Agonyyyyyy

Do You Remember This?

Storyline: Zinjiq. Part 1- The Ten-Year War Main OCs: Rahim and Sajia

~~~

He doesn’t remember this…

His eyes cast about wildly in the fog-filled landscape, treading cautiously over the ground. There’s something… off about this place. It certainly feels like a memory instead of something he is actually living. But if this is one of his own memories shouldn’t he remember it?

Another cautious step forward, head slowly turning side to side. This is all wrong. He doesn’t know why he’s here, or how he got here, or even where here is. It’s deathly silent, only serving to further his discomfort. There’s a strange sensation, like a fly crawling on his face or a loose strand of hair that is in just the right spot to be an irritant. But when he reaches up to sweep it away, his hand simply brushes across his skin. He starts to reach for his swords, but for some reason he’s unarmed.

Whumptober day 4 + alternate prompt: Hidden injury and tears. Actually not an au- This is part of their canon verse. Vague noncon reference

~~~

The knife comes at her so unexpectedly that she can’t even prepare for it.

There’s a flash of something that might be hate on his face. She gets just a glimpse of those near-crazed eyes, the gleam of the blade, before there’s an intense line of fire down her upper arm. Sajia is not even sure if she cries out as she’s wrestled to the ground by the very person she was trying to help, a hand grabbing her shoulder and trying to pin her down. Another glance at those eyes- they’re not crazed like she initially believed, but she knows exactly what that look is- and the panic starts to settle in.

Thanks Vic! Super short pre-plot write in Zinjiq, and an obligatory Zuhayr is the worst.

~~~

An attempt on his eldest son’s life is no surprise, considering the power that Rahim will gain in just a year’s time.

The young man is stumbling down the hall towards him, hand clutched at his side. There’s a trail of blood behind him, and he’s using the wall for support as the pressure does practically nothing to staunch the steady stream from the wound. Torches lining the wall flicker in the night, and Zuhayr catches a glimpse of glazed eyes filled with pain, not focused on anything. He watches the stubbornness of his heir, not making any move to help, at least not for now. Rahim has yet to catch a glimpse of him, and there’s a cold flicker of hope that this assassination attempt will end up being a success.

Black eyes cast up and down the hall, wheezy breathes louder than the cold wind that flows through the deserted wing of the palace. He tries to take another step forward on legs that tremble in exhaustion, and a frantic grab at the stone is the only thing that keeps Rahim upright. The hand on the wall scrambles higher, grasping one of the torches and holding it up. “Is- anyone-“ He breaks off in a fit of coughing, blood running from the corner of his mouth. “Anyone? Need- help-“

Rahim’s voice fades at his final word, and his knees buckle and collapse. The torch rolls out of his hands, the flame still going as the sharp gasps echo through the palace. With a cold smile, Zuhayr turns his back on his biggest failure, walking away as his heir bleeds out on the cold, stone floor.

Rahim was never meant to be a ruler anyway.

For @whumpay2022 Day 4: I had it handled

This is part of the AU with @abstractwhump (currently called our “sad au” even though a more interesting name will probably be developed one day)

~~~

She wakes to the sound of swords clashing.

Rahim is already alert next to her, his eyes wide in horror in the dim light. Are they under attack?

He scrambles to his feet, grabbing his sword, and Sajia follows quickly as he runs to the door and throws it open.

Her mind can hardly process the scene. Their guards are fighting for their lives, enemy soldiers and enemy mages attacking with a brutality that Sajia has never been witness to before. Bodies are on the ground. One of them swings a sword in her direction, and Sajia acts on instinct, spinning out of the way before blasting them back with a powerful gust of wind. Another soldier lunges at her, and her husband intercepts him, fire lighting up the hall and the soldier’s screams echo as she backs up, feeling the panic shoot through her as she frantically looks around, heart stopping at the confirmation of her worst fear.

For @whumpawoman Angstpril day 16 and 17

Prompts: Exhaustion and Self Sacrifice

A collab write with @abstractwhump. Lianwen is Marsh’s character, and this is set in Khagai for our “sad au” (we have so many aus). Thank you Marsh for helping me with this write <3

~~~

At least it’s not a cell.

She can admit that her life has improved drastically. It’s infinitely better than the past year that she spent as a prisoner, used as some general’s personal stress relief whenever he needed a power trip. It was sheer luck to run into the prince of all people, and she’s even luckier that he’s the kindest person she’s met in this foreign place.