#noxious weed

[avaruussade]

Yuri kisses fiercely, like there was no tomorrow, and it’s like standing in the eye of a storm. It’s full of devotion and raw honesty, and Otabek can’t stop smiling, yet in the end it’s Yuri who laughs into the space between their mouths. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” Otabek whispers and Yuri laughs again, half amused, half disbelief. “Then why didn’t you?” “I was scared of losing you,” Otabek says, and in the dark he barely sees Yuri rolling his eyes at him. He kisses him again, quickly and like a winner, and Yuri calls him an idiot.

[thebashfulbotanist]

We return with Wednesday’s Weed with the most (in my opinion) ubiquitous weed in the Seattle area: Himalayan blackberry, Rubus armeniacus. This species originated in the area around Armenia and Iran, but was introduced to the area in the late 1800s by Luther Burbank, an experimental farmer famous for developing, among other things, Shasta daisies and russet potatoes.

The berries are actually delicious, and wild birds, small mammals, bears, and even coyotes enjoy them. The problem is, the bushes do very well in this area, out-competing native plants and crops alike. They’re also very hard to remove, with huge rhizomatous root systems and wicked thorns, and they can sprout roots from their stems in many places.

Conservation groups in the area often form volunteer parties to remove Himalayan blackberry, and the giant knot-like rhizome is called “the heart of the dragon” to encourage people to really try hard to remove the plant! It really is an achievement. The one silver lining of Himalayan blackberry is that it is delicious. We collect the berries and make pie every year!

[avaruussade]

“This might sting a little.” “Go for it,” Otabek says, still unprepared for the taut bite of pain that starts at the back of his neck and spreads down to his right arm and leg. “Did it hurt?” Yuri asks, peering at him over Otabek’s shoulder. “A bit,” Otabek admits, and Yuri hums. “The insertion shouldn’t hurt,” he comforts him, and Otabek lets out a small laugh. “It doesn’t matter, as long as it works.” “Of course it works, it’s done by me,” Yuri says, placing Otabek’s old computer chip on the bed next to them. He reaches for another chip balanced on Otabek’s knee and starts to fit it into the port in the back of Otabek’s neck. “Of course.” Otabek smiles even though Yuri can’t see it.

[avaruussade]

“Beka!” Otabek’s heart skips a beat and he turns around so fast he feels dizzy for a second. He frantically looks around until his eyes land on Yuri standing on the other side of the room: his hair is in a dirty ponytail, he has a bleeding wound on his cheek and down his arm, but other than that he doesn’t look injured. He weaves his way through the crowd, places his hands on each side of Otabek’s face and without saying anything, kisses him on the mouth. It’s warm and safe, it’s like home, and Otabek’s hands find their way to the side of Yuri’s neck where he can feel his pulse. It’s thundering under his touch, and Otabek doesn’t realize Yuri is crying until the kiss starts to taste salty. For the first time in days Otabek smiles, feeling true joy in his chest, and places a soft kiss on Yuri’s forehead.

The first chapter of Noxious Weed will be up this Saturday, the 1st of June, on my AO3!

[avaruussade]

It’s still windy and quite chilly, but the breeze makes Otabek feel free. He’s used to the feeling of being stuck, first behind Syntax’s walls and now behind the amusement park rides, and he knows he’s lucky he can now leave the rebels’ hide whenever he pleases. Yuri, on the other hand, is a different story, and he’s smiling widely with his eyes closed when Otabek takes a look at him: his hair is dancing in the wind and he’s slowly swinging his legs in the air to the tempo of the song played beneath them on the street. Otabek can’t see stars because of the city’s heavy neon lighting, but the crescent moon shines down on them, showing the faint blush on Yuri’s cheeks and how brightly his eyes are shining when he opens them and looks at Otabek. “It’s really nice here.” “We’re not properly in the city yet.” “That doesn’t matter,” Yuri says, looking up towards the sky and smiling at the moon. “I can breathe freely here.”

[avaruussade]

When Otabek, a soldier for a corrupted government, flees from certain death and finds shelter at his former enemies’ base, it’s not just his view of the world that gets shifted, but also his beliefs and, most importantly, his heart. A story about a fighter, a mechanic, and trust. [completed, updates every Saturday]

otayuri | E-rated | Dystopian AU | cyborgs | cyberpunk | mutual pining | trans male character | heavy violence | eventual smut

chapter 2/11

NOXIOUS WEED

from the beginning

[avaruussade]

When Otabek, a soldier for a corrupted government, flees from certain death and finds shelter at his former enemies’ base, it’s not just his view of the world that gets shifted, but also his beliefs and, most importantly, his heart. A story about a fighter, a mechanic, and trust. [completed, updates every Saturday]

otayuri | E-rated | Dystopian AU | cyborgs | cyberpunk | mutual pining | trans male character | heavy violence | eventual smut

NOXIOUS WEED, chapter 6/11

from the beginning

[avaruussade]

When Otabek, a soldier for a corrupted government, flees from certain death and finds shelter at his former enemies’ base, it’s not just his view of the world that gets shifted, but also his beliefs and, most importantly, his heart. A story about a fighter, a mechanic, and trust. [completed, updates every Saturday]

otayuri | E-rated | Dystopian AU | cyborgs | cyberpunk | mutual pining | trans male character | heavy violence | eventual smut

chapter 1/11

NOXIOUS WEED