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    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura


    [open]  i'll be your reason to fight; daddy, anyish
    #1
    It took a while, or at least it felt like they were walking forever to Defy. And through like lots more different kindsa places than he’d ever seen before, too. Not just forests and shit, the land took different shapes around them. Which really only got boring when he was super tired from all the tromping around. Momma kept him fed, and Daddy did his best to keep him from getting unbearably bored, coaxing him into games and trying to keep his spirits up and all. 

    But Daddy wasn’t feeling good. Made Defy pretty nervous too, whenever he wobbled or stumbled, or whenever Momma suggested they take a little break for Defy’s sake but he was pretty sure she meant for Daddy’s. And since Daddy was sick, he tried to like, not be too sulky or pouty or nothin’, just brave and tough and shit so they could get where they were goin’ without causin’ too much fuss.

    The volcano part was pretty cool. Stomping around by lands with like rivers of lava runnin’ through ‘em and shit, that was neat-o. He wanted to go explore, but it seemed a little bit more important to get where they had to be, and the volcano land was not it.

    But the trouble, see, was when they got to the ocean. And the part where they had to swim across it. No, but across the ocean. He sure wished his wing feathers would grow in so he could just fly there instead, but Momma and Daddy didn’ have wings no-how, and he wouldna just left ‘em to swim while he took the shortcut through the air. So. Well. Maybe that didn’t so much matter and he just wanted his dumb feathers to finally grow in, fine. 

    Okay. But the water was maybe not super fucking scary and cold and dumb, like the dumbest thing out there. There was so much of it, and he was not even as big as Momma and Daddy, and the water was a WHOLE lot bigger than they were, and they had to swim across it though. Defy had never swam before, and he was super not convinced he even could, let alone across a whole ocean. 

    But Daddy was lookin’ at him like he could totally do this, and he never, never wanted to let Daddy down or make him think he was anything less than the awesomest boy ever. So instead of diggin’ in his heels like he so very wanted to, he looked up at Daddy and nodded. Yeah. He could totally do this.

    Annnnd then he ran out into the water like a big brave boy even though it was cold and big and scary and dumb.

    About halfway across, after what felt like forever of swimming, it started to get lots harder. He was tired, and the water was not fun or nice, and he wanted it to be over, so, so bad. He had to fight to keep his head up above the water, and he was starting to lag, to slow down and lose whatever steam he managed to work up to begin with. Momma and Daddy had to help him the rest of the way across, and when they got to the shore he just laid down on the sand, huffing and puffing and trying to catch his breath, his eyes only half-bothering to open.

    Still, he looked up at his daddy, asking with tired eyes if he did good.
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    #2
    dovev

    He'd told her to find a safe haven, but honestly, he didn't know the others aside from the fucking cold one and he sure as hell wasn't sending them there. So disaster or not, he led them here to where the Ischians of his home had found safety. He still intended to return to Ischia. It was where he was from despite the magician's betrayal. Here was safer for them though.

    The trip was damn long for a little tike. Seemed a bit longer for him too, but probably just the sickness getting to him. He was pretty sure he took them the long way a time or two without meaning to, getting that fuzzy delirium sneaking in. He'd catch himself after a while and angle them back the right way. Just a little sight-seeing, no big deal. Little detour. Doin' that dad thing, maybe. Showin' his kid the world a bit.

    The water was the hardest part. It was so draining on all of them. Dizzy wasn't exactly full health or anything, after everything. God, he fucking hated whatever she'd been through. She'd been so damn tore up. He reached out and touched her shoulder without thinking, just needing to feel that she was still there and still breathing. Still good. He might get her sick though, so he pulled back again.

    He should've been there to protect her.

    About halfway across was when things got real hard. Defy took it hardest, his little legs getting so worn out. Dov kept talking to him, cheering him on. "You got this, baby. Almost there. Doin' good. You gonna be fuckin' ripped with muscle when we get there, huh? You got this."

    The moment they were on land, his boy splayed out, his little chest huffing and puffing and star-blue all soaked through. And damn, when those gorgeous black eyes looked up at his daddy, Dov fuckin melted with a soft smile. He reached down and nuzzled him under his little chin. "You did damn good, handsome. So fuckin' proud of you." They were safe now. He was damn glad of that.

    He turned his head as a cough rattled through him, sniffling and lifting a foreleg to smear to blood from his nostrils. Damn, this disease. He checked Diz over next, making sure she was all good to go. Or as well as she could be. He'd failed her so badly.

    "I'm gonna go look for them now," he told her quietly. He was beat but he was ready to continue. This was nothing. His gaze passed around them, looking for someone that could watch over them for him until he got back. Nobody was immediately visible, so he turned back to her again, then his eyes went to their boy. Well, they'd damn well know they were Dov's after seeing that handsome li'l guy. He reached out and nuzzled him again.

    "I love you, boy. You rest a bit and take good care of Momma while I'm gone, okay? We're a team now. We gotta keep her safe and happy."

    we're slaves to any semblance of touch

    Lord, we should quit but we love it too much


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    #3
    Of the three of them, Dizzy was probably in the best shape for this trek. Defy was still so little that traveling for a long time wore him out, and Dov, stubborn though he was, was suffering badly with the illness that had taken hold of him. Any time he looked like he was pushing himself too hard (which was always) and she thought she could get away with it (less often), she suggested they take a little break for Defy’s sake. And their sweet boy was happy to play up his exhaustion anytime it came up.

    And it was a long damn trip.

    Dizzy didn’t mind, though. Maybe a new place could mean a fresh start. Dov would come through and find the girls, even if she hated adding to the list of reasons he couldn’t (wouldn’t) stay in one place and let his body get some rest. She could’ve found them. Probably would’ve been able to find them more easily, knowing their safe places and all. But Dov would’ve had to worry about them too then, and it would’ve been more work getting them all herded into the same place. And there was Defy to worry about. She didn’t want him getting sick, didn’t want to push him harder than his little body could handle.

    So off to Island Resort they went.

    The swim was the worst, only because once they started, they couldn’t really stop ‘til they got there. There was no handy rest spot midway, no cute little sandbar to stand on and take a breather. And god, he was so little. Dov coaxed him through it, and she did her best to help him along too, but there was only so much they could do and he had to manage the rest. Maybe if it’d gotten any worse, they could’ve carried him between the two of them somehow.

    Honestly, she was considering it when Dov reached out and brushed against her shoulder. Her worried eyes met his, and she breathed easy again. He wouldn’t let anything happen to their boy. They’d make it across okay. She brushed her lip against his neck between two plate of armor, his blood washing away in the water, staining her lips for just a moment before the sea stole it away. Seemed like she always only ever got a moment when it came to him. Still, she smiled at him, offering reassurance that she was okay, and between the two of them they got their boy across the water.

    He sprawled out, breathing hard, and Dov fussed over him and praised him and basically stole her damn heart all over again with how fuckin’ cute he was with their boy. And then he turned to fuss over her, and she blushed just a little at the attention, sneaking soft little kisses to his shoulder, his neck as she checked him over in turn. Worn out and exhausted but stubborn as fuck, that was her Dov, and he had a job to do, huh? So she nodded. “Okay, baby. We’ll be here when you find them.”

    Defy nodded up at his Daddy. “I love you too, Daddy,” he panted, still catching his breath. “Take the best care of Momma. Best team ever, you an’ me.” He grinned, exhausted as he was, and reached up to nudge his daddy’s nose. “Gotta come back quick though, ‘kay?” Held out his wings that were still covered in nothing but baby down, much to his endless dismay. “Gonna have real feathers soon, I bet, you gotta be back an’ see me fly!”
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    #4
    dovev

    He said his brief goodbyes and left them, hunting down Zoryn and the twins.

    Their trip back to Dizzy was mostly quiet, interrupted by Dovev's shaking coughs as he kept a distance between him and his daughter, her sister. He couldn't help but glance at her though, admire the likenesses between himself and Dizzy all packaged up in a beautiful girl. Just as gorgeous as her baby brother. Just as beautiful as Zoryn's daughter. If Dov and Zor coudld have a kid, it'd be that one.

    He tried not to look too close though, or too often. If he could help it. He was determined to keep the family secret, for Zoryn and the girl. For Dizzy, too, if it mattered to her.

    Defy at least was all his.

    And he tackled his dad as soon as they were in sight. Dovev grinned and tucked him in close for a hug, massaging those cute little wings and pressing a kiss on one of his starry patches that matched Dov's legs and lip.

    "Hi, handsome," he murmured, brushing his lips over that tiny cheek now. He shifted to the side to let Zoryn in. To hold Dizzy if he wanted. Or whatever they would normally do. Just trying to stay out of the way as he held his boy.

    There was another one that was missing, though, and he turned his head towards the trees to call for her, hoping she was nearby.

    "Briella?"

    She still needed to meet her little brother. And her... cousins? Friends, perhaps.

    we're slaves to any semblance of touch

    Lord, we should quit but we love it too much



    @[Zoryn] @[Briella]

    Reply
    #5

    He still creeped her out. She didn't fully understand why they were following him, why they were trusting him. She kept glancing at Daddy, kept touching him to reassure herself that he was there and real, but she did not ask about the bleeding man of bone and armor and violence haunting his eyes. Daddy would never let anything happen to them, so it was probably fine despite her nature wanting to be as far away from him as possible.

    She leaned into her sister, too, touching her neck and her shoulder and spreading sweet kisses of affection. Zoe and Daddy were everything, Mom too, but there hadn't been quite the same connection as with Daddy. Maybe it would change though? Or maybe that was simply normal. She only stayed at her twin's side and as close to Daddy as she could be. Right where she belonged.

    It felt like it'd been so long since she'd seen her mom though, and as soon as she caught that familiar figure she was rushing forward to greet her, brown eyes glittering with love. "Momma!" She hadn't even noticed the skeletal man's son until she was pressed against her mom and rubbing her cheek against her for comfort. Wow, she had missed her smell. That felt like such a crazy thing, but she did so much and she was realizing just how much right now.

    "Momma, we couldn't find you! Or Daddy," she said softly to her, tears brimming her eyes at the remembered fear and the relief she could now feel reunited with them. "Please don't leave us again."

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    #6
    Finally, he had them back. Was amazed how much they'd grown in such a short time. How beautiful they were becoming. Stunning, really. The two girls walked side-by-side, Zynnie tucked adorably under one of Zoe's lovely wings. He had to keep touching them to make sure it wasn't just a terrible hallucination. It was real, and he couldn't be more glad. Seemed like the girls needed the reassurance as bad as he did, and it warmed him. At least for now, the happiness he feels is enough to take the edge off his symptoms as they make their way to the resort Dov was leading them to.

    When they finally made it, all attention went to taking in the scenery before she came into view. Dizzy. He released his hold on the girls as they both run to their momma. "Momma, Momma!!" Zoe's sweet voice joining the cadence of her sister's. Zoryn comes to stand near, but not too close, taking in the sight of it all. She has been changed. Forcefully so. And he hates that he hadn't been there to help her. But she seemed to be healing well. And he is mainly just glad that she hasn't come down with the sickness that plagues him and Dov. He smiles, although his eyes are solemn. He's happy to see her, truly. And it's a blessing to have them all together and mostly unscathed. But it's been so long since he's seen her. The last time... Well he doesn't want to think on it. Looks over to Dovev, and... The black and starry boy with fledgling wings like Zoe's. Oh. Perfect. Not hard to figure that one out. Heart aching low in his chest, he stands and simply watches on for now.
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    #7
    Ohhh. Oh, her sweet girls! Dizzy ran to meet the girls, clung tight to her babies the second they collided. She smothered them both with kisses, fussed over their pretty manes, brushed their forelocks out of their lovely faces, breathed in the sweet little girl (not so little anymore!) scent of them and just held them close, tears filling her dark eyes.

    “Oh, my girls. I missed you so, so much. You’re both alright? You’re okay? Not sick?” She pulled back to look them over, scanning their faces for exhaustion and illness, for dripping or bleeding noses, for dull eyes and listlessness, but they both looked fine. A little anxious, a little stressed, maybe a little thin, but her babies were strong and healthy.

    And home. Her Dov had brought them home. She looked at him, teary eyes brimming with love and gratitude. God, she wanted to rush to his side, press her lips to his, kiss him senseless and hold him tight and whisper her thanks in his ear. Soon. Her babies needed her first, and she needed them.

    Her eyes settled on Zor next, and catching him just as he looked at Defy. She opened her mouth to...what, explain? She didn’t really have much by way of explanation. She hadn’t even known she was pregnant, he’d just...happened. But she wasn’t really sure where to start, or how to make things any better between them. So she focused for a moment on the girls, on holding their daughters close and basking in their presence.

    For maybe the first time in their lives.

    She pressed soft little kisses to the sides of their necks, their cheeks, their foreheads.. “My Zynnie. My Zoe. Ohhh, my sweet girls.” And the she looked again to Zoryn, her eyes brimming with questions, heart aching for the sickness that wracked his body. “Zor?” she asked softly, inviting him closer. If he wanted.
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    #8
    “Daddy!”

    The second Defy saw his daddy coming home, his black eyes lit up and he raced away from Momma’s side and barreled straight into him, rubbing his face against Daddy’s shoulder and cuddling up tight as Daddy nuzzled him and fussed over his wings and kissed his stars. “Did you see?!” he asked, flaring his wings to show off the barest hint of new feathers coming in, just little prickles so far, almost completely indiscernable from when Daddy had left to go find the strangers, but Momma promised they’d be feathers soon! “Look, they’re growin’! Just like Momma said! You think I’ll be able to fly soon?!”

    He beamed up and then reeeached to sneak a kiss to Daddy’s cheek. “I missed you! The whole time you were gone, a whole stupid lot. You gonna stay and play with me for a while?” And if he maybe blithely ignored the strangers, well, who could blame him? His daddy was hoooome! And fussin’ over him and payin’ attention to him, and that was the best thing ever.

    Daddy stopped fussin’ over him long enough to call for somebody else though, and Defy glanced back at Momma to make sure she was okay, ‘cause obviously it was his job to protect her and keep her safe, and he didn’t know the people Daddy’d brought home with him, even if duh of course Daddy wasn’t gonna bring nobody who’d hurt Momma. Still. He looked back at her, and--hey! What the hell though?!

    “Hey!” he protested, eyes wide with dismay and offense. “No, but! That’s my momma!” He looked up at Daddy with a nervous, indignant little snort, and his ears flickered back uncertainly. Momma and Daddy’d both said something about sisters and shit, but he didn’t really have much idea what that all entailed, and certainly hadn’t realized it would mean she’d be kissing and cuddling and fussing over somebody who was very, very not him. Let alone two whole somebodies!

    “Daddy! They’re stealin’ Momma! Do we fight ‘em?” he asked, shifting back and forth on restless, anxious feet. They could take ‘em! Especially with Daddy on his side. But Momma seemed to like them or something? So maybe not? Ugh he did not like this at all. A tight knot of stress and loud unhappiness made his insides clench and his brow furrow, and he looked up at his daddy again, asking with almost panicked eyes what he should do.
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    #9
    dovev

    He had only a brief moment to watch the two girls magnetize to their sexy momma - and see the heart-wrenching look of love and thanks for him in her eyes - before his boy was there and barreling into him. He grunted, grinning helplessly down at him and curling his neck around Defy to clutch him in tight to his chest. He only released him when Defy stepped back to show off his little growing wings with his daddy's glittering black eyes.

    Such a gorgeous little bastard.

    Dovev nodded, "I bet you'll be flying in no time. Way sooner than any other little punk, even. Ain't that right? You gonna show'em who's the best, huh?" 'Cause his boy was like him, relentless and unstoppable. He could already see that in him and it felt damn good. He hoped his baby hadn't gotten any of his bad and only the good bits. Surprisingly, he supposed there were a couple of those. Small ones.

    Defy abruptly noticed his sister and half-sister cuddling their momma and barked at them. His little hair would've been bristled along the spine if it could, those wings trying to fluff and make him look bigger. He looked up to Dov for a reaction to follow, asking if they should fight the girls off her and shifting on his little feet restlessly.

    "Nah, baby," he said quietly, tugging him back in against him and nuzzling a sexy patch of stars on his little neck. "We gotta share Momma. Just a little bit. These are more for us to protect. Or you don't think you can handle that? You gonna help your Uncle Zor watch over the three of them? You'll take care of our girls, right handsome? I'm gonna need help with that, you know." He nudged his tiny cheek and kissed it, shifting up to ruffle his short forelock.

    His eyes were on his Zoe baby, his secret girl, but then they slid to Zoryn and he straightened. It didn't seem like Zor had had any kind of warning about Defy, but from as much as he'd gathered, neither had any of them. So it was a quiet, simmering challenge in his black eyes for his best friend, his partner, to have a problem with it. To fuckin' say something.

    To fuckin' do something.

    we're slaves to any semblance of touch

    Lord, we should quit but we love it too much


    Reply
    #10
    His girls are happy, and safe. The sum of everything he stood for, and had needed to accomplish, right there before his eyes. He should be happy along with them, but all he can feel right now is tired. A mix of emotions rampant inside him- chaos warring within. He doesn't know how to sort it. How to deal. So he stands silently with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. It's not a lie, though, no. He is happy the twins are safe and with him. He is happy that Dizzy is safe. Happy they're all back together, and that Dizzy actually seems excited to see their precious girls. He has high hopes it's more than an act, as she had told him she'd had to play for the better part of their childhood. Her words still ring in his memory, cutting deep into his heart. Rending and tearing. He'd tried space, to heal or forget. All he'd done is make things worse. The only good that had come from anything is that his girls are safe and sharing the embrace of their mother.

    Amethyst-flecked brown eyes follow the strange and beautiful child as he carries on with his father, showing off his wings and practically begging for approval. It takes a lot for him to keep his face from scrunching up. Until he sees how Dovev reacts with more kindness and.. Love? Than Zor knew he possessed. Sweet words pour from lips he'd felt ripping into his flesh and coaxing pleasure from him. He almost did that ridiculous double-take at his friend, but refrained as Dov gave his son words of support and then gentle reprimand by way of redirecting negativity into something the kid might like. Protecting the family along with his dad and Uncle Zor. Oh fuck.

    He blinks and steadies himself, gaze darting from boy to man. Even as his gut tightens with mixed feelings, he plants a firm look on his face and nods to them in agreeance. But Dov's eyes are on someone else. He follows the line of his gaze to young Zoe, and his heart sinks in his chest even further. Fuck. The twins only had eyes for their momma right now, and he's glad. One good look from Zoe to Dov and then to the starry colt would tell all. If he was a better man, he might have liked to hear the story of how Defy came into the world and been amused by the likeness of it to the precise way that they hadn't known she was having twins. But it would only bring the meaning of that likeness more into the light. Just a matter of time before his precious girl would figure out the truth on her own. How fair is it for him to keep it from her? For Dov? Fuck, but he can't bear for anything to divide the twins. To divide her from him. Zoe and Zynnie are his girls. His precious daughters. He would let nothing bad happen to them as long as he could help it. But what if the bad thing was him?

    He breathes air into his lungs- to sigh? to speak? But his lungs burn with sickness and his body wracks with a deep, wet cough. He groans when it finally passes, wiping his mouth on a foreleg. He is forced to take more shallow breaths, head remaining low, and his eyes finally go to Dizzy as she mutters his name. He meets her gaze, studies it for a heartbeat. He reads the questioning stare, the hint of concern for him, but there's just something missing. A void that matches what now has been rendered from his chest, aching with wounds left unhealed. He can't look anymore, ducking his eyes to the girls. Before he realizes exactly what he's doing, he reaches in to nuzzle one twin and then the other. "I need to rest. Stay here with your mother." His voice is a deep rasp, gravel to his own ears. His eyes go to both girls, then their mother, then Dovev, and lastly to something and nothing in the distance as he walks away. "Find me later." And fuck, let the pain be less when you do.
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