The Trouble with Talismans: a Treatise on Time-Travel by Young Master Lan Xiaohui (Age 6) by stiltonbasket
The Trouble with Talismans: a Treatise on Time-Travel by Young Master Lan Xiaohui (Age 6)
by stiltonbasket
G, 26k, wangxian
Summary: Lan Xiaohui didn't mean to go into his father's workshop without permission.
He didn't mean to activate one of A-Die's new talismans.
And he certainly didn't mean to end up over sixteen years into the past and drag his siblings along with him.
(In which Lan Wangji becomes a single father of three at twenty, Lan Sizhui is Done with babysitting, and Wei Wuxian just wants his future children to stop storming the Burial Mounds.)
My comments: In which xiao yu (6, and a future child of wangxian), lsz and the new baby accidentally travel back in time and initiate a whole-ass fix-it by virtue of getting their dads together... and little xiao yu blurting out all kinds of secrets. Very cute. (Part of a good series but it's also fine to read as a stand-alone!)
time travel au, POV multiple, wangxian's children travel back in time, shenanigans, humor, xiao yu spills future secrets left and right, parenthood, lan sizhui is the best boy, canon divergence, burial mounds, confused wei wuxian, panicking lan wangji, developing relationship, getting together, brief angst and pining, accidental baby acquisition, fluff, fix it, happy ending, @stiltonbasket
(You may wish to REBLOG as a signal boost for this author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)
Sorry I stopped posting for so long I’ll try and start updating more regularly but I can’t promise anything
Cw:brief angst
Word count,2,255
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So you compromised and walked her home instead saying, “A princess should never have to make such a dangerous trip alone.” She giggled and a faint blush covered her cheeks. Both of you had talked and laughed the rest of the way to her house. You stopped at the beginning of the street not wanting to risk her parents seeing you with her. She grabbed both your hands and made you come back and visit her, you promised and watched her walk up to her house to make sure she got there safely. You went home that night smiling and blushing at the feeling of her holding your hands.
And you kept your promise, at least once a week you appeared at her window for her to drag you into her room to chat and occasionally sneak in food for the both of you and on the very rare occasion she would play with your hair doing it up in braids or fancy buns and when she couldn’t do that she would just run her fingers through it no matter how short.
Now both of you are 16. You smiled at the fond memories as you walked to her house. It was night which was the normal time that you met up with her, but tight was one of the rare ones where she agrees to sneak out of her house and walk the practically deserted, aside from a few random people and enforcers, streets of Piltover.
Your smile widened when you got up to her house from where you were standing you could see a lamp still on in her room. Sneaking over the fence and around the corner you carefully scaled the wall thankfully brick made it much easier to climb. Pulling yourself up onto the window ledge the window almost immediately flew open and you were dragged in.
Even after all these years you still weren’t used to Caitlyn manhandling you. From your place on the floor you glared up at her as she stood over you, smiling as she whispered an apologetic, “sorry.”
You continued to glare at her as she helped you up though there was no true malice behind it. “You know one of these days your parents are gonna hear you throwing me to the ground and come in here.” You teased.
She pressed her lips together trying to suppress a smile, “I didn’t throw you, I was helping you.” she insisted as she shoved on her shoes, grabbed her bag and walked towards her ridiculously large doors. It had been decided after Caitlyn took a particularly bad fall trying to climb down her brick wall like you did and ended up with a fractured ankle that you would take the risk of getting caught if it meant Caitln didn’t get hurt.
As you crept through the halls you couldn’t help, but marvel at the intricate marble design chiseled into it with the delicate metal detailing. You nearly bumped into Caitlyn when she paused to open the door. Once she did you took the lead, grabbing her hand and dragging her down the street.
You stopped at the center of the city, despite the warming temperatures they still hadn’t taken down the lights they put up for christmas. You couldn’t complain though they were very pretty. Both of you sat down, and started talking about a shop you planned to steal from which she wasn’t an idea she was fond of but she understood you needed to, as Caitlyn pulled out the sandwiches she packed.
She was talking about how she was improving massively with her gun, which was good because almost half the time you hung out was spent racing through the woods while she shot at little targets, and Sheriff Grayson said she may let her shadow one of her officers. You were about to tease her about it when you heard footsteps to you left from where you and Cait had come from.
You quickly hushed Caitlyn as you tried to listen to see if you could tell who it was. “I know I saw them come this way.” An older woman said, hearing the voice Caitlyn stiffened too. You raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a ‘why are you panicking?’
She leaned in and whispered, “I think it’s my mother.” Your eyes widened, you were well aware that the council women did not have good opinions of people form the Lanes, god only knew what she would do if she found out her daughter was hanging out with one.
They must have been closer than you thought because the next second Caitlyn’s mom and four enforcers were rounding the corner. You both stared at them like deer caught in the headlights. Once they caught sight of you the enforcers surged forward. Quickly standing up you backed away from them Caitlyn doing the same, but standing in front of you.
“Caitlyn come here right now young lady.” Cassandra demanded pointing to the space next to her.
“No mother you don’t understand, they're my friend.” Caitlyn insisted as she pushed you back. This only seemed to make the older women more angry nodding to the enforcers, one of which grabbed Caitlyn by the arm and dragged her towards her mother. “No mother please, you don’t understand!” SHe shouted again, digging her heels into the concrete path.
As the remaining three started approaching you. Turing to run you only got maybe thirty feet before they caught up to you and slapped a pair of cuffs on you. Distantly you could hear Caitlyn yelling at her mother begging her not to, but all you could really focus on was the cold bite of the cuffs around your wrist as they dragged you away.
The rest of it felt like it happened so fast though you know it had to be over the course of a week. They put you in a cell then had a ‘trail’ one that you didn’t even attend then they threw you on a boat and you took a short, but dreadful trip to another prison, you had heard the other people in the Lanes talk about it terrible place for the worst of the worst, Stillwater. Despite where you were headed all you could think about was Caitlyn. Caitlyn as they shoved a prison uniform, Caitlyn as they threw you in a cell and Caitlyn as they locked the door.
You spent your first day sitting in the corner thinking about her and how you’d never see her again as trails of tears made their way down your face.
Time skip 6 years (you both are around 22)
You were sitting in your shitty cell bored out of your mind staring up at the gray concrete ceiling while you laid on your uncomfortable bed. Normally around this time you would be playing cards or trying to find a good book in the prison’s small ass that you hadn’t already read a million times, but you were in trouble for ‘violent behavior’ (caving in the face of a guard that had been terrorizing you sense you got here who had ripped out you last straw of restraint) so now you were stuck in solitary for like month and nearly daily beatings.
So naturally you tensed when you heard the sound of footsteps making their way down the hall. Too tired to get up, you stayed where you were. To your surprise when they stopped in front of your cell they didn;t open the door, but started talking, “Inmate 237?” Your lips twitched down not just because of only being referred to by a number, but the woman's posh accent made her sound too much like an old friend.
She took a deep breath, “I need help with a case and the guards told me you could assist me. Would you be willing to answer some questions?”
“No.” You answer simply, turning over so your back was facing her.
“Please, I looked into your file, you've committed no crime at least on file they don’t have any kind of information on you they don’t even have your name.” The women said practically begging at this point.
“I said not.” You told her this time harsher.
She sighed heavily through her nose, “Why not?”
“Because,” You shot up, pivoting to face her, “I don't care about your stupid-” You froze when you turned to her fully. Both of you were staring at each other as you analyzed her features as she no doubt did the same.
Blue tinted hair with crystal blue eyes to match her face didn’t have the same roundness to it, but you could still tell. “Cait?” Your voice breaking as you whispered her name.
She nodded her lower lip trembling, “Y/n?” She asked back her voice wobbling, you nodded back. She began looking through a set of keys one of the guards must have given her quickly opening your cell.
As soon as the door was open you ran to each other. If one of you had been standing you definitely would have fallen over when you collided. You wrapped your arms around her waist holding her so tight she was probably struggling to breathe a little, with one hand she gripped you back with the other she had it on the back of your head keeping you where your face was buried in her shoulder like you would ever want to leave it.
You stayed like that for a long time holding each other scared if you let go the other would disintegrate in front of their eyes. When we pull apart (still holding each other) our faces are maybe six inches apart. You try to say something, but the word gets caught in your throat.
Caitlyn speaks up, “I’m so sorry.” she whispers touching your foreheads together so you can see the tears forming in her eyes. The confusion must have been clear on your face because she says something else, “I should have fought harder, talked to Jayce so he could talk to Mel and get you out or something.” She's chewing her lip, a nervous habit you remember her doing it the night you met.
You barely remember Jayce, some kind of inventor guy. You have no idea who Mel is, but You just assume she's some rich lady. But Cait’s words make your face harden. You move your hands up to hold both sides of her face, “what happened isn't your fault you did all you could. Besides I’m still here, so don’t blame yourself,” you pause examining her face to make sure she’s listening, “understand?”
She nods and lets out a small, “Yes.” You nod and smile, you can’t remember the last time you did that. Looking down at her and scoffing a little, finally noticing her outfit, an enforcer’s uniform. Despite your hate for them it does look good on her and you take a moment to reminisce about how she always talked about being the sheriff and making real change, for Piltover and the Lanes.
Taking a deep breath to compose yourself you ask, “so what are you doing here, you said something about a case.”
“Oh yes!” She launches into a long story about some big crime explosion etcetera you're barely listening to just her voice and how nice it is to hear her voice again. “Do you think you’ll be able to help?”
You think about it for a movement you know a few people who could help and the description of the criminals sound vaguely familiar, so you nod. She’s borderline ecstatic smiling so wide you’re afraid her face might split. She grabs your hand and pulls you out of the old cell, “well come on then let's get you out of here.”
You pause for a moment making her stop, “Wait how are you gonna get me out?”
Her lips twitch up again, “well Jayce is a counselor now and I’ve signed a lot of papers for him in my life so I was just gonna… you know.” She doesn’t finish her sentence, but you get what she's saying and it makes you burst into laughter. You knew how much she hated it when you broke the law so when she insinuated that she was going to forge a document for a counselor was not only endearing, but absolutely hilarious.
She flushed and smacked your arm lightly and pulled you along as you giggled and she unsuccessfully tried to hide her smile.
Her plan to get you out worked and later you were stepping off a boat and onto a dock in Piltover with no real idea where you were going, but it was okay because Caitlyn was holding your hand and promised that you would never be separated again.
Here’s a little something. Angst isn’t my strong suit, but this is just a short few paragraphs to what might’ve been going on inside Rex’s head in Rebels as he put on stormtrooper armor for the first time.
No warnings apply, just very a brief internal third person monologue.
~
To try on a helmet, it cements your role.
Rex stared into the chasm of the bucket, resting in his hands, as still as dead water. This bucket was not his own, the battles this visor had seen were different from the ones he had lived. To wear this, he would be taking on another role, playing pretend under someone else’s name. He could do that. A soldier is a soldier is a soldier.
So why couldn’t he stop hesitating.
One big breath, old boy.
…
The peripherals were god awful. He couldn't even see down the middle, much less off to the sides. Had he worn this during his war back then, he'd have been perfect prey to ambush- but he knew brothers were watching his every move, constantly at his back. They all protected each other, no matter the cost of their own lives. If they could save a brother, they would in a heartbeat.
What about these stormtroopers then?
Were any of them brothers? Were any of them bound by the destruction they shared? Did they learn about family and sacrifice as he had? Or were they brainwashed as cannon fodder, as he once was? He knew they had no Jedi to lead them, but did they have compassionate Generals, as he once did?
His eyes adjusted to being in this new suit, now realizing the rest of the armor was restraining his muscles and limiting his movement. Once again, he was in a soldier’s place, but instead of the comfort of familiarity, there was restricted breathing and a squeezing of distress on his limbs, his neck, his ribcage, his skull-
He felt trapped.
He missed his brothers.
But he had a mission. And a soldier is a soldier is a soldier.
🧜🏻♀️ Hello! It's been a while guys, welcome to chapter nine! Please please please give a like and follow to my co-author and best friend Luna (@ladynightmare913) because this story would not be where it’s at without her help!
Just a small reminder that the next chapter will be posted on Luna’s blog!
The included lore for this tale has been written under the guise of Fantastic Nautical Creatures by Newt Scamander. As always it will be taken from the book “The Secret World of Mermaids” by Francine Rose while still having my own twist.
Here's the link to the previous chapter, and if you’ve missed any chapters here’s the link to the masterlist for this story. 🧜🏻♀️
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Chapter 9: The Escape
Remus was doing his best not to punch the pirate in the face, or at the very least refrain from tossing him into the open sea, which was a true testament to his restraint because the desire was overwhelming. Walking up to the deck, Sirius followed and Remus was praying to God for him to kindly shut up.
“I want to see him, who knows what you’ve done to him.”
“I already told you, he doesn’t wish to be anywhere near you, and I share his sentiment.” He looked at the pirate and for a moment, spotting pain in the other’s storm blue eyes.
But like a lightning strike, it was gone in a second. Sirius hardened his gaze once more.
“So you’ve been telling him lies then.” Sirius sneered.
Remus scoffed, “Contrary to the Captain’s reputation of being callous and merciless, he would never lay a hand on a child. He only took Regulus because he was treated worse than cattle.”
At that, Sirius had nothing further to say, what could he say when it was the truth?
An awkward silence followed the two like an anchor as the tawny-haired boy turned and continued walking on deck, the distant voice of a crewmember calling Remus for assistance. With a sigh, he turns to the ebony-haired boy.
“I have to go, but don’t do anything stupid.”
“What do you think I’m going to do? Sprout wings and fly away?” Sirius scoffed.
Remus rolls his eyes, giving a pointed look. “In this world? I wouldn’t put it past you.” He turns back around and walks off.
Sirius simply shook his head as the pompous tawny-haired boy walked off. He honestly couldn’t fathom why anyone would allow him on this ship. Then again, Sirius thought, it suited the infamous White Sea Serpent to have someone like him aboard his ship.
Pompous, the whole lot of them.
The crew were fine in his opinion, they minded their own business. Which probably explained why they were ignoring him as if he were the plague.
Deciding upon himself that he might as well look around, considering no one was really paying attention to him. He might even be lucky and find his brother. Motivated at the prospect of finding his lost brother, Sirius set out to search the entire ship. He went down to the kitchens, then to the cargo hold which, astonishingly, only had two barrels of wine and not a single barrel of rum.
There were many things Sirius could forgive, but not having rum was a crime he could never forgive. However, there was a ridiculous amount of white grain, labeled rice. And some strange red and green foul-smelling thing that made Sirius gag.
Next, Sirius decided to wander through the hallways of the cabins. Checking through the glass windows to peek inside, in the hopes of spotting his brother. At last, he reached a cabin door where a woman dressed in white sat in a rocking chair, holding two small boys, resting their heads close to her bosom, her eyes were closed and her lips were parted as she sang a soft lullaby that Sirius couldn’t hear through the door.
One of the boys was who Sirius had been searching for. Regulus was being rocked to sleep.
Regulus looked, in peace. His face had a healthy flush, his cheeks had rounded in only just a few days. His clothes were clean and he looked properly dressed. The woman in white, rocked gently, rubbing both of their backs.
Regulus shifted in his sleep, the woman gently lulled the child back into a deeper slumber, shifting to her arms to accommodate the changed positions so Regulus wouldn’t hurt his neck as he slept. The woman smiled as she continued her song, never once did she open her eyes.
Sirius couldn’t help but feel a pang of pain in his chest. Oh, how many times did he long for his mother to hold him as the woman in white did so for the boys, Sirius had lost count. Lost all hope of his mother ever giving them an ounce of affection.
And when Regulus was born, Sirius prayed that his mother would at least show affection to him. Instead, she treated them as nothing more than pests that she must learn to tolerate. Sirius tried to take to the brunt of their “discipline,” but there was only so much he could do as a young boy.
And as soon as Sirius was able, he escaped that hell hole. Leaving Regulus behind. He knew that what he did would only make things worse for Regulus, their mother would take it out on him, and Regulus wouldn’t have Sirius to take the brunt of it. Sirius cursed himself for being weak. Sirius had every intention of coming back for him, to give Regulus a better life. The tawny-haired boy’s words echo in his head.
“He only took Regulus because he was treated worse than cattle.”
Sirius wasn’t blind. Their mother never once loved them. Yet here was this woman, who was not Regulus’ mother, tenderly cradled him, sung him a soft lullaby, rocking him to sleep, as if he was her own, would make anyone think she loved Regulus.
And with how at peace Regulus looked, he might even love her as well. How cruel, for a mother to loathe her offspring, only for a stranger to show them affection and kindness. The boy was right, the captain of this ship didn’t kidnap Regulus, the captain saved him.
And just like before, Sirius came to a decision he thought was best. He will leave Regulus here. But this time, he was leaving Regulus in a place where he was clearly cared for and treated well. Regulus didn’t need him. With a heavy heart, Sirius turned away.
Back on deck, Sirius peered over the railing. He couldn’t swim back to shore, they were too far from land. But, he lamented. Spotting a lifeboat hanging by ropes. He could steal a boat.
Remus managed to finally resolve the problem the crewmate had been dealing with. Returning to the deck, his eyes scanned for the ebony-haired male. His eyes narrowing the longer he searched and still not finding the pirate.
“Captain!” A crewman called. Pointing towards the open sea, “The pirate is making a run for it!”
Of course, he would try to run. Only seemed to be about time. Rushing to the side of the ship, Remus glared at the jolly pirate, watching as his figure grew further from the ship.
He wasn’t even taking Regulus with him?! That good for nothing, pirate!
Captain Hua merely raised a brow, watching the pirate rowing away with an amused smirk. “How daring.”
“Been planning huh?” Opal chuckles as she stands against the base of a cargo net.
Quinn smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned forward on the railing. He looked at the greek woman. “Oh, this’ll be interesting to witness.”
“Shall we turn the ship?” The crewman asked.
“That won’t be necessary,” He looked to Remus, “Remus, please bring Brielle up on deck.”
Remus turned at Captain Hua’s request, nodding in confirmation. Briskly walking across the deck, he couldn't help but wonder why Sirius had decided to forgo his entire reason for ambushing the ship? Did he just not care about his brother anymore? Or had something happened for him to ultimately decide that perhaps Regulus was alright?
There was nothing he could decipher for himself, he muses, as he wouldn’t know the thoughts of the ebony-haired pirate. Or find answers for his theories. Sirius Black, the youngest pirate captain of their age. As infuriating and insufferable as he may be, there was more to him.
If what Brielle said was true, then perhaps there was more to Sirius Black than being a complete idiot.
This was the second time he considered the thought. But why? Standing at the base of the stairs below deck, brought him back to the matter at hand. He found himself at the door to Brielle’s room much sooner than he had anticipated.
“Brielle!”
Sirius couldn’t help but grin as he rowed farther away. He looked back to the ship, the captain, the first mate, and the tawny-haired boy were all watching him. He was over surprised that they weren’t turning the ship around.
Oh well, more time for him to get farther away.
He heard a loud splash behind him, they’re probably sending another lifeboat out to catch him, he assumes, chuckling to himself. There was no way they could catch him from this distance unless they used the ship.
The boat lurched. Rocking Sirius sharply, causing him to drop the oars. Sirius looked around the small boat, he didn’t see anything, did he hit something? The boat rocked again. Sirius looked back to the ship, and from what he could tell, more people had gathered to watch him. The crew seemed to be laughing. As if they knew something he didn’t.
The boat was rocked nearly capsized this time, Sirius gripped the sides of the tiny boat in panic. His eyes searched everywhere, was he closer to land than he expected? Did he hit a rockbed? A coral reef? Just what exactly did he hit?
Or, did something hit him?
There, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of white. But it was gone when he turned his head. His breath hitched as he saw a clawed hand grip the front of the boat, pulling it into the water. Sirius backed up, gripping the boat for dear life. Whatever it was, it was clearly strong.
The hand sunk into the water just as the front of the boat, ahead rose from the water. Sirius could hear his heart pounding.
“Oh hell, don’t tell me you’re part of that lot too!” Sirius found himself shouting.
The head had dark hair, pale skin, and two slitted eyes with finned ears, the head opened its cursed mouth, revealing a row of pearly white fangs. Sirius most certainly, did not scream.
The head then dared to smile like a mad man, then dove underwater. The boat shot upwards back towards the surface. Then it started to move, a rope pulling it along, as the thing pulled the rope.
The boat moved fast, then it started gaining speed. In just a few moments, Sirius was already within swimming distance of the ship. He started to panic that the thing pulling his small boat was going to make him crash. At the last possible second, the boat came to an abrupt halt, sending Sirius forward.
The crew on the ship laughed at the haggard sight of the pirate.
“So kind of you to join us again Mr. Black.” Captain Hua spoke. “Did you have a nice swim?”
At that, the head dived down, its scaly tail sending a splash right at him. He was soaked.
Sirius couldn’t be certain, but he swears that he saw a gleam in the captain’s eye. “Who are you?” Sirius couldn’t help but ask. He was no fool, that creature definitely belonged to the insane captain with the accursed sword.
“A man of many talents.” Was all the captain said.
The pirate was pulled back aboard the ship, the crew members took in the sight of the soaked pirate before returning to their posts. The first mate threw a blanket at the pirate to dry off. The tawny-haired boy had returned, a small smile on his face from when he tried to contain his laughter.
Remus looked to the pirate after a minute for composure, shaking his head in exasperation. It was rather a hilarious sight, and once again this was a new record towards Sirius’ idiocy.
Quinn completely found the scene amusing, his smirk still clearly evident upon his face.
The sound of dripping water caught Sirius's ear, turning, he saw the hideous head that dragged him back to this awful ship pulled aboard, The head then started to sprout bloody human-looking legs from its tail! The finny fish-like traits vanishing before his eyes, the captain wrapping a blanket around it.
Sirius’ eyes widened, it was the woman in white! The one who tended to Regulus!
“You!”
The woman, no, the monstrous head, looked to him. She made a mock gasp, her eyes widening. “You!” She responded. A wide grin on her face. Her teeth the same shade of pearly white.
“I take it you had your fun?” The captain eyed the head.
If it weren’t for the fact of what Sirius just went through, he would have called the woman handsome.
“I was only teasing.” The head answered the captain, who only shook his head in amusement.
Sirius decided right there. He did not like her. Nope. Not one bit.
The captain led the head back to wherever it was they were heading to. Sirius turned to Remus when he saw the tawny-haired boy approach.
“You let that thing near the children?”
“I see that you have been sneaking around. And the children are safest with her. Not to mention they love her. Everyone loves Brielle.”
“I don’t love her. In fact, I dare say I hate her.”
“Well, that’s a personal problem then, not mine. And why is that? Might I ask?” Remus tilts his head in mock curiosity. “Is it because she takes better care of your brother than you and she’s not even the same species?”
At that Sirius, only glared, he turned away.
“Remus.” The captain called from his post on the helm. “You have a slippery one on your hands, don’t you?”
“It would appear so captain. I can’t take my eyes off him for a moment.”
The captain nodded, then reached for his sword. Untying it from his belt, then tossed Remus the dark green sword.
Remus caught the hilt and sheath of the sword with careful hands, looking down to the golden snake that could quite simply kill him in one bite. Then he looks back to the captain with a questioning look, “Are you sure?”
“Perhaps it will give Mr. Black the incentive to behave himself.” Captain Hua gave Sirius a knowing glance before he looked back to Remus. “Besides, he missed you.”
With nothing further to add, the Captain turned away.
Sirius looked to the tawny-haired boy. “Who?”
Remus simply held out the sword towards Sirius, a smirk on his lips. Sirius instantly backed up when Remus brought the accursed sword closer to him. “Dúi hǎi.”
Sirius knew that sword, he remembered it quite well, and would kindly prefer to be as far away from it as possible thank you. He did not wish to be bitten again. But up close, Sirius reluctantly had to admire the sword.
It was a wide sword with a dark forest green sheath with gold accents that looked coral. The hilt of the sword had a metallic gold snake, with emerald gemstones for eyes. It blinked, Sirius backed away.
The tiny gold snake came to life, hissing softly as it moved towards the boys' hand. Sirius’ blood froze. Was it going to bite him?
The gold snake slithered up Remus’ hand, then coiled its cold metallic body around his wrist. It looked to Remus for a moment, flicking its tongue. Remus only smiled at the tiny deadly snake.
These people are insane, thought Sirius.
As if reading his thoughts, the gold snake turned to Sirius and hissed loudly. Sirius didn’t need to be told to stay away from that thing.
The snake looked smug. If that were somehow possible? Remus chuckled at Dúi hǎi’s antics. “I think he gets the message Dúi hǎi.”
Satisfied with terrifying the pirate, the snake hissed softly. Then winked at Sirius. These people were most certainly insane. The snake rested its head on the back of Remus’ hand and became inanimate once more. Its emerald eyes shimmering brightly with the rays of the sun.
Izuku hadn't expected the mysterious Shimuras to ask him to visit. Honestly, he hadn't even expected them to remember him. Ever since they'd moved out of intensive care, All Might had been visiting them every week. He never talked about those visits to anyone, as far as Izuku knew.
At least, not until he'd stopped Izuku on the way to lunch to tell him that "Tenko" wanted to see him.
"Keep in mind, young Midoriya," Toshinori said, "Young Shimura is...he er, bears an uncanny resemblance to a villain you have...history...with. And he is aware of that, so if you feel uncomfortable, or run into any traumatic triggers, don't hesitate to say so."
They found him playing with the PS Vita Izuku had leant him. As soon as Tenko moved, Izuku froze. All Might hadn't been exaggerating. Tenko's hair was loose, covering some of his face, and all Izuku could see at first was the scowl. He felt the ghosts of fingers around his throat.
Shigaraki?!
Beside him, Toshinori cleared his throat, and the young man in the bed jumped. He looked up at them, momentarily confused. Izuku could understand the feeling. Seeing an overall lack of scars and lines on Shig- Shimura's face left him disoriented, like he was looking at a doppelganger.
[[MORE]]
The first thing he said to Izuku, oddly, was, "How do you beat the giant Flan? It just party-wiped me again."
Then he lifted his bangs and got a good look at his second visitor. Tenko dropped the Vita and scrambled off the bed. He stopped a few feet from Izuku and just stared at him.
"Is he-? Is this-?"
Toshinori nodded. "Shimura Tenko, allow me to introduce my successor, Midoriya Izuku. Young Midoriya, this is...my predecessor's grandson."
Tenko gave them a bittersweet smile. "Oh wow, your hair really did stay that curly. Gram always thought the curls would go away when you got older."
Izuku blinked. Did this person know him somehow?
Tenko waved his hands quickly. "Ack! Sorry, wait, let me back up!"
He backed up physically a step, as if to emphasize his words. "Uh...let's see. Has Dr. Flashpoint's agency proposed Multi Theory yet?"
"The...thing about extra dimensions?" Izuku asked after a moment, "I thought that was a String Theory thing."
"Not...exactly..." Tenko said awkwardly. "Look, I'm really bad at science stuff, so you're going to have to be content with a terrible simile. It's like, uhhhhhh, it's like if you peel a stick of string cheese. It all starts from the same spot, but then one string goes left and one string goes right."
Toshinori shook his head and laughed under his breath. "String cheese," he muttered, "Egg in the microwave. Now there's two of them."
Izuku found that he was a little less put-off by the resemblance to Shigaraki now that he'd heard Tenko speak. Their voices were similar, but not similar enough to unsettle him too badly. He tried to work out what the older boy was trying to say, and it finally clicked that he was in the hospital with two Shimuras.
"Are you saying you come from one of those, er, strings?" he asked cautiously.
Tenko nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes, exactly!" He held he hands up parallel to each other. "Okayokayokay, so. Let's say you're the string on the left, where Gram died when All Might was my age give or take. So here's Gram and me on the right, where Gran Torino was the one who died."
The thought weighed sickeningly on Izuku's mind. He couldn't imagine the thought of losing Gran Torino now that he knew the man. He swallowed hard.
"That's terrible," he managed.
Tenko took another step back and collapsed to sit on the end of his bed. "Terrible doesn't begin to cover it," he said glumly. "Creep for One couldn't stand being foiled by Number Seven. He escalated outrageously. Anybody we knew, anybody we loved, anybody I even met at school. All gone. Things went from dystopian to apocalyptic by the time we escaped."
Now he was afraid to ask. But curiosity drove Izuku to reluctantly say it anyway. "How did, uh, how did you know me, there?"
The older boy shuddered and looked away. "We were neighbors. Your mom half raised me when Gram and All Might had to work. It's not going to do anyone any good to talk about what happened to everyone in our timeline, so don't ask."
He rubbed his fingers together oddly, as if remembering a texture. "I guess you could say my string snapped in half. So we kinda...jumped to your string."
Izuku wasn't sure he believed any of that, but he still asked, "How?"
Tenko shifted uncomfortably. "...uh...I...may have stolen a villain's super-collider and combined it with a warp gate."
Well, that explained why he'd launched out of Kurogiri, at least.
"Singularly horrible experience, by the way," Tenko added, "0/10 stars. Do not recommend."
Despite himself, Izuku cracked a smile.
Toshinori cleared his throat and placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "My boy, would you be comfortable with me leaving you to get to know young Tenko for a few minutes? If you'd rather I stay, we can just go visit Nana afterwards."
Privately, Izuku thought that All Might probably wanted to speak to his mentor alone. He hadn't seen her since high school, right? Izuku couldn't imagine being separated from All Might for thirty years and then unexpectedly reuniting. He could handle a little discomfort if it meant All Might got to spend some time with Nana, Izuku decided.
"I'll be fine, All Might," he promised.
"I won't try to sneak into the waiting rooms this time," Tenko promised.
"This time?"
"Look, the food here is so bland my tastebuds cry," Tenko huffed. "Can you blame me for trying to find a vending machine?"
He waved Izuku over. "So...have you beaten XIII 2?"
Izuku was confused until he saw Tenko pick up the PS Vita. "Oh! Yeah, just recently. You can save over my file if you need room, I don't mind."
Tenko tugged Izuku down to sit beside him. "Okay, what is the deal with the One Ton Tomato flan and why can't I kill it?"
He turned the screen back on and Izuku peered over his shoulder. Then Izuku laughed.
"Oh! You're not supposed to kill it here, there's a cutscene coming!"
"You say that, but the only cutscenes I've been getting are the "Game Over" ones."
When Toshinori returned five minutes later, pushing Nana in a wheelchair, they found the boys huddled over the Vita. Tenko was yelling at the screen, and Izuku appeared to be trying to help him pick dialogue choices.
For the MAB: Mermaid and/or Pirate!AU? Love your work 💖
HECK YES LET’S DO A MERMAID/PIRATE AU BECAUSE WHO DOESN’T LOVE A MIX OF BOTH? KNOW THAT I DO.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Magnus stared out across the rolling waves, at the storm that they were slowly approaching as they made for port. His eyes drifted down to the water, but there was no silvery flash that he'd gotten used to over the years.
"Captain!"
Magnus looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow, turning away from the water, even though he never wanted to look away. Not anymore.
"We're still twenty minutes out, but the storm is going to be upon us before we can get properly docked."
Magnus focused on Ilyas and offered him a small smile. "It's fine. We'll anchor off-shore and ride out the storm here. At the very least, the island will take the brunt of it."
Ilyas gave a firm nod. "I'll have them drop the anchor as soon as we're further towards land."
"Good," Magnus praised, giving him a nod before turning back out to the water. He narrowed his eyes, wondering if he'd imagined the silver flash he'd seen under the crest of one wave. But there was no head bobbing above the waves, no flash of pale skin and shining scales.
Magnus turned away from the water and went to go help the crew get the ship prepared to weather the storm.
~!~
They beat the storm to the island by the matter of an hour. Long enough that a group of them were able to go ashore who wanted to ride it out there. Magnus went with them, because he always did, and left Ilyas in charge. Nothing would happen to the ship while he was gone, and he'd be able to sit on the beach for the storm.
"You going out Stormwatcher?" A low, croaking voice asked.
Magnus smiled faintly and turned his attention to Rita, her eyes cloudy with age and nodded as he offered her the bag off his shoulder, and a heavy bag of coin. "As I usually do."
She shook her head. "None of us understand why you can't watch the storms safely from here."
Magnus winked at her. "It's not about watching the storms. It's about living them," he repeated, grabbing a mug of ale, downing it for courage before he headed for the door, watching as the sky grew darker and darker.
"Be safe, Magnus Stormwatcher!" Rita called. "For I sense danger in your future!"
"I'm always safe," Magnus promised, heading into the jungle. It started to rain not long after and he sucked in a slow breath, the air heavy with humidity and water. His steps were sure, and he made his way to the cove that only he knew of, and where he watched every storm roll in.
Stopping under his usual outcropping, Magnus settled down on the wet stone and kicked off his shoes, putting them to the side with the blankets, pillows, and other odds and ends he had stashed into a small crate over the years.
"I was worried you wouldn't make it, you know."
Magnus' breath caught and he turned, taking in the sight of pale skin riddled with black tattoos, messy black hair, and gleaming hazel eyes. He froze and swallowed, walking closer, before kneeling at the edge of the cave. "I was worried you wouldn't want to watch with me any longer."
A scoff and a flick of a large tail, showcasing shining silver and black scales. "Of course I want to watch."
Magnus smiled and settled down onto the edge of the outcropping, next to the merman who had pulled himself out of the water enough to sit on rocks that were still shallowly in the water. "We didn't part on the greatest of terms, Alexander. I wasn't sure you'd ever want to see me again."
Alec turned his attention to the sky, watching lightning streak across it. "Of course I wanted to see you again."
Magnus swallowed. He said it so certainly, so easily, like they hadn't... like there hadn't been an open question the last time that had been left, like a stone between them that they could never move. "I'm glad," Magnus managed, turning his chin to the sky. The hard, stinging rain hid the evidence of tears on his cheeks and he breathed through the wetness clinging to every part of him.
It was hard, but there was a question he had to ask. That Alexander deserved him to ask. "How is your mate, Lydia? She is well, I hope?"
Alec was silent, his face tilted towards the black sky. "You ask a question that pains you to know the answer to."
"I do," Magnus agreed, looking down from the sky to the waters below. He blew out a hard breath before he glanced over to Alec and found the merman staring at him. He turned his head away and looked back at the storm again. "It doesn't mean I don't want to know the answer."
Alec hummed and closed his eyes, savoring the feel of rain on his skin and scales. "You are still angry about that?"
Magnus shook his head. "No. I'm not angry any longer. I'm..." he searched for a word that wouldn't be too telling, but he supposed it was easy for Alec to know. He'd never made a secret of his own feelings. "I'm sad, I suppose. Resigned."
"Why?" Alec asked, tilting his head, opening his eyes to look at the human again. "You will surely find someone in your world. There are many who would have you, many you have had, you have said as much to me, many times."
Magnus wanted to laugh, and shook his head again. "It's not that simple, Alexander. The heart rarely is. It's all right. I'm glad you haven't disappeared. I'd worry about you too much if you did."
Alec frowned and narrowed his eyes at Magnus. "Why?"
This time a laugh did escape, but it was hoarse and dry and Magnus was doubly glad for the rain that hid the tears leaking from his eyes. "You already know the answer so that question. It's what we fought over the last time I was here."
Alec went quiet and he kicked his tail in the water, staring down at it. "I'm not mated to Lydia." He felt Magnus go still beside him before he continued. "Isabelle and Lydia were mated under the last full moon ceremony. I remain...unattached."
Magnus' breath caught and he couldn't help turning to look at Alexander again. "Why? You'd told me you needed to marry her for political and-"
"Because," Alexander said, impatient and irritated. "The human I care for decided to get reckless and I had to ensure that he was taken care of."
Magnus stared before his eyes fell shut, and he remembered, over and over again, every ship they'd boarded, that they'd captured, how it had seemed an invisible force was protecting him the last few months. Whether it was knives appearing in the backs of those about to hurt him, or boats capsizing much more quickly than they should, he'd hoped, even though he'd never seen...
"You care for me?" he asked, focusing on the part that he cared too much about.
"I've never been in love before," Alexander admitted. "When Isabelle and Lydia came to me to announce they were in love, it was easy to remove myself from the mating, and offer it to her in her stead." He stared out at the thrashing waters and reached out to rest his hand over Magnus', squeezing it slowly. "I felt relief. More relief than I have ever felt in my life. Because I would not need to give up this - keeping you safe and watching storms with you."
Magnus swallowed hard and dropped his head to stare at his lap, tears coming in earnest now. Alec's skin was cool against his palm and he wanted it pressed against his heart, his neck, pulling him in for a kiss, everything. "Alexander, that doesn't mean that some of the things you said to me aren't correct. They are, and you..." he trailed off and sighed. "You were right about a merman and a human being in love. It's impossible, no matter how much we might wish otherwise."
"Impossible," Alec said simply. "Just means that you need to try again."
Magnus laughed and couldn't help grinning at the merman and the smile that he could see lingering on those lips, and he wanted nothing more to taste them again. Not just the brief, fleeting kiss of before, but what Alexander's passion tasted like, and how he would lose himself in desperate kisses.
Alec shifted himself on the rock and pulled his tail the rest of the way out of the water, glad for the rain that was making this so easy to be able to do. "Magnus. You were very brave and I hurt you. For that, I am more sorry than I can begin to express."
“It’s all right,” Magnus said quietly, looking down at Alec’s tail, at the bright silver shine in the raindrops. He reached out and trailed his fingers along the designs there, his scales smooth to the touch. “You are forgiven. I can understand why, even if I don’t agree.”
“Good,” Alec said, nodding his head. He frowned and bit down on his lip. “I confess I am not certain of how this next part is supposed to go.”
Magnus lifted his eyes and met Alec’s again. “What do you mean? How what is supposed to go?”
Alec reached into the satchel by his side and pulled out a necklace. “If you were my intended, Magnus, you would wear this, and everyone would know who your future mate would be.”
Magnus gasped and stared at the necklace made of rubies and sapphires set in silver. He’d never seen anything so beautiful, and the craftsmanship was exquisite. He reached out to trail his fingers along the gems, and swallowed hard, even as he dropped his hand between them again. “Why are you showing me that?”
Alec frowned. “Isabelle said you’d understand? She mentioned that humans do something similar? Often with rings?” He held out his slightly webbed hands and then looked up to Magnus. “But we don’t wear rings, we have these necklaces.”
Magnus’ breath caught and he lifted his eyes to Alec. “You...why... are you giving this to me?”
“I wish for you to be my mate, if you are willing,” Alec said, his voice formal as he held the necklace out to Magnus. “I wish to be by your side to watch every storm, to protect you on the sea, and to visit you when I can when you are on the land.”
Magnus stared at Alec, his eyes wide as he touched the necklace again, tears gathering in his eyes. “You, you want me to be your mate?”
Alec nodded firmly. “I do.”
Magnus’ took a second, several long seconds, to breathe before he wrapped his fingers around the necklace and lifted his eyes to meet Alec’s eyes, smiling at him. “I accept,” he whispered, lifting his fingers away. He reached around his neck and carefully pulled off his favorite leather cord and removed two of his own rings, each with one large letter that stood for his initials.
Alec tilted his head, watching as Magnus undid the ties on the necklace and put the rings on them. “What are you doing?”
“Until I can find a necklace with jewels worthy of you,” Magnus breathed, offering the necklace to Alec with shaky fingers. “I offer you this, Alexander Lightwood, Prince of the Eastern Seas, in return. A cord that I braided myself, and rings bearing my initials to signify to all that I have accepted you.”
Alec’s eyes widened and he reached out to touch the necklace, placing the one he had offered Magnus on the human’s leg. “I would be honored to wear such a gift.” He dipped his head and let Magnus settle the necklace on him before he looked down at the rings, carefully toying with them before he looked up. “May I put yours on you?”
Magnus nodded and swallowed, grinning at Alec. “Of course, of course!” he leaned in and shivered as Alec’s fingers trailed down his neck as they settled the necklace on him. It was heavy, but it reminded him that he’d been claimed by the merman in front of him.
“It’s almost as beautiful as you are,” Alec said, patting the gems against Magnus’ chest. The rain was coming down harder now, silencing the world around them. He leaned in and pressed his face to Magnus’ neck, nuzzling into the warmth of his skin. “May I ask you for something?”
Magnus combed his fingers through the messy hair pressed against him and smiled. “You may ask me for anything in my power to give, Alexander, and it is yours.”
Alec pulled back and stared at Magnus, his eyes intent. “Your lips. I had the chance to taste them once and squandered it, but I dreamed of having another chance. Please, may I?”
“Yes,” Magnus managed, the word catching in his throat. “I’ve dreamed of kissing you again too, Alexander, please-” the rest of his plea was cut off when he abruptly had a lap full of a merman, kissing him, hard and passionate. It was nothing like their first kiss, it was all-consuming, and Magnus melted into it, allowing Alexander to press him back against the wet stone.
When they broke apart, panting softly against each other’s lips, Alec reached out and combed his fingers through Magnus’ hair. “My mate,” he whispered, his tone quiet and reverent. “How perfect you are.”
“I think you are the perfect one,” Magnus whispered. He pulled Alec in and kissed him again, melting into the gentle nips of his teeth and his eager hands tugging him insistently closer. By the time they broke apart, both of them needing air, Magnus remembered the surprise he had for Alec. “I have something else for you too.”
Alec raised an eyebrow and hummed, leaning down to kiss the necklace and the bronze skin beneath it, waving a hand to show he was listening.
Magnus gasped under the scrape of Alec’s teeth, unable to stop the roll of his hips that had him grinding against the firm pressure of Alec’s tail. “I won a bet with a sea witch,” he whispered. “She created a piece of jewelry that would allow me to become a merman, like you.”
Alec yanked himself back from Magnus and stared at him with wide eyes. “Have you tested it?”
“I have,” Magnus whispered. “My coloring is definitely, uh, bright, but I think you’ll like it?”
“Show me!” Alec demanded, staring at Magnus, his eyes still wide. “Can you breathe underwater?”
“Yes, just like you,” Magnus answered as he fumbled with the bag by his side before he pulled out the bracelet and showed it to Alec. He shifted so he could put his feet into the water and winked at Alexander before slipping it onto his wrist, latching it into place.
Alec watched as Magnus’ skin rippled and his legs began to shift and meld together. The bronze shade of his skin made way for resplendent golden scales and fins and spines tipped in jeweled colors of every possible shade. He reached out and gently traced the scales with his fingertips, only to find Magnus looking at him with eyes the same shade as the gold of his scales. “So beautiful,” he whispered.
Magnus held his hand out to Alec and kicked his tail into the water. “Swim with me? I’ve always wanted to watch the storm from beneath the water.”
Alec grabbed Magnus’ hand and slid into the water, kicking himself away from the wall and deep enough to escape the tide, tugging Magnus after him, to the base of the cove. He reached out and touched the necklace around Magnus’ neck before meeting the golden eyes of the merman across from him. “You’re incredible,” he whispered, stroking Magnus’ cheek. “My beautiful mate.”
Magnus pulled Alec in for another kiss, his gills working easily under the water as they kissed, their tails tangling together, sending that same roiling, gritty friction up his spine. It was so good his body quaked with it. Another crack of thunder split the sky and shook the sea, but Magnus was happily lost to the warm embrace of his mate. The skies could rage all they wanted, he would stay safe here, wrapped in Alec’s arms and tail.
“Mine,” Alec whispered, pulling back from the kiss for the briefest of seconds to press their foreheads together. “Magnus. You’re mine.”
“I am, darling,” Magnus agreed, “For as long as you will have me.”
Alec smiled and cupped his face. “Until the oceans and seas run dry, my mate.”
Magnus’ heart skipped a beat as he was pulled into another kiss and pressed back against a soft bed of seaweed, all of Alec’s body pressed against him. The storm that raged above them was nothing compared to their passion as they lost themselves in each other.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Filling remaining prompts for the Malec Anniversary Bash? HECK YES!
Rose x Ten and Rose x Tentoo; a continuation of a DW Inbox Buddies fic I wrote a hundred years ago, resurrected and completed in honor of Rose x Tentoo week. <3 <3 <3
*~*~*~*~*~
It’s Gallifreyan, that much is certain. He can’t quite make out the script—no time for parsing out the arches that denote gliding vowels, the circles portraying sibilant fricatives, not when she pulls her cuff over her wrist so quickly it gives him whiplash—but even in that glance, the shape is unmistakable, the meaning undeniable. The way she can’t meet his eyes as she buttons the traditional cuff around her forearm only confirms it. The name on her wrist is his.
(Rose can’t read it, of course, but it mirrors his own writing exactly, echoing the spidery script that peppers the TARDIS console in a flurry of sticky notes, reminding him to fine-tune the propulsion system or repair the exotic matter trap. Some notes posted around the TARDIS bear Rose’s mark as well, with little scribbled cat’s-ears or bunny-faces or sly jokes, and sometimes, she’ll even try duplicating his writing, trying to match the lines and whorls.)
No, she can’t read the script on her wrist; yes, she still knows what it means.
The cuff slips and Rose smacks her other hand down on it, holding it in place and punishing it for ever daring to move at all, and only then does the Doctor notice how very hard she’s trembling. (The Doctor, for his part, doesn’t tremble; not on the outside, anyway.) He frowns.
“You’re shaking,” he says. “Are you all right?”
She nods. “S’just a little cold here.”
(It’s 27.6 degrees Celsius, and sunny.)
“So,” says the Doctor, shoving his hands in his pockets to disguise their fidgeting, “Yue-Lao Twelve, home to the infamous Pearl Island mystery, renowned planet of the so-called soulmarks. What do you think?”
“I think I should have believed you,” Rose replies, shaking her head. “But it still seems like a bunch of magic mumbo-jumbo to me.”
“Awww, Rose Tyler. With everything we’ve seen, you still think this sort of thing isn’t possible? Don’t you know better by now?”
“You know what? You’re absolutely right,” Rose says, flipping her hair over one shoulder and meeting his gaze with a flat stare. “Shall we go on a leprechaun hunt next?”
“Certainly!” the Doctor beams. “I’ve always wanted to find one.”
Rolling her eyes, Rose laughs, swinging one hand into his. Fingers fit together like strands of a braid and they bound away, in pursuit of any facts they can glean about this fabled Pearl Island event. And after a few moments, thoughts of this soulmark business have almost completely vanished from his mind; the Doctor can almost believe that the adrenaline speeding up his heartsrate is spurred on only by this newest adventure, nothing more.
(He is in no great hurry to check his own wrist; he already knows what he’ll see there.)
***
A universe and a galaxy and a regeneration away, he panics.
“It’s like that one place we went to--you remember the one,” says Rose happily, looping an arm through the Doctor’s. As well as she can in the thin light of the moon, she inspects the underside of her wrist, which, much as it was several years ago, is now once again adorned with the Doctor’s disjointed chirography. “In the other universe. Something Island. Remember?”
“Erm,” he says, his mind racing to think of something he can say or do to play for time, and failing spectacularly.
“D’you remember?” Rose asks expectantly.
Yes is the correct answer, but the Doctor doesn’t say it, because he’s afraid of all the words that will come after (or more precisely, the words that won’t). So instead, he says, “Well” and “You see” and “Erm,” again.
Rose’s eyes narrow in suspicion. The Doctor’s hands twitch nervously with the need to hide behind his back.
“Oh my god,” says Rose, softly.
The Doctor gulps.
Her face breaks into a wide grin. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“Now, I wouldn’t say that,” he tries to protest, but Rose is too busy laughing. “You did!” she chuckles, lighting up the garden with her usual megawatt-bright smile as she teases the Doctor with a nudge of her elbow against his ribs. “You forgot all about it, you forgot all about that planet-of-the-soulmarks thing! Oh my god, for once I remembered something better than you!”
“You must be very proud,” the Doctor says wryly, and, still laughing, Rose nods. She tucks a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, sighing; for a half-second, the name on her wrist is on full display, and even amidst the panic clenching his throat, the Doctor feels warmth, at the sight of it.
“It was Pearl Island, by the way,” he says. “In the other universe.”
“Yes! That was it. Pearl Island. Planet of mystery. Did you ever check back in with the rebels?”
“Indeed I did,” the Doctor replies, privately grateful for the chance at a distraction, and he steps away from the TARDIS, pulling his arm out of Rose’s grasp. “Fascinating story, actually, I’d originally planned to visit a decade later, make a progress report of sorts, but a timestorm near the Horsehead Nebula threw the TARDIS completely off-course--you know what they say, a timestorm a day keeps the Doctor away--”
“Wait, wait,” Rose laughs, catching up. “Show me!”
The Doctor’s mind goes blank. “I--what?”
“Oh, come on. I showed you mine both times, you kept yours hidden back then. You gonna show me yours now, or what?”
“Show you my what?” asks the Doctor, as alarm bells start ringing somewhere at the back of his mind. He picks up his pace.
“Don’t be daft. Show me your wrist, show me the soulmark-thing!”
The Doctor hesitates (but doesn’t let up in speed). “Of course I would, but it’s just--It isn’t as if it actually--It’s--it’s like you said last time,” he stammers, fingers opening and closing nervously. “Just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, isn’t it? Not really anything all that significant, wouldn’t recommend taking it too seriously in the end, it’s certainly not anything worth making any life-altering decisions over--”
Rose piques an eyebrow, in amusement or concern, he can’t tell.
“--and as officers of science, it would hardly do for us to make any sort of to-do over something that barely registers on Phleighton’s Rules for Psychic Governance, would it? Can’t be higher than .0348 PD’s, maybe .0349 PD’s, tops. Fascinating set of Rules, those, did I ever tell you how Phleighton came to write them? Did she write them in this universe? Let’s go--”
Rolling her eyes, Rose grabs his hand before he has a chance to react, anchoring him to her.
“--find out,” the Doctor squeaks as he tries to step back and yank his hand away, but it’s too late--Rose has already pushed his jacket-cuff back, revealing the underside of his wrist to the world. He flinches, unable to look down at his arm, only capable of looking at Rose as his blood pressure plummets like an anvil. He wills her, silently, to understand.
It doesn’t mean anything, he wants to tell her (wants to shout), but something has slithered into his vocal chords and strangled them. It’s incredibly common for Time Lords. Even if it wasn’t, it’s insignificant. It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change how I feel. Please--
“You know how much I love you, right?” he blurts out.
Rose looks up at him and--and is that a smile?
“Of course I do,” she says. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Dumbfounded at this reaction, the Doctor looks down at his wrist, dreading, in cold sickening advance, what he knows he’ll find there. Except--
Except it’s not blank at all, this time. This time, his wrist has got Rose’s name on it.
Blinking, mouth open in surprise, the Doctor pulls his hand out of Rose’s, examining the mark on his arm. The name would almost be difficult to make out, if the Doctor wasn’t already familiar with Rose’s rushed and messy penmanship, but it’s there, clear as day. Rose Tyler.
“You look surprised,” Rose chuckles. “What, didn’t think my name would be there?”
It wasn’t always, he almost replies.
He shakes himself. “Oh, so that’s what it says,” he replies instead, forcing on a grin. “Glad you cleared it up for me, couldn’t tell, what with the sloppy handwriting--”
“Oi, as if yours is any better!” Rose retorts, holding up her wrist for proof, but he ignores her words in favor of stepping forward to frame her face in both hands and pull her up for a kiss. It isn’t even something he consciously plans on doing; it’s as if his body has a completely separate mind of its own, and that mind is so glad that Rose’s name is on his wrist, it just can’t bloody help itself. It’s got to seal the deal with a kiss, lips on lips and comingled breaths and chests pressed close and one hand tangling in her hair. It’s a physical imperative, a sheer necessity, an utter need. All of it. (All of her.)
(Not that the Doctor’s complaining. Or Rose, for that matter.)
When he pulls back to catch his breath (stupid human lungs, how dare they), it’s to see a very flushed and smiling Rose, and secretly, he’s quite pleased to see that even after all these months, he can still elicit such a reaction from her.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, softly. “Are you all right?”
The boy was back the next day with a wider variety of food, including more meat which he was given by Mr. Galant. Critter went immediately for some small, round orange things that smelled like dried fruit. They were, and they were good, but a little sticky for Critter’s dry mouth. The boy helped them wash it down with more water once they were finished. Critter chirped in thanks, the first voluntary sound he’d made in front of anyone here.
“Alright, a fruit lover. I’m Harvey. I guess you don’t really talk, but you seem pretty smart, so I bet you don’t like being called lizard, huh?”
Critter bobbed their head and chittered, a series of rapid beak clicks, while picking at some other plat that Harvey had brought them to try. Not very flavorful, but it wasn’t meat and they were starving.
“You look less sick today. I guess getting taken care of did you good. Not that I’m really surprised.” Harvey reached into the case that contained his medical supplies and set up to change Critter’s bandages again. “No one does if you catch infections and things early, they can’t get anywhere and you just have to stay on top of it until it really goes away.”
Critter made a “go on” cooing noise and shifted so Harvey could reach the injuries on their other side first.
“I’m gonna be a doctor, I’m good at memorizing plants and stuff and Doctor Gregor says I have steady hands.”
Critter thought back to the uncaring doctor that had stitched them up when they first got here. This kid was learning from that? That was the only doctor they could connect with themself, anyway. They rolled back over onto their finished side and let Harvey at their more major wounds.
“Doctor Gregor doesn’t smile a lot, mom said that means he’ll be good at the technical but not the emotional. She says stuff like that.”
Harvey uncovered their shoulder and dabbed at the injury with a damp cloth. The area was still sensitive and Critter hissed and flinched a little.
Harvey winced in sympathy. “Sorry. This doesn’t really feel great, does it? Anyway, then my mom said that I have to do the emotional bit too and I’m really good at that and that’s why I’d be good at doctoring, not because of steady hands.”
He recovered Critter’s shoulder and moved down to their tail. They were worried about their tail. The tear hadn’t split the bones, but they had experimented with its mobility and its full movement was very restricted. Critter also wasn’t sure it would be able to hold their full weight again for a while after it healed. It was also their only weapon with any reach. They shivered at the thought of the restriction it would be to their tree climbing if it couldn’t move correctly.
“What’s wrong?” Harvey paused his cleaning and looked up at Critter’s face. “If it hurts a lot I can use some numbing stuff on it. Doctor Gregor said to save it but he won’t actually notice.”
Critter shook their head, considering how to communicate this worry. They moved their tail, trying to show off how even before they were anywhere near breaking the stitches the tail’s movement just, stopped. They repeated it a few times. They were starting to feel sick to their stomach, a combination of food after a few days without it and anxiety. As Critter looked at their tail stiffly curling they became more and more convinced that it wouldn’t heal correctly. How could it? With two major injuries healing together with the infection on top of that, the chances were low.
Critter let their tail drop painfully back to the ground and hid their face in their arms.
“I really can’t understand you. I’m sure whatever it is will turn out fine though. Doctor Gregor was complaining about Mr. Galant having him use his special thread. It lets things heal almost perfect.” Harvey patted Critter’s flank and they peeked over their arms, looking at Harvey’s concerned face. They lifted their head back out and opened their beak a crack in their best imitation of a human smile. Harvey smiled back and finished changing their bandages. He then packed up and waved goodbye, Critter waved back. They were feeling jittery but still tired from what they suspected was a lingering fever. They paced around the tent restlessly for a while before lying back down, bored and tired.
