Work Text:
A Bedtime Story
The bedroom was nearly submerged in complete darkness. Nearly, but not wholly.
Along one wall, near the floor, a cute little night light of a penguin carrying an egg radiated a gentle glow, parting the shadowy sea so, were one to peek into the room, it would be possible to see the humanoid silhouette seated amidst the darkness, attentively reading the illuminated pages of a favorite book.
The whispering rustle of turning paper interrupted the silence for a moment, before returning to stillness once more.
Within Kasumi’s mind, however, far from the room, on a night cast in pale moonlight and fire, there were inhuman growls from the horde of darkspawn—there was no end to them. Shouted orders rang out over the monstrous noises. Soldiers laden with armor and weapons hurried to defend the ancient fortress besieged by a tainted dragon, all as once proud towers and walls collapsed beneath the mighty creature’s assault.
Magical explosions rippled upon the air, and blades sang and clashed in a desperate battle to deprive a would-be god of their immortality.
“Mama?”
The quiet voice broke past the sharp sounds of battle, immediately. Kasumi raised her gaze from the page, to the faint silhouette of her youngest daughter, Miyako, sitting upright in bed.
“What’s the matter, my little shadow?”
“Do you think Mommy is okay?”
“Mmhm. I’m sure she was caught in a meeting when we called, wishing more than anything she could be here, with us.”
Kasumi’s certainty was unwavering. Ana wouldn’t willingly miss the chance to say goodnight to their daughters, the lights of their lives. An interfering force must’ve been at play, restraining her ability to answer their call; the thief’s credits were on the retired soldier still playing peaceful mediator.
Even so, she wasn’t surprised by Miyako’s sudden question. She had heard all four of her daughters stirring in their beds, tossing and turning, searching for the comfort of dreams.
Anxiousness had sank its fangs into them. It kept them afloat, awake, unable to sink into a deep sleep. Shep had never missed a goodnight call while away for work. Until tonight, anyway. The abnormality unsettled the four, departing from a routine run and air-dropping them into an uncomfortable and uncharted place, where they, too, only wished she could be home, with all of them.
I had hoped my being near might help them get to sleep.
Kasumi peered through the veil of shadows, at the other beds.
Zanea and Destia, six year old identical asari twins, had thrown aside the fleeting illusion of sleep, sitting up; the former hugged a cute varren pup plushie against her pajama shirt—a gift from Jack—while the latter lightly rubbed her lapis-colored cheek and the white markings upon it.
Xandria, red-haired like her mother and quickly approaching five years old, was leaning up on her elbows, pursing her lips in discomfort.
Doesn’t seem like that mission is showing any signs of success.
“I miss her,” her three year old said sadly.
“I know. I miss her, too.”
Turning off the clip-on book light, Kasumi rose and moved to the nearby light switch, lightening the previous darkness to a lukewarm, dimmed state, neither too bright nor too dark.
At least it isn’t a school night.
Small blessings.
The sudden call from Garrus four nights ago left behind an unease she couldn’t quite shake, however. Kasumi couldn’t say definitively what political issued needed resolving, unwilling to press for details at the time—it’d been late. But she knew some of the recent tension points on the galactic stage, including those which might need Shep’s assistance in attaining a peaceful resolution, and that left room for dangerous thoughts to emerge.
Whatever it was about, Kasumi thought pensively, it was of the utmost importance. Garrus wouldn’t have called when he did otherwise. And Ana wouldn’t have turned so serious, so quickly.
It’d been instantaneous, switching from a tired, teasing smile and a witty remark to the expression of Commander Shepard and the eerily calm responses of a soldier.
Afterwards she’d packed a duffel bag with the essentials to last a week, booked a trip to the Citadel for the next morning, and then calmly joined Kasumi in bed again, refusing to pull a disappearing act on their children.
“You don’t have to wait, you know. I can handle the girls while you deal with whatever is going on,” Kasumi assured.
To those outside of her inner circle, Ana would always be Commander Shepard, master problem solver, the woman who united a galaxy, saved worlds, and made the impossible possible. As an ambassador of peace she’d become a powerhouse diplomat.
It was only sensible for her to go now, or so logic determined. Maybe it would allow her to return quicker.
Shepard met her half-hearted argument with calm composure, no longer eerie, but relaxed and secure when she promised,
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
“Ana…”
“I’m not the only pillar holding our galaxy up. There’s a chance the situation might be resolved by morning, but if it isn’t, I’ll go. After I’ve explained to our girls where I’m going, and that I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Ana shook her head. “I’m not vanishing in the middle of the night, without a word, leaving you with the responsibility to explain why. They deserve better than that. You deserve better.”
What little urge she had left to argue evaporated beneath the warmth of her words, and left only love behind.
Anastasia had been true to her word, as always. She slept through the night, woke early to exercise, and stayed for breakfast, where she explained her work-related departure and reassured their daughters she’d be back as soon as she could, promising to vid-call them before bed.
The thief exhaled through her nostrils softly, sauntering over to Miyako’s bed.
I hope everything is okay. I hope it’s nothing like my worst fears. We’ve made it this long without a war, so…
She could only hope. And pray. For their children, and their future.
Shep had vid-called them each night since. It’d become apart of their nightly ritual before putting the kids to bed, as integral to bedtime preparations as brushing their teeth, but there hadn’t been a call tonight, nor had she answered when Kasumi attempted to make contact.
Whether a good sign or an ill omen, she couldn’t say. Brooding over it wouldn’t cure what ailed her daughters, however, and it had never been her strength, either. An additional furrowed brow wouldn’t help anyone.
What to do, what to do?
Sitting down next to her youngest daughter, Kasumi planted a kiss on top of her head, thoughts flying at FTL in search of a way to help ease them to sleep. It was a glance to her book which triggered an idea. A port in the storm, one might say.
“Why don’t the five of us go to my room so we can all sit together in one bed, and I’ll read you one of my books for a bedtime story. How does that sound?”
After a moment of contemplation, and by unanimous decision, they agreed. It was better than tossing and turning, after all. And they were all a pinch curious to know what sort of tale lay hidden between the pages of their mother’s books.
So, Kasumi picked up Miyako and together they all moved to her bedroom, settling in on the mattress among the pillows.
With the youngest in her lap, and her daughters gathered close by, hugging plushies and small pillows, or wrapping themselves in their favorite colorful blankets, Kasumi began flipping through her chosen book for a place to start.
Usually I’d read it from the beginning, but this one…
It was thick—thicker than the romantic and gallant tale of The Shadow Dragon and The Detective she’d been reading before. In fact, it was the largest and longest book she possessed, passing well beyond one thousand pages.
They may fall asleep before we get to the fun bits. Then they’ll think my books are boring, and I can’t have that.
After flipping through the pages, eyeing the names of chapters and page numbers, Kasumi found a good starting point.
“Here we are,” she said.
“What’s it about?” asked Destia.
“Our tale begins long ago, in the faraway nation known as the Land of Fire, on a peaceful night within the Hidden Leaf Village when the tremendous and powerful creature known as the Nine-Tailed Fox mysteriously appeared and attacked its inhabitants…”
As soon as she crossed the threshold, Anastasia Shepard exhaled a relieved sigh.
Finally made it.
Solid ground.
Home.
God, she’d missed it. She’d missed them.
While Garrus was always good company—they’d gone through hell and back together—she knew in her heart of hearts they both would’ve preferred to be home with their respective partner’s and children, instead of wading through a political conflict the last few days.
For now it seemed they’d resolved it, but, as always, they would need to remain vigilant, preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.
Just like old times, really.
Beneath the dimmed lights illuminating the entryway, however, any lingering tension from their recent endeavors evaporated. Rather, she shut the door on it, closed her eyes, and breathed in the comforting surroundings of their humble little hideaway.
Their home.
It was quiet. Silent as a graveyard, but that wasn’t surprising. At the current hour, anything else would’ve been strange, frankly, like returning to a thumping club beat, flashing lights, and a family dance party.
Anastasia slipped out of her shoes, set them aside. She unzipped her N7 hoodie, revealing an off-the-shoulder fuchsia top, but didn’t shrug the extra layer off, meandering, instead, from the entryway to the living area, and dropping the duffel bag onto the couch as she passed it
She’d deal with its contents later. In the morning. After a good night of sleep, a nice shower, and breakfast with the people she cherished.
Immediately, and quiet as a phantom, she started towards her daughters’ bedroom. She wanted to see them, even just a small glimpse of their sleeping silhouettes, before going to bed.
Disembarking procedures had kept her from answering their call. Then, nearly as soon as it finished, a fellow Alliance veteran had recognized her, which then caught the eye of a traveling reporter.
The latter encounter felt like a hostage situation for a while, but she’d finally managed to politely slip free—after a half an hour had flown by. A half an hour, during which, her daughters doubtlessly fell asleep, given the time.
Frustration had simmered beneath the surface afterwards. Now, only a few steps away from her daughters’ opened bedroom door, it cooled, evanescing with any persisting concerns sourced from the last few days.
Quietly, she entered the doorway. Then immediately furrowed her brow.
They’re not in their beds?
Old instincts fired up. Her eyes scanned the darkened room, brightened somewhat by the cute penguin night light, seeking any signs of a struggle or a break-in. The living room chair settled inside stood out, an abnormality disturbing the usual patterns.
Kasumi had been here. The blankets on each bed were sloppily peeled back, reminiscent of nights when storms rolled through, and their daughters, frightened by the lightning and thunder, hurried to their parent's bedroom for safety and security. No signs of a fight, however, which relieved a tight knot of stress.
Humming thoughtfully, she glided silently from the doorway towards the next obvious location: hers and Kasumi’s bedroom. She scanned their home for anything out of place along the way, any signs of a struggle she may have missed, more alert than before.
The house was silent, absent of an intruder’s scurrying footsteps. The security systems were intact and active. Nothing within their home appeared out of order, nor did any signs of a struggle or pilfering reveal themselves beneath her probing and hyper vigilant gaze.
Their bedroom door was wide open when she arrived. So, Kasumi’s quiet but impassioned voice floated into the hall, to her ears.
“ ‘There may be thousands of Mizuki’s, but there are thousands more of people like us,’ Naruto spoke aloud to the Nine-Tailed Fox. ‘People who are willing to step up against the cynics and the monsters who make this world the way you see it. People like Amari’s parents, Itachi and Aimi and Shisui, and countless others, who sacrifice their lives, their futures and their peace for others.’
“ ‘And what has their pointless sacrifices amounted to?’ the Nine-Tails demanded to know. ‘They were betrayed—slain by the Leaf because of the hatred inherited by the subordinates of Tobirama Senju. Tobirama passed along his hatred, he orchestrated Yua’s murder and thus Madara’s descent into hatred, which inevitably led him to me.
“ ‘Because of Tobirama’s single act of selfish hatred, he set in motion the events that forced us together. He is the reason I was Sealed inside of Mito Uzumaki. He is the reason your parents are dead, and the reason Amaririsu’s family and Clan were murdered. He is the reason my kind are enslaved and forced to be used as weapons by humans!’
“More boiling chakra flooded through Naruto, causing him to gag and choke,” Kasumi narrated.
All alerts were ended, silenced by a pleasantly amusing revelation: Kasumi was reading one of her books to their girls.
Ana slowed her approach, smiling unconsciously. She was excited to see them all, to sweep in and surprise them when they least expected it, but she was also curious to hear more.
“Inside of his mindscape,” the thief continued, “he collapsed to his hands and knees into the red-tainted water.
“ ‘No matter what you do, humans will always be the same!’ claimed the Nine-Tails in furious passion. ‘Shisui, Amari’s parents, they devoted themselves to the Leaf, to the Senju ideal of one Village over one mere Clan. Yet where are they now?
“ ‘They’re dead!’ ” Kasumi declared, lowering her pitch into a deep grumble when she read dialogue from the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Anastasia leaned against their doorframe, crossing her arms. Within, as expected, was the cutest scene she could ever hope to return to, one that lightened her heart and put the old ghosts back to bed.
Kasumi sat at the top of the bed, at its center. Miyako was in her lap, enamored by the tale. Zanea, Destia, and Xandria hugged their plushies, small pillows, and wrapped themselves in their favorite colorful blankets, leaning in, wondering what would happen next. They didn’t notice Anastasia, but she didn’t mind. Not at all.
She swore she felt cavities forming—it was too sweet. To think she nearly missed out on it.
“Naruto blinked away the flooded chamber and found himself being slung over the shoulder of his Shadow Clone, carried away from the Reanimated Mito Uzumaki.
“He blinked again and he was back inside the dank and dark chamber with the Nine-Tails harsh gaze reflected in the water, glaring at him.
“ ‘They were murdered in cold blood,’ declared the Nine-Tailed Fox. ‘And the man responsible walks free, unpunished. He wields the same power he did at the time. It doesn’t matter how many people like you exist. Greed and selfishness will always control humans. Sacrifices like the ones Amaririsu’s family made—like your parents made—will always be meaningless!’
“ ‘…You’re…wrong.’ Naruto choked. ‘It wasn’t meaningless!’ ”
Kasumi turned the page. She shot a sly, loving smile and a wink at the redhead before continuing.
“His Shadow Clone popped,” she narrated intensely. “He knew that not from their memories, but from crashing to the earth, thrown out of harms way. A third tail formed from his cloak.
“He couldn’t fight like this. Not with the Nine-Tails fighting him for control over his body.”
“No,” Destia gasped.
“He can’t lose control now,” Xandria said. “He just has to hold on a little longer!”
Anastasia grinned affectionately at her daughters. One would’ve thought they were there, watching the battle unfold, cheering on a precious friend.
Kasumi had them hooked. They were dancing in the palm of her hand, trapped on the rollercoaster of emotion she set in motion, swept away by the undulating tide and at the mercy of the tale’s powerful currents.
But, then, she felt the tide drawing her out to sea as well. The rollercoaster sounded exciting, and she didn’t mind dancing, so long as Kasumi was her partner in the gallant tale’s twirling tango.
So, she surrendered to the flow, and let the thief guide their movements.
“ ‘You must fight his control, Naruto!’ Mito Uzumaki commanded, resisting the Reanimation Jutsu as best she could, with every ounce of her spirit. ‘Remember your vow. Remember those you hold precious! Remember that you are never alone!’
“Naruto grunted. He shut his eyes, overwhelmed by all the emotions seething inside of himself. I’m not…alone? No, he thought. I’m not. Not anymore. I’ve got Iruka-sensei, Team Seven, Kurenai-sensei, and so many others now. I have so much it’s almost hard to hold onto it all…”
“Naruto…” Zanea eyes glistened.
“He pressed his hands against the dirt,” Kasumi read on, “then extended his red chakra-cloak’s arms to fling himself head over foot through the air with a roar.
“ ‘How can you say it wasn’t meaningless?’ The Nine-Tailed Fox wanted to know. ‘How can you honestly tell me their sacrifice had any point when nothing has changed!’
“ ‘Because Amari is alive!’ Naruto roared back, creating a horde of Shadow Clones to use as a shield as he flew towards Mito. ‘And that final, selfless act of theirs brought her into all our lives! She changed Kurenai-sensei’s life, Kakashi-sensei’s life, Shikamaru and his parents lives, my life!
“ ‘Their sacrifice paved the way so that she could be here. They entrusted everything to her; their hopes, their dreams, their love and Wills—everything! They believed in her. They believed in their daughter, their sister, and they died knowing she would find a way forward!’ ”
Those words struck Anastasia at her core, cutting right through her armor. Sky blue eyes lowered. She pressed her lips together.
The sacrifices of so many had paved the way to defeating the Reapers. The hopes and dreams of the fallen, their love, their indomitable spirits and the indelible connections they’d formed, they entrusted it all to them—the living. The ones who would be left to rebuild.
And she’d be damned if she let anyone call it meaningless, or to cast their sacrifices aside and all they had rebuilt and healed since for selfish political ambitions.
Ana unconsciously leaned in, resonating with the protagonist, listening no longer with amusement and affection, but sincere curiosity and emotion at the story unfolding.
Fortunately, Kasumi continued on.
“Adamantine chains rattled and chakra-tails swung, spearing and crashing through his horde. Naruto was knocked out of the air, sent careening into the dirt. He rose again and dashed across the battlefield on all-fours, unleashing roar after roar, producing powerful shockwaves of air and sound as he created more Shadow Clones, who fell in alongside him like wolves.
“He was faster, so much faster than he ever had been before. Together they charged Mito. Naruto darted in at sharp and short diagonals, weaving as bladed chains fell from the sky and rose from the earth. His Shadow Clones popped around him.
“When Mito’s chakra tails came hammering down from the sky, his horde of Shadow Clones lunged at the bubbling tails and latched onto them, heels and toes digging into the dirt, bearing the weight on their shoulders even as the earth shattered beneath their feet.”
Kasumi turned the page. Anastasia’s pulse raised in tempo ever so slightly. Their girls hovered between on the verge of tears, curling fingers into blankets, and hugging their plushies and pillows tightly, swept up in the intensity of emotion and battle.
“He needed a single opening. That was all. Just one single opening, and his Shadow Clones were going to give it to him, regardless of what the Nine-Tailed Fox thought. He wasn’t alone. Not anymore and never again!
“A Shadow Clone fell in line in front of him. Naruto rose from all-fours onto two legs and put his palm out, facing up, and summoned the swirling Rasengan, colored vermillion within the shell of the cloak.
“He took two long strides, jumped onto his Shadow Clone’s shoulder and leapt into the air, just as a third tail pierced the Shadow Clone.
“ ‘And if my parents sacrificed themselves for me,’ he yelled, “then that means they believed in me, too! That means they died entrusting everything to me. Their hopes, their dreams, their love and Wills’— he jabbed his finger to his heart, tears flowing down his face—‘they’re all right in here! So don’t you dare say it was meaningless!’ ”
“Mito, shimmering with golden like flames, looked at him with fascination and fondness. He blinked and found himself in the mindscape again. The Nine-Tailed Fox’s hatred-consumed gaze glared harshly at Naruto. He glared right back.
“ ‘You say it’s impossible, and maybe it is,’ he said after a beat of silence. “But I say let’s roll the dice, then. I’ll take my chances against impossibility. I made a vow, after all. I’m never gonna quit, and I’m never gonna go back on my word. That’s my ninja way.’
“He turned his back to the Nine-Tailed Fox. Then said, ‘I’ll find a path forward, but I won’t do it alone. Amari and all the others will be with me the whole way.’
“He placed his hand over his heart and dug his fingers into his shirt.
“ ‘And…I’ve got my mother, too. I’ve inherited her dream. So you can quit trying to get me to give up. I won’t ever quit. I’m gonna help Amari build a path to the future. I’m gonna be there to look after her, and she’s gonna be there to look after me.
“ ‘We’ll keep rolling the dice. We’ll keep taking our chances against impossibility, and we’ll change this world together. You’ll see. That’s a promise.’
“Blinking it all away, Naruto thrusted his hand forward and yelled, ‘Rasengan!’ Mito’s eyes widened. And golden chains shot out of her torso. He never had a chance to dodge.”
Kasumi calmly shut the book. “And that, my little ones, is where we’ll end tonight.”
“Bu- But what happened to Naruto?” asked Xandria, desperate to know. “Did the chains get him? He didn’t die, did he?”
“It can’t end like that,” said Zanea, shaking her head. “He made a promise, and he doesn’t break promises.”
“Can we please read a little more?” Destia asked.
“More!” Miyako declared succinctly.
“Well…”
“Sounds to me like you’ve been out voted,” Anastasia said, stepping away from the doorframe and towards the bed.
“Mom!”
The single word, cheered endearingly in chorus by her three oldest daughters, was joined by Destia and Xandria clambering out of bed. The asari of the pair was first out of bed, and first to hug her, with the small redhead following a moment after.
“You’re safe,” said Destia.
“You’re back,” Xandria said.
“I am.” Anastasia hugged the pair. “I’m sorry I missed your call.”
She moved to Zanea afterwards, who stood on the edge of the bed, holding her varren pup plushie, and hugged her.
Zanea leaned deeply into the former soldier.
“You made it.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Mommy!” Miyako excitably stretched her arms towards the former soldier.
Anastasia picked her youngest out of Kasumi’s lap, holding her close and kissing her temple. With Miyako in her arms, and their girls climbing back into bed, she smiled at the woman she loved, who watched on with relief and adoration.
“Is your vote apart of the official record?” Kasumi asked, a lightness to her voice.
“Yep. I’m curious to know what happened,” Anastasia admitted. “Be a shame to stop there. Besides”—she bounced Miyako gently, smiling widely at her daughter’s giggle—“I’m not sure our troopers are willing to retreat until the mission is complete.”
“Oh, all right.” Kasumi feigned a sigh of defeat—and it was feigned. Her smile betrayed her.
She opened the book again, directly to the page she left off on.
“I suppose it would be too cruel to end it on a cliffhanger.”
“Yes!” Xandria pumped her fist.
Miyako cheered, raising her arms in celebration. Zanea hugged her plushie and smiled. Destia settled back in beside Kasumi, eager for the story to continue. Anastasia joined them on the bed, setting Miyako in her lap.
Later, when the story would conclude for the night, and their daughters barely clung to wakefulness, they would carry them to their beds and tuck them in, with whispered words of love and wishes for good dreams. They, too, would then retire for the night, sinking into sleep together.
For the moment, though, as they all sat together on the mattress, and Kasumi began to read the tale with dramatic seriousness which enthralled their children, Anastasia felt a warm contentedness wash over her. And smiled.
It’s great to be home.