#i just think they're neat. the urge to write something for them (<- already working on like 5 other fics for isat)

[dropespeon]

you know i thought it was weird that i hadn't gotten attached to a made up dynamic for isat yet. i thought i wouldn't because of the small cast but as it turns out even that is not enough to stop me

[kidspawn]

wip wednesday

hello! thank you for the tag @ronanlynchian this is incredibly sweet! i'm also very honoured you thought of me! this week has been really odd for me in terms of getting work done, even a little bit, so my wip progress has been all over the place. i hate being busy (i love being busy).

tagging (no pressure ofc): @rederiss @witchbitchadam @tartadxfresa @fieldsofred (you don't have to i swear to god i can't tell if i'm being held at gunpoint or just tagging people) @fredddoloso @sunflowersandscreams (none of you have to, ignore me if you want i just think you're all neat that's all i love your brains i wanna know what you're writing)

even if i didn't tag you please feel free to jump in and share. i cannot stress enough how bad i mean that. yes, even you. do not doubt me. i mean it. i wanna read your words.

I have three snippets here, two aus, one NSFW i may or may not finish. I'm still figuring the mechanics out.

so, my vigilante fic is almost almost ready to post, the first two chapters are being edited right now. i do have some later chapter snippets i've been ironing out for continuity purposes, so here's some of that:

==

“Yeah.” He settled for. “You're right.” It made his tongue numb. 

“Could you sound pissier?” Ronan snorted. “Jesus. I'm trying to be helpful.”

“No, but Blue had the exact same argument.” Adam scowled, “I hate both of you.”

“Maybe we just don't want you to crash and burn.” Ronan reached out and pinched Adam's arm. “Those eyebags would need checked in at an airport.” 

Adam slapped his hand away. “Nice. Love the concern.”

“Oh its not concern it's self preservation.” Ronan yawned, feigned and over the top to accentuate his point. “I already told you, it's a carry down. I'm cutting the stress off at the source.” 

“No of course. Nothing else.” 

“Never.” Ronan grinned, rolled his head to flash teeth Adam's way. There was a sincerity behind the cut of his grin, tucked beneath levity.

“Well, good to know where you stand.” Adam looked away to cover the warmth flooding his face. He knew, objectively, his flushes and emotions weren't transparent, subdued by complexion. But it felt like exposure all the same. “Thanks.” He said, to the window. 

“Yeah sure.” Ronan said, and Adam resisted the urge to turn and analyze his expression. “You saved me from boredom and eavesdropping on Gansey's midnight club.”

“Club?” Adam raised an eyebrow, directed it the other's way, “Has it grown?”

“Cheng has started chiming in.” Ronan scowled, “Proper three way phone call.”

Adam bit back the frustration at Henry for not telling him, and fought down the shame over not noticing. “Oh.” He said. “Well.”

“They're unbearable.” Ronan said, “So your problems are a blessing in comparison.”

“Well as long as it's a blessing, I'll just keep at it.” Adam scoffed, “Since you enjoy them so much.”

“Only over the musketeers.” A tap on the radio. The car flooded now with the thrum of electronica, a soft bass and syncopated synths. “They're a nightmare.”

“I'm flattered to take priority.” 

“Obviously. Why wouldn't you?”

There was something to be said about how earnest Ronan could be, despite all his dancing around and his half truths and sardonic deflections. Not because he was free of emotional obscurity, but he saw nothing wrong with the admittance of something that stripped his intentions to their bare bones. Adam felt a curl of envy, and wondered how he'd be capable of matching such a vulnerability. It was the push and pull of it, the way he'd been coaxed into such a relaxed state by the joking and sneering and quips, then marked by stark honesty.

It wasn’t a trick, he knew. It couldn't be. Not from Ronan.

The music was just loud enough it dulled the more abrasive edge of his thoughts, sanded away the hits his mind took at his self esteem. By all measures, it would've been easy to reach over and give his equal effort. He felt wholly unprepared, had no idea what to do, paralysis and indecision.

It was easier to expose yourself to someone who kept themselves at arm’s length. Or, in some fucked up recess of Adam's mind, he felt like it gave him the upper hand, the high ground. The fact he felt more at ease with platitudes and discretion was one of the many things he catalogued with the many, many reasons why relationships were a particular trial of his.

“We haven't known each other long. That's why.” He finally answered. It hadn't been a long silence, but it had stretched time enough to wind a rope of tension over the radio. 

“So?” Ronan began chewing the cord at his wrist, a habit Adam once again knew he ought to find repulsive, but on Ronan it was tantalizing and evocative. Something in the action of mouth and teeth.

“That doesn't scare you? Getting that attached that fast?” Adam said, attempting honesty. It left an open hole in his chest.

“No.” It was immediate. An answer born from confidence. That gaping wound began to scald and fester.

“How?”

“I don't know.” Ronan scowled around his gnawing. “I'm not scared of Hennessy or you or Gansey. I'm not... I don't know.”

“You're scared of something, though.” 

“Seriously?” Ronan shot him a scathing sneer.

Adam slacked his shoulders up and down, going for casual. “Showed you mine.” He said.

Ronan wormed a finger under his bracelet and began to snap it against his wrist. Up, out, snap. Up, out, snap. “Myself, probably.” He bit, like it hurt him to admit. It was said less like a confession, more like tugging a knife from a gaping wound, knowing you'd bleed out.

“Why?”

Another glare. It felt like a gift in its own way. Adam blinked, unfazed.

“The way I make people feel. The things I do.” He started fiddling with one of the AC flaps. Up, down, side to side. “Things get fucked up when I'm around.”

Adam didn't know the best response for that. He licked his lips up buy himself a moment, though Ronan was too busy fiddling with the car to notice or even care. The sentiments of self hatred were deeply relatable, though that opened opportunity for worse topics still. 

“What exactly have you fucked up?” He settled for, because inquiry was safer than assumption. 

Ronan shrugged. “Stuff.”

“Descriptive.”

“You want an itemized list?”

“Laminated.”

Another glare. “I just make things messy. Spiral. Hurt people. Whatever. Point is, I fuck things up.”

“Gansey.” Adam pointed out. “I think he'd disagree. And Hennessey, from what you've told me. I think they're both grateful you're here.”

“I didn't say anything about not being here.” 

“Don't have to.” There were two places that line of thinking went, when your self worth fragmented and convinced you to disappear.

However inappropriate the statement was, it struck enough of a cord for Ronan to start fidgeting once more. “I don't think like that anymore.”

“Just telling you.” Adam hummed, “Feel like you need the reminder.”

Ronan took a second. His silence always drew attention, his paucity of noise magnetic. “I think I've done things I'm not proud of. For the wrong reasons.” He drummed a finger against the radio dial. “Hurt people.”

“Did they deserve it?”

“Some of them, probably.” It was an easy admittance, unlike the rest. 

“I already told you where I stand on this.” Adam said, “Intent is everything. If you did it for a good reason-”

“I don't know.” Ronan said, “If the reason is good. I just know people got hurt and it was because of me.”

Adam watched him pick at a cut in the leather of the wheel, honing in on its grooves and imperfections as if it’d distract from his own. He had nothing to say that would ease his hurt, lessen that ache. Gansey would have had the right words, he knew. Hennessey would’ve distracted, or related on some level that clicked just so. Blue would have had a gentle hand, a compassion Adam didn’t think he was capable of. Even Henry would have been, at least, armed with few words and even more syllables, a turn of phrase to be dissected or misinterpreted. Even a fight would have been a sufficient solution. 

“We all hurt people.” He settled on saying. “Everyone hurts someone. That doesn’t make you bad, I don’t think.” He picked at one of his too-short nails, peeled a layer too close to the bed, stopped when the sting grew too fierce, “I think it’s... how you feel about it. Bad people might feel guilty, but they’ll still feel right.” He glanced up at Ronan, “I don’t think you’re a bad person. You wouldn’t be so torn up over whatever you did if you were.” Because he knew bad people, and he knew people who deserved revenge, and he didn’t think Ronan was either. Didn’t spike the caution signals installed in the back of Adam’s head. 

Ronan met his eyes, indiscernibly softer than Adam had ever seen. He held his breath, watched Ronan glance from his hands, to Adam’s face, the car window. His jaw tightened, eyebrows scrunched and furrowed and twitched. He was the picture of turmoil, painted in sharp, bold lines. Adam waited for him to do something in the silence, but knew whatever kept Ronan quiet was suffocating and consuming. A flick of his wrist, the snap of a wristband. He glanced at Adam and back to the dash once more. 

==

on a lighter note, i do have this workshopped thing i might commit to in the long-term revolving around Blue and Adam and witches and maybe sorta i was watching old supernatural tv shows and thought that a fun little witch story would be fun so this is obviously au and i messed with dynamics a bit but Persephone dies and leaves them this mysterious house on the countryside. Adam left for college and kind of dipped on Blue, who had to stay for familial reasons (Henry and Gansey were not there, either, to convince her to try leaving Henrietta. So she's felt trapped in her hometown.) Tensions arise.

=

“I swear to god,” Blue murmured, nudging at the attic door with a slipper-wrapped toe. “I heard something up here.”

“Like what?” Adam deadpanned, arms folded and glowering at the door like it had been the thing to wake him. “A ghost? You heard something go bump in the night?”

“Don't be an ass.” She scowled, “And maybe. It could be. We don't know.” It would be unfortunately in character for Persephone to leave them a haunted house. The frustration of it all numbed the grief magnificently. 

“Except we do.” Adam cut in, “Ghosts aren't real.”

“You don't know that.” She pointed up at him, had to raise on tip toes to properly get in his space, but watching his eyes go criss cross made the effort worthwhile. “You don't know they don't exist.”

“You could say that about anything.” He argued. “You don't know they do. There could or couldn't be a ghost behind there.”

“Schrödinger's ghost.” She suggested.

He wrinkled his nose. “I mean... I guess? You're not...” His eyebrows knit, “Yeah, you're not wrong, on principle? Kind of sounds like you're implying the ghost may or may not be dead, though. Technically, it’d be hey this person could or could not be dead in there. It’s about the cat maybe or maybe not being dead.”

“Hush, psych major,” She waved him off, before he got carried away regurgitating that laminated degree of his, “The saying worked, didn't it? You got what I meant.”

“I’m just pointing out-”

“You’re being pedantic.” She scowled, “It’s condescending. We get it, you went to Harvard. God, you weren’t like this before. It’s like you want me to feel stupid.”

“There is nothing wrong with making sure you’re using the saying right!” He tugged at an uneven cut of hair jutting out by his ear, working at it as his wrist bone rolled and flexed beneath prominent veins. 

“No, but you’re nitpicking. And you know it. And when did you become all oh there’s no such thing as ghosts? You know better than anyone-”

“No, I don’t, actually.” He hissed, “Blue, it is three in the morning and you’re pulling me over here to...what? Maybe find a ghost that probably doesn’t exist? It’s an old house, it’s not some great sign from beyond the grave. She’s not leaving us a message. It’s a house.”

“How can you say that?” She asked, “Adam, how can you think this isn’t significant from her? I get you’re all science guy now, that you just had to go out to the city and leave the rest of us behind-”

“No, good, I was hoping this would come up.” He snorted, “Don’t get shitty.”

“Let me finish.” She snapped, “Do you know how frustrating it is to hear you dismiss all that time you got with her? As, what, childhood fancy? You had something with Persephone I would have killed for. No one in the family would even try teaching me magic. You had one on one lessons, and you think... what, she was making it up?”

“I was a terrified kid who had just gone through something traumatic.” He bit out. “She was trying to give me anything I could grasp onto. We never did magic, we looked at cards. We moved stones around. I’ve never been anything less than grateful for Persephone, but I have enough sense to know that was an illusion built for comfort. And don’t get mad at me for getting out just because you never tried.”

She flinched. It was a particularly brutal slash in the chinks of her armour, prodding a thumb on a yellowed bruise, squeezing a bone that had never healed right.

==

and finally this sickfic i started when i got COVID last week and couldn't leave my bed and it devolved into smut for some godforsaken reason. idk if i will finish it. but i like how the writing itself came out. (i don't post a lot of nsfw ignore this if this isn't your jam)

==

If he thought about it, the bodily sensations were the same. Heat that radiated from his center, his head, his mouth, hot and swampy breath in puffs where no other airways could allow. It made his responding gasp airier than usual, nowhere else to go and no energy to push further. That kick of his pulse, so harsh he could feel it breaching his chest. Tinged with an slip of pain, the crick in his neck, the stab in his tailbone. Worse still, when his spine curled in response, bending further than a worn system could take. That was a peculiarity he could reroute into pleasure, and the snap of his waistband gave proof enough. 

“What are you doing?” Ronan said, hand on the doorway, frown unsteady. It curled with a feigned disinterest.

“You're not touching me.” Adam accused. “Your loss. You can watch if you want.”

“Do you think jerking it will magically fix your cold?”

In lieu of an answer, Adam tugged his sweatpants - Ronan’s sweatpants, though they shared custody - to mid thigh. 

“Jesus christ.” Ronan groaned, tapped a curled first against the door's wooden frame. He turned, resting his forehead against the shell-curl of a distressed fist. 

“You're sick. We can have all the sex you want when you're not sick.”

“I want to have sex now.” Adam said, running a thumb along a vein. “And you don't want to. I'm compromising. Watch or not, I'm doing it.”

“That is not fair. Asshole.” Ronan refused to leave his fist's support. 

Adam frowned. “I'm not telling you to do anything.”

“I'm trying to be like... good and take care of you. Like, boyfriend shit. You're being...” He scowled at Adam, eyes pointedly on his face. Adam curled his hips up, inviting attention. 

“You can take care of me.” He said. 

“No.” Ronan's ears curved with a rosy flush. It formed a matching palette against the scarlet of his neck. “Yes. No. Stop it.”

Adam shrugged, “You can go. I don't care.” He lied. 

“I-” Ronan swallowed, breathed in and out in careful counts. That fluster kept rising, Adam curled a hand up in matching time, thumbing his head. He inhaled, sharp and audible, through his mouth. It came out breathier than from his nose.

There was little else to do in the absence of a response but slowly work at himself, eyes closed and mouth open to allow little sighs and hums and gasps. A languid pace, because all the heat simmered in his jaw, his throat, his temple, made movement and thoughts sluggish. Familiar coiling began in his gut, expectant and demanding, tingles along his lower half, electric under his fingerprints. A throw of his head, his crown scraping against the headboard with the shift of his hips into the motion. For all the work he could do, his hand an adequate substitute for desired touch, it was not quite enough, wrong size, callouses in the wrong spots, too-bony knuckles and wrist cricks from awkward ankles. For all the satisfaction it could have been, should have been, Adam hadn't ever dedicated study to this particular past time - walls too thin in puberty, evenings too packed at St. Agnes, having gone straight to the Barns thereafter and spoiled in touch until his own didn’t quite suffice. Harvard had been an especially brutal period, reacquisition of comfort in his own embrace with miles that made human contact impractical at best. In many ways, there'd been a strength in examining his own pleasure where he could apply lessons learned, where his instruction began and ended within the cradle of low thread polyester sheets. Something therapeutic in it, he'd rationalized, and ignored the ache, the fire in the pit of his stomach. Curling around Ronan and crossing back over the threshold of The Barns and the glowing heat of summer had been a stark reminder not to try substituting the real thing and expecting the same result.

==

okay i'm burning my hands now i'm trying to write my head is in such an odd place. pls enjoy i might continue these, depends on my mood. who knows. this has been a weird fucking week. sorry this is so much i couldn't pick a fic to share a snippet from.

[xnewbiewriterx]

Not gonna lie, I could not think of a title for this. By all means, come up with your own, lol.

Anyways, this one is for my natural hair girlies. I'm going away to college in a few weeks and I plan on doing mini twists before the semester starts and it gave me an urge to write something. This is a small piece with adult!Bakugou x adult!black!reader where they're living together and he's helping her with her hair.

Tags: relationship fluff, interracial couple, light cursing, suggestive ending

WC: 1.7k

I sighed, placing my hands on the sink. I stared at myself in the mirror, my tired reflection staring back at me. I glanced up at my hair and sighed again.

I love my hair, but sometimes, I just wish that I didn’t have to take care of it. 

I’ve been standing in the bathroom for about an hour now, putting my hair into two-strand twists and I only have about a third of my head finished. I just wanna sleep.

I stretched my arms over my head, trying to reawake my body after standing for so long. I placed my hands on my lower back and bent backwards a bit. I groaned in relief when I felt it crack. Need to get all the kinks out. 'Specially since we’re gonna be here for a while.

I opened my music app and shuffled one of my playlists. Grabbing the comb, I began to part off another section, wanting to get at least one more finished before I went to bed. 

“Teddybear?” I heard Katsuki call from the bedroom.

I paused my music and cracked the door open. “In here!”

I heard him walking towards the bathroom and I went back to parting my hair, laser focused on the mirror to make sure the part was straight. 

Kats knocked lightly before sticking his head through the door. I met his gaze in the mirror.

“Hi, my love,” I gave him a small smile. 

Katsuki smiled in return before looking around at my “workplace.”

The counter was covered in scrunchies, combs, a brush, curling cream, leave-in conditioner, the whole nine. I tried to keep it neat, but that was next to impossible with such a small counter space. It’s gonna be fun to clean and put all this shit up later. 

“You look tired,” he said. 

I chuckled lightly.  “I am.”

Kats opened the door and entered the bathroom completely. He shuffled his way in, making room for himself to stand behind me. I watched him in the mirror as he looked at my hair, gingerly touching the few twists I had already done.

“Careful,” I turned my head so he could have a better view. “Some of those aren’t dry yet.”

Kats didn’t appear to have heard what I said. “How do you do these?”

Aww. He’s curious.

“It’s not hard at all.” I pushed him to sit on the toilet, excited for this new teaching moment. “You really wanna learn?"

Kats nodded his head.

I almost squealed. "Okay, so you part off some hair, doesn’t matter how much; it just depends on the look you’re going for.” I showed him the part that I just finished. “ Just make sure that the part is straight, so that it looks neat.”

I spent the next five minutes showing Katsuki the products I use and what order I use them in. Leave-in, curling cream, then some oil. I told him why I used them in my hair, how they keep my twists in place, and leave them moisturized.

“So, after you part the hair, you’re gonna use either a brush or your fingers to detangle and spread the product.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “I prefer to use my fingers.”

I glanced down just to see him staring intensely at my hands. He’s really focused on this.

“Now, you’re gonna take the hair and separate it into two pieces,” I demonstrate. “Try to make the pieces as equal as possible.

“Then you’re gonna take the pieces and twist them around each other. You wanna make sure it's tight at the top so the twist isn't loose.” My fingers start working faster to complete the twist. “Finally, you continue twisting down until you get to the end, then you coil the ends around your finger, and viola!” I gently hold the twist up to the light. “You have a two-strand twist.”

I turn to look at him and see a gleam of wonder in his eyes. He looks amazed, like I had just performed a magic trick, or something. 

A few moments of silence passed before Kats spoke.

“Can I try to do one?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Uh, sure.” I moved to switch places with him.

I sat down on the toilet and watched silently as he familiarized himself with everything on the counter; he seemed determined to get this right. I smiled to myself. 

How cute. 

Katsuki gingerly picked up the rat tail and turned to face me. He stared at my hair, almost nervous, but the emotion passed as soon as it appeared. 

He glanced down at me. “Let me know if I hurt you or anything, okay?”

I shook my head. “You won’t.”

He just looked at me.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. 

That seemed to have satisfied him because he finally started a new twist. He began to part my hair and I made sure to stay still, not wanting to distract him. But let’s play a little prank first.

Just as the comb touched my scalp, I flinched.

“Ow!” I started to rub my head. 

Katsuki jumped back. “What’s wrong?” He squatted down to my level. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

I tried to hold back my smile, but failed horribly. “I’m just messing with you.”

He glared at me. “Tch…dumbass. You play too much.”

I laughed. 

He went back to finish parting my hair. I sat still once more, watching as he slowly became more comfortable with his new environment. He handled my hair delicately, almost as if he was scared to hurt me. My joke must have made him nervous…oops.

I watched and let him work at his own pace. He followed everything I showed him to a T, leaving no room for error.

After about five minutes, Kats finished the twist.

“Did I do it right?”

I stood up and moved to look in the mirror. Well, would you look at that? The twist looked great, almost as if he’s been doing this professionally for years. Maybe not, but still.

The part was clean and the twist appeared to be even. It wasn’t saturated in product either; he used the perfect amount. Okay, sir. I see you.

"This is pretty good.” I playfully scowled at him. “Did someone else teach you?”

Kats smirked. “I just got skills.”

I rolled my eyes. 

“Do you really like it?” He caught my gaze in the mirror, eyes hopeful. “You think I did a good job?”

I smiled softly and nodded. “Yes.” I turned and booped his nose. “I think you did great.”

He ended up doing the rest of my hair. He asked and I thought, why not? Less stress for me and he's gaining new experience; it's a win-win.

I’m really thankful, though. Going natural was one of my favorite decisions, but it is definitely a hassle, I won’t lie. He has become a great help with my hair and I don’t know what I’d do without him. 

***A couple days later***

I was shopping for a couple of new crop tops when I was approached by some random guy. 

“Hey, gorgeous.” he said, winking.

I rolled my eyes internally. Please leave me alone.

“Hello,” I replied curtly, keeping my attention on the rack.

This seemed to ruffle his feathers a bit, as I saw his smile dim just slightly in my peripheral. 

“I love your hair,” I froze as he reached out to touch my twists. I know he did not just… “Did you do them yourself?”

“No, actually. I did them.” I heard from behind me. I huffed a quick sigh of relief. “They do look great, don’t they?”

Katsuki came to stand beside me, his arm wrapping around my waist. He gave me a peck on my forehead. “Hey, princess. Who’s your friend?”

I looked and raised an eyebrow at the stranger, who in return seemed as if he was ready to start running. “Oh. I was just, uh…we were…um-”

He cut him off. “Listen. If I ever catch you touching my girl, or anyone else for that matter, without their permission again,” He pulled away from me and stepped closer to the stranger, easily towering over him. I heard a few snaps and pops come from his hands as he spoke. The stranger was rendered speechless and was unable to move under Katsuki's death stare. “Well, I’m sure you can imagine what might happen. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we?” Kats slapped the stranger’s shoulder a bit harder than considered normal and I can only imagine how hot his hand was.

The stranger rapidly shook his head. “N-no. No, we don’t.” 

He chuckled darkly. “Good.” He gave the stranger a small, but rough shove. “Now get the hell out of our faces.”

God, that was hot.

The stranger all but tripped over his own feet to get away from us. I laughed as I watched him practically sprint out of the store. I went back to looking at the tops when I felt Kats' presence behind me. He rested his hands on my hips as he kissed my cheek.

“Sorry, teddybear,” He tilted my head back and leaned down to connect his lips with mine. “I didn’t mean to be gone for so long.” 

I reached up to stroke his face. “It’s fine, honey. I knew you weren’t too far away.”

“Mhm,” Kats' lips met mine in another kiss. He stared at me for a moment before speaking again. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

My eyes widened. I turned around to face him completely. “What? Are you serious?” I shook my head. “We just…I’m not finish-” 

He raised a finger to my lips, shushing me. I narrowed my eyes into a glare and pushed his hand away. “That was rude.” I turned back around and grabbed a top off the rack. “I’m not finished looking. You can go grab something and I’ll meet you.”

His breath tickled my ear. “I said-" His nose brushed along my cheek and down to the crook of my neck. "-I’m hungry.”  

Oh.

My breath caught when I realized what he meant. I felt him smirk at my reaction.

Katsuki placed a featherlight kiss on my pulse. “Can we go so I can eat, princess?” 

A/N: Let me know what you think. If you have any suggestions or requests, don't be afraid to reach out. xoxo

[noddytheornithopod]

I can KIND of see where people are coming from in at least regards to CATU since that story felt bigger and like it had more impact, but if you follow what is "official" canon that is already causing problems with the fact that Candace still tries to bust them in at least Last Day of Summer.

But putting it all aside, IDK how common this perspective is, but as someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Candace's obsession with busting fits that to a T. The moment Candace became not just a fave but a full on comfort character was when I fully immersed myself into the show, which also happened to be when I realised I had OCD.

There's several episodes where it's clear that busting her brothers isn't just a motivation for Candace. It's a full on URGE. Something she HAS to do. A compulsion, if you will, because she is obsessed with how her brothers are always the favourites and getting away with shit she never would.

I'm just saying, I know everyone loves character development™, but sometimes people are more complicated than just getting "better" overtime. Especially for someone like Candace who is clearly not neurotypical, however you choose to see her. Development isn't always linear, it can go all over the place.

I think you could even make arguments for other episodes where Candace could've gotten over busting, they just have way less fanfare around them because they're not specials or movies. Remember Wizard of Odd, when Candace is told to get over herself by her own dream mum and learn to live in the moment? The most I remember about anything being made of that was someone on TV Tropes labelling it as "aesop amnesia".

Again, with CATU, I at least get it, but even the people making it knew there was existing stuff to come after it. If they set CATU in this new Summer or post series in general maybe they would've done something different that would shake things up for her more, but I still doubt it.

It's also worth mentioning that they'd have to radically alter the structure the show if they did this with Candace. Same with Doof turning good, but that's another can of worms. I distinctly remember Dan even once saying that if there was no Candace busting her brothers, there would be no show. The structure and formula of Phineas and Ferb is what makes the show what it is. And because it's a comedic show, a lot of the nature of this means that characters aren't going to grow. It's one of the main things that stuck with me in the one class I took for TV writing - comedic characters often are defined by how they refuse to grow because of their own flaws.

Of course, Phineas and Ferb does subvert this, and there is subtle development you can notice, but nothing big enough that causes the core structure of the show to change. Candace might be nicer to her brothers overall, but she still wants to bust them. Doofenshmirtz and Perry might have a stronger bond, but they're still nemeses. You could argue that trying to have some development while still operating as a comedy on a macro-scale is going to cause a lot of problems down the line (and I mean, look at us :v). But that's just the nature of the beast.

It's also worth noting that in regards to Last Day of Summer, that really was the end of the show for a while. They flirted with ideas to continue that universe, but Phineas and Ferb as it was ended back in 2015. It's coming back a decade later, and despite what us hardcore fans may want to see, the smartest thing to do for the show to work to a large audience was to recreate the status quo.

So to put it simply, as much as it would've been neat if CATU did lead to a permanent change, it didn't. As close as the movie got to it, they still didn't have a direct, clear conversation between her and her brothers. They're better, but that gap is still there. And for someone like Candace who clearly struggles with obsessive tendencies, habits like this aren't going to just go away. And also, it just doesn't fit with how the show as a whole operates. As much as we hate to admit it, one of the big appeals for Phineas and Ferb is how much it remains stuck in that formula, no matter how much we all yearn for more.

ppl who say candace going back to busting is a regression from some development she had in the finale or catu clearly have access to a beautiful piece of media that i have not seen

[leviathans-watching]

I SEE REQs ARE OPEN!! 👁️

how about mc/reader tries secretly doing something helpful (can be anything) for the brothers when they think they're sleeping, but they're actually awake??? AND/OR VICE VERSA WOULD BE REALLY COOL TOO!! i'm not sure if it's already been done but, if not, it'd be cool to see you write it!

caring for the older bros while they're 'asleep'

includes: lucifer, mammon, levi x/& gn!reader (no pronouns mentioned)

wc: .6k | rated g | m.list

a/n: ugh THIS WAS SO ADORABLE i hope you enjoy!! ty for requesting! my inbox is open to chat, leave feedback, or request, so come say hi!!

i like reblogs btw,, if u even care tht is </3

lucifer hears you come in but can’t summon the energy to open his eyes, on the verge of falling asleep. you still, presumably seeing him, and he waits to see what you’ll do next. you begin moving again, noticeably quieter, and after a few moments of rustling, he feels you walk over to the bed. you stand there for a long moment, then pull the covers up over him, smoothing them across his shoulders. your hand touches his cheek, feathery light, and when it pulls back, he mourns its loss.

fondness explodes in his chest, warmth spreading between his ribs. when was the last time he was cared for like this? without the expectation for anything in return, without the need for a response?

…the only times he can remember are other moments with you.

you circle the bed, sliding into your spot next to him, movements gentle. you slot yourself against his side, and lucifer can’t resist the urge to wrap his arm around you, pulling you even closer.

mammon has his face pressed into the pillow when you knock on his door, and rolling over just seems like too much effort. he stays where he is and hears you close the door behind you, moving further into his room. you set some stuff down, probably your bag, doing your best to be quiet.

“oh, he’s asleep,” you whisper to yourself, barely audible. mammon really isn’t but he’s close enough that waking back up fully sounds too hard.

you mess around for a few minutes more, and mammon’s curiosity piques at the noises. when you enter his attached bathroom, he rolls over, opening his eyes a crack so he can see what you were doing.

when he’d laid down his desk was a mess of papers, clothes, and other junk, but now it’s neat, clothes folded on the chair and papers in stacks. the action is small, seemingly almost habitual to you, but to mammon, it means the world. he always says how much he loves the big gestures, and really, he does, but something about the small, domestic moments really get to him too.

levi wakes up when you open the door, but doesn't open his eyes, still half-dazed. your footsteps stop for a moment, then pick up again. the tv shuts off, assumedly due to you, and he hears his door being closed fully.

he can tell by the illumination behind his eyelids that you turn on his nightlight - levi rarely sleeps in complete darkness - and the fact that your remembered is super touching. he really lucked out with you!

you walk to his bed and levi feels the covers getting adjusted. you gently pull his forgotten handheld gaming console from under his arm, setting it aside, then smooth his hair down, combing the strands back. levi sighs under your touch, and after a long moment, you move away, much to his disappointment.

disappointment that doesn’t last long, since you return, crawling in bed next to him. how lucky he is, to have such an awesome and loving person in his life. he needs to tell you that more often! you always do nice things for him, and while he doesn’t say it, he really appreciates it.

you settle in easily, and heart warm, levi falls back asleep quickly.

leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your own

[ill-skillsgard]

So would Henry possibly lie and say they're getting a divorce to get in his mistresses pants and lie and string her along juggling both women until finally it becomes clear he's playing them both? Like he really is a womanizer that likes to have a girlfriend and his trusting oblivious wife?

I don’t even know what I’m doing. This is becoming a whole ass world that I’m invested in and I’m not sure if I should write it as a full length or continue releasing it bit by bit. Feel free to tell me what you’d prefer! Until then... Enjoy

More Henry x Mistress here

Work became less of an inconvenient routine and more of a show. You found yourself distracted in the mornings by spending too much time fixing your hair and making sure that your uniform didn't have a wrinkle on it. When you worked behind the bar or went around cleaning tables, your guard was up. Henry could walk in any time and catch you slouching or slacking off and for some reason, you didn't want him to see that side of you. You remained on high alert until the inevitable happened.

Henry entered the café from the lobby with another suited man in tow. Indicative by the way they were chatting, they were friends or at least associates. The other man was a great deal heavier than Henry and you presumed about a decade older. Seeing them made you stop cold for a beat before you whipped on your practiced smile and nodded at Henry.

Henry's smile was pleasant but his eyes lingered as they took up a table in the center of the room. You always thought it strange that he always chose the center tables as opposed to the surrounding booths. That's where most guests sat when given the chance to seat themselves.

You approached the table after they had a minute to settle into their seats. The beating in your chest increased with each step you took toward him but you already knew how to handle that. What you didn't know how to handle was when his company started to make comments about you after you went over to give them a pitcher of water and to take their orders.

"Does the Caesar wrap come with a side of fries or can I substitute that out for a side of you?" The older man chuckled.

You glanced at Henry for a moment and did your best brush-off.

"Unfortunately not, sir. Fries, salad or soup."

"What kind of soup?"

"Today we have tomato basil and cream of broccoli."

The man flicked the laminated lunch menu and snorted. "She's definitely giving me cream of something, eh, Henry?"

Henry was gracious enough to look down at the table and not answer the man until he rattled the table leg with his knee, causing the water to slosh and nearly pitch over onto the tablecloth

"Come on, Frank. Just order your food already," Henry urged him.

"We're just playing, darlin'. How about you bring me that wrap and a side of fries with gravy. Oh, and whatever light beer you have on tap."

You managed to quell the urge to roll your eyes at Frank. You had hoped to see Henry but not accompanied by anyone else. The man's presence did more than make you uncomfortable. You cursed him for preventing you from speaking freely. He was completely unaware of his encroachment on the small window of time you had been looking forward to. Coupled with the wandering of his little bloodshot eyes over your outfit, you knew for certain that Henry could feel your trepidation.

"And for you, sir?" You turned to Henry and tried not to make your favour known by smiling for too long or staring at the way he crossed one long leg over the other.

"Coffee, please. And I'll have the soup if you don't mind," Henry was curt and polite, unlike his associate who prattled on with complete disregard as to whether you could hear over him or not.

You nodded and left them to their exchange, grimacing when you turned away. A text message showed up on your phone not but five minutes after.

Sorry about him.

You decided not to answer Henry and instead flashed him a sorrowful look when you were sure that nobody but he could see you. The corner of his mouth sagged as he returned your look.

It was difficult for you not to be annoyed and let your frustrations change the way you went about completing your tasks. It must have been a punishment for thinking about Henry so much. You knew in your heart that your lust for him should not have been allowed to see the light of day but when you stood behind the bar and watched how he sat, how he carried himself, the meticulous way he kept the area around him neat and the small smiles that teased at his lips, you couldn't picture anything but the two nights you had spent together. Consequently, whenever you got thinking about those times, you thought of his wife, too.

Henry was wearing his wedding band. As was Frank. You couldn't help but notice these things given the first-hand knowledge you had of Henry's secret. You wondered if his associate did the same kind of things behind his wife's back and felt a sickness in your gut thinking that perhaps Henry was no better of a man than the reprehensible lout he was dining with.

Your luck did not turn. Not after the two of them signed their bills and left or after that.

Frank returned the same evening as you were switching off with another employee and demanded to be served at the bar by you and you alone. After you politely told him that you were done for the night, he started to complain about the disservice. At first, you and your co-worker were unsure how to react, assuming that he must have just been drunk and wasn't being serious. But as you attempted to duck out, he slid off the barstool and followed you to the end of the bar, blocking you from getting by without coming very close to him. Your co-worker was newer than you and plainly afraid to leave you but there were other patrons in the café that needed tending to.

"Come on, precious. I saw how you were starin' earlier. You don't fancy a nice man with lots of money? Look at my watch. Guess how much it cost? Probably more than what your sweet little ass makes in an entire year!"

"Wow, that certainly is expensive," you commented.

"And I got four of 'em, sweetheart."

"Very cool," your tone dripped with impatience that was lost on him. "I'll be right back."

"You're comin' back to me, ain't ya?"

"Um... Well, like I said... My shift is over," you backed away, turned and made your way through the swinging doors into the kitchen where only employees were permitted to enter.

Finally out of his sight, you let out a long breath that had been growing stale in your over-inflated lungs. Digging around your bag, you found your phone and decided to answer Henry's text message from earlier.

Your disgusting friend is in the bar and won't let me go home. Please tell me you're still at the hotel?

Henry only made you wait a minute before he replied.

I am still here. I'll be right down.

The concern you had for your poor co-worker being stuck in the middle of a tense situation that had the potential to escalate made your heart rate stutter.

Can you do me a huge favour? Could you come around the back entrance of the hotel and walk me to my car instead? I really don't want a scene to be made. There's a grey door with a dumpster near it.

You couldn't go back out into the bar. Gazing through the small window from the kitchen, you saw Frank had perched himself back up on a barstool and was mumbling to himself as he sucked down another drink. That was where you wanted to leave him. You went through the kitchen mostly ignored and left out the back door, stepping into the crisp night air to wait for Henry to appear.

Footsteps could be heard from around the corner of the building and you didn't want to investigate. As they drew nearer, you hoped that it was Henry and smiled when he appeared, keys jingling in hand. Henry let out a sigh when he saw you.

"God... I'm so sorry about bringing that buffoon around you. Unfortunately, I have to make nice with him for work. Is he still in the bar?"

"I think so. I don't know. I just didn't want to go by him. He seems... I don't know. Aggressive."

"He's not but... I understand your worry. I'll talk to him."

"No. I don't want anyone drawing any strange conclusions about you and me. I'll just tell hotel security to look out for him."

"Strange conclusions?"

"He might wonder what our connection is."

"Yeah... I guess so. But I'm here to take you home and I won't allow him near you ever again."

You couldn't stop a smile from taking form on your face as Henry began to lead the way through the parking lot.

"My car is over there," you pointed in the opposite direction.

Henry didn't pause to look back at you. "I'd rather just drive you myself. That way I know you're safe all the way home."

"Henry... No."

"Yes. It would really set my mind at ease to watch you get home and lock the door behind you."

"But my car. I have to work tomorrow, as well."

"I'll pick you up."

He seemed unwilling to budge so you gave up quickly- not just because of his insistence but because you knew that you wanted him to drive you home. You wanted to be near him. Despite every voice inside that told you it was wrong, you got into his car after he opened the passenger side door for you.

"So why do you stay at the hotel so often if you're from here?" You asked him once the car was on the road.

"I'm not from here, really. We have a condo on the outskirts of town that rarely gets used. The hotel is a few blocks away from work so... It beats driving an hour through heavy traffic every day to get to the condo when we can stay at the hotel for free. Well, not free but. You know. Company pays for it."

"Where are you from then?"

"Maine."

"Oh... That's far."

"Yeah."

'What's the point of having another place then?"

Henry went quiet as he flipped on his blinker and made a turn. He sighed and glanced in the rear-view mirror. You thought that he was going to let your question go unanswered until he breathed in deeply.

"I might need it."

"What do you mean?"

"Not that you probably want to hear but... I just might need the condo soon. Seeing as how I'm no longer welcome in my own home."

"You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to," you stared down at your lap and picked away at your chipping nail polish.

"I took your advice and told her that things need to change or else and it went horribly," he skirted what you said and continued. "All I asked for was an open platform so I could tell her how I felt about everything. So I told her that I wanted to sleep in the same room."

"And?"

"And she refused. She says I keep her up... Whatever that means. I don't know how the fuck I manage to keep her awake considering she's in an Ambien coma by ten every night."

"Henry... Something else is up. There has to be a reason why she doesn't want to be near you."

"She doesn't want to be with me but she wants the status of being with me. That's all. She has no interest in being a wife in anything but name."

"So now you're living separately?"

"I told her that I'll be staying in the condo until she decides she wants to be married again. I don't expect to hear from her for a while. Maybe this is what she wants."

"I don't know why you're still with her."

"Right now is just the worst time to start the divorce process," Henry was holding back a yawn. "I have a huge convention in Paris next week that I have to present at and there's a lot riding on it. And assuming it goes well, the weeks to come will be twice as busy. I can't have it riding on my conscience."

"Isn't it already riding on your conscience?"

"Like you wouldn't believe."

"I believe it," you sighed, looking out the window at the streaks of streetlights and the glimmer of the city on the horizon.

Henry pulled up in front of your apartment after you guided him through the streets and smiled weakly at you. You looked down at his hand on the gearshift and longed to touch him. You wanted to gather him up in your arms and take him inside with you. His eyes looked despondent and heavy. He was in no shape to be driving back as exhausted as he was but you knew you couldn't do anything about it.

"I know what you're thinking, but... I'm not going to kiss you. I'm not going to do that again."

"I understand," was all you could say.

"I want to kiss you. I do. And I hate myself for it but it's true. Earlier today when I saw you... God, my heart just stopped."

"Mine too," you admitted.

"But I want to stay as friends. Like this. I want to be able to talk to you. Is that bad?"

"I suppose just talking isn't inherently wrong," you contemplated out loud.

"Can I text you? Can we still talk like that?"

"Yes."

"And I want to still come to see you at work for coffee. Then I can pretend like we're having coffee together even though you'll be working."

You cracked another smile. It was so hard not to when you were around him.

"Sure. I'd like that."

"And I might keep talking to you about this stuff... If you don't mind."

"I don't mind, Henry."

"Because I can't talk to anyone else about it. Nobody understands. All the guys I work with... None of them have any valuable input. All they care about is golf and talking about women they'll never have. If you're married, you might as well be dickless in their eyes."

"I thought you said that people look up to you and your wife?"

"They do, which is another reason why I'd rather not discuss my issues with them. I hope you don't mind and you're not just saying that. I know I could hire a therapist but I'd really just rather talk to a real person."

"Therapists are real people," you giggled.

"You know what I mean. I'm not looking for a program, you know? I just want... I don't know."

"A friend?"

"Yeah."

"Don't worry, Henry. I'm here. I don't mind you talking to me. You have my number and I owe you for tonight."

"You sure? If at any time you want me to shut up, you tell me and I'll-"

"-I'll never tell you to shut up. So don't worry."

"All right," he said. "I should let you get going. It's getting quite late."

"Okay. Well... Thank you. I appreciate your help."

"No worries. What time should I pick you up tomorrow?"

"I start at noon," you replied.

"I'll be right here at 11:30 with coffee."

"Okay," you chuckled. "Sounds good."

The next day he showed up at the exact time he said he would and took you to work. There were no conversations about personal qualms and inner struggles, only pleasant topics and him talking about his excitement about going to Paris. He dropped you off and not but an hour later, you received your first text from him that began a long string of back-and-forth messages.

The next day you woke up to a message from Henry.

Hope you slept well. Paris in a few days. Might not see you at the hotel for a while. But I'm going to inundate you with texts so it will almost be like I'm there.

That's fine. Work is always so boring. I'll be happy for the distraction.

This went on for days leading up to Henry's trip. He promised to keep in touch but a few days went by and there were no morning texts from him to wake up to. You tried to put it from your heart and head but you couldn't shake the feeling of neglect. You went to work with a sour feeling in your stomach and completed your shift like a robot might- programmed to do everything calmly, completing no more and no less than what you had to. When Henry finally texted you from Paris, it wasn't the chipper greeting he usually sent you.

It's done. We're done. I'm in my room in Paris right now and it's over.

What do you mean? What happened?

We got into it before I left and she finally admitted that she has lost all emotion for me which is even worse than what I imagined. She doesn't love me. She doesn't hate me. Apparently, she's just neutral about it. Can I call you?

Yes, but let me get home first.

You sped home, lucky enough to not get ticketed for going twenty over at any given time. Rushing up to your apartment, you fired off a quick message letting him know that you were safely at home and he could call whenever he was ready. What you didn't expect was for a video call to come in. Panic struck and your chest tightened as you answered the call.

His face appeared too close to the screen until he held his phone at an arm's length from his face. Henry's eyes were lined with pink and it was painfully obvious to you that he had just been crying.

"So... Yeah. I don't know where to begin. But it's over. I'm taking the condo for now until I come home and we can sort out the details."

"Really?" You felt bad for not having more to say back to him.

"Yep. I won't see her for another two weeks at least. So I just get to pretend like my life isn't falling apart while I execute one of the biggest projects that I've ever undertaken."

"How do you feel? Are you okay?"

Henry began to laugh and you frowned.

"Oh, god... How do I feel? I don't know... That's a good question. How should I feel?"

"I'm not too sure."

"I know I feel numb. And Angry... And relieved, even. Only because she finally had the balls to admit that something is wrong."

"I'm so sorry, Henry. You don't deserve to be treated like shit. But at least you have somewhat of an answer, right? I know it's been eating you alive not knowing what she was thinking."

"I still don't know what's really going through her mind. Our last conversation wasn't exactly conclusive. Just a lot of yelling and then I had to go. That's kind of why I haven't said anything to you in a few days. It’s been hectic."

"It's okay," you told him. "You have to deal with your own life. Don't worry about me."

Henry sighed as he walked through his hotel room and collapsed on the bed. He was quiet for a minute and you had no idea what to say to comfort him until he sighed and brought the phone a little closer to his face. He didn't know the concept of angles and you stared at his face, puffy with emotion, and could see up his nose.

"This hotel is nice," Henry murmured.

"Well, that's good. I'm kind of jealous."

"The window faces the Eiffel tower. I can see it right now. It's all lit up and... It just looks beautiful."

"What time is it there?" You asked him.

"Almost midnight."

He scurried off the white bed and padded through the room and onto a balcony where it was so dark you almost couldn't see his face. Turning the phone around, he showed you the view of Paris at night and you sighed wistfully at your phone screen.

"That looks so beautiful," you said.

"It's pretty. You're prettier, though," his voice sounded weak, defeated.

"Don't even," you said, nerves crackling to life.

"Fuck," he sighed out into the night air. "I wish you were here. I want to... God, I want to have you right here. On this balcony. I don't even care anymore. I want that."

"Henry... Don't you think it's a little-?"

"-Early? Yes. It's early. It's too early for me to be fantasizing about what I want to do to you. Like there's no mourning period. I just want you more than anything."

"I miss you," you quietly stated.

"Well, stop missing me and just come here."

You snickered. "Yeah right."

"I'm serious. Come."

"I can't. I'm broke and I have to work for the next thousand years of my life."

"I don't care. Come to Paris. Right now. Get in an Uber and get on a plane. Pack up a suitcase first."

"You're hilarious," you rolled your eyes.

Henry walked back into his hotel room and the light from a standing lamp illuminated the seriousness on his face as he stared at his phone.

"I'm not being funny. I'm dead serious."

"I already told you that I'm broke, man! I can't just hop on a plane!"

"Yes, you can. I'll pay for it. I'll wire you enough money right now for a roundtrip. I'll send an Uber to you right now."

"You're insane."

"I know, I know," he rubbed at his eyes.

You thought he looked terribly good-looking with the shadow of a beard growing on his chin and along his jaw and upper lip. His hair was a mess and the top three buttons on his shirt were hanging open. The man on the phone screen made your hands start to shake.

"Can't help but notice that you haven't gotten up to start packing yet," Henry continued.

"Henry! I can't!"

You watched him fiddle with his phone, ignoring your protest. You scoffed at him when he smiled.

"Uber will be there in ten minutes. Better pack quickly."

Your legs rattled and words stalled on your tongue. He stared at you with his eyebrows raised high in expectation.

"Well? Get moving! Nine minutes now."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. You're coming here. And when I get my hands on you, woman... The whole world is gonna know it."

[light-puns]

Cute drabble with Kat? Maybe Lux looking after him or something? They're so cute!!

// First of all Nonni, you are my favorite ever. <3 Thank you so much for giving me a reason to write about these two. I love them so very much. So, very, very much. Secondly, this is so long and I apologize for that. I might have gotten carried away, can you tell I love them so very much? I’m so glad you find them so cute! This is obviously for @lotus-of-noxus‘s Kat, in case anyone wasn’t aware. 

The sound of her shallow pants are too loud even in her ownears as she pulls up, twisting around in the maze of Demacian forest. This isn’tan area she frequents, this isn’t an area any human frequents really. Thisforest is endless and dark, it ranges for miles across the land, and there is areason the locals stay out of these woods. The call that echoes off the trees isguttural and screeching as her hunter rounds the bend down from her. Its eyesare sightless, but it can smell her, even among the murky scents here. Too manylimbs pull it along, its movements clumsy and wild but brutal in strength.

Lux’s hand raises, another step backwards, the light shegathers in her palm is warm and comforting, it twists refining itself into aweapon. It’s hard to focus on the spell through the earsplitting cries of the thingcharging her. She’s about to close her eyes to try and focus when the flash ofsomething catches her attention. It takes her a moment to realize it’s aperson, and what she’s spotted is the glint off a blade.

Hesitation.

She snaps her hand closed and breaks the channel on thespell, it spares whoever is behind the thing. However, now she is left facingdown this monster’s maw as it lifts a hand, or what might have once been ahand. Magic has twisted it into something gaunt and claw-like, but she isn’tlooking at the thing before her, her eyes are past it.

“Kat?” The name falls from her lips in absolute confusion.He’s not supposed to be here, he’s out on a mission, following rumors, nothere, in the darkness of this forest. Yet, that has to be whom it is, has tobe, those eyes are unmistakable. He’s screaming at her, something she can’tquite make out and then she’s being slammed into the nearest tree and there isblood. It’s wet and warm across her arm but there is no pain, so it can’t be her blood.  

There is a moment of abject horror as she realizes what is splatteredup her arm and across her cheek is his blood. It’s a flurry of motion afterthat, she’s screaming, he’s talking, the creature is shrieking and; the lightthat explodes from her hand in the dim illumination of the forest is asblinding as her anger. It’s searing in color and crackles with electricity,when it finally fades into a seeable state the creature is no longer there andKat is grabbing her wrist and dragging her with him. She stumbles after him,confused, but allowing him to lead them from the tangle of trees, she doesn’task how he knows the way out.

Once out of the grove he pauses as if he’s thinking about something,but Lux is a burst of motion, her hand grasping his. Her fingers are tightaround his wrist, there is an almost nervous nature to her hold.

“Come.” It’s a command as she pulls him along, deeper intosomewhere he really aught naught be. Demacia is never safe for him, but her innis close, and he’s injured. He doesn’t say anything though the brow arch saysenough for him. There is a cheeky comment on his tongue, but he eats it at herglare. There is blood pouring down his side, as she sneaks him through the townand into The Stallion inn, drawing him through the hallways and into her rooms.

“Where are you hurt?” Her tone was fraught with worry as shepushed him a little deeper into the rooms, locking the door behind her.

“It’s fine, Lux.” His manner was amused as he eyed her, butshe didn’t seem intent upon stopping as she pushed his jacket off his shouldersher hands deft in their movements as she moved his shirt up. Having to followhim as he tried to step out of her hold and create space between them.

“So forceful tonight little bird.” The lilt to his voice didlittle to assuage her worry as she finally managed to peel the tatters of hisshirt away from the gashes along his side. It was amazing he was still standing,they were deep, ragged, and already looked infected. She winced before easinghis shirt over his head with his assistance.

“Not now Kat, you can tease me after I fix this. Lights, I’mso sorry.” She pushed him towards her bed before moving throughout the trio ofrooms that were hers. Picking up a medical kit, a water basin, several cloths,she moved back towards him stopping when she found him not sitting on her bedlike she’d intended but on the chaise by the window.

“Wasn’t your fault Lux.” His tone was soft, an amused littlehuff escaping him as she panicked about him. Never lighting in one spot forvery long, entirely reminiscent of the ‘little bird’ he often called her.

“Hnn.” Was the only answer she gave as she motioned him tolay out. “Down.” Another command, she was all about orders tonight, as sheangled herself beside him. Her touches were light, gentle as she cleaned thearea of blood, she didn’t take note of his silence, too focused on her work.

“Ah, these are deep, it’s going to feel warm for a secondwhile I burn away infection.” This was Demacia, she wasn’t supposed to usemagic here, but the thought didn’t even occur to her as she placed a pale handover the gashes focusing on the fire element for a moment to sear the possibilityfor contamination from the wounds along his side.

“If only you touched me this tenderly when I wasn’t injured.”The cheeky comment had her gritting her teeth for a moment. She leaned forwardslightly to glare at him. How he still had the energy for such smartass remarkswas beyond her.

“Can you not be sassy right now? You’re bleeding out on mychaise.” Lux gave him a pointed look which only earned her an unrepentant grinfrom the redhead. She rolled her eyes before leaning back to poke at theinjuries for a moment. “Lights, Kat I really am sorry, this is going to hurt.” Hertone was so apologetic as she threaded the needle and bit her lower lip,getting only a half assed handwave from the man.

The stitching was a swift process, or as swift as she couldmake it. Nice neat little lines closing the four slices along his back and uphis side. Once she’d tied off the last stitch she rested her hand against it,she shouldn’t. It had been her fault though, he’d gotten hurt because of her ownineptitudes. These marks would be on his body because of her. It was the least she could do.

“All patched up doc?” His voice was a lazy drawl, he soundedtired or maybe that was her projecting.

“Not yet, just, don’t move for a second.” Lux’s voice wavered,and he seemed to pick up on that because he glanced over his shoulder at herwith an arched brow. She shook her head at him, a small motion which only hadhim arching his brow a bit more.

“Lux?” His question was met with another head shake as she puther hand on his side, the same way she had before when channeling the fireelement. Her eyes fluttered shut for a second, though she could feel the way hewas searching her features.

Lux dug deep, touching into her center, immersing herself init for a moment before tugging at the strands of her own life essence, bindingit with light energy and in a makeshift spell she shouldn’t be using to help urgethe knitting of Kat’s flesh back together. She was no healer, that trait wasn’tin her repertoire of skills, not in the traditional sense. However, with somesacrifice on her end and a bit of energy from both herself and him she could atleast encourage the mending process to go a bit faster.

His magic answered her easily as she dipped the soft hues oflight along his wounds. Reaching out with her energy towards his own, the warmwelcoming blaze from his magic eased something in her, it always did. To hiscredit Kat didn’t move until her hand trembled against him. Then his hand wason hers and he was sitting up breaking her concentration.

“Hey.” His voice was soft, almost confused, that rare one heused.

“Hello.” She smiled leaning down to pick up the wrappingsshe’d brought with her and proceeded to pointedly ignore the way he watched heras she wrapped his mid-section.

“Going to tell me what that was?” She shook her head beforecasting another grin up at him.

“Come on.” She kept her smile as she stood tugging on hishand to pull him towards the bed. “Shoes off. Sleep. Don’t make me cast a spellon you.” A relatively shallow threat, though she just might if he fought her overmuch.When he didn’t really argue with her, and instead flopped out in the small innbed Lux tilted her head. Now that was odd, but she supposed it could be bloodloss mingled with an adrenaline crash, so she let it go.

Lux set about tidying up the room putting things back wherethey went before moving to sit beside him on the bed. She took a few moments tojust watch him, before moving her hand out to rest against his forehead,feeling for any signs of a fever. The fingers around her wrist had her startingslightly before he was smirking up at her from under her palm.

“Stop worrying little bird, I’m fine.” His tone was amusedbut it didn’t quite have the same swagger it normally did. Now that she thoughtabout it, he hadn’t been nearly as obnoxious this entire time. She leaned backa moment eyeing him, watching his face, before she moved to flop next to himpulling him towards her till she had him situated with his head on her abdomen,so she could pet him at her leisure. He didn’t seem terribly bothered by thechange in position if the amused huff was anything to go by.

“So, what are you thinking about?” Her phrasing wasconversational as she ran her hand through his hair reaching her free one outto tangle with his fingers giving a small pulse of her own magic in the process.It was how they showed support, how they spoke, a language between just the twoof them. The only person in the world that connected with that part of her.

“How comfortable a pillow you make.” There was a cockyamusement to his voice that had her rolling her eyes. Well, at least he wasn’tbroken, that was good to know. She’d worried there for a moment that maybe she’dscrambled his brain with the magical blast in the forest.

“Right, so what are you really thinking about?” Heramusement was evident in the way she spoke, the slight squeeze she gave to hishand and the affectionate sigh. This was more contact than was typical for them,but it felt, nice, right. Even as shejust lazily let her magic tangle with his, the same way her fingers had. Luxglanced towards his hand noting that at some point he’d shed his gloves, butshe wasn’t sure when. She should get up and change out of her clothes, theywere bloody, but then so were his pants and he didn’t seem like he reallycared.

He didn’t answer her, for so long that she thought he mightnot at all. He was just laying against her, staring at the ceiling of theirtiny inn room, his breathing even but not deep. A soft sound escaped him,something like an exasperated grumble and a sigh of frustration. He wasfighting with something inside himself, some inner battle that she desperately wantedto ease.

“Should have just, moved differently is all. Shouldn’t haveeven happened, was stupid.” His tone is nonchalant as he speaks about it. Yetthere is something in the tenseness of his shoulders and the way he’s beenstaring at the ceiling this whole time that has her sitting up slightly to lookat him.

“Mistakes happen, Kat. It’s not your fault, I should havemoved, you were just rescuing me, wasn’t your mistake, it was mine.” Her words aredistant as she tries to reply the fight in her mind but it’s blurry at best.She can feel some of the tenseness leave his shoulders, but he still seemsunhappy, so she curls a bit closer wrapping around him slightly to place a kissto his bare shoulder. It’s strangely affectionate but has the desired effect ofcausing him to look at her, green eyes curious and amused. She can’t stop himfrom thinking about it in the long run, but she can distract him right now.

“Why Luxanna, I never knew you could be so bold.” His voice is teasing and he takes the teeth against his shoulder in stride. It’s an angrylittle nip followed by a swat to the head before she’s trying to roll away.

Never mind, let him stew in his own thoughts. He was clearlyfine.

He stops her though moving with a speed her really shouldn’tposses after being injured. He’s half leaned over her smirking and she’salready done with his nonsense. His hand is still tangled with hers and theslight pulse of magic only makes her roll her eyes. It’s not exactly anapology, but it’s his own version of affection between the two of them.

“Don’t stress your wound idiot.” She’s glaring lightly, andhe just seems to find this all the more entertaining. He’s not moving though evenwhen she pushes against his arm with absolutely zero real intent to move him.

“We’re all allowed to make mistakes Kat. You know, thatright? I make them all the time. It’s alright, don’t beat yourself up over itokay? You’re too good for that, and you’re worth it to me.” Her voice iswhisper soft as she sits up slightly to place a kiss feather light over the scaron his eye and when she lays back there is a moment. It’s brief, but it almostlooks like vulnerability flashes across his face before he’s flopping outbeside her, though he doesn’t untangle their fingers. She doesn’t explain whathe’s worth to her, or what she means by the comment and he doesn’t ask.

“Goodnight little bird.”