main road in which her home sat close by to and wondered if Inuyasha and his friends had left yet. She hadn’t a clue on how the woman’s recovery was going, if she was okay to travel or needed more rest. She prayed for the former, because not only did she not relish the thought of anyone in pain, but because she knew Inuyasha was uneasy about staying in a village where he was not very welcome.

She was grateful the headman had been kind enough, at least, to realize their need for aid and put them up in an old hut no one used. He may be perhaps the only person aside from herself in the entire village that didn’t harbor any ill will toward him. True, perhaps she had at first, but she was glad to say she had atoned for her mistake and she had successfully smoothed out the misunderstanding on her part.

Saeko smiled. Actually, perhaps she was wrong in that assessment. She’d had a late-night discussion with her parents last night after she’d put Nanami to bed and she had explained all that had happened between the hanyou and herself. Her parents had been understandably bewildered at the thought of her befriending a demon, even half of one, but after some patient explaining, she was able to convince them to at least consider that just because Inuyasha was a hanyou did not mean he was bad. There are good demons, just as there are good people and bad demons as there are bad people. They were of course still a little skeptical and wary when they retired for the night, but they had promised to think on all she had said and Saeko was confident they would come through. They had raised her, after all. Surely their thinking couldn’t be much different from her own.

Her regime to change the negative outlook on demons was starting and she was feeling a little proud of herself, to say the least.

Sighing, Saeko glanced at the sky and determined it was about time to clean up for breakfast. She was getting hungry so no doubt Nanami was ready to eat, too.

Dusting off her hands, Saeko got to her feet and smiled over at her daughter. “Time for breakfast, Nan—Nanami?”

The blanket was empty save for her daughter’s wooden toys scattered about the cloth and Saeko tamped down on the instinctive panic that rose up. She was only one summer old—she couldn’t have gotten far, and everybody in the village always looked out for each other. She was confident if someone spotted her whoever it was would return her child back home.

Biting her lip, Saeko frowned and looked around, hoping to maybe spot her nearby. When she saw neither hide nor hair of her daughter, she peeked inside the hut to see if she’d scooted by without her realizing, but it was empty. Swallowing the fear Saeko darted around the hut, hoping Nanami was just chasing after that butterfly or something—

She heard Nanami’s delighted squeal seconds before she rounded the corner and she stopped short at the sight that greeted her as relief coursed through her body. Using familiar red hakama to pull herself to her feet, the toddler giggled merrily as clawed hands reached down and picked her up.

Putting a hand to her chest, Saeko smiled and released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as she took a step forward with a smile.

Cradling her against his chest with one arm while his free hand was held captive by a much smaller one, Inuyasha gave a small grin at the tot that was trying to chew on his finger. He was actually going to miss the little squirt.

“Looks like somebody’s been playing in the dirt,” he murmured, observing the smudges of dried mud on her face and in her hair. Some of it was getting on his suikan but he didn’t particularly care so he gave it no mind.

“Yes,” Saeko said with a small laugh and walked toward him. “I was just about to clean us up and start some breakfast.” She paused, and hedged, “You’re free to join us, if you’d like. Your friends can as well.”

She wasn’t surprised when he shook his head and she didn’t insist. She suspected she knew what he was here for anyway, and his next words confirmed it.

“I came to say bye before I left,” he said and glanced toward the road. Saeko followed his gaze and spotted his friends waiting for him. She smiled and gave a little wave; they waved back.

“And to say thanks,” he continued and she turned her gaze back to him to find his cheeks a little red and his eyes focused on her daughter. Nanami was playing with the beads around his neck again, the sound they made as she lifted them up and down making her giggle.

Saeko blinked and tried not to smile. “Whatever for?”

Inuyasha sent her a look and she failed at stifling her snicker. Rolling his eyes, the hanyou sighed and gazed fondly down at the child in his arms. She had yet to release his finger and he was content to let her hold it for however long she wanted; her grip was firm and he doubted she’d let him go even if he wanted her to. It was a nice thought and that warm feeling came back.

“There’s a saying,” he said suddenly, addressing Saeko but keeping his eyes on her daughter, “that one of my friends told me about once. ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover unless you know what’s inside,’ or something like that. Basically it means—”

“Do not judge someone until you know them first,” Saeko finished with a gentle smile.

Inuyasha looked briefly surprised but then he nodded, relieved. “Yeah.”

Clearing his throat and appearing a little uncomfortable, he flushed and avoided her gaze, looking at Nanami as he grumbled, “So, uh, I just wanted to…say thanks. For giving me a second chance and…y’know, looking inside the book.”

He paused and then grimaced. “That sounded better in my head,” he muttered and was rewarded with Saeko’s laughter. He shot her a glare but it lacked any real irritation. Nanami laughed too and Inuyasha sent her a long-suffering look.

Releasing an exaggerated sigh, Inuyasha waited for her laughter to die down to soft giggles and when she finally seemed recovered from her mirth, he pegged her with a deadpan look and said dryly, “Are you done?”

Saeko snorted indelicately and flapped a hand at him, grinning. “Sorry, sorry,” she said and moved to stand in front of him.

“Liar.”

She shrugged and didn’t deny it but her face softened and she gave him a genuine smile.

“You’re welcome, Inuyasha,” she said and laid a hand on his arm. “I’m being honest when I say I’m glad that I did. You truly are a good person, and that’s more than I can say for a lot of humans out there. Your friends are very lucky to have you.”

He snorted and mumbled under his breath, “More like I’m lucky to have them.” Louder he said, “I gotta go. I’ll, uh, I’ll try and come back to visit. I s’pose it wouldn’t be so bad seeing this runt again.”

Inuyasha affectionately ruffled Nanami’s hair with a clawed hand and she squealed in delight, reaching up and catching his hand with both of hers. He grinned and for a selfish moment he pulled her close, giving her a brief but tight hug.

“See ya, kid,” he murmured then went to hand her back to her mother.

To his surprise, however, Saeko stepped in close, wrapped her arms around him, and gave him a hug instead. Inuyasha stiffened and he sputtered as his face went red, eyes going wide. After several seconds of standing there stiffly and still she didn’t pull away, he cleared his throat and awkwardly patted her back a few times, looking away and praying the others didn’t see how red his face was.

Satisfied, Saeko pulled back with a grin and accepted her daughter when he handed her back to him. The toddler whined in protest and wrapped her tiny arms around Inuyasha’s neck. Saeko smiled sadly and waited for the hanyou to give her one last hug before stepping back. Nanami whimpered and buried her face in her mother’s neck, clearly upset.

Inuyasha grimaced, and when all Saeko did was smile and shrug helplessly, he sighed and quirked a half-grin.

“See ya around, Saeko,” he said and turned his gaze to the child in her arms. “Oi, squirt.”

Great brown eyes brimmed with unshed tears glanced his way. With another sigh, he stepped forward to ruffle her hair again.

“Stay outta trouble,” he told her and glad to have his attention again, Nanami beamed and giggled. He couldn’t help but grin back. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Then with that, Inuyasha bent one last nod in Saeko’s direction then turned and headed toward his friends.

“Buh,” Nanami said and reached out a hand, opening and closing her hand in classic “bye-bye.”

“Take care of yourself, Inuyasha,” Saeko murmured, smiling as her newfound friend rejoined his friends. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“Mah.” A tiny hand landed on her cheek.

Smiling, Saeko tore her gaze away from the retreating group of travelers and kissed her daughter’s pudgy little hand.

“Alright, my little starfish,” she said and turned walk back around their home. “Let’s get you cleaned up and get some food in your little tummy. Gran and Pop are going to be here soon and we can all eat together.”

Nanami giggled and said, “’Ood!”

Laughing, Saeko disappeared inside her hut, content with all that had happened in such a short amount of time.

Walking behind Miroku and Sango, with the latter sitting upon a transformed Kirara despite her many protests that she could walk, a small hand slipped into his own. Without looking down, Inuyasha threaded their fingers together.

“Ladies man,” Kagome teased him under her breath, knowing he could hear her. “I think I’m jealous.”

Inuyasha flushed and scowled slightly. Of course Kagome would have seen it.

“Wench,” he grumbled. “I’m no ‘ladies man.’ Keh.”

“I beg to differ.”

“I beg you to shut up.”

Kagome snickered and leaned against his arm. “Seriously, though, I’m glad things worked out so well. Are you coming back to visit?”

Inuyasha shrugged. “Maybe. Depends if or when we travel this way again.”

“You mean you won’t make a special trip out just to see them?”

He rolled his eyes. “We have a job to do, Kagome. We can’t gallivant all over the countryside on a whim, you know.”

Kagome pouted a little. “But she’s so cuuuuuute,” she whined, thinking of the darling little girl that had been in her hanyou’s arms just moments ago. She resisted the urge to squeal as she brought the image to mind again. Inuyasha with a child in his arms was just too precious!

“Go hug the runt. You think he’s cute,” he reminded her, unsympathetic.

Huffing, Kagome tugged her hand out of his and crossed arms, sticking her nose in the air.

“You’re mean,” she grumbled and moved to stomp ahead of him to join her nicer friends.

A strong arm snagged her around the waist and dragged her back against a hard chest. Kagome’s faux irritation vanished and she ducked her head to hide her smile as she leaned back.

“Oi,” Inuyasha rumbled in her ear. “You can’t get away from me that easily, wench.”

“Oh, no,” she murmured, enjoying their impromptu little game. “Whatever shall I do?”

Inuyasha chuckled and started walking backward toward the forest that lined each side of the road. He glanced at their friends and was gratified to see they hadn’t noticed their sneaking away, Miroku and Sango wrapped up in each other while Shippou dozed on Kirara’s rump.

“Scared, wench?” he asked and dared to brush his lips against the slender column of her neck. Kagome gasped and shivered and he growled his approval.

Biting down on her lip, unresisting as Inuyasha continued to drag her farther back toward the cover of the trees, Kagome couldn’t stop the smile from stretching across her face. Laying her hands on his and tilting her head back, Kagome leaned up to boldly kiss his jaw and she felt his pleased rumble against her back.

“Oh, but…don’t you know?” she breathed as Inuyasha turned his head, breath ghosting over her lips.

“Know what?” he husked, the allure of her mouth too strong to ignore.

Kagome sighed, smiled, and lifted a hand to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck as Inuyasha’s lips teasingly, feather soft, brushed against her own.

“I’m not scared,” she whispered and closed her eyes as his hand cradled her jaw. “Because when I’m with you, Inuyasha…I’m fearless.”

#fearless #inukag #inukag fanfiction #inuyasha #inuyasha fanfiction #oneshot #keizfanfiction

166 notes · View notes

walkerwords · 3 years

Text

“The Savior Sessions” Part 32 of 33 - Negan x GN!Reader

IMAGE CREDIT: AMC

SERIES MASTERLIST

Summary: In the confines of a Tower, conversations are held as the survivors prepare to face Beta and the horde.

Word Count: 4681

Warning: Swearing

Song I Wrote To: “Outlaws of Love” by Adam Lambert

Note: I can’t believe I have been writing this since AUGUST. Only one more after this and I think it is going to wrap up nicely. Enjoy a little down time before the big battle and yes, Maggie will make an appearance in the final part. Thanks!

—————

For as long as you could remember, you loved being up high.

You could remember climbing trees as a kid and jumping off the rope swing at summer camp as soon as school got out. Nobody in your family ever understood why you felt more comfortable off the ground, but the truth was, you felt safer there than down below.

No matter how high, it was almost as if you were untouchable, immune from the world around you. When the world ended, you found yourself searching for the highest points possible. It was exactly why you had decided to pick up a sniper rifle in the first place.

The guard towers at the prison, the top of the barn at the Greene farm, and even the old clock tower that once stood in Alexandria, were all your comfort places.

The tower you now stood in, however, felt more like a trap rather than a place of freedom.

Daryl, Michonne, and you had realized that with Negan declaring war on the Whisperers by killing Alpha, Beta would be coming for everyone with an even more vicious vendetta. Negan was docile when it came to the decision. He said ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘yes sir’ as he moved through the community. Nobody dared say anything negative towards him, but they weren’t praising him either.

They knew that no matter how he did it, Negan had saved more lives than not when he killed Alpha. The only one who was still dealing with the fallout of it all was Lydia.

As soon as Negan told everyone what he had done, Lydia had shut down. She still stayed with you when it was time to rest, but she didn’t say much. From all the time you were a teacher, you recognized the anger that she was feeling. You also knew that it was only a matter of time before she unleashed that fury on Negan.

Then, there was Daryl.

You couldn’t get a proper read on him and it was starting to worry you. Daryl was a smart man, but when it came to facing down an enemy at this caliber, he tended to get reckless. If he didn’t get it together soon, Beta would have the upper hand and you were not going to let that happen.

Beta had to die and you were going to be the one to do it, no matter what it took.

Looking out the window of the tower, you braced your hands on the window sill and waited for the horde to move in because you knew one thing for sure, Beta wasn’t going to stop until you and Negan were both dead.

—————

“Did you get any sleep?” Michonne asked Negan as she joined him against the wall as they watched the room before them.

“Not a bit,” he said. “You?”

“RJ snores like his father,” Michonne said fondly. “So, no, not much.”

“He’s a good kid,” Negan said as he watched RJ pet Dog who was curled at his feet.

“Yeah,” Michonne said with a sigh. Negan looked over at her, raising a brow.

“What’s up?”

“I can’t see how we get out of this one,” she admitted.

“And so you’ve come to me for comfort?” he asked with a snort.

“That’s what you get for playing hero,” she said.

“Nah, I ain’t a hero,” he said as his eyes scanned over to Lydia who was playing with one of the stray cats that occupied the building. “I’m just trying to knock some years off of my eternal damnation.”

“I didn’t peg you for the religious type,” she said.

“I’m not,” he said. “I’m just covering all my bases.”

“Do one of those bases include (Y/N)?” she asked. Negan sighed, leaning further back against the wall, crossing his ankles

“I don’t know why they even bothered to forgive me,” he said, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “I would have sent my ass packing.”

“Guess that makes them the better person,” Michonne proposed.

“Ah, well, that was never in question,” he said. “(Y/N) was the only thing that kept me going while I was out there. You know when Beta came back and said that someone with a sword had nearly ended him, I knew it was them and that terrified me. I always knew they were a total badass, but hearing how close they came to being gutted by that bastard…”

“I know that fear,” Michonne said. “There was a time during the war with your people that I thought Rick had died.” Negan was patient as she began to tell her story. “We were at this old fairground looking for weapons and we became overwhelmed by Walkers. We started to make a game out of how many we could get before the other,” she said with a small smile. “Rick climbed up onto this rickety Ferris wheel, taking aim with his gun. I was on the other side of the yard when the mechanism broke and he fell.

“I saw him disappear into a crowd of Walkers and as I ran towards him I saw those things tearing at flesh and blood. I remembered that I stopped breathing, unable to even comprehend what I was seeing. I had dropped my katana and everything was moving in slow motion. It wasn’t until I heard his voice calling my name that I knew he was alive. Rick had found a way to survive and then he threw me my sword and we fought together. I had never been happier to see him than at that moment.”

Negan smiled softly at that, thinking of the man as well. “Wait,” he said, “if they weren’t eating Rick…”

“It was a deer,” Michonne said. “He owed me one after you and the Saviors took the one I carried into Alexandria.”

“Ah,” he said. “Always the gentleman, huh?”

“Yeah,” Michonne said as her eyes were on her children. “ You know, I once asked you to do for (Y/N) what they were doing for you,” Michonne continued. Negan nodded, remembering.

“Not sure if I ever completed that task,” he said, thinking back to the night you lay in the infirmary recovering from the blizzard. Michonne had asked him to help you as you had helped him.

“I disagree,” Michonne said, surprising the man next to her. “I thought that (Y/N) needed to be coddled or helped through all this trauma, but I was wrong. They just needed a reason to fight through all the shit in their life. That reason ended up being you.”

“I’m not much to fight for,” Negan said casually.

“Since when do you see yourself like this?” she asked. Negan could tell that his sudden self-deprecating attitude was confusing to her, just as it was to Gabriel or Rosita.

“I guess,” Negan began, taking a deep breath. “I guess I just got tired of trying to be a somethin’ I’m not. I’ve spent too long actin’ as if I got my shit together when in truth, I’m just fucked up as everything else in this godforsaken world.”

“Ever think that’s just the way it’s supposed to be?” Michonne offered. “If any of us were completely sane or normal, we’d all be dead.”

“There’d be a lot less bloodshed if we were,” Negan offered, but Michonne was shaking her head.

“No, I think there’d be more,” she said. “Negan, regardless of what any of us have done, we have all believed in one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That people are the future and in order to survive, we gotta start savin’ them. No matter what.”

--------

“Since when do ya hide from your problems?” Daryl asked as he approached you.

Standing by the window, you cast your eyes towards him. “Who says I’m hiding?” you asked.

“Negan’s out there trying to be helpful and you’re all alone in here waiting for a war,” he said.

“Isn’t that what we’re all doing?” you asked.

“Nah, I’m preparing for one, not wishing for it.” Sighing, you fully faced him. The new scars on his face were stark against his face and you knew that you didn’t look much better.

“All I want is Beta,” you said. “Then, this will all be over.”

“It will never be over, (Y/N). You know that and so do I. There’s always going to be another problem to deal with. The world doesn’t stop tryin’ to end just ‘cause we beat another enemy.”

“Remember when Walkers were the only enemy?” you asked.

“We all knew that wasn’t going to last long,” he said, bracing his hand against the wall.

Over the past year or so, you had begun to see Daryl differently. He was no longer just the right-hand or the hunter. He was now a leader and one that had stepped up to the role that Rick always knew he could be. There wasn’t anyone else that you respected more than Daryl Dixon.

You had grown into a new version of yourself as well. For a long time, it had felt as if you were the outsider, the one who never quite fit, but now that felt as if it was changing. You used to think it was Negan who was bringing out this new side of you, but the truth was, it was just you.

You had become stronger because you had always been strong and resilient, you just hadn’t allowed yourself to break through that shell.

“What happens now?” you asked.

“We fight,” Daryl said. “We may not all get out this, but we’ve never given up and we ain’t about to start now. I know you want Beta, (Y/N), but you gotta survive first.”

“You’re on his hit list, too,” you said.

“And if he comes for me, I’ll be ready,” Daryl said. You both were quiet for a moment, letting the stillness of the tower surround you.

“Aaron and Alden shouldn’t be out there alone,” you whispered.

“They know what they’re doin’,” he assured you. “I’m about to do a perimeter check soon.”

“Need some help?” you asked.

“Nah,” Daryl said, shaking his head. “You gotta stay up here. You’ve always seen better up high.”

“Maybe the thinner air will help me work things out,” you said with another sigh.

“Don’t think that just cause you want to forgive him, that you have to right now. You’re human, not a damn machine.”

“Have you forgiven Carol?” you asked.

“I ain’t turning my back on her if that’s what ya mean,” he said. You gave him a look. “Of course I forgive her. She’s my best friend, (Y/N), and if that stops meanin’ something then we’re all lost.”

“I lost my best friend,” you said, fighting back the lump in your throat.

“He ain’t completely gone,” Daryl said, tugging on the sleeve of the duster that you wore. Your hand slid to the pommel of your sword, too, feeling Paul’s memory in your mind. “He loved you and he always believed in you. Sasha, too,” he said and you closed your eyes at that. “I know ya still miss her like crazy. Next to Maggie, you were the closest thing she had to another sibling after Tyreese.”

“Maggie never saw it that way,” you said. “She and I… we were close once. Then, after Glenn… Maggie stopped coming to me. I always wondered if I did something wrong or if she blamed me because was one of the first people to agree with Rick about the satellite station. Whatever it was, our relationship was never the same and Sash got caught between.”

“Maggie has her own demons just as you have yours and Sasha had hers. You can’t compare them. That ain’t how it works,” Daryl said.

“Then how does it work, Daryl?” you asked. “In case you haven’t noticed, Maggie’s demon is the man that I fell in love with.”

“Negan ain’t the same that he was back then. Even I can see that the son of a bitch has changed. I don’t like to admit it, but what he did, takin’ out Alpha like that, that proved somethin’. He could have run when Carol let him out. He could have joined up with them and took more of us out, but he didn’t. Why? Cause he’s in love with you? Maybe. But I think it's more than that. I don’t think the bastard ever wanted to be what he was. He thinks so, too.”

“Is there a lesson in this speech, D?” you asked.

“Yeah,” he said, “get out of your damn head, stop thinkin’ about what Maggie would think, and start thinkin’ for yourself. We know better than anyone that the future ain’t always certain. There’s no time to overthink shit when you already know what you want. So tell me, what do you want, (Y/N)?”

It had been a long time since someone had asked you that question. Before, you would have brushed them off and made some lame joke about wanting to watch TV or go to a concert again. However, now, you didn’t feel the need to hide at all because you knew what you wanted and you were damn well going to fight for it.

“I want Beta dead, my family safe, and I want Negan by my side for all of it. I don’t care what people think of him because I love him and if that makes me some sort of outlaw within this group, so be it. Enid once told me that I have lost too much to feel guilty for loving someone and she was right. I love him, Daryl, and I am done feeling ashamed about that.”

Daryl nodded, standing up straighter. Reaching out, he laid his hand against your shoulder.

“Finally,” he said. “Finally, ya understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Yourself.”

---------

Negan had been dancing around it all day but he had to speak to Lydia.

He had seen her wandering around, playing with the cats or speaking with Carol. He wasn’t entirely sure what that relationship was all about, but it made sense for the two of them to connect. Lydia had loved Carol’s son. Negan had been worried about talking to the teen especially since she seemed to be avoiding you as well.

You had become like a parent to Lydia and Negan thought perhaps she had begun to see him like that as well. However, now, after what he had done, Negan wasn’t sure of anything.

Approaching her, he waited for her to look at him, but her eyes remained on the dirty floor. “Hey. I, um... I don't think you've eaten anything today,” he tried, feeling like an idiot.

“I'm good,” Lydia said dismissively.

“You know,” Negan continued. “I can't tell if it's just one of those things or the craziness of us all moving to an abandoned tower... or if you're just avoiding me.”

“I'm avoiding you,” she said plainly, causing Negan’s brows to rise quickly.

“Well, shit, that's honest,” he said.

“You want me to lie? Make you feel better?” Lydia said, getting to her feet and narrowing her eyes at him.

“No, I don't,” Negan said. “I’d rather you were always honest with me.”

“Okay. Well, then you can give someone else the rat stew,” Lydia said.

“It's not rat. It's possum. I mean, yeah, it is basically a big rat.” Lydia looked at him as if she was wishing he would just go away, but he had to say his piece. “Look, kiddo, your mom, I mean, she did some horrible shit and there's no excusing any of it, but there were things about her that were complicated. In some ways, I wish you could have seen some of the truth that I did. Maybe then you would understand why I did what I did.”

“We all know why you did it,” Lydia said.

“I know, but if there's something that you wanna say to me, then you should say it cause this whole silent treatment shit ain’t working.”

“Fine,” Lydia said. “Most of us wish you'd died, too.”

“Don’t you say that to me,” he said. “Not me. There was a time when you and I respected one another, when you would talk to me. Now I get that you’re pissed, but don’t act like you’re a founding member of my hate club cause you’re not.”

“You don't get to tell me what to do,” Lydia snapped.

“You're right, I can't. I am not your father, but I sure as hell ain’t your enemy,” he said.

“Then what are you, huh?” she said, getting angrier.

“I am trying to be someone who is there for you.”

“You tied me to a chair and left me alone in some swamp!” she hollered.

“To protect you!” Negan said before lowering his voice. “Your mother was going to kill you as some sort of animal kingdom ritual. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Lydia rasped out.

“I know, I know,” he said, “but you gotta try to. You have to let this anger out. Otherwise, you are gonna drift further from these people, and I know you don't want that.”

“The hell do you know what I want, huh? Tell me. You're a selfish asshole,” Lydia shot at him. “You only killed her so they'd think that you're a hero. But nothing you do will ever make you that here! Because you only care about yourself.”

“That's not true,” he said.

“Right, I forgot that you wormed yourself into (Y/N)’s heart. Though, that may say more about them than you, huh?” she said as the tears began to well in her eyes. “Why do you even care?” she asked. “Why do either of you care,” she said. “You and (Y/N) look at me as if I need fixing.”

“Is that what you think? That we want to fix you? Jesus, Lydia, how could you think that?”

“I know you see her when you look at me,” Lydia said. “You see my mother in me.”

“I see the good parts,” he said with a nod. “You have your mother’s strength and resilience. No matter what she did with it, she passed that on to you and that means something,” Negan argued. “Lydia, you have to mourn her. You know, you need to say goodbye. Otherwise, it's gonna eat you up from the inside. Just trust me on this.”

“Good parts? How the hell can you tell me that there were good parts? I hated her!” she yelled, lashing out at him, hitting him in the chest. She breathed in a shaky breath, trying to control her anger, but she couldn’t. “I want to hate her, so screw you for telling me I can't even do that!”

“It's okay, Lydia,” Negan said as Lydia began to cry, her shouts of anger turning into sobs.

“No! It's not okay!” she said, hitting him in the chest. “It's not okay! It's not okay!” Negan grabbed her into a hug, holding her close to his chest so she couldn’t keep lashing out. Lydia quickly fell against him, clutching at him as she cried.

“It's okay,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s okay.”

As Lydia sobbed in his arms, Negan held her and tried to make everything seem as if it was going to okay, but not even he could promise her that.

--------

It was well after Negan had calmed Lydia down that you found him at one of the watchpoints.

“Dianne, give us a second?” you asked the archer who nodded and excused herself. You sat down on an old crate and invited Negan to join you. He did, his bat settling next to his feet on the floor. You grabbed it, feeling its weight in your hands. Negan didn’t say anything as you examined the weapon, wondering what its namesake was truly like. “Lydia seems like she’s settled a bit,” you observed.

“She just needed to get it out of her system,” Negan said. “It’ll be a while before she’s better.”

“I know,” you said. “I remember what it’s like to lose a parent.”

“So do I,” he said.

“I’m glad you’re here,” you said, spinning the bat in your hands.

“Wasn’t plannin’ on being any place else,” he said.

II know,” you said with a nod. Looking over at him, you handed him back the bat. He took it from you and placed it back on the ground. “I was thinking about something earlier.”

“What was that?”

“There was a line in the letter that Carl left me,” you began. “It said, ‘stop trying to see everything through the scope of your rifle and start seeing what is right in front of you,’.”

“Sounds incredibly wise for him,” Negan noticed.

“Well, that was Carl,” you said. “That line has stuck with me since I first read it. I never really understood what he meant until his dad died and then more recently when you came home.” Negan was quiet, his eyes focusing on you completely.

“For so long I was trying to stay three steps ahead of everything,” you went on, “but I never took the time to match pace with anyone. I think that’s why it took me so long to realize that you and I are never going to be the perfect couple. We’re not going to be the couple that takes nightly strolls or agrees on everything. We are, however, going to be the couple that fights like cats and dogs and who are willing to risk everything for each other. I finally see that is what this,” you gestured between the two of you, “is supposed to be and I am sorry if you ever felt as if I was pressuring you to be someone you’re not.”

“You weren’t,” he assured you. “I was pressuring myself into not screwing everything up because you are right, we are not normal in any sense of the word. But you know what?” he asked, reaching over to take your hand. “Fuck normal. It’s so goddamn overrated anyways.”

“That it is,” you said as you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He kissed you back before leaning his forehead against yours. “So, we can be not normal together, right? Cause I am not ready to go any further into this screwed up world without you.”

“You don’t have to,” he said. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Good,” you said, smiling softly. “I just hope we can do that without someone breathing down your neck with a weapon.”

“So do I,” Negan said with a soft chuckle. Suddenly, something dawned on you.

“Hey, do you have any idea what happened to Brandon?” Negan froze. “He sort of disappeared after you did.” Leaning back, he gave you a sheepish look.

“Well…” Negan began. “The little psychopath found me on the road.”

“Seriously?” you asked.

“He was some sort of ‘fan’ of mine, apparently. His old man was a Savior and he wanted to be just like daddy. Problem was, he was fucking crazy.”

“Go on,” you urged.

“We came across a mother and her son. I helped them and that’s when Brandon told me that he wanted to either rob them or kill them. A fucking woman and her kid…” Negan said, rubbing at his brow.

“What did you do?”

“Told him to get lost,” Negan said. “Tried to offer him some decent life advice, but it clearly didn’t stick. When I came back after looking for some firewood for the mom, Brandon had bludgeoned them to death with a tire iron.”

“The kid, too?” you asked, shocked.

“There was more blood on the ground than in their bodies, (Y/N),” he said. “So, I picked up a rock and beat in his skull before he could murder any more innocent people.” You were silent for a moment as Negan’s word resonated. Eventually, you just sighed and shook your head.

“Shit,” you swore.

“Yeah.”

“Fucking Brandon,” you said with a roll of your eyes.

“Fucking Brandon,” he agreed, but then was confused. “Are you not mad that I killed him?”

“Why would I be? I’d have done the same thing,” you said. “You don’t just get to kill a kid in cold blood and move on with your life. Though, I am surprised that you let him tag along as long as he did.”

“You and me both,” he said.

“Were you going to tell me about that if I hadn't asked?” you wondered.

“Eventually,” he said. “I just couldn’t find the right time.” You nodded. “And I should have told you about a lot of things.”

“You’re talking about your deal with Carol?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed. “I know you’re pissed at me over that.”

“I am,” you said, “but if I can overlook everything else, I can overlook this.”

“I am so sorry,” he said.

“I know you are,” you assured him, rubbing his hand between yours. “You did it because you were doing the right thing. You should have told me though. I would have been on board in helping you. “

“I couldn’t risk it,” he said.

“You’re a moron,” you said.

“I know,” he said with a wink.

“And I really, really wanted to hate you when I saw you in that mask.”

“But you couldn’t,” he reminded you.

“Never,” you agreed. Negan smiled and then reached up and placed his hand on your throat, running his thumb over your pulse point.

“You do that a lot, you know?” you noted, gesturing to his hand. Negan shrugged.

“Your pulse calms me,” he said softly.

“Oh, and here I thought you were just into choking,” you joked.

“Don’t give me any ideas,” he warned and this time it was you that winked. “You know, we never did have make-up sex.”

“Now is not really the time,” you said, gesturing around at the chaos of the tower.

“Jesus, Teach, not now. What kind of man do you think I am?” you laughed, rolling your eyes.

“Like you weren’t thinking about it,” you said with a knowing look. Negan just shrugged again.

“Sorry, I just really missed you,” he said.

“What have you told you about apologizing,” you whispered.

“Habit,” he said back before kissing you again. When you pulled back, you took your face in your hands and then your right hand slid to the side of his neck, feeling his own pulse.

“He’s coming for us,” you said.

“He’s all yours,” Negan said. “I will make sure of it.”

Just as Negan was about to bring you closer, Gabriel ran into the room. “Gabe?” you asked, leaning back from Negan, but not letting go of him.

“The horde is coming,” he said, breathing heavy. “It’s time.” He then rushed from the room as you and Negan went to the window.

It was as if a tsunami was moving in, but instead of water, Death approached in the form of the largest herd you had ever seen.

“Negan,” you said, worried.

“I know,” he said, taking your hand in his as he beheld the sight. “Can you promise me something?” he said, turning you so you would look at him.

“Anything,” you swore.

“Just survive,” he said and you were reminded of something similar you had said to Lydia before the Hilltop battle. “I know what you are going to do and I will not stop you from taking your revenge on him, but for me, please survive.”

Reaching up, you took him by the shoulders and pulled him in for a hug. Negan buried his head in your shoulder as you took one last moment to be with each other before the fighting began.

“I promise.”

--------

As Beta moved through the horde, his guardians protected him as they always had, but elsewhere, a guardian in their own right read a letter sent from an old friend. As Walkers approached the tower, Maggie Rhee picked up her bow and went in search of her family.

Note: One more to go...

TAGS: @not-too-tall-for-trick @lucillethings @cameronsails @stark-dreams @amaroho @thanossexual @yes-sir-hotchner @boom-bunny @delusionalteenagewhispers @scootankle @ritajammer21 @writteriguess @tea-atfive @jennydehavilland @waspyyy @yespleasejayhalstead @hoemadegrace @writingdeadangel @huffledor-able541 @pulplorrd @felicisimor

#the walking dead #walkerwords #twd imagines #the walking dead imagines #negan imagine #reader insert #savior sessions #the walking dead imagine #twd imagine #twd #negan x reader #negan x you #negan x y/n #negan x gn reader

69 notes · View notes

popculturebuffet · 3 years

Text

The Owl House Season 2 Reviews: Escaping Expulsion or Hooty is a Disney Princess

Hello all you happy people and welcome back to my coverage of the Owl House.. and to my pride month reviews.. and to my nightmare your going to feel like you belong. The last one isn’t relevant I just always wanted to say that.. isn’t that right Freddy?

Yeah he’s ready for the summer.. and to kill a lottttt of teenagers So anyway we’re into week two of new Owl House and back on the Lumity train again just in time for pride with an episode featuring a karen, arms deals, hooty as a disney princess, attempted murder, cat blobs, ice blobs, parentally allowed child kidnapping, and my boy. So join me under the cut for a full reviewcap with spoilers.

So we open this children’s show with an arms deal....

Yeah it turns out Amity’s parents run their own company Blight Industries: Her mother Odalia...

Okay okay that was unfair.. her occupation is to serve as hype woman to sell arms to people and generally market the horrifying weapons her husband cooks up, Odalia being in the oracle coven and Alador being in the abomination coven like Amity. Which is sketchy as all hell. No she’s an asshole in her PRIVATE LIFE, bullying Amity over slipping grades and using the necklace amity wears to berate her at any given time telepahtically. Lest you thought the whole willow thing was a silp up or she’d have some hidden depths. No she’s throughly a monster and she’s easily tied for the biggest monster i’ve seen this week.. and keep in mind my review yesterday had me dealing with this guy

So you’d THINK one domestic abuser would trump the other but nope, their both extremely wicked, shockingly evil and vile.

Anyways Amity is demonstrating for their parents Abominaton... and while I THOUGHT magitek was just a thing belos has turns out it’s at least commonplace enough that The Blights make a living off it. The sales go up as Amity does a fight with it and puts on a good show.. until her grom photo slips out and the monster nearly destroys it. Amity procedes to tear it and her mothers’ profits a new asshole and Odalia, incensed decides to blame her friends on it and plans to do something about it.

So while we wait for that bomb to go off it’s time for School before School as Luz is teaching the Clawthrone Sisters about Glyphs, how she’s only found four as well as how you can manipulate them to do diffrent things by changing them slightly, explaning how Luz can change what the Glyphs do sometimes. I do appriciate the hard work put into the world buliding and how the magic functions here and it’s very clear Dana put a lot of thought into this.

The Sisters also act how you’d expect: Lilith is an overly studious teachers pet and Eda just wants to be done with this and is carving Glyphs into her desk. But enough with teaching two 40 something women how to do stuff, Luz has to get to her school.

So naturally for this show the two plots dovetail off and since our main plot is a tad more serious let’s go ahead and get the shenanigans out of the way

The Shenanigans:

So while Luz is off at School and then trying to get back into school and then trying to fight for her life, more on that in a minute, Eda and Lilith try practicing their Glyphs: Eda fails at it because, being impaitent to get back at full power, she keeps trying to speed up the process and instead just keeps failing at getting her glyphs down right. In contrast Lilith is much more patient and methoidcial, and thus takes the time to learn from the ground up much like Luz did. What’s intresting is while Luz shares Eda’s impulsivness, her learning style is still far more like Lilith's having clearly taken the time to learn how to use each glyph and alter them and play around with them.

This does make sense though: Eda’s ALWAYS had tons of power and little patience and thus could simply wing that mother and succed while LIlith had to practice and study to be as good. Eda dosen’t lack Technqiue mind you: as we saw in her fight with LIlith and her menotring Luz in wild magic, she DOES have knowledge to back herself up, but she prefers to learn by experince, finding out things for herself and experimenting.. something the Glyphs just aren’t as conducive to. The reason Luz diddn’t follow her mentor here is Luz never had a bunch of magic to play around with: she ONLY had her light glyph for most of season 1, so she had to learn to play with that and make THAT special, likely learning how to alter it as a result. So when she got the other three as the season went on, she likely took after it the same way and picked them apart to properly master them. Eda has all the power, Luz had to work with what she got and was more importantly GREATFUL for every scrap. It’d be like if you had a team of eliite, maxed out fully trained pokemon in say gen 3 then had to jump over to 7 where several of those pokemon are missing, several moves are gone or radcially changed, and you have a whole new typing to deal with.

So Eda naturally pulls an eda and gets frustrated both with her lack of progress and with Lilith showing her up, having upgraded to doing an ice scuplture of her new BFF Hootie and giving him a crown, thus dubbing him Princess Hootie now and forever. So Eda tries to combine a fire spell and an ice spell to make an ice blast.. and instead creates a weird ice thing that looks a lot like a snom without a face, that nearly absorbs the whole house. Eda ends up calling for Lilith’s help with Lilith dispelling it and us finding out how after the fact via flashback: Lilith discoverd something new about the glyphs: The reason there’s only 4.. is that their essentially the building blocks of all magic, something even King comments on because he’s smarter than i give him credit for, and thus can be put one after another like a sentence to do more complex stuff, with Lilith pattenting the title glyph combo for the technique. So in theory and with enough practice they can be used to make any spell from any of the dicisplines. Eda finally agrees to buckle down and learn the hard way: with actual effort.

I like how once again the subplot advances the story and worldbuilding instead of just being some wacky shenanigan sidelining eda and king. Here we learn the four spell types luz learns are the foundation of magic, further showing both why Belos was a liar.. and why he’s so against wild magic. If anyone else found out magic works at all like this his entire spiel will be shown as fraud: after all why would the covens be split up the way they are if MAGIC isn’t naturally split up that way? Questions for later.

Now Back to the Good Part:

So Luz returns to Hexside for the first time since the season 1 finale worrying things won’t be the same and they aren’t just not because of the ceremony, her friends are cool about that: no... the real change is Gus hit witch puberty, and this is taller and has a deeper voice now. The reason for this is simple: Gus’ actor’s voice changed during the production of season 1 and apparently required pitching down. So rather than replace him like way too damn many cartoons, even great ones like Hey Arnold, Gumball or the Loud house, tend to do, they just .. let him hit puberty.

It’s something I wish more cartoons would do: just let the characters get older and if you can’t just pay for the pitch shifting dammit. You can afford it. Better than changing voice actors multiple times if you last a while.

Anyways, Amity is also happy to have Luz back for obvious reasons and even baked her a pie.

A fairy pie.. which is filled with still live faires all crammed in there...

But Luz is polite about it and takes Amity’s pie.. and there’s no way in hell they didn’t choose pie on purpose.

But the good times are interuptted when they get called to the principla’s office... and Odalia not only helps with the calll but is there and is indeed such a petty, vindictive bitch that she’s having the three who aren’t amity expelled, also chastiszing Amity for going back on their deal even though said deal was garbage and so are you Odalia. As for how she can do this...

I didn’t know going in and the most I know going out is she runs some kind of children’s fund and bump’s hands are tied. Maybe she’s the school’s top donor.. maybe she has photos of Bump having sex with a body pillow of a dalmation man. I don’t know but I hope i’ts the latter.

Point is our heroes get thrown out and Luz confronts the blights, mostly odalia. I get the distinct impressoin Alador isn’t even aware of things half the time enough to abuse his kids and just let’s his wife do it because he wrongly assumes she knows best. Or he enables her. I don’t know pick your form of toxic co-depdency i’m tired and this review is incredibly late.

Odalia shrugs it off.. then whips out her endgame, giving Luz a card and telling her she’ll undo it, “A blight never breaks a promise”, if Luz agrees to a little deal. Terms and conditoins are at the manor. She certainly won’t do anything evil...

Luz opts to try plan A first, i.e. sneak back into the school. This fails again and again, though we do find something intresting out: Bump LIKES the kids. Yeah it turns out he enjoys Luz’s shenanigans and is bored without her. It’s probably why he was willing to let eda simply work Luz’s way back in: he figured correctly Luz, much like her mentor, would inject some needed chaos into his boring ass life. Without them he’s miserable.

So Willow and Gus are dragged off by their parents and ravens and groudned.. though I assuem they retracted it once they found out their kids literally did nothing wrong and were victims of white privlage. Look all three characters ejected from school are people of color, this can’t not have been intentional.

Luz talks to Amity after school, with Luz nicely NOT blaming amity for not standing up to her mom: she gets she’s a victim of abuse and this isn’t Amity’s fault and it’s okay she can’t. Amity begs Luz not to go with plan “Go fall into her mom’s clearly evil trap” but with no options and this being her fault to a degree, Luz has no choice.

So she goes to Castle Doom Blight Manor to go make a deal with fuckface. Naturally the deal is simple Luz take Amity’s place at the demonstration and then dies horribly fighting their best creation after a night of taking severe punishment so odalia can cut out the heart of Amity’s rebellion. and Luz and Co are back in the game. There will also be cake.

So Luz goes to this very obvious trap and spends the night getting hit in the face with weapons from impoblizing goo guns that at their highest setting turn into flamethrowers, to crossbows, to other fun merch.

Meanwhile Amity returns home to find her parents left without her and left a note:

But one look at the abomination butler, which Luz later made look like a cat and she realizes exactly what happens and just sighs. She knew what she was getting into falling in love with this noble dum dum. She’s just numb to it.

Meanwhile Willow’s dad are trying to make sure she gets a good edjumacation and prepare her for tommorow> Willow however finds Gus and Amity at her window as Luz is in trouble.. with Gus adding an “Again”. He’s also just used to it at this point. Willow sneaks out and adorably one of her dad’s notices.. btu let’s her go getting this is important. Awww. I like her poppas and I like that we finally met them: they seeme nice and the grounding was likely redacted once they found out WHY she was expelled and now simply want to help her be the best her she can be. Awwwwwww.

So while our heroes try to sneak in and stop Luz from dying tonight, Luz faces the final demonstration: an improved Abomination that won’t stop till their target is eliminated.. .so yeah Odalia planned to kill luz this whole time just to get her daughter’s grades up.

So yeah we get a horrifying scene of Luz TRYING to hold this thing off which is esentially like putting 90′s era (cartoon or comic your choice) Jubilee alone up against the juggernaut. It’s not that our lady hero isn’t badass, it’s that she’s CLEARLY out of her league here and can only stall for so long.

The rest of our heroes meanwhile argue about how to get in: Amity just wants to brute force it and Gus.. wants to conjur a sexy lady guard, to which Willow quips “this isn’t a 40′s cartoon gus!” Okay okay stop. 1) Gus you didn’t stop to consider these guards might be gay or in the case of any actual lady guards straight. 2) The Guards turn out to be abominatoins mostly so do abominations even have a concept of gender? 3) I love the implicatoin the boiling isles also has cartoons and i’d love to see them. Like staby, the goblin whose always stabbing people and watches slowly while they bleed out or mouthface, the mouth that’s always screaming and eating things while it never stop’s screaming and of course Blinky.. hit it sniggles!

youtube

Thankfully Eldtric and Emira come by and offer them an easier option: they just give them the robes all the participants are wearing because no one wants ot be idenitfied buying weapons, it’s the first rule of illegal arms dealing

So our heroes infiltrate and while Gus and Willow are captured like.. minutes after they walk in...

Amity spots Luz about to die and decides to finally tell her mom to go fuck herself in the most Disney friendly fashion she runs up on stage, destroys the fucking necklace of emotional abuse, and declares no one harms “her Luz”. Luz then blushes, finally openly returning Amity’s feelings. Either she just finallyr realized the really obvious given there’s nothing subtle about “My Luz” or she happens to find crushing a monsters hands with powerful magic attractive. What am I saying..... it’s clearly both.

So the two team up with Amity giving her mom a long and cathartic speech about how she won’t let her control her, how Luz, Willow and Gus, who I wasn’t aware she even knew existed, made her a better person and take a hard look at herslef and she’s going to keep seeing them no matter what. She and Luz tag team the blob monster, and also blush together which AWWWWWWWWWWW. Their both into it now. it’s so fucking cute. So Amity makes her mom a deal, her mom will back the hell off and undo the explusion, or Amity will destroy the only thing she truly loves: her profit margin. Odalia reluctantly agrees, Luz and Amity take a dive, and the sales meter Odalia has set up explodes with profits.

Odalia naturally wants to go back on the deal right away and go even harder on Luz...

But Alador finally notices his wife is the spawn of satan, and while that’s part of what he loves about her he tells her to simmer the fuck down: She agreed to it and he’s holding her to that.. and more importantly while Amity’s grades have slid.. that dosen’t matter. She’s STRONGER now, having easily bested their strongest creation simply on adrenaline. So the idea of her daughter being succesful sates the beast and Luz head shome.

At home Luz is prepared to clock out only for Lilith to have made a sculpture of her for extra credit:

youtube

So she gives everyone gold stars and goes to bed.

We close the episode with lying ass bitch and husband happy with their profits.. until Golden Guard shows up. The Emperor had eyes in the crowd and WAS gneuinely impressed with the abomatons and is buying out the whole stock out from under the current buyers, and funding research.. but warns the two Belos frowns on personal armies, basically saying “Sell this crap to anyone but us and i’ll kill you. :) “ So now Belos has a private army better than his actual army.

Final Thoughts:

While I still consider Separate Tides the better of the two this episode was not bad at all. IT had good pacing, world building, and a subplot that felt like it helped further the series instead of wanting to get back to the good stuff. It was a solid episode and had some great Lumity content and i’m here for that especially since they dialed down how Amity acted and instead used the episode to enrich her character more, while still giving the shippers what we wanted without overdoing it and making it seem like things escalated way too fucking quickly. Luz also finally openly reciporcates which.. about fucking time honestly.

Next Time: We finally get back to watching these episodes week by week as King’s shenanigans somehow result in an island trip for Luz, Lilith and Hooty.

If you liked this review consider joining my patreon RIGHT HERE. Patroens get access to my discord and brucey bonus reviews, and your contribution helps me reach my stretch goals with my next one being reviews of season one of this very show! So sign up today if your intrested and hurry, the end of hte month’s coming up on us.

#the owl house #luz noceda #lumity #amity blight #odalia blight #alador blight #gus #Willow Park #king #eda clawthorne #lilith clawthorne #edric blight #amira blight #escaping explusion #owl house spoilers

34 notes · View notes

demirendil · 4 years

Text

「 4AM, you finally came.. 」 (one-shot).

It was nearly 4AM when the rumbling of the thunder made the wooden floor against Serkan’s body shake. He had been lying there for a few hours, inert and eyes closed; his irregular breaths were the only proof that the man was still alive. The wide open curtains let some light inside the pitch-dark room, lightning flashing across the sky for a fifth time, revealing the state of the summer house’s master bedroom. It had been left untouched since the last time they’d both been here. Sheets that still held her scent, pillows against which her head rested were laying on the bed, a moment frozen in time that he hadn’t dared to disturb. The mirror in front of which she stood that morning, fixing her earrings, was covered by a small woollen blanket, hiding the glass debris from his last anger fit. He had stared at his haggard reflection for a few minutes before throwing the glass of water he was holding in hand, hoping to erase traces of his guilt from his eyes, to smooth the pain out of his forehead wrinkles.. alas. The cold seeping from the squeaky wooden floor helped calm him a little.. it was the only part of the house left that wasn’t mocking him with yet another memory of her.

She was everywhere, and traces of her made his heart race.

She was everywhere, and guilt ate him up until it was too painful to stand.

She was everywhere, yet her absence made his soul ache until he collapsed on his bedroom floor and let sadness consume his soul away.

Another booming sound made the windows violently shake, and a startled Serkan hissed as his right hand landed on a pile of glass shards. He plopped himself onto his elbow and absently looked at his bloody hand before turning to the door and staring into the darkness.

She won’t come, she doesn’t wanna see me ever again..

Three days prior, he watched her leave his parents house like a storm, holding her head in a panicked state. His mother had told her everything, and she was long gone before he could attempt to stop her. He had asked his mother to stay out of it less than an hour before, and yet there he stood in shock. She’d found out the truth and left without looking back. He had lost his chance to explain himself, to drop to his knees and beg for her forgiveness, to maybe catch a last glance of her face.. because Eda Yıldız was gone, and her broken eyes were the last thing he had laid eyes upon.

After driving around town looking for her for the past two days, Serkan had decided to go back home -his summer house, the place where he last saw her smile and let himself get lost in her embrace. She’ll come back, he’d whispered to himself the prior night, before he let himself drop on the floor of his freezing cold room.

thump, thump, thump

Serkan blinked a few times, before laying on his back again.

thump, thump, thump

Serkan sighed as he opened his eyes again and turned his head towards the window. The rain was only slight pouring, a few cats might have infiltrated the property again.

thump, thump, thump

He let a frustrated grunt out before jumping to his feet and looking out the window. The lights in the garden were off, but he could discern a silhouette kneeling over the plants in the veranda. Hair flowing in the violent wind, the girl was actively shoveling the wet soil with a small wooden log. He chuckled at the sight before him and shook his head. She was throwing a fit even in his imagination. She was a dream, she would never show up after finding the truth out. She could only be a dream, not even his prayers would make her come back for him. She was definitely a dream, but he had to check for himself.. just in case.

Grabbing another throw blanket from the corner armchair, he quietly made his way to the hall, and out of the house. The lights were still off in every room, but he could see her clearly through the glass sliding doors. She was sitting on the lowest step leading to the gazebo, and was attempting to move the small petunias to dig more holes in the ground. The moon was casting a light all over her, and he wished he could catch a glimpse of her face, trace the lining of her soft jaw with his eyes, feel his heart melt at the sight of her plump lips. He was facing her back however, and her abrupt frustrated movements were a reflection of her state of mind. Cladded in a thin black shirt, she was shivering as the pouring rain continuously soaked her garment. That shirt.. his shirt. Serkan took a deep breath and slid the door open.

"Eda...”

He saw her jump in her spot and hold the wooden log up as a weapon, before she turned around to see him towering over her. Her eyes never met his, she quickly turned to her gardening like nothing had interrupted her labor. The rain soaking Serkan's hair wet made him snap out of his reverie. He grabbed the blanket that was slipping from his hand and put it on her silently, still watching her every move, unable to say a word. “How did you know I was here?”, she finally muttered. Serkan didn't reply and adjusted the blanket around her shoulder before stepping away and sitting on a cushion, facing her. Her eyes were dark and focused, she looked like she hadn't slept for a few days. A permanent frown now adorning her forehead, she was biting the inside of her cheek as she continuously stabbed the soil. "There's a few rocks under there, you might wanna try a different corner"" Her head snapped back up, her eyes shooting daggers at him "No, this is perfect". “It's 4AM, you’re going to freeze here” "Just go home” "I am home" He saw her roll her eyes, so he added "This is home. I live here now. I moved out of my parents’ house. " Eda dropped the log in her hand and finally looked at him. She tightened the blanket around her arms and shoulders and tilted her head, studying his face. He could see a million questions flash in her eyes, but she remained quiet and proceeded to grab a small tin box from her pocket. He recognized the little container where she kept her flower seeds, a gift from her mother she always held on so dearly. “I forgot to sow them here as well, I wanted to plant a few in this spot.” Serkan shuffled a little more towards her and watched her grab a few seeds and position them in the little holes she had formed. "Are .. are you sure you don't want to plant them a little further.. there's more space in the garden", he mumbled. He was trying to be as nonchalant as possible, but his shaky raspy voice had betrayed him. He had expected her to throw things at him, scream and shout, but Eda sat in front of him with unnerving composure, as if nothing had been wrong with the world. "No it has to be here. Right here." Here.. Right where time had stopped for them and all voices but theirs had been silenced. Right where he had kissed her like there was no tomorrow, and promised himself he would hold onto her until the end of time. Here where the two of them had confirmed their love for each other, and let happiness take over for a night. It was a little over a week ago, but it seemed like an eternity for Serkan Bolat. There they were again, sitting right where passion claimed their hearts, yet their souls had never felt so apart from each other. The rain had slowed down while Eda was busy covering the seeds in fresh wet soil with her bare hands. The uneasy silence was weighing on his chest, but Serkan found himself unable to say another word. His anxiety grew as he watched her shake the dirt off her hands and jump on her feet, ready to leave again. He trailed behind her, as she determinedly walked towards the house in her dirty wet clothes, when she abruptly turned to face him again.

"What about your mom?"

Serkan stopped in his tracks and lowered his gaze towards her. She was so close, he could feel her familiar scent engulfing him already, like a poison intoxicating every cell of his body. He gulped again, the lump in his throat thickening with every breath he took.

"My mom?"

His eyes found hers, confused, full of concern, sadness that buried the life that used to burn inside her. It tore his heart apart, it made him so angry. At his parents, at himself, at fate that had so long played with his own life and had decided to mess with her as well.

"Eda how can you be thinking of my mother right now?", he shook his head in disbelief.

"I know it pains you to leave your mother behind, after all she’s been through. I see it in your eyes, it’s killing you."

She was staring at him more intently and Serkan couldn't handle the proximity anymore. He stepped away, catching his breath, holding his head as the tension reached his temples.

"I can’t, I can’t do it. I can't do this anymore. I can’t stay there, I can't be under the same roof as them knowing what my dad has done Eda. What he's done to you Eda."

"And yet, you’re taking responsibility for it all Serkan".

Her calm and cold demeanor was driving him crazy. Serkan pushed inside the house and started pacing in the living room, unable to stay calm.

"How are you so calm Eda? How can you think of them right now, how are you not angry at them?"

She grabbed the blanket still hanging around her shoulders and threw it at him.

"I AM angry Serkan, I am so angry I want to scream my lungs out!"

"Then scream, shout, say something Eda, I can't handle seeing you like this."

"Stop telling me what to do Serkan, stop trying to control my feelings, STOP IT!" she yelled, throwing the one tin she was holding in her hand to the floor.

Hundreds of tiny seeds were already scattered on the floor before Serkan could even react. In a moment, Eda had collapsed on the floor, in panic..

"Oh no, no, no.. Mom.. no.."

Serkan hurried over to turn the lights on and ran towards Eda kneeling on the floor when a punch landed on his shoulder, and another, and another.

"I don't need your help! Stay away from me!"

Her cheeks were glistening with tears and he felt his hand reach her face, wiping away her sadness when another punch pushed him further away from her. She grabbed a pillow from the couch to her left and threw it at him, before she pushed his chest again, hit his arm, his shoulder again. Serkan just closed his eyes, taking it all in, the sound of her sobbing hurting his soul more than anything in that moment. A final slap to his face startled the both of them, and Eda finally gave in and dropped to her knees in front of him.

"Stop ignoring me Serkan Bolat! Fight back! Do something!"

Her disheveled hair was sticking to her face, patches of dirt tracing her jaw, his black shirt still clinging onto her skin. He moved forward, and grabbed her face with both his hands, desperately trying to calm her down. Eda finally closed her eyes and softened at his touch, bringing her own hands up to hold his own. Her icy cold hands melted his soul, and he felt the walls of his heart crumble down as an ocean of overwhelming emotions flooded every bit of his being.

Tears filling his eyes, blood gushing out of his palm, he couldn't hold it in any longer..

"Your hand.."

"It's nothing..", he whispered as he rested his forehead against hers.

"I hate you.."

"I know.."

"It wasn't your decision to make.."

"I had to.."

"I promised to be your breath for the rest of time, but you took my breath away and ran from me.."

"Eda.."

He felt her eyes on him, piercing through his soul, asking so many questions, so many whys he was not ready to answer yet.

"Look at me..Serkan look at me."

"I can’t look you in the eye Eda.."

"Serkan.."

She pushed herself away from him and he held her wrists in his hands, unwilling to let her go, yet unable to look at her hypnotizing chocolate orbs.

"They.. my parents..", he took a deep breath before carrying on. "My family is the reason you lost yours, the reason you lost your childhood"

"They stole your childhood too Serkan.", she retorted.

"This is not about me, Eda.."

"No, you’re right. It’s about us, the both of us."

He felt her finger on his chin, raising his face to meet his broken eyes.

"I don't think I can forgive them, any of them.. my grandmother, the people behind the accident, your dad, his company.. but you.."

"Eda, I'm the heir to that holding group, I'm my dad's son, I am just as responsible as-"

Unable to finish his sentence, Serkan dropped his head down, shivering as his chest tightened again in anger and frustration.

"You're not."

He sensed a tear drop on his cheek, and felt his heart dropping at the sight of her sudden tears mirroring his own.

"I don't blame you Serkan.."

She kissed his tear away and his chin trembled, before he collapsed in her arms, quiet sobs escaping his throat. He felt her hands slid around his shoulders and hold onto him, like a plea for him to stay. Tightening his grip on her, he felt her heart race against his chest, as his own slowed down to a regular pace.

"You're punishing the both of us Serkan..", she whispered in his neck.

"I've only brought pain and anger to your life, all I've managed to do is make you cry and break your heart. I'm just like my dad, I destroy everyone I get close to.."

"That's not true.."

"I love you..",

He felt her tears on his shirt and wiped his own, before planting a kiss on her shoulder.

"But I don't deserve you.."

"Yeah, you don't", she sniffed. He backed away to take a look at her face, and his eyes softened when he saw the small smile on his face.

"You're a coward"

"I was never the courageous one."

“You make me go mad, I wish I could stay away from you.. but I feel like my soul is being shredded when you’re not around..”

“I’m sorry..”

"I'm not leaving"

"I don't want you to."

She nodded and slid on the floor to rest her back against the leather couch. Serkan looked around him, screening the dirt and the seeds scattered all around the carpet.

"We should probably get them back in your tin box".

She shivered and hugged her own arms before shrugging "No, just let them grow in the middle of the living room, let them invade your house."

Serkan chuckled and settled next to her, his left arm warming up against hers. "Yes, tiny little laurel trees in every corner that will remind me of you at any moment".

Eda turned around to look at him credulously, and smiled as she remembered the night they had watched the stars in front of Apollo's Temple in Antalya.

Feeling her eyes on him, Serkan turned around and raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"You're no Apollo".

"I'm not?", he smirked.

"You're not... And I'm not Daphne. I don't wanna run away from you."

She slid her hand in his and laid her head back against his shoulder. "I'm not a tree you can set on fire and leave behind you Serkan."

Burying his face in her hair, he whispered "No, you're not.. you survive every fire and spread your beauty all around .. just like a protea.."

Eda let go of his hand and turned around to look at him, big eyes, mouth slightly open in shock "How do you.."

He sighed and muttered under his breath "I may or may not have read your little flower book.. the one you were carrying in your bag on the first day we met".

Tears were pooling again in her eyes, so Serkan grabbed her wrist and softly ran his fingers on her forearm, visibly trying to change the topic.

"We should get out of these wet clothes"

"Serkan..

"You also need to sleep, it's nearly 5-".

Serkan stopped in his tracks as she gently cupped his cheek and ran her finger against his skin, resting her forehead against his.

“You may not believe in fate but I do.. they left me first, but I know they sent you to me.”

“Eda..”

“Serkan let me.. These scars have been slashed open and it’ll take time.. a really long time to let them close back up peacefully.. I know your scars are just as deep as mine, and I won’t let myself heal if you’re not healing with me.”

He let a sigh out he didn’t know he was holding and nudged his nose against hers.

“I still hate you, Serkan Bolat.”

“I love you, Eda Yıldız..”

#sen çal kapımı #edser #oneshot #fanfic

156 notes · View notes