#EDIT: if this ends up getting more than 5k notes I will destroy all of you lol

[setaflow]

Won't lie, I've been on Tumblr for a decade now and I've given this website a lot of flack for the stupid stuff it's done, but watching it take unabashed potshots at Twitter like this is making me kinda proud. Like I set up real estate here in 2013, suffered through years of stupid policy revisions and new re-zoning laws, and now we all get to come together as a community and shit on all the people in the city and their new idiot mayor. I've never felt this kind of camaraderie on this website before and honestly I kinda hope it never ends.

[bubblesthemonsterartist]

*cracks knuckles* Clearly I’m going straight for the Blackout. 

ENJOY, FRIENDS. FOR YOU, I THROW IT UNDER THE CUT

Under 1000 Words

take my burdens (and bury them deep) by @thelionshymnal​ Rated M Nothing makes me happier than a fic of my favorite BroTP, especially when Obi is offering to disappear Kiki’s dirty dealings. Content warning for attempted sexual assault and Obi doing what he does best: getting rid of the body.

A Fic That Got You Involved In Fandom

Seven Suitors for Shirayuki by @sabraeal​ Rated T Look. You all are just going to have to accept that there is a certain generation of this fandom that was dragged in, kicking and screaming, by this fic. I wanted to diversify by saying something else managed it, but no. It was the fact that this story was stuck on chapter five for MONTHS that made me vibrate until my own fic fell out. XD

Made You Laugh Out Loud

An Extra Rise Before Dawn by @sabraeal​ Rated G I don’t often worry that I am going to pee from laughing so hard when I’m reading something, but this one definitely does. In one spot in particular. You might be able to guess it. It is simultaneously an incredible sweet and incredibly funny fic that hits all the right notes for me.

Favorite Trope Reversal

Fussing with Firedrakes by @leewritingrecs​ Rated T 1) Dragons. 2) Damsel in distress is no damsel and she is NOT in distress thank you very much 3) Kiki is a DRAGON 4) Obi is cursed, and 5) DID I MENTION D R A G O N S ???

Fic That Made You Friends With the Author

The Wide Florida Bay by @sabraeal​ Rated E I had to think about this because while I read Seven Suitors first, this was the series that made me start sending anons and eventually made me join tumblr where I proceeded to endlessly play the ‘what if’ game with Jen. CLEARLY this is where our friendship was forged.

Action-Packed Fight Scene

Agent, Parts I, II, and III by @infinitelystrangemachinex​ Rated T Like Jen, I was positively torn, because both Andi and Sarah do fight scenes SO WELL, but Agent ultimately won out because there is just something so delightful about Shirayuki flailing and clinging to Obi like a cat that doesn’t want to go in the bath while arrows zip all around them

Edit: Screw it, I’m reccing them both

Republic of Tanbarun by @claudeng80​ Rated T An action adventure series where romance is involved but is by no means the focus. Zen and Obi adventures abound. Politics galore. And some masterfully done slow-motion to quick motion fight scenes that I L O V E D

Gen Fic

Fugue in Three by @infinitelystrangemachinex​ Rated G Ryuu casually destroys Obi and Shirayuki by breathing as they count down the days until he comes of age. Technically this fic has a romantic pairing, but it is by no means the focus of this fic. If you don’t agree, you are welcome to meet me under the Big Oak between the hours of 12 and 4 for a duel.

Missing Scene

Like Brothers Do by @claudeng80​ Rated G Obi is clearly Kiki’s annoying big brother and handles Mitsuhide’s rejection in the best way he knows how. Also read: Mitsuhide gets what’s coming to him. (ง'̀-'́)ง

Canon Divergent

We work at the mall by @kaedix​ Rated T With how many AUs we got floating around this fandom, I was hard pressed to choose a favorite. But there is just something so sweet and wholesome and American teenager about this. It just latches onto you and never lets go. (Also the gang all work at my favorite places in the mall when I was growing up. What’s not to love?)

Steamiest Kiss

Were Hearts Not An Unknown Country by @sabraeal​ Rated T LOOK. SOMEONE was going to have to go dig this out of the rubble of her compilation fics and it might as well be me. Also the birthplace of the much loved AnS fandom practice of solstice kissing.

Contains Your Favorite Headcanon

The road to Clarines is Gravel by @codango​ Rated E Not the focus of the fic as a whole, but like, Torou and Obi are siblings. GALAXY MIND EXPLOSION. I mean, I loved that so much that I wrote a pre-canon fic of this fic. Additional note totally not related to the bingo square: I will ALWAYS be here for positive sex worker representation in fics. Fair warning, though, this is the most unfair AU in existence because the brain screams that it SHOULDN’T WORK and yet by some sort of writerly sorcery, it DOES. PLEASE READ IT IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY.

Wept Real Tears

let it make you by @thelionshymnal​ Rated M It’s not every day that someone manages to write a fic that makes me stare numbly at the very first line for a solid 15 minutes, big fat tears rolling down my cheeks, but Hymn did it. And then she somehow managed to kiss it better. All in 1100 words.

Free Space

AnS Role Swap AU by @owlsshadows​ Rated M This series has it all. Shirayuki as an assassin. Obi as both a royal bastard and a pharmacist. A mysterious meeting out in the woods where it makes you question whether Nanaki and Obi are two different people or the same. Also Zen having some very conflicted feelings regarding his royal authority and how he can choose to handle rejection.

Edit: Since I’ve already doubled up once, let me double up again, I have so much love to give and not enough space to give it!

Blizzard by @nebluus​ Rated T This is one of the earliest fics I read in this fandom and it remains to date one of my absolute favorites. Obi gets hurt protecting his Miss and a blizzard rolls in. Thankfully they find a cabin where Obi, who is definitely on his death bed if no one finds them and SOON, proceeds to still fuss over his Miss. Best scene: When he warms her hands with his. Also the second chapter is all sorts of delightful domesticity I IMPLORE you to please read it and soon.

Favorite Fan-Made OC

All Pain Will Turn to Medicine by @sabraeal​ Rated M All y’all should’ve seen these coming from ten miles out. I fucking LOVE Herr Anda, the cantankerous little bastard. And Jen knows this because she designed him specifically with me in mind. Academic catnap >:|

AU That Made You Find the Source Material

All Knotted Up by @sabraeal​ Rated G Admittedly, there are a great many AUs out there that made me look up the source material, but this Tangled AU is the most recent because I finally got on Disney+. And yes, Mitsuhide is the horse. Ryuu may be Pascal a little bit, but Mitsuhide. He’s The Horse. XD

First AnS Fic You Read

Loyalty by Evelyn Fiedler Rated K+ (which is basically G on AO3) My one and only ff.net rec from my earliest days in the fandom when I was combing for absolutely any content I could find, begging the fandom to help me decide if I was down for Obiyuki and all that it implied and this author most assuredly delivered.

Favorite Minor Character

Undertow by @jhalya​ Rated E The fic itself is a space odyssey of sorts. One mission among many where humanity attempts to colonize Mars. However the real selling point here, if you didn’t know, is Lord Seiran. He is a delightfully eccentric billionaire who clearly always wanted a large family, judging from how easily he fills out the adoption paperwork.

WIP

Caulk dirty to me by @leewritingrecs​ Rated E Have I mentioned I love the sex worker trope? I. Love. The. Sex. Worker. Trope. Also Obi is clearly divine at all of his jobs. Shirayuki already got to experience his skills at one of them. I wait with BAITED BREATH for her to experience the other :3

Canon Compliant

Thicker than Blood by @infinitelystrangemachinex​ Rated G In the aftermath of the death of King Kain, Izana and Zen must decide on which path they will take moving forward. Amazing fic. Unfinished, but a wonderful look into the dynamics between the Wisteria brothers and their absent mother.

One-Shot

Worth his Weight in Rice by @claudeng80​ Rated T AU set in an Edo-adjacent Period where a disease has wiped killed off a significant portion of the male population. Resulting societal shifts occur. If you go into the comments, I have a couple of pages worth of reasons why I love this AU, but what I appreciate even more is how you have an absolutely perfect oneshot in this fic. It is a well-translated universe where we get a delightful clear, beginning, middle, and end, all in 5k. NOT an easy feat. Please enjoy.

Rare Pair

the fog pushing through my mind by @thelionshymnal​ Rated E Obi/Yuzuri, friends with benefits. Two pining idiots with some sore feelings decide to get stoned and take comfort in another warm body for the night. I just really enjoyed the casual intimacy of the encounter and how this is clearly neither of their first experiences with a one night stand. Neither of them are going to make it weird in the morning, they just need to take the edge off, ya know? Additional bonus for Obi being ready to stab the dumbasses who made Yuzuri feel like she was a weirdo in her past.

AU You Took a Chance On (And Now Love)

Lightning in a Bottle by @jhalya​ Rated M I mean, if Jules is gonna play dirty by making Obi the hot fish man running around without his shirt on 99% of the time, then of COURSE I’m going to enjoy Deep Blue Sea. It’s, like, one of my favorite movies now.

Favorite Trope

Moonshine Phantom by @leewritingrecs​ Rated T We got a murder muffin who ALSO used to be a sex worker? Sign me the fuck up, I am 1000% here for this. Also all the showgirls who clearly love their coworker and only want him and his adorable wife to have the best. They may have never heard of her before, but she looks sweet, and they all have a silent agreement between them that if she breaks his heart, they’ll cut her.

Fic That Gave You a New OTP

What the Heart Wants by @sabraeal​ Rated G Haruto/Mukaze. An attempted kidnapping and subsequent rescue makes Zen and Shirayuki painfully aware that their parents have had, at some point in their lives, sex. Izana may not be happy about someone banging his mom, but is HE rather pleased at having a new sister. >:3c

Pre-Canon

The Wolf in the Woods by @krispy-kream​ (YES I STILL HAVE THIS BOOKMARKED) Rated G Everyone knows that I have very delicate food feels and this ALMOST went under the Wept Real Tears category, but I like to spread out the crying as much as possible XD Shirayuki finds a boy at the edge of the wood and decides he needs something to eat. Filed under: Guaranteed to wreck me in 500 words or less.

[ombreblossom]

21 and 24!

i’m going to assume that these are from the fic writer/reader ask game :)

21. most memorable comment/review

well, i haven’t published any fic yet, so i don’t have any for fic, but i can answer this for original work! when i was in grad school, i had an original fiction piece accepted into a creative writing conference. i didn’t get a whole lot of feedback from attendees of the event itself, but my graduate advisor said some really kind things about it before i submitted it, and she’s the kind of person who is very effusive with her compliments, so while it was sort of overwhelming, it was so heartwarming ;-; i don’t remember her exact comments anymore because it’s been...a while D: but they got me through the mortification of reading my work in front of other people.

24. favorite fic you read this year

how. how do i answer this question? there are so many! *eyes my 1000+ new AO3 bookmarks*

there’s no way i’m going to narrow it down to just one, so here we go!

notes: these are all tma. i literally have not read fic for a single other fandom this year. also, this is probably going to end up reading more like a rec list tbqh, but i’m not going to post summaries or content warnings. just mind tags/summaries if you decide to try to read any of them, and i can also  probably answer content warning-related questions if you have any.

edit: i’m throwing this under a read more. i didn’t realize how long it’d gotten D:

series

14 Labors by LotusFlair

The Aro Archives by WhyNotFly

cat!Jon by the_ragnarok 

if you can’t find any comfort at the end of the world, making your own from scratch is fine by bubonickitten

Library Magic by god_commissioned_me

Magnus and Lukas (beans and books, babey!) by Thebonemoose 

The Magnus Institute vs the 21st Century: a series of emails and IMs by shinyopals

shitty hands club by fadewords

The Third Law of Fluff by The_Lonely_has_always_had_me

one-shots & short fic (under 10k words)

and so we make do by blueskiddoo

between a rock and a hard place by veramendacious

Cigarettes and Rain by LotusFlair

Dethroned by inkedinserendipity (i can’t read this one again because it destroyed me, but it’s stuck with me, so here it is)

Happy Hour by j_quadrifrons

Interlude by smallhorizons (this fic lives in my head rent free at all times and has done since it was published)

i’ve known the warmth of your doorways by beeclaws

Leagues Apart by Ostentenacity

The Minotaur, and Other Poems by Mad_Maudlin

nor any more youth or age than there is now by Ravenesta

one for the money, two for the show by Champagne

sitting in a field at dawn by MakeAStriderSmile

there is also a long-ish (like 5k-7k words or so) fic of jmart just. driving to scotland that i love very much but couldn’t find when i was compiling this list :( i know i have it somewhere, but i wanted to get this out sooner than later. if i find it, i’ll update this post.

multi-chapter fics & long fic (over 10k words)

all of us were there by ghoulemporium

By Secret and Divine Signs by ChristinMKay

fell in your opinion when i fell in love with you by Athina_Blaine

here comes a feeling you thought you’d forgotten by unicornpoe

A Home For What Loves You by TheWrongShop

i was always a mad comet by unicornpoe

just a *little* cliche by takethebreadsticksandRUN

Lessons in Caring by mothjons

love’s perfect ache by thisisthebadplace

Making Home by hoc_voluerunt

The Masseur by naanie

A Matter of Diplomacy by CirrusGrey

Moth Song by Siarven

Of All The Unknowns by CrunchyWrites

Out of the Wind, In From the Cold by Ostentenacity

patterns by fadewords

Together We Can Keep the Storm at Bay by Northern_spies

Unrequited; Requited by Neverlastingforever

What Once Was Mine by Dieanywhereelse

We aren’t born to sink by sahina

where there’s a will, we make a way by bubonickitten

Yesterday is Here by CirrusGrey

[max-is-tired]

Look Into My Eyes (It’s Where My Demons Hide)

Pairing: Analogical, background Royality

Characters: Logan Sanders, Virgil Sanders, Patton Sanders, Roman Sanders, Caelius (OC), Amelia (OC), Emile Picani (mentioned)

Words: 5.686

Warnings: Blood, stab wound (mentioned, not graphic but it’s there), kidnapping, mind control, referenced past abuse, referenced past kidnapping, vampires, witches, I should have tagged everything but please let me know if I missed something!!

Notes: It will be very short, I said. 1k words max, I said. Nothing big, I said. If this is what past me said, then why THE FUCK DID THIS BECOME A 5K+ MONSTER WHAT THE HECK-

Just to make you guys understand real quick why I say this fic got out of control. I've got an entire AU out of this. I need help.

Finally, after days of endless crying and typing and editing, here is my piece for @darknightvirgil's Halloween exchange, for none other than the amazing @virgilmydarkstrangeson !!! I really really hope you like your gift Nate, and I'm incredibly sorry for being so late!

Hit me up if you want to be added to the taglist and let me know if you liked this, reblogs, comments and asks are always very welcome and much appreciated!

Read it on AO3!!

Once, when he was a kid, Logan had asked his mother what love was.

“That’s a very difficult question to answer.” She had said, carefully mulling the question over and over in her head. “Let’s see. Love is… caring for someone in such a powerful way that just being near them is enough to make you smile. It’s being happy when they’re happy. It’s finding yourself doing everything possible to cheer them up when they’re sad. Love is also a risk though, because to fall in love means giving someone the power to break your heart in a million pieces with a snap of their fingers. Love can also mean pain, so heartbreaking and painful that you can barely breathe.”

“But if it can hurt so much, why do people fall in love?”

“Because for the right person, it will be worth it.”

He didn’t understand back then, what she meant. The concept of ‘love’ –something so powerful and mighty, able to make people move mountains and defeat entire armies- felt so foreign to him, like some sort of intangible, unattainable goal. He figured he would get it, one day. And yet, time passed, and he kept living his life without understanding.

Maybe he wasn’t meant for love, he thought.

Then, he met Virgil.

Virgil had barged into Logan’s life without a warning, completely turning his whole world upside down. He had been the first person that seemed to actually enjoy Logan’s company, listening to his ramblings and often helping him with his researches. The worked well together, like a well-oiled machine, and with time Logan had found himself enjoying the anxious man’s company more and more.

Suddenly, his mother’s words started to make sense.

Now three years have passed, and Logan feels like a schoolgirl on her first crush.

“Honestly Lo, why don’t you just tell him how you feel?” Patton asks, his cheerful voice filling the apartment. “I know you like to pretend you don’t have feelings, but-”

“I do not pretend, Patton.” Logan snaps, face turning into a scowl as he keeps searching for the book he’s looking for. “While it is true that I quite enjoy Virgil’s companionship, we should not forget the fact that he’s just a human. Harboring such feelings for him would be a really foolish action on my part.”

“Oh, shut up Specs!” Roman interjects, “You’re head over heels for that guy, and the sooner you stop denying it the better!”

“Excuse me?!” Logan bristles, pivoting on his heels to glare at the other. “I am not, thank you very much.”

Roman simply raises an eyebrow, clearly not affected by Logan’s heated glare. “Logan, I listened to you ranting about him for over three hours the other day.”

“I am not in love with Virgil, and that is final.”

Roman opens his mouth, probably more than ready to keep pushing his foolish argument, but gets interrupted by Patton, who has moved to stand between the two.

“Stop it right now, both of you!” he chides, bringing out his dad voice, “Roman, you know how touchy this subject is for Logan, so stop pushing him and try to be a little more tactful next time.”

Roman rolls his eyes, huffing in annoyance as he looks away and his expression morphs into what can only be described as a pout. Logan can’t help but feel a little smug as he watches Patton scold the other. What he doesn’t expect, however, is for the witch to suddenly turn towards him, disappointed expression still in place.

“And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, mister!” Patton continues, finger pointed at Logan’s chest, “I know that you don’t like feelings Lo, but this is honestly getting quite ridiculous.”

Logan glares at the shorter man, a flash of gold glinting in his eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about, Patton.”

“I think you do, Logan,” Patton counters, expression shifting from scolding to something warmer, more understanding, “and I believe it’s time for you to stop running from yourself.”

Logan stares back, stubbornly trying to hold the other’s gaze –honestly, he doesn’t get why Patton keeps insisting on this particular manner. Logan is fine, always has been, and just because he has suddenly formed a bond with some human it doesn’t mean he would be so foolish to-

“You haven’t told him yet, have you?” Patton’s voice reaches Logan’s ears with sharp clarity, causing his thoughts to screech to a halt. “About your true nature, I mean.”

Logan opens his mouth, more than ready to snap at Patton to stop talking about all this nonsense and just leave him be, but once he finally registers Patton’s expression he finds himself stopping on his tracks. Because Patton is looking at him with so much warmth, gaze soft and comforting –like he understands, like he knows exactly what he’s going through. Then Logan sees Patton’s eyes shift subtly towards Roman, who has been silently listening the whole time, and abruptly realizes that yes, of course Patton understands. How could he not?

Logan’s shoulders slump as he feels all of his rage and indignation rush out of him.

“No, I haven’t,” he admits, looking to the side.

“Is there a reason for it?”

“Patton, he’s a human. A mortal who lives his life under the sun, blessed with ignorance of the more twisted and supernatural aspects of our world. If I were to tell him the truth -that I am a vampire, a blood-thirsty, immortal creature of the night- not only would I destroy that innocence forever, but he surely would-” Logan clamps his mouth shut, trying to stop the words from pouring out of his mouth. He doesn’t need to, though.

“You’re scared he’ll leave.” The other finishes for him, a sad smile making its way to his face. Beside them, Roman moves to stand once again beside Patton, a comforting hand on the smaller man’s shoulder. “You’re scared that, once you tell him who you really are, he’ll run away and never come back, terrified by something that you cannot alter or change. And you don’t know if you’ll be able to move on from it.”

Silently, Logan watches as Roman imperceptibly stiffens at Patton words. The witch simply smiles and covers Roman’s hand with his, turning just slightly to look at him.

It’s okay. We’re okay. Patton’s eyes say, and god, if their little show of affection doesn’t make Logan’s heart twist in something akin to longing.

“How did you do it?” he asks, barely a whisper. “How did you tell him who you really were even though you knew it could have driven him away forever?”

“I trusted him.” Patton smiles, letting his body lean on Roman’s side. “I know how scary it sounds, but you’ve known Virgil for over three years now. Do you really think he would leave you forever if he knew?”

“I may not know him as much as you do,” Roman interjects, attracting Logan’s attention, “but for what it’s worth, I really don’t think he will. It’s obvious he cares about you Teach, and I don’t think you being a vampire will change that.”

Logan looks at the two men standing in front of him –a human and a witch, magic and mundane mixing together in such a seamless, unpredictable way- and sighs, his mouth twitching upwards in a hint of a smile.

“Maybe you’re right.” He admits.

The couple grins, sharing a look before turning back to him. “So, this means you’ll tell him?”

“I’ll think about it.”

One week later, and Logan’s still thinking about it.

Not that he doesn’t trust Virgil. Logically, he knows the chances of him just straight up walking out of his life as soon as he learns the truth are quite slim. And yet, he hesitates, letting their frequent hangouts end without him saying anything.

If only Patton could see him now, he would probably be sporting one of his trademarked Disappointed Dad looks.

“So, you snapped at him?” Virgil asks, smirking as he takes a sip from his coffee, “that’s so out of character of you, Logan.”

Logan feels his face flush, gaze shifting to the side as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “He was foolishly denying to acknowledge the rightful connotation of Pluto as a planet. It was my duty as a teacher to correct his flawed statement.”

Virgil raises an eyebrow, visibly amused. “By yelling at the kid, and I quote, Viva la Pluto fuck you?”

“I get really defensive when it comes to astronomy.” Logan concedes.

“That’s quite the understatement if I’ve never heard one!” Virgil snickers, trying –and mostly failing- to keep himself from out-right cackling.

Logan feels his lips twitch upwards, eyes fond as he watches the human laugh –he quite enjoys the times he can get Virgil to act so carefree around him, his smile lighting up his face in a way that leaves Logan breathless every time without fail.

Logan sighs, shaking his head lightly. Virgil is going to be the death of him, he’s sure of it.

Somehow, that thought terrifies him far less than it should.

“Shit!” Virgil suddenly curses, snapping Logan out of his reverie.

“Are you, uh… good, Virgil? Did I use that right?” he asks, bending his head to the side in confusion.

Virgil snorts, stopping his frenzied movements to shake his head in amusement. “Close enough.” He comments, quickly flinging his backpack on his shoulder.

“Sorry to cut this short, but I have a class in less than an hour and if I’m late again the professor is probably going to murder me,” he explains, smiling apologetically.

“Do not worry about it, I understand.” Logan nods, standing up as well. “Our plans for tonight are still in place, I believe?”

Virgil grins, shooting him a thumbs up as he exits the coffee shop. “You betcha, nerd! See you at eight!”

The more their chosen time of meeting approaches, the more Logan starts feeling uneasy.

He doesn’t know the reason, if he has to be honest. Sure, he may or may not be planning to finally talk to Virgil about his…more-than-human nature, let’s say –Roman threatened to trap them both in a really small room if Logan didn’t- but the thought of that causes him to feel nervousness, or even apprehension.

But this, this is a different kind of unease. If Logan had to describe it, he would say it feels like dark heaviness on his shoulders, like vines constricting his very core tighter and tighter as the seconds tick away. It brings back echoes of a past he thought he left behind, of screams and blood and a sick, wide smile Logan’s sure will haunt his nightmares until he draws his last breath.

He hastily shakes his head, snapping out of his thoughts –he won’t let himself get lost in those memories, not now that he has finally managed to move on. More or less, at least.

Logan takes in a shaky breath, fingers moving to fix his tie almost as a second thought –a nervous habit he’s never quite been able to correct. There’s nothing he has to worry about. Virgil will arrive around eight, they’ll settle down on Logan’s couch and they’ll enjoy together the Doctor Who’s new season premiere.

Nothing will happen, he knows that. And yet, the unease doesn’t disappear. It doesn’t disappear while he moves to get his living room set up, or when he goes to his bedroom in order to change into comfier clothes.

When the clock strikes eight fifteen and Virgil –ever-punctual, anxious Virgil, who despise being late like nothing else and never fails to notify him if he does end up getting held back- still hasn’t shown up or sent him a text, Logan knows something is indeed wrong.

He has a bad feeling about this.

Fuck, he’s late.

Virgil sprints down the street, muttering curses through gritted teeth. His photography professor –who had wanted to talk to him for ages about a side project Virgil didn’t want to have anything to do with- had managed to corner him while he was walking out of the library, keeping him from exiting the building until the librarian had basically kicked them out, distracting the man long enough for the anxious student to get away.

And now Virgil is late, his phone dead because he forgot to recharge it. Great. This is fine.

He barely avoids barrelling into another passer-by for the third time in two minutes and fuck it, this is not fine at all.

Virgil briefly pauses and leans with his back on the brick wall of a building, gulping down deep breaths as he tries to fight the anxiety he can feel bubbling in his stomach.

It’s alright, he firmly tells himself, it’s only ten minutes. Logan will understand.

Breathing deeply, Virgil quickly tries to figure out an estimate of the distance between where he is and Logan’s apartment.

“Ten minutes,” he grumbles, hands gripping his backpack’s straps, “I can do this.”

However, just before he can go back to sprinting down the sidewalk while trying to avoid colliding into innocent pedestrians, somebody near him speaks.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” the stranger asks, “but it appears I lost something.”

Virgil looks to his side, annoyed and slightly irritated expression meeting a pair of green eyes framed by perfect red curls. The woman in front of him looks like one of those models posing for the cover of beauty magazines –which, if Virgil wasn’t very much gay and very much in a hurry, would have made him want to at least try to help, but he’s already late and doesn’t want to make Logan wait for him more than strictly necessary.

“I’ sorry,” he starts, already turning around again, “but I’m really late for something and I just can’t help you.”

But before he can even move, a hand shoots out and grabs his arm. “Oh sweetheart, I believe you can.”

All Virgil sees is a pair of golden irises staring back at him, and then everything goes black.

Logan tries to stay put and wait for Virgil, he really does. No need to overreact, after all.

He manages to stop himself for five long, excruciating minutes. Then, all of his resolve gets thrown out of the window. Mind racing, Logan hurries to grab his coat and bolts out of his door, only to find himself face to face with a pair of startled green eyes.

“Roman?” Logan blinks, momentarily confused. From what he knows, the human and Patton had left three days ago to go attend a witches’ gathering that was being organized two towns over, and weren’t set to return for at least five more days. Then why-

“Logan!” Patton cries, approaching them. “Thank god we found you!”

Logan shakes his head. He has no time for this now. “Patton, I am sorry but whatever it is that you have to tell me will have to wait until I can get ahold of Virgil.”

“Wait, the Emo Nightmare is missing?” Roman interjects, eyes widening, “That’s not good.”

“We had arranged to meet up at my house to watch together the new Doctor Who premiere. He’s currently fifteen minutes late, which is very concerning because he’s never late and he never fails to notify me those few times he is.” The vampire explains, before actually registering Roman’s words. “Wait, what do you mean?”

Patton and Roman look at each other, worry and hesitance clear in their eyes. They’re hiding something, he’s sure of it.

“What is going on?” Logan demands, barely stopping himself from openly growling at his two friends. “It is quite obvious that, whatever information you are withholding, both of you believe it might be connected to Virgil’s absence. So tell me. Now.”

“You’re not gonna like it.” Roman warns, expression unusually serious, “Like, at all.”

“Just say it.”

“Caelius is back.” Patton finally reveals. “Emile said he has been spotted almost in all of the towns around here. We came back as soon as he told us.”

Logan freezes, thoughts screeching to a halt as he tries to process Patton’s words. Even after all these years, after all he has done to disappear completely from the radar and finally be able to live a normal life, Caelius has found him –and god if the mere thought of it doesn’t make his blood turn ice cold in his veins, fear knotting his stomach and invading his mind until all he can think of is blood and screams and that sickening grin, that feeling of utter powerlessness he didn’t want to feel ever again-

“You are mine Logan, and always will be. Never forget that.”

Fuck.

“We need to find Virgil. Now.”

When Virgil comes to, the first thing he registers is how fucking cold he is. The second is a head-splitting headache he seems to be suffering from, pounding behind his eyelids with enough force to make him let out a loud, pained groan.

The third thing he registers is the sound of light footsteps approaching, stopping right in front of his face as an all too familiar voice reaches his ears.

“Aw, looks like the boy is finally waking up!”

Virgil’s eyes snap open, immediately meeting a pair of bright green ones staring back at him. He lets out a strangled yelp, memories flooding his brain as he quickly scuttles away from the visibly amused woman –oh fuck he has been kidnapped, what do they want why did they take him he’s gonna die ohygodsomebodyhelp-

“Amelia, stop terrorizing our dear guest.” Another voice interjects, startling Virgil out of his panicking thoughts.

Behind the woman, another person enters the room. He looks rather young, with pale, perfect skin and deep blue eyes surrounded by blonde curls –an angel, something whispers in the back of Virgil’s mind, and he finds himself unable to tear his gaze away as the man approaches them.

“But I didn’t do anything!” the woman –Amelia- exclaims, still grinning as the man stops beside her.

Virgil looks at them, his mind still reeling in fear and confusion, and visibly jumps when the man’s blue eyes suddenly turn to him.

“I don’t understand,” he mutters, studying him in an obvious search for something –what, Virgil has no clue. “Why would Logan be so interested in this human? He looks so... weak.”

That’s when Virgil’s mind completely draws a blank, the sentence replaying over and over in his head as he tries and fails to make sense to the whole situation.

“W-what? How- How do you know Logan?” he stutters, but the two don’t seem to hear him as they keep looking at him –their contemplative, calculating stares unnerve Virgil to no end, the voice in the back of his mind screaming incessantly danger danger danger must get away before-

Suddenly Amelia is standing right in front of him, body bent forward until her face is a few centimeters from Virgil’s. “Maybe it’s his blood?” she wonders, eyes gleaming yellow –why are her eyes yellow I don’t understand somebody help please- “I wouldn’t mind a little sip. Just to check my hypothesis.”

“Just a taste,” Caelius concedes, waving his hand, “he’s no use to me dead.”

The woman grins, sharp canines gleaming in the dimly lit room. Ice cold fear floods Virgil’s veins, every instinct in his head screaming for him to run, get away before something bad happens -but he can’t move, back pressed against the wall and his two captors standing between him and the door –are they even humans? They have fangs and golden eyes and skin so pale they almost seem dead and Virgil doesn’t understand, why did they take him what do they want no no stay away he doesn’t want to die-

Before Virgil can even open his mouth to scream, Amelia is suddenly flying to the other side of the room, colliding with the wall with so much force cracks expand from the point of impact and sagging to the ground with a wordless thump. The other man simply raises an eyebrow, grin widening as he watches the scene unfold.

“Took you long enough, Logan.”

It doesn’t take them long to work out where Virgil is. Patton’s a witch –and quite a strong one at that, with over a century of experience on his shoulders and a member of the Council as his mentor- and a locating spell isn’t difficult to cast. They use a t-shirt Virgil accidentally left behind at Logan’s place during one of their previous hangouts, and once they’ve retrieved a map of the region from the vampire’s study it only takes a few seconds for the spell to work.

Somehow, Logan is not surprised with the location, barely reacting as the pendant points to a point of the map in the middle of nowhere –he knows those coordinates, knows them as he knows his name, and of course Caelius would be there, always a lover for the dramatics.

Because what better place to bring Logan’s beloved –the one obstacle between him and Caelius- than the building where everything started?

Logan glares at Caelius, standing protectively in front of Virgil.

“Caelius.” He calls, blue eyes flashing a furious golden. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

The man laughs, expression full of mirth. “Why, isn’t it obvious? I’m just taking back what is mine.”

“I was never yours in the first place, you self-centered bastard,” Logan growls, forcing himself to ignore Virgil’s whimpering coming from behind him. “Virgil has nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, I believe he has everything to do with this.” Caelius purrs, cerulean eyes turning golden as his gaze behind him towards –no, stop it, must keep Virgil safe stop looking at him you filthy monster- “Aren’t I right, Virgil?”

Logan feels it almost immediately, blood turning ice cold in his veins as the sheer strength of Caelius’ power slams into him. It’s a suffocating pressure, like a weight compressing his mind until his grip on reality almost slips away from between his fingers. But this isn’t the first time Logan has been subjected to Caelius’ overwhelming power, and even if it has been decades since he has had to deal with it his instincts don’t fail to kick in, allowing the younger vampire to hold onto his consciousness for dear life.

However, Virgil is a whole different story.

Logan can only watch helplessly as the human stands up, eyes suddenly dull and unfocused, and starts slowly shuffling towards Caelius.

“Exactly as I thought.” The vampire grins, beckoning the boy closer.

“Virgil,” Logan calls, fighting with all of his might Caelius’ influence, “Virgil, you have to fight it!”

He keeps calling and pleading, unable to move and grab the other to stop his advancing steps. But Virgil keeps walking, closer and closer to Caelius’ awaiting hand.

There’s only one thing Logan has yet to try, and even if logically he knows he has next to no chance of success he knows he can’t let Caelius get his hands on the human –HIS human, a voice in Logan’s head roars viciously, something hot and heavy settling in his stomach.

So Logan closes his eyes, taking in a steady breath, and opens.

Them.

Wide.

“Virgil.” He calls, his own magic reaching the other in gentle waves. It’s different from Caelius, whose power is simply overwhelming and paralyzing –Logan’s is more quiet, calculated, hitting the target with accuracy and precision. “Virgil, stop.”

He watches as Virgil’s steps falter, face turning just slightly towards him to show a confused frown –he knows Virgil is there, somewhere, he just has to help him find a way out of Caelius’ control, give him an opening to slip away from the vampire’s vicious grip on his consciousness.

“Virgil, come here,” Logan calls, golden eyes shining with determination as his focus zeroes on the other man –he ignores Caelius’ magic trying to forcefully push his away, grits his teeth and holds his ground with a vengeance.

Seconds pass, tense silence filling the air. Virgil’s body starts shaking, a pained groan escaping his lips as the two vampire’s powers clash and fight all around him. Then, suddenly, he’s staggering backward into Logan’s arms, breath coming out in short, quick gasps –everyone can feel the exact moment Caelius loses his hold over the human, like a rope snapping under too much pressure, loud and clear in their mind.

Logan immediately holds Virgil as close as he can, hand caressing up and down his back as he takes a moment to reassure himself, breathing deeply as he takes in the other’s scent.

“L-Logan-” Virgil whispers, whimpering.

“It’s okay.” Logan murmurs, voice low and reassuring, “You’re okay. I got you.”

“How dare you,” Caelius growls, snapping them out of the moment. “How dare you try and defy me?!”

He’s standing in front of them before they can even process his words. Logan’s instincts immediately kick in, and he turns around so that his back is between Virgil and the incoming blow –whatever Caelius throws at them, he can take. But he won’t let him lift even a finger on Virgil. No more.

However, the hit never comes.

What comes is, actually, Roman’s voice suddenly booming in the room, a yell of “Don’t you dare, you fiend!” followed by the clang of metal and Caelius shout of rage.

When he turns around, Logan finds himself staring at Roman’s back, sword in his hands –the same sword Patton gifted him years ago, the same sword Logan himself taught him how to use- and a very pissed off Caelius growling at them, side dripping with blood.

“You worthless, stupid human, you’re going to pay for this!” the vampire roars, lunging at them with a snarl.

It’s strange, though. Logan remembers Caelius to be a fierce, strong fighter, all quick and fluid movements born from millennia of walking on this Earth. But now his movements seem slower, almost sluggish. Roman has absolutely no problem deflecting the attack, before round-kicking the vampire in the stomach and sending him rolling to the side.

Caelius grunts, landing quite a few feet away from them. He doesn’t get up again.

“Emile enchanted my sword, just before we got back to warn you,” Roman explains, lowering his sword. “He said the spell was made to work specifically on ancient magical creatures like him. Looks like he was right.”

Then he turns around, a weary smile on his face.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

Apparently, going home for them means getting scolded by Patton for a good half an hour, sitting in Logan’s bedroom while the witch heals their few wounds and checks them for any possible injuries.

“Honestly Logan, I get that you wanted to get to Virgil,” Patton says, hand glowing softly as he heals a scrape on the vampire’s temple, “but sprinting into the building by yourself certainly was not the way to go! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Who knows what Caelius would have done to you two if Roman hadn’t found you when he did!”

“You are right Patton,” Logan complies, “but I still do not regret my decision. Had I waited even just a second more, I would have been too late.”

Patton sighs, shaking his head. “Stubborn as ever, I see.” He chuckles, “well, my job here is done. I feel like you two need to have a little talk, so if you need me I’ll be downstairs with Roman.”

He shoots them one last, encouraging smile, before walking out of the room and closing the door with a soft click.

Silence falls. Logan turns his head just slightly, eyes falling on the figure sitting next to him. Virgil stares back, expression unreadable as he raises one eyebrow in question.

“So.”

“So.”

Logan sighs, adjusting himself to be sitting face to face with the other man. “I suppose I owe you an explanation,” he begins, “but first, I need to apologize. It is my fault Caelius targeted you in the first place, therefore putting your life in danger, and I am deeply sorry for that.”

“It’s okay. I mean-” Virgil tells him, before backpedalling in a rush-“it’s not okay, because getting kidnapped is no fun at all and I’ve never felt more scared in my life, but-” he stops for a moment, taking in a slow, steady breath before looking up at Logan with a tentative smile-“I know you, Lo. I know you would never intentionally put me in danger, and I don’t blame you for what happened.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that, hadn’t it been for me, you would have never been put in danger.”

“I’m okay now, though. You made sure of that.” Virgil points out, before frowning in thought. “What was that dude’s deal with you anyway? He seemed to have some sort of personal vendetta against you or something.”

Logan winces at his words, looking away. “It’s a long story.”

“I got time.”

“Alright then. I guess there is no avoiding it.” Logan sighs, “As you probably have already guessed, I am not… human, like you. I am a vampire.”

When Logan risks a quick peek at Virgil’s reaction, he doesn’t look surprised in the slightest. Instead, the man simply raises an eyebrow, muttering “No shit Sherlock” under his breath.

Something in Logan’s chest relaxes a little at that.

“Caelius is the one who turned me, all those years ago.” He resumes, pushing down the memories trying to resurface. Not now. “He tried to make a meal out of me, I fought back, and he decided he wanted to keep me. So, he took me away with him.”

“He turned me and kept me in this big mansion down south –the same one you were brought to, by the way. Years passed, and I finally managed to escape. I wandered around for a while, not really knowing where to go. Then, I met Patton, and here we are.”

Silence falls. Then, Virgil lets out a slow whistle.

“Holy shit Lo.” He breaths out, eyes wide as he processes the load of information, “and to think people assume I’m the one with the tragic backstory.”

Logan lets out a tiny chuckle, shaking his head. “That is one way to put it, I suppose.” Then he looks up at the other, looking genuinely confused. “How are you taking all of this so well? I expected you to freak out –no offense, but this is just not something you hear every day. It is simply not logical for you to be so calm.”

Virgil shrugs. “As I already said, I know you.” He says, a crooked smile on his lips. “You’re still Logan, vampire or not.”

“I… thank you, Virgil. This really means a lot to me.” Logan tells him, expression soft.

Virgil blushes –the vampire has no business looking at him like that, goddamnit, his poor gay heart is gonna explode if he keeps this up- and waves him off, huffing in embarrassment. “Shut up nerd.”

The sit in silence for a while, enjoying each other’s company now that the truth is out in the open for both to see. If he has to be honest, Logan feels… free, in a way. Lighter, as if an enormous weight has been lifted from his chest. He mulls it over, before deciding with a smile that he quite likes this new feeling.

Then, a thought strikes him.

“You know what I don’t really understand?” he asks, catching the other’s attention. “How did you manage to actually break out of Caelius influence, back there? Logically, it shouldn’t have been possible.”

Virgil snorts, bumping their shoulders. “Wow Lo, such a vote of confidence for my inner strength.”

Logan rolls his eyes, huffing in amusement. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yeah yeah, I get it.” Virgil huffs, chuckling. “You were using your power too, though. I felt it. Maybe you were stronger?”

Logan shakes his head, expression growing more puzzled the more he thinks about it. “Caelius is much older and powerful than me. Moreover, since he’s the one that turned me, he’s technically my master.” He explains, “I may have taken him by surprise, but there’s no way my thrall overpowered his.”

Virgil hums in acknowledgment, mulling something in his head as he watches Logan try to find a solution.

“Could it be…” he suddenly speaks up, cheeks strangely pink, “could it be because, while he was forcing me to follow his orders, I actually wanted to come to you?”

“Wait, really?” Logan asks, obviously taken aback. “You had just found out I was not human at all, and therefore had been lying to you for all the three years you have known me. Why would you have trusted me?”

“I trust you with my life Lo, vampire or not,” Virgil says, expression earnest, and no matter how much he searches Logan can’t find a hint of a lie in the other’s eyes.

Distantly, Logan feels his heart skip a beat, blood rushing to his cheeks as he stares at the other.

“Oh.” He murmurs, unable to form anything more coherent.

Virgil chuckles, smiling. “Logan, I would follow you to the ends of this earth if you just asked.” and that’s the moment Logan’s brain screeches to a halt, his last functioning brain cells leaving him with a metaphorical laugh as he tries to process what exactly Virgil might be implying.

“You’re-” he finally says, clearing his throat while trying to will his blush away- “you’re aware that you sound just like Roman, right?”

Virgil bursts out laughing, eyes twinkling in amusement and something else entirely that makes Logan’s heart beat wildly in his chest.

“Shut up, I know.” The human grins, mockingly punching him on the shoulder. “Still, the sentiment stands. Now the question is… would you want me to, Logan?”

That is a question Logan is pretty sure he knows the answer of.

“I think I do.” He murmurs, before leaning down to kiss Virgil’s smile.

Taglist:  @noodlesforlife13 @keithkhoegane @introverted-happiness @virgilmydarkstrangeson@sidesroleplayblog @im-patton @creativity-killed-thekitten @heck-im-lost @adultmorelikeadolt@gayfandomsaremything @thesealwhodraws @ihateitwhenyourejustvague @logicallycrofters

Plus @teacupfulofstarshine bc I know starmom is analogical trash.

[softrainbowlove]

THE HEIR: ENGAGEMENT | NAMJOON

important note !!! (20.09.2018):  previously known as “Into You”, was rewritten/edited really recommend rereading, + has been turned into a series !!!

request:  could I request a one shot where namjoon meets the prince of korea and falls instantly and madly in love with him ❤️

pairing: Namjoon x Prince! reader

warning: historical inaccuracies, basically I just made up a korean hierarchy that still stands to this day and that has an influence on the political and social system of south korea. so they are important but not too much to destroy democracy. and there is cussing!!!

word count: 5K 

synopsis:  BTS gets invited to the Prince’s birthday party. 

note: the ending was not planned at all ikjslglgjdfg and namjoon seems to be very submissive in this lol (to me namjoon would top prince is just a tease and nam is nervous and madly in love) this is really long but i really love writing so i hope you will too !!

my masterlist ♡  

The news spread like wildfire in South Korea and across the globe. The 7 seven friends have only gotten the news in the morning when their managers and the CEO have requested an urgent meeting. That’s when they dropped the bomb.

All of them gasped in shock and couldn’t believe they had gotten a private invitation to the birthday party of the Prince of South Korea. The invitation was laying on the desk and all of them looked at it with curiosity.

The card had a creamy color and the writing was perfect:

“South Korea will be celebrating on Saturday the 10th of July the annual birthday of Prince (Y/N). His Highness requests the pleasure of Bangtan Sonyeondan company at a swimming party held on this very day in honor of his birthday.”

(They also found out that the ink was made of gold making Taehyung and Jungkook drop the card back on the table.)

It was unexpected. What was even more unexpected was how fast the news has gotten around. Next thing they knew that even British news was talking about it next to other big news channels. It was a bigger exposure than they had expected.

“K-Pop sensation, BTS, has been invited to the royal birthday of Prince (Y/N). It makes them the third Korean group to receive an invitation to one of the biggest celebrations in South Korea."

"Netizens have been wondering why the Prince has invited the group. Two years ago, the young Prince has stopped inviting any superstars. What changed the Prince’s mind? Are what thousands of people wondering all over the world right now."

"BTS fans seem sure that the group has caught the attention of the Prince because of the large exposure the group has gathered over these two last years.”

Jin and Hoseok were the ones who turned on the TV and we’re going through the news channel. They were in their dorms, most of the members were still getting calls from friends and family asking them if the news were true. If half of the world’s news channel were talking about it than it had to be true.

Hoseok stopped at a news channel that showed a picture of the royal Prince. The pictures were from the boy’s Instagram. The picture seemed like any other regular young adult having a great time with his friends. The only difference was that he was an heir to become King of Korea.

“You know, I always found the Prince handsome,” Hoseok commented as they showed more pictures. Even some recent ones where the Prince was on the street with bodyguards surrounding him. The young Prince was suited in a black fitted suit that complimented his skin tone and the expressionless face.

“Is that the Prince?” Namjoon asked as he stepped into the living room.

Hoseok nodded his head. “Yep. Have you never seen him before?"

Namjoon sat next to his two hyungs. "Ah, well of course, but never really that up close.” Namjoon shrugged and Jin nodded understandingly.

“Yeah, he’s also a bit secretive,” Jin commented and then Hoseok looked at Jin nodding his head.

“Even if he is secretive. The people love him.” Hoseok said and at the same time, an image on the screen appeared of the Prince at a local hospital in between doctors with a perfect tooth smile for the cameras. “He’s good with the locals. And he’s also a student…well, he was. He graduated this year.” Namjoon turned to look at Hoseok.

“You sure do know a lot about the Prince.” Hoseok smiled, embarrassed at Namjoon’s words.

“Ah, yeah, my family is really into the royal family and I got into it as well. And I feel like I need to know about our future King.” Hoseok rubbed the back of his neck and then unlocked his phone. “My family has also been bombarding me with questions about the party too.” Hoseok chuckled lightly but Jin and Namjoon could all sense the excitement in Hoseok’s voice. They all were excited and curious about the party. They heard a lot of good things about the birthday party but there never pictures of the party. The parties were always super private and barely insights were given.

Namjoon thought about what Hoseok said and he couldn’t help himself but look up more about the Prince. ‘A man of the people’ were some headlines and there were video clips of photographers videoing the Prince walking. The Prince gave some waves and smiles, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He was being bombarded with questions about his relationships with a Seo Eunbyul. Namjoon pursed his lips. He knew what it felt like to have cameras at his face and so he was curious if the Prince was any different from the papers.

Saturday came, and the boys were standing at the gates of the palace. People were already walking in dressed up for the occasion. Any vehicle had to stop a couple blocks away from the palace for safety reasons. The theme of the party was the 1920s. There were girls with their hair up and a pretty flower in them. All the bathing suits were colorful fitting the cars that were parked on the grass the made the pathway to the entrance of the palace. The idols were wearing shirts over their chests and just had they had their shorts on. Namjoon was carrying a bag full of clothes for later. Hoseok was the one carrying the gift they all bought for the Prince. It was a Japanese whiskey, Hoseok picked out saying that he knew which whiskey to choose for the Prince.

The seven boys looked at around seeing that there weren’t any idols, but they knew that all these people here had too much money and power in their hands. Namjoon could sense the snob young adults and even older people with how they held themselves as they walked.  The thing is, these parties weren’t just a celebration of (Y/N)’s birthday, it was also a business occasion for people from all around the world.

There were many foreigners makings their way to the palace, that the Prince owned. It wasn’t the main palace that they had for many centuries, but an old palace that was barely in use. (Y/N) took the house and changed into a house that people could enter.

The seven idols looked at each other before making their way to the palace. As they entered the mansion they saw a gigantic wooden table with hundreds of gift-wrapped gifts on it. Hoseok bit his lip before walking towards it and putting the gift on it. For a moment the idols looked lost as there wasn’t anyone in the house even though the doors were open. A man in a suit walked in.

“You seem to be lost,” The man was old and Namjoon assumed that he was a butler with the way the older man held a hand behind his back. “The celebration is taking place in the backyard." Directed his hand in the direction to the party.

"Ah.” Hoseok mused, but they all stood still.

“Let me take you there.” They all nodded and gratefully said their thanks. The Butler was taking them to the backyard through the house, the boys admired the old architecture of the house.

“Can I ask if you happen to be the idol group?” The butler asks glancing at the seven boys and all of them nodded. “Hm. Who from you is Kim Namjoon?” Namjoon turned his head back to the butler with a small frown.

“That’s me."

"Ah.” The butler smiled nodding his head. “Prince (Y/N) isn’t always allowed to invite idols to his parties since it would drive a certain image that King Huang isn’t too pleased with.” Namjoon nodded his head listening quietly. “Prince (Y/N) has been pressing his father to be able to invite your group for months now. Might I add that he admires you a lot.” Namjoon’s eyes widen at that comment, it was so unexpected and unbelievable. The other guys have turned their heads to that comment taken back as well. The butler smiled. “But you didn’t hear that from me.” The butler then opened the doors revealing the backyard. Music was blasted and all of them recognized that it was “Cherry Bomb”.

The seven boys turned to thank the butler, but he had already disappeared. The pool was filled with people and a pink gigantic flamingo pool float. The area was huge, people were scattered around talking to each other sipping on the red liquid that was being offered by servants. Namjoon looked around and honestly, he felt like he was in a movie that was taking place in the 50s. The only thing that was out of place was the music, but he didn’t mind it that much.

“Oh my God. That’s Bangtan Sonyeondan.” Eyes were now on the seven boys. They were used to having people staring at them, but this was different. The music changed to an English song.

“BTS is here,” Yui whispered glancing at (Y/N), who took off his sun glances and looked at the boys standing in front of the back door of his home. He was laying in between some girls on a blanket. He was the only one not wearing colorful bathing shorts, he wore black. Smiling the Prince stood up.

“Let’s go greet them."

Yui followed her friend’s footsteps and slid her sunglasses on her nose. (Y/N) smiled when he got to the lost looking boys. Immediately Hoseok noticed the presence of the Prince and bowed. The others were quick to follow it wasn’t the usual bows they gave to anyone else. It was lower just as you expect to bow to a Prince.

(Y/N) bowed as well, a quick one…It wasn’t really a bow.

”Bangtan Sonyeondan.”  The name slipped out in perfect Korean and Namjoon could tell that the Prince had an accent. Namjoon licked his lip when he noticed that the Prince was more handsome in real life. The smile that the Prince wore was obviously a smirk. The Prince’s eyes traveled to look at the boys standing in front of him. People who were already at the party had turned around to quietly watch the Prince interact with the idol group. Even the music was turned off in respect. “I’m glad you could make it, I almost thought you’d choose your schedules over me.” There a teasing smirk on the Prince’s lips as he eyed each member. He knew that they wouldn’t choose their schedules over him.

"It’s an honor to be here, your Highness, I don’t think we’d throw away an opportunity like this,” Namjoon spoke up with a clear voice just how he practiced. Prince (Y/N)’s eyes moved to him and Namjoon suddenly felt a bit intimidated by the long stare. It was a stare that told him how much power (Y/N) held. But somehow the eyes twinkled at the sight of Namjoon and a smile appeared.

“Kim Namjoon.” It wasn’t a question. The smirk turned into a smile and Namjoon couldn’t help but let his eyes drop down to the lips for a second.  

“Y-yes.” (Y/N) gaze lingered on Namjoon for longer than it should have without saying anything. It was intimidating and somehow alluring in Namjoon’s perspective. Namjoon noticed the way the Prince held himself even in just short black bathing shorts. Namjoon had to hold himself so that his gaze wouldn’t drop to the Prince’s legs. That would be too embarrassing, lips were okay. Lips are a good sight, too, Namjoon thought shamelessly.

“I do not want your boys rooming around in the house unless it’s an urgency.” The Prince declared, and his eyes were back on Namjoon’s, who was straddled by the unexpected announcement. Namjoon nodded his head after looking back up into (Y/N)’s eyes well. There was something about those eyes, they were a closed gate to (Y/N)’s mind and feelings. Namjoon felt an urge to want to explore the eyes.

“Of course, Your Highness.” (Y/N) smirked again when Namjoon referred to him with ‘highness’.

“Good. And please, enjoy yourself.” With that, the Prince turned around walking away. The girl at his side before stayed. She had a confused frown on her face, but she gave the idols a small nod before turning around and following (Y/N). Namjoon let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he was holding.

The rest of the boys all turned to him.

“What was that?” Jin asked with a raised brow.

“What do you mean?” Namjoon asked he gulped. He knew exactly what he meant, but instead, he started leading the group to an empty spot with a shade under the seats.

“He addressed you with your full name, and only you. He didn’t bother to look at us after he looked at you.” Jimin exclaimed, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Does he even know our names?” Taehyung asked as he started taking off his shirt and Jungkook followed suit. The youngest members were excited for the pool since they found it was a pool party.

Namjoon frowned at his friends’ words a bit as he set their stuff down.

“Of course, he does,” Namjoon said, even though he was a bit unsure too.

“Yeah, didn’t seem like that. And he was definitely checking you out.” Yoongi added.

“What? No.” Namjoon exclaimed a bit surprised at the remark and Yoongi rolled his eyes falling into the seat.

“Of course, you didn’t notice you were too busy staring at his lips.” At this Namjoon grew red feeling like he just been exposed. Jungkook, Taehyung, and Jimin burst into laughter.

“Shut up,” Namjoon muttered under his breath and Yoongi could only smirk.

“Jeez, crushing on the Prince, Namjoon?” Hoseok asked with a playful smile on his lips.

“Real classy.” Jungkook jumped in with a grin as well. Namjoon groaned loudly and covered his redden face with a towel as his members laughed.

Then Jungkook and Taehyung were already running toward the pool followed by Hoseok. Namjoon really didn’t feel like going so instead he laid on the seat. Jin had taken a drink and started a conversation with Yoongi while putting on sun cream on the younger.

Namjoon thought about the Prince again, he didn’t imagine him to be this intimidating. Licking his lip, he put on some sunglasses to avoid the glaring sun. After a while he forced himself to make conversations with strangers, just to give the group a good image. Even though it seemed like Taehyung and Hoseok were already doing so. He walked around for a while stopping at the food bar. While he was opening conversations, he could feel eyes on him the whole time. It didn’t bother him at first, but after a while, he finally turned his head to the stare. It was the Prince, who had his dark eyes on him the whole time with zero shame.

Namjoon grew a bit flustered at this bowing his head slightly. (Y/N) smiled again. The smile seemed to have some sort of effect on him. Namjoon had never seen the Prince smile like that before. Namjoon turned to the food grabbing a few of his favorites and then went to pour in something to drink.

“Hey.” The greeting scared Namjoon making him drop his cup.

“Fuck.” Namjoon cursed and then when his eyes were greeted by (Y/N)’s eyes, his eyes went wide. “Shit-ah! I’m so sorry, your Highness.” And as Namjoon bowed his food almost spilled but (Y/N) caught them with his hands.

“No, I’m sorry that I scared you like this.” And then the Prince let out a sweet innocent laugh at Namjoon’s expression. “You think I don’t curse like that?” The Prince smirked and took a piece of meat from Namjoon’s plate. (Y/N) quickly pops the meat into his mouth and Namjoon could only watch. “Ah, do you like meat? I prefer rice balls actually.” Then the Prince reached out for the rice ball and ate one. Namjoon felt his mouth go dry. Was he doing it on purpose? Namjoon thought helplessly. “So, what do you prefer?"

"M-meat, your Highness,” Namjoon answered and (Y/N) smiled.

“I thought so."

And for another second he thought that (Y/N) was hinting at something else.

But maybe it was Namjoon’s own perverted thoughts.

"Do you not want to go swimming?"

Namjoon shrugged his shoulder. "I don’t, uh really enjoy swimming that much, your highness.” (Y/N) pouted slightly.

“I was thinking about going swimming with you.” Prince (Y/N) sighed clearly upset. Suddenly a girl came up to the Prince and she battled her eyelashes at him.

“Yah, oppa, you’ve been ignoring me.” The girl pouted wrapping her arm around the Prince’s. (Y/N) didn’t even bother to look down at the girl, who obviously wasn’t his sister.

“Ah, well it seems like I am needed.” (Y/N) gave Namjoon an awkward smile before leaving with the girl still attached to him. Namjoon’s eyes followed them as they disappeared into the crowd with a frown. Namjoon let out a sigh feeling and looked down at his plate. He grabbed onto a piece of meat before putting it in his mouth and making his way to sit down and eat.

Jin came back and hovered over Namjoon's shoulder and started eating from it. Namjoon rolled his eyes but let him. Jimin had gone out to also converse with a few people while Yoongi was just lying and enjoying the sun.

“Why is Prince (Y/N) so interested in you? Hoseok asked as he popped in. Namjoon shrugged offering Hoseok food.

"I don’t know.” Namjoon pursed his lips. He enjoyed getting the attention of (Y/N), even though he would love to sit down and get to know the other. The urge to know Prince as (Y/N) and not Prince (Y/N) of Korea, was growing when he watched the Prince interact with people. He wasn’t wearing the same face as he did with Namjoon. The face was more serious, tenser and colder. It didn’t look like the face he wore when he was with the locals on newspapers’ headlines. It seemed like a facade. Or were the laughing and sweet smiles toward him just a facade?

Namjoon sighed, frustrated with the fact that he didn’t know what to believe. Why would he be frustrated anyways? This was the first time he had ever met (Y/N), he shouldn’t be bothered by the lack of communication between them. Namjoon wasn’t sure. After a couple of hours of mostly making sure the youngest members and Hoseok didn’t cause any trouble and enjoying the music Namjoon noticed that (Y/N) had disappeared. No longer could the Prince give him looks that made Namjoon’s shiver and feel flustered. He was a bit disappointed but soon forgot it. He had a bigger problem, he needed to go to the toilet. So, Namjoon excused himself and went to the home only thinking about the bathroom. Hurriedly he tried finding it on the ground floor but when he couldn’t he went up.

Namjoon stopped walking around when he suddenly heard noises. His ear has heard small sobs coming from behind a closed door. Worriedly he walked over to the door and knocked on it.

“Is everything alright?” Namjoon asked after he knocked and leaned his ear against the door to listen to any sounds. The sobs have stopped and for long seconds there was no sound. Namjoon wanted to knock again but the door opened. There stood the Prince, still shirtless with wet cheeks and red eyes.

“When I asked for you to make sure your boys don’t get into the house, I also meant you Namjoon.” Namjoon gulped stepping a step back. There was no smile on the other's face, it was cold and looked irritated by just the presence of Namjoon.

“I-I know, your Highness. But I really needed to go to the bathroom.” Namjoon stuttered out. (Y/N) pursed his lips and then stepped out of the room. To Namjoon’s surprise, it was the bathroom. Shooting a glance at (Y/N) before entering the bathroom and closing the door. He did his business and washed his hands. He got out and found that (Y/N) was waiting for him. The Prince was staring into the distance, busy in his own mind.

“Your Highness.” Namjoon coughed awkwardly making the Prince come back to reality. The Prince looked at Namjoon for a few too long seconds. “You shouldn’t have waited.”

“We don’t want you to get lost again, do we?” (Y/N) put back on a lazy smile and Namjoon nodded. The idol gulped but then decided to ask.

“Would-would you like to talk about it?” And the moment it slipped out of his lips he regretted it. (Y/N) raised his eyebrow at the idol. Namjoon grew a bit flustered. “I mean, I’m used to asking my fellow group if they want to talk after I find them crying, so, uh. I’m sorry.” Namjoon stuttered out while rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. (Y/N) stared at Namjoon for a while trying to decode the idol. Then the Prince pursed his lips and looked away. It looked like he was debating with himself if he should accept or not. Suddenly, (Y/N) grasped into Namjoon’s hands and pulled him to the opposite room. It was a locked room that the Prince needed to unlock with his keys. When the doors opened it revealed with a bed in the middle and book scattered around it. Namjoon looked around curiously while (Y/N) closed the door again.

“This my room. I don’t sleep here. I just come here to study and such.” The Prince shrugged and walked over to his closet. He picked out a black shirt and put it over his bare chest. “You’re the leader, right?” Namjoon nodded his head, his interest had gone to books. He noticed that one of them had the titles: “The Birth of Tragedy”.

“Yes, Your Highness.”  (Y/N) hummed watching Namjoon’s eyes stick to the book.

“It’s considered rude to not look at the person you are speaking to.” Namjoon looked up gulping. “Well, that’s what my father always told me.” (Y/N) walked over to Namjoon in a predatory manner that made Namjoon’s heart rate increase. When the Prince stood close to the idol he reached down picking up the book. Then held it up for Namjoon. “Interested? It’s the translated version. My father says it’s a waste of time, quote politics is more important than philosophy end quote. Though I beg to differ.” Namjoon licked his lips. “Don’t you think so, Namjoon? You’re a leader too, you should know.” 

The way (Y/N) was looking at him gave Namjoon goosebumps.

“I-I think that politics does need philosophy, and isn’t some of it based on it? I-I mean what do I know I’m an idol.” Namjoon stuttered blushing in embarrassment and (Y/N) smiled.

“So? I like to hear different opinions.”

“I think such a trait would make a good leader,” Namjoon said without thinking twice. (Y/N) stared at Namjoon for a while trying to comprehend the words. Then (Y/N) turned around and Namjoon felt like he had said something wrong. He opened his mouth to try to fix his statement, but (Y/N) beat him to it.

“You do think a lot, Namjoon.” (Y/N) ran a hand through his hair. “I like that.” Namjoon felt a shiver run down his spine when (Y/N) glanced at him over his shoulder. The Prince took a seat on his bed and then patted the spot next to me. Namjoon quietly takes a seat next to the Prince, who pulled his legs on the bed and crisscrossed them. “You’re very smart and very handsome.” Namjoon turned his gaze to (Y/N) feeling his heart suddenly start to pound against his chest at the compliment. “Well, I always thought so. I hope you don’t me saying so.”

“No, I don’t mind at all,” Namjoon answered his eyes burning into (Y/N)’s.

“Do you know what my father also tells me?”

Namjoon wasn’t sure when the atmosphere has dropped to this way, but he wasn’t going to complain. “Tell me.” The Prince leaned forward his lips inches away from Namjoon’s ear.

“He tells me not to kiss handsome boys.” 

Namjoon breathing hitched and he licked his lips.

“It’s not like you listen anyways, right?” (Y/N) bit his lip when Namjoon whispered into his ear as well with his deep voice. And then (Y/N) hummed crawling into Namjoon’s lap. The Prince straddled the idol and wrapped his arms around Namjoon’s neck. Namjoon’s gaze dropped low to (Y/N)’s lips and then back to his eyes. “You’re such a bad boy.”

(Y/N) shivered and leaned forward pressing his body against Namjoon’s. “I am.” Namjoon grabbed into (Y/N)’s hips but let one of his hand travels up to the Prince’s neck. The pulse on (Y/N)’s neck made Namjoon feel even more flustered than he already was. It was hot and hard to ignore. And (Y/N) leaned down so their faces were just inches apart. Their lips brushed against each other. Yet there was something nagging in the back of Namjoon’s mind.

“What if anyone finds out?” Namjoon breathed against (Y/N)’s lips. (Y/N) chuckled.

“Namjoon, have you ever been pressured in your life?” Namjoon thought and went back into some memories.

“A few times.”

“What about arranged marriage?” Namjoon’s throat went dry and he already knew that (Y/N) knew the answer. “I’m supposed to propose to her tonight. I can’t even enjoy my birthday anymore.”

“To who?”

“The girl, who keeps on referring to me with ‘oppa’.” (Y/N) said it in an annoyed tone. “I like it when referring to me as ‘your highness’. Everyone here thinks they can just call me by my name, but you.” Then (Y/N) cups Namjoon’s cheeks and then the Prince smiled lazily. “You’re a good boy.” Namjoon felt his cheeks grow warm and he knew that (Y/N) could it too. “And good boys don’t have to worry about trouble. I’ll make sure that no one will hurt you or your group.” (Y/N) creased Namjoon’s soft cheeks. “That’s what you wanted to know, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Namjoon’s nodded his head in a daze.

(Y/N) hummed happily and then let his finger trace over Namjoon’s lips. “Now that we got that out the way. How about you kiss me with those beautiful lips of yours?” (Y/N) tilted his head and moved his fingers to the other’s jawline. Before Namjoon could do as the Prince suggested there was a knock on the door and it opened revealing the butler from before.

“Oh, my apologies.” The butler said but didn’t move from or seemed apologetic. He was a bit surprised at the sight of the Prince straddling the idol. The only reason why he was surprised was that he expected it to be later than this hour. “Your Highness, your father has just called and wanted to be informed on how the proposal is going. But from this site, I would assume you still haven’t done so.” Namjoon blushed and (Y/N) just rolled his eyes. The Prince leaned back to just sit in Namjoon’s lap his hand running down the other’s chest.

“No, I have not proposed to her yet.” (Y/N) barked. The butler let out a sigh but did not seem so bothered by (Y/N) slight attitude.

“Well, I would suggest you go down and entertain your guests.”

At this (Y/N) smiled. “But I am entertaining my guest, right here. Aren’t I, Namjoon?” The Prince had a glint of mischief in them that matched his smirk. Namjoon licked his lips and he nodded his head making (Y/N) let out a giggle. “He’s such a sweet obedient boy.” (Y/N)’s hand slides against (Y/N)’s cheek and a shiver ran down Namjoon’s spine.  

“Your Highness.” It sounded threatening, but (Y/N) let out a sigh and then stood up from Namjoon’s lap. Namjoon was a bit disappointed at the loss of contact, but he didn’t say anything.

“Jihun, have I ever told you how much I appreciated you? You’re always making sure I don’t get into trouble.” (Y/N) hummed walking over to his desk picking up a tiny red box where the ring was obviously in. The Prince turned around, so he could make eye contact with Namjoon.

“I try my best, your Highness.”

“Well, this time it won’t be on you. What are the reasons for me getting married to her?” (Y/N) didn’t even need to say the girl’s name they all knew who he was talking about.

“Kim Eun Byul has a very good reputation in the public eye.”

“Any political relation?”

“No, Sir.” Jihun didn’t hesitate. “Not even in the family. They are just rich.”

(Y/N) was thinking and Namjoon could hear him thinking. Then a smile erupted in (Y/N)’s face. “Reputation, huh?” Then the Prince walked back over to Namjoon. “How’s your reputation? If it wasn’t good I wouldn’t have been allowed to invite you.” This is when Namjoon had realized what the Prince was planning and Jihun did too.

“Sir, I know that you thrive to rebelling against your father, but this will have massive consequences on your image.” Jihun tried but (Y/N) just rolled his eyes.

“Because I would marry someone I actually like?” The Prince’s voice was dripping with annoyances and he had crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not their choice to make. They already have done enough.” Something told Namjoon that this wasn’t just about the Prince’s marriage.

Jihun lowered his gaze and his head sympathizing with the royal’s struggle. Then he looked up with a glint of determination. “Sir, if this is really what you want…Then I suggest you try and persuade your father and the people.” The Prince was looking away, out of the window with his back turned to them. “After all, you are right. It will be your future.” He glanced at Namjoon. “But you always will need to put your people in that future too.”

Namjoon watched (Y/N)’s shoulder tense up and tightened his hands around his arms. There was a silence between the three men as two of them waited for the Prince to reply. Finally, the Prince turned around. His arms fell back to his side and he walked over to Namjoon with a grin on his lips. It was an unexpected reaction to Namjoon, but he couldn’t help but smile a small one, too. The Prince was just that intoxicating.

The Prince wrapped his hands around Namjoon’s face and leaned his head down. “I’d rather marry you than anyone else in the whole world.” The grin wasn’t there anymore and the way (Y/N) sounded, so sincere and gentle, made Namjoon feel like he could melt right then and there.

“I never thought of marriage before.” Namjoon stuttered out.

The Prince tilted his head. “…never?”

“Well, when I was younger yea but…”

“It’s alright! We will be engaged first and you can see that as dating. And I can end it whenever you want.” (Y/N) had taken a seat and his hands dropped to Namjoon’s hands holding them in his own. He was acting differently. Namjoon could see the big hope in (Y/N)’s eyes, eager like a little kid and it warmed his heart.

“A-alright.” Suddenly, a bright eye-smile appeared on the Prince’s lips and Namjoon’s hands were brought to (Y/N)’s lips. A kiss was put on his knuckles and Namjoon’s cheeks grew bright pink. The affection made his heart start racing, again.

Namjoon stood in front of his members much more relaxed than before and less than he expected to be. The gold ring was on his left ring finger and all the boys looked at it wide-eyed. 

“So, you left to go to the bathroom and now you are engaged to the Prince of Korea?” Yoongi said with a raised eyebrow summarizing Namjoon’s long story. 

Namjoon nodded his head awkwardly a blush forming on his cheeks. The group was in awe and shock. It was noticeable on their faces.

Then (Y/N) came back from his phone obviously seemed too tensed, but when he spotted Namjoon his heart skipped a beat and he walked right over to him.

“Namjoon.” All BTS turned their heads to the Prince bowing. (Y/N) smiled at Namjoon. “Just had the pleasure to talk to my father.” The Prince turned to look at the other members. “My father is such a blast, you would love meeting him.” There was obvious sarcasm dripping of (Y/N)’s words but they didn’t say anything. “Are you free this Thursday at…” (Y/N) looked down at his phone’s screen. “Eleven?” Namjon thought for a while and then nodded his head.

“Yeah.”

“Great. You’ll get the pleasure of meeting your future parents in law.”

Namjoon paled and so did the other members as their eyes drifted to their leader.

Future Parents-In-Law.

The King and Queen of Korea.

Parents-In-Law.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let them bite you.” The Prince snaked his arm around Namjoon’s waist pulling the other closer. (Y/N) put his chin on fiancée’s shoulder with a grin on his lips. “Only I can.”

next part 

[therearemonstersinthedark]

Astronautical Ch 9: No Answers

A Guardians of the Galaxy Fanwork

Pairings: Peter Quill / Gamora (one-sided)

Genre: Adventure, general

Word Count: 5k

Rating: T to be safe

Links: Fanfiction.net || Ao3

Summary:     The team has gained two members, but their time for celebration is spent recovering from the battle, both physically and mentally.

Author’s Notes: Sorry for the late update and rambling chapter. It's been a very long week. This is the busy season at one job and at the other one we've had some very stressful cases and a couple emergency surgeries. I've been spending a lot of time just destressing with Overwatch, time I usually spend on writing and editing. I debated skipping the update this week entirely as this chapter and the next were originally one, and there were some scenes and details that I was still working out. I think I have them all hammered down, or at least I'll live with the choices I have made.This chapter is titled for "No Answers" by Amber Run. The lyrics and tune fit nicely with the story, and it has some double meanings as well, so it worked out great.I do not own Marvel or the Guardians, this is purely a fanwork for entertainment.

Chapter 9: No Answers

Peter hadn't let go of Gamora's hand as he lead her back to the Milano which they rode up as the tractor beam pulled it into the Eclector's loading bay.

A torrent of emotions wrestled one another in his chest. He wanted to be excited, to celebrate the small victory over Thanos and the near completion of his team, but a sourness had taken over the air. No words of congratulations or cheers of relief were exchanged in the Milano's creaking hull. Nebula vanished without a word into the many halls of the Eclector before the ramp had even settled onto the floor of the bay. Groot had looked for a moment as though he wanted to ask Peter something, but after a shifting his weight side to side a few times he simply made his way into a dark corner where he curled in on himself. Drax lingered on the ship just long enough to gather his whetting stone and give Gamora long considerate stare before assuring Peter that he would not be far if he should need help and taking his own leave.

Yondu was, to put it mildly, less than pleased that Peter had somehow managed to return with a second assassin in tow. After much arguing and more than a few threats to leave them stranded on the nearest moon or sell them all as a lot to Ronan, they reached a tenative agreement that Gamora could stay on the condition that all her weapons be confiscated for the duration of her stay, that she would spend the first day in the holding cell, and that she would be wearing a tracker while she was on the ship. The assassin seemed to have no real objection to this, accepting the terms with more grace than Peter, who had sputtered at the thought of locking her up.

"I can't believe they're making you stay in here. I'm so sorry." Peter appologized for the hundreth time as he unrolled a mattress in the makeshift prison. Gamora just shrugged her shoulders, the blanket folded neatly in her arms wrinkling with the gesture.

"I have slept in much worse conditions."

"Yeah, that's, not as reassuring as you think it is." He told her with an easy laugh as he smoothed out some non-existent kinks in the foam.

"I will be fine." She assured him in a softer tone with what may have been the ghost of a ghost of a smile.

If he squinted.

"I know but... I'll be close if you need anything." He had originally planned to just bunk the night in the spacious cell along with her, but it had been a deal-breaker for the ravager captain. He was so tired and disheartened that he didn't even have it in him to argue the point. Plus, Gamora would probably not appreciate the gesture as the extension of friendship he was going for.

A huge yawn reminded Peter of just how badly his body needed to rest. Standing up from the perfectly flat mattress Peter chewed on his lip briefly, trying to think of something to say here but his brain was just spitting out steam now.

"Well, goodnight." He said lamely before turning and exiting the cell, Kraglin shutting the door and locking it behind him.

"As long as she don't cause no trouble, I'm sure she'll be out of there in no time." Kraglin offered as he followed Peter to where he had set up his makeshift bed just around the corner. "The cap's just tryna look out for everyone, you know that."

"I know. I do. Just... have a good night Kraglin." He sighed, flopping onto his own mattress and practically melting into it. The weight of the day seemed to crash down on him all at once like a tidal wave and he was out before the first mate's footsteps had faded down the hall.

-x-

On nights like this, when Peter crashed from exhaustion, he typically fell deep into a dreamless void of blissful nothingness until he woke. This night, however, he dreamed. He dreamed of swirling colors and distorted voices singing along to an unfamiliar tune. At some point he stood in the courtyard once more, spotlights all turned to him until their heat was unbearable, burning the color from his skin. Across the court, impossibly lit up in the shadows was Rocket, just as he had last seen him. Peter's heart skipped a beat and as he watched, small hands reached up to remove the muzzle. Free of the cage, Rocket's lips peeled back into a wicked smile, teeth sparkling as they parted.

"PEEEETER." Ego's voice called out in a deep sing-song tune. The shock of his father's voice coming from his friend's mouth was enough to make him stumble back, but when he stepped out of the circle of lights his boot landed on nothing and he was falling. There were no boosters on his boots to save him as he spiraled in and out of distant voices, calling, singing, laughing, weeping, and tattered half-formed emotions that all smeared together, until eventually even that faded away and he was finally left to rest in peace.

-x-

The next morning started out pretty quiet and uneventful. After dragging his aching body to its feet and checking on Gamora, who was feigning sleep, he stumbled his way down to the galley to fetch them breakfast.

"Knock knock." Peter called out, a tray full of food from the kitchen balanced in each hand. Gamora glanced up at him through thick lashes before rolling gracefully to her feet. He knew she'd been faking it.

"Breakfast?" He asked cheerfully, sliding the tray under the door for her to take.

"Thank you." She murmured, accepting it without hesitation but giving it a long look once it was in her hands.

"It's not poisoned, I promise. You can have mine instead if you want." He wiggled the tray balanced precariously in his casted hand for emphasis.

"No, this is fine." She didn't mention that the nanobots in her bloodstream would filter out any poison anyways. Peter decided not to mention it either.

"So, Starlord-"

"Peter. My real name is Peter Quill."

"So, Peter Quill," She started, taking a seat on a nearby crate and crossing her legs, placing the tray carefully in her lap. "Why don't you tell me who you are, and why you seem to think we're friends?"

Peter looked around briefly for something to sit on himself, but when nothing appeared he gave up with a shrug and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the door.

"Well, I guess, we're not. But we were, or we should be? I don't really understand it myself, but in the reality I come from we met on the planet Xandar after you had decided to defect from Thanos. Y'see -ahm- You see, I'm somewhat of a legendary outlaw, and I had stolen the map to the Infinity stone- although I didn't know that's what it was then- and beat Ronan to it, and you were going to steal it from me so you could sell it to some collector guy. Except in the middle of our fight we got attacked by a couple of bounty hunters and we all got thrown into the Kyln together where we met Drax-that big guy with the tatoos-, and well, we kind of ended up saving Xandar and becoming known as the Guardians of the Galaxy." Peter took a long sip from his mug as he finished and willed Gamora to believe him.

"And why would I just suddenly betray Thanos then of all times?" She asked. It seemed like a strange first question to Peter. Not one he was expecting, at least.

"You told me Thanos killed your parents right in front of you, that he tortured you and turned you into a weapon, and you couldn't just sit back and watch while he wiped out an entire planet. I guess when the orb -the infinity stone- came onto the scene, you saw your chance." Peter shrugged. To be honest, Peter wasn't entirely sure as to the depths of her motives himself. He had always figured that she had just left that mad man's rule at the first opportunity. The money that the collector offered was certainly enough to allow anyone to vanish if they wished. For a moment he thought he saw something dark flicker across her face, but it was there and gone before he could identify it, if it was there at all.

"I see."Gamora took a bite of what Peter fondly refered to as 'ravager gruel' and chewed it thoughtfully.

"And this is your chance, again, to join me, to join us, and turn things back the way they should be. We can save Xandar, the NOVA Corps, and everyone else that Ronan has killed since then."

"And how exactly do you intend to take on the Titan himself?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. This was the first time someone had asked him that with genuine curiosity instead of sarcasm.

"With the infinity stone we stole from Ronan. You, me, and the other Guardians held it and used its power to destroy Ronan. We can do it again, I know we can, if we can get the whole team together." Something plucked cruelly at his heartstrings at the thought of his almost complete team and the last missing member, and he found himself pausing to swallow a lump in his throat.

"How did we manage to wield an infinity stone and survive?" She asked, her voice hushed as she leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Yeah, I was confused about that at first, too, but it turns out I-"

"Peter! There you are!" Kraglin came trotting around the corner just then, looking like he'd been jogging for a while. Peter was a little miffed at having their moment ruined, but he didn't want Yondu to find out that Peter knew about his father, so he supposed the conversation was over for now.

"Hey Kraglin."

"Sorry to int'rupt your time with the pri-sah- the guest, but the Cap' was hopin' to have another conversation now that you're r'covered enough after the fight."

Peter snorted at that. The conversation Yondu wanted was more than likely just yelling at him some more about the cost of ship repairs and the risk he was taking harboring a fugitive from both Thanos and whatever other authorities had bounties on her head.

"Yeah, yeah. Might as well get it over with." Peter rose and stretched the tingling from his legs. "I'll be back for lunch." He promised Gamora with a wink before following Kraglin back the way he'd come, shoveling food into his mouth as he walked.

-x-

The conversation with Yondu went about as well as he could have hoped. After he got his fill of verbally lashing Peter, they eventually settled down into talking actual business. For now Yondu planned to lay pretty low. They'd made a couple jumps while Peter was out, but they were still pretty deep into what Yondu refered to as 'Ronan's territory.' Sopposedly, there was a contact that was pretty trusted that they were working to arrange a drop with to dump the evidence of their raid pretty quickly.

Until then, they were drifting through some poorly charted systems that afforded easy hiding while they repaired their ships. Speaking of. It seemed that the Milano was down for the count after whatever that beam had done to its systems. It looked like they were making the Eclector their home for the time being.

After his meeting with Yondu, Peter made his way to check on his ship in person.

The Milano was right where he had left it the night before, held up by cables rather than its own landing system which had been unable to deploy. Its vibrant colors were muted under a layer of the same ashen dust that had covered the outer facilities of Half-world, and the gears to the access ramp, which had been manually forced open, were impacted with dirt. Overall, it was a pretty depressing sight to behold. The inside did little to change that impression. No lights were working, so he'd had to stumble around with just the light that filtered in from the bay.

As he dug around in the emergency kit for the glowsticks and waited for his eyes to begin adjusting, something in the corner moved. Peter nearly dropped the entire kit as he spun to face the threat, only to let out a breath of relief when he recognized Groot's hunched up silhouette.

"Hey Groot. You startled me, lurking in the shadows like that." Peter chastised as he fished a handful of glowsticks out.

"I am groot." Came the whispy reply.

"You're hiding silently in a dark corner of an unlit ship. That's basically lurking."

"I am groot." His voice was like wind rattling through a dead forest.

An idea struck and Peter snapped several of the sticks, activating them and lining them up along the ceiling with the attatched magnets to provide him with some makeshift lighting. It was far from ideal, but he could make out what he needed.

Down by his knees was a panel about 5 feet long. Behind it was the water tank that fed into the small kitchen area. Crouching down, he felt along the edges until he found the little divet he was looking for and pried it open with a screwdriver from the kit he'd placed down beside him. The tank was designed to come out manually and allow crewmembers access to water in the event of a crash or system failure. After turning a couple knobs to block the flow between the pipes, he grabbed the handle that was built into the 20-gallon storage tank and hauled it out of the wall.

"Here you go, bud. This'll help you feel better." Groot looked up with an almost heartbreaking expression of hope as Peter dragged the tank across the floor to him. 20 gallons were heavy. Once he had the tank settled at Groot's side he unscrewed a lid from the top and Groot uncurled to dip his arm into the water. Peter was surprised to see that during his rest, he had made no attempt to regrow the arm that had been cut off. A wave of shame washed over him when he realized that he had been so distracted with Gamora and his own exhaustion that he hadn't even thought to do this before.

Groot quickly drained the tub and Peter lifted the now very light container and slid it back into the wall to fill it up again. They went through another tank and a half before the Collosus seemed to have had his fill, curling up into a looser expression of the pose he'd found him in. Peter thought he looked a little better, but it was hard to tell under the faint green glow of the tubes above.

After their victory on Xandar, Rocket had rigged up a set of specialized high UVA/B lights just for Groot that had helped him grow. All space faring ships had a standardized low level of UV for the crew's health, but with Groot's condition, he would probably be better off with the higher powered ones. The lights on the Milano now were useless, but the Ravagers might still have some plant lights stowed away somewhere from a brief period in which a few of them had decided to take up an illegal form of botany. Yondu had come down on them like a hammer when he found them wasting the ship's resources on 'recreational activities,' but he doubted the lights would have just been jettisoned.

"How does a little plant light sound, bud?" He asked.

"I am groot!" Groot's eyes had lost the sunken faded appearance and Peter was pretty sure that if he leaned in he could make out entire galaxies in the huge puppy dog eyes that shone up at him.

By the time Peter had tracked down the old lights - buried under about an inch of dust in the very back of one of the lower storange units - and set them up in an out-of-the-way-but-still-close room, his stomach was starting to rumble. A half a dozen lamps sat wherever they could fit among the shelving in what was probably once a janatorial closet, but appeared to be used to store outdated ship parts nowadays. Groot was settled happily underneath them, eyes closed and looking almost content as he soaked up their beams.

"Alright bud. You stay here as long as you like. The hangar is just down the hallway, third access door on the right and up a small flight of stairs. Got it?"

Groot just hummed and nodded his head once.

"Great. I'm going to go grab myself some lunch and check on Gamora. I'll be working on repairs later, so if you need me just go to the ship." With that he backed out of the room and made his way back to the main kitchen, whistling tunes as he went.

-x-

The crew was certainly feeling their oats after the firefight and Peter easily scored a hearty meal piled high with meat and veggies and a mug of Ravager's beer, and a twin platter with water for Gamora which he balanced across his bad arm.

The smell of the food was torture as he hurried towards Gamora's cell. His stomach was starting to speak in tongues by the time he made it around the last corner to find her doing pushups on the floor of the holding room.

"I brought lunch." He called, sliding her tray under the door like he had that morning. While she stood and stretched languidly, Peter flopped down in front of the door and finally tucked into his own food.

"Thank you." She said in a soft voice when she finally took her tray and joined him, mirroring his position on her side of the bars.

"S'no pwoblm." He mumbled out, still not looking up as he scarfed down his lunch.

"Not for the lunch." Peter finally paused and glanced up to see her staring at him intently, tray balancing untouched across her lap. "For... Halfworld."

Peter swallowed his last bite and sat up straighter to meet her gaze, his fork clinking softly as he rested it against his own tray.

"Really, it was no problem. I am just so happy to have you back. I've missed you."

The tug on the corner of her lips definitely wasn't his imagination this time, and neither was the way her eyes softened just the tiniest bit before she broke from his gaze to study her own plate of food.

"Regardless, I am grateful for what you have done for me."

They ate in silence for a while after that, but when Peter had finished his meal he found he didn't want to leave just yet.

"Would you mind if I asked you something?"

"Of course not. What do you need to know?" She answered, placing her fork across her tray and sliding it back out, apparently done eating. He wasn't used to her being so formal, usually there was at least a layer of good-natured challenge or 'your an idiot Peter' to all of their conversations, but then, this Gamora hadn't been through hell and back with him, didn't know that he had nearly died for her, and was locked up in a fake prison cell on a ship overflowing with ravagers and maniacs. He didn't blame her for playing it close to the vest and testing the waters.

"I was hoping you could tell me more about this half-world place. About... the security there."

"You're worried about your friend."

"Yeah, how did you know?" He asked, surprised.

"I pieced it together." She said with a mysterious grin. "I was watching the security feeds from my ship. And you talk in your sleep. Quite loudly."

Peter frowned at that. He'd certainly been known to mumble nonsense frases from time to time, and had once woke an entire room of ravagers including himself by screaming about a Mars and Spagetti, but it was rare that it ever made any sense. When he thought back to the dreams he'd been having, however, a shudder ran through his body. Who knows what he could have been mumbling about.

"What was I saying?" He asked hesitantly, a heat creeping across his face.

"Nothing uncouth." She assured him with a quick smile. "You spoke of leaving someone behind. Cried for your team to turn around over and over. I guess they didn't listen."

"No." Peter sighed, pulling Gamora's half-eaten tray over and stacking it on top of his empty one. "They didn't."

"After that you called out to your father for a while before falling silent."

Peter was suddenly glad that he had finished his food already because the thought of calling out to that bastard, unconscious or not, cured any appatite he had left.

"Who did you leave behind?" Her soft tone was like a balm on his rattled nerves.

"Rocket. One of the guards. About yay big, striped tail, round ears." Peter mumbled, gesturing to just over his shoulder height as he sat, shoulders sagging slightly. He had lost his earlier good mood.

Gamora tilted her head slightly and pursed her lips.

"I don't know much about that place, or the guards. I never spent a lot of time there. But I am sure that your friend is fine. Korath will be much too busy hunting us down to worry about a guard that you have no connection to."

"Okay. Thanks." Her answer didn't make him feel much better. His friend was still trapped on that barren ball of ash that was probably made out of all his worst fears. Willing or not, he had left his best friend in his own personal hell. Sitting here sulking wasn't going to help, though. The sooner he got the Milano up and running, the sooner they could figure out a plan to get back there. With a fresh wave of purpose Peter grabbed the trays and stood.

"I'm going to go work on my ship, but I'll be back again. Thanks for answering my questions."

"Of course." She smiled back.

-x-

Repairing the ship proved a lot harder than he had expected. With a strangled growl Peter threw the wrench he had been holding across the dim cockpit to bang against the far wall and clatter to the floor. Whatever that beam had done had fried all the systems. He'd been working for hours and still couldn't get even one screen to flicker to life. At this point he would throw a party if he could get a wire to even spit out a spark at him. If he wasn't so attatched to his ship he would have declared it totalled.

He could do the basic maintenance and repairs in his sleep, but this was beyond his expertise. This was really more up Rocket's alley, or even Nebula, who seemed to have a pretty strong grasp of mechanics. The thought of the blue assassin brought up a wave of annoyance. She'd been so scarce since the battle that had it not been for Kraglin's reassurance that she was still around, he would have assumed she'd stolen a ship and abandoned them all. He had some questions about Rocket and Halfworld that only she could answer, and at some point he would have to actually appologize to her face for his outburst, but she had remained stubbornly absent.

With a gusty sigh he flopped into the pilot's chair and closed his eyes. He didn't have time for this. Every hour he spent on the Eclector it drifted further from the Keystone Quadrant.

He must have drifted off without realizing it, because he awoke some time later to find Nebula standing over his chair, the orb with the infinity stone held up in her mechanical hand. For a brief delerious moment he thought she was there to kill him in his sleep and flinched back in the seat so hard it actually hurt.

"Geeze! Nebula! Don't do that!" He shouted as soon as he could form words.

"We have a problem." Was her only response.

"Yeah," He gasped out, holding a hand up to his hammering heart. "It's that you're a psycho and I think you just shaved five years off of my life."

"No, it's that that beam disabled the orb containing the infinity stone, and all of the other ones that had been on this ship as well." Now that Peter looked closer, he noticed a faint purple light leaking from the seams of the orb. The tips of her cybernetic fingers were also laced with a few spiderwebs of purple where they met with the failing containment unit.

"Shit." He hissed, elbowing her out of the way so he could get up. "Yondu must have some working ones around here somewhere. I'll go look for one. I could use a break from this anyways." He waved his hands with exasperation at the dormant ship around them before stalking down the ladder.

"Just stay here." He called out over his shoulder. "I don't want anyone else knowing about that D'ast thing."

-x-

Finding a new Containment unit took much longer than it necissarily should have. Mostly because Peter couldn't just ask where one was. All news got back to Yondu, one way or another, and he didn't want to get stuck explaining this one.

Eventually he uprooted one from the depths of a crate full of smuggling supplies and hid it against his side as he made his way back. One perk to his broken finger was that no one questioned him as he awkwardly hugged the casted hand to his side. At least the pain had mostly subsided from his poor attempt at a landing, no damage had been done and it continued to heal well enough.

The sight of Drax sitting on the access ramp, several healing packs attatched to his side and covering the hole on his neck, and Kraglin standing on the bay floor beside him, greeted him on his return. They appeared to be in the middle of a discussion, but their voices cut out as Peter drew near.

"Hey Pete." Kraglin called, giving him a little wave.

"Oh, hey Kraglin. What's going on?" Peter shifted to make sure that the unit was completely hidden from the first mate's view.

"Nothin' much. Just checkin' on how the repairs are goin'. Your arm buggin' you?"

"No, no, I mean, yes. Kinda. No big deal, though." Peter circled his way up the ramp as he spoke. Kraglin's eyebrows crept towards his hairline as he tracked Peter's progress, but he made no move to follow or stop him. "I'll just, duck inside real quick. Gotta grab some pain meds, or something. Be right back."

As soon as he was out of sight he shot up the ladder, taking it two rungs at a time. With the light that filtered in through the dusty windows he was surprised to find Nebula laying on her back and buried waist deep in the control panel.

He was debating how best to get her attention without getting kicked for his efforts when she seemed to sense he was near and slid herself out from the tangle of wires.

"Did you find one?" She demanded, sitting up.

"Yeah. This should hold it for a while." He handed her the new unit and watched as she leaned back to grab the stone from where she had hidden it inside of the console with herself. Careful to only handle it with her cybernetic hand, she managed to open the disabled orb and slam the new one down on the exposed stone before it could make a grab for the nearest lifeforms. The stone was probably exposed for less than a second, but in that blink Peter was again thrown back into the void. This time he swore he could hear the voices from his dreams calling out to him and feel something reaching for him. Whatever it was struck a terror in him so deep he couldn't breath. A huge shuddering gasp left him as he returned to the Milano's bay and he had to grip one of the seats to keep from falling down.

"Peter." Nebula called out, the concern in her voice was the first emotion he'd heard since the cold indifference she had treated him with since Halfworld.

By the time he found his breath and gathered himself enough to force out an 'I'm fine,' it was gone again, and she was staring up at him with those eyes that were impossible to read in the shadows.

"The ship's engines are completely fried." She informed him, back to empy indifference as though none of the last 20 seconds had happened. "I believe that it would be best to scrap it and find a new vessel."

"I won't do that." He promised, crossing his arms stubbornly and preparing to defend his ship to the death. The corner of her mouth twitched as though she had been expecting that response and rather than try to argue her point, she actually reclined back and returned to fiddling with the exposed wiring. With no clue what to make of her sudden compliance, he decided to just go with it. He had a better shot at fixing the ship entirely on his own than he did understanding Gamora's angry sister.

"Alright, well, I promised Kraglin I'd be back so I'd better go before he gets suspicious." As he spoke he stumbled his way backwards towards the ladder. "Just holler if you need anything I guess?" The only answer he got was a grunt that could just as easily been her struggling with the wiring as it was an actual response to him. Peter ducked down into the common room below, more than happy to leave the stone behind him for now.

Down below, Drax was as he had left him, but Kraglin seemed to have left. There was no sign of him in the hangar as far as Peter could see.

"Hey Drax." Peter greeted, taking a seat next to his friend on the ramp and staring aimlessly out into the open bay. "How're you doing?"

"I am well. My wounds have been seen to and do not bother me." The red soaking through the bandage on his neck made Peter think otherwise, but he wisely stayed silent on the matter. The sight also reminded him that he needed to talk to the ship's tailor about fixing the bloody stain on the inside of his duster.

"How are your latest companions?" Drax asked.

"Groot's healing up. I set up a sunning room for him. Gamora's settling in fine as well. She should be out as long as she's supervised by the next cycle. I'll be taking her dinner in a bit if you want to join us?"

"No. I am content here. And I would advise you to be careful of her trickery. You are filled with optimism and false ideas of friendship, and it makes you stupid."

"Wow. Geeze. Thanks Drax." Peter replied with an unamused glare.

"You are most welcome." As usual, Drax saw nothing wrong with his blunt but honest words and took Peter's sarcastic thanks as true gratitude. Sometimes Peter entertained the notion that Drax did understand his sarcastic quips and did this just to annoy him.

"I'm sure I'll be fine. Yeah, she's the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, but why would she want to do anything to hurt us? Thanos destroyed her home, killed her family, just like he killed yours. She is literally the last of her people, and has no reason to be loyal to him now that she's free."

"And how do you know she won't simply vanish as soon as we reach the next planet?"

Peter opened and closed his mouth a few times before answering that one. It was a fair point. Gamora hadn't actually been looking for help when they'd first met. Forming the Guardians had only become necessary when the orb was taken back by Ronan, and all of Xandar and the safety of the galaxy was at risk.

"We have an opportunity to save millions of lives, and the means to do it. She'll help us."

Drax didn't look at all convinced.

"If you don't believe me just wait and see for yourself. As soon as the Milano is fixed, you, me, Groot, Nebula and Gamora are going back to halfword and saving Rocket, and you'll be glad to have her watching your back."

"Why would she be watching my back if not to stab me in it?" Drax scrunched his brows together in confusion.

"It's a saying, it just means-"

"I would feel much better if she were watching the enemy."

"She would be, I just meant-"

"Or the surroundings, if there were no enemies in sight."

"Please stop. I just meant that she would come in- that she would be very helpful to have during a fight since she is very skilled. I don't think we'll be convincing Yondu to go back there any time soon."

"Regardless, we will need a ship for our assault. I would suggest one equipped for a larger crew."

"Not happening. We saved the galaxy once in the old Milano, and we can do it again. I'm not losing my ship."

Drax just gave an exasperated shrug. "The entire thing has been broken. How long will it take to repair it?" He asked.

"If Rocket were here, he'd probably have it flying already." Peter thought out loud as he pulled his knees towards his chest. "For now we just have to wait and see what Nebula can do for it. If I can catch one of the ship mechanics I'll see if they have any suggestions, but everyone's pretty busy with repairs to the main fleet."

Drax nodded his head slightly and Peter could sense this conversation was coming to an end.

"It's getting pretty late." He stated, standing up from his seat on the ramp." I'm going to go check on Groot and have dinner with Gamora. The offer to join us is still open."

With that he turned and wandered off towards the staircase that would lead him to Groot's sunning room. He always hating waiting, but at least things were getting done, and next cycle Gamora should be able to come with him around the ship, so he would focus on that small victory for now.

end