#I think I over exaggerated Punk’s big ears but don’t tell me that

[piledrivemytombstones]

I needed to do this challenge with my own twist

[ot7always]

Let Go

Word Count: 4.6k

Pairing: Seokjin x Reader

Genre: Established relationship/College!AU, smut, fluff

Warnings: sub!Seokjin, soft dom!Reader, copious amounts of teasing, oral (m receiving), light bondage, fingering, use of a cock ring, a bit of size kink, unprotected sex, a tiny bit of marking, creampie, overstimulation

Rating: 18+

Summary: Your boyfriend spent so much energy taking care of others. Wasn’t it time for someone to take care of him?

A/N: This fic was commissioned by the lovely @luxekook​ for the ChangesWithLuv project hosted by @ficswithluv​ in support of the Black Lives Matter movement! I hope it lives up to your expectations!

--

Boisterous laughter rang out through your shared apartment. With exams done and out of the way, Seokjin had invited your friends over to celebrate. While you loved them – you really did – they were loud. You’d be afraid to get a noise complaint from a grumpy old man if you didn’t know that your apartment complex was dominated by university students.

“How can you say I’m wrong, huh!? I’ll show you who’s wrong, you little punk-”

“Can you guys be normal for just one second?” Yoongi’s unamused voice called out from the opposite side of the room.

You snickered from your place at the kitchen counter as your boyfriend tackled Jungkook hard enough to shift the entire couch, Jimin squishing himself into the armrest so as not to interfere.

Yes, you loved these boys with your whole heart.

You continued mixing margaritas as you observed the group, chuckling as you heard Seokjin tell Taehyung that “it’s not a competition, but in a battle of faces I think I’d win.” You hadn’t been dating Seokjin long, but you have lived with him for years. The sense of balance he brought to your group was incredible. While at face value one might think he was just a huge goofball, he was so much more than that. He was dependable, observant. He knew when someone needed an ear just as much as he knew when they needed a laugh. It had to be tiring, always looking out for your friends like that. Sometimes you found yourself worrying whether he was happy too.

Finally finished making your pitchers of low-alcohol margaritas, you moved to join the boys in the living room. You’d made Seokjin promise nobody else was ever drinking heavily here again after the atrocity that was last year’s post-exam party. Sometimes you swore you could still smell the aftermath.

Plopping yourself onto Seokjin’s lap uninvited and ignoring the exaggerated oof in response, you started pouring out everyone’s drinks.

“You guys are sickeningly cute,” Hoseok commented from his place on the floor, eyes narrowing on Seokjin’s arms wrapped around your waist, his chin tucked over your shoulder.

“Isn’t he the cutest?” you cooed, finishing your task and raising your hands to sandwich Seokjin’s cheeks between your palms, squeezing hard enough for his lips to jut out.

“Ugh, I didn’t mean him,” he responded in mock disgust. But you only giggled, turning to face him and grinning once you took in his reddening ears. For someone who loved to (jokingly) toot his own horn to anyone who’d listen, he got shockingly embarrassed at compliments.

Deciding to spare him the teasing that would normally come from his reaction to you, you simply rested your back against his chest, closing your eyes to bask in his presence.

--

The night went by in a blur, friendships seemingly breaking and reforming over the course of the night. It was clear that Jungkook’s competitiveness carried over even to board games, the look in his eye far too serious for the occasion. It definitely caused no shortage of arguments. Your boyfriend was famous for picking fights with the youngest, but it was hard not to see the affection in his eyes even when he was chastising at a rapid-fire pace.

Once the boys had left for the night, thankfully slightly tipsy at maximum, you made your way back to the living room with Seokjin. Fortunately for the two of you, your friends were much less messy than they seemed, meaning you could put off cleaning until the next day without feeling any guilt.

When Seokjin settled onto the couch once again, you seated yourself in his lap, straddling him. Brushing back the dusty brown hair you’d helped him to achieve the previous week, you gave him a quick peck on the lips before leaning back.

“Can I say something?” you asked, hands reaching to interlace your fingers with his. You tried to quell your nerves at the idea of what you were about to suggest. When the 8 of you were all together, it felt more evident than ever that your boyfriend seemed to be on all the time – cracking jokes, making snarky comments. Sure, maybe it was partly his personality, but you’d love to see him let that go for once. And you had just the idea.

“You can always say something,” he responded sweetly, eyes focused on your own.

“Well...” you pondered your words. While you’d done your fair share of observing over the years, Seokjin’s “role” in your friend group always seemed to go unspoken. “We appreciate it, but I just wanted to say it’s not your responsibility to always be the funny friend, you know?”

His brows furrowed in response. “I don’t-”

“Hang on, let me finish. You’re an amazing friend and you know how to lighten the mood. But isn’t it exhausting? Don’t you want to be spoiled? To not have to think?” you punctuated your words by shifting your hips closer until you were seated right against his crotch.

He only stuttered in response, face and ears turning bright red at your words. “What are you asking me?” he stared, wide-eyed.

“You always put everyone else before yourself... won’t you relax and let me take care of you?” you bit your lip, grinding onto the growing bulge in his pants. Seokjin always took the reins in your sex life, and you always let him, losing yourself in his firm commands and rough treatment. But you really, truly wanted him to experience someone taking care of him for a change – you wanted him to be able to sit back and lose himself.

“What did you have in mind?” he breathed, pupils dilating as the movement of your hips against his only continued. You leaned forward to slot your lips over his, the kiss quickly deepening. You captured Seokjin’s muffled groan in your mouth as you pulled back slightly, pressing your teeth into his plush bottom lip.

“Bed,” you gasped, pulling away abruptly. Rising off him to begin your trek to Seokjin’s bedroom, you didn’t check to see if he was following. Your back to him, you quickly pulled your t-shirt over your head and dropped your shorts to the floor, leaving you clad in a matching navy-blue lace set. The hiss you heard from behind you was all the confirmation you needed to know that he was right on your trail.

Sitting yourself daintily on the end of Seokjin’s bed, you watched as he joined you. As his hand reached out toward your hair, you swiftly caught his wrist in your own hand. “No touching. Lay down,” you smirked, jerking your head toward the pillows. His eyes narrowed in response, but he obeyed your words, laying down on his back, head resting on his hands.

You moved to join him, fingers trailing slowly up his denim-clad thighs. “You’ll listen to me tonight, won’t you, Jinnie?” you blinked up at him, feigning the most innocent stare you could muster. You tried not to crack a smile when you saw him visibly gulp.

“I’ll listen to you, sweetheart,” he replied, desire clear on his face. At his words, you smiled sweetly at him, hands moving to unbutton his jeans.

“No touching. Just lay back and relax,” you instructed, undoing the zipper and tugging the jeans off his legs. You smirked at the sight of his cock straining against his underwear, the waistband pulling away from him his skin. He let out a hiss when you lightly dragged your pointer finger along the outline of his cock, your nail scratching lightly at him.

“Is this all for me?” you cooed, “So big...” You continued your slow ministrations for several minutes until Seokjin wouldn’t stop shifting his hips.

“Touch me,” he all but growled, hips grinding into the air in search of any friction at all.

“But I am.” You tilted your head at him, relishing in his frustrated sigh.

“Please,” he said quietly, the word sounding almost foreign in his mouth. If tonight went the way you intended, you were certain you would be hearing it a lot more.

Taking mercy on him, you tugged his underwear off, his cock springing up once his bottom half was made bare. You laid your head on his thigh, staring toward it wide-eyed, finger raising once again to trace patterns along the shaft.

“So pretty, isn’t it? You’re so big.” Sure, you were exaggerating your words and expression a bit to rile him up, but it was true. He was girthy, veins running up the underside, the head angry and red and begging to be touched.

You took him loosely into your grasp, pumping him slowly with barely enough pressure to be noticeable. When he bucked his hips up to seek more of anything, you brought your other hand to press down on his abdomen. He was more than strong enough to make the movement anyway, but you assumed he would listen to you as he said he would.

You moved to blow a warm stream of air at the head of his cock, and he twitched in your grasp at the sensation, a groan sounding out from above you. As you looked up to his face, you felt a rush of heat in your groin at his appearance, eyes clenched shut and teeth biting into his lower lip.

“Ask for what you want,” you crooned, continuing your languid movements. You had to remind yourself not to break composure at the heavy-lidded look he gave you, sweat starting to cause tendrils of hair to stick to his forehead.

“Suck me off,” he demanded, fingers digging into the pillow beneath his head.

“I see you don’t understand how this works.” Condescension coloured your tone as you cocked your head, eyes narrowing. “Why should I do anything if you’re mean to me?” you pouted, pulling your hands away from him.

It was when you simply stared at each other, neither speaking, that a thread of insecurity wrapped its way around your mind. Was he not enjoying himself? Should you give up? You wrung your hands together, feeling more and more like a fool with each passing moment.

As Seokjin noticed you getting more and more stuck in your head, your eyes unfocused, teeth gnawing at lower your lip, the guilt washed over him in waves. He wasn’t used to things like this, but it really didn’t hurt anyone to try it at least one time, especially when you were looking so happy and confident. For you, he would put his pride away for a couple hours.

“Hey,” he called out softly, smiling sweetly once your eyes met. “I’m sorry.” The look in his eyes was genuine, sincere. You returned a weak smile. “Touch me. Please.”

Your eyes widened in surprise, having been fully prepared to give up your stint. “Really?” Your heart warmed when he nodded encouragingly, relaxing fully back into the pillows.

You reached out to stroke him once again, his hips jumping up at the sudden contact. You slid your thumb up the head, smearing the precum weeping from the slit. When Seokjin tried thrusting his hips up once again, your hand returned to its place, holding him down.

“Ask for it,” you ordered, confidence returning to your voice at his visible desperation for more. You stroked lightly at the underside where the head met the shaft, taking pleasure in his quickening breaths.

“Give me your mouth, please,” he panted, abdomen and thighs tensing as he tried his best not to push his hips up anyway.

The drawn-out moan he let out when you licked a stripe up his cock from base to tip had you shivering. You continued to leave kitten licks up the shaft before wiggling your tongue at the slit, taking in the bitter taste of his precum. The tiny sighs and muffled groans that fell from his lips were music to your ears, one hand moving to cup his balls as you continued the tiny motions of your tongue.

“Please, inside,” he moaned, hand fisting in his own hair. The sight of him so wrecked and at your mercy caused a new gush in your panties, lust consuming you. At his words, you took him into your mouth without pause, sucking lightly at the head. Though it lasted only seconds before you stopped, the sensation of a hand on your head giving you pause.

Pulling off his cock with a pop, you ignored the whine of protest as you roughly shoved the hand off you. “Didn’t I say no touching?” you snapped, mustering the most intimidating expression you could.

He sighed, returning his hold to the pillow beneath him rather than on you. “Sorry, can’t help it,” he mumbled.

When you were certain he’d settled back comfortably, you took him into your mouth once again, eyes closing as you sucked lightly. You let your tongue run along the underside as you closed your lips around the head, hand raising to wrap around the base.

Encouraged by Seokjin’s more and more frequent moans, you took him deeper, cheeks hollowing as you moved your hand from his shaft to his balls. You moaned around him as he arched his back with a loud moan, head tipping back in pleasure. You wished you could capture him like this, head thrown back, mouth agape, a stream of shameless noises and heavy pants escaping him.

Feeling especially generous, you relaxed your throat, taking his sizeable length deeper for just a moment before popping back up to suckle the head.

“Fuck,” he choked out, thighs tensing. After being wound up so long, you were sure he was close. When you took him deep, swallowing around his length, his hand returned to your head, hips grinding up into your mouth.

Pulling up off him, you let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “What did I say about touching?” You smirked as the hand drew back slowly before dropping down onto the mattress. “Do I need to tie you up?” you asked, eyeing his form.

It wasn’t a rhetorical question – you stared at him, waiting for a response. You needed to know how far he was willing to take this.

“Maybe you should,” he replied, want clear in his expression. Interesting.

He let out a groan when you seated your clothed heat right over his cock, your hands reaching up to quickly unbutton his shirt. After getting him out of it, you raised his hands up to the headboard, using his shirt as a makeshift rope. Looping the material messily around his hands, you eventually tied a knot that looked something like what you’d intended.

Backing away, you winced slightly as you took in the jumble of fabric before you. Maybe you didn’t think this through – if you needed to get him out of there quickly, you doubted you could do so without the scissors on the nightstand. Well, hopefully he wasn’t too attached to that shirt.

“Pull and tell me how it feels,” you said firmly, imitating the words Seokjin had told you on the occasions you’d been in his place. He did as you said, the binds holding up much better than you’d expected.

“Good.”

“And if you want me to stop?”

“Red.”

You beamed at him, scooting off his lap, instead spreading his legs so you could seat yourself between them.

“You haven’t been very good for me,” you pouted, reaching behind you to unhook your bra. “So you’re gonna sit right there and watch me touch myself.”

His protests were immediate, but you ignored his indignant cries as you slowly shimmied out of your panties, the fabric soaked with your arousal. Leaning back on your elbows and spreading your legs obscenely wide, you reached down to part your lips, grinning at the deep groan he gave at the sight.

Smearing your wetness messily through your folds, you moaned at the first real touch of the night, having neglected yourself to focus on teasing the man in front of you. “So wet Jinnie, I think I could sit on that fat cock right now.”

When you looked up to observe him, you were displeased to see his head tipped back, vision seemingly focused on the ceiling above. “Look at me,” you barked, gaze sharp as you watched his eyes snap to you.

Happy to receive his attention once again, you moaned as you inserted your index and middle finger inside, other hand spreading your folds wide. Your sopping hole on full display, you thrusted lightly, scissoring your fingers inside you. Part of you mourned that they weren’t Seokjin’s fingers – fingers that could fill you up so much better than your own. But the tortured look on his face was worth it, his pained expression having you clench hard around your digits.

The sensation wasn’t enough. You slipped in a third finger, groaning at the stretch. “I wish they were yours, Jinnie,” you panted, grinding yourself onto your fingers, the moan you gave less exaggerated than you’d like to admit. There was something about the sight of your boyfriend tied up, horny and helpless, that sent endless waves of arousal through your body. You felt powerful, confident.

After several minutes, it no longer felt satisfying. You needed more – you needed him. You pulled your slick fingers from your walls, holding them up for him to see. Licking slowly up each individual finger to clean them, you made eye contact with Seokjin before you. You made a show of it, grinning as you heard the headboard knock against the wall with his attempts to move, his eyes glazed over with desire. As you eyed Seokjin’s cock before you, big and hard and neglected, you were suddenly reminded of something.

Boy, was he in for an interesting night.

Crawling your way over Seokjin’s body, you stretched to be able to reach into the nightstand drawer, fingers closing over something that the two of you had bought, washed, and never used.

“What do you say we try this today?” you grinned, brandishing the silicone cock ring in your hand. He blinked in surprise – he'd probably forgotten about its existence, the toy having sat in its drawer for weeks without use. After a moment of pause, he nodded his assent.

You fiddled with the ring, stretching it in your hands. You’d never used one of these before, but you were pretty sure it was supposed to go on before his cock was already rock hard, head swollen. You’d have to be careful not to hurt him.

Taking the bottle of lube from the same drawer, you squirted a generous amount onto the toy, spreading it with your fingers before sitting in front of Seokjin.

“Tell me right away if it hurts, okay?”

“Okay.”

Stretching the ring with your fingers, you brought it down his length until it was snug at the base. You breathed out a laugh when he let out a loud groan at your touch, his cock having been abandoned for so long.

“How does it feel?” you asked, sitting back to admire your handiwork. The sight of him was absolutely enticing. His chest rose and fell quickly with his breaths, his abdomen flexing and relaxing as he searched for any friction at all in the area he needed it most.

“Good,” he hummed, cock twitching. Eager to finally get him inside you, you straddled him, seating your wet folds on his shaft. The moans you both let out at the contact were shamelessly loud, your heat grinding onto his shaft. You let out a sharp cry when you leaned forward to drag your clit along his cock, the much-needed friction such a relief.

Satisfied that he was thoroughly coated with your arousal, you rose up, hand moving to position him at your entrance. Unwilling to tease both of you any longer, you lowered yourself onto him slowly, a small whimper escaping as he entered you. Despite fingering yourself before this, the stretch felt enormous, your walls struggling to take him in.

A strangled groan sounded out from Seokjin, the headboard hitting the wall once again as he tried his hardest to give you the time you needed to adjust.

“You feel so big,” you whimpered, rocking your hips back and forth as you slowly eased him deeper and deeper.

“You take it so well,” he moaned, knuckles white as he fisted his fingers into the fabric holding his hands in place. His praise and laboured breathing had a wave of arousal flowing through you, your juices painting his length with a translucent sheen.

You whined loudly as he bottomed out inside you, reaching to stabilize yourself against his abdomen. The stretch was almost too overwhelming, pants falling from your lips, your head tipping back at the onslaught of pleasure. Seokjin was faring no better, his back arching, face flushed. The feeling of your walls squeezing mercilessly around him after spending so long untouched, the sight of you falling apart on his cock all by yourself...

“Fuck,” he groaned, grinding his hips upward into you. His movement caused the ring at the base to rub against your clit, and you cried out, nails digging into the firm muscle under your fingers.

When the burn of the stretch transformed into flames of pleasure, you lifted yourself a couple of inches before slamming yourself back down, the shallow thrust sending shivers up your spine. You continued the motion, punctuating every few thrusts with a slow grind against him, the unusual sensation of the cock ring rubbing against you making you moan out every time.

Seokjin’s mouth remained agape, breathy moans escaping freely as you bounced on top of him. Needing to feel him against you, you shifted to lay your upper body across his, pressing your face into the crook of his neck. The new angle meant friction against your clit with every thrust, and you muffled your moans by biting at the soft skin of Seokjin’s neck, sucking bruises into the unmarked flesh.

It felt almost bizarre to have him inside you without his arms around you, without his firm grip on your ass, without him driving into you relentlessly. But the tradeoff, the sight of him losing himself to pleasure beneath you, unabashed in his moans and cries – you loved seeing him like that. You loved being the reason for it.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he panted, hips raising to meet your every thrust. His movements were sloppy, though you couldn’t blame him. After being wound up so long, he had to feel ready to burst.

“Jinnie,” you whimpered, speeding up your rhythm, moans caught in your throat at the sensation of being so full, so stretched, the friction against your walls divine. The constant pressure against your clit would have had you collapsing if you weren’t already sprawled across your boyfriend’s body.

“I’m gonna cum, shit,” Seokjin whined, hips moving against yours without rhythm, his heavy pants sounding out near your ear, making you shiver.

“Cum then,” you replied, doing your best to move faster to send him over the edge.

Within seconds he was spilling into you with a roar, his cock throbbing inside you, warm spurts decorating your walls. The sensation had you clenching around him, grinding your clit roughly against the ring at the base of his cock. When he was fully spent and you didn’t stop your motions around him, his whines were immediate.

Courtesy of the ring, his cock was still half-hard inside you, and you used that to your advantage. Determined to maybe wreck your boyfriend before you reached your end, you bounced on him, sliding only an inch or two off before coming back down.

Returning to an upright position, you glanced down at where your bodies met, the obscene sight making you whimper, your walls fluttering around Seokjin’s cock. His cum was leaking out of you, what you could see of his cock when you pulled off decorated with white. It was a mess, but fuck, if it wasn’t one of the most erotic things you’d ever seen.

You eyed Seokjin as you heard a strangled groan. His eyes were screwed shut, his teeth biting into his bottom lip so hard you were afraid he would draw blood.

“It’s-” he cut himself off with a choked-out moan, utterly breathless. “It’s so – fuck – so good.”

His whines were gradually increasing in volume with your continued thrusts, and he looked almost as if he was about to cry. Watching him only sent you closer and closer to hurtling off the edge, the sight of your usually-dominant boyfriend below you, whimpering and needy, lighting a barely-contained fire within you.

You were so, so very close, but you just needed that final push. Reaching down, you rubbed frantically at your clit, the added stimulation having you nearly shouting. The increased assault of pleasure sent you careening off the edge, moans caught in your throat as you saw white. You had to catch yourself on Seokjin’s chest as you fell forward, overwhelmed with pleasure, your walls squeezing around him like a vise.

Seokjin let out a low cry, the feeling of you clenched so hard around him making him see stars. The sound of the headboard slamming against the wall was paired with the sensation of his cock twitching and spasming inside you, a much weaker stream of cum being released into you.

You took a moment to sprawl yourself unceremoniously across his upper body, head laid across the firm muscles of his chest. The room was silent except for the heavy pants coming from both of you, your mind still reeling your release. You both hissed when you lifted your hips from him, his spent cock releasing from you along with your mixed fluids.

After taking a minute to collect yourself, you rushed upright as you recalled the state your boyfriend was in.

“I’m so sorry, let me untie you,” you said, cursing yourself for not remembering sooner.

“’s fine,” he slurred, the utter exhaustion clear on him – the slow blink of his eyes, the limpness of his body. Despite your previous activities, he looked almost innocent like this. His peaceful expression, the pout of his lips, the love in his gaze – it warmed your heart.

You took a moment to softly brush the sweaty strands of his hair away from his face before reaching up to untie the mess of cotton around his wrists. You were perhaps too excited when you originally tied this, because you honestly could not tell how this contraption came into being.

Several minutes, curse words, and apologies later, he was free, your fingers tenderly rubbing over the faint red marks left on his wrists.

“How does it feel?” you inquired softly.

“I don’t think I’ve ever orgasmed that hard in my life.”

You burst out laughing at his words, warmth and joy spreading through you. “I meant your wrists,” you grinned down at him.

“I’m fine. Come hug me,” he pouted, tugging lightly on your arm to bring you back down to him. You conceded without hesitation – you couldn’t deny him anything when the look on his face was so sweet.

Nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck, you let your body mould to his. The feeling of his arms settling around you for the first time in what seemed like forever brought a tranquil smile to your face, and you relished in his warmth.

Yes, you were both sweaty. Yes, you should probably clean the mess between your legs. Yes, you could still feel the silicone of the ring pressed against your leg, and you most definitely needed to help Seokjin clean up.

But right now?

Right now, this was perfect.

[rmg91]

It Shouldn’t Be This Hard

(To Propose To Your Girlfriend)

LOOK! I WROTE SOMETHING! I AM NOT DEAD! Just still distracted by the RP with Autumn. It's too fun, can you blame me? We have such a cute universe happening. Anyway, the muses finally spoke to me and I've been wanting to do a 5+1 for a while now and the right idea came to me. And while this may be a little late it's also my Broppy Day submission. Although when you ship Broppy, everyday is Broppy Day XD

So without future ado, enjoy!

AO3/FF.net

~*~*~*~*~RMG~*~*~*~*~

1.

This was it. This was the night Branch Hawthorn was finally going to propose to his girlfriend of two years, Poppy Meadows. Everything was going to plan and for that Branch was grateful for as he was nervous enough as it was. Both he and Poppy had been able to leave their respective works early to get ready, although Poppy just believed tonight was a fairly normal date night. Then, looking their best and with clear starry night above them, they gotten to Trollington's best restaurant, Chez L'amour, with minimal traffic interference and their reservation had not been lost or given away, things Branch had worried about. Now, with their belly's full of warm delicious food and wine -though Poppy was always quick to assure Branch his cooking was still her very favorite- and dessert on the horizon, Branch was ready to take the plunge.

The mood was perfect, candlelight gleamed and a soft melody was echoing around them and Poppy was looking so beautiful with her bright pink hair pulled up with some strands framing her heart-shaped face and her freckles lit up by the flickering candles and her own bright smile. And her eyes, those beautiful, amber eyes that he just loved to get lost in, were shining with warmth and love just for him. And that was something he still couldn't get over, after all those years of pining and yet so sure he didn't deserve her, he had gotten the girl of his dreams and she loved him. And he hoped she accepted what he was about to ask.

Reaching out across the table, Branch took her hand in his as he returned her smile and hoped the nervousness he felt wasn't obvious. He must have been doing a good job of hiding it so far but he didn't want her to notice now before he had a chance to ask. And maybe it was a little cliché to ask in a romantic restaurant setting but he had spent weeks thinking about this and building up his confidence and he wasn't about to chicken out now. Given her hand a squeeze, he took a sip of his water to wet his throat before speaking, “Enjoy your dinner?” Start small, don't jump into it. All part of the plan.

His gorgeous pinkette grinned and nodded, “Yup! And I can't wait for dessert! I have been dreaming about their triple layer strawberry chiffon cake all week!” She took a sip of her wine before returning his squeeze of their hands before a playful smirk overcame her face and she cupped her chin in her head as she leaned over the table, “You know...You never did tell me why you decided this would be our date destination~ What made you choose the fancy place?”

Branch chuckled and hoped it sounded normal, it sounded off to him, but he simple shrugged and tried not to look away from those wonderful and curious eyes, “What? Can't a boyfriend treat his girlfriend to a fancy dinner once in a while? Plus I know how much you love to dress up, thought it be nice.” And he had a small square box burning a hole in his pocket, just waiting to be pulled out. Absolutely nothing unusual going on. Nope. “And have I mentioned just how beautiful you look tonight? Because you do, absolutely stunning~” He even raised her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles softly to complete his statement.

“Stooop~” She giggled, that perfect sound the best kind of music to his ears as a light blush dusted her cheeks, “Keep talking like that and you might get lucky tonight~”

“I'm already lucky~” And he was. So, so lucky that this brilliantly bright and bubbly woman had not only healed his torn soul and made him want to live rather than just survive but had given her heart fully to him to hold and cherish. Something he did every day so thankfully and would hopefully get to do well into the future together with matching rings on their fingers. Taking what he hoped was a subtle deep breath, for this was it, he wouldn't get a better time to, Branch opened him mouth to begin his speech, something he had been working painstakingly on for months, pretty much since he decided he was going to propose, but was interrupted by the sound of applause.

He and Poppy, who took her hand back to turn around, looked at the reason for it at another table where another couple sat. A brunette man down on one knee was slipping a ring on the happily crying blonde woman's finger as the other patrons clapped for them. Poppy bounced in her seat, adding to the applause, cooing before she spun back around, “Isn't that sweet?! I'm so happy Oak finally proposed! Oh, Daffodil must be so happy! Isn't that great, Branch? Our friends are gonna get married!”

“Y-yeah..Super great.” Branch hoped beyond hope he wasn't being obvious on how he really felt. Of course! Of course the universe would do this to him! It was all going so well! But then of course something had to happen to ruin his plans! Yes, he could still ask Poppy. No, it wasn't Oak's fault for asking his own girlfriend just before he could but he didn't dare take the spotlight away from the other couple. Poppy was right, they were their friends, and while he was sure neither would mind it still felt wrong to Branch to ask Poppy now after somebody else had beaten him to the punch. Sighing, confidence now deflating as he slumped slightly in his chair, Branch decided he'd just have to try another time. It was fine. Completely fine! That decision made, not that it made him happy, the blue-haired survivalist resolved himself to finish off the rest of this night as best he could. Not that Poppy had any idea, she was far too excited to think anything was wrong with him as she pulled him over to congratulate their friends.

And maybe this was for the best, maybe his second attempt would go better?

2.

A few weeks later, some more planning, a few personal pep-talks and Branch was ready to try again. They were currently in her father's backyard, surrounded by all their closest friends, even Gristle and Bridget who managed to make it down from Bergenville, having a simple summer barbecue. Branch was manning the grill, keeping half an eye on the food and the other half on Poppy as she fluttered around their friends, having fun playing games and jamming out to the music Suki had brought along. And perhaps this would be a better proposal anyway. While Branch would have must prefer to propose in a more private setting, which made him wonder why he even thought of the restaurant version in the first place, Poppy would probably enjoy it more if it happened surrounded by the people she loved most. And she deserved everything that made her happy.

Adjusting a few hot dogs so they wouldn't burn, he closed the grill just as his barefooted beauty came skipping over, a cheery smile gracing her lips. Setting down his tongs, Branch easily and happily welcomed her into his arms as she wrapped hers around his neck and gave his nose a fond nuzzle, “Mmm~ Everything smells amazing! Can't wait to eat!”

Branch chuckled warmly, nuzzling her back as he rubbed circles with his thumbs over her hips, leaning closer to her, “Should be ready soon. I know everyone's getting hungry. But first...” He then closed the minimal gap between them, giving her a soft kiss that had her sighing and relaxing in his arms. Sharing a few more soft kisses, and ignoring the wolf whistles from Guy and Smidge, Branch subtly glanced at the grill and decided the food would be okay for a moment. Because he figured now was a good time to pop the question to the queen of his heart as he had her undivided attention. Subtly guiding her away from the barbecue, he distracted her with words and some more gentle meetings of their lips, “Having fun, I take it?”

She giggled, that wonderful, tinkling sound that always spread warmth through him and nodded, “You know it~! I'm so glad everyone was able to make it! It feels like forever since we last did something!” It really hadn't, the Snack Pack was still just as close as they'd always been but Poppy was always one for exaggerating when she could. And well...maybe it had been a few weeks since they'd gotten a chance to just relax and hang out without work or other engagements in the way.

Speaking of engagements....

Branch stopped the careful migration a few feet from the hot grill, in a good spot where everyone would be able to see what was about to happen and carefully nuzzled his and Poppy's noses together, hoping she couldn't feel the sudden rapid beating of his heart, “So I wanted to ask you something..”

“Hmm? Yeeess~?” She hummed, watching him with those sparkling eyes he really did drown in every time he looked into them.

“Well I-”

And for the second time his very important question was interrupted, this time by the back gate slamming open and a familiar voice shouting, “Sup, Losers!!! The party's just arrived!”

“Barb!!!” Poppy screeched happily, tearing herself away from Branch to run and jump into her cousins hold with a very enthusiastic hug. One the punk-rock queen caught easily before swinging the bubblegum princess around, laughing loudly.

“Sup, Popsqueak?! Came to see if I couldn't liven you and your sugary-sweet friends up a little!” The red-pink mo-hawked band leader said, finally putting the other woman down as her right-hand band mate and drummer came up beside her, in a much more subdued manner. “Yo! Boy-Toy! Add a few extra burgers cause I'm starvin'!”

“There's plenty!” Branch cried back as Poppy and the Pack swarmed Barb for greetings and playful jabs. He then sighed roughly, ran a hand through his hair and returned to make sure nothing had burned. It was fine. No big deal. There was still plenty of day left for him to try again. There was just an extra few people around to watch now. As he checked on the food on the grill, moving a few things around and taking the vegetable skewers off, Riff came over after getting his own excited hug from Poppy.

“Sup, man. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, everything's fine.” Okay, mostly fine. But having been around Poppy since they were kids, Branch knew to try to look for the silver living. He'd get another chance later that evening, he was sure. “Just weren't expecting you guys. Little surprised.” More like a little annoyed at the interruption but he'd get over it.

The dark hair drummer chuckled softly, “Yeah...but you know the boss lady. Loves to make a entrance. But hey! We brought beer!” He lifted up a large case of beer as a peace offering. Branch gestured to the cooler behind him, telling him to add some to it and thanked him, mind half on the cooking, half on thinking about when he'd get that second chance to talk to Poppy.

...Sadly for poor Branch, that chance never came.

Having spent the rest of his time at the grill, catching up with Riff, he had soon let everyone know food was ready and the group swarmed up for the delicious smelling entrees. Then as everyone are and laughed and enjoyed, Barb and Riff regaled everyone with tales of shenanigans and adventures of their world tour. Describing the pounding energy of their concert in Brazil to their little hot spring mishap in Japan after a show. Poppy was thoroughly entranced by her cousins tales and completely distracted from Branch's attempts to gain a little attention long enough for him to get the question burning in his throat out. Then of course the pop/rock duo started the karaoke with a bang, which as fun as it was, just distracted Poppy more and didn't give Branch a chance to regain any sort of romantic mood. By the time the sun was long set but the energy of everyone was still high, Branch had given up for the night. There was no way he going to propose tonight, especially after Barb convinced everyone to go clubbing.

They say third times the charm, right?

3.

A week and some brooding later and Branch was ready to start planning again. He needed to come up with a good one too this time, something where they'd be alone, without anyone around and where he'd have Poppy's undivided attention. However he, himself, was slightly distracted and prevented from doing any sort of real planning as he and Poppy were currently passing Saturday night as they were prone to do. Snuggled up on the couch, lights dimmed and watching movies. There was even a light pattering of rain outside to add the cozy atmosphere they found themselves in.

A Rom-com Poppy had been wanting to see was currently playing, the screen flickering image's by as the main character's flubbed another love confession and Poppy snuggled up close to his chest. Branch's head rested on the arm rest, arms wrapped snugly around his girlfriend, rubbing mindless shapes where his hands rested on her waist. He knew as soon as the movie was over they would probably have to move to bed, sleeping on the couch was not that comfortable nor good for them after all, but right now he was in no position to move either of them. Bending his neck, he buried his nose in her pink locks and inhaled the fresh strawberry scent of her favorite shampoo, nuzzling gently. That was when it hit him, they were alone, there was no one or anything to interrupt him and he'd have Poppy's full attention. Yes, his inner romantic cried at the lack of romance but he had learned from Poppy to take the opportunity when it was presented to you, not to shy away. So, taking a subtle breath to calm his suddenly beating heart, Branch got ready to take the plunge.

Starting simple, he murmured softly, “I love you~”

“Mmm~ Love you too~” The pinkette responded in a light and airy voice, settling as deep as she could into his embrace.

Taking a moment to rub her shoulder and place a gentle kiss on the top if her head, Branch began a speech that he'd crafted and re-crafted hundreds of times already it felt like and it never felt perfect. Hopefully though now, he'd find the right words. “I...can't tell you just how lucky I am to have you in my life. You are...the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I am so, so grateful you took the chance on this ragged, broken and gray soul and made life bright again. You...Heh, you are my sunshine, making my days brighter and fuller and more fun than ever before. And yeah, you're crazy with your scheme's and your scrapbooking and leaving glitter everywhere but I wouldn't trade that for the world. Bring on the cupcakes and rainbows because I'm ready...ready to spend the rest of my life with you beside me. Call me selfish but I...I don't ever want to go back to the dark and dull existence. I want you and your sunshine to wake up next to until we're old and bent over and you're still rocking that pink hair. Poppy...I love you so much and if you'll have me, it would make me the happiness man in the entire universe if you agreed to be mine forever. So...I ask you, Poppy Meadows, will...” Deep breath, “Will you marry me?”

There, he'd done it, he finally asked Poppy to marry him and now all that was left was for her to answer and then he could go get the ring from it's place and he could finally see it on her finger. But as the minutes ticked by and he got no answer, Branch was beginning to worry. Had he fucked up? Did he say something wrong? Did she not want to? Was she in shock? Was she trying to find a way to turn him down gently?! Trying not to panic, and failing just a bit, Branch carefully turned his head to look at the woman in his arms, “Poppy?”

And found she was asleep, breath's even and deep and completely dead to the world and the proposal he had just cited.

Biting back a silent groan, Branch tilted his head over the arm rest and stared at the ceiling. Of course, why wouldn't this happen?! The universe truly must hate him if it had allowed him to finally ask Poppy only for her to be asleep and having missed the entire thing. Great, just effing great, now he would have to get up the confidence to try again and after three failed attempts he was starting to think maybe he shouldn't. But, as the beautiful girl in arms would tell him, he needed to get back up again and not give up. And it said something about her impact on him when he knew after a little time moping about the newest failed attempt he would do just that.

Besides, he couldn't fail four times in a row, right?

4.

Another few weeks later and Branch was in the midst of planning something the would surely be his best plan yet when Poppy had decided a spontaneous camping trip up in the mountains would be fun. Unable to deny her but secretly lamenting the lost chance of being able to ask her under the fireworks display that was happening that weekend, Branch had agreed. So they packed up the car and drove off for a weekend spent in nature. Which normally would have thrilled Branch but he was still sort of disappointed in the loss of another romantic plan.

However, even though she had no idea she had off railed another proposal attempt, Poppy still managed to cheer him up with her natural exuberance and joy. And the more he thought about, a proposal under the stars with nothing but the quiet sounds of nature around them would be better anyway. He wouldn't have to compete with the sounds of the fireworks and worry about whether Poppy would hear him correctly or not. Yeah, this would be far better and far more romantic. So by the time they reached the campsite, Branch was in a higher mood then when they left, plans already formed around what he'd cook and how he would go about creating the perfect mood.

Arriving at the campsite in the late evening, Branch decided he'd wait until the following night to enact his grand plan, he'd waited this long after all. So he and Poppy went about building their campsite, throwing up the tent and while she piled the sleeping bags, blankets and pillows they had brought into a proper nest, he went to find them some firewood. Soon they had a nice cozy fire to sit by and after a quick meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, they were cuddled up in Branch's chair, Poppy having abandoned hers in favor of his lap. And having his loving, cheerful, kind girlfriend snuggled up in his lap had almost made Branch abandon all plans and just propose right there, he stopped himself. Waiting one more day wouldn't kill him, plus Poppy was already half asleep and he didn't want a repeat of his attempt on the couch. So, picking her up and carting her off to get settled in the tent, he quickly doused the flames before joining her, falling asleep with her in his arms and images of tomorrow night dancing in his head.

Too bad he hadn't foreseen the incident that had occurred the next day.

After a morning spent cuddling, flirting and in all good mood, something Poppy made sure to tease him about saying she had been right that the trip would be a good thing, his pink whirlwind had suggested a little hike after lunch. The day was perfect for it, sunny, a little breezy with fluffy white clouds drifting by in the sky, so Branch had agreed. Never mind that he was looking forward to the evening once the stars came out. So packing up some water bottles, trail mix, a few energy bars and gummy candies, they had set off on the local hiking trail.

Poppy of course either filmed or took pictures of anything she saw that she liked, which was almost any flower or butterfly that passed by and Branch was content to just let her be herself, in far too good a mood to be his usual sarcastic self. Well, almost, he did try to act normal as to not tip Poppy off. But she had still noticed something and when she asked him what had in such a good mood, he simply replied with why wouldn't he be with her by his side? Which had earned him a giggle and few kisses as she called him a flirt. Which, really, he wasn't going to deny that because he was flirting, the thought of finally, finally asking her to marry him making him almost giddy. Yes, he was still nervous as hell but this was the forth time he was trying and he'd be damned if he was going to let that stop him again.

Eventually they had arrived on top of a cliff overlooking the forest, the sight rather breathtaking. After a moment of admiration, Poppy was back to taking pictures and talking about nice everything was and Branch nodded and smiled back at her but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't help as he watched Poppy gush as she was prone to do but to imagine the future, with her walking down the aisle in a gorgeous dress made by the twins, veil fluttering behind her as all their friends and family watched. And then she'd step up to him and exchange vows before they were dubbed husband and wife and he just knew she'd jump into his arms for that kiss as everyone cheered for them. Of course that little daydream soon came to a bursting stop with the next following of events.

There had been a rustling of bushes and before they knew it a deer was jumping out and running off, making both of them jump. Poppy had let out a little squeak and unfortunately for Branch, as he jumped back shocked out of his fantasy, he had gone a little too far and part of the cliff broke from under him, making him off balance and tumbling down to a lower ledge.

“Braaaaanch!!!” Poppy's scream echoed in his ears as he groaned, trying to regain his bearings.

“Branch, are you alright?!” Poppy cried down at him, worry clear in her voice.

“Y-yeah..I'm fi-Aaagggh!!!” Branch groaned, barely having sat up before having to clutch at his arm. Carefully pushing himself up, he pulled his hand away to find it covered in blood and groaned again as he covered his wound back up to stem the bleeding. Great, just fucking great. He was injured. And all because of a stupid deer. At least Poppy was okay. Looking up to check on her, his vision swam briefly and another moan of pain escaped him. Great, he probably had a concussion too.

“Branch! Branch, are you okay?!” Poppy was asking again, having wiggled her way down the steep incline to kneel beside him. She made a noise of distress of seeing him hurt and carefully cupped his jaw in her hands, “Hey. Hey, what can I do to help? Are you hurt anywhere else?!”

“I-I don't...” He hissed as pain pulsed through him, “Don't think so...Might have a concussion though...” He cursed under his breath before telling her to look in his bag for bandages, taking that brief moment of distraction to pat the inside pocket of his vest to make sure the ring was still safe. Which it was, so at least there was that.

Poppy quickly dug into his backpack, finding his first aid kit and pulling out the gauze roll. “Can you move your hand?” She asked softly, cringing at the sight as he did so, “Oh dear...That-That looks really bad....” She sniffed and Branch was about to start comforting her, telling her it probably looked worse than it was but she began to carefully move his sleeve away, causing another hiss to escape him. “Sorry...” She mumbled, wrapping his arm as quickly and gently as she could, sniffing and blinking back tears.

“Hey...” He said, squinting at her because damn his head really hurt, “It's gonna be fine. Please don't cry, Sunshine..”

“I know, I know...I just....that was so scary.” She wiped at her eyes and sniffed again, making Branch want to hold her and comfort her until she calmed down but it hurt to move just about everything. So he did the only thing he could at the moment and carefully brushed his knuckle over her knee, murmuring it was going to okay.

It was about then that someone was calling down to them and they looked up to see a forest ranger had found them. After Poppy explained what happened and that they could use a little help, she quickly finished wrapping his arm up. The next series of events happened rather quickly, at least they did for Branch who's consciousness was starting to go in and out a little and he struggled to stay awake. The ranger had help them off the ledge before helping Poppy carry him back to their camp, where she quickly began to pack everything up. The ranger assured her that he'd keep anything that was left behind and they could come get it later and that getting Branch to a hospital was most important. So then began Poppy's slightly frantic drive to the nearest hospital as Branch had continued his battle with staying awake.

In the end, everything was indeed alright. Branch had to have a good fifteen stitches in his arm and had to stay over night for observation because of the concussion but other than a few other scrapes and bruises, he was fine. But the incident had once again derailed any proposal plans that once he was patched up and allowed a moment alone, Branch had cursed the universe for. Couldn't he have one attempt not go awry?! Yes, sure, there had been other times he could have asked but damn it all, he wanted to do it right! He wanted a romantic scene to ask the love of his life to be his wife and not have it be an off hand mention or after a serious injury!! Was that too much to ask for?! Apparently it was.

So, slumping back into his pillows, Branch stewed and cursed the universe. And eventually started planning attempt number five.

And it had to work, it just had too!

5.

Once it was apparent that Branch was fully healed and recovered about a month later, Poppy suggested another weekend trip to celebrate, though this time it was to the beach. Branch wasn't completely set on the idea, worries of how another proposal attempt could be ruined swarming his head, but once again he really couldn't deny Poppy anything. And she was so excited to go see the sea and enjoy the scenery, ever after he pointed out that the weather wouldn't really be right for any swimming. But ever the optimist, Poppy had said there was lots more to do than just swim and so they made reservations at a hotel and went off for a weekend by the sea.

And as he predicted, the weather had been on the cooler side and slightly overcast but that hadn't stopped Poppy from convincing him to travel around all the shops the little ocean town had to offer. And he had to admit, once again, that she was right. It hadn't been all bad walking along the boardwalk and stopping by whatever little shop or stand caught her attention. Plus her excitement was so genuine and true, Branch couldn't help but eventually relax and have fun too. So they spent the afternoon slipping in and out of various stores, some with pointless, cute nick-knacks, some with clothes and accessories that he and Poppy threw on for selfies or she modeled for him, other with oddities such as seaside myths. They had enjoyed some sea-salt ice-cream at some point before dipping into a little hidden book store and then they stopped for a dinner of fish and chips.

Now they were walking down the beach, hand in hand with Poppy happily swinging their arms between them as the sun sank slowly over the horizon. And Branch had to admit, now would be a pretty good time to try again. They were alone, the few other people on the beach far enough way that they wouldn't somehow get in the way, the setting was calm and relaxing with the sounds of waves gently lapping at the shore as the setting sun painting the sky beautiful pinks and oranges, and Poppy was none the wiser to burning the question that had been lodged in his throat for months now. And nothing was going to stop him now. So, stopping and playfully swinging her around so he could pull her into an embrace, Branch pulled her close for a soft kiss.

When they parted, Poppy giggling lightly as her eyes shone with love, Branch calmly stated, “I love you~”

“Heehee~ I love you too~” Poppy giggled, leaning in for another kiss that Branch was happy to return before the slowly parted once more.

“So there's...something I wanna say...” And ask but he didn't want to give it away just yet. And boy did he hope she didn't notice how his heart had started pumping in his chest. This was it, he finally going to ask Poppy to spend the rest of their lives together and even though this was his fifth attempt, the nerves had returned like it was that first try again.

“I'm all ears, My man~” The pinkette said with a grin, nuzzling her nose against his as she settled her arms around his neck.

Deep breath and ignore the flush that came anytime she called him 'her man', “Well...you see..” Please don't let her notice just how stuttering he was becoming, “You are...the greatest gift I could ask for and I-” And before any more could be said a loud, long horn of a boat sounded, causing both to jump and to look toward the ocean where in the distance a ship could be seen. Huffing, and not about to let one measly horn blast stop him, not this time, Branch tried to continue as Poppy giggled lightly, “Right. As I was saying...” Another deep breath, he could do this, “I love you so much and-” Another three blasts of the horn stopped him again and he glared at the ship as Poppy started to laugh quietly. “Anyway. What I'm trying to say, Poppy, is-” And another long, drawn out horn had him groaning before calling out toward the sea, “Oh come on!!!”

Poppy was now full on laughing, laying her head on his chest as he stewed about the stupid boat, before getting a slight grip on herself. Reaching up, she cupped his face and ran her thumbs over his cheeks, “Branch. Hee~ Branch, it's okay! Let me guess, you have a new poem for me?”

He did but that wasn't what he had been about to say. Still he grumbled, looking off to the side, “Maybe...” He also had a proposal he just couldn't seem to get out before something went wrong.

“Then...~” Poppy started, bringing his face back towards her so she could nuzzle their noses together again, “Why don't we go back to our hotel so you can tell it to me where we won't be interrupted? And then you can tell me all my favorites as you...do other things to me~” She then sealed her offer with a deep kiss. One Branch sank into with a sigh but not without lamenting silently the derailment of yet another proposal. Sure, he supposed he could always try again later that night but something in his gut told him it wouldn't be the right time. He just wanted to propose to Poppy in a romantic setting without anything stopping him! Was that too much to ask for?! Apparently...

“Come on,” Poppy murmured, eyes glazed with want as she pulled away, “We can go take a nice warm bubble bath as you recite your newest piece to me~”

Branch hummed and let her take the lead back to their hotel, still brooding over his latest failure. This was five times now he had been stopped and it was starting to wear down his confidence that he'd ever be able to ask her. Which meant it was probably time to ask for help from her dad and possibly Suki and Smidge if he actually wanted to succeed. Sighing quietly to himself, he squeezed Poppy's hand and hoped that the next attempt would finally be the one.

He could only hope, right?

+1.

Poppy hummed a joyful tune as she walked down the hallway to her apartment, another day of party planning behind her. She still couldn't believe some days that she got to do one of the things she loved most for a living! And she was her own boss! Well...sort of...Sky Toronto was still sort of her boss, sort of her partner but that didn't matter! She got to help people plan out their very best parties! And it was soooo satisfying! Especially after long days like today when her clients had a specific vision they wanted done. Which was fine because everyone deserved to have whatever they wanted to be happy with the party they were throwing but boooy, did it tired her out! But that was fine too because she was now home where her wonderful boyfriend hopefully had dinner waiting for them.

Coming up to their door, and smiling as she always did when she caught sight of their door plaque she'd made, she opened it up, singing proudly, “I'm hooooome~!” Before a fantastically delicious scent hit her nose and she groaned. “Ooooh my goooosh~!” She quickly dropped her purse and came around to the kitchen as her stomach gave a rumble, “That smells amazing! Did you make enchiladas?!”

Branch chuckled, that warm, fond sound that always melted her insides a little as he finished pulling the dish out of the oven, “I did. I even made them...chicken enchiladas like you said you wanted.”

“Yeeeessss~!” Poppy hissed happily, “Yes, yes, yes! I am starving!” She excitedly through her arms around him once his hands were free in a tight hug, “You are the best boyfriend ever!” After pulling him down for a quick, grateful kiss, the pinkette pulled away for a little happy dance. “Oooh, I can't wait to dig in! What else did you make?!”

Another one of those warm, fond chuckles came from the blue-haired hottie she had a claim on and he gestured to the stove, “Some Mexican Rice and..” He led her gaze to the table where some different dips and chips sat, “Some sides.”

“Aaaah~! Yes! Your guacamole is the best!!!” Poppy scurried over and took a chip full of green dip, humming in delight at the tangy taste and did another little happy dance as she stuffed another chip into her mouth. “Gosh! D'ish ish shooo goood~!”

“Do you maybe want a plate full or do you wanna continue dancing in place as you eat over the table?” Branch asked, amusement ringing through his tone.

“Oh, haha!” Poppy responded, hands on her hips, “I can't help it! I told you I am staving! Mrs. Sparks ran me all over town looking for just the right party venue and I barely had time to eat lunch. But I did!” She added quickly knowing he would scold her for not eating lunch. “Anyway, once we finally found the right place, I started throwing out ideas for decorations and food and I think we've got a nice solid base now!”

“Sounds like you a had a busy day.” He grinned as she nodded, stuffing another chip into her mouth, “Also sounds like you might need a margarita.”

“You made margaritas?!” Poppy cried, excitedly, looking at him with wide, happy eyes. Oh, she officially loved this man!!! “Can we have them blended?!” She asked, bouncing happily when he nodded and turned to get the pitcher out of the fridge, telling her to get the blender out. “Yeessss~!” She cheered, already halfway to the cabinet to pull out of the appliance. As she set it out on the counter and watched him place the pitcher on the table before getting in the freezer for ice, the thought that this was her life, that she had such a wonderful, thoughtful and sweet boyfriend by her side made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And that she wanted this for the rest of her life. She wanted to come home after a long day to dinner or even surprise him in return with the same, she wanted long, cuddly movies nights and lazy mornings in spent in bed. She wanted picnics and romantic date nights, days spent at home filled with laughter and singing or the occasional quiet as they both worked on their respective hobbies. Games nights with friends and maybe, just maybe...one day an adorable child that looked like the two of them. Poppy wanted it all with Branch right by her side in every way possible. So without really thinking about she suddenly said, “Marry me.”

“WHAT?!?!” Branch sputtered, pulling out of the freezer with a wide eyed, shocked expression, staring at her like she had lost her mind.

It took a moment for her to actually realize what she'd said but then she was beaming and nodding, bouncing over next to him, because yes, she very much wanted to marry this man, “You heard me! Marry me!!”

Branch stared and kept staring and eventually he hid his face in a hand as the freezer door closed and Poppy was beginning to worry when his shoulders began to shake. At first she thought maybe he was crying but then the quiet chuckling came which soon turned into full blown laughter and he was leaning against the fridge to support himself. Poppy pouted at him and crossed her arms, “I'm serious, Branch! Don't laugh at me!”

He tried and failed to say something a few times, each times getting cut off by more guffaws then before, before he gestured for her to stay where she was and turned to go down the hallway. Poppy was very confused, and a little hurt, that he was laughing because she meant what she'd said but she didn't have time to think much more on it as he came back, still chuckling. Standing in front of her, he finally got a grip on himself and grinned at her, stray snickers still coming and going as he reached out to cup her cheek, “I'm not laughing at you, Sunshine. Promise. I'm laughing because...” He took a deep breath before cupping his hands around something and bringing it into her view, “Because I've been trying to ask you the same thing for months.”

Poppy gasped, hands flying to her mouth, as she saw the small velvet box opened on his palm containing the prettiest ring she'd ever seen. A golden band that held a round, sparkling blue topaz in it's center, flanked by two smaller pink gems, the metal band twisted around them to hold them in place. “Oh Branch...” She sniffed, grinning behind her hands, because of course that was the reasoning behind his sort of off behavior the last few months, before crying, “Yes!”

He smirked at her, blue eyes twinkling, “Pretty sure that's suppose to be my line. You did ask first.”

“Oooooh!!!” She growled, well and truly starting to cry now as she grinned winder than ever before, “Just-Just shut up and put that ring on my finger!!”

“So demanding.” He cooed, smile just as wide and eyes damp as he did just that. Giving her hand a look that said he was finally happy to see that ring on her finger before he brought it up to lay a kiss on it.

Then they were both laughing and Branch was scooping her up and twirling her around, hugging her close. Poppy cried as she laughed, burying her face in his shoulder, the unbelievable feeling that she was engaged coursing through her as Branch spun them around. Soon he stopped and she lifted her face to see he was crying and grinning she as she was and she felt another giggle come before they both leaned in for a kiss. Kissing him with all that she had, they stood there, her in his arms as they moved their mouths against one another's as their tears mingled. Pulling back, both breathless and smiling and so, so happy, Poppy looked into Branch's eyes and chirped, “I love you~!”

“I love you too, Sunshine.” He grinned, the expression lighting up his face like she loved to see, “And I will for the rest of our lives.”

“Good~ Because so will I~” And she pulled him for another celebratory kiss and another and another before they were both laughing and twirling again. And eventually they got to that dinner, now a celebratory one, and made plans to tell everyone the following day but for now...for now they were just going to bask in the haze of excitement and happiness that surrounded them as they looked toward a very happy and bright future together.

~*~*~*~*~RMG*~*~*~*~

Always gotta go full cheese at the ending right? Anyway, this was obviously done a tad differently than I normally do just because I tried to keep within Branch's perspective and then Poppy's when I normally write both in conjecture to each other and it was a bit of a challenge but I'm really happy with how this came out! And I hope you all enjoyed it too!

Until next time!

[that-one-bi-wizard]

Chapter 2 of my OC fic is up! Here’s the link to it on ao3 if you wanna read it there!

CH 2:

He was done.

Alan had finally finished them. He stared down at his three creations and smiled.

They came out better than he expected. They looked like… well, teenagers. It’s just as his boss had wanted.

The first one to be completed was Yakko’s replacement.

Rather than the simple outfit the oldest Warner was known for, this kid had been completely changed. Alan wanted him to be able to appeal to a teen audience, so he gave him a more punk aesthetic and aged him up two years.

He wore a purple leather jacket with a lavender long-sleeve shirt underneath. He had gray jeans that were torn at the knees as well. His ears were pierced too with two earrings on each of his long ears.

The second one was Wakko’s replacement. Alan aged him up as well to be fifteen. He decided to completely do a one eighty with this one. Wakko’s was the hardest to do with his personality being a complete wacky mess, so Alan took that out and made him a bit more refined. He also made him the tallest of the three because he felt that it fit his personality more.

This one wore a red vest with a white button up underneath and beige khakis.

Finally, there was Dot’s replacement. She was pretty easy to do.

Alan kept all her cute traits, but made her more tomboyish and aged her up to be thirteen. She wore blue overalls and a light green t-shirt. She wore earrings like the first one except she only wore one on each ear.

It wasn’t long before the animator got them animated and talking.

Thankfully, they all seemed pretty tranquil compared to their predecessors. They didn’t talk too much either.

Well, except for the oldest, but that was to be expected. He was loosely based on the Warner that yaks.

He sat the three toons down on his couch, so he could explain how their meeting with Nora would go.

“Alright,” he finally said, standing in front of them, “tomorrow is a big day for all of us. I just want to prepare you all-”

“You finally gonna cut that man ponytail of yours?” The oldest asked with a smirk.

The taller one snickered.

“W-what? No…” Alan reached back and ran his hand through his hair self-consciously. “I meant-”

“Don’t be mean, Zach,” the young girl said.

Zach, the oldest, looked down at her. He rolled his eyes. “What? That’s what we were all thinking, right?” He nudged his brother.

The other tried to keep a straight face. “No,” he lied.

Alan sighed, ignoring the last comment. “Look, I need you three to take this seriously. Tomorrow we’re meeting up with Ms. Norita, the CEO of Warner Brothers studios. I need her to find you three likeable enough to land you a show. I also need you three to be on your best behavior, okay?”

“‘Course we will,” Zach stated. “We’re little angel’s, aren’t we sibs?” He put an arm around his sister. “Button here is probably the best behaved we got.”

Button tensed up a little and pushed a stand of hair from her face. “Uh… mhm.” She nodded shyly.

Zach crossed his legs and leaned back on the couch. “Besides, I think we’re pretty likable little bastards.”

The tall one who was sitting on the end of the couch perked up his ears. “Who are you calling a bastard, you idiot?”

“It was a joke, Jack. Relax,” Zach told him.

“It’s Jackson,” the other corrected.

Alan rubbed his temples. “I’m being serious! You three need to get it together and act normal!”

Button tilted her head. “But we are normal, aren’t we Papa?”

Alan froze.

He wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that.

He shook his head. “D-don’t call me that.” He gave an audible sigh. “I- I mean, just try to act as though you’re not cartoon characters. I just want you all to stay quiet while I do the talking. That’s it.”

The three of them looked at each other.

Zach looked up at Alan. “So, what’s in it for us if we do this, Pops?”

“Stop that,” Alan said. “I’m not your dad. I just made you to—”

“So should we call you mum then?” Jackson asked jokingly.

The other two laughed.

“Stop it!” Alan snapped. “I’m being serious here!”

The three of them stared up at him. The oldest still had a smile on his face. Alan leaned in closer to him.

“Okay Mr. Funny Guy,” he said, “you think this is some kind of joke?”

He looked down at his fingernails as though they were far more interesting than what the older man had to say. “I mean, with that look on your face, I’d say so.”

Alan shook his head. “Oh, I bet you’ll be laughing when they lock you three in the water tower for sixty years, won’t you?”

The animator had an idea. He just had to give them a little scare to set these kids straight.

Zach looked up, but Button was the one to speak. “The… the what?” She asked in a soft voice.

“The Warner Brothers water tower,” Alan explained. “That’s where they trapped your predecessors. After they acted out of line, that’s where they were stuck.”

Button brought her knees closer to her and hugged them. “Th-that can’t be true. They were just kids, w-weren’t they?”

“Yup. Younger than you three even. The executives don’t care. They’ll get rid of you at the drop of a hat and leave you for dead if any of you step out of line.”

Button circle closer to Zach, who put an arm around her.

Jackson spoke up this time. “That… They won’t do that to us… will they? I mean, we haven’t done anything yet.” He crossed his arms tightly around his chest.

Alan gave them an exaggerated shrug. “I wouldn’t put it past them.” He looked at the oldest. “So, is it still funny to you?”

A dog-like whimper escaped the teen. “Uh, not when you put it like that… sir.”

“Good. So, you’ll be good tomorrow?”

The three of them nodded quickly.

“Excellent! It’ll all be fine as long as you three do as you're told.”

-

“Alright Harris, you better have something good for me.”

Nora sat at her desk and gave him an intense stare. She had her hands clasped together and firmly in front of her on the desk. She was prepared for whatever Alan had to present for better or worse. Hopefully, for his sake, it was for the better.

Alan straightened his tie and smoothed his unkempt hair back. He took in a deep breath and smiled.

Dear god, he hoped these kids were going to be good enough. He was really scared of losing his job over this. Or worse… he couldn’t think of what could be worse in that moment, but there was probably something worse that could happen!

He was sweating like crazy. His hands were damp as he clasped them together.

Come on Al, he told himself, they’re great. You got this.

He cleared his throat.

“I-I do, Ms. Norita! There were a few inconveniences, a-and it took a lot of work to get them right, but-”

“Just get on with it, Harris,” she said sternly, checking her watch. “I have other meetings, you know.”

“Yes!” He blurted out. He cleared his throat again. “Uh, yes. Now, let me introduce you to my new Animaniacs. They’re just out here.”

He opened the door and motioned for his toons to enter the office.

Zach, Jackson, and Button entered the room. They stood up with their backs straight, trying to look as best they could.

Nora pushed up her glasses and stared skeptically. They certainly were… something.

The drastically different designs intrigued the CEO though. She was curious to see where this was going.

Alan stepped behind them and smiled nervously.

“Now, they aren’t exactly the Warners siblings,” he explained. “When making them, I kind of intended to separate them from their successors.” He cleared his throat nervously. “S-So, they’re more like replacements than actual reboots of the characters-”

“I don’t care,” Nora interrupted. “Just tell me about their personalities. Are they going to appeal to our modern audience?”

“I hope so,” Alan muttered to himself.

“What was that?”

“I-I said I’m sure of it!”

“That’s a lot of stuttering for someone so sure,” Zach commented. He covered his mouth immediately.

Alan gave him a look.

Nora raised an eyebrow. “And who are you?” She asked.

Zach glanced up at Alan quickly. “Uh…”

He gave him a nod to answer.

“Zachery, Zach for short. I’m the oldest sibling,” he said, taking a few steps forward.

Nora looked him up and down. “Interesting…” She stood up and walked around her desk to him. “Tell me a bit about yourself, kid.”

“I’m… I guess I’m the leader. And I follow orders pretty well too. I’m pretty smart and… yeah…” He put his hands in his pockets and kicked the ground softly.

“Hobbies?”

“Lady, I was literally born yesterday. What the hell do you want from me?” He told her.

Dammit Zach, Alan thought.

She put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. “What about your siblings?”

Zach took one hand out of his pocket and pointed to his sister. “That’s Button. She’s the cute one.” He pointed to Jackson. “And that’s my younger brother, Jack. He’s more of the quiet one. Got a bit of a temper too.”

“Do not!” Jackson exclaimed. “And it’s Jackson!”

“Pl-please stop,” Button said softly.

The CEO held up a hand to silence everyone. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

Everyone went silent. All eyes were on her.

She brought out her cell phone and dialed a few things. She looked through a few things and finally looked up.

“I think they’ll do nicely.”

Alan’s eyes widened. “W-wait, you mean it?”

“I don’t play games, Harris,” she said. “According to statistics, teenagers and young adults are into the whole relatability aspect of characters, and the sibling bickering and sarcastic nature is just what we need. The emo look is in too.” She pulled on Zach’s left ear and released it. “With a few good writers and a bit of acting, these three can make us a quick buck.”

She pressed a few more things on her phone. “I’ll order a pilot episode,” she continued. “We’ll get a few test screenings and have a script ready to go by… as soon as next month!”

“S-so we’re not getting locked in the water tower?” Button spoke up.

Nora shook her head. “Wha— No, of course not! You three are going to bring in some good money. As long as you don’t cause chaos like the Warners, you three should be fine.”

The three of them loosened up.

Zach sighed. He turned to his siblings. Button ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He ran a hand through her hair and pulled her close.

Jackson had a smile on his face. He turned to Alan. “We did it Pa!” Jackson stopped. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Alan put an arm around him. “You know what? I don’t mind right now.” He was too relieved to care what they called him.

He was just glad he’d get to keep his job.

And the kids were glad they weren't going to be shut inside a water tower for sixty years.

Still, for one of them, it lingered in the back of his mind.He was scared of what would become of them if this pilot didn’t do well.

And rightfully so.

[punkandsnacks]

Between Wolves & Doves, Chapter Fifteen; Anticipation.

Author: @punk-in-docs​ & @adamsnackdriver​

Also on AO3-  

Masterlist-

Trigger Warnings: No warnings in this chap- animal shapeshifting but thas about it really-

Synopsis: Vampire!Kylo x OC love story. Inspired by BBC’s Dracula. Also inspired by Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

He’s been stalking this earth long since civilizations can possibly fathom. Before records even began. He sneers at the fact that this pitiful young world has only just begun to see his reign of it.

He’s dined with moguls, emperors, princes. He’s consorted with bloodthirsty ruthless Queens in their courts, and whispered into the ears of powerful King’s, whose names still echo through millennia.

In his myriad of centuries gifted to his immortal self he’s been many many things. He’s been a lowly pauper. A crusading knight. An assassin. A sell sword. A soldier. A wanderer. A simpering suitor and a voracious unyielding lover. Aimlessly lost in time- besieging this earth. Ripping it apart and drinking what’s left.

He was made in the hinterland between snow and dirt and pine trees. Crusted with ash and blood and gouged from battle. Born anew. Sired from the hell-mouth of war. He was made in 789 AD.

He’ll come undone, one bitter winter night, in England, in 1816.

                                                       ~ ~ 🥀  ~ ~

The very next days seemed to crawl by. As if time itself was dragging through claggy thick treacle.

 Nothing moved quickly and Iris knows it’s because she’s anticipating the weeks-end more than any other event she’s ever awaited on in her life.

 More than Yuletide morning. More than her birthday. More than buying a new book or taking an early morning walk all to herself. More than a sunny frosted morning where everything seems to glimmer as if crafted from gold, or seeing wildflowers dot the woods with their colour in spring.

 She’s waiting on that much anticipated midnight with baited breath. Every second closer to it is both torture and sweet blessed relief.

 She fulfils her remaining days with a permanent smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

 Even her acetous mother remarks upon it. She tells her daughter the fine manner of her engagement must be bringing her joy. Iris bites her lip to keep from grinning.

 She clutched her romantic secret all that tighter to her chest. Moulded it like warm clay to clasp around her glad heart.

 Mother and Maratella insist on setting a date. And getting her whole ‘bouquet’ of daughters measured for their gowns.

 Posy and Flora for they are of course to be bridesmaids, and Iris, of course, for her bridal gown. They get up a merry party to Pembleton one fine clear morning.

 The snow and frost govern the landscape once more. Ebbing back in after the recent rain. The brown frost-hardened hills and trees and fields. Governed under the fierce cyclops of a mustard sun blazing in the effortless blue of the cobalt sky. It made Iris think of robins eggs, and the golden buttery buds of spring. When the bulbs and shoots blossom up through the earth with their sickly scent and colour.

 It is a fine clear day and it indicates that the end of the long bitter winter approaches. The cold is as ferocious as ever so Maratella insists upon them not catching a chill in the vile icy winds. Shes most kind as to stop to collect the Misses Ashton’s in the Hux’s second largest coach. They are all bid to the dressmakers in the high street. Along the medieval shamble of barrel window and oak timber shops.

 The news of her engagement spread far and wide. Before her boots have even touched the cobbles, stepping out the coach, their party is virtually mobbed by matrons and ladies of their acquaintance.

 Iris had in mind a silly image of them prowling at the pavements like baying wolves, chasing after the muddy churn of the carriage wheels; anything for to first seize that newest scrap of gossip.

 Posy and Flora ladle up all the attention. As does Mama. Proudly boasting - along with Maratella - of the suitability of such a fine match. Iris wants to roll her eyes as Flora greatly exaggerated the romantic manner of Hux’s proposition. She gabbled about a room full of red roses and how Iris wept tears of delight as he swept her into his arms.

 The ravenous eyes turn toward her. “May we see the ring, Miss Ashton?” Comes out of numerous smiling mouths like a chorus of cawing seagulls. Iris feels like they’ll rip her glove off themselves if she doesn’t.

 Unused to such attention, she blushes as she slips off her grey calfskin glove. Wrenching it off her hand. There is a troupe of awed gasps as they admire the diamond set in the gold band.

 Iris feels as if she’s sticking her hand into a dangerous animals maw. Like some exhibit at a zoo. Feeding her hand to the rabid starving tiger’s. There’s so much gasping and in taking of breath it’s a wonder they don’t suck her up. And take half the street with them.

 Luckily, Maratella fusses that they’ll be late if they don’t make haste. She then proudly utters that the ladies five, their happy little bridal party, are off to Madame Larousse’s dressmaking parlour for a wedding gown. And Mrs Ashton and Mrs Hux are to see to both having new hats to mark such a happy occasion.

 The flock of ravenous ladies ceases. Satisfied with their mauling of Iris and her news and her engagement ring. The party is able to proceed along the pavement unhindered.

 They slip into Madame Larousse’s. Greeted by the lanky, heavily perfumed proprietor herself. She was a tall, ungainly woman with poky shoulders and an always over-rouged complexion. And will always, without fail, exaggerate a mildly French accent to gild her words. For she believes that all the best dressmakers and seamstresses were French.

 The tall stretch of Madame claps excitedly and demands to see Iris’ hand when she hears they are here to purchase ribbons and lace and all things fit for a bride. She is whisked away by a very efficient assistant. And stood on a pedestal for the next hour and half.

 Iris spends that time with swatches pinned to her. Flapped around her ears. Tucked under her collar. There’s so many back and forth decisions from her mother, it makes her quite dizzy. A tape drawn tight around her so many times to squeeze the stuffing out her. Eventually, they stumble to a conclusion. It was to be a saffron orange.

 Flora remarked it made her rather look like a carrot.

 Around her they lounge on the chaises provided, clutched around the mirror and the box she’s on, and they drink sweet tea. Brown sugar sprinkled and stirred into the earl grey.

 They all pose interjections and opinions and preferences on her. Iris just stands there like a tailors doll. Only half there.

 She’s caught sight of a swatch of ruby-wine velvet near her thigh and is stroking it fondly. Remembering Lord Rens exquisite bed coverlet. How it felt under her fingers, it took her ricocheting back to that moment. And it calmed her.

 That’s how she can stand all this grousing and prodding. It reminds her of her secret and she nearly faints off that box pedestal.

 They settle on a pallid frothy blue silk instead. To better bring out the excellence of her mud and twigs hair. Mama chooses the best silk madame has in stock. Says she will have to fetch more in from her supplier especially. From London.

 That causes much excitement for Flora and Posy. They’d never had a dress made from material fetched as far nor from a city as grand as London, before.

 Posy had selected a teasing slip of pink silk. Flora, for her more fiery hair, chose a delicate pastel pea green. Iris thinks they’ll look like a platter of French fancy cakes.

 Then a pang of something hits through her heart with all the intensity of an arrowhead studding there - she hopes Mama lets Posy and Flora keep their new gowns after she’s gone. She hopes very much. They are the stillest girls in existence but they do deserve nicer things than what they get.

 By Madame’s husky drawl of a smoky voice is she brought back into the room, the awful pink pink pink room. Stuffed with velvet chaises and bolster cushions and trimmed fringed oil lamps. Great big fat rosebuds sprout up the wallpaper and flourish across the fabric of the pillows on the settee.

 It’s as if the whole room is the summoning of the evil fairy in sleeping beauty. Who commanded swarms of brambles and thorns and swamping plants to take over. That was this room to the last pink thread - only it was instead summoned to contain every incarnation of pink roses as far as the eye could see.

 Her ears burn hot and pink as Madame talks of London. Relating the gossip back to someone in the village. Matter of fact, a certain Lord-

 “Apparantly, you know he sent that tall turbaned butler of his up to London just yesterday...” Madame hushes to them in her hazy terribly-affected French.

 “Sent him to Mayfair.” She grins crookedly as she measures from Iris’s hip to her hem. Barking orders at Suzy, her ever suffering assistant.

 Maratella seems most diverted. “Pray whatever for?” She leans forwards. Perching her half eaten violet macaroon on her saucer.

 “He sent him to Bond Street. You know there is an establishment there that supplies jewels to the palace. Apparantly he came back having purchased something.” Madame says.

 “Pray why would be send his butler all that way?” Flora asks.

 “Why, Miss Smith told me so this morning; she suspects Lord Ren has left his heart behind in Bavaria. He is soon to quit Hellford. She heard Clarence Pennington’s butler say that his housekeeper, Mrs Jones states that half his house is shut. And the staff vacated.” Maratella excites them all. Flora and Posy are mortified at such news.

 “The house is emptying. And Lord Ren shall soon be gone.” She adds.

 Mrs Ashton smiles gladly. “He is journeying back home to his castle I wager...” She delights. The spitting smug nature of her tone was clear. Good riddance.

 “Who must he be besotted with I wonder?” Posy asks indelicately.

 Iris tries not to be twice as smug. Thinking that she is that very woman.

 He goes back to his castle and I will gladly go with him, she thinks.

 The giddiness and joy roils in her stomach like golden champagne. Fizzes through her veins and she has to hide a smile. Biting her cheek hard.

 “Well. if he is shortly to leave our shores. I’m willing to bet he’ll break a fair few maidens hearts in this county and the next over. Such a striking gentleman. The young ladies will certainly feel his loss most keenly.” Maratella comments in sadness for all the female admirers he’d amassed. They’d all be heart sore now he’s going away.

 “You’re blushing Iris.” Flora sing-songs at her. Pointing it out. “Thoughts of your intended sweetheart?” She ribs her sister.

 “You are a colossal pest. Flora.” Iris smiles at her. Matter of fact. Her little bug of a sister is quite right. She is thinking about the man she’ll marry.

 Only another agonising hour whilst Mama and Maratella select their hats for the occasion. But Iris can atleast sit down and drink some much too sweet earl grey tea. Doesn’t have to stand on that wretched box for another hour.

 Eventually their purchases were rung up and settled. Flora and Posy love Iris very much because she buys them two new ribbons each and some velvet buttons for their bonnets. They’re singing her praises as they quit the shop. Trilling like a pair of canaries about their gowns. Iris was glad to spend some of her pin money on them before she leaves for good.

 She’s fully appraised of the weight of her actions. And the serious consequence of them. It would be ruinous for her mother and father. It would be a disaster for her sisters. But atleast she was of age and she could marry. Whatever else others might say of her - she fully believes Lord Ren’s intentions are honourable.

 They can’t scandalise her for marrying Kylo. Just censure her for running away from Hux and jilting him. She’s certain he’ll recover amicably enough. He doesn’t love her. And his mother is suitably well connected. She could snap her fingers and summon another willing bride. She’s only sorry it can’t be her.

 She’s despondent to remark upon the pain she’ll be causing hers and Hux’s family. But in time, they will recover. Posy would do well and Flora will follow in her footsteps. Mother will see to it they catch fine husbands when the time is right. Their mother is most skilled in that area.

 The party journeys along Pembleton street. Maratella stops by the haberdashers to seek after some ribbons. Mama is in the milliners seeking after a new pair of occasion gloves. Posy and Flora amble slowly along the street with their sister. Watching the carriages and coaches trundle by. Various riders on horseback too.

 A loud nickering snort behind her makes her turn. She can hardly hide the smile that quickly grows across her face when she catches sight of a lone rider on a huge stocky black stallion. Both man and his mount are furiously muscled beasts.

 His Lordly attire is its usual. All black. Save for his white shirt and red cravat. The great overcoat frames his wide shoulders and his bulky chest. His boots gleam in the meagre sun. His grin tips up when he catches sight of her.

 He looks terribly smug and Iris’s heart feels like it’s trying to ram out the cage of her ribs. This handsome lordly man who stole it away, sets it pounding freely and rampant in her chest.

 She tries not to arouse the suspicion of her sisters. They were much too curious and meddling for their own good. She wants to protect her secret and she thinks she’s a proficient enough liar to accomplish it.

 They burst into fits of giggles on seeing him. He rides Erland closer to where they are stood and dismounts. His strong boots thud into the frosty mud. His wool coat laps and swathes his body. He tethered himself to Erland. Massive gloved hand gripping the reins. The creature didn’t seem to have any care for wandering off. He just wished to see Iris - Kylo empathises with the horse. He rather feels the exact same.

 Iris, Posy and Flora all curtsey to him. He bids them all a greeting. She bows her neck and when she looks up. His eyes fondly fix on her. Warm in the sun. The contrast of him is astonishing. Milky creamy complexion, bordered by the onyx shadow of his hair and eyes. Utter opposites in the juxtaposition.

 “Miss Ashton. A pleasure to see you again. I trust you are still well recovered. You look very radiant this morning.” He comments. Walking Erland just that tiny step closer.

 The obstinate animal his stallion is, reaches his nose out and snorts into her hand. Nudges her glove for pats and scritches of affection behind his ears. She doesn’t care that she’ll get horse hair on her. She strokes him.

 “You are most kind. Your lordship. I am very well.” She smiles slightly. The pretty kiss of rose on her cheeks.

 “I need not tell you Erland is pleased to make your acquaintance once more.” He remarks starkly. Hint of irony not lost on her. Erland almost nudges her to fall over with his big strong head. She laughs.

 “Your ears must’ve been burning. Lord Ren. For we were just discussing you...” Posy flirts. Batting her lashes at the man.

 Hands crossed in front of her. Like she was a genteel little doe. Iris glares narrowed silver dagger eyes at her sister to stop displaying herself so readily. As ever, the little vexation pays no attention. Not when there was a hot blooded male around.

 Kylo tilts his head. Intrigued. “Is that so, Miss Posy?” He asks.

 “We we’re discussing how heart sore all the young ladies hereabouts will be when you quit Hampshire...” Flora tells him.

 Kylo takes her confession in his stride. “It’s true. And I am sorry more than I can exclaim to be leaving such carnage and desolation in my wake. But sadly I do return to Bavaria shortly.”

 That handsome expression barely betrays a thing. The cold wind flounces and ruffles that wild hair. A tuft of it drifts in his face and tangled in his dark eyeline.

 Iris decides in that moment he truly might be an angel sculpted by gods own hand; or a demon designed by the devil himself. She isn’t sure which of those creatures is all the more tempting.

 One thing she’s certain of; He’d win that draw of most handsome, every time.

 She quivers when those eyes gaze at her. Peels her right out her clothes and down to her goose pimpled skin. Then Posy has to go and open her foolhardy mouth some more...

 “We were just helping Iris shop for her bridal gown.” She preens. “And our bridesmaids dresses.” She comments. Speaking as if she wants Kylo to snatch her up and steal her away to Bavaria. Stuff her in his pocket and run off with her.

 “I had heard rumour of your engagement...” He lies. Iris is biting the inside of her lip and smiling genially to hide how wide her excitement wishes to make her smile grow.

 “Show Lord Ren your engagement ring, Iris!” Flora bounces excitedly. Iris glares. Reminding her of the inappropriate nature of her words.

 “Flora. Lord Ren is not interested in such matters. And I’m afraid we’ve already impressed upon too much of his time...” She insists.

 Kylo holds out his hand to her. Steps closer so she has to crane her head back just to keep sight of his eyes. “I am certainly interested. And I might add, most eager to see the bauble that decorates such a fine, pretty hand.” He teases.

 She decides he was designed by the devil. And lucifer gave him a silver tongue to boot-

 Iris slips off her grey glove and gently lays her palm in his.

 The way his fingers curl around hers is criminal. She tips her eyes up to his as he shifts closer and admires her ring. A soft smile tugs at his mouth. The gold winks at him in the sun. It’s a pretty delicate morsel. He can’t deny. But plain. Much too plain. Entirely humble as decoration went.

 -it’s certainly nothing to the one he’d had Jomar go all the way to London to fetch for her from Bentley & Skinner on Bond Street.

 “It is a fine ring. Miss Ashton. Sergeant Hux is the most fortunate man in England to have you as his intended bride. I’m quite envious of his fortuity.” He says. Bowing to lay a kiss on the back of her palm.

 His eyes electrify her. He winks at her and she flushes with heat. Blood pressing up in her face.

 “I’m sorry to hear of your leaving England. Lord Ren. Such a shame Hellford Park should be quitted before the summer.” She tells him.

 Her palm leaving his. Sliding away from the touch of his hand would have made her wretched were it not for the heat in his bronzed eyes. Made a warmer melting shade by the shimmer of the buttery sun. And their shared secret lifts her heart.

 “It is a great shame. But I’m eager to return to Ranlor. I’ve missed my homeland a great deal.”

 “The rumour in circulation is that you have a certain lady in mind to return home too.” Posy dares most outlandishly. Iris chides her for her brash rudeness.

 “Posy!” Iris calls out.

 Kylo seems amused by it. “That would he telling. Miss Posy. Not to mention betraying the confidence of the most honourable lady in question.” He smirks at her sister.

 Who giggles and blushes like it’s no ones business. His vampiric charms seeping out of his every pore, truly intoxicating to them, Iris can see it’s influence.

 “Is she a great beauty? I imagine she is most elegant indeed and very superior and titled in rank and manner. And of great fortune...” Posy digs for more details. Kylo will reveal none.

 “Pray. Don’t be impertinent twice-over.” Iris corrects. Posy pulls a vexed face. Shoves her tongue out at her sister.

 Kylo’s chuckling. They were entertaining little chits. Relentless. But he admires something about that sparky quality. Iris had the same sense about her - only more sensible and humble.

 “She is the singularly, most beautiful creature I’ve ever beheld in all my years.” He promises. “And I cannot wait to have her hand in marriage. She will make me a very blessed and lucky man.” He declares.

 “How romantic.” Posy declares in a sigh. Flora dreamily agrees. They’re both veritably Moony eyed. Gazing up at him in wonder as a consequence. A silly girls kryptonite. A handsome and dark romantic man. A Byronic figure to set all the foolish girls swooning at the knees.

 Kylo’s eyes sweep across to Iris at a passing glance. He smiles. And it almost undoes her.

 “We must be on our way. We’ve availed ourselves of too much of your time. Lord Ren.” Iris says in parting. Trying to herd her vapid sisters away before they flirt anymore.

 “We must go. For we are bid to the Hux’s tonight for a celebratory engagement supper.” Posy curtsies boasting as she’s bobbing away.

 “Give the Sergeant and his family my warmest regards.” Kylo insists. Knowing what a barb that would be to Hux’s temper.

 Iris turns and meets his eyes. Giving him a polite bowed head in parting. When Posy and Flora are otherwise looking elsewhere. She turns back and gives him such a look of longing and delight it makes him grin at her as she walks off down the cobbled pavement.

 “Very good to see you again. Your Lordship. Have a pleasant rest of your day.” She insists.

 Cajoling her sisters along the path and away before they get any notions. Erland snorts at her as she moved away. She smiles and gladly rubs the flat bone of his nose before she goes. Lord Ren stays standing until she does move away.

 Kylo pats his neck, and hauls himself up on his strong stallions back once again. Booted feet in the stirrups. He adjusts on the saddle. Scanning the tumbled windows of the high street proprietors.

 In the milliners, he sees a face like sour lemons and thunder glaring out at him. Mrs Ashton’s stony face peering outwards through the glass. Having seen his exchange with all her daughters.

 He coaxes Erland into a slow walk. A little nudge in his side. He gives the foul Caroline Ashton his most winning enigmatic smile. And nods civilly in greeting at her as he rides off.

 He sees it makes her lips purse in irritation.

 Iris can’t resist glancing back at him. She knows those eyes watch her all the way down the street. She can feel them. Two pinpricks of heat, like candles, burning into her shoulder-blades.

 It makes her too giddy for words.

 They soon catch up with the rest of their party and are whisked away in the Hux carriage. Soaring across the dirty English roads. Mud churning in their wake as cold air and sunshine bounces off the roof.

 Mama asks them what Lord Ren. Iris told them he was just politely passing the time of day. She seems satisfied with the answer. Iris fights not to squirm into shivers of desire at the merest intimation and memory of him.

 Posy and Flora sing-song his romantic praises all the way home. Mother soon shuts them up with a cross cold stare.

 The afternoon seems to fly her by. No sooner than she’s home and she’s readying herself for the dinner they’ll take at the Hux’s residence. Cavenham House.

 The not so modest estate in the border of the next county. A gorgeous house if she’s being perfectly honest. Terracotta red bricked exterior, of modern Georgian design. Huge arched white windows. Rococo interior. All gilded with cherubs frolicking on the murky painted ceilings and baroque trim on every door. Rolling scrolls. Frescoes and pastel colours. Gilding, moulding and trompe l’oeils giving the illusion of motion and drama. Raining down from every ceiling.

 A handsomely kept garden was also what it was resolutely famous for. Though it would not be pictured to its best quality in this dead winter. Spring will liven it soon. The hardy bright bulbs will crop up through the frost. But for now it remains speckled in snow with only the evergreens surviving.

 Iris can see it all as they pull up the long stretch of the torch lit drive. In the coach Maratella was kind enough to send to collect them all.

 Once again she was wedged beside Posy and Flora, and their shrill gossiping. Mother and Father opposite. Noiseless and as disagreeing as ever. Silence blazed between them as somber as a churchyard. They were about as animated with each other as two gravestones.

 Iris dressed in her navy silk gown with 3/4 sleeves and a sheer white chemisette swirled with stitched white flowers, decorating her shoulders and neck. Meg cleverly weaves that teal ribbon into her hair coiffure again. She finishes the look with pearl droplet earrings and white satin gloves up to her elbows.

 They are welcomed inside by stony faced servants in the blue Cavenham livery. Taken into the drawing room to meet their hosts. Maratella had invited some local flavour along also. Everyone’s merry and mingling. Posy offers to play a Handel piece on the Pianoforte before dinner is announced. She does so rather well. Thunks the opening notes in shocking volume but she picks up from that point onwards.

 Iris is admiring the scenery from the drawing room window. Even in the dark she can see how lovely the gardens are. It doesn’t dissolve the fact that this house would still be a prison to her. There weren’t bars on the window and she won’t exactly be stitching mailbags - but it will still be her cage.

 A handsome cage, she won’t deny. But a cage nonetheless as she mothers the children and lives for planning fine parties to boast of her and her husbands excellence. And slowly becomes a woman of high rank and no substance.

 Hux moves to stand by her side, hands folded behind his back. A tall lean column of red, black and white in his ceremonial dress. Medals shining. Hair groomed. Perfectly respectable. Infuriatingly loveless, as always.

 “You shall like the gardens in summer. I should think.” He remarks.

 “They are most handsome.” She comments. “A fine prospect indeed.” She agrees.

 They perfectly form the vision of lovers conversing by candlelight. She can hear Mama and Mrs. Hux cooing proudly behind them. It’s infuriating. Iris can’t spend the rest of her life in a manner such as this; being prodded and manoeuvred and gossiped over like a chess piece on a board.

 “I care little for being out of doors. Save for riding with my regiment.” He impresses.

 Iris nods. “I am perhaps overfond of walking. I take an excursion each day if I can.” She tells him.

 He sniffs. And coldly watches the view before them. “Well. You shall have to make allowances and sacrifices when we are wed. I can’t have you scampering around the countryside when you are with my heir.” He insists.

 Iris’s mouth turns dry. She makes little response to his words. He turns away to speak to someone else but she catches his arm to stop him.

 “Please I just want to say-“ she starts.

 She looks up into his face. The bright copper of his hair and the steel of his eyes. The surety of his rigid auburn brow. She doesn’t dislike him. He’s not an unpleasant man. Just, misguided.

 She says what she’s thinking now before she loses the chance. No doubt he’ll think very badly of her when all is done.

 “I think well of you. You know. You are a gallant man. Not lacking in honour or credibility. I admire that about you. Hux.” She says. Even if I can’t marry you for it.

 He nods. Accepting her words. Then their granite faced butler coughs dryly and announces dinner to the room.

 Maratella lets the engaged couple be seated next to each other at dinner. Wanting to encourage the tepid affection brewing between them. Iris doesn’t know what the woman expects from them. They weren’t matched for love but it’s as if that’s what she’s hoping to see blossom.

Maratella is hoping for romance to pass betwixt them.

 It could and never will be that. Iris thinks.

 Iris remarks inwardly to herself as she sips down her soup a la reine. Served alongside several large golden Bouchée à la reine’s. 

 The next course is of stewed beef and venison steaks, and a whole champagne poached salmon with slithers of white and black truffles decorating the cooked fish acting as scales.

 More seafood came served in the form of fried then boiled sole, heaped in a terrine and a whole platter of pickled crab. A haricott of vegetables and mashed turnips. There was enough food spread on this very grand table, to keep them dining for a fortnight. Mrs Hux organised a feast intended to show off.

 She gets everyone to toast to the newlyweds. The gentleman stand to raise their glasses and the ladies stay seated.

 The pudding banquet is brought out and quite rightly enough, as she suspected, the whole table is flouncing in ruched fancy french sugar concoctions.

 Silken French pies. Syllabubs of lemon and rose and brandy. Ice’s of all flavours. Custard tarts smothered with fat ripe fruit drowning steeped in syrup. Sugar plums and cinnamon and mace laced apple tartlets with baked custard. Iris indulged in some of the tarts and the fruits.

 Posy and Flora fall upon creams and dainty fancies like hungry wolves. And eat until they are stuffed.

 The ladies retire to the parlour for music and snifters of sweet ruby port wine. Iris indulges in a glass as her sisters and various other young accomplished ladies take to the pianoforte to sing and show off. Posy drags a reluctant Iris up to sing whilst she plays. She grumbles but bends to her sisters will.

 She gives a shortly sweet chorus of ‘Let no man steal your thyme’ for it was the only song she could sing comfortably well.

 She never much liked performing for amusement. Some girls were a glutton for it. Iris is no such a one. She stands with one hand on the pianoforte and the other folded behind her hip. She sings her choruses and smiles meekly at the small scattering of applause offered for her when she is done.

 She heads back to her spot on the settee. Maratella is remarking to her mother how divine it will be to have a songbird in the house once again. Iris sits back in her seat and spends the rest of her evening in silence. Though she wants to say a great deal.

 The evening slips past well enough. Night spills past her relatively quick. Another day gone. Another day closer to her happiness. She’s almost too giddy to contain it.

 Then the time comes to bid goodnight to their hosts;

 Iris watches as Hux fondly kisses her hand. Seeing her off out the rich gilded foyer out into the black black night. Sky so dark it’s a whole void studded with freckling stars. Cold shudders at the shivering trees.

 She wants to say something impactful and veiled. To speak of her regard for him. She cannot think how best to do so. She swallows down her thick tongue. Remains a coward.

 She can only hope in time, after the wake of her scandal settles. That Hux will find someone better suited than her. Maybe even find someone that he can love? She prays deeply for that little happy happenstance.

 She is not so unfeeling as to wish a joyless life on the man who just wasn’t correct for her.

 Her teeth grits with all the things unsaid. “I hope you’ll be happy.” She smiles lightly. He thinks her to be referring to the engagement that stands between them.

 “I’m sure.” He comments. “Goodnight.” Is his curt response.

 It doesn’t incense her. Tonight it vexed her. Caused a tiny crease between her brows. It seemed such fickle words to part on. But she leaves them be-

 Let’s those words spirit up into the quiet undisturb of the night. The heavens can have those words. Iris wishes it could have been more. But how appropriate is it that even his parting words are found wanting.

 She gets into the coach after curtseying a polite goodbye to Brendol and Maratella. She says something sweet to Iris about her singing. Iris cringes a smile. She won’t be thinking such good things about her shortly. She imagines she’ll curse her name for all of hell and heaven to hear. She’ll wake the sleeping dead cursing the day Iris was born.

 Iris thanks her. For her hospitality. For her kindness. Under all her airs and graves, she’s a fairly nice woman and she should find a more amicable daughter-in-law to crow over.

 She slots herself into the coach beside her sisters. Listens to the door slam shut. The rattle and crunch of it shifts on the gravel. Rumbled away up the long elegant curve of the drive.

 Iris twists to look back. She isn’t sure why she wanted too. But they weren’t a dismal family. And she’s sorry for the pain and offence she’ll cause to them all.

 She watches Hux’s stiffly-posed, regimented figure. Shadowed against the night. The scarlet of his blood coat. The ice white of his breeches stained blue, glowing in the night. The stars glimmer off his shining boots and off the pierce of his pale eyes. She wishes him well. She truly does.

 They trundle on home. Full of food and as usual with Posy and Flora spouting gossip on and on endlessly. Mother chiming in. Father and Iris retain their silence. Eyes cross firing in a glance when they all agree on something cruel and senseless.

 Westwell’s windows emerge gold out the dark. Surrounded by the bustling trees. All of the landscape is merely dark moulded shapes. Looming and shifting in the shadows. The moon casts washy film of silver to try and spill over the cover of smeared clouds.

 They are just to the drive when a small dark shape flits overhead. Iris looks upwards, and sees the definable shape of a bird landing on her windowsill. She smiles giddily.

 She exits the coach quick. Bidding them goodnight and rushing off up to her room. Her skirts picked up in her hands. Mama remarks how odd it is. Posy shrugs and supposes she’s got a secret missive to read from Hux.

 Iris absolutely flies for her door. Twists the handle and launches herself in the room. Shutting the door firmly after herself. Pressing it with both hands flat to the wood.

 The warmth of the fire hits her. She doesn’t even pay mind to the tiny crack of her open window. Or her swaying curtains that shift on the breeze.

 She can only focus on the huge frame of a dashing vampire stood fireside. One elbow resting on the mantel as he gazes into the flames.

 His big frame swallows up the whole room and strangled out all the air. The ochre of the blazing flames captured his skin. Turned that milky-cream of his complexion into pale fire.

 She smiles and he does too. “Thank goodness it’s you. I was worried I’d scare seven shades out of your maid.” He drawls softly so his voice doesn’t carry. Smirk curling at the corners.

 She crosses the distance. Her feet eat up the floorboards quick. She avails herself of an embrace. Throws herself into his arms.

 The cloak of his fire warmed clothing envelopes her as his arms do. He smells like the damp snap of frosty woodland and the acid tang of woodsmoke. The night air of wild outdoors clings to every inch and fibre of his clothes. Swirls about him like a clouding tempest.

 He chuckles as she gets herself in his hold. The deep bass of his voice rumbled through her skin and sinking to her bones. Her cheek mashed to his sternum. His arms close around her. Stroking her body through the rasping silk of her dress.

 One big warmed hand clasps the back of her neck as the other holds the back of her waist. His nose nudges into the crush of her muddy hair. Her scent teases him just as much as his had, to her. Lavender and sage. The plain spice and calm floral scent.

 “I could feel the happiness pouring off you as you alighted the stairs.” He smiles. She steps back and gazed up at him.

 “How pretty you look tonight. Dove. You’re exquisite in silk.” He remarks when she steps away. Hand toying with the loose tawny curl at her ear. The sapphire dark of her dress suits her very well. Throws her complexion into brilliance. Does something to make the tones of her hair look rich.

 She always looks ravishing to him.

 She blushes. “I missed you all day. Isn’t that mad?” She asks.

 “If missing is madness, then I’m out of my sane mind whenever you’re not in my sight.” He promises gently.

 Big hands cupping her hot silken neck as he leans down to plant a firm, slanting kiss to her lips. His mouth is cold and he tastes of frosty air and wine.

 Kissing him is like kissing someone who just stepped inside, taking shelter from a bitter cold wind.

 She’s beginning to wonder if there is some clever addiction woven into his lips. One kiss never seems to be enough. She holds his wrists as he grabs her. Makes her feel small in his arms. She’s lost in his hold. It’s powerfully thrilling.

 He breaks the kiss and his thumbs stroke at her cheeks. Her eyes glitter keenly at him. He spies the ring on her finger. The one that doesn’t belong there. It makes him smile.

 “I’d like to surmise you snuck in here just to steal a kiss. But I suspect a different motive altogether?” She asks.

 He broke into a grin that creases his eyes and bares his teeth in a smile. She was no thoughtless woman; his darling Iris.

 She’s always thinking. Always fretting. Always mulling over things in her head.

 That was one of the first things that that came to his notice about her. She tended to be introspective about all manner of things in comparison to her acetous mother who spewed vile words. And her daft sisters who spouted out their every dangerously silly thought.

 He kisses her for that clever remark- slow and paced and soft. Languid like melting warm honey. Lips curling to hers.

 “I do have some news. But kissing you will always my first priority.” He husks against her rosy lips. Her warm cheeks blaze from under his icy fingers.

 “The date is set. We must leave tomorrow eve.” He tells her with a smirk.

 Her stomach completely soars in giddiness. She doesn’t have to hide her grin here.

 “It feels as if I’ve been waiting at eternity to hear those blessed words.” She cries in happiness.

 “Slip away to me after everyone’s gone to bed.” He instructs. She agrees.

 “Mother has been pleased with my conduct of late. She’ll have let her guard down over tonight. I’ll leave once everyone is abed. Even the maids.” She tells him.

 Stroking her fingers down the finery of his waistcoat where they’re still stood close to each other. The material was so soft. The softest grain of velvet she’s ever felt.

 “You don’t have to bring too much. I can buy you everything you may ever need.” He leers. Cupping her cheek. Feeling the smooth of her skin. Right up her jaw.

 His eyes carve flinty paths down her neck as he strokes his fingers there. Her pulse quickens. He can feel and hear her blood slushing hot through her veins.

 She shrugs. “I cherish very few possessions. Posy and Flora can have the rest.” She insists. Her hand coming up to stroke over his thick crook of elbow with the hand that’s touching her neck.

 He drags the edge of the chemisette down and strokes along the flat of her collarbone. His eyes turn into a palette of bittersweet autumn. Orange and gold swirled with flecks of russet brown.

 “Is it difficult?” She asks suddenly.

 “Restraining from the need to...” Her face fixed on his. Words trailing away. Air bursting with heat and lust. His eyes snap from her neck to her face. Her cheeks bloom rose petal red. Blood red and hot.

 “To feed?” He asks her. She swallows and nods.

 His other hand catches the back of her hips reels her right in close. She gasps. Air around them thick and full of snapping sparking static. Her hands press to his cavernous chest.

 “I have got several hundred years of restraint up my sleeve.” He crooks a smirk.

 His eyes flicker to watch her jugular pulse. The thrum of her little timpani heart makes his mouth wet. He knows she’d taste like salt and sickly Turkish roses and warm bronze coins.

 He presses the chemisette aside again and nudges his nose against her pulse point. Right at the epicentre of his life’s greatest desire. He hums a kiss against her neck and she almost faints-

 “You shake all those very hard learnt lessons right down to their very foundations.” He promises.

 “Iris my love, you are the hardest thing, I’ve ever had to resist.” He tells.

 Swooping upwards to kiss at her cheek. Sighing in need against her hot warm skin. If he indulges the temptation of tasting her blood. He doesn’t even want to fathom what the raw animal in him will do to her. Such debauchery he’d surely scandalise her innocence to tipping point.

 He will have her on their wedding night and not a second before.

 Though the rogue in him does think how goddamn glorious it would be to have her on that bed of hers right now, torn out of that gown. Screeching his name for the whole house to hear. And they can listen to her rapture and whimper, and beg and writhe under the man who really does love her.

 Bite her neck as he pumps deep into her slick heat. Gather up every groan as she opens those sweet pink thighs for him and claws at his back. He’d kiss her neck until she yanks her fingers into his hair and tugs. Opens that sweet songbird mouth and calls for him in her bliss, with that ambrosial voice.

 He holds the backs of her hips and strokes the silk there with arcing curves of his thumbs. Drawing shapes on that stiff silk.

 “I must tell you-“ She starts. “I never was much good at resisting you either. Even after knowing what you are. It shocked me I won’t deny. But it somehow in its twisted way, it made all the sense in the world. It didn’t alter me for my knowledge of it. It didn’t even begin to change the severity my feelings for you.” She tells him. Reaching up and stroking along the handsome plain jaw.

 Wholly, un-confinably, remarkably handsome.

 “My love-“ He begins warmly. “If I had to, I would throw you over my shoulder to carry you up the aisle to marry me. Even if I had to tear you from your bed and steal you away in the dark of night to be mine. I would have done it. Because this, what we share, it cannot and will never be undone. Can never be ignored.” He promises her.

 “Vampires love more deeply than any mortal longing. What I feel for you, it is not fickle. It will never fade. Never wane. We love each other and that will last for as long as we exist on this earth. I thought I had better edify you with these clear facts about my nature, before we are to be bound in matrimony.” He pledges to her. Declaring his undying devotion to her.

 Iris rather wants to swoon into his chest - if she had ever been inclined to be a swooning sort of woman. Instead she just beams. A smile so glad it touches the frosty barren place his dead heart inhabited.

 “These last few hours will be such a torture.” She comments seriously. But giddy. So giddy it felt like her sides would split open. And molten happy gold would pour out.

 His eyes turn promiscuous. As does his domineering smile.

 “I can safely offer you nothing but pleasure once the torture is done.” He filthily promises.

 She blushes. He wants to lift her up and devour her in a kiss again. Taste those saccharine sweet lips in an animalistic kiss. He savours holding her instead.

 Tomorrow he can let the animal roam free over his delicate dove. Tonight is the last night it must be caged.

 “Not long to wait now. The last of my household servants left today. I sent Jomar and Jones off to London to make passage to France. Erland and Kana remain to take us to Scotland with one driver, and the coach.” He tells.

 She liked that he’s bringing Erland to their elopement. It’s quite fitting when the creature loves her almost as much as he does.

 “Then it’s just us. Riding into the wild of the Highland. Roaming over the Scottish moors, and glens and lochs, as a Lord and his Lady.” He paints a vivid picture for her.

 She sighs a smile. “Us, has never sounded so splendid.” And she beams brighter than the sun.

 He clutches her close for another kiss before he slips away.

 The appointed hour loometh. And Iris won’t sleep a wink for thinking of his sharp smile or those savage eyes.

 She eventually dreams. And thinks of kissing his soft plush lips once more. Like kissing pink rose petals.

 The next time she will, they’ll be well on their way to being man and wife.

                                                    ~ ~ 🥀  ~ ~

[lesbianlovelanguage]

hey tay! how about: situation #28, sentence #15, person(people) steve/billy 😊 thank you!

Hi bb!!! Sorry this took forever, it just kind of kept going haha. 

Enjoy! 28. Love Confession and 15. “If you think I don’t have feelings for you, you’re dumber than I though.” (I also added college!au because why not?) 

--

Billy had thought moving to college would have meant freedom from Hawkins, from his dad, from the memories of a certain kiss in the dark. He had packed his camaro and never looked back as he sped out of that shit hole town. It wasn’t until he was unpacking his couple of boxes that it finally hit him. He had done it. He was out.

Then he walked into his second college class, Forensic Science 101, and spotted that damn head of perfectly styled gravity defying hair, and met wide brown eyes. They stared at each other for a whole minute before Steve was tugged away by some spunky looking blonde with a jean jacket that was more patches than denim. 

Billy watched them take a seat towards the front of the hall, and then deliberately made his way to the back. He hoped that this would be the only incident of bumping into an old face, but when had he ever had that much luck? 

The second item listed in the syllabus, written in bold 12 point times new roman, was a group project due at the end of the semester, and the professor just had to announce that they were assigning partners by last name. When the list was projected up Billy could have screamed. 

Of course.

Of fucking course, on his first day of college, when he thought he was finally safe and free from Hawkins and all that came with it, he had to get paired up with King Steve for a fucking semester-long assignment. 

By the end of class, Billy’s pencil was chewed to bits and his anxiety was through the roof. The bell caught him off guard, and as the rest of his classmates were filing out of the hall, he was slowly packing up. It wasn’t until he picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder that he saw Harrington waiting at the end of the aisle Billy was in. He looked equally nervous, bottom lip red and puffy from biting it. Billy started thinking about other ways he could make Steve’s lips look like that, thoughts steering to Tina’s graduation party and a shady corner in the backyard. Before he could dig himself too deep of a hole, a soft cough brought him back to reality. 

“So, I guess we’re partners?” Harrington asked hesitantly.

Billy just replied with a grunt and pushed past Harrington to leave the lecture hall. He didn’t have time for Harrington’s ridicule and judgemental looks. But before he could ditch him, Billy felt a hand grab his jacket sleeve and tug him backwards, prompting him to spin around and face Harrington again.

“Don’t fucking touch me, Harrington,” he growled. Harrington dropped his hand as if he had been burned. 

“Jeez, sorry. Who pissed in your cheerios, Hargrove?”

“Piss off.” Billy started walking away again, until Harrington jumped in front of him.

“Wait, wait. I’m sorry. We do need to work on this project together though.”

“Yeah? Well we haven’t even gotten an assignment sheet yet,” Billy shrugged. Steve dug into his bag and pulled out a thick packet. 

“Um, hate to be the bearer of bad news Billy boy, but we actually did?”

“Fine. We can figure out some time to meet and go over this stupid project.” 

“Great! I was thinking three times a week? at like 6?”

“Mmm, ‘fraid not Princess. Once a week, on Thursdays, at 7. Meet in the library. Final offer.” 

“Jesus,” Harrington said, “You really haven’t changed. Still the same asshole who’s too good for anyone?”

“No, Princess. Just too good for you,” and with those parting words, Billy pushed past Harrington and snached the packet out of his hands. He heard Harrington squawk in protest, but before he could pull another stunt to stall his departure, Billy was ducking out the door and striding through the quad.

And thus, their schedule was set. Billy successfully avoided Harrinton in the classroom by sneaking in at the last minute and sitting in the very back in order to be one of the first out with the bell. During their study sessions, Billy remained quiet and aloof, responding to all of Harrinton’s questions with biting cynicism and witty insults. He finally stopped trying four weeks in, and now they simply met, put a couple hours into their project, and then left. 

This lasted until the second to last meeting they had. The Thursday after Thanksgiving break found the two boys in the library like every other Thursday of the semester. They were going over every detail, reviewing their conclusions, and finalizing their presentation for next Friday. 

Billy was packing up his stuff, getting ready to go home when he heard Harrington clear his throat.

“Hargrove, wait. I-I uh, I can’t make it next week.” Billy froze.

“Harrington, are you kidding? We present the next day, what the hell?” Billy couldn’t believe it. All semester Harrington had been riding his ass about being on time to their stupid little meet ups, and now he wanted to just ditch it right before the end? 

“I’ve got another commitment,” Harrington said, and Billy noticed his ears were bright red. That’s when it hit him. 

“Oh, I see.” Billy felt a downright nasty smirk take over. “King Steve’s got a date huh? Tell me Stevie, is she another Wheeler bitch, or is she the spunky blonde you’re always with? What’s your type these days Pretty Boy?”

“Fuck off Hargrove. God, why are you such a dick all the time?” Harrington complained, sounding every part the spoiled brat he was. 

“Just part of the charm, Princess.” The smirk only got bigger, started to resemble a sneer with the way his lip curled up and his teeth showed.

‘Never let them see you hurt.’ he thought, feeling jealousy pool in his stomach. 

“So who is it Pretty Boy? Ice queen or punk band reject?” Billy sneered. 

“It-it’s not a date.” 

“Oh, please. You’re redder than a fucking tomatoe. C’mon Harrington, what’s a little gossip between pals?”

“We are not friends,” Harrington growled, finally reaching the end of his patience, “and if you refused to answer my questions after Tina’s party, I don’t see why I have to answer any of yours.” Harrington crossed his arms and pursed his lips.

“What the absolute fuck are you talking about Harrington? You didn’t ask me shit after that night.”“Yeah, because you never let me!” Steve practically shouted. He quieted down after a sharp glare from the pruny old librarian behind the desk. “You practically disappeared after that night.”

“Yeah, because I already knew what you were going to say, and I didn’t need that shit from some bumpkin fuck right before I got to leave that tiny shit town.” Billy leaned forward as he practically spit the last words, getting up into Harrington’s blank face.

“Oh, if you’re so smart, what was I going to say Billy?” Harrington seemed unmoved by Billy’s presence, only scrunching up his nose a little and shifting his shoulders.

“Fuck this. I don’t need your interrogation now. Enjoy your date, and just make sure your fucking essay is finished.” Billy adjusted the strap of his bag, and pushed past Harrington to leave him behind. Unlike their first collegiate interaction, Harrington didn’t follow. Billy made it all the way out of the library and around the corner before having to stop and take a few deep breaths. He didn’t know how, but Harrington had the innate ability to get under Billy’s skin. Ever since that Halloween party, where he gave Billy one glance over and moved on to follow some prissy looking ice princess. 

After some deep breaths, the urge to punch something slowly faded to a simmer, at least enough to make his way back to his dorm. 

Monday came, and with it Forensic Sciences 101. He pulled the usual routine of coming in late, only to find a certain mop of brown hair sitting in his usual seat. Billy made the educated decision to tuck tail and beat it. There wasn’t an attendance policy anyway, skilling wouldn’t hurt.

Using that logic, he also skipped Wednesday’s lecture just to be safe. He decided to use the time to study for another final coming up, and headed to the library. He was deep in the zone, reading about the historical significance of guinea pigs in ancient South American culture when suddenly his textbook was ripped away from him.

He jerked up to see who the thief was. Standing before him was the same blonde that hung around Harrington so often, and she looked pissed.

“Can I help you?” Billy asked, raising an eyebrow and staring her down. She didn’t even flinch as they suddenly ended up in a silent staring match. After a few tense moments, she suddenly smiled and plopped down in the seat next to him. 

“Name’s Robin. You’re Billy Hargrove right?”

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” 

“Okay, listen. I’m friends with Steve, basically his only friend on campus,” she said with an exaggerated eye roll, “and I’m here to tell you to talk to him, please. The little pining sulky thing he’s got going on was cute at first, but now it’s just kind of sad and annoying, so whatever happened between you two? I don't care, just fix it.”

 “And what makes you so sure it’s me he’s pining over or whatever? It’s probably that chic he has a date with tomorrow.” Billy leaned back in his chair, trying to feign nonchalance.

“Because,” she stretched out the word, “Dingus abandoned me during Forensics to sit in the back, even though his eyesight is terrible, all because he knew a certain blond always sat in the back. And then when you ditched, he was silent for like, an hour.” 

“Yeah? Wow. Real compelling evidence you got there chief. Unfortunately, I’ve known Harrington for longer and I know that’s not the case. There’s nothing going on between us.” Billy shrugged his shoulders. “Now can I please have my textbook back?”

“Not until you agree to talk to him,” she fired back.

“Oh yeah, I’d love to have that discussion.”

“What, big tough guy like you scared of what a dingus has to say? What’s got your panties in a twist Billy Joel?”

“None of your business. Now scram.”

“Nope,” she said, popping the p. “I need my best friend back. Besides, don’t you guys have a presentation on Friday? I can guarantee unless you two talk whatever out, he’s gonna be practically useless.”

“You don’t even know what’s going on!” His volume began to raise, only to be lowered again in the face of the librarian. He leaned closer to Robin instead. “You don’t know what you’re asking for. It's. Not. Happening.” 

“Fine. I guess it’s not what I’m thinking. After all, what do I, a lesbian from a tiny town in rural Illinois, know about mutual gay pining?” She said, leaning in to Billy too. They were practically bumping heads at this point, exchanging harsh whispers. But, as the term ‘mutual gay pining’ came out of her mouth, Billy squinted his eyes and smirked menacingly. 

“I see. You’re just some dyke who’s projecting her failed love life onto her bff in hopes of not being so lonely. Guess what buttercup? You’re dead fucking wrong. So fuck off, and go draw more tits on your shoes.” Robin leaned back in mock offense, before matching Billy with her own wicked smile.

“Oh okay. First off, fuck you, but I’m going to let it go because I know you probably have some deep seeded internalized bullshit. I had to help Steve through the same shit this semester. You’re from Hawkins too right?” One manicured eyebrow popped up, before she continued on her tirade. “Secondly, I’m never wrong. I saw the way you straight up stared at his lips that first day. Fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss him? Real no homo of you.”

“Are you done?” Billy asked, preparing to pack up and piss off. He didn’t need this shit, he had too many finals coming up. 

“Sure, if you’re ready to talk to Steve?”

“For the last time, take your psychoanalytical routine and fuck off.”

“Fine, whatever. Enjoy your pining anguish and ruined project.” She stood up, and prepared to turn away, before shooting over her shoulder, “By the way, I’m not sad or lonely. I actually have a girlfriend cause I’m not a pussy.” With that, she walked away, leaving Billy floundering for a scathing retort and coming up empty handed. He huffed and settled into his seat again to study, but suddenly he couldn’t focus on the guinea pigs. Sighing, he packed up and went to eat dinner.

Over the next two days, Billy tried to go about business as usual, but found himself staring off into space a lot more, Robin’s words echoing in his ears. Finally, Friday came about and Billy had to face the music. Or at least Harrington.

He got to the hall 30 minutes early, in order to sort his papers and double check all of his notecards were in the right order. Apparently, Harrington had the same idea, because he was already seated in the second row, head bent in concentration as he fussed over a stack of papers. 

Billy walked down the aisle, hands in his pockets. When he reached the row where Harrington sat, he cleared his throat. When Harrington’s head shot up in surprise, Billy was taken aback for a moment by the positions they found themselves in, reversed from that first day. 

Billy’s eyes flicked downwards before he shuffled through the seats and flopped down into the seat next to Harrington. 

“I uh, I got my papers. Gimme a sec, and we can put them all together.” His voice came out rougher than he intended, quiet so as to not break the hush an empty lecture hall seemed to require. 

“Okay.” Harrington’s voice was equally as soft. Billy began rifling through his bag to pull out the folder containing his portion of the project, but out of the corner of his eye, he could see Harrington squirm nervously, bouncing his leg and chewing at his thumbnail. Robin’s words came back to him, “he’ll be practically useless.” 

Billy pulled out the folder and sighed as he turned to Harrington. Here goes nothing. 

“How was your date yesterday?” he asked, wincing a little at his choice of conversation starter.

“I told you, it wasn’t a date,” Harrington snapped, continuing to bounce his leg rapidly. 

“Fine, fine. How was your commitment?”

“Fine,” Harrington said, clipped. They lapsed into another bout of tense silence.

A few minutes passed before Steve finally broke.

“What did you think I was going to say to you?” he asked, but he resolutely didn’t look at Billy. He chose instead to focus on his hands as he picked at his cuticles.

“Oh, okay. I guess.” He paused to clear his throat. “I guess you were looking for me to say it was an accident, a drunk mistake or whatever. Didn’t need to get rejected in person when I knew it was coming anyway.” 

Suddenly, Harrington burst out laughing. It wasn’t very long, but just enough to piss off Billy.

“What’s so funny Harrington?”

“You thought I was going to reject you?”

“Yeah. Brush it off as a drunken mishap and go back to fucking ice princess or whoever.”

“Oh my god, Billy.” His first name rang in his ears. It was the first time he could remember Harrin-Steve calling him by it. “If you think I don’t feel anything for you, then you’re more stupid than I thought.” Steve’s voice carried the boisterous laugh until it began to dwindle into quiet timidness as Billy just sat there, blinking, before shooting up. 

“See you’re already insult- wait, what?” He faltered, and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

“I said, if you think I don’t feel anything for you, if you think I regret it or brushed off what happened as some drunk mistake, you’re more stupid than I thought.” Steve said, the last part holding a light teasing tone.

“You... but… you’re…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say.

“I’m not what? Not gay?” He paused before reaching out to gently offer his hand. “I’m not. I’m bisexual? I think? Robin’s better with the terms or what not, but um, basically I like both?” 

Billy sat down heavily before hesitantly grasping Steve’s outreached hand. 

“I guess that makes sense, but you really like me?”

“Yeah. I mean, you are an asshole, but I also saw how you were with Max and El, and even Will sometimes. You have a soft side, er. Well, softer.” Billy cracked a smile.

“I like you too Pretty Boy. Have since that one Halloween.”

“God, we’re dumbasses, huh?” Steve moaned. “Robin's going to hold this over me forever.” 

“I think she’s just going to be happy we’re not ‘mutually pining dinguses’ anymore.” Steve snorted, before looking up and squinting at Billy.

“Wait. Did she talk to you?”

“Yeah, she cornered me in the library Wednesday. You know, she kind of reminds me of a pitbull, all protective of you.”

“Yeah. I’m still gonna chew her ass. I told her specifically not to talk to you!” Before Steve could go into a full on tirade against his best friend, other classmates began to trickle in. Steve and Billy dropped hands and faced forward, prepping for their presentation again. However, just before the professor officially began class, Billy leaned over and whispered in Steve’s ear.

“You know anywhere we can talk after class? Privately.” He emphasized the last word, blowing a little puff of air, and watching Steve shiver.

“Yeah, yeah. I, uh, I have an apartment,” he stuttered.

“Perfect.” 

-

Hope y’all liked it! As always, my askbox is always open to prompts, it might just take a minute to get them out.

[looking-for-another-world]

Picasso was a dick

Pairings: pre!serum Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes (roommate AU)

Word count: 1,603

Warnings: 18+ just to be sure, mild smut, dirty talk, mentions of masturbating, male-on-male kissing, description of porn, vulgar language

Summary: Bucky catches Steve masturbating. Being the considerate human being that he is, he can’t just let his roommate get away without a “serious” talk.

A/N: this fic was written as an entry for @that-damn-girl ‘s PRIDE challenge. Thanks for initiating this, Alisha! Hope you will enjoy reading. Other than that, I wish everyone a HAPPY PRIDE 🌈 I can imagine right now is a difficult time for some (many?), so just know my inbox is always open ♥️ Tagging @angel-fire too, bc she wanted to be tagged in stuff. You happy now?! Constructive criticism and feedback is very welcome. Have a great first day of summer (or winter, depending on where in the world you live) 🍦 xxx

“Steve, come on! It’s not a big deal!”

Bucky tried turning the doorknob again, but the door wouldn’t move. He knocked, once, twice, although Steve was well aware of his presence in the other room. Dropping his shoulders, he let out a defeated sigh.

“Stevie. You’re only punishing yourself by keeping yourself holed up in there. Let’s just talk about it. It’s okay.” His forehead hit the white-painted wood. “Please?”

There was shuffling on the other side of the door, steps approaching, a sliver of hesitancy. Then, after 30 minutes of coaxing, the door opened. Steve was wearing a pair of striped boxers and a shirt that had been grey when he bought it, but now bore traces of red and white acrylic paint, blue ink stains and charcoal smears so ingrained in the fabric that it wouldn’t come out anymore, and Steve had stopped trying anyway. His skin color was still a bit reddish, tingeing his ears an adorable pink, splashes of pink freckled across the skin of his neck, too.

“How much did you see?” His voice was barely above a whisper, interrogating the floor and Bucky’s black Converse rather than the person in front of him. Bucky tilted his head to the side. “Not much. I put my stuff down, came into the living room and saw you jerk off on our leather couch.”

Steve let out an embarrassed whine and screw his eyes shut. Bucky grinned, deciding to punish him a little. “I mean, I shoulda seen it coming, really. I heard your tiny moans the second I turned the key in the look.”

Steve swirled round, ready to slam the door shut and go back to hiding in his room. Bucky, however, was quick to stop the door from closing and wedged himself in the space between. “I’m just teasing you, punk. It’s okay. We all do it, and this is your place as much as mine. It’s okay.” He put one hand on Steve’s bony shoulder and squeezed when he saw that the blonde was eyeing him suspiciously from below. “It’s okay.”, he emphasized.

Steve broke into a careful smile. “You’re not mad? Or… put off?”

“Why would I be mad? You’re just my type, Rogers” Bucky gave him a sly wink and Steve had to focus really hard on not blushing again. Bucky made that kind of comments all the time, especially when he’d realized Steve didn’t seem to mind the flirting, and the younger man had grown a bit too fond of them to just brush it off. Luckily, Bucky had turned to grab a beer from the fridge and took no notice of Steve’s internal struggle. “Besides”, he continued, taking the lid off by placing his beer on the edge of the countertop and slamming his fist down, “I shouldn’t be home that early anyway.”

Steve cleared his throat. “Right. Why are you?”

“They closed down the gym. Safety precautions and all. Don’t want to increase the risk of catching it. Guess it’s the best they can do, but it’s still a pain in the ass.”

Steve pursed his lips. “Yeah, I guess so. So, you’re going to exercise from home now?”

Bucky shrugged. “Sure. It’s better than doing nothing.” He shot his best friend a lopsided grin. “Why? Care to join me?” Steve snorted. “Sure, we both know I’m the one obsessing over lifting metal disks out of the two of us.

“It’s not an obsession, it’s a hobby”, Bucky countered. ” Not all of us have the talent to become the next Picasso.”

“Picasso was a dick. Besides, my style is not even close to his.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Bucky chewed the inside of his cheek, pondering if it was too early for another stab. “Speaking of dicks, why did you make your Pornhub broadcast a solo party? You could’ve invited me.”

Steve looked at him with a frown. “Invite you to what? Watch porn together?”

Bucky wore a nonchalant expression. “Why not? A lot of dudes do it.”

“Like who?”

“Like Wilson and Clint.”

“No way Wilson and Clint are watching porn together.”

“Yeah they are. I was with them one night. Terrible taste, though. Some poorly acted bad schoolgirl stuff.” Bucky rolled his eyes. Steve watched him, unsure. “You’re making this up.”

“I’m not.” Bucky decided to play dirty. “Is it because I’m gay? You scared I’m gonna jump your bones as soon as my dick gets hard around you or what?”

Steve’s eyes widened. “No! No, of course not, Buck, that’s not it at all, you know it’s not.”

Bucky’s blue orbs twinkled. “I don’t see any issue with this, then.” He sauntered over to the living room area, Steve close behind, desperately trying to think of a way to make him stop but running out of options. Bucky grabbed the remote from between two couch cushions where Steve had thrown it after hastily switching off the screen, fleeing the scene immediately after. He plopped down on the leather with an audible sigh, enjoying himself way too much.

“You know, I’ve always wondered what kind of girls you’re into since you never have someone over. Taller than you? Lots of tattoos? Milfs in their 40s?” Wearing his cheshire cat grin, Bucky switched on the screen, and his face fell. It wasn’t tall girls or milfs. It wasn’t women at all. On the screen, two men were fucking on a car, one of them pressed onto the yellow hood, the other pounding into him from behind. And it was not just men; it was one big, beefy man and one rather small lad getting railed. One big, beefy man with long brown hair, and one small blonde lad getting railed. Bucky blinked a few times, not quite comprehending the situation he had gotten himself into. “Oh.”

Steve sank down onto the armrest, face buried in his hands. Despite the exaggerated moans and grunts from the actors, the room felt uncomfortably silent. Blood rushing in his ears, he didn’t notice Bucky scoot closer to him until he felt the brunette’s warm hand on his thigh, causing him to jerk.

Bucky shot his roommate a sideways glance through hooded eyes “What does this mean, Stevie?” His voice was a hint deeper, huskier. Or was that just Steve’s imagination? Bucky’s hand made thinking difficult, answering even more so. He swallowed several times. “I- I don’t know. I never thought about what it means. I just kept watching and-“ He inhaled sharply when Bucky dragged his hand upwards, closer to his crotch.  His fist lightly palmed him through the striped fabric, and Steve’s cock twitched greedily, yearning for attention.

Bucky stared at his hand enveloping Steve’s leg, so close to where he wanted to be for a long time, and abruptly stood up. Steve let out a sigh he didn’t realize he’d been holding, not sure if he should feel relieved or disappointed. His train of thoughts was interrupted when Bucky sank down to his knees in front of him. Jaw set, his gaze locked with Steve’s, pupils dilated, grey and blue almost entirely drowned in pitch black. “I take it back. If you watch that kind of porn in front of me, I’m afraid I have to jump your bones.”

Steve held his gaze, equally on edge, a shudder running down his protruding spine. “I don’t see any issue with this.” Bucky’s right hand shot up, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling Steve’s face towards his. Their mouths met in a needy combination of teeth and tongue, exploring the other’s mouth, battling for dominance, tasting, biting, sucking. Steve let out a whimper when Bucky softly bit his bottom lip and shaking hands grabbed the front of Bucky’s red henley, pulling him closer. He was met with no resistance as his roommate got on one knee and pushed himself up, all without pulling back even for a second. Guiding Steve’s shoulders back, he crawled up on the man now lying back on the couch, careful not to crush him under his weight.

Tousled strands and heated cheeks, Steve looked up to him, sucking in air, and Bucky felt his heart melt a little. Taking Steve’s face in his hands, he brushed the other’s nose for a second, earning himself a genuine smile. “We don’t have to do this, you know. I can stop.” Steve’s brows furrowed for a beat, then his hand came up to cup Bucky’s cheek, running his thumb across the kempt stubble and making the brunette sigh in content. “I know you can. Thing is, I don’t want you to.” Bucky’s eyes fluttered open, checking Steve’s face for any sign of insincerity before leaning down for a slow kiss, moving his lips against Steve’s, pressing kisses to the corner of his mouth, his cheekbones, his nose his forehead, hiding a smirk in the crook of his neck when Steve started giggling.

“Wanna head to my room? Or do you still need some inspiration from that video?”

Groaning, Steve gave his best friend a considerable push that almost shoved him off the sofa. Bucky caught his balance last minute. “What? Don’t tell me you’re still embarrassed about it?”

He gazed at his lover who mirrored his beaming expression. “Nah. I’m quite happy with the result.”

Without another word, Bucky got up, pulling Steve with him by the hand and slowly walking backwards to his room, flashing a shit-eating grin at the thought of what was about to come. At the threshold, Steve hesitated, letting go of Bucky’s hand.

“Buck?”

“Yeah, punk?”

“Do Sam and Clint really watch porn together?”

[littleoases]

It’s been awhile since HNITS has been out and I can’t help but to think how Hannah and Baker would be living together! Or possibly engaged! Could we get a one-shot about where they would be in their lives all this time later?

Hannah is determined to get a run in after work, even if it means she’ll be cutting it close for their Bachelor in Paradise viewing party. It’s the finale tonight, which means at least one of the couples will get engaged, but Hannah only cares about one pairing: the two women. She and Baker have been glued to the TV screen for weeks, ever since Demi’s girlfriend, Kristian, joined her in Paradise. They’ve never seen two women fall in love on this show before. They’ve hardly seen two women fall in love in real life.

As she runs up and down the streets of their quaint, laidback neighborhood, Hannah can’t help thinking about how a proposal between two women on the show would work. She’s been thinking a lot about proposals between women lately. Not for any particular reason or anything.

“Feel better?” Baker asks when Hannah hustles through their apartment door. She’s standing at the kitchen counter, arranging a cheese plate, her hair thrown up in a messy topknot. And maybe it’s because Hannah’s been thinking about rings and proposals and weddings, but she can’t help adoring Baker in that moment. They’ve lived together for three years now, but coming home to each other will never get old.

Hannah draws close to her and steals a swig from her water glass. She feels a playful energy coming over her, the one she often gets when Baker’s trying to concentrate on something and Hannah wants to distract her. Just to be a skootch, she nudges the cheese plate away from Baker’s reach.

“Oh no, here we go,” Baker says, rolling her eyes. “Are you overflowing with endorphins again? Gonna flirt with me like a middle school boy?”

“I like flirting with you,” Hannah says, grinning.

“You like messing with me.”

“Because you’re cute when you’re distracted.”

“Mhm.” Baker pulls Hannah towards her, but then she pauses and wrinkles her nose. “Honey, you need a shower, like, yesterday.”  

Hannah leans into her. “Aww, that’s so sweet of you to say.” She pulls a squirming Baker even closer. “Wanna give me a kiss? Maybe here, on my neck? Peak sweatiness?”  

“You’re gross,” Baker says, but she’s laughing. She plants a quick kiss on Hannah’s mouth. “Eugh, I can taste it. Get in the shower. Everyone will be here in 20 minutes.”

She swats Hannah on the ass, hurrying her along. Hannah nicks a piece of cheese straight from the center of the the plate, just to mess with her one more time, but she does as she’s told and heads for the bathroom.

Their shower smells like lavender—Baker’s favorite bubble bath scent—and for a moment Hannah wishes they weren’t hosting friends tonight so she and Baker could take a long, relaxing soak in the garden tub. It’s become one of their favorite things to do since they moved into this upgraded apartment. Some nights, after they’ve cleaned up dinner, they’ll sink into a hot bubble bath and talk about the next vacation they want to take. Baker will float ideas about skiing and safaris and architecture tours, and Hannah will hold her around the middle, pressing their naked skin together, nuzzling her nose into the baby hairs at the back of Baker’s neck.

Hannah’s heart beats faster just thinking about it.

“Han!” Baker calls from the kitchen, as if she knows Hannah’s mind is starting to wander.

“Yeah?!” Hannah shouts back.

Baker yells something else, but it’s muffled and unclear.

“I can’t hear you!” Hannah laughs under her breath because no matter how many times they go through this back-and-forth with one of them in the shower and one of them shouting from the kitchen, they never seem to learn.

The shower curtain rips back, and Hannah opens her eyes to find Baker hovering there with a spoonful of icing.

“Try this,” Baker orders, her face alight like it always is when she’s happy with a new recipe. Her eyes flit over Hannah’s naked body, but she focuses on the icing again. Hannah can tell she’s in full-on hostess mode.

“Mm,” Hannah says, licking the frosting off the spoon. “You made that?”

“For the cupcakes. I’m icing them now. I’m gonna draw engagement rings on top.”

Hannah laughs. “Brilliant, babe.”

Baker leans against the wall. Her attention is fully on Hannah now, her eyes roaming over Hannah’s skin. “You have the cutest little body,” she says, as if she hasn’t seen it a million times before.

“I know, right?”

Baker gives her another trademark eye roll. “Come here, asshole.”

She kisses Hannah in a gentle, routine way, and Hannah’s can’t help but flick water at her until Baker starts to laugh into her mouth.

It’s just a few friends who come over. Gretchen, the vet tech from Baker’s office; Connie, the teacher down the hall from Hannah; and Britta and Devin from their kickball league. It’s the same group of people every time, and they all know whose favorite contestants are whose, and it’s an accepted fact that Devin will bring a pack of beer even though Baker tells her not to worry about it.

The first time they hosted a viewing party, Baker went wild with the cleaning. She dusted every nook of their bookshelf, wiped down the inside of the microwave, even added the fancy decorative pillows to their bed despite Hannah’s protests that no one would see their bedroom anyway. Now that they’ve had the gang over too many times to count, they can get away with merely folding the blankets on the couch and scooping up Charlie’s chew toys.

Hannah’s phone rings when she’s in the middle of lighting the scented candles. She knows it’s her sister even before she answers the FaceTime call.

“What, weirdo?”

Joanie takes a theatrical sip of her wine. She’s wearing the fluffy scarlet bathrobe her latest boyfriend bought for her birthday. “Make the show start. I’m dying.”

“You look dumb in that bathrobe.”

“You’re just jealous. Give the phone to Baker. I like her better.”

“No. Who are you watching with tonight?”

“Gina,” Joanie says, referring to her roommate. “But she went out for more wine. Are y’all excited for your girls, or what?”

“So excited!” Baker shouts from the kitchen.”

“Don’t jinx it,” Hannah says. “We’re not positive they’re getting engaged.”

“Oh, please,” Joanie says flatly. “They’re so in love they make you two look like straight girls.”

“That’s offensive,” Baker says, now sorting apricots onto the cheese plate. Hannah catches her eye and Baker gives her that secret look she loves.

“We gotta go, Joanie. I have to help Baker put the food out.”

“Yeah, right. More like eat it while Baker does the actual work.”

“Accurate,” Baker says without looking up.

“Whatever. We’ll call you after the show.”

“Call me at commercial,” Joanie orders. “We gotta discuss their rings. I’ll let you know which ones Baker would be into.”

“Very funny,” Hannah says, even though she always pays attention when Baker gives her opinion on other people’s engagement rings. Again, not for any particular reason. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

Hannah joins Baker at the counter, steals an apricot off the plate. “Baby,” she says thoughtfully, chewing for a moment. “Do you really think they’ll get engaged tonight?”

“Why not?” Baker says. “The show has been treating them just like the straight couples.”

“But it’s like…too good to be true.”

“My question is: Will they both propose? Or just Demi?”

Hannah nicks another apricot off the plate. She gives Baker a bite of it and they stare at each other for a moment, considering.

“Maybe they’ll both do it?” Hannah says.

“I hope so. That would be cool.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“So does that mean you want both of us to propose, when the time comes?”

“Hmmm,” Baker says, exaggerating her thinking face as if she’s never considered this question before, though Hannah would bet all her money that she definitely has. “Well. I would like to propose to you, for sure. If you want to propose back, go for it.”

Hannah snorts. “‘Propose back’?”

“What else do you wanna call it, punk?” She pulls Hannah into her, her arms snug around Hannah’s waist. “I’m getting down on one knee, either way. You can reciprocate if you want to.”

“Recipro-gay-te.”

“Yes,” Baker says, pulling her even tighter. “That.”

“Just marry me now.”

“Right when the show’s about to start?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s wait ’til commercial.”

“Okay.”

Baker kisses her, and that’s when the doorbell rings.

Hannah’s not sure whether it’s the beer or the general giddiness she’s had all evening, but when the moment comes for Demi to propose to Kristian, she actually tears up.

She and Baker are on the smaller couch, fingers intertwined, knees bumping together. Their friends have gone quiet, knowing how big this moment is for them, except for Devin, who starts whooping from her spot on the floor.

When Demi drops to one knee in front of Kristian, Hannah can’t help glancing at Baker.

Her eyes are shining; her mouth is the slightest bit open. She looks like a kid stepping into Disney World for the first time. Hannah couldn’t love her any more if she tried.

By the time Kristian has said “Yes,” Baker is looking back at Hannah. She notices the wetness in Hannah’s eyes and makes her Oh, honey face, laying a hand along Hannah’s cheek.

“It’s really real?” Hannah asks.

Baker looks at the TV, then back to her again. “It’s real, Han.”

And Hannah knows she’s being silly, because it’s not like they know these two women on this manufactured reality show, but she can’t help the expansive feeling in her chest, the one that hints at what’s to come for her own happy ending.

After their friends have left and Joanie’s manic FaceTime call has ended, it’s just the two of them and Charlie again, snuggled up on the couch together.

“Can we take a bath?” Hannah asks.

Baker kisses the spot below her ear. “Yes.”

They sink into the hot lavender water, but tonight they don’t talk about vacations. They talk about honeymoons.

***

***

***

Additional HNITS one-shots here.

If you enjoyed reading this, I hope you’ll do me a solid and add my upcoming release, Late to the Party, to your Goodreads shelf! (You can also pre-order it here.) 

[imhereforbvcky]

Vivid - Part 5

Masterlist  -  Series Masterpage

Summary: Have you ever met someone who completely embodies a color? Not an aura, not synesthesia. Just… They walk into the room and when you spot them, you think to yourself, “Wow. That is a walking hurricane.” When Clint Barton serendipitously meets a free-spirited stranger, he sees red. Chapter: After you turn up unexpectedly on Clint’s mission, he tries to set things right, despite the risk.

Warnings: Swearing, mission violence.

Word Count: 2595

A/N: Okay, guys! I’m out of town still so I’m including the tags here on the original post, hopefully they work. Also, sorry this is all one big chunk. 😬

“What about him?” you asked, nodding toward a guy who passed by you with an acid wash black denim vest and a mohawk so tall you didn’t think you could reach the ends of it on tip-toes. “Is he cute?”

One friend shrugged, leaning a little to follow his path through the crowded warehouse. Another pulled a face: somewhere between a scowl and distress. Mostly scowl.

“No honey, you’re not a teenager trying to piss off your parents.”

You shrugged and nodded, chasing the bright red straw of your vodka soda. “I can’t tell. Concerts cloud my judgment. I get to having fun and I just… I don’t know, that anything-could-happen feeling takes over, ya know?”

“Yeah, that has nothing at all to do with the vodka,” Nina rolled her eyes.

This was not her scene. She was reserved and structured and liked her evenings well planned – guaranteed enjoyment.

You, meanwhile, were all spontaneity and effortless near-chaos. Nina wouldn’t even know what a pop-up concert was, much less consider attending one. But you’d dragged her along because you loved the idea and you damn well needed a night out.

The ongoing silence between you and Clint had grown into an icy dagger. You hadn’t heard from him since you’d run out of his apartment in a whirl of ice cream and shame. You wanted to be angry, but mostly it just hurt.

“Anyway, why are you prowling for punks?” Nina asked. “I thought you were seeing that guy? The midnight coffee guy.”

A more exaggerated groan had never been heard. Your head hung back on your shoulders just a moment before you dropped your forehead heavily onto Nina’s shoulder.

“No,” you grumbled. “You were right.”

“Oh, honey…”

You pulled away and began digging in your pockets, unwilling to meet her eye while you divulged another rejection, another failed leap into the dating pool.

“I was very ready to be ‘seeing’ him,” you grumbled, tearing open a little black aluminum envelope and stuffing your fingers inside. “But it turns out he’s already ‘seeing’ someone. Like… an amazing someone. A literal fairy-tale superhero!”

“I don’t… I don’t think that’s a thing…” Nina tried to slow your downward spiral.

“Oh trust me!” you nodded with raised eyebrows, dropping little granules from the black and neon packet into your drink. “It is. She’s like if a funny, caring, air-brushed version of a human come to life as an Avenger. And she was standing right there in his kitchen at two a.m. making him healthy fuckin’ food and being just… generally perfect for him. And apparently they ‘go way back.’ I just stood there like an idiot.”

You watched the little candies fizz and pop in your drink and took a sip, enjoying the distraction of the bubbly sweetness on your tongue.

“Honey, stop comparing yourself,” your friend’s comforting hand patted your shoulder. “It’s not about her.”

“No, I know.” You pouted, taking another sip and leaning against Nina as she pushed her arm over your shoulders. “It’s me. I get in too deep too fast and they never want me like I want them.”

“Okay, harsh truth time.”

“Already?”

She squeezed your shoulder.

“You are all about effortless,” she observed. “It’s great. You laugh effortlessly, find your way effortlessly, and you fall for people effortlessly. But, you expect them to match it and, honey, that’s just not how people work. Relationships aren’t effortless. Some people need time.”

“But nobody’s promised time,” you complained.

“Nobody’s promised a happy ending either.”

“Ouch.” You honestly hadn’t considered that unpleasant alternative. It left you silent and poking at the ice in your cup with the stupid red straw.

“I’m not saying your big open heart is a bad thing,” she was quick to soothe. “It’s what makes you, you. You’re like a big red hot air balloon. Most of us don’t know how you float through life like you do, with these highs and lows. Most of us are too scared for that. And honey, some people have been hurt. Some people just don’t know what they want. Give it time. Next time.”

You swung loose clumsy arms around Nina’s waist and hugged her tight to your side. “You always know just what to say. I’m glad you came out with me.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks,” she teased. “Next session I’m charging.”

“Therapists,” you rolled your eyes, “Always on the clock.”

“Shit! There you are!”

His voice was breathless and frantic but you’d learned to recognize it in the dark of night looking at the stars, or with a mouthful of pizza, or laughing over a tower of creamer packets. You’d know it with your eyes closed.

“Clint? What are you doing here?”

“I was…” he leaned over for a moment, catching his breath with his hands on his knees. “I w—Wait, that’s my line.”

Even if you’d wanted to, you couldn’t have helped responding to the grin that quirked lopsided across his face. It was just so easy with him. Effortless in every way.

You chuckled and looked at your feet, feeling that familiar shiver rising over the back of your neck. Finally, you let your gaze flicker over him, knowing it was a bad idea. Knowing you’d give in.

But you were startled by what you saw. No soft comfy sweats, no lived-in jeans with holes in the pockets and dirt on the knees. No perfectly fitted t-shirt that you knew would be well-worn and soft against your cheek.

No. He stood before you all sharp angular lines. Dark leather, black neoprene, and heavy zippers, like an armored motorcycle jacket trimmed in a dark dusty violet. The same leather armor cut in sharp lines down his legs to sturdy boots. Oddest, one glove covered only three fingers.

He stepped closer, reaching quickly for your hand. He looked hurt when you stepped back, frowning.

“Are you… are you with a band?” you asked, giving him another quick once over. “The opener?”

“What?” he chuckled. “No, why would you…?”

“Well, I don’t know,” you laughed right along with him like it was the simplest thing in the world, like right here with him was exactly where you were supposed to be and what you were meant to be doing. “I’m not judging… that’s a look though… the leather and…”

He glanced down at his suit. His Avengers uniform, his armor, and he outright laughed.

“I like it,” you shrugged, a sheepish smile insistently beaming over your cheeks. “It… you look good, but you um… you stand out a bit.”

“Yeah. I guess I do.” Something like a snicker, more like a snort accompanied his reply. It was so uniquely Clint: funny and absurd and so disarming. His eyes met yours again and you could read the smile all over them. they were brimming with it and you were practically swimming.

Nina’s arm eased from your shoulders and squeezed your hand. A reminder. A message: be strong, be patient. He’s not yours. She let go and stepped a few feet away, leaning on the bar within your sight if you needed her. Friends don’t abandon friends to almost-somethings come back to haunt you.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he blurted the words before he could think to soften them.

“One night only pop-up concert’s a strange place to look,” you joked.

“What?”

“The concert,” you squinted at him. “It’s a pop-up. They message a list of people like 3 hours before with the address. I assume you got one?”

Suddenly Clint’s comlink erupted with activity he struggled to attend to: It’s a set up. The concert isn’t real. Something about hostages and Clint get your ass out of there…

Bucky’s voice in his ear was nothing but noise, noise, noise when you were right here, bright and alive. You were always the midnight calm. The surest dance. Nothing could go wrong if he just stayed near you. He knew that wasn’t true, but for a minute he stood still in the center of the storm.

“No,” he shook his head, “No, I meant… I haven’t seen you at the bodega. Or the uh, the coffee shop, or—“

“I know.”

You swallowed hard, a crease deepening between your brows.

Clint was shocked by the silent push of the dagger of regret. He’d let you walk out of his apartment that day with a lie in your head and it hurt – physically hurt – to see you so pained by it. He felt like a kid who’d held the brightest, most buoyant red balloon and let it slip away into the sky.

“I miss…” you. A part of him screamed to finish the sentence, but that piece of him – sharp and poisonous – that knew he’d ruin things, had already ruined things clapped down on his tongue. “I miss talking to you. And Lucky misses you. And Marco, the uh, the pizza guy, he gives me a hard time when I turn up alone, and—“

“I miss you too, Clint.” The words came so easy to you. Like every emotion lay just below the surface, brimming, glowing, ready to burst, sometimes ready to break. To break you in two. Like right now as you swallowed another batch of tears. “It just… didn’t seem like a good idea anymore.”

“Barton! Let’s go!” the comlink squawked. He was rooted to the spot.

“I’m sorr—“

The moment he’d opened his mouth a blue streak ripped across the sky through the window behind him and landed against the building with a burst. He was close enough to feel the heat on the back of his neck in the same instant the boom reached his ears.

Pitching forward, his body crashed into yours, but he managed to recover enough to keep from crushing you. On his knees, with an arm curled over your back, his sharp eyes scanned the room.

“You okay?” he hollered over the roar of automatic gunfire and the frantic cry of the crowd.

You merely nodded, clinging tightly to the shelter he provided. Your fists curled in the smooth leather of his jacket. Quickly, he guided you behind the nearest bar – the faintest modicum of safety. Nina was there, clamoring for you, shouting your name in a wretched mixture of terror and relief.

Clint hated this about the job. How people sobbed through small victories, how fear colored everything thereafter. He wondered how it would color you. Would you still be red and bright? Would you be a fire engine, screaming for help? Would you be a red brick wall, graying in the dust of an explosion? Or the deep loathsome red of bloodshed over concrete, opaque like the muddied edges of raw garnet?

“Barton! We need you in position out here!” Bucky stood just inside the massive room, shoulder pressed to the thick steel door of an emergency exit. For a moment he gave Clint a look and a rueful frown. The very next moment, his steel blue gaze turned to the sliver of an opening he’d left at the door and began returning fire.

Clint closed his hands around yours and squeezed, gently extracting your frightened grip from him. He hated it. Every second, he hated it. But in order to protect this thing he’d found with you, he had to risk it. He had to turn into the storm.

“What are you doing?” you demanded panicked and grasping at his arm. “Where are you going?!”

Nina tugged at your arm, eyes locked on Bucky beating back the enemy at the gate. Then snapping to the room full of people: unarmed and frantic with no safe way out. It was chaos. Her eyes settled on Clint just in time to see him reach for his bow and flick his arm at the elbow, with enough force to snap the bow into shape.

“It’s gonna be okay,” he promised, hoping he wouldn’t break it. “Stay here, stay low.”

“Barton!” Bucky hollered again, “Priorities, man!” Then he disappeared through the door, expecting his mission partner to follow. To get his ass back into position.

“Clint!” you shouted as he turned and jogged through the mess toward the door. “What the fuck is he doing?” you asked Nina voice frantic to the point of shrill breaking. You weren’t really expecting an answer. “He’s gonna get murdered. He’s just a guy! He hardly sleeps, and he drinks more coffee than a camel does water! And his cholesterol must be through the roof from all that greasy pizza! And he’s… He’s…!”

“When were you going to tell me you’re buddy-buddy with the Avengers?!” Nina balked.

“I’m not!” you snapped. “I told you, it was so awkward. She was just in the kitchen when I strolled in like I owned the place, when really she and Clint have been toge—“

“No! Him!” Nina pointed, wide-eyed.

“Hi.” Clint was slightly out of breath again. He’d sprinted back and knelt to face you with a nervous smile flickering over his lips.

“Hi.”

“Bucky said priorities, so uh,” he looked down for a second. Took a deep breath and then leapt head first into the deep unknown, head blaring red alert and hoping it wouldn’t hurt too badly when he crashed into the water. “I’m Clint Barton, I—“

“I know that, Clint. I sit on your stoop like 3 nights a week.”

He held up a hand to stop you. God he just needed to get this out. “I’m an Avenger. I go by Hawkeye.” He held up the bow as proof. It was the most elaborate piece of man-made weaponry you’d ever seen. “Natasha is my best friend. Good and bad and… worse than bad, she’s there. And I’m there. That’s not gonna change, but we’re absolutely not… a thing. Okay?”

You nodded, chewing on a smile because it was definitely not an appropriate response to the current mayhem. But it was the only response you’d ever really had to Clint Barton. The midnight coffee guy. The bodega dance partner. The shitty night fixer. The can’t say no to a dog, pizza hoarder.

“I like you a lot,” his eyes were firm on your own now. Unwavering for once. “And I miss you. And I’m probably gonna need a lot of coffee and half the pizza in New York City when this is over with.”

You laughed, and it drew out a big smile in him, and a little courage too.

“And a really long nap.”

“And probably an ice pack,” you added.

“More than probably.”

You gently let your hand fall over his; the one holding the bow. You had fallen effortlessly and happily for Clint Barton, just Clint. But this Clint: bold and recklessly brave despite all the odds and all the reasons to fear... This Clint, Clint the Avenger was pretty damn incredible too.

“Can I call you for all of that? Like we did before? Once the dust settles?”

“You better.”

He nodded, resolute, determined to get to work, but with a grin lighter than he’d felt in a week. Without another thought, he kissed the tip of your nose. He chuckled to himself as he sprinted back to the door. It had been a thoughtless move, driven purely by the swelling feeling in his chest. It was all spontaneity and life. You must be rubbing off on him.

“You better! I miss that pizza dog of yours!” you hollered after him, leaning out from behind the bar with a cheeky grin.

Maybe he was rubbing off on you a little, too.

Chapter 6 >>

[prehistoricalcats]

Rexy's Cats OCs Part 5: "The Rats"

Macavity's henchman, specifically the squad of Rat-mask wearing elites that directly assist Mac "on the job" and also function as guards in the hideout and enforcers within the gang.

The "rats" are feared and respected among the other members of Mac's gang, and the fear is reinforced by the fact that they never remove their masks in public or even around each other.

These masks are sort of like helmets that extend down around the eyes and over the upper jaw to cover the snout, but leave the lower jaw free to move, so it doesn't obstruct their ability to speak or eat while wearing it.

Each "rat" has been hand selected by Mac himself and are masked before being introduced to the rest of the gang. No one knows what their faces look like, not even the other rats.

These Cats, like most of Mac's gang, don't get taken to the "Isle of Storms" when the narrative shifts there, and so they essentially disappear from the narrative at that point.

There's not MUCH to them, as they're a mostly mysterious force, but I'll share what I have. Bare in mind these are just a few of the most notable listed here, not the whole squad.

(Btw, Sullivan, the chief "rat," won't be discussed here. This section is for the other rats)

Tarfalion

(tar-FAL-lee-on) A silly but reliable thug, experienced enough to earn him a high-ish ranking in the rats and a decent amount of professional trust from Mac and Sully.

Goofy and fun-loving

Serious Tarfalion means serious business

Bold

Playfully makes fun of Sully if the mood is right, and even makes a jab or two at Mac if he thinks he can get away with it

He usually does

Very good at reading people

Rarely gets the "will Mac lose his temper at me for this" thing wrong, but when we does he takes his swats and moves on

Doesn't bear grudges

Actually surprisingly good at leading a small group

Got into crime because it seems like fun

Will break into somewhere just for the lulz

One of the few rats to still use his Particular Name

Undisclosed sexuality/romantic orientation, but has been known to whistle at a pretty mot occasionally, and not shy about vocally admiring a tom with a fine arse. Whether or not any of this is genuine, or if it's an act or a joke, is something he's keeping to himself

About Mungo or Tugger's age or thereabouts, young, but adult

Tall and athletic

Mostly ginger, some white marks, hard to tell under the mask

Eyes look like probably green

Nickname: Tarf or Fallie

"Snap"

(you know how to pronounce this...) A young lockpick and sneak thief who got xir name from the way xe snaps xir fingers and slaps xir ribs and thighs, using xir own body as a sort of percussion instrument, when xe's bored or excited.

Hyperactive and restless

Can never fucking stand still

Will randomly break into a dance of slaps and snaps when idle

Must move when the urge hits xem

Will settle for light, soundless tapping of xir thumb against various fingers and some mild swaying while on the job to satisfy xir restlessness while maintaining silence

Can channel some of that immense energy into intense focus

Like laser focus

Don't fuck with Snap when xe's focused

A still Snap is a dangerous Snap

Cheery and playful off the job

Great sense of humor

Will also make fun of Sully if Tarf is getting away with it, but doesn't dare with Mac

Gets on great with Tarf, wherever they are that's not the Isle of Storms, they're probably together

Gynephillic/Aro

Non-binary, xe/xir (tentative, considering various pronouns)

About Tarf's age, maybe a bit younger

Short and slight

Smooth, very short fur

Diluted calico, white with grey and cream-orange markings

Odd-eyed, one seems blue and the other amber

Nickname: Snap already is a nickname, but sometimes people call xir Snappy.

Roombastank aka "Hoover"

(ROOM-ba-stank) (WHO-ver) A big somber old veteran bruiser that eats very fast. He got his gang name from his tendency to make meals vanish as though his mouth was a vacuum, and as an allusion to the "roomba" part of his Particular Name, which he used to use, but there are few current gang members that have been around long enough to remember it.

Dour and serious

Bordering on gloomy

Never smiles

Doesn't talk much

Has been around the longest except for Sully

Knows a lot, shares little

Will absolutely ignore your questions unless you're Mac, Sully, or another rat, and even then will be brief and terse with his answers

Mostly doesn't give a shit about whatever game or outing his teammates have going on but will follow along with their shenanigans anyway

Kind of this dark, silent presence looming at the back of a crowd of punks and ruffians

Ace/Aro

About Skimble's age

Big boi, like we're talking 6 foot 12 and thick

Thick shouldered, thick waisted, just plain thicc.

Dense, medium-length fur

Dark charcoal grey with coal black tabby markings

Yellow eyes, like bright unmistakable yellow even through the mask

Has a very large mouth, and large teeth to go with it, and because the mask is designed to keep the lower jaw mostly free, he can use his big mouth as an effective tool for intimidation

It's scary just watching him yawn you guys

Nickname: Hoover. That's the whole nickname.

Lola

(LOH-la) A mature, charismatic mot who functions as the gang's negotiator of sorts. Her name used to be Lalo and that would still be what it said on her license but her license also still says "male" so she doesn't carry it. She changed it to Lola when she came out.

Charming and outgoing

Can always find something to compliment you on

Tougher than she lets on

Equally skilled with intimidation/threats and charm/smooth-talk

Usually prefers charm

Actually really genuinely sweet with the people she cares about

Will shush and handwave your temper tantrum and offer you a baked good and a listening ear to help you feel better

One of the few folks that have been around long enough to remember Hoover's real name

Lesbian

Around Mac's age

Tall and strong

Fluffy, silky fur

Mostly cream with some black and russet leopard spots

Dark eyes, probably brown, it's hard to tell

Nickname: "Lo" sometimes in casual conversation, but Lola's so easy to say people usually just stick with that.

Some Notes:

A massive amount of inspiration for Snap was drawn from my own experience coping with ADHD. The focus thing is a big ADHD checkmark, at least for the attention side of it. The snapping, slapping thing is an exaggeration of a behavior I've been known to do occasionally, though much less frequently then Snap. My ADHD is less geared toward the hyperactive end and more toward the attention side, but I do experience restlessness and do tend to do things like that to cope with it.

Lola's my newest and least well developed character in the "Mac's gang" plotline so I really don't have much on her yet, and what I do have is bound to shift and change as her personality solidifies in my brain. I'll try to update this bio as she becomes more developed

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 6

[ghouliday-music]

To Save Those Who Can’t Be Saved Chapter 6

Beginning

<– Previous

So I’d uploaded this to my AO3 account some time ago, but I was so self-conscious about the quality of this chapter that I was too anxious to post it to Tumblr immediately. And then I sort of forgot to do it at all. I apologize for that, but without further ado I present the sixth chapter of “To Save Those Who Can’t Be Saved.”

To Save Those Who Can’t Be Saved

AO3

Work Summary: Frisk, Asriel, and Chara go back to Waterfall to solve the mystery of the lone statue sitting deserted in its halls. Along the way, they uncover more questions than answers, and find themselves forced to face their greatest faults and failures.

Chapter 6: Something Weird in Waterfall

Chapter Summary: In which a chat with Undyne and assistance from Alphys brings up the discussion of vanishing acts, and what started out as a mere mystery snowballs into something more serious.

Rating: T

Warnings: Food mention

Characters: Frisk, Asriel, Chara, Alphys, Undyne, Asgore, Toriel

“You burn down your house once, and no one ever lets you live it down,” Undyne said as she sat at the dinner table, her arms crossed and face set in a glower.

Alphys reached over to pat her hand, which caused Undyne’s face to soften. Chara knew that expression; they had seen Asgore and Toriel regard each other in that way before their plan had ruined everything. “Uh, well, it was kind of memorable?” Alphys gave Undyne a small smile.

Frisk giggled, their face aglow with undiluted mischief. “It was.”

Undyne turned to face them and pointed a finger toward them in exaggerated accusation. “I wouldn’t say anything if I was you, punk! I wasn’t the one in charge of the stove!”

Not that it would have mattered, Chara knew. They had the vaguest hint of a memory of Frisk’s hand hovering indecisively over a knob on the oven, the smell of gas, fire, and burning dry noodles, and a blue and scaly hand all but slapping theirs away. It was one of the events of which Frisk could never alter the outcome, no matter how much they tried. If they visited Undyne on Papyrus’s request, her house would become victim to her cooking lesson.

“I promise I trust you not to repeat the mistake,” Asgore said as he ushered Asriel out of the kitchen and to the table. “However, you are both guests, and it would be rude to make you assist in making a meal.”

“It ain’t like you’re making us scrub the floors, big guy!” Undyne tried to put Asgore in a headlock of friendship, despite the fact that he was more than a few heads taller than her.

Asgore staggered slightly from the gesture, but stayed on his feet. An impressive feat. Despite that, he stood there and let her noogie his hair, nearly knocking the crown off his head and looking unsure of what to do in response.

“And, uh, helping out would be the least we could do for inviting us over for dinner,” Alphys said as she tapped her claws against the table.

“Not to mention that it’s a tradition of bonding and teamwork!” Undyne bellowed this with as much enthusiasm as when her favorite ship in her favorite anime had been confirmed.

“That is very true,” Asgore said as he gently freed himself from the headlock and took a seat, “but you have both done so much for myself and the Kingdom of Monsters. Undyne, you have served us all well as head of the Royal Guard, and you continue to aid as head of the New Royal Guard.”

Not that hard to do, in Chara’s opinion; monsters always were better behaved than humans.

Asgore turned to Alphys. “And Alphys, your work as Royal Scientist saved lives of monsters we thought could not be helped, and your current project will certainly help future monsters with accessing knowledge. And that is not even mentioning your assistance with my social media.”

Alphys chuckled weakly, her scales starting to tinge themselves red. “N–no need to thank me.”

Considering that all Asgore ever really posted were updates along the lines of “Perfect weather for a game of catch,” “The birdsong in my garden is quite lovely this morning,” or the perennial favorite of meme creators, “Nice day today!” Chara was inclined to agree with Alphys.

They still favorited all his posts.

“Speaking of helping,” Frisk jumped in, shifting closer to the edge of their seat, “Azzy, Chara, and I were wondering if you could help us.”

Chara reached over to grab their cup of tea. Whatever Undyne’s and Alphys’s responses were, they wanted to brace themself, and one such as them could not brace themself without a sip of chocolate tea.

“Of course we’ll help, punks!” Undyne’s fist met table surface with a thud so loud Chara could feel the impact in their chest. They became very glad they had picked up their teacup, as everyone else’s drinks had sloshed over their cups’ sides and into the saucers in which they nestled. She gave everyone at the table as apologetic a smile she could muster before continuing, “So, let’s hear that question!”

Frisk nodded and leaned forward. “Has anything weird happened in Waterfall?”

In retrospect, Chara should not have been surprised. The strange monster child’s appearance, disappearance, and reset-proof memories had been weighing on them, as was the current failure of locating them. However, Chara had still been slightly expecting them to have asked the question about the statue first. Chara glanced at Asriel and saw that he was staring at them with a shocked expression.

Undyne snorted. “Kid, you’re going to have to be a he–” her gaze flickered toward Asgore–“heck of a lot more specific. I could tell you all about the time everyone was terrified of a strange echoing noise coming from some out of the way corner of the place, only for me to find it was just Napstablook playing their tunes a little too loud.”

Frisk’s mouth turned up in a small smile, but their intense trepidation and curiosity returned swiftly. “Well, something weird happened when we went to Waterfall a few days ago. I saw this strange kid. They looked kind of like Munsta, but they were all gray and white. Like, no color to them at all. And they had these big pupil-less eyes. And they were missing a spike on the back of their head.”

Undyne blinked and exchanged a look with Alphys.

“They were panicking, and I don’t think they heard what I was saying very well.” Frisk set their teacup back down before wrapping their fingers around the edges of their seat. “They wanted me to forget them. But when I turned around for three seconds, they disappeared.”

“That must have concerned you quite a lot,” Asgore said. He looked very much like he wanted to give them a hug, but dared not for fear that he would do more harm than good.

“Y–Yeah!” Alphys fiddled with her glasses in a vain but commendable attempt to keep them from sliding halfway down her nose.

Undyne crossed her arms, and she frowned at her teacup as if it had been personally responsible for Frisk’s fright. “Yeah, that sounds weird all right,” she said. She looked up and smiled, although with how tense she looked she seemed more like she was baring her fangs at them. “I haven’t heard anything about missing children, but I’ll keep my eye out for them! And have a word with them about not scaring my bestie!”

Frisk shook their head so fast Chara idly wondered if it had given them a headache. “I don’t think they meant to scare me.” They spoke so quickly Chara had barely been able to understand them. “You don’t have to say anything to them.”

Undyne opened her mouth, and Chara could see Asriel tense.

Fortunately, Frisk jumped in, perhaps sensing that Undyne might not necessarily change her mind. “We have another question about Waterfall we’ve been wanting to ask you, too.” They nodded over at Asriel.

His ears twitched and he moved as if to point at his own chest. “Oh! Uh, we were wondering if any of you knew anything about the Waterfall statue?” His grin was quite wide and forced. Asgore frowned at seeing it, or perhaps from the question, but Alphys and Undyne did not outwardly react beyond confusion.

“That statue’s always been there!” Undyne said, shrugging. “That’s why it was perfect for the puzzle I made!”

“And, uh, no one knows who exactly made it?” Alphys giggled, sounding embarrassed, and gave a shrug that looked almost painful from how tense it was. “I remember digging through some old reports, and, well, nothing useful came up?” She fixed her glasses again, the gesture almost as much a nervous tic as it was to see more clearly. “But I remember coming across some old articles and interviews and stuff about it while uploading files to the database. I–I’m sure some other volunteers came across things like that too.” She fixed the collar of her T-shirt, a bright pink baggy garment depicting a catlike humanoid with something written in Japanese with a cheerful, garishly colored print. “I’ll see if I can send over some of the most helpful.”

Frisk grinned. “Thanks, Alphys! You’re the best!”

Chara nodded. “Thank you for your assistance.” They hid their amusement as Alphys’s scales, from face to tail, started to tinge red as she grew flustered at the genuine expressions of gratitude.

“You got that right!” Undyne patted Alphys’s shoulder with all the heartiness that she could muster, which was more than anyone else that Chara knew. And then she leaned over and planted an enthusiastic kiss upon her cheek.

If Alphys had been blushing before, then she had taken it to the next level. Her scales grew from red-tinged to completely scarlet, and she was babbling with an expression between anxious and blissful. She was truly the textbook example of love-struck.

A giggle broke out, and suddenly Undyne was mock-glaring across the table. “What are you laughing at, punk?”

Frisk raised their hand over their mouth, eyes shining from how cute they had found the scene. “Nothing.”

Undyne grinned and pretended to roll up sleeves she did not have. “Well, I guess I can beat you up for nothing, then!”

“Please do not beat up my children,” Asgore muttered, right as Frisk burst up from their chair and sprinted away, followed by a blue blur giving off Undyne’s trademark “Fuhuhu!” laugh. “And please do not run in the house.”

His request went unheard by the two main culprits.

True to her word, Alphys had sent over several digital documents to their phones the moment she could. So rather than spend their Monday night playing a video game together, or just discussing the events of school, Chara and their siblings spent it cozied up in Chara’s room, reading through each article.

Chara let their eyes skim the text. It was, truthfully, quite dull. The authors used a multitude of long and eloquent words to impart the fact that they had nothing new to report regarding the subject matter. Everything they had to say, Chara and their siblings had already learned. The statue had been made and placed a great deal of time before the exodus to New Home; the few outlying monsters that had settled elsewhere claimed to have no idea of its creator’s identity or motives; it played music when the “rain” pouring on its head was partially diverted onto the structures surrounding its base.

They glanced at Asriel. He looked bored as well, but his brow was creased and his upper left fang worried at his lower lip. He was determined to get through this, despite the boredom.

And Frisk?

Frisk was continuously highlighting and defining words, still struggling through the first text they’d volunteered to read.

Chara felt a wave of pity for them. While Chara’s talents in reading, arithmetic, and other such subjects had made their life before falling underground miserable, it at least had come in handy for the times they had needed to research. Frisk did not have the same skillsets, however. While reading old textbooks borrowed from Alphys had been instrumental in Frisk getting the idea for how to restore their siblings’ souls and original forms, Chara had helped define the longer words and simplify what they read. Now, without that assistance, they struggled.

But if there was one thing Chara knew about their sibling, it was that they were stubborn, more stubborn than they could ever hope to be. Even if Chara had offered to help them, they would refuse it to prove that they could do it themself. They had sunk their teeth into this challenge, and now they would refuse to let go.

It was a trait that Chara both envied and feared.

Before Chara could continue reading their own article, a soft rapping on the door caught their attention. They looked to see Toriel looking into the room, an expression of tentative concern on her face.

“I apologize for interrupting,” she said in a voice both apologetic and firm, “but I just wished to let you know that bedtime is in half an hour.”

Asriel glanced at the clock that sat perfectly on the center of Chara’s bedside table. “Huh,” he said, and stretched. Chara almost winced as they heard the popping of vertebrae that accompanied the motion. “I guess we lost track of time there.”

“Indeed,” Toriel laughed and shook her head with a gentle fondness. “You have been at those articles for hours. Have you been taking breaks to move around?”

Chara was sure the silence emanating from all three of them answered her question better than any words.

Her kindly expression melted into one of motherly sternness. “Perhaps you ought to take a break for the night and do so?” She shook her head and stepped back into the hallway.

“We shall, Mother.” Chara made a point of putting their own cellphone into its sleep mode and standing up.

As Toriel moved away, Chara realized that while Asriel was standing and stretching with his phone now resting on Chara’s desk, Frisk had made no moves to get off the carpeted floor, their fingernail still tapping away at the screen.

“Frisk, Mother said it is time to put the research away and act as if we are not Sans.” Chara made sure their voice was stern.

Frisk said nothing.

Asriel stopped stretching and poked Frisk’s shoulder. “Frisk?”

The moment his claw prodded their skin, Frisk twitched in surprise, their phone landing some feet away. On their behalf, Chara felt grateful that the carpet was thick enough to protect it against damage.

“Azzy, what’d you do that for?” Frisk scowled at him, and Chara could see him take a step back, his concerned expression now one of guilt.

“Did you not hear Mother when she told us to stand up and move?” Frisk’s gaze moved away from Asriel, who gave them a weak, guilty smile of gratitude.

Frisk frowned and dug the heel of their palm below their eyesocket. “Mom was here?”

Asriel tilted his head, looking for all the world like a curious hound, if hounds had white fur and the barest hint of budding horns. “Uh, yeah? She just left, actually.”

Still, Frisk blinked between the two of them as if concerned that they were playing some kind of prank on them, or maybe concerned that they were hallucinating mothers where there were none. Finally, they sighed and stood up, picking the phone up as they went. But as they paced around the room at a rate so slow Chara had seen faster snails, they made no effort to darken their phone screen. Instead, they read as they paced.

Well, Chara could not fault them for following Toriel’s instruction to the letter, if not the spirit.

Asriel left the room, saying something about going to water the plants in his room, leaving Chara with Frisk. And Chara found themself in the strange predicament of not knowing what to say to them.

While most memories from their and Frisk’s true resets were faded, between the two they had managed to put together enough to know that Chara was not the quietest of people. Even before the events that allowed them to regain full consciousness, Frisk had recalled having the occasional thought that had not belonged to them.

And when they did recover their full consciousness, they had not been a passive spectator, but rather a constant narrator to Frisk’s travels through the Underground. There had hardly been a moment that they did not have a comment to impart, or a pun to tell. It was not as if they could go elsewhere and do something else, after all.

But a realization that had struck them not long ago, combined with the stress of the situation, had left them nothing to say to their sibling. To the person to whom they owed their current existence, and the one who might very well be the one to take it away.

Chara’s attention was caught again as Frisk paused in the middle of their pacing, their finger hovering over their phone’s screen. They stared at whatever passage had caught their attention, holding the phone as if it held the answers to all of their problems.

“I assume you found something?” Chara asked. They would be lying if they, too, had had their interest peaked at the thought of the possibility of something new coming to light. It would certainly alleviate the boredom of reading dry texts that repeated the same information to them ad nauseum.

Frisk did not reply, instead staring at the phrase at the screen, the corners of their mouth lifting farther up into a disbelieving smile. Chara could almost swear that they were starting to vibrate in place like a Temmie upon seeing Temmie flakes.

Yes, it was time to get their brother.

They left Frisk in their room and went to Asriel’s, just next door. They rapped on the doorframe before clasping their hands behind their back and waiting for the response.

Chara heard the sound of a book closing, a soft but solid thunk. “Uh, yeah? You can come in.”

Invitation received, Chara entered Asriel’s room. A leaf from his Chinese evergreen tickled their skin as they passed the doorway; they noted that Asriel would need to trim it soon.

“Hey, Chara. What’s up?” Asriel slid a small journal into a drawer of his desk before turning it around.

Chara inclined their head. “I am sorry for interrupting you, Asriel, but I think Frisk has found something interesting.”

Asriel’s eyes almost turned a brighter shade of red as he perked up in his seat. “Gosh, really?”

As if on cue, Frisk’s voice bled through the walls. “Chara, Azzy? Where are you?”

Chara shook their head. “We are in Asriel’s room.”

Their reply received a flurry of excited footsteps in reply, followed by Frisk barging into Asriel’s room. As they dashed inside, a leaf that protruded from the evergreen plant snagged on their body and tore off the stem. It fluttered the ground, twisting and turning as if protesting its fate.

Frisk did not seem to notice. They were waving their phone in Chara’s face as they all but danced on the spot, chanting, “Look! Look! Look!”

Chara turned their gaze from the white blur that was the phone screen to their sibling’s face. “I would, if you held the phone still.”

Frisk decided to forgo that, and thrust the phone into Chara’s hands instead. Their finger obscured part of their vision as Frisk pointed at a few paragraphs at the top of the screen.

“These, here.” They tapped rapidly on the text, highlighting the word “the” and bringing up the options menu.

Chara tapped the blank space to the side of the text to dismiss said menu. “Thank you,” they said, biting back the sarcastic retort that was their first impulse.

As Chara began to read the text, they heard Asriel’s chair wobble as he left it to read over their shoulder. Asriel would not have missed out on much from skipping this file, however; asfar as Chara could tell, it was the tail end of an interview with a resident of Waterfall.

They felt their spirits dampen. At first glance, it did not seem to confirm anything they did not know about the statue.

“Uh, it’s great you finished the text, Frisk, but what did you find?” Asriel sounded slightly crestfallen.

“Did you get to the conclusion yet?” Frisk’s eyebrows rose higher than they had already been raised.

Chara scrolled down slightly on the text until a good part of the next paragraph had been revealed.

As they skimmed the text, Asriel read the words aloud. “‘The researchers could gather no more information from the interviewee, as they had disappeared with the utmost speed while they were distracted.’” His furrowed brow lifted and he met Frisk’s gaze with wide eyes. “Disappeared?”

Frisk nodded. “Like that kid in Waterfall!”

Chara suddenly felt the lateness of the evening weighing down on them. However, they would not leave their brother to let them down on his own.

“Frisk, we do not know for sure that the ‘disappearing’ the interviewee did was the same as the disappearing the child did.” Chara rubbed the heel of their palm into their cheekbone, trying to wipe away the sudden onset of exhaustion. “We do not know that Sans is the only monster with ‘shortcuts,’ after all.”

Frisk frowned, and then turned to Asriel. “Is he?”

Asriel shrugged. “I’ve never seen anyone else with that ability. What monster did they interview?”

Frisk’s eyes darted to the side as they seemingly thought back. “Uh, some sort of clam monster.”

Asriel hummed as he cast his thoughts back into what he knew of the Underground’s residents. “There’s no clam monster who lives in Waterfall. Hotland and New Home, yes, but never in Waterfall.”

Frisk shrugged. “Maybe one used to live there before?”

Asriel shrugged. “No, not one.”

And if Asriel was confident that there were no clam monsters who lived in Waterfall, past or present, then Chara believed him.

Frisk seemed convinced, as they wrinkled their nose in confusion. “Maybe they’re like that strange disappearing kid. Someone can’t be in trouble without people remembering!”

Chara shook their head. “We do not even know if this clam monster in the interview is in distress. Does the interview say they were?”

Frisk hesitated. “Not that I remember.”

“And, uh, even if this clam monster was like the kid you met,” Asriel continued, fidgeting and not meeting their eyes, “what exactly would this do to help them?”

Frisk huffed, raking their fingers down their hair. “I don’t know, but apparently no one’s even been able to find out who they are. If there are other monsters who can disappear…” They shook their head. “I don’t know. But we can’t just sit here and hope that someone else will help them.”

Well, Chara should have seen this coming. Frisk had felt responsibility for helping everyone, especially monsters, from the moment they realized there were two potential siblings they felt needed saving.

And while last time Frisk had proven capable of helping restore their lost bodies and souls, that was no guarantee that they would be able to do anything about the missing kid, or any other missing monsters out in the Underground.

But if Chara told Frisk this outright, they would not listen. Therefore, they had to lead them to their own conclusion.

“So then, if you are so determined that you alone can save them, then what is your plan?” There were no books with helpful information for them to turn to this time. Nothing on magic or soul theory could help them here, especially not without Chara or Asriel absorbing seven human souls to gain the necessary power to put it into practice.

The question brought Frisk to a halt. They averted their gaze, staring out the window over Asriel’s bed, a soft glow from a magical crystal streetlamp faintly visible through the curtains. “I don’t know yet.” Despite the softness of the voice, they sounded no less swayed out of their conviction. “But I have to try.” They bit their bottom lip. “Perhaps we could go down to Waterfall again and see if we can find the kid again, or another of these disappearing monsters?”

Chara let an eyebrow raise. “Even if there are more of these monsters as you theorize, how would you find them? You found the child by chance, not design, both times.”

Frisk shrugged. They still were looking at anything but them or Asriel. “I don’t know.”

“And if you could convince Mother could take you back down there, it would not be for months. Between our classes at school, her career, upcoming events you shall be required at… Obligations that require your undivided attention. Let those whose job it is to track down monsters in distress handle this. The child is certainly not going to be aided sooner by your neglect of the rest of the kingdom.”

Frisk hunched their shoulders and stared at their feet, and for a moment Chara braced themself for a bitter rebuttal.

Then Toriel came back into the room. “Is everything all right?” she asked, whatever she’d had to say before taking back burner.

Frisk turned around, the frustration wiping from their features like water off of a pane of glass. “Yeah, Mom, everything’s fine!”

It was almost as if seeing themself or Asriel put on a cheerful façade. Chara would have been impressed, had they not experience with hiding their own emotions for the sake of their family, and knowledge that Asriel did the same.

Toriel did not seem convinced, but she did not seem inclined to press the matter. “It is about the time that you should all prepare for bedtime,” she said, her gaze still panning across all her children as if searching for clues for what had happened before her entrance.

Finally, she convinced herself that all was well and left the doorway.

“Are you really all right?” The way that Asriel squinted at them as he asked his question made Chara think that he didn’t think so.

Frisk turned and smiled at him. “I guess so.” They gave Asriel and Chara a short wave. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Yes, Chara expected so. And maybe next time, they would press their own questions about how far Frisk was willing to go to give everyone a happy ending they deemed fit.

“Good night, then.” Asriel returned the wave as Frisk took back their phone from Chara. With his face creased with concern, he looked like he was uncertain whether or not to leave the conversation for another day or to continue hounding them until they realized that they were not responsible for solving everyone’s woes.

Frisk turned, and for the first time noticed the leaf on the ground.

“Oh, what happened to your plant?” They picked up the leaf, turning it over in their fingers. “Is it sick?”

“No, not really.” Asriel shrugged.

Chara tilted their head as they regarded Frisk’s reactions, wishing that, like their brother, they had many resets’ worth of learning to read familiar people as if all their thoughts were laid out on a blackboard in front of them. “It merely had a mishap with a body moving at great speed.”

Frisk shoulder’s hunch as they realized the events at which they were hinting. “Oh, I’m sorry, Azzy. I shouldn’t have run in here like that.”

Asriel shrugged. “You don’t have to apologize, Frisk. I really should’ve trimmed it back a few days ago. Guess I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow.”

Frisk still looked guilty as they let it fall into the waste bin beside Asriel’s desk. After one last good night to both their siblings, Frisk left the room, glancing at their phone screen.

“What about you, Chara?” Asriel asked once the door to Frisk’s room clicked shut. “Are you okay?”

Chara nodded. “I expect I shall be.”

Asriel frowned and clasped his hands together, looking like the world’s most worried therapist. “That isn’t all right now.”

They never could hide their concerns from their brother.

Asriel lifted a hand to scratch at his ear before returning to holding his own hand. “Listen, uh, I know you’re kind of upset at Frisk for something. Well, something different than this whole Waterfall thing.” He laughed, sounding more anxious than amused. Chara was sure he caught the wince they hid, because he stopped the moment they stifled the impulse. “But, well, you could always tell me. Or tell Frisk. Just don’t bottle stuff up like you always do and beat yourself up about it.”

Quite the words for him to say. He always buried the feelings that he deemed not “soft” enough, emotions like anger, and jealousy, and bitterness. Emotions that reminded him of himself in the past, when he had lost his soul.

Emotions he had to fear now, thanks to Chara.

They had let Asriel deal enough with their own issues.

And perhaps they would not confront Frisk with their own issues, their own insecurities and doubts. It would be hypocritical for them to confront their sibling about flaws that ended up making multitudes of monsters happy, when their own failings had brought them to misery.

Instead, they shrugged. “I shall think about it.”

Asriel frowned, and Chara knew he knew that their mind had already been set on its course. But he allowed them to leave with a sorrowful good night.

As Chara went to change into their sleepwear, they could not help but wonder what they could do to stop their family worrying over them for no reason.

“Chara, wake up, please.”

The soft, but urgent voice, and the gentle shaking of their shoulder woke Chara from their slumber. They peeled open their eyelids, which felt swollen from drowsiness, and saw a pale blur in the darkness.

“Mother?” They sat up, gently lifting back a corner of their blankets in preparation to get out of their bed. “What is wrong?” There had to be something important for Toriel to wake them during what could only be the middle of the night, or the early hours before dawn.

Indeed, in the dark room where the only light filtered in from the hallway, she looked on the verge of panic. “Chara, have you seen Frisk?”

Chara felt themself tense. “Not since bedtime last night.” They caught movement from the corner of their eye, and glanced out to the hallway to see Asriel, framed by the open door. He was holding his wrist as if that was the only thing keeping him tethered to calmness, and staring at Chara as if they were his only hope of being saved.

Toriel’s face grew more drawn and tense. Chara did not need her to say anything to know what was the matter.

Frisk had gone.

[myfanficwonderland]

Emo + Punk = Love?

Written with Wattpad user BellaBeach200. Read on Ao3

Summary: Eren is Emo. Levi is Punk. They are 18 years old childhood friends who live together as roommates to save on rent. Despite having feelings for each other, neither of them has confessed yet.

Eren applied hairspray to his hair, set the can down and with a final look in the mirror, he nodded and exited his room, walked down the hall and into Levi's room and flopped down on Levi's bed with a sigh.

Eren wore black jeans, a gray short sleeved shirt with a skull design taking over most of the shirt, a black, simple beanie. He also wore a silver necklace with two overlapping wings, as well as a ring with wings on it.

Levi is his best friend whom he has romantic feelings for. Eren is pansexual, though he has never told Levi that for fear that it might make Levi dislike him, even though he knew that said fear was stupid since Levi is gay one of the most openminded people he has ever known.

Despite having feelings for Levi, Eren could never bring himself to confess his feelings, as he didn't think Levi would ever like him back.

He would love to be with Levi, but he felt like he was lucky enough that they were friends and lived together. Well, they had known each other since they were both 4, so it only made sense for them to move in together later to save on rent and other things.

Eren snapped out of his thoughts with a blush on his face when Levi called his name and asked what he was doing in his room.

"Do you want to go play video games and fail at beating me at Call of Duty again?" Eren asked, chuckling at the last sentence Levi wasn't the best at video games, but he didn't care. He was spending time with him.

“Sure,” Levi replied, turning back to his screen which he had neglected when Eren had come in and gone back to tapping on his keyboard. “Give me a moment though, I need to finish this paper first; then we can play,”

“Okay,” Eren agreed, getting off the bed and heading to where the console was and began setting it up. “What is it about?” Eren asked, his head cocked to the side curiously, referring to the paper Levi was working on, turning to look at Levi as he spoke.

Levi wore a black and white striped short sleeved shirt, black buckled jeans, a large, black studded belt, and a black sleeveless vest.

“The history of the Titan’s invasion and it’s effect on humanity,” Levi responded absentmindedly, letting out a sigh and keeping most of his focus on the screen.

"Oh," Eren breathed absentmindedly, before realizing what Levi had said and was barely able to hold himself back from cringing at that. The Titans had had a free reign on the earth and only recently had they been annihilated. Their country only gaining its freedom from them only 10 or so years ago, and with his family being one of the Titan’s many casualties, the wounds they had caused were still too fresh for him to be able to think about the Titans without getting angry.

Eren put the thoughts of the Titans on hold and started thinking about another matter instead, such as the fact that he was thinking about confessing to Levi today and was feeling nervous about it. He hopes Levi likes him back but even if he didn’t share the same feelings, he only hoped they could still be friends after that.

He cared about Levi too much to let his feelings destroy their friendship. Levi saved his file and turned his computer off, releasing a deep and loud sigh as he did. " Done, " he said as he spun around in the chair to face Eren, dark circles under his eyes but a small smile on his lips. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!!!" Eren said excitedly as he tried to pull Levi out of his chair, something that Levi allowed with a chuckle.

“Calm down,” He said, ruffling Eren’s hair, his eyes glinting with amusement as he spoke. “The game isn’t going to run away,” He assured as he let Eren pull him towards the console.

“I know,” Eren replied, sticking his tongue out at Levi, which only earned him another chuckle from the raven-haired man, as he sat down and put the CD in the machine and turned the console, whooping excitedly when the title of the game appeared on the screen and handing Levi a controller and taking one for himself and clicking for the game to start.

“Are you ready?” Eren asked, biting on his lower lip as he chose the setting.

“Yes,” Levi replied, straightening his posture and getting comfortable just as the game started.

Eren sat closely to Levi, trying to flirt. Their knees were touching, and Eren had a small blush on his face as he smiled and played with Levi.

"What?!" Eren yelled indignantly, his eyes wide and voice filled with shock, loosely holding the controller in his slack hands.

"See? I'm not terrible at playing video games," Levi said smugly, chuckling at his reaction. He loved this goofball, but he thought Eren was straight.

Since Eren never said anything about possibly being gay even though Levi came out, Levi assumed he had to be straight.

Which he knew is dumb of him since he should have just asked if he really wanted to know for sure. Eren already knew that Levi is gay, so Levi knew there was no way he would hate or be angry at him if he had asked, and would tell him without automatically assuming that Levi had feelings for him, what with them being childhood friends and all that.

But even knowing that, Levi still couldn’t bring himself to ask Eren about it. Levi smiled softly as a blush rose to his cheeks Eren stuck out his tongue at Levi, huffing petulantly as he started a new game, Levi had never won before! But Eren couldn't focus on the game.

He was just anxious about his feelings and he just wanted to confess, but he was too afraid of doing so. The fear of the possibility he would be rejected and that Levi might grow to hate him if learned about Eren’s feelings kept him kept him from doing so.

Maybe he should just bite the bullet, gather his courage and confess. If Levi really did grow to hate him for having feelings, then he just hadn’t meant as much to Levi as he had thought and Levi just simply wasn’t worthy of being a part of his life.

The only thing that really had him hesitating was that if that were to happen and Levi didn’t share his feelings and grew to hate him for them, then Eren might have to move out and try to find another place to live and another housemate to help with rent and the such, as well as the sadness of losing someone he had known pretty much all his life and thought was his best friend.

But he knew he couldn’t just keep it in. Despite being happy with even being just friends with Levi, keeping his feelings hidden from the other was eating him alive. At this point, he wanted to do this mainly to get the weight off his shoulders than anything else.

Eren sighed as Levi won again. He set down the controller and turned to look at Levi who had already been looking at him with furrowed brows and a gaze full of confusion.

"Hey, Levi? Do you think I could tell you something?" Eren said nervously. "Yeah, Anytime," Levi replied, swallowing heavily as hope filled his veins and had his throat tightening. He was seriously hoping it was going to be what he thought it is. But at the same time, he knew his luck, the chances of what Eren wanted to say being that he isn’t straight and had feelings for Levi abysmal, to say the least. Levi had to believe that Eren wasn’t going to confess and that what he was going to say was something else to save himself from disappointment.

“Well,” Eren began hesitantly, trailing off before taking a deep breath and starting again. “I’m pansexual,” He said finally in a rush before hurriedly going on when he noticed Levi’s lips part as if he was going to speak. “And, I like you. Like, romantically like you. In fact, I love you, and have for years now," Eren said the last sentence looking at Levi nervously.

"I understand if you don't return my feelings..." Eren said looking down, unable to look at Levi at that moment as all he wanted to do was kiss Levi.  

It was quiet for a moment that had Eren fidgeting. "So..." Eren said awkwardly wondering if Levi liked him back, well, that's what he hoped. He would kill to be Levi’s boyfriend, and while he is exaggerating, words could not describe his love for Levi.

He wondered just how soft his lips were, Eren bit his lip and looked at Levi’s he wanted him super badly. Eren looked into Levi’s eyes with his big green ones, sitting pretty close to Levi at that point.

Levi’s breath hitched, his eyes widened as he stared back at Eren and he had to grasp his chest above where his heart laid as he felt like his heart was going to beat its way out of his chest.

Eren likes him. No. Not only does Eren like him, but Eren also  loves him.

This day has officially overtaken the number one spot of being the best day of Levi’s life. The second place now was taken by the day Eren agreed to be his housemate, the third now the day they became friends, the fourth, the day they had first met, and the fifth being the day the Titans were eradicated.

Levi felt like climbing the tallest mountain and screaming that Eren loves him from the mountaintop.

He settled for lunging forward and pulling Eren into his arms instead, whispering that he felt the same and confessions of his feelings in his ear over and over again.

If time would freeze, he hoped it would be in this moment. If he could preserve any moment for eternity, it would be this one, because Eren loves him, and his feelings weren’t one-sided like he had assumed they were for years.

Levi pulled back and stared at Eren with a bright smile on his face. “I love you, too,” He whispered, bringing his hand up and holding Eren’s face in his hands, one hand on each cheek, rubbing his thumbs against the apple of Eren’s cheeks gently, staring straight into Eren’s eyes.

Before long, he couldn’t contain himself and he was resting his forehead against Eren’s own for a moment. “May I?” He asked, his gaze lowering to Eren’s lips before moving back up to Eren’s own. 

Eren swallowed roughly and nodded, closing his eyes and waiting.

With a small smile, Levi leaned down and pressed his lips against Eren’s in a languid kiss, feeling Eren let out a contented sigh against his lips as he kissed back, wrapping his arms around Levi as he did so. They pulled back from the kiss and stared at each other quietly, feeling dazed and happy.

Eren leaned back in and dropped a peck onto Levi’s lips. “Does that mean we are dating now?” He murmured against Levi’s lips hopefully.

Levi chuckled at that and pulled Eren into another kiss, this one harder than the previous one, before pulling back and laughing at the adorably dazed expression on Eren’s face. 

“Yes, Eren,” He replied, catching his attention again. “As long as you want us to be, we are boyfriends now,” Eren grinned happily before he launched himself at Levi, knocking the man to the ground and pressing his lips against Levi’s smiling ones in a deep kiss. 

They have had feelings for each other for years but hadn't confessed until now for fear of being rejected and or hated by the other. But now they had finally done it, and now that they were together, arms wrapped around the other and lips pressed to each other's, they knew they would be trying the hardest they humanly can to make this relationship work. 

[willardswritindump]

Scott Dump

Part 1

My name is Scott, and I am a slave. Okay well that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, I'm actually a convience store clerk. I know what you're thinking, truly a pathetic existance and yeah for the most part you are right. However allow me to enlighten you on something, no one actually gives a shit about the asshole behind the counter.

Now while that might sound terrible to you its actually beautiful, I mean not having to deal with people's bullshit. I mean nine times out of ten an encounter at the counter is silence only broken when I have to tell some asswhipe the total price of ciggerets and mountain dew. Believe me its a beautiful thing, that is it was, until she ruined it. Ash Thomas, the bane of my quote profesional life.

Now I've know Ash for a long time before she decided to be the biggest pain in my ass. She actually works at my favorite video store and encounters there were much like encounters at my place of work, silence only broken by being told that I have to cough up two bucks in order to rent whatever Z grad horror shlock I decided to watch for a laugh. So is it too illogical to think that she should return the favor when she buys her friggin yoohoo?

Now I think I might be getting ahead of myself, this all really started about a week ago when she came in to the store for first time in a while. You see this job is ninty percent boredom and ten percent restocking so in order to keep myself from completely going nuts I've started mentally keeping tack of people who come into this run down hole in the wall. I mean with the exception of Ash and my brother Wally I don't know anyones name so I just give them nicknames like Dave and Jane, or just group entire bunches of people together like milk maids, protesters and egg testers. Shit I've lost track again havent I?

Now where was I, oh yeah so a week ago Ash comes into the store and she does the weirdest thing, she actually asks me to to show her something. I mean I shit you not she comes up to the counter to ask and I quote "Hey Scott right? Could you show me where the Yoohoo is?" I mean seriously, the one thing she buys here and she is asking me to show her where it is, what the hell kind of twilight zone episode is this? I mean after asking the only logical thing that came to mind "Are you sure you need me to do that?" she just nods and I let out sigh before leaving the counter to show her the freezer where the Yoohoo is and watched as she did that stupid little thing she does where she bites her lip like she's making some life altering decision as she grabs the drink so I could finally ring it up and go back to my peaceful day. Yeah I mean seriously, this place is a hole in the wall with like three rows of shelves and two freezer, I mean what kind of wack job disturbs a peaceful clerk like myself just to ask where a friggin drink in here is. I swear first this and the next thing you know its going to anarc... OH SHIT SHE'S COMING IN!

Part 2

My name is Scott and I am bored out of my damn mind. I've been debating with myself for about a year now about which day's are worse, with a shit ton of jackasses otherwise known as customers or days with none. Now the days with a shit ton of customers come with the downsides of having to both do more work with people and sometimes having to deal with the rather chatty types customers. However the days spent alone have the downside of now allowing me to endulge in one of my favorite hobbies.

Yes in all my time as a clerk I have found that it is actually quite fun to mess with customers. One of the easier ways I have found to screw with the dumbass customers of Nowhere, New Jeresy's pride and joy LJN Convience Mart is to simply play music. Well we aren't exacly the most sophisticated hole in the wall so we don't have a P.A. system to play it over but turns out the boss let me bring in a cd player that had some damn good reach. Now while Joe Schmoe who comes in just to buy a paper and ciggerets isn't going to hang around for it to make any impact but certain types who like to hang around have certain types of music that drive them insane. Take for an example the jackass teenager who is killing time while they skip school can't stand anything from before say 1998. I personally find that Frank Sinatra is a sure fire way to annoy them. Unfortunantly Frankie's music is something that is quite enjoyed by the older clientel of the store. No for them I find something more modern is of annoyence. Generally if they are over the age of 38 either punk rock or most rap are a sure fire route to annoyance. Some things that annoy all demographics is 90's Ska and the Salt'n Pepper Diner method but I believe I've started rambling again.

Then there are the other ways of messing with customers, rearraging the drinks in the freezer, changing the price tags, ect. ect. Sometimes I find its enjoyable to just go after a certain group like the milk maids, but first I should probably explain what the hell they are. The milk maids are the women who decide to take three hours to look through every single milk jug to try and find that one mystical gallon that that goes that doesn't go bad for like an extra week. I mean they don't really hurt anyone but I still find it funny to see the look of confusion on their face when I mix together all the different types of milk.

I suppose I could just clean the store again, but on a day like this that's usually the first thing that I go to and there is only so much I can do for this shit hole. I swear I don't know and probably don't want to know how half the stains on this floof got here. Hell I could almost tolerate the anarachist herself Ash showing up today. Key word there is almost, and yet the strangest thing I can't stop thinking about my last encounter with her. I try and I try to think of everything, hell anything else but I just can't help it. So the last time she came in, that stupid little smirk as always and this time she doesn't even try to look this time. I mean at least for my sake take the effort to look for whatever you want before you disrupt the peacful clerk. She just walks straight up to me and asks where the 3 Musketeers are. I swear to God you walked right past them and you have the nerve to come up and say "Hey Scotty, could you do me a favor and find the 3 Musketeers?" Seriously could you not just get them for yourself? I mean of course I did it because I may be an asshole but for some reason I can't stop myself from helping her. Is that weird, because even I can't figure it out. So I got up and showed her exactly where on the shelf that the 3 Musketeers were and then proceeded to take the buck fifty that they cost and took great joy in watching her leave the store. Now why on earth can I not stop reliving that afternoon? Anyway its about closing time so, till next time.

Part 3

Of all the lunchbreaks, of all the convinence store clerks, in all the country she chooses to barge into mine. Now if I just took my lunch break at the counter or closed the store to go out like a normal person that wouldn't be such a big deal, but when you take your break on the roof it kinda becomes annoying. I was just sitting in the folding chair that I stashed up there when I started working here and was peacfully eating my grilled cheese when I think I hear something. Turns out that noise was a ladder getting set up on the side of the store, she actually took time out of her day to get a ladder to climb onto the roof to annoy me. Am I the only one who see that as insane?

So she just takes a seat on the air conditioner and starts talking to me. I mean seriously what kind of cruel joke is that? The guy who purposely goes out of his way to avoid human intereaction, the guy who takes his lunch break on the damn roof, you choose him to talk to. Are you insane, I mean why go through the effort? So I just sat there, trying my best to ignore the anarachist sitting across from me chatting off my ear. I started paying attention when she asked "Is that a peantbutter jelly sandwich?" I of couse responded "No, cheese toastie" because the British name is just more fun to say. She then starts go on "Oh well, I was just curious. I never actually had one. A peanutbutter jelly I mean, I kinda have a little bit of a sevear peanut allergy. I mean people always say they are so good and I always wanted to try one but again allergies, I would like swell up and die if did try one."

She went on rambling like this for another twenty minuets, I don't even think she noticed that I finished my lunch and read through like three comics. Then, right as I conteplated sneaking back down to the store she just gets up and says "Well been nice talking to you Scotty, see you round" and she just climbs back down the ladder and leaves like it was nothing. Of couse she left the damn ladder so I had to keep the store closed an extra ten minuets to drag the hunk of shit into the alley behind the store. Ah shit, its closing time, well until next time, I guess.

Part 4

I swear this town is filled with a bunch of savages I tell you. Come on I mean sure I don't like her but even I have the damn decency to not have just ditched her or stand her up like that. Damn, I mean that is just a dick move alright. Okay I should probably backtrack so you know what the hell I'm talking about. So my attempts to avoid she who will not be named had been going smoothly, with the exception of a few minor hiccups. Well I had a major flaw in my plan, in that I forgot to plan for the one place I never thought I'd see her, the comic store.

Yes the one place that gives me pure joy, the one place I was certain I would never have to deal with that damn thorn in my side, my second home and she attacks me there. So it was Saturday and I was going in for my usual pick ups and to see if there was anything else of interest. I go though the motions, say hi to Dante who was working the counter, grab my issues of Doom Patrol and Hawkeye then start looking through the back issues. When I looked up, what I saw (nearly) caused me to fall backwards, less than a foot away was a pair of ever so familiar blue eyes.

When I say fall backwards I don't just mean like a little slip, I nearly jumped out of my skin and almost slammed into a rack of marvel books. Of course Ash has to go to the same store I go to, of course the one thing I don't plan for and the anarchist strikes there. Anyway she helps me up and then she does the strangest thing, she says "Hey Scotty, didn't think you startled that easily. Well at least judging by your rental history at least. Anyway so uh some friends and I are gonna go to the arcade in the mall tomorrow. You wanna come?" Of course being the cool guy that I am, I barely stutter out "Sorry but I have a D&D game here tomorrow." So of course Dante being the dick he was, yells across the shop "No he doesn't" across the shop. "So you wanna go?" Ash asked and I don't know what came over me, or why I did it but I said "Um sure." "Cool meet me... I mean us at 11:30 at the mall food court." she told me.

So yeah, turns out sleeping in until eleven wasn't the greatest plan. Hey don't give me any shit, its not my fault the damn alarm was set for eight PM. Okay well it kinda was my fault but it was an honest mistake. So I rushed through my morning routine, threw on an old hoodie and book it down to the mall. After sprinting to the food court just to be on time only to see she isn't even there. I was so temped to leave, but low and behold I feel a tap on my shoulder and hear the familiar voice of everyone's favorite anarchist. I nearly jumped out of my damn skin when Ash began "Hey Scotty dude, I hope you like pepperoni cause that's all they had." It was probably a miracle that I didn't accidental knock the pizza out of her hand when she said that. So we sit down and I notice she only had two slices, promoting me to inquire "Hey where is everyone else?" She just calmly responds "Oh uh, everyone had to bail. Guess its just you and me today dude." The weirdest thing, she seemed happy about it. I don't know about you but when someone ditches me I kinda get a little pissed, but here she was smiling like it was the best thing that could have happened.

So we eat out pizza and then head to the arcade. Me still pissed about everyone ditching her and her still having that smile on her face. On the way she stops at the cookie stand and we had a little debate about weather or not it is part of the food court. I think that since it is an eatery it is a part of the food court but by her logic its an independent eatery for mid mall snacking. Now usually when I get into a stupid debate like this either one or both of us get pissed and hold a grudge for like a day or so, but the weirdest thing happened she actually doesn't get mad. Even stranger neither do I, its just so odd.

So we finally make it to the arcade and we get like ten bucks worth of tokens each. I search out the retro cabinets in the very back corner, and for some reason Ash did too. Yeah while I played my usual two bucks worth of Galaga she was going nuts on Digdug. I mean it was insane, she was more intense than I had ever seen her. Then when she dies she just looks up and gives that usual Ash smile that is so, shit whats the word? So we spend about an hour and a half going around playing different games, I think we got pretty far in the D&D beat up game. You know the one where when you put in a quarter it announces "Welcome to the D&D world." Man that game was always so cool. Anyway, we also beat one of the Time Crisis games, pretty sure it was three but at this point they all kinda run together to me.

Then as we are about to leave we are about to leave we run into him, Tommy Marino. Now this guy, this jackass has had it in for me since grade school. I can't remember the exact story but apparently his big brother and my big brother Wally were hockey rivals or something and that's why he hates my guts. So we were just about to leave when I hear that jerks tough guy Italian accent that he fakes when he's trying to intimidate someone. "Well well well, if it isn't little miss dork. How long's it been Ash?" Ash let out a long sigh and responded "Not long enough Jackass, considering I haven't seen you since graduation. Thank God." Then that greasy asshole just continued "Yeah, such a shame you never got to see me at my best. Only girl in the school who didn't if I remember right?" "I swear to God, what was with you're insane infatuation with me? Was it that I was the one girl who actually said no to you? Was it really that or was there more?" she retorted. Thankfully he hadn't noticed I was there, when I said he had it out for me I mean he really had it out for me. Like clockwork almost once every month the dude would come in and trash the store. When I say trash I mean he completely wrecks it, he actually broke some of the shelves, and I couldn't do anything because his goon of a brother held me back.

Now you may be asking "But Scott isn't that illegal? Why don't you call the cops?" Well to answer your question Tommy's daddy has a little we bit of power, and by that I mean he owns like a quarter of the businesses in this piece of shit town. I do anything about it and Tommy tucks tails and goes crying to daddy and I get sued or worse. So yeah, I'm completely shit out of luck. Now, to get back on track. This greasy asshole also puts his pride in the weirdest of things. For some reason he is extremely good at Dance Dance Revolution, I don't know maybe its boosts his ego and makes him think he can actually dance. So after a bit more of back and forth he finally realizes that im here. "I mean first you wont go out with me and then... wait are you seriously here with him?" he let out that annoying laugh of his and looks directly at me.

"You are seriously here with the biggest failure of our class. The piece of shit who just sat in the back of class and never talked. The one all your friends said was a waste of time back then, the voted most likely to disappear. The friggin joke who spent his weekends at that piece of shit comic store on fifth street and has been working for what two years at that shitty convenience store. You are here with him? That is just hilarious, the two biggest dorks in this town together." At this point I was ready to lay his ass out in the middle of the arcade, and just as I start towards him Ash stops me. I began to protest but when I looked at her I noticed the pure rage on her face. Her normally blue eyes burned as red as her hair. She tied back her hair, took off her jacket and like a redneck with a beer about to follow through with a stupid bet demanded "Hold my hoodie."

She just walks up to the machine and says "You me, any song, any difficulty" She actually was actually challenging this guy to a DDR game like this was some shitty anime. "Um excuse me, look around sweetheart. You see all these guys around me, they're all the guys I've beaten at this. I mean alright doll, I'll humor you, lets play. Hell I might even go easy on you. Wait what, you are seriously... There is no way you can handle that song on that speed." Now I may not know much about DDR but I can tell when someone pulled a Through Fire and Flames. By that I mean I can tell when someone has picked something extremely hard on the hardest mode. For once the arcade is dead silent, the countdown begins and then music kicks in. Both Ash and Tommy are going full throttle, I swear their feet were nothing but blurs. The music blared and then the strangest thing, Tommy began to slow down. He started to slip, and then he actually gets so tired and sluggish he fails. The look on his smug face, the only thing that could have made it better would be if the Black Hawk Down score played. He just stops trying, he actually failed. Everyone in the arcade was stunned, okay well not everyone but the people watching were.

Then she just hops off the machine, that same little smile of hers, wraps her arm around mine and suggests "Scotty lets go." I don't know how long we walked through the mall like that, it could have been ten minuets or ten hours. It didn't matter, and I have no idea why but I think I kinda liked it. So after I don't know how long we finally decide to leave. For some reason she hugged me and I begrudgingly told her I had a good time and then we just kinda left. I'm really just now beginning to wrap my head around this, so uh until next time I guess. I just gotta go think some man.

[petri808]

Picture Perfect

In the world of Japanese fashion, Cana Alberona is an up and coming designer mixing different elements in the Visual and Oshare Kei genre’s along with an old meets new way of thinking.  Her clothing line, FairyTail, gravitates towards punk yet with a lighter flare to reach a larger demographic.  March’s Fashion Week in Tokyo has arrived and it will be the first time she will debut her men’s line to the world.  

With the help of her assistant Levy McGarden, she walks into the large arena on the second day of the week.  It’s early but already bustling with activity.  Women and Men moving about between different stations, hair, make up, clothes, fittings, alterations; it’s a mad house to say the least.  Cana checks on her best friend and lead model, Lucy Heartfillia.

“How’s it going Lu?”

“I don’t know how you come up with some of this stuff Cana.” She winces as the dresser pulls the corset as tight as it will go.

“But you look gorgeous as ever my dear.”

“No pain, no gain in this industry, breathing optional!” the blonde laughs.  “At least now we’ve got some eye candy at your shows.” She nods her head towards the men’s section.  

“See something you like?”

“I recognize a few of them from magazines or other shows.”

A red headed and blue haired model walk up already in their outfits.  “Erza Scarlet, you fit so well into my line with that crimson hair of yours, same with you Juvia.  That’s why I love using you guys as models, those colors against the black motif just pops!”  

“Cana, I swear couldn’t this season’s stuff be a little more on the girly side, sometimes it’s not a bad thing you know.”

“Juvia agrees with Erza, Juvia wishes to show off cuter outfits.”

“Leave the designing to me, girls, and you worry about making it look good.  This is what’s on trend right now with the younger gens.”

“And we look damn hot in these!” adds Lucy.  “Anyways girl, so what’s the line up?”

“Ooh, you’re gonna love it.  See those guys over there?”  Cana points in the male’s direction.  “You’ll be paired up with one of ‘um.”

“Seriously!” the three girls all squeal.  

“Yup!” she grins.  “Just you three since you’re my top girls.  The rest of the models will be singles.  So… you guys wanna meet them?”

“Duh!  We should get to know them…” Lucy blushes, “I mean so we’re comfortable walking with them.”

Cana smirks, “Sure Lu.  Levy could you make the introductions?  I gotta go check on the other models.”

“Yeah, no problem.  This way you guys.”

Lucy- “So who are we gonna be paired with?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”  Levy leads them to the other side of the dressing area where they see three already dressed and goofing around.  “Ahem!” Levy clears her throat gaining their attention.  “Boy’s it’s time to meet your partners.”  As she turns to look back at the girls she can immediately see pink blushes on each of their cheeks, especially on the blonde whose cheeks were the deepest rouge.  She smirks knowing Lucy recognizes him, “Natsu,” she drags the blonde over to the pink haired young man grinning at her, “you are being paired with Lucy.”  Levy turns to the next guy, “Gray, you are with Juvia,” pulling the blushing girl over to his side.  “And Jellal, you’re with Erza.”  Levy is not surprised when the red head walks right over to him.  “We’ve still got about an hour before the show starts so I suggest you take this time to figure out your partner walks and poses.  I’ll be back in time to get you.”

“Oi?”  As Levy turns to walk away, Gray pipes up.  “Where are we in the line up?”

“Oh, um,” she flips a page on her clipboard.  “Jellal and Erza will open the show.  You and Juvia will be in the middle.  And Lucy,” she looks back up, “you and Natsu will close since you’re wearing the finale pieces.”  Each of the pairs nod as she states their positions then walk back to the guys individual stations.

At Natsu’s station, he plops down in one of the provided chairs and looks back up to the nervous girl in front of him.  With his eyes flashing and a big ear to ear smile, “So Luce, have you ever done a partner walk before?”

“Excuse me, but my name is Lucy.” She blushes.  “I’ve done partner poses for a couple of magazines before but never on a runway.”

He puts his hands behind his head, interlacing his fingers, “Yeah me neither.  Actually, I’ve never done a runway show before.”

“Wait what?” Lucy’s jaw drops.  “If you’re a newbie, how’d you end up as a closer?  That’s usually for the more seasoned models.”

He shrugs his shoulders, “Cana saw me at a mall and said I’d be perfect for her designs and the model she had planned to close the show.  I didn’t know what she meant but thought this could be fun.  I’ve seen Gray do this a few times and thought well if pervy popsicle can do it why can’t I.”

“Pervy popsicle?”

“It’s one of the names I call Gray cause he often strips.  Come to think of it, this is the first runway he’s done that wasn’t showing off underwear.”  Natsu smirks.  “Anyways, he calls me stuff too.”

“Like what?”  

“His favorite seems to be flame brain.”

“So, Cana thought you’d be a good match for me… I mean for the run way that is.” Her face flushes at her wrong choice of words.  “To walk with on the runway that is.”

He shrugs, “That’s what she said.”  Grinning, “But I can see why…”

“W-what that supposed to me?”

“Come closer…” he motions with his finger.  “And I’ll tell you…”

She takes a step forward, “is it a secret?”

Motioning again, “A little closer…”  Lucy steps within his reach.  

“Hey!” she squeaks out as Natsu pulls her down on his lap facing away from him.  Keeping his arms around her waist to keep her from getting up he leans his head against hers.

“Look forward.”

“Why!”

“Just look forward girlie.”

“And I’m looking at…” she sees their reflection in a mirror, and her breath hitches a moment, ‘that damn grin…’ she melts just a little.  It had been several years but her memory of that grin pops back in her mind.  The first day she walked into that classroom…  She was the new girl, shy, and this was before she wore contacts.  Searching for an empty seat, she sees one and asks the person behind it if anyone was sitting there.  The pink haired young man grinned and told her it was open before going back to the conversation he was having with Cana.  She later became best friends with Cana and Levy and the two girls knew about the crush she developed on that young man.  They had tried talking her into approaching him…  He was single and handsome, but back then she was just too, damn, shy…  

“We make a perfect looking couple… that’s why…” Startled out of her daydream, she notices that he’s staring so intently back at her making her heart skip.

But she keeps her composure.  “Oh geez,” Lucy rolls her eyes and pushes herself off his lap.  “Look Natsu, we need to practice so we don��t mess up on the runway and since you said you’ve never done this before I wanna see how you walk.”

“You’re such a worrier Luce,” he gets off his chair.  “I got this.”  He saunters a few steps, stops, poses, turns and saunters back to her, where he stops again and poses all the while holding a confident smile on his face.

Lucy chuckles, “Could be worse I guess.”

Natsu’s jaw drops, “Are you serious, that was awesome.”

She cocks her hip and shakes her head, “No, this is what awesome looks like.”  Caressing his cheek, “Watch and learn little boy...”  Lucy struts forward, step, after step swinging her hips in slightly exaggerated movements to make the skirt bounce from side to side.  When she stops to pose, she shifts her hip to one side, and then cocks it to the other with her hands resting on her waist.  One final slight arch of her back and she turns around walking back in the same manner.  When she reaches Natsu she stops and keeping her feet planted about a foot and a half apart, twists her body at the waist to give the audience a side glance, winks, then walks away as if she were leaving the stage.  

About half way down her walk, Natsu’s mouth had dropped open, ‘Damn!’  By the time she had finished her walk he was almost drooling.  ‘This fucking girl is so hot!’  He sits back down.  “You win, hands down.”

Lucy giggles, “Don’t sound so defeated, you need to keep up with me for it to look good out there.  Come on…” she pulls him off the chair.  “The way Cana’s got this show set up is the catwalk will the run the length of the audience.  The males are coming out from one end and the girls the other so the regular models are just walking without stopping but the three pairs are supposed to meet in the middle and pose together before continuing on their way.”  She taps her chin.  “As the closers of the show our pose need to be show stopping.”

He shrugs, “Got any ideas?  You’re the veteran here.”

“Hmm…  Close your eyes…”

“Why?”

“Just close your eyes.”

He does, “Okay, now what?”

“Picture you’re taking a stroll along a path somewhere, like in a park or something and all of a sudden, the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen is walking towards you…”

“Uh-huh…”  ‘That’s easy’ as his imagination takes hold and in his mind, he pictures Lucy…  He grins…

“You slow down, taking in the way her body is moving, how hair hair is flowing behind her, and as she gets close enough to touch…  Er, that’s the point where, I’m not sure what we should do.  Should we stop and create a sexual tension for just a moment before moving on, keep moving but just watch the other walk by, reach out and just let our fingers trail against the others…”

He blushes, “I-I’m leaning towards the, um first option.”  

“Yeah, that would probably be more interesting to see.”

‘Damn she agreed?!’  “So, should we practice that move?”

“Nah, it might be better to be spontaneous.”

“Oh.” He pouts internally.  “Okay, yeah, why not…”

“You know, I better go check in with Cana and let her know our idea.”  

“and I’ll go see what Gray’s up to…” he turns to walk off

“Hey um Natsu?”

“Yeah?” Stopping to look back at her.

“You don’t, remember me… do you?”

He stares at her surprised, “Why, have we met before…  I think I’d remember you.”  

‘I guess he really doesn’t…’  she sighs, “Never mind…  it’s not important.”  She walks away with her shoulders slumped a little.

‘What I say?!’  He watches her walk away.  ‘Have I met her before?!’  Heading over to find Gray. ‘How could I forget someone as beautiful as her?’

Natsu finds Gray and Juvia talking at her station while the hairdresser finishes her up, “Hey popsicle!”

“What do you want flame head?  Why aren’t you with Lucy?”

“She wanted to talk to Cana… Hey she asked me if I remember her.  I don’t, but do you?”

Gray shakes his head, “Only seen her photo in magazines and stuff.”

At that moment, Levy walks by and Natsu stops her, “Hey Levy can I ask you something?”

She looks at her watch, “Yeah but make it quick.”

“Lucy asked me if I remember her, but I don’t.  Any idea why she thinks I might have?”

‘So, he doesn’t remember her…’  “Why didn’t you ask her that yourself, Natsu?”

His shoulders slump, “I did ask but she told me never mind and sounded sad when she said it.  What am I missing here?”

“Maybe you’ve got a bad memory cause you don’t remember me either.” Sigh, “But I’ll give you a hint.  Magnolia High, your senior year, English class.”

“Huh?”

“Think about who was in that class with you.” She chuckles and walks away.

Natsu sits down on a chair and runs his hand over his face, “Argh!  English class?  Half the time I wasn’t even paying attention cause I hated that subject.”  He turns to his friend, “Do you remember seeing her in that class?”

“Idiot, I had English a different period than you.”

“Juvia thinks you can narrow it down, how many in your class could have been blonde females.”

“Well…” Natsu closes his eyes and tries to remember.  “There was um, Yukino, well she was more a platinum blonde…  Jenny…  Wait…” he opens his eyes.  “There was quiet blonde who sat, I think, two seats in front of me, but she wore glasses and rarely talked in class.”

“Oh, I remember her,” Gray pipes in, “she transferred in our senior year.  Loke hit on her a few times.  I think she was like a year younger than us but had skipped a grade or something.  I had her in my art class.  Yeah… she was kind of the nerdy type.  How could it be her?  That girl was like so different than Lucy.”

“I think I remember her, if it’s the same person.  One of the few times she spoke was to read a poem that I guess she really liked.  I can’t remember the name of it...”  Natsu stands up, “I um, I gotta check on something.” He looks at his watch, “Damn we gotta line up in a few minutes.  Hey, I’ll see you guys out there!” and rushes off.

“I think he’s taken a liking to Lucy.”  Gray chuckles.

“Juvia thinks Cana matched all of us up perfectly.” She blushes

“Cana!?”  Natsu waves down the designer.  “Can I ask you something?”

“Make it quick, you need to go line up already!”

“I know, I know.  You’ve know Lucy since high school, right?”

“Yeah… and I was in your English class too.”

“You I remember.  Anyways, she read a poem in class, it was kinda short, maybe about love, I think it was a favorite of hers…”

“Invisible.”

“Do you know how it goes?”

“Hell no, poetry was her thing not mine but she published it on um, Wattpad.  Look her up, StarQueen17.  Now get going and line up!”

“Okay thanks!” he hurries to his place.  Along the way he pulls out his phone and starts searching.

As he waits his turn in the lineup, Natsu commits the short poem to memory.  ‘I’ll give her a show stopper.’  He grins to himself.

The moment has arrived as Natsu steps onto the catwalk.  At the other end, he sees her take her first pose, he counters and begins the journey towards her.  ‘Walk in the park…’ he chants in his head, ‘Just be smooth… confident…’  midway he slows his steps, as his heartrate increases.  ‘Fuck she is beautiful!’  He can’t help but stare at Lucy as she sashays forward, slowing her own gait to meet him.

He reaches out and slowly pulls her body against his as she runs her hands up his chest.  With one arm around her waist, Natsu tilts her chin up… and lowers his face as they gaze into each other’s eyes; lips just a couple inches apart...  A buzz of murmurs and whispers resound around them but the pair seem lost to it all… when he whispers, “A glance, a smile and my heart skips a beat.  But then you look away, and I become invisible once more.  Just another face in the crowd; the popular guy to the shy little girl.  I wish you’d see me…”

Lucy gasps, “H-how’d you?”

“I remember…” he leans in, closing the final gap and softly kisses her lips.  No longer just whispers but out right gasps, clapping, and shouts ring out as he tightens his embrace and she grips to his neck.  When he pulls back, he runs the back of his hand lightly along her cheek.  “You wrote that for me, didn’t you?”

“No, I…”  he raises an eyebrow.  “Okay, yes…” she stammers and looks around at the hushed room.  “But this is not the time and place to…”

“You said show stopper…” he grins, “…just go with it…” before picking her up bridal style.  After a sigh, she weaves her arms around his neck smiling up at him to play the part of love at first sight and he walks off the catwalk to more cheers.

As soon as they are back stage, he puts Lucy down but doesn’t relinquish the hold he has around her waist.  “Natsu!  What were you thinking?  This is a runway show, not the dating game!”

“The crowd seemed to love it, and you said you wanted something big…”

“Yeah, I did but…”

Cana walks up.  “Wrap it up later you two, we need to finish the show first!  Come on,” she grabs their hands and puts them together.  “Just walk out like a normal couple in front of me.”  And pushes them forward to line up behind the rest of the models.  “By the way.  That was a creative closing pose to say the least.” She grins.  

As everyone starts moving forward, “Sorry Cana, I hope…”  Lucy starts to apologize before being cut off.

“Lu, the audience loved it and that’s all that matters.” she winks at her friend.  “You can thank me later, now…” Pushing them onto the walk amid the hundreds of flashes going off, “…smile for the cameras!”

When the trio reach the end of the cat walk, Cana instigates and escalates the situation.  Clapping and chanting, “Kiss!” followed and egged on by their friends, the other models, and the crowd.  “Kiss!”  “Kiss!”  “Kiss!”

“Well Luce…” Natsu grins and squeezes her hand.  She pauses for a second as a rush of old emotions come flooding back to her.  But before he can do anything, this time it’s Lucy who makes the first move.  She leaps into his arms, wrapping them around his neck.  He embraces her, holding her up as they kiss for the second time on that stage.  

The crowd stands up screaming and clapping, the roar of excitement around them becomes deafening.  When the kiss ends he lets her slide down so her feet are back on the floor.  With tears trickling down her face, he wipes them away with his thumb, caressing her cheek in the process.  Natsu smiles sweetly at this beautiful blonde just melting in his arms.  “I’m sorry you had to wait so long Luce…”

“It’s okay…” she stifles a sniffle and smile back.  Cana is smirking at them.  As their friend’s crowd around them, she places her hands one on each of their shoulders.  “Did you plan this?  Lucy asks her best friend.  

Feigning innocence, “Uh!  I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Spill it girl!  You knew about my crush…”

“Okay fine, so after I ran into him and Gray one day I figured this show would be a perfect opportunity…”

Lucy lets go of Natsu and hugs her friend, “Thank you.”

Cana hugs her back, “You are very welcome.”  After letting her go and Natsu grabs Lucy again around the waist kissing her.  “You two just gave me a new closing idea for the next show…” Cana smirks at the end of the kiss.  “How about a runway wedding?”

[nerdtrashextraordinaire]

I lost a really great winterwidow rp a few minutes ago, so if this was you PLEASE let me know because I’d love to continue

Stranger: [Modern!Single Father!Bucky. Blind date AU.If you have any ideas you want to use for this, feel free to add them :)] Bucky was sitting alone at a table in a cafe in the back, bouncing his knee up and down nervously as he waited for whoever Steve set him up with on this blind date that he got talked into. The only reason he even agreed to go in the first place is because of his daughter, Elizabeth. Even though she was only 6 years old, she could see that her father was lonely and wanted him to be happy. So she gave him her puppy dog eyes and got him to agree to at least try. Lizzie’s his entire world, he’d do anything for his daughter. Bucky sighed softly and shook his head a little as he looked down at his current attire, a black leather jacket over a navy blue henley, dark wash jeans, and his black combat boots. Was this appropriate for a first date? 'Oh god' Bucky thought to himself 'I really hope so.' Bucky took a deep breath and stood up to go get in line to get another cup of black coffee when he accidentally bumped into someone.

You: Natasha stared at the messages that Steve had sent her when he set up the blind date, following the address to the small coffee he had picked. Although he didn't have to force her into going on the date, it took a bit of convincing. But once she realized Steve was one of three people that really knew her well, she knew it couldn't be that bad. Upon finding the cafe, she took a deep breath before stepping inside and looking around. Steve didn't tell her much, just that he had long-ish brown hair and would probably be wearing dark colors. As she scanned the room, Natasha didn't realize she was still walking until she ran straight into someone. "Ugh, god, sorry," she mumbled and shook her head slightly before her green eyes met intense blue ones. "Um, I wasn't paying attention. I'm looking for someone."

Stranger: Bucky immediately backed up when he ran into someone. "Fuck, sorry, wasn't watchin' where I was goin'." He said beofre looking down at the person he ran into. She was gorgeous. Long, curly red hair that fell just past her shoulder blades, big green eyes that looked more like emeralds. Bucky immediately recognized her. She's the woman Steve set him up with. Bucky gave her a small grin "You must be Natasha. I'm James." He said as he held out his metal hand for her to take. "Steve did not do ya justice when he told me about ya." He said, a little flirtatiously. He couldn't help it. She's beautiful and everything he looked for in a woman. Steve was not gonna let him forget that it was /him/ that set them up considering that it's usually Bucky that sets Steve up on a blind date.

You: Natasha grinned slightly when he began speaking, not expecting the Brooklyn accent but at the same time wasn't surprised by it. Steve spoke about this man like he was his brother, so it only made sense. And his appearance certainly didn't disappoint, either. The eyes were just about to make her melt, but those paired with the slight grin that was on his face and the fact his first word to her was 'fuck' had an effect on her. "Oh, yes, I am. Nice to meet you, James," she greeted as she shook his hand, thankful that Steve had already told her about his metal arm so she wasn't shocked by it. A slight blush came to her face as she looked down, glancing at her green dress one last time to make sure she looked okay. She wore a black sweater and heels with it, a bit overdressed in her opinion as she glanced around at the other patrons. "You either. I"m not sure what I was expecting, but...you're not it. Better, actually."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "Whatever that punk told ya about me, don't believe it. It's probably either a lie or he greatly exaggerated." he joked "I'm really sorry bumpin' into ya like that. Let me buy ya coffee to make up for it?" He suggested as he rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin on his face. Bucky really didn't know what to make of Natasha. She didn't flinch when she took his metal hand into her small, soft one. Natasha was turning out to be quite the woman and they haven't even sat down and started talking yet. But, would she be ok with the fact that he has a 6 year old daughter at home? Once they got their drinks and snacks, he'll ask her.

You: Natasha waved him off with a slight grin before putting her hands in the pockets of her sweater. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't paying attention," she explained with a shrug. "But I wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee." Following him to the counter, she shifted from one foot to another while she ordered her drink. She couldn't stop herself from wondering just what, exactly, Steve told him. Did he build her up too much, or maybe built James up too much. But so far, she wasn't disappointed with anything she saw.

Stranger: Bucky reordered his own drink and got a couple of cookies as well before paying for both of them. "So tell me about yaself, Natasha." He said as they walked over to the table Bucky had been sitting at earlier once they had their drinks. Bucky pulled her chair out for her before gently pushing her into the table. "Steve said you're a dancer?" He asked once he was sitting as well, pulling his leather jacket off of his shoulders and laying it in the seat beside him.

You: Natasha nodded slightly as she sat down, holding her cup with both hands as she leaned back in her chair. "Mhm, ballet. I've been dancing since I was three," she explained with a small smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. "What about you? Steve didn't tell me what you did," she mentioned, legs crossing under the table.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "I'm the owner of a private security company. The bodyguards you see around the rich and famous? Those are more than likely my guys." He told her "I used to be in the military before my left arm got torn from my body during an IED explosion." He told her as he took a sip of his drink. "I dunno if Stevie told ya or not, but I have a 6 year old daughter at home. One that I love very very much." He told her bluntly. "If that's too much for ya, tell me now and we can just be friends."

You: Natasha nodded along as she listened, smiling slightly when he mentioned his daughter. "Steve already told me about her. He said he wasn't going to set us up if I had a problem with it," she explained, leaning forward more so her forearms could rest on the table. "But I'm here, so I think you can piece it together."

Stranger: Bucky leaned his arms on the table, a small smile on his face "I can. And I'm glad you're ok with me having a kid at home. 'Cause I know we haven't known each other very long, but I like ya a lot already and I'd hate for us to just be friends." he told her bluntly.

You: Natasha chuckled softly before she took a sip of her coffee, letting out a small sigh after. "I know what you mean," she agreed with a nod, reaching with one of her hands to rest on his flesh arm. "So, your job is owning a security company, but what do you like to do in your free time?"

Stranger: Bucky slipped his arm out from under her hand and tangled their fingers together. "When I'm not workin' or spendin' time with my daughter? I like to tinker. I've always been fascinated with how something works. When I was 6, I took apart my dad's clock he had in his office before putting it back together again. My dad caught me and started havin' me help fix anythin' that was broken around the apartment buildin' with him." He said with a small, fond smile on his face.

You: Natasha grew nervous for a second when he pulled his hand away, afraid he wasn't okay with her being slightly forward, but instead her smile grew when their fingers laced together. "Wow. That's pretty impressive, I must say. What's your favorite items to tinker with?" she asked before taking another sipp of her drink

Stranger: "Definitely engines. I have a lot of fun gettin' into 'em and fixin' 'em" He said with a grin. "I just finished rebuildin' the engine to a 1967 Chevy Impala not too long ago." He said as he took a sip of his own drink. "My daughter has picked up on my love of tinkerin' and I caught 'er taking apart one of her toys"

You: "That's sweet. It could be something you pass down to her, then she could possibly pass it down someday," she mentioned with a grin, absently tracing shapes on the tabletop with her free hand. "What's her name, by the way?"

Stranger: "Elizabeth." he said with fons smile on his face. "She likes to be called either Lizzie or Liz." He told her. "She just turned 6 a couple of weeks ago." He said as he pulled out his phone and pulled up a picture of him and Elizabeth. They were laying on the fronts in Bucky's bed, Lizzie's face smashed up against his as they grinned at the camera. "She's my whole world." He said softly.

You: Natasha easily noticed the glow that overtook him when he talked about his daughter, a certain ease seeming to wash over him. "She's adorable. Has your eyes," she told him with a gentle smile as she gazed at the picture. "I'm going to guess you two are very close."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head "Very close." He said with a smile. "And thank you. My sister tells me Lizzie's my little mini me because she looks so much like me." He said with a shake of his head "I don't really see it. I think she looks a lot like her mother."

You: "No, I definitely see it," she disagreed with a small chuckle. The mention of her mother caused her to chew on her lip, wondering the best way to ask what happened to her. It wasn't necessary she knew, pretty much just curiosity, but it was hardly a first date conversation. "If you don't mind me asking, is her mother...?"

Stranger: "She's alive." He said with an eye roll "She left me and Lizzie when I came home from Iraq and I only had one arm." He said shaking his head. "She said that she couldn't be with me anymore and that she never wanted our daughter either. So I made sure she could never see Lizzie again, even if she wanted to. I don't care what ya say about me. But ya mention my daughter, heads are gonna roll."

You: "Oh, wow. That...is not what I was expecting," she told him honestly, a frown growing on her face. "Sounds like an absolutely vile woman. Not an ideal situation, whatsoever, but at least you got your daughter out of it.."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head "Lizzie's the only reason I stayed with Connie for as long as I did." He said with a small shrug. "Anyway, lets talk about somethin' else. What do ya like to do in ya spare time?" he asked her, changing the subject.

You: Natasha nodded her head quickly and took a sip of her coffee. "I read a lot in my free time, and I take martial arts classes," she told him with a grin. "I started taking it to help keep me fit for work, but I've been going at least once a week for five years now."

Stranger: Bucky smiled at her and nodded his head "We should spar one day." he said as he sipped his coffee before taking a piece of the chocolate chip cookie that he bought and popped it into his mouth. "What do ya like to read?" he asked curiously. [Brb]

You: "Oh, James, I would kick your ass. Military or not," she pointed out confidently with a chuckle. "I mostly read mysteries, a couple spy stories. I try to read books written in Russian as often as I can so I don't get rusty. My grandmother would roll over in her grave if I ever let that happen."

Stranger: [Back!]

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and smirked at her "Oh we definetely need to spar then." He said as he broke another piece of the cookie off and popped it into his mouth "Я уверен, что ваша бабушка будет очень рада вам." He said in fluent Russian, a small smirk still on his lips. [I'm sure your grandmother would be very happy with you.]

You: Natasha's eyes grew wide as she stared at him, an eyebrow quirked as she listened. "Wow. That was...unexpected," she laughed before tearing off a piece of the cookie for herself. "Do you have Russian family, too? Or did you learn it by choice?"

Stranger: Bucky smiled at her "By choice. I've always had a passion for learning different languages. I speak 14 different languages now." He said as he sipped his coffee. "And it did help that the squad I was apart of were Special Forces and I had to learn all these different languages."

You: "Damn, you have me beat. I only know ten," she teased before finishing her coffee. "How long did you serve, by the way? And you were in the Army, right?"

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head "Mhm. I joined up as soon as I turned 18 and didn't leave until I was almost 24." He said simply as he took another sip of his coffee and threw both of their cups away. "Luckily when the explosion happened, I was the only one who was seriously injured out of my squad."

You: "And you survived it, so thank goodness none of you lost your lives," she added, watching him walk to the trash with a fond smile. "You've been through a lot for someone who isn't even 30 yet, but it's nice to you've done well for yourself through it all."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head as he sat back down and retook her hand into his. "I wouldn't be who I am now if I never went through what I did." He said with a small shrug. "And I wouldn't be as stable as I am now if I didn't have my daughter."

You: Natasha nodded slightly as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze, letting out a gentle sigh. "Thank goodness for Lizzie," she nodded slightly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and nodded his head as he squeezed her hand back "Would ya like to go for a walk?" He asked her as he picked her hand up and kissed her knuckles gently.

You: Natasha's smile grew as he kissed her knuckles before she nodded. "I'd really like that," she told him before standing, her hand never leaving his. "Do you live close by? I just don't want us to venture too far if you need to be home by a certain time."

Stranger: Bucky shook his head "No we live in Brooklyn Heights." he said as they left the cafe. "I do have to leave by at least 4 so I can go and pick Lizzie up from ballet class." He said as they walked down the street.

You: Natasha nodded as they began walking, stepping slightly closer to him. "So you have a little ballerina on your hands, hm? My condolences. We can be quite a handful," she chuckled.

Stranger: Bucky slipped his hand from hers so he could wrap his arm around her waist and pulled closer. "Yes I do. And she woulda been a handful anyway even if she wasn't a ballerina." He said chuckling. "My daughter is a stubborn little lady who knows what she wants. I like to think I'm raisin' her into becomin' an independent young woman."

You: "That's the way to do it," she agreed as she let him pull her closer, appreciating the extra warmth. "She's lucky to have a father who realizes that, and nurtures it, instead of trying to suppress it. Many men are far too intimidated by a strong woman, even if it's their own child."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "I was the only boy my mother gave birth to. I have 5 sisters. They and my mother would beat my ass if I tried to suppress my daughter in any way. Not that I would anyway. I want my daughter to be strong and independent. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people think that being a man will be enough to get ya far in life. That's not true. I want my daughter to be a hard worker that doesn't give up or into peer pressure because they think they know what she's supposed to do."

You: Natasha smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "That's very refreshing to hear. Where were the men who thought like that when I was growing up?" she asked rhetorically with a chuckle.

Stranger: Bucky smiled softly and kissed the top of her head gently as they walked. "Well, you'll never hear from me that you're supposed to be in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant instead of dancing." He told her with a small smile on his face her looked down at her.

You: "That's a relief. I can't have children, so part of that would be impossible," she told him before sighing and shaking her head. "Sorry... That isn't exactly a first date conversation topic.."

Stranger: Bucky shook his head and turned her head up to look at him. "Hey, its alright. I told ya how I lost my arm and about my daughter. Those aren't first date conversations either. We're not exactly traditional anyway considering that we're on a blind date." He pointed out. "So what if ya can't have children? It's not somethin' ya can help and there are other ways to have kids. Ya can adopt or find someone who already has kids." He told her with a small smile.

You: Natasha smiled as she gazed up at him, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. "It's not something I'm really upset about anymore. I've made my peace with it. Considering it was the only permanent injury from a car wreck I was in long ago, I consider myself pretty lucky anyway," she shrugged before sighing softly, gazing into his eyes. "But the latter option is seeming like a better and better option."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head and smiled gently at her as they continued walking. "So, lets get off the heavy topics." he said as he pulled Natasha closer to him. "How did ya meet Stevie?" he asked her curiously as they turned the corner.

You: Natasha chuckled as she nuzzled her head against his shoulder. "We ran into each other at the gym I train at. He sat in for a class I take, I accidentally hit him during it. We've been friends ever since. What about you two? He only said that you two go 'way back.'"

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and nodded his head "I remember him tellin' me about that. He didn't say it was you though." He said "And we do. We've been friends since he was born. Our ma's are best friends and we're godbrothers. His ma is my godmother and my ma is his." He said simply. "Been inseparable ever since."

You: "Wow. That seems a bit more than 'way back,'" she laughed and shook her head slightly. "That's very sweet, though. That you have a friend like that. Especially Steve. There aren't many people I like, but he's a good friend."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled and smirked a little at her "Yeah he is. He's a good man. Which is why I'm surprised that he's still single. Steve would make the person he's with very happy." He said with a small frown.

You: Natasha nodded with a hum. "I've tried setting him up on dates before, but none of them really turned into anything. I think that's part of why he set this up. A bit of enjoyable payback."

Stranger: Bucky sniggered softly and nodded his head "That, and I know he wants me to be happy too and that he thinks it would be good for Lizzie to have a mother figure around." He said with a small shrug of his shoulders.

You: "And what do you think so far? About being happy, I mean," she asked softly before glancing at him, a small smile on her lips. "Because right now, I'd say I'm pretty damn happy.."

Stranger: Bucky smiled back at her softly "So am I." He said truthfully as he kissed her head gently. "Even though we just met, it feels like we've known each other forever, ya know?"

You: Natasha nodded. "I do. It's a strange feeling, but I like it. It's...comfortable," she sighed, her smile never leaving her lips. "There's no first date nerves."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head "Exactly. I've never felt this comfortable with a woman that wasn't family to me." He admitted. Bucky went to say something else but then his phone went off. Bucky gave her an apologetic smile as he pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and answered it after seeing it was Lizzie's dance studio. "Barnes. What's wrong?" he asked immediately, assuming that something was wrong with Lizzie.

You: Natasha nodded politely as she stepped away from him in a way to give him some privacy, her hands going to her pockets.

Stranger: Bucky sighed softly as he listened to what Lizzie's dance instructor was telling him. "Thanks for callin' me Ms.Maximoff. I'll be there as soon as I can." he assured the young woman before hanging up. Bucky ran a hand over his face. "I'm so sorry to cut our date so short, but Lizzie's instructor just called and told me that Lizzie's throwing up." He explained.

You: Natasha shook her head and offered him a reassuring smile. "Please don't apologize. It's okay, I promise," she told him and placed her hand on his shoulder giving it a small squeeze. "You have my number, so when Lizzie's feeling better we can schedule another date."

Stranger: Bucky smiled at her softly "I'll text ya once I got Lizzie home and in bed. I don't know how she got so sick. She was fine this morning." He said, a worried look on his face as he quickly hugged her tightly. "At least let me drive ya home." He said once he pulled back.

You: Natasha hugged him back with a smile before waving him off. "Thank you, but I don't really live close by and she needs you right now, anyway. I can see all over your face that you're worried sick as it is," she pointed out. "The sooner you get to her, the better you'll both be, I'm sure."

Stranger: Bucky sighed and nodded his head "Thank you, 'Tasha. I'll call ya once we're home." He told her as he kissed her forehead gently before catching a cab for Natasha. "Once Lizzie's better, we're going to schedule a second date." He promised her.

You: Natasha nodded before kissing his cheek in return, smiling softly. "Sounds wonderful. I hope she feels better soon," she told him sincerely before stepping towards the cab and climbing inside. "I'll talk to you later, James."

Stranger: Bucky smiled and nodded his head "I'll talk to ya soon, Natasha." He said as he closed the door behind her before stepping back from the cab, watching it as it drove off. Bucky quickly made his way back to his car and drove to the dance studio to pick up his daughter. [Wanna time skip?]

You: ((Sure! How far ahead? Their second date?"

You: *))

Stranger: [Yeah. Do you want me to start or would you like to?]

You: ((Could you start, please? I'll be right back))

Stranger: [Of course!]

Stranger: It didn't take long for Lizzie to feel better, about a week or two after his and Natasha's first date. Bucky immediately called Natasha once he knew for sure that Lizzie's fever had broken and asked her out on a second date. He planned to cook for her in his townhouse while Lizzie was at a sleepover with some of her ballerina friends. Bucky dropped Lizzie off at her friends house before he got started on making dinner, he decided on making his grandmother's Frigărui. Once dinner was finished, Bucky quickly went to his room to change into a navy blue button down shirt with black dress pants, and a pair of black loafers. He rolled his sleeves up to his elbow before going back downstairs to set the table. He just finished pouring their drinks and lit the candles when Natasha arrived. Bucky took a deep breath before going to the door and opened it, finding Natasha on the other side. "Hey, beautiful." He said with a crooked grin.

You: Natasha waited patiently for Lizzie to feel better, texting or calling James every free moment they had. Once they were able to reschedule, she found herself feeling absolutely giddy at the thought of seeing him again. And at his home, nonetheless. She dressed herself in a simple, black dress, one that hugged her nicely paired with flats and a shawl. Her hair stayed down with one side pinned back, and her lips were painted red. Upon reaching his front door, she took a deep breath before knocking gently. Seeing him before her, she looked him over briefly before smiling brightly. "Hey, handsome," she greeted, stepping closer to kiss his cheek.

Stranger: Bucky smiled, kissing her cheek back gently and slipped her shawl from her shoulders once she was inside. "I missed you." He said as he placed her shawl into the jacket closet beside the door before offering her his arm. "How have ya been, sweet'eart?" He asked her as he led her into the living room, which was decorated beautifully in gray and white.

You: Natasha grinned as she slipped her arm through his and followed. "I missed you, too. I've really been looking forward to tonight," she told him before she looked around. "Your home is beautiful."

Stranger: Bucky smiled "Thank you and so have I. My sister, Bianca, is an interior and exterior designer. She designed my whole house." He told her. "Would ya like to eat now or wait a little while?" He asked her.

You: Natasha smiled as she stood to face him before her hand moved down his arm until their fingers were locked together. "I was considering waiting a little bit, until I stepped in and smelled the food, now I'm famished."

Stranger: Bucky smiled and nodded his head "Of course. We're havin' my grandmother's Frigărui. It's a Romanian shish kabob." He explained to her as he led her to the dining room, where the table was set up for two.

You: Natasha squeezed his hand as they walked. "Mmm sounds wonderful," she told him before pulling away to sit in one of the awaiting chairs. "I've never had Romanian food before, so this is a first. It's also the first time a date has cooked for me."

Stranger: Bucky smiled at her as he sat down in his own chair "Well, if ya decide to stay with me then I'll cook for ya whenever ya want." He told her with a small smile. "And you'll like it, I promise." He assured her as he motioned to her that she could start eating. "How was your day?" he asked her as he took a small sip of his wine.

You: Natasha grinned as she took a bite with an appreciative groan. "This is wonderful," she sighed before taking a sip of her wine. "And it was good, a bit tiring, because we have a new show opening in a couple weeks. So I have a lot of long practices coming up," she explained before reaching for her purse. "Which reminds me..." After a second, she withdrew an envelope and offered it to him. "Since Lizzie is in ballet class, I got tickets for you to come see my troupe. They're wonderful seats. And, if I meet her by then, you two can come backstage and she can see the other dancers and the costumes. If not, we can just have a rain check for it."

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head a little as he took a bite of his food. He reached out and took the envelope and looked up at her "Thank you. I've been wanting to take her to see a real ballet performance so she can see what she could be doing one day if she wished." He told her "And speaking of you meetin' her. How soon would you be comfortable meeting her?" he asked her as he set the envelope aside for now.

You: Natasha shrugged slightly before she took another bite. "Um, I'm not really sure. I suppose I'm ready to meet her whenever you think she's ready," she told him with a shy smile. "To be honest, I'm nervous to meet her... If she doesn't like me, I know we won't be together and...I'd really hate that."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and reached over to take over hand "You don't have to worry about her not likin' ya. She already loves ya from what she's heard from me and from Steve." He told her "She's especially excited to meet ya so she can talk ya ear off about ballet."

You: Natasha let out a sigh of relief as she brushed her thumb along his knuckles. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that. I've been thinking about that lately, so it's nice to stop worrying," she chuckled.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and nodded his head "Yes now ya can relax." He told her as he picked her hand up and kissed her knuckles gently "How would ya like to meet Lizzie tomorrow?" He asked her, a little nervously. He knew it was a little early but Natasha held a very special piece of his heart and he wanted her to meet the other girl who held his heart.

You: "Really?" she asked softly before taking a deep breath. Really, she was ready to meet Lizzie whenever James thought she was ready, but knowing that she was ready so soon as well shocked her for a moment. "Yes.. Yeah, I'd like that," she murmured, smiling softly.

Stranger: Bucky smiled brightly at her "You're gonna love her, 'Tasha." he assured her as he kissed her knuckles again gently. "How about ya come over tomorrow for lunch?" He suggested "She'll be back from her sleepover by then."

You: Natasha felt her smile mirror his as she took a sip of her wine. "Mhm, sure. That'd be nice," she agreed as she squeezed his hand. "I can't wait.."

Stranger: Bucky smiled at her "Neither can I." He said as he placed their hands back down before releasing her hand so they could eat. "What would ya like to do after dinner?" he asked her as he took another bite of his dinner.

You: Natasha shrugged slightly as she continued to eat, pushing her food around a little as she thought. "We could dance. Either here or we can go somewhere else," she suggested with a shrug. "Don't worry, I can give you some pointers if you don't know how," she teased.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "My ma owns her own dance studio, doll. I know how to dance." He told her. "I was the only one outta my siblings to even want to learn how to. So she taught me all the different styles she knew. Including ballet." He said with a small smirk on his face.

You: Natasha raised an eyebrow before nodding with a chuckle. "Barnes, is there anything you don't know how to do?" she asked. "So, would you like to go dancing?"

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "I don't know how to draw." He said with a small shrug "Would ya like to stay here or go out to a club?" He asked her as he finished eating, pushing his plate away from him.

You: "I'll take it," she shrugged with a grin before finishing her plate as well. "I'm fine with either, but I think staying in has a nice ring to it. Do you have speakers to play music?"

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head "No its ok, I got it." He said as he took both plates from her "They're in the living room. Why don't ya go and pick a song out for us." he said with a crooked grin as he took their dishes to the sink.

You: Natasha nodded before she stood and made her way back to the living room, connecting her phone with the speaker before playing a low, gentle song for them. Closing her eyes, she sighed softly before she began swaying to the music while she waited for him.

Stranger: Bucky cleaned up everything from dinner and loaded the dishwasher up. He hummed softly along to the music that came pouring in from the living room. "Frank Sinatra. Good choice." He said as he joined her in the living room as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, hooking his chin over her shoulder.

You: Natasha glanced back when she heard him rejoin her, smiling softly as she leaned back into his embrace. "I figured it was a safe choice. Everyone loves some Sinatra," she murmured, her arms resting on top of his.

Stranger: Bucky smiled softly and nodded his head "Very true." He said "Ya know, my grandfather told me he met old Blue Eyes." He said as he turned Natasha around to face him, placing one hand on her hip and the other cupped her other hand up in the air.

You: Natasha raised an eyebrow as she rested her free hand on his shoulder, keeping herself close to him. "Really? How did that happen?"

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "He claims that he met Sinatra as he was walkin' out of a convenience store in the 50s." He said rolling his eyes "I don't believe him. There's no way he met Frank Sinatra on his way out of a convenience store.

You: Natasha shrugged with a chuckle. "I don't know, it's possible. Celebrities are just like us, y'know," she joked before shaking her head. "But I'm pretty sure I heard an elderly woman on the train tell that exact same story a few days ago."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and nodded his head "It's possible. But my grandfather also had his head in the clouds most of the time." He said rolling his eyes as he gently twirled Natasha around before pulling her back close to him.

You: Natasha smiled as he spun her, sighing happily once she was up against him once again. "Sounds like quite the character, regardless."

Stranger: Bucky smiled and nodded his head "He was. I was his favorite grandkid because I was the only one who would go up to his place up in Lake George to go and see him." He said. "What about your family?" He asked her.

You: "Aw, that's kind of sad, that you were the only one," she told him before she chewed on her lip. "Um, I...I don't talk to them. I don't even know where they are," she murmured, glancing down. "My parents and I moved her from Russia when I was 13 for my dancing, something the rest of my family wasn't very happy about. Well, when I was 17, the three of us were in a car crash and...they didn't make it. Killed on impact," she told him, quickly wiping her eyes. "So, I finished high school and used the money I inherited from them to get myself through college."

Stranger: Bucky wiped her eyes gently "I'm so sorry." He murmured softly "I shouldn't have asked, I'm sorry." He said softly as he pulled her closer to him. "Well, you have a family now that's willing to take you in if you want." He said softly as he looked down into her big green eyes. "Me and Lizzie can be your family. And I know Stevie already thinks of ya like a sister and my family will love ya."

You: Natasha shook her head as she buried her face in his neck. "No, no it's okay... You were going to find out sooner or later," she mumbled, her eyes meeting his. "That's a lot to offer a woman you haven't even known a month," she chuckled weakly as her fingers played with the hair on the back of his neck.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "Well, what can I say, its easy to fall in love with ya, Natasha." He murmured back to her softly as he held her tightly to him. "I don't care how long I've known ya. It feels like its been a lot longer than a month."

You: Natasha stared into his eyes as she processed what he just said. 'Fall in love with ya.' Those words just rang through her mind as she pressed herself against him, unable to find any words. Glancing at his mouth, she met his eyes one last time before she pressed her lips to his with a gentle sigh.

Stranger: Bucky hummed softly as he kissed her back gently, bringing his hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks. He pulled back when they needed air and gave her a crooked grin "Why haven't we done that sooner?" He asked.

You: Natasha laughed softly as they parted and pressed her forehead to his. "I have absolutely no idea," she mumbled, her arms moving to drape around his waist.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "Come on, lets sit down and cuddle." He said as he led her over to the couch. Bucky plopped down onto the gray sofa and pulled Natasha into his lap. [Brb]

You: Natasha grinned as she followed him easily and plopped herself into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck before she gently pecked his lips again. "Hm...I do enjoy cuddling..."

Stranger: Bucky grinned up at her "Good. Because I'm a cuddler." He told her as he pulled her closer to him and buried his head into the crook of her neck, pressing a gentle kiss to where her neck and her head meet.

You: Natasha let her eyes close as she sighed happily, her fingers absently playing with his hair. "Thank goodness for that. I'd probably end things now if you weren't," she joked, tilting her head to the side to allow him more room.

Stranger: Bucky hummed softly as she played with his hair "You found my weakness." He murmured softly against her skin as he pressed a light trail down her neck with his lips.

You: Natasha breathed in a short gasp as his lips traveled, blushing slightly at her own noise. "An you've found mine," she mumbled, her fingers gently gripping his hair.

Stranger: Bucky pulled back a little to look up at her "Doll, how far do ya wanna go?" He asked her softly as he looked into those green emeralds she called eyes. Her eyes were the first thing he noticed about Natasha and its one of his favorite features on her.

You: Natasha swallowed as she looked down at him, one of her hands moving to brush along his chiseled jaw line, one that appeared to be chiseled from marble. "As far as you'd like to take it, darling..."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly "That's how far I'm willin' to take it too, babygirl." He said softly "Ya need to tell me to stop if ya want to stop." He told her. "Because if ya don't wanna have full blown sex tonight, then I'm fine with that. Hell, I'd be happy to just hold ya like this all night if that's what ya want."

You: Natasha took a deep breath as she eased against him, gently chewing on her lower lip. "If I ever want to stop, I will tell you," she assured him before smiling gently. "But right now, I want to be with you, in every sense of the word, if that's what you want, too.."

Stranger: Bucky smiled back at her softly "Then, lets move to the bedroom." He said softly as he easily picked her up bridal style and carried her into his bedroom. Bucky's bedroom was decorated in navy blue and black with a king sized bed in the middle of the room. His room had floor to ceiling windows and looked out onto all of New York. Bucky gently laid Natasha down on the bed before joining her.

You: Natasha giggled as he lifted her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold herself closer, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. Once she felt the mattress against her back, she stretched slightly as she smiled up at him. Part of her wanted to glance out and see what the night looked like from his view, but she couldn't bring herself to tear her eyes from him. "Come here," she murmured before putting her arms around him again, kissing with a bit more urgency.

Stranger: Bucky hummed softly against her lips as he deepened the kiss, tangling his flesh fingers into her long red curls. He slipped his metal hand under her dress, gently cupping her breast in his hand as they heavily made out. Bucky pulled away from her lips when they needed air and immediately leaned down and attacked her neck with his lips.

You: Natasha let a small noise escape her as they kissed, gasping against his lips as she arched into the hand on her breast. The cool metal caused goosebumps to break out across her skin, which only made the feeling more intense. As she took a moment to catch her breath, she found herself doing quite the opposite as his lips moved along her neck. "Mm...James," she breathed as her fingers knotted in his hair.

Stranger: Bucky pulled back from her neck as he slipped his hands down to the hem of her dress "Can I take this off?" he asked her, panting softly as he looked down at her "You're so beautiful." He said softly as he looked into her big green eyes. "Imma have to thank Stevie for introducin' me to ya."

You: Natasha nodded slightly as she watched him and even lifted her hips slightly to assist him. "Mhm... I'm going to owe him for eternity because of our date. But it's worth it," she chuckled,

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and nodded his head as he easily slipped her dress over her head. He sat back on his knees and started to unbutton his shirt, moving slowly on purpose.

You: Natasha propped herself up on her elbows as she watched him, biting her lip as his chest was slowly exposed. "You trying to torture me, Barnes?"

Stranger: Bucky smirked at her "And if I was, Romanoff?" He asked with a raised eyebrow "Whatcha gonna do?" he asked

You: Natasha shifted to sit up and grabbed his shirt to pull him to her, hungrily kissing his lips. "Lend you a hand... I'm usually a patient person, but you found a way to make that go away," she mumbled, pushing his shirt off his shoulders before she moved to lay against the pillows.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly as she practically ripped his shirt off of his body. "I'm kinda surprised ya just didn't push me down onto the bed and took my clothes off, babydoll." He said with a smirk as he laid on top of her, placing his hands on either side of her head so he could keep his weight off of her.

You: Natasha smirked as she looked up at him, her hands moving along his bare chest with a soft hum. "I considered it, but I want you take control tonight... Maybe next time," she chuckled before she began pressing kisses along his jaw.

Stranger: Bucky smirked and nodded his head a little "Next time." He told her as he reached behind Natasha and easily undid her bra and threw it over his shoulder, not caring where it went. [Do you mind if we skip the smut? I'm not very good at writing it.]

You: ((Oh, sure, that's okay. Do you want me to pick up after they finish?))

Stranger: [Yeah. I'm really sorry.]

You: ((No worries. I'm not gonna make you write something you don't wanna))

You: Natasha panted as she stared at the ceiling, a smile plastered on her face as she felt James plop down beside her. "That was...wow," she breathed as she looked over at him, rolling onto her side to face him. "You're incredible."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly, still panting slightly, as he smiled back at her "So are you, baby." He said as he pulled her closer to him. "We definitely have to do that again." He said as he cuddled Natasha close to him.

You: Natasha sighed happily as she pressed herself against him, gently kissing him as her fingers stroked along his flesh arm. "And again, and again," she giggled before brushing her nose against his. "But for now, I'm okay with cuddling..."

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly as he kissed her lips gently. "So am I." he murmured softly as he held her tightly to him. "I don't wanna ever let ya go." He said softly as he closed his eyes and buried his nose into her hair.

You: Natasha smiled as she gently combed her fingers through his hair. "Well, I'm not going anywhere... If you're okay with me staying the night," she mumbled.

Stranger: "Like I'd actually tell ya to leave." he murmured softly as he held her to him. "I know its kinda pointless to ask, since I already know what ya answer will be, but will ya be my girlfriend?" He asked her softly.

You: Natasha grinned before nodding quickly, quickly kissing his lips again. "Of course I will... I'd love to be your girlfriend," she assured him before resting her head on his chest.

Stranger: Bucky smiled happily and kissed her back gently "Like I said, pointless to ask but I wanted to anyway" He murmured softly as he easily fell asleep with his girlfriend in his arms.

You: Natasha sighed happily as she watched out the window, listening to the steady sounds of his breathing and heartbeat until she nodded off with him.

Stranger: Bucky woke up the next morning to the sound of his phone going off on his nightstand. He groaned and gently rolled a still sleeping Natasha gently off of his chest and onto the bed. He grabbed his phone and made his way out to the living room so he didn't disturb her. Bucky looked down at the caller ID and saw it was Lizzie's friend's house number. Bucky frowned and quickly answered the call "Hello?" He asked gruffly, still trying to wake up.

You: Natasha groaned as she was shifted onto the bed, hugging one of the pillows to her chest as she cuddled further under the covers.

Stranger: Bucky nodded his head as he listened to the girl's mother, rubbing his hand over his face. "I'll be right over. Thank you for callin' and tellin' me she wanted to come home early." He said before hanging up. Bucky chuckled softly and shook his head. He should have known she was gonna wake up early and demand to come home. Bucky stood up from the couch and made his way back into his bedroom. He pulled on a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt that had his companies name and logo on it, and his black converses. Bucky knelt beside the bed and gently shook Natasha "Hey, beautiful. I'll be right back. Lizzie decided she wanted to come home as soon as she woke up." He said softly as her sleepy green eyes blinked up at him.

You: Natasha hummed as she cracked open her eyes to look at him, the back of her hand rubbing them. "Should I leave?" she asked as she began to sit up with a groan. Meeting her at lunch was very different from running into her in the kitchen while wearing her father's clothes.

Stranger: Bucky chuckled softly and shook his head "Not if you don't want to." He said as he kissed her lips gently. "I'd love it if you'd have breakfast with us. But I understand if you want to head home and change. But if you don't wanna leave, my sister left some of her clothes from the last time she stayed here and you're both about the same size."

[book-o-scams]

What do you think of the Kanker's presence in Jingle Jingle Jangle? How is it different from their other appearances?

OKAY I FINALLY DID IT!  Step right up and see analysis of the Kankers’ parts of Jingle Jingle Jangle!  Only 3 or 4 weeks late!

First of all, in case I never analyze this special in full, I want to call out that this whole way of connecting the Eds’ A Plot to the Kankers’ B Plot is complete nonsense.... randomly discarded and forgotten flashlight + conveniently placed mirror = reflection of light pointed at the sky = Star of Bethlehem that uses Godlight to deliver sexual harassment to the main characters???  It is a purely visual idea, and what’s worse it seemingly has no meaning....  is it punishment for wasting a battery??  Then what was the point of the special’s other Chekhov’s lightbulb!?

Was that just a spiritual redemption, but not an escape from his punishment?  

Is it punishment for breaking his parents’ trust?  

Is it just to say the Kankers’ lives are sadder and this universe’s god prioritizes them above the Eds or anyone else?

Or is the Snow itself an entity, like the Static?  Both are terms to refer to television fuzz….  

Is Evil Tim in control of the holidays, with all the magical Santas and Elves and Monsters that get to appear in these episodes???  

The Snow is even the first thing to appear, in detailed close-up for one time, before the rest of the universe fades into existence, ushering Plank (and Jonny) into the digital era before the Eds OR the Kankers get to appear at all, and scenes where the snow is coming down are markedly more abstract and focused on the characters being quiet and internalizing their emotions.  

Is supernature itself overwhelming the characters at will and leading them to cruel fates!?  

Is the supersnow meant as a warning of the literal and figurative after-effects bound to invade any show switching to digital!?  

SOMEBODY STOP ME!

The snow even just fades out when Eddy’s light starts glowing.

I’m sorry to begin with a whole silly rant. It’s just that Christmas specials are normally the one episode of any show that can be counted on to let the main characters have a win.  The show was set to end with its stagnant nihilistic 4th season, so it was a miracle to get the holiday specials or digital era at all...  So this Kanker ending stung more than usual.

That said, this special has won me over as an adult!  The series’ first foray into digital animation looks really gorgeous and it’s such a visually driven special, you can’t look away.   The animation is unfortunately a little better than the digital era could make consistent, but it’s close enough to feel like the same show as everything that came before and after it.  Definitely some of the most experimental style choices the show ever made. I’m always so glad the backgrounds are still hand-painted throughout Jingle Jingle Jangle.

I’m fascinated by the way this star is clearly a digital effect, but at the same time it avoids being too high quality for EEnE by mostly looking like a dry brush (like when they do those paint-blurs when the characters move fast), and animating the star as white outlines with no color inside when they could easily do a real light effect is an interesting choice.  It captures the eery prettiness the star’s role demands without betraying the show’s sketchiness.

I really like the music direction this whole special, but this opening to the Kankers’ Christmas is one of my favorite parts.  It is about a minute long and starts 2 and a half minutes into the special.

As we start hearing dialogue from Lee, the camera whips down to the trailer park and the Kankers’ theme music drums in.  This is the one time the show really made me aware the Kankers have a theme so now I always keep an ear out for that music cue.  I know it fills most of their appearances in Big Picture Show.

Inside, the Kankers sit and squabble as always, playing with a box of Krazy Krackers.  Apparently Christmas Crackers are a more popular thing in the UK (the show had a lot of UK influence around this time, with Rachel Connor joining as head writer in the next season), but I think it’s been confirmed to be a Canadian thing too now.

Room analysis!   The Kankers seem to have to make do when it comes to decorations… They have lights on the staircase and around the windows, and a cute wreathe with a red light on top of their TV, but their tree is a lone stick that has 7 branches if it’s lucky, it’s plugged into the wall yet the one light on it isn’t working, and most of the ornaments seem to be recyclables, barbed wire, or orbs that have fallen from the tree.  Oven mitts have been hung from the wall in place of stockings and rather than garland, they’ve trimmed their living room with chains, fishing lures and… are those shower curtain lines?

This is probably the most the show really gets across how big of an economic difference there is between the cul-de-sac and the trailer park.  The kids, even Ed and Eddy (unfortunately we see little of Edd’s family’s Christmas traditions), seem to have very gaudy and extravagant decorations, most of them appear to be expecting family or coworker Christmas parties later in the evening.  The Kankers’ trailer is sparse by comparison.

Marie being the least cheery at Christmas is probably the most punk thing about her..

Focusing Kanker scenes on May is pretty typical of this point in the series, but I like how infallibly nice May is in this one.  Marie tries to blow the Christmas cracker up in May’s face, and yet May barely reacts to the threat level here as anything out of the ordinary.  Then again, this scene likely exaggerates how much these things are like firecrackers.

May calls the cracker a dud, so of course Lee razzes her, “just like you, huh, May?”  This moment has a good undertone of Lee trying to readjust Marie’s negativity to more of a light ribbing, to fit the season.

REALLY COOL DIGITAL DRYBRUSH EXPLOSION EFFECTS…

What’s the deal with this eyepatch on Marie though?  Is this just a “under the bangs” teaser gag like the one frame three-eyed Lee in BPS?  The artists don’t try nearly as hard to hide Marie’s full face as they do Lee’s….  Is it just an unexplained one-episode injury like Jimmy’s?  

so glad even the digital X-mas special gets inverted frames, one of the most interesting visual features of the series’ early episodes

Good honest reactions of concern for May from Marie and Lee..

WHAT IS THIS A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!?

“Look, Lee, May got a makeover~!”

….how desensitized have they become to slapstick!?  Sarah and Jimmy react to a similar gag with Eddy casually decapitating Ed next season with utter horror and confusion!

Apparently the most important thing here is that Marie wasn’t left out of getting a crown.

5 fingers on her right hand for one pose…

Note that the Kankers have replaced their wall unit’s knick knacks with Christmas cards from their invisible friends and family! 

 “Joy”

 “HAVE A XMAS” 

“From Your Father” (please appreciate this rare acknowledgement of the likelihood of a preferred Kanker dad)

“Ho Ho Ho” 

“Happy Kwanza” (also the one acknowledgment of other winter holidays in this Christmas special and I don’t think it’s even spelled correctly… I thought for sure at least JIMMY would celebrate Hanukkah or something…)

“[doodle of a candy cane]”

“DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?” 

one of this special’s many references to classic holiday staples, in this case the song, ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_You_Hear_What_I_Hear%3F

“Something twinkling in the sky!”

This opening scene to their plot starts the Kankers off as unusually innocent and naive, seemingly motivated only by an attraction to light, like moths.  Lee even has to ask “where is it?” to which Marie correctly points out that May already said the star was in the sky.

To be fair, Lee’s hair was blocking her eye, and we finally get to see her eye for the first time since season 1!

I LOVE this little detail of Lee twirling her foot before skipping out of frame.

Marie rises, embarrassed to have been choked and dropped so carelessly.

She tries to save face by telling May to come on.

May’s Christmas cheer will not be defeated!  

She teases Marie by giving Marie the same “come on” command.

Iconic!!  Doesn’t this shot kinda make you think of the night scenes in Disney’s Aladdin?

10 minutes later, we get another minute of Kanker B-plot.  I don’t think any other episode ever gets this close to the super-geometric outline-eradicating Samurai-Jack-esque style Rod Filbrandt uses in concept art for his backgrounds..

Such background porn…  I’m really unsettled by the weird abandoned signs of life this God Light takes the Kankers to…  It’s like a trail of death leading to the Eds’ bad ending and the Kankers are too desensitized to pick up on that.

Lee gives her sisters a quick glance as they approach.

Lee and May unintentionally shut Marie out and she steps around.

Also, I’ll give them points for the “gold, frankincense and myrrh” = “mold, franks and cents, and fur” rhyme gag, but only because I wasn’t aware of that part of the nativity scene until this special aired.  I was 13 when this came out, which means I’d already done like 8 grades of Catholic school, how did they fail to make any impression on me!?   But honestly, that’s a weird punchline to try and use as a button on this bit.  And as much as I love the art in that montage, it seems like it would’ve worked even better as a mood-setting detail if they found each gift separately between each house Eddy visited.

“What the heck is it?“  Pretty sure her mouth colors are mismatched.

“It’s a sign, stupid.“   Touching.

I love when they all look up in unison.

They look more confused as they walk away.

I’m really interested in how extra moody Marie seems in this montage.  I also noticed that their frostbitten walk through the snow seems to be slightly foreshadowing of the walk Eddy goes on in the climax.  

This is a really iconic shot and camera direction for me too, and it’s the one appearance of the junkyard at night in the whole show (as a setting, there’s at least one episode that shows it from overhead at night).  It’s also one of like 3 uses of the junkyard as a setting in the digital era.  And here you can barely even recognize it under the snow.  Still looks great, though!

They are SO introspective over this star… what are they contemplating?  Should we retroactively assume they’re regretting their situations with the Eds post-Fistful, or accept that this special wasn’t made in chronological order and think of something less specific, like family troubles or… just not thinking anything particular at all???  

Lee and May stare dumbfounded at their lost-in-thought sister.

Very cute Maries.

Love that unoutlined background pipe.

This glow effect seems.. broken.

“weiners and pennies!?“

Wait…  …Are you kidding me?  I just noticed that May and Marie are each wearing one half of the same pair of gloves and the same pair of mittens….

Oooh look at this goregous postcard-ready background of the construction site!  The construction site only has one other night scene I can think of that isn’t just an overhead shot, and it’s only one shot of Ed running there to grab a cement mixer during his fight with Nazz in Boo Haw Haw.

I really love how these gradient-silhouettes with blobby purple outlines look.  Their progression through the show’s locations reminds me of the EEnE video games (mainly Jawbreakers! for the GBA because that was the only game they had at this time)…  I think they also used this silhouette style for the kids on the Scam of the Century DS game cover.

i love EEnE vehiclessssss

I love wondering whose coat this is and why it’s been left here…  Also, do the rust and torn seat imply this construction site is officially abandoned? Or is this one of only a few vehicles that got left behind right before Christmas break and is now being ravaged by the elements?

This frame always makes me yearn for a future where Lee is a construction worker. Or demolition!!!

“It’s a coat.  Come on, we’re getting close.“  Oh sure fine, makes sense to me.

We then cut one street over to Eddy in Plot A, where it isn’t snowing, reinforcing the idea that the Kanker’s story is not chronologically synced up to Eddy’s story.

Anyway, another 10 minutes later, we get a final Kanker scene!

The Snow is strong enough to smack Eddy with a door (UNINTENTIONAL BRO FORESHADOWING?).  Eddy is also not very good at boarding a door, apparently.

On a scale of 1-10, how blasphemous is this shot?

The Snow encroaches upon the Eds

“Could it be!?  Three kings who have traveled afar!?“

How serious is that question, Edd.... why would there be three real-ass monarchs in Rolf’s shed in the middle of an American blizzard???

I feel real weird about Edd being so religious in this episode, it’s too soon after season 4 made such a point of Edd not believing in things that cannot be proven…  

I like that the special is religious.  As agnostic as Catholic school made me, Christmas specials that get sentimental about the Christian traditions get the most nostalgia out of me.  But this special and series clearly revels in sin and hopelessness, so I found it kind of jarring how much of this special lets the Bible references be played straight.  Making Edd super religious just so he can continue to be fanserviced as an angel felt a little cheap, and I feel like it creates an undertone that Eddy is being punished for not being as religious as the others around him.

But take my complaints there with a grain of salt, it’s impossible to understand X-mas Special Logic, where it’s not quite Christianity, just some sort of TV-safe offshoot with elves and magic and a generally more fantastical mythology.

Hey the silhouettes are back!

I already spoiled this joke...

I do really like this shot…  Nice to see Rolf’s animals get a Christmas cameo.

I do entertain the idea that the Kankers really think these gifts will warm the Eds’ hearts and earn their admiration.  But we all know this will be a short lived moment.

“This image certainly has the Christmas spirit…“

And now that there’s been a beat of peace, the Kankers reveal their true intention of pressuring the Eds into gifting them some kisses.  The way they trap them in the shed and suggest it’ll last a whole year is really one of the creepiest approaches to a Kanker ending in the whole show.  Obviously it’s not likely it would really last that long, and imo if it’s just kisses it’s not really new or surprising... but it’s still a pretty damn meanspirited ending for a beautifully-crafted holiday special that very easily could have been scrapped by the show’s season 4 cancellation. 

I do love the fur coat being draped over the cow’s face, though.

And it is honestly important to know the Eds can still do well drawn group scream takes in digital.

May and Ed scaring the animals is a nice touch, but I hate how we hear May going “oink” during this walla.

“WAIT”

“I’M AN ANGEL”

“STOP!!!!”

kiiiinda scary

I hate Eddy almost getting away but kinda love this rare separation of his eyes.

At this point my brain dies and I just go “aw the kids are so cute this is the only thing going on look how cute jonny is and kevin is being so nice and rolf is such a killyjoy i love this i love their group what a great xmas special nothing went wrong everyone is singing”

hope you had a good Kanker appreciation month!

*cries*