ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴀꜱʜᴇꜱ: ꜱᴇᴍɪ-ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ discussion

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That day, the entire palace had gone on lockdown, and Cassian had been patrolling and guarding for the entire two weeks they were shut down, with almost no breaks. Luckily, the threat was gone (as far as they knew) and Cassian had just woken up from his first restful sleep in fourteen days. As he walked down the hallway, he paused when he heard his name. Not just his name, but the voice that said it. Gabriella. Holy shit, he had forgotten she was still here. He had been so wrapped up in everything, it had slipped his mind that she wouldn't have been able to leave because of the lockdown. Usually, he would have walked away fast to spare himself the heartbreak of just hearing her talk. But she had said his name. And she was in his boss's office.

Cass quietly stepped back and leaned against the wall, listening to their conversation. As the two talked, his blood boiled, faced turned red, every possible feeling he could have had in the past two weeks combined into one, pure, undeniable feeling- a rage he hadn't felt in a long long time, if ever. Yeah, he had hurt Gabriella, but he hadn't meant to. It was his job, and he hadn't even known her when he had killed her parents. But now? Right now, this was intentional. Gabriella knew what she was doing, wanted to do it. He listened as she lied her ass off, saying how Cassian had attacked Noah out of jealously, almost killed him for no reason. What. The. Fuck.

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Gabriella Hart had lost the heart that she had before the news hit her. It'd been two weeks since.. everything, and well.. Gabi had fallen into a deep depression, only working and sleeping to keep the days moving. Eventually that sadness turned to anger. She would get revenge. She would make Cassian pay. She had to. Her plan, she decided, was to finish up her week at work, turn Cassian in for what he did to Noah, even if she had to fib a little, and then get out. Of course, she wasn't expecting the lockdown.

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Cassian couldn't take it any longer and walked in, eyes blazing. "Sir, she's lying," he said, glaring at her. "I have witnesses. Everyone on the guard knows. The medical staff knows. Noah attacked Miss Hart and I defended her. She's just taking some revenge before she leaves. I promise. You know me, sir."

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"Knight Noah never laid a finger on me, sir. I have no reason to take revenge on you, Knight Cassian, I am simply defending the other Knight when someone wrongly attacked them." She replied calmly, keeping her tone even the entire time.

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"Sir, Miss Gabriella and I have had a falling out due to me killing her parents during the riots a few years ago," he said flatly. "She has every reason to take revenge on me. And I have my witnesses to prove it." The knight nodded at Cassian, giving him a reassuring smile that let him know he knew Cassian was telling the truth. "Miss Hart, you are excused. Have a safe trip home. I will be sure that this knight is delt with."

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"Thank you, sir," she replied, ducking her head politely as she let herself out the room. As she left, she made sure not to look or touch Cassian, telling him silently he is not even worth a second of her time. Outside waiting for her was Noah. "Hello, Knight Noah," she greeted once out the room.

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Cassian was dismissed shortly after, told nothing would change and Noah would be delt with. He nodded and thanked him, before leaving, furious and heartbroken.

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Noah and Gabriella were laughing off to the side of the hallways when Noah reached out and touched her arm. Gabi quickly stepped to the side, but she laughed it off when Noah gave her a confused look.

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Cassian didn't dare to look at the two talking as he walked past. Fine. If she wants him near her again, she won't have me around to help when she gets hurt. Good riddance. He tried hard to convince himself to believe those words.

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Noah, though, wasn't as.. smart, per say. "What's wrong, Cassey Boy? Did someone piss in your Cheerio's this morning?" He laughed and Gabriella rolled her eyes, fixing Noah with a look meaning 'grow up, please'.

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Cassian rolled his eyes. "I don't care enough to feel insulted by a man with no dignity or morals. Good on you for trying though. And hey, have fun, man. You two deserve each other." He continued walking away.

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Gabriella grabbed Noah's arm before he could say, or do, anything. "Come on, Noah," she murmured, giving Cassian not even a glance. "Let's go," she said firmer when he didn't move.

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((bro wtf is she thinking??))

Cassian sighed as he turned the corner and reached his room. Gabriella was gone, he supposed. The girl he knew was gone, as was his love for her. She had turned on him so quickly, tried to ruin him, tried to take vengeance on him. He was glad she was leaving.

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((she's not))

Yeah, except.. he wasn't. At that moment, a gunshot rang through, striking Noah right in the heart. Gabriella let out a shriek, his blood splattering all over her as they both tumbled apart. Gabi stood there, eye wided, unsure what to do.

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Cassian jumped and drew his sword, sounding the alarm and ran through the castle to get to the bunkers and safe rooms. He ran past Gabriella and swiftly stabbed the man who had shot the gun. He grabbed Gabi's hand and guided her quickly into. "Brace yourself." he said. "And stay safe." He closed the door and pressed the button to lower the shaft down into the room. He stayed out, running around with other guards to clear the area. He fought blindly for a long time before a sharp pain shot into his leg. He gasped in pain and stumbled, leaning across a wall. Still, he kept fighting until he'd lost too much blood and passed out near a plant, leaving the others fight off while he laid lifeless near the door where Gabriella was. He'd often come back there to make sure no one tried to get in, and had run back to try and defend it as long as he could. As much as he hated her, he'd defended her as long as he could. Cassian thought her name and of her face before his eyes closed.

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"Cassian!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. She looked around the cement room. She went to the door, banging on the door before slumping down, sobbing as she curled into a ball near the door. "Cass," she murmured, her hand on the door.

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((the angst is angsting))

Two soldiers picked him up and quickly put him in the shaft and lowered him before locking it and fighting longer, then finding their own safe spot. He arrived in the room, out cold, blood spilling out of his leg.

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((fr it's awesome))


"Oh my god," Gabriella said, backing away from the door as it opened as quickly as she could. Her eyes only widened more as she rushed to Cassian's side, "Oh god," she whispered, observing the wound. She quickly took off her scarf, tying his leg exactly as she had when he'd been shot at the village.

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Cassian didn't wake until hours later. He was on top of a cot on the ground, a pillow under his head, and his armor discarded next to him. He leg was tied tight with a cloth and water was next to him, as well as ointment for the infection. Their safety bunkers were well prepared, but had no idea who was caring for him, or how he got here.

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Gabriella had barely moved from her corner. There, she could see the door, be hidden in the dark and see Cassian. It didn't occur to her until he woke up that.. well, she was locked in a room with a man she hated. Or at least was trying very hard to hate.

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Cassian took the water next to him and gasped in pain when he shifted to sit up. "Shit," he groaned, his leg spasming when he moved. Still, he did it and dark, desperate for a drink.

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"Stop," Gabriella murmured, rushing to his side. "Relax. I'll pour it in." She grabbed the water bottle from him and slowly poured it into his mouth when he was ready. She refused to meet his eyes, focused only on the bottle.

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Cassian stared at her, shocked. He took the drink, mind racing. Gabriella had done all this? What could have possibly led her to go to these lengths to save him, make him comfortable? And now, to run over to help him drink when he had no idea she was even there. He pulled away from it when he had had his fill, and stayed bewildered, pondering her possible motivations.

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She swallowed roughly, putting the bottle down. "Don't try to sit up. They got you pretty bad out there. If you need something, just.. just let me know."

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Cassian nodded a little, and looked over at the door. "Do you know what happened?"

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She shook her head, "I was in here the entire time." She took a couple steps back, giving him space. "Next thing I knew you were in here too. I thought..." she caught herself. She was going to say I thought you were dead, but instead said, "I thought they'd found me."

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Cassian pursed his lips and turned his gaze back on her, assessing the parts of her he could see, seeing if she had been hurt at all. He was in too much pain to be hateful right now, even if he did hate her. Kinda. "Were you hurt at all?" he asked. "Noah got shot right next to you."

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"Just bruised," she said softly. She pursed her lips at the thought of Noah. Like she needed reminding. Like she didn't remember doing nothing while she watched the life flow from his eyes as he fell to the ground. Like she didn't remember standing there like a deer in the fucking headlights.

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He nodded and once he found she was okay, he hardened again and pulled away, grunting in pain when he laid back down, the anger blazing once again. Maybe he still cared for her enough for her to want to be okay- but all she's done for him is make sure he didn't die. And he would never trust her again.

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She narrowed her eyes and stood, throwing down the towel she'd been wiping his forehead with on the nearby table as she recruited to her corner. She crouched down, curling into herself. Her eyes fell closed right as tears overflowed and fell down her cheeks.

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Cassian heard her soft cries, and even as a little piece of his heart chipped away, he didn't call out. She'd lost that right, and she'd probably just yell at him anyways. He'd touched her parents' blood, washed it off his hands. And she'd stabbed him in the back after he'd done nothing but care for her. They would never be close again, and he'd have to accept that.

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She cried out of fear. Out of the Cassian drama. For Noah. She just let it out. As silently as she could, of course. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, causing Gabi to let out a soft yelp.

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Cassian jerked and adrenaline rushed through his body. He fought through the pain, even when tears rushed to his eyes, and picked up his sword. "Gabriella," he grit out. "Go into the very back room. Lock the door. Don't open it. Now."

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"No, Cassian, you can't fight. You're already hurt," she said, going to him and grabbing the sword and tossing it towards the back room. "Come with me. Now."

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"Gabriella!" he snapped, hobbling over to the sword. "That safe room isn't perfect. If they get through, we're both dead meat. I can stall them, maybe kill them. I'm a trained professional. You know that firsthand if you don't remember. I killed you parents." He was trying to get her to be mad enough to just go and be safe, and hoped she wouldn't see through it. "I killed them in cold blood and washed it off in my bathroom sink. Okay? Now go before they get in here!"

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"Good for you," she yelled, "Glad that's something you can brag about, but I'm not going anywhere until you go in there yourself. Now go!" How dare he try to use her parents against her. She knew what he was doing. How dare he try to manipulate her like that.

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"Goddammit, Gabriella!" he exclaimed, face pale with the strain of just standing. "Do you want to die? Stop being fucking stubborn and go!" the door banged again. "I'm trying to save you, goddammit. And if I live, yell at me later. If I die, you're welcome, I did it for you! Instead of trying to ruin my life, now you can just let someone else end it. Get. In. The. Bunker. Or I'll put you there myself."

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"I'd like to see you try!" She yelled, "Please, Cass, just get in. We can't both die. Come on!" Tears were streaming freely down her face now as desperation creeped into her face. "You can't do us any good if you can barely stand."

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A gunshot went through the door and Cassian grabbed the sword quickly and led Gabriella quickly into the room, locking it. He opened the wall by pressing on a spot and the walked behind it, then turned into another small room. He collapsed on the ground, panting hard, pain shooting through his body. "Gabriella, when I'm trying to save your life, it's not the time to be stubborn for no reason!"

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“Are you hurt somewhere else?” She asked, rushing to his side and helping him down easier. She pursed her lips and shook her head, “I know exactly when the right time to be stubborn is. We’re in here, aren’t we?”

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Cassian frowned and shook his head. "Probably. But I'll deal." He looked over to the door. "If they come through somehow, we're sitting ducks. Why didn't you let me stay? I could've fended them off. Now, all that energy's gone, and I don't know if I can protect you now."

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She ignored his complaints and checked on his leg, laying a fresh cloth over the top after soaking it with water. "Cassian," she whispered, looking up, tired. "I wasn't about to leave you out there to die."

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Cassian didn't answer for a second. "Do you want a thank you or something?" he asked.

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She rolled her eyes and walked away, ignoring him as she scouted out the room. It was about half the size of the other room. There was no table and a small cupboard. She opened it quietly and counted what they had. It was plenty to last for a while. She nodded softly and sat down in the farthest corner from Cassian.

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Maybe an hour later, Cassian felt his head spin and a burning sensation increase in his lower legs. He shouted a curse, tensing on his spot on the floor. The pain quickly spread to his entire body, causing him to shake and convulse, the burning never stopping.

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"Cassian?" Gabi asked, shooting up from her spot. "Oh god," she whispered, seeing him. "Hey, hey," she grabbed the rag and dipped it into fresh water, pressing it against his forever. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the wound. She winced, unsure if it was infected or healing or whatever. Using another wet rag, she laid it onto the wound as carefully and gently as she could.

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Cassian gasped, his body relaxing only a little. "It-" he shuddered. "Fuck, it burns. It's everywhere." He cried out, then calmed when the warm cloth soothed his skin. "Thank you," he bit out, the pain making it hard to speak.

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"Shhh," she soothed, running her fingers through his hair, "Don't think about it, Cass, just.." she hesitated, wondering what to do. An idea popped into her mind and she hesitantly began singing a soft ballad, cupping his face with her palm as she tried drawing his attention away from the pain.

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Cassian's eyes were squeezed shut, so when she touched him, tried to comfort him...it surprised him, to say the least. Sure, maybe it was just so he wasn't loud or something, but...she was touching him. Soothing him. Singing for him, which he missed so goddamn much. His shoulders untensed.