Im going to open writing commissions! Theres examples of my work both here on tumblr and on ao3 @kincreates.
Price- 5$ for every 100 words
Will do- Fandoms im familiar with, original characters, non graphic rape, gore, nsfw, ect ect.
Wont do- fandoms im unfamiliar with, graphic rape/porn,
Fandoms- Homestuck, Supernatural, Gravity falls, RWBY, Achievement Hunter, Marvel, Undertale, Borderlands, Overwatch, Voltron, Dragon Age, The Arcana, Night in the woods, Boko no hero academia, Ouran highschool host club, fairy tale, Black butler.
Oh my darling dear, did you know? Did you know that there are mountains in your proud shoulders, that galaxies course through your veins? Did you know that the light weeps for the privilege of touching your face, of kissing your sweet skin?
Oh my darling dear there are glaciers in yours eyes, deep and immutable. Blue as pale as ice and primordial as any star. But did you know that you are limned with gold?
Oh my darling dear, there is wealth beneath your skin beyond measure. Iron in your bones and rubies in your veins. There are universes cradled in your skull and zephyrs born of your breath. Steel-cable strength twined through muscle and copper in your hair.
Oh my darling dear, do you know how carefully I’ve followed in your steps? How I’ve danced between the stars left behind, free to do as I please. Do you know that it’s all because of you? Because dangers burn up in the atmosphere of you, break against your shores.
Oh my darling dear, there are hurricanes beneath my skin and shelters in my soul.
And I only wished that you leaned on me the way I’ve leaned on you.
I hum softly dragging the little brush over my nails, leaving streaks of blue, and singing Troye Sivan under my breath. Being the only one in the dining room is a little odd for me, too used to the noise of everyone else being around.
The doors swish open and Keith staggers in, looking very much like he’d just woken up with his hair in disarray and his shirt on backwards. I smirk at him, “Hey mullet, shirts backwards.”
Keith squints at me before blinking down at his shirt and frowning. “Why?”
I laugh softly getting up and crossing the room to my boyfriend and cupping Keith’s cheeks gently. “Did you sleep at all last night honey?”
Keith blinks slowly at me, eyelashes fluttering, before stepping forward and burying his face in my neck, arms curling around my waist sleepily. I sigh and pull him closer to my chest, careful of my still wet nails as I rub gentle circles into his back. “Wanna sit with me while I paint my nails?”
Keith hums quietly in response pressing closer to me contently. “mmk, don’t paint my nails though.”
I grin into his hair, “Of course not love.”
Guiding him over to where I’d been sitting on the couch I push him gently, letting him fall back onto the couch and dropping a blanket over him. He mumbles incoherently and curls up, hands reaching for me. I sigh and sit on the floor in front of him, guiding his arms around my shoulders. “Okay?” He shifts to bury his face in the back of my neck nodding softly humming. I laugh softly and lift his hand to press kiss against his palm before going back to painting my nails.
Once all my nails are very blue. Blue as the ocean is deep, it makes my chest ache with longing. I miss my family, i miss the oceans back home, back on earth. I miss earth. Keith’s hand twitches on my chest and i cover his with my own, squeezing gently. I hum and eye the red nail polish that had come in the set. I knew keith had said not to paint his nails, but if i did he would match red!
Moving slowly I pick up the red nail polish and fold my leg up so I can rest keith’s hand on my calf. Shaking the bottle I uncap it and grin, still good. Slowly I begin dragging the brush over keith’s nails, leaving streaks of bright red. Keith stirs and i freeze, his face nuzzles further into my neck and he settles. I breathe a sigh of relief, not awake then.
Continuing to spread red polish over keith's nails I still when the door swishes open, Shiro pausing and quirking a brow at me. “Are… Are you painting Keith’s nails?”
I shush him quickly before whispering. “He’s asleep, and yes I am. He’s gonna match red.”
Shiro nods and slowly backs out of the room. Probably for the best Keith was probably not going to be happy when he woke up.
-----------------------------------------------
I woke up slowly, blinking up at the ceiling of the lounge. Why was I awake? Sitting up i rub at my eyes and look around, no Lance. That solved why I was awake at least. Reaching up I shuffle a hand through my hair before looking at my nails wondering why they felt so weird. And promptly froze, bright red polish coated my nails. Dysphoria claws its way up my throat, making it hard to breathe, hard to think past blinding red. My foster mother’s word echo through my mind, “You’re not a boy, boys don’t paint their nails, or wear makeup, and boys especially don’t have long hair.”
My pulse hammers in my throat and it feels like I can't breathe. Panic claws at my throat and I don't notice when the door swishes open. The couch in front of my dips with someone's weight and I scramble back until heavy hands grip my shoulders gently, “Keith? Keith hey it's okay what's wrong was it a nightmare?”
My head shakes harshly, “Why would he do this to me?”
Shiro frowns, “Who?”
“Lance. he- he painted my nails i'm not a fucking girl okay!”
Shiro’s frown deepens and he lifts a hand to run through my hair. “No one said you were a girl.”
I shake my head again rapidly, “Only girls paint their nails Shiro! I can’t have nail polish everyone's gonna think i'm lying about being a boy!”
Shiro grabs the nail polish remover from the table and douses a cotton ball. “Lance and Hunk paint their nails all the time they aren't girls.”
My teeth worry at my lower lip as Shiro drags the cotton ball over my nails. He’s right, Lance and Hunk did paint their nails all the time. I just, I couldn’t do it. I’d gotten over the hair thing but I couldn’t do my nails.
The room quiets after a bit as my breathing evens out. “Lance is gonna be upset.”
Shiro pauses and blinks up at me. “About your nails?” I nod and Shiro sighs. “I’m sure once you explain what happened he won’t mind at all. Actually he's probably going to feel horrible knowing him. He’s on a mission with Hunk right now though so you’ve got time to calm down and think things through. I know you aren’t out to him yet.”
I take a deep breath, feel my ribs expand beneath my binder and nod. “I’m gonna have to come out to him aren't I? Then he’s gonna hate me and wanna leave.”
Shiro pauses in his work removing the nail polish and frowns at me. “You really think Lance is going to react like that? Keith, that boy loves you more than anything in this universe as the next. I guarantee you he isn’t gonna mind.”
I sigh softly, “Yeah...yeah you’re right. I’m just, nervous. “
Shiro nods and finishes getting the nail polish off my nails before ruffling my hair gently. “It’s okay bro. He’s not gonna mind, he didn’t when the team found out about me, or Pidge did he?” I shake my head no and he smiles. “There, see he won’t mind.”
I take a deep breath and nod, “Thanks Shiro. I’m gonna go lay down for a bit; maybe sharpen my bayard.” Shiro nods and I leave to my room.
--------------------------------------
By the time Lance gets back from his mission my blades have been polished enough that they’re not entirely dissimilar to mirrors and sharp enough that if you so much as touch the edge it’ll cut you. My hair's a wreck from running my hands through it in my nervousness and there’s a fine tremble to my hands. I've been staring at the ceiling from my place sprawled across the floor for at least thirty minutes, mind swimming with self doubt and what if’s. What if Lance leaves? What if Lance decides this is too much and realizes I’m not actually that great? Realizes that there’s plenty of people out there better than me.
I force myself to pause, take a deep breath. Lance wouldn’t do any of that. Lance loved me and like Shiro said earlier, he hadn’t cared when him and Pidge came out, he wouldn’t care when I came out. I was still Keith, still part galra, still Lance’s boyfriend. It’d all be fine.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice the door whooshing open and Lance stepping in, looking equal parts scared and worried. Lance stills in the doorway and bites his lip watching me. My arms flailing about before tugging my hair harshly. “Keith?”
I jolt and flail, shooting upright and blinking at Lance. “L-lance!”
He bites his lip harshly and looks away, “S-sorry, I-” He pause and takes a deep breath, wringing his hands in front of him. “Uh, Shiro told me… about the nail polish and that you were really upset about it and I’m really sorry I just thought it’d be cool if you matched Red and I promise I’ll never do it again and please don’t leave me I’m so sorry I’m a horri-” In the time that he had been rambling I’d stood up, crossed the room to him, and was now kissing him. Soft, gentle movements coaxing him to relax.
“Can I talk now?” He nods swallowing thickly, tears glimmering in his blue eyes. “You didn’t know I’d react like that, and yes I did ask you not to but you were trying to be really sweet and get me closer to Red and I appreciate that even if it didn’t really work. I’m not breaking up with you, not ever.” I pause and lick my lips, anxiety curling in my gut once more. “But, there is something I need to tell you and I’m scared you might look at me differently from now on.”
Lance cups my cheek gently shaking his head, “Whatever it is you’re still Keith and I’m still gonna love you.”
I smile softly and lean into his palm for a minute before taking a deep breath. “I’m a trans man.”
Lance blinks at me, “Is that all that was bothering you?” At my nod he pulls me into his chest, I go willingly. He’s always so warm. “Oh love I will never think differently of you because of that okay?” I nod and I feel his lips press against the top of my head gently. “Wanna cuddle?”
I smile against his chest and nod, “Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
A koliro fic i wrote instead of working on nanowrimo. Well, breaks are good anyway right!! Fluff ahead cause like, Ace!Kolivan is my jam.
Stepping into the astrology room Kolivan frowns, Shiro’s back is far too tense. In such a way that cannot possibly be good for him; as though he was holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. Kolivan sighs and steps closer to him, lays a gentle hand on his shoulder. “What was that earthen story? The on about the man who help up the world.”
Shiro turns his head to blink at Kolivan. “You mean Atlas?” Kolivan nods silently, stepping closer to Shiro. “Did you want to hear the story again Kol?” Kolivan smiles softly. “No, was making sure you remembered before I spoke.” At Shiro’s adorably confused face he leans down to nuzzle him gently before continuing. “You needn’t try to become Atlas Shiro. You are you not him, and you have plenty of people around that care greatly for you. We are all in this together as Pidge would say. Do not try to bear everything on your own.”
Shiro blinks at him before smiling gently and some of the tension in his shoulders ease. “Thanks Kol.” Leaning up he presses a gentle kiss to Kolivan’s cheek. “You seem to generally know exactly what I need to hear, you sure galra aren’t mind readers?”
Kolivan laughs softly pulling Shiro into his embrace and nuzzling the top of his head. “I am positive. I am merely very good at Shiro reading.”
Shiro hums softly and tips his head back to kiss Kolivan gently. “I’m glad you are.”
Kolivan purrs softly, cupping Shiro’s cheek in favour of deepening the kiss. Shiro sighs softly pressing closer to Kolivan and wrapping his arms around his neck gently, fingers tangling in his soft fur. Breaking the kiss Kolivan sighs happily, bumping his nose against Shiro’s softly. “Come to bed love?”
Shiro grins and nuzzles his face into Kolivan’s neck. “Course.”
There's a knife in her hand. A bit dirty, scratches are etched into the steel, the handle held losely in her hands. There’s blood smeared across the black plastic, though none on the blade, which confuses her for a second.
Then she remembers her blood-soaked hands.
A small tremor goes through her body as she starts through the hallway. It's cold. The temperature as well as the lighting. Cool hues of emergency exit signs are the only light source illuminating the concrete walls and cellar doors as she passes them one by one.
The moment she opens the door leading to the stairway, a wave of heat and bright light buffet her and she has to squint her eyes close. A glimpse of the stairs leading up to the opened entrance door is all she can catch.
The rain patters against the roof in a harsh flood, only interspersed by the thunder that shakes the house. Inside a fire roars in the hearth, pillows and blankets strewn about in a misshapen nest. Soft grey eyes watch the flames crackle, seeking some form of comfort in them. His brow is drawn close, lips pressed in a thin line of worry. Small, boney hands clutch the afghan blanket flung over his lap; reds and purples with streaks of brilliant green crumpled beneath his hands. Fluffy brown ears are pressed flat against his skull, nearly disappearing into the mass of copper curls. An equally fluffy tail is resting half curled around his waist, the tip twitching with his anxiety. Upon closer inspection, I notice the tears gathering in his eyes, lower lip trembling with restraint.
Looking down at my void like form I become increasingly uncertain on how to help him. My worry for this… this human is intense. I'd never felt anything this strongly. Shifting the way I'm standing in the shadows of the corner garners his attention. His watery grey eyes looking around the room; the scent of his anxiety increasing further. "Who's there," his voice comes out sounding very small, breath hitching and trembling out of his frail form.
A soft sigh escapes the slit in my face that acts as my mouth. I suppose I can’t avoid this any further, though knowing my form will terrify him kills a part of me. Agony slicing into my core at the thought. I shift and step out of the shadows slowly, keeping my voice quiet as I speak a greeting. "Hello, I am Azrickiel."
He stills all at once, clearly taking in my form. All long, ghoulish limbs and dripping void. Teeth and eyes appearing and disappearing all at once. The claws upon my fingers dripping constantly with thick, black goop. Seemingly shaking himself from his daze he swallows and speaks again, voice a little firmer. "You'll get the carpet dirty."
The words take a moment to register and I slowly cock my head to the side, confusion evident. "You aren't afraid of me?" My teeth chitter in my throat and I step closer, slicking my goop closer to myself. "Why?"
His head tips back to blink up at me, bravely meeting the gaze of the bleeding eye on my forehead. "If you wanted to hurt me you would have done so already." Thunder crashes harshly outside and he flinches, whipping around to stare at the window.
I hum, a low distorted sound that rumbles from my center. "You are afraid of the thunder then?"
He looks back to me, tipping his head and putting that long, elegant throat on display once more. "Not exactly." Grey eyes shift back to the fire and he's quiet for a long while. "Why are you here?"
I chitter out a chuckle before speaking, "You continue to surprise me, little human." Gliding across the floor I settle myself into an armchair. The fabric is old and frayed from use, cushions having been used enough to be comfortable but not enough to wear out. "Why am I here you asked?" At his nod I continue, "I exist here because you." I pause and breath deep, searching for the proper wording. "You interest me. These people you share dwelling with, they treat you terribly." He looks away but doesn't try to correct me. "And yet, you remain here why? Why not go somewhere you won't be mistreated?"
He sucks his lip into his mouth shrugging quietly, "Nowhere to go." A deep breath rattles in his chest and I can hear his lungs wheeze long before he begins coughing. Deep, harsh coughs that wrack his figure.
Gliding over I settle a hand against his back rubbing in gentle circles; the same way I've seen other humans do when someone begins coughing like this. He leans into my touch as his coughing subsides rasping out a hoarse thank you. I nod frowning at him, many eyes blinking into existence. "Does that happen often?"
He shrugs nodding, "In case you haven't noticed I'm not the most taken care of kid."
My breath stutters to an abrupt halt and I blink at him, eyes wide as more of them snap into life. Kid, he had said kid. This was a child that was being treated so cruelly. My mind flickers to last week when the other people had locked him into a metal box that was kept at far too cold a temperature for a human to be in. Looking back at him I notice he's looked back to the fire, trembling a bit despite the numerous blankets he's under. If I peer close enough I can count the knobs of his spine, the curve of his ribs. My form begins to deteriorate into more goop and he jumps. "Azrickel! You'll stain the carpet my parents'll kill me," his voice is shrill and high pitched with panic.
Which really only further cements my decision. I study him closely for a moment before huffing out a laugh and speaking very lowly. "No they won't," my voice has seemingly dropped more than a few octaves, really more of a growl than anything else. He pauses in his panic and blinks at me confused.
"Yes they will, they get home in a few days and- and they'll lock me in the ice chest again and-" he cuts off as I draw him into my chest gentle enough that he can pull away should he wish. One large palm rubs over his spine and the other rests against the back of his head gently, holding him close.
"They won't ever harm you again, I promise you that."
He remains tense for a beat before relaxing against my chest sniffling. "W-what are you gonna do to them?" He sounds so small and fragile, scared almost.
I shake my head, "Nothing, unless you want me to. I merely offer you a new place of dwelling."
He sniffles and his grips on me tightens somehow. "I don't wanna be alone! I'm only ten I can't be alone!"
Shushing him quietly I begin rocking softly, settling back so I'm sitting with him in my lap. "You won't be, not if you don't want to be. I'll take care of you." Grey eyes blink up at me, hope shining brightly. His cheeks are red and splotchy with his tears; snot beginning to drip from his nose. I materialize a box of tissues and hold one up for him. "Blow." He leans forward to blow into the tissue and once he's finished I dispose of it quickly.
"You-" he pauses as another cough rattles his chest. "You'll really take care of me?"
I nod solemnly, "Of course, as long as you have need or want of me."
And, for the first time ever, his face splits into a wide grin as he lunges at me. Arms wrapping tight around my neck as he sobs into my shoulder. "Th-thank y-ou!"
I press a gentle kiss into his hair humming low, "Of course youngling. Of course."
Shlav. Heavy angst, major character death, Graphic depictions of wounds and violence, Shiro and Slav deserve better than my angsty gremlin hands.
Slav shudders and trembles, all eight hands shaking where they work. Two grip the holo pad he’d been video chatting shiro on, another two pull levers and twist dials in a vain attempt to regain control of the ships core system. The other four were shaking too terribly to be of any use.
Glancing back to the holo pad, all slav can see if shiro’s room. Camera at an odd angle and blood splattered across the one wall in his field of view. “I’ll be right back” Shiro had said. Slav swallows past the lump in his throat, tears blurring his vision as he struggles with the ships core. If he can just get it to work maybe he can save them. Save Shiro.
He forces himself to focus on the dials and readings in front of him, muttering to himself all the while. “Stupid Zarkon with his stupid head. How dare he try to take my shiro. Supposed to be a nice date night but not Zarkon and his tiny dick had to come parade around like an asshole and now Shiro might be-” A sob gets caught in his throat and his hands shake harder. “This wasn’t supposed to happen in this universe. This was supposed to be the good universe!”
A gear off to his right flys off the pipe it’s attached to and he knows there is nothing he can do to save them. Not the paladins, not the princess… not Shiro. They’re all going to die and he can’t stop it.
A quiet, shuffling sound comes through the holo pad speakers as Slav crumples to the ground sobbing. The control system burns behind him and he knows he should move. Knows he should get up and run because the entire system is about to blow. But his limbs feel so heavy with grief, trembling hands clinging to the holo pad; as though begging Shiro to come back.
“Slav… are you still there? Everything's pretty dark so I can’t really see babe.”
Slav gasps and chokes on a sob, yanking the holo pad in front of his face just to freeze. Every muscle in his body stills and it feels like someone has plunged him into a sea of ice. Shiro is, more than beat up. Someone has reopened the scar across his nose, blood drooling heavily down his face. His nose definitely looks broken and his eyes… His wonderfully kind grey eyes. Slav can see the claw marks around the gaping wounds where they once laid in Shiro’s skull.
“Slav? Sweetheart please… please answer me I need to hear you.”
A strangled sob breaks from Slav’s throat. “I-I apologise my love, I am here.”
Some of the tension in Shiro’s shoulders break and he offers a weak, trembling smile. “I’m sorry. I couldn't stop them. We weren't strong enough and-” shiro sobs and curls in on himself, hissing in pain as the sob must have pulled something in his side. “They’re all dead Slav I couldn't protect them.”
Slav jerks as part of the control panel explodes behind him, a chunk of shrapnel embedding itself in his side, cleanly removing two of his arms. It takes everything in him not to scream, not to alert Shiro to his pain. “It’s alright love, this isn’t your fault. You did your best.”
Shiro swallows and pulls the holo pad closer to himself, during the movement Slav can see all the blood caking Shiro’s form. He can’t tell what’s his and what’s not but he knows for sure that it's all fresh. Painfully so. “Did we make it,” he pauses and coughs harshly, blood spewing from his lips in a burst. Once he’s done he sits, propped against the edge of his bed. “Did we make it in a different universe Slav?”
He can barely think through the pain burning through his side. He doesn’t have much longer left before the entire ship goes. But, he has just long enough to reassure Shiro before they both die. “Yes, in 60% of other universes we make it. In fact, in some of those universes I was on the castle with you and not in some spatial wasteland.”
A small smile graces Shiro’s lips. “Good, that’s good. I love you Slav.”
Tears are streaming freely down Slav’s face by now, the pain in his side is nearly unbearable and his head feels fuzzy and light. He barely has the strength to keep his eyes open but he has to tell Shiro he loves him. He has to. A deep, shuddering breath wracks through his ribs, “I love you too Shiro, so much.”
There isn’t time after that for any words. The ship Slav has resided on for the past few months gives and bursts in a flare of heat and fire. The galra soldiers that had been trying to get Shiro’s door open finally get it just to find him dead, propped against the bed and holding the holo pad tightly to his chest.
TW- SUICIDE, SELF HARM, AND RAPE ARE ALL PARTS OF THIS STORY. PLEASE DON’T READ THIS IF IT’S GOING TO CAUSE YOU HARM.
The waves crashed against the rocks below violently; in sprays of white and dark, angry blue. Tears fell freely down my cheeks, green eyes clouded with my internal agony. Blood ran down my arm and dripped from my fingers to splatter on the rocks beneath my feet. The wind blew my hair into a tangled mess, whipping around my face. My lip trembled as the tears fell faster, vision blurring further. I blinked in a vain effort at clearing my eyes enough to see.
Why don't you just kill yourself? Your mother's dead because of you and I never wanted you.
My father's word rang in my ears, bounced around my skull and made their home in my core. Every word driving me closer to jumping; to throwing myself into the sea. I could find solace in the ocean, in the fish and the depths, in the lack of humans who didn't care about me.
Your father doesn't even want you, why would anyone else?
I dropped my gaze to my converse, the once white toes now splattered with crimson drops leaking into the galaxy fabric that made the rest of the shoe. I could see blood steadily staining my jeans, running down my thighs and coating them.
You're not asexual that’s not a thing.
A strangled whimper fell from my lips and I gasped harshly. The pain between my thighs was near unbearable. The burning of what I knew was torn flesh and his…
Well, if you're so stuck on this maybe I can fuck you normal. Get over here and if I have to ask more than once you'll regret it.
Bile rose in my throat and I choked, crumpling to the ground with a harsh thud when my bony knees smacked into the rock. I curled frail arms around myself trying to stop the sobs that shook me, made it feel like my throat was closing so all I could do was gasp and hope I didn't puke. I was ruined enough I didn't need bile to add to the mess.
How dare you tell me to stop? I'm your father I know what's best for you brat!
I whimpered and shuffled up to the edge of the cliff face, once more peering down at the violent depths of the ocean. The rocks below looked brutal, all jagged spikes and harsh juts. I swung my legs out over the edge, wincing when the movement made blinding agony shoot between my thighs. I leaned back on my hands struggling to breath through that pain, head tipped back. Rain fell across my now exposed face and washed away the tears, even when new ones came.
Quit struggling or the next one will be worse.
I blinked down at the waves, the rocks, the swirling depths of the ocean. It looked violent… It looked like a fitting end to my hell of a life. I pushed myself over the edge, the wind rushed by me and then it was cold. It felt like I'd jumped into a tub of ice water and I choked. Coughing in an instinctual struggle to breath. How had I missed the rocks, how dare I survive that fall. I can't even kill myself right no wonder no one wanted me. I couldn't do anything, couldn't do anything as simple as hitting some rocks and dying.
Through the swirling waves booming in my ears I could hear something. It almost sounded like singing but it was so distant. My lungs were seizing, muscles twitching as my body tried to save itself from drowning. The waves and the singing faded away, sounded too distant to focus on. All that was left to hear was my slowing heart beat, all I could feel was the cold water around me.
Everything felt stiff when I woke and it was so warm. I could smell something cooking and the singing was back. It sounded less distant than before, but still far off. My ears must have been waterlogged. Arms far too heavy to move and felt like they were wrapped in sticky cloth.
Why aren't I dead?
I groaned softly and shifted, hissing when pain shot through my broken and battered body. Someone gasped, it was too feminine to have been me.
Whoever spoke sounded like an angel. Voice so gentle and sweet, it reminded me of when my brother would sneak us out for ice cream or pour syrup in the snow for syrup pops. My face scrunched at the feeling of hair tickling my cheeks. I struggled to force my eyes open and blinked up at her.
She was beautiful. Features soft and painfully kind, eyes filled with worry and a harsh crease in her brow form frowning. Soft lips downturned and pouted but filled into a small smile when our eyes met.
"It's so good to see you're awake. I was worried I hadn't been quick enough to save you!"
A small smile forms across my face as her features settle into clarity. I try to speak but all that comes out is a broken sound and harsh coughing.
Her smile dissipates instantly as she disappears from my sight. I can hear her messing with something but the effort it would take to turn my head is too great. Everything aches and throbs in time with my heart beat. She reappears a moment later holding a small clay cup filled with something. Steam wafts from the top of it and it smells incredible. Setting it aside she reaches over to help me sit up, propping me against some moss covered rocks. Her hands are careful as she hands me the drink. Taking a sip I find it tastes a pleasant mix of salty and sweet. Like candy that someone had let sit in a cup of ocean water too long. I smile gratefully at her and she smiles sitting back to stoke the fire. Now that I'm sitting up I can take in the rest of her appearance while I finish my drink. It feels splendid on my throat.
Her skin’s pale, it almost looks blue in the fire light but that’s impossible. Humans don't have blue skin. I take the time to notice another feature of her face, she's got no nose. Where her nose would be is flat skin. Her ears are replaced by dangerous looking clawed fins. Looking further I notice the gills decorating the sides of her throat, ribs, and stomach. Her gills are a dark shade of green around the edges and a deep set pink inside, fluttering with her every breath. Fins flare out from the sides of her forearms and one runs down the length of her spine. Soft blue scales smatter her lower torso and hips, leading towards a beautiful blue/green tail. Fins flutter out from the sides of her hips and along the sides of her tail.
I don't notice I've stopped drinking until she frowns a bit, shifting where she sits in clear distress. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and apologize for staring so long. She forces a smile and nods at me. The overwhelming dread that I've seriously upset her sinks into the pit of my gut, leaves ice in my veins. I drop my gaze back to my drink and take a sip. It really is a wonderful drink, I couldn't help but wonder what was in it.
Trying to speak again I get a harsh, painful sounding rasp of nothing. I clear my throat and try again. "Thank you." My voice still sounds raspy but it isn't as bad. Hopefully she can gather my meaning.
She does, and offers me a gentle smile. "I'm glad you like the drink. My name is Crystal, might I ask yours?"
The pit of dread eases a bit, she doesn't appear too upset with me. "Daffodil, they were my mom’s favourite flower."
She gasps and clasps her hands in front of her, clearly delighted by the prospect of daffodils. "I love daffodils! They're so pretty!"
I smile and nod my agreement, taking another drink. Well, I try to take another drink but I only find an empty cup. I blink and look at the cup as though it had personally betrayed me.
She laughs softly, smiling and pulling herself over to me. "Here, I can get you some more. It's very good for your throat." And she takes the cup, sliding over to the fire and putting her back to me. I take the opportunity to admire her. She really is pretty. It's too bad as soon as I leave I'll never see her again; or anyone else for that matter. I tip my head back against the rock, trying to come up with some sort of plan. I could hang myself, but that leaves too much time for someone to find and stop me; and then dad would get involved. I didn't want to think about what he would do to me if he got a call that I was trying to kill myself. A shiver wracks my frame involuntarily and I flinch when a hand cups my arm gently.
I look over and Crystal’s offering me an apologetic smile and my cup, freshly filled with the same swirling blue drink from before. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
I smile and shake my head. "It's okay, thank you," I raise my cup towards her and she smiles again.
She moves to sit against the rocks opposite me and watches me for a while. I don't mind too much, something about her presence puts my mind at ease; puts my everything at ease really. I wish I could stay in this moment with her forever. That’s too unrealistic though, she clearly belongs in the ocean and I belong dead and that’s just how it was. The next time I blink at her she's frowning softly, studying me like I'm a puzzle she can't quite figure out. I tip my head a bit, confused. "Is everything alright?" My voice still has a low rasp to it, cracking as I speak.
Her lower lip disappears between dangerously sharp teeth as she thinks. A moment or two passes before she speaks, "Why were you trying to die?"
My breath catches in my throat, eyes growing wide. How could I possibly explain how dangerous my thoughts were to her? How could I tell her all that I was, all that dad said I was? She didn't deserve to hear about that, no one did. No one deserved to hear about such traumatic scenarios.
I swallow past the lump in my throat and duck my head, long hair falling across my face once more as I try to think of how best to answer her question. "uhm, I-" The words get caught in my throat and tears begin to obscure my vision.
She slides over and curls around me, gentle arms bringing me down to her chest as my body trembles. "It's okay, you don't owe me an explanation. If you ever do want to tell me then that’s okay and know that I will listen okay?"
I nod tucking my face against her shoulder sniffling. "thank you…"
I feel her nod against my head and her hand traces up and down my back. My tears subside after a while and I manage to mumble an apology for getting tears smeared across her shoulder. She just laughs and shakes her head "It's alright, I don't mind Daffodil."
A smile tugs at my lips and I shift to cuddle closer to her, hesitance written in every fiber of my being. Her tail shifts to grant me more room to cuddle up to her, draping loosely around my waist. A soft hum falls from my lips and I yawn quietly. "Crystal?" She hums quietly, sounding well on her way to sleep as well. "Would it be alright if I stayed with you? I don't have anything up there."
She nods again, mumbling quietly, "Yeah of course, sleep."
The next time I wake up the fire has long since burned out. The seaweed bandages on my arms feel dry and crumble when I move. Something heavy is laying across my waist and when I drop a hand to it I find slimy scales. They shift and writhe beneath my hand, like some sort of dance. My eyelids flutter, eyelashes dragging across the skin of her bare shoulder. A quiet, disgruntled mumble comes from her at my shifting. Chuckling softly I move to sit up, cradling her to my chest to keep her from smacking into the ground. She whimpers at my movement and I kiss her temple softly. "I know I know, I gotta stretch my legs out though."
She blinks awake to pout at me. "No, stay and cuddle… At least a bit longer, please?"
I blush lightly and duck my head, weak for her pouting. Heaving a sigh, I shift to lay across my back and pull her close. "Okay, just a bit longer."
She squeals happily and tucks herself against my chest, tail curling about my legs happily.
I laugh quietly and run a hand through her hair gently. She makes a little happy sound and presses closer, leaning her head into my hand.
It’s days later when Crystal sits at the edge, tail swirling in the ocean water, ready to go home. Ready to leave me alone once more. Her dark blue eyes are filled with sorrow and worry. Worry for me? No, couldn't be for me. I would never be worth her worry. Never worth anyone's worry.
"Daffodil?" I blink at her, meeting her gaze. She's still so beautiful. I'd give anything to stay with her. "You could come with me." I begin to question her, there's no way. I don't have gills or fins. How could I possibly live in the ocean with her? She smiles gently and offers me a tiny vial filled with swirling bioluminescent pink fluid. "If you drink this, you'll become like me. But, you'll never see your world again." She pressed her lips together nervously, "I understand if you do not wi-"
I've downed the contents of the vial before she can finish speaking. The liquid burns its way down my throat and it feels as though I can barely breathe. Everything suddenly feels too dry and too harsh and it’s horrible. A sob chokes its way out of my throat and my fingers claw at my throat. Crystal rushes forward and yanks me into the water with her.
It's cold, the water sealing over my head feels like ice but I can breathe. The burning of my throat calming as my new gills work furiously to filter air out of the water. The world feels softer, no longer as harsh as it'd been on land. For a while all I do is float in the pool Crystal's pulled me into, listening to her hum as she massages moisture into my new scales. My legs- no, my tail, feels odd. A new weight and movement that I'm not used to yet. I'll get used to it soon though.
Coming back to myself seems to take hours. Dual eyelids blinking in rapid succession as I struggled to think clearly. Crystal's face slips into my view and I manage a small smile. Forcing my arm to move so I can cup her cheek, blinking at the webbing between my fingers- no, claws. Those were definitely claws now. She smiles gently and leans closer to kiss me, she tastes like fish and salt. Her lips are unbearably smooth against my own chapped lips. She pulls away and my tail twitches. New muscles struggling to move it and she giggles quietly as she shows me how to properly move. Soon enough I'm swimming in easy circles. Movements still shaky but not as bad as they had been a few minutes prior.
She swims up next to me, pressing against me and curling her arms around my neck. "Come, let me take you home."
I smile softly and kiss her cheek, nodding easily. "Lead the way"
