willow — rider x reader
chapter one: hello rainbow road
summary: after being separated from your girlfriend during a small minotaur army swarmed you two and her horse, you and horse need to find your way home.
a/n: i wanted to post this on wattpad but it feels like it belongs here more?? i think i’m the first mf to write for rider as well so 😭 enjoy???? ALSO. my updates for these series take forever ☹️
wc:
warnings: mentions of war, death, bleeding, guns, and other war stuff… ??
You couldn’t pinpoint exactly when you met Rider if anyone asked you, it felt as if you've been together since you were first brought into the world. But you never saw each other as siblings, since you had no idea of what family really is.
Perks of growing up during the middle of a war.
You were a master markswoman at only nineteen, self-taught, but the best anyone of anyone in the army. You simply watched how the other men did it as a curious and determined kid who hadn't even hit their double digits yet, snuck off with a gun, and taught yourself how to do it better.
That's how you first spoke to Rider, actually. You were practicing with your makeshift targets and she was walking with her horse called— ...well, Horse.
So… creative?
You definitely teased her about it.
She stayed with you and watched, chatting whenever you had to reload your weapon or take a drink of water. She was dorky and had the strangest rambles, but there was this near-instantaneous connection between you two, and you became absolutely enamored with each other, and Horse grew to see you as family too.
You grew up in war, and as such, you became a source of comfort for each other and a shoulder to cry on. Solo mission? The other would be right there with food and water once the other got back. Badly hurt from a mission? The other would be right at the others side with first aid and worried (but loving) scolding.
And if you ever had missions that you had to pair up with someone, it would always be Rider. And for her, it would always be you. As it would be for everything else in life.
You realized you had a terribly obvious crush on her when you were about just in the middle of your teens, and she realized when she was as well. It was painful to dance around her and to ignore your feelings until you both turned sixteen, but Horse definitely dealt with that.
She had trapped you too in the stable closet for hours, patiently waiting outside for some sign of confession. And lo and behold, she got it.
It was awkward seeing Rider, having been avoiding her, but after around an hour and a half of longing stares, lip bites, and awkward one-liners thrown out randomly, feelings were finally spilled.
The past three years with Rider have been amazing, and although you've had your ups and downs, you really love her. Your partner in (war) crime.
Which is where you are now, clutching onto Rider's waist as you and she galloped on Horse out of the abandoned but minotaur-ridden castle to get the Artifact.
The rain pouring onto you was unwanted and definitely not appreciated since your outfit didn't cover almost every inch of skin like Rider's. The girl in front of ripped the arrow off her armor, and took her cape off, handing it to you.
You smiled softly and swung it around your shoulders, and scooted forward, hips pressed together as you pressed your cheek to her warm back. You wished you could be half as warm as her, maybe it was time for a new uniform.
After a little while longer, she scooted away from you and hopped off Horse, and led her across a rope bridge as you gently braided Horse's hair. Once across, she unsheathed her sword and cut the bridge, and you all watched it fall.
She turned back to you and Horse gently patting her before turning to you. "You alright, sweetheart?" She asked gently, walking over and patting your thigh as she looked up at you.
You smiled dotingly at her, and gently placed your hand over hers. "Besides being a little cold and hungry? I'm okay." You reassured and she nodded, puckering her lips softly, signaling she wanted a kiss. You chuckled, and leaned down, pressing your lips to her slightly chapped ones for a moment before pulling away. "You did good back there."
Rider grinned, pulling herself back up, which made you scoot back. "You think?" She asked eagerly, and you nodded, wrapping your arms around her waist again and placing your chin on her shoulder as she guided Horse to keep going. "Thanks, babe. You did great too. I mean that one headshot you got on that minotaur? Crazy!"
You snicker together, and it's nice. It's very nice. You have everything you need right now - your friends together, your sweet, dumb girlfriend by your side making you happy, and it's a nice distraction from the war.
You came upon your village, unsuspecting, but your moods immediately dropped upon seeing it decimated and fire spreading all over it despite the aggressive downpour.
Your heart dropped, and you slid off Horse before Rider, feet carrying you down to it almost unconsciously, hopeful that there may be some—any survivors. But nothing.
Tears welled your eyes, and you furrowed your brows, mouth flattening as you fought back sobs. You looked down to see a small tiger stuffy, and you kneeled to get it. The mud-soaked it, and it wasn't very fluffy, but it was still a child's. And they're never going to get this back again.
This was just a part of war that you had never adjusted to, and you didn’t think anyone ever could. Having those you love ripped away from you in a heartbeat because of you misstep, one mistake — and then, you never get another day with them again.
You heard Horse whinny in distress, stood and turned back to watch Rider begin comforting her, singing their lullaby as they made their way down to you.
Rider has always been good at pulling others out of their own ruts, no matter how impulsive she acted while doing so. She was always able to put a smile on your face or help you feel a little braver when you felt scared or hurt.
Horse whinnied again, but as they approached you, who was standing completely still, tiger clutched to your chest in one hand and Rider's cape in the other.
She gently placed a hand on your shoulder, and you turned to see Horse and her looking worried. You slowly stepped towards Rider, placing your head o. her shoulder as silent tears began falling. She let go of Horse's reigns to hold you tightly, eyes squeezing shut as you cried into her neck.
Horse huffed and nudged you softly with her muzzle, and it got your attention enough for you to lift your head, pulling away from Rider as she kept her hands on your torso. You gently ran a hand up and down her snout, and Rider gently guided you back onto Horse, getting on herself and riding through the burning village.
You settled in an outpost for a few, letting Horse calm down as Rider gave her an apple and you sat down, rubbing your eyes gently as you kept the tiger close to you.
Horse settled, eating some grass off a patch on the ground as Rider made her way over to you, looking worried. You held up her cape to her, and she took it, reattaching it before sliding down a wooden post, sitting beside you.
"Hey," She said softly, and you seemed attentive, even if you didn't respond verbally. Your gaze was locked on the stuffed animal sitting in front of you, your mind flooded with guilt as you pulled your knees to your chest. "(Y/n)."
She doesn't usually use your name, so this caught your attention, (e/c) eyes flickering up to meet her deep blue gaze.
"There she is." Rider smiled, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. A tender and comforting gesture that has your face heating up and your heart warming. "You alright?"
A shake of your head tells her all she needs to know. You're an open book for her, after gently taking those walls down instead of trying to demolish them on sight, you've never been scared to wear your heart on your sleeve with Rider.
She moved closer, and placed a hand on your thigh. "We're gonna get through this. We always do. It’s you and me, right?" You nod, turning your head and resting your chin on your knee as your stared up at Rider. "We just need to get the Artifact to the General, and not die."
You started on your way again, but after a few short-lived moments of peace, you were running from more minotaurs.
Rider hopped back onto Horse after tapping the Artifact on her hip, making sure it's still there. You reached back, detaching your rifle from your waist, and grabbed it, unfolding it and turning around to shoot the minotaurs.
Panic began flooding into your veins, but you pushed it down. You and Rider have got this, there was nothing you couldn't handle, right?
Rider took a spear off a fallen minotaur as Horse galloped by it, twirling it over her head and throwing it back at the minotaurs. She pat your thigh — a physical anchor — not to make sure you're okay, just to make sure you're there. That you're real. You tap her forearms a few times before she holds a hand out, and you maneuver your way over her, and then in front of her, legs flopped over hers.
"Hello." You say, slightly winded.
"Hey." She smiles, and then she's making a clicking noise, propping herself up as she prepares herself to be launched by Horse.
You hated being on Horse while this happened.
You gripped the saddle tightly as Horse jumped a few times, before finally bucking Rider off and giving you a clear opportunity to shoot more minotaurs.
She landed back on and you kept riding, preparing to make the leap across the gap, but a minotaur threw his weapon, knocking Horse down and sending the two of you flying off of Horse.
The Artifact skid across the dirt near the edge. The moment your eyes landed on it you took off running, a minotaur right behind you along with Horse and Rider. Horse kicked the minotaur off the edge, attempting to stop upon seeing you holding the Artifact, but she didn’t have enough time. Horse knocked you off, and went down with you. You screamed before turning and grabbing the back of the saddle and Rider skid to her knees go grab the Artifact and stop you and Horse from falling.
You shrieked as you gripped the horse's saddle tightly, legs grabbing her middle as Rider held you two up with the Artifact between her hands and Horse's mouth. Horse’s hooves pushed on the ridges of the cliff shakily. You folded up your gun to the best of your ability with shaky hands, and looked up at Rider, who was on the verge of tears as she grunted, trying to pull you two up.
“Stay with me!” She exclaimed, voice strained.
Horse's hooves were trying to land of the dent in the cliff wall that might help her up, but nothing. And you knew if you moved any further Horse would slip completely. Minotaurs were coming, and Rider needed a shot of getting out of there alive, so you swallowed your heartbreak, grabbed your dagger, and gave Rider one last smile.
"I love you."
“No!”
And you cut the string, letting yourself cry as you gripped Horse and Rider cried out after you. There was so much you hadn't seen and done, that you wanted to do with Rider and Horse. Share a real, good dinner, not the full tasting ration bars that you were only allowed once a day, live together, maybe start a family. It didn't have to be kids, maybe another animal.
Watch a sunset after the war and finally know peace.
But just as you thought you'd never get that, you woke up on some soft grass. You groaned, at the sudden stop, but rolled onto your back. You blink your eyes open, and there’s a blurry figure hovering above you. “Rider?”
But as your eyes adjust, you’re shocked to see something with a large head and eyes, a long neck, and blue hair standing over you.
You screamed immediately, clumsily reverse somersaulting away from whatever it was.
"Stranger danger! Wammawink!" She called out, looking away, and you took this time to scramble off, sprinting as fast as you could.
The world around you was so bright and vibrant with colors, it almost made you want to throw up. Although, this might’ve been how your world looked before the war crash landed there. You suddenly remembered that Horse fell with you, and you gasped, looking around.
"Butt-door, that's a butt-door." You heard a voice ramble behind you, and you grabbed your rifle and pointed it at the voice. Horse lurched to a stop, eyes wide. "(Y/n)!"
"Horse!" You exclaimed, lowering your gun, but then as she was stepping closer, you raised it again because why the FUCK was she able to speak. "Why can you talk?!"
Horse seemed to fumble with her words before speaking again, and you narrowed your eyes, "I-I don't know! But we have to get out of here."
