crownedghostprince

[crownedghostprince]

"How about a small meal?"

One Piece LA Sanji x Fem!Reader.

Fandom: One Piece (Live Action)

(Y/N) doesn't always remember to eat. Luckily, her boyfriend is here to remind her and make her some delicious food when she overworks herself and needs a break.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): Reader struggles with eating consistently. (She just forgets, no mention of any actual eating disorder). Very self indulgent.

Note: I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm bored. It's late at night and I wanted to comfort myself with a short story <3 "we love Sanji!" we all say in unison 🫵

Word Count: 484 (short but sweet)

[Third Person Perspective]

(This gif is brought to you by 'suuho'!)

It was another long and tiring day on the Thousand Sunny. (Y/N) had spent the whole day helping Usopp and Franky repair parts of the Thousand Sunny that had been heavily damaged in their last battle. Normally Usopp and Franky could manage on their own, but this time they needed an extra pair of hands and (Y/N) was the only crew member who volunteered and could be trusted to actually help.

Zoro was strong, but he wasn't an inventor by any means. He could lift and hold with incredible strength, but asking him to repair something had an entirely different outcome. Chopper always wanted to help, however the tiny doctor could only do so much with his knowledge mostly consisting of biology and science. He ended up in the same category as Zoro when it came to ship repairs.

Luffy was always willing to help and be a good captain by setting an example and volunteering for everything. However, he definitely couldn't be trusted with fixing the ship. He meant well, but he wasn't very good with a hammer and nails.

(Y/N) sighed and flopped down on her bed. She almost fell asleep when a knock came from her door. She inaudibly groaned as a voice called in. "(Y/N)? Ma Chéri? Are you in there?" Sanji knocked again.

"Come in!" She attempted to call out, but the pillow her face was buried in muffled her sound. The door opened slowly and a *click* sounded as Sanji shut it behind him. His footsteps came closer and the bed creaked as he sat beside her. He gentle ran his fingers through her hair and patiently waited for her to look up. About a minute passed and he realized she was falling asleep again.

"Ma belle? You haven't eaten anything all afternoon or evening." He noted. She merely groaned in response. "I put your food aside for tomorrow if you're not feeling hungry enough for shrimp fried rice." He continued to run his fingers through her hair, gently scratching her scalp. She visibly relaxed and sighed as the tension left her body. "How about a small meal? Would you enjoy some soup and toast tonight?"

She considered this for a moment and nodded. She lifted her head from the comfy pillow and met Sanji's gaze. "Can I have the shrimp fried rice in the morning?"

"Of course, my dear." He smiled. "I won't let Luffy steal it, I promise." This made her chuckle and sit up.

"Can I watch you cook?" She asked.

"Always. I love having your company." He grinned and helped her stand. She leant on his shoulder as they made their way to the kitchen. Once Sanji made sure she was settled at the bar with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits, he set to making a small amount of soup for the two of them to enjoy.

-------

!Sorry for the short story! I merely wanted to do something little for myself! If you're hungry for more I really enjoyed reading 'Baking Together' by 'night-daily'!

[crownedghostprince]

"What?"

Slight Viggo Grimborn x Fem!Reader.

Fandom: HTTYD RTTE

Poor Viggo. He decided to leave the dragon hunting business after he formed an attachment to his new dragon, the Skrill. Poor Viggo is now a dragon rider alongside his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, that means he must put up with the antics of the other dragon riders.

This great group that took down his entire business and empire of dragon hunting. The scorn of his life for well over seven months. Spending a day with them, you wouldn't realize these were those same dragon riders. With the way they act, you'd think they'd have taken themselves out somehow. (Someone please teleport into this fic and stop Tuffnut and Ruffnut from attempting to off themselves pls stop ur stressing Viggo out--he's getting grey hairs)

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): This is a crackfic of little short stories and unhinged moments. This shouldn't be taken seriously <3

Note: There's a surprising lack of fanfiction for httyd. Don't worry, pookie I'm here to fix that now 🙏

Word Count: 1,805.

[Third Person Perspective]

(This 'image/gif of Viggo' is brought to you by 'don't-eat-the-algae'! Please check out their very cool posts and reblogs!)

It was a beautiful, sunny day. It was peaceful, quiet and calm. Viggo almost relaxed, like a parent finally sitting down to rest after putting the kids to bed. However, every muscle in Viggo's body suddenly tensed at the realization that it was too quiet. He took another sip of his cup of tea as he looked around the dragon's base. The twins couldn't be heard. Hiccup could be heard in the distance as the sound of a hammer hitting metal echoed through the dragon's edge. Viggo walked past the center hut where Fishlegs was quietly reading beside the hearth. Snotlout was fast asleep, snoring, leaned back in his seat and balanced vicariously on the chair.

In the distance, Astrid was flying on Stormfly. He watched for a moment as they practiced spins, swoops and dives. (Y/N) was found asleep, leaning against her dragon just outside her hut. He had spotted nearly everyone who was on the island in just a few minutes of walking around and drinking his cup of tea. He saw everyone. Except for the two most chaotic and recklessly impulsive vikings who had a knack for finding trouble in every situation they faced. They could not be found. Viggo rubbed his pointer finger and thumb over the bridge of his nose. He considered for a moment if they were even worth the trouble of tracking down. He decided they were not worth the trouble. They were both eight-teen years old and fully capable of looking after themselves.

He walked back to his girlfriend and settled down under the dragon's wing, wrapping an arm around her waist he pulled her closer to his chest. There, in the warmth of the sun and firey beast they leaned against, he drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, it was at that moment the twins had decided to return to the edge after angering a pack of wild terrible terrors on one of the nearby islands they'd been messing around on. This wasn't just a pack the dragon riders had to calm and return to their island...this was a swarm. Like locusts hitting a wheat field, there were now more terrible terrors than axes on dragon's edge...and dragon's edge had a lot of axes.

"Ruffnut, Tuffnut." Hiccup's glare bore deep into their souls, "When we've round these dragons up and taken them back to their island, we're going to have a very long discussion." Hiccup brought a hand up to rub his temples before returning his gaze to the chaotic duo who simply chuckled to each other. "A very long discussion." He reiterated before giving orders to the other dragon riders.

Fishlegs and Snotlout went West to gather and herd the swarm, Hiccup and Astrid flew North, the twins and Viggo went South and (Y/N) took on the East side where there were less wild terrible terrors. Viggo was not too pleased with being placed on babysitting duty, however he swallowed any arguments for the sake of the group. If not him, the job shall surely fall on some other poor unfortunate dragon rider. Being the eldest, it merely made sense that he should be chosen to supervise the twins. Less than five minutes into herding the terrible terrors, he really wished he'd spoken up. The twins seemed to be more entertained by shooting fire at the tiny dragons and chasing them rather than herding them into a single group.

The terrible terrors seemed to take great pleasure in chasing the twins back and started to bite and pull at their hair much to Viggo's amusement. He watched for half a minute as the twins screeched and yelled, flying in circles to shake the dragons off. Their unusual tactics seemed to work and the tiny dragons scattered once more. Viggo groaned and even his Skrill snarled with displeasure, copying his rider's obvious discontentment.

After another several minutes, (Y/N) joined their group with the dragons she successfully herded from the East side of the island. It had only been a small group which allowed her to join Viggo and the twins and help them. The extra rider proved to help quite a bit more and the twins were now cooperating. The twins were feeling quite bored with these tiny terrors and wanted to find something else to do as soon as possible. About two hours later and all the terrible terrors had been rounded up and returned to their island. The exhausted group of riders groaned and rubbed their sore muscles and gathered around the main fire.

Hiccup's discussion with the twins was going to have to wait a little while as he settled down with hot water and a lamb chop. Viggo quietly read to his girlfriend in the corner of the hut as she steeped their tea and cooked some mutton. The twins had discreetly disappeared and would not be seen for another few hours doing who knows what. (Probably setting something on fire, or challenging each other to stupid dares). For now, the team had time to rest and eat. Until they heard a very loud crash and lots of screaming. Fishlegs and Snotlout played a game of Rock Tree Axe.

(Rock beats Axe - Axe beats Tree - Tree beats Rock) These rules were created by the twins and barely make sense to anyone else. But the rest of the riders have eventually taken to this game. Fishlegs won.

"That's not fair, you cheated!" Snotlout accused.

"How could I cheat?" Fishlegs rolled his eyes.

"Whatever!" Snotlout huffed and threw his arms up, "Your soft, manipulative, brown eyes won me over this time so I guess I'll let you win."

"They're green." Fishlegs pouted.

"I demand a rematch later!" Snotlout stormed out of the hut to check what the twins broke. Fishlegs stared in shock for a moment before turning back to the others. Astrid and Hiccup busied themselves with cooking and Viggo and (Y/N) happily read a book together, doing their very best to ignore Fishlegs' confused stare.

~ ~ ♡ ~ ~

It was a day like any other on dragon's edge. The twins were trying to see if they were fireproof, Snotlout was playing Maces and Talons with Fishlegs, Astrid and Hiccup were having a picnic beside the ocean and (Y/N) and Viggo were flying around the edge together. Mostly, they were just enjoying each other's company, but they kept a keen eye out for dragon hunter ships, dragons that could be causing trouble and wildfires they'd have to put out before it spreads too far. The twins were supposed to be on firewatch duty, however they didn't understand that meant putting out the wildfires and not starting the fires themselves.

Suddenly, in the not-too-far distance, a loud battlecry could be heard as two dragons swooped down and took off with the twins at a great speed. All the dragon riders sprang into action and chased after the kidnapped twins. The riders circled the island twice in an intense chase before the twins were set down in front of the stables. Two very recognizable dragons could be seen landing beside the twins. The other riders stared in shock after they caught up and landed.

"BROTHER!" Dagur called out excitedly. The figure beside him took off her hood and smiled to her friends.

"Heather!" Fishlegs grinned. He ran up to her side and patiently waited for her to dismount before he pulled her into a gentle hug. Unfortunately, Dagur was not as patient as his future brother-in-law. He did not hesitate to knock Hiccup off of Toothless with a crash and crushing bear hug.

"Ow...It's good to see you too, Dagur." Hiccup gasped out as his ribs cracked with each squeeze.

"This is such a nice surprise!" Fishlegs gushed.

"Maybe for you." Ruffnut huffed and dusted herself off.

"Yeah, you weren't dangling thousands of feet above solid rock for several minutes." Tuffnut crossed his arms, "Although it was very cool, I mean that Triple Strike flies faster than Toothless. No offense T."

Toothless snorted and turned away from the group with a heavy sigh. "You offended him." Ruffnut punched her brother's shoulder.

"That's not my fault!" Tuffnut punched Ruff back, knocking her to the ground. With a gasp and yell she leaped at Tuff and knocked them both off the landing deck.

"How've you been, Brother!" Dagur finally released Hiccup and looked him up and down, "Doing well I see! Gaining muscle here." He noted and pulled him into a side hug. "Trying to impress someone, brother? Hm?" A loud splash was heard as the group walked towards the communal hut to gather around the fire. The twins would be fine.

"HELP!" Tuff's cry was heard and Ruff's scream immediately followed. Viggo, Hiccup and Dagur began talking of recent events on Dragon's Edge and Berserker island. Fishlegs and Heather took a moment to walk around the island and catch up. Astrid and (Y/N) made their friends some drinks and Snotlout left for a moment to give the Triple Strike and Windshear some fresh food and water. Several hours had passed by the time Heather and Fishlegs wandered back for dinner. Snotlout had challenged Dagur to a game of Maces and Talons and Viggo was doing his absolute best to not unfairly help Snotlout.

The twins joined the group once they smelled food. "Don't ask about the stairs." Ruff started piling food onto her plate.

"They can be fixed!" Tuff nodded, fighting his sister for a plate of food. Viggo's sigh that followed was heavy and stressed.

~ ~ ♡ ~ ~

One late night on dragon's edge, Viggo couldn't sleep. He made a nice cup of tea and walked around the huts as he enjoyed the beautiful night. He felt more and more at peace. Then he spotted something shining outside the twins' hut. The full moon's light was being reflected by something metallic. He walked closer to take a good look at the weird, shadowy figures and reflected light. Upon closer inspection, Viggo realized it was the twins. They were sleeping outside of their hut. Upside down. Like bats. Ruffnut and Tuffnut were out cold, deeply snoring and Tuffnut was even mumbling in his sleep as he usually did. Their belts - and the helmets which were on the beam above them - continued to reflect the moonlight. Viggo rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. With a shake of his head, he simply walked back to his hut and laid down on his bed with the hope of falling asleep.

After about an hour, the sun rose. Viggo had finally managed to fall asleep. The twins discreetly climbed up the many flights of stairs to the riders' emergency horn. They were ready to make their early morning announcements to the whole island. Please pray for Viggo and his one hour of sleep.

[crownedghostprince]

no

[crownedghostprince]

Always the writer, never the reader.

[crownedghostprince]

"My Electric Love"

Viggo Grimborn x Female!Reader.

Fandom: HTTYD RTTE

(Y/N) was struck by lightning when the dragon riders were flying through a very intense storm. She recovered well, but was permanently scarred - both mentally and physically. Despite being nearly 30 years old, she now had a fear of thunder due to her traumatic injury.

She was the sole reason Viggo changed his mind about dragon killing and instead joined the dragon riders alliance alongside Dagur. She opened his eyes to new possibilities, new hopes and new love. And through all that she kept her secret fear of thunder safely hidden. She was there to comfort Viggo through his hard times, now he's here for her.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): (Y/N) used, reader was struck by lightning, reader has fear of thunder, reader has permanent scarring from lightning strike, slight angst if you squint, hurt/comfort. Viggo ooc?

Note: There's a surprising lack of fanfiction for this man. I'm here to fix that.

Word Count: 1,621

[Third Person Perspective]

(This 'image/gif of Viggo' is brought to you by 'don't-eat-the-algae'! Please check out their very cool posts and reblogs!)

Being a dragon rider came with risk. (Y/N) knew that. She reminded Hiccup as he paced back and forth in front of her bed after Gothi left; running his hand through his hair and mumbling something about making a wrong decision. She gently shook her head and whistled for her dragon, RoseThorn. The pink and blue speckled Stormcutter gently descended from her spot on the ceiling of (Y/N)'s hut. The magnificent creature was always hanging upside down like a Nightfury. RoseThorn picked Hiccup up and dropped him onto the soft bed, just beside (Y/N).

She wrapped her arms around her friend with a chuckle and thanked RoseThorn. "Hiccup, it was my decision to fly with you all through that storm. The lightning could've struck anyone, but it just so happened to strike me. By complete chance. These things happen, Hiccup and I'm not about to let a little bit of lightning take me down so easily." She grinned, determined to recover as fast as possible. "The burns will heal and I'll be back in the saddle in no time at all. I promise."

"Okay. You're right..." Hiccup sighed, releasing all unnecessary guilt and tension from his body. (Y/N) was like the big sister he'd never had and if anything happened to her, he didn't know what he'd do. But she was still there. She was still breathing, still fighting and he knew she wouldn't go down so easily.

It took longer than she'd hoped to be back in the saddle. The burns had to completely heal with the cream Gothi made for her. She then had to get her strength back after resting for a couple weeks. Good food, steady exercise and with enough time she'd be back to normal. The scarring that remained was beautiful. The pink scar, slowly turning paler as it healed, trailing like a tree with branches all down her chest, torso, back and arms. A constant reminded of what (Y/N) survived. The younger riders were always in awe of how badass the scar was, especially the twins.

"Yeah, seriously! I think it's 'Très chic'!" Tuffnut and Ruffnut grinned, admiring the scar with nothing but admiration. All the riders were supportive as (Y/N) recovered and gained her strength back. Her insecurities around the scarring dissipated whenever the younger riders admired it. She felt proud to say she was strong enough to survive being struck by lightning...but she felt insecure every time a crack of thunder made her jump. When the lightning flashed and she'd suddenly feel light-headed and faint. She never had a fear of thunder until her injury.

She prided herself on being brave in the face of any danger. But now she felt like a coward, hiding under her bed and blankets during thunderstorms on The Edge. Hiding under her dragon's large, tough wings when a thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere during training or travel. Thankfully, the dragon riders were all very understanding when she finally opened up about her new fear of thunder and lightning. They completely understood her reasoning for it and before she'd even talked about it, they noticed her behaviour during storms. So it wasn't a surprise to them when she mentioned it.

She was with the dragon riders through all their adventures and attacks. She watched as Heather joined the riders and Dagur redeemed himself, changing for the better. She even watched Viggo's slow redemption. His life changing for the better when they were both stranded on an island with an active volcano and no way off. They worked together to find food, fire, shelter and fresh water. Watching each other's backs when foraging or building as wild dragons scampered around them. Curious dragon eyes watching as they slowly got along and bonded through survival.

They waited for the dragon riders to find them, or for a dragon hunter ship they could board and steal. After all, the duo were without their own dragons as RoseThorn had been scared away by a pack of Changewings and was unlikely to return, and Viggo had yet to find a dragon of his own. Maybe there would be a passing merchant ship that they could catch a ride with. The wild dragons on the island didn't look easy to tame, so the two decided to leave that option for last. However, no matter the situation, they were pretty isolated and rescue looked far away. That's when the wheels of fate turned in their favour.

Their rescuer was an unlikely friend. A skrill that appeared with a thunderstorm. It was injured by dragon hunters just before it crash landed on the island. The duo worked together to get the dragon root arrow out of the poor beast and bandage its' wound. Giving the dragon food, water and comfort it became a very loyal ally - especially showing favouritism to Viggo. Because Skrills channel lightning (Y/N) was hesitant to approach the injured dragon. and surprisingly, Viggo was the one to approach and help it. During the many thunderstorms after rescuing the Skrill, Viggo noticed (Y/N)'s strange behaviour. A dragon rider who was scared of a dragon? He watched closely without prying or overstepping any boundaries.

Eventually, it all became clear in his eyes. She wasn't scared of the dragon...she was scared of the lightning. He watched when she'd flinch when lightning flashed, she'd jump at each crack of thunder and sleep under the blankets. She was always hesitant and on edge around the Skrill, even when it wasn't channeling any lightning.

Viggo decided to slowly aid (Y/N) with her fears, by having the Skrill around more often. He taught the dragon a couple of hand commands: one for channeling lightning and the other to not channel any lightning. This way he could control the dragon's tendencies - for the most part. Before she even knew it, the Skrill had completely settled into their little group and hardly ever use its' lightning firepower. This was strange and unusual behaviour for a Skrill and it took a while for her to realize it was all thanks to Viggo.

When (Y/N) adjusted to the Skrill being around, Viggo signalled for the dragon to occasionally charge up with lightning and summon storms, but not actually fire or attack anything. He always made sure (Y/N) was a safe distance. With gentle hands he'd guide her towards the dragon, still a safe distance away, and encourage her to pet the gentle creature's head.

It took three tries before she had the courage to actually pet the dragon. When she placed her hand on its' head, electricity gently danced through her hands and arms, raising her hairs and giving off small, painless shocks. The ticklish feeling relaxed the tense dragon rider and she found herself laughing with Viggo when the electricity made all her hair stand up on end. Viggo made sure to make a makeshift reins with some rope before they proceeded.

With the first step of his plan complete, he continued to the harder step: riding the dragon so they could leave the island and return home. "It'll be alright, my dear." He reassured her. His hands were on her shoulders, gently ushering her forwards without pushing her too much out of her comfort zone. He was right there with her every step of the way and made sure she knew it.

"Y-Yeah...uhm..okay.." She nodded, her whole body shook violently as she thought of being thousands of miles above sea level on a skrill in a lightning storm. She took a few deep breaths, holding them for a couple seconds and then slowly exhaling. "I can do this."

"Yes you can, my dear. I have no doubt you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it." Viggo encouraged. Slowly, she shifted to climb up onto the dragon's back. Viggo offered her his hand and hoisted her up with a soft, proud smile. "Very good, my dear." He hoisted himself up just behind her and wrapped his arms around her front to secure her, holding her with one hand and the reins with the other. "Tell me when you're ready to fly. It's okay to take your time, my dear."

The skrill shook itself to readjust to the weight on its back causing her breath to hitch. Feeling Viggo right behind her, she allowed herself to relax and inhale, hold, then exhale. After another couple minutes, she nodded her head and turned to look at Viggo. "Okay...I'm ready."

"Excellent." He nodded. The dragon followed his silent signals as he moved the reins and spoke softly. "Let's fly." The dragon took to the sky with a growl, sparking electricity along its spines as it headed for the clouds above. Her eyes squeezed shut and she held her breath as thunder rolled across the clouds, sound sparked by the lightning the skrill was producing to increase its speed. A gentle hand on her waist rubbed circles near her hip, grounding her.

When she felt confident enough to open her eyes, she was amazed by how fast the skrill was flying. The island was already far behind them, quickly disappearing into the horizon and out of her line of sight as the skrill sped back up to the clouds to recharge its lightning. The dragon descended from the stormy clouds once more, swooping low to the water to increase its speed as much as possible. She felt herself begin to cheer and laugh as the skrill dodged rock pillars and swooped past birds and islands. Viggo chuckled behind her. He could get used to flying together. He believed they should experience such a ride more often.

[crownedghostprince]

hang on I’m trying to see something

don’t tell me the name of your pet, just tell me in the tags the name you call them that’s got nothing to do with their actual name

[crownedghostprince]

okay

help I dared to watch the sonic the hedgehog live actions bc I realized shadow would be in the third one. I've been dragged, clinging to the ground by my teeth n nails, into this fandom.

Is there anything I should know abt this fandom? How deep is this rabbit hole? T-T

[crownedghostprince]

Two Queens on a Chessboard pt 2 (Descendants)

Evie x Female!Reader.

Fandom: Descendants.

SURPRISE part 2 !!! :3

Part 2 of: (Y/N) is the daughter of Snow White.  She’s been attending Auradon High for a little while now and Prince Ben, (the future King of Auradon) just declared he’ll be bringing over four VKs (Villain Kids) to help them choose their own destinies and not what their parents want for them.  (Y/N) loves all things girly, cute, pink and fun...but she didn’t know “all things girly” included liking girls themselves.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): None, this is just a cute, w/w romantic and fluffy story.

Note: (Average Disclaimer): In this Evie is not at all related to Snow White or anything, as in this Timeline the Evil Queen did not marry Snow White’s father.  Instead, she attempted to date her father and when he died he left a will claiming her to be trustworthy of everything he possessed until his daughter (Snow White) was of age to inherit it all (18) and that’s how the story goes in this world. 

I hope that’s not confusing and enjoy!

(Sorry I took forever to write this. I lost all motivation and kept getting really sick. </3 )

Word Count: 3,700+

[First Person Perspective]

(This incredible picture of Evie belongs to ‘lilicohirukoma’  on Tumblr.  Check her out, she has some fun reblogs and other posts!)

(Part 1 here!)

♡ ~ ~ ~ ♡

It was another beautiful, sunny morning when I woke up to the sound of a robin's warble at my window. I sat up to see a familiar little bird: the robin bird that wakes me up at exactly 6:00am every morning. I called him Daze. Daze chirped with a shake of his feathers and a flap of his wings.

Reluctantly, I got out of bed and poured some bird seed onto the windowsill for him. I then moved to my wardrobe and pulled out a cute blue dirndl dress, black tights and black, kitten heel--high heel shoes. A dirndl dress had always been a nice compromise between the Fairy Godmother and I. She always insisted I wear something formal at all times, so I found a loophole and explained that a dirndl was technically formal for Germans to wear despite its' casual appearance to foreigners. She reluctantly agreed with me and allowed me to wear the dress rather than a 'proper' ballroom, or mermaid, styled dress that other princesses are (forced) encouraged to wear.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I turned back to my desk to see two mice sitting with a couple accessories they picked out for me. I smiled and walked over to them. The white mouse with a pink bow wrapped around her tail I had decided to call Michelle, and the brown mouse with a little cowboy hat on her head was Rodeo. They always picked out little accessories and ribbons for me and I always wore them and gave the mice cheese in return for the favour. Then they'd run back to their mouse home before I opened the door and let Sherlock wander around my bedroom.

I glanced over at the accessories they picked out for me and decided to brush and braid my hair. I then tied it into a ponytail and wrapped the braids around so it was a braided bun hairstyle. Next, I put on my outfit, tying the bow on my left side. After I was dressed I applied makeup and then finished with the accessories. The mice had picked out a silver bracelet with a snowflake charm that Elin had gifted me, a silver nameplate necklace with the word 'angel' designed on it and finally silver studded earrings with blue sapphires.

It was the most simple outfit I was allowed to wear without upsetting my parents, Fairy Godmother and literally any other royal parent that decided they must speak up about my appearance and attire. They firmly believed young princes and princesses should always dress like they're about to attend a ball, or prom. Most of us think that's ridiculous but we listen anyway, because what can we do? They're our parents and they just want the best of us.

Unfortunately, that means they have to constantly protect us from any ridicule the media or public might throw at us. If the media finds royals and nobles doing ordinary 'peasant' things like ordering Starbucks, or chilling at the beach, they'll press it all across the newspapers as some big, 'groundbreaking' news. It's very frustrating to see how people react to such news. Most people don't care and remain unbothered by what anyone does. But there's the occasional person that goes out of their way to find, approach and berate you for not being 'perfect' in their eyes.

It had happened so many times to my parents. They were simply minding their own business in very casual horse-riding clothing one day after a fun, long day of horse-riding through the forest and they were covered from head-to-toe in dirt and mud. Some random citizen saw this and started screaming in shock that the royals must've been kidnapped and had to escape to be so dirty. That story always annoyed me when my parents laughed about it. They make it sound more lighthearted than it must've been. I mean, how annoying is it to just be relaxing and doing your own thing and some random weirdo gets mad?

I truly would never understand people. And I had to become Queen one day. I was not looking forward to that future. Not by a landslide.

♡ ~ ~ ~ ♡

"Halla kare!" (Hey!) Elin greeted Jane and I. "What's new?"

"Guten Tag." (Hello.) I signaled for her to come closer to us and then lowered my voice, "FG asked Jane for the ceremonial plans Ben had written and she wants them delivered a.s.a.p. Except she's currently in that classroom over there," I point down the hallway with my finger, "and is teaching the new VKs." A moment of silence passes as Jane remains quiet, still shaking, and Elin processes the information.

"Pfffbt--lol." Elin snickered.

"Elin! This isn't funny..." Jane huffed with a shuffle of her feet.

"I'm sorry for laughing, Jane." Elin regained her composure and gave Jane some pats on her back. "They're all being watched by FG so what could possibly go wrong? It's not like they could trip you on FGs watch." She attempted to comfort Jane.

"To be fair though..." I spoke up without thinking, "...FG's interpretation of a 'scary' threat is to give someone a good finger wag--aua!" I winced in pain. The impact of Elin's bookbag against the back of my head left a throbbing pain in its' wake.

"Ignore that gjøk, Jane." (cuckoo/idiot.) Elin intervened. She noticed how anxious Jane was - clutching her papers with quivering hands and wobbly legs.

"What did you call me?" I questioned. But Elin focused on Jane and ignored me so I was left wondering what 'gjøk' (cuckoo) meant.

"Those VKs can't do anything to you whilst your mother watches. I promise. It'll be like walking past Audrey whilst she's on her best behaviour. For obvious reasons you can avoid them after classes, but when they're in class there's nothing to worry about." She gave Jane a side hug with a couple pats on the back.

"Thanks, Elin. I needed that..." Jane took a deep breath and fixed her posture before facing the hallway before her. "...Okay. I'm ready to do this." She smiled. Elin gave her a gentle nudge forwards with a supportive thumbs up. An elbow straight to my rib cage encouraged me to do the same for Jane...so I did...achingly.

We watched as Jane walked straight to the VKs' classroom door. She hesitated a moment and looked back to us. Our encouraging smiles seemed to ease her once more. She fixed up the papers in her hands, clearing stalling, and combed her fingers through her hair a few times before turning the handle and opening the door. She stepped into the classroom and disappeared from our sight for a moment. The bustle of students walking through the hallways and FG's loud 'teaching' voice was all we heard for a minute. So we stepped closer and listened intently.

FG started to talk extra loud as she introduced poor Jane to the VKs. Elin and I exchanged grimaces at how embarrassed Jane must be. Another minute or two passed by and the anticipation was practically killing us. Finally, Jane emerged back out of the classroom and rushed over to our sides. We pulled her into a reassuring embrace, just hugging her before prompting her to tell us how it went. She lead us away from the classroom and into the main living areas before talking.

"Well, other than my mother embarrassing me in front of the new students and the sinking pit of nausea in my stomach, it went fine." Jane spoke quickly, quivering like a leaf on a windy day. We could barely keep up with what she was saying as she went on to spiral into a deep pit of anxiety and it took some convincing for her to take some deep breaths and settle her racing heart. "I'm fine now, really."

"If you say so..." Elin gave her a comforting hug and looked to me for ideas. I took a moment to think of something we could all do that would take our minds off the new kids in school.

"Oh!" I accidentally called out a little too loudly, "I know what'll cheer us up!" I clapped my hands together with the biggest smile.

"And what's that?" Elin demanded I spit it out already.

"That new carnival in town!" I cheered. "It'll only be here for the next three weeks and we'll totally miss it if we don't go now! Assessments will be handed out in a couple weeks and we'll have no free time to go..." I pouted with pleading puppy-dog eyes. Elin hesitated, however Jane was as enthusiastic as I was.

"Yes! We absolutely must go right after school!" Jane rapidly nodded her head until she got whiplash. "My mum will be fine with me taking an afternoon off my extra studies so it all works out!"

"Yeah!!" I encouraged. I was so thankful for Jane in that moment, I desperately needed someone to enable me to indulge on going to this ridiculously overpriced parade with all the ridiculously overpriced sugary sweets that I craved.

"Whoa, whoa, how do we know it works out for all our schedules? What if I have plans this afternoon?" Elin huffed defensively.

"Well..." Jane hummed, "I have both of your schedules fully memorized, so I know you both have the afternoon free of studies, events, appointments, or sports." Jane admitted shyly.

"Oh...I, uh, I forgot you had our schedules memorized, vennen min..." Elin chuckled, hiding her red cheeks in her hair. "I was just checking...anyway, yeah I'm free." She finally admitted. "Let's go to the carnival later!"

"Yeah!! Alright!" Jane and I cheered and high-fived. This was going to be a great much needed distraction.

♡ ~ ~ ~ ♡

The last class for the day had finally finished. Elin and I shared this class, it focused on Royal manners, behaviours and other princess-y/princely stuff. Unfortunately Jane was stuck doing Magical studies instead as she technically had to fulfill her mother's role of being Fairy Godmother one day. Elin and I took a moment of silence to salute Jane sitting through the boring science side of casting spells. She didn't have to learn how magic and science co-in-sided to create the form of the spell that is cast, but FG insisted she know anyway.

Boring...

Anyways, Elin and I had enough time to put our stuff away, grab our purses, charge our phones, read a chapter of our favourite books and grab a quick power snack before Jane's class finished and she was freed from her educational prison. Once Jane put her books and notes away and changed into shoes she could comfortably walk in, we all headed out for the carnival. "YAY! Finally!!" Elin cheered as we walked down the sidewalk, passing signs and posters that promoted the carnival's arrival.

"Sorry I kept you girls waiting." Jane sighed, rubbing her arms awkwardly, "You could've gone ahead without me."

"Nonsense!" Elin and I immediately disagreed.

"It wouldn't be as fun without you there!" I swung an arm around her shoulders as we followed the posters arrows to the carnival.

"Still--" She tried again.

"I agree with (Y/N)!" Elin interrupted. "Even if you joined us ten minutes later; those ten minutes without you wouldn't have been as fun." She pouted and also swung an arm around Jane's shoulders. We awkwardly walked and stumbled together, trying to not lose our balance as we attempted to walk in sync.

"Alright..." Jane giggled. "I guess someone has to watch after you two, anyway. Ten minutes without me and you'd be fighting over some carnival game and prize."

"That's not...entirely true..." Elin turned away from Jane's gaze.

"Yeah, I mean, we're not...that competitive..." I coughed awkwardly into my free hand.

"Oh, really?" Jane grinned, "So if Elin beat you, you wouldn't ask for a rematch over and over again until you beat her?"

"Well....uhh...OH!" I point fowards, "Look! We're here! Isn't that great?" I laugh nervously, jogging ahead of them and absolutely avoiding the targeted question. Elin jogs to match my gait until we're both sprinting - in a spontaneous mini-race - at full speed to reach the carnival first. Jane simply shakes her head in mild amusement. Unfortunately, she knows us very well. She understands how quickly we can turn a friendly, lighthearted game into a brutal competition.

By the time Jane reaches the entrance of the carnival, we're both huffing and panting from the run. "God, you're unfit." Elin huffed out.

"Me? You're as out of breath as me." I point out.

"I ran faster than you, that doesn't count." She grins.

"Hah, you wish! I won fair and square, I'm clearly faster." I poke my tongue out. She retaliates my gesture and goes to say something else when a familiar voice calls out from behind us.

"Hey! You're all here, too!" Ben appears behind us with the VKs following close behind. They seemed to have overheard our very loud conversation and were quite amused. "That's great! We can all enjoy the carnival together!" Ben announced. He was practically bursting with excitement - his eyes shining like a kid eating fairy floss cotton candy for the first time. The VKs seemed less excited, excluding Carlos and Evie who seemed to be trying to contain their excitement.

"Uhm--" Jane squeaked out nervously, briefly locking eyes with Carlos. I took one of her shaking hands, Elin taking her other, and I nodded my head in agreement.

"Absolutely! That'd be so much fun!"

"You guys are going to love the different foods and sweets they have here!" Elin chimed in. "You've got to try their caramel corn at least once!"

"I'd recommend trying the funnel cake!" I added.

"I've always been more of a corn dog, guy." Ben added, strolling into the carnival. We followed close behind. There were game stalls, food stalls and in the distance they'd set up some more complex rides such as a Ferris wheel, a tea cup ride, a bumper car ride and a merry-go-round with pretty, white horses. People were bustling everywhere; kids running and squealing with delight, teenagers attempting to climb a random light pole off to the side, parents trying to enjoy their food as their children tackle each other for a pretzel, and boyfriends trying to win their girlfriends a prize.

"Wow!" Evie slowly spun around as she tried to take everything in. "There's so many different attractions!" She looked at everything in awe. I didn't realize how much I was staring until Jane pulled me towards a food stall.

"First things first!" She declared, "We have to try their fairy floss cotton candy!" She ushered the group to the stall and we all picked out a flavour. Paying for our newly acquired snack, save the VKs because Ben bought theirs, we started back to the center of the carnival.

"Okay." Ben took a bite of his snack and turned around to our little group. "Where should we go next?" Everyone seemed undecided until Jay pointed out the bumper car ride.

"How about that?" He asked.

"Bumper cars!" Ben smiled, "Good choice! I love that ride! We'll have to team up though." Ben thought for a moment.

"I'm going to kick your butt," Jay declared to Carlos, "so I'll team up with anyone else." He joked cheerfully, bumping shoulders with the shier boy.

"I'm winning this time!" Elin turned to me with a grin. Last year I'd won our game of bumper cars, so I expected as much. "So I'll team up with you, Jay!"

"Alright." He agreed. I saw how Jane and Carlos briefly glanced to each other, and Ben to Mal - who didn't seem too interested at the moment. So I shrugged my shoulders and plucked up my courage with another bite of my sugary snack.

"Evie, do you want to team up?" I asked as confidently as possible. Trying to appear nonchalant, which I doubt worked based on how Elin sent me a discreet wink.

"Yeah, sure!" Evie nodded. She practically bounced with excitement when she jogged over to stand beside me. "We'll be the best team!" She declared, taking my free hand in hers and turning to Mal to set the challenge. I'm pretty sure my face lit on fire with how much my cheeks burned at Evie's forwardness. The challenge clearly got Mal's interest. She narrowed her eyes and smirked back to Evie.

"Okay, I'll play your little game." Mal chuckled, "But when I win, you'll have to do my homework for the next week."

"Fine by me." Evie smirked. Ben nervously clasped his hands together, now finished his snack.

"I'm, uhh...not sure if that's allow--" He was cut off by Carlos asking Jane to team.

"I don't want to get between those two." He seemed to be begging as his eyes flickered from Mal to Evie and then back again. Jane nodded her head in agreement.

"You have no idea how competitive, (Y/N) gets.." She hummed and moved to stand beside Carlos.

"I guess that leaves me and you." Ben chuckled nervously.

"I guess so." Mal shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well, we're all got our teams! Let's go have fun!" Ben coughed after staring at Mal for a little too long. We all quickly finished our fairy floss cotton candy and hurried over to the ride. We paid and waited until it was our turn. Once we were all ready, I took off, driving Evie and I. I went straight for Elin and Jay. Jay was driving and quickly met me head on. We all chased each other around, crashing into the sides of the ride a few times. Once our time was up, with how often we all crashed into the sides of the ride, we decided to call it a draw.

"We'll have to settle this score next time." Elin sighed. I hummed in agreement and stretched my legs out.

"Oh! Can we check that stall out, next?" Evie asked. She pointed to the game which you have to knock bottles down - my personal favourite. The prizes were cute teddies and plushies. I nodded my head.

"Yeah! Let's head over." I took her hand and we jogged over to the stall.

"I want to try that game." Jay pointed over to the basketball stall. Carlos seemed to hum in agreement, so Ben gave him some money and nodded.

"I'm going to get a drink for myself, does anyone else want one?" Ben asked the group. I didn't hear anything else they discussed after that. Evie and I arrived at the game stall and paid to play. She gave it a whirl first. After the rules of the game were explained, she started pitching. She successfully knocked the top of the bottle tower down with a couple throws. I took the next turn. Once he set the bottles back up I started pitching until the whole tower was knocked down. I rubbed my poor strained wrists as Evie clapped, jumping up and down.

"YAY!" Evie cheered. She picked out a cute teddy with a large red bow, holding a little heart in its hands. She hugged the teddy close to her chest and the sight of her sweet smile made the strain in my wrist disappear immediately. We stepped away from the game to allow others enough space to play. Looking around us, we couldn't see where the others had disappeared to. The basketball game was taken over by some kids who decided to climb on each other's shoulders for extra height to win the game. The nearby food and drink stalls were occupied by couples and parents.

We wandered through the crowds, weaving between some stalls as we looked for something to catch our eye. Eventually Evie grabbed my arm and pointed over to the balloon darts game, balancing her teddy in her arms. "Let's try that!"

"Sure!" I followed. She could ask go to the ends of the earth and I'd have agreed. I felt completely entranced by her. Her blue hair that bounced with each step. Her skirt that swayed with the breeze, decorated with little sequins that shimmered, reflecting the carnival's lights. The teddy I won for her, clutched tightly in her arms as if it was her most important possession. The clicking of her heels as she skipped. We spent the whole late afternoon and early evening going from stall to stall - winning some games and smaller prizes, buying snacks and drinks that changed the colour of our tongues. Enjoying sharing our caramel corn and funnel cake as we sat on the tea cup ride, spinning contentedly.

A fireworks show had been announced to start soon. Whilst waiting we watched a magician perform several tricked for his growing audience of children and parents. I tossed about seven dollars into his hat and he gave us a gentlemanly bow before we continued walking around. We tried the duck pond and ring toss, winning some candies but no big prizes. A few minutes before the show was due she pointed up to the Ferris wheel.

"Can we watch the fireworks from up there?" She begged. I looked deep into her eyes, her gaze pulling me in like a siren. I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah! Those are the best seats!" I guided her over to the ride. I paid and we waited patiently, sharing the earned candy and talking about her sewing and fashion dreams. Her melodic voice entranced me and we nearly missed our cue to climb into a cabin for the ride. The ride took us up to the sky, rocking slightly as it was lifted. You could see the whole carnival and city from the top. Evie giggled and pointed behind me.

"Look! You can see the school from up here!" She smiled. I turned to see she was right. The school's lights could be seen. Across from our island, we could also see the lights from the Isle of The Lost. "It's beautiful up here." She sighed. I couldn't help my eyes drifting over to her.

"Yeah it is." I agreed. She met my gaze and I could've sworn she blushed. The moonlight shone through the cabin windows, illuminating her skin and lips. She looked like a siren whom sailors would be drawn into the oceans by. Our moment was interrupted by the bang of fireworks. We looked in awe as they sizzled and shot up into the sky with loud bangs. The fireworks made some beautiful, unique shapes. Spirals, hexagons, almost flower-like shapes, a dragon, butterflies and many other designs. It was getting late and we'd have to head back soon. But for now...it was just us, holding hands on the Ferris wheel while fireworks lit up the sky around us.

[crownedghostprince]

The Pharaoh and The Demi-God

Ahkmenrah x Soulmate!Reader

Fandom: Night at The Museum

Soulmate AU! Ahkmenrah never met his soulmate when he was alive, and then he was trapped in his sarcophagus for many years. Currently, he lay in the American Museum of Natural History, trapped in his sarcophagus. Wishing to see the stars once more, to be able to breathe without struggle and to see his soulmark on his right arm glow gold in the dark as it always had despite never meeting his soulmate. Why his soulmark glowed? He never knew the answer to that question for he died at only 18 years old. The daughter of Nyx was born in the year 1988 and grew up under her mother, the Goddess Nyx and father, the human Freddie. (Y/N) was a brilliant child with a love for Ancient Egyptian History and her parents couldn't figure out what drew her to the culture. She had a long soulmark on her right arm. It was long, intricate, golden lines forming the sun and glittery stars surrounding it. This soulmark glowed in the dark like the rest of her skin, but it glowed gold when her skin glowed silver.

Let's see these two unique individuals, from two very different worlds, meet.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): Follows the movie. Reader insert. Female Reader. Very long fic.

Note: None.

Word Count: 9,919 (roughly)

[First Person Perspective]

It was early in the morning when I woke up. 'Why?' I squinted my eyes and looked outside my window at the moon hanging low in the sky. 'The sun hasn't even risen yet.' I thought as I looked down at my glowing body and the strands of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail. I found this glow very comforting. It wasn't bright enough to be a disturbance, but it was bright enough for me to easily be seen in the darkest of rooms.

Being the daughter of Nyx had many benefits aside from immortality - unless I choose a 'mortal life'. These benefits were both physical and magical. I was born with special powers that grow stronger when the sun sets and these powers can sometimes change depending on the moon's phases. During a full moon I gained the ability to fly, but during a new moon I gained the ability to teleport via the shadows. No matter the phase of the moon, I retained the ability to see perfectly in the darkness.

Physically? I glow like the moon, the night sky and the stars that decorate the darkness. My pupils changed every night to match the current phase of the moon and my eyes glowed in the dark like a cat's eyes. My skin glowed a soft silver colour, as I mentioned before, and my hair was like shadows - floating around me whilst small stars littered my strands of hair like glitter. These changes, I shall reiterate, only occur from sunset to sunrise. During the day I appear as ordinary as any other eighteen-year-old.

Despite all this, however, my soulmark was the only thing that really stood out to me at all times. It was gold with intricate designs that ran across my arm and formed the sun surrounded by stars. Connected by wavy lines like a dot-to-dot. It was truly beautiful. It was a spectacular sight and I would love nothing more than to take photos of it every night just to capture its' beauty forever.

But I won't sit in bed all morning messing around with my magic powers. An old neighbour I used to live near when I was a child was moving into an apartment near my father and I! And I was very excited to see him once again. I grew up in Brooklyn and he became a sort of uncle figure for me. He was so nice to babysit me for my dad when I was younger and only fainted once when my appearance changed in the early evening.

He asked so many questions that eventful evening, but I made sure to answer them all with 100% honesty: "Why does your skin and hair glow?"

"My mother is the Goddess of the night, Nyx. Her skin glows like moonlight at night and her hair turns into shadows with glowing, tiny stars all through it. So being her daughter, the same thing happens to me every night." I told him, eating a marshmallow he gave me. (Probably a bribe to not use my powers on him).

"Okay...so...why does your soulmark glow?"

"I don't know. My mother didn't tell my why either. I guess it's the same reason as my skin and hair?"

"Right...okay..uhm..well." He stuttered, trying to wrap his head around this weird new discovery. "I'm neighbours with a god..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm a demi-god, Uncle Larry." I corrected quite proudly.

"That's...uhm...yep, okay. Yes. You are a demi..god..." He attempted to smile and awkwardly ruffled my hair. The shadows swished around and some of the glittery stars clung to his hand when he withdrew it. "Okay. Now my hand is glowing. Hah...I guess we're not so different now." Larry chuckled. He tried brushing the stars off but they just stuck to his pants and the furniture.

"Don't worry, Uncle. The stars disappear when the sun rises and they don't reappear on furniture or clothes the next night. They're not glitter."

"Oh, like they...evaporate?"

"What's evahpporhrate?"

"Nevermind."

~~

Zoning back into the present moment; I finally swung the blankets off and allowed the cold air to overtake my body before I could doze back to sleep. The cold made it easier for me to get out of bed and rush to the bathroom to shower and dress for the day.

By the time I was dressed and ready for work and to greet Larry, the sun had risen and my dad was awake and getting himself ready for work as well. It was 8 o'clock when we finished our breakfast and were out the door. Larry was right across from us, moving boxes into the small apartment. "Larry!" My father called and walked over with me not far behind.

"Oh, hey! It's been a while, Freddie. Wow, (Y/N) look how much you've grown up!"

"It's nice to see you again too, Larry." I grinned and gave him the biggest hug I could.

"Yeah, gosh it's been so long. Y'know my son's actually in school now."

"Yes, we heard he was doing quite well. He's also on the hockey team over there, isn't he?" My dad grinned. Dad's favourite sport was hockey and he kept up with every hockey team in the area. He also joined a hockey club himself not too long ago.

"Yeah, yeah! He's great at hockey. Great kid...good grades too." Larry smiled with a slight sadness to his eyes. It wasn't my place to ask, so I didn't, but I knew he'd been having a rough time with holding a job and staying in one place long enough. Apparently his divorce had hit him pretty hard. We kept in contact every holiday via the phone and through texts, but with that you don't really see how someone has changed until you see them in person.

"How've you been doing, Larry?" Dad asked seriously, but gently.

"Yeah, well. I've been okay. Really. Work's been a bit hard to get, but I managed to get a night shift job at that museum nearby. Hence the small move." He shrugged, pointing off in the wrong direction to where he thought the museum was.

"Hey! That's great! I hope it goes well for you!"

"Sounds like a pretty chill job!" I pitched in. Night shifts are apparently boring from what my dad told me. But I didn't want to bring up the obvious negative facts about it.

"Actually, it is! A few tasks here and there, but overall it's going to be good. I think I'll really like it there, I actually start my first shift tonight." He chuckled.

"Oh, good! I'd like to visit you at some point once you've settled into the job." Dad gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I love learning about history, probably where (Y/N) gets it from and I've always wanted to have a quiet walk around my favourite exhibits at night. I can't help but imagine how peaceful it must be."

"But, dad. The museum has practically no visitors aside from the occasional tourist. You could go at anytime." I pointed out.

"Haha, true. But I want to see the museum in absolute silence. No children running about...uh, no offense, my dear." He chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"None taken. I'm an adult now, remember?"

"Oh, wow, let's not remind me." Larry jokingly clutched his heart with a laugh. "I'm still young. But, uh...heh, I'll probably fall asleep on the job." He meant it to be a lighthearted jest. But we all knew he would one hundred percent fall asleep on this job.

"Well, better not fall asleep too often, because I'd like to visit during the day to continue my drawings and I don't want to find the Egyptian exhibit vandalized." I joked with a slight grimace.

"You still draw? That's good, I'd love to see some of your drawings! Don't worry, though, I won't let any vandals get into the museum and especially the Egyptian exhibit." Larry promised.

"Heh, thanks for that, Larry." Dad swung an arm around my shoulder and gave me a side hug. "Little (Y/N) here loves Egyptian history and probably has a hundred books on it. Both for learning and drawing."

"Dad..." I groaned, pulling out of his hold, "A couple dozen is not a hundred. And I don't have any books specifically for drawing, I just use my history books for references." I explained as best as I could.

"Sure, sure..." He agreed before turning to Larry and whispering, "..it's a hundred books.." He finished. I lightly punched his arm, barely brushing against his sleeve but he doubled over in fake pain. "Ohhh, my daughter is beating me up...ohhh what has this world come to??" He cried out. "Larry...tell my hockey team they suck ass.." He then 'fell' to the ground and let out a "blahh" sound to fake his last breath.

"Noooo! What have I done??" I joined him, rushing over to his side and holding his hand. "Nooooooo!" Our small enactment of, probably the worst musical you've ever seen, was interrupted by Larry's laughing. Dad and I joined him with our own laughter for a moment, but we eventually trailed off into a surprisingly awkward silence and stood up off the ground.

"Look, um...I've got to get to work. It's nice seeing you again though, Larry!" I spoke up after a minute.

"Right! Yeah, good seeing you again too, (Y/N)!" He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck before opening his arms and stepping forward for a hug. I grinned and met his hug halfway, giving him a soft squeeze and a pat on the back before letting go.

"Hey, tell the kid I said 'hi'! Yeah?" I grinned and started jogging away from my dad and Larry so they could catch up a little while longer.

"I will! No worries!" Larry gave a thumbs up.

"Have a good day at work, dear!" Dad waved me off.

"Always do!" I laughed and jogged down the flight of stairs until I reached the main floor. I then weaved through traffic, jay-walked across the road and finally made it down a few blocks to my work. A convenient workplace if it wasn't for all the crosswalks across the traffic that caused the walk to take twenty minutes. 'Oh, well. At least I made it a minute before my shift starts.' I thought. I put away my bag and looked towards the customers, ready to work.

♡ ~ ~ ~ ♡

About two days passed and Larry dropped into the apartment to say 'hi'. I, of course, welcomed him and gave him tea and snacks. We talked a bit and ate, but he seemed upset about something, so I eventually got annoyed and told him to just tell me if something was wrong.

"Okay. Here goes nothing. The museum comes to life every night." Larry admitted, dead serious. I dropped my popcorn and met his gaze in disbelief.

"What?"

"I'm serious, (Y/N), the museum...the wax figures - Dexter - they all come to life!" He explained a bit more frantically now.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...wait 'Dexter'?" I tried slowing him down for a moment. Unsurprisingly, I couldn't think of any historical figures in the world named 'Dexter'.

"The devious, evil, devil-spawn of a monkey that always takes my keys. But that's not the problem here." He continued.

"That sounds like a problem to me." I interjected, but he ignored me and continued to talk about the museum and his experiences the previous two nights.

"Look, I'm going to get Nicky, to come visit and I'm going to show him that all I'm saying? Is the truth. And I want you to come too. I need you to know...I'm not crazy." Larry explained.

"Right, yup, okay. Not crazy. Got it." I nodded vigorously as he got closer with a definite 'crazy' glint in his eyes.

"(Y/N). Just one night. Just tonight. If it doesn't work out and you still don't believe? I'll drop this whole thing. I won't speak about it ever again. But you love history, right? Believe me. I know. You're going to love it there." He grinned.

And that's how I got roped into leaving the house just before sundown even though I was supposed to be keeping my secret identity...well...a secret. I let dad know when he got back that I'd be at the museum with Larry that night and dad got really pouty and upset he wasn't invited. He would've absolutely adored the free tour.

"Larry will probably invite you next time, dad!" I promised. "Maybe he thought with Nicky and I, it'd be too many people for him to get away with having. It's after hours, after all."

"Maybe." He muttered in agreement. "Either way, please take your warmest hoodie so you can walk back without catching a cold." He reminded me.

"Will do, dad." I kissed his cheek and grabbed my hoodie - putting it on before leaving. "See ya later, alligator!" I waved, walking out the door.

"In a while, crocodile." He chuckled back, turning on his favourite hockey team on t.v. It was already getting a bit cold with fresh snowfall, but I didn't mind today. I loved the snow and the chilly breeze that'd occasionally move the snowflakes across the sky and scatter them onto the ground. Today I was wearing my warmest heeled boots, pants and hoodie. But under my hoodie I was in a crop-top because I remembered Larry saying the museum is warm inside. Thank the Gods for indoor heating.

Once I made it to the museum it was still daylight and people were leaving as I walked in. Larry greeted me and ushered me to the security office where Nicky was waiting. And man was Larry right. The museum was very warm despite the cold temperatures outside.

"Nicky, this is (Y/N). (Y/N) this is Nicky." Larry introduced us. "Oh! And uh...I've already told Nicky about you...uhm..well..y'know."

"Being a demi-god?" I finished for him with a chuckle.

"Yeah, well. I hope that's okay."

"Fine by me. It's nice to finally meet you, Nicky." I shook his hand. "Don't mind your father too much, he's not lying about that."

"Cool! Do you have powers? Or are you just a performer my dad hired to cheer me up?" He asked in a brutally honest way.

"Hah! No, no. When the sunsets, you'll see I'm not lying." I turned to Larry. "Speaking of sunset, that'll be soon. You might want to make sure everyone's gone and...y'know...not let us distract you from your job."

"Right!" Larry exclaimed and clapped his hands together nervously. "Don't go anywhere! I'll be right back for you two!" He pointed and quickly left the office to clear the building. I just shook my head.

"Sounds like Larry's got something cooked up. Or at least, really wants to hype up his job." I sighed and leaned against the security desk. I took off my hoodie and tossed it onto a small coffee table in the room, near Nicky's winter coat. "So, kid...tell me about your day."

♡ ~ ~ ~ ♡

Nicky and I had just finished talking about our days, fun facts about ourselves, our soulmarks, etc when Larry re-entered the room with great enthusiasm. "Okay! Come on, you don't want to miss it!" He giddily dragged us out of the room and into the main lobby of the museum. He sat Nicky up on the front desk, so I hopped up beside him and waited for Larry to show us his big surprise.

"What?" Nicky huffed, watching his dad a bit dejectedly.

"You'll see in about 20 seconds.." Larry told us, checking his watch. "Okay! You like Tyrannosaurs Rex?" He asked Nicky.

"Yeah." Nicky nodded.

"Yeah? Well I call him 'Rexy'." He shrugged and paused for dramatic affect. "And he's about to come to. Life. Nicholas..." We both watched at the delusional man with subtle glances to each other. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was feeling the second hand embarrassment strongly. "IN! 5...4...3...2..." He dramatically walked away, towards the bones of 'Rexy' and pointed like a circus ringmaster as if expecting the dinosaur bones to do a backflip on cue.

When the bones did nothing - as Nicky and I expected - we exchanged glances again and his mouth gaped open at my sudden change of appearance. I grinned and gave him a small thumbs up, noticing my own glowing skin. "Told ya so, kid." I whispered with a chuckle and shoulder-bumped him. I was too distracted by Larry to notice my skin was glowing silver but my soulmark wasn't glowing at all.

"Cool." He muttered, playing with the shadows my hair had turned into and watching as the stars clung onto his hand like stickers. He giggled and tried to shake them off like his father had many years ago, but they stuck to his hand and pants.

"Haha, sorry Nicky. They'll evaporate once the sun rises. Promise." I explained and gave him a tissue to wipe them off onto as best as he could.

"What? No. Come on guys." Larry tried again. Once he had our attention back, he pointed back at Rexy with just as much enthusiasm as he previously had, "Say 'hello' to Rexy!!" He tried again. But once again, the dinosaur bones did not do the 'Mamushka' dance of brotherly love to entertain us on that evening. "Okay." He stood up and looked around. "This is weird."

"You just now see that?" I tilted my head in amusement.

"Hush." Larry shushed me.

"Wha--?"

"Shhh! Guys? Come on! It's sundown!" Larry loudly called to the building and I half expected an early 2000s radio song to start playing and performers to appear from the walls. But nope. Nothing. It's like he didn't have anything planned. He gave us a 'wait just a moment' finger and rushed over to the wax statue of Theodore Roosevelt. He then tapped his thigh and whispered, "Theodore, come on, I need you to wake up. Please, my kid is here."

He then proceeded to smack the horse statue's ass and do a bunch of odd hill-billy, southern calls as if the horse would take off for him. "Come on, Texas! Get up! Come on! WOOO!" Finally Nicky came to the rescue and jumped down.

"Just stop, okay??" He pleaded.

"I should've brought my camera!" I laughed from the corner.

"No, Nicky. Hey, I'm telling you. There's this tablet. It's called the tablet of Ahkmenrah? And every night at sundown--"

"Now there's a tablet??" Nicky asked getting more annoyed by the minute. And probably disappointed. The poor kid. I hopped off the front desk to stand beside them. Not that I had to say much for him.

"Yeah there is."

"Cmon, dad."

"Come on." Larry grabbed Nicky's and my arm and dragged us along with him. I groaned, but let him pull me along - reluctantly following. We walked past lots of different exhibits, passed through many different halls. I wished I had longer to admire the artwork along the Egyptian exhibit hallway, because they had a couple new paintings since I last visited over 6 months ago. Once we entered the room where the Pharaoh's sarcophagus lay, Larry grabbed his flashlight and shone it onto the wall. "It's gone."

"What's gone?" I asked after completely forgetting why we were even there.

"The tablet of Ahkmenrah." Larry explained. "It's gone!"

"Oh, right. That's why we're here." I immediately trailed off again and looked around the room - admiring the walls and pillars of beautiful designs and artwork.

"I think somebody stole it!" Larry exclaimed, rushing up to the back wall.

"Yeah, right." Nicky sighed. If I had been paying attention, I would've noticed Nicky leaving my side and exiting out of the exhibit. But I was too busy trying to understand the stories the paintings and hieroglyphs were telling. Unfortunately, Larry grabbed me by the arm again so he could drag me out of the exhibit to look for his son. So, I couldn't piece together the stories I was attempting to 'read'.

After we caught up to Nicky a loud door opening caught our attention and we decided to investigate who broke in. "Whoa," Nicky gasped once we entered a backroom. He had found a golden tablet in a basket and pulled it out.

"Incredible." The tablet was a gorgeous golden...well..tablet. It was decorated with hieroglyphs that looked almost like buttons you'd press down to activate some sort of mechanism. But on something so thin, yet heavy, and old, I highly doubted it could actually do something. Unless this was the 'magic tablet' that Larry kept telling us about.

A new voice cropped up, "You guys shouldn't be here." I recognized him! White hair and a very familiar velvet winter coat. He was the old security guard that worked there before Larry! Now if only I was good at remembering names...

"Give us the tablet, son." Another of the old security guards walked in. He had darker skin, his hair was grey and he had a well kept beard. I had liked him most during my past visits.

"Wait a minute, (Y/N), Nicky." Larry walked in front of us and blocked the three security guards from getting to us and the tablet. Oh, yeah. Three.

"We're not gonna hurt ya. Give us the tablet." Now this security guard was just an asshole. But for future knowledge: he is short, mean and weird.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, son...and weird circus performer...but your dad doesn't work here anymore." The first security guard spoke up.

"Bloody hell, do I look like a circus performer?" I huffed and looked down to my appearance and outfit. I had to admit I sort of did look like a circus performer.

"He got fired this morning, he couldn't hack it." The white-haired man spoke again.

"Dad...I thought you said you weren't fired.." Nicky frowned up at his father.

"I did, Nicky. They're lying." Larry told us firmly. "They want to steal the tablet. Just turn the middle piece and you'll see what I was talking about."

"That is museum property, son. Now give it back."

"Nicky, (Y/N). Trust me. Just turn it." Larry encouraged.

"GIVE US THE TABLET" The asshole spoke up again.

"Nicky, let's see what it does!" I quickly rushed to his side and we turned the middle piece to face upright. Suddenly the tablet began to glow gold and spread all across the grooves of the designs. At this same time my soulmark began to glow. Up until now I hadn't even noticed it wasn't glowing. I was so distracted talking with Nicky that I never even thought to look for the golden glow I was so familiar with.

But how could my soulmark's glow be connected to this tablet?

I didn't have much time to think about this as the three security guards got in a quick stretch before approaching us. A loud screech of a bird, the sound of an elephant trumpeting and loud voices began to echo all through the museum all at once in one sudden instance. And in that moment I realized.

'Holy shit. Larry wasn't lying.'

Nicky and I began backing away from the tougher, older men. "Nicky. Stars." (my unfortunate childhood nickname from Larry), "Run. Now!" We didn't hesitate. I didn't even stop to cringe at my terrible childhood nickname. I just took off with Nicky into the museum with the tablet in his hands. We ran off in a hurry, but I quickly grabbed Nicky and pulled him into the Egyptian exhibit hallways. The pillars blocked light from reaching the back corners of the exhibit and the room was practically perfect to hide in. I only hoped that didn't mean it'd be the first place they'd look.

Much to my dismay, the criminal guards were somehow already waiting for us around the corner, just before we could even reach the main room of the exhibit. I ran directly into my previously favourite security guard and he grabbed me and very quickly flipped me over his shoulder and onto the floor I fell with a loud, painful thud straight to my spine.

"Sorry, (Y/N). I really do mean it." He said in a tone I didn't at all believe.

"Yeah...right. Sure you do." I grimaced. The leader of the group (if I was good at remembering names I would know he was called 'Cecil') pulled the tablet out of Nicky's hands with almost no effort and pushed him to the side. I quickly summoned a clump of shadows and flung them at the security guards, but two of them jumped out of the way with incredible reflexes and I only managed to hit the short asshole who was then sent flying into the back wall.

The shadows slammed him against it with a loud crash and then dissipated once the light shone through them. "Well aren't you full of surprises?" The leader sneered, walking over. I stood up as fast as I could, using the shadows as support. But before a fight could occur, Larry came dashing around the corner like the Wily Coyote from Road Runner and was immediately slammed into the ground by the stronger men. The guards then charged us all and were much stronger than I realized. They easily tossed us all into the Egyptian exhibit.

"Ow.." Larry gasped in pain.

"I'm gonna feel that in the morning." I grimaced, rubbing my back again as I sat up.

"Just in time, Larry, we were just locking up." The man (Cecil) laughed as he walked into the hallway with the security keys and closed the door to the exhibit. He had locked us all in.

"Sleep tight, hotshot. Bitch." The asshole of a man walked up to the gate and spat out with an evil laugh. Whilst they walked away I could hear the rest of the museum coming to life and the last of their conversation.

"Let's grab all the stuff we can fence. I don't know about you gents, but I want a long~ retirement." (Cecil) cheered in the distance. 'Damn it's kind of a shame they have to do this just to retire without stressing about money. Didn't they have thriving military careers or something?' I wondered to myself.

"TEDDY!!!" Larry got up and began shaking the gates of the exhibit in panic. "TEDDY if you're out there, I need you, pal!!" A distant neigh could be heard before a horse's hooves clopped on over.

"Did someone call my name?" The Theodore Roosevelt came trotting up on his horse, Texas.

"Whoa." Nicky and I gaped in shock. He was real. Probably still wax. But real! I had so many questions and not just about his many stories, but also about how life was back in his day. Was it as tough as teachers make it out to be? Or was it actually quieter and simpler in those times? Well, aside from the obvious racism and other problematic issues that occurred back in the day.

"Theodore Roosevelt, at your service." 'Teddy' tipped his hat in greeting towards us like a proper gentlemen, effectively breaking me out of my thoughts as I gave a small wave back.

"TEDDY! Can you get us out of here?" Larry begged him from behind the bars.

"Can't do it man. This is your moment!" He grinned down at us, but mostly focusing his attention on Larry.

"Will you save the lectures? Please!" Larry groaned. "I'm not you, okay? I didn't...build the panama canal! I wasn't the president of the United States! I need some help! Cmon!!" He pleaded the poor wax figure.

"Actually!" Teddy took off his glasses for a moment. "I never did any of those things. Teddy Roosevelt did...I was made in a mannequin factory in Poughkeepsie. I never...shot a wild beast." He told us with shame and disappointment evident in his voice. "I'm not even brave enough to tell that beautiful woman I love her." His voice cracked as he admitted this.

"Aw.." I placed my hand to my chest at this sad love-story coming together in front of me. 'A strangers to friends to lovers. How sweet.' I smiled at the thought of this sweet, shy man...mannequin? Confessing his love to his longtime crush.

"But you?" Teddy met Larry's gaze with more certainty than before. "You gotta finish the job this time." He encouraged the young security guard. "You can't quit."

"Wha..?" Larry mouthed, but no sound came out in surprise of Teddy's heartfelt confessions.

"I'm made of wax, Larry. What are you made of?" Teddy asked.

"Whoa...that was heavy and deep..." I looked up in awe.

"Take care of him." Teddy saluted Nicky and I. We quickly saluted back as he rode off on Texas - rounding the corner and disappearing fast.

"Whoa, whoa, wait! That's it? That's all you've got to tell me?" Larry called out with disbelief at the advice given.

"Yup! That's it!" Teddy laughed from down the hallway, now out of our line of sight. At this moment, the statues of Anubis behind us, that were at least nine feet tall, came to life and started moving from all our commotion in the Pharaoh's exhibit. They started to aim their spears at us as they came closer to the gates we were standing at.

"Well, that makes sense." I shrugged when Larry looked at me expecting me to know what was happening. "I mean, they're meant to protect the Pharaoh after all. And we're basically trespassing in his area." I explained. I was going to continue but I was cut off by the Pharaoh's heart-wrenching, sudden screaming from his sarcophagus. "Jesus Christ is he okay?"

"(Y/N) can't you like? Shadow teleport us out of here or something?" Larry begged.

"I can only do that during new moons!" I huffed.

"Oh my God, you've got to be kidding me." He groaned and looked between us, the sarcophagus and the giant statues.

"Don't blame me! Blame the damn moon!" I complained. "Shit it's actually so hard to concentrate with that screaming...is he okay?" I turned to Larry. I felt more concerned for the poor Pharaoh than ourselves. He sounded like he was suffocating or something, the poor fellow.

"That's it. Come on." Larry grabbed my arm once more, so I quickly grabbed Nicky's arm as Larry charged forwards and past the slower moving giants. "Duck!" He cried out when they swung their large, golden spears down and just narrowly missed us. We ran up the steps to the platform the Pharaoh was being displayed on and we quickly ran behind the display, leaning against the back wall of the exhibit with nowhere else to run.

Larry then ran forwards and began pushing the heavy stone top off the sarcophagus. I saw how much he struggled and quickly joined him. Together, we were able to push the heavy stone off and onto the ground where it landed with a heavy thud. It didn't take a Science major to tell we wouldn't be picking that stone back up anytime soon. Larry quickly began undoing the locks that kept the lid of the sarcophagus closed and I stepped back to Nicky's side.

Finally, the last hook was pulled out and Larry must have been thankful to have not been in the way because the lid was flung into the wall with tremendous strength and vigor. The Pharaoh's wrapped arms stayed in the air for a moment...almost hesitant and in disbelief. Nicky slowly moved behind a pillar as the Anubis statues approached faster and Larry moved back beside me, against the wall and decided to speak first to the Pharaoh as he sat up in his sarcophagus - frozen in surprise, I suppose.

"Hey...hi. How're you doing?" Larry awkwardly tried starting the conversation. The Pharaoh slowly turned towards the sound of his voice. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe and I almost thought it looked sort of comfortable. Like a weighted blanket? Keyword being 'almost'. His bandages looked so tight, he probably was suffocating under them.

"Um...sorry to bother you.." I quickly spoke up when Larry couldn't think of what to say next. Manners first before asking for a favour. Larry mouthed a quick 'thank-you' and the Pharaoh turned more to his left to 'look at me' despite his bandages preventing him from actually seeing anything.

"But, uh...." Larry continued, "Your guys there? Your jackal guys?"

"Jackal? Really?" I groaned in shame. He wasn't wrong, I admit. But they're statues of the Anubis. THE Anubis.

"Whatever! I don't know!" Larry huffed and turned back to the Pharaoh. "Do you think you could just ask them to uh, back off please?" They got ready to strike their spears so Larry spoke a bit faster, "Because we're not trying to hurt you and I think that they think that we are.." The Pharaoh seemed to be listening intently, but it was hard to tell "..but could you like possibly do that, like, NOW!?"

Just in the nick of time the Pharaoh quickly turned back to the statues and shouted out an order in Egyptian just as they shoved their spears forwards a bit. They stopped and quickly moved into a kneeling/bowing position before their Pharaoh's orders. (I couldn't understand what he said as it was very muffled by the bandages. But I was so glad the statues had better hearing than us.)

"Thank-you..." Larry and I breathed a sigh of relief and he even doubled forwards and leaned against his knees as the adrenaline rush left him. I looked towards Nicky worriedly but he simply gave me a thumbs up from his spot behind a pillar. He was definitely braver than me. I had definitely felt my soul leave my body. "Nicky..." Larry called him over to us.

"Thank-you.." I sighed again to the Pharaoh and he turned back towards us. But this time he decided to stand up and climb out of his sarcophagus. He groaned in strain as if very sore and like he couldn't breathe. Larry and I backed further away and Nicky ran out to our sides.

"Dad..." Nicky whispered in fear and clung to my arm, unable to get to Larry as I was closer. "...(Y/N)..." He looked up at me. I pulled him closer to my side and we all watched as the Pharaoh undid his bandages with great struggle before finally getting them off his head. He coughed out a lot of sand and dust at Larry and continued to cough for a moment before finally taking a deep breath and speaking.

"You will not believe how stuffy it is in there." He gasped. I swear my jaw dropped to the floor in shock at the sight of this man. For a Pharaoh he was very young and beautiful with the most gorgeous blue eyes I've ever seen. His skin looked soft and smooth for a man hailing from a time before skincare. The Pharaoh began to walk around and observe the room that surrounded him.

"How can you speak English?" Nicky asked, clinging to me a little less and feeling a bit more confident. 'Oh, yeah. That's actually a great question to ask.' I noted. I was too distracted by his surprisingly good looks to even register it was English which he spoke. 'Oh, wow,' I was once again distracted. His hair was also very well kept, slightly messy and curly, but other than that it was a gorgeous brunet colour.

"I went to Cambridge University." The Pharaoh spoke confidently.

"You went to Cambridge?" I asked, surprised.

"I was on display in the Egyptology department." He explained.

"Ohhh." That made sense. Must've been a pain to learn though.

"I am Ahkmenrah." He turned to face us with pride. "Fourth King of the Fourth King. Ruler of the land of my Fathers." He introduced himself - his head held a little higher with great confidence.

"Right...uh...formal introductions...then the Demi-God should go first." I squeaked with surprise when Larry pushed me to the front like a human shield - completely ignoring my social anxiety to save his own skin. If my face wasn't red with embarrassment before, it definitely was now. My body quaked with anxiety and I gulped nervously, glaring back at Larry for a moment before quickly introducing myself to the patient, young Pharaoh.

"I'm (Y/N), Daughter of the Greek Goddess of the Night, Nyx. Ruler of the stars and constellations. I hail from...New York." I nervously bowed. An introduction I only ever had to do in front of the Greek Gods at very important feasts my mother took me to. Those feasts, after all, discussed matters concerning demi-gods hence we all had to attend. They were incredibly boring, I would not recommend.

"Ah, see that's a better first impression than mine would've been." Larry chuckled in an attempt to lighten the mood as I quickly moved back beside the two traitors. I failed to notice Ahkmenrah's surprise as he admired, not just my appearance, but also my soulmark.

"Don't thank me yet, Daley. I'm not bringing you home cupcakes from work anymore." I quietly huffed.

"Yeah...I expected as much." Larry sighed sadly before introducing himself. "I'm, uh, Larry. Son of...Milton and uh, this is my son...Nick." Nicky gave a small wave. "And we uh, hail from Brooklyn." Larry nodded before correcting himself. "Well, I do...or did. He uhm, comes and stays with me every other weekend." Ahkmenrah was now starting to look a little confused as he followed along with Larry's confusing explanation. "Or, well...he did, before I moved down here in New York right next to (Y/N).." He pointed to me. I winced but gave him an encouraging thumbs up. "But uh, Nicky staying with me on every other weekend...that was uh, the...custody...agreement...that we had." Larry cleared his throat with an awkward cough and quiet clasp of his hands.

"Larry, Nick, (Y/N). Guardians of Brooklyn and New York. I am forever in your debt." Ahkmenrah thanked us once Larry was done waffling. "Now. Bestow the tablet upon me so that I may assume command of my kingdom." He asked as politely, but powerfully, as he could, holding his hand out expectantly towards us. Sort of moving it from Larry to me, wondering who had the tablet.

"Ah...about that actually--oof!" I began to explain before Larry elbowed me in the abdomen and I instead doubled over from the sudden pain.

"Oh, yes! Okay the tablet." Larry tried to find a better way of explaining ourselves as if we were dodging a possible public execution for losing the thing. "I would...love to bestow it upon you, but we don't...have it at this moment." He pointed to the wall where it was supposed to be and emphasized the 'this' as he spoke. Ahkmenrah looked mildly annoyed by this news. "But we shall, retrieve it from the night guards who took it and uh...we shall then return it to you and uhm...bestow it upon you." Larry finished speaking with a self-reassuring nod of his head.

Eventually, Larry was able to convince the young Pharaoh to just change out of the uncomfortable bandages and follow us out of the exhibit. I obviously turned away with Nicky as he changed out of his bandages and into his clothes.

"I have finished." He told us, so we turned back around and this time it was my turn to stare with disbelief. He had the same glowing soulmark on his right arm as I did.

"Whoa." My jaw dropped. I had to admit...he was gorgeous. I couldn't stop looking at his pretty face and hair before, but now that he was dressed properly in stunning Egyptian clothing, expensive gold jewelry with a noble Pharaoh's crown adorning his head, he looked even more regal and beautiful than just minutes ago. His eyes met mine and we stood staring at each other like two shy teenagers meeting in a high school hallway between classes. His intense, but soft, blue eyes made my knees weak. He had the kind of eyes you'd get lost in for hours. A blue like a sapphire, or the sky. Shimmering with the reflection of the lights in the room.

Larry clearing his throat and shuffling in place quite uncomfortably was what snapped us out of our trance. We turned our attention to the night guard as he clapped his hands together like a dad preparing to meet his daughter's new boyfriend. "So...uh...got something to share with the class?" He moved his attention from Ahkmenrah, to me, and then back again.

"Uhm..." I chuckled, looking anywhere but him. "We...seem to have the same soulmark..."

"Indeed...it seems so." Ahkmenrah stepped closer, a soft smile gracing his lips. His gaze was as intense as before Larry interrupted our moment together. After another moment, he held his right hand out. I hesitated. Finally, I placed my hand in his and watched our soulmarks glow and shine in perfect harmony. "How strange...how our soulmarks glow." He looked up from our marks. "How you glow. As beautiful and bright as moonlight." He brought his other hand up to caress my right cheek.

"Strange?" I ask softly.

"Strange, but not unwelcome." He answered without hesitation.

"Well.." Larry once again ruined our sweet moment. He coughed awkwardly, looking to Nicky for help. Nicky's smile was bright as he watched us in awe. "I hate to ruin such a sweet, romantic moment....uhhh, reunion? Meeting? But uh, we really have to move and get the tablet back from those bad night guards."

"Right." I agreed. Bringing my left hand up to hold Ahk's left hand. "We can get to know each other more, later?" I suggested.

"I look forward to our date." Ahkmenrah agreed. He held me for a moment longer before ordering his Anubis protectors to throw the stone from his sarcophagus into the gate. Which they did with a very loud crash and ground shaking thud.

The gate broke open from the intense force and we all scrambled out after. Larry and Nicky first, then Ahkmenrah and I. "Thanks guys!" Larry thanked the statues whilst the rest of us continued to run down the hallway. "Don't worry I'll watch out for him." He reassured them and I heard them salute him as he left. He must've saluted back as he left with a "Thank-you." He then ran and caught up with us.

We ran out to the main lobby of the museum. From the top floors we could see all the chaos and hear all the screaming, yelling, fighting and warcrys. To say the lobby was a battlefield would be understating. It was a total warzone. The kind of fighting that usually ends with both sides losing. Some distance yelling stood out from the rest. Surprisingly clear yelling. We looked up from the battle before us and met the gaze of the Huns who just turned the corner on the other side of the top floor.

Oh.

Oh no.

Larry and Attila locked eyes like two exes who haven't moved on yet and then immediately started glaring each other down. "What is that?" Ahkmenrah asked, looking over to the new voices shouting.

"Huns." Larry answered with dread in his gaze. "I gotta deal with this guy." Larry huffs. The Huns began to move quickly around the balcony that separated us. Larry started briskly walking in the same direction, rolling his shoulders back and squaring up. Attila and Larry maintained intense eye contact as the two speed walked around the balcony. Finally we came to the point where the two would cross paths and they charged towards each other yelling. Attila shouting in what I can only assume was some older form of Mandarin and Larry in what could only be deciphered as complete nonsense.

"Pardon me, Larry." Ahkmenrah interjected, "I speak Hun." He then turned to Attila, speaking a greeting with a polite bow. He then must've asked Attila a question, but I have no idea what they were saying. I also wasn't paying attention. Is it strange to find someone speaking another language, incredibly attractive? "He says he wants to rip you apart." Ahkmenrah translated Attila's reply.

"Alright, alright..." Larry sighed, shuffling in place before responding. "Again with the ripping...listen I understand. Okay? I get it." He gestured with his hands. "Ripping for you...you want to rip things. And-and I think that's because someone had ripped you. A long time ago...in here." He stuttered, gesturing to his heart and then to Attila's. "Someone...someone ripped little--little baby Attila a long time ago, right? Right here?" Surprisngly, Attila looked almost emotional on his usual stoic face. "They ripped something out, didn't they? They ripped the love...right out of you...didn't they?" Larry continued. "Little baby...all alone in a tent. His daddy went off to pillage...some town, or village, or..or to go plunder somewhere just--just doing his job...but who was left all alone?" We all waited. Watching Larry and Attila. "You." Larry finished and Attila broke down. That seemed to be the final straw.

Attila sobbed his poor heart out, allowing himself to be held in Larry's arms. I couldn't stop the tears in my eyes for the two of them. Coming past their differences, and reconciling their connection with one another like old exes finally communicating after the divorce shattered their worlds apart. Unfortunately for all of us, Larry then began to hum a little nursery lullaby as he comforted Attila. The awkwardness settled back in once they parted. Still staring intensely into each other's eyes.

We all turned our attention back to the fighting that was still ongoing just a floor below us. Looking over the balcony, Larry started shouting for the exhibits' attention. However, his voice couldn't be heard over the yelling and clashing of weapons and fists. The Easter Island head was able to get everyone's attention focused on Larry.

"QUIETTTT!!!!!!!! My dum dum want to speak."

"Thank you." Larry clasped his hands together and looks back to the exhibits below us. "Now this here, is King Ahkmenrah." He introduced, putting a hand on his shoulder. "His tablet is what brings you all to life every night. And those old night watchmen? They stole it. Now we need to find those guards and get that tablet back...and we need to do it before morning." When he saw everyone was listening, he began to give out orders. "Civil War guys. Head over to the Planetarium Wing." They saluted in response. Larry looked over to Christopher Columbus. "My explorer friend whose name escapes me..." He winced.

"Christopher Columbus." Nicky and I whispered to Larry.

"Right, Christopher Columbus. There--there's no nameplate...so uh, sorry. But uhm, please take the Neanderthals and do a sweep from the Invertebrates all the way through Reptiles. Thank-you...Jed and Octavius, their van's parked out front. Go take care of it."

"Whoa whoa whoa," Jed immediately denied. "I ain't working with toga boy, over there." He crossed his arms.

"Romans work alone." Octavius lifted his head in a very snobbish fashion. Jed's response was to hit his foot with the butt of his rifle. "OW!" Octavius cried, jumping back in surprise.

"Oh, that didn't hurt. Don't be such a baby." Jed huffed. Octavius responded by hitting Jed with the butt of his sword. "OW! That's not fair! You did it much harder!!" Jed complained like an old married couple.

"Guys, guys, come on..." Larry sighed exasperatedly. "Jed...Octavius...take away the fact that you two were born 2,000 years apart. You two aren't that different." He reasoned. My eyes discreetly shifted from Larry and the exhibits to Ahkmenrah, who I was standing beside. His arm was slowly moving to wrap around my waist. Once he carefully placed his arm, I moved a step closer to his side and continued listening to Larry's motivational speech. I had totally missed the rest of what Larry said to the cowboy and roman. "Civil War dudes...you're brothers for God's sake. You gotta stop fighting. North wins! Slavery is bad...sorry I was the one to tell you, but it's true. Look...this tablet...without it, all of this. This...coming to life at night thing? It all goes away. And I don't want to let that happen, but I-I need your help."

We nod. Everyone, every creature, all listening very intently.

"If we want to get this done, we have to do it together. So who's with me?" Larry anxiously asks. Some small agreements can be heard. "WHO'S WITH ME?" Larry asks again with more confidence. This time, the whole lobby cheers in agreement, lifting their weapons in the air. "Alright!! Then let's do this!!" Larry grins. We all set off in different directions to find the old night watch guards. After running around the museum, giving out different directions and orders, we finally round a corner to see both Gus and Reginald tied up and surrounded by a couple different exhibits. "That's what I'm talking about! Good teamwork, guys!!" Larry cheers.

We eventually deduce that Cecil must've gone outside, but once we arrive, the van is missing. Larry decides to take us back to Sacajawea's exhibit. Larry spreads Nicky and I out to find a cannonball. Eventually we spot one, lying under a carriage and hand it to him. He signals for Sacajawea to get out of the way as he throws the cannonball with all his might, shattering the glass exhibit and freeing her. He quickly explains the situation to the surprised woman, before taking her to where the van was so she could help us track Cecil's location.

"He went east...but he lost control and crashed." Sacajawea deduced after studying the tracks in the snow for a moment. My body shook from the cold. I'd forgotten my hoodie inside.

"Amazing...how'd you get all that?" Larry asked. Sacajawea pointed to the van that had spun and crashed into the side of the building that had been just out of sight. "Oh." We all winced.

"He left the wagon..." She noticed, walking forwards to track the footprints. "And went back."

"Went back?" I asked, walking closer to Sacajawea and rubbing my arms. "Went back for what?" I wasn't asking her, I was merely speaking to myself at that point. The sudden sound of horses' hooves and whinnying could be heard. The crunching of snow and roll of wooden, coach wheels was soon heard after. We all turned to see the horse and stagecoach charging at Sacajawea and I at a speed of at least sixty kilometers an hour (roughly thirty-seven miles for you Americans <3).

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Cecil called, waving his hand in a gesture for us to move. We were too stunned to move. I felt arms grab me from behind and pull me to the ground as I watched Teddy tackle Sacajawea. He jumped in front of the horse and stagecoach, risking himself to save her. I realized I couldn't feel the cold snow. Turning to look down, I noticed Ahkmenrah had pulled me onto him so I wouldn't be run over.

"Thank you..." I finally breathed out, still laying on top of him. His eyes seemed to scan me for injury before briefly dropping to my lips and then back up to my eyes.

"You're most welcome." He smiled softly. We both sat up and our attention turned to Sacajawea and Teddy who were also having their moment together.

"You saved me." She stared in shock.

"You're worth saving, my dear." Teddy smiled. She smiled softly, cradling his head in her arms. His body had been separated by the carriage. It looked quite painful. She helped him sit up and he seemed to finally notice his predicament. "Oh. That's problematic."

"Teddy! Oh, man...Teddy..." Larry stressed, running his hand through his hair.

"Larry, relax." Teddy huffed, silencing Larry's worries. "I'm wax. Larry, you must do something. Dawn's approaching and half the museum's running amuck outside." He noted.

"He's got my tablet." Ahkmenrah reminded Larry and Teddy, still protectively holding me in his arms. Not like I was willingly going to move though. He was surprisingly warm. A sudden small car engine was heard as a little Jeep appeared from the snow above us with a bone on a string tied to the bumper. Rexy followed out after the Jeep. Jed and Octavius poked their heads out from the windows.

"At your service, Gigantor!" Jed tipped his hat.

"How can we be of assistance, my liege?" Octavius readjusted his little roman helmet.

"Give me a second guys." Larry then paused in realization and Rexy stopped in front of us. "Rexy...come here." Rexy trotted closer to our little group. "Teddy...I'm going to need a horse." He grinned.

"Do it." Teddy agreed with a Proud Dadtm grin. Larry mounted Teddy's stallion, waiting for us to mount Rexy. With Ahkmenrah's help, I was seated just behind Nicky on Rexy, Ahkmenrah sat behind us. Before we took off, I noticed as he placed his cloak, or cape, around me. It acted as an immediate ward to the cold snowy air.

"Thank you..." I breathed, clutching it closer. He smiled and nodded to Larry, signalling we were all good. Larry nodded with a knowing smirk and took off first. Jed and Octavius, and then us, all following. We tracked Cecil's horses' hooves and the coach wheel prints that were left behind in the snow. The chase went on for a good five, maybe ten minutes before we finally caught up enough to see the coach ahead of us. We took the side road and started charging forwards faster. Larry stayed behind the stagecoach.

"Pull the stagecoach over!!!" Larry yelled over the sound of the wind and roar of horses' hooves. Cecil merely ignored him. Setting his gaze on us and Rexy. We got ahead of him and took the turn in front of him. We charged forwards, but he turned the coach quicker. Narrowly missing the little Jeep with the cowboy and roman in side and darting straight past us on Rexy.

"Hm." Ahkmenrah and I watched him go past as Rexy came to a halt and the Jeep was flung up a hill on snow and then crashed into another with a tiny explosion. I winced. Hopefully Jed and Octavius were fine. Larry pushed forwards, chasing down Cecil. We did our best to direct Rexy to follow, but Rexy was still sniffing for the bone that seemingly disappeared into the snow. He started digging like a dog which earned a chuckle from Nicky and Ahkmenrah.

Finally he dug out his bone and pranced around with us still on his back, wagging his tail happily and finally heading back for the stagecoach. But not at a very fast pace. Eventually a distant cry of "DAKOTA" could be heard up ahead. When we came up to the top of the road, we saw the stagecoach and horses halted, Larry dismounted and Cecil stuck in the snow. Larry grabbed the tablet and heaved Cecil up from the snow; passing him to the Huns. We dismounted Rexy and met up with the group.

"Tell the Attila to have his boys take him back to the museum and put him with the other guards." Larry huffed out, clearly winded from the chase. Ahkmenrah nodded and immediately translated for Attila. Attila nodded, but Larry interrupted, "Oh and uh, no limb ripping." Attila met his gaze with disappointment evident in his eyes. He looked back and forth from Larry to Cecil and back again. Attila seemed to ask, in his own language, "a little bit?" and Larry looked to Cecil before he turned back to Attila. "Just a little bit." He agreed. The Huns cheered.

"Wait, what? What? Wait, hold on, what did you agree on?" Cecil cried out in a panicked voice as the Huns took him back to the museum.

"Ahkmenrah...I'm going to need your help." He handed the tablet over to the young Pharaoh. "This is your tablet, you know the instructions. I need you to bring everyone back to the museum." He begged. Ahkmenrah nodded and began turning some pieces and reading the words, changing the glow of the tablet and our soulmarks. All the museum exhibits and animals seemed to wander back to the museum as if being drawn in by the tablet's presence.

We all walked the long journey back to the museum in time to see a fixed Teddy and blushing Sacajawea. Larry and Nicky got the clipboard and began tracking all the exhibits, making sure everyone returned safely. Ahkmenrah and I stood by their sides, his arm wrapped around my waist as I leaned into side, his cloak still wrapped around my shoulders. We almost closed the doors, as dawn could be seen appearing before us, when Jed and Octavius suddenly appeared, climbing the steps up to us.

They saluted and mogged, walking towards the doors like runway models debuting. I couldn't help but smile. The tears in my eyes trickling down at the sight of the brave little men before us. Larry grinned and welcomed them back, letting them pass with a throw of "Gigantor" and "Tiny" jabs to each other. Everyone returned to their places for the night although there was still a bit of a mess left after everything. I didn't envy Larry's conversation with his boss later that morning. I stayed by Ahkmenrah's side as he redid his bandages and settled back into the sarcophagus. With a soft smile, I kneeled down beside him and waited. Merely staring into his eyes before he did the final wrapping. I didn't close him in until the dawn fully rose and he was settled.

The next day, Larry told me how he wasn't fired and the older night guards were put on as janitors, cleaning the mess they had caused in the museum. We went back to the museum that night to celebrate. It was a massive party. Nicky was cheering and dancing, I was up beside the DJ, Ahkmenrah who was taking his job very seriously.

The tiny cowboy and roman seemed to be having a moment in the corner of the room before rejoining our party. Attila dragged Larry into a waltz and then a traditional Hun dance the Larry struggled to follow. It was the best party I'd ever been apart of. I looked over to Ahk to see he was already looking at me. His eyes dropped to my lips and then back up to my eyes as if asking for permission. I nodded. He leaned closer and for a moment it was as if the world stopped, before I closed the distance. Our lips meeting and the music drowning out around us. In that moment it was just the two of us. But we pulled apart and everyone seemed to cheer louder. The exhibits all watching our moment and whooping and hollering with excitement.

~~~~ ~ The End ~ ~~~~

(Sorry if the ending is all rushed...I got sick of writing this </3) (This fanfic tested my patience is still testing my patience, but I still love it and wanted to finish it and share it with all of you.) (I hope at least some of it made you chuckle a little huff or cringe and die inside <3)

[crownedghostprince]

Alrighty

Time for me to stop being lazy and finally finish all my half-written, half-thought out drafts and fanfics, ey?

Get some work done in case the new laws coming in prevent me from accessing this account or smth xd

[crownedghostprince]

Internet "sAfEtY lAwS" ig :/

If/once these laws are put in place in my country of Australia, I might not be able to continue writing fanfics, or coming back to this account, depending on how tumblr implements this.

If i need to give tumblr, youtube, etc my license id. I WON'T be doing it.

There have been wayyy too many email account, twitter/X, youtube, tiktok and more breaches (especially RECENTLY) and I don't want the sites i use (like youtube) to be breached and then suddenly my license id is all over the dark web or something.

My account could be deleted if I do not upload my license id, i apologize now for the disappearance of any past/future fics.

[crownedghostprince]

"Thank-you, my love..."

Loki x Gender Neutral!Sick!Reader.

Fandom: Marvel

Reader caught whooping cough and had been coping surprisingly well for the past few weeks, until one night they woke up at midnight to use the restroom and a sudden fit of coughing sent them into a whooping cough attack. Thank the Gods, their beloved boyfriend Loki awoke and came to their aid.

Hurt/comfort, sick reader, (y/n) not used, reader has whooping cough.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): Detailed description of what a whooping cough attack can feel life. Detailed description of vomiting, pain and sickness.

Note: I caught whooping cough and had a pretty bad attack where I was coughing and couldn't really breathe because of it just an hour ago so I'm writing this to make myself feel better.

Word Count: 1k words.

[First Person Perspective]

(This image of Loki is brought to you today by tumblr user: lokiisninerealms. Specifically loved their fic: "Memories to Bake".)

My arms and whole body shook and quivered like a leaf as I fell into a deep, dark pit of a coughing fit. My legs gave out as I violently dry-heaved into the toilet and practically choked on my own phlegm. Shooting pains ran through my ribcage, from front to back, as if I was being stabbed. A horrible wheezing and whooping sound emerged from my lungs when my throat locked up. Every gasp for air sent me into another coughing fit until I was vomiting up phlegm with my dinner.

I couldn't breathe.

With every cough the burning bile from my stomach rushed up to my chest making my coughing worse. Making the pain worse. It hurt so much, my vision blurred as tears burned down my cheeks, but I barely felt them as the pain in my chest was so much worse. It felt like I was suffocating, drowning and somehow coming up for air all at once. The minute I got a bit of air into my lungs through my locked up throat, it'd just lock up tighter like a chain was wrapped around my windpipe. I knew I had to relax, but I couldn't. I felt too desperate.

A cool hand rested on the back of my neck and another hand began rubbing circles on my back. Like a light in a dark tunnel; I felt hope. "It's okay....you're okay...let it come up, that's it." A deep, soothing voice whispered into my ear. "You're doing great, darling, I've got you." He soothed. It was as if my brain could only focus on the pain I was in. I couldn't think of anything else, I couldn't distract or relax myself. But he was there. "Remember to relax...here, stretch your arms out like this, dear. That's it." My hands, which were tucked closely to my chest, were met with cool and soft skin that brought them forwards and around the toilet.

My whole body was practically hugging the toilet at this point. I felt gross, but I didn't have the strength to support my own weight. His hands came back to my head and neck and began massaging with slow and gentle movements. My body noticeably relaxed and I could feel my throat open up enough for air. Unfortunately, I was so desperate for air I began hyperventilating. Pins and needles pricked my fingers and face and my body went numb. Finally...finally I could breathe again.

Relief flooded my body as my vomiting and dry-heaving and coughing all settled. My body continued to shake violently as I cried my heart out and balled my eyes out. Loki continued to hold me, pulling me into a side hug so I was still facing the toilet in case another coughing fit came. I stayed like that for who knows how long. Still coughing and occasionally dry-heaving. With each cough, clear phlegm cleared out of my chest and eventually my coughing completely eased.

"Deep breath in...hold...and...deep breath out..slowly.." Loki guided. "That's it...I've got you...you're doing so well." He rested his head on top of mine, pressing a soft kiss to my hair. "It's over for now...you're okay.." He eased. "Let's get you cleaned up, darling."

He handed me toilet paper and tissues to clean up my gross snot and tears with. Then after we flushed the toilet, he helped me stand up and sit on top of the toilet lid. He got a damp washer and as I wiped my face, he prepared my toothbrush and toothpaste. Loki then took the washer back, handing me the toothbrush. As I brushed my teeth, he added soap to the washer and gently rubbed up and down my arms and hands.

I rinsed my mouth out and washed the soap off in the sink as Loki disinfected the toilet and got my towel. I winced when I saw how I looked in the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy as all hell. My face looked sunken in from lack of sleep and the circles under my eyes were a dark contrast to my sickly-looking skin. I felt awful. Like death had visited me for an unwanted chat.

When Loki had finished cleaning up, he took my arms and gently led me back to the bedroom. He propped me up against the headboard with my soft pillows and plushies. Draping a fluffy blanket over me, he kissed my forehead and turned the t.v on. "I understand you might not want to sleep more after that...so how about I get you some water and medicine and we watch your favourite movie or show? Does that sound good, love?" He smiled softly and pressed another kiss to my forehead.

I couldn't speak. I felt too traumatized in the moment. The memory and feelings of what just occurred too fresh for me to function properly. I did my best to smile and nod my head as an answer, but I'm sure my smile was more of a pained grimace.

"Alright, very good." He handed me the remote and left to get water and medicine as quickly as possible. I scrolled Netflix until I found my favourite movie, thanking the gods in a silent prayer that Loki was my boyfriend. He returned in no time at all and helped me take the medicine and water. He left for more water and when he'd returned the movie was ready to go. He turned all the lights off (minus our cat nightlight which he'd set to my favourite colour) and he settled into bed beside me.

If Asgardians weren't immune to whooping cough, I'd have stayed far away. But because I knew he wouldn't catch what I had...I snuggled up as closely as possible. Until I was practically bear hugging him. Clinging like an overtired koala.

We were halfway through the movie and my seventh glass of water when I managed to whisper a crackly: "Thank-you, my love..."

"You're very welcome, love." He sighed into my hair - pressing multiple kisses to my head. "I was so worried I'd lose you...I'm so proud of you for fighting this awful sickness. I'll be here, by your side, every step of the way, my dear. So don't stop fighting it, okay?"

"Okay.." I sighed into his chest. He smelled of red wine and dark chocolate. I couldn't be more grateful for my wonderful boyfriend. I was a thousand percent marrying him the chance I got.

[crownedghostprince]

[crownedghostprince]

[crownedghostprince]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

[crownedghostprince]