A/N: Aaaaand we're back!
Wanted this to feel like a House of the Dragon episode. Hopefully I succeeeded.
Chest x-ray turned up clean, but I still feel awful with this cough/aches and the shakes. Fun stuff. Here we go. Hope you're ready.
Maybe the updates for this story should be weekly? Bi-weekly? Need to hear from you all on that front. Thanks for sticking with me.
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
No questions yet again. Gotta keep it interesting~! Alright, I've kept you long enough!
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!
They're all tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me. Now then...
This IS Game of Thrones, after all...
"From my blood comes the prince that was promised. And his will be the Song of Ice and Fire.
The proper translation for that prophecy would be the prince OR princess.
Hmm. Maybe so. I suppose we shall soon see."
~It Begins.
Now it Begins
Alicent was not unaccustomed to conflict.
Such was the life of any lord or lady in Westeros, young and old alike. When one lived in the Red Keep, one learned this immutable truth. Life was conflict. To think otherwise was folly. What had father told her once? When one played the Game of Thrones you lived or you died. There was no middle ground. Alicent counted herself lucky not to play such a dangerous game. She simply did as Father told her to do-life often worked out when she did. He knew best.
And yet she found herself beginning to doubt as of late.
For you see, Father had asked her to watch Naruto. To observe this new boy. Spy on him, and observe his comings and goings, then report back to him. She suspected why. Because was at odds with the King. Not Naruto, Father. She'd heard the two of them quarreling horribly just the other day about the very same boy.
"He is a danger!"
"Enough, Otto! I will hear no more of this!"
Alicent shook her head to clear the memory kept walking, alone with her thoughts...well, not as alone as she would've liked.
She could see Naruto a few paces ahead of her, lingering in the hall. The moment she saw him she darted behind a pillar. He was talking to a servant, a young boy with a shaven who hadn't yet seen his seventh year by the look of him. The blond had a bit of bread in his hands. As she looked on, he passed it off to them, patted their head and sent them on their way.
It was a very kind gesture. So much so that she Alicent felt a small smile grace her face. For a moment she pondered her purpose.
She'd observed him for the better part of three days now, all for naught. Barring these random acts of kindness and the occasional visit to the Dragonpit...he hadn't done anything worthy of reporting. What was she to tell Father then? That he fed the servants? That he liked dragons? Everyone knew that; just as most of the Small Council knew said dragons wouldn't dare harm him.
Stranger still, Rhaenyra had also been spending much time with Naruto as of late. Too much, some might whisper. She fancied him. Alicent found she rather did as well; albeit in a different way. She appreciated the blond's frank speech and kind words; if the whiskered warrior had a problem with something -or someone!- he'd bloody well tell you, consequences be damned. Perhaps he was a bit too forthright at times, but surely that was no fault of his. Perhaps he also knew what Father had asked of her; and was thus concealing his other talents. If he was, he'd not shown them to anyone else.
Or perhaps...he was simply kind.
"You're awful at spying, you know that?"
Alicent squeaked and darted back behind the pillar. Blast it, she'd gotten too close. Lingered too long. He'd noticed her. Maybe if she stayed terribly still and held her breath he wouldn't bother her further...?
Naruto tutted softly. "I can see your dress."
Her face burned. "No, you can't!"
"Alicent." He sounded like the brother she'd never truly had. "Come out of there."
.
..
...reluctantly, Alicent did as she was bade.
Her gaze flicked over him as she emerged, noting the long, tight black trousers and red tunic he wore. He'd taken to wearing the colors of house Targaryen as of late. Father often spat at that. She wondered why. Her gaze drifted higher now, noting the bandoleer of knives draped over Naruto's chest. So many knives. He was armed to the teeth. She didn't miss the paired daggers in his belt. Strange. Those hadn't been there yesterday. A gift from Daemon perhaps? Or Rhaenyra...?
"There a reason you're following me?"
Her lips sealed themselves into a thin line.
"Nothing to say?" he cocked his head and narrowed his eyes, reminding her of a fox. "Fine. I'll do the talking. Why are you here?"
Alicent didn't respond to that inquiry. She dared not and so bit her lip instead.
Naruto looked at her then, really looked at her, right through to her very heart. She quailed at the heat in his eyes. His gaze made her feel small; like he saw more than he should. She was wary of Naruto. She didn't fear him, not yet, but she found herself cautious all the same. Anyone who commanded such strength and power was one to be skittish of.
At length, he cracked a smile and planted a fist on his hip. "I'm not your enemy, ya know."
Wasn't he? Sometimes it felt like he was. Rhaenyra spent much time with him these days and less with her. She knew why-even if Rhaenyra didn't...yet.
"Your old man sent you to spy on me." It wasn't a question.
There was something in his voice just then; a touch of reproach, a hint of warning. She wasn't able to deny him. Her head bobbed in a nervous nod.
"Knew it." he palmed his face with a sigh and shook his head. "That old geezer just won't let up. Is it because of the dragons?" he squinted at her. "Its about them, ain't it?"
Alicent fought down a flinch. She could understand his fascination for dragons, but she had no desire to ever ride one herself...despite Rhaenyra's coaxing.
Dragons were wild.
Dragons were fierce.
Dragons were...death.
And yet Naruto did not fear them. Why should he? She'd seen him cow Caraxes and walk through fire. He was the Unburnt. Dragon Whisperer some called him behind hi back. Bold heart of he might be, but not everyone was immune to fire as he was. Perhaps that was what father feared; that he would walk down into the Dragonpit one of these days and emerge with a mighty dragon of his own. It was something Rhaenyra had mentioned more than once. A passing joke, or so she'd said. Alicent didn't think it was a joke at all.
For a wild moment she actually imagined. Naruto sitting on the back of some dread dragon, Vhagar...or worse.
"Are you afraid of me?"
The sudden inquiry caught Alicent flatfooted. Panic bleated through her. She mustn't answer that question!
Naruto chortled a litte. "You can talk, ya know. I'm not gonna bite. Are you afraid?" When she nodded, his face crumpled a little. "You shouldn't be."
"Easy for you to say." here at last her tongue betrayed her. "You don't fear anything. Your body is born from fire."
For some reason that amused Naruto. He barked a laugh. "It really isn't. I'm flesh and blood, just like you."
She firmed her lips and lifted her chin. "I very much doubt that."
"Have a look." He held up his right arm. "See?" It blazed gold with black marking before her eyes, causing her to recoil for a moment before she mastered herself. "Its harmless." He waved said arm and the fire stopped just shy of his shoulder, shimmering softly.
"..."
"Don't be afraid." He offered her his golden arm. "Go on, touch it. You won't be hurt."
Hesitantly, she did so, first tugging at his sleeve, then his arm entirely. Slim fingers furled around his wrist. It was...so very warm. Like she'd placed her hands in sunlight. She found herself lifting his arm, peering at it, trying to understand it. She failed utterly.
"What are you?"
"Just your friendly neighborhood shinobi. Make your own future, Alicent." he extinguished his arm, pivoted, planted both hands in his pockets and walked away from her. "Live your life. Live it well. Do what you want, with who you want...or don't. Its your choice."
He left her with those words and the fading sound of his footsteps.
(.0.0.0.)
The Dragon lifted its head.
It had his scent; it smelled him, now.
Soon it would have its long-awaited feast. Soon. Soon...
(.0.0.0.)
Rhaenyra found him not three hours later.
Naruto sensed her before he saw her, and heard her footsteps well before that. He looked up from where he sat, whetstone in one hand, knife in the other. He'd gotten away from Alicent -poor girl!- and found some peace here in the courtyard. It was the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon, the sun spilling down on his face, granting him some precious peace and quiet...
.
..
...or so he'd thought.
"Did you need something?"
"Not as such." she sat beside him with a wry smile. "Enjoying the new knives?"
...I am."
He grunted and went back to sharpening them. They were fine tools. Rhaenyra had surprised him with the gift, throwing his thoughts awry. But they weren't muddled now. If anything they were sharp. Very much so-like the knives he was working on. Otto was watching him, was he? No surprise there. The man was paranoid. He'd never understand the "good of the realm" nonsense. Right now, he was more worried about that sly little smirk Rhaenyra wore.
"I wanted to tell you of the tournament."
"Right." He quirked a blond brow at her. "When is that, again?"
"Tomorrow." Her head bobbed. "Uncle Daemon is favorted to win it."
"Of course he is." he rolled his eyes in mild amusement. "But why remind me...?"
Kurama chuckled darkly "Isn't it obvious?"
Sure enough, Rhaenyra stared at him until with that pointed look of hers until he understood. He reared back a little.
"You want me to complete in the joust? No, no, no." he wagged a finger at her. "Do I even need to tell you how much of a bad idea that is?
"Not in the joust, then." she tossed her head and tucked a strand of pale hair behind her right ear." Perhaps in the grand melee."
Ah. He knew what she was getting at now. "Bah." he elbowed her. "You just want to show me off."
"She grinned. "A little, perhaps."
More than a little. She was working her way up to something.
Naruto put the thought from his might and went back to sharpening his knives.
"You have great power and strength." Rhaenyra left him to it, but she didn't give up, either. He could still hear her as he worked. "The lords of Westeros don't know you as I do." She laid a hand on his arm and he looked at her. "Let them see you. Let them know you as I do. It would go a long way to quelling doubt, if nothing else."
"So you want me to get myself involved in a fight Daemon wants to win." a wry chuckle escape him. "He won't like that."
"Like what now?" The man in question sauntered -swaggered really- into the open room, one hand in his belt and a smile upon his face. That keen gaze of his flitted down to the daggers and the whetstone; the moment it did, his smile gained a wry smile. He muttered something in Valyrian, not much but enough for him to catch the gist of it. Rhaenyra's lessons paid dividends there.
"The fox sharpens his fangs, I see."
"Yes, he does." Naruto clicked his tongue and glared bloody red daggers at the rogue prince. "And the dragon will stop bearing his unless he wishes to be bit."
Daemon blinked in surprise, somewhat taken aback. Then he threw his head back and barked a laugh. "You've been teaching him!"
"Here and there." Rhaenyra preened. "We've only been at it for a short while."
"Hmm. You've told him about the tournament, then?"
"I have." she pouted." He's being stubborn."
Uncle and niece looked to him. Naruto sighed. It was painfully obvious what they were getting at; rather, what they wanted him to do. They thought it would be fun to have him fight. A game. Combat wasn't a game. He trained because he had; because he needed to keep his skills sharp in this strange sordid world he'd fallen into. He took no pleasure in cracking skulls...alright, maybe a little, where idiots were concerned.
"Bullshit. You enjoy a good tussle as much as the next. Need I remind you of all those hard right hooks you've dealt out?"
Caught between two Targaryens and the Fox within, Naruto sighed. "I'm more worried Rhaenyra's mother to be honest.
Daemon's face closed down. "That mewling woman?"
"Oh, hush." Rhaenyra slapped his arm and gave him a cross look. "She's having a girl. Your position is perfectly safe."
The prince pivoted to face her, a brief flicker of hope and fear flashing in his eyes. "And you know this how?"
"Naruto said so when he tended to Mother." the princess rolled one shoulder in a shrug.
"She also told us not to tell anyone." Naruto chided her.
"My mother, my secret~!"
"Apparently...
Tension gradually bled from Daemon's face as they squabbled, replaced by something else. "You plan to fight, then?"
Naruto blew out a breath. He supposed they were going to press the issue. Rhaenyra did have a point after all. "Against my better judgement...
"You're a quick little thing." her uncle clapped him on the shoulder. "If things go south you can run back to the royal chambers, tend to her, and make it in time for the lists." he didn't miss the way his hand tightened ever so slightly against his collarbone. "I'd relish the chance to test myself against you in a proper fight."
A blond brow quirked his way. "Even if I knock you on your arse again?"
Rhaenyra muffled a giggled behind her hand. "He certainly has you there, uncle."
Daemon scoffed, undettered. "Even so." he looked between the two of them and winked. "I'll leave the two of you to it, then. Do try to behave."
His peace said, he left as quickly as he'd come, whistling under his breath. Naruto noticed a slight spring in his step; one that hadn't been there before. It seemed the news had lifted his spirits a little. Maybe telling him had been the right decision after all. He hoped it was. Choices like the one they'd just made had a nasty way of coming back to bite you.
Rhaenyra watched him go with a curious smile. "He seems fond of you. I daresay you're a good influence on him.
Naruto sighed. "And he's a bad one on me. Speaking of fighting...he scrutinized her for long moment. Well, if she was going to press him to fight then he could do the same to her. "Do you?"
A blink. "Do I what?"
"Know how to fight." he said.
"Me?" She reared back, startled by the sudden inquiry. "I don't, no."
Naruto inhaled a deep breath and took the plunge. "Would you like to?"
Rhaenyr's face lit up, his vision tunneled and for a beautiful, blinding, breathless moment nothing else existed. Her smiling visage was all he could see. In that instant she ceased to be a princess, or even a Targaryen. She was just a lonely girl, wanting someone -anyone!- to pay attention to her. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded terribly small.
..."I'd love to."
He wanted to see that smile more often.
"Hope you know what you're getting into here...
So did he. "I'll warn you now, I'm not a very good teacher."
She seized his hands with hers. "Any lesson will do!" Yup. No use. He'd caught her eye. There'd be no getting away from her now, he knew.
"Well...
His gaze flicked up and down the length of her, considering his options. Small, slight, nearly of an age with him. No large blades or axes for her, not that he knew how to use either. Daggers, maybe? He knew how to use those and she'd gifted him a pair. Ah, but he was getting ahead of himself.
"We'll start with hand to hand combat," he decided.
Her eyes danced with delight, an impish grin showing through her teeth. "I look forward to your instruction, ser."
...why did I let you make me a knight again?" he laughed ruefully "No, nevermind. You going riding on Syrax after this?
"That was my intent.
Something tugged at his heart. Must be nice, having a dragon to call your own. "You might want to hold off on that for today."
"Why?" she tilted her head. "Its just a bit of training. I doubt I'll be tired."
"You say that now, but ya might end up cursing me by the end of this." He certainly had when Jiraiya started training him in earnest. "If you really want to learn how to fight, it won't be an easy road."
"How so?
"Well," he scratched the back of his head, "When I do something, I do it all the way. Also, you're gonna be sore...
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto wasn't wrong.
Come the next morning Rhaenyra wanted to BITE him.
Because you see, she woke to utter agony. Every fiber of her being ached as she dragged herself from her bed; she hurt in places she didn't even know she had. Her muscles locked up with every step and it was only an ironclad sense of self control that allowed her to put one foot in front of the other long enough to stand on her own two feet. Already she could feel the beginnings of a bruise beneath her ribs where his fist had found her yesterday. Only a day of this and she wanted to cry. How did Daemon train like this? Madness! Small wonder he was so strong with a regiment like that.
Yet was it not worth it, to have a skill of her own?
Rhaenyra paused before her mirror, considering herself. She looked terrible. She felt worse. But pride burned within her breast all the same. She was learning. Not just a means to defend herself, but a way in which she might carve out her own destiny. After all, if Father didn't have any sons then Daemon would remain his heir. Leaving her free to be whatever she wanted to be...
She had no desire to be some humble lady. She longed to be a warrior, a fighter, like the Targaryens of old.
The thought filled her heart with more than a little pride.
A knock on her door shattered it.
Rhaenyra tensed and drew her gown a little tighter, reminded of Otto's intrusion not a fortnight before. "Who goes?"
"The lady Alicent Hightower." Came the kingsguard's voice. "Shall I admit her?"
"You may."
The door creaked open and there she was, her dearest friend. Ah, she was wearing the white dress today. It would match nicely with her red gown she'd chosen for the occasion.
"You've slept in." she took one look at her and sighed at her sorry state. "The tourney's due to start in an hour. Come, lets get you dressed."
Rhaenyra lifted her arms with a wince. "And Naruto?"
"Your mother's gone into labor." Alicent whisked past her, comb in hand, and began attacking the knots in her hair with ruthless dispatch. "He's tending to her with the maesters. They kicked up quite the fuss."
Rhaenyra hid a smile behind a jaw-popping yawn. Yes, she could imagine the doddering old men doing that. "I'm sure they did...
Alicent saw the bruise on her ribs and gasped. "Are you alright? Did you fall last night?"
...into Naruto's fist, more like." she wore a rueful smile.
"He hit you?!"
"I asked him to." She pinched her wrist and shooed her hand away. "It was just a bit of training, all in good fun."
Alicent's face was a study of contrasts as she helped her into the gown. "You trust him too easily."
"And you not enough, perhaps." she stuck out her tongue. "He's harmless."
Alicent quirked a dark brow her way.
"To us, at least." she amended. "Help me walk, would you? My legs ache."
She offered a silent prayer for her mother. Surely she was having an uncomplicated birth...?
(.0.0.0.)
Aemma always hated the pain.
Really the pain was the worst part of it all; the part that always broke her, no matter what. She'd been through countless births and every time she danced with death. Each time, the Stranger took his due, be it from her, or another stillborn child brought into the world. Every. Bloody. Time. And with each failed birth, she lost a little more of herself.
But it was worse this time-no, something was wrong.
The child wouldn't come. Rather, it refused to. She felt herself faltering, her stamina fading. Someone had said the babe was in breach-whatever in the seven hells that meant. One of the maesters had run to fetch Viserys. Everything was a dry gray haze. Breathing hurt. She couldn't get enough air, and oh gods, her belly...
"Push now." And then a golden hand patted her knee ever so gently. "Don't worry about the bleeding. I've got you."
Aemma looked up from her birthing bed with a startled yelp. "How did you get in here...?!"
Naruto hummed, blue eyes crinkling in a smile. "Through the window. How else?"
"Its a thousand foot drop to the sea!"
He smiled. "I'm a good climber."
"What in the seven hells?!" A startled shout told her the Maesters had finally taken notice of him. "Begone, boy! This is no place for a wastrel like you!"
He scoffed at them. "Didn't ask, don't care, go away."
"She cannot deliver the baby safely. In times such as these we must-
"Who decided that?" Naruto snarled over him. "These Gods of yours? Lemme tell you something about "Gods." After today's fiasco his temper must've and truly gotten away from him, because he absolutely growled. "They don't know shit. I fought one. I WON. Yours can try to strike me down if they have a problem with me being here."
"Guards! Remove him at once!"
Aemma didn't see what happened next. But she certainly heard it. A muffled thump and a strangled gasp put paid for that.
Naruto's voice rang over it all, clear as a bell. "Any other objections?"
Aemma slumped back in her bed with a tired smile. Clever boy. Witty boy. Loyal and dutiful. Perfect for her Rhaenyra. He could be fighting in the tournament; winning names and glory. Instead he'd raced right to her side like the son she'd never had. She tried speak to him, to thank him, to say something -anything!- only for a fresh spasm of pain to arch her back.
"It hurts!" she hated how weak she sounded in that instant. "I'm in pain!
"I know," he soothed, "I know you are. Its alright. I'm here. Breathe."
She grasped at his hand. "If its a girl...
"Pretty sure its going to be."
Gods be good. She wanted to weep. A faint keening noise escaped her lips. "No more. I can't...I can't do this anymore...
"You can!" Naruto grabbed her hand and squeezed until she gasped. The pain centered her, dragging her back from the brink. "Just push. Let me handle the rest". He sounded worried. That was a bad sign. She felt so very weak. He could heal almost any wound, but no man could revive the dead. Not even him. "Keep your eyes open."
She squeezed his hand back and managed a tremulous nod.
The golden boy let go of her hand, knelt, and pulled her legs apart. She couldn't see him beneath her gown, but she didn't have to; his entire body was glowing now. He shown like the sun itself and his eyes-oh, they were red and slitted, like the gaze of an ancient dragon. A strange scent filled the room. She wrinkled her nose against it. One of the maesters must've soiled themselves. How foul.
And then:
"PUSH!"
Aemma did. With every fiber of her being. She felt something tear loose inside her and her shout became a scream.
The door crashed open behind him to admit someone. Aemma barely heard it.
Because in that instant, a squalling little life entered the world.
Naruto stumbled upright, looking terribly startled, clutching something small and pink in his arms. She knew. From the moment she heard their cry. She knew. One of the more forward-thinking maesters bustled over to help him swaddle the wailing child. Aemma held her breath. Waited for the words to come, the words that she knew would seal her fate.
"Its a girl.
Aemma slumped with a sob. "No...
"None of that!" Naruto handed the babe off and pinched her thigh. "You're alive. Your baby is alive. Be happy! Stay awake!"
Someone pressed the babe -Visenya!- into her arm. She held her new daughter close. Tears welled up in her eyes and she could not hold them back.
"How can I be happy...?!" she scrubbed her face with a bloody hand, not caring of the stains she left behind. "You don't understand...Viserys needs a son...the council will set me aside now...everything's ruined...
It was all ruined. All for naught. She was a failure, as both a wife and a mother. So tired, so weak...
Aemma barely felt golden hands settle on her stomach.
She fell into the blackness.
A/N: Aaaaand scene. We'll pick up next chapter.
There we go. Time will tell if this remains a story. So? What say you?
As stated, this'll may well upgraded to M later down the line, but I need to know if folks want to see that.
As ever, the Embers rule persists more, for this story, and a few others. Meaning, if folks don't enjoy this, it WILL remain onsite-but it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs with no end in sight and I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.
So? Should this little tale continue? Or fall into oblivion?
By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas…
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
As ever:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
As ever, these are from the far flung future...or are they~?!
(Previews!)
"Let the tournament continue!"
Rhaenyra sighed. "You're going to be a feisty little sister, aren't you?"
The babe burbled happily up at her as she set a dragon egg in her cradle.
"I wonder what its like, bonding with a dragon. Sure I can calm 'em down in a pinch, maybe even make friends with 'em, but a bond? That's something I'll never have." he looked her square in the eye. "Your people are born with your dragons. You tame dragons, live with your dragons, and you'll probably die with your dragons. I kinda envy you, ya know?"
"You envy me?
"In that regard, yes."
"Have you ever heard baby dragons sing? I have. Its beautiful...
"You think this hurts? Compared to what I went through, being forced to watch you hurt innocent people, and even my own blood! This is NOTHING! Well? How does it feel? To be utterly hopeless and not being able to do a damn thing about it? Fools! How do you think they felt when you ganged up on him in the rain and he had no way out? Well now it's your turn. I hope you enjoy it. Do you feel defenseless? Scared? Good, now you know how they felt before you killed them!
"Vultures, the lot of you. Give the man some peace!"
"You have done me a great deed this day. Ask anything of me and I shall grant it to you."
...did you say it?"
"I said nothing of the bloody sort."
"A wise man once said. To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead. Do you understand? No? Let me put it differently. You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain. It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first. Fixation is the way to death. Fluidity, now that's the way to life. Bend, but do not break. Never break. Sure they'll spit at you. Curse you even. But I'll let you in on a little secret. To make anyone immediately regret insulting you, show that you're unaffected. Don't blink. Don't flinch. Don't give them the satisfaction that they seek.
And in time, they'll realize what fools they were.
Kurama roared.
Something roared back.
A massive shadow fell over them.
Naruto grinned. "Oh, wow, you're a big one...
Rhaenyra grabbed at his arm as winged death descended upon then. It was the largest dragon she'd ever seen...
I would much rather have someone who encourages my kindness rather than condemn it.
"If you do this you will make enemies. There will be nowhere left for you to run!
"Run?" he tilted his head to look back at them. "Who's running?" Blue eyes bled into red, snapping into furious scarlet slits. "Where?" Golden radiance flashed around him. "And why?!"
The world burst into light.
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed!
R&R~!