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bloodsoaked-rainbows · 9 months

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A Tale of Swords and Spies - Chapter 1: The Knights of Ferrix

The first chapter of my third @cake-shop-rarepair-bingo fic!!

(You can also see here for the moodboard I made for this fic <3)

Prompt: Helping with Armor Fandom: Andor (TV) Relationships: Cinta Kaz/Vel Sartha Rating: T Content Warnings: None Summary: Vel and Cinta are knights in shining armor in a medieval world: they fight back against the oppressive Empire and try to defend the last free kingdoms from its grasp. Also, they just might be in love.

You can read the first chapter on AO3 or beneath the cut!!

Chapter 1: The Knights of Ferrix

Vel walked down the main road of Ferrix with confidence. It was a village full of criminals and lawless rogues. Vel fit right in.

The air was brisk this morning, and her armor clinked softly as she walked down the dusty path.

Ferrix was a medium-sized village on the outskirts of Morlani: one of the many kingdoms oppressed by the newly-founded Empire. Vel hated the Empire. It was framed as a benevolent leadership, its mission “to unite kingdoms and spread peace and order across the lands”. Vel (along with most of the inhabitants of Ferrix) didn’t believe those lies and propaganda. She knew first-hand the violence and crimes the Empire had committed in the name of their so-called “peace”.

And that’s why she — along with a team of underground rebels — decided to take things into their own hands.

“Hey, you!” a gravelly and taunting voice shouted.

Vel looked over to her left to see a tall man sitting on a stool outside the tavern, wearing a pair of new boots and a sneer.

“Yeah, you!”

Vel crossed her arms. “What?”

“What do you think you are?”

Vel raised an eyebrow. “None of your business.”

The man laughed. “She’s a lady knight! Can you believe it?!”

Vel rolled her eyes. Evidently, she’d managed to find another irritating headstrong man who was blatantly sexist. Apparently, she had a knack for bumping into them.

“Be careful in a fight! Don’t want to roll your ankle while you’re chasin’ someone!”

He bellowed with laughter. Vel tried to ignore him and began walking again.

“Good thing we have such heroic and competent defenders of the realm!” the man called after her. He turned to the tavern doorway, where a few villagers watched this interaction. “Who needs these useless girls? She’s not goin’ to keep order, she’ll be too busy fixin’ her hair! Why, the Empire is the real one you should be trustin’!”

Vel stopped as the man continued to talk to the other patrons. She tried to control her temper, but her blood was boiling. She stood still for a moment, before calmly turning around and walking back to the front of the tavern until she was standing right in front of the man.

“Look, how scary !” the man said. “Don’t hit me with your lady sword ! I don’t want to get a paper cut today!”

Vel clenched her fist, before punching the man square in the face.

He fell over backward off of his stool, landing back-first in the dirt. The patrons of the tavern laughed heartily as the man growled, rubbing his jaw.

“Sorry for the papercut,” Vel said with a smirk, before turning on her heel and striding down the main road again.

Several minutes later, Vel heard the familiar tramping of armored boots behind her, and she sighed.

“You! Stop right there!” a rather pompous-sounding voice shouted.

Vel stopped, and turned around to see a group of half a dozen soldiers, with a higher-ranking one in front, a spear in hand.

Vel groaned internally but put on a smile. “What can I do for you today, officer?”

The leading soldier looked a little surprised at the formality, and he smiled before seeming to remember that he was trying to enforce the law. “Were you the one who attacked an innocent citizen outside the tavern?”

“Who, me?” Vel said with mock confusion. “I would never ”

“You match the description he gave,” the soldier said, looking a bit skeptical at Vel’s attempt at deception. “Blonde, light skin tone, blue eyes, armor.”

“Are you assuming every blonde woman looks alike?” Vel accused.

“What- no !” The soldier shook his head, clearly confused. “That’s not what I meant.”

Vel crossed her arms. “What was it I supposedly did, again?”

“Punched a patron in the face,” one of the soldiers further back piped up.

“And why would I do that?” Vel said. She figured the more she confused the soldiers, the more likely they would be to leave her alone.

“It doesn’t matter,” the leading soldier said. “Are you denying that you did it?”

“I don’t think you have any proof,” Vel said.

“There were several witnesses present,” he said. “We can ask people at the tavern.”

“And since when is fistfighting breaking the law?” Vel asked. Especially in Ferrix ? she added in her head.

“Since the person you harmed was an imperial captain,” the leading soldier said smugly.

Oops, Vel thought.

“Well- he’s not dead,” she said, floundering as she tried to think of something clever to say.

“Quit stalling,” the soldier barked. “You’re wasting our time. Come with us!”

“Where?” Vel asked, trying to shake off the grip of two of the soldiers from her arm, but they were surprisingly strong and began to lead her away.

“To the dungeons,” the leading soldier said.

Vel scowled. “A bit harsh for a mere punch. I don’t think I even broke his nose.”

“Orders are orders,” the soldier said. “And my orders are that you’re coming with us.”

“Oh yeah? Too bad you won’t be fulfilling your orders today.”

Vel turned at the sound of the familiar voice to see Cinta riding towards her, silver armor sparkling as she rode atop Sparrowhawk, her mottled brown and white mare.

“What the-” the leading soldier began to say, before Cinta rode up to the group and kicked one of the soldiers holding Vel in the chest, sending him sprawling.

“C’mon!” Cinta said, reaching her arm out towards Vel.

Vel didn’t need to be told twice. She swept the other soldier off his feet with her leg, before grabbing Cinta’s hand and swinging onto Sparrowhawk behind her.

“See you later, boys,” Cinta called, with a mocking salute, before spurring Sparrowhawk into a gallop.

They sped away from the soldiers, Sparrowhawk’s hooves kicking up a cloud of dust behind them.

“Idiot,” Cinta said as the pair rode. “What did you do this time?”

“I may have punched an imperial captain,” Vel admitted. “In the face.”

Cinta laughed. “Nice. Dumb, but nice.”

“Thanks for the rescue,” Vel said. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d probably be serving quite a few years in prison,” Cinta said.

Vel laughed. “Yeah, probably. Good thing my knight in shining armor is here to save the day.”

Cinta snorted. “Alright, damsel in distress. Did you even get the intel?”

“Yeah,” Vel said. She produced a note on a worn piece of parchment.

It was from Lady Mothma, Vel’s cousin. Mothma was a member of the Senate, a circle of royalty and leaders from several kingdoms who supposedly controlled the Empire. Mothma was one of Cinta and Vel’s fellow revolutionaries, who aided the Rebellion from her higher status.

“Well, that’s something,” Cinta said. “We can read it when we get back to Bix’s.”

“Sounds good,” Vel said.

Cinta led them out of the village, making a large loop through the rocky landscape devoid of plants outside of town, before coming around to the other side of Ferrix. They headed down some smaller roads and alleyways, before making their way to Bix’s workshop.

Bix Caleen was a blacksmith who had been through more than her fair share of hardships in the past couple of months. Cinta and Vel had managed to rescue her from the Empire’s dungeons, but the week she had spent there still left a mark. Bix’s workshop (currently under the name of Clem’s Blacksmith and Ironworks since Bix needed an alias to avoid the imperial authorities) was a meeting place and hideaway for several rebels throughout the Morlani kingdom and beyond. It was to this hideout that they arrived.

The pair dismounted, and Cinta brought Sparrowhawk over to a post, where a black mare, Vel’s horse, Tumult, was. Vel waited for Cinta to finish tying Sparrowhawk, watching her as she worked. She was a very beautiful woman.

Cinta looked over as she finished and Vel tried to pretend like she hadn’t been staring at her. Cinta walked back over and the pair both entered the smithy.

They could hear the clanging of metal as they walked in. Bix wasn’t in the entry room (where supplies were sold and the main affairs of the shop were dealt with). However, Ruescott Melshi was behind the counter, writing something with a quill on a piece of parchment. He looked up as we entered.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” I said.

“Any luck?” he asked.

“Some,” I said with a shrug.

Presumably hearing the noises of conversation, Bix came out from one of the back rooms (which Vel knew to be the forge), apron and hands covered in soot, her black hair tied up in a messy bun.

“You’re back,” she said tiredly. “How’d it go?”

“Good,” I said.

“Somebody punched an imperial captain and had to be rescued,” Cinta said.

“Nice,” Melshi said, giving Vel a congratulatory thumbs up. Cinta shot him a look.

“But I did get the intel,” I said, proudly putting the note on the counter.

“That’s good, at least,” Bix said.

“Vel and I will have to lay low for a while,” Cinta said. “She got in an argument with some guards, and I had to rescue her, so they’ll probably be looking for us.”

Bix nodded with a sigh.

“You could head out of town,” Melshi suggested. “A little adventure never hurt anybody, and you could return when they’re not looking for you anymore.”

Vel thought about it. “Maybe. But there are probably a few things we could help with around here.”

“We’ll have to see,” Cinta said.

Melshi shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just saying that quests are fun.”

“Right.” Vel elbowed him. “‘Cause I should take advice on how to avoid capture from the guy who spent a year in prison with Cassian.”

“Hey!” Melshi protested, elbowing her back.

Vel laughed.

“Calm down, you two,” Bix said, looking up from the note she was reading. “I think we’ve got a new mission on our hands.”

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not0a0mundane · 1 year

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Made a fill for @cake-shop-rarepair-bingo you can find it on ao3 with the link Innocent like a flower (Serpent Beneath) - Mun404 - Star Wars - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own] or under read more.

Prompt: Theather/Cabaret Au (Macbeth Au) Fandom: Star Wars Relationships: Qui-Gon Jinn/Darth Maul Rating: T Content Warnings: Child Abuse mention/reference Summary: Qui-gon hears about a propercy and decides to tell it to his ambitious husband.

"I can't remember the last time we had such awful weather on such a victorious day." Obi-wan heard his old friend say. They were walking away from the battlefield, having tended to the wounded and dead, they were left without a goal until it was time to return home. Obi-wan was about to ask for a way to Forres when he spied some figures in the distance.

"What,, who are those people?" Three figures were walking towards them, they bore the resemblance of an old bearded man, a young bald man and a beautiful young woman. But something about them was unreal, an eerie feeling that almost raised the hairs on his neck.

"Are you living?" The words left Obi-wan's mouth before he could consider them, and in return, the figure of the woman smiled with faint mischief in her eyes.

"Speak please, if you're able." Qui-Gon's voice sounded next to him. The taller man stood a few steps away and looked at the figures with a curious eye. Of course, his friend would find something interesting about three strangers approaching them unannounced. Then the strangers spoke.

"Hail Jinn, Lord of Glamis."

"Hail Jinn, Lord of Cawdor."

"Hail Jinn, who will be King."

The figures spoke clearly, one after the other as if they shared one breath. Obi-wan looked at Qui-gon, hoping that his eyes showed the amazement he felt. It wasn't every day someone claimed to know your future, and that it would have anything good. And yet, it seemed that Qui-gon didn't share his sentiment, as his friend's face had gone almost as pale as the sky above them.

Obi-wan turned towards the figures, asking why they seemed to share their tale with only one of them. He regretted asking as soon as he felt the strange and somehow human but yet not, figures looking at him.

"Hail, Lesser than Jinn but so much greater."

"Hail, Not so happy yet much happier."

"Hail, Who shall get kings yet be none."

The creatures had once more spoken in strange unison, Obi-wan almost faltered back from their sight but tried to bravely stand his ground. For a moment the creatures stood still, observing the reaction of the men. Qui-gon must have come out of his shock, as he tried to take a step towards them, asking them to tell him more about his future, and as he did so they disappeared For a moment they both looked at the spot where the figures had stood.

"Where did they go?" "Into the air." Came Qui-gon's simple answer, as if that answered everything.

"Did that happen? Or rather, will it happen?" Obi-wan whispered, trying to gain an understanding of what had transpired before them. "It must have been a dream, we must have eaten a root that takes the mind prisoner." He said finally, deciding that such a fantasy could only be the work of an ill mind.

He turns to Qui-gon, expecting the older man to have come to the same conclusion, but once again, his friend takes a fairy tale more seriously than reality. Obi-wan could only imagine how Qui-gon's husband would indulge in his nonsense. Once again did Obi-wan thank the Force, that it had brought him Satine.

///

Qui-gon hadn't even made it two steps into his house before the door behind him closed and his husband was in his arms again. Soft lips pressed kisses all over his face, tickling him with their feather softness.

"Great Glamis." A kiss pressed between his brows.

"Worthy Cawdor." A whisper of a kiss against his lips.

"Greater than both by what you will be." Finally, his love looks into his eyes, and as always the warmth of his husband's eyes made Qui-gon melt.

"My dearest love, how I've missed you" Qui-gon whispered as he took Maul's face in his hands and finally kissed him back.

He had spent all too much time away from his husband, and while the letter he sent explained their future luck it did not hurt to explain it again in person.

////

"The King comes to visit us in a day, he shall dine and celebrate with us," Qui-gon told Maul as they were getting ready for bed. He could see how his husband's posture stiffened up. The King's visits were one that both were unable to stomach, but the title as Thane of Cawdor was one they both appreciated. Maul's father might never have been a good parent, but a kind King he was.

"And must he leave? Must he see the light of day again?" Maul's soft voice flew through the room, piercing straight through him, voicing thoughts he hadn't dared to consider.

"Your face, my dearest lord, is an open book and once you learn the language you may learn of the strangest matters," Maul explained when he saw Qui-Gon's expression.

"My father, the King, our guest, will be provided for and so will we." His husband explained plainly as if he was discussing the meals they would provide for the feast. "We shall bear welcome, in our eyes, our gestures and words." A slight smile sent his way.

"We will speak further about this." Was all that Qui-gon could say, he knew that the power the Weird Sisters spoke about was just in reach but treason like that was not something to contemplate lightly.

"Don't fear husband, leave it all to me," Maul said as he slid up behind him in their bed. Qui-gon sighed but turned around and cradled Maul in his arms, kissing his head.

///

Kenobi sat next to Lord Maul, he never cared much for the younger Zabrak but he'd rather not start a fight with his friend's husband. Nothing good would come from enraging the spouse of one's host.

"My dear husband tells me that you were there when you heard of the prophecy." Maul's soft voice rang next to him, too quiet for anybody else to hear but not for him. He should have known that Qui-gon would share the supposed prophecy with his husband. His friend was always quick to believe tall tales and stories of some supposed future. But dreams were they always, and only that.

"Yes, I heard it." He answered plainly, he knew that Maul was a sneaky one, the unloved son of a kind King who despite all still held a place at court. Why would he ask of dreams, of hallucinations cast by the lack of sleep and exhaustion from battle if not for his own gain?

"And you didn't ask to hear of your own future?" Maul's voice rang quietly with mocking mirth. Obi-wan took a long sip from his glass of mead, the drink was strong and would let him survive the interaction without injury to both parties.

"If you must know, the tall tale of the future was just that. A made-up instance by the tired mind." He said as he stood up from the chair. It was rude to bit farewell like that to one's host, but Obi-wan was beyond caring when it came to Maul. His friend and everyone around them might not see it, but nothing could come out of dealing with the Zabrak.

////

Maul took a deep breath, the dagger clutched in his hands. The guards were snoring softly a few steps away and the night was cold. There would be no one to hear his crime. Then, a sound tore through the silent night, a gurgling sound that was extinguished almost as soon as it began. If Maul hadn't been standing so close then he'd have thought his ears had betrayed him.

Quickly he went into the tent, closing the flaps behind himself. Between him and the King's bed was a single, almost see-through, sheet. It was meant to be an example of wealth, the fabric was decorated with golden embroidery. Now it was decorated with blood stains. He could see a shadow behind the sheet, one that turned to stare at him too.

In one smooth move, they moved towards each other, Maul pushed the sheet away with one hand while keeping the dagger up and ready in his other one. The strange silhouette towered over him, and for a single moment, he could not recognize the person Maul was holding a knife up to. After a moment his eyes adjusted to the light in the King's bed-chamber, and saw that staring down at him were his husband's eyes. His familiar face was splattered with blood.

Maul let his eyes wander down, the simple nightshirt his husband wore was covered with fresh blood. Taking a breath he pulled the knife down and saw how Qui-gon breathed in immediately. He moved away from his beloved and with heavy feet walked towards the King's bed.

His feet knocked softly against the raised carpet, and Maul instinctively took his shoes off to not let mud trace on the carpet. He remembered his father's, the King's, words. His rebukes and lessons marked themselves with welts and bruises on his skin.

A thin, blood-soaked sheet covered the King's face. Maul pulled it aside and was met with the horrified open-eyed expression of his father, his King's. He took a deep breath and turned towards Qui-gon.

"Why?" He asked, voice almost inaudible to his own eyes. Qui-gon looked at him with a confused expression so Maul continued. "He was your King." A harsh whisper that made his husband flinch away from him. A moment passes between them, the silence stretching like an ocean between them.

"He was your father," Qui-gon says as if that was any explanation. As if that gave him the right to take away the murder from him. "So? I was his son but he never treated me like one." Maul said with a mirthless laugh.

Before his legs gave up on him, Maul sat down on the bed. Taking a deep breath he tried to think of their next move. The King was dead, with no heir in sight, the throne would be theirs for the taking. With a last sigh, Maul stood up and looked up at Qui-gon with a determined spirit.

"We shall mark the two sleeping guards with the blood, and give them the dagger as if they have done the crime themselves." He says and looks up into Qui-Gon's eyes.

"It will be received as if they have done it." His husband's face lits up with a small reassuring smile, and Maul starts to hope that maybe they will get away with this. "Who dares receive it otherwise? As we shall make our grief and anger clamour upon his death." He agrees smiling.

#star wars #Qui-gon Jinn #Darth Maul #prompt fill #fanfiction #fanfic #star wars fic #Mun fanfic

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obikin-events · 1 year

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Welcome to Obikin Events

Welcome, welcome!

We are a center of events for the romantic and platonic ship of Obikin, Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, of Star Wars!

Events we are currently running are our:

Round 1 of Our Bingo.

We also have a discord server (please be aware it is 18+)! All you need to do to receive an invite is to send us an ask and verify that you are 18+!

We can not only be found here, but also on Twitter! If you have any questions, you can also send them to [email protected].

May the Obikin Be With You.

Below the cut you will find links to other obikin events that are not being run by us!

Binary Suns, an obikin zine - you can find more information about it here on tumblr and twitter.

Fallen Hearts, a sith obikin fest - you can find more information about it here on tumblr and twitter.

STEWJONI BIOLOGY WEEK SCHEDULE can be found on twitter.

2starfighters: obikin fest - you can find more information about it here on twitter.

Bottoms Up! A bottom Obi-Wan fest - you can find more information about it here on twitter and tumblr.

Anakin Rarepairs Week - an annual week event, you can find more about it here on tumblr. (While Obikin isn’t allowed, it can be used in an OT3(+) to create for the event. Or you can also do your favorite rare pair for Anakin!)

Obikin Kink Meme - is a kink prompt fest which can be found on Ao3 here.

Sub Anakin Fest - you can find out about it here on tumblr and twitter.

Obianidala Week 2023 - while not an Obikin event, I know quite a few of us shippers also enjoy them. You can find out more about the upcoming week here on tumblr and twitter.

Topwan Fest - can find out more about it here on tumblr and here on twitter!

For other Star Wars fandom events, you can go here to see what’s happening!

#Mod Post

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hetikles · 2 years

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oh ship bingo? leiabine.

oh u already KNOW they r everything to me <33 star wars wlw rarepairs is a niche that i am very very willing to inhabit. i am holding this ship gently in my hands and kissing it on the mouth i love it so much

and i will be a bit honest w u: pearl diver is essentially a thinly-veiled expression of my own fears surrounding the concept of a romantic relationship. the horrifying ordeal of the "i love you. what now?" question and such <33

#ask game #isorottatime #thank u soro for giving me the opportunity to expose the people to this ship <33 #leiabine

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jaskierswolf · 3 years

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Stolen Kisses

Prompt: Watching them Sleep Relationships: Jaskier/Aiden - Background Jaskier/Lambert and Lambert/Aiden Rating: M Content Warnings: sexual references but nothing explicit. Summary: A Robin Hood AU starring Jaskier as Robin and Aiden as Guy of Gisborne. Jaskier sneaks into the castle determined to pay Aiden pay, it doesn’t go as planned.

For @witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo

Thanks to @kuripon for Beta-ing and to @officerjennie for sending in the prompt to remind me that I wanted to do this AU.

_______

Jaskier laughed as he ran through the woods, the trees a blur as he scrambled over the leaves and twigs that were covering the ground. Valdo cursed as an arrow came flying at their heads, barely managing to duck in time. The thief stumbled and fell to the ground in a flurry of leaves.

“Come on!” Essi yelled as she dragged Valdo to his feet and then carried on their escape.

It was thrilling, the wind in his air, catching in his cloak so it flew out behind him. Jaskier darted back and forth, right and left, never keeping a straight path, diving behind the trees as he led the Sheriff’s men in a merry chase around the woods. They had no hope of catching the band of thieves. Sherwood Forest was their home and Jaskier’s gang was highly skilled at evading the soldiers. They were even better at relieving them of their purses.

Geralt, Lambert and Eskel would be waiting at the edge of their den, ready to ambush the soldiers if they didn’t manage to escape them in time but Jaskier was leading them in a little circle around the woods, jumping over fallen trees and hiding in nooks and crevices on the forest floor. He glanced around as he ran, his hood falling from his head as he turned. Priscilla had melted into thin air, and Essi and Valdo could just be seen scrambling up a tree out of sight of the inexperienced soldiers.

The bastards were too focused on Jaskier.

“Bloody Sheriff,” Jaskier grumbled. He’d once been Julian Alfred Pankratz, Lord of Lettenhove, but he’d come home from the war to find that the Sheriff had declared he was an outlaw. It had been completely ridiculous, the blasted Prince was poisoning the country and so, Jaskier had been born. A fugitive, running from the law.

Aiden of Dyn Marv was a thorn in Jaskier’s side. He was the Sheriff’s right hand man and so completely focused on taking Jaskier down. The man could hold a grudge better than anyone, just because Jaskier had slept with Lambert and pulled the man to his side…

Well, Jaskier could hardly be blamed.

“Oh fuck,” Jaskier muttered as another arrow narrowly missed his head. His legs were beginning to burn and he still had at least two soldiers on his tail. Grimacing, he pulled his bow from his back. Contrary to common belief, Jaskier didn’t enjoy killing Aiden’s men. There had been enough killing in the war and these men were just trying to make a living, but alas he could not let them find their camp.

He spun around, expertly sliding an arrow into the nock of the bow. He pulled back in one swift movement, the string brushing against his cheek, and then he let go. The arrow soared through the air and easily met its target. The nameless man fell to the ground and Jaskier had already taken aim at the second soldier.

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered and released the string.

And then he was alone in the woods.

He sighed, running his gloved hand across his forehead before running back to the camp. The others were already in their den, hidden away by a clever contraption that Lambert had helped to build. Aiden’s coin was covering the table as they counted their loot.

Jaskier winked at Lambert as he flopped into his hammock. “How did we do, gang?”

“Enough to cover the taxes of Lettenhove and the surrounding villages for a couple of weeks. We might even be able to eat this week,” Eskel hummed, tossing a coin in Jaskier’s direction.

Jaskier caught in and flipped it round in his fingers. “That’s not enough.”

“Jask,” Lambert groaned. “We can’t keep going after Aiden. He’ll punish Lettenhove and you know it.”

Jaskier scoffed. “You’re soft on the man.”

“There’s good in him.”

The rest of the camp fell silent. No one questioned Lambert’s loyalty to their gang, he’d made it very clear when he’d left Aiden that there would be no second chances there, but Lambert was still fond of him, in his own way. It never failed to cause a rift between Lambert and Jaskier. They both adored each other but there was an Aiden shaped gap between them that they never managed to cross.

And that only served to enrage Jaskier more. Aiden had taken everything from him. So he would pay, be it in gold or with his life.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Jaskier muttered darkly, his joyful mood from the chase soured. He wanted nothing more than to slip back into the castle and finally end the man that had brought him so much pain. “I’m going out. I’ll be back by the morning.”

He jumped from his hammock and gathered a handful of arrows for his quiver, replenishing what he’d lost on the raid. On the way out he also made sure to pick up his dagger, sliding it into the holster on his thigh. Blood would be spilled tonight. Just as he reached the edge of the camp he felt the cold kiss of steel against his throat.

“Lamb, please,” he sighed, not bothering to turn. “Let me go.”

“You will not kill him, Jask. If you do that then you’re no better than him,” Lambert growled, looking every bit as menacing as he had the day he’d left Aiden behind at the castle. “I will leave.”

“I said let me go,” Jaskier hissed, “and I will promise not to hurt your lover boy.”

Lambert scoffed. “You’re a real bastard sometimes, Jask.”

Jaskier grinned, gently pushing the blade away from his throat. He popped his hood up and winked at Lambert. “Says you, darling.”

“Be safe, or I will bring your dead corpse back to life just to kill you again.”

Jaskier rolled his eyes and brushed his lips against Lambert’s cheeks. “You say the sweetest things, dear heart.”

“I’m not kidding, Jaskier.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds, Jaskier trying to memorise Lambert’s face just in case his mission went wrong. Eventually he cupped Lambert’s cheek and pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss.

“Don’t get into trouble whilst I’m gone.”

And with that, Jaskier sprang from the camp and headed back towards Nottingham, the very place he had only just escaped from. He adjusted his bow on his back and sighed, looking at the sky. He would wait until nightfall before slipping into the castle. That would give him some time to distribute the coin from the purse he still had tucked away. There was no point in risking his hard-stolen gold, it would be pointless if it were to fall back into the hands of Aiden and the Sheriff. The villagers were grateful for the coin, they always were, even if there was always some arsehole that threatened to turn Jaskier in, but in the end, gold won.

Jaskier was hiding in the shadows, drifting around the perimeter of the castle walls, by the time the sun had set. He was aiming to slip into Aiden’s chambers unnoticed, eliminating the possibility of unnecessary bloodshed, but it wouldn’t be easy. The guards would know him on sight and he had to be patient.

Patience was not his forte.

He took the dagger from its holster and flipped it a few times in his hands. He caught the blade easily and the rhythmic thud of the hilt in his palm eased his nerves. When he was bored of that he took an arrow from his quiver and inspected his handiwork. They were flawless, of course, but he still liked to check. He took out each one, feeling the brush of the fletching between his fingers. When he ran out of arrows he decided it was late enough and glanced up at the wall above him. There were no signs of the guards, and Jaskier grinned. He pulled a rope from around his waist and attached it firmly to an arrow. Taking aim he released the arrow from the string and it lodged firmly into the brickwork at the top of the wall, just like he hoped it would. Jaskier tugged the end of the rope before starting his ascent into the castle.

The shadows of the castle were a thief’s best friend and Jaskier managed to navigate his way around the castle like a lioness stalking her prey. The thrill of being caught was addictive and he felt like he was on a high the entire time. Geralt would have chided him for being reckless but Geralt wasn’t here right now, none of his merry band of thieves were. It was just Jaskier and Aiden.

The final battle.

Aiden’s chambers were extravagant and familiar. Jaskier’s own bedroom at Lettenhove hadn’t been too dissimilar before he’d been torn from his home. He padded around the room, his curiosity taken over caution and he inspected the knickknacks and furniture, getting to know the man whose life he would soon take.

The bastard was lying on his bed, sound asleep and snoring. Long brown hair fell over his face in a mess, and in the moonlight, Jaskier could see the thin pale scar that ran down his cheek; Jaskier’s handiwork from one of their first scuffles. The usual black leather had been replaced by a black chemise that barely covered the man’s torso. The fabric was rucked up on one side, revealing toned muscles nicely covered in a layer of fat. He was strong. Jaskier swallowed, not knowing where to look. He’d known Aiden was attractive but seeing him like this, so peaceful, so… so handsome.

Jaskier’s hand faltered as he reached for his dagger. It should have been easy. This man was his sworn enemy and Jaskier would never have an opportunity like this again, but Aiden was defenceless, drooling onto his pillow and mumbling in his sleep. There was no difference between this man and the good people that Jaskier had left in the woods.

Jaskier hissed, turning around in a rage, knocking his hood from off his head so he could tug at his hair. “Come on, Jask,” he whispered, decisively pulling the dagger from its sheath and pointing it at the sleeping man.

“There’s good in him,” Lambert’s voice echoed in his end, unable to forget the pleading golden eyes that begged him not to kill this bastard man.

Aiden grumbled and rolled over, hugging his pillow. It was fucking adorable and Jaskier was furious. One job, he’d had one job…

And yet he’d always fallen in love oh so easily. He flitted between lovers like a hummingbird, dandelion seeds floating on the wind. Each of the gang had fallen into Jaskier’s bed at one point or another and no one begrudged him that. It was just who he was… but he’d never imagined he would be attracted to this monster.

They sparred with both swords and words, never getting the better of one another, equally matched and yet on complete opposite sides and Jaskier truly hated him, but was hate really so different from love?

“Fuck!” he whispered through gritted teeth. “You fucking bastard.”

Jaskier launched onto the bed, holding the dagger at Aiden’s throat and straddling the man’s hips. One movement, that’s all it would take, the guards wouldn’t know anything until morning and Jaskier would be long gone. Aiden’s eyes snapped open, a startling green glittering in the silver moonlight. Aiden opened his mouth to yell out but Jaskier was faster, pressing his free hand across Aiden’s lips to muffle his cries. They fought in the bed as Aiden tried to scramble for his own weapon but it was no use, he was pinned down under Jaskier’s hands.

Kill him.

Jaskier still wasn’t sure why he was hesitating or why there was suddenly an all too familiar prickle of heat over his skin, pooling in his core. The breath was still in his enemy’s lungs and Jaskier was weak. He yelped as Aiden bit his hand, pulling back and barely managing to pin Aiden’s hands again before he could reach for his dagger.

“Just get it over with,” Aiden spat, his eyes still burning with rage and determination even at the brink of death.

And Jaskier couldn’t do it.

He shook his head. “Not like this. It’s cowardly.”

Aiden laughed, “You’re even more of an idiot than I thought, Hood.”

“Perhaps,” Jaskier shrugged, releasing Aiden from his grip and the bastard didn’t immediately try to kill him. “But then again, I’m also still alive. Why is that, I wonder?” he cocked his head, chewing at his bottom lip.

Aiden glared up at him, his gaze flicking between Jaskier’s eyes and lips. So, Jaskier wasn’t the only one affected by their sudden proximity. The tension seemed to crackle between them. The room was still dark and neither of them were making any move towards their blades, so Jaskier rolled his hips forward tentatively, never breaking eye contact. Aiden groaned underneath him.

“You bastard,” he hissed.

“Truce?” Jaskier suggested, letting his hands run down Aiden’s chest. “For one night only?”

“Only if you kiss me,” Aiden purred, his voice dropping to a low timbre that made Jaskier shiver in anticipation.

He smirked. “Oh, with pleasure.”

#the witcher #jaskier/aiden #jaskier pankratz #aiden the witcher #robin hood au #wolfie's witcher writing

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medic-6116 · 6 months

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Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: CT-4040 | Cutup & CT-782 | Hevy, CT-4040 | Cutup/CT-782 | Hevy Characters: CT-4040 | Cutup, CT-782 | Hevy Additional Tags: Episode: s03e01 Clone Cadets, Pining, Mutual Pining, Pre-Relationship, Happy Ending, because I said so and nothing bad happens after this Series: Part 6 of Rarepair Bingo, and Part 7 of rowboat size ships no one asked for Summary:

Please, don't do it. 4040 thinks, teeth digging into the inside of his lip. You're needed here. Please don't.

Rarepair Bingo is hosted by @starwarsrarepairbingo Prompt used is Happy Ending

#clone trooper cutup #ct 4040 #clone trooper hevy #ct 782 #cutup x hevy #hevy x cutup #star wars #the clone wars #star wars the clone wars #the clone wars fanfiction #star wars rarepair bingo #starwarsrarepairbingo23 #fandom event #fandom bingo #star wars fanfiction

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starwarsrarepairbingo · 11 months

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Bingo Sign Up Form

Here is the bingo sign up form! Format: check off the prompts that you want to include in the prompt pool for your card; from those, 24 will be chosen at random!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send an ask here!

Sign Ups will be open through 7/31 -- plenty of time, so no rush on deciding / filling out the form.

#star wars bingo #star wars rarepair bingo #bingo sign up

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prowlingthunder · 7 months

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Stasis Canticle by ProwlingThunder

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types Relationship: Tae Diath/Original Character(s) Characters: Original Character (Ausnia Surr), Tae Diath, Anakin Skywalker Additional Tags: First Battle of Geonosis (Star Wars), Children of the force, Established Relationship, The problems when Child of Light and Child of Dark meet Language: English Series: Part 2 of Multiply By Zero, Part 2 of The Most Beautiful Ship, Part 236 of The Everlasting List of Shenanigans

Summary: Tae reaches out in the Arena for help, and his boyfriend answers in a swath of death. Aunsia reaches for the Force for help, and it answers.

Anakin reaches out for misunderstandings, and grabs them with both hands.

Prompt from here: "I'm always on your side."

Bingos: Rarepair (Tae Diath/OC): Established Relationship (@starwarsrarepairbingo) Gen: The Force Made Them Do It

#star wars #ptwrites #ptbingos #fanfiction #star wars rarepair bingo #general star wars bingo #fandom bingos #fandoms #tae diath #aunsia surr

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polizwrites · 2 years

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WIP Update - 6 Apr 2022

A little light on the writing this week, due mostly to being away over the weekend. I touched 5 fics (2 WIPs & 3 new works) for a total of 2118 words. I posted the next chapter of my Stuckony Star Wars AU over on Ao3 and combined an @agonyapril2022 and @flashfictionfridayofficial prompt for a platonic (?) WinterHawk ficlet that I may massage into something for the WH bingo.

I’m up to 11 active WIPs (with a couple of maybe TBCs) with my current deadline being the WinterHawk Bingo which wraps up the end of April.

On the crafting side, I have three Stuffed With Character commissions slots open for April at the moment.

See below cut for the WIPs (arranged more or less by bingos/challenges/etc) I am working on - feel free to send me prompts or plot bunnies as well as asks regarding any of these projects (or any other WIPs I’ve got out there) – they really help feed the Muse and keep me motivated!

Never More to Go Astray (Stuckony Star Wars AU)

The Muse is poking me to make this a longer fic with at least 6 chapters to get through two rounds of POVs. Huge thanks to RudeArrow, who is doing an AMAZING job of brainstorming and beta’ing with me!! Chapter 4 was posted on Friday. and Chapter 5 (Bucky POV) is sitting at 400 words. Current Last Line: “How come I’m the errand boy?”

Going All In - IronBones Ficlet

After responding to @kahuna-burger‘s rarepair shipping ask, the Muse whispered in my ear and I’m currently 945 words into a smutty ficlet where a young!Tony gets his aggressively flirty bluff called by a junior SHIELD agent who is clearly not as straight as anyone (including himself) thinks. If all goes well, I plan to get this posted by the end of the month.

WinterHawk Bingo - Round 3 [WHB_R3] (Runs thru 30 Apr 2022)

Six fills posted - three WIPs at the moment - shooting for a Row 1 bingo at minimum with a stretch goal of Column N. Need to keep my focus on this bingo!

* B1 - Red Room!Clint - Love in a Dangerous Time - Young Clint is given the choice between going to jail or joining a shadowy organization - but this time it’s not SHIELD. Probably going with a couple of short chapters: Chapter 1 is coming in at 624 words and Chapter is up to 634 words. Current Last Line: “Again,” Karpov commanded, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

* B3 - Bucky Worries about Clint - I may look at reworking/adding on to At What Cost -- the ficlet I posted last Friday for Agony April and Flash Fiction Friday -- to see if I can squeeze it into this square as well. Currently sitting at 437 words.

* I1 - Harry Potter AU - The awesome @psychiccatpanda (aka Faustess) and I are collab’ing on this and having a blast! We’re brainstorming and tossing the doc back and forth to write scenes and have a first draft sitting at 3180 words (of which I’m claiming about 1400) where Clint meets up with Steve & Bucky and Natasha on the train to Hogwarts. This will also fill my new Bucky Barnes Bingo card square Love at First Sight and should post on Friday. Faustess and I are talking about possibly making this a series (if it gets a good response) with each work told from a different POV and not necessarily chronological.

* I4 - Clint meeting WS!Bucky - Will use Chapter 2 of Love in a Dangerous Time to fill this.

Stucky Bingo - Round 3 [SB R3] (Runs thru 31 May 2022)

Nineteen fills with 3 WIPs, one drabble ready to post and a couple of Vague Ideas. Shooting for a Column O bingo to start.

* N5 - KINK: Sugar Daddy - Working on a new chapter for Takin’ What They’re Givin’ (‘Cause I’m Workin’ for a Livin’) - Pour Some Sugar - Steve invites Bucky to meet him in New York for a weekend. Currently up to 538 words. Current Last Line: Steve stood up and waved. “Bucky! Over here!”

* G4 - KINK: End of the world sex - got some help brainstorming during the Discord server party - I may be writing a porn parody of (some part of) Infinity War 😁

* O2 - AU: A/B/O - planning to use this on the next chapter of Flawed Hypothesis, which is Steve POV and currently sitting at 69 words. Faustess might be helping out on this as well? Current Last Line: But now they were living in a new century, where men could love and marry other men.

* ADOPTED2 : Incubi/succubi AU - Combining this with a @flashfictionfridayofficial prompt of Setting Heaven On Fire, and using a poem I wrote years & years ago as lead-in for a Stucky-by-proxy fic - currently sitting at 224 words. Current Last Line: It’s not my fault if they consider it a sin.

Steve | Tony | Bucky Bingo Round 2 [STBB R2] (Runs thru 30 Jun 2022)

Nine fills, and three WIPs. Taking advantage of the One Fill, One Bingo opportunity, and might get a Column B bingo as well.

* B4 - Working Out - this came from a Bucky Barnes Bingo server party: Binging Avengers Exercises - the team posts their workouts online and modern!Bucky spends entirely too much time watching the channel - especially Captain America and Iron Man.

* N2 - AU: Western - possible crossover with MWAPB Next Door Neighbors – I have a decent idea for this one (semi-inspired by a recent re-read of Laura Ingalls Wilder A Long Winter) and jotted down about 225 words’ worth of notes/VERY rough draft. May hold on to this to see if I can crossflll with an upcoming TSB square.

* O4 - Lazy Sunday Morning - have a smutty WinterIron idea for this one; need to get it jotted down - will most likely cross over with my BBB KINK: Edging square.

Started something to combining the following squares for the One Fill, One Bingo badge: B5 - “Aliens, again?”, I5 - Lifeguard, N5 - Barbeque, G5 - River Rafting, O5 - Wakanda. Avengers + Guardians in a partying mood = a huge headache for T’Challa. It’s currently sitting at 339 words. Current Last Line: I’m Sam, Sam Wilson – another friend of Steve’s.

Avengers Bingo [AvB] (Runs thru 24 Dec)

Two fills posted and 0 WIPs - I decided to further challenge myself by pairing up each square with a unique combo of 2 original MCU Avengers! With the help of the STB Enthusiasts Discord folks - I’ve got all 16 squares planned out, at least in terms of who to write about, and half of them have some sort of idea or crossover square to go along with them. Feel free to toss other plot bunnies my way…

* A2 - On the Run - Natasha & Steve - crossover with MWAPB - Farmer’s Market? post CA:CW Wakanda ?

* A4 - Mutual Pining - Steve/Thor - crossover with MWAPB - Thor.

* A3 - Reunited - Clint & Natasha - Endgame Ronin scene?

* B3 - Road Trip - Bruce & Thor - Post Grandmaster, pre-Thanos space shenanigans

* C1 - Opposites Attract - Clint/Thor - there was a fun Tumblr headcanon going around about a Bumbling Foreigner whose ignorance of local customs results in him flirting with/proposing to the prince - this seems like a perfect matchup!

* C3 - Reincarnation AU - Natasha & Tony - post-Endgame

* C4 - Bodyguard AU - Thor/Tony - young!Tony - crush on Cap plays into attraction (obvious title - Thunderstruck) - holding on this til next round of TSB.

* D1 - Friends w/ Benefits - Clint/Steve - crossover with MWAPB Hawkeye/Clint Barton.

D2 - Romeo & Juliet AU - basic idea: Steve (jock) & Tony (geek) trying out for title roles in R&J - despite their respective friend groups thinking it’s a terrible idea. Both cliques end up becoming friends.

* D3 - Bed Sharing - Bruce/Natasha - AoU compliant.

Man With a Plan (Steve Rogers) Bingo [MWAPB] (Runs thru 31 Dec)

Four fills, 2 WIPs and several Vague Ideas. Need to cross check this against my brand-new Bucky Barnes Bingo card!

* B2 - Next Door Neighbors - see STBB AU: Western above

* B3 - Farmer’s Market - see AvB On the Run above

* I3 - Thor - see AvB Mutual Pining above

* N1 - School AU/Teacher AU - if I decide to continue on with Technicalities (see Stucky Bingo College AU above) - I could fill this square :: ponders::

* O2 - Sex Pollen - Teenage Groot pollen = aphrodesia hijinks. Quill & Gamora warn the couple (stucky)/throuple (Stuckony) ahead of time, so no dub-con.

* O3 - Hawkeye/Clint Barton - see AvB - Friends w/ Benefits above.

Bucky Barnes Bingo - Round 4 [BBB_R4] (Runs thru 7 Jan 2023)

Got my card just this past week and the creative juices are already flowing -- looks like I’m already in good shape to start with a Row 4 and/or Column K bingo!

* B3 - Sam Wilson|Falcon - this would be a good candidate for a continuation of After One Or Two False Starts

* B4 - Yelena Belova - wrote a 455-word ficlet for this on Monday: Reconnaissance - Yelena looking for information about her sister. Will probably post this sometime in the next week or two.

* U4 - AU: Arranged Marriage - will probably pick Lady Natasha's Consort and Lord Steve's Companion back up for this one.

* C1 - Merpeople - possibly add a new chapter (or second work in a series) to Something's Starting Right Now

* K2 - Comics - sew the Stuffed Marvel Classic Comics Bucky Barnes I drew up last month.

* K3 - KINK: Edging - see STB Lazy Sunday Morning above.

* K4 - Love at First Sight - see WinterHawk Bingo Harry Potter AU square above

* Y2 - Never the fall that kills you - this might be the title for the remix I want to do of @hddnone‘s Seeds of Love - holding off on this til I get my TSB card, as I wanted to carry over my Secret Admirer square for this as well.

————

On other creative fronts: I finished Baron Von Frankenstein and Gillman and have an Audrey II in progress. I currently have 3 April commission slots available.

if you’re looking for one of a kind gifts (for a friend or something for yourself!) you can plan ahead for the next holiday season and check out Stuffed With Character over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 80!). They’re mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design requests for any fandom!

#writing stuff #wip update #wip wednesday #shameless self promo

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wren-ravenheart · 3 years

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I'll Keep Your Memory

@witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo

Prompt: Childhood Memorabilia Relationships: Lambert/Jaskier Rating: T Content Warnings: Hints of child abuse, cursing, Summary: Modern Au Julian and Lambert have lived next door to each other as long as they can remember, and have been close friends for nearly as long. Lambert entrusts a box of his most prized possessions to his best friend, and spends more and more time with him and away from his own house. Before either can come to terms with what this means for them, tragedy strikes and both boys are left wondering if they'll ever see their friend again.

Cross-Posted to Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31149023

Most of this is under a cut as I went Completely off the Rails with this little prompt, and this is 6k words of chaos. <3

~~~~~~~

In a small town, on a quiet street, in the middle of nowhere Redania, there lived two families who seemed completely innocuous to anyone passing by. Each family lived in a squat little cookie-cutter house with dark brick walls, a comfy front porch, and a well-maintained lawn. Each family consisted of a husband, a wife, and their only son. And there is where the similarities end, for while in one house there is love and laughter, the other holds darker secrets that would never come to light.

Julian had lived next to Lambert’s house for as long as he could remember. Their dads worked together up until recently, and the two boys were never far from each other. He considered Lamb his very best friend in the whole wide world, with his bright hazel eyes, lop-sided grin, and floppy black hair. And now, finally, at the tender age of Ten, Lambert apparently also considered him his very best friend as well.

“Julek, you have to promise me to keep these safe at all costs, okay?” Lambert had a serious look on his face as he handed him a shoebox full of his most important things. Julien took the box with trembling hands as he nodded.

“Of course. But… but why are you giving me these? You never let your trading cards out of your sight..”

Lambert shuffled back and sat on Julian’s bed with a sigh. He kept his eye on the box as the other boy turned to nestle it into a corner of his closet carefully. “Well, you know how my dad doesn’t work with your dad anymore?”

“Mhmm.”

“Yeah, well he’s lookin around the house now for anything he can get his mitts on to sell. Some of those cards took me forever to find and I ain’t about to let him get anywhere near ‘em. So they’ll stay here with you…. Along with a few other bits.”

Julian popped his head up and looked over at Lambert in awe. “You mean…”

“Yeah. It’s in there. Don’t touch it.”

He shook his head so hard he wondered if he was gonna rattle something loose. “I promise. I’ll keep it all safe.”

Lambert cracked a small smile and patted the bed next to him in invitation. Julian hurried over and plopped down, pulling his legs up to cross in front of him. He nudged the other’s shoulder slightly in hopes of more of the story.

“Not much to tell, Jules. I just don’t… I don’t have a good feeling. He’s actin’ different and Momma is quieter lately. I haven’t heard ‘em fight, but then who knows why adults are the way they are.”

Julian nodded and leaned his head over on his best friend’s shoulder. Lambert ruffled his hair and stole a quick hug before shoving him over in the bed. Julian bounced off the mattress with a laugh.

“Enough sad crap! C’mon I wanna kick your ass in Mario kart.”

He was up and out the door before Julian could roll himself off the bed. “No fair! Cheater!” And raced after him with a shout.

They didn’t talk about the box again, and Lamb only asked to see it maybe four times over the next two years. Things got progressively worse at his house as his father failed to keep a steady job and took to drinking. He overheard his own parents whispering from time to time over the state of “that poor boy’s mother” when they thought he couldn’t hear them.

He kept a watchful eye over his best friend anytime the two were playing together, trying to see whatever his parents thought they saw. He only saw Lambert acting sillier and sillier as time crept on, and spending more and more time over with him. The night of his twelfth birthday, Lambert even spent the night. It was a turning point for him.

They woke the next morning in an octopus tangle of limbs, and he felt his little pre-teen heart stutter as he suddenly noticed the way Lambert’s hair brushed his forehead, and the way the lingering chub to his cheeks only enhanced his smile. Clearly, whatever his parents thought they were seeing was wrong. His best friend was fine! More than fine, really...

He took two entire painful weeks to come to terms with the sudden crush he had developed, and another month to think of a reasonable way to admit said crush to his very best friend without terrifying him away forever. He wrote five letters to Lambert in the hopes of figuring out what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. All five ended in crumbled heaps at the bottom of his trash can.

Finally, he could take it no longer and decided to just go pay him a visit and confess it all. Patience had never been his strong suit, and what self-respecting 7th Grader kept such important information to themselves anyways?

With a quick glance at Lambert’s special box for courage, Julian marched out his front door on his mission…

Only to be brought up short at the sight of four police cars, two fire trucks, and an ambulance blocking his street and covering the lawn of his best friend’s house in various uniformed people. The bouncing red and blue lights caused him to squint as he tried to make out what was going on. Before he could even take a step forwards to investigate, his father’s hand came down on his shoulder, holding him fast. He glanced up to see his father with a grim look on his face and his mother a step behind, tears already shining in her eyes. Julian swallowed around a sudden lump in his throat as he gazed back towards Lambert’s house. His eyes burned as he tried not to cry. This wasn’t supposed to happen…and how was he ever going to confess now? Was this what his parents had been whispering about for months?

“Dad, what’s… what’s going on? Is Lambert okay?”

“I don’t know, son. I don’t know.” His voice was quiet and not at all reassuring, even as he tugged Julian into a loose hug.

His father was able to coax him back indoors with the promise of ice cream and Star Wars, but the flashing of the lights stayed with him. They would play over and over again whenever he closed his eyes. And they would haunt him again when he finally made it back outside in the late afternoon of the next day and all that greeted him was an empty street and police tape barricading off the house of his favorite person. And he knew he’d never get those lights out of his nightmares when the scene outside didn’t change, and his best friend never came back.

~13 years later~

Kaedwen was terribly muggy and sticky in late summer. The humidity made the air outside feel like it was nearly chewable, and Jaskier had to stop from time to time to wipe the sweat from his forehead as he hunted for the row his new flat was on.

Jaskier, formerly known as Julian, was enrolled in the Musical Theory graduate program at the University of Daevon, freshly turned 25, and was absolutely turned around in what he hoped was his neighborhood. He pulled a suitcase behind him and had a duffel bag hanging from his other shoulder, and looked to all the world at large to be a completely lost tourist. Four people had passed him and given him the stink eye as they went.

He took another glance at the paper his lodging information was on again and sighed heavily. This was not shaping up to be his day, or even his week.

“Lost, little puppy?”

Jaskier turned his head so fast he thought he heard something in his neck pop, bringing himself at eye level with a very tall and broad man with hair that looked like a snowdrift. He couldn’t help it, he gawked and wasn’t even subtle about it.

The man grinned at him, apparently well aware of the effect he had on strangers, and strode forward to take the paper from Jaskier’s hand without even asking. Jaskier spluttered a bit, straightening to bring himself to his full 6 foot height as the man frowned and hummed at the paper. He puffed his chest, brought up his hand, and prepared to begin a proper lecture on the rudeness of this strange man.

“Now see here - “

“You missed your flat. It’s six houses back on the left. The numbers can be a little weird around here, but if you double back you shouldn’t miss it.” The stranger pointed as he spoke, singling out the building in question as he handed back the paper. Jaskier took it with a squeaked out ‘Thank you’, completely deflating in equal parts confusion, gratitude, and little bit of attraction to this very headstrong person.

The stranger simply grinned and nodded to him. “Welcome to Daevon. You’ll love the food.” And with that odd non-sequitur, he strode away, leaving a mildly dazed Jaskier behind.

As he lifted the paper again to double check the address, he noticed the man had also managed to tuck the small menu of a local restaurant as he’d handed it over. The Wolf Den: Kaedweni Cuisine with a Redanian Twist . Huh. What were the odds of that? He missed the food around Novigrad… maybe this was something he should try out. He tucked the menu safely away in his duffel pocket and made his way into his new home.

Lambert carefully shifted the skillet he was using onto the burner and wiped his hands off as his brother strode into the kitchen with a grin on his face that meant he was up to something. He eyed him warily as Geralt dumped his latest grocery haul onto an empty prep table.

“What’re you smiling at?”

“It’s a lovely day.”

“Bullshit. My sweat is sweating. You look up to something…”

Geralt shrugged and began sorting through his haul. “Saw a cute guy today. University chap. Totally lost looking like a sad puppy. Slipped him a menu.”

Lambert let out a loud bark of laughter. “Ohhoh! You’re hopin he comes sniffin around here and you get to ooze your charm at him.”

Another shrug from his brother. “Maybe it’s just nice having more customers..”

“Mhmm. Customers. Right. Maybe I’ll sneak out to him first.” He turned to wiggle his eyebrows at Geralt and make a mildly crude gesture with his left hand. His brother just rolled his eyes and proceeded to ignore him. With a shrug of his own, Lambert went back to work.

He’d been adopted by this family shortly before he turned 13 and they had literally saved his life. He wasn’t sure of where he would be if he hadn’t been taken in by his Foster father. Vesemir had already had Eskel and Geralt, both six and five years older than him respectively, and this restaurant near the University district. He’d been taught to cook, had an excellent head for the numbers side of the business, and had been able to incorporate some of his favorite dishes from his early childhood into the menu. Any other memories of his time in Redania he swiftly shoved down as far as he could. Was it healthy? Maybe not. But the less he thought of it, the less it hurt. And eating away his feelings was honestly his favorite thing.

A phone ringing about fifteen minutes later kicked him right out of his spiralling thoughts as he watched Eskel reach out and snag the receiver.

“Wolf Den, what can I get ya?”

Eskel mumbled, explained, and scratched out a delivery order before pushing it towards Lambert.

He picked it up and looked it over. Jaskier P. Weird name. With a shrug he tacked the order up next to his current and threw a thumbs up at Eskel. Lunch rush time.

Jaskier sat cross legged on his couch, gesturing at his friend Essi with a fork and talking around a mouth full of food. Three take out boxes sat open on his coffee table, all from The Wolf Den.

“I’m tellin’ you, Ess. Not only is this the best food within delivery distance of this place, but they’re staffed entirely by greek gods pretending to be men. One of them is clearly a mountain god, built like an entire apartment building with what must be the softest head of brown hair I have ever seen. One clearly lords over the snowy plains, white hair but he can’t be that much older than me and also looks like he could break me in two and I’d thank him.” Essie snorted and he waved the fork menacingly. “You mock, but I’m serious. And I also met what I think must be the owner, because he’s clearly an older gentleman, but yet again! Built like a tank and aging gracefully. I have yet to meet their other cook, but I will if it’s the last thing that I do! I want to marry this place.”

“That’s illegal in all territories, Jask. We aren’t that progressive yet.” The tremor in her voice as she tried not to laugh gave her away.

“Again with the mocking!”

“Well, I could hardly call myself your best friend if I didn’t put you in your place on occasion. Now am I going to help you unpack or are you going to blow all your time and grad money on more food?”

Jaskier huffed and shoved one more bite into his mouth before getting up and stomping off into his bedroom. Essi followed shortly trying to suppress her giggles. The kitchen was still a disaster of boxes, hence the take out, and the bedroom as well. All he had managed to get properly set out was his living room and working spaces, clearly the most important.

Three squat boxes sat at the end of the bed and the closet doors were propped open. Essi sat herself down on the corner of the bed and cracked open the box closest to her. She pulled out an impressive length of soft rope and raised an eyebrow at Jaskier.

He darted over and snatched the box away from her with a glare. “It says Private on the box, Ess! Open the other one!” He grumbled as he stomped away to shove the box wholesale into the closet to be promptly forgotten about. Essi just grinned at him in a way that made him sure she had done that on purpose.

“You’re a menace.”

With a raucous laugh, she settled back into the other box.

Two hours, and a bottle of wine, later and all that was left was a few items tucked away in the bottom of the last box. There were clothes hanging in his closet, proper bedsheets on his bed, and several photo frames on his walls. Essi pulled a very battered, barely holding together with duct tape, shoebox out and squinted at it.

“What in the name of 90s nostalgia is this monstrosity?”

Jaskier turned to see what she had and his face went through several rapid emotions before settling on the best poker face he could muster. He stepped forward and took the box gingerly from her, trying his best to ensure his voice came out steady.

“An old friend gave it to me for safe-keeping.” The words came out steady and he gave himself a mental high-five as he walked into the closet and set it carefully on a high shelf. As gently as he could, he shifted it back until it hit the wall and was safely tucked out of sight. Despite the ease with which he said it, Essi caught the emotion there. She stood up and crossed over to wrap her arms around his middle. He tried not to get choked up as he patted her arm in quiet thanks.

“It’s Lambert’s, isn’t it?”

“I can’t believe you remember that.”

“Jask, you were drunk off your gourd, sobbing into my lap… how could I forget?” She punctuated her last sentence with a soft headbutt between his shoulder blades. “You haven’t spoken of him since, but you were close.”

“Closest I have ever been to anyone besides you and my parents.” He reached back and scratched at her head until she let go and he was free to wander back over and flop on the bed. She followed and sat down beside him.

“I didn’t mean to drag down the mood.” Essi hummed while flipping his wisps of hair out of his face. “How about we go over to this little food joint you love so much for lunch tomorrow, in person, so you can shamelessly flirt in a more open fashion than by simply filling your bin with endless takeout boxes.“

That got a smile and a wink out of him. “You won’t regret this. The workers are nearly as delicious as the food.”

True to her word, Essi followed along behind Jaskier as they walked into the rather unassuming building that housed the “World Famous”, Jaskier’s words, Wolf Den. It was warm and cozy inside and much to her surprise and happiness was indeed entirely staffed with the most lovely specimens of the male variety.

A tall, handsome man with curling blonde hair and an interesting scar through his eyebrow was perched near the front and greeted them. He was scribbling away in a binder and motioned out towards the tables. “It’s open seating, so find a comfy spot and we will be by shortly for your drink orders.”

They found a corner table and settled in. There were a few other people scattered around, but it really seemed like a mellow afternoon. Essi settled in with her menu while Jaskier propped his chin in his hand and took in the surroundings. The greeter was talking briefly to a very tall and pale-haired woman with tattoos, piercings and a hip apron singling her out as likely their waitress. Sure enough, she sauntered over and smiled down at them. “Hey, welcome to the Wolf Den. What can I get you to start or drink?”

Jaskier grinned and rattled off his order and piped up on Essi’s behalf as well while she made googly eyes at the waitress and forgot how to use the common tongue. With a knowing smile, and a wink to Essi, the waitress sashayed away towards the kitchen.

“We’re coming here every day.”

Jaskier burst out laughing and put a hand to his belly as he chortled. Essi just glared at him, which only made the laughing worse, and by the time the waitress was back with their drinks he had dissolved into a teary-eyed hiccuping mess.

“You okay there, pal?” She asked sincerely and held out a handful of napkins to him. He took them gratefully and nodded.

“Yes.. yes.. I’m fine. Ahem. Just fine, thank you.” He managed to get out while smacking his chest to clear the last of his giggles and hiccups. With a final throat clear, he picked up the menu and tried his best to successfully order their lunch.

“What in the devil’s name was that noise?” Lambert tried to peer around Ciri as she loitered in front of the kitchen door holding an order ticket.

“Guy at table eight has a funny friend apparently. She nearly killed him with some kind of joke. I think it had to do with my ass.” She grinned as she said this, cocking her weight onto one hip and shaking the ticket back in her uncle’s face.

Lambert grabbed the ticket and bared his teeth, trying again to get around her. “If someone is harassing you, that ain’t funny! Let me at ‘em. I’ll show ‘em manners. Fuck their food. “

Ciri grabbed him by the shoulders and stood her ground. “Hey! Stop it! I was having a bit of a laugh myself. They were perfectly fine, I just thought the girl was gonna swallow her own tongue when I took their drink order. No harassment. Besides, she was kinda cute.” She ended with a pat to Lambert’s cheek and a smug smile. “Now make them lunch, or I’ll do it for you and you know how that will end.”

Lambert winced as he went back over to his stove. “With the freakin’ police department shuttin’ us down for health code violations and poisoning the customers, that’s how… Fine. Fine! But you just wait until you aren’t watchin’ me. I’ll show them not to ogle my niece.”

“Of course you will, you big softie.” She winked and swanned back out the door to the front of the house.

With a series of curses and grumbles, he sets to work. He was proud of his food. Maybe he’ll just serve it himself. See how that goes. Have a little word with the fairly odd couple out there. Yeah. He could do that just fine.

One moment, Jaskier is engaged in a spirited debate over the authenticity of a recent submission to the department by one Valdo Marx, the next he is all but forgetting to breathe as the last of the great Wolf Den Men saunters his way out of the kitchen and directly towards their table with their order. He’s tall, but whereas Geralt is Ethereal and Eskel is an entire Mountain, this man is more like the physical embodiment of a warm hug. He has dark black hair slicked back from his head, showing off what must be an early onset widows peak, and looks both muscular and comfy from every angle. His eyes are a warm amber, but a mildly menacing look across his face is pulling at a long scar across the left side of his face giving him just that hint of danger Jaskier is always such a sucker for.

He realizes he hasn’t closed his mouth yet. Something about this man is sucking away his entire ability to breathe correctly.

The man stops in front of their table and carefully sets out their plates. “Here ya go. I assume you’re in from the university, a nice couple like you. I hope my niece saw to you when you got here. She’s 19, the sweetheart, and the pride of this place. Family run. I’m sure you understand.” He gestured back towards the front door, where the waitress from earlier was talking with another pair of customers. There was something in his voice that was both fond, and mildly intimidating. Like he was aware of Essi’s eyes lingering earlier. There was something else in the accent that kicked Jaskier’s heart rate up and made him stare even harder.

He made a mildly choked noise as he finally closed his mouth and attempted speech again. It wasn’t very well done.

The man narrowed his eyes at him and the intensity of that gaze, more hazel now that he stares longer, once again stops all the words he might have been trying to say.

Geralt picked that fun and awkward moment to stroll into the building, look over, and promptly yell “Hey, Jaskier!”

The tense atmosphere screeched to a halt.

“What the hell, Geralt? This is Take Out Boy?”

Jaskier spluttered. “T-Take out boy?? What?”

Geralt just grinned and nodded. “You call at least once a week. We draw straws on who gets to deliver to you. You’re just so cute when you open the door and get flustered. Lamby here is salty he hadn’t met you yet. But he’s too good a cook to stick on delivery duty. I’m glad you came in for once.”

Jaskier tried to keep up with the font of words coming out of Geralt, but his brain had latched on to “Lamby” and refused to let it go. He spluttered some more, hoping a word or two had come out in there that might get one of these fine gentlemen to help explain what was going on.

“Aw come on, now. Don’t call me that in front of our best regular.”

“Why are you out here anyways, Lambert, I thought Ciri was working today.”

Jaskier’s brain fizzled out entirely. “Lamby… Lambert?” He muttered, mostly to himself, but also to the room at large.

“Well, yeah, she is. But she mentioned something about this table makin’ eyes at her and so I came over here to deliver their food and look menacing, I couldn’t help it. You know how I get.”

Geralt raised an eyebrow at that and looked more closely at the tables occupants. Jaskier looked like he was having three existential crises at the same time and his female friend was as red as red could be. “Ah. My apologies. Didn’t mean to be making a scene out here. Lamb, let’s talk in the back, okay?” His voice held it’s own hint of steel that didn’t bode well for someone.

But as Lambert nodded and turned to move, Jaskier finally got his brain functionality back enough to whip out his hand and grab hold of the closes part of Lambert he could… his apron. The other man halted suddenly and frowned down at the hand on his clothes.

“Lambert?”

He looked over at Jaskier and noticed how his eyes looked like the ocean, wide and blown out, and his entire face looked like he was a mix of happy and terrified and borderline about to pass out.

“Yeah?”

“From Redania?

He went still, and dropped all emotions from his face.

“Who wants to know?”

“Julian Pankratz.”

Now it was Lambert’s turn to suck in a breath and then promptly forget how to breathe again. He opened his mouth and all that came out was a bit of a choked off noise before he was ripping away from Jaskier’s hold and sprinting back into the kitchen. Jaskier was left with his hand still out and the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes.

Geralt looked back and forth between Jaskier and the still swinging kitchen door a couple of times before landing back on the other man and putting his hands on his hips. “What the hell was that?”

Jaskier tried to clear his throat and speak, but all that came out was a wounded groan. Essi reached over and covered his hands with her own.

“Jaskier is from Redania as well. Mentions on brief occasions his oldest and best friend from his childhood. His first crush. A man he still carries around a beat up old box of mementos for. A man named Lambert.” She spoke softly, not taking her eyes off her friend as she did.

Geralt sat down heavily in an empty chair. “So you… you knew him. Before?”

Jaskier nodded.

“Lambert won’t tell us what happened before he was adopted. The only things we know were that he was from Redania, he loved his mother’s cooking, and that he wanted to incorporate it into our menu. Other than that. He’s silent on anything else. I imagine that’s why he ran…”

Jaskier looked wounded. He had always wanted to know what had happened to his friend that night. But more than that, he just wanted to have his friend back at all. And to see him here, in a random restaurant in Kaedwen… well he was still trying to wrap his mind around it all.

Geralt nodded and stood up again. “I’ll go check on him. Can you… Can you stay? His shift ends in an hour anyways.”

With one more solemn nod from Jaskier, the other man stood and left. Essi ruffled his hair in affection before tucking into her own food. He just stared at his in a mix of shock and awe.

It was barely 40 minutes later, and only about half of his food eaten, that Lambert re-emerged from the kitchen and headed straight for their table. He stopped in front of it and shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. Jaskier watched him and tried to give him a tentative smile.

“Can we talk? Somewhere else?” He blurted.

Jaskier looked surprised but nodded and looked over towards Essi. She just waved her hand in dismissal.

“I can make my own way home. Thanks for lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that she stood, nodded at Lambert and left the building. Jaskier stood up and pointed towards the door.

“My flat is a block over. We can talk there. I… there’s something I want to give you. And it’s private. I don’t have a roommate.”

Normally that would be grounds for a solidly flirtatious remark, but Lambert was still struggling with his own brain at the moment and simply nodded and followed after his old friend as they left and made the short walk.

Once the door to the flat was shut behind him, Lambert seemed to deflate a bit, the tension loosening some. “I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again.”

“Neither was I…” Jaskier agreed and walked towards his bedroom. Lambert followed and took a cautious seat on the edge of the bed. Looking around he saw photos of Jaskier with friends, with his parents, and with different instruments. Little snapshots of his life growing into what Lambert had to admit was a gorgeous and talented man.

The handsome man in question was rifling around in his closet, trying to pull something off a high self all while shaking his hair out of his eyes and mumbling to himself. He was about to ask if he needed help when the other made a little noise of triumph and bounded out and onto the bed with a very old box in hand. A box that was more duct tape than cardboard at this point.

“I never did more than patch it up when it threatened to fall apart. I never took out any of the contents, I didn't look or peek, and everything should still be in there just as you left it.” His voice had an excitedly breathless quality to it as he held out the box to him.

Lambert took it with shaking hands, little fragments of memory niggling at his mind as he lifted the lid with shaking hands. Inside, the bulk of his most cherished trading cards, his own copy of mario kart, and a letter and ring from his mother, cared for so diligently by another and protected like he had been unable to. He couldn’t form words. The emotions welled back up that he’d managed to push down so very hard since that awful night. The night she was killed. The night his whole world ended and then rearranged itself.

But here he was. Sitting on the edge of a bed that belonged to the first person he truly trusted besides his mother. He looked up to meet Jaskier’s eyes and was surprised to find his own vision blurring with unshed tears.

Jaskier made a hurt sort of tsking noise and launched himself forward, wrapping his arms around Lambert and hugging him. He let himself cry then, for the first time in over a decade, and fall apart feeling bafflingly safe in the arms of someone he hadn’t seen in even longer than that.

Jaskier shifted them to let Lambert lay down on the bed after his sniffled had died down, and went to go get them water and snacks. He returned to see Lamb propped up against his headboard, the box in his lap and the lid firmly on it. He went and sat beside him, holding out a glass of water to him.

“I can’t believe you kept this.”

“Well my very best friend in the whole world entrusted it to me. I wasn’t about to break that promise. Especially not after…” Jaskier’s smile faded as he trailed off. Lambert took the water before he dropped it and sipped while he thought about what to say. What could he say? If he was honest, Jaskier had been the first inkling he had that he wasn’t going to be living in a little brick house with a picket fence and a wife. Those first early childhood crushes lingered in the memory. At this point he was better off sipping his water and waiting for the other to find his footing for him.

“I wrote you letters. For a time. I didn’t put them in that box, and I didn’t keep them for long, but I… I did it anyways. All the way until college.”

“I worked very hard not to think of my life before… I never did anything like that, Julek. I’m not worth you having kept this for me. I worked so hard to forget my time before.”

Jaskier took a risk and reached out, taking Lambert by the hand and squeezing it. “You were my best friend. In my more morose hours, I may cry at length about the tragedy that was never knowing what happened to you. I had been going to go over that night and tell you I had a crush on you, but you were gone. But you’re here and whole, and I have a chance to get to know my best friend all over again.”

Lambert squeezed back then snapped his head up. “What? You had a what?”

“Oh, ah… Welllll. Of course that’s what you would latch on to. Turns out little Julian was not very into girls. My very first crush was on my very male best friend.” He winked as he said this, trying to bury his nerves behind bravado. He hoped it was working.

Lambert stared at him and then started giggling, giggling!, like a child. “No fuckin’ way.”

Jaskier puffed himself up and glared in a very ineffective manner. “Yes, fuckin’ way.”

“I had a crush on you , nimrod. I just… didn’t want to say anything. You knew my… well my situation.”

Jaskier hummed and scooted up closer. “I did. Though it seems like your situation has changed mightily. I’d… well, I would like to get to know you again. We’ve both changed. Be nice to become friends again in this new life.” He smiled as he talked, and Lambert just shifted his hands to lace their fingers together and smile back.” Hell, keep holding my hand and looking at me that way and I’ll lose control over my mouth entirely and go so far as to ask you on an actual date.”

Lambert’s smile went lopsided as he tried to avoid breaking out into laughter again. He shifted closer. “Yeah, well your mouth is welcome to run off and do that. I’m off on Thursdays. Which is, oh! Would you look at that… is tomorrow.”

Jaskier laughed and leaned in before stopping himself. “Still sassy. Can I hug you again?”

Lambert took his free hand and set it on Jaskier’s neck to pull him in. “You can have more than a hug, Buttercup.”

Jaskier barely had time to huff a laugh at that before Lambert’s lips were on his and his whole world was finally righting itself. They sat there, clinging to each other, working hard to be as close to the other as possible. When Jaskier finally pulled away to suck in a deep breath, Lambert carded his fingers through his hair.

“So, how about that date, then?”

The laughter sparked by this quickly dissolved into a series of very light moans as Lambert kissed him again and rolled them both over.

They had 13 years to make up for, but more important than the past for them, was the promise the future held.

~End~

#jaskier #lambert #witcher rarepair fanfiction #my writing #jaskier/lambert #Lambskier #Bombard #childhood friends to lovers

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