character(s): tighnari, kaeya, diluc, childe, heizou, kazuha, albedo (bonus: thoma ft. the kamisato family)
β note: reader is gender neutral unless specified otherwise! β
tags: fluff, comfort, teyvat metro au, fun facts about common ailments (don't worry, they're just common things, they aren't described in horribly gross details),
warnings: mentions or minor display of blood (childe, kazuha), pet name: "baby" (childe), pet name: "lovey" (kazuha), story spoiler that's been alternated to fit the teyvat metropolis au (kazuha), pet name: "pumpkin" (albedo), pet name: "babe" (thoma)
authorβs note: guys i've been suffering the past month with infections and colds, and in the month that I've descended several layers of pain as if they were the circles of hell, I've officially become a certified heizou simp.
god, it's so clear who I clearly favorite more than the other in this post...
it's that time of year when everyone falls ill (despite the care that they give to their bodies). so, how does your boyfriend for you in such dark times?
π³ tighnari [acute otitis externa] (infection in outer ear canal)
"and what did i say about using q-tips everyday?" the fox says reprimandingly in a soft tone and disappointedly sighs with drooping ears as he pats down on his bed, pointing to your head before pointing to the pillow.
you couldn't help it. for the past few days, it felt really good to scratch those itches at the very start of your earhole every so often. and sometimes you scratched it too hard, so you took another one of those cursed white cotton-tipped sticks and wet it with waterβonly to dive back in and "soothe" the pain. and eventually, you decided to scratch deeper into your ear, but not more than 3 centimeters in.
little did you know that not only would you heavily irritate your ear's canals by doing that, but allow any outside bacteria to say "hey, that part of (y/n)'s body is looking extra scrumptious today..." for the most part, 'nari noted that it's not good to use q-tips every day, and in general, never at all. all it really does is push your earwax further down your ear. sure, feels niceβbut it's more harm than good.
your ear is on goddamn fire. your earlobe is comparable to the color of the packaging on a red bottle of painkillers resting atop the bedside table, and you swear that the pressure building in your ears will make your head explode. understanding the gestures of tighnari, a well-known pharmacist in the sumeru district of teyvat metropolis, you lay on your side and adjust your head on the memory foam pillow in his apartment. trying not to focus on the pain, and rather, on the fox-fellow's question, you answer with the acknowledgment that you, in fact, shouldn't have used so many or scratched at your ear with them.
the pharmacist pulls out a tiny bottle of eardrops, which he holds with only his pointer finger and his thumb as he quickly unscrews the cap.
"i made this prescription with the orders given by your doctor. it's not going to burn, but it may feel like your ear is going through a freezer. you will need to lay with it in your ear for quite a few minutes..." 'nari explains while scooting closer as he adjusts his grip and leans forth, with one hand on the bottle and the other resting near your face on the sheets.
"hold still for me. if it makes you feel any better, you can hold my hand."
crying from the headache, you close your eyes and sniffle as you embrace the cold droplets of medicine running down your ear canal and filling up the crevices of infection. for just a second, everything in your body feels just as cold as the droplets, and you're startled by how chilly it feelsβyou grip 'nari's hand for some support. although you can't see him through closed eyes, his fluffy ears droop slightly as he wrinkles his brows, just wishing for you to be in the least amount of pain possible.
"you're doing great," he nods, smiling and sighing with creased eyebrows as he wiped your tears awayβwhile finally pressing a kiss to your forehead and caressing the top of your head with his thumb. "just make sure to heed my advice next time, and let me know if anything else begins to hurt, alright?"
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
βοΈ kaeya alberich [pyrexia] (fever (due to exhaustion))
he with sigh and chuckles. "you always complain how my hands are freezing whenever you want to hold themβbut now you're begging for me to rest one on your head as if I'm some sort of deity?"
you groan out, weakly flailing a hand out in the direction of kaeya's voice to search for his hand in the darkness of your closed gaze. you're not in the mood for kaeya's ever-so-teasingly and slightly sly comments, and just want everything to be closer to the apex of human homeostasis. everything hurts. why is the world so mean? why is your work so mean? even kaeya is a little salty that they're giving you tasks with such harsh and quickly-upcoming deadlines while you're sick. everything feels too hot, even when you've got only one thin blanket draped over your body. mumbling out a few words, you can only express your desire for something cold.
"you can use my hand as a cooling pad..." he begins to explain with a chuckle, "... only if you can promise to stop staying up late working and drink water instead of drinking coffee or those energy drinks from the convenience store down the block."
while you groan in defeat, disappointment, and understanding, kaeya stands up to wash his hands in the bathroom sink of your master bedroom, quickly drying off his hands with a towel as he takes his seat once again on the same wooden stool that he just rose from.
"work can wait. that's why you have co-workers to help you when you're not thereβ" he reassures, cracking his hand before gently resting the back of his palm on your forehead to simply check your temperature, before, rotating it to cusp over the entire surface gently with his fingers. you melt in the freezing temperature of his body heat.
although you don't know what he looks like, you can feel the cloth of his loose lounge shirt tickle your wrist as he decides to readjust from the stool to sit on the bed right by you. you smile weakly at the touch and sound of the creaking frame, and he too reciprocates unknowingly to you. although he is cocky, he does it because he loves you. although it pains him slightly to see you in such a state, he puts the fact that you need to prioritize your health above anything else.
"make sure to let me know if my hand only ends up making you feel warmer. we don't want you to literally become a baked potato, now, do we?"
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
π₯ diluc ragnvindr [myalgia] (muscle pain)
"come on, sit up. let's see... hmmm... did you injure yourself again carrying something, or did you fall asleep in an awkward position?"
whatever your answer is, if it is one of the two propositions from aboveβdiluc would respond with:
"you know, if you keep doing that, you'll end up with worse posture than those wavy balloon men at the gas station," and then proceed to immediately come over and press his warm hands against the skin for 20 seconds to a minute before digging his thumbs and rubbing them in circles just the right amount into your skin to provide some sort of relief.
if it's not, whether it be stiffness in the neck from a hunch, soreness in the shoulders from awful posture, cramps from a period, diluc will always say:
"tell me where it hurts, then."
nope, not even a question of "where does it hurt," just a commandment and promise that he will do everything in his power to make you feel better. when your muscles ache that bad, he'll bring over a bucket of hot water and some small and smooth rags to drape over your affected area(s). diluc, although he's not a man for active conversation, can still analyze pain points from just a glance with you. there have many times when you just haven't complained about the problem, but he has taken note of the problem and mutters how much he doesn't want to keep seeing you in pain like this. being one of the richest men in the entire district (and is one of the most affluent in the city) has its perks, so he's thinking about finding one of the best people in the city to come and give you a diagnosis while hiring someone else to temporarily soothe the pain.
"i've yet to find a standby masseuse to treat you when I'm working. how about calling up...βwhat? you don't want a masseuse...?" he asks, tilting his head confusedly as he works his way into your muscles.
"... fine," he sighs, pulling you slightly closer to him and kissing your cheek. "but I can only massage you in the mornings and late evenings due to work. if your soreness becomes a problem during the high noon, so I can fetch an attendant to come and assist you."
"you have to let me know... can you do that for me?" he shudders, taking his arms and wrapping them around your waist while resting his head gently on your shoulder. "i trust you," he begins, his gaze fluttering to yours. "βbut i cherish you too dearly to let you suffer with this hardship on your own."
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
π³ childe [minor abrasion] (accidental arm scrape)
"how did you manage your scrape your arm like this?" he asks, chuckling as he takes a gander at the underside of your armβwhich trickles a stream or two of blood and bears some scraped skin that parts to the sides. "don't tell me you got into a battle with the table, now."
you shrug and shudder when he gently presses his thumb on the edges of your inflamed skin. again with the sly ass comments. in your defense, cleaning the dining room table shouldn't be that hard, but you tripped on accident and scraped your entire arm on the corner of the mahogany furniture piece. it stings a bit, but it isn't too deep in, thankfully. with care, he takes your other hand and replaces it with hisβwhich is the one propping up your arm in midair.
"go take a seat on the couch while I go grab some bandages," he states before heading down to the hallway's bathroom. you oblige to his orders, adjusting your arm so your blood doesn't drip all over the floor as you approach the soft cushions in the living room.
ten seconds pass, and you hear the soft and nimble footsteps of childe's stride getting louder, looking at his white and gray-toed cloth socks contrast with the polished wooden floors of your cozy home. taking in the scent of his cologne, your eyes drag from the floor up to his hands carefully unwrapped a tiny alcohol towelette.
"it shouldn't get infected that easily, but it's better to be safe than sorry. grip my arm if it the pain is too much," he says, carefully dabbing at the edges to clean the dried red rivulets on opposite sides of your arm.
it doesn't hurt, and yesβyou were cleaning to clear your mind before attempting to search for a newfound inspiration. after a few seconds of ajax occasionally pecking you on the wrist as he wipes, he inches slightly closer to the wound, focused on his handiwork rather than how your nails dig into his arm.
"i know it stings, baby. after i'm done bandaging you, I'll give you as many kisses as you want, sound like a deal?"
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
π shikanoin heizou [acute tussis] (coughing)
"oh my... that cough of yours is getting heavier by the dayβyou remembered to wear a jacket on our tour with the general at watatsumi, didn't you?"
nope. in fact, you did not bring a jacket. in fact, you're so used to the hot desert-like weather in the sumeru hiking area that you still feel like everything is always too warm in the fallβyou just happened to forget to bring your coat on the one day you left from taking private investigation jobs near the city. curse the city weather for actually being on time. damn the water making everything cold. watatsumi park is so pretty, but you swear, getting sick like this is a hindrance to the agency, considering how being heizou's partner literally doubles and lessens the load for incoming cases. sure, maybe your co-workers are slightly happy that they'll actually get a chance to take a case before you and mister no. 1 detective do, but they still show an ounce of sympathy for your declining health.
although you are an investigator, most of your work is closer to a lawyer than an actual detectiveβa perfect match for the tenryou forces. it's a job that can doesn't require a lot of adventuring that may risk your health, and lets you help people in your own sort of way at the front.
your gaze drops to the floor with an awkward chuckle, following with a negative reply to heizou that you forgot to bring something warm. he sighs, clicking his tongue and creasing his eyebrows with a head shake.
"you may have done outstanding in your most recent court trial, however, you must not disregard your own body in spite of your achievements."
he sighs, pushing in a stray chair to the white marbled island counter while taking a small, plastic box out of the fridge with colored orange-beigesque paste insideβon the front, reading "miso paste."
"i'll get the water boiling so i can make some soup for the both of us. in the meantime, i will go grab a bunch of warm blankets so you can curl up on the couch and relax. if you want cough medicine, it's in the fridge. i recall how you didn't like the naku weed flavor from last time, so instead, i bought another bottle of a different flavor that i thought you might like at a shop in ritou."
the detective's ever-so-observant, as always. not even three days after you've returned, he's made sure to prepare some remedies so you feel like you can take on the world, like he knows you can do. he holds the stove dial for a second, listening to the ticking of the burner before rotating it just a smidge.
"when you feel as though your health is improving, we can go eat wherever you wish to celebrate of our accomplishments."
"please stay in bed," he mutters, approaching with a baby blue facemask covering half his face and a bowlβblack on the outside, and red on the inside, all with an inversely-colored spoon to ladle your soup with.
he only says this since you tried to get up. your body feels heavy, and kazuha can tell just by the way you take off the blankets and walk like an old grandparent. it's like the world decided to take 250% of your body weight and split it between two invisible boxes, and then balance them on your shoulders. everything feels like a cold, but worse. but not worse than pneumonia kind of bad. sure, you're hacking up a congestion storm, sniffling as though you got out of the worst rain weather imaginable, and shaking like you've stepped off of dragonspine, but at least you're not whooping up any blood.
"you need not worry, lovey, pleaseβlay down. i have called up your company and have already reported that you have covid. with the new work law in our district, they are granting you an extended paid sick leave," he explains, pulling up a tv tray and propping it up over your lap.
carefully, he blows on the soup through his mask (like a silly goose) and sets it down on a stone coaster. it smells slightly salty, but doesn't quite have that gentle scent like miso does. it's light, and has a couple of tiny seaweed squares soaked in the soup. chicken broth, perhaps? if you like eggs, the entire soup blankets ropes of the fluffily-stirred ingredient.
kazuha's love language is through his gestures. when he was homeless after escaping from the tenryou police for a crime he didn't commit, he developed a more profound sense for appreciating the small gestures for others. although he had no home, strangers in smaller towns or standalone homes were more than happy to house the wandering fellow for a night from the storming rain. he loved all things about nature; however, it's much more difficult to appreciate the natural world in drenched clothes. so, thanks to that, he chooses now to reciprocate even the smallest things for you. started off with you kissing him on the cheek, and eventually, he would give you one back. if you brought him food one day, he'd bring your favorite dessert the next day on his way home from work.
and lately, you've been worrying yourself sick over your co-workers and the most recent project results that you must have not paid any mind to your coughing teammate in the elevator, even after they reported their illness. and more importantly, how does kazuha even remember the cell # and extension to contact your supervisor? you complain sometimes about how much work your boss (yae miko) is giving you, whether it's about marketing and calculations, printing, writing, or even cover art.
you smile, nodding and whispering a "thank you" before sinking the spoon beneath the food's surface. you watch the edges flow in (and if you like it, the fluffy egg strands) with a seaweed square. kazuha smiles back, takes his two fingers and presses them over his lipsβkissing them before gently touching your cheek with the same digits. you giggle at the caution of his action, but also at his magnanimous gestures.
"hm? was giving you an 'indirect' kiss like that too goofy for you? if that happens to be true, I shall depart for just a moment to go grab you a small bowl of rice and the little mini-projector so we can watch some anime together, is there anything else you want?"
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
βοΈ albedo [hemicrania] (migraine)
"hello, uh, it's me, pumpkinβ" he mutters, quietly creaking the door open.
you whimper loudly at the blinding light that meets you, even when your eyes are shut tightly trying to try and rid of this stupid migraine that pounds at your head. this is your first time getting one in yearsβso why does it come to bite you in the ass on your only free day?
"i had no knowledge of what would be better for you... so, logically, i brought a couple of medicinal pills, along with an ice packβwhich one would you like?"
"both," you curtly reply, wanting to cry from the pain. but actively draining your body of any waterβespecially from your eyeholesβwould merely obliterate whatever sanity and pain tolerance you currently have left.
you hear his boots quietly across the floor, knowing that he's getting closer just from hearing the rustling of his soles up against the rug beside your side of the bed. although you can tell that he's right next to you, he places the back of his palm on your head, lifting and setting something glass on your bedside cabinet.
he hums observantly. quietly, he mumbles: "how much does it hurt?"
where do you even start? you can't even think, but if you were able to put it into wordsβit's like having awful tv static assaulting your eyeballs while you're getting slapped across the face repeatedly. why does your brain have to be "asleep," and not... like... your leg, or something?
"too much to even give a response, huh?" he asks, sighing sadly as he gets on his knees to kiss you on the forehead, before gently retracting back. "that's quite alright, then."
desensitized to other sensory effects, he whispers gently in your ear.
"let me know when you wish to take your medicine," he remarks, removing his hand as he puts the soft and icy jello-consistency receptacle atop your head. "squeeze or tap my hand, and I will be more than happy to help you take it, if needed."
βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌβ³βΌ
π§Ή thoma ft. the kamisatos [syncope] (passing out/fainting)
{dedicated to @mako-yaki}
"hey, uh, babe? you look like you're drifting in and out of sleep every other few seconds... do you want to take a break real quick?"
being a port worker is hard.
seriously, like, it's fall coming onto winterβand everyone's dressed too warmly. how is everyone gone? seven team members, and you are the only one left for commission. thoma and you are the only ones around. but... good thing you're with your boyfriend. you wouldn't have minded being alone, but knowing yourselfβyou would simply just be complaining the entire time. although he's on official business to check the quality of the newest shipment for Inazuma's winter festival has been shipped, you still smile despite your fatigue. you feel like falling, but your head feels lighter than air. why does the sky look brighter, but your hands look darker... whatever, you just need to hold out for another hour, and then you can take your off-days to sleep.
"uhm... earth to (y/n), are you feeling okay?β" he'd ask, before watching you drop your clipboard and collapse in the middle of the dock.
-//-
opportunely and untimely at the same time, it seems as though ayato and ayaka were coming in together from their separate businesses from different locations. as they spotted thoma, ayato spotted your swaying figure and how you kept shaking your head vigorously over and over (it was mostly to wake yourself up, but it seemed to prove otherwise).
ayato cocks an eyebrow in confusion.
"what are (y/n) and thoma talking about? is it about our request for mister zhenyu and calx's presence at the upcoming festival?"
ayato shakes his head, crossing his arms as his pure-refrigerator white coattails flap in the gentle sea breeze. "no, i asked thoma to check on the newest shipment of butter crab for tomorrow's feast. from the last time i heard, i put him in such a tight 'pickle' that not only could he buy any crab anywhere, but he also went hunting for the crab himself."
ayaka laughs as she folds her fan in, her eyelids closing as her lashes flutter, and her complexion flushes a very light pink.
"oh, you know him brotherβas he says..." ayaka says, raising her hand and pretending to gesture a strong arm. "'if there's a will, there's a way!'"
"yes, he is quite the... character..." ayato remarks, keeping his eyes on your body, which sways ever so slightly. "ayaka, why does (y/n) look like they're about to fall overβ" he inquires just a second too late as ayaka.
"babe!" thoma ignores your clipboard, but catches you on your descent down to the splintery wooden bolsters of planks, cushioning your fall carefully as he quickly hoists you into his arms.
ayaka stops in her tracks, while ayato comes running over, swiftly picking up the clipboard. he scans over it in a flashβquestioning why all your team members have called out for the past week. ayato, flashing thoma a swift glance, checks your vitals without taking a second to interrogate or ask any questions. your heartbeat seems normal, but taking your palm in his hand, he feels a bead of your sweat trickle down his pointer finger. waiting about ten seconds, ayato huffs a breath and sighs a bit of relief.
"get them to the international trade association's guest room immediately. I'll be off to have a word with the harbormaster right now," he orders, nodding in unison with thoma, who resupports your weight while picking up his pace. as they run, thoma looks to ayaka. "milady, could you run ahead and let kurisu know that we're coming? prepare a couple of towels and fetch some extra pillows too."
"right!" ayaka says, speeding off in the direction of the trade association, while ayato speedwalks towards the ritou goods warehouse.
thoma, heart racing, and adrenaline rushing through his veins like the incoming afternoon tide, mutters through hasty breaths: "you'll be okay soon, (y/n)..."
[ ... ]
"hey..." you hear in your quivering consciousness from what seems to be a worried lady. everything's black... you probably should have paid more attention to your condition.
"shhh, don't be so loud... don't... them to wake..." you also hear, a familiar deep timbre resonating in a mixed quiet reminding whisper.
you groan, letting your eyes flicker shut and open for a couple of seconds, absorbing the time to blink. everything's so bright... and everything feels so soft... dazed, you note the light blue blob darker blue-headed blob dressed in white... pink, and bluer splotches painted among a brown and tatami-green backdrop, alongside a red, black, and white blob with what looks like low-resolution blurry hayneedles for hair.
"hello, (y/n)? how are you feeling?" you hear a female's voice pipe up. she shudders in the tone of her voice as she carefully holds your left hand in a soft towel.
"... who is that?"
"that's ayaka, babe. i'm thoma, and her older brotherβayatoβis also here."
"... sorry, yeah... i knew that. i'm just... dizzy..."
ayato props a hand behind your back, and you realize that your feet and head are slightly higher than your torso. helping you up with careful deliberation, he smiles as he holds out a glass of water. "drink a little bit of water if you're going to keep talking."
carefully tilting the glass, you part your lips to slowly take in at least half the glass. hot meeting cold feels like heaven settling within your body.
"don't be sorry about something like this, we all care a lot for you! we're going to stay here until you are in a better condition to return home."
"i got your supervisor to suspend your activities for the next two weeks. hehe, they too will be suspended from their duties for the next two weeks."
"(y/n), we all want the best for you, so just let us know if you need anything," ayaka remarks, smiling as she watches thoma caressing your cheek to her right.
"please don't overwork yourself like this until you break. if you don't tell me next time, you'll break my heart."
Youβre my best friend now. You canβt fucking take me back. Youβre stuck with me.
At the hand in his gloved one, Heisenberg tenses, screwing up his face, and stares at the joining for a moment. Then, he laughs at the absurdity and waits for the moment to pass so he might get on with his...tasks.
But it doesn't.
And there's a brief moment of panic as the Lycan commander realizes you're serious.
"That's not...how...this fucking works," he hisses, trying to shake the you off.
βNo. Weβre best friends.β Checking her nails on her other hand, whistling lightly.
βWe should totally paint our nails the same color! Iβm thinking black, whatcha think?β Sheβs just gonna scoot closer, grinning like a damn fool.
Your heart was pounding in your chest as you all surrounded the camp. The only thing between the Van Der Linde gang and safety was a river to town. Theyβd be dumb to cross it, especially since you made sure to have some girls bring their lassos. Liu was stationed over at the other side of the river, staring down her scope. You saw the gang slowly begin to come out of their tents, guns in hand as they tried to appear intimidating.
βMadam.β Dutch spoke towards Vivian, using the nickname she gave to everyone. You glanced towards Vivian, who tensed at the sight of him.
βVan Der Linde.β She spat, obviously angry he even spoke her nickname. She adjusted Gypsy, seeing her getting a bit uncomfortable. Everyone stared at one another, the tense air becoming thicker by the moment.
βWe can do this the easy way.β Vivian said as she pointed her gun towards him.
βBut I know you wonβt want that. Youβre stubborn like thatβ¦β She hissed, which caused him to sneer lightly, his cigar drifting over to the side of his mouth. He lifted his ringed hand to remove it, exhaling smoke.
βYou all must think youβre smart, but youβve caged a beast. You know what happened the last time you did that.β He said, reminding Vivian of the massive loss of life she had years ago.
βYou bastardβ!β She hissed before hearing a shot ring out. Your heart stopped for a moment, trying to figure out who shot first. You glanced at Pride and saw that a bullet hole was lodged in her shoulder, causing her to fall off of Sunshine. After that, the bloodshed began. Bullets flew and everyone was beginning to move out towards the city. Dutch and his boys were running to get them away from camp while Vivian followed with those who could. Pride yelled in pain as you dragged her behind a tree, helping to shield her. Peppercorn was gone, spooked by the gunshots, so there was no exit. You hid and tried to stop the bleeding by using your bandana. Before you could do anything, she passed out from the pain.
βHeyβ¦ Hey! Wake up, Pride! Come on, Madam needs us!β You cried, trying to convince her to wake up and say something witty towards you. You feared the worst, but you continued to wrap her up. You were almost done before feeling something hit the back of your head. In your blurry vision, you could see Prideβs pale complexion and a man with blonde hair looming over you. After that, everything went black.
You woke to the sound of hoofs hitting the ground and wheels slowly turning with them. You were rocking to a steady rhythm, until there was a jolt that knocked your head against the bottom of the wooden panels. Your blurry eyes opened, peering around to see your surroundings. You luckily saw Pride, bandaged and tied, which made you reach for her. You struggled a bit, feeling yourself bound. Glancing back, you could see the tips of your fingers and felt the rope tightly binding your hands together. You could hear someone talking, an older voice, mentioning to someone that bringing you two along would only upset Madam and cause her to look for you. Thatβs when you heard Van Der Linde.
βDonβt worry, Hosea. I have a plan with these two. Theyβre not like the other ones who chased us out of the city. Thanks to Micah, theyβre nice and safe back there. Weβll get them to talk about their boss.β He said as Hosea sighed loudly. You managed to wiggle around and land on your back, though your hands protested by shooting a sharp pain through you. You hissed in pain, managing to move yourself to sit next to Pride. She looked pale and like she was in pain, but you couldnβt do anything about it. You were powerless to help the only person you really cared for. Your older sister had protected you so many times, but you couldnβt protect her. You exhaled through your nose and looked out the wagon. You could see the snow that had fallen onto the ground and the rocky formations. You knew you were a long ways from Blackwater. You couldnβt relax, especially knowing you were stuck with the Van Der Linde gang. They were probably going to kill you, that much was certain, but you didnβt expect them to let you freeze to death. You shivered lightly and looked towards Pride, seeing her lips were slowly turning blue. She was freezing. Her before you, thatβs how you would start this.
βHey!β You yelled, kicking your feet to make noise. You felt the wagon stop suddenly, causing you and Pride to hit the wood you leaned against. You heard grumbling and then the familiar blue-green eyes met with yours.
βWhat the hell are you doinβ?β He hissed as you glared at him.
βTryinβ to get your damn attention. My sister is freezing.β You said, watching him scoff. Arthur glanced towards Pride closer before he began to grumble again. He disappeared, which made you sigh lightly from defeat. They really were planning on freezing you and Pride. You expected the wagon to begin moving, but was surprised to hear footsteps approach once more.
βHere. Got yβall some blankets. We got no coats, so youβre gonna have to deal with this.β He said as he climbed in, wrapping the blankets around you and Pride. Though you knew Arthur Morgan to be a cold and horrid killer, he actually attempted to help you, and help you he did. You immediately felt better and you leaned closer to Pride, noticing him checking her wound.
βSheβd be mad if she knew you were this close.β You mumbled, hearing a faint chuckle under his breath.
βYeah, wellβ¦ She really ainβt gonna be happy when she sees where she is. Now, I canβt stop again, so donβt be kickinβ. If you need somethinβ, just wait. Weβre almost to camp.β He said and went to leave.
βHey, Morgan!β You called, seeing him about to disappear. You saw him looked down and his shoulders slack as he looked back towards you.
βThank you.β Your tone wasnβt antagonizing or anything, it was sincere. You want him to know just how thankful you were. He probably saved your sisterβs life. He gave you a small smile and then disappeared once more. This time, the wagon began to move and you were jolted forward at the feeling. You looked towards Pride, whoβs head had fallen towards yours, and propped your head on her shoulder.
βWeβll be ok, Prideβ¦β You mumbled softly, tears finally filling your eyes. You were really far from home and you almost lost your sister. Your emotions were crashing.
You adjusted your hair, pulling your locks back away from your neck. Youβd need a haircut, it was getting way too long. You glanced at yourself in the nearby window, pushing a start lock away before going towards Peppercorn. You could see Pride putting a sack on the back of Sunshine. She was obviously pissed, you could feel the absolute rage radiating off of her. You slowly made your way over, the mud coating your boots while you tried to make it towards you sister. She strapped the bag tightly, causing Sunshine to huff at her.
βShut up, princess. You know that ainβt hurtinβ you.β She chuckled and reached over to pat her nose, having her spirits lifted by Sunshineβs behavior. A fireball, just like her owner. You knew Pride had her reasons for being the way she was, but you just wished you didnβt had to be the adult a lot of the time. Now, she would protect you with her life, but you were the sly talker. You could get anyone out of a noose if they gave you enough time. Pride was action, while you were talk. The perfect opposites, but you were normally the one having to cover for Pride and her antics.
βPride.β You started, causing her to quickly glance towards you.
βI handed out all the fliers.β You told her, making her nod.
βGood. I found a damn tambourine for the baby. Guess we should head back.β She said, mounting Sunshine. You mounted Peppercorn, but soon reached out to pat Prideβs shoulder.
βThank you for not shooting him, Pride. That time will come, I promise.β You said, seeing her shift lightly and look towards you.
βYeah, wellβ¦ I know you donβt like to fight without the others. Even though I wanted to shoot his brains out, I held back for you.β She responded and smiled towards you, reaching over to yank your hat over your eyes. You heard her laugh lightly as you struggled to pull it up and adjusted it.
βCome on, Joy. Letβs get back.β She teased and turned Sunshine to proceed down the road towards the camp. You clicked your tongue, signaling Peppercorn to follow, which he does. You catch up to your sister, seeing her concentrating on riding.
βWeβll probably go hunting tonight.β She said after a few moments of silence, causing you to glance over.
ββ¦ Are we hunting them?β You asked, obviously not sure if hunting meant for lower bounties or for the gang youβve searched far and wide for. You knew they were there, you just had to get to them before they got away again.
βProbably. Especially since we saw them, weβll go hollering and lure them out.β She explained, seeing the rocks beginning to appear around where it marked the entrance of your camp.
βWhoβs all going?β
βEveryone. Weβre gonna try and finish it.β With that, you two entered the camp. You just hopped Vivian knew what she was doing. If this costed more of your sistersβ lives, you were sure how much longer you could take hunting. You stopped Peppercorn near the hitching post, being sure to lined right next to Sunshine before sliding off. Peppercorn was attached to Sunshineβs hip, even if she hated it. He was like when annoying little brother, so he had to be close to her or heβd cause a fit. You gently brushed him, getting some of the mud off of him before feeding him a peppermint, seeing him excitedly smile for it. His upper lip was raised to show his teeth, obviously wanting to peppermint. You laughed, gently handing it to him.
βThere you go, boyβ¦β You said softly and grabbed the items. You had to distribute them before you went for your hollering later on.
After informing Vivian of seeing Hosea Matthews and Arthur Morgan in town, she was determined. Alina gently handed everyone a bowl of her jack rabbit stew, allowing them to get their energy up. She went back to her tent, going to adjust a few things before eating herself. You laughed lightly as you sat around the camp fire, retelling stories of funny bounties you had. Brigit whittled a bit, looking a bit lost in thought towards the fire. It was Yolanda who noticed her a bit farther away from the group, which made her whistle to grab her attention. It did and it grabbed everyone elseβs too.
βAy! Brigit! Come join us!β Yolanda called, patting the log next to her. Brigit sneered lightly and looked down towards her woodwork.
βNo.β She said gruffly, causing Yolanda to scoff and turn back.
βDonβt take it too hard, kid. She gets like that before a big hunt.β You said and offered her a small smile, causing her to snicker.
βWell, I guess thatβs why you exile her!β She laughed, causing the others to join in. Pride took a sip of her beer, obviously listening but distracted. She wasnβt like Brigit, however, she was right with you all. She just wanted to kill Morgan. You could see the determination.
βLadies.β Vivian called, exiting out of her tent. She was donned in all dark clothes, her skirt long gone and replaced with a pair of riding pants. Her heeled boots tapped on the ground as she made it towards you all, seeing that everyone but Alina was around.
βThe time has come for us to finish what we have started. For too long, Dutch Van Der Linde and his nasty gang of outlaws has gotten away with murdering your sisters for too longβ¦ We remember how he brutally killed Ellen and Rosanna.β She spat, causing you and the others to take off your hats in remembrance. Ellen was such a nice woman, who just wanted to find her son and husbandβs killers while Rosanna was her maid her followed her. As sad as it was, it was right for them to go together. You put your hats back on once Vivian continued.
βIβm tired of watching my girls die, but Iβm real tired of seeing Van Der Lindeβs neck not tied by a rope.β She said and held up her bandana. She quickly tied it over her face, which caused an uproar of noises to come for your sisters. The sounds that mimicked a coyote, the ones that scared outlaws at night. The sounds that signaled a hunt.
βWe know where they are, thanks to Liu being our spy a few nights ago, but after hearing that they are gathering some supplies, that means that they could be down for a moment. Itβs time to finish them. You all follow me!β You quickly put yours on, feeling Pride pat you up. All of you ran to your horse, Vivian mounting her Black Arabian horse named Gypsy.
βLetβs move out!β She yelled, beginning to holler as the others ran after her, hollering as well. You mounted Peppercorn and quickly nudged him to follow. Glancing back, you saw Pride behind you, her gun already drawn. You looked forward once more, following after your sisters. Your hollering became louder and louder, especially when could see Vivian beginning to raise her guns. The end was coming, but a bad feeling began to sink into your stomach.
When Dutch Van Der Linde first began to expand his gang, a group of bounty hunters rose to stop a lot of gangs from becoming too big and powerful. The bounty hunters were a successful group, but the Van Der Lindeβs and the OβDriscollβs kept avoiding the rope. You are apart of the bounty hunting group, the Coyotes. You and your older sister, Pride, have been in the group since you were children. Now, youβre faced with the challenges of hunting down each member. When things get out of hand, do you stay loyal or decide a different life?
βWe should ask everyone, not just one person, Pride.β You reminded, beginning to kick the dirt at your feet and move towards the grass, where the others were camping. There was a lot of talk around the camp, mostly because everyone had heard the Van der Linde gang were near. Every bounty hunter in the family wanted to catch them. For some, it was a personal reason, while the thrill of the hunt persuaded them to go after the gang. There were a few different women who worked in the gang, some being close friends of Vivianβs while others joined later on. Pride sighed and walked towards the cooking tent. A chubby woman hummed loudly, beginning to cut meat into bits and preparing it with seasonings.
βAlina! You need anythinβ from Blackwater?β Pride called, causing the woman to yell in surprise.
βOh, you scared me, Pride! You silly girly! Yes, I do! Give me a moment!β She said with her heavy accent, wiping her hands off and going towards a journal to write down a list. Alina Kruger was basically the one who kept women alive. She was a German immigrant, traveling here when she was about twenty and managing to keep herself afloat, thanks to a bakery business she worked for. She joined the family when Vivian had suggest she come with them, tell her it would be adventure and cooking, two things Alina said she wanted in life. Alina had platinum blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, her eyes were round with joy and she looked so innocent. Her cheeks were always pink and her smile was absolutely wonderful. Her hair was normally tied back in two braids, her saying it was a normal German style.
βHere you go!β She said and handed the list to you.
βThanks, Alina.β You smiled as she giggled lightly.
βThank you! I did not want to go into town today, I have much to do!β She said and patted your head before shooing you two out so she could continue to cook. Pride as about to go towards her horse before you grabbed her braid.
βThatβs not everyone, Pride.β You reminded, tugging her over towards some more tents, causing her to cuss and hiss in pain. You let her go once youβre sure sheβs not going run towards her horse. You glanced around and saw a few of your sisters. Virginia Ross, Mary Mantle, and Yolanda Romero. As you stepped closer, you can see the details of what theyβre doing get better.
Virginia was from New York, she was from a rather rich family, but she gave that up when her daddy tried to make her marry someone. She told him she wanted to do whatever she wanted, saying she didnβt need money. Virginia had only been with you for a few months, but she was a good member. She had dark brown hair and vibrant green eyes, she was a rather cute individual. Mary, on the other hand, was a cold blooded individual. Her parents were murdered by robbers and now hunts for the hell of it. Sheβs a little younger than you, most of the hunters were, but she did what she needed to. She had pale skin and dark blonde hair, her eyes a dark brown. She had a large scar that ran across her cheek and a few others over her body. She was a force to be reckoned with. Yolanda was a mystery. She was fun and always had stories of Mexico, but never spoke about why she wanted to be a bounty hunter. You all enjoyed her, with her dark skin and dark, black hair. Her eyes were actually a lighter brown, which made her emotions show. She was probably the best hunter you had, besides Pride.
βHey girls, you need anything?β You asked with a smile, looking towards them. The girls glanced up, stopping their weapon cleaning to think for a moment.
βGun oil.β Mary said after a moment, going back to cleaning. You quickly wrote this down on the paper that Alina gave you.
βGet us some more ammo too! My shotgun is getting low.β Virginia said, her northern accent punctuating every word. You glanced towards Yolanda after you wrote βammoβ down, noticing her grin.
βWhat do you want, Yola?β You asked, the Hispanic woman letting out a loud sigh as she thought.
βOh! If you find a tambourine, get that. I love tambourines.β She smiled again, making Pride roll her eyes.
βIs that essential for your hunts?β
βWell, we make noises like coyotes, so yeah. Itβs to make noises!β
βYouβre the reason I go solo.β Pride said and flicked her nose, causing Virginia to giggle.
βA tambourineβ¦ Weβll see if we can find one.β You said, causing Yolanda to let out a yell of excitement. You and Pride nodded them goodbye and went towards the tent closest to the entrance of the camp.
βZotova! Liu! The fuck yβall want from Blackwater?β Pride yelled, forcing you to hit her and shush her. Zotova didnβt even look up from her writing.
βFour journals, three pencils, and hand these out.β The Russian said in her broken English, handing you a few papers with their bounty hunting on it.
βPut them in stores and sheriffβs office.β She said, leaning back to take off her small glasses. Zotova Stanislavovna was the person who helped bring in the money. She was in charge of receiving bounties and giving them to Vivian. She did her job well, but being a Russian immigrant, she couldnβt speak the best English. Some of you had to be there to help her explain herself. She had only been in America for about a year, but everything was falling into place for her. She had blonde hair and brown eyes, who wears glasses a lot of the time.
βI donβt want anything.β Liu said, smiling towards you two. Liu Shun was another hunter, an expert animal hunter, as well. She was the best at long distance shots and tracking. She was a Chinese immigrant, whoβs parents worked tirelessly on the railroad. When her parents were killed in an accident, due to the horrible conditions they faced, Liu found your family and requested to help make things right for people like her. She had a good mission, but you were concerned on how people would view her. She had short, her black hair and brown eyes.
βIsabella doesnβt need anything, does she?β Pride asked, referring to the woman who took care of the horses.
βNo, sheβs fine. She hasnβt mentioned anything.β Zotova said, waving them off. You and Pride nodded, walking towards your horses to see the red head taking care of the animals. Isabella was the kindest soul you had, orphaned at a young age, sheβs been in the gang with you and Pride for a long time. She and Brigit was close, the Irish woman who was close to Vivian. The two red heads bonded over their love for horses. You and Pride mounted your horses, not noticing Isabella walking away to grab more hay. She was quiet, so it wasnβt the most surprising thing that she did. She was sweet, but very to herself.
βYou ready, Peppercorn?β You asked, patting the Gypsy Cob. He was the best horse you had, the black and white painted horse was the most loyal horse you could ever have. Prideβs horse was a large, white and brown Shire named Sunshine. She named her that since sheβs the most hot tempered horse in the entire camp. You mounted Peppercorn, listening to him pant lightly in excitement. Your spurs jabbed into his side and you began to ride off next to Pride. Blackwater wasnβt too far away.
βI canβt believe weβre having to be maids and get shit.β Pride said as she let Sunshine trot in the street. You were sighing lightly, rubbing your face when she complained.
βCome on, Pride. Letβs just get the stuff. Letβs go to the general store.β You offered, listening to her grumble lightly. You and Pride hitched your horses outside the general store, heading inside after you got off the horses. You opened the door, hearing the bell ring and the store clerk greeting you.
βWelcome, ladies!β He greeted, causing you to nod in a greeting. You began to gather the few things that Zotova wanted.
βPride, go get what Alina wanted from the butcher. Iβm going to go get the ammo and gun oil.β You said as you paid for the items, handing him the paper for your bounty hunter family.
βHang this up.β You said softly and left with Pride. When you were putting the items in your saddle bag, Pride whistled towards you. You looked towards her and saw them. Arthur Morgan and Hosea Matthews.
βGood morning, ladies.β Hosea greeted, knowing exactly who you two are.
βIt was.β Pride hissed, glaring towards Morgan, who scoffed.
βWe heard you boys were here. We were trying to find you.β You offered Hosea, who chuckled lightly.
βYeah, we figured. You ladies are very good at what you do.β He said, causing you to nod.
βYβall are too, for criminals.β You said as Hosea laughed.
βWell, I canβt argue with that.β He said, gently hitting Arthur to make him stop glaring at Pride.
βWeβre just here to gather supplies. You gonna try to get us?β He asked, causing you to shake your head. You hit Pride after a moment, seeing her reaching towards her gun.
βWeβre here for supplies too. It would be stupid to start shit in the middle of the street. Weβll come for yβall soon.β You explained, causing him to nod.
βThank ya, ladies. You have a good day now.β He offered and waved slightly. When they trotted past you, you heard Arthur and Pride exchange words.
βHeartless bitch.β
βTiny dick Morgan.β With that, Pride took the list and stomped towards the butcher while you went towards the gunsmith. You were going to have to tell Vivian about this, but you werenβt going to pursue them. Not yet. It would be dumb to. Pride was hot headed and wanted to kill Arthur Morgan so bad that it consumed her. You were her calm, her reason. You had to show her that the time would come. As you entered the gunsmithβs shop, you knew it was going to be a long day.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
dailybridgerton
gracieabrams
germansingergirl
kianamaiart
snowghoul
