Maybe in my Spartan!Reader x Horus fic I requested you could also change canon a bit so that Horus’ decision to turn to Chaos wasn’t so 1-dimensional and badly thought through? Just saw your post about Horus being your least favourite Primarch and while personally he is my favourite Primarch I do agree on how confusing his reasoning for turning to Chaos was and not simply leading a coup against big E without pledging his soul to some psychic parasites he’s known for 5 seconds.
Heeey—— thank you for your ask and for your trust, even when you saw that post. Truth is, my feeling about Horus has largely changed to,, Euh,, indifference I guess, but more leaning to the good side. ^_^ so I have tried my best to fulfil your ask, but I didn’t do it in headcannons, because I think longer pieces of writing would do it more justice. I wanted to finish it all today, but I was busy and now I’m really sleepy, so I wrote as much as I could, and will finish it off tomorrow. I hope there isn’t any issues with the gender neutrality of this piece,,, because my brain is super tired… but I had fun writing it. Hope you like it!
Horus Lupercal X Warrior GN! Reader (1/2)
Looking back, you two’s first meeting could probably fit into some M2 era’s dramatic romance novel without looking odd.
It was a hard fight against a group of malicious Xenos who sought human out as slaves. It became harder, because you and your fellow soldiers were tasked with evacuating friendly human locals to safe zones. Though finely trained you lot were - for all of you came from the planet named Agoge, a world famed for one thing: birthing highly trained infantry forces that were the best amongst mortal soldiers - but the Xenos’ attack was relentless, and ever acute to the changes of the battlefield, you soon realised that something needed to be done to make sure these civilians could make it to the end.
“We need a divergence.” You voiced what was on your mind, and probably your comrades’ mind too.
“Yes, we do, but——“ the softest amongst you quickly chipped in, so that the conversation wouldn’t be lead to the uncomfortable topic of drawing lots. But you never planned to let that happen, for you already decided.
“I will be the divergence.” You declared, while snatching a piece of red fabric from a civilian, because the xenos were most sensitive to the colour red. “I will lead them away.”
And so it was decided, because no one could argue with you. They all knew that once your mind was on something, you would see it through, even if you had to crawl through it.
So you jumped out of cover, and in that moment you felt no fear. You shouted to catch their attention, you danced, and soon they followed, and all that was left to do was run.
You ran, feeling the wind pushing you forward. You remembered the age old myth of Atlanta, the girl who outran all her suitors. Perhaps, if you could run as fast as her, you would get out of this alive? But alas, you were no hero of past myth, and despite being the best fighter of your generation, you eventually became exhausted.
Legs heavy, breathing laboured, you kept going. The red fabric wrapped around your wrist still flowed, and in your blurred vision, it looked like a flame.
Keep going. You told yourself. Keep going.
After passing through countless impossible threshold, you collapsed. As you lay on the ground, legs too weak to stand back up, you watched the approaching xenos.
You would not cower. You would not turn away. You made your choice, so you would face death——
But he came. Catching everyone out of guard, a towering figure jumped out of a descending aircraft. He landed just in front of you, the white of his armour burning your eyes. He swung a great sword that made short work of the now cowering xenos, and when he was done, he turned to you.
Extending his hand, Horus Lupercal, the first and most brilliant son of the Emperor, smiled at you. Just the sight of it restored vigour in your body.
“(Honorific Address), may I have the privilege of helping you up?”
Everything flowed smoothly from there. Impressed by your courage and resilience, Horus uplifted you from the uncounted billions of Imperial soldiers, and kept you by his side.
You of course understood that it was a move more motivated by politics than genuine need for companionship. Horus needed the favours of the Imperial bureaucrats, and what could get the job done faster than including a mortal within his circle? You were not hurt by this, because it was honour enough to be able to stay near him, and to be very honest, you never imagined more.
Yet, what if life, and Horus, if not unpredictable?
After going through another charade of diplomacy, you and Horus had some time to spend it together. Standing beside him, you felt how small he made you feel. Not really physically, because the people of Agoge were all tall, but mentally, you felt overpowered by his aura.
So you failed to keep your words in.
“That was really boring.” You said it out loud. Then your face burned, because you realised how impulsive and childish that was.
Surprisingly, Horus didn’t rebuke you. He laughed, nodding. “Yes, I could agree to that, (YN). Bureaucracy drives me mad, and I’m sorry I have to drag you through it too.”
“Not at all, Lord.” You bowed hastily. “I feel honoured to be of service to you.”
“There is no need for the formality, now that there are only us.” Horus waved his hand at you. “Now, since we have quite a bit of free time at hand, why don’t you tell me more about yourself? I don’t want to keep on saying you are just a brave soldier I rescued from the field.”
Of course you told him. You told him all about your life, the Agoge, your traditions, everything. You witnessed Horus laugh, you witnessed Horus showing genuine interest, and the intimacy of this interaction filled your heart with something stronger than respect. Your mind wandered after that, imagining what it would be if there was something more.
As it turned out, Horus somehow had the same idea. Your interactions soon expanded beyond formal occasions, and sometimes, you wondered, if the seed of that bloody future had already been sown, when you two were just complaining and jesting the mortal governments of the Imperium. But you were submerged by his charisma back then, laughing and enjoying too much to think about where this could lead.
Life was good then, until it wasn’t.
