#How Fast To Grapes Grow

[softquietsteadylove]

Second prompt is a lil crazier but I can’t stop thinkin about it: what about a flash forward to older Heracles! He’s a big strong warrior now and an even bigger mama’s boy, respects his pops and somehow they end up in trouble so of COURSE he has to help them! He owes them everything! idk just a thought, do with that what you will and I’m excited to read it! Thank you <3

"Everyone, get back!"

The days of war in Athens had finally calmed, but now Deviants were more common than ever. Where they had been all this time was a mystery, but the attacks were now a daily occurrence.

"Off the battlefield!" Thena ordered as she swung first her spear and then her sword. The Deviant reared back after getting sliced through its eye. She turned. "Now!"

Heracles offered a grin, as if that would soften his defiance of her. "But the people need help!"

Heracles had grown from a mischievous human child into a man fit to be named a demigod by the people. Born a human but raised by the gods, Athenians would say. He was of towering stature now, hair golden and noble of character. He had a fine weapon, forged by the hands of the Great Champion himself.

Although it was said he could often be seen in town walking alongside an old mutt with a wooden children's toy hanging from his belt.

Thena huffed, turning her attention back to the battle at hand. "It was not up for discussion."

Thena circled the beast. It was massive, like the Bull back in Babylon. It was shaped like a cavalry horse, if massive. Perhaps the story of the Trojan horse would become muddled with this as time went on. "Up!"

Gilgamesh, as if apparating from thin air, appeared at her side and grasped her waist. He even made a full turn, using his strength and velocity to throw the Goddess of War into the air. He put his hand up to his eyes to shield them from the sun, admiring her like a shooting star. "Wow."

Even with Gilgamesh's help, she landed just above the creature's haunches. She closed both palms and dug her swords both into its wiry musculature. It reared up in pain, leaving her to dangle from them with only her own strength.

"Thena!"

"Hang on!" Heracles, having ushered the last of the citizens away from the immediate vicinity of danger, rushed forward. He ran straight at the creature, his eyes on the woman hanging onto its back.

Both Gilgamesh and Heracles swarmed like bees to a flower, watching and waiting anxiously to see if Thena would be thrown from the goliath's back from sheer force of its movements.

Upon its back, she gritted her teeth. "Accursed thing."

She changed the shape of her blades within its flesh, hoping to lodge them therein like fish hooks or poison barbs. But the horse was easily the height of the city gates back on its rear legs like this. If anything, it was only standing up too tall--too far back. She let go of her own accord, swinging herself around. "Gilgamesh! Send it that way!"

He frowned. He didn't want his choice to be between catching her and saving entire blocks of the city. But he raised his fist, charging his energy around it. It wasn't as if the fall could do any real damage. He just would prefer to be the one catching her.

Gilgamesh punched up in the creature's direction. No contact had to be made. He was able to avoid hitting Thena in the crossfire, sending a blast of Cosmic Energy up at the thing's back, forcing it to fall towards the cliffs and away from the edge of town.

Heracles caught her. He had taken a running leap and jumped at a height that was questionable for any human. He even landed successfully, his sandals sliding on the dirt path of the city's entrance for some distance. He looked at the Goddess of War, "you okay?"

Thena frowned up at him (the large child, as far as she was concerned). "Unhand me."

"What?" he laughed, as if this were all a game they were playing.

"I told you to get to safety, that is what," she huffed at him, standing from his embrace and dusting her spotless white dress off. "You are mortal, since it bears repeating."

Young man as he was, now, Heracles still turned his big, sad eyes on her. "I know. But the people need protecting, even if you and Pops have it under control."

She huffed. She could not deny that protecting humans was always the goal, and that surely having more help with it was not a problem. But that meant conceding that the human before her was no longer a child clinging to her with a snotty nose looking for pastry scraps.

She had to concede that he was grown enough to risk his life if he so chose.

"The citizens are clear of the area. They will need you to protect them if the walls are breached," she sufficed to say.

They watched as the massive horse fell, shaking the earth around them. Its back crumbled the cliffside and sent it tumbling down the side of the mountain. The road into the city from the shoreline would be compromised, but at least it and the city gates were standing yet.

Heracles looked at the Eternals, now both shorter than he. "Hephaestus is gonna be mad."

Gilgamesh crossed his arms at him. "I would think the mortal one here shouldn't be the most reckless one."

"Exactly my thoughts," Thena joined him in their united front against Heracles' disobedience.

The human blinked as both of them turned the disapproval on him. He took a step back, holding his hands up in front of him, as if choosing not to see their disapproving frowns would keep them from existing. "Hey, I was just trying to help."

"And since when do I need assistance?"

Gilgamesh snorted. Heracles had stepped right into that dung pile.

The young man cleared his throat, correcting his posture and leaning down in an invitation for her to ruffle his hair. "Never, Goddess Athena."

Thena uncrossed her arms, pushing his head up and away, which ruffled his hair by happenstance. "Agitating child."

He rose to his full height again with a grin. "Yes, Mother."

Thena gave up on lecturing him, choosing to examine the damage and peer down to see if the creature still breathed.

Gilgamesh chuckled at the mortal man, facing down the Goddess of War with such cheek. "You're lucky she's fond of you, or you'd be down there with that thing."

"You think I don't know that?" Heracles laughed. He had inherited Gilgamesh's mirth and zealous sense of humour, of all things.

"It's still alive."

The two of them rushed over. Heracles eagerly reached out to pull Thena out of the path of danger. Gilgamesh slid forward to take his place alongside her, in contrast. But it didn't matter; all three of them plummeted down the cliff as the Deviant attempted to claw its way back up to the city limits.

Its gargantuan hooves slapped into the cliffs, crumbling massive boulders in its wake and making it tumble down even further with every attempt.

Gilgamesh threw himself at both Thena and Heracles, holding his arms above his head. He grunted as he did have to endure a boulder or two before Thena added her power to his and skewered a few with her trident. "Where's Sersi when you need her?"

The dust settled and the three emerged. Thena looked at Heracles extensively. "Unscathed?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," he chuckled as she turned and twisted his head, poked at his arms, even jabbed him in the ribs between the plates of his armour. "Ow!"

"Do not leave your vitals exposed," she took the time to lecture before going to check on the Deviant again.

Heracles ruffled his own golden hair as he followed. "You battle in a toga."

Gilgamesh elbowed him. "Don't talk back to the Goddess of War."

The human sighed, knowing he was outnumbered by his unwavering mentors/parents. "Yes, sir."

The horse was indeed still alive. But as much as Eternals were not gifted swimmers, Deviants truly sank like stones. The monster was thrashing as it continued to tumble downward until it reached the shoreline. Its own mass would soon drown it.

"We should bring Sersi, tell her to expand the landmass and keep that thing's body contained within the rock," Thena declared, still watching until the fight left her enemy's body.

"That's gonna make for some wild fossils someday," Gilgamesh muttered to himself as he too watched. Of course, he only watched for as long as Thena did. He slid his eyes over to her. "Should we...go get her now?"

"We must be certain this thing won't try to claw its way on land again." The Goddess of War had spoken, and that was that.

Both men sighed heavily.

She turned back to them and their petulance. "We will have to climb back up the cliff regardless."

They had indeed fallen a great distance.

Heracles leaned over the edge slightly, holding his hand up mostly for dramatic effect. "It's in the water now, I'm sure it won't take long to be submerged completely."

"Great!"

By the time he turned, Thena was already in Gilgamesh's arms, held like a maiden. His jaw dropped in offense at the idea that they were leaving him there. "Hey!"

"Since you're so tough, you can keep an eye out until Sersi gets here," Gilgamesh chuckled, happily holding his Goddess in his arms and preparing to jump most if not all the height they fell.

"Indeed," Thena agreed, furthering the betrayal. "If you do not wish to listen to my instruction, then you can take the service roads back up to the city. As mortals do."

Heracles pursed his lips (a habit picked up from the goddess herself). "This is unjust."

"Have Sersi walk back with you if dusk falls," Thena pointed out lastly before Gilgamesh charged energy under his feet and took off like a rock from a trebuchet.

Heracles shouted after his petulant parents (always sneaking away to canoodle). "I am not a child!"

[nineteenninety-six]

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝ Chocolate Bars and Injuries [3]

Pairing: Jack Abbot x Reader

AN: This is a fluff filler chapter but I do love this lil family so sue me. I want to post these more frequently but I can't write as fast as I used to lol. I need some angst ideas for these two and Robby ideas if any of you have any <3

TW: Parental death, usual medical inaccuracies. drunk driving. mentions of death by drunk driving. mentions of Jack's amputation.

Synopsis: Your's and Jack's relationship progress and you meet a few people at The Pitt properly.

TAG LIST: @darksparklesficrecs @flyinglama @lonelyloomis @antisocialfiore @impossibleblizzardstudentposts

PART ONE PART TWO

Jack’s presence in your life has brought immense happiness. The past few months were consumed by mourning your parents and learning to parent Caspian, leaving little time for self-reflection. However, Jack has transformed everything.

Now, you’re a few months into your relationship, and it’s a new experience for both of you. Things were going slow, Jack's schedule being the biggest reason but also he had never dated someone with a young child and you were trying to navigate it together. Jack cringes whenever you introduce yourselves as girlfriend or boyfriend, feeling too old for the term, preferring the term ‘partner.’ But you don’t mind; you love calling him your boyfriend.

The chime of the doorbell echoed throughout the house signifying Jack's arrival and you skipped over to open it, immediately smiling at the man on the other side

"You're spoiling him y'know" You say as you spy the toy store bag amongst the many Jack holds.

"You gonna tell me to stop?" Jack asks as he steps in the house, passing you the flowers he held. Jack waits until the flowers are firmly in your grasp before he pulls you into a kiss, deepening the kiss as he tries to figure out the flavour of your lip gloss.

"What is that, strawberry?" Jack's brows were furrowed as pulls away.

"Grape!" You grin, pecking him once more before you step away.

You sniff the flowers as you walk into the kitchen as Jack follows you automatically, the routine ingrained amongst all the others he held, "No, but what's your plan for when he grows old and out of Hot Wheels?"

Jack retrieves the vase from where it rests and fills it up with water as you trimmed the stems. This was another part of the routine that the two of you had formed, built- off of weeks of dates and flower gifting.

"I don't know... does the kid like fishing?"

"Fishing?" You laugh, "When was the last time you went fishing? Besides the kid is five, what he likes changes every week."

"I went a few years ago with Robby and Frank." Jack tells you, holding the vase out for you.

Your fingers rest over his on the vase as you peer up at him, "And how did that go?"

"Two days one night camped out in one tent next to a lake in the height of summer and all we managed to catch were fish only big enough to feed a starving feral cat" Jack grimaced," You can imagine how well it went."

You laugh at his expression before you turn back to finish up with the flowers, "Well maybe it's best we stay away from fishing but you know, he has been talking about going camping recently. I was thinking about doing it in the backyard."

"Now camping I know alot about. I can take him camping. I can do the whole nine yards... smores, campfire Stargazing and campfire stories"

Jack's hands grasp your hips, giving them a squeeze before he turns you around, an almost hesitant look on his face, "Or is that too much? I don't want to overstep."

"You're not overstepping. I think Cas will really enjoy that." You stretch your arms to wrap around Jack's neck, "Obviously me and Cas are a package deal, it's the both of us or none of us but... are you really sure you want to do this? If you want to get really serious with me, you get serious with Cas and I don't want my relationship with you to be separate from my life with Cas, you all have to tie in together."

"Hey" Jack pulls you into a gentle brief kiss, "I know that. I really like Cas and spending time with him. I also really like you and dating you, I know all of this and it doesn't change a thing."

You beam at him before you pull him into a deep kiss that lasts until your phone chimes reminding you that you had to collect him from his regular weekend Karate lessons.

"Just to let you know, Cas will be showing off all his Karate moves tonight." You say as you leave the house, heading to your car, Jack following behind you.

"I am a more than willing practice dummy. I have a few moves of my own that I learnt when I was serving..." Jack quips, squeezing his body into the passenger seat, "Why can't we take my truck?"

"First of all, you're not using any combat moves on a five year old and secondly, you don't have a car seat for him" You remind him. "C'mon doctor Abbot it's child safety 101."

Jack huffs a laugh but he makes a reminder on his phone for his next free day to do research on the best car seats for children Cas' age to have in his truck.

With Cas down for his afternoon nap, immensely helped by his Karate class, you decided to watch a film with Jack and so you delegated the task of finding a film to watch to Jack whilst you did snacks and drinks. So you were in the kitchen making popcorn while he explored your living room, staring at the many family portraits hanging around and looking through the immense music and film collection accumulated by your parents.

"You've got Heat, Top Gun, The Shining… I remember watching these when I was young. Plus the music collection over there... this is amazing." Jack said in amazement as he continued to flick through the collection.

You laugh at him as you place the drinks and popcorn down on the coffee table, soda for you, beer from one of the many bags he brought with him, for him.

"Yeah my parents collected them. There's more in the loft but they've got a massive collection spanning decades. They used to go to garage sales, flea markets—you name it." You smile as you think about your parents, "Those were my parent's favourites from their childhood so I guess that tracks, you're like the same age as them."

Jack's face goes through many emotions as he looks at you with wide eyes, "I didn't mean to bring them up."

"You mean you don't like being reminded that you're the same age as my parents?" You tease, "Don't worry I don't have daddy issues— well not like that."

 "I don't want to bring up something you're uncomfortable with." Jack says.

"It's not illegal. You can ask about them." You take a seat, Jack quickly joining you, "Don't get me wrong it's a sore subject but my therapist always likes to remind me that not everything is captured on camera or film and if we don't share our memories, we forget them and I have about twenty five years more of them than Cas has."

"Yeah, therapists are great at reminding you to take your head out of your ass." Jack mutters, remembering the reality checks his therapist gives him.

Jack hesitated for a moment before speaking again, asking, “How did they pass?”

You tuck yourself into Jack's side, bracing yourself to talk about something that you've only spoken about to your therapist," Drunk driver. Ran a red light and T-boned them."

"Shit..." Jack swore as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder and squeezed it, comforting you.

"Cas was in the car with them." Your words were quiet but Jack could hear the underlying grief, "My dad died at the scene, mom died in surgery. Cas was in PICU for a week. I was so close to losing my entire family that night."

There's a pause where you take a mouthful of your drink, creating a break, pacing yourself before you reveal a part of you that weighed heavily upon you everyday. 

"A part of me still expects them to walk through those doors and then everything will go back to how it was. A part of me still feels like a teenager, always looking towards their parents for guidance but I'm grown now. I'm scared about letting Cas down, about failing him. I became a guardian— a parent overnight and I feel so out of my depth." You sniffle, emotions beginning to creep up, "It's why I haven't gone through any of their stuff yet. It's why I'm still sleeping in my childhood bedroom and why I haven't had a single sip of alcohol since."

Jack wraps his arms around you as you sobbed into his chest, it was obvious this was heavily weighing on you. Sure you spoke with a therapist but you hadn't let yourself really vent and cry having put all of your energy towards Cas. You cry until you fall asleep in his arms and he nods off shortly after, movie long forgotten. He's awoken by Caspian an unknown amount of time later, the kid crawling underneath his other arm and shaking him as he calls out his name.

"What's up kid?" Jack asks, blinking off the nap brain he had.

Caspian holds up his empty water bottle, "Water please"

"Sure." Jack nods before he untangles himself from you, making sure you dont wake up before he picks Caspian up, easily settling the child on his hip.

Jack had gotten comfortable with Caspian over the last few months and Jack had never imagined himself bonding with a young child the way he had with Caspian but Jack loved the little set-up he had with you and Caspian. He had never married or had children, his past and preference towards working the night shift usually turning people off but he believed he had something special with you and by extension Caspian.

Jack sits Caspian on the kitchen island before he opens the fridge looking for the water jug when your croaky voice speaks up from the doorway.

"Just use the tap, it's filtered for drinking." You say as you approach Caspian, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Huh... bougie" Jack mutters as he fills the water bottle.

"I know right" You laugh,"I never had any of this stuff when I grew up or lived alone, so I'm indulging in the gadgets my parents splurged on."

"Have you thought about moving?" Jack asks.

"Yeah, sometimes" You answer as you putter around the kitchen making Caspian's snack plate,"It's complicated though. This house is great, it's paid off, it has plenty of space and it's in a good location with Cas' school and my job but this place is filled with the ghosts of my parents and a part of me wants a fresh start especially if I have my own children..."

"Don't read too much into that last part" You quickly say, realising what you had just said.

Jack waits until Caspian is distracted eating in the other room before he says,"... Do you want kids?"

You shrug, "Before all of this yeah but now... I'm not sure. Cas is my top priority now."

"You'll have to prioritise yourself too at some point."

You shrug once again, something that Jack has now come to realise was a way for you to not answer a question, it was a non answer before you diverted the conversation.

"What about you? Do you want kids?" You ask.

Jack keeps eye contact with you as he shrugs, watching the smile on your face as you realise he was mimicking you with sharp eyes, "I didn't think I would be a good father and according to Dana, I'm a bit of a dark and grumpy bastard that turns off most women."

"Not me though"

"Yeah not you"

"Wonder what that says about me"

"I don't" Jack crowds into your space, brushing his lips against yours, "I like you exactly as you are."

"You're such a charmer" You mumble before you tug him into a kiss.

"Alright kid, your sister told me you wanted to show off what you learnt in class today" Jack said as he kneeled down so he rested on one knee, groaning underneath his breath knowing that his body will regret it in the morning.

Caspian perked up, immediately jumping up from the couch to get into position in the middle of the living room rug.

You watched from your place in the kitchen, thankful for the open plan layout so that you can see everything as you cooked. Jack had tried to convince you to order in but you had to remind him that every date you have been on had consisted of dinner dates and you wanted to treat him to a home cooked meal, especially since this was the first time he's actually spent time at your house, having usually just stopping by to pick you up. 

"Ready?!" Caspian asks, ready to show off.

Jack nods, a small smile tugging on his lips. "Yep, c'mon!"

Caspian gives his own nod and he takes a couple of steps before he throws himself into Jack, the impact knocking him backwards onto his back, breath leaving him roughly. 

"Oof!"

"Cas!" You gasp, running over to them, trying your hardest not to laugh but oh man the scene was so funny. "That was not a karate move!"

You lean over Jack, fingers drifting over his head fearing that he may have cracked his head open, "You okay doc? You able to self-diagnose?"

Jack's eyes crinkle as he erupts into laughter, his whole body vibrating as he does so, "Help an old man up?"

Jack reaches an arm up and you swiftly grab it to help him up, missing the devious smirk on his lips as he tugs hard, pulling you on top of him with a muffled huff. There's a beat of silence before you burst into laughter as well, giggling at the absurdity of it all and not wanting to be left out, Caspian jumps on top of you, squashing you in between the both of them.

"This is ridiculous" You giggle, "I'm supposed to be cooking dinner, not doing whatever the hell this is."

"Stay, this is fun!" Caspian speaks, his words coming out mushed as he spoke into your back.

"This is very fun," You agree as you push yourself off of Jack, Caspian's weight not affecting you as you stood, "Unfortunately dinner will be burnt if I don't go back to the kitchen."

This time Jack doesn't drag you down when you grab his hand to pull him to his feet before you turn back to Caspian and tickle his belly, "And I know what monster you turn into when you don't eat so I shouldn't let it get burned should I?"

At Caspian's admitting nod, you return to the kitchen but not before you warn both of them that if they do any more 'karate' moves then neither of them are getting dessert.

It's nearing two am when you finally peel yourself away from Jack's side and the couch where you had been glued to for the past who-knows how many hours finally watching the films that Jack found earlier. Caspian was on the other end of the couch, curled up underneath a blanket after falling asleep midway through the first film and you couldn't be bothered to take him to bed so you left him there.

You let out a soft moan of pleasure as you stretched your tense muscles. Sleep was tugging at you and all you wanted was to crawl into bed.

"What do you want me to do?" Jack's words are murmured as he stands behind you, warm hands resting on your hips.

"Let me lock up and then you can take him upstairs"

Jack nods and gives your hips a squeeze watching as you leave to turn off the lights and lock the doors before you return to him.

Once Caspian is tucked in bed and snoozing away, you close his bedroom door, leaving it open just a smidge for when he wakes up in the morning and you pull Jack to the landing.

You glance up at Jack , "You know you're staying the night right?"

Jack did not know that. 

Jack wasn't going to drive home, he had seen and treated too many people who were the victims of drunk driving but he was planning on taking a taxi home.

"I was going to call a taxi…" Jack admitted.

"Not anymore you're not," You roll your eyes before pausing and looking back at him, "You don't have any problems with sleeping in my parent's bedroom  do you?"

Jack eyes her, trying not to reveal his shock, "Your what?"

You grin, winking at him, "I'm just joking, we have a guest room."

Jack's shoulders untense, "Not funny."

"You can use some of my dads clothes to sleep in, unless you have spare ones in your little go-bag."

"Tactical rucksack" Jack corrects

"Right, right of course" You giggle, "I apologise."

You take him to the guest room, waving him in, "It hasn't been used in a while but it's clean and there's a bathroom next door. I'll be back with clothes and towels for you."

Jack quickly peels off his trousers once you've left, kicking them off as he sits on the bed and takes off his prosthetic, massaging his leg with practised ease, soothing the usual ache that lingered when he wore it all day.

He hadn’t mentioned his leg or what had happened, and it wasn’t entirely deliberate to keep it a secret. However, he was clueless about how to bring it up naturally. He knew you well enough to understand that you wouldn’t pressure him for answers or perceive him differently. Nevertheless, the lingering anxiety in his mind kept his thoughts racing with ‘what ifs’.

Jack was so engrossed in his thoughts that he missed the knock on the door. He only looked up when you let out a surprised yelp. He watched as your eyes trailed down his body, momentarily pausing at his crotch. The image of him in tight boxer briefs was seared into your mind before they continued down his body to his legs. As you realised what you were looking at, you knew you had intruded on a private moment, you quickly slammed your eyes shut, arms thrust in front of you holding the towel and clothes and squeaked out an apology.

Jack grabs the items out of your hand silently and you immediately scurry out of the room, apologising once more before you shut the door behind you.

"Well that takes care of that" Jack laughs incredulously. 

You threw yourself onto your bed with a groan, feeling embarrassed about your impulsive action. You should have knocked until you heard him speak, but instead, you barged right in and then fled like a child.

As you changed into your pajamas, you realised how little you truly knew about Jack. You knew he had served in the military and had friends at the hospital, but you hadn’t actually met any of them. Jack was a complex individual, and you hadn’t even scratched the surface of his layers.

A knock at the door startles you, and you take a deep breath, knowing that it could only be one person.

Jack stood on the other side of the door, hair still damp from his shower, his curls refreshed and smelling of the shampoo whilst he stood in a simple t-shirt and joggers.

"Hey," Jack's eyes flicker over you, searching for a sign of disgust or anything.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to barge in on you," You instantly apologise, "Especially not when…"

Your words trail off, not knowing the right words to say.

"Can I come in?" Jack asks and you immediately nod, shuffling him towards your bed.

"I realised I hadn't told you anything about me, not really. So where do I start?" Jack sighs as he sits up against your headboard, "I'm an old man with a long list of stories."

"You're not old," You say as you easily climb in bed beside him. You couldn't help it, it was like your body craved being next to him, "You talk about whatever you want and I'll just listen."

And so Jack did, he told you about his life story, not all of it but you had definitely peeled back a few layers of the man. You hear about his enlistment and attending medical school and then he briefly talks about the incident that resulted in losing his foot, it still being a topic that he finds hard to discuss. Then he talks about coming to Pittsburgh and meeting Robby and why he likes to work the nightshift.

"Will I ever get to meet Robby or any of your other friends?" You ask once he's finished speaking.

Jack looks down at you with a half frown, half smile, voice teasing "You've already met Robby."

You roll your eyes, "No I didn't. I saw him at Tanner's party, that doesn't count."

"Huh, really…"

"What's stopping me from visiting during the day shift hmm?"

"I'll tell security to ban you, I'll hand your mugshot out as well."

You muffle your laughter into your palm, "I'll tell Frank to let me in, they'll trust him right, since he's a doctor"

"He's still a resident, I outrank him." Jack leans down to press a kiss to your lips. "Nice try though."

"You going to go back to the guest room?" You ask, curling up to Jack's side.

Jack's words are whispered, "Do you want me to?"

"No" You whisper back.

Jack pulls away causing you to groan in disappointment but you take the opportunity to slip underneath the duvet. Your eyes never left his form as he bent off to take his prosthesis off with ease that takes years of experience.

You curl back into Jack's side once he joins you underneath the duvet, melting into his warmth. Jack switches off the bedside light and your limbs twisting around each other as you relax into the bed. You want to thank Jack for opening up but you are quickly lulled into sleep, mind going blank as Jack wrapped his body around yours.

You eventually meet Jack’s hospital colleagues, but not on his terms.

Jack stayed at yours like he usually did on his day off but this time it was slightly different since his truck had been in the shop for a week. On Friday morning after he got off of shift he went home and did his usual routine and then you picked him up after work and took him to yours. He had Saturday off, spent it with you and Caspian, slept over, and then had lunch with you and Caspian on Sunday before you dropped him off for his Sunday evening shift. However, when he left the car, his wallet fell out of his pocket and dropped onto the seat, unnoticed by either of you.

You didn’t realise until the next morning on Monday when you pulled up at work after dropping Caspian at school. Since you wouldn’t see Jack until the end of the week, you decided to drop it off on your lunch break. So, you left him a message saying you’d leave it at the front desk of the hospital’s ED.

The waiting room was loud and crowded when you entered, filling with people bleeding, limping, coughing and sneezing as they waited for to be finally called back to be treated. You tapped your foot as you waited in line, Jack's wallet clenched tightly in your hand.

You flinch when a hand grabs your arm and you look back to see a doctor that looks vaguely familiar.

"Hey, I remember you," The woman says, casting a cursory look up and down your body, "Are you okay?"

You frown as you face the woman, still unable to place where you recognised her. "Yeah I'm fine…I'm sorry I don't know…"

"I'm Dr McKay. Cassie. I was at Tanner's birthday party with my son."

"Ah." You nod, finally remembering, "Yeah sorry I'm fine, I've just got Jack's- sorry, Dr Abbot's wallet. I was just leaving it here so he can pick it up on his next shift."

Dr McKay's expression changes as her brows rise on her head and her eyes widen as she slowly nods her head, "Why don't I take you through and you can just leave it at the charge station."

"Why can't I just leave it with you?" You question but you let her guide you through the doors through to the ED.

"You could but if I let this opportunity fall through I'll never be forgiven." Dr McKay tells you as you walk towards a hub of activity, presumably the charge station.

"Hey Dana, Robby!" Dr McKay calls out catching the attention of a blonde nurse and dark haired doctor. You recognise them from Tanner's birthday as well, which of course makes sense considering Frank's job.

You introduce yourself and Robby instantly recognises you and introduces himself and Dana.

"I'd hate to interrupt your work, I just planned to leave it at reception," You say as you flash the wallet, "I told him I'd leave it there anyway…"

A smirk grew on Dana's face once she caught sight of the familiar wallet and Robby's smile stretched so wide his cheeks bunched up. They were loving this and they couldn't wait until Jack clocked in for the evening shift.

"You are so not interrupting." Robby's words were interrupted by his laughter.

Your own smile dances on your lips when you realise why they were so giddy, "Don't be too mean to him."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity here," McKay interjects, "Abbot almost never slips."

You pass the wallet over to Robby who slips it into his pocket so that Jack will have to go up to him personally to get it back. 

"Is a grumpy Jack the best person to work with?" You ask with a laugh.

"It's why he works the night shift," Dana chimes in, "Usually less people than the day shift during the week."

"He was plenty nice to me" You shrug.

"That's because you're a pretty woman." McKay snickers, Dana nodding along.

"Ooh-kay. I have to get back to work but it was nice meeting you all, officially." You wave at them before you turn and leave, bumping into Frank but you only have enough time to simply say 'Hello' before you're disappearing through the doors.

Frank watches you go with a raised eyebrow before he turns back to the group at the charge station, "What's that all about?"

"Did you know she's with Abbot?" Dana asks.

Frank nods, not knowing what the big deal was, "Yeah for at least a couple of months or at least that's what Abby said."

"Huh…" Robby nods, "Interesting."

Jack grumbles as he leaves the frontdesk empty handed, heading towards the charge station hoping that his wallet was there instead, he just hoped the usual suspects were busy with patients. He deliberately arrived an hour earlier in hopes of collecting his wallet without being ambushed.

The charge station was empty and Jack quickly made his way over and began to search through the desk, pushing files and tablets aside as he searched for his wallet. He was midway through pushing a computer to the side when somebody clears their throat behind him, causing him to straighten slowly and turn around.

"Looking for something?" Robby asks, holding up the wallet in question.

Dana was next to him, failing miserably to conceal her smirk, "She's pretty. When were you planning on introducing her to us?"

Jack grumbled once again, stomping over and snatching the wallet from Robby and putting it in his bag.

"I wasn't."

"Not that it matters anyway," Robby laughs, before deciding to torment Jack even further, "We got enough info anyway."

"Langdon!" Jack immediately snaps his head over to the clueless doctor who looked up from his tablet with wide eyes, "What the hell is your problem?"

Langdon frowns in confusion, "What did I do?"

"Talking about shit that doesn't concern you." Jack snaps, "Whatever your wife tells you, you keep it to yourself."

Langdon continues to look at him wide eyed and confused, "What are you talking about?"

Finally Robby cuts in, sparing his resident from anymore abuse from the night shift attending.

"Frank didn't say anything, Jack. Stop bullying the poor man."

Jack turns Robby, "Were you just fucking with me?"

Robby laughs, "Yeah pretty much but she seemed nice."

Jack's tense shoulders relax slightly, "She is nice."

"Pretty too." Dana adds.

"Uh-huh." Jack doesn't try to entertain the conversation even further. They knew enough already.

"You have to let us meet her properly, you know!" Robby called out as Jack walked out of the ED, heading to the lift so he could have some peace on the rooftop before his shift started.

Jack simply threw a middle finger up behind him as he walked through the doors.

[st4rbwrry]

   𝐾𝐼𝑆𝑆 𝑀𝐸 𝑇𝐼𝐿𝐿 𝐼’𝑀 𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸.

꒰ armin takes his pretty girlfriend on a picnic in an enchanted forest.꒱

𐀔 . . . 1.4k. fem!reader, lowercase intended, established relationship, sub / dom, profanity, pet names, unprotected penetrative sex, we’re in luvvv, outside indecency, love bites, praise, kinda shy reader, smoking, kreampie, minors aren’t welcomed ! reblogs + comments are appreciated! <3

꒰ 𝑚𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑎’𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒 ꒱ . . . this been in the drafts since 2022 y’all. a lil sum.

a pastel baby blue dress clings tight to your smooth skin, looking like the prettiest cottage core girl. frills on the shoulders and bust sitting low to accentuate your perky chest. love handles and tummy pudge swallowed by the soft material. armin couldn't keep his eyes, or hands, to himself. rubbing all up on you throughout your entire picnic date. fresh air blows through the trees and the bright views of sunlight beam across the blue lake where pure white doves swam in silence. armin had found this mythical location by driving around one day. it's quiet and reserved, deep into an enchanted forest.

the two of you sat on a blanket sprawled out on the grass, enjoying the food armin neatly packed. lots of fruits because you loved them. strawberries, raspberries, pomegranates, green grapes, apricots, and peaches . . . you name it. overdoing it just a bit, but he knows it’ll be eaten by this week. this was breakfast, the time now around eleven in the morning, so while you got ready he prepped the food. heart shaped pancakes, waffles, turkey bacon, pork sausage, scrambled cheese eggs and of course never forgetting your orange juice.

to make it cuter he brought a glass vase and filled it with water and multicolor roses he bought from the flower shop. you ate so much food your stomach bloated, unable to eat anymore. armin lays on his back with you to stare up at the sky and watch the trees blow, the weather perfect for the occasion. the sun hitting your skin serenely. you rest your head on armin’s chest, listening to his heartbeat as he massages your back in gentle circles, nearly falling asleep because you’re so at peace.

“i’m so glad we did this,” a yawn escapes as you smile sweetly at him, rubbing his stomach over his white tee.

armin presses a gentle kiss to your forehead, lingering it before mumbling, “me too.” soon, digging into his jean pocket to pull out a pack of cigarettes. tapping the plastic box to release a stick. your body moves with the forearm he brings together to light his cig, flicking the lighter twice and satiating his need.

“i needed a break from life. so, thank you, love.” the softness in your voice makes the man's heart beat twice as fast. he smiles at you after turning his head the opposite way to blow out smoke, knowing you hated it in your face. being at close proximity right now was less irritating since you're elated at the moment. you could care less because he's comfortable, and it makes you feel the same. you could never get him to quit no matter how hard you tried. never argued with him about it. minor debates but he gave valid points so you laid off it.

“i figured it'd be nice to escape for the day. it's upsetting we have to return to reality tomorrow. but when i'm with you, it always feels . . . free.”

armin brushes a curved knuckle over your cheekbone, your eyes glued to his own.

“i feel the same way.”

“i say i love you all the time. but do you really understand it? how deep it is?”

you curl your lips inward, pondering on his question. more like a statement.

“i know you love me. you show it more ways than one. i think that's meaningful overall.”

fluffy blond hair with gold hues covers his angelic baby blue eyes, reaching up to tuck some of the wavy ringlets behind his ear.

“tell me you love me, then gimme a kiss.”

your face grows hot from his demand, growing nervous. you sit up briefly to grab a peach to bite into and distract yourself, more like hide your face because you were smiling so hard. this happens to be the second time since he's first told you he loved you. it makes you shy even still, the rush of heat coming to your cheeks from the intense glare he gives you, waiting for you to say it. you don't know why it felt so hard to utter. it's clear you love him, but maybe it was the large commitment of the word . . . the vulnerability, the devotion, the forever tie that scared you.

"tell me you love me, or i'll make you say it, ꒰♡꒱ ."

and make you he does.

his breath is warm on your neck, tongue following to lick a bold stripe over your skin with his fingers indented into the flesh of your cheeks and jaw. your face is upturned, head resting on his shoulder, back to his chest as you rely on his body for your balance. your thighs are spread wide, holding yourself open with your unoccupied hand, gripping under the bend of your knees, whimpering in the breezy air as his hips interact with the round of your ass, fucking you from the side fervidly. his moans are light, dancing in your ear while you claw into the picnic blanket beneath you two, clutching the grass and dirt in the wake. tuning into the lewd interaction of his heavy dick pounding into you, tits bouncing out of the enclosure of your dress.

“i can’t hear you, ꒰♡꒱,” armin grits his teeth, his lips on your jaw now, kissing away and grunting as he raises his hips to fuck you deeper, thrusts steady but rough. you’re feeling dizzy, whining from the baritone of his voice. “i didn’t make myself clear enough?”

“n-no. . . ar—min. mmph,” while denying, there’s a crack in your voice as you try your best to speak, moans rumbling in your throat, your tummy jiggling from his harsh pace.

“then tell me, tell me,” armin’s voice is a whispered plead, his jeans to his knees and his shirt pulled up to his midsection, skin scorching against your own.

you’re soft, and small. his big hand with veins protruding goes from your face to your chest, tweaking your nipples that spilled out of it’s cups alluringly, before spanking them with the pads of his fingers. tweak, spank, tweak, spank. it’s a notion that has you drooling, and sobbing pathetically. he’s trying to upkeep his composure, trying not to bottom out and lose his sanity. you’re too cute.

“i love youuu,” you finally cry out, ragged moans falling out in shorts gasps, tears coaxing and the pressure in your tummy building.

“fuck, there you go, sweetie,” his excitement shows through the way his dick slips out of you, both of you gasping from the loss until he slaps your clit with his dick, your juices sputtering out of you with each wet pat pat pat. armin draws his hips back slightly before sliding back inside easily, digging his fingers into the back of your thigh you held up and rolled his waist to fuck you harder.

each pound is harder than the previous, his jaw widening as he chokes on his moans and catches your throat with his mouth, tongue lolling out occasionally and his teeth following suit. your head is tossed back entirely, his arm going around your shoulder to cradle you, falling back on the ground. your thighs press tightly together, and you hold onto his arm while his middle and ring fingers thrum intricately over your puffy clit to watch her squirt.

armin hisses with skaken moan. “say it again, ꒰♡꒱.”

“i love you, armin.”

“again,” he’s biting at your neck again, your mouth agape from the combination of that and the head of his dick kissing your sweet spot.

“b-baby, g-god. i love you.”

“ooh, shit,” armin then pushes your left thigh flat to the ground, your body twisted as he goes to level himself above you in push up form, dropping his dick into you with steady, hard pounds. his voice grows weak, moans whiny as he cums deep inside of you, and you follow not long after, squeaking and clutching onto his wrist planted by your head. the softness of your ass bouncing back onto his hips is entrancing. his ass flexing when he grinds into your pussy.

“oh my god,” those pretty strands of blond sway in front of his face, giggling and lowering his body to rest his chest on your side. repeatedly leaving kisses to your flushed cheeks, neck, even your forehead. unable to move at all.

“i really love you, i swear,” the pads of your fingers brush over his pink lips, overly sensitive at the moment so you definitely felt like crying. a high pitched hiccup interrupts the moment, and that only makes armin roll his lips inward before bursting out a laugh.

“you’re so cute,” he gives you an eskimo kiss before smooching your lips. “i know you do.”

© 𝒮𝒯𝟦𝑅𝐵𝒲𝑅𝑅𝒴! all rights reserved. please do not repost, steal, or modify my work simply because it is mine. stealing isn't cute. i'll ruin your life. 🫧🍓

[backinmyphase]

Not the whole truth

Synopsis: You didn't know why, but Satoru Gojo was acting different than usual and not in a good way. Well, your husband was sure that you were lying to him.

Or: Satoru Gojo doesn't even know how attached he will grow to his wife yet.

Pairing: Gojo x reader, 3100 words

Series masterlist

Contains: arranged marriage, generational trauma, jujutsu clans and higher ups, much Angst, trowing up, mention of curses

I'm sorry that this chapter is a bit later than usual, I was feeling a bit sick and fitting with the chapter I threw up :') But I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment, I love to read your thoughts!

"Were you expecting a letter?"

Your husband Satoru Gojo doesn't even look at you as he speaks. Instead his face is expressionless, like a mask he was wearing. Almost like your mother.

He was acting so different from yesterday, it was scary. Did you cross a line?

"No, why? Did a letter come?"

His voice isn't heared a couple of seconds, until he spoke again. "Yeah, from your mother."

Your eyes couldn't help but widen as his words sunk in. She knew. She knew where you were. The house wasn't yours anymore, she knew. How? Since when? HOW?

Satoru's head rose and his eyes suddenly seemed so far away. Like an ocean you will never cross. Cold, like the icebergs in the Antarctica. Not like anytime you saw them before.

"Oh really?"

You kept your voice steady as you took a grape from the offered lunch of the hotel.

"Yeah, here." he slided the piece of paper across the small table to you. Your name written in the handwriting you knew so well. "Does she write you regularly?"

Your mind froze as you thought back. Yeah, she did. But not because of the reason he thought she did. Not because she was worried about her precious daughter. No, more like she worried about her hopefully grandson.

You just nodded and wanted to open the letter as his warm hand grabbed yours.

For a moment he seemed approachable. His eyes bigger than before he looked at you with almost desperation in those deep eyes.

"Are you really close with her?"

The piece of paper sank deep into your skin as you looked at him. What should you do? You couldn't let him know, your mother would kill you! But...

It was so hard when he looked at you like that.

Your hands fiddled with the piece of the paper and drew your whole attention. They were twitching. You wanted to rip them out.

"Yes, I am." the lie left your mouth like a rock falling down a mountain. Fast but not safe. "Didn't I tell you that already?"

His eyes and mind closed from you eight in front of your eyes. You could see his emotions being pushed down and his body sitting up straight.

"Well, then." he stood up to go to the bathroom. "Could you tell me later what was written inside?"

You just nodded as he left. What happened since yesterday? What did you do? How did you get in this situation?

+:★:+*━━━ A bit ago ━━━*+:★:+*

The bed was cold. So so cold. Your consciousness slowly grew as you shivered at the unexpected coldness under the covers of the big bed.

He wasn't here.

Did you wake up early than usual? Normally he would wake you by accidentally being a bit louder when he came back from his round around the town. But Satoru didn't seem in sight.

Your body had the usual heaviness it was yesterday freed from. It wasn't easy to leave the bed but you wanted to get up.

You felt terrible.

The tiredness became unreal. Why couldn't you just be well rested after that much sleep? It felt like a boulder pressed your body down and chained you to the bed. Your body seemed so lazy.

Legs heavy, you slowly made your way to the bathroom. The clock surprising you.

10:24?

That couldn't be right. No, Satoru should have showed up by that already! And you surely haven't slept that much! Right?

As you looked at your things you needed to get ready, you sighed. There it was like every morning. The hairpin of your mother, your wedding present.

Why did you even take it with you? Yes, it was pretty but the guilt that came with it was far more influence. And you didn't even use it!

It almost seemed to look at you disappointed.

Your exhaustion was really getting out of hand! Maybe you should talk to Hina's grandmother for advice against sleeping problems...

As you began to brush your teeth, you this feeling of uneasiness began to creep up your back. Slowly, like a someone was watching you. Like something will happen...

The sound of the door opening made you cough up your toothpaste.

"Er, phew! Satoru?" you called over your shoulder while washing your face.

"Yeah?"

"Did you have trouble?" you dried your face trying to get your eyes to open properly. "You're later than usual."

He kept quiet for a couple of seconds. Then he sighed. "Yeah, you could say that."

The silence after that wasn't like the silence yesterday. It was awkward, you didn't know what to say. You couldn't explain it, but he sounded different. He didn't sound like smiling.

"I'm going down to eat lunch." his voice got a bit more quiet and moved away. "I didn't get anything."

"Okay." you didn't know what was happening, but something was wrong. The comfort of yesterday wasn't seen in any corner, didn't matter how much you searched for it.

Oh, god you did something wrong, didn't you?

+:★:+*━━━ Now ━━━*+:★:+*

Your letter weighed heavy in your hand. And as you opened it, the weight only seemed to grow.

Dear daughter,

I hope this letter finds you enjoying yourself. Well, after all that's what you so desperately seem to want. You can count yourself lucky, your slip up is being forgiven. The higher ups seem to be of the opinion that you acted for the greater good and just didn't think. That you wanted to take action in the matter heir.

They expect that you will expect a child when you come back.

The luck really is on your side. They wouldn't be half as kind if they weren't aware of where you were. Your vacation isn't frowned upon, as long you don't forget why you took it.

Enjoy your days, Sincerely, your mother.

On the back was the date of your next meeting engraved. She didn't write you anything else. You felt like throwing up.

Taking action in the matter heir? Expecting a child? You weren't close to anything like that!

What would they do to you, if they find out? No, when they find out? What will your mother say?

The table full of things to eat was suddenly all grey. You didn't feel hungry anymore, even though you didn't eat much.

Tears began to form in your eyes. You couldn't help it. The reality of what you were supposed to do came crushing down on you, making no room for the lightness of yesterday.

You desperately rubbed your eyes, trying to stop the tears but it was no use.

You couldn't show yourself like this to Satoru.

Your room didn't have the thickest walls, he would hear you in the bathroom. So you moved to the bathroom for the guests that weren't staying over the night and tried to calm down.

What were you supposed to tell Satoru?

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

Satoru knew that he should have given you both letters. But there was this uneasiness in the room with all these questions.

Why did these old hags even write you?

He couldn't explain it to himself. And he wanted to open the letter so bad to find the answer. But...

He didn't want to open letters that were for you. That felt so wrong. Like he was using your trust and god he didn't want you to be mad at him again.

But did you even trust him?

If you did, why were you lying to him? You seemed to have anything but a good relationship with your mother. But when he asked you, you insisted that you did. Two times.

Your face as you looked at the letter wasn't screaming happiness. No, it was confusion and even something like fear.

Did you think you could fool him?

The mirror was fogged as he left the shower. He felt uneasy. Like he wasn't seeing something he should.

Sighing, he started to get ready. Maybe he was over thinking. Maybe you did have a good relationship with your mother. You did have meetings with her a couple of times.

Which were really long...

The meetings?

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

"You don't look well. Are you okay?"

In fact you looked like you had cried. But you didn't seem to show that to him, meaning you smiled at him like that would be a prove.

"Yeah, don't worry."

He couldn't stand this charade that you played now. But he decided to play along. "What did she write to you?"

"Oh, the usual. I should greet you from my mother. She wished us a good honeymoon and that we would enjoy our time." the laugh that followed was more than forced.

He felt his patience slipping away. "I thought she didn't like me?"

You looked at him like he was speaking another language. "I mean yeah-, but your still my husband which she respects." the fastness with wich you spoke gave you away.

You were nervous. Why were you this nervous in his presence?

"Ah."

"Are you okay?" you looked at him with a frown. "You seem on edge."

Oh and how he was on edge. Who wasn't, when they knew they were being lied to?

"Yeah, just a bit stressed." he couldn't help but look at the letter in your hands. "Have the feeling there is a curse nearby."

"A curse?" your eyes were grewing big. "Here?"

"I will look for it later." he was sure he needed some time alone after this. "We can go to the restaurant some other time, right?"

You nodded, a terrified look in your eyes. "Of course!" you stood up. "I should go to our room, I don't want to hinder your work."

"Wait."

Now or never.

"I wanted to ask you something."

You stopped. Your tense back to him. "What is it?"

"Did the higher-ups bother you with something? Regarding our marriage?" he cleared his throat. "Just curious."

You didn't look at him, just muttered a small 'No' and 'Is there anything else?'

He let you go upstairs. Now he was sure of it. You kept something from him. And this something was in those letters.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

Satoru was out for hours.

You were worried about him. He seemed so out of it this morning. And then these questions...

Was he onto something?

You couldn't afford his mistrust. Not when your whole purpose is making an heir!

That sounded so wrong.

You looked at the books on your night table he bought for you. They were all a bit different. Some a different genre. Like he wanted to make sure you had at least on book that you would like.

You hated yourself for lying to this man.

You sighed as the usual tiredness overcame you again. Grabbing a book you read. Just wanting to forget this morning.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

It was late. The moon was already up and as he went up the stairs he knew that you would already be in bed.

He canceled your reservation.

He wasn't sure why, but he didn't want to ho there anymore. Not after he read what these douchbags were writing you.

Not after he knew what you kept from him.

He opened the door slowly and careful trying not to wake you. You were curled up on the bed, you seemed to shiver.

On the table next to you the second letter.

"Satoru, is that you?" your teeth were chattering.

"Yeah, it's just me."

He felt so dumb as he looked at you. So dumb for thinking you could just have a normal honeymoon, when you weren't even in love.

"Need your warmth." you sniffled. "Please?"

He was fighting with himself. He didn't want to invade your personal space, not after reading all of that. Not when you thought of it like it was your duty to-

He shivered just thinking about it.

But at the same time he didn't want you to be cold. And how could he deny his darling wife?

"I'm coming." very carefully he laid himself next to you, trying to avoid touching you, just carefully hugging you. "Is that better?"

You seemed to sleep already.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

It was so cold.

Your body felt like being pushed around, everything seemed to spin. Your hands felt frozen, like they didn't were under the covers.

Your throat was dry and something sticky seemed to make itself home in it. The force that held your eyes closed was so strong.

The spinning didn't seem to end.

Wait, a second... It didn't just feel like your body moved, it did!

With much willpower you forced your eyes to open and slowly turned around. And your blood seemed to freeze with your body.

There was Satoru sleeping but had a frown on his face. And a distance between you. But not because he moved, you were pushed back. By something you couldn't see. By infinity.

...

You forced yourself up, away from the bed. Everything started to make sense. He wasn't comfortable in your presence. After yesterday he searched for distance, even in his subconsciousness.

You were to pushy, god, why were you so pushy?!

Slowly you took steps back, trying to get away from the invisible wall that so clearly pushed you away. Almost stumbling you went into the bathroom.

01:24

Kinda ironic.

As you looked in the mirror you gasped. You looked like a corpse. Your fingers in the light even a bit blue. Panic started to rise and pushed you onte the ground.

Spit began to collect in your mouth and your stomach twisted. Your head was so heavy as you slided over to the toilet.

And then it just fell all out.

Your stomach twisting and turning, the pain slowly leaving but your eyes were burning even more.

It seemed to go for hours as you sat there. Defeated, so so powerless.

You felt disgusting.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

You didn't know how, but somehow you collected all your pieces and cleaned everything before falling onto the couch.

It was harder then the bed, but that didn't bother you anymore. The distance between you was far more important now.

He seemed to sleep so peaceful now.

He had moved since you stood up. God, now you were the one watching him sleep, you should get your act together.

But even though you were so so tired, you couldn't sleep.

Your surrounding seemed to watch you and the uneasy feeling from the morning came doubled back.

The luck really is on your side. They wouldn't be half as kind if they weren't aware of where you were.

They knew where you were. They could just come. Maybe even tomorrow. And even though you knew that would be unreasonable, the fear didn't leave.

You wanted to cry. But it was so cold.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

It was early than usual. Satoru was still sleeping as your eyes opened. Your body was heavy but the feeling of disgust with yourself made you move.

Normally you wouldn't go downstairs, you would hjust read. But you didn't want to be there when he woke up. No that would be unbearable.

So you went into the bathroom again, the crime scene of the night nowhere in sight. The hairpin waiting for you on the counter like it was ready to stab you.

A laugh escaped your lips.

Your mother really couldn't leave you alone, even now she stole herself into your thoughts.

Why were you even here?

Trying to get away from all of these curses in this hotel room, you hurried as you stepped the staircase down. You really needed a light chat with Hina's grandmother.

And some tips against bad sleeping.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

Satoru hadn't slept so bad in a long time. He turned and turned but couldn't get any good position. And he was sure that that couldn't be normal.

Normally he had a rhythm in his sleep. Get the minimum that you need and get up. He normally had to work after all.

But now his thoughts just couldn't shut up.

He woke up much later than usual. And he knew something was wrong when his six eyes were tired.

You weren't in the room.

The room was so coldly empty, his thoughts almost were silent. But only for a short time, they began to circle around the thing that was bugging him, even in his dreams.

Your lying.

And he knew he shouldn't, he knew that what he was doing was maybe much much worse than just lying but the letter from your mother was right next to him on the night table.

"Didn't I tell you that already?"

Fuck it. Maybe this was unreasonable, but he had to live with you for the rest of his life. And he hated secrets.

+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*━━━*+:★:+*

"Oh, Mrs. Gojo you look like you didn't sleep well, is everything alright?" the sweet elderly woman looked concerned as you sat down in front of her.

"Just trouble with sleeping. Do you have any tips?"

Her concern only grew in her eyes. "Well I drink warm milk before sleeping, I can bring you a cup every evening, if you want?"

You smiled at her. "That would be lovely, thank you."

She just nodded, hesitant smiling back. "It's naturally."

She brought you a hot chocolate, while she handled the organization of the guests. Turning the pages in the guestlist she spoke again.

"Were you happy to receive the letters?"

"Oh yeah, my mother is always a surprise." you began to chuckle a bit, but it died down in your sticky throat as you realized what she has just said.

"Oh I can relate! I write Hina always a couple of letters at the same time!" the woman chuckled a bit. "But I thought the two letters were from different people?"

"Oh they were." you tried to keep your composure even though the panic mixed with lots of anger made it really hard for you.

Really Satoru?

Two letters?

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[artechoceneexplorer]

I don't think I have shown this here, but I've been working on a drawing of one of my favourite creatures (?) from Dungeon Meshi, the Dryads. Also kind of making my own version of it by adding details specifically on their internal workings, and making them feel more like a fake puppet of a human grown from a flower.

The original dryad design vs Full Piece of mine (WIP)

I used several plants that have hinges and moving parts as a reference, mainly the hammer orchids (Drakaea sp.) for the internal joints and snapdragons (Antirrhinum sp.) for the external joints of the petal limbs. For the muscles used for more fast movement rather than structure, I used the curling tendrils that many climbing plants, especially in the cucurbit and grape families used for climbing, and can contract and extend pretty easily like springs. They don't use the same mechanism as normal tendrils though, as these move not by growing, but by hydraulics like other movable parts in plants like Mimosa, Drosera or the venus fly trap. For the general texture of the petal skin and sepal hair, I used mainly Hibiscus flowers for no particular reason other than I just love Hibiscus color diversity and petal texture.

Closeup of nearly finished Female flower

I Really enjoyed designing the face of the dryads, making them much more articulated and doll-like than the original designs. This facial petal had two moving parts: the mouth, which can open to allow pollination, which is partially inspired by orchids and snapdragons, with similar contraptions to access the pollen or stigmas; and the eyes, which are inspired by the retractable leaves of Mimosa plants, which can contract and relax via internal hydraulics to open the dryad's eyes.

Closeup of the facial petal of the female flower

I might add some text detailing some additional information once I finish the rest of the piece, but it depends on how good or cluttered it makes the piece feel, but I would like to add it. By the way for anyone wondering, the scientific name is a modification of the Greek name for dryads and other nymphs, which are usually named by adding -aie and similar suffixes to the plant they're associated with (greek dryads were named after oak trees). As these are more more flowers than trees, the genus name uses the prefix "Antho-" which is derived from the word for flower. The species name is much more simple as it means false (-oides) human (anthrop-).

Closeup of the male flower with additional information.

I hope you enjoyed this different kind of post where I go a bit in depth into my creative process, see you in the next one :>

[anakinstwinklebunny]

PAIRING: sam monroe x vinnie

FLUFF ❦

As usual, SAM MONROE picked his seven year old from school after finishing his shitty job. At least they paid well. But as soon as Vinnie's little hand wrapped around Sam's bigger one, the weird, unfamiliar sense of quietness tore through the atmosphere.

Sam noticed it immediately, he'd have to be a fool to not sense it right away. Vinnie who was usually a chatterbox about lunchroom disasters and who tripped over what during recess, was oddly silent. Just… swinging their linked hands between them, time to time kicking some little rock along the pavement.

Sam glanced down, worry stretching through his face. “You good?”

Vinnie nodded. Too fast. Suspiciously fast. Sam narrowed his eyes. “You’re never quiet for this long unless you broke something, or you’re about to tell me something I won’t like.”

He could see vinnie hesitate, bite down on his bottom lip with his bright bluish eyes looking down at the sidewalk. Then he muttered barely louder than a whisper:

“I like someone.”

Sam blinked. “Like… like like someone?”

Vinnie gave the tiniest nod, eyes still fixed on the cracks in the pavement. Sam’s heart did a weird thing. Kind of twisted. Kind of sank. Kind of—exploded?

He cleared his throat. “And, uh… who’s this someone?”

“Her name’s Katie,” Vinnie mumbled. “She has stickers on her lunchbox and she shares her grapes. And when I got paint on my shirt, she said it looked like a rocket. And she laughs at my jokes. Even the dumb ones.”

Sam bit the inside of his cheek. He had so many questions..the one about the paint and the shirt could wait, now he had much bigger problem because oh god. Oh god, no. It’s happening. He’s growing up. He’s in love. He's slipping away.

“Sounds like she’s nice,” Sam said, voice carefully neutral.

Vinnie’s cheeks went pink but he nodded real serious, kicking a pebble on the pavement. "She's really...nice. And she let me borrow her pink crayon.”

“So...you’re in love because of a crayon?”

Vinnie frowned, looking up at Sam to shake his head “Not just a crayon. She said I colored pretty. And she has those hair clips. The shiny ones. She smells like marshmallows.” after a small break of silence, he continued, as if this was the most grown-up thing in the world. “I think she likes me back. I shared my juice box.”

Vinnie looked up at him, face serious. “Do you think I should tell her?”

Sam nearly choked on air. “What?! No—wait—I mean—uh—what would you tell her?”

Vinnie shrugged. “That she’s cool. And she has nice braids. And I like when she draws cats with sunglasses.”

Sam stared at him. This wasn’t just some baby crush. He really looked like he found his zing..or whatever this hotel transylvania talked about. Sam has to stop watching so much, it corrupts his mind. A hand rubbed down over his face. “Buddy, you’re seven.”

“Seven and a half.”

Sam groaned. “Okay, Casanova. How about… we focus on just being her friend for now, yeah? You don’t have to rush into love or anything. You’ve got time.”

Vinnie hummed, like he was still thinking it over. Then he said, quietly, “Did you ever tell Mom you liked her?”

Sam’s throat closed up. He stopped walking for a second, eyes stinging before he could even process it. “Yeah,” he said after a moment. “Yeah, I did.”

Vinnie looked up at him with the softest expression—gentle and trusting and so damn much like her it made Sam’s chest ache. “I think Katie would like to know,” Vinnie whispered. “Like how Mom liked to know about you.”

Sam squeezed his hand. Just once. “Okay,” he said softly. “But no kissing till you’re, like… forty.”

Vinnie giggled. “Gross, no.”

So Vinnie indeed was slipping through his fingers..and there was nothing Sam could ever done about that.

TAG LIST: @kingdomhate @divineani @haydensprettyprincess @skyguys-princess @catnipaddictt @heartscone @haydensbbg @inneedsoffanfics @jediavengers @babybell-cheese @anisluvrgirl @slutforfinnickodair @xhunnybeeex @fuckmyskywalker @gallerygourmet @ysrjune @anakinskwkler @cookybananas @emotionallybruisedx @diorvalentina @sevinax @throughparisallthroughrome @aniiuv @ritosparty @ninastyles @lily-strnlo @thesassypadawan @awhhayden @sydkneez @anisangeldust @l1ttle-misssunsh1ne @anakinca @rubiesarepretty @luluartpop @cloverina @nikiloveshayden @cherriies-snake @skywalkerssgirl @fredswrite @mvst4far @alealuvshayden @kandralice

[mousy-muses13]

Chapter 1 

Viola

Why won’t these damn flowers grow. I’ve made sunflowers grow and I’ve kept the tomatoes and grapes on this small farm alive but god forbid I want to grow peonies. I guess Italy doesn’t have the climate for peonies. I stand up as I hear a car approach and I slowly turn to see an all black sedan pull into my drive way. I instantly know it’s Kate since she is the only one who knows I live out here. The rest of the world even my family thinks I’m MIA after a mission gone wrong. This isn’t a normal check-in visit that’s not for another few months so this must be serious. I wipe my hands on my apron and wave to the neighbor who is looking out his back door to see if little ole me is ok. I give him a thumbs up before the old alpha gets his pants on and grabs his rifle to come “protect” me. 

The black sedan parks in front of my cottage and Kate’s familiar face pops up. “What’s wrong? Who died?” I tell her as soon as she sees me coming out from behind my cottage with one hand on my hip and one providing shade for my eyes.

“ What? I can’t just visit my favorite operative?” Kate tells me with her arm outstretched. I roll my eyes at her a walk towards her. 

“Kate, you and I both know I haven’t been under your employ in three years. So why are you here. It’s way too early for your visit to check up and give me updates on my sister. So either the world is ending or I’m in danger.” The look on her face instantly changes to a more serious expression. 

“You know you are too smart for your own good. Let’s move this conversation inside. I could definitely go for some wine if I’m going to tell you this news.” We both walk towards the front porch of my cottage and enter in. Kate makes her self at home at the small kitchen table. She looks stressed and worried. I turn to the cabinet that has the glasses and I pull down two wine glasses. It might only be 14:00 but it’s Italy and it’s never too early for wine. I grab a chill bottle from the back of the fridge and set everything down on the table. I pour us a glass each and sit down. 

“So am I compromised? How bad is it Kate?”

Kate brings the glass of white wine to her lips and takes big gulp. Uh oh this is going to be bad. “Viola someone got into the data base last night and some sensitive information has been compromised. We don’t know the extent of it yet but we have reason to believe that they were after you and information on your new identity,” She downs the other half of the glass and sets the glass down, “Now don’t worry I have already thought of another plan to keep you safe. Do you remember the 141 team? They need an omega for their pack and you would be a perfect fit. They can protect you and you can help them. A car will be here tomorrow morning to pick you up so pack two bags. After I leave here I’m going straight to them to inform them of the plan.”

“Kate!!! What the fuck!!! I rather have whoever is coming after me to find me then be force into a pack. You know this is one big reason why when I presented I wanted you to put me into hiding.” I stand up fast and wave my hands as I talk. Presenting as an omega at 24 after working so hard in the army, it killed all my dreams. Any other soldier who has presented while enlisted gets packed up and never gets to go back to work and are rarely ever seen again. Kate knows this is what I’ve been avoiding. 

“Viola we changed your identity because you are a known face in human trafficking circles. So for your safety I hid you. I promised you then that I would keep you safe from them so the team you helped build and put together doesn’t end up searching the world for you. I’m keeping my promise to you,” she gets up and walks over to me. Pulls me into a hug and when she draws back she pulls my favorite scarf with her. She puts it in a ziplock bag. “Remember a black car just like the one I drove in today. Stay inside and out of sight. Local police should be driving around just in case” 

With that she walks out and into the car and drives away. Well shit now it’s time for me to pack up. First I need to close the house up then pack. I start to close and lock up all my windows and I grab two of my old army duffle bags. I go into my bedroom and head to my closet. I assume if I’m going to be with the 141 I should pack more plan clothes then what I normally like to wear since I’ll most likely be staying on base with them. It’s been a while since I’ve stepped foot on a military base. I set my folded clothes in the first duffle bag. I head into the bathroom for my toiletries and pack of scent patches. There is no way I’m walking onto a military base as an omega and not have my scent concealed that would be worse then being dropped behind enemy lines without ammo. Who am I kidding with or without scent patches it feels like I’m being dropped behind enemy lines without ammo. 

I grab the second duffle bag and head to my basement/nest. I need my nest items. I know I've only been an omega for three years now I don’t know much but I do know that my omega stops annoying me when I have a nest. I fold and pack the vital most important items to build a nest at the base. I go back up stairs and grab the other bag and go set them by the front door. I head back to the basement/nest and I turn on the two T.V.s I have for surveillance. I go to the built in drawers and pull out my old army knife and some throwing knifes. I sit myself in front of the T.V.s and watch for any movement. It’s been awhile since I’ve pulled an all nighter. I just have to wait for the black sedan to pick me up in the morning. 

Price

What in the bloody hell could Laswell want to tell us if she has to come to this base in person to tell us. It has me and the boys all on high alert since she told us. I look at my watch and see the time. Laswell should be here in ten minutes. I stand from my desk and walk out of my office to go find the boys so we can go meet her outside. I walk out of the admin building and look up at the sky. What could she need to tell us. I continue forward and wonder what needs to be said in person. Usually when we get new mission details from her it's usually over secure video. Very rarely does she ever give us mission details in person. I finally get to the 141 barracks and lucky for me they are all in one place for once. “Come on boys. It’s almost time to meet up with Laswell.” Kyle walks out from the small kitchen area. Simon is in the living room and barely even twitches. Johnny comes out of his room with a wet mohawk. “Simon, come on we need to go meet up with Laswell. Now is not the time to act like this.” 

Simon slowly gets up and turns to me, “ I’m only going along because I respect Laswell not because I want to listen to you.” I turn and leave the barracks with the boys behind me. Simon has been pissy lately and seems to disagree with me on almost every decision. It all start a couple of month ago when the brass wanted us to start looking into omegas. They want us to have an omega to level us out. It would mean less ruts and less angry alphas. Simon thinks they want us to have an omega so they can spy on us; Kyle wants one so bad I want to just choose one so I can see him happy; poor Johnny feels stuck in the middle he doesn’t want to disappoint Simon but you can see how much he craves the touch of an omega. I on the other hand have been rejecting every single omega file that has landed on my desk with some excuse of why they wouldn’t work. I personally think an omega would be a nice change but I see where Simon comes from. With everything that has happen with Graves and Shepard its understandable. 

We make it to the meet up spot and a black car slowly approaches. Laswell steps out and has a bag and a thick folder with her. “Lets talk somewhere more private shall we.” We led her back to our barracks and into a small meeting room that is off of the living room. We all sit down and she sets the folder down in front of me. I open and see two pictures. The first one is of a women’s military service photo; slicked back brown hair in a tight bun, bright green eyes, and straight mouth. The second is of the same girl but she is in a white dress with flowers, hair flowing lose, a big smile with cubby cheeks. They almost look completely different. I look back up at Laswell as if I’m looking for answers. “ Look more closely at her file Price.” I look past the photo and I see the women name. Viola “Riot” Stuart.

“ Laswell do you want us to find this women after being missing for three years?” I know we don’t usually go looking at missing cold cases but for Laswell we would. Everyone in our line of works knows about Riot and how she went MIA. I would’ve had her on the task force if Laswell didn’t turn it down.

“ No Price I don’t want you to find her. I know where she is at and yes before you ask I have for the last three years. As of tomorrow afternoon, you four will be officially courting her as your omega and she will no longer be considered MIA.”

Picture of how I think Viola cottage looks like.

Previous | Next

[softroundbunny]

I was cuddling with someone and playing with their hair recently and it got me thinking about pampering during pregnancy. Like yeah of course I’m still going to fuck you as roughly as you can handle but afterwards I’ll get in the shower with you and lather you up with sweet-smelling body wash, shampoo your hair for you and listen to you sigh with pleasure as I gently scrub your scalp.

I could spend such a long time putting lotion on your swollen pregnant belly, not even to prevent stretch marks (because I love seeing evidence of how fast you’re growing), but because I can’t get enough of how your taut skin feels under my hands, your belly full of motion as our babies respond to my touch.

Once you were all relaxed and well-moisturized I’d drape you in a soft, fluffy pink robe that’s a little too small so your belly peeks out and we’d unwind on the couch, you in my lap so I can hold you close to me and give you more belly rubs as I read my book and feed you fresh, cold grapes.

i’d genuinely feel like the luckiest girl in the world if my lover thought of those things while cuddling with me. what we both think is a regular cuddle session is actually them thinking of taking care of me while im pregnant and me thinking about them taking care of me while i’m pregnant. :3

this just makes me really want a partner who also has a breeding + pregnancy kink. :(

thank you for sharing anon !!! you will be the sweetest parent and partner, i know it! 💓

[starshideurfics]

A Mother’s Love - Part Five

part one, part two, part three, part four

omegaverse, pre-steddie, wayne x benny, steve with powers

Dustin Henderson is a handful. And a chatterbox. Pretty much anything that passes through his mind, Dustin says. Winding stories about what happened at school, explanations of science experiments, and question after question after question.

Steve almost never knows the answers to Dustin’s questions, but he writes them down. The list is two pages long by the third straight weekend of watching him on Friday nights, and Steve decides they need to do something about it. “We’re going to the library,” he says, holding up the list of questions. “Get your bike.”

They spend two hours digging through reference books, Dustin just quiet enough for the library, and find answers for most of the questions on the first page. Steve feels like he’s really getting the hang of this baby-sitting business, and that night, when Claudia gets home Dustin clings to Steve, hugging him tight. “Can Steve stay?” he begs.

Claudia ruffles her son’s curls. “Time for bed, Dusty. Steve needs to go home now. You’ll see him again next week.”

Dustin pouts, grabs Steve’s wrist, and rubs it against his cheek. “Night, Steve,” he says before stomping down to the bathroom.

“I wasn’t sure how Dusty would handle all this, but it looks like you’ve figured him out.”

“He’s got a lot to say, but he just says it. I can handle listening,” Steve says with a shrug, taking his pay and heading back out to his bike. He should go home, but instead he bikes to Benny’s, going in the back. Eddie’s at the sink, washing dishes, and Steve grabs a stool to sit next to him.

“How’s the twerp?”

“Today we learned what makes a berry different from other fruit, and grapes are berries but strawberries aren’t.”

“Strawberries are definitely berries! If you ask me to think of a berry, that’s the one I’m imagining.”

“Science says they aren’t!” Steve pulls the paper from his back pocket, reads his own little note below the main question about berries. “They’re an accessory fruit, whatever that means.”

Eddie narrows his eyes at Steve suspiciously. “Why’d Dustin even want to know that?”

“We were eating raspberry ripple ice cream last week and he asked. I don’t claim to understand how his weird little brain works, I just know he likes me.” Steve flushes and rubs at his wrists. “He wanted me to scentmark him today.”

“Kid moves fast,” Eddie teases, plopping a few dish soap bubbles on Steve’s nose. “Let me know when he asks you to marry him so I can defend your honor.”

“Shut up!” Steve hops on his feet, reaching for a handful of bubbles to smack onto Eddie’s growing curls, but the alpha hops out of his way.

“Hey! This is work time, Munson, not play time,” Benny jibes as he comes in the back, arms laden with more dishes for the sink.

Steve and Eddie immediately stop their burgeoning bubble fight, and Steve runs over to take the tray of cups from his mama, ready to help.

Suitably unburdened, Benny pulls Steve into his arms and kisses the crown of his head. “How’s the twerp?” he asks, rubbing his wrist between Steve’s shoulder blades.

Grinning, Steve starts telling Mama about his afternoon with Dustin, “He’s good. We learned strawberries aren’t berries…”

❤️❤️❤️

Dustin never proposes to Steve—“It’s what pups do! they fall in love with their baby-sitters, Stevie!”—but he does get possessive. Claudia recommended Steve to the Sinclairs, and he watches Lucas and Erica on Wednesdays now, too. Dustin is very adamant that Steve was his first. He and Lucas are friends, so his real nemesis is Erica. She’s 6 and tiny and perfectly willing to use it to her advantage to get extra cuddles.

It comes to a head over winter break, Steve watching the three of them together at the Sinclairs’ house, watching Christmas specials after eating macaroni and cheese. Erica is already right next to Steve, Dustin on his other side, and she slowly climbs into his lap, her fingers gripping his sweater.

Dustin growls.

It’s a tiny puppy growl, not a real threat, but Steve can’t stop the thing inside him that needs to protect the pup in his lap, arms wrapping around Erica. “Dustin!” he chides gently.

Erica sticks her tongue out at Dustin. Lucas looks between them, and rolls his eyes. “It’s not fair!” Dustin whines.

“Suck it up!” Erica returns.

“Erica!” Steve scolds, still holding her.

“Yeah, Erica, knock it off,” Lucas grumbles. Which starts Erica arguing with him. Dustin growls again, tugging on Steve’s arms. It’s too much, too close.

Steve’s barriers fall, head suddenly too full. Dustin’s jealousy and hurt, Erica’s smug gloating, and Lucas’s frustration explode in his head. Tears sting at his eyes, and Steve struggles to get himself in check. But he pushes too hard, nose bleeding as he crushes Erica to his chest. She yelps over being squished, and Dustin and Lucas freak out when they notice the bleeding, not sure what to do.

Eyes watering, Steve manages to pass Erica to Lucas, mumbling, “It’s okay,” through the haze of puppy-fear filling his head and squeezing his heart. He stumbles to the bathroom and grabs a wad of toilet paper to stanch the bleed, reaching out for his mother, for the calm and safety that comes with thinking of Mama. But it doesn’t come.

For a long minute, Steve is a pup again, needing his mana. And Mama isn’t there.

He’s doing the breathing exercises his mom gave him years ago, trying to get back to his baseline, when there’s a knock on the bathroom door.

“I’m sorry, Steve!” Dustin cries. “We promise not to fight again!”

“Yeah,” Lucas chimes.

“I don’t.”

“Erica!”

“I didn’t do anything!” Erica grumbles, and Steve is pretty sure she bites Lucas before adding, “Please come out, Steve!”

He takes a last deep breath, checks to see that the bleeding has stopped, and opens the door to three contrite faces. “Sorry I scared you,” he says gently.

“It was my fault,” Dustin says. “I just…” He doesn’t have the words.

“It was an accident.” Steve pulls the pup into a hug. “How about I make some popcorn, and we finish watching Rudolph?”

The pups nod, easily returning to the couch. While he’s in the kitchen, Steve calls Benny’s. “Mana, can I stay at your place tonight?—No, I just need to see you.”

❤️❤️❤️

When Steve turns 15, Benny starts teaching him to drive. Marsha and Richard agree that they got all of Steve’s big milestones, Benny can have this one to himself. Every Sunday afternoon, Benny picks Steve up and hands him the keys to his pickup truck. They start in the Hawkins High parking lot, Steve proving he knows what every knob and lever does before he’s allowed to start the engine.

Once Steve has mastered the empty parking lot, Benny has him take them out on quiet country roads, lots of simple trips to get him comfortable behind the wheel. Sometimes they just listen to the radio, singing along with the words they know, making up the ones they don’t. Other times, Steve talks about school and swimming and sitting, Benny asking questions and offering advice.

On a warm day in early April, Steve asks a question he’s been considering for a long time. “Mama, have you ever been in love?” He thinks he knows the answer, but he asks anyway.

“I dunno. Biggest love I’ve ever had in my life is you, baby.”

“What about my father?”

Benny shifts in the passenger seat. “Wasn’t like that…” He swallows hard, squeezes Steve’s hand on the gear shift. “The program only recruited omegas, and we never heard much about the… material used. It was all very clinical—medical. Marsha might know more, but as far as I know, I never met your father.”

“Oh…” Any romantic notions Steve had about a whirlwind romance, about lovers separated by fate, and about Mama not having any other options fly out of his head. He was always a science experiment, no matter how much Mama loved him.

“Where’s this coming from?” Benny shifts again, and Steve’s not sure they should be driving for this conversation. He pulls off on the shoulder and Benny asks, “Is there someone at school? Some alpha I should know about?”

“No! Mama, it’s not that… No one’s giving me butterflies, I just.” Steve unbuckles his seatbelt and turns in his seat. “You know I don’t care, right? That you’re both omegas, I mean. I just want you to be ha-”

Spine straightening, Benny whispers, “Steven, what are you talking about?”

“Wayne.” Steve looks away as his mama stares at him. “He makes you happy.”

Benny’s face softens, and he reaches over to cup Steve’s cheek. “I thought we said no taking your barriers down. It’s easier to maintain than replace.”

Steve leans into his touch. “They don’t work on you. I can’t help it.” He smirks and adds, “You make Wayne happy, too.”

“You shouldn’t be mucking around in Wayne’s feelings. Respect his privacy.”

“Tell that to Eddie. He’s the one who told me.”

❤️❤️❤️

Benny waits another six months before saying anything to Wayne. Steve hasn’t had another issue with keeping his barriers up in that time, and it feels like maybe they’ve found a safe enough space for him to try. Like maybe he’s comfortable enough being Steve’s Mama now, and he’s ready to add to that.

He doesn’t plan it, either, just looks over at Wayne one night when they’re watching football. At least, Wayne is watching football; Benny is mostly looking at Wayne’s lips, focused on the way they curl around his cigarette.

“Wanna ‘nother beer?” Wayne asks at a commercial break, catching him looking.

Benny shakes his head, screws up his courage, and whispers, “I want you.”

Wayne takes his confession in stride, giving in to his own barely-concealed desires, and guiding Benny down for a surprisingly gentle kiss. Looking into Wayne’s eyes, Benny sees exactly what he’s looking for, and gets to his feet. He practically drags Wayne to his nest, the pair of omegas shucking their clothes with clumsy fingers in their haste to see and show. To touch and taste and smell.

To love one another.

Benny hasn’t bothered with sex in years. He’s got toys and a pair of perfectly good hands, so he gets by just fine. But the feeling of Wayne touching him, of his mouth on Benny’s most sensitive areas, is the most exquisite pleasure-pain. It zings through him. Makes him shake, his pussy convulsing around a pair of nicotine-stained fingers and soaking Wayne’s hand with slick.

He can’t remember the last time his body felt this good.

And his heart is full, at peace as he holds Wayne against his breast. He’s happy. Steve will be happy, too: happy he was right, and happy that his mama is happy.

That doesn’t stop him from waiting a week before he brings it up.

But then, Steve already knows.

❤️❤️❤️

Right around the same time, just before Halloween of his sophomore year, alphas start sniffing around Steve at school. He might not go to house parties—the very idea of a high school kegger gives him nightmares—but he’s still sporty, still friendly with the popular crowd because of it. And he is, as Ronnie puts it, “Traditionally hot. Like, pretty eyes and a good ass, ya know?”

Amy Martin’s the first one to say anything, asking in the lunch line if Steve wants to go to the movies sometime since she just got her license. Steve mumbles that he’s not allowed to date yet, but thanks anyway. She’s nice enough about it, and doesn’t ask again.

But then Mike Lewenski asks after cornering Steve outside Mundy’s classroom, and he has to be more forceful since Lewenski isn’t that bright. Which becomes Lewenski saying Steve is a bitch to anyone who will listen.

Tommy H. stops Steve on his way to homeroom the next week, loudly asking if there’s something wrong with his pussy, because he knows Mr. Harrington isn’t the kind of hardass to stop Steve from dating. Mrs. O’Donnell overhears and gives Tommy a detention for being crass, and it’s the only thing that stops Steve from decking Tommy.

After that, it seems to become a dare amongst the popular crowd. Get Harrington alone, ask him out, imply he’s either a frigid virgin or a slut with a loose pussy, and laugh when he tells you to fuck off. At least no one else asks him in the cafeteria.

But it’s bad enough that Steve quits the swim team after two weeks of practice.

A week after that, Eddie gets suspended for breaking Dan Shelter’s nose.

part six

[aliaology]

NOW THAT WE DONT TALK

summary: jack realizes yns music is quite literally a call out, directed towards him, and his brothers egg it on. pt.3

series masterlist

“i called my mom, she said ‘that it was for the best!’ remind myself the more i gave, you’d want me less”

jack could’ve hit his head against the counter ten more times and the song would still be ringing through his ears like a splinter that wouldn’t come out of his hand.

quinns hand made contact with the back of jacks head. “knock it off, jack.”

jack groaned, shoving his head into his arms. he groaned again, this time the noise being muffled due to the his arm. “she wrote a song about me, quinn.”

quinn rolled his eyes. “you don’t know its about you” he told.

jack scoffed, head shooting up. “she literally called me out. the parties, that stupid red sea reference, even the chorus. its so obviously me. and then her newer single that dropped thirty minutes ago?’

quinn shrugged, “could be about trevor”

jack rolled his eyes, “no way in hell, quinn. they never hooked up and her newer one is about some guy hooking up with her later on—“

“you sound obsessed, jack.” quinn told. jack looked down, embarrassed.

“whats jack obsessed with?” trevor asked, walking inside the kitchen. he stole a grape from jack and popped it into his mouth.

“y/n’s song” quinn spoke.

trevor scoffed, “why are you so hung up on it? its just music.” trevor shrugged.

“hes upset because hes getting called out.”

jack groaned again, head hitting the counter.

quinn rolled his eyes again. “you’ve gotta stop doing that dude. listen— she probably made these ages ago and just now got to releasing them.”

trevor popped another grape in his mouth. “not too sure about that, but i know she started writing them when you two broke up.”

luke slowly walks in. “seriously? you guys are torturing the man talking about his ex.”

jack nods, signifying lukes words to be true.. luke goes into the cupboard to grab a plate. “just ignore it.” he shrugged.

trevor snorted. jack sent the boy a glare, causing his laughter to abruptly stop. “how can i just ignore it? shes getting big and her music is everywhere already.” he asked.

quinn gave him a look. “then face it, jack. you can’t keep putting yourself in denial for something you caused.”

jack let out an exasperated groan for the 100th time. “gee, thanks quinn. way to make me feel better.”

“dont start giving him shit, jack.” luke spoke.

jack rolled his eyes. “whatever, im going to my room.” he got up and went for the stairs.

all three boys looked around at each other. silence fell through the room. suddenly, the sliding door opens. “whats going on?” cole asked.

“quinn picked his side of the argument.” trevor spoke, slightly glaring at quinn.

quinn gave one back, “dont act innocent, trevor. you screwed her over too. you and jack need to own up to it and stop cowering like little kids. you are both in your twenties for fucks sake. grow up.”

quinn went off to his room, leaving a wide eyed group of boys behind.

jacks brows furrowed as he listened to the song in his earbuds. his girlfriend napped next to him as he sat up on the bed. he hates to admit it, but he kinda deserved this.

“lets fast forward to three hundred awkward blind dates later. if shes got blue eyes, i will surmise that you’ll probably date her. you dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor, you search in every model—“

he stopped the song, taking his earbuds out and tossing them to the floor. he cheated, and now was dating the girl he cheated with. it was sad, really.

fiona, she was a woman who loved money. jack, was a man who loved attention. maybe that’s why they were together. but she wasn’t horrible like people said, right?

quietly, he went to tik tok and made a fake account, that way she knew he didn’t stalk her profile. i mean— she has no idea he even uses it still.

jack searched fionas name up, ultimately clicking on her profile. she had one video up. he clicked on it.

ick ick ick ick

she was lip syncing that really terrible audio that went ‘he chose me, he dont want you. he chose me’ and honestly, jack was appalled.

but before he could open the comments, she started to wake up. he swiped out of the app and deleted it, tossing his phone to the side afterwards.

“hey baby.” he smiled.

now that we dont talk!

tags! @honethatty12 (if u want tags, just ask <3)

[coffeekenzie]

I interviewed for my dream job at the USDA a few months ago. I was second choice. I held out hope for months. Finally found out the other guy accepted. Fine. It’s research I really believe in even if I don’t get to be the one to do it. The research proposal I put together for the application excited me. I hope they take some of my ideas into consideration, I’m not precious about them. I want science to thrive.

Now as far as I can tell on the research unit site there are no active employees. And even though I didn’t get the job it still makes me so mad. I guess it’s slightly better than getting the job and relocating and then getting laid off 3 months in but still the fact that myself and my unnamed competitor went through a really rigorous application process to run a research lab only for it to be for fucking nothing makes me so mad. I don’t know if they actually laid off all employees but they definitely laid off probationary employees (>3 years) and all the effort that goes into those probationary years, the funding secured to build a lab and a research project and hire post docs to get fucking nothing from it is such a goddamn waste. One of the probationary researchers I know was laid off was an analytical chemist and do you KNOW how expensive a GC-MS is??? The analytical chemist I worked with at UC Davis liked to say his lab was the equivalent value of a cul-de-sac of homes in Davis.

Plus agricultural research is by nature of agriculture SLOW. Shit takes time to grow. So much fucking WASTE by shuttering USDA-ARS sites. I know it wasn’t just Davis. I have a USDA-ARS job search alert that has gone dark.

When I interviewed and asked about the election they said they had some concerns about Trump but agriculture was so bi partisan that it was very unlikely that the election would have a major impact on the department.

Fuck Elon Musk, fuck DOGE, fuck Trump. I’ve been dealing with this shitty ass job market for over a year trying to leave my terrible startup and the potential for government work felt like a miracle. The people who achieved that should not go through being put out like that. Plus you know fast paced industry jobs won’t want employees used to the pace of government bureaucracy.

I just I know there’s so much bad going on but this one hits close to home.

Also the research project was mitigating the effect of wildfire smoke exposure on grapes and other west coast agricultural products so enjoy further enshittification of your west coast fruits and veggies because it’s certainly gonna not stop being on fire there.

Man I went on my yearly vacation to Washington wine country right after the interview over the summer and the small wineries I visited were so excited about the research the USDA was doing.

It’s so fucking stupid

[youmaycallmeyourhighness]

What if mirabel gets a gift that is connected to demeter Gia and persephone? Basically, since the candle and Casita like her more, they gave her something like that. I know that Isabella has a gift like that, but the magic isn't happy that she was just not growing anything else.

Bahahahahaha! AHAHAHAHA! That's hilarious.

Isabela; minding her business, growing flowers, doing her thing.

The Miracle; actually, you know what, screw you. specifically. just cuz.

Or at least that's how she'll see it. Imagine for a moment , that you're Isabela. You're doing your best at your role, being the golden child, setting the example. Always pretty, always graceful, always perfect. Never a hair out of place. And lately, your annoying little sister is even more aggravating then usual. Probably because the town is in trouble.

The crops that feed the town are failing. Tía Pepa is out all day, doing her best but it's not just the weather, it's the soil, and the water from the river and a bunch of other things Isabela doesn't understand. People are talking about going on rations, there's not enough to feed the town much less sell to the outside. If the crops fail, the village fails, and if the village fails, people will turn on the family. At least that's what Abuela says.

The family must be strong, and unshakable, now more than ever you must present well. You must help in anyway you can, be the example, be perfect. It feels useless. People are hungry and you can't help them, your gift only a distraction from the troubles. The family meals start to go thin, everyone's patience even thinner.

And then, a door appears. You think it must be for Antonio, but he's too young and his has been there since he was born, a faint outline growing in the wall. This one is bright and glowing and ready.

It's for her.

The family is tense and quiet, with whispered discussions and wary glances. You can only think of how much worse it will be when she fails again. Mirabel, shaking head to toe, touches the doorknob, and the bright glow forms into an image of her, with an apple cupped in her hands.

The room is enormous, rows and rows of berry patches and corn stalks and lettuce heads and barley. In the center of it all is an apple tree, large and heavy with fruit. There's a patch of plump, bright red strawberries next to you, you pluck one and bite into it. It's one of the best strawberries you've ever had. Wouldn't you be infuriated?

Their powers are similar but the divide is clear; Isabela makes flowers, Mirabel makes food.

No matter how hard Isabela tries she can not push her blossoms past their flowering, no plant she makes can bear fruit. And no matter how hard Mirabel tries, she can not restrain her sprouts and freeze their blooming, her plants must produce.

Isabela is beautiful and has perfect manners. Mirabel is charismatic and thoughtful.

Isabela is always preferred but Mirabel is always needed.

(something something about how Isabela can't make things of substance and is trapped in a box and how Mirabel can't just do something, it must also be of use or it doesn't count something something)

Mirabel's life turns on its head so fast it probably makes her dizzy. All of a sudden people are very happy to see her and quick to include her. She walks through the fields with Pepa and together with the farmers they restore the crops. From that other Madrigal to town hero in like a week.

She can make a wide variety of high-quality and expensive fruits and vegetables, livening up the dinner table and stimulating the economy. She'd probably try to make those edited grapes. Her golden earrings would be apples but you know Mirabel would wear all kinds of food earrings

Of course, Mirabel would want to do more, and would strive to become the apple (pun intended) of Alma's eye. She makes her own spices and gifts them to people in homemade jars, as well as jams and jellies. This gift would probably bring her closer to Julieta as well and she'd be all over the kitchen, learning to cook and bake, she's quite known for her fruit pies and always has some new recipe or exotic fruit for the family to try.

I think, despite apple being her symbol, Mirabel really likes orange blossoms and is a bit sad she can't grow them. She wishes she could see butterflies and other pollinators around her, so she grows them from scratch in the corner of her room. If she uses her powers at all they lose their petals and sprout oranges, and she's not dumb enough to ask Isabela, their relationship as complicated as it is.

[ithinkicreate]

Nanami's Surprising Quirk

An adventure in the kinky jjk-verse, in which Gojo discovers Nanami's secret kink during an unexpected encounter in the staff lounge

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen

Characters: Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, Masamichi Yaga (very brief)

Warnings: burping, burp kink, tummy kink, burp kissing

Ships: Satoru Gojo x Kento Nanami

Enjoy!

~Cre8

______________________________________________________________

Nanami immediately sighed in disappointment at the sight as he walked into the Jujutsu High staff lounge for his afternoon cup of tea.

There lay Gojo, his long body sprawled out across the entire couch, somehow sipping a bottle of grape ramune while horizontal.

Nanami's peaceful retreat had been ruined.

Nanami tried to skitter out before he got the other man's attention, but the Six Eyes caught on quickly.

"Naaaaaanamiiii!" Gojo drawled, grinning. "How's my favorite suit?"

Nanami just sighed and retreated to the cupboard to fetch the tea, ignoring him.

Seeing that he'd need to try harder to get Nanami's attention, Gojo whirled himself into a seated position on the couch. Gojo grimaced as he felt - and heard - a gas bubble gurgle its way up his throat as he sat up.

Baaaauuurrrrmphhhhh

Gojo burped into his fist, the burp turning from open-mouthed to closed-mouthed midway.

"Oof, 'scuse me," Gojo said. "Aaaaaaanyway, what'cha upto, Naaaaaanaaa-huuuurrrrp."

Gojo burped again, this time too late to muffle it in his palm. He didn't miss the way Nanami tensed when he burped a second time, the hand that was getting ready to pour the water from the electric kettle stopping in its tracks.

"Just...making my afternoon tea. Like I do every day at this time," Nanami replied dryly, not turning around even a little to acknowledge Gojo. He finally began to pour the boiling water into the ceramic mug.

Huuuuuuuuuurrrrrrp

Gojo belched again, this one more forceful with a bit of his voice behind it as he tried to relieve the bubble at the base of his throat.

Nanami's hand wavered and he accidentally poured a spot of the hot water onto the hand holding the mug.

"Shit," Nanami whispered under his breath.

Gojo's smile dropped and a light blush formed on his cheeks. He'd never heard the man swear, and there was something so...enticing about it.

Nanami quickly moved to the sink to run cold water over the hand he'd burnt, but his motions were oddly rigid, as if he were making a point to sidestep and avoid facing Gojo to get there.

"Nanami?" Gojo cocked his head like a puppy, genuine concern growing on his face. "You get enough sleep last night?"

"I'm fine," Nanami spat quickly.

"Here, I'll finish pouring your tea."

"No, it's -"

Nanami accidentally turned towards Gojo to stop him, placing a hand over the half-filled mug, revealing his face, which was tinged with a deep red blush.

"Uh, Nanami? You look a little flushed," Gojo commented, gently pushing Nanami's hand out of the way and starting to pour the rest of the hot water into the mug, which made Nanami's blush deepen. "You sure you're not sick or something?"

"I told you, I'm fine," Nanami stated matter-of-factly.

Gojo just shrugged and handed him the now-full mug before returning to his spot on the couch to nurse the bottle of ramune again.

Nanami turned to leave but was accidentally transfixed by the sight of Gojo's sizeable Adam's apple, bobbing up and down and he gulped at the soda. The rhythm of it was almost hypnotic.

Nanami's wandering eyes and deepening blush, which was spreading to his ears now, weren't lost on Gojo.

'Oh,' Gojo thought, 'now this is interesting.' Now was as good a time as any to play games with his little crush, right?

Gojo loudly popped his lips off the bottle before beaming at Nanami.

"Hey Nanami, wanna see how fast I can chug this whole thing?"

Nanami's eyes widened. He did, in fact, want to see Gojo chug the remaining soda.

"That...wouldn't be advisable," Nanami coughed out. "You could end up with terrible indigestion for...for a long time."

"I could, couldn't I?" Gojo smirked and wiggled his eyebrows beneath his blindfold before bringing the bottle of ramune up to his lips and beginning to loudly gulp it down.

The soda was gone in seven big, Gojo-sized gulps.

Gojo panted as he brought the bottle down from his lips.

"Oh...oh fuck, I -hhUUUUUUURRRRRrrrrrp."

Gojo braced his hands on his knees as he let out the massive belch.

Nanami felt like he was sweating bullets. 'Just breathe,' he thought to himself. 'It'll be fine. This is normal. You can be normal about this.'

But Nanami wasn't normal about it at all. The sight of the tall, handsome man doubled over with the force of his own belch was enough to make his face feel like it was on fire.

"Shiiiiiiit, Nanami I c-UUUUUUrrrrrrp...I can't breathe! Why'd you ma-AAUUUUUrrrrrp...make me do that?"

"I...I didn't make you do that, you idiot," Nanami said quietly, his usual quiet confidence diminished to a nervous squeak.

"But you wanted me to, didn't you?" Gojo quipped, getting up from the couch and taking a couple of slow steps in Nanami's direction.

"I..."

"C'mon, Nanami," Gojo purred, smirking as he continued to step closer.

Gojo was proud of the fact that Nanami wasn't moving away.

"I know you liked watching me gorge myself and deal with the consequences," Gojo continued. "Or...was something else making you blush..."

Gojo stepped forward.

"...and shake..."

Another step forward.

"...and watch me like a hungry animal."

Gojo was only about a foot from Nanami now, taunting him, waiting for the man to move away.

But he didn't.

So Gojo took a chance and did something he'd been thinking about doing for months.

He got closer.

Gojo gingerly placed his hands on Nanami's chest, bending his knees a bit to make himself appear ever-so-slightly shorter than the other man, before leaning in to whisper in Nanami's right ear.

"Just admit you were enjoying yourself, Kento," Gojo whispered.

Nanami shivered at the mention of his first name, which Gojo rarely used.

Without moving his head from Nanami's shoulder, Gojo slowly took both Nanami's hands in his and guided them to his belly, allowing Nanami to hook his fingers around his waist.

"Press," Gojo breathed into Nanami's ear.

Nanami did as he was told and pressed his thumbs gently into Gojo's taut belly, eliciting a low, closed-mouth burp that was first puffed into Gojo's cheeks and then blown at Nanami's ear.

Nanami felt like his knees were going to buckle and he had to consciously remind himself to stand up straight to avoid making a fool of himself. As if this wasn't embarrassing enough already.

Gojo let out a tiny afterburp before pressing his lips softly against the side of Nanami's neck - not a kiss, but more of an experimental touch.

Nanami caved and wrapped his arms around the other man with a big sigh, finally giving into his desires. He snaked his arm up Gojo's back, reaching up to grab a tuft of shiny white hair, causing Gojo to let out a deep purr. It was just as soft as he'd imagined it would be.

After a few seconds of the soft embrace, Nanami moved both arms down to Gojo's lower back and squeezed Gojo softly against his firm body.

Hhhuuuuuurrrp

Nanami groaned as he felt the vibrations of Gojo's squeaky little burp against his own body.

"That's it, give in," Gojo sleazed, rubbing his nose against the side of Nanami's neck like a cat. "I'll burp for you, Naaaaaanami, if that's what you want. But...I wanna reward."

"Hmmm?" Nanami hummed, holding Gojo close against him and inhaling his scent. "And what else could you possibly want, Satoru?"

"You know I like to have my mouth full," Gojo giggled, pulling away slightly to take Nanami's face in his hands. "And your tea is getting kinda cold..."

Nanami smiled for the first time in the strange encounter and chuckled at Gojo. "You want my oolong tea as a treat?"

Gojo nodded enthusiastically and booped Nanami's nose with his finger, which Nanami shook his head at. He couldn't help but find the other man adorable, though, and Gojo's charms were working.

"Fine, you can have my tea," Nanami sighed, pulling away from Gojo to fetch the mug from the counter.

When Nanami turned back around, he was startled by Gojo on his knees at his feet, mouth open like a baby bird.

Nanami sighed and rolled his eyes. Satoru was lucky he was cute.

Nanami brought the teacup to Gojo's lips and gingerly tipped it into his mouth.

Gojo responded by sloppily - and loudly - slurping at the tiny trickle of liquid, bobbing his chin to try to tip more of the liquid into his mouth. It was ending up on the sides of his face instead, trickling down his face and neck to pool in the depths of his collarbones under his uniform.

"Hey, hey, woah!" Nanami exclaimed. "Calm down, Satoru, what the -"

Nanami decided to take control of the situation and grip Gojo's chin with one large, strong hand, steadying his head. Gojo hummed happily, seeming to like the contact. He continued to slurp at the tea in a more controlled manner, but just as loudly.

As he made grip marks on the sides of Gojo's face, Nanami silently prayed that no one would walk into the staff lounge. He wouldn't even know how to begin to explain this one.

When the stream of tea had ended, Gojo lapped at the inside of the mug like a hungry dog before letting out a wet, satisfied burp up at Nanami.

Nanami smiled and ruffled Gojo's hair, which Gojo happily leaned into. In the process, Gojo's blindfold was displaced slightly, revealing one, mischievous blue eye. Nanami took the liberty of sliding it off all the way, Gojo's mop of white hair falling majestically onto his forehead and neck.

"Hiiiii Nanamiiiiii," Gojo sang cutely, blinking up at the other man before letting out another satisfied belch.

Bahhuuuuurrrrrp

"Hello Gojo," Nanami replied, smiling softly at the adorable, puppy-like man before him before reaching a hand down to help Gojo up.

Grabbing Nanami's hand, Gojo got up with a little jump and planted himself inches from Nanami's face, close enough to feel his breath.

The two men hesitated for a moment, crystal eyes staring into amber ones, before Nanami sealed the gap and pulled Gojo into a gentle kiss.

Gojo groaned softly against Nanami's lips, admiring how Nanami's arms around him felt so gentle and caring, yet still so masculine and commanding.

After a few seconds, Gojo pulled away with a grimace.

Nanami's heart sped up for a moment. Had he done something wrong? Had he really fucked this up somehow?

But Gojo surprised him by pressing the side of his face against Nanami's lips, turning his head to let out an airy little belch.

Brrrrruuuuhhhp

"Mmmn, 'scuse me," Gojo sighed. "Mmm'sorry, Nanami."

"Quite alright, dear," Nanami replied, bringing a hand up to Gojo's cheek to turn his face toward him again before going in for another kiss.

As the two made out softly, Nanami brought a hand up to Gojo's upper back and started to pat gently.

Gojo smirked against Nanami's lips when he realized what the man was trying to do.

"Dirty!" Gojo commented, pecking Nanami's lips playfully a couple of times before continuing the open-mouthed kiss.

Sure enough, before long, Gojo was letting out little burps into the kiss.

Nanami enjoyed how he could hear a little gurgle and groan from Gojo's tummy every time he was about to burp, and how each burp tasted like a mixture of candy and aromatic spices. He especially enjoyed when Gojo would pull away just a centimeter or two, hold Nanami's face in place with his palms, and burp right against his upper lip where he could both feel the vibrations and make out the sweet aroma of Gojo's breath.

Long after Gojo had stopped burping, the two men continued to make out, moving their kiss to the couch, where Gojo lazed back against the cushion while Nanami caged him in with one strong arm against cushion behind him and another around Gojo's rather petite waist, making Gojo moan around Nanami's tongue which was slipping in and out of his sweet-tasting mouth.

It wasn't until they heard footsteps approaching the lounge that the two men reluctantly parted from each other's lips with a light smack, quickly scootching to opposite ends of the couch.

Principal Yaga opened the lounge door a few moments later, spotting the two men seated beside one another on the couch.

"How odd to see you two getting along," Yaga commented.

[thecapricunt1616]

Daddy!Carmy holding shit down

I’m stupid and riddled with anxiety reposting SORRY

It was a sticky Chicago summer day. Like, your thighs stuck to the breakfast bench when you got up to help your daughter pour her own orange juice so the entire half gallon didn’t end up on the floor.

You had gone out to the store on your own, because wrangling a 6 and 3 year old and your husband into the car and dragging them through the grocery store for your weekly shopping wasn’t in the cards for today, your patience was already wearing thin.

It wasn’t anything anyone did, it’s just you were a bit…overstimulated. Your younger daughter was about to turn three, and was still breastfeeding and would be until she didn’t want to anymore. It was something you and Carmy had spoken about, his distant family in Italy had told his mom when Mikey was born, that it was best to breastfeed your baby until at least 3 years old, and past then to stop when they no longer ask.

Your first daughter had stopped asking when she was 4 and a half, right before preschool. At that time it had broken your heart. Because the last time she did it, you didn’t know would be her last. So the next day, when you got her up and asked if she wanted to feed and she shook her head- Carmy had to take at least 20 minutes of her nap time that morning to back you off the ledge of a panic attack that she was ‘growing up too fast’ your second daughter though, she was much needier.

You knew she was going to be more of a challenge when Carmy had started her on the same purées you had done for Harlow, your first - and anything that wasn’t sweet and creamy she spit out and cried, giving you the sign for all done alternating between the sign for mommy milk with her little hands and pitching an absolute fit until you gave her what she wanted.

She was near three now, which meant the feeding sessions were at least 30 minutes for her to feel full enough to go back to playing. Newborn tummy’s were the size of a grape, so back then most of the suckling was pacifying and not eating. But she was still getting a lot - scratch that ; most - of her nutrition from you, so you were exhausted all the time. Carmy did the best he could, making sure he cleaned the pump parts for you any time they were used, and also the many, many bottles she had per day.

You had asked sugar - she had told you it was normal. Funny enough, her first and second babies were the same. Her son had said no to the boob by 4, and her second was barely off breastfeeding and onto real food by the time she was 4. Carmy was frankly getting sick of this too. It had been literal years without playing with your nipples, your tits we’re essentially off limits. Because one cry from the monitor- you were fuckin leaking like a broken sink.

You felt nothing short of a milk factory, and were tired of it. So, you decided to take the day to yourself. First, you went and got your nails done, and a pedicure. As you were waiting with your feet in the deliciously hot water, you looked at the board of all the different services to see a mommy & me manicure, you told yourself you’d have to take the girls here for a day out with mommy before resting your head back on the plush, luxurious massage chair and sighing happily to yourself at the relief it was bringing to your back

You paid with the credit card Carmy had given you when you had barely started dating, the thing had been active for 16 years now, so it’s limit you didn’t even have to worry about even if you were buying a house. That was one of the things you loved about Carmy, immaculate credit. You got what you want, when you wanted it- no questions asked. This had started the second you got pregnant with your first.

You had asked why, and he explained it to you in a way that had your already horny 28 year old self pinning him down and riding him until your ass was bruised by his thighs.

‘Well, thas’ just how my family does shit. Y’my girl, you get what you want. Y’givin me my legacy, y’givin me something I couldn’t possibly ever make f’myself, you’re my priority, your needs, wants- you should want f’nothin, princess. I’m the father of this baby, neither of you will ever want, hear me?’

That was to this day some of the best sex you’d ever had. The idea that you were fully his, and he was fully yours, it awoken something in you you didn’t even know existed.

When you got to the spa for your scheduled massage, your phone buzzed against your thigh. You took it out, smiling when you read the message

Glad mommy listened to me, you deserve this babygirl. How was the pedicure?

Find my friends stayed on for both of you. It has been that way since you didn’t even know when - so of course he knew where you snuck off to.

Amazing, missin my big sexy daddy though. How are my crazy coconuts?

You had sent back, getting up when the sweet brunette woman had come to collect you for your appointment.

Said appointment was magical.

You left that damn spa feeling like a new woman. You didn’t know your hips could feel like this again after having little Bea.

After Harlow, you truly understood what moms meant when they said their hips ache - but after Bea?! When you were pregnant with her, Carmy had to take off of work a week early in your 41st week of pregnancy (since the both of you didn’t agree with induction), and carry you to and from the toilet every half hour since said hips ached so bad and you were on full bed rest, meaning if he didn’t carry you- you’d be using the bedpan they had given, and you would die before you had your husband dumping your pee for you.

You checked your phone to see the cheeky response

Mommy’s crazy coconuts are in bed for their nap, I’m thinkin about mommy’s sexy coconuts though 🥥- when will you be back?

You smiled to yourself, a heat brushing your cheeks at the idea of him fantasizing about you after putting the girls down and cleaning up the kitchen. You quickly type

Off to BJ’s, got my list but anything not on it we need? Should only be about an hour

Halfway through your shopping expedition, your hip felt another vibration. You pulled off to the side of the isle, reading his response.

I could use one of those 😉. I think that’s the only thing I need now that I think of it... Maybe Bea will want more strawberry puffs, but Nat said she needs to be done with them by her b-day - it’s gonna be hard because she’s addicted to those fuckin things. Remember when Harly girl gagged when we first tried em with her?

You giggle to yourself at the memory, shaking your head. Harlow, strangely had been a vegetable baby. The only sweet thing she could stand was your milk, other than that - she was a savory gal. She loved peas, you guessed you could call those sweet. But any other sugary fruit or food made her cry or vomit. The moment she was allowed spices - that was when she became daddy’s taste tester.

Carmy always joked that she was the most raw, honest taster he could get. But you told him that it was just because he could read his daughter better than anyone in the world, better than you sometimes. A tiny little scrunch of her year old nose, and it would have him cooing

“Right? Daddy needs to add s’more star anise, huh Princess? Thank you f’tellin me” - with the sweetest smooch to her head.

But Bea? Bea was his sweet tooth little girl. The only thing that impressed her was when he whipped out his pastry chef training, otherwise - if he put something savory on her lips she’d go so far as to spit up on one of his beloved white shirts at the ripe age of 2. When she shouldn’t be spitting up anymore, she had a flare for dramatics just like her daddy.

‘Harlow may as well have a blood sugar of 0. Already got a 6

Pack of puff-snack-crack, does daddy need more of his special coffee? Near Cafe Umbria’

You continue pushing the cart, pulling in the girls favorite snacks, and ingredients Carmy had been putting on the weekly list for years.

When you got home, you heard screaming from the backyard, as well as the kind of giggles and laughs from your daughters that made your heart flutter. You hauled the reusable bags you and Carmy had been collecting for years onto the counter, following the sounds of squeaky giggles

The view you were entranced in was nothing short of a rom-com reel. Your girls were squealing and giggling as they jumped and pounced on their netted trampoline, Carmy spraying them with the garden hose as they hopped around, chasing eachother in their bathing suits. You giggled to yourself, seeing the teal blue Huggies splasher diaper peaking beneath your youngers frilly toddler tankini.

“Who can jump higher, huh? Les’ see” he dropped the hose, resting his hands on his muscular hips “bet Eva could jump highest” he challenged. That was one thing he instilled in his girls - competitiveness.

“No! No me!!! Me - daddy I can jump highest!l harlow squawks, bouncing over “daddy! Daddy watch me!! Watch, l bet i could jump way better then Eva” she was hurling her knees with every jump, giggling and panting. Carm laid underneath the tramp, spraying up water at little Bea to which she giggled wildly, trying to grab it with her chubby fingers.

This was the life you could have not dreamed of, this was a life only a man as loving, and as dedicated as Carmen Anthony Berzatto could provide. You couldn’t be more over the moon he was the father of your beautiful girls, and you could hardly wait for him to give you more.

The water splayed back on to him, causing him to chuckle and full on cackle about the water that was raining back on his face after his girls either danced in it or spit it out. It was a beautiful sight that you stood there and observed in awe, giggling as your older daughter laid and opened her mouth, collecting a full mouth of hose water before leaning over the edge of the trampoline and spewing it all over her dad.

He laughed in a way you didn’t know he did anymore, dropping the hose and using the metal of the trampoline to haul himself up.

‘Y’dead-“ he said and she squealed, jumping onto the concrete and b-lining it for your legs on bare feet, her bathing suit soaking hose water into your bare Jean short clad legs

“Mommy! Save me! Daddy’s gonna get me!!!” She pleaded, looking up at you with those blue puppy eyes - before puffing her lower lip out in the way you did to make Carmy comply - she learned a little too quick- and it worked on you too.

“Oh princess” you picked her up and kissed all over her face like you’d been gone a million years. “My poor teddybear - whas’ wrong, y’daddy bein mean? Huh Little Bear?” You coo, picking up Bea as well and kissing her curly strawberry blonde head.

“Who’s a hungry little princess? Mm? Harly go tell daddy sissy needs T’eat, and there’s groceries hm?” You told her and she nodded, running to find her dad as you cradled your tiny princess.

“Y’ hungry, mm? And y’all wet- mommy needs to get you dried up ‘fore you eat, little angel” he mused, gently placing her on her changing table and putting her in a fresh, dry diaper before setting her on the floor to toddle around after carrying her to your bedroom where you were napping.

You settled on a comfy silk nursing gown Carmy had gotten you a while ago, setting up the newest episode of law and order before beckoning Bea over and coddling her into your chest as she ate, absentmindedly but graciously sipping at your savored once a week glass of white wine that was only 3% alcohol, the glass your doctor (and Beas Pediatrician) said was a-ok after you had taken Bea for her 18 month appointment, they had said as long as you weren’t feeding her after directly having something more then 5% alcohol, it was okay.

And your 3% wine every Friday has become your lifeline after becoming a breastfeeding machine.

Bea huffed her sweet breath after about 22 minutes into the silky flesh of your breast, essentially using your nipple as a pacifier after she’d fallen asleep, the sweetest hums leaving her throat.

“She ready?” Carmy asked with the silky sweetness that made you melt.

“Haven’t even taken her off- wanna try, daddy?” You mused. He came over, carefully thumbing over her thick brunette hair, wanting to boop her large and in charge undoubtedly berzatto nose- but he stopped himself.

“Look at that pretty princess mm? Latching so well” he stroked her cheek and at the motion, she continued suckling and gulping down your milk like she thought he may take it away from her since she knew your nipples were no longer simply her pacifiers, and got pissy when carm would pull her off and try his best to explain mommy’s boobs weren’t just for milkies, and that mommy needed her boobies to herself sometimes.

The girls didn’t take that so well.

“S’okay, relax, princess, y’momma isn’t goin’ anywhere - I know- mm she’s givin y’the good stuff, huh, mommy’s milk is so good, yea?” He mused, cradling Bea In his lap as he kissed her head, rocking her back and forth trying to get her to relax as you B-lined around the room trying to pack your suitcase.

It wasn’t that you wanted to go, if you could stay with your girls, if you could give Bea what she was needing right now from her mom- you would. You would never deny your girls the closeness they deserved, but your job was calling you out.

“Shhh- shhh princess- daddy will give you milkies, mm? Daddy can give it, mommy left plenty of milkies for you” you assured Bea as she sobbed into your chest, nearly choking on her cries.

“No- no- w-want mommy- wan’mommy” she sobbed, barely able to breathe through her pleads in a way that made your chest clench so hard you couldn’t not fix it.

“Ok - okay- shhhh. Shhhhh little love. Wan’mommys milkies, hmm? C’mere angel” you tug your baby with you to sit on your lap, cradling her and tugging off your top. She immediately found what she wanted, sighing sweetly and clutching at your other breast for support.

Carm wasn’t long behind, stroking your hair and kissing your forehead.

“Shoulda warned you, she’s been cryin’ bout missin’ you an’ bein’ hungry since this mornin”

[the-universal-sun]

In the spirit of the holiday (NYE, Any other cultural tradition), how do little Ford and Stan handle NYE? Do they have any traditions from their childhood they've rekindled? Or start a brand new one? An example I know of being, some people eat black eyed peas on NYE. So I wondered about your ideas/hcs that these two may have during this time! (And if you get to this long after these have past, that is 100% okay. No rush, no pressure :)!)

Sorry if this is a lot! I kind of split it between general new years stuff, little stan, and little ford stuff. But thank you so much for your ask! I know you said I could take my time, but I had so many ideas I had to get them out. Don’t worry, I’m working on the asks from December, I’ve not forgotten about you lovely people!!!

But I loved this ask! I had to look up some new years stuff because my family and I don’t particularly celebrate, and it was fun reading about all the different traditions people have!

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!!!!

As always I’m open to helpful comments and critiques!

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-They didn't care about NYE celebrations for 40 years, why celebrate alone or in another dimension? They didn't see a point to it until they were reunited and their relationship fixed. Now, they celebrate New Years not so much for the passing into a new age, but they celebrate being together for another year, of another year being twins again

-They do have a small party at the Shack for New Years, nothing big, just Fidds and Tate (who leave early) Soos, Wendy, Melody, the Twins, and the two of them (Gompers and Waddles too)

-If they're both big, they will indulge in some champagne when the clock strikes down, but only one glass as a celebration, neither caring for the taste

-They'll do Karaoke before the countdown- at Mabel and Soos' insistence, but both Stan and Ford have a blast singing the certified Old People songs they grew up on

-They didn't really do much to celebrate NYE growing up, so they'll basically do anything Mabel suggests will be a fun way to celebrate, smashing plates and making resolutions to name a few

-Taking a page out of their Mom's handbook, Stan will insist they eat Lentils on New Years for good luck, which Ford will refute as unscientific and therefore he shouldn't have to eat any. It's totally not because he hates Lentils

-If one twin is regressed during NYE, then the other will be their caregiver, knowing how loud and how high the energy will be during the festivities, it would be chaotic and stressful, for both of them, with Stan and Ford regressed together

-Both Stan and Ford, if they're regressed, will wear noise cancelling headphones to block out the sounds of the fireworks going off in town. Neither can stand loud noises, Little Stan's afraid of them and they remind Little Ford too much of his fights during his 30 years of travels

-They both love the lights the fireworks give off, so they'll stand by a window or on the porch with the headphones on and just watch the lights explode at a distance

-If Stan's regressed:

-Little Lee will insist on eating the 12 grapes under the table at midnight, Mabel told him that it's a tasty way to bring in luck for the new year, and Lee's not taking any chances

-Ford has the make him slow down eating the grapes, afraid he'll choke if he eat them too fast

-Poindexter and Shanklin 2 get hate made specially by Lee and Mabel, so they don't get left out of the fun times. The hats are shiny and glitter-laden, perfect hats for ringing in the New Year

-He doesn't sing during Karaoke, but he's clapping along and cheering for everyone that is

-Ford does give him a corner in the living room away from all the energy going on to give him some quiet time, Lee can get overstimulated so easily, so this little corner is a place where he can get away from the noise and excitement but Ford can still keep an eye on him

-He has some coloring books and crayons, a few blocks, and some noise-canceling headphones if the party gets too loud for his quiet corner

-Dipper joins him a couple of times when everywhere is too loud, silently stacking blocks and watching Lee knock them down gently

-He's allowed more sweets than he usually is, but even with Ford keeping an eye on him, Lee somehow eats an entire plate of Mabel's New Years cookies and manages to get one of the twins to supply him with severals cans-with straws-of Pitt Cola

-He's running around and stumbling into furniture. He earns some ouchies which he tearily begs Ford to kiss better

-Of course Ford kisses his Little Lee's bruises and scrapes

-He passes out right as the ball drops, dropping from his sugar high and exhausted from staying up hours past his bedtime

-Ford takes several pictures of Stan passed out and curled up on the couch, dressed in a warm dinosaur patterned onesie-the hood pulled up over his head-clutching his stuffies and snoring away, cookies crumbs and drool and spilling out the side of his mouth

-He hangs it up in the hallways the next stay, much to a rather grumpy and Big Stan's annoyance

-If Ford's little:

-He's dressing up Dr Mittens, not in a party hat, but in some smart and formal little dress ware, a suit and vest to match his own-Stan made the little suit-they have to look sharp for the celebrations and all

-He keeps his noise-canceling headphones on around his neck all night, pulling them up when things get too loud and hiding behind Stan or under his arm if things get to be too much

-He's begging and pleading with Stan to not eat the Good Luck Lentils he made, he finds lentils to be so yucky and gross on his tongue. The good luck isn't worth it

-Stan lets him get out of the lentils but ONLY if he eats grapes at midnight. Ford agrees, but only if he can sit at the table and eat them slowly

-Stan gets him a new fun bag of jelly beans as a little treat, but he can only eat one of every flavor, which is still around 20 flavors, so much more than Little Sixer would normally be allowed to have, but it's the holidays

-Stan does count out the jelly beans and then immediately goes and locks the bag in his room, he's not risking Ford sneaking and eating more and getting a stomach ache

-It's hard to stand firm on that, Sixer's puppy dog eyes and his little "Pwease, Buddy?" drives a stake through Stan's heart, but he stand firm and gives his brother some cookies shaped in the new year and a slice of some sort of almond cake Melody made

-It's the same as his jelly beans, but Ford's sweet tooth demands he eats it all

-He sings a song or two with Mabel during karaoke, she picks the Sid the Science Kid theme song and a BABBA song for them to sing. Ford tried to act embarrassed, but Stan knows his Little Buddy loves that show

-Stan finds the animation creepy, but who is he to judge

-Ford insists on getting in his pajamas and taking a nap a few hours before the countdown, he wants to be well rested enough to witness the ball drop. Stan helps him get dressed in some warm pajamas-space themed of course-and gets Dr Mittens changed into his regular clothes, too. They settle down in Ford's little napping tent and Stan reads a few chapters of a book-right now it's "A Boy Named Bat"-Ford's out by chapter two

-Stan promised his Buddy that he'd wake him in time to see the ball drop, and he does. Ford's grumpy from his nap being interrupted, but he's so excited to see the NYE ball that he forgets all about it. He's jumping and waving his hands excitedly, counting down loudly with everybody

-When the ball drops he's practically shaking Stan and pointing at it, chattering loudly in his ears, and at Mabel's suggestion, presses a slobbery kiss to Stan's cheek to ring in the New Year

-Even Stan can't pretend to be grumpy about that, his smile was caught in the picture Dipper took of the moment

[covenofwives]

Cloud Pillows

DreamXD and Dream get themselves a much needed break. From GeorgeHD's generosity they have a home for the night, yet Dream is still on edge and XD knows how to calm him down.

SURPRISE! Bet you didn't think I had the second story ready! WELL I DO!

Pls Enjoy :) ~

---

The room was more than secure and safe enough for DreamXD and Dream, yet XD could not make himself relax. The first thing he did was get Dream and himself a bath. Easily done in the bath that was nearly as big as the bedroom.

As XD expected (and took a moment to wonder in awe), the dresser in the room held clothes for both himself and Dream that was near perfect to their sizes. Dream was finally in soft, clean clothes of a grey t-shirt and shorts. There was a similar set in XD’s size but he only wore the shorts. Surprisingly the top came with an extra set of sleeves for his lower arms, but the size was just a little off so XD went without.

GeorgeHD was clearly more powerful than XD had been told. They only knew of the God from the accounts and stories that Prime would sometimes let them hear, but his power, not just in strength, was more than XD had ever thought. If they could have redone it again, they would have tried to seek HD out as soon as they and Dream arrived in the Overworld.

“What are these?” Dream’s curious voice poked through the thick cloud of thoughts in XD’s mind. He blinked out of his daze, watching as Dream stood beside the table in the middle of the room. The table held a large water jug and a few glasses. Dream and XD had drank all of it before the bath and when they came back to the bedroom the jug was full again. Beside that was a bowl full of fruit, and Dream had pulled out a bunch of small green ones.

“I think they are grapes.” XD answered unsurely. He had remembered seeing a picture of them in a book he read aeons ago, though the End could never grow any. He trusted whatever HD gave them would be safe to eat.

Dream pulled one of the grapes off the stem. He looked at it carefully before looking to XD again. “Can I have it?”

XD nodded and watched carefully as Dream ate one. He could see Dream ponder on the taste and eventually deciding he liked it, putting another one in his mouth. “It’s good!”

XD’s heart warmed and broke as Dream collected a few grapes and then climbed up onto the bed to join him. The first few days on the Overworld had been fine for food. The trees had plenty of apples and XD could hunt the animals easily. Yet all of that was in a pure survival instinct to keep Dream alive, not because he enjoyed any of the food. And with the burn on his arm, most times XD was feeding Dream while the boy was crying in pain.

The memory of Dream’s burning was wedged forever in XD’s mind.

Ever since Dragon had crawled her way out of the void, XD had kept constant care to know where she always was. After Dream was given to him, it was his top priority to keep him safe and yet just one mistake undone it all.

She had come across them exploring an airship and XD had taken just a split second in deciding whether to fight or flee. A split second too long as Dragon opened her maw and the purple flames engulfed the entire ship. XD shielded Dream as best they could from the fire as they teleported, but the horrible scream told them they weren’t fast enough.

XD had taken them to the main island of the End, and opened the portal to the Overworld. His only thought at that moment was to get Dream to water, and once the pain had lessened only slightly, XD had already made the choice that they couldn’t return to the End.

They survived for four days in the wild, moving from biome to biome. XD could not command anything in the Realm and Dream was too young to craft, so it was days looking for food and nights having Dream sleep while XD kept watch. They eventually came across the cherry biome in their travels, Dream having pointed it out and since he’d smiled for the first time in days over it, XD took him there. Exhaustion and stressed had XD close his eyes for just a second and when he open them and saw Dream so close to other kids, he panicked.

At least the outcome had ended with him and Dream with a room for the night.

“Are you okay?” Dream asked as he pat a hand over XD’s knee.

The memories faded off to the back of XD’s mind and he smiled to Dream. “I’m fine.”

“Do you want some grapes?” Dream offered the fruits up which XD calmly refused. Dream hesitated before speaking again, but XD could read his expressions so easily he already knew what Dream was going to ask. “Can I have your cloak?”

“Of course.” XD pulled his cloak up from the side of the bed. Despite it’s frayed and ripped condition, Dream took the cloak eagerly and wrapped it around himself.

His eyes caught onto a few of the tears at the cloaks edges and he ran his fingers over them. “Can you fix these?” The question came as more curious if XD could do it, and not asking him to actually do it.

XD shook his head. “No, not yet.” He had tried mending the cloak when Dream took his bath, but he was still exhausted and his powers refused to work. “I can fix it after I rest a little.”

“Then you can sleep now.” Dream said so surely, popping the few last grapes into his mouth. “And I can keep watch tonight.”

XD held back his snort of laughter. “No.” He said. “You will be sleeping tonight.”

“No!” Dream quickly snapped, surprising XD. “You can sleep tonight. I’ll keep us safe this time.”

XD’s heart lurched in their chest. It had been a constant struggle to get Dream to sleep for the nights they were in the Overworld. Partly from the pain and another part because he’d always fuss over XD being awake. XD had explained that sleep wasn’t needed for them as it would be for Dream, but they couldn’t deny the tiredness that plagued them. Dream was observant as ever, always trying to push XD to rest while he offered to forage despite the burning flesh on his arm. XD used to feel pride over Dream independence. Now they cursed it.

“You do not need to keep watch.” XD explained softly. “We are safe here. GeorgeHD gave us a room for the night. You can sleep just fine.”

Dream’s face twisted to a troubled expression. He huddled the cloak more around himself and mumbled into the green fabric. “We can’t trust them…”

XD frowned; troubled by Dream’s attitude though he knew he was partly to blame. When he was given Dream, the End was already void of life. Dragon made sure of that. It was just XD and Dream for years until now, and even here XD had kept them far from villages and tried to hide them from any wanderers. XD knew he looked different from mortals, and his anxiety the past few days convinced him they’d see him as a monster. Now that had been passed to Dream.

“They are good people. And HD healed you.” XD pointed out. The newly healed arm under the cloak twitched ever so slightly, almost like Dream was pulling it into himself. “How is your arm?” XD asked.

“S’fine…” Dream mumbled, fighting the urge to pull out the arm to check. XD had noticed Dream touching the healed flesh every once in a while.

“HD has done a great kindness for us. We can both sleep easily tonight.”

Despite his soft words, Dream still looked unsure. He pulled the cloak tighter around himself till he had it wrapped snugly. “No! I’ll keep watch!”

XD sighed. Dream was stubborn and arguing with him about it was no use. XD knew this from experience, and there was only one way to get through to him.

In one swift movement, one of XD’s lower hands quickly grabbed the end of the cloak and quickly flipped it over Dream’s head. When Dream squealed and fell over in a struggle to free himself, XD wrapped the cloak more and more around his brother.

“XD!” Dream shouted through the cloak as XD watched the little lump of his brother squirm under the cloak and try find the way out. “Doooon’t…”

“I’m not doing anything.” XD kept his voice calm while he grinned. “It is not me… It is the cloak!” XD made his voice more dramatic as he crowded around his brother.

“No it’s not!” Dream squeaked, giggles lacing his voice. One of his legs kicked out, not hard though, and XD caught it in his hand. His claws started just lightly scratching on Dream’s soles through the cloak and Dream screamed. “EHEHEX DEHEHE!”

“The cloak has you!”

“Nohohoho ihihit dohohoesen’t!”

Dream’s foot was released and he quickly pulled it back in. He curled himself up tightly, making himself as small as possible. He could only see XD’s shadow above him, unmoving. When he tried to pull a piece of the cloak off himself, it was pulled back up.

“Ehex Dehehehe…” Dream giggled. “Lehet me up!”

“It’s the cloak, Dreamie~” XD cooed. The shadow didn’t move but Dream could hear tapping on the bed beside him. He squealed and rolled on his side, away from the tapping. “You need to ask the cloak to let you go~”

“Nohohoho! No Ihi-EEP!”

XD’s hand came in, clawing at Dream’s side and making him scream with laughter again; flailing in the folds of the cloak. XD’s heart swelled, hearing Dream laugh again. The four days of pain would never leave XD’s mind, but he could make every day after that filled with laughter and love. And tickling would surely help that.

“It sounds like the cloak has got you all trapped, Dreamie.”

“Plehehehehease!”

The claw in Dream’s side was pulled back, and Dream tried rolling away only to be scooped up into XD’s arms. He could barely kick or even tell which way was up or down before the four hands around him were kneading into his sides, clawing into his tummy and skittering on his knees.

“Stohohohop! Plehehease stohohohop!”

“Who are you begging to, Dreamie~?”

The frustrated growl, laced with squirmy giggles, ended with a whine of giving in. “Thehehe clohohohoak!”

“Ohhh… I don’t think the cloak wants to let you go, Dreamie!”

The boy shrieked as two of XD’s hands worked on his tummy, sending him into hysterics.

“You are gonna be trapped in this cloak forever!”

“Nohohohoho!”

“If you don’t want to sleep, you’ll be gobbled up forever!”

“Ihihihi’ll sleeeeehehehep!”

XD grinned. “What was that?” His tickling lessened only slightly to allow Dream to speak easier.

“Ihi’ll slehehep! Juhust stohohop!”

XD did stop, feeling Dream fall limp in his arms. The cloak was slowly unfolded and Dream fell to the bed. His damp hair frazzled again, his cheeks red and a dopey smile on his face. A smile XD had not seen in what felt like forever.

The temptation to scoop Dream back up and tickle him was strong, but XD held back. Instead he settled down, laying by Dream as he pulled his brother up onto the pillows.

“Ready to sleep?” XD tried not to sound teasing, yet Dream still groaned defiantly.

“I’ll sleep...for a bit…” Dream relented. He gave a long yawn, stretching and turning around so when he relaxed, his arms came down and hugged the pillows into himself. They were so fluffy and soft, perfectly shaping around Dream’s face and arms like he was sinking into a cloud.

“Of course.” XD chuckled. He had one of his hands brush Dream’s hair into a somewhat manageable shape while another pulled up the cloak again, laying it over Dream like a blanket again. “I will sleep for a bit too. We will both get some rest.”

Dream wanted to argue, XD could see it in the crease between his eyebrows, but instead he relaxed again, curling up with the blanket over him and sighing. He mumbled something into the pillow and was drifting to sleep.

If time could have froze in this moment, XD would have been happy. His brother was healed and safe. They were given a room, a warm bed, food and drink a plenty. Everything in this moment was perfect and XD almost wanted to fight off the sleep to enjoy it more, but the tugs of exhaustion pulled at him to lay his head down on the soft cloud pillows as well.

XD needed to repay HD back for this somehow. To him and his family. He’d given the End brothers a great kindness that could probably never be given back but XD would make sure, somehow, he did.

For now, XD slept. Both Dream and XD slept soundly for the first time in a long while. They slept all through the day, well into the night, and didn’t wake up until dawn the next day.