#Lollipop How-tos

[matchlatt]

MORE BAKUGO IM LITERALLY DESPERATE ON MY KNEES FOR YOU

AFTER WORK WITH DAD!KATSUKI

synopsis — pro hero dynamight comes home from work to see his wife, 5 year old son, and his cat

word count — 1.3k

a/n — GIRL I GOTCHU HAHAHAHAH ANYWAYS THIS ONE HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR A WHOLE LMAOO

The sun was already beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the Bakugo’s household.

The lights inside were soft and cozy, the living room half littered with tiny action figures, crayon drawings taped proudly on the wall, and a small, fluffy tabby cat curled up on top of the backrest of the couch, tail flickering with mild disinterest

The front door creaked open and in stepped Pro Hero Dynamight, still in partial gear, his gauntlets off and the collar of his hero suit unzipped enough to reveal a bit of sweat-slicked skin and tension across his muscles.

Katsuki Bakugo let out a low grunt as he shut the door behind him, the exhaustion of the day still clinging to his body like the grime from battle.

But then-

“Tch.”

His nose twitched.

“Smells like curry,” he muttered, voice softer now, almost…fond.

He dropped his bag by the entrance and toed off his boots, the sound of sizzling in the kitchen pulling a small, crooked smirk on his face. He moved through the house with ease, pausing only to ruffle the cat’s head in passing.

“Oi, fuzzball,” he mumbled to the cat. “You better not be climbin’ the curtains again.”

The cat meowed lazily, entirely unbothered.

In the kitchen, you stood barefoot in pajama pants and an oversized tee, humming quietly while stirring the curry pot. Katsuki leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching you with a blank look.

“How long have you been home?” he asked in a rough voice around the edges,

You turned with a smile that made something in his chest ease immediately. “Just an hour ago. How was work?”

“Annoying,” he muttered. “Dumbass villain tried to rob a candy store. A candy store.”

You snorted and turned off the stove. “That poor candy shop owner,” you teased. “Imagine getting screamed at by Dynamight over some stolen lollipops.”

“Damn right,” he smirked, walking over and wrapping his arms around your waist from behind. He buried his face into the crook of your neck, breathing you in. “Smelled this shit halfway down the block.”

He paused. “Miss you,” he said in a quieter tone.

Your hand came up to run through his messy, ash-blond hair. “You always say that when you’re hungry.”

“Both kinds,” he muttered against your skin, lips brushing lightly over your shoulder.

Just as things were about to turn a little steamier–

“MOM!”

Katsuki groaned and pulled away, already scowling.

The tiny stampede of footsteps echoed down the hallway before your five-year-old burst into the kitchen like a one-man army. Tousled blond hair that matched his father’s, wide crimson eyes full of fire, and the same scowl permanently etched into his chubby face.

“Mama! Guess what happened at school today!” he shouted, grabbing your hand and pulling you toward the living room with more strength than a toddler should have.

“Slow down, sweetheart,” you laughed, shooting Katsuki an apologetic look as you followed. “What happened?”

“I punched Daichi ‘cause he said cats are stupid!”

“Oi—what?!” Katsuki stomped in. “What the hell kinda dumbass logic is that?! You can’t just go punchin’ kids, brat!”

“He started it!” the boy huffed, arms crossed, looking so much like his father you could barely keep a straight face. “He said ‘only girls like cats’ and that boys should like dogs!”

“That's stupid,” you said calmly, kneeling down to ruffle your son’s hair. “But next time, use your words, not your fists.”

“He did use his words, right before he decked the other kid,” Katsuki grumbled, arms folded, glaring at the tiny version of himself.

“’Cause words are slow,” your son shot back.

“You little—!”

The cat chose this moment to leap up onto the arm of the couch and meow loudly, effectively ending the argument. Your son turned and gently picked her up, his tiny face softening instantly.

“Mama, look! Neko-chan missed me.”

Katsuki muttered under his breath, “I bet she was hoping’ for peace and quiet.”

You watched with a fond smile as your son began talking to you about everything he did at school, from painting to snack time to how he could totally climb the jungle gym without help now. All the while, Katsuki stood off to the side, getting progressively more annoyed that his wife was being hogged.

At one point, he leaned in toward you, trying to slide an arm around your waist.

Your son slapped his hand away. “No! I’m telling Mama something important.”

Katsuki gritted his teeth. “She’s my damn wife, you little shit.”

“She’s my Mama!”

“She was mine first-”

“Go shower, Dynamight,” you said calmly, not looking up from the story your son was weaving. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Tch. Fine.” Katsuki turned to leave, growling low, “It’s like talking’ to a wall.”

“Love you too, babe.”

He paused and looked over his shoulder. You caught the faint pink dusting his ears before he disappeared down the hall.

-

Later that evening, the house was quieter.

Your son had finally settled in his room, already snoring softly with the cat curled up by his feet. His little lamp glowed with a soft orange hue, illuminating the scribbled drawings of you, Katsuki, and him all holding hands under a wonky sun.

In the master bedroom, you were curled up against the headboard, book in hand, glasses perched on your nose. The door to the bathroom creaked open, and Katsuki stepped out, a towel draped around his shoulders, steam rolling off his skin.

He ran a hand through his damp hair and padded barefoot over to the bed, crawling in beside you in just a pair of low-slung sweatpants. The scent of your shampoo from earlier was still on his skin.

“Kid asleep?”

“Out cold,” you said, flipping a page. “I think he wore himself out arguing with you.”

“Good.”

He reached over and gently tugged the book from your hands, closing it with one hand and tossing it to the nightstand.

“Hey—”

“You had your moment. Now it’s mine.”

You didn’t protest when he pulled you into his arms, burying his face in your neck again, this time with a little sigh that told you exactly how much he’d needed this.

“Don’t say it,” you murmured with a smile.

“Say what?”

“That you missed me.”

“I wasn’t gonna say it,” he grumbled. “I was just gonna touch you a little.”

You giggled and tilted your head back so you could look at him. “Touch me, huh?”

He leaned in and kissed you, soft and slow. None of the fire and explosions the world knew him for. Just warmth. Home. Familiarity.

“You’re the only fuckin’ thing that makes the noise go quiet, y’know?” he said lowly, thumb stroking your cheek.

You reached up and brushed his damp bangs from his forehead. “And you’re the only one who puts up with our mini you throwing tantrums.”

“He gets the yelling from you.”

“Tch.”

There was a moment of silence. His hand slipped beneath your shirt, resting on the curve of your waist, nothing lewd, just comfort. You both lay there, the sound of your son’s faint snores carrying through the baby monitor and the occasional thump of the cat exploring the hallway.

“Still think we’re doing’ okay?” you asked quietly.

Katsuki’s voice was firm. “No one’s got what we’ve got.”

You nodded.

The cat slipped into your room then, hopping up at the foot of the bed and curling into a warm little ball. Katsuki looked down at her and muttered, “Traitor.”

You laughed, rolling into him. “Face it. Everyone loves me the most.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“You’re lucky I love you even when you say dumb shit like that.”

You kissed his jaw and whispered, “Love you too, Kats.”

And for the first time that day, Katsuki Bakugo truly relaxed—wrapped up in his two favorite people, a sassy cat, and the one place that felt like peace.

Home.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows 1

Warnings: non/dubcon, clashing personalities, exclusion, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

Characters: moody boy Curtis Everett x bubbly, plus-size reader

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

It’s your first day at work. Your nerves have simmered over to a nice whirlwind. Even as you sit at your desk, going through the various training materials. You haven’t managed to calm down. Your heart is beating so fast.

Everyone’s been nice. You don’t know why you’re jittering. Like your mother says, you’re overthinking, and like your father says, you need to sit still. You grab the armrests and try to make yourself stop moving. It only makes you want to boil over.

You swivel back and forth and look at your coworkers. They’re all so busy like bees in a hive. They know exactly what they’re doing and you still feel lost as you sift through endless SOPs and corporate training videos.

You see a woman with purplish red curls with a mug, steam curling over the brim. Ah, that’s a good excuse for a break. You still need to figure out the office coffee machine. Daniella, your supervisor, briefly pointed it out during her tour. It’s one of those fancy industrial pod brewers.

You stand and nearly skip between the desks. Be cool. You slow your pace and hold your shoulders straight, your squared toed kitten heels clacking on the tile. You poke your head into the kitchen and find only one other employee inside.

The man’s shoulders are broad and straight as he stares silently at the coffee machine. It grinds and spurts out dark coffee. You come up next to him to peruse the spinning rack of pods, tapping your chin as you think. You peek over at him.

“Hi,” you smile, “any recommendations?”

His pale blue eyes meet yours for an instant before quickly flicking back to his cup. A plain black porcelain mug without any decoration or glitz. You already know which cup you want to bring in; the one that looks like a honey pot and has a small lid resembling a bear sticking his head out with a little honeycomb stitch between his ears.

You take one of the paper cups and a pod of the butterscotch twist. You stand back and wait your turn. He scowls as if mentally urging the cup to fill.

“I’m…” you introduce yourself, “I just started over in Research and Development.”

He doesn’t respond. He puts his hands behind him, clutching them tightly as his forearms tense. The tendons bulge out beneath his skin. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, a grey button up with black trousers. A bit grim but an aesthetic for sure. There’s several rings on his fingers as they curl around each other.

“It’s my first day,” you continue the one-sided conversation, “so… that’s why you never saw me before.”

He growls and grabs his cup as the machine dings. He doesn’t acknowledge you as he turns on his heel and marches out. You watch his back and shrug, blowing out between your lips. You get it, some people aren’t the social type.

You put your cup under the spout and tap the touchscreen. It takes you a lot of poking around to figure out how to brew the coffee. You step back and wait. Caffeine should definitely help your nerves… fuel them at least.

💗

Lunchtime comes and you grab your bento box and head down to the cafeteria. Daniella said you could eat your desk if you wished but you need a break from the screen. Besides, you notice that most people don’t.

You enter the cafeteria. There are tables here and there but they’re already crowded. You notice a few people from your department and head over to that table. Tammy moves her bag onto the seat before you can claim it. You frown and apologise as you back away.

Hmm.

You look around. You don’t know anyone. You don’t mind making new friends but it’s like high school all over again. Everyone has their clique and you’re just wandering in between.

Your gaze falls on the only table with more than one seat free. There’s a single person sitting at it, his head down as he runs his hand over his close cut hair. Hey, it’s… that guy. He didn’t give you his name.

You cross the room and near a chair, putting your hand on the back of it as you hover by the table.

“Hi, um, do you mind if I sit here?”

His eyes dart up and he says nothing. He shrugs and sits back, smoothing out the pages of the book in front of him. You sit, your bento box clanging loudly as you do. You give a sheepish smile as he clears his throat but doesn’t look at you.

You flip back the clasp and pop open the lid. He shifts in his chair as you take out your plastic cutlery from the little compartment. You try to be quiet but you can’t help but hit the fork off the side.

You look over at him. He has only his empty mug and a half-eaten protein bar. You look back at your colourful medley of food. Maybe he’s on a diet.

“Do you like hummus?” You ask.

He doesn’t look up. You bite your lip. You’re just being friendly but maybe he’s not hungry.

“Um, uh, you remember me?” You poke at your couscous, “from the kitchen? I didn’t get your name.”

He sighs and turns the page. You nod. Not much of a talker. You let your fork lean on the edge of the bento and grab the sides of your chair, scraping it closer. He snarls and finally looks at you.

You stop and show your teeth like a threatened animal. His jaw clenches and he refocus on his book. You stir the couscous and take a bite, swallowing as your curiosity piques.

“What are you read–”

“I’m not,” he grits and shuts the book without marking the page.

He stands and pockets the protein bar, swiping up his mug and book. You gape at him, stunned. You don’t know why he’s so upset. You’re just trying to be polite. He storms away and you frown at your food. Well, you’ve always got a friend in snacks!

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is: ghosttotheparty! @ghosttotheparty has 72 fics in the Stranger Things fandom and 61 of them are in the Steddie tag!

@estrellami-1 or anonymous nominator recommends the following works by @ghosttotheparty:

love me softly

a mess of holy things

pretty girls (series)

hideout

fate

"This author has captivated me from day one. I’ve since gone back and read and re-read everything they have in fandoms that I am a part of, and I’m highly considering reading everything, regardless of fandom!" -- @estrellami-1

They also had this to say: "It was so hard to just pick five fics—I’d easily pick all of them if I could!! These five are just a few of their fics that I come back to, time and time again. This author’s way with words is absolutely stunning, and I want to be like them when I grow up! 😉" -- @estrellami-1

Below the cut, @ghosttotheparty answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

I honestly just adore them so much. Characters that are opposites have always been something I’ve loved; Nico di Angelo and Will Solace are the first to come to mind. I’ve loved them since middle school (I’m in my third year of uni now), and I’ve apparently drawn some connections between their dynamics and Steddie’s. I also feel like Steddie just has so much potential in regards to different dynamics. There are so many alternate universes in which they’re entirely different from the way they are in the original show but there is still a consensus within the community of what kind of people they are and how they behave, speak, or interact. Despite writing the same characters over and over and over, I’ve had so much fun being able to experiment with different personalities and dynamics.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

I think everyone knows at this point that I lovelovelove hurt/comfort. Physical injury and wounds, nursing the other back to health, trauma recovery, nightmares or flashbacks, sub/dom drop, panic attacks or breakdowns, give me all of it. (Bonus points if this is pre-relationship and the comforter calls the other a pet name (cough baby cough) for the first time in the midst of it all. God.)

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

See above. In all honesty, I love intensity. Heavy emotions like grief and anguish and rage are my fucking thing, and I think most of my longer fics involve at least one heavy scene with a panic attack or emotional breakdown. Something about the release and expression of emotions followed by tender patience and sweet comfort is just so cathartic for me.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

I write more fics than there are fics that I read, unfortunately, but the first fic to come to mind was in my life by mourningshowers (@keycarabiner on tumblr). Sososo sweet and tender. It ripped me apart and then stitched me back together and gave me a lollipop as a treat. I also adore the series The Rush of Thunder (That Brings You Under) by callmejude (@callmejude on tumblr). The pacing and characterisation and dialogue were fucking phenomenal. Print this whole series out and bury me with it when I go.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I have a few AUs that I haven’t actually explored quite yet; one involves teacher!Steve and another is about punk!Stobin (platonic, Obviously), and yet another involves artist!Eddie. But more generally speaking I would like to explore some heavier themes in the future when I have the guts.

What is your writing process like?

Good question. I have no idea. I write pretty much every night, usually with Youtube or Netflix on next to me (typically playing things I’ve already seen so I don’t have to pay full attention to follow along, but my main go-tos are documentaries/docuseries), and I tend to just get as much out as I can. I write most linearly; I tend to not skip ahead and go back, but occasionally I’ll have an idea for a scene that I need to scribble out to make sure I don’t forget it. But my plotlines and focus points tend to shift as I’m writing, so sometimes these scenes end up changing as well.

Do you have any writing quirks?

I hadn’t noticed any, but Bee (@jewishrat420) pointed some out to me: - I consistently use the word ‘press’ - I phrase actions in lists with commas and a finalising and. - I tend to have repeating themes (for example, warm and cold and the quiet journey a character makes from their loneliness to the warmth of someone else). I’ve also noticed that I really like writing visceral imagery; even in fics for other ships I’ve mentioned one character longing to claw open their partner and climb inside them. I love bloody imagery, which Steddie are perfect for.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

If I’m uploading a fic with multiple chapters, I generally try to stay ahead of my posting schedule with at least one to two chapters already written in advance of posting. For my current wip, though, I’ve decided to post only when it’s complete, and to post on a schedule just in case I get behind or lose track.

Which fic are you most proud of?

Probably a mess of holy things.

How did you get the idea for a mess of holy things?

Ah, my love. The inspiration for this fic came from dirty paws by inifiniteorangepeel (@infinite-orangepeel on tumblr). Her version of Steve had me by the fucking throat, and I genuinely could not stop thinking about him even though I think this was before she even started uploading actual parts of the fic. I knew that I wanted to write some kind of religiously traumatised Steve, naive and curious about Eddie fucking Munson, and the haze of an idea snowballed into whatever this fic became.

When writing a mess of holy things, what was something you didn’t expect?

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting how confrontational it would feel. I was raised Catholic, and I put Steve’s parents in a category of religious people that I’ve never really known well. I was never forced to go to church or Sunday school (in fact, I think I only went to Sunday school for, like, three weeks), and for the most part as a child, my relationship with God was amicable. My abuela was very religious when I was young (my mother likes to say, “She was more Catholic than the Pope”), but I never felt as though her faith impeded upon my own life. She would tell me that my artistic skill was a gift from God, and she would pray over me when I had tummy aches, and even though I wasn’t very faithful, I found comfort in it. I also have always found a peace in holy buildings; churches and church graveyards are some of my favourite places to just sit in silence. So I wasn’t expecting the emotional whiplash writing holy things gave me. Writing from Steve’s point of view at first felt like writing fantasy, making it up as I went because I couldn’t write from experience; I have healthy relationships with both my parents, and even though my father had a very difficult childhood, he’s done everything he could to be a good father to me and my brother, so Steve’s father was entirely made up. It wasn’t until I got further along in the fic that I actually realised how big an impact even a slightly religious upbringing had on me as a queer person. My parents never taught me anything hateful, never complained about anybody in regards to God, but somehow this general religious disapproval latched itself to my ribcage, and I hadn’t realised I’d been carrying it around with me my whole life. And I was forced to confront it, along with the distrust that I’d inadvertently developed toward religious people.

What inspired love me softly?

My darling!! This fic started as a random one-shot about Eddie bitching to Gareth about having a crush on a normie, but the feedback was so lovely I decided to write another part. And then another. And then another. At some point the vague idea of a plot appeared, and this universe became very dear to me. I still have ideas for follow-up one-shots, which I keep in a collection on AO3. I think this fic is also what started my love for Tommy Hagan, who I’ve since claimed as an OC. He’s mine now.

What was your favorite part to write from hideout series?

While I was writing this series, I found that I love secret relationships. The idea of Steve having something in his life that he could turn to for some sense of normalcy despite everything in his life literally being straight out of a science-fiction movie was something I loved, and writing the majority of it from an outsider point of view was a fun experiment/exercise.

How do/did you feel writing fate (series)?

Oh, GOD. I love angst. I had the idea for Eddie’s death, specifically him singing the Tennessee Waltz and the whole “Do you think God’ll let me in?” thing, and I worked from there. I actually considered leaving the fic at Eddie’s death, but as much as I love angst, I also love happy and hopeful endings. Even though my heart hurt the entire time I wrote this whole series, I loved it all. Wayne’s point of view was a fun (ish) shift in perspectives and I’ve since included sections in his point of view because I love him so much. (I do also have a one-shot specifically about him living in my head, but I have yet to put it into words.)

What was the most difficult part of writing pretty girls (series)?

I don’t know if I would really consider it difficult, but it did require some actual thinking to write Steve as transfemme, or genderqueer in the opposite direction as me. To take my own experiences and feelings and shift them so they’re upside down was definitely interesting.

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

This is from one of my less known fics, spill my guts: “And I’m so fucking high right now, but Steve, I— I think I love you.” It just feels so representative of Steddie as a whole. (Honestly the whole scene kind of feels very Them: both of them high out of their minds and suddenly confessing their undying love in the most dramatic fucking way possible. Ugh. I love them.)

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I’m working right now on a fic that involves priest’s son!Steve and recovering addict!Eddie, and that’s all I’ll say on that <3

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Not entirely relevant, but I make playlists and pinboards for almost all my fics (if I don’t have one of either for a fic that you’d like one for, literally just hit me up and I’ll put one together); here are the ones I made for Steve & Eddie <3 S - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dW3wTo8nD11RuqKs9aj52?si=9f98f4a287394152 https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ghosttotheparty/king-steve/ E - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4eWRFi07VIEKIoeaGwfFI5?si=791fa1f2dd6a4f7e https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ghosttotheparty/eddie-the-banished/

Thank you to our author, @ghosttotheparty, and our nominator, @estrellami-1! See more of @ghosttotheparty's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[forcedcompanionsdaycare]

(Skadge is Awful) Forced Companions Daycare, 010

On THURSDAYS, FCD is staffed by T7-01 and LORD SCOURGE. T7-01: Children = fell over a lot yesterday while T7 was out // T7 = glad T7 bought lots of kolto packs LORD SCOURGE: I suspect that if you had spent the entire day overseeing the children, there would not have been such a need for kolto packs. T7-01: Lord Scourge = mistaken // SCORPIO = very conscientious LORD SCOURGE: It is not her conscientiousness I question. She takes exhaustive notes and is very methodical. It is simply the benefit to the children I am skeptical of. BABY ELARA: Teeseven! Teeseven! BABY ELARA points to where BABY SKADGE is jumping on BABY VETTE. BABY SKADGE: Kill! Kill! Kill! BABY ELARA: Shouldn’t we arrest him or something? T7-01: Arrest = no-no // this galaxy = no meaningful consequences for bad companion behavior BABY KALIYO, toddling by: That is a truly interesting statement. T7-01: Skadge = play nice // or Skadge = gets hose again LORD SCOURGE: I will never understand how SCORPIO talked you into that disciplinary measure, but I love that she did. BABY SKADGE: Someday I’m’a stomp your lekku, little alien. T7-01: Skadge = already did stomp her lekku // Skadge = terrible person BABY SKADGE lumbers sulkily off. BABY VETTE: Ow. BABY DOC: Somebody’s hurt! Wait, I’m there! BABY DOC sprints in waving a medpac the size of his head. BABY DOC: You’re gonna be okay, beautiful. BABY VETTE: Um? You’re kinda creepy. BABY DOC: I once saved a whole planet of cute little Twi’leks from big mean Houks. LORD SCOURGE: That is an outright lie. BABY DOC: Just play along, would you? LORD SCOURGE: No. BABY DOC: It’s all right, babe. I got this. BABY DOC finishes applying kolto to BABY VETTE’s bruises, then sweeps BABY VETTE up and sloppily kisses her cheek. BABY VETTE: EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW BABY DOC, alarmed, drops BABY VETTE back on the floor. T7-01: Baby Doc = acting out // Lord Scourge = give him a talking-to about inappropriate urges? LORD SCOURGE: I am Sith. I never met an inappropriate urge I didn't like. T7-01: T7 = bad at talking-tos // Baby Doc = always commences dance party using T7's beeping as techno beats LORD SCOURGE: I cannot be bothered with this. You, Bowdaar. Clean this up. YOUNG BOWDAAR, helping BABY VETTE off the floor: I AM A SLAVE. BABY VETTE: Ow. YOUNG BOWDAAR, offering her a medpac and a lollipop: I AM A SLAVE. BABY VETTE: I do keep hearing that. How are you liking it as a career path? YOUNG BOWDAAR, struggling to articulate: …I do not like that I AM A SLAVE. BABY VETTE: Huh, okay. Just figured I would keep my options open.

[stokesy55]

Ok yes I love the idea that Yash's dad wanted to abort him, but for the first time in her life, his mum resisted, defied and fought back. She's carrying this child, whatever it may be, it's hers to love, cherish and protect. His dad tells her she's being emotional, unreasonable, an understandable side-effect of pregnancy. He tries to make her see the situation from a "logical" point of view. They already have so little, what's the point in having another child, especially a male omega who'll never be good for anything save marriage? But his mum refuses to obey, she's having this child, even if she has to fight the world for him.

Her rebellion drives a wrench between her and her husband but that's okay, that's worth it, she thinks, when she holds Yash in her arms for the first time, admiring his scrunched up little face, his tiny hands and feet. Ooof, I love Yash's dad not even being present for his birth. So it falls to his mum to give him a name, and she names him Yashasvi. Which means "successful" or "famous". It's another silent rebellion on her part, a secret burning hope that the kid her husband thought didn't even deserve to be born was actually destined for the greatest fame and success in life.

When she comes back with the baby in her arms, her husband makes it clear he'll only provide the basic necessities for Yash. In two or three years, he must start helping around the house if he wants to stay. His mum agrees because she's already toed the line enough, any more will see her as well as Yash out on the streets.

Even as a baby Yash is pretty much left alone. His dad doesn't play with him or rock him to sleep. He doesn't bring him toys. He even tries to forbid his siblings from playing with him. When baby Yash first lisps out the word, "Dada", his dad is actually disgusted and tells his mother to "tell her brat not to call me that again."

Yash grows up in a pretty neglectful, toxic and abusive environment. By the time he's three, he's taught how to help out around the house and told that this will be his life from now on, he's not good for anything else. His relationship with his dad is very complicated, Yash doesn't understand why his dad is so cold and indifferent towards him. Especially when he sees him with his siblings, he's always saving money to buy chocolates and lollipops and ribbons for the girls, soft toys and a bicycle for his older brother, making grand plans about their education and future, so why doesn't he treat Yash the same way? Why is he not worthy of his dad's love and affection?

He hears his whole life, primarily from his dad, that he's useless, a burden upon him, and as soon as he has his first heat, he's going to rid himself of this burden by giving him to the first alpha who'll have him. It ignites a fire in Yash, a desperate longing to prove his dad wrong, that he's worth more than being just someone's husband.

He tries to persuade his dad into letting him attend school, he just needs one chance to prove to him that he can do something with his life. He tries to bribe, bargain, argue, but nothing works. He won't go to school. All Yash gets for his efforts is a hand striking him across his cheek with such force that it leaves his face swollen and sore for days. He fears his dad too much to speak out against him, so the target of his hate and resentment becomes his poor mother. Yash of course has no idea that she's the reason he's standing here in the first place, he simply detests her for her despicable silence, the way she lets his dad scold him, treat him like dirt, beat him black and blue. He hates the way she tells him it's his own fault that this is happening to him, if he just pipped down and accepted his place in life like a good little omega instead of rebelling against the norms and conventions, his dad won't have to scold or hit him. She's trying to turn him into another version of herself, who'll keep quiet and let anybody walk over her, Yash thinks and hates her for that because that's not the life he wants for himself. Yash looks at his mother and feels stifled, he sees in her the life that will soon be his if he doesn't do something about it.

When his brother introduces him to cricket, Yash finds his hope, his salvation. Everyone gushes about how good he is, how he has the talent to go far in this sport, that Yash starts believing in himself. He tries to convince his dad to let him pursue the sport professionally, but of course it doesn't end well. His dad sneers at him, tells him he's too old to harbour such childish dreams, an omega can never be an international player. Yash protests, is adamant that he wants to go professional, and his dad again beats him up for being a stubborn, insolent child. That's when Yash resolves to leave because it's clear he'll never be allowed to live his dreams in this hellhole of a house. He packs his meagre belongings, sneaks out in the middle of the night, leaving a note for his parents that he's going to Mumbai and won't come back until he's made a man out of himself.

Yash's mum and brother and other siblings are distraught when he leaves. His dad pretends it doesn't affect him, but there are times when he misses his youngest, nights when he lies awake looking at Yash's empty bed, wondering if he should go to Mumbai and bring his boy back, he knows after all what a cruel world it is, and how can an eleven year old boy survive alone out there? But his pride stops him.

Same for Yash. He runs away in a rage and he has no idea how difficult life on the streets can be. Only after coming to Mumbai does he realize that his dad was not entirely wrong when he told Yash to be grateful he was putting a roof over his head and food in his belly. Now he doesn't have even that. Sometimes, Yash wants to go back home, apologise to his dad and beg him to take him back in. Even listening to his dad's taunts would be better than this, having to sleep on the streets, cold hungry and shivering, or worse gritting his teeth and letting an alpha have his way with him in exchange for some food and water. But Yash is his dad's son after all, his pride stops him from going back. He's come this far, he's not going to give up, he's going to overcome every hardship in his way.

When he makes it international, his dad is surprised to see him on TV. He doesn't know what to feel really. A part of him wants to be proud that his little boy is playing for India, but he's too proud to let himself feel pride in his discarded son's achievements. Because admitting so means admitting he was wrong to treat Yash like he was nothing, means begging his forgiveness. So he remains indifferent to Yash and pretends his heart doesn't ache when Yash's face shatters as the only praise he gets out of his own dad is a gruff well done.

Yash doesn't know why he expected anything less, it's been the story since his childhood, but the lonely love-starved child inside him genuinely believed that he'd done enough for his dad to look past his omega status, feel pride for him and give him the love and affection he'd been denied for eighteen years of his life.

Do you think Yash and his dad ever mend their relationship? Also what about Yash and his mum, do you think Yash eventually realizes what she did for him, how she was helpless too?

Also, I guess the trauma of Yash's early childhood makes its presence known in his later life too? He's grown up being told he was unwanted, a burden, and then in Mumbai, any relationship he had was superficial and transactional in nature, so that naturally impacts his ability to form and maintain friendships and romances in the future.

And bonus points for green flag alpha Shubman who is always supporting Yash. Like Yash tells him once, off-handedly that he always found teddy bears cute but he never got new toys in his childhood, so the next day Shubman buys an entire store of stuffed animals for Yash to cuddle with. Before dating Shubman, Yash never really properly celebrated his birthday; his family didn't care and when he was alone on the streets he hardly had the time or resources for that. But now every year, Shub throws a party for Yash, complete with balloons and cakes and his favourite food. Yash wasn't allowed to go to school by his parents, and by the time his coach adopted him off the streets, it was too late to get him enrolled. So Yash only receives basic training in language, grammar and sums, that too from his coach. Later, it's Shubman who sits down with him and teaches him stuff like writing and finances. Shubman is the one who teaches him how to drive a car too.

I like it, but I’m not giving his dad a redemption arch. Yash’s dad represents that, even in a modern era, there are still those old fashioned enough that they see nothing but sub gender. This is an innocent child he’d have murdered because he was a certain way. There is no remorse from his dad when Yash leaves, just relief.

Same with his sisters. Remember the other kids haven’t been brought up thinking Yash is their brother, but the help. They’re expected to treat him as such. So when he goes, they don’t feel much, never having really understood who he was under their father’s regime.

His mother however mourns him like he’s dead. She knows what the world is like, the world she’s suffered in silence in the try and protect Yash from its cruelty. Even everything she’s given up wasn’t enough to protect her baby boy. She mourns him deeply.

When she hears he’s playing cricket in Mumbai, she makes excuses to go and watch him. Lies to her husband about why shes going to Mumbai, hides in disguise in the crowd. Yash’s brother goes too but he also doesn’t know she’s there— perhaps that’s her excuse; their dad knows Yash’s brother is going to try and track Yash down and he sends their mother to make sure that doesn’t happen. She jumps at the chance because it means she might get a chance to see Yash too, make sure he’s ok.

She’s delighted when she she’s him, she’s over the moon when he makes international debut. His dad begrudgingly watches (he wants to watch Indian but is highly indifferent to this kid who shares his name) but his mother is glued to the screen whenever Yash is batting, gasps when the camera pans round to find him on the field.

When she hears of his relationship with Shub, she’s so happy. The alpha really looks like he worships the ground Yash walks on. It’s the kind of alpha her son deserves.

Yash’s brother notices her behaviour, and he frills her about it. She tries to remain cagey, but as he’s the only one still with a relationship with Yash, she grips it like a lifeline, enquiring whether he thinks Yash would see her. She explains everything and Yash’s brother does what he can to reconcile them.

Yes to all the Shub stuff 😭 even before they’re dating, Shub starts to learn that Yash never really had a birthday (only knowing it because it’s on his birth certificate), never had new toys, starts to get an image of what childhood was like for the omega. His heart breaks and he wants to fix everything for Yash (Shub knows instantly he’s fucked - he’s so hooked on this omega, so desperate to protect him, that literally everyone else pales in existence). He notices one day that Yash’s hands keep stroking this soft fabric. Maybe they’re in a market or a hotel, but when Shub asks Yash explains it reminds him of the velvet white teddy his sister used to have. He only managed to feel it once, picking it up from the floor where she’d discarded it, only to have it ripped from his grubby hands and told to never touch her stuff again. But he remembers the feeling, so soft, like water weaved into fur. He’d never felt anything so soft in his life.

Shub literally scours India for the perfect teddy. He doesn’t say anything, just leaves it in Yash’s hotel room with a note ready “he’s yours x”. His heart flutters when he notices the teddy in Yash’s cricket bag, how his fingers reach for its soft fur almost subconsciously in the dressing room. He just knows and envisages Yash cuddled up with it at night, and he realises more than anything he wants to share a night with Yash not to fuck him but to see that adorable image in real life. He’s so so sooooo hooked on Yash.

[yifftwiceplz]

I would like to get to know you better, but I’m not sure you want to be known.

what does that even mean want to be known

ive been mentally in the shit and feeling totally misunderstood in most of my interactions for a few months i dont feel like thats me not wanting to be known i feel like thats me not having a good time and needing something different than that

and it sounds like youre greatly overthinking it rather than just talking to me and if i dont like something going huh guess he doesnt like that

i dont think getting to know someone better is all sunshine and lollipops and rainbows and i dont think its a good idea to keep trying if you arent enjoying what you find and i feel like people keep making that into my personal issue rather than realizing they came up to me and didnt like how i presented myself when i said i didnt like it

its not that i dont want to be known its that i want people to stop expecting me to do a little jingly toed dance every single time they talk to me and when i dont do the jingly toed dance at least not be like wow dave really whats your problem you love the jingly toed dance

i dunno this one needles my nerves a bit

im tired of feeling guilty because im not friends with everyone on the planet

[airlocksandaviaries]

It’s even more hilarious when you remember he’s basically the opposite of Captain Kirk. He’s a Starship Captain. He’s trying very hard to be blond and not bald. He’s the most american American you’ll ever see. He made up an element within the first few hours of meeting a cosmic power. He loves children.

Picard as a main character is so funny. like he's a starship captain. he's bald. he's the most english frenchman you'll ever see. he quoted shakespeare in the first five minutes of meeting a cosmic power. he hates children.

[pahtoosh]

doctor daddy

[image ID: a behind the scenes photo of Sebastian Stan as Lee Bodecker from The Devil All The Time. He is standing with his hands in his pockets and looking off into the distance. /.end ID]

masterlist

18+

wc: ~980 words

warnings: Lee wants to beat someone up(no one in particular, he’s just frustrated), reader is in physical pain, mentions of painkillers, written on my phone, sappy and needy reader as usual. Lee carries reader.

a/n: this picture makes me giggle, I wonder what he’s thinking about.

pairing: lee bodecker x gn!little!reader

summary: Lee’s baby is hurting

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Pain and suffering: that’s all you knew. The sun never seemed so dull and the nights never seemed so cold. You wondered if you’d survive the ne-

“Baby?”

Oh! Daddy’s home!

Lee quickly toed off his shoes and met you at the couch, setting down his paper grocery bag along the way. You looked adorable swaddled up in a blanket with your stuffed bunny, but Lee’s heart couldn’t help but ache for you.

You’d been stuck on the couch all day. Standing or even sitting up required too much energy, not to mention that shifting positions could mean upsetting your body further.

Earlier today Lee wanted to call in sick and tend to you, but you assured him that you would be okay as he went on with his shift at the station. He lovingly carried you to the couch where he’d set up everything you could’ve possibly needed while he was gone. Blankets, painkillers, snacks, water, books, and the TV remote were all within reach. Your daddy left you with a kiss on the forehead and strict instructions to rest up, drink water, eat a snack, and call him if you needed help.

You obliged with a yes, daddy and made it through the next seven hours still in pain, bored, and missing your daddy. You were so happy when he came home, but your state meant you had to wait for him to come to you instead of running to meet him at the door as usual. Luckily, Lee wasted no time getting to your side. He’d missed you just as much as you’d missed him.

He held your smaller hand in his and gave you three gentle kisses on your forehead, the tip of your nose, and your puffed out lip. Lee normally loved your pouty face but knowing that this one was caused by your state of pain rather than an adorable neediness made it less enjoyable. He almost wished there was a single person responsible for your pain so he could take it out on them, but he knew all he could do now was be here for you.

“How ya feelin’ sweetie?”

“Hurts, Daddy.”

Lee muttered a curse under his breath and gently massaged the hand he was holding. “My poor baby. ‘ wish there was somethin’ I could do to help. I could beat up someone right now, makes me so mad seein’ my baby hurt like this.”

You shook your head and pulled his hand closer. “Just need Daddy.”

Lee smiled for the first time that day. “And you’ll get him, sweetheart. Just let me help ya out a little first, yeah? I stopped by the store and got somethin’.”

You raised your eyebrows in curiosity. Lee normally just bought the essentials, and you technically had everything you could need to recover at home already. He tucked your arm back under the blanket and began pulling stuff out of the bag.

“I gotcha a different kinda pain medicine, this one’s a cream. There’s a new thermometer, in case the old one wasn’ workin’ right and my baby really is sick. This here’s a new pair of socks to keep yer feet warm and protected. And this is a lollipop for being my good ‘n brave little baby.”

You admired your new socks and treat with a soft thank you daddy and let Lee fuss over you with his new supplies. He cleaned the new thermometer and let out a sigh of relief when it confirmed that you were at a safe temperature. He swapped out your old, worn-out socks with the new, softer ones. And then he carefully peeled back the blanket and your clothing to rub in the pain-relief cream.

After Lee washed his hands, he climbed in behind you on the couch, replacing the numerous pillows and blankets with his solid body. His round belly fit perfectly into the curve of your back, and his strong arms acted like a weighted blanket. He knew just how to support you to keep you comfortable and ease your pain.

In this position, he could also speak to you in a hushed tone and feel butterflies in his chest whenever you whispered back or snuggled closer to him.

You asked him about his day. He kept it brief, mostly talking about how much he missed you. He only shared the details of his work with you when you were at your big age; Lee was very diligent about preserving the safety of your little mind.

He turned the question on you, listening to you describe the episodes of Bugs Bunny you watched and what antics your stuffies got into today. He loved hearing about your inner world. Lee never got to explore his imagination too much. His responsibilities kept him tied to the real world, so he admired that you were able to keep that part of you alive while still dealing with your own issues.

The two of you fell into a comfortable silence before you were overcome with the need to tell your daddy how much you appreciate him.

“Thank you for takin’ care of me, Daddy.”

Lee kissed the back of your head. “It’s no problem, sweetheart. That’s what daddies are for. You feelin’ any better? That pain medicine doin’ its job yet?”

“Mhm.” You nodded and then turned your head to muffle your next sentence, shy about the sappy words about to leave your mouth. “Daddy’s the best medicine though.”

Lee chuckled and pulled you closer if that was possible. “Oh yeah? What makes ya say that?”

You squeezed his arms wrapped around you and wiggled against his belly, proving your point. “Daddy’s soft and cozy and strong. And Daddy gives the best cuddles.”

Lee shook his head, not believing how lucky he was to have you in his life. “Daddy loves you, baby. And I’ll never stop cuddling you.”

[dragonjesterwrites]

Sun and Uncorrupted!Moon as parents (w/ Reader) Headcanons

Both of them claim they're the more responsible one, but truth is they're both like 75% responsible parent and 25% "haha don't tell the other two or we're both in big trouble" parent.

Sun will feed the kid(s) junk food and let them stay up a little past bedtime, but is strict about things like curfews and chores (although he makes chores fun), and never goes against your or Moon's final say intentionally.

Moon only cooks healthy food and bedtime is strictly enforced (ofc lmao) but is absolutely down to prank Sun/you with the kid(s). The same as Sun when it comes to curfews, chores, and not undermining Sun and you.

Sun will cry of happiness over every milestone the baby reaches. Fills a minimum of three personalized picture albums covered in stickers. Straight up has to reboot if an adult kiddo comes to you two and excitedly gives you news of engagement/a planned pregnancy.

Moon doesn't cry often, his soft moments are shown more through tender cuddles. If you wake up and can't find the baby, listen for Moon's machinery. You'll find him and the baby cuddled up in a blanket nest somewhere, Moon softly singing a lullaby.

Sun has to stop himself from letting the kid(s) draw over the walls. It sounds like fun, but must... be... responsible...

Moon, conversely, has trouble stopping the kid(s) pillow fighting in the house. It was easy at first because he didn't want to hurt the little one(s) but as they got older and started initiating the pillow fights more, he absolutely wants to show them why he's the official pillow fight champion. But there are breakable objects...

They absolutely suggest space themed names for the baby. Once they're born/come home they dress them up in little space themed onesies. When the baby's really little, Moon likes to hold them in his hat.

Lots of nicknames for the kiddos. "Shooting Star" and "Little Comet" are Moon's go-tos, Sun's are "Solar Flare" and "Bumblebee"

Moon teaches the kid(s) how to be more flexible and contort themselves. Sun teaches the kid(s) how to do cartwheels and handstands.

While they love spending time with their child(ren)and are concerned about bullies, they think regular school would be better than homeschooling. It's important to socialize! And they have endless patience for endless questions anyway, so you'll often come home to Sun/Moon happily explaining things to the little one(s), and this can continue for a good while.

Sun is fantastic at making the baby laugh. Moon is fantastic at getting the baby to sleep. They're both a little envious of each other's abilities ngl (but in a lighthearted way)

They both will pull a whole first aid kit out of nowhere if a kiddo gets injured. It's filled with colorful bandaids and lollipops as well as normal first aid stuff. Sun absolutely makes ambulance sounds as he rushes over to distract the little one from the injury. Moon is very cautious and gentle, and will make groan worthy puns as a distraction method.

[to-boldly-nope]

Curiosity- TOS! Spock x Child!Reader

Pairing: TOS! Spock x Child! Reader (PLATONIC)

Words: 637

Plot (requested by: @praisethesharp): You get lost trying to find your parents on the Enterprise and you manage to run into a green man with pointy ears

A/N: I really hope this is what you wanted. It's been a while since I wrote for Spock and I'm kinda rusty with him still

~

You wandered through the halls, wanting to know where your parents were. It was difficult for you to be one of the few children on the Enterprise, but you were usually occupied. However, when a nightmare awoke you from your nap, you just wanted the comfort of your parents.

As you continued your search, you found yourself on the bridge. You peaked your head in, trying to find your parents, but instead was spotted by Captain Kirk himself.

“Why is there a child on my bridge?” Kirk asked, making you quickly flinch back. Everyone turned their heads towards you and you froze. The only person you truly knew on the bridge was Doctor McCoy.

“Hey, what are you doing up here?” Bones asked, making you look up at him. He wasn’t mad because his voice was soft and gentle like it always was with you.

“I need Mama and Papa,” you told him quietly. “I can’t find them.”

“How about I take you to Sickbay and you can wait there, ok? Engineering is closer to Sickbay than the bridge after all.”

You thought about it for a minute before giving him a soft nod. Bones softly grabbed your hand and took you into the turbolift. He told the turbolift the destination and it moved.

"Jim wasn't trying to be mean," Bones spoke up. "We're just not used to having children on the bridge."

"I know. I didn't mean to end up on the bridge."

“It’s ok, we know. It happens," he reassured as the turbolift doors opened. He led you to Sickbay and placed you up on one of the biobeds and gave you a lollipop.

A few hours had passed when you noticed the green man walking in. You knew he was the first officer, but you've never noticed his pointed ears. You watched as he went to go to talk to Bones and you just couldn’t believe his pointed ears.

“Spock, I think someone may have taken an interest in you,” Bones joked, making Spock turn around, just to catch you staring at him. You were quick to look away.

“I don’t see why, they’re a child.”

“They’re fascinated by your ears, it’s got to be it. They’re waiting for their parents so if you want to make them feel less lonely.”

Spock looked at Bones and back you. He let out a little sigh and walked in your direction and kneeled next to the bed, looking at you with a soft look. "I sense your curiosity."

You just sat on the bed, not knowing what to do. You didn't even know what species he was, but he was your first officer.

"I am from the planet Vulcan. I am not human like you."

You really didn't know what to do, but his ears were so fascinating to you. They were pointed like the fairies you've read in fairytales.

"Are Vulcans fairies?" You finally spoke, making Bones laugh from his office.

"No, we are just Vulcans."

You just nodded, trying to process what that meant.

"You may touch them. I know you're thinking about it."

Your hand slowly went up and gently traced the outer shell of his ear of fear that you were going to end up hurting him. You honestly couldn’t believe that his ears were real. You swore that Spock was an actual fairy.

“Mr. Spock to the bridge,” someone said over the comm.

Spock stood up and faced you. You realized that he had a soft smile on his face, but it seemed like you were the only one to realize it.

“Thank you,” you told him.

“It was my pleasure. I hope to see you again” Spock simply said before leaving Sickbay. Your face grew into a smile as you began sway on the biobed, still waiting for your parents.

[masterjedilenawrites]

Hi there! Me and my dad are stuck in quarantine with the virus, so I’m very bored. For the Bad Batch: What do you think each of their favorite lollipop flavors are? Random request but I have been wondering this for so long lol.

Oh no anon! I hope you and your dad are okay and find ways to pass the time! I'll jump ahead in my requests to give you something to read, and because this was a fun one so I couldn't help but start thinking about it 😁

Hunter doesn't often indulge in treats, but when he does, he likes to go for the unconventional flavors. Root beer, peppermint, and cinnamon would probably be among his faves. He's very disappointed in the mystery flavor Dum-Dum, since he only ever tastes grape and watermelon, which isn't that exciting in his opinion.

Wrecker has a sweet tooth, so anything that's especially sugary is his favorite. Bonus points if it has a fun name like Very Berry Blast or Tropical Explosion. He also likes those big, curly-Q lollipops you get at like fairs and carnivals. He tries to savor them but ends up crunching down before he's half-way through.

Crosshair doesn't have a preference, he likes lollies of all flavors, sizes, shapes, and colors. He'll suck it all the way down and then chew on the stick for the rest of the day. He supposes if he had to pick a favorite, he'd go with Blow Pops because then he gets to chew on the bubblegum center.

Tech does not like lollipops. He doesn't like having something in his mouth for very long, makes it harder for him to talk. Although, he did once find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. He refuses to share the number with his less-patient brothers.

Echo is partial to anything on the sour side. Of the "normal" flavors, cherry and lemon are his go-tos. Doesn't like sour apple, though, because it's not really that sour and he doesn't like to be misled like that. If he had to pick between a lolly and lemon Warheads, though, he'd go for the Warheads.

[romulanfucker]

i hope you know how influential blame it on the spocks is. ihave not watched a single episode of tos or listened to mika and your one video makes me want to change both of those things. inspired.

YES ..... HA HA HA YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok but for real im taking this as an opportunity to recommend my favoritest mika songs of all time that i think you and everybody in the world should listen to

The Greatest Hits (that you may have seen floating around tumblr): - Grace Kelly - Lollipop

Songs for Being Gay and Transgender To:

- Origin of Love - Promiseland - Oh Girl You're the Devil - Ready to Call This Love - Good Wife - Good Guys - All She Wants

Surprise! You Are Now Crying:

- Heroes - Blue (not blue eyes) - Paloma (WARNING this one is about his sisters suicide attempt)

Other Ones That I Think Are Just Funky Cool Bops:

- Platform Ballerinas - Rio - Relax, Take it Easy - Dear Jealousy best album imo is EASILY no place in heaven, every single song on there hits and slaps but it also is about his experience being gay and raised catholic so I may be biased as a gay ex catholic.

i also really recommend searching around for some of his orchestral covers theyre a lot of fun!!

[missfangirll]

Strawberries & Cigarettes

Fandom: Guardian Rating: General Relationship: Shen Wei / Zhao Yunlan Tags: Fluff, Kissing, Falling In Love, Pining, First Kiss, Established Relationship, 4+1 Things,            Words: 3461 Summary: Four times strawberries (and cigarettes) remind Shen Wei of Zhao Yunlan, and one time he doesn't need reminding.

Read on AO3

I have had the title (this song) in my head for a while but couldn't find the plot for it. Also, it's really more of a 4 things fic, the last chapter is just crack, I'm sorry ^^ Maybe if I feel like it I'll write a proper +1, but for now that's all I can offer xD

- - - - -

One

It had been an especially draining day for Shen Wei, and he was once more grateful for his mask as he plopped down slightly less graceful than usual next to Kunlun at the campfire, stifling a sigh. The man shifted a little on his log to make room for Shen Wei, with such a natural ease that it made the other’s heart flutter, and wordlessly held a bowl in Shen Wei’s direction. As he didn't move to take it, Kunlun looked up and frowned. “You haven’t eaten anything today,” he said, sounding accusatory, and glared at the younger man, a challenge in his eyes. Shen Wei opened his mouth to answer with his usual evasive politeness when Kunlun added softly, “Let me take care of you, Shen Wei.” His heart stuttered and his breath caught. Having Kunlun’s tender affection directed so boldly at him always left him feeling warm and soft and he didn't have it in him to fight it.

Smiling softly, he took the bowl with a nod and started eating. He hadn't even noticed before how starved he really was, but filling his empty stomach did wonders for the chill in his bones and he felt more energetic than he had all day.

Kunlun watched him as he ate, smiling fondly, fiddling with a strand of hair that had escaped his braids. Shen Wei had to look away and focus on his stew in order to calm his jittery heart. After he had finished and leaned back to make himself more comfortable on the log, he took of his mask and hood, not able to suppress a faint smile. Kunlun always looked so happy, almost giddy when he did that, and he really liked the ever-changing expressions on the other’s face. Kunlun reached into his robes and fished out a small leather pouch that he shook in Shen Wei’s direction, a conspiratorial grin on his face. “I don’t have any more sweets,” he said, grinning, “but I got this,” he gave the pouch a shake, “from one of the cooks instead.” His smile widened. “She gave it to me when I told her I wanted to impress someone special.”

Shen Wei choked on air and had to hide his blazing face behind his sleeve. After he had overcome his coughing fit, he looked warily at the other, trying to gauge the expression on his face. But Kunlun’s smile hadn't changed, it still held the same fondness and warmth he always saw in it, so he took a deep breath and redirected his attention to the pouch the other still held between them.

“What is it?”

Kunlun grinned and held out a palm. “Give me your hand,” he asked and Shen Wei complied, still feeling a bit shy. Kunlun tipped the bag to drop the contents into his waiting hand and Shen Wei couldn’t suppress a smile at the sight of the small red orbs that tumbled out. Wild strawberries. Dried strawberries, probably collected some months before under a blazing summer sun, carefully prepared to conserve a tiny sliver of summer in the cold dark months.

Mirroring his smile, Kunlun put the now empty pouch away and nudged Shen Wei with a shoulder. “Eat,” he ordered, “I got them for you.”

Ignoring his red ears, Shen Wei shook his head slightly and held his palm closer to the other. “You have to try them first,” he said, “you like sweets.” The other gave him a look. “Ah, Shen Wei, you…” He trailed off, a cheeky grin slowly spreading over his face. “You know, you could feed me,” he continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and Shen Wei had to violently smother another coughing fit. To mask his embarrassment, he took a handful of the small fruits and put them into his mouth. Tart sweetness spread over his tongue, visions of summer and warmth flooded his mind, along with a memory of the sweets Kunlun had shared with him all those weeks ago and suddenly he had to smother a completely different sound.

“They are really good,” he stated, slightly breathless, and with a fit of courage he didn't really understand himself, took one strawberry and held it in front of Kunlun’s mouth. The other stilled for a heartbeat, then his whole face lit up in a grin and he leaned forward to carefully take the fruit out of Shen Wei’s fingers with his lips, not breaking eye contact. Shen Wei tried to breathe evenly, his heart beating like a war drum in his rib cage, he could feel his blood sing in his ears and he was certain his face was a deep shade of red. In an attempt to hide his inner turmoil, he popped some more strawberries in his mouth and closed his eyes, enjoying the sweetness, trying to focus on something else. He heard Kunlun’s slight chuckle, felt the man’s warm thigh against his, the taste of the biting-sweet fruits on his tongue and knew he would be forever reminded of this night whenever he tasted strawberries.

Two

Shen Wei had just switched the rice cooker to ‘warming’ when he heard the apartment door open, then close, and someone stepping inside. He tracked the person’s way, listening as he toed off his shoes and kicked them into the corner behind the door, then shuffled over to the couch and plopped onto it heavily, face-down, heaving out a sigh. Without turning around to hide his smile, he asked, “Long day?”

Zhao Yunlan answered with a groan and pressed his face further into the sofa. At the movement, a cloud of unfamiliar scent wafted over to where Shen Wei stood behind the kitchen counter, heavy with cigarettes and… He turned to face the other with a raised eyebrow. Perfume. Cheap perfume with a fruity note. “What did you do?”, he inquired, trying to sound only moderately interested. It wasn't his place to become jealous over Zhao Yunlan, he reminded himself. Not yet.

The man in question didn't turn away from where he had his face smashed into the couch and Shen Wei could only vaguely understand what he said. “…observation… bar… late.” Another sigh. “...tired.”

“It seems that way,” Shen Wei remarked dryly, filling two bowls with the food he had been preparing, then walked over to the couch. He sat next to Zhao Yunlan’s legs and placed the bowls on the low coffee table. “Come, eat,” he said, “I made your favorite.”

The answer Zhao Yunlan mumbled into the cushions sounded suspiciously like a love confession, but Shen Wei stubbornly ignored his burning ears and hammering heart and focused on the food. He couldn’t let his foolish hopes get in the way of taking proper care of Zhao Yunlan.

With another groan Zhao Yunlan shifted into an upright position, his feet still on the couch, dangerously close to Shen Wei’s thighs. He reached for a bowl and made such a happy noise at the sight that Shen Wei had to close his eyes for a second. Stomping down on the fluttery feeling in his chest he took the other bowl and started eating.

They had done this a lot over the last few weeks, Zhao Yunlan seemingly never tired of praising his cooking, always making a remark what a good wife Shen Wei would make, which the latter never dignified with an answer, no matter how desperately his heart reached out to Zhao Yunlan.

After finishing his bowl Zhao Yunlan put it back on the coffee table and shifted on the sofa, tucking his feet under him so that he sat cross-legged. Shen Wei looked at him, considering. “Do you want more?”, he asked and moved to get up, only to be stopped by a warm hand on his thigh that had him suppress a shiver. “It’s alright,” he heard, and then, “Ah, Shen Wei, what would I do without you?”

He didn't answer and concentrated on emptying his bowl, then put it on the table. “I should clean the--” he began, but the grip on his thigh tightened and the other man shifted, leaning his head on Shen Wei’s shoulder. His heart skipped a beat, only to resume thundering in his chest and for a moment he couldn’t breathe. Seemingly unaware of his state, Zhao Yunlan continued to snuggle closer, then paused, looking warily up at Shen Wei. “I should have showered, shouldn’t I? Do I smell very bad?”

Shen Wei had to fight the urge to bury his face into the other’s hair and breathe him in. He just shook his head, not trusting his voice. Zhao Yunlan smiled radiantly and leaned back into him. After a few heartbeats his breathing slowed and his head on Shen Wei’s shoulder grew heavier. Shen Wei didn't dare move as not to wake him and turned his head slightly. The scent he had noticed in the kitchen before was stronger now, almost overwhelming this close and Shen Wei breathed carefully, closing his eyes, savoring the moment. Zhao Yunlan smelled of cigarette smoke and beer, of air freshener and cheap perfume, and with a pang in his heart he recognized the smell. Strawberries. Helplessly happy about it and at the same time infinitely sad, he turned a bit further, holding his breath, slowly, carefully putting an arm around Zhao Yunlan. Resting his hand on the other’s hip he breathed the artificially sweet scent and closed his eyes, letting himself have this moment of peace and contentment, his love in his arms.

Three

Seven. Shen Wei had counted. Zhao Yunlan had gone through seven lollipops during their consultation, and Shen Wei was ready to snatch it from him and replace it with his tongue. It wasn't the fact that the man was eating candy like other people ate bread, he savored them. Not that there was anything wrong with savoring one’s food, not at all, but the way Zhao Yunlan savored his favorite sweets had Shen Wei close to a heart attack. He licked them with visible delight, his dark red tongue darting out, rolling them over his lips, his mouth closing slightly over the round candy, and Shen Wei had to breathe through his nose and stare at the crime scene photos in front of him in order to not do something desperate and foolish.

They had met in his apartment for a change, Shen Wei suspected this had happened because almost all surfaces in Zhao Yunlan’s flat were cluttered with some junk or other and there was simply more space to spread out the photos and files on his own coffee table, but that also meant he had no way to escape the other man’s dangerous presence. They sat on Shen Wei’s sofa, close enough to feel each other’s movements, and Shen Wei had spent the last two and a half hours trying not to notice how warm Zhao Yunlan felt next to his, even through the shirt. He had, obviously, failed spectacularly at this and now could only do damage control, which meant keeping his breathing as steady as possible and under no circumstances look up at Zhao Yunlan. Which he also failed at, as soon as he noticed Zhao Yunlan had stopped talking. Tentatively he looked up and was met with a stare that made his breath catch. Before he could say anything, the other had swooped up the photos and papers into a pile on the table and turned back to face him. “Let’s call it a night, Professor Shen.” He winked. “You look exhausted, and I think my brain can’t handle one more witness report.”

Shen Wei nodded hastily, glad to finally get some distance between them, but Zhao Yunlan seemed to have other ideas, because suddenly his arm was around Shen Wei’s shoulders. He had done that before, but never while sitting next to him, and Shen Wei’s heart stuttered at the sudden closeness.

“Professor Shen”, the other purred and Shen Wei had to swallow hard, “what would you like to do on this wonderful evening, now that we have so much free time.” Shen Wei almost expected him to waggle his eyebrows suggestively, but when he looked up, Zhao Yunlan’s face was serious. He swallowed again and looked down, not able to say anything safe that wouldn't betray his feelings.

Zhao Yunlan reached out a hand and for a heart-stopping moment Shen Wei thought he would cup his cheek, but instead he pushed a strain of hair behind Shen Wei’s ear, which resulted in a shiver Shen Wei couldn’t quite suppress. Zhao Yunlan looked at him with an unreadable look and inhaled deeply. “Look,” he said gently, “I don’t want to do something you don’t want, but…” He inhaled a second time and continued, “But you have been looking at me the whole evening as if… As if you…” He trailed off again and looked at Shen Wei, who found himself utterly unable to respond verbally. With a groan, he closed the distance between them and crashed their mouths together. He could feel Zhao Yunlan’s startled laugh, then plush lips opened for him and it felt like coming home.

Zhao Yunlan’s hand came up to his nape, weaving his fingers in his short hair, and he shuddered with the sensation. As their tongues met, he almost startled when he recognized the taste: strawberries. Artificial and much too sweet, but unmistakably strawberry flavor. Licking into Zhao Yunlan’s eager mouth, he tasted the lollipops and remembered how he had imagined tasting it on the other’s tongue, that night so long ago.

After a few heartbeats, he pulled away a fraction, still close enough to feel Zhao Yunlan’s breath on his lips, then, with a surge of renewed fervor he licked the other’s bottom lip, eliciting a low moan. Groaning, he wrapped an arm around Zhao Yunlan’s shoulders and deepened the kiss, savoring the other’s taste.

Four

The new house, Shen Wei mused, came with a whole lot of improvements for their lifestyle. The kitchen, for one, that now held enough space for a dining table where all of them could fit, and enough cupboards that working there felt sufficiently organised. Then Da Qing’s room, facing west as not to disturb the cat’s sleep in the morning and with a large enough window he could comfortably come and go as he pleased. (Zhao Yunlan had suggested a super-size cat flap for the front door which had Da Qing ignore him for a week.) Shen Wei also had his own office now, with a large desk directly in front of a window that took up the entire wall and enough shelves to store all his books – even the ones that he’d had stashed in his office at the university because his apartment couldn’t contain all of them, which had caused Zhao Yunlan to blink at him, looking first incredulous, then exasperated, then grudgingly accepting.

But the best thing, he thought, was the large garden. (Although, he knew, Zhao Yunlan would argue that the enormous bathroom was the best thing, since it now allowed them to shower together, and, well, but he very deliberately tried not to think about that right now.)

No, in his opinion, the garden was what made him fall in love with the house. Not just because it encompassed some giant walnut trees that appeared almost as old as Shen Wei, or because there was an ivy-covered canopy that held enough space to host dinner parties for the whole SID – he loved it because of the small vegetable garden Zhao Yunlan had planted in a sunny corner. It just held some rows of carrots, lettuce, and radishes, and Zhao Yunlan had even tried his hand at a few tomatoes (Shen Wei would never, not under threat of death admit to sending a bit of dark energy every now and then into the plants to make them sturdier), but it was the meaning behind it that always made his breath catch when he thought about it.

“I want to buy you a house, Shen Wei,” Zhao Yunlan had said, quite early in their relationship when Shen Wei still had to hold on to secrets and lies, and had looked at him with such a tenderness in his eyes that Shen Wei had taken to teasing him so that he wouldn't start crying. “A house,” he had said and tried to make it sound skeptical instead of yearning, “you just want me to cook for you all day and do your laundry.”

Zhao Yunlan’s gaze hadn't wavered as he nodded and answered, “Yeah, and I want to plant a garden where I grow vegetables for you.” He had fixed Shen Wei with a gentle, but still unrelenting gaze. “I want to give you everything, Shen Wei. You deserve it,” he had added and Shen Wei had had to calm his racing heart.

Now that Zhao Yunlan finally knew about the time loop, and their second first meeting, and their first second kiss, and everything in between, he had kept his word and bought Shen Wei a house and planted a garden. Some of the vegetables he grew there didn't even make it to the kitchen, falling prey, or rather snack to whoever was watering the garden, but more often Shen Wei included them in their meals, always to Zhao Yunlan’s unabashed joy.

Shen Wei smiled to himself and turned back to the pile of papers that needed grading, when he heard his office door open. He didn't have to turn to sense Zhao Yunlan, but something else caught his attention and he swung around. Zhao Yunlan stood in the doorway, grinning brightly, in his hand a small bowl with…Shen Wei inhaled through his nose, the faint scent striking in the clear evening air.

Strawberries. He raised an eyebrow at the other. Zhao Yunlan’s grin broadened. “Do you remember our first real meal together?” he asked excitedly, but then frowned. “I mean, in the past, so your first.. Eh, you know what I mean!” Grin back on his face, he continued. “We shared some wild strawberries, do you remember, and then I flirted with you and you blushed so furiously, holy shit, Shen Wei, I thought you would run away, but you stayed and…” He trailed off and inhaled as if to stop himself from rambling. “Anyway, I wanted to surprise you, to share strawberries with you again, but the variety we had then doesn't grow here anymore and the cultivated ones are a pain in the ass to grow, so…” He held the bowl out and shrugged, almost apologetic. “It’s not the same, I know, but maybe---”

Shen Wei didn't let him finish. In a smooth movement he was out of his chair and in front of Zhao Yunlan, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him into a scorching kiss. Zhao Yunlan almost dropped the bowl, then chuckled, leaning into him, wrapping his free arm around Shen Wei’s waist.

After a while Shen Wei pulled back, looking down at the bowl in the other’s hand, then back at his face. “I…,” he began, but couldn’t find anything to follow that. Instead, he took a strawberry and held it to Zhao Yunlan’s lips, smiling brightly. The other laughed and took the offered fruit, then took another one from the bowl and held it in front of Shen Wei. When he opened his lips, the sweetness that exploded on his tongue brought back so many memories that his knees almost buckled. It tasted of summer and sun and warmth and home, and of so much more, of memories, and of a life with Zhao Yunlan, that he had to close his eyes to fight back the tears. Wrapping both arms around Zhao Yunlan in a tight hug, he hid his face in the other’s shoulder, unable to express the gratitude he felt that all of it had turned out well, that they had earned their happy ending.

He turned his head slightly to press a kiss to Zhao Yunlan’s ear. “I love you.”

Plus One

“You… You bought what?!”

“Look, baby, if you’re feeling uncomfortable with this just tell me, okay? It’s no fun if you don’t have fun as well. I bought this because I thought you might like it, okay?”

“No… I… I mean…”

“Xiao Wei, I love you. There is no scenario, inside this bedroom or out of it, where I would try to force something onto you that you don’t want--”

“I didn't say that.”

“…Oh.”

“But, I mean…”

“So, you do want to try it.”

“Stop grinning like that. Yes, we can try. But if I don’t…”

“If you don’t like it, we’ll stop immediately, I swear. And now hold still.”

“...”

Zhao Yunlan grinned. He had hoped it would pay off to buy the strawberry-flavored lube.

[the-dream-team]

What I Would Do: I Would Do Anything

Fem!Jily February - Part 2 (Read Part One Here)

Read on AO3

Lily Evans had threatened Jamie Potter with detention more times than she could count, but Jamie never got tired of Lily’s narrowed eyes and assertive tone. Having been raised an only child, with parents so doting some may consider her borderline spoiled, Jamie found being put in her place unbelievably exhilarating. And no one put her in her place quite as Lily Evans did.

So, when Evans caught her sneaking into Hogsmeade on that glorious afternoon in March, and tried intimidating her with a month’s worth of detentions, Jamie couldn’t help but fall in love with her a little more. 

The crush was getting absurd at this point. As Sirius liked to ask over and over again, how long could a girl pine over her straight dormmate before exploding from the agonizing pain of unattainable attraction? 

Jamie suspected she already had exploded that day in Herbology third year, when she inadvertently admitted her feelings for Lily after two years of finding her to be the most beautiful and charming and combative girl she ever had the pleasure of knowing. Ever since then, she reckoned she existed only as the remaining wayward particles of who Jamie Potter once was, floating through space, inexplicably drawn to the fiery red-head who couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

So, when Lily pulled out the threat of detentions, and Jamie’s heart swelled with admiration, she expressed her hopeless emotions the same way she always had, with a joke.

“Oh, Evans, stop that, you’re making me blush! Merlin, what I would do if you ever switched your fancies.”

It was a self-deprecating joke, Jamie’s go-to whenever Lily was involved. The actual pain of Lily’s undeniable disinterest hit a little too hard, so creating a running gag out of Jamie’s desperation for something so impossible became her only response. 

Lily gave her a hard stare. “What would you do?” 

What would she do? If Lily Evans ever so much as blinked at the idea of flying for the other team? Jamie would snog her senseless. But that couldn’t possibly be what she meant. Lily was just being argumentative, as per usual. There was no way she would ever-

“What would you do if I told you I fancied girls. If I fancied you.”

Something in Jamie’s brain short-circuited. Words failed her. Her jaw dropped as any form of cognitive thinking skills abandoned her in her hour of need. If I fancied you echoed in her ears, teasing her as though Lily could possibly mean what Jaimie wanted her to. The word “if” smirked at her, jeered at the fleeting hope leaping in her chest.

But then the welling tears in Lily’s brilliant green eyes set off alarm bells in Jamie’s brain and reality reassembled itself. 

“Enjoy your time in the village, Potter,” said Lily with a crushed sadness that Jamie was all too familiar with. Rejection. Before she could say a word in response, Lily turned her back and started walking towards the castle. 

Instinct kicked in and Jamie let her swirling thoughts fall to the side as she chased Lily up the path. “Evans!” she shouted. “Lily, wait!” 

Without considering the consequences of being mistaken, Jamie reached out and grabbed Lily’s wrist, spinning her around to face her. Only when her hands found Lily’s cheeks and her impulse begged her to close the already small gap between them, did Jamie hesitate. What she wanted to do next couldn’t be taken back. She searched Lily’s face, begging for a sign that she wasn’t completely misreading the moment.

A beautiful smile burst from Lily’s lips and Jamie lunged forward, meeting those perfect lips with her own. Every cell in her body pulsed in rhythm with her soaring heart and Jamie felt a heat she’d never known before burst from her chest. The lost particles, once aimless and devoid of hope, now sprang back together, making Jamie whole once again. 

It was everything she’d ever wanted and more. A miracle. 

She pulled Lily closer and nearly squealed from joy as Lily’s fingers ran through her hair and found the nape of her neck. Those soft hands she had daydreamed about holding for years, now touched Jamie’s skin and affected her in a way more intoxicating than any poison could ever be. She deepened the kiss, desperate for the wonderful girl who drove her mad with desire for all those years. The satisfaction knew no bounds.

They finally broke apart for breath, but just as Jamie began missing the warmth of Lily’s body against her own, Lily pulled her in for a hug. 

“Hey Jamie,” she asked, breathless. “Do you want to get ice cream with me?”

Jamie laughed, tightening the hug, “Oh, Evans, what I would do to get ice cream with you.”

She took a step back, smiling so broadly Jamie couldn’t help but do the same. She reached out and grabbed Lily’s hand, interlacing their fingers, worried that if they weren’t touching for even a moment, she might lose her. Kissing Lily, touching Lily, being with Lily… it was too good to be true. 

They walked towards the center of town, sharing shy glances that felt so different from the passionate storm of kissing that had just taken place. Different, but exciting. There was something so sweet about the blush on Lily’s cheeks and the timid way she looked at their hands as they moved through the streets and towards the ice cream cart parked the town square. 

“Welcome back, miss,” said the server to Lily, and Jamie’s heart soared as her blush deepened. 

“It was so good, I had to come back for more,” she laughed. 

Jamie reached into her pocket and pulled out her coins, dropping them onto the cart. “We’ll take whatever the young lady would like,” she grinned proudly.

“Could we please get a mint chocolate chip cone… to share?” she asked with a forced confidence that Jamie found remarkably endearing.

The man nodded and quickly produced a perfectly scooped cone, which Lily graciously accepted before leading Jamie towards a bench. They sat down next to each other, their legs touching lightly. Lily took a lick of the ice cream and handed it to Jamie.

Jamie gladly took the cone, her heart leaping as their fingers touched during the transaction. She looked at the ice cream and went for a taste, suddenly aware of where Lily’s tongue had been before on the cold treat. When she looked back up at Lily, bliss flashing across those emerald eyes, Jamie couldn’t fathom why they had ever stopped kissing in the first place. She grabbed Lily’s face, pulling her forward and meeting her impossibly soft lips once more, consumed by the sweetness that had nothing to do with the ice cream.

“How long have you known?” breathed Jamie when they came apart. 

Lily grabbed the ice cream cone and took a bite. “About fifteen minutes now.”

“Fifteen- are you sure?” stuttered Jamie, suddenly nervous. “I mean, are you sure you know you like me? Are you sure you like girls?” 

Lily looked at her feet, embarrassed. “I’m sure,” she said, her voice unfaltering. “Especially after all the… you know.” She turned bright red.

“After all the snogging?” said Jamie with a grin, reveling at the moment, unable to resist a bit of teasing. 

“Stop it,” said Lily with a playful shove, “you’re impossible.”

“I’ll never stop,” said Jamie. She leaned over and planted a kiss on Lily’s cheek because she could and reveled in the way Lily failed to hide her smile. “I’m so happy I think I might be dreaming.”

“Really?” asked Lily, tilting her head. 

“Evans, you must be kidding me,” said Jamie with a laugh. “I haven’t been subtle about how I’ve felt about you all these years.”

“I assumed you were joking.”

“Well, that’s silly.”

“I have feelings about you too,” said Lily, looking up at Jamie, the sunlight playing in her hair like drops of liquid gold sliding down a waterfall.

“Only good ones I hope,” Jamie said, unable to help herself. Lily rolled her eyes in such a Lily Evans way that Jamie felt like she was flying. No, this was better than flying. This was falling. 

“Oh, shoot,” said Lily suddenly, glancing at her watch. “The mucus!”

“Mucus?”

“Yes, the mucus, I’m supposed to get this back to Professor Slughorn, he needs it for his lesson.” She gestured at the bag she had over her shoulder. 

“Well, lucky for you, I know a shortcut to the castle.” Jamie winked and grabbed hold of Lily’s hand, tugging her from the bench and leading them both to Honeydukes. 

Once they made it across the street from the sweet shop, Jamie reached into her messenger back and pulled out her invisibility cloak. “We’re gonna need this,” she said as she draped the fabric over her’s and Lily’s heads. Lily’s eyes grew wide as she realized they had disappeared to the world. 

“This is crazy,” she whispered, but Jamie silenced her with a kiss.

“There’s plenty of time to explain later,” she grinned. 

They snuck through the front door of Honeydukes, making sure not to set off the welcoming bell, and tip-toed through the stacks of candy. Jamie spotted Remus’ favorite chocolate (the entire reason for her trip to Hogsmeade in the first place) and snagged a few bars as they passed, leaving a few coins behind on the shelf.

Lily watched in awe at Jamie’s comfort making her way through the store, and Jamie couldn’t help but show off by grabbing a lollipop from a rotating stand handing it to her with a smirk. Lily rolled her eyes again, but a smile still played on the corners of her mouth, so Jamie flipped another coin onto a countertop and led her smoothly to cellar stairs. 

In a minute, they had slipped through the secret passageway undetected and found themselves in the tunnel leading back to the school. She slid the invisibility cloak off and shoved it back in her bag, reaching out once more for Lily’s hand. 

But she only met air. Lily stood next to her silently, staring at her outstretched hand. 

“What’s wrong?” asked Jamie, feeling her heart drop into her stomach. 

Lily’s eyes shifted back and forth between Jamie and the end of the tunnel. She took a step towards Jamie, placed her hands on the sides of Jamie’s face, and tenderly kissed her. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs in the best way possible. 

When they broke apart, Lily took a deep breath. “I’m scared.”

Of course. She was scared. 

What happened between them, happened in the outside world. Away from the school, away from their friends and classmates, away from their lives. No one in Hogsmeade batted an eye at her kissing another girl in the streets. They didn’t have any preconceived notions about who she was and who she was supposed to be with. Something heavy began weighing on Jamie’s heart, begging her to come up with a joke, downplay her feelings, save herself from what looked like inevitable heartache. 

“That’s okay,” she whispered, reaching out to caress Lily’s cheek, stroking her smooth skin with her thumb and willing time to slow down and allow Jamie to live in whatever small moments with Lily she had left. “It is scary. We don’t have to be… anything… if you can’t right now. Or ever.”

“No!” said Lily, reaching up to lay her hand on top of Jamie’s. “I want to be something.”

Jamie exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Oh, thank Merlin.”

“Do you think we could keep this between us? For now?” Lily looked up at her with shame in her eyes. Shame that Jamie wanted to crush away into nothingness. 

“Of course,” she said, “I won’t tell a soul. Not even Sirius.”

“You would do that?”

“I would do anything for you.” Jamie hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it was too late. It was the truth. 

Lily looked like she might cry again, but there was a beautiful smile on her face. She leaned in, slowly, and pressed her lips against Jamies with such tenderness, she could feel how much Jamie’s words had meant to her. 

“Thank you,” said Lily with a final hug before they walked back to the castle, hand in hand. 

For weeks, Jamie lived on cloud nine. She spent her days exchanging knowing glances with Lily across classrooms and crowded corridors and her afternoons sneaking off to hidden sections of the library and broom closets. At night, she lay awake, just a four-poster bed away from the girl who owned her entire heart and being and dreamed of running her hands through her hair and making her laugh.

Sirius complained that Jamie seemed distracted, Remus questioned her uncontrollable smiling, and Peter wondered why she stopped having the time to help him with his Charms essays, but Jamie just laughed them off. She had kept secrets for them before, now she could keep one secret from them. 

Especially when that secret made her so damn happy.

The feeling of being wanted by another person in the same way she wanted them, was incomparable. And for that person to be Lily Evans? She didn’t know how she had become so lucky. Keeping their secret was easy, as easy as loving Lily. And she did love her. She always had. And every minute she spent kissing and talking and teasing with Lily, her love grew more ferocious. 

Jamie was scared of bursting. She had exploded once before, and that couldn’t happen again. 

So, when Mulciber approached Lily one morning in the Great Hall, spewing disgusting words and hateful rhetoric, Jamie restrained herself. 

Not completely, of course.

“Why don’t you piss off, Mulciber,” called Jamie from down the table, making sure to avoid Lily’s eye. 

“Oh yeah, Potter?” sneered the Slytherin. “What are you gonna do? Throw your bodygaurds at me?” He motioned at Sirius and Remus, who both jumped up at the provocation. Jamie stood up, too, and motioned for her friends to retreat. 

“No, I don’t need them,” she chuckled, “I’ve learned a few things from Evans about how to deal with you.” Jamie whipped out her wand and in a flash, struck Mulciber with a silencing charm. He grunted but pulled out his own wand to cast the counterspell.

“How dare you, Potter!” Mulciber shouted, fully taking his attention away from Lily, who stared at Jamie with concern. She sent her back a smile, trying to convey a sense of confidence. 

“Oh look, Mulciber,” laughed Jamie, knowing she was pushing her luck, but happy that the boy’s attention was as far away from Lily as possible, “you learned from your past mistakes! Luckily, I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve.” She flicked her wand and within seconds, soap bubbles poured out of Mulciber’s mouth. “That’s for your dirty tongue.”

“Dirty?” spat Mulciber in between the bubbles. “You dare call me dirty, you filthy queer. You’re below even the dirtiest Mudbloods.” The words stung, Jamie couldn’t deny it or hide the pain from her face and she faltered. “That’s right, at least the Mudbloods have each other,” he continued. “You, on the other hand, are a freak of nature, destined to be alone, completely unlovable-”

He was cut off by a flash of light as he was hit square in the back by a body-binding curse. As Mulciber fell to the ground, Lily appeared behind him, her wand outstretched, a fiery explosion behind her eyes. 

“She’s not alone,” said Lily, loud and clear for the entire Great Hall. “She’ll never be alone.”

“Lily,” said Jamie quietly, her heart pounding furiously against her chest.

“And you’re wrong, Mulciber. It’s so easy to love Jamie. She lives her life with so much joy and compassion. She’s smarter than anyone I’ve ever met, but she plays it down with jokes that are so funny, you’ll be laughing at them for days. She’s loyal and brave and so good. It’s so easy to love Jamie.” She took a breath. “I love Jamie. I love you,” she said breathlessly. 

The words felt like magic. Jamie could barely process what Lily had said before she was met with Lily’s lips, kissing her with such ferocity that Jamie immediately forgot they were surrounded by the entire school. It lasted for an eternity and a second all at once, but eventually, they parted.

“I love you too,” said Jamie, shocked and amazed and happy. 

They stared at each other with matching grins, lost in their own happiness, exploding together into their futures.

[vannahfanfics]

Before you read, here’s the previous chapter. New? Start from the beginning!

Crimson Butterflies

Ao3

Chapter 3: Gotten Lucky

Touya awoke with the sunrise, as he often did. He groaned as the spears of light flowing through the moth-eaten curtains played over his face, eyes fluttered as they tried to adjust to the sun. He leaned over the arm of the couch, inadvertently pushing the throw pillow to the ground, to see the light puddling across the dusty wood like slowly-spreading spilled milk. His back cracked as he arched it, and then he flopped back down against the couch, running his hand over his face. When he pulled it away, he found a smear of blood across his index finger that he’d apparently missed when showering last night. 

He’d given Moe the one bed in the apartment, because he wasn’t a dick. She’d passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow, filling his bedroom with quiet, peaceful snores. As he stood over her, marveling at how young and innocent she looked while she slept, he wondered yet again how she’d ended up beaten and bloodied in an alleyway. It was a question only she could answer, and if Touya had learned anything in his years on the streets, it was that you didn’t exactly gain much information trying to force people to talk. 

He’d just have to wait and see, if she stuck around long enough. 

Touya scrolled through the news feed on his phone, then, after finding nothing of interest, tossed it on the coffee table and reclined his arms behind his head. Damn, that was a sweet ass Porsche. That dickwad definitely didn’t deserve it, nor the drunk honeys he was sweet-talking into it. Touya’s mouth soured at the thought of how much money he could have made off the car. The worst part wasn’t the loss, really, it was that with Moe here, he couldn’t go out and make up for it. There was no way he was leaving a stranger alone in his apartment unsupervised, especially one with some sketchy past. 

Ugh. I don’t want to have to borrow money from Tomura again, he thought with disgust. There was no telling the amount of interest he would charge, and Touya hated being in the guy’s debt. Last time, he’d made him transport something he was ninety percent sure was a dead body, and Touya wasn’t keen on repeating the most stressful two hours of his life. Unfortunately, the creep was pretty well-off, probably from pawning all the shit he nabbed off dead people. 

Touya had some questionable acquaintances, okay? That shit came with being a deadbeat. 

Touya looked up when he heard the tentative pitter-patter of feet. Moe came creeping down the hallway, looking furtively around the room, but she couldn’t see that Touya was awake from her vantage point. He remained still, a smirk playing over his lips. After a second, the girl tip-toed across the room into the kitchen, disappearing from sight. As quietly as he could, Touya slowly sat up to peer over the back of the couch, where he found her sitting on her knees on his counter to rummage through his cabinets. 

“Yellow polka-dot panties? Cute,” he called, and Moe nearly fell off the counter in surprise. Scowling over her shoulder at him, she jerked the back of the tee-shirt over her rump, holding it there with one hand while she continued to rifle through his stores. Touya just crossed his arms over the back of the couch and watched her, amused. She’s a little feistier today.

“How do you live like this?” she huffed, throwing up her hands in defeat when she found nothing to suit her tastes. “You don’t have shit.” 

“Beggars can’t be choosers, honey.” 

“Well, it looks like you didn’t choose anything,” she countered, turning to hop off the counter. The tee-shirt swished around her legs as she stomped towards him, stopping at the back of the couch to glare at him with her hands pushed primly into her hips. “I’m starving! Don’t you have anything to eat?” 

“Well, I’m afraid I didn’t have time to do my grocery run because I was tending to your sweet ass,” he replied matter-of-factly, and her cheeks darkened, probably with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She snorted and crossed her arms, looking away with a dour pout. Touya languidly rose from the couch, flicking a bit of her blonde hair from her face and causing Moe to gasp in affront. “Don’t be mad, sweets,” he purred. “Let me getcha somethin’ halfway-decent to wear, and then we’ll go out and get some food, okay?” 

“And just where am I supposed to get clothes?” she shouted after him as he walked to his door, and he just gave her a dismissive wave before stepping out. He walked across the hall and knocked on his neighbor’s door, and he wasn’t two raps of his knuckles in before Himiko was swinging it open, causing him to nearly knock on his forehead. 

“Hiya, neighbor! What can I do ya for?” she grinned brightly, and she could almost be mistaken for a cute, nice next-door neighbor if Touya didn’t know that she practiced arcane rituals and summoning spells on the weekends. To each their own, he always said, and Himiko always assured him that no bad spirits would find their way into his apartment. 

“Hey, Himiko. I got a lady friend who’s in need of some clothes.” 

With wide eyes, Himiko peered around his tall, lanky form to find Moe standing in the doorway, blushing while she fisted the hem of the tee-shirt. Himiko gave him a sly look, and with a blush, he hurriedly lied, “Look, she lost her luggage at the airport and I had to make do. Until they find it, she’s shit out of luck and I don’t got the money for a shoppin’ spree, so can you just loan her a few outfits for the time being?” 

Either Himiko bought the fib, or she wasn’t in the mood to pry for once. Dabi didn’t care as long as she didn’t look at him like he had just gotten lucky with Moe. 

“Sure thing, Dabi, dear <3 I just so happen to have a bag of goodies I was about to give to donation. She can help herself!~” Himiko grabbed a garbage bag from the entryway and passed it to him, and he grunted a “thanks” while he turned to pass it to Moe. Himiko giggled and blew them a kiss before flouncing back into her apartment, and Touya planked against the opposite wall with a groan. Even just a five-minute conversation with the girl was exhausting. 

“She’s a bit weird, but she has good fashion sense,” Moe commented, and he peered through his bangs to see her holding up a tube top. “Lost luggage, huh?” she then sneered, and Touya scowled. “How long do you think that cover story will hold up?” 

“Long enough. Now get dressed, I thought you were starving?” 

Her stomach growling answered that question and sent her skittering back into the apartment with a shy squeal. Touya remained outside, smiling despite it all. At least she livened up the place. 

There was a spring in Moe’s step as they walked out of the apartment together. A pair of dark blue skinnies hugged her legs, and her white cardigan ruffled in the breeze, along with her hair, which was piled into a bun atop her head. She flitted about, commenting about how nice the sunshine was, while Touya just strode along behind her in silence. It was nice to see her in good spirits, at least, but it was a little migraine-inducing for her to be so cheery at eight in the morning. He needed at least another four hours before he was ready to consort with such an optimist. 

They walked to the supermarket, and Moe’s demeanor instantly underwent a change. As they strolled through the aisles piling TV dinners, chips, cereal, and other things into the cart, she clung to Touya like glue. Literally, she had her hands curled into the back of his shirt while she peered around him, hiding behind his frame whenever somebody walked by. It was pretty obvious that Moe didn’t want to be seen, but by whom? Well, probably whoever beat her ass in the alley and anyone associated with them. 

Sensing her anxieties growing, Touya shoved a lollipop in her face. 

“Eh?” she blinked, looking up at him in confusion. 

“Stop worryin’,” he huffed. “I’m not gonna let anythin’ happen to you while you’re with me.” She blinked, then smiled shyly, her posture melting like butter in a pan. She popped the plastic off the lollipop, keeping it so the cashier could scan it when they finished, and began sucking on it happily. Just like a kid, Touya thought, but more endearingly than irritatedly. She even climbed in the basket, sitting among the food items sucking her lollipop and demanding to be wheeled around. 

Touya wasn’t sure why it was so easy to give into her childish demands. Perhaps it was her smile, the first genuine smile he’d seen grace her lips since he’d come across her in the alleyway, as she stuck out her arms while he pushed her around the supermarket. 

Once they’d gotten home with their haul, Moe smashed two bowls of cereal before crashing on his couch, laying on her belly with her heels kicked up over her back. Bored, Touya booted up his old Nintendo to play Super Mario World, and Moe watched him for about half an hour before piping up. 

“So what’s your story, Dabi?” 

Without looking away from the screen, Touya offered her a smirk. 

“We all got secrets, toots, and my ‘story’ is one of them,” he quipped. Out of the corners of his eyes, he watched her lay her cheek on her arms, her expression thoughtful while she watched the pixelated Mario run around the screen stomping Goombas. 

“Sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean to offend.” 

“You didn’t,” he reassured her, moving the character with one hand while he leaned down to grab a beer from his cooler. He popped it open and took a swig, then continued, “Don’t sweat it.” 

“Mm,” was all she said, and they fell back into silence, the only noises being the clacks of the controller and the audio of the videogame. She probably didn’t mean anything by it, but he did just meet her, after all. Maybe she’d stick around, and maybe she’d catch him in a divulging mood one day. But today was not one of those days; today was one of those days where Touya pretended his life wasn’t the shit pile it was and he beat the only game he owned for the hundredth time. 

“Hey, um,” she spoke up again sometime later, and from her tone of voice, he thought she was going to apologize again. He turned around, mouth open to tell her not to worry about it, but she cut him off with a shy, “Thank you.” He clamped his mouth shut, the viable skin on his face turning a bit pink. “I never thanked you, you know, for saving me.” Her red-orange eyes stared at the floor as she traced patterns into the dust. “So… Thank you. I’m sure it was a pain.” 

He blinked, then smiled wanly. 

“Most things in life are, toots. You just gotta roll with it.” She looked up at that, smiling slightly, and he gave her a kind look. “Don’t worry about it. It wouldn’t been a dick move for me to leave you like that. Contrary to what I look like, I’m not a monster.” She laughed, genuinely, and it made him feel kind of floaty and light inside, like maybe things weren’t all bad. 

Maybe he’d gotten lucky with this girl after all, fluttering into his life like a butterfly on the breeze. He supposed he’d just have to stick with her and find out.

Enjoy this story? Here’s the next chapter! Please consider perusing my Table of Contents.

[sunevial]

Since dragons are a no go, how about some tiefling orphanage adventures.

“You five have fun, now!” the candyman said, opening the basement door with a flourish and a bow. A swirl of pink and purple mist greeted the five tiefling children, and one by one, they jumped through the portal and into free fall. A familiar lurch coursed through their stomachs as the strange magic washed over their small forms and began to take hold. 

Carrion giggled with her arms outstretched and eyes now burning like portals to another world, spinning in circles as her dress hardened into armor and the stick in her hand stretched and warped into a proper staff. With a contagious smile that quickly grew even more magical as they fell, Valafar strapped his newly shining shield to his arm and grabbed his now glowing hand mirror. His already fast fingers moving faster, Dante pulled his cloak tighter around his body and pulled out a number of knives cloaked in shadow. Dagger already out and ready, Lix kept her grip tight on the blade as it grew and grew into a greatsword that was nearly her own height. Though Night looked positively bored out of his mind throughout the entire transformation, his nails seemed to sharpen as they fell, his eyes laced with more primal magics.

With a thump, the five children landed on a spongey brink road, surrounded by large peppermint trees and gumdrop bushes as far as the eye could see. The air smelled sweet, not unlike the candy store they had just left behind. There did not seem to be anyone in sight, though a small stack of white cards floated next to each of them.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me,” Night said with a groan, planting his face into his hand.

“IT’S CANDYLAND!” Carrion screamed, quickly drawing a card and running down the road as fast as her feet would carry her. She screeched to a stop at her tile, a red one, and jumped up and down as fast as her little feet would allow. “Come on, we gotta win the game!”

Seemingly displeased by the overwhelming brightness of the candy forest, Dante was the next to draw a card, and he quickly dashed into place just a few paces ahead of Carrion. As he was about to round the corner, he frowned a touch, diving out of the way just in time to avoid being picked up by a large green troll. “Company,” he said over his shoulder, before throwing out his hands and casting a sleep spell. The troll’s eyes rolled back into his head, and he hit the ground with a thump. 

“This is a weird version of this game,” Lix said, drawing a card with a lollipop and instantly being teleported away from the rest of the group. She reappeared with a thump, landing in a forest of lollipops that were larger than the handaxes on her back. Trying to avoid letting out a curse, she huffed and plopped down on a nearby rock candy boulder to wait for her turn.

Valafar daintily picked up a card between his fingers and tip toed his way up to the sleeping troll. “Please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up,” he whispered, shield out and preparing a sacred flame for if it managed to shake Dante’s spell. Not that he wanted to burn that lovely green fur, of course, but the troll seemed hungry, and he didn’t feel like becoming a snack.

“This is so stupid,” Night said with a sigh, picking up a card. “OH SON OF A-” He grumbled, swearing under his breath as he managed to move a whole one square this turn. 

Carrion’s next card skipped her right pass any danger, though she tucked a plush cow right under the sleeping troll’s arm before she left. A few squares later, the gumdrops gave way to a much thicker forest of peppermint and the sound of axes on wood. Off in the distance was the woodcutter in question. She gave a large smile and wave. 

As luck would have it, Dante also drew a teleport card, popping into a vast castle grounds made of woven licorice. Not as much light was able to get through the thickly woven vines, and he breathed a sigh of relief, sinking into the shadows and trying to make himself scarce. The cackle that followed made him suddenly regret being all alone.

“Thank you for the help, Princess Lolly!” Lix called, drawing her card and quickly running down the path. Strapped to her hip were two new lollipop handaxes, freshly made and sharp beyond belief. She was so far ahead of everyone else that her best bet was to hope they would be okay and get to the exit. There would likely be something big at the end.

Valafar continued sneaking past the troll, catching up to Carrion with a wave. The peppermint woodcutter gave them both some tasty treats and new clothes for the road, though Valafar was much more interested in the nice cloak over the admittedly tasty candy stick.

This time, Night was able to jump across the rainbow bridge and skip over a large chunk of walking. Flashing a grin to the two still stuck in the first stages, he shuddered seeing Dante stuck in the castle all alone as he suddenly realized that the three younger kids were now all alone.

And so, the children continued to play. Carrion eventually caught up with Dante, though he stayed only long enough to warn her to stick to the shadows. Lix continued racing to the finish line, quickly bowing to the Queen and just narrowly avoiding getting stuck in molasses. Valafar continued sticking close to Carrion, though stopped just long enough in the licorice castle to insult the tacky interior decorating. Night, for his part, didn’t get especially far, but did manage to grab about seven baskets of peanut brittle at ‘Grandma’s house’. 

Eventually, Lix arrived at the main castle, winning the game for her friends and teleporting them all for a climatic battle against a terrifying licorice monster. Perhaps if they hadn’t been so used to strange monsters, it would have been terrifying for the children, but they were strong at heart and had each other, so the battle was less scary and much more silly.

When all was said and done, the five children met the king and sat down for a picnic of sweet treats and good laughs.

They’d go home eventually. For now, there was chocolate to eat.