#I dunno if anyones gonna be interested or if its gonna flop again but yeah! these r my mcs!

[ccircusclwn]

MY MC AGAIN BUT BABYGIRLIFICATED?? BABYGIRLIFIED??????/??? FINN!!!1!!!

Didnt like his design... so i remade him! hopefully he looks 39 years oldsie

also Mammon bc yeah oc x canon is kinda fun

Bonus stuffs (lore-y) below! (CW: really bad drawn corpses and graves)

So um!!! If you want info abt them, its all in this post! I spent a lot of time and had lots of fun writing their lore, and these little doods i made r just to expand on it:::

Some doodles of angies redesign!! i havent changed much thankfully but i added a little vest with the puffer jacket bc im fashionless and so are they (also, bonus:: the doll is possesed by someone called God Of Destruction but i kinda dont have a clear design for them ok? ok)

This is lore related, when Angie wakes up from his 18 year nap (i am inconsistent as i am a flop so ignore in the og post if it says like 20 year or smth its 18 now) and meets his guardian angel, Angelina!

Angst that explains a bit abt Finn's grief abt Angie "dying", also Bee drawing! shes Finn's big sister if anyones hasnt read the lore n its wondering

And another one abt them reuniting!

[pluviophile-imagines]

3 for bakugo or todoroki

I decided to do Bakugo for this, & then I got this ask after I closed the prompts for this event so I decided to go ahead and do it because it’s actually one of only two Halloween-related ones and I was planning to make this Werewolf!Bakugo anyway lol. This is a fun little AU that just kinda swaps quirks for supernatural creatures, loosely based off of a bunch of campy halloween stuff like Halloweentown and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Also, the werewolves have destined mates like those dumb Wattpad novels, because sometimes tropes are fun and cute. Also this is THREE TIMES AS LONG AS I MEANT TO MAKE ALL OF THESE but ive also gotten like five??? individual asks for it 😭😭😭so y’all better not let it flop.

3: kissing so desperately that their whole body curves into the other person’s

Though you’ve known Bakugo pretty much your whole life, there’s a lot about werewolves that you don’t know.

If he were a different person, he probably wouldn’t be telling you at 5:47 on his 21st birthday that he’s apparently supposed to figure out who his soulmate is going to be tonight. If he weren’t so closed off, even to his best friend of over a decade and a half, then perhaps you wouldn’t be having this conversation, and perhaps it wouldn’t feel quite like pulling teeth.

“You have a soulmate?” is really all you can say, because most of your mental capacity is going towards keeping the sob in the back of your throat from being audible.

“Yeah,” he grunts. He’s not even looking at you, because he’s holding his phone in one hand and he’s scrolling through it, and though the two of you are sitting on opposite sides of the couch he has your feet in his lap, free arm wrapped all the way around them like he doesn’t want you to leave. “It’s… I dunno. Kinda cool, I guess.”

“All of you have soulmates?”

“Well, yeah. You witches don’t?”

You wrinkle your nose, trying your hardest to ignore the burning at the backs of your eyes. “No. We don’t.”

Out of the corner of your eye you see him purse his lips, as if troubled by the revelation. “Huh. How d’you know who’s the one, then?”

“We just. Figure it out? I guess. Is this why you’ve never dated anyone?”

“Yeah. Not really interested in anyone but my destined.”

He says it so easily, but you know him well enough to understand. He likes the idea of a soulmate; he’s looking forward to figuring out who they are tonight. Who would have guessed that he was a romantic?

It’s awful. It makes your chest burn. You’d only come to terms with your crush on the guy two months ago. Now he’s gonna be taken from you by some random person he’s never met?

No, you suppose, he’s always belonged to them. That’s how it works, right?

“D’you know who it’ll be?”

“Hah? No, dumbass, if I did that would defeat the purpose.” Bakugo pauses, glancing over at you with just his eyes, then darting them away just as fast. It’s probably just a trick of the light, but you could swear he blushes a little as he mumbles, “I know who I want it to be, though.”

Your eyes widen and you lean up, pulling your legs back (ignoring the way his hands tense before letting them go as if he wants to hold on) so that you can kneel on them right next to him. “Who?”

“Not happening.”

“Bakugo,” you whine, drawing out the last syllable of his name.

“I’m not telling you, brat.”

You lean forward, prodding at his cheek. “Is it Mina?”

“No.”

“Jirou?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Kirishima?”

Bakugo growls out your name, a warning, but you don’t pull away, getting even closer until you’re practically draped over him.

“Todoroki?”

He grabs you, whipping towards you as his arms fly up to wrap around your waist and yank you off him, tossing you back to your side of the couch as you shriek in laughter. He’d never hurt you, you know, and roughhousing like this is hardly new in your friendship; plus, well, you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t been hoping to feel his big, warm hands like this. Despite all his surprises tonight, he’s still all too predictable, and you’d seen this coming a mile away.

What you don’t see coming is him pausing, braced with one arm against the couch all too close to you, holding his torso over you with his head right above yours. And he stares, those crimson eyes unreadable with an expression you’ve never seen before, locked entirely on you.

You can feel his chest rising and falling steadily against yours, and your own eyes are drawn to where his adam’s apple bobs as he swallows thickly. You’re frozen, unable to move though you’d hardly want to anyway, and it hits you like a brick what he’s really been saying the whole night.

You open your mouth to speak, but then the hazy tension is shattered by the shrill sound of his phone.

Bakugo lunges away, pulls back with inhuman werewolf speed, grabbing his phone as he leaps to his feet. “‘S my mom, sundown’s soon, I have to go.”

“Wait, Bakugo—”

“See ya tomorrow, yeah?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, already half out the door.

“Katsuki,” you try, desperate, and it makes him freeze.

The door is open, his knuckles are pale with how tight he’s gripping the knob, but as much as you’ve tried it’s not enough. He’s gone without another word.

You don’t get to sleep that night.

It’s dumb; he’ll lecture you in the morning as he tells you all about his perfect amazing werewolf destined—that was what he’d called it, right? You prefer soulmate. Mate is a wolf thing anyway—who he’s spending all night with, running around in the forest howling at the moon and making out or whatever.

You stay out in the den, curled up on the couch with a blanket draped around you, ice cream in your lap, and an old movie playing that you’re not really listening to because you’ve been too wrapped up in your own head.

For an instant, you’d been so sure. A mere moment of absolute certainty that he was just as in love with you as you are him, that your oblivious pining for years was actually reciprocated. In the hours since he’d pinned you to the couch, you’d convinced yourself otherwise.

Imagine your surprise when there’s a frantic knocking at your door.

It startles you, making you jump about ten feet up in the air, and you freeze on the couch with wide eyes and a gaping mouth staring directly at the solid wood that seems to be shaking in its hinges. You’re halfway to casting a protection charm when a familiar gruff voice shouts your name from outside.

“I know you’re awake, I can hear you in there! Open the damn door!”

You glance at the time to find that it’s just under fifteen minutes to midnight. Awfully soon for him to be done, but you rise from your spot on the couch with the blanket still wrapped around your shoulders and move to let Bakugo in.

“Coming,” you say, not bothering to be loud because you know he can hear even the shifting of your clothes beneath the blanket.

He looks downright feral when you open the door, panting slightly, hair mussed up, eyes wild. But when he sees you, they light up, happy and excited like a damn puppy.

“Are you drunk?”

“Uh… kinda?”

“...Magical bullshit?”

He nods, a rough toss of his head to affirm. “Ancient rituals. Tipsy’s more accurate, if anything. Figured out who my destined is.”

“And you came to me? Shouldn’t you be with your soulmate, then?”

Bakugo blinks, clearly stunned, barking out a burst of laughter before shaking his head. “You’re somethin’ dumbass.”

You go to respond, more than a little insulted because he’s been acting so fucking weird all day and he has the nerve to say you’re being dumb, but any retort is flung from your mind as he steps forward and puts his hands on your arms.

Leaning in until your noses are practically touching, he speaks. “It’s you. It’s always been you.”

“H—huh?” you stutter out, heart stopping and mind reeling with his words.

“I wanted it to be you. And it’s you.” His hands slide down your arms to meet yours. “You’re my destined.”

There’s so much more to say, so much to ask him, everything ranging from but I’m a witch, how is that possible to so we could have been fucking dating this whole time but he doesn’t let you speak, clearly too overjoyed and inebriated, and you’re not entirely opposed when he yanks you in with exactly the level of roughness you’d imagine from him and kisses you.

And finally, finally, after a decade and a half of wanting to (longer than you even knew what kissing was), you can melt into him.

You believe him then, not that you particularly doubted. It’s like his lips are the missing piece to a puzzle, one you’ve been looking for your whole life. He holds you up with ease, werewolf strength coming in handy, as one hand laces with your own and the other darts to the small of your back. He’d be holding you closer, but you’re literally as close as you could be, body curving against him as his taller form hunches over you.

He kisses you far more sweetly than you’d have expected; no teeth or tongue but still all passion, heavy palm and fingers splayed across your back as the other hand pulls you and grounds you. It’s heated and it makes you forget that you’re both standing in the middle of the open front door at midnight.

You’re both reluctant to break away, you can tell because you both linger a little, bodies frozen as the kiss is followed by one, two, three more just as feverish but decreasing in length. Then the two of you pull away for real (not by much, no, he’s holding you far too intensely for you to get far) and you stumble backwards pulling him by his shirt into your home. He gets the hint, following and shutting the door behind you but not letting either of you make it very far beyond.

“All right,” you say finally, breathless both from the kiss and from giddy laughter bubbling up within you, “all right, you’re my soulmate.”

Bakugo kisses you again.

[citydreamgrls]

how much have you had to drink?

george weasley x fem!reader

words: 2,387

a/n: maybe I did use too many differing pov’s but it is what it is,, enjoy!! :)

warnings: none ( i think )

I had been the first, and only person to prank the twins back at Hogwarts. Everyone else in the school was too afraid of their tricks that it was easier to stay out of a never-ending war with them. But I'd always been up for a good challenge, even if it was a 5 year long one.

As usual the twins joined me at breakfast, ignoring Angelina who had been telling me about the upcoming halloween party, and sat either side of me.

“Morning boys,”

“y/n,” they acknowledged in unison, both reaching for toast.

“Sleep well?” I asked George.

“Oh yes, perfectly.” He said sarcastically, taking a large bite of food.

“Almost as if someone slipped us a sleeping potion.” Fred joined in on the other side of me.

“Well I had to test my homework on someone,” I admitted, unashamed of my great potion-making skills. “Anything else strange happen last night?” I asked innocently.

“Nope.” they said.

“You sure? Because I managed to get some very lovely pictures of you too sporting some very sweet hairstyles.” I waved the photos of their sleeping forms in their faces, the little red pigtails flashing before their eyes.

Oliver Wood, having caught onto the end of our conversation leant across the table to see what I had.

“So that’s why you too looked like that this morning, I was beginning to worry I’d started sleepwalking.. Or styling.” He laughed, earning a glare from the boys beside me.

“You know we will get you back y/n,” Fred warned, but his threat was empty.

“Oh come on, you boys always go easy on me.” I laughed, taking a sip of my juice and immediately spitting it back out. “Gross!”

“Oh do we?” George asked, barely looking up from his book to hex my plate into slugs.

-  

As much as the twins and I battled, they were still my best friends and I had spent pretty much my entire time at Hogwarts at their side. Unless Angelina pulled me away to gossip about whatever ‘exciting’ thing was coming up next.

This time it was the halloween party.

“I just don’t get why I have to dress up Lina, I'm already a witch. Can’t I go as myself?” I huffed, resting my legs on her lap as we sat in front of the fire.

“The Weasley’s won’t let anyone in who isn’t dressed up, it’s the rules.”

“Oh that’s easy, they’ll let me come regardless.” I laughed.

It was as if they appeared at the sound of their name, popping their heads over the back of the sofa. Both Angelina and I jumped out of our skin, immediately reaching up to hit them in retaliation.

“Hey, you guys will still let me come to the party saturday if I don’t dress up right?” I asked with an expectant smile.

“No costume,” Fred started

“No entry,” George finished. And then walked off to the dorms.

“Oi, but it’s me-”

“No exceptions,” They called back.

I fell back into the sofa, ignoring Angelina’s smug face as she started discussing costumes once again. Tossing up whether to go as a cat, or some sort of muggle character. Not that she really knew any, but she just wanted to impress one of the boys in the year above.

“Will you help me y/n?” she pleaded, to which I finally gave in. Knowing I didn’t have anything better to do.

-

Saturday morning rolled around and I still hadn’t sorted my own costume, but at least Angelina was happy with her Daphne costume that I’d helped organise.

Fred and George had slipped away early from dinner last night, claiming that they had to ‘finish up party plans’. But I felt uneasy, having swapped their ties for two slytherin ones and then locking them in the dorms until 2 minutes before classes started that morning.

Yes it made me late for Mcgonigall’s lesson too, but seeing them rush in wearing the wrong uniform and having to explain that it had just been mixed up somehow to their head of house was well worth it.

Still, they could be planning payback.

-

The party was starting in an hour, and everyone was in their dorms getting ready. Including about three more girls than were usually in mine and Angelina’s dorm, racing around with masks and lip liner and other parts of costumes.

I walked in to see a hat with bunny ears laying on my bed.

“It’s all I could find,” Angelina told me, as she passed by to grab her purple jacket. “Dunno if it’ll be enough though.”

“I’ll sort something out, thanks Lina!” I shouted after her as she raced to use the bathroom before anyone else slipped in.

My only thought at the time was clown makeup, but I didn’t have any white face paint, and never really enjoyed its feel as it was. So I took a red lipstick and some dark eyeshadow to draw diamonds round my eyes. With the bunny hat on I looked far from scary, but paired with the clown makeup and a dark lip, I at least looked creepy.

Angelina leant me some fishnet tights to wear with my black skirt and I threw on a zip hoodie I had stolen from one of them twins years ago. I couldn’t remember which one if I was being honest.

-

Oliver and I had been sharing a bottle of vodka I'd brought with me from home, knowing it got everyone drunk quicker than wizard booze. Without realising it, an hour had passed, and I was yet to see either of the twins.

“You seen Fred or George tonight?” I asked the boy beside me, who was enjoying his stress-free evening.

“Yeah, Fred is dressed as a fighter pilot and I think I saw George in some kind of lab coat… or maybe it was a doctor?” He laughed to himself.

I headed up to their dorm room to see if they were there, and sure enough I just avoided a head on collision as they walked out.

“Whoa, nearly lost me there!” I screamed, stumbling back with a laugh. “What are you guys doing up here,”

“Nothing,” George spoke quickly.

“How much did you drink, y/n” Fred asked, helping me down the stone steps until we made it safely to the common room.

“Not loads, hey that’s not right.” I frowned at the boy holding me steady.  “Oliver said you were dressed as a Pilot Fred, not George.”

“I am George!” The boy, with the aviator sunglasses on, teased. “You’re as bad as mum honestly.”

“Yeah, at least our costumes are legit!” the other teased, flopping the bunny ear that had fallen over one eye away.

“Do you like it?” I spun round, the skirt bouncing around I did.

“It’s an interesting combination,”

“Well you haven’t kicked me out… yet.”

-

Unbeknownst to y/n’s knowledge, the twins continued to confuse her. Constantly running off to swap costumes, and mess with their friend further. Although it kind of backfired, as the more she drank, the less she trusted herself to tell them apart and gave up altogether. In the end they went back to their original costumes, Fred as the Pilot and George the bloody doctor. They both decided to tell y/n the next morning, when she could at least have a chance of understanding.

-

Everyone else was in bed, except for the twins and I who sat up singing by the fire and sharing the last bottle of gin that I could find in my stash.

“I’m gonna have to stock up my stash at christmas,” I laughed as the last swig was taken and we fell into each other's shoulders. I slumped between them, laughing at the memory of Ron and Hermione’s perfect dance routine to livin’ la vida loca earlier that night.

I felt a lump in my jacket pocket and remembered that’s where I’d left my cigarettes since being at home. I stood up, startling the boys and declared what I was leaving to do.

“I’m off for a smoke, see you in a bit.” They shook awake.

“Wait y/n, you can’t smoke here rememb- oh god she’s gone.”

“Well go on then George, stop her!” Fred grumbled to his brother, having already drifted back off to sleep.

-

George ran down the staircase, being careful not to make too much noise as his doctor’s coat flew behind him. He had only been a few seconds behind y/n, how could she have disappeared already? Still, he headed for the black lake, knowing that was her favourite spot to go when she wanted to be alone. He had watched her there many times, far away enough that she had never spotted him though.

“Y/n!” He whisper-shouted, running down the bank towards her. She was already sat down, the lighter in one hand and a cigarette balanced between her lips.

“What are you doing Fred?” she asked, mistaking him for the other twin.

“Oh about th-”

“At least it’s you and not George,”

The boy felt hurt by her words, always having looked after her without her knowing. Most of the time the lack of retaliation from the twins in their prank war was because George would sabotage it. He always felt guilty playing tricks on y/n.

“Why’s that?” He asked, playing along with what she believed to find out the truth.

The girl lit her cigarette regardless of his warning, and puffed out a breath of smoke offering it to the boy beside her who reluctantly agreed. Knowing that if his mother could see him now, she would have a heart attack.

“I always embarrass myself in front of George,” y/n admitted. “Whether it’s being drunk, or making stupid jokes. I just look like an idiot when I’m around him.”

“I don’t think you do,”

“I can’t help it though, it’s different with you. You’re like a brother to me Fred.”

“Actually y/n-” George started, wanting to come clean, but she kept going.

“But George, he’s just more than that you know. He always cares for me and makes sure I’m safe, hell he thinks I don’t notice when he watches me sulk down here.” She laughed lightly to herself, leaning to rest on the boy beside her. “I was so sure I knew him better than anyone else, but obviously not.” Her shoulders dropped in despair.

“Why’s that?”

“He probably just sees me as a friend right? I mean, I couldn’t even tell you two apart tonight, I thought you were him.” She scoffed.

George swallowed, knowing that him admitting to their prank would most likely cause some backlash from the girl. But he bit the bullet.

“I am George.”

Her body froze.

“Don’t joke.” She said flatly.

“I’m not, honestly. It was just supposed to confuse you earlier but I am George.”

Y/n stood up, dropping her cigarette into the water and headed up the hill towards the courtyard. George ran after her again.

“Please y/n wait!” He called out, grabbing her hand to stop her. She spun around, tears running down her face. “Oh god i’m so sorry, I didn’t realise you thought I was him, I just came to check on you.”

“I’m such an idiot god.” she huffed, trying to drag herself away but he wouldn’t let go. “I can’t even tell it’s you when you’re right here,”

“Yes you could y/n, that’s the whole point.”

“Still I just told you how I feel about you, with no intention of actually telling you, yet here we are with you being kind and nice and perfect and I’m just embarrassing myself once again.”

George followed her into the hallway and up the stairs, not wanting to call out until they were clear of the earshot of others. He managed to stop her just before the common room, pulling her aside into a secluded corner.

“Y/n, darling..” she had never heard him call anyone that seriously until now, and she couldn’t help but feel special because of that. “I have never seen you as an idiot, and you have never embarrassed yourself in front of me. In fact, I’ve always thought you were the perfect one.”

“Then why are you only telling me this now?” The girl asked him.

“I always thought you liked Oliver,”

“Wood?” she laughed and he hadn’t heard a sound better “God, he’s way too intense. Even tonight he wanted to talk game strategies with me, it was so boring.”

“Well that’s a relief.”

“So… you’ve always liked me?” She teased him slightly, playing with the seam of his costume. George just rolled his eyes and held her face, making her look up at him. Of course she had stood next to him before, but it was only in this moment that she felt the sheer height gap between them.

He leant down and kissed her lips, still clutching her face as her hands dropped from his coat in shock. He was soft and sincere, holding her as if he’d longed to do so for quite some time. Y/n smiled against George’s lips, making the boy blush to himself and thank Merlin that she couldn’t see him do it.

They broke away after what felt like nowhere near long enough, y/n rested her head into his chest and sighed happily.

“We should get to bed, it’s late.” George whispered and she nodded. “You tired?” y/n nodded again. “Okay darling let’s go.” He took her waist and lifted her off the ground, letting her wrap her legs around him and nestle into his neck.

He passed Fred who was slipping into unconsciousness on the common room sofa.

“Night Fred,” they called to him, and he just groaned back.

“Don’t worry, we can tell him in the morning.”

“George,” the girl in his arms groaned.

“Yesss..”

“Can I stay with you tonight?”

“Of course darling,” George said softly and took the girl up to his dorm so she could sleep comfortably in his arms, her little head tucked between him and the bed. He laughed at the bunny hat discarded on the chair, remembering how sweet she’d looked in it.

Even as a creepy clown George had wanted to kiss her.

[charaznablescanontoyota]

hot quill summer

The minute they're back in the hotel room, Shaq ducks into the bathroom to run the shower. It's a reflexive thing - a trick to keep anyone from overhearing conversations through the door or the wall. Even Edric, who stayed behind to talk to Hiroto about safe places to stay along the coast. And Shaq's not trying to deceive Edric, that's far and away from what this is, but he does get the feeling that Quill might appreciate not being eavesdropped on for this conversation.

"So," Shaq says, tossing himself down onto his and Edric's bed, opposite Quill. "You're not coming with us."

"How do you know?" Quill asks, which isn't a denial. Not a confirmation, either, though. Their eyebrows are furrowed, like they also haven't figured out which one it is yet.

"Saw the look on your face when Wilcox said we could stay as long as we wanted," Shaq says. Something in Quill's eyes had lit up with interest at the offer in a way they hadn't really tried to hide at all. Maybe because they hadn't known anyone was looking that closely.

Quill sighs, a loud and breathy exhale that feels almost too practiced. Too dramatic. They start to take their hair out of its ponytail, and run their fingers through it to comb it out.

"I might stay," they say, noncommittal.

Shaq raises his eyebrows. "What happened to margaritas on the beach?"

"You and Eddie deserve a honeymoon that doesn't end in someone dying," Quill says - wry, but Shaq can't exactly deny that they're wrong. Their eyes flick towards him, then away, almost guilty. "And - don't be mad -"

"I'd never!"

"I think I need a vacation from the two of you," Quill says. The words come out in a rush that's half impatient, half pained, like an infected tooth they're trying to get free of their mouth. Their eyes are boring a hole in their lap now, a far cry from the way they usually hold the gaze of whoever they're talking to.

"Uh huh?" Shaq asks. He can't pretend a part of him didn't see this one coming, not with the way Quill's been acting since they left Breckenridge. He wonders if Edric's been bracing for it, too.

"It's just -" Quill says. "It's just. I love you two -"

"I don't need the disclaimers, bud."

"Okay, well, I do, but you're also the only two people in this whole universe who know me, and I've barely left Breckenridge, and -" Quill's hands are twisting in the fabric of their shirt, nails picking at a seam. "I think I need to try being alone. But actually alone, not. A phone call away, across town."

"I thought being alone was -"

"It is," Quill says. "I mean, I'll make friends. That's kind of the point."

Shaq hums, and leans backwards, propping himself up on his elbows. "But you'll still call if you need us?"

Quill gives him a look. "Part of the point is also to call you less to clean up my problems."

"You'll text if you're dying, at least?"

"You don't text if you're dying."

"Yeah," Shaq says, flashing them a grin. "I thought you'd know by now not to follow my example."

"Yes, I'll text if I'm dying," Quill concedes, with an eye-roll that's more fond than genuinely annoyed.

"When are you gonna tell Eds?" Shaq asks. Not pushing, just genuinely curious. As soon as he asks it, he can see in Quill's face that they haven't thought about it - or haven't wanted to think about it. The way their mouth twists into a grimace is a decent enough tipoff.

"Dunno," Quill says. "I'll figure it out."

"Well, I'm not gonna rush you," Shaq says, because it feels like something they need to hear.

Quill sighs again. They get up from their bed, and Shaq thinks it might be to pace, but instead they sit down next to him and flop backwards onto the duvet, arms stretched above their head.

"Thanks," they say.

"For not rushing you?"

"For talking. About this."

"'Course, bud," Shaq says. "Kinda what I'm here for."

[lakesandquarries]

Baby Shoes - Chapter 2

Bubby has been a doctor at Black Mesa for 20 years, living there for 50. He’s been bouncing around from project to project, working on whatever needs most help. He doesn’t have any opinions on his work or his coworkers or anything like that, preferring to keep to himself.

Then he meets Black Mesa’s newest project.

AKA: Bubby is Benrey’s dad au.

title from “Baby Shoes” by Bad Books.

AO3 Link

He stays away from the Biological Research department for three whole days before curiosity gets the best of him. Work is the only thing that’s a suitable distraction, and his current work is frustratingly easy. He’s supposed to be moved around departments, placed on whatever project is most difficult, but currently he’s just helping design a new line of robotic limbs. It’s almost an insult, frankly.

He tests the springs on the arm one last time, determines that there’s nothing more he can do today, and leaves.

The trip to Biological Research is a short one, but once he’s there he’s reminded of how confusing it is. The scientists seem less frazzled today, at least. He winds up in a hall filled with desks, some kind of office space perhaps? Most of them are empty or occupied by very stressed looking scientists, but he spots one young man with blond hair sitting at a desk playing with a slinky, and makes his way over.

“Excuse me,” Bubby says, clearing his throat. The young man straightens up, accidentally launching his slinky across the room.

“Oh, shit,” he mumbles as it narrowly avoids hitting someone.

“You might wanna pick that up before someone trips on it. Or, don’t, it’ll be good entertainment.”

The man snorts as he stands up, grabbing his slinky and dusting it off. “Maybe. Not worth risking my job if the wrong person slips.” He holds his hand out to Bubby. “Dr. Dekkard.”

Bubby shakes it warily. “Dr. Bubby.” Dekkard’s eyes widen, and his grip tightens.

“Oh, shit! You’re the -”

“Ultimate Lifeform, yes.” He smiles at Dekkard, showing off his slightly sharper than average teeth.

“Damn, what - what are you doing here? I was told you were working in the Robotics Department.” He releases Bubby’s hand, shoving his own into the pocket of his lab coat, the other still fiddling with the slinky.

“I am. I get curious.”

“I dunno, most of the sh - uh, stuff here is pretty boring.”

“You can swear, Dr. Dekkard. We’re all adults here.” Probably. Dekkard has the look of someone too young to be working at Black Mesa, still innocent and excited about the possibilities of science. The spark in his eyes will be gone soon enough. “I had...an encounter here, the other day. There was a subject that escaped, apparently?”

Dekkard nods. “Yeah, XEN-3. Don’t know much about it - some kinda shapeshifting alien? It’s supposed to be really dangerous, though. Bit a scientist a while back and nearly killed the guy.” He shrugs, taking his hand out of his pocket so he can move the slinky between both hands. “I only started here a month ago, I don’t know much about it. It keeps trying to escape though, the guys in charge are pretty pissed.”

Bubby purses his lips, thinking. “Maybe they need a new perspective. A better perspective. Who’s in charge?”

“Dr. Zeki. She’s - I think she’s free right now? I can show you where her office is.”

“Yes, please do.” Bubby straightens his lab coat. Dekkard drops the slinky on his desk before leading Bubby down one of the many identical corridors. They stop after reaching a door with a plaque attached to it.

Dr. Amelia Zeki, Head of Biological Research.

Dekkard knocks on the door. “Dr. Zeki? I’ve got someone who wants to see you.”

There’s a sigh on the other side. “Send them in.”

“Alright, well. Good luck. Uh, nice meeting you. I’ll see you around?”

“Maybe,” Bubby says. He hopes he doesn’t. He hopes Dekkard quits within the next 20 minutes and finds somewhere else to work that isn’t this shit hole.

He opens the door to Zeki’s office.

Behind the desk, looking over a stack of papers, is the same woman he saw the other day. The one who shot Benrey in front of him. This is the same person in charge of their well being?

“Well?” Zeki asks, looking up at him. “I assume there’s a reason you’re here, but I’m busy. I don’t have time to wait for you to say something.”

“I had a few questions. About the - the subject I encountered the other day.”

“XEN-3?” She puts the papers down. “Did it bite you or something? If so, you’re gonna need antibiotics immediately, it -”

“It didn’t hurt me,” Bubby says sharply. “I only encountered it briefly, but it seemed perfectly docile.”

“You’d better hope you don’t encounter it again, then, because I doubt you’ll get that lucky twice.”

“That’s what I came here to ask about, actually. I’m - well, the current project I’m working on is far below my usual standard. I’m hoping to find something more...challenging.”

Zeki raises an eyebrow. “And you want to deal with the violent shapeshifting alien?”

“It’s certainly a challenge, isn’t it?”

She looks back at her papers, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “We have it pretty heavily restrained at the moment, and it would be nice to have someone who can interact with it without getting attacked.” She pushes her chair back from the table and stands up. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Fine. You can come see it.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

How does anyone find their way around this place? The hall Zeki takes Bubby down is identical to every other god damn hallway in this shitty department. She leads him into a room with a large glass partition, separating the subject from the scientists. One-way glass, he assumes. Bubby steps forward to get a better look, and his blood goes cold.

There’s no cage like he’d seen a few days ago. This is an entirely new enclosure, a different room than before.

It’s worse. They replaced the cage with heavy chains and shackles. The presumably cold metal clamped around Benrey's wrists, ankles, waist, with even their tiny neck being held by the restraints They’re flopped over, the chains the only thing keeping them upright, and their eyes are open but vacant.

“Are - are they alive? ”

Zeki nods. “Thing won’t stay dead. No matter what we throw at it, it just heals itself. Total reset.”

“I -” he wants to strangle her. He thinks back to just a few days ago, Benrey clinging to his shirt, impossibly grateful for the simple gift of a name.

“It’s not sentient,” Zeki says. “It just imitates what it sees. It’s not like you , Dr. Bubby.”

But it is. It’s exactly like him. He remembers days spent floating listlessly in his tube, wishing for something, anything to happen. Even some kind of experiment, because at least then he wouldn’t be alone. Days spent slamming against the glass in a feeble attempt to break it.

He swallows down the words he wants to say. “If they’re a shapeshifter, how are chains supposed to keep it in place?” Bubby asks, stepping away from the glass and forcing himself to look away.

“It’s not impossible, but it’s harder. We keep the cuffs tight so it can’t expand without hurting itself, and getting smaller seems to be more difficult somehow. It’s only a temporary solution, though. We’ve been hoping to study the shapeshifting better, but it’s tricky.”

“I understand you also have an...escaping problem.”

She clenches her jaw, muscles in her neck twitching. “Only a few times.”

“Over how long?”

“Five. Five times in three months.”

“Hm.” Bubby steps forward, touching a hand to the glass, then walks a slow circle around the room. “There might be a better way to prevent it from escaping.”

Zeki sighs, rubbing her temples. “Fine. Let’s hear your idea.”

“You could always try to improve its living situation. Give it some incentive to stay.”

She shakes her head. “Its first cage was fine . It’s just being difficult.”

“I know you said it’s not sentient, but -”

“It’s just mimicking us. It doesn’t understand what it says, or what it does, or any of that. It’s from Xen. All it wants to do is kill and eat, and sometimes that means a little bit of acting.”

“It must’ve chosen this form for a reason. Humans are, to put it plainly, shittily designed when it comes to killing and eating. So why not try treating it like a human?”

Zeki eyes him again, studying him as intensely as he’s seen her stare at Benrey. “You’ve got some kind of attachment to it.”

“I find it interesting. It’s more of a challenge than robotic arms. ”

Another long moment as Zeki stares at him. “You know what? Sure. Fine. I’ll clear it with the head of Robotics, see if we can borrow you over here. I’ll give it a try. But Mr. Bubby, I do hope you remember your place here.”

“That’s Doctor Bubby,” he snaps, straightening up to his full height. He’s nearly a full head taller than her, yet can’t shake the feeling of being looked down on.

“Like I said. I hope you remember your place.”

[softboywriting]

A Perfect Fall

Summary: You and Shawn have been best friends for most of your lives and since you were a teenager you’ve had a crush on him. He has no idea, or so you think. Things are about to change, and all it takes is a trip to the best pumpkin patch around for true feelings to surface. [fluff] [best friends to lovers] [fall/autumn theme]

Word Count: 4k

|Masterlist In Bio|

If someone were to ask you your favorite color you would say gold. Gold like the leaves on the trees in the middle of October. Gold like the letters of Shawn’s last name gilded across the back of the letter man jacket that sits over your desk chair at home that he left there a year ago. Gold like the sun going down over the river on a cool autumn night. But most of all, gold, like the color Shawn's eyes are when he sits across from you in a barn an hour from your house and stares out at horses in the nearby corral. He's beautiful. Breathtaking. Outstanding in every way. He's your best friend in the entire world and he has no idea that you're completely gone for him, or does he? Let's go back to how this day started.

Beeping, incessant, droning beeping. The sound of your alarm clock going off at its regular time, seven in the morning. Right now you should be getting up and making yourself appear to be somewhat human before heading to class, praying you remembered all of your homework. You should be scrambling through your kitchen, grabbing a banana for breakfast as you head out to meet Shawn in his Jeep. Not this week though. It's the first day of Thanksgiving break and you're so happy to be able to smash that snooze button and bury your face into a pillow.

Your phone goes off, a low buzz buzz against the pillow your head is on. You've almost fallen back to sleep, nearly reached that floaty state of perfect warmth under the blankets that gives you an express ticket to dreamland. Almost.

Buzz buzz.

"For the love of everything holy, can you go away?" You groan angrily into the pillow. As if the phone might switch itself into silent mode out of pure fear. That would be that day wouldn't it?

Buzz buzz.

You slide your hand under the pillow and extract your phone, turn your head just enough to see the screen and lay it against the pillow next to you. Three missed messages.

Shawn: you awake?

Shawn: get up loser i have coffee

Shawn: I'll come in there

You drop the phone on its face and tug your blanket up over your head. If he wants you to get up on your first day of this mini vacation from the hell that is your second year of college, he can come get you his damn self. He may be your best friend, and yes, you may be head over heels for him, but getting up early on vacation happens for no man.

The sound of rattling outside your window followed by a dull thump is a dead giveaway that Shawn has scaled your mother's new trellis and tripped on the old shingles of the back patio roof. Clumsy and dumb. That's Shawn for you.

"Get up, hey," he talks against the glass as if you'll hear him better by doing so but ends up only muffling his voice further. "I know you're up."

"Go away!"

"No!"

The latch on the window wiggles, you can hear a familiar scrape of his student ID card from his wallet against the wood of the window frame. You watch as the ancient lock flips 180 degrees and the window slides up, sending a cold gust of morning air into your bedroom.

"You're a dick." Shawn grumbles, squeezing through the narrow window frame. He's had trouble getting through it since freshman year of high school. Really the only reason he's climbing through it now is to avoid making too much noise coming in the front door and enduring the wrath of your dad who is surely still asleep because he works nights at the packing plant in town. Shawn woke him up once by just walking too loudly and that was enough.

"You're a dick for waking me up on my vacation." You roll over and face the wall.

Shawn flops on the bed, leaning over across your legs and waving something in your face. "I am not, I'm the best person ever."

"Nope."

"Come on! Look at the tickets!"

You slip your hand out of the blankets and snatch the papers from Shawn's hand. Two all access passes to the Friendly Farms Pumpkin Patch. You narrow your eyes at him and he raises his eyebrows. This is such an unfair move. He knows how much you love pumpkin patches and he knows that you've never been to the Friendly Farms Pumpkin Patch because it's so far away and it usually costs an arm and a leg if you don't buy preseason passes.

"Eh? Whatdya say? Me, you, old J-Bone and the open road to the best place to get your pumpkins this side of the river?"

You groan and drop the tickets on the pillow. "Okay! Okay fine I'll get up." You shove the blanket back and it covers his lap. "But stop calling the Jeep "J-Bone" it's so weird."

"She has a name okay, and I'm gonna call her by it."

You sit up and shove him down on the bed. "Freak."

"Only for you." He smirks, sticking his tongue out and making lewd licking motions.

"Oh God please stop." You throw your pillow at his face and get up to get dressed in whatever was semi clean. Laundry had taken a backseat to classwork these days, you’re planning on catching up during the break.

One big hoodie, Shawn's that he left at your house a few days ago, a pair of leggings under some fitted sweatpants and a lopsided ponytail later and you're ready to go. As promised Shawn has a coffee in the Jeep for you as well as a croissant breakfast sandwich.

"How long is this drive again?" You ask over a mouth full of buttery sausage and egg goodness. "An hour?"

"An hour and a half."

"I'm gonna go to sleep then."

Shawn chuckles. He pulls the Jeep out of your driveway and heads for the highway. "I have a feeling you'll stay awake."

"Why's that?"

"The drive is too beautiful to miss."

_________________________________

Shawn is absolutely correct. The drive down the highway is way too incredible to miss for just a few more minutes of sleep. Of course you've seen the trees around your town turn shades of red, orange and yellow before but driving through open roads where trees grow in massive forests completely unbridled by man, is an experience you won't soon forget. Never in your life have you seen so many different hues of fall colors at one time.

"Shawn, pull over, I need to get out and do something."

Shawn looks over and quickly turns off the highway onto the shoulder where the gravel meets the grass. "Everything okay?"

"More than okay." You grin and unbuckle your seatbelt. You open the passenger door and slide out, leaving the door open as you tromp across the grass to the edge of the forested area. Behind you Shawn kills the engine and you can hear his door open then close followed by your door being closed.

"What are you doing?" He laughs, following you into the trees. "We're not even at the pumpkin patch and you're going crazy."

"I've been crazy. You know that, come on, we've been friends for how long?"

"Twelve years and counting."

You stop before a tree that has bring pinkish red leaves on it. They're like no others around it and you pick up a few of the ones that have fallen. "Pink leaves." You hold them out and Shawn takes one.

"These are pretty. I've never seen them this color."

"Take my picture? I wanna remember this tree forever."

Shawn takes your phone and types in your pass code to unlock it. He's the only person on the planet who knows it beside you and you know his as well. "Alright, do you wanna pose or something?"

"I'm gonna throw a bunch of leaves up in the air and if you can, try to snap the picture as they fall around me?"

"I'll do my best." He chuckles and kneels down a bit to get you in full frame for a better angle.

"Okay on three? One, two, three!" You fling an arm full of leaves up into the air and laugh as they rain down over you.

"Nailed it."

"Really?!" You rush over and Shawn hands you the phone. Sure enough it's you standing and grinning at the leaves as they fall around you with the pink tree in the background. "Oh my God it's perfect."

Shawn puts his arm around you and starts walking back to the Jeep. "I've been messing around with my friend Josiah's camera a bit. He showed me a few tricks for everyday stuff."

"Oh wow, fancy boy."

"Shut up, I am not fancy."

"Fancy pants Mendes learning all the tips and tricks on photography to pick up chicks."

He scoffs. "Yeah, as if. I just wanted to try it out. Josiah takes some awesome photos and it looks so easy, I was curious how he did it."

"I'm just teasing you Shawn." You pat his chest as you reach the Jeep and he pulls his arm away from you. "I think it's cool that you're interested in photography. It's definitely something that could be useful one day."

"Like taking photos of you today."

You smile and let out a little laugh. "Yeah, definitely like today."

Shawn gets in the Jeep and you haul yourself up into the passenger's seat. "You ready for the real fun to begin?"

"Hell yeah. How many pumpkins do you think we can fit in the back of this thing?"

"I dunno," he says, looking into the back where the seats are down and then looks at you. "But we're not going to find out."

"Buzz kill."

"Sorry, but I'm not having my Jeep chock full of pumpkins."

"Psh, it's for science."

Shawn's rolls his eyes and signals as he pulls out onto the highway. The two of you have at least another forty minutes before you reach the farm. Shawn turns up the radio and you decide to lean the seat back and just enjoy the rest of the ride.

_________________________________

The entryway to the Friendly Farms Pumpkin Patch is huge. There are wrought iron gates with metal pumpkin cutouts all along the bars of the fencing with ivy like casts on the top. Shawn drives down the bumpy dirt road to the designated parking area and stops to park near the ticket windows and actual gates inside. There are maybe a dozen cars already parked as well, which considering the popularity of the place isn't hardly anyone. It's still early though, they have just opened for business at nine and it's only about a quarter till ten.

Shawn opens the back of the Jeep while you grab your backpack purse off the floor of the backseat. "Do you need a water bottle?"

"Yeah." You walk around to meet him. "I thought you were going eco friendly?"

"I am." He hands you a reusable metal bottle. "I promise I washed it this morning."

You slip the bottle into your side pocket and chuckle. "Like we haven't been sharing germs forever."

"True." He closes the door and pulls the tickets out of his back pocket. "Ready?"

"I was born ready."

Shawn wraps his arm around your shoulders and heads to the ticket windows. You're excited beyond belief to see what is in store for you beyond the corn stalk covered gates before you. It's going to be perfect.

_________________________________

To say the pumpkin patch is beyond expectations would be about right. You and Shawn walk past the ticket booths and through the gates into a whole town built up around the fall theme. There are shopping booths, food booths, a sign for a corn maze, a hay rack ride, and the pumpkin patch. There is a whole slew of games and places to take photos as well and all that is just what you can see when you walk inside. There's a whole path along the shops that just keeps going and you are floored.

Shawn grins at you, beaming, because you're beaming right back at him. He knew this place was going to be great. Photos online just didn't do it justice. "What do you wanna do first?"

"Just...take it all in." You walk forward toward the center of the town like set up where there is a huge wooden windmill, hay bales and benches all sitting in a circle around it.

Shawn walks along beside you and chuckles. "It's pretty awesome."

"Awesome isn't the word." You laugh and plop down on a hay bale next to a smiley homemade scarecrow. "It's a dream, Shawn."

"I'm glad." He thumbs toward a nearby caramel apple stand. "Let's get a snack and start this day right huh?"

"You read my mind."

_________________________________

You and Shawn spend the whole late morning into the early afternoon wandering around, checking out the entire lay out of the pumpkin patch. You grab cider around eleven and then cocoa at noon. A late lunch consists of a shared smoked turkey leg, a funnel cake and some tomato salad that was being made fresh by some little old ladies at a booth near the center of the patch. The food is incredible and you and Shawn take turns feeding each other bites of this and that, giggling when one of you ends up with powdered sugar on your face from the funnel cake.

Spending time like this with Shawn is the best and worst thing to ever happen to you. It's a glimpse at what life with him would be like if you were together. Your heart swells every time he leans in to say something about the scenery that he’s noticed because you think he's going to kiss you.

Lunch wraps up and Shawn goes to toss your trash in a nearby oak barrel that's set up as a trashcan. He dusts his hands off on his jeans and pulls his sweater off over his head. "Here," he holds it out to you and you raise your eyebrows.

"Why do I want it?"

"Because you're going to get cold on the hayrack ride."

"Psh no I won't."

"Yeah you will." Shawn bunches up the sweater from the bottom up and holds it out for you to put your arms in. "Come on, I know you wanna."

You stick your arms out and he helps you get the sleeves over them and tugs the sweater down so your head pops through the neck hole. "It's so warm." You look down and pull out the soft knit fabric that's far too large on you. "You must be like a thousand degrees."

Shawn shrugs. "I'm always hot. You've slept with me, you know that."

"I-I-" You freeze, brain definitely going down a very different road from what Shawn means.

"Yes?" He chuckles.

"I have not slept with you."

"Well, not like that but... y'know." He shrugs and you knit your brows together.

What does that mean? Y'know what? What do you know? Does he want to sleep with you like that? What...just what?

Shawn waves his hand in your face. "Hey, earth to space cadet. The hayrack ride is gonna be boarding soon."

"Oh! Yeah!" You shake your head and start walking toward the signs pointing to the line for it. Shawn follows close behind, throwing his arm around your shoulders and leaning his head on yours.

You and Shawn take a seat at the back of the ride on a hay bale covered with a red plaid blanket. He's completely right about you needing his sweater. It is a lot colder up off the ground with the breeze from the moving ride blowing around you.

"Look, there's the pumpkins!" Shawn says, pointing to the left.

You look over through the slats of the walls of the ride. Sure enough there is a sea of orange pumpkins and deep green leaves that are yellowing with age as the plants are ready to be picked. There are a couple of very big ones and you definitely need one of those. You don't care how you get it to the car, you need it.

"Check those out," you say, pointing out the massive pumpkins.

"Holy cow those gotta be like fifty pounds."

"I want one."

"Okay."

You sit back and stare at him with your eyes wide. "Okay? You're not gonna convince me to get a few small ones instead?"

"Nope." He grins. "I'll buy you that pumpkin there."

"What's the catch?"

"No catch."

You narrow your eyes but don't argue the deal any further. He must have some motive. There has to be some catch. Maybe he'll say you have to move it or something. Seems fishy.

The ride stops at the entrance to the pumpkin picking area and you and Shawn get off with a few other visitors. There are tons of great pumpkins all around but you waste no time heading for the giant ones.

"How are you going to lift that?" Shawn pipes up as you reach them.

"Well, that's why I've got you."

"Oh? I'm gonna lift that?"

"Please?" You pout your lip out. "You said you'd buy it for me."

"I did." He chuckles, circling the giant orange mass. "I sure did."

"Regretting that?"

"Absolutely not."

You put your hands into the sleeves of Shawn's sweater and put them over your ears. They're cold and you wish you'd brought a hat or even some earmuffs. "Can I get it? For real?"

"Yes." Shawn kneels down and lifts the pumpkin up with ease. "Let's go."

"Isn't that heavy?"

"Not that heavy." He smirks and you walk next to him out of the patch to the line of employees waiting with ATVs that have little trailers attached for carrying visitors pumpkins to their cars or to the front entrance to drop them off until they leave.

"Name and car description?" The woman at the ATV asks as Shawn loads up the pumpkin.

"Ah-"

"Mendes with an s. Black four door Jeep Wrangler." Shawn says, dusting his hands off. "We'll pick it up at the gates."

"Alrighty." The woman scribbles down Shawn's information and peels a sticker of her clipboard to put on the pumpkin. "You got a big one eh?"

"Yes." Shawn wraps his arms around you and lays his chin on top of your head. "Biggest one for my best friend."

"That's so sweet. Would you like to pay here or at the gate?"

"Here." Shawn pulls his wallet out and hands over a ten dollar bill, the rate for extra large pumpkins from the yard. "Thank you ma'am."

"It's what we do," she says with a smile and a tip of her floppy straw hat. "I'll see this baby up to the gates. Have a friendly fun time!"

You and Shawn wave her off as she drives away with your pumpkin.

Shawn pulls away from you and grabs your sweater covered hands. "Wanna go over to the barn and feed the horses?"

You glance over at the big red barn where they show the horses and cattle throughout the day. "Sure. It doesn't look took busy."

Shawn turns around and squats down. "Get on my back, I'll carry you over there."

"What? Why? I can walk!" You laugh and he pats his back.

"Come on!"

"Okay okay, don't have to tell me twice." You climb on his back and he hoists you up so he can hook his arms under your legs. It reminds you of when you were nine and you first met. Shawn was big then too, tall for his age and athletic as ever being in hockey almost year round. He would always give you piggy back rides around the yard to catch lightning bugs on hot summer nights.

Shawn drops you off on a haybale near the first stall inside the barn. There is literally no one in there at the moment and you have the place all to yourselves. "I'm going to get a couple of drinks. Any preference?"

"Cider is fine. Hot please."

He disappears and you lean back against the old wooden wall. Today has been one of the best days of your life hands down. It's everything you love all wrapped into one, a pumpkin patch, oversized sweaters, hot cider, pumpkin picking...Shawn. You sigh and chuckle to yourself. Did Shawn realize how romantic this is? Did he have any clue how it must seem to any stranger passing by? The two of you would be the cutest couple. The dynamic is there, but what you lack is a pair of balls to say or do anything.

"Hot cider." Shawn says, handing you your brown paper cup and sitting down on the hay bale opposite you. "Fresh too."

"Thanks." You smile as you sip the warm spicy sweet liquid.

Shawn stares out at the corral nearby, eyes catching and sparkling in the late afternoon sun. He's gorgeous. Everything about him makes your heart soar. From his soft eyes to his slightly rough hands curled delicately around his paper cup, he is truly the only person you've cared so deeply for.

"Can I ask you something?" You say softly, barely realizing you've spoken. Too late to take it back now.

"Anything."

"Why haven't we ever gone out?"

He chuckles, a wide smile spreading across his face like wildfire. "Haven't we though?"

"No?"

"Can I tell you something?"

You lean forward, setting your cup beside your folded legs on the hay bale. "Of course, anything."

"This was supposed to be a date." He bites his lip and looks down, thumb circling the spout of his lid. "I was going to ask you out, like, for real."

"W-what?"

"Yeah." He laughs, looking up, anywhere but at you. "I chickened out though. I didn't ask you, I just sort of handed you the tickets and said let's go. Which in retrospect was fine, but it's definitely not what I had planned on doing."

"You wanted to take me on a date?"

"Yeah?"

"You...you want to be more than friends?"

Shawn rubs the back of his neck. "Shit, I guess? It's weird. You make me happier than literally anyone I've ever dated. You get my jokes and you sass me right back when I get smart with you. You're really beautiful and sexy in this crazy everyday way without even trying. And you're so smart and- how could I not want to date you? I've literally been so stupid for my entire life because I-"

You lean across the hay bale and press your lips to his. It's a moment you've been waiting for since you were thirteen years old and first realized you had feelings for him. You didn't expect to be the one initiating the kiss but here you are and there Shawn is. You pull back and Shawn just gawks at you.

"That was...you...you taste like apple cider."

You giggle. "You do too, dork."

"Can we do it again?" He asks, putting his cup aside and leaning toward you. "I think I need another taste."

"Mmhmm."

Shawn cups your cheeks and brings you in, kissing you lovingly like this is his way of making up for the last twelve years of your lives. He tugs you forward gently and you crawl over onto his lap, straddling his thighs as you grip his hair. It's been forever since he's had a haircut and it's a bit long, soft as can be, curly and absolutely grabable.

"Hey," he mutters, pulling back just enough to break the kiss. He bumps his nose to yours and you open your eyes to see his beautiful green and gold flecked hazel ones staring back at you. "Do you wanna go out with me?"

You smile and nudge his nose with yours once more. "I thought you'd never ask."

End.

----------------------

Please Reblog if you read, enjoyed, or just want to save for later!

Thank you so much for reading this piece!  - A

*****Note: none of my works should be posted anywhere outside of my linked accounts. I do not give permission to repost with or without credit to my accounts. Please notify me of any reposted fics.*****

[justacouplebandfics]

We’ve got scars on our future hearts (Jalex) - Chapter 1

Description: Alex dealt with self harm when he was younger, that's over now though- he's better, until he's not. Struggling with the idea of self harming as an adult Alex keeps the issue to himself, but living on a tour bus with your band there's only so long you can keep something a secret.

Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of self harm

It’s also available here on Wattpad, and you can find the masterlist here. 

Disclaimer: All self harm is valid self harm, all notions of 'real' self harm discussed in this fic come from a place of internal struggle.

Alex's POV

I flopped down on my bunk, exhausted from tonight's show- it was amazing, the crowd, the lights, I never get tired of it- looking out to the sea of smiling fans I'm always reminded how lucky I am to have made it like this. I couldn't ask for better band mates, the tour is going incredibly well, which is why it's just so hard to comprehend why I feel so down sometimes. It feels so selfish. There are people who have genuine problems who get up every day and get on with it and I'm sat here miserable for no good reason.

Pulling the curtain to my bunk closed I reach up to the little shelf and grab my sunglasses pouch, opening it and reaching into the little back pocket I sit and look at the small collection of blades. There's a couple I jimmied out of a pencil sharpener years ago and a new box cutter blade I brought the other week, I let out a tense breath as I pick it up and set it down on the duvet in front of me.

I struggled with self harm when I was younger, honestly I'm pretty sure with how the world is nowadays you'd be hard pushed to find someone that didn't at least think about it at that age. By younger I mean high school, your so-called glory days, even though it's only the privilege few who seem to get to actually enjoy it. It was never anything terrible- cat scratches really, yeah my thighs are absolutely riddled with scars but I can't remember ever cutting myself in a way that was any kind of impressive.

It got better after high school, All Time Low kicked off and I didn't even think about it for a while, kind of just forgot it was ever a thing- every now and then things got a bit too stressful and I'd return to it but I'd knock it off within a few days. I'm an adult, this isn't the way adults deal with their problems, it felt embarrassing to do it, childish.

I don't even remember what brought it back this time- I was alone on the bus one evening, a rare occurrence, and I just did it. I wasn't even particularly sad or angry, the urge just came out of nowhere and overwhelmed my mind. I never got rid of the blades from high school, they sat unused in an old sunglasses pouch for some glasses I hadn't picked up since high school either, so it was just too easy to go back to my bunk and slice up my thighs. I know I should have thrown them out, or not brought them with me, but a little part of my brain kept telling me at some point I'll relapse again and need them, and I guess it was right.

It wasn't anything awful that time either, three shallow cuts at the top of my thigh, on the clean scar-free skin I hadn't touched in my high school days. The clean up process was so familiar it was almost comforting, wiping up the blood, sticking on a bandage, pulling up my skinny jeans trying not to let them drag against it. I sat back down in the front lounge all too aware of the pain on my right thigh as Jack and Rian walked in, all smiles from meeting some fans. I plastered on a smile too and pretended everything was fine.

After blankly staring at the blade in front of my for what feels like forever I let out another tense breath and pick it up, pressing the sharp corner into the pad of my thumb, trying to find a reason for wanting to do this tonight. I can hear the guys' voices faintly from the front lounge, laughing about something; I think to myself for a moment that I could just put this away, I could go out there and laugh and have fun, I don't have to do this, but almost immediately the overwhelming urges drown those thoughts out.

I feel like I'm running on autopilot as I slip the blade into the back of my phone case, get out of my bunk and grab my towel from where it's hanging. Walking towards the front of the bus I crack open the door to the lounge, peeking my head around "Hey guys, I'm gonna hop in the shower real quick- was anyone waiting?" With only one shower on the bus and some venues not having any in the green room you can very quickly find yourself 5 deep in a queue to get clean after a show. My brain might be overrun with urges to slice my thighs open at the moment but I'm not about to be a queue-jumping asshole.

"Nah, you're all good" Jack pipes up from the couch, giving me a toothy grin that makes my stomach twist up. It's not that I feel guilty about them being sad or worried if they find out, it's the sheer embarrassment of it- this is something I did when I was younger and didn't know any better, it's not something you're meant to do as an adult. I can just imagine the looks of judgement if they ever saw, the mocking pity, I just couldn't do it.

After some sounds of agreement from the other guys, way more interested in whatever movie was on than who was in the shower, I shut the door and pick out a pair of joggers from my wardrobe as I head to the bathroom. Locking the door behind me I reach into the shower and turn it on, facing the shower head towards the wall. After shimmying out of my skinny jeans I put the toilet lid down and take a seat, pulling the blade out from the back of my phone case, balancing it on my thigh.

I bite at my bottom lip as I try to conjure up a reason for doing this again, coming up completely blank. My mind just feels like static at the moment and this is the only way I know how to stop it.

Fuck this is so stupid.

I pick up the blade and press the corner into my thigh, just below the ones from yesterday, slowly dragging it across my skin. The familiar pin prick pain lights up my thigh as I see little beads of blood start to form. Grabbing some toilet paper I wipe it away, repositioning my blade at the start of the cut again and going in for another swipe. I carry on like that for a little while- swipe, bleed, wipe, until there are 4 cuts, definitely not deep enough for any kind of medical attention, but deep enough to gape a bit.

I sit and admire them for a moment, I'm almost proud- the cuts now are so much deeper than they were in high school, they feel more like real self harm, but they still aren't deep enough. I press a clean piece of tissue to them to soak up the blood while I clean off the blade, drying it and slipping it back into my phone case. I pick up the paper and take another look, now the blood is wiped up I can see the 4 white lines, the gaping showing off the exposed dermis clearly.

Standing up I pick up all the bloodied tissues and throw them into the toilet, checking to see if I accidentally got any blood anywhere in the bathroom. Satisfied all the evidence of my sins is in the toilet bowl I step into the shower, mentally bracing myself for the stinging sensation that will come when I turn the shower head onto myself.

I stand under the stream for a while, having already showered earlier I don't feel the need to wash myself again, just wiping away any of the already dried blood on my thigh. I let the slightly-too-hot water burn my back as I press my forehead against the cool shower door, the shame starting to set in. At least my head feels clearer now, calmer.

I step out and dry off, grabbing the medical kit stashed under the sink and securing a bandage over the new cuts- trying to avoid placing the tape over the assortment of scabs already present. Throwing on the joggers and the t-shirt I came in with I flush the toilet and head back out to my bunk, making sure the curtain is shut firmly behind me before transferring the blade back to its rightful place.

I make my way to the front lounge, sitting myself down next to Jack who's sprawled out over one of the couches. Matt and Zack are sat on the floor, eyes glued to the TV, and Rian's taking up the other couch, half dozing off as he tries to follow the movie. I don't recognise it, and I don't bother to ask either, it looks like it's a fair way in and I hate being the person who keeps interrupting the movie to ask people to explain what's happening.

Instead I look to Jack, flashing him a quick smile which he promptly returns before turning back to the TV.

---

I'm not sure when I dozed off but it must've been a while ago because when I open my eyes it's just me and Jack in the lounge, and the TV has been switched off.

"Hey, sorry I didn't want to wake you, you looked so tired" I hear Jack say from above me- it's only now that I realise I've been lying with my head on his shoulder. Not that that matters, we've been best friends for years, we're ridiculously comfortable around each other.

I sit upright and shift to face him, leaning my elbow on the back of the couch, still a bit groggy "When did the others head to bed?" I ask.

"I dunno, maybe an hour ago?"

"Hmm," I hum, blinking away the fog of sleep and looking around.

"So two showers tonight, huh?" Jack asks, still looking down at his phone, mindlessly scrolling through twitter. I try to sus what he's getting at, my mind instantly jumping to 'he knows', I must have taken too long to respond because he looks away from his phone for a minute and gives me a slightly puzzled look "Lex?"

"Oh, yeah! Sweaty one, small venues are so nostalgic but damn do they get hot" I finally get out, playing off the delayed response as plain grogginess, laughing a bit. Jack chuckles and goes back to scrolling, I'd hoped nobody would've noticed I took two showers- I was one of the first back on the bus so I hopped in first right after the show, despite Jack's goofiness though he can be pretty observant sometimes. I push the question out of my mind as I stand up and stretch.

"I'm gonna head to bed, I'll catch you tomorrow" I say to Jack as I start walking towards the door.

"Night Lex" Jack calls back.

"Night Jack" I reply, shutting the door behind me and slipping into my bunk.

[eddie-boii]

Never Let You Go (Part 3/14)

Fic info: Both Eddie and Stan live because I do what I want. Multichapter.

Rating: Teen and up (may change). Strong language.

Pairings: Reddie, Benverly.

Ao3 link: here

Summary: The Losers prepare for a wedding. Here’s a dinner gathering including Stan that we were robbed of.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

*

“Time to place bets,” said Richie as the Losers - including Ben who they’d met with on the way back from shopping - stepped foot over the threshold of the restaurant. “How long ‘til we get kicked out of this place?”

“Ten minutes,” said Stanley.

“Harsh.”

“Five if you sit next to Eddie.”

Richie placed a hand over his heart in feigned offence. “You wound me.”

“He’s guh-got a point,” said Bill and Richie thumped his arm.

The waitress who met them at the door led the group to their reserved table in a private corner where they’d be least likely to disrupt other guests. It was so familiar, the Losers Club all taking their seats around a large round table to eat and laugh and catch up on each other’s lives after so long apart. But it was so different, too. They still had their memories, there was no weight of a malevolent entity resting in the air above them, and there were no seats left empty.

Stanley sat between Bill and Beverly, glasses perched on his nose as he scanned the menu. “So everything's on you, right Ben?” he said, looking up at his friend with a playful and slightly mischievous smile.

“You wish,” said Ben, flicking a crumb of complimentary bread at him. “I know for a fact every one of you is well off.”

“I vote Bill pays,” said Richie. “He’s just got that new hit book out. Bestseller. With an actually decent ending.”

“Fuck off,” said Bill, the corner of his mouth tilted up. “Didn’t you just get a contract for a rrr-r-radio show? If anyone’s paying, it's you, jackass.”

“That was supposed to be a big surprise!” Richie protested. “Now the big reveal I planned is ruined!”

“You’ll just have to think of something else,” said Mike. “Congrats anyway, man.”

“Let’s save the toasts ‘til we have drinks,” said Beverly, flagging down a waitress. 

“Do you have a gluten-free menu?” Eddie asked once the waitress had arrived.

“No fucking way are you hypoglycaemic too,” Richie snorted.

“No, but there have been studies to suggest gluten increases your risk of intestinal cancer-”

“That’s such bullshit.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, are you a doctor?”

“Three minutes,” said Stanley which shut them both up for the time being.

“Alright, I’ll need you to give the chef a list of my allergies,” Eddie said, returning to speaking with the waitress, the poor girl looking a little terrified under his intense expression. “It’s very important. I could realistically die.”

Richie listened to him ramble off a list of food items about a mile long and marvelled at how he had anything left to eat. He spoke so fast, so passionate about everything, his hands flying all over the place as he spoke, and Richie felt kind of bad for the waitress who was frantically trying to scribble everything down in her notebook, but Ben would no doubt give the girl an enormous tip to make up for everything, so he didn’t dwell on it much, just watched Eddie’s face as it cycled through about a million expressions.

“Richie?”

Richie blinked and looked up to see that another waitress had arrived to ease off some of the workload from the first, and the rest of the Losers were looking at him expectantly.

“Drinks?” Beverly prompted when Richie just stared at them all blankly.

“Shots!” said Richie instantly, clapping his hands together. If he was already getting distracted by Eddie, he sure as hell needed alcohol to get through the rest of dinner. 

“No way. You are at least staying semi-sober tonight,” said Beverly. “He’ll have a beer.”

Richie pouted at her but didn’t protest, and the waitresses finally went away. Drinks arrived, then food - a huge sharing platter of sushi - and the Losers slipped easily into comfortable conversation, laughing and joking and reminding each other of embarrassing moments from childhood, then catching up on their lives.

“So, Stan, you and the missus went on a trip with Mike, right?”

“Yeah, it was great until he tried to push me into the grand canyon.”

“That was an accident!”

“It so was not!”

Another round of beers came and went, empty bottles piling up in the centre of the table.

“So the divorce finally went through, Eds?”

“Yep.”

“Did your mom make it difficult?”

“Her name is Myra, and no, it was fine.”

“That easy?”

“We had a prenup. I’m a fucking risk analyst, you think I wouldn’t be prepared?”

The sushi plates emptied and the second-course was served. Richie finally persuaded Beverly to let him order shots and downed three in one go.

“So you two, like, got a dog? What’s its name?”

“She’s called Ember-”

“Is that after that fucking poem?!”

“That’s adorable.”

“I just threw up in my mouth you two are disgusting.”

“Shut up, Trashmouth.”

Once Richie was drunk enough that he lost any trace of verbal filter he may have possessed, the Losers inevitably turned the conversation on him.

“So about this radio show,” said Ben.

Richie was leaning his chair back on two legs precariously, eyes closed and smiling vaguely at the warm, full feeling in his chest, though whether it was being around his friends or just the surplus amounts of alcohol he wasn’t sure. “What about it?” he said, slurring the words a little.

“Come on, man, I know you’re dying to brag about it,” said Mike. “Why the big change?”

Richie tipped his chair back to all four legs and shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you guys. My manager booted me after I bombed my show and fucked off to my childhood home to do shit I couldn’t tell him about, so I ended up with a new guy who thinks I’d be a great radio personality.”

“Are you actually gonna do your own jokes?” said Eddie.

“You know what, Eddie-spaghetti? I am.” He waved his hands in the air vaguely. “Whole fresh start, ya know?”

“That’s great, Rich!” said Bill, leaning across the table to give Richie a friendly bump on the shoulder.

“Wait, wait,” said Stanley, “how come you weren’t writing your own jokes before?”

“Hey, it wasn’t like I didn’t try!” said Richie suddenly feeling a little sick and wishing he had listened to Beverly telling him not to drink so much. “My old manager just didn’t go for it.”

“How come?” said Ben.

Richie waved his hand and grunted. “I dunno, jj-just uh -” Shit he was really drunk. “It was a lot of, like, personal shit, ya know? Dude said no one would relate and it would flop I guess.”

“What kind of personal shit?” said Eddie who suddenly seemed a lot more attentive.

Richie swallowed. “Just- just shit.” He waved a hand again and suddenly became very aware that all the Losers were looking at him. “I- fuck.” He rubbed a hand down his face, dislodging his glasses, then grabbed a glass of water and splashed a little on his face. He was way too drunk to start talking about personal stuff, but here he was. “Guys, I gotta tell you something.”

“What’s up, man?” said Bill, concern clear on his brow. Damn that bastard for being such thoughtful friend.

“I, uh, shit.” Richie pressed his palms to his eyes to avoid looking at his friends, his glasses pushed up over his knuckles. “I’m, uh, I’m… How do I put this eloquently? Super fucking gay.”

The room was silent with just the lull of other customers in the background, and Richie lowered his hands just enough to peek through his fingers at his friends, a part of him expecting awkward silence, disgust, loathing… But they were all grinning.

“That’s great, man,” said Bill.

“Proud of you, Rich,” said Stan.

“Thanks for telling us, honey,” said Bev, squeezing his knee under the table.

Richie blinked at them. “You, uh, don’t seem surprised…” His friends glanced sheepishly at each other. “Don’t you fucking dare tell me you already knew!”

“Of course we didn’t know!” said Stanley. “You never told us, how could we know?”

“We suspected,” said Mike slowly. “A little…”

“You overcompensate a lot, man,” said Ben apologetically. 

“Way too many ‘your mom’ jokes,” agreed Eddie.

“Well, that’s just fucking great!” said Richie, throwing up his hands. “This shit’s been eating away at me for fucking years, I had that dumb fucking clown mocking me for it, and you’re telling me I was a fucking coward for nothing!”

“You're not a cuh-c-coward, Rich, you’re the b-bravest of us all,” said Bill, his expression one of utmost honestly. 

“No one can blame you after growing up in that crap-town,” said Stanley. “Be proud, Rich. You’re the first of us to openly say anything.”

“The first-” Richie repeated, then stopped, looking around at his friends with wide eyes as they all nervously fiddled with drinks and avoided eye contact. “Are you fucking telling me I don’t even get to be the token gay in the Losers Club?!”

“Oh, honey, this has always been more of a ‘token straight’ club,” said Beverly, nudging her thumb not-so-subtly at Ben.

“I was born this way, I can’t help it,” Ben shrugged.

“Seriously?” said Richie, looking at each of his friends in turn before his eyes finally landed on Eddie. “Et tu, Eduardo?” he said, part of him dreading the answer, whichever it may be.

Eddie glanced up at him, pulling that awkward white boy, no-lipped smile. “Why do you think I got a divorce?”

“Coz you married your fucking mom!” said Richie because this seemed obvious. 

“Other reasons, too,” said Eddie, acting way too interested in his glass of water. “We never, uh-” He coughed. “Never managed to… consummate anything.”

Richie gaped open-mouthed at him, then burst out laughing. “Holy fucking shit, Eds!” he exclaimed, tears in his eyes as the other Losers tried to hide their own snickers behind their hands. “Are you still a fucking virgin?”

“No, I’m not a fucking virgin you fucking asshole,” said Eddie, instantly back to his usual defensive self.

“Are you sure about that?”

“If anyone’s a fucking virgin here, it’s you, dickwad!”

“Just coz I managed to fuck your mom and you didn’t.”

“We just established you’re fucking gay and you’re still at it with the ‘your mom’ jokes?!”

“Guys, GUYS!” Beverly interrupted, having to shout just to be heard over their bickering. She held her glass aloft. “I propose another toast before we get kicked out again.”

“To you and Ben,” said Bill, raising his glass too.

“To leaving that shit-hole town behind us,” said Mike.

“To Rich,” said Eddie, glancing at Richie and smiling slightly in a rare moment of softness.

“To not being straight,” said Stan.

“Do I join this one?” Ben whispered to Beverly.

“Sweetheart, you’re marrying me, you have to join whether you like it or not,” Beverly replied.

“To the Losers Club!” yelled Richie, and they all brought their glasses to the centre of the table, the chimes ringing out across the restaurant as they clashed lightly together. 

They all downed their drinks and fell back into their seats as one, and Richie leaned back and looked around the table at each of his friends in turn. To Beverly, Ben, Stan, Bill, Mike, and to Eddie. His family, who loved him unconditionally, who accepted him as he was and always would. He smiled softly to himself.

To the Losers.

*

Previous Next

[luckyspike]

Adventures in America, Ch. 7 - The Mix-Up Kid

In which the storm chasers enjoy the delights of a Waffle House

Adam learns Warlock’s birthday

And a storm brews ahead

Yes, figuratively, but also literally. This is a tornado-chasing fanfiction, honestly. Did you think I wouldn’t actually put a tornado in the damn thing?

Start from the beginning: ch. 1 | ch. 2 | ch. 3 | ch. 4 | ch. 5 | ch. 6

or follow this link to my fanfiction tag

-

Adam could have whooped when Noel informed him and Lucky that they wouldn’t be meeting in the lobby until eight the next morning. “There’s gonna be storms, probably to the northeast, but it’ll be afternoon by the looks of it. Get some sleep tonight, boys, an’ we can meet up for a late breakfast and decide where we’re headed.”

They didn’t unpack much - pajamas, toothbrushes, and that was about it. Adam took a hot shower, quick as he could, and when he got out, he found Lucky laying on top of his covers, earbuds in, face-timing with a friend. Adam gave him a thumbs-up - his turn for the shower if he wanted it - and settled onto his own bed, pulling his phone out and making sure he was connected to the wifi before he texted his parents to see if they were awake - they hadn’t been, but they were so eager to hear from him that they took his call, voices thick with sleep but happy nonetheless. He could hear Dog snoring on their bed in the background.

They were happy to talk to him. They were glad to hear he was having fun, and reminded him to be careful and stay safe. He told them about Lucky, and Noel and Rachael, and everything he’d learned so far. “It sounds like a good experience,” Arthur Young said. “Just ah … you do know when the tornadoes are coming, don’t you?”

“I mean, largely. They can be unpredictable.” He heard his mother make a worried noise. “No, mum, but like, they have this program called Baron, it’s running all the time, and it shows radar and gives warnings, and Rachael and Noel have been doing this for ages, so they’re really good at it too. And careful.” He considered telling them about the safety precautions Noel had reviewed earlier, but considered that the things he had warned them against might actually be more alarming than the safety instructions that followed, and he decided to leave it out. “Anyway, you don’t need to worry, promise. How’s things at home?”

“All well and good,” his mother replied. “We miss you of course, and Dog misses you - he was sniffing around in your room the day you left - but Anathema said she’d have a word with him and he’s settled down since then.” He heard the dog’s collar jingle as his mother, or father maybe, presumably gave him a scritch behind the ears. “He’s a very good boy.”

Adam grinned at the unmistakable sound of a small dog’s tail wagging so hard it was beating against the bed cover. “Aw, yeah. Give him a hug for me, yeah?”

“Of course, love. Arthur, hug Dog, would you? He’s closer to you.” Adam’s mother yawned, drowning out some of the grumbles in the background and the sounds of more happy tail-wagging. “Have you spoken to your friends? Oh, and Anathema and Newt asked about you this afternoon.”

“Not yet, figured it’s kind of late. I’ll send an email.” He yawned as well, prompted by his mother. “Maybe in the morning. You can tell them I’m good though, if you see anybody.” He yawned again. “Sorry, I’m kind of beat.”

“Jet lag,” his father answered sagely. “You ought to get some rest then, Adam.”

“You guys too,” the boy added earnestly. “Sorry to call so early - I’m all messed up with the time zones -”

“No, Adam, we’ve been waiting to hear from you.” He smiled, and the slight ache of homesickness that had settled in his chest as soon as he’d boarded the plane lifted a little at the warmth in her voice. “Text anytime, love, and we’ll talk if we can.” She blew a kiss into the phone. “But get some rest for now, alright? Sleep well, and let us know how tomorrow goes!”

“Will do, Mum, Dad. Talk to you guys later. Lots of love.” He ended the call, and sat back against the pillows, continuing to tap on his phone, sending the video of the hail storm off to the group and his sister. To his surprise, Pep texted back almost immediately, sending a message of ‘Dude what!’. He paused. Then he called.

“Hey storm rider!” she answered. “What’s up, Adam? Cool video!”

He couldn’t help but grin. “Hah. What are you doing up?”

“Driving in to London with the girls later today, and I couldn’t sleep. Hopefully Addie is willing to drive because I’m going to be napping.” She yawned. “So how’s America?”

“Crazy.” He laughed. “I went to Dunkin Donuts this morning.”

“Mm. America runs on Dunkin, I’m told. You meet anyone cool?”

“Well, the people I’m with are really cool.” She made a curious little noise. “So there’s Noel and Rachael, the guides - I told you about them. They’re super nice. And I think between the two of them they might know everything about weather. We drove for like, 11 hours today, and you know we only went through two entire states?”

“Wow.”

“And I napped for part of it but a lot of it they were teaching us stuff … Man, Pep, there’s so much.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I know you guys always made fun of me for how much I talk about weather sometimes, but honestly I don’t know like … anything.”

“Well, maybe not compared to the experts,” she teased. “But compared to me and Brian and Wensley you know way more than any of us.” She coughed. “So who’s ‘us’ on your trip? There’s another student?”

“Oh! Yeah. He’s cool.” Adam heard the shower shut off, and wondered how much he should really say. “He’s American, but he lived in London for a while, he said. You know, I think his dad might have even worked at the air base?”

“No,” Pepper laughed. “No way. Only you, Adam, would find the one American in the entire world who even knows about Tadfield and grew up in London. And of course he’s obsessed with weather. You should find out if he lived in Tadfield at any point, like when he was a baby or something.”

Adam considered it. “Nah,” he said at length.”What’re the odds?” He yawned, as Lucky stepped out of the bathroom, dressed only in boxers, scrubbing his hair dry with a towel. “I’m sure we’ll talk about it at some point.”

“You’d better. Tired?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, me too.” He heard the sound of sheets and pillows being pushed around. “Might try to get a couple hours before I have to go.”

“‘M gonna go to sleep too.” He let his eyes drift closed. “Jet lag’s brutal.”

“I bet. And all that time in the car probably didn’t help.” She yawned again. “Can you send us more videos tomorrow?”

“If I see anything, yeah.”

“You think you might?”

“Dunno. Everything’s supposed to happen in the afternoon, so we’re gonna wait to see what the morning looks like.”

“Well. Send us stuff even if you don’t see anything. Send us videos of weird Americans.”

“Yeah, okay. Talk to you later, Pep.” He hung up the phone, laughing while he did so.

Lucky flopped into his own bed, yanking the covers up over himself. “Friends?”

“Yeah, back home. Pepper.”

“Isn’t England like … six hours ahead of us?”

“Yeah.” Adam shrugged. “I dunno, she said she was up. Figured I’d give her a call.” He grinned at his phone, before locking the screen and plugging it in to charge. “I sent the gang a video of the hail. Most of them prob’ly never seen hail that big before.”

“Yeah, that was wild.” He folded his hands behind his head. “Hope we get a tornado tomorrow.”

“That’d be cool.” He sighed. “Pep told me to send more videos. Said if there wasn’t anything interesting in the weather I could send her videos of crazy Americans.”

Lucky laughed. “I’ll act extra crazy tomorrow if we don’t get any weather. You can send her a video.”

“I’m not sure she’d count you since you grew up in London.”

“Nah, only until I was eleven, and even then other than the like … the housekeepers and the gardner, everyone was American. Well, except Nanny. But she was Scottish.” He shrugged. “Then my dad got reassigned back to the States and I’ve lived stateside ever since. So I’m pretty American.”

“Eleven?” Adam asked, pointedly not opening his eyes. “Huh.”

“Yeah it was weird.” Lucky yawned. “There was this whole thing in the middle east and then boom, back to America, no more England. Honestly, I think my mom was just sick of random diplomatic trips. I’ll tell you about it some time, that whole trip to the middle east was so weird.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, faintly, feigning fatigue. “Yeah, gotta remember to tell me about it. Never been to the middle east.”

“You’re not missing anything. Avocado farms and weird professors and that’s about it, far as I remember.” He shut the light off, and rolled over, away from Adam. “G’night, dude.”

“Night,” said Adam, on autopilot. Minutes later, he heard quiet snoring, and all the better, because his mind was racing.

Most eighteen-year-old boys are, by nature, not particularly introspective. They may be bright, the may be clever, they may be well-educated and top of their class and very high-achieving, but it’s the rare boy who is capable of reflecting on all of the information presented to him, reconciling it with what he already knows, and then reaching accurate, logical conclusions that may be distressing to him. Often, denial worms its way in early, and until the correct answer knocks the boy in question directly on the head, the powerful lure of denial will always draw him away, convince him that another conclusion is more likely, or more desirable.

Adam Young, though, was not most eighteen-year-old boys. To start, he was the Antichrist, even if he’d turned his back on that years ago and preferred not to think of himself in those terms. Further, he was quietly introspective, a trait he’d developed due to, well, being the Antichrist, and always, in spite of himself, watching his own thoughts for hints of Not Being Adam. Messing About. Antichristly things, essentially.

That could be to his advantage even now, though. And right now, his mind was cranking into overdrive, combing through what he knew. Warlock Dowling - father might have worked in Tadfield, was working in England when Warlock - Lucky - was born, Lucky was raised in England. Satanist nanny and monk gardner. Random trip to the middle east when he was eleven, followed by a sudden departure from London, never to return to the UK again. Or the middle east, come to think of it.

Adam wondered if he had stayed in touch with anybody from London. Particularly, the nanny and the gardner.

It all sounded very suspicious.

“We would have been with you from the beginning, you know, but there was a mix-up,” Aziraphale had told him once, years ago. Adam remembered that he’d gone to Aziraphale crying - it happened sometimes, more then but still these days, blessedly rarely - about what he’d done in the few brief hours when he really was the Antichrist. The things he might have brought about. The fate he and the world had so narrowly avoided. “We would have loved to be with you.” Adam remembered how the angel had hugged him, stroked his hair, dried his tears. “It was an unfair burden to lay at your feet, Adam, and Crowley and I always wanted to help but … there was a mistake. Best laid plans, and all that. It doesn’t undo what was done, and I am frightfully sorry about the lead-up, the way we treated - or didn’t treat - you, but know that had we known, we would have been there. But Adam, even then, you were brilliant. You are brilliant.”

There was a mix-up.

Warlock Dowling snored gently.

- 

The next morning dawned hot and humid. Lucky and Adam woke with the alarm around nine, and lazily set about getting ready for the day. Adam checked his phone to find messages from his friends about the hail storm (“don’t let those brain you,” from his sister and, “dude what if it hits you,” from Brian), replied when he felt it was indicated, and pulled on a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt. Lucky was ready to go shortly after, and they stepped out of the motel room and into the air. Lucky made a noise of disgust.

“Talk about humid.”

“Ugh, yeah,” Adam agreed, trying to ignore how his t-shirt was already sticking to his skin, even though he’d only just come outside. “Good storm weather though, yeah?”

“Should be. I’m sure we’ll get a look at the radar over breakfast.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get us a tornado today, huh?”

“Or some serious hail,” Adam agreed. A part of him - a large part of him - wanted to say sod it to the weather and have a serious talk with Lucky about his upbringing, his birth, his life to that point. How old was Lucky? They were roughly the same age, Adam knew that, but they could easily be a year or so apart, and all of the stuff that sounded suspiciously occult might have just been a coincidence. After all, it was all relatively easy to explain, in the harsh light and oppressive humidity of the Oklahoma day: American diplomat posted at a British airbase, family moved to the nearest metropolitan area, lived there for years, made a brief foray to the middle east - and America was so involved there around that time, Adam remembered, that that was hardly unusual - and then returned to America. Unusual, certainly, but not … occult. And having a diplomat for a father wasn’t exactly commonplace, so even then a bit of unusual-ness could be forgiven.

The Scottish Satanist nanny, though, reared her presence in his mind. The monk gardner. Good and evil.

Adam shook his head, when he realized that Lucky was speaking to him. They’d walked to the truck together while Adam thought and, on autopilot, he had set his stuff in the bed of the truck and closed the gate. Noel and Rachael were nowhere to be seen, not yet, but Adam thought he heard them talking on the other side of the motel. “Huh?” he said, looking to Lucky.

“Nothing,” the other boy shrugged. “Just talking about the radar. All this moisture and warmth - if we have any cold air from the northwest at all, we run a really good chance of catching a storm today.”

“Yup.” Adam leaned back against the truck and looked around the parking lot idly, arms crossed over his chest in spite of the heat. He met eyes with a stranger - a businessman, by the looks of him, dressed all in brown, with neatly-combed salt-and-pepper hair - that was sitting on the trunk of his rental car, reading a book. The two exchanged taut smiles, and the stranger returned to his book. “Hopefully out in the middle of nowhere, where we can get a good luck without too much people an’ stuff being around.”

“Yeah, that’d be ideal.” Lucky waved to Noel and Rachael as they approached. “Hey guys!”

Rachael raised her thermos in greeting. “Morning morning! You guys ready to hit it? The radar looks pretty good.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yep.” Adam opened the back gate of the truck for her, and she tossed her bag in. “You hungry? I’m starving. Hop in, we’re gonna hit the Waffle House and go over the game plan.”

“No Dunkin?” Lucky looked surprised.

“Gonna mix it up today, get exciting.” Noel snickered. “And also she has her own bag that she used to brew a pot in the room earlier this morning, so she’s already fueled-up.” He dropped his voice to a stage whisper. “She’s an addict, guys, I’m telling you.”

The boys laughed, while Rachael pointed out, “There’s worse things. Alright, load up, we have a storm to talk about, and I want some waffles!”

The Waffle House was such a uniquely American experience that Adam started taking video almost as soon as they entered. From the way the entire restaurant greeted them as they walked in, to the waiter’s accent, to the menu itself, he sent all of the snaps to his friends. There was no reply, not when it was so early in England, but he looked forward to the messages that would probably come through later, after everyone was up. 

He tucked into a truly massive waffle and two eggs for breakfast, topped with a few strips of crispy bacon. It tasted exactly like he’d imagined it would, and he devoured it with gusto, finishing before Rachael even got through her second cup of coffee. Noel, still working at his omelet, pulled his laptop out of his bag and handed it over the table to Adam. “Check out the radar, Adam, and see what you think. There’s some really interesting stuff shaping up; let me know where you think it might be.”

Adam cracked the computer open. Next to him, Lucky studied the screen intently with dark eyes while Adam poked the cursor around the radar screen, randomly at first, and then slowly in a more organized fashion, tracing fronts and pressure systems, gradually hovering more consistently over a spot in mid-Kansas. Lucky nodded, never speaking, when he agreed, pointing at times. Across the table, Noel and Rachael shared companionable silence, Rachael with her coffee cradled in her hands and Noel slowly working at his omelet.

“Ready to show your work?” Rachael gestured to Adam to turn the laptop around, after he and Lucky had exchanged a few words and seemed to settle on a location. “Let’s see it.”

“I think,” Adam said slowly, pointing to the screen, “the best shot of anything happening is going to be right around here.” 

“Hey!” Rachael grinned broadly. “Nice job, guys!”

“Yeah?” They exchanged a high-five. “Yeah!”

“Maybe a little more east,” Noel added, after he’d swallowed his last bite of omelet. “But really good for day two! What made you settle on that area?”

Adam and Warlock traded off explanation duties as Rachael settled up with the waiter, she and Noel adding information and correcting them as needed. In the truck, they settled in, Rachael in the driver’s seat for the first leg, and set course for Kansas. There wouldn’t be as much lecturing today, Noel assured them, and although Adam was eager to learn, he was truthfully a little grateful for the break. As they drove across the plains, he and Lucky put their headphones in, Adam listening to his downloaded playlist of tried-and-true favorites while he took video of the blue skies and white clouds, saving them to send later, when he could get to wi-fi. Around nine, he did get a text from Aziraphale - Crowley’s phone, of course, but the grammar and punctuation gave the angel away - bidding him to stay safe and out of trouble. He smiled, faintly, and settled back in the seat to watch the landscape drift by.

Lunch was sandwiches from a little deli they passed on their way through a town for gas. Adam savored the turkey and cheese in the back of the truck, Noel informing them that the time would be tight for the afternoon storms and they couldn’t afford a proper stop. He must have drifted off after he ate, because the next time he woke it was because Rachael had nudged his knee. She pointed to the screen of her laptop, excited. Adam leaned in. “Look at this,” she said, excited. Adam nudged Lucky, who had likewise drifted asleep with his headphones in, and ignored the muzzy noises the other boy made as he woke. “See the body of it there? It’s been holding steady for the last hour.”

Adam squinted. “Is that a hook echo?” He pointed to a part of the screen. Rachael, thoughtful, turned the screen to look. “Ah, no! But it might be an elephant trunk-type signature …” She studied it for a few seconds. “We’ll keep an eye on it. You awake, Lucky?”

“Mm yeah.” Still blinking the sleep from his eyes, Lucky unbuckled his belt, the better to lean forward and study the computer.

“Check out the base velocity data.” She changed views, and both boys blinked. “Do you know what you’re looking at?”

“Not … really.” Adam cocked his head. “Something about the wind speed in relation to the radar site?”

“I think I’ve seen it before,” Lucky chimed in. “Is it … wait. Green away and red toward? Or red away? Or is it speed …”

Rachael shook her head. “Not quite, but you guys are already ahead of the game - a lot of chasers your age don’t know anything about base velocity until after their first chase. So Lucky, it’s red away, and green toward.” She pointed to the screen. “Doesn’t really have anything to do with the speed of the winds, just how they’re moving in relation to the weather station. So when we’re looking for rotation, obviously, we want to see red and green really close to each other, right?”

“Makes sense,” Lucky agreed. 

“So look here.” She pointed. “Now this stuff up here -” she twitched her hand to gesture vaguely at a scattering of red amongst green, “- I think is just artefact but this, this looks concentrated. See that?”

Adam and Lucky exchanged a look. “Like, it’s the dot, right?” Adam guessed.

“More or less.” Rachael flipped back to the regular radar view. “But you see how it correlates to a high-precipitation area? Means there’s probably a mesocyclone in there.” She clenched and unclenched her fingers, excited. “We might get a tornado today, guys. Definitely a lot of lightning, if the precipitation holds together.”

“How far out are we?” Lucky asked, shifting anxiously in his seat.

Noel answered this time. “Probably an hour or two. We should start seeing some more interesting clouds soon. Keep your eyes peeled.”

Adam and Lucky settled back, each looking out of their own window, while Rachael and Noel talked about something else - photography, something with Rachael’s lightning set-up - in the front seat. 

“Have you ever seen a tornado?” Adam asked Lucky, as he craned his neck to see more to the front of the truck.

“Oh, yeah! Not up close, but one time in Virginia there was a little one and I could see it from the back yard. It didn’t last very long, but it was really cool. You?”

Adam thought about the tornado in Tadfield, when he was eleven. “Nah,” he said, stuffing the memory away. “Been in a few bigger storms, but you know … England.”

“Yeah, really severe weather isn’t really a big thing over there, huh? They get tornados though sometimes. I think.”

“Really little ones usually, yeah,” Adam agreed. “They don’t last long, normally, or do much damage.”

“I know another chaser from England,” Noel chimed in as he drove. “He comes over for the season every year. We were talking about it one time, he said that England has the second-most tornadoes per land area in the world.”

“Seriously?” Adam blinked.

“Yeah, but it’s a small area.” Lucky frowned. “And they’re not big?”

“No,” Noel agreed. “Not usually. He lives right in what he calls England’s tornado alley.” He laughed. “A little southwest from London I think he said? I can’t remember the name of the town. Most of the twisters there are around 95MPH wind speed, so they’re not really that powerful, but he told me he chases over there sometimes, if he’s home when they’re around. He showed me a few photos.”

“It was pretty cool - you don’t really think about tornadoes in England,” Rachael chipped in, absently. “Where in England is Tadfield, Adam?”

“Northwest of London,” he answered, using the city as a reference point. “About, oh, two hour drive I think, usually.” He did not add that most of the recent times he traveled to and from London by car, the car was being driven by a demon, and travel time was therefore significantly reduced. “It’s not a big village at all. Biggest thing there is the air base, and even that’s pretty small now. Population-wise, anyway. It’s mostly computers.”

“I think that’s why my dad got reassigned to London,” Lucky said thoughtfully. “Plus, you know, diplomat. London made more sense I guess.”

“Yeah it would do.” Adam looked sidelong at the other boy. Lucky didn’t notice, staring out of the window. “So you were born in London?”

“No, actually. It’s kind of a crazy story - my parents were supposed to fly in to the air base together, but my mom ended up having to go alone for a few days because there was something with the president? I dunno, Dad never actually said what it was. But anyway Mom flew in and then like, went into labor while she was staying at the air base waiting for him, so I ended up being born there.” He shook his head.

“Oh.” Born at the air base. Adam could have laughed with the relief of it. Another thought occurred to him. “Aren’t pregnant women not supposed to fly, though?”

“I dunno, probably.” He shrugged. “I guess when the president says go, you go.” He snorted. “And then, so like, she’s at the air base, but then she said they didn’t have a doctor that knew how to deliver babies? So she had to go to this weird hospital with nuns to have me. Worked out in the end, Dad got there after I was born and we went to the place in London like they’d planned.���

Weird hospital with nuns. The words echoed in Adam’s ears, in between the pounding rush of his own heartbeat. Weird nuns. Satanic nuns, maybe? How do you ask if someone was born in a hospital full of Satanic nuns? 

“Wild story,” said Rachael from the front seat, but as far as Adam was concerned, she might have been a thousand miles away. “See the clouds up ahead?”

“Supercell!” he heard Lucky say, distantly, and the other boy - the other boy who was born in a weird hospital with nuns, to a politically-connected family, and then raised by a satanic nanny and had a monk for a gardener, and then went to the middle east when he was eleven - leaned forward to start chattering on with Rachael and Noel. About storms.

Adam loved weather, but at the moment, nothing could be further from his mind.

“When’s your birthday?” he blurted out, stopping the other three mid-conversation. And then he blinked, realizing what he’d done, as Rachael and Lucky looked to him, puzzled. “Sorry, never mind, wasn’t paying attention.” He forced a weak smile.

“August 23. You okay?”

“Yeah,” Adam lied, immediately turning to look out the window. “Wow, check out that cell!”

“... Yeah. It’s big.” Lucky looked over to Rachael, who had raised her eyebrows questioningly. Even Noel was glancing curiously between the two students in the rearview mirror. Lucky shrugged at Rachael, the universal ‘I have no idea’ gesture. “You alright, Adam? Really?”

“Fine.” We have the same birthday, born in a weird hospital with nuns, we’re probably the same age, they thought I was him, they thought he was it, it was him, it was this guy …

“Nerves are totally normal,” Noel said a little more quietly, not taking his eyes off the road, or the storm cell ahead. “Don’t worry - we’re gonna get plenty of videos if anything happens, but we’ll keep our distance. It’s early still - by the time we’re five weeks in you’re gonna wanna drive the truck yourself.”

It was him, he was the mix-up, it was - And then Adam stopped himself, because some part of him realized that this wasn’t productive, he wouldn’t change or alter anything with this line of thinking, and furthermore, he was in the back of a truck which was headed straight for what looked, on radar, to be a supercell with significant tornadic potential. “No, it’s fine,” he insisted, with a shake of his head. “No, I’m sorry. Sorry, really, I think I’m just still a little messed up from the time change, but I’m fine. Seriously,” he added, when Rachael and Lucky looked to him, radiating concern and curiosity. “Let’s do it - I’m so ready.”

Rachael watched his face for another minute and then made a decision, apparently, because she nodded ever-so-slightly, and turned back to her laptop, maneuvering it so the two in the back seat could have a better view of the screen. “Good, because you see that on radar?”

“Hook artefact,” Lucky breathed, as Adam watched the picture twist on the screen, the red blob at the center of the storm leaving a trail to the southwest that was just so slightly starting to curve north-easterly. 

“I think so. Let’s take a look at the base velocity.” As she switched views she grinned, and Adam saw what she was moving to point toward right away. “See it?”

“Mesocyclone?” Adam asked, eyes wide, insisting his brain focus on the task at hand. There would be plenty of time to really process the fact that he was sitting with the other Antichrist - the not-Antichrist, the mix-up kid - and hunting tornadoes with him later. 

“I think so.” Rachael looked up, out of the windshield, and the students followed her gaze. Ahead, the clouds towered, gray and ominous and piled on top of one another, all the way up to the stratosphere. “Looks good for a tornado, guys.” A bolt of lightning shot through the clouds, illuminating pockets and curves. “Let’s get it.”

-

Now with Chapter 8!

[maverick-werewolf]

Patreon Prompt Fill - Black and White and Read all Over

Yet another prompt fill reward for my Patreon! Please stop by if you enjoy my blog and its werewolf facts, my writing, and all these other things I do.

Prompt is simply, "How does the Wulfgard crew divide up the newspaper?"

I loved writing this so much. I put it in a little silly Stardew Valley style farm AU for the Wulfgard characters that I occasionally write on the side.

You can read it here, read it on Patreon, or in my AO3 collection of assorted Wulfgard ficlets.

-----------

It was hot. It was middle of the summer, middle of the day, guess what we can’t afford air conditioning hot. Seriously, it was really, REALLY fucking hot. And you knew it was hot because nobody wanted to move, and almost everybody here loved moving in general.

Magnhild had the bright idea to plug in the only fan they had in the entire farmhouse and now it was positioned just right so everyone could flop in the floor or in a chair and bask in the single exhausted fan’s utmost radiance.

Or, to put it bluntly, the ridiculously inefficient little tiny puff of air it was moving across the room. Still, that was better than nothing when the air refused to move otherwise and it just sat there, sticky with humidity and stifling enough to make it feel hard to breathe.

“Time for the Sunday paper, you guys,” Tom pointed out halfheartedly, but he certainly didn’t move from the one chair he’d managed to claim. The second biggest one, and he was pretty proud he’d managed to get even this much space to sprawl out on.

Because Magnhild was happy in the floor with her wolfdog, Moonlight; Surandil sat down there on a little cushion; and Fintan had a tiny chair to himself. Then there was the sofa, but Caiden took that entire thing up of course and Sadja was laying around on the floor in front of it occasionally trying to bother him.

Oh yeah, and there was Kye. Who was… where the hell was Kye, anyway?

“Uh-huh,” Fintan grunted. “Who’s gonna go get it?”

“Not I,” Surandil murmured.

“Don’t care about it,” Magnhild said simply from the floor, scratching a whining, panting Moonlight on the head.

“Voros will get it,” Sadja lazily volunteered for him.

Grunt. Tom wasn’t well-versed in Caiden’s language, but he was pretty damn sure that sound meant a solid No.

Tom snorted. “Oh well, too bad.” Because he sure as hell wasn’t going to go get it.

“Make Moonlight go fetch it,” Fintan grumbled.

Moonlight perked his head up, looking positively outraged – he stood, but Magnhild got an arm around his neck and wrestled him back down, snickering knowingly and whispering something to him about not ruining it for everyone else, because the two of them always did have these conversations nobody else heard or grasped at all.

“Hey, guys!” Kye called from the doorway, waving the paper around. But he stopped, blinking, while he stood there all shirtless (because he’d finally gotten used to showing all his scars and tattoos), in shorts and looking completely and perfectly comfortable in the dear gods do something it’s too hot heat everywhere. “Hey, is everyone okay?”

Fine, so sometimes Tom forgot Kye was an actual demon from the Underworld. This kind of weather was probably fucking balmy.

Tom gave Kye a thumbs-up, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Kye shrug and meander on inside, tail waving around behind him.

“Okay, well, here it is,” Kye said, with absolutely no interest – because he’d already taken out the little travel section and had his nose poked into it, and he had the home decorating section to go with it.

Seeing the travel section, though, made the supposedly uninterested Magnhild – which of course also meant Moonlight – get up and pad along after Kye to read it while peering past his arm. Tom frowned and felt just a little sore, but – hey, paper.

He rolled out of his chair (literally) and caught himself before he landed in a sweaty heap in the floor. Everybody else was already getting their paws all over it.

Fintan pointedly cleared his throat when Sadja nearly reached it first, and that gave him enough time to snatch it up instead. “Let yer elders go first, kiddos,” he said with a huff while he got busy extracting all the local news and everything to do with business and money.

“Only because they like the boring sections,” Tom replied sweetly. Sadja giggled, and Fintan grumbled and muttered and tossed the rest of the paper on the floor again like the grouchy old dwarf he was.

But by the time he’d done that, Caiden and Surandil were there too, and of course Caiden snatched it up next and expertly fished out all the boring shit he liked – weather (because someone had to actually be responsible for the crops, but Tom was fine not being that person), sports (Tom was stealing that later), international news, and the… Wait a second.

Caiden held out what was left and Tom grabbed it from him, opening it and scratching through a few pages.

Sadja was busy looking over the crook of his arm. “Did he nick the TV guide again?”

“Caaaiiid!?” Tom fussed—but Sadja tried to yank the comics section out, and no way she was doing that.

Tom practically crumpled the whole thing trying to keep a grip, extra pages falling everywhere. He growled and sputtered and Sadja just held on tighter and stuck her tongue out at him, still pulling.

So of course it ripped, and there went the comics section, torn neatly in half, and both of them fell flat on their asses on the floor. From where he was taking up the entire sofa again, Caiden snorted a short excuse for a quiet laugh or two.

Surandil hardly noticed any of it, since he calmly removed some of the only sections left: style and fashion, arts and culture, and… obituaries. Tom was just about to ask why the f—

“You may have your favorite sections, Drake,” Surandil said before Tom could speak a word. “I do not believe anyone else desires them,” he added pointedly, dropping a few papers in Tom’s lap.

Oh yeah, the naughty sections. Heheh—

“Hey, they aren’t that bad!” Tom almost snapped, only just now realizing just how judgmental Surandil had sounded.

Then he looked at the torn-up, sad first half of a bunch of comics in one hand. Sadja was looking at hers, too, but it was upside-down.

“I dunno how to read this,” she said very simply and without the tiniest iota of shame. And she made her way back over to Tom and sat down beside him, scraps in hand. Tom took them and got them back into position to hold the two halves together while Sadja leaned near his shoulder.

Yeah, he always ended up reading the comics out loud to her. And yeah, they usually tore them in half first, because they always fought over them. Why? Who the hell knew?

About halfway through, Sadja snatched for what was left of the rest of the newspaper and said, “Anybody take the cooking stuff?”

And that was the section she got Caiden to read to her. Tom snickered.

Then he went back to reading the rest of the comics for Sadja and definitely getting absolutely no help from her illiteracy while they tried to do crosswords together.

[survivorunfinishedbusiness]

Episode #3 - “I Stand For The Flag, I Kneel At The Cross” - Amanda

https://survivorunfinishedbusiness.tumblr.com/post/175489103003/immunity-challenge-3

Moral of the story, never trust a weeaboo goombitch

Audaux or whatever that fucking tribe's name is is dead to me. They are worth nothing. SCUM. Scum is what they are. Liars. Their word is worth nothing in this game and neither are they. Unlike them I've got an idol. Time's ticking. And sooner or later their times gonna be up.

im overwhelmed

https://survivorunfinishedbusiness.tumblr.com/post/175491921028/announcement

Amanda is removed from the game.

I’m not a Christian but I know who Monique Heart is. “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:3

oh wow. This game really took a turn for the worst huh. Nicholas left, Dani exploded, one world and a swap happened, tea was spilled, my closest ally was removed from the game, and Athena is ending after this season. I would like it to be known that I had absolutely no idea Amanda was so problematic and would not have gotten so close to her had I known! I'm taking this whole night kinda hard because it's like a punch in the face for me, not only because it hinders my game but also because it's so sad that I had gotten so close to Amanda these past few days and it's honestly super tragic what happened. I literally had no idea she was problematic and I had grown to care for her. I'm def just gonna take the night off and try to gather my bearings before I try to focus on the game or anyone else in it for now. Today has been insanely exhausting. Tomorrow is a new day and I fully intend to play just as hard (if not harder) as I was before, but I'm probably gonna have to start back at square 1. Wish me luck!!

So, tribal went exactly as I planned, and the swap happened... just as planned. However, Amanda wasn't something I had planned or even considered happening. Like, it's crazy when you think you know somebody, but then it turns out they are actually a 180 of what you think they are... Naturally this throws the Night Owls into serious haywire, and honestly, it might as well be a new game only with less allies at this point.

Well, Dani as it turns out is the Abi-Maria type, you know "fuck with me, you're dead." Good news is that I'm on a different tribe. Bad news is that I went in that tribal with 6 people willing to work with me, and walked out with 2.

https://youtu.be/BKWTR3cUibk

As time goes on, I'm slowly feeling a bit better about my tribe, but we'll see how I'm feeling when/if we go to tribal. Bodhi surprisingly seems less upset than Dani, almost makes me glad I got him instead of Dani. (Though having Colin and Timmy would have been ideal for me.)

Hi hosts I haven't made a confessional yet. honestly last night was wild like. i was drinking because i'm on vacaytion and that's what you do and like i started drinking like RIGHT when ryan sent the letter so i knew this was gonna be an interesting night so i kept on doing it and i was definitely gone. so yeah my tribes cool i like dani a lot. hopefully her drama will keep us alive. i don't know who's from what tribe but i do know anna and i are the only ones from talio on a tribe of 8 so that's really cute!

Okay so... last night was a hot mess. We tribe swap but then get put on One World with a scary pairs challenge, but then everyone fights Amanda Lynn for blindsiding Nicholas, THEN she gets exposed and quits the game. Omg Dani’s mind... So now I’m on a new tribe so let’s assess them! Super happy Andrew is with me. My closest ally from the old tribe that I can trust. Nathan and Nicole are here too, but they seem like a tighter duo with each other than us. I just hope they don’t do any shady business. Super happy to be reunited with Bodhi, we were a duo in B.B. pokémon but it might be known with Julia on this tribe. Speaking of Julia, don’t think we’re on good terms. She doesn’t like me so I’m not gonna bother messaging her. I played furby with Colin, we didn’t talk much there though. He tells me he lead the blindside against Nicholas and Kori was with him too so they’re probably working together. And then there’s Isaac, don’t have an opinion of him. Let’s just hope this phase of the game goes swimmingly.

https://survivorunfinishedbusiness.tumblr.com/post/175509590398/immunity-challenge-4

OK WOW THAT AMANDA LYNN DRAMA I THINK SORTA SAVED ME! I WAS PAIRED WIHT JAKE! IN THAT PAIRED UP WHAT EVER CRAP TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT BULLSHIT! and well i was most definitely going to turn right on his ass. Bc i know for a fact he was lying to me i know he was also turning right. IM NOT DUMB JAKE! sooo i was shook! bc like i didnt know all that wud play out. BUT THEN QUEEN JAY B. EXPOSED AMANDA LYNNS ASS! WHICH GETS HER PRETTY MUVH REMOVED/WALKED FROM THE GAME! which means no dumb pairs! sooo now we r on this one world tribal beach for like no reason ! ahah. but yeah i pretty much trust no one on my tribe like at all. BESIDES DANI A FUCKING QUEEN ! DANI I FUCKING LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AN BACK! <3 well im on the ugly audax tribe now. and i need to make  a video DR about other stuff   

ali and emily TY TY FOR PUTTING ANNA on my tribe after the swap! SHE  IS A GODDESS ON THE UNDERWORLD <3 (mean this in a good way) she is definitely a slytherin sooo cunning! ME AN HER BOTH BEING POTS AND VILLAINS OF OUR GAMES AND BEING ON THE SAME TRIBE <3  wow ty for rigging us together <3 SHE IS MY QUEEN! LIKE i hope she is bein genuine wiht me right now bc i want to work with her sooo bad!

Before my first tribal https://youtu.be/RfsGDjeD9_w   After my first tribal https://youtu.be/NDCkPgw75II 

https://youtu.be/M4bMaLxzwpY  Update on what I said about Blake though: we both like the same shows so that’s amazing because they’re Netflix shows which are my favorite.

Ali won't tell me where the idols are. That fucking snake this is why I told the hosts I refused to play with him.

Well, now that the Amanda fiasco has been said and done, I feel good about AJ and Julia in my tribe, meanwhile I still have Colin and I'm trying to work on a potential 5th, if we can get 5 that's a majority in a possible vote, and then I can move through this tribe fearlessly.

I dunno how I feel about the challenge, because it feels like one that if I'm in, I could definitely drop the ball, and as a result be the target, which would SUCK like majorly.

Hi My name is john coffey And yes I drink coffee.

https://survivorunfinishedbusiness.tumblr.com/post/175523828513/immunity-results-4

Talio wins immunity, sending Audax is sent to tribal council.

I'm a little late with this confession but Amanda got removed cus sis, she's homophobic, bye.

17 more to go.

So theres some annoying beef going on between Timmy and Dani and I mean I might as well be annoying and call them out about it in the tribe chat. It's the last season of Athena we gotta spice shit up.

So much is happening, I wanted Dani out, Dani wanted me out, Mo was trying to instigate stuff in the tribe chat. Once the challenge results were posted Ryan was messaging me saying that we should keep the 4 of us who were in the challenge safe because we need strong competitors and I agreed. Then after that I heard from Anna that Dani was saying my name, which is fucked up because she (Dani) had just said last night that she wants to put the past behind us. But honestly, and this is going to sound really stupid, after the Mo thing in the tribe chat, I'd much rather have him gone. The way to do that is to work with Dani and just let everything out into the open. Especially since Mo said, both in PMs and in the tribe chat, that he is trying a more assertive and bold strategy. Don't reveal your strategy, that's stupid. So Dani and I have been talking and we want Mo out because that seems like the best idea right now because he is trying to personify that there is an issue between us. I can get Anna on board and she seems like she would agree to it based on a small talk about it and Dani said she got John. But also John hasn't responded to my last message so....that's something. Trusting Dani could be what gets me out of this game and I really could be booboo the fool, but sometimes risks need to be taken. I'm just hoping that I can convince Ryan that this is the smarter plan, or maybe he can talk some sense into me and then Dani goes. Either way I don't want to be the one leaving tomorrow and I'm going to try everything to make sure that that does not happen. But right now it is 1am and I can get nothing accomplished this late, so that will have to wait until tomorrow where hopefully I don't wake up to a tribe chat on fire.

ofc my tribe loses. Tribal council loves "ana" ;) @ emily anyway dani and timmy are fighting which makes it sooo easy to just sit back and vote one of them BUT i really like timmy. and Dani is close to Blake and Ryan who I have an alliance chat with so I don't think they will vote her. Naturally I threw out the idea to keep BOTH of them for the drama and since Dani is going to go after Colin, Kori AND Timmy she will make such a great meat shield even in the future. So I threw out Mo's name. We were originally not going to vote anyone who competed in the challenge but Mo took literally so long, 5 minutes longer than the person on the other tribe and Ryan had gotten him a beautiful lead. Ofc I was 2 minutes slower but hear me out. Apparently in the jeopardy challenge he had bad internet or something and flopped and let everyone down. So thats kinda 2 in a row. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a super nice guy and I get why everyone loves him BUT him and I's convo's seem to run dry. Compared to people like Blake or Ryan who I want to talk to all the time, I don't see myself working with him closely in the future. So we will see. Looks like its gonna be one of those three!

it's me again. SO last night mo was like stirring the pot or something and tried having like an intervention with dani and timmy. or like, relationship therapy i guess. BUT it seems like little mo's fun backfired because mr timmy came to me this morning and it appears he and dani have kissed and made up and now they want little mo out. gay gagging! anna's on board i think. and it doesn't seem like vindicta is united. i know john said he didn't really connect with everyone so that's good. and timmys gonna pull in RTP so we can vote out mo. so that's fun!

The numbers to get Mo out seem to be there so I am thrilled! We don't need someone who is going to try to cause drama just so they can then hide in the shadows. The difficult part comes next and that is telling Ryan that Mo is the target, but I am hoping that will go well because the numbers are already there, and I'll phrase it in a way that is me asking him rather than saying it is already happening...even though it is.

Kori is literally.... like... insane. Every single time I'm on a call with him and one other person he offers a 'voice chat' alliance to f3. We've had one with Timmy since night 1, made one with Nathan yesterday, and he also offered one to Isaac. It's literally too much I'm screaming. Straights are WILD.

LAST MINUTE DR.... I WON IMMUNITY WOOOO BUT I THINK THE FIRST TIME I DONT IM GONE GBVFDJGNVFD

https://survivorunfinishedbusiness.tumblr.com/post/175556933558/tribal-council-4-audax

Mo is sent home by a vote of 6-1. You can watch his preseason interview here.

[meshtams]

Suppress

I didn’t know why I was even bothering. It was the first day of year eleven and I wished that I was still in bed. Its unlikely I’d’ve been sleeping anyway, but at least I could lay down. Somehow, I felt like if I laid on the floor of the hallway like practically every fibre of my being was begging me to, I would have been kicked in the head by the chavvy year nines that, without fail, ditched the first class of the year.

           So, there I was. Dragging my feet across the shitty, beige tiling, my head down and my long hair falling over my face as I headed practically on auto-pilot towards the biology corridor, past all of the obnoxiously bright noticeboards that gave me a fucking headache.

            When I finally reached my classroom after what felt like hours, I flopped down next to my best friend, Georgie. Well, actually, Georgie was my only friend, but he was still the best.

           “Apparently we’ve got a new teacher, mate.” His voice was as warm and cheerful as always.

           “Hopefully they’ll be less of a prick than Miss Morrigan then, yeah?” I folded my arms on the desk and dropped my head onto them.

           “To be fair, a mass murderer would probably be less of a prick than Morrigan, so the bar isn’t exactly high.” He laughed.

           “Hm, that’d be cool though, to have a mass murderer for a teacher, don’t you think?” my voice was barely more than a mumble and my eyes were squeezed closed.

           “Sure, Mal.” He would probably have said more if not for the sudden slam of books on the front table.

           “RIGHT!” I jumped and almost fell off my seat, my head snapping up violently to look at the teacher. He was tall and skinny, with sallow skin and greying brown hair, and for some reason I couldn’t put my finger on he seemed oddly… familiar. Like he looked like someone I knew, but I was almost certain I’d never met anyone who looked like him before.

I shook my head and turned to Georgie. “Dude, does he look really familiar to you or am I just going nuts?”

“You’ve been nuts for years, Mal.” He smirked bemusedly.

I sniggered. The citalopram and propranolol in my backpack would definitely agree with him there. “Yeah, but, like, more than normal.”

“Nah, man, he looks like that guy who used to babysit you. Your dad’s friend.” I was confused.

“Who?”

“I dunno, he watched you when your parents were at work or away or whatever. I saw him pick you up from school a few times.”

I drew a blank. “When?”

“Man, I don’t know. Like, year 4? Year 5? I just remember I thought he’d look like Snape if he grew his hair out.” He laughed to himself.

“Boys!” The new teacher was suddenly stood right in front of our desk.

“Yes, sir?” Georgie turned on his most charming smile.

“If you want to gossip liked middle-aged women, do it OUTSIDE of my classroom, understood?” We both nodded- clearly, he was going to be almost as bad as Morrigan, and we didn’t even know his name yet. “What are your two’s names?” He looked down his nose sternly at us.

“Georgie Smith, sir.”

“Mallory Hawthorne, sir.” I mumbled. I didn’t have the charisma nor, to be honest, the desire, to charm teachers the way that seemed to come naturally to Georgie.

“Right. Smith, Hawthorne, if I hear either of you speak again this lesson then you will both be spending your lunch break in detention with me. I could not care less about whether or not you listen, but I do not accept disruptions, understood?”

“Yes sir.” We replied as one, Georgie lively as always, me sullen.

“Good.” He turned to walk back towards his desk, addressing the class. “Now, as I was saying, my name is Mr Cresswell and I will be your biology teacher for the next year.” I started to tune him out, dropping my head back onto my desk and spending the rest of the lesson spacing out.

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of class, Georgie was darting out of his seat and dragging me up by my arm. I groggily stood and allowed myself to be led out of the classroom and towards the gym. I groaned, realizing that it was PE next- I hated PE, because I was useless at anything physical and the teacher never let us get away with slacking off. Most of our teachers didn’t really care, but we’d been stuck with Mrs Swiftley since year 7 and we knew very well by now that she would not accept slackers.

“Leave me here to die, Georgie.” I crumpled to the floor, groaning again.

“You’re so bloody dramatic. Its just PE.” He rolled his eyes.

“Easy for you to say, you like sport… and moving…. And being alive.” I sprawled out on the now empty corridor as the bell rang, signalling the start of class.

“Get up, dipshit. You’re going to make us late, and I don’t want to have a detention on the first day back again.”

“I can’t go, I’m dead.” I murmured, my face pressed against the cool tile- surely school tiles shouldn’t be so comfortable, right?

“Mal, if you don’t get your arse up right now, I’ll call your mum.”

“Georgie, you are the worst best friend in the world.” I heaved myself up and made my way towards the boys’ bathroom; I always changed there instead of in the locker room. I’d not changed in front of anyone since I was about 8 years old, and just the thought made my skin crawl. I tried to push the door open, but it was locked. Why was it locked?

“Georgie, the bathroom’s locked, I can’t get changed.” I tried to keep the whine out of my voice but I doubt I was successful.

“Look, everyone’s gonna already be in the gym by now, just get changed in the locker room.” His face was painted with a look of pure exasperation.

“You change then go out and I’ll get changed once its free.” I walked into the locker room and sat heavily on one of the corner benches.

“Mate, we’re already 20 minutes behind, you just change there and I’ll change on the other side of the room with my back to you. Just hurry UP!” I could see that Georgie was getting irritated, so I just nodded.

“Sure, whatever.” I took a deep breath and turned around, starting to undress in the presence of another person for the first time in nearly 7 years.

 I was mostly changed, just about to pull on my t-shirt, when Georgie gasped. I turned quickly to see him staring at me. “Georgie, what the fuck?!”

“Sorry, I just turned to see if you were ready; where did you get that scar?” his eyes were wide.

“What?” my anger was replaced by confusion.

“The one on your back?”

“I don’t have a scar on my back, Georgie. Look, fine, I’m not pissed off with you, lets just go.” Georgie looked like he wanted to say more, but he seemed to think better of it at the last minute, just nodding and turning away.

The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully; the most exciting thing to happen was the fact that I managed to actually fall asleep during lunch, leaned against Georgie’s shoulder.

That is, until I got home.

 “Mal, your Uncle Artie is coming to visit! He’s finally back in town, so he’ll be coming over for dinner tonight.” My dad greeted me as soon as I walked in the door.

I stared at him blankly. “Who?” I didn’t have an Uncle called Artie. There was Mum’s brother Jamie, and dad’s sisters Lorna and Sue, and Lorna’s husband Darren, but definitely no Artie.

“Artie! You remember Artie, he used to look after you when your mum and me were out.” He must have noticed my complete lack of comprehension, because he just huffed. “You’ll recognise him when you see him. He’ll be here at 6, alright?” I nodded and headed up to my room to shower and change. I smelled from PE and my uniform was starting to itch.

I was undressing in the bathroom when I suddenly remembered what Georgie said about a scar this morning. I rolled my eyes and leaned up on my tip-toes until my torso was in view of the mirror, turning awkwardly to try and see if there was anything. I was certainly surprised to see a large patch of skin down my spine that looked slightly discoloured- the texture looked to be the same as the rest of my back, but there were pinkish-brown spots that stood out starkly against my pale skin. It looked like a well-healed burn scar, but I had absolutely no clue where it had come from. Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside, turning my shower on and stepping in.

 By the time 6pm came about, I had showered and changed into sweatpants and an oversized long-sleeve, and spent some time laid on my bed scrolling through the barrage of messages Georgie had sent; he sent at least 100 nonsensical messages about whatever his interest was that week every single day, and although I complained to him that he was clingy and irritating, I rather liked them.

“Mal! Uncle Artie’s here!” My mum called up the stairs. I dragged myself off my bed lethargically, pulling my duvet around me like a cape as I made my way downstairs.

When I reached the living room, however, I froze. There was a man sitting across from my parents- a tall, thin man, with pallid skin and dark brown hair with a healthy smattering of grey. He was laughing with my dad about something, but as he looked up and his dark eyes fell on me, my breath caught in my throat. The scent of cheap whiskey invaded my nostrils, even though I knew, logically, that there was no whiskey in the house- the smell made me nauseous so my parents didn’t buy it in.

I felt my chest heave, half a gag and half a gasp for breath as my vision clouded black and I began trembling. I couldn’t catch my breath no matter how hard I tried, and the last thing I saw before succumbing to darkness was my mum hurrying over to me, worried.

 My head felt jumbled. Brief memories of whiskey breath on my face, Artie’s cold voice telling me that I was pathetic. That I was worthless. That I was a mistake. The memories flashed too quickly to comprehend fully, but I got enough. Artie slamming my arm closed in the bedroom door, not quite hard enough to break it. Boiling water pouring down my back. Threats of having my tongue removed from my skull if I spoke a word to my parents. Even in the darkness I felt dizzy, thankful as the recollections slowed; not speaking for 8 months after one threat. Pretending it never happened, that everything was okay, that “Uncle Artie” was just as nice to me as he was to my parents.

 When the memories stopped and my eyes opened, it was to the sight of both of my parents leaning over me, my father with an anxiety pill in one hand and a glass of water in the other.

“Mal, Mal, are you okay?” My eyes stung. I tried to open my mouth, to ask them to get him OUT, but my tongue felt heavy, swollen. I lifted my shaky hands and tried to sign to them, panicking, desperately clinging to the vague memories of signing I had.

‘That man hurt me, get him out.’ My mother’s eyes blew wide and filled with tears, whilst my father just dropped everything he was holding, turning and snarling at the man before lunging at him, dragging him out of our house and turning to call the police, whilst my mother held me close.

“What did he do?”

I pulled back to free my shaky hands. ‘Burn. Hit. Mean. Threat. Bad.’ I could barely force my hands to cooperate, let alone form full sentences.

“Oh, Mal, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry we never noticed. I’m so sorry.” She practically sobbed into his shoulder, clutching him close until the police arrived.

[earthghoul-mp4]

Idk what am doing(Also Trigger warning !!Abuse, Self-harm mentions, Drug use and Self starvation!!)

Alright so context: These characters are the Alternate versions of two other characters which is why there reffered to as “Alter Siri, Alter Subaru, Alter Kou, Alter Rina, Alter Melon’ and ‘Alter Akai” Subaru, Kou and Melon are all vampires in theyre universe and all of the (except Alter Siri) are part of the Crimson rose’s mafia (I didnt come up with most of this stuff, This happened a while back when I had discord) Alter M(Melon) has been shown to have a crush on Alter R(Rina), Alter S and K(Subaru and Kou) are dating. No one really knows about Alter Siri. Alter A(Akai), Is a dick-head brother. He and Alter M are twins with her being the younger of the two. Alter A has always been abusive, physically and mentally. So Alter M’s trust issues and low esteem, stem from him. Alter M and Alter S, intentionally chose, not to bite Alter R or Alter K. (Even though both have been very adamant about them doing so-) Alter R is in fact a Demon- (Not really sure what kind though-) UHM- Oh yeah, Alter M and Alter A’s parents were murdered when they were very young and Alter A was thought to be dead as well. (WHICH HE WASNT) Alter R’s mother was killed by Alter R’s hand and Alter R’s sister also died. Alter S and Alter K have been trying to set up Alter M and Alter R because its painfully obvious they like each other. THE MAIN THINGS TO REMEMBER: Alter A is a dick, Alter M is SUPPOSED to feed off Alter R but refuses to do so, Alter S and Alter K are the chaotic duo of the four, and Alter Siri stays out of their bullshit at all costs. Alter M and Alter K both have ADHD

Alter R lay awake on her bed staring up the ceiling. The storm outside was making it pretty hard to sleep, so there wasn’t any point in trying. There was a quiet knock on her door and Alter R looks up to see Alter M  standing half-asleep in the doorway. “Cant sleep either, huh?” Alter M shook her head and walked over to Alter R. “Storms are always so pretty but they make too much noise..” Alter M  whines as she flops onto Alter R’s bed. “Sounds like you-” Alter R realized how that sounded, but apparently Alter M didn’t. “Nuh uh, I dont make nearly as much noise as Kou-chan, and Baru-chan” Alter R laughed a bit “I’ve always found that family dynamic you three have very interesting.” Alter M sits up “Whats that s’posed to mean?” Alter R smiled “It just means that you three never cease to confuse me, Especially you” Alter M folds her arms across her chest “What’s that supposed to mean?!” Alter R sighs “I just mean, Ive never understood you, Or any of you for that matter. I’m not good with people, and probably never will be” The storm outside seeed to die down some to the point where it was just rain and Alter M smiles. “What’s got you all smiley?” Alter M’s hands ball up into fists and shake a little “Hehe! The rain! Do you hear it?” The gentle pitter-patter of the rain on the roof had Alter M’s brain go nuts, and Alter R found it adorable “Yeah, I do. It is a nice sound, huh?” Alter M smiled widely and nodded happily. Alter R laughed “You find the strangest things amazing, Alter M” Alter M drew her face into an angry pout “Nuh-uh I dont.” Alter R looked at her skeptically “How many people do you know can go from crying to almost perfectly fine when given a frog plush?” Alter M didnt respond “Thats not fair! Buttons is the best comfort plushie!” Alter R laughed. Alter flopped backwards onto Alter R bed and turned over to face the wall. “Aw c’mon-” Alter shook her head “Nu!” Alter R took a minute to decide what to do. “Hmm...Hehe...” Alter R decided to pick up Alter M. It wasnt hard with how small Alter M is. “Put me dooown, meanie” Alter R sat Alter M in her lap “Better?” Alter M was not prepared for that “HHHHHH-” Alter R was kinda oblivious to Alter M’s crush on her since she felt like she didnt deserve to be loved so she hid her feelings for Alter M, and hoped they’d just go away. Alter M hid her face in the collar of her sweater “Thats not fair...” Alter R laughed a little “How?” Alter M turned away “Cuz!” “Pfft- “cuz” how?” Alter M flapped her arms quickly “Cuz because!” Alter R realized how tired Alter M looked “Hey...When’s the last time you slept?” Alter M didnt respond “Alter M...” Alter M shrugged “I dunno...two..three days ago?” Alter R sighed “Its not my fault! Trying to sleep is hard” Alter R knew how that was. There were countless nights where she couldn’t sleep at all even if she tried. “When’s the ast time you had any water?” Alter M drew a black once again “Alter M!” Alter  pulled her collar further over her face “I’m sorry!” Alter R sighs “Stay here, alright?” Alter M nodded. Alter R got up and walked down to the kitchen. “I shouldn’t be so hard on her, Its not her fault...But she’ll keep doing if someone doesn’t tell her other wise” Alter R sweared under her breath and folded her arms on the counter “Ri-chan...?” Alter R forgot Subarus and Kou’s room was down the hall from the kitchen “Hey Subaru..” Alter S walked over to her “You okay?” Alter R nodded “Yeah I’m fine, its super early though. You should get back to sleep.” Alter S just looked at her. “Yo hear yourself right? I should sleep? Whens the last time you had a full 8 hours of sleep, huh?” There wasnt an answer “Thats what I thought. Now what been keeping you up at night? Somethings bound to be wrong if you’re the one distraught” Alter R walked over to the fridge to get some waters “No ones distraught, alright?” Alter S knew better than that. “Then why is it that every night this week, without fail, You’ve been up in the middle of the night....For what?” Alter clenched her fist around one of the waters “For the last time...Its nothing!” Alter S let it go this time. “Just take of yourself, alright?” Alter R nodded and headed back upstairs. Alter S sighed and got a cup of ramen “She’s the one who worries me...She stretches herself thin for everyone else and just acts like she’s fine. I just wish she didnt keep everything bottled up. Both of them! Her and Mel-chan” 

Alter M had fallen asleep on the end of Alter R’s bed “I didn’t tell her she had to stay awake..” Alter R picked up her phone to check the time “Damn...Its already three- thirty..” Alter R threw one her extra blankets over Alter M. Alter just curled up underneath of it, “pfft- That’s not how you use a blanket” Alter M picked up her head “Hm...?” Alter M sat up sleepily and looked at her. “Nothing, Nothing. I didnt say anything” Alter M hugged Alter R “Oh- ok...?” Alter R was never really one for physical affection, shes only ever really let Alter M hug her, any physical contact really. “Hey...You can let go now..” Alter M only hugged her tighter and Alter R realized she had fallen asleep. “Ah...Jeez...” Alter R was too tired at this point to care, so  she just laid own with Alter M still hugging her. Around seven or so Kou came around to check on Alter R since she’s usually up by then. “Awww!” Alter R had held onto Alter M the whole night. Its not uncommon for Alter M to e hugging something especially when she’s asleep. Its more uncommon to see Alter R hugging anyone for long periods of time. “I dont think either of them have actually, slept, in a while” Kou walked off leaving Alter R and Alter M to sleep. Kou went to go get Subaru who had ultimately fallen alseep on the couch “Oiiii! Subaru.” Subaru rolled over off the couch “AGH- Shit!” Kou kicked him “SHHH- Ri-chan and Mel-chan are still sleeping” Subaru punched him “B!tch” Kou gasped dramatically “Ooo Ouch what a burn” Subaru just looked at him. Alter R stared down at them from the top of the stairs. They both knew they fucked up, Alter M appeared behind her looking half dead. “Im going back to bed...” Alter M turned on her heel and walked down to her room.  “Wait yall two was in the same room???” Alter R walked down the stairs “Uhm...Yeah?” Alter S nodded “Mhm...” Alter R just gave him a confused look and went to get a coffee “And your still sure you dont have feelings for her?” Not many things can catch Rina off guard...This however, Caught her very off-guard “Yes I’m sure!” Alter S and Alter K gave her a look like “Uh huh” “Yeah well your face just about as red as your eyes” Rina threw a spoon at him “You shut your mouth!” They both started laughing and Rina just sipped her coffee “I’m gonna kill you both in your sleep...” Alter M stomped out of room “If y’all don’t shut the fuck up, I will burn all of your clothes” Everyone just looked at her “Let this be a godammned warning” Rina just kinda looked at her “Uhm- Okay then...” “Kinda saw that oe coming she’s always pissed off about something- Its just easier to piss hernoff if shes tired” Alter M threw her shoe at him “Ya damn right” Rina laughed and so did Kou “Thats not funny that hurt!” Melon went to grab a redbull but Rina stopped her. “Eh?” Rina looked her dead in the eyes and just told her “No” Melon just kinda looked at her “Fine” and went to go sit down. Rina grabbed her wrist “Subaru, Kou...Out. Now” Subaru and Kou knew something was boutta happen but when Rina said something ya best listen. Both of them left the room. “What?” Rina leaned back against the counter “....” Melon was throughly confused “What did I do??” Rina looked up from her mug “Whens the last time you ate anything?” Melon looked away “That requires an answer...” Melon refused to meet Rina’s eyes “Alter M...” Melon simply walked outside and into the woods Rina followed her but from a distance. “Maybe she just need some air...?” Melon sat down in the middle of a clearing and just stayed there

                        (End of part one cuz Im Lazy \(030)/)

What should happen next???

[allofthisnonsenseplease]

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 XDDDD IT;S OKAY GABE IS TOO SPELLBOUND TO REALIZE THE WEIRD FACTOR

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 WHAT IS THIS BIZARRE MAGIC JACK HAS BOTTLE THAT SHIT AND WEAPONIZE IT

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 he's a siren or something seriously

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 :O au where he IS and he's got scales and shit all up his back

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 OOO this.... is his curse

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 XD

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 is gabe a sailor or just a regular dude

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 ffff Gabe is a pissed off force of fucking nature, the rage of a whole stand of dryads whose forest was burned down and Jack is a half human dryad who gets washed up along the banks of a river where the forest used to be i dunno

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 ooooo i dig it

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 **jack is a half human SIREN F U C K

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 LOL gabe is so pissed off and then jack shows up and fuckin hypnotizes him LOL IT'S OKAY I GOT U

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 XD just fukkin into the trash

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 XDDDD yay gabe angst about whether or not jack actually cares or if it's just bc he's a siren!!!

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 Jack has fallen in love with anger incarnate, and it's a damn good thing his inhuman side has given him enhanced healing abilities, 'cause gabe is not a gentle lover at first You think they're both maneaters? Like, Gabe gobbles up the soul and Jack gets the meat? Maybe Jack's full siren. He starts luring men in to replant the forest, then him and Gabe have a romantic dinner. They have a lovely white picket fence made of bones. I have found this humerus. XD

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 LMAO JESUS THAT GOT KINDA DARK

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 the sweet and horrifying monster AU no one asked for would it be better if the men who burned the forest knew they were killing dryads, so jack only goes after the ones gabe tells him are responsible?

firesonic152 - 06/19/2017 yayyyy jack gets weirdly horny after murder

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/19/2017 XD jack is a monster of many appetites

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 so i started watching buffy the vampire slayer of all things today this is not what i thought i would be doing LMAO Concept for half siren Jack: he doesn't know he's half siren, he just thinks he's really good at getting guys into his bed LOL

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 what happens if someone figures out what he is and accuses him of coercing his partners? what happens if that comes up shortly after he realizes that he might actually be in love with his most recent conquest, one Gabriel Reyes?

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 !!!!!! awwww jack is all like "holy shit gabriel is kind of the Best Ever maybe i want more than a one night stand with him" and then whoever-it-is accuses him and he's like oh,,,,,, okay yeah that makes more sense than gabe actually liking me,,,,,,, meanwhile gabe is wondering when tf is jack gonna call

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 ; ;

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 When Gabe finally gets sick of waiting and gives Jack a call Jack is like nO

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 okay, so if Jack won't talk, is Gabe gonna push? 'cause if Gabe takes no for an answer, how are they gonna get this resolved??

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 Gabe probably realizes something is wrong, Jack is acting weird

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 . . . how can he tell? XD

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 LOL good question Oh maybe Jack makes up an excuse like he's sick or something and gabe is like oh no Jack's sick!! Let me go take care of him!! But you see Jack ISN'T SICK XDDDD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 was being mean to jack. 's prolly 'cause jack is no longer trying to set the world's record for most sexual partners w/in a week

AH!! Stupid panicking jack!! XD that one! THAT ONE!

and then he's like 'shit i have to play sick wtf i don't get sick how does this work???' and he makes a complete mess of it

and gabe figures it out right quick and is kinda pissed, but also way curious now 'cause there are tons of easier ways jack could've blown him off, so why'd he make this crappy effort?

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 gah my phone died right after i sent that XD kay back!! LMAO ja c k lol what if gabe gets back at him pettily by pretending to believe him and going over the top w the caretaking

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 omg YES. PLS. sicfic EXTREME EDITION XD

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 LOL awwwww oh no what if jack thinks gabe is trying so hard to take care of him bc of the siren shit qoq

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 OHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO X'D

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 gabe insists on tucking him into bed and making him soup and getting a heating pad and cold washcloth and everything jack is wincing internally (and a little bit externally)

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 he really wants to confess but he doesn't know how and it feels so nice to be cared for (when he pretends that Gabe is doing it for realsies and not bc of the siren shit) also, ngl, when I read gabe insists on tucking him into bed my brain immediately supplied: and tips over face-first into Jack's lips XD

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 AHAHAHAHA awwwwwww gabe carries on until finally jack just like blurts something out probably lol like I'M SORRY YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO DO THIS SORRY FOR MANIPULATING YOU all in a rush

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 and Gabe's just: 'Well, it was a pretty poor attempt at manipulation. I knew you weren't sick. Wanna tell me why you were faking it after ignoring me all week, though?' Jack: . . . n  O ?

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 LOL

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 But Gabe sitting on the edge of the bed, and thinking maybe Jack was just shy and didn't know how to say that he likes gabe so he put on this big show for attention, and Gabe is a bit flattered by that thought, so he's mostly just amused at this point and thinking that things will be all right. He reaches out to where Jack is wringing his hands, and gently takes one of Jack's hands in his. He's looking back and forth between Jack's downturned face and the contrasting tones of their skin as he plays with Jack's hand.

"Tell me what's going on," he urges. "I won't laugh, I promise." He can hear the smile in his voice, though, and he leans closer to rest his head against Jack's.

Jack is slowly filling up with misery as his magic continues to work its effect on Gabe even though he'd never, ever, ever wanted to do anything so horrible. Especially not to Gabe.

pass. :D

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 QOQ sobs quietly

gabe's confidence falters as jack only seems to retract further and further into his shell instead of opening up

jack slowly removes his hand from gabe's and inches carefully away, looking around skittishly

gabe tries to maintain his smile but it's getting more difficult. "whatever it is," he adds, "it's okay, you can trust me."

jack groans and hides his face in his hands. "it's... this is super cliche, but it's not you, it's me."

"that is the vaguest explanation you could have possibly come up with."

jack sighs and drags his hands down his face. "this isn't real, gabe. sorry. you can go home."

that doesn't clear anything up for gabe LOL

"i... don't understand," he says with a surprising amount of evenness.

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 Gabe: have...have i entered the matrix or...?

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 LOLLL

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 XD I'M SO SORRY PLS CONTINUE

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 LOL IT'S OKAY THAT'S TOTALLY WHAT HE'S THINKING

jack flops back on the bed miserably. "i'm not..." he struggles for words for a moment. "i'm not what you think, gabe. i'm not human. not... not completely."

gabriel has question marks above his head at this point he's so confused that they have manifested in reality

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 XD

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 Jack stalls for another minute and then finally gets out "I'm half siren and I manipulated you into sleeping with me by accident, it was a mistake, I'm sorry, I'm probably manipulating you right now, you can go now,,,," OKAY PASS XDDD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 FUCK THAT NOISE XD uhm... gimmie a minute ((this is why i don't rp X'D))

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 XDDDD I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY PHONE DYING AGAIN

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 plug it in, plug it in~! it's gonna take me a couple minutes

Gabe takes a moment to process what Jack's just told him. He understands the words, but... "Wait, wait, wait. That doesn't make sense. You're...? Jack, I've seen you. You're definitely human. Where did you get this idea from?"

Jack draws up his knees and locks his arms around them. He's made himself as small as possible--which isn't terribly small, given his size--and is huddled as far away from Gabriel as he can manage. He's the picture of misery as he talks, face hidden against his knees and voice muffled. He tells Gabe about the person who revealed his heritage to him and explained why he's never had an issue hooking up with anyone who caught his interest. Jack's ears are burning red at that admission--Jack, who had never shown any hint of self-consciousness before. Gabe feels sick at heart watching him. He isn't sure yet if he believes what Jack has told him, but it's obvious that Jack believes it.

"Even if--" Gabe pauses, knowing how skeptical he sounds while Jack is apparently baring his soul. "Even if that were true, do you really expect me to believe that the effects lasted all this time when you hadn't done anything on purpose?"

"I don't know." Jack's gruff voice is almost a whine. "Gabe--Gabriel. Even if it wore off, if I did.... If I actually...." He curls in even tighter on himself. "Please go. I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"You mean like leaving you here like this?" Gabe asks, deadpan.Jack flinches and looks up at him, wounded and uncertain.

"You can't trust me," he insists.

"I can trust my own judgment. I trust your sincerity right now, and I trust that you're hurting because you don't want to hurt me. You're the one with trust issues."

Jack opens his mouth, but nothing comes out, although he looks as if he'd like very much to argue that.

"You don't trust that what I feel right now is genuine. How about I confess something to you?" Gabe reaches out, catches one of Jack's hands and pulls it close to press it against his heart. "I felt something for you before you ever came on to me, back when all I knew about you was what I saw with my own eyes everyday and what I heard from the others. I've had you on my mind all week, wondering when you were going to call, but willing to give you space and not push if that's what you needed to be comfortable. I played your game, I heard you out, and I'm still here. Maybe you don't trust what's going on in my heart, but I do, and I'm the one living with it."

okay quick how do we make gabe immune to sirens so that it's all good for sure?

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 SOBS LOUDLY sorry for disappearing lmao I was actually socializing irl uhhhhhh hmmmm

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 haha no worries! ^^ i've actually been trying to turn that gabe-with-hanahaki thing into a thread ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 ooooo!!!! Still thinkin about siren immunity

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 hrmmmm...

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 I consulted friends and all we could come up with deafness Oh how about Gabe offers to like put in noise cancelling ear things while they have sex to prove he wants it fun sensory stuff :DD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/20/2017 XD but, like, if Jack isn't doing it on purpose, then any old flirting could be his siren song, right? I'm just imagining him and Gabe trying to talk this out, and Gabe suggesting 'well, just don't try to seduce me, I guess' and Jack being all 'But I WANT to seduce you! ;-;' and honestly upset by the fact that he can't do it fairly, and Gabe is just //// FUCK i want him RIGHT NOW

firesonic152 - 06/20/2017 AWWWWW OMG

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 oh how about it's like... jack genuinely likes gabe vs not genuinely liking all those other dudes so maybe those feelings like. are an automatic shut off to his powers?? idk

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 maybe like the siren powers are activated by hunger, you think? and while Jack's sexual appetite motivated all his other conquests, in Gabe's case he's motivated by love? 'cause he's fukkin' smitten like a goddamn loser? sorry it got too goopy XD

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 AwwwWWWWW yes how do they figure that out tho LOL maybe there's some visual cue that shows up when jack is doing his siren thing and he's unaware of it

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 haha what if it was Genji that told jack all like 'lol nice powers bro here's what you're doing' and then hanzo comes along all 'i heard my idiot brother was spreading half truths' oooh...i like the visual cue idea, tho or maybe it's a voice thing? maybe his voice goes a bit smoother, but it's always rough around Gabe, and he gets tonguetied sometimes, which he never did before.

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 AWWWWWW sweeeet gabe starts noticing it when jack sweet talks other people into doing shit without thinking about it

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 XD What if Jack, like, just knows stuff about other people--like what would work best to bribe them? But with gabe, he has to discover it or be told. The intuition doesn't switch on, either.

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 boiiiiii

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 'cause, like, sirens were supposed to tempt with stuff other than sex, right?

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 yeah!!! jack staring intensely at gabriel and when gabe is like "what are you doing" jack grumbles about how he can't figure out what gabe wants gabe grins and pulls jack into his arms and is like "you, you idiot" all smoothly

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 al;jbhf;akl meep. <3

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 <33333 jack works so hard and like takes notes on all of gabe's likes and dislikes and favorite things he has a little notebook of lists there is a very extensive nsfw section LMAO

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 XD

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 when gabe discovers the notebook he scribbles "JACK" on the first page surrounded by cute little hearts jack totally didn't cry (he did a little)

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 omg orz please you're killing me

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 >||3c oh earlier i sent a message and it never?? idk posted???

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 what, on here?

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 yeah lol i was just plunging the siren one back into angst by wondering if like. when their relationship is going to shit jack gets desperate and accidentally uses his powers on gabe without really thinking about it

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 D= WHY WOULD YOU NO WONDER IT DIDN'T SEND FOR SHAME!! we'd have to either re-work the trigger for his siren magic or have it so that he went and learned to actually use it, though. 'cause that's still a different impetus than just hungering for the D lol

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 hmmmm i was thinking like they've been getting emotionally distant for awhile but still having sex just for the sake of it but then gabriel is like "i need to take a break jack i can't do this" and like a combination of jack having practiced his powers for the needs of his job to get what he wants and just the primal Thirst triggers

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 ; ; i have a sad

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 oh nooo

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 you caused it

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 I'M SORRY BUT not that sorry

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 jeezus XD

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017

jack doesn't realize what he's doing until he becomes aware of the fact that he's been talking the entire time while gabe has been uncharacteristically silent

jack by now knows why he hadn't used his powers on gabe before, when he didn't know about them. it was because it was about more than just sating a hunger. the fact that he's doing this again - with gabriel - is a scary slap in the face about the state of their relationship

he's also scared by how much he doesn't want to stop. this is wrong for so many reasons but the worst part is that he just wants to let it happen. thankfully though, he gets too caught up in his internal monologue and stops talking. gabriel slowly snaps out of it.

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 oh god does gabe realize? or does he just think it was nostalgia and that he was missing Jack? so he's all 'well, maybe things are okay after all and i was just tired before' or something. so they sleep together, and it's almost like it was when they started seeing each other. Gabe is more tender than he has been for a long time. but Jack knows why. He knows that he went and messed with Gabe's head, confused him, and even though he stopped, the effects lingered.

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 SOBS LOUDLY jack had lured him back with a song about how they used to be

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 i'm upset

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 ASFASVSDHDFH when gabe falls asleep, jack has to get out. gabe's arms are wrapped loosely around him and he feels sick. he goes and curls up on the couch in his office.

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 s toP orz

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 IDK HOW TO FIX THIS SDGSFBDFNVN

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 I do. Gabe is now magically immune. The bad stuff was a nightmare Jack had about his powers going wrong. He wakes up and Gabe comforts him by complaining about all the annoying shit Jack does until he's more mad than upset, and then Gabe gives him sleepy kisses, assures Jack that he still loves him, tells him to shut up and go back to sleep, and wraps an arm around him to hold him close on the soft mattress beneath the covers.

Jack eventually gets comfortable with what he is, enough that he can turn on the charm, flirting with Gabe, and humming, which should work pretty well, but only bounces off Gabe. He can focus his bedroom eyes and hum and sway his lean hips as he crosses the room to sink down onto Gabe's lap, and Gabe will smile and settle his hands at Jack's waist ad lean up as if to kiss him and whisper against his lips: "It's still your turn to take out the trash."

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 afasvdsbdfhfdb even tho this is a cop out it's so cute that i don't care what if they're able to reconcile bc the song was literally just about "let's be in love again" and gabe is like oh goddd mistakes have been made we love each other idk how we forgot that

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 what's love got to do, got to do with it? what's love but a secondhand emotion? orz

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 akcjnasasxknj cries

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 yah TT^TT XD i'll take the fucking cop out fix idgaf tonite

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 you know what me too LMAO jack trying to use his magic to get out of chores and failing is hilarious

SuspiciousPopsicle - 06/21/2017 XD and continuing proof that he hasn't actually mindfucked gabe or whatever so he has to work, but at least he knows that his boyfriend loves him for realsies

firesonic152 - 06/21/2017 yay!!!!

firesonic152 - 06/22/2017 we never fuckin WE NEVER MADE A "VORE ME JACKIE" JOKE WHAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

[shxtteredmemories]

Control

Summary: In which Luciel loves Spark, Zapdos hates Luciel, and Spark isn't sure how to feel.

W: Zapdos being a piece of shit, Spark's dumb nicknames for his Pokemon, some mentions of violence and definite mentions of blood and wounds (not really in detail tho, but just in case).

Authors Note: i got an idea and im sorry i had it

"Spark! So good to see you again, I was hoping I'd run into you here!" Luciel called, grinning widely as he opened his arms.

After a moment of standing there like an idiot, he sighed, shaking his head, "no, that's too friendly. He knows I'm not that excited about things."

He paced, tapping his chin as he contemplated. Various forms of greetings entered his mind, but as the more he played them out, the worse they seemed.

"Hey, Spark, good to see you," he tried as he came to stand in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the back of his door. He smacked his head, "I have sound like I'm happy to see him."

Rubbing a hand over his face, he let out a frustrated groan. His shoulders slumped as he dropped his hands to his sides, meeting his own gaze in the mirror. "Spark! I'm so happy to see you! I love- no, i mean! I'd love to talk with- oh Arceus, I can't even get it right when I'm playing it out alone."

"Well, I guess if I can't get it right, then why should I bother meeting him?" Luciel flopped backward onto the beanbag chair in the corner beside his closet door, huffing childishly with arms crossed over his chest. He didn't get to pout for long before his phone rung. He hesitantly checked it, paling at the caller ID. Reluctantly, he accepted the call and was about to rattle out the normal greeting before he was interrupted.

"Did you know birds always go for prey smaller than them?"

Luciel paled, recognising the voice almost immediately, "... No? That's... uh... interesting."

"They typically strike them with a clenched foot, stunning or killing them on impact."

"I did not know that," Luciel almost dropped his phone while trying to wipe the sweat from his palms, deciding to hold it against his shoulder when he'd caught it.

"Then they turn to catch it in mid-air," the voice continued, seeming amused in how it spoke.

"Za-"

"Larger bird Pokemon may even feed on the chicks of other bird Pokemon."

"Zapdos."

"If the prey is too heavy, they will often-"

"Zapdos," Luciel emphasised, almost yelled into the phone, "please stop."

"I'm just saying, isn't that-"

"Interesting, yes," Luciel cut him off, earning a growl from the other side of the phone, "but nothing you will say can scare me enough to keep me away from Spark."

"If I wanted you scared you would-"

"Goodbye, Zapdos," Luciel pulled the phone away from his ear, hitting the end call button. He took a moment to relax in the bean bag he was sitting on, sinking further into its welcoming embrace. Panic ran through his mind, but he tried to keep himself calm and from having a panic attack. He couldn't begin to count how many times he'd had to deal with that stupid bird keeping Spark at an arm's length; five? Maybe even six or seven times? One or two was enough, but as much as that? What did Zapdos have against him, anyway?

"Stupid fucking bird," he swore, closing his eyes and dropping his arm over his face. He remained like that for awhile, almost dozing off before he was jolted awake by his phone ringing again. Thankfully, when it checked it, it was only a text message from one of his friends back in Alola, Moon.

[Text Received] - How's the friend thing going?

[Text Sent] - Good. Yep. Totally great.

[Text Received] - What happened?

[Text Sent] - His Pokemon hates my guts.

[Text Received] - Oh, shit. What are you gonna do?

[Text Sent] - Try not to get electrocuted.

[Text Received] - You're gonna die.

[Text Sent] - Thanks for your help in my time of need.

[Text Received] - 👍👍👍

Luciel groaned, discarding his phone onto the floor beside himself. Almost as soon as he sat the phone down, he realised something. Quickly snatching it back up, he didn't even bother checking the time before he hurried out of his apartment, grabbing his keys on the way out. The door slammed shut behind him, but he hardly heard it as he hurried down the stairs and out the front door. 'I'm so fucking laaateeee,' he thought frantically, sprinting down the street; maybe if he ran, he could make it before Spark even realised he never showed up.

"Oof!" He stumbled, closing his eyes and bracing himself for impact that... never really came.

"Whoa! You alright?" That voice...

"Spark!" Luciel opened his eyes immediately, beaming widely with a hint of red tinting his cheeks, "oh my Arceus, I'm sorry for being late."

"You're not that late," Spark laughed, helping him back to his feet, "I probably would've been late if that battle had kept me any longer."

Luciel took a moment to gather himself and keep himself upright, leaning on Spark's arm until he felt he could stand on his own. He blinked, having to take a moment to contemplate his response, which left an awkward silence to fill the gaps in their conversation.

"Oh, sorry I- My mind's really occupied," he apologised when he noticed, rubbing the back of his head, "so- you had a battle?"

"Yeah, it's my obligation as a team leader to take on challenges at the gyms every so often," Spark explained, gesturing for Luciel to follow him as he made his way inside the cafe they'd decided to meet at.

Luciel bounced along beside him as they walked to their table, seated by one of the waitresses who seemed all too friendly - in his opinion at least. If Spark noticed, then he didn't say anything about it. "Sounds fun," he said as he propped himself against the table using his elbow.

"Yeah! It's actually all sorts of fun," Spark smiled gleefully, picking up one of the menus to look it over, "all sorts of trainers of different skill levels come on in and decide they're ready for a battle; I'm not even ashamed to admit that some of them have beaten me before."

"You've actually lost to some of them?" Luciel blinked, a little bewildered at first. Eventually, he went to browse his own menu, mentally checking off some things he thought were interesting. After that conversation with Zapdos earlier, food didn't sound that appealing, so he avoided the sandwiches and salads section as much as humanly possible.

"Some are wickedly strong!" Spark exclaimed, nearly startling the people in the booth behind him. He muttered a quick apology before he turned back to Luciel, "yeah, some of them are just... way too skilled."

"Forgive me if I'm a little surprised," Luciel snorted, "I'm just not used to hearing you lose at anything. You used to always be good at everything when we were growing up."

"Guess I didn't get better with age, huh?" Spark teased, a placid smile on his features.

Luciel flushed a little, burying himself back in his menu, "if it makes you feel any better, I probably just got worse with age."

A look of disbelief crossed Spark's features as he reached over and snagged the menu out of Luciel's hands, "no way! I bet you got a lot better!"

Startled, Luciel sat back quickly against the booth, blinking a few times to get a grip on his bearings. He looked at Spark with a bewildered expression, then shrugged when he finally registered what he'd said, "I dunno. I haven't battled in forever; the best I've done is training, so... y'know, no real battle experience."

Spark set the menus down, leaning forward with his head tilted a little. He inspected Luciel for a bit before he sighed, "you've gotten better at lying... But!" He suddenly grinned, slamming his hands quietly against the table, "I can still read you like an open book!"

Luciel was about to protest before the waitress came by to collect their orders. Realising he didn't decide what he wanted, he simply ordered a cup of coffee; his order was almost... pathetic in comparison to what Spark ordered. When did he start liking coffee so much?

When the waitress left, Spark turned back to Luciel with the same stupid dumb calm smile on his face, "you know what we should do?"

"No?" Luciel raised a brow, confused at Spark's intentions as he leaned back against the table, only moving closer when Spark made a gesture for him to.

"We should battle," he whispered, like it was some kind of secret, "just to see who's better."  Maybe he noticed that the other patrons of the cafe were getting a little antsy due to him having so many outbursts at once?

Luciel laughed something sarcastic and pure at the same time - how is that even possible? - as he eyed Spark with a competitive glare, "only if you're up for it. From the sounds of it, that last battle really wore you out."

Spark's smile morphed into a grin, teeth showing as he met Luciel's glare with one of his own, "we'll see about that won't we?"

"Oh, it is on, Mr. 'I can totally take on anyone or anything'," Luciel snarked, grinning his own little grin when Spark pouted and huffed.

And that was how lunch ended up going. They sat and talked, occasionally joked around, and otherwise just enjoyed each other's company. Much to his surprise, too, Spark even came up with a time and place for their battle to happen, much to Luciel's relief; there was no way he would be able to think of a time where both of them were free. Of course, it ended up taking Spark several chances to figure out the right day, but he managed after the third or fourth.

As they were exiting the cafe, arm and arm and still laughing about a cheesy joke one of them said, Luciel noticed the air around them began to change. The air on his arms began to stand on end and he looked up to Spark to see if he had noticed it too, only to be met with not blue eyes that belonged to his friend, but brilliant, electric yellow that belonged to none other than...

"Zapdos."

"Human."

"What do you want?" Luciel asked as he pried himself away from the Pokemon controlling Spark, arms crossing over his chest.

"I'm making sure you don't get too close to my bonded. What made you think I wanted anything to do with you?" Zapdos mimicked Luciel's stance, almost as if he were mocking him.

"I was already close to your bonded before you came around," Luciel retaliated, his expression changing to match his words; he glared up at Zapdos with his lips drawn back, almost as if he were about to bite if provoked.

"And then you left him," Zapdos replied, looking disinterested in Luciel's non-threatening expression. If he were anything else, he might've felt something toward it, but being who he was, he felt next to nothing.

"That wasn't my fault!" Luciel shouted, dropping his arms to his sides, fists clenched. His jaw and shoulders tensed, hands shaking with how tightly he was clenching them.

"And you didn't come back for... what was it, seven years? Maybe more?"

Luciel inhaled, holding his breath. He closed his eyes, counting to ten in his mind before he exhaled a deep sigh. He stepped forward, much to Zapdos' surprise, jabbing a finger in his chest. "You have no idea what I had to do to get back here and I will not have some overgrown fearow get between me and the only friend I've kept since my childhood. Do you understand me?"

Zapdos was taken aback, shocked for a moment before he leaned forward to match Luciel's intense stance with one of his own, eyes narrowed and teeth bared. "You will not come anywhere near my bonded ever again or I will make sure that you learn the difference between me and a fearow."

Frustrated, Luciel relented, turning away and rubbing his hands over his face. In an attempt to prevent himself from crying, - angry crying at that - he simply marched off with his attention wandering to other things. Apparently, Zapdos was rather thankful as he let out a discontented noise of his own.

Several weeks later, Luciel was peering at his phone, waiting for text messages that wouldn't come and phone calls he couldn't make on his own. Instead of focusing them, he'd been putting more time into his battle studies; if he could strengthen his Pokemon as much as he could strengthen himself, then maybe Zapdos would see him as 'worthy' or whatever the equivalent would've been. However, during a much needed break, he decided to catch up on some messages from a few days ago that he didn't reply to. One in particular, Moon's, had caught his attention, but he was simply too emotional to reply to it earlier.

[Text Received] - You alright? Haven't heard from you in a few days.

[Text Sent] - No, not really. I'm having friend troubles

[Text Received] - His Pokemon still hates you?

[Text Sent] - Yeah, pretty much.

[Text Received] - Well. It could be worse, right?

[Text Sent] - No, not really. I don't think that's possible.

[Text Received] - You're always so pessimistic.

[Text Sent] - Someone has to be, right?

[Text Received] - Whatever. What's the plan?

[Text Sent] - Sulk and cry?

[Text Received] - I swear to Arceus if you don't get out there and get your friend back, I'll personally come over there and hook you too up.

[Text Sent] - Please don't.

[Text Received] - Then get going! You only live one life, so make it count.

[Text Sent] - There are some people who would disagree.

[Text Received] - Ugh. Just go and get your man.

[Text Sent] - I'm trying.

He left it at that, pocketing his phone and going to check on his Pokemon. The lot of them were all slumped in different areas of the clearing, enjoying varying degrees of shade. He chuckled, grabbing his backpack from beside his Lycanroc Midnight, beginning to dig around in it for the berries and other treats he'd brought along.

"Come on, you guys, treat time!" He called, immediately catching attention. Lycanroc and his Alolan Ninetales, Apath and Cyn, were the first in line due to being closest while the more sluggish Pokemon lazed around in the back until their turns came up.

As soon as everyone had gotten a couple treats, Luciel set his backpack back down and moved to sit near the small stream that flowed just at the edge of the clearing. He settled down on a rock beside it, dabbing his face with a towel he'd procured from his pack.

However, his Mightyena, Nihil, had made his way over and plopped down beside him, happily chewing on his Oran berry.

"Hey," Luciel greeted, reaching over to scratch behind his ears. He wasn't surprised when Nihil mostly ignored him, save for the thump of a tail that Luciel barely registered. He opened his mouth to say something else before a voice alerted him.

"Luciel!" Spark.

Luciel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He petted along Nihil's back when his started to growl lowly, something of a warning. After taking a deep breath, Luciel put on a fake smile and turned to face Spark, looking over his shoulder, "Hey! Fancy seeing you out here."

"Yeah, I was about to say the same," Spark grinned, taking a seat beside Luciel. His Pikachu, who had taken up residence on his shoulder, peered curiously at Luciel, making Spark nudge him and comment in a teasing tone, "stop staring, it's rude!"

"Nah, he's fine," Luciel reached his hand out to the Pikachu, blinking when he took Luciel's hand in both of his paws and shook it. Marvelling at the Pokemon, he stared for a few silent, brief moments. "Oh my god, he's so cute," Luciel put the hand to his mouth in shock.

"Who? Updog?" Spark blinked, looking at the Pikachu from the corner of his eye. He frowned when he noticed the arrogant expression on his Pokemon's face.

Luciel snickered, holding his arms out for Updog to hop into, which he did so happily, curling up into a ball. "I love him, but... the name? Spark, please."

"What? It's a good name!" Spark protested, pouting. He watched as Updog made himself comfortable in Luciel's arms, sticking out his tongue in Spark's direction. Spark sent him a glare, muttering, "why are you like this?"

"I bet you only named him that to get people to play along with your stupid joke," Luciel teased, scratching lightly at Updog's stomach. He smiled at the pleased noises the Pikachu made, responding by cooing at him as if Updog were a baby.

"It's not a stupid joke and you know it," Spark rolled his eyes, throwing his arm around Luciel's shoulders, "so, what are you doing out here? Training for our battle that you missed out on?"

Luciel looked down, furrowing his brows and frowning. "Sorry about that," he muttered, "something turned up and I didn't get a chance to call you."

Not seeming to hear Luciel's response, Spark continued on, "I mean, you haven't talked to me for weeks! I thought you fell off the face of the Earth again."

"Yeah about that-"

"I really missed you, you know! Not as badly as when you left when were kids, but still! Were you busy or something? You know I would've understood."

"Spark."

"I'm just saying, I would've been okay with it. I wanted to call you, but I figured you would've said something if you wanted me to know."

"Spark."

"What were you doing, anyway? Did something happen? Or were you just training and lost track of time?"

"Spark."

"What?"

"I was just saying, something uh..." Luciel fidgeted slightly, messing with Updog's paws as he put them in Luciel's hands, "something came up and I didn't get a chance to call you."

"Oh. Well, you should've called me after! I would've understood," Spark said, looking a little disappointed.

"Sorry, I guess I just got too busy with training?" Luciel shrugged, smiling a little when Updog licked his cheek to cheer him up, "... so cute..."

"Maybe since we're both here, we can train together?" Spark looked excited about it even as he suggested it, beginning to bounce in his spot.

"Ah, actually," Luciel picked up the Pikachu in his arms, passing him back to Spark as he stood up, "I have something I need to get done today, so maybe another time." He explained, muttering an apology that was too quiet to be heard as he collected his things and Pokemon, returning them to their Pokeballs.

"Bye, Spark, talk to you soon!"

Spark blinked, bewildered, looking down at Updog, "what's with him?"

"You're Luciel, correct?" The man behind the desk asked, looking between his phone and Luciel.

"Yeah, that's me. Why?" He simply nodded, eyeing the stranger carefully.

"Spark talks about you a lot," the man shrugged, reaching his hand out, "I'm Go. Spark's... assistant, if you want to call it that."

"Oh! Yeah, Spark has mentioned you from time to time," Luciel hesitantly shook his hand, smiling a little at the corners of his lips. "Uh... is he in, actually?"

"He's in the middle of a battle, but you're welcome to watch it," Go replied, gesturing for Luciel to follow him as he headed down the right hallway, "follow me."

Luciel trailed after him, nervously fidgeting as they exited the quiet front room and entered the loud as all gets stadium. "This is where the battles are held?" He had to raise his voice to even hear himself over the noise the crowd was making.

"Yeah," Go said, "right now, Spark's facing a guy he's had trouble with in the past. Guy can't take that he keeps losing, so he just keeps coming back."

Luciel raised a brow, "how is that trouble?" He asked, taking a seat beside Go when he settled down; they'd managed to find some front row seats amongst the sea of spectators.

"The guy's always loud and brash about it, causes a scene every time," Go explained as he gestured to the guy, who looked rather peeved that he was losing.

"Oh, makes sense, I guess," Luciel muttered the last part, leaning forward to watch the battle closely. Even though they were in the front row, it was still hard to see and hear from where they were; even harder to focus due to an oncoming headache.

The battle seemed to be going in Spark's favour as he had yet to lose his fourth Pokemon, while his opponent was down to his fifth. Thanks to the scoreboard, it was easy to tell who was winning, who had won in the past hour or so, and how many wins, loses, and draws Spark had under his belt.

He wasn't lying when he said he lost to some of them... Luciel thought, resting his arms against the barrier as he stood up, trying to drown out the noise behind and around him in order to focus on the battle in front of him.

Updog seemed to be Spark's Pokemon of choice, easily dodging and weaving around attacks from the opponents Ninetales. Ninetales didn't look like it was a pushover, either, though, striking hard whenever it did land a hit and being able to take a few hits itself. Luciel was almost too scared to ask Go who he should've been rooting for.

"You're welcome to stay here and watch the battle, but I have a job to get to," Go said suddenly, heading toward the door they'd entered from.

"Alright. It was good meeting you!" Luciel called after him, barely taking his eyes off of the battle.

At some point during it, Updog and Spark's Jolteon, who he'd have to learn the name of later, had gotten severely injured. Spark was down to his fifth and the guy was barely hanging on with his sixth; Spark was still winning, but only by a small margin. With everyone around him cheering and booing whoever they thought deserved to win, Luciel didn't think he should've started cheering as well, but...

"Spark, kick his ass!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, "don't hold back on someone like this! You can battle a lot better and we both know that!"

Seeming to notice his screaming, - probably due to recognising his voice - Spark looked up to the stands to spot the source. He smiled when he noticed Luciel, waving his hand before he quickly turned his attention back to the battle.

Luciel grinned, proud of himself, as he continued to watch, enthralled in the battle. He wasn't even participating and he could feel adrenaline rushing in his veins.

By the end of the battle, he was more hyped than he'd ever been. As soon as he returned to the front room, he had a bounce in his step and must've looked like he'd gotten the best news ever based on Go's bewildered glance in his direction.

"I take it you had fun?" Go asked, grinning a little.

"Oh yeah! That was so. Fuckin'. Cool!" Luciel replied, talking a little louder than normal with an over-excited tone of voice.

"All of Spark's battles are a little over the top," Go chuckled, looking toward the door down the left hall as it opened. He glared at the guy who lost, getting the same expression in response.

Luciel blinked, watching the guy leave. He became a little confused when the guy glared at him as well. "Well, someone's not happy he lost," he grumbled, crossing his arms as he let out a huff. However, upon seeing Spark walk out not too long after, he grinned a little as he greeted him with a wave.

"Hey! Glad you could make it," Spark beamed, as he walked over to the both of them, moving over to peer at the phone in Go's hands from over his shoulder. "How many times is that?"

"Seven or eight, I lost count," Go replied, looking up from his phone, "guy just can't give it up."

"Some people are just too determined," Luciel chimed, letting out a dejected sigh, "but if someone like that can't even beat Spark, then what's that mean for people like me?"

Spark sent Go a look when he snorted, then turned to Luciel with a grin, throwing an arm around him, "you're a lot stronger than that guy and you know it!"

"I dunno, I've been pretty lacklustre lately," Luciel frowned.

"Spark's always told me that you could totally beat him," Go replied with a shrug.

"He's just saying that because I used to beat him all the time when we were kids," Luciel rolled his eyes, then cast Spark a look, raising a brow.

"What? It's true," Spark held his hands up in mock defence, "you always used to completely own me when we had battles back then."

"Yeah, but now?"

Go looked between the two of them, shaking his head, "why don't you two just battle and figure it out for yourselves?"

"Too busy," Luciel replied rubbing the back of his neck, "I actually shouldn't have even been here, but I decided my boss could deal without me for a day."

"Playing hooky are we?" Spark shot Luciel a disappointed look, "tsk, tsk, tsk."

"You play hooky from your leader duties from time to time," Go interjected, grinning a little at Spark's pout.

"You weren't supposed to tell him that!"

"Oops, it slipped," Go faked(?, it looked both too real and too fake to tell...) a shrug.

"How could you do this to me, Go?" Spark played along, fake crying with his hands covering his face. "Betrayal! Betrayal, I say!"

Luciel doubled over, holding back laughter while gripping his sides, "dear Arceus, you two!"

Soon enough, Spark joined in, laughing heartily, with Go finally joining last.

When they'd finished wiping the tears from their eyes, they all straightened out and looked amongst themselves. However, after getting a ping on his phone, Go held it up and smiled sadly, "sorry, gotta take this. You two have fun."

"Will do!" Luciel called after him, waving his goodbye. After Go was out of sight, he turned to Spark, "so uh... your battle, huh? That was... pretty good."

"Maybe I have gotten better with age?" Spark suggested, referencing his joke from a few weeks ago.

"Aged like fine cheese, Spark, fine cheese," Luciel shook his head, giving Spark a pat on the arm.

"Speaking of," Spark waggled his brows, "wanna go get some dinner? I know it's kinda late, but I'm sure there's some places still open.

"Are you thinking pizza?"

"Only if you are."

Luciel grinned, hooking his arm with Spark's when the offered presented itself, "lead the way."

"With pleasure," Spark returned the grin with one of his own, a playful expression that radiated happiness, heading out of the gym with his arm swinging, therefore causing Luciel's to swing with his.

"Any particular place we're going to? Or are we just gonna go to your place and order?" Luciel asked, peering up at Spark as they made their way down the sidewalk.

"I was thinking my place and order, I really don't wanna carry a pizza home," Spark whined a little, rubbing at his arm, "my arms hurt too much to carry anything."

"You're just lazy.~" Luciel teased, rolling his eyes at Spark's play acting.

"Am I? Or are you just too cynical to not care about my pain?" Spark retaliated, a teasing tone to his words.

Luciel didn't seem to notice it, however, too busy staring at something that caught his attention.

"Luciel? Hey, what is it?" Spark reached over, waving his hand in front of Luciel's face, blinking a few times.

"Huh?! Oh! Oh, no, it's... I just thought I saw something over there," Luciel made a vague gesture toward the alley adjacent to them.

"Have you been sleeping enough? You know you start to see things when you don't get enough sleep."

"I know, and yes, I have... Must've just been a Meowth or something," Luciel shrugged, pulling Spark along.

"Are you sure? We could investigate it if you're worried," Spark suggested, stumbling when he was suddenly yanked forward. He barely caught himself by leaning on Luciel for a bit before he was able to keep up.

"Nah, let's just keep going; I'm hungry anyway," Luciel replied, fidgeting slightly after pulling his arm away from Spark's, "besides, it's probably none of our business.

Spark tilted his head to the side, furrowing his brows. "If you're sure..." He replied, slipping his hands down into his pockets. In an attempt to change the subject, he brought up pizza again, "what kind do you want?"

"What?" A little bewildered, Luciel cast a confused glance up at him, "oh- pizza, right. Uh. Cheese. With extra cheese."

"As always," Spark teased, "you gotta branch out a little."

"I'll branch out when I'm dead, I'm too in love with cheese to do anything else while I'm alive.

"See! You're so bland and predictable it hurts!"

"Oh please, like you're so much better?"

"I'm instinctual," Spark grinned, waiting for Luciel to catch the joke. However, when he noticed he hadn't, Spark looked down, nudging him slightly. "Oh come on, it wasn't that bad."

"Spark," Luciel reached for his arm again, holding tightly to it with both hands.

"What? Seriously, are you that freaked out about what you saw? Like you said, it was probably a Poke-"

"Spark, please be serious for once."

"Why? What's wr-" He didn't even finish his sentence before a resounding CRASH caught him off guard. Spark turned quickly to face the source of the noise, already on edge as he gave Luciel a small push behind him.

They waited for a moment, the sound of the wind blowing around them and their breathing being the only thing to fill the void that would otherwise be silent. Much to their relief, out from the alleyway they just walked by was a Ninetales, looking more startled at them than they did at it.

"See, I told you it was nothing to worry about!"

"Spark," he swallowed nervously, "look at the bandanna around its neck," Luciel made a gesture to his own neck for emphasis.

"Whatcha mean..." Spark trailed off, recognising the bandanna almost immediately. Plastered on the black fabric was a bright red 'R', proudly displaying the team the Pokemon belonged to. For once, a serious expression displayed on his features, "stay behind me."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Luciel stepped back a little further, peering out from behind Spark with an anxious expression.

Another tense handful of seconds passed before the trainer finally showed himself and Luciel couldn't be any less surprised about who it was.

"I knew that guy was an asshole," he muttered, clinging to the back of Spark's jacket.

What happened next was so sudden he barely registered it. The trainer attacked and then... Luciel had never seen someone move so fast. He didn't recognise the speed at first, too caught off guard to even understand. But he did know that he suddenly went from point A, the ground, where the attack hit, to point b, the rooftop of a two story building not too far away.

"Spark?" He asked, his breathing beginning to level out from his previously almost hyperventilating state.

"I'd say 'guess again,' but then I'd have to hear my name come out of your mouth."

"... Zapdos," Luciel muttered, suddenly shoving himself out of arms he knew didn't belong to his friend.

"... And you say it anyway," Zapdos groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I save your life and you treat me like this?"

"If you're going to complain about it, why bother?" Luciel snarled, rising to his feet. He was caught off guard again when the second movement happened, helplessly clinging to Spark's jacket despite his irritation for the Titan having taken over.

"Because," Zapdos continued as soon as he had finally determined a safe spot to drop Luciel for good, "in human vernacular, I've grown accustomed to you presence."

Luciel blinked a few times, slow to understand Zapdos' words. But before he could say anything, the bird was off again, moving like lightning.

"Hey, wait! Should I be flattered or what?!" He called after, leaning over the ledge of the roof to watch Zapdos dart off.

Turned out, occupying oneself by stargazing wasn't exactly the most interesting thing in the world. By the time Zapdos had finally made his way back, Luciel had almost dozed off several times and was only keeping himself awake by messing around on his phone. Of course, he was worried, but he'd determined that there was simply nothing he could do until Zapdos returned. Then, he'd certainly be giving that stupid bird a lecture of a life time.

"I'm surprised you didn't try to jump off," Zapdos commented as he came to rest beside Luciel, peering over at him from the corner of his eyes.

"Why? If I jumped, I would've died," Luciel replied before realising what the Titan meant. He glared at Zapdos, frowning, "you hate me and yet you've grown accustomed to my presence. It's either one or the other, make up your mind.

Zapdos sighed heavily, leaning over to throw his arm over Luciel's shoulders, "I'll admit that I did not realise it before... but you are genuinely apologetic about leaving Spark alone all those years ago... And although I still despise you and all humans, if something were to happen to you, he would be devastated."

"So... you're saying that you're only keeping me around for Spark's sake."

"Something like that," Zapdos grinned a little, squeezing Luciel's shoulders in an awkward, one armed hug.

"Wow, gee. I've earned the favour of a Legendary Bird- Wait, what's that on my shoulder?"

"We should be going, right?"

"Zapdos I swear to Arceus if that's blood-"

"We're going."

Before Luciel could protest, Zapdos scooped him up once more, rounding his way back down the buildings until they landed on the ground.

"Wha- hey- Arceus, I'm gonna be sick..." Luciel groaned, slipping away from Zapdos when they finally settled on the ground.

"You'd better hurry, we're not quite out of the clear yet," Zapdos warned, looking over his shoulder to peer down the sidewalk.

"That's rather ominous," Luciel commented after getting a hold on his bearings, his eyesight no longer doubled.

"So is that," Zapdos made a gesture behind them, directing Luciel's attention to the trainer from before.

"Can't you, I dunno, do something?"

"Are you telling me to stop holding back?"

Luciel hesitated, biting his lip.

"If you're going to answer, do it fast."

"Yes," Luciel finally confirmed, confident in his answer, "if that'll get this to stop, then don't hold back." He wasn't going to lie when he thought that the look Zapdos made with Spark's face was genuinely terrifying. Nor was he going to when he realised just how Zapdos could fight when he was backed into a corner. Even though he had also taken over Spark's body, he seemed to be doing very well; maybe he was only doing it to protect Spark? But why would he? Spark had already fought the guy so, why bother?

Oh my Arceus.

Luciel scrambled backward when he came to a conclusion, nearly tumbling over his own feet in the process. Panic rushed through him, not unlike the adrenaline that had done the same earlier. He contemplated the answers swirling in his head, trying in vain to figure out what he was going to do. He realised that Zapdos was only fighting, because he didn't want Team Rocket to take him from Spark, he was only fighting because he knew what being apart from one another for too long for would do to both him and his bonded.

Zapdos didn't even seem to realise that he was going overboard. Or maybe he did and he was doing it intentionally? No, he wouldn't-

When Luciel caught sight of the glance that was shot in his direction, he froze.

And then all of a sudden, his legs were moving before he could process it; he was running as fast as he could, pushing himself further than he'd ever done before. And as soon as he finally came to a halt in front of... Spark? Zapdos? Was it both of them? Luciel grabbed his shoulders, his grip shaky. Of course Zapdos took notice easily, he wasn't blind. But his reaction...

He clung tightly to Luciel like he was going to lose him, claws digging past his clothes and into his skin, creating long, angry scratch marks that Luciel could feel were bleeding. His back must've looked like some kind of bird must've attacked him - and it wouldn't be totally wrong - by the time he'd finally gotten Spark to calm down.

Luciel wheezed, squeezing Spark tighter when he began to apologise, "I've got you, okay? It's okay..." He smoothed his hand through Spark's hair, trying to ignore the pain in his back.

"... I'm sorry," Spark muttered, hesitant to return the embrace that Luciel had him in.

"Don't. Don't apologise, okay? It's fine."

"You're too good to me..."

"Any other time I might agree with you," Luciel laughed a little, trying to ignore the burning from the marks on his back, "but... I can't do that now."

"Yeah..." Spark nosed his face against Luciel's shoulder, "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that..." Luciel smiled a little, wincing when he moved to curl against Spark.

"Someone has to," Spark replied tiredly, carefully picking Luciel up in his arms. He tried to steady himself when he swayed, biting back the throbbing pain in his head.

After he'd been able to brush off the feeling of weariness, he greeted Luciel to one of his signature smiles, "let's get you patched up."

Luciel simply hummed in response.

[aiwannadrawit]

Time: Friday 25 th

Place: Art Department

Between: Desmond & Anabelle

Plot: Desmond and Belle hang out a bit and Des learns of the issues between the people important to him

There's still so much to do, enough to have Belle's appointment book and day planner overflowing with notes and dates and assignments. She drops both books on one of the tables in the studio, along with a bag full of gigantic hardcover textbooks for the upcoming semester. Rubbing the back of her neck, she flops into a chair beside Desmond to look over his class schedule, more awkward with him now since the fight with Alex but trying her damndest not to take it out on her relationship with her favorite person in the department. "You should take the afternoon life modeling class on Wednesday, I'm doing the modeling again this semester. The professor brings in donuts and keeps a space heater on in winter so it doesn't feel like an ice box. Who do you have for animation?"

Desmond had been feeling pretty good so far. He had his whole thing with Alex and they talked, which was really needed now that he thought about it and now he could focus on other things. Like stuff going on with Belle. He knew she was busy, with the wedding, the kids, and everything else. He couldn't really imagine how she kept her head on straight but he commended her efforts. He scratched at his chin, "I dunno...I do so much life modeling already," he mumbled, mostly to himself as he thought of the countless sketchbooks with people in them. But really...taking it again couldn't hurt. "Uuuuh," he blinked searching his head for a name. "I lost it...but the paper's somewhere in my bag...I dunno."

"Yeah, but not with me. I'm the best." She grinned, tilting her head to beam at him cheekily, then looked back at the papers in front of them. "I'm thinking about the graphic design 101 thing and dropping journalism. Would be nice to be able to do my own marketing instead of subcontracting..." She leaned against him, head tilting to his shoulder. So many things had been changing in her life, it was nice to have something that felt normal. "Someone said they saw you hanging out with...whats his name. Rolan? What's up there?"

"I got you to pose covered in glitter though?" He laughed. He thought about it. "Sounds smart, best to cut out the middle man and all that jazz. Plus...if you really wanted you could always pick journalism back up some time later." He smiled at the relaxed feel of it all tilting his own head slightly to rest it on top of hers. "Hm...don't know any Rolans. Unless you meant Riley. Then nothing really," he grinned, "he's a new friend of mine." He took small moment. "You're okay? With all the planning and stuff? You don't need any help?" He kind of like a jerk for only asking this now, but he felt partially intrusive when she had so much going on. Even though he knew that wasn't really the case in the end.

"That was photography, not drawing," she pointed out, but smiled at the memory. It felt like she's ago now. "Eh, I was only in it for fun and to do the advice column. It ran its course." She tried to picture a Riley in her head, the image clicking with another notable redhead on the school's Instagram radar. He was cute, and available if she remembered right. "New friend with potential?" She nudged his side a little, hoping that the issue with Alex's public displays with another guy and everything that had happened since had finally put him off of the older man. "No, it's fine actually. Easier than I thought it would be, I just stuck some post it's in a magazine and gave them to my planner and Mitchell. All I have to do is show up and look pretty. You're coming, right? For sure?"

Desmond shrugged, he couldn't argue that. "Oh, so you're not gonna be offering up advice anymore? Those were always fun to read." Desmond couldn't help but to roll his eyes. "Potential for what," he asked in feigned ignorance. Though...he was still very much looking forward to his blowjob at some point. He let out a sigh of relief himself. "Whew, glad it's all so simple. I used to watch those wedding reality shows when I was younger. They always kinda looked like a nightmare. And of course I'm coming. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Belle gave him a withering, if affectionate, look. "You know what. Are you seeing him? Or anyone really? Gotta know if you're bringing a date to the wedding," she tacked on as an excuse for her nosy prying. She stood up to stretch out her lower back and walk around the table, sitting on it instead and laying back so that she's looking at him upside down. She finally cut to the chase, even though it wasn't an easy conversation. "Are you still seeing Alex?"

"Oh is that all," he shook his head. "Well no I'm not seeing him... though I did end up blowing him." He mumbled that last part. "And I wasn't planning on bringing a date to the wedding. Except maybe Kuroko's if she's allowed." Desmond looked down at her, an eyebrow raising at her question. "Yeah..." He said slowly almost cautious. "I last spoke to him Tuesday...he's been gone for a bit."

Belle gasped out loud at the admission in false shock, but real delight. "He's cute, good on you." Unfortunately, that apparently didn't mean that things were off between him and the music professor. She couldn't hide the grimace. "Of course you can bring her. Can I ask why? He's not exactly claiming you in public, unless I missed something major. And it's been what, six months? Longer?" There was clear bias and distaste in her voice, she still hadn’t gotten over the argument, what she thought of as the last of several straws.

Desmond smirked, "He is cute." He nodded, glad this was pet friendly affair since he had gotten her a suit and everything. The grimace surprised him. "Almost a year I guess, and...he doesn't have to claim anything. We're not dating." He narrowed his eyes at her tone of voice, the shift in mood making him frown. "What's up you huh?"

"He's not dating anyone, as far as I know, but that doesn't mean he's not out with other people. It just seems...unfair. Especially considering his gripe with you telling me about the two of you. Since he was going to so much effort to keep you a secret but has no problem making out with someone at a public school event." Sighing, she sat up and turned on the table, crossing her legs to sit in front of him. "Not long ago he showed his true colors to me, that's all. He's and trust me when I say I don't use the word lightly, an asshole."

"He was," he took a deep breath. "He was doing that for my benefit. And that---" he waved a hand in relation to the incident, "was dealt with. We talked about it already. He can do whatever he wants and I can do whatever I want." He was being defensive, he knew, but they-- him and Alex-- had a really good and needed conversation. He thought they were in a better place than they had been when he left. "I know he's an asshole," he said, "what he do to you?"

Belle hesitated. Desmond was obviously still defending Alex, and she didn't feel like getting into another fight with someone she considered a friend - but she also wasn't about to lie and say that it was no big deal, when it was. "Aside from sticking his opinions where they didn't belong, being patronizing and implying that Mal and I don't have the kids' best interests at heart, he told me that I'm setting a bad example for them and that my upbringing was bad, apparently because I had a nanny. He made Mal think that the government would take the kids from us if we hired help, if I didn't quit school and work and stay home with them. Here." She leaned over to pull her phone from her bag, finding the conversation with Alex, and the screencaps she'd taken of what he'd told Mal, and handed it over to Desmond. "Full disclosure, I said some harsh things. I meant it."

Desmond read through the whole text conversation twice and then skimmed it a third time. This was...bad. Which, in and of itself, an understatement. But...from what he had read... Desmond sighed and handed her her phone back, sitting back in his seat. Well...he certainly could figure out what had Alex so upset that day. "Really? You'd try to end his career?"

Belle shrugged. "Maybe. It wouldn't be unwarranted, with his behavior lately. Unprofessional doesn't even begin to cover it." She paused, shaking her head. "They're my kids. I'm not going to let anyone put it into Mal's head that someone else will be taken away from him, that he's an unfit father. Marcus is old enough to understand things, if Alex said anything like that around him, implied that we don't care about him, it could kill the trust we're trying to build. So yes, if it came down to losing my family or Alex losing his job, I would."

Desmond didn't know anything about courts or child custody or anything else in that ball park. But Desmond didn't get that vibe from the conversations. At least not so much so that Alex was trying to destroy their family. "Job and career aren't the same thing."

"I could wreck his career or his job, and I would do either if he insulted my family again. I've done worse for less, and I tend to be...mellowed out these days, but I don't take it lightly when someone goes after the people I care about." She held her hand out for her phone. "We did nothing to him and he went on the attack because of how we're choosing to navigate a situation he can't know anything about, but that he decided he was the authority on because, what? He almost had a child? It's not a hypothetical for us, and it's none of his business to insult us over."

Desmond didn't see it as an attack. An unwarranted opinion that didn't go over too well, but not an outright attack. He didn't think throwing out the fact that he didn't have a kid was appropriate though. This whole situation was messy though. He ended up shrugging. "Okay." This certainly turned his mood sour. But he didn't want to start a big scale argument, even if he thought Bell was out of line and overreacting on some accounts. "Well, it's over now, yeah?"

Belle: Belle measured her words carefully - she didn't want to insult Desmond, he wasn't a part of all this. He was, in that he was seeing, if not dating, Alex still but he wasn't the one insulting her or her future husband. "I don't particularly want to be around him anymore. Ambivalence is about the best I can do." She paused, considering. "If he comes at my kids or my parenting style again, I won't be ambivalent anymore. Besides that, yes. I suppose it's over."

Desmond nodded slowly, "Well that's fine." He said; ambivalence wasn't so bad and he was sure with the way the conversation had gone Alex wouldn't be too keen on getting involved again. "So are you banning him from your wedding?"

Belle grimaced at that. The problem was that it wasn't just her wedding, and Mal didn't seem so inclined to burn bridges as she was. "If Mal wants him there, he can come." She shook her head. "I've ignored people with less to distract me. As long as he doesn't throw another fit of snapping at my guests, I don't care."

Desmond frowned at her second grimace of their conversation, but he supposed it was only fair. "I'm sure that won't be an issues," he said simply and then opted for a lighter conversation topic. "Do you wanna see Kuroko's in her suit?"

Belle brightened once the subject changed, though she was significantly less present, more guarded and defensive than before. "Of course! You got a little suit for her? That's amazing, I didn't know they made cat suits. Well...not that kind, anyway."

Desmond smiled, though he could feel the shift in her."Yup, they make all kinds of clothes for cats and the like. I wanted to get her a little flowers to go with it too, but I was worried she would try to eat it or something."

"Send my pictures, I'll make sure she gets some lilacs if they're safe for cats." She glanced at her watch, hopping off the table and gathering up her things. "I have a meeting with the new department head. You'll call me if you need anything?"

"Oooh...lilacs would be great." He nodded and sat back, picketing his phone and sighed. "Okay and yeah I will...you just do the same."