#How to Not Fold a Piece of Paper in Ten Easy Steps

[thatsbelievable]

[amberswilddreams]

burning questions🫶

pairing : shane filan x fem!reader

summary : times in which shane filan and his girlfriend have done the "burning question" video that celebrities do, throughout their relationship from being boyfriend and girlfriend, fiancé and fiancée to husband and wife.

warnings : pretty much nothing too offensive

a/n : welcome back to another instalment of amber's recycled works that have already been published in this book before but due to having no original ideas has decided to bring back an older chapter and rewrite it! also, decided that because i have done so many sad one-shots recently, here is a lighthearted one :)

shane filan and madelena hendrick (boyfriend and girlfriend)

madelena giggled the moment the camera turned on and the producer called out "action". shane, madelena's boyfriend also chuckled as they then introduced themselves to the viewers who would be watching this video. 

"hiya, i'm madelena hendrick and i am a west end actress, singer and film actress," 

"hello, i'm shane filan and i am a member of the irish boyband, westlife, and today, madelena and i will be answering our fans' most burning questions so, let's go!" shane finishes the introduction to the video as madelena gets given the small tin bucket that had the folded pieces of handwritten questions written on paper

"how do you guys feel about answering these questions?" a producer behind the camera quietly asks as the two singers smile at each other before responding 

"umm, i think we feel pretty confident as we have had some very interesting but also boring, very generic questions and moments with fans so i don't think these questions could do too much harm," madelena giggled softly as shane nodded his head in agreement as madelena unfolds the first question

and it makes her giggle before speaking up, "how many siblings do you have?" madelena smiles at the question, as does shane, it had felt like ages since a normal question like that was asked 

"that's a nice, easy question, it's actually really funny though because, like most irish families, i have ten and shane has--" 

"--so, are there eleven siblings in total or are you one of the ten?" a producer cuts in before shane could tell his answer as madelena giggles before she clarifies, shane also giggling

"there are eleven siblings in total, eight are biological and the other three are by techncial terms, step-siblongs. so, me and my four brothers and sisters are all biologically related and then my two older brothers and one younger sister are from my step-mum," madelena giggles at the complexity of her irish family, the producers were all shocked as shane then spoke up 

"and i am the youngest of seven kids," shane chuckles as the producers looked even more shocked because it seemed as though irish families shocked a lot of people

"next question!" shane then called out as he picked out the second one

"shane, if you could switch bodies with one of your westlife bandmates, who and why and madelena, if you could switch bodies with one of your current or former west end cast members, who would it be and why?" shane reads out, a little laugh leaving his mouth after as madelena immediately lights up at this question, shane laughing as he let her lead this question 

"ooh, this question is literally my favourite question ever! i have been asked this a couple of times by this same fan account but, it would for sure either be my castmate from six, her name is aimie atkinson and she was the original katherine howard who i understudied when i was in the show or maybe my current cast member melissa james in moulin rouge as i understudy her as satine in that show," madelena pauses as she thinks up of a way to explain why she'd want to either switch bodies with aimie or melissa 

"the reason why i'd want to switch with aimie is that she's stunning, first thing and, i just wish i had the same confidence and oomph as her! i mean, she is the queen of katherine howard, in my opinion, and, she is also really humble too! i just adore her to the moon and back so, to be able to learn how to become katherine howard from her and how she played her so well was honestly such a dream and the best masterclass every night for sure. i'd switch with melissa because honestly, she is such a queen and a fantastic satine that, like, aimie, getting to learn her satine by watching her every night is just the most magical thing in the world. so, saying that i'd either love to switch with melissa and give her a break from satine for a while or aimie if we were still in six together," madelena chuckles as shane nods his head as he feels as though he has a solid answer to the question 

"i think i'd love to switch bodies with nicky. whilst i'd also love to be kian, have his sweet, raspy, rocky voice and his amazing guitar skills and be blonde but also love to have the killer voice that mark has and the strong, tall body that he has, i'd love to just be nicky byrne for a day or two *laughter*. which i know is going to excite a lot of the fans when they hear this but, yeah. nicky is genuinely, in my mind anyway, the funniest person i have ever met in my life and he is genuinely my best friend. when nicky first came into westlife, well, westside at the time, after ioyou, we just clicked instantly and have been best buddies since. also, i'd love to just give him the melody of basically every song *laughter* i know i joke all the time about this but, genuinely, i'd love to hear nicky, as well as kian, take a hold of a melody of our songs since they do sing during our tour medley's every year and sound amazing so, hearing them sing lead for more than just a few songs would be fantastic. but, yeah, i'd love to have a little break and just listen to nicky sing some of my verses from time to time," shane and madelena giggle as madelena nods her head in agreement with shane's response, knowing how vocally straining it can be to have every single melody in a song be just one person's when there are three other equally as talented singers in the group alongside the "lead vocalist" 

"madelena, what is it like understudying in moulin rouge as satine and nini and shane, does it get tiring that you are almost always singing every single song?" 

"ooh, this is a question that we don't get asked a lot believe it or not and, honestly, understudying two of the most taxing female principals in moulin rouge is so much fun but, oh my gosh, it's so painful, especially when i'm on for nini. satine, however, i can deal with a lot better hence why i'm mostly on for nini instead but, the thing for me is, sometimes when i am thrown on as nini, i'm literally placing all my weight on my santiago of the evening, whether it's my fellow swing santi or the principal santi, i am always placing all of my weight on them. and that is due to the fact that sometimes i'll just be in so much pain i am barely getting through the show and my partner would really be there to help me. so, i'd say going on as satine is so much easier even though i'm not on as her as often and, the best part is when shane comes to see a show, through my christian of that particular show, i get to re-fall in love with my boyfriend even though it's not him that i'm on stage with and kissing and loving on. so, yeah, in short, it's a lot of fun understudying those two ladies when i'm not in the ensemble," madelena responded, her head nodding as she turned to shane so he could say his answer to his specific part of the question

"oh, wow, umm, obviously, in a boy band or any group, majority of the time, there is never really a "lead singer" unless that is the formula of that particular group, which, of course, is okay, as long as that's talked about and is agreed upon by every single member of the group so there's no tension between members. for westlife specifically, we never wanted to be like that where one or two of us ended up being the lead vocals and then the other three or two would be thrown to the back to be kind of like the backup singers, that was never what we wanted it to be like. so, when it did start to become that when it would be mark and me on the melody and then nicky, kian and at the time, brian always on the harmony line, it kind of became unfair and shitty to the other three and then just nicky and kian after brian left. and, that was something that we hated because, just like mark and me, nicky and kian have just as if not better voices than mark and i and, having to mute the both of them just for a "perfect record" that barely features them and is just solely mark and me was everything but what we wanted westlife to be and what westlife is as a band. so, in short, yes, it can get tiring to be constantly singing all of the songs when sometimes, i just wanna relax and not have to worry about what my next lyric is when i could be listening to nicky or kian singing or even mark doing his brillian falsetto notes, or even just having a bit of craic like nicky and kian do because they're not doing anything else for the next five songs," shane's answer was slightly longer than madelena's but made sense as the couple moved on to the next question 

"what's one thing that shane and the rest of the westlife lads do that bothers the crap out of you, madelena, when you guys are either just relaxing or when you have to do a special performance with the four of them?" 

"oh my gosh, this is the second-best question ever!" madelena giggles as shane shakes his head, suddenly feeling attacked as he jokingly crosses his arms over his chest 

"one thing that shane does specifically is, he'll zone out or be talking to someone else and you'll be trying to ask him a question or just simply get his attention and he won't be listening to you. he'll just straight up ignore you *laughter* until you literally scream at him and that then gets you his attention and he just responds with 'what?' and it's just the funniest thing in the world because it's the face he makes when he's zoned out/ concentrated unless you're trying to get his attention when he's talking to someone else. the number of times i've seen the other boys, nicky, kian and mark, as well as brian when he was still in the band, have to persistently scream at shane to get his attention at this point is uncountable because i have lost count due to it happening so many times *laughter*. an annoying thing that kian does? now, that's kinda hard as kian doesn't tend to annoy me as much as shane and nicky do and that's possibly because he realises when i sometimes am way too stressed and if just one teensy little thing happens in the wrong way, chaos will follow so, yeah, kian just never really annoys me or jokingly annoys me because he's quite laidback. mark, he doesn't annoy me at all either, similar to kian except, mark is not an annoying type of person anyway, not that kian, shane and nicky are, but, mark's a literal sweetheart. like, he may look big and scary but, he's literally a teddy bear that gives the best hugs and is literally so down to earth and the funniest person in the world and he doesn't even realise it either. and nicky, nicky annoys me with his constant dad jokes *laughter* no, in all seriousness, nicky is just that type of person that will constantly tease you but not in a way that's offensive. like, nicky knows there is a line and where it is and when to not cross it and when to ever so gently cross that line if it's something serious or something that he wants to make sure isn't offensive or serious enough that it is allowed to be made into a joke, you know? but, to wrap up and finish the question off considering shane can't, i couldn't ever in all world stay annoyed at them as they are wonderful lads and, i adore them to mars and beyond!" madelena smiles as she giggles, grabbing the third to last question 

"funniest onstage flop, whether it was on the west end, movie/tv show for madelena or during a concert for shane?" 

this question really made madelena and shane laugh. they both had way too many flops to just mention one so they both decide to just name some of them, two with great detail. 

"wow, this is such a hilarious question! okay, so, i've had many so, i'll just personally round up a small list of not even half and then shane can do what he wishes! so, i've tripped during hamilton, i've forgotten part of eliza's solo during burn, i've been caught laughing during a time in which our lafayette and jefferson had an onstage blunder during jefferson's introductory song, what did i miss? i've messed up on hollyoaks during a death scene, i've flubbed lines on hollyoaks, i've missed my mark one time on hamilton and i've missed my mark on hollyoaks. i've been caught jamming backstage during you'll be back in hamilton, i've been caught making faces on hamilton when i thought i couldn't be seen and the list expands ever further including six and other shows i've been in as my main ones have happen in moulin rouge and hollyoaks" madelena chuckles as she then explains one from moulin rouge and one from hollyoaks in detail 

"so, in regards to one mess up in moulin rouge that i knew shane would expose if i didn't is because he watched it happen was my second night on as satine, ever, so i had already debuted as satine the night before and it was perfect, everyone was perfect but, this second evening performance, something went awfully wrong. it was during shut up and raise your glass when we were on top of the diamond prop thingy, my christian and i, and long story short, i was standing on the edge, which i hadn't realised at all because i was so focused on my fellow actor and the show and making sure i was remembering all of satine's lines for the day after my debut in which everything wasp erfect when i had gone to step backward. not thinking or realising that i had somehow already moved all the way back and my foot at this point was slipping off the diamond's edge. at this point, i'm terrified but trying to play it off and stay in character as satine when, just before me and christian do the little dance during the song, christian just full-on grabs me and pulls me from the edge of the diamond which makes me do a little nervous giggle as he stays in character, slightly smiling a little bit when we then find back our rhythm of the dance and yeah. it was just a small hiccup that i'm sure barely anyone noticed that honestly, that night traumatised me slightly after i had what was such a pristine, perfect debut as satine the night before, i genuinely at that moment after the scene had a little cry when i was able to get off stage and, yeah, it was truly not a funny thing at the time and, the rest of the company perfectly understood that and they made sure to tell me that they didn't even realise anything had genuinely gone wrong until they heard my out of character nervous chuckle and were genuinely worried. so, for ages, no one found that mishap funny but, now when we look back at it, like, a year, nearly two later, it's absolutely hilarious to us!" madelena giggles at the end as shane nods his head, a small giggle leaving his mouth as madelena then reveals her hollyoaks stuff up 

"now, my favourite hollyoaks mess up was actually when we were trying to film quite a serious death scene. and, that death scene was the death scene of my character who was one of, still at the time newest people in the show as i had been introduced like four/five seasons earlier. so, pretty much to give you a rundown, the actual day of filming the death scene of my character, it wasn't actually as sad as people made it out to be in the comments of the youtube, instagram videos and news outlets *laughter*. we had purposefully made sure to make it as lighthearted as possible throughout the day because whilst it was absolutely a serious and upsetting death, as is every death, we wanted to keep the day around it lighthearted and relaxed rather than a sad and traumatising day for the everyone in the office. so, our director made sure to keep us smiling, laughing and keeping the mood up instead of down when the director's mistake came time. i say his mistake because whilst we were trying to film the death scene of my character, me and the other four or so people in the scene itself kept on messing up. i kept on laughing which made it hard for me to look as though i was dead, you know? my costar brianna kept on accidentally screaming out my real name instead of my character name, sam also kept on doing the same thing since he was playing my boyfriend in the show and paige kept on swearing because she couldn't get her mark right at all for her placing in the scene and it was just the funniest thing ever and the biggest mess. by the time cut was eventually yelled and all of that, we had about a year's or maybe even a whole season's worth of a blooper reel just from those few scenes of my character dying when we hadn't even filmed the saddest part of my character's farewell and that was her final goodbyes because my character had died from cancer in the show so, they wanted my actual death to be done in a lighthearted way behind the scenes that wasn't too sad but my character's final goodbyes to be where the real, genuine tears and emotions came from. which is also what gave my castmates and me loads of acting freedom to go off script if we so chose to and, yeah, it was just a wild and emotional episode to shoot!" madelena smiles after explaining as shane responds with his answer 

"my best mess up was probably when i was caught in a lift up in the ceiling of an arena during a performance. the other guys had been safely let down to the stage however, i hadn't, so i was just locked high up in the sky in this cage just singing my two verses of the song until i was able to be manually pulled down. the only reason why no one questioned it that i know of is because i was still singing from where i was stuck at the top of the ceiling rig or whatever *laughter*. but, yeah, i have a lot of other ones like forgetting the lyrics or my place in the song entirely, and that always gets a great reaction not just from the crowd who starts singing and helps me get back into the song but, it also gets a great reaction from the lads as well as they then start to tease me and make fun of me since i'm usually known as the member that is always perfect so when i mess up, it causes a lot of laughter," shane responded with a giggle, madelena also laughing at his fairly short answer as shane picks up the second to last question 

"what's something you miss about hollyoaks, madelena and a quick fact about the day you filmed the final goodbyes in the season ten finale that's never been revealed publically?" 

shane loved reading questions directed to his girlfriend as madelena giggled, "oh, a two-in-one! that's so cool, umm, funnily enough, i miss a lot about hollyoaks and my character, marley, i mean, that show really is what got me my debut in tv show acting since before that, i was just a theatre performer on the west end and somewhat of a singer that toured with my boyfriend and his band *laughter*. but, i definitely miss the casts that i shared the few seasons i was on the show with from seasons six-ten as they were all so brilliant and the best people to work with really. a fact about my character's final goodbyes in the season ten finale that's never been revealed, hmm, that's a good question!" madelena responds with a giggle as she comes up with the rest of her response quickly 

"oh, duh, i know! umm, obviously, it's been mentioned before but filming death scenes in tv shows and movies or even sometimes musicals can become quite uncomfortable and quite upsetting. having to even just get into that headspace to film it and have everything be perfect can be extremely difficult. so, that's why when it came to filming marley's final goodbyes and then her death, we didn't want to make it have that feeling, especially the actual death scene itself rather than the final goodbyes since the final goodbyes were the saddest part about the whole episode. so, for the death scene itself, since marley dies in her sleep and just doesn't wake up the next day, it wasn't uncomfortable to film or upsetting to film, not even for my fellow castmates who had to be the ones reacting to marley's death and everything because by making it lighthearted on set, it was seen as a hopeful moment in the episode that whilst marley did die, that later on in the future, through a flashback or flash-forward, she'd be seen again and that was why you didn't see behind the scenes footage of anyone genuinly crying or upset whilst filming that scene. but now, generally speaking, whilst filming a death scene, whilst i personally wasn't emotional or anything, i was still exhausted because, obviously, playing dead isn't as simply as laying still with your eyes closed, right? hence why, you have to make sure your breathing is staggered or shallow, however it is that your character is dying and it's as silent as possible as that then defeats the purpose of pretending to be dead, right? umm, again, depending on how your character is dying, whether that's you getting shot and dramatically falling to the floor or in someone else's arms or you're a cancer patient and you're in your bed, you have to relax your entire body, so your face, neck, legs, stomach, arms, the whole entire body so if you were to get picked up, which usually happens in the crime and very dramatic shows, you go limp and just flop everywhere like a toy almost. and this is what did happen in the season ten finale of hollyoaks when marley died, because she gets picked up by her boyfriend who tries to desperately get her the help that he consciously knows she doesn't need and can no longer get..." madelena trails off to catch her breath before continuing, shane slowly nodding his head in moments to show he was agreeing with his girlfriend's answer 

"...and, with my final goodbye scene when marley is like going around to everyone and saying her final goodbyes to the other characters individually since we shot that a different day, maybe even the day straight after filming the death scene, it was a very downcast day. like, i'm not talking just the cast and crew of hollyoaks were downcast and upset because that was actually my wrap day on the set of hollyoaks for the season and forever, it seemed as though the weather was also upset because, during the filming for pretty much all of my goodbye scenes, it started to pour down with rain which, whilst it wasn't expected in the forecast, and quite frankly frightened everyone when we heard it, it really help make all the farewells look thousand times prettier and sadder. it also really set the tone for how the other characters were going to react later on in the episode afterwards which i was allowed to go and watch behind the cameras so that was fun. another fact was all the reactions, the tears, screams during marley's goodbyes to everyone, and all the other dramatics were everyone's real reactions. which, on my very last day of filming these goodbyes, made it even harder for me to keep my own cool and emotions in check. and, i'm not sure if anyone noticed in the episode but, there is this moment where marley is saying her final farewell to her boyfriend and, she's not supposed to cry as she's the strong one and everyone else is devastated that she's so prepared and so...unbothered basically, by the fact that she is literally moments from dying that when marley's boyfriend pulls her in for a hug as he is literally bawling and crying, a single tear started to stream down my cheek and landed on sam's, who plays marley's boyfriend ollie, jacket so, in later scenes, the teardrop is seen and no one knew it was mine, everyone thought it was sam's but, yeah, in general, death scenes and goodbye scenes are really not my favourite to film logistically but, acting-wise, they're my favourite as it does you give you and the rest of the cast the time to shine and to really show all their range," madelena ended her question as she then picks up the last question that she and shane answers 

"and, last but not least..."

"do you and the spouses of westlife all get along?" 

"and, the answer, the very short, simple answer is yes, we all get along!" madelena gives the short answer as shane explains it 

"we all get along amazingly! i mean, the funny thing is, i'm dating kian's cousin so, of course, they get along because they are family which means, technically, i'm also kian's family and his bandmate at the same time *laughter* but, genuinely, all of the partners and spouses of westlife get along perfectly and we're all one big happy family," shane smiles before looking at madelena as they both smile towards the camera 

"so, that was the last question! i'm madelena hendrick..." 

"...and i'm shane filan and we just finished answering our fans' most burning questions! we hope you enjoyed this video and laughed along with us whilst also finding out an interesting fact about the both of us! bye-bye and thank you so much for having us!" shane smiles as he holds his hand out for madelena as they leave the frame of the camera, laughing in the last thing heard before the video eventually ends 

shane filan and madelena hendrick (engaged to be married)

"hello everyone, my name is madelena hendrick and i am with my fiancé, shane filan and we will be answering more of our fans' most burning questions that we may have missed the first time before we got engaged," madelena introduces as everyone cheers at the engagement announcement as the couple giggle 

picking up the first question, madelena chuckles, "what are madelena and shane's middle names?" 

"well, first of all, for those who don't know or weren't aware, the majority of irish people, similar to our families, have more than just one middle name..." madelena prefaces with a giggle as shane nods his head 

"...so, after saying that, my middle names are flora and reign," madelena answers, turning to her fiancé as he smiles 

"and mine is just steven because i'm one of those irish people that only has one middle name!" shane giggles as he then picks up the second question 

"where were madelena and shane born?" he chuckles and shakes his head as madelena jokingly rolls her eyes as she always answers this question 

"i was born in raised in sligo, ireland," shane gives his short answer first as madelena then comes in with her shockingly long answer 

"even though my sligo accent may disprove this, i was actually born in wales by my irish father and welsh step-mum, raised in cardiff and then at around five or six, me and my family moved to sligo which is when i met shane and then later on as we got older, mark and kian, except i always knew kian because he is my cousin *laughter*," madelena giggles as she gives her long-hand answer to an otherwise simple question as shane giggles as madelena picks up the third question 

"was madelena hendrick on hollyoaks?" 

"the number of times i get this question daily! but, to answer it, yes, i was on hollyoaks from seasons six to ten as marley bridges. she was irish and welsh like i am and she was honestly one of my favourite characters to play in all of the tv shows i've done even though she was my first, quote, "primetime" tv characters. i was treated amazingly on that show and i truly wished i could have done more than just five seasons because of how much i miss it all," madelena chuckled as shane picked up the fourth question 

"was there ever a moment where either of you, madelena or shane, wanted to throw the towel down and run back home to sligo and just lay low?" 

"do you wanna go first shay, my answers kinda along," madelena whispered as shane nodded his head, saying his response first 

"umm...in all honesty, i don't think i've had that moment yet, touch wood! i mean, of course, westlife has taken breaks after tours as well as they ear we took off back in '08/'09 but, i've filled those up with visiting family or writing songs in the background but, no. i don't think i have actually wanted to give up, leave westlife and go back home to sligo, no," shane responded as he turned to madelena so she could give her answer 

"that's a very good question but, yes, there was a moment in which i wanted to give up on my acting career as well as the singing and just go back to sligo or even cardiff to visit my step-mum who still lives there. i remember an exact moment in which i clearly remember telling shane over the phone, i was in hysterics, bawling my eyes out and literally gasping to breathe just explaining as best as i could how exhausted i was. i was utterly drained and i had just finished a tv show in which i had the worst time because the crew were just awful people. only the cast, the other actors, were kind enough to be supportive and speak up to our awful director when i needed a break or something as i was like, the first one on the call sheet type of thing, and yeah, that was the first moment ever in which i wanted to throw the towel in and say, i give up," madelena chuckled shyly as she picked up the fifth question 

"you both mention having siblings in the first video, madelena with ten and shane with six so, what are their names?" 

"i have three brothers, peter, finnbar and liam and then three sisters, yvonne, denise and mairead, i'm the youngest at number seven," shane answers straight away since he could name his siblings from the top of his head whilst madelena had them all written down in her notes app since she had an extra three to remember 

"the eldest of my eight biological siblings is my eldest sister maria, then after her is nella, her full name is marianella but we call her nella so she doesn't have people confuse her with maria, then faith, mariposa and marissa are my biological sisters, then we have my four brothers, reece, lachlan, charlie and sean. and then, my two older step-brothers are hunter and finn and then my younger step-sister is harper. and, for those wondering, in age order, i am younger than marianella and older than faith, mariposa and marissa *laughter* but, those are all my silblings,"

"shane, was there a moment of fear before, during or after the proposal and madelena, was there a moment at all of having the slightest idea that shane was going to propose to you?" 

the couple let out a collective awe at that question, it was the first one that was directed at their new engagement so, it was exciting for them. shane had gone to answer first this time as madelena listened. 

"that's such a great question! umm, after the proposal to madelena, there was no worry because i was just so relieved. however, just before and during the proposal, i was absolutely mortified because i had realised ater fighting against it with myself the entire time, that i was actually going to start crying after i had promise myself i wouldn't *giggles*. and i just became a crying mess as i went down on one knee to madelena and yeah, it was quite embarrassing on my part because i think that was the most i'd ever cried whilst professing my love for my fiancée so, yeah. the other thing was i had decided to do it just before westlife were supposed to return to the stage after an interval and just after madelena had done a couple of songs to fill in that interval during a quick change so the audience was still paying attention *laughter* but as soon as i placed that beautiful ring on her finger, i let out a breath of relief as i had done it in the hallway where our tour team and the staff at the arena were walking and everything and yeah, it was an amazing moment for sure to after the interval go back on stage and just casually announce that madelena and i were going to be getting married!" shane giggled at the fact he just exposed himself that he cried whilst proposing to madelena 

"this is such a heartwarming question but, in regards to my part of the question, i had absolutely no idea nor any suspicions that shane was going to propose! the only people that shane had told were both of our families, including kian, my cousin and the rest of westlife. shane was so protective over this being a surprise that he didn't even let me come into my own dressing room until it was the booked time for his surprise proposal even though we didn't even make it into my dressing room of the arena until after he proposed *laughter*. he had it all planned to the point that the outfit i was wearing in the photos was the same outfit i'd be performing on stage in as well because he wanted to make sure that we both looked the way we wanted for our dream proposal moment so when we did, it was an amazing moment. but, no, i had no clue at all that shane was proposing to me, he had hidden it and kept it a secret for so long as did everyone else in the building that knew," madelena smiled as shane shyly smiled at the compliments he was receiving from his fiancée, shane picking up the next question 

"how was the engagement announced to the public?" 

"aw, another sweet question but, do you wanna take this lena?" shane responded as she nodded her head 

"sure i can, shay. the way the engagement was announced was that because the lads still had a concert to finish, they went back up onto the stage after my interval performance and i kept my engagement ring on, obviously, and before shane wanted to announce it, he wanted to see if anyone in the audience, especially the front row, could notice anything different. that night, i knew my entire family, including my step-family were there but, i didn't know where so i didn't bother to ask nor to look around the arena for them, when all of a sudden, a person in the front row towards the end of the show realised, it was actually my sister, harper. and she just screams *giggles* MY OLDER SISTER MADELENA AND SHANE ARE GETTING MARRIED at the tops of her lungs. at this point, all of us on stage are laughing but within a couple of seconds of harper yelling that out, the rest of the audience seemed to catch on as i then flash out the ring on my figner, causing the loudest scream i think i had ever heard the whole show *laughter*. we then had everyone calm down when shane and i formly announced to them that he had indeed proposed to me earlier that day, just after that interval performance and that, they were the only ones to be told and to know as of that moment there. even though people did video and take photos, by the time we got home from the concert, not a single leak of shane and i's engagement had been posted or talked about so, by the end of the week it was then announced via westlife's twitter, shane's and then mine that shane and i were engaged that the rest of the westlife family would post about it, sharing their own videos and photos from the concert. so that is how it was announced to the public that me and my fiancé are getting married soon!" madelena giggled as she grabbed the last question which was a question in regards to her end in hollyoaks but what shane's take on it was 

"the last one and, ooh, it's a question in regards to me but for shane to respond!" madelena called out as shane's eyes widened 

"shane, how do you feel about how marley, madelena's hollyoaks character, was killed off? do you think it was fair that marley had to die from her cancer and that her boyfriend ollie, had to go through another traumatic event?" 

"oh, wow, that's a great final question! umm...madelena, can you answer it?" shane chuckled as madelena shook her head no, making shane answer it as he groaned but answered it anyway 

"in all honesty, i feel satisfied and content with marley's end to hollyoaks even though it did make me cry whilst watching it, as did the entire cancer storyline to be fair *laughter*. for me, the thing that got me the most was the fact that, once again, it put ollie through the emotional rollarcoaster of the fact that he had yet again lost someone he loved so dearly and close to him. however, i do remember hearing something about ollie and marley reuniting in the form of marley being like a hallucination so, i would love to see that and i'm sure sam and madelena would both love to reunite to do that on the show. but, do i think it was fair that marley had to die and that ollie was put through more trauma? absolutely not, he didn't deserve that, no one does!  i think the way they should have dealt with madelena's exit as she had to go back to the west end was leaving it open, that like, she didn't die from her cancer but maybe they found another treatment trial for her that had her travelling out of hollyoaks, that she didn't die but that she was still dating ollie and that she was just there in the background, constantly mentioned in name-to-name basis but, not seen, ya know? i just hated that marley had to die but at the same time, i was satisfied and content with the way she ended which is strange but yeah, that's my response!" shane chuckled at the end as madelena smiled proudly at her fiancé for his very intelligent response 

"so, guys, that was the last question! i'm shane filan..." 

"...and i'm madelena hendrick, you guys asked some amazing questions yet again! thank you for being here with us and for watching this video and we will see you next time for more questions when we are mr and mrs filan!" madelena ended as everyone cheered as the couple then left the studio after they both made funny faces to the camera as they walked off set 

mr and mrs shane and madelena filan

"we're back!" shane yells triumphantly as madelena chuckles, shaking her head 

"hiya, it's madelena filan and this is my husband shane filan and we're back for the third and final instalment of our fans' most burning questions!" madelena chuckled as she picked up the first one, laughing again 

"how do you pronounce your wife's name, shane and how long did it take you to pronounce it properly?" 

"i get this question so many times it's funny to the point of nearly not being funny but i have to say, this is the first time that i haven't been named! so, the way it is pronounced is similar to madeline but it isn't. it's pronounced mad-uh-ley-na kind of *giggles* it's just pronounced like madelene but instead of the letter e at the end, it's replaced with an a which is not the letter that is stressed but the "ley" in the middle of my name. does that make sense? so, by annunciating the "ley" in the middle, it makes saying the "na" at the end flow off the tongue a lot better and properly," madelena chuckles as she strugged to give a pronunciation lesson for her own name 

"for my answer to this question, it honestly never took me that long to learn the pronunciation of madelena's name. i mean, i don't find it that hard except for maybe when we first met when we were like five or six so when we were those ages, i'd either call or madi or lena but, as we got older and i was hearing the way her full name was pronounced, it was quite easy for me to pick it up and pronounce it properly so i wasn't always calling her by a nickname even though she does prefer now to be called lena because she feels like everytime i full name her that she's in trouble *shy laughter*," shane smiled, blushing a tiny bit at the end of his answer as madelena smiled, her eyes wideneing as she found her husband's response sweet 

"aw, that was so sweet but yes, i do prefer it when he calls me lena instead of madelena and i call him shay but, anyway, the next question though is..." madelena continued as she grabbed the second question 

"where was it that you two got married? cardiff or sligo?" 

"ooh, that is a very good question! we got married in sligo since that is where the majority of both our families lived with the exception of lena's step-mum and the step-siblings who still live in cardiff who we actually quite easily paid for their flights and accommodation for the wedding. and then we spent two weeks doing some album promotion and performances in london on the west end before we then set off for our honeymoon in hawaii and the maldives were we just got to be together, just the two of us and celebrate our wedding together! it was quite lovely as well to get married in sligo since it was the place we grew up in together and met each other so, it just meant a lot having it at home rather than in cardiff," shane smiles proudly as madelena also smiles, nodding her head as shane picks up the third question 

"what songs on the westlife albums are madelena featured on?" 

this was the question that made the husband and wife giggle, madelena responding as shane smiled whilst listening intently 

"contrary to popular belief, i actually was never a feature on any of westlife's albums. my voice can not be heard on any on the songs. the only reason why those rumours came to light was that i'd constantly be papped walking in and out of their recording studios, whether in london, america, sweden, etc. when westlife was recording albums, i would for sure have a little bit of a sing of the songs but, they were just then placed on one big cd that i was actually just recently given as a wedding present by louis walsh, their manager. so, none of the songs that i quote "sang on" is in the albums, it's only one the cd that was given to me and shane at our wedding as all the voices, background and main, you hear on every album are the boys as well as the other artists they did duets with, not me. sorry guys if this news breaks your hearts but, maybe one day i'll make it on a westlife album as a duet, who knows," madelena giggled as she scratched her cheek before she found the fourth question 

"who was in your wedding party at the wedding?" 

shane smiled at this question, letting his wife take over as he sat back again, relaxing. 

"my bridesmaids were five of my sisters and the other westlife wives, jodi and georgina and my maid of honour was shared by marianella and jodi. and the flower girl was my little sister harper and the ring bearers were actually one of shane's nephews," madelena smiled as she turned to her husband who smiled and said his answer 

"my groomsmen were obviously my three bandmates, nicky, kian and mark as well as mark's partner as well as lena's brothers, finn, reece and sean since none of my brothers faniced being in the wedding party except for finnbar who was my best man," shane smiled with a small giggle as the couple nodded their head as he found the fifth question 

"do you and madelena plan on having kids, shane, and if so how many?"  

this question made madelena chuckle whilst shane's eyes widened, slightly frightened as he answered the question nevertheless 

"i mean, we did just get married basically but, of course i'd love to have kids and, honestly i'd love to have an even amount of kids. i mean, not to the extent that madelena has with her ten siblings and me with my six but, maybe, four, or three? i say four or three because whilst i do love the largness of my and my wife's families, i do still want a small enough family that they have siblings but not too much that it's crowded. even though, one of my favourite things about a big family is that if something bad happens, i have more than just one other person i can go to other than my parents or lena's so, i want the same for our future kids too but, not to the point where they can get lost and forget who they've told what secrets to and which sibling is which," shane smiled proudly as madelena smiled sweetly as she reciprocated the kiss to the head that shane gave to her 

"as a small continution, i would also love to have around three or four kids but, right now, we are focused on our brand new marriage and our jobs so, yeah, i think we'll maybe wait a few months to a year before kids are included or even thought about but, i don't know, who really knows what's going to happen until it happens," madelena smiles as she grabs the sixth question 

"how did shane react to seeing you madelena, for the first time at your wedding and who cried first/the most?" 

madelena laughed as she read that question out, her head flying back as shane just sighed as he shook his head, a fake angry pout on his face, chuckling as he rolled his eyes 

"well, for those wondering, shane did have the sweetest reaction but to confirm, he did cry first and the most. it was very adorable, i truthfully watch that video almost every night before i fall asleep or before i go onstage whether that's on the west end or at a concert i'm performing at," madelena smiles as shane also smiles, rolling his shoulders back as he says his own response 

"i was truthfully, gobsmacked, but not that overreactive, pretentious gobsmacked you see in the movies. i didn't smack my hand over my mouth obnoxiously, i was silent, i literally couldn't speak. i was absolutely shocked and in complete awe at how stunning lena looked. this was before the actual ceremony mind you so we were in a secluded area of the church. and i was waiting in like a little walkway, a little floral canopy over the top of me and lena walked up behind me, tapped me gently on the shoulder and i turned around and bam. i had fully lost it, i was already tearing up when i recognised her footsteps in the cobblestones below our feet but as soon as i turned around and saw her face, i was bawling *giggles*. thankfully, the only people that were there were the videographer and photographer cause then i would have felt super self-conscious even though everyone in our wedding party knows how emotional i am, it still would have made me slightly uncomfortable as they would have been awwing and ahhing at us and yeah...it was honestly a sweet moment that i am so glad we actually decided to have before the ceremony because it was so perfect and so vulnerable and it's a moment i too, like lena, love watching back before any concert just as a small reminder," shane smiled as he looked to his wife before sweetly kissing her, making everyone basically die of cuteness as they all laughed 

"one more question!" a producer behind the camera shouts out, rushing over to give it to shane as he chuckled before looking at it

"hi lena and shane, i'm about to get married and my husband-to-be and i still can't figure out the playlist for our wedding reception so, i was just wondering what the selection of songs played at your reception were and the song you danced to for your first dance?" 

"awe, this is a nice question! lena, you wanna take over?" shane smiled as madelena nodded her head 

"of course! umm, thank you very much to avery who asked this! for shane and i's wedding reception, we honestly had the majority of westlife songs because the majority of our guests were relevant to the band and it was also my sister, harper's, favourite group so it's her favourite thing to announce to everyone and anyone that'll listen that her brother-in-law is shane from westlife *laughter*. we also added in some decade playlists and then some traditional irish and welsh songs for both sides of the family. we then danced our first dance to flying without wings but a very special version that, like mentioned earlier, remember the cd i was given as a wedding present that had my vocals on it? well, that was the version that we danced to for our first dance which was extra special and very emotional for the both of us as well as nicky, kian and mark and really, everyone to be fair because i think we had made everyone cry at that point. it was then turned into a flashmob with me and my moulin rouge west end cast performing the bigger, funkier numbers from that show as we did the choreography at our wedding reception as well as doing some of the old westlife medley dance routines which was probably the best part, especially seeing shane, kian, nicky and mark's reactions because it was me and harper doing them and it was just hilarious. hopefully, that answers your question avery and, you and your husband can figure out your wedding reception playlist soon and also a big congratulations as well to your impending nuptials!" madelena smiled, blowing a kiss to the camera for avery, the girl who asked that last question as shane too blew a kiss to the camera 

"so, we've been madelena filan..." 

"...and shane filan and those were the questions you guys have asked me and my wife for our third and final instalment of some of our fans' most burning questions on us! we hope you guys enjoyed and we thank you guys so much for joining us for the last three videos! don't forget to  come and see us in concert with westlife or in the west end for lena and we'll see you soon!" shane finishes the video as he chucks the papers to the camera making madelena's laugh the last thing heard before the video ends 

fin

i can't lie and say i love this cause i kinda don't but whatever lol

© amberswilddreams, 2024

[viking-raider]

A Witcher's Legacy - PART FOUR: MUTAGENS

Summary: What should have been a short stay in Beauclair, turns into something much more complicated. Both to your and Geralt's present and future.

Pairing: Geralt of Rivia/Reader

Word Count: 6.6k

Parts: I II III

Warning: PG - Witcher!AU, Dad!Geralt, Protective!Geralt, Sassy!Reader, Language, Nicknames, Medical Experiment, Portals, Monster Fight, Mention of Smut, Fluff, Mention of Grave Robbing, Witcher Mutagens, Bickering, Mage Technology

Inspiration: A subject from my story, A Witcher’s Destiny, Season Two of Netflix’s the Witcher and the quest, Turn and Face the Strange, in The Witcher 3!

Author’s Note: I hope you enjoy it! Line divider by @FIREFLY-GRAPHICS!

If you would like to be added A Witcher’s Legacy Tag List, please message me!

I also have the story on my AO3

If you would like to get notifications for my writing! Just follow my Tag List blog, @VIKING-RAIDER-TAGLIST and turn on the notifications for it! It’s that easy!’

“Who's the letter from, Geralt?” You asked, watching the little carrier boy run off, excited about the ten crowns Geralt had kindly given him.

Frowning, Geralt unfolded the parchment, finding another piece of folded paper inside with a familiar writing in black ink. “Yennefer.” He said softly, casting his eyes up to you for a moment.

“Oh.” You replied, a tight smile pulling across your lips. “A wonder how she found out we were in Toussaint, since we just arrived.” You commented to yourself, moving to a vine covered staircase, with roses the size of your hand, the color of butter and the finest Toussaint Red, making the air so fragrant.

Letting out a humming grunt, Geralt read the letter aloud.

“My dear friend, I've been told you're on a jaunt in Toussaint, with your sweetheart. I've come upon some information which might be of interest to you. While browsing through a colleague's, Tomas Moreau's, book collection, I found mention of him conducting research into mutations.” Geralt scowled at the letter, a troubled feeling brewing in the pit of his stomach. “The details I've come to learn are rather vague and his laboratory's location remains a mystery. Yet his journal should at least provide hints as to both. It is said he was laid to rest with it in his tomb. I enclose a map I found in the tome I happened upon. Though less than completely legible, I trust it will prove useful.”

“Your friend, Yennefer.”

“So, mutations.” You echoed, turning back to Geralt and folding your arms tightly over your chest. “What kind of mutations? Was he trying to mutate the normal stuff or do you think he was trying to fuss around with Witcher mutations?”

“It's hard to tell without finding his laboratory and discovering more about his research.” He replied, pushing his jaw forward has he stared down at the letter, mulling it over in his mind. “I need to look into this. If he was testing mutagens for Witchers, then I have to find it and get it back to Vesemir.”

“Before anyone else finds it.”

“All right then.” You nodded, chewing on your lip, just as concerned. “Where to first?” You asked, wishing to help.

“Yennefer's letter said he was possibly buried with the location of his laboratory.” He said, unfolding the map the Sorceress had enclosed. “So, we go there and find it.” Geralt examined the map for a long moment, his brow twitching in his concentration. “It looks as if he was buried in Orlémurs Cemetery. That's not too far from here.”

“We can walk.”

“Lovely.” You smiled, then glanced about. “Which way, you big grump?” You asked, eyes sparkling with amusement.

Geralt smirked back at you, waving a hand towards the gently sloping, pathway. “This way, Firefly.” He replied, with a cock of his head.

Nodding yours at him, you started down the brick street, Geralt following closely behind you. The Capital city of Toussaint, Beauclair, was gorgeous and it filled you with a light, gaiety that put a skip in your step and a pleased smile on your face. As you looked about. Taking the architecture in, the hot sun beaming down on top of your head and shoulders, reflecting your mood. Geralt smiled at the back of you, seeing and sensing the joyfulness inside of you. He felt it seep into him.

You had an effect on him and his ordinarily sulky moods.

“It's so beautiful here.” You commented, glancing at Geralt over your shoulder.

“That it is.” He agreed, looking about, seeing the bustling stalls and shops, the Toussaintois going about their business and day. “We'll have to make our stay a more serious one.” He said, moving around to your side, his arm wrapping around your waist as you passed through a thick crowd. “I know this is your first time here.” He smiled, dipping his head slightly to press his lips to your temple, in a rare show of public affection.

“Hm.” You hummed, nudging your shoulder into his side. “That would be nice.” You cooed, looking up at him, trusting him to guide you. “You do still have a few injuries to nurse from that Wyvern contract, you took in Caravista.”

He grunted back at you, still smiling as you crossed out of the city gates. “It's settled, then. I'll investigate this matter, and afterwards, we'll find the best room in the best inn, and we won't leave until you wish to.”

“So, until they kick us out?” You quipped, giggling.

“As you wish.” Geralt chuckled, as you both stepped off the paved path of Beauclair and onto the well trod trail to the large, Orlémurs Cemetery.

Making it to the Cemetery, that looked like a manicured set of ruins with grave-sites dotting it, you and Geralt drifted apart, searching the faces of cracked and crooked, tombstones, that had seen many years out in the open weather and tears of loved ones.

“What did Yenn say, this colleague of hers name was?” You called out to Geralt, reading the worn name of Patrick Moulins, who, according to his headstone, had talked himself to death.

“Tomas Moreau.” Geralt returned, walking along a line of graves, before stopping. “Found him!”

You joined him before the overgrown and disheveled grave, the heavy stone that was meant to seal Professor Moreau's coffin in the ground, slightly askew. You looked at Geralt a confused and questioning expression on your face. Frowning back at you, Geralt moved closer to the grave, dropping to a squat to read the mossy etching.

“Typical Mage. It's in Elder Speech.” He huffed, shaking his head. “Ellas k'havani allder aen Dol Naev'de, ellas allder n'corrason. Glorsann a'Aelirenn.” He read aloud, despite it sounding like gibberish to you. “Salvation lies not in Dol Naev'de, but in our hearts. Glory be to Aelirenn.” He translated, as he reached into the grave, through the small opening, feeling around.

“Oh god.” You frowned, biting your lip and imaging his hand touching one of the Professor's bones.

Not the worst thing he's ever touched, honestly. You thought, shaking your head.

“Do you think it has anything do with what you're looking for?” You asked, as he glanced side to side, knowing he was falling into his Witcher seek and find mode.

“Maybe.” He rumbled back. “Someone's robbed the grave, the journal isn't inside.” He said, narrowing his eyes against the bright, cloudless sun and looked around, before standing back up. “The grave won't tell us anything more.” He said, pull Yenn's map from his back pocket.

“A regular ol' treasure hunt.” You quipped, peeking around his arm. “Anything helpful?”

“The map has mention of Aelirenn and Dol Naev'de, also known as Valley of the Nine.” He said, pointing them out on the map for you. “There's a small mark on it. So, it's worth a look. I'll have to grab Roach to make the trip though. It's a long way from here.”

He folded the map up and tucked into his pocket, then turned back towards Beauclair.

“Geralt.” You called out to him, motioning to the grave, when he turned back to face you.

“What?” He frowned, not catching the meaning of your gesture.

“Close it.” You cooed at him, with a somber expression. “It's not right someone disturbed him for a book.”

“We just disturbed him for a book, min minne.” Geralt countered, the corner of his lip twitching.

“Still, Geralt. He deserves his rest, as we all do.” You entreated him.

Drawing a soft sigh, Geralt returned to the grave side and leaned over it, he used the strength of his powerful arms to shove the thick stone slab back into its rightful place over Professor Moreau's coffin. He straightened up and looked at you, lifting a brow, and you nodded at him, satisfied.

“One less dead person risen from the grave you have to deal with.” You commented, sarcastically. patting him on the back and kissing his cheek.

“Funny.” Geralt chuckled, giving your bum a playful smack, making you yip. “You can't come with me.” He said, as you returned to Beauclair and where you had left Roach.

“Why not?” You frowned, a bit disappointed, you enjoyed helping him with his contracts.

“I don't know how dangerous this could be.” He reasoned, grabbing Roach by the reins. “I won't endanger you. So, I'm going to take you to the Rose and Knight inn, in the center of the City, and you'll wait for me there.”

“What if something happens to you?” You argued, following after him, while he led you through the streets.

“What else would be new?” He chuckled at you over his shoulder.

“The new thing is this matter isn't about you going to slay a monster in the countryside.” You huffed, annoyed by how nonchalant he was being. “This professor was mucking about with mutations.”

Geralt's shoulders slumped and he stopped, his head hung for a second, before he finally turned around to look at you. He could see all the concern and fear in your eyes over this task, more so than usual. Which he understood. Considering it for a minute longer, Geralt tugged Roach around and mounted up, then reached down and pulled you up behind him.

“If anything should happen-”

“I know, I know.” You assured him, leaning against his back. “Tuck tail and run.”

The ride through the Toussaint countryside was stunning. The rolling hills of vineyards baking in the cloudless sun, their vines drooping with fat grapes waiting to be picked and turned into area's finest wine. Homey and extravagant villas dotted the landscape as well, abuzz with their daily chores as you Geralt rode by them.

You sighed, pressing your cheek against Geralt's shoulder blade, relaxing. “I could stay here forever.” You cooed, as Geralt guided Roach onto a path that led in a thicket of trees, cooling you with their leaf-y shade, after the unrelenting heat.

“Oh.” Geralt answered, his chuckle rumbling against your cheek. “That's because you haven't seen it in the winters.”

“It can't be much worse than Kaer Morhen.” You commented, smirking.

“Oh, you'd be surprised.”

Coming out of the woods and around the bend of a sloping hill, Geralt pulled Roach to a stop on the shore of a large and startling clear lake, where the two of you got down. Geralt took a sword from a holster that hung the horse's saddle and the pouch of his vials from in the bag, before the two of you started looking for any indication of an entrance to a mysterious laboratory. You walked along the one side of the shore, where the bank was built up, eroded from years of the lake water lapping at, while Geralt check the water.

“What is it with Mages and their mysteries?” You sighed, shaking your head.

“They live too long.” Geralt grunted back. “After so many years on the Continent, they become paranoid and full of themselves.”

“Starting to make a lot of sense.” You agreed, spotting a unique little rock sitting on the edge of the sand and grass. Going for the rock, you noticed a narrow, grassy culvert that went back a good way. You couldn't see where it ended, or if there was an end, with the limbs of several trees flanking the culvert drooping over it, like a leafy curtain.

“Geralt.” You called out, cocking your head and taking a step into the ditch. “What about over here?” You mumbled, inching further.

The Witcher turned, just as you disappeared and called out your name. “She'll be the death of me.” He sighed, hurrying to follow after you. “Wait.” He hissed under his breath, grabbing you by the wrist as he came up behind, pulling you to a halt. “We don't know if the Professor's lab is down here or what is.”

“You need to be careful.” He softly scolded you, protectively.

“Sorry.” You whispered back, but cast your eyes up ahead. “But don't you think we should check it out?”

“I will investigate it. You will stay behind me.” Geralt corrected you, pulling his sword and moving forward.

You stayed on Geralt's heels, while he used the tip of his sword to part the tree branches, the muscles of his body tense and every one of his keen senses on high alert for anything out of the ordinary and wishing ill intent. You jerked and gasped softly at the whoop of a bird in the distance, instinctively grabbing the back of Geralt's black shirt.

Coming out of the other side of the foliage, you and Geralt discovered a decayed stone wall. It was covered in moss and dead, creeping vines, several of its ashy stones laying in the spongy, overgrown grass and mud. You saw nothing special about it and figured Geralt hadn't either, so you started to turn back.

“Fuck.” Geralt growled under his breath, stopping you.

“What's wrong?” You frowned, turning back to him.

“I hate portals.” He scowled, moving closer to stone wall and bent over, picking up what you had figured was just a rock, then slotted it into one of the gaps.

A low hissing, hum filled the space around you and the hair on your forearms stood up as the static from the portal mounted. Geralt stepped back from the wall, took a deep breath, and with a jerk of his arm, produced the Sign of his Aard. The Aard hit the stone, making it wobble in its base, before it started to glow and an arched portal appeared on the face of the wall.

“That's promising.” You commented, looking at Geralt with a lifted brow.

He shot you a dark, narrow eyed look and approached the portal, taking deep slow breaths. “What's wrong with a good, solid locked door?” He complained under his breath, before stepping through.

“Kills giant, poisonous monsters for a living. Terrified of portals.” You grinned, hooting with laughter, and following after him.

You came stumbling out the other side, gasping for air, disoriented and nauseous. But managed to land on your feet and was slowed down by Geralt's strong arm wrapping around your waist, pulling you against his torso. He looked you over, with an expression that wanted to make sure everything was in the right place and you had all the part you were meant to have.

“I'm fine, Geralt.” You cooed at him, gently kissing his stubbly cheek.

Nodding, he let you go and glanced around the cavernous room you had been spit out into. It smelled damp, moldy, airless and like a nest of Kikimore had been using it as a litter box. You could hardly see more than two feet in front of you, but thankfully Geralt had no such issue. His sharp, cat-like eyes could see around you, as if it was a well lit room. So, you made sure to keep near him, putting your feet where his had been.

The place was like Elven ruins that had caved in or been covered over across time. With tall arches and columns. Rubble and rubbish littered the ground, making your footing unsure as you went deeper in. Geralt stopped, causing you to bump him, your lips parting in question of why he had halted, until you saw the spark of his Igni, lighting something you couldn't quite make out in the shadows. Until, it ignited, a iron brazier, casting an amber glow against the wall and a small radius around its base.

“This is a crazy place to have a lab.” You criticized, giving the place a better look, now that the brazier was lit. “I can understand wanting to do your research in peace and privacy. But hiding your portal in such away, then having to navigate through a ruin to get to it.” You shook your head, confused.

“It seems like over kill.”

“It is.” Geralt agreed, lighting another brazier, that revealed a crumbling set of stairs. “It's only making me more suspicious of what type of mutagens he was working with.”

Your eyes shot up to the back of his head, an uneasy feeling filling your stomach at the thought of Professor Moreau testing Witcher mutagens.

Carrying on, you descended the stairs and passed through a narrow hallway, coming out into an elevated cross way, leading off in three directions, one of which was blocked off by a large statue of a panther. Sighing, Geralt moved forward, investigating the other two paths, in doing so, he discovered the body of the grave robber.

“Hm.” He grunted, shaking his head at the poor soul, but nevertheless, he searched his person for the Professor's journal, only finding a few loose pages of it.

“Geralt.” You called out, softly.

“One moment.” He answered, scanning the pages, learning the Professor had become paranoid with someone trying to break into his laboratory, and had installed security measures.

“Geralt.” You called again, a bit more urgently.

“What is it, min minne?” He sighed, turning on his heels to look back at you.

Your eyes were fixated on the panther statue standing menacingly above Geralt. “Is-is that-” You licked your lips, trying to compose yourself. “Is that statue-the panther's eyes—supposed to glow?” You asked, your voice squeaking a bit at the end as your eyes flared.

Geralt's head jerked upward to the statue, just in time to have the creature strike out against him. “Run!” He roared back at you, fumbling for his sword.

Not needing any other prompts, you turned on your heels and bolted down the hallway from where the two of you had just come. The panther knocked Geralt flat onto his back, forcing him to brace his forearm against its throat in prevention of its powerful jaws from biting into anything vital. Unable to grab his sword, Geralt brought up one foot, yanking a dagger from inside his boot and driving the needle thin blade into the snarling animal's neck. The panther gurgled, then dissolved into a pile of ash, revealing itself to be a specter, one of Professor Moreau's security attempts.

Getting up, Geralt searched for you, running almost full speed down the passageway and up the crumbling stairs. But skid to a halt, when he found you by the first brazier, a look of terror and worry on your face. Seeing Geralt was all right, you ran to him, colliding into his chest and locking your arms around his torso, to hide your face in his neck.

“You see now, why I didn't want you to come?” He sighed, resting his head on top of yours.

You nodded, still to overcome to speak for a second. “I do, but I still want to help.”

“I don't know what help you can be.” He countered, tipping your head back, so you looked at him, studying your eyes. “You are the most stubborn woman I've ever met.” He chuckled, shaking his head, knowing he couldn't deter you.

“It's why you fell in love with me.” You quipped back at him.

“One of the reasons.” He teased back, before becoming serious again. “You'll stay in the room I've cleared, before going any farther, do you understand me?”

“Loud and clear, Witcher.” You nodded, pushing up on your toes to kiss him.

Continuing on, You and Geralt navigated through the maze, hoping you were getting closer to the Professor's lab and the answers to your questions. There hadn't been any more specters to jump out and attack either, but there had been a few traps Geralt needed to disarm, before either of you could move forward. Such as a spike trap, that came up out of the floor.

“This place is endless.” You remarked, edging around the disarmed spikes, heart pounding in your chest.

“Seems that way.” Geralt answered, waiting for you, then entered the next room. “The fuck.” He barked, brow wrinkling.

“What?” You called out, staying in the other room, just like he wanted you to. “Is it safe?”

Geralt took a deep breath, studying the creepy Gargoyles that lined alcoves on the main level, with an inactive portal, while the next two levels were lined with inactive portals. “Stay there.” He barked, slowly approaching two pedestals in the center of the room, on either side of a massive statue, and examined them, finding scrap marks on the sides.

Looking at the Gargoyles, he noticed two of them were missing hands. Narrowing his eyes, Geralt approached one and broke the hand off with blast of his Aard. Taking the heavy piece of stone to the pedestal, he rested it on top and a loud clicking noise echoed in the room, followed by the unmistakable whoosh of a portal opening. Turning in a circle and casting his eyes around, Geralt found one of the portals on the upper level active.

“Geralt.” You shouted, planting you hands on your hips.

“Just wait.” He growled, seeing if he could map out a way up to the portal, but wasn't sure where it would take him or if he could get back.

Taking the stone hand off the first pedestal, Geralt shifted it to the other one, gaining the same results he did with the other one, but opening a portal on the middle tier. Humming, he broke off another Gargoyle hand and set it on the other pedestal, activating both portals, but not the portal on the main level.

“What's the issue, Geralt?” You called out to him, growing curious.

“Mage shenanigans.” He growled under his breath, circling the statue and regarding the other gargoyles and inactive portals.

Impatient with waiting for Geralt to tell you the way was safe, you strode into the room, but jerked back a step, surprised by the thick set of grotesque gargoyles. You recovered quickly though, spotting the singing portals and your frustrated Witcher.

“What's the rub?” You asked, lifting a brow at him.

“That portal-” He pointed to the portal in question. “needs to activate. But so far, only these two have.” He explained, motioning to the others.

“Mmhm. Quite the situation.” You nodded, biting your lip.

“Yes.” Geralt sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I loathe mages.”

“Didn't you date one?” You inquired, giving him a teasing and sharp gaze.

“Against my better judgment.” He replied, rolling his eyes.

“So, what happens, if you only have one of the pedestals active?” You asked, studying them.

“Only one of the portals open.”

“Have you tried going through one of them?”

“No, not yet, and I'm not really in a rush to.” He answered, pacing. “I don't know where they go, or if once I go through them, that I can get back here.”

“Perhaps, you're right.” You sighed, gazing at the statue. “Mages do live too long.”

That brought a soft chuckle out of Geralt. “They do.”

Seeing no other options, Geralt began climbing towards the portal on the middle tier, just as you noticed a crevice, low in the robe of the statue. Glancing between it and Geralt, you slipped your hand inside of it, praying not to come into contact with any unsavory creatures that could make their home in the small space, and felt around.

“Geralt, wait!” You called out, your fingers coming into contact with something.

“What is it!” He called back, spinning around as he stood before the portal. “What's wrong?”

“I found something! But I can't quite manage it.” You told him, staining.

“Don't touch it!” He warned you, jumping back down and quickly moving to your side. “It might be a trap.” He told you, his breath hot on your neck.

“And if it's not?” You asked, looking up at him.

“Move, I'll do it. Go back into the other room. In case, something happens.” He ordered you, jerking his white head towards the door.

Knowing that arguing with Geralt was useless, you did as he asked of you, but angled yourself so you could see him. Geralt pulled his glove off and wedged his large hand into the crevice, just finding the button that was hidden inside. With a little wiggling, he pressed on the button and yanked his hand back out again, readying himself for the worst.

Several of the gargoyles turned on hidden bases in the floor, all turning to face the statue and the direction of the inactive bottom portal, and a suspenseful moment later, the portal came to life. Geralt let out a huff of amused surprise, looking the portal over.

“It worked!” He called out to you. “And, it's safe.”

You ran into the room and grinned at the portal, proud that you had figured out a Mage's security system, but felt your stomach twist a little bit. “So, do we go through it?” You asked, looking up at Geralt.

“It's through there or back the way we've come.” He replied, pulling his glove back on. “I'll go first, in case there's anything dangerous.”

“Very well, I'll wait a minute, then follow after you.” You nodded, lightly touching his arm.

Nodding, Geralt stepped through the portal with no further ado and you waited anxiously for a minute or two, stomach in knots not knowing if Geralt was in the fight for his life on the other side, wherever it led. Unable to wait any longer, you slipped through the portal after him, coming out the other side gasping and sick to your stomach, but intact.

“Geralt?” You called out, pressing a hand to your tummy.

“Welcome to Professor Moreau's laboratory.” He replied, coming from around a corner.

You looked about the strange and disheveled space with a shake of your head. “I expected more.” You answered, moving down a set of stairs.

Geralt had lit the many braziers and standing candelabras situated around the room, giving the already unsettling room an unsettling feeling. You found cluttered tables, bookcases, tall brass instruments, a Mage communication device, a large, iron cage and a huge and grotesque, glass specimen jar with something black and almost human floating in it.

“Well, have you learned anything yet?” You asked, hugging your arms against your chest, even with the braziers, there was an eerie cold about the place.

“There are Megascope crystals on a pillow next to Moreau's Megascope.” He motioned to them, next to the mage communication system of three stands, that stood in a circle, a loop at the top, where the crystals rested and a powerful piece of glass to project the image magically etched onto the crystal. “I found another on that desk over there.” He added, motioning over to it.

“I'm going to see what our dear Professor has on them.” He said, moving over to the Megascope.

“I can dig around, see if there are anymore.” You said, glancing about. “Or anything else of interest.”

“All right, just don't touch whatever those are.” He said, pointing to the brass instruments, one of which looked like a strange Iron Maiden.

“Don't have any plans to, love.” You gulped, getting goose-bumps as you edged by them.

Geralt picked up the three crystals, slotting them into the Megascope and turned the rune cylinder at the bottom of one of them, activating that specific crystal's information. A bleak image of Professor Moreau, devoid of color, flickered to life in the center of the Megascope stands. Professor Moreau wore typical mage robes, he had a wrinkled face with a pair of pinch glasses perched on his nose, and spoke with a typical Toussaint accent.

“Today, I begin my great life's endeavor, one greater and more significant than any I have thus far undertaken, for it relates to me personally. To me and my son.” He spoke, confessing his son, Jerome, was a Witcher and he made an oath to recover him, his apparition turning in circles as he spoke.

“So, it is Witcher mutagens.” You said, poking around a bookcase.

“Yes.” Geralt nodded, troubled.

The crystal ended with the Professor vowing, Gods being on his side, to reverse the Witcher mutagens in Jerome and make him an ordinary man again.

“I wonder if the Professor managed to do so.” He frowned, turning on the next crystal.

“Observation twenty-two, despite applying a surfeit of toxic substances, significantly more than usual, the subject displayed no symptoms of overdose.” Professor Moreau's reanimated projection explained, as Geralt stroked his scruffy cheek. “This is a minor success. Jerome may be able to tolerate better toxicity.”

The crystal ended with a soft pop and Geralt moved on to the next crystal, explaining how to make the mutagens less taxing and listing the mutagen base. He slotted the last crystal he had in, listening to Moreau speak about how one mutagen could be transmuted into another through the addition of certain ingredients, and of his subject, though on the brink of death, was much stronger than he had been and came back from the edge of death.

“It seems he's enhanced his subject, instead of cured them.” Geralt commented, more to himself than you.

“Have you never met this Jerome?” You asked, coming to stand beside him.

“No.” He shook his head. “But that's not too uncommon. He might be from another Witcher school or dead.”

“Ah. Well, I did find the Professor's journal on Witcher Mutagens.” You informed him, holding up the worn, purple, cloth bound book to him. “I suppose, you want to take it and the Megascope crystals back to Kaer Morhen with us.”

Geralt gave you a golden glance from the corner of his eyes, that told you he did, but not before getting into something you weren't going to be happy about. You sighed at him, letting your hand drop back to your side, eyes falling shut for a moment.

“You want to test this mutagen stuff out, don't you?” You asked, needlessly.

“I do.” Geralt answered, with a short nod.

“Why?” You groaned, looking up at him with a pleading look. “Can't we at least go to Kaer Morhen and do it in a safe environment, with Vesemir? That way, if something happens, we'll have him to revive your stupidity?”

A broad grin passed over his lips. “But all the equipment is already here, min minne.” He cooed at you. “We'd have to build all of it at the Keep.”

“Then, you'd have to fight Eskel and Lambert for first go inside.” You added, knowing that was going to be his next argument. “I thought you were over the whole Trial of the Grasses! You bitch about how hard it was! How much it hurt and blah blah! But you're all pony up to do this?” You scolded him, shaking your head. “Jaskier would be tripping over his lute, if he was here to witness this.”

“What if it fails and you die!” You protested, waving the book in his face.

“I'm sure I'll be fine.” He smiled, kissing you lightly on the forehead.

You rolled your eyes at him. “It's not like I can talk you out of it. So, what do you need me to do?” You sighed, giving in.

“I want you to go through his book and tell me what ingredients I need.” He said, brushing the back of his fingers against your cheek, trying to pacify you.

“Very well.” You glanced around and found a low stool by the table, next to the strange Iron Maiden, and took it up, starting to skim through the book, while Geralt investigated the rest of the laboratory.

“Something about a Pale Widow.” You said aloud, still skimming. “Getting a syringe full of mutated giant centipede albumen from the Pale Widow and the Ashwagandha herb.” You looked up at Geralt.

“That's all it states.”

“Well, he has to have it readily here.” Geralt answered, scanning the room, spotting an opening in the stone wall inside the iron cell and a well used needle on the wooden table you sat beside. “Stay here, I'll be right back.” He said softly, heading that way.

“Ger-” You started to call after him, before giving up and going back to reading the book.

Geralt ducked into the opening in the wall, finding a dank and dripping tunnel, following it into a large, cavernous space, the floor deep with stinking mud. He slowly pulled his sword as he dropped into the mud, knowing a space like this was a ripe place for a creature to live and attack. But he only saw the walls lined with eggs, quiet and dormant. His medallion was still, giving no indication of magic or monster wishing ill intent upon him.

Though, he kept a firm grip on the hilt of his sword, approaching one of the eggs. He squatted down and pulled the dagger from his boot, slicing open the egg, to be greeted with a putrid scent, making his nose wrinkle. There was a long dead, juvenile, mutated giant centipede inside. Geralt wouldn't have been surprised if the Professor had been keeping its parent as a pet, breeding it for the eggs in his countless Mutagen experiments, then killed the elder after he gave up, leaving the babies to starve and rot off.

Stuffing his dagger back into his boot, Geralt pricked the curled up corpse with the syringe and drew out what little albumen was left inside of it, getting half a syringe full. He cut open another, until the needle chamber was full, then returned to you.

“All right, Albumen acquired.” He said, holding up the syringe.

“I found the herb, Ashwagandha, in one the chests.” You answered, pointing to where you laid it on the table. “All you have to do, is put them both in that boiler, then get into the machine yourself.” You told him, a hard lump forming in your throat, at the thought of your beloved Wolf getting into the iron maiden contraption.

Nodding, Geralt set the syringe down carefully, along with his sword, before pulling off his boots. He stripped naked and looked at you, seeing the worry and conflict on your face. “I'll be fine, Firefly.” He cooed at you, reaching out to cup your cheek for a moment.

“You best be, or I'll never forgive you.” You whimpered back, turning your head to kiss his palm.

Adding the ingredients and activating it, Geralt stepped into the machine, while you stood there, helplessly. You paced before the machine for several minutes, figuring that's all it would take, listening to it pop, hiss and clank. But ten minutes went by and Geralt didn't step out. Thirty minutes, still Geralt was inside. You grew concerned, debating on whether or not you should open it and check on him.

Perhaps he'd passed out and couldn't open the door himself? Or what if he was-

No, he's fine. You cut off the thought, pressing a fist to your mouth. He knows what he's doing. Geralt knows his limits. You tried reassuring yourself, pacing from the bottom of the stairs to the back of the room, your restless impatience growing as the hour and half mark was passed.

You started at the sound of unoiled hinges opening, lifting your head from the table you had rested yourself on, several hours before. However, seeing the door to the machine open and realizing Geralt was finally coming out, you jumped to your feet and rushed to him, just getting your arms around his torso as his legs gave out from under him.

“Geralt!” You panted, feeling his burning skin through your clothing, his head heavy on your shoulder as you both went down to your knees. “Are you all right?” You inquired, hearing his breathing slightly labored.

You cupped his face in your hands and pushed his head up, shocked to find his eyes glowing, the skin of his face dark and marked with black lines, as if he had taken one of his potions or elixirs. He didn't speak for a long time, just catching his breath and resting against you, his eyes and skin returning to normal.

“I'm all right.” He rasped, gulping thickly, his throat and mouth dry. “I'll be all right.” He groaned, pushing himself up onto his feet, wobbling for a second. “How long was I in there for?”

“Hours.” You replied, standing as well. “I was starting to think you weren't coming back out.”

He nodded, moving around the table for his clothing, which in your anxious impatience, you had folded. “We should go.” He said, sluggishly pulling them on.

“For fuck sake, Geralt, sit down and rest for a moment.” You barked at him, pointing to the stool by his leg.

“I'm fine.” He grunted back at you, bunching up his black shirt to pull it over his head and jamming his feet into his boots.

“All right, fine.” You huffed back. “While you were having a merry jaunt in there, I found a map of this place in the Professor's journal.” You told him, with a lifted brow. “Behind that bookcase is supposed to be a hidden passage out, that's shorter.”

“Good.” He nodded, looking towards the Megascope.

“I have the crystals and the journal.” You assured him, resting your hand on his back, feeling the tense muscles there. “I took care of all that, while waiting for you to finish cooking in your Mutagen steamer.” You quipped, forcing a smirk.

Grunting and nodding again, Geralt continued and shoved the bookcase out of the way, finding a vulnerable wall behind it. Without hesitation, he used his Aard on the loose bricks, blasting them inward and rocking the room around you.

“Gods alive!” You gasped, grasping the back of Geralt's arm.

Geralt chuckled and the two of you followed the low ceiling tunnel, finding another portal, that was simply activated by a crystal that laid on the ground. Stepping through, you found yourselves back on the shore of the lake, but a mile or two down from where you had originally entered. With a shrill whistle, calling Roach, you and Geralt walked along the water, to meet the horse, while also enjoying the fresh and cool air.

“I look forward to that luxurious room at the inn.” You commented, getting up behind Geralt on Roach. “To a nice, hot bath. That experiment has made you a bit-foul.” You chuckled, resting your chin on his shoulder and peeking around at him.

“More than usual?” He asked, cocking a brow at you.

“Just a tad.” You laughed, squeezing your arms around his waist.

He spurred Roach back to Beauclair and got a handsome room for the two of you, at the Rose and Knight Inn, that sported its own tub and a balcony, letting you see the vineyards and apiaries in the rolling hills past the city gates in the distance. You stayed for two weeks, not leaving the room for anything. Having your meals brought up to you. Preferring to stay in bed or the bathtub together. It was romantic and refreshing.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Laisse tomber les filles 7

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape; size kink; age gap; manipulation; sexual acts and dubcon (not explicitly tagged for a surprise but nothing extreme).

This is a dark!fic and Lee Bodecker x (short) reader and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Synopsis: You find yourself ostracized on campus by your shyness, but your reticence won’t deter an unwanted suitor.

Note: We back at it again! Happy Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone for reading and thanks in advance for all your feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 As usual, I’d appreciate if you let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

‘When I was nineteen, pureness was the great issue...I saw the world divided into people who had slept with somebody and people who hadn’t, and this seemed the only really significant difference between one person and another. I thought a spectacular change would come over me the day I crossed the boundary line.’

You read and reread the paragraph. You couldn’t help it. The first time you read that book, you just didn’t get the cynicism. There were still parts you couldn’t quite relate to. But that passage sank into you like a pebble in water. You felt changed already and after something so little.

You hadn’t seen Lee since Saturday. He had your number now and called at night. A few times, there was noise in the background; people, cars, life. You realised he must’ve been at a payphone, taking a moment away from his patrol. That was another thing about him; he felt so established, so wise, and that made you feel even less.

When the phone began to ring that night, you ignored it. And when it stopped, you picked up the receiver and dialed the only number you knew. Your mom picked up and you heard the sink running in the background. She was always busy when you called.

“Mom,” you said, “it’s me.”

“Oh, hi, dear,” she replied in her creaky tone, “how are you? Oh, is something wrong?”

“Um… I’m okay, I just wanted to call, I…” you thought of telling her about Lee but you weren’t really sure how. You weren’t even sure why you called her, only that you felt alone. “I miss you and daddy.”

“We miss you, too,” you heard her steps and her grunt as she stretched the cord and twisted off the faucet. “He’s been working hard down at the steel yard and he’s so proud. All the other men tell him to hush up when he brags about you.”

“Yeah? I… I’m working hard. Got an A on my last paper,” you played with the coiled cord.

“That’s great, dear,” she chimed, “are you sure you’re okay? You sound tired.”

“I am tired,” you said, “that’s all. Studying and all that.”

“I hope so. I wouldn’t want you going out late to one of those parties,” she tittered, “Noreen’s son got arrested at one of those and spent a night in jail. They spent their mortgage to get him out.”

“No, no, I don’t, um, go to parties,” you assured, not adding that no one would even think to invite you to one.

“Oh, dear, I’m sorry, I’ll have to call back tomorrow,” she sighed as you heard the door clamour, “your father’s so intent on hurting himself these days.”

“Okay, um, it’s alright, I’ll talk later, love y--” the phone went dead and you listened to the dull tone.

You put the receiver back in the cradle and tapped your fingers on your lips. You picked up your book and sat back on your bed. You couldn’t focus on the words though as your mind lingered on the familiar sounds of home. You missed it terribly. You just wanted to take the bus and go hide in your old childhood bed.

The phone rang again. You knew it wasn’t your mother. You left it and when it silenced, there was only a second before it started again. You waited until the next lull and moved the receiver off the cradle and let the low hum rise from the speaker. You kept it off the hook and closed your book.

You didn’t want to deal with any of that today. Not Lee, not Plath, not the plague of woes that roiled your stomach. You flopped onto your bed and pulled your pillow over your head. You weren’t going to think again until your morning lecture.

📚

You sat near the front of the hall with your elbow on the small fold-out desk. You swirled your pen lazily in the air as you listened to the professor expound on the flaws of historical revisionism. He wasn’t the type to entertain questions or comments, he merely ranted and expected you to note those few words of value amidst the sea of thoughts.

You yawned, exhausted despite an early night. You felt empty and drained those last four days. Ever since…

You didn’t think about it. Tried not to even as it tugged at your mind. When the memory managed to poke through, you felt the same tingle between your legs and your cheeks burned in humiliation. 

How had you let it happen? How could you let yourself do that?

You were so confused by it all. How could it be wrong if Lee said it was right? He was older, he was a cop, and he knew much more than you. You never even kissed a boy before him and he was so confident in everything he did that he must be doing it all right. 

Besides, after everything, if you refused him, you’d have only been leading him on and using him for his kindness, even if you didn’t realise what you were doing. Because what you did know was that he was a man and you were a woman and that he was doing nice things for you. And you accepted them all. The least you could do was bide his affection. That was the age old exchange, was it not?

“Next week, we’ll review chapters five and six,” the professor’s tone piqued as his ramble subsided, “I expect a class discussion and you can expect ten percent of your mark to be evaluated from your contribution and I will know if you just ‘skimmed’ the introduction.’

The class grumbled as he dismissed you and you stood slowly, stretching the cramp from your leg. You packed up your bag and hauled it on your shoulder. You had a gap between that class and your afternoon publishing class. You trailed out behind the flow of chattering students but found many of them lowered their voices as they came out into the hall.

There voices fell to whispers as they entered the hall. The sight of a brown hat assured you of the reason. Sheriff Bodecker stood against the painted brick and watched the students pass by, each eyeing him nervously and some chuckling under their breaths nervously. You tried to hide behind a taller student but your name tripped you up.

Despite your efforts to maintain your invisibility, he’d spotted you and you knew you could run away. Several of your peers craned around to watch you, no doubt suspecting some trouble on your part. You dragged your feet and stepped out of the tide of fleeing co-eds to stand along the wall with Lee.

“Hi,” you said quietly.

“Young lady,” he said staunchly and kept his eyes on the other students, nodding at them darkly as they passed.

He waited until the hall was empty before he turned on you. You fidgeted and caught your bag as it slipped from your shoulder. Your thoughts wrinkled above your brow and you stared at his brown leather shoes.

“How did you… find me here?”

He was silent as he reached in his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He opened it and showed you a print-out of your schedule.

“Easy enough,” he tapped his badge nonchalantly, “I was worried. You didn’t answer last night.”

“I fell asleep early,” you said weakly, “morning lecture, you know?”

“Mmm,” he hummed, “not that early.”

“I’m sorry, I was sleep--”

“You’re no good at lying and I don’t like you telling me fibs,” he growled, “you playin’ around with me, honey.”

“No, I…” you blinked as he folded the paper back into his pocket and pushed his jacket back to settle his hand on his pistol.

“Did you forget who I am? What I am?” he arched a brow darkly.

“N-No, sir, I… I got schoolwork and--”

“You can’t stop and talk to me for ten minutes?” he challenged, “you hurt me, honey. I’m out on patrol all night, in danger, and the only thing I got to look forward to is hearing your sweet voice.”

“I, um, I… er, I’m confused,” you eked out, “I don’t know… I…”

“Honey,” he leaned in and his hot breath glossed over you as he lowered his voice, “you know what this is, we both know what a bad girl you were on Saturday.”

“I didn’t…” you swallowed and choked on your voice, “I gotta go to the library--”

You tried to turn away but were pulled back by his tight grip on your arm. He forced you against the wall and knocked the wind from you as your bag tumbled from your arm. You gasped and stared up at him in fright. In that moment, he seemed bigger than ever; taller, thicker, and strong as hell. Stronger than you for sure.

“You don’t go nowhere ‘less I say you do,” his other hand shifted on his gun, “you got me?”

“What are you-- I didn’t… why are you being mean?”

“Me? Honey pie, you been avoiding me and I’m mean?” he snarled.

“I wasn’t avoiding you, I’m just... busy,” you whimpered as he squeezed your arm so tight it throbbed, “you’re hurting me.”

“You’re hurting me,” he hissed, “you think I got time to be comin’ down here on duty to find you?”

“You didn’t have to--”

“I did,” he barked, “I had to make sure you weren’t hussyin’ around with any other boys, like I found you last week.”

“I told you, that wasn’t--”

“Shhhhh,” his hand flew to your chin and forced your mouth shut, “I don’t got the time for this, honey. I’ll be around tonight and you’ll wear a pretty dress for me, won’t you?”

You clenched your jaw and nodded stiffly as his thumb toyed with your lip. He smiled and the tension left his grasp.

“Good girl,” he drew away and squared his shoulders, “you be ready at six and don’t keep me waitin’ again.”

“Yes, sir,” you croaked.

“Mmm,” he nodded with a smirk, “you know, I think I do prefer ‘sir’.” He bent and kissed your lips before you could turn away. You let him and he stood straight again and adjusted his belt, “six o’clock, honey pie.”

[spockandawe]

Can.... can I ask how... do learn bookbinding? .-. It’s like... a distant goal of mine but I am very 🤷🤷🤷🤷 on starting

The good news is that it’s extremely attainable!! So, the easiest entry level tier for bookbinding is stitching together individual signatures (the folded pieces of paper nested together to make sections of a book), and the easiest material is doing that with is just regular printer paper. That was what keyed me into this, my dad was printing little short documents for work and sewing them together so he could have a non-screen version of what he needed to reference. I usually try to work in the range of signatures that use 5-10 sheets of paper (which gives you 20-40 pages as a booklet), though it’s possible to go smaller, especially if you’re working with thicker paper. I haven’t tested the upper end, but that’s where I’m comfortable.

NOW. Before I get into printing, let me take a detour (printing is where things get, like, technologically complex, because it depends on what software and printer you have access to, but that doesn’t have to be connected to the mechanics of Making A Book

SeaLemon’s youtube channel was where I started out! A lot of her videos are about various ways to make smaller notebooks, though her videos on casebinding, kettle stitch, and making bookcloth are most relevant to what I’m doing now. but she also has a LOT of smaller-scale tutorials that are great for pulling together a little notebook of your own, or a sketchpad, things like that. 

And the videos are really easy to follow. I don’t reference her anymore for the casebinding work, but I do someday want to go back in there and experiment with more of the stitches for pulling together cute little notebooks. My exposed-spine books and the ones that were covered with a single piece of fabric were done from her tutorials. I want to say that SeaLemon was my primary reference for making my text blocks, while this next channel is a really extensive look into the casebinding part of things.

I appreciate Das Bookbinding a lot, even though it was SUPER overwhelming when I was just starting out, and I wouldn’t have been able to follow anything. But even before I was able to follow along, these videos show a lot of like... the mechanics of making something so polished and complex, even if I’m not able to imitate all the steps myself. I used these videos as a reference for the set of books with the fabric spine + paper cover + fabric corners, for example. I haven’t done a deep dive into this channel, so there may be more accessible videos in there than the ones I dug up, but regardless, it’s an EXCELLENT resource.

And now... printing. This is where it’s hardest to give concrete advice, and I hate telling people they should go give money to huge corporations for their software, or pay huge amounts of money for fancy hardware, but I am also a coward who buckled and paid for word really early, and was fortunate enough to receive a color laser duplex printer as a gift a few years back, so I don’t personally have a good grasp on the most effective free/cheap options out there. So I can only speak to the expensive crap, but I know there are less expensive ways to do this too.

So! The two programs I have used are adobe acrobat and microsoft word. I originally was working out of google docs, where I printed to pdf, opened in acrobat, and printed as booklets. Adobe acrobat has a booklet option in the printing menu, where you can’t select your own signature size, but if you say ‘print as booklet’, and then print twenty pages at a time, you can generate your own ten-sheet signatures. The downside of doing this is that I was not making good use of the space, because the aspect ratios were off, and I had big margins I couldn’t control.

Once I realized that, and also realized that a lot of the files I wanted to print were larger than google docs wanted to handle, I bought a word license. Word also has a way to do booklets, where you can go to page layout, select booklet mode, and then select the number of pages you want in each signature (divide by four to get the number of sheets it will use). I print from word to pdf, which shuffles all my junk around for me to get it in order it needs to print, if that makes sense. It’s difficult to describe, but really not too difficult to do, especially if you have a short story or something to mess around with yourself, so you can print it off, fold the pages, and assemble it in order. Also, page numbers are your friend, even if they’re a pain to wrangle. I’ve had to match up dropped sheets without page numbers before, and I was FULL of regrets.

Now, I know that some people use inkjets, and some people do two-sided printing with one-sided printers, but i also know that other people have made use of other printers they have access to, or have taken books to places like staples or kinkos to use the printers there. I don’t know anything about how difficult or expensive that is, but it’s an option!

Now, one downside of this hobby is that it takes a NUMBER of small items to make it work, but they are typically small, and none of them have been that expensive. First, to assemble, I print off my sheets and fold them in half. And then I use a bone folder to really get those creases sharp. I mark off places to put holes and use an awl to punch them. I sew things up using either embroidery floss for short books (two strands, run over a block of beeswax) or waxed linen thread for long ones, using a curved needle. There are bookmaking ribbons you can use to give spines extra hold, but I haven’t used those. When it’s done, I glue my spine using a glue brush and sandwich my book somehow (I followed a sealemon tutorial to make a book press with two cutting boards, or I bury books under a stack of textbooks). 

I have a stash of heavier paper and fabric that are suitable for covers and endpaper, and to convert cloth into bookcloth (another sealemon tutorial), I have iron-on adhesive sheets and tissue paper. Once my book spine is set, I may glue a piece of mull/muslin to it, and/or a piece of ribbon for a bookmark. I cut my covers and spine out of chipboard, using a craft knife, guide ruler, and cutting board, then everything is ready to assemble.

That sounds like a lot, and there are other optional items I didn’t include, but none of these things are that big, or that expensive. I think my cutting board was the most expensive item I purchased. And if you just want to start with booklets, you can absolutely get started with a regular straight needle and thread, and still accomplish plenty. It’s been interesting as a hobby, because I haven’t done many things where the tiers of increasing complexity were so clearly visible, if that makes sense? I took my time trying new techniques, and I’m consistently becoming happier and happier with my efforts, but even back at the beginning when I was aware I barely knew what I was doing, the first time I glued a text block into a case I had made was a WILD feeling, and I still feel like a hell of an amateur (and don’t know enough to gauge how accurate that feeling is asdgsfda), but the earliest steps of learning to bind a book are highly, highly attainable, and I absolutely recommend it.

[sunscreenstudies]

How to Read a Novel in Your Target Language

Watch the video here!

Or click the ‘keep reading’ button to read a transcript!

Choose Your Book. A lot of people swear by children's books, but honestly, as long as you know you'll enjoy the story, then any book is fine! Preferably it should be a book that you've read before, just so you'll know the context and general story, cause this is super helpful when it comes to learning new words. Choose whatever book you like, whether that is children's books or classics or thrillers. Personally, I like to start with "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and then move onto the Harry Potter series! If you don't want to buy books or prefer to learn things online, then you can throw a book name followed by 'PDF' into Google, and chances are you'll find it! Websites like Gutenberg are also good places to start!

Find Your Translator. This can be a second version of the book in your native language, a bilingual book, a dictionary, a theasurus, or even Google Translate! For complete beginners, I suggest finding a bilingual book on Amazon or The Book Depository. For upper beginners, having two copies (one in your native, one in your target) is good translation practice. For intermediate/advanced/risk-takers, then getting a book entirely in a foreign language and using an online dictionary is the best option!

Gathering Your Supplies. There are three things that I always have no matter what I'm reading. The book (obv.), a pencil with an eraser, and sticky notes. If you don't want to use pencil, then a pen works just as well, but personally I find pencil a lot cleaner and easier to use (and also cause i make a lot of mistakes and pencil is the quickest to correct). If you don't want to use sticky notes, then you can use paper, your phone, or even just put the  new vocab straight into Quizlet if that's what you prefer!

Reading: Part One: Read the entire page first. Do not stop to look up words, do not stop to underline anything, just open the book and read the first page (or chapter, depending on your language level!). From that you should understand a few words, get the general context, etc. If you don't or you're a beginner, that's perfectly okay too, we're all learning here! Once you've read the page/chapter, try to explain what you just read to yourself. If you're upper beginner and onwards, try to explain what you read in your target language. For example, if you read a complicated sentence in German, try to explain that sentence in simple German. This will quickly let you know what areas of a language/vocab that you are missing. If you're a beginner, then don't stress, just explain it in your native language!

Reading: Part Two: After you've read the entire page, it's time to go through it paragraph by paragraph. Read the first paragraph, again try to explain to yourself what's happening, and then (and only then) do you pick up your pencil/pen/phone and underline the words that you do not know. Read the paragraph a second time. Now it's time to translate.

Reading: Part Three: If you have a bilingual book, try and figure out which target-language-words correspond to which native-language-words. If you have a second copy of the novel, then do the same (but remember that font/page size/etc. are going to be different so the paragraph's might be one different pages!). If you don't have the book in your native language, then get the dictionary/theasurus/translating app that you use and look up what the words mean. Once you translate a word, write it's translation down on the side margin of your book. You can write the translation directly above the word if you like, but personally I think this is bad for learning in the long run. The best way to learn is to reread the same book over and over again, and over time you should (hopefully) improve. Unfortunately, however, your brain will still want to take the easy way out, so if you have the translation written above a word, you're automatically going to read it, even if you eventually learn what the word means. Writing the translations in the side margin allows you to read a paragraph entirely in your target language, and if you still don't know what a particular word means, then you can always jump across to the side and see it's translation.

Reading: Part Four: Once you've written the translations of words you don't know on the margin (or wherever you choose), then it's time to write them out again on a sticky note (or paper, or notes app, or Quizlet, etc.). Write a list of words in your target language on the left side of the sticky note, and write the translations on the right side. I prefer using sticky notes, because once a sticky note is full, I can stick it on a blank page at the back of the book, fold it in half, and label what page the vocab came from. It's super helpful to have all the new words in one place! From here, I can all the vocab into Quizlet which is tens times easier than having to reread every single page trying to find all the underlined words and their translations.

Reading: Part Five: (Last step I swear) Once everything's roughly understandable, you're going to read the paragraph one final time. Try to remember the words translations (or if you can't that's fine too!) and glance across at the translations if you don't know! It's super super super important that you don't translate every. single. word. You should understand the general context of the piece before translating anything, and when you do find a word that you have to translate, try to figure out what it means first. For some languages, I know that this isn't possible, but for others, such as German, it's very possible. (e.g. Riesenschlange: Riesen = Large, Schlange = Snake, Riesenschlange = Big Snake (or, a Boa Constrictor)). If you're not learning a logical language, try to guess based on context, based on images/drawings/anything you can use, and only translate as a last resort.

Moving On: Once you've that done, move onto the second paragraph, then the third, fourth, etc. At the end of every chapter I like to quiz myself on vocab, on context, etc. to make sure that I did understand what I just read. But like I said, you don't need to understand every single little word, just as long as you get the general idea, you're doing pretty great! If there are words that you're never going to use (e.g. Riesenschlange) then of course you don't have to learn it; only learn what you feel you need to know! Also, congratulate yourself! You did it! This method might seem time consuming, but it's surprisingly quick once you get into it (and also I've completely overexplained it here) and hopefully it will help you the way that it's helped me!

[lizzy-williams]

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐

🍎Warnings: dark!peter parker, manipulation, innocent!reader, smut, triggering themes, oral (female receiving)

🍎Masterlist

🍎PART ONE

🍎A/N: Major trigger warning, I don’t condone actions like this, it’s fanfiction.

She was trapped in a spider’s web. Thankfully metaphorically, but it didn’t make the situation any better.

[y/n] was restless the night after the events that took place in her favorite teacher’s classroom. Tossing and turning as she found herself quite lonely in her bedroom.

Was this wrong? Was it worth it? What would someone say if they found out?

These questions floated around her head, hoping that maybe her thoughts would calm and she could at least get a little sleep before classes.

But then her alarm went off, and it set in that she would need to live on coffee and Five Hour Energy to keep her going and make her pay attention to her classes.

The day went by painfully slow. That was until her 6th period class. Mr. Parker’s class. And she purposely showed up when everybody else did, breaking her habit of arriving ten minutes early.

And Peter didn’t fail to notice.

Because little did [y/n] know that he was up all night as well. His thoughts were filled with nothing but her.

He didn’t fail to keep her eyes on him as he stood up in front of a room of rowdy college kids, his eyes training on her loose turtle neck, and pants.

She never wore pants, her usual outfit consisted of a skirt and knee high socks, usually with a matching sweater. He didn’t like the change of wardrobe.

Class continued as usual. But Peter’s thoughts filled with the events of the day before. How beautiful she looked on her knees. How she looked with her makeup spilling down her face, and her nude body perfectly prepped for what he had planned next.

It was then the Peter noticed he was beginning to get hard in his nether regions, and quickly dismissed the students to work and have a study hall, before sinking down at his desk, bright red but thankful that nobody saw.

Nobody accept one person, and she felt shameful for it, almost as red as her manipulator was.

She avoided eye contract with him the entire period, not wanting to catch his attention, and eventually the bell rang, her saving grace, as she rushed out of the room.

[y/n] felt sick. She didn’t want to go. She really didn’t want to go to his room after school, knowing that there was more to come. But as much as she hated it, she thought on it.

He said he wanted the best for her. And this was a learning opportunity with perks. As foreign as it felt, what he did to her felt... good. Not the last part, but the first part.

Nobody had touched her like that, not even her past boyfriends, who were almost just as clueless as she was. But Peter gave her something new. Something that she liked. Not to mention his praise did something to her that she liked. She wanted to hear him call her a good girl just one more time.

She took her sweet time, almost 20 minutes late to see him. She paused right as she got to the door. Was she really doing this? Was she inviting it?

But she needed a good grade on this paper. She really really wanted it.

And maybe, just maybe, a small piece of her wanted Peter.

When she opened the door, Peter immediately looked up, his leg bouncing up and down, a scowl on his face.

“You’re late.”

She looked down in guilt, hoping this didn’t anger him too much.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Parker, I had a family emergency, it was small, but everything is fine now...”

Her voice was barely audible as she spoke. But Peter seemed to be having none of it.

“I can’t have you being late, now can I? I might have to doc a few points from your grade...”

“No!” She started, and this was the loudest she had ever spoken to him, the threat working better than Peter had thought, “I’m sorry... sorry, I just... please, there has to be something I can do.”

“You’ll have to do an exceptionally good job today then. We need to start the next lesson.” Peter’s tone was laced with pretend disappointment, knowing it would seem authentic to his prey.

“Yes sir,” she muttered, setting her bag down and standing in front of him, sinking down to her knees, her hands folded in front of her, her eyes on the floor, preparing for what she thought was a recap of her most recent teachings.

Peter let out an amused laugh, proud that he taught her well. Fast learner, she was.

“Stand up, [y/n],” he put a finger under her chin, making her look up, “we’re going to try something different. It’s new, and I think you’ll like it.”

She began to stand up, grasping onto Peter’s hand as she stood. She was nervous, and she was starting to think twice on her decision to show up, but there was no going back now.

“I need you to sit on your desk, just like we did yesterday, alright?”

She nodded, sitting on the table of the desk before she folded her hands in front of her once again. It was a habit of hers, folding her hands, it gave her something to hold onto. Even if it was just herself.

He stepped closer, before he began to mess with the bottom of her sweater, “Never seen you in something like this before,” he muttered bitterly.

Part of him wanted to rip it off of her, destroying the modest sweater all together. But a shirtless girl walking out of his classroom could cost him his job.

He leaned over, close to her ear, sending goosebumps up her arms, “Strip.”

Peter stood back and watched as each piece of clothing found their way to the floor. She even did the honors of unhooking her bra. And soon her panties were off.

No matter how many times he would see her naked, it always felt like the first time. Amazed and in awe that even just for an evening, it was his.

“Now. What was something we learned yesterday?” He spoke, [y/n] shifted, her thighs now closed.

“Pleasure is key?” She tried, relieved at the gleeful smile that crossed her professor’s lips.

“Look at you,” he came closer, stroking her cheek, “such a fast learner. My brilliant girl,”

Even though the young woman knew what was about to come next, the praise gave her the pride to at least keep going a little while longer. Something to look forward to.

“Yesterday you gave me pleasure. You did a fantastic job. So now, it’s my turn to do it to you. But I’m also going to teach you how to do it yourself.”

Peter let his words sink in, [y/n] doing her best to understand, but no matter how hard she tried, the concept flew over her head.

“I’m going to take your hand, and I’m going to move it. I’m going to show you how to do it. Think of it like homework. Something to do while your away from me,”

Peter gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips before placing a kiss on her wrist.

This was fine, the naive nymphet thought to herself. She foolishly thought this lesson was easy.

But once she felt her hand go down her stomach, worry filled her thoughts once again, Peter’s voice an interruption.

“Have you ever touched yourself, [y/n]?” Peter pried, pausing her hand right at her clit.

She shook her head, no longer knowing how to speak. But secretly, she had tried once. Her friends (as a cruel joke on their pure friend) invested in a vibrator. But she she tried it, the buzzing only made her laugh, not being able to take it seriously. So now it sat in a box in her dorm’s closet, not being touched since then.

“Perfect.” Peter’s dreams were coming true. He knew she was pure. And he was going to show her. Help her. Have her. Even if it was just for a little while.

He positioned her hand, their pointer fingers now laced with each other.

“Start by rubbing right here...,” he instructed, rubbing her clit in soft circles, devouring the sounds of her gasps as she bit her lip.

“Hey, don’t be afraid to make noise. There’s nobody here.” He reassured.

Did he know this as a fact? No. But he would tell her anything to get her to make the sounds he had only daydreamed about.

This was when she let out a weak whimper as he applied a little more pressure. He did this for a few more seconds, Peter not failing to notice her cunt clenching around nothing. He loved her small noises.

But the whine when he took her hand away was music to his ears. It was angelic, heavenly. Everything he wanted.

“Hush,” he shushed her, “this next part you’ll like.”

She hated to admit it, but [y/n] wanted to see what was coming next. Anything to get the warm feeling on her clit again.

“It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but it will feel good after a while. Alright?”

“Mhm.”

Taking her middle and pointer finger, he positioned them. [y/n] looked up with wide eyes. Peter gave her a soft kiss on her forehead before inserting her fingers inside of her.

She whimpered at the sensation, the feeling almost alienated. It was new. It was strange. And it was very uncomfortable.

“Here, I’ll help you,” he lulled, pulling her hand slowly, her fingers slipping out, but he pushed them back in, her cunt swallowing them to the knuckle.

She let out a weak cry, the feeling of being stretched out, even by her own fingers, was scary.

“There you go, princess, just like that,” the professor muttered, continuing to guide his student.

This was a lesson he thought he should have taught her sooner.

The pace was slow and easy, but the feeling was overwhelming for the young girl. Peter then took it a step farther, pressing her palm up against her pearl and adding pressure, making sure her fingers were still moving inside her.

“That’s right. Rub that clit while you fuck your hand, that’s it...,”

Peter’s encouraging words made her melt, Peter then taking his hand off hers. But to his delight, she didn’t stop. She continued, loving the tightening in her core.

Her light moans were making Peter’s cock strain in his pants. Almost to the point of pain. Peter kicked the chair away from the desk, now standing behind her.

[y/n] was too lost in pleasure to register the sound of his belt and the unzipping from his slacks.

And the moment Peter’s cock sprung out, his hand wrapped around it, squeezing gently to relieve the pressure, his free arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back to his chest.

This gave him perfect view of [y/n]’s finger working her pussy. He started in soft strokes, his eyes trained on her hand and the soft moans she was releasing.

He started going faster, thinking about what he wanted to do most. But that was a lesson for another day. But for now, all he had were her noises. His hand began going even faster, his head now dropping to the crook of her neck, his cheeks flushed.

“That’s right, my perfect girl, you’re doing fucking amazing, keep going, baby,” his words were muffled by the young woman’s skin, but was heard none the less.

Peter already knew that she was close, her signs apparent as she went faster, the coil that was tightening inside her feeling otherworldly.

But right as it she was at the edge, she slowed.

“Mr. Parker, I-I’m scared,” she whimpered, but Peter gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“It’s okay, keep going, your almost done, don’t stop, alright? I promise it’s worth it.”

And just like he knew she would, [y/n] obeyed, resuming the swift speed she had before, moaning at her own sudden change of pace.

Peter was on the edge. He was so close. So fucking close. He had to cum before her. He wanted to take in the sight that he couldn’t imagine if he tried.

And soon enough, he came, his cum dripping down his cock and spurting onto the girl’s back, grunting loudly, cursing at his peak.

His sounds is what set her off, [y/n] letting out a loud moan as she fell off the edge, her legs shaking as she experienced her first orgasm. But right as her hand stopped, Peter reached around with his cum-covered hand and violently rubbed her clit, his harsh movements making her yelp.

She felt the coil inside her tighten again, quicker this time.

“Come on, give me one more, I wanna make you give me one more.” He growled.

And right as she fell off, her vision went white, almost blacking out as her eyes rolled back in her head. Peter held her close as he spasmed and tensed, shaking almost to the point of vibration.

Peter’s mouth dropped open as she released, squirting all over the desk and the floor in front of the classroom. His hand was soaked, and his girl was close to crying.

He refused to stop there, moving away from behind her, picking her up and laying her down at the edge of his own desk, the dazed girl laying back as her bottom half hung over the ledge.

Before she could protest, Peter was already on his knees, her legs over his shoulders, diving into her pussy, licking up everything she gave.

This time it was overstimulating, but when she tried to get away, Peter pulled her right back. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she tried to form words, her language slurred.

“S-Stop! Off!” Were the only words she could force out, but in response, Peter only licked quicker, inserting his own fingers in her cunt.

His stalky fingers shoved her open as she screamed in pain as he gave her no time to adjust before thrusting at a punishing pace.

“One more, baby, one more for me,” he growled against her folds.

And she did, her mouth opening as she let out a silent scream, forgetting how to breathe as her ears rang. Her thoughts were incoherent, mumbles of words seeping out of her mouth as she did her best to regain sanity.

But it was too much. It was all too much. And that’s all she remembered as darkness claimed her, her body no longer conscious.

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

When she regained consciousness, she found herself fully dressed, laying down on her professor’s desk. She struggled to sit up, her mind fuzzy.

Peter stood up from cleaning up her... mess, letting out a breath of relief.

“Fuck, you’re up, lost you for a second,” he rushed over, helping her stand. He reached over to a stray desk, picking up a glass of water along with Advil and a shot of electrolytes.

“Here, this should help you.” He helped her drink and take the pill, watching as she did so.

And of course, there was still one thing that she couldn’t get off her mind. The question that she was dying to ask.

“D-Did I do good?”

[dokifluffs]

Just a Little Crush | Tsukishima Kei

Pairing: Tsukishima X Reader (female)

Genre: shy fluff?? 👀

Request: “Tsukishima having a crush on Kuroo little sister who’s a 2nd year manager”

Author’s Note: honestly felt iffy writing this since I’ve never done an imagine like this but i think it came out better than I thought?? Also note: I made Kuroo a returning Nekoma alum and Tsuki a second year too 👉👈 Thanks for requesting! Happy reading~ 

He couldn’t keep his eyes from glancing over to you every so often

The way you sat so focused on the game, keeping track of the score, the way your knuckles turned white every now and then as you grasped the notebook and pen in your hand sitting beside Nekomata

He couldn’t help but enjoy the way you looked: your features, raven hair similar to someone but he couldn’t put his finger on it

The game was intense with the way all the sneakers were squeaking off the gym floors, everyone was sweaty and tired in these practice matches with Karasuno vs. Nekoma

Both teams took turns making the drive to both schools so it wouldn’t just be one so today, it was Karasuno’s turn to come to Nekoma

Tsuki slept peacefully in the bus ride as always with yamaguchi either chatting with Hinata and co or even Ennoshita

Teams were different this year especially without the third years. This meant no more suga, daichi deadchi (Tanaka nice kill!), Akashi or Kiyoko for karasuno

As for Nekoma, no Yaku, no kai, and no Kuroo

Arriving there, it was the same old same old. He had seen this school more than he thought he would

But entering the gym, this is when the story changed for him. He noticed the manager who wasn’t there last year but there was something familiar about the way you looked

During warm up, he couldn’t wrap around where he had seen you before or how you were familiar, so this meant numerous glances for him

But as discrete as he tried to be, it didn’t go unnoticed- specifically by yams, yachi, and even you

You kept to yourself and cheered on for Nekoma throughout the game, stepping out every now and then between rallies to fill up water bottles, hand then towels

Despite all the sounds in the gym from breathing and chatter in time outs or between sets, his ears somehow picked up on the sound of your voice

Strategically he listened in on some advice you gave about Karasuno and what are some things they could do instead but the words ended up droning out and he could hear your voice

“Oi, Y/N, who won the first set?” A voice so familiar, he didn’t even need to think of who’s person it went with. He knew this too by the way his body froze

“Nekoma did. It was 25-23 and Tetsu, stop using me as an arm rest, I’m not that short,” you retorted

“But the thing is you are since you’re my little sister.”

Turning around, it felt like it clicked. The same raven hair, similar features. Even hearing you laugh once, he could hear the resemblance (though you never sounded like Kuroo’s hyena laugh)

Little sister

Little sister

He didn’t know what to think but you still occupied his mind and thoughts despite knowing nothing about you

Both teams were suddenly pulled back into the a new set that started with Karasuno’s serve

With an easy pass up and a set from Kenma to Lev, Tsuki’s footing was a beat behind, making him late for a block besides Kageyama which made him sigh knowing he wouldn’t hear the end of it from who he called the king himself

And he was right. Many boke’s were thrown his way for the rest of the set. Coach even considered taking him out and he had yachi keep track of how many errors he made, sure to fix them next practice

Yams watched anxiously from the side since he had never seen his friend play like this before. No, he had never seen him like this before

He began to get annoyed with himself since he didn’t know what was happening or why he felt like this when nothing was physically wrong

He blocked everything out and got his head back to the game, able to bring back a couple of points that were lost but ultimately, the point gap widened to Nekoma’s favor, allowing them to win the second set

Sat on the bench and drinking water for a little ten minute break, he wiped his sweat, the gears in his mind turning as he tried to figure out what was going on

Why did his mind lead to you? How did you entrance him so??

The break was able to cook him down a bit before the final set of the day but then a hand clamped down on his shoulders

“What happened out there, tsuki?” Kuroo asked as he stood behind the bench, resting his folded arms on the chair beside him. “I taught you better than that”

“It’s nothing.” He brushed him off before he set his things out and played the final set

He was determined to settle himself down. This wasn’t nothing big or life changing. All he needed to do was focus

So he did

He played a lot more normally, focusing his mind on the game and his team. However, it was inevitable to sneak a glance over to the bench when Nekoma scored a point

The way your eyes lit up like Yachi’s, your aura bright and from what he was able to gather from very little, kind

Though of course, Kuroo didn’t miss this either

After the match, it was time for Karasuno to head back home. Both teams packed up the gym together as the sun was about to begin setting, the golden light shining on the ceiling through the windows at the top of the gym

“Tsuki, what happened?” yamaguchi asked while he helped him pack one of the two poles

“It’s nothing, Yamaguchi. I’m just tired,” he spoke the truth halfway. Physically, he could collapse on the bus the moment he sat down but there was another part of him that was just fully awake

Hinata and Lev and Inuoka talked loudly about the match as Kenma was finishing up, preparing to join them but felt chills run down his spine feeling Kageyama’s stares from across the gym

Packing up his bag, he looked back up, for the last time he told himself, and he could see you and yachi talking together and Kuroo beside you

But just as he looked up from you, him and Kuroo locked eyes, making the older one come over

“Well that was interesting to watch.” A smug look on his face. “You know, you really should work on blocking out.. distractions..” he said

“Mmhm..” he hummed

“Oh by the way, here.” Kuroo pressed a folded piece of paper to his chest before he parted, you and Tsuki locked eyes from a distance for just a brief moment

Opening the wad of paper, it was a a phone number with your name: Kuroo Y/N

He folded the paper back up and tucked it safely and securely into his pocket, zipping up his club jacket as high as he could to hide the blush that rose to his cheeks for a bit

But he couldn’t hide the redness in the tips of his ears that peaked above the collar of his jacket

His heart was really going doki doki

~~~~~ Thanks for reading! Masterlist for more! Please do not repost anywhere else!

Tags (let me know if you wanna be tagged for all my haikyuu posts): @yams046  @mazey-chan  @sunboikyo00  @kara-grayson04​  @fortheloveofbakugo​

[drabbles-mc]

House Call

Neron “Creeper” Vargas x Reader

Request by my #1 @est1887: Ok here goes for creeper can you make it fluffy lol I love a good love story clearly lol: “Anything, just call me okay” “Call me now it urgent” “Actually I just miss you”

Warnings: language, mentions of blood/injuries, hospitals

Word Count: 4.9k

A/N: Soo this is my first time writing for Creeper and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! I may have gotten a little carried away...hence the 4.9k but this was a really fun one to write haha. Hope you guys enjoy! xo

Taglist: @mayans-sauce @thesandbeneathmytoes @paintballkid711 @tomhardydallasstarsgirl @queenbeered @sillygoose6969 @sesamepancakes @yourwonkywriter @chibsytelford @gemini0410 @multiyfandomgirl40 @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @plentyoffandoms @georgiaaintnopeach @twistnet @garbinge @amandinesblogofstuff @bucky-iss-bae @encounterthepast @everyhowlmarksthedead @rosieposie0624 @mylittlelonelyappreciationtoo 

He winced, letting out an exaggerated groan as you stitched up the cut. You knew it probably hurt, but you also knew him well enough to know that he had been through much worse and wasn’t so dramatic about it. You smiled as you continued his stitches, “Pretending it hurts more than it actually does isn’t going to make me give you stronger painkillers, you know.”

He instantly dropped the act as a smile crossed his face, still looking up at the ceiling for a moment before looking at you, “What if I’m really convincing?”

Your eyes met his for a moment as you arched on eyebrow, “You’re not that good of an actor, Neron.”

He chuckled, and a genuine pang of pain shot through him as he did so he tried to still himself again. You hated how often he seemed to get banged up, but he was at least a good patient. You weren’t positive that he always took the full amount of recovery time, but all of his injuries seemed to heal with minimal issues so you couldn’t complain. His stitches always stayed clean, and he swore that he always did the full run of whatever types of meds you had him on when necessary. For someone who seemed so accident-prone, he took good care of himself.

There was a comfortable familiarity between the two of you. Friends may have been too strong of a word, but whenever he had to come and see you, or the rare occasions that you had to stop by the clubhouse to patch someone up, you always enjoyed talking to him. Even if it was while you were swabbing out and stitching up stab wounds or bullet holes.

You were putting a light bandage over the stitching so it wouldn’t get dirty. The slice went down the inside of his bicep and it wasn’t exactly the shallowest cut. It would take a bit of time to heal but you had no doubts that he would be back to normal sooner rather than later.

“I think,” you lightly traced your finger along his arm, inspecting your work, “you’re good to go.”

“Sending me away already, Doc?”

You smiled, “You’ll have to come back soon anyway so I can keep an eye on your stitches. You’ll be seeing me again in no time.”

“You always take such good care of us,” he was looking down at his bandage.

“That why you keep getting busted up?”

“It is a bonus.”

You laughed and shook your head, “Right. Well, I’m gonna send your prescription out. It’s a low-dose pain killer. Nothing crazy. Only take it if you need it. You know the drill.”

He chuckled, “Something like that.”

You looked at his arm and let out a small sigh, “Alright. Just because I know how you boys are, and that cut isn’t exactly in an optimal location, I’m gonna give you my number so you can get in touch with me if something starts to feel off or the stitches rip,” you scribbled your number down on a piece of scrap paper before handing it to him, “Anything happens, just call me, okay?”

He nodded, carefully folding and tucking the paper into the pocket of his kutte, “Thank you.”

You nodded, saying goodbye to him before walking out of the room to send his prescription to the pharmacy. The other doctors didn’t understand why you always jumped at the chance to treat the guys from the MC, but you did genuinely enjoy their company. They were all good to you, and you weren’t put off by the ink and kuttes like some of your coworkers.

He walked out of the room while you were sending out his prescription. You only noticed because you could hear all of his friends in the waiting room, instantly starting to crack jokes at his expense when he walked over to them. You smiled, shaking your head slightly—you couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying but you were sure that it was amusing.

Once it was all sent out, you made your way over to Creeper and the few guys from the club who had been there waiting for him to get patched up. They were all smiles when you walked over, and it was impossible to not return the gesture.

“You guys are in charge of making sure that he doesn’t get any new injuries while this one is healing, alright?” you gave them all pointed looks, “And no bikes for him until further notice.”

“They aren’t my parents,” Creeper said with a chuckle and a shake of his head, “I can take care of myself.”

You glanced at the bandage on his arm, “Mhm. I see this,” you laughed as your eyes met his, “Give me a call if anything happens, okay?”

He nodded, “Sure thing, Doc.”

As you walked away, you could hear Angel’s voice, “Give her a call? Alright, ‘mano. Good for you.”

You chuckled quietly as you walked off to see your next patient. There were, but one of your favorite things was the fact that you really got to meet and help so many different kinds of people. Stumbling into the circle of the MC had been completely out of your control, but you were glad that it happened. You just so happened to get assigned the right case in the free clinic a couple years ago and since then, you were essentially on Bishop’s speed dial whenever anything went down. He knew you were good at what you did, and could be discreet about it.

Days came and went, and you hadn’t heard anything from Creeper, or anyone for that matter. You supposed no news was good news, but you were curious to know how your patient was doing. You didn’t have his number, though, he only had yours. So you waited. You waited for a call from him, or a notification from the hospital that he had scheduled his follow-up appointment. Either one would be fine by you.

You were just getting off your shift, walking out to your car when your phone started to ring. You didn’t recognize the number, but you picked up anyway.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Doc,” you recognized his voice immediately.

“Neron,” your tone was cautious as you fished your keys out of your purse, “Why do I get the feeling that this isn’t a good call?”

“Because…it’s not,” he chuckled, “It’s not terrible. I just…did something stupid.”

“Oh did you?” you shook your head as you sat down behind the wheel and threw your purse over into the passenger seat.

“Think I could come in and have you fix me up?”

You sighed, “I’m leaving for the day. Text me your address and I’ll just come to you—you shouldn’t be driving anyway.”

“O-okay,” he fumbled over his words for a moment, “I, I can do that.”

“I’ll see you soon,” you laughed, “Don’t do anything else until I get there.”

You were surprised by how close he lived to the hospital. And, by extension, how close he lived to you. Your house was only about a ten-minute drive away from his, if that. You knew it was a small world, but you didn’t think it was quite that small.

You walked up and knocked on the door, medical bag slung over your shoulder. You’d taken to keeping a decent amount of supplies on-hand once you became the on-call doctor for the club. A few moments later he opened the door, a nervous smile on his face.

“You called?” you offered up with a laugh.

You noticed some of the tension disappear from his body as he nodded, stepping out of the way to let you in. You didn’t know what you had been expecting the inside of his home to look like, but what you were seeing didn’t surprise you. Everything was clean and orderly, but it was sparse. He didn’t strike you as the kind of man who was super into interior design anyway.

You took off your shoes, nudging them off to the side as you followed him to the living room. You noticed that he was keeping his arm pinned to his side, trying to hide whatever damage he’d done. It was amusing to you solely because he was going to have to show you what happened if he wanted you to fix it.

He sat down on the couch and you pulled a chair over from his table so that you could sit in front of him facing him. You looked back and forth between his face and his arm, waiting for him to start offering up some sort of explanation.

“Before you get mad,” he gestured with his good arm, “let me explain.”

“Please do,” you smiled as you started taking things out of your bag.

“I was being good,” he was almost pleading, “I was staying home—no rides, no club shit. Figured that since I’m stuck in the house I might as well get a few things around here taken care of.”

You looked at him, eyebrows raised, “Did any of the things that needed to be taken care of involve any kind of heavy lifting?”

“I didn’t think it was heavy! Not until,” he finally showed you his arm.

A few of his stitches had definitely ripped. It would be a quick and easy fix, but you could tell by the look on his face that he felt like he was about to get in trouble in the principal’s office. You smiled as you carefully undid the bandage and started wiping the dried blood away.

“It could be worse,” you said with a chuckle.

You could see the relief in his body language when he realized that you weren’t frustrated or upset with him. His injury wasn’t at the top of his list of concerns—he knew that you’d be able to fix it. He just didn’t want you to be pissed off at him during or after the process of doing so.

You re-wrapped his arm and reiterated your previous instructions as you did, “No rides, no heavy lifting. You are a one-armed man for the foreseeable future,” you reached into your bag and pulled out a sling, “And just in case you forget I’m gonna strap you down with this,” you laughed as you fitted it onto him.

He shook his head, but smiled, “This isn’t necessary, Doc.”

“Clearly it is,” you laughed as you leaned back in the chair.

A few beats of silence passed before he looked you in the eyes and let a small smirk pass over his face, “Thank you, by the way. I owe you.”

You shook your head as you packed everything back into your bag, “You don’t owe me. I’m happy to help.”

You were putting the chair back in its rightful place when he asked, “I was gonna order pizza if you want to stick around. I know I just made your long day even longer,” he chuckled nervously, “It’s the least I could do.”

You smiled, nodding, “Pizza sounds good.”

The evening was much more comfortable than you thought it might be. It was the longest that you’d spent with any of the guys from the club, especially in a one-on-one setting. Creeper was easy to be around though, and he kept your laughing. You really didn’t even notice the time going by as the two of you lounged on the sofa, television on just for background noise.

“I would love to stay,” you stood up and stretched, “But I don’t get to stay home on bedrest tomorrow,” you laughed.

“Can doctors call in sick?” he asked with a smile.

You nodded, “We can. I try to save my sick hours for hangovers, though.”

He walked you out to your car, and you couldn’t believe how dark it’d gotten. You tossed your bag into your trunk and shut the door with a quiet sigh. Despite how long your day had been, you couldn’t deny that the ending to it all had been worth it. You hadn’t expected to have so much fun, to so badly want to stay a little longer.

“Thanks again for this, Y/N. I owe you.”

You smiled and shook your head, “The only thing you owe me is updates. That way I know your arm is still attached and healing.”

He laughed and nodded, “I can do that.”

You hugged him gently, careful not to press against his injured arm, “Take care of yourself, Neron.”

His smile was soft, “Get home safe.”

Telling him to keep you updated was all it took for him to keep in touch with you. Over the next few days, seeing text messages from him were welcome distractions in the midst of a lot of chaos at work. At some point in the morning, he would always send an update saying that he still had both arms, and that he was still wearing the sling. He would usually include whatever joke the other guys had made at his expense that day, just to reassure you that he was still taking it easy. You’d usually text him back on your lunch break, if you got one, or just when you had a spare moment to breathe for a couple minutes.

Soon it was more than just the once or twice a day check-ins. Slowly but surely the conversations started lasting all throughout the day. You obviously weren’t always able to respond to things right away, but nonetheless the two of you kept the conversation going regardless of what it was about. It was the first time in a long time that you had someone that you could talk to all day and not get bored. It was nice.

You were texting him as you were leaving work late one night, drained and pissed off at a call your supervisor had made. You were glad that you had a couple days off before you had to be back so you could cool off a bit and not say something that you’d regret.

“Free tonight?” you figured the worst that could happen was that he would say that he was busy.

You got his reply as you sat down in the driver’s seat of your car, “Yea. You ok?”

You sighed but smiled as you typed out your response, “Shitty day”

His reply was immediate, “Come over whenever. Not like I’m going anywhere anytime soon lol”

You chuckled, shaking your head. You let him know that you were going to go home to shower and change and then you’d be over. You hadn’t been back to see him in person since you fixed his stitches. And, despite the fact that the two of you had been texting every day, you found yourself missing him a little bit. Even though it had been a rough day, you were glad that you would be able to stop in and see him.

You knocked on his front door, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. Showing up for something that wasn’t medical felt a little strange. You had no idea why there was a hint of nerves coursing through your body, but there was.

He opened the door, a smile spreading across his face, “Hey, come on in,” he stepped aside so you could come inside.

You slipped out of your sneakers and turned around to see Creeper staring at you. There was a smirk tugging at his lips and you felt your face get hot. You tugged at the hem of your tank top, letting out a nervous chuckle, “What?”

He shook his head, “Nothing. Just never seen you outta your scrubs, Doc,” he smiled, “Beer?”

You nodded, “Please.”

You collapsed down onto his couch and he appeared a few moments later with two open beer bottles, handing one to you. You took it happily, taking a long drink from it as he sat down on the couch next to you. He looked over at you, concern flashing across his features for a moment. Before he could ask you anything, you beat him to the punch.

“I know I’m not in my scrubs,” you looked at his arm, “But I’m still your doctor. What happened to the sling?”

He laughed, shaking his head, “I’ve been on my best behavior. No mishaps. I can’t go one night without it?”

You smiled, “Fine. One night,” you paused, can I look at the stitches though?”

He shook his head, “No. You had a long day. You’re not here to be my doctor. Just relax for a bit, will you?”

You rolled your eyes but smiled, “Fine,” you sipped on your beer, “No big club plans on a Saturday?”

“Just following the doctor’s orders.”

You laughed, “Man, she must be a real buzzkill.”

He chuckled, “Yea, but she means well.” You gave him a light shove as you let out a laugh. He smiled, “You this mean to all your patients?”

“Just the ones who make fun of me.”

He finally got you to start venting about what had been going on at work over the past few days, but that day in particular. He didn’t say much, just nodding and encouraging you along. He could see that you just needed to talk about it, to be able to be bitter and complain about it so that you wouldn’t combust from keeping anything inside. Throughout the course of the conversation he’d gotten you each a couple more beers. You took them gladly, just happy that you were able to unwind and have some good company.

As it started to get later, you found yourself not really wanting to leave. It was comfortable at his house, with him. You didn’t quite know what it was about it, but you really had no desire to go home.

He’d put a movie on, and somewhere along the way you found yourself leaning against his good side. You settled against him, soaking up the heat that was emanating from him. He cautiously draped his arm around you, his hand resting lightly on your side. You let out a quiet hum of approval and felt the tension disappear from his body.

You didn’t remember falling asleep, but you woke up to the sound of Creeper snoring. You forced your eyes open, trying to get your bearings a little bit. Your head was rested in his lap, blanket draped over you and his hand still resting on your side. He was leaning back against the couch, head tilted slightly upwards as he slept. You sat up slowly, running your hands over your face.

He felt you stir and started to wake up. You smiled over at him as he wiped the sleep from his eyes, “Sorry I ended up crashing here.”

He chuckled, tiredness still weighing on his voice as he struggled to wake himself up, “No worries. Glad you got some rest.”

You got up and got ready to head home, already feeling like you definitely overstayed your welcome. He wasn’t rushing you out, but he wasn’t going to try to force you to stay, either, assuming that you had other things you had to take care of. He still walked you out to your car despite the fact that it was daylight now. He hug he gave you lingered for just a little bit longer, and you didn’t mind.

“Thank you. Sorry again about the impromptu slumber party,” you laughed.

He smiled, “You don’t gotta apologize.”

You fished your keys out of your purse, “Don’t forget to make an appointment for your stitches soon, alright?”

“Was hoping you’d be willing to make a house call for that.”

You smiled, cheeks getting hot for a moment, “I might be able to swing that. I’ll stop by sometime next week.”

The following week, you were making your way out to your car after your shift. Things were a little calmer at work, and your frustration had decreased drastically. You were digging around for your keys when you felt your phone vibrating in your pocket. You pulled it out, brows furrowing in concern when Bishop’s name flashed across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Y/N.”

“Hey…everything alright?”

He didn’t sound overly worried, “Yea. Just wanted to ask a favor of you if I could.”

“What’s up?”

“You think you could take Creeper’s stitches out early? Need him on deck for some club stuff. He’s gotta be able to ride.”

You sighed. You know that realistically he’d probably be fine, but you couldn’t pretend that you wouldn’t be worried about whatever it was that was going on. You weren’t going to say no, though. “Yea, I could do that. Was planning on taking them out this weekend anyway.”

“Great. Think you can stop by his place tonight?”

“When do you need him by?”

There was a pause—he didn’t want to answer the question, “Tomorrow.”

“Fuck, Bish. Seriously?”

“I know. I’ll owe you.”

You chuckled, “You sure will. I’ll stop by his place tonight.”

“You’re an angel.”

“Yea, remember that,” you laughed as you hung up the phone. With a sigh, you texted Creeper to let him know that you were on your way to his house as per Bishop’s orders. He probably knew already, but you still felt weird popping by without saying anything first.

He opened the door for you when you got there, a smirk on his face, “Wow. I bet Bishop that you weren’t going to cave on taking them out early.”

“If your arm didn’t seem to be healing so well, I wouldn’t be,” you shook your head slightly as you got ready to take his stitches out, “You’re lucky you’re such a good patient.”

The two of you were quiet as you went to work on his arm. It really wasn’t the worst thing in the world that the stitches were coming out a little ahead of schedule. He’d been careful with his arm, and you really didn’t have any pressing concerns about it. Your worries branched far outside the scope of his latest injury.

“Do I get to ask what’s so important that Bishop needs you to speed up your recovery time?”

He raised his eyebrows slightly, “You really wanna know?”

You sighed, shaking your head, “No. It’s probably better for my sanity if I don’t.”

“You worried?”

You flicked your eyes up to him for a moment, “Usually urgent club business ends with at least one of you guys needing to come and see me to get patched up. Odds aren’t really in your favor.”

He laughed, “I guess you’re right.”

Neither of you said anything more about it. As much as you wanted to stay, and maybe pry a little more into what was going on, you fought the urge. You knew that he probably had last-minute shit to take care of, and it wasn’t your place to get in his way. You slung your bag over your shoulder as you headed back towards the front door of his house. The knot in your stomach wasn’t going to go away until they were all back and safe from handling whatever it was that they were getting into.

After tossing your bag into your car, you turned around and wrapped him in a tight hug. For the first time since he got injured, he was able to properly hug you back. He kept you snug against him for a few moments, and you really didn’t want him to let go.

You finally stepped back, “Please stay safe, alright?”

“Doctor’s orders?” there was a small smile on his face.

You laughed and nodded, “Yes. Doctor’s orders,” you paused, gnawing at the inside of your bottom lip, “Let me know when you’re back?”

He nodded, “I will.”

“Good. Okay,” you stepped in and hugged him again, pressing a light, quick kiss to his cheek before getting in your car, “Stay out of trouble, Neron.”

He smiled, “I’ll do what I can.”

A few days ticked by and you hadn’t heard anything from anyone. Which was perfectly on-brand for the MC, but this time it made you worried. You had debated texting creeper, but you stopped yourself. They were busy, probably wrapped up in dangerous shit. The last thing that he needed was you bothering him. Still, though, you wished that you knew what was going on.

You were pulling something together for a very late dinner at the end of the week. Your shift had gone way longer than it was supposed to. You were too tired to cook, but it was also too late to get anything delivered. So you were pulling random things out of your cabinets in the hopes of putting together something that resembled a meal.

Your phone buzzed once on the counter. You glanced over and saw that you had a notification from Creeper. Instantly you opened the message, “Call me now. It’s urgent”

Your heart dropped into your stomach as you called him. Your hand trembled as you held it up to your ear, waiting to hear the worst when he picked up on the other end of the line.

“Hello?”

“Neron?” you couldn’t hide the worry in your voice, “Are you okay? Where are you guys? Are you all safe?”

“One question at a time,” there was a touch of humor to his voice, and you couldn’t tell if you found it reassuring or frustrating.

“What’s wrong? You said it was urgent,” your heart was pounding inside your chest.

“It is,” he paused, “Kind of. I mean,” you heard him take a deep breath, “Actually, honestly, I just miss you. Been thinkin’ about you all week.”

You let out a laugh, some of the tension disappearing from your body, “I miss you too. So…you’re still in one piece?”

He chuckled, “Yea. Me and everyone else.”

“Where are you?”

“About to head home.”

“Can I come over?” you blurted out.

You could tell he was biting back a laugh as he responded, “Yea. Of course.”

You let out a sigh of relief, “Alright. I’ll see you soon.”

When you pulled in, you saw his bike in the driveway and knew he was already home. You didn’t bother knocking this time, electing to just let yourself in. He was standing in the kitchen, looking in the fridge when you walked in. He turned around, smiling when he saw you. Without giving it a second thought, you all but ran over to him and wrapped him in a tight hug. He laughed, arms snaking around you and squeezing you tight. You shut your eyes, taking a moment to just breathe him in as one of his hands came to rest on the back of your head.

“I really did miss you, you know,” his voice was softer than you were used to. It was the first thing either of you said to each other since you got there.

You smiled against his chest, “I missed you too.”

He pulled away from you a little so he could get a good look at your face. You could see the exhaustion in his features, but you could see the happiness too. His hands stayed rested on your hips as he spoke, “I know I’m technically not your patient anymore,” he cracked a smile, “But if you wanted to keep stopping in to make house calls, I wouldn’t mind.”

You laughed, hands resting on the sides of his neck, fingers lightly tracing over the ink there, “You wouldn’t, huh?”

“I like you,” you could tell by the look on his face that he was choosing his words carefully, “And I like it when you’re here. Feels more like home. Not being able to talk to you for a week…really fucking sucked.”

You smiled, liking his simple honesty, “I agree. And…I like you too.”

He pulled you closer, fingers drumming lightly on your sides, “Can I kiss you?”

Your eyes widened, not expecting that to be the next thing that he said. Despite the shock, you smiled and nodded. The grin that broke out across his face was contagious, but you didn’t have time to really take it in as he cupped your face and pulled you in so your lips crashed against his. You practically melted into him, hands sliding to rest on his chest. His thumb traced along your cheekbone as his lips moved against yours.

You pulled back to catch your breath, and you could feel his chest vibrating with laughter beneath your hands. Your face was hot and you found yourself smiling when he pulled you close and rested his forehead against yours.

“I guess you were right,” you said with a quiet laugh.

“About?”

You chuckled, “About this being urgent,” you smiled and closed your eyes as he pressed a kiss to your forehead, “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

You rested your head against his chest and sighed, leaning into him. He wrapped his arms around you, one hand sliding gently up and down your back. His arms felt strong, and they made you feel safe. You didn’t know for sure what was in store for the two of you next, but you were ready for whatever the next adventure was.

[paperpocalypse]

the space-time continuum.

50 Wordless Ways to Say “I Love You”: 9. Participating in their hobby even if it doesn’t personally interest you.

Pairing: Five Hargreeves x Reader

Word Count: 1,456 words

Warning: Swearing

Five doesn’t really have any hobbies in the traditional sense.

He’s becoming more and more of a workaholic these days. The siblings love to harp on Luther for being as bland as toast, but even Number One takes the time to have fun once in a while; Five does not, at least not for the past few months. Even his weekly half hour of sanctioned free time is usually spent practicing his spatial jumps or writing equations. Lots of equations. One would be inclined to say that working is Five’s hobby, in its own, terribly boring way.

So one Saturday, when the clock strikes noon, you head over to Five’s room and knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Well, that was easy,” you say, opening the door. Five is at his desk, scribbling in yet another notebook. “I thought there’d be more resistance.”

“Only three people in this house knock before coming in,” Five replies, not looking up as you walk over. “Mom, Vanya, and you. Mom is cleaning the living room and Vanya’s practicing, so that leaves –” he crosses a line out – “you.”

You smile. “Don’t I feel special.”

“Yeah, well, don’t flatter yourself.”

Knowing that he’ll probably kick you out if you tease him further, you instead peer over his shoulder at his work. Equations, just as you suspected. There’s a ragged edge near the spine where he had torn a page out and started over.

“Any way I could help?”

“Probably not.”

You glare at him. There’s just the slightest uptick on the corner of his mouth. “Everything has a pattern, Five. I bet I could find one in all this stuff.”

“This ‘stuff’ is space-time mathematical physics. Of course there’re patterns, but they’re all twisted together in the world’s shittiest rope.” He finally looks up at you in that piercing way of his, and you try to ignore the jump in your heartbeat when he does so. “There’s a chair right over there. If you’re going to stick around, don’t hover over me like a vulture.”

In other words, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Not bothering to press down a smile, you drag the chair over and sit next to Five, as close as you can without invading his personal space – he’s gotten more adamant about it lately, along with his growing antisocial tendencies. But today, it seems that he’s alright with your knees touching. Hands folding politely on top of the desk, you take the briefest moment to admire his side profile before examining his work closely for the first time.

Everything has a pattern. You tune out the sounds of your breathing, the crisp sound of a pen scratching at paper, your blood pulsing. Working with inanimate things is still a pain; you’d rather concentrate on living things than a jumble of numbers and variables. But this is important to Five and you want to help him, so you take in a slow, deep breath and drag your eyes down the page.

Yikes. It looks like one of the exercises Sir Hargreeves makes you train with, unfortunately. Most of the page is a derivation of some kind. You stare at the steps without blinking, eyes straining to locate just a thread, anywhere, to grasp –

“Ah-ha!” you exclaim when a trail fades into view, light blue against the pure white paper. Five looks over at you, and you grin sheepishly.

“You got it?” he asks dryly, twisting the pen once over his fingers. Still, his tone is expectant.

You fixate on the next page, and the rest of the patterns come into view, each one a different color. Five’s right – they’re all twisted together like a rope. It’s looser in some places, though.

“Got it,” you breathe. “Wow, that’s pretty neat.”

Five hums, satisfied, and resumes writing. You watch the paper intently as he continues to fill the notebook with figures, circling some numbers here and there and testing a calculation on some scrap paper every once in a while. The threads weave in and out of each other, and after a few minutes, you begin to see wisps of equations yet to be written – approximations of the best path to take. They’re faint, but you can see them. Yes!

“Might I give my humble opinion, Five?” you put in when he finally pauses.

He raises an eyebrow, pen clicking. “Shoot.”

Keeping your eyes on the notebook, you scoot closer and reach over to grab the scrap paper, plucking a spare pencil from the holder at the corner his desk. Five’s gaze burns into your hand as you start copying down the prediction as well as you can.

Once you’ve finished, you point at the denominator of the last answer in Five’s notebook. “So according to the pattern, you should –”

“Expand it as a power series in Planck’s constant,” Five mutters, leaning in to check your work. “Huh. That makes sense.” He nods, glancing over at you with a thoughtful expression. “Nice work.”

The compliment brings forth all sorts of gushy feelings that you’d rather die than admit to anyone, but the happiness shows on your face anyway. “No problem at all. Piece of cake.”

Five flips through his notebook again, then closes it and tosses his pen onto the desk. Leaning back in his chair, he looks past you and through the window before leveling his gaze back onto you. No words are exchanged for what feels like an eternity.

“So,” he finally says, right when you wonder whether he wants you to leave. He crosses his arms. “Why’d you really stop by?”

“What?”

“Well, to put it nicely, you’re not exactly a math person. Especially when it comes to the kind I’m doing, so …” Five tilts his head toward you.

You balk, scrambling for a way to explain without sounding like a buffoon. He simply waits, letting you brew as usual, as if he has all the time in the world until you come up with something. “I just …” you finally manage, shrugging weakly, “wanted to hang out with you. You’ve been kinda cooped up in your room lately, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Doing that?” You gesture to his notebook. He nods. “What is it, exactly?”

“A spatial jump study.”

“Spatial jump study?” you echo, blinking with surprise. “Why?”

“Dad wants me to know how my power works as part of my training,” Five says flatly, standing up and walking towards his nightstand. “It’ll prepare me for time traveling – even though I’ve been ready for months already.”

You blink rapidly, taken aback. “You can time travel?”

He opens a drawer and rummages through its contents, picking something up. “Technically, I already can, since my spatial jumps manipulate time to a certain degree. If Dad would just let me, I could jump months forward. Maybe even years.” He tosses whatever he’d been holding to you. Instinctively, you catch it. “You dropped that after our last mission, by the way.”

You look down at your hand. In it lies a small keychain in the shape of a fluffy little bird, lemon yellow and cartoonish. Frowning, you pick it up by the keyring and dangle it closer to your face. Did you drop this one? You remember that you had lost a keychain when one of the robbers tore your jacket pocket, and that you had gone with birds that day, but to be honest you don’t quite remember what it looked like. You have a lot of bird keychains. The perks of joining the famous Umbrella Academy, you guess.

You pocket it anyway. “Thanks,” you murmur, touched either way.

Five shrugs and strides back over, hands in his pockets. “No problem. It was easy to spot.”

“I’ll say.” Standing up, you glance at the alarm clock next to his bed and gawp at the time. 12:20. There’s only ten minutes left? Geez. “Well … I better get ready. I’ll see you during training, I guess.”

Reluctantly, you make your way to the door, hearing the muffled clunk of your chair being set down as Five returns it back to its rightful place. Right. But when you open the door, preparing to step out into the hallway, he calls your name.

You quickly look back. “Hm?”

“Let me know if you need any help with your puzzles,” he says.

A smile immediately crawls onto your lips. Nodding, you look down at your feet and then back up at him. “Yeah. Yeah, I will.”

As you walk towards your room, strangely giddy, you pass Diego on the way. He gives you a weird look but you hardly care, reaching into your jacket pocket to touch the cool metal within.

See you then.

[doiefy]

paper stars // kim doyoung

genre: fluff pairing: doyoung x gn reader word count: 1.2k warnings: language, spoilers for at dawn (would recommend reading it first, or i’ll just tell you who the killers were hehe)

just a short, fluffy headcanon i couldn’t stop thinking about at 3 am, in which doyoung can’t do origami to save his life and reader is stressed for their life. thank you yves for the idea <33

@neonun-au​, as promised!! will also be working on a crack fic for the rest of the characters at some point :D

“You’re surprisingly really bad at this.”

Doyoung sits across from you, his face scrunched up in concentration, stormy eyes filled with nothing but determination as he watches the YouTube tutorial again. He holds the piece of red paper up, his gaze flitting between the origami star on screen and his own handiwork: a sad, unevenly-edged pentagon that folds in on itself when he tries to proceed to the next step. He lets out a frustrated groan, crumpling the paper into a little ball and flicking it off the table like it’s an insect intruding on your time together.

“This is impossible,” he grunts, spinning his chair around like a little kid. When he finally stops, it’s to stare begrudgingly at the jar of origami stars on your desk—a little keepsake of yours that Doyoung’s taken an interest in lately. Quite frankly though, his mission to fill up the last quarter of the jar with shiny stars has been miserable. Though bright-eyed and determined at the very beginning, his resolve is starting to crumble, evident in his failed attempts thrown all over your living room. It’s starting to get a bit ridiculous.

You push your work to the side, snatching the second piece of crumpled paper out of his hands before he can chuck it across the room. “So you’re telling me that you have six PhDs and can solve almost any homicide case in an hour, but you can’t do a kids’ arts and crafts project?”

Doyoung gawks at you. “First of all, I don’t have a PhD in paper crafts, and I don’t solve homicides by folding paper.” He reaches for his phone to rewind the video, then picks up a fresh strip of paper. “Second of all, kids?! A kids’ arts and crafts project? Origami was a prestigious ceremonial practice back in the day—”

“Yeah, and my seven-year-old niece can fold a better paper airplane than you. You’re like, ten times her age,” you joke. He gives you a wounded look from across the table.

“I’ll do it,” he murmurs beneath his breath as he loops the strip around his fingers. “I’ll get it eventually.”

You can’t help but giggle at the way his eyes take on a strenuousness you only ever see at work: the furrowing of his brow and steadiness of his hands whenever he’s deep in thought, trying to crack a case. But you suppose making paper stars is his case to crack tonight. The type of paper, how tightly he winds the strip, the crispness of the folds—he’s subconsciously turned the whole ordeal into an unsolvable mystery instead of just folding the damn paper.

“How are your revisions coming along?” Doyoung asks, and you look back down at your screen. The words of your report are starting to crawl off the screen, shifting in so many directions at once like they're trying to escape your eyes. You sigh.

“I hate going to hearings.” You rub at your eyes tiredly. “The evidence is solid, indisputable probably. But you know what defence attorneys are like. They'll probably pull something out of their asses tomorrow and I don’t know if I’ll be ready for that.”

“Who’s defending?”

You flip through your papers to check. “Byun Baekhyun. Some new guy… Park Chan-something.”

“Byun?” Doyoung questions with a raise of his brow, now setting down his origami to give you his full attention. “I thought he and Lee got into some serious trouble after Seo’s case?”

“That crafty little fucker never gives up,” you groan, and now it’s your turn to slump in your chair, defeated. “He got his name cleared in December and I’m gonna bet he has something up his sleeve for tomorrow. He always does.”

Doyoung reaches across the table to give your hand a reassuring squeeze. And when that doesn’t seem to alleviate any of your stress, he rolls his chair over to where you’re sitting, readjusts his glasses and leafs through a few of your papers. His arm comes around your waist when you drop your head onto his shoulder, and he pulls you a little closer to him while he reads.

“Taeyong’s getting what’s coming for him,” he says at last, gesturing at your carefully-prepared notes and the speech you’ve started typing out on your laptop; while you don’t intend on memorizing everything you’ll say, writing it down definitely helps. “Whether or not you’re confident in what happens tomorrow, they can’t let him walk. They won’t. Just give them your statement… and don’t overthink it.”

Still, despite his words of encouragement, you can manage only a sigh before curling up closer to him and burying your face in the soft fabric of his sweater. He smells like lemongrass and lavender, and a hint of the delicate floral notes you’ve learned are unique to the FVA house—they remind you of the candles in the room where you first met, the library you spend nearly all your time in whenever you visit, the shirts he occasionally allows you to steal from his wardrobe. And as comforting and grounding as it is, having him next to you, your skin is still crawling with anticipation for tomorrow.

Almost six months after Nakamoto Yuta’s arrest, the investigations at LTY have finally come to an end, and with enough to lock Taeyong away. If only it were as easy as throwing his pretentious ass into a prison cell and throwing the key into the Han River; if it were as easy as skipping testifying in court. Jaehyun will be suffering alongside you, but at least he’s good at public speaking. You, on the other hand, always feel like a hot mess of fumbling words and unsatisfactory arguments—contrary to the opinion of all your colleagues.

“There’s no need to be so nervous,” Doyoung says softly, pulling you away from your anxieties and back into his arms. “I’ve heard you speak at hearings, and you’re always much more well-spoken than you think. You were amazing at Yuta’s.”

“Gross. We don’t talk about him,” you grunt, making a face at your new coffee table. Doyoung gives a laugh, pressing his lips to your forehead in gentle apology.

“Sorry,” he murmurs against your skin. “But I mean it, you were good.” He glances at his failed stars. “Some might even say… stellar.”

You flush with embarrassment and swat him away, pushing his chair back to the other end of the desk so you can get back to work without distraction. “Okay, back to your stupid stars. They’re not gonna fold themselves, you know.”

He throws one at you.

The next morning, you find a neatly-folded star in the pocket of your dress pants—perfectly puffed up, perfectly cornered, with a lopsided smiley face drawn on one side. There’s a small arrow drawn where one edge of the paper disappears into another. Confused, you unravel the star to find a quick message scribbled along the length of paper:

Be clear, concise. Relax. Don’t slouch.

“You ready?” At the sound of Jaehyun’s voice, you slip the paper away, accept the cup of coffee he offers you. Despite how early it is in the morning, he looks energized, determined. You focus on that, readying yourself with the words Doyoung left in your pocket and his encouragement the previous night. You nod, smiling.

“Yeah. Let's get this fucker.”

[horansqueen]

New Angel - Chapter 14

story masterlist [x]

chapter 1  ☆ chapter 2  ☆ chapter 3  ☆ chapter 4  ☆ chapter 5  ☆ chapter 6  ☆ chapter 7  ☆ chapter 8 ☆ chapter 9 ☆ chapter 10 ☆ chapter 11 ☆ chapter 12 ☆ chapter 13

NOTES

☆ written from Niall’s pov ☆ i don’t proofread, I never do, I hate it. ☆ AU comedy/fluff/smut/romance ☆ 2.7k ☆ i accept requests and ideas for this story, so message me in my inbox!  ☆ if you want to be notified when this story is updated (or be taken off the update list) CLICK HERE

NIALL

When I pushed on the door of the library, I felt lighter and I had a smile on my face. I was even starting to wonder if maybe I should give up on a love and sex life altogether. I knew it could bring joy and happiness, but at the exact moment, all it did was confuse me and make me nervous, and honestly, I didn't need that.

I smiled when I noticed Millie sitting behind the counter, her head leaned against her hand and looking down, probably deeply lost in a book. I stared at her a few seconds and saw her look up at someone who came to ask a question. She got up and they talked so I decided to walk the aisles to find something new to read. I ended up with a book full of random thoughts and sat at a table near the counter to make sure she'd see me. It took my friend only a few seconds to notice me and her lips curled as she raised her eyebrows. I waved slightly at her and checked my watch. I still had about ten minutes to wait and I just opened the book to start reading. It's only when I felt someone sit next to me that I got out of my thoughts a bit but I still had to blink a few times to get back completely to reality, turning around and smiling to Millie who leaned her elbow on the table and placed her chin on her palm, staring at me.

"I'm glad you came." she whispered, making me raise my eyebrows.

"I said I would, did you doubt it?"

She shrugged a shoulder and looked away. "When Louis said he'd come, it was a 50/50 bet to take."

"Perfect. That's the first thing you'll write down on your list."

She raised her eyebrows a bit surprised and I just got up and walked back to the desk where one of her co-workers was now sitting. I sent the girl a big smile and bent down slightly, asking her for paper and pen. She smiled back and started playing with a lock of her hair before nodding and giving me a few sheets and two pen. I walked back to Millie with a winner smile and she rolled her eyes, chuckling as I sat back down.

"T'was easy."

"With those eyes and that smile you can clearly get anything you want." she pointed out, rolling her eyes again.

"You almost sound jealous."

I gave her a sheet and a pen as she sighed, taking the pen in her hand and scribbling at the top to make sure the pen was working.

"I am." she confessed in a whisper. "It must be amazing to be you."

"Can I remind you that the girl I thought I'd spent my life with has broken my heart?"

"And then came back. I don't think you realize how lucky you are. Not about Grace coming back, but about everyone falling in love with you super easily." she explained, staring down at her sheet.

I looked at what she was writing and smiled sadly. 'All The Things I Hate About Lou'.

"How many times did you have your heart broken, Niall?" she continued, drawing hearts next to Louis' name.

"What do you mean?"

"How many girls did you fall for that didn't love you back? How many girls did you date and loved actually left you? How many of them made you cry?" she elaborated, making me frown slightly. "And I'm not even asking about the girls you just wanted to shag. I'm pretty sure not many refused."

"I've been through unrequited love, too, you know." I shook my head. "I know how it feels."

"You probably broke more hearts than the number of times yours has been broken." she added slowly with an other shrug and a sigh. "I'm not saying you didn't hurt or that your pain is not real or important I just mean..." she paused and shook her head, her eyes finally meeting mine. "I just mean that it must amazing to be you."

"Maybe it's time you see that it's also amazing to be you, Mill." I pointed out. "And the fact that Louis broke your heart doesn't mean you're not incredible, okay?"

I grabbed my pen and started writing X's on all the hearts she had drawn and finally added the number '1'.

"Okay..."

"Now write down how unreliable he is."

Millie looked up at me and her lips curled a bit before she chuckled. I waited until she was done and grabbed my sheet too, making a long vertical line in the middle before writing 'Grace' on the left and 'Summer' on the right. I separated both their cases in two too, writing 'pros' on both sides and then 'cons'.

I stared at the sheet for a minute or two and finally sighed. I had no idea what to write. Not because they didn't have qualities and flaws, but because I knew it would bring me closer to a decision I was clearly not ready to make.

"You don't have to write anything right now." I heard, feeling Millie's hand on my shoulder.

I kept my eyes on the sheets and licked my lips, nodding slowly and finally, I folded the sheet and put it in my back pocket. Millie got up and I did the same, forcing myself to put a smile back on my face and I walked past her. She followed me outside and when we were out, I stopped and turned to her, raising my eyebrows. I decided to put anything that had to do with love away for now, burring it deep in my brain for a while, focusing only on doing fun things.

"Okay, so what's your routine after work?"

She looked a bit surprised but finally turned around, pointing at a small restaurant not too far. "I go there first."

"Alright, let's go there, then."

I followed her inside and she ordered three pieces of pizza and three water bottles. The person behind the counter smiled and prepared the food, putting every slices of pizza in a different box. I watched Millie pay and grab the bag the guy was handing her before sending him a smile.

"Thanks Jon, I'll see you tomorrow."

We walked out and I raised my eyebrows, looking at her with an amused smile. "You literally know his name?"

"We all work around each other so we sort of see each other often. Not just with Jon but with other people too." she clarified, handing me a box. I grabbed it and she looked again in the bag for a water bottle, giving it to me too.

"Please, tell me the other pizza is not for Louis."

She looked up in my eyes and her lips curled. "No!" she chuckled as she started walking quicker. I followed her in an alley but frowned as I pushed my hands in my pockets. I was not sure why we were there but I didn't even have time to ask. I saw my friend bend down near a man who was sleeping and whisper something to him. He jumped slightly and she laughed, handing him a box and a water bottle. He sat up and grabbed both a small smile on his lips.

"What is it today, Millie?"

"Pizza." she pointed out. "How are you today, Ernie?"

I watched her interact with a homeless man just standing there and wondering who the hell was this girl I thought I knew, and why didn't I try to find out more about her before,

"Is your friend mute or just dumb?" the man asked, making my friend laugh.

"I'd have to pick the latter."

I frowned at her and took a step closer. "Hey! That's rude!"

"Ernie, this is my friend Niall. Niall, this is my friend Ernie."

I sent him a small smile and a head nod before Millie sighed and got back up, telling him she was leaving but that she'd be back the next day. She walked past me and I was about to follow her but finally took the few steps separating me from Ernie and handed him my box.

"Thanks, kid."

I nodded again and turned on my heels, jogging slightly to reach Millie who just looked at me with her lips curled on the left. I raised my eyebrows and shrugged, pushing my hands back in my pockets. "What?"

"Nothing."

I could hear in her voice that she was thinking about something but I couldn't decipher the way she was looking at me. I smiled back at her and finally cleared my throat. "Okay, what's next?"

She took her slice of pizza out of the box and took a bite before handing it to me. "Once a week, I go to the movies and the other days, I just go in the old dvd and vhs shop where they sell old movies for a buck or two."

"And what's today?" I replied, my mouth full of pizza. "The shop. Cinema is on thursday because it's pay day."

"Makes sense."

We walked inside a small shop and the bell placed on top of the door rang gently. She waved at the employee and he waved back before she chose an aisle and tilted her head on the side to read the titles. It took her about five minutes before her lips curled and she grabbed one. It was a tape and I started wondering if she even had a VCR to watch it.

"This. Did you ever see it?"

She handed me a box and I raised my nose up when I noticed Leonardo Dicaprio on the cover. I turned the tape around and noticed the incredible landscapes pictured. The images would probably look even better on DVD or in 4K but I didn't mention it and just nodded. It was her routine, not mine, and I was extremely curious to find out more about her.

"Nop, never."

"It's a good movie, with a few French actors."

I followed her to pay and the guy behind the counter smiled and nodded. "Ah, nice one."

"I know right? I think I'm gonna keep this one."

"A movie where Leonardo Dicaprio goes nuts? Good idea to keep it." he added, making her chuckle.

"And the girl is nice to look at, too." Millie added, making the guy nod frenetically.

I looked around the place, quite surprised at how many choices they had. How many nice places like this was I missing on? And why didn't I ever hear about them?

"What did you mean when you said you'd keep this one?" I asked when we walked out.

"Oh, when I bring back three movies, I can trade it for one. I do that sometimes."

I turned to look at her and she did the same just to send me a smile before turning her head back in front of her. We kept walking but I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I thought I knew Millie but I had just realized that there were so many things about her that she didn't share and that I didn't take the time to ask, I knew that even if our friendship was not recent, our bond and how close we were was pretty new but at the same time, I felt like there were things I should know about her.

I should have checked where I was going because once again, I ended up running into a trash can on the sidewalk. Millie started laughing and I groaned, taking my hands out of my pockets before getting around it and walking quickly to her.

"Shut up." I mumbled, making her laugh even more.

"You don't seem like the clumsy kind of guy, I'm just surprised every time you run into something, and it seems to happen a lot!"

"Yea yea, how about you stop laughing and we just go back home to watch that movie?"

We had to watch the movie in her room for the simple reason that the videotape recorder was there and it seemed like way too much trouble to plug it in the living room. I made popcorn but Millie opened a few drawers and placed candies on her bed and it made me smile.

"Why don't you buy 6 or 7 movies at the same time? That way you don't have to go back there every day." I proposed, throwing some popcorn in my mouth and leaning against the wall with her.

"I can't know which mood i'll be in. It's a spur of the moment thing." she explained as the movie started. "Plus, I love going there."

"And what do we do after watching the movie?"

"It's dinner. Then shower, a few episodes of a netflix show, and bed time."

We watched the movie for a while and I had to admit the plotline was good, even if a bit fucked up. Millie was also right about the girl : she was very nice to look at and somehow, it made me glance at her.

"That girl is hot as fuck." I admitted, making Millie burst into laughter as she pushed an other candy in her mouth.

"I know right! And she's your type, too! I knew you'd like her!"

I blinked a few times and once again turned to my friend, leaning my head on the wall. I hated when she said that. I knew she didn't mean anything by it but I didn't want to admit that I would use some sort of base or mold to pick a girl. I hated thinking that I was shallow to the point where other girls who were not 'my type' wouldn't catch my eyes or stand a chance with me. And most of all, I hated that Millie saw me like that. I was about to start a discussion about it when Millie talked again, her eyes still glued on the tv.

"What about you?" she glanced at me. "What's your routine?"

I crossed my arms on my chest and shrugged a shoulder as my nose raised up in a grimace. "I don't have a routine anymore. My routine used to be with Grace and when she left, it became netflix from when the sun rises until it would set."

The fact that it was just being clear to me made something twist in my stomach. Who the fuck was I? Could I remember who I was before Grace? And now, with Summer, was I really myself?

I took the sheet out of my back pocket and unfolded it just as Millie handed me a pen and a book to write on. I looked up at her and sent her a small smile before writing under the cons in Grace's column. 'She decides everything'

"You know, I think that's part of why you annoyed me so much." Millie admitted. I looked up from the sheet and sent her a frown. Her traits softened and she sent me a sorry smile. "She would just tell you what she wanted and what to do and you'd never argue. She was bossy and controlling."

I couldn't pretend she was not right and I nodded with a sigh. "You know the worst? Summer is exactly the opposite. She's super compliant and it can get quite annoying."

Millie raised her eyebrows at me. "Well I guess you found something to write in the cons for Summer."

I sighed again but louder this time before looking down at my sheet again. I wrote down what I had just said and shook my head a bit. It was pathetic that the first things I thought about writing were flaws and I closed my eyes, letting my head fall against the wall in a loud noise after closing my eyes. "This is ridiculous, I can't choose."

"Hey, relax, it's just day one."

I felt my friend move on the bed and forced myself to open my eyes, noticing Millie was now facing me with a small smile. "We have 6 more days to fill that sheet." she slapped gently my thigh with the back of her hand and licked her lips as they curled more. "Trust me."

[mintaka14]

See the Light

A Miraculous Ladybug fanfiction

By Mintaka14

Chapter Two – Chasing Down a Daydream

 “Luka’s not seeing anyone,” Rose said conspiratorially as Marinette pinned a swathe of calico dress pattern into place on the tiny blonde girl, and Marinette couldn’t help the involuntary glance in Luka’s direction. “Not that he hasn’t had his share of girlfriends, and a couple of boyfriends too, for that matter,” Rose went on.

“I’m sure he has,” Marinette said coolly.

“They’ve never lasted more than a few months, though,” Rose told her, and said with studied innocence, “I think he’s still waiting for the right one to come along. Or to come back.”

Marinette ignored that, and focused her attention on how the rough bodice was sitting. The neckline was still not quite right.

“Deny it all you want, but I know there’s something in the air with you and Luka. I can feel it. My Sparkly Sense is tingling.”

“Your Sparkly Sense?” Marinette said, a little louder in disbelief than she’d meant to be, and Luka looked up. Her eyes met Luka’s over Rose’s shoulder, and he gave her a quick grin. Marinette rolled her eyes back at him.

“Like Spidey Sense,” Rose was saying, “only more sparkly. It’s never wrong.”

Luka went back to playing, and Marinette found herself watching his hands as they moved over his guitar. There was something indecently hot about the leather cuff and bracelets around his slim, strong wrist, and she got dizzy just thinking about those callused musician’s hands of his. It turned out that Rose wasn’t the only one getting ideas, and Marinette clamped down hard on that particular little daydream before it could get out of hand.

Rose saw romance everywhere she looked, but that bridge had been well and truly burned. Luka had moved on long ago from whatever damage Marinette had done to him, and there was no way that he could ever feel like that about her after the way she’d broken his heart all those years ago, even if she was willing or able to try and start anything again. She considered herself fortunate that he was willing to let her back into his life as a friend.

“We’re just good friends,” she muttered, and the piece of calico she’d been pinning shifted as Rose folded her arms. Marinette glanced up into Rose’s wide blue stare and one raised eyebrow. Rose flicked a glance back over her shoulder at Luka, and turned back to Marinette.

“Just friends, huh?” the blonde girl said, and Marinette put her hands on her hips.

“Don’t start,” she warned her friend, keeping her voice low. “We tried the whole relationship thing, remember? Do you really want to put Luka through all that again?”

Rose rolled her eyes. “That was ten years ago! You were fourteen.”

“And nothing’s changed,” Marinette said firmly. Rose didn’t look convinced, but Marinette started unpinning the back of the rough gown so that she could step out of it. “I think I’ve got enough to work on with this dress for now.”

Rose reached for her tunic and leggings, tugging them on over the slip she’d been wearing for the fitting, and Marinette folded the calico gown, careful not to dislodge any of the pins or markings. When Juleka came over for her fitting, Marinette said, “Your girlfriend is a compulsive romantic,” and Juleka grinned at her.

“Yeah,” the taller girl said, and held out her arms with professional ease while Marinette set up the pattern around her. “My life is full of unicorns, and I have glitter in places I didn’t know existed.”

Marinette pulled a face. “I did not need to know that.”

After Rose’s constant fidgeting, it was so much easier to work with Juleka, who was used to holding a position while seamstresses buzzed around her. The mock-up started to take shape much more quickly this time.

“And somehow my wedding is turning into a fairytale extravaganza,” Juleka complained, but she didn’t sound too distressed about it. At least Juleka got to be a little bit Maleficent, Marinette thought, eyeing the gown and picturing it in the shimmering black metallic fabric she planned on using.

“Luka said that Jagged’s going to be at the wedding,” Marinette said, taking another pin from the band on her wrist and frowning critically at the calico pattern piece she’d just adjusted on Juleka. On the other side of the room, Rose had started making something that involved a lot of glitter and offering the occasional critique on whatever Luka was playing.

“He’s the one who got us the venue,” Juleka said with a shrug. “Or rather, Penny did. It’s amazing how easy it is to make things happen when you’ve got Jagged Stone’s wife and personal manager organising it.”

“And you don’t…?” Marinette broke off, not quite sure how to finish the question.

“It never bothered me like it did Luka.” Juleka shot her brother a look, and Marinette followed the direction of her gaze. “And if a lingering sense of guilt means Jagged wants to spring for a château on a vineyard estate and a weekend in Bordeaux for all of us, I’m not going to stop him.”

“A vineyard in Bordeaux? That sounds lovely.”

“Yeah,” Juleka said softly, and her eyes went to Rose, surrounded by glitter and black craft paper. “Yeah, it does.”

Marinette knelt and busied herself with the fall of the calico pattern while Juleka stood there patiently in her slip. The strains of Luka’s acoustic guitar made a pleasant background as he drifted from one song to another, breaking off occasionally to call out something to Juleka or ask Rose’s opinion, and then sliding into something else. Somewhere along the way, he started singing scraps of the songs, and Marinette found herself caught by the soft, husky burr of his voice.

Luka was still the same sweet boy he’d always been, but older. Sharper. Hotter, she had to admit. The kindness that had always been in his eyes was still there, and that indefinable sense of grounded calm had only grown stronger. Luka wore maturity well, and gave the impression that he had nothing he needed to prove to anyone.

She’d been relieved to see that he still dyed his hair. That shade of ocean teal was one she always associated in her memory with Luka, although he wore it in a longer undercut now that shadowed his face when he wanted it to and left her itching to run her hands through his hair and tangle her fingers in it until she could see those eyes go as dark as the open sea.

She found herself following the angular outline of his jaw, which had lost the softer edge of his teenage years, and she wanted to reach out and run her fingers along the shadow of stubble there now, down to oh god those shoulders and the swell of his biceps with the ink that coiled around his arm and along the sinews of his forearms.

The fashion designer in her that always paid attention to people and what they wore couldn’t help but notice that Luka still wore his clothes with an easy air. He wore a shirt and tie with the same casual indfference that he wore his favourite band shirt, and, if Marinette was any judge, a complete lack of interest in how he looked in either. It really wasn’t fair how attractive that indifference was, or that he looked so stupidly hot no matter what he put on.

Right now, he was wearing an old tshirt and a sleeveless hoodie that had seen better days, the heel of his heavy black boot hooked over the crossbar of his chair and idly tapping along with whatever it was he was playing on his acoustic guitar.

Marinette found herself imagining the staff and school parents, and probably more than a few of the students themselves, who probably swooned over him, and wondered if he noticed them. She drew a swift, sharp breath and suppressed the pang at the thought. Nice as it was to be back in his life, and as easy as it was to fall back into that closeness that they’d had before things had fallen apart in their teenage years, nothing had fundamentally changed. She still couldn’t ask him for more, and she certainly couldn’t give him more. No matter how much, a tiny fragment of her whispered slyly, you might really, really want to.

He laughed at something Rose said, and suggested, “Fine, Miss Disney Princess, what about this one?”

The guitar shifted and rippled into something else, and Luka sang, “All those days, watching from the windows,” with a laugh in his voice. He broke off to tell Rose, “But you might have to grow your hair out for that. Or is Juleka going to be Rapunzel at your fairytale wedding?” and then he picked up the melody again.

Marinette didn’t realise that she’d been singing along, or that Luka had dropped back to a soft hum, until she felt Juleka tap on her shoulder. Juleka pointed behind her, and she looked around to find Rose staring at her with huge, excited eyes and her hands clasped under her chin. Luka’s hands stilled on his guitar, and he gave her a warm smile.

“That. Was beautiful!” Rose squeaked. “You two sound so good together. You have to sing that for us at the wedding!”

Marinette shrank back a little, her eyes going to Luka.

“I can’t sing.”

“You sound just like Mandy Moore!” Rose insisted, but Marinette was pretty sure that that was just Rose’s enthusiasm speaking.

“You’ve got a nice voice,” Luka said more moderately from the chair where he was bent over his guitar. “Sweet, with a little rough around the edges. It’s nice.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he strummed a random chord. “And you can sing on key.”

Luka couldn’t lie to save himself when it came to matters of music, no matter how much he might want to spare a friend’s feelings, and Marinette felt a little reassured.

“I’m already making your wedding dresses,” she told Rose. “Isn’t that enough?”

“It’s just one little song,” Rose pleaded. Those big, Bambi eyes were dangerous, and Marinette could only hope that Rose used them for good and not evil. “One little song. Hardly anything. Please??”

Marinette shot Luka a surreptitious glance, but he was focused on the soft music he was playing again and all she could see was the fall of his blue dyed hair and the sharp line of his jaw. She sighed in surrender.

Rose beamed triumphantly. “Oh, this is going to be so good!” She clapped her hands together, and got a look of cunning that left Marinette feeling uneasy. “You two are going to need to practise together. We’ll leave you to work it out.”

And she hauled Juleka out of the room, towing the taller girl with surprising strength. The door closed firmly on Juleka’s protests, and Luka and Marinette exchanged glances. Marinette couldn’t help laughing, a little helplessly.

“Rose is not subtle.”

“Ro’s the eternal romantic. I think she’s decided that if she throws us at each other hard enough, the magic will happen. She’ll get over it.”

The guitar strings sang At last I see the light, and he raised an eyebrow at her in a question.

“You really want to do this?” she asked him. “I’m not a singer.”

“You can hold a tune, and you know most of the words already.” Luka’s smile grew wider. “I’m a pretty poor music teacher if I can’t get us through one song.”

She let out a small huff, and Luka’s eyes grew soft with concern. “If you don’t want to, I’ll talk Rose out of it.”

“Is that even possible?” Marinette muttered, and Luka chuckled.

“I have my ways.”

Marinette considered it for a long moment, then, against her better judgement, she shook her head. “I might as well give in now as later,” she told him. “The things I do for my friends.”

“Tell me if you don’t want this,” he insisted. His ocean blue eyes were still on her, giving her that look that saw more than they should, and Marinette remembered sixteen year old Luka telling her You can tell me everything, or nothing if you prefer as he held her while she fell apart. And she’d wanted to tell him everything. She’d come within a breath of spilling all her secrets and risking the safety of everyone she cared about to keep him.

Looking into his eyes now, Marinette had a bad feeling that the man Luka had become would be even harder to walk away from than the sweet sixteen year old boy he’d been. So it was just as well that Rose and her Sparkly Sense was way off base.

“What have I gotten myself into?” she sighed.

[lokis-little-kitten]

Teaching Assistant 4

Title: Teaching Assistant Writer: Lokis-Little-Kitten Pairing: LokixReader Rating: Mid Warning: spankings, mentioning of masturbation, ED, college, teacherxstudent Summary: You get a job as a teaching assistant for you professor Loki Laufeyson. Quickly the relationship takes a turn when Loki offers to teach you the robes of BDSM.

Class is over after a  long time of listening and angry glares from your professor. You pack up your stuff and wait for everyone to be gone. When the last student closes the door Loki leans against his desk with another cross glare at you. 

‘’I’m sorry about being on the phone. I should have listened to your lecture,’’ you start out silently. ‘’Get your ass to my office, now pet!’’ Loki is absolutely cross, more than you have ever seen him in the three years before. 

Quickly you get up and start walking. When you arrive Loki throws his door open and points at the inside. ‘’March it.’’ Quickly you duck down and run in. When inside he slams the door closed and locks it. 

You turn around to him biting your lip. ‘’So you thought it funny to disobey and then to ignore me?’’ Quickly you shake your head. ‘’No master! I’m sorry but my phone died,’’ you lie. You’re already on the brink of tears and his intense glare doesn’t make it any better. Why did you do this to yourself again? You should have known Loki would react something like this. 

You fidget with some wounds on your finger and pull on loose skin around your nails. ‘’Were you home,’’ he asks folding his arms together. He looks even bigger in the small office in front of the wooden door. ‘’Well, yes?’’ What is he planning? 

‘’You could plug it in and let me know as soon as you were able, couldn’t you?’’ You look down at the dark carpet and fidget some more. ‘’I ehm…’’ You don’t know what to say. It was a dumb excuse. You could have seen it coming… 

‘’Well, I-’’ ‘’Lied?’’ No point of denying it now. He takes a step towards you towering over you even more. ‘’Yes, master… I’m sorry.’’ You give a quick glance up but don’t like your view. Loki his piercing green eyes fuming with anger. ‘’Do you know why I asked you to that?’’ 

You slightly shake your head.’’No…’’ ‘’Because food, little one, is important for you and I was scared you would be too much into your head to remember to eat. Quite frankly I was right!’’ 

The first tear now rolls down your cheek. You hate it when he is cross with you, you decided. It’s no fun! You quickly wipe away the tear but two take its place. ‘’Stop crying,’’ is all he offers you. He grabs your arm and pulls you towards the chair in the corner. He sits down still holding onto you. 

‘’What are you-’’ he cuts you off by pulling you over his knees. He pulls up your skirt- you stupidly decided to wear this morning- and lays his hand on your ass. ‘’I will spank you for a total of twenty times. Five for ignoring me. Five for lying to me and ten for not eating. Understood?’’ ‘’Yes master.’’ A tear rolls down your nose onto the carpet. ‘’And you will count!’’

Then all of the sudden and without notice Loki his hand slams down on your ass. He lays his fingers on the new bruise. ‘’Darling, count for me.’’ ‘’One…’’ ‘’Good girl.’’ Another spank comes down hard. ‘’What did you do wrong,’’ he asks you. ‘’Two...I ignored you.’’ ‘’Good.’’ 

Wham!

‘’Three…’’ ‘’How could you have prevented this from happening?’’ ‘’I should have answered you.’’ ‘’Good girl.’’ 

Spank!

‘’Four,’’ you say while your voice cracks. ‘’Now apologize to your master.’’ ‘’I’m sorry master! I won’t do it again.’’ ‘’There you go.’’

Blam!

‘’Five.’’ Your body is shaking by now while Loki caresses your bruised ass. ‘’Good job.’’ He just continues his torture makes you answer the same questions as before. 

When it is finally done he pulls you up and onto his lap. He cuddles you close to his chest and hushes you a bit. ‘’Sh, you did so well darling. You didn’t complain or be rude. You did very very well.’’ You nuzzle your face in his neck hearing the praising. 

Loki wipes away some tears and kisses your forehead. Loki then stands up with you still in his arms. He gently puts you in the chair. ‘’I’m just going to get you a snack, okay little one? I will be back in a little.’’ You give him a pair of large doe eyes as to beg him not to go. 

‘’Don’t worry I’ll be back in five.’’ He kisses your forehead again and walks out of the room then. You take your shoes off and pull your knees to your chest. Maybe you did need this second alone. 

You don’t get any time, however, because your phone buzzes. You take it from your bag and look at it. 

Dimitri. Are you okay, was it bad?

You. I’m fine. He thought he punished me enough already in class, so he let me go off easy. Thanks

Dimitri Good to hear. Wanna meet up tonight?

You. I have work and kind of need a night for myself. Another time maybe?

When you see Dimitri is typing something back someone knocks on the door. ‘’Loki?’’ You recognize the dean's voice. Oh no… Quickly you send Loki a text that the dean is in while rushing to the door. 

Quickly you open it for professor Allfather. He frowns deeply when he sees you instead of his son. ‘’I’m sorry but I’m afraid professor Laufeyson is out, professor,’’ you softly speak. ‘’Hm, I’ll wait then.’’ The older man sits down in Loki his office chair. ‘’Okay…’’ You sit down pulling your skirt down as much as possible. 

You feel your phone buzz and hope with your whole heart it is Loki, you just can’t get your phone because it would be rude. ‘’Professor Laufeyson will be back any time now. He was just getting something,’’ you softly speak. ‘’Thank you. You’re his teaching assistant?’’ ‘’Yes… I am.’’ Among other things… 

The room goes quiet once again until Loki walks back in. He hands you some papers without even looking at you. ‘’Grade those.’’ 

There is that stern and rude professor you know again… Nice knowing you kind master Loki. You get yourself one of his red markers and starts grading some papers. Loki and his father discuss some important letters and other things.

It is all very… courteous. Not like a father and son should be, you suppose. 

When his father finally leaves Loki turns back to you. ‘’I’m sorry about that, little one. Are you okay,’’ Loki asks searching in his pockets. He takes out a package of biscuits and water for you. ‘’There,’’ he smiles and kisses your hair. 

You open the water to take a sip. The biscuits are harder, however. When you open the package you play with the plastic for a second and then break off a piece. You don’t want to eat it. 

He doesn’t want you to eat it. 

‘’How much,’’ you ask Loki carefully. ‘’Four,’’ he replies absently studying one of the letters he just got. You put away the drink and snack to grab your wallet. You take out a five-pound bill and walk to his desk. 

‘’Pet, I’ll pay attention to you again in one moment. Just let me… do this.’’ He reads and crosses things out until finally signing and putting it away. ‘’Now then,’’ he smiles and looks up at you. 

‘’What is it?’’ You try to give him the five pounds but he simply stares at it before chuckling. ‘’Want me to get you something else? Coffee?’’ Loki already stands up to go but you stop him. ‘’No, it’s for the biscuits.’’ 

He frowns and chuckles a bit before walking up to you. ‘’No need to pay me for that, besides you gave way to much. It’s only two pounds fifty.’’ He lays his hands on your hips and smiles at your confused form. 

‘’But you said four a minute ago!’’ He now laughs and takes the five pounds. ‘’I meant four biscuits.’’ His hand slides under your skirt until he finds your pants. He hooks the piece of paper under your strap and then pulls back. ‘’There we go. Now I would like you to go and eat.’’ You walk back to the chair and sit. 

The package of cookies is reopened while this time you also push him far into the back of your mind. No reason not to enjoy this. You take a good bite from it and relish at the taste. ‘’Thank you.’’ ‘’No problem, dear.’’ 

[thisisawitchgang]

Poppet Magic Masterpost

Theme Ran By: Mod Idle

Header By: Mod Cejay

Edited By: Mod Cejay

Theme tag: #poppets

Intro Post

Aesthetic

Animals

Bathroom

Blessings

Consumables

Crystals

DIYS

Herbs

Ingredients

Misc.

Stuffed Animals in Magic - Ten Ways to Use Stuffed Animals in Magic

Clay poppets

Music

Quotes

Reference

A Protection Poppet Vs. A Witches’ Bottle

Breathing Life - "Dolls and poppets are utilized across many faiths, however often witches neglect to “breath life” into them. Not doing so doesn’t make them wholly ineffective, however going the extra step really amps up the potency, especially when using it as sympathetic magic or creating a protective being!..."

How to Make a Poppet

Historical Witchcraft 101: Poppets

"My personal style of creating poppets. I recall devising this method in my mid-teens. Inspired by nothing besides my own imagination, I took a single piece of string and began to instinctively loop it about itself. This is the result."

Sigils

Spells

Study Buddy - a poppet used to promote concentration and motivation to get what needs to be done.

40 - Poison Sting - Poison Type: Curse. When done properly, this spell should affect the target for up to a week with bad health.

Healing Poppet

Bread Poppet

Super Easy Poppet Money Spell

A Clear Poppet! - A clear poppet! Good for lots of things- revealing people’s true intentions by making them transparent, clearing out old energy, and even preventing things from sticking g to you (since it’s tape folded over itself).

Press Your Buttons Poppet - This spell is designed to send blessings to your target, which you can send by pressing their buttons. It is a small and kind spell and can be used in situations where you don’t want to go all out with your magicing. Make sure to get permission from your friend before doing this spell.

Poppet for Healing (from selfharm) - This is a very personal poppet for me, but I feel like it may benefit some of you, so I’m posting it. It’s design is to help heal you after selfharming or after deciding to stop. I hope you all can use it!

Pay Your Debts Poppet - This spell is designed to deliver unto you the payment you deserve from those in your debt. It requires a poppet of yourself and a few coins, and should be used when needed.

Tarot Spreads

Witch Tips!

"Okay so I was thinking over some issues, and I had an idea: I see people use poppets a lot for curses and spells and such, and then dispose of them, but is it possible that they could be used for minor things? For example, making a poppet to absorb anger and other negative feelings by acting as a sort of stress ball(squeezing it, twisting it, etc?). I’ve wanted to make poppets for a while but the only things I’ve seen them used for are curses, which I don’t really feel like using. Any opinions?"

A potato can be used as a temporary poppet.

Poppets do not have to be fancy. They can be made of cloth from torn t shirts, play doh or simple salt dough, paper dolls, or anything else you have laying around. There’s no need to go buy special materials (unless you want to) when you can finally repurpose the old sheets you refuse to toss. As long as you can stuff it, you’re good to go!

Making a small sculpture from salt dough or flour and water representing someone or something you want away from you then sending it downstream is a very easy and effective way to do a banishing. The pseudo poppet will erode in the water but shouldn’t harm any of the wildlife living in your chosen stream.

[unbridgeabledistances]

ok i have an inbox full of prompts, but i was making valentine’s day plans & all of a sudden felt very inspired to write some valentine’s day gallavich! featuring uncle mickey, homemade cards and a lot of domestic fluff- i’ll probs have a part two up sometime this week!<3

--

It was a lazy, slow-paced Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher house. Mickey had been lying on the couch passively watching trashy reality TV for god knows how long—and apparently at some point he’d fallen asleep, because now the TV volume was just a low hum, and he was being woken up to the startling crash of the kitchen back door slamming shut, and the rustling of shoes and coats being taken off and discarded by the front door.

“Alright Franny, let’s set this stuff up on the kitchen table.” Mickey heard Ian’s voice sail across the room, his eyes still closed to block out the cheery sunshine teeming in the living room.

Mickey tried to doze off again, attempting to block out the bright light infiltrating his eyelids, but it was no use— whatever Ian and Franny were doing, murmuring and clanging in the kitchen, there was no way for Mickey to escape the sound now and drift back into his sunwarmed sleep. He begrudgingly shoved the scratchy crocheted blanket off of his lap, stretching as he rose and stumbled into the kitchen.

He wasn’t expecting the carnage that he saw when he turned the corner; the kitchen table was covered in an explosion of sheets of multicolored construction paper, all reds and pinks and whites, with tiny multicolored stickers and tubes of glitter and shiny ribbons arranged and spread wide across the countertop, scattered with glue sticks and pairs of scissors and an exploded box of crayons. There was a small mountain of cut-out hearts piled high on the table, smattered with glitter-glue and blocky handwriting.

Mickey rubbed his eyes, taking in the scene. “What’re you two Picassos up to?” he asked drowsily.

Ian looked up, his eyes light. “Look who’s awake!” He gestured at the table emphatically, like it was Christmas morning. “Isn’t it great? Me and Franny grabbed all this stuff at the dollar store for less than ten bucks. The glue sticks definitely kind of suck, but I think it’ll get the job done.”

Mickeys eyes scanned to Franny, who was hard at work trying to cut a shape out of a piece of red construction paper, her brows furrowed in concentration. Ian kept chattering on as he unwrapped another sheath of the paper.

“Debbie left Franny with me since some rich lady called her with a weekend handywoman emergency that popped up at the last minute, so now I’m helping Franny make her valentines for school.”

Mickey scoffed. “Fucking valentines?”

Ian rolled his eyes as he contentedly started to glue together two pieces of paper. “Yes, Mickey, valentines. You know, those nice things that normal people give to each other on Valentine’s Day, along with a box of chocolates or some shit and a note about how much they love each other—”

“Yes, I know what they are, smartass. Don’t know why you didn’t just buy the little cardboard ones at the store though.”

Ian smirked, his eyes still focused on the paper beneath him that he was smudging glitter on. “Yeah, well. Franny wanted to make them, and I thought it’d be kind of fun.”

Just then Franny gasped triumphantly, raising a lopsided and crumpled paper heart up for Mickey to see. “Look, Uncle Mickey! I cut a heart! Uncle Ian showed me how!”

Mickey raised his eyebrows at Ian, who had a sheepish look on his face. “Didn’t know you had so many hidden talents, Gallagher.”

Ian flashed a grin. “I used to be really into art class in elementary school, what can I say.”

Franny looked up at Mickey with wide eyes. “Do you want to make valentines with us? We have to make twenty-seven, because that’s the number of people in my class.”

Mickey faltered. Sitting here gluing fucking glitter to pieces of paper was not exactly what he’d had in mind as his plans for the weekend…

“Uh. That’s okay kiddo. I think you two’ve got it covered.”

Franny seemed to readily accept Mickey’s answer, instantly looking downward again and grabbing a fistful of crayons from the table to continue enhancing her masterpiece. Ian, on the other hand, tore his gaze from his own valentine.

“Oh c’mon Mick, you don’t wanna help?” Ian asked, his voice goading and his eyebrows raised.

Mickey rolled his eyes. “Yeah, thanks but no thanks.” He turned, walking over to open the fridge and grabbing a beer from the top shelf.

“C’mon, just one valentine. Franny can show you how to cut out a heart shape, right Fran?”

Franny nodded vigorously. “Yes, I know how!”

Mickey took a swig of his beer and sighed. “Jesus, fine.” He pulled a chair between Ian and Franny, slowly scraping it on the linoleum, and then perched on the edge uncomfortably. “Alright Franny, show me what you’ve got.”

“Okay, so the first thing that you have to do is pick which color is your favorite. What’s your favorite color?”

Mickey had taken another sip of his beer, and now he sputtered slightly. “I don’t know Franny, you pick for me.”

Franny’s face melted into a pout. “But you have to pick, Uncle Mickey, it’s your favorite color!”

Ian bit back a laugh, his eyes still bright and cheerful. “Yeah, Mick, c’mon. What is your favorite color? We’ve never gotten this deep in our relationship before.”

Mickey gulped again from his beer can and flipped Ian off in the process. “I don’t fucking know. Never thought about it before.”

Franny held the stack of construction paper up to Mickey. “Look! There’s red, and yellow, and blue, and purple, and green—”

Mickey cut her off. “Uh, give me a green one.”

Ian smirked. “Green?”

“Fuck you, it was the first color I thought of.” Of course, that wasn’t really true—if Mickey needed to have a favorite fucking color, it was obviously going to be green, like the green eyes that met his gaze every morning and were the last thing he saw before he went to sleep at night— even if he would never be caught dead admitting that sappy bullshit to Ian.

Ian looked like he was holding back a smile. “Right,” he mused. “Hey, Franny, pass me a blue paper? Cause y’know, that’s my favorite color.”

Mickey gently shoved Ian in the square of his chest. “You’re being fucking soft.”

Ian let a crooked smile burst onto his face. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

Mickey leaned back in his chair, holding the piece of thick green paper in front of him appraisingly. “Okay Franny, what’s step two?”

Franny stretched her body across the table to reach for one of the strewn pairs of scissors. “Now, you fold the paper in half, and then you cut out the shape of half of a heart, like this.” She drew an example of the curved pattern on the backside of Mickey’s paper with the tip of her finger. “And then you unfold it and it’ll be a perfect shape!”

“Sounds easy enough.”

Mickey took the scissors from Franny’s grasp, and held them up to the paper. It was just a fucking half circle with a little indent at the top— this wasn’t going to be too difficult. Ian and Franny went back to being absorbed in crafting their valentines, while Mickey started to botch and slash at his piece of construction paper.

When he was finally satisfied he unfolded the shape, the outer shell of the paper falling away. It was… well, it was kind of a heart, with two slanted sides and a wonky top half. It looked more like a blob attached to an angle than anything else.

Ian looked up from where he was doodling on a glittery heart and snickered.

“That’s uh… that’s a good first try, Mick.”

Mickey slammed the piece of paper down onto the table. Fucking arts and crafts, he was never good at this shit even when he was little—he fingers were always too fumbling, too clumsy for him to make anything delicate and pristine. Ian’s hands should have been as ungainly as his, but instead they were quick and nimble, smoothly cutting perfectly-rounded circles and gluing neat lines of glitter.

Franny noticed that Mickey was done cutting his shape. “Good job Uncle Mickey! Now you just have to draw on it, and put on stickers and glitter.”

“Yeah Mickey, let’s see those artistic skills.”

Mickey aggressively flicked some flecks of glitter from the table in Ian’s direction, then picked up a crayon and gripped it with an iron fist. What the fuck was he supposed to draw? This was a valentine for kids at Franny’s school, the fuck did kids like anyways? He started to draw some sort of stick figure, but the arms were too long and the head was too small, so he tried to color over it and make some sort of tree or some shit…

As Mickey scratched at the paper, he looked over at noticed suddenly how content Ian looked—how blissed out and settled he was, just running a crayon over the colorful paper and shaking bits of glitter onto pools of glue. If Mickey was being honest, he hadn’t seen Ian this light and happy in a while; he’d had a hunch in his shoulders for months after the wedding and the pandemic and all the minimum-wage job bullshit, the shadows of expectation hanging over him and causing a deflated weariness in his gaze that was impossible to ignore. But right now, Ian looked like he was having as much fun as Franny was, practically vibrating with satisfaction as he put the finishing touches on his drawing and reaching to place his completed valentine in the growing pile.

Mickey snatched the paper out of Ian’s hand, slightly crumpling it around the edges. “Wait a second. How the fuck did you do that?”

The valentine was immaculate, the heart symmetrical and traced in a thin outline of glitter. In the center of the paper there was a perfect little cartoon of a dog in a top hat, with an air bubble that read “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Ian shrugged. “Watched a lot of cartoons when I was little. And I’ve always kind of liked to draw.”

Mickey shoved the valentine back in front of Ian. Goddamn perfect fucking husband who’s good at fucking everything. He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, suddenly losing all motivation to play along.

Ian smirked, then reached to rest a hand on the back of Mickey’s neck. “Giving up already?”

Mickey rolled his eyes. “Fuck you, Gallagher.”

Ian’s smile just widened. “Here, how about I cut the fucking shapes and you glue stuff onto them. That’d still help me and Franny a lot, right?”

Franny nodded. “It’s okay Uncle Mickey, I was bad at cutting the shapes too at first.”

Mickey huffed. Okay, so maybe he was horrible at this shit, but the least he could do was suck it up for Franny’s sake. “Fine,” he muttered, and grabbed a glue stick and a bottle of glitter.

A few minutes passed and they settled into a comfortable silence, enveloped in the sound of the scissors gliding and Franny scribbling on paper.

Suddenly, Franny looked up as Mickey reached across the table to grab a pad of stickers.

“Hey Uncle Mickey, what do you and Uncle Ian do for Valentine’s Day?”

Mickey didn’t really know how to answer that question— he darted a glance over at Ian, trying to signal as much. Could you ruin the spirit of Valentine’s Day for kids in the same way you could fuck up Christmas? “Uh, nothing really.”

Ian chimed in. “We used to like Valentine’s Day when we were little like you Franny, but now that we’re big we don’t really celebrate it. Right Mick?”

“Yup.”

Franny’s brows were furrowed again, this time in contemplation. “But. You love each other, right?”

“Sure, Franny. But we don’t need a special day for us to remember that,” Ian explained.

Franny seemed appeased enough by that answer to resume her drawing. “You don’t give each other valentines or candy or anything?”

Mickey almost laughed. Of course he and Ian had never celebrated fucking Valentine’s Day; if he was being honest, he didn’t remember even really thinking about Valentine’s Day before now, other than it being a day when Mandy came home crying in middle school because the boy she liked didn’t ask her out, or buying all the half-priced chocolates in red and pink wrappers at the drugstore a week later with his brothers. With all the shit in his life the past few years, frilly fucking holidays like Valentine’s Day were just… not on Mickey’s radar.

But maybe— maybe this year was different. This year, for maybe the first time in his life, Mickey felt secure and steady in a way that he never had before, like the ground was solid beneath him and wasn’t going to cave in at any minute. He had a fucking husband that he loved—why couldn’t they celebrate Valentine’s Day like a normal goddamn couple? Ian didn’t seem to be too bothered that they both didn’t give a fuck about the holiday, which was all the more reason to catch him off guard. He kept pressing stickers down onto the construction paper, his mind starting to churn.

By the time they’d made the twenty-seven fucking valentines, Mickey had made up his mind; this year, he and Ian were going to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

part two here!