#a lot of it is just her staring up at the loft where she knows Gil is

[softquietsteadylove]

Would you write a soft moment for Thenamesh? Maybe for the runaway AU or beauty and the beast AU? :D

"Thena?"

Gil dragged himself out of bed, nearly tripping and falling in his haste to find her. The storm outside was rattling the window shutters, and it was definitely freezing inside their little cabin from the air seeping through any cracks in the wood it could find.

He made his way down the ladder from the bed loft, trying not to slip. But Thena didn't do well with storms. Even if she couldn't hear the deafening roar of wind like she used to, he was still certain she wouldn't be able to rest like this.

"Thena, are you okay?"

The last embers in the hearth were providing the faintest glow of light in the otherwise pitch black. He moved closer and caught the silhouette of Thena in the middle of the room. She did this sometimes and it scared him a little, moving him to wonder if she was missing her days in the castle--her first, and only home before now.

"Gil?"

He felt around until he could toss some kindling on the embers and start up a little fire again. Just enough that he could see. He sighed.

Thena was sitting in the middle of the floor, her blanket - the one he made her - pooled around her where she had clearly walked aimlessly before just collapsing. Her white nightdress also sat around her legs as she stared up at him.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently, kneeling down to her now that he could see her, at least.

Thena didn't always sleep well in the bed.

He had tried to get her used to it, but she was much more used to sleeping in a plush nest of curtains and sheets and blankets on the floor. She even apologised every time she ended up regressing back to this method of sleeping.

He had told her that she never had to apologise to him for anything.

"I couldn't sleep," she whispered, her eyes shifting as she listened to the storm around them. She finally looked at him, touching just her fingertips to his cheek, "did I wake you?"

"No," he shook his head, holding her hand in his and pressing it to his cheek. Her hands were cold, "no, sweetheart, you didn't."

She sighed, still sitting limply in her little nest on the floor. "I was trying to sleep in the bed-"

"It's okay," he soothed, pulling her into his arms and tucking her head under his chin. To Thena's credit, not only was she unused to sleeping in a man-made bed, but her bed was also on the ground floor. It was technically closer to the fire, but he wasn't sure if that was really a good thing for her or not.

"It's not as loud as it used to be," she whispered as she pressed her ear and her cheek to his chest. He rubbed her arm, lithe and bony under the linen of her clothes. "But I still don't like it."

He smiled in the dark of his little cabin, no longer just a bachelor suite for himself. He pressed his lips to her hair, which smelled like fresh mountain air. "I can't say I do either."

Thena leaned on him more heavily. "I...I thought about coming up to you."

Gil pulled away to look at her, but she looked away from him. "Why didn't you?"

She toyed with the front of the shirt he wore to bed, sitting loose around his body. He couldn't be sure with the glow of the fire lighting them, but he thought there was some colour in her cheeks, "you were sleeping."

"So wake me."

She looked up at him, but he pulled her blanket up over her shoulders, taking care to fan her hair out for her. She frowned, "but-"

"You can always wake me, Thena," he promised her, holding her hands in his. He bent his head down close to hers, "for anything."

She looked up at him again, although her eyes fluttered closed when he kissed her.

He tilted her head up more gently, his hand trailing down her jaw to her chin. She tightened her fist around a handful of his shirt as they kissed again. He held her hand, assuring her that if she loosened her grip, he would not disappear.

Thena blinked at him in the faint light of the fire, her sandy lashes fluttering around those amazing green eyes of hers.

He brushed some hair away from her face, "Thena, I... "

"Hm?" she tilted her head at him, waiting expectantly for what he was going to say.

Gil blushed. Thena hadn't exactly understood why he was so insistent on getting her a bed of her own instead of just sharing his. He squeezed her hands, "do you want to - just for tonight! - come up...with me?"

Her butt wiggled a little as she sat up (a remnant of her tail wagging days). Her eyes sparkled at him, "really?"

He nodded, already embarrassed at just the offer, let alone what was to come. He sighed, "just while the storm is going on. I don't want you to be scared."

She nodded eagerly, accepting as he helped her rise to her feet.

"Okay, come on," he sighed, helping her gather up her blanket around her and help her up the ladder to the loft. She practically sped the whole way up.

Thena was already snuggled into the bed when he followed. She happily absorbed warmth from his side, although when she saw he was back she kindly shimmied over for him and held out her hand.

"Thanks," he had to laugh, eager to return to the warmth of the bed. Thena was still taking up most of his previous spot, leaving him to warm up the rest of the space of the bed from scratch.

He couldn't be too mad, though; not when she looked so happy and sweet and beautiful.

Thena, still clutching the blanket he made for her around her under his covers, moved closer and kissed him again.

He sighed.

"Thank you, Gil," she whispered as she cozied right up to him under the covers, leeching precious body heat from him shamelessly.

"Anytime, hon," he assured, and meant it as he pulled her into his arms again. She pressed her face to his chest, inhaling gently as the tension finally left her body. They weren't going to make a habit of this or anything but just...just this once.

[bloatedandalone04]

No One Else

➪the one where you throw a housewarming party, and a.j. isn’t fond of all the guys staring at you in his new living room.

Warnings: this man is such a dom i swear, smut, unprotected sex, semi-public sex, swearing, pda, jealous a.j., alcohol consumption.

Word Count: 3.4k

Do not repost this anywhere, reblogs are fine ♡

A.J. hated house parties. He would much rather go out to the club or a bar as he felt like the parties he threw at his apartment got too crowded too quickly.

But he was doing this for you.

About three months ago A.J. asked you to move in with him. He loved you more than anything else and he wanted you around him all the time, and you felt the same way. You agreed and moved out of your small loft and into his massive condo across the city.

While you were used to the city life, you were a bit overwhelmed since he was in the middle of it all. It was loud and chaotic whenever you opened the sliding door of the balcony, and the lights kept you up at night. You didn’t say anything about it, not wanting to give A.J. any ideas, but it wasn’t long until he discovered your distaste for this side of the city.

It was a big difference to where you lived previously, and he felt guilty about the sudden change. 

So he offered to move away from all of it, to give up the city life he had been living in for around twelve years for a cute and modern house in a neighborhood just outside the city. 

He let you have full control over pretty much everything in the house; from the appliances in the kitchen to the paint color in the living room. A.J. gave you his credit card and told you to go crazy, and you really took his words and ran with them.

You bought countless pieces of furniture and when they arrived at the home, A.J. spent a good day and a half building them with Jake. 

Now, a full week after settling into the new place, you decided to throw a house party to really break it in. 

The house was a lot bigger than his apartment, so it wasn’t as crowded, but he still hated having so many people in his personal space. But A.J. knew it was all worth it when he caught your eye from across the living room and saw the way your lips turned upwards into a happy smile.

He really would do anything for you without an ounce of hesitation. 

A.J. crossed the room after wrapping up his conversation with Jesse, and his hands found their home on your waist as he stood behind you. He knew you were smiling as you listened to the story Rachel was telling you, and that smile only grew when he leaned down to rest his chin on your shoulder. 

“You two are so cute, seriously,” Rachel beamed, finishing off her drink with a smile. “I can confidently say you were made for each other.”

“Just like you and Jake,” came your sweet reply and A.J. felt the corners of his mouth lift upwards as you sipped on your wine. 

“Speaking of,” he trailed off, lifting his head and looking around the packed room. “Where is your fiancé, Rach?”

Rachel furrowed her brows as she, too, looked around the room. “I’m not sure, actually,” she answered. “Let me know if you find him, and let me know if he looks like he’s had too much to drink. If he’s plastered, tell him he’s sleeping on the couch when we get home.”

A.J. laughed as he kissed the side of your neck before moving away from you. “Will do,” 

“Come find me later,” you requested in a soft voice, smiling at him afterwards. “I shouldn’t miss you this much in our own house.”

A.J. held back a groan as he moved towards you again and firmly gripped your jaw, pressing a deep kiss to your mouth. You grin against his lips and tangle your free hand in his hair, his lack of hat tonight making it very easy. “Damn, baby,” he muttered as he pulled away and you ran the tip of your tongue along his bottom lip. “You make a guy not want to leave.”

You grin at him and shrug. “Hurry back, Jay,” 

He bit his lip as he nodded and turned to go seek out his best friend. He found Jake in the kitchen talking to John, and they both looked like they were on the verge of being wasted. “A.J.! Hey, buddy!” Jake greeted as the tattooed man entered the room. “This is a nice place you got here.”

“Yeah, man, I like how secluded it is,” John added as he looked around the room. “You buy it with that two million we snagged from those transport trucks?” He asked loudly and A.J. had to deliver a quick slap to his shoulder to stop John from exposing the source of his income to all his new neighbors. 

And there were a lot of them. 

The neighborhood you were now living in was well populated, and you had taken it upon yourself to invite all of them to the party in hopes to get to know them. A.J. wasn’t very fond of strangers in his house, but it was just another thing he forced himself to deal with since he was so in love with you. 

“Keep your voice down,” A.J. muttered as John gave him an apologetic smile. 

“Sorry, man,” he laughed. “Your new neighbors were very generous with their housewarming gifts.” John held up the bottle of champagne with a bow tied around it, and A.J. just shook his head. 

“Just try not to tell the guests all our secrets, yeah?” 

John nodded and gave him a salute before wandering off towards the dining room where Gordon was. “A.J., buddy, I never thought I’d see you get out of the city, man,” Jake said as he leaned against the counter with a beer in his hand. 

“You and me both,” he murmured as he took the half empty bottle from Jake.

“The things we do for the women we love, huh?” Jake asked as he moved to sit down at the kitchen table. 

“Speaking of, Rachel told me that if I saw you and you were drunk, I have to tell you that you’re sleeping on the couch,” A.J. informed the tipsy man, who just laughed. 

“She might say that, but she can’t sleep without me, man, I’m like her personal pillow,”

A.J. shook his head and set the bottle on top of the fridge, knowing damn well that Jake could easily reach it. “Good thing she’s marrying you then,”

“Hey, when are you and your girl getting married?” Jake asked as he grabbed a handful of chips and ate them all at once. “You’ve been together about as long as Rachel and I have, when are you gonna ask her the question?”

“I don’t know, man,” A.J. answered as he avoided the crumbs flying out of Jake’s mouth with each word he said. “Soon.”

“You have the ring, don’t you?”

A.J. nodded and Jake grabbed one of the cookies off the dessert plate on the table. “Yeah, I’m just waiting for the right time,” 

Jake leaned back just as Rachel entered the kitchen and made her way over to the two guys. “Don’t wait too long, buddy,” he advised as Rachel moved to stand next to him. “Putting a ring on this one’s finger was the best decision I ever made.” He wrapped his arm around his fiancée’s waist as he smiled up at her. 

Rachel laughed as she draped her arm around Jake’s shoulders. “You’re planning on proposing?” She asked with excitement lacing her voice. “Do it soon, then Y/n/n and I can be engaged at the same time. Ooh, maybe a double wedding!”

A.J. shook his head with a smile as he looked towards the doorway, expecting to see you enter at any second since Rachel was now in here. When you didn’t, he glanced at your best friend and asked, “Where is she, anyway? You leave her to get lost in her own house?”

Rachel playfully rolled her eyes. “No, I was just making sure this guy was behaving,” she nudged Jake, who just continued smiling up at her. “Last I saw her, she was talking to the next door neighbor who hasn’t been able to take his eyes off her all night.”

A.J.’s smile faded at that and he left the kitchen without saying another word. Rachel and Jake’s conversation faded into the background as he entered the living room again, and instead of finding you where he left you by the sliding door, you were by the couch and talking to some dark haired guy. 

While he knew he had no reason at all to be jealous, seeing as this was his own fucking living room he shared with you, A.J. still didn’t like seeing you around guys who clearly just wanted to sleep with you.

And this guy did a very bad job at hiding the fact that he wanted to fuck you. 

A.J. made his way over to you, receiving a slap on his shoulder from Jesse as he did so. You wanted him to find you later, and he was more than ready to take you up on that offer now. 

Your eyes drifted from the brunet and met A.J.’s, and a smile formed on your lips, instantly replacing the barely hidden look of boredom on your face.

The guy probably thought you were smiling at him, but A.J. sorted him out pretty quickly as he stepped around the stranger and wrapped his arm around your waist. He pulled you into his side and he didn’t even bother glancing at the guy’s face before he was pressing a deep kiss to your mouth. 

You return it immediately and lean into his touch when he lifts his free hand up to grip your jaw and angle your head, and you willingly give him full control of the kiss. He slowly pulls away and smirks at the way you keep your eyes closed for a few more seconds before he looks over at the guy, who did not look happy at all. “New friend, baby?” He asked, making you open your eyes and look over as well. 

“Um, this is….Dean?” You question and A.J. held back a laugh at the offended look Dean gave you. “He’s our new neighbor, Jay.”

“Nice to meet you,” A.J. said and ignored Dean’s outstretched hand as he turned back to you and leaned in close. “Do you know how badly I want to fuck you right now?” He asked under his breath as Dean stood awkwardly next to him. 

Your eyes widen and you let out a startled laugh. “A.J,” you gasp quietly and look over at your neighbor with a blush.

A.J. glanced over at him, too, before beginning to pull you towards the half-bath next to the hallway that led to yours and his room. You feebly waved at Dean as A.J. made a show of guiding you into the bathroom, a smug smirk on his lips when he saw Dean’s glare. 

Once he entered the bathroom as well, he closed the door and locked it before pushing you up against it. “I gotta say, baby,” he murmured as his hands pulled up the black material of your dress. “I’m not a big fan of our new neighbors.”

You lean your head back against the door as he bunches your dress around your hips and teased your clit through the thin material of your panties. “Why? Not friendly enough?” 

A.J. grunted as he pushed the lace material down your legs and let it drop to the tiled floor. “They’re too friendly,” he answered as he picked you up and set you down on the marbled countertop. 

You squeal at the cold surface against your burning skin and cling onto his shoulders. “Fuck, A.J.,” you mumble and tug at his suspenders. “What’s gotten into you? You were fine when you left to go find Jake.”

He would never admit that he was jealous of that prick in his living room, so he shrugged and kissed along your shoulders. “Nothings gotten into me,” he said under his breath. “But hopefully I can get into you.”

You moan loudly, despite being able to clearly hear the party guests outside the door. “Well, when you say it like that,” you tease and drop your hands to the button on his dress pants. “But we have to be quick, Jay. We’re hosting right now.”

“Fuck them,” he rasped as he reached his hand in between your bodies and sunk his index and middle fingers into your heat. “Fuck everyone out there, baby. We’re in our house. I should take you back out there and fuck you right on that couch.” 

You moan at his dirty words and run your hands through his hair, successfully making it messy. No one else got that privilege as he usually spent a good ten minutes doing his hair - just to throw a hat over it, but he would happily let you mess it up whenever you wanted. “You’d actually do it, too,” 

A.J. smirked at you as he worked you open with his fingers. “I would,” he agreed as he looked down. “You’re dripping, baby. Did the teaser I gave you in front of Dean turn you on that much?”

“That and you,” came your muffled answer as you buried your face against the side of his neck. “Are you really going to fuck me in the bathroom at a party?”

“Yes,” he answered as you unzipped his pants. “Unless you feel like waiting until everyone leaves and I can fuck you all over the house. Fair warning, though, I don’t think this party is dying any time soon.”

You moan and lift your head. “Get to it, then,” you murmur and pull him free. A.J. presses his lips to yours at the same time he enters you with a single thrust, and the feeling has you grasping onto his shirt tightly. “Fuck. Is this how you did it in the Ivy League? Fucking random girls in bathrooms during parties?”

“Had to practice somehow. And you’re not just a random girl,” he said back and you laughed before moaning rather loudly as he began to roughly fuck into you. You slap one hand over your mouth with wide eyes and he smirks. “Can’t be quiet, huh, baby?”

You shake your head as you lean back against the mirror. “No,” you agree and tug on his hair with your other hand. “I can’t be quiet when it comes to you, Jay. You make me feel so good.”

A.J. groaned when you clenched around him, and he knew he wasn’t much better. One of the perks of living in an actual house and not an apartment, was that you and he could be as loud as you wanted. 

Not that the thin walls of your last apartment stopped you from being loud. You’d received countless noise complaints, and they all were ignored by A.J., who just fucked you harder until the bed slammed against the wall with each thrust.  

It was like how he was fucking into you now. 

Your body moved further and further back on the counter until you had to place your hand flat against the marble, accidentally knocking over the bottle of soap in the process and making it fall to the floor. “Jesus,” you gasped as his hips rocked into yours. 

A.J. grunted and kept one hand on your hip while his other reached up to grip the side of your face. “God, you’re tight,” he rasped, making you smirk as you wrap your legs tighter around him. 

The smirk was promptly wiped from your face as he began roughly slamming into you, loud moans emitting from your mouth with each thrust. “Oh, my God,” you cried as you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, your hands bunching up his shirt tightly. “Fuck yes, Jay.”

A.J. groaned and pressed his mouth to yours, his tongue poking out and parting your lips, coating them in a layer of his spit. “Feel good, princess?” He teasingly asked and you nod uncontrollably. 

“Feels so good,” you answer, clinging onto him as you feel your release approaching embarrassingly fast. “So fucking good.”

He grunted, kissing all over your neck as you squeezed him over and over again. “You’re taking me so well, baby,” he praised, reaching behind you to pull on your hair. 

You squeal a bit, hiking your body closer to his as you hear the sounds of the party-goers right outside the door. “I’m gonna come, fuck, I’m gonna come,” you warned loudly, no longer caring about the guests hearing you at this point. 

“Already?” He mocked, pulling at your bottom lip with his thumb. “You needed me just as badly as I needed you, huh?”

“Yes,” you whimpered, your body involuntarily bucking forward to meet his thrusts. “Oh, my fucking God, yes, please please please.”

A.J. gripped your waist in both hands, his still clothed thighs hitting the backs of yours as you moaned loudly in the surprisingly big half-bath. 

You grip his back and pull his chest against yours as you feel your release take over. “Oh, God,” you cried out as you clamped impossibly tight around him. “I’m coming.”

A.J. cursed under his breath as he felt your walls pulse around him before a warmth took him over. “There you go, baby. Give it to me,” he muttered, and your whines increased in volume. “Good girl.” He praised, kissing the skin under your ear as you writhed against him. 

“Are you…” you trailed off as you slumped against his chest, his hips still lazily rocking into yours. “Are you gonna come, too?”

A.J. let out a surprised moan at your dirty question and how sweetly you asked it. He leaned in and kissed you hard, using his hand to angle your head so he had better access to your mouth. “Do you want me to?”

“Yes,” you answer instantly. “I want it so bad.”

His eyes shut tightly as he buried his face against the side of your neck. “I’ll come for you,” he promised, feeling his stomach tighten with each slow thrust he gave. “I always will.”

You whine and pull him impossibly close as he came hard, his hips fucking his release deeper and deeper into you as he groaned loudly. 

When he pulls away, you smile shyly at him as you smooth out his shirt with  a quiet laugh. “Is it all out of your system now?”

“Is what all out of my system?” He asked as he pressed a chaste kiss to your mouth. “My unhealthy need to fuck you all over our new house? No, that won’t be out of my system for quite a while.”

You laugh then bite your lip as he pulls out of you, then he reaches down to run two fingers through your sensitive core. He collects his release onto his digits before lifting his hand again, and you lean in to wrap your mouth around them, hearing him grunt deeply as you clean himself off his fingers. “Tasty,” you smirk once you pull away. 

A.J. had to hold off on taking you right then and there as he felt himself grow a bit hard again. Instead, he cleaned you up, smoothed out your outfit and finished it off with a kiss to your lips. “You ready to go back out there?” He asked and you nodded. “Don’t be surprised when we get some dirty looks, because I think every single person out there knows what we did in here.”

You shrug, looking up at him with a teasing smirk. “Who cares? It’s our house,” you point out and pull open the door. “Do me a favor and don’t fix your hair, okay?”

Then you were walking out of the bathroom, leaving A.J. to look at himself in the mirror with a laugh as he took notice of his post-sex hair. If it wasn’t obvious enough what you and he just got finished doing, his messy hair will definitely get the message across. 

And that was exactly why he left it as it is before following after you.

[momotonescreaming]

Buck version

It still felt novel, Tommy thought, coming home to someone.

Logically he knows that he’s had it before, he’s had boyfriends before, that coming home to one of them is technically no different to coming home to Evan. But he can’t stop the giddy warmth that bubbles up underneath his ribs at the thought of  Evan making himself comfortable in Tommy’s home. At the thought of coming home to him.

A part of him never thought that he’d get this. That he was allowed it. A boyfriend he really liked, maybe even loved, and who really liked him in return. That Evan could come over, stay the night, make himself comfortable in his home even when Tommy wasn’t there himself. It always felt a bit like a pipe dream. Something just out of reach.

It was for people like Hen, who were brave, and courageous, and open in a way Tommy felt like he wasn’t. Even after years of trying to get there. Hen, who carved her happiness out and gripped it with both hands. Holding tight, never letting go.

Where she was married to her beautiful wife, had built up a life with a kid and everything — Tommy was inviting guys back to his place and worrying about what his neighbours would think seeing a man enter his place in the evening, and leave the next morning in the same clothes. Worrying what they’d think about him. Shame creeping up his spine and smothering his senses.

He knows now that people don’t pay attention to their neighbours that much — who comes and goes from their places — especially in LA. Like he said to Evan in the restaurant — nobody’s looking at them. He’s allowed to have a man stay the night. It’s fine. It’s fine.

It took a lot of therapy, a metaphorical slap upside the head from Hen and Howie, and a move to Harbour to remove the vice-like grip he had on his sexuality. His life.

But some elements were much harder to shake. While Tommy learned to accept that people weren’t looking at him as much as he feared they were, they weren’t staring, that he could just be a man existing. Living his life. But the cynical part of Tommy couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t meant for things built to last.

While he finally, desperately, painfully stopped lying about himself — stumbling into acceptance on wobbly legs — Tommy couldn’t help but feel like he was too late. Fumbling through the world of gay LA like a baby deer not quite finding his footing. And then when he did — everyone had already teared past him. Moved on. That all he was meant for was one night stands and relationships that didn’t last. He quickly felt too old, too over hookups, desperately yearning for something real. Something that lasts. But no one ever felt the same.

He was a romantic at heart, but he was also a cynic who was slowly starting to let himself accept that he would never have the domesticity he craved. But maybe it would be okay. He adopted two cats to make his house feel less empty. He pushed himself further into his hobbies to take up more of his time. Fill that emptiness inside of him. He had flying, and Muay Thai, and fixing cars. Hikes, and karaoke trivia, and pick up basketball. Things that keep his mind occupied and his body moving.

But then there was Evan. And Tommy couldn’t help but feel his stomach flip at every reminder that Evan was there to stay. That he was someone he could come home to.

That after a long shift, Evan would sling his overnight bag over his shoulder and head straight to Tommy’s house as if it were an easy decision to make. Doesn’t even consider going back to the loft, because Tommy isn’t there. Putting his bag down on the entranceway floor, walking through the house calling ‘honey, I’m home’.  Seeking Tommy out like he’s been drawn to him like a magnet, like he can’t bear to apart from him now that they’re under the same roof.

Tommy’s been slowly discovering more and more of Evan’s things that he leaves behind after every time he stays the night. If he were a more callous man he’d call it carelessness. But he knows it’s not. There’s something about Evan feeling comfortable enough in his space to leave his things there, without worrying about them or panicking that they’re not in the loft where they should be.

He’s cleared out a drawer or two in his dresser for Evan, and is trying to build up the courage to tell him about it. Made space in his kitchen for his protein powder and his fancy ingredients.

Evan already has a key to his space, on a silver key chain of a helicopter. His face lit up as soon as Tommy gave it to him, eyes brightening in that way it often did when looking at Tommy. Looked like he was vibrating in place, torn between throwing himself into Tommy’s arms and rushing to attach it to his keys immediately.

Somehow clearing out his drawers feels different to giving Evan a key. A key is practical with their schedules, this way they can carve out precious time for the other, snatch hours of each other’s time in between opposing shifts.

Giving Evan a drawer feels more like he’s giving Evan a home here with him, and he doesn’t want to jinx it. Doesn’t want to ruin a good thing.

That sometimes, now, he comes home from a 48 hour to find Evan in his kitchen. Humming as he cooks them dinner, some new recipe he really wanted to try. Knowing where everything in Tommy’s kitchen was, that he was free to use whatever ingredients he wanted, that he was wanted here.

Tommy would lean in the archway, his own overnight bag abandoned in the hall, watching his boyfriend be comfortable in his space. Safe with the knowledge creeping in that maybe he could get this. This is something he could have and hold and never let go. That after a long and hard shift there was someone to hold him. To rub their hands up his back and let him tuck his head into the crook of their neck, seeking comfort.

To cook him dinner, to take care of him, to love him.

[saytrrose]

Can we see More about your racing AU please?

Looks so amazing and i love It so much

I do suppose I could share the character design line up!

I really just need to finish designing all the go karts, (atleast most are done!) and then I can make proper cards for them and really get into the written details.

To be honest it’s a little hard to just ramble about info and details without specific questions to go off of, so I’ll try my best hhh

for starters, the tent? Not a tent!

It’s actually a stadium, the amazing digital race!

And rooms? Sort of tweaked, they are more like each character owns a personal garage, a large open space where they store their vehicles and then have a loft above that showcases their cozy safe havens. Bed, entertainment, basically a small room in a much larger one.

I haven’t revealed Ragatha, Zooble or Gangles karts yet but I’ll go ahead and just talk about all of them!

Caine:

Caine has a motorcycle, specifically one inspired off of the motorcycle I’m saving up for this summer, a Kawasaki Eliminator. It’s a cruiser, I’m thinking he has a 600cc model but considering Bubble is his right hand man and operates as the races pit crew- he’s definitely tinkered with Caines bike, making adjustments and improving the engine. God only knows what the little psycho did, but it’s a damn good bike that’s not supposed to rev as loud as it does.

Pomni:

Her kart is inspired off a Volkswagen Beetle, seemed very VERY Pomni to me. Her car mimics her outfit design a lot, I might do some color changes to be honest but it will be super minimal, it’ll be final when the cards are done! She definitely stops at the pit the most often despite her placement in a race, are my tires okay?? Do I need my oil?? I know you just filled it but it went down- is anything damaged?? Sweetie you did one lap..

Jax:

Jesus Christ he has a giant supercharger on the hood of his car, and he is absolutely one of those annoying mfs that reva their engine OBNOXIOUSLY loud all the time like he’s super cool. If you’re wondering who most of the skid marks on the track are from, that’s also Jax. Hes the best as drifting, and he loves to show that off. His car isn’t based too much on an actual vehicle?? I stared at Mario karts and pieced it together, but also gave it a very sports car look, the wing on the back fr fr I think Jax would dig that.

Kinger:

OHHSOSK I was so creative with his little wagon,,, it’s castle shaped!! And the best part? Operates like a rocket. In the back past the battlement (the crown looking thing you see atop castle pillars) ARE GIANT exhaust pipes and yes, they do spit fire !! Operates like a rocket. It’s very cool! (Also he has a great muffler because unlike Jax he’s considerate of others hearing 💔) Oh also, he has one of those silly horns, I forgot how to describe it but you can just look at how I drew it on his kart and you’ll know heheh!

Zooble:

Our second motorcyclist, owns a trike! If you don’t know what that is, picture a bike with training wheels but super badass. 3 wheels! It’s inspired off the Harley Davidson freewheeler, I like that design a lot but it’s def not actually a Harley because istg when you buy those bikes your just paying for the fancy name brand- expect it to be in the shop all the time, smh not good- BUT ANYWAY!! The looks are inspired off it though and I can’t wait for this one because it’s just as crazy kooky as Zoobles design is.

Gangle:

Her kart is based on my favorite car, classic style but not too cool because you can bet she has anime stickers on the back and a decal that says “please let me merge before I start crying.” It’s similar to a karmann ghia convertible, 1963. Cherry red (so so pretty) She always has the top down, unless competing because damn you gotta go fast. That car itself is really slow, top speed normally is 68mph, however people have modified them enough to get up to 120mph. Thats still pretty slow compared to others, but her kart only reflects the appearance of the ghia! It’s much faster and I assume Bubble works on all their vehicles if asked to.

Lastly, Ragatha:

Our 3rd motorcyclist. 4 Karts, 3 cyclists. Her bike is a futuristic style, if you want a good idea then look up “icare bike”! Not so much a straight forward posture, she leans over ofc, you’ll likely get the idea when you see her bike. I’ll be honest, I haven’t gotten too into her design yet because I haven’t started drawing but!! Dark blue leds,, everywhere yes yes so cool ❤️

Sorry that’s so much 😭 but yeah! Just need to finish 3 kart designs for you guys and I can make official ref cards 👀

[fandomnsfw]

Easy On The Eyes - Derek Hale x Reader

Pairing: Derek Hale x Reader

Prompt: Because I need a break from other stuff.

Warning: (No Stiles’ were hurt during the making of this fan fiction I love you Stiles :’C) None really just cute shit and awkward and sweet Derek Hale.

Description: You got caught up in the fight between the McCall pack and the Dread Doctors a year ago and now you have something to tell the pack but soon after, everything started going according to your plan...well except the mate part.

ENJOY!!!!

**********

You sat next to Lydia, your hand in hers as Scott stared at the floor with a look of deep thought. Everyone else in the room was silent as they wrapped there head around everything you had just said. You knew it was a lot for someone to take in but they needed to know from you…not from Melissa once you couldn’t walk and she had to get you a carer.

“Why didn’t you tell us from the start…Y/N the things you’ve been doing and getting involved in…you could’ve died…” Scott looked up sadly and you let your eyes fall to the floor in shame.

“I found out last year…after the dread doctors…I thought it was because…Theo threw me into that pipe…but it wasn’t.” Stiles shot a furious glare at Theo who was staring at the floor with guilt.

“Stop it Stiles. If he hadn’t done that I wouldn’t of found out for years or until I couldn’t walk one day. I’m actually grateful for that injury but I don’t want to be on medication for the rest of my life…I want you to turn me while I’m strong enough to survive.” You asked with determination all over your face making sure he knew you had thought about it.

“I don-Are you sure?” Scott asked seriously but before you could say anything Derek let out a huff before speaking up.

“Why the hell are you hesitating? She’s ill Scott! With all due respect if she didn’t want it she wouldn’t of asked.” Derek snapped and your eyes shot up to his face in surprise. You and Derek only met shortly after the Anuk-ite attack due to joining Scott shortly after the dread doctors when they saved you from Theo and his band of merry chimera’s.

Derek was quiet but polite enough despite that Stiles calls him sourwolf, however you found him calming to be around. He didn’t speak to you much but he was always looking out for the pack since he’d been back even the members that were new. It helped that he wasn’t too bad to look at with his black stubble, piercing pale green eyes and god like body.

“Woah there sourwolf! Calm your shit. Scott is obviously going to do it if she wants the bite.” Stiles huffed sassily as he stood to get all up Derek’s face.

“Stiles sit your cute little ass down!” Lydia snorted as she grabbed Stiles’ top dragging him back down to his seat at the other side of her.

“Aww you think my ass is cute.” Stiles preened happily as she rolled her eyes affectionately at him.

“When would you like to do it?” Scott asked with a sad smile.

“It’s not like we need to arrange it Scott. You have fangs and I have my body wherever we are.” You snorted with a teary laugh earning a laugh from everyone including the parents of the pack which had been pretty quiet until now.

“Where would you feel most comfortable?” Scott asked with a little more humour this time.

“We can do it at the loft?” Derek suggested absently making you smile at him brightly.

“Why would she want to do it at your grubby loft Derek…seriously are you feeling okay today? She needs to be somewhere more sterile.” Stiles grumbled sarcastically and his dad let out a sigh before smacking Stiles round the back of his head.

“Hey that child abuse!” Stiles screeched and his dad raised his brows.

“You’re over 18…technically its just plain old abuse. Though I’m sure the Sheriff will let me off with a warning.” He informed him with a smirk as Stiles just gaped at him.

“I would actually like to do it at the loft it’s the most secluded place so if I lose control we’re far enough from people that one of your can stop me.” You commented reasonably.

“Good point. Since its winter break we have time to help you learn control before your back at Yale.” Scott replied causally and you suddenly went silent, frozen in place.

“I’m not going back to Yale I’m transferring to the same school as you Scott.” Suddenly Melissa’s voice was booming.

“Like hell you’re giving up Yale! Why would you want to transfer!? You got into a blue collar school on full scholarship honey…” Melissa looked like she was about to have a heart attack.

“Because I’m not happy there! I’m too far away…everyone at that school is either a genius or an asshole! I hate it I miss my pack…I was an orphan before this and now I have a whole family…I don’t want to be away from you guys.” You muttered sadly as you stared up at the closest person you had to a mother these days.

“Are you that miserable there?” She asked, guilt written all over her face.

“Yes…” You muttered slowly and she just nodded before walking over to you and dragging you up to wrap her arms around you.

“Okay honey.” Melissa whispered soothingly into your hair as you clung to her like a life line.

“I would like to do it tomorrow…my health isn’t too bad right now but that could change on any given day and I don’t wanna risk it.” You stated calmly as Melissa pulled away from you and everyone nodded quietly.

The rest of the night was perfect, you all had dinner while talking about classes and how relationships were going. Malia and Scott were still together, Lydia and Stiles were going strong, Mason and Corey are enjoying their first year at college together. Melissa was still seeing Chris surprisingly, Noah was still single but you’d told him about the new owner of the diner that found the Sheriff attractive earning a groan from Stiles and a laugh from everyone else.

********

You stared at the loft doors with serious determination, your heart racing a mile a minute as your fingers twitched against the cold hard metal handle. You nod to yourself as you yanked the door open to see Derek and Scott stood around the table in the lofts entrance.

You gave Scott a small smile before sending a nod to Derek in thanks for letting you use the loft. Scott gave you a sad smile in return like he was giving you some sort of death sentence but for you it was going to be a better life.

“Are you sure?” Scott asked on last time as you lifted your top so Scott could bite your abdomen.

“Yes I’m sure.” You huffed with a humoured smile as Derek let out a growl.

“Okay I got it Derek. Jeez you’re really demanding for a beta.” Scott snorted playfully before he bent down and bit your waist gently. You heard yourself let out a scream but after that everything went black.

*********

“-she’ll wake up soon just stop pacing.” You heard a voice say at the side of you but you couldn’t open your eyes.

“I know but it’s been 24 hours Scott this isn’t normal…They either get stronger or get weaker…I’ve never seen someon—her heart rate changed…Y/N?” It was Scott and Derek.

You sniffed the air and suddenly the scent of something hit your nose and you eyes shot open. You sat up and looked at Scott with a frown. You stood up cautiously and began sniffing Scott which made his eyes widen. You frown as you realised as much as you could tell he was your Alpha that wasn’t what smelt so good.

You head spun round instantly and you eyes locked with Derek. It was him…why did he smell so good? You thought absently as you turned around completely and walked over to him. His eyes flashed blue at you making your flash in return.

“You smell so good…” You whispered as you started circling him as you smelt his body.

“Derek what the hell is happening?” Scott muttered with wide eyes from across the room.

“I may have failed to mention I was 98% certain she’s my mate…but only when your wolves can you detect it from both sides…” Derek chuckled awkwardly as he blushed under your constant attentions but never moved away.

“Mate?” You perked up at the word and nuzzled against Derek’s neck as he allowed you to hang off his neck like a monkey as you practically climbed him like a tree.

“Okay this is because she’s a new wolf…she’ll learn to control it eventually…maybe I should go until she can control it?” Derek whispered and you instantly started growling.

“Mine.” You snapped as Scott tried to approach.

“I have zero intention of stealing Derek, Y/N you can keep him.” Scott muttered as he got closer but the second he took one step you launched, so before you could make contact, Scott let out an almighty roar than made even Derek’s knee’s wobble as you cowered low to the ground.

You blinked and suddenly felt a little more yourself thought you could still smell how good Derek smelt but now you knew better than to climb a man you barely knew like he was Mount Everest. You looked at Derek in horror and then at Scott with an exasperated look to why he let you climb Derek before doing his alpha roar.

“S-Sorry Derek I d-didn’t mean to do that…” You stuttered until you remembered what he’d said.

“It’s okay…I get the urges but I’m a born wolf so…I can control it. I’m sorry I should’ve told you before you took the bite but…your health…” Derek looked so guilty so when you started laughing he looked…shocked wasn’t a word that could do his face justice.

“You don’t have to apologise…you being my mate would’ve just been another reason for me to turn. What girl in the world doesn’t fantasies about having one man or in this case werewolf made to be her perfect match? It helps that you’re easy on the eyes and have a six pack.” You joked and Scott looked horrified by what you had said like you said the wrong thing but suddenly Derek started laughing and Scott looked even more worried and you suddenly remembered this was the first time you’d seen the older man laugh and it was the most beautiful thing you think you’d ever seen.

“You broke Derek.” Scott snorted as Derek finally stopped laughing.

“Shut up Scott.” Derek grumbled and suddenly he was back to his usual stoic self.

“Yeah Scott shut up.” You teased as Scott’s phone started ringing. The second he answered you heard Melissa’s voice over the phone asking his a million questions.

“She’s awake mom. Yes you can come over.” Scott huffed as his mother hung up so she could make her way over.

********

Within twenty minutes the whole pack was in the loft with smiles but all the new smells made you uneasy so you involuntarily moved closer to Derek and you almost thought you’d gotten away with it too but Lydia’s voice echoed through the loft and everyone was looking.

“What was that?” She sassed as she pointed between you and Derek.

“What was what?” You muttered innocently as you fought the urge to creep closer to Derek again.

“You know what. You moved closer to Derek. Scott’s your alpha and we’ve known you longer…yet you moved closer to the one wolf you know less than anyone in this pack.” Lydia stated like she had you pegged.

“No I did not.” You scoffed as your eyes flickered to Derek who looked strangely amused.

“You just gonna stand there and let this interrogation ensue? I will take you down with me.” You hissed softly and he just smirked, his arms crossing defiantly.

“I’m Derek’s mate. He hid it from us.” You threw him straight under the metaphorical bus and he looked terrified.

“I can’t believe you just did that.” Derek grumbled as everyone stared at them in shock.

“I can’t believe you weren’t gonna help me. Some mate you are.” You huffed with a childish glare and suddenly Derek let out a whine and your eyes shot open fully.

“Aww I didn’t mean that I’m sorry.” You sighed sadly and he nodded with a blush on his face.

“Sourwolf has been tamed…It’s a miracle.” Stiles cheered sarcastically and Lydia slapped his arm scoldingly.

“Why does everyone think its okay to slap me?” Stiles whined with an exasperated sigh.

“Because you never learn to keep your mouth closed.” Lydia sasses back making Stile shrink instantly.

“Congratulations if anyone deserves a mate in this world its you dear nephew.” Peter stated with a sad smile.

“I don’t know much about wolves but I’d say we should probably leave them to talk about it together…alone. Let’s go you supernatural young adults and fellow pack parents.” Melissa shouted sassily as she round everyone up but not before pulling you into a motherly hug.

“I’m happy this went better than anyone had expected. I like Hale, he’s loyal and in this world that all I can ask for you. I know I didn’t give birth to you but I have loved being a mother figure for the short year you were still a kid…” Melissa whispered softly, tears in her eyes as she wiped the already fallen ones from your face.

“I could be 30 and you’d still be the only person I’d ever consider a mother. Thank you for everything you have done for me.” You sobbed happily as she pulled you into another hug.

“I’m kind of glad you’re coming home. I’ve missed you…Scott wont let me paint his nails.” Melissa chuckled humorously before pulling away.

“Me too…I love you.” You muttered through a laugh.

“I love you too kiddo. Also Chris got back from France while you were sleeping. He brought you a present.” Melissa called over her shoulder as she turned to leave.

“Someone’s trying to earn brownie points?” You giggled and she shot you a wink before leaving out the loft door, Scott pulling it shut as he turned green with disgust as he tried to ignore what he’d just heard.

The second everyone had driven off you turned to Derek with shy smile. You had no idea how you supposed to act now everyone was gone. He was your mate but you barely knew one another and that was evident by how still Derek was.

“Was it hard not acting on your impulses?” You whispered as you resisted the urge to reach for him.

“Very…It doesn’t help that you’re so sweet to everyone…” Derek grumbled and you frowned softly as if asking what he meant but he shook his head.

“If we’re going to be mates…maybe should be more open with each other?” You suggested gently and Derek let out a sigh but nodded in agreement.

“When other wolves or supernaturals come near you…my wolf see’s them as competition…since we’re not completely mated.” He admitted awkwardly.

“S-So if I hugged Liam?” You asked nervously and Derek let out a growl in reply earning a smile from you.

“Okay…got it. How do we mate completely?” You asked curiously making Derek’s eyes widen.

“Exchanging bites…during a full moon…usually done during…ya know.” Derek flung his hands around like you knew what he meant and you caught on pretty quick but you didn’t let him know you just turned your head to the side looking at him innocently.

“I’m going to hell.” Derek groaned and you couldn’t hold back your laughter anymore.

His eyes shot up at the sound when he finally realised you knew what he meant. He shot you a glare, his arms crossing angrily as he stared you down. You gave a sweet smile in return, as you approached him slowly. He froze as you got closer as if he was trying to stop himself from touching you.

“I’m not that innocent Derek. You mean we need to bite one another whilst in the midst of some passionate full moon sex?” You snickered and Derek flushed but nodded in reply.

“Sounds kinky.” You giggled as you chest your chest against at Derek’s arms that were still folded.

“Once we mate…we’re together forever… you understand that right? If one of us dies then other will likely have to be put down…” Derek spoke seriously and your eyes widened at his words.

“W-Why?” You whispered fearfully.

“Because its documented that the few mates that have lost their other half go feral…but most mates die at the same time of old age usually.” Derek stated sadly as he reached for you only to pull back at the last second.

“Oh…well don’t die on me then.” You whispered with mild humour but mostly seriousness.

“C-Can I…never mind.” Derek huffed under his breath.

“Kiss me? Hug me?” You asked as he blushed.

“I’m so down for either.” You added and his eyes widened momentarily before softening.

Instead of words Derek’s arms circled your waist as his lips pushed against yours with a firm yet loving pressure that made your wolf howl. You gripped his t-shirt as his right hand cupped your cheek so gently you hardly believed it was the same, full shifting vicious black wolf that you’d seen in battle, yet it was. As he pulled away you let out a little whine before sending him a pout which made him smile happily.

“Yeah…nope…you’re gonna have to bring that right back on in here wolf man.” You stated as you pulled him down, Derek smiled into the kiss but happily obliged with you commanding request.

“Yep you’ve ruined me. Never letting you out my paws now.” You chuckled sweetly and Derek shook his head at your confidence before placing a kiss on your cheek.

“Come on its only 8 how about I take you out for dinner?” Derek asked, a smirk slipping onto his face as his eyebrow raised in a playful way.

“Are you asking me on a date Derek Hale?” You giggled equally as playful.

“If you call the local Italian place a date.” Derek muttered with a slight blush on his face.

“Let’s go DerBear.” You giggled as you skipped towards you door.

“Yeah that’s not gonna be a thing.” Derek grumbled as he grabbed his keys.

“Mhmm yeah it is my lovely mate.” You argued as you ran off ahead of him.

You knew this was just the beginning for you and Derek but you couldn’t help the amount of affection you could already feel for the older man. He was sweet with you which probably helped since you knew he wasn’t one to be over affectionate even with Scott who he loves like a brother but you couldn’t help but be happy it was only you who could have him like this.

You couldn’t wait to find out what your lives had in store for you and your mate.

[heartbreakgrill]

stiles stilinski: breakable heaven; pt. 9- “killing me slow, out the window. i’m always waiting for you just to cut to the bone.”

a/n: EEEK! one more after this cuz i’m a lying liar and can’t stop writing.

stiles leaned his chin against his fist, staring out the window of the second floor room in the hospital. outside, the sun was setting. the rain poured down in a thick stream, bouncing off the pavement. lightening crashed through the sky every so often, and more than once, the lights had flickered. stiles was on the edge of his seat, anxious. he hoped this was just a storm, not anything deeper than that.

down below, the parking lot was sparse of people. cars pulled in and out while the time dragged by. but, it was an unusually quiet night for beacon hills memorial hospital. outside of y/n’s room, stiles ears were only occasionally prickled by the sound of shoes squeaking against the linoleum floors. the stillness made him nervous.

stiles took another deep sigh. his chest lifted with the effort, falling as he let the air out of his nose. his eyes followed a car as it rolled into the parking lot. then, bored of the sight, and restless in his nature, stiles’ turned his knees back towards the hospital bed behind him. his gaze rolled over y/n, who was still just laying there. she was blacked out and a breathing mask sat overtop her face. an iv drop was attached to her left hand. a thin, scratchy hospital-issued blanket was tugged up to her chin, but overtop, stiles had lay his hoodie on her. he’d wanted to run over to her house, grab a blanket, a pillow from her room. but, he didn’t want to leave her sound.

stiles leaned forward, rested his elbows on the edge of the bed, and picked y/n’s hand up off of her stomach. he’d shifted between this exact position, staring out that window, and pacing the room so many times in the last 24 hours. he didnt know what else to do with himself. the nurse on duty kept assuring him that y/n would wake up, at any time. that y/n would be alright, so long as she woke up tonight. it didn’t necessarily mean y/n would be dying- but, that’s when they should all be concerned.

as if stiles didn’t have enough to worry about.

after all, his dad was missing. still. and they had no new leads.

scott had headed to derek’s loft, to warn him about jennifer. that was just a few hours ago. he hasn’t received any updates on the situation. and this storm was intensifying his anxieties.

then, stiles also wasn’t sure where anyone else was- but he just hoped that they were out looking for answers. no one was responding to his text messages.

he wanted to be out there, helping, but when scott had offered him to come to derek’s loft- stiles said no. stiles didn’t want to leave y/n alone. besides, he was paralyzed by the situation. he already lacked any physical enhancements that would offer up any sort of help to the situation. and, now, he was mentally unstable, as well. he couldn’t stopped crying, couldn’t stop his breath from quickening every few minutes. it was taking all of his energy to not crawl up into himself and panic until he wasted away.

the girl he loved was nearly in a coma, and his dad was missing. the

if only she were awake…she would say something, anything, that would help him. she would remind him of his strength and perseverance. she would hug him, kiss his cheek, and make him feel, for just a minute, that the world was simple. that he could get his dad back.

right now, he felt so hopeless.

the only thing that kept him going was the hope of her opening her eyes, squeezing back his hand. it pushed him forth.

it helped, too, that no one else had been taken, quite yet. once they were, once two more guardians were reported missing- that’s when stiles knew his dad was going to die.

stiles brushed his thumb across her knuckles, a pattern he found some grounding root in, and sniffled. he pressed their joined hands to his forehead and leaned his head down. holding back a sob, stiles stuttered out, “i don’t know what to do.”

as if a prayer was being answered, he felt y/n’s fingers twitch between his own. he quickly lifted his head, snapping his gaze to her struggling face.

y/n squinted her eyelids, her vision blurry as she tried to pry open her sight. the fluorescent lights burned her tired, weary eyes, only making her struggle more. it took her more than a moment to adjust, but when she did, she had to process a lot of information. first, her gaze latched to her body- the hospital gown and blankets were itchy against her skin, and she could feel the iv digging at her skin. the breathing mask was restrictive over her face, but the air pumped into her lungs felt so fresh. mostly, what she felt was pain- her legs hurt, her ribs ached, and her head was pounding.

she slowly regained control throughout her body. it was that buzzing feeling one normally got after this leg fell asleep- staticky and nerve-prickling. eventually, her fingers twitched, her toes wiggled, and she was able to take in stiles. he perked up as her eyes fell onto his, immediately jumping from his chair. he never let go of her hand, even as stiles found the nurse’s call button and pressed it rapidly. he leaned his torso over her.

“oh, my god,” he breathed out, gratefully. more tears streamed down his face, but he didn’t care. stiles set a hand to her cool cheek, touch finalizing the fact that she was really conscious again. “you’re awake! thank god- you’re awake, baby.”

y/n wanted to say something, but her throat was scratchy from having not spoken for a day. there was, also, a mask prisoning her mouth. a small cough forced it’s way from her throat. stiles carefully pulled it from her face. y/n lay her hand over his, helping him move it. it left a red, dented mark over either of her cheeks. they slid their fingers into one another’s.

“wha-“ she coughed slightly, clearing her throat, “what happened?” short, fading clips rolled over her working memory, like filing cabinets rattling around, shutting and closing to quickly for her to grab onto anything.

stiles lay a hand on her face, unable to focus on her words, “i’m so fucking happy you’re awake.”

“stiles,” she furrowed her brows, “what happened?”

stiles was going to explain everything to her, though he was afraid. he was sure she didn’t remember of anything, especially everything he had told her before they went to the school. so, having to explain it all to her again, especially now that she had been nearly killed by the very thing stiles warned her of- would she reject him? would she want nothing to do with not only that part of his life, but him, too?

stiles didn’t know if he’d survived losing his dad and her all within the same day. he needed her.

just as he opened his lips, hesitant words waiting on his tongue, the nurse was rushing into the room. stiles couldn’t remember her name.

she looked more than concerned, clutching her stethoscope around her neck with white knuckles. when she saw y/n, eyes wide open, breathing mask in her hand, she flinched slightly.

she went to say something, too, but lightening cracked overtop of the hospital. it was loud, louder than the storm had been moments ago. and it sounded like the wind was crashing against the hospital in thick, tormenting waves.

“good thing you’re awake,” her breathy words fell into the air, a slight, nervous humor in her tone.

then, another lightening strike crashed, and the lights in the hospital blacked out. y/n instantly grabbed at stiles’ wrist, tight, and he slipped his fingers into her. y/n’s body was shaking.

“what’s happening?” stiles demanded.

the backup generator powered on. the lights were dimmer than before, and an alarm began blasting throughout the building. a warning. y/n flinched, again, at the sound, squinting her eyes shut and tilting her head away from the noise. her forehead banged against her skull.

“we have to go! they’re evacuating the hospital because of the storm. there’s an ambulance leaving in ten minutes, and another in twenty. we need to get you on one of them,” the nurse quickly shot to y/n’s bedside. she took the breathing mask from her hands and began moving the iv stand about. “do you think you can walk?”

y/n glanced at stiles, her pupils wide with fear. she shook her head, “i don’t know!”

“it’s okay,” stiles nodded once. he managed to keep his tone steady, reaching out to help her off the bed, “it’s okay. here.”

the nurse met stiles on his side of the bed. she carefully set y/n’s legs off the side of the bed, her feet barely touching the cold floor. then, y/n’s nurse quickly slipped the young girl’s pants up her legs, a pair of hospital socks on her feet. y/n gripped either of their hands as they helped her stand, their support also pressing onto her elbows. she hissed as she stood up, bunched over from the pain. her chin dropped into her chest. stiles securely held onto her waist, her hand squeezing tightly into his other.

“hold onto this,” the nurse wheeled y/n’s iv stand over to stiles. he hesitated, unsure of how he was going to manage that.

but, he wrapped a fist around it. as soon as he had he did, the nurse bolted out of the room to help other patients. stiles stared after her, jaw slack, and a little more than pissed off at her lack of beside manners. “ok, wow. um- okay, baby, okay…we’ve gotta go, okay?”

y/n looked up at him with a pained expression. tears streaked down her face, “stiles…i don’t-“

her knees gave out on her. y/n nearly collapsed to the ground, but stiles grabbed onto her waist. he felt her entire body shaking beneath his touch, both from the pain coursing throughout her injuries and her fear.

“hey, hey! it’s okay! hey, here.”

stiles carefully pulled the iv from the needle in her hand, then looped her arms over his shoulders. “please, baby, hold on to me, okay?”

he felt y/n nod against his chest, weakly. her hold tightened onto his neck. stiles crouched down an inch more so he could get his hands under her knees. he picked her up in his arms, more than surprised by his own strength. the machines beeped, wildly, as they lost connection to her body. but, that was just background noise. outside, he could hear dozens of people rushing past, the alarm still blaring.

stiles kicked the door to her room open, pausing as those people rushed past him, down the hallway, towards the elevators. the lights flickered again and everyone yelped in fear. stiles glanced down as he felt y/n’s hair tickle his neck, her head lolled into the corner of his shoulder. her eyes were squeezed shut, teeth ground together as she tried not to scream.

“okay, here we go, baby,” stiles pushed them into the stream of people headed for any and all of the exits.

patients, nurses, and doctors moved against him, bumping y/n’s legs every so often, offering no help to the situation. he cursed every time they hit y/n and stiles, because she hissed in pain as they bumped her injuries. stiles kept glancing down at her to try to ensure she was okay, so he nearly tripped over his own feet, numerous times. but, somehow, he managed to keep going.

just as they reached the elevators, the doors popped open, and stiles was met with the sight of derek, scott, and jennifer. anger coursed through stiles veins, and his eyes darkened. he clenched his jaw as he took a step back. why was she here, with them? why had they brought her here? stiles just knew this storm was because of her.

y/n rustled in his arms as she tried to lift her head. she felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness. though she couldn’t really focus on anything happening- the lightening rattling the building, the chaos unfolding before them, the woman who nearly killed her standing the elevator- she could hear stiles’ heartbeat pounding against her ear. her fading consciousness was taken back to his jeep, his bare chest beneath her touch, his finger brushing patterns into her skin.

she heard his heartbeat quicken, his blood pumping angrily. she wanted to comfort him, remind him that it would be all be okay. they’d make it out. she’d live.

so, y/n wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck, tangling them into his hair. goosebumps rose beneath her touch. stiles felt his anger ease up as he focused onto her cold fingertips.

as a cooling breath fell between stiles’ lips, scott quickly ushered him into the elevator. the doors closed behind stiles’ back. and scott breaks the news to him, “the alpha pack is here. in the hospital.”

stiles shoots daggers at miss morrell, who is trying to avoid his gaze. if y/n wasn’t here, in his arms, he’d jennifer up against the wall, hand around her throat. he didn’t hear scott at first, not until his friend touches his shoulder. he meets scott’s eyes, “…they’re here? in the hospital? why? why are they here?”

“yeah,” scott nodded shortly, “but, that’s not the worst part. cora- she’s dying. but, jennifer says there’s something she can do to help. that’s why we brought her-“

“and we’re gonna trust her?” stiles’ voice rose, slightly, as he swung around to face the enemy. as he did, y/n groaned in pain. he was aware of himself, her in his arms, again, and quickly looked to see if she was okay.

scott could smell the fear and pain oozing off of y/n’s crumpled body. he set a hand on y/n’s knee, guiding stiles back to his side of the elevator, “here, stiles. i can help her.”

stiles met scott’s eye. he didn’t hesitate to nod, once, encouraging scott to take away her struggle, to allow her just a few moments of peace. the veins of scott’s hand then turned black, as the pain coursed from y/n’s body, into his own. stiles watched her face, brows lifting in hope as he watched the painful expression on her face fall. she relaxed back into his arms, the trembling of her body ceasing just a bit.

“there,” scott patted stiles’ shoulder. “that should help. but, you need to get her out of here. i don’t know what will happen if she gets stuck between us and the alpha pack.

“i know,” stiles lips trembled as pressed a kiss to her forehead. a tear escaped his head. then, he twisted his head towards jennifer. she finally met his eye, looking just a little uncomfortable. stiles frowned, “i know, scott. but- where’s my dad? where the fuck is my dad? does she have him still?”

jennifer went to respond, a cocky look in her eyes. but, the doors to the elevators opened, again. they had arrived to whatever floor scott had pressed the button for. stiles assumed it was where cora’s room was. scott stepped forward, bracing the situation with a hand atop the door so it could not close. it was relatively quiet on this floor, aside from the flickering lights, the blaring alarm, and the scattered patient’s charts across the floor. after their hesitation to gauge the situation, derek rushed towards cora’s room.

stiles didn’t really pay attention as scott and derek investigated. he kept a watchful eye on jennifer, gently brushing y/n’s hair from her forehead with a shaky hand. it was grounding, it helped him focus. jennifer met his gaze, again, a coy smile curling into her lips.

she narrowed her eyes and glanced down to y/n, “poor girl. how many broken ribs does she have? is she concussed, or no? what’s the state of our patient, mr. stilinksi?”

stiles licked his lips as his jaw rolled in frustration. his voice was low, “after you help us find my dad, i am going to kill you-“

“have her symptoms set in yet?” jennifer took a daring step forward, interrupting him.

stiles’ brows furrowed, just slightly, “wha-what? what other symptoms?”

y/n coughed, a movement that racked her entire body. jennifer flicked her brows up, as if she had been anticipating this. stiles glanced down at y/n, and noticed some black liquid lining her lips. she coughed, again, face scrunched in pain. a small trial of what stiles could only assume was black blood trickled down her chin.

stiles’ breathing hastened and he looked back up at jennifer, “what did you do to her? what the fuck did you do to her? you-you fix it! right now! fix her, or i’m going to tear every limb from your body!”

jennifer chuckled, “your threats don’t scare me, stiles. after all, you’re just a human. you’re nothing compared to scott. you don’t have claws or fangs.”

as jennifer spoke, she circled around stiles, forcing him to take small steps backwards, away from her threatening presence. he looked to scott and derek, who were fighting for their lives. he was on his own.

“you just have your annoying sense of humor, your inability to ever stop speaking. and, now,” she gestured at y/n with an amused expression, “a dying girlfriend.”

stiles sneaker skidded against the linoleum floor as he backed up out of the elevator. he looked down at his feet to keep his trembling balance. and, when he looked back up, the doors of the elevator were slowing closely. jennifer was getting away.

“good luck!” she waved slyly.

behind him, scott, derek, and the twins continued fighting. their mangled roars were evident, now, as stiles’ focused shifted from jennifer to their chaos. he glanced down at y/n, heart thumping wildly, now. the black blood was coating her chin, bubbling between her lips. but, she was still passed out.

stiles could no longer manage his anger. it was coursing through his veins, white, hot. he felt like he would explode.

so, stiles carefully set y/n on an abandoned hospital bed that was pushed up against the wall. he tried to roll her into what had been cora’s room, just to get her out of the way, so he could focus his anger towards something useful. but before he could, ethan and aiden threw a piece of fallen ceiling towards them. stiles barely managed to dodge out of the way before another piece followed the other. he came back onto his feet, quickly, rushing to y/n’s side. he used every ounce of strength to push y/n’s bed inside the room. his sneakers squealed against the floor. then, stiles heard a roar, and he looked up again, just in time.

the anger was heating up his reddened face, now. he searched for a weapon in the hallway, something to not only defend himself with, but something to fight back.

ethan and aiden were running towards him. stiles cursed under his breath as they neared. he found a pipe, ripped from the wall, on the floor by his feet. stiles gripped it in his fists and, with the strength only ever garnered by a boy protecting someone he loved, stiles hit the werewolves over their stupid, conjoined head.

they were sent, toppling, down the hallway. scott and derek rounded the mound of mangled skin and bone, glancing between it and stiles with an astounded shock.

“nice going,” scott held out a fist for stiles’ to pound with his own. instead, his friend pushed it away, slowly.

stiles looked up at scott with a crinkled expression, tears welling up in his eyes, “she’s dying, scott.”

–

the world came crashing down around stiles. he didn’t know what to do.

scott abandoned his friend, running off with deucalion to try to get answers to solve their problems. he instructed stiles to get y/n to dr. deaton- but he wasn’t going to help. stiles tried not to focus on his frustration that came from scott’s willingness to leave him, alone, with a dying girl- and not just any girl, but stiles’ girl.

so, stiles focused his energy on quickly awakening derek, hoping he would help get her to the animal clinic. he knew he would run into troubles, and he needed a werewolf on his side. after all, jennifer was right. he was just a human. he didn’t have any powers.

but, derek simply scooped up cora, and prepared to leave the hospital.

stiles stood in the door of the elevator blocking it as derek pressed a button. he demanded derek to help him. “derek!” stiles begged, voice less assertive, but more so just weak, “please! you have to help me! she-she’s dying! you have to help me!”

“i have to help my family first,” derek set cora against the wall of the elevator. he stepped forward, a hand raised in a move to shove stiles out of the way.

but, instead, stiles gripped at derek’s hand, a weary, bargaining look in his eyes, “you know i would help you! derek- you know i’d help. we can take them both there-! cmon, derek. pls-please?”

derek hesitated as stiles’ tone cracked. it seemed like he might, maybe, help stiles. his hesitation gave stiles a glimmer of hope. but, then, derek glanced over at cora, at the black blood pouring out of every crevice of her body. he ripped his hand from stiles touch, “i can’t.”

he refused to meet stiles’ sad eyes as he backed up into the elevator. stiles was frozen. derek thought he would have to shove the boy from the elevator, but, after a second, stiles took his own step back. his body was slack, still.

he was alone.

just as the doors began to close, derek finally met the burning gaze coming from stiles’ dark eyes. “you know i’d help you, derek.”

derek’s head dipped low.

tears streamed down stiles cheeks, a silent cry that took up every ounce of energy he had left. stiles watched the elevator close, secure and tight, hands slack at his sides. all of a sudden, a scream rose from his throat. stiles kicked at the stupid metal box, hard, yelling loudly.

a sob racked through his body as he turned back to y/n. stiles ripped his hands through his hair, kicking ripped pipes, pieces of ceiling, skidding them across the floor.

stiles came to slouch on the edge of her bed. he wanted to just lay at her side, content to suffocate within her shadow. he didn’t even know where to begin. he didn’t know how to get her out of here, to the animal clinic.

the police were here. the storm had blocked off several roads. jennifer was running loose again. the alpha pack was still on the prowl. stiles’ dad was missing.

and y/n was dying.

he at least knew the end goal, which was better than nothing- get her to the animal clinic. but, he had so many obstacles in his way. so many obstacles that required supernatural abilities he just did not have.

stiles slowly turned his head to y/n, shoulders dropped, head hung low. he brushed his finger across her temple. he smoothed the hair back from her forehead. “i’m so sorry,” he lips blubbered.

stiles felt like he had failed her. no- he knew he had failed her. because he had. “i’m so sorry, baby.” stiles crouched over her body, his head in the crook of her still neck, sobbing like a baby.

he’d gotten her caught up into this mess with his stupid lies and manipulation, when he could have just told her the truth. all of this could have been avoided. but, now; she was on her death bed. and it was all his fault.

he had killed her.

stiles stared at her for a while, maybe just a few minutes, admiring her peaceful beauty. he ran his fingers over her cheeks. he’d been in this position so many times before. but never like this. his chest, though filled with fear, mourning, made some room for the love he felt for her. because he did- he loved her. he loved her so much.

his mind raced, as he wondered when it was that he finally realized he loved her.

had it been the time she met his dad? when she sat with them after her shift and ate dinner? when she spoke of her dream for after high school, when she shared the most intimate details of her hopes? he remembered how much his heart had swelled as she talked. she was so smart, so intelligent and creative. he knew she had a bright, hopefully future outside of this stupid town.

or had it been the week earlier, when he had gone to her house for just a hook up. they watched a movie, some stupid, pointless movie that he talked through the majority. he kept looking over at her as she giggled, face lit dimly by the television. his chest constructed each time she laughed. everyone always thought his jokes were dumb, but she- she laughed.

then, they had sex, and stiles felt her in his bones. he felt her fingers like they were apart of his own hand and he felt her breath strung against his rib cage. she was becoming his, and he was becoming hers. they were each other’s, a rare but beautiful, promising thing. in this world, in this town- it was everything.

maybe that was it. maybe that was the moment he knew. when he realized she was everything to him.

stiles lifted his head, an energy pulsing through his bloodstream. maybe he didn’t have supernatural abilities. maybe the road ahead seemed impossible. and maybe, just maybe, he’d die at her side- but he would only die trying. for her. always for her. everything for her.

anything.

he knew, now, that he could do this, even if he had to go it alone. but, he wasn’t going to have to.

stiles lifted y/n, carefully, in his arms, again. her head hung over his arm, arm strewn towards the ground. stiles knew she was fading fast. he had to go- now.

but, then, the elevator bell dinged.

stiles looked towards the sound. a small ounce of fear itched at his brain. he didn’t know what was awaiting them on the other side of the doors.

then, they opened- and he breathed a sigh of relief.

allison, danny, and isaac stepped into the hallway, determined looks on their faces. danny drug his eyes from stiles, down to y/n. he took a deep, nervous breath, before met stiles’ tearful gaze, again.

“well,” danny spoke, a little fearful, but confident in his tone, “are we gonna save my best friend, or what?”

stiles nodded, once, “yes, we are. i have to tell her. i need her to know that i love her.”

[oncewhenalongtimeago]

Always an Angel, Never the God Pt 5

Pairing: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III x Runaway!Reader

Words: 4637

In the real world, you get one chance and that’s it. Maybe, the real world is wrong. Or maybe Hiccup should stop being so annoying.

Tags: Runaway Reader, Angst, bitter reader, suggestive, requited love, healing, conflicting emotions, httyd3

<Previous - Full

It was over.

As he flew away on Toothless, becoming nothing but a pinprick in your periphery before finally disappearing up the cavern entrance, you fell back down onto your knees. 

You weren’t sure what to do anymore. The most important decision of your life was made with his ghost nipping at your heels. Truly, he haunted you. Whether he was with you or not, he always haunted you.

But the dragons here, untouched by the outside world, were kind. And curious. Once the threat was gone and the commotion was over, many came over to examine the newcomers, sniffing and prodding at you and your things.

They were welcoming enough. So you set up shop.

Hiccup laid flat against his bed, staring at the ceiling of his childhood home. He felt torn in every single direction all at once.

He’d left when his people needed him. When his father had needed him. Drago had attacked while he’d been gone, and all that was left of the sanctuary now was rubble. Then he’d gone after Berk. Hiccup had only just gotten there in time.

His father was fine, his mother… alive. After twenty years. Everyone was accounted for, but what if they hadn’t been? If he’d been there, maybe there would have been less damage, less people hurt.

But he wouldn’t have found you if he’d stayed. Finally, after all this time. He'd realized how long it truly had been since you left, lost to him even before you’d actually run off on your… the, nadder.

The floorboards creaked as someone made their way up the stairs to the loft, the front door swinging shut behind him. Hiccup didn’t move, just glancing to the side to see who it was that came to get him this time.

“Astrid,” He sighed. The two of them were distant and had been for a long while, despite the fact that they were supposed to be in a relationship. He’d been off a lot for that whole long while, which she hadn’t much minded as she’d found herself more interested in other things. And… he’d found his heart had a new owner.

“It’s been a month, Hiccup,” She rolled her head back, exhausted, as if reciting a tired script that she’d been reading off for ages, one that no one wanted to listen to anymore,  “Everyone is fine. You don’t have to hole up so often. I don’t know why you did it, but no one is mad you left, you know. You couldn’t have known.”

“Yeah…” Hiccup sighed, “Yeah, I know.”

“You need to get out,” She looked around his room, which was very much a mess of parts and papers, and ran her hand down a large map, laid flat over the only remotely clear space he had, his desk, “if you don’t next thing you know, a month’ll be four.”

“Why are you so obsessed with this place? … Does it have anything to do with the time you spent missing?” Astrid questioned. Hiccup propped himself up, turning over alarmed as he heard the sound of skin on paper. It had been freshly inked.

“No,” He’d guessed at where the two of you had ended up. He was sure that he’d be able to find it again, given the chance. He would. After he worked up the courage.

After all, you’d… You didn’t want to be found.

“Hey, wait, that’s-” He scrambled onto his one leg, kicking aside his prosthetic and jamming his toe in the process.

 “Ah, ow, ow, don’t touch that, please,” Astrid rolled her eyes and tossed the cylinder to his bed and he picked it up, examining it thoroughly as she sauntered off.

You weren’t sure why, but he kept coming back

“Hi,” He said awkwardly, shifting from foot to peg nervously. This was the first time he’d caught you. The first time he’d spotted you was the last but you’d made off that time before he could see you.

“Why are you here?” You stared at him, blank faced. Why didn’t you leave, curse it.

Your dragon waved its tail playful from the side, waiting for Hiccup to go. The other ones wouldn’t come out while he was here.  It felt good in a vindictive sort of way, because dragons had always been this thing, except this time you were the one with the secret dragon knowledge. And the upper hand. Sort of. They didn’t hide from you.

“I like… “ He flushed, “I like hearing you talk?”

“Sure,” You suggested, turning and starting off again, basket under arm and over rock as you began unsteadily making your way back up to home cave. You liked it there because you didn’t have to leave much for anything.

“Wait, wait, wait wait,” Hiccup stuttered. As you had your arms over a particularly steep ledge, your legs waved nonsensically and scrambled against the side as you searched for a foot grip, “Just, uh, let me-”

“Come back tomorrow,” You grunted after you managed to finally get one leg up the side. You’d probably figure out what to say by then.

You felt better here, like maybe you weren’t meant for people. Not for dragons either, not really.  The dragons here didn’t need defending or anything, it’s not like there was anyone down here to defend against besides other dragons. The most you’d had to go out for was food, and even that was made or stolen easily enough.

Being here gave you enough time to make you think that maybe you were meant just for yourself. 

You sat by the spray by the falls, enjoying the mist as it sprayed onto your face and the echoing sounds of the water hitting gray stone. 

“Toothless, come on- Just please, I know you don’t want- but-” Your eyes shot open, the distant voice of Hiccup bounced around the empty cavern, your moment ruined.

You looked around for the pair, trying to figure out which direction you should be running before. Suddenly, it felt like you’d been drenched by a whole lot more than a mist as Toothless landed messily behind you.

“What are you doing here?” You were careful to keep your balance as you shuffled further inland, looking a lot like a drenched cat as you came face-to-face with an also sopping wet Hiccup

You would never be rid of him.

“You said to come back tomorrow?” He asked, twisting his fingers and very purposefully refusing to look you in the eye.

Of course, you hadn’t figured out what to say.

You blew a raspberry as you adjusted the stolen, waterlogged basket which you had, again, under your arm. You needed more than two pairs of clothes.

“...Come back later,” You grumbled, “Later than tomorrow.”

You’d been free for a week. You’d been hoping for maybe two, to be frank.

“Please, I just-” Hiccup huffed, traveling by foot while you rode your dragon. Toothless followed behind, grumbling and gurgling at Hiccup judgmentally. Clearly whatever good will you’d built up with him before you ran left had been more than lost.

“I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling,” You stare straight ahead, over the encroaching cliff, ducking round and under ledges as your dragon trotted onwards.

“I want to get to know you, again.”

Eventually, the cave dragons had warmed up to Hiccup and he was able to work his magic on them. Now they watched through stalagmites and stalactites with impassive eyes as he made chase.

“Uh huh,” You scoffed as you reached the edge of the ledge. You turned around and stuck out your tongue as your dragon took a violent leap into the open air. As the wind whistled around you, you pinwheeled your arms in an effort to try and keep balance.

“Come on, Toothless, bud,” Hiccup complained from way behind. You saw Toothless very decidedly sit down, refusing to move even as Hiccup tried to push him towards the cliff with his whole upper body, “Let’s go.”

“So,” Hiccup started, “You haven’t gone any deeper.”

The both of you stared out into the vast, glowing sea of  towers and gigantic glowing mushrooms extending out of their jagged rock faces. In the distance you could spot gigantic crystals, protruding from the ground the same way the sanctuary did. 

Seas of dragons crowed and chirped, bright patterns shifting and growing under hard muscle. It was very dizzying, if you were going to be honest.

“No,” You replied, “No, I haven’t. Not this far, but now I… I might.”

You hadn’t traveled too far into the cavern, deciding not to push your luck with the locals. You always figured there was some sort of nest farther in. Turns out there was, and a whole lot more locals than you expected, and a lot more to this small world besides the cold, empty cavern. At least you didn’t have to worry about flooding anymore. Or sea salt in your hair.

You swore to yourself that you were going to move further in, caught off guard and most definitely embarrassed at the fact that so much open space had been hiding right under your nose. 

Free for three days.

“There has to be more. There’s no way- It doesn’t make sense how all these different kinds of dragons can live in the same environment. There’s- there’s so much here that-Gods, I have to map it,” Hiccup rambled, smiling gawkily.

He’d been here for a week.

You felt a pressure to supervise him as he ran rampant in your new home, unsure of when he’d become such a cartographer. Your dragons had gone missing a while ago, leaving you two to be babysat by the hands of the general public.

You watched as he painstakingly mapped each pillar, occasionally chiming in with your own advice, looking the same way he did the day he discovered honey when you were kids. It was almost pleasant.

The two of you had fallen off the edge of a pillar after being knocked down during a spat between two touchy Crimson Goregutters, which no Hiccup magic or dragon secret could stop. After an event with a vine, dangling over certain death and panic, you two had managed to swing your way onto a large glowing mushroom. 

The downside to that was that now, you were stuck, owed to the fact that apparently, what made some of these mushrooms glow was very viscous and… sticky. 

Hiccup’s arms were glued to the space on both sides of your head, and your hands were gripping his arms which were visibly shivering, because you two had been stuck like this for a while. You’d been tugged, prodded at and licked by various different dragons. Nothing helped and you were starting to think that maybe this was how you were going to die. 

Well, you knew you weren't going to go to Valhalla. It was kind of really hard to die in battle if you spent most of your time avoiding people. But this just sucked.

“What's up with your pathological need to map everything?” You asked belligerently. To be honest, it didn’t really bother you. Hiccup’s rambling had never bothered you, because you were prone to rambling in the same exact way. Currently though you were hard pressed to find anyone else to hear it. 

“I thought your thing was the forge? You spent half of my childhood there.”

“Well, yeah, I…” He rested his forehead against yours, eyes shut as his neck finally gave out, you weren’t too pleased as you felt his sweat drip onto your face, squirming rebelliously.

 “Wasn’t sure if you’d want to hear it. I-I could talk about that instead?” No talking at all would be great.

 “Yeah,” You gave in, closing your eyes and going limp against the slimy fungi, “That would be better.”

Lips pursed, then grimaced as he’d opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out, though. He just stared above your head, unmoving. You tried to see what he was looking at, but only got an eyeful of his scruff.

Next thing you know, you’re being smothered by a plushy pink tongue, then just licked and nosed a little bit. The spit of this dragon doing something odd to dissolve the slime trapping the two of you, fizzing as it touched shiny goo. When you finally had the facilities to move, you flipped your head back and your eyes widened slightly.

It looked like the two of you had just found Toothless a girlfriend.

Three months, two days and five visits- no, seven. Nine? Eleven? Seventeen?

“I don’t actually have a problem… with the mapping. Talking about it.”

You two were nestled between a rock and another rock, though this time whether it was a result of purpose or chance remained uncertain. You couldn’t remember. You were after something… There was barely any space between the two of you. You had been talking.

There was barely any green to Hiccup’s eyes, most of his iris consumed by large pupils as he mouthed around works that looked suspiciously like, “Can I…?”

Instead, he leaned forwards and your foreheads touched, the same way they did when you were trapped before. His eyes were clenched shut as he uttered, “I love you.”

 You had a hard time believing that.

You turned your head to the side. 

“I wonder how Astrid feels about her boyfriend flying off and doing who knows what.”

Some of the wild dragons lay in front of you, licking at the dying fire by your feet. A terror lay in the middle of it. You’d lined it with stones which were now giving off a pleasant warmth.

“I doubt she’d mind. We’re not really… together anymore. I don’t think so. I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t want to be.”

“Right,” You raised an eyebrow at him skeptically. 

“Not since a little while after you left, actually.”

You found that hard to believe too, as you shook the burnt slice of fish off your knife onto your burnt slice of bread. You weren’t much better than Valka at cooking, but you were getting better. It was something about that sanctuary, or maybe something about that woman that just made you worse at cooking.

Hiccup wrinkled his nose over on the other side of your log as he shook his head at you.

It was a petty, but bitter sort of revenge. 

Your first kiss had been lost to a fair bloke- his words, not yours- in the middle-of-nowhere inn. It had been a long time since you’d been out, but you were sure you’d easily be able to find somewhere similar to lose some other things. Hiccup had your heart but you’d never give him the opportunity to take any of your firsts.

Two months.

You were angry at him for playing with your heart again.

“There was a crisis-Berk…” His voice cracked.

 You looked disinterestedly out over uncanny black waters. “Yeah, It’s fine.”

Seven days, seven visits. He might have been camping aboveground.

The two of you were between two large red fungi, settled on a mossy rock overlooking a new, larger, unmapped maze of rock pillars and black water rushing below. Dragons, glowing and colorful, mingled together off in the distance. Toothless was probably one, gone off to frolic with his new lady love.

“You never wanted me. As a friend, as a- …battle buddy, or as anything else. You would never have chosen me for anything. And I just… I didn’t want to be just what you settled for,” You mumbled into your knees, “You spent so long searching for better, and then you found it, and it just really hurt to realize that I wasn’t a part of that.” 

You spilt your heart out as you faced the cliffside. Hiccup was facing you. You didn’t care what he heard. None of this was real anyways.

“I’m sorry,” Hiccup repeated, clenching his eyes shut as he buried his nose into your shoulder, barely there though he had to crane his head forwards, due to the uncomfortable angle. 

What he had with Astrid these past few years, that was real. That was history. This thing between the two of you was just a mess of pain and turmoil and a little bit of childhood fantasy. An old infatuation rearing its head as you got everything nasty out of your system.

“It hurt to think that-That… the one person- Like everyone else did, you didn’t think I was good enough either.”

“I’m sorry.” You felt his arms come around your sides awkwardly before he squeezed.

“Me too. I…”

He’d remember that he didn’t want-need- you again soon enough.

“I haven’t told anyone. About you, or this place.”

“You haven’t?” You’d actually expected otherwise. It was nice to know you weren’t at risk of getting dropped in on.

Two months, thirty two visits.

You might be coming around to him.

“You’ve already-?” He asked, a little startled. You still felt a little silly about it but after you’d done it, you figured it wasn’t that big of a deal. It wasn’t like you’d planned to marry or anything anyways, so his reaction was kind of funny.

“Yeah, I was pretty mad. So I went out, and… you know. It was a while ago, though.” 

He looked a little disheartened at the idea, but he just scoffed, waving his hand off in your direction.

“What? You and Astrid kissed, yeah, but you haven’t done- anything? Not even before you ‘totally broke up,’” You didn’t have to specify what they hadn’t done, the innuendo was already pretty obvious.

“Nah.” Hiccup said, hair wiped out of his face, matched squares of parchment. Map pieces were strewn out in front of him as he made himself busy trying to create a complete chart of the underground, matching up the landscape he saw with the islands above it.

 Unfortunately, the caverns seemed to stretch on forever and the islands only covered so much.

Three months, one day, thirty two hours. 

You straddled him, crinkling some of the many, many blueprints scattered across the moss surface. You wiggled one out from under him, looking down as he looked up. It felt good, being the one in charge for once.

You leaned down, pressing your noses together. Just before, you’d been going over his things. His blueprints. Swapping ideas. Sharing minds. Like you used to, every single day. Like you’d been doing, almost every single day.

“Do you love me?” You asked.

Every day you’d been together. Your knees touched, shoulders pressed close together.

You had to know. And if he did… He had to mean it. 

You played games, shared stories. You’d grappled and curled, not the way vikings could, but the way two hiccups did, a long, long time ago. 

If he didn’t, well… You had all the time in the world to leave, to start again. But you didn’t think you could. You could go weeks without seeing him, and then sometimes it would be every other day. 

This was it.

“I do love you,” He choked out, wheezing as you adjusted, your weight pressing against his chest. He glanced back at you, crumbling a little bit. 

He spent a lot of time here, now. A lot more than before. With the time spent traveling in between, as he said it, it was a wonder he got anything done there at all. Most of his time was spent above mapping the islands or down here with you.

You read what his body language told you; he was insecure. 

“... Do you love me?”

“I do.” Hesitantly, you nodded, “I do.” Was that even a question?

You trusted him. You didn’t trust him. You had no way to know if he stabbed you in the back again. Went back to Astrid. You didn’t really have a way to know if that’s what he did, every time he left. 

You loved him, didn’t you?

He didn’t know that? Maybe not always and not all at once, since you left. You hadn’t done a very good job of making him know it. You hadn’t a lot of reason to. 

Did you love him now?

You marveled at how easy it was to be around him, with him. It wasn’t the same as it was before, but it was still good. It could almost be better. You, against everything, wanted it. You wanted it so bad.

“I’d leave it all behind, for you,” Hiccup said.

You would make him know it.

“You would?” You asked, “Would you?”

You laid your heart bare to him, stitched and spiked. And you, as he said it, implied it, maybe you held his. 

“Do you want me to?” He asked. He tugged lightly on one of the draws to your tunic, faking interest in it as he worried the inside of his cheek. You didn’t want his home, or his family. 

“I don’t want anything,” You scoffed dismissively. You wanted his honesty. You wanted to know that he was yours. Yours truly. That was it.

Prove it. You urged him on, Prove it to me. 

He smiled that goofy, awkward smile, half teeth and all closed at the edges. You could tell he was trying hard not to falter. You hadn’t seen that smile in such a long time.

Know me, You asked.

“So… Do you? Do you love me?” He asked again, offering his hand up to your face. His fingers were scabbed, and dirty and you leaned into his palm, pushing it down as he tangled his fingers clumsily into the roots of your hair. You pressed your lips together, again, again and over again until neither of you could breathe. 

Have me, You pleaded.

“I do,” You gasped into his mouth, “I really, really do.” You offered no resistance. Not this time.

Love me. 

There was no coming back.

(Deep in your mind, you wondered if maybe, possibly, he already did.)

Twelve months. Twelve months since he’d found you.

Hiccup stood at the edge of Berk, armor packed away in favor of a lighter tunic. He often wondered what it would have been like, if he’d really run away with you like he’d intended.

If things would have ended up the same. 

Would he have seen you in time? In time for what he had now? For this? 

No. no, probably not. 

…

His father would notice. His mother might.

His father was fine. And now he had his mother. They were old, but they were tough. They could have a new kid. Or maybe they’d convince Snotlout or Astrid to take the mantle. 

They’d-everyone-would be fine without him.Who was he kidding? He’d spent so long working so hard and they didn’t need him at all. And if he was honest, He didn’t need them. 

He didn’t really care. Not anymore. He let go.

Life would go on just fine without him, just as it did before him and just as it would long after his name was lost to time. His distance only proved it. He spent so long away he’d been practically excommunicated again.

After a little bit of irritation, his travels became just another one of his quirks. 

‘Oh, look, there’s Hiccup. Oh, well, he’s off again.’ He was barely missed. And rightly so. It was by his own doing, really. That was fine by him. In fact, It worked in his favor.

It was borderline hysterical how, the moment they found more furies, and his new paramour, Toothless went from devil’s advocate to his most eager accomplice. 

The Sand Wraiths were especially cool… It cost him a lot less fish to get there now. To you.

Sometimes he had to wonder why he’d been so attached to Berk. Working for things that ultimately, he didn’t care about. Everything that kept him here, he also had with you. When he was here, all he wanted was to go back out.

A pebble-sized ball of guilt coil in his stomach. It used to be worse. But, he’d talked to you about it. The engagement.

The engagement with Astrid. The one that was basically moot at this point, anyways. She might even slap him if he brought it up, to expect anything after he’d left her for so long. Truly, officially. all he’d had to do was end it. He left a letter nearby her family home; they would find it if they bothered to search for him.

A scummy trick, yes. Was he a coward for doing it? Maybe. But he was a smart coward. He wasn’t lying when he’d told you that no one knew.

Hiccup exhaled, bouncing up and down on his heel and peg, as if to psych himself up. To dispel all of his nervous, excited energy.

It was a clear day, no risk of a storm. He strapped his saddle pack to Toothless. It was only slightly larger than usual, so as not to arouse suspicion, of course, but it held all of his essentials. Leatherworking tools, metalworking tools, more tools, his armor, spare armor, spare foot, spare charcoal. The small plush his mother had made for him as a child. His viking helmet, for memory’s sake.

Slung over his shoulder was a smaller pack with just his compass and his coin. 

As the two of you grew closer and closer, it only made his decision more and more certain.

He wasn’t meant to be Chief. He wasn’t cut out for this life at all. He didn’t want this life. He wanted you. 

As far as anyone else was concerned, you’d long since disappeared and now he had the feeling it was time for him to do the same.

He took a deep breath, one that pushed his lungs to his ribs. Then like his bag, he flung himself over Toothless’ saddle before he took off from Berk for the last time, closing his eyes. He’d left his helmet off this time so he felt the beating wind rip through his hair.

The two of you were there, half hidden from view under a large red plume. It was wasm, and your perspiring skin was trapped under hollow armor, same as his. 

You gasped, hot air mingling every time his breath hit your face. The two of you huffed and panted as he pushed you unto the dirt and you pushed back, feeling the moss tickle your face and the backs of your hand. 

Not your back, though. Just hands. 

Gripped, interlaced fingers pressed firmly down by your head, sweaty palms melded to his. He’d been the one in charge, today.

He was hunched over you, his trousers unbuckled and unlaced as he pressed downwards, forwards, gently and not.

A line of sweat ran down your cheek. Your eyelids fluttered. His breath caught.

Men shouted their battle cries into the dark, never ending sky as Berk was set in flames. A skull, still fresh with blood and exposed brain, broke with a sickening, wet crunch as Stoick ground his head into it, bringing mercy to the poor, damaged creature.

“There is no fury here,” He bellowed as he towered menacingly against the hulking wall of flames by his door. Three Deathgrippers and their tails lay cut, prone and slain around him. 

“We’ll see about that,” Grimmel crooned, standing tall with his hands linked behind his back, looking down on him with two more dragons hissing and spitting by his sides.

Sharp talons dug into the wood of the rafters, Cloudjumper’s head turning steering around as he hung by her feet. Valka, masked and fully covered, crouched down from where she was, nestled at the bend of his tail. She pulled her arms back, getting her hook, sharp and serrated, ready for a wicked swing.

Yes, he would see. She’d make sure of it.

[ezdotjpg]

I have a silly little question about your silly little comic!! I love your versions of the Links so much. Loft is such a mood FOR REAL!!

anywho,

How did you come up with the original concept? If this is somewhat spoilery- then don’t answer it. But i’m more so wondering what let you to go

“i want to make a comic about the silly links accidentally breaking and fucking everything up. also trauma lots of trauma”

Did you come to the understanding of, looking at other peoples AU’s? Or was it something in the games itself? I’m just curious on what your thought process was when brainstorming originally yk?

Also, small bonus question/comment thingy

when making backgrounds- like Zelda and Wilds house or Lofts home with Zelda and Groose- did you base the backgrounds on your own ideas of what the characters would live in? Like if they’d have clutter or silly little notes in the background. I love how your backgrounds are just- chefs kiss- so simple but shows us a glimpse into the characters mental state (as all good rooms do *stares at my messy one*)

that is all, i very much so enjoy your comic. it’s gotten me through the bad Wednesdays of highschool. Keep going!!! i am excited to see it’s conclusion.

waugh thank you so much!!!!!

And I guess the answer to that first question is all of them above? Bonus Links is, of course, an extremely derivative work. LU was my first introduction to the links-meet-au format, so I’d be remiss not to give credit where credit is due! Probably many ideas I’ve absorbed from fics I’ve read, and headcanons I vibe with that come from the wider fandom. The idea for Bonus Link’s actual plot though originally started from my fascination with Skyward Sword’s lore. I know not everyone’s a huge fan of how much that game retconned, Demise’s “curse” in particular, but there’s a lot of ideas in that game that I find REALLY interesting, especially in ways that the game doesn’t really acknowledge at all. How would Skyward Sword Link feel, if he found out he truly didn’t finish the job? That the cycle continues on and on beyond him? That was the jumping off point.

Because it’s a cycle, I get a lot of ideas from like, which Links have experienced similar events, and how their experiences compare and contrast. What becomes history, and what actually happened? And I also use a lot of my own experiences playing the games as inspiration! I’d played as many as I had access to when I started the au in 2021, but I’ve made it my mission to play every single game a Link is featured in before they get introduced in the comic lol. Still got a few more to go, but I’m almost there!

As for the second question, absolutely! If I’m showing someone’s home in the comic, I try really hard to add details that tell you something about them. At the very least, I want them to look lived in lol

like, Slate still having the champion’s weapons on display in his house. Zelda’s mostly taken over the first floor as her workshop, even adding a Sheikah tech furnace somehow. She’s filled her room with pictures she’s taken on the walls. She’s got a sand seal plush from Riju, a Sheikah jacket from Impa. Her workspace is a little cluttered!

On the other hand, Slate’s room upstairs looks a little less personal. He’s got some pictures on the wall, and some plants growing from around hyrule (that Zelda has kind of commandeered for research lol) but otherwise he’s left it how Bolson and co furnished it. If anything, it’s mostly just for storage. He doesn’t actually spend much time sleeping here, but Zelda still doesn’t want to take it from him.

Loft, Groose and Zelda’s room is very cozy ( I should have added more blankets. Imagine like 4 times the amount of pillows and blankets) and tidy, but there’s still a little mess— shoes left out, basket of poorly folded clothes, etc. Cute knickknacks, mostly made by loft and groose! It’s not in this sc but groose’s comb is somewhere I think lol

Idk if iced shared this detail before, but Loft put a lot of effort into designing and carving (probably with some assistance) these columns for the house! Even though carving’s hard for him these days. It was his biggest contribution.

anyway, those are some of my thoughts!! I’m so happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the comic! Thanks for reading!!

[drghostwrite]

Scars for Love

Pairing: Regina Mills x reader

Summary: after an argument between reader and Regina and it leaves some tension between them. Reader does some thinking about the relationship.

********************************************************

This is where you promised you'd never find yourself sitting on the edge of the proverbial cliff ready to jump possibly end it all...

Well not really but you did find yourself sitting at the edge of the cement port, the edge of Storybrooke, the town you've learned to call home. You sat with your feet over the edge staring into the distance, you felt the coolness of the silver necklace you wore around your neck yet it felt as if it was burning right through you, you reached up and undid the clasp feeling the true weight in your hand. You looked down at the pendant attached at the end a tree with growing branches contained in a thin silver circle, it was the crest above the vault, her vault, Regina's vault.

You could hear the shuffling of feet behind you but didn't bother to turn and acknowledge the individual, even as she touched your shoulder and then sat beside you.

"So, Regina just showed up at the loft..." Snow spoke softly, turning to look at you.

"Oh?" you questioned, though you knew the answer.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"What's there to talk about."

"Y/n." You had yet to look at her, but she kept her eyes on you.

"Snow, I love her, yet she doesn't seem to believe me. Recently it feels like she's constantly looking over her shoulder waiting for something to happen and it's taking its toll on us." you turned to look at her. You looked back to the horizon, turning the pendant in your hand, "I don't know if I can do it anymore. I love her, but I'm tired."

She took a moment, her eyes searching your face. "Y/n, Please don't give up on her. I know it's hard to love her sometimes, trust me, but I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. She's lost a lot of people, I indirectly killed her first true love, Daniel, and the whole situation with Robin. Every time she opens up to love someone like that they're taken away. She's done a lot of healing but she needs someone to show her they won't ever leave."

You turned to look at her, she had tears in her eyes. "All I'm saying is that it's been a while since I've seen her love someone this much. I've seen true love but you two are definitely one of a kind."

You chuckled, "I was gonna ask her to marry me today." You had your eyes fixed on the water that stretched out in front of you.

Snow gave you a confused look. "I was going to ask her to be my wife, to make me the happiest woman alive but instead she accused me of wanting to leave, and then we got into this big fight and I stormed out." You chuckled again, turning the pendant in your hand.

"It explains why she came to us, she wouldn't talk about it though. I assumed that it was something with you because she's never that upset unless it's you or Henry, so I figured I'd find you here."

You sat there together in silence, "What do I do?"

"Honestly, I would go find her and make her the happiest woman alive." Snow chuckled, but you were already up and running toward your car. She quickly sent a text to David telling him to leave the apartment to you two.

________

Regina heard the front door close as David left to meet snow, she heard tires squeal outside the window but before she could turn to get up to look, she heard footsteps frantically coming up the stairs. She turned and shot up just in time to see you swing the door open.

"Y/n" she said with relief, quickly running to you wrapping her arms around you. You wrapped your arms around her and as she shifted away, you pulled her into a chaste kiss.

"Baby, What's going on?" she asked pulling away.

"Love I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you this morning, I don't want to leave you, I actually wanna do the opposite."

"Y/n wait, I'm sorry too but what're you talking about?" Her eyes studied your face slowly taking it in as your eyes watered.

"Regina Mills I want you to make me the happiest woman alive," you slid the ring box from your pocket and opened it, "Will you marry me?"

She looked at you with a smile, tears starting to fall, "You're sure, I mean of course you're sure. yes, Yes! I would love to marry you!"

That was the day that everything turned around. You had both been through so much and so many scars have been opened, but also mended and healed. You vowed to spend the rest of your life proving to this woman that you loved her and reassuring her that not even death could tear you apart.

[noturlondonboy]

No More Excuses//Katelena

Chapter 7: Vodka Will Fix Us

Pairing: Kate Bishop x Yelena Belova

Chapter Summary: Yelena arrives back at Kate’s apartment to find the woman a depressed puddle. They get dressed up, and Yelena does Kate’s makeup for a girl’s night out on the town.

A/N: I think this is one of my favorite chapters, they’re just the cutest and most fun to write I can’t

Chapter Warnings: talk of alcohol, depression, almost panic attack

It took Yelena a moment to even realize that the apartment wasn't empty when she ducked in through the window. But she spotted Kate's combat boots and purple flannel dumped by the door, and Lucky's head appeared by the stairs. She smiled softly at him and continued to scan the open space for the archer.

"Kate Bishop?" Yelena called out softly, a little apprehensive about the silence. In the brief time she had known her, Yelena realized that Kate loved to talk. Not in a bad way, per se, but she always had a lot to say and a lot to feel about everything. And if she wasn't talking, she was humming, or laughing, or making strange little noises with her mouth. The quiet was strange. Yelena knew Kate wasn't always in the best headspace, of course, as she had found the woman's medications and a few notes about therapy and some other sensitive topics (which Yelena put away immediately once she realized how personal it was).

"Kate Bishop!" Yelena walked further into the apartment, greeting Lucky with a pat on his head. There was a grumble from Kate's loft bedroom, and Yelena headed up the stairs. "You better not be naked, Kate Bishop, because I'm coming up and Lucky doesn't need to be scarred so early into his life."

Kate didn't respond, and when Yelena got to her bed, the archer didn't move from where she lay face down in her pillows, completely prone.

"Are you dead, Kate Bishop?"

"I wish I was," came a garbled voice, her fingers twitching.

Yelena's brow furrowed, and she stopped from where she had been about to turn Kate over onto her back to poke at her cheeks and make her stand up. Something was clearly wrong with the archer, who looked more bedraggled the longer she looked.

"Kate Bishop," Yelena said softly, letting her mother shine through as she carefully sat on the bed, "are you alright?" She dared to rest a hand on Kate's back, her fingers pressing softly into the nook of her shoulder blade.

Kate jolted at the contact, her head flying up to look at Yelena. Her dark hair fell over her face in a messy wave, and Yelena brushed it away with her free hand, concern pursing her lips. Kate's eyes were large and watery, the blue shining with tears both unshed and not. They stuck to her thick eyelashes and she almost seemed to glow, and Yelena thought it was very strange to think that when her friend (they were friends, right?) was clearly upset.

"Kate, what happened?" she asked gently, her thumb rubbing a gentle circle into the nape of her neck. Yelena could feel something strong bubbling in her stomach. She didn't know how to comfort. No one ever taught her, and the only person who could've was gone. And yet here she was, trying anyway.

Kate stared at her, her bottom lip stuck out in an almost pout that Yelena was tempted to poke at. She didn't realize that her fingers were still hooked behind Kate's ear to keep her hair out of her face until she leaned into her palm, eyes closing as a fresh wave of tears overtook her.

This was where Yelena's limited capabilities fell short.

Kate seemed to notice Yelena's hesitant expression, because she pulled away and pressed her face back into her pillows. "Sorry," she mumbled, voice wobbly and borderline sobbing. It was clear she was making an effort to calm herself, but her shoulders quivered and the tautness of her muscles told Yelena just how much she was struggling.

The assassin may not be good at girls, but she was good at alcohol.

"Let's go get those drinks, Kate Bishop. I do not know what ails you, but a good beer or two and plenty of vodka will help you feel better."

"It's only 3 in the afternoon," Kate whined, head twisting to show half her face so she could see Yelena.

The Russian barked a deep laugh. "Ha! Kate Bishop, don't be silly! It's every time of the day somewhere else. In Russia we drink as we please and no one has say over us."

The archer only screwed her eyes shut and frowned, tears still pricking her eyes. The crying had flushed her cheeks and her ears, and Yelena found a sense of something very alluring in the rosy tint to her tan skin, even if Kate being upset made her upset too. For some reason.

She sucked in a breath and brushed her knuckles under one of Kate's eyes, catching a tear before it could slide down the bridge of her nose. "Come on, Kate Bishop," she said softly. "Let's get you all dressed up and enjoy ourselves in the city. Girl's night out. Dinner and drinks and movie on me."

Kate seemed to quiet a bit at this prospect, opening her eyes again to look at Yelena. "Girl's Night Out?" she repeated back meekly.

Yelena nodded, wondering what on Earth she was getting herself into. "You owe me that drink, Kate Bishop. And I am remembering you mentioned ice-skating. Show me your corner of New York. Take your mind off of what bothers you."

Kate had absolutely not said a single word about ice-skating, but Yelena wasn't about to take it back.

"I'm terrible at ice-skating," Kate whispered, but Yelena grinned, knowing the archer had given in to her whims. (What whims, Yelena?)

Lucky barked excitedly as Kate slowly dragged herself out of bed, and Yelena couldn't help but agree.

————

"Kate Bishop, why do you Americans take so long to get ready?!"

"I've only been in here for ten minutes, Yelena!"

The blonde groaned amicably and bonked her head on Kate's bathroom door, silently urging her friend to hurry up. Yelena had already rummaged through her own stash of clothes and found an outfit she deemed more than appropriate for a night on the town, PLUS a full face of makeup. As always, she was flawless.

"Ten minutes is so longgggggg, Kate Bishoooooop," she groaned loudly, popping the 'p'. Kate laughed inside the bathroom, her voice already lighter than it was when Yelena had first gotten back.

"Entertain Lucky until I'm done."

"Ugh. Fineeeeeee."

Yelena knelt on the floor and beckoned Lucky over to her, cooing and rubbing his ears softly while letting him smother her in kisses, still careful of her makeup. "Your mama is very slow," she murmured to him, scrunching his face up in her palms and staring very seriously into his eye. He grinned, licking at her chin.

"Okay, I'm done!" Kate called out, a moment before she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

"About time, Kate Bish- oh." Yelena blinked and stood up in one swift motion, looking Kate up and down. The archer was in form fitting black slacks, white DM platforms with embroidered roses, and a puffy black turtleneck sweater underneath her purple flannel. It was a rather simple ensemble of clothes, but Yelena couldn't help but remember how striking Kate had looked in her glittery black dress at Eleanor Bishop's charity gala, the night everything seemed to go to shit.

Normally, Kate would've noticed Yelena's silence, her heated stare, how it took her just a little longer than normal to gather her composure- but she was having similar thoughts as well. The assassin had donned a blood red dress with a knee length ruffled skirt and beaded sleeves that reached her wrists, and a buttoned up high collar accentuated her sharp jawline. Black thermal tights covered her legs, and her tall black platforms put her only about two inches shorter than Kate, as opposed to the usual five.

"You're slaying," Kate said stupidly, her jaw feeling a little too slack and cheeks a little too warm.

Yelena tilted her head and graciously ignored her fumbling, seemingly completely unfased. "You clean up nicely, Kate Bishop."

They both kind of just stand there and look at each other for a moment, neither willing to break the spell they had fallen into. Lucky is the one to shatter it, of course, as always, but both women are too flustered to even know what to think, and instead they busy themselves with separate tasks. Kate refills Lucky's food and water while the pup watches on eagerly, and Yelena steps back with a cough and excuses herself to get some water. She disappears into the kitchen, and Kate can hear the tap running and some splashing, like Yelena is washing her face.

"Be careful with your makeup, it's too good to ruin this soon!" Kate calls out to her, daring to speak after giving the moment a second to air out. The blonde looks up from where she's leaning over the sink when the archer follows her into the kitchen, and Kate's mood immediately flips when she notices how sick Yelena looks.

"Yelena? Are you okay? What's wrong?" She rushed to her friend, letting her hand hover over her back for a moment before gently rubbing in between her shoulder blades. Yelena's arms are quivering as she leans her weight into them to keep her propped up, but she draws her ruby painted lips into a thin line and shakes her head. Drops of cold water slide off her nose and her chin, but her immaculate makeup doesn't budge.

"I'm fine, Kate," she chokes out, her voice throaty and low like she's holding back tears, and Kate's worry only grows when the woman presses a hand to her stomach.

"Yelena, if you're feeling sick, it's probably best if you just stay in-"

"No, Kate Bishop." She sucks in a deep breath and squats down, keeping her hands on the counter and leaning her head against the cupboard to breathe and get away from Kate. She was so distracting. What was wrong with her? "I am fine. Just a-" She almost says it's 'just cramps', because Kate doesn't know that Yelena didn't have a uterus (not that she ever really wanted one anyway) but she clamps that down. It felt silly and childish.

How did she explain herself? Hi Kate Bishop, I'm feeling warm and safe and almost happy for the first time in a while and I'm not even drunk and I think it might be because of you and it's making me nauseous in a scared of good things kind of way. No. What the hell even...?

"I just need a minute," she eventually managed to get out, once the bile and taste of blood on her tongue had sunk away. Kate didn't press, which she was immensely grateful for, and she could make out the woman retreating to tend to Lucky as he promptly tipped his water bowl all over the floor.

A minute or so later, Yelena manages to stand without the thought of Kate's smile sending her into a guilt-ridden spiral, and she joins her at the table where Kate is trying to teach Lucky how to gently take a treat from her hand. She glances up and sees the blonde, and gives a soft, hesitant grin, the tilt of her eyebrows soft in a way that melts something in Yelena.

"Are you alright?" she asks again, ever so aware and considerate. Yelena can only nod against the archer's almost cloying sweetness. "Can I do anything to help you feel better?"

Normally, Yelena would completely brush that question off, but there's something nagging at her.

"Would you let me do your makeup, Kate Bishop?"

This takes her by surprise, and Kate sits up taller. She usually opted for minimal makeup when she went out, if any at all, because mascara could make her eyes feel too thick when she needed to see where she was shooting and archery practice always had her sweating it all off, anyway. "Um- yeah, sure! Why not?" She internally grimaces at herself, but something heavy slips away from Yelena's expression at her permission and Kate feels a little fuzzy.

Yelena directs Kate to the couch and rummages around in a closet that Kate was only partially aware of, coming back out with a makeup bag and small mirror. An almost girlish grin curls her mouth rather prettily, and Kate melts at the sight of it.

The assassin indicates for Kate to scoot closer to the arm of the couch to give her more wiggle room, and Yelena sink into the cushions on her knees next to her, makeup palette and brush already up and ready. The archer gulps at the devious glint in her eye. Yelena was definitely feeling better, that's for sure.

A few minutes in, Kate is just grateful that Yelena hasn't killed her out of impatience. The archer had never been good to put makeup on, much to the chagrin of both her mother and her college friends. (Where were they now?) She always tended to blink at the wrong time and scrunch up her eyes and sneeze directly in the poor victim's face. Luckily, she's able to help that last one, and Yelena seems to always know when she's about to sneeze anyway, because they've avoided catastrophe three times due to her perceptiveness and quick reflexes.

"Sorry," Kate mutters sheepishly after one such occurrence, her nose still tickling and her eyes threatening to water, ruining whatever Yelena had been meticulously applying. The look on Yelena's face told her that she was annoyed, but her voice held a very different message.

"Oh, Kate Bishop. You are hopeless," she muttered good naturedly, a fondness in the words that had Kate glowing. Surprising the both of them, Yelena shifts around and straddles her darker counterpart's lap in one fluid motion, the strength and warmth of her thighs settling into Kate.

Kate, predictably, is losing it.

Yelena's blood red dress hitches up and pools around her waist, and even though her legs are covered, Kate tears her eyes away with burning cheeks and meets an inquisitive gaze.

"Everything alright, Kate Bishop?" Yelena mutters, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Kate nods her head in what she hopes is a calm matter, and Yelena giggles softly, shrugging and getting back to work. Kate is so busy keeping her eyes up (which is a completely different problem, because Yelena is stunning) and her hands as far away from Yelena's hips as possible that her brain doesn't even remember to sneeze or flinch at the cold eyeliner and dusty powder.

"Aha! I have done it again!" Yelena cries out victoriously, her eyes glowing as she surveys her work. It's a simpler look, only made tedious by Kate's constant fidgeting, but it was effective nonetheless. A deep purple smokey eye, thick lashes, sharp winged eyeliner, some contour and blush to make her cheekbones pop, and silver glitter along her eyes, nose, and jaw to draw attention to the angles of her face.

Maybe Yelena was a little too good.

She scrambles off of Kate hurriedly, the other woman immediately missing the warmth, and hands the small mirror over so they can both appreciate her work. Kate whistles slowly and turns this way and that, admiring herself for a moment before looking back to Yelena. The dark makeup made the blue of her eyes pop, the color sharp and exciting.

She smiled brightly. "Thank you. Feel better?"

Yelena took a moment to realize what Kate was even talking about, but she eventually nodded and headed to the door in a daze, grabbing her coat.

"Let's get going, Kate Bishop." She managed a grin. "Ice-skating, and then dinner, and then I will show you the proper way to drink vodka."

"Sounds like a plan."

Translations: none

Kate Bishop counter: 17

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[swaps55]

Always

Prompt in the Big Place discord server: write a scene using the words survivor, cluster, and friend.

Instead of a scene it turned into a 2k fic, whatchagonnado.

In which Kaidan and Kara Pendergrass have a very ace conversation.

~

It’s late morning before Kara stumbles out the screen door, blinking into the sunlight, to find Alenko swaying lazily back and forth in the porch swing. A smile touches his face as the voices of Shepard and Aslany carry up the hill from the barn, followed by the whinny of a horse.

Kara sits heavily on the swing beside him, disrupting his moment of quiet contemplation, but she makes up for it by handing him a coffee thermos. “I threw out Shepard’s shit and made this.”

“Thanks,” Alenko says, flashing her a grin. He smiles a lot more these days. They all do, really. Even Aslany.

Alenko takes a long, grateful sip from the thermos. No matter how much you love a guy like Shepard, you can’t love his coffee.

“Think the real survivors of the reapers were everyone who had to drink his bullshit,” she remarks, pushing her foot off the ground to start the swing again and tucking her leg underneath her.

“Yeah, maybe,” Alenko says with a chuckle. He always indulges her stupid jokes.

They sit in comfortable silence. The wind makes the trees wave. The orchard is a lot…friendlier in the summer. The leaves and the blooms and the sun and the warmth make it feel a lot different than that cold winter where reaper cannibals and husks crept in the woods.

Now there’s just deer.

“Surprised he got her in the barn,” Kara says, nodding down the hill. After that string of terrible nights sleeping on haybales and keeping a sniper’s perch in the loft, staring at the clusters of trees and waiting for nightmares to emerge, Aslany had sworn she’d never come here again. But here they are.

“You know Shepard,” Alenko says, lost in thought now. “He’s hard to say no to.”

“She trusts him.”

Alenko gives her the look he gives when he’s putting some pieces together she’s not gonna like. “She trusts you, too.”

Kara shakes her head and draws her feet up onto the swing, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin on her knees. “But she doesn’t think she has to protect him. Me? She has to protect me.”

“We all protect each other. Always have.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just…different with her.” She scowls in frustration. She’s never been good at explaining things. “I can’t take care of her the way she takes care of me. It’s not just a squad thing.”

“Kara, we haven’t been ‘just squad’ in a very long time. Any of us.”

She snerks. “You mean since you started getting naked with one of the squad?”

A flush creeps up the back of his neck. It’s so easy to poke at him sometimes she can’t help herself. “You know what I mean.”

She does, sometimes. But other times…she doesn’t get it at all. She spends about as much time with Aslany as Alenko does with Shepard. If she didn’t have Aslany to spend all her time with and talk her ear off over bad Chinese food that Aslany loves for some reason, she probably wouldn’t spend her time with anyone.

And living alone sounds…well, she’d rather not think about living alone. Too many monsters in her head. Aslany’s, too, based on some of the nights they’ve spent sitting in front of the holoscreen at three in the morning, watching one of Shepard’s stupid B movies and not talking about what happens when they fall asleep.  

Friend doesn’t feel like the right word, which is why she’s always fallen back on squad. But they have no orders to follow anymore, and the only fighting they do these days are chicken fights in the lake. She’s never had a sister, and Aslany shuts down whenever the word ‘sister’ gets thrown around, so that one’s out.

They’ve never fucked. It’s never come up. But it didn’t come up for Shepard and Alenko for a long time before they finally did, and despite all the details Beaudoin shared on the ‘Yang, she doesn’t actually understand how these things work.

She blows a puff of air out the side of her mouth. “When did you know you wanted to fuck him?”

Alenko chokes on his coffee. She pats him patiently on the back until he stops.

“Um,” he manages.

She gives him an expectant look. He hems and haws for a while. Sometimes you just have to be patient while he works things out in his head.

“Why do you want to know?” he says finally.

“Well, at some point you changed from just being squad to sucking his dick, so—”

He holds up one hand to stop her and rubs the bridge of his nose with the other. “Can you just…can you call it…something else?”

“Sucking face?”

“Okay, fine. Sure. I’ll take what I can get.”

He stops talking. The swing creaks. She raises an expectant eyebrow. At first he pretends he doesn’t see it, but eventually he swears under his breath.

“My feelings, uh, changed a few months into the first tour.”

“Damn. You already wanted to fuck him just a few months—”

“No. I don’t work like that. I need…time before that happens. But—” He gestures helplessly. It shouldn’t be so funny to see Alenko so pitiable. He sighs in defeat. “Do you remember Mavigon?”   

“Mavigon.”

“Yeah.”

“The ice storm? That his dumb ass got us stuck in?”

Alenko’s face gets redder by the second. “Yeah. Uh. Well, you know, when it got cold that night and we all had to..."

She dissolves into laughter. “Wait, wait wait wait, no. You wanted to fuck him on Mavigon?”

Alenko’s face does all the stuff it does when he plays out an argument in his head, loses, and concedes without opening his mouth. “Yeah. Okay? Yes. I wanted to fuck him on Mavigon.”

“Still, like, a decade before you actually fucked him.”

“It wasn't a decade.”

Kara shakes her head in admiration and then sniggers. “You are the only person I know who can have both literal and figurative blue balls.”

“Wow, I am really feeling the love and support after offering up some very personal information I’ve never even told Shepard, so—”

“Wait, he doesn’t know how close he came to getting railed on Mavigon?”

“Kara.”

She holds up her hands in surrender. “He won’t hear it from me. On purpose.”

Alenko groans. She grins.

She kicks her feet to get the swing moving again. “Okay, so. What does that…feel like? Wanting to have sex with someone?”

He arches an eyebrow. “Are you wanting to have sex with someone?”

“No. I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. How do you know?”

Now he actually looks thoughtful. “Well. It’s different from me than for a lot of people.”

“You mean Beaudoin?” She snickers into the back of her hand.

“Yeah,” Alenko says, though something sad flicks across his face. Guilt flashes through her. She always forgets that the others still think about his death before they think about his life. “For me I tend not to notice the physical stuff beyond aesthetics, at least not right away.”

“And then, what, one day Shepard’s ass is all you can think about?”

Now he actually cracks a smile. “No. Not quite like that. I just…couldn’t stop thinking about him. All of him. Not one particular piece. Wanted to be around him all the time, hear everything he had to say. When he wasn’t around I just had this…knot in my chest. At some point I started imagining what it would feel like to kiss him and then it, uh. Went from there.”

She scrunches her nose. Kissing Aslany is such an alien thought she can’t even picture it when she tries. Probably not a good sign. “Okay.”

“Why do you ask?”

Her turn to hem and haw a little. She considers lying, but lying never works with Alenko, so she just says it. “I don’t want Aslany to leave me.”

He sits up straighter. “What do you mean?” 

She shrugs a moody shoulder. “I don’t know. She’s my Shepard. But we’re not like you and Shepard. We don’t fuck. We don’t even hold hands, and yeah, I’d kinda like to hold hands sometimes but I don’t wanna get punched and I don’t think I wanna fuck, but I don’t know what it feels like to want to fuck someone, and she does like fucking people and I don’t want to lose her because we don’t.” She stops to catch her breath.

Alenko looks at her for a long time without speaking. She squirms.

“How long have you been worrying about this?”

She stares out at the trees. “Dunno. A while, I guess.”

“Kara. Hey.” He waits until she meets his gaze. “Just because it doesn’t look like what Shepard and I have doesn’t make it mean any less. To you or to her. Everyone’s different. Sex isn’t a requirement for a relationship. Or whatever you want it to be. You get to define it. Even if that means not defining it.”

She nods, and looks back down the hill as Shepard leads his horse out of the barn, Aslany walking a safe distance away. Shepard may be hard to say no to, but even Shepard isn’t going to get Aslany to not be afraid of a horse.

“She cares about you more than most people care about anything,” Alenko says quietly, like he’s seeing a few of his own monsters. “She’s not ever leaving you behind.”

They’ve all seen a lot of shit. Lot of it they’ve seen together.

Shepard leans lazily against the fence, watching the horse graze. He says something and Aslany laughs. Kara’s heart tightens. But…in a good way.

“Thanks, boss,” she says quietly. He puts an arm around her, and she snuggles up to his side. Maybe he’s right. Maybe they’re all more than squad. But squad was pretty good, too.

~

That afternoon they shake the chicken teams up, and it’s Aslany and Alenko against Kara and Shepard in the lake. Shepard complains about her bony ass on his shoulders the entire time, but it’s affectionate, and he does a lot of crowing when they finally manage to dethrone Aslany. After they’ve had enough, Shepard uses his biotics to throw Kara around in the water for a while. They finally climb out when the sun starts to get golden but there’s still warmth in the air. Aslany and Kara lay on their towels and stare up at the sky while Shepard pins Alenko to the ground and makes wisecracks between kisses, grin the size of a planet every time Alenko laughs.

Kara watches them idly, then looks over at Aslany, who ignores them completely. Instead the folds her arms behind her head, her dark hair splayed out behind her head in a wet clump. She closes her eyes and sighs in contentment, her usual standing scowl replaced by not quite a smile.

She might be the most gorgeous person Kara has ever seen, but. Nope. Doesn’t want to kiss her. Or anything else.

“Hey, Aslany. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”    

Kara chews her lip. There’s a cloud in the sky that looks like a pyjack. “Are you ever gonna leave me?”

Aslany lolls her head to the side, the contentment replaced by the look she gives someone who asked a stupid question. “The day you tell me to go, I guess.”

“I’m never gonna say that.”

“Then I’m never leaving.”

Kara grins. “Good.”

Aslany nods in satisfaction before turning her attention back to the sky.

Alenko always makes things make sense. Aslany always makes things so simple.

“Ready to head back to the house?” Shepard asks.

Kara picks her head up. Alenko is still pinned beneath him and looks quite happy to be there. “Dunno, you done sucking face yet?” Alenko gives her the finger, but he’s grinning.

Shepard considers her question. “For now.”

“Then yeah, I guess.” She gets to her feet and offers Aslany a hand to pull her up. They gather their towels and the bag Alenko always brings, because part of him will always be a medic prepared to take care of them when they’re far from home. Shepard starts talking about the B-movie he’s going to inflict upon them when they get home as they walk, Kaidan’s hand gripped firmly in his.

Kara falls into step beside Aslany, like always. But not like always, Aslany reaches out and laces their fingers. It’s awkward, like she doesn’t really know how to do it. Neither of them do, really, and that’s why it’s perfect. Kara beams. Aslany squeezes her hand, with a tiny, tentative smile.

Maybe from some angles, it does look like Alenko and Shepard. From others, it doesn’t. But whatever it is, it’s theirs. And it’s good. And it’s always.

It’s the always part she likes the most.

[thetangycheesemanwithaplan]

Some speculation I have for the next episode!

Yes I'e been having a lot of speculation and maybe (most likely) i'll be wrong but its just some fun ideas I've been having

I talked about this with @buck-up-buck and she is a prophet (check out her posts here to see her vision-with a small contribution from me about the AA meeting being a thing) she has some theories that happen after this theory of mine which I'm excited for her to share with you all as she see's the shrimp colours.

And so with what we've seen in the promo, the still that Tim has shared (I have brightened it so it can be a bit clearer) here's what I think will happen. Especially in this still

So firstly the order of events I believe will be the AA meeting then the Bathena conversation and then the motel drama, just as we are shown in the promo. There will be other things sprinkled in but the next two eps will be very Bobby centric. So when i saw this still i immediately thought of the following ideas/spec:

So Amir makes his speech at the AA meeting, it slowly dawns on Bobby the connection they share and obviously this sends Bobby mentally spiralling. It's been 10 years since the fire and Bobbys come far but hearing from someone who he affected by his past actions is definitely going to stir up shit (duh). I feel like we may get some flashbacks to the fire, maybe even Amir's perspective (how he got his scars) because our boy Amir is angry (you saw his stare, seeing bobby has reignited his fire). I feel like Bobby may attempt to speak to him after but Amir is angry and storms out or Bobby is in shock and cant say anything.

We then see the conversation with Bathena. It looks like Athena was asleep and Bobby hadn't come to bed yet. Athena woke up and came looking for Bobby to find him hunched over his laptop going into a bit of a dive on Amir and who he was and who he lost. Athena maybe talks to him about it and Bobby is very much adamant on making amends (Step 9). Athena wants to support him but the sergeant in her is concerned at this guy. So she supports him in the moment but hatches her own little plan.

And here is where we see the still (it's clearly at the hospital)

Athena has found out where this guy works and goes to speak to him. Amir is just finishing his shift when Athena catches him. She introduces her self and that she's Bobby's wife. Amir is immediately angered by this but keeps himself calm, only showing annoyance. Athena talks about how she knows who he is through Bobby and that she's sorry for Amir's loss. She expresses concern for how he raised the issue to Bobby and asks that they can work towards making amends. She says that Bobby has come so far to turn his life around (gives examples of what Bobby has accomplished. Captain of the 118, his new family with her and the steps he has taken in recovery) and all he wants to do is carry on moving forward. She doesn't want this incident to cause Bobby to fall of the wagon, they've been through a lot and she's concerned (she also getting alarm bells from this guys so is trying to gauge his intent whilst also trying to clear the air)

I think this angers Amir, again he wont show it but it sparks something in him further than what has already been sparked. He starts scheming (@buck-up-buck's theories about the loft burning down hehe) I feel like he'll make some comment to Athena about how he's glad Bobby could move on so easily whilst everyone else was left cleaning up the mess(throw back to the comment he made to Maddie) Obviously Athena defends her husband and says something like "it was far from easy, he clawed his way out of the darkest place and fought tooth and nail to get where he is now. If he can do it so can you." cause Athena has clocked that this guy is massively holding a grudge.

But Amir doesn't want to hear it and maybe just says something like 'Good for him' before walking away from the conversation.Amir is angry because its been 10 years and he's still affected by the fire, he hasn't let go of the pain and the hurt (as he mentioned in his speech) but now seeing that the guy who caused it has a new family, that he's moved on and is happy, is captain of a firehouse (irony not lost on him) and Amir has been left scared and hurt and his life hasn't bounced back just absolutely fuels his revenge plan.

Athena tells Bobby that she tried to reason with Amir but there was no reasoning with him and that he's very angry still. She tells Bobby she knows he needs to make amends and he should but also says he should be careful and wait for him to calm down a bit first and that whatever he does he shouldn't do it alone. Bobby of course listens and agrees but also he understands Amir better than anyone and thinks he can get through to him (remember Bobby is shook up by this whole thing and won't make the smartest decisions) so when Amir reaches out and asks Bobby to meet at the Easy Motel, Bobby does go and then, Amir starts his revenge

Amir wants Bobby to suffer again like he did (he doesn't acknowledge that Bobby did loose everything in that fire, he's to blinded by his own grief and mad that Bobby has a shiny new life and seems unbothered by his past to listen to reason) he wants to rip Bobby's family away from him, saying he doesn't deserve a second chance.

[nikethestatue]

The Paperman

Elriel Month 2023

I don't even know what the prompt is, but I wrote this. Thanks to @gracie-rosee for suggesting Paperman.

It's short and has language.

For A. 

Always the man of my dreams

When you know, you know, right?

And I knew. 

I knew that the girl with the big brown cow eyes–maybe doe eyes would be more appropriate–would be irreversibly tied to me. In some strange, cosmic way, in that sugary sweet Nicholas Sparks loopy, wordy nonsense, I just felt it. In my gut. My dick. My brain. Don’t want to say heart, but I have to admit, in my heart too. 

Brown-eyed girl was the girl. 

Only problem is, I didn’t know who the girl with the cow eyes was. Or how to find her.

It was a blustery day, so common in April, in Chicago. The weather playing mind games with the occupants of the city, taunting them with warmth and sunshine in the morning, only to plunge the temperatures to near freezing by the afternoon. Ha. Ha. Ha. Suckers!

I was standing on the CTA platform that morning, opting not to take the car to work, and now berating myself for that. ‘It’s a nice spring day’ they said. ‘A little windy’ they lied. It wasn’t nice and it wasn’t a ‘little windy’. Like a dumbass, I decided to walk to work, and not 3 blocks in, I was fucking freezing. Now, I am a big guy. I am 6”6 (like I said, I am a big guy), and you’d think that big guys, with 4% body fat and a couple of stints in Afghanistan back in the 2000s would be okay with the wind and the cold that was coming off the lake. I don’t know what it was about me–maybe it was that back then, I was in my early 20s, running hot all the time, or maybe it was my huge ass beard, or all the velcro gear that I had to schlep around on my body–but now that I was 34, I sure couldn’t tolerate the cold quite as well as I did back then.

Hence, me standing on the open platform, waiting for the train. Freezing my nuts off.

And then, Miss Thing saunters in. And to me, she is the best thing since…forever. Forget sliced bread. All I hear in my head is ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC. Or AccaDacca as my Aussie friends call it. 

So I stand there, in the howling wind, under the shade of the old timey skyscrapers, shivering like a wet poodle in only my suit…and…

I am falling in love.

Like, legit falling in love. 

Tumbling.

Because cow-eyes is perfection. 

I find myself thinking that she is everything that I’d ever wanted.

I am not a white picket fence kind of a guy, but if there was a girl that i’d trade my loft for, and end up in the suburbs with, mowing the lawn every Sunday and going to Costco to pick up 96 rolls of toilet paper–this is the girl I’d do it for. 

I am hoping she is not one for the Costco trips: because if she is perfect, if she is mine, if she is carved out of my own damn rib, if she was placed here, on this platform because she belongs to me, then Miss Cow Eyes isn’t a Costco girl.

But I don’t even care. 

I stare like a creeper, because if I close my eyes, I fear that she’d just disappear and I’d have to be committed, due to some intense nervous breakdown, because I let MY GIRL go and didn’t approach her.

Now, here’s where being 6”6 sucks. 

Yeah, I got a nice Italian bespoke suit on, and my watch costs more than a house, but I also got neck tattoos, hand tattoos, Freddy Kreuger-level scarred hands, and I am 6”6 and I scare the ladies even on a good day. Yeah, I fucked a lot, still do–though now that I am in love with Cow-Eyes, I am going to be faithful forever–but the girls I fuck(ed) were still cautious, and only found their courage after the help of some alcoholic liquids. They are never disappointed when they say ‘yes’ and take a walk on the wild side with yours truly, but Cow-Eyes doesn’t seem like that kind of a girl.

She is like…pure. 

Not sure. 

Maybe she is not pure, but she is a good girl. 

She’s got a cute pink and gray checkered coat on, she’s got cute white Adidas skater shoes on, cute jeans, and a cute pink beanie, on her extremely cute head. Waves of golden brown hair whip around her perfect face, smacking around the red-painted lips that I am absolutely sure I will kiss one day. And do some other very objectionable, but very hot things with. The sight of her makes me think depraved thoughts, even though she is just standing there, being all cute, clutching a leather folder to her chest. The chest–I also want to do unmentionable things with.

Here I am, suffocating with love and lust, and Cow-Eyes has no idea and the wind is just brutal. 

A gust hits us so hard, it almost knocks her off her feet. She takes an awkward Bambi step, trying to hold on to all her crap, and I, being a gentleman and a dick, let her fall right into me. Into my ever-loving arms she stumbles, clutches my biceps with her little hands that have short, imperfect nails, and her sweet Altoids-y breath washes over me, as I hold her up. She smiles at me, all cute and flustered, and I smile like a shark, because I smell the delicious scent of fresh meat. My meat. This will all be mine, very soon.

The rumble of the upcoming train sends me into a sudden panic. 

Are we sharing the same train?

Is she hopping on one and I am on the other?

Are we destined to miss each other like two ships in the night? Nope. Not if I have anything to do with it.

Cow-Eyes is blushing like a virgin, touched for the very first time, and I don’t want to let her go, but I also don’t want it to be weird.

It’s already weird, because I am in love with her, and she doesn’t know it. She doesn’t know that she will be in love with me too. Like this is how weird this is–here I am, staring at the future mother of my children (I am hoping for twins, boy and girl, but I am flexible), and the love of my life is trembling in my arms, not knowing that I will be attempting to impregnate her pretty soon (with consent, don’t worry).

The crowds swell and she separates from me, while another gust of wind almost fells us all down. In this instance, all it does is it makes her lose hold on her folder, and out flies a piece of paper that smacks her right in her perfect face. 

I am losing her. She is fleeing my arms and I am feeling hollow and fucking empty, like she just tore a piece of my soul and took it with her. Dismayed, I watch her shoulder her way inside the train car, and she gives me a look…And I fucking freeze. Because the look is raw and full of understanding. Like she’d known me all of my life. Like she understands every strand of my being and every fucked up thought in my head. Cow Eyes blink at me, and the doors close and I watch her go. Away. Without me. 

I am so discombobulated, I feel as if a limb was severed and her phantom presence is still with me, the scent of perfume and Altoids marks my skin, my shirt, but she is not here.

Dazed. I am dazed and confused, and I watch the train snake forward, feeling like a new bride watching her lover go off to war never to see him again. 

Fuck.

How do I find a girl in the city of 5 million?

My girl.

My Cow Eyes. 

My beautiful girl who is cute head to toe and who’ll have me as a husband, and will never lose me in the crowd, because she can always spot a 6”6 monstrosity with neck tats. 

Now, who is dry humping my leg?

I look down, and there is a piece of paper wrapped around my pant, stuck there and held up by the wind. Thanks buddy! Never loved the wind as much as I love it right now. There is a rowdy looking pigeon that’s eyeing my paper like a bastard, or maybe it’s the remnants of the burrito that someone graciously tossed right on the platform, because throwing it out in a garbage bin is too much work apparently. Anyway, I don’t care, because I beat the pigeon to it and sweep the paper up in my hand, before he flies into my leg like a bull attacking a matador. I nudge the burrito towards him–buon appetito, pal–and look at the paper.

First thing–there is a perfect imprint of my girl’s lovely lips right on the paper. It’s smeared a bit, as she’s been sucki-

Okay, focus. Time for that later. The pouty outline of her lips is pure deliciousness, but I am not after spank bank material right now. Priorities and all.

It’s an invoice of some kind. To a tattoo shop.

What?

My girl looks like she’d faint at the sight of needles, but maybe I am totally misreading her? What if babygirl has a sleeve going? I mean, even I am doubting that this is the case, but why the heck would she have an invoice for some dude named Martin Scalia for $350 from Jade Eyes Tattoo and Piercing Parlour, LTD. Props to the British spelling of ‘parlor’--a classy move–but Jade Eyes??? They literally have some kind of unfathomable connection to Cow-Eyed Girl and they call it ‘Jade Eyes’? Dumb.

-

I am pensive and kind of an asshole for the rest of the day.

I have Martin Scalia’s invoice sitting on my desk in my office, and I am staring at the slightly smeared lipstick imprint like I am deranged. 

I am deranged.

I have an 800 million deal that I am working on, but all I can think of is my girl. I look out at the vast expanse of the city, its skyline dotted with an endless number of skyscrapers, all looking like overly erect dicks, the dickest of which is of course the Trump Tower. And somewhere, in this Forest of Dicks, is my girl. Who is currently not with me, and that’s just throwing me. She should be resting her sweet ass on my lap right now, looking at me adoringly, calling me ‘my love’ or ‘master’ and eagerly thinking of what I would do with her once we get home. Instead, she is gallivanting somewhere unknown to me and it’s irritating as fuck. 

My buddy Cass sticks his big head in the door of my office and asks me if I am in love, because I am, apparently, mooney-eyed. He snags a look at Martin’s invoice and the lipstick smear, then grins like an asshole and leaves me be, while whistling ‘Strangers in the Night’. I love him as much as I hate him. But mostly love. I only love two people–Cow-Eyes and Cass.

I am sprinting out of the office and onto the street like a young buck. I am a young buck. Or maybe, a middle-aged buck, but I have a plan and it’s giving me wings. I get into an Uber and we drive all the way to UIC, which, in my opinion, is still a neighbourhood that’s shady as fuck. I hope that my girl is safe walking around here. 

The car drops me off at the infamous Jade Eyes Tattoo shop.

I am gonna be honest here, I didn’t give this too much thought.

My brain is so full of my Cow-Eyed girl, that there is absolutely no space left for anything else. Like planning. Like not being a creeper and just barging in. Or considering that she might not even be there. Why would she be? Maybe she is an accountant and this is her client? I guess I can beat the shit out of the tattoo guys and demand to know the whereabouts of their sexy, gorgeous, perfect, incredible, stunning accountant who will be my wife, though I prefer not to go that route. I try to be peaceful. Usually. 

Also, she cannot be an accountant.

She is definitely a writer. Yes. She writes dark romances. I can feel it.

So….I actually don’t have a plan.

But I walk in anyway and figure I’d play it by ear. 

And there she is. The beanie is off and her golden hair is gilded by the light, gleaming light the sun at dawn.

Those large brown eyes flicker and blink, and she recongises me. The moment is right there. Seared into my memory forever. She blinks. And she knows me. She knows me through time and space, like I know her. She is my girl. It’s inevitable.

When you know, you know. Right?

“Go on a date with me,” I order.

“Okay,” she says. 

[alexanderlightweight]

Wednesday prompt: your reblogged Edom gif set gave me an idea: Alec being hounded by his family to move on from Magnus, with him being in Edom, claiming the just want what is best for him to the point where he is going „fine, let me tell you all the lie that I moved on to have some peace for planning“ to pull the biggest power move behind their backs to get himself to his man and ultimately his man and himself back where he belongs.

i loved this prompt and i love the idea it gave you that you then shared with me <3

okay i think i should admit at this point that sometimes i start to answer asks but then get distracted by formatting and forget to double check that i actually finished writing at the beginning

but i remembered and i am trying to be better

lumine

mentioned but not actual suicide

-

Alec isn’t sure what he expected.

Support, he thinks.

He’d thought that for the first time, he might actually get support in the moment he needed it the most, from the people who have started showing that they actually love him. That Alec is more than what he can do for his family and their name.

Instead, everyone acts like it should be easy for him to move on. That seeing Magnus ever again is impossible and that he needs to stop thinking about his fiancé.

It’s been months at this point and Alec is growing desperate and when they meet to discuss possibilities, even Cat is giving him sympathetic, pained looks — though she never tries to stop him.

—

Alec takes a deep breath and reminds himself that if this fails it doesn’t really matter.

Magnus is stuck in Edom — alone — whether or not he tries this and if he dies, well at least Magnus won’t know to mourn him until it’s far too late and he’s hopefully moved on.

The angelic core sings to him in the same way it has ever since Magnus used it to purge the leylines. It calls to him with crooning vibrations that shake the very blood in his veins. If this works, Alec will be sturdy enough to survive Edom, to survive whatever demonic powers will try to subdue him.  It might not be pleasant, but he’ll be able to live there, with Magnus.

—

Cat stares at Alec in shock before she’s shaking her head and she pulls him quickly inside, throwing up the background wards to ensure Madzie won’t wake and come out.

“You did it then?” She asks, reaching out to touch him with diagnostic magic. The results are unfamiliar but there is nothing specifically wrong and so she lets her magic fade, conserving it for the spell she’ll need to cast.

“It worked.” Alec says and he’s not smiling but he’s not gritting his teeth so whatever discomfort he’s feeling, it’s not enough to slow him down.

“And your family? The Institute?”

“The Institute is going to think I killed myself by throwing myself into the angelic core.” Alec says dryly, voice hoarse and face a little stiff. “It unraveled me, before it changed me, Cat. I came back to myself in our loft, in our bed clutching Magnus’ robe. When they look at the video footage and the heat signatures of the Institute, they’ll assume I’m dead. My family will have no reason to think otherwise.”

He doesn’t say what happened to his parabatai bond, but Cat doesn’t ask aware how sensitive of a subject it is.

“Well… I suppose that’s a pity for them.” Cat is too tired to care about shadowhunters other than Magnus’ partner. Especially when Alec is the only shadowhunter out of the ungrateful lot who actually cares that Magnus sacrificed himself.  Even Alec’s siblings are far too busy celebrating to even let their brother mourn and Cat will never forgive them for the disrespect they’re showing Magnus or Alec by their actions.

Magnus Bane is not someone easily gotten over, and Cat is pleased that Alec is devoted enough to go after Edom, it’s what Magnus deserves.

—

Magnus has spent months shoring up his power, demolishing his father’s palace and building his own. It’s built from demon bone, and it is a maroon so deep it’s nearly black and it gleams like arterial blood when Edom’s twin suns rise.

Lilith has kept herself hidden since their last skirmish and ever sense Magnus’ found and tamed the krakens of Edom’s deep abyssal lakes, he’s had to worry about her less. It means that he’s completely aware when magic alerts him to a magical intrusion.

It’s gentle in a way that Edom has nearly forced Magnus to forget, and he reaches out curiously, ready to destroy it but wanting to know what it is, even if it is a trick from Lilith.

It only takes a touch for him to recognize it as Cat’s magic.  Magnus stares with an almost detached surprise as he gathers the giant cloud of magic to himself. It’s nearly crystallized with how dense it is and Magnus wonders what Cat thought was so important that she’d not only risk sending it to him but give so much of herself to get to him safely.

His heart doesn’t let him hope and it’s not until the magic cracks away and an unconscious Alexander falls into his arms, that Magnus realizes the gift he’s been given.

There is a note, undoubtedly with instructions and explanations, but all Magnus can do is hold Alexander to him. His darling fiancé, his sweet, earnest boy is here, in Magnus’ arms.

Alexander came to him, he fought for him.

Because Magnus knows something is different and that Cat would only have sent Alec to him if she was sure Alexander could survive Edom.  His boy isn’t a vampire, and he still has his runes. His breath is soft and slow against Magnus’ neck, and it brings a sweet relief to feel it. Magnus will learn how to wake him in a moment but for now, the joy of simply holding Alexander outweighs even the desire to hear his name on Alexander’s lips.

So, Magnus holds his boy close with his arms and his magic and he vows that the next time Lilith comes, Magnus will destroy her properly.

For now, that his fiancé is here, Magnus will suffer nothing less than being the true ruler of Edom.

He is finished playing games.

-

I realize the prompt asked for alec to help get them back but honestly, that boy was 'I must get to magnus. it is a need, not a want' and then he went and did it and he made absolutely no plans beyond 'we'll have our wedding in edom if i have to make lilith be the officiant'

magnus: alexander i realize that you thought this out but what about things? like

alec: you mean the things that you like that you must be missing and cat and i both refused to give up so she helped me gather as many of your pocket dimensions as we could find and cat created a few extra and then she sealed them to my soul so they wouldn't get torn away from me because we hated the thought of you down here by yourself without any of the comforts you like

magnus hands shaking as he opens a pocket and finds his favorite blend of tea that ragnor and cat never would tell him how to make, along with a copied and sealed recipe in ragnor's handwriting. and plenty of ingredients to make it with. a whole pocket of cat's specially made potions and another of her poisions and cat did stasis charms on specialty food/etc.

like cat and alec planned the fuck out of this. they could only focus on one goal which was getting alec live to magnus and him staying that way. but they were also going to sure as fuck bring/send magnus everything he could possibly need and want.

cat wasn't going to give up on magnus, especially not with a determined, powerful adn recklessly in love shadowhunter racing her for most obsessed to help magnus.

she and madzie had weekly nights where they would go shop all weekend and get 'care packages ready to send with Alec when he goes to live with Magnus' and Madzie drew a lot of pictures and made little magical figurines and she made catarina go to the nightmarket and they got magical fairly lights and lanterns and lamps for alec and magnus and lots of blankets so magnus and alec can have blanket forts together even if they cn't with madzie anymore (her idea).

he also is taking all of magnus' portable libraries they could find and whatever of ragnor's cat's not using on her end (they're trying to find a waay to communicate easier)

[bug3y3ddd]

Chapter 4

( Source D’espoir )

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚ ⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚ ⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩𖥔˚⋆.˚

I'm not sure what to say to her.

How do you even comfort someone after this type of story too.

If I compliment her and reassure that she is pretty, it'll feel like a pity compliment.

In my little experience, the best type of comfort is silence but acknowledgement.

So I grab her hand and squeeze it gently.

There's a moment where we're back to staring at each other, I can't describe what our eyes said to each other but it seemed to say all the comforting words she needed to hear.

" So where do we go from here? " I ask.

" To your new house. " She says with a smile.

We finish our food and head out.

The scenery is so different.

So many buildings, lights, and people outside even though it's 3 in the morning. I watch the girl in front me guide me, she looks back every few moments as if she's scared that I'm going to let go of her hand.

I won't.

We walked for what seemed hours and finally arrived at this small building. The pink color of the building has faded and yellow undertones have overcome the building. Railing that had rusted, and three small steps leading up to the small door.

The door creaks when we open it. On the side is a small counter with an old lady behind it. She smiles and greets Lucia. She gives a soft smile to me as well.

We make our way through the dim lighted hallway and take the elevator to the highest floor.

Room 72

I'm not sure what to expect behind this door. When she opens the door, I'm surprised at how warm it is inside. The smell of oranges fill my nose, it's lived in, the house has a calming presence.

Like her.

Her dining table has two chairs on either side. The chairs don't match, one is pink with fringe, the other is brown with wood carving details on the side. A small round table sits between the two chairs, her kitchen is small but tidy.

The apartment is small but big enough for two people. It's a loft so it looks more big than it is. Her floors covered with clothes, shoes, bags, fabrics, and basically any other type of accessory.

" Sorry, I wasn't really expecting to have a new roommate. " She says while looking at the mess.

" It's fine, my room was the same. " I say.

She chuckles and begins to pick up some of the clothes, I crouch down and help her, it's crazy how many different tops she has. I wore the same 5 t-shirts basically every week.

As I help her put on her clothes I see all the posters she has up, random knick knacks everywhere, so many mirrors, and a lot of figurines.

So she likes Tommy February6 l, Lamp, The Sundays, likes porcelain figurines, anything pink with lace trimming, and likes fishes?

For some reason she has pictures of fishes up on her wall.

Only blue ones.

" Thanks for helping, I swear I'm usually more clean. Kind of. " She says while hanging up a top.

She claps and turns to me.

" Let's go to bed, I'm too tired to continue right now. " She says and grabs my arm.

She takes me up the stairs and we fall together on her bed. We settle in, turn the lights off, and just lay next to each other.

A couple minutes pass and she turns to face me.

" Usually we get to know a person before moving in with them. " She says with a chuckle.

I turn to face her as well.

" Usually. " I say with a smile.

" Well let's start over. I'm Lucia Forlorn, 20, I make clothes for living, and I love anything pretty. " She says. That explains all the clothes, and all the figurines and knick knacks she has.

" I'm Lola Morose. I just turned 20, unemployed and uh I like music a lot. " I say, I'm embarrassed that I don't have anything else to add.

" When did you turn twenty? " She asks.

" Yesterday. " I say.

' WHAT?! " She says and sits up quickly. My eyes widened in surprise.

She starts mumbling to herself and the nail of her thumb. She then turns to me and says " I'm gonna make sure you have the best birthday ever tomorrow! "

" huh? "

[mrsreginagold]

Fic: I Stretch Out The Time And Now I Know Why

Fandom: Nikita 

Pairing: Ari Tasarov x Nikita Mears (Nikari)

Rating: R

Spoilers: Canon-Divergent Series AU. Takes place during season one. Summary: Ari and Nikita return to her loft after an escape gone awry.

Author's Note: There is admittedly a ton of traction when it comes to what-if scenarios for this pairing. The premise of this was simple: I was curious what it would have looked like if Nikita and Ari had started working together back in season one. I imagine it would go similarly to how this fic starts, but I doubt canon would have ever been so bold to allow them a romance. Luckily -- that's where my skill set comes in 😉

On AO3

I Stretch Out The Time And Now I Know Why

                  “Might I ask what you were thinking when you threw the box into the river?” Ari Tasarov grumbled, crossing his arms in an effort to stop shaking after his dive into freezing water to retrieve it. 

                  “You didn’t have to go after it!” Nikita Mears resisted the urge to smack him on the side of the head for such a foolish action. “We could have left Percy’s dark secrets lurking at the bottom where they belong, but no. You’re so damn obsessed!”

                  “I’m obsessed?” He whirled on her, his stunning blue eyes flashing dangerously. “Need I remind you that you came to me?! You practically begged for me to help you locate the thing!”

                  “That’s because I thought it would give us both the upper hand on Division, but I had no idea Roan of all people was going to chase after us,” she ran her fingers carelessly through her damp hair. After Ari had jumped into the water, she had only felt it was right to go after him. The only benefit was that, due to it being cold, the Cleaner that had been sent after them had not followed. The blanket of night also gave them a much-appreciated advantage, so they could make it to her loft undetected. It just would have been a lot easier if they both weren’t soaked to the skin. 

                  Ari didn’t bother to argue further, though it was probably because he was focusing on trying not to shiver so badly. 

                  Pity clenched at her heart despite her irritation, as she also fared little better. Gently, she curled a hand around his arm. “Come on. It’s not much further and we need to get inside.”

                  He simply nodded and allowed her to guide him. 

                  They reached their destination shortly after. After ushering Ari into her home, Nikita quickly turned on the heat, and then gestured at the bathroom. “Why don’t you get out of those clothes and dry off? I’ll bring you something to change into in a second.”

                  “Dare I ask why you would have men’s clothing lying around?” he raised an eyebrow, though he was already in the process of removing his water-logged suit jacket. 

                  “I kept some of Daniel’s things,” she admitted, melancholy twinging in her stomach at the mention of her deceased fiancé. 

                  The former Gogol operative went still, clearly recognizing the sadness in her tone. “Are you sure you’re okay with me wearing them?”

                  She shook her head, her lips curving up in a brief, forlorn smile. “It’s fine, Ari. It’s not like they were getting much use. Besides, you’re about the same height, so it should fit fine.” She cast her gaze over him and found it difficult not to stare. His white dress shirt was nearly transparent from being dripping wet, clinging to a torso that was remarkably defined from what she could see. 

                  She turned away so he wouldn’t notice the flush in her cheeks. “Anyway – there’s fresh towels. Just make sure to leave me one so I can wring out my hair. I’ll change in here.”

                  “All right, I shouldn’t be too long. Leave the clothes outside the door and let me know they’re there.” 

                  She glanced back in time to see him slip the shirt off – giving her a nice view of his broad shoulders and a flawlessly toned back – before he shut the bathroom door for privacy. 

                  She inhaled deeply to calm the longing that had surfaced. It had been a while since she was left alone with a man that she found attractive, and she needed to focus. 

                  First, she quickly undressed and wiped the moisture on her skin off with a spare blanket, which she wrapped around her body so she could find clothing for both of them.

                  Then, after changing into a pair of yoga leggings and a tunic, she deposited the spare set of clothes outside her bathroom door and knocked so that Ari knew it was ready. 

                  She made a quick exit to her kitchen and went about brewing some hot tea. It would soothe her nerves and warm them both up, which was something that was arguably needed after their escape. 

                  Questions began to whirl around her mind as she prepared two mugs for the hot beverages. At the forefront was the most obvious: namely, how long her companion would be staying. If it was for a significant amount of time, they would have to discuss sleeping arrangements.  She also had to consider how they would retrieve the information from the Black Box that he had been so adamant in salvaging. 

                  And then there was keeping the desire at bay to kiss him, which had only grown stronger in the past few minutes. 

                  She sighed quietly as she measured out the right amount of sugar for the mint tea she had chosen. 

                  “Need any help?” the resonant timbre of Ari’s voice broke her out of her reverie, and she twisted around to tell him that it wasn’t necessary, only for coherent speech to disappear completely when she got a good look. 

                  The dark blue jeans fit him impeccably as she had suspected, but that wasn’t exactly what had captured her attention. 

                  She had left him with a couple choices of tee shirts, but he had forgone them entirely, revealing a beautifully muscled torso instead.

                  Her crush was standing bare-chested in her kitchen. She couldn’t think or speak or even move because of this. 

                  She was also fairly certain that he was aware of her distress because the corners of his incredibly soft-looking mouth twitched upwards, as if holding back a laugh, before he took a step towards her. “You didn’t answer my question.”

                  Well, yeah because you’re currently half-naked and very, very sexy, and I swear you’re doing it on purpose. She desperately tried to form actual words but failed. 

                  He continued to move forward, until he was practically on top of her, and it would only take a slight movement to be touching him. 

                  “Ari…I,” she licked over suddenly dry lips, still unable to find her voice due to his proximity and just how attractive he happened to look. His dark brown hair was ruffled, errant strands crossing partially over his forehead. Thanks to the bright overhead light in her kitchen: she could discern hints of silver at his temples. It was also easy to tell that the cobalt shade of his irises was becoming rapidly invisible due to his pupils dilating, which was a sign of his desire for her. Droplets of water still visible on his skin caused the hair that dusted his chest to be plastered directly to it, which only added to the sensual picture that he painted. 

                  He was impossible handsome while fully clothed. Now he was being borderline unfair.

                  She was conscious of the kettle beginning to whistle, but she couldn’t quite tear herself away. 

                  He took care of the issue for her by reaching around and turning the dial to the stove to off. “I wouldn’t want you burning this place down.”

                  “Right. That would be embarrassing,” she mumbled, finally daring to touch him by placing her palms on his chest. “Did you even want tea?”

                  His hands settled on the small of her back, and with a swift tug, he had drawn her flush against him. “Maybe in the morning.”

                  Nikita tipped her head back, so she could peer up at him. Being so close meant she could distinguish the flecks of green in the otherwise clear blue depths that stared back at her. 

                  Her pulse hummed as Ari bridged what little space was left between them, first grazing his lips along hers tentatively to test the waters before he took the chance and initiated a proper kiss. 

                  Pleasant warmth eased up her spine. He gathered her close, his hands sliding up under the hem of her shirt to caress at bare skin while the embrace turned increasingly feverish. 

                  A jolt of arousal shot straight to her center when he nipped at her mouth, outlining the shape of her lips imploringly till she granted him entry. 

                  With minimal effort, he lifted her up to rest on the nearby counter, and she felt him grin when she yanked him in further and circled her legs around his waist. 

                  If she was being logical, she would have stopped him when he peeled her shirt up over her head. She definitely would have paused after her leggings followed suit but then the jeans he’d borrowed were cast aside too. 

                  Rational thought flew out the window entirely once he hoisted her into his arms and carried her to the bed located in the furthest corner of the room. 

                  Completely naked, they fell back against the covers, unable to stop kissing or touching for more than a few seconds. 

                  She rapidly decided to tell her reason to shut up, and focused instead on giving in. 

                  Morning announced its arrival with pale light, which washed over the couple still dozing in Nikita’s bed. 

                  The rogue agent was the first to wake, a content smile crossing her lovely features when she noticed how deeply Ari was slumbering. 

                  He had earned his rest after proving an attentive, extremely giving lover the night before, and she was happy to let him, as it allowed her plenty to admire.

                  She followed the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slept, her gaze trailing lazily along the jut of his hip. The sheets were pooled around his waist, exposing plenty of his pale skin, and one arm was curled beneath his pillow, while the other was slung over her protectively under the covers. 

                  Should be downright criminal…looking that good first thing, she stretched, reaching out to push his bed-mussed hair away from his forehead. 

                  He stirred at her touch, his eyes fluttering open slowly. 

                  Her heart began to beat rapidly when she was swept into that familiar sea of blue, a loving smile crossing his lips before he greeted her with a tender kiss. 

                  She sighed against his mouth and pulled him forward, her hands coasting deliberately down a sculpted abdomen while he turned and trapped her between his body and the mattress. 

                  As far as she was concerned: every day should start with exquisitely crafted lovemaking, and it was clear that he was happy to provide. 

                  He tugged away from their embrace to nuzzle her nose with his. “Hi.”

                  “What’s this? The normally eloquent Ari Tasarov reduced to simple words?” She teased, her eyes glittering playfully. 

                  He chuckled. “It’s early and I’m preoccupied.”

                  “Clearly,” she arced her hips, starting them off on a slow, rocking motion that he matched in pace, his fingers entwining with hers as they became consumed with one another. 

                  The best part, arguably, was that they were equals in every sense of the word. Being able to sense what the other wanted only spurred their movements further, instantly leading to an almost blinding heat.

                  Bliss was quickly achieved, the pair collapsing back into the nest of blankets after they reached their pinnacle in unison. 

                  Nikita carded her hands through Ari’s hair while they recovered, still tangled hopelessly and in no hurry to move. 

                  He was easily distracted with tracing over the phoenix tattoo located on her hip. “Is there a meaning behind this?”

                  She glanced at it before replying. “I got it not long after I was recruited by Division. It made sense back then, a symbol of resurrection.”

                  “Still makes sense now, actually,” he shifted in order to lay on his side, face-to-face with her, and resumed stroking at the design. “It’s also a symbol of strength, and if there’s anyone that I know that’s brave enough to take down not one but two organizations hell-bent on covering up their actions: it’s you.”

                  “Is it bravery?” she curled up against him, listening to the beat of his heart and letting it soothe her. “Or am I not able to let go and move on?”

                  “I suppose that depends on how you look at it, but I prefer to think of it as bravery. I mean, you got me to change allegiances, didn’t you?”

                  “Yes, but,” she dropped a kiss to the center of his chest. “Are we enough? It’s just you and me and Alex right now. Maybe Owen if he can kick the Guardian programming.”

                  His mouth brushed along her forehead sweetly. “Sounds like you’d feel better if you got more recruits.”

                  “Maybe,” she sighed. “I don’t really want to think about it right this second. We should just take a day. Relax. Especially after all that happened last night.”

                  “Whatever you want is fine by me, love.”

                  “Right now, it’s you. Just you,” she looked up at him with a gracious smile. “Is that okay?”

                  “Absolutely.”

                  And given that he showed how much he approved of her idea with a passion-filled kiss, she knew he meant it. 

The End