And Mercy To Temper (A Zamasu x Reader)

The Same Boat

After that meeting, your parents began training you more extensively.

"You can speed the process, but what is happening will happen, regardless of your contribution." They both said it to you--often.

"Then why do we do it?" you asked once.

"We have the ability to help life along, to shepherd it, in a way. It would be immoral to do otherwise than use these gifts for their betterment."

"I see. But why do we not intervene more often?"

"Tyrants will come and go," Shin said, "Empires rise, and fall. This is nothing new, and while it is sad that there is fighting and dying--if we intervened at every bad turn we would soon feel it our right to interfere. The power would go to our heads, and soon enough we would be..."

"Oh, stop prattling on," West cut in, "What he means to say is, we would topple and empire, and by installing a new leader, the new empire would be ruled by us. The mortals use a different phrase: A kingdom installed by magic will be ruled by magic. Our intervention would never end."

"So when are we allowed to intervene?"

"When there are threats of a larger nature. If the stability of time or space itself, or us for that matter, was threatened, then we can intervene."

"Okay." You still didn't quite understand, but the Grand Supreme Kai often said that it took time for things to process, and that you should not rush learning them. So you decided not to worry about it.

It was after that day's training session that your mother and father sat down with you at dinner and started talking more openly about your future.

"You've asked several times if you're going to be apprenticed," Shin said, "Is that still something you are interested in?"

"Of course I am." you replied. The lessons you had been taught about morality had worked well, but they were only that--lessons. It was easy to be a saint under a glass bell such as you lived, where you were generally not permitted to see mortals unless they were of the lesser variety, like beasts.

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Several hundred years passed before Gowasu came to visit the Grand Supreme Kai again, and as before, he brought Zamasu. Your ire at this being so obviously an attempt at match-making had faded, and in spite of yourself you were looking forward to seeing the both of them again.

The dinner began much as the last one had, with one minor change--this time you were seated beside him instead of across from him.

"How fares your training?" he asked.

"It's going well," you said.

"They tell me that you have an easy time with the creation work. Is it true?"

"I wouldn't call it easy," you replied, shaking your head, "I'm better at that than I am at fighting, so there's a bit of a tradeoff."

"You have my problem, then. Only in reverse." Zamasu seemed to smile, "The creation work all but eludes me, but I wasn't...recruited...for those skills in the first place."

"All the same," Gowasu said, "I will be making absolute sure that you don't neglect your training in that area."

"Of course not."

"And you, (y/n)," Gowasu's attention shifted to you, "You are not neglecting your fighting skills, are you?"

"Of course not," you said quickly, "I just have a weak point."

He seemed to look at your mother and father, and nod. "I have discussed this with your parents, but of course it would be improper to proceed without asking you as well. How would you like to be apprenticed to me?"

Well, you couldn't say you hadn't suspected it, and your initial inclination was to say no. But after taking a long sip from your teacup, you nodded. "I would like that, yes."

It was a big change--you'd never even really been off the planet, just watched others from afar. Sheltered--yes, that was the word.

"Why have you decided to take me on, anyway?"

"It's simple," Gowasu replied, "Your strength is Zamasu's weakness, and vice versa. It's an ideal situation."

Hrm. Perhaps they hadn't meant this to be matchmaking at all. Maybe they'd just wanted you to work with someone you could both help and learn from?

"Are you sure you can take on a second apprentice?" The Grand Supreme Kai laughed, "Old friend, you are quite ambitious."

"Are you sure you can handle another dumpling?"

More laughter.

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They remained for three days, and when they prepared to leave you had a few things packed.

"Ah, my little girl, properly apprenticed and everything!" West hugged you, and awkwardly, you hugged back.

"Mother? Can I ask you something? ...why wasn't I apprenticed to any of you here? I thought there were rules against this sort of thing."

"The lower Kais in universe 10 are having some trouble, and are asking for a bit of help from Gowasu."

"But won't taking on a new apprentice make things harder for him?"

"Not especially. He's not going to be with the two of you all the time."

Right. There was Zamasu to think about.

"Mom...did you guys plan this this way?"

"What way?"

"It''s just that...ever since you mentioned Zamasu, I've gotten the feeling that...well, that you were trying to play matchmaker or something."

"...what?" Shin looked at West and they both burst into laughter.

Now you felt less suspicious...but certainly sheepish.

"No. Good heavens, no. We just thought that the you would each benefit from the other's presence. Your strengths are the other's weakness, and you're closer in age to each other than you are to any of the rest of us."

"We wouldn't dream of trying that sort of thing," Your mother smiled. "If it happens that way, it happens that way, but it's not our intent."

"I'm really relieved, then." You hugged them both and then turned to leave.

"Poor girl," Shin shook his head once you were out of earshot.

"But they would be good for each other, wouldn't they?"

"Don't start, West."

"I just get the feeling, is all," she replied with a laugh, "So I made a joke, what are you going to do? Kill me?"