An offshoot blog for any fanfic I write.
Keep in mind I'm Canadian so spelling will be a mix of British and American English with some French influence thrown in for flavouring.
All fics are x Reader unless stated otherwise and are mostly for Arcane. I advise reading the warnings on each fic's page as some contain heavy topics.
List under the cut.
► Arcane
Sevika:
∙ 37 (BtF) Angst
∙ Corrective Maintenance Fluff
∙ Derailed | Epilogue Angst + Fluff
∙ Imperfections Angst
∙ Ryder's Gambit Fluff
∙ Azure Wraith Fluff, Fantasy AU
∙ Spectral Bulwark Fluff
∙ Unbidden and Unburdened Fluff
∙ Luck of the Draw: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 |Part 6 Angst
Ran:
∙ The Rubicon Angst
∙ For Love of the Game Fluff
∙ Vestiges of the Past Angst, Hurt/Comfort
∙ Stay the Course: Part 1 | Part 2 Angst, Enemies to friends to enemies to lovers
∙ Out of Sync Angst
Grayson:
∙ It's Complicated: Part 1 | Part 2 Angst
∙ Cat and Mouse Fluff
Ranvika:
∙ The Human Factor: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 (BtF) Fluff + Angst + Whump
∙ Shine On Fluff, KPop Demon Hunters x Arcane crossover
∙ Coffee Shop AU Fluff
∙ One Bed Fluff
∙ Huddle for Warmth Fluff
∙ Omegaverse AU Angst, A/B/O
∙ Friends to Lovers Fluff
∙ Sickfic Fluff
∙ Soulmate AU Angst, Soulmates, Enemies to Lovers
∙ Raison d'être Angst, Resident Evil 8 AU, Enemies to Lovers
∙ NG+ Angst, modern AU
Reader's Choice:
∙ And They Were Roommates Fluff, Light Angst, Multiple Endings
Miscellaneous:
∙ Elora: The Morning Paper Fluff
None:
∙ Quiet of the Night Heavy angst
► K-Pop Demon Hunters
Zoey:
∙ Headcanon about magicians
Note: I try to update this every few fics but all fics are tagged as #cb writes.
Synopsis: Putting a fledgling romance on pause, you join a research trip up north, taking you away from everything and everyone you knew in the name of helping the underground.
Genre: Fluff, established (sorta) relationship
POV: Second
Warnings: Cheating (but not really)
Word count: 13.3k
—
It hadn't seemed real until you stepped off the boat, just another study that would be over before it felt like it really began. You'd be back before anyone even noticed you were gone, before you could miss anyone or anything. Everything snapped into focus and the magnitude of this hit as soon as you were on solid ground.
Dockhands rush around you as white clouds appear as you exhale, the Freljordian air biting at you despite your attempt to fend it off. You don't need to understand the words when one of those dockhands snaps at you, exasperated and exhausted.
Hurrying out of the way, you stand against a warehouse as the gravity of everything floods your senses.
It takes multiple calls to get your attention. Blinking back tears that could have been from the cold or from everything else, you look around. The activity on the docks was methodical now instead of frantic, the ship you'd arrived on gone and all those that remained were moored securely. You were stuck here now.
The trip up the mountain is almost familiar, or would be if not for the snow and wind and bitter cold. A season of trade and travel had cut a clear—to you—path to follow but some of the others had trouble staying on it. The professor had gathered and was leading you but seemed oblivious to the freezing ducklings behind them.
By the time you make it to the town you'd be staying in, the wind's picked up and was probably cutting through your clothes but you were already so cold you didn't notice. No one's really in the mood to do more than dump their stuff on the floor and claim a bed. You feel like slipping into a vat of hot water but will have to settle on crawling under the covers instead, but first you had to do something.
Told you I'd write every day so I'm going to keep it even though I can barely feel my fingers right now. Spent most of the day hiking up slopes and even the flat parts were covered in snow. You hear it's cold up here but that doesn't really capture it.
As expected, I'm the only Zaunite here. I talked a bit to the rest of the group on the boat over which is why I know there's not one, not two, but three topsiders which makes me think something went on and I'm only here because there weren't many applicants to begin with.
Told you that was the only reason I was accepted.
The professor's more hands-off than expected, too. I know they don't typically teach but I'd thought they'd be more… I don't know. They met us down at the harbour and escorted us up to this town but that was it. Maybe we caught them on a bad day but it's hard not to feel unwanted when someone points to a couple of buildings, say that's where we'll be staying, then go back to where they're staying separately. The way they spoke made it seem like we'd interrupted them and they wished to be anywhere else.
Maybe tomorrow will be different but for now I'm going to spend all night thinking what it might be like to be warm.
Can't believe you talked me into this…
Day 2:
Slightly warmer and with better light, you pace up and down the main street of the town, noticing it was neither large nor compact like you were used to. The largest building is the tavern and is the only one with a second level, all the others only have one. It's not a town people stay in for more than a night or two but is at a critical junction on a path between two larger towns and the harbour below.
During the summer, you can easily imagine more people moving about and caravans passing through, but currently you'd think it was abandoned if not for the occasional person walking around.
Today started with a lecture followed by making the rest of the dorms habitable, though dorms is a generous term. I think the buildings are used for storage during warmer months since they're just one big room with a janitorial closet-slash-bathroom. Good for keeping goods out of the elements or make it harder to steal, not great for comfort.
There's no sleeping assignments (except for the professor—they're staying in what's been dubbed the lab) but for ease of communication, the Ixtali and Targonian are bunking together otherwise she can't communicate with anyone. I'm also staying with them since all three topsiders are in one dorm and I'm definitely not going to be sleeping there.
Even without sleeping assignments, it's split with five beds in one dorm, four in the other. The Noxian and one of the Demacians are with me while the other Demacian's with the topsiders.
I thought I was done with college…
[…]
Day 4:
Being one of the outsiders not passing through makes you a bit of a curiosity but the looks you get, while not always friendly, are better than the ones you get when you go into Piltover. Not everyone is used to it, though.
[…]
Before we get into the field, we have to acclimatize and make sure everyone's on the same page. There's also some safety stuff but thankfully a Freljordian is handling that. The professor may be a leading expert but I think it's safe to say they aren't the most… aware person around.
One of the things we have to get used to is being indoors but that's not a problem for me—I've seen the sky before but not like this. Plus it's cold outside and the only one who likes it less than I do is Marci but she also has fur and everything is flesh and blood.
Most of us actually went and bought a bunch of clothing because what we brought isn't enough. I'd love to not feel like an orb when out.
[…]
Day 8:
It was clear now how hard it was when not everyone knew the same language but you were scientists not linguists, none of you knew how to go about this properly. What's settled on is creating a board featuring objects and actions with a drawing and the name in several languages. It was basic but it would allow for someone to get their point across.
Nic compiles the initial list of what to have while Retha sketches a visual representation of each, pinning the result to a wall—if nothing else, someone could always point to what they meant.
The system was simple but not everyone was able to learn a language as fast as Saf—who was already picking up some Freljordian words—but what mattered was it worked.
Day 14:
Even if you were used to having your movement restricted, it felt good to finally stretch your legs. You'd come here to learn, not sit around, and there was only so much you could do around town when you rarely spoke the same language as the people here.
As you set up one of the trail markers that went up a ridge, you can't help but grin despite the cold—you were finally about to do what you'd come here and were suffering for.
[…]
Today couldn't have come fast enough. You'd think we'd get along given we have an interest in common but not everyone is used to staying inside so much or being around others so we were getting on each other's nerves. I even found myself snapping at Theo and he's been nothing but nice.
Banging pegs into hard objects got a lot of pent-up frustration out.
To celebrate the unofficial beginning of our work (and to shower off) we went to the tavern. Some mercs were there and, well, I accidentally pissed them off. In my defense, I wasn't the only one (though I swear Sebastian did it intentionally). I was prepared for it to turn into a bar fight—and you know I don't shy away from those—but was far from keen on that given the weapons.
Some of them were also huge. Even Sevika would seem small in comparison so you can imagine how reluctant I was to get in a fight.
Luckily Retha jumped in to diffuse the situation. It probably helped that the tavern owner didn't want to deal with it and the mercs weren't particularly invested in fighting a bunch of "soft scientists".
Instead it turned into swapping stories about how we got scars. A bloodless way to put us in our place while reliving old battles.
Saf was the only one that could really compete on both fronts but you should have seen the faces when I rolled up my pant leg.
[…]
Day 19:
By now the postmaster has noticed that you came in every day, always sending something to the same person and city. You could barely understand each other but, with some gesturing, you let her know you were from Zaun. At that, her eyes light up and she excitedly points at her left leg.
That puzzles you for a moment before it clicks—she must have talked to someone who was at the tavern the other day. Pulling your pant leg out of your boot, you're able to get it high enough for her to see. It should have made you feel like a novelty and this wasn't how you were used to people reacting, but you find yourself smiling as she chatters more to herself than to you.
Even if you didn't understand what she was saying, you understood the meaning behind it well enough when she pushes a steaming mug into your hands.
Day 27: Zaun
At first Ran wasn't going to do more than respond sporadically thinking, like you, that the time would go by quickly. They often didn't have much in the way of developments to report—or could report—and you already knew the undercity but nearly a month of you being gone had them change their mind.
It wasn't the same as talking to you in person but it was better than not talking to you at all.
Oh my dearest one, I mourn the loss of your presence and—okay enough of that. Not much has changed here since you left which is probably a good thing. There's been the typical street-level drama, enforcers roughing people up for no reason, and stuff I can't talk about.
I know what I can and can't put into writing but is anyone reading these? I forgot to ask before you left and I don't want to get you in trouble by putting something I shouldn't.
Please call Sevika small to her face and please do it when I'm there. That's not something she's accused of often and you're one of the few people who could get away unscathed.
I may not respond to everything but rest assured I read each and every letter you send. A lot of it goes over my head but you knew that already.
And for the record, I didn't talk you into anything. I might have encouraged you a bit but only because you weren't going to apply even though you wanted to. Really wanted to.
- Ran
Day 28:
With as busy as you were now, you periodically get a stab of wistfulness whenever the mail is handed out, much to your dismay. Sebastian never failed to rub it in, how you wrote daily but never got anything, but the rest were starting to give you pitying looks, even Nic and Simone.
You take the lack of anything in stride—Ran probably hadn't noticed how much time had passed—but it still would have been nice to get something.
At least the postmaster was nice every time you came in and some of the first cuttings were beginning to grow roots—you could keep busy with those.
[…]
The winter storms here are nothing like the ones back home. They can appear suddenly and are so bad it's no longer possible to move between dorms even with doing something like attaching a rope to follow—we looked into it. We're stuck wherever we are if we don't drop everything to head back to our preferred dorm.
The locals are much better about noticing the minute changes that differentiate between normal blustering and blustering that's from the leading edge of a storm. Because we can't tell, there are times you go to borrow a book from someone in the other dorm and if you don't leave immediately after, you're stuck there. That's how I ended up getting stuck with the topsiders for a couple days.
You think Stillwater's bad? Try spending that much time with someone who makes the council look sympathetic with no way to get away.
As soon as the storm let up enough, I was out of there.
Of course that means we also can't get to the lab, as we've dubbed it, during storms now. We came all this way to do lab and field work under the professor so to sit around and do nothing is frustrating.
Saf suggested we keep as much as we can in the dorms now and make duplicates if possible, so we've started doing that. Can you tell she used to be military? She even stood against the professor when they were wondering why we were moving everything.
[…]
Day 28: Zaun
Writing you had thrown off the carefully maintained equilibrium Ran had been clinging to without knowing it. Around others, they could pull it together to not seem as lost as they really were but alone—or even during a moment where no one was paying attention—they let the mask fall.
They'd thought you were the one dependent on them going all the way back to when you'd first met. You were always there, fine playing a background character while they took centre stage. They didn't exactly take you for granted but they were so used to you being around, now that you weren't, nothing felt right. You had work to focus on, people who understood what you were talking about, a town to raise havoc in and what did they have?
But they had no right to complain, not when they were responsible for why you weren't here.
Even if you couldn't see it, you had talent and the potential greatness in you. Meanwhile they were just some criminal whose world was askew these days.
Day 35:
After yet another time of helping Sebastian out, you were wondering why he was even here. Nic and Simone were easier to get along with and had come around to the idea their idea of Zaunites was wrong but Sebastian still had his head up his ass. You had to admit, he wasn't helpless and knew enough he had to have some interest in mycology, but he also wasn't anything special.
If he dropped a tenth of the superiority complex that made others want to strangle him, maybe he could make a bit of a name for himself but he seemed content to rely on his family name instead.
[…]
You know how I said Marci and Theo are close and spend a lot of time together? I think they've started hooking up. It's only a gut feeling right now but at night… at night there's sometimes the rustling of blankets and occasional squeak of a mattress. Everyone's always in their own beds come morning so I can't say for certain it's them but those two are always the common denominator.
Then there's how they often go to the tavern together ostensibly to bathe or use the sauna—which doesn't even make sense—and how they started speaking lower and faster the moment Saf learned enough to maybe get the gist of what they were saying.
[…]
Day 37:
Sebastian's already starting to make a rude comment about you never getting anything when Simone makes a slight flourish while handing you a letter. Kai snickers when he tries to pivot to something else to save face but this is the first time you'd gotten anything and even blank paper was more interesting than Sebastian.
You recognize the penmanship but it's the signed name that has you grinning foolishly enough that some looks are exchanged.
Nope, no one reads these so write whatever.
…
On second thought, maybe don't. Everyone was nice enough not to this time but there's often jostling to read over someone's shoulder or an attempt to snatch a letter to read to everyone and there's already curiosity to whom I'm writing so ardently. I might not get in trouble but it could make things awkward.
Remember, these are people I'm often stuck with for days at a time—I don't need them wondering if I'm going to murder them during the night. Also I'm including you in gossip because I know how much you like it and I can make sure no one's around when I write it out.
Do you know how awkward it would make things if you said "X likes Y" when X and Y end up in the same dorm as me next storm?
Speaking of X and Y, you know how I suspected Marci and Theo were together? Yeah, it's confirmed.
Very confirmed.
Frankly, I saw more than I wanted to.
I walked in on them going at it in the lab while the professor was out—they hadn't even locked the door. As soon as I opened the door, they jumped apart but it was obvious what they were doing given they were naked and everything on the table beside them was scattered.
What are we, teenagers?
Wasn't planning to call Sevika small but you used the pleading eyes, didn't you? I can't say no to those.
You definitely talked me into this.
Day 40:
You'd thought the path up the ridge was out of surprises by now but the storm that ended that night proved you wrong. You're near the rear of the group when you glance across the gully where snow had been dislodged, expecting to see more grey and white. What you see sends your heart into your throat.
Kai notices you aren't following, turning back to see if you're injured. Quickly wiping your eyes, you turn away, saying you just needed a minute.
Your habit of writing at night was now known but you still wait until everyone is well asleep and still keep quiet as you groan at another failed attempt to write to Ran. You'd been heartsick all day, making it hard to write without veering into the maudlin or getting excessively suggestive and it could already be hard to write at times.
Exhaling, you pull out another sheet of paper to try again, this time defaulting to your usual. Perhaps a bit more sentimental but Ran would understand.
[…]
The professor wanted to check on the lichen patch we found while there's a break in the weather so we all went as well. Another storm was predicted to hit later today (and it did) and everyone wanted to get out while we could even if the wind was whipping up loose snow.
Anyway, on the way up, I saw what appeared to be some sort of alpine buttercup, or at least something in that genus. I couldn't get a good look and it wasn't in bloom and there wasn't much time to note anything identifiable—stopping so suddenly was beginning to cause a scene.
I passed it off as being winded.
But now that I know it's there, I'm going to have to figure out how to get some cuttings.
Don't worry—I'll be careful when I do.
If you want to know why that particular flower hit me so hard, get one of my books and look up the genus.
[…]
Day 41: Zaun
The day was promising to be like any other when Ran spots a vendor on the way to work who was selling actual plants. Not cut flowers, not seeds, established, living plants that were all but doomed to a slow death down here. Acting before they realize what they're doing, they buy several thinking how excited you'd be only for it to hit them that you weren't there to take care of them.
They hadn't gone far and could always get their money back but they hug the pots tighter at the thought.
It's with reluctance they stash their purchases at work, not having time to take then back to their place or drop them off at yours—Silco had several meetings they were accompanying him on today so they had a set schedule.
The first two meetings are uneventful—just standing around while Silco makes vague yet pointed threats—but the third seems off the moment they catch sight of the reluctant foreman they were meeting. He was always somewhat nervous but today he was also standing more defiantly and kept glancing to a spot above.
Keeping their face from betraying their unease, they signal Mantaire to be on alert while their boss and the foreman were conversing.
They see the detonator too late, only having enough time to shield Silco before their ears are ringing and dust clogs their nose and throat. The explosives were placed poorly but still made debris rain down on the group and propelled some rock with enough force to bruise and cut.
That had been it for the day—Silco sent Sevika to finish up on his behalf—but instead of heading home, Ran stayed at the bar. They started wondering if they would have noticed sooner if they hadn't been thinking of you, it ends with them declaring they could land a dart on a dartboard while ignored injuries dully nag at them.
Day 42:
The wall of words, as you were calling it, had grown and become somewhat disordered as people added to it. It may seem a bit crude to someone outside your little group but it had cut down on the amount of frustration when someone wasn't nearby to translate and a number of the new additions were a direct result of that being the case.
Day 42: Zaun
Waking up, Ran is rudely reminded of the previous day's events when an attempted yawn makes them jerk up, clutching at their side and a headache throbs behind their eyes—they could already hear you yelling at them for drinking so much. Rubbing an eye with the palm of a hand, they try to remember what happened after darts and how they got home.
A muffled snore makes their blood freeze and stomach drop. Slowly turning their head to the noise, they dread what they knew must have happened. Even if the two of you had an open relationship, that didn't mean they had any interest in anyone else.
When they see it's only Sevika, Ran lets out a breath they didn't know they were holding. It could have been worse and wasn't the first time they'd woken up to Sevika beside them but there was something off about it now and the aches in their head and body and heart made it too hard for them to pin down what it was.
Seeing this wasn't their place after all, they get dressed and slip out as quickly and quietly as they can. Not their usual move but they can breath easier once on the street.
Day 43: Zaun
The previous day, Sevika had woken up with a groan thinking how she had to collect on some collections from people she'd rather not deal with, only remembering Ran had spent the night after she rolls over to find the bed empty. They weren't anywhere else in her place so they must have disappeared sometime in the early- or mid-morning.
With Ran having the rest of the day off, Sevika thought she'd clarify what happened the next day but that was proving harder than she thought it would be. Ran keeps avoiding her and is quick to leave a room when she enters and Sevika's too busy to chase them down when they clearly didn't want to be around her right now.
She'd give them space but only for so long—this couldn't interfere with work and, equally important, she found she didn't want it to come between you and her.
Day 45:
Completely unaware of what was happening back home, you're busy throwing yourself into lab work after the latest storm, acting like it's more urgent than it is. After the first round of drawing lots had Theo win the dubious honour of being one of the people to go on a supply run, you'd feigned remembering you had to check on some things.
Theo was still acting strange enough around you that, without more people to act as a buffer, if you also drew short straw, Kai was sure to notice. Even if you didn't care, he clearly did so you made yourself scarce in a way no one would question.
[…]
Gave them a week but only Marci acts normal around me—Theo's still acting weird. If I didn't know better, I'd think he developed feelings or is getting sick.
I'd talk to Marci but, well… I can't really do that unless I bring in Saf or the professor and if Theo's still embarrassed I know he'll implode if anyone else knows.
[…]
Day 50:
Since the dorms weren't built to stay warm or be used as a living space, they weren't particularly well insulated, quickly losing heat while being slow to gain it. To help counteract this, someone had the idea to push all the beds together and sleep in a pile. It worked surprisingly well but you were relegated to the outside unless your leg still had residual heat from the sauna.
You mostly didn't mind this as long as you didn't have to sleep next to Sebastian, something that never even came up. By now your mutual animosity was known and while the rest didn't have the deep-seated hate that Sebastian had, they knew the reputation of the undercity now and didn't fancy waking up to a body.
For once you didn't correct them or take it on yourself to prove not all Zaunites were what they thought.
[…]
You know how I said the weather has somehow gotten worse? Today we got a whole lecture reiterating safety and being banned from going outside without permission. All because Retha tried to switch dorms mid-storm, overshot, and wound up on the doorstep of a very confused Freljordian.
She's lucky she didn't end up wandering out of town. All because Kai and Saf were in the other dorm.
It makes me feel like I'm back with the old gaffer to have my movements restricted like this.
In other news, I'm making progress on my theory. It's not as much as I'd like given how long I've been here but it's better than nothing. The others are more than happy to help but not all their suggestions are helpful—I think they don't realize just how bad it is around the sump. I'm used to being doubted by virtue of being a Zaunite but it's frustrating for it to be assumed I'm exaggerating conditions.
It makes me wonder if I should switch to focus on mycology.
[…]
Day 50: Zaun
After successfully avoiding Sevika for a week, Ran was confidant they could keep it up until you got back. They knew they were making it worse by not talking to her or letting you know but they still weren't sure how they felt about it.
It was messy and they could only blame themself for it.
Got it.
Time for embarrassing stories, writing something that would make Margot blush, and/or go into explicit detail on how to kill.
You just handed me a lot of power.
For anyone who's still reading this who shouldn't be, you have the choice of fighting me, a one-armed woman, or a skinny teenager so hand the letter back.
…
…
…
Did that work?
Picked up some seedlings for when you get back. I'm not sure what they are but they are alive and actual plants. With how rarely they appear in the market down here, I couldn't pass them up and I expect you to tell me they're something common or I've been scammed. I made my peace with that.
I assume all the pages talking genetics, selective breeding, hybridization, and you just rambling on about things makes sense. I think I understand one in five words but I still read them.
They're torn on whether to mention what happened, ultimately deciding against it. By the time you got this letter, you'd still have a couple months left by their estimation, and they didn't want to trouble you with this.
By the way, I might have some new scars when you get back. Nothing large or gnarly but I was hit by a bunch of rock fragments and some broke skin. Or maybe they'll all heal fine.
Talk about amateurs. There's so many ways to block a door—you can even bust a hinge so it's hard to open, giving you enough time to pretend nothing was happening.
They also have one of the best lookouts there with them. You saved my horny ass so many times, you could teach them a thing or two on how to be discrete. I still can't believe you chattered to enforcers at length because I was careless and needed time. Wouldn't have faulted you for running, especially since you'd just gotten out of Stillwater.
Instead you risked yourself to keep them from finding me.
Not sure if I ever said it but thank you for that.
Keep being brilliant, no matter what anyone else says.
- Ran
Day 52: Zaun
Having the energy and being tired of Ran being so skittish, Sevika orders them to stay behind after a briefing, ignoring the curious looks of everyone shuffling out. She didn't want to do this at work but Ran wasn't leaving her any other option. Sevika can see they're wary of this but also the slight droop in their shoulders indicating they knew what was coming.
Not wanting to draw this out, she's blunt in telling Ran nothing had happened and to stop acting like it did. Even if they did have sex, it wasn't like they hadn't before or that Ran wasn't in an open relationship so stop acting like it was the end of the world.
Besides, they were too damned drunk and Sevika was too tired from adding Silco's work to her already overflowing plate.
Ran continues fidgeting but they their shoulders come up at learning nothing happened before admitting they didn't remember much of anything.
After getting them to agree to stop avoiding her, Sevika fills them in.
Day 53: Zaun
For the first time in nearly two weeks, Ran sleeps through the night. They felt silly for completely misreading the situation with Sevika but, in their defense, it was not hard to. Avoiding Sevika after had been all them, though, and they deserved being called out on it.
Ran was glad they hadn't bothered you with the needless drama of it all.
When they read your letter, they don't hesitate to do as instructed—they might have been spending time at your place just to be surrounded by things you liked and which smelled like you. They were also extremely curious as to why buttercups of all things got to you.
Standing in your living room, Ran flips through one of your books before staring at a page, now understanding why it got to you. A bit of an extreme reaction but it was just like you to express complex feelings with flowers and scientific names.
They felt the same way about you, though, and had apparently gone on at length about it to Sevika. Knowing they'd have to tell you about that brings their mood down slightly but not enough to wipe the lopsided grin off their face or to stop stroking the page.
Day 57:
Since the post office and general store were one in the same, Nic comes with you today when you go to send Ran their daily update. He wanted to get something for his siblings and the general store was one of the few places in town to get anything this time of year. Despite being from Piltover, you enjoyed his company and he was easy to get along with. Minor faux pas happened from time to time but you took them in stride.
After sending your mail, you join him in looking around, clarifying his questions if needed. There's a toy he considers getting his sister but it's the wrong animal. It would do as-is but she was all about windfarers right now, though he knows how little sense it makes to expect something like that to be sold in Freljord.
Talking himself into it, Nic takes the toy up but before he can pay, the postmaster stops him. She knew indecision when she saw it and since he was a friend of yours, she'd see if the person who made the toys would be able to make a custom one since it wouldn't be too different than his usual offerings of local wildlife.
If he couldn't or Nic changes his mind, she'd hang onto the toy Nic had picked out so he wouldn't go home empty-handed.
When you go up with what you'd found, Nic's grinning at his luck.
Day 60:
With the break in the weather expected to last longer than usual, there's time to get everything else done and head up the ridge to check on the lichen. Little about lichen or algae or fungi interest you yet you still listen with rapt attention as the professor talks about how the former is a symbiosis of the other two and how that allows the lichen to survive in an environment neither could survive individually.
That was the basis of your theory on how to remediate the sump and air around Zaun and one of the reasons you were here. Other such attempts invariably failed or only addressed a symptom, and often were on too grand a scale to succeed. Your plan wasn't to fix everything at once, someone else could do that, you only wanted to stop the degradation going on and clean up the worst of the toxins, creating a foundation someone else could build off of.
But to do that, you needed something that could survive those same toxins, at least long enough to make some amount of difference. If something could survive out here, maybe it could survive in the undercity—you already had part of the equation there.
And there was no better person to learn from than the professor.
For the undercity, you could put up with this cold and an icy boot.
[…]
Freaked Simone out earlier by accident. We're between storms and the professor wanted to check on the lichen we found so we all went up. Some snowdrops came up since last time and I haven't seen them in person before so I went to get a better look. Turns out I forgot all about the stream beside them.
I didn't notice the crunch or that my left foot went through the ice, not until Simone started yanking me away. In the moment she'd forgotten that leg's prosthetic and I was just confused. She was thoroughly embarrassed when we both realized what happened and I appreciate the sentiment, I just wish it didn't involve me getting my shoulder nearly dislocated.
I need to get the whole thing looked at anyway but I told her I'd set up an appointment when I get back, so if you could do that, that would be great. Odds are it's fine but I'm no expert and it's hard to find replacement parts around here.
You hesitate at ending the letter there—navigating this change with Ran was proving to be a challenge. You knew damn near everything about them but trying to figure out whether you said too much or too little…
Okay, you're going to tease me for this and maybe it's too much but I miss you. I miss home, of course, but I miss you especially. This distance thing is hard, especially when no one's around to commiserate with.
It would be weeks of wondering if you'd come on too strong but they were worth it.
Day 62:
… I should have just told you these were being monitored.
Thanks for the plants. Can't wait to see what they are and to make sure they're actually plants this time. It can be such a pain finding something new and not everyone is receptive to a stranger taking cuttings.
… How did you get hit by rocks? Your job is dangerous but doesn't typically involve rocks unless you took up mining while I've been gone.
Theo's actually come around and him and Marci announced to everyone they're together. I didn't think they were that serious or would be so formal about it—I thought there was going to be a proposal with how they gathered everyone.
I'd forgotten all about that. I admit my first instinct was to run but I wasn't going to let you face them alone. Pretty sure they thought I was drunk or had a concussion with how I was rambling on and kept moving to poke their gear. Gotta say, they did not like that but it worked to distract them and buy you time.
We're in this together and the occasional bruise is worth it.
You didn't have much else to report this time and anything marginally interesting had been wiped from your head at that last line. Ran had been calling you brilliant for as long as you'd known each other. A bit of an exaggeration, you're sure, but whenever you started to doubt yourself or wonder if the path you were on was the right one, they were there either encouraging you or setting you straight.
You'd thought this trip was going well, all things considered, so you didn't know how much you needed that until now.
Day 62: Zaun
As soon as they get to you mentioning that tinpot dictator, Ran bristles. You always downplayed how bad he was—it had taken ages to get you out from under his thumb and to stay there even though you hated him and wanted nothing more than to leave once he put you to work again.
Do I have to go there and knock some sense back into you? For as long as I've known you, it's been plants this, plants that, even when you were scared to bring it up. Not dirt, not machinery, not even mushrooms. Plants. Don't you dare think of switching just because you think it's more useful or what people expect from you.
Remember how unhappy you were when we met? Because I do and you are sorely mistaken if you think I'll sit by and let you go back to that.
It's great that you want to help but Zaun was here before you and will still be here after. There's only so much that can be asked of anyone and you're putting up with a lot just by being there.
Fuck, I need to cool off. I'll write you again tomorrow.
- Ran
Day 63: Zaun
Okay, I've cooled off. Well, mostly. You know how I get when you bring up that man but hitting someone helped.
I looked it up and I hope you aren't going to start calling me buttercup. It's sweet and there's a certain amount of pride that I was able to do that to you from a distance without trying (or even knowing that was possible) but I have a reputation to maintain. If it got back to the guys at work…
Sevika took one of your seedlings. Not sure if she'll give it back once you get home or if it will even survive that long. She doesn't have the greenest thumb.
But it was my fault for leaving them at the bar. Sure I work with thieves but I didn't imagine one would take a pot that's more dirt than plant—they aren't you.
[…]
Day 64: Zaun
No idea what you said to Ran. Normally they're easygoing but a bar fight broke out yesterday and I had to pull them off some guy. Not sure if they started the fight or just took advantage of it but all they said about it was the guy deserved it before they stormed off.
Feels like I'm missing something. I'm inclined to believe them but they've never said anything about it before.
I preferred them moping about.
If you didn't say anything, maybe you could talk some sense into them. They haven't listened to me since they thought we slept together but they listen to you. Might even tell you what's going on.
- Sevika
Day 70:
You're busy looking at specimens under a microscope when you start sniffing. You aren't sure what you might smell but alarms are going off in your head and you'd learned to trust your nose even when your head was still catching up or if someone thought you were imagining it.
Pushing back, the only person other than you in the lab is Simone, oblivious that something was wrong. Instead of wasting precious moments convincing her to leave, you grab her and take her out into the falling snow, ignoring her protests and attempts to free herself.
[…]
Been learning lots so thanks for pushing me to do this.
Also fuck you for pushing me to do this. It's not that cold, you said. It's not that long, you said. You'll be too busy to notice anything, you said. Well guess what? It's beyond cold, the days drag on, and I'm not as busy as you might think.
Had a bit of a scare earlier. Still not sure what happened to cause it but blackdamp started taking over the lab. The only reason I noticed at all was having come across pockets of it before. Simone was not happy until I was able to explain why I hauled her out suddenly.
The building's currently airing out and the professor's staying at the tavern until the source is found. I bet someone just put the wrong thing in something else and caused a reaction. Really, the professor's lucky it happened during the day instead of when they were trying to sleep.
Of course now my hip's bothering me. I can't even take the leg off—the connection is stiff and I don't want to risk breaking it when there's no way to repair or replace it. The sauna helps with the hip but I have to be careful not to let the leg get too hot.
As opposed to it being too cold the rest of the time.
I can't remember if there was ever a mechanism to balance the temperature but if there was, these temperatures are beyond its limit.
It's all a pain in the ass. Or hip, as it were.
[…]
Day 72: Zaun
Reading through your latest letter, Ran sighs as they run a hand through their hair, completely unsurprised. They've had to stop you from slipping into sump waters, keep you from climbing over gates in Piltover, and even kept you from walking into deadly gases you were too distracted to immediately notice, so you stepping through ice just went on the list of things you've done or nearly done.
It was as if all sense of self-preservation disappeared when you saw something green.
Wish I could say I'm surprised you stood in freezing water without noticing but I'm really not. I bet you walked around after, too. Prosthetic or not, that was incredibly foolish and you should really know better considering you've had it longer than not.
I'll make an appointment first thing tomorrow. At least you have some sense because I'd drag you to one the moment you get back even if you didn't say anything.
I swear, you're going to make me go grey.
Speaking of grey, you should send something to Sevika. She pretends she doesn't, but she misses you. I'm sure that plant she took is near death now.
You're right, I will tease you (when do I not?) but nah, it's not too much and I miss you, too.
Why'd you have to listen to me and go on this trip when you could have stayed right here?
- Ran
Day 74:
As soon as the storm dies down enough, you're out the door to walk off some frustration so you didn't strangle Sebastian. He kept making jabs to the point everyone else in the dorm was waiting for you to snap.
The weather broke before you did, but barely.
On the way, you run into Nic, both of you being puzzled that the other is out but when you say he's lucky to have been stuck with Saf, Retha, and Kai, some sort of expression crosses his face before disappearing.
Maybe they weren't as considerate as you thought.
Day 74: Zaun
Sevika collapses onto a back-alley couch with a long sigh. One day keeping the little hellion from starting a war with glitter or a body count—or both—and she was exhausted. You actually volunteered to wrangle Jinx to keep her out of Silco's hair.
Perhaps you'd breathed in more mining gases than you thought.
Day 75: Zaun
After hearing about the day Sevika had had, Ran was prepared to bug her but decides against it after seeing the bags under her eyes. Instead of poking fun at her or pointing out the bits of glitter embedded in her arm, they ask how the plant was doing and if Sevika needed any help with it.
Too worn out to argue, Sevika gratefully accepts—it wasn't just the previous day that had gotten to her, she'd been up late trying to figure out how to keep that damned plant from dying.
Day 76: Zaun
[…]
I'd heard of what people could get up to when snowed in but that makes half your team now. Is there something in the water up there and can you bring me some?
Umm… the rocks… there may have been an incident involving explosives. I'm fine, don't worry. It wasn't that big a deal.
How is this the first time I'm hearing about those enforcers roughing you up?! You never said anything and I thought you were just breathing hard from nerves and talking so much.
- Ran
Day 77:
It had been strange not immediately replying to Ran but you thought of how if this had been in person, you'd have waited for them to cool off if that's what they wanted, especially knowing the whole reason they were wound so tightly was because of you.
You didn't want to wait too long to reply, though, and thankfully you didn't have to.
[…]
I hope that person at least deserved it and you didn't break your hand.
I remember. The highlight of my week was crawling through tunnels tight even for a kid but it was better than being around all that machinery and got me some peace and quiet for a bit. Thought that would be my life, a miserable little cog to be used up and tossed aside.
Then I was dropped in front of some kid who inexplicably took a shining to me even after I wrecked their hideout.
It was so much easier back then.
Feel free to use anything at my place to keep that seedling alive, but I'm sure you already figured that out. Hopefully you did otherwise it may be too late when you get this.
P.S. It didn't even occur to me to call you that but thanks for the idea.
Day 78:
When you get a letter from Zaun, you think it's from Ran and are surprised to see it wasn't. Ran had said Sevika missed you by you didn't know she cared enough to write.
Of course most of her letter had to do with Ran.
Did the guy happen to have a prominent scar on his right cheek and another going from his forehead into his hairline? If so, that wasn't some guy and he definitely deserved it. As long as he doesn't show up again, I doubt Ran'll do anything like that again.
"Thought"? You two back together?
By moping, do you mean long, heavy sighs and looking wistful when they think no one's watch, looking like they'll start bawling at the slightest inconvenience, and the like? Like how they got when that brothel worker they really like moved away?
I hear that you have a new plant. Here's what you need to do…
[…]
Day 79:
Between Nic's reaction the other day and your gut, you confront Saf, Kai, and Retha on his behalf—he was too polite to say anything himself. His parents were already giving him shit for not having heirs, he didn't need people to assume his lack of interest in sex meant they could do anything leading up to or involving sex around him. Especially if he was locked in there with them.
The trio has the decency to be embarrassed, having taken his silence as permission and getting caught up in the moment, and start coming up with how best to apologize.
Day 80:
Success!
Maybe.
It's all still mostly theory but I achieved a proof-of-concept, albeit by species from the same climate and the fungus was one that already readily forms symbiosis. The colonies around the sump are a different species so I'll have to talk to a local mycologist—if they reject all the foreign plants, it's back to square one.
The good news is a lot of plants here could work and might actually survive the underground. At least for a bit.
Like I said, it's all still theory until I can see what accepts what and how the resulting hybrids react to actual conditions, and see how stable they are. It wouldn't do if they only survived a day or two but even a few weeks may be fine. It all depends on their uptake.
I'm including a more detailed copy of my theory, notes, and specific steps to take with this letter. I'd love to see this through but it's too important to keep to myself and one thing I've learned is nothing is guaranteed.
Of course this means I need to get as many samples of as many plants as possible and this time you can't complain about it. Not all will survive collection or the trip back, and not all will survive both that and their new home.
It's currently… late. I'm not sure how late but everyone else is asleep but I'm wide awake. I can hear the wind outside so I can't even go to the lab. Of course the professor would kick me out so they could sleep.
You know that one coffee stall you swear adds something to make their coffee more palatable and potent? It feels like I chugged a few cups of that.
I know most of this probably doesn't make sense to you. One wrong calculation and the whole thing's useless, but if it works maybe I'll be able to do some good.
Enough about me, though. What's this about you and Sevika getting together? Or not together? Casual?
I can't keep track and Sevika only briefly mentioned it.
[…]
Day 80: Zaun
It's too soon to tell if Ran's intervention was enough but Sevika's seedling had at least stopped deteriorating and was looking slightly better. They knew a surprising amount and knew their way around your place and what everything did.
Day 82: Zaun
Believe me, I'm kicking myself for encouraging you to go. Thought it would be over in the blink of an eye, not drag on like it is.
I thought I only had to worry about hypothermia and you fighting a bear, now I have to worry about you asphyxiating, too? I thought you scientists were supposed to be smart. Good thing you noticed and those buildings are so drafty, though for it to build up that much that quickly…
If I find out it was this Sebastian fellow and it was deliberate…
That connection is a simple slide and lock but it doesn't move? At all? Glad you're getting it checked out.
Did you bring your cream or can you get something similar there? It might not fix the underlying problem but if you can numb the hip, you could at least get some sleep.
- Ran
Day 83:
Given how you found out, you were surprised how mindful Marci and Theo were now. Not once since they'd announced they were together did they do more than hold hands or snuggle when anyone else was around or might interrupt.
If I'm to call Sevika small, I'm also going to tell her you called her old. Whatever she does after is out of my hands.
But I did send her something. You've probably already figure that out by the time you get this, though. I gave her a list of how to care for a mystery seedling and told her to ask you for anything else.
She's concerned about you starting fights now.
[…]
Day 85:
You hadn't thought much of it at the time but after thinking it over, you decided you should write to Sevika properly. The problem was, you didn't know what that looked like. She was nice once you got to know her but she never struck you as the sentimental type. But then, she took a seedling?
Sure she listened to your ramblings but she'd never expressed interest in botany and it could just be out of a sense of obligation given you were a friend-now-partner of Ran's.
There were times you'd even flirted with each other but nothing ever came of it so you'd moved on.
Now Ran said she missed you? They'd just dropped that on you with no direction.
Didn't know you were interested in flora talk when there wasn't a stiff drink or deck of cards involved. You're always so busy, I thought sending you anything would be an annoyance and you have enough of those, but now I'm wondering if I should have sent more.
I can feel your eyes narrowing from here so yes, Ran suggested this. They didn't know I already wrote you something, though. Time delays and all.
You're mechanically inclined, aren't you? Say a limb got water damage, how would that go?
[…]
Day 87:
With the end being less than a month away, it was hard to concentrate on anything even though there were still over three weeks to go, plenty of time to work on something. Your thoughts kept turning to home, though, and you couldn't shake the feeling something had happened. The feeling gets so strong, the others notice.
However, your withdrawal and listlessness is interpreted to be that of general homesickness and strain coming from your leg you were no longer able to hide. Thinking all you need is to be distracted and have someone do heavier work for you, they set about doing just that and you don't bother to correct them.
Ran's letter did nothing to improve your mood or assuage the feeling something was happening in Zaun you weren't there for.
After convincing the others you were fine, you wait until everyone's asleep to respond, not wanting an audience.
Hope you're okay. Can't help but
You stop yourself from continuing. As much as you wanted to seek comfort even if it meant being told you were overthinking things that weren't even there, that would only worry them needlessly and do neither of you any good. You just needed sleep—it would be fine in the morning.
On a fresh sheet of paper, you start again.
What do you mean explosives?! Why were you anywhere near some to begin with? It is a big deal and Silco's lucky I'm all the way out here otherwise I'd barge into his office demanding to know why he's dragging you around those. You'd think he'd know the danger of them.
Place them wrong, use too much or too little, don't set up enough structural support… Even if you do everything right, you can still release gases or expose things that should never be exposed to air.
So many things can go wrong and when they go wrong, it's a good day when someone is only injured instead of killed.
Don't want you to be one of them.
Sigh. Now I'm the one who needs to cool off and it's too late to take that merc up on her offer to spar. Maybe I'll just toss myself in a snowbank.
Plants, plants, plants. Cold. Leg. Plants, plants. You know the drill by now.
Day 90: Zaun
It was your old boss so he definitely deserved it. If Sevika hadn't pulled me off him, I'm not sure what I would have done, but it was cathartic and let me work off some steam.
Still can't believe what he had you do.
You falling through the ceiling was the best thing that happened to me.
It's a good thing I didn't wait for your permission because that seedling would be dead by now. It was nearly dead when I saw it. Let me know what I owe you for because saving that plant was no easy feat.
- some kid
P.S. How did you not think of that already? Can I take back what I said so you never think of it?
Day 90: Zaun
He might have? I was too busy to get a good look. He hasn't shown his face again but if he does, I may be slow to act since both of you agree he deserves it. Killing a paying customer isn't the best for business or keeping a low profile, but I'll look the other way in this case.
When I say moping, it's all that but worse. They pull it together at work but when they think no one's watching…
The reason they thought we slept together was because they got absolutely plastered and followed me home. You know how they get when they have too much so they spent the whole time rambling about how great you are and how much they missed you. They even crawled into my bed to keep rambling when I just wanted to sleep.
If I knew they'd get weird about it, I'd have kicked them out.
So no, we aren't back together. You saw what happened when we tried.
- Sevika
Day 92: Zaun
The emotion of the day was puzzlement. First Sevika asking about your old boss in earnest then you asking if the two of them were together or hooking up again… Whatever were you talking about?
Add in all the technical science-y stuff and Ran felt they didn't understand more than they understood.
Best and worse coffee in all of Zaun. Great if you need to wake up fast but don't have it if you need to sleep any time soon.
So a strange thing happened. Sevika came up to me and asked about your old boss. That's your story to tell but then she said you signed off on any and all further violence against him? Am I getting that right?
I'm not complaining, I'm just surprised you got her on board with it. Honestly I think she might beat him herself even if I'm not there.
And no, we aren't getting back together and we didn't hook up. It was a misunderstanding on my part. I had a bit too much so didn't remember anything about why I was at her place or in her bed. Didn't tell you because I didn't know how I felt then learned what (didn't) happen.
Maybe I should have anyway?
You'd think I'd be better at this but I guess we should talk when you get back?
- Ran
Day 95:
The group's pidgin had developed well thanks to the wall of words and finding out scientific names were more similar than not, but this was still a good opportunity and you'd been meaning to work on your Vastayan, though Saf was already outpacing you with it.
Marci's patient with you, though, and you now understand the basics. In return, you were able to teach her some of the curses you'd learned in Zaun.
[…]
It wasn't him and that's probably the only time you'll catch me defending him. It could have been the result of several people and was a complete accident. Now that I've had some time to calm down, it might not have been able to get to lethal amounts but I'm not taking any chances with it.
That's what concerns me. It was so easy to take off before, now it doesn't even budge. I can't get enough leverage and no one else knows what to look for.
Dare I say it?
And I used the cream up. Didn't think I'd need it so didn't bring a fresh tin, which I'm now regretting. There's an apothecary that makes a salve but it doesn't do much for me, just takes the edge off.
You'd think one of us would remember that metal saps heat and contracts in the cold.
[…]
Day 95: Zaun
Ran hovers beside Sevika, fingers twitching, as a woman who insulted chem-barons to their face hesitates on to prune burned leaves. The mystery plants were a hardy bunch but this one had only survive thanks to Ran's intensive care and would be stunted going forward.
It was finally strong enough for Sevika to care for it—with supervision—and if she wanted to keep it, she had to learn.
Fighting dirty now, are we?
Since I apparently have a hair-trigger, I'm not sure if you want to go down that route. There's some stories I could tell her.
- Ran
Day 96: Zaun
Unlike Ran, Sevika waits until she's home to see what you sent. That didn't mean she wasn't curious—it was far too soon to get a reply so this letter was something else. She'd never expressed interest in being pen pals so either something happened or Ran had done some meddling.
She chuckles when you don't even deny they did.
The drinks and gambling are incidental. After hearing people lie, make excuses, or talk about fungal infections all day every day, it's nice to hear someone being earnest. I don't usually have anything to add but that doesn't mean I'm not listening or not enjoying it.
Water damage… It depends. Is it in the plating? Joints? Mechanisms? It also depends on what type of corrosion there is, if there's pitting, and if there's any deposits building up. There's coatings you can get and some metals are better at withstanding it than others, but coatings get scratched and if the prosthetic uses a cheaper metal…
This is about your leg, isn't it? Ran told me you were having trouble with it.
I can take a look at it when you get back if you want, but it might not be worth trying to save. It was already old and you've been pushing its limits—something's going to give eventually.
I'll get you a deal with the Scrap Hackers to get a new one.
Stop worrying about if you should have sent more or not. Too late to change it now.
- Sevika
Day 97: Zaun
It's getting late to reply but even if you get their response only a few days before you start the trek home, that's a few days where you won't worry and can think of what to say next.
Did you tell Sevika the stick story? Maybe it was a coincidence but she called someone a stick in the mud.
While looking at me.
While smirking.
I swore you to secrecy for that.
Knew I shouldn't have brought them up but you would have found out eventually but maybe it was for the best I mentioned the explosives because you trying to barge into Silco's office would put a lot of people in awkward positions.
I'm still here. No lasting damage. Let's leave it at that, yeah?
But spill it—what's wrong?
- Ran
P.S. That merc was flirting with you. How did you get by before me?
Day 100:
Without much new to report, you decide to send Sevika sketches so she didn't feel left out. You weren't the best artist but it was better than nothing. Dropping one off first-thing, the postmaster hands you two letters—you'd developed a rapport so she knew you now. She knew all of you to varying degrees but you spent the most time talking with her.
After reading them over, you break your habit of only writing at night.
First you write Ran:
[…]
Got a letter at the same time as yours from Sevika saying she'll look the other way if that bastard comes back. Not sure he will but I'm not going to try to talk you out of it, and that's about as close to Sevika giving her blessing as you'll get.
She really helped you out, huh? Haven't seen you get that drunk in a while.
Not sure how many more letters I'll send, at least with any substance. I said I'd write you every day and damned if I'm going to stop now. Hopefully you're also counting the days and have come to the same conclusion.
P.S. You cannot.
Then Sevika:
Got a letter from Ran confirming who he was—he was definitely the problem. I'm guessing they were also a bit high-strung when he showed up but they've had it out for him for a while now.
Thanks for watching out for them and putting up with their drunken antics. Not sure when exactly the last time I took care of them when they were like that but it involved stroking their head while they alternated between babbling and bawling and refusing to drink some water.
Add in being in a moping mood… I'm surprised you didn't murder them.
I love them but they can be a pain in the ass at times.
Not sure if Ran told you what the expected delay is for letters but don't bother replying now. Well, I guess I probably should have told you that before, but definitely don't reply to anything past this point.
The postmaster is surprised to see you so soon. You ask if she can hang onto letters and send them out for you—you had an idea but it would only work if she could. You barely finished asking when she said she would with a twinkle in her eye.
Day 102:
All of you had come here expecting to return home after, to stay on the same path laid out for you, but for some of you, that had changed.
Saf, Retha, and Kai would go as far as Demacia Retha and Kai would have an easier time getting home from there. Saf wasn't particularly committed to Noxus and wanted to get a feel for Demacia before deciding what to do. Unlike Marci and Theo, the three of them weren't set on staying together but were considering their options.
Marci and Theo had already decided on what they were doing. They'd stay in Piltover for a couple extra days before splitting up, temporarily, so Theo could bring someone else up to speed before moving to Ixtal to rejoin Marci there. She had a lot more to lose and was committed to her people while Theo didn't mind helping her with her own research or mind the idea of being a trophy husband.
Sounded like it was more than "a bit".
I'd have liked it if you had but don't beat yourself up over it. What about it made you unsure how you felt? We probably should talk. I'm agreeing with you but even then it sounds a bit ominous.
Day 105:
After a storm, the saunas at the tavern were always busy so you tried to come at different times and often alone or with someone who wouldn't want much steam but you wanted to get a final session in. You weren't the only one. Crammed together with Simone, Kai, Nic, and Retha, you enjoy the heat as it worms its way into and loosens your muscles.
On the way back, you take a quick detour to send Ran a short reply. By now, the postmaster knew who and where you sent letters and for this one you only needed a scrap of paper and something to write with.
And I could tell her your new nickname.
If we go down, we go down together.
Day 107:
As eager as you were to get back to Zaun and see Ran again, packing's still bittersweet. These were people you'd come to care about and you'd miss them. Well, most of them—some of Sebastian's edges had been sanded off but there were plenty of others and he still looked down on anything and anyone from the undercity.
It was perhaps a bit early to pack up but so much had been scattered between the dorms, it took time to sort out where everything was and who owned what.
You also didn't feel particularly useful, not being able to move as fluidly as you had when you first got here. Compensating for your reduced mobility was taking its toll and you couldn't hide it anymore.
Day 110
Retha was more than happy to sketch your request though she didn't understand why you wanted it or why you started laughing when you see it. After assuring her it was for an in-joke, you slip it in an envelope and take the bundle of mail to the postmaster.
It's the final time you'll see her so you aren't in much of a hurry and it seems fitting that this time you're handing over more than one or two letters. You'll be back in Zaun within the week as long as the weather holds but you make a plan to have letters and sketches sent as if you were still here.
Day 111:
The hike down to the harbour is long and slow, winter storms had covered the path and you weren't the only one leaving with more than you'd come with. Even after getting used to hiking up and down the ridge countless times, navigating unbroken snow while carrying more than just some tools, a notebook, and maybe a bag was a challenge.
By the time you make it to the docks, your back is seizing up while your hip throbs and phantom pain burns your missing knee. It's the final even you'll all be together but you're forced to call it an early night.
Day 113:
It's late when you get into Piltover but it was lucky you were here at all—a late winter squall had threatened to trap your ship in the shelter of the harbour. Staying there would have been the smart thing to do, the safe choice. It also meant waiting for potential days.
That's when you learned the captain of the ship liked the challenge and was a bit infamous for venturing into hazardous waters and weather.
You made good time with the wind at your aft.
Only to end up waiting on airships.
You were supposed to get back in the early afternoon but night had fallen and the day workers were long gone. Except for the stacks of goods set out to be moved onto airships at first light, you wouldn't have known this as a trading hub. Since it's so late, Nic offers to put you up for a night but you were impatient to get home with it being so close.
Waving farewell to what remained of your group, you walk away with growing anticipation and apprehension.
As you pass one of the piles of crates, "'Bout time you showed up. Thought you got lost."
All at once, you come to an abrupt stop, your breath hitches, and your heart skips a beat. Ran's voice is rougher than you remember and yours is suddenly missing. Ran's eyebrow quirks up after you try and fail to speak. Swallowing, you try again.
"How'd I get lost on an airship?" you ask.
"You'd find a way," they grin. Hopping down, they stroll over, wrapping you in a tight hug. Everything falls away as you return the fierceness with prickling at your eyes. After standing like that for an unknown amount of time, the approach of boots and chattering snaps you out of your reverie.
Pushing Ran against the crates, you press close and hold a hand over their mouth. Surprised, Ran gives you a quizzical look but doesn't make a noise or resist. Relying on the dark and hope that no one would look back, the group passes. With a sigh of relief, you pull back when they're far enough away.
"Not exactly complaining," Ran says, "but weren't those your friends?"
"Yeah."
"So why hide?"
That was a good question and you didn't really know yourself. "Habit, I guess?" You start picking up your discarded bags and your wheeled trunk. "And you're still a bit of a mystery to them. A mystery who threatened them. Guess I want to keep some things secret."
Ran takes the bags from you and sets them back down. "And because I might kick one of them off the dock?"
"And because you might kick one of them off the dock," you agree. Going back to the warm embrace, a few minutes pass as you let the group pull further away and make sure no one runs back to collect something forgotten. You're sure Ran wants to meet everyone but if you wanted them to remain a mystery, they'd stay here.
"You were late getting in," they say as they start picking up your bags and trunk again. "Made the topsiders nervous and had a nice chat with some enforcers." They hand you the lightest bag, knowing you wouldn't want them carrying everything.
Taking it, "Didn't think you'd still be here," you admit.
"Said I would, didn't I?" Ran sets out at a moderate pace and you follow. "By the way, we're going to a coming of age ceremony in a few weeks." You had no idea how they did that—at least this time it wasn't to a birth or funeral.
By the time you get home, your back aches and your hip felt like it was on fire. After trudging through snow or standing on a ship's deck in choppy water, you'd have thought this would be easy—you didn't even need to carry anything substantial—but you were limping bad and sweat clung to you from the exertion.
According to Ran, you looked like someone who'd listened when told to kick rocks and you felt like it. You wanted nothing more than to collapse and wash the sweat and salt from your pores but you couldn't yet. Not all the cuttings had survived the brief stint across the world but those that had you wanted to get set up as soon as possible.
With Ran's help, you transfer the survivors while they fill you in on what all you missed and what they'd been up to since they couldn't put much in writing. At one point, you say it sounded like the chem-barons were coppicing instead of properly excising resistance but Ran doesn't quite understand what you mean and you aren't sure you're explaining it well.
There was a book you had, though, that had a handy illustration so you go to get it but don't come back immediately. After a couple minutes, Ran follows you to see what was taking so long but anything they might have said dies on their lips as they spot you completely passed out on your bed.
Smiling softly, they wipe their hands on their pants, set the book you'd grabbed on the nightstand, and wake you just enough to get you under the covers. You're fully asleep before they finish tucking you in. Any other time they'd help you out of your clothes or take your prosthetic off for you but you must be completely exhausted and, if your limp was any indication of how much you'd been minimizing things, you hadn't been getting much sleep for a while.
Sheets could be washed and one more night wearing your prosthetic wouldn't hurt at this point. You needed the sleep more and from what Sevika had said, the leg was destined for the scrap heap anyway.
Shutting off the lights, they retreat from your room but leave the door cracked slightly. It was doubtful you'd need anything but if you started having a nightmare, Ran wanted to be able to hear right away.
As quietly as they can, they finish transferring the cuttings and fix the ones you made mistakes with. You might not always think it but they do pay attention to how you do things and the delicate balance to keep things alive down here that were never meant to survive the underground. They'd even looked up how best to keep alpine and alpine-adjacent plants alive after learning you'd be bringing a bunch of clippings back.
It also helped that they'd been reading through your care guides to keep their seedlings alive and pull Sevika's back from the brink.
Still high from you being back—even if you were currently unconscious the next room over—Ran starts unpack the rest of your bags and trunk. Most of what you'd brought back were the plants but not all and you always hated unpacking.
Pulling out your clothing, anything that needs washing gets tossed in one pile while they refold the rest. Even with your attempts at folding, days of travel and digging through your clothes had turned them into vaguely folded balls that would wrinkle if left like they were. Your notebooks make less sense but are easier to sort—you had the habit of scribbling the date or order on the inside cover.
It would be faster for you to organize them but Ran was happy to get you started.
The rest is miscellaneous items but a few catch their attention with their odd shapes and wrapping. Puzzled, they pick one up only for their eyes to go wide in recognition as they hear sloshing. You'd never mentioned getting souvenirs and they were dying to know what you got them but, reluctantly, they put the bottle back and move that bag to the side.
If you wanted to surprise people, they wouldn't ruin that for you.
After running out of things to do and reading a bit on your couch, the day and all the waiting catches up to them. You're still fast asleep when they crawl in beside you. There was a lot they wanted to say but it could wait—right now it was good just to have you back.
—
A/N: So this started off as something mostly different in January but it never quite meshed. Picked it up and redid it as a birthday present to myself but it Never. Stopped. Growing. Birthday's long since passed and this became so long, I didn't get to it becoming Ranvika x Reader.
As for buttercups... I was looking for a plant that survives in H2 zones and did a doubletake when I saw the glacier buttercup AKA Ranunculus glacialis. I was just looking for a throwaway flower not a whole plot point and origin story for a nickname I hadn't considered until that moment.
How it started: "This fic is mostly done so it should be a quick pass to clean things up."
How it's going: Adding days, more interactions, deepening the foundations for Ranvika, throwing in foreshadowing for some comfort (little hurt), and so on.
I have some major changes to the ending planned so the word count may come down but it's at about 11k, up from 9k, and I still have roughly a month left (out of 4 months + ending) and have days to add so I think a double digit word count is going to happen.
Sure word count isn't everything but, for me, the final editing pass is about the same amount or less as I tighten things up and cut superfluous sentences/paragraphs yet here I am adding thousands of words while I also tighten things up.
But Ran(vika) x Reader fans on Tumblr deserve to eat and it's a fun dynamic to play around with.
And I have one spreadsheet to keep track of different conversations going on (5 right now, give or take), another table that's just of the day and what was said so I don't have to keep scrolling up, notes on what days were added/what I need to revisit...
Normally I just have basic plot beats and the gist of the reader, this one made me break out Excel because conversations happen over the span of weeks and I can't hold them all in my head.
Overkill? Maybe but if anyone accuses me of using an LLM, they have that and pages of research proving them very wrong.
How it started: "This fic is mostly done so it should be a quick pass to clean things up."
How it's going: Adding days, more interactions, deepening the foundations for Ranvika, throwing in foreshadowing for some comfort (little hurt), and so on.
I have some major changes to the ending planned so the word count may come down but it's at about 11k, up from 9k, and I still have roughly a month left (out of 4 months + ending) and have days to add so I think a double digit word count is going to happen.
Sure word count isn't everything but, for me, the final editing pass is about the same amount or less as I tighten things up and cut superfluous sentences/paragraphs yet here I am adding thousands of words while I also tighten things up.
But Ran(vika) x Reader fans on Tumblr deserve to eat and it's a fun dynamic to play around with.
Synopsis: You have an idea of how to force a confrontation but keep the method to yourself until there's no choice but to reveal it and no time for Sevika to properly push back against it.
Genre: Angst
POV: Second
Warnings: Self-harm
Word count: 3.3k
Note:
The self-harm section is contained and starts just after the ▼!▼ and ends at the ▲▲▲.
If you want to skip it all, scroll to below the ▲▲▲
There may be mentions of it in passing going forward but nothing in detail.
—
When Sevika questioned you on what your plan was, you didn't elaborate—she knew what she needed to and if she expected you to continue to trust her, she could trust you here. She wasn't pleased when you told her that but she did stop pushing for an answer to how you planned on catching the attention of this other mage.
You were glad of that. At this point, your conviction was set but it still wavered and her pestering you would make you doubt yourself or destroy what chance there was to control when or where this confrontation happened. The timing needed to be exact to avoid tipping your hand and you couldn't do that if you were fending off Sevika and her questions or, worse yet, have to deal with her trying to talk you out of it.
You knew what you needed to do but this still relied on things out of your control. The other mage taking the bait, their talents being something that could be overcome, only having to take on a single mage… Sharpened steel in your hand, coins weighing down your purse, the solidness of the ground under your feet, those were things you could control and count on, not this.
If it had only been you, you'd never have risked it, but this would never stop until you died or were caught and for as long as it did, innocents would keep getting swept up into it. This was as good a place as any to make your final stand.
You didn't know that would be the case when you came here—if you had, you might not have come at all—but when did you ever get what you want? You'd wanted an alternative to the accursed scars that forced you to remember everything, to have some semblance of peace. It wasn't much and you'd paid for it several times over yet here you were, risking everything and for what? So others could continue enjoying peace you'd never known?
Then again, they never asked to get caught up in this just like you'd never asked to be a pawn in someone else's game but you'd still gone and dragged this onto their doorstop.
If turning around and smacking your relentless shadow was the price of peace for others, might as well pay for it now.
▼!▼
When Sevika reported the mage was in the city, you handed her the list you'd drawn up of what you needed and could see her dour expression turn to one of muted dismay as she guessed what you were planning—at least what it involved. It was too late to change anything, though, and when she returned you finally filled her in on the plan.
It's tense as you wait for the signal. You wouldn't have much time when it hit so when the safe house shakes from a dull explosion, you rush to start.
"Shit, that's a lot of blood," Sevika mutters when you finish removing the first set of scars.
"Like you haven't seen blood before," you snap back. The rolling waves of pain demanded attention but you're already moving onto the next set as Sevika packs the wounds from the first. It had been tempting to let her do this but she'd have found a way to mess it up and you didn't fancy trying to correct her mistakes. At least this way, you knew it was done right the first time.
Too bad that meant you couldn't take anything for the pain, not when you had to work fast.
And that you had to put up with her nagging.
"Don't get so close to the artery," she says. As if you didn't know where the femoral artery was.
"I know that!" You put that rune there to begin with, you didn't need her or anyone to tell you to be aware of your margins. Even if you'd gotten closer than you liked, it couldn't be helped when you had to be so decisive or that your hand had jerked dangerously close before you could stop it. "Just shut up and pack the damned thing!"
It was already getting hard to retain any sense of composure and when you go to make a cut, your hand baulks, knowing the pain that would come after. You're struggling to force it when a warm, steady hand rests on yours, not taking over but just by being there, you're able to continue.
By the end, you're covered in sweat and blood, no longer worried about composure or your utter lack of it. The poultice you'd made to staunch the bleeding and numb pain wasn't working as effectively as it usually did so instead of the soothing numbness you were used to, you felt everything with only the edge filed back.
Shivering from pain and a growing exhaustion, you stare at the ceiling with glassy eyes and panting. Oblivion licks at your conscious but you don't give in. Can't. You only had until Sevika finished cleaning up and you could stand before the next phase started—there was no time for a nap.
You're sure Sevika isn't moving as fast as she could. You don't mind the extra minutes of rest but eventually have enough. Pushing yourself to your feet, your head swims but you realize it too late. Already committed, you feel yourself start to fall. Would have if strong arms hadn't grabbed you first.
Using Sevika to stand up, your chest is heaving but your knees lock to keep you upright—as long as you weren't expected to run, you could manage a slow, stiff walk. "Ready?" you croak at her.
Sevika eyes your tender posture, her hands not hovering but never straying far. She kicks the bloody rags on the floor to the side. "Yes but are you?"
You could have laughed but settle for a half-grin. "Kind of have to be."
It was a silly question. She knew as well as you that once you started, there was no going back. That no matter the state you were in, there was no choice but to keep going and by doubting you, you were all the more eager to go.
▲▲▲
"It's a busted fan," Sevika says after feeling you flinch. "Probably from that explosion you had us rig." There's the veneer of mockery but even that was thin. She hadn't even said anything about you commandeering her cloak.
"I knew that," you huff indignantly. "… Was anyone hurt?" Not that she'd know any better than you.
She shrugs. "You wanted to get their attention. Bit late to reconsider the method."
A method you'd suggested.
"How long we been at this now?" you ask. Normally you were much better at estimating time but you didn't trust yourself when it felt like you were moving through sludge or that you swore you blacked out at times. Maybe you'd nicked something after all.
Sevika does the calculations that you couldn't. "Hours. Long enough for people to get bored and realize the flames aren't spreading." She pauses before adding, "If someone was hurt, there'd still be activity." She didn't point out that that only applied if someone was still alive.
Somehow she'd found boxes in the dark to sit you on and now you rest your head against her arm, letting your eyelids droop and eyes unfocus. "How can you tell?"
"Just can," Sevika answers plainly before remembering you weren't from Zaun. "Industrial accidents happen. There's a big rush at first but once it's deemed safe to let a fire burn itself out, people go about their day or go back to bed. I don't hear many people now and the morning shift hasn't started."
You nod absently. Even though you'd asked, your mind had drifted to hoping you wouldn't have to move again any time soon. The plan had been to wander around close enough to the wreckage to make it seem like you'd been caught in it but far enough away you wouldn't be noticed. Then Sevika had changed the plan so it was standing or sitting in place and only occasionally moving.
It was about time to move, you think, but you didn't want to.
You pull the cloak tighter around you and your pulse is shallower than usual—something had definitely gone wrong. That's something you should probably be more concerned about than you were.
"That was incredibly reckless," Sevika says quietly, the first time she'd mentioned anything about what you did.
You huff. "As if you care."
"Who says I don't?"
Your breathing pauses—you don't know what to do with that, especially when you can't come up with a biting quip. With a grunt, you change the subject. "Weren't you supposed to be the bait this time?"
Sevika raises an eyebrow but follows your lead. "You were the one who chose to be bait this time, remember?" Her eyes flick down at you when you don't answer—she silently curses at herself for not putting an end to this sooner. "Screw this, you need rest." She moves as if she might pick you up, a move that both rouses you and deprives you of your pillow.
"We have one shot at this. If you care anything for Zaun, you'll keep going."
That gets Sevika to stop but she sighs heavily—you must be desperate to play that card. "We'll figure something else out."
"This will work," you insist.
"Well it hasn't," she sharply counters.
Both her words and her tone make you freeze before slumping back in defeat. You really had thought this would work, now you didn't even have the energy to go.
Pulling her cloak tighter around you, you exhale. "Sorry I got you into this."
You couldn't see it but her eyes fly wide at that. She didn't know if you'd ever uttered a remotely sincere apology in her direction but she had seen you give up completely once before. Then instead of letting you keep going, of washing her hands of you, she got you to stay. She was as complicit as you now. Maybe more.
Yet you were apologizing to her.
"Knew you were trouble the moment you stepped in the bar," she says fondly, helping you down as slowly as you needed. She could throw you over her shoulder—and she still might—but you were stubborn and overly proud, barring grievous injury or being unconscious, you'd insist on walking. "We will think of something else."
You nod, taking her right arm when she offers it, hanging on with both arms. You hadn't lost enough blood to feel like this, so weak and helpless. The situation was dire but when had that stopped you? Not that it mattered when your plan had failed. You should probably tell Sevika, though.
Before you can, she abruptly stops.
"Looks like you got your wish," she mutters. Peering in the dark, you couldn't see what she was talking about until a blob of darkness detaches from the rest.
"I always forget trenchers pay more attention to shadows than most." As soon as the blob stops moving, you lose track of it. "It's annoying."
Sevika's eyes never leave one spot. "Comes from living underground," she responds. As you let her go, you partially expect her to leave you alone—it wouldn't be the first time that happened—but instead of walking off, she takes a step forward, putting herself between you and the voice.
The dark notices and clicks their tongue. "You taught your dog well but you forgot to teach it manners," they disapprove. "A dog should remain silent in the face of superiors." As out of it as you were, you frown and start connecting dots but before you can finish, Sevika speaks up.
"Say that again," she growls.
"Once again it speaks out of turn," the voice in the dark says. "I was talking to the master, not the cur." Your skin crawled at how they were speaking.
You could barely see her but you could hear the fan in Sevika's arm rev up. "Call me a dog one more time," she says through clenched teeth, the threat obvious. Your eyes dart to her realizing just how tense everything was getting—you had to think of something.
Not helping matters, the dark laughs and the shiver that went up your spine had nothing to do with how cold you were. "It will be fun to break you, mutt."
"You can't have her," you blurt. After a steadying breath, you speak louder and with more authority. "You cannot take her." Thankfully Sevika holds firm but you knew she was at her limit—one more insult and nothing you could do would stop her when you were like this.
The darkness addresses you. "You speak as if you have some say in the matter."
"She's marked, bound to me. The only way for you to take her is to kill me." A bluff but you had to say something, to speak in a way this other mage understood.
"You?" Laughter comes from the dark again but this time there's uncertainty in it—you'd succeeded in making them doubt what they knew about you. "Even if you have, I need only wait. It doesn't look like you have long and even if you linger, I can chain her for however long that takes."
Your heart was racing and you wondered how much they could see or had seen. "Thought you needed me alive."
The darkness seems to shrug. "Accidents happen. I want your dog, not you." Your eyes dart to Sevika but you can still see her standing still. She was taut and you were sure she was grinding her teeth, but still there.
You exhale at that. "Can I say no to this?" You were having trouble focusing enough to remain formal so you stop.
"You just did."
"Right… Guess we're really doing this, huh?" Your casual tone wasn't an act. Sevika could stand to do something now.
"Was that not the point of your invitation?" the darkness asks.
Invitation? "Fair point," you concede. "But can I ask you something first, mage to mage?"
"… Yes…?"
"This dog thing, is it some sort of fetish all mages have?" You didn't know what you were saying other than it was the first thing that came to mind that remotely made sense.
"What? No—"
"'Cause I don't know if I qualify if it's a requirement," you continue. The good part about fading now was you could just keep talking about whatever and it seemed to work.
Sevika was dragging her feet, though.
"It's—"
"Sure I tick the 'has magic' box but pet play? I'd have to explore that more. Never really got the chance, you know?"
"Wh—"
"I should really get on that, it being a requirement and all. Wonder if—"
"It's not a requirement!" they snap.
You blink. "It's not? So it's just you?" You swear you hear a slight chuckle from in front of you. If Sevika was letting you go on just to see what you would say, she was meaner than you thought.
The dark swallows its initial response. "I wasn't going to let you live," they admit, "but now I might just to see how much you annoy him—" anything more that was going to be said is cut off as Sevika finally acts. You'd have liked to hear more but you were relieved to have someone else take over—it wasn't visible under the cloak but your limbs were trembling and you'd felt the blood drain from your face as you were rambling.
Pink flares in the dark, giving the only reference point you had and only sight of a figure before the darkness consumes it again. A rush like that should have ended the fight before it properly began but there's only derisive chuckling as boots slide to a stop.
You were forgotten as pink bobbed and weaved in time with grunts, mesmerizing you until one of your knees starts to give out, jerking you back to the present. You'd been lead to believe Sevika was an accomplished fighter yet she had yet to land a single blow.
Feeling yourself slipping, you dig fingernails into your palm—hard—but either you couldn't squeeze hard enough or the pain from it blended together with everything else. You were missing something, something you knew. Sweat drips in an eye so you wipe it away before drawing a dagger. You didn't know what you could possibly do with it but it was habit.
As you're standing there, panting, you feel invisible eyes lock onto you. "None of that," says the dark that shouldn't have seen you. There's no time to wonder how they did that or what they meant before you yelp in surprise as chains wrench you in two.
Or at least that's how it feels.
Your attention turns from the fight to the cold, metal links wrapped around your arms, holding you fast—as if you could go anywhere if you weren't secured. The fabric of the cloak fouls the chain on the left but doesn't stop it from wrapping tightly around your arm, pulling the cloak off the rest of you. Hissing at the cold, you try pulling your right arm free but only succeed in dropping your dagger.
Your legs give out from the exertion but the chains remain rigid, holding you up as your weight causes the metal to dig into you. It hurt but only distantly. If you were a proper mage, you were sure you could get out of this. For a—your eyes fly open.
"They're a—?!" A third chain cuts you off as it winds its way through your mouth and behind your head.
"Don't ruin the surprise," tuts the dark as you gag on dirty metal. You had to let Sevika know she was facing a ferromancer but you couldn't move, couldn't talk. Not that her knowing would help—the mage was toying with her and once they grew bored, it would be over. She couldn't even offer you up now.
You groan in despair, bile rising in your throat as more sweat gets in your eyes but you can't wipe it away now. This had been your idea. You'd put Sevika in this position and now you were utterly helpless. This was never going to be a fair fight but you'd dared think there might be a chance.
All because you were cursed by the arcane. You could have been somewhere, anywhere, else. You could have had a family, a childhood, a life… instead you had nothing. You were death incarnate but never your own.
Until now.
You could feel the breath of your ghosts breathing down your neck, eager for you to finally join them.
Something soft hitting the ground cuts through everything but the chains still stood. You knew what that meant.
Bowing your head, you admit complete and total defeat. Not that it mattered, you couldn't do anything for anyone now.
A scream rings out. If you lived, there would be another ghost to keep you company, but you didn't care about that now. It all seemed so pointless.
A shudder runs through the chains before they give way. There should be pain from your knees impacting the ground. You should be worried about your tongue and teeth but there's nothing. If this new darkness wanted all your worries, all your misery, it was welcome to them.
—
A/N: This is where the major changes start. I've cleaned it up but there may be bits and pieces that are now red herrings instead of foreshadowing.
I knew Tumblr's text colour choices were limited but I forgot just how limited. Yes I could try messing with the HTML but *petulant child voice* I dun wanna.
We now return to your regularly scheduled fanfics.
Maybe.
Probably.
A mixture of being busy IRL and being compelled to knock out a lengthy rough draft for an idea that's been knocking around for a while now kind of derailed me but both are over.
It remains to be seen if it's any good in hindsight and the sober light of day but holy bittersweet. What do you mean I have to stop putting off going back to other fics now and actually fix them?
(also one involves essentially writing as a round (the song type) which wouldn't be so bad if I didn't keep adding new layers to keep track of. Add/change/cut one thing and I have to track down everything else referencing it to do the same. It got to the point I was using a spreadsheet to try to keep track of events/conversations.
Don't get me wrong I really like the fic, there are just a few points I want to change but that means busting out Excel because why not write things in a fashion where I can't keep everything in my head?
That's a load-bearing throwaway line but it's only obvious in 10-14 business days.)
Synopsis: Still reeling from your unfortunate discovery and its implications, you're forced to reassess everything while being stuck waiting even if it's not your first choice.
Genre: Angst
POV: Second
Warnings: None
Word count: 3.3k
—
Seeing you wouldn't be of any help but were in no condition to get in the way, Sevika stripped and disposed of the bodies with practiced ease, the familiarity giving her something to do while she considered your reaction and what it might mean. She knew you were downplaying how serious whatever it was you were involved in but now it seemed more serious than she'd thought—the last thing she needed was for a pissed off mage to be rampaging through the streets looking for you.
Perhaps that was an exaggeration, perhaps not, but she'd heard the stories about the destruction mages could cause and wasn't inclined to take chances, especially if those chances involved trigger-happy enforcers swarming the streets. She needed answers and she wasn't going to get them while you were in shock, something else that bothered her.
You'd never been unsettled—truly unsettled—by blood or violence no matter how much you pretended to be. You hadn't even reacted to dead bodies or hesitated to touch them like someone who'd lead a soft life might, yet something about what she wouldn't spare a thought on had caused a strong visceral reaction.
She knew she was missing something so as tempting as it was to leave you to whatever this was, she was stuck with you. At least until you could talk and that could take hours—she'd seen people go into shock before. Luckily it didn't take that long.
It's gradual but the room starts to come into focus. You didn't know where you were exactly, you could only recall brief flashes after seeing Grim's chest, only that it was small and seemed even smaller with the way Sevika was leaning against a wall, scowling at her own thoughts.
You should have felt trapped but even if you were, what was the point? The shuddering exhale signals you were ready for this interrogation to start.
For each question, you answer with monotone resignation—no the city wasn't in danger; you didn't know if Sevika was a target now or not; yes a mage was after you but you didn't know who or why—only showing emotion and getting animated when it came to why you'd reacted as you did. That may have had something to do with how that line of questioning wasn't until last so you were feeling more yourself by then.
You hadn't known how close you were when you called Grim and Scowl hounds to illustrate a point. The practice had been so reviled both mages and non-mages alike had tried to destroy all traces of it but there were references to it in passing—that was how you knew of it—with the bulk being from fragments and ceremonial texts.
You hadn't been looking for it but once you knew it was there, there was no unlearning it and you knew why there'd been a concerted effort to bury it. Your voice was coloured by anger at this point and you were talking without prompting so Sevika let you continue, her own disgust muted but still evident.
It had been a way to ensure absolute loyalty whether willingly or not but once complete, the ritual couldn't be undone—one's life was forever tied to the mage's from that point forward. For as twisted as the ritual was, all that was left was a mark on the victim that could be obscured or removed. Other than that, there were no other outward signs.
That was all you knew. Nothing you'd come across mentioned the toll it took on the mage or if there was some sense when the connection had been severed, but there were other ways to track someone. That mage would know something had happened when they did.
Grimacing, Sevika says, "Thought I was getting rid of one annoying mage, now you tell me a different one is going to show up looking for revenge."
"Who's fault is that?" you snap from nerves and because she was right. "I wanted to leave, you're the one who decided to confront them and get lethal about it."
"And I specifically asked if there was any need to keep them alive," she crosses her arms and glares at you, "or if I could act freely. You said I could do what I wanted."
"Well I didn't know about that," you toss back, one of your legs jostling up and down.
"Doesn't matter if you know or not, if there's even a chance you need to tell me. You didn't so don't blame me for your fuck up."
You open your mouth to say something more before pressing it thin. She had a point. Grim and Scowl wouldn't have been here if not for you and it was only a matter of time before someone with no morals showed up. Because of you and because you didn't think anyone would go through the effort to recreate what should have never existed. You bow your head, a silent admission of guilt.
You expect to be upbraided further but after some consideration, you're let off the hook. "Well, it's done now and I doubt a gift basket will cut it," sighs Sevika, "so how do we get out of this?"
"You want to… work together?"
Sevika lifts her shoulders. "I'm not letting you skip town and leave me to clean up the mess you dragged in here."
Practical as ever. "… Okay."
That was easy—Sevika thought you'd argue like you did with everything else. "I can handle the logistics," she continues, "but I know shit about magic or the people after you. You have five minutes to pull yourself together and start working on a solution. Got it?"
"… That was a bad pep talk." You did owe her enough to at least put her on the right track
"That wasn't a pep talk."
You stare at your clasped hands as your leg slows to a stop—you'd already had plenty of time, you didn't need more. "Can you get me their belongings? There may not be anything there but it's a start."
Like you thought, there was nothing in the bundles that would help—and not a trace of petricite—but this was what you did. When you were finished, the only plan was your usual one yet Sevika expressly forbid it. You gave her every chance to come up with one but time was closing in on you so you had no choice but to go with yours.
It was your way of helping and she was just being stubborn, refusing to let you do the one thing you knew would work as if she didn't want you out of her city. As if you hadn't resigned yourself to your fate after seeing the destruction left in your wake. Granted you thought it would be on the road and the company would be better but you'd had years to make begrudging peace with your lot in life.
As time went on, you stopped trying so hard to escape before finally stopping altogether—if you were to have a final stand, this was as good a place as any. As if sensing you were soon to join them, the old ghosts came more and more often. The two that looked on you with horror and despair, the one with pleading eyes and a jagged plank of wood between his ribs.
The sneering one you'd thought a friend. The kind one wreathed in flame you'd fallen for. Those and more were eager to welcome you and now there were two more. You didn't know how many of the other hunters had been condemned—just knowing two were was enough to make you sick. For as long as you lived, there'd always be more as Grim and Scowl's ghosts would remind you.
The only times the ghosts would retreat were when Sevika came by, something you resented her ability to do while looking forward to the peace, if bickering could be considered peaceful. That was happening slightly less often now, though, and sometimes there was something approaching small talk. Mostly the two of you were just bored by the lack of developments—there were even times you considered breaking out just to give both of you something to do.
You didn't but that didn't mean you didn't think it.
Sevika wasn't as bad as she seemed once you got to know her. She kept you up to date with what was happening—even if it was nothing—and sometimes brought things with her. None made up for feeling trapped or being forced into this but they helped pass the time or broke up the monotony of eating the same bland slop day in and day out.
It's why you tolerated her bringing street food that was greasier than you liked, which she did again.
You can't help but sigh when you open the container to see the sheen on everything. The warmth and smell of spices is too enticing to pass up, though. "If you'd have cut me free, you wouldn't have to do this," you say as you start separating the chunks. She'd made it no secret that she felt like she was running errands for you even though you'd never asked.
That was a topic you brought up often but Sevika had learned you weren't always looking for a fight when you said it—sometimes you had nothing else to say but still wanted to say something. "Too late to change it now," she shrugs, grabbing one of the chunks to pop in her mouth.
You skewer a different one but aren't sure how edible it is while chewing on it and trying not to think about it. Or think how satisfying it was. "Any developments?" you ask around it.
Sevika hums to let you know she had something to say after she was done sucking her fingers clean. A spark of excitement leaps in your chest before being doused when she's able to speak. "Nothing of note. Just the usual chatter."
"So no one's wondering why a bunch of these places are suddenly stocked and clean?" You're a bit incredulous about that. It wasn't that everywhere you'd been had been rundown—mostly—but without anything to do you inevitably found yourself tidying them up.
"Nope, but that's for me to worry about," Sevika replies. "Guessing you haven't thought of anything?"
"No," you say heavily while shaking your head. "Nothing."
Sevika stretches, not surprised by the lack of development on your end—you knew very little about the storm surrounding you even if you pretended otherwise. "It would really help to know what to look for," she says, "or anything to narrow it down. Lots of people come through here daily, I can't be everywhere at once."
Setting aside the mostly empty container, you sigh. "Your guess is as good as mine. I've never stuck around to see who shows up after a hunter is killed and some of us prefer hiding instead of demanding attention."
Not one to let it go to waste, Sevika grabs the container to finish the rest off. "That happen often?"
"Hunters dying? Not really. Maybe seven or eight times that I know of—there could have been more that I never saw, though."
"I'm surprised it's so few." You could be picky but that piece of meat was more gristle than meat so she swallows it whole.
"It's safe work." You shrug. "Usually. Not everyone is big on outsiders coming in asking questions."
"Especially when the outsider reveals just how much their target is worth," she adds and you nod. You'd wondered why that happened multiple times but now that you knew, it didn't make it any easier—you were complicit in some of those deaths. Sevika notices your shift in demeanor. "How many did you kill?"
"Directly: a few. Indirectly: more." You weren't proud of those, especially now. You'd done what was needed, they knew the risks, that's what you told yourself but that wasn't so true any more.
This was more than small talk and she was as big on that as you so you thought that would be it. "The first time, how young?" she asks quietly, pushing to see how far she could get.
"We getting personal now?" you retort.
She sighs. "Forget I asked." Oh, she really wanted to know.
Thinking back, "Twelve, give or take. He was pulling my mother off her horse like I'd seen done to my father and I panicked. It… wasn't clean." You'd told the story to other people at other times, not elaborating on it or even adding the last detail.
It wasn't your favourite memory but you could spin it how you wanted to be seen but there was no point to that here. You'd been in Zaun long enough to know everyone was acquainted with death from a young age—you'd get no sympathy this time so you don't even try.
Sevika hums thoughtfully. "Can't have been easy," she says instead of what you were sure was coming.
"At the time it was. After…" You'd had nightmares about it for a long time—for years afterward, the smell of smoke was enough to make you panic. You could still hear the wheezing and to this day regretted leaving him there when both of you knew it was fatal.
"Sometimes you just act," Sevika looks at her left hand, "and you live whatever happens after."
You'd never asked how she lost the arm and this was the first time she'd volunteered anything about it. Part of you felt like prying like she'd been doing to you but the part that knew the weight the past could carry prevailed so you let the conversation fall off there and for a few minutes, Sevika was, too.
"For someone to go after a kid like that, you must be powerful." She pauses. "Or related to someone who is."
You clench your jaw but for once not at her—those were questions you'd asked yourself countless times. "Wrong on both accounts," you answer. "Unless I'm a long-lost bastard, I'm a nobody and there are sharper weapons than me out there."
"Less stubborn ones, too."
You weren't sure if that was an insult or a deadpan joke—Sevika was too hard to read if she wanted to be so in the name of maintaining the peace, you let it slide. "All this because I can do a parlour trick."
"What's the trick?"
You'd brought it up and it wasn't like she hadn't already guessed you were harmless but your mouth still dries at the question. She'd never asked in all this time, taking you at your word you wouldn't harm her or others, but down that path was the memory of the night your powers had manifested. All the joy, confusion, and pain. You scratch at a thigh absently.
Sevika notices the shift and your discomfort. "Never—"
"I can change steam to look vaguely like animals," you answer flatly.
Staring at you, Sevika tries to figure out if you were being serious—she didn't think you'd answer and she hadn't expected your answer to be something so trivial. "… That's what this is about?!"
"Now you know why I prefer something more solid," you huff in response to her dismay—you'd told her it was nothing special.
Now in disbelief, Sevika runs a hand through her hair. "Given the way people talk about magic, I thought all you mages were walking natural disasters." You'd just shattered that idea. "There has to be more to it, some reason that makes you interesting."
"That's all there is." You lean back on the cot, propping yourself up on your elbows. "Most of us aren't like the stories. We aren't vengeful demi-gods made mortal, we're just regular people trying to live our lives who get all the drawbacks of being a mage and none of the benefits."
"I had no idea," Sevika admits.
"We don't make the best subjects, especially with Piltover fearmongering and blaming us for all the world's woes. Can't even find anything decent around here to neutralize magic thanks to them and most of what there is is fake." Granted that fear and ignorance was why you were here at all.
The energy of the room shifts. "How long were those two after you again?"
"Years. Why?" She was more alert now, you weren't going to get your hopes up.
"That's a long time to send anyone out to do something. Even with the amount of control you said they were under, they would have known they were under-prepared and going somewhere that wouldn't have what they needed," she says. "They may not have been able to refuse the order but they still would have known."
Glad you didn't get your hopes up, you sigh. "Gathered as much already. It's a good thing they didn't need anything special to deal with me."
"But did they know that?"
You'd been preoccupied at the time but there was Grim's reaction when Sevika nearly caved your ribs in. "I don't think so," you say slowly.
Now she grins. "For once being a pain in the ass saved you."
"Care to enlighten me?" You were having trouble following her logic in all this, if there was any logic at all.
"They were trying to bait you," Sevika answers as if you should know this already. "You said some mages are like the stories and this one has no issues with taking so they may not have understood why you kept refusing to engage. Sending people to their doom like that… it was just a matter of time until something happened."
"Say I believe you, wouldn't that mean I—and by I, I mean you—played right into their hands?" She was grasping.
"No. They expected you to run the moment you saw those marks, not dig in." The more she speaks, the more sure she sounds. "Between the docks and the hexgates alone, that's a lot of ways for someone to leave the city. If they're used to you running, they wouldn't look in Zaun right away."
"Speculation," you say. "Even if true, there was no way for you to know that when you killed them."
Sevika shrugs at that. "Nope, but sometimes things work out. You have to adapt to how things are not wish they were different."
It's hard to believe she was so blasé about everything. "Even if this theory of yours is right," you ask to humour her, "how does any of this help?"
"Now we know how they operate. If they had a bunch of people working for them, they'd be here already so now we know they lack numbers."
"More guesses." You sit up again, stretching your neck to each side.
"Based on experience," she says pointedly. That's something you can't argue with—she wouldn't have gotten to and stayed where she was if she couldn't extrapolate reliably.
Pursing your lips, you look at your hands. All this silence and staying in one place was making you antsy, too, so maybe it was time to start grasping.
"Okay. Forget identifying the actual person. If you can find out when they're in the city, even if they're already here, I can do the rest." You spoke with authority that Sevika took notice of—this wasn't your usual bravado, this was experience.
"And when I do?"
You lock your eyes onto hers. "One way or another, this ends."
—
[next >>]
—
A/N: Here's where the major changes start from the first version. Cleaned it up the best I can without spending an absurd amount of time on it so there's both foreshadowing and red herrings and y'all don't know which is which.
Part 3 is coming, I just decided to throw together a draft today instead (knew there'd be interruptions) but then I was compelled to finish it because I'm a sucker for Ran being corny and as much as I like writing dialogue for LotD, it can get heavy, especially going forward and having brushed up on stress responses.
I don't know how much of Ran being a bit of a pathetic lovergirl will make it out of the draft but by god I'll try.
Synopsis: As much as it rankled being bait in this way, you could see the value in it even though you'd have been perfectly fine skipping the charade and what it leads to.
Genre: Angst
POV: Second
Warnings: None
Word count: 2.6k
—
"Why did I agree to this?" you mutter as you kneel in dirt with ropes binding your wrists and ankles. As if that wasn't bad enough, a hood covered your head to complete the look while forcing you to trust in someone else—you weren't keen on many parts of this plan but that was the most aggravating part of it all.
As soon as Sevika had told you what your role was, you'd laughed until you were told what the alternative was if you declined—it wasn't so funny when you were effectively being forced to participate. Without knowing if it was a ruse for the hunters or for you and knowing Sevika would never admit it if she was going to double-cross you, you had to assume she was and prepared accordingly.
"What was that?" You could hear the smirk in Sevika's voice.
"Next time, you're the one down here," you hiss back.
A soft thump on one of your boots warns you to stop messing with your bindings. "This goes well, there won't be a next time," she says under her breath, still with that damned smirk. "Now shut up."
Grumbling, you ultimately comply since as much as you hated being in this position, you wanted it to work—you doubted it would, though. Besides, there were other ways to make your opinion known. Since she was paying attention to your hands, on one you curl three fingers and a thumb, waiting for her to notice.
The tap you get when she does isn't gentle but it was satisfying. Maybe it wasn't the smartest move given your position but you had to entertain yourself somehow. People around here knew better than to insert themselves into matters when Sevika had a captive at her feet, though it would have made things more interesting to listen to her come up with an explanation.
No one did, though, so you had to sit under that blasted hood not knowing where you were or who was around for so long your knees got sore, you wanted to itch your nose, and you needed to take a piss. Sevika at least could smoke while you became progressively more bored.
This was a waste of time like you knew it would be. With how long this was taking you could have been halfway to wherever by now but Sevika just had to pad her ego.
Or her wallet.
Something changes, drawing your attention back. Straining your limited senses, you can't tell what it was only that something had. This was confirmed when you hear Sevika throw her cigarillo away—she'd lit that particular one not long ago. Having to remain hunched and motionless ate at you more than this silence did.
Someone finally breaks it. "Nice place you picked," says a light voice with thinly veiled contempt.
"If you don't like it, you can go," Sevika replies nonchalantly, "but if you do, you go without what you came here for."
A second voice, deeper, pipes up. "It's not so bad a place. Out of the way, limited sight lines, no way for someone to see or hear something they shouldn't." Now you knew they were both here and had an idea of who was who.
"Your associate doesn't seem to think so."
"Ignore them," Grim replies. "You know how it is with apprentices, always speaking when they shouldn't."
"Silence is the first thing I teach them," Sevika commiserates. "After that is not being late to a deal." She clips her words ever so slightly there—seems she was as annoyed as you about this taking so long. That almost made the wait worth it.
"Took a while to find which alley you meant," says Scowl, ignoring Grim's warning to stop talking. "Nothing makes sense down here and it all looks the same."
"… How long you been at this?" Sevika drawls but there's an edge to it. You assume this time Grim made it clear they were to stop needling Sevika with how you could hear Scowl make a small huff instead of answering.
Taking over, Grim says, "Your requested payment was higher than we first talked about."
Sevika lets out a low chuckle. "Considering I did your job for you, I think a higher payment is warranted." She could have demanded anything and you're sure she would have gotten it.
"You know how to hustle." There's a note of approval in Grim's voice.
"I know how to do my job."
There's a pause where you can't tell what's happening.
"You're lucky my employer is generous," Grim finally says, "and that I want this job to be over with. You'll get what you want."
Something hits your back and stays there, pinning you on your stomach. You bite back curses as you try to make sense of it but you knew betrayal when it happened—already you were reworking your own plan in accordance.
"I want to make sure it's all there first." Sevika's boot is pushing down hard, hard enough you can feel your bones and muscles strain every time you took a breath. "If it is, you can take your prize."
It would take more than that to stop you, though. With everyone in good spirits and focused elsewhere, you take the chance to slowly move a hand toward the small of your back and the dagger hidden under your shirt there. Once you had it, you could get out of this trap.
There's a moment's release before a blow to the ribs drives the air out of your lungs. The impact knocks your very thoughts askew and your body wants to do nothing more than to roll over and curl in on itself but the boot returns, this time lower and on your hands.
"… You might not want to do that," Grim says slowly.
Sevika makes a dismissive snort, grinding her sole into you even harder. "Why not? You only said you wanted it alive, not that it had to be pristine."
Silently cursing yourself for ever considering this could end in anything other than being double-crossed, you grit your teeth while forcing yourself to lie still and be silent. The mage hunters expected you to be incapacitated and Sevika no doubt thought you were as well now. Too bad she'd left you conscious and by moving her foot down you could breath easier even with your bruised ribs.
Someone would slip up, you just had to act like how they expected you to act until then.
"We doing this any time soon?" Sevika says. "The chem-barons are less understanding than I am when someone's late and I'd rather lose out on a bounty than piss them off." That's the push that was needed.
Glass crunches as otherwise silent boots draw near to collect the person the two had finally caught after years of pursuit.
The money is exchanged.
"It's all yours." The weight on your back disappears before rough hands haul you up. The trap had been sprung. Sagging to the side as if you really were unconscious, you bring a hand within range of—
"Fuck," you whisper before you can stop yourself. There was only empty space where you were expecting a hilt. It wasn't the only one you had on you but you'd lost the element of surprise so you would have to improvise.
Scowl only freezes instead of dropping you, a mistake you take full advantage of. Blindly snapping your head forward, you're rewarded by a crunch and yelp before a sharp yank from behind sends you flying. You curse at the rough landing and having lost track of where everyone was, though you could hear the scuffles and something hitting the ground.
But it got you out of the fight and now they thought Sevika was betraying them instead of you. With easy access to your boots, you pull out the sharp claw by its ring, spinning it around to cut yourself free. It's wrenched away before you're jerked back onto your feet.
"You nearly got us caught," Sevika snaps, undoing the rope properly.
"Me?!" you spit, pulling a hand free so you can tear off the hood. "Did you really expect me to do nothing?!" Fury made your eyes dance dangerously.
"That was the plan," she pulls harder than needed to free your other wrist, "and you couldn't even do that!" Now there were only your ankles and you didn't need her help with those. You shove Sevika back to finish freeing yourself without help you never asked for.
"And where in that plan was the kicking? Or did I miss that part?" you say with heated sarcasm. You didn't have the patience to deal with the knots. Pulling a different hooked blade from your other heel, you slice through the rope to Sevika's annoyance.
"That was to stop you from getting yourself killed!" Sevika glares down at you and how you were holding yet another blade. "And what happened to no weapons?"
You meet her glare with your own, maintaining the contact as you stand and step closer. "You were the one who decided that," you remind her, shifting the blade to a more comfortable position. Movement catches your eye. "And what's he doing here?"
Grim was on the ground while Mantaire stood over him, wiping off his daggers and doing his best to pretend he couldn't hear you and Sevika though you could have sworn he flinched when you pointed him out.
"He's here because I didn't know if you'd fuck things up," Sevika snaps back. "Which you did."
"I fucked things up?!" You couldn't believe what you were hearing.
"Yes. You did."
You lean closer than you already were, daring Sevika to do anything. You could admit you might have been wrong about her selling you out but there was something that bothered you more. "Only because a fucking trencher didn't bother to tell me everything."
That did it. "A—this 'fucking trencher' just saved your ass," she growls, her restrain fraying. "As did that one. Now get the hell out of my city before I regret it."
"Believe me, I can't wait to get away from you," you growl back. "One day Piltover will bring you to heel and I'll throw a damn party to celebrate." Her bloody claws twitch at that as her nostrils flare and her muscles stand out.
You wouldn't be intimidated by the likes of her, though. Pulling your lips back, you shift your feet and feel how your weapon's hilt was snug in your palm while the blade poked out between a couple fingers.
Last time had been a surprise. This time it wasn't and you were ready for a rematch.
A throat is cleared.
"What?!" you snap.
Mantaire jumps, not expecting the venom in your voice. "Uhh… want help with the bodies?" he addresses Sevika while not taking his eyes off you.
With effort, the tendons in Sevika's neck go down and her fist unclenches. "We're good," she says tightly, tearing her eyes away. This was the perfect opening. You didn't trust it. "Go wild." She hands the smaller goon her payment. You didn't ask what your life was worth but it seemed to be enough to make Mantaire grin.
"If only all jobs were this easy," he says.
Sevika reminds him, "You know the deal."
"You're the boss." Mantaire may have been grinning but his eyes flick between you and Sevika—there was still tension and he'd never seen you this ready to stab someone. But if Sevika thought she could handle you, he wouldn't argue. He shrugs at nothing. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
While Sevika squats over Scowl's body, you watch to make sure Mantaire is well and truly gone—you didn't want him to overhear anything he shouldn't. That and while you liked him well enough, you also knew who he'd side with if you and Sevika came to blows.
"You should have told me you were bringing someone else in," you hiss when you're sure he's gone.
"Relax." Sevika dismisses your concern without even looking up. "He doesn't know what this was about even with your stunt and, despite appearances, knows how to keep his mouth shut."
The short interlude let your pent-up anger drop back down where you could control it but that dismissal still had you grinding your teeth.
Squatting down to begin your own investigation, you grumble, "You still could have told me. I don't like being kept in the dark."
"You knew everything you needed to, you just needed to listen." Your eyes flash at that but she leaves you to Scowl before you can say or do anything.
Redirecting your attention, you assess the body. At this distance, Scowl wasn't as young as you'd thought. New to the trade, perhaps, but they weren't much younger than Grim. There was a large, dark red stain by their neck but you'd get to that in time. First you rifle through pockets not finding anything of interest, not that you expected to.
Before getting the travel cloak out of the way, you run a hand down the neck and under the shirt collar, feeling for any necklaces or amulets they might have worn. With nothing there, you undo the fastener, rolling the body to each side to work the cloak out from under them, tossing the fabric to the side after feeling it to rule out any hidden objects—you'd take a closer look later if you didn't find anything.
With that out of the way, you pick up the lifeless hands, examining them for any marks or rings—a crest would have made your life so much easier—but there's only old scars. Should have stuck with blacksmithing, you think, recognizing the patterns even without the calluses. That plus their age made you furrow your brow.
Patting down the body, you come across the first stash of hidden objects but they're just some dark throwing daggers. They were well-made and balanced but not what you were looking for.
Opening up the vest and shirt takes longer now that your fingers were trembling—you can finally see what the fatal wound had been. Peeling back the clothing reveals a elongated puncture in the soft spot between the neck and collar bone, not deep enough to reach the heart but it still would have been quick.
You were glad.
Undoing a couple more buttons, you spy something that makes your mouth go dry. Giving up being methodical, you grab one of Scowl's own daggers to slice away their shirt fully to see where that dark line lead. With their chest fully exposed, your stomach drops as you look at the art on it. Shaking your head, you rush over to Grim to do the same, not bothering to repeat your examinations.
The blood drains from your face and you feel sick. "Fuck," you exhale, barely more than a whisper.
"What is it?" Sevika asks sharply— she'd never seen you this spooked.
Your heart is hammering and your ears start to ring. "That…"
To Sevika it looked like any other tattoo but there had to be more to it than that to have rendered you of all people into a meek little mouse. "What about it?"
This was bad. You'd never thought the person after you was altruistic but you assumed there was some twisted sense of morality or self-preservation that put limits on what they did.
You'd been wrong.
Your knees give out, forcing you to sit. There was so much to reconsider but you could barely think.
—
[next>>]
—
A/N: There's Mantaire and Mentaire for the same character (formerly known as Dustin) so I assume one is a typo or the studio kept the name with a minor change as I couldn't find anything else out and the art book didn't shed any light on it. Went with Mantaire because there's another fic where I kind of want to call him "Manny".
Writing a second version is really highlighting how very different I write Sevika and Ran. One always has a degree of inter-personal friction I can tap into, the other is rather chill (unless it's a modern AU and they keep being a gremlin... (to me, not the reader)).
Which is to say that when I was writing this fic with Sevika, by this beat there was already an argument and a certain amount of antagonism. With Ran I'm just "... Okay, I may need to sprinkle in some conflict later because your reactions are way too understated for someone who's just been lightly tossed in the blender."
Part of that is due to their lack of screen time but I also headcanon that, with so many strong personalities around and being tapped to go up to Piltover, they know how to not ruffle any feathers and keep any thoughts unsaid and off their face, especially with strangers.
Good for a bodyguard, not so good when writing a "tight" POV from any other character.
Sometimes I feel like adding a bunch of annotations that, yes, they really are thinking and doing things, Reader just has no idea.
Decided to try rewriting one fic I've had sitting around for ages with the focus being on Ran instead of Sevika and, in my infinite wisdom, I named it "untitled-R version" not realizing until after the fact how that would look.
I mean, it's only me who will see it so it's not that bad but now it looks like I have an explicit version. If anyone plugs in a strange USB key and expects erotica from it, they're going to be disappointed.
Synopsis: While waiting for personal business to conclude, you find yourself in one of the sketchiest places deep in Zaun, a place that should have no hold over you yet even when your business is done, you're reluctant to leave. It's only when you're faced with a reminder of what you were running from that you decide to move on.
Genre: Angst
POV: Second
Warnings: None
Word count: 2.5k
—
From the first time you'd shown up, people were suspicious but in the way you expected, not the way you feared. An outsider with no business to speak of frequenting a shady bar… that would have made you suspicious as well. But you had experience with such receptions and didn't take it personally. They had their concerns, you had yours—as long as you were begrudgingly tolerated, that worked for you.
That was when you never intended to stay longer than a few weeks, though, and without that limit, it proved to be harder to keep a cordial distance. You weren't looking to be anyone's friend or to have someone you could name as friend of your own yet as time went on, that's what started happening.
It wasn't everyone—you knew there were regulars and staff that still regarded you the same way as when you'd first walked in the door—but enough that your smiles and outward excitement ceased being an act at times.
You should have been more worried about it knowing what came after but the shift had been gradual and you had more important things to focus on.
Days turned into weeks into months, more than long enough to confirm your detour to Zaun had paid off. Anything could be acquired with a price but ignorance wasn't one. It took time to find what you were looking for and yet more time to make sure everyone was ignorant of what you wanted, but after you had it, you wouldn't need to go through this again if it worked.
But time had also been against you. As much as you told yourself you were only sticking around to make sure you'd shaken any tail, you were also coming to enjoy this slower pace. The current duo following you had been at it for years and been annoyingly persistent, driving you forward so even with your plan working, you wanted to make sure they were properly gone.
Time was also against you in how soon your much venerated plan unravelled. You were on your way home after going to the market. There was an argument but those and fights were so common, you'd thought nothing of it once you knew it didn't concern you. Then there was an explosion.
You'd been one of the lucky ones—you were only bed-bound for a week. So many other survivors were looking at months to recover. As soon as you were able, you returned to the bar to purportedly celebrate but it wasn't the same.
Where once you'd deferred to others and would avoid getting drawn into a fight as much as you could within reason, you were now the one who started fights just because someone startled you. Someone could touch your shoulder to get your attention and walk away with a new scar or someone could trip over themself only to wind up on their back while you held a dagger over their eye.
Brawls were to be expected in The Last Drop but you were testing even these limits. You knew you were testing them, too, so you took to sitting on the second level, out of the way and able to see everything and everyone coming and going. On quiet nights, it might seem odd to have one person up there but on busier nights you could blend in.
It was on one of those busier nights you saw two people enter. That in and of itself wasn't unusual but you'd seen those cloaks to know exactly who they were and who they were after. The music falls away as you watch them make their way to the bar, as unconcerned about the crowd as the crowd was about them. A few slip out at the sight, though, and more clutch at hidden weapons.
There would be multiple reckonings to come from this but you only cared about what was happening at the counter.
Thieram greets the strangers as if they were any other customers but you knew something had been said when he dropped his smile and stood straighter. It's too noisy to hear what's being said, though you had a good idea what it was.
Whenever there's movement from the stairs, you feel yourself inhale as you pretend to be lost in thought. Someone bumps your elbow but you don't react. Your heart is hammering faster than the beat of the music you barely hear.
Sweat pricks at your scalp as Sevika walks over to see what was going on as you grip your glass tighter. Thieram not pointing you out wasn't surprising but Sevika just might—she'd never warmed up to you. At any moment, you expected a pair of steel eyes to look at you, a floodlight you'd have a hard time escaping.
Your hand is cramping around your drink when a deep, sarcastic laugh makes you jump, your free hand twitching before you can stop it. Sevika walks back to her table, thin tendrils of smoke rising from an ashtray there, the interaction over. Part of you hoped the strangers would keep pushing but they were too smart for that, as unhappy as they were over whatever Sevika had told them.
The younger one scowls, looking for someone to take their anger out on before storming out of the building instead, shoving past anyone who made the mistake of getting in their way. The older one looks grim but not surprised, lingering a moment more to scan faces before following Scowl. You risk a look at Sevika, expecting her to be staring at you, but she's back to sorting out paperwork as if nothing had interrupted it.
Not daring to move, your mind and heart race.
"Y'going to tell me what the hell all that was about?" Sevika demands, shoving you against the exterior of the bar for emphasis. She'd dragged you out back after catching you trying to slip out. "Or were you just going to sneak away?" That had been the plan—you'd waited until she was properly busy, or so you thought, but she must have been keeping an eye on you.
Your eyes go wide. "I don't know what you're talking about," you say, allowing a touch of the fear you felt to bring out a quiver in your voice.
"Why are there people asking after you?" There was a barely contained growl to her voice.
"I really don't know," you insist. Your eyes start to glisten as you shy away from her as best you can.
Sevika presses close, speaking slowly. "Drop the act. I know trouble when I see it and that was trouble. I want to know what kind." Anger and heat radiates off her and though it wasn't her you were afraid of, she wasn't helping.
You hadn't accounted for her catching you. All you needed was one concession, a single moment of doubt or distraction and you could get away but she was giving you nothing and there was only so far you could push her—you would have to play her game.
With a sigh, you straighten up. There was risk in this but not as much as there would be otherwise. You'd already marked Zaun as one of the places you wouldn't return to for a time, now it would be longer, if you returned at all. Looking Sevika in the eye, you speak with the same slowness she had.
"If I'm not here, they won't stick around for long."
Your change does nothing to dissuade Sevika or make her pause. "Except they'll poke around while they are," Sevika growls. "Bounty hunters make people nervous. Nervous people are bad for business."
You let out a dry laugh—of course she would be concerned how this would affect Silco's dealings. "They don't care about any of that. You could have the largest bounty on your head and trade a mountain of shimmer in front of them and they'll do nothing. They want me and only me so if I leave, they'll follow."
Her eyes narrow at how flippant you were being. "You seem sure about that."
"I am. Do you really think this is the first time they've shown up?" How unaware did she think you were? "No matter where I go or what I do, they're always there."
"And why do they want you?"
"No idea."
The impact against the wall makes you grunt and your teeth knock together. Sevika was pinning you in place with her right hand but it was the left you were keeping an eye on. "You're going to tell me exactly what's going on," she hisses, "or I will stop being nice."
You fully believed this was her going easy on you. As rough as she was being, you'd seen her give people no chance to explain themselves and heard she could do more and worse when it came to proper fights. You could probably take her but you didn't want to go that far if it could be helped.
It would also draw a crowd and raise unwanted questions if you couldn't end it quickly.
"I can only tell you what I know, and what I know is neither you nor anyone else has reason to fear them," you state. Sevika searches your face but you weren't lying. It wasn't the entire truth, though.
She leans closer. "That's only part of it. You're going to tell me what's going on. Now."
Of course that wouldn't be enough. You sigh inwardly—this was taking longer than you'd have liked.
"What's going on…" you drawl, dragging out each word as if the hand on your chest made it hard to speak while you shift your hips as if you were simply adjusting which leg bore more weight, but you aren't able to say any more before metal clamps around your neck, hoisting you up.
"None of that," warns Sevika while taking a step back with her right foot, leaving only her left arm within reach.
You wince at the sudden change, a new pain coming from something digging into your back. For the first time, proper anger flares up but you keep your hands still and where she could see them. She may know of your fondness for small, bladed weapons but it wasn't your only trick, as loathe as you were to use that one.
"Good, you can listen," she smirks, thinking there was nothing you could do. There was more but a distraction wouldn't get you out of this—it may even make it worse. "One more time: what the hell are you dragging us into?"
You glare at her with defiance. All this time, all the distance, and it was some random goon who'd caught you. Not one of the people hunting you, not someone who only cares about money, a glorified bouncer who had no idea who or what she had.
You work up the saliva and spit to the side. You could have aimed it at her but your meaning was clear all the same and she wasn't impressed.
Even as her grip begins to tighten, you remain silent. It gets harder to breath and your vision starts to dim yet you say nothing. Let her deal with the consequences and see how well she would fare.
Then that same spite turns on you.
"… Fine," you begrudgingly whisper, hating yourself for giving in. The grip on your neck returns to where it started and you do your best to remain composed while gulping down the dirty air. "Those weren't your everyday bounty hunters back there. It's why I know they don't give a fuck about what you, Silco, or anyone in The Lanes does," you answer hoarsely.
"They sure looked it."
"Lots of overlap," you respond, "but they have no interest in money so they can't be bought off." If they could, you'd have done it long ago.
Sevika's brows furrow as she tries to puzzle out what you were implying. "If not bounty hunters, what are they?"
Your answer isn't immediate and when it comes, there's a weariness in it that hadn't been in there before. "Hounds driving a fox for their master. Mage hunters, after a fashion." Even knowing it was coming, it wasn't the easiest thing to admit—people had a habit of acting strange about it.
Like now.
You know when she processes what you'd said and what it meant by the way she shifts. A flicker of newfound wariness crosses her face before disappearing. Not as extreme as groveling or wailing in fear but it stung all the same.
Even from her.
"So you're a…?"
"Mage?" you finish for her. "Not by choice."
Watching Sevika's reaction to your confirmation is less satisfying than you would have thought. She was recounting every story she'd ever heard about the arcane, mages, and the Rune Wars—some true, some meant to scare children—and assuming the worst.
"I'm not going to boil your blood," you say sarcastically, rolling your eyes. There was a shadow of a trace of hurt you couldn't keep out, though. Even if you could do that, it was galling anyone would think you capable of it.
"… Why is someone after you?" she asks with a sigh. She'd found herself committed whether she wanted to be or not.
You answer with a single bitter bark of laughter. "Simply existing seems to be enough of a reason."
Sevika grimaces at that, knowing the type. "And now they're here asking about you." This had gone from an inconvenience to a complication in more ways than one.
"So let me go," you reiterate. "No fox, no hounds." But your words fall on deaf ears
You can practically see the gears turning as she takes everything in, seemingly forgetting about you entirely. Another time you would have enjoyed seeing what she would come up with but you had to move this alone.
It had only been meant to get her attention but when you move your hand as if you were reaching for something and her eyes flash to yours, you freeze, fearing she was about to end everything.
Instead of snapping your neck, she releases her grip.
Landing heavily, you immediately put the mask back on. "Finally saw reason, eh?" you grunt as you rub your throat and dust yourself off. She doesn't respond and you weren't going to waste this chance.
If you'd been faster, you could have dodged the vise-like grip before it grabbed hold of the back of your neck, but your reflexes were off.
"Who said you could leave?" You were almost impressed by the speed she got over any fear of you—you would have been if your situation had only marginally improved.
"I thought—"
"That I was letting you go?" She steers you back to the door. "You dragged me into this mess. You're going to help me clean it up."
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[next >>]
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A/N: Nothing really for this part only the very opening may be rough by virtue of this sitting in my WIPs for a year and going through multiple revisions.
Thought I was about done for this multi-part fic only for some minor changes to spiral out and become major ones. Not to the point all the beats are changed so I can use previous drafts as a loose guide, but the in-between parts are basically being rewritten from scratch.
Kind of annoying but I do think it will end up better for it and it will go faster once everything lines up again. This is why I like doing editing passes—sometimes what starts out as tweaking grammar or coherence turns into more once you know where characters are going and already iterated out the wild swings.
*insert He Would Not Say That meme*
So I am still writing, this fic just kicked my ass for a bit and is still putting up a fight.
Synopsis: Even if you knew someone online for years, meeting them in person for the first time can still be stressful. Despite your attempts to avoid a follow-up, you get talked into one that ultimately makes you reassess whole swathes of your life and how you'd been living it.
Genres: Angst, modern AU
POV: Second
Warnings: Anxiety thinking, abusive family
Word count: 6.5k
—
Flicking your wrist, you once again check your watch, both to see when your friends would arrive and how long you had left to change your mind about meeting them. You hadn't meant for anyone to hear, blurting it out when they confirmed they were in the same city as you, but your mic wasn't set to push-to-talk. Why hadn't you set it back?
Then you'd had to go and double down, pretending it was intentional—didn't even think to act like you were talking to someone else. You'd been beating yourself up over such a simple mistake ever since, though you couldn't deny you were also excited by the prospect. Rarely did you meet up with people you knew online anymore and you hadn't had the best luck making friends since moving to this city.
There was still time to leave, you could come up with some excuse for why you didn't show. Traffic was always a good one. You could also say you got the time or day wrong. You didn't have to do this just because it had been your idea.
Except you did, didn't you? Not only had it been your idea, you'd helped come up with a place and a time.
Why didn't you change your settings back?
Someone calls your name.
Crap.
"Yes?" Your response is automatic, a reflex borne from strangers using your name just because it's on a name tag. Your heart picks up when you realize you'd just locked yourself into this.
This was a mistake.
You shouldn't have come.
Better for them to think you're a flake then do this.
Only now it was too late.
"Good," one of the two people approaching you grins, "now we just need to find where the loot drops around here."
"I'm sure you'll find it," you reply before you can stop yourself. You'd been told one of the people you'd be meeting would be in a black motorcycle jacket, who'd been the one who spoke. Which would make them Ran. Then the one rolling her eyes would be Sevika. "Uh, hi?"
"What's with the uncertainty?" Ran jokes. "It's not like we're strangers."
"Hey," Sevika says, giving you time to respond if you wanted to but not letting the silence drag out before suggesting walking around.
"How'd you know it was me?" you ask, moving to the side to let someone pass. "I'm not exactly the only person here and you seemed pretty sure who I was." This part of the park you'd met up at always had people but there were even more thanks to the break in the weather.
"Oh, that was easy," says Ran.
"Just picked out the person constantly checking the time," Sevika adds.
"I wasn't the only one doing that."
"No but you were the only one who looked ready to bolt."
It had been minutes—maybe less—and already they knew. Knew you weren't who you acted like, that you lied.
Your breathing increases, your eyes flick around for an exit.
"Hey, relax. It was just a joke." Ran puts an arm across your shoulders only to immediately pull away when they feel you stiffen. "Sorry. Personal space."
Walking behind you and Ran, Sevika says, "Your name tag is rather obvious. Thought we agreed not to do those."
Your—?
"Sorry. Forgot to take it off." You pinned your work name tag to your key lanyard between shifts so you wouldn't lose it. The strap must have come loose after you'd dug out some change for the bus. Or maybe one of the times where you pulled out your phone?
Ran spins on their heel, gravel crunching but their stride doesn't break as they begin to walk backwards. "Told you. Now pay up."
Sevika grumbles but tosses Ran a coin from her pocket.
"What was that for?"
Ran spins back. "Whether you intentionally did that or if it was an accident."
Well that would explain why that driver knew your name. Wait… "You bet against me?!" Ran's face flushes.
"Let's check out the ponds." Ran veers down the nearest side path, picking up their pace.
"Guess we're going that way," you say, watching them disappear around a bend.
"Could also leave them behind." Sevika shrugs. "They'll find their way back if we don't show."
The ponds were fine by you, and it changed up how you usually walked through here. You and Sevika turn after them. "They always like that? In person, I mean."
Sevika gives a thoughtful hum. "Often enough," she says with fondness, "though they're far worse about it in games."
"Tell me about it," you sigh. It was a good thing you saw it as a personal challenge to keep them alive most of the time. The rest of the time was a mix of leaving them to their fate and taking advantage of them pulling aggro or setting off traps to get by unscathed.
"Remember who suggested the marsh path we ended up slogging through?"
You groan. "I'd forgotten about that." It was supposed to be the easiest way and who needed a full party when you were over-leveled and over-geared? Turns out it couldn't be brute-forced so the three of you had spent the whole night at it—Ran may have gotten you into the mess but you and Sevika were determined to finish it.
All for what ended up being a few gold and more than a few close calls.
As you walk, your movement loosens at the familiar topic and how it really wasn't much different talking to Sevika in person compared to online. That had been one of your fears, but even Ran was about what you expected.
So. You were the only fraud here.
Sevika's relaying an anecdote when you slip on the customer service mask, laughing where you were supposed to, making a noise of disagreement where you were supposed to disapprove, letting your mind go blank. It wouldn't hold up if you had to talk at length but you don't have to worry about that.
"About time you showed up," Ran says when you and Sevika get to the ponds.
As nice as it was to walk around, you were glad when it was suggested to go to one of the cafés in the area to get something to warm up. It did mean you couldn't use the cold as an excuse anymore, but your fingers were glad for the change, something you immediately regretted mentioning.
Sevika took it in stride, only raising an eyebrow, but the memory of it lingered and the ground wouldn't swallow you up no matter how much you wished it to.
Other than that, you'd slip into enjoying it all when you forgot yourself. The frequency you looked at your wrist didn't go unnoticed but no one said anything, not until you deemed it late enough to excuse yourself on the grounds you needed to open the store.
No, you didn't need a ride but thanks for the offer. It was nice to meet, you should do it again sometime, and you'd see them online.
And so it went. Day in, day out it was the same. Whenever an attempt was made to repeat the day, you'd come up with a reason why that day didn't work for you—not hard with a major holiday coming up and being short-staffed—and you never made one yourself.
There were times you wanted to, times where you just wanted to give in, but you couldn't. This was what was best for everyone.
That's how it was when the topic of the upcoming holiday came up and who you were spending it with. As soon as you said you weren't and would be working, it felt like stepping into a steel trap. Even saying you didn't really celebrate it did nothing to loosen the jaws.
When Ran sent you the address after talking you into a small pre-holiday celebration—as they put it—at their and Sevika's place, you'd thought it would be an apartment or condo. Without recognizing the street name, it seemed like a reasonable enough assumption
You'd been wrong about that. Very wrong. The house was even more imposing now that you were the one standing in front of it.
This was a mistake. You were out of your depth more than you thought. You should go.
"What are you standing there for? Come on in." So much for making your escape, Ran had seen you and opened the door. "Sevika's busy in the kitchen so she won't be out for a bit," they say while taking your jacket to hang up.
"That's fine. No rush." The effort of trudging up those stairs left your heart racing. "Nice place," you say to avoid silence, though it was also true. Effort had clearly been put into it beyond just slapping a coat of pain on everything.
"Took a while to get her here," Ran says warmly while leading you to what must be the living room. "Had to rip a lot of stuff out, bring everything up to code, plan ahead to make our lives easier if anything needs to be upgraded, those sorts of things."
"Thought you did cyber security?" The large window let you see the grey clouds and the first raindrops hitting the ground. You'd have definitely been caught in that if you'd left.
Ran shrugs. "Sure but a friend asked me to help out another friend and I had nothing better to do, and getting paid in pizza and beer to help someone move and swing a sledge hammer for a bit was an offer I couldn't refuse. Getting a girlfriend out of it was a nice surprise, though."
"So if I feed and water you, and give you a hammer to play with, you'll help me move?" you tease.
"It would have to be a big hammer."
"Done."
After shaking on it, you chastise them for leaving a point the other night, a move that nearly lost your team the match. It was all light-hearted and, as they were quick to point out, it was to save you from being picked off, but you hadn't had a chance to properly remind them you didn't care about respawning in some games.
It was familiar banter but somewhere along the way, you got in your own head, your responses became shorter, more wooden. Rain was properly hitting the window when the topic of an upcoming expansion came up. You were filling them in on part of your plan, such as how you'd already booked that time off work, but not all—you didn't want to overwhelm them with something so frivolous.
"Don't give them any ideas," Sevika interjects. "It took me ages to break them of the habit of staying up for midnight releases and playing until the sun came up."
"That's what coffee's for," Ran shoots back.
"Doesn't stop you from getting grumpy or passing out at your computer. You're lucky that one client was so understanding about getting paragraphs of gibberish."
"That was one time!"
"Are you saying that hasn't happened multiple times?"
Ran mumbles a tepid defense before instantly changing once their eyes flick to the phone in Sevika's hand. "What's the word?" Concern and support weave through their voice. Now you felt like an intruder.
"Dinner's still going ahead," Sevika sighs, pushing off the door jam she'd been leaning on. "Bastard's going to be fine—just gave everyone a scare and bruised his tailbone."
"Find out what happened?" Ran asks while taking their phone, adjusting as Sevika all but collapses on the couch next to them.
"Too much trouble to get a step stool and the office chair was right there," Sevika answers dryly.
"I'm sorry," you say. You didn't know all the details but could infer enough with what you had.
Sevika gives you a weary smile. "Thanks but the guy's a bit of an ass and brought this on himself."
"It's not the first time he's landed himself in hospital because he wanted to save a few seconds." Ran gives Sevika a sideways hug.
Sevika relaxes into Ran. "And it won't be the last."
"So much for getting out of cooking."
"Every year…" she mutters.
"Well you are unemployed," teases Ran. "All your other cousins are in school or working, so it falls on your broad shoulders."
"Unemp—I own this damn house!" Sevika turns to glare at Ran who doesn't so much as flinch.
"Which means nothing to your family."
Any hostility leaves Sevika with those words. "Don't remind me," she groans, sinking against Ran while pinching the bridge of her nose. "Could have lost every limb and they'd still find a way to say I wasn't working hard enough or sacrificed enough. I swear the only thing I've done right in their eyes is you. And don't say anything."
Ran deflates a bit, swallowing the comment Sevika knew was coming. "Which means they're all trying to set me up with your cousins or people they know or the kids of a friend now. I think I liked it better when they were obsessed with what was in my pants."
It definitely felt like you were intruding now. How much of this was okay for you to know? Though you'd decided you didn't like Sevika's family—Ran never mentioned any of this. You'd lambasted people over that sort of thing, watching them die rather than help them.
Maybe that was why they'd never told you? Not that you could do anything beyond the screen. Your jaw clenches while an art print on the wall suddenly fascinates you.
"Oh. Let me do that." You start to get to your feet.
Ran presses you back down before grabbing your empty plate. "Nope."
"But—"
"Nope." This time they're firmer with the word but not unkind. Still, the urge to be helpful was strong, now there was nothing to do. There was always your phone but, no, that would be rude. Your fingers silently start drumming on your thighs.
All throughout dinner, you'd been catching Sevika watching you. It wasn't an unfortunate case of crossed glances, you'd been under scrutiny though you pretended to be unaware of it. You'd been playing back what you'd said and done, searching for what you'd done wrong to warrant that but couldn't find anything.
Unless it went back further than just dinner.
Maybe she'd just had enough of you finally.
"Thanks for the meal," you say to break the silence. Not knowing what you did or what was expected left you anxious. Sevika doesn't say anything.
When she does speak, she states, "You're different than you are online."
Ah, here it was.
"Sorry," you say tightly, looking down at the empty place your plate had been, shoulders stiffening. As if you didn't know, hadn't been told that countless times. The drumming on your thighs ceases, replaced by clenched fists.
"Different doesn't mean bad," she says as if it were for a fact. For some things, yes, but not all. Not for you.
"It can even be a good thing," Ran adds, appearing from somewhere. "Honestly, I'm relieved—one beyond stubborn person is enough." They walk over to plant a kiss on the top of Sevika's head while she just rolls her eyes.
"Someone's gotta be to stop your scrawny ass from going after anything shiny," she says. This time it was Ran's turn to roll their eyes.
Did they not think you could handle the truth? The tendons on the back of your hands shift as you clench tighter. You could. They didn't need to be so nice.
Obviously they were disappointed that the person who was confidant, put-together, and, yes, stubborn online turned out to be… you.
What worth did you have, really? What could you do?
This had been a mistake.
"I should go," you state while abruptly standing, startling Ran and Sevika who look at each other before looking at you.
Best get this over with quickly.
"You don't have to," Sevika says slowly.
Casting around for an acceptable reason, you land on an old, reliable one. "Forgot I have work in the morning," you smile with fake chagrin. "If I don't leave soon, I'll have to spend the night then wake you up at an ungodly hour."
As expected, they don't argue with that. Couldn't even if they wanted to. It wasn't as if they didn't know how busy you'd been between being short-staffed, covering any shift when asked, and management treating you as an extra manager they didn't have to pay as much.
Excusing yourself, you leave Sevika to finish cleaning up while Ran shows you to the door, exchanging strained pleasantries. Begrudgingly, you accept an umbrella to fend off the worst of the downpour, you'd worry about giving it later. You wait for Sevika to show up before leaving, but when she does, she's utterly engrossed in her phone, frowning.
"Where did you say you lived again?" She doesn't even look up when she asks.
"Why?" It wasn't that you didn't trust her, you were just suspicious of anyone asking.
"Shits going on," she says bluntly. It was subtle but Ran stood straighter at that, a crease forming between their brows. Answering for you, they move to watch Sevika scroll until she finds what she was looking for. "You're staying here," she declares.
"What? Why?" You'd been so close.
She hands her phone to you to see for yourself. "There's flooding all over the city."
Your thumb rapidly moves around, scrolling through the list of alerts Sevika had pulled up, tapping to get more information on some of them. Ignoring the rapid whispering between the other two, you dig out your own phone, just to be sure.
Your notifications is full of alerts and breaking news, evacuation orders and messages. That's what you got for turning your phone to Do Not Disturb. Wordlessly, you hand Sevika back her phone, picking one of your neighbours to fire off a text to, just to confirm your building was one of the ones under evacuation order.
While waiting for a reply, you flick through your notifications, focusing on the news—you could reply to stuff later. A creek flooded its banks. Storm drains were backing up. Power outages. Unstable slopes. Road closures.
Sure the weather tended to be bad this time of year, but it was hard to believe it had taken such a turn in so little time.
When your neighbour finally replies, your stomach drops a little bit lower with each word.
"So," Ran says uneasily, trying to break the tension, "looks like you're staying after all."
Everything after was a blur, a poor attempt at being normal. A movie was put on but you couldn't remember anything about it, your phone constantly vibrating, demanding attention you were all too willing to give. Once the credits began rolling, you feigned just how badly you needed to sleep just to get out of there.
The guest bedroom wasn't ideal but you could breath again. In the dark, listening to rain beat against the roof and sirens, you turn to responding to the messages that weren't urgent. One of them, you realize to late, was the family group chat. The one that announced when someone read it.
Now you had to respond.
Gritting your teeth, you ignore the blame to type out a short message saying you were fine. You couldn't close that window fast enough.
When you did try to sleep, everything was wrong.
The sheets smelled weird. Your borrowed sleepwear was too thick. The room too hot. The mattress too silent.
They probably regretted ever inviting you over. You were just an obligation. Why did you ever agree to this?
Why?
Whywhywhywhywhy?
No matter how deep you burrow, it's never enough, though you must had passed out at some point since one moment you were curled in a ball, the next splayed out. After a brief moment of disorientation, you remember where you are and why.
Another set of knocks, this time a bit louder.
Only a black screen greets you when you check the time. You sigh. Of course your battery would die and you'd sleep through your alarm. Blank-faced as you open the door, you grunt a thanks when Sevika says she'll drive you to work before retreating to get ready.
At least the clothes you wore yesterday didn't smell bad and weren't risqué so you could get away with wearing them. The phone would need to be charged—maybe you could find a cable. Didn't have your meds with you so couldn't take those. Your name tag and the store keys were on your lanyard with your other keys so that was covered.
Slapping on your watch, you see that it's not as late as you feared.
It doesn't occur to you to wonder why Sevika was up already.
The monotony of sorting through piles of inventory was comforting, requiring just enough thought to keep from thinking about anything else but not so much you needed to be aware of what you were doing. Being the only person who'd come in, there was no need to help customers or tell coworkers what needed to be done, either.
You may have had to argue with mall security to get in, but aside from that, it was nice being able to move while shutting your brain off. It was also early enough that missing a dose couldn't be felt, though that was changing by the time you finished.
It wasn't yet noon—a short day for you—but you didn't know how hard it would be to get to the arena where the people in your building with no alternatives were staying. The flooding wasn't bad here but getting from the mall to the arena would require navigating around places that were, and the buses may not even be running.
It might be faster to walk…
A honk gets your attention. Why the hell was Sevika still here? Not that you could complain when you were quick to accept her offer of driving you to the arena, and you were glad her old truck was handling all the water fine still. She'd said it would but after seeing so many abandoned vehicles on the way to work, you'd begun to doubt her.
She had a cable and adapter you could use to get your phone partially charged, too. It had been an offhand comment, a complaint really, but as soon as you mention having to go without your meds or finding a pharmacy that was both open and willing to give you an emergency supply, she flicks on the turn signal.
You didn't want to bother the person sitting in a camping chair outside your building, he was just doing his job, but after failing to cajole you, you still trailed after Sevika when she went up to talk to him. Your headache was getting worse and you were just tired.
After some back-and-forth—and you insisting you were a resident—you're allowed up with a strict time limit. You notice Sevika going with you instead of back to her truck but don't have the energy to tell her you didn't need help packing.
Opening the door, you're glad your place wasn't dirty—you hadn't expected company. The first thing you do is grab your bottle of meds off your desk, taking one before throwing the rest in a bag. You were still in the window where you could take a missed dose and you didn't want to be feeling even worse while surrounded by strangers with no privacy.
Assigning Sevika to gather extra clothes—as long as they were clean, you'd make do—you gather the toiletries you think you might need. Odds were there'd be extra but if there weren't, you wanted to be prepared. Or it would be like living in a dorm all over again with fighting over supplies and everyone denying they weren't the one who used up the last of something.
Sevika's still packing up the final articles of clothing so you go grab your charger and have a quick look around to see if there's anything else you need. Nothing comes to mind so you toss a few things from your fridge into a garbage bag—ideally you'd be back within a day or two but you didn't want to deal with the consequences if it took longer.
When Sevika comes out of your room, you toss the charger in the bag, looking around again. There wasn't anything else, was there? Oh, right. Running back, you dig out your old music player from your nightstand. It would probably be dead but you could use it as make-shift earplugs.
Shoving that in a pocket, you grab a spare coat and the garbage bag before locking up. On the sidewalk, you pull out your phone to look up which bus you'll need to take.
"Why not just come back with me?" Sevika asks.
Your head snaps up. "What?"
"We have the room," she says, "and it's better than being crammed together with a bunch of strangers."
"I couldn't," you rush out, not even thinking. "I mean, you've already helped a ton and you have that family thing. I really appreciate the offer but I'll be fine." You give her a weary smile.
"All right, but at least let me drive you there," Sevika says after a sigh. "Transit's probably a nightmare right now and even if cabs are available, you'd fight to pay for it."
Swallowing your protest, "Deal."
"You can toss that garbage in the back."
The awkward silence was back again, only this time Sevika was pressing her lips tight. Not wanting to remind her you were there, you turn your head to look out the passenger window, forcing yourself to become engrossed in the world outside, committing everything and nothing to memory.
The periodic sirens in the distance reminded you of how dire this all still was but it was almost serene with how few people were out here. Suppressing a groan, you hope you don't have to deal with insurance. Your unit wasn't on the bottom floor but leave it to the management company to find a way to foist some of that onto you.
This detour sure was taking a while.
"Uhhh," you reluctantly draw attention to yourself, "where are we going?"
"Home."
Panic sets in. "I told you—"
"Bullshit." Sevika pauses to collect her thoughts. "Sorry for snapping but you can say what you really want, you know? I get it—well, sort of—but I'm not going to bite your head off for it. I may disagree or think you're an idiot, but I'm a big girl, I can handle it. I just don't like trying to guess if what you're saying matches what you want."
As soon as she cut you off, you froze but now your mind was racing. She wasn't the first person to say she wouldn't get mad but inevitably those same people would get annoyed when you stopped going along with them on everything.
Her final words douse the growing anger at how she said all that when you had no choice but to listen. Were you making others go through a semblance of what you did? That certainly wasn't your intention—if anything, you thought you were being helpful. If you weren't…
Giving you the space to think it over, Sevika doesn't push for a response until a decision has to be made. "Did you want to go to the arena?"
Here was your chance, you could prove she was wrong and show her you were fine and capable, except that would only prove her right, wouldn't it? Your voice is small, hesitant. "Honestly, not really, but—"
"That's all I needed to know," Sevika says, driving straight through where she'd have had to turn if you wanted to go to that part of town. With that out of the way, she speaks softer. "And no, it's not an imposition or burden or hassle or whatever else to put you up. No matter what your brain's telling you."
Despite the heat in the cab, you pull your jacket tighter.
As soon as you got in from that upsetting ride, you excuse yourself to take a nap, leaving Sevika concerned and Ran wondering what happened but not surprised to see you back. Curling up in the bed, tears silently run down your face not from sadness but from being overwhelmed at everything going on. Weathering the storm was what you did, but even you had limits.
After composing yourself, you creep downstairs, not knowing what to expect or where Sevika was. You'd heard Ran's keyboard in their office so that was one person whose location you knew, but Sevika was a mystery no matter how much you strained your ears.
By the time the back door opened and clattered shut, you were buried in the couch moving as little as possible, both looking like you'd been there all along and also drawing as little attention to yourself than you could.
Your fear of reprisal was unfounded but everyone was subdued the rest of the night. You couldn't blame them, this was all your fault. More ruined friendships left in your wake.
It was so much easier with a screen in the way, keeping you separate. Protecting everyone from you. There you could be what was needed, act how you wanted to act. If you knew an inordinate amount about something, no one thought it was weird.
There, you could be the one helping others.
Once again, it was an early night for you but this time there was no staying up, no frantic attempt to keep yourself distracted. Even reading the mass email your company had finally sent didn't illicit a response.
With a sigh, you pull the covers over your head. You'd figure it out tomorrow.
"Please take me with you," Ran begs as they hand you a somewhat heavy messenger bag. Everyone seemed better after a night's rest, or maybe it was because today was when Sevika's family was to descend on the household and everyone was dealing with nervous energy and pretending everything was fine.
"Nope." Sevika drapes her arm across Ran's shoulders. "You're stuck here with me."
She'd extended an invitation to you for it but you'd declined. It was too many people at once and she'd warned you they could be loud and overbearing, though you'd already surmised the latter. You also hadn't forgotten what Ran said and with everything else that had happened, there'd been no time to touch base and it was a disaster waiting to happen.
"What's this?" you ask, slipping the bag's strap across your body.
"Just an old laptop I had laying around." Ran shrugs, or tries to, while Sevika does a poor job of hiding a smirk. "Figured you might want some variety to help keep you occupied since we don't know how long this will last."
"That's—thank you." You'd nearly said it wasn't needed—and you would have been fine without it—but it was thoughtful and you did have some emails you needed to write.
"No problem," they say before switching what was probably supposed to be a whisper but they made not attempt to lower their voice. "Now escape while you can."
Either they forgot about Sevika's arm or didn't think she'd do anything, but she puts them in a partial headlock. "We'll text when it's done," she tells you.
Walking down the steps and hearing the front door close, you can't help but think it was the perfect time to disappear, something that you'd been trying to do for a couple days now. You'd just have to wait until people started showing up, then they'd be too preoccupied to track your movements.
It was tempting—so tempting—but you'd promised not to and Sevika's words still weighed heavily on you. Running away would only make them worry so if it didn't help anyone and was something you didn't want to do, why do it?
You couldn't just not do something, though, so you satisfy the urge by just walking around. This wasn't your neighbourhood and you decided to only go off your memory as you made your way to a more commercial area, or so you hoped. There was plenty of time and this area wasn't as badly affected as others.
When you do make it to a café that was both open and would be open until late at night, you settle in. There weren't an excessive amount of customers and the ambiance was better than the restaurant you'd considered. Quieter, too, and while there was no rush to do it, you did want to get some work done.
After you warmed up, had a snack, and looked to find what Sevika saw in this book she gave you.
But eventually you can't put it off anymore. You hadn't even pulled out the laptop before you knew your idea of old and Ran's were very different. You'd been expecting something that was over a decade old and barely functional for anything other than causing blunt-force trauma. What you found was something only old in the sense it wasn't brand new.
Now you needed to know the specs but you were sure you didn't have to worry about it giving up the ghost if you more than one browser open at once. Assuming you could see much on a guest profile—it had been a while since you used one of those.
Your breath hitches when you see it's not a generic guest profile and make out what the image for it is through your suddenly blurry vision.
All the way back and longer, you'd debated on what, if anything, to say. The class image had only been the start—Ran had put in a lot of effort to make sure you didn't miss the .txt file they'd typed up for you to read. By the time you got to the part where they speculated you were crying in public, everyone else in the café probably thought you'd just gotten the worst news in your life.
Ultimately you decided not to say anything but it wasn't something you wanted to pretend you hadn't read. Ran and Sevika were watching some mindless television while snuggling on the couch to recover from dinner once you worked yourself up to do something, which nearly ended your resolve.
A thread of it remained, though, and before it frayed, you'd made the long short walk to sit on Ran's free side. Your movements are not smooth but after a moment, you put your head on their shoulder, hoping that would say everything you didn't know how to.
You swear Sevika chuckles, making your face heat up more than it already was, but before you can leave, Ran pulls you in and wouldn't let you up until the episode finished.
You stayed to watch another, only shifting to get more comfortable.
"Hit me."
"… Are you sure you know how to play poker?"
"What's this? Is the 'fuck it, we ball' person urging caution?"
With as busy and as large as the city was, you had to stay with Ran and Sevika for a few more days, but eventually an inspector got around to clearing your building for everyone, including those on the ground floor.
Everything was as you left it from the takeout menus on the fridge to the dirty glasses on your desk, from the calendar you used to track your shifts to the grocery list on the counter. It should have been comforting but you'd been in empty gymnasiums that felt more lively.
Throwing yourself into helping not just clean up your store but anyone in the mall helped keep you busy but you would always have to return home. Without anything to distract you, you'd inevitably start thinking of how barren your shoebox felt now.
After making up your mind, it had still taken nearly a week to broach the subject of properly moving in with Ran and Sevika despite talking to them daily. You'd resigned yourself to them saying no—it was presumptive for you to ask in the first place and it wasn't like last time had gone perfectly—but to your surprise, they said yes.
With Ran even saying it was about time.
"I didn't forget about our deal."
"What's this?"
"One of those inflatable carnival hammers."
It was nerve-wracking at first, adjusting to living with others, you hadn't done that since you lived with your parents, not even with past relationships. Turns out walking on eggshells wasn't the normal state of things, something that only seemed real after you'd gotten weird looks while rambling about how you'd ruined a table by not using a coaster and would do and pay for everything to fix it.
The downside was it was a lot harder to hide the messages from your parents and you couldn't downplay them as well, it was only a matter of time before Ran or Sevika walked in on one of those calls. Sevika had been the first to do that. She'd only heard a few seconds before she plucked your phone out of your hand, said a few choice words, and hung up before waiting for a response.
After assuring her she hadn't made things worse, it was decided that any further contact would either go through her or have her present to shut it down.
"I've met overtired toddlers more reasonable than your folks."
"At least toddlers grow out of it."
"Are you sure I can't punch them?"
It seemed small in comparison but after seeing Sevika's family in action, you started diffusing situations where you could and happily became the subject of interest by being "that random person from the internet". Not that it was required but she was helping you out, so why not return the favour?
Though eventually the polite restraint they had when you were around faded and you started to understand just what Ran had meant.
"I am officially third."
"In?"
"The most liked person in this house."
At first your manager thought you were joking when you said you were quitting, or maybe trying to get a raise, but once they realized you were serious, the panic set in. You'd realized just how much of a pushover you were being and how they'd been taking advantage of it, something you were fine letting them do.
On some level, you'd always known that was happening but after applying around, you'd gotten offers with a fraction of the work for fewer hours while getting paid more. Not having to worry about rent anymore—as well as having the time—you'd started taking classes at various rec centres and colleges to see what you liked.
Digital worlds still had an appeal, were something you found fun, but now fun was the driving force instead of being secondary.
♫Mm mhmm hmm m m mmm m mmh♫
"Why does that sound familiar?"
"I was wondering why the yard was a mess."
—
A/N: This was supposed to be a short, fun piece from my WIP pile with a heavy focus on video games but, uh, I think it's safe to say it definitely didn't stay that…
Disclaimer: Not everyone experiences anxiety the same way so this is just based on my own and sometimes struggling to put irrational and incoherent feelings into words because so much of it doesn't make sense or rise above an automatic response you (I) only maybe register as doing in hindsight.
Synopsis: Ran had moved on, hadn't really thought about it or you in years, only for a violent spectre from the past to show up with habits they hadn't see since you disappeared.
Genre: Angst
POV: Second
Warnings: PTSD, attempted suicide, possible body horror
Word count: 6.2k
Forward: It was an intentional choice to use blank/missing characters for speech, so don't worry, your browser/app isn't acting up.
—
There was more than enough prey around but it was scattered with not all being suitable for feeding, an unwelcome discovery. You'd had to become more discerning, to be willing to put up with unsatisfactory meals while familiarizing yourself with this world. It was a success. You now knew how to move, knew how to avoid detection, and, most importantly, had learned which prey was edible and which wasn't.
It had been happenstance you'd come across this place, a whim to change up your patrol, but the place was ripe with prey. Ripe enough there was no need to scavenge or turn to desiccated prey just to take the edge off anymore. This was a place where you could hunt without moving.
You leisurely watch prey come and go, lounging in the shadows above, waiting for one that will fully satisfy. There was no need to rush, you could afford to be picky now that you knew this place existed. The street droned with the chattering of prey while lights buzz, rising steam helping to obscure you as you simply watched and waited. Your time would come. Until then, you twitch your tail in rhythm to a tune you couldn't understand but enjoyed nonetheless.
A stumbling movement catches your attention, stilling you as you assess the prey. You may not be able to smell it but even from up here but there was a pinkish glow under some of the skin. With an idle lick over your muzzle, you stretch with a yawn before dropping down another level to trail it. It was already injured and completely oblivious, the perfect meal, you just had to be patient a bit longer.
A voice cuts through everything, making you freeze mid-stride as your prey slowly starts putting distance between you two by sheer accident. You look back where you'd come from, where that sound came from as one ear keeps trained on the prey to not lose track of it, not that that would happen with as much noise as it was making. Leaping closer, you scan the lines of prey before picking out the one you think was the source, though without any further sounds you can't be certain.
There's nothing different about it, you'd seen it come and go before, always catching your attention but not like this. It was the same as any of the other prey, perhaps less of a meal than some but still prey—there was nothing special about it. And yet as it walks away, you look back to the prey that was struggling to keep moving though it's not hard to abandon it. Hunger had been replaced by curiosity.
Bounding from ledge to ledge, it takes little time to catch up, giving you ample time to witness the way some other prey was paying too much attention. Narrowing your eyes as your ears flick back, you watch as the prey break from where they'd been once the one you were both following goes down one of the narrow lanes that snaked across your territory. Your. Territory. A growl escapes your lips at the audacity these prey were showing.
Slipping closer, you watch the confrontation unfold, not knowing or caring what the sounds meant, the tone said it all. Fur bristles at the way the lead prey made its noises and postured. If it wished to claim hunting rights here, it would have to fight you for them.
It never even knew you were there before it crumples beneath your paws. Whipping around, you slam one of its group into a wall with a snarl. Snapping up another, you send it to join the second with a toss of your head. Even as the rest begin to scurry away, you start after the next closest but skid to a stop almost immediately. With the challenge, you'd forgotten about the prey that started this but now their scent fully caught your attention even under the stench of blood rapidly filling the space.
You turn your attention to that prey, letting the others escape. By the time it runs out of room with you slowly advancing on it, your hackles lie flat and your teeth are safely covered again. Its eyes flash as it realizes it's trapped but instead of putting it out of its misery, you sit. From up close, it still looked no different than the other prey yet there was undeniably something about it. You didn't understand.
It even stank of the fear all prey had if you waited too long or didn't make a clean kill, but there was also that familiar scent mixed in, the scent that kept you from fully eliminating the rest of the other prey. Issuing a sharp growl, you warn it away from the sharp claws some prey had as you close the distance to better inspect it. It shifts again and you growl more forcefully.
This close, you could clearly make out that sweet, slightly acrid scent edible prey had, as well as a sharp scent that has you curling your lips without noticing. One of its hands catches your attention, smelling of both flesh and metal. So many prey wandered around with that exact combo, you don't understand why this time you felt compelled to investigate it further.
After nosing at it until satisfied, you move higher, involuntarily beginning to salivate when reaching the junction where lifeblood flowed. Rearing back, you glare at the prey as if it had struck you but it was standing there as frozen as ever, only its eyes moving to follow you. No, it wasn't the prey that did that.
Frustration sets in. You couldn't make sense of any of this.
You'd given up a meal for this prey, now you would take one. Eyes harden as muscles tense to end this but a resistance surges forward, forcing you a step back on instinct. Shaking your head to rid yourself of it, you turn attention back to the prey only for the same resistance to come back. This time you were expecting it, though, and hold your ground until it subsides—whatever it was, you were stronger.
The prey mutters something, keeping you in place. Your ears betray you in coming forward while claws bite deeply into the earth, keeping you from both moving forward and moving back. Your breathing picks up as you stare at the prey until you finally tear yourself away with a growl, tail thrashing as you pace in circles, splintering a wooden box that gets in your way.
Gnashing your teeth, you try to understand. This prey was dangerous. It had to be removed just like you'd removed the one that challenged you. You also couldn't touch it with your own body fighting you.
Taking your frustration out on a piece of the box, your claws dig furrows as you send the debris away.
It wouldn't take much longer for the other prey to get involved, too. As little of a threat these ones posed, enough could prove a problem, especially if this one were to join in.
Sparks fly as you lash out at a wall while you pass.
"… ꩜꩜꩜?"
The world stills as you slowly turn to look at the prey. Prey that was approaching you. Baring teeth, you hiss as your ears go back but your paws stay firmly rooted to your dismay. Heart pounding, you frantically look around, using all your strength to leap up and out of reach just before the strange prey got to you. It was the first time you'd been bested. No bluffs had been made or blood drawn, either.
You'd have to keep an eye on this one.
Puzzled by your reaction to the not-prey and the need to make sure it wouldn't happen again, you'd taken to watching them, sometimes from a distance, other times closer but never close enough they could reach you. Sometimes they saw you, sometimes they didn't, and you liked it that way. It had been a mistake to get that close and be so obvious, one you'd been lucky to escape from unscathed.
No longer did you patrol your territory except when the not-prey slept, often combining that with the time you used to hunt. The rest of the time, you were following the not-prey, trying to determine what made them so different than the rest. Sometimes they were by themself, other times they were with prey but did not attack them. Like you, they were a predator, you'd witnessed that aspect personally, so you knew they could hunt but you still hadn't determined how they differentiated prey.
More concerning was how the not-prey never took any of their kills for themself, rarely even looked at it.
You'd never concerned yourself much about the lives of prey before, never had to, but discovering how little you did know wasn't pleasant. So while you were trying to discern what it was about the not-prey that allowed them such control over you, you were also studying the prey around them. You couldn't slip in amongst them as the not-prey could, didn't know their habits or routines or needs except the ones you'd learned to make your own life easier.
Trailing the not-prey from the shadows, nothing strikes you as different this time except perhaps it was only one prey with them instead of two. It wasn't the first time that had happened so it wasn't as confusing as the first time that left you slightly distressed. After it happened several more times, you determined it to be unusual but not abnormal. You still couldn't understand why they all were submissive to the prey that was here.
It wasn't particularly impressive yet even the not-prey showed a deference to it, going so far as to defend it from other prey at times. It was still prey but you marked it as one to not hunt or kill needlessly—you'd warn it away. Not because the not-prey followed it but because if the prey was powerful enough to demand fealty from the not-prey, you didn't want it to do the same to you.
So focused were you on the prey and not-prey, it's not until your fur bristles that your attention snaps away while you quietly growl to yourself. Ears swivel as you seek the source of your unease but it's what occasionally comes through with the scent that makes your muscles quiver and your belly drop low to the ground.
You knew the scent of death but this was different, lingering and apathetic. Your ears go back at sounds that weren't there while pain crawls across your body. Shutting your eyes, you huddle down until the strange feelings pass, leaving you with a racing heart and dry mouth. It's only when you're sure you're alone do you remember the not-prey and how they had been heading straight to the source.
No longer caring about whether or not you're seen, claws dig into stone and earth as you rush to stop them. When you leap over them to block their way forward, your panting wasn't entirely from moving as fast as you had. Stretching as tall and as long as you could get, you give a warning rumble. This was not a good place to be.
Your warning goes unheeded but you cut them off from trying to go further, being more insistent in your vocalizations.
They still don't understand.
This time when they try to pass, you physically move them back with your head, one ear constantly aimed at the direction they were heading.
The prey makes a noise but you ignore it, staring at the not-prey glaring at you. A contest of wills. Something brushes along the fur on your front leg, your shock at the audacity of the prey slows your response but as soon as you realize what had happened, you snarl and snap at it to drive it back.
A thwack on the nose makes you blink, turning your eyes to watch the not-prey put themself between you and the prey, one of its claws in hand. The action was clear.
Gathering your muscles, you spring up the wall, scrambling the rest of the way to the ledge, you stare down at the not-prey, hoping they could handle that place.
Relief floods you when you hear two sets of footsteps approaching. As much as you wanted to, you couldn't bring yourself to flee the area after being so roundly rejected and resented yourself for not being able to continue further. You may not have been wanted but you could have still defended the not-prey from the nightmare place. If your legs had let you.
There were no issues there this time.
The not-prey had barely appeared before you tackle them to the ground under you, chuffing at their head, ignoring their protests.
Keeping to the shadows, you prowl around seeking prey to flush out. There were only two this time, on a platform overlooking where the not-prey was. Sniffing at the platform, you test your weight on it, no longer concerned with staying hidden. It shifts and groans with your weight, one of the prey stumbling at the unexpected movement before tripping and falling below. A quick glance is enough to tell you that that prey wouldn't be getting up.
It was trivial to dispatch of the surviving prey which now dangled in your jaws as you padded over to the not-prey with it, glad at your fortune. You'd grown increasingly worried at how the not-prey didn't eat their kills, though they didn't seem to be suffering for it. They try to ignore you as you drop the food at their feet before sitting back, waiting expectantly for them to accept it.
When they make no move to accept your kill, you berate yourself for the oversight. After cracking the limb open for them to reveal the liquid marrow, you sit back again. You knew they consumed this, had smelled it on them, but they still didn't move. Huffing encouragement, you wait.
And wait.
With a sigh, you lay down to slowly lap up the liquid yourself, giving the not-prey ample time to change their mind.
Before the not-prey appears, you knew exactly which one it was, not even cracking an eye over it. By now, you'd been introduced to those Ran worked with. They used names but you found them pointless, the rustling of fabric and heavy steps in heavy boots was enough. What mattered was she wasn't a threat.
"꩜꩜꩜." The not-prey doesn't bother going through the ritual greeting before speaking, the tone terse enough to make you open an eye.
Ran stops humming at the interruption. "꩜꩜꩜," they respond, pushing themself up off of you. "꩜꩜꩜." Their irritation was palpable. You may not understand what was being said but you knew something was unfolding.
"꩜꩜꩜," the not-prey says with enough derision you feel compelled to get to your feet. She still wasn't a threat but you didn't like the effect she was having.
Whatever was said, it made Ran go from irritated to angry. "꩜꩜꩜?"
Circling around Ran, you bump into them as you take your place at their side. You'd make this go away if they gave the word.
"꩜꩜꩜? ꩜꩜꩜." The not-prey meets Ran's glare with her own, her eyes briefly flicking to you. "꩜꩜꩜."
Before you can stop yourself, your ears go back at that and you growl a warning.
"꩜꩜꩜," Ran says flatly, not chastising you for slipping up.
The not-prey regards both of you silently before sighing. "꩜꩜꩜. ꩜꩜꩜." As she leaves, she says over her shoulder, "꩜꩜꩜."
With the source of their distress gone, you thought Ran would relax but they were still standing there, tense. Seeing them like that makes you double-back to being on alert yourself. Scenting the air, there is the lingering scent of the not-prey but that wouldn't have such an effect as far as you knew.
Listening, there's only the sound of the streets below and Ran's own sharp breathing. You can't even see anything that would set Ran off like that, even though you were sure you'd hear one before you could see it.
Worried, you give them a bunt. That seems to draw their attention back with them scratching your head before they busy themself with adjusting your tubes and checking your machinery, talking to you as if nothing had happened but you could tell something had changed.
Replaying that encounter didn't do anything. No matter how many times you went over it, you just didn't understand. Even when Ran came to get you, they were withdrawn in a way you didn't like. They greeted you and told you what the plan was, even if the words made no sense, but they were going through the motions this time.
If they thought you wouldn't notice, they were wrong.
The only thing that did anything was when you trotted past one of the not-prey, side lightly brushing him as you moved to the front after ensuring none were following. You thought nothing of it but he'd flinched away so dramatically, Ran couldn't stop from snorting in surprised amusement.
That made you hold your head slightly higher and arch your tail a fraction more, glad something got through to them, even if it was followed up by the older of the not-prey snapping at him. It was a start and you planned to find a way to continue it when this job was done. Until then, you had to turn your attention elsewhere.
You didn't control the territory you were entering, but neither did anyone else. Even so, you couldn't help being wary. There were fewer and fewer places to hide, leaving you feeling exposed.
Once you'd thought of claiming this area as your own but not only was there less suitable prey, some of them were aggressive in a way the prey in your territory weren't. The loud sticks they used didn't hurt but they were annoying and, now, you realized they must use them on each other.
Prey hunting prey hadn't been something you noticed or cared about before, now you could see how common it was. It made you reluctant to let Ran enter here alone—you couldn't protect them if you weren't around.
Everything about you begins to droop as the group nears the point you're told to stay behind. With a sigh, you plod over to Ran, knowing the routine even if you didn't like it. The order never comes, though, and you perk up more and more as the separation point falls further and further behind.
This was different, exciting, but also dangerous. Being extremely careful, you make a looping patrol around the group as it moves, making sure they weren't being stalked, that they weren't walking into an ambush, and none of those biting prey were nearby.
A soft whistle gets your attention, makes you break off as you pad over to Ran to see what they wanted. "Ready?" they ask as they give you a scratch behind the ear. To answer, you let out a huff of air, looking at them expectantly. "꩜꩜ work."
Splitting away, you change up your patrol and go on the offensive, mapping out where the potential prey was laying in wait. You'd let them make the first move but they showed no interest in attacking either, so you settle in by the last one, still alert to everything but still stuck on what was going on with Ran.
There hadn't been many places to hide nearby so you hadn't really bothered, satisfying yourself with a stack of crates. Even so, the prey is so oblivious, you wonder if you could walk right up to him. That wasn't the case with the prey you were used to, they were more aware of their surroundings.
When he does notice, you simply flick the tip of your tail and tilt your head slightly, making no move to close the distance. You had other concerns and wouldn't do anything unless—
A sharp noise sends your ears back.
Seemingly shocked, the prey just stands there holding a shorter version of those loud sticks. Anger boils over. With a growl, you charge, ignoring whatever grazed your head or how there's a thud in a shoulder, knocking the man over before you scoop down, sending him flying.
Yelling breaks out from multiple places but you're already moving. As much as you wanted to, you couldn't go directly to Ran, not if all the prey had firearms. A deep, blaring noise barges its way in while you dispatch of prey or knock them away.
An argument is heating up. You're moving as fast as you can, no longer trying to avoid killing prey or ensuring they were dead. Metal on metal spurs you on. Had there always been this amount of prey?
Not even bothering to waste the time climbing it, you slash twice at a machine before throwing yourself at it, sending it and the prey on it tumbling.
You skid to a halt before you can leap to the next boat, wood shrieking as your blood runs cold. There's so much noise from everywhere but you swear there's an almost inaudible click. Frantically backtracking, you send up sparks and splinters wherever your claws hit as you sought every extra bit of traction you could get.
A dull thud hits your body just as you knock a shocked Ran over, spreading your claws wide to kill your momentum. Metal pops free from flesh at the strain. An electric jolt shoots through your head as something hits your neck, your limbs going weak for an instant.
Snarling at nothing, you hold strong as you wait for Ran to scramble away to other cover, following them. Nostrils flared, your eyes rake over the prey down here, too scared to approach.
Too scared to run.
Fury drives any consideration to not kill away. The only thing that spares their lives is a pulling on one of your tubes. Whipping your head around, you growl before your eyes focus on the source.
"No ꩜꩜꩜. ꩜꩜꩜," Ran says urgently, ignoring your indiscretion and knowing what you planned. Fingers run over your head. "꩜꩜꩜?"
You nod.
Letting Ran steer you, you keep between them and the sniper as you gathered the rest of your group. You'd completely forgotten about them. Each time you broke cover, more thuds hit your body, sometimes pinging off metal. By the time it stops, you're panting and can hear boots running to where you'd just come from.
"꩜꩜꩜," the older not-prey says to you. "Go." You're too tired to be more than rankled at his presumption. Looking to Ran, your throat tightens as they repeat it. Extremely reluctantly, you slip away.
Once out of sight, you stopped, hunkering down to make sure they weren't being followed. When enforcers inevitably showed up, you dropped down on one, luring the rest away. It wasn't as hard to let them keep up as you expected, some of your claws dragging and throwing your gait off.
When you decided they were far enough in the wrong direction, it wasn't hard to shake them but by the time you got to the bridge you'd been planning to take, it was raised. Not wanting to get caught, you sprint to find an alternate way across. By the time you find and rejoin the group, you're exhausted.
Plodding along as they take a roundabout way home, you're startled by the appearance of that man.
Normally you'd have noticed something like that before anyone got that close but you were tired, distracted. Something wasn't right and you didn't know what, so you sat patiently as each flick of the lighter sent a wave of anger through you, glaring at the man and flicking your tail in annoyance.
Ran had been quick to step in once they saw your lips begin to lift and muscles tense. Under the guise of checking your injuries, they run their fingers through your fur with deep pressure and seemingly mutter to themself. It's only thanks to them you don't lash out.
You weren't sorry to see him leave, sneezing to get his smell out of your nose. The anger that had sustained you rapidly faded as you finished escorting Ran close enough you didn't feel like you were shirking your duty. As you turn to leave, it takes a moment to notice the pulling on your fur.
With a heavy sigh, you turn to Ran hoping they'll be fast with whatever it was—you desperately needed to hunt and sleep. As they whisper to you, they're barely containing a smile. An ear twitches slightly at that but as soon as you can go, you do.
You'd only meant to close your eyes for a moment before your hunt, but, not being used to more than a light doze, you'd fallen into such a deep sleep, you're left confused at where you are and how much time has passed until you get your bearings. Right. You remembered now.
With a massive yawn as you stretch, you shake off crumpled bullets, feeling marginally better though still drained. After hopping over to greet Ran before they'd start to worry, you rub your head on their shoulder until you catch a scent. Sitting abruptly, you're practically vibrating in anticipation as you watch Ran, focusing completely on them.
Laughing, they pull out the dented bucket from behind their back. "꩜꩜Silco." They barely pull their hand back before you're muzzle-deep—you were absolutely starving. A shiver runs through you. Muscles twist and slacken. Lungs can finally stretch without becoming tight. Eyes that had grown dull were sharp again.
A million different things and you noticed none.
With as determined as you were to get every last drop, Ran takes advantage to check over your injuries properly. Or former injuries. The only indication anything had happened to your flesh was dried ooze left as clumps in your fur. Your mechanical parts had taken a beating but before they can get a closer look, you pull your head out, satisfied you'd gotten everything.
Feeling almost like your old self, you make a contented rumble before shoving your head into Ran's chest, ignoring their initial protest at you smearing them with your now dirty muzzle. It's not long until their arms wrap around you jaw, finally allowing themself to feel relief.
They miss the way your lips curl into a grin.
It's not hard to knock them down, carefully pinning them so they had no choice but to accept you grooming them, periodically chuffing as you went. Nosing over them, you satisfy yourself they weren't hiding any injuries before finally letting them up.
They complain all the while they crawl out from under you, adjusting their clothes while trying to fix their hair.
You give an amused huff.
"You're ꩜꩜ there, ꩜ you?"
The words meant something but didn't, even after cocking your head trying to understand them. What you did understand was the city. Turning your head, you let the sounds and sights wash over you while Ran began to examine the tubing and machinery that littered your body, turning your legs this way and that to get a better look.
The only interruption is when they get to one of your paws, cursing as they look at the claws that were now immovable. Once you saw there was no immediate threat, you turn your attention elsewhere. Looking up, the gash of the sky you could see was a fraction lighter. Dawn was still a while away but the night was coming to a close.
Ran really should head home but you couldn't bring yourself to make them. It seemed they needed this and you were happy to oblige. Not really listening, you let your eyelids droop, half-dozing. You were satisfied with your performance, now you could rest.
Your ears go back as your eyes fly open, sharp and glittering.
"꩜ not a ꩜꩜ Finn, ꩜ you?" Ran chuckles, unconcerned at the offended look you give them. "Sevika ꩜꩜꩜, ꩜ I ꩜꩜꩜ you."
You have half a mind to storm off over that. Instead, you grumble at them, tolerating it as they put their whole weight behind something.
"You ꩜꩜꩜ you ꩜꩜꩜ his ꩜꩜. ꩜ you ꩜ kill him. ꩜꩜ you ꩜꩜," they say as they slide down against you. "꩜꩜꩜ you ꩜."
With a huff, you put your head down to think, your tail twitching in time to the deep bass coming from bars that refused to close. What pulls you back to the present is a simple weight on the head. You roll an eye to look over, seeing Ran refusing to look at you.
"I ꩜ you, you ꩜," they sigh. "꩜꩜꩜, I ꩜꩜꩜ you ꩜ dead. ꩜ you ꩜, ꩜ you? ꩜꩜꩜ stopped ꩜꩜ I ꩜ you ꩜꩜꩜."
With a sigh of your own, you look forward again.
It was odd how you never once showed yourself the following day while Ran walked to worked. You usually did but after last night's spectacularly failed negotiations, you may be sleeping it off somewhere, especially after you had that much shimmer and whatever else that had been mixed in with it. You had seemed tired after.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to find out where exactly those prosthetics came from.
Pushing it out of their mind, they go about their day, checking in and covering the bar while Silco and Sevika went around putting out fires and trying to smooth things over. By the time they were relieved, they were glad to get away from it and looking forward to seeing you. They also wanted to take another look at some of your mechanics.
Bio chemtech wasn't their forte and how you worked was a bit of a mystery, but it didn't look too bad last night. Still, best to be sure, especially if they couldn't convince you to see the Doctor and they didn't want to get the Sludgerunners or Scrap Hackers involved if they didn't have to. They could ask Sevika for a second opinion but they were still pissed at her.
Besides, she was busy running all over and they wouldn't put it beyond her to blame you for that.
On top of all that, she'd been quick to dismiss Ran's hunch that there was more to you than it seemed but yesterday all but confirmed that they were right.
Shaking their head, they take the stairs two at a time. They'd worry about everything else as needed, for now they just wanted to see you. Except you aren't there when they make it to the roof. You don't even show when they whistle. Their heart begins to sink but they don't panic, not yet.
It's not even a decision to blow off work, they just do it.
Flying down the stairs, they sprint to where they live, ignoring anyone who tries to stop them.
Standing in the middle of the street, chest heaving, they look around for where you might be. They'd never bothered to ask where you spent your nights—not that you could answer—but they figured it was probably close given how possessive you could get. If you weren't by the bar, you were probably around here somewhere.
If you weren't…
The first place they look is pristine, or at least as pristine as to be expected. The second did have some old scrapes but you hadn't been there in some time, so they knew they were on the right track at least. They were pulling from everything they'd observed but their grim determination was beginning to falter.
Despite everything, it felt like history was repeating.
The hinges to the next place are rusted almost solid, requiring force to force the hatch open. Once out, Ran could see why. The parapet would keep any runoff from leaving and the stone above was falling away given the rocky debris. Not a pleasant place to be and no chance of expansion upward.
There were scrapes around, along with gouges and even bits of fur. At the sound of metal skittering, they reflexively draw their blades, looking around for the source before seeing the deformed bit of metal they'd kicked into the parapet. They were entirely too jumpy right now. Sheathing their weapons once again, they turn away from the stone wall, closing their eyes to let the air currents ground them.
Just for a moment, though, time was running out.
Eyes snapping open, they use this new vantage point to see where else you might be and rule out places that looked viable from below but weren't actually. Marking the next place, they head back down the ladder, trying to keep the doubt from growing, when they hear something. Or think they heard something. It had been so low, it seamlessly blended in with the droning from the streets and the subtle whooshing of ventilation fans.
If it happened.
Too many ifs
Excitement begins to build as they move up a few rungs to whistle but as moments stretched on, there was only background noise. Disheartened, they sigh at having wasted the time and getting their hopes up. The hatch fights them but is almost closed when there's a resigned whine, almost like the person who'd made it had been holding their breath and finally had to let it out.
Shooting up and out, Ran looks wildly around for where it came from. The only thing they can see was a thin crack they'd dismissed as too small and hard to access. They'd need to scale twenty feet of metal siding to have a look inside. So that's what they do.
The mouth is wider than it seemed, light and the roughness of the rock hiding by just how much, though they still had to kick off from the side to make the jump. Heart pounding, they roll before springing up. The floor was treacherous, rotten stone that had been torn up again and again, while the ceiling was jagged and pressed too close for comfort. Glad they weren't claustrophobic, they carefully pick their way toward a faint green glow, not waiting for their eyes to adjust to the gloom.
An involuntary gasp leaves them at the next sight.
"How many times do I have to tell you to end that beast?" Sevika says, palpating her cheek to make sure nothing was broken. It wasn't your fault someone had left an old rail cart in an old mining tunnel, though perhaps you could have been a bit more careful getting past it.
"Not going to happen." You could see Ran bristle but before an argument could break out, you trot up, bullying Sevika out of the way so you could rub your head on their shoulder with a happy rumble. Crisis averted: Sevika was back to swearing at you while Ran tries not to laugh. You give them a final nudge and a wink before circling back to the rear, waiting for Sevika to set the pace again, though you were glad for the short break.
You could have made due with more time to rest and recover but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to have Ran and Sevika make up. Despite what she said and what you'd gathered, you didn't blame her for it and it wasn't like you had never thought the same thing or tried to do it yourself, though this new body was more resilient than you expected. Too many redundancies and involuntary release of shimmer.
If Ran suspected you'd tried by slicing through your own tubing, they didn't say anything and you couldn't tell them of the times before. You shake your head, wishing the memories in that lab were ones that hadn't come back.
Ran gives you a concerned look before helping Sevika back up to the tracks. They didn't know the whole story but they knew enough. "It was an accident," they say knowing full well it wasn't.
They hadn't told anyone they were right or you had your memories back yet, so you'd been taking advantage of it to mess with people and listen in to things people wouldn't say if they knew you could understand.
"Could have fooled me."
Ran keeps from coughing in surprise, playing off what they can't suppress as being caused by the dust hanging in the air. Sevika had gotten close with that one. You note to be careful around her going forward.
Even not having used this tunnel before, you knew the end was coming up. Could smell it. The plan was simple enough. Meet up with a group, Sevika does her thing, go home. You were just an assurance. Still, this wasn't the position you were used to being in.
"Ready?" Ran says after noticing you lagging behind, walking straight up to you. It used to be a simple cue, this time there was more. So much more. You could leave this life, disappear, like you'd talked about doing. What you'd do or where you'd go, you didn't know, but the world thought you dead. This was the best chance you'd have at finally escaping.
Ignoring how it would only fuel Sevika's suspicions, you chuff against Ran's cheek. This was your job now. You had every intention of sticking around.
—
A/N: Alternate synopsis: When the DM ignores the class and gives someone an animal companion they're in no way equipped for and now have to make regular checks to keep said animal companion from wiping the whole group.
Taming a wild animal is fine and all—I'd be lying if it wasn't something I'd thought of before—but what about being that animal and having someone take the time to connect with and listen to you? Or maybe that's just me. This mostly* started as a way to play with dialogue (or the absence of it) but I got way too into the premise. Came up with a whole backstory for Reader (and their relationship with Ran) and everything even though only a few things are hinted at and it could have been hand-waved away.
*and a bit of an excuse to chuff even though spellcheck keeps saying it's not a real word.
Vampire!Ran x werewolf!Sevika x monster hunter!Reader
Synopsis: Checking on tips is routine and don't usually amount to anything but this one has you finding nothing before you find far too much.
Genre: Angst, Resident Evil 8 AU, Enemies to Lovers
POV: Second
Warnings: Death, Supernatural, Shady Government Agencies
Word count: 7.4k
—
When you get out of your car, untouched snow crunches under your boots, making you frown at the unexpected noise. It wasn't unusual enough to turn around and leave but there hadn't been fresh snowfall for a couple days and from what you were told, there should have been tracks of some sort but there weren't even any animal tracks. There wasn't even another way to get into or our of the village—there was just the one road.
Even the air is absent of the noises you would have expected, only the cooling of your car's engine and the occasional bird call breaking the silence. What's also missing is the smoke you would have expected to see rising from chimneys on such a day. On the off-chance that the whole village had been holed up for days, you still would have expected smoke.
This was looking to be more than an obligation to expose a drunkard's story as nothing more than ramblings, something was going on.
Perhaps you should have gotten back in your car and left—you'd already confirmed enough for a proper investigation to be opened—but you'd seen too many villages slaughtered, too many bodies heaped in piles to be dissuaded from a closer look. You wouldn't go too far but you did want to get an idea of what the recon team would face.
Checking your phone, you're still getting zero bars of service. Not that you'd really expected to but it still would have been nice to know backup was coming. Your car may have GPS but it will still take time for it to be considered missing, and the speed at which that's reported is dependent on whoever was on duty to monitor it. No, you were on your own for this.
After checking your sidearm, you zip up your jacket and close the car door gently but in the silence you may as well have slammed it. You venture into the seemingly abandoned settlement to the sound of your car's engine ticking as it cools down, wary but not overly concerned. The silence may be disconcerting but there was no sense of wrongness hanging over everything.
Trudging between buildings, there's still no sign of anything living, only the unbroken stretch of virgin snow. Unholstering your gun, you creep along the side of a building looking for some sign of what happened when a sharp sound makes you jump and look around for the source.
Except it's only a branch finally giving way under the weight of snow somewhere in the distance. That's almost enough for you all the same but you still wanted to check inside one of the buildings first. Once you do that, you can kick this up the ladder and get the hell out of here.
The first door you try doesn't budge, locked as it was, but the second gives. No one bothered locking this one. Giving it a slight push, you watch it swing open with a dull thud when it hits a wall but nothing happens.
After sweeping the room with eyes and barrel to ensure you were alone, you quickly close the door again, latching it this time. You needed to look around properly and you couldn't do that if you were looking over your shoulder the whole time, though what you find only adds to the growing alarm you were trying to ignore.
Or rather, what you don't find.
If whatever had happened had been sudden, you'd have expected a sign even if all the bodies had been taken away, but there were no half-eaten meals just like how there were no keys, wallets, or photo albums. Whatever had happened hadn't, it wasn't sudden yet you didn't know of enthralled people to care about sentimental items.
Hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand up. This was too strange. You'd breathed air thick with the smell of blood and that bothered you less than this. Time to get out of here and let someone else figure it out.
You couldn't get out of that house fast enough and it was easy to find your way back but you pull up short after rounding a building. Your car is still there but it's sitting differently, lower, and all around it the snow is torn up with flecks of brown. Whatever had been there was strong enough to tear up frozen ground.
And you hadn't heard anything.
On high alert now, your eyes dart around as you chamber a shot. A bullet couldn't stop most monsters but, if the monster was corporeal and you knew where to aim, a bullet could still slow them down.
Inching toward the car, you watch the surrounding area for any sign of movement though it feels like you're the one being watched. There's no clear track in the mess to tell what you're dealing with and the tires are no better—all you can gather is they'd been slashed by claw or knife. If you could take a closer look, you would be able to tell which but you didn't dare turn your back with whatever had done it was still around.
Heart racing now, you open the trunk to grab a case before abandoning the car to seek refuge somewhere in the village. How wood would protect you, you didn't know but you knew you couldn't stay here—the car would never move again, your only hope was holding out until you were logged as missing.
This time when you enter a stranger's house, you're less cautious. As much as you didn't want to be inside, you wanted to be in the open less. It was too eerie out there and you'd learned that if it felt like you were being watched, odds were good you were.
Without slowing down, you toss the case on a table before securing and barricading every door and window, including the one that split off from the living room to the bedrooms down the hall. Your world was now a mixture of kitchen and living room. In days past you could imagine it as the beating heart of the house, full of laughter and warmth. Now it was cold and dead except for you.
Taking a breath, you pause to quell the fear that had given you strength to move heavy furniture all on your own. You didn't need that now, you needed to take stock of what there was to work with.
There were some canned goods in the pantry you could use to stretch out your rations, not that you expected to be here that long. The tap was dripping so you had a source of water assuming nothing cut it or the pipes didn't burst. It was cold but there were blankets and enough flammable material you could start a small fire in the fireplace with minimal smoke.
Unless… no, the flue worked.
Finally popping the case open, the first thing you see is the emergency beacon had been put back battered. It doesn't even turn on—you'd have to find out who put it back in such condition. There are more than enough emergency rations to make it through the day or two you expect to be here so you turn your attention to the final box in the case.
Pulling it out, you flip the lid to see the assortment of ammo in all manner of materials, solid and hollow. Without knowing what you were facing, you sort through them, memorizing which pocket you put them in and recalling what they were best against.
By the time the sun set, your tiny fire had done its work. The house was still cold but it no longer had the bite it had earlier, your breath no longer coming out in billowing clouds. With the blankets and so many rations, you could almost forget how dire the situation really was. It wasn't comfortable but the urgency you'd felt before had eased.
With nothing happening since the aftermath with your car, maybe whatever was out there was content to leave you be. If that was the case, you wouldn't push a confrontation. Help would come, you just needed to hold out until it got here.
Using the time to your advantage and having long since memorized which set of bullets went where, you started considering what this could be. With no bodies, you could rule out mass suffocation or illness. Whatever it was was active during both the winter and day, so it couldn't be something that was restricted to warmer months or only night.
Strong but not mindless. Playful in an almost sadistic way. No sign of panic from the villagers.
Your shortlist got shorter every time you thought of something else but you were missing, you could feel it. Whatever happened didn't indicate sudden violence or blood lust yet for the entire population to leave willingly…
Crunching outside puts an end to your thought. Something bipedal. Something corporeal. The handle of the front door jiggles but with the sofa you'd moved in front of it, whatever it is can't get in. Or it could but decided not to.
More unnatural silence then a tap at a window. Not hard enough to break glass but as soft as it was, it sounded like thunder to you. If the goal was to unnerve you, it was successful but only partially so—the fear was always there but you wouldn't give in to it. You'd attended too many funerals of people who'd done just that.
Use the fear to guide you, to fuel you, but never let it dictate your actions. That's what your mentor had said.
When the window of one of the bedrooms shatters as you're listening to whatever was outside, you want to find a place to cower but you ignore it. With a thud on the roof, you nearly give in.
You can hear something moving around inside but there's no time to be glad you'd barricaded the hallway before the window in the front room crashes to pieces. Before you can react, the thing inside hits the barricade with a thump, sending keepsakes not worth taking to shatter on the floor.
Metal shrieks from somewhere outside followed by more of that overwhelming silence. No matter how much you strain, you can't hear anything other than the blood pumping in you ears. You couldn't stay here, not now. Leaving might mean death but staying would turn that into a certainty.
Silently and decisively, you move to below the smashed window, praying you weren't about to jump into the jaws of whatever was out there. When the next bout of noise happens, you pull aside the curtains and leap through the opening heedless of the cuts you get in the process, sprinting away as fast as you can.
It's only a few seconds before a howl goes up but that was an extra few seconds you wouldn't have had if you hadn't waited. Cold air burns your lungs as you dart between buildings, the sound of feet on snow and wood surrounding you, driving you forward. One set gets close so you blindly fire in its direction, a startled yelp rewards you before something smacks your gun away.
With how many there were and how easily they kept pace, it wasn't hard to realize you were being herded but try as you might, you couldn't find another way to go. Every time you tried, the way would be blocked, as was the way you came. Just as you decide to hold your ground, you hurtle into the open like a rabbit flushed from the undergrowth.
Skidding to a stop, you realize just how outnumbered you really were and how little difference your gun would have made even if you still had it.
Hulking figures stand on every rooftop as far as you can see, moonlight glinting on canid eyes that watched you. The lycans who'd been chasing you join in hemming you in, cutting off the way you'd come. Eyes darting around, you look for their leader.
This pack was too large not to have one, was too large even to exist—it should have split long before now—and whoever it was commanded the utmost respect or was viciously feared. A chase like that with bleeding prey should have called to one of the beast's instincts.
Even now, none moved. It was as if they were waiting for something.
Not that it would do you any good now but there was satisfaction in knowing what you were facing. Not that it explained everything. As disciplined as this pack was, you'd never heard of a pack showing mercy and there wasn't enough large prey to sustain such a pack even if they wanted to keep to themselves.
"Nice of you to join us," says a woman who walks up behind you flanked by two lycans, not that she needed the honour guard. So, she was the leader. "Get a bit lost?" She stops in front of you.
"Something like that," you huff through gritted teeth.
"Too bad for you," she shrugs as she circles, utterly confidant you could do nothing to her.
It was suicide but if you were dead either way, you wanted to go out fighting. Using her arrogance to your advantage, you slash at her with a small blade you'd slowly been dropping down from a sleeve but she doesn't even flinch. You were moving fast but she moved faster, catching your arm before you can reach her.
"Shouldn't have done that." She sounds bored as she takes and tosses your weapon into the snow before metal claws grip your neck, closing tortuously slowly. The more you paw uselessly at the arm, the larger her smirk gets.
"What happened to keeping a low profile?" a voice cuts in. The pressure on your throat suddenly eases but still holds you in place. Not that you had anywhere to go. You should be grateful for the reprieve but the lack of response from the lycans tells you everything you need to know.
For as territorial as lycans were, none had so much as issued a small warning growl. Even the werewolf showed respect in her own way.
"I was bored," she says, "and so were they."
"So you kidnap someone from the bureau? You certainly won't be bored now."
"How was I supposed to know?" the werewolf complains before tossing you to the ground like a ruined toy. You swear she gives you a wink before stalking off a few paces to scowl at everything.
Rubbing your throat, you turn to look at who—or what—had cowed such a beast but nothing about them stands out. Not that you were expecting something obvious but the person is so mundane they'd be at home in any office building. The only thing strange about them is the company they keep and how little they seem to be bothered by cold, which is all the reason you need to not trust them.
"Apologies for all this," they say, offering a gloved hand to help you up. You don't miss the way their eyes flicker to your bruised throat or how their nostrils flare almost imperceptibly. "Let us work this out somewhere more comfortable."
Like hell you were going anywhere with these two. "I'm fine here."
The person straightens up, giving you a pitying look as they put their hands behind their back. "Suit yourself. Sevika?" The werewolf's scowl turns into a dark grin as she starts toward you. "And don't forget the collar."
"The wh—?!" You watch as the knife you thought lost rises, metal rippling as it jerks back and forth, the grip falling off as the blade turns into a thin band. It hits your neck, wrapping around to fuse on itself, the cold both burning and soothing.
Before you can really process what had just happened, some of your pockets begin vibrating before a stream of bullets drift out of them. Casings fall away as tips stretch and sharpen, fusing with the now-spiked collar.
"What?" the werewolf shrugs at an incredulous look from the other person. "Takes care of the bullets and you're the one who always says I should pay more attention to aesthetics."
"Show off," they mutter before saying, "Let's be off." Without waiting, they begin walking away. Suddenly you're lifted up and thrown over the werewolf's shoulder. It's hard to see but it looks like the lycans disperse then but you doubt they're truly gone.
Struggling at first, you go so far as trying to lash out with your new accessory but it stops before you can even scratch the werewolf's jacket.
"I wouldn't," is all she says. Part of you wants to try again but you think better of it—if she was using her power to move that arm of hers, you didn't want to find out just how many ways she could cause pain without killing you. Where did she even get such powers? You never would have guessed you'd be wishing you were dealing with a regular werewolf.
Once you stop struggling, she's content to loosen her grip on your legs and releases hold of your collar, giving you some ability to look around, though mostly you just stare at the back of her jacket. When the rough trail gives way to cut stone, you perk up, propping yourself up to look around. Seeing curious human faces should have calmed the the fear still beating at its cage. Instead it made it worse.
If you had any doubts before about what the second one was, you had all but knew now. Whatever spark of hope you'd clung to for getting out of this alive is extinguished. A lycan pack may dissolve into chaos if they found themselves leaderless out of the blue but spawn would only notice the sudden absence of a will not their own.
Dropping down so the werewolf's back is all you can see, you resign yourself to your fate. At least for the moment—you had some seeds of plans but had to bide your time to see which would come to fruition.
That's how you stay, slumped and seemingly having given up, until you suddenly find yourself haphazardly sitting on a sofa, the werewolf stepping back. The other was gone leaving the two of you alone in a small room, the werewolf barring you from using the door to exit.
At first you just stare at her, silver eyes watching you back, but eventually your gaze starts wandering as you try to figure out where you were. Wherever it was, it certainly wasn't crude. Some sort of estate maybe?
When the werewolf doesn't stop you from getting up, you grow bolder and look around more closely. Sofa, chair, bed, dresser—for a prison cell, it was well-furnished. It was still a cell, though, and you were still a prisoner.
The plush rug spanning the room that was easy to walk on could muffle screams as well as footsteps. The windows that could be opened to catch a breeze opened to sheer cliffs with nothing to grab hold of. A fireplace that could bring warmth and light to the room could just as easily be used to torture.
Not that werewolves resorted to such torture—they were more than physically capable of doing it themselves—and as unusual as this one was, she didn't seem like the torturing type. The other one, however...
If you were right, they were a vampire and vampires were known for having a sadistic streak. Not all had it but enough did and you didn't know where on the spectrum this vampire fell.
If it was information that was wanted, they could always turn you and you'd give it up willingly. If you were to be dinner, a dungeon or tower cell would get rid of the pretense of you somehow being a guest.
Through your examinations of the cell, the werewolf silently stands and watches, her arms crossed but she makes no move to stop you. Whatever she was thinking, she was keeping it to herself and clearly had strict orders to not harm you, though you were sure she wouldn't be gentle if you tried to get through the door.
You dearly wish you could scratch your neck but you could barely squeeze one finger between it and the metal collar. There were no locks to pick or hinges to break on it and as long as you wore it, you knew there was no way to escape.
The werewolf moves to the side before you can hear anything, the vampire entering with an old cast iron kettle shortly after. You wait as they set it up in the crackling hearth without hurrying before you're done being patient—you wanted this over with.
"Well?" you snap. Suddenly you're on your toes, the collar yanking up painfully. The werewolf saunters over, looking you over before ripping your jacket off far too easily before you're dropped back down, the collar inert once again.
It had all happened in less than ten seconds but before you can understand what had happened or catch your breath, the werewolf hooks her arms under your armpits, pulling you up and slightly back against her.
"What are you doing?!" you bark. She could have easily restrained you some other way and there was always the bloody collar. Her expression is impassive but a corner of her mouth twitches.
Held as you are, you have no choice but to watch as the vampire approaches, stopping mere inches from your face, close enough you'd feel the heat coming off them if they were human. You glare at them, pressing your lips tight until they part in an uncontrolled yelp at the sudden intrusion in one of your pants' pockets.
"I hope you understand," the vampire says apologetically, "can't be too careful, especially with someone like you." They were surprisingly gentle as they check pockets and pat you down—vampires were far from weak and this one had been carrying that kettle as if it weighed no more than a tennis ball.
"Even with a fancy metal detector?" you grunt. Held as you were, you had no choice but to suffer the indignity.
"She can only feel the magnetic ones," they say as they pull out flechette rounds from where you'd stashed them. "Nor can she feel anything organic." They look down at what was in their hand before dumping the rounds in a small waste bin with the rest of what they'd found so far.
"Not like I could use them if I wanted. Lost my gun, remember?"
"I'm sure you could find a way." Their reply is amiable enough but detached. Another piece that didn't go with the rest. What were they so worried about and why were they telling you all this?
After enduring the humiliating search, you're finally let go, the werewolf sprawling across the chair near the door while the vampire hands you a cup and saucer. You nearly laugh at the absurdity of it all—you did not get into this line of work to have a tea party with ruthless monsters.
"What's with all this pomp?" you ask acidly. "If you're going to kill me, just do it. If you want something, spit it out. Either way, get it over with."
"Right to the point. I like it," the werewolf approves.
The vampire sighs, either a habit from life or an attempt to look more human. "I'm sure by now you've noticed—"
"That I'm a captive to a mad werewolf and vampire?"
"—that we don't want you dead."
"Unless that's what you want," the werewolf adds with a grin.
"But we can't let you go."
"So, what, I get turned?" This time you do laugh but there's no humour in it. You could see where this was going.
"Yes," the vampire answers simply. "Or you may choose to live your life out as human—here, with us—or die now."
"Three lethal options and one that may as well be. How generous of you." You roll your eyes.
The werewolf mutters, "That's more than we had."
"Yes," they say ignoring the werewolf. The frank way they say it knocks the air out of your lungs in a way it wouldn't have if it had been a threat. "The moment you drove up on that village, your fate was sealed. As much as I don't agree with how Sevika went about it, her actions had no bearing on whether or not you'd be allowed to leave."
"So, I'm a prisoner, is it? At least until the deadline's up." Staring at the teacup without seeing it, you sit down as your mind races. "How long?"
"Morning," the vampire answers. So, twelve hours, give or take, to decide your fate. Better if they'd just killed you outright.
Tugging at your collar with one finger, you ask, "Can I at least get this removed?"
"No. It does keep you from running off but it's for your own protection."
Not from lycans, those would tear you apart. "From spawn?"
The vampire nods. "If the hunger strikes unexpectedly, an unguarded neck is tempting. Maybe too tempting." They speak as if from experience, and maybe it was. "But…" they trail off with a grin.
You can't see what's going on but the werewolf complains, "I still think it looked better before." Puzzled, you feel around the collar and find only smoothness—all the spikes were gone.
"Show off," the vampire says again almost with warmth before turning to you. "We'll leave you now but will be back in the morning. I'd advise you think about what we said instead of trying to find a way to escape."
"Or," the werewolf says while standing up, flashing you a feral grin, "do try to escape. Fresh meat is always welcome."
With that, they leave but it's not long before a servant—spawn—brings an empty basin and some rags. Now you knew why they'd been so adamant on the collar. His eyes flashed toward you at the scent of blood but cast his eyes downward at the sight of the metal around your neck. Retreating slow enough to not be considered rude but not lingering, he retreats to let you sort everything out.
As comfortable as the bed was, you didn't sleep much, there was too much to think about. Not about being turned but what it might mean that you had time to think about it. The act was usually impulsive, especially where werewolves were concerned. And you'd certainly never heard of werewolves having elemental or telekinetic powers in addition to their lycanthropy.
The vampire may have powers as well.
Or they could be a regular vampire with no powers whatsoever.
Safer to assume they did.
You'd done well to keep from thinking about your impending rescue—never knew who was listening in—but the closer time got to it, the more your mind kept flicking to it before turning away to something else.
That something else was memorizing your gilded cage and wiping away the grime and dried blood you'd accumulated from the chase to amuse the werewolf. At the time you didn't worry about needing stitches or not so were glad to see while there were plenty of cuts and scrapes, they weren't deep.
When another spawn brought you breakfast, you knew time was running out. The food was nothing fancy but you didn't trust it. You only made yourself eat the fruit because you trusted that more than anything else—especially the meat—and you wanted to keep your strength up and hunger in check.
Because despite the vampire's warning, you were still thinking of how to escape. As improbable as that was, it got more probable as time moved on and you had to be ready. You just needed more of it.
"Have you decided?" the vampire asks when they and the werewolf return. While the vampire stands politely, the werewolf moves to look around—you weren't sure if she always did that or you were just special.
"First I must ask you something, Ran." The muted look of confusion was brief but genuine. The spawn that had brought you breakfast thought nothing of helping you out when you feigned forgetting the vampire's name. Really it had been a way to see what restrictions had been put on the spawn interacting with you but the chance to psych out a vampire was too good to pass up.
You had to give them credit, though, the vampire recovered quickly. "And that is?" they ask while giving Sevika a quick glance before focusing back on you. She hadn't found anything out of place, and she wouldn't, but you wouldn't tell her that—let them both think something had to be amiss.
"What really happened with the people from that village?"
The werewolf laughs. "That's what you're worried about?"
"Call it professional curiosity," you say. "I can't figure out how you did it."
"It was simple, really," the vampire answers. "They were given a choice, the same one you have now, with the additional option being free to leave if they spoke nothing of this. No bloodshed necessary."
"And yet someone did speak," you state.
"A mistake," says the werewolf, "one that's been rectified."
"So blood was spilled."
"But not in clearing the village." The vampire fixes you with a cold gaze. "Now, decide."
You could feel the werewolf looming over you without needing to look. "Or do we have to do that for you?"
Rolling your eyes, you start to say something before pressure on your throat stops any more words from coming out. Whatever protection the collar gave you from spawn, it buckles when faced with a vampire's strength.
"Stop stalling," the vampire growls, the mask of civility finally breaking. They were holding you up effortlessly, the collar falling away from some unseen signal.
"Stalling? I don't even know why you're trying that," the werewolf scoffs. "This far in the mountains, you won't find any service and I took care of that satellite phone of yours." So, that's what happened to the emergency beacon.
Smirking despite the pain, you pat the arm holding you to signal you had something to say. The vampire drops you with disgust, turning their back as you wheeze out, "I may have been dead the moment I stopped but the clock started ticking for you before I even entered the valley."
"Not possible," the werewolf growls.
"I assure you, it's very possible, beast." You turn to her, rubbing your neck. "That's the thing about monsters who hide out in the middle of nowhere—you lose track of what we lowly humans can do. Even if you destroyed it, my car had a GPS tracker and if it doesn't reconnect in time, this whole valley burns."
With a wordless snarl, you're tossed across the room. As disorientating as it is, you knew this room as well as any in your house now and it was reflex to roll with it instead of fighting the momentum but before you can spring back up, an overwhelming force knocks you down, pinning you to the mattress.
It's the first time you see the werewolf in her true form.
She stood taller than a lycan, thick black fur with silver eyes and white teeth bared as she holds you down with a single paw that was larger than your torso. You wanted to laugh but your ribs were too compressed for that.
"Go on, kill me," you breathe with a grin. "Won't change what will happen." Something in your chest snaps, probably a rib. These monsters needed to be cleared out and they'd even saved the bureau the hassle of moving the humans. Wouldn't even need to file paperwork for it.
Teeth inch closer to your face, lips quivering as the werewolf struggles to not tear into you though you don't know why she's bothering to hold back at this point.
"How long?" a quiet voice cuts through the snarling. The pressure on your chest eases but the pain remains. "How long until your people get here?"
Now that you weren't distracted by dog breath and she'd stopped with the noise, you could tell what you'd mistaken as quietness was really fury so contained it gave the illusion the vampire was calm.
"Why should I—" Searing pain cuts you off. The vampire is suddenly straddling you, pushing on the rib you thought might be cracked, though it was certainly broken now.
"My patience is gone," they hiss. "If you don't tell me willingly, I will make you." With the mask gone, there was no hiding the hunger, not with how they were curling over you, fangs moving slowly toward your unguarded neck.
It was pointless, however. Turning took time, even more for the spawn to become coherent and anyone at the bureau would know right away you'd been turned. Turning, possession, mind control, doppelgängers... all manners of ways monsters might try to sneak into the bureau.
Everyone was trained in how to detect them with or without technology.
With a mocking laugh, you turn your head so your neck is easier to access. Dying on the job was always a possibility so you didn't fear it. Even if you were turned into a mindless puppet, the fires coming would burn your body to ash, sending it after your lost humanity.
Before fangs can meet skin, though, the vampire is knocked back with such force the couch splinters where they hit it. Before you or the vampire can understand what happened, the werewolf is on the vampire, pinning them like how they pinned you, only this time you could hear tiles cracking from the force and the werewolf's arm trembles from the struggle.
Thinking this might be the time to leave, you start to get up but the werewolf turns her head and snarls at you with so much force, your body sits before you can stop it. Waiting is agony—quite literally—but eventually the noises lessen with the werewolf moving back to let the vampire up.
"Sorry, that was uncalled for." Their voice is shaky as they stand in the remains of what had been couch and floor, smoothing out their clothes. "But I need to know if we're to get everyone out."
"It's too late," you say simply, standing to ease the pressure on whatever organ your rib had been poking. "Besides, why do you care anyway? Lycans and spawn are fodder, slaves to their master's whim."
"Why don't you?" It's flat and resigned. "You come here, call us monsters, seek to kill us and revel in our deaths. I promise you we care more about the lives of our 'fodder' than you ever did about anyone from that village."
"I doubt that." The vampire gives you a hard look before listing over two dozen names before you tell them to stop, they made their point.
"And those are just my spawn," the vampire says. "Sevika can do the same for the lycans and tell you what they looked like as human." The werewolf nods at that, still changed but softer, more relaxed.
You incline your head in concession—it was true you didn't know anyone from this place, you hadn't even known it existed until you were told to check it out since it was on your way to another case.
"And how many humans have werewolves and vampires killed over the centuries?" These two may indeed be different but you would defend yourself. "Centuries of being prey for your kind. We don't need to know the name of someone to protect our own."
"And how many—" the vampire angles to the side as if listening to something at the same time the werewolf's head snaps up. Speaking fast now, "This philosophical debate is cut short, your people are here. Divert them."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because some of those who will die are the same people you claim to be doing this for."
"They died the moment you turned them."
"Changed, not died. They still remember everything about their lives as human," the vampire says. "And have you forgotten what was offered to you? There are humans here as well as 'monsters', all of whom will die at the hands of you and your people."
That hit landed. It was one thing to take out someone who was looking to summon or control any number of malevolent entities but to kill an unknown number of people? You'd sworn to protect such people but the bureau wouldn't care—wouldn't even notice—protocol was to burn the area and everything in it down.
The whole reason why you were here is because of that oath. No matter what you did, it would involve choosing something you didn't like. An impossible situation and one there was no time to think over.
"Even if I did want to stop them," you begin slowly, "I can't reach them in time." The monsters could always be culled later. Knowing innocent humans would be killed in the process took all the satisfaction out of what could have been your magnum opus.
You swear Sevika smiles.
Wind lashes your face as the forest speeds by, tears filling your eyes every time you look up from the furry back you're clinging to. You'd never travelled by werewolf before and it wasn't the most pleasant experience—only some of it related to your broken rib—but you also couldn't deny you were making good time. Even the lycans who'd been following had fallen away one by one.
Eventually Sevika slows to a moderate pace—for her—tongue lolling, allowing you to sit up and fire a flare. By now you could feel the helicopter blades as they cut through the air though you couldn't see them. They'd see the flare, however, and it wouldn't be long until they could see you.
Patting a black, furry shoulder, Sevika comes to a stop, allowing you to slide down. As you start to head to where the flare had exploded, the massive werewolf moves in front of you, cutting you off.
"Yes, I remember the deal," you tell her. "Now get out of here and hide." She looks you over with those silver eyes of hers before disappearing and leaving you alone in the woods. There wasn't time to worry about covering the tracks.
Now you ran to where someone was supposed to greet you.
No one questioned it when you decided to take some vacation time months later. You'd more than earned it after spinning out and crashing your car. Even though you insisted you were fine, it would have been a harrowing experience for anyone. Good thing the person watching monitors that night had been so prompt about reporting you as missing otherwise you may have been on your own longer, especially with how your emergency beacon had been totaled.
You hadn't even made it to the village to check the rumour the population had vanished but according to a fly by, that was all it was: a rumour. Buildings had signs of life and there were even some people hurrying between them. Scanners showed them as human so it was another case of drunken ramblings.
You personally closed that file just to make sure no one else wasted time on it.
But as luck would have it, the weather turned as soon as your vacation started. It was slow going on the back roads, your tires spinning out whenever a puddle was deeper than it appeared. Debris hits your car but the quarry you were heading to was supposed to be worth the trouble. Or so you'd been told.
Eventually you make it, pulling into what seems to be the unofficial parking spot. The strong gusts of wind made it hard to get out but you wouldn't let a little air defeat you. Getting your lone travel bag is more of a struggle. You'd thought nothing of putting it in the backseat before you loaded up your camping gear at the time, now you were paying for it.
Every gust catches and stirs the camping gear while you hold the door open with your body, tugging at your bag while ignoring the twinges of the rib that hadn't set quite right.
Giving the bag handle another yank, it unexpectedly comes free, sending you stumbling sideways as the wind slams the door shut for you. The rain properly begins coming down again, reducing visibility but a glint from the treeline catches your eye.
"You could have helped sooner." You shout to be heard over the wind and the sound of fat droplets hitting gravel and stone.
"Keeping you humble," Sevika replies as she takes your bag from you. "Got your letter." She leads you through scrubby trees, the only ones that could manage with so little soil. She seemed unaffected by the weather while you were shielding your face with an arm just to keep an errant branch from taking out an eye.
"And you picked a day with great weather," you retort. Spawn and lycans had been watching you ever since you'd gotten back. Mostly out of sight but occasionally they lingered long enough for you to notice them, a reminder of your promise and what would happen if you broke it.
You'd been thinking of doing just that when, while looking into some other files marked as rumour, you'd come across some discrepancies. Not for all of them but enough to catch your attention. If the bureau hadn't caught you and warned you not to go digging, you might have chocked it up to people misremembering a detail or filing something in the wrong place.
It had taken months finding to gather enough leads as more than just spawn and lycans were watching you. Without knowing exactly where everyone was, you'd resorted to the "letter" which was really just a few scraps of paper that wouldn't look any different from litter even on closer inspection. One even had a drop of blood on it.
What you got back a few days later was a date and location.
Sevika stops on the edge of a different clearing, one with water cascading along exposed bedrock. You don't know if you're more alarmed by the idea of being thrown over the edge of the cliff or at the prospect of travelling by wolfback again. Before you can say anything, though, Ran steps out from behind a gnarled trunk.
At least one of them looked to be enjoying the weather as much as you.
"Got your letter," they call.
"So I've been told." You didn't really know what would happen now, didn't know if you'd bought some amount of leeway. There was no manual for this. All you knew is the bureau was lying about something and you wanted to find out what.
"We'll see just how useful you can be," Ran shouts as they walk into the clearing. "Though you have exceeded expectations so far." You go to follow but a heavy hand on the shoulder keeps you in place.
"What could they possibly turn into?" you shout at Sevika. With the lack of car or some other vehicle, you assumed they'd arrived under their own power but even though some vampires did have a form for flight, none had been recorded as having one that could carry an adult human without the aid of—
Maybe wolfback wasn't so bad after all.
Sevika grins at your disgruntled confusion. "You'll see." That does nothing to answer your question but when Ran does change, you realize nothing Sevika could have said would have done anything other than make you more confused. The hand on your shoulder moves down your back to give you a push toward the vaguely draconic… thing.
That was certainly a form, you had to give them that. All tentacles with far too many mandibles but Sevika doesn't even flinch as she strolls up to hand Ran your bag before she turns back to you.
"Coming?"
—
A/N: Missed Halloween by one day but in my defence, this was never intended to be a Halloween fic and I did partially get through formatting it to post yesterday before I got too tired.
Whew. It's kind of strange to be free of that in a "what do I do with my time now?" way just because I've been so focused on getting that collection of fics done, though now I won't feel guilty about doing something else (and of course Hades II came out in the middle of it). It won't be the end of the Ranvika fics but now I can go back to other characters, too, though it looks like I haven't posted much of those ones...