#I got all my homework done BEFORE SUN DOWN FOR ONCE

[rafeslvbug]

Have you wrote a day in the life with lovebug!reader and military!rafe with the kids?!?

(i did it in first person narrative so imagine you’ve written this like a diary entry)

FIELD REPORT: 24 HOURS WITH MY SOLDIER

callsigns:

operator: capt. rafe cameron

homebase: lovebug (a.k.a. me)

mission objective:

make it through the day, alive, sane, all three children accounted for and at least one forehead kiss.

0500 – REVEILLE

rafe’s up before the sun. he’s shirtless, groggy, dog tags clinking against his chest as he changes into his gym shorts. me? i cling to him like a lifeline, begging the man to stay in bed.

– “stay five more minutes in bed, cap?” he kisses my hair, and says, “‘s a direct order, i’m happy to obey, bug.”

forehead kiss count: 1

0630 – MORNING BRIEFING

i’ve done the bed once he’s back from the gym. join him in the shower, do my skincare routine, put on the outfit i prepared yesterday and do my hair the way i planned. i don’t let him mess it up, he always tries.

rafe takes the twins, i take baby girl. she’s not as fretful this morning, messy hair and giggles that rafe loves to see. the twins look half dead but i’m sure pancakes could fix that!

coffee brewed military strong. rafe watches the news as he fries eggs on the pan next to mine, claiming the kids need protein if they’re gonna have all the sugar in the morning.

he lets me put a strawberry in his mouth mid chew. he rolls his eyes, but i know he secretly loves it. callum wanted nutella, and emerson wanted honey. rafe got them mixed up, and now they won’t speak to him.

📝 lovebug note: rafe keeps telling me to stop coddling the boys, but i caught him scrolling online for a new military play set for them.

0800 – DEPLOYMENT

full family mission today. baby girl strapped in her car seat, boys sat on either side because i just know they’ll try and fight each other.

rafe pats my thigh through the whole journey to the supermarket, one hand on the wheel.

baby girl won’t stop squirming in the trolley seat, not until she’s given my finger to hold onto. the boys cling to my leg. i just walk through the aisles, rafe picks the groceries and pushes the trolley.

risk assessment: dangerous driver, pushing speed limits.

1000 - RETURN FROM OPS

rafe carries in the bags– doesn’t even let me lift a finger, just the kids inside. i clean the fridge before stocking it, he lifts callum and emerson into higher cupboards to stow away some food.

i dust the house, rafe hoovers, makes the boys clean up their toys. he pauses on occasion to inspect the thoroughness of my cleaning, gives a firm nod then moves on. some habits don’t change!

📍status: the boys are getting hungry, so is baby girl, and i’m getting tired– rafe is still powering through!!

1200 – MIDDAY MORALE BOOST

rafe cooks up something quick for us while i mush some things for baby girl, she’s seeming to only really want milk though.

callum and emerson are renewed in energy, throwing food at each other.

rafe presses a kiss to my forehead as he walks past with the plates.

– “thank you baby.”

– “ ‘course bug, ‘s what i’m here for.”

he sets a plate down in front of me, food arranged in a heart shape i know he cringed while making, but did nonetheless.

forehead kiss count: 2

1300 - DOMESTIC OPS: LAUNDRY DIVISION

he carries both baskets in each arm, acting like it weighs nothing on the way to the couch where he sets the station up.

he folds with military precision, while the tumble dryer rumbles through another load. i crumple and hug his hoodie to my face.

– “smells like you, still,” i say.

– “you’re gonna wrinkle that,” he grumbles– while letting me steal it anyways.

watches while i match the socks. arms crossed. observing like it’s a test.

📝 lovebug note: i know he was proud when i found the missing pair.

1430 - RECON & REST MODE

chores are finished. the house smells like clean linen and cologne. baby girl’s down for her nap. the boys are busy doing homework on the kitchen table.

rafe collapses into my lap– finally. flops down with a grunt.

– “mission accomplished?” i tease

– “only if you’re part of the reward,” he mutters, tugging me down with him.

1900 – DECOMPRESSION DRILL

the kids shower and i lay out soft clothes for them. me and rafe get changed. soft pjs for me, random ripped shorts for rafe. no shirt.

we eat on the couch, boys cuddled between us, baby girl on rafe’s chest.

we sit through whatever cartoons the boys want; they deserve it after their homework.

2030– TUCK-IN-TACTICS

he reads with one hand, the other stroking sleepy hair.

– “one more page,” emerson yawns.

– “negative,” he says, smiling. “mission rules. sleep by 2045.”

callum stretches his small arms. rafe leans in and kisses his head.

– “sweet dreams, soldier. you did good today.”

2100 – PERIMETER SECURE

rafe does a few laps of the house. checks locks, triple checks them too. closes all the curtains. turns the alarms on. joins me upstairs.

cozy under the blankets, we put the tv on low volume. he makes me watch an old war movie– again.

i pretend to care. he pretends to not notice that watching him, rather than the film.

2230 – LIGHTS OUT

in bed, he wraps around me like a shield. dog tags cold against my skin.

– “you keep my grounded,” he whispers, kiss to my head.

– i whisper back, “you keep me safe.”

forehead kiss count: three

mission complete: end of transmission.

[inocentuure]

being in a secret relationship with jackie

it’s late september in wiskayok, and the air is starting to cool, but the bleachers behind the field still burn a little from the sun if you lean back too long. you’re sitting there now knees pulled up, chin resting on them watching jackie lace her cleats like she’s in a nike ad and not a dusty new jersey town with one decent gas station.

she’s got her practice jersey bunched up around her waist and her hair in a high ponytail that you’ve seen her redo at least four times in the past ten minutes. she’s nervous.

“you’re gonna be late,” you murmur, kicking her shin gently.

jackie looks up with a grin like the sun came out just for her.

“you say that like you don’t like watching me get in trouble.”

you roll your eyes, but the truth is, you do. there’s something funny about miss perfect jackie taylor getting chewed out by coach martinez because she spent fifteen minutes behind the bleachers “hanging out” with a girl no one knows she’s dating.

she tugs the tongue of her cleat, then leans over and kisses you quickly so fast you barely feel it, and so soft you feel it everywhere.

you blink at her.

“that was lame.”

“shut up.”

but she’s grinning again, her whole face lit up, cheeks pink like she’s still nervous, even after all this time.

“you said no lipstick today.”

“i said no smudgy lipstick,” you tease, “there’s a difference.”

jackie exhales, flops back on the grass beside you.

“i hate this part.”

“what part?”

“this part where i have to go be ‘jackie taylor’ and not just... me. with you.”

her eyes flicker to yours, cautious and soft. “the real part.”

you reach over and gently run your fingers over hers, the way you’ve done a thousand times in the dark during your so-called “sleepovers.” the ones where you watch clueless or scream until your stomach hurts from laughing and then fall asleep wrapped around each other like a couple of dorks who don’t want morning to come.

jackie’s always the big spoon. even when she pretends she doesn’t like cuddling.

(“you move too much,” she said once, halfway through a sleepover. and then held onto you like a damn koala all night.)

you squeeze her hand.

“we’ll get out of here someday, jack.”

she looks at you like she wants to believe it. like she almost does.

“you think there’s a place where we can do this without sneaking around behind bleachers and pretending we’re just best friends who are really into sleepovers?”

“i think there’s a place where people won’t care if you kiss me in daylight.”

you pause.

“...and where your mom doesn’t give me the evil eye every time i show up with a duffel bag.”

jackie groans. “god, she totally thinks we’re hooking up.”

“we are hooking up.”

“yeah, but she knows.” jackie hides her face in her hands, then peeks out between her fingers with a half-laugh. “she made me go to confession after your last sleepover. confession, y/n. i told father donnelly that we were practicing lines for romeo and juliet.”

you snort. “which version? the one where juliet takes her top off?”

jackie shoves your shoulder but she’s laughing now, that full-bodied laugh that makes her eyes crinkle and your chest ache a little because you love her.

(not the soft kind of love, either. the kind that punches a hole in your ribs when you realize how deep in you are. the kind that doesn’t go away even when you’re pretending it’s nothing.)

the whistle blows across the field and jackie winces.

“i have to go be the captain now.”

you nod. “yes, ma’am.”

she stands, then pauses and looks down at you, sun behind her like a halo, even though she swears too much and forgets to turn in her english homework half the time.

jackie taylor—homecoming queen, golden girl, certified overachiever.

she steps closer, crouches down, and kisses you again. slower this time. longer. warm and familiar and just a little desperate.

“friday night?” she whispers. “movie night?”

you grin. “if by ‘movie’ you mean thirty minutes of pretending to watch empire records before making out until my mom threatens to come in, then yes. movie night.”

jackie tugs her ponytail tighter, smiles.

“it's a date.”

she jogs off toward practice, and you stay there for a minute longer, heart still thudding, already counting down the days until you can be alone again.

[fandom-lover2]

Deep In The Woods, Something Lingers In The Trees

Chapter Three - Like Tarzan and Jane Do

Word Count - 3509

Chapter Two - Stranger Not Like Me

Chapter Four - A Troop Of Two

I yawned for the umpteenth time, barely awake as I slip out the front door, the mass rush of three people leaving at once doing nothing to wake me.

My mom asked something, probably about if she needs to fetch me from school or not, but I don’t hear and just waved her off. My step-father’s car rumbled to life, and my mother locked the door behind her, rushing past me to get to the car.

I yawned again, my eyes leaking water and I somehow make it down the stairs, despite not even looking.

I need a full night’s sleep, and soon. Ever since meeting that chimp in the forest three days ago, my dreams have been plagued by nightmares.

Sometimes, I hear a noise from downstairs and follow it, finding the thing sitting on our couch as if he was human, flipping through TV channels. He turns, and charges to attack me before I have a chance to scream. Other’s, it’s already in my room, watching me sleep.

I can’t do it anymore, the constant feeling that it’s still there, still watching me.

My parents drive off in their car, heading to the city to begin another Tuesday.

Closing the gate behind me, I begin my trek down the road to the school bus point. I shiver, despite it being a mid-spring day, and bundle my jacket closer around me. I can feel it’s eyes now, it’s too human eyes. I walk down the street, head down and ignoring all the people I pass.

We moved here three weeks ago. I’d lived in San Francisco since I was 4, in a small apartment in the city. My mom met her boyfriend a couple years ago, him having just moved into our building. They decided to move in together 4 months ago, and this was where they chose. The suburbs.

 From what I could tell, the people here were nice enough, not that I’d spoken to any of them or even left my room much since we moved, other than to go to the forest.

Wasn’t ever doing that again.

Things at home weren’t bad, but they were hard. I never grew up with a father, having moved away from him when I was 2. Now, at 16, I was supposed to just accept there was now a man in the house. A man who didn’t care about my opinion, didn’t listen when I asked him to do something that would be considered considerate, a man who yelled and had temper tantrums like a 3 year old because the TV wasn’t working right.

My room was comfortable, had a nice view of the street, and had a stock pile of food. I only needed to see any of them when I went to the bathroom or in the mornings when we got ready for school and work. And then of course our Muir Woods drives, but those were done in silence anyway, a compromise we made to keep my mom happy.

Reaching the bus stop, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through social media, not in the mood to interact with other kids. Maybe today I might manage to get a nap in during free period.

-----

I didn’t manage to get a nap during free period, because I didn’t get a free period.

Some idiot decided it’d be a fun idea to put a smoke bomb in the bathrooms. So after three hours of standing outside the school after we were all evacuated and the building cleared by the cops and bomb squad, we had to endure a two hour assembly, majority of which was spent with us sitting in silence when no one willingly gave themselves up and the staff had to check the security cameras.

But hey, less classes meant less homework, even if we did leave school later than normal.

The setting sun filtered through the trees that lined our streets, the golden light mixing with the still relative quiet of the afternoon and giving off a sense of calm.

I breathed deeply. Reaching my house, I have no idea why but I had the urge to turn, to look to the neighbours across from us.

Normal house, just like our own. I had never seen anyone come or leave the house, but did occasionally see an old man sitting on one of the chairs on the porch when I got home from school. I looked up, to the beautiful window for the attic that was shaped as a four point star. I sometimes caught sight of it as I prepared for bed, seeing a light on as if someone lived up there, yet never seeing a soul.

This time however, it wasn’t empty, and my heart dropped to my feet as I saw a face staring back at me.

A familiar, not human face.

Seeing I had noticed him, the chimp began to jump up and down, beating on the glass as he opened his mouth.

I couldn’t hear him, but I could imagine the noise he was making. He could break the glass, I thought.

And that was my only thought. Somehow I managed to get my key into the door, my hands trembling like leaves as I did. I slammed the door shut, making sure to lock it. Then, I backed away from the door, as if it had followed me, was right on the other side trying to get the door down.

No way! No fucking way! This couldn’t be happening. That thing couldn’t be living right here, our neighour!

No wonder I could still feel its eyes, it was always just right there.

What if my dreams hadn’t been dreams, but disjointed memories from when I was awake? What if it was getting in my room at night, in my house?

I ran upstairs, tripping many times in my haste. In my room, I rushed to my window, checking it was locked and tugging the frame to see if it would budge. It didn’t, securely locked shut.

 I made the mistake of glancing up. The ape was still at his window, once again getting all excited that I was looking at him.

I yanked my curtains closed, stepping back from my window as if it was seconds away from being demolished. I stumbled into the hallway, sliding down the wall out of sight out my closed curtains.

I tried to take deep breaths, tried to calm my racing heart. I cursed the tears that fell down my cheeks. God, why was I crying like a pathetic toddler all because I’d seen a monster in the window. I needed to get my shit together.

Eventually, my body stopped shaking, my heart beat steadily, my cheeks dried. I was ok. There was no way for it to get in. I was safe. As long as I didn’t look at that stupid window, and never left the house when that front door opened, I would be safe.

------

I didn’t get more than an hours sleep each night for the rest of the week. Every creak of the house, every rattle of a tree branch in the wind, it was the chimp coming to get me.

Most mornings, I waited for the very last second before my parents left, then darted out with them and ran like hell was chasing me till I was at the bus stop. I opted to stay at school, waiting for them to fetch me so I wasn’t walking home alone.

I never once looked up at the window, despite now being able to hear when it pounded against the glass.

I was on edge constantly, jumping at every sound, always watching the windows and door. By Thursday, my mother noticed something was wrong, and on Friday morning her boyfriend surprised me by suggesting I stay home, saying I really didn’t look well enough for school.

Obliging, I had crawled back into bed, eyes locked on my curtains. They had stayed closed since Tuesday, and I’d rarely taken my eyes off them since.

I heard my parents leave, shutting the door behind them and heard the car drive off. Now I was alone. Completely and utterly alone.

Maybe this was what it was waiting for, no witnesses, no aid. Just me to die alone.

Crap, I should have gone to school.

I slipped from my bed, grabbing my laptop and opening my google tabs. My last three days of terror had led to me becoming an expert in chimpanzees. I researched every aspect of them, their behaviour. If I needed to find a way to win in a fight against them, I needed to know all I could.

With my research, I had found even more disturbing stories of pet chimps turning on their owners, gruesome tales of noses and ears being ripped off.

I was so right to fear it. And yet, no matter how much I searched, there was never once a record of a chimp being able to learn guitar. Or any musical instrument.

Yes, they had intelligence. They used tools in the wild, could be taught basic tricks at zoos and in circuses. But that level of intelligence, it hadn’t been recorded.

Something was different about that ape I met in the woods, something in way he’d seemed so much more human than the rest.

Not in looks, in the way he acted. He’d looked at me as if he understood things, as if watching an equal.

His eyes, that had been the most unsettling, because they had been so much like ours.

I clicked through my open tabs, rereading articles and wiki pages I’d read over before.

I couldn’t keep doing this, living in fear of what was going to happen next. 6 days since I met him, 3 since I found out he was living 10 feet from me, and nothing had changed. I couldn’t live like this. I needed to do something.

Rising from my desk, I marched out my room and rushed down the stairs. Grabbing my keys from the door, I left my house and bounded down the porch stairs.

Something needed to change.

I kept my eyes down, focused on the space ahead of me. I opened the gate, hounded up the stairs, and knocked on the door before my mind could catch up with what the hell I was doing.

‘Why the fuck am I knocking on their door!?’ I screamed to myself, my legs going weak as I heard movement inside the house.

‘Exposure therapy.’ somewhere inside me answered.

I didn’t have time to back out, because the front door opened, revealing a woman.

She was wearing scrubs, and seemed to be getting ready to head out the door herself. I froze, staring up at the woman.

“Hello.” she greeted, her Indian accent detectable.

“Can I help you?”

My legs almost buckled as I heard the familiar (part of my research included the sounds they made) screeching of the chimp as he hurried down from the attic.

“Caesar!” a man’s voice called after him, the same one from the woods.

The woman turned, partially closing the door as she stepped inside again. The chimp some panting sounds, mixed with some hooting, and then there was the sound of footsteps coming towards me and the door opened again, revealing the man. He seemed surprised to see me.

“You?” he started.

 “Hi. I live over there, and I saw him in the window the other day and I’m really scared of chimpanzees, actually all apes and monkeys, and anyway I’ve been really freaking out the last few days but I’ve finally reached my limit and decided that if I meet him then maybe I’ll stop being scared.” I sucked in a deep breath of air, having said all that in one go.

The two humans looked at me in shock, then glanced to one another.

“Come on in.” the man decided, stepping aside and opening the door further.

And there he was.

He was crouch down on all fours, looking at me as if I was the most amazing thing. He opened his mouth, again with the strange smile that was marred by his deathly teeth, as he grunted and panted.

I swallowed, forcing my mouth to stop being so dry, and unclenched my fists. My legs had locked up, so it took some convincing to get them to step forward into the house. With each step I took, the chimp got more and more excited.

A third human emerged behind the chimp, an elderly man with grey hair and glasses.

“Oh. Hello.” he greeted with a kind smile.

I didn’t take my eyes off the chimp to acknowledge him. I knew not to keep eye contact, but when our eyes met, I didn’t feel the need to look away, the all-encompassing fear that would come from locking eyes with this creature.

The chimp, sensing my hesitance, stopped moving around as much, stopped hopping up and down.

I stepped into their house, the chimp on one end of the hallway that led to the kitchen, and me a few paces from the exit. Behind me, I heard the woman say something, and then call out goodbyes to the people in the house, but I couldn’t move.

I stared at him, his black fur that looked coarse and soft at the same time, his face almost human coloured, yet nowhere near human shaped.

And his eyes. That’s why he’d been so different, so human. His eyes were green, rimmed by a bright ring of gold.

And they watched me, analyzed me, learned me.

Still crouched, the ape offered his hand as he had before, palm up. This time, he did not bow his head, keeping his eyes locked on mine.

I took a step forward, and then another, and then another. Finally, I was before him. We looked at one another, neither moving except for our chest rising and falling. My heart beat pounded in my ears, blood rushing throughout my body, making it feel hot despite me shivering.

My arm felt like lead as I slowly raised it, keeping my gaze on him, making sure he wouldn’t suddenly move to bite me. He stayed crouched, beneath me, looking up at me as I moved my shaking hand.

Taking a shaky breath, I dropped my palm to his own.

For starters, his hand was warm, a stark difference against my cold one. And so rough. I mean, his hand looked rough already, but it actually felt rough. Yet still so smooth and soft, like a human’s. In fact, it was so much like a human’s it was unnerving.

His fingers were more bulky than a human’s though, pads more rounded and finger’s themselves longer. It was like his finger’s had muscle, which they probably did since, you know, he climbs trees.

His hand was so much larger than a human’s though, palm wider and finger’s more spread out. Still, rough.

I watched our hands connect, marveling in the contrast of textures as I rubbed my hand against his own.

It was incredible.

My eyes flicked back to his face, finding an almost matching look of intrigue as we studied one another.

Slowly, so I understood what he was doing, the ape began to rise. Instincts made me want to step back, but he closed his hand around my own. Not harshly or firmly, gently holding my hand in his grasp, a reminder that I was safe, that I didn’t need to be afraid.

Before, when he was closer to the ground, I felt as though I had some control over our situation. Now, the ape stood as if human and he dwarfed me.

Not in size per say, but in aura. Granted, his eyes were a few inches taller than my own and his shoulders wider than my own, but all that meant nothing in the way he managed to command the attention of all in the room.

His eyes were still so inquisitive, but it was like he knew what effect he had, looking down at me as if waiting for me to do something. Still, his hulking form showed no sign of ill-intent.

Our hands, still connected, my tiny one wrapped up securely in his own. He wasn’t something to be scared of, something to fear. He was just like me, young and curious of the world around him, innocent and happy.

There was something in him, something that made him more than he appeared. Something that made him… not ape. He was amazing. I smiled up at him, and he smiled back. A human smile. “Hello Caesar.”

-----

At the mention of his name, Caesar opened his mouth further and did the ape-ish grinning again, dropping my hand and crouching on the ground. Then, he began into the house, making it a few steps of his apely walk before turning and rushing back to me, signing.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know sign.”

Caesar turned to the younger of the men then, repeating the signs while he grunted.

“No Caesar, she can’t.” he replied, coming to stand beside me.

I looked over to him.

“He wants to show you his room.” he explained.

Briefly my heart jumped in my throat. This was just supposed to be me getting over my fears, not a playdate.

“Oh, let the kids go.” the older man groused, stepping further into the hall to join us. “Caesar needs a friend anyway.”

 Hold up, I didn’t agree to this friend thing.

I looked down to Caesar again, and he was practically vibrating in an effort to stay still, once again holding out his hand for me to take. Who the hell was I kidding, the second I saw him as more than an ape I knew I would want to spent more time with him.

I slipped my hand into his own, and barely had a chance to say anything before he dragged me off further into his house.

“We’ll bring you some snacks!” the elder man called out as Caesar rushed me to a flight of twisted stairs, leading to the second floor of the house.

Once there, I found the staircase to the attic open and waiting. Caesar released my hand and went first, barely using the stairs as he swung up into his room. Then, he stuck his hand down, waiting for me.

I took the first three steps, then took his hand expecting him to just guide me. No, he used one hand to take my entire weight and pulled me up the rest of the way. One arm!

Did he know he was supposed to be showing me I shouldn’t be afraid of him?

His room was… as you’d expect for a toddler going into childhood.

It was clustered, toys and piles of books everywhere. The walls were painted blue, with cartoon baby animal wallpaper stuck to the wood in some places.

Everything was so vibrant and colourful, the carpets looking like a clown had thrown up on them. A piano sat tucked in one corner of the room, my guitar leant up against it. On a desk, three puzzles being built at once, each over 200 pieces, and a chess board. Secured to the beams above, at least four different types of climbing ropes or swings for him to use.

And he did just that, grabbing ahold of one to hoist himself over his bed and land at his window. He pointed out of it, then back to me, then the window again.

I followed him, mindful to step around piles of what was treasure to him but junk to me. When I got close, he pointed again and I looked out.

There, perfectly visible, my closed curtains.

“Yeah, that’s my house. My room.”

Caesar then turned to face me, and made a gesture with his hands. He repeated the gesture, then pointed across the street again.

I raised my hands, copying what he’d done. It was as if making a box with your hands.

Caesar nodded, then did the action again, and gestured around us. I knew it wasn’t the sign for home. “Room?” I guessed.

Caesar went crazy, hooting hysterically as he leapt off the bench beneath the window and rushed around the room, cheering as he went.

I laughed nervously as he crashed around. “I’m not entirely sure what is happening but ok.”

Caesar landed by me again, still very enthusiastic, and made the sign again. I copied once more, saying “room” as I did.

Caesar nodded, then looped off and came back holding a book. I sat at the bench, and he jumped up beside me. Placing the book down, he pointed to it, then made a gesture with his hands that mimicked opening a book.

“Book.” I spoke, doing the action with him.

He got elated again, jumping up and down before rushing off to find something else to show me.

 And holy shit, a chimpanzee was teaching me sign language.

[bizbat]

And I Wake Up Alone.

~ Bruce Wayne x Black!Fem!Reader

~ Mild Smut

~ Angst

~ Wc: 880

~ The first part in a series based on Amy Winehouse's discography

~ Crossposted to AO3.

~ You can find more of my works here.

~ It's hard loving Bruce.

It's okay in the day, I'm staying busy.

Tied up enough so I don't have to wonder where is he.

Got so sick of crying, so just lately,

when I catch myself, I do a 180.

I stay up, clean the house, at least I'm not drinking.

Run around just so I don't have to think about thinking.

It's not hard to love him.

It's not hard to care about him, he's probably the most selfless man you've ever met. It's not hard to be comforted by his presence, there's something so soothing about his muscular arms wrapped around your waist. It's not hard to find him beautiful, even the parts of his skin that have been marred with scars still get soft kisses whenever he's shirtless in your presence. It's not hard to love Bruce. It's just hard to be in love with him.

It's hard knowing that some nights, he won't be coming back to bed. That one night he might not come back at all. And it's not too much different during the day. So you stay busy. In the morning, you get dressed, wake up Damian and Duke, and together you go eat whatever Alfred's made for breakfast. Then you go to work. Throughout those eight hours you keep yourself occupied, sometimes with work that's not even due till next week, just so you have something else to focus on.

Then, when work is over, you go home. You help with whatever homework Duke is pretending (for your sake) to struggle with, watching documentaries with Damian where he will correct the narrators, and having tea with Alfred after dinner.

That silent sense of content that everyone gets

just disappears soon as the sun sets.

It's almost perfect.

He's fierce in my dreams, seizes my guts.

He floods me with dread,

soaked in soul, he swims in my eyes by the bed.

Pour myself over him, moon spilling in.

It's almost perfect when he slips into bed beside you, the alarm clock on the dresser beside you reading 3:49 AM. It's almost perfect when his scarred hands brush over your soft, brown skin, caressing your sides and pressing chapped kisses to your neck and shoulders. When his hands and tongue give you all the love he neglects from you during the day, kissing, and sucking, and stroking. When he holds you to his bare chest, your hearts beating in tandem with one another. When he holds you tightly, as if he's trying to consume you in the sweetest, gentlest way possible.

And I wake up alone.

It's not perfect when you dream of him. When you can so vividly see the announcement of his death on the front page of The Gotham Gazette. Or when you see him laid in his casket, his face and hands red with blood and dark with bruises, ready to be buried beside his parents. It would be a nightmare if it wasn't so prophetic, if it wasn't true.

If I was my heart I'd rather be restless.

The second I stop the sleep catches up and I'm breathless.

As this ache in my chest, as my day is done now,

the dark covers me and I cannot run now.

My blood running cold, I stand before him.

He, surprisingly, is still there when you jolt awake. He's there when you're rapidly breathing in and out, terrified at the prospect of what will likely be his future.

It's not the feeling of his cold hands rubbing "comforting" circles into your skin, or the almost robotic way he tells you to breathe, or the sip of icy water he gets out of bed to get for you that calms you down.

It's the feeling of his weight in the bed beside you, his strong thigh lightly pressing against your own, the warm concern in his eyes that brings you back to Earth. He pulls you into his chest and you just breathe him in. All of him, the clean scent of his skin after his shower, the flowery detergent that you insist on using for your bedsheets, the smokey scent that seems to always accompany him no matter what. Once he sees that you've calmed down, once your heart returns to beating at its normal pace, he asks what’s wrong.

It's all I can do to assure him.

"Nothing."

When he comes to me, I drip for him tonight.

Drowned in me, we bathe under blue light.

He doesn't believe you, he's not stupid, but he knows it's not something you want to talk about. He can't blame you. He never wants to talk when you ask him what's wrong. So he won't make you. Instead he lets his gaze linger on your own, his lips press to your own, lets you love him. Let's you be in love with him. He lets you be soft against his muscles. And you let him be firm against your plush body. You let him love you back. Still wrapped in his warm, slightly sweaty, embrace, the both of you drift back off to sleep, legs intertwined and bonnet slightly askew. 

And I wake up alone.

And I wake up alone.

And I wake up alone.

[afriendofblahaj]

so yesterday i posted this poll asking if i should write yuri based on my dnd character backstory, and while the poll isnt closed yet, last night i could see the direction it was going (overwhelmingly yes), and i started to write the yuri as a break from homework. ill be posting updates as I make progress, here is the first!

YURI UPDATE #1:

Next update

Tw: Violence, some child abuse

This is my first attempt at writing anything not for a class or application, so please be nice, but I would love any feedback, positive or negative on my writing, id like to improve.

If you would like to be added to the tag list just ask! Ill be posting progress as i write it, and then posting the finished story when i am done, so if you'd like to read it all at once and avoid spoilers, the story is under the cut, and ill make a post once its complete.

“Ding” “Ding” “Ding.” The bells chime through the town square, ringing loudly down the alleys between the small houses making up the village. The sound echoes off the stone houses and cobbled streets before coming to rest in a small blacksmith shop on the outskirts of town, knocking a bit of dust off the window sills and sending rats skittering about. As if on queue, the clouds slid to the side, and a narrow band of sun cast through the thin window up near the ceiling, the dusty beam of light landing right on the pillow of a small mattress perched in a corner. A blanket shoots up to come between the sunlight and the face resting on the pillow, but the sound of the bell arrives at Sienna’s ears as she rolls back and forth, feeling the wakefulness slowly creep into her bones. She gently props herself up on her aching arms, and slumps back against the wall, leaning her head back in defeat as the bell continues to blast sound through her ears. Her shoulders slide down again slightly as she looks over her battered arms, gently going over each wound and shrinking further inside herself as she remembers why they are there. She slowly peels back the bandage wrapped around her upper right forearm frustrated that the 5 cm gash isnt healed yet, but at least the skin had stretched across the open wound, leaving pinkish scar tissue, and keeping even more blood from leaking out of the already stained and soaked bandage. Sienna tossed the bandage to the side, leaving it on the ground for the rats to lick up the blood, and tried to find a pose at least resembling comfort, but her entire body groaned in protest, every surface covered in some kind of wound, internal or external (or often both). No sooner than she found the position most agreeable than an empty watering pail slammed into her head, giving her a gash above the eyebrow, and more insultingly (she was used to the pain) tore her favourite blanket as it got caught between the can and the bed frame. A laugh drifted from across the house, and Sienna’s mother sneered loudly “Didn't mean to be that accurate. Water the fucking turnips before you head to the ring, your father is taking them to the market next week, we need the gold after you stole that goddamn pendant.” 

Sierra, already pissed at being hit in the head, knew better than to say it out loud, but inside she was fuming. She hated the reminder that she had to go to the ring today, and besides, she didn’t steal the pendant, she simply gave the raven who flew in the window a treat every day, and looked the other way when it grabbed a bit of shiny metal from the shop. It wasn't her fault that a bird deserved a trinket more than her parents did, but it sure was her who would get blamed for its loss.

With a determined sigh, she rolled out of bed, and slowly pulled on her trousers, wincing as her hand scraped against a bruise on her knee, a cut on her thigh, a torn muscle, but she was able to pull them up in the end. Her fingers fighting the strained tendons, she tied the trousers, and began to pick through her chest for a blouse, but all of them were torn and tattered, so she grabbed the roll of bandages and wrapped them around her chest in a few twirls, besides, the bandages felt better on her wounds anyways. Once she was dressed, she dropped to the floor to do her daily pushups, combing her hair with one hand while she carefully balanced on the other, pushing herself up and down. She may have hated her strength and the damage it caused, but Sienna sure as hell couldn't afford to let herself be weak, so she continued to push herself through the strenuous workout she designed herself, pushing herself until sweat dripped from her short hair into her eyes, and running in rivulets down her back, coating her biceps. When she finally felt run ragged, she pushed herself to do 5 more sets, collapsing back onto her bed when she finally let herself be done for the morning. She knew that she couldn’t relax for long, so she pulled herself up on shaky arms just in time, hobbling to her feet and lifting the pail that was thrown at her face just as she heard steps approaching her bed from around the corner. She didn’t think anything was going to happen, but she readied her hands anyways, tensing on the balls of her feet, ready to spring into action as her mom rounded the corner, and snapped “There you are, you should be halfway out the door by now, get moving Sienna, we don't have time for you to sit around on your lazy ass.”

Sienna let her shoulders drop, the berating wasn’t fun but it was far from the worst that she expected from her mother coming around the corner after she took too long in the mornings, so she counted it as a win, and quickly hurried to the kitchen to snap up whatever food she could find, in this case some bread from dinner the night before and a bit of soft cheese she had stashed in a cupboard her parents rarely checked. Spreading the cheese onto the bread after warming the latter over the already hot furnace, she bit softly into it to hold it in her teeth as she picked up the broom leaning against the wall, slipped the trowel she made years ago into her waistband, and dropped an extra roll of bandages into her pocket. Sienna mumbled goodbyes to her father, who grunted but barely looked up from the red hot metal he was working into chain links on the anvil.

Tag List (ive added everyone who showed interest on the poll, if youd like to be removed from the tag list please let me know):

@alicethethreshershark @useless-transbian @shark-tranny @theasexualagent @bikindashyandreadytocry @toppettehat @twohundredfiftynine @spaghettihell @thesillytransgirlnova @lostshulkerbox

[ravennaortiz]

How I Met Your Mother

Summary: Juice tells Rosalie about how he and OC Trinity met. Click here for a snippet of a future story Letters! As always 18+

“How are my favorite ladies?” inquired Juice as he strolled into the kitchen kissing Trinity before ruffling Rosalies hair.

“Good. Running a bit late tonight, gymnastics took longer than usual, so I ordered pizza for dinner. Both your ladies have homework to get done” laughed Trinity as she got up from her seat to grab some water.

“I’m going to have to start a class just to keep up with you two brainacs” laughed Juice as he slumped into his chair between the two of you. The smile on his face only growing as he relaxed into dad and husband mode. As much as he loved his MC family it would never come close to the love he had for his girls. The family he had built. While some of the guys struggled to maintain both and eventually gave up and let the MC take over he never would. He had come to Charming with you two and he would leave with you two and never look back if needed.

“Daddy can you help me with my homework?” inquired Rosalie as she slid closer to him.

“Of course. Go easy on me though Ro, I’m just a simple guy” replied Juice as he winked at Trinity as she snorted and shook her head.

“It’s easy Daddy.” Giggled Rosalie as she slid her homework sheet over. “How did you and mommy meet? It’s for a family history project.”

“Ohhhh, that should be easy” stated Juice as he nodded looking up wide eyed at Trinity. Rubbing his neck his eyes begged for assistance. Not that he didn’t know but he was not sure how much would be appropriate to share.

“You got this babe. I believe in you” assured Trinity as she smiled at him before taking her seat and going back to her own school work.

“Will you write it for me to?” inquired Rosalie with a sweet smile.

“Rosalie” stated Trinity giving her a look over her laptop. Once the young girl had nodded Trinity gave Juice another smile before going back to typing.

“Well Ro” stared Juice as he played back his memories of his teen years. “It was a cold winters night in Queens, New York. The wind was fierce and blustery. Just about blew me all the way to Mexico the way it was going. Snow was waist deep, I was trudging along to a local arcade. I had money from my……job to burn”

“What was your job daddy and how old were you?” interrupted Rosalie as she took notes.

“I…umm…. Helped people find this on the internet and I was sixteen.” Replied Juice not missing the chuckle from Trinity at his job title.

“So you were like google?” inquired Rosalie as she glanced up at him.

“Something like that” replied Juice. Once she had nodded he continued his story.

“So I bust into the arcade. Pretty much frozen solid, practically looking like a snowman.” Exclaimed Juice making Rosalie laugh as she wrote.  “When my eyes befell a beauty I had never seen before. She shown like the sun, so bright and hot my eyes watered. Her smile and laugh were so warm that they defrosted me on the spot. I made my way over to where this damsel was standing and before I could say anything she looked at me. I was frozen on the spot as I fell in love, I was enchanted so to speak.” Reminisced Juice as he leaned back in the chair dramatically covering his eyes.

“Then what?” inquired Rosalie.

“Then your mother punched me, took my wallet and disappeared like the snow witch she is” stated Juice as the doorbell rang.

“Daddy I need the real story” whined Rosalie as Juice stood to get the door. Motioning to Trinity to sit back down as she moved to get up.

“Alright alright. The truth is I stumbled over myself and your mom took pity on me and played some shooting game for hours and then just never left me” called Juice as he moved to the front door.

“Run your homework upstairs and then get washed up for dinner” stated Trinity as Rosalie packed her backpack up as Juice walked in with the pizza.

“So close to the truth” laughed Trinity once Rosalie was upstairs making Juice laugh as he got plates out.

“Well figured I shouldn’t tell her daddy was a hacker and mommy was the romantic interest and business partner of a mob like guy who daddy fucked over and was wanted by” stated Juice as he shook his head and Trinity laughed. “We are already the talk of the school for our ages and me being in the MC, can you imagine the pearl clasping and whispers if they knew our origin story?”

“We have always been the talk of any town babe. Real stars you and I” replied Trinity as she closed her laptop and kissed him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way though” she whispered.

[natti-ice]

Would You Have Me?- Sirius Black.

Pairing: Sirius Black x fem!reader

Summary: Y/N is the only person in Sirius’ life he truly cares about, he wouldn’t mind if it was only them

Warnings: modern high school au!, written in third person (she/her pronouns) (1.6k words)

Author's note: this is a reupload, I wrote this a while ago!

Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated<3

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The final bell rang, it was Friday hundreds of students poured out of the school doors ready for the weekend. Y/N was among the swarm of kids, headed toward her bus. Thankful it was the weekend, this week had been a lot on her. Off in the distance, she could hear her name over the loud voices. Looking around shielding her eyes from the sun, she could see a tall boy headed her way. 

It was Sirius

"There you are," he said when he reached her, throwing his arm around her shoulder "Where are you off to?" he asked

"My bus" she pointed to the big yellow vehicle

"C'mon, I'll take you home" he offered

"Really?" she asked

"Yeah, you can tell me all about your day"

They walked to the student parking lot, Sirius drove a black '89 Dodge charger. It was a little squeaky, but he loves that car. 

He opens the passenger door for Y/N, closing it once she was in. Sirius Drove the long way to her house so they could talk longer.

"How was your day, dear?" he asks pulling out of the campus

"It was fine, I'm glad the week is over. Everything has been a lot lately" 

It was their junior year, everyone is starting to worry about their futures. Their career, college, exams, everything stressful. 

"I know what you mean, it feels like we have to know everything about the future before it happens" he replies

They continue their conversation all the way to Y/N's house. They've always been able to tell each other everything without feeling judged. Nowadays, it feels like you have to make sure everything is perfect because the whole world is watching, waiting for you to fall.

He was her safe place, and she was his. 

Sirius pulls up in front of her house, parking the car.

"Thanks for the ride, Sirius" she says opening the car door

"Of course, love. Hey, do you wanna hang out tomorrow?" he asks

"Yeah, sure I'll ask my parents. I'll text you" she answers

"Great, I'll see you soon then" He smiles

"Bye" she says closing the door.

He waits for her to go inside before driving off like he does every time. He sees her almost every day, but he still gets excited when they hang out. It's like a new experience every time, even when they've done it one hundred times before.

-

When he got home, he waited anxiously for her text. Her parents have never said no before, but it still made him a little nervous. He's made sure over the years that her parents liked him, he didn't want them to think he was just some guy who was only hanging out with their daughter to get in her pants.

He started his homework that probably won't get finished till Monday morning, checking his phone every few minutes.

Finally, after what felt like an hour, she texted him

parents said it's cool What did you have in mind?

 Movie? Wonka is still showing. Stay at my place after?

Timothee Chalamet? HELL YEAH! Definitely down for a sleepover

 Great! I'll pick u up at 4

See you then! <3

He was happy that she could come, he liked being able to get out of the house and escape with her. Everyone has family issues, his family was distant from each other. It was almost like they were roommates, not a family. His parents didn't care if he was gone or if he had someone over.

His brother stayed in his room most of the day when he got home from school. Their bond was limited to short interactions in the dining room on special occasions.

Y/N was his real family, she was always there for him whenever he needed her. At school, many people claimed to be his friend, they'd say hey in the hallway or talk about some game that happened the night before. None of them would actually have a real meaningful conversation with him.

He didn't get why he was so popular, he was sociable and easy on the eyes sure, but nobody knew the real him. It seemed like they had all made a false version of him in their heads. A mysterious ladies' man who could have anyone he wanted.

That wasn't true at all, he wasn't a mystery at all. He was very open once you got to know him, only Y/N had ever made the effort to do so. The whole 'ladies' man' thing was really funny to him. He'd never had a serious girlfriend, a few dates here and there but nothing real.

Many of those girls thought that him and Y/N had a thing going on so they would stop talking to him completely. At first he didn't know why they would think that, he thought their friendship seemed very platonic. Then he realized some of the things they would do seemed a little too friendly.

That didn't stop him. If he was honest, he didn't care about those girls at school. If there was only one girl in the world and he had to pick her. It would be Y/N. Always Y/N.

-

Saturday came around, Sirius waited all day for 4 o'clock. He didn't like to be late, he pulled up in front of her house a few minutes early so he could greet her parents.

Turning off his car, walking up to the front door. He rings the doorbell that has a little camera on it. A few seconds later, her mother opens the door

"Sirius, how are you, dear?" she asks bringing him in for a hug

'I'm great, Mrs. L/N. How's everything?"

"Everything's fine, Y/N should be ready by now." she told the boy "Y/N, Sirius is here!" she yelled up the stairs

She came down the stairs, a small bag in her hand. 

"Sorry, had to make sure I had everything, are you ready?" she asks Sirius

"Yeah, I'll see you later, Mrs. L/N" 

He and Y/N get in his car, driving to the local movie theater. 

That movie was almost 3 hours long, but that's okay. They didn't mind sitting in a dark room together in silence. It was much later, the sun was starting to set when they headed towards Sirius' house.

His parent's car wasn't in the driveway thankfully, awkward hellos are never fun. They realize they're starving and order take out.

Once it finally arrives, he takes her up to his room. Passing by Regulus' room, she could hear gunfire from some video game.

"Don't mind him, it's like he's married to the game. Hardly comes out the room" Sirius explains opening his bedroom door.

It was relatively clean, only because he knew she was coming over. His walls were lined with movie posters from the 80s and now, some of his favorite vinyls, and photo booth pictures of him and Y/N from various locations.

He made sure his space represented him. The real him. 

They spend the next couple of hours eating and watching random videos on youtube until they got bored of it. Putting on Evermore on as background music as they talked.

Both of them are sitting on the floor, Sirius leaning against the wall, Y/N against his bed

They jumped from topic to topic as the night progressed, getting into the more personal topics. A few weeks ago, Y/N started talking to a boy named Kevin. She seemed to have liked him until she stopped talking about him.

Sirius had been curious about that for a while, he thought it was a good time to ask

"Whatever happened to that Kevin guy? I thought you two were getting serious" he asks

"Oh him? That's long gone" she shrugged, "He said he just didn't feel anything for me" she explained, she didn't show it but she was a little hurt by the boy's words.

"Oh my god, he sucks. Anyone would be more than lucky to have you" He was mad that anyone would treat her like this. "Fuck that guy"

"It's alright, I didn't need him in my life" she wanted to get the topic off her "What about you? Anyone new in your life?"

"Nah" he smiles "I don't want anyone new, honestly"

"What do you mean?" she asks

"I'm happy just having you in my life, sometimes I wish it could always just be you and me" he says in a low voice

"That would be great, honestly. Just us against the world" she agrees

"Y/N?" his voice barely above a whisper, fidgeting with a ring on his hand

"Yeah?" 

He swallowed before replying, "I think I'm in love with you"

"What?" she laughed nervously, he got up and sat next to her

"When I think of my future, having a family and owning a house, you're there right next to me. I've tried to convince myself that it's only because there isn't anyone else in my life" He pauses searching her face for any sort of bad emotion "I know now, it's because I don't want anyone else in my life but you"

Y/N's brain was all over the place, trying to figure out what to say. Sirius has been her rock for so long, she had a small crush on him. She didn't think he would ever reciprocate it

"I don't know what to say" she admits

"That's alright, you don't have to say anything. If you're willing, maybe we could see if this goes anywhere?" 

She reaches down grabbing his hand, lacing her fingers with his. "I think we can make it work" she smiles "After all, we're still getting married at 30 right?" she laughed

"Right Right. A pact is a pact, dear" he smiles

She gives him a small kiss on the cheek, slowly pulling away. Their faces were dangerously close together, warm breath fanning against their skin. Y/N closes the distance. Their lips perfectly fitting each other, just like they were made for each other.

Sirius pulled away, not wanting things to get carried away. Y/N rest her head on his shoulder

"So, what color should our invitations be?"

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Tag list:

@thebiggestnaturaldisaster @madwcman @de-duchess @timbradfordisbae @mommymilkerfanclub @oatmilkriver @hisparentsgallerryy

join a tag list!

[charles-simmons-fanfiction]

Late summer nights - Todd Anderson / Neil Perry

Description: Neil is a summer person, and Todd is a Neil person. That's the story. 💛 [fluff, 800 words]

By the way, this is based off of this post! It's a headcanon by the super cool and awesome @perksofbeingpoet <3 This was so fun to write, I might write more summer fics with dps <- me projecting how energetic I get during summer on them

Todd could swear he would pass out from the heat any second now. Neil, on the other hand, hadn't been this energetic it's been weeks.

"Physics homework, done!" Neil exclaimed victoriously, closing his notebook and throwing it on his desk.

"Already? How?" Todd had just finished the first half of his work, and he hadn't even started the one for chemistry. Soon summer break would start and the teachers weren't taking it easy on them, not that they ever did.

"It looks like it'll rain tomorrow, explains why today's so hot," Neil ignored his question. The window was wide open and he had half his body out of it, only a small push away from falling. "We should go outside! While we still can, y'know."

"What? No, I still have way too much work to do," the physics assignment in front of him was pushed aside before he could protest.

"I'll give you the answers and explain them to you tomorrow. C'mon!" Neil grabbed him by the arm. Todd wanted to insist, but he wanted to go with him a lot better.

They had to be silent while they sneaked out, so, naturally, they couldn't stop laughing. It was quite a struggle and they had to be constantly shushing the other.

Once they got outside, the hot wind blew on their faces. Todd considered going back in again.

Neil smiled and, without any warning, took off running to the woods, laughing way too loudly as Todd tried to catch up with him. They didn't stop running for a while, to not risk getting caught.

"Oh my god, shut up!" Todd covered Neil's mouth with his hands, pushing him against a tree to keep him quiet. "Are you crazy?? There's no way no one heard us!" Despite his heart beating quickly from the adrenaline, he could only laugh with him.

"Carpe Diem, my dear," Neil's voice came out muffled and he gently took Todd's hand off his mouth. "We'll be fine."

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything, looking into each other's eyes, close enough to feel their hot breath on their already warm cheeks. A light breeze wiggled the trees and everything felt silent, except for the crickets probably not too far away.

Neil's deep brown eyes seemed to shrink when he smiled, almost sparkling as he looked at him so contently. His pink lips were slightly parted and a strand of hair had fallen on his face. He had an image of graceful disarray, and the night suddenly didn't feel as half as warm as his presence did.

"Your hair is getting long," was all that Todd managed to say.

Neil was caught slightly off guard and chuckled. "Yeah, I have to get a haircut soon."

"Please don't," Todd asked, maybe a little too fast. "It looks great like this."

"Thanks," they broke eye contact awkwardly, not knowing how to continue a conversation, and also not really wanting to.

It was way too hot. Todd couldn't understand how anyone could even like summer. He had always hated the way his hand felt sweaty, and how hard it was to fall asleep even with the window open. Also, any class outside was insufferable if there was sun.

At the same time, Neil seemed to be doing so well. And let the truth be said, it only took a little attention to see how depressed he could get some days. But not recently. No, Neil seemed to be genuinely doing fine.

Todd smiled at the thought, and for the first time, he hoped summer would last as long as possible. "Next weekend, if we finish our homework, we should go get ice cream. To make the heat more bearable," he shyly suggested, mentally repeating "carpe diem" to himself.

"I was thinking about that! I'm sure the other's would be super down for i-"

"Wait, no," Todd stopped him. "I meant like, you and me."

"Oh," Neil was taken aback, but nodded slowly, a smile creeping on his face. His tone was soft when he spoke. "Yes, I think we should."

The two went silent again, and Todd did his best not to smile like an idiot. The next hour wasn't anything but mundane chatting and walking around, but they wouldn't rather be anywhere else.

At some point, Neil tried to take his hand as they walked, but Todd pulled it back. "It's way too hot for this," he complained, yet eventually gave in and took Neil's hand back. Neither of them mentioned it.

"I love summer," Neil stated matter-of-factly. "It's easily the best season. To me, at least. What's your favorite?"

"You"

"What?"

"Autumn"

Again, neither of them mentioned it. Although Todd briefly considered hitting his head against a tree and just staying there forever.

That night, Neil fell asleep as soon as he got back to his dorm, without even changing. Todd didn't, it was too hot. He sighed, and looked at his roommate, who was smiling in his sleep.

"He's crazy," Todd thought, still not getting why anyone would like summer, but suddenly not feeling so bad about it. He fell asleep with a soft smile too. At least they'd get ice cream.

💛.

[fog-and-rust]

Hogwarts Legacy Incorrect Quotes Part 7 (feat. my Hufflepuff!MC, Ellie)

Zenobia: I'm going to be an adult in 4 years and I only have a vague idea of what I'm going to do.

Ellie: I’m gonna be an adult in less than a year and I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.

Professor Garlick: I'm an adult and I don't know what I'm doing with my life.

Ominis: Three types of people.

***

[After summer break]

Ellie: *running towards Ominis with open arms*

Ominis: *moves out of the way*

Ellie: Hey, why'd you move?!

Ominis: I thought you were going to attack me.

Ellie: I was going to hug you!

Ominis: Why would you hug me?

Ellie: WHY WOULD I ATTACK YOU!?

***

Lenora: Something tells me Ellie's going to be a bit more unhinged today...

Ellie, with armful of Chinese Chomping Cabbages: Leave me be, cousin Leander isn't here to stop me, I'm going feral.

[A few moments later]

Garreth, pointing a camera at Ellie: There she is, our precious cinnamon scone.

Ellie, leading her little army of cabbages and chasing Puffskein Dunkein: What-?

***

Imelda: Madam Kogawa asked me to tell you about your new assignment, but I think it might make you jump from Astronomy Tower again.

Ellie: Just say it quick, like ripping off a band-aid.

Imelda: You have to teach Ominis how to fly on a broom.

Ellie: ... put the band-aid back on.

***

Ellie: In Garreth's defense, I’ve done some pretty dumb stuff even before I tried his latest concoction.

***

Ellie, in Headmaster's Office: I'll write Professor Black a friendly note. Dear... Incompetent... Dumbass...

***

Leander: I don’t care what anyone thinks about me.

Ellie: Ok.

Leander: Wait, why such a muted reaction? Did that not sound cool?

***

[Beasts are like Pokemons, gonna catch them all]

Ellie: Hey, you want a tarot reading?

Duncan: Those are Beasts cards.

Ellie: You got a Golden Snidget.

Duncan: ...

Ellie: It means 'you're fucked'.

***

[Let's speculate on other games]

Ellie, setting down a card: Sorting Hat.

Amit, pulling out an Arithmancy card: +4.

Poppy, pulling out a Beasts card: Grindylow, I choose you!

Leander, trembling: What are we playing?!

***

Leander: Can we talk about that howlers you sent?

Amit: All it says is, "I'm back on my idiocy".

Ellie, shrugging: The people need to know.

***

Richard Jackdaw: Don't joke about murder. I was murdered once and it offends me.

***

Leander: Ellie and I were at Summoner's Court, and Duncan flew by and shouted at us.

Ominis: What did she do?

Leander: She chased him to Ravenclaw tower, and broke into the Common Room, and-

Ellie: *dropping from above, casting Levioso on herself* Who wants a new broom seat?

***

Ellie: Garreth is a precious angel who’s never done anything wrong in his entire life!

Leander: Never done anything wrong?! He set our dormitory on FIRE!

***

Ellie: Where is that blasted Daedalian key?

Amit: Ellie, Zenobia and Lucan are around, can you say it a little nicer?

Ellie: May I ascertain the whereabouts of the LAST BLASTED DAEDALIAN KEY?!

***

Ellie: Your potion station is in the bathroom?

Garreth: Leander says this is the perfect place for my work. I’m just now realizing that remark may not have been entirely complimentary.

***

[In Great Hall]

Garreth: Amit won't come from Astronomy Tower but I really need his help with homework.

Ellie, to Zenobia: Please, go to Amit and tell him I said something.

Zenobia: Like what?

Ellie: Anything factually incorrect.

Zenobia, shrugging: If you say so.

[A few moments later]

Amit: Did you just say the sun is a PLANET?

***

[In Hogsmeade]

Ellie: We’re going to Honeydukes?!

Leander: No! It’s nighttime, Honeydukes is closed.

Garreth: We’re gonna ROB Honeydukes?!?!

Leander, sighing: No-

***

Ellie: Guess what?

Leander: What?

Ellie: No, you have to guess.

Leander, thinking: I don’t know.

Ellie: I've been to Azkaban.

Leander: Why would you make me guess that?!

Leander: What happened?!

***

Leander: Ellie just insisted I remember a code word in case I'm ever confronted by someone impersonating her under Polyjuice Potion and I'm not sure which is the real her and which is the imposter.

Leander: Some families have a fire escape plan, but not us.

***

Leander: *receives an owl* Oh! It’s Ellie.

Garreth, excitedly: Did she get me the stuff?

Leander: Yeah, she says she got you the Fwooper feathers, dried Billywig stings and 12 gallons of Troll blood.

Garreth: Wow! Where’d she find 12 gallons of fake Troll blood?

Leander: You wanted fake blood?

Garreth: ...

Leander: I’ll go write Ellie.

[heizuha-queen]

Sunset

For the HeiZuhaWeek on @heizuhaevents Day 3!

If there’s anything Kazuha loved more than anything, it was the ocean. She loved looking at it during the day, sunset and even at night with the moon shining on it. She loved hearing the crashing waves and swimming in the ocean. She preferred the ocean to the swimming pool any day. It was her peace.

It was the thing that got her to study harder during the exams, and finish her summer homework early with Heiji’s help of course. She just wanted to enjoy the beach days with Heiji without a worry in the world.

She kept bugging Heiji about it, and he finally promised her to take her to the beach. But according to him it wasn’t any beach, this one was going to be special.

Kazuha was curious as to what could possibly make it special, and was excited. She was restlessly waiting for him at home, her legs bouncing up and down as she was sitting down.

The moment her phone rang, she sprang outside and ran to his motorcycle with a huge cheerful smile on her face and eyes sparkling as she happily greeted Heiji.

He was thankful his helmet hid his face. Her cuteness got his heart thumping and his face blushing. This Ahou

The drive to the beach a bit longer than Kazuha expected, and every time she asked Heiji where they were going, he’d tell her to wait and see for herself. It irritated her a bit that he never answered her so she just stopped and focused on the road.

After some time they reached this hidden area, and the roads were quite rough and not easy to drive in. Thankfully, Heiji knew how to drive his motorcycle really well. But she still held on quite tightly and even closed her eyes, because she was was afraid she might fall off.

The motorcycle came to a stop, but Kazuha’s eyes were still closed shut, “Heiji did we arrive?”

Heiji chuckled, “Ahou, open your eyes and see for yourself.”

She did, and oh my. This was special.

The beach was surrounded my rock cut cliffs making it hidden from people’s view, and beautiful golden sand that met with the beautiful blue color of the sea.

“No one really comes to this beach since it’s quite hidden. I came across it once when I was driving around and got lost.”

Kazuha’s eyes were sparkling and she covered her mouth as she gasped from the beauty of this hidden beach. “Heiji this place is amazing! Why didn’t you take me here before!”

“Well, we got busy with school and exams. I thought I take you here after we were done with everything.”

Kazuha looked at him surprised by his thoughtfulness. “Who would’ve thought that Hattori Heiji was actually thoughtful.”

“Hey! How many times did I take you to places you wanted to go? We even went to Tokyo to see the Christmas lights together.”

“Yeah, but it never works out because there’s always a case.”

“Well, no one’s here. There won’t be any case this time.”

Kazuha smiled, “That’s true.”

Heiji untied the icebox that was in the back of his motorcycle and Kazuha went to set their blanket on the golden sand in a shaded area.

Kazuha was thankful Heiji told her to wear her swimsuit under her dress since there were no bathrooms around here. He also wore his swim shorts and just had to take off his shirt which didn’t fail to make Kazuha’s cheeks redden. I mean what could she do?! His kendo training definitely affected his physique in a good way. The way his abs would flex as he took his shirt off drove her crazy.

When Heiji looked her way, she cleared her throat and grabbed the bottle of sunscreen and started applying them on her legs. Unlike Heiji, Kazuha’s pale skin was sensitive to sun, so she had to apply sunscreen all over her body to make sure she doesn’t get burned.

After she finished her arms, legs, stomachs and chest, all she had left was her back. Kazuha hates wearing her sunglasses as she’s swimming, but also can barely open her eyes from the strong shining sun, so her back is usually facing it.

Usually her girl friends or her mother would apply it for her, but this time it was her and Heiji alone. And although it was embarrassing to ask him to do it for her, she had no choice.

“Umm, Heiji. Can you apply the sunscreen on my back?” Kazuha asked shyly as she held the sunscreen bottle.

“Uh, y-yeah. Sure.” Heiji said his ears reddening.

Kazuha untied the bikini string on her back, and held the front of her bikini and lied on her stomach to not expose herself.

Heiji felt the blood rush to his face, and he immediately held his nose afraid he might have a nose bleed and ruin the moment.

He then squirted some sunscreen out of the bottle and started spreading it on Kazuha’s back evenly.

Was she trying to drive him insane? He started feeling his body heat up as he rubbed the sunscreen into her incredibly soft smooth skin. It wasn’t enough that she wore a red bikini which showed off her sexy figure, but now she also asked him to rub in sunscreen as she laid on her stomach completely exposing her back for him. She was definitely trying to drive him insane.

After he was done, which took him longer than was needed, he tied the string back and immediately got up not waiting for Kazuha. He didn’t want her to see what this situation did for him.

He welcomed the cool water, and sat in it letting it cool his body as he tried to cool his thoughts.

“Mouuu Heiji, why didn’t you wait for me?” Kazuha whined.

“Just come in Aho, the water is nice and cool.”

“Don’t call me, Aho! You’re the Aho!”

She swam towards him and looked around. “It’s so weird. It’s almost like this is our own private beach.”

“Yeah.” Heiji said, “I never knew the beach could be this peaceful, usually they’re so crowded in the summer.”

“Hm.” Kazuha agreed and she floated on her back and closed her eyes letting the waves of the ocean take control, “I like this.”

Heiji did the same and spread his arms next to hers, “Hm. We should do this more often.” He said as he held her hand.

She squeezed his hands, “Yes we should.”

They swam for a while, and played all sort of water games like splashing each other, playing the shark and the fish, and seeing which person would stay underwater for longer.

After a while of swimming, they got tired and sat side by side on the blanket as they watched the sun go down. The sky changed from minute to minute. From orange yellow to flamboyant pink, the clouds painted with changing colours as the sun went down. The golden sun was already touching the surface of the ocean.

And although the sunset view was gorgeous, Kazuha couldn’t help but stare at Heiji’s beautiful side profile. The way the sunset reflected on Heiji’s face made her heart go faster. For some reason, Kazuha always associated Heiji with the sunset. Perhaps it was because of how the sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun, somehow reminded her of Heiji’s fiery passionate personality, and golden soft heart.

[soleil-affame]

Throwing away for productivity

It’s been…6 interviews, 3 follow-up emails, 8 thank yous, 2 zoom calls that never happened, and 4 cover letter re-sends leading up to this interview, the final interview with the Chief of Human Relations; someone in ‘middle management,’ and Maxwell Mays. As of now, Mays sat in an office room with floor-to-ceiling windows, rooms like this saved the company money on electricity; the white–yellow combination of hallway fluorescents and sunlight meant you could see anything, as long as it wasn’t on a projector. Boisterous laughter entered the room, putting an end to any of Maxwell’s nervous foot-tapping. A woman and man brought the noise, both looking around middle-middle-aged moved to the table, opposite of Maxwell, with their backs to the sun. Here, Maxwell realized he did not account for the possibility of glare preventing him from seeing his interviewees. As he had seen on forums online, he stood up before the two could sit down, reaching his hand out for a professional handshake.

“Good Morning, I presume you are Ms. Larsen” first handshake secured, “And are you Mr. Merkel?” second handshake secured.

“Mr. Mays, it is a pleasure to meet you. Glad to see you’ve done your homework.” Ms. Larsen added.

“Mays,” Mr. Merkel interjected, “I have been expecting you for quite some time. Your cover letter really made an impact on me.”

“And your CV on me.” the woman added. 

Maxwell laughed, “Sounds like the hours I spent writing was more than worth it then?” that boisterous laughter was back.

“So, if my secondaries have done right by their training you should have heard this question at least a few times before:” his hands clasped, “What makes you want to work here at Quantum Centers?”

Over the next two minutes, Maxwell Mays proceeded to hurl so much word vomit he thought when he looked up both Ms. Larsen and Mr. Merkel would be covered head to toe in what he could only imagine would look like a grey-ish green alphabet soup. He convinced himself that the words “father,” “childhood dream,” “legacy,” and “Master’s Thesis” would be jumbled up and staining Larsen’s patterned jumpsuit leading to the end of Mays’ very last chance at following in his dad’s footsteps. Instead, he looked up and saw teary eyes. 

“Wow.” Ms. Larsen whimpered.

“See I told you. What a story.” Mays was stupified. “I was telling Ms. Larsen here what an incredible story you have. I had my assistant read me a summary of your thesis, that combined with your cover letter truly made me feel like we had to have you.”

“Thank You Mr. Merk-”

“I said to Ms. Larsen, your natural racial ability to stay so strong in the face of adversary is what we need in this company.” Maxwell could swear his stomach caved in so deep if you tried to touch it you would go right to his spine. “I have high school buddies from back home who lost their fathers just like you and they were just never the same. Meanwhile your people, I mean look at Lebron James, just keep going. You don’t let stuff like that stop you.”

What was there to say?

“I agree Mr. Merkel, it is all just so… inspiring.” Ms. Larsen wiped the corners of her eyes as if she had been crying. “Well, lets just get on with the last few questions, I’m sure Merkel has his HR requirements, and we can get on with things.”

The last fifteen minutes of the interview were far less funny than the first three. Mays kept up appearances, Merkel and Larsen remained in awe of his work alongside his father’s: their ability to ‘stay strong’ even when its hard, as if they truly were ever offered much of a choice. 

“Well Mays. I think it is easy for us to say you’ve got the job. I’ll have my assistant, Eve, email you the employment details and you can start in the next two weeks.” Merkel nodded.

“Thank you for the offer, I’ll be sure to respond promptly.”  

“That’s what I like to hear.” 

Maxwell’s walk, then elevator ride, then walk, was quiet. Once he got on the bus, he put his headphones in and listened to all of his saved songs on shuffle. It was easier than deciding his ‘mood.’ Maybe he should have said something, but then again, if he had then he probably wouldn’t have just secured six figures. Mays watched cars fly by looking out the window as people queued up to get on and off the bus. Thats a Toyota. A Mazda. An Acura. A Ford. Another Ford. The cars became a slurry as his eyes glazed over. The bus exhaled, lunging forward and cutting off the oncoming BMW so it could make the upcoming left turn. As if on cue with the car honks, a man stood from the handicapped seats, raising both his hands above his head, beginning his personally curated sermon of stories detailing the life of ‘Colonel Joseph’ who was never blindsighted by an enemy’s move. People attempted to neglect the disheveled man until he pretended to suffocate, falling all about the bus, as if he was Joseph when ‘they’ tried to kill him using a thick veil over his face. The bus pulled up to its next stop and the plastic gate between the driver and passengers swung open.

“Alright Murrell. I let you go on and on last month because it was your birthday.” The wide driver put his hands on his hips. “We’re well into March now so you’ve either got to sit down or get the hell off my bus.” Murrell sat.  Its been… 23 bus stops, most passengers were gone now with the rest just hoping to get home fast, except Mays would disrupt the flow of the ride by pulling the thin yellow wire on the window so he could get to his mothers' house. Hoping that by forcing myself to publish work at the end of day it will make me work more efficiently and 'seriously' and maybe even make me realize what I dont like about what i type up...

[insomniac-dot-ink]

Part IV

Fern spread out an enormous star chart on the ground. The map was an Atlas-sized deep blue sheet of paper. Stars were stylized as golden bursts of light connected by thread-bare lines and little circles. The sun had a face.

I leaned forward to make out the full chart. Fern smelled strongly of gunk and woods and I refused to wrinkle my nose because I too was covered in gunk and woods. The last few days had been a blur. I barely knew why these people had abandoned their homes and yet we talked nonstop: A mermaid. A real mermaid. What was she doing here? Where did the puddles lead? How many were there? What had I seen? What had I seen? What had I seen?

I had seen the world, I said, the whole other world. The next day and the day after that was a steady downpour. The mermaid did not run from puddle to puddle during these days. We hung out inside the couple’s camper and chatted away and at least, on the third day, the sun broke out once again and we nodded at one another.

The mermaid needed to go home. Home had to be on the other side of the puddles. And by god, maybe we could help find the right one. 

“We’ll begin at sunset,” Sven announced in his serious, bumpy voice. He rubbed his beard.

Fern nodded and she grinned, wide and real. “And I bet I’ll be able to pinpoint the right one if I get the stars right. It’s got to be the stars, right? Or else she wouldn’t need the sky to be clear. I’ll make my own map.” Her voice was rapid-fire, that breathy rasp, and all teeth and sparkling eyes behind her glasses.

I grinned back. “I’m just glad there are more of us than just me. We’ll cover more ground if we all check.”

“Maybe, uh, keep a record?” Sven offered, still rubbing his beard.

I had considered this too: taking video. Stealing my dad’s old camera and figuring out how the damn tapes worked. I kicked my feet back and forth. “I was thinking that too. I was planning on going home today anyway.” 

Sven and Fern had been sharing their food with me, but I was starting to get in the mood for some beef jerky. And besides, the showering situation had become somewhat dire. We were on day six and I smelled something that morning only to wonder, “God, what the hell is that?” Only to realize it was me.

The couple exchanged a darting look between the two of them, and maybe they really did have a bit of psychic link. They spoke in a river-smooth back and forth.

“Back home?”

“How is home?”

It took me a long moment to put together the hesitancy in their voices and the entire world held in their gazes. Clicking all at once, I wanted to kiss them. I shot down that instinct quickly and kicked my feet back and forth.

“Nah. It’s not like that. I’ve just been . . . keeping an eye on the mermaid. I mean, she’s a mermaid.” A part of me hoped they’d keep asking questions like, what have you been doing up until now then? (Hanging out. Wandering.) Is it hard to get here? (Sure. But the drainage ditch isn’t bad.) How is your summer homework (all done, thank you very much!).

Sven and Fern did not pepper me with any more questions and I left by midday. The rain had been fierce the day after I met Fern and Sven, and the puddles down main street were wider than my arm span. I jumped and splashed through one after the next. I had never been gone for this long before—six days! It was like a sleep-away camp for myself.

Though, I wouldn’t admit to my new 20-year old friends that I had been longing for my bed on that last night. The rain turned into a curtain, silver-black strings plucking the earth to the heavens, and pelted the top of my pup-tent with a constant plunking. My tent was sturdy and I was no slouch with set-up, so no water flooded the bottom of my tarp, but I couldn’t help the thoughts pouring in all the same: I didn’t have to be here.

The flashing of Samantha’s fangs in my mind’s eye kept me in place. If I was feeling miserable, how was she feeling all by herself in the world that didn’t hiss or croon or screech back at her? 

Miss Maudlin was on her porch, across the street from our house, and I was reminded that maybe I did have to be out there. I didn’t give her a second glance and trooped to my house. 

“Where have you been off to?” Nosy Miss Maudlin asked in her not-mean but not-nice either voice. I kept my head down. “Harper, honey, there is a worry in my mind that you don–”

“Hello Miss Maudlin!” I called over one shoulder. “Goodbye Miss Maudlin!” I shut the door behind me and the quiet of the house entombed me on all sides. I exhale a long breath. My mind roamned to whether or not our car was covered in parking tickets or not since I abandoned that too, but I didn’t give it a second glance.

I turned the shower all the on, thanked whatever deity looked after the wayward that it was still hot as could be, and got in. I can truthfully say it was one of the best showers of my life. My dad used to claim that every time he quit sugar, the first chocolate was a revelation. An entire holy event. I imagine this was a lot like that too. 

Water sloshed off my shoulders in dirty waves and I created big balls of suds like a wig and a beard. I thought about how this week might have been the longest I had ever been happy. You don’t notice things like that when you’re a kid, but 14 had given me time to think. When I got out, fresh and roasted and thinking about happiness, the clank of the door froze me solid. I was still a freeze kind of person.

Footsteps came from down below.

My stomach rumbled as if on cue. Door clattering, wrapped in a fluffy towel, and I needed a big sandwich. Singing carried up the stairs and my shoulders relaxed. Soft, barely-there singing. I dressed and when I came back down, the basement door was locked tight. My heart did funny things in my chest at the sight of that, like the way Miss Maudlin said, “honey.”

We didn’t have much left in the fridge, but I made myself a huge omelet with the wilting vegetables and packed everything I could think of from the closet: extra flashlights, blanket, army headlamp, oreos, and a very dead camcorder. I plugged the camcorder in and messed around with the tape like I knew what I was doing.

It was 3pm by the time I was geared-up and in a fresh set of clothes and two pairs of socks. My boots were amazing, but there is nothing worse in the world than wet socks. I got something for Samantha too: my grandmother’s silver hairbrush. It was a lot, but what if this really was it? What if we lost her to the puddles and they only went one way? Everyone needed one nice thing to remember someone else by.

If you grow up in a rainy place, you get a sense of certain things. Like cows that lie down before a hurricane or cats that hide in your closet before a thunderstorm. I had a feeling, deep in my gut, that the rain had passed. That this was it.

Chains clattered against wood and the basement door scraped open. I jumped and clutched at my chest like my soul had left my body and I needed to drag it back in. I didn’t let out a peep, though, which I was proud of.

She drove into the room like a stormfront, and I gaped at her as if I was seeing a mermaid all over again. 

“You’re up.” I blinked. She was upstairs. My mom spoke like she always did, like she was trying to get the words out all at once before they traffic-jammed in her mouth.

“Harper? What are you doing? Have you been here? I’ve been looking for you. It’s been raining. Have you seen how much rain? My word. Why have you been out?”

I gaped, mouth growing wider and cheeks flushing red-hot. I regretted the words before I even said them: “You’re the one that was out, stupid!”

You have to know, above anything else, that my mom was not a bad person. She wasn’t dangerous. She was just my mom. She had curly carrot-orange hair like me, but it was darker and longer. Her hair was gnarled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and she wore army surplus pants and an army surplus shirt and a kind of wire-mesh hat over her head.

Her face fell, going pale and gaunt, and I felt bad immediately.

“I’ve been looking for you.” She hurried over to me. “I’ve figured it out. It’s all going to be alright now. The second I saw the rain, I knew it was time and I had to start working. I’ve been messaging with them and they’re going to help. We’re going to be alright!”

My eyes prickled and I opened and closed my mouth. “I took some of the stuff from downstairs when you were gone. Drank some of the water, too.” I don’t know why I said that first, all pleading and small. Like I was five again. “Sorry.” “Oh? What? That doesn’t matter. The basement isn’t going to be safe soon.” She slipped her hand in mine and tugged. “I’ve gotten us a deal, a good deal, but we have to leave as soon as possible. They only have so much room.” Oh no. It was happening. I looked between her hand and mine and swallowed against the fist in my throat. 

“I can’t go. I told you, my friends are here,” I said lamely. “Dad is here. Somewhere.” 

She’d gotten worse, so much worse, when dad left. He couldn’t live like this, he said. The spending on supplies, the expansive bulk toilet paper they weren’t allowed to touch, the constant chatter. The computer, always bright at 2am and 3am, and it wasn’t even on anything fun. I always wondered too, though, if he couldn’t live with her, or if it was the both of us.

My friends were here. And so was my mermaid.

Her eyes were elsewhere. “Harper. Your friends are important, yes, but we don’t know if they’ve gotten to them.” I knew what she meant by that, even when I never wanted to.

“You know, there’s also, you know, I met someone you might want to meet.” She tugged me to the door and I got a look of the car in the driveway. Maybe I should have been happy she was moving it herself now. “You might even be interested in them! We could help them.” The block around the word “mermaid” was a physical tug in my mouth. My mom, above anyone else, would believe me. She swung open the front door to a pleasant summer breeze and the chains of the basement door clattered gently. My mom’s eyes were bloodshot and she fumbled for her car keys. She had always been clumsy, clumsy and beautiful like the lead in a romantic comedy movie.

I take my hand back. “Do you want to help her? She needs me.”

She froze at those words, clumsy, beautiful, eyes elsewhere in the distance. “Harper, I have to save you first. Us. This is what we’ve been preparing for, don’t you understand?” “Sure,” I said and blinked until my hands turned to blurs at my side. I clenched them and drew a deep breath. “I have to pee!”

I scrambled back to the kitchen, grabbed my bag, and hoofed it out the back door. What else was there? My boots slopped in the giant puddles all the way to the drainage ditch and beyond.

------------

Newsletter 🧡 Pre-order my new book!

It's Raining in Portland

PART I

It rained in Portland for 45 days straight. They say this might still be normal—even for the off-season. I’ve gone out wandering, as I have every day of summer since I was a kid. My house was empty and the days dragged. I insisted on my green rain boots with frogs on them, showing them off was as good as a downhill bike ride. My bike was broken by then. The other kids were sometimes around, but the days grew longer. They went off to summer camps and vacation and YMCA soccer programs and it was still raining.

I began to bring the lady things on the tenth day. The puddles were turning into little lakes and I needed to make sure to move the car every five days–so I counted. I found her the day Liz left for camp. She was lying face down in the old Target parking lot. Target was supposed to come back to the building but it never did and the place was good for wandering. She was filthy. Hair tangled, coat an unnamable color, gnarled long skirt, and skin rash-y and fever-bright. She was also beautiful, like a fairy tale princess. A storybook face.

The woman had to be middle-aged at least, a weather-beaten kind look about her and silver hair; her high cheekbones and vivid dark eyes captured the soul as my dad might say. She moaned the first time thunder cracked across the sky. She dragged herself across the parking lot and rolled over into a puddle. I circled the area, pointy stick in hand, peeking out behind trees and heel-toe-ing around the cement.

I kept my distance during the first few visits, pretending we were strangers on the bus or like my childhood cat when she followed you into the same room. The woman remained like a corpse on the ground.

The first present I gave her was a can of soup. Everyone needed soup when the weather was bad. I placed it above her head, inching as close as I dare and pushing the can the rest of the way with my stick. Her liquid dark eyes flickered up, searching and wide. She returned to lying face down on the pavement. I frowned. Sure, I didn’t expect a thank you, but still.

The second day I brought her one of my mom’s old raincoats. Everyone needed a raincoat in the freaking rain. I placed it on top of the untouched soup can and didn’t wait to let her groan or moan or look at me with her spooky eyes. I ran off.

When I returned, the campbells can was standing proud and untouched but the lady was covered in my mom’s bright orange raincoat. I bounced on my heels.

“Is it a good fit?”

She didn’t answer. 

I thought of telling someone about the lady in the parking lot. Afterall, she probably needed help and if she took the coat, she might need more. But I stopped in the same breath. Bethany and Liz were at summer camp, the sleep-away kind, and they are the only ones I would trust to not start tattling immediately. If anyone else came, an adult or anyone with a badge, they might start asking questions about my situation. Why am I out wandering? What am I doing all the way out there on my own? You have to cross the big highway to reach the abandoned Target and really it was such a headache to explain the drainage ditch-crossing.

The lady might get in trouble too. What’s with all the headless pigeons in the parking lot? They’d say. That didn’t have to be my lady, though. She just didn’t like soup.

We were on day 20 of the rain and day 10 of me bringing her things. I had to move the car that morning and Miss Maudlin was giving me the stink eye the whole time. I arrived early, bird-early since that’s when I’m supposed to move the car, and didn't even bother to pick up the sharp stick. The mud was thick as honey and the lady dragged herself to a different spot face-down next to the biggest puddle.

“Hey!” I called out like I always do. “Don’t get up or anything. I brought you some socks . . . sorry they’re not shoes or boots or whatever, but they’re dry. I bet you’d like something dry.”

I set the pair of my mom’s good woollen socks next to the soup and backed up, still feeling bad I didn’t have boots. Good boots made a world of difference—my frog ones were testament to that. The lady didn’t even look up this time. She just lay there. I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Are you asleep?” My heart squeezed in my chest. I was going to feel awful if I didn’t tell Miss Maudlin about the corpse-like lady and she became an actual corpse on my watch. Though, Miss Maudlin would be impossible about the pigeon-thing, I already knew.

I sat cross-legged under my umbrella and started munching on my oreos, waiting for her to moan or groan or twitch. “Do you want, uh, something other than soup? I realize I didn’t even leave you a can opener.” The corpse-lady made a valiant effort of acting like a real corpse.

I scooched closer. “I won’t be able to come around every day soon so you’ll have to speak up. Want some Oreos of your own? Blanket? I’ve got some bottled water too, so much bottled water,” I chuckled, “but you’re probably sick of water by now.” The hand at her side appeared to twitch and a part of me relaxed. That was a good thing. I could leave now. But the thing was, I didn’t really want to go. Miss Maudlin wouldn’t even be on her porch giving me the stink eye and I’d already been to the grocery store twice yesterday. I brought out my book.

“I have this summer reading—did you ever do summer reading?—I’m already finished,” I puffed out my chest just a little bit, not enough for the lady to notice, but enough, “but the IB teacher grades like a motherfucker, I hear,” I giggled. The lady’s hand twitched at her side but she didn’t say anything about the swear word which was good of her. “So, I’m, like, reading this one again before term starts.” Which was not entirely true, we wouldn’t be reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich until the second semester. She didn’t have to know that. The book was short and punchy and made me say things like, “well, at least I’m not eating rocks in a gulag this fine morning,” which was something. I situated my umbrella, opened the book on my lap, and began reading. At first, I read silently to myself, but the lady had stopped so much as twitching and it worried me all over again.

I flipped to the beginning and read out loud. 

Her big dark eyes dragged up from the pavement. They were red-rimmed and wide as coins. My skin crawled and I cleared my throat. “Did you like it? It’s my favorite of the books.” She, of course, did not answer.

I decided to finish reading the first couple pages to her because I started this whole thing and I didn’t want to bail just because her eyes were big and weird and staring. We got through the opening sections. I left, like I always did, when I got bored.

I avoided the parking lot for the next few days. I wasn’t really in a place to keep bringing her stuff she didn’t want, I told myself, and it had to stop raining eventually. After nearly a month of rain, I went to our basement and knocked hard on the door. I had another note in my hand, this one mostly about the lady and how super done with my summer homework I was, but I found the last three notes still jammed under the door. I glared at the folded pieces of paper until I gave myself a headache and shoved the fourth one in after it. 

When I went back to the lady, I brought the book and a cushion to sit on. Let her find the damn house empty. I sat on the kitchen chair cushion, letting it sink into the soggy ground and not really caring, and cracked open the book. The lady rolled over onto her back and her big dark eyes were focused on the clouds.

“PAGE FOUR,” I said loudly and began reading. Her eyes dragged over to me in a molosess-drip and I offered her a tin of oreos.

Over the last few days, I stuck to my summer reading list, but by the time the weekend arrived I decided there were only so many pages of eating rocks and being mad at guards you can stand. The lady was already out in the rain. I switched over to one of my favorite books. My friends would have made fun of me for a baby book, but I was sure the lady had never read The Tale of Despereaux, and everyone needed to read that once in their life.

She liked it, I thought. I was sitting, as usual, doing what I was going to be doing at home anyway, and introducing the mouse that got me through a lot of boring classes in elementary school. Her hand jerked out in a blur. I jolted and the woman had a bird by the throat. My mouth fell open. The pigeon.

Her teeth were sharp as fish hooks and gently curved. They dug into the neck of the bird in the same way I imagine sharks dug into seals. My mouth fell open. The woman gobbled down the head and belly of the creature and it didn’t have time to make a sound.

“Woah,” I said. In a flash, she tossed aside her meal. You have to admire anything with that kind of efficiency. She scrubbed her face down with the back of her hand, moaned, and rolled over a second time. I scooted to the edge of my cushion.

“Um.” I gripped the book in both hands, raising it like a shield. “Do, uh, you only do that to, uh, birds?”

I didn’t really give her a chance to answer to be fair. I ran off so quick I imagine a little puff of dust came out of my heels. I spent the rest of the day with the curtains down and the door locked like my mom wanted. 

And I would have stayed gone too. However, the next day I got up, got dressed, put on my rainboots, and went to the door. It was another grocery day. My umbrella was missing. My one good umbrella–that also had a frog on it–was gone, and it was still raining. Thirty days of rain and no umbrella!

At least I knew a little more about the parking-lot lady. This time, I brought her a good cloth napkin. Everyone needs a napkin no matter where they live. I should admit I arrived late, very late since I had to spend most of the day talking myself in and out of going. She ate a bird right in front of me! Raw! And probably wasn’t too fond of mice, I had to bet, so The Tale of Despereaux was really not going to be her thing.

Birds cawed and the setting sun broke through the haze. Bits of orange light turned the puddles into watercolor splashes and set the misty air all to golden dust. Some things can be too beautiful–abandoned Targets and grungy puddles cast in orange.

I darted between the pine trees, keeping my head down and eyes wide. Crows, not knowing to fear for their lives, pecked at the ground. The Target stood unlit and empty, surrounded by piles of trash like a noble dying king. There was no one else in sight. I crept toward the largest puddle, eyeing the ground and wishing my lost umbrella wasn’t green. It could have flown off anywhere by now and blended in with the trees.

The light drained out of the world and the first meager stars popped out. I recounted my steps, one, two, three, and swept the area. At least, on the other side of the lot my umbrella was resting at the base of the Target. The top was weighed down by water, and the handle sticking up like a new plant growth. I sped into a run. Without breaking pace, I grabbed the handle, flung the water out, and sprinted into the foliage. My chest heaved and I glanced around, maybe also to check if anyone had seen that.

A shriek split the air. I dug my heels in and teetered to a halt, animal fear shoving its way into my higher functions. Apparently, I was a freeze kind of girl between the fight-flight kinds. My heart pounded dangerously close to being a medical problem and my ears rang. The shriek had the quality of stone against stone, grating and sharp. Sweat dripped down my temple and a long, dark shape dragged itself across the ground in the corner of my eye.

I swallowed a painful lump. She heaved herself across the space and I wished for the life of me that she remembered those wool socks fondly. The lady moved more quickly than I imagined, belly scraping the concrete and face contorted. I took a step back, she really didn’t need socks, actually.

Out from under the long skirt and dirty coat and much cleaner and nicer orange raincoat, was a thick black tail the color of oil spills. Dark as night and shiny, little rainbows catching the last of the light, a muscled tail whipped back and forth. The mermaid dragged herself across the cement and my mouth gaped.

She moved in the way of dreams: unearthly and fast–much faster than expected. A puddle the size of a small minivan pooled near the base of the Target. The mermaid planted her hands on either side, let out a fantastic shriek, and stuck her head into the water. You’d think she’d give herself a concussion, bonking on the ground, but she plunged her princess-pretty face up to the shoulders. She was gone for only a second and then back yowling like a stray cat.

I didn’t run this time. I took one wobbling step back and then another, clutching the handle of my umbrella like a sword. A mermaid! The brightest part of my brain said. You’re about to be alone in the pitch black out here, said the other part of my head. 

The mermaid was crying, I think, crying very hard, when I left her.

------------

[sri-rachaa]

POV: David took his Shaw Security hoodie with him to a job and now Angel has nothing to wear

(And special thank you to @daveyismyloml for being the person to finally get me to draw my Angel OC :3)

[queenimmadolla]

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬

(jonathan byers x fem!reader)

Summary: Your boyfriend seeks you out in his time of need. You hold onto him for as long as you can.

Warnings: Angst, a little bit of fluff and comfort, implied Jancy.

a/n: My dumbass lost the ask about this request. I had an original character x steve harrington plot, once upon a time, my first ever OC for a fandom and it started off a lot like this, so writing this was very nostalgic. Hurt like hell, though. Anyways, hope the jonathan lovers (other than me) and anyone else who gives this a read likes it. I know he's not one of the more popular ST romantic interests, but he should be.

You hummed along to the song crooning low from your battered radio—the poor thing having taken one too many tumbles from its resting place on your dresser.

  Sometimes you got a little too into it, and lacked special awareness, dance moves too much for your secondhand furniture. 

  The main ceiling light was off, your safe space only lit by a few candles and the lamp on your desk, providing you enough light to complete the essay you were working on. 

  It was peaceful, almost. Ideally, you’d rather be in bed reading a book or watching some movie, maybe catching up on Dynasty but you needed to clear your head—or rather, distract yourself.

  You’d been plagued with a sense of foreboding for the last couple of weeks, and anxiety. It had only intensified in the last couple of days, still, you were determined to push through it. You were being stupid, silly.

  You let out a sigh, dropping your pencil in favor of running a hand over your face. You’d gone right back to thinking about the cause of your silent anguish. Danggit.

  You let yourself stew in silence for a few moments before you forced yourself to pick up your pencil again, ready to move onto your next paragraph when you heard the unmistakable sound of knuckles rapping against the glass of your window.

  Glancing up and over, you found your boyfriend’s face peering down at you. He smiled, sheepish, as he waved.

  You abandoned your homework (it wasn’t due until Friday anyways), hurrying over to the wall to unlock it for him. Your bedroom was in the basement, the house was only a two bedroom, so you’d shared a room with your younger sister until just a few months ago, when your father had finally cleaned it out and done it up for you just before his sudden passing. 

  Jonathan had no problem climbing down through the small, rectangular window, he’d done it a couple of times already—though your mother had no problem allowing him in, not when he made you so happy after the loss.

  “You could just use the front door, you know.” You reminded him, lips pulling into a smile as his nose scrunched up in distaste.

  “Didn’t want to ring the doorbell, I know your mom’s probably exhausted from all the flying.” He shrugged off his jacket, resting it over the washer (hey—it might have been a spacious room but it was still the basement).

  Your heart warmed, pleased with the fact he’d remembered your brief mentioning of her return home that morning while he’d walked you to your algebra class. She was a flight attendant, taking on more flights to support you and your sister now that your dad was gone. You rarely saw her anymore.

  “She’s got her earplugs in.” 

  “Did she have to pay twenty dollars for those or does she get them for free?”

  You laughed, shoving at his shoulder. Jonathan chuckled, giving you a playful push before he dragged you back to him, holding you against him as he swayed you and pressed his lips to your crown.

  Your eyes fluttered shut, soaking up his affection like a peace lily deprived of the sun.

  Then he let himself fall back onto your bed, taking him with you as you squealed. 

  “Jonathan!”

  He shushed you, hand on the back of your head to press your face into his chest, “Your mom is asleep, Moody!”

  You groaned at the use of the nickname you’d never be able to escape. You’d swallowed a mood ring on a dare in elementary school and threw it up, along with your breakfast, during recess when you’d grown anxious, believing a doctor would have to cut your stomach open to fish it out. 

  The mean kids had used the name to taunt you, but when a shy little boy with shaggy hair used it to call you over and ask if you wanted to take turns pushing each other on the swing, you’d decided it wasn’t all that bad. Not even a little. He also never took a turn on the swings, pushing you the entire time.

  That hadn’t been the beginning of your love story, while you’d play with Jonathan—always running to him whenever he called and even when he didn’t—your crush on him prevented you from developing a real friendship with him, too shy whenever he’d acknowledge your existence. It was a Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown kind of thing until high school.

  You’d always been pretty, always been likable and nice—to those who deserved it—and your popularity in high school was a result of those traits. You’d been pursued by boys since middle school, but you were too focused on your pursuit of one boy in particular to pay them any mind.

  Your love story finally started just after freshman year had ended. Jonathan was going around, taking photos of the messy hallways filled with celebration. You’d clocked the moment his camera was on you and gave the lens, and the boy behind it, a brilliant grin.

  The picture was clipped to the visor in his car with a copy resting, framed, on his bedside table

  You let out a small puff of breath, eyes closing once more as the anxiety faded from you. Jonathan was your flame, always driving away the cold.

  The two of you laid there on your bed in comfortable silence, his hand stroking over your hair. You’d almost been lulled to sleep until you registered the change in the silence. It was anxious again, but it wasn’t you.

  You moved your head to stare up at him, chin resting on his chest.

  He wasn’t looking at you, gaze focused on your ceiling with an emotionless expression. You knew what he was thinking about.

  “We should hang up more flyers,” You commented, mind filling with thoughts and memories of the little boy who often accompanied you on dates with your boyfriend and for whom you often babysat before you were even able to call Jonathan yours. Despite his young age, you considered Will a friend (felt a little wrong to call him your little brother seeing as how you were sleeping with his older brother). You loved him and you missed him, having been plagued with worry since his disappearance. 

  You’d searched the woods with Joyce, Jonathan and your sister day after day until your group finally had to admit Will wasn’t in the woods. You’d also helped plaster his missing posters all over town, putting them back up when some asshole tore them down (you hadn’t told Jonathan about that).

  Jonathan hummed, unblinking and you wiggled further up his body, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck as you pressed a few gentle kisses there. You could feel the tension leaving him.

  “Do you think he’s still alive?” He finally asked, voice a whisper even for your soft spoken boyfriend and laced with fear.

  You moved onto your forearm, shifting your weight to your side as you used your free hand to grasp his chin, turning his head to look at you. 

  There was a wet shine to his pretty brown eyes, one you knew he rarely allowed himself to show.

  You thought of your sister upstairs, older than Will but still  younger than you. If anything happened to her, you wouldn’t know how to go on with that missing space in your life. You could barely do it with the space your dad had previously occupied being empty.

  You knew Will, though. Maybe not as well as his brother, but you had a special bond with him, your friendship pure and full of trust. He’d comforted you on the nights you were babysitting him and your feelings for Jonathan became too much for you, always reassuring you that his brother was the greatest but severely stupid if he couldn’t see how much you cared about him and ask you out. You’d laugh, make him popcorn and let him watch a scary movie to apologize for being a teenage girl around him.

  He told you his secrets, too.

  Yeah, your bond with Will Byers was strong, unbreakable even. And you knew he was alive. You didn’t know how, you just knew.

  “Without a doubt. Will is gonna come home. He is, and we’ll all cry and hug and never let him out of our sights again, but he’s coming home.”

  You watched his face give in, crumbling as the tears finally trailed down the sides of his face, disappearing into his sideburns.

  It was your turn to hold him. You pulled him to you and he went willingly, burying his face in your chest as he quietly sobbed, shoulders shaking. 

  You carded your fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead, willing away your own hurt so you could help him through his.

  “He might not be here right now, but Will isn’t gone. You haven’t lost him, Shutterbug.” You promised, squeezing him so he didn’t feel like he was falling apart.

  All your previous worries were gone, fear of Jonathan’s seemingly growing friendship and secret rendezvous—he hasn’t told you about but you know of—with Nancy Wheeler forgotten, trivial compared to the matter at hand. He’s in your bed, came to you for comfort and you got to hold him. She’s got a boyfriend, one who isn’t yours. The foreboding can take a seat in the back of your mind because you wouldn’t pay it anymore attention.

  You were right, Will did come home. You didn’t know the whole story, not buying the one fed to you but you didn’t push it, happy and relieved your little friend was back home safe.

  And you were right about the other thing, the foreboding. By the next fall, you weren’t able to hold Jonathan anymore. 

  And he stopped being yours.

[serotoninnorepinephrinedopamine]

Showers and Confessions - Pro Hero Kirishima x Reader

This is set in the future, Kirishima is a pro hero and you're part of search and rescue. You're quirk is just basically an earth bender and you thought search and rescue would be a better use for your quirk than being a hero. Your "hero" outfit is similar to that of a coal miner.

*Credit to the artist, the signature is a little hard to read

.

The battle between the pros and villains had been supper destructive and lasted a while as the sun was starting to set. Many buildings had toppled much to my annoyance but unfortunately the heros can't help it, shit happens, it just means my crew and I have our work cut out for us this evening. With emergency personnel and vehicles on the scene we get to work.

Most of my crew was in charge of finding people in the rubble with their quirks whether it be with scent, echo location, or what have you but it was my personal job to move the debris away with my quirk and get the citizens out as fast as possible. The farther the fight got from us we moved in for search and rescue. I just hope Kirishima is doing okay out there, he's too "manly" for his own good and when it comes to protecting people he gives it his all but it's gonna get him really hurt one of these days....I dunno maybe I worry too much.

Pulled back to reality out of my thoughts, my teammates call me over having found some civilians. "Let's just hope it's a good shift." I say hopefully to myself before going to help.

.

Kirishima and I met in class 1-A, his red hair and can do attitude was what originally caught my attention, he was sweet and we hit it off right away. Originally I wanted to be a hero like every kid does until the LOV attacked the school, it was shooking and I was scared. I realized I wasn't cut out for pro hero work so I transferred to search and rescue.

We kept in touch and he'd go out of his way to hang out with me even if that meant he was just in the room while I studied or did homework. I enjoyed every hang out with him especially if I had a bad day. He always seemed to make it better with his adorable smile and not to mention his hugs are the best.

Few years down the road we graduated together, many photos were taken together that day and I secretly love them all. I love the big goofball but I don't think he'll ever see me that way so I'll take whatever I can get! Even if that means I'm cleaning up the wake of destruction from his job.

.

The sun is but a sliver along the horizon now as I pace beside an ambulance. My job was done, all the civilians had been found, no casualties so far which was good but there was no sign of Kirishima yet and I'm not leaving without him.

After about 40 minutes of nervous pacing I hear his wonderful voice "Y/N!" he shouts as he jogs towards me. I dash to him meeting halfway enveloping him in a tight hug as I crash into him. "What took you so long I was getting really worried?!" I ask sternly. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me "News reporters had me caught up, besides you know I can handle myself you don't need to worry so much." he says with a reassuring smile. I release him from the hug returning the smile and say "Let's get you home and cleaned up." as I lead him to a waiting vehicle. "What are you my (insert spouse pronoun)?" he says cheerfully. I couldn't help but blush but thankfully he couldn't see it with my back to him.

.

Once we made it inside his place I usher him to the bathroom for a shower "Clean up I'll prepare you some leftovers." I say as I turn to leave he grabs my wrist and I turn to look at him. His cheeks were bright pink as he avoided eye contact and rubbed the back of his neck "You need a shower too right? We've known each for years uhhh...you could take a shower with me if you want Y/N?" he sheepishly asks. My eyes wide and face on fire I yank my wrist from his grasp and slam the door shut. "I- I'm sorry! I'll wai-wait my turn!" I shout as I run to the kitchen.

I brace myself against to counter as I barely hear the water turn on over my pounding heart "Holy shit! How-WHY would he ask something like that! Sure we've known each other for a while but it-it's no!" I think to myself. I take in a deep breath and exhale, calming myself some what, and go about preparing him something to eat.

I sat on the couch for what seemed like a while collecting my racing thoughts waiting for my turn. The second he stepped out and went to his room I rushed in the bathroom for my shower.

.

Feeling clean and relaxed I crack open the bathroom door to peek out. Kirishima sat on the couch slightly hunched over. I sneak into his room and "steal" a rather large shirt and some loose fitting bottoms, I didn't have spares and I don't stay over enough to have some here.

I make my way to the couch and sit beside him. He glances over the somber look quickly replaced by one of amusement and a short laugh "Making yourself at home I see?" he states and continues "About early I'm sorry for being brash, I've been doing some thinking and figured it would've been alright to ask." I put a hand on his thigh "Hey it's okay to ask, albeit a very shocking question." I respond. He chuckles nervously "Yeah...um earlier today some things happened and it made me realize that I should tell you sooner rather than later" he grabs my hands in his "because eventually something will happen and I won't get the chance to but...ugh! What I'm trying to say is I like you and not as just a friend as a potential lover if yo-"

I put a finger to his lips and move my hands to his cheeks holding his face. Half lided eyes staring into his wide ones "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear a confession fall from your lips." I say with a smile as I pull him into a kiss.

[rose-pearls]

Relationships and family time

Summary: you have been dating Fred but need to tell your families at the annual barbecue you have. Between spending time with your parents and your twin Harry you manage to tell them you are together. (Everyone is alive and happy, no Voldemort! Hufflepuff reader)

It was finally summer, no more classes or homework for the next two months. I could already see the long mornings in bed and the short nights of fun. Everyone was getting ready to leave the castle and my friend Susan was telling me what she was planning to do this summer.

“And then we are going to the beach for a bit of sun!”, I smiled at her dreamy smile, she looked like she was ready to leave right now.

“That sounds like a lot of fun, you will have to keep me updated about-“, but before I could finish my sentence I felt a pair of arms around my waist and swinging me around.

“Fred!”, the both of us started laughing before setting me on the ground again. I slapped his chest, but he just grinned at me.

“Hi love, I missed you.”, I felt my heart melt and put my arms around his neck while he was looking at me with ‘heart eyes’ like George would say.

“I missed you too even though we saw each other last night.”, Fred started smiling even harder at the blush that was appearing on my cheeks. 

“So, ready to tell our families about us my little puff?”, I once again slapped his chest at the nickname that he had given me because of my house, and he dropped his forehead on mine.

“I don’t think we will ever be ready, but I can’t wait any longer.”, Fred nodded at that before squeezing my waist.

“Twin brother incoming.”, I laughed before letting him go, reluctantly, before turning to see Harry once again in a verbal fight with Malfoy.

“One day these two are going to end up together or shag, I am telling you.”, Fred snorted but agreed.

“Want to bet on it?”, we both looked at each other with wicked grins.

“What are we betting on?”, George suddenly appeared, probably back from snogging Alicia.

“When Harry and Malfoy will shag.”, George had a big grin on his face at that and we started talking about when it would happen before deciding on what the winner would get.

“Money is not enough in this bet we need something else.”, Fred and I both agreed and started thinking.

“I know! The losers must do anything that the winner wants them to do for a whole day!”, the twins looked at each other before nodding with matching grins on their face.

“It’s on!”

At that moment Harry came to join us looking frustrated and gave me a tired smile.

“Ready to go home sis?”

“I was born ready, unlike you.”, Harry looked absolutely done with me but then a grin formed on his face.

“Why don’t we test if that is true?”, that grin could only mean one thing, see who is the fastest at the train station.

“You are so on Potter.”

“Back at you Potter.”, the two of us looked at the twins who looked like they were enjoying this, particularly Fred.

“Alright get ready, set, go!”, Harry and I started running through the students who were trying to get to the station.

As we arrived practically at the same time at the station, we quite literally tumbled into Professor McGonagall. As we both got up and tried to stop ourselves from laughing, we could see her trying to be serious while looking down at us. 

“I am afraid to ask this but what were you two doing?”, Harry and I looked at each other before looking at Minnie with a twin expression of innocence. 

“Nothing professor, we were just getting our ten thousand steps.”, Harry nodded seriously before adding.

“It is verry important to complete them all and since we are in a train all day, we had to do them at some point.”

She looked absolutely done with us before letting a small smile appear.

“You two remind me of your father and your uncle, both menaces.”, Harry and I looked at her in fake shock.

“Us?”

“Menaces?”

“Never!”, we said in unison while the professor was trying not to laugh.

“Just like them.”, she had a distant smile on her face like she was reminiscing an old memory.

“Greet them for me, will you?”, we both nodded before flashing her a bright smile.

“Have a great summer professor!”, we then went to the train station where the twins were talking to Lee. Fred sends me a wink before getting back into his conversation. 

How we managed to keep it from Harry, well that is a good question. The boy is simply too focused on Draco to even notice us. But this summer we are going to tell everyone at the big summer barbecue that we did every year when the school year ended.

The train ride was filled with laughter and trying all sorts of snacks and before we know it, we are back in London. We both say goodbye to our friends that we will see tomorrow for the barbecue and try to find our parents.

“Y/N, Harry!”, We turned at the voices and saw our parents waving at us with big grins on their faces. 

As we get closer to them, I immediately hug my dad, relishing into his bear hug and the familiar smell of him. Before hugging my mother and relaxing into the smell of her perfume, it was good to be home.

We spent the evening talking about Hogwarts and what is happening while our parents tell us about what they had been doing. That night we went quickly to bed knowing that the next day would be a busy day and as I enter my room, I start to feel sleepy and manage to get into my night clothes before falling asleep on my bed.

The next morning was chaos, we had just managed to eat breakfast before our mother had thrown us out of the kitchen to get everything ready.

“Alright you two, we have a table to dress and guests to impress!”, our father looked proud of himself for his rhyme while Harry and I looked at him in fake disappointment.

“What has happened to you dad?”

“Yeah, what happened to the great James Potter?”, our dad looked at us annoyed before a mischievous grin appeared and he started slowly walking towards us.

“Oh really? I am going to show you what happened.”, before we could say anything dad was already running towards us, and Harry and I went in different directions screaming.

Of course, dad followed me and managed to pick me up before Harry came and started helping my dad with tickling me.

“No – stop”, I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t breathe or form a sentence and the two were laughing too while continuing the torture.

“Is that how you prepare lunch?”, the three of us turned to see Sirius and Remus looking at us with matching grins. Dad put me down to go greet them while Harry and I looked at each other with an idea forming in our minds.

“Who first?”, I whispered, and Harry looked quickly at the three adults before looking back at me.

“Uncle padfoot? As revenge for Christmas?”, we both nodded before going to greet our uncles.

Uncle moony quickly took me into his arms and smiled as I mumbled a hello in his chest and Harry quickly joined the hug, hugging us both at the same time.

“What? No hug for me?”, harry and I shared a smirk at Sirius’s complain before leaving Remus’s embrace.

“Always save best for last uncle padfoot, you know that!”, Remus let out a laughing scoff at that and Harry started going to Sirius first.

And before anyone could say anything the two of us had started tickling Sirius who fell on the ground from surprise and laughter. 

“Alright – kids”, he let out a loud laugh when we tickled his side and we started doing it more. “Please – I – stop”, Harry and I looked at each other before deciding that it was enough torture, and both dropped on Sirius’s chest for a hug.

“That’s payback for Christmas!”, we both got up to go and take the cutlery in the kitchen to set up the table while James and Remus were laughing at Sirius’s face.

As we finished setting up the table the Weasleys started arriving with Molly holding up a large pot of probably a dessert. We greeted everyone and went to the table with Hermione who had also joined us. Fred was next to me and had put his arm around my chair pretending to do it to be able to talk more easily to Harry who was next to me.

The parents had finished cooking everything and we were all enjoying the meal before the twins started talking.

“So, who won the race in the end?”, George asked while looking at Harry and me. Everyone looked confused while Harry and I were trying to avoid our mother’s gaze.

“What race?”, suddenly the chicken was very interesting but then Fred opened his mouth.

“Well, Y/N said that she was born ready unlike Harry and they both took that as a challenge to race each other to the train station.”, our father looked proud of us while our mother was rolling her eyes in desperation.

“So, who did win?”, Sirius had a large grin while looking at us and Remus was trying not to smile but was failing. 

“Well, we don’t know, because we stumbled into Professor McGonagall.”, everyone started laughing and our mother was looking like she was going to die.

“But don’t worry she found it funny!”, Harry smiled while saying that and then looked at our father and uncle padfoot.

“She said it actually reminded her of you two.”, the two shared a glance before looking at us with matching grins.

“That is because we also did that!”, Harry and I looked at each other in surprise before asking.

“And who won?”, Remus started laughing at that.

“None of them, they didn’t see Snape and fell on him!”, the whole table started laughing and even our mother laughed.

As they were starting to share memories of past pranks, I looked at Fred who was listening to the stories like it was a lesson, with a big smile.

“You know that prank reminds me of one of ours!”, everyone turned to George who started talking about a prank they had done where they had put red shampoo in all the showers of the other house.

“So that day is the only day I saw Y/N so angry, I nearly thought that she was going to break up with Fred!”, George seemed to realize what he had said because he looked at us with wide eyes. I had frozen and Fred seemed to be in shock too.

“Wait, breaking up with Fred?”, everyone turned to Harry who had asked the question before looking at us or me in specific.

“Well, it’s a funny story!”, I tried laughing but it came rather as a cough.

“Fred and I are dating.”, the whole table was silent and was looking at us with various expressions.

“Oh, I am so happy!”, everyone turned to Molly who had a large grin on her face, and it looked like she was going to cry of happiness.

“Since when?”, I looked at my father who was a bit red in the face and Fred answered this time.

“Since January, but I have had feelings for her for two years.”, I looked at Fred in shock, he had never told me that, but he was still looking at my dad.

“Wait, so you were dating, and I didn’t know?!”, Harry was upset I could tell, and I felt bad for not telling him, he deserved to know but we just wanted to keep it between us for a bit.

“We were going to tell you today after dessert. I’m sorry I kept it from you, but we wanted to wait before telling everyone.”, Harry still seemed hurt, and I decided to bring him into a hug.

“I’m sorry, I was just scared that it wasn’t something serious and that telling someone would burst the bubble of happiness, please don’t hate me?”, I whispered as Harry hugged me even closer.

“I could never hate you, love you too much for that little sis.”, I slapped his back while laughing and he gives me a happy grin. 

“It’s only two minutes!”

“Yeah, but still older!”, Harry stuck his tong out and I do the same thing before hearing my uncle’s voice.

“So, you two are together and you want our blessing?”, Fred and I nodded, and I looked at my dad with puppy dog eyes.

“Oh no that is not going to work young lady!”, he was trying to look stern, but I knew he was cracking.

“Come on dad, you know that Fred is a good guy, you have said it yourself!”

“I am regretting saying that.”, he mumbled. My mother slapped him, and he started pouting.

“You are right, Fred is a good guy, and I am glad that you found someone that makes you happy.”, I smiled at my mother and said a soft thank you.

“It is difficult for me to see my little girl start dating but I guess you could have done worse.”, this time Remus slapped him, and he groaned. “But I am also happy that you found someone that is good for you.”, he gives me a soft smile and I feel tears come up, I always had a close relationship with my dad and having him now say that I could be with Fred was simply amazing.

“Thanks dad”, we smiled at each other before Sirius started talking.

“Well, I will also give my blessing thank you so much for asking.”, Remus gave Sirius a shove while Sirius was acting like he was hurt.

“I am also verry happy for you two!”, I smiled softly at my godfather and Remus sends me a wink.

After that dinner went back to normal and the night ended with Sirius and our dad running against each other to see who would win. Fred gave me a kiss goodbye when our parents weren’t looking, and we promised to try and see each other soon.

As I go up to my room to go sleep, I see Harry in the couch and decide to go sit next to him.

“Want to build a fort like when we were little and sleep in it?”, Harry gives me a soft smile before agreeing and we start to build our fort. We used to do it all the time before going to Hogwarts, but now we had less time to do it.

The fort was finally done, and we looked at each other proudly before going into the fort to get some sleep. We started talking about everything and anything when we heard a sound.

“Harry did you hear that?”, I whispered at my twin and he looked at me with a scared expression.

“Yeah, I did”, we started getting closer to each other and going to the end of the fort when we heard a sound and suddenly saw our father’s face.

Harry and I screamed and send a pillow in our father’s face who was laughing hard.

“You should’ve seen your faces!”, he was chuckling and then entered the fort.

“So got some more place for an old man?”, Harry and I sent him a grin before making some place between us.

“Where is mum?”

“She is already asleep! Drank too much wine!”, the three of us started giggling because at the end of the night our mother had been swaying in the kitchen like she was dancing.

The three of us settled down in the fort and as we were lying down Harry and I went to cuddle against our dad who sighed happily.

“I really miss you two when you are at Hogwarts.”

“We miss you too dad, and mom.”, we both squeezed his side which makes him bring us even closer to him.

“Thank you for accepting Fred.”, I whispered after a minute of silence and when I felt them bring me closer, I added. “He will never replace you both you know. You are both the most important men for me, and Fred is after that.”

They both chuckled at that, but it was more of a wet chuckle like they were trying not to cry.

“Love you too little sis.”, harry gives me a soft smile before throwing an arm around our father and me.

“Love you both so much.”, we all smiled at our father’s words and started to fall asleep when there was a sound. 

Suddenly our mother appeared and the three of us screamed holding each other.

“So, this is where you three are! Make some room, mom coming through.”, we all laughed and made place for her and after some time we all fell asleep in our little fort.