#au chapter

[love-scary-things]

Poll:a chapter where Celine came from the diabolik lovers universe and wound up in twisted wonderland via the dark carriage

Should I write the au chapter?

yes

no

Voting ended onJun 15, 2025

[the-l0st-reploid]

>[Another AU: Liftline Ch 1]<

Signas and several groups of Hunters were standing outside as the carrier flew in, X and his partners standing on one side as the Navigators stood to the other. Beside the Navigators were Lifesaver Units one through three, on standby just in case.

"So what exactly are they bringing in sir?" X asked the commander. Signas had his gaze firmly locked on the plane. "Something the Federation thinks could be a break-through for our forces. I have my doubts, but with the new-gen threat that recently occurred at the Orbital Elevator, we could use some extra fire power."

Axl flinched at the mention, trying to keep his composure. It had taken a few weeks to pull him out of the red zone, and though neither X nor Zero seemed fond of him, Axl was eternally grateful to Lifesaver's dedication.

The three medic units raised their heads as the carrier finally landed, the back opening up to allow the officials to walk out. X was surprised to see a Navigator among the other reploids that marched out. Though it wasn't unusual to see male Navigators, this one had the strangest look about him, that X could -not- figure out at first. The Navigator kept his head down, as though aware he was being stared at.

Cocoa toned skin, just a little darker than Layer, with a dark blue body suit with grey armor. The suit was far lighter than his hair, such a deep dark navy blue it almost looked like the depths of the sea. His stance was formal, straight, and X recognized strict postures when he saw them. The Navigator's headset had very long fins on the ear pieces, and as the official strode forward to greet Signas, X jumped as the antenna suddenly moved. The Navigator was definitely alert.

"Greetings Commander Signas. We've brought the subject we mentioned, as agreed." The official brought his hand up, and Signas shook stiffly and informally as he glanced over the Navigator and combat types in the small group. "Very small, isn't he? What we need is fire power."

The official smirked and stood back, the crowd around the Navigator moving away. The Navigator finally opened his eyes, revealing bright but very blank orange eyes. X flinched as he realized what had been so off about the reploid; he was a drone, like Lifesavers were. "B3, initiate Hyper Mode." The official commanded, and the Navigator nodded.

Lines appeared on his bodysuit, and his armor suddenly dispersed as the light grew and flashed brightly. As it faded, X's jaw dropped, and the rest of the Hunters present soon followed. Six bright electric blue wings were hovering in place behind the Navigator, whose armor was no more. Instead, what looked like a very loose suit with the same computer like lines running all over now adorned the Navigator. His headset was lit up, and as they watched, a few stray sparks glided across B3's form.

"A flying Navigator fighting unit..." Alia murmured as she took in the sight. Signas's eyes were wide, but he quickly masked the look back into indifference. Something seemed...off.

"I can see why you wanted to present this to us. However, he requires training until I see he's fit to actually be out in the field." Signas stated, the official nodding. "We were hoping you'd say that. B3 does need a few out-of-base testings to make sure he's stable for use." And that made all synthetic skin crawl; the blunt wording showing that the Navigator was just another tool made them ill at mind.

As the Hunters were released from duty to return to their normal schedules in the base, Signas and a few others stayed behind, those being the three female Navigators, X, Zero, and Axl. But surprisingly, Lifesaver also stayed behind, commanding Units 2 and 3 to return to the med-lab. "Sir, if I may?" Signas stared Lifesaver down with a heavy look; he recalled the last time those words were uttered, and Zero had tensed up. "Something seems suspicious about this. And I know you noticed as well."

Signas's gaze turned to the Navigator, who was receiving his orders to obey Signas's command for the duration he'd be there. B3 was nodding his head politely to every sentence and question, looking like a clockwork doll. In his own opinion, he couldn't dare to doubt Lifesaver's suspicion. Zero had turned his attention to the Navigator as well, then chanced asking. "So what do you think's up, Lifesaver?"

The medic stiffened at being addressed but had a firm look as he scowled. "I normally don't wish to be wrong, but I believe that Navigator's been modified." All eyes went wide. Modificating certain types of reploids was illegal, especially based on the specific type of modifications made.

"We'll keep our eyes on him." Zero said, straightening as the Navigator was brought over to them. His blank stare rested on Signas alone, giving the commander a very chilled feeling in his circuits.

"B3, remember, you are under Commander Signas's orders." B3 nodded, keeping his eyes on Signas as the officials and reploid escorts boarded the carrier again, the craft taking off into the sky just a few minutes later. B3 remained where he was, until Signas brought his attention to the smaller reploid. "B...3, was it? That doesn't seem much like an appropriate designation."

B3 took a moment to respond, and it honestly seemed to X like he was actually struggling to form a reply. "I...am sometimes referred to...by one of the creators...as 'Benedict'...If you wish...to use that in...reference to this unit...you may feel free to."

X was trying hard not to punch something. It didn't sound natural, it didn't sound like Benedict was talking freely. It sounded like every word had to be forced out from behind some kind of block. Signas had noticed as well, and crouched down on one knee to be eye level with the Navigator. "You are free to speak, react, do whatever you like here, Benedict."

The oddest sort of look finally appeared on Benedict's face, and X got the impression it was the Navigator attempting to relax his posture. "T-Then...m-may I requ-ah-ask to be referred to as B-Ben?"

It was awful, hearing the glitching in his voice chip just from trying to exert free will, but it was a start. Signas nodded, and looked to the others. He knew they would also take the cue. "Then while you are here, you may respond to the name 'Ben' instead of B3. Understood?" His request in order form. Ben seemed to relax fully, shoulders lowering and his jaw un-clenching. "Underst-stood sir." And Ben saluted him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey!" Ben flinched, standing straight as Axl entered his temporary room. There wasn't much to set up, given that Ben was just given to them, but Axl was looking to change that immediately.

"You-You are...?" The redhead grinned as he leaned his head against the door-frame. "I'm Axl, the best gunner around!" Ben's mouth twitched a little, and Axl grinned wider; he could tell his smile was infectious and the younger was struggling against that block while trying to smile back. He walked forward and put his hands on Ben's shoulders.

"Listen. I know that voice in your head is pretty damn loud, huh? But you get to ignore it while you're here, understand?" Ben's eyes were wide, and Axl was pleased to see a bit of 'yesIunderstandbuthow' under the blankness. "Just don't pay it any attention, okay? Smile if you want to, throw a fit if you need to, and do what -you- want, got it?" He shot a horribly cheesy grin at the Navigator, and within a few seconds, a very thin small smile was gained as reward.

The next few hours consisted of Axl shirking off his duties showing Ben around the base, including heading to the Command Center where he'd work with the other Navigators.

"And these are the lovely ladies of communication!" Axl joked, earning flat but humored stares. "Hello Axl. Aren't you supposed to be-" Alia began, smirking as the redhead hushed her in a panic. "Thaaaaat is hardly important!" He slung his arm around Ben's neck, only a few inches shorter than Ben. "Benny here needs a tour of the place, as I have time I figured it'd only be polite to-"

"-Disregard your duties for the day to play hookie?" Axl let out a squeaking noise, jumping and turning around to face X and Zero who had just entered the room. X had a visibly displeased expression, while Zero more had the air of 'welp you did it again you incurred the wrath of the blue guy', and as Axl whined and started spouting apologies, Ben stepped in front of the gunner, catching everyone by surprise. "Pl-Please don't p-punish him." Ben held his hand up to point at himself. "He w-was just sh-showing me ar-round."

All was silent save for the hum of the monitors as everyone awaited X's reaction. The Hunter stared at Ben, their eyes locked, before he sighed, seeming to unwind. "Look Ben it's not unusual to catch Axl goofing off. We need to remind him at times that he's a Hunter, and that he needs to get serious about things." Axl chuckled nervously as Ben tilted his head, his antennae moving to lay flatly horizontal.

"Then...y-you are not m-mad at him?" X's eyes widened. "What? No no no! Maybe once I was, but I'm way too used to him now." Axl made a face. "Hey!" X ignored the indignant yelp. "I'm more annoyed because he was goofing around. But if he -was- showing you around, I guess little harm is done. He'll just have extra chores next week." Axl's squawk was loud, and the Navigators started to laugh and giggle at him. Ben tilted his head the other way, then covered his face with his hands, shaking without warning. The laughter stopped and Alia stood to check on Ben.

"I...I don't g-get it...I d-don't underst-stand-d..." He croaked out, and Axl's face fell into a worried one. "This...This is ah-all wr-wrong. It's n-not at ah-all what the l-lab was l-like." The lab, which had to mean the place he'd been created. X's eyes narrowed as the stutter worsened in his view. Axl placed his hand on Ben's shoulder. "Ben, I told you. Just ignore whatever happened. You're safe and free to do whatever while you're here."

Ben didn't move his hands away, but he managed to nod.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Watching Ben fly was something of a treat. Axl's jaw was ajar as Lifesaver 1 strode up to him and the other Hunters gathered at the window. "What's going on?" Axl grinned as he turned to the medic, pulling him through the crowd so Lifesaver could see.

Ben was swooping and spinning, twirling and diving, weaving through a giant obstacle course obviously designed for the Navigator. He seemed to breeze through the course like a bird, his wings moving in tandem behind him - up until the point he stopped and suddenly fell, spinning as his wings raced down one after another and caught him just a few feet from the ground. The crowd in the base exploded into cheers at the feat, impressed by the Navigator's daring.

Lifesaver was in slight awe himself. He had seen videos before, recordings of aerial type reploids, but to see one with such grace in movements, such control over the power of flight...It was far different for sure. He looked back down to Axl. "Would you mind bringing him in after he has finished training, Axl? I think it would be best to check on Benedict's systems." The gunner paused, then nodded. "Yeah sure. I can do that."

Lifesaver nodded to him, and returned to the med-lab, frowning as he looked over the files Signas had retrieved for him. Ben's files were odd, short, and seemed to be lacking a few key points. The obvious conclusion was that it had been tampered with. But...why?

It was a few hours later that Axl came in followed by Ben, and both X and Zero had tagged along too. Lifesaver Unit 2 was just finishing up on another patient, and Unit 3 was busy in the office as Unit 1 had Ben stand to the side so he could conduct the check up. "Benedict, how often are you checked on at your base?" He asked while scanning the Navigator carefully. Ben fidgeted a little before answering. "Th-They check on m-my systems dail-ly..."

The scans came back and Lifesaver frowned deeply before he reached for the release for Ben's armor. Checking it was mandatory to make sure the armor wasn't in danger of jamming since Ben had a Hyper Mode, but he was shocked by the Navigator's reaction.

Which was to scream and fling himself off the table.

X, who had been trying to push Unit 2 off him with denials to his request to check on X's systems, as well as Axl and Zero, all leapt back as Ben crashed on the floor, eyes dilated in the first real expression he had since arriving - fear. Fear as Lifesaver tried to offer his hand to help Ben up, resulting in the younger scooting back up into the wall and cowering there.

Lifesaver felt...hurt. More than hurt, he felt angry. For the first time he could ever recall, he felt anger, anger at whoever had caused such a reaction to be developed. His fist closed and shook a little before he sighed and tried to hold his hand out to Ben again. The Navigator whimpered and pressed back into the wall again, that sheer terrified look on his face. "Benedict I will not harm you." Lifesaver said, trying to make his tone as soft as possible, despite how mad he was getting at the Federation for doing this.

Ben continued to cling to the wall for a few minutes, before slowly, he moved away, and reached for Lifesaver's hand. The moment his hand closed around Ben's the Navigator was buried against the medic, glitched cries and sobs starting to ebb out. Lifesaver stood uneasily, holding onto Ben as he glanced at the three Hunters. Axl looked shell-shocked and sick, much like X who had a look of horror. Zero, however...

Zero was pissed.

"Lifesaver, keep Ben in here and don't let anyone besides us and Commander Signas in. Lock down your lab." The three units looked at each other, before nodding. As soon as the three Hunters left, Ben began to cry louder, until he felt his hair being stroked gently. He sniffled and gasped as he raised his head, seeing Lifesaver. The medic smiled a little and ran his hand over Ben's head again, being careful with the Navigator's headset. "Just calm down. It'll be alright. If all three of them are concerned for your safety you'll be alright." Ben snuffled, and Lifesaver was surprised as Ben's voice came again, gurgly and glitchy. "An-An' you t-too?" He contemplated only a few seconds before nodding. "I will do my best to keep you safe as well, Benedict." Ben managed a tiny smile before his eyes went dark and he fell against Lifesaver. His charge was less than ten percent, and he was immediately hooked up in the charger closest to Lifesaver's main office.

As the three stormed in, Signas raised an eyebrow, the official on the screen looking angry and confused. Axl scowled and almost lunged at the image, but X's hand on his booster pack stopped him. "Now as I was saying before Signas, we'll be sending the carrier to retrieve B3 soon. And we want your compliance to hand him over." Axl lunged again, this time with a very angry noise leaving his lips, but this time Zero yanked him back. He knew why the redhead was getting even angrier; it sounded just like when they'd been challenged by Red.

"Unfortunately, I've received word that B3 requires rest at this time due to overexerting himself during training." Signas wasn't much for lying, but with the reactions of his top three Hunters and the report Lifesaver had just sent him, he was unwilling to relinquish custody of Benedict. The official scowled at him. "B3 can rest after he's returned."

Wrong thing to say as X stormed over. "He'll rest NOW. Less than ten percent means he can't even move at this point." The official gave the blue Reploid such a dirty look that he almost stood back; but X was used to having to delegate with difficult people. An innocent reploid was in danger, and he'd fight verbally until his voice was hoarse.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lifesaver Unit 1 was beside Ben as he charged, noting how the Navigator shook as though in a nightmare. Several times he placed his hand on Ben's head to wipe away the coolant beading up; Ben's systems were going insane, likely a side effect of whatever had been done to him. Units 2 and 3 were scanning through the systems, horror growing with every new thing they found.

"L-Li-" The medic turned full attention to Ben as the Navigator attempted to speak. "Just rest Benedict, you'll be fine soon." Ben clamped his hand around Lifesaver's fingers as he hauled himself up. "L-Lo-look..." Ben guided Lifesaver's hand to his collar, releasing his armor. Lifesaver's eyes went wide.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Signas I am not going to ask again. B3 -will- be returned at ONCE." The official was now red in the face with anger, and Axl was now restrained by the arms with Zero's help, Signas continuing to deny the request. "Benedict is not going to be returned to you, sirs." The room froze as Lifesaver stomped in, actually looking enraged. "Illegal modifications to a NEWBUILT. How low are you willing to sink to do such a thing?" He hissed. "A newbuilt?!" Alia's jaw had dropped, and X nearly joined Axl in his fit of rage.

"Modifying a ground type newbuilt into a flying type without even synching up the systems properly is ILLEGAL for a REASON, and it almost KILLED HIM." Lifesaver thundered. "I have both the other Lifesaver units unsynching and removing the flight system so Benedict will not need to be deactivated. He is not going to be returned to your lab after this." The official exploded into yelling, and Signas had Palette cut the transmission. Lifesaver actually looked murderous as he turned to the commander, livid fire in his eyes as he explained. "Multiple bruises on the back from where synchronization pads were jammed into his spine to connect him directly to the wings. Small wonder why he wouldn't allow me access before."

Axl looked like he'd throw up, and the Navigators echoed the expression. Zero was glaring daggers at the screen. "He'll be sending some kind of gang to try and take Ben by force, y'know?" X scowled darkly. "I don't want to fight. But mistreating a newbuilt isn't something I can allow." Axl was finally let go of, and the redhead stood there shaking for a few moments. "I'll fight anything they throw at us. Nobody's getting to Ben on my watch!" Signas turned to Lifesaver and nodded to him. "Return to the medlab and make sure only Hunters recognized at this base are allowed in. Lock down if you see fit." Lifesaver nodded and his footfalls thudded loudly as he returned to his office. Signas next addressed the trio. "Take your squads and set up outside the base perimeters. Don't let anything get beyond you, but only engage in a fight if fired upon." They didn't need any more trouble than they already had.

The Hunters nodded in unison, and ran off to gather the others, as the Navigators called the alert around the base. Ben heard the alarm and whimpered as he tried to get up, succeeding in falling off the charge table. Lifesaver walked in just as he fell, and strode over to Ben as fast as he could. "Ben, please, get back on the table,you need to rest-" He was cut off as Ben shoved him away. "Stop pretending to care." All three medics froze at the cold, stutter-less tone Ben had just spoken in. "I have my orders to return." Unit 2 stood in front of him. "Without your armor? Even you have to understand what will happen if you engage Hyper Mode now. The synch pads will tear straight out of your back." Ben was shaking with the effort to move; the charge was still less than thirty percent. "I have orders to return immediately-" Lifesaver 1 had lunged forward, grabbing Ben around the wrist. "You aren't going anywhere Benedict."

The Navigator stared at him darkly. "Don't pretend-" He cut off as he was yanked forward, both arms held in an iron grip. Lifesaver was glaring at him, and the younger reploid was suddenly very aware of how vulnerable he was. Lifesavers were programmed not to harm other Reploids, but Ben had no armor over his synth-skin, and it was a lot more delicate. He could feel it starting to hurt, the grip Lifesaver had on him, but he couldn't even move. His eyes were trapped by Lifesaver's. "I have no false sympathy, Benedict. If I care for you, it's real. I'm not letting you go back to where you'll be experimented on and mistreated. And if you want to try fighting me...then by all means, try."

Ben was struggling a little, his stare turning slowly from angry...to a dismayed look. "L-Li-S-Sav-Saver-" He calmed down and pulled Ben close. "I know. I'm going to cut that connection now so the voice can't bother you ever again." Ben continued to stutter as he felt Lifesaver reach for the switch to turn him offline. "S-Sav-Th-Than-Sav-Saver-" The sound of Ben going off hurt to listen to, but Lifesaver wasted no time picking up the Navigator and carrying him to the table. Units 2 and 3 immediately brought over the tools needed to cut the connection as well as remove the synch pads.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

X, Zero, and Axl stood together in front of the base entrance with their men, ready to disperse. "Comm.s on at all times, any foreign signals not registered are enemy. Do not let your guard down just because this is the Federation. Understood?" A chorus of 'yes sir!' met X as reply, and he nodded as the group branched into three. This fight was going to be tough.

[thelibraryoflarry-blog]

The Author didn't give a description, butbasically, Harry directs porn, and Louis acts in it. Louis wants a relationship with Harry, but Harry 'doesn't do relationships'.

Chaptered

Author: ballsdeepinharry

Notes: I am in love with this, although the updates are a bit slow at the moment, it is totally worth the wait!

[thelibraryoflarry-blog]

Louis is a single father, and Harry is a former X Factor contestant coming to terms with his fading 15 minutes of fame. When they meet, neither one of them is looking for anything beyond a casual relationship — no strings attached.

Chaptered

Author: Brown Headed Stranger (Dani)

Rating: M/NC-17

Notes: I really like this one...it start out as friends as benefits (who doesn't like that!). It has an amazing plot, read it!