#That's not even getting started on the rest of the area who hasn't gotten taken care of thx to the observants

[shoot-of-corruption]

The thing with Ryou Bakura

I am honestly weirded out how lighthearted some people play Ryou Bakura and then I read their "canon" tag. I mean AU Ryous are superb and fine and Ryou Bakura is s very handsome character, but in my head, he hasn't ever earned the tags cutesy, weak or boring.

Lets delve into a mind of one Ryou Bakura, who is still under the influence of the ring.

He has gotten the Millennium Ring during his childhood and bonded with it. We're not talking about his family circumstances or his life from before, whenever he lost his parents snd sister isn't really important to this.

The important thing is that Ryou Bakura has started out as a child, probably already losing time. First it's harmless minutes. Like maybe he was just taking a nap or he was not concentrating well. The less people are there to keep tabs on him, the more time he loses. He finds things that don't belong to him while other things completely go missing. He loses more time and sometimes, he doesn't remember how he got to where he is.

Most importantly, he is losing friends. He has most likely been bullied a lot and the little friends he has are falling into comas during gaming sessions. He uproots and travels on MULTIPLE TIMES so he can avoid getting lynched, because parents can be fucking vicious.

Nobody knows how long this has happened and then he comes to Domino. He has learnt to keep impeccable track of time and date, maybe he even has a diary for how much time he loses, just to keep an eye on it. So far, everything could be a row of weird coincidences. And then he finds out he is responsible for all of it. Or rather the thing in the Ring he wears is.

And that is the moment, where he stops being weirded out by it all and truly and directly emotionally charges himself. He breaks down and only gets up again to help his new friends not to be killed by whatever latched onto him.

Ryou, even after that, realizes he sometimes loses time, but he is relatively calm, since nothing bad has happened so far. The moment Duelist Kingdom starts no one knows how often Ryou is in control and how often Bakura is. He loses more and more time, sometimes IN THE MIDDLE OF A TALK and he knows it means trouble.

Second murder attempt and now he isn't just concerned, he is really afraid. Now he knows that the spirit cannot be banished and is sticking to him. Bakura keeps his cards close, maybe influences Ryou to not even realize that much what is going on... it's probably all a blur to him.

Then of course BC arc, where Ryou is CONSTANTLY close to dying. He doesn't know where he is, where are his injuries coming from, he transports from one location to the other without knowing how, his thoughts are constantly muddled, because Marik has his hands to the ellbows in there and Bakura shoves him to the back so he can control everything just like he wants to.

I personally think he doesn't remember the rest of BC at all thrown in and out of consciousness until he gets out of his head again, snatches the Ring and fucking books it...

We're at the point of the worst moments now, so get prepared. Ryou has been kept hostage in his own head for years, he has lost people to this, he has been taken over consciously and unconsciously, he has lost more time than he can even count anymore, his everything hurts, he is afraid that his brain doesn't even function anymore. The only reason because he is keeping it together is so he can keep his friends safe and show just a bit of bravado to the spirit, who knows how terrible he screws up this boy, but probably doesn't even care all too much, on the contrary.

I can very much see him pay 'his rent' to Ryou in unspeakable ways.

Imagine you leave the house in the morning to go to school. The next thing you know is that it is nighttime, you are in an area you barely know, you are soaked through, you wear completely different, DIRTY clothes, your pokets include items you have never seem before. Area's of your body are hurting. What day is it? What time? When have you eaten last? Have you hurt or killed anybody?!

I can see Bakura do this to him simply out of spite and Ryou never wanting to sleep again because he doesn't know where he will wake up. In what situations will he end up? There is no constant in Ryou's life anymore. He can't sleep well, ANYTHING could happen. He can't eat well, because he is in constant duress. He obsesses over things to forget his problems.

He is literally a constantly sleep deprived bundle of anxiety, who pretends to be socially capable, because if he gives in to the spirit, it's game over.

He keeps distance from his friends so he doesn't hurt them anymore and his friends don't seem to care sbout this a bit.

I want to really ask you, if you can see a sparkle of weakness or cuteness in a person, who is going through this EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

And the most mindbreaking thing for me is, how he even got through this alive. I wouldn't have, I can tell you that.

[forensicated]

Conviction - Part 5 - Riot City

Jason Devlin attends the station to have pictures of his bruises and wounds taken as part of his complaint against Smithy whilst Jack tells Heaton what Devlin has accused Smithy of. As yet Smithy remains unaware as he and the rest of uniform head off to a team building public order training day following the riot the previous day when Roger got taken hostage, uniform got split into groups and Rachel lost control. Heaton gives Jack and Neil 10 hours to look into the complaint before Devlin has to be charged.

Jack hopes it's just a smear against Smithy to muddy the water of the allegations/charges against Devlin. They suspect that it was a tenant who assaulted him but know they'd never find out which one. Neil admits Smithy has a temper and that he's invested in the case, but he was under a lot more pressure when undercover with Cutler/Wallace et al as part of the Gun Runner obbo with his own life on the line and played it all by the book - even when he shot Wallace. "When he's between a rock and a hard place, Smithy doesn't lose it."

Smithy tells Callum that he doesn't have to worry about him because he's rock solid and won't be telling the bosses what really happened. He spots Stevie and goes over to tell her she should be at home on sick leave but she insists daytime TV doesn't agree with her and she wanted to get back. He has to tell her that Devlin hasn't been charged yet for either the trafficking or her assault. "Well... have fun." she says stiffly, as uniform begin to board the bus.

Jack speaks to Ben and asks him if he can remember whether or not Babur still had the bag he ran off with when he stole the car. Ben can't say either way and asks Jack why. Jack explains that the stolen jewellery was found in a bag in Devlin's car and he wanted to know how it had gotten to him. Ben explains Smithy asked him to retrace his steps and search the taxi to see if he could see anything but there was nothing in the remains. Unfortunately although the planting allegation is nonsense, Ben has just put Smithy at the scene of a possible way it could have been done.

Callum watched Ben get taken aside by Jack and tries to worm out of Will if there's something 'going on upstairs' but Will knows nothing. He asks Ben what was said and he explains what Jack wanted and that he told him they looked and found nothing. Callum is starting to suspect something is going on that Smithy needs to be wary of.

Jack and Neil run over what happened when Stevie came round. She immediately drew suspicion to Devlin's boot and named her attacker. Jack points out that Smithy knew about the bag and that it was missing and that it would be possible for him to then have found it and planted it. Neil points out have had to find it and hide it from Ben and Callum who were also present. Neil insists its not possible and he wouldn't suspect Stevie either but Jack tells him they have to make sure and rule everything out.

Neil takes Stevie aside for a coffee and tells her not to underestimate the effect of a head injury and concussion. He apologises for not attending the hospital and awkwardly asks if she had many visitors. She tells him Will took her statement and then Smithy popped his head in. Neil points out she and Smithy got close undercover and she says it was just a role. He asks her why she thought there was evidence in Devlin's boot as he needs to know before interviews him. She explains she suspected something was dodgy because of the way he immediately checked the bag after scaring the kids off and then how he reacted and went on to attack her when she asked him what was inside. Stevie says no one else was in the vicinity other than the kids who were running away after Devlin chased them. He asks her specifically if any police officers were in the area and she says no - then asks why all the questions. Neil tells her there's a planting allegation against Smithy and asks if she and Smithy are emotionally involved. She denies it and tells Neil that "Sgt Smith just isn't made that way, when he shot that arms dealer [Kieran who was about to go and potentially machine gun a full pub just to get his uncle] he really felt it, it was hard for him but in the thick of it he made the right call." She insists she trusts Smithy completely.

Rachel addresses uniform and tells them they're attending training because of how the riot ended up with two officers injured and the officers parted into smaller groups before Roger was taken hostage. She mentions no part in her own failure. Funny that.

Neil prepares to interview Devlin and Jack warns Neil that he'll insist his assault on Stevie was simply self defence and the rest was down to Smithy. He reminds him Devlin can't say they planted or faked the book keeping evidence they found/received from Khaleed Hassiq however. He wants to let Devlin dig himself into a hole. Neil shows Devlin a print out of Stevie's warrant card and asks if he recognises the woman in it. [Interestingly Stevie is down as Stevie and not Stephanie or similar in her warrant card, but then thinking about it, Max is Max and not Maksy/Maxwell/Maksymilian etc.]

Devlin says he doesn't so Neil tells him exactly who Stevie is, down to the fact that she saved him from being lynched the day before and he repaid her by beating her unconcious. He insists all he did was try to leave because he was afraid for his life. He thought Stevie went to chase the kids who were attacking his car and that someone grabbed him from behind when he went to check his boot. He hit out once to defend himself and must have hit her in the temple as she was out cold. He bent over to see if she was alright and heard someone run up behind him. He looked up in time to see Smithy punch him. Neil looks unmoved and brings out the pictures of the jewellery alongside the notebook. Devlin claims he doesn't recognise any of them despite what Hassiq says he was 'made' to write and that they were found in his boot. Neil goes on to explain that Babur collected the ledger on the day that he ran off from the lorry leaving 2 of the people he'd trafficked dying inside. Devlin says he didn't see him that day despite Neil knowing he'd called him. He says there was a subletting problem as the legal tenants had let other people move in and Babur must have thought it was a priority. Neil points out how ridiculous that sounds given he would be aware that the police were after him and that people were at absolute best hurt in the back of the lorry he'd been seen running from. He reminds him the jewellery was found in his boot and Devlin accuses Smithy of planting them and assaulting him. (He's moving very painlessly for a man with broken ribs...)

Rachel continues being a complete wet lettuce when speaking to the instructor who tells her that he has found out she personally requested the training day. She blames the team for not working as a unit during the riot but says only 'there's always room for improvement' when he asks how the management functioned.

Their first exercise is a sweep to clear misiles and petrol bombs. The instructor encourages them to use their nous but to also work as a team and think how the team as a whole should function through discipline and awareness to get through the exercise - and real riots - without injury. Rachel goes on to brief them that they're to sweep the 'looters' forward, leaving the area clear behind them. She breaks them into two teams with Smithy leading one and Callum the other. Smithy's team is to be dominant on the corners so they move first.

Oioi! They're flirting already.

Neil takes Jack to the West Gate Estate carpark and they 'run through' the attack and how things must have happened. Smithy's version is that he was following four rioters and found Stevie and Devlin. Jason's is that Smithy attacked him from behind, threw him against a van and beat him unconscious.

Smithy leads his team forward and round a corner where they encounter the 'looters' who throw petrol bombs at them whilst the team set up a strong position. Smithy has to literally extinguish fire from Mel's protective suit. He sets them into a firm stance line and shouts 'CHARGE' so they run at the looters and make them back up. They then hold their position until the 2nd team run by Callum arrives to keep the looters at bay. Callum and team standby and secure the second location whilst Smithy's team clear the walkways and then advance forward. Whilst waiting for Smithy's team, Callum ends up on fire from a missile and has to be put out by Ben. "Sod this for a lark!" he growls, calling for his team to advance. He runs forward, shoves a looter over and removes a tub of petrol bombs, dragging it back to their side before shouting 'withdraw'. "That should calm it down a bit." Callum explains to Rachel when they catch up and she doesn't discipline him or tell him to back down or back off... she simply says 'fine' and makes him the dominant team leader now by telling him - but noone else (!) I wish they'd done a no confidence storyline in her given her flip-flopping and her poor way of managing the team (Leon has a few episodes where she's shit with him too in particular) The supervisor is clearly not happy with her or Callum.

Jack and Neil discuss the case and all they can prove is the absence of actual evidence. Jack decides to send Stevie to Gravesend where the uniform team are with Smithy's statement. He says if it comes back cleaned up or altered in anyway they'll know (they've taken a copy) there's some truth in what Devlin says and that she's in on it too. He admits he's testing both of them. He invites Stevie into Neil's office and asks her about Smithy and if she thinks he'd confide in her. Stevie looks suspicious. "Confide or confess?" she asks and then says yes and that she reckons he'd know if he was hiding anything. He asks her to speak to him as a witness and get him to double check each detail. "I thought you trusted her?" Jack asks when Neil tells him to time and date his request to Stevie. "An integrity test is raising the bar." Stevie is seen to grab an empty witness statement as she leaves the building. Given the questions from both senior officers and her previous job in SO10 and undercover surely she's together enough to work out exactly what is going on here...! It would seem not however.

Smithy and Callum enter the canteen having a 'strong discussion' about what happened on the course and Smithy calls Callum out for making the Inspector look bad and for not sticking to the bywords of discipline and awareness. "Don't quote the book at me!" Callum scoffs, telling Smithy that he knows as well as he does that they don't hold a static positions on the street during a real riot so the instructions were cockeyed from the start and if the inspector isn't there then it's the Sgt in charge so he took charge.

Rachel receives 'constructive criticism' from the instructor. He explains that she has a Sgt problem - Callum thinks he's in charge. She says he knows his place in the chain of command and she simply switched the dominant team but the instructor points out that it was Callum who switched it and Rachel didn't pull him up on it. Rachel doesn't see the problem as the objective was still achieved. The instructor shakes his head saying that Callum pushing forward left a corner unmanned which would give real rioters the chance to slip in and cause problems and split the groups - just like they did yesterday. Callum broke rank and she let it fly. He asks if it was chain of command issues that got Roger taken hostage because she really needs to deal with it. Rachel gets prickly and says that it's nothing to do with chain of command and she then walks away.

Stevie arrives at Gravesend and reads through Smithy's statement. She enters the canteen to find him and tells him she's there because the custody clock is ticking and it can't wait for him to get back so leads him to a quiet corner with Callum watching. She asks how things are going and Smithy smirks. "You get called a cockney this, a cockney that and then they throw petrol bombs at you." "Sounds like fun!" She asks if Smithy saw anyone there when he found Devlin and Smithy corrects "When I found you? I ignored Devlin." He says there could have been some youths running away but he can't describe them as he was focused on making sure Stevie was OK. Stevie is clearly starting to become a little suspicious of what truly happened. She explains Callum's statement says when he found them, Smithy was tending to Devlin and asks why. He says because he wasn't breathing properly. He checked his airway was clear and then tilted his head back to help him breathe properly. "What's really going on here, Stevie?" "I came to offer you help if you need it..." She says shiftily. "I don't think so, but maybe you know more than I do?" They look at each other for a long few seconds before she opens the file and shows Smithy she has a blank witness statement. "You're just offering and you're doing it with a blank statement?". She confides Devlin has made a complaint about Smithy assaulting him and framing him by planting evidence. He asks her if it's her idea or the DI's. Stevie admits they know she's there but not what she's saying and she's not supposed to let on about the complaint. She suggests if he tells her everything then she can help him. "How? With a clean sheet?" She asks him again what happened and he says "I didn't do anything that isn't in my statement." She says she's going to get a cup of tea and suggests he 'edit' things if there's anything that will harm him. Smithy stops her by holding her wrist. "Are you on the level?" he asks, she nods and excuses herself as Callum approaches.

"Don't do it." Callum says quietly. "You don't know what this is?" Smithy frowns. "The DCI spoke to Ben this morning, they're all over it. It's a test." he says, disappearing as quickly as he arrived. Smithy slides the statement back across to Stevie and tells her he's happy with what's there. Stevie tells him the conversation never happened and leaves him to it, squeezing his shoulder. Callum returns, "They've got nothing on you so keep it together." Smithy insists it wasn't a test because Stevie wouldn't do that to him. Callum reminds him he has a packed hand and needs to stick - there's no percentage he could gain in changing anything - but he could lose the lot. Smithy wants to stop lying but knows he can't, telling Callum about the allegation. He suggests it was a given Devlin would muddy the waters now that he's been arrested and that it doesn't change anything.

Will finds a man on the CCTV who could possibly have seen everything. Devlin gives his name, Ayub Eshan and address and claims he's not an illegal immigrant. Kezia and Will arrest Eshan on a public order offence related to the riot - he also has £200 on his person. Neil interviews him and asks him if he knows why he's there. He admits breaking windows and being part of the riot. He says he was very angry when he was breaking the windows and Neil admits he knows there are mitigating reasons and that Devlin was evicting people. Eshan says in the picture he is running away from what he sees - a policeman beating Mr Devlin.

Jack and Neil are interested that - if the Devlin's have gotten to Eshan as it appears - why are they using the assault and not the planting as the planting is the real issue and what matters in the trafficking case. Jack suggests it's because it would put Smithy's word in doubt if the jury think he's guilty of the lesser charge. Eddie runs a check on the envelope that Eshan's cash was inside - Matthew Devlin's fingerprints and DNA are all over it. Devlin Snr explains he runs a deposit system with the tenants because it makes them look after the property if the landlord has some of their money outside of the local authority paying the rent. He simply returned that money to Eshan. Devlin admits he's not moving out but he trusts him after speaking to him so returned the cash. Jack and Neil point out what it looks like and Devlin says that isn't what happened and he's telling them the truth. Eshan gives exactly the same story as Devlin Snr for having the money returned. Neil suggests they might have to let it go to court and let Eshan be torn apart by a barrister. He points out that the statements are practically identical but Jack reasons so are Smithy and Stone's. He then goes to search Smithy and Callum's lockers. Will spots Jack refusing Sgt Extra entry to the locker room...

Smithy and Callum are back on public order training with petrol bombs thrown at them. They are aiming to capture and 'arrest' an individual so create a 'snatch squad' and advance on the group. They finally get through and get hold of YellowVest - their target, however Callum ignores Smithy's repeated orders to withdraw and starts taking on the crowd who had gone for him as part of the exercise, shouting at them to 'Come on, then!' It's 4 against 1 and Callum gets taken down. The instructor blows his whistle to end the exercise and Callum is released - but Smithy does Not. Look. Happy. Now it's stopped, Rachel takes the opportunity to run across and actually bollock Callum this time with everyone else watching. She orders him to return to his team and act like a leader. Callum just stares silently back at her so she growls. "Yes Ma'am?!" at him. Callum is quiet for another few seconds before adding "Ma'am." and walking back to the group, eyeing Smithy off the entire time. A 10 minute break is called.

Stevie returns and tells Jack and Neil that Smithy is sticking with his statement and has nothing to edit or add and she insists he's telling the truth so they can go ahead and charge Devlin with her assault. Neil urges Jack to back Smithy and Jack says nothing has changed - he gets Jack's backing when he talks to the man himself. (I do like that Neil is so adamant that Smithy is telling the truth and that they should back him given that he left MIT because Emma's dad, Frank Keane, refused to believe Smithy could be innocent during the Prison/Larson set up. I don't like that Jack is against him and refuses to believe it after said Larson stuff and Gun Runner/Witness etc BUT at the same time I can understand why he's finally cautious after having his fingers burnt so many times with Zain and Don etc etc.)

Instead of joining the group for a break, Smithy and Callum head back to the little 'street' set up and have a little violent tussle with each other. I can't help but be amused that Smithy doesn't verbally answer Callum when he asks if he has something to say to him after he'd enjoyed Rachel telling him off. They just stare at each other for a few seconds and know shit is about to go down so remove their belts aaaaaaand fly at each other.

I guess the dominant side is out to play ;)

During a breather, Callum asks Smithy if he's trying to punish him because he knows what Smithy did. Smithy shouts back that he's not going to be in his pocket and the fight resumes with both men relatively well matched in terms of strength. "I am not your problem!" Callum growls, shoving Smithy back. He tells Smithy that it's not him that he's angry at but himself for what he did and that if he wants to confess and collapse the case then he should go ahead and do it - he's past caring. Smithy makes one last run at him but Callum side steps it and the fight has gone out of both men. Callum points out that it's bigger than just the two of them and what Smithy did - 2 men are dead, Jala is an orphan, Devlin is an arse who winds everyone up. There's likely hundreds of other immigrants the Devlin's have used and abused. Callum makes it clear Smithy has a choice. His conscience or their justice.

Devlin is arrested and charged with assault, receiving stolen property and immigration offences but there's nothing for his father as yet. Heaton asks about the accusation against Smithy and Jack admits there is a witness but they think he's been paid off by the Devlin's and told what to say. Heaton asks for Jack's gut feeling and he says he'll tell him after he's spoken to Smithy.

Will tells Callum that Neil and Jack locked everyone out the locker rooms at one point during the day. Callum brushes it off with "Well you know they're having an affair, don't ya?" before claiming it's a management mystery as many things often are. Heaton is waiting and tells Smithy that Jack wants to speak to him before taking Rachel to his office. He asks how Smithy and Callum got on and she explains they both know their own minds and aren't afraid to show it but they wouldn't want their Sergeant's any other way. He tells her about the allegations and and says the case is of great importance to him as he's moving to head up a human trafficking department and wants her to come with him. He claims she has a cool head and is methodical but the day before he saw her unable to cope with the riot but eh. She's leaving, let's not dwell. She claims she has unfinished work with asserting her authority and wants to prove she wasn't promoted too fast - he asks her to give him a year with human trafficking to see and then she can move back if not.

Jack tells Smithy of the allegations and Smithy manages to dodge any question that would show he had prior knowledge of them. He manages to make Jack believe he's innocent though the CPS want the case to go to trial with Smithy's word against Devlin's being the focus and the DPS will get involved after the trial. Jack updates Heaton who then tells him he's leaving and that the Super job is his bar the shouting if he wants it.

In the locker room, Smithy tells Callum there's a witness - though an unreliable one who is going to be tested in court. He tells him he has managements full support and all he has to do is stand in the box and perjure himself. Callum tells him that the bosses came in and searched their lockers whilst they were gone and that in true reality - the two of them only really have each other to rely on.

[madeleine-bo]

Pumpkin is home!

She's so small and young, but so full of personality already. She's absolutely just a chill kitten, happy to eat and play with everyone and everything, and nothing seems to bother her much at all.

It's such a big difference compared to our older kitty Spice. As a kitten, he was very brave but equally very skittish: he'd run and hide at every noise only to come out a second later to continue exploring.

I think it really shows just how much of an impact the first few weeks of a kitten's life can have on the cat for the rest of their life.

For context: Spice was born of a stray cat and lived as a stray with his mum and his brother until they were found by a shelter when the kittens were around two/three months old. We have no idea of the conditions they lived in for those months, whether the area they were in was at least mostly safe or not, etc.

As a kitten, Spice got close to my partner and I quickly, but he continued to be scared of other people for quite some time. Nowadays, (he's two and a bit years old) while he isn't out right scared of other humans, it still takes him a while to warm up to people (even those who regularly come visit us!).

Personality wise, he's a very brave and curious cat. We trained him to walk on a lead and he enjoys our walks together, yet despite that, he still hasn't gotten over his knee-jerk reaction to loud noises. He doesn't go and hide anymore, but he'll still instantly go into "alert mode" at the noise. If nothing happens following the noise, he'll relax right away.

On the opposite side of things, Pumpkin was born to a house cat and has only known love and comfort for her entire life. She had three litter mates to play with, and was around and handled by humans from the very day she was born.

When there's a loud noise, she doesn't even register it. Upon seeing Spice the first time (we're talking about seeing a grown adult cat that's pretty much four to five times her size given she's a literal baby and he's a big cat even by adult cat standards), she just trotted over to him and I had to slow her down so Spice wouldn't get spooked.

It's such a huge difference in behaviour, and it gives me many feelings. There's something about knowing that, no matter how loved and safe and secure Spice is right now, he'll probably never fully let go of his primal fear reaction because, at the beginning of his life, that fear is all he knew and all that kept him alive.

Anyway, if you're wondering how the introduction between the two is going: we're taking it very slow but it's looking good already.

Pumpkin is in a separate room at the moment, and Spice is so curious about her, he's taken to just hanging out in front of her door. He was a bit guarded at first (tail tucked, sitting low on the ground), but after a day he's now much more confident whenever he sits by the door (both ears and tail relaxed).

Pumpkin just wants to be able to hang out with her big brother, like, now!, and she keeps trying to sneak out of the door every time we go in.

They've had a very successful together-but-separate play session with the door open too, and Spice has started eating his food by Pumpkin's door.

Keep tuned for more kitten updates in the future!

[ginabaker1666]

Birds of A Feather -- Margaritaville

The second part of Birds of A Feather. Blair finds her footing with the Avengers, Tony is wasting away in Margaritaville, Steve hasn't had a shot since the twenties and Clint discovers his new favorite place to spend his afternoons. Blair and Natasha's friendship blooms, and Matt Faction-esq Clint shows his face. Happy reading; feedback is always appreciated. Also posted on AO3.

It had been sort of a rough start. Community Affairs for the Avengers meant near constant phone calls, putting out media fires and, as implied on my first go around at the tower, soothing the mayor over trivial inconveniences. While Pepper had been a blessing in the first few weeks of this job, it had taken those same few weeks for Tony to remember who I was. Every time he would emerge from the lab he would stop and ask who I was; Bruce, bless him, was always right there to remind him. I had no shortage of names that weren’t my own, but he was Tony Stark. You didn’t argue with the name that signed your paycheck.

“Hey! New girl!” Better than nothing, I suppose.

“Clair” nope, but close.

“Barbara!” Not even remotely close, Stark. Try again.

“Blair, right?”

“What can I do for you Mr. Stark?”

“Tony,” he nodded with a small smile. “Pepper says you’re crushing it, and I’m inclined to believe her because well, let’s face it, I don’t hire half asses and she doesn’t lie. And you don’t look like a half ass. Are you a half ass?”

“Only when it comes to picking up my dry cleaning.” I smirked, rolling my eyes.

“Who isn’t?” He agreed, tossing an arm over my shoulder and steering me in the opposite direction of where I was headed. Which was the elevators. So I could go home and order Chinese food and welcome the weekend.

“Did you need something before I go?” Polite, but get the point across.

“Oh! I was supposed to invite you to join us for Friday night dinner. So, come on, let’s eat.”

“Friday night dinner?”

“Sort of a team dinner. That’s what Cap calls them, the old fashioned fart. But, it’s just getting together for some takeout on a Friday night and having a few drinks.”

“Oh... I didn’t think you guys did that...”

“What? Act human? Most of us are Blair.”

“And I’m part of this team?”

“You’d be correct!”

He grinned, dropped his arm that had been resting over my shoulders, and turned to face me. We had stopped just outside the entrance to the Avengers communal area, the kitchen and lounge area were just beyond the couches and TV, and I could make out the sound of Bruce gently reminding Thor about the last time he had tequila.

“Look; we’re a pretty tight group, and we don’t take outsiders in. At all. But, Pepper came across your resume somewhere, I don’t know the specifics, and she wanted you for this job. Which means that, by the power vested in me, by me, welcome to the Avengers.”

“Well... that’s some welcome wagon, Tony.”

“Was it good? I practiced on my way up from the lab.”

“Oh, lovely, remind me to have you draft something similar in your apology statement to Katie Couric.”

“She’s still mad?”

“You blew up her desk.”

“On live TV.”

Pepper had joined us, coming to my aid in your typical women supporting women fashion. An ‘I told you so’ look on her face that I just had to agree with.

“Pep, it was an accident. I told you that.”

“Right.” She and I replied at the same time, laughter immediately following as we journeyed into the kitchen to join the rest of the team. I was immediately pulled away from Tony and Pepper by Natasha, who had a sly grin on her face, and led to the bar where Thor was lining up glasses.

“Tuesday’s are a pipe dream, so it’s Taco Friday.” She nodded, her eyes casting a glance at the bottle of Patron that Steve was peeling the wrapper off of. “Do you do shots?”

“Not since I was in my twenties.”

“Funny, Steve hasn’t done a shot since the twenties either.” Clint replied, inserting himself into the conversation with a joke.

Of all the Avengers I had worked with, I hadn’t gotten a good read on the Archer. Sure he was polite, always had a joke on hand or a sarcastic remark to something someone said, but, he hadn’t said much to me. He was always close to Natasha, and I had to wonder if the red headed master of espionage and the handsome archer were a couple.

“Very funny, Barton,” Steve turned, joining the conversation with a wry smile on his face. “But you and I both know it’ll be you who’s in a tequila coma long before I am.”

“That sounds like a challenge.” I looked between the two men.

“No,” Natasha pushed Clint away and picked up two glasses from the bar. “I have a feeling Blair and I are going to leave you two in the dust tonight.”

“But Steve’s got the serum, Tash-“

“And he hates tequila.” She grinned, handing me a shot glass and lifting her own in a moment of what looked like friendship, and I was happy to oblige.

Natasha, a woman of few words, quirked her mouth in a half smile before downing her shot, and not one to be left out, I followed suit.

“Goes down real smooth.” She looked past me at whoever was behind me with a raised eyebrow, took the empty glass from my hand and deposited it back on the bar.

“A few more of those and it’ll be me who goes down real smooth,” I laughed. “It’s been a while since I’ve done shots all night.”

“Oh no no, Pepper is making margaritas. Thor will handle the shots.”

“Thank god.” It came out in a whoosh of breath, and it was the first time I saw the famous Black Widow crack a real smile.

“Clint and Tony will try and keep up,” she explained.

“And Bruce?” I asked.

“Bruce doesn’t drink much, let alone hard stuff.”

I nodded, understanding that fully; Natasha had already been through it with The Other Guy once before, and from what I had read in the incident report, it wasn’t pretty. Pepper emerged from where she had been with Tony, two margaritas in hand, and Tony trailing behind with the third; she passed two off to Natasha and I, and took the third from Tony before he joined the boys.

The conversation ebbed and flowed all night; between more drinks and enough food to feed a small town in Mexico, I found myself relaxing under the watchful eyes of the Avengers. Pepper, once she turned off Miss Potts and her work phone, was more fun than I had expected her to be. Natasha surprised me; she was a wild combination of dirty jokes and sarcasm that made Steve blush and Tony cackle. Thor has polished off the bottle of Patron from earlier, and was now sharing a small flask with Steve. I’d ask another time about that one. Bruce, for being the only sober one, was just as engaged in the conversation as the rest of us, laughing at all the good jokes, and not hesitating to throw a dig when Clint’s jokes were just plain bad. Clint had ended up next to me on the oversized couch at some point, the blender with the remaining margaritas situated in front of us on the coffee table waiting to be polished off.

“Blair, take one of the guest quarters tonight.” Pepper suggested, lifting herself off the couch and tugging Tony with her.

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to bed,” she rolled her eyes. “Come on.”

“Oh, come on Pep! I’m having so much fun in Margaritaville!” Tony whined.

“He’s a mess...” Pepper sighed, then turned back to me. “I mean it, have someone show you an empty room, there’s toiletries and whatnot.”

“I can call a car, it’s all good.” I tried to argue.

“Oh but then you miss the hungover team breakfast!” Clint countered, giving my shoulder a nudge with his own.

“That’s a thing?”

“Sure is! Steve is never hungover so, after Pride and Patriotism gets back from his run, he makes breakfast.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that; not missing Steve’s good natured scowl.

“She can have your share of the pancakes, Barton.”

“Ooh can I have chocolate chips on mine?!” I grinned, clapping my hands like a toddler as Steve burst out laughing.

“Aww, pancakes, no...” Clint wined from next to me, his head falling to my shoulder.

I don’t know if it was the alcohol, or the fact that he had felt compelled to create that closeness, but I didn’t stop to think when I ran a hand through Clint’s hair as his head found purchase on my shoulder. What I didn’t miss was the look that Natasha fixed on both of us, and only then did I pull my hand back and drop it into my lap. In a bid to recover quickly, I focused back on Steve and the conversation at hand.

“If you’re promising pancakes, I don’t think I can say no, Rogers.”

“His pancake skills are pretty impressive,” Natasha added, standing from her spot and picking up her now empty glass. “And on that note, I’m heading to bed. Blair, I have full confidence in you that you’ll polish off the blender before going to bed.”

“Your confidence in me is astounding, Natasha, but I can’t handle that on my own.”

“Of course not,” she smiled at me. “Clint’s going to help you.”

With a wink in my direction, she headed towards the elevators, not before raising an eyebrow at the remaining occupants in the living room.

“It’s past my bedtime,” Steve nodded, following Natasha. “Thor, Bruce, what do you guys say?”

“I say I’m right behind you, Cap.” Bruce nodded, bidding a goodnight to both me and Clint, before nudging Thor on his way out.

“Lady Blair, I trust you to take excellent care of the Hawk!” Thor boomed, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm, even after all the tequila he had consumed.

“I’ll do my best, Thor, don’t worry.” I offered a smile, and suddenly found myself alone with Clint Barton and a pitcher of margaritas.

“You don’t have to stay up.” He smiled, fiddling with his left ear.

“I don’t mind at all. You’ve proven to be excellent company so far, Clint.”

He beamed at that, reaching for the blender before pouring the contents into my empty cup, and then his own.

“So my dad jokes aren’t as bad as Tasha says they are?” He pressed.

“I never said that.”

“And here I thought you were laughing at my jokes all night...” he playfully sulked.

“Oh don’t be like that. Some of them were funny.”

“Yea?”

“Kinda cheesy; but still funny. You seem to have an arsenal full of deaf jokes.”

“Self deprecating humor is kind of my thing.” He nodded, taking a sip of his drink.

When I hadn’t said anything, he turned to show me his left side, and I have no idea how I had missed it before, but, right there, was a hearing aid tucked snugly against his ear. I guess if you don’t know to look for it, you have no idea it’s even there.

“Oh, I-“

“Please don’t say you're sorry...”

“Wasn’t going to.” I grinned over the rim of my cup.

We spent the night grinning at each other, shyly, from behind the safety of our drinks, slowly uncovering small little anecdotes of the other's personality that were considered safe.

Where’d you grow up?

College? Nope, joined the circus.

Siblings?

By the time we had decided to call it a night, the two of us talking long past the time the drinks ran out, he had walked me to a guest room with the promise of sweet dreams and pancakes when the sun came up. It would end up being the first night I dreamt of Clint Barton.

It was now a week after my first Friday night dinner with the team, and I hadn’t seen much of anyone except for Pepper and Dr. Banner. Thor was off-world for some Asgardian affair and the rest of the team had gone out on a mission late Monday night. I had run into Clint and Steve coming out of the armory as I was leaving on Monday, when the latter had asked me to stick close to the tower until they got back. It wasn’t a particularly difficult mission, but the location posed some potential sanctions issues and he wanted me on hand for damage control in case of anything.

I had promised to run home and pack a bag before coming back. Happy had been more than generous in driving me to my apartment and assisting in helping me bring down some extra work clothes and anything else I might have needed. I had become a more permanent resident in the tower, staying in the same room I had slept in the week prior. The guest quarters across the hall from Clint’s now vacated room. Well, vacated until he got back.

Checking the clock, it was almost four and I was starting to feel the beginnings of a headache forming. Steve had been right about the sanctions; I had spent the better part of the day fielding emails from various news outlets all wanting to know where the Avengers felt they had jurisdiction above any local law enforcement or government agencies. It was simple really; they were sanctioned by SHIELD and Director Fury just didn’t give a damn who’s toes he stepped on. I hadn’t even met the guy yet and I just knew that’s how he was.

“Another cog in the wheel of making my job difficult...” I sighed, the empty room doing nothing to quell my agitation. Standing, I felt my back crack in several spots and took a moment to contemplate my next move.

“Coffee usually helps.”

I jumped, the voice tinny and disassociated from anyone who may have been walking by, or in a neighboring room.

“What the hell...” I whispered, before finally addressing the only person that could help.

“JARVIS?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Is someone in here?”

“Agent Barton is making his rounds, Miss Thomas.”

“I don’t see Agent Barton, Jarvis...”

“Look up, ma’am.”

Taking a deep breath, I chanced a glance up to the ceiling, and was surprised to see Clint’s face, somewhat distorted from the grate of the vent, but he was definitely grinning back at me.

“Holy shit! What the hell are you doing up there!”

“Like Jarvis said... my rounds.”

“In the ceiling?!”

“I see better from a distance.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Even through the grate I could see the smirk on his lips.

“I gather from your current position, in my ceiling, that the mission went well?”

“For us, yea, but judging by the mountain of paperwork you’ve been sifting through, I’d say you

got the raw end of the deal.”

“I most certainly did,” I chuckled. “You coming down?”

“Well, yea, but I need you to move.”

“Oh! Right!”

I pulled my chair out of his way, and watched as he popped the grate off and skillfully slid down, landing with cat-like grace in front of me.

“Coffee?” He prompted, holding his arm out to me.

“Sure,” I shook my head. “You plan to fix the hole in my ceiling?”

“You mean you want me to take the grate off every time I visit!?” He raised an eyebrow at me in mock surprise, gently leading me towards the kitchen. I was vaguely aware of the fact that I had left my mug in my office.

It went on this way for weeks. Clint would pop out of the hole in my office ceiling at least once a day if he wasn’t on missions, or otherwise occupied with training. He was a welcomed distraction during busy days; a pleasant intermission when paperwork would start to get the best of me, and he always had a smile on hand. Unfortunately, I was usually seeing that smile upside down, or at an awkward angle. I was starting to wonder if this was normal behavior for him or if it was reserved for only me. When I ran into Natasha, I knew I’d get the answer I was looking for.

“Natasha, can I ask you something?”

“Depends on what it is.” She smirked.

“Does Clint hang out in everyone’s ceiling vents?”

“No, just your office it seems.”

“Thought so...”

She stopped walking and turned to me with a serious expression, one I had only seen when it came to work.

“Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No, I don’t mind him visiting. I just wish he’d use the door.”

“The door?”

“Yea, this way I could actually see him.” I sighed.

“Oh?”

“The top of his head is nice, and the upside down smile is always endearing but...”

“You like Barton, don’t you.”

She had sussed it out and I couldn’t lie to her. She was the queen of picking up on that stuff.

“What’s not to like? I’m an adult, I’ve got no shame in admitting it.”

“I’ll talk to him.” She nodded, and without another word walked off.

I wasn’t sure what her definition of talking to him meant, but I’d have to wait to find out. The next day, the entire team was out on a mission; Tony had a lead on an underground Hydra base that was crawling with ex-SHIELD agents and both Steve and Tony wanted a crack at them.

I had grown used to Clint’s head popping out of the hole in the ceiling, the coffee cup that he would leave on my desk before he disappeared for the day, the companionable silence as he hung out in the vent while I worked; the occasional singalong when he found a song on my Spotify he liked. Having Pepper as company was enjoyable; between ordering takeout or eating out, work and filling the DVR with home renovation shows and trash reality TV, it kept me busy. But being busy during the day did nothing to quell the constant thoughts of Clint at night. He wasn’t anything to me but a teammate, a friend, and yet I couldn’t stop worrying. The last time I worried about someone like this, the outcome was less than desirable and yet, something about Clint felt different; and the worst part was, he was gone and I was here.

[shyrose57]

Brothers anon, sorry this keeps taking me a while to send, been very busy lately.

He only had a hunch at first he was his ancestor but later talking with Karl confirmed it. I have yet to decide, I think he probably will just so I can focus more on the current events and not his past. 

He solely relys on his instincts when around other endermen. Although when around Ran he relys more on his social interaction skills. Though he still does certain things (like no eye contact, he leaves two blocks for Ran as a show of care and harmlessness, and sometimes warbling at Ran) due to his instincts. For other enderman it generally works out well, they mostly leave Ranboo alone anyway. But for Ran, he doesn't care much.

He is aware of Enderwalk Ranboo, mostly cause Phil warned him about it. His interactions with Enderwalk Ranboo are mostly Enderwalk Ranboo entering his room and trying to get close to Ran only for Ran to really full heartily growl and lash out at him when he gets close. Then Enderwalk Ranboo whines and leaves. Ranboo is hesitant but welcoming and open to Ran all the time, mostly because holy shit its another enderman hybrid, he thought he was the only one! And Ranboo can tell the two share a bit of similarities but mostly just thinks its because there both enderman hybrids. 

Karl manages to convince the Artic Commute to leave the two alone and once they leave starts to question Ran. Only to pretty often get cut off by him asking a retaliation question. Ran is angry and desperately wants to know everything, Karl is scared and wants to know everything Ran knows. So they eventually come to a agreement where Karl asks a question, Ran answers then he asks a question and Karl answers that. After a while of this they come to an agreement to wait til Ran is fully healed to start to find a way to get him back. And in the meantime Karl'll explain his timetravel stuff and how Ran got here, hoping to get the Commute to agree to help them find a way to get Ran home. 

A mix of annoyed, angry, relieved, and homesick (cause Tubbo reminds him of Jackie). Bit of both, he wants to know whats going on and where Ran came from, but is also just curious about the other hybrid. Tubbo heads to the Artic cause Ranboo hasn't been over at all in weeks, keeps saying he's to busy and how something interesting happened at the Artic. So Tubbo gets tired of it and decides to head over to find out whats keeping Ranboo from visiting. Ye medic Eret, I was originally thinking of medic Bad but I think I may try to include the Egg in this somewhere so he's not a option. They have a mutual relationship, no one there really has a reason to dislike him or to heavily like him, but they all get along whenever they meet. Eret learns by Phil contacting him for help, cause while Techno and Phil both know some health knowledge they don't know enough to properly treat Ran and make the call to call in Eret to help, both trusting them enough to keep this secret between all of them. Karl learns because of Eret actually, Eret comes to Karl for help to see if he has any enderman biology books and half handly mention how a enderman needs help, leading to Karl asking if its Ranboo or Edward, the no he gets in response alarms him enough to back Eret into a corner and force him to tell him who was there that needed help. All Eret said was a dark enderman with green eyes, which reminds Karl of Ran and gets him panicked enough to go see if its him. Tubbo knows cause he gets impatient of waiting for Ranboo to vist so he vists with no warning, leading to him meeting Ran while looking for Ranboo. Its kept hush hush cause their all unsure of how the rest of the SMP would react to having Ran there, especially when it's revealed he's from the future. 

He did. He's not having fun. Karl used too but not anymore since he's time travled so much he's gotten used to it.

Partially, he understands all common though is only able to speak a medium amount, mostly due to his mouth and vocal cords are just unable to make some words or sounds needed to speak it. When that happens they basically play charades. He is still Technos roommate and is happily helping Ranboo in anyway he can. 

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

They steal anything they can get their grubby hands on. It actually goes pretty well as well shockingly. They mostly steal anything that looks expensive, though they manage to find a bunch of raw material like gold, iron, and even diamonds and steal all of that. And they get far enough no one can find them at first. 

Thats exactly what happened, they make eye contact, hear a ruckus from nearby, make eye contact again, then fucking book it away from the sounds. 

The most trouble the group makes is when Grievous makes fun of Porkums hat and gets punched for it. 

Honestly with all the wars and battles that go on in the SMP he probably doesn't even bat a eye, its probably normal for him. 

First thing Jackie does is complain about everyone being taller than him. I imagine Pogtopia being abandoned for years hasn't left it in a very stable state. So Jackie just steps in the wrong place and gets sent tumbling down, with rocks falling after trapping him. 

All happened after they met Karl, but all happened at different times. So for example, the Wild West where thrown back 3 years after meeting Karl. While for the Haunted Mansion crew, they where thrown back months after meeting Karl. Even though they've all met him before their reactions are slightly different depending on how long ago they met Karl. Again for example Sherman and Jon Jon greeted Karl like a old friend and were happy to see him again. While all of the Haunted Mansion crew greeted Karl with questions as they more recently saw him so didn't feel the need to say hello. Cause Isaac and Karl are both in Kinoko Kingdom, where Karl holds all of his books about the time travel journeys, Karl is able to bring Isaac to the books and show him the City of Mizu Book, along with the others that explain who they people he was with where. Plus Isaac just doesnt really have a reason to not believe Karl as he has never lied to him or anything.

Im guessing you mean after the search party is formed, then its actually Ran found first since he's so close. Karl has to try to convince Ran to join them so they can count him as found and then take him to a holding type area. Ran refuses at first and Karl gives him a ultimatum that he either goes with them and gets to go home or stays here forever. He eventually agrees to come with if he gets to search with them, and reluctantly Karl agrees. Karl does what any of the Tales people joining them on their search, but much to his dismay more people insist on joining them. Ran also actually has information on the Bandits but refuses to give it until they find Jackie, cause he has a bad feeling that something happened to him. Ran actually has his left hand bandaged cause a massive piece of glass went through his hand. Jackie will eventually get his arm in a sling due to a broken bone. Ranbulter and James suffer hypothermia and have to be taken care of by Bad (the Egg doesn't exist in this au). Zack slips trying to get away from the Bandits and twists his ankle. Sherman breaks a finger trying to get out of the ravine. And Benjamin gets a slash on his leg after trying to run from Drowned and getting grazed by the trident. Both sides goals are getting back home. Though it's harder for the Tales cause not all of them get along. Karl gets worn down over time and slowly becomes more distressed and hopeless about getting them home. And all the stress builds up til he just snaps and sadly, quite a few people are in the line of fire when he snaps.

From Future To Past AU:

What led to him suspecting Ranboo to be his ancestor?

Do certain blocks have certain meanings, then? For Endermen?

Enderboo sounds very sad and put-out. How is he generally in this AU, seeing as Phil's aware of his existence at the least? How does Ran feel about his visits, and what are his thoughts on when it happens? Are Ender hybrids rare in general, if he's so surprised to see another one?

How'd Karl convince him? How do the two currently view each other, and what were their previous interactions beforehand, if Ran's reaction to him was so upset, and Karl was spooked? How do they get along after?

How does the rest of the Arctic react to Tubbo's presence, and how do our two Endermen feel about the possible tension-considering Ranboo's closeness to Tubbo, and Ran being reminded of Jackie. What are you thinking, egg-wise? Why does Eret go to Karl for books? Is his library well-known?

So Karl could possibly help Ran out with the effects? Or is at least aware of them? Or no?

Charades with them all sounds like so much fun, honestly. Can you imagine it?? And good! We need more Edward around!

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

Tip Of The Iceberg AU:

Good for them. Do they end up having to return the stuff later, or no?How does it go when Las Nevadas realizes who the thieves are?

Common sense isn't dead! Huzzah! Absolutely hilarious image though.

Good for Porkums, honestly.

That is also true! And really funny image, once again. Eret's just like- 'ah, my window, mysteriously broken. Again. Absolutely shocking. Whatever will I do.' Completely deadpan while they pull out supplies from a chest kept nearby for this exact thing.

Everyone else: Where are we? Are we in danger? What happened?

Jackie: How dare you all be taller than me.

That's not good though. How do they and the others react to that?

Have certain events of the Tales been altered then? Seeing as some of them would be dead otherwise? Or were they revived when they were thrown back in time?

How do all the Smp members react to these random people who popped up seeming to know Karl? 'never lied to him' implies Issac knows Karl a bit more beyond just meeting him now, so what's with that? Is he just naturally trusting of him, or do they know each other?

How does that first interaction go, not just between Karl and Ran, but with the others with them? What information does he have on the bandits, and how did he get it? Similar past as before, seeing as Jackie remains so important to him?

Poor Tales. None of them are having fun, huh? Where are they all housed after this, and what are relationships like as of now? Do the groups stick together from era, or with whoever they just get along with best? How do they interact with certain Smp members?

And what happens both during and in the aftermath of Karl snapping?

[barcaavengers]

Complete Safe Haven||Newt Imagine

Note: I'm not that proud of this since I edited it about 6 times. I feel like it lacks something I can't really tell what it is, but here it is! Will definitely write a part two so we will see how everyone responds to it. I was listening to "That Would Be Enough" from Hamilton cause I think it tells a bit how Newt could be somewhat hesitant of the idea of having a baby after everything he has gone through and how unsure he can be of himself, you know? I don't know, that song inspired me a bit. Also, struggled a lot to think how the Safe Haven would be like after two years of them moving there so yep. Feedback and ideas are encouraged! <3

Tag: Tagging those who liked my posts that I was writing it since I said a few weeks ago it was going to be up and totally didn’t. @late-to-the-fandom-party @loverofmazeandthrones @gaymistakeboi @enixgucci @the-panwitch @expectroyalpurple @thepotatoes-havefallen @queenkitten695 @lovefelps @kurtzyoufunkylittledruggyprimary​ @smallsleepywriter​ @haiykuuia​ @sskeletonsoffun @thiccheerioss​ @demiwitchavenger7​ @infinite-piper​ @sungjungelf​ @hanniejji​ @solovehasblindedyou​ @sleepysnapesnake​ @little-odd-dude​ @washing-machine-headcannons​

The soft waves going against your body so early in the morning was your favorite feeling ever since you have gotten to the Safe Haven. The waves would just make you forget what had happened, cleared your head from any memory that was too painful, and those were mostly of that night. You still had nightmares, watching him turn into a Crank, his attacks, him hurting you unconsciously...You were lucky that things ended the way they did, but even then, you knew that those memories would always get to you. Arms rest on your shoulders making you jump, but relax under the knowing touch, rubbing your shoulder blades soothingly and you smile. "Hey."

"Morning, love" Newt's voice was still groggy, you guessed it hasn't been long since he woke up. "Why aren't you in bed?" He presses a kiss on your shoulder before his hands land on your waist, the soft waves rocking you both slightly.

"You kicked me out" you say playfully as you turn to him. 

"What a terrible boyfriend I am," he says with a chuckle. "When was the last time you slept properly?" 

It has been about two years since you have moved to the Safe Haven. The island was now covered in construction, buildings, and houses. Yesterday it was your four year anniversary, and Newt had planned a beautiful evening in what you were proud to call your new house, "First night home" he called it. After living in a small hut that reminded you of the Glade, now you had a bigger house, all for the two of you. You have been looking into The Last City, or what used to be, after Jorge took you and others back a few months ago, and you had the chance to gather a few technology items in a somewhat black market set in the city. The immunes that survived had built a city within the city, but no sign of what Wicked once was. You had seen people losing themselves to the Flare, so you started to play around with the idea of a cure again, using Thomas' blood and trying to figure out what made his blood different, without human trials and finding a way to help without draining him from his blood. You managed to do it with Newt. Vitals were missed when he attacked Thomas' back at the Last City and the serum was administered when he woke up on your way to this place. You took the serum and mixed it with some of Thomas' blood and applied a second dose, that one seemed to have done it. Unfortunately there wasn't enough serum for everyone back there and you had to find a way. 

"I can't say" you admit with a smirk. "I need to keep working…" you say as he removes a strand of hair from your face. 

"You look pale every morning, love" he points out.

"Maybe the late nights I'm working" but you knew better than that. Newt hasn't noticed, but you have been having morning sickness more often and feeling dizzy. 

"Take a break" he kisses your forehead. "We have our new home, we have to enjoy it" he says and you smile. You had a slight idea of what could be going, but instead of raising hopes, you rather wait to get things confirmed. 

Vince had brought a doctor who was the one to help you around the idea of a cure, as well as helped you learn a few things about medicine. She agreed to run a few tests while Newt was out with Thomas, Gally and Minho as they went to check an area for tonight to set a bonfire like back at the Glade, just a close group of friends, you have refused when they asked you to go and went to get the results at the medical hut instead. 

"Hey" you greet the doctor after walking into the tent. 

"Y/N," she greets as she turns around. "Couldn't wait I see?" She teases. 

"I have barely slept" you admit with a nervous smirk. "Between this and thinking of ways to make the cure…"

"You shouldn't lose sleep over this" Elena, the doctor, says as she lifts a piece of paper causing your heartbeat to increase. 

"Oh God…" you mutter. 

"You ready?" She asks as she walks towards you and you nod. "You might not know much about medicine and all this, but you were right" she hands you the piece of paper, your eyes widening. "Congratulations."

For a moment every sound goes silent, it felt like everything around you stopped and so many feelings rushed in. How were you supposed to feel? How would Newt react? "I-"

Elena reaches you and places a hand on your shoulder, "Everything alright?"

"I don't know…" you say. "I never really thought about it...I mean, I did but now that it happened…"

"You are scared" she says and you nod your head slowly. "Don't be" she assures you. "If what you are scared of is Newt's reaction, I think he will be shocked at first, but he will grow to the idea of it. He loves you."

"I can't even think of a way to tell him…" you admit. "What about this place? I don't think it's completely baby proof."

"No place is baby proof. Certainly not during these times" she points out. "Doesn't mean everyone will stop having babies. You will have everyone's support I'm that sure. We will look into ways to get what you need as everything goes" somehow her words made your whole body relax. 

You were away from Wicked, away from the Flare it seemed, but you never trusted that. The Flare could travel through air according to Ava, and Wicked could easily find you if they get as determined as they were, if there was anyone left that would go with such crazy trials. It didn't appear so, the times you have been into the Standing City you have not heard a word from Wicked or possible takers in the tasks. Everyone who survived the attack was just trying to get their lives before the Flare decided their faith, and any immune would just mind their business. Would there be anyone crazy enough to bring back what Wicked once was? Or something worse? Your mind was spinning around the idea. You didn't want your kid to be taken away and used for crazy experiments and trials, you knew that much. Not that you wouldn't do anything in your power to keep them safe from anything that happened. 

You have gone back to your new house and went to lay back on the hammock to try to keep all your feelings in check and find a way to tell Newt the news. Will he be happy? Will he have the same thoughts of bringing a baby to the Safe Haven was a bad timing right now? It wasn't planned, but it wasn't not planned either. It was going to happen eventually. You two were careful, but after some time you two stopped, knowing the consequences but did it anyway. Was it maybe that you both have wanted this but never talked about it with the other? You knew you wanted a life with Newt, wanted everything with him, but what about him? Kids were not something you two have talked about before, because you two were now growing into the relationship and taking bigger steps, like the new house he had built up along with the guys for the two of you. 

"Hey, love" Newt calls as he walks in and you turn around from your hammock.

"Hey" he leans in and you peck his lips once you sit up. "How was it?"

"Well, it's not the Glade," Newt says as he stares off blankly. "but it's big enough for a group of us. I don't think many people would get going in the middle of nowhere and set a bonfire and get drunk...or fight Gally" he chuckles and you join him. 

"The latter is the one people won't get" you say and lean against him, your heart beating wildly as you thought of telling him. 

"Probably" he says and wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you close. "I mean, getting wasted is kind of a thing to go for that one. I don't think that anyone right upstairs would fight Gally, except you when you kicked his ass" he adds. "I'm betting on you to do it again in front of everyone," he smirks. 

"That was a good day" you agree and smirk. "Don't think I'll have the same luck now" he takes your hand and kisses your knuckles. 

"Let's go get ready for tonight" he says and kisses your forehead before pulling you by your hand. 

When you arrive at the bonfire, you see that even if not many have come, it was enough to make you remember your times at the Glade and you feel a knot growing on your throat, eyes watering. You remembered Chuck, Winston and Alby. Newt side eyes you and pulls you close, "I'm okay" you assure him.

"You don't have to be" he throws an arm around your shoulder and kisses the side of your temple. "I know what it feels like," he knew that this was giving you major flashbacks. "They wouldn't want us moping around though, so let's go have some fun" he takes your hand and makes you spin after he pulls away and you giggle, he pulls you close to him again and join the others.

Newt was with the boys while you sat with Harriet, Sonya and Brenda. They knew about your tests, so that was the topic. 

"So? What did they say?" Sonya asks as she leans in. 

"I bet it is what I said. Come on, I can't be the only one who thought about it as soon as she said how she was feeling" Brenda says with her hand extended to you. 

"I don't know if I should tell you" you tease as you grin. "Or just say it at the bonfire...at some point" you say and look back at Newt who gives you a wink, making your cheeks flush. 

"Oh come on, you are gonna make us wait?" Harriet says with a pout. "Please?" Her hand extends and you sigh, pulling out the piece of paper that read the results. You were carrying them around hoping to know when the time would be right. 

The girls gather around Harriet, all of them smiling which only makes you grin wider when their eyes widen and the three look at you in cue. "Oh my God!" Sonya squeals before moving to you and hugging you. 

"Just keep it a secret for a few, I haven't told him yet," you say and she pulls away. 

"Right. Of course. Newt should be the first to know anyway" Sonya says as she pushes her hair back and tries to act normal. "I'm so happy for you guys! It's like everything starts getting normal around here."

"Life wise anyway" Brenda says as she looks at you. "How do you plan on telling him?"

"I'm not sure…" you admit. "but I have to do it soon. Gally is going to bring his moonshine any minute now and I can't find an excuse to neglect it" you point out and just in cue Gally walks to the clearing. 

"Leave that up to me" Brenda says as she stands up and pats your shoulder before walking towards the boy. You eye her curiously and you smile at how nice Gally was around Brenda, not like he wasn't nice with the others, but he smiled and laughed quite often. Brenda puts her hand on his shoulder and you look at Sonya and Harriet. 

"We are as clueless as you are" Harriet says and you laugh. 

Time goes by and you are all eating and laughing. The groups have gotten together and now you were all closer to the bonfire. Gally was around handing over his moonshine and Brenda helped. After everyone had their drink, Brenda spoke, "I know we have done our own bonfires before," she begins, "but this one is different for some of us. To some this is a reminder of how we bonded" she looks at you and you look at Newt who smiles. "For others, it's a reminder that no matter what, we have fun with the people closest to us, our new family" she raises her glass. "For our family" she says and her eyes widen at you and you shake your head before you feel Sonya's hand shoving you slightly, so you stand, holding your own moonshine.

"For our family," your knees feel like giving up on you from how nervous you felt. "For the one that we found..." you trail off. Your heart was beating wildly against your chest, hearing the thuds in your ear. "And for the ones on the way" you say and place a hand on your stomach, your eyes glued to Newt whose eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Then, there was silence for a few seconds.  

"No way!" Frypan is the first to get it, a huge smile on his lips, Minho eyes him like if he was crazy. 

"Am I missing something here? Secret conversation?" You eye the girls and they are laughing at how clueless the boys were after Minho's words.

"Dude, come on! Y/N is going to have a baby!" Frypan pushes Minho before his smile fades for a moment and looks at you. "At least that's what I took as a hint…?" 

You laugh nervously and you eye Newt whose mind seems to be lost in the maze, everyone is looking at you waiting for the confirmation. "Newt, we…" your words feel jumbled up, "You are going to be a dad" you say and everyone starts cheering around. Newt's eyes go wide open as he processes the information, everyone is patting his back and congratulating him but he was motionless. They come to you as well, and even if you are smiling and saying thanks, your eyes were glued to your boyfriend. 

Everyone started to drink and cheer, except Newt who was looking down at his drink, your mood was slowly dropping, but you found some courage to walk to him after a few minutes. "You alright?" You ask as you sit next to him against a log. 

Your voice breaks him out of his trance and he looks at you before nodding his head, "Yeah, just... wrapping my head around what you just said…"

"I know it's a lot to get around with...I still don't believe it…" you say. 

"I should be more excited...and I am, trust me...but I can't help but think…"

"Newt, I know we never-"

"It's not that" he shakes his head and looks at you. "Not the slightest. I might not have said it, but after everything started to settle down, I started to think about us...our future" he says and takes your hand in his. "I thought so many things and you were always there, but…"

"But?" You were expecting the worst. 

"Y/N, I don't have anything to offer to you, or the baby," you frown as you watch him play with your fingers. "Not now, anyway. This place is being built from scraps.."

"Newt, I don't know what you mean by that…" your free hand goes up to his hair, running your fingers through it. 

 "We have a home now, but... We are still getting used to this place, we don't have all the supplies, the equipment…"

"We do this as it goes, like Thomas does" you say to make him smile, which he chuckles at.

"I know" he continues to play with your fingers avoiding your gaze. You could tell he wasn’t at all convinced, so you tighten your fingers around his. 

"Hey," you call. "Talk to me…" You try to meet his gaze, but it was dropped to your fingers. 

"I-" he pauses. "I am happy, I don't want you to think I am not" he finally meets your eyes. "Having everything with you...Just makes this place way better" he smiles. "And having a little girl just like you" he cups your face with one hand and kisses your lips. "Who else can say they survived what we have and have a family" he says playfully and you grin. "But bringing our baby to this...place, this world…" he confesses, his fingers running nervously on his lips. 

"Newt, I know…" you assure him. 

"I don't want them to go through what we did, Y/N…" he admits. "I don't want them to live in a world where they could be chased for being healthy, or feel cursed because they are not immune to the Flare like I was."

"I'm just as scared and I will work on a cure now more than ever...but we can't start worrying like this…" you take his hand and place it on your stomach. "We will figure it out like we always do, together" he is looking at your stomach, his concerned features softening. 

You can see his body relaxing, his thumb moving soothingly on its place on your stomach. "There is a little boy or girl growing right there and it's ours…" 

"I know you'll do anything for them…" you assure him. You felt like Newt had to be reassured, and you could understand where he came from. He has overcome so much to get where he is now, from the dark places of his mind to what was now his new life. He was doubting himself, to not being able to provide your baby with the best, but what was that here in the Safe Haven? The simplest thing you had them already. You were all healthy, you had a home, food, friends...You still had time to get used to the idea and get adjusted at the thought that soon it was going to be more than just the two of you. 

The Safe Haven has provided you with everything you needed for a basic life, and every now and then as you went to the remains of the city you tried to bring something that would help. Jorge and Brenda were working with technology along with some of the other Gladers from other groups. It was true, this place was being brought up by remains of what once was the Last City, but it was getting close to what you once imagined it would turn to. 

"I love you, princess…" he pulls you in and gives you a kiss, the type he holds his breath and let's go of it softly through his nostrils, making it last. "I'm sorry for not acting like you probably wanted me to…"

"I get it. It's a lot to take in. I feel the same way" you admit. "I was so scared of what you would say" you pause. "But we have gone through so many things together that I don't think a baby will be the exception" you voice. 

"It scares me to death to be quite honest" he says with a smirk. "I'm trying my best to be optimistic here, I am" he paused. "I'm happy to start a family with you, but just the thought of what could happen… This place is not ready for a baby…"

"I know...but we have time. We will know…" he is staring at you lovingly, smiling. 

"Congratulations!" Thomas joins you with Frypan, sitting right besides you. 

"Took you long enough" Minho says as he steps in. 

In the deepest part of your head, you were somewhat disappointed that the boys seemed to be more excited about it then Newt. Yes, the blonde was scared of the what ifs and the possibilities and so were you, yet something told you that he wasn't very wrapped around the idea of it and his mind was only repeating the bad scenarios. 

"Shut up, Minho" Newt says, but the boy only grins. 

"I am going to have a little helping hand in the kitchen in a few months" Fry says. 

"I could use the help patrolling" Thomas and Vince have established a guard in the island. Not like much happened, you knew everyone and they all went by the rules set, but it gave you the sense of feeling that if anything were to happen, you'd be ready. 

"You are all doing bloody plans without the baby even being born" Newt says. 

"Don't look at me I haven't said anything," Minho says. "It'd be nice if it has Y/N's genes though. No offense."

"Well that baby wasn't done just by me, Minho, so be ready" you say playfully. 

"I don't need to know the whole thing so if you can skip the lesson" Minho says. 

"Newt, you alright?" Thomas calls out and you look behind you at your boyfriend. 

"Yeah, just, thinking…" you frown. "Just give me some time, that's all" he admits and smiles, placing his hand on your belly and looms up at you, something told you he will grow to the idea of it soon. 

"So Y/N, can't drink with us now, so let's drink for her" Minho raises his cup and Fry cheers, shoving Newt playfully. 

"To our baby, I guess" he says with a shrug. 

"Our?" Minho questions. 

"Not ours you slinthead" Newt reaches to try to smack the back of Minho's head playfully. "Ours" he looks down at you and you smile softly. 

"It's the baby from our Glade anyway" Thomas says. "I'm happy for the two of you" he gives your arm a soft squeeze and you nod your head. 

"So, when is it too soon to start thinking of names?" Fry asks and the boys look at you. 

"How the hell should I bloody know?" Newt asks after sipping on his cup making the boys chuckle. 

Thomas eyes you as the guys talk to each other, and his eyebrows furrow in question. You shake your head and do a small wave with your hand to tell him that you will talk to him later. If someone could help you understand what was going through Newt's mind was Thomas, or Minho, but mostly Thomas. Newt seems to trust him more for a few things. 

Now it was a matter to wait and see how things went. At least it was out there that you were expecting, and Newt knew. Thing now was, how everything was going to start working after these news… 

[pink-peony-princess]

A Late Night Call

-Katie-

"Shawn" I called into the darkness, wanting the comfort of my boyfriend. We lived together in a house, along with his friends,Brian, Connor and Dave -who also happened to be my older brother.

When no response came, I started to get worried, I had been feeling unwell for the last several days, running fevers and feeling generally blah, but I had just woken up to bad pain in my abdomen. I had always hated being sick- not only because it obviously wasn't fun, but because I had a fear of doctors and hospitals. Something which wasn't helped by the fact my brother, my boyfriend and their friends were all doctors of some description. As a result, I had tried to avoid medical intervention as much as possible for pretty much my entire life, so twenty years, which both Dave and Shawn as Emergency physicians were not happy about.

Swallowing the lump that was now forming in my throat I called out again, "Shawn!" I tried, louder this time, hoping he had just gotten up to use the bathroom.

"Katie?" I heard a sleepy voice ask, before someone switched the lamp on beside my bed, causing me to close my eyes immediately. "Katie, what wrong honey?" I recognised the voice now as my older brother, I could hear the concern in his tone. "The heat pack didn't help?" he asked, sitting beside me and sighing.

"I hurt D," I whimpered, trying to move closer to him to gain some comfort, while not causing myself anymore pain.

"What do you mean it hurts?" he asked, switching into 'doctor mode'. I hated it when he did this, but even I knew that I needed help. Something wasn't right, and my only hope to get it fixed was letting my brother do his job. "I thought you just felt sick?" he asked, taking my hand to check my pulse.

"I did," I started, "Well, I had an achy tummy, around here," I explained, pointing to around my belly button. "But now it's REALLY hurting," I cried, just wanting him to make it stop.

"It's okay, I'm going to call Shawn okay? Bri!" he called, getting up and grabbing my cell phone of my bedside table, speed dialling Shawn's number.

"What's wrong David?" Bri grumbled, "It's two in the morning for goodness sake. I need my sleep man!" Dave just pointed, directing Brian's attention to me silently, waiting for Shawn to pick-up.

"Oh Katie, what's wrong buddy?" he asked, grabbing a tissue from the side table, before sitting down and gently wiping away the moisture that had accumulated from my face.

"Just make it stop!" I begged, trying desperately to find a more comfortable way to lie, trying to ignore the sharp pain that was now my sole focus.

A few more minutes past in which Brian tried, with almost no luck to calm me, telling me that everything would be okay. Dave took the phone away from his ear. "He must be in the middle of a consult, I kept getting the dial tone, I'll try in a few more minutes," he spoke, coming to sit by my side again.

"Care to explain what's going on?" Brian asked, reaching for more tissues, the ones he had been using, now soaked and laying dis-guarded on the mattress.

My brother looked at me sympathetically, before turning his attention to his friend. "I'm not totally sure myself. I just got up to use the toilet and heard her crying and calling out to Shawn."

"What's up Missy?" Brian asked again, trying to get something useful out of me. When I didn't answer for fear of crying again, he sighed, and rested his hand again my forehead. It was calming, having physical contact, something to take my mind of my current state. "Dave, pass me the thermometer," he uttered. "She's got a fever, when was the last time her temperature was taken?" he asked, as he held it in my ear, waiting for it to beep.

"About- three hours ago," Daveresponded.

"Yep thirty-nine on the dot," Dave spoke moving the instrument away from me. "You have quite the fever Katie," he told me, moving to get the water bottle which Shawn had placed on the wardrobe, helping me to take small sips of the liquid.

"No wonder you're feeling so horrendous," Dave chimed as fixed my blanket up.

"Katie, where is the pain exactly?" Bri asked, sitting up, and moving the blanket aside.

"Here," I told him pointing once again to the spots I had shown D.

They shared a dark look between themselves, before Brian spoke up. "Katie, I need you to lie down again okay, I need to have a feel of your tummy." As he said this, Dave helped me to lay back, making sure that I was as comfortable as I could be, given the current situation. "Can I pull this up?" Brian asked, gesturing to my bed-shirt once I was situated the way they wanted me.

"He' will be as gentle as possible okay," Dave, tried to reassure me, taking my hand.

He felt around for a minute, before hitting the one spot on my right side. The pain was unbearable, and I nearly broke Dave's hand from holding it so tightly. "Please stop!" I begged, hot tears rolling down my face once again.

"I'm sorry Katie," Brian apologised, pulling my clothes back down.

"What's wrong with me D?" I asked, turning to my brother, who was now watching Brian very carefully.

"I can't be sure-" Brian started, "Dave, she hasn't had her appendix out has she?" he checked, watching me closely.

"No, she hasn't. Is that what you're thinking?" he asked, reaching for my phone that he had placed back only moments earlier.

"Well, I can't be sure until we run the usual tests, but when I just felt around that section of the abdomen was firm, and given the pain and fever, it wouldn't be surprising."

I couldn't work out if it made me anxious that Brian was talking like this. On the one hand, he was one of the best surgeons in the area, and the head of General Surgery at the hospital the guys worked at. On the flip side though, he was talking about my appendix, and running tests, and although I didn't understand exactly what this meant for me at that moment, I knew it probably wouldn't be good.

"I'm going to call Connor, let him know what's happening, try to get through to Luke again," he told Dave as he got up and left the room.

The room was quite for a few moments again, as Dave called Shawn again, this time though, it connected and I heard Shawn's muffled voice down the line.

"Shawn yeah it's me Dave, can you come home, it's urgent. Katie's woken in bad pain, we're thinking it could be her appendix, but she's been asking for you for the better part of twenty minutes now, and I doubt she'll let anyone else move her," he was quiet for a moment, before turning and handing the phone to me. "He wants to talk to you."

-Third Person-

"Shawn?" Katie whispered, down the line.

Hearing his love in so much pain broke the young doctor's heart. "I'm right here babe. I'm on my way," he spoke as he ran out the main doors and into the rain. Only stopping momentarily to let an emergency vehicle through.

"It hurts," Katie cried, and he could hear the desperation in her voice. She was usually strong, so for her to be in this emotional state, he knew the pain must be bad.

"Just hang tight for a few, I'll be there soon, Dave will look after you."

Dave and Brian, who had both heard the end of their conversation smiled.

The hospital was only five minutes from the house, but it took what felt like eternity for Shawn to come crashing through the door.

Katie could see from his attire that Shawn had been on-call, and immediately felt bad for pulling her boyfriend away from his responsibilities.

"Oh honey," he whispered, bending down to kneel beside the bed, kissing her forehead gently. "How long has she been like this?" he questioned, turning to his friends.

"I found her like this," Dave explained, pain clear on his face as he watched his little sister with sympathy.

"I'm sorry," Katie muttered, hiding her face in her boyfriend's shoulder, just wanting the world to melt away.

"For what?" Shawn asked, moving back to look at his girlfriend. "There is nothing more important than you," he declared, kissing her gently again.

"I think we need to get you to the hospital Katie-Kat," Dave announced, earning nods of agreement from the others.

"No please," she begged, fear consuming her, her chest tightening at the thought of being in one of the places she hated the most.

"But we'll be able to give you pain meds there, and besides we don't have the right equipment here to deal with this. If something goes wrong, it could be very dangerous babe," Shawn tried to reason, feeling horrible that they couldn't just keep her at home and sort it out there.

"Promise?" she whispered, feeling helpless as she looked between her boyfriend and brother.

"We promise," they responded immediately, before starting to gather the necessary items for the trip to the hospital.

Five minutes later, Katie was wrapped in a blanket, Dave and Shawn having worked together to shift her off the bed, without causing any more pain, something which Katie found miraculous.

"You ready Princess?" Shawn asked, bundling Katie up in his arms, and making his way down to the car. They had decided that it would be quicker to drive, than wait for an ambulance, especially given that they had direct access to the urgent care unit.

Brian had called Connor on the way there, informing him that they would be needing a bed, and possibly an O.R., which Connor had no trouble securing as not only was he Deputy Head of General Surgery at the hospital, and well- respected by his colleagues, but the patient in question was the girlfriend and sister of the two most highly qualified doctors in the area.

The ride to the hospital was not pleasant, every little bump in the road sending white-hot pain through the affected area, Katie, being completely worn out physically and emotionally, was nothing more than a weeping mess when they finally made it to the entrance. Shawn, who had been trying his hardest to keep his hysterical girlfriend calm, so as not to exacerbate her symptoms, let out an auditory sigh of relief when he spotted, his friend, waiting with a gurney, and several nurses.

"She'll be fine mate," Connor promised, just above a whisper so that only Shawn could hear. He nodded, silently thanking his friend for the words of encouragement. Normally he would have had no issue in a situation like this, in-fact, his job entailed this type of situation daily. However, what Shawn was now finding out, was that no-one had told him what it would be like to deal with a loved one in a situation such as this. And It was horrible.

His heart broke into what felt like a thousand tiny pieces, as Katie let out an agonising cry of pain, when she was placed, however gently onto the gurney, it being lead at a rate of knots down the hospital halls and into a free bay.

Stopping to re-gather himself for a moment, he saw Dave, somehow managing to hold himself together, as he held his sister's hand in a silent show of comfort. Shawn really didn't know how he was doing it, but if her own brother could do it, surely, he could too. Shaking the ever-growing dread that was forming at the pit of his stomach, he ran to start assisting in getting Katie into a semi-stable condition.

"I need a standard dosage of pain medication for an I.V." Dave called, going to stand by his sister's side. "I'm going to get some pain medicine in you okay poppet," he spoke, moving the blankets out the way, freeing Katie's hand.

She groaned, but made no effort to move, alarming the four doctors, who knew only too well, how much she would normally fight the idea of needles.

-Katie-

I was aware of everything going on around me, people rushing in an out of the crowded room, the boys ordering fellow doctors and nurses around, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't muster the strength to fight anymore.

Shawn sat by me, as Dave set me up with an I.V., administering a dose of pain medicine, which helped almost immediately.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked, resting his chin on top of my head.

"Hmm," I responded, finally feeling a little more content.

The response seemed to satisfy him, as he went quiet, allowing me to close my eyes momentarily.

I wasn't aware that I had drifted off, but I must have, because the next thing I was aware of, was someone calling my name. When I didn't' respond, they tried again.

"Katie, can you open your eyes for me honey?" This time, I did as asked, blinding light clouding my vision temporarily. "How are you feeling?" Brian asked, standing at the end of my bed, chart in hand.

The room was unfamiliar to me. He must have seen the confusion on my face as he chuckled lightly and came to stand by my side. "We just finished surgery," he spoke, making my eyes go wide.

"What happened?" I croaked, my throat feeling scratchy and dry.

"Connor performed an appendectomy," he responded, as he retrieved his stethoscope. "May I?" he asked. When I nodded, he placed the bell on my chest, listening to my heart.

"A what?" I asked, feeling no more informed. "You had your appendix out," he explained in layman's terms so that I could understand it.

"Oh," I was shocked, I knew that I was in pain, but I didn't realise it had been that bad.

"You're quite lucky actually, it ruptured, we caught it just in time, Shawn and Bri were beside themselves."

"Where?" I asked, wanting to know where they were, but not able to get anymore words out, over-whelming tiredness taking over.

"Cafeteria, they should be back in a minute," he reassured me with a smile.

Right on cue Connor, Shawn and Dave all walked through the door, food in hand. When they saw that I was awake, they all stopped running into one another like a set of dominoes.

Connor recovered the fastest, a smile lighting his face as he came over, "So the sleeping beauty has awoken I see."

Shawn looked as if he had been tasered, literally jumping back, forcing Dave to grab him to stop him hitting the ground. The shock only lasted a millisecond though, and before I could take another breath, he was wrapping me in his arms, pulling me tightly to his chest, as if his life depended on it.

"Shawn, gentle," Brian, warned, laughing at his eagerness, but making no move to stop his mate as he hopped onto the bed beside me, forcing our bodies against one another. Feeling his warmth sent a rush of security through me, and I just sat there in silence for a moment, trying to readjust.

Up close I could see the exhaustion, the toll that this had taken on him, his face looked sullen, his eyes puffy and red from crying. "I missed you so much!" he whispered, resting his head in the crook of my neck and breathing heavily. It was a few moments before I realised that he was crying.

"I'm okay," I spoke, smiling, trying my hardest to convince him.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted, kissing me desperately. "We all did."

"How bad?" I asked, almost scared to know the answer. He just looked at me and shook his head. "How bad?" I asked again, this time turning to my brother.

When he saw that I was addressing him, he rushed over, taking me in his arms, and hugging me, though much more carefully then Shawn had. After a moment, he stepped back, resting his hand on my shoulder. I took hold of his hand with my free one, keeping a firm grip on Shawn

"You coded," he spoke as if the words physically pained him to say. I didn't say anything, in truth, I didn't know how to respond, what do you say when someone tells you that you almost died? Everyone was quiet for a moment, just sat taking everything in, me, tracing the tattoos on Shawn's arm absent-mindedly.

Again, Connor, was the one to break the silence. "Katie, I just need to do your vitals okay, and check your wound, and then we'll let you sleep," he bargained, when I grimaced at the idea of being poked and prodded once again. "Just follow the light," he instructed, having pulled a pen light from the pocket of his scrubs. I did as asked, and after a moment, he put it back, telling me there were no problems.

He was quick, Brian writing everything down on the chart, that he was still holding from when they came in.

"I'm just going to pull this up okay?" he checked that it was okay, before doing so. I winced slightly, earning an apologetic smile from Connor. "That's looking good," he spoke, re-dressing it, and re-situating the blankets so that I was kept warm.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Shawn whispered again, kissing my temple.

"I have to pee," I whispered against his cheek, making him laugh.

"Gee way to ruin a romantic moment," Dave snorted as he sat typing on his laptop, causing me to blush, and hide my face in Shawn's chest

"Nah, it's okay, do you want to use the bathroom?" Shawn queried, moving to get off the bed, before moving the pole which held the fluids out of the way.

"As apose to?" I questioned, feeling confused, as he helped me sit up.

"A bed pan," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I just stared at him for a moment, "Okay, so that's not going to happen, to the bathroom we go," he laughed, helping me manoeuvrer my way out of bed.

It was a slow process getting to the toilet, but he was patient, helping me to bare the weight where possible. Once I was situated, he turned, giving me privacy to do my business. Once I was done, and I had successfully been transferred back to my bed, I was able to relax a little more.

"Are you in pain?" Dave asked, watching as I shifted around, trying to find a comfortable spot on the hard bed.

I nodded,and within moments he was up and administering another dose of pain relievers in the tube sticking out of my arm.

"Thanks D," I mumbled, sleepily, bunking down, and snuggling into Shawn's side to try and stay warm.

"Here, this should help," I heard Dave say, before something extra soft and warm was placed over me. It felt like an electric blanket.

I hummed, finally content, letting myself drift off.

The next few days were okay, well, in between the hourly vitals checks done by the nurses and the daily dressing changes, and not to mention Dave and Connor forcing me to start walking around, something which I grumbled at them about for a solid half hour after the fact.

Finally, five full days after the operation Dave declared that I could go home on the condition that I promised to take it easy, and rest. After making me swear to it three times, he let Shawn remove my I.V. and help me into a wheelchair for the ride out to the car.

The drive home was quiet,Dave letting me rest my head on him as Shawn drove.

When we got home, they helped me up the stairs, all but ordering me to bed, persuading me by promising that we could eat pizza and watch crappy C grade chick-flicks all night.

As I fell asleep to the rise and fall of Shawn's chest, I found myself thinking just how lucky I really was. Lucky that I was alive, and lucky I had the guys to call family.

Reaching up, I pecked Shawn on the check, him leaning down and kissing back. "What was that for?" he asked, a soft smile gracing his face.

"Love you is all," I sighed, resting my head back on his chest, and letting the world fade out. 

[pinkpeonyprincessblog]

A Late Night Call

-Katie-

"Shawn" I called into the darkness, wanting the comfort of my boyfriend. We lived together in a house, along with his friends,Brian, Connor and Dave -who also happened to be my older brother.

When no response came, I started to get worried, I had been feeling unwell for the last several days, running fevers and feeling generally blah, but I had just woken up to bad pain in my abdomen. I had always hated being sick- not only because it obviously wasn't fun, but because I had a fear of doctors and hospitals. Something which wasn't helped by the fact my brother, my boyfriend and their friends were all doctors of some description. As a result, I had tried to avoid medical intervention as much as possible for pretty much my entire life, so twenty years, which both Dave and Shawn as Emergency physicians were not happy about.

Swallowing the lump that was now forming in my throat I called out again, "Shawn!" I tried, louder this time, hoping he had just gotten up to use the bathroom.

"Katie?" I heard a sleepy voice ask, before someone switched the lamp on beside my bed, causing me to close my eyes immediately. "Katie, what wrong honey?" I recognised the voice now as my older brother, I could hear the concern in his tone. "The heat pack didn't help?" he asked, sitting beside me and sighing.

"I hurt D," I whimpered, trying to move closer to him to gain some comfort, while not causing myself anymore pain.

"What do you mean it hurts?" he asked, switching into 'doctor mode'. I hated it when he did this, but even I knew that I needed help. Something wasn't right, and my only hope to get it fixed was letting my brother do his job. "I thought you just felt sick?" he asked, taking my hand to check my pulse.

"I did," I started, "Well, I had an achy tummy, around here," I explained, pointing to around my belly button. "But now it's REALLY hurting," I cried, just wanting him to make it stop.

"It's okay, I'm going to call Shawn okay? Bri!" he called, getting up and grabbing my cell phone of my bedside table, speed dialling Shawn's number.

"What's wrong David?" Bri grumbled, "It's two in the morning for goodness sake. I need my sleep man!" Dave just pointed, directing Brian's attention to me silently, waiting for Shawn to pick-up.

"Oh Katie, what's wrong buddy?" he asked, grabbing a tissue from the side table, before sitting down and gently wiping away the moisture that had accumulated from my face.

"Just make it stop!" I begged, trying desperately to find a more comfortable way to lie, trying to ignore the sharp pain that was now my sole focus.

A few more minutes past in which Brian tried, with almost no luck to calm me, telling me that everything would be okay. Dave took the phone away from his ear. "He must be in the middle of a consult, I kept getting the dial tone, I'll try in a few more minutes," he spoke, coming to sit by my side again.

"Care to explain what's going on?" Brian asked, reaching for more tissues, the ones he had been using, now soaked and laying dis-guarded on the mattress.

My brother looked at me sympathetically, before turning his attention to his friend. "I'm not totally sure myself. I just got up to use the toilet and heard her crying and calling out to Shawn."

"What's up Missy?" Brian asked again, trying to get something useful out of me. When I didn't answer for fear of crying again, he sighed, and rested his hand again my forehead. It was calming, having physical contact, something to take my mind of my current state. "Dave, pass me the thermometer," he uttered. "She's got a fever, when was the last time her temperature was taken?" he asked, as he held it in my ear, waiting for it to beep.

"About- three hours ago," Daveresponded.

"Yep thirty-nine on the dot," Dave spoke moving the instrument away from me. "You have quite the fever Katie," he told me, moving to get the water bottle which Shawn had placed on the wardrobe, helping me to take small sips of the liquid.

"No wonder you're feeling so horrendous," Dave chimed as fixed my blanket up.

"Katie, where is the pain exactly?" Bri asked, sitting up, and moving the blanket aside.

"Here," I told him pointing once again to the spots I had shown D.

They shared a dark look between themselves, before Brian spoke up. "Katie, I need you to lie down again okay, I need to have a feel of your tummy." As he said this, Dave helped me to lay back, making sure that I was as comfortable as I could be, given the current situation. "Can I pull this up?" Brian asked, gesturing to my bed-shirt once I was situated the way they wanted me.

"He' will be as gentle as possible okay," Dave, tried to reassure me, taking my hand.

He felt around for a minute, before hitting the one spot on my right side. The pain was unbearable, and I nearly broke Dave's hand from holding it so tightly. "Please stop!" I begged, hot tears rolling down my face once again.

"I'm sorry Katie," Brian apologised, pulling my clothes back down.

"What's wrong with me D?" I asked, turning to my brother, who was now watching Brian very carefully.

"I can't be sure-" Brian started, "Dave, she hasn't had her appendix out has she?" he checked, watching me closely.

"No, she hasn't. Is that what you're thinking?" he asked, reaching for my phone that he had placed back only moments earlier.

"Well, I can't be sure until we run the usual tests, but when I just felt around that section of the abdomen was firm, and given the pain and fever, it wouldn't be surprising."

I couldn't work out if it made me anxious that Brian was talking like this. On the one hand, he was one of the best surgeons in the area, and the head of General Surgery at the hospital the guys worked at. On the flip side though, he was talking about my appendix, and running tests, and although I didn't understand exactly what this meant for me at that moment, I knew it probably wouldn't be good.

"I'm going to call Connor, let him know what's happening, try to get through to Luke again," he told Dave as he got up and left the room.

The room was quite for a few moments again, as Dave called Shawn again, this time though, it connected and I heard Shawn's muffled voice down the line.

"Shawn yeah it's me Dave, can you come home, it's urgent. Katie's woken in bad pain, we're thinking it could be her appendix, but she's been asking for you for the better part of twenty minutes now, and I doubt she'll let anyone else move her," he was quiet for a moment, before turning and handing the phone to me. "He wants to talk to you."

-Third Person-

"Shawn?" Katie whispered, down the line.

Hearing his love in so much pain broke the young doctor's heart. "I'm right here babe. I'm on my way," he spoke as he ran out the main doors and into the rain. Only stopping momentarily to let an emergency vehicle through.

"It hurts," Katie cried, and he could hear the desperation in her voice. She was usually strong, so for her to be in this emotional state, he knew the pain must be bad.

"Just hang tight for a few, I'll be there soon, Dave will look after you."

Dave and Brian, who had both heard the end of their conversation smiled.

The hospital was only five minutes from the house, but it took what felt like eternity for Shawn to come crashing through the door.

Katie could see from his attire that Shawn had been on-call, and immediately felt bad for pulling her boyfriend away from his responsibilities.

"Oh honey," he whispered, bending down to kneel beside the bed, kissing her forehead gently. "How long has she been like this?" he questioned, turning to his friends.

"I found her like this," Dave explained, pain clear on his face as he watched his little sister with sympathy.

"I'm sorry," Katie muttered, hiding her face in her boyfriend's shoulder, just wanting the world to melt away.

"For what?" Shawn asked, moving back to look at his girlfriend. "There is nothing more important than you," he declared, kissing her gently again.

"I think we need to get you to the hospital Katie-Kat," Dave announced, earning nods of agreement from the others.

"No please," she begged, fear consuming her, her chest tightening at the thought of being in one of the places she hated the most.

"But we'll be able to give you pain meds there, and besides we don't have the right equipment here to deal with this. If something goes wrong, it could be very dangerous babe," Shawn tried to reason, feeling horrible that they couldn't just keep her at home and sort it out there.

"Promise?" she whispered, feeling helpless as she looked between her boyfriend and brother.

"We promise," they responded immediately, before starting to gather the necessary items for the trip to the hospital.

Five minutes later, Katie was wrapped in a blanket, Dave and Shawn having worked together to shift her off the bed, without causing any more pain, something which Katie found miraculous.

"You ready Princess?" Shawn asked, bundling Katie up in his arms, and making his way down to the car. They had decided that it would be quicker to drive, than wait for an ambulance, especially given that they had direct access to the urgent care unit.

Brian had called Connor on the way there, informing him that they would be needing a bed, and possibly an O.R., which Connor had no trouble securing as not only was he Deputy Head of General Surgery at the hospital, and well- respected by his colleagues, but the patient in question was the girlfriend and sister of the two most highly qualified doctors in the area.

The ride to the hospital was not pleasant, every little bump in the road sending white-hot pain through the affected area, Katie, being completely worn out physically and emotionally, was nothing more than a weeping mess when they finally made it to the entrance. Shawn, who had been trying his hardest to keep his hysterical girlfriend calm, so as not to exacerbate her symptoms, let out an auditory sigh of relief when he spotted, his friend, waiting with a gurney, and several nurses.

"She'll be fine mate," Connor promised, just above a whisper so that only Shawn could hear. He nodded, silently thanking his friend for the words of encouragement. Normally he would have had no issue in a situation like this, in-fact, his job entailed this type of situation daily. However, what Shawn was now finding out, was that no-one had told him what it would be like to deal with a loved one in a situation such as this. And It was horrible.

His heart broke into what felt like a thousand tiny pieces, as Katie let out an agonising cry of pain, when she was placed, however gently onto the gurney, it being lead at a rate of knots down the hospital halls and into a free bay.

Stopping to re-gather himself for a moment, he saw Dave, somehow managing to hold himself together, as he held his sister's hand in a silent show of comfort. Shawn really didn't know how he was doing it, but if her own brother could do it, surely, he could too. Shaking the ever-growing dread that was forming at the pit of his stomach, he ran to start assisting in getting Katie into a semi-stable condition.

"I need a standard dosage of pain medication for an I.V." Dave called, going to stand by his sister's side. "I'm going to get some pain medicine in you okay poppet," he spoke, moving the blankets out the way, freeing Katie's hand.

She groaned, but made no effort to move, alarming the four doctors, who knew only too well, how much she would normally fight the idea of needles.

-Katie-

I was aware of everything going on around me, people rushing in an out of the crowded room, the boys ordering fellow doctors and nurses around, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't muster the strength to fight anymore.

Shawn sat by me, as Dave set me up with an I.V., administering a dose of pain medicine, which helped almost immediately.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked, resting his chin on top of my head.

"Hmm," I responded, finally feeling a little more content.

The response seemed to satisfy him, as he went quiet, allowing me to close my eyes momentarily.

I wasn't aware that I had drifted off, but I must have, because the next thing I was aware of, was someone calling my name. When I didn't' respond, they tried again.

"Katie, can you open your eyes for me honey?" This time, I did as asked, blinding light clouding my vision temporarily. "How are you feeling?" Brian asked, standing at the end of my bed, chart in hand.

The room was unfamiliar to me. He must have seen the confusion on my face as he chuckled lightly and came to stand by my side. "We just finished surgery," he spoke, making my eyes go wide.

"What happened?" I croaked, my throat feeling scratchy and dry.

"Connor performed an appendectomy," he responded, as he retrieved his stethoscope. "May I?" he asked. When I nodded, he placed the bell on my chest, listening to my heart.

"A what?" I asked, feeling no more informed. "You had your appendix out," he explained in layman's terms so that I could understand it.

"Oh," I was shocked, I knew that I was in pain, but I didn't realise it had been that bad.

"You're quite lucky actually, it ruptured, we caught it just in time, Shawn and Bri were beside themselves."

"Where?" I asked, wanting to know where they were, but not able to get anymore words out, over-whelming tiredness taking over.

"Cafeteria, they should be back in a minute," he reassured me with a smile.

Right on cue Connor, Shawn and Dave all walked through the door, food in hand. When they saw that I was awake, they all stopped running into one another like a set of dominoes.

Connor recovered the fastest, a smile lighting his face as he came over, "So the sleeping beauty has awoken I see."

Shawn looked as if he had been tasered, literally jumping back, forcing Dave to grab him to stop him hitting the ground. The shock only lasted a millisecond though, and before I could take another breath, he was wrapping me in his arms, pulling me tightly to his chest, as if his life depended on it.

"Shawn, gentle," Brian, warned, laughing at his eagerness, but making no move to stop his mate as he hopped onto the bed beside me, forcing our bodies against one another. Feeling his warmth sent a rush of security through me, and I just sat there in silence for a moment, trying to readjust.

Up close I could see the exhaustion, the toll that this had taken on him, his face looked sullen, his eyes puffy and red from crying. "I missed you so much!" he whispered, resting his head in the crook of my neck and breathing heavily. It was a few moments before I realised that he was crying.

"I'm okay," I spoke, smiling, trying my hardest to convince him.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted, kissing me desperately. "We all did."

"How bad?" I asked, almost scared to know the answer. He just looked at me and shook his head. "How bad?" I asked again, this time turning to my brother.

When he saw that I was addressing him, he rushed over, taking me in his arms, and hugging me, though much more carefully then Shawn had. After a moment, he stepped back, resting his hand on my shoulder. I took hold of his hand with my free one, keeping a firm grip on Shawn

"You coded," he spoke as if the words physically pained him to say. I didn't say anything, in truth, I didn't know how to respond, what do you say when someone tells you that you almost died? Everyone was quiet for a moment, just sat taking everything in, me, tracing the tattoos on Shawn's arm absent-mindedly.

Again, Connor, was the one to break the silence. "Katie, I just need to do your vitals okay, and check your wound, and then we'll let you sleep," he bargained, when I grimaced at the idea of being poked and prodded once again. "Just follow the light," he instructed, having pulled a pen light from the pocket of his scrubs. I did as asked, and after a moment, he put it back, telling me there were no problems.

He was quick, Brian writing everything down on the chart, that he was still holding from when they came in.

"I'm just going to pull this up okay?" he checked that it was okay, before doing so. I winced slightly, earning an apologetic smile from Connor. "That's looking good," he spoke, re-dressing it, and re-situating the blankets so that I was kept warm.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Shawn whispered again, kissing my temple.

"I have to pee," I whispered against his cheek, making him laugh.

"Gee way to ruin a romantic moment," Dave snorted as he sat typing on his laptop, causing me to blush, and hide my face in Shawn's chest

"Nah, it's okay, do you want to use the bathroom?" Shawn queried, moving to get off the bed, before moving the pole which held the fluids out of the way.

"As apose to?" I questioned, feeling confused, as he helped me sit up.

"A bed pan," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I just stared at him for a moment, "Okay, so that's not going to happen, to the bathroom we go," he laughed, helping me manoeuvrer my way out of bed.

It was a slow process getting to the toilet, but he was patient, helping me to bare the weight where possible. Once I was situated, he turned, giving me privacy to do my business. Once I was done, and I had successfully been transferred back to my bed, I was able to relax a little more.

"Are you in pain?" Dave asked, watching as I shifted around, trying to find a comfortable spot on the hard bed.

I nodded,and within moments he was up and administering another dose of pain relievers in the tube sticking out of my arm.

"Thanks D," I mumbled, sleepily, bunking down, and snuggling into Shawn's side to try and stay warm.

"Here, this should help," I heard Dave say, before something extra soft and warm was placed over me. It felt like an electric blanket.

I hummed, finally content, letting myself drift off.

The next few days were okay, well, in between the hourly vitals checks done by the nurses and the daily dressing changes, and not to mention Dave and Connor forcing me to start walking around, something which I grumbled at them about for a solid half hour after the fact.

Finally, five full days after the operation Dave declared that I could go home on the condition that I promised to take it easy, and rest. After making me swear to it three times, he let Shawn remove my I.V. and help me into a wheelchair for the ride out to the car.

The drive home was quiet,Dave letting me rest my head on him as Shawn drove.

When we got home, they helped me up the stairs, all but ordering me to bed, persuading me by promising that we could eat pizza and watch crappy C grade chick-flicks all night.

As I fell asleep to the rise and fall of Shawn's chest, I found myself thinking just how lucky I really was. Lucky that I was alive, and lucky I had the guys to call family.

Reaching up, I pecked Shawn on the check, him leaning down and kissing back. "What was that for?" he asked, a soft smile gracing his face.

"Love you is all," I sighed, resting my head back on his chest, and letting the world fade out. 

[fatoomie2801]

his queen | kyoya tategami

💫 preview 💫

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"For the very first matchup of the day, we have the royal, the regal, Kiara!" Blader DJ announced. "And her majestic bey, Cassiopeia! Oh yeah!" Kiara made her way to her post by the stadium, the crowd cheering wildly for her as she entered. "Her opponent is the strange shooter, Captain Capri!"

"Watch me take the queen by her crown!" Captain Capri smirked as he stood opposite Kiara; he was a short boy, possessing a bright blonde afro and sharp brown eyes, one of them covered by a unique aiming device which he was known for using in his battles.

"Here we go, bladers!" Blader DJ declared. "Alright ready!"

"Zero, six, two, three, comma, four," Captain Capri spoke whilst adjusting his compass launcher. "Correction. No. Zero, six, two, zero. And lock."

"That's fucking weird," Kiara muttered under her breath.

"3! 2! 1! Let it rip!" Both beys were launched into the stadium and Cassiopeia was instantly attacked from all angles by Storm Capricorn, Captain Capri's bey.

"What's going on?" Kiara questioned.

"With its Quake performance tip, Capricorn can jump around crazily!" Blader DJ announced. "Cassiopeia is at its mercy. It just can't keep up!" So that's his little trick, Kiara realised.

"Okay. This is gonna be fun," Captain Capri spoke. "Time to get rid of the queen in one special move! Capricorn! Spin Screwdriver!" Capricorn launched itself into the air, Kiara observing the uselessness of the Quake performance tip once the bey had ascended. Since the performance tip isn't in use, I can tell where the attack is coming from, she thought. Perfect. He set up his own trap!

"Thanks for the favour," she chuckled.

"Huh?!" Captain Capri exclaimed. "What do you mean?"

"You set up your own trap. Just look," she continued. "Since you're trying to attack me from above, your Quake performance tip is absolutely useless. It allows me to know where the attack is coming from, which is something I don't have trouble dealing with. Cassiopeia! Special move: Imperial Barrage!" Kiara's bey began speeding around the stadium before charging at Capricorn, sending it flying and landing beside Captain Capri's feet.

"And the first match goes to," Blader DJ began. "Kiara!"

"A walk in the park," the girl smirked, retrieving her bey.

"No! This can't be," the blonde blader whined. "This just can't be happening!"

Kiara made her way to the others and was met with smiles and hugs as they congratulated her. They then headed to the seating area to watch Kenta's battle with Tetsuya, which ended in a win for the young boy.

"You did it!" Kiara congratulated Kenta, giving him a high five as he returned to the seating area. "I'm so proud of you!"

The group of friends then watched the third match, which was between Teru and Ryutaro. The match ended with Ryutaro's win, which upset the group as they had been rooting for the former. Following that was the insanely intense battle between Gingka and Yu, in which Yu lost. The crowd cheered wildly for Gingka's win as he made his way back to his friends and celebrated with them. A short while after, the group of friends were back in the preparation room, waiting for Hyoma's battle to begin. Kyoya had won his first match with Benkei, and Tsubasa had defeated Reiki in the battle after that. Blader DJ announced the start of the match, allowing everyone to make their way to the seating area whilst Hyoma went to take his place beside the stadium.

"Good luck, Hyoma!" Gingka cheered from the audience.

"It's gonna be an easy win," Benkei added.

Both Hyoma and his opponent were introduced, a Dark Nebula member named Reiji, a tall, slender boy with striking red hair, a blonde streak running through his fringe, and piercing yellow eyes that narrowed into slits like that of a venomous snake, using a bey called Poison Serpent.

"He's another blader from the Dark Nebula," Gingka spoke.

"Yes, but I've never heard any name like Reiji mentioned before now," Madoka commented.

The battle began shortly afterwards, with Aries attacking Serpent, although causing no damage. When Reiji's bey finally struck at Aries, it was able to push it back, however, Hyoma used his special move Wind Storm Assault to dodge Serpent's attacks with its Eternal Defence 145 spin track. Aries then charged at Serpent in a counterattack, the crowd cheering him on. Moments later, Gingka gasped in shock.

"What's wrong?" Kiara asked. The crowd then began booing as the battle was making no progress. "What's up with this?"

"Argh, that's enough, Hyoma!" Benkei exclaimed, frustrated at the lack of a fight. "Now it's time to send this guy flying out of here!"

"He probably won't listen," Madoka spoke. "You know how Hyoma likes to battle cautiously, Benkei."

"He might surprise us," Gingka began. "Hyoma seems strange somehow. To me, it looks like he isn't sure how to defeat this opponent."

"Yes," Kyoya added. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Keep it together, Hyoma!" Gingka yelled once he realised Hyoma was looking uneasy. "Don't let him get inside your head!"

"You can do it, Hyoma!" Kiara cheered. Hyoma then unleashed his special move, Horn Throw Destruction, but to no avail as Serpent was able to easily withstand it, defeating it in an instant.

"Woah!" Blader DJ exclaimed. "Serpent has completely stopped Aries' special move! Aries is the one that's sent flying!"

"Aries!" Hyoma cried as he watched his bey barely land back in the stadium. Aries was able to dodge Serpent's attacks once again, however, Hyoma was taken aback once Serpent began circling around his bey, restricting it completely and leaving no room for escape.

"Has Serpent's attack power increased somehow?" Gingka questioned.

"No. The power of its attacks is the same as before," Madoka informed. "Serpent hasn't gotten any stronger. Aries has actually gotten weaker!"

"How is that even possible?" Kiara asked.

"Yeah, I don't get it," Kenta began. "Up until now, Serpent's attack had no effect on Aries at all. Isn't that right?"

"It's poison," Kyoya pointed out, grasping everyone's attention. "Every time that Serpent struck, it injected some poison to slowly weaken Aries."

"That's insane," Kiara gasped, looking back at the arena. Hyoma attempted to escape Reiji's attacks using Aries' spin track but was unable to do so as Reiji began using his true strength in the battle, taking everyone by surprise. Soon afterwards, the lilac-haired blader began yelling crazily at his opponent, shocking his friends who watched him from the audience.

"This isn't the calm Hyoma we know," Madaoka spoke worriedly.

"I have never seen him act like this before," Gingka admitted. "Get a grip out there, Hyoma! It's not like you to go and lose your cool!"

Aries was suddenly flung into the air by Serpent, causing Hyoma's eyes to widen in panic as Serpent ascended into the sky to attack it endlessly.

"What is this?" Blader DJ gasped. "Aries is helpless, but Serpent continues to attack mercilessly!"

"Stop! Stop it!" Hyoma cried, tears escaping his eyes as Reiji cackled evilly. "Please, stop it now!"

"Dark move," Reiji spoke, sending everyone into a shock.

"Did I hear that right?" Kiara whimpered as she felt shivers run down her spine.

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the rest of chapter 10 is available on wattpad:

[jafndaegur]

Noise of Rain | Chapter Three

Without Forgiveness, Rather than Rusted by Falsehood

Sesskag

｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆｡

A holy arrow split the moment away, surging forward in a torrent of electric blue power.

Sesshomaru’s sword lashed out, too fast to see, and yet it was not he that felled the arrow. Kagome's eyes glowed haunting and bright crimson, a cruel and pained smile on her face. The holy arrow hovered mid-air, grasped by the inky tendrils of dark energy.

"Oho? Glad to know Kikyo is using her newfound humanity the same as she always had." She glared and the arrow flipped around, hurtling back to the earth.

Below they could hear Inuyasha shouting—Sesshomaru could see his brother dive and deflect the arrow intended to attack the priestess. His brow furrowed. Plenty of resentful energy spurred the returned projectile, but none of that dazzling bright pink purification Kagome kept unfiltered.

"Think it's high time I say hi?" Her voice fluttered through the air innocently. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

He didn't answer her. Refused to answer her. Maybe once long ago, he would have given her his thoughts, maybe. But that'd been because she was different. Not a creature that sought unlimited power like this—unlimited, unclean power—but someone who would make a change her own way, through hard work and her own practice. Pointing out at the darkness, even when she traverses it.

Not this.

She descended slowly, almost ethereal, her outer layer billowing, her yukata delicate and graceful. And yet the splatters of Naraku's blood marring the green and grey cloth said otherwise.

Her shoes are dirtied—

"Kagome!" Inuyasha rushed to meet her, his feet trudging through the battlefield sludge.

Kagome landed gracefully, a few slow strides before she made it to her stumbling hanyou. The others followed close behind him, while Sesshomaru took up vigil behind her.

She reached out and embraced the hanyou in a surprisingly gentle hug. He held onto her, no words needed, only a trembling grasp.

Yet the scathing and cold voice still cut through the air. "Get away from her Inuyasha. That thing is not the Kagome you know."

Kikyo's tone perusal was scant of emotion, save her usual mocking righteousness.

Kagome's chin tilted up and she took a step back while Inuyasha whirled around to protest.

"I shouldn't have to explain myself," the priestess hummed. "But even your monk and demon slayer can sense the demonic aura coming from her."

Sango said nothing, her gaze cast to the ground.

Miroku on the other hand fumbled with his words a bit before mentioning an amendment. "It's not evil per say. Just dark."

Sesshomaru’s golden gaze narrowed. So—without her notice—the little miko had scared all of her little friends.

Kagome rested her hand on the fife tucked into her thin obi. "It isn't evil, believe it or not."

"If you let me purify you, I'd be more inclined to believe you," Kikyo bit out.

"Damn, Kikyo—it's just Kagome, what's gotten into you?" Inuyasha's brow was furrowed, and he was clearly disgruntled.

"Were you not just undead?" Sesshomaru ran his fingers through his hair. "It seems you hardly have room to speak."

Inuyasha drew in a sharp breath.

Kikyo smiled half-heartedly and drew another arrow. "And now look at my reincarnation. Fitting she took my place."

"Kikyo, what the hell are you trying to start?" Inuyasha moved to appease her.

She refused and released the arrow.

Sesshomaru was quick — and yet again something else was quicker. The ringing clang of metal struck the air and warbled, and in a blink, the fight was over.

A small boy with pulled back hair and angered eyes withdrew his scythe.

"Kohaku!" Sango shouted, pushing past the belligerent miko and mostly-confused hanyo.

"Sister," the young demon slayer offered a weak smile. "I'm happy to see you again."

No time was wasted in the barreling hug. Sango pulled her little brother close, and this time, he returned her embrace.

"How is this possible?" She looked from him, cupping his face and gazing at Kagome and back to him. "The Shikon was destroyed."

"I revived him in a sense," Kagome offered. "He's not fully alive. But he's not fully dead. We bumped into each other a month or so back. And I pulled the shard from him. Once he was dead, I brought him back."

Sesshomaru’s brow twitched. A miko wouldn't, and shouldn't, have a power as such.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha's voice offered everyone's hesitance and discomfort.

"Explain," Kikyo bit out.

Kagome crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. "But of course. There's a tea house not far from here. Our little group will make for quite some clientele, but I think what I have to say will be ill suited if we stay on the battlefield."

That much it seemed, everyone could agree on.

-‐-

Kagome despite her earlier sardonic tone, seemed on friendly basis with the teashop owner. He welcomed her with a bright smile and familiar call of her name. He waved their little group over to a nice secluded spot, away from regular patrons enough to not be egregious, but close enough to feel included with the surprisingly light atmosphere.

"The regular?" The owner asked.

She waved him off with a friendly laugh. "An extra pot and a plate of bean buns."

He nodded and scooted away.

"I helped him start this place," she pulled the fife from her obi and twirled it lazily. "This entire area was under Naraku's influence three months ago. He's from the mainland and wanted to bring a little taste of home. Once this place was cleaned out of miasma and...other obstacles—I've deceived these memories in my mind over and over again to remember just quite what they were—we built this place."

"You built this place?" Shippo echoed with a little bit of awe.

The fife waved back and forth with a sheepish giggle. "Well I decorated the place."

Inuyasha huffed.

Miroku and Sango chuckled lightly.

Even Sesshomaru, who really did seem out of place with their little pack, rolled his eyes.

The only one not bemused was Kikyo. "So you did not help with any construction."

Kagome grinned and lifted her brow, the look almost sultry. "I wouldn't be much help there, I don't have nearly enough strength for heavy lifting. But the feral undead in my control handled it just fine."

Kikyo's brow twitched and Inuyasha's amusement turned pale.

"Oh I'm sorry. Undead strikes a nerve I see," Kagone continued. "Corpse. I think that's what I would call them. They don't think much."

She pointed her flute at Sango and her brother. "Kohaku is my only and greatest exception. A feral corpse who thinks and acts almost entirely for himself."

Kohaku looked down at the table and wrinkled his nose a little.

"Corpse?" Sango's whisper was half broken, staggered.

Decorated with lies, Kagome winced. "Zombie may be better. Not really alive, not really dead. An odd mix in between."

The teashop owner brought their order and swept settings over the table quickly. He seemed to sense the tense mood and left. In the stiff silence, Kikyo graciously poured everyone a cup of tea save for Kagome, Shippo, and Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru didn't even bat an eye, and the little fox demon busied himself with forking bean buns to care.

Lounging back, Kagome draped her arm over her knee.  

Inuyasha pushed his teacup in her direction, his ears flattened apologetically against his head.

It made her heart twinge, she'd missed her best friend.

"What right do you have playing with their lives?" Kikyo hummed, staring over the rim of her mug. "It is both the unorthodox and unethical path."

"I wish I could've seen you complain about that earlier," Kagome tapped the fife against her brow. "Tell me again, how long have you been a living human by now?"

The two mikos then engaged in another quiet round of glaring.

"The flute Kagome," Miroku piped up, trying to keep the conversation going. "What does it do?"

"This?" Kagome offered her instrument to him. "It's just an ordinary fife. However I use it to channel the resentful energy, that's what summons and brings the feral corpses to life. I named it Kangaimuryo. Like it?"

Miroku took it in a ginger hold before his eyes widened and he observed it more carefully. "There's no evil aura. There's an aura, but it's not impure."

"It's an ordinary object." Kagome took it back once he'd finished his inspection. "Although it's sturdy and can hold its own in a fight. Kohaku and I have discovered more than once that it's decent at blocking a blade."

The young demon slayer gave a reassuring nod. "Lady Kagome has been steering away smaller yokai from the Burial Mounds for months now. She uses it to both channel resentful energy and deflect physical attacks. She's skilled."

There was silence. A lingering hesitance blared the looming question that no one wanted to ask. Well, almost no one.

"Why don't you just purify them?" Kikyo rested her chin on her hand, relaxing forward. "Such a simple task for a miko."

An exasperated sigh caused Kagome's bangs to puff up before she stood and wiped off the front of her yukata. "Kohaku, will you return later?"

"Kagome…" Sango was the first to vocally protest.

Kagome smiled gently at first before sending a cruel imitation to Kikyo. "I love myself far too much to waste my reiki on small fries."

Her voice hitched just a bit. "This is easier."

"Oy Kagome!" Inuyasha stood, the table screeching as he pushed it  forward.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.

"I'll see you guys around," she told him gently before waving. "I have some things to settle back home."

"Home?" Came the hanyou's echo. But there was no response.

Kagome strode out of the tea house long enough to appear proud. Once out of eyesight she slouched and panted, her hand resting on her chest. The demonic energy had risen painfully with each biting nag from she-who-should-probably-not-be-named—it lashed and made restraint difficult. It had taken everything for Kagome not to react negatively.

Leaving was her best response.

"It is not easy."

The deep tenor surprised her and she twisted to see Sesshomaru standing nonchalantly beside her. A lazy flick of his eyes told her he feigned boredom. But if it was his mask, why was he interested in seeing her.

She walked forward, straightening herself out and walking evenly. "Not like it's a walk in a park."

He kept pace, even steps with no trouble maintaining stride. "And yet you walk."

Kagome hummed, well wasn't he talkative today. "You were at the Burial Mounds today. I have talismans there to let me know when anyone arrives there. So why did you go?"

"Hn."

Maybe not.

"You ever get tired of living in someone's shadow?"

The daiyoukai's brow twitched.

"Yeah, figured that's a yes." Kagome exhaled, resting her hand on the fife tucked neatly against her side. "What happened…helped with that. I'm not in her shadow anymore."

Sesshomaru’s gaze met hers.

"And that's what I'll tell myself is for the best. With the jewel gone, there's no need for me to walk the widely paved road anymore."

She didn't say why. She doubted he cared. But speaking to him and admitting she would keep on the demonic path, lightened her heart—as if Sesshomaru’s troubled silence offered acceptance.

[mona-stay]

First Christmas - Lucifer

Plot - Lucifer has his first Christmas with the help of y/n

Pairing - Lucifer x reader

Warnings - none, just Christmas fluff

Lucifer walked around the bunker bored. He'd already annoyed Sam and Dean to the point he was lucky they hadn't shot him yet. Cas, well it was no fun to wind Castile up. He now looking for his next source of entertainment y/n. He didn't dislike her like he did the others. When he'd be with her, living at the bunker didn't seem as daunting.

He'd looked in her room, the garage, war room, even looked in the demon dungeon. His last stop the kitchen. He smirked the smell of gingerbread was promising. "y/n" he said in a singsong tone, turning the corner.

His smile faded she wasn't in there, however his other brother Gabriel was. "if you're looking for y/n you missed her she's just gone out." he said picking up a cookie from the cooling rack.

"I don't think she's happy you eating her cookies," lucifer said back. Before Gabriel could eat it, lucifer snapped his fingers making the cookie vanish and appearing back in the rack.

Gabe pulled his tongue at lucifer "your no fun, Lucy. Y/n wouldn't have noticed she's been baking all morning. She's out in the woods if you want her" he said before grabbing another cookie and running out with it.

After waiting ten minutes to see if she'd come back, lucifer decided to go find her. On his way to the door, he saw the Winchesters packing their duffels with weapons for a case. "we're going out can you two try not to destroy the place while we're gone" Dean said.

Lucifer rolled his eyes as Gabriel laughed "no promises" he joked walking to his room.

The last thing he heard before the door shut was Sam asking Dean if leaving the two wayward angel's alone was a good idea.

He started walking through the wooded area around the back of the bunker. He knows y/n liked to walk around here when things got too much inside. In fact, she'd gotten the devil to do it a few times when he and the Winchesters were almost about to kill one another.

He was almost at a clearing in the woods when heard a strange noise. Being curious he walked towards the tapping sound. Soon he found y/n, he couldn't help but frown watching her attack the tree with an axe.

You had decided for once you and everyone at the bunker were doing Christmas properly this year. After spending the morning baking different types of treats. but they would be for later if Gabriel hasn't eaten them all.

You had also gotten some decorations too now you needed a tree to decorate. After finding the perfect tree, you got an axe from the weapons cabinet and headed into the woods.

This was something you had done as a child. Your father would take you to the mountains and let you pick a tree and chop it down. Go home drink hot chocolate while decorating the tree and making gingerbread houses.

You had been to busy focused on the tree you hadn't heard Lucifer. "what are you doing?" he said behind you. The sudden voice made you jump and you hunter instincts kicked in. You lifted the ace to head hight while spinning on the spot. Lucifer's reflexes were faster, he caught the axe handle centimetres before it hit his head.

Panting a little from the shock, you looked at him confused "what are you doing here? I could have killed you." you snapped at him, pulling the axe from his grip.

He started to laugh, "do you really think you can kill me with that toy. Why are you using the tree as target practice?" he said looking confused.

You looked at him in surprise, "you've never seen anybody chop a tree Christmas tree before" you say, taking another swing at the tree.

He didn't answer so you looked over your shoulder at him. He stood silent, you could tell something was odd. That's when it hit you he probably didn't know what Christmas was.

"you don't know what Christmas is, do you?" you asked trying not to sound pitiful. Lucifer rolled his eyes "if your talking about the bible story let me correct you" he said taking a step forward, no doubt to give you a lecture on how bad his father is.

"Nope I'm not talking about that, yes Christmas is the birth of Jesus, I mean the spirit of Christmas. Ya know the trees, lights, food, gifts, kindness" you start to say. As you say kindness, Lucifer gave you his sassy look as to say you're talking to the devil.

You smiled "well I guess it's never too late to learn, come here," you say beckoning him towards you.

As he got closer you handed him the axe. If anyone else had seen you they would have thought you crazy giving the devil a weapon, however, you knew him better and trusted him not to try and kill you with it.

You stood behind him putting his body in the right position, guiding his arms down to swing at the tree. When you felt he had the hang of it you let go and took a few steps back. You watched him hack at the tree for a few minutes if you didn't have a crush on him you'd probably be scared by how effortlessly he swung the axe.

His human vessel started running out of stamina and his pace started to slow. He stopped and looked at you, "you know I could have this thing down with a snap of my fingers!" he said lifting his hand, readying his fingers to click.

"noooo," you say running a few steps to stop him. "I'm doing this the real way, the same way my dad taught me how" you day taking the axe.

Lucifer watched as you started chopping at the tree. He hadn't heard you talk about your family much only they had died a few years ago in a werewolf attack. He noticed how her swings got harder and more clumsy in their landing. He knew she was upset but trying not to show it. "so are you going to tell me the reason for cutting down a 'Christmas tree' as you called it?" he asked both to distract y/n and to actually find out what a Christmas tree was.

After explaining the tree was going back the bunker to be decorated. "as kids we're told Santa leaves gifts under the tree for anyone who has been good" you say watching as Lucifer had taken over the axe when you had gotten tired. You heard the sound of the tree cracking "okay that enough" tell him, pulling him out the way.

A few seconds and the tree quickly fell. You jumped and laughed at the echo of the bang it made hitting the ground. Walking over to start making a plan to get it back the bunker, you fell over an exposed tree root. Lucifer saved you by wrapping his arms around you. Instead of hitting the floor you hit his hard chest.

You didn't move, only looked up at him feeling your cheeks get hot with embarrassment. He continued to hold you stirring in your eyes.

You wanted to kiss him but you also didn't want to make a move without knowing if he'd kiss you back

Lucifer sensed the hold had be awkward. Part of him didn't want to but let go and quickly changed the subject "so how are you getting this thing back to the bunker" he asked. You didn't really have a plan when you came out here, all you brought was an axe and a wood trolley, which wasn't going to be big enough to fit a whole tree on.

In the end, you agreed to let Lucifer use his powers when it came to getting the tree back to the bunker. He magiced you both and tree to the war room. A loud bang sounded as the tree hit the floor. "Hey easy with my tree" you scolded him with a jokey tone.

After spending a few minutes choosing where it was going to go, you asked Lucifer to put it in its stand while you when to get some decorations.

Lucifer stood looking at still unsure of what they were actually doing but felt good helping her get it back. Lately, y/n hadn't smiled much but really her and the Winchesters were giving blow after blow waiting for a win to come their way.

You came in with two cups of hot chocolate, topped with cream and chocolate sauce. You could feel Lucifer watching as you unpacked the lights ready to go on first. You started laughing "I really can't believe this is your first Christmas," you say handing him one end of the white lights. "Take this end and start wrapping them around the tree" you instruct him.

He went to start in the middle you had to tell him from the top. You started putting lights and a spruce garland around the staircase bannister. Looking over to see how Lucifer was doing you couldn't help but laugh. He had managed to get himself tangled in the lights.

You go over as he's trying to say he's okay and doesn't need help. You didn't listen helping him out if the entanglement of lights he'd made. "I know your narasticic but you really don't need Christmas lights to shine" you joked.

You hadn't noticed him turn to face you until you looked up coming practically nose to nose.

"only for you" he whispered to himself but being so close you still heard.

This was all new for you, the feelings for the devil. You hadn't known him before, you had only heard the stories from Sam and Dean about everything they had dealt with. But meeting him you hadn't seen the evil side to him, in fact, you were 99% certain only you had seen Lucifer the way he was now carefree and with his devil persona hidden.

You didn't know what to say and shyness took over making you duck out from under his arm and free him from the lights. Lucifer didn't look bothered, he just smiled and said thanks before you both put the lights on the tree.

You got your drink knowing it would be cool enough to have now when you heard Lucifer say "I'll plug this in now!"

You jumped up almost spilling your hot chocolate pulling it off him "no the lights don't go on till the tree is finished and the rest of the decorating is done" you explain.

He frowned but did as you said. You were right this was his first Christmas and it was all new to him.

He walked to the table deciding he'd just copy everything you did now. So just like you, he picked up his drink, sipping away. As an angel he didn't have tease buds, meaning he didn't taste the chocolate or cream but drank it anyway hoping you wouldn't notice.

He found it strange how he'd go out of his way for her in small ways. Whether it was pretending to enjoy a meal or staying up all night watching TV when she couldn't sleep. Gabriel had teased him before about it saying he had a feeling for her but Lucifer argued back saying that was a human emotion so he couldn't possibly. After today after holding her, enjoying a human activity with her made him doubt everything the thought about feelings and emotions.

"Hey these baubles ain't gonna hang themselves, come on!" you shouted making him snap out whatever thought he was having. You started taking out the silver and blue baubles. Lucifer watched you hang the first two, he picked one up looking at it. It shined in the light and had a small bit of string.

"Just pick a branch and hang it," you say encouraging him to do it. Everyone he went to hang one he'd first if it was okay here at whatever branch he held the bauble by. It didn't take to long to get the tree finished. It would have taken less time if Lucifer hadn't been messing around.

"Hey y/n, do you think these earrings suit me?" he asked. When you turned around he had two silver giltter baubles hanging from his ears. Another Lucifer distraction came when he got a string of tinsel and wrapped it around you, as he did he used it to pull you closer. "I wanted to make you look festive," he said in a teasing tone with a flirty smile.

Soon all your work was complete and the bunker kinda looked like a grotto. Even fireplace had six stockings pinned into the wooden frame, each with everyone's initials on.

Lucifer still didn't understand the point of wasting 2 hours doing that to a tree but it made you happy. And even if he didn't understand the meaning he actually enjoyed it, "So what's next on your Christmas to-do list?" he asked.

You looked up smirking "gingerbread houses with Christmas movies" you answered. You both went into the kitchen collecting the biscuits you had baked this morning. Back in the war room, you set the ingredients I to separate bowls as Lucifer set up the TV and DVD.

When you were ready you started the movie marathon with your favourite Christmas film. The pair of you started your houses, it took you a few minutes to explain to Lucifer how to use the icing to glue the gingerbread together.

The movie you had seen a thousand times so you spent most of it concentrating on your house. You were laughing at him, his face screwed with concentration as he piped the icing. "who'd of thought I'd be spending Christmas eve making gingerbread houses with the devil" you said before stopping yourself.

He turned looking disappointed "isn't this what you want to we can do something else or I can leave you to it," he said half-heartedly.

You shook your head, "no" you said a little to fast. "I wanted to do this all December, I'm glad your here too. I just didn't think this would be your thing" you say hoping to cover your enthusiasm of wanting him here.

"well it's better than listening to Cas go on about something stupid and I got to play with an axe so it's not all bad," he said. You smiled at him picking back up your piping bag.

"however it does need an injection of fun!" Lucifer said.

As you looked up questioning how a fist full of icing sugar hit you in the face. You stood up with your mouth open in shock. Lucifer took one look at the white patch on your face and bust out laughing at his handy work." oh you think that's funny" you say squinting pink icing at him. He tried to block your attack with one hand while grabbing a fist full of sweets to throw at you. Soon enough a food fight broke out.

In a matter of ten minutes, the room looked like a sugared bombsite. You and Lucifer laid on the floor laughing and panting out of breath. "Sam and Dean are going to kill us," you say sitting up seeing the damage around, thinking how could you ever get it all clean before the boys where back. You heard a click behind you, turning to see Lucifer with his hands up smiling at you. As you looked back around all the mess had gone the sweets were back in the bowls and both houses completed.

"I so need that power then it comes to doing the dishes" you joked before saying thanks. It wasn't often Lucifer used his powers, especially as they weren't fully restored yet.

Lucifer watched as you got up and left the room. He hadn't felt so happy before, he started thinking maybe he should tell y/n how he feels or whatever it was he was feeling about her. His thoughts stopped as you came back in with two heavy looking bin bags.

"is the next tradition burying a body?" he joked as he helped you pull them into the room.

"Nope," you say popping the p sound. "this is everyone's Christmas presents," you say with a big smile pound you'd kept them all hidden.

You started filling up the stockings with small gifts leaving the others under the tree.

Lucifer was stunned to see a couple for him "you got me a gift" he said sound puzzled. He hadn't had a gift before unless you counted the mark or being tossed out of hell. So naturally, he hadn't thought about them before. He certainly hadn't expected anyone on earth to get him one.

Of course, I did, Christmas is about giving to your loved ones and you come into that category so yeah I got you something like I did for everyone else " you say smiling up at him.

The words loved ones hit Lucifer like a brick. Did that mean she had feelings for him too? or was she just being kind? like she always is. The questions ran through his mind like a wave. He hadn't noticed that he hadn't spoken or moved in a few minutes.

You stood up, seeing him deep in thought. "you okay?" you ask gently touching his arm. Lucifer jumped a little making you giggle, had you just scared the devil? Lucifer nodded smiling down at you.

As you looked up you noticed a piece of mistletoe hanging above him. Taking it as the perfect opportunity for you to try and kiss him. Standing on your tiptoes you lightly pressed your lips to his.

Lucifer froze. He didn't know what to say. "what was that for?" he asked when your heels landed back on the floor.

You kinda felt embarrassed, he didn't look like he enjoyed it. "mistletoe" you say pointing up at the plant. "if two people are under it they kiss" you say before trying to walk away fast.

Lucifer smiled saying "oh, and here was me thinking you wanted to kiss me," said. You stopped and looked at him. You couldn't tell if he looked sad or not, without meaning to say it aloud "I did" you whispered.

You felt your arm being pulled, the unexpected force pulled you back into him. "good because so have I for a while now" he said before kissing you. This kiss wasn't weird like the peck you gave him, it was passionate and heated and everything you had both wanted.

When you stopped you didn't know what to say, the bell of the clock behind rang meaning it was midnight. "merry Christmas" you said making you both laugh.

"Merry Christmas y/n," he said back before kissing you again. "I guess I'm gonna have to keep this mistletoe with me at all times if I get kisses like that" he joked.

You shook your head laughing, "you don't need mistletoe just to kiss me" you say back. With that, he smirked picking you up and carrying you to the couch. The pair of you laid there kissing and cuddling watching Christmas movies until you both fell asleep.

Hours later, Sam, Dean and cas came back. To their surprise the bunker was fully decorated "looks like y/n had fun" Sam said looking at the lights and tree.

"Sam! Look presents" Dean said running over to see what ones were for him. Before Sam had to pull him away reminding him of how he can't open them till you were there.

"I don't know I'm surprised with more the gifts or decorations," cas said still looking around the rooms.

"how about the two turtledoves on the couch," Gabriel said appearing out of nowhere. Cas looked at him confused but looked to where Gabe was pointing.

On the couch was Lucifer and y/n cuddled up asleep with a blanket wrapped around them. "well it's about time" Dean said. Sam looked at him "what I'm sick of her giving him the puppy dog eyes" Dean added.

"let's leave them be," Gabriel said ushering them out the room. He turned at took one last look, hoping finally his brother will be happy and y/n will be the one to show how to be.

[thesagedahlia]

🐏 Aries Season (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) ♈

🔥

Some of you may be lacking discipline or direction when it comes to your next path in life, this can be referring to self employment, getting a new job, or getting a business plans together either, solo or with others. It seems to be discontentment with what has been achieved so far & a wishing to do more. Some of you may have been in contemplation, planning, & introspection of what your next moves are, & now is the time to raise to the exciting challenges of building your quality of ambition. Some may have been holding themselves back due to lack of ambition or confidence. This is a chance to be optimistic about making progress, & come out of a negative energy, major stress, anxiety, & worry. You can really take off in whatever you're setting your mind to, but you need the self-confidence & logical planning. Don't operate from a blocked intuition, or a disorganized stance; it's easy to get delayed by things that are a hindrance in your life (this can pertain to relationships; romantic, platonic, & business). It's possible that some of you are focusing on loss or staying attached to what you're used to, which can to to cause more delay in your efforts. Don't allow yourself to overlook your achievements, blow up your failures, & know that it is okay to have a balance between the two.

🐏

Be careful if you are making choices out of pleasure if you're lacking the mental clarity. People may be engaging in the use of their skills for evil, manipulation, conman tendencies, or even infidelity, & some have been making choices out of pleasure & secrecy or in spite of another. Someone may have or will be receiving some type of info that creates transformation within a dilemma or this communication is about one's specific transformation. All is emotional for whoever this resonates with, and is regarding a transition that is harmful and unhealthy, that will prompt to change this dynamic. An outcome that is out of one's control has transpired & someone will be gaining a lot of public support & communications.

🦁

Other people's jealousy threaten to interfering in someone's life & could be hiding within a loving social circle. Some of you may have made choices in order to gain compassion by way of flattery. Be careful who you let close to you around this time, as you may make bad choices in support of other people. There is also the possibility that situations of affairs & infidelity may come out for you. Someone may have messy ambitions or wanting too many things. It is quite possible to enter into conflict within your relationships that are keeping you from making better choices. There may also be worries regarding opening up to new experiences, or discovering new opportunities & exploration of finding out the truth after scandal, breakups, or adversity.

🏹

Someone may be restricting themselves after much delay & disorder. Progress has been halted after much upheaval, & someone may be feeling trapped because of broken promises, not finishing what was started, impatience, & instability. There may have been a secure defense or security created in one's authority, after dealing one necessary trials & tribulations. Some were even dealing with abuse & pain, whether emotional or physical, that is hidden or disguised as something less threatening. This may have been a red flag for those dealing with this, & may have needed intuitive guidance to pinpoint it. Communication regarding these changes will bring forth the transition into a more liberating time.

🌍

Some partnerships may be dealing with some disorder or upheaval, after some unwelcome changes, delays, or external forces bring revelation or trauma, even loss or a shaken up foundation that illuminates a relationship that is destined for nothing positive. It may have been a situation that has kept either party on edge & in a defensive state. Some can be dealing with those refusing to compromise in situations where it is greatly needed. For others, it has caused lack of self-protection, physical burnout, or even a mental breakdown. The struggle that you may be dealing with may have caused a wave in your hope & faith in it working out in one's favor. Outcomes regarding this have been uncertain & it has caused vulnerability, low self-esteem, & lack of confidence. It's possible someone overlooked a situation in the hopes that it's outcome would change, but it hasn't gotten things to go anywhere. Deception & manipulation may have been used to keep things together, yet emotional/mental turmoil, emotional detachment/coldness, & conflict, has caused disregard for consequences. There may be a need to break free & end conflict, but only one party is open to healing things & making things work. Make it important to put your self preservation first, so if there is a decision to be made regarding this, don't wait too long to make it. If contemplation is needed, you may need to have a clear mind about how you plan on reacting.

🐂

There may be some combative or hostile energy within a situation, where you may be dealing with a partner who is jealous, a cheater, or possessive. Communication with a person may be sharp, impulsive, direct, or assertive, even aggressive. There may be much introspection, day-dreaming, or fantasizing about a solution that requires intense focus. A light ending to small conflicts is sudden & painful, & it could be after an outburst of repressed aggression. Corrupt or decaying conversation/communication with an ungrounded or wicked individual has slowly begin to lack and playfulness or innocence. There may be growing conflict within a couple or a tension building between two parties.

👰🏾

You may be reaching an end of hardship or are overcoming adversity. Some may be recovering from revelation of the truth heartbreak, betrayal, trauma, or loss. Bad things are being cleared away from your life, as you take a rest & contemplate the lessons that were needed to be learned. You may have been quietly preparing to move or end the conflict surrounding you. There may be a peaceful resolution after uncovered crime or major sacrifice that may leave someone in a state of regret. For some, there may be some ending to these hardships that have begun to grow out of control, or receiving news where you may make the decision to do so. This may be in the form of breaking away from dominant people, & ending or interruption in communication somehow, & this can pertain to family or traditional values. Your suspicion may have overwhelmed all areas of your life, even deep family connections & loyalty to them.

🐐

There may be some past influences, situations, or relationships that are needed to be revisited by a passionate individual. It feels like communication about reconciliation or reunion, & there is action being taken on an opportunity to sweep someone off their feet. There is much energy & passion with this person & they may be cited by impulsive actions as well. This can be strictly financial or in relation to a new job, but overall it is an opportunity for happiness or stability; a strong foundation is what is pushing this approach & is creating a base for the future. In the past, it may have been confusion about meaning in life, lack of trust in the universe, or hopelessness, as well as confusion about commitment or promise to discover this, which is leading to a sudden transformation of this individual. This feels like a masculine energy who is moving away from tradition, or leaving home to desire a family of their own, which may have caused conflict between desires & tradition for some time before this change of pace.

🌬

Some of you may be developing more hits intuitively when it comes to those you let into your space. The balance within your energy is bound to be thrown off due to deceptive or envious forces. Things will become illuminated to those seeking some sort of truth, & this can be directly related to relationships, whether romantic, platonic, business related, or familial. Someone could either be engaging in the deception, or it is happening to or around them. There may be a little bit of a revelation, whether outwardly or internally, someone seems to be coming in to awareness to this, if they haven't already. There is a dark, manipulative energy that is causing a betrayal, but it feels hidden. This can be someone that is impulsive, rebellious, or direct, that is causing stunts in someone's growth, as well as the people around them. The more spirituality that is studied, the easier it will be to point these energies out. For some, self doubt is a manifestation of being around this energy, as well as self-esteem & for others, unhappiness within families or negative influences of the family are coming up. This person or group of people seem to use emotionality to keep a person binded it to the situation, & this is what caused delays in stability. The situation is empty, & there is only a matter of time for it to become destructed by deception. Treachery is a warning for this time, & it will be an ongoing stress that will be taking on too much. Good fortune is followed by this conflict, as this situation is not meant to be & will be easily forgotten is one wishes is to, otherwise it will continue to create creative blocks and unhappiness.

👭🏿

There some stagnation or incompletion within empty affairs that seems to be involving a 3rd party. Someone is going through some psychic or empathetic development that may be allowing one to see a situation for what it is. The negative may have been overlooked within it, or someone was reluctant to rock the boat, but for some, cheating or gossip of cheating, or just plain deception, is what has brought once to this point for this time period. A dominant feminine energy is seeing a love letter or compassionate communication as having an overpowering force over them, that have a deeper or underlying meaning to it that may be unpleasant. A feminine is dealing with difficulties concerning a masculine & it may be like jumping down a rabbit hole of secrecy. It may have been an obstacle to learning this because it was masked & overlooked.

⚖

It seems like for some, things around them are delayed, disrupted, or lacking in change or control. External forces may be causing for further delay or stagnation to some action that is wanted/needed to be taken. Whether the action is being referred to as a creative force, a new passion, the acceptance of challenges & new beginnings, or even a new initiative in something, things may have been halted as if it isn't time yet. Past influences or childhood memories may be what is behind this inspiration, & there may be some support behind it as well. There may be an understanding of authority in a sexual relationship for some, others can have this relating to moral authority. The flow of communicating this may have been a burden, or someone may be communicating their suffering. Inexperience could cause confusion, or there could be growing confusion surrounding this situation, & this can keep one restrained.

🤖

Injustice within a missed relationship or business opportunity may be causing a lot of stress to someone. There is a manipulative or deceptive nature that has caused the instability within a situation, & there may be a need to rectify the corruption and karmic retribution. There is a feeling of unfairness for the lost opportunity, but a lack of accountability may have cause for its likeness to attain to slip further and further away. This could have been due to a greedy or insecure energy of not being satisfied with one's outcomes, or there was a lack of opportunities to bring back what was lost. There is a confusion about loyalty or a friendship, but one has trust in their emotions about a sudden desire or one that has ended or significantly slowed down. This friendship was a lucky discovery for a masculine, which is prompting him to want to commit to something that promises happiness and security.

🌊

An overthinking, overanalytical, or over logical masculine energy that may be needing to wait out an outcome to a situation in their life, that may bring an ultimate resolution, or it isn't needed to wait before making the decision/action. There may be a need to know about what to make of the possibilities, & they can be regarding whatever resonates. There is an opportunity for growth, awakening, & direction, but just as a seed of a flower must take time to bloom, the seeds planted to a necessary transformation needs to be allowed the time & room to grow. It may be hard for some to wrap their minds around the concept of growth or progress, because of the time it is taking to get to that point. Some masculine energy may be experiencing optimism or enthusiasm about wanting to make investments of a familial nature, & making plans for their future, even though not much planning has gone into it. There feels like a hesitation here, & it feels like out of fear of making bad investments or commitment. Someone is nening to face their fears & weaknesses, & they may need to go through some majorly dark times to achieve balance with a feminine energy that is grounded (you may be either energy here). A partnership may have been stagnated or someone was resisting the change out of fear of new beginnings (the masculine energy). There is a need for someone to have to go within themselves in order to receive clarity, & letting go of the control or stress put on the mentally.

🦀

It feels like 2 separate energies having to deal with an injustice that has happened between them. One energy is full of life optimism & feeling the thrill in a situation (they have a lot of energy), while another energy is more emotional, intuitive, & feminine. There may have been an unfairness or a corruption between 2 individuals & I could also have to do with dishonesty through communication. A childlike & charismatic energy is rushing & communicatively & there feels like the other individual is intuitively aware. There was conflict in the past regarding the feminine, which was between wanting to be social/dating, or to be isolated, but something about the feminine was a true draw for someone. For some, that masculine followed a social sphere that caused an ending here, but it was regretted soon after

🦂

Someone's intuition is increasing about a passionate new endeavor, & there awareness is coming online. It feels like a potential rebirth, awakening, or even and reconciliation brought on by a new initiative from a emotionally balanced masculine (or a masculine is gaining emotional control or maturityl. This is in regards to a conservative feminine energy who may be ungrounded, disorganized, or scare to dream (whichever description resonates) It may take some time for an awakening, as reflection needs to take place, or self-evaluation. The start of a friendship was subjected to danger because of inexperience, & it was a sudden choice to eliminate it. There was flattery & passion expressed to a feminine lightheartedly, & it ended as quickly as it began.

🐡

It's coming into a time where some are reaching comfort, happiness, & satisfaction, or others can be establishing their success or achievements & are in the mood to celebrate. Some are coming in to success in all areas, & are entering a change in status. This is an opportunity that is serving as a fresh start for some, as they are hearing or answering that inner call. Moving forward is the one thing that continues to motivate a lot of you, but there is a feeling of disappointment, lack of confidence, or disadvantage in actually achieving more than less. There is also an energy of not accomplishing enough & finding a hunger for more. One's behavior or high moral standards opens new experiences & challenges for an individual, even with inexperience (which may cause lack of confidence in one way or another). Exploring ethics, morality & receiving messages about this (whether internally or externally) is what is pushing someome forward in that direction. One's inexperience, however, may cause obstacles, which is causing caution for any upcoming challenges.

*this reading is intended for sun, moon, rising, & venus placements, & is intended for entertainment purposes only, energy is fluid not linear, roles are interchangeable, cross readers (reading for another person's sign) should pick their energy in the scenario, take what resonates, leave the rest*

[musetotheworld]

Supercat prompt! Cat isn't human. She has super powers but hasn't told anyone. She sometimes likes to play vigilante and help people. She gets caught by her girlfriend supergirl(who had no idea)and nows by her smell and heartbeat that it's cat.

Cat usually loves being in the spotlight, being the center of attention. It’s where she thrives, where she knows that every eye is following her every move. That she can shape the world with every word she speaks. But it’s not the spotlight itself that she loves.

It’s the power.

To be fair, there’s a certain appeal that comes from being a household name. The flash of pride that comes from being recognized on sight, the feeling of accomplishment when she receives an award. Cat does love the attention as well as the power, she’d never claim otherwise.

But if it was only about that, about pictures, and awards, and people hanging on her every word, she wouldn’t be out in National City’s worst neighborhood. She wouldn’t be carefully hidden from view, with a mask and outfit designed to hide not only her presence but her identity as well.

She’s out here almost every night, has been for years. Ever since she’d discovered the rush that comes from bending the world to her will, she hasn’t been able to stop. First in Metropolis, now in National City, Cat spends her nights in places she would normally never visit, keeping an eye on the most vulnerable citizens of her city.

She’s no hero, not really. She’d toyed with the idea of a name and outfit, of putting this part of her life into the spotlight along with her public persona, but it didn’t feel right. This ability that she has, the fact that she wants to do good with it, it’s just a part of her life at this point. It’s what Cat feels she should be doing, given that she can. Drawing attention to her actions would only be narcissism, and there’s plenty of room for that in her daily life.

Cat had toyed with the idea of being a villian too, when she’d first realized she had the ability to move objects with her mind. How easy would it be to rob a bank with that power, to learn the deepest secrets of powerful men, to build an empire not on truth but on power. Then she’d realized her mother was villian enough for both of them, and let the half dream die.

So she’s neither hero nor villain now, working from the shadows rather than making a scene. No one ever sees her, so there’s no story for other journalists to track down, no wild stories of a masked vigilante to attract attention. It’s a welcome difference from the constant attention of her days, and she prefers it that way.

A quick glance at her watch shows that it’s almost time to head home, but she can spare a few more minutes here. Whatever gives her the ability to move objects with her mind also seems to keep her healthy and rested with only a few hours of sleep, but she does need them eventually. It’s why she sets her limits, because the freedom she has out here would otherwise keep her out all night until she had to return to see Carter off to school.

A scuffle in a nearby alley attracts her attention and Cat slinks closer, careful to stay hidden in the deepest shadows to avoid detection. Usually it’s a brawl with the potential to end badly for one or both combatants, and she can solve the issue by turning blades or tripping the fighters until they give up and one or both run. Sometimes she has to knock them unconscious, placing a call to the police from their own phone before leaving them to face the consequences. Simple, straightforward, and safe.

Sure Cat heals almost instantaneously from most wounds, but that doesn’t mean she’s invulnerable. And she won’t risk leaving Carter alone, would give up her nights before she let anything cause that to happen. She can act from a distance, so that’s what she does.

Except tonight one of the idiots has a gun, and as a shot rings out Cat wants to curse. A bullet moves faster than she can react, which means added threat to her, if she’s noticed. Most fights down here are relatively silent to avoid notice, which means fists and knives, but not guns. Cat wouldn’t be surprised if whoever is holding the weapon isn’t from the neighborhood, but she doesn’t intend to stick around and find out.

Cat’s just about to trip the shooter and leave while he’s distracted when something comes barreling down from rhe sky, ruining her concentration. Her intended push is off center, and instead of shoving the shooter she ends up pushing Supergirl back a step, cursing when it rocks the hero back a bare inch. So much for making it out of this undetected.

Wide blue eyes pinpoint her location immediately, and Cat curses again before settling in to wait. Supergirl will have no trouble containing the situation, and trying to run won’t accomplish anything. There are no crowds to hide in even if she could get away unnoticed, she’d be caught within blocks.

Sure enough the two fighters are safely trussed and transported to the nearest police station, and Supergirl lands directly in front of her with a slight frown on her usually sunny face.

“It’s dangerous out here at this time of night,” she says with hands on hips, taking the ridiculous hero pose as if by rote, seeming somehow awkward as she does. “You could have been hurt.”

“That would be why I was hiding in the shadows and avoiding attention, yes,” Cat snaps, feeling foolish at being lectured by someone half her age. “This isn’t exactly my first time.” Placing her own hands on hips, Cat shows the young hero what a real power stance looks like, even cocking an eyebrow despite knowing the mask covers it.

“Wait, Cat?!” Supergirl asks incredulously, and Cat freezes. Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that the hero recognized her, but something about her voice, about the way she’d used Cat’s name…

“Kara?!” Cat exclaims as it all clicks. “What the hell?!”

“Shhhhh, keep it down,” Kara pleads as she scans the area around them, likely looking for anyone close enough to have heard Cat all but yell her name.

“So what, you can out me but I can’t out you?” Cat asks, almost petulantly. They’ve only been dating, if you can call stolen dinners and a few evenings together dating, for a month now, but Cat is honestly a little hurt that Kara hadn’t shared the truth with her. Though if she’s being fair, Cat hadn’t exactly been open about her secret either.

“Why don’t we take this somewhere a little more private?” Kara pleads, and Cat gives in almost instantly.

She regrets that fact when Kara scoops her up and takes off, not happy with the new development in her relationship with the ground. Cat’s gotten comfortable on balconies and such over the years, knowing that she can use her telekenisis to slow any falls and that her healing will take care of the rest, but this is different, this leaves her feet dangling and no support other than Kara’s arms around her.

There’s a certain appeal to the situation though, to being securely held so close to Kara that Cat can hear her heart beating steadily as she lays her head against Kara’s chest. It’s not something she’s felt too many times before, things between them are still so new, so cautious, that physical contact is still sparing. Now that she’s experiencing it like this, even without being on solid ground Cat thinks she’s addicted.

“You shoved me, but you were thirty feet away,” Kara says when they land on Cat’s balcony, which isn’t the direction Cat had expected her to lead from.

“And you’re Supergirl,” Cat tosses back out of habit, deflecting because Kara has taken her by surprise an easy half dozen times tonight.

“Are we fighting? Because I really don’t want to fight over this,” Kara says in a small voice, clearly reacting to the snap in Cat’s voice. For what seems like the tenth time since things went sideways Cat curses to herself, and takes a mental step back to keep from making things worse.

“We’re not fighting. You just surprised me is all,” Cat says, voice level. “I’m sure you feel the same, so I’d say we’re even, wouldn’t you?”

“I- well, yes. But I want to know what you were doing, and how you were doing it. You know my secret now, there isn’t much left to tell you, but I don’t know anything about yours.” Kara’s voice is softer than Cat’s, has always been softer, but it’s also more open than it’s been in the past. They’ve been dating, and Cat has seen a side to the woman that she hadn’t expected, but this is different. This is the end of the secrets between them.

“It started when I was a child,” Cat begins, settling back into one of her deck chairs as she does. And when Kara joins her, moving close into her side and recreating their earlier closeness, Cat thinks that maybe being found out like this was worth it.