#cluster of realms

[definitelynotabanana]

i wish we could be normal about each other

[boop-le-snoot]

kinktober #2

Strange Candy

kinktober day two | aphrodisiac | 18+, cw: intoxicated sex (all consensual), female reader. both of them hella sassy, book-ish!thran because no angst in my house. this is very silly, just like the author. don't eat funny mushrooms you find in the forest! | wc 3,7k | want more kinktober? click here |

“Strange indeed.” Said the King thoughtfully. The group of hunters who'd led him to the newfound development traded a long look. Crouching down, the King's majesty eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead as he studied the newfound addition to his great Elven forest. “And the beasts have returned seemingly unharmed, you say?”

“Yes, my Lord. The bears had retreated into a den and so did the foxes, emerging approximately three days afterwards. All seemed in good health and very hungry.” The Silvan hunter replied.

“Then these must be harmless.” Deduced the King, taking out a thin blade to poke at a dense cluster of brightly coloured fungus.

At least, he guessed it was a fungus. Upending one cluster, he found no roots. The flesh of the mushroom was white and fragrant, pleasantly earthy and rich, with subtle floral undertones that made his mouth water slightly. The smell intensified tenfold upon cutting the mushroom down the middle. The King brought it closer to his nose, carefully scenting for any bitterness or rot.

“My Lord...” A concerned Feren piped up from his spot behind the King.

You offered the Captain a glance full of genuine compassion, without a doubt considering his job to be the most complicated and tedious in the whole of Thranduil's kingdom. Minding Greenwood's fiery monarch was not for the faint-hearted.

“Surely you are not thinking of putting it in your mouth?” You added a dash of sarcasm into your question, equally concerned.

You were sassed right back, eyeroll audible. “It is a mushroom, where else would I put it?” Thranduil straightened up, holding the newfound addition to the flora of the forest impaled on his knife. As soon as his eyes zeroed on you, you gulped. Thranduil gave you a nasty little grin. “What is the worst that could happen? I have the best healers of my realm at my disposal.”

Feren's fingers twitched, a tell-tale sign of his withering self-restraint. You sighed and contemplated the best time to begin backing away.

Thranduil simply raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge. “Worry not, the Kingdom has forgotten of your and Feren's...” Elegant pause, Feren's sigh. “Accident.”

“'twas no accident,” you said defensively. “You gave us your Ada's moonshine to see if it was still good. On purpose.”

Thranduil shrugged as the mushroom was evenly divided into two parts with the help of his knife. A perfect picture of innocence, he held up the treat in his palm, grey eyes sparkling.

“I am NOT doing it, my Lord!” Exploded Feren, and gave into his urge to take a step back. He, more than anyone, knew how insistent Thranduil could get. A seven-thousand year old elf giving huge puppy eyes! And it worked! The Captain shielded his own face with his palm. “Throw me in the dungeons for a fortnight, I care not!”

Contrary to your expectations, Thranduil simply rolled his eyes, and swiftly stuck one part of the colourful fungus in his mouth. Everyone gasped, including you, but the old Elvenking remained completely unbothered.

“Hm,” he blinked after a second. “That is not bad.”

Waves of impending doom washed over you with each contemplative movement of Thranduil's jaws. Looking first to the left, and then to the right, you found no immediate means exit of the situation. It was you, the resident human, and the tree behind you, which your King had no problem with crowding you against. Not that he moved or anything. He was just... Large. And very handsome. And spectacular at rounding his shiny, bottomless eyes with great purpose.

“We must know if this fungus is harmful to Edain,” he said, honey-sweet. You hated that he was right. “According to hunters, there is an abundance of it, and, knowing how curious you Edain are...”

“Ugh!” You shook your head. “Just give me the mushroom. If I die, I will haunt your halls for all eternity.” Obediently and with no small worry, you snatched the piece and stuck it in your mouth, chewing quickly, not even taking note of the taste.

Thranduil's last experiment that involved you and Feren still fresh on your mind, you turned back towards the Halls before you'd even finished chewing. You'd rather be in the privacy of your rooms least intoxication has you do something embarrassing... Again. Thankfully, the King conceded, and after giving the hunters a command to gather more of this mystery fungus, the party set out back home.

It was Feren's turn to offer you fleeting looks of compassion. You quietly smiled back, not feeling anything out of sorts. The ride back was pleasantly uneventful. Not a creature was stirring: even the ever-present spiders were absent in their bothersome scuttling.

Too smug for his own good, Thranduil entered his halls with a spring in his step. “The haunting of halls of Greenwood has been postponed indefinitely, I see,” he said in passing as he shrugged off his outer travel robes. A maid immediately offered him a silver robe of heavy satin which he politely declined. “Nay. The discovery has warmed me plenty.”

You noticed that yes, the weather has turned rather warm indeed and bowed before departing back to your daily business. Mid-way through your chores, a thin, translucent sheen of sweat glistened on your brow as you silently cursed the Vala responsible for such unusually pleasant weather. The Halls had already began to prepare for a long winter with covering unnecessary exits and patching up drafty areas.

What wouldn't you give for a gulp of fresh, cold air! Chores forgotten, you hurried to the nearest balcony. There was one not frequently visited by Elves as it was hidden behind a clever alcove; stepping aside and squeezing through the narrow opening, you sighed happily and deeply as your clammy skin finally felt crisp late night air.

Your shoulders dropped as you exhaled, finally shaking off some of that uncomfortable heat. A tranquil scene of swaying treetops and budding stars over a darkening sky emphasized the calamity of your solitude.

“Hm.”

“My Lord,” you greeted without turning, familiar with the timbre of voice and soft swishing of expensive fabric coming from behind you.

Thranduil's profile appeared within your field of view as he posted up next to you and demurely placed a hand over the stone railing of the balcony. “I was unaware someone had found the secret entrance to my private balcony.”

“Oh,” you froze. “I apologize... I was simply...”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “I take no offense. Indeed, it was quite clever. Even keen Elven eyes miss the opening behind the alcove.” Sans outer robe and clad in a simple but rich ensemble of sateen shirt and velvet breeches, it became evident you'd caught the King in a private moment of relaxation. His brow, usually tinted with concern with kingdom, was pleasantly warm.

You swallowed, looking away. He was a beauty even among his own kin, and like this - relaxed and comfortable - bordered on irresistible. A flash of heat spread through your body at the realisation. It took no small effort to squash these thoughts and steer them towards some semblance of propriety.

“The Valar have blessed us with good weather this autumn, my Lord. I was doing my chores and nearly felt faint from the heat.” You said, noticing Thranduil's eyebrows rise. “And the construction of your halls is incredible! Not a single drafty corner.”

“Heated, you say?” He interrupted suddenly, turning to face you fully. Etiquette (whenever you remembered it) dictated you should, too, and you two faced each other. Thranduil radiated curiosity, eyes lingering on your flushed cheeks and the warmth crawling down the neckline of your clothes. “Strange.”

“What is, my Lord?”

“I have said the same thing to Galion but he gave me a very pointed look and gestured towards Lady Anariel, who had been complaining to her maid about not lighting a fire in a timely manner.”

You frowned, too. The Lady Anariel was as Northern as Elves come and was fairly tolerant of wintery weather. When others wore furs, she got by with an outer dress of wool and, perhaps, a pair of gloves.

“Do you feel... Strange, my Lord?” You had a slight suspicion. Just a teeny-tiny one, that boiled down to those Eru-forsaken mushrooms.

In response you received an impish sort of shrug. “Not necessarily so. Do you?”

Your face blanched. Aside from suddenly finding him irresistible and feeling a little hot under the collar, nothing was amiss. But the longer you lingered on those two thoughts, the stronger they became. It was as if you were an adolescent again: barely any impulse control and all feeling.

‘twas a delicate situation. You could speak to a healer, of course, or let the strange circumstance run it's course. If it even could do that. Thoughts growing jumbled by the second, you said the only clear thing on your mind.

“Those cursed mushrooms.”

Thranduil was unperturbed. “I do not believe they are cursed. Potent, yes, but not cursed.”

Your eyebrows shot up. “... You too?”

He sighed. “I came out here in hopes of clearing my head from this fog of lust.” As you prepared to mutter- what, exactly? Apologies? - Thranduil's finger reached out for tour face to trace the curve of your jaw. “And in the process I found something much more exciting.”

Your bottom lip trembled. Such a simple gesture felt heavenly. Wherever his skin came in contact with yours, the heaviness receded briefly. Your breath caught in your chest as your heart picked up a hare's pace.

“Am I being propositioned?” You wished to say to yourself but in the fog, managed to sputter out loud.

“We could help each other out...” The King, unfurled to his full height and radiating heat equal to that you felt on the inside, grinned a crooked grin. It sat youthfully on his timeless features, just the right amount of flirtatious and reassuring.

You pretended to think about it. No, you really did, out of concern for your dignity. Throwing yourself onto the King was simply uncouth. Such was your next course of action, but the necessary amount of time had passed and the need, having been brought to the forefront or your mind, took hold of your sense. Slowly, you leaned into the touch and brought your hands to Thranduil's forearm, tilting his fingers to your mouth. Hot breath caused them to twitch.

“Does this answer your question?” You tilted your head, lips brushing against the multitude of rings he wore on his persona. It was most exhilarating to see his pupils widen and his mouth tremble.

Adam's apple bobbing, Thranduil swallowed. “No.” And smirked, the stunning bastard. “I need a clear, straightforward statement.”

You sighed, feigning annoyance. “I enthusiastically consent to having uncouth, untoward and potentially nasty things being done to my body by my Lord and King...”

You did not even get to finish. In a flash, Thranduil's hands had encircled your face and he bent himself over you, pushing your body into the balcony as he devoured your mouth with his. There was no grace and no finesse; something heavy and hard poking your stomach showed you just how much self-control your King had.

Seconds ago, you'd been having a perfectly normal conversation and now you found yourself airborne, having been unceremoniously picked up by the tall Elf and carried towards his chambers like the most coveted spoil of war while he devoured your mouth. You hummed into the kiss and responded with a groan, tearing the back lacing of your clothes clean off.

Your back connected with the mattress of his bed. Blinking at the rapid change of pace and scenery, you moaned out in frustration regarding your ruined clothes.

“I will commission more for you,” he said carelessly, throwing his own shirt Mordor knows where. His bare chest, chiseled with lithe muscle and pale as fresh milk, captivated your attention.

Previously having contended yourself with the occasional glance at the tiny window of bare skin where the sides of his robes met, you used your newfound opportunity to drink yourself full of Thranduil's fair skin. It felt as soft as it looked when he laid upon you, the weight of his body offering a delicious momentary reprieve from the tension building up in your muscles. Gossamer hair shielded you from the outside world as he leaned in towards your mouth again, this time capturing yours in a sensual dance of tongue and teeth.

A nimble hand took care of your bottoms, sliding inside your underwear as slick and cunning as a snake, to cup your mound. Thranduil groaned into the kiss, finding you soaked and willing, fingering the cleft of your lower lips with practiced gentle moves. The tenderness of it drove you crazy. Your need flared as a wall of standstill fire and you were surprised you did hadn't noticed it earlier. If the pulse in your cunt was anything to go by, you would come undone the very moment your King would finally allow you to feel full.

He was fairly content with sucking your soul out through your mouth and mapping the fat outer lips of your cunt. Never quite breaching and wholly avoiding your throbbing pearl, Thranduil simply basked in the amount of sticky juice your cunt was capable of producing.

The first loud moan of the night broke free if your lips and it was one of frustration.

Thranduil smiled into the kiss, your teeth clashing together. “What is it, mm?” He queried in-between wet pecks.

“I want to come.” You whined.

He chuckled. “And what's in it for me?”

Thankfully, your eyes were closed and he did not see your eyeroll. “You'll get to come, too?” Cringing at how lame it sounded, you were nonetheless powerless beneath him and overwhelmed from your desire.

“I prefer to play with my food.” He grinned a predator's smile, all shiny teeth and lidded eyes, but tugged down on your bottoms nonetheless. “Try harder.”

That became difficult as you were now bare; shivering in your King's arms, you cracked open a hazy eye to see him settle himself closer to your dripping center. It captivated him. Sliding two fingers along your lips, your eyes closed and head fell back as every nerve in your body came alight. Rewarded by a long moan, Thranduil gathered ample amount of moisture on his fingers and brushed over your quivering entrance.

Your back arched as he plunged them deeply within your aching cunt. The sticky noise it made was positively scandalous.

“I will-ah! forgive you for gathering the entire -ahh! King's guard to look at Feren and I!” You managed to form a quasi-coherent sentence through the moans and gasps spilling from your lips and were rather proud of yourself for it.

Thranduil's laugh echoed in the room as it did in his chest, a pleasant rumble vibrating through your core. “Whether Galion forgives you two for barking at him remains to be seen.”

Genuine amusement briefly overshadowed your shame at the situation of the past and at your own current neediness. The combination of emotion startled a laugh out of you, causing your core to clench around Thranduil's fingers and coat them in your wetness. He groaned low in his throat and rubbed your inner walls, reveling in the resulting moan. It did nothing to bring you closer to the peak.

“Sadist!” You accused and attempted to grind down on his hand, fisting the crumpled sheets.

“Slander!” He punctuated the rebuttal with an expert curl of his fingers. You arched. He smirked. “You should learn patience.”

There was no strength in your mind to formulate another witty comeback. Sensation, low and insistent, built up in the pit of your belly, an ache so sweet and tender you were sure it would be any second that you'd burst with it. Every pore on your skin open and receptive to touch, even the slide of silk sheets as your body bent with pleasure was overwhelming. You panted wetly through parted lips as a third finger joined in, the stretch of it making your eyes roll back into your head.

Thranduil would kill you. You were sure of it now. He would end you with a blinding smile and clever fingers never ceasing to move within you, the movement just shy of where you needed him most.

“Mercy!” You moaned. “Mercy, my King!”

You should have known his idea of it would be no less torturous than the ‘kindness’ that led you to your current place writhing atop his bed. Slowly, his tongue traced a path around your outer lips before dipping inside; it was hot and wet, like a summer storm, when it connected with your engorged clit and flicked it from root to tip. Electric feel of sensation pierced your body in a lightning bolt as your leg muscles seized. The King gave a pleased rumble and went for seconds and thirds, effortlessly holding your thighs open with one strong, long arm, palm digging into the soft meat.

Even the pain of it echoed with pleasure.

While the need within your loins kept steadily climbing with no end in sight, your King treated himself to a leisurely late night snack. His tongue delved in and out of your cunt, lapping up the waterfall of arousal. You would have been mortified, really, for the mess had you glued stuck to his face, your hips attempting to follow his mouth in circles.

Coupled with the digits slowly but surely stretching the entrance to your channel, brushing over the sensitive fornix, you knew the night would be long. Dark, but not cold. Hazy.

“Ngh!” You articulated through gritted teeth, feeling him pull away from a particularly sensitive spot in favour of sucking a bruise onto your inner thigh. Thranduil followed a path only he himself knew, marking your flesh with pulling, precise bites that left discoloured spot damp with spit. They pleasantly ached.

Over your stomach and at the underside of your bottom rib. The sides and bottoms of your breasts, all the way up at the root of your nipples. He took each one in into his mouth, suckling on it like a hungry babe, before releasing them with a wet pop just blow a gentle breath onto the pebbled nubs. Through parted lashes, you watched him, aptly fascinated by the lack of colour in his eyes, pupils blown wide and deep with lust.

You tasted your cunt on his tongue as he made way back up. Risking a glance downward, you saw Thranduil's cock hard, flushed and heavy, hanging out of his breeches. He hadn't bothered with removing them and that single detail had you nearly undone. How the King himself could not wait to he inside of you!

An understanding of his previous games had come too, for he was rather proportional everywhere. Just the slide of his weeping tip against your bruised thigh invoked a shudder in you, back arching. You presented yourself to your best ability, eyes shining with pleading as he rested his forehead against yours.

Thranduil held himself above you, weight on his elbows, as his cock nosed at your sopping entrance. Immediately, it tried to suck him in, coaxing his lips to bend into a smirk. Such proximity was putting your sensibility directly into negatives. With a wild look mirrored in his own darkened pupils, you petulantly stuck out your bottom lip and panted with all the sarcasm that you could muster:

“we'll get to the good part... About tomorrow?” You wished to add more, something about him being old, but that remark and many more drowned in the absolute extasy flooding your body as he slid into your cunt in one single smooth stroke. “Aah...” Left your lips instead, and with it, any remaining oxygen departed from your lungs as well.

“Mouthy,” Thranduil remarked, sounding unfairly put together for someone who's mouth was as slippery as wet stone and cheeks brighter than a ripe beetroot.

You forgave him then and there. In awe, you watched him give you another one of his impish grins and nudge at that spot deeply within you. And he did it all over again, plush mouth releasing the sweetest, quietest of moans as he did so. Time got lost in the tug of war tour cunt played with his cock; like this, your release was imminent and fast approaching.

You grabbed Thranduil's arms, rubbed his shoulders as your legs wound up around his narrow waist while he contentedly and systematically unraveled you apart with rapid, smooth snaps of his hips. For a while, there was nothing in the room but the two of you and the lewd noises of damp skin slapping against skin. Clutching harder, you felt yourself tighten around his girth. Each measured stroke abused your engorged clit, heavy sac adding extra sensation on your perineum.

A low, feral groan joined the thrilling cacophony of sex. Thranduil fucked you through your first orgasm with gritted teeth, barely slowing with the new resistance of your cunt attempting to milk him for his worth. Hair hanging over your faces like a curtain, he claimed your lips in a searing kiss as you whimpered with overstimulation. Evenly, his thrusts became shallow, grinding.

Having become a acquainted with your bearings somewhat, you made a confused noise. The King just grinned. His palm connected firmly with the side of your hip as you squealed. He withdrew.

“Present yourself to your King.” He ordered, both smug and slightly breathless, helping you along onto all fours.

You chuffed into the damp bedding and obeyed, arching your back at a sinful curve. Within seconds, you were once again blissfully full.

a/n: I am way too horny of a person to write anything LACE compliant. Or is that my commitment issues talking? Anyway, ELVES FUCK SEVERELY! At least this October. mwah 💋

I once ate like 12 grams of cubensis and was a cat for 3 hours, so Feren barking at Galion with the help of some 3k+ year old mushroom infused moonshine isn't that far-fetched.

[nightingale-prompts]

Space Fae- DCxDP prompt

So ending up in another dimension wasn't necessarily part of the plan. The plan was to stop the portal from being opened and letting countless demons flooding the mortal realm.

Constantine had said portals were finicky and interrupting the summoning can throw off the destination that the portals go to. But not the hell sounded pretty good.

So Tim might have "accidentally" ended up on the other side of said portal after attempting to see what was in it. He didn't actually think he'd fall in.

On the other side, he ended up in what he thought was a lounge. It looked like one or maybe it was a living room.

Regardless 4 tall luminescent figures looked at him from their reclined positions.

Their bare starry skin was bearly covered by translucent shawls. Their bodies were dappled with constellations against their colarshifting skin, it was like looking at space itself but cut out and melded to humanoid forms. It was clear they felt no need to cover themselves when they were so radiant as is.

The figure in the center of the room who was reclined on a fainting couch laid her eyes on him. Her eyes were a glittering blue surrounded by amber lashes. Her long hair was a metallic copper that moved like molten metal. She was the tallest as she stood up reaching 10 feet. You'd think she was a goddess at first glance. Her shroud covered her head to toes stopping short of the floor. She donned copper rings and necklaces around her with form.

The other 3 figures gazed at Tim with curiosity.

The tallest male had red patterns of stars on his skin like a dying cosmos against his dark skin. The main difference between him and the tallest female was her skin glittered with hues of purple stars against the black space. But he was mostly void. His eyes glowed like blazing red dwarfs determined to not go without a fiery blaze of glory. His ashen-tinted shroud was wrapped around his hips with a silver pin. His hair was a metallic silver. The only part of him that caught the light. He crossed his arms as he stared down at Tim at 9 feet tall.

The smallest girl stood only 7 feet tall. Her white hair flowed upwards in a ponytail that moved like a cloudy mist. Her skin was a bright cluster of colors like fireworks. Her skin was so bright the black spaces of her skin didn't exist yet because the space she embodied was so young and new. She mainly shined shades of blue and white of new stars Her green eyes were so bright they glowed a mint green. Here shroud was tied around her like a dress with a golden chain. She bounded towards Tim only to be stopped by the last of the figures who leaned down to meet Tim's gaze.

The last one was male...kind of. Male and female of these beings were judged only by their outlines so far and their way of wearing their translucent coverings. But this last one was neither but completely breathtaking. Their Lazarus green eyes framed by silver eyelashes like fresh powdery snow. Their long white locks reflected like the morning sun shining off untouched snow making holographic like rainbows ripple down the hair. His skin was a swirling mass of cloudy green stars. The center of their body made up the center of a rotating galaxy around a star. His shroud was tied in a toga that fell off one shoulder. He accessorized with jade bracelets and earrings that glowed eerily on his arms, legs, and neck.

The 8-foot-tall being placed a finger under Tim's chin and smiled kindly. He said something to the others and a language he didn't know. It sounded like humming.

There was something in that sound like it promised everything Tim had ever wanted could be found here. Limitless knowledge, love, and someone who understood him in every way.

Then Tim was thrusted back into his dimension with faint memories of his time there. Learning, flying, a warm embrace, and the faint taste of nectar on his lips. The memories faded to vague dreams when he crossed the threshold and only minutes had passed since he left.

[deadsetobsessions]

Fae adjacent! Danny, pt. 3

Jason returns to consciousness with a scream trapped before it could come to life. He twisted his neck back and forth and back and forth.

It was the last thing he did before he died. When the Joker left and told him to say hello to the big guy, Jason could not muster up the energy to make a single sound.

But Bruce… Bruce was here this time, heavy head making the mattress by his leg dip.

The scars that ran over his face stretched as he blinked.

“…B?”

Bruce’s head shot up, eyes bloodshot and bags heavier than a Gotham socialite’s solid gold Dior purse.

“Jaylad.”

Jason- Jason was alive now. Bruce’s hug felt warm, the tear spot on his shoulder was damp as his dad cried while hugging him.

And Jason should be happy. He’s alive again. His dad loved him.

But all he could think about was the cold of the coffin, the squelch of mud and dirt, and the unerringly wrong feeling of knowing he came back but he came back wrong.

——

Tim had wandered Gotham in the weeks following Jason’s reawakening. He wasn’t avoiding Bruce Wayne. He wasn’t. But Tim knows he’ll have to answer questions soon. He just wasn’t ready.

Tim looked up at the den of pixies- pixies were real!- and squared his shoulders. He did his research. Tim Drake walks into the den with nothing but foolish hope and Gotham-brand audacity. He’ll get answers about Danny today. He will.

——

Soul-Plucker, they called him. Danny Fenton, the proprietor of Fenton Artifacts. The High King.

“I thought King Oberon was the High King?”

The pixies chittered at the little human that could have been kin. Their wings fluttered at their backs, muffled by cloth. It’s not often they find kindred. It really is too bad that Fenton had his mark on the child. How they would have loved to whisk him away. He would have made entertainment that would last a millennia! Or until the court decided to cut of his tongue, at least. How well he had tricked them!

“Of course! Of course! King Oberon is our king, see?” A younger pixie swirled her drink, a shining red and blue thing. “But he’s the High King of another court!”

“The High King of the Infinite Realms, encompassing far more than King Oberon and Queen Tatianna could ever reach.”

Another pixie chimed in, on their fourth glass of amber colored nectar. “The Soul-Plucker!”

“The Beginning of the End.”

“Afterlife IRS department!”

“He who wanders.”

“Death-Caller.” Another one said, grave and serious.

“The Arbiter.”

“So, he’s like, the boss of bosses?” Tim asked. What kind of entity did he make a deal with? Why was he kind to Tim? What motives did Danny have?

“Uh huh!”

“Then what’s he’s doing here?”

“Who knows? The whims of the most powerful are unknown to us.” The pixies clustered around Tim. “Won’t you play another game with us, Alvin? You’re so good at it! Oh, how about a drink?”

“Can’t. I gotta get home. Also, I’m a minor.” Tim slipped passed their fluttering wings and manic smiles. They move to let him past, waving drinks at him in a tantalizing manner.

“And where is that, sweet one?”

“Somewhere, Liltri. Somewhere.”

Tim Drake was a child of pure will, pure hard headed foolishness, a mind sharper than any blade, and luck more terrifying than the creatures he now dealt with. And so, he stepped out of the Pixie Bar with more questions than answers but he stepped out unharmed.

——

“Who are you?” The shadows shift as Lady Gotham unveiled her knight.

Danny felt his eyes cool, glinting green and blue. Lady Gotham forgets who her liege is.

“Haven’t you done your research? You who walks along the edge of shadows, my shop is not a place to dismiss decorum.”

“You brought… you brought him back. How. Why?”

“You want answers? Then give me something in return.”

Danny gestured to the circle his clients have come to know as the deal-maker. Danny doesn’t ask for much in return. Just… something equal to the request.

“Ah,” Danny pointed up at the sign. “I am legally able to deny you my service, so don’t get any ideas.”

Batman was studied up on myths. But he was not a believer, and that both hindered and helped him. What was a god, in front of the faithless? What was the faithless in front of power?

The vigilante stepped into the circle, unable to see the subtle shimmering of magic but remained unbound by the virtue of his disbelief.

“What do you want for answers?”

“You do not often deal with the occult, do you?” Danny tapped the counter. Batman remained silent.

“I have a soft spot for vigilantes,” Danny continued. “And so I won’t ask for much. Just… your cape.”

“Not my hair? A body part?”

“If you were dealing with the fae, you’d probably would lose something of that value, yes.”

“You aren’t fae.”

Danny merely smiled. “Do we have a deal?”

“My cape in exchange for honest answers to my questions.”

Danny huffed, approval glinting in his eyes.

“Your cape for honest answers to three questions,” Danny pointed at the sign, still hanging above them. “Three questions or nothing.”

Batman grimaced. “Deal.”

“Ask your questions, protector.”

“Why did you bring Jason back to life?”

“I didn’t.” Danny grinned. The Bat should have stipulated that he must answer elaborately. He looked like he realized that. Oh well. His mistake. Well, not like there was actual magic binding Danny, so technically, Danny could lie off his ass.

“…Will Jason stay alive?” Danny had a heart and this man was a much better father than Jack ever was.

“Yes. Barring unnatural causes, his soul is firmly attached to his body and will not shuffle off the mortal coil without warning.”

The lines of Batman’s shoulders slumped. Relief. He paused.

“What are your intentions in this city?”

“To run my shop… and to enjoy retirement.”

Danny laughed at Batman’s stoic face. “Disappointed I am not up to nefarious deeds, little knight?”

“No.”

Danny tapped the table. “My payment?”

Batman shucked off his cape and handed it to Danny.

“Why my cape?”

Danny smiled a fanged little thing. “Because your costume looks stupid without it and I could use a laugh.”

Batman grumbled and turned to leave. Ha paused, eyes catching on the glint of camera lenses.

“How much for that?”

“For the little sparrow’s camera?” Danny sighed, eyes fixed on the form of a vigilante who was more kind than angry for once. “Two thousand dollars.”

“That’s a huge markup.”

“That’s how much it means to me, compared to the rest.” Danny slid beyond the counter, a ghostly air about him. He pinned his newly earned cape up. “My shop, my prices, little knight.”

Batman silently handed him two thousand dollars and left with the little sparrow’s camera.

[dcxdpdabbles]

Master Posts Links

All the dabbles I have posted on my DC x DP account. Under a read more due to how long it is. Broken into three categories:

Multi-parts - Dabbles that have more than one part written.

One-shots- Dabbles with only one part written.

Requests- Dabbles written for the requests of readers. (Note: If a request is for a continuation of the other two categories, they will be filed in Milti-parts)

Master Post 1 Link

Master Post 2 Link

Master Post 3 Link

Completed AUs Master Post Link

NSFW (+18 ) Link

Please read the indexes to determine which master post each au is filed in.

As of 12/25/2024: The newest stuff is inside of Master Post 3.

(Updated as of 06/05/2025: Stop onOne-Shots: The Fib: Part 1)

MASTER POST 1 INDEX:

Multi-parts:

The Royal Consort,

Child Support

Phantom's Number 1 fan

Danny and The Fan Blog

Congratulations! It's Triplets!:

Ghost King Summon dare

The Dauntless Matchmaker

Demon and Angel Brat

Single Dad

Jason's Doll

Misplace Baby

One-shots:

The Assistant

The Ghost Trio's Food Trip

Legal Compensation

Love Among Fans

Lex Luther's Youngest

The Infinite Realms Hobby Store:

Obsession Runs in the Family

Farm Hand

Vague Threats

Game of Deadly Love

Retired-Rouge

The Real Blood Son

The Kid of Candles

Magic Older Brother

Keep The God Kid Busy!

Dog walker

Clockwork's Cookbook

Respawn and Relive

The Summoning Conditions of the Ghost King

Finders Keeper

What's the rule again?

The Contact, the Butler and the Sly Time Lord

Big Fish in Gotham Pond:

Immunity system:

Wrong Number:

Timeline Prevention Squad

Requests

The Masters are Aliens

Ghost Zone Read

Red Hood's Snow

Jason Sees Dead People

Ghost Dad

Wayne Manor Ghost

The Siren of Iceberg Lounge

The Orginal

The Ghost King's Fibs

Red ParentHood

Woo thy Butler, My Lord

Double Vision

Dealeyed Soulmates

Rescue Mission

Danny's Online Persona

Practice makes perfect

MASTER POST 2 INDEX:

Multi-Parts

Cass the Halfa

Danny's Grill

The Audit

Why Ten?

Cluster of Cores

Demon Head Slightly to the left

Danny Fenton's Ex

New Management

Billy's Parents

Phone a friend

Super Robin

Cassandra's Curse in Gotham

Marriage Trap the Office Supplier!

It's all Fun and Games Kids!

The cinnamon roll's son

One hell of a good Bellhop

Lights and Camera

One-Shots

Red Yummy

Professional Protector of Love

The Backroads

In 30 Minutes or less

Corporate Rivals

Rude Kryptonian

Ecto-Specialist

Side Hustle

Copyright

Love at first (club) meeting

Catnip for heroes

Old Friends

Danny the Nanny

Lights and Camera

Hot Wings

The ones who got away

Vanishing Bookstore

Petal to the metal

Lover Boy

PenPal

Fishbowl Bones

Unwanted House Guest

The Roommate

Missing Half

Danny's Did you Know?

Yeti's orders.

Who's Child is this?

Requests

Batman with a gun's lover

IRS's boogie man

Dear Elder Brother's mistakes

The Undead Florist

Pit's Merman

Dullahan is my roomate

Nightowl Appartement

The one with Sunset Hair

The lost In-Laws

The Lady and The Dad

Big Brother does not approve

Gotham's star and Shadow

Pride in Gotham

Revenant Prompt

The King and his Not-Knight

Contestant Number 3

The Lost son of the Bat

AroAce Danny

Extended Family

Master Post 3 Index

Mult-parts

Passion for Fashion

Alley Boyfriends

Mr. Flavor

Freelance Inventor

The Summoned Demon

One-shots

You ARE the father

The Good Luck Charm

To be Human Again

Travel Buddy

Shift

A little bit of Home

New Money

Beyond the Grave

Lex Luthor's annoyance

Die with a smile

Cold Case

Online Siren

The End and the Beginning

Damian's (not) real friend

Family Bonding

Gotham Gossip

The old Switcharoo

A Pen Pal's Duty

Gamer Boy

Rent-A-Scandal

Silver Tongue Snake

Pin-Man and the Merry Metal Makers

Burst Your Bubble

The Contingency Plan

What's Your Poison?

The cousin

Tax Bracket

Not my Business

The Fib

Request

Access Granted

Skulker's Past

Surviving Babysitting

The Twins

Echo's Dad

The Artifact Repair Man

Flip of A coin

New Neighbors

Over and Over again

The West Wing

Never the Bride

The Masters Boy

Starstruck

My Lost little song

The Hostage Prince

John's Mask

COMPLETED AUS MASTER POST INDEX

The Bakery is a Front!....right?

Cave Boy

The Adoptive Son

Alfred's Boy

[anomaly-hivemind]

Dive In ☆ Merman! Gojo x Scrientist! Reader | Kinktober Day 14

Summary: You were brought in to study a merman whom you heard was quite aggressive; however, he’s always been kind to you. You were able to get close. Maybe a bit too close.

Word Count: 3978

Tags: Merman!Gojo, afab!reader, vaginal penetration, scratch marks, porn with plot, cunnilingus, handjobs, experimental sex, mating, government facilities, the reader becomes a fugitive, mating rituals, creampie, breeding, transformations, wet dreams.

When you got a call from the federal government you didn’t know what to expect. You were honestly a bit worried that you had done something you weren’t supposed to and were going to be silenced. The last thing you expected to see however was a mermaid, or merman in this case.

You were a  NOAA scientist and had seen so many strange sea creatures, so the possibility of mermaids being out there wasn't out of the realm of possibility. However, you didn’t think that they would exist like this. The closest thing humanity has had to mermaids is manatees and dugongs. When thinking critically this is what most people assumed mermaids would look similarly to. That they would have rough skin and blubber and coarse hair or fur. However, this merman swimming before you looked like something right out of a fairy tale.

Based on the way it floated around his head, his hair looked to be the same texture as human hair. His whole upper half looked to be very human aside from the gills you could see on the sides of his neck, the fins on his arms, and the fin-like ears he had. 

“Ah Dr.L/N, Pleased to meet you,” An older man came up to you and extended his hand. He was in a fine pair of slacks and a pristine button-down with a black tie and white lab coat overtop. 

You took his hand and gave it a firm shake. He introduced himself as the lead researcher for this top-secret project and gave you the rundown. A fisherman from a small town in Kauai, Hawaii called in about a wild animal of some sort stealing fish. Eventually, another fisherman got a strange “Fishman” caught in his nets and called the Coast Guard, and from there, it became a bit more about coverup from the general public. The fisherman was compensated handsomely to keep hush and this merman was carted off to this government facility.

They began running tests and researching the merman however he attacked one of the researchers and they ended up losing an eye. So they had to pivot and decided to bring in someone with expertise in predatory marine life, that being you.

You looked back at the white-haired merman in the tank, he didn’t look aggressive, but you’d have to be an idiot to think that he wasn’t actually dangerous.

“I’ll let you take over as lead researcher, come on and I’ll introduce you to the team.” You followed after him and met the other researchers. It was a small group, most likely for the sake of confidentiality. They were kind but you didn’t want to waste any time chatting when you were eager to learn more about the merman.

The tank of the merman was that of a large shark, it was important to keep a new species as comfortable as possible to avoid any personal injuries. At the bottom it was made of the usually thick tempered glass of any high-grade aquarium, Is almost twenty feet deep of water, wide enough for the merman to swim freely without bumping into the walls, and filled to the brim with clean salt water filtering into the tank. 

A cage was newly added on top of the tank after the first incident to ensure the workers' safety. So the only way to get up close and personal was up the flight of stairs and through the locked door to stand on the built-in ledge over the water/tank opening. 

You walked back over to the tank where the merman swam around lethargically. You ripped off a paper from a nearby notepad and took the pen as you began writing basic facts about his appearance.

Long white hair, pale skin, silvery-blue scales covering the tail, and a few stray clusters of scales in the torso here and there, slightly forked caudal fin, fins are a translucent dark blue. About 12 ft long. You looked back up and were met with the merman in question staring back at you. His eyes were such a mesmerizing shade of blue, like the sky, or shining jewels. 

You wondered if it was an evolutionary trait to aid hunting. His webbed hands were pressed up against the glass with his sharp nails on display. 

Yeah, definitely dangerous. You thought, thinking back to the researcher who lost an eye.

One of the researchers called for you and when you turned back round the merman had swam to the back of the tank. You were looking forward to officially starting work.

----------------------- 

The first few days you spent observing the merman’s behaviors. It seemed like he could tell what fish had been the most recently caught because that’s what he prefers. 

You put in an order request for aquatic plants as you wanted to see if he was omnivorous however they hadn’t come in yet. Based on his behavior you would say that he’s just as curious about you as you are to him. He had never displayed aggressive behavior when you were around and he wasn’t exactly eating from your hand but you could hand the fish to him at feeding times instead of tossing it into the tank like the other researchers.

You were sitting by the tank, reviewing your notes and drawing diagrams of his outward physiology when you heard someone call your name.

“Hello?” You called out, looking up from your work, however no one was there.

“Y/N…” They called out again. You looked towards the tank and saw the merman peering over the edge, his hands were gripping the metal bars and he was looking at you curiously.

“Y/N,” He repeated…

“You can talk?!” The merman cocked his head before diving back into the tank. You raced to the top and peered over the edge. He swam back to the top and looked at you. 

“Y/N.” He can really talk.

“Yes, that’s my name, Y/N.” You said, gesturing to yourself.”Do you have a name?”

“Y/N,” he repeated once again. You sighed. Maybe he can only make parrot noises. It was impressive nonetheless.

“I am Y/N, you are…?”

“Sa..to..ru,” He said. “Satoru,” He said. His bright eyes stare back at you.

“Okay then, nice to meet you Satoru,” You smiled.

----------------------- 

Satoru picked up speaking fairly quickly, he wasn't fluent and often flubbed his sentences but he had a good grasp of language. With that addition, it became much easier to observe his personality and mannerisms. 

He had no concept of money but boy did he have expensive taste. Almost immediately after learning how to speak, he began voicing complaints and making requests. Apparently, the cod and red snapper he’s being fed aren’t good enough, and after much back and forth on what exactly he was talking about he requested bluefin tuna, Alaskan salmon, and swordfish. 

He was very playful, at least with you. He Loved to call your name… and to tell the other researchers to go away. Those were his favorite things to say.

You walked up the stairs with your lunch and lunch for Satoru, which was halibut today. 

“Hello, Y/N,” Satoru said, quickly swimming up to the surface and flashing you a sharp-tooth smile.

“Hello Satoru,” You tossed him the fish and he began eating eagerly. You applied sanitizer then wiped your hands with a wet wipe before opening your lunch to begin eating. 

“What’s that?” Satoru asked, looking back at you, he was somehow already done eating.

“This is nigiri sushi, it’s thinly sliced raw fish over rice. Wanna try some?” 

“Really?” He said, with wide eyes. You nodded, taking a piece of salmon nigiri and offering it to him. Instead of taking it, he ate it straight out of your hand in one bite. His cold lips tickled and he licked the stray grains of rice from your hand.

“So… what do you think?”

He was silent for a moment before smiling back at you. It made your heart flutter a bit but you pushed the feeling back.

“I Like it,”

“Here have some more,” you said, offering straight from the box this time.

When you went home and went to sleep that night you had a dream about Satoru, He was human. His white hair was short and fluffy, and he still had piercing blue eyes. You were lying on the beach together on the sand, and for some reason, he was kissing all over your legs, his plump lips softly made their way up your legs, and right as his face was inches away from your groin you woke up.

You woke up covered in sweat, your pajamas sticking to your skin as you stared up in the dark abyss. Your breath heaved… and it took a while before you could go back to sleep.

After that day, Satoru became even more attached to you and complained when you weren’t by his side. 

A while later the head researcher stopped by to see how things were going.

“So I hear you’ve gotten pretty close with the merman, even got him to talk,”

“Satoru, yes. He’s very interesting, he has two pairs of lungs one for the air and the other for the dissolved oxygen in the water and..” You proceeded to ramble on about what you’ve learned and his personality. “While he is a predator I haven’t been able to observe any real aggressive behavior, he’s always so sweet and curious when I’m around- oh I’m sorry I’m rambling,”

The head researcher laughed and waved his hand,” You’re all good, almost sounds like love to me.”

Your face grew hot and you laughed off what he said.”What can I say, I really love my work,”

“That’s amazing, you’ve been doing wonderful work here.” He said looking at all the data you’ve collected.

“I’m sensing a but…” You said, wringing your hands together nervously.

“I’ll get right to the point then, you don’t have any data on how or if they reproduce,”

Oh… right. You were certainly curious about it since you learned he could talk, you had been putting it off, it felt less like research and more like an invasion of his privacy.

“I’ll get on it, sir,” You nodded.

----------------------- 

You headed over to the tank with papers to talk with Satoru. As usual, when you walked up, Satoru swam right over with his usual smile.

“Hello Y/N,”

“Hello Satoru,” You said with a sigh.��So I had a few questions, but they’re a bit more personal.” You blushed thinking about it, you’d start off with the normal stuff first.

“Okay,”

“So are there others out there like you? Before you came here were you in a group?”

“A few. But I was not with a pod before being here.” He answered.

“Why weren’t you with your pod?”

“I was looking. Looking for a mate.” He said, his eyes meeting yours.

“Oh, is that what you all do? Split off to find a mate?” You asked.

“No, just me. A mate is an equal, in the pod I am the best. No equal, no mate. So I went off, to find another strong as me.”

“How long have you been looking for a mate?” Pausing from what you were writing.

He paused for a moment before answering.”Twenty-Eight moon cycles,”

That was about two years! Must get lonely, all by himself, separated from his pod, you thought. Maybe you could help him escape, you could convince them that it’s better to observe the group rather than one mercreature on its own (I mean you weren’t lying.)

“So if you could, I guess you would go home huh?” you asked, already knowing the answer.

“Only if you went.” You were surprised by that answer.

“Why me?”

“It’s bad to leave mates behind,” he answered. At first, you thought he was joking but you remembered you hadn’t explained the concept yet, he was completely serious.

“Satoru, what makes you think we’re mates?” You asked, your face growing a bit hot.

“You share your nigiri with me; only mates share food, or parents and pups.”

Oh…

Oh…

OH…

No wonder he was so surprised when you offered him the Nigiri, and why he’s been so clingy.

“I didn’t know, I’m sorry,”

“You don’t want to be my mate then?” He asked with a sad expression which made you feel like you were shot through the heart.

“It’s not exactly that, I’m not a mermaid, I can’t breathe underwater,”

“Mates can be human, you’ll change after the mate bond,”

“I’ll grow a tail?” you asked bewildered.

“No, gills, scales, fins, then tail”

“I’m not nearly as physically strong as you either,” You replied.

“No, but you know many things, knowing many things like fish, many things that will be good for the pod.”

While you were intrigued by the process it just seemed like too much. At least that’s what you tried to tell yourself.

“It’s me then, you don’t like me.”

“No, no, no I do like you, I love you, Satoru, but ah-” You stopped when you caught what you said.

“...Love? What’s what?”

“It’s when others feel strongly about each other, when they really really like eachother or something. Like families or friends or a pet… or a mate…” You said swallowing nervously.

“So you love me?” He asked, his body basically pressed up against the edge of the platform.

“...yes,”

“Do you love me like family?”

“... No,” you said, shaking your head.

“Like a pet?”

“No,”

“Then do you love me like a mate?” You looked back at him and as you looked into his eyes you knew the answer.

“Yes, Satoru, I love you, I’ll be your mate.” As you said those words he had the biggest grin on his face and dived back into the water, swiftly swimming in circles and flipping out of the water. You laughed, you had never seen him this happy before.

He swam back over to where you sat and leaned over your lap, water dripping onto your legs.

“How does mating work anyways?”

“It’s easier to show than to tell, but not here, in shallow water,” He explained.

“Okay, then I guess I definitely have to break you out of here then, It wouldn’t be right to leave my mate locked up in some secret government facility.”

You waited until dark when everyone had gone aside from security here and there before you began your heist. You got one of the big carts they wheeled around all the fish they fed Satoru in and filled it with water. Then there was the painstaking process of getting him out of the tank and down the stairs. You knew you couldn't carry him when he weighed well over eight hundred pounds so you had to guide him and make sure he didn’t hurt himself as he flopped down the metal stairs.

Then you wheeled him out and into your car, however the best you could do for him was plenty of tarps and an inflatable pool to turn the back seat of your minivan into a makeshift tank of some sort, You grabbed some things from home and then drove to where you hoped no one could find you, which just so happened to be a place that looked like a mermaid grotto.

It wasn’t easy to get him from your car to the water but it was worth it to see the smile on his face.

“Y/n, dive into the water,” Satoru called; you stripped from your clothes and cannonballed into the spring. Satoru swam in circles around you; his blue fins sparkled under the moonlight. 

You laughed as he made small splashes around you. He swam closer to you and wrapped his wet arms around your waist. 

“Uhh Satoru…?”

“Didn’t you want to know how we mate?” Satoru said in a low voice, the seductive look in his eyes sent a chill down your spine. His cool fingers caressed your face, pushing your loose hair behind your ear. 

“Yeah,” you turn to fully look at him, wrapping your arms around him. 

“Great,” His lips pressed against yours, happily obliging to kiss him back. As you continued, the kiss became heated. His cold fingers slipped down your bare skin, and your back pressed against the edge of the grotto pool. 

“I can't say I'll be fully gentle but I'll make sure you're fully taken care of,” he said as his nails scratched against your skin. You hissed, and he pressed soft kisses to your neck. The mating process was kinda rough, but you liked it as well. 

“If you don’t mind me asking why is the scratching necessary?” you  do your best to look at the marks on your skin.

“Scratching is arousing, You are turned on, are you not?” he runs his sharp nail down your arm slightly.

“Yes, but I can show you a better way,” You said, guiding his hand down to your cunt. His eyes widened a bit as he felt your folds with the pads of his fingers. As he pressed against your mound of flesh, you could feel the webbing between his fingers, between that and those nails of his, you were certain there wouldn’t be any fingering for you today. 

He pressed against your clit, and you took a sharp breath. He quirked his head to the side. 

“Does that feel good?” he whispered while staring up into your eyes.

You nodded and added more. His fingers began massaging your nub in small circles. You rested your head on his shoulder and let out a little moan. 

“Bite me” Gojo whimpered and it took a second to process what he said. But you were already on his shoulder the least you could do was obliged him. You sink your teeth into his shoulder and with his thick skin was tough to mark into him. He lets out a pleased hiss as you effectively caused a small dent just off near his gills. 

“Now it's your turn. Sorry, this may hurt a bit,” he said teasingly, her lips ghosting over your skin before he sunk his teeth into your shoulder. You winced with how deep his teeth were; you were sure that they had drawn blood.

Satoru wrapped his hands around your waist and lifted you out of the water onto the rocks. He gently parted your legs before leaning forward. He pressed soft, tender kisses to your inner thighs. His cold lips tickled and made your stomach do somersaults. His tongue took a precautionary lick to your pussy before lapping at your wet folds. 

A small moan escaped your lips as his lips closed around your clit. His tongue circled, flicked, and sucked out your sensitive bud. You couldn’t control the noises that were coming out of your mouth, and your legs were enclosing around Satoru’s head. He used his strong hands to hold them open, his wet palms gripping your thighs. 

Just as you were about to release all over his face, Satoru pulled away. You whined and looked up at him.

“Don’t you wanna get to the good part?” He gave you a smirk.

He slid up onto the rocks beside you and positioned himself in an off-able way. Your hand hovered in the air for a moment, and you weren’t quite sure what you were supposed to be doing. You guessed that Satoru sensed your confusion because he grabbed your hand and guided it to where a slit was ah, yes, his mermanussy. Your fingers slipped around and stroked the area for a moment before his long, smooth length slipped out of it, springing out from its sheath and bobbing in the air. 

Your hand warped around his member and stroked it up and down a few times. He was slightly slimy and slim-tipped, with it being more skin color. Your finger teased his tip, and his sticky precum followed in strong lines attached to your fingers. You twisted and turned your hands as you jerked him until he was amply hard.

Now that he was rock hard, you positioned yourself to be on top of him and slowly sunk down on his cock. You moaned, and Satoru hissed. 

“There's no going back now,” you said and slowly began to move your hips to meet him. He grabs your hips and moves up to suck in your skin. 

“You feel so good~” Satoru tightened his grip and started to fuck up into you. You pressed yourself on his chest to be upright in order to not be a mushed mess laying on top of him. You flattened your hands on his chest as you rode him gently, your hole clenched around him as you bounced on his long cock. Wet sounds and the lewd noise of skin slapping against skin bouncing around the grotto walls, along with the wanton moans coming from your mouth. 

The rocking of his hips meets yours as you hold back the urge to wiggle and squirm. Your walls flutter around his length, and you take him in a kiss. It was messy, passionate, and pretty uncoordinated, but neither did you care because you were caught up in the moment.

Satoru tilts your body back a bit as he ruts into you with a new determined force. You felt like you had little control at this unbalanced angle. He licks your breast and kisses your neck, and you let out whines and moans. Satoru let out a few whimpers as he got closer to climax, and you were definitely right along with him.

“Ahh, I’m gonna cum, come inside me!” you panted out, feeling like the air was getting harder to breathe.

You couldn't come back anymore, and you let yourself experience a sweet release. The walls of your cunt clench around him as he comes, and your juices leak around the base of his cock. Around the same time, Satoru groaned, his grip on you growing tighter and his nails digging into your hips, and hot ropes of cum spilled inside your pussy. Your warm walls milked him of every last drop, the translucent milky liquid leaking from your hole. 

You slowly remove him from inside you, feeling his fluid leaking out of you with a sticky slowness. 

You smile fondly as you rest against his chest. You fell asleep on his strong chest. Not much later, you woke up to a strange sensation. You had a strong urge to jump in the water like it would be more enriching than the air. You slowly and carefully slipped out of Satoru’s arms and into the water. As your head ducks under you find yourself not needing to hold your breath. You reached up and felt delicate gills on the sides of your neck.

Then scales pushed their way through your skin, and fins sprouted out along with webbing between your fingers finally, and most uncomfortably, your legs stuck themself together and overtop grew flesh and scales. Your legs and back hurt so bad like your bones were breaking and reforming. However, the pain didn’t last longer than a few moments, and when you flexed your new tail, it felt much more flexible than you imagined. It was almost like your body was a worm in a string with the way you could toggle around. 

When satoru woke up he looked over at your new form with admiration. He slipped into the water to get a better view. You looked out at the surface world one last time before taking Satoru’s hand and diving into the world below. 

“So, are you excited to see your pod after such a long time?”

“I’m excited for you to pop out some guppies,” Satoru smirked as you both swam off to your new life.

[demonic0angel]

Sorry for my broken English. So I've had this thought for months at this point, just Danny being the chocolate guy from Infinite Realms, and by chocolate guy, I mean the one who makes edible sculptures out of chocolate or other things, but chocolate, after all.

Just imagine a couple of the bats who were mistakenly sent to Danny's lair and they go in and see a real-time recreation of the solar system (made of chocolate) or something.

Or maybe Danny making a themed gift for Pandora's birthday. The videos of Danny making a scale recreation of Clockwork's lair. But mostly, the fact that Danny has access to super rare ingredients due to the portals to other realities makes his creations even crazier, cooler, and with interesting effects. Imagine Constantine fighting at an auction to buy a basket of chocolate apples just because one of the ingredients in them is precisely an apple that is said to cure 99.9% of diseases for which no cure has been discovered. So many possibilities for misunderstandings and chaos right there.

(Your English is perfectly fine! The funniest part is that I think I know exactly which chocolate guy you’re talking about XD)

“And this is… made of chocolate?” Bruce asked, looking at the sculpture.

“It’s amazing,” Damian breathed.

It was an enormous sculpture of the Solar System, all floating in the air. Asteroids and space rocks were made of crystal candy, with moons being sculpted from cake and brownies. Planet rings were made from fruit and gummies all clustered together in floating circles.

Everything was beautiful and well made. Everyone looked at it in awe.

Damian was especially excited, nearly bouncing from sculpture to sculpture to see the delicately formed chocolate and candy put together into a hyper realistic rendition of the Solar System. He dragged along Stephanie with him too, looking overjoyed by everything.

Danny looked back from where he was leading them even deeper into his lair. He gave a small smile and said, “Yeah, it’s all candy and chocolate.”

Jason leaned in closer with a grin, face to face with Jupiter’s chocolate imitation.

“Is it edible?” He asked, looking ready to take a bite the moment Danny gave his confirmation.

“Not sure. I could eat it, but I made everything using the ingredients I get from the planets themselves.”

Everyone took an incredibly long step back, even Jason, his grin quickly falling off his face.

“Say again?” Stephanie asked, staring at Danny in horror.

Danny was still grinning. “Everything’s made with ingredients I procured myself, including stuff from the planets themselves.” He tilted his head and said, “I could eat it just fine, but I’m not sure if you want to eat the dust from other planets.”

Jason grimaced. “I’ll pass, thank you.”

No one wanted a bite of sulfur dioxide, methane gases, or silicon particles. Even if it was covered in chocolate.

Danny shrugged, “Your loss! Neptune’s gases tastes pretty good.”

Everyone gave each other a weary and exasperated look.

How on earth did they forget that he was a crazy space fan and a ghost?

[reveryfics]

Plus One

Dick Grayson "Nightwing" x Male Reader

Summary: Bruce invited Dick to his recent charity event and encouraged him to bring a plus one.

A/N: Implied reader works with Catwomen and Nightwing. Also guys, I have no idea how to write for the mutant fish reader requests. Side note: I've taken over the xmalereader tag at this point, and idk how to feel.

TW: Soft smut - Interrupted sex - Minors DNI- Females DNI

The opulent glow of Gotham's most esteemed restaurant and ballroom cut a swathe of brilliance through the city's perpetual twilight. Beneath a canopy of stars, enhanced by strategically placed, soft lighting, guests formed elegant clusters outside, their hushed tones carrying snippets of polite greetings and anticipatory excitement. Inside, the air buzzed with the low murmur of conversations, punctuated by the occasional sharp note of the latest Gotham scandal being dissected with relish.

The sleek, dark vehicle Bruce had dispatched glided to a smooth stop at the curb. Dick emerged first, a practiced flick of his wrist straightening the lapels of his impeccably tailored suit. As you followed, the rich fabric of your own suit, a recent and still slightly unfamiliar acquisition, needed a tug at the waist where it had ridden up during the journey. You turned, a soft smile playing on your lips as Dick reached for your hand, his touch a familiar anchor in this surreal landscape. Together, you ascended the aged marble steps, falling in behind a group of elaborately dressed patrons waiting for the maître d's nod.

This was a world entirely new to you. Growing up in Gotham's shadowed underbelly, such extravagant affairs existed only in the realm of fantasy. Yet, here you were, your hand clasped in Dick's, about to step into that dream. As you reached the top of the stairs, a figure descended, the liquid shimmer of a black silk dress catching the light. Your breath hitched. Even from this distance, the feline grace was unmistakable. Selena Kyle. Your… colleague. Her eyes met yours, a slow, knowing smile curving her lips – a smile that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. With a subtle tilt of her head, she gestured towards the grand entrance.

Dick, ever the attentive escort, gently guided you forward, his hand a reassuring presence intertwined with yours. Selena fell into step beside you, and the three of you navigated the throng of Gotham's elite. The air was thick with expensive perfume and the clinking of champagne flutes. Selena's voice, a low purr, cut through the ambient noise. "Bruce!" she called, her tone carrying just the right amount of familiarity. A distinguished man, engaged in an animated conversation with a group of equally well-dressed individuals, turned at the sound of his name. He offered a polite apology to his companions and excused himself.

Bruce Wayne's smile was warm as he offered Dick a brief, fraternal hug. "Good to see you, Dick." Dick's arm instinctively tightened around your waist. "Bruce, I'd like you to meet… this is my boyfriend." He paused, a hint of pride in his voice, "And Gotham's newest… vigilante." A flicker of recognition crossed Bruce's face. "Ah, yes. I believe I've seen your… exploits in the papers. Quite the debut, first alongside Catwoman, and now with Nightwing." He extended a hand towards you, his grip firm and welcoming. "A pleasure to finally meet you." You returned his smile, shaking his hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Wayne." Bruce stepped back slightly, a possessive arm finding its way around Selena's waist, mirroring Dick's hold on you.

The four of you fell into easy conversation, the clinking of your champagne glasses a delicate counterpoint to your voices. Bruce's gaze flickered between you and Dick, a subtle curiosity in his eyes as he inquired about your involvement in Dick's life. Dick's smile widened, his thumb gently stroking your hip. "Well, it's a bit of a story," he began, launching into an anecdote about your initial encounters. He spoke of crossing paths with you on his nightly patrols, a shadowy figure moving with an unexpected agility through the city's underbelly. He recounted a particular incident, a confrontation with a local crime organization teetering on the brink of violence, where you had intervened with a decisive grace that had both surprised and impressed him. You chuckled softly, a private memory flickering between you and Dick – the heated aftermath of that encounter, a secret language unspoken in Bruce and Selena's presence.

As the evening progressed, Bruce offered a polite apology, explaining that a newly arrived group of influential donors required his attention. With a shared sigh of relief, Dick and you simultaneously finished your champagne. He leaned down, his breath warm against your ear. "Fancy a little… escape?" he murmured. You didn't need words. A simple nod was enough. Dick took your hand once more, leading you away from the glittering ballroom, down a long, hushed hallway, and towards a less populated section upstairs.

You found yourselves leaning against a polished wooden banister, gazing down into an empty reception room below. The silence here was a welcome contrast to the boisterous energy of the party. Dick came up behind you, his hands settling on your hips, his chin resting lightly on your shoulder. He pressed a soft kiss to the exposed skin of your neck, his breath a warm caress. He nuzzled his nose into your hair, inhaling deeply. "I felt like I was suffocating in there," he whispered, his voice a low rumble against your skin. A soft chuckle escaped you. Turning in his embrace, you faced him, your hands finding their way to his chest. "Tell me about it. As much as my younger self would have swooned at all this," you gestured vaguely downwards, "seeing that much… entitled up close is a bit much."

Dick leaned down, his lips finding yours in a kiss that started gently but quickly gained heat, his body pressing closer. You kissed back, a soft gasp escaping your lips as the friction intensified. Your fingers tangled in the soft strands of his hair, while his grip on your hips tightened. Slowly, you pulled back, catching your breath. Dick's kisses trailed downwards, beneath your chin, along your throat. He gently sucked the skin of your Adam's apple, and your head lolled back, offering him more access.

His fingers fumbled with the buttons of your dress shirt, pushing the fabric open to reveal the skin beneath. He left a trail of open-mouthed kisses down your chest, his warm breath sending shivers down your spine, before returning to claim your lips once more. A low moan escaped your throat, the growing pressure of his erection against yours through your dress pants a potent distraction. He lifted you effortlessly, your back pressing against the cool wood of the railing as your legs instinctively wrapped around his waist for balance.

You pulled away slightly, your lips now trailing along his jawline, pausing to suck at the sensitive skin beneath his ear. A low groan rumbled in Dick's chest, his hips pressing insistently against yours. He lifted you again, his hands gripping your backside, and carried you further down the hallway, emerging onto a secluded balcony overlooking the deserted back courtyard. He gently set you back on your feet, pressing you against the railing before his lips crashed against yours, the kiss now raw with undisguised lust.

His fingers, nimble and sure, worked at the button and zipper of your dress pants. His hand slipped past the waistband, cupping your already twitching erection through the thin fabric of your boxers. Your breath hitched, Dick's name a whispered plea against his lips as you instinctively ground against his hand. He pulled away, his own lips parted, the words he was about to speak cut short by a sharp, piercing whistle from below. Your eyes snapped open, both you and Dick whipping your heads towards the courtyard. Selena stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the garden lights, her gaze fixed on you. "Get it, you two!" she called up, a mischievous grin on her face.

Dick's hand was gone in an instant. He quickly helped you straighten your shirt and fasten your pants before you leaned over the railing, a playful annoyance in your voice. "Selena! You ruined the moment!" You watched as she threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing softly in the night air, before she turned and sauntered back inside as if nothing had happened. Dick turned to you, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Well," he said, a wry smile on his lips, "it was nice while it lasted." You playfully punched his shoulder, a mischievous glint in your own eyes. "Don't worry, darling," you purred, taking his hand again. "We have all night."

[emsartwork]

Hey yall im not dead!

COSMIX!!! I've officially redesigned all the transformations in the Winx Club TV series hell yeah

Lore and Design notes below

So Cosmix is a rather defunct transformation in the modern era. It used to be used heavily in the age of space exploration but since teleportation and hyper speed ships became common place, the Magix dimension prefers to use those. Essentially, in order to set up a teleportation center, the caster/s need to have been to both the origin point and the target point. Witches and Mages were the primary people responsible for setting up the teleportation system, but in order to achieve the spells requirements, they would require help from a Cosmix fairy. The primary function of Cosmix is the ability to fly through space with out detrimental effects. Cosmix fairies can take 1, maybe 2, people with them while they fly in a shooting star esc trail function. Cosmix is not great for fighting unless the foe is darkness/light based. Defense is strong against cold, pressure, and friction, but not most other kinds of damage.

Cosmix is also theorized to be the Magix Dimension's version of the elementix. So like Sirenix is the transformation that grants access to the Infinite ocean, Cosmix is the one that would grant access to the Magix Dimension if fairies were in the other realms. Because humans already belong to the Magix Dimension, and the transformation isn't required to earn Nymphix, it isn't considered a true Elementix. Some fairies (mostly Solarians) do experience biological changes when using the transformation, seen here in Stella, but it's not super common. The hair takes on the magic color and drifts into nebulous star dust and galaxy clusters. Solarians are located closest to Lumenia, a tightly clustered star formation, and frequent attract Lumens due to Solaria's binary star system. They have formed fast friendships with the Lumens and many Solarians carry a Lumen's Blessing (it's similar to the elemental companions' bonds in the elementix) in their bloodline which contributes to the biological changes when using Cosmix.

I'm still hammering out how seaosn 8 works plot wise but I'll add it to my show changes masterlist eventually.

Design! The initial concept was "man i wanna draw some chunky ass boots" and i kinda ran with the cyber punk look from there. I was also adamant that Cosmix is a pants transformation, both out of practicality and spite because they made everyone so hyper feminine in season 8. I referenced the actual cosmix designs and their "space travel" oufits for the general shapes for these, but obviously there aren't a ton of similarities since I went in such a different direction haha. Also my first time drawing Aisha with twists! I almost gave her a fro cus it would mimic an astronaut's helmet (and lowkey a nod to Garnet from steven universe) but i like how the twists came out haha

Cosmix includes! Hair up and out of the way, a mesh base layer with light veins and stars, a body suit or shorts and top, a padded armor torso piece with some tubing ports, so many buckles and straps, a clear plastic portion(usually part of the torso peice, sleeves, or around the waist/hips), wrist/arm guards, and chunky chunky boots. The wings are also larger than most transformations (rivaling Butterflix/Faunix) and trail more of the fairy's magic color than usual. Simple geometric designs are standard.

[soulofapatrick]

Kiss Me Tired - Percy Jackson x Female Reader

Summary: you can't sleep so go to find your best friend - Percy

Words: 1.9k

warnings: none

Y/N’s POV

I find myself tossing and turning, the sheets tangling around my restless limbs, as elusive sleep evades me once again. The Apollo cabin is quiet, the soft hum of night almost suffocating in its stillness. Moonbeams trickle through the window, casting gentle patterns of the wooden floors. 

Grateful for being on the bottom bunk tonight, I slide from under the covers with practiced ease. The gentle thud as my feet meet the floor barely makes a sound, but each step feels amplified in the silence of the sleeping cabin. Slipping on a pair of shoes without lacing them up, I make my way to the door, my heart pounding louder than the muted thuds of my footsteps. The door creaks slightly as I ease it open, wincing at the noise before exhaling a relieved breath as it swings shut behind me. 

Staying close to the comforting cover of shadows, I weave my way through the lingering clusters of campers, their hushed conversations mixing with the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. The children of Nemesis and Nyx, silhouetted against the faint glow of the campfire, seem engrossed in their own whispered discussions, oblivious to my presence as I navigate the edges of their gathering.

I skirt the edges of the Poseidon Cabin, a refuge I’ve often visited, and slip inside, grateful for the cover of darkness. The familiar scent of saltwater and adventure lingers in the air. The cabin is eerily quiet, echoing with the absence of Percy—the solitary presence that usually defines it. 

My steps echo softly against the wooden floor as I venture further in. The moonlight filters through the windows, causing elongated shadows that dance across the cabin’s interior. Percy’s empty bed confirms his absence, leaving the cabin strangely deserted. 

Curiosity propels me deeper into the cabin, my gaze landing on the backdoor open, leading to the pontoons. The moon’s silvery trail illuminates the pathway to the water’s edge, inviting and ethereal. The realisation settles in—Percy, the sole child of Poseidon, often seeks solace by the lake, where the water sings the tales of his father’s realm. 

The sight before me steal a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding. Percy sits there, silhouetted against the shimmering reflection of the moon on the water, a portrait of quiet strength and contemplation. His unruly hair catches glimmers of moonlight, creating an otherworldly halo around him. 

As I draw nearer, the tranquility that envelopes him seems almost tangible. The lake mirrors the night sky, stars dancing on its surface, and Percy, the living embodiment of that serene beauty, captures my attention entirely. 

He turns at the faint rustle of my approach, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his pretty lips. His sea-green eyes, illuminated by the moon’s gentle glow, hold a depth that echoes the mysteries of the ocean. It’s mesmerising, the way he seems both a part of the night and a beacon within it. 

Percy’s messy black hair catches the moonlight in a way that makes it seem like constellations have woven themselves into the strands, each unruly wave a testament to the untamed spirit he embodies. His lightly tanned skin, kissed by the sun’s rays and caressed by the gentle breeze, holds a warmth that feels inviting even in the cool night air. 

As I settle next to him, a comfortable ease settles between us. Percy shifts slightly, adjusting his position, and I follow suit, instinctively resting my head on his shoulder. It feels oddly natural, as if this silent language of unspoken understanding has been written int he stars all along. The coolness of the night dissipates against the warmth of his presence. His shoulder, solid and reassuring beneath my head, carries the weigh of both the wards burdens and its beauty. 

His sea-green eyes, s deep and enigmatic, gaze out into the horizon, the mysteries of the universe reflecting in their depths. The seven expression on his face speaks volumes, as if he’s a silent guardian, watching over the secrets of the night.  The gentle breeze whispers secrets to the night, and I feels Percy’s arm, strong and comforting, wrap around my waist, pulling me a fraction closer to him. It’s a gesture of silent understanding, an unspoken invitation to share the weight of ur silent night-time musings. 

“Why can’t you sleep, Mouse?” Percy’s voice, soft and inquisitive, breaks the tranquil silence with my stupid nickname he made for me. His concern is palpable, yet I hesitate to divulge the true reason behind my sexlessness, my heart pounding against the confession I’m afraid to voice. 

I shift slightly, trying to evade the truth, the words catching in my throat as I struggle to articulate the turmoil within, “Just… thoughts, I guess. You know how it is.” 

But it’s a hollow response, a mere veil covering the truth that simmers beneath the surface. The mere thought of Percy and Annabeth together as a couple, a union so celebrated and cherished among demigods, twists a knot in my stomach, a painful reminder of my unspoken feelings for him. 

The fear of vulnerability and the ache of unrequited affection hold me captive in a silence that feels suffocating. I can’t bring myself to admit the ache his closeness evokes, the ache that surges every time I see them together, facing the world as a pair that everyone wants to see. The perfect couple. 

A grumble of protest escapes my lips, as I know he sees through my lie as he stays silent, a frustrated sound that I can’t seem to contain. I turn my face, burying it in the comforting crook of his neck, hoping to hide the turmoil that threatens to spill over. His chest rumbles with a soft laughter, a sound that’s both comforting and teasing, pulling me out of my momentary retreat. 

Before I realise it, his finger hooks gently under my chin, lifting my face to meet to gaze. The concern etched into his expression melts away any remaining resistance, coaxing me to open up even as my heart clenches with the vulnerability of it all. 

“Hey,” He murmurs softly, his sea-green eyes searching mine, an unspoken invitation tp share whatever weighs on my mind. 

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat refusing to dissipate. The urge to confess tugs at my heartstrings, a silent plea to unburden the ache that gnaws at me. But the words romain elusive, trapped behind a barrier of fear and insecurity. 

My heart hammers against my chest as his thumb traces a gentle path across my cheek, leaving a trail of warmth that seeps into the cracks of my guarded emotions. I meet his gaze, sea-green eyes holding mine in a silent conversation that speaks volumes. 

I feel myself drawn to him, my eyes inadvertently tracing the curve of his lips. The soft moonlight casts an ethereal glow on his features, highlighting the contours of his face in a way that feels almost surreal. 

As my gaze lingers on his lips, a surge of emotions—longing, fear, and a yearning for something more—swirl within me. Self-control wavers as my heart takes over, propelled by an undeniable urge to bridge the gap between us. 

Without warning, without calculation, I lean forward, closing the space between us. My lips meet his in a moment that feels both suspended in time and yet over too soon. It’s a soft, tentative touch, a leap of faith and vulnerability woven into the tender connection.

 For a heartbeat, the world stills around us, the air crackling with the unspoken truth of our shared emotions. The warmth of his lips against mine like a revelation, a stolen moment that lingers as a testament to the unspoken desires I’ve kept hidden. But, just as quickly as it happens, the weight of the moment hits me, the reality crashing down like a tidal wave. I pull away, breathless and wide-eyed, my heart thundering in my chest, uncertainty clouding my thoughts. 

“Perce… Fuck, I’m sorry, I-“ 

Before I can finish my stammered apology, the words tumbling out in a jumble of regret and confusion, Percy’s gentle touch silences my anxious ramblings. He leans in, cutting off my faltering speech with a soft yet determined press of his lips against mine. It’s a kiss that carries a subtle urgency, a reassurance woven into the tender connection that leaves me breathless and wide-eyed. 

His lips, warm and inviting, mould against mine in a way that feels both familiar and utterly new. There’s a tenderness to his touch, a silent promise of understanding and acceptance that sends a shiver down my spine. His kiss tastes like the promise of untold stories, of shared secrets whispered in the stillness of the night. 

My heart leaps in my chest, responding to his gentle yet confident touch. I reciprocate, tentatively at first, before letting myself be swept away by the overwhelming rush of emotions. My hands, initially hovering uncertainly in the space between us, find their place, one resting against his chest and the other timidly finds its way to his cheek, relishing the warmth and softness of his skin. 

His hands, strong yet tender, find their place at the small of my back, pulling me closer in an embrace that feels both reassuring and exhilarating. The closeness of our bodies, the shared warmth between us, creates a cocoon of intimacy that blurs the boundaries of friendship and something more. 

The moment lingers, suspended in a haze of shared emotions, before Percy breaks the kiss, his breath mingling with mine as he gently pulls me onto his lap. My knees rest on either side of his hips, a sudden rush of adrenaline mingling with the warmth of our closeness. Then, he guides me down, our bodies molding together in a dance of longing and unspoken desires. His hands, firm yet gentle, cup my face, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks as he leans in for another kiss.

This time, there's a hunger in his touch, a raw passion that ignites between us. Our lips meet again in a union fuelled by the unspoken confessions of our hearts. It's a kiss that speaks volumes, a dance of lips and tongues that express the emotions we've kept buried for so long. His fervour is matched by mine as I respond eagerly, the longing I've harboured finally finding an outlet in this shared intimacy. The taste of his kiss is electrifying, a rush of emotions that consumes every inch of my being.

My hands find their place on his shoulders, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, drawing him closer in a silent plea for more. Our bodies meld together, the heat of our closeness building an unspoken intensity that blurs the lines between friendship and an uncharted territory of passion.

In the soft moonlight, our embrace becomes a symphony of desire and longing, each movement a testament to the unspoken connection we've discovered. And as we lose ourselves in this intoxicating moment, the boundaries of what we were and what we might become blur in the heat of our shared passion.

“Come on sweetheart,” Percy finally pulls away, “You can sleep here tonight.” 

Riordanverse Masterlist TAG LIST - updated 21st Dec 2023

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Steadfast 2

Warnings: non/dubcon, power imbalance, obsession, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: King!Bucky Barnes (Medieval AU)

A Knights, Kings, and Knaves Story

Summary: you serve Duke Rogers, but when his friend, the king, takes an interest, you find your work in turmoil.

Note: I've wanted to do medieval drabbles for years. I bit the bullet and now we're all doomed. I was torn on whether to make this one Stucky however... I think Steve deserves a wifey in his own installment.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

The duke’s household is rarely out of sorts. The king’s decision has set the entire realm into a furor. Chests, carts, horses, rushing bodies fill the courtyard and stables as all ready for the road. Not all will go upon the road to the Field of Silk. 

As you heave a sack of wheat with Clarice onto a wagon, the hoots and hollers of servants and stablemen hushes. You glance over as you sense the disturbance, winding towards you as a snake. It is the Duke, himself looking addled amid the chaos. 

“Pip,” he calls to you, “I bid you here.” 

He stops across the courtyard and Clarice sighs in disappointment. She will need help though all seem bound in their own duty. You give an apologetic look and help steady the sack before you leave her. You dip between the bodies and axles until you reach the castle’s liege. 

“Your grace,” you greet him with reverence. 

“Not time, the king remains impatient.” He beckons you with two fingers as he twists on his heel. 

You follow him. His cloak is lined in sable, dyed red wool with a large hood. You can hear his exasperation in the wight of his steps. Given his words, you don’t wonder at the source, only of what deed the king has done now. 

“The king seeks to travel separately. To ensure there is no plotting upon his party,” he stops and hauls you through the archway that shadows an open sitting area. Frost clusters between the stone at your feet. “So, I will pose as he and go with his carriage, and you will attend him.” 

“Your grace,” you utter, withholding your surprise. 

“He would not take a large escort. To deter any suspicion, see? I do disagree,” he waves his other fist as he continues to drag you. “I suggested a proper guard. He says he can wield his own sword.” 

Despite his expounding, you cannot fathom why it should be you to accompany the king. Is the duke no sensible that one who might offer protection would be preferred? You are but a maid, you might push a broom or a mop, but a sword would be only a danger to yourself. 

“Two men draw attention. They seem as soldiers or spies. They have proper business which draws the avarice of similar,” he takes you through the rear of the castle, where only the launderers pass. “A man and a woman, a traveling couple. Not so concerning. His reasoning is sound enough but the risk...” 

Lord Rogers is ever cautious, though his stoicism wears. He lets you go just east of the kitchens. He faces you and tidies his hair, before again finding that patch of grey in his beard. 

“I cannot trust the gossips and the ganders,” he sets his feet and frames his hips. “You will go, be mindful as ever.” He huffs and shakes his head. “If I cannot wary him, surely you won’t have better luck of it, but you will do as you can to keep him some sense.” 

“As you wish, your grace.” 

“Yes, it is far from what I wish,” he tuts and backs away. “Go, you will find him at the priest’s house. All are too busy packing to tend prayer.” 

Another, “your grace” and you part. The duke goes his way, muttering, and you go yours, silent but intent. You wind your way to the front of the castle and come out into the grey of winter. You sweep across the moat, unnoticed by the guards with higher cares than a servant. 

The priest’s house is upon the outer court, nestled away from the gates. You tread along the frozen ground and eye the darkened windows. You do not spy even a single lit wick. As you reach the rear, there is a clucking noise. A cloaked figure stands near the statue of a great saint. 

The king pulls back his hood to reveal himself. You tilt your head and approach, bending a knee as you stop. “Your highness.” 

“Ah, and there she is. My steadfast servant,” he greets. 

You keep your head down, even as the yearning to search for a set of hooves gnaws at you. How should he travel so far afoot? 

“The horse is waiting for us by the river,” he proclaims. “We shall brave the trek and proceed upon the lower roads.” 

You bow your head deeper, “your highness.” One horse? You’ve not sat one yourself, only the old lame mule at the farmer’s mill those years of your childhood. 

“The priest’s door should see us out.” 

“At your ready, your highness.” 

“None of that forthwith,” he demands. “We musn’t draw undue attention. You shall be my pip and I shall be... poppet. Yes? It sounds convincing, I think.” 

“Yes, your—poppet.” 

“Perhaps a touch more softness, pip,” he nears and takes you by the arm, clasping tight the unlined cape against your arm. “Come, let us flee before any should sniff us out.” 

He brings you around to the priest’s door. Not many know of the small gate and from without, it is hidden by a thicken of thorns. He opens it and sidles against the wall, keeping hold of your wrist as he takes you with him. When at last you are free of the snagging branches, he draws you down to the path. 

“King T’Challa may be peaceable but I do not trust him to temper Stark. Neutral ground, there is nowhere that churlish monger would not desecrate,” the king rants as he takes you between the trees. 

His footsteps crunch and your pad in a light echo. His boots are fine and made of leather, yours are wool with thin pads on the bottom. You slip through the brush as old leaves weave a soggy rug across the ground. He has a tight grip on you as he feels you falter. 

“Must I slow?” He asks. 

“No, your highness. I will keep up,” you affirm. 

“Mm, dutiful...too much so” he muses. “You will need determination for the road ahead,” he brings you down an incline and a knicker greets you from the shoreline of the frozen river. “Aback this beast, your hips will surely ache for cushion.” 

“I will persist,” you say and remind yourself to keep from his formal title. You are not so certain of the promise though. 

“So we must,” he lets you go, only to grab your waist and haul you upward.  

You let out a whimper and flail, latching onto the horse and hooking your leg across it. He gets you steady and his hand brushes down your skirt. He swings himself swiftly, without much effort, and sits the saddle behind you. You are pressed between him and the pommel. 

“Best away before the winter catches us. The summers of Wakanda await us,” he snaps the reins and the horse kicks into motion.  

You can only lean into the king to keep your balance. He holds the reins in one hand and guides yours to the pommel. “Hold tight, pip.” 

[princessfanonanona]

Touring Babel - An Infinite Realms Remix Fic

Mr. Lancer planned for a simple field trip to the museum. He wasn't expecting to find himself and the entire class in the ghost zone, looking up at a mythological architectural landmark. He really should just accept the ghostly interference.

The class wanders in a loose cluster after Mr. Lancer on their way towards the museum through the parking lot.

“Excuse me, Mr. Lancer?” Danny raises his hand, shifting from foot to foot.

Mr. Lancer sighs the sigh of the aggrieved. He stops walking ahead of the group, turning to look at Danny.

“Yes, Mr. Fenton?” he asks.

“I know we just got off the bus, but I think we should go back.”

“And why is that?”

“That’s not a museum,” he points to the marble building ahead of them.

“Of course it’s the museum,” Mr. Lancer can’t help but scoff. “I think I would recognize…”

He trails off when he turns to look up at the towering structure. “That’s not a museum.”

The round tower of marble stretches higher than any skyscraper, tapering upwards until the top disappears into the clouds above.

The class gape upwards before looking around.

The once clear blue sky has been replaced with green. Purple clouds gather around the tower, drifting by lazily. The parking lot, once filled with other cars, is now nothing but a sparse field with scattered clumps of weeds and wildflowers. The bus they had just disembarked from has become a pile of stones.

“Paradise Lost!” Mr. Lancer declares quietly. “Where are we?”

“Too late,” Danny sighs.

“Danny?” Tucker sidles up, still staring up at the tower. “What in the actual fuck.”

“Transient portal? Maybe?” he shrugs. He glances around his class, “the real question is how do we get back?”

“Fentina, is this your loser parents’ fault?” Dash practically shouts from the other side of the group.

“They haven’t built anything new, so no,” a shiver goes down his spine making him gasp.  He frowns, turning to glare at the empty field beside them, “but now I think I do know what started this.”

“Hello, Daniel and company,” Clockwork greets, fading into view, looking older than usual.

Danny throws his hands up in a WTF way at the ghost.

“Welcome to the Tower of Babel, please, enjoy your visit,” they offer an enigmatic smile before disappearing into the mists.

The class erupts into confusion and panic.

“Now, now,” Mr. Lancer declares loudly, “let’s all calm down.”

“Calm down?” Kwan cries in dismay, “we’ve been kidnapped by a ghost!”

Dash pushes through the crowd to grab Danny by his shirt front, “this is your fault, get us home!”

“Enough!” Mr. Lancer shouts, making his way to the boys to separate them. “There is no blaming anyone! We are going to calmly evaluate the situation-”

“That creepy ghost knew Danny,” Star says, “how else would we end up here if they didn’t know him?”

“Hey, sorry, can we get back to the fact that we’re at the Tower of Babel?” Sam asks, stepping forward. “You know, the ancient city where all of humanity was once unified in language and culture?”

Mr. Lancer frowns, “that would be relevant if it were true, but I would hardly believe the words of an apparition.”

Sam looks to Danny, gesturing towards the building.

Danny makes a face at her before turning to Tucker.

Tucker shakes his head, holding his hands up to make an X with them and takes a small step backwards.

Danny looks back at Sam and holds his palms up.

Sam gestures at the tower again.

“My prophetic bladder says it is the Tower of Babel,” he says.

Mr. Lancer gapes at him.

“Would you prefer if it was the Hanging Garden of Babylon?” Danny asks.

“I would prefer if we were at the Natural History Museum,” Mr. Lancer says.

“Hey guys!” Mikey calls from the top of the steps near the arching doorway. “They have a tour guide ready for us!”

Danny exchanges a glance with Tucker before jogging across the distance.

“Wait!” Mr. Lancer calls after him, “you need to stay with the group!”

“Oh, Sinilis!” Danny greets, spotting the green ghost, “I thought you were at the Library?”

“Hello, sir,” the scholarly ghost bows his head in greeting, “I have been assigned to guide you and your companions today.”

“You know him?” Mikey asks, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“Uh…” Danny blanches, he glances back at the class who have moved closer. “Sorta.”

“You know its name.”

“His name,” Sam says. “He’s not an it.”

“How do you know him, then?”

“He has a name tag,” Danny says.

Sinilis taps his chest under the pin that spells out his name and preferred pronouns in Hittite.

“That’s not even- holy shit I can read that!” Mikey exclaims. “How can I read that?”

“That would be the power of Bāb-ilim, wherein the separation of cultures have been erased,” Sinilis explains. “Will the rest of your group be joining us then?”

“I think it would be more informative than the museum,” Sam says.

“Will you please stop running off on your own, we need to stay together,” Mr. Lancer says, making his way up the steps. The rest of the class hovers at the bottom. “Oh wonderful, another ghost.”

“Hello sir,” Sinilis bows his head in greeting, “my name is Sinilis, a scholar of the Great Library of Alexandria and have been assigned to be your guide through the City of Bāb-ilim today.”

“That’s great, but we really should be on our way-” he freezes, the previous statement finally processing. “The what library?”

“The Great Library of Alexandria,” Sinilis repeats. “If I recall, that will be your next group trip should today’s tour prove successful.”

Mr. Lancer falters. Dash, who had snuck up behind them, catches him from falling as his foot slips on the step.

“Whoa!”

Danny jumps forward, grabbing Mr. Lancer’s arm to pull him back onto the landing.

“Are you alright, sir?” Sinilis asks, hovering slightly, hands outstretched to help but not touching. “I do apologize for whatever fright I have caused.”

“No no,” Mr. Lancer shakes his head, stepping carefully away from the steps. “You just- run that by me again?”

Sinilis floats back to stand where he previously stood in the entranceway. He pulls out a scroll from the sleeve of his robe. Unfurling it, he reads it aloud.

“For the continued education of the Heir Apparent and entourage candidates, tours of cultural and historical significance have been scheduled at the following locations: the City of Bāb-ilim, also referred to as the Tower of Babel, the Great Library of Alexandria, the City of Pompeii, the City of Mycenae, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Zapotes-”

“The city of the Olmecs?” Mr. Lancer interrupts. “And several other ancient wonders? They exist?”

“They actually refer to themselves as Tamoanchan,” Sinilis clarifies. “But yes, they do exist here, as anything that once was and subsequently ceased to exist in the Lands of Life will be reborn here in the Infinite Realms.”

“I think I need to sit down,” Mr. Lancer says, rubbing his temples.

At this point, most of the class has moved closer to the top of the steps.

“I would offer you a drink, but all I have is pomegranate juice,” Sinilis offers.

“That wouldn’t be very helpful,” Sam says. Tucker barks a laugh, turning to cover his face.

“Does that mean we’re going to tour the tower?” Mikey asks.

“I want to know what that heir apparent means,” Paulina asks. “Who is it?”

Sinilis very pointedly does not look at the trio.

“I’m with Paulina,” Valerie says, crossing her arms. “We got kidnapped by ghosts for some supposed ghost heir and named us the entourage? I think we deserve to know.”

“I think it’s Danny,” Mikey says.

“What could Fentonail-”

“Mr. Baxter.” Mr. Lancer chides.

“-do to be this ghost whatever?”

“Well, he was named by the first ghost and he knows who this ghost was before an introduction.”

“So?” Sam asks. “I think we should just accept the absolutely impossible chance of getting guided tours through ancient myths. Do you not realize the actual historical impact that is right there?”

“I mean, Clockwork did say it would just be a visit, which means we would be returned home without a problem,” Tucker offers.

“Who’s Clockwork?” Dash asks at the same time that Valerie demands “Why do you know its name?”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Mr. Lancer holds his hands out to quiet down the class. “Mister uh…”

“Sinilis,” the ghost offers with a tight smile.

“Sinilis,” he continues, with a small nod of thanks, “what is the process for us to return home?

“Why, there’s a portal for your return being prepared on the other side of the city,” the ghost gestures towards the arch.

“But-!” Valerie protests.

“And can you ensure that the class will be safe and unharmed during this tour?”

“Certainly, sir! I swear it upon my core that no harm shall befall the class.”

“I don’t trust you, and I refuse to enter that ghost infested-”

“Stop being rude,” Sam interrupts her. She turns to Sinilis, “is there a way for anyone who doesn’t want to participate to go home now?”

He glances at Danny but doesn’t answer.

“So we’re trapped here?” Valerie says, aghast.

Tucker nudges Danny with his elbow who rolls his eyes back.

“Val,” Danny steps towards her, hands up in a placating manner. “Look we’re here so we might as well do what they ask. When in Rome and all that-”

“But they’re ghosts!” She practically shouts, “you can’t ever-”

“You trust Dani.”

She freezes.

“But she’s-”

“Half, I know, but do you really think that the other half is as bad?”

She doesn’t answer.

Danny takes her hands, “besides, have you ever met a violent librarian?”

She huffs a laugh out of surprise, “no, but there’s a first time for everything.”

“If I may,” Sinilis floats closer, “the sooner we begin the tour, the sooner all of you may return home.”

“Fine, no funny business.”

“Of course,” he bows his head and floats back, glancing at Danny before turning to Mr. Lancer. “Are we all set then?”

Mr. Lancer looks over his class before taking a deep breath. “Well, this will certainly be far more informative than a museum trip.”

[vampiriito]

Summer was my first solace.. (JJ Maybank x shy! kook! reader) Chapter 4

A/N: Hi loves! Here's the fourth chapter of summer was my first love! Again, if you have anything to share don't forget to comment or send asks, i love interacting with you ^.^ have fun reading (this was more JJ's POV focused for some reason, so enjoy JJ freaking out over the fact that he's starting to crush over our sweet reader.)

Summary: You and JJ both share the love for the marsh, and one summer day you cross paths after a few weeks of sharing secret looks and sweet smiles from across the street.

The marsh was your sanctuary, a haven where time seemed to slow and the cacophony of the world faded into a gentle symphony of nature's whispers. It was always full of spots so breathtakingly beautiful they stole your breath away—mundane and earthy in their allure. The emerald moss cloaked the ancient trees, while iridescent insects flitted over the bark, like living jewels adorning the forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns that danced upon the ground. The way the rays pierced the foliage, making the tranquil ponds glisten like scattered fragments of sky, compelled you to keep the camera pressed to your eye, desperate to capture every fleeting moment. You found yourself constantly photographing and admiring, each click a testament to the beauty that surrounded you.

You cherished how your small interactions with JJ had become more frequent, even if words were seldom exchanged. It was as though timid glances and shy smiles were a secret language spoken only by the two of you. Those brief connections were enough—they became the highlights of your quiet, unassuming days. Each shared moment sent a gentle thrill through you, adding a layer of warmth to your solitary explorations.

The ground beneath your boots squelched with each step, the thick mud pulling at your feet as if the very earth sought to keep you there. A heavy mist clung to the air, wrapping around you like a cool, damp veil and mingling with the rich scent of decaying plant life and brackish water. Tall reeds swayed gently in the breeze, their whispering rustle the only sound aside from the occasional splash as unseen creatures darted through the waters. Every movement required effort, your legs sinking into the spongy ground as you weaved between clusters of wild grasses and shallow pools. The marsh was alive, teeming with the quiet hum of insects and the distant croak of frogs—a hidden world thriving beneath the veil of mist. Each step was uncertain, the mud thick and unforgiving, clinging to you as if reluctant to let you pass.

Yet, despite the marsh's resistance, you felt an inexplicable connection to this place. It mirrored the depths of your own soul—lush yet secluded, vibrant yet understated. Here, in the embrace of nature's raw beauty, you found solace. Your camera became an extension of yourself, capturing not just images, but emotions—fragments of time that spoke to your heart.

As you paused to catch your breath, a beam of sunlight broke through the mist, illuminating a cluster of wildflowers that peeked through the dense foliage, causing you to raise your camera to your eyes for the countless time in the last 10 minutes. Their petals glistened with dew, fragile yet resilient.

JJ, ever the restless teen he was, often found himself wandering the winding paths of the marshlands. It was a sanctuary of sorts—a place where the world's noise faded into the background, replaced by the gentle whisper of rustling reeds and the melodic calls of distant birds. The marsh wasn't just off the beaten path; it was a hidden realm untouched by the throngs of tourists that flocked elsewhere. Here, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, and the golden sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting intricate patterns on the muddy ground. Something about this place resonated with him deeply, drawing him back time and again.

On this particular day, as JJ trekked along the familiar, muddy trail, his boots sinking slightly with each step, he was lost in his thoughts. The chorus of crickets and the gentle lapping of water against the banks provided a soothing backdrop. Suddenly, a soft but distinct sound caught his attention—the gentle click of a camera shutter. It was a sound he recognized instantly, one that stood out amidst the natural harmonies of the marsh. A spark of curiosity ignited within him.

A sly smirk tugged at his lips as his eyes scanned the landscape, searching for the source. There you were, crouched among the tall reeds, completely engrossed in your art. The delicate breeze played with a stray strand of your hair, and the focused determination on your face was palpable. The way the light caressed your features made you seem almost ethereal, a seamless part of the serene environment you were so intent on capturing.

JJ watched you for a moment, a mix of amusement and something softer warming his chest. You were so absorbed that you hadn't noticed his presence. The sight of you in your element was both familiar and captivating—a silent testament to why he found himself drawn to these marshes more often than he'd admit.

The way you focused intently on your photography, the way your gentle smile curved on your lips as you looked through the viewfinder, the way the sunlight danced in your hair, it all felt strangely captivating to him.

He waited a beat, debating with himself whether he should approach you or just leave you to your hobby. But his curiosity and strange pull towards you won out.

"Hey, little mouse."

He called out, the familiar nickname slipping off his tongue with ease. He sauntered over to where you were taking pictures, his boots squishing through the mud. He stopped a few feet away from you, shoving his hands into his pocket, and looking down at you with a casual smirk.

At the sound of the familiar nickname and voice, you peered away from your viewfinder, blinking a couple of times and adjusting your glasses. You didn't expect to see JJ there, even more so all alone, his friends nowhere in sight.

"Hi.." you mumbled in greeting, standing up from your crouched position, smiling sweetly at him.

JJ chuckled at your shy little greeting, his smirk transforming into a lazy, lopsided grin that sent a flutter through your chest.

"Fancy running into you here," he drawled, his voice carrying a teasing undertone.

He took a few casual steps closer, the space between you narrowing as his gaze roamed over you with a warm, appraising look. You stood amidst the tall reeds, clad in your favorite photography attire—a comfy jacket layered over a simple shirt, jeans slightly damp at the hems from the marsh, and well-worn boots caked with mud. Your trusty camera hung around your neck, its weight familiar against your chest.

JJ couldn't help but notice every little detail about you. The way your hair was slightly wind-tousled, stray strands escaping to frame your face in an effortlessly charming manner. A few wisps clung to the corner of your mouth, and he had the sudden urge to brush them aside. There was a smudge of mud on the lens of your glasses, a testament to your dedication and the dorkiness he seemed so captivated by.

The soft light filtering through the canopy cast a gentle glow over you, highlighting the delicate flush on your cheeks. Your eyes reflected the shimmering waters nearby, mirroring the hues of the marshland. To him, you looked like a part of the landscape you loved to capture—natural, unpretentious, and undeniably beautiful.

He smirked when he saw the smidge of mud, gesturing with his chin at it.

"You got mud on your glasses there, little mouse."

He teased, the smirk on his lips widening. He had a strange urge to just reach out and wipe the mud off himself but he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets to stop himself.

"I know.." you frowned, your eyes un-focusing a little to study the smudge of mud on the lenses of the glasses. You haven't been able to wipe it off, given you forgot your cleaning wipes at home. Classic you.

JJ chuckled, watching you frown at the smudge. He found the little frown on your face oddly adorable.

"What, you don't have anything to clean it off?"

He said this with genuine curiosity, taking another step closer so that he was standing just a foot or so away from you. He tilted his head to the side, his gaze studying your face closely.

You shook your head, your frown still in place.

JJ found the frown still on your pretty features amusing, and he chuckled again. Seeing you in such a situation somehow made him feel... a little protective. Which took him by surprise because he never felt protective over anyone.

He took a step closer yet again, his smirk replaced by more of a soft smile than a smirk. "Here, let me..." He said, gently reaching up and slowly removing your glasses from your face.

He held your glasses delicately in his hands, his fingers gingerly grasping the frames as if they were the most fragile of artifacts. Without the familiar barrier of the lenses, his eyes met yours directly, unfiltered and penetrating. He studied you closely, taking in every subtle detail—the way your lashes framed your eyes, the faint freckles dusting your cheeks, the vulnerability that seemed more pronounced without your glasses shielding you. The world around you appeared softer, edges blurring gently, casting everything in a muted glow. Without them, you seemed almost ethereal, a delicate presence in an otherwise sharp world.

A sudden, inexplicable urge welled up within him—a desire to protect you, to wrap you in his arms and shield you from anything that might cause you harm. It surged through him like a quiet storm, unexpected and intense. He quickly brushed the thought away, mentally shaking his head. That's silly, he chided himself. Why would I feel the need to protect her? Yet, the feeling lingered, a warm ember nestled in the corner of his heart, resisting extinguishment.

Glancing down at the glasses cradled in his hands, he became acutely aware of the faint blush creeping up his neck, the warmth rising to tint his cheeks a soft pink. The realization made his heartbeat quicken ever so slightly. He hoped the dim lighting might conceal his flushed complexion, that you wouldn't notice the subtle betrayal of his composed façade. The delicate frames felt almost weightless between his fingers, yet they carried the significance of this intimate moment. Gathering himself, he looked back up, offering a small, almost shy smile. His eyes searched yours, a mixture of uncertainty and something deeper flickering within them.

You pressed your lips together nervously, looking down at your own glasses in his big hands, feeling a bit exposed without your glasses on. The way he was holding them like they were fragile and priceless made your heart stutter and the pink dusting your cheeks intensify for some reason.

JJ couldn't help but notice the way you looked down at the glasses in his hands, a tinge of nervousness on your face. It stirred something within him, a strange softness that he didn't know he possessed.

He cleared his throat, a bit awkwardly. "Uh, hold on a sec," He reached into the back pocket of his shorts, pulling out completely the bandana which was tucked half way in.

He looked back at you and found himself staring into your wide, nervous eyes. For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to blur, and the only thing he could focus on was your pretty eyes, gazing at him with a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability.

He swallowed, his heart suddenly beating faster as he gently lifted his hand and used the bandana to carefully wipe off the smudge on your glasses.

The tenderness he used to wipe your glasses made you shift in your spot nervously, trying not to look like a lovestruck idiot. You were already doing that while waving at him across parking lots and across streets when you saw him. Why were you so goddamn inept at socializing?

JJ could feel the tightness in his chest, his hands trembling as he wiped the lenses with an almost frantic precision. His heart pounded in his ears, a heavy rhythm that felt far too intense for something as simple as cleaning glasses. But there was nothing simple about this moment. The way your body shifted nervously, the subtle flush creeping up your neck and staining your cheeks—it all felt too intimate, too close. And in the chaos of it, JJ could feel a tide of emotions he wasn’t prepared to face. He had spent so long building a wall around himself, convincing himself that he didn’t care about anyone. Not really. Especially not a kook.

But there he was, standing too close, unable to escape the pull of your presence. The weight of the moment pressed on him, suffocating him with feelings he had long kept buried. He was JJ—wild, untouchable, and fiercely independent. Yet here he was, handing your glasses back with a lingering hesitation, careful not to meet your eyes. He was terrified of what he might see if he did.

"Thank you.." you thanked him weakly, the world becoming much more sharper and clear with the help of your glasses back on. The smudge was gone now and although they weren't completely clean they had to do for now.

You found yourself just staring at him, your hands lingering on your camera, fidgeting with it once in a while, your expression bashful and admiring.

JJ was completely captivated by the way you stared at him, your eyes soft and unguarded as your fingers absently toyed with the camera. In that moment, his heart beat a little faster—this wasn’t the smoldering, lustful gaze he was accustomed to, but rather one filled with pure, innocent wonder. It disarmed him, unraveling defenses he’d built up over years of being seen as nothing more than a bad boy. The contrast left him reeling, emotions swirling in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

He cleared his throat, the sound breaking the fragile silence that had wrapped around the two of you. Sliding his hands back into his pockets, JJ fought to mask the vulnerability simmering beneath his cool exterior, desperate to reclaim some semblance of nonchalance even as every part of him felt exposed by your sincere admiration.

"What were you taking pictures of, anyway?"

He asked, his voice a little bit huskier than he would have liked. He glanced around, noticing how the sun was beginning to set, casting a beautiful golden hue over the entire marsh.

"Moss and... bugs." you spoke, your words so quiet that they almost looked they were only being mouthed, "i dunno if you remember... but i told you i usually use the pictures as inspiration for my paintings.."

JJ remembered that, though he would never admit it. He noticed that his mind wrapped around things you mentioned and later mulled over them when he was lost in thought. The small—and frankly not often enough, conversations were the highlights of JJ's days and he didn't know how to process the notion just yet.

He looked over your shoulder at a spot you'd been taking pictures of just before he walked in, noticing all the tiny, iridescent little insects scattered on the mossy ground. "Mosses and bugs."

He murmured to himself. There was a hint of a smirk on his lips, but it was a soft, almost fond one this time. He opened his mouth to crack a joke about how bizarre it was to find inspiration in something as ordinary as moss and bugs, but the words vanished the instant he met your gaze. You were still there, your eyes soft and unassuming, that same shy expression lingering as if you were hiding a secret only the sunset knew. The warm, fading light bathed you in a gentle glow, making you appear almost angelic, and for a heartbeat, his usual cool composure shattered into silence.

Clearing his throat once more, he averted his eyes, struggling to mask the tender vulnerability stirring within him. With a hesitant smile and a feigned casualness that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he ventured, "Right. So... you do that often?"

"Uh yeah... i like the marsh and the beach... they're usually full of small critters and such.." you nodded with a hint of excitement in the small grin tugging at your lips, although it was still reserved and quiet.

JJ found himself nodding along, amused by your soft, reserved excitement. Seeing you get so animated about the things you loved was somehow beautiful to him, and it made him curious to learn more. He studied your face as you spoke, his gaze following the way your lips moved.

"Sounds peaceful," He mumbled, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets as another silence fell between the two of you.

He knew he should probably go. The evening was slipping away, and here he was—standing in the twilight and chatting with a kook as if you were one of his closest friends. And JJ liked to think he was your friend. Even though his pride and prejudice against kooks stood on the way sometimes.

Yet, something about this moment made him want to stay. The gentle cadence of your voice, the quiet comfort of your presence—it was unlike anything he had felt in a long time. It reminded him of the distant memory of his mother, the way she'd smile down at him and speak in a soft, reverent voice as if she was scared JJ would break. He didn’t want the moment to end.

He turned his gaze back to you, and for a heartbeat, your eyes met his. The final rays of sunlight danced across your face, wrapping you in a soft, golden glow that made you seem almost otherworldly. In that fragile, beautiful light, he found himself utterly breathless, caught in the wonder of it all.

Your eyes darted away from his nervously, noticing the golden hue washing over the marsh and the small pond to your side. You hesitantly raised the camera to your eyes, adjusting your glasses before snapping a couple of pictures of the sunset before lowering the camera to gaze back at JJ. In times like these when he looked so beautiful and glowy, you'd snap a picture from afar, but you couldn't do that now. So, you just stuck to staring up at him like a dumb idiot.

JJ noticed the way you raised your camera, focusing on the beautiful scenery around you. He watched you quietly, his gaze studying the way the light danced on your face as you got lost in the moment.

He was about to speak when he saw you lower the camera, your gaze returning to his. He froze under your intense stare, the silence growing between the two of you. For a brief moment, he forgot where he was and who he was with. You just looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes of yours, and he was frozen in place...

He swallowed, trying to think of something to say, something to break the silence. His mind was a jumbled mess, and he could feel the heat creeping up his neck. Damnit, why was he getting so flustered? He was JJ Maybank, the loose canon, the complete opposite of you. He didn't get flustered. He didn't get lost in the beauty of a pretty girl with innocent eyes. He did not get caught in the moment like some stupid lovestruck idiot...

"Sorry... I'm staring like an idiot again.." you mumbled, frowning gently. You felt compelled to speak, to apologize for being a dumbass and just going quiet on him.

JJ was snapped out of his daze by your soft, quiet voice. He quickly shook his head, a small smirk appearing on his lips. "No, it's... it's fine. I, uh..."

He ran a hand through his messy locks, looking away from you. He didn't know why he was suddenly so nervous. He felt flustered and off-kilter, like you had thrown him completely off his game, and he didn't know what to do about it.

He looked back at you, his gaze tracing the lines of your face. The last remnants of the sunset were fading, bathing you in a soft, golden glow. You looked even more pretty like this, and his heart did a strange little flip in his chest, coming to the realization that his stomach was full of butterflies.

"You know, uh... it's getting late." He said, his voice a bit hoarser than usual. He hated the way he sounded so flustered, so off his game for such a little thing as looking at you...

"Oh yeah... sorry, I'm holding you off aren't i?" you quipped up nervously, adjusting your glasses and fidgeting with your camera.

JJ chuckled softly at your nervous apologies, shaking his head. "Nah, you're not holding me up. I just... I should probably get going."

He shoved his hands into his pockets again. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to leave. There was a part of him that wanted to keep talking to you, keep standing here with you under the twilight sky. But he squashed the feeling, reminding himself that you were a kook. Kooks and pogues could never get along...

You found yourself frowning at his words, small and imperceptible but still a frown. You probably made it weird and awkward, again. And now he was trying to leave politely, as someone would.

You nodded, humming, "yeah.. uh, don't mean to hold you off from... stuff."

JJ noticed the tiny, almost imperceptible frown that formed on your lips, and it confused him. Why were you frowning? Were you... disappointed? That he wanted to leave? The idea made his heart skip a beat for some reason.

He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Ah, it's not like I got anything special to do. Just gonna hang out with the guys, nothing exciting."

He found himself talking, almost rambling on, as if he didn't want to leave.

Of course he did, he wasn't a loser like you whose only friend was now out of town and you were stuck just walking through the marsh like a troll.

You opened your mouth to say something but closed it again, nodding like a dork once again, fidgeting with your camera still.

JJ was beginning to feel desperate for something, anything to keep this conversation going. He didn't want to leave yet, but he didn't know what to say. Why was he being such a dumbass? He was usually so confident, so cool and collected. Why were his palms suddenly sweaty and his heartbeat suddenly out of control?

He looked at your camera, which you were fidgeting with still, and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Can... uh... can I see your camera?"

"Oh yeah… uh, here," you murmured, stepping a little closer as you nervously extended your camera toward him. There was a tentative relief in your voice—a quiet gratitude that he had finally said something to break the heavy, awkward silence between you. You kept the camera hanging from your neck, a small act of defiance against normalcy, even though you knew that most people would have taken it off to smooth over the moment.

JJ accepted the camera, his fingers gently wrapping around it. He was suddenly very aware of how close you were standing to him, and he felt a strange flutter in his stomach.

He studied the camera in his hands, noticing the way you hadn't taken it fully off from around your neck. He suddenly smiled, an idea forming in his mind.

He raised the camera and suddenly pointed it at you. "Smile for me," He said, the grin on his face growing wider. He loved this, seeing your eyes widen as he suddenly raised the camera and aimed it at you. Your nervous, flustered expression on your face just made him want to tease you even more.

You were taken aback, your camera had never been pointed at you. You hated having your picture taken, and you usually hated the way you looked in photos, your eyes looking weird and your expression tense and awkward.

You furrowed your brows, frowning gently, "i usually, don't like my picture taken.."

JJ smirked at your comment, noticing the way your frown deepened slightly. He knew he was getting under your skin, and it was fun.

"Oh, come on, don't be so shy. Don't you wanna see how pretty you look through the lens of your own camera?"

He chuckled, his finger hovering near the shutter-release button, ready to snap a picture of you at any moment...

He watched the way you fidgeted nervously in front of the camera, your eyes widening slightly as you realized he was serious. He could see the way your hand clenched the strap of the camera around your neck, and he couldn't help but find it amusing how flustered you were getting from something as simple as him taking your picture.

He took a step closer, the camera now just a few inches away from your face. "Smiiiiile, pretty girl..."

You found yourself smiling weakly, your fingers reaching up to adjust your glasses in case he actually decided to take the picture. If not, you would just be sitting there smiling like an idiot. Which would be worse than the awkward, chopped conversation you had up until now.

JJ chuckled at your weak attempt at a smile, his eyes fixed on your nervous expression. You looked adorably cute, like a little bunny, and it was making his heart race like crazy. He loved how flustered you were getting from just a picture, and he was tempted to tease you even more. "Nah, that won't do. Smile bigger, come on.."

He moved the camera even closer, his finger still hovering over the button.

"Don't-.. you're not supposed to get this close when taking a picture." you scolded gently, the words not even sounding like a scold.

JJ smirked at your scolding, rolling his eyes. He took a step even closer to you, the camera now only an inch away from your face. He could see every detail of your pretty features at this distance, the way your eyelashes fluttered as you blinked, the way your cheeks were dusted pink, the way your lips parted nervously...

"Who cares about rules, yeah? Besides, now I can get a really good shot of your pretty eyes.."

JJ's gaze lingered on your face for a moment, his eyes tracing the contours of your cheeks and the shape of your lips. He was suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful urge to reach out and touch you, to feel the softness of your skin beneath his fingers, to cup your face in his hands. He shook the thought away, clearing his throat.

"Just smile for me, nice and wide. Think of something funny, something that makes you happy..."

Your thoughts drifted back to that one sunlit afternoon on the beach, when his laughter floated over the waves and filled the air with an effortless joy. You remembered the way you’d leaned in, peering through your viewfinder to capture that radiant smile—the subtle upturn of his lips, the spark in his eyes—as if each detail was a secret waiting to be discovered. In that quiet moment, your own smile, though still shy and tentative, had bloomed into something more honest and heartfelt. You couldn’t help but laugh softly at the memory, realizing with a blush that you must have looked like a lovestruck idiot, utterly captivated by the magic of his simple, unguarded happiness.

JJ, who had been preparing to tease you some more, stopped suddenly, his breath catching in his throat. Your smile was suddenly wider, more genuine. It was beautiful, radiant, and it lit up your entire face.

For a moment, he was speechless. Seeing you smile like that, it was like a punch to the gut. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he could feel his palms getting sweaty. "There we go," he mumbled, his voice surprisingly hoarse.

He continued to aim the camera at you, his finger hovering over the shutter-release button. But he didn't take a picture, not yet. He was too caught up in the sight in front of him, the way your beautiful smile widened as you continued to think of something funny.

He swallowed, unable to tear his gaze away from your face. You were so goddamn pretty, it almost hurt to look at you...

JJ finally pulled himself together, reminding himself that he was supposed to be teasing you, not getting lost in the sight of your pretty smile.

"Okay.. say cheese, mouse." Before you could even react, he pressed the button, snapping a picture of your smiling face.

He lowered the camera, looking down at the screen to check the picture he had just taken. He expected it to be a silly, awkward picture of you as you made a funny face. But what he saw instead was something completely different.

You looked beautiful, radiant, your smile lighting up your face. But there was something else, something in your expression that he couldn't quite place. He just stared at the picture, his heart thudding faster and faster in his chest.

"I look so silly.." you mumbled, stepping a little closer to inspect the picture, your voice tinged with something like insecurity and disappointment.

JJ glanced up from the screen as you stepped closer, his breath catching in his chest for a moment as you stood right next to him. Your shoulder was almost touching his, and he could smell the faint scent of your perfume, something light and flowery that made his head spin, even with the different smells coming from around you both.

He looked back down at the camera, at the picture of you smiling so beautifully. Silly? How could you think that? You looked breathtaking. "What do you mean? You look gorgeous.."

The words slipped out before he could stop them. He felt his cheeks flush as he realized what he had just said, but he didn't take it back. It was true, you looked beautiful, and he suddenly had the urge to tell you just how absolutely stunning you were.

"Well... it's taken too close and... i look stupid.." you rambled a bit completely glossing over the fact that he called you 'gorgeous', grabbing the camera gently from his hands, studying the picture.

He watched as you grabbed the camera back, his fingers grazing yours accidentally.

He could see the insecurity in your expression as you studied the picture of yourself, and it made his heart ache. You didn't see it, didn't see how beautiful you were. He wanted to reach out and wipe away that frown on your face, to pull you closer and tell you just how beautiful you looked.

"You don't look stupid," he said, his voice a bit hoarser than usual.

You swallowed, looking up at him. You felt a sudden strike of confidence, aiming the camera at him nervously. You had a reason to take a picture of him now, given he also teased you. You adjusted the lens and stepped back a bit, your finger hovering over the shutter-release button, waiting for him to have a reaction.

JJ blinked as you suddenly aimed the camera at him, a surprised expression on his face. He hadn't expected you to turn the tables on him, but he couldn't help the thrill that raced through his body.

He had a brief moment of panic as he realized how unprepared he was. But instead of being his usual cocky self, he found himself feeling strangely giddy and nervous. He flashed you a quick, charming smile, trying to act nonchalant. "Go on then, take the picture." he drawled softly, his southern accent a little more accentuated since he was feeling nervous.

You smiled widely behind the camera, captivated by the way his smile lit up the fading light. In that golden hour, as the sun dipped over the marsh, his grin seemed to ignite the whole world—radiant, infectious, and utterly sincere. He looked breathtaking, as if he were glowing from within; even the soft breeze played with his hair, adding a touch of effortless charm.

You had taken countless pictures of JJ before, secret snapshots kept hidden away, but this moment felt different—special—because he’d actually asked you to capture it. With a gentle press on the shutter, you immortalized his smile, preserving his expression before it could fade away. Lowering the camera, you studied the image, your heart swelling with a tender warmth as you cherished this rare, genuine moment.

JJ's heart skipped a beat as he heard the shutter of the camera go off, the sound seeming to reverberate through his entire body. He suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious, wondering if he had looked okay in the picture. Had he smiled too much? Not enough? Had his hair looked weird? He couldn't tear his eyes away from your face as you studied the picture, his stomach doing somersaults in anticipation.

"Well, how did I look?" He asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Beautiful..." you murmured reverently without realizing, "-i mean you look photogenic.." you mumbled, tilting the camera screen towards him to see the picture. The small flash from your camera had illuminated his face just a bit, combining with the hue from the sunset, giving the picture such an intimate soft look that you hoped he wouldn't tell you to delete it.

JJ felt a shiver run down his spine as you called him beautiful. It was a word that he had never associated with himself before, but coming from you, it sounded like the highest compliment in the world.

He looked down at the screen, his heart pounding as he saw the picture of himself. He had to admit, he looked pretty good. The light from the sunset gave his hair a soft, golden glow, and his smile was... sincere.

"Damn, I do look good," he joked, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He looked back up at you, his eyes fixed on your face. You looked so soft and pretty, holding the camera in your hands like it was a fragile bird, just how a Disney princess would. He suddenly had the urge to reach out and touch you, to run his fingers through your hair and pull you closer to him. But he resisted, knowing that he couldn't do that. It was too risky, too dangerous. Pogue and kook relationships didn't work out, he knew that.

Instead, he cleared his throat, forcing himself to look away from you and back at the picture in the screen.

"I can delete it if you want me to..." you spoke up hesitantly, looking at the side of his face adjusting your glasses.

JJ's heart sank at your words. Delete it? No, the last thing he wanted was for you to delete that picture. It was the first picture of himself that he actually found good, and it was taken by you.

He swallowed, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Oh, uh... nah, you can keep it. I mean, I look so good, it'd be a shame to delete it, right?" He forced a cocky smile onto his face, but it felt like a lie.

You smiled up genuinely at him, nodding "i just don't want you to think it's creepy that I'm keeping it."

JJ felt his heart flutter at your smile. You looked so adorable, a little bundle of sweetness and innocence. How could you possibly be creepy?

He cleared his throat again, trying to sound nonchalant "Nah, it's not creepy. I mean, it's just a picture, right? And I do look pretty damn good in it, can't blame you for wanting to keep it."

"Okay.." you looked back down at the picture, your eyes scanning over his smiling face in the screen of your camera. He looked so pretty it almost hurt.

JJ watched as you looked down at the photo, your eyes tracing the contours of his face. He could see the way your expression softened as you took in the sight of him, and it made his heart race even faster. He wanted to say something, to tease you and make a snarky comment, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, he just stood there, his eyes fixed on your face, watching the way the light bounced off your hair and glasses. He was starting to think he got it bad for a stranger..

"I'm telling you, Maisy... look!" you exclaimed, your eyes sparkling with excitement as you pointed to the screen of your laptop. Your voice held a rare enthusiasm that immediately captured Maisy's attention.

She leaned in closer, her strawberry-blonde hair cascading over her shoulder as she peered at the images displayed. The glow from the screen illuminated both your faces in the dim light of your room, casting a soft, warm hue.

"It's like those pictures that couples take of each other," you continued, a shy smile tugging at the corners of your lips. Your cheeks flushed ever so slightly, a gentle pink that hinted at the emotions swirling within you.

On the screen were two photographs—one of you, captured by JJ that day at the marsh, and the other of him, taken by you moments later. In JJ's photograph, you stood amid the tall reeds, the golden rays of the setting sun enveloping you in a radiant glow, camera fairly close to your face. Your eyes reflected the shimmering waters, and a serene smile graced your features, natural and unguarded. In your photograph of JJ, he was bathed in the same golden light, his carefree grin infectious, eyes bright with a hint of mischief. The soft breeze had tousled his hair just so, making him appear both rugged and ethereal.

Maisy's eyes widened as she took in the images. "Wow," she whispered, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "These are... incredible. There's so much chemistry here."

You felt warmth flood your cheeks again. "Do you really think so?" you asked softly, biting your lower lip. Your fingers nervously traced the edge of your laptop, the significance of the photos settling deeper into your heart.

"Absolutely," Maisy replied, nudging you playfully. "I mean, look at the way he's looking at you in this one." She pointed to JJ's photo of you. "And the way you captured him... it's like you both see each other differently than anyone else does."

You gazed back at the images, your mind replaying the moments from that day. The marsh had been your special place, but sharing it with JJ had made it feel even more magical. The unspoken connection, the comfortable silences, the shared appreciation for the beauty around you—it all seemed to culminate in these photographs.

"Maybe," you murmured, a hopeful glint in your eyes. "It just felt... different. In a good way."

Maisy grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Sounds like someone has a crush."

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "It's not that simple. He's... well, he's JJ. And I'm just me."

"Exactly," she said confidently. "And maybe it's time he sees just how amazing 'just you' really is."

You sighed, a mix of happiness and uncertainty swirling within you. You shifted closer to your best friend on the floor of your room, smiling brightly, "i can't believe he actually came up to me in the marsh on his own agenda.."

Maisy shook her head in disbelief, a small smile on her lips. "I know, right? He actually talked to you. And he let you take a picture of him." She looked at the photo of JJ's smiling face on your laptop screen, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"You think he has a crush on you or something?"

You smiled appreciatively at her question, the possibilities dancing in your mind. Turning back to the laptop, you allowed yourself to linger on JJ's image for a moment longer, your heart fluttering softly.

"Why would he? I looked like a swamp troll when he saw me... maybe he didn't even recognize me at first.. that's why he came up to me." you furrowed your brows, studying JJ's face with a look of longing.

Maisy rolled her eyes at your comment. "Are you serious? You looked adorable and he knows it. Trust me, guys have a sixth sense for when a girl looks good."

She poked your shoulder teasingly, a smirk on her face.

"And he definitely knew it was you. Why else would he come up to you out of the blue like that and let you take his picture?"

"Yeah he did call out to me using that nickname... the mouse one. And besides who else would be in the marsh crouched down between reeds to take pics of bugs..?" you chuckled, shaking your head.

Maisy laughed, nodding her head.

"Exactly! Only you would be doing something like that. And he knows that. Trust me, there's no way he didn't recognize you."

She leaned closer, a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"And the nickname? That's a dead giveaway. He clearly has a thing for you, babe."

"You think so? You know at the party... when the whole thing with 7 minutes of heaven happened? He offered to help me with speaking to people... and he was like: 'you could talk to me.'" you turned to face her fully, "Since that day; he kept waving back and smiling whenever he saw me around town... winking sometimes too."

"Are you kidding? That's, like, the biggest sign ever." Maisy said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"He offered to help you talk to people? And he waves at you and smiles? And FLIRTS?! Come on, girl, he clearly likes you." She grabbed your shoulder, giving you a little shake.

"You need to make a move before it's too late."

"How am i supposed to?" you laughed, adjusting your glasses after she shook you gently, "i told you, i barely even speak whenever we interact."

Maisy rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "You don't need to do any fancy pickup lines. Just try actually talking to him sometime. I know you're shy, but I think he likes that about you. He wouldn't be waving and smiling if he didn't."

She thought for a moment, a sly smile spreading across her face.

"You know what? I have an idea..."

Maisy grabbed your shoulders in excitement. "I've got it. You need to find an excuse to talk to him again. Like, ask him for something, anything. Just get him alone so you can have a decent conversation."

She paused, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"But it can't just be a normal conversation. You need to catch him off guard. Surprise him. That way, you'll be in the driver's seat and he'll be the one flustered."

Easier said than done. You despised surprises—they made your heart race and your palms sweat, catching you off guard every time. Yet, despite your aversion, you'd confidently told Maisy you’d figure it out and win over JJ in no time. As if that was possible. The mere thought made you scoff internally; JJ was like the wind—free, unpredictable, and impossible to capture.

The afternoon sun bathed the town in a warm, golden glow as you strolled along the familiar streets. Shopkeepers were beginning to prop open their doors to let in the summer breeze, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the bakery on the corner, mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming jasmine and the ocean breeze. You made your way toward the quaint bookstore nestled between the café and the antique shop—a favorite haunt of yours since childhood.

The sidewalk was dotted with clusters of wildflowers pushing through cracks in the pavement, their tenacity a quiet inspiration. You felt a pang of melancholy realizing that summer was slipping through your fingers like grains of sand. The stack of books in your tote bag was a tangible reminder that the season of freedom was nearing its end.

As you approached the bookstore, its faded sign creaked softly in the breeze: The Novel Nook. The peeling paint and ivy-covered bricks gave it an ageless charm, a sanctuary for dreamers and seekers of stories. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a tiny bell jingled above, announcing your arrival. The familiar scent of aged paper and leather-bound volumes enveloped you, calming your restless thoughts.

You wandered between the tall shelves, running your fingertips over the spines of countless books. Each title whispered promises of distant lands, epic adventures, and lives so different from your own. The hushed atmosphere was occasionally broken by the soft rustle of pages and the distant sound of whispered conversations. This place was your refuge, a world away from the uncertainties that awaited with the start of your senior year.

The thought of returning to school filled you with a mix of apprehension and resignation. Hallways buzzing with chatter, the pressure of exams, the unspoken social hierarchies—it all felt overwhelming. And then there was JJ. The corners of your mouth twitched upward involuntarily at the thought of him. His easy laughter, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how a single dimple appeared on his left cheek—it was ridiculous how effortlessly he occupied your thoughts.

"Thinking of anyone I know?" A familiar voice pulled you from your reverie.

You glanced up to see Maisy leaning against the end of the aisle, a playful smirk on her face. Her strawberry-blonde hair was piled into a messy bun, wisps escaping to frame her freckled face. She sipped an iced coffee, condensation dripping down the sides of the cup.

"Just lost in thoughts," you replied with a modest shrug, a slight blush creeping into your cheeks.

Maisy sauntered over, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Let me guess—tall, blond, and infuriatingly charming?" She nudged you lightly with her elbow.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Am I that transparent?"

"Only to me," she laughed. "So, have you made any progress on that little mission of yours?"

You sighed, glancing down at the book in your hands—The Great Gatsby. "Not exactly. It's not like I can just walk up to him and say, 'Hey, JJ, fancy a date?'"

"Why not?" Maisy challenged. "What's the worst that could happen?"

You shot her a skeptical look. "Public humiliation? Crushing rejection? Need I go on?"

She waved a dismissive hand. "Please. JJ's not like that. Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you."

Your heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Maisy grinned knowingly. "Like you're a sexy Rubik's cube that he can't wait to solve. Trust me, there's more to that boy than meets the eye."

You pondered her words with a small amused chuckle, a flutter of hope stirring within you. Could it be possible that JJ saw you as more than just a passing acquaintance? The notion both excited and terrified you.

"Maybe," you conceded softly.

Maisy linked her arm through yours. "Tell you what, there's a beach bonfire this weekend. Perfect setting for a little serendipity, don't you think?"

You hesitated. "I don't know, Maisy…"

She squeezed your arm gently. "Come on, what's summer without a bit of adventure?"

Looking around the cozy confines of the bookstore, you took a deep breath. Perhaps Maisy was right. Maybe it was time to step out of the pages of your books and start writing your own story.

"Alright," you agreed with a tentative smile. "But no meddling."

"Scout's honor," she said, holding up three fingers in mock sincerity.

As you both headed toward the register, the weight on your shoulders felt a little lighter. The prospect of the bonfire filled you with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Outside, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the town and painting the sky with hues of pink and orange.

Exiting the bookstore, you glanced back at The Novel Nook, its windows aglow with warm light. You bid your good-bye with Maisy, given the red-head was in one of her moods and 'desperately needing to run by the beach', and started walking down the side-walk leisurely.

JJ was leaning against the wall of a corner store across the book store, his arms crossed over his chest as he talked to his friend John B. He was smoking a cigarette, his head tilted back against the bricks as he blew out a plume of smoke into the air, waiting for his other friends to exit the store so they can dip.

He was in a good mood. The day had been nice, the weather warm and the town fairly peaceful. He was enjoying chatting with his buddy, when something across the street caught his eye.

He lifted his head off the brick wall, a small frown on his face as he squinted at the figure walking down the sidewalk.

"Is that...?" he muttered to himself. He watched as the figure came closer, their face becoming more clear with each step. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it indeed was you.

He took another puff of his cigarette, his eyes not leaving you. He felt the familiar jolt of excitement in his stomach as he watched you approach, his mind going blank for a second.

John B, noticing his friend's distraction, followed his gaze to see what he was looking at. He smirked, elbowing JJ in the side.

"Hey, why don't you go say hi?" he teased, a mischievous grin on his face.

JJ's head whipped around to look at John B, an agitated expression on his face. He tried to brush off his friend's comment, pretending like he didn't care.

"Who, her? She's a kook. She's probably here to shop for some fancy dresses or something."

Just then, your gaze caught sight of a familiar figure across the street. JJ was leaning against the weathered brick wall of a narrow alley, one foot casually propped behind him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his worn jeans. The golden rays of the late afternoon sun cast a soft halo around him, highlighting the tousled strands of his sun-bleached hair. His eyes were hidden beneath the shadow of his lashes as he watched and laughed with his friend intently, a picture of effortless cool that made your heart skip a beat.

Ever since that conversation at the party, these chance encounters had become a cherished part of your day. Gathering your courage, you offered a shy wave, your fingers barely lifting from the hold on your wallet. A gentle smile curved your lips, a silent greeting that you hoped conveyed more confidence than you felt.

JJ's gaze shifted from John B, his piercing blue eyes locking onto yours across the expanse of the street. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade—the chatter of passersby, the distant roar of the surf—all muted in the background. A slow, genuine grin spread across his face, dimples appearing as he lifted a hand in return. The simple acknowledgment sent a warm flutter through your chest, like the wings of a small bird taking flight.

Traffic passed between you—a blur of colors and movement—but neither of you looked away. The world continued its hurried pace, yet here, in this shared moment, time felt suspended. You noticed the subtle way his posture shifted, as if he was considering crossing the street. The possibility sparked a mix of excitement and nervousness within you.

Mustering a bit more bravery, you called out, your voice carrying over the ambient noise. "Hi, JJ!"

He cupped a hand around his ear playfully. "Can't hear you!" he shouted back, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Chuckling softly, you took a step closer to the curb. "I said, 'Hi, JJ!'" you repeated, louder this time.

He laughed, the sound genuine and infectious, his best friend watching the scene unfold curiously. "That's better!" he replied. "What brings you out on this fine day, mouse?"

"Just picking up some books," you replied, holding up the bag as evidence. "Summer reading list waits for no one."

He nodded appreciatively. "Always the studious one. Any good titles?"

Before you could answer, the pedestrian light changed, and without thinking, you began crossing the street toward him. Each step was a blend of eagerness and hesitation, the distance between you shrinking with every heartbeat. As you reached the other side, JJ pushed off the wall, standing a little taller. You shot John B a hesitant nod of acknowledgement, the brunette smirking slyly.

JJ was once again struck by how adorable you looked. Your soft voice, the way you looked at him with those big eyes behind your glasses, it sent a thrill down his spine. He mentally cursed himself for feeling this way.

He cleared his throat, his mind racing to find something to say, deciding that he'd be more content on talking to you without his best friend watching the 2 of you.

"I'll be back in a minute," he mumbled to John B, signaling for you to follow him down the sidewalk, a bit further away from the prying ears of his best friend.

"Books, huh? What kind of books are you into? Fancy romance novels or something?"

He mentally slapped himself for asking that question. Romance novels? Seriously? What a stupid question.

"Doesn't really matter... i read every genre, if the book is nice." you smiled almost reassuringly, shrugging nervously.

Despite his teasing, JJ actually found your answer interesting. It's not what he would have expected from a kook, but then again, he was starting to realize he had a lot of misconceptions about you.

"Every genre, huh? Damn, that's a lot of books. You must read like, 3 books a week or something."

"Well... yeah especially since i don't really enjoy social stuff.." yeah dumbass, he found you lurking around alone 2 separate times, once on the beach and the other in the marsh, you thought sardonically.

JJ found himself secretly pleased at your confession. Yeah, he knew you didn't enjoy social stuff, but hearing you say it out loud made him feel... special in a way.

He raised an eyebrow at your comment, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Well damn, you're really an antisocial little mouse, huh?"

He stepped a little closer to you, his eyes roving over your face. He wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of you, to see if he could get you out of your shell a little.

"So you'd rather sit at home and read a book than party or hangout with your friends?" he teased, his voice just a bit lower than usual.

"Friend. I only have one friend.." you corrected almost shyly, shuffling on your feet.

JJ found himself chuckling at your shy correction. One friend? Only one? How was that possible? You were so damn cute, how did nobody want to be friends with you?

"And who's your only friend, mouse?" he asked, his smirk growing wider.

"You saw me get dragged around by her... Maisy? She's got the strawberry blonde hair? kinda bubbly and confident?" you mumbled thoughtfully, trying to describe your best friend in a way that made sense. "...and well... i assume you're also my friend in a way." you added more quietly, hesitant that he might think it's weird and correct you.

JJ's heart skipped a beat as you mentioned him being your friend. Damn, he was not expecting that. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but inside he was practically jumping for joy. It was silly, but for some reason, the idea of you liking him as a friend made him really happy.

"Yeah, I remember Mimsy. She's pretty cool. And uh... you consider me a friend, huh?" he asked, his voice a little softer than he intended.

He took another step closer to you, reducing the gap between you to almost nothing. His eyes flicked over your face, studying your expression intently. He was secretly hoping to see some sign that you felt the same fluttering in your chest that he was feeling right now.

"That's, uh... that's interesting. I didn't think you'd want to be friends with someone like me."

"Why not? you... uh, you said you wanted to help me to speak with people more freely... if you remember.." you felt like your awkwardness was rubbing off on him, like a disease. You tried to gauge out his expression, for any hint of being weirded out by your declaration.

JJ's heart skipped a beat once again as you brought up that conversation where he'd offered to help you to speak to people more. He remembered it vividly, the way he'd felt an unfamiliar draw towards you after the party game.

At your question of why he'd be surprised that you wanted to be friends with him, he let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

"Mouse, I don't think you realize just how different we are from each other. It's not normal for a pogue and a kook to actually want to be friends."

You furrowed your brows in confusion. Status was never your concern, especially having been in love with JJ for years now. But maybe he minded? and he was selective about that stuff. "oh.. well i don't-... care about that. I'm sorry if i came off weird.." you mumbled, stumbling over your words a little now.

JJ was quick to step closer to you, his arms moving to gently grab your shoulders as you stumbled over your words. He didn't want you to think that you had somehow messed up by saying you wanted to be friends with him.

"Hey, hey, hold on. You didn't come off weird at all. I'm just... I'm just surprised that you want to be friends with me, that's all. No matter the status difference between us."

"Well... the whole thing with people living on figure 8 is that they almost never see past the kook thing.. i like every part of the island. I prefer the cut anyway.." you swallowed hard, adjusting your glasses and clutching the wallet you were holding in your hand nervously.

JJ couldn't help but be amazed by you. Here you were, this shy, antisocial, bookworm kook who preferred the cut to her own home, who saw past all the nonsense between different social classes. You were so much different than all the other rich, snotty, entitled kooks he knew.

He realized he had still been holding on to your shoulders, his hands moving down to grab your wrists instead. He gently squeezed them, his eyes locked on yours.

"You... you're really something else, mouse."

JJ continued to hold your wrists, his fingers subconsciously tracing small circles against your skin. For once, he didn't feel like he had to keep up his usual laidback, arrogant act around you, and it felt nice.

"I gotta say, it's refreshing to hear a kook say they like the cut. And it's even more refreshing to hear a kook talk about people and not just status or things."

He gave a slight shrug, his smirk growing sly once again.

"You know, I'm beginning to wonder if you're really a kook at all."

"Maybe I'm not even real.." you joked quietly, your heart racing and your palms sweating a little as he held onto your wrists, a small smile making its way on your lips.

JJ chuckled as you jokingly mentioned not being real. His fingers continued to run gently across your wrists, enjoying the feel of your skin under his touch.

"Nah, you're definitely real. I can feel you right here."

He gave your wrists a small squeeze, his eyes looking at you in a way that made his stomach flutter.

Your expression became a little more bashful as he squeezed your wrists, feeling like you were losing the sense to speak again, especially while you looked up into his eyes. They looked so pretty, like ocean water and jewels, the look in them was genuine, like he actually enjoyed speaking with you.

JJ didn't miss the way your eyes softened and your expression grew bashful as he gently held your wrists and squeezed them. He felt his heart skip a beat and his pulse quicken. Looking down into your eyes and seeing the way you looked up at him... he'd never seen a more beautiful sight.

He took a tiny step closer, his body almost pressed up against yours now. His voice was a little softer than before as he spoke again. There was no teasing in his tone anymore.

"Y'know, mouse, I gotta admit something."

His voice was low, almost a whispered murmur. His gaze was glued to yours, still gently holding onto your wrists.

"When I offered to help you with talking to people, I didn't really think you'd actually take me up on the offer. But... I'm glad you did."

"Well another friend won't hurt... that's one more than... well one." you chuckled, grimacing awkwardly. Your brows raised a bit as if you remembered something. Maisy's idea! Surprise him-

You fidgeted slightly, your wrists slipping from his grasp as you dug through your tote bag, pulling out a couple of small polaroid looking like pictures. The ones you took in the marsh, the one of him and the one he took of you.

JJ's heart leapt when he saw the pictures you held out to him. They were the pictures from the marsh, proof that you had actually taken them. He took the pictures from you, his fingers brushing against yours, causing a small shiver to run down his spine.

He looked down at the pictures, then looked back up at you. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You... you went and got these developed, huh?"

"I thought you uh, wanted... the one of you. Since you said it looked good" you extended the picture of him slightly, holding the one he took of you in the other hand. He probably wasn't too interested in that one anyway.

JJ's eyes flicked from the picture of himself to the one of you. He wasn't expecting you to have gotten one of you developed as well. He was a little surprised (and maybe a tiny bit excited) to see it.

"Actually..." He hesitantly pointed at the picture of you, his heart thudding loudly in his chest. He was curious to see your reaction.

"I wouldn't mind having both."

Oh my god. You probably looked like a dumbass again. You felt your self blush furiously at his words, your brows raising. Why would he want that? A picture of you? "Uh yeah.. sure here.." you fumbled with the picture of you, almost dropping it to the ground as you handed it to him.

But you also wanted to have the one of him, so he'd have the one of you and you the other. You pointed shyly to the picture of him mumbling nervously, "can i have this one then?"

JJ couldn't help but chuckle as you fumbled with the picture of yourself, your cheeks going adorably pink. Seeing you flustered like this... He couldn't help but smile as you handed the picture of yourself to him, and then shyly pointed to the picture of him, asking to have it.

"Yeah, it's all yours, mouse."

He didn't even hesitate as he handed you the picture of himself, secretly loving the way you looked as you blushed and got all flustered.

JJ watched as you carefully tucked the picture of him into your wallet, a small smile on his face. The fact that you had gotten the picture developed, let alone wanted to keep it, sent his mind reeling.

He wasn't used to people wanting anything to do with him, let alone someone actively wanting a picture of him. It made his heart flutter in an unfamiliar, but not unpleasant way.

He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. "So... uh, how come you decided to get these developed, anyway?"

"Well i developed so many more and uh yeah..." lies; liar liar, pants on fire, you scolded yourself mentally. You were gonna develop the one of him alone, but somehow you ended developing the one of you too. So him asking you to keep yours felt so... i dunno, romantic to you? Like couples doing stuff for each other.

JJ raised an eyebrow at your response, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was kinda weird that you had developed so many pictures all of a sudden. But he didn't pry too much further. He mentally shrugged it off, secretly enjoying how adorable you looked as you blushed and fidgeted nervously.

He silently stared down at the picture of you in his hand, his fingers gently tracing the edges. The soft, shy look on your face made him feel weirdly giddy. Like there was a swarm of butterflies all fluttering in his stomach.

JJ continued to stare at the picture as if in a daze, his thoughts racing. The more he looked at the picture, the more his heart thumped in his chest. He didn't understand why he was feeling so flustered. This was just a picture, right? So why did it feel so damn important to him? Like the picture was suddenly the most precious thing in the world?

He could feel a slight heat rising in his cheeks. He took a small breath, trying to calm himself down. He glanced down at you, studying your expression.

"You don't have to keep it if you want to... i won't... mind." you found yourself speaking, anxious that he was rethinking the whole thing now that he was staring at the picture of you more intently. Beside he had no reason to keep it right? you had barely known each other. Well he barely did, cause you knew him pretty well given how long you had been in love with him.

JJ's eyes snapped up from the picture at your words, his heart skipping a beat. Did you really think he didn't want the picture? He quickly clutched the picture tightly in his hand, his heart fluttering as he spoke.

"No... no I want it. I definitely want it."

He gave a shake of his head, his thoughts awhirl. Did you know how cute you looked in the picture? How it sent a strange, fluttery feeling through his body every time he looked at it? How much he found himself wanting to study it?

JJ's heart continued to race as he held the picture in his hand tighter. He found himself glancing from you, to the picture, to you again, his head practically spinning. Why the hell was he feeling so flustered and nervous now? He always had some sort of control over his emotions, but not anymore. Not with you around..

He was torn between wanting to look at the picture and wanting to look at you. Both made his heart race and butterflies swarm in his stomach, but he just couldn't force himself to look away from you.

"That's good then..." you smiled up at him, adjusting your glasses and glancing down at the picture of you in his hand. You had glanced over his shoulder, noticing his best friend still waiting for him intently. "i think your friend is waiting for you." you pointed shyly at John B over his shoulder.

JJ's eyes flicked up to look in the direction you were pointing towards. Sure enough, John B was still standing there by the corner store, a slight curious but impatient expression on his face.

JJ muttered a small curse under his breath. He'd been so distracted talking with you, he'd forgotten that he'd told John B to wait for him.

He glanced back at you, his heart sinking even more now. How the hell was he supposed to leave you?

JJ let out a small sigh, his shoulders slumping a little as he realized he had to reluctantly leave you to go back to John B. His heart was practically doing cartwheels in his chest as he spoke.

"Yeah, I guess I should get going. Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you, I know you were probably walkin' home.."

He mentally scolded himself for the disappointing tone of his voice. He really didn't want to leave you, but he didn't want to upset and ditch his best friends either. Damnit, it was so confusing.

"Oh no it's okay... besides you said you wanted to help me speak to people more easily, and it kinda helped a little... -talking to you i mean.." you reassured him almost too quickly hands shooting up on a assuring gesture, cursing yourself inwardly at how desperate you sounded.

JJ's heart thumped hard as you reassured him that you didn't mind talking with him, the small, almost giddy feeling welling up inside him more and more.

He didn't want to admit it, but he was actually really happy that his presence somehow helped you. And he secretly couldn't wait to have another excuse to talk with you again as well. But he didn't want to seem desperate either - or admit that he actually wanted to spend more time with you.

He quickly nodded his head at your words, stuffing the picture carefully into his pocket. He tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke again.

"Yeah, anytime. I... uh, I enjoy talking with you too, Mouse."

His eyes flicked over to John B behind him, then back to you. Damn it, why did he feel so reluctant and torn about leaving you?

Another small curse went through his head as a thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he didn't see you again? Even though he'd said he'd help you with your shyness and talking to people... there was no guarantee he'd see you again. The thought was somehow painful, even though he could just walk away from you right now.

He hesitantly took a small step towards you, a bit of nervousness in his voice now.

"So, uh... can I see you again sometime? Just so I can help you... y'know, more with talking to people?"

"Yeah of course." you agreed almost too quickly once again, your eyebrows shooting up in nervousness and excitement. "of course we can hang out.."

JJ felt his heart flutter once again as you eagerly agreed to hang out with him more in the future. He mentally cursed his excitement and anxiety, trying to keep a cool, collected expression.

He nodded his head at you, a small smile on his face. It was a struggle to keep the smile off his face actually – he suddenly felt like grinning like an idiot. But he had to keep his cool, he couldn’t show how excited he really was.

"Awesome, mouse. I’m looking forward to it."

You gave him a small grin, not being able to keep it off your face as looked up at him, reaching up to pat his forearm awkwardly and quietly. How casual, just an awkward pat? how's that for making a move? Maisy would be disappointed if she saw you right now. She'd be expecting at least an awkward side hug or something.

JJ felt a sudden rush of warmth at your timid pat on his forearm. It was a small gesture, maybe even a little awkward, but it somehow made his heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but admire the shy smile on your face, his eyes lingering on your lips for a brief moment.

He silently scolded himself as his thoughts strayed to what it might be like to kiss you, to cup your face and finally taste the lip gloss adorning your pink lips. He'd like to think it was cherry, maybe peach? He tried to brush the thought away, telling himself that this was just an innocent, casual interaction - not some romantic moment.

Damnit, he was feeling conflicted and frustrated now.

He quickly shook his head, trying to clear away the conflicted thoughts and confusing emotions swirling in his mind. He couldn't let himself dwell on these thoughts, he had to keep it casual.

He forced a small smile and raised a hand in farewell.

"Uh... I should probably get going before John B flips out. I'll, uh, see you later, yeah?"

You raised your hand, waving at him shyly as he started to walk away, flashing him a genuine smile. Although you were disappointed the moment had to end, you got to keep a picture of him. And he kept one of you. The thought actually sounded insane. It was absolutely out of this world and the little girl in you who fell in love with JJ Maybank that day in 3rd grade was swooning, having a field day and freaking out; all at the same time while you sat there awkwardly waving to him.

JJ was secretly tempted to look back at you as he walked away, to get one more glimpse of your shy, genuine smile. But he resisted the urge, making himself keep walking. He had to keep up his 'cool, collected, don't-care-about-anything, badass' persona.

But as he approached where John B was waiting, he couldn't help but pull out the picture you gave him from his pocket.

He took a quick glance at it, studying the picture closely, taking in your shy expression and the smile on your face.

God, JJ was crushing hard..

—♡‧

A/n: Too long? Also reader's picture definitely looks a little 0.5x, just because JJ is silly 😋 Love the 'she fell first- he fell harder trope.'

Tag-list*:･ﾟ✧ @cali-888, @bee-43, @jjscoquette, @melsbels-zip, @stanseventeen Join the tag-list!

Divider credits: @cafekitsune @fairytopea @strangergraphics-archive

Previous | Next*:･ﾟ✧

[nightingale-prompts]

Entropy- DCxDP prompt

interdimensional babysitter Danny AU

Another day another interruption.

Danny was once again in his observatory doing his job and maintaining the realms.

That was until the heros made their presence known and desired attention.

Jon and Damian for their efforts weren't trying to be disruptive. They just liked watching and being around Danny. What they wanted to know this time was what was Danny's job. He's a god or something like one and was in charge of space but what does that mean? Why was he always so busy with it?

As the boys entered the observatory they watched as Danny seemed to juggle these floating colorful bubbles. Each bubble was full of stars that shifted. Danny flite from orb to orb examining them closely before rearranging them or tapping them and making them glow.

The boys couldn't make heads or tails of what he was doing.

"Danny? What is your job?" Jon asked causing the god's ear to twitch.

"My job?" Danny's voice echoed his eyes still narrowed as he studied an orb.

"Yes, enlighten us. I'm sure it is significant since you often tell us not to interpret." Damian said.

"...."

"Can you tell us, please?" Damian amended not forgetting his manners this time.

"Entropy," Danny said simply pushing another orb to the other side of the room before quickly switching its place with another next to it.

"What's that?" Jon asked flying up to get a better look at a bubble.

"Simply put it is energy- well, lack thereof. Everything in the universe from the moment of its existence is beset by entropy. As things age they lose energy and things begin to break down or unwind. All things break down. All elements also creep toward ineffectiveness and random effects. I must ensure that entropy doesn't consume the realms. Look here." Danny pulled the boys aside and showed them a very dim orb he pulled from among the clusters.

Little lights flickered and disappeared inside the orb.

"This is a dying universe. Every sentient life form no longer exists. I believe that it should be relegated to the empty universe pile and left to disappear as my predecessor had often done. He did not fulfill his role and left universes to crumble. But not me. I think it can be recovered." Danny said pressing the orb tightly in his hands as the orb began to light up in the center. The light seemed to reach a pitch as it exploded outwards and an explosion of stars came into view. Rainbows of colors filled the black void. "That my dear children was a big bang. An explosion of energy with enough particles to recharge this universe. All those colors are charged raw elements that are binding together to form gases. Those gases will condense and explode over and over until they form stars. Matter will form creating rocks and then plants. Molecules will form water and ice once they cool. These particles will settle and cool and life will begin anew and I will be there to recharge them once they start to fade. This is the cycle of the universe and my role in it."

"Whoa, so your like the god of everything. You make everything happen." Jon said taking the orb from Danny's hand and looking ar it from every angle.

"You don't really look like one of those. A god sure but of everything." Damian said studying Danny.

"Because I'm not. Trust me the title of god is not accurate. Gods are made by mortals. I make mortals and gods. But I don't rule them." Danny said. "Now let me finish with these and then we can make pancakes and ice cream. I have some new fruits i want to use."

[achromatophoric]

Wenclair + A silent, **holy** night

*holy up to interpretation 😏🖤🩷

One night, Enid returns to her shared room to find Wednesday seated on the floor and playing with what appears to be…

Enid: Oh my gosh! Is that a Lite-Bright? I can’t believe you have a Lite-Bright!

Wednesday: *fiddling with the object* What, pray tell, is a light bright?

Enid: Uh. That thing you’ve got there. Retro toy that you make like pretty art with using colorful pegs that light up.

Wednesday: *snorts* As if I’d possess anything so mundane. This is Grandmama’s Night-Fright.

Enid: *makes a face* Yeah, that checks out. So what’s it do?

Wednesday: Think of it as something akin to a voodoo doll, except the effigy is bound not to a person, but a topographical location.

Enid: Oh. OH! I see it now! That’s like a map of Nevermore, right?

Wednesday: *favors Enid with a hint of a smile* Precisely so.

Enid: *beams back* So what does it actually do? I’m pretty sure it works only at night and I know it doesn’t like—harm the land, because that’s so not the Addams style.

Wednesday: You know us well, mi corazón. You are correct on both counts.

Enid: *triumphant fist pump*

Wednesday: *picks up a black peg* Unlike a voodoo doll, which commonly facilitates pain or physical harm through a spiritual connection—

The seer carefully inserts the peg amongst a small, if conspicuous, cluster on the map. Once in place, it silently ignites with a purple glow, pulsing in sinister rhythm with its brethren.

Wednesday: —the Night-Fright allows one to perforate the membrane of reality, creating a transient hole in the night sky itself.

Enid: 😲

Enid: 🤔

Enid: Um. Where exactly do those holes lead to?

Wednesday: The Realm of Gratuitous Nightmares.

Enid: 🫢

Enid: Okay, so the T-L-D-R is that this thing lets you like—poke holes in the night sky and rain down freaking nightmares on some poor unsuspecting person?

Wednesday: *nods*

Enid: *eyes the Night-Fright*

Enid: 🤨

Enid: *points* Isn’t that bunch of pegs covering up where Xavier’s shack would be?

Wednesday: *shows one dimple*

Enid: 😗

Without another word, Enid sits down next to Wednesday and begins to enthusiastically add as many pegs as possible to that cluster.

Wednesday: *shows both dimples*

Enid/Wednesday: 😈🥰

– Moments later, at Xavier’s shack. –

Xavier: *painting another “artistically nude” portrait of Wednesday*

*distant roar of overlapping ripping sounds, joined by the baleful thrum of vile ululations*

Xavier: *pauses and looks up*

Xavier: 🤨

Xavier: What the fucking shit? It’s not supposed to storm tonight.

The sky above Xavier’s shack:

[space-snake]

Danny Phantom headcannon:

The Infinite Realms connects every part of the multiverse, so what happens when two versions of someone dies? Are there two practically identical ghosts?

No!

For a ghost to form, all versions of the person they used to be need to be dead. This is why it’s so hard to contact loved ones from beyond the grave; they’re not actually done getting dead

Of course, there’s multiple types of dead things and it’s not even guaranteed you become a dead thing after you kick the bucket, you might just stop existing entirely. But assuming your eventual destination is ‘ghost’, here’s the process:

You die. Your essence appears in the infinite realms, but it’s not enough to form a core yet. You have no consciousness during this process. Other versions of you die and coalesce, slowly forming a core. Eventually, the last version of you left alive dies as well and a proper core is formed. From there, all your memories of different versions of events get sorted out as you develop a form. This form depends on a lot of factors, including most common cause of death between all the versions of you. Your mind probably doesn’t break because your new ghostly nature allows you to comprehend the process you just went through and form a somewhat linear narrative of your time before being a ghost. Mind breaks aren’t unheard of though, especially for ghosts from more chaotic multiversal clusters (clusters of relatively similar multiverses) but health care is free in the Realms, assuming you know that the Far Frozen exists and are capable of getting there. You probably do know this because there are ghosts dedicated to finding developing cores and protocores and bringing them to a ‘nursery’ so nothing goes wrong during the ghosts formation*

What about Danny?

Every natural universe (that is, a universe that formed ‘naturally’ through incomprehensible infinite realms eldritch stuff instead of like, through magic or timeline stuff) where Danny got zapped by the portal instantly combined into one. Everyone in that universe started experiencing weird mandela effects, Deja vu, glitch in the matrix moments, weird mental health problems, etc. but it never got brought up in the show because it happened before, when Vlad become the first halfa. So their multiversal cluster is a minuscule fraction of what it once was, significantly smaller than the average cluster. And you know how Danny keeps getting stronger? That’s another version of Danny, one who never became a halfa, dying and becoming part of the Danny we’re familiar with. Vlad never really gets stronger because he’s ‘complete’ now.

Normally, when a timeline shift happens and creates a new universe, it will atrophy and die on its own, getting subsumed back into the Realms. However, Clockwork made it so that our Danny’s timeline, instead of remaining an offshoot and eventually decaying, became the prime timeline, causing the ‘original’ timeline to begin decaying. A few things could happen to Dan because of this:

1.) he simply stops existing

2.) he becomes a part of Vlad or Danny

3.) his essence separates and the appropriate parts go back to Vlad and Danny

4.) he is allowed to continue existing, as his own separate being, assuming he faces punishment/gets redeemed/whatever with the understanding that nothing like him has ever existed before so he might end up merging with someone anyway completely against the will or wishes of anyone involved

Dani is a clone, so she’s technically a version of Danny, but according to the laws of the multiverse is actually her own being with her own multiversal variants out there, so no angst about her potentially merging with Danny at some point

*surprise dc crossover: What happens if, in the middle of forming into a ghost, your protocore is suddenly ripped into pieces as you’re brought back to life across multiple universes? Well it depends on how you were brought back. Rotten pools of ectoplasm might surround your core shard for example, creating a strange mixture of revenant and pseudo-halfa….