For @thebreadiestofthemall!
Just Prisoner and Hatchling being buds. I think if they had more time the Hatchling would've liked to ask about the stars in the Prisoner's sky :)
// Outer wilds Echoes of the Eye spoilers below the cut. Rambling vvv
Sooo... Remember when you realized that you have to die from the flames in order to go see the prisoner? That sure wasn't depressing at all right... Right.
Something something pretty colors of the simulation, and prisoner, dread, and slight horror
My hand absolutely died while making this but hey that's what I get for drawing every day non stop for like a month now even though I have a problem with my hand. Lmfao
I never do closeups because my art if you zoom is messy at best (unrecognizable at worst), but I liked how hatchlings expression came out :3c
I NEED more ppl to be talking about cash from heartbreak high bc my god itâs the only canonically ace character that ever made me feel represented as an asexual, heâs not some bland two dimensional plot device thatâs there to teach allosexuals about asexuality and heâs also not a character that gets like five seconds of screen time he actually feels like a three dimensional person do you know how rare that is
yesterday i was too busy with bawling my eyes out, screaming, yelling to post abt it. they robbed my man, my sweetheart deserved that win which he didnt get. paul heyman just get the fuck out of wwe, bc when i catch you paul, when i catch you, you wonât breathe againđââď¸đââď¸
26/05/2025: Hey! I did it! I've had this unedited for ages now (dw I proofread it lightly) and I just want to post it to share this with you all! Take it as a separate AU standalone than as part of the ongoing story. Also, take this offering as an apology for my unreliability with writing T_T. Shit's been happening but I miss writing! I have a few bits half written that I'm gonna finish as well -- here's hoping it gets me in a groove.
Rubbing his eyes, Jacob crossed off another town on his map, leaning over the wooden table in his room. They were kind enough to give him a three bedroom house to reside in, despite having two and a half beds neatly made but untouched. On two of them sat a few different stuffed animals; some new, some familiar. Lily would always share her stuffed animals with Emmett, despite the older brother acting as if he didnât need the comfort.
He stood up straight and took a sip of his now cold coffee. The mug was sat down amongst a handful of others, showing the true extent of his exhaustion. His return from an overnight supply run with Edward and Arno barely reaped any useful resources, save for some vehicle parts. No sign of anyone camping around. No sign of his family.
A knock at his front door pulled him out of his thoughts. âItâs open!â he called, sniffing to compose himself.
âJacob?â Evieâs voice rang throughout the hallway, a thread of worry lacing her tone.
âUpstairs!â He chose to quickly knock back the rest of his coffee.
âJacob, when was the last time you cleaned? Your living room looks like a minefield.â
âI havenât had the time.â
Evie leaned against the doorway, concern on her features. âYouâre exhausted. You need to rest.â
âIâll rest after we⌠afterâŚâ He sighed. âLater. Iâll rest later.â
The older Frye twin glanced at the table -- at the map decorated with countless crosses, the coffee mugs with their corresponding ring stains. She began to gather them.
âYou donât have to--â Jacob began.
âI was talking to Altair and Kassandra. Youâre going on another supply run?â She was quick to cut him off, leaving him momentarily stunned.
âYeah, this afternoon. And youâre going on an overnight patrol.â Evie raised a brow at his words. âI checked the rota.â
âYouâre not going on the run.â
Jacob scoffed. âSays who?â
âSays everyone. Youâre wearing yourself out -- killing yourself. And for what?â
âFor them, Evie!â He was shockeed at how quickly his temper flared. âSorry.â His voice calmed immediately, returning to its original, tired state. âThis is all my fault.â Carding his fingers through his hair, he sighed. âI should have protected them.â
Evieâs heart stung at her brotherâs demeanour. She glanced at the wedding band on Jacobâs finger, a sole reminder of their shared family. âAltair and Kassandra wonât go with you. They can handle being a man down while said man rests.â She put a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly. âThereâs no point in lamenting the past; It wasnât your fault, Jacob. Weâll get them back. Go to bed.â
âBut--â
Evie gave him a look, shutting him up instantly. âBed. Now.â She followed his gaze towards the front door. âIâll lock it when I leave.â
Jacob watched her leave his room, leaving his door slightly ajar. Standing up, he almost tripped over his chair. He moved to his bed, where a T shirt and pyjama bottoms sat. He has been working nonstop for days, and only now realised that he barely had time to look after himself. He never changed out of his overnight patrol gear, mud-encrusted and uncomfortable. A shower would be a smart option, and one he forced himself to take.
Evie was still downstairs as Jacob emerged from the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. His movements were less than lacklustre, as if on the verge of giving up.
Perhaps a few hours of rest would do him some good.
He climbed into his bed for the first time in half a week, and listened to the ambient kitchen noises Evie made. Closing his eyes, Jacob tried to imagine someone else making that noise, but the movements were never quite the same. He pulled his pillow tight against him, closing his eyes. A tear still managed to escape, but Jacob had passed out before it had time to hit the pillow.
Altair and Kassandra dove for cover behind a car. âHow are there so many raiders?!â She yelled.
âI donât know! Just keep shooting!â
âKill all three of them!â The leader of the group â standing at least ten raiders strong â commanded from across the street.
Altair and Kassandra exchanged glances, confused at the instructions. âWho else is hereâŚ?â Altair questioned, and was swiftly answered when gunshots rang out in front of them. Altair flinched against the car, ducking further behind the metal as he worked out what was going on. The third person had fled toward an abandoned house, a hand pressed against her stomach. She dove inside and slammed the door shut.
âI suppose we found our answer,â Kassandra said.
âWe should kill them all. We cannot let them get to that house.â
âDo you know her?â Kassandra asked, concern beginning to grow for whoever she was.
Altair stood up and fired five shots before ducking again. âNo, but she looks⌠very familiar.â
That seemed to be enough for Kassandra, and she began to eliminate the remaining five targets with a striking accuracy. A few moments later and they were all down.
âWe should check if sheâs alright. She looked injured,â Altair said, holstering his gun before jogging up to the door and knocking firmly. âHello?! Are you alright? We want to help you! Are you hurt?â
No response.
He knocked again. âMy name is Altair! This is Kassandra! We live in a settlement not too far from here. We have first aid and supplies! We can help you!â
Again, nothing.
âIâm kicking down the door! Please donât shoot meâŚâ and with that, Altair broke the lock on the door by booting it open. It was clear to see immediately that she had hidden upstairs, shown by the concerning trail of blood she left in her wake.
âHello?â Altair became nervous; no response after an injury usually didnât bode well for the injured. They followed the trail, Altair climbing each step purposely but with caution, eyes observing everything from the cracked yellow paint along the wall to the bloodstained bannister.
At the top of the stairs, the trail led into a closed door. He tested the handle; locked. He knocked politely. âMiss? We just want to help you. Iâm coming in, alright?â
There were murmurings on the other side of the door, and Altair, without any lockpicks, did the only thing he could think of.
He kicked down the door.
Splinters flew, startled screams sounded out, and his hands automatically came up in surrender as he stood at gunpoint. The woman in question was crumpled against the wall, one hand around her crimson-stained stomach, the other holding a shaking gun. âDonât move.â Her tone was fierce, strong.
âWe can get you help.â He persuaded calmly. âI can help you; Iâm a medic.â
âWhat faction are you with?â
Kassandra mirrored Altairâs movements. âFactions?â She asked. âI donât... we didnât know there were any.â
âYou donât dress like cultists⌠who are you?â The woman squinted in suspicion.
âWeâre just survivors. Same as you.â Altair looked around, surprised to see two small figures crouching beside each other in the corner. âYouâre protecting your children, we understand, but let us take you to our settlement. We have better medical equipment than here, and itâs safe there.â
âSurvivorsâŚâ you let your arm with the firearm drop, hitting the wood with a thud. âWhy are you out here?â
âWeâre searching for supplies.â Altair furrowed his brows in thought. That wasnât the only reason they were out here. He glanced at the two children; one boy and one girl. âWhereâs the father?â
âWe got separated about three months back. I donât know ifâŚâ she paused. âIf heâs still alive.â
âWhatâs his name?â
âJacob.â
âJacobâŚÂ Frye?â
Your eyes lit up through the prevalent exhaustion, tears of relief forming. âHeâs alive? And Evie?â
Altair rushed to your side, snapped out of his frozen state. âHe has not stopped looking for you. It mustâve been fated that the one time we told him to rest was the when we found you.â He cradled the back of your head. âLie back. Evieâs fine; sheâs on an overnight patrol and wonât be back until morning.â
You relaxed slightly, distracted by Kassandra introducing herself to your children. âYou both look so much like your parents; Iâm your paterâs friend. What are your names?â
âIâm Emmett!â Despite the situation, word about his fatherâs whereabouts must have excited him. âThis is my little sister, Lily.â He wrapped his arms around her shoulders behind her in a comforting hug. Lily held onto Emmettâs arms, looking away from Kassandra. âIs it true?!â he cried excitedly. âYou know our father?â
Altair took some gauze and medical tape out of his backpack, beginning to pack and dress the wound. You bit your cheek to try and hide the pain from your children. âI canât do much here without a needle and thread, but we have what we need at the settlement.,â he said, wiping his hands on his shirt. âWe need to go, now.â He wrapped your arm over his shoulders and heaved you to your feet. âKassandra, get them to the horses.â She nodded, and took the children by the hands, leaving the room first. You and Altair stumbling after.
Your knees kept buckling every few steps on the way to the front door, causing Altair to adjust accordingly. âJacob will not be happy with us when we return with you in this state.â
You chuckled, a weariness to your tone. âI can imagine. That man has a tendency to overreact.â
âWeâll just have to beg for forgiveness this time around.â
As you and Altair limped out of the front door, Kassandra had rushed to bring the horses closer, the children both mounted on one of them already. âOkay, ready?â Altair asked, before hoisting you as best he could onto his horse, mounting behind you. Kassandra held both children in front of her, holding them tightly.
âWill Mama be okay?â
âSheâll be fine, little ones,â Kassandra comforted, though an uneasy smile rested on her face as she assessed the blood staining her friendâs hands.
âStay as still as you can,â you told them, slumping heavily against Altairâs chest.
He urged his horse to turn back the way they came, kicking her into a gallop â sprinting as fast as she could go. Kassandra wasnât far behind.
ââ
Throughout the ride, your pulse had slowed down tremendously. Your bandage (and Altairâs shirt) was almost drenched in blood, and you had been slipping in and out of consciousness for a while. Altair skidded his horse to a stop and slid off, taking you with him. He adjusted you up in his arms and carried you hurriedly into the infirmary. âHelp! I need help!â A few doctors came out, and upon seeing the amount of blood, dove into action, taking you out of his arms. He looked down at himself, at the crimson soaking the cotton of his shirt, at the dried blood on his skin. A wave of nausea threatened to overcome him. It was too much.
Gathering himself, he turned to move into the porch of the infirmary building, where Kassandra and the children were waiting, confused and distressed. âIâm getting Jacob,â he told her, sprinting towards the bar. It was the only place the group usually frequented; no doubt the familiarity would be his coping mechanism. The sun had dipped low under the horizon, chilling the air. Altair didnât feel the cold.
He slammed the door open with his shoulder, slamming it against the wall. The entire room fell into silence, eyes shooting to the scene. Jacob sat on a barstool, a glass of whiskey in front of him. He also snapped his gaze to Altair while pocketing his wallet.
The look on his friendâs face told him everything.
But the blood saturating his shirt told him something far worse, and his blood crystallised to ice. âOh, Christ.â Jacob flew off of his stool, sprinting behind Altair.
Who was hurt? How bad is it? Are they�
They ran down the street in what can only be described as the longest ten seconds of his life. Altair let Jacob overtake him as he threw open the porch door to the infirmary.
He fell to his knees when he saw his children again. âOhâŚâ
There they were, dishevelled and thinner than when he lost them, but alive.
They fell into his arms, and he embraced them tightly, heart swelling and breaking like the tide. âAre you both alright? Are you hurt?â Pulling away, his voice cracked with concern and relief, despite trying to hide it.
âNo.â Emmett said, tears in his eyes. He flung his arms around his fatherâs neck, nestling his face in its crook.
Lilyâs tears had already stained her cheeks. âI was so scared,â she whispered, clinging to his other side.
âItâs okay, youâre safe now. Youâre alright. My gorgeous girl.â He wiped her tears and kissed her forehead, bringing her back into him. âMy beautiful boy.â Emmett held him tighter as Jacob cradled the back of his head. He never thought he would savour this moment again â holding his children in his arms. His eyes scanned the room. They were in the infirmary, and two of them were unharmed. That left one more reason behind Altairâs shirt. He sniffed, barely composing himself.
He pulled away after a few more moments. âI need to check on Mum. You two stay out here, alright? Stay with Kassandra and Altair while I go inside. Theyâre very kind people. Iâll be back in a minute.â He could tell that they didnât want him to disappear so quickly, but they nodded anyway. Kassandra took them to a small play area in the corner. Altair stood over them all, watching intently.
Jacob moved to knock harshly on the door. âHey! Open up! I need to see my wife!â The door unlocked quickly, the doctor perhaps intimidated by Jacobâs tone. He barged in, freezing at the sight before him.
You, with your sickened face, barely conscious in a hospital bed. Doctors had just finished treating you, checking your pulse rate as they tidied the area. Two trolleys sat beside them; one of clean bandages and medical equipment, and the other held bloodstained fabric.
So much red. Too much.
Jacobâs stomach dropped, filling with lead. âNoâŚâ
Rushing to your bedside, he caressed your head with one hand, and grasped your own with the other. âY/n, GodâŚâ he choked out. His composure crumbled, tears spilling down his cheeks in both worry and relief. âIâm so sorry. Iâm so, sosorry.â
Semi-lucid, you turned and feebly squeezed his hand. âI found you.â
He laughed, tears brimming in his eyes. âYou did.â The light mood was quickly dissipated by the way you were blinking. Slow, fatigued eyes staring slightly out of focus. âWho did this to you?â Anger bled through his gritted teeth.
He sighed. Emotions overwhelmed him, constantly switching between anger, devastation, and relief. He looked up to one of the doctors. âIs she going to be okay?â His thumb caressed your cheekbone.
The doctor kept looking between you and Jacob. âWeâll take care of her.â He walked away quickly, as if fetching something.
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â He began to sit up, worried, but you tugged on his hand weakly.
âDonât, Jacob. Let him go.â Frowning, he paused before pulling up a chair to sit beside your bed.
âIâm so sorry I couldnât find you sooner.â His elbows rested on the mattress, his hands enveloping yours, pressed against his forehead. âI never should have stopped.â
You brushed the tousled hair out of his eyes, smiling at his loving gaze. Concerned and guilty, but loving.
âFrom what I heard, you were working yourself to death. Iâm glad you werenât there; you would have panicked.â
âBut I could have prevented⌠this.â His lips pressed against your knuckles; a constant kiss.
âYou donât know that. Iâll be fine here⌠but our children need somewhere to sleep. And bathe.â You studied his features, keeping to yourself concerns about his own health. His eyes looked exhausted, and if it wasnât for Evieâs presence you would have been certain that he wouldnât have been eating either.
âI canât just leave you here.â He breathed a tone of fatigued defiance.
You scoffed. âIâm in the safest place in the world right now.â
âBut what ifââ
âStop.â You rubbed your thumb over his knuckles soothingly. âNothing will happen. It wonât happen.â
He geared himself to leave, but paused at the last moment. Turning to you again, he opened his mouth to say something, but a tearful huff came out instead. âI thought⌠I thought Iâd never see my family again.â He grasped your hand tighter. âI canât leave you again.â
You wiped a tear from his cheek. âWeâre not going anywhere. I promise.â A wall of fatigue overcame you, and you found your eyes fluttering closed.
âY/n?â You hummed, feeling your husbandâs hand on your cheek.
âIâm resting, Jacob. Iâm okay.â
He sighed, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. âSleep well, my love.â
ââ
âHey, have any of you seen Jacob?â
Evie found her way into the bar in the morning, having just returned from her overnight patrol. The entire squad had bagged the biggest booth that morning, conversing in relieved and content murmurs. She eyed them suspiciously. âWhatâs going on?â
Altair regarded her with the most emotion sheâd ever seen him wear. âGo find out. Heâs in the infirmary.â
âWhat?!â She turned on her heel and ran. What did he do this time?
She opened the infirmary door, expecting Jacob to be bandaged up and drugged on morphine (which has happened more often than she would like). âOh my God.â
Jacob was sat in a chair at your bedside, chuckling quietly at one of Emmettâs stories, his actions and facial expressions entrancing Jacob fully as the boy sat cross legged on the bed. Lily was playing with her fatherâs hair, tucked safely in his lap. He held her tightly in one arm and held your hand. The children snapped up at the sound of her voice.
âAunt Evie!â
She dropped to her knees as they bolted towards her. Laughing, she kissed their heads multiple times as they collided into her arms. âOh my God; youâre here! I missed you both so much!â She couldnât help tears of joy breaking through. âDonât cry, Aunt Evie,â Emmett said sadly, wiping her tears.
âTheyâre tears of joy, darling. Iâm so happy youâre safe.â
âTheyâre tears of pain, really; you naughty rascals are going to drive her up the wall.â
They groaned at their fatherâs jokes. âNo, we drive her down the wall; youâre the one who drives her up it.â Jacob was stunned at Lilyâs comeback, while you and Evie laughed. Suddenly, you winced, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.
Jacobâs attention was on you in an instant. âYou alright? Whatâs wrong?â
âNothing, Iâm okay. I laughed too hard.â
âAre you sure?â
âIâm sure.â
Jacob raised a suspicious brow.
âI promise Iâm okay.â
Momentarily satisfied, Jacob smiled softly before leaning down to kiss you ever so gently, as if you were made of porcelain. You couldnât help but smile back; it was impossible to ignore the love in this moment.
Emmett groaned at your and Jacobâs act. âAunt Evie, get us out of here!â
26/05/2025: Hey! I did it! I've had this unedited for ages now (dw I proofread it lightly) and I just want to post it to share this with you all! Take it as a separate AU standalone than as part of the ongoing story. Also, take this offering as an apology for my unreliability with writing T_T. Shit's been happening but I miss writing! I have a few bits half written that I'm gonna finish as well -- here's hoping it gets me in a groove.
Rubbing his eyes, Jacob crossed off another town on his map, leaning over the wooden table in his room. They were kind enough to give him a three bedroom house to reside in, despite having two and a half beds neatly made but untouched. On two of them sat a few different stuffed animals; some new, some familiar. Lily would always share her stuffed animals with Emmett, despite the older brother acting as if he didnât need the comfort.
He stood up straight and took a sip of his now cold coffee. The mug was sat down amongst a handful of others, showing the true extent of his exhaustion. His return from an overnight supply run with Edward and Arno barely reaped any useful resources, save for some vehicle parts. No sign of anyone camping around. No sign of his family.
A knock at his front door pulled him out of his thoughts. âItâs open!â he called, sniffing to compose himself.
âJacob?â Evieâs voice rang throughout the hallway, a thread of worry lacing her tone.
âUpstairs!â He chose to quickly knock back the rest of his coffee.
âJacob, when was the last time you cleaned? Your living room looks like a minefield.â
âI havenât had the time.â
Evie leaned against the doorway, concern on her features. âYouâre exhausted. You need to rest.â
âIâll rest after we⌠afterâŚâ He sighed. âLater. Iâll rest later.â
The older Frye twin glanced at the table -- at the map decorated with countless crosses, the coffee mugs with their corresponding ring stains. She began to gather them.
âYou donât have to--â Jacob began.
âI was talking to Altair and Kassandra. Youâre going on another supply run?â She was quick to cut him off, leaving him momentarily stunned.
âYeah, this afternoon. And youâre going on an overnight patrol.â Evie raised a brow at his words. âI checked the rota.â
âYouâre not going on the run.â
Jacob scoffed. âSays who?â
âSays everyone. Youâre wearing yourself out -- killing yourself. And for what?â
âFor them, Evie!â He was shockeed at how quickly his temper flared. âSorry.â His voice calmed immediately, returning to its original, tired state. âThis is all my fault.â Carding his fingers through his hair, he sighed. âI should have protected them.â
Evieâs heart stung at her brotherâs demeanour. She glanced at the wedding band on Jacobâs finger, a sole reminder of their shared family. âAltair and Kassandra wonât go with you. They can handle being a man down while said man rests.â She put a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly. âThereâs no point in lamenting the past; It wasnât your fault, Jacob. Weâll get them back. Go to bed.â
âBut--â
Evie gave him a look, shutting him up instantly. âBed. Now.â She followed his gaze towards the front door. âIâll lock it when I leave.â
Jacob watched her leave his room, leaving his door slightly ajar. Standing up, he almost tripped over his chair. He moved to his bed, where a T shirt and pyjama bottoms sat. He has been working nonstop for days, and only now realised that he barely had time to look after himself. He never changed out of his overnight patrol gear, mud-encrusted and uncomfortable. A shower would be a smart option, and one he forced himself to take.
Evie was still downstairs as Jacob emerged from the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. His movements were less than lacklustre, as if on the verge of giving up.
Perhaps a few hours of rest would do him some good.
He climbed into his bed for the first time in half a week, and listened to the ambient kitchen noises Evie made. Closing his eyes, Jacob tried to imagine someone else making that noise, but the movements were never quite the same. He pulled his pillow tight against him, closing his eyes. A tear still managed to escape, but Jacob had passed out before it had time to hit the pillow.
Altair and Kassandra dove for cover behind a car. âHow are there so many raiders?!â She yelled.
âI donât know! Just keep shooting!â
âKill all three of them!â The leader of the group â standing at least ten raiders strong â commanded from across the street.
Altair and Kassandra exchanged glances, confused at the instructions. âWho else is hereâŚ?â Altair questioned, and was swiftly answered when gunshots rang out in front of them. Altair flinched against the car, ducking further behind the metal as he worked out what was going on. The third person had fled toward an abandoned house, a hand pressed against her stomach. She dove inside and slammed the door shut.
âI suppose we found our answer,â Kassandra said.
âWe should kill them all. We cannot let them get to that house.â
âDo you know her?â Kassandra asked, concern beginning to grow for whoever she was.
Altair stood up and fired five shots before ducking again. âNo, but she looks⌠very familiar.â
That seemed to be enough for Kassandra, and she began to eliminate the remaining five targets with a striking accuracy. A few moments later and they were all down.
âWe should check if sheâs alright. She looked injured,â Altair said, holstering his gun before jogging up to the door and knocking firmly. âHello?! Are you alright? We want to help you! Are you hurt?â
No response.
He knocked again. âMy name is Altair! This is Kassandra! We live in a settlement not too far from here. We have first aid and supplies! We can help you!â
Again, nothing.
âIâm kicking down the door! Please donât shoot meâŚâ and with that, Altair broke the lock on the door by booting it open. It was clear to see immediately that she had hidden upstairs, shown by the concerning trail of blood she left in her wake.
âHello?â Altair became nervous; no response after an injury usually didnât bode well for the injured. They followed the trail, Altair climbing each step purposely but with caution, eyes observing everything from the cracked yellow paint along the wall to the bloodstained bannister.
At the top of the stairs, the trail led into a closed door. He tested the handle; locked. He knocked politely. âMiss? We just want to help you. Iâm coming in, alright?â
There were murmurings on the other side of the door, and Altair, without any lockpicks, did the only thing he could think of.
He kicked down the door.
Splinters flew, startled screams sounded out, and his hands automatically came up in surrender as he stood at gunpoint. The woman in question was crumpled against the wall, one hand around her crimson-stained stomach, the other holding a shaking gun. âDonât move.â Her tone was fierce, strong.
âWe can get you help.â He persuaded calmly. âI can help you; Iâm a medic.â
âWhat faction are you with?â
Kassandra mirrored Altairâs movements. âFactions?â She asked. âI donât... we didnât know there were any.â
âYou donât dress like cultists⌠who are you?â The woman squinted in suspicion.
âWeâre just survivors. Same as you.â Altair looked around, surprised to see two small figures crouching beside each other in the corner. âYouâre protecting your children, we understand, but let us take you to our settlement. We have better medical equipment than here, and itâs safe there.â
âSurvivorsâŚâ you let your arm with the firearm drop, hitting the wood with a thud. âWhy are you out here?â
âWeâre searching for supplies.â Altair furrowed his brows in thought. That wasnât the only reason they were out here. He glanced at the two children; one boy and one girl. âWhereâs the father?â
âWe got separated about three months back. I donât know ifâŚâ she paused. âIf heâs still alive.â
âWhatâs his name?â
âJacob.â
âJacobâŚÂ Frye?â
Your eyes lit up through the prevalent exhaustion, tears of relief forming. âHeâs alive? And Evie?â
Altair rushed to your side, snapped out of his frozen state. âHe has not stopped looking for you. It mustâve been fated that the one time we told him to rest was the when we found you.â He cradled the back of your head. âLie back. Evieâs fine; sheâs on an overnight patrol and wonât be back until morning.â
You relaxed slightly, distracted by Kassandra introducing herself to your children. âYou both look so much like your parents; Iâm your paterâs friend. What are your names?â
âIâm Emmett!â Despite the situation, word about his fatherâs whereabouts must have excited him. âThis is my little sister, Lily.â He wrapped his arms around her shoulders behind her in a comforting hug. Lily held onto Emmettâs arms, looking away from Kassandra. âIs it true?!â he cried excitedly. âYou know our father?â
Altair took some gauze and medical tape out of his backpack, beginning to pack and dress the wound. You bit your cheek to try and hide the pain from your children. âI canât do much here without a needle and thread, but we have what we need at the settlement.,â he said, wiping his hands on his shirt. âWe need to go, now.â He wrapped your arm over his shoulders and heaved you to your feet. âKassandra, get them to the horses.â She nodded, and took the children by the hands, leaving the room first. You and Altair stumbling after.
Your knees kept buckling every few steps on the way to the front door, causing Altair to adjust accordingly. âJacob will not be happy with us when we return with you in this state.â
You chuckled, a weariness to your tone. âI can imagine. That man has a tendency to overreact.â
âWeâll just have to beg for forgiveness this time around.â
As you and Altair limped out of the front door, Kassandra had rushed to bring the horses closer, the children both mounted on one of them already. âOkay, ready?â Altair asked, before hoisting you as best he could onto his horse, mounting behind you. Kassandra held both children in front of her, holding them tightly.
âWill Mama be okay?â
âSheâll be fine, little ones,â Kassandra comforted, though an uneasy smile rested on her face as she assessed the blood staining her friendâs hands.
âStay as still as you can,â you told them, slumping heavily against Altairâs chest.
He urged his horse to turn back the way they came, kicking her into a gallop â sprinting as fast as she could go. Kassandra wasnât far behind.
ââ
Throughout the ride, your pulse had slowed down tremendously. Your bandage (and Altairâs shirt) was almost drenched in blood, and you had been slipping in and out of consciousness for a while. Altair skidded his horse to a stop and slid off, taking you with him. He adjusted you up in his arms and carried you hurriedly into the infirmary. âHelp! I need help!â A few doctors came out, and upon seeing the amount of blood, dove into action, taking you out of his arms. He looked down at himself, at the crimson soaking the cotton of his shirt, at the dried blood on his skin. A wave of nausea threatened to overcome him. It was too much.
Gathering himself, he turned to move into the porch of the infirmary building, where Kassandra and the children were waiting, confused and distressed. âIâm getting Jacob,â he told her, sprinting towards the bar. It was the only place the group usually frequented; no doubt the familiarity would be his coping mechanism. The sun had dipped low under the horizon, chilling the air. Altair didnât feel the cold.
He slammed the door open with his shoulder, slamming it against the wall. The entire room fell into silence, eyes shooting to the scene. Jacob sat on a barstool, a glass of whiskey in front of him. He also snapped his gaze to Altair while pocketing his wallet.
The look on his friendâs face told him everything.
But the blood saturating his shirt told him something far worse, and his blood crystallised to ice. âOh, Christ.â Jacob flew off of his stool, sprinting behind Altair.
Who was hurt? How bad is it? Are they�
They ran down the street in what can only be described as the longest ten seconds of his life. Altair let Jacob overtake him as he threw open the porch door to the infirmary.
He fell to his knees when he saw his children again. âOhâŚâ
There they were, dishevelled and thinner than when he lost them, but alive.
They fell into his arms, and he embraced them tightly, heart swelling and breaking like the tide. âAre you both alright? Are you hurt?â Pulling away, his voice cracked with concern and relief, despite trying to hide it.
âNo.â Emmett said, tears in his eyes. He flung his arms around his fatherâs neck, nestling his face in its crook.
Lilyâs tears had already stained her cheeks. âI was so scared,â she whispered, clinging to his other side.
âItâs okay, youâre safe now. Youâre alright. My gorgeous girl.â He wiped her tears and kissed her forehead, bringing her back into him. âMy beautiful boy.â Emmett held him tighter as Jacob cradled the back of his head. He never thought he would savour this moment again â holding his children in his arms. His eyes scanned the room. They were in the infirmary, and two of them were unharmed. That left one more reason behind Altairâs shirt. He sniffed, barely composing himself.
He pulled away after a few more moments. âI need to check on Mum. You two stay out here, alright? Stay with Kassandra and Altair while I go inside. Theyâre very kind people. Iâll be back in a minute.â He could tell that they didnât want him to disappear so quickly, but they nodded anyway. Kassandra took them to a small play area in the corner. Altair stood over them all, watching intently.
Jacob moved to knock harshly on the door. âHey! Open up! I need to see my wife!â The door unlocked quickly, the doctor perhaps intimidated by Jacobâs tone. He barged in, freezing at the sight before him.
You, with your sickened face, barely conscious in a hospital bed. Doctors had just finished treating you, checking your pulse rate as they tidied the area. Two trolleys sat beside them; one of clean bandages and medical equipment, and the other held bloodstained fabric.
So much red. Too much.
Jacobâs stomach dropped, filling with lead. âNoâŚâ
Rushing to your bedside, he caressed your head with one hand, and grasped your own with the other. âY/n, GodâŚâ he choked out. His composure crumbled, tears spilling down his cheeks in both worry and relief. âIâm so sorry. Iâm so, sosorry.â
Semi-lucid, you turned and feebly squeezed his hand. âI found you.â
He laughed, tears brimming in his eyes. âYou did.â The light mood was quickly dissipated by the way you were blinking. Slow, fatigued eyes staring slightly out of focus. âWho did this to you?â Anger bled through his gritted teeth.
He sighed. Emotions overwhelmed him, constantly switching between anger, devastation, and relief. He looked up to one of the doctors. âIs she going to be okay?â His thumb caressed your cheekbone.
The doctor kept looking between you and Jacob. âWeâll take care of her.â He walked away quickly, as if fetching something.
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â He began to sit up, worried, but you tugged on his hand weakly.
âDonât, Jacob. Let him go.â Frowning, he paused before pulling up a chair to sit beside your bed.
âIâm so sorry I couldnât find you sooner.â His elbows rested on the mattress, his hands enveloping yours, pressed against his forehead. âI never should have stopped.â
You brushed the tousled hair out of his eyes, smiling at his loving gaze. Concerned and guilty, but loving.
âFrom what I heard, you were working yourself to death. Iâm glad you werenât there; you would have panicked.â
âBut I could have prevented⌠this.â His lips pressed against your knuckles; a constant kiss.
âYou donât know that. Iâll be fine here⌠but our children need somewhere to sleep. And bathe.â You studied his features, keeping to yourself concerns about his own health. His eyes looked exhausted, and if it wasnât for Evieâs presence you would have been certain that he wouldnât have been eating either.
âI canât just leave you here.â He breathed a tone of fatigued defiance.
You scoffed. âIâm in the safest place in the world right now.â
âBut what ifââ
âStop.â You rubbed your thumb over his knuckles soothingly. âNothing will happen. It wonât happen.â
He geared himself to leave, but paused at the last moment. Turning to you again, he opened his mouth to say something, but a tearful huff came out instead. âI thought⌠I thought Iâd never see my family again.â He grasped your hand tighter. âI canât leave you again.â
You wiped a tear from his cheek. âWeâre not going anywhere. I promise.â A wall of fatigue overcame you, and you found your eyes fluttering closed.
âY/n?â You hummed, feeling your husbandâs hand on your cheek.
âIâm resting, Jacob. Iâm okay.â
He sighed, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. âSleep well, my love.â
ââ
âHey, have any of you seen Jacob?â
Evie found her way into the bar in the morning, having just returned from her overnight patrol. The entire squad had bagged the biggest booth that morning, conversing in relieved and content murmurs. She eyed them suspiciously. âWhatâs going on?â
Altair regarded her with the most emotion sheâd ever seen him wear. âGo find out. Heâs in the infirmary.â
âWhat?!â She turned on her heel and ran. What did he do this time?
She opened the infirmary door, expecting Jacob to be bandaged up and drugged on morphine (which has happened more often than she would like). âOh my God.â
Jacob was sat in a chair at your bedside, chuckling quietly at one of Emmettâs stories, his actions and facial expressions entrancing Jacob fully as the boy sat cross legged on the bed. Lily was playing with her fatherâs hair, tucked safely in his lap. He held her tightly in one arm and held your hand. The children snapped up at the sound of her voice.
âAunt Evie!â
She dropped to her knees as they bolted towards her. Laughing, she kissed their heads multiple times as they collided into her arms. âOh my God; youâre here! I missed you both so much!â She couldnât help tears of joy breaking through. âDonât cry, Aunt Evie,â Emmett said sadly, wiping her tears.
âTheyâre tears of joy, darling. Iâm so happy youâre safe.â
âTheyâre tears of pain, really; you naughty rascals are going to drive her up the wall.â
They groaned at their fatherâs jokes. âNo, we drive her down the wall; youâre the one who drives her up it.â Jacob was stunned at Lilyâs comeback, while you and Evie laughed. Suddenly, you winced, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.
Jacobâs attention was on you in an instant. âYou alright? Whatâs wrong?â
âNothing, Iâm okay. I laughed too hard.â
âAre you sure?â
âIâm sure.â
Jacob raised a suspicious brow.
âI promise Iâm okay.â
Momentarily satisfied, Jacob smiled softly before leaning down to kiss you ever so gently, as if you were made of porcelain. You couldnât help but smile back; it was impossible to ignore the love in this moment.
Emmett groaned at your and Jacobâs act. âAunt Evie, get us out of here!â
older!bf billy who reads one of ur friends instagram comments telling you youâre serving cunt or hears you say this new lipstick you bought was cunt and starts using it in the same way except he has no idea what heâs sayingđđđ save me heâs so old and peepaw and clueless
So i saw that you're writing for clair obscure (you're the only one i found really đ) and i wanted to know if you can write something fluffy with Verso ? đ (If you're taking requests ?) Idk just pure fluff like he calls her "princess" and is a gentleman to her ? (I'm a hopeless romantic and a sucker for fluff đ)
Aaand that's it , sending love your way <3
I hope this is okay;;;; If it is not, I am so sorry pls forgib me ;w;
Pairing: Verso x Reader
Summary: Verso goes out of his way to make sure you're okay when the group is spending the night in camp.
Word Count: 929
Rating: G
Warnings: Fluff (?), use of nicknames
âCareful, princess,â Versoâs words of warning cut through the quiet copse and make you jump a bit in surprise.
You look over your shoulder, briefly, to see him walking your way. Then you go back to looking over the Curator who stands idly by waiting for someone to engage its skills.
âYou might not like what looks back,â Verso says, meeting where youâre standing and casting his gaze at what youâre investigating.
âIts just so interesting,â you marvel, leaning over to try and notice something new from a different angle.
You hear Verso hum an amused, if skeptical, acknowledgment. âWell, I came to ask if you wanted dinner while it was still warm,â he muses, âI know how you scientific types absolutely love to put anything and everything before your own wellbeing.â
You scoff at him, but it carries no weight as you circle around the Curator and fumble through your jacket for your notebook. You flip through the pages quickly to find a blank sheet.
âAre you ignoring me, mademoiselle?â the usual growling cut of Versoâs voice is there and undercut by his feigned, dramatic, offense.
âIâm not ignoring you,â you begin to say.
âBut you wish to gain sustenance from scientific discovery and have no need to partake in basic human functions?â he interrupts you.
You slide your eyes to meet his and find his chastisement is coming from a place of concern, not anger. You make a dramatic display of tucking your notebook away and gesture for him to lead on.
A small, slanted smile graces his features as he turns and walks you back to the fire.
You study his back as you go. His concern for you was different from his concern for Maelle. And as you think about his addition to your camp you realize youâd seen him impatient, but you arenât sure youâve seen him angry.
Not that you want to see him angry, particularly, he is fierce enough in battle while calm. But, call it scientific folly, you want to see what would happen.
A simple stew was simmering over the fire. You arenât exactly passing through greener pastures so stew is the best your group can do with what little supplies you have. Verso has been more than helpful on that front too. He knows what plants grow in even the harshest environments, and he knows how to prepare them so they donât kill you.
Verso waves you to sit, while he grabs two bowls and fills them. You take the time to glance around. Itâs dark in the clearing, even with the moon shining on a cloudless sky. You notice there are no other silhouettes. The rest of your small expedition team mustâve already gone down to rest for the night.
âWhatâs on your mind?â he asks, handing you a warm, full bowl.
You take it, gratefully, and get caught under his stare for a heartbeat. He breaks the moment, seemingly reluctantly, to sit with his own dinner. Your mind comes back to you as do the many questions youâre dying to ask him, most of which you fear you know the answer to. You take up a spoon and eat a few bites instead.
âYou know you can tell me anything, princess,â he says, and the nickname heâs chosen to give you makes your blood warm. âI want you to trust me â I want us to trust each other,â he adds.
âWhy does it matter?â
Verso gives you a look like he needs you to explain.
âWe need you to continue on our journey. Why does it matter if we trust you?â
You watch a glimmer of understanding twinkle in his eyes. He leans forward, and you forget, for a moment, what youâre a part of. âI need you to trust me,â he says, his growling voice is low. You realize heâs telling you a secret. âI need you to trust me because things are only going to get worse, and I know weâre all going to need someone to rely on.â
You let him know you are listening to what he is telling you, and for a long while after you let his words sit between you in silence. You are hungry and you do want to eat something warm for once. And hadnât he gone out of his way to make sure you take care of yourself?
But soon enough the food is gone, and you donât feel tired and when you look at Verso, he doesnât look tired either.
âYou think Iâll rely on no one?â you ask, staring into your empty bowl.
âYou rely on no one now,â he says with a light laugh. The sound doesnât help how gravely serious heâs looking at you. âIf you rely on no one it will kill you long before any of our enemies get the chance.â
âOkay,â you concede.
Verso stands and offers his hand to you.
You look up at him curiously but take his hand without hesitation. Itâs warm and rough with callouses.
âWhen we get to that point, promise youâll rely on me too.â Youâre cringing a bit at your choice of words, given how the last promise had gone for your group, but felt you meant the words you chose.
For Versoâs part he doesnât seem at all phased by you. Instead, he allows you to use his hand to stand and begins walking you to where everyone else is sleeping soundly.
âI promise,â he tells you as he leaves you there. You watch him disappear into the shadows before you lay down and finally rest.