Another year, another wonderful TRC Month 💖

And I had an absolutely lovely time as always! 💖

Thank you to the organizers! 💖💖💖

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

(⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

Ao3 link for the whole thing here.

we're all made of glitter and nightmares (and baby, we thrive)

~

"You know you don't have to come with me if you don't want to, right? If you'd rather stay here with the kids or keep on travelling with the Bun."

at long fucking laaaaaaaaasssssst!!!

after many a trial and tribulation, i finally have my own copy of Stormbringer 💖🎉

and now i have half the ln set and tbh i'm pretty happy 😊

we're all made of glitter and nightmares (and baby, we thrive)

~

She's beautiful, Sakura thinks, picking up the tiny feline that's appeared in their yard and stroking her gently under the chin. "Are you lost, little thing? Or are you here for some food?"

"Oh look, a little kitty holding a little kitty, how sweet!" comes a familiar, teasing voice from behind her and when she turns to look, Sakura sees Fai approaching from the back porch. "Reminds me of when our Puppies came home with a bunch of puppies way back when."

Sakura laughs at that, remembering the time, remembering that world. She nods. "Kurogane-san is going to scold us if we take her in." He'll also end up sleeping with the cat curled on his lap, she's absolutely sure, despite his harsh words.

"Ah, don't you mind grumpy Kuropon, Sakura-chan," Fai says, waving a dismissive hand in the space between them. His smile is large, and it's very, very fond. "You know as well as I do that he's all bark and no bite."

They both burst into another round of giggles at that, and it seems to disturb the kitten a little, because it starts squirming in Sakura's grip. Fai reaches a hand over, the tip of a long finger gently bopping its pink nose. It swats, as adorably as only a kitten can, at the offending appendage, before turning its head and stretching its body until it can rub its head against Sakura's chin. It makes Sakura's heart absolutely melt. 

"I wish we could keep you," she whispers against the cat's tiny head, something like longing already settling heavy on her heart. "I wish we could take you with us when we leave for the next world." Ah, but wishful thinking is simply only that, she knows.

“Maybe we can visit her someday,” Fai says, placing a gentle hand on Sakura’s head. It’s comforting like few things are of late. 

Sakura nods, a little rueful, a little hopeful. “Yes. Maybe we can.”

we're all made of glitter and nightmares (and baby, we thrive)

~

“Don't even think about it, kid.”

Syaoran looks up at him, eyes wide and almost shimmering. He’s surrounded by what seems like a couple dozen pups (there’s maybe six of them, eight at most, but to Kurogane it feels like there are double, triple the amount solely because of what he knows will likely happen come evening), each one trying harder to climb all over him in order to lick at his hands and face. 

“Kurogane-san, we can’t just leave them here,” the boy says, expression halfway between pleading and determined. “The weather forecast said there’s probably going to be a storm tonight. We can at least shelter them until tomorrow.”

Nope. Not happening. “If you think that blasted mage or your princess will be able to shoo them out tomorrow, you really don’t know them. I’m not taking care of a bunch of dogs, too. The lot of you give me enough headaches as is.”

Syaoran stands up, one of the tiny puppies cradled to his chest. “I will look after them until we move on to the next world. Maybe find them homes before then,” he says, as serious as when he talks about his mission to gather the princess’ memories. Kurogane hates to admit that he’s a bit impressed by the boy’s wholehearted determination. “I’ll make sure they won’t trouble you, Kurogane-san.”

Honestly, Kurogane isn’t all that bothered with the dogs themselves. They’re small, and they look underfed, and he feels sorry for them. What annoys him is- “Good grief, I can already hear the damn mage. ‘Little Puppy and Kuro-puppy brought home a litter of tiny puppies, how adorable!’” He imitates, and knows he’s got the voice down to a T when the kid’s eyes widen and he hurries to stifle a burst of laughter. “And the White Bun’s gonna sing his tune and be just as annoying.”

“Probably, yes,” Syaoran says, smiling still. “But I think it’ll be worth it.”

we're all made of glitter and nightmares (and baby, we thrive)

~

"It's cute!" Sakura exclaims, giggling and clapping her hands.

"It is, indeed," Fai hums, eyes shining with barely contained mirth.

"It's stupid is what it is," Kurogane grouses from his place in the armchair to the side. "It's just a bunch of puppets being waved around chaotically. I've seen better."

Mokona jumps on Kurogane's head at that, puffed up and ready to fight. "What does a grumpy-ass like Kuorgane know? The Muppets are a staple, they're a legend! And they're funnier than Kurogane will ever hope to be, too!"

Kurogane swats her away, annoyed. "Shuddup, you damn bun. You only like them because you look like you might be a Muppet yourself. You're certainly as annoying as they are."

Mokona gasps, outraged. "Mean! Kurogane is mean!" She jumps onto Syaoran's shoulder (the boy's been suspiciously quiet so far, eyes glued to the TV set). "Fai, tell Kuropon he shouldn't be so mean!"

Fai laughs at that, gentle and placating. He reaches over and pets Mokona's head lightly. "Now, now, Mokona, let's just watch the show. Kurorin will get his punishment for being mean later, okay?"

"Oi!" Kurogane says, displeasure clear on his face.

Mokona sticks her tongue out at him.

we're all made of glitter and nightmares (and baby, we thrive)

~

"He's not a villain, mage. No matter what he turned into towards the end. I don't think he was ever a villain, in your or anyone else's story."

Fai looks up at the quietly falling snow, and tries to believe Kurogane's words. Usually, he has more luck, but today… Today, the grief is too strong. "You say that as though he didn't almost kill you and Sakura-chan and Syaoran-kun just to get under my skin and make me do as he wanted."

"You and I both know why he did that," Kurogane says, and it's strange, because Fai had expected him to sound exasperated, but. He doesn't. He just sounds tired. (And well, it is late.) "Maybe the way he went about things wasn't the best-"

Fai snorts. "Understatement."

"But he cared for you. He raised you when he didn't really have to and treated you like his own son. That has to count for something. Especially knowing that the madness wasn't something he could avoid."

He's right, and Fai knows it. Were it any other day, he wouldn't feel so contrary about it. Ashura was the only father Fai has known, and the ruin of Celes in the wake of his destructive madness will never change that. (And for all he knows, the madness was also part of Fei Wang Reed's convoluted plans.) "Yes. You're right. I just."

Kurogane steps close, wraps him gently in his arms. "You wish he'd have talked to you about it all."

"Yes." Yes.