The heavy rain just passed, clearing the air and the streets of the polluted city. You are promised to get picked up by your bot from your house. Though still not used to the intricacies of the Earth gravity, cue to you being accidentally splashed as he promptly arrives to the house:
- He would be grumbling non-stop. At first at you and your poor estimation skills (as if you could have predicted the trajectory of the splash?!), then as he forces you to change clothes and climb inside simultaneously turning on the hot air conditioning, all while continuing to complain about the uselessness of human "armor" and that he is not going to baby sit you when you get sick (he will. But will complain nonetheless); Ratchet, Prowl, Starscream
- He is cackling like a devil, right now your pitiful expression and useless attempts to shake at least some of the road mud off is hilarious for the bot. It was not his actual idea per se to water you head to tow with the after rainpuddle, but to be fair, now he is having the time of his life, throwing all kind of jabs and jokes at you. But of course if he sees you getting actually upset he will apologies. Pout a little bit and you might even get a ride-through meal date. Of course after you change - no way he is getting his interior wet and dirty. (at least not with the road mud); Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Whirl, Blurr, Jazz, Knock out
- Apologies flew out in your direction so quickly , you did not even get time to react to what actually happened. The bot is transforming in front of you still apologizing, hands awkwardly circling your body, yet not really touching as the panicking cybertronian is not sure how he can fix it. Your clothing are so drastically different from his plating that it throughs him out of the loop even more. Seeing you uncomfortable tug the collar of the slick shirt off, tries helping and rips the seems off the shirt sleeve he grabbed. Instant panic intensifies and you almost see the optics shinning from the whatever the equivalent of tears your bot has; First Aid, Swerve, Bee
Authors notes: definitely won't finish them all, just wanted to put it out there.
You quietly sat at the bottom of the main stairs overlooking the destruction caused by... You weren't even sure now by what... Sure, Noxian soldiers and those horrible lifeless creatures reminding your of the porcelain statuette on the drawer of your grandmother. So beautiful and graceful before, now you were afraid a mere reminder like that would most likely cost you at least a few sleepless nights in a row.
Eyes jumping from object to object, not really focusing on any in particular. So much destruction, so many lives lost to nothing.
Hard to imagine that just a few weeks before this place was filled with exiting buzz of the city crowd. Deep within, you supposed, there will always live a tiny voice saying that somehow you all could do something, anything really, to avoid such bloodshed outcome.
You swallow welling up tears and tremble in throat.
Somebody silently moves at your side and for a second your nerves straighten, screaming danger, instincts recall the moments when all the hell?? broke loose. Though new second you register in conscious in peripheral vision the oh-so-familiar teal colour.
The medic enforcer settled down near you straight on the ground stairs, no usual scoffing at the inappropriate place, not even his usually fussing over you freezing your ass off on the cold stone.
Sure, Steb was not the most talkative person before, yet now as you slightly turn to take a look at the battered medic, he seems like a ghostly version of himself.
"As if anybody would come unscratched, both mentally and physically, form such collision" A sarcastic half smile creeps up on your expression - who else would be okay now, after practically real war just dropped on your shoulders. The tension between the cities was always there, yet never did it get as bloodthirsty as that.
A few drops fall on your shoulder startling you out of stupor. As if in solidarity for your peoples loss the nature started crying, sky tears darkening the stones, slowly washing off the settled dust and backed blood. The fellow enforcers as well as some of the volunteers scattered to take cover, not wanting to deal on top of everything else with the wet clothes and bandages. You are not bothered though, and you doubt that your aquatic vastaya is. You cast a look at your side.
He looks lost. Usually focused and sharp eyes unfocused just as yours a few minutes ago aimlessly flowing from object to object without really looking. The borderline painful expression makes your heart sink. Though treachery always leaves ugly scars on one's heart, there were no words, you suppose, that could heal it in minutes.
You link hands and rest for a bit, silently supporting each other in hopes for a better future.
His fingers secured a grip on your hand. Usually familiarly gently, now it felt urgent, desperate. You turned your palm, and Steb immediately linked his fingers with yours.
The rain lightly fell resonating through the vast passage of the staircase, singing a calming melody only known to Janna herself, slowly slipping through the dust and blood covered clothes.
You looked to the side - Steb lifted his head to the sky with his eyes closed. you noticed his a cut on his cheekbone, most likely from stray bullet, the veins around eyes horribly reddish colour - either from the poisonous Gray or just strain from all the endless medical operations he's been performing for the past few hours. Still it was your dearest vastaya, alive and currently reassuringly squeezing your hand.
You lifted your face to the sky, closing your eyes and letting the rain wash off the sweat and dirt. It will be okay.
Not today, maybe not even in the next months, but eventually.
I try to make reader as gender neutral as possible, excuse me, if there are any grammar or spelling mistakes - English is not my first language.
P.S. I am still not sure if Scar is the father/brother/adoptive father, so I name him "a guardian" to that little girl in the series.
___
You failed to notice him moving a tad closer to you, being absolutely smitten with the peaceful view of the sleeping toddler in your hands. The little chirean girl in that state was unusually quiet, considering the fact that most of her waking hours she tried to bite everything she could including your own fingers.
The next moment you felt her guardian’s hands securing themselves around your middle, long claws digging slightly in your ragged clothes. Your breath faltered for a second, but you didn’t move away - just titled head a little bit forward and to the side to look man in the face.
Your cheeks reddened when it finally registered in your head how close you to were at the moment - this brought slight almost unnoticeable to any person who doesn’t know Scar smile on his lips. For a mere moment none of you moved or said anything not daring to infringe the peace - the only sound that was heard was his kid babbling in her sleep like all the kids her age usually do.
His green eyes seemed now even more addictive and magical from this close perspective: all the emotions usually hidden underneath the stern expressions were swirling just on the surface. It felt both like hours and at the same time mere seconds passed when Scar started closing the distance between your faces, making this move so slow as if giving you time to analyze and move away from him if you so desire.
You didn’t. Though this tender attitude and attention towards yourself almost made you knees so weak they almost buckled under you. So, you had to close your eyes to get at least some of the composure back. And in a moment, you felt him gently pressing his vast forehead against yours, noses touching. So close. Not even opening your eyes you felt every breath he took. Just the thought of being not afraid of being so vulnerable towards anyone made you shiver in his sturdy grasp. The older chirean humming in response just enhanced embrace and closed his eyes too. “I trust you”.
A fiery (metaphorically and literally) captain of the LL was exceptional even between the other cybertrons, not to mention the humans present onboard. Never wavering smile and encouraging speeches from the bridge, drawing every individuals attention and relishing in it. Complete opposite from you, a quite unremarkable human, no matter how many times the red bot would argue on that.
"An unlikely duo, they are."
"He will burn them and then himself."
"Nah, he will overcome these feelings just as fast as he burns."
Despite everything, he did not.
Despite the opposing nature, you found the safe haven in each other.
He was a cybertronian. You were a human.
He was bright like a meteor. You were timid and shy as a wild cyberdeer.
His movements - always hectic and fast, yours deliberate and calculated.
Yet, despite all those differences, you two drifted towards each other like two planets caught in each other gravitation fields.
At first sight you drew him in. Be it your big attentive eyes lively moving in anticipation of danger or the tenseness of your stance, strained spine ready to snap if anything comes your way. Even at first sight Scar saw that under this forced by environment brutality you hide a warmth soul, seeping through your smooth gestures when the kids of the hideout pestered you for another tail from the raid. At first sight he noticed you not only for the benefit you'll bring to their society but for you. And he was intrigued.
Word count: 427, for Comforcember @monthlywritingchallenges
He does not really get the approval of the tea. (We've all laughed at his expressions to the Jayce's one form that scene in the show.) Thought if you really like this drink and take his distaste too close to heart, he might just swear that it was purely Jayce's fault and awful tea-making skills and not the drink itself. Maybe after some time, you both discover that he is actually quite fond of some specific sweet blends like the berry teas. But overall, he stayed aloof to the ideas of "leaves in boiling water" type of drinks. "Firelight, c'mon! It's like drinking a medicine" - sad puppy eyes and frowning.
- Through trial and errors after almost giving up on the idea that he can enjoy anything beyond fresh water and some light booze. It is then during more cold months, when you discovered just how much of a sweet-tooth he actually is.
- Makes sense though that being from lover levels of Zaun with no access to any luxury products so popular within Piltover, he never even tried hot cocoa. Besides, in line with his altruist nature and leadership position, he would first of all try providing any kind of foods to the firelights first, not really carrying if there will be anything left afterwards for himself.
- Except, when he was swinging by your place after a frosty walk along the seaside bridge. Truly, not the smartest idea, as the winter winds left you feeling numb in your fingers and eyes all shiny from the harsh wind gusts.
- You quickly filled two cups with the hot beverage and thrusted one of them into Ekko's frostbite hands. Young man made a funny expression but complied as even if all those fancy drinks were awful to his personal taste, they at least made a good job at warming one up from the north wind currents.
You can't help but laugh at the astounded look he gives you after the first sip, the mask of pretense disgust slipping.
You move closer hiding the smile behind the rim of the cup as Ekko tries (and fails) to put on annoyed expression again. He can't though, he is too fond of those happy sparks lighting up your eyes.
"Ok, maybe you pilties have at least two good things after all."
"Two?"
"Yep! Hot cocoa... and you" - Ekko slyly tugs you into his side as you squill and almost spill your own beverage, face rapidly warming up as the firelights leader's boisterous laugh makes you want to hide from embracement
could you do scar x chef reader who feeds everyone in the firelights base. Relationship headcanons
Hi! Thank you for the ask, hope you find it sufficient :)
Of course, everyone in the hideout likes you! A cool person with a rather rare for those parts of Zaun skill set.
- So assuming the chef is a profession popular within the Piltover more then Zaun, but regardless, it would be a lucky chance to stumble upon the second in commend. Maybe the poorly orchestrated raid, the need to hide in the unexpected unfamiliar place (like the back storage of the place you work at) would do the trick if you will think fast enough to cover for the unfortunate visitors from the manhunt party of enforcers. But, to be fair, you've never particularly liked this specific squad - too violent when there was no even need for it.
- Does not really matter if you are working in Piltover or closest to it parts of Zaun, Scar was very warry of you in the beginning. After all, everybody in those damned cities could be sold. One just needed to find the right price. But as they say, "way to the mans heart is through his stomach." The same applies to any men from all levels of Zaun just as well.
- At first, he looked at your connection as a valuable partnership: you had the resources they had in deficit and they were providing you with some sort of security. Though do not take this slightly as for the firelights any types of connection be it partnership or something deeper, it's hard to get by.
- You know like our own food chain companies prohibit from sharing with local homeless people the leftovers, to the point of punishing the employees. I think the same might also work like that in Runeterra. It never disgusted him more than understanding for picky those aristocrats that visit your place are - the food could never be day-old, such waste of resources! Yet he is immensely grateful that you risked your professional name in order to land firelights in need a helping hand.
- After some time he began warming up to you, even leading to the nights when he willingly stayed on your territory to relax a bit and listen to your talks. At first he did it mostly to catch you on lie and maybe understand what is your goal with being ever so kind and sympathizing. Now even though Scar is not particularly invested in the latest rumors that passed through the perimeters of your establishment (unless it was something connected with the chem-barons - then any information might be useful), it was more of a change of pace that he enjoyed, the sound of your voice and you tinkering away with the kitchenware. Being Lieutenant of the Firelights is daunting even for such tough man like him.
- Some of those nights are spend with you choosing him as your tester for any additions to the restaurant assortment and he is not one to complain when there is an opportunity to loosen the tension a bit from all the heavy missions from previous days. Though he is not really a reliable person in this question as he claims that everything you cook tastes like heaven to him.
Additionally:
- I headcanon that not only his hearing is extra sharp, but so is his sense of smell. Despite the horrible environment of the poisoned streets. And it is quite pleasant to small a sweet tasty thing like you in the daunting world of Undercity.
- Likes how dexterous from all the cooking your hands are, yet is unrealistically (for such a big and rowdy man) careful with them. Really enjoys rubbing over the calluses, blisters, and possible burns you obtained over the years of operating in the dangerous kitchen environment, most likely a sensory thing) and fusses over any new ones.
Word count: 502, for Comforcember @monthlywritingchallenges
Sometimes we all feel kinda lost. And not only in geographical sense. When life does not seem to improve and the existence itself becomes dreading, we sometimes encounter people that become our personal stars of flickering hope in the disconsolate ocean of darkness. And we just might find something new.
Rocket Raccoon
Rocket was always the one to take. Legally or not, did not really matter. He believed it was right, after all the universe already took so much FROM him that there was no chance he will give something away freealingly. Even now with his new family of misfits surprisingly efficient in universe-saving business, he won't do a damn thing without a tempting award.
Yet here he is now.Tinkering away at the middle of the sleep cycle on your gear when you did not even ask. "Well, why would I if you are always protecting me?" you said smiling at him with this stupid little smile and stupid little dimples. The same ones that his raking paw are twitching to soothingly pet when you come face to face with him.
Steb
Cynical approach. Sure he was a medic, an enforcer too of course, but a medic nonetheless. It is possible that in the beginning he was blindly following the colourful sweet dreams of changing the world for the better, making a drastic difference. To heal. But the more time he spend within enforcers ranks, the more he saw the real picture. The unfairness, the cruelty. Sometimes directed at him, most of the times at zaunites. Sometimes it felt like an ice-cold shower of sobriety, others - like a slap leaving a mark somewhere deep inside. Made him tougher, less prone to get hurt but also felt like losing a part of himself.
But with you and those big dreams that you shared only with him! Your desire and inability to give up! You believe that the world is big enough for all of you! It became something that he cherishes and carries with him in the heart pocket of the tight uniform, giving him strength to fight for what is actually right and not betray himself in the process.
Stoker
He was fighting for as long as he could remember. And it felt like a personal torture - to loose people around him and not being able to get even a jot closer to winning. Like those dirty swines in power will never see further than their pockets filled with bloodied plutarkians money. He is burning out.
But as his gaze lands on your face over the campfire, so used to the same hardships yet still extending the gentle touch to any who asks or needs it, he is determined to finish what the resistance started, to see it to the very end, to fight tooth and nail to bring freedom to Mars, to you. And maybe, if he is lucky, the fate will let him do it side by side with you.
Word count: 469, oneshot for Comforcember @monthlywritingchallenges
It is rather cold at the hideout. Despite the tree branches giving extra cover and warmth to the buildings scattered around its crown and branches the air is chilling. But apparently, this year the weather of Zaun decided to surprise its habitats with real snow instead of acid fog. Not something you are used to but bearable enough.
You stop writing and close the book, standing up to stretch out and headed outside, grabbing a well-worn blanket to serve as a timely cover.
You take a look around. At the bottom, some of the firelights already gathered around the build in fire-pit, drinking, chatting and keeping an eye on the children running around. Some of those kids have never even seen the snow before, so now they apparently decided to challenge each other with catching as many snowflakes as they can.
You cast a quick look around immediately spot the vast back of the Lieutenant of the Firelights. Usual attire did not cover much and, even though you liked seeing those ripping muscles, right now one look at him made you shiver (not in the way you would prefer) and wrap yourself even deeper into your own blanket.
Despite your effort to step silently as you approached Scar, his big ears twitched in your direction, the man though continued staring into the scene below. Only rambling softly in greeting as you leaned on the partition beside him.
You followed his line of sight - and as you predicted - his daughter was enjoying the play date with the fellow zaunites, as small as she was, he definitely inherited her father's agility, though definitely not his preference fro solitude.
So close to him you almost felt his body heat though the layer of thin material .. which means that he is better to cover up if he does not want to loose all the warmth! You huff at your own inner reasoning and turn sideways, fixing him with a heavy stare as you reach over to - well at least attempt - to cover him with the blanket.
Not as easy as it sounds. Though with his height it was not surprising at all. He chuckles, tugging your blanket fully around himself and before you could even start complaining - your figure was caged between his arms and the partition.
The warmth enveloped your from the back as his broad chest snuggled right behind you. He took a deep breath and leaned forward tucking his chin onto your clavicle.
It was nice.
To have those peaceful undisturbed by the challenges of the outside world, by the corruption of the Zaun.
And the warm breath fanning over your ears and neck, sending goosebumps all over you was just a bonus to this precious instants.
Word count: 383, oneshot for Comforcember @monthlywritingchallenges
Notes: "Snowdown" is apparently the equivalent of Christmas/Yule/New Year holidays
The winter frost immediately spasmed your breath as you exited the building. The luck was on your side, as the heavy snowfall stop just before your evening shift finally ended. The day was especially busy and it seemed like the whole city was buzzing with energy. Soon the festival of Snowdown will come and Piltovans were laying on the local shops in desire to get all the final purchases. Such times never carried out without minor incidents.
You dragged in the cold night air, shoulders easing up a bit. The warm yellowish light from the holiday themed lanterns were pleasantly warming up the street with its light, painting the decorated buildings and store fronts in colourful glints. Most of them already closed for the night, all kinds of holiday-special products in windows waiting for the next morning jostle of customers. The owner of the little shop next door hurried past you with a polite nod and a small smile, most likely rushing to get home to a warm dinner.
You closed your eyes. The frost is slightly biting on your cheeks and nose. Not harsh enough to really hurt, but reminding you that you have to hurry home too. To finally have some rest. And to see him.
A swift motion beside you. A warmth of another body. A familiar sent and a warm hand softly brushing agains your reddened fingers. You squinted to the side. His polished to the perfection uniform looks untouched by the recent snowfall and wind. Green skin looking even more radiant under the warm lights, casting golden reflections with each move of his little cheek fins.
"Thought you were supposed to finish earlier then me?" He just casts you a glance and shrugged. So yes, you are right. Your hand intertwined fingers with his. He stiffens a bit before grasping you more firmly. Of course. He had to wait for you.
"Come in the shop if you decide to wait for me again, Steb. Or you want to get a frost bite on your gills?" A soft huff from him. Stubborn fishman. Yours, though.
You clicked your tongue and nudged him in the direction of your shared home. Chest warming at the perspective of soon hot food with holiday spiced tea in the company of your favourite Piltovan.
Soooo I've been thinking on Arcane a lot lately, there are some spoilers - thus why I am putting it all under.
Everything there is my personal opinion.
Steb. Our favourite fish man. Either I accept that he is only partially mute. that coming from the last Act when I assume it's him giving a "Let's go" command. I think it's him, cause he was the first one to react and to run for the weapons. And even though we do not see him talking much, I believe it might be connected just with his character. +game VoiceOver.
Or another, that he is fully mute. I really enjoy when he is communicating with the sign language. In the show it is unclear whether is it his usual way of communicating with friends and colleagues or it is the usual army-silent communication thing. It would also make some sense, that he looks fish-inspired.
Despite his demeanour in the show, he has actually a really kind heart. He is a medic in the team, always ready to aid - have you seen how he ran to help the banded man in the tunnels?! It looked like a 100% trap, yet still he did not hesitate even though it was a zaunist. Also gave him his own breathing mask.
Scar. Is he a vastaya? Maybe yes, maybe no. (Same with Steb, I suppose) There are a lot of other animal-like species of people. Also, vastaya are very longliveing creatures and does not sit well with me that Scar as a long ass lived creature decided to stay there with the kid. SO in my headcanons, Scar has relatively human lifespan as well as non of the magical/arcane abilities some of the vastayas descendants sometimes possess.
Also, it was not really clear in the Season 1, but he can speak. Though he does that rarely, it is unknown whether is it because speech is hard for him physiologically speaking or it is just how Scar's character is.
Discrimination towards animal-people. We do not see a lot of them in Piltover, much less within Enforcers ranks. Also maybe that's partly why Steb is so closed off from other members and gives very standoffish impression. Also! Someone mentioned (here it is) that that's why he looked so broken and ashamed in the hostage scene! Firstly, he believes that it's his fault that the bomb did not go off when expected. Secondly, HOW?! how could the person he trusted and believed to be his close comrade was a traitor?! Whose treachery will lead to their own end.
