#but still...bears

one lie she/he told

“Oh–no, Uncle Balarama,” Abhimanyu says, voice steady, “I’ve yet to see Uncle Krishna today–but should I come across him, I’ll let him know of your concerns.”

“Do that,” grunts Uncle Balarama, no less frightening when his anger is directed towards another; and Abhimanyu does not dare move or speak until he is safely out of earshot.

“Well done,” says Uncle Krishna serenely, slipping out from the alcove; and then it is all worth it. 

two prayers/requests he/she made, and to whom

He prays to Mother Durga, as all warriors must, for the usual things: fame, strength, victory. But under the heat of the sun, surrounded by the enemy, he thinks only of his beloved uncle and wishes only this: don’t let me disappoint you, please–

three ways in which history/legend is mistaken about her/him

He might have been his father’s favorite son, but Uttara is dearer by far to Arjuna than he ever could be. It puzzles Abhimanyu sometimes, who had always supposed that excellence at archery was the only way to win his father’s love, but Uttara, only an enthusiastic but unskilled dancer, might not have earned Arjuna’s affection, but enjoys it anyway. 

“You are to inherit Indraprastha one day,” Mother Draupadi promises him, and Abhimanyu frowns. Try as he might, he cannot picture himself doing such a thing and–and–Dwaraka is home, shameful though that might be. He does not want ever to leave it. He fidgets and fumbles, and if he could know cousin Vajra would have it instead someday, he would be all the happier for it.

They slander Mother, accusing her of sleeping too soon, but here is the truth: Abhimanyu intentionally puts all thoughts of the chakravyuh from his mind and refuses to learn it because he is tired of knowing so much of battle before he’s had a chance to participate in it, because the damage that breaking the formation would cost a thousand men’s lives, because–

Because it is boring, being perfect. 

four figures he/she admired

Uncle Krishna is clever and kind and even when he does not realize it, Abhimanyu copies his mannerisms without fail. 

Mother Draupadi is little more than a memory, but one upright and unbending. Abhimanyu is proud to defend her honor, even it means his life. 

Mother herself is stubborn and strong and never scared of anything–and in his last moments, it’s her example Abhimanyu turns to. 

Always, bright and blazing from afar, there is Father: and Abhimanyu will do whatever it takes to worship at his altar.  

five sentences from a fusion AU 

“A bear!”

Mother, to her credit, does her best to smother most of her laughter, but Chandra and Abhimanyu give her identical looks of reproach nonetheless. The V at Chandra’s neck is a shadow of Abhimanyu’s own royal collar; and the sleepy-eyed expression they usually wear the same. It is only–not the most flattering of comparisons for the son of a hero, who had desperately wanted to settle into a fierce eagle or lion or noble steed. 

“Don’t despair,” says Uncle Krishna, “they’re much fiercer than they seem. I think we can expect greatness of you yet.”