A/N: WARNING! This chapter deals with some pretty heavy themes. Ye be warned. Still here? Great?
Hello~!
I have neeeeeews~!
I've finally finished setting up an Ao3 account.
So in the unlikely event of this site ever breaking due to glitches , you'll be able to find me over there, now. Already posted all the current chapters for Shed No Grace On Me over there, and the rest will be soon to come. Bit of a shame though, Slifer and I really don't get a lot of feedback over there...
Alas, it seems I need to ease back on the Elden Ring updates for a bit; if only because folks are complaining.
I've already updated Genshin, Arcane, Fate, and RWBY this month, to say nothing of Dark Souls and Overlord, but nooooo, apparently some think Elden Ring is all I'll update.
So...here. I don't enjoy being rushed, and this was going to be posted next weekend, even if its not quite ready yet.
Now then, we're still following the Ember's Rule here. Sadly, that's no joke. Really, it isn't. If folks don't like this...well, it won't be continued. Every bit of feedback helps. YOU determine what stays and goes. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, two jobs, and a load of paperwork. I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
No questions this time, only story. Alright, this old man has kept you waiting long enough, I think.
As ever, I own no references quotes, themes or memes.
So in lieu of a long authors note...here...we...go!
"I've no more f***s to give!"
"What a coincidence! Neither do I~!"
"Best way to solve a problem is with an explosion, right?"
~?
Live and Learn
"A living scarecrow? You're certain?"
Jinx clasped her hands together, silently willing Silco to understand. "You have to believe us!"
"And I do." The old man slumped behind his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose, good eye closing in a sigh. "Its hardly the strangest thing I've heard of; frankly, its too fantastic to be anything but true."
"At least you didn't have to fight it." Naruto settled into his own seat, looking mildly put out. "Damn thing made me go berserk."
Silco favored him with a wry smile. "Yet here you are."
Here they were indeed.
Sevika had ferried them back to the Last Drop, but in truth, Jinx she still felt far from safe. Surely they were back in safe territory while Piltover pondered over the mess in Stillwater, but it didn't change what she'd seen down there in the depths. That...thing had known her. All her fears. Her every darkest moment. Worse, she didn't know jack shit about whatever IT was. Scarecrows didn't act like that, didn't move like that, and they certainly didn't cut through people like a blender. She'd never forget its eyes, those awful red eyes peering through her very soul.
"JINX! All your fault! All your fault!"
She stiffed a shiver. It knew. Somehow, it knew her past. All of it.
Fiddlesticks. She'd remember that name. Even if she wished she couldn't.
"Hey." Naruto nudged her, pushing her out the dark mire of her thoughts. "You alright?"
Jinx scooted her chair closer and laid her head on his shoulder. As she did, she spied the dark stain upon the floor. It was big. Too big. A distraction was what it was and she pounced on it, eager to think of something else, ANYTHING else save the awful monster haunting her head.
She felt Naruto's hand stroke the small of her back and a bit of her tension slipped away. Right. He'd fought that thing. He wouldn't let it hurt her. Not like the others. Her fingers threaded with his, squeezing tight. She luxuriated in the feeling and twined a leg within his, all but leaping out her chair to nestle down in his lap.
A blond brow rose, but he didn't challenge her. An arm loomed round her waist and she felt a pleasant thrill shoot through her.
Not a bad distraction, this. Maybe if she ignored that awful demon long enough, she'd forget about it.
Might not work, but it was a damn sight better than dwelling on that thing.
"Sooo...what happened while we were away?" she feigned a grin as she flicked a finger toward the mess. "You spill wine or something?"
Sevika snorted behind them. "Or something."
Sico turned an eye to the dried stain upon the floor. "Our dear sheriff thought he could slip his leash."
Naruto tilted his head. "Not Finn?"
Silco frowned. "Why would you suspect Finn?"
Her bestie rolled one shoulder in shrugged. "Seems the slimy sort."
Jinx wracked her brain, tried to conjure a face to the name, and failed. Finn...that was the weirdo with the false jaw, right? She'd never liked him.
"Hmm." their foster father didn't challenge that. "Regardless, in the end, Marcus got the point."
...Sevika stabbed him, didn't she? Wait, wait. Did you just make a joke...?"
Sevika sighed and crossed one leg over another. "You're terrible."
"I dunno," Naruto grinned, "I kinda liked that pun."
"You would!"
Laughter bubbled up in the room and Jinx hid a smile behind her hand; just like that she felt the last of the tension bleed away. Things were alright. Sure, everyone was a little stressed after today's madness, but things would get better. What was the old saying? It could only go up from here? Yeah, that was it!
"Be that as it may," Silco took a long drink, then barreled on. "Our timetable has moved up once more. With poor Marcus out the picture, we have a brief window of opportunity. I suspect the next "sheriff" won't be nearly so amenable to our cause...nor so pliable. Come tomorrow, I'll need the two of you to pay the Chem barons a visit. Tell them its time to ramp up production-
Naruto clicked his tongue. "They won't like that."
"Its not a matter of whether they'll like it or not. It needs to be done."
The talk dissolved into boring things from their, and Jinx felt herself grow restless. An old worry nagged at her, like a dog with an old bone. She shouldn't say it. She knew she shouldn't. Things were just starting to calm down. If she piped up now she'd just cause more chaos...
.
..
...she just couldn't help herself. "What about Vi?"
All fell silent.
Sevika blew out a breathy sigh. "This again...?"
Silco ground his cigar down into the the ashtray she'd made for him.
Naruto closed his eyes. For a moment he almost looked angry. It was masked quickly, but she didn't miss it.
...either she and the enforcer girl survived that massacre and escaped, or they'll didn't." Silco gave her a pitying look. "Regardless, I'm certain they'll surface sooner or later."
Naruto sat up. "And when she does?"
"We shall cross that bridge when we come to it."
"I'm sure she got away." Panic mounted in her mind and she shoved it down with a nervous giggle. "She's out there somewhere. She has to be."
"Hmm." Silco neither confirmed nor denied it. "Get some rest, the both of you. You've more than earned it."
Jinx didn't need to be told twice. She hopped off Naruto's lap and made for the exit with all due speed, practically skipping down the steps. Her body still vibrated with nervous tension and she found herself equally anxious to bleed it off before the voices piped up again. Something. Anything. Anywhere but here.
In her haste, she didn't see Naruto linger the door...nor did she hear Silco's voice.
"You're certain its dead?"
The silence that followed suffocated sense.
Naruto shook his head. "I destroyed its body. Its spirit escaped. I don't think we've seen the last of it...
(.0.0.0.)
Fe...ar...
The loss of a body meant nothing to one such as Fiddelsticks.
It would build a new shell of corpses and flesh. Of marrow and bone. And it would feed.
(.0.0.0.)
"You awake?"
Naruto creaked an eye open, gazing dolefully at the ceiling. "I am now."
Say what you would about Jinx, but she didn't take well to being ignored. He heard the bunk bed below his creak ominously. The silence that followed proved telling. He knew what Jinx was after; that she would wait until he spoke again. She wasn't above revenge if he fell back asleep. The last time she'd drawn all over his face. It wasn't an incident he was eager to repeat.
He sighed and patted his bunk bed with a closed fist. "C'mon up."
Jinx didn't need to be be told twice, bless her simple soul; he was still speaking when she clamored up the ladder, levered herself upright in an impossible display of acrobatic grace, and landed squarely atop him. Oomph. Why she enjoyed sitting on his chest, he'd never know...wait. He didn't much like the look in her eyes.
A blond brow quirked. "Alright, I'll bite. What's eating you."
She squirmed a little. "...we almost died.
"But we didn't."
Silence stretched between them, deep and heavy.
.
..
...
"Do you think that thing will come back?"
There was a part of him -a terribly large part!- that wanted to lie to her. Deceive her. Put her heart at ease. But she wouldn't thank him for it-certainly not if the abomination calling itself "Fiddlesticks" reared its ugly head in the near future. And besides, Jinx hated lies. So he settled for the brutal truth, tempered with a dose of hope.
"Probably." Naruto heaved a sigh. "But we'll be ready next time. An ambush like that only works once; next time we'll be prepared."
"I don't like it." she frowned and rolled over, tucking herself against his side. "It knew too much."
...I know." he wrapped an arm 'round her shoulders. "You almost died."
"But I got better. Your chakra-thingy saved me."
"Its not a thingy." he flicked her nose. And you need to be careful. Chakra's addictive. Mine, especially.
"Don't care." Jinx nuzzled his neck, planting a scorching line of kisses there. "Hmm. You're warm."
"Oi. Are you even listening."
"I am, I am." she surprised him by sitting up again. Moreso by laying down in his lap. Her hands reached up to fiddle with her top.
His eyes widened. "Jinx...?"
"I don't wanna die with regrets." Her eyes met his. "I want a happy memory, something to wipe all this anger and fear away. You're gonna give that to me." her top fluttered down, and she crossed both arms before her bare bosom, not quite willing to bear it to him just yet. "Got a problem with that?"
Naruto considered. Shrugged. "Nope."
"Good. Now...c'mere."
Jinx leaned low. Her lips captured and he surrendered to them gladly, eyes drifting shut as he tilted his head for a better angle to deepen the kiss. She didn't stop there. He felt her fingers fist in the waistband of his pants; in the same instant he reached up and tugged at her tattered trousers. She made a pleased noise and he heard something rip.
A blue eye creaked open. "I liked those pants."
"Tough. I like 'em better off."
"So rude...
Jinx giggled, violet eyes dancing in the dark...only to pause when her reached up for her long blue braids. Anyone else would've lost their hand. Not him. Credit where it was due, she realized what he wanted quickly. Her hands joined his and in a matter of moments her hair flew free from its braids to tickle his face. Naruto reached up and rand a hand through them, idly marveling at just how long she'd let it grow.
"Weirdo." she laughed with him. "Dunno why you like me havin' my hair down...
"Because if you were beautiful before, you're perfect now."
"Why you..!" Heat speared up her face. "Shaddap...
He dipped up to kiss her cheek. "Make me.
She dove on him.
It felt...nice, Naruto thought. Better than someone like him deserved. Her body was soft yet firm against his, her hips undulating atop in him in slow, rhythmic movements. She pushed him down and he pushed back, lips nipping at her neck as she pulled his hair, her nimble fingertips dancing across his chest. In no time at all they were tangled up in each other, writhing between the sheets, their memories and their pasts obliterated by singular, mindless desire. No fear, no regrets, only two teens taking comfort in one another.
The night descended into a pleasant haze.
A/N: Bit of a down-to-earth chapter, but Naruto and Jinx needed it after the trauma of the last two.
As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.
If folks don't like this...well, I won't continue it. Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
As ever, reviews are my lifeblood, my fuel, my sustenance. Without them, I cannot write.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
...I don't have much left in me for previews these days.
But I gotta try. If I don't...well...
...feels like I might go mad.
(Preview)
"Vi...?"
"Traitor!"
"Vander had his chance, kid...
She's not your sister. Sister's don't abandon their own."
"Its nothing personal, Viktor. But Imma need ya to take a nap...
Jayce had all of an instant to raise an arm. Then the explosion ripped him from his feet.
R&R~!