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fragmentedink-archived · 4 years

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Hell to Pay: Chapter Twenty-Five

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, IX, IX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XIV

cowritten by @lux-scriptum

A/N: trigger warning for blood, violence, torture, death, death of a child, implied past sexual abuse, and pls dont hesitate from letting us know if we missed anything <3

Lev stared at the ceiling. It’d taken Cameron fifteen minutes to get out of bed that morning. Lev’d barely fallen asleep by the time Cameron woke and started his painful attempts to start his day, and now Lev couldn’t get back to sleep.

Lev snagged his phone off the bedside table, scrolling through his contacts. He shot a text to Amara and then set his phone down again.

Sighing, he burrowed closer to Nik, breathing in his sandalwood and ocean scent, as if that would make any of this easier. Nik gave a sleepy sound, tucking Lev closer so he could bury his face in Lev’s neck. For a few more minutes Lev let him, absently tracing his fingers down Nik’s sides, following tattoos and muscle until his growling stomach drove him out of bed. He lingered long enough to brush Nik’s blue-streaked hair from his face and kiss the exposed forehead. “Hey. Come get some coffee,” Lev said, tugging on Nik’s hair. Better to get him up now, before Eden woke.

Nik grumbled at him, but made a move to get vertical, so Lev pressed another kiss to the top of his head, cupping his cheek. Nik’s eyes were still closed when he leaned up for a kiss, but Lev indulged him.

“Come on.” Lev tried to sound stern. He was pretty sure he sounded more indulgently affectionate than anything else, but he did pull away, so if Nik wanted anything else-

Nik held out a hand, which Lev took, tugging him to his feet. Almost instantly Lev pressed a hand to his chest, not trusting Nik not to lean over and fall asleep on the ground.

“If I trusted you to walk on your own, I’d ask you to carry me,” Lev said.

Nik pouted. “I can carry you,” he whined, scrubbing his face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lev said, steadying him as he headed for the door. “I’m probably getting a little big for that now anyway. Not just skin and bones anymore.”

“I’ll just get more muscle then,” Nik mumbled, clearly still half asleep. “It’ll be fine.”

“If you say so, dear,” Lev said, patting Nik’s elbow, and then tugging him away from walking into the wall.

“I do say so,” Nik said, with all the indignity someone ready to doze off on their feet could muster.

That was when Lev managed to steer Nik into the kitchen, where Cameron was making his way painfully to the counter. Lev sat Nik down on a stool, and then scooted past Cameron. “Go sit down,” Lev told him. “I can get the coffee.”

Cameron sent him a glare. “You go sit down. You’re supposed to be in bed.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Lev said. “Sit. Down. I’ve got it. I- I wanted to talk to you both anyway. Before Eden woke up and all the chaos starts up again.”

“Make me,” Cameron challenged.

Lev looked at him, halfway to the coffee pot. “Cameron. Please? I’m- please. Let me do this. You won't let me do anything else to help.”

“Cameron,” Nik said, rubbing his temples. “Just sit down. It’s too damn early for this.”

To Lev’s relief, Cameron sat down, even if it was in stony silence. Lev moved around in equal silence, mechanically making the coffee and pouring them both a cup. He grabbed a stool and sat down, pretending he didn’t notice how Cameron had watched his every move. Lev waited until Nik had gulped down half his mug before clearing his throat.

Lev rubbed his palms on his pajama pants, and then said quietly, “I texted Amara to come pick me up.”

Cameron didn’t even blink. Nik frowned, clearly trying to process what the hell Lev had just said. “Why,” he finally asked.

“I need- I need some time. Some- some space.” Lev did his best not to look down. He owed them that. “I can’t think- I can’t think here, and- and I’m not being much use right now. I need to step back and just- I need to figure some- somethings out.”

“Are you breaking up with us?” Cameron said dryly.

Nik shot Cameron a dirty look, and then looked back to Lev. “Are you coming back?”

Lev hesitated, wrapping his arms around his stomach. “No- I mean, yes, I mean- No, I'm not breaking up with you, yes I plan to come back- I- I couldn’t stay away forever, I- I just need time. I need to think. So much happens around you both, and it’s all so much. I need to catch my breath.” He swallowed hard. “I know it’s shitty timing- but-”

“But?” Cameron pressed, just like Lev had been afraid he would.

“But I need this,” Lev finally said.

Cameron leaned back. “Fair enough. I can’t protect you anyway.”

“That’s not-” Lev wrapped his arms tighter around himself, closing his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.” He hated himself, just a little, for how the tears pricked anyway.

“You don’t have to go.” Nik looked awake now. “You can stay. Why do you want to go? Is it because of yesterday? What I said to you?”

Lev shook his head vehemently, curling inwards. “No. No. It’s not that. It’s not you, either of you.” He scrubbed at his cheek angrily. “I just have to, Nik. That’s all I have for you.”

When Lev looked up, Nik was glaring at the counter. Cameron’s level gaze was on Lev, gauging him. Lev didn’t like the feeling.

“Take Eden with you,” Cameron finally said. “I can’t protect her either.”

“I can’t,” Lev said, softly. Even if it pained him so much it was hard to breathe.

Cameron nodded. “I’ll have Nate come get her,” he said.

Lev blinked. “Are you in that much danger?” He finally asked.

“What does it matter? You won’t be here. You’ll be safe with Amara.” Cameron’s tone was halfway dismissive.

“I wasn’t worried about me,” Lev said, sharpness entering his voice without his permission. “I’m worried about you. You’re hurt, and you won't let anyone lift a finger to help you. Are you going to just send everyone away and sit there until he comes back?”

“It’s none of your business,” Cameron replied, face blank.

“Nothing is ever my business,” Lev said, standing. “I just sit in confusion, and get to be treated like a child when I don’t understand what’s going on. Just because I’m not strong or fierce or good at making people bleed doesn’t mean I can’t handle anything ever.” He rubbed his face, sniffing hard. “Whatever. I need to get dressed. Amara should be here soon.”

“What’s going on is that I have an angry client who is upset I took his job,” Cameron said.

Lev had no idea what to say to that. Neither, it seemed, did Nik, who stared at Cameron with an openly horrified expression.

“Go get dressed,” Cameron said, struggling to his feet and heading for the stove. “You’re probably right.”

Lev watched him for a few heartbeats before spinning on his heel and walking out the door. That was exactly why he needed to leave. It was so damn hard to think straight around Cameron. Or Nik, for that matter. They left Lev feeling like he was always half a step behind, off kilter and so full of emotions he didn’t know how to process.

Once Lev got to his bedroom, Lev peeled off his pajamas, and went rummaging for his own clothes. All his this time, not Cameron’s or Nik’s. He settled on the edge of the bed once he was done, and buried his face in his hands.

---

Nik was still staring at Cameron’s back, horrified at what Cameron said, but he was also torn between that and going after Lev to get him to change his mind. Cameron was acting so unfazed about literally everything that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours and Nik wasn’t sure how to take any of it. “He’s going to leave,” Nik said.

“As is his prerogative,” Cameron said, trying to get out a skillet. “I’m not his keeper and I have no intention of forcing anyone to stay with me. If you want gone, too, then go. I can’t protect you either.”

“You called Destris a client.”

“Yes?” Cameron said, back spasming as he finally got the skillet onto the stove top. “I know what I said, Nikolas, I was there. Do you not know the definition of the word?”

“Yes, I-” Nik was at a loss of words. “Just. Fine. Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to go talk to Lev.”

When Cam didn’t say anything, just kept attempting to cook, Nik sighed softly and went to the bedroom, where Lev was settled on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. Lev hadn’t even looked up when Nik knocked on the doorframe. “Do you remember when I told you you had to decide if you could handle being here during your heat? Is this you deciding?”

Lev finally looked up at him, shoulders slumping. “This is me trying to decide with a clear head.”

“What- what did I do?” Nik said. “Was it something I said? Did? Annoy you one too many times?” Nik tried for a smile. “Is it because I said you were gross for not liking coffee. It was a joke. I promise you can just like your milk and honey and I’ll just judge you in silence.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Lev said. “Neither did Cameron.”

“Then why,” Nik said. “Why now. Something happened and now you’re leaving us. You don’t have to go, please don’t go. I love you.” Well, Nik hadn’t meant to say that, but it was too late to take it back now.

Lev looked so hurt and he just stood. “That’s not fair, Nik. Throwing that in my face now. It’s not a magic band aid.” He went to grab a jacket. “I’m going to wait for Amara on the front porch.

Nik grabbed Lev’s arm before he pushed past him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Just. I’m sorry.” He let Lev go, though, and went to go to the kitchen where he dropped down on a stool and drop his hands in his hands.

“I’m guessing you didn’t succeed?”

“Probably got him to never come back,” Nik muttered.

“Sounds about right,” Cameron said, grunting as he reached for the eggs in the fridge. “Just let him go. If he wants to come back, then he will. If not, perhaps he wasn’t meant to be here for good.”

“I guess.”

Finally the telltale sound of Amara’s shitty motorcycle came closer and Cameron said, “Are you going to tell him goodbye?”

“No,” Nik said, face in his arms. “He probably doesn’t want me to after that.” When Lev didn’t come in to say he was leaving, and when the motorcycle started getting far away, Nik said, “See?”

Cameron flicked him a look while he started slicing up avocados. “Go get my phone.”

Nik slipped off the stool and wandered around the house until he found Cameron’s phone still speckled in dry blood. “Of course it is,” Nik muttered, making his way back to the kitchen. “Here.”

Cameron finished up his avocado and then took it from him. He put the phone between his ear and shoulder while starting back up on cutting up the… vegetable? Fruit? Whatever the fuck an avocado was.

“I am well aware of the time, Nathaniel,” Cameron said, coolly. “No, I don’t care that either of you are sleeping, either. I need you to do something for me.” Cameron paused, looking unimpressed at whatever it was that Nik could imagine Nate was saying. “Get Eden. Keep her for a while. I don’t know, Nate. If I did I would give you a set time that I’d be picking her up. Consider it open ended. There isn’t anyone I know competent enough to take care of her for me. Good. Goodbye.” Cameron promptly hung up and put the phone on the counter and continued chopping up the avocados. “He’ll be here in a few hours. I’ll finish breakfast and then get her ready.”

“So you’re really doing it,” Nik said. “You’re giving my brother the baby? Our baby?”

“It’s the right decision with Destris still in town,” Cameron said, neutrally. “You won’t let me kill her and I can’t protect her. It’s the only choice left.”

“I can protect her,” Nik said, defensively. “I am just as dangerous as you are, and apparently more dangerous than you are since you refuse to raise a hand to your sadistic brother and refuse to let Lev heal you because of your damned pride.”

Cameron’s eyes flicked up at that and it was an effort to not shrink back at that ice cold look from him. “You can protect her?” he asked, coolly. “You? Who can’t even handle a minor injury without drinking two extremely strong drinks because you got too upset?”

“Did you seriously just call what you had a minor injury,” Nik said, staring at him.

“I’m alive and on my feet,” Cameron said, moving back to the stove with the diced up avocados. “So yes.”

“You’d be dead if it wasn’t for Lev and Sazra,” Nik countered. “Your back just got resplit open and all your fingers broken, and stars know what else. Do not tell me that was a minor injury, you fucking liar.”

“We don’t lie to each other, remember,” Cameron said, completely unfazed at Nik’s blatant yelling. The pan sizzled as Cameron dropped the chopped avocados into the vegetable oil. “Just because you can’t handle a little pain, doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“You need so much therapy,” Nik said, still staring at him. He wasn’t sure if he felt bad for him, or if he was disgusted or just enraged at Cameron so clearly unable to see how flawed his logic was.

“No I don’t,” Cameron said, moving around the food with a spatula. “What’s a therapist even going to tell me what I don’t already know. At the end of the day the clock can’t be turned back, so it doesn’t make a difference.”

Nik hated that he couldn’t think of a damn counter to that. He had the same logic for it, but it didn’t sound right coming out of Cameron. “Whatever,” Nik said, plucking a cooked avocado cube out of the skillet and popping it into his mouth. “If you want to be that dense, so be it.”

---------

After breakfast, Cameron made his way back to Eden’s nursery, taking longer than he cared to admit, but found her awake, sitting and chewing on a new stuffed animal. She laid her eyes on him and started waving around her chewed toy and squealing at him. Cameron grimaced. “Good morning to you, you little monster,” he grumbled, picking her up and carrying her to the changing table.

He made quick work of changing her diaper despite the pain lacing through his body. But he had a schedule to keep, and he was going to keep it. Eden, luckily, seemed to realise that Cameron was injured and kept her wiggling to a minimum.

He managed to get her stuff packed in record time and decided to use the remaining time sitting in the rocking chair with her feeding her. Eden contently took to her feeding with enthusiasm. He used his foot to rock the chair slightly. “Hopefully the angel will keep your schedule with little change,” he told her. “If he doesn’t, you have every permission to raise hell with him.”

Cameron liked to think the glint he saw in her eyes was her agreeing with him. When they finished the bottle, Cameron went ahead and changed her once more, just to be safe, and carried her and the diaper bag out to the kitchen where Nik was in fact waiting with Nate. Nate stared at him, but his face was neutral in almost a flash. “She ready?” he said, trying for a light tone that didn’t sit well with the expression on Nate’s face.

“Clearly,” Cameron said, blackness cutting around the corners of his vision while he shrugged the diaper bag off his shoulder and handed it over to him. “There’s clothes, diapers and everything else you need. I also included her schedule. I trust you can read? If not I’m sure Bay can for you.”

Nate rolled his eyes. “I can even tie my own shoes, too,” he said, shouldering the bag and going to take Eden from him. He brought her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “You ready, Baby?” he said, smiling down at her. “I bet we got plenty of toys for you to destroy.” Eden’s shrill giggle made Nate’s eyes crinkle. But that smile instantly evaporated into solemness when he looked back at Cameron, then at Nik. “She’ll be safe with us. I promise it.”

“Well good,” Nik said, bitterly. “Because apparently neither of us can protect her.”

Nate opened and closed his mouth, wanting to say something but deciding anything he had to say wouldn’t suffice. He just nodded in the end, lightly bouncing Eden. “I’ll send you updates,” he said, to both of them. “Good luck with whatever’s going on.”

Nik quickly got up from his spot on the stool and came over to press a kiss to Eden’s white hair. “I’ll see you soon, Baby. Promise.” He looked up to Nate. “Thanks, man. I won’t forget this.”

Nate shrugged. “What’s family for?”

-----

As if they could sense Lev’s mood, Reneé and Cin tiptoed around Lev as he curled up on the couch. Even Amara was subdued, and Lev almost swore she was hovering. Reneé had fed him, which he appreciated, but it only made him more homesick for Cameron’s cooking.

Eventually, though, they all just piled up on the couch, squishing Lev in the middle. Someone constantly had their hands on him, patting his hair and purring softly. Not home, but safe enough for now, even if his omega was unhappy he was so far from Cameron and Nik.

Lev buried his face against Cin, sniffling abruptly. Amara bit down on his shoulder, and then asked, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Lev shook his head sharply. “I just- I need to think.” He sniffed a bit more, and then mumbled, “Maybe after a nap.”

“Yeah, maybe. You look like you only got fifteen minutes of sleep last night,” Amara replied teasingly.

“I did,” Lev replied.

Amara tugged at him, made him look at her. She searched his face, blue-grey eyes hard and serious for once. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m just tired,” Lev said in a small voice. “I want to sleep. Please?”

After waiting Lev out didn’t get Amara anywhere, she sighed. “You want the couch or the bed?”

“They’re about the same level of comfortable,” Lev muttered.

At least she laughed at that. “Maybe they’re a good influence on you after all.” She ruffled his hair. “Listen. Reneé is officially late to school. Cin and I are going to drop her off, and then we’ll be back. We’ll be gone an hour, tops, alright? I’ll wake you up when it’s time for lunch.”

Lev made a face. “You’re not going to try to cook, are you?”

“Nah. I’ll use your card to order out,” Amara promised as she and the others peeled away. “Sleep here, sleep in my bed, sleep in Ren’s. Doesn’t matter to me.”

“Okay,” Lev said, closing his eyes when Reneé pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “See you later.”

Without them, the apartment, tiny as it was, felt vast. No matter how tired he was, he couldn’t get comfortable. Not on the couch, not on either of the beds. There was nothing to eat in the kitchen and nothing to watch and nothing to read; Amara must have been late on her cable bill, and Reneé unfortunately had a much different reading taste from Lev.

Restless and irritable, Lev grabbed his jacket and scribbled a note for Amara to call him if she needed him. Maybe a walk would clear his head. So on a walk he went, following familiar streets blindly until he realized he was standing on his old porch, staring at a door he knew damn well was still broken.

After blinking a few times, he pushed the front door open. The living room was dark, but Lev could still see the old stain on the floor. He let out a small breath, and shut the door behind him, flicking on the lights as he padded deeper into the house. Once he reached the kitchen he hunted down cleaning supplies; cleaning helped him think, and maybe, one day, he could sell this place and be rid of it forever.

He wasn’t sure how long he was on his knees cleaning before he admitted defeat. He’d gotten all he could up, and if he wanted to sell this place it was likely that he’d have to replace the carpet entirely. At least now, though, it wasn’t crusted with his own blood, and merely damp as hell and stained.

Sitting back on his haunches, Lev wiped his cheeks. He hadn’t even realized he’d been crying again. It made sense, though. Even now he swore his back twinged with the ghost of Remi’s blade. He was putting the cleaning supplies away when he heard a knock on the front door. Only after a moment of debate did Lev skirt around the damp patch in the carpet and open the door a crack.

A tall, dirty blonde man stood there. He was smiling faintly down at Lev, head slightly cocked to the side.

“Can I help you?” Lev ventured, just to be polite. He couldn’t place why he looked vaguely familiar, and a pang of guilt had him opening the door a fraction more. Had he just forgotten who this was?

“I was wondering if I could use your phone to call my brother? My car broke down,” the man said in a too-pleasant tone.

Lev hesitated. Something... something wasn’t right, and he was tempted to shut the door in this man’s face. He could smell that this was an alpha, and that only left Lev more wary.

Lev must have hesitated too long, because this strange alpha leaned closer. “It’s the middle of winter. Are you really going to leave me out here?”

That was enough Lev winced, mumbling a quick, “Sorry,” out of habit. He dug around in his pocket, and fished out his phone, sliding it through the crack. Surely an alpha would understand why an omega would be so damn wary of a stranger on his porch, and even if he didn’t that was not Lev’s problem.

The alpha flashed him another small smile, and started dialing. Lev couldn’t hear the dial tone, and barely caught whatever he was saying, but a chill went down his spine when he heard the alpha murmur Cameron’s name.

Already Lev was suspicious, and it took mere seconds to bounce to a chilling conclusion. In a flash Lev shoved the door shut and scrambled to hook the chain in place. The doorknob might be broken but the chain could buy him-

A shove against the door sent Lev stumbling back before he could even slot it into place. Lev could almost see it, now, what Zareth had said about it being Cameron, but worse. He bolted despite the leisurely stroll Destris was taking, slamming his bedroom door shut behind him and twisting the lock shut. A futile shove at the window told him it was jammed in a way that wasn’t natural- but how...?

Deciding now wasn’t the time to ponder about that, Lev looked around the room frantically. As he tried not to panic, he heard a knock on the bedroom door. “What’s wrong? It was just a phone call,” Destris said, voice syrupy sweet.

Lev’s hand dropped to his pocket, before he realized with a small omegan whine that Destris had his phone, and his landline phone was in the kitchen. He couldn’t call for help.

He was moving for his bedside table when Destris opened the door with a sharp twist to the doorknob. Lev froze, pressing his back to the wall and keeping the bed between them.

“Why are you so afraid?” The demon asked casually. “I can smell the fear on you.”

“A strange alpha just broke into my house,” Lev said, scooting closer to the bedside table. His voice shook. “Why wouldn’t I be afraid?”

“Am I really all that strange?” Destris cocked his head again. “We’re practically in-laws.”

Lev stilled by the bedside table, gripping the corner of it tightly. “I don’t know you,” Lev finally managed, trying to keep his breath steady and failing miserably. “And I don’t trust you.”

“Oh?” This time Destris arched a brow. “And you know Cameron? There’s plenty you don’t know about him.”

Lev wrapped his hand around the little lamp on his bedside table. He threw it as hard as he could, and scrambled over the bed, trying to make it out the door. Destris merely sidestepped the lamp and stuck out his foot. Lev barely managed to keep from falling on his face, twisting so his shoulder took the brunt of the fall instead of his face, or worse, his wrists.

Dazed, Lev didn’t get the chance to scramble up before Destris loomed over him, looking amused. “Carrying precious cargo, are we?”

It took Lev a few precious seconds of confusion before Lev blurted out, “No?” He scooted back, trying to get room to stand. Surprisingly, Destris let him stand, even if he kept prowling closer, green eyes glinting.

“Are you asking me or telling me?” Destris asked.

A cold shiver went down Lev’s spine. He opened his mouth, and tripped over the coffee table before he could say anything. Stupid. He should have been moving closer to the front door. He started edging that way instead, keeping an eye on Destris. “I’m not pregnant. There’s no way.”

“You’re an omega. I’m sure you’ve taken many cocks up the ass. There’s plenty of ways.”

Lev shook his head sharply. “No,” he said faintly. “My family- we don’t- it takes so long for- I’m not fucking pregnant.”

Destris gave him a slow once over, chuckling. “You certainly look it.”

Lev didn’t even have a response for that. Had it been any other time he would have been offended at the comment about the weight he’d gained from all the food Cameron had insisted he eat, but today he just yanked the front door open and tried to make a run for it.

Destris didn’t even stop him. Lev made it all the way to the neighbors front door, and when he looked over his shoulder, Destris had his hands in his pockets, stalking across the yard with a fluid grace that sent a shudder through Lev.

To his surprise, the door slid open before Lev could bang on it. Horror hit Lev a second too late as he stepped inside, the scent of rotting honey slamming him to a halt not two steps in the parlor. He gagged, hitting his knees as he stared at what used to be his neighbor- and her daughter.

Lev’s stomach lurched as he stared, too sick to move. “No,” he whispered, still taking in the sheer amount of golden blood splattered all over the place.

“They were in my way,” Destris said in a bored tone from behind him.

Lev fought another heave of his stomach, reaching for the infant. “They wouldn’t have hurt you,” he said, choking back tears. He drew his hand back, hugging his stomach as if that would help anything.

“They were angels,” was all Destris had to say, as if that excused this slaughter.

Lev turned around, hands clenched. “She was a single mother. You killed a child. They wouldn't have hurt you.”

“No one can hurt me. Cameron wouldn’t even hurt me.”

“Then why,” Lev rasped. “Why?”

“Because I can,” Destris replied easily.

Lev’s sharp, “Fuck you,” was out of his mouth before he could stop it. He flinched immediately.

Destris’ small smile did nothing to ease the twisting of Lev’s stomach. “Why would I defile myself with an angel when Cameron is right there?”

Lev flinched again, drawing back. “What do you want?” Lev demanded weakly, even as he stood on shaky legs.

This time Destris’ smile grew. “I want to hurt Cameron,” he replied.

That was more than enough for Lev, who turned around and made to bolt for the back of the house. He wasn’t ready for Destris to catch the back of Lev’s hoodie, yanking hard enough Lev choked.

“This is a really poor choice in clothing,” Destris said, before tossing Lev to the side. Lev landed directly in the middle of the glass coffee table, which shattered beneath him. Shards of glass cut into his hands when he tried to get up, and he could feel blood sliding down his face. Before he could get his bearings, Destris fisted a hand in his hair, and dragged him out of the pile of glass.

As Destris started dragging Lev out the door, Lev latched onto Destris’ wrist, trying to pull free. Destris wasn’t having any of that, and slammed Lev’s face into the doorway. Lev saw stars, but that wasn’t enough, because Destris tossed him down the porch stairs, letting Lev crumple in a heap, too dazed to move from the concrete sidewalk he’d landed on.

“You should be more careful, little bird,” Destris mocked, descending the stairs leisurely.

Lev pushed himself up. He’d fucking crawl if he had to, even if his head was spinning so much he wasn’t sure if he’d know which direction to go. He didn’t get far before Destris’ foot connected with his side, sending him sprawling again. Lev blinked up at him when Destris crouched beside him, grabbing Lev’s face.

“Are you alright? You’re bleeding,” he said with faux concern, swiping his thumb through the blood on Lev’s cheek. He popped said thumb in his mouth, eyes glinting. “I can see why Cameron bites you so much.”

“Let me go,” Lev said, unable to keep the panicked, pleading tone from his voice.

“Why would I do that, when we’re just getting to know each other?” Destris purred. Abruptly he yanked Lev’s head up, latching onto Lev’s throat with his fangs. Every instinct of Lev’s was screaming: he went limp out of sheer self preservation, giving a high pitched whine that was nothing short of pure omegan submission.

When Destris pulled back, his lips were shiny with golden blood. “Much better. I should bite angels more often.”

Lev closed his eyes tightly, well aware of Destris’ hand in his hair still, and of the blood gushing down his front. As Destris dragged him back towards Lev’s house, Lev tugged his magic up, hoping what he had left from healing Cameron would at least be enough to close up the wounds he had now. He was lucky: by the time Destris dropped him on his living room floor, he’d closed most of them, including the vicious bite to his neck.

Lev looked up at Destris, breathing hard and already crying silently. His omega whined deep within him, and he listened, arching his neck slightly in a show of terrified submission. Anything to keep Destris from lashing out again. Posturing like that had worked with violent alphas before, after all.

“Do you bare your throat like this for Cameron?” Destris asked. When Lev didn’t say a damn word, frightened and unwilling to provoke him further, Destris mused, “You’re too scared. I guess I should look like someone you trust.”

As he spoke, his features shifted, just enough. In a single blink, Lev was staring up at Cameron. His breath caught, and fresh tears rolled down his cheeks. That wasn’t fair.

“Is this better?” Destris asked, and it was Cameron’s voice Lev heard.

“Please,” Lev whispered, holding very still.

Destris crouched, grabbing Lev’s face gently. It didn’t- those were Cameron’s hands, and those should have been comforting, were comforting, weren’t comforting.

“Stop crying,” Destris ordered- Cameron- it was his voice, and Lev hated that it worked, hated that his tears stopped. He held still, too afraid to say anything. It didn’t make- he didn’t understand- it shouldn’t have-

“Good boy,” Cameron- no, Destris- said, sending a shiver down Lev’s spine. That little smile was too- it was wrong, on Cameron’s face.

“No,” Lev said in a tiny voice, pulling at Destris’ grip on his face weakly.

“No what? Don’t you love me?”

Lev pulled back a second time, even as his eyes filled again. “No. You’re not Cameron.”

Destris’ grip on his face never faltered, though the hands holding him changed. “Is this better?” Nik’s voice asked.

Lev jerked back again, shoving at Destris’ chest with one hand. In the next heartbeat Destris had snapped his fingers. Lev screamed, hunching over, but Destris wouldn’t even allow that, stopping him with a palm to Lev’s forehead. The next sob that bubbled up damn near choked Lev as he stared up at Nik’s face, vision swimming.

“Let me go. Please,” Lev whimpered.

To his surprise, Destris did. For a few seconds Lev just curled inwards, shocked by the release and overwhelmed by the pain. Nothing happened, even when Lev tottered to his feet. It was a game, Lev realised with dawning horror. Destris really was going to just let Lev walk right out that door and drag him right back in.

That didn’t stop Lev from stumbling past and down the porch, though. He made it to the mailbox at the end of his yard, and Destris had barely even stepped onto the porch. The demon was definitely just toying with him.

Lev leaned against the mailbox anyway, forcing his fingers back the way they should be with a strangled cry, and forced healing down his hands. They’d be fucked up and crooked, but at least the pain eased. He tossed another glance over his shoulder, in time to see Destris shift. A massive black panther was now loping across the lawn.

Lev bolted this time, but he didn’t even make it ten paces before the solid weight of Destris’ demonic form hit his shoulders, sending him face first into the sidewalk. Claws pricked through his jacket, a warning. The hot breath on Lev’s neck was a warning too.

Destris grabbed Lev’s hoodie between his teeth and started hauling Lev back towards the house again. Lev twisted, despite the futality, scrabbling with the zipper until he tumbled free. He barely got to his feet before a lazy swipe of Destris’ paw sent him sprawling again.

As easily as a cat would flip a beetle, Destris rolled Lev onto his back, planting a massive paw on Lev’s chest to pin him there. Practically hyperventilating, Lev stared up at him, unable to take his eyes off the fangs Destris flashed at him.

Maybe he should have, because a moment later claws were digging into his stomach, shredding the soft flesh there with little care of what damage it caused. Lev thrashed, shrieking as he shoved up against Destris, and only got his arm clamped between the demon’s jaws.

Pain radiated from both, stronger than it should have been, and only growing worse. Lev barely registered Destris dragging him back up the stairs. The pain swelled until it was the only thing was aware of, and by the time it faded to a steady pulse of agony he could think through, he��d lost all grasp of how much time had passed.

When he lifted his head, his breath rasping in his throat, Destris was seated in one of his arm chairs, watching him over the top of one of Lev’s battered romance novels. Blood caked off of Lev as he tried and failed to push himself up. His magic was moving sluggishly, barely any left, which explained why his stomach was still oozing yet more blood steadily. Rather than keep pushing, Lev dropped back down on the floor, exhausted. He could taste blood, the sickeningly sweet flavor flooding his mouth every time he gave a wheezing cough.

“Do you imagine Cameron wooing you like these characters?” Destris asked. Lev couldn’t muster up the energy to reply, Destris added, “He’s not capable of it.”

Lev closed his eyes. “I’m not stupid,” he finally croaked. “I know he isn’t. I don’t expect him to.” He sucked in a ragged breath. “He doesn’t owe me a damn thing.”

Destris gave a laugh. “The mark of true love.”

“He doesn’t love me,” Lev said after a long stretch of silence. “I don’t expect that either.”

“I didn’t say he did. Cameron doesn't and can’t love anyone. You however, do love him. And that is why I can play with you.”

Lev didn’t have an answer for that. He pressed a hand against his stomach, curling inwards on himself as he coughed hard. When he wiped his mouth with his free hand, it came back gold. He mumbled against the carpet, "What have I done to you? Why are you doing this?"

Destris closed the book. “You’re ruining my bastard with your soft heart.”

It took several seconds for that to process, but eventually Lev managed, “Eden?” He shoved a hand underneath himself, biting back a sob as he forced himself to sit up so he could stare at Destris properly.

“No,” Destris said, amused. “The other one.”

The sarcasm in his tone made Lev wince. “There’s nothing wrong with teaching her to be kind,” Lev finally said tiredly. “You could benefit from a few lessons yourself.”

Destris’ smile did nothing to calm Lev. “Are you offering?”

“Are you actually willing to learn?” Lev shot back, pressing his hand against his stomach harder, willing the last of his magic to close up at least the outside of his wound. There wasn’t much he could do about the internal bleeding, not right now.

"You dont need to teach me how to fuck you. But if you want to bad enough, I can offer that kindness."

Lev flinched, eyes going wide. “I- that’s not- that’s not what I meant.”

Destris cocked his head, watching Lev. “Isn’t it though?”

“That’s not a kindness,” Lev said, unable to lift his voice above a whisper.

"That's the kindest thing I could do for someone who's destroyed countless numbers of my people."

“I wasn’t- I never fought in the war.” Lev pulled his hand away from his stomach. Barely scabbed over, the best he could do. “I don’t hurt people. Angel, demon, human, witch. I don’t- I don’t do that. I won’t.”

“All Angels are guilty in the gods' eyes.”

Lev didn’t know what to say. He had no defense. It wasn’t his fault who his parents were, and it wasn’t fair to blame him for that. Not that Lev’s silence mattered. Destris seemed bored, standing. Before Lev could register what he was doing, he planted a vicious kick in Lev’s stomach, tearing open whatever Lev had managed to heal, and making everything far worse. Lev crumpled with an awful wheeze, choking on the too-sweet taste of his own blood.

"Broken toys have no use to me,” Destris said, leaning over Lev’s limp form.

It was several minutes before Lev realized he was gone. It was several more before he could drag himself towards the kitchen. Destris still had his phone, but Lev had always been old fashioned, and he had a landline around here somewhere.

When he found it, he yanked the cord that plugged the base in until the cordless phone toppled to the floor beside him. It took more than one try to dial, but eventually he curled up on the floor, one hand holding his stomach closed, the other holding the phone to his ear.

When the other line picked up, Lev closed his eyes, whispering faintly, “Cam- Cameron? I made a mistake.”

tagging: @idreamonpaper @incandescent-creativity @livvywrites @halstudies @alittleyellowdinosaur

#hell to pay #ch: cameron #ch: nik #cameron and nik and lev #my writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #original writing #wip boost #urban fantasy

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im-not-corrupted · 4 years

Text

Safi, No (a Witchlands Fanfiction) - Chapter Fifteen

Written with @un-empressed, who wrote both POV’s for this chapter.

Chapter Summary:

Safi does not want to apologise to Merik.

Also on Ao3!

Safi was frustrated. They were making her apologise to Merik Nihar, of all people. It wasn't like he didn't deserve it. Still, Iseult made her apologise, and Safi couldn't be mad at her best friend, so she instead focused her anger on the person whose fault all of this was.

Safi: Gather round children, it's storytime time

Caden: "storytime time"

Safi: first of all fuck you

Safi: second of all fuck Stacia Sotar

Vaness: Do I even want to know what she did?

Safi: The worst thing imaginable

Iseult: She just told Merik's friends about the plan

Safi: She told MERIK'S friends about THE PLAN!!

Lev: I can't believe I thought about robbing a bank with a traitor

Stix: It was Leopold's fault, not mine!

Vaness: I don't doubt his involvement for a second but what did he do?

Stix: He sent an incriminating message to the chat and Kullen saw it

Stix: So he was like

Stix: "What is this?"

Stix: And there is absolutely no trust in our friendship, apparently, because he looked through my messages and made me tell him what it was

Vaness: So you terrible people can't even be terrible properly? What a waste of air

Stix: I am not

She was. Safi couldn't believe it when Iseult, Kullen and Ryber showed up at her door. She wasn't going to break her promise, but that didn't mean she wouldn't still complain.

Safi: Disagree. I now have to apologise to that asshole because of you!

Leopold: Just don't call him an asshole when you apologise

Safi: Don't tell me what to do

No one said the apology had to be sincere, anyway. She had half an hour before Kullen would take Merik to the ice cream shop where the Bribery and Corruption group met. Or used to meet.

Safi didn't know what would happen with them now that their plans were revealed. The assholes grew on her, goddamn it. She hoped they would still be friends. Even Stix, as angry as Safi was with her in the moment.

Instead of planning what she would say, Safi kept the conversation in the group chat going. It wasn't the more clever of the two options but Safi really didn't care in the moment.

Safi: You all have to apologise too. Iseult says so at least, and I don't want to be the only one subjected to that kind of Hell on Earth

Vaness: I don't apologise to people

Safi: Too bad

Safi didn't want to risk ruining her somewhat friendship with Vaness, but she also didn't want to have to tell Kullen that someone refused to apologise. He did a pretty good job of controlling himself, given how obviously furious he was. No doubt Ryber played a big part in that, but Safi didn't know if she would be there today and she didn't want to take any chances.

When it was time to go, Safi had already bribed Vaness into apologising. It just so happened that she shared a class with both her and Stix, and it would really be a pity if Vaness couldn't hear the teacher over her yelling about the betrayal.

Despite Safi's pleas, Iseult didn't want to go with her. She said she'd apologise in the group chat with everyone else. Apparently Safi was supposed to give her phone to her enemy. Former enemy? Safi didn't know anymore.

As soon as she entered the ice cream place, Safi was glad that Ryber was there. She knew she would inevitably say something stupid, and even though Kullen calmed down, Safi knew he wouldn't appreciate it.

Merik looked confused to see her there as she sat across from him. Did his friends not tell him?

Well, that wasn't Safi's problem. All she had to do was apologise, and then she could avoid Merik for all eternity. Simple, right? Wrong.

"Hi," Safi said awkwardly. She was overly aware of the expectant looks. "I might have created a revenge plan against you, and no regrets, I would do it again, but I'm sorry if it actually hurt you. But, to be fair, we were both assholes so you should apologise to me as well."

Merik needed a moment to process all she said. At that point it was obvious that Kullen and Ryber didn't tell him anything. "Wait, stop. A revenge plan? What?".

Safi laughed awkwardly. She really should've thought about what she'd say before she started talking. "Yeah. I...got a bit too into it, and I made Vaness spread that rumour."

Safi wasn't ashamed, so why was it so hard to say? And why was she dreading Merik's reaction?

"How did you manage to include Vaness? Who else knows?"

Safi noticed how he ignored what she said about him apologising as well. Still, she answered. "Bribery and Corruption, my good friend. Well, not friend. You know what I meant." Safi hated herself in that moment. What was wrong with her to say that? "As for who's included... Well, Iz said they should all apologise too, so here."

Safi handed Merik her phone. She usually just threw it in her bag or whatever pocket she could, but this conversation made her oddly nervous. She was playing with it under the table, just to keep her hands busy.

Safi told her friends to write their apologies in the group before she left her house. She hoped they all did, if only because she didn't want to be there any longer than she had to.

Kullen and Ryber didn't say anything through the whole conversation, which only made it more tense. Safi looked at them as Merik read through the messages, but Kullen was too focused on reading over his friend's shoulder. Ryber shot her an awkward smile.

Merik finally set her phone down on the table after what felt like forever, but was probably two minutes at most.

"I don't even know anyone included in this group chat except for three people. Am I that bad?" Merik asked. It seemed honest. Maybe Kullen was right about Merik trying to fix himself.

Safi fought the urge to say that yes, he was that bad. Even worse in fact. She knew that she was overreacting. Iseult told her that from the start. It still felt so different to face the consequences of her actions than it was hearing about them and how inevitable they were from a friend.

Safi didn't want to answer, so she responded with another question. "Who are the three people you know? Stix, of course, and Vaness, I assume. But who else?"

Merik looked at her like she was stupid and it bothered her immensely. She was trying, goddamn it. And everyone had a bone to pick with Merik, seemingly.

"My sister?"

Safi was going to murder someone for not giving that very important detail.

[x]

Aeduan hated having to write that apology. He didn't even do anything particularly wrong. He was, as Safi called it, Bribed and Corrupted. At least they were getting a break from her while she went to apologise, no matter how small that break was.

It was very small. It hadn't even fifteen minutes before Safi sent another message to the group chat.

Safi: All right, which one of you fuckers is Merik's sister

Stix: Merik has a sister?

Vivia: Ouch

Safi: YOU?!

Stix: ^ but less aggressive

Safi: I look like an idiot just sitting here furiously typing while Merik and his friends stare at me! Why wasn't I told about this? We could have used it

Iseult: The revenge plan is over, Saf

Safi: Yeah, unfortunately. But it totally would've been epic if we used it back when it was still a SECRET, STACIA

Stix: Rude

Aeduan rolled his eyes. It was so immature, and so typical of the unreasonable group of people he got himself involved with.

He was as surprised as the others by Vivia being related to the target of their plan. Aeduan knew that siblings didn't usually overly enjoy each other's company, but joining a revenge plan against them...well, Aeduan couldn't exactly judge Vivia if Merik was as terrible as they all said. He doubted it, though, but siblings were weird.

Aeduan wasn’t all that close to her, so it didn’t affect him too much. Or at all. It was still beautifully ironic.

Safi: Well I’m going to subtly excuse myself from this awkward conversation, wish me luck

Stix: Kullen is never going to let you get away with just a few words

Safi: Too bad

Aeduan hoped Stix was right, if only because he didn’t have it in him to keep up with the group chat anymore.

But even though Safi wasn’t available, the others still talked.

Lev: I can’t believe you gave us away

Leopold: I can’t believe you blamed me

Vaness: why? You’re easy to blame

Stix: ^ plus it was a really incriminating message that YOU SENT. If it was a regular, or at least half subtle text, he wouldn’t have been as suspicious

Lev: So it’s Leopold’s fault?

As much as Aeduan loved blaming Leopold, he found the whole situation to be ridiculous. They were going to get revealed one way or another. It was better that it happened sooner, before they had any chance to do something much worse. Much, much worse. Knowing Safi, it was extremely fortunate.

There was no need to point fingers, not really. If Stix didn't give them away, someone else would have. They were just hypocrites, and Aeduan had a feeling they knew it.

Stix: Is there anyone here who doesn't hate me right now? Because something really funny just happened and I need to tell someone

Iseult: No one hates you

Lev: Yes we do

Vaness: None of you are too pleasant, but I wouldn't say I hate you. It's a bit too strong

Leopold: It'd be fine if she didn't blame me, even though I had nothing to do with it

Stix: Die mad about it

Oh, how Aeduan wished he had never gotten involved with them in the first place. His days would certainly be a lot more boring, but boredom was better than having to participate in these conversations.

But he had to, so he wrote a quick text. I don’t care enough to hate you.

Stix: Wow, you’re all very supportive. You know, I don’t even care what you think, because I know it wasn’t my fault and that’s what matters

Vivia: I don’t hate you either

Stix: Breaking news, all of a sudden what people think of me matters. Thanks, Viv, you’re the best

Lev: Don’t change the topic. You’re still a traitor

Stix: I am not

Leopold: You so are

Stix: Yeah, well you’re annoying

That was such a desperate insult, really. Everyone knew Leopold was annoying. Leopold knew Leopold was annoying. He enjoyed irritating people beyond all reasonable measures and pushing their limits. Aeduan knew that from experience.

Vaness: Oh, wow, really? We weren’t aware

Lev: That’s a really bad insult

Iseult: Even I have to agree

Stix: Breaking breaking news, it suddenly doesn’t matter what you think again

Vaness: Vivia, tell her it’s a bad insult

Vivia: Sorry, Stix, but it really is

Stix: Wow, I thought I was the traitor

Zander: Do we have to fight?

Aeduan wanted to know that too. Was it so necessary for them to throw insults back and forth? It already happened, and it was obvious that neither party was going to change their mind. It wasn’t even the intriguing kind of drama people enjoyed listening to. It was just unnecessary fighting, even though Aeduan enjoyed the part where they blamed Leopold.

Safi: Yes, we do, because now I apparently gave Merik Nihar my number because I was pressured by Kullen to act like we're the best of friends now. I'm going to spoil tomorrow's news for you, a murder happened

Stix: Love you too

Read the next chapter here: Chapter Sixteen

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prettylittleheartfilia · 5 years

Text

The Color of Sound

I found this while looking for prompts and fell in love with the idea. Hope you enjoy ☺️

Lucy Heartfilia loved to read. Ever since she was a little girl, she would spend day and night in the Heartfilia Mansion library. She read books of romance, adventure, mythology, mystery, but her favorite books to read were memoirs. Specifically, memoirs of Bonded Souls: Two people who would be born with opposite defects and heal once they found each other. She longed for the moment when she would find her own soulmate to complete her, though sometimes she felt it was futile.

She could sense by the way people looked at her that everyone pitied her. She didn’t blame them, though. Most people met their soulmate by age eighteen, and Lucy was already twenty. Not to mention, she was a rare case. Most people were born without a left eye, or a right leg, and waited to meet someone without a right eye, or a left leg. However, Lucy was not missing a part of her body, but a sensation. What could possibly be the opposite of deafness? Lucy knew everyone around her believed her soulmate was dead, and she wondered about that too sometimes.

Nonetheless, there was one factor that didn’t let her hopes die: If her soulmate was dead, she would’ve gotten his defect. Aside from being deaf, there was nothing out of the ordinary with her body or senses. This meant there was a possibility her soulmate was still alive and just as anxious to meet her as she was to meet him. So, she kept hoping and praying that her fateful day would come soon.

“You are going to love this place, Lev. They have the best coffee.” Spoke Lucy in sign language as they approached Fairy Tail Cafe, a new coffee shop that just opened up a little outside of campus.

“I do hear a lot about it. Mira works here, right?” Said Levy, while using sign language.

“Yeah. Lisanna and Elfman too. Their grandpa owns the place.”

The family-owned business was really nice; a cozy little cafe bookstore that always seemed quite busy. Ever since its grand opening, Lucy would spend her afternoons reading books and drinking lattes in the corner.

The two girls sat down on a table after ordering drinks and started catching up. They had been best friends since middle school, but Levy studied in a different university thirty minutes away, which meant the girls couldn’t see each other as often as they’d like.

They had been talking for about an hour when the door opened. Lucy spotted a blue-furred (what?) dog. At first she wondered who would bring a dog in a cafe, until she looked up to see a tall man, about her age, with pink hair and sunglasses. Before she could even process, her stomach started feeling fluttery, and she could start to hear a distant cacophony that seemed to get closer by the second. It was annoying, and the blonde was starting to get a headache. After about thirty seconds, the sounds started dispersing, and her head felt lighter. It was then she realized that she could listen. She could hear the sound of the coffee machine, she could hear the sound of Mira’s voice as she stood behind the counter— She had a really sweet voice, and Lucy couldn’t believe she had never heard it before. She could hear the rustling of sheets as people reading books turned the pages. She could hear the soft pop music playing in the background, even though it was pretty low. She could hear the worried tone on Levy’s voice as she sat closer to Lucy to give her a hug.

“Lucy?” Levy was very confused. She had seen how Lucy suddenly covered her ears with the palms of her hands, and how she had started crying out of nowhere. “Is everything okay? Talk to me.” She spoke in sign language for Lucy.

“Y-yes.” She said hesitantly. “I can hear.” Her voice was a little incomprehensive. There were very few times where she had actually used it, after all. But she had been practicing her speech for about three years now, knowing that the time to meet her soulmate was possibly coming close. She knew how to say a fair amount of sentences, though she didn’t practice conversing with a lot of people, as she was self-conscious about her voice and let very few people hear her.

“You what!?” Levy stood up from her seat so fast the chair fell down, drawing people’s attention, including Mira’s, who looked over to them with concern. “Lucy can hear! She can hear!” She exclaimed in between sobs as Mira rushed to their table.

“She what!? Lucy, congrats! Who is it? Who’s the lucky man?”

But Lucy was too preoccupied looking at the pink haired man, who had taken off his glasses and looked at her with tears in his eyes. She stood up from her seat, walking over to him as he did the same. They stood there, staring at each other, for a while. Turns out the opposite of deafness was blindness, according to the universe. Neither party could believe it. She could listen. He could see. Finally, for the first time in their entire lives, they felt complete.

“Hi.” The guy finally said, with a grin that covered half of his face. Lucy decided she had never seen a more genuine and beautiful smile. “I’m Natsu.”

“Hi.” She beamed back. “I am Lucy.”

Natsu wondered why her speech was so peculiar for a split second, but then remembered how her friends were yelling about her being able to hear, so he guessed her defect was being deaf.

“Do you… want to get out of here?” He said, signaling to the door. “We can talk and get to know each other.” He talked while making gestures with his hands, hoping she understood.

Lucy nodded with a smile. She got back to her table to gather her things and say goodbye to her friends, who were smirking despite the tears in their eyes.

****

“You know sign language?” Asked Lucy while sitting next to Natsu on the bench in the park.

“I know a little bit. Do you understand people when they speak? Or would it be easier if I used gestures?” Natsu asked kindly, still trying his best to make comprehensive hand gestures.

“I read English. I understand a lot, but some things are confusing.”

Natsu nodded, and they stayed silent for a couple seconds until he had an idea.

“I know! What if I help you with your speech and you help me with different colors? I always wanted to know what they looked like.” He stated sheepishly.

****

“Yellow.” Said Lucy as she pointed to one of the throw pillows on her couch. After their fateful encounter, they had agreed on meeting the next day to start “coaching” each other. Lucy invited Natsu to her place for lunch and he had spent the entire afternoon teaching her new words and their pronunciation. Truth be told, he was learning words that he didn’t even know existed too.

After hours, they moved on to teach Natsu the different names for colors. He was fascinated to find out what the colors that he always heard people mention actually looked like. So far, he believed his favorite was red; it was vibrant, and never failed to catch his attention whenever he had seen it on his 28 hours of having vision.

“Wait, that’s the color of your hair.”

“Yeah! Oh, and pink.” She said as she pointed to his hair. “My favorite color.”

He always wondered what he looked like. His friends and family often described him and never forgot to tease him for his unusual hair color. He knew most people had brown, black, blonde, or red hair, so he didn’t know how to feel about his. When he saw himself on a mirror for the first time yesterday, he didn’t really like his hair color. But, suddenly, he didn’t think it was that bad anymore.

They spent hours every day teaching each other and hanging out, both really enjoying each other’s presence. They found out their favorite things to do were to watch television and walk around the lake, as these were experiences that they had never been able to enjoy to the fullest until now.

After a month of hanging out almost every single day, they decided to start dating. Even though they knew they were meant to be together, they wanted to take things slow and really get to know each other before making things official.

They couldn’t be happier. Lucy loved Natsu’s goofiness and happy-go-lucky personality. She also loved Happy, his guide dog, who really liked to mess with her and sometimes got on her nerves, but they shared a strong bond despite everything.

Natsu loved Lucy. There was no other way to describe it. In the short amount of time he had gotten to spend with her, he discovered how amazing she was. She was beautiful, and smart, and cheerful, and kind. He often wondered what he had done to deserve such a perfect soulmate, but he wasn’t complaining.

After a year of dating, Natsu had finally decided to pop the question.

“You ready, man?” Asked Gray, Natsu’s best friend… and worst enemy.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

“You know she’s gonna say yes! What are you so worried about?”

“I don’t know! It’s just all so... nerve-racking. Didn’t you feel that way when you proposed to Juvia?”

“A little bit. But, I guess it was so unplanned I didn’t really have time to be nervous. You know I proposed a week after I met her.”

“Yeah.” Natsu chuckled at the memory. “I remember. I guess getting back your thumb really made you commit.”

“Hey.” Replied Gray with fake solemness. “Imagine living your whole life without a right thumb. It’s not pretty. She knew the struggle.”

Natsu chuckled as he adjusted his tie. The plan was to take Lucy to a fancy restaurant for a romantic, candlelit dinner. After that, he would drive them to their favorite lake where they would lay and stargaze for a while until he decided that it was finally time to propose.

****

After hours of getting ready, Lucy was finally satisfied with her look. Natsu always did random romantic things like these, but it never ceased to excite her. She wore a red satin v-neck dress with a skater skirt that reached just above her knees, paired with some open-toed silver heels. She was checking herself on the mirror when she heard her phone ring.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Luce! Whatcha doing?”

“Just finished getting ready. Are you on your way?”

“Yeah. I’m just a couple of blocks down. I’ll be there in two—”

Before he could finish the sentence, Lucy heard the sound of screeching tires and a loud, lingering beep noise.

“Natsu? Natsu!?” The call had disconnected, she knew that, but in her moment of panic she did not care for logic. “Please answer me, Natsu!” She sobbed into the phone fruitlessly.

After a while, she heard the sound of sirens passing by, but the noise started sounding farther and farther away as her vision got blurrier by the second, until all sound was gone, and all she could see were the shadows of things that were once full of color.

The world had turned dark once again.

@daydream-wannabewriter @theweiszguy

#fairy tail #nalu #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #otp: stellar fire dorks #my writing

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volleyboys-imagines · 7 years

Note

Maybe a headcanon post of the captains and pets?

omigosh i have literally been waiting for an ask like this since i started bless you anon im sorry if this was late, it’s midterms week!! ||

it’s long, so have fun under the cut!

Sawamura:

German Shepherd, Captain

@faiyuuhi has the Fireman!AU with all the pets and Daichi with Captain was just perf.

I mean, ever since I had this prompt in my head I’ve always been able to see Daichi with a German Shepherd: they’re dependable, loyal, hardworking, smart. But Faiyuuhi just did it so well with her book, I fell in love with the idea even more ❤

Daichi got Captain in college on a whim because he felt lonely and his neighbor was a really good friend that felt owed Daichi so much

So Daichi got a two-month-old German Shepherd

^which he really didn’t know what to name for a while

^but he really wanted to use the name ‘Captain’, and it just kind of stuck

He and Captain go on walks and morning runs together, play catch in the park, do coordinated tricks, even work out at home together (since pets weren’t really allowed to be in the gym)

until ofc the manager at the local gym he works out in saw him running in that park in gym shorts and black tank and says ‘so that’s where he disappears to’ bc he really loves being with Captain so much

and she allows Captain to go to the gym (considering he’s housetrained ofc) and eventually becomes the gym mascot c:

On the topic of tricks, Daichi once brought Captain to the park to practice tricks, and he got an audience that filmed him and his dog

He went a little viral in Miyagi for his ‘Hot Guy and Amazing Dog!!!! AWESOME TRICKS’ or smth like that, and every now and then he does shows in the park

^ after which some spectators offer money for his time

^ now he sets a small box for Captain’s treat budget for extra effort :)

Daichi hates brushing sessions the most, especially during shedding season.

^and when Captain just shakes his fur out in the middle of the thing omigod

^that is the reason why Daichi hates his carpeted apartment

I didn’t mean to ship Captain with Harper, which came out of nowhere, but why not have some fluff hcs about them

When they’re tired from walks, they snuggle together in a mass of black, brown, red and white fur

Snoot booping. Snoot booping everywhere

Lots of tail wagging, esp when they look at each other

Captain’s pretty shy around Harper, and ducks his head when she runs for him the next time they meet, but really, really likes giving her kisses

They don’t meet when she’s in heat, and they meet on a regular basis when she’s not. Captain looks forward to the meetings and knows what time it is, so when Daichi doesn’t look like he’s bringing Captain to meet with Futakuchi and Harper, he starts barking and howling for her :’(

Oikawa:

Japanese Bobtail, Maenki (maen-ki)

I guess a lot of people would pair his flamboyance with a Persian (which is long-haired and floofy and just screams c l a s s y ) but a long-haired Persian requires daily grooming. Considering this boy’s busy vbc + acads schedule, I don’t think that’s going to work

So I read around since I don’t own a cat, and saw that the Japanese Bobtail would be best over my original idea of having a Scottish Fold

They’re healthy, colorful, and easy to care for, but at the same time affectionate and really great companions.

Oikawa got his at about five months old, a pretty mostly-white tabby calico mix girl with yellow eyes

Her white spots are big, and look like petals dappling her fur, really pretty ❤

He’s wanted one since he saw a Manekineko and read about the folklore too

Later as I was doing this draft I was thinking about my cousin misspelling things, and when she was trying out ‘Manekineko’, she spelled it as ‘Maenkineko’. The Maenki part stuck, since the above hc is that Oikawa likes the Manekineko. :)

He learns that she can ‘talk’, which are mostly chirps and meows strung together

and now when he talks to her, she knows how to respond. Like greeting her good morning earns him her own greeting that, through time, he recognizes as her ‘good morning’ reply

At night, when he can’t call Iwa-chan or Makki or Mattsun, he talks to her, and they have conversations that last hours

She keeps up with his active lifestyle too. Like he does pushups at home and she bats his nose with a paw, or sits on his back

Sometimes he jogs around the street their house is in and she follows

And she’s extra smart too: like she can find the ball in cups, find her ball, etc

She also loves boxes, and will get into anything she can fit into

So he keeps all his boxes closed, and has one especially for her

she doesn’t even touch her furry cat bed, sadly

She scratches him when he tries for her belly too

But she looooves brushing sessions. Like she will try to get those bristles under her chin no matter what, which is problematic since he needs to brush all of her

!! She absolutely loves being pet

And the rest of the Seijou vbc love her to death

Like, she’s the first thing they look for in Oikawa’s home, to Oikawa’s disappointment

Iwaizumi’s really dumbfounded on why Maenki would like someone like him lol

“Look look! Maenki loves Iwa-chan ❤”

^that’s the running joke of the Seijou 3rd years lol but it’s hella fine to Iwa-chan

Sometimes she sucks Makki’s fingers :>

and is utterly terrified of how damn tall Mattsun is :

Kuroo

Medium-sized Poodle, Sushi; Common goldfish, Neko;Plakat Betta, Aki

Kuroo’s love of dogs over cats is canon, so no cats for this tol

His parents agreed he could have a dog, so they got a Medium-sized cream Poodle. Standard was too big, and Toy was too small, so they got one in the middle. His mother was allergic to fur, so they got a poodle

Sushi was the name the breeders kind of tagged him with because at two months, he looked like a riceball

Why not Onigiri? No idea either

^this lil shit is smart af. Regularly gets out of his crate, leash, collar, whatever

Gets into so much mischief too, but that was only because Kuroo wasn’t walking him; all that pent up energy was directed the wrong way

Now they have 15-minute runs and 15-minute training sessions everyday. Sushi now knows enough to enter an obedience competition

The lil shit is fast af, something Kuroo learned while sprinting. Lots of dogs that was Sushi’s size he’s handled before weren’t as fast as this beanpole of ours, but this literal small cloud of fluff could match Kuroo’s sprint over about 200m

(Even though Kuroo is the fastest of the vbc after Tora and Lev)

Neko he won from the college fair. He had no idea what to name it until it jumped out of the tank. He put it back in the tank and lo and behold: it lives!

^and since the first thing he said was that the thing must have nine lives, the name ‘Neko’ stuck

^ to this day, Kenma thinks it’s weird af (but hella cheesy and ironic)

Come spring, as he was cleaning out the tank, he noticed that the container he put Neko in had transparent little balls stuck to the walls. He ran his fingers along the tank walls, and found more of them

The filter was a bitch to clean too

In the end he did a 100% water change, and cleaned including the stand on which the tank sat on

^ this took up an entire Saturday afternoon

That was the day he realized that, for six months, the goldfish was a fricking girl.

Neko was seven months under Kuroo’s care when Aki came home.

Aki is a Grizzle Plakat Betta

Kuroo knew that bettas couldn’t be put into a tank with a four-inch-goldfish because of their size, and because bettas are literally fighting fish

But Kuroo found Aki not in one of those cups, but in a community tank. this means that Aki was already living peacefully with other fish

So after buying the things he needed for Neko’s tank, he had Aki put in a bag to take home c:

So imagine a less-than-an-inch betta with a four-inch-goldfish

Oddly enough, they get along. Well if by ‘getting along’ means ‘no nipped fins’ then they’re good

The name ‘Aki’ (暁) literally means ‘daybreak’. It’s attributed to his pastel body and blue-and-purple fins, literally looking like the morning sky

Sushi once jumped up on the seat right next to the tank and watched the fish for a good five minutes. He goes there every now and then to bark at the tank, and they greet him with omnom faces. (they’re practically best friends now c:)

Futakuchi

Alaskan Malamute, Harper; Guinea pig, Megumi

His aunt was into raising Malamutes. There was a month-old litter in her house

one of the puppies crawled up to his leg and started pawing his pants. He picked her up, and played with her until he left with his mother that evening. He’s wanted her ever since (although he won’t really admit that openly)

About a month later, he was a proud owner of a smol sable-and-white, blue-eyed Alaskan Malamute

Named her ‘Harper’, even though she’s also called Haru-chan (/ha-ru-pe-ru/, since Harper itself is an English name)

On the way or when she came home, she kept trying to lick his face, as if she was excited he was her new owner

Outside the house, she’ll play pretty vigorously

Once she grew into standard Malamute size, she’s learned she can bowl Futakuchi over. The rest of the team thinks it’s cute

Poor Sakunami is dwarfed by the some-6-foot-tall Harper. he likes it when she flops on him tho, such warmth

speaking of, in the house she likes flopping onto anyone, as in anyone

Sakunami was lying on the couch and he kind of just disappeared under her fluff

^ Aone was looking for him all around the house, the whole team was looking for him around the house until he woke up from under her and his hands popped out, trying to lift the sleeping dog off his small frame

^ which ofc Aone and Kogane had some trouble with bc Harper’s pretty iffy about being moved when she’s comfy

^ Sadly the same thing happens to Futakuchi on the regular, even more so bc he sleeps in his room and she is allowed in his room

^ ofc he knows that dogs aren’t allowed on the bed or to sleep with you but she’s just. so. stubborn

But he has so much fun with her, the team really thinks it’s cute

^ if he wasn’t so invested in the dog he probably would have a gf at that point

Sometimes they go out in the park and share mochi

And he lets her play free bc the kids want to play fetch with her

But at the same time can’t ??? because she runs off c:

Once they were walking and they come across Daichi and Captain

This sweetheart literally just waltzes up to Captain and boops his snoot with hers ❤

To which Futakuchi has absolutely no idea what to do bc she’s never really looked at the ‘how to raise a female dog’ part of the books before

She and Captain sometimes spend afternoons together on the rare occasion that they meet c:

^to Futakuchi’s dismay, since she usually pays attention to him, and now she’s got goo goo eyes on Captain

Ushijima

I don’t really see Ushiwaka having a pet, since he’ll probably think it’ll take up his time

But how about an hc where he keeps a freaking hedgehog

African Pygmy Hedgehog, Quill

^ some idiot tried to give it as a gift (not Tendou, he’s too smart for that) and Ushiwaka just kind of took it in.

^ the note mentioned just how spiky he was, and took it to a literal level.

^ he didn’t have the heart to ‘dispose’ of the tiny ball of spines, so he decided to keep it.

^ his mother was pretty much against it though, but he managed.

The smol stays in a large for-rabbits cage, with furniture of assorted sizes

After the initial introductory period (which includes desensitizing of new owner and environment, plus anting) Quill’s pretty chill

He likes snuggling in Ushiwaka’s huge sweaters, and practically disappears

You know the Hangry to Happy Hedgie vids? Feed this smol some cheese bits while he’s curled up

Sometimes Ushiwaka leaves Quill out of his cage for a while, until the Grand Ace forgets

^ and subsequently finds droppings over his hardwood floor

^ and also subsequently wonders where the heck the smol went

When the team comes over, they don’t really check on Quill simply because it’s Quill. He doesn’t really care

He cares for the treats they give tho

And the snuggles they let him have when Tendou brings him out

Speaking of, Tendou once wanted to pet Quill, but was afraid he’d get spiked

Ushiwaka showed him how, and every time he visits he’s usually got his hands on Quill

^unfortunately the one time Tendou made that stupid pun of ‘spiking’ Quill made Ushiwaka kind of worried that Tendou would actually spike the smol

^ so now Tendou must always handle Qull under Grand Ace Supervision™

Quill also likes cherries (without the skin), but it stains his lips, cheeks, chest, and paws (which leads to Ushiwaka trying to bathe Quill [which Ushiwaka really doesn’t look forward to])

But leave the smol in a bath and he’ll swim for hours

^ which is ofc dangerous but Ushiwaka also has a heart, so he spoils this one sometimes

Bokuto

First of all, HOOT HOOT

Second of all, I’ve read up on the thing about keeping owls, and although it’s a good enough idea for our resident Hoot Captain, it’s not realistic enough

So how about another dog instead?

Labrador Retriever, Choko

Anybody know what a name we could give this one

The Labrador Retriever’s intelligent, playful, family-oriented, supportive

I wanted Bokuto to have one that’s extra playful, but most of them were either small or medium in size. I really didn’t ship something like that for Bokuto

I was thinking of an Australian Shepherd, a Shikoku, Siberian Husky, Dalmatian

^ and subsequently thought, why not four dogs??

^ then I thought of Akaashi and kind of received a fictional bop on the head heheheh

Bokuto went out witih Kuroo to the local groomer/clinic with Sushi, and saw quite a few puppies waiting for their grooming and wandering around playing with other puppies and dogs

And most dogs were small/medium in size

So when a grown-ass black Lab sat in line, he was just so ‘wowed’ out

“Kuroo!! It’s so BIG”

“…isn’t that what girls say when they see your thing??”

“Bro”

But the black Lab was so big and sweet and so very nice

The owner even let him pat her head!!!

And he decided he wanted one :)

ofc Kuroo would let his friend know what it takes to take care of a dog and whatnot, and ofc Bokuto won’t listen to this

So they check the ad boards next to the door for any Lab breeders

and Bokuto’s like, “Why not get from the pet store?”

and Kuroo lists down the hell why nobody should get dogs or cats any pet from the pet store

(says the author who got a betta from the pet store)

aaand Bokuto vows to vanquish pet stores

somehow

aaand Kuroo distracts Bo with a breeder close by

“Oh look it’s a station away”

“WHERE”

and somehow Bo procures a female chocolate brown Labrador Retriever

“KUROO LOOK LOOK”

“AKAASHI LOOK LOOK”

Choko loooooves to play! She literally always brings her tennis ball over

Bokuto can’t stody because of this

But when he does she lies down under his desk as a foot warmer

And she gets rubs too c:

aaaand because Labs love to swim :>

sometimes he brings her to the beach and plays fetch into the water

and all the girls love a man with a dog right??? wrong

he’s just so loud that’s all and it’s such a turn off

also he just freezes but that’s not the point

this baby girl is just sooooo loveable that she’s always getting kisses

and always giving kisses!!!

SO the captains meet up out of nowhere with their pets and guess who she tries glomping first :>

yeahh Captain’s a ladies’ man

so much that Daichi’s pretty irritated about that

BUT get this

the first time they meet is that she’s just so happy to see another dog almost her size that she just runs over and glomps Captain in a head-on collision course

He’s terrified of her after that

But slowly they become good friends

She and Sushi are best friends!!

Sushi has unlimited energy and paired with the big Lab Choko they’re free to roughhouse however they want

so feel free to ship the smol with the big, that’s fine

When they’re all tired, it’s a big pile of multicolored multi-textured fluff that Captain stands lies guard over

Choko likes giving kisses the most, likes getting pet the most, likes playing ball the most

Chewing? She chews on hands and fingers and it doesn’t really hurt bc Labs have soft mouth

^you literally could give her an egg and the shell won’t break

Bokuto finds that weird since Sushi can bite real hard

But finds it adorable nonetheless

okay imma post this first because it’s two weeks overdue but i’ll try to update it for the other captains!!! im so sorry anon i hope you like the length of it though i got so invested in this even though it was midterms week hahahah

#haikyuu!!#headcanons #sawamura daichi #kuroo tetsurou #oikawa tooru #futakuchi kenji #ushijima wakatoshi #bokuto koutarou #pets headcanons #pets #guess which pets are mine :)#i had fun with this!#thanks anon :>

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