A/N: I'm back~!
Lost my co-writer for Fate but I'm resolved to continue.
As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" Rule for this story.
If folks don't like it...well, it won't be continued. So speak up! Make yourself heard! Your voice matters! That's no joke! I have very little time to write these days, so feedback plays a large part in this. Daily updates ensure that I'm constantly busy working on one project or another. I cannot afford to stop and write something that folks don't like; if only because I feel that would a cold disservice to those of who who have stuck with me for so long.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns! We'll stick with a few this time around:
Q: What's being updated next?
A: Strike a Match ought to be next, unless you'd rather see something else?
Q: Nice to see the ice queen thawing.
A: Naruto has a way of getting folks to open up. We all know this.
Q: Sooo, when do we get to see Morgan go full "MINE!" mode? C'mon, you know you wanna...
A: Sooner than you think.
Q: Is this gonna be a long story?
A: Naw, probably about nine chapters tops.
As ever I own no quotes, references, themes or memes.
Not a wit or one. I'm just a simple man making my way in this world.
Also, a high chance this is going to jump to a HARD M rating in the future. You've been warned.
"You intend to court me?
~Berserker.
A Most Unlikely Gift (Interlude)
He'd brought her flowers.
Not just any flowers, nay, not these.
For you see, Morgan's "husband" had picked roses for her.
Lovely red roses, the color of darkest blood, rich and fragrant. She knew well that the color meant; what it signified. Morgan didn't much know what to make of the deed itself; as a lady she felt she should enjoy such; yet in the same vein found she couldn't do anything but blink. Edge back in her throne now, as she beheld the bouquet thrust out before her.
...what is the meaning of this?"
"Ain't no meaning." Naruto hefted the flowers with a careworn smile. "Just thought you might like these."
...they smelled nice-nay! Focus! She marshalled her thoughts and pushed the sudden surge of whimsy away. Where had he even found such?! It beggared belief!
Their agreement was a simple one; he would be hers, and she would be his. Nothing more. Nothing less. And for the first few months it had been just that...until he started doing committing these silly acts. Morgan did not expect romantic overtures from him-indeed, for all her foresight, she had not anticipated such. That he even felt the need to perform trivial acts such as these at all confounded her to no end!
"You like 'em?"
Morgan found herself nodding into the flowers-wait?! When had she taken them from him! Treacherous fingers! She would remember this, the blackest of betrayals!
Her arms tightened around the flowers regardless.
...thou art a strange human."
"Really?" Naruto thumbed his chin. "I've seen stranger things. I'm pretty normal, really."
Morgan scoffed. Normal, he said! Anyone who could barge into her court and make himself at one was one to be wary of. Perhaps he was better at pretending than she thought. If he was being genuine in his attempts to woo her, she might have cause to worry...perhaps even fall in love someday, in the far flung future. Nonsense. She couldn't fall in love. It just wasn't possible...
Was it?
Her eyes flicked up to his. Their hands brushed. A spark shot down her palm.
Hand-holding. How terribly lewd. Whatever would her knights say? Heat rushed to Morgan's face as she uttered an undignified squeak. Foolishness. She'd thought herself of such foolish emotions long ago. Evidently not! They would have to be purged later. She would not allow herself to indulge in this. She could not. She must not.
"You alright there?"
Morgan shook her head fiercely. "You heard nothing."
"Funny," he grinned, "because it kinda sounded like you were muttering about me-
She bonked him with the bouquet, shouting now when he laughed. "NOTHING! Forget what thou hast heard! Forget!"
"Sorry," he flicked a petal away from his nose, "No can do."
The heat returned with a vengeance; this time it crept well into her cheeks, threading her way through her face even as she buried it in the bouquet. She was sure that if anyone were to see her right now, she would be a preposterous shade of pink. Had anyone remarked on it, she would've skewered them where they stood. Steam rose from her face. If her "husband" made a single remark to that effect, she would slay him. But he didn't. He just stared her down as he always did, patient as stone.
"You truly intend to court me, then?"
Naruto's brow shot up into his hair. "Thought we were already doing that."
Were they? Morgan would be the first to admit that was not knowledgeable on such matters.
But she was nothing if not a fast learner, and she refused to let this whiskered warrior have the last word.
"I see." Quickly, she changed tact and tilted her head, hiding her face behind her veil. "Very well. Try your best. I expect great things from you, my consort." a hand rose, lifting the black lace aside to expose her eyes. "I expect nothing less than complete faithfulness from thee...and a great many heirs."
He choked on his ow spit.
Just like that her mind was away, imagining things she shouldn't.
She imagined a gaggle of little girls at her feet; no, perhaps two girls and a boy...
"Earth to Morgan...?"
"Hmm?" she blinked her way back to reality.
Naruto quirked a brow, and she was pleased to see that his face had also gone red. "Wait just a minute. Didn't you call me your husband earlier?"
"Did I?" Morgan feigned indifference. "I do not recall. 'Tis all one and the same to me."
The blond braggard scoffed. "...you really are one a greedy girl."
"But of course." she replied in turn." I am your queen."
She knew she'd fallen into his trap when he smirked. His smile had a mischievous edge to it now, one she'd learned well to avoid. She'd not fallen victim to any of his pranks yet -by virtue of her foresight!-but she dreaded the day he turned that cunning intellect upon her.
Or his hands, a little voice cooed. Don't forget the hands.
Treachery! Her own mind betrayed her!
"Then my queen should smile more." an elbow nudged her side as he teased her. "You don't look half bad when you're happy. Oughta do it more often."
She skewered him with a stern stare. "You presume too much."
The incorrigible oaf didn't even flinch. Not once.
"Do I...?"
Morgan looked left. Right. Left again. The throne remained much as it always had. It was naught but the two of them. She'd thought she felt a flicker of something there for a moment, a faint presence lurking at the edge of her sense. She felt no such aura now. Perhaps it had been her imagination? Only then did she dare lower her guard and truly clutch the bouquet to her chest; only then did she allow herself to enjoy the gift. Her right hand flitted out, snagging his.
...husband."
A blond brow rose in silence.
"If you betray me, if you break our accord, I will tear out your heart."
Naruto's smile was almost sad now. "Wouldn't expect any less. I'd do the same in your shoes.
Oddly enough, those words brought her comfort. "...so long as you understand."
"Smile more," Naruto had said. How uncouth.
Still...there was no harm in it.
Perhaps she would.
A/N: There we go.
Feels good to be getting back into Fate again; now that I've let the story get ahead of me -and new Servants appear- I can finally finish what me and my old friend started so long ago.
As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" Rule for this story.
If folks don't like it...well, it won't be continued.
So speak up! Make yourself heard! Your voice matters! That's no joke! I have very little time to write these days, so feedback plays a large part in this. Daily updates ensure that I'm constantly busy working on one project or another. I cannot afford to stop and write something that folks don't like; if only because I feel that would a cold disservice to those of who who have stuck with me for so long.
I really don't have much time to write these days and feedback is the wind beneath my wings. Silence is a lead weight that just drags me down.
As ever, reviews/feedback keep me writing them. Without them, I lose all hope, creativity and imagination.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Seriously! Read these and you'll be spoiled!
(POTENTIAL PREVIEWS. Be sure and vote for what you want to see~!)
Morgan preened. "I shall name her Mordred."
Naruto bit his tongue. Mustn't laugh. Resist! Don't even snicker...
He failed spectacularly. A cold eye sought his. "...you're sleeping on the couch tonight."
"Oi! This is my Lostbelt."
"WAS your lostbelt. Mine now. You're just a clone Buh-bye Beryl~!"
The fairies died in droves.
"Huh. She was right. This is kinda therapeautic. Feels good killing these evil little bastards."
He raised his hand, another tailed beast
"Welcome, invaders. Sorry, its really nothing personal...but could you leave? If not...well. Lemme give you a taste of what'll happen if you don't."
Above them the heavens erupted.
This is my kingdom. My family. Harm one hair on their heads and I'll show you why they call me Pretender."
STAY TUNED! R&R! =D