Warnings: depressing themes; thrilling themes; mentions of blood/injuries;
Summary:Curious as to how your village came to be and having a thirst for knowledge, you venture into the Forgotten Forest in hopes of discovering the truth of your roots. But it seems you have bitten off more than you can chew.
WC:4.1~k
Note: Thank you for your patience <3 Feels great to back in Asterios and getting their stories written again! Let me know what you think of the new characters~ I’m excited for them to get the story going!
Forget Me Not’s swayed peacefully in the cool breeze, blues and pinks dancing elegantly against the forest floor. Amongst the world of gray the little flowers were the only burst of colors around. The only joy hidden in a sea of cold and colorless life. Trees around them lay in torn pieces, uplifted from the ground and tossed away. Beauty amongst destruction.
“Well that covers the entire West side of the Forest. No sign of any Orcs left.”
Even though the area looked awful, the Forgotten Forest appeared as quiet and eerie as it always had. However Felix could feel it in the air. Something happened here. Not the Orcs destroying large areas of the forest, no… something has changed… it has changed. The Forgotten Forest was no longer the same. He could feel it on his skin, sticking to him in an uncomfortable way. Felix’s face scrunched as he gently rubbed his arms.
“I feel it as well.” Hyunjin was eyeing the area. Even though they deemed the area clear, one could not be too careful. “Something happened here. Besides the Orcs.”
Hyunjin could already see the Council getting a field day out of all the events that happened that night: dozens of Orcs destroying the forest, a Human and a Dragon wandering around Asterios, not to mention that there’s something in the air that neither Fae could place their finger on…
Too much has happened to be a coincidence.
What are the odds of all these things happening in one single night? Over the course of a few days, Hyunjin mightbelieve it to be a mere coincidence. But over the span of a few hours at most? Absolutely not. And judging by the way Felix’s eyes, a usually beautiful opal color that shimmered, were clouded with the same thoughts. Perhaps even the same fears plagued his mind as well.
While inspecting the woods the two had a chance to discuss many things. One of which were the conditions of the Humans. Felix pointed out their lack of resources, the diseases he could feel radiate off of them from time to time. The number of survivors were dwindling. It did lead to an argument, one which had Hyunjin accusing Felix of being lazy and uncaring; why hadn’t he contacted the Council?
“I have. Have been trying for the past century. No one responds.”
Hyunjin had never heard anyone mention Felix’s attempts at contact. No one spoke of any issues going on in the lone and foreign land. He had attended every meeting and heard of all the comings and goings in Asterios. Or so he thought. But why hide these problems? The Humans were sent here to survive and thrive away from the possibility of extinction.
At least… that was what they were told.
Felix sighed and turned back to the Gateway, frowning as the portal began to glow brighter. “We got more company.”
Hyunjin stood next to Felix, both Fae standing prepared, ready to face whatever came through. Felix prayed to the Gods that it wasn’t another round of Orcs. If he had to see another one of their ugly, dimwitted faces again-
“Hyunjin! Felix!”
A tall figure stood before them, hair jet black with burgundy streaks with kind, round eyes that were a cool shade of blue. He wore a dark outfit; black pants tucked into black boots with a burgundy overcoat. A brooch pin of a silver compass was clipped to his cloak, matching the silver rings that shone on his fingers, each one with a different color stone that glowed eerily. The magic that radiated off of him was powerful, a force to be reckoned with. Despite the deadly force that was thrumming beneath his veins his voice was cheery and held a tint of worry.
“Yunho!” Felix grinned at the warlock before them, tackling the male into a hug.
The Fae’s heart was leaping in his chest at seeing his friend after all these centuries. The two worked closely together during the Mortal War, Yunho being one of the best Warlocks to work with the Fae. Felix always held guilt for not informing him, and many other good allies, on their plans of saving the Humans. Yunho would have wanted to know and help them with the cause, but at the time it was safer that only a small number knew of this location.
Hyunjin sighed in relief, walking to the pair. “Thank the Gods, I was worried we’d have another Orc attack- Wait. How are you here?” He froze midstep, staring at him. Yunho never knew of the Humans and their survival-
“Thank the Gods you two are alright,” Yunho sighed, patting Felix’s back, giving Hyunjin a soft smile. “The Council informed me, wanted someone with more knowledge on various types of magic to come out here. You made all of us worried.”
Hyunjin nodded his head, running a hand through his jet black hair. “I should have contacted the Council this morning-”
“More like two days ago, no one knew what happened to you or Felix.” Yunho’s voice was clipped and held worry as he eyed the two. Nothing seemed amiss, except that they looked a little tired. “They were worried sick.”
There was a beat of silence.
“I think I misheard you, Yunho. Did you ask for us to inform you of last night’s events before they even happened?” The tone used was accusing, the male on edge as he stepped closer to the Warlock. “Are you stating that you knew this would happen?”
The sun was still out, the last few rays sweeping against the trees, the Human and Dragon having left hours earlier.
“Last night? Hyunjin, you left nearly three days ago.” He looked just as confused as he felt, eyeing the two Fae. “It’s been going on three days since anyone last heard from you. Since you entered the Gateway,”
The two Fae looked at one another, confusion written on each of their faces. Felix’s mind was trying to figure out how one of them lost days of time…
“It’s changed. The magic.” He breathed, looking at Hyunjin. “What we felt, the shift that something wasn’t right. Our magic that created this place has been disturbed.“
“And in doing so it disturbed time itself?” Hyunjin frowned. “Is this even possible?”
“Unfortunately we do not have a concrete answer.” Yunho shifted his feet, staring at the trees with a similar scrunched up face that Felix wore earlier. He felt it too. The magic that clung to him left him uncomfortable. “But I feel it as well, the magic that was used here isn’t of Fae. To be honest… I’ve never felt this type of magic before.”
Yunho had been around for centuries, having even spent time in the Mortal War when he was a young Warlock. He’s been in contact with all the magic that Asterios held to offer. But this? This magic was different. He could sense it. There was something dark within it, but the core was…
“Ancient.” Yunho whispered. “This magic is as old as Asterios itself. I can feel it whisper against me now…” He cocked his head. “But who in Asterios has this type of magic?” Species were listed in his mind, but none held the ability to possess such strong magic.
At least, last time he checked they couldn’t.
“Orcs can’t learn magic, they don’t have the mentality to do such things.” Felix mused. “Everything was fine until last night… Something was with them. Something that was hidden from us as we were worried about those monsters and the Humans.”
“Speaking of, did the Humans see anything?”
It had been hundreds of years since Yunho said the word ‘Human’. Not since the Mortal War, not since they were all declared extinct by the Elven King Juro. He was still in a bit of denial about the whole idea of an entire species being hidden away for this long. Right under their noses. A conversation that happened mere hours earlier…
“I trust you, Yunho. This is a secret that has been held by this Council for the past three hundred years. No one, not even our own people, know of this. We are entrusting you to help us.”
The Warlock had never seen Ji-Yong so stressed. Not since the war at least. Yunho’s skin crawled at the desperate look on his face. A leader as strong and wise as Ji-Yong, as old and skilled, to be desperate to seek out a younger Warlock’s help was a desperate cry indeed. Yunho was one of the top Warlock’s in Asterios, he was no Soojin of course, but he was heavily trusted by his allies here. Especially Ji-Yong.
“My friend, you look ill. What seems to be troubling?” He tried to lighten the Fae with a kind smile and eyes, a small attempt to ease his mind.
No one could have prepared Yunho for this information.
“No, well…” The troubled look between the two only raised his blood pressure. “There were three Humans and a Dragon-”
“Three Humans? And a Dragon?” He looked between the two. “Ji-Yong only spoke of Humans being here? Are you also hiding Dragons as well? What next, you have a Kitsune-”
“Yunho, calm down!” Felix gripped the Warlocks shoulders. “Just Humans here. The Orcs had the Dragon. I think he traveled with them, well, more like was forced to…” He sighed. “It’s a mess. We need to tell the Council all what happened and about the time jump. Who knows how long you’ve been here now…”
Yunho nodded his head. “Agreed. One of you go, speak with Ji-yong about what happened here.”
“I’ll go,” Hyunjin walked towards the Gateway. “If Felix goes they’ll be much talked amongst the people. They’ll wonder where he’s been this entire time.”
“Excellent, be quick and report back. Let us know how much time has passed.” Yunho gave the Fae a small smile. “I’ll remain here to monitor the magic and try to decipher where this power originated, and make sure nothing else passes through with ease.”
Felix knew it was best he remained there. He knew these woods better than most; he’d know if something were to even shift in the slightest. “Don’t forget our little conversation from earlier… May the Gods grant you speed, Hyunjin.”
“And you, strength.”
- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
More snow had fallen. The roads were covered in a blanket of cold white, Asterians bundling themselves in layers of clothing and thick boats to protect against the icy element. The night before held an icy wind that bit into your cheeks, dusting them in soft shades of pinks and reds. The brutal winds left your nose runny, face with a small burn, and body feeling weak and agitate.
But you had to keeping moving, the fear of stopping plaguing your mind.
Your hand shook ever so slightly, fingers dancing across the hard scales as Soojin placed more ointment on him.
“He won’t wake.” Your voice shook, eyes darting between the Dragon and Sorceress. Anxiety pranced through your veins like deer in the meadow; jumping and soaring quickly throughout your body.
The bag was weightless across your shoulders, feet moving swiftly and quickly across the old beaten path. Clothes swaying gently in the cool breeze, a small warning to move faster and get to your location faster.
“Draengon is the land of Dragons, where you must go next. This map is magic infused; it will lead and guide you.” Soojin shoved more and more items in the bag. Another magical item; no matter how much you toss in the cloth, it’ll never gain any weight. It’ll remain lightweight and easy to hold. With gentle hands she lifted the sleeping Dragon carefully. “The side pocket inside is where Namjoon will rest.”
Your fingers reached into the bag, gently touching the small head that nestled deep in the pocket. Hidden and safe. His body no longer holds the same intense heat you were accustomed to, adding on to your worry and only making your feet move faster. The snow crunched softly beneath every step.
“It’ll take a few days, but I know you can do it.” Soojin placed the bag over your head, Salem giving off a soft ‘meow’ in agreement. “Follow the map and what you’ve learned, Y/n, and you will save him.”
It was late when you left A Couldron’s Kiss, the sun was setting in the sky as you quickly left Silverwynn. Hood up, head down, steps fast. You didn’t dare stop, didn’t dare rest. There was no time and you wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink with Namjoon being in this grave situation. He needed the magic of his home to rest in, Soojin had explained that every species healed best when they were in their own homeland. The same magic that ran through Namjoon’s veins ran through Draengon.
“He’s been away from his home for far too long. Decades if I’m not mistaken. Pair that and being beaten this bad…” She locked eyes with you, gold eyes reminding you of liquid gold. “He needs the magic of his own kind. My magic can only do so much. He needs his home to fully heal and get better.”
You vowed to yourself that no matter what Namjoon would be home and safe. No matter the cost. You calculated that three days of traveling could easily turn into just over a day if you moved at a steady pace nonstop. When the late afternoon turned to evening you kept moving, kept traveling. Your feet might drag but you’ll get there sooner. And the little Dragon you grew fond of would be healed.
“Where in Draengon do I go? Where do I take Namjoon?” You had just finished dressing in the new outfit from Soojin, she kept the same color scheme of green’s and creams. The clothes were sturdy and laced with a bit of magic from Soojin- shielding your scent and being from others so no one could detect you were Human. Instead they’d assume you were a meek Witch, one with hardly any power. A perfect way to hide in plain sight.
“That’s the beauty of magic from home my dear. Once you cross the border, he’ll start to get better. It’s amazing how drastic the change will happen too. Just keep moving my dear.”
And so you kept moving, kept your head and moved forward. Fingers gripping the bag tightly as if someone would try to snatch the satchel from you. It was odd, having spent a few days with the small creature you found yourself growing rather protective of it. At time you wondered what would happen once you finished this mission…
‘Where will I go once I set you free?’ The snowy woods were quiet as your worries and thoughts grew louder and louder as more time passed. You figured you’d head back home…
Home…
Associating Arcrine with that word made your heart squeeze painfully. The village was never home…
Where was home?
The sun was slowly rising higher in the sky, casting golden orange rays across the frozen ground. Ice and snow turned into sparkling diamonds in the sun’s kiss, your cheeks absorbing the small amount of warmth it offered. The burn from last night still holding it’s sting on your face. The forest was silent, perfect for traveling though nerve wracking. You could easily see yourself making it no time, a small glimmer of hope rising your chest-
“Such a small, fragile girl shouldn’t be traveling alone…”
A voice, raspy and deep, spoke from right behind you. A shiver slithered down your spine as your steps faltered, cloak swaying to a stop as you stared at the ground. Your fingers screamed as you gripped the bag. Slowly you turned, head rising to meet the strangers gaze-
Your heart sank.
Before you stood an Orc, just like the ones that destroyed that Forgotten Forest a few days prior. A wave of panic washed over you as the creature gave you a smile full of rotten teeth.
“Give me the bag and come with me peacefully.”
No, Namjoon-
“Or I’ll use your bones as toothpicks.” The Creature, a male you assumed, stepped closer. “Your choice, little Human.”
- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
“So this is the last of the Human race…”
Yunho’s voice was soft and in awe, his green eyes watching the little village wander about. Before them was the village of Arcrine, a place as gray and dreary as the forest that surrounded them. Felix and Yunho remained hidden in the trees, silently watching the mortal beings go about their day. To be honest he thought there would be a large amount of Humans thriving; hundreds, if not, thousands. However Felix informed him of the struggles they had faced: famine, disease, lack of resources, and now the magic in the forest going haywire…
It’s no wonder that species before him were so different from the one he had known.
The difference between the Humans he knew and the Humans he saw before him were startling. The Humans in Asterios were always loving and warm; smiles graced their features and they would always lend a hand to those in need. No matter their background. Their auras radiated with warmth and brightness. It had always amazed Yunho that a species with the shortest lifespan in Asterios could show the most amount of love he’s ever seen.
“We know our days are severely numbered Yunho. That’s why we smile and live each day as if it’s our last!”
He could hear his old friend’s voice in his head. Ruben was always the life of the party, always making those around him laugh. And his laugh, a deep and boisterous noise that caused everyone around to laugh with him.
These couldn’t be the same people.
The Human’s he was watching were staggered, heads down. There was no life in their faces, instead he saw nothing but pale lonely faces. Tired. Worn. It looked as though this land had beaten everything out of them.
But could anyone blame them?
Their ancestors were hunted like animals, slaughtered… They lost their homeland. They lost their heritage. Nothing but a hole remained in their past. Yunho could feel that hole ache for each of them, the soft wondering of if there was more to life than the same routine each day…
“You should have told us.” Yunho whispered. There was a bitter tone to his voice as he watched this Arcrine, Felix informed him of the name the earlier Humans chosen. “We would have helped.”
“So more people could know about them? So they could be hunted once more? No. This was the best choice.” Felix snipped back, not bothering holding back his tone.
“You would rather let them live like animals than try to give them life.” A dry laugh parted Yunho’s lips as he turned to face Felix. “They’re dying, Felix. Look at them. They barely have food, we have to-”
“Yunho.”
He’s never heard Felix sound so tired, so broken, so old before. He had to stare at his friend to ensure it was really him Yunho was talking to.
“When they see us, they will try to kill us. We are creatures to them, monsters if you will. There are generations of differences between them and the Humans we knew.” He leaned against a tree, watching a group farm in the distance. “I’ve sent several messages to the Council. No one ever listens to me when I reach out… It’s as though they stopped caring.”
“Why didn’t you send me a message through the Gateway? Hyunjin?”
“The Gateway only works one way. It sends directly the ones in charge, the Council. I can’t leave this place without fearing the Human’s safety. And whenever I send them a message I get silence.”
“You think… in the Council?”
“That there’s a mole.” Felix nodded his head. “I told Hyunjin this as well.”
“That’s the conversation you spoke of before he left. You warned him.”
“Precisely, while he’s there he will uncover as much as possible as quickly as possible.” Turning his gaze back to the Humans he sighed. “I’m praying that this is the start of something good. Something better for them.”
Yunho watched the village as well. He could only nod, not daring voice his opinions on the matter.
Doubt was the last thing they needed.
- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
He knew.
He knew and he was going to kill you. Kill Namjoon-
“No.” Your voice rang out before you could think. There was no fear in your words, no hint at the panic that beat down on your lungs. Your words sounded icy, a firm answer to the creature before you. It surprised you, but something deep within you was ready to fight.
For Namjoon.
He scoffed and barked out a laugh. “No? You think you have a choice here-?” A scowl appeared on his face, a thick finger pointing right at you. “Some weakling like you stands no chance against me-”
“How about me then?”
A new voice, one that sounded soft and smooth compared to the Orcs. The two of you jumped a little, the newcomer having appeared out of nowhere to your left. Despite the small frame and average height, the woman stood tall and held a power to her that made even the Orc flinch. Her hair was a deep brown with eyes to match, eyes that seemed sweet were glazed with a coolness that caused a chill in your bones. She nearly blended in with the snow around you; whites and creams were what her outfit consisted of. The only color on her wardrobe was a black brooch pin, the shape reminding you of a jagged heart. Inside was a red stone that was steadily beating like an actual heartbeat.
Her ears came to a sharp point, but you couldn’t tell: was she Fae or Elf?
“The biggest differences between the two species: An Elves ear comes to a harsh point compared to their cousin, Fae, and an Elf cannot lie. They can never lie.”
You tried to remember what Felix and Hyunjins ears looked like but your mind went blank. You never paid much attention to their ears. They did look similar to this female’s ears… Was there a difference between the male and female Fae? You were never taught if there were. Soojin warned you to hide against all the species, especially Elves. The history of Asterios was enough evidence for you to try to stay away.
So if she was an Elf, you needed to leave. Now.
But your feet would not move. You were watching the scene before you with eyes wide, darting with each movement one of the creatures made.
“What’s wrong? Can’t go against a little girl like me?” Her voice held a mocking tone that made the creature growl.
In a moment the Orc took after the female, large arm raised to swipe at her in a bone crushing blow-
Crack!
Your mouth fell open as the creature was suddenly turned to stone. Cracks began to form throughout its form and in seconds it fell apart.
She didn’t even raise a hand at the Orc. Not a single eye was batted as she stepped over the now stoned being. No, her gaze was now fixed on you. Except the coolness was gone and in its place was curiosity.
“Did it hurt you?”
You blinked a couple of times, waiting to see if she would turn you into stone as well. “No… I’m fine.” You swallowed and eyed her up and down. She wore civilian clothing with a cloak much like yours.
'Can I trust you?’
“Orcs don’t usually travel around these parts,” She glanced around the woods. “It’s quite rare to see them here. Was there something he wanted from you?”
'Lie. Lie. Lie.’ “Just money I think.” ’Do better-’ “I didn’t even hear him approach me. Let alone you…”
Changing the subject back to being on her, you studied her, waiting for any indication of any fowl planning. “I apologize. I smelt his scent and wanted to investigate. Many women travel these roads alone, and, well, you know the rest.” She gave you a weak smile and stepped closer. “My name is Siyeon.”
“Call me Seeker,” You answered, offering a polite smile. Names held power, that much you were warned about. “It was a pleasure meeting you…” You turned on your heel to leave.
“W-wait!” Siyeon jumped forward, stepping next to you. “Let me travel with you!”
“I-what?” You frowned, head cocked. “Why?”
“You have weak magic,” She gave you a sad smile. “I fear what else might come for you. I’m also heading down this path. Actually I’m heading to the mountains in the South- Hope’s Height to be exact!”
Soojin spoke briefly of the location, Thunderbird territory. “Oh? Business with the Thunderbirds?”
Siyeon giggled. “Kind of, I’m meeting my sister there for a wedding. What about you? Where are you heading?”
One small truth. “I’m heading to Dreangon, to see the tropical lands and waterfalls.”
“Oh! That sounds wonderful!” Her smile seemed genuine, teeth as dazzling as the snow that surrounded you. “What do you say? Travel with me?”
'No. No. Not with him in my bag. Not while I’m trying to save Namjoon.’
The thought of the dragon resting in your bag only made your heart race even more. You needed to get going. Siyeon was extra baggage, yes, bit she was strong. She might be of help…
’…No.’
Something in your heart whispered weakly. Deep down there was a pull, as if a chain was tugging against your heart. It was so weak…
You had two options- deny the request, look suspicious, and see her down the same path eventually. And knowing your luck you’d run into her quite often.
Or…
'No.’
The whisper in your heart was stern, weak, and pleading. The chain was tightening, pulling desperately.
She could tag along, assist you until you reach Draengon. It was only one more day of traveling and she could help if you ran into more trouble…
'No. Please-’
“Yeah, let’s go.” You mimicked her smile. You ignored your heart, shaking your head a bit with a small laugh. “Fair warning, I’m in a bit of a rush.
You were sleep deprived. It was making your anxiety rise for no reason; if she wanted to harm you she would have done so the same time she killed the Orc. Judging by that move she was powerful, powerful enough to snap you with the snap of her fingers.
Travel with the Asterian, allow her to escort you safely to Dreangon as quickly as possible. No sleeping. No stopping.
Keep moving. It’ll be okay.
Simple.
“Good! I’m in a rush as well, I’m always late to these things!” Linking your arm with hers she grinned. “Let’s go!”
She gently pulled you further down the road, her voice feather light and warm as she spoke. There was even a skip in her step as she giggled about something she said. You smiled back, ignoring the chain that was still tightening around your heart. You didn’t even hear the small words whispered from somewhere within you.
When he wakes, it’s to the gentle vibrations of Scully snoring on top of him.
The covers are pulled up to his neck, over her head rested just there on his chest. All of her save for a single strand of hair is tucked safely beneath the sheets, her small hand curling around his ribs and her leg pinning both of his to the bed.
Outside, the sky peeking through her heavy curtains is the kind of vibrant blue that coaxes you to lay beneath it, staring up into the bright vastness until it swallows you whole.
Inside, though, Mulder’s got the only person that matters snuggled up against him. The truth, the answer, his very own Bonnie Parker, Andromeda, Boudiccea, Lois Lane. The whole world condensed down into one tiny frame, earth and sea and mystery, ever-changing and mischievous. A force of nature, mumbling faintly in her sleep.
He’d rather be laying beneath her than any sky, any day.
It’s not like I planned it or anything, but on the same day next week, I find myself back outside, walking the streets of Plymouth. Last weekend, snow has finally fallen but it had melted right away, leaving an ugly brown slush in the streets and pools of water on the floors. Somehow, I end up in front of the only Starbucks in town, oh what a coincidence.
I enter the coffee shop a little too exuberant for the wet floor and my dress shoes, so before I can catch myself, I slip in the puddle and fall face first to the floor. It knocks the air right out of me, stupid snow!
“Well well… isn’t it a nice surprise to have a man fall at your feet, in a Starbucks of all places.” I recognize the teasing voice even without looking up, my face burning with embarrassment. When I do look up, I’m faced with a smirking Scully waiting in line for her weekly sugar fix.
I don’t think we talk enough about the trope in NaruSasu fanfiction when Sasuke activates his sharingan to remember sweet moments! i mean… sharingan allows you to capture anything and my soul melts when Sasuke turns it on to remember Naruto’s sleepy look or their kiss! how much poetry in the fact that a man who went through the war and remembered every drop of blood in the futures uses his magic eyes to remember love and beauty and friendship… *sobs*
I’ve been really fired up about what @renniecirque has been posting about recently, and I want to do everything in my power to help promote inclusivity in the TWST fandom, as well as every other fandom that people write for. So below, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of literary elements I use in my writing that make writing for characters of all backgrounds, sexualities, genders, races, and appearances much easier and much, muchsimpler.
Summary:“I’m sure there’s people in Storybrooke who would jump at the chance of fucking you, Regina.” Regina makes a face, as if Emma’s words are distasteful, and sure they are but Emma’s out of herself, and if her vocabulary is vulgar while sober, then she doesn’t know what the hell Regina expects when she’s not. “Try Tinder.”
“Emma… Storybrooke is the size of a shoebox. I know every person in this town and believe me, none of them are viable options.”
“Why?”
“Because… We have history.”
Emma scoffs.“So what? We have history and I would fuck you.”
Or, Emma would swear Regina is trying to kill her with just how much she’s teasing her. (The thing is, Emma will most definitely let her).
summary:Having been safely smuggled out of occupied France, Alice should be feeling somewhat relieved. However, she quickly finds herself faced with pressing matters of the heart.
summary: As Alice adjusts to Paris, she finds friends to help her along the way. But when the city falls to the Germans after the evacuation at Dunkirk, she is faced with an unexpected reunion.
summary:Several months have passed since Tom’s departure. Life in Manchester continues as normal until Alice receives a letter from Scotland, an offer to go to Paris, and the opportunity to experience the war for herself.
It’s the Egg Festival! Since Farmer Jade didn’t move in until later in the Spring, this is her first one. But, things feel a little differently since so many people are missing…
If you haven’t read my fanfic but you’d like to check it out and see what it’s about, the first chapter is here. Hope you enjoy!
hey guys! hope everyone’s having a good nanowrimo. also hope you enjoyed my art spam just now OOPS
farm in the forest chapter 60 is out– it’s a short one, but i just finished a VERY long chapter so there’s some bigguns ahead. i’m still aiming to finish the fic by december but we’ll see what happens.
If you’re like, ‘what the heck is that?’ then I shall tell you: A Farm in the Forest is my Stardew Valley fanfic! it’s a magical adventure with some DRAMA, some SPOOKS, and most importantly, some SEBASTIANS. you can check out the first chapter here!
The following story is a bit of fanfiction, involving the characters of Cybird’s Ikemen Sengoku: Romances Across Time.
Catch up with Part 1 Here | Part 2 Here | Part 3 Here
Part 3 continues with the adventures of:
Erathelyn Aeratanas (my half-elf OC) ~ The Clever Dual-Dagger Rogue
Mitsunari Ishida “Nari” ~ The Cheerful Bard
Ieyasu Tokugawa “Yasu” ~ The Snarky Archer & Medicine Man
Mitsuhide Akechi “Hide” ~ The Mysterious Shapeshifter
Masamune Date “Masa” ~ The Secretive (and cocky) Knight
He only thought that was a great escape plan. But tumbling through a window is not as simple as one might think.
“Ugh! Oof! Damn it!” He sputtered as his body hit the muddy ground and his cloak snagged on the windowsill. He managed to free himself and turned, wiping away the grime…only to be met with the tip of cold steel.
“Well, well, well…look what we’ve found boys. Our deserter making a break for it. You wouldn’t be thinking of running from your bill would you now?"
"Shit.” A curse slipped out as he recognized the guy from their little altercation in the alley not more than a few minutes earlier. He raised his hands in surrender and smirked, “Now now…no hard feelings huh? I mean, can you really blame a guy for being a little defensive when another man sneaks up on him while he’s taking a leak?”
Chuckles erupt from the four men behind the scowling one. He shot them glares and each buttoned up.
“You’re coming with us, deserter. There’s quite a bounty on your head. One I think we’d all like a piece of.”
//Really?…
“What’s it up to? 250 coins? 300?”
“225.” one of the other men chimed in, immediately receiving another silencing stare.
“That’s all? Hmm…that’s a shame.”
“Enough. Now are you going to come willingly or do we need to do this the hard way?” A smirk formed on the man’s face.
Masa internally rolled his eye and dropped his hands, “I’m sorry…”
“What?”
“I said, I’m sorry.” Masa’s smirk vanished and so did the man’s.
“For what?"
"For this.” It didn’t take much skill to incapacitate the five of them, but to do it with such ferocity and swiftness definitely was something extraordinary.
His face was known far and wide for being a deserter of the Royal Guard—a despicable, cowardly man who ran from his duties. None knew the truth. None knew how truly capable and masterful he really was. And he liked it that way.
Mounting his horse, he thought for a moment about catching up to those he’d fled from. But the sounds of alarm bells and shouts deterred any notion of actually doing so. He’d meet them…but not yet. First, he needed to get the hell out of Dern and round back for them. They’d been seen with him and word would spread. He wouldn’t leave them to the uncouth interrogation tactics of the village guards.
***
He’d lost them. At least for the time being. And in doing so, took to the shadows of the forest. It wasn’t long before he caught up to the four he’d been hired to work with. He watched as the men rode steadily by an ever-slowing half-elf that refused to take the offered hands of her travel companions, even though several were offered multiple times.
He liked her. She had spunk. Her fiery spirit belied her heritage and that set her apart in his eyes. Too many elves and humans born of high status chose to behave in such ways that made his blood boil. She may not have been nobility, but her elvish bloodline was enough to turn him off initially.
But her attitude towards Hide and her constant eye rolling and amused smirks directed at the elf made him see her differently.
As much as he wanted to see how far her agile feet would carry her, he could see the days of walking finally catching up to her—even from a distance. He spurred his horse forward and out of the shadows of the forest lining their southward trek.
He pulled the reins, stopping the horse just in front of her, and reached out a hand, “Climb on up. I promise to keep my hands to myself.” The charming smirk of his reappeared, only illuminated by the glow of the moon hanging high above.
Waiting for an acceptance—or refusal—was out of the question. His large hand curled around hers before anything could be said and he hoisted her effortlessly into the saddle before him. Both arms circled around her, one holding her close to his chest, and the other grabbing tight to the reins. His voice held a playful lilt to it as he whispered in her ear, “You’d better hold on. We have to move with haste.”
With a quick kick of his heels, his horse took off. He called over his shoulder with a chuckle, “Keep up gentlemen, unless you wish to spend your night in the cells of Dern.”
All three men looked at one another. Nari was the one to look back and see the glint of armor heading towards them.
Erathelyn Aeratanas (my half-elf OC) ~ The Clever Dual-Dagger Rogue
Mitsunari Ishida “Nari” ~ The Cheerful Bard
Ieyasu Tokugawa “Yasu” ~ The Snarky Archer & Medicine Man
Mitsuhide Akechi “Hide” ~ The Mysterious Shapeshifter
Masamune Date “Masa” ~ The Secretive (and cocky) Knight
I could not believe what I heard or just saw. The man, the human who stood over me with a cocky smirk and a sword of the Royal Guard, was leaping out a nearby window in an attempt to run from a bar tab.
I glanced at Nari. He stared at the window with wide eyes and barely registered my confounded expression.
“Well, that’s one way to make an exit.” A chuckle reverberated from Hide’s throat and he slowly stood from his chair. He sighed, fastening his cloak around himself and shot me a grin.
“Despicable. How barbaric can you humans get?”
I whirled on Yasu. He was always such…an elf. One of the many reasons we didn’t remain engaged. One of the least important, but still a reason nonetheless.
//Okay…so do we follow?…
As I turned to ask Nari the very question I had thought, I realized he’d moved in the short amount of time I’d spent glaring at Yasu. He was now at the bar paying for Masa’s tab.
//That’s unexpected. I wonder how well he knows this Masa character?…
“They’ve met once, but Nari never was one for leaving people in the lurch.”
I jumped, “What the hell? What do you read minds?”
All the response I got from the complete enigma that was Hide, was another chuckle and a pat on my head. Oh how I wanted to swat that bony hand away. Instead, I glared once more at a stone-faced Yasu and then followed the other two men out the door.
°°°°°
“He’s undoubtedly long gone by now. Should have known better than to trust a man like him.” Yasu spoke gruffly as he secured his belongings to his glistening white horse.
“A man like him?” I shifted on my feet. The floor of the stable house creaked beneath my weight. My pack shifted on my shoulder and I inhaled deeply when I readjusted it. Sleep had begun to catch up to me and I was beginning to feel it deep within my bones. It’d been a long journey and I feared I’d have an even longer one ahead of us, what with the barkeep urging us to find shelter elsewhere.
Yasu stopped tying his saddle and looked at me blankly, “A disloyal man. A man who vowed his allegiance only to—”
“And just what brought you out of the forest and away from your clan? Are elves not supposed to remain within their positions?”
I jumped. Hide’s voice echoed through the room as he sauntered into the lantern light with a menacing black horse of his own. The beast towered over the other horses and piercing yellow eyes matched those of his owner’s.
//I have got to sleep. This is ridiculous. My senses are dulled.
Yasu huffed and turned his green glare back to his horse.
//I guess not gonna answer that one, huh?
I found myself smirking at the scene. Yasu flustered was a wondrous sight.
“Do you have a horse, Era? I don’t see another in the stables.” Hide turned his question to me with that same sly grin.
I shook my head, “No. I traveled on foot.”
A silver brow arched and his hand snaked up to stroke the silky mane of his stallion, “Ah, nimble as you are beautiful? Your lithe form belies your stamina, Era. How interesting.”
I rolled my eyes, turning away from the creepy man and taking a step closer to Yasu. Not that he was any better.
//Where is Nari?
“Our friendly bard is just outside. It would appear that he forgot to stable his horse and had found the thing wandering outside. Shall we?”
I arched my own brow at him.
//You have got to stop that. It’s creepy.
Hide chuckled as he led his horse out the doors.
°°°°°
“Era! Unfortunately I was unable to secure a horse for you, and there seems to be no other lodging in Dern. We will have to travel to the next village.” Nari beamed down at me from atop his horse.
I sighed. No horse for me means—
“No matter. The woman may ride with me.” Hide reached a hand from atop his own black beast.
“I’ll walk.” I shifted my pack, made sure my cloak was secure, and started my trek south.
I could hear murmured concerns about the missing ex-soldier coming from a worried Nari, scoffing hisses coming from a perpetually perturbed Yasu, and a slight humming from the mind reader.
My feet ached, my body was screaming for me to stop, and I could feel the overwhelming sense of exhaustion creeping up my spine and about ready to knock me on my ass. The black beast was beginning to look very inviting right about now.
Summary: When a new threat turns into something much bigger, Matt Murdock finds help in the form of a woman with a very different moral code, and struggles to choose between himself and the Devil.
Matt Murdock x Reader //Past!Winter Soldier x Reader
There was very little that compared to running on the thin sheets of ice and snow covering the city streets. It stuck to your feet, little shards of winter that froze your skin and proposed a challenge to your escape. It would have been easier to climb onto the nearest building, just a short distance from the frozen reflecting pool between the theater and the city proper, but this was the only way you could guarantee a chase. He would follow you, certainly, and if you wanted to give the man in red a chanceof getting out of this alive, there was no other choice.
You knew this city. You navigated it very well in the dark, the way you knew your home. You could pinpoint where each stoplight cast a glow of red, yellow, or green overtop the snow from miles away, even knowing approximately whenthe light would change. You knew where the sidewalks ended and which alleys were dead ends, knew which street lights flickered from dying bulbs.
Summary: When a new threat turns into something much bigger, Matt Murdock finds help in the form of a woman with a very different moral code, and struggles to choose between himself and the Devil.
Matt Murdock x Reader //Past!Winter Soldier x Reader
There was very little that compared to running on the thin sheets of ice and snow covering the city streets. It stuck to your feet, little shards of winter that froze your skin and proposed a challenge to your escape. It would have been easier to climb onto the nearest building, just a short distance from the frozen reflecting pool between the theater and the city proper, but this was the only way you could guarantee a chase. He would follow you, certainly, and if you wanted to give the man in red a chanceof getting out of this alive, there was no other choice.
You knew this city. You navigated it very well in the dark, the way you knew your home. You could pinpoint where each stoplight cast a glow of red, yellow, or green overtop the snow from miles away, even knowing approximately whenthe light would change. You knew where the sidewalks ended and which alleys were dead ends, knew which street lights flickered from dying bulbs.
He had three more knives, and one Glock 17 strapped to his back. Odds are it was a full clip, so that meant.. 33 opportunities to put a bullet in you. You also knew he was wearing military grade boots, which meant he had advantage over you in this terrain, and that also meant he could be faster.
Your only chance was to outsmart him. Which could be difficult, given that he was clearly an expert and you had no idea how clever he was. And you hated not knowing.
But you had to take the chance. You ran until your feet were numb, counting down the seconds that led you closer and closer to frostbite. Turning one corner at a time, you didn’t look back until you turned into an alleyway, cut off by a chain link fence. Your breath misted in front of your blued lips as your eyes fell on a misshapen lump of snow and you ran toward it, ripping more of the fabric at the bottom of your dress. The frayed edge was now only to the middle of your thigh, exposing your legs to the bitter cold as you used the fabric as a barrier between your hands and the snow.
The manhole cover under the snow had ice accumulated along the edge, and your fingers ached as you pried it open, sliding the heavy, frozen metal away from the opening. You cast a glance over your shoulder, taking only a moment to listen to the distant sound of gunfire and sirens. The sounds were close, and if the police interfered with the attacker, you would have just enough time to slip away without leaving a trail. You turned back toward the manhole, pushing away the hopes that the man in red had gotten away- there was no time for worrying or what-ifs- and made your escape.
***
Two of his ribs were broken.
He had heard them creak when his back hit the concrete, and when the heavy boot came down just under his shoulder blades, the cracks split. His scream had echoed through the balcony, and he was certain that the mammoth of a man towering over him was going to smash his head in before Matt could get his hands under him. But when Matt pushed against the ground, blood dripping from his nose and staining the snow a bright crimson, the attacker wasn’t even looking at him. He had started following Y/n, who had run through the ballroom straight to the fire stairs on the north side of the building.
Dizziness swarmed Matt’s senses as he clamored to his feet, not stopping as he swept up the two billy clubs and ran after them. He wasted no time with the stairs, jumping over the railing and rolling as he landed. He could smell the metal, taste the way it mixed with the copper on his tongue. His body ached, protested, begged him to slow down, but the man was following her, and even though she was far ahead of them, her footprints were leading them both right to her.
Lucky for Matt, he didn’t need them. He had gotten enough of the rich scent of her perfume, the heavy smell of too-much foundation, the slightest bit of sweat. He followed the quickest path to the end of your trail, his ribs and legs and lungs protesting as he leapt through the air between buildings, his back aching with each roll as he landed all too hard on the rooftops. He had to get ahead, had to find her before her would-be assassin could get close enough to put a bullet between her eyes or a knife in her throat. Whatever manner of death he had planned for the ballerina, he had to prevent it.
If he couldn’t, what was the point?
His feet slid on the ice, his boots not quite gripping the sleek sheets that coated every inch of the city. He was careful, calculating each step as he raced toward her.
He stopped at the edge of a movie theatre roof, his feet skidding and sending flurries of ice in the air. Frowning, Matt crouched, catching his breath. His head tilted toward the rich scent of her, tongue tasting perfume and snow and the heavy, metal manhole cover as she hefted it off the hole. She glanced back, the wind swiping her hair over cold, chapping lips. He could hear the gunfire starting, the police shouting at the assassin to stop.
She had met a dead end, and he wasn’t surprised that she had decided the best course of action was to flee to a new level of the city. It would be warmer in the sewers, without the wind and still falling snow on her skin, but it was dark and damp and not everyone had the advantages Matt had in an environment like that.
She dropped the silk in her hands, letting it fall into the snow near the manhole. Matt shifted his weight to the balls of his feet, ready to jump down and follow her, when she did something even he didn’t see coming.
Her hands gripped the nearby fire escape on the other side of the alley. How she had jumped from her point in the middle of the alley to the building so gracefully without taking a running start surprised him, and he nearly fell forward in his rush to go down. He hadn’t considered she would in fact go up.
She moved quickly, climbing the side of the fire escape to the roof without setting foot on the landings at each floor. Matt moved away from the edge of the movie theater as she reached the top and disappeared behind the roof ledge. The gunfire had stopped, but the sirens still pierced his ears as he took a running leap over the expanse of the alley.
***
You only had minutes. The cold had started climbing up your legs, leaving your feet near-numb. Behind the wall surrounding the edge of the roof, you were safe from the wind, but as you brushed the snow off your feet, you could feel the tips of your fingers tingle.
At this rate, the frostbite would set in before you could make it home. There was nowhere familiar close enough to slip into unseen, but at this rate, breaking into somewhere for warmth, just enough to get the feeling back in your limbs, wasn’t off the table. But you had to wait another minute, at least, to make sure he took the bait. There was no telling if he’d fall for it, or if he had some way of seeing you crouched down against the wall. If he followed you, found you, it was over.
Your eyes closed, the snow on your lashes sticking to your eyelids. Running this far, in the cold, in not at all the right clothes, had taken its toll. Your body was well-trained for each of those things, but there was no way a person could stave it off for long. Exhaustion had begun to creep in your bones alongside the chill, and you only had moments to catch your breath and wait for the assassin before you had to move again.
A soft, rolling thud jerked you away from your moment of peace, and you were back on your feet before the other figure had a chance to roll to his. Your hands were up, ready for a knife or a bullet aimed for your head or heart, feet poised to dive past him— but the man in red stood up slowly, his own hands up, not in fists like yours, but the open hands of surrender.
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” he said, his voice low and gruff. He kept his hands up, maybe for your benefit, but more likely for his own. You were a cornered animal, and there was no way of knowing whether you believed him.
“Who the hell are you?”
He lowered his hands, cautious, and took a few steps closer. The stark red of his suit was rich against the snow surrounding you both, even in the dark, and as he stopped just a few feet away, you knew the answer before he spoke.
“I’m Daredevil.”
Your arms dropped to your sides, fingers flexing, trying to get the feeling to come back as you eyed him carefully. “Daredevil’s been gone for years,” you said.
His lips pulled into a thin line. “I was…” he searched for the right words, his head tilting back and forth. “Taken. We don’t have much time-“
His head snapped toward the alley below. You followed his line of sight over the ledge, ducking down as the white cape came swirling into view. Daredevil crouched beside you, chin pointed at the ground as the two of you listened. The crunching of snow was loud, even from this high up, as he neared the place you had last left signs of yourself.
You listened carefully, but your companion seemed to have something else on his mind as he reached for your shivering hands. You tried to pull them back, but he carefully clutched your wrist, wrapping his gloved hands around yours. “You’re going to freeze,” he whispered, frowning. “We need to go.”
“Not yet,” you hissed back, this time successfully prying your hands out of his. He didn’t speak again, only waited until you both heard the dull thud of boots landing in the sewer far below.
Satisfied by the distant sounds of retreating footfalls, you pushed yourself up, ready to run. If he realized he’d been fooled, you needed to be as far away from here as possible. But your legs shook, and the moment you took a step you were falling. You lurched forward, ready to catch yourself on the ice, but he was faster, catching you in his arms before you hit the frozen concrete.
“Slow down,” he said, pulling you to your feet. He kept his hand on your arm, steadying you. Even through his gloves he could feel the goosebumps on your skin, the dusting of ice settling in, and wasted no time in bending down to grab you under the knees.
In any other circumstances, you’d have batted him away, determined to make your way inside on your own. But your head spun as he lifted you in his arms, tucking you against his chest, and your body had begun to shake. He was warm, anyway, and you burried your face against his chest and jammed your hands into your armpits as he started walking. His steps were uneven, his chest heaving with uneven breaths, and he moved impossibly slow.
“You’re hurt,” you breathed, your eyes closing again. This stranger could be taking you anywhere, but you didn’t have a choice. He’d come to your aid and that didn’t mean you trusted him, but it was enough to know that he probablywanted you alive.
“It’s a fracture,” he said, inhaling sharply as he approached the other side of the roof. “I’m fine.”
“Whatever you say, horns.”
***
You didn’t remember falling asleep. It couldn’t have been for very long- your body still ached from the cold, and sitting up sent a torrent of pain through your head and back. Blinking against fluorescent lights, you glanced around enough to recognize the cluttered industrial kitchen of the coffee shop.
You were warm, though, wrapped in an old blanket and covered in a thin layer of sweat. Your fingers and toes had regained feeling, and your head was pounding. Your injuries were catching up to you, but that was better than going numb. You had been dangerously close to hypothermia, but Daredevil had gotten there just on time.
“Don’t move too much.”
He was sitting a few feet away, legs outstretched in front of him with his back pressed against the heavy door that separated you from outside.
Pushing yourself up, you mimicked his position, resting your back against the prep counter. “How long was I out?”
“Twenty minutes,” he said. “Who was that?”
You grimaced, rubbing the back of your neck. It popped as you carefully turned it side to side, pinching your eyes closed against the pain. “I have no idea.”
He stood up, crossing the space between you in one stride, and crouched at your feet. “I’m gonna need a lot better than ‘no idea.’”
“I’ve never seen him bef-”
“Why’s he trying to kill you?”
You caught your tongue between your teeth, halfway through a snippy remark, but it slipped out anyway. “Maybe he doesn’t like my dancing.”
He huffed a sigh, unamused, and his foot adjusted under him. “He’s already killed two people-“
“Three.”
His lips parted, head shaking slightly with confusion. “Anastasia Petrova and Tatiana Kalashnik.”
“And Nina Drugova. Albany. Found her in a dumpster- well, most of her.”
The leather of his gloves creaked as his hands curled into fists. His jaw tightened, chin dropping so that he was staring at the floor between his feet before he looked back up at you. “All people you knew.”
“All my friends,asshole.”
He hesitated. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Truly. But he’s after younow, and you can’t take him on your own. So I need a really good reason why.”
“You mean you need a reason why you should help me,” you snorted, pushing the blanket off. You grabbed at the counter, using it to pull yourself to your feet. He rose with you, his shoulders tense. Like he expected you to attack him or take off running.
“I help people who need helped,” he said. “But if we’re going to stop him-“
“Almost being the keyword. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, pal.”
“I’ve handled worse.”
You stared at him for a long moment. You had heard stories of Daredevil. Though he was gone by the time you were in New York, whispers of the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen had become something of an urban legend; he was a ghost story, a warning meant to scare criminals as they passed dark shadows. He was the boogeyman of the West Side. He had taken down Wilson Fisk, had fought criminal organizations damn near single handed. He was toughandscary— at least, that’s how the stories made him sound. But looking at him was different. He was just a man in a suit, and as far as you could tell, he didn’t have super powers like Captain America, didn’t have metal to protect him like Iron Man. He was just some guy, with some training, who beat the daylights out of men who were the realboogeymen.
“I don’t know who he is,” you repeated, letting the blanket fall on the ground between you. “But I know someone who might.”
“Black Swan?” He tilted his head at you, a smile playing on his lips. “You keep your feathers somewhere else?”
You willed your heart to remain steady, refusing to break eye contact. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He huffed a dry laugh. “The aerobics, scaling the fire escape like that. The whole… ballerina thing.”
You shrugged. “Not everyone is a superhero.”
“No,” he agreed, but the smile on his lips didn’t waver. He didn’t need to point out that he had seen you fight too. He knew- he knew who you were, and even if you wouldn’t admit it, it was one less mystery to solve. “If not her,then who?”
You sighed, wrapping the blanket around your shoulders. “An old friend,” you said. “A veryold friend.”
***
The sun was coming up. It peered lazily over the horizon, seeping through the cracks between the towering skyscrapers in the distance. The snow had stopped falling, leaving a thick blanket of white over the streets below. Any other day, you’d have already crawled back into the warmth of your apartment, pulling the blankets up over your head and falling asleep to the sounds of cars outside the window. The blackout curtains would keep out the sun, but instead you were watching as it crawled slowly into the sky. Most of the wind had been blocked out by the surrounding buildings, and the coffee in your gloved hand sent gentle curls of heat into the air. Bundled up at the edge of the building, you counted the passing cars as you waited.
“Your friend is taking his time.” Daredevil was beside you, pacing along the edge of the roof. He was on edge- no one had ever seen Daredevil in the daylight, and being out in the early morning hours ran the risk of being caught. It was a risk just to be here, with you. But the assassin had yet to attack during the day, and as long as he was at your side, he felt better knowing that you were protected, even if you didn’t necessarily need it.
“He’ll be here,” you said, bringing the cup close to your lips. “We just have to be patient.”
He stopped pacing, coming to stand next to you. “This had better be worth it,” he said, lips drawing into a fine line. “It’s dangerous for us to be up here.”
“More or less dangerous than being tracked down by an assassin?”
Daredevil stiffened, his head snapping toward the door of the roof-access. “Someone’s coming.”
“How the hell-”
“Not the assassin,” he said, frowning. “Someone else.”
“-do you know that?”
The door of the roof swung open, the seldom-used hinges groaning. His boots were heavy as he stepped out, ice crunching under heavy footsteps. He paused in the doorway, eyebrow raised as the door closed behind him. His hair fluttered around his tightened jaw, blue eyes flickering over Daredevil’s form before they landed on you. They softened, and a crooked half-smile painted over his lips as he strode forward, adjusting the M249 slung over his back. He crossed the expanse of the roof in slow, confident steps, and reached for you just as you stepped into his arms, wrapping them around his shoulders.
“Long time, no see, pretty bird.” He laughed into the side of your neck as you hugged him. His metal hand pressed delicately into the small of your back even as you stepped away, eyes trailing back over to the Devil, who was watching you with curious caution. “Who’s the suit?”
“Bucky,” you said, gesturing toward Matt, who, unbeknownst to his companions, had been reading the other man’s body language, vitals, and voice from even before he had stepped on the roof. “Meet the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.”
Summary: “When Princess Aelin Ashryver Galathynius agrees to an arranged marriage to save her country from economic ruin, she was completely prepared to marry a stranger. However, she wasn’t prepared to learn that her future husband, who was supposed to be the perfect stranger, was actually her one-night stand from the evening before.”
warnings: drinking, drugs, sex. (not applicable to all chapters)
A/N: Phaedra piece for @disneyvamps I hope it’s like you imagined! I tried my best.
People who see this probably don’t have the TW’s (Suicide) tagged, but I still advice viewer discression. Phaedra’s story is not a light one and I stuck to the source material. Nothing physical happens between her and Hippolytus.
When Theseus first told me of Hippolytus, I was outraged. After having left my sister to rot and taken me as his bride instead, after leaving time after time to hunt for even more fame and glory, after welcoming him in my arms when he came back regardless, I still wasn’t enough for him. He needed yet another poor woman to satisfy his needs.
I composed myself, knowing that Hippolytus couldn’t do anything about it. I was his stepmother and I should act like it. Stewing in rage never made anything better.
When I met him, he told me he was named after his mother Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. You could see which parent raised him. He was strong, kind, respectful, and everything else Theseus wasn’t. Except for stubborn. From day one, I could see he was incredibly stubborn.
I tried to tell myself the reason I kept visiting him was because he was like the child I never had, but after a few months, I had to admit that that wasn’t it. I felt sick to my stomach the first time I let myself think that I could be in love with him. A stepmother falling in love with her stepson was unheard of, and the gods would never let it go unpunished.
I couldn’t control myself. I had to go back time and time again. When I didn’t, I couldn’t sleep, my head spinning with thoughts of him. If I got so exhausted I did sleep, I would see his face in my dreams.
The day he went away with Artemis I was equal parts distraught and euphoric. It meant he was unavailable. The comfort that gave me lasted only a few days, before the restless nights began again.
When Hippolytus came back for a visit, he brought with him the rumour that Theseus had upset Aphrodite. Apparently, he never brought her the correct sacrifices after she handed him the key to defeating the minotaur. I immediately understood that it must have been the goddess who made my sister fall in love with Theseus. What took longer was the realisation that maybe, just maybe, the same goddess was now influencing me. Except I wasn’t a tool to help Theseus. I was a weapon to punish him.
Hippolytus took his vow to Artemis in front of the whole court. Theseus took personal offense to it. He called his son a traitor, a bastard, an ungrateful child who didn’t know what he was doing. He whined about needing someone to continue the family line. At this point, I had grown numb to his endless begging for heirs.
It ended with a fight. A huge fight. Maybe it was all of the emotions, perhaps love saw her chance, but my desire rose too. I cursed Aphrodite, both silently and out loud, but a reaction didn’t come.
Running to Hippolytus’ room with the intent of begging him to take me away and marry somewhere far from Athens was an impulsive decision. Stopping right before I threw open the door wasn’t.
If I went in, I would give Theseus the punishment that I was intended to give him. The punishment of being shamed before the whole world by not just an unruly son, but an unchaste wife, too.
Being the good string puppet someone up above intended me to be was the last thing I wanted.
It physically hurt to take my hand away from the door, but I did it. My mother, my brother, my sister. They had all been pawns in a greater scheme. I, as the only one still left, would be the one to cut our strings.
I began to whisper while I walked down the hallways: ‘I, Phaedra of Crete, daughter of Pasiphae and sister of Ariadne and Asterion, won’t be a punishment.’ Was it praying if I was disobeying the gods? It felt like praying. ‘I won’t beg Hippolytus to marry me. I won’t be lusting after him anymore. It isn’t what I want, it’s what I am ordered to do.’ I began walking to the side exit of the palace, the one that led to the sea. ‘I won’t allow anyone to control my family any longer.’ You wouldn’t survive a drop into the sea from this point, was one of the first things I got told when I came to Athens. ‘For I am not a weapon to be wielded.’ I’d get to see if whoever said it was right.
|
Ariadne sat down on the dock, her shoulders hanging. Quietly standing behind her were Artemis and Dionysus. ‘I need to do the rites. Somehow. She must get a chance of getting into the Underworld.’
Dionysus laid his hand on her shoulder. ‘She will get more than a chance.’
Ariadne nodded absentmindedly. ‘I think she might have seen it as the only exit from Aphrodite,’ she whispered. ‘Which…’ she clasped her hands in front of her face. ‘I felt the same way. I thought of it a few times, and so did my mother. We just never pushed through.’ Ariadne began to cry, glad that the tears made their way out. ‘We need to make sure Theseus doesn’t freak out. He might start a hunt for… I wouldn’t know, but he’ll use someone as a scapegoat. That’s all he ever did.’ The silence of the gods almost made her break. ‘So he already did.’
There came no apology, no defense. Just a silent confirmation. ‘Then let me pray it’ll be over soon.’
|
I find a coin and am allowed to cross the Styx, even though I have no idea how or why. The thought of the other side scares me, but I can’t hang out on the banks forever. So I go.
It isn’t much different than the journey from Crete to Athens, anyway.
Something tells me I don’t have to be afraid. I don’t know whether to trust the feeling or not. I am, after all, a shame to everyone who knows me. The Fields of Punishment is the only thing I expect to get.
No matter what awaits me on the other side, at least I am not a pawn in someone’s strategy anymore. For someone in the clutches of death, I have never felt more free.
A/N: I think Phaedra could be infertile. She and Theseus never had children as far as I know. Which, that’s strange in greek mythology, where every couple who touched hands had a baby.
It didn’t really fit in the text, but I like to think that in this version, Hippolytus understands how the gods are involved.
Originally, the first line was going to be ‘I don’t even blame Aphrodite for what happened.’ It was a killer line, but I couldn’t do anything else with it through out the story.
Till the End of the Line: Chapter 5: Moving Upstate
A/n: Hey guys! Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter, life has just been super busy the last few months for both myself and my editor, and I do like to have my work looked through before I post anything so that’s one of the reasons it took so long. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me and supporting and liking my work, it means a lot! Hope you guys like chapter 5!
Matilda awoke with a scream as she sat up in bed. She was gasping for air and felt a thin layer of sweat covering her body. She ran her hands through her hair as she tried to calm her racing heart. The dreams were getting worse. Each night, they were starting to feel more and more real. She took a deep breath, starting to ground herself. She looked around her room, counting anything she could find, putting her mind back in the present. She glanced at her alarm clock on the bed side table and the large red lined numbers read 5:47AM. The sky outside her window was starting to lighten with the sun that would soon break the horizon. Steve stirred next to her; he pulled the pillow he was holding closer to his body, as his other arm brought the pillow under his head into his shoulder. He hadn’t seemed to be disturbed by her screaming. He was so peaceful sleeping, compared to her dream of Bucky. Thinking of Bucky and the dream made her stomach turn as the feeling of falling and being strangled resurfaced. In an instant, the room felt like it was closing in on her. She quickly, yet quietly, got out of bed and headed toward her bedroom door, grabbing a sweatshirt on the way. Turning to close her bedroom door she stared back at Steve. His hair tousled from sleep didn’t hang in his face like Bucky’s did, his blond hair a stark opposite of the assassin’s. Her heart skipped and her stomach turned. She needed to get air. Now.
The sunrise over New York City was always Matilda’s favorite thing to watch. Pinks, oranges, and yellows painted the sky as the dark buildings made up the city scape. The cool breeze of the morning air felt good on her warm face, easing the anxiety in her chest as she took a deep breath of it. She leaned against the balcony railing and peered over the side and looked down. Employees were starting to arrive at Stark tower, normal people going about their normal days, at their normal job. A surprised feeling of jealousy toward those people washed over her. She loved her life the way that it was, so why was she now so envious of those small ant-like people now? The balcony door opened to reveal Steve, white t-shirt and baggy sweats, holding two steaming cups.
“Can I join you?” Steve said.
Matilda nodded, and Steve walked toward her. Steve handed her one of the mugs, bringing a smile to her face.
“You weren’t there when I woke up, so I figured I would come find you,” he said.
“With coffee?”
He blushed. “Okay. Maybe I knew where you were already, and I just wanted to bring my girl something. Is that so wrong?”
Matilda’s heart leapt at him calling her ‘his girl’. The way that the rising sun was hitting Steve made his face glow. She imagined him in ancient paintings of angels or saints, how they were always depicted with white auras around them. She reached her handout and stroked the side of his face, reassuring herself that he was indeed there with her on the balcony and not just a figment of her imagination.
“No, there isn’t.” Leaning her head against his shoulder.
Steve wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. They stayed like that for a while, watching as the sun rose higher into the sky. A shiver ran through Matilda’s body and she pulled her sweatshirt closer to her.
“You cold, sweetheart?” Steve asked, running his hands up and down her arm.
“A bit yeah, I think I may need another cup of coffee.” Holding up her empty mug, she turned to head back into the tower, Steve following her lead.
The kitchen, usually busy with the rush of the breakfast crew, was quiet. She took peace in knowing that they would have the kitchen all to themselves. She brought her mug over to the espresso machine and pressed a few buttons to wake it up. Once it was ready, she picked her brew and listened as the beans fell from the hopper attached.
“Latte?” she asked, turning to Steve.
“Depends, are you going to do that fancy coffee art that your favorite place does?” He asked, closing the distance between them.
He gently grabbed her waist. “Okay firstly, the baristas at Blue Bottle are artists! There is no way I can do what they do.” She placed her hands on his arms. “And secondly, when did you become such a coffee expert?”
A small blush colored his cheeks as he looked away from her. His smile widening at the comment. “I know things.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Alright, so Natasha has brought me to a few places with her, and Thor is shockingly obsessed with Starbucks.”
Matilda burst out laughing, snorting as her hand came up to cover her mouth, and tears stung the corners of her eyes. She took part of her shirt and brought it up to whip the forming tears.
“Nothing is going to top that today. That was hysterical.”
“Glad you found it funny.” He pushed back a stray piece of hair that had fallen into her face. He inched closer to her, his hand moving to the side of her neck. As he moved his mouth to hers, she moved her head aside to avoid his kiss.
“Steve, I think we need to talk about this.” she whispered.
He sighed and nodded his head. “Okay, we can talk, but over breakfast? I’ll make pancakes!” He backed away from her and went in search of the ingredients.
She leaned her back against the counter and watched as he turned the corner for the pantry. Her head and her heart were at war with each other, and it was making her go crazy. The beeping of the espresso machine made her jump slightly, and she turned to grab her coffee. She grabbed vanilla oat milk from the fridge and noticed a carton of brown eggs. Grabbing them she called, “Hey Steve! You want some eggs?” He didn’t reply, so she set the carton by her mug and continued making her coffee. She stirred in the milk and took a sip.
The warmth of it took the last of the morning chill out of her. She pushed up the sleeves of her sweatshirt and winced as she passed over her left arm. She looked down and saw dark purple bruises shaped eerily like fingerprints. A chill ran through her body again as the dream from last night came back to her. That was the arm that Bucky had grabbed in her dream. The panic increased at the thought that the same bruises would be around her neck too. She was briefly thankful that her hoodie covered most of her neck. She swiftly pulled the sleeves back down over her arms, refusing to let Steve find out.
“What is happening to me?” she whispered to herself.
At that moment, Steve reentered the kitchen carrying his ingredients “What was that?” he asked, placing his arm-full of things down on the counter.
“Uh, I asked if you wanted eggs.” Grabbing the carton next to her cup.
Steve’s face was stern, looking at her like he was trying to read what was in her racing mind. “Yeah, sure, eggs sound good. Are you okay sweetheart? You’re looking awfully pale.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m good. Just a bit cold, you know.” she said, a bit too quickly. She pulled her arms in on herself, trying to show him that her odd behavior was due to her being cold. She mentally rolled her eyes at herself.
“Okay.” Steve’s answer didn’t reassure her at all that he believed her story.
She forced a smile and took another sip of coffee. She screamed at herself to pull it together. She could figure it out later when she was alone. “So, how do you like your eggs?”
About an hour later they were sitting down to eat. Steve had made way to many pancakes, in a variety of flavors: blueberry, chocolate chip, and peanut butter and jelly. He refused to let Matilda help him; the only thing he allowed her to do was to read him off the recipe that he had found on Pinterest. In the hour of them cooking, her nerves had settled. Steve had made her laugh with his attempts to make exact measurements and his excitement when he got a new idea for a flavor to try. When he was on his last batch of pancakes, she pulled out a pan beside him and whipped up their eggs; fried for her and scrambled for Steve. They sat side by side at the end of the island surrounded by piles of pancakes.
“Great idea about the PB&J. Definitely my favorite so far,” Steve said, chewing a mouthful of food.
“You’ve only had one pancake!” Matilda laughed as she took a bite of her eggs and watched as Steve piled four chocolate chip pancakes onto his dish.
She smiled at him and reminisced on a surfacing memory of her childhood. “You know my dad was the one to come up with the idea. He would always make breakfast on Saturday mornings when I was a kid, and I used to hate maple syrup. So, my dad knew I loved PB&J’s, so he would spread crunchy peanut butter onto my pancakes and roll them up, then he would microwave strawberry jelly and pour it over the rolls. I think I had three helpings of that the first time he made it. After that he would make that for me every Saturday morning.”
She bit the end of her fork smiling at her dish as the memory of her father made her heart flutter.
“I know you must miss him,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder, his thumb stroking her lightly.
“Everyday. I think he is where I get my love of food and cooking from. My mom was always a horrible cook, so it was up to my dad even before she died when I was a baby. My dad tried to make it fun for me. He would include me in helping him make dinner, and when he asked me what I wanted, he actually listened. When I got older, and he started to really get involved with his work, I took over the cooking and I don’t think I ever saw him happier than when he used to come home to me having dinner already for us.” She whipped away a tear that had fallen from her eye. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for the conversation to get so depressing.” She laughed, mostly at herself, trying to break the growing tension of the room.
“You don’t have to be sorry; I love hearing about it.” He placed a hand on her cheek and brushed away the last of her tears. “You never have to be sorry for sharing how you feel,” he said softly to her.
She smiled at him and leaned into his touch. “Change of topic then?” She took another sip of coffee.
“Uh, yeah, sure. Uh…” Steve paused trying to think of a topic. “Uh…How did you sleep?”
She started to choke on her coffee. “I uh…good. It was good.” She bobbed her head at him, clearing her throat. She put a fork-full of egg into her mouth to avoid further comment on the matter.
He gave her the same stern look he gave her earlier, eyes trying to read behind the wall she put up. “You sure?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure.” She still didn’t meet his gaze, instead focused on pushing her food around her dish.
“Okay, something’s up. What’s really wrong?” He pushed her plate of food away, hoping that it would bring her focus on him and the conversation.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.” She rolled her shoulders back, her hands gripping the sleeves of her hoodie as she crossed her arms at him.
“Till, come on. You know I can tell when something is wrong. You can tell me anything, you know that.” He placed a reassuring hand on her knee and gave it a light squeeze.
She knew that she could tell him anything, and she had done so in the past, but how was she going to tell him this? He was still trying to find his best friend, and now she had dreamt of him three times.
“I uh….” She fidgeted in her seat. “If I tell you, promise me you won’t get mad.”
Steve leaned away from her slightly, unprepared that she would start the conversation out like that, but he reassured her nonetheless. “I promise.”
Matilda took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I’ve been having dreams lately…”
“Okay, what are the dreams about?”
“They’re about…. uhm…. they’re about Bucky.” She paused and glanced at him from the corners of her eyes. She waited for him to do something, but all he did was just smile at her.
She watched as Steve’s body softened at her confession. The gnawing feeling, she had felt disappeared once she realized that he wasn’t upset with her.
“That’s what you were worried about? Telling me that you keep having dreams of Bucky?”
She nodded.
“Till…” He sighed. “You know every night after I lost Bucky, I dreamt of him. I dreamt of hundreds of ways I could have saved him, how things could have been done differently. Hell, even after we found Bucky in DC, I had dreams about him again. It’s normal, and it’s okay. You’ve been doing so much research and digging, helping me and Sam try to find him, I’m not surprised.”
“Yeah, but it’s not…” She started, trying to get out the rest of the story but getting cut off by Steve.
“It’s just your subconscious trying to work out things. We don’t have control over what we dream about. It just happens.”
Realizing that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him, she dropped the conversation disappointed. “Thanks, Steve.”
“Any time.” His cell phone started to buzz in his pocket, and he quickly answered it. “Sam.”
The blunt greeting made Matilda smirk.
“Got it, on my way.” He hung up the phone and placed it on the table. “I gotta run, Sam thinks he may have a lead.”
“Okay. I can clean up here.”
He gave her those puppy dog eyes that she hated so much and a small frown. “You sure? I can totally stay and help you clean up before I go.” He stood up, placing both hands on either side of her face and tilted her face back to look up at him.
She gave him a sad smile, hands coming up to grip his wrists. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
His eyes held adoration and it made Matilda’s heart break just a bit. She was the world to him, and she could see it in this one look, and she wasn’t sure if she truly felt the same.
“I love you.” He said the words so easily, and he meant every one. “I’ll be back soon.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead, leaving the warmth of him behind. He looked at her one last time, and with one more swipe of his thumb over her cheek, he left.
****************
May 13th,
How do I start a conversation to one’s best friend / maybe boyfriend about not being completely sure of your feelings for them? Or better yet, how do you bring up the topic of his assassin best friend haunting your dreams and leaving mysterious bruises on you when he’s hiding somewhere in the world? Ugh, journal, what am I going to do? Who do I go to talk to about this besides you? I tried bringing it up with Steve, but he won’t listen. I’m so conflicted with my emotions and the thoughts in my head about this, I’m truly lost at what to do. Maybe Steve’s right, maybe it is all the research that I’ve been doing. That still doesn’t explain the bruises on me. I’m not sure how I’m going to hide the ones on my neck, thankfully they’re down low enough where I could wear a scarf. These dreams just don’t seem normal though. It’s like I’m actually there, physically instead of just my subconscious playing out a scene. Maybe I’ll do some research on this too. Please, journal, send help.
***************
Around one in the afternoon, as Matilda lay on her bed readingThe Hobbit for the fourth time, a female voice sounded over the intercom.
“Hello, Matilda, I am FRIDAY Mr. Stark is sending you this message as a test to see if my new functions work. I am pleased to meet your acquaintance.” The voice was choppy, but Matilda was impressed that Tony had gotten a system to replace JARVIS so quickly.
“Hello, FRIDAY” Matilda placed her bookmark back in her book and sat up on her bed and crossed her legs.
“Mr. Stark would like to know if you are ready to go to lunch.”
“Tell Tony I am, and I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
“Affirmative.”
Matilda giggled at the farewell of FRIDAY. She was sure in a matter of days the AI would be talking like normal and not some creepy robot. She slid off her bed and headed into her bathroom to get ready. Staring at herself in the mirror, she assessed the bruises on her neck. It would take a few layers of concealer and color correction to hide them. When the last layer was on, she stood back and admired her work. She could notice faint shadows of where the dark color stood out, but to someone just glancing at her, no one would notice. Content with her look she went to get changed. Since Trattoria was a kinda fancy restaurant, she decided to put on something cute. She rummaged through her closet until she found the perfect thing. The white high-low sundress was adorned with lemons, and was flowy and open at the bottom. She wore a pair of yellow sandals with the dress and a white sweater to go over the thin straps of the dress. It was early May in New York, so the sweater was a safe choice to go with; it would also conveniently cover the bruises on her arms.
Happy with the outfit, she grabbed her purse and headed down to the main floor. Tony and Pepper were waiting for her when she stepped out of the elevator. Tony was wearing his usual black shirt and blazer with his Ray Band glasses. Pepper, who was standing next to him, had her hair pulled up into a tight bun and was dressed in a tight gray dress and her usual Louis Vuitton black heels. Pepper turned to her and smiled.
“Matilda, oh how I’ve missed you.” She pulled Matilda tight into her arms and swayed her back and forth.
“I’ve missed you too, Pepper. How have you been? The clinic is still working out okay?” Pepper, over the past two years had been living off and on in a specialized clinic to help with her new found powers. Tony had worked night and day to find a cure for her after she was injected with the Extremis virus. In addition to the treatments, Pepper was busy running the company, which left little time for Matilda to see her.
“I’m okay, slowly getting back to normal. I’m taking it one day at a time.” She pulled her back into a hug, squeezing her a bit harder this time.
“If you two are done with the love fest, we have a 1:30 reservation that we are going to be late for,” Tony teased, placing both his hands on the girl’s shoulders.
Pepper rolled her eyes at him, and Matilda just laughed. They both headed into the elevator and down towards the garage.
When they arrived at Trattoria, the hostess greeted the three of them and escorted them to their table. They followed her up to the second floor where the restaurant held parties, events, and catered to very special guests. It was a long room with a large window at the end of it. Bricks covered one wall and the other was where they kept their best wines behind a glass cabinet. The space that usually had four large tables lined up against the brick wall, now only held one table, placed for the three of them. The hostess ushered them in and grabbed a pitcher of water off of a small table to the side of the wine wall and poured them all a glass.
“There you are, Mr. Stark, I hope this suits your requests.”
“Yes, thank you.” Tony nodded curtly at the hostess and took a sip of his water.
“Perfect! Your server will be right up to take care of you.”
Matilda watched as the hostess smiled and did a slight bow to Tony. Matilda stifled a giggle at the flustered behavior of the girl. Tony did have that effect on people.
They sat for a moment in silence as they all looked over their menus. Matilda flipped through the pages of the menu, deciding what she was in the mood for. Their Chicken Parm was to die for, but she was feeling a bit like pasta today. With all the stress of recent events, all she felt like doing was indulging in a carb overload. She was still reading the menu when their server came up.
“Hello, my name is April, and I’ll be your server today. May I get you folks started off with some drinks?”
“We’ll get a bottle of your 103 Dom Perignon ‘05, chilled please.”
“Tony, are you sure?” Pepper said, placing her menu down on the table.
“Yes, I’m sure, it’ll be fine. The bottle please.”
April nodded her head, her blond ponytail bobbing up and down with her. “Alright one chilled bottle coming right up. Are you guys ready to order yet?”
“We’ll need a minute,” Pepper said, giving April a warm smile.
April nodded again and disappeared down the stairs.
“Tony, this is unnecessary.” Pepper said again, more sternly as she glared at him.
“No Pepper, it’s very necessary. We are here to celebrate.” Tony smiled at Pepper and learned forward, crossing his hands on the table in front of him.
“What are we celebrating?” Matilda asked, recalling the news about Stark Tower.
Tony smiled at her. “We have a lot of things to be celebrating. Us winning against Ultron, Pepper’s progress to recovery.”
“You selling Stark tower,” Matilda blurted out before Tony had a chance to continue.
Tony put his tongue in his cheek and looked to Pepper for some help on the abrupt topic. Pepper just raised her eyebrows to Tony in a ‘you’re on your own’ look. Tony looked down at his hands and sighed.
“Matilda, I was going to tell you.”
“When, Tony? When Happy had finished packing up everything and shipping it all away? I wasn’t even aware that you wanted to sell the building! I thought moving from Malibu to New York was going to be the last move?”
“It was going to be, but–”
“But what, Tony? Stark tower is my home, it’s where I have some of the best memories.” Her voice lowered as tears burned the corners of her eyes. “My dad made it a home for us. I’ll never have that again.”
Tony was stone faced as he stared at her. Pepper leaned over and placed a reassuring hand on Matilda’s arm. Tony was about to say something when someone came into the room and walked over to the glass wine cabinet and took out the bottle of champagne Tony had ordered. An ice bucket was wheeled over and the server popped open the bottle making everyone jump. He gave it to Tony to approve, who agreed with the sharp nod of his head, eager to get him out of the room. Once the bottle was placed in the ice bucket the waiter left and the three of them were alone again.
“I was going to tell you once the new compound was finished. I had every intention of telling you, but I was waiting for the right moment. It was supposed to be a surprise, then Happy had to go and ruin it.”
“Don’t blame this on Happy. He didn’t know.” Matilda leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “What if I don’t want to leave? What if I refuse?”
“Well, that’s just too bad because it’s already sold. We need to be out by the end of next month.” Tony’s voice was increasingly getting louder.
Matilda got quiet, letting the reality of the move set in. “Next month?” Her voice was low as the tears in her eyes betrayed her and fell down her cheeks.
“Aw kid, come on.” Tony let out a breath and ran his hand over his face. “I know it’s your home, and I’m glad the tower means that much to you. It makes me sad too, having to uproot you from what you’re used to, hell, it’s hard on me to sell it. But I did it for you kid. Once the Avengers officially formed, I knew that normal life for you and the crazy work we do couldn’t all live on one floor. I know you wanted to be separate from the crazy lives we live, so that’s why I built the compound upstate.”
Her hard demeanor and the drive in her to fight him over moving was softening at Tony’s confession. “You did it all for me? Why?”
“I promised your father when he first agreed to move here with me that if anything should happen, I would always take care of you, and I hope that I have. I know the superhero life that I was thrown into is something…”
“More like threw yourself into,” Pepper mumbled under her breath.
Tony gave her a blank look and shook his head at her as he started to speak again. “I know it’s hard on you. Seeing us go off and fight the bad guys and come home all beaten up. I know it takes a toll. At the compound you can have your own life with me still being able to protect you. Your quarters will be far away from the rest of the Avengers main stuff, but you’ll still be close enough for us to protect you.”
Matilda was starting to like the idea, but she wasn’t about to let Tony know yet. “I’m still mad.”
“We’re actually going up this weekend to take a look at it and finalize some details. Everyone should be almost moved in now.” Pepper said.
“Everyone?” Matilda questioned.
“The Avengers everyone. Were you not listening to me just now when I was talking?” Tony threw his arms up in the air in defeat. Matilda smiled a bit at his displeasure.
Before anyone could say anything else, April reappeared placing a basket of bread on the table. She pulled out her notepad ready to take their orders. Once their orders were placed, the conversation started back up again.
“So, everyone knows about it?” Matilda asked, taking a roll out of the steaming bread basket.
“The ones who have decided to stay, yeah. Bruce is still MIA, Barton left, and Thor will only be there to scope out the place. Apparently, he has important business to attend to back on Asgard. Then we have the new recruits. Rogers is going to start training them before they officially become part of the team.”
“New recruits?” Matilda asked, popping a piece of bread into her mouth.
“We’re giving Wanda a chance to prove herself. She saved our backs while fighting Ultron, and with losing her brother, Steve and I have decided to give her a chance. If she doesn’t work out, we’ll deal with it then.”
“And Vision?”
“He can wield Thor’s hammer. I think that in itself is enough to let him try out for the team.” Tony flexed his eyebrows at Pepper who was typing away on her phone and took a sip from his wine glass.
“Has Thor said anything about it? I’m sure seeing someone pick up the hammer has to put a dent in his ego.” Matilda smirked, as Thor’s face from that night came to mind. How shocked he was that someone other than him could pick it up.
“We’re going to talk about it this weekend when I’m up there.”
“You said we can all go? I would like to see the compound, if that’s okay.”
“Yeah, of course! We’ll make a weekend out of it!” Pepper interjected, putting herself back into the conversation.
Tony smiled at Pepper’s answer. Matilda was always amazed at how she could concentrate so intensely on her phone and still be actively listening to the conversation at hand. Two waiters brought in their food and they started to eat in silence. Matilda ran over what Tony had said. She would have her own space and be on her own for the first time in her life. She could manage her own space without heroes coming and going, nothing getting blown up or destroyed. She could have Steve over without the worry of Tony looming over her shoulder.
“You okay Till?” Tony asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
She put down her fork and watched as Tony wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin. “Yeah, why?”
“Because you have been twirling your fork in your pasta for the past five minutes,” Tony said laughing, finishing off his glass of wine.
Matilda smiled and blushed. Her cheeks grew warm with the rush of blood. “Oh, yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about what you said earlier.”
“What about it?” Tony poured himself another glass of wine, and topped Pepper’s glass off as well, finishing the bottle up.
“You said I would be separate from the compound?”
“Yeah, you’ll see what I mean when we get up there, but we basically have two main buildings where most of the operating stuff is going to be, but we do have soldiers there. A few men who we have to house to keep the government happy, but we have small housing buildings off to the side of the compound. I took the liberty in remodeling one of them for you, into your own small house. You’ll have all the best security, and everything within a few minute’s walk. I’ll have people there who I trust, and I’ll know you will be safe.”
Something in the way Tony was speaking, was making Matilda wonder if he would actually be there or not. “Yeah, but you’ll be there yourself, right?” Matilda asked.
“I’m not sure yet. I’m not sure where I’ll…we’ll be going,” he said, looking over at Pepper and placing his hand on top of hers.
“You’re not staying at the compound?”
“I don’t see a need to. Rogers is the real leader, and I trust him to make sure you’re okay. Plus, I made sure FRIDAY was installed in your house and she’ll report back to me, so it will be like I’m there.”
“But if you don’t like it, hun, you don’t have to stay. We’re not saying that you have to live there, we’re just giving you an option to be on your own if you want. You know Tony and I always love having you with us,” Pepper said.
“Pepper’s right. Plus, with you and Rogers dating now, it gives you time to be alone and not have everyone over your shoulder. But I’ll say this now Till, God help me, super soldier or not I will kick his ass into an ice cube again if he hurts you in any way.”
Matilda choked on her glass of wine as she blushed again, her neck and cheeks growing hot. “I…I… Uh…”
Tony laughed again. “You really think I don’t see how the old man looks at you? Till, I’m not naive. The two of you have been glued together since day one. It’s not hard to figure out.”
“And you’re not mad?”
“I’m not mad. You’re twenty-one. I’m not going to tell you how to live your life; with the trouble I got into when I was your age, I’m not one to throw stones.”
Pepper rolled her eyes at Tony, and Matilda thought she could actually hear how hard she rolled her eyes.
“Plus, I saw the two of you in bed together last night, so I know,” Tony said.
“You saw us?” She felt like she could melt in her seat and into the floor from embarrassment.
“I was going to check on you. It had been a very stressful few days, and I opened your door to see the two of you sleeping. And you’re lucky that was all I saw. Cap would have learned how to fly if I saw him doing anything else while in my house!”
“Tony! Oh my God, please stop talking.” Matilda hid her face in her hands. She wanted to die, or disappear or anything just to get away from the conversation.
“Tony, you’re embarrassing the poor thing,” Pepper said, placing her cloth napkin down on the table. “Why don’t you go pay the bill, and we’ll be down in a moment.”
Tony tried to say something else, but the look in Pepper’s eyes stopped him. Tony closed his mouth into a thin line and stood to leave. Once he left the room, Pepper turned in her seat so she was facing Matilda.
“I know I don’t really have the right to give you the birds and the bees talk, but I’m here if you want to talk. All I’ll say is to just be smart about your actions.”
Matilda looked up at her, horrified. “Pepper, he’s my best friend. I don’t even know how I feel about him yet, and already Tony has me in bed with him! I’m not a kid, first of all. I know all about the birds and the bees and how to use protection, but one day we were just friends, and the next he’s confessing that he loves me, and then he goes off to fight a killer robot that Tony made, and I’m left trying to grasp my feelings about that while also being scared out of my mind that that was the last time I was going to see him, and when he got back I was just so overwhelmed with relief that he was home again and everyone was safe that I didn’t want to be alone because I was scared I was just going to crash once I was by myself, and I asked him to stay, but he was going to leave, and now Tony thinks I’m sleeping with him.” She inhaled sharply, finally letting all of her thoughts and emotions that have been on her chest out. In the process she had realized that she hadn’t taken a breath, her lungs burning as she brought oxygen back into her body.
“Oh sweetheart, you don’t have to know right now. I’m sure you love Steve in your own way, and if you love him for more than a friend, that’s for you to figure out. But that’s the great thing about falling in love with your best friend, they won’t rush you to make a decision if it’s truly meant to be.”
Tears started to prickle and burn the corners of her eyes. Everything she had been holding onto over the past few days was finally out in the open and off her chest. She felt a moment of peace. She smiled at Pepper, who had pulled her into a hug. She had needed this talk, needed someone to reassure her that it was okay if she didn’t know how she felt yet about Steve, and that it was okay to take it slow. She had missed Pepper. While Tony felt like such a father figure in her life, she didn’t see Pepper as a mother, but more of a big sister. Love and appreciation flooded over her and she squeezed Pepper a bit tighter.
“Thanks, Pepper.”
“Any time, sweetheart. It’s what I’m here for.”
They pulled away, and Pepper gently wiped away a tear that had run down Matilda’s face. The two women smiled at each other, and Pepper got up from her seat, holding out her hand to Matilda to take. Matilda placed her hand in Pepper’s and stood up with her. Pepper circled her arm around Matilda’s waist and pulled her close to her, hip bumping her in the process.
“Come on, let’s not keep Mr. Nosey waiting anymore,” Pepper said.
Thyn'a Sindyrl remembered well the day that she hired her first retainer. She was still early in her adventures, yet to become a hero, yet to become a Dragoon and only just becoming a part of the Scions. She’d moved to Gridania after falling in love with the Twelveswood, and put her mercenary life behind her to join the Lancer’s guild. She was still fresh-faced in many ways at this point in her journeys.
After rescuing a retainer that had been sent on an Ill-conceived venture, Thyn'a met with the Retainer Vocate in Old Gridania’s market place. Parnell, a buxom Midlander with dark hair and eyes, was very helpful in walking her through the process of hiring her first retainer. As an Adventurer, a retainer’s salary would be covered by the Adventurers’ Guild, and they would provide recompense should anything go awry, such as said retainer disappearing and making off with her things. Parnell asked Thyn'a a few questions about what she needed in a retainer, and was told to return the next day to meet with the candidate she would be matched with.
Thyn'a spent the next twenty-four hours excited and nervous to meet her new companion. She’d dressed up in her best clothes for the meeting, which wasn’t much as she was still a pretty obscure adventurer of little renown at the time. A plain hole-free smock, with a pair of her least worn leathers. She wasn’t sure if it mattered, but it was a sort of business meeting and she thought it best to make a good first impression.
Thyn’a entered the markets via the Shaded Bower, the room bustling with many a Disciple of Hand and Land trying to make an honest gil, and Adventurers combing the market board for good deals on gear and potions.
The Roegadyn’s long strides brought her across the room in less than ten steps, and as the counter came closer, Thyn'a couldn’t help but notice the Elezen man that held Parnell’s attention. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his, though he and Parnell had yet to notice her presence. His eyes were a piercing ice-blue, more pure than the snowy plains of Coerthas, a color that she was very fond of, they were focused but kind as they graced Parnell with his gaze. He was handsome, with sun-kissed skin, his hair almost the same color as her own, a warm red-brown not unlike terracotta. it was straight and looked soft as it bounced behind him, pulled back into a knotted ponytail. His outfit was the usual affair for retainers, a garish bright blue with red sleeves and collar. A matching bowtie was wrapped ‘round his elegant neck. Dark fitted slacks adorned his long legs, tucked into white socks and matching dark gaiters. Thyn’a thought the outfit was atrocious personally, but he somehow still looked good in it. Though she had yet to glean any of their conversation, she could tell from both of their open and friendly postures that the chat was a pleasant one, like two friends catching up.
As Thyn'a approached, finally Parnell’s eyes were drawn away from her company and the Midlander smiled as recognition lit her eyes.
“Miss Sindyrl, Perfect timing!” Parnell’s voice was full of enthusiasm. “This Gentleman is the retainer candidate that we’ve chosen for you - Faustigeant!” she gestured towards the Elezen man, allowing him to introduce himself.
As the man’s eyes finally met her’s, Thyn'a was greeted with a look of surprise, quickly followed by a kind smile. He had been seated on the counter, leaning over as he spoke with Parnell, but now he pushed to his feet, rising to his full height. He was half a head shorter than her, but his confident open posture made her feel smaller. It wasn’t very often that Thyn'a felt small.
“Madam Sindyrl, how excited I have been to get to meet you.” Faustigent swept into a grand bow, his hand scooping up hers as he lowered his head to place his lips gently on her knuckles. He didn’t blink once while addressing her, and though it was a stereotypically Elezen gesture, Thyn'a still found herself wide-eyed and blushing as if she was a young maiden and not a battle hardened warrior.
“Ah-” Thyn’a gaped like a fish as he righted himself, gingerly letting go of her hand with a knowing grin. “I’m sorry, Faustigeant was it?” Thyn’a looked between the Elezen man and Parnell to confirm that she had gotten his name correctly, and when they both nodded she swooped into a polite bow of her own, hands folded in front of her as she did her best to stay calm and collected. “It’s very nice to meet you, Faustigeant.” she added quickly.
“Had Parnell told me I was to be employed by such a charming young lady, I might have just taken the job without pay.” Faustigeant chuckled, looking back at the Midlander, his gloved fingers thrumming along the counters’ hard top.
‘Young… Lady???’ Thought’s reeling, Thyn’a could feel the heat creeping across her face as she stood there unable to find any words. It wasn’t often she was flattered so much.
Parnell without missing a beat scoffed and retorted “You say that as if you’re sure Miss Sindyrl will want your services.” The Midlander raised a brow looking Faustigeant up and down as if she was sizing him up.
“Parnell you wound me. Have you no confidence in my skill as a retainer?” Faustigeant feigned hurt, a hand over his heart to emphasize the pain.
“O-oh! Of course I’m sure he’ll be a great retainer, I would be honored to have him in my service!” Thyn’a stepped forward closer to the desk, the disingenuity of his act completely lost on her as she spoke to Parnell. Both Parnell and Faustigeant paused in their bickering, seemingly shocked at the earnestness of her words. Silence followed between them for a moment, though they were still surrounded by the sounds of the market, crafters banging and clanging away at their inventions. Thyn’a, as invested in the moment as she was, could only hear her steady breaths and the sound of her fluttering heart.
Faustigeant’s face bloomed into a grin that Thyn’a couldn’t quite read and he once again moved close to her, searching her face for something before he spoke again
“I shall carry out milady’s wishes to the best of my ability.” It was a vow, spoken with such conviction Thyn’a felt as if she were a Queen being honored by her knight.
Thyn’a knew then very much that she’d had a crush on this man that she’d barely just met.
Parnell had quickly assured Thyn’a that she didn’t have to settle on the decision right then, and offered for them to chat a bit before signing the contract. Though Thyn’a was sure in her decision in the moment, she allowed herself to be whisked off by Faustigeant for a drink at The Roost, where they properly sat to discuss things.
Thyn’a found that Faustigeant was a polite man, while very flirtatious, he was also very professional. He had a good read of people and wouldn’t allow for his teasing to cross any boundaries. Faustigeant bought himself a strong ale, and Thyn’a a cup of tea, at her request, and they found themselves chatting well into the evening.
Thyn’a learned much about him that night. He was a Duskwight, though he managed to fly under the radar of discrimination as he didn’t look unlike most of Wildwood blood. He was born under the boughs of the Twelves’ Wood, though he lost what little family he had to the Calamity. Before becoming a retainer he was a caretaker at the Treespeak stables, so he was very good with chocobos and could assist her with her own as she was still getting the hang of caring for her feathered steed.
To her surprise Thyn’a found that he was also a Lancer, much like herself. he took up the lance as a means of protecting his beloved City-state, though he stopped short of becoming a Wood Wailer, or joining the Twin Adders as he didn’t feel he was serious enough for the conscripted life of a soldier. Being a retainer allowed him a much less rigid life, and he looked forward to traveling alongside her and being able to be of service to someone that was willing to also fight for his homeland.
It was well into the evening before they realized the time, and Faustigeant offered to allow her to retire to her room at the inn, but as it was not yet so late that the Retainer Vocate would be closed she insisted that they go finish their paperwork to make the partnership official.
