An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bakura Ryou/Yami Bakura/Mutou Yuugi
Characters: Mutou Yuugi, Bakura Ryou, Yami Bakura, Kudaragi | Scud
Additional Tags: implied ending thruple, Kinda, Breakups, Comedy, written in 12 days, frenzy prompt, romcom levcel stupid plots, it all goesd down in like, twenty minutes
Summary:
Of mice and men oft go awry - but usually not this quickly.
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Yuugi's done dating Bakura, but can't fathom causing him any hurt, especially not with his supposed 'new leaf'. The most reasonable way around this, really, is for Bakura to like someone else...
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Done for a Forbidden Fanfic Frenzy prompt on tumblr.
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reposting for visibility, due to tag issues when I first posted the link.
the babies and their mamas!! going into dragonflight they’ve grown up a lot!!!
info dumping under the cut about them because i love them all so much (contains some headcannons about azeroth, and the various world states that my ocs have that go against canon)
SO first up we have Aellie and Hal’s daughter: Evie!
During the cataclysm, Aellie helps defend the Vermillion redoubt with Hal to keep the whelplings safe, and its definitely a moment in their relationship that starts turning the wheels of romance. Alexstrazsa gives Aellie a dormant egg as a thank you, a sign of trust and appreciation - Aellie’s kinda like “what the fuck but okay” and accepts what she assumes is just a piece of decoration.
The egg features kinda prominently in her life, a constant to come home to. She finds that it is always warm to touch and on the stormy nights at home she finds great comfort in cuddling to it when she’s cold. Hal doesn’t discover the egg until they are a couple, and explains that whilst they are technically dormant, the egg is a product of massive life and red flight magic and his mother would not have parted with it if it had been hers.
Aellie is always aware that the egg could hatch, but she’s assured that the egg wouldn’t hatch until the time is right. Time goes on. All is well. Then Hal vanishes, unknown location with no explanation. Then Anduin is stolen, and Aellie finds herself once again ruling in place of her brother whilst she relies on the other heroes to delve into the realm of the afterlife to save him. She curls up in her bed on one stormy night, the egg that she has always taken so much comfort in nestled tight and warm and safe and she sleeps.
When she wakes, there is a baby in her arms. She knows, instantly, what has happened. And all she can question is that this?? was some how the right time??? She calls for help - Mia, or Tess, and absolutely Rosie. They descend on her room with a calmness that helps her over the fact that she is now, suddenly, a mother to a little girl who is so obviously hers but also Hals (Hal who had abandoned her, who left her when she needed him, who has broken her heart-)
She ages quickly, which Aellie is mostly prepared for after having the misfortune of knowing Wrathion, and within a month little Evelyn has gone from a newborn to a toddler. She’s wickedly smart and dangerously charming, her quest for knowledge unending as she learns about the world. Aellie is mostly prepared for everything she can throw at her, except the first time she changes into a whelp. Cue going to the dragonisle to help her daughter grow, face the new fight, and maybe give Hal a piece of her mind.
THEN (and christ this is long) WE HAVE SYRAAS AND HER KIDS:
Recap: Syraas does not agree with Sylvanas’ plan for Teldrassil when she is finally informed about it. They had kept it from her until the very end, knowing that she might not agree with the plans. She reaches some contacts from her time in Trueshot Lodge (some people’s loyalties to their Huntsmaster goes beyond the hazy faction lines that spring back up) and she manages to get a warning out before the fires begin.
She takes command of the Sunreavers and then goes against convention and uses her own force to break any teleportation repellent runes around the world tree - something only possible because of her connection with Azeroth herself. This still takes some time, precious time, and when she finally breaks through and arrives in darnassus with her sunreavers, a lot of the tree and it’s people are already lost.
Her hunters have prepared the space for her, and the sentinels after initial hostilities allow her mages to start casting as big a portal as they could. She begins to help direct civilians through, after assuring them that they would be safe. The portal leads to Silvermoon - the only place she is certain of their safety. The refugees are welcomed by the city, lead by her children Hauldron and Cirilya.
The fire is burning hotter and faster than it should, and Syraas knows deeply that something is wrong with it. She is the Phoenix Queen and she knows fire but this is wrong - tainted. It is tearing its way into the city and the heat is intense. Many of the survivors are through - Syraas is not made of magic and cannot fight the fire with arrows and her companions. Hati is lightning made flesh and fur, which would only feed the flame. Beemo cannot reveal himself for what he is, and Toby is simply a bear (with a heart of gold and a mind far kinder than most, but a bear none the less).
The final group of civilians are surging towards her exhausted mages, focusing so hard on ripping open a gateway to the other side of the world and draining themselves in the process. Syraas is caught off guard when a familiar figure tumbles out of the burning buildings away from them and cries for aid.
Syraas and her pack leap forward, and she catches the toddler swaddled against the woman’s chest as her back burns. The two young children at her feet have been sheltered and are unharmed but scared. The elf is known to Syraas, a hunter that has served during the legion fall, named Lysola. The mother pushes her children to the blood elf instantly, half collapsing at the pain no doubt that is killing her.
She groans as Syraas attempts to pull her to safety, clutching the toddler close whilst Toby and Hati have a child each on their backs. Lysola digs her heels and clutches at Syraas’ arms, eyes wild with desperation.
“You will care for them, see them live and grow and loved.” Lysola growls, her throat torn with smoke and grief as she knows she is dying.
“I will see them cared for you have my word-“ the fire is encroaching and Syraas wants nothing more than the children to safety, and Beemo has half emerged ready to fly the toddler to safety himself. Lysola squeezes and snarls.
“No. I am entrusting you with my children, Huntsmaster. On this day they lose a mother and gain another.” She coughs dry, and the dry air steals any wetness on her cheeks. “They are yours now. By Elune they are only yours.”
The fire burns forth and Syraas recoils instinctively, twisting to keep the babe in her arms safe from its burning greed. Lysola is lost to the inferno, and it is only with Beemo’s careful wings that Syraas does not stumble moving to the portal. Her mages look to her and she scans the fires one last time, until the moment passes and she knows there is no one left to escape.
She passes through with the portal keepers close behind, and stumbles into the chaos in the square with three new lives tied intrinsically to hers.
Summary: A delay of five minutes can alter someone’s destiny entirely. Imagine what a delay of eighteen years might do.
The first eighteen years of Emma’s life is a black void. And after ten years of having no memories for those years, a boy shows up at her door, claiming he’s her son.
He takes her to Storybrooke and she finds herself staying, trying to deny the connection she feels not only to the boy, but also to the fisherman he hangs out with that smells like rum and has eyes that remind her of a home she can’t even remember.
Rating: T
Chapters:1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Read on AO3
A/N: This was one of my favorite chapters to write! But as we move forward with the plot, I'm going to end up saying that a lot more, lol
***
Out of instinct, Jones covered Henry, protecting him from the falling debris and the elevator plunging further into the mine.
The elevator finally stopped with a jerk and Jones felt the back of his head hitting metal.
He heard Henry calling out his name before everything went silent.
And when he opened his eyes, he was in a cell. But it wasn’t right because there were torches and his ankles were chained to the wall and it felt like a dungeon. He had to get out of there. He had to get out and warn her and he knew her parents would’ve already found a way to stop this, but he had to make sure she was okay.
He had to make sure she knew he didn’t abandon her.
“Jones! Jones, please, wake up!”
Jones groaned as he touched the back of his head where the pain was coming from. He pulled his hand back and his fingers were coated in blood. “Henry? You all right?”
They were still in the mines. Jones had to remind himself that they had never left actually. Whatever that was must have been a hallucination or he just really banged his head hard.
“Yeah, are you okay?”
Jones groaned again. “It's only a nasty bump.”
“I’m sorry,” Henry sniffled as he hugged Jones tightly. “I’m really, really sorry.”
“Shh, it’s all right. I’m fine. We’re going to make it out of here.”
“You were right. I shouldn’t have come down here. I just…I want everyone to wake up already. I want Emma and you to wake up.”
“Henry, I am awake.” As much as he wished he wasn't, wanting to be on his boat, sound asleep in his bunk.
Henry pulled back to look at him and shook his head sadly. “You think you are, but you’re not. And I…I want my dad.”
Jones closed his eyes as Henry buried his face in his chest, crying even more.
And for the first time, he didn’t know how to comfort Henry. He didn’t know how to make things better or what to say that might make him smile or laugh.
Because Jones wasn’t his father. Some other man had that honor and didn’t even know it.
The thought made Jones hug Henry even tighter.
Jones cleared his throat, doing his best to push away the haze that was beginning to creep in his mind. He thought of the homework he had helped Henry with at the beginning of this school year. His family tree. How he had written his name under father.
Of course that wasn't enough for Henry. He needed the biological connection.
Not whatever strange pull was between them.
Besides, what did Jones know about being a father? He was just an alcoholic fisherman. He could never be a good father.
Henry deserved much better.
There was movement from the top of elevator shaft. Jones covered Henry’s head, making sure no stray rock would hit him.
When it calmed, they both looked up and Jones could’ve sworn it looked a little brighter than earlier.
“What’s that?” Henry asked.
Jones smiled. “I think it’s a rescue.”
Henry got up and Jones tried standing as well. But the pounding in his head multiplied and it felt as if the world was spinning.
Ah, damn. This was a concussion, wasn’t it?
“Are you guys okay?”
It was Emma.
Jones let out a sigh of breathless relief at the sight of her. Then his vision went fuzzy and there were two of her for a moment.
“Yeah! We’re okay!” Henry called out. “Well, Jones hit his head, but he’s awake and he’s okay too!”
In her harness, Emma stood on top of the elevator and pulled off the grate. “Jones? You okay?”
“Aye, just turn down that flashlight of yours,” he said, squinting as he made another effort to get up.
He managed this time, fighting back a wave of nausea. He lifted Henry up and handed him off to Emma.
“I got you,” Emma breathed out, holding Henry close to her. “Okay. I got him.”
Jones smiled feeling even more relief wash over him. “You got him? He’s safe?”
Emma nodded, but then the elevator began shaking.
“Jones?” Emma’s eyes were wide.
He swallowed hard, quickly evaluating the situation before them.
The chances Emma could lift him out as well weren't good. She would have to get Henry out first and then...
The elevator shuddered again, and Henry let out a yelp, arms wrapping tighter around Emma.
“Take him, Emma," Jones said, clenching his fist and bracing himself for the next few seconds. "Get him to safety.”
Emma adjusted her grip on Henry and reached her hand out to him. “Not without you.”
He thought of how likely it would be that he could hang on the entire way up. That Emma’s own arm wouldn’t give out.
The elevator shifted and another blinding flash pounded in his mind.
And he was kneeling on the floor of a huge chessboard. Emma was standing in front of him, crying as she held out her hand.
"Not without you," she said.
“Don’t you dare not try,” Emma said, pulling him back to the present. Her eyes seemed to have filled with tears. In her arms, Henry's eyes were wide as he stared at Jones too.
Jones squinted, feeling as if the world was vibrating and moving and he swore he was about to throw up.
But still, he reached out and grabbed onto her forearm.
Not a moment later, the elevator plummeted again, and they heard the sound of crashing metal.
Jones didn’t think he would’ve survived that fall.
“Okay, pull us up!” Emma called into her radio.
She grunted as they started moving and Jones held her forearm, her own fingers going white with how tightly she was holding on to him.
And by some miracle, they made it up.
Jones watched as Henry was pulled from Emma into Regina’s arms. And he watched as she fought to hold him a moment longer, but then Graham was pulling her and checking to make sure she was okay.
Which she was. Emma was okay and Henry was being looked over as well.
And they were both okay.
He felt someone helping him up. Jones felt himself lying on his back and squinting up at the sun.
“Mr. Jones? Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
It was Dr. Hopper.
Jones opened his mouth in attempt to respond, but it fell shut along with his eyes.
He had passed out.
***
There were more kisses that Hook referred to as ‘practice sessions.’ Emma could care less what he called them. She enjoyed every single second of them. He would nibble her lip and she would reciprocate by biting his, and he would groan and whisper a curse. While he was placing lazy kisses on her neck, she would drag her fingers through his hair and press her tongue into the shell of his ear.
One evening in the cabin, he had pulled her onto his lap with their lips fused together. He wrapped strands of her hair around his fingers and his hook had found its way under her skirts, tracing a line up and down her thigh. She shuddered at the feel of the cool metal and her hips jerked
He pressed his face into her neck and groaned, bringing his hand to her hips to still her. "Only if you're ready, love," he whispered, pressing a kiss behind her ear.
And it was true. Every time she pulled back, no matter how much it felt as if she would combust without his touch, he would stop as well. His kisses would turn into light peppering until her body cooled and she relaxed against him.
She was frightened at the thought of going any further. She knew what was supposed to happen. Her mother explained things when Emma had her first bleed. She had said it might hurt if the man wasn't gentle enough.
Sometimes, she would watch Hook as she climbed some of the netting over the masts. He was a pirate, a man one would automatically assume wouldn't be gentle.
But all these months on the Jolly Roger showed her a gentle side that she doubted anyone else knew existed. From day one, when he gave up his cabin for her to sleep there, comfortably and without any of the men disturbing her.
Hook never pushed her, even when it was obvious he was ready and willing to go so much further. Instead, he would sit with her or lie together on the bed and they would simply talk.
She shared with him what it was like growing up as a prophesized savior, the product of true love. How it was incredibly convenient for her now that the public never saw her face.
In the quieter moments, she would whisper about her parents. How much she missed them, but how much she hated how they had hidden her away. Surely, there could've been some other solution.
Those were the moments that Hook held her closer and she swore she could see the anger radiating off of him.
Hook told her tales of his travels. Of Neverland and the demon that ruled that realm, the fairies he met, the time his ship was almost destroyed by a kraken and all the other pirates he had fought against.
When she asked who won those battles, he looked at her with mock offensive. "Well me, of course, love. I am the notorious Captain Hook after all."
She would giggle a little and his face lit up at the sound.
And she started to feel brave enough to ask him other questions. Like what was the real story behind his hook? Why did he have old books from the Royal Naval Academy?
He answered, even if they were vague answers.
“It was a man in a crocodile’s skin that did this me.”
“Those books belonged to my brother.”
No details and Emma didn’t push. Just as he never pushed her.
From the way his jaw clenched and he avoided her gaze, she knew it was hard enough for him to speak those answers.
The kisses weren’t the only thing she kept practicing though. She kept up with practicing her magic as best she could, even if she had no direction.
Hook would try and offer some assistance, telling her what he thought might help or if she considered trying it a different way.
Encouraging her and never judging her or looking at her with fear as she held a ball of white energy in her hands before it fizzled out.
She remembered when her magic first made itself known. She was seven and had just been sent to bed. But she wanted to stay up and read her book. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds and when she opened them, the oil lamp on her nightstand flickered to life.
A few hours later her mother came in the room, asking why she was still awake and how did she manage to light the oil lamp again.
“I did it with my mind!” Emma had proudly exclaimed.
And her mother did a poor job at hiding her shock and fear.
The next day, she stood with Pinocchio outside of the council room where her parents were speaking with Blue. Both of them had their ears pressed to the door, trying to listen in to the conversation.
Emma decided she had enough after hearing her father ask Blue if there was any way to get rid of the magic.
Not once did Emma get the impression from Hook that perhaps it would be best if she could rid herself of her magic.
In fact, at the next port they stopped at after they made it through the storm, Hook handed her a new book, refusing to say whether or not he purchased or stole it.
The book was about magic.
Emma read through it in three days and at the end of the week, she told Hook she had a new trick to show him.
Hook raised his brow suggestively, squeezing her thigh a little as she sat on his lap in the cabin. “That so?” he asked, brushing his nose against hers and using his hook to push her hair behind her shoulder.
Emma bit her lip as she raised her hand and twisted it slightly.
The soft sound of metal thudding against wood had Hook looking behind him to the port windowsill, then down to his brace.
Where his hook was missing.
He glared at her, pushing her off his lap as he got up to grab his hook. “That’s bad form, Swan. Tinkering with a man’s hook.”
And she had laughed at the way she had gotten a rise out of him.
He still didn’t look at all pleased by her antics as he clicked the hook back on and turned to her with the look of a predator.
Heat pooled in her stomach at the look, and she stood up, backing slowly towards the bed. But still, she smiled because underneath it, she could see a hint of amusement and even pride in his eyes.
Then he pounced on her, pining her to the bed as he held her wrists in his hook and dug his finger into her side.
She squealed as he found her ticklish spot and she squirmed against him, feeling his chest rumbling with laughter and his face pressing into her neck. He kissed her as he loosened his fingers.
Emma took in a deep breath as he pulled away, still hovering over her.
His eyes were dark as he stared at her with something Emma had never seen before.
It frightened and thrilled her all at once.
He rolled off of her and held her close in his arms.
That was the first time he stayed the whole night with her. And when Emma woke up, she couldn’t remember feeling so well-rested.
“Good morning, love,” Hook whispered, pressing a kiss just behind her ear.
Emma hummed turning in his arms to face him. “Good morning.” She leaned forward and gave him a lazy kiss that lingered.
Hook smiled against her lips, gently catching her bottom lip between his teeth for a second. “As much as I would love to pass the day with you here, I need to get up. We’re making port today, remember?”
“Right.” Emma kissed him again.
Hook didn’t let go of her, deepening the kiss.
“You have to get going,” she said with another kiss. “You’re a very busy man.”
Hook groaned against her and Emma felt something hard brush against her leg. Her eyes met his, the blue becoming dark again and…
She wanted him. Emma knew she was ready.
But he did have a point. There was work to be done.
She gave him a small peck before untangling herself from him and sitting up. “Come on, Captain. There’s work to be done.”
A little after midday, they finally made it into port. And Emma helped, being only minimally distracted by Hook.
In her mind, she began planning out the evening. They were only staying overnight again, spending time at the tavern so Hook could conduct his business and they would leave first thing in the morning.
But what if she could convince him to let out a room tonight instead of staying on the ship?
Whatever happened in the room…well, Emma would leave that up to fate, but she still blushed as she thought of what she wanted to happen.
Once they dropped the anchor at the port, Emma helped tie up rope, made sure the sails were properly furled while Hook took care of listing out what supplies needed restocking for Mr. Smee to take care of.
As they worked, Emma caught a glimpse of silver shining from the docks.
Her heart froze as she saw a group of royal guards flanking the one man she wasn’t ready to see.
Her father.
Emma was on the complete opposite end from the cabin. If she made a run for it, it would definitely catch the guards attention. But Mr. Smee was close by and Emma grabbed his red cap and put it on, trying to stuff as much hair as she could under it.
Smee began protesting, but Emma shot him a pleading look. And he must’ve seen the guards as well, because he shut his mouth and even took off his own coat and handed it to her and motioned for her to squeeze in between some crates.
She settled in just as she heard the sound of boots stomping onto the ship.
“Oi!” Killian yelled. “Who the bloody hell gave you permission to board my ship?!”
“I don’t need permission to board.”
Emma squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of her father’s voice and resisted the urge to poke her head out and look at him.
“Who’s the captain here? Me.”
“And who’s the king? I am.”
Killian barked out a laugh. “If you haven’t noticed, mate, this is a pirate ship. We are under no one’s rule.”
“Search the ship!” David called out to his guard.
There was the sound of swords drawing. “You have no rights here, king. Either walk off my ship or swim back to the docks. Your choice.”
“Every ship is being searched, whether or not the captain wants it.”
“Lose something precious to you?”
Another sword was drawn. “Do not antagonize me, pirate.”
“Do not threaten me on my ship.”
“Order your crew to stand down.”
“As soon as you and your guards leave.”
Emma held her breath, waiting to hear what came next. She knew her father, knew how long he could hold a stare until he got the response he wanted.
She also knew Hook and knew he could do the same exact thing.
“Do you know where she is? My daughter, Princess Emma. Where is she?”
It was her father that broke first. And she could hear a hint of desperation in his voice.
Emma squeezed her eyes shut. It was almost enough to make her come out. To tell him she was fine and that everything was okay.
But then he would take her back to the castle and never let her leave again.
That was the last thing Emma wanted to happen. She was still enjoying this new freedom she had.
“No,” Hook answered. “And even if I did know where she was, I would be there already, taking her and selling her off to the highest bidder.”
There was the sound of metal ringing against metal. Emma could taste the tension in the air, but dared not move from her hiding spot.
“If you want to find your daughter so badly, I suggest you go north.”
“North? Why would she-“
“I’ve heard rumors. She’s trying to buy passage to the realm of Arrendale. Now, get off my ship before I decide you have to pay for the disrespect you’ve shown.”
“If I find out you’ve lied…”
“You’ll what? Lock me away like you did your daughter?”
"I did it for her own safety, but I wouldn't you expect you to understand. What do you know about being a father? You're just a pirate. You could never be a good father. People like you have no one. You have no idea what it is to risk everything to protect the ones you love. I doubt you even know what love is."
Emma dug her nails into her palms. She wanted to jump out, yell at her father that that wasn’t fair, that he had no idea who Hook was. And Hook was right. That’s what her parents had done to her. They had locked her away.
And to be honest, the thought of Hook being a father...Emma had no doubt Hook would be a good father after seeing this whole new side to him. The side of him that cared.
Hook didn’t respond to David and Emma could hear them leaving the ship and walking away on the docks. Swords were sheathed and the work continued.
Emma didn’t move from her hiding spot, afraid that maybe her father or one of the guards was still there, watching from the docks.
“They’re gone.”
Emma looked up and saw Hook standing over her. He held out his hand to help her up. “I would keep the hat on though. Just in case.”
Emma pulled herself up with his help. “Thanks,” she mumbled, brushing herself off and not looking at him.
“If you don’t mind me suggesting-“
“I’m just going to spend the evening here,” Emma interrupted, walking past him and the rest of the crew to the cabin.
All thoughts of what she was planning this evening were thrown out, her mood soured after hearing everything her father said.
Part of her was embarrassed by what her father told Hook. And another part was hurt because…well, because she cared about Hook. Her father might not know it, but to hear him yell out these accusations against Hook without even knowing the man?
It was something else to add to the list of things she would one day have to forgive her parents for.
Emma flopped down on the bed, listening as the crew continued working above. She closed her eyes and let her fingers run over the charm she kept hidden under her blouse.
She remembered when her father gave it to her. It was for her fifth birthday. There was no ball in her honor, only a small dinner with her parents’ inner circle. He gave her the charm, telling her she would always be his beautiful duckling.
A tear leaked from her eye, and she squeezed them even harder to avoid more from escaping.
She missed them. She really did. Her mother’s laughs and their talks. Her father’s hugs and teasing scowl when her and her mother pretended to be talking about him.
But they had kept her locked away.
Instead of teaching her how to defend herself, how to rally the people to her aid, how to live, they kept her hidden away out of fear, in the name of protection.
Emma wasn’t sure she could forgive them for that.
After a while, the sounds above deck quieted. She could still hear the occasional footsteps from whoever was left behind to continue clean up and keep watch. And still her thoughts revolved around what her parents had done, the words her father had yelled, how Hook refused to give up any information
There were still a little more than ten years that she would have to keep running.
Could she handle it?
It was dark by the time she heard footsteps coming down the ladder followed by a knock on the door.
Emma wiped her face and sat up on the bed. “Come in,” she called out.
It was Hook. He held a bottle of rum and two cups in his hand. “Thought you might appreciate some drink this evening.” He sat at the table, uncorked the bottle with his teeth, and poured the rum into the cups.
Emma sat on the other chair, clinking her cup against his before downing the entire drink.
She had grown much more accustomed to the drink, but it burned more than usual this evening.
“Thank you,” she spoke up. “For not telling him where I was. I’m sure he had a trunk full of gold ready to give away.”
“It was two trunks, actually.”
She smiled humorlessly. She took a deep breath, keeping her eyes focused on the grain of the table. “What he said to you…”
Hook shook his head. “It’s what everyone believes and it’s what I want them to believe. Keeps my reputation as a pirate untarnished.”
“But it’s not true." Emma reached over and covered his hand with hers. "I've seen you. You have people that care about you."
"Who? My crew?" Hook scoffed a little with a forced smile. "It's only because I pay them well and they're terrified of me."
"I don't think Smee's scared of you. Well, not too much anyways. "
"The exception then."
She squeezed his hand lightly. "He's not the only one that cares about you."
Emma wondered if he understood her, could hear the words she was still afraid to say aloud.
He looked down at her hand, adjusting his a little to wrap his fingers around hers, his thumb stroking her knuckles.
It seemed like he did understand.
“Yes, well, let’s keep that information between the two of us," he said softly. "I still have my reputation to maintain."
Emma gave a small hum, squeezing his fingers one last time before pulling away. She took another sip of the rum and ran her finger over the rim of her cup.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes focusing on the bottle of rum and scratched the back of his ear. When he next spoke, it was as if he was reluctant to do so. “He’s still here, you know. Asking around for any information. There’s still time if you decide to change your mind.”
Emma shook her head as soon as he spoke the words. “No. I…you were right. He’s only going to lock me up again. I can’t go back. Not yet. Not until I turn twenty-eight.”
Hook poured more drink for both of them. “Well then, to your decade of freedom.” He clinked his cup against hers and they both downed the drink.
“Thank you, Hook.”
He scratched behind his ear again and Emma tilted her head slightly. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve said that was a nervous tic. “It’s Killian, actually.”
She blinked at him. “What?”
“Killian Jones, at your service.”
She smiled. As she looked at him, she thought that the name didn’t suit his pirate persona. No, it was much better suited to the man sitting in front of her, having a drink in a show of silent support of her decision to not go back home.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she teased, holding out her hand. “I’m Emma Swan.”
Killian took her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “My lady, the pleasure is all mine.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types, Pacific Rim (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: CC-1010 | Fox & CC-3636 | Wolffe, Plo Koon & CC-3636 | Wolffe
Characters: CC-1010 | Fox, CC-3636 | Wolffe, Plo Koon (mentioned), Sheev Palpatine | Darth Sidious (mentioned)
Additional Tags: Febuwhump 2022, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Headaches & Migraines, Past Abuse, Alternate Universe - Pacific Rim Fusion
Series: Part 10 of Febuwhump 2022
Summary:
day 11; chronic pain
It’s the morning of the Triumphant’s redeployment, and Wolffe’s seeing rainbows, jagged auras that tear at his brain with sharp teeth.
I have far too many WIPs that are all begging me for love and attention, but I wanted to share one I haven’t shared yet.
Modern AU. Polyamorous Shenanigans. Geralt/Yennefer and Jaskier...
BEHOLD:
“I’ve got my date with Istredd on Saturday. I’ll be gone for the weekend.”
Geralt only grunted. He was aware. It had been on their calendar for two weeks.
“You know… Jaskier has a show on Saturday. You could go out and catch it. Maybe spend some time together while I’m off for the weekend?”
He rolled his eyes. “His bedroom is down the hallway. We already spend time together. I don’t need to go stand in a sticky bar packed with people.” The inflection he put on the word ‘people’ definitely gave his poor opinions of the outside world. “I’ll be happy enough here and maybe we’ll watch a movie when he gets in.”
“Unless he finds someone to keep him company this weekend too.”
Geralt frowned at the pages before him and gave up trying to concentrate.
“What are you actually getting at, Yen?”
“That you’re the most monogamous poly person I know and that I wish you would finally make a move on that flappy idiot before I hit both of you over the head with the largest book I can find and go spend an entire week with Istredd.”
He sighed and closed his book. “Yen… He doesn’t care for me that way. Trust me on this. I’m content. I don’t need a partner right now anyways. Too much to do and too many deadlines to meet for my editor.”
Yennefer sighed and removed her hand from his hair. “Excuses excuses. At least I know you won’t be bored while I’m away.”
The ticking of a grandfather clock and soft snoring filled the silent room. A man with dark hair was sitting at his desk. His head laying across an open book; He's fast asleep. The quiet night was violently disturbed by a sharp crack of thunder. It starteled the sleeping man. Disoriented, he ran a hand through his hair before rubbing his eyes.
He lets out a deep sigh as he comes to his senses. Once again, he has stayed late at the institute and fell asleep while working. Pulling his watch out of his waistcoat pocket he noticed that it was three in the morning. A bright flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a loud rumbel of thunder. It was so powerful that it rattled the windows.
Concern for the children that stay at the institute came to mind. He desperately hoped his employees were doing a good job of comforting the boys and girls in their time of need. Just to make sure he decided to go up and check on them. As he did so there was another streak of lightning. When the room lit up with a blue like glow, he noticed a child standing in the doorway, but this wasn't an ordinary child.
He or she was wearing a white sheet with holes cut out for eyes. Dr. Kreizler smiled softly and pretended not to see the child. As he stood up he hoped for another flash of lightning, and he got his wish as he walked towards the doorway. He gasped in fake horror as well as staggering back slightly. His dramatic display got the reaction he was hoping for. The giggle of a little girl emited from the sheet ghost, causing him to smile.
"Wait a minute. You aren't a ghoulish ghost," He said as he aproached the child. "You're just a little girl." He said before pulling the sheet off of her. She covered her mouth as she giggled and he gently ruffled her hair before crouching down. Now that he was eye level the little girl removed her hands to reveal a small smile. "Did I really scare you?" She asked in a sweet voice.
"Absolutely! Didn't you see? I almost fell backwards in sheer terror." He said even though the smile still remained on his handsome face. "I didn't mean to scare you that much." She said before wrapping her little arms around his neck. Hugging him as if to say that she was sorry. He gently wrapped his good arm around the little girl's shoulders. The two of then stayed like that for a few moments before he broke the silence.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed." He said softly. They broke the hug before he stood up and walked the girl back to her dormitory. Once there she climbed into her bed and he gently tucked her in. "Good night Dr. Kreizler." She said through a little yawn. "Good night, Claire." He spoke softly before leaving the room and heading back downstairs. The doctor wasn't able to prevent the smile that was on his face as he sat down at his desk. Nor could he ignore the warmth that enveloped his insides.
