#and is like sorry buddy will you take this to Thena?

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy Addams Family AU? 🔥

The curtains fluttered in the breeze, the air simply too hot to close all the windows. They swayed further into the library and then back towards the sun streaming in, as if gossiping with the rays and the shelves about what they witnessed.

His mouth was hot against hers, tongues dallying in a way she had never imagined tongues could do. She had never seen him quite so demanding, always soft spoken and amiable. He was a true gentleman, and the gentleman had his hand sliding up her leg, heavy skirts of her dress be damned.

Thena turned the page delicately, as if the sound of it would immediately alert her mother to the book of hers Thena had found sitting unguarded. She wasn't allowed to read any of Mother's romances. Something about them not being for her eyes. But she was quite ready to be free of her parents, she thought. And it was just a book.

Gil would tell her to read it.

Her back hit the shelves behind her as they continued in their lasciviousness. He uttered a sound that rumbled from his chest. His hands grew feverish, clawing up her dress until he could grasp her thigh and hoist her higher. His lips, ever demanding, pressed to her neck, following the path of her throat to the neckline of her dress.

Thena sunk further down against her many pillows. Her legs twisted under her plush white duvet. The prose of the book were certainly romantic. Perhaps more...detailed than she would have expected.

He pushed her dress up further and further. The skirts of it pooled up around him until she no longer had an unobstructed view of him. She had half a mind to ask what he was doing, but the half a mind she possessed still became hazy. His mouth pressed to the inside of her thigh, dragging her stockings down and out of his way. She did not know mouths were meant for these sorts of things.

What sorts of things?

His tongue found her first. That clever, gentle and sometimes overly honest tongue he possessed. It touched her in her barest form, sliding around the bends and folds of her. He pressed it firmly to the nerves collected at the peak of her womanhood. She had never felt such sensations before.

Thena shifted in her bed again. She wasn't entirely sure what nerves they were talking about, nor why they were calling it 'her womanhood'. She swallowed but it sounded dry to her ears, her room otherwise deathly silent. Not even Theseus was awake.

Her back arched. She ran her fingers through the thick locks of dark hair upon his head. He kissed her between her legs the same way he had her mouth. Sounds she had never before uttered escaped her. Her cheeks were flushed hot. The rest of her flushed hotter.

Thena indeed found herself pressing her fingertips to her cheeks. Her legs squirmed again. She made a face as she pressed her thighs together, a curious sensation building between them. She could picture the happenings of the book well. The man with his broad shoulders, his dark hair.

It built and built until she was on the precipice of undoing. She tilted her head up, her breasts heaving against her corset. The thick collection of her brown hair-

No, no that wasn't right. Thena squeezed her eyes shut, her legs rubbing like a cricket's. That wasn't what was in her head. She dug her shoulders into her pillow. She lost where she was on the page, hunting to continue.

His manhood-

Again with the obscurities. She at least knew the word for it.

His manhood throbbed in the open air. She had little time to examine it in its glory before he was bringing her hips closer, to the very edge of the ladder until they could be joined.

They had moved to the ladder in the bit she missed. Oh well.

She allowed him to enter her, filling her in ways she had never imagined. Her whole body folded around him, pulsing with the beating of her heart. He was thick, and he began moving immediately.

Thena pressed her lips together. Her hips swivelled and she slipped a hand under the covers. She too had to inch up the hem of her nightdress until she could find her own skin. There was a dampness between her thighs that was most certainly not her monthly.

He moved gently at first, rocking like waves against the shore. This was the act of love making. The physical profession of love, she thought. Two bodies entangled in the most intimate sense of the word. She slid her arm across his wide shoulders and tugged at the hair at the back of his head. Lovemaking was all well and good, but she wanted more.

She had heard fucking was also the physical act of love.

Thena breathed heavier as she read. Lovemaking in the poetic language became detailed, bordering on graphic. The man grew more energetic, words like 'pounding' and 'rutting' jumping out at her from the page. Her fingers, now coated in the wetness between her legs, ventured further.

Her jaw dropped faintly as she pushed where she had not pushed before. Perhaps this was the collection of nerves of which they spoke. She touched it lightly at first, before realising certain angles were too much. She changed approach, rubbing it downward from above.

She let out a faint moan, still far too loud for her echously large room lit only by her lamp. She pressed her head into her pillow, no longer concerned with what was happening on the page.

They were in the middle of fucking, as it were. The man was 'pounding' into her, his 'thickness' moving in and out of her at such speeds. Hips were rolling, bodies were writhing, it was all quite a lot.

"Gil."

She didn't mean to say it. It just...slipped out. Her mind was moving faster than before, but she also wasn't thinking clearly. Her fingers moved faster, trying to bring about something. Her head rolled to the side.

She could imagine Gil as the book's beloved hero. He was tall, with broad shoulders, dark hair. He was kind, and had a sweet nature to him, but not without his own sense of mischief.

Gil had soft looking lips. He had a wide back and thick arms. He was warm, and he always smelled nice whenever they were in close proximity. His hand would hold hers gently as they went up or down the stairs.

She could imagine Gil's lips on her neck, like in the book. She could practically feel his hands on her skin, his sturdy but gentle grip holding her as he grasped her thighs.

"Gil," she whimpered, tracing around those nerves again. There was more wetness, now. Her hands did grow feverish (the book was right).

He would kiss her like that. She would know what it felt like for his incoming moustache to scratch her skin. Perhaps he would kiss her between her legs, like in this library scene. Would they make love? Or would they fuck?

"Yes," she gasped, eyes sealed shut and hand moving faster. He would whisper sweetly to her, call her pretty like he did that day it was raining.

Something was coming. She tried to bring it forth. She picked up speed, changed angle, went back when she felt it slipping further away. Her breathing became feverish and she felt the flush in her skin spread all over her body.

Thena rolled onto her side, squeezing her thighs around her hand as her insides pulsed rapidly. She dug her nails into her pillow and held her lips together as she made sounds she'd never heard herself make. It felt like a fever, like her muscles had been tense and finally released. It felt like relief.

She rolled onto her back again, practically panting for breath, for which she felt a little foolish. It was just her in here, with her hand and a book. She could understand why mother had forbade her from reading them. Such heretical things they printed!

She picked up the fallen book, eagerly searching for where she had left off. Not that she would be resuming her activity with it, but it was still a story in need of completion.

She nearly yelped as a tapping on her window startled her. The book fell from her grasp as she looked at her balcony. It was Gil's messenger, a corvid named Mandu. She cleared her throat, pulling up the strap of her nightdress and wrapping her shawl around her to greet the bird properly. "Come in."

The creature obliged, flapping from the rail of the balcony to her writing desk, tilting his head.

Thena flushed with guilt. Gil was asking if she'd read the book he had sent her home with from their last visit. And if she hadn't been distracted by her mother's...diversion, she would have finished it by now.

The bird eyed her, surely wanting to return home.

"Sorry," she gave him an apologetic smile before hurriedly scribbling a reply.

She was extra sorry for lying. She wouldn't normally!--not to Gil, at least. But this was a unique circumstance. So just this once, she would tell a small fib. And she would read the book right away! It wouldn't be a fib for long.

She examined the hastily scribbled message.

It's a beautiful story. I can see why you treasure it so. I'll tell you all the parts I loved most when you visit next week.

They never bothered addressing their little messages anymore. It was too formal for a correspondence they engaged in almost daily. She spritzed the paper lightly with the perfume she had been given for her birthday before folding the letter and securing it to Mandu's back.

"Thank you," she smiled at the dark feathered messenger. "Safe travels."

The bird nodded to her, too smart to crow loudly in the dead of night. He took off again, flying into the bright moonlight outside. Thena closed her glass doors with a sigh, feeling as if she'd been caught in the midst of something scandalous.

She looked over at Theseus, still asleep under his heat lamp, much to her relief. No, it was her business alone what she was doing, or reading. That book could wait though. If need be, she would return it to mother the very next morning to avoid suspicion. She could say she left it in the sunroom and feared the cover would fade in the light.

She had to finish Gil's book first. If she finished it, her message would not be a lie anymore. And then she could feel at least a little less guilty about the events of this night.

How she would look him in the eye when she did see him next was another matter entirely.

[callsigndragon]

The Christmas Date | Chapter 4: Santa Tell Me

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Fem!Kerner!Reader

(Ron Kerner is Slider, Iceman’s backseater)

Wordcount: 2.8k

Summary: Y/n “Athena” Kerner and Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw hate each other. Everybody knows. What happens when they have to fake date for a whole week to avoid Iceman and Slider’s matchmaking plans?

(there won't be smut in this series)

Warnings: OKAY SO. If there is any transphobic person reading this, i’m sorry but it’s time to LEAVE. Iceman’s grandSON is trans, Rooster/Thena being supportive godparents, Rooster’s ex-gf still being a bitch, body dismorphia, mentions of alcohol, CAR ACCIDENT (everyone's okay don't worry), driving under the influence, mentions of death, mentions of Carole's death... you know the deal.

A/N: Yeah, I know. I should be taking some time to rest. I got bad news today, my heart is getting worse again and I have to go through surgery BUT writing is my coping mechanism so expect more works soon.

Tag list:@ducks118 @milestellerwife @craftymoonchaos @littlebadariell @xoxabs88xox @alexxavicry @tayrae515 @shrimping-for-all @mak-32 @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @harper1666 @purplevortexx @abaker74 @ssprayberrythings @melllinaa @loveless-simp @k-k0129

(If you want to be tagged comment or sent an ask <3)

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The room is amazing. If you hadn’t seen it before, you could never tell that it had been filled to the core with princess things. You can’t wait to see your nephew and Rebecca, talk to both, and learn more about this new part of your lives that has just begun. 

“You went all extra with the Christmas tree.” says Nick looking at the 7 ft tree that Rooster bought. 

“Christmas this year is special. Let’s make it a one to remember” Bradley admits, looking at you. “Can I talk to you?” 

“Oh, am, sure!” 

You two move to the kitchen, Rooster seems to be a bit agitated. “What’s wrong?” 

“I don’t think we should lie to Jes- well, to him” 

You sigh, knowing that he’s right. How can you lie to that poor kid? You clearly haven’t thought about all the aspects of this ruse. 

“Rooster, I know what you mean but… If we tell him, everyone will know. And my father will bring that girl over for you to meet her” 

“Yeah, I know. I don’t think we have a choice” 

Then, as if that little kid knew you were talking about him, you hear a car park “That’s not Iceman’s car” you adduce, going to open the front door. They shouldn’t be here yet.  

Parked in front of the garage is Rebecca’s car. She is opening the door to your five-year-old nephew. Rebecca has a worried expression, and the kid climbs out of the vehicle, a black beanie on his head, and pulls the hoodie up to hide his face from the world. 

Rooster, who is beside you, gets closer to the kid, opening his arms to give the younger one a hug. “Hey, buddy! Long time no see” 

However, the kid enters the house, ignoring both of you, and runs upstairs. 

“He’s been like this all the way back home. I’m sorry, guys. He was excited about his new name but well… He wants it all and he wants it now. I'm happy to see you” Rebecca says, giving each a quick hug. 

“Is he okay?” 

“He’s been begging me to cut off his hair” Rebecca confesses, making the two of you nod. “I told him to wait to get home, so we could look up for some haircuts and see which one he likes best but…” 

“He’s still a five-year-old, Becca. It’s not gonna be easy” you tell her. 

Nick joins you outside to hug his sister. “Your son has gone straight to the bathroom. He didn’t even say hi” 

You look at Rooster before running all the way to the bathroom with him behind you. Everyone knows that Sarah’s special scissors for cutting Iceman’s hair are in the second drawer. And he knows too. You try to open the door, but it is closed. “Hey buddy, it’s Uncle Roos. Can you open for me?” 

“No!” yells a muffled, hurt voice from the other side of the door. 

“Y/n, he can hurt himself” Rooster mutters, as if you haven’t thought about it. 

“I know, shut up” you knock on the door softly. “Hey bud, can you tell me your name? Mom says you got a new one.”

There’s a silence that prolongs itself for a few seconds. You hold your breath trying to hear what is happening on the other side of the door but all you can hear is the quick, pounding sound of your own heart. 

“...Jesse” 

“Jesse, huh? That’s such a cool name” you sit on the floor, legs crossed, waiting for this to be a long conversation. 

“Thank you. I chose it myself” 

“You did? Woah, Jesse. That’s amazing. Much cooler than mine” 

“I’m not going to open the door” Jesse’s voice is calmer now, but still full of sadness. It breaks your heart. 

“It’s okay, pal. I just wanna talk. It’s been so long since we saw each other, I think you are a lot different now” 

“I’m different. But mom doesn’t want me to be different” 

You look at Becca over your shoulder. She’s biting her nails off. You need Jesse to open the door. And fast.

“You sure? 'Cause your mom called us this morning and told us to change your room. She wants you to be yourself, sweetheart.” 

“It’s that true?” you can hear him pout and it’s so painful to see him like that. 

“We got rid of all the princesses and now your room has a lot of Paw Patrol things. And we even found Marshall’s fire truck!” 

“Mom, did you do that?” the door is still closed, but he seems to be closer to it now. It's working. 

“Uncle Roos and Aunt Thena helped me, but yes. I told them to do it” 

“Hey, Jesse” Rooster speaks for the first time in a while. “I know what it is to hate what you see in the mirror. If you open this door, Aunt Thena and I will take you to the hairdresser, so they can get you a good haircut” 

“Promise?” Jesse asks, opening the door for you to see him. 

“I promise, buddy” 

Jesse hugs you and Rooster and then goes to his mom. “I’m sorry, mom… I just wanted to be like the rest” 

“I know, baby, I know. But you have to understand that you can’t get everything at the moment. Mom’s not a hairdresser. How was I supposed to cut your hair?” 

“I’m sorry… Can I see my room?” 

You all laugh at the sudden change in his tone. From being sorrowful to excited. Jesse can be a lot different now, but he’s still a kid, and he will do what a five-year-old does. Be loud, happy, get angry when he doesn’t get what he wants… Normal things for a kid. 

“Let’s go see it!” 

Nick, Rebecca, and Jesse go to see the room, and you stay sitting on the floor with Roos. It’s been a tiring day. And it’s not even noon. 

“I’ll go get the car ready” you say, getting up from the floor and leaving Rooster alone. 

I know what it is to hate what you see in the mirror

His words echo in your head, and several questions on the tip of your tongue are trying to make you turn around and find out the meaning behind his words. 

You have to remind yourself for a second that you hate him, that he took everything away from you, and that if he has a problem, he has a lot of people he can talk to. He doesn’t need you.

Rooster and Jesse stay at the beauty saloon, and you decide to go to a tactical gear shop nearby, hoping to find the perfect Christmas gift for your nephew. You, luckily, haven’t bought anything yet. And you hope to find a leather flight jacket for Jesse and maybe even get him his own name tag. You thought ‘Marshall’ would be cute as a call sign. 

You’re going out of the shop, gift secured in your bag, when your phone begins to ring. You pull it out of your jacket, smiling at the name appearing on the screen. 

“Natasha Trace, I love when you call me” 

“Are you dating Rooster and you didn’t tell me?! I’M YOUR BEST FRIEND” she yells angrily in your ear. You move the phone away from your ear, but even like that you can hear her. 

“Hello to you too, Nat” you roll your eyes. 

“Don’t roll your eyes, you little bitch” she says, as if she could see you. 

"We're not dating" 

"What? Hold on, let me FaceTime you" 

She hangs up and calls you again, this time you can see her face frown in a confused expression. "Spill" 

"Iceman and my dad were playing matchmakers, and we didn’t want random people at our table on Christmas Eve so… we lied,” you confess, sitting on a bench outside the beauty saloon. Rooster and Jesse are still waiting. 

“And here I thought you were finally getting laid” 

“Natasha!” you whine, covering your face with your free hand. 

“What? Facts only” 

“Oh wait, you know who we met this morning?” you say, trying to change the subject.  “Mandy” 

“Mandy as in Mandy the whore?” she questions. 

“That one. She was with Solo. They’re dating” you reveal to your friend. Her eyes are widening more by the second. 

“WHAT?! Oh my God do you think that’s why-” 

“Y/N? We see each other again!” 

You raise your head from the phone and see Mandy in the flesh. Gosh, you hate that stupid face she has. 

“Mandy! Nat, wait a second, don’t hang up” you say while getting up “Two times in the same day, what a coincidence!” 

She gives you the fakest smile ever, one that seems to be the result of years of practicing. “Yeah, it is a coincidence. Hey, Solo said that the four of us should go out one day, talk about the old times and all” 

“Oh, I’d love to, but we have only this week to be with the family, and then we have to go back to the base for months and-” 

“What about tomorrow?” she interrupts you, not being interested in anything you have to say. “There’s this pub in the center-” 

“O’Malley’s, yeah. I know where it is. Owner’s a friend” 

“See you tomorrow at 6, okay?” she insists, and you don’t have any other choice than accepting. 

Jesse comes running out of the establishment and grabs your hand. “C’mon auntie, it's my turn!”

“Oh, what a beautiful baby girl! What’s your name, princess?”  Mandy says, kneeling down to Jesse’s height. 

“I’m not a girl, you old bat” he says, pushing her and running away. You see how Mandy falls and slap your hand against your mouth to not laugh. From any other person, it would seem like you're embarrassed by your nephew’s actions. Those who know you well enough, however… They know you're enjoying every second of this. 

“I’m sorry, Mandy. My nephew Jesse is a bit… hot-headed. I’m gonna go with him and give him an earful. We’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Bye!” you move from her quickly, almost running, and when you’re far away, Natasha laughs hysterically. 

“Jesus, I love your niece” she says. 

“Nephew. It’s Jesse now. I’ll tell you later, okay? Gotta go” 

“Take care, Thena” 

You hang up and go with the two boys. “Jesse, what you did…” 

“Auntie, I know it’s wrong. I just don’t like her” 

“What did you do, young man?” Rooster says, walking with him to one of the chairs. 

“This old woman who was talking to Aunt Thena called me a ‘girl’. So I pushed her” 

“Jess-” 

“It was Mandy” you clarify. 

Rooster looks at you, then at Jesse, and then at you again. He opens his hand and high-fives the five-year-old. “Don’t tell your Mom” 

“What are you going to wear for the party?” Sarah asks you during dinner, hours later, with a happy short-haired Jesse sitting beside you. 

“What party?” you look at Rooster, but he shrugs, not having any idea what she is talking about. 

“The Christmas Party! Didn’t your father tell you about it?” 

You look at your father, who is very interested in the food on his plate. "He didn't tell me anything, as usual." 

"Well, the town is holding a Christmas party on the 25th. A formal party. You have to wear a dress." She points at you with her fork. "You're not wearing your uniform, only a dress. Is that clear?" 

"Yes ma'am. And what about Bradley?" 

"I'll wear a suit, obviously. Have to match with you," he smiles and then leans to whisper something in your ear. "Please, don't choose the dress yourself. You have horrible fashion sense," 

"Says the one that is always wearing Hawaiian shirts" 

"They're cool" Bradley defends himself. 

"No, they're not" you laugh, and he kicks your leg under the table. "Ouch!" 

"Sarah, darling, we need to do the Secret Santa sorting" Tom remembers his wife, helping her clean the table. 

"Oh I have it all prepared!" She goes to the living room and comes back with a red Santa Claus hat. "All the names are in here, just pull one. Y/n, dear, you first!" 

You smile at her, grabbing a paper from inside the bag and reading it. 'Rooster'. 

Is this a joke or what?

You're getting ready to sleep, Rooster refusing for the second night in a row to sleep in the same bed with you, when you remember that you're supposed to meet Mandy tomorrow. 

"Bradley" 

"No, I'm not sleeping on the bed. If you want to be that close to me, you're gonna need to beg a little more" he says. 

"You wish. Anyway, Mandy said to meet tomorrow. She wasn't accepting a no for an answer." 

He sits and looks at you. "Are you kidding me?" 

“I don’t like the idea either, you know.” you let out. 

“Is Solo coming too?” you nod, and he sighs. “You know how to say ‘no’ or do I have to teach you? It’s not that hard, look: ‘something has come up, and I can’t’, ‘We already have plans’. Oh, and this is the simplest one: ‘No.’” 

“I know how to say no, Bradshaw” 

He laughs dryly. “If you knew how, I wouldn't have to be in the same room with my ex and her new boyfriend. Again” 

He turns off the lights and lies down. He tosses around, trying to find the most comfortable position to sleep on the hard floor. 

“I’m sorry” you whisper. But you know he can hear you. 

“Don’t worry, Thena. Go to sleep” 

A few minutes pass, and you can’t sleep. There’s something you need to find out. Something that you can’t stop thinking about, and you know that it will keep you up all night. 

“Rooster” 

“Jesus, Thena, go to sleep” he complains, but after a few seconds, he gives in with a sigh of defeat. “What?” 

“What you said to Jesse… about hating what you see in the mirror… Is that how you feel?” 

“Like you care” 

“I don’t. I’m just curious. You’re usually proud of that stupid face of yours. So… it doesn’t make sense” 

He sits on the floor, his back against the bed, and his head pressed against the mattress. “It’s the scars” 

“Really?” you move closer to him, your hand a few inches away from his hair. 

“Yeah… It’s a constant reminder of how I almost killed us” he admits, his sorrowful voice almost a whisper. 

Your hand moves automatically to your belly, your fingers finding the scarred skin. You had your own scars, too. And you wish you could tell him that it wasn’t his fault but… it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried. He still blames himself. 

“If it makes you feel better, lots of girls at base are obsessed with those scars. And even some boys.” 

“Why are you trying to make me feel better?” he questions, and you also want to know why. 

“Because I don’t want to see you broody all day. That wouldn’t make me look like a good girlfriend” you scoff. 

“Aw, it’s little Y/n worried about me?” he mocks, lying down again. 

“Good night, Bradshaw” you say,  pulling the blankets over your head. 

You dream about the accident. You dream about a young Rooster parking at the front of your house, ringing your doorbell repeatedly and yelling for you to open the door. It’s been years but it feels like yesterday. 

Bradley’s coping mechanism when Carole died was alcohol. That same night, he got really drunk and drove to your house. It was late. When you opened the door, the emptiness in his eyes was the only explanation you needed. She was gone. And Bradley didn’t know how to live in a world without her. 

You managed to get Rooster into his car, snatching the keys away from him and driving him to his home. You knew Maverick would be very worried about him. 

But, you never made it to Rooster’s house. A truck driver fell asleep and swatched lanes, forcing you to swerve. The car crashed against a tree. You don’t remember a thing, just waking up with a big stomach wound and a body full of scratches. 

Rooster took the worst part. People thought he wouldn’t make it, that he didn’t want to make it. He was giving up. 

He opened his eyes again three days after the accident. 

It wasn’t your fault. Or his. Well, he shouldn’t have driven to your house under the influence. He knows that and you, too. But nobody could have expected the truck. And he wasn’t driving when you crashed. You were driving. If someone was to take fault here, it should be you. 

But it didn’t matter how much you tried to make Rooster understand that he wasn’t the one to blame. He never listened. And you know he never will.

[awesomesauce2929]

Ship bingo

Aiolos/Seiya

If they had a ship name, it would be RosSei (which sounds nice and almost sounds like rosé) and maybe they would name one of their kids as Rosé, after naming rest of their kids, Seika, Patricia and Thena (inspired by their role models, Seika and their goddess they serve, Athena) I feel they are on their way being friends/buddy/homie to lovers pipeline but they are comfortable where they are and might not want to move the next step, and whatever arrangement works well best for them, they accept. Both have a very strong homie relationship and it is sad in canon and spinoffs that they are separated by death, one is alive and one is dead but that does not stop them of having a strong mythological and zodiac connection together and having similar ideals and mindsets which that is why I see them getting along so well.

Sorry about the angst but seeing the ND ending....that final page you know had me thinking, maybe Aioros had some guilt for guiding Seiya through that and how things played out, and he would definitely take responbility and encourage Seiya to keep going. Seiya would definitely see Aioros as a pillar he can lean on before he can fight again and could open himself more being both as Sagittarius. From Aioros' side, considering Seiya is not a stranger compared to the bronzes and trusted him to wear his cloth and there is pain compared to his relations with the other gold saints because they have grown up without him being around and he missed out a lot that make him feels a outsider. His relation with Seiya make him feel less out of an outsider, more human (with sometimes some role model figure conflict). I wish that Aioros as a spirit visited Seiya when he is on wheelchair, speaking to him about anything, his story, holding his hand, waiting for Athena to come back.

[snarkythewoecrow]

okay, for a little treat, here's some super big feels in snippet form from my mpreg!buck story (which i should make a special tag for) but this is a buddie, one night stand to enemies to reluctant roommates to lovers/family fic, with misunderstandings and lots of hurt/comfort, and this out-of-context snippet is from some stuff I wrote tonight, with Athena being the best surrogate mom to Buck in his time of need, like the feels!

tagging @kookieisbaby and @underwater-ninja-13 since i think they might be interested, i've never done a tag list but i can try to make one for snippets from this fic if you want, just let me know if you want on it

“Buck, sweetheart, you did take it, didn’t you?” she asked.

Something clawed at his throat, scraping upwards and making him cough, trying to ease it. The sensation didn’t abate, but he pushed past it, nodding tightly a few times, then managing to rasp, “Yeah, I—it’s in there, but, uh, I couldn’t—I couldn’t—I can’t—”

He shook his head, not able to explain—and not just because he didn’t know how, but because his chest had suddenly refused to expand how it should, leaving the tissues burning for oxygen, screaming for him to suck in faster--pull harder--to fill his lungs. Though that only made the panic worse.

“Woah, woah, woah,” she said, touching his shoulders, then his face, turning him to face her. “Breathe, Buck. Come on, baby.”

The room spun when he shook his head. “Can’t—can’t—I can’t.”

“Easy—look at me—that’s it, baby—there you are.” One of her hands slid to the back of his neck, putting him in a scruff that sent a jolt through his arms, then into his chest, working like the opposite of adrenaline. “I promise—you can, and very much are, breathing. You’re moving air, baby. It might not feel like it, but I promise you are.”

The tight cinch of panic around his ribcage eased.

His gaze locked with hers, latching on and finding faith. In and out. He wasn’t suffocating—Athena wouldn’t let him drown.

Her lips twitched, an almost smile. “There you go—those lungs are working a little better for you now, huh? Alright, just keep breathing, nice and slow, for a bit longer, then we’ll go from there. That sound good to you?”

A quick nod, then he closed his eyes, focusing on the warmth of her hand squeezing his neck, grounding and reminding him of a childhood he never had, with a mother who’d never cared to soothe him this way.

Then, after gathering himself, though his nerves still buzzed with static, he took an easier breath and opened his eyes to face Athena, and everything that time refused to stop chasing.

Because no matter what, sooner or later, the test would need to be read—and his life would change—even if he wasn’t pregnant, as this experience had already left its mark.

“Um, thanks—and sorry, for, you know, all that.”

She rolled her eyes, brows lifting and dropping her hand from his neck. “You’re just as bad as Bobby—and you know, you’re not the only one who struggles—we all do from time to time. But that’s what pack is for, right? We’re here for each other, through thick and thin, or whatever is waiting behind that door.”

“Yeah, I know.”

She shrugged a little. “Eh, I’m not sure you do, but it’s a work in progress, baby. We all are, in our own ways. But the real question is, are you ready to see what the next step is gonna be—where this path is leading?”

His throat still ached when he swallowed. Then he inhaled hard and fast, exhaling just as roughly afterward. “I’m scared, ’Thena.”

“I bet you are—probably downright terrified, but I’m here, and the pack is a phone call away. You know Maddie will drop everything if you ask, and no matter what—we’ll back you up. However you want to play it.”

He had to stop his hand from sliding to his lower belly. Then, glancing at the door, he asked, not even turning back to her, “Can you—would you look? Then—then tell me. I can’t and I—I think it would be easier if you…”

She patted his shoulder. “Of course, baby.”

[imagine-riverdale]

Ordinary Part 3- Sweet Pea Imagine

As requested by the lovely @laurastrutz here’s part three, to Ordinary. This is the final part!

Part One

Part Two

Athena’s birthday came and went, the months began to turn warmer and eventually Athena gave birth, to a boy, Grayson Knox. He soon became the light of Athena’s life, Sweet Pea’s as well. The Serpents all adored the new baby, especially when Athena and Sweet Pea would bring him by the Wyrm to see them, neither staying too long. It took months of hard work before Athena was able to fit into her old clothing, but eventually she was able too, as well as finish school early by completing it online. Eventually the group graduated, and things progressed. Sweet Pea and Athena were able to afford a new home, a small house in the Northside of Riverdale, one that they rented alongside Fangs.

It was a small light blue house, it had three bedrooms, the perfect number for the four of them living there, occasionally Jughead or Toni would end up sleeping on their couch. It was located just off the edge of the railroad tracts that lead into the Southside, not that the three minded as they grew up there. Athena’s parents had wanted nothing to do with her or her son, even after his birth, even with living in the small town it was rare if the group saw each other.

Five years had passed, Athena now twenty-one, Sweet Pea having just turned twenty-two and their son, whom was about to turn five. Sweet Pea had gone to community college whilst working at the mechanic shop, after graduating early, Sweet Pea now had a business degree and was the head manager at a mechanic shop in Greendale, where he made decent money. Athena also ended up going to school, though she was going for an English degree to teach, having another two years left. For now, Athena worked as a receptionist for a Doctor’s office in Riverdale and went to classes at night. Fangs had opted out of college and instead held a steady job as a freelance web developer.

- 

“Athena? Gray?” Sweet Pea called walking into the small suburban house that the group had been living in for almost a year.

“Yeah?” Walking out of the kitchen, she held the small child, dark haired like his father, but his mother’s green eyes.

“There’s my favorite people.” Sweet Pea smiled and walked over to his fiancé and son, pressing a kiss to Athena’s lips, Sweet Pea grabbed his son who laughed.

“I missed you daddy!” Grayson said hugging his father.

“I missed you too buddy.” Sweet Pea said as Athena shook her head.

“Go clean up my love, dinner is almost ready, Fangs’ will be home shortly, Toni and Cheryl are coming for dinner tonight.” She reminded him as she headed back into the kitchen where she continued to cook the spaghetti dinner. While Athena was cooking Sweet Pea went and changed before he began playing with Grayson in the living room.

“Sounds like a mad house in here.” Toni joked coming into the house, Cheryl behind her.

“What’s going on in here?” Fangs asked coming in, his computer under his arm.

“Uncle Fangs!” Grayson favorite person, besides his parents, was Fangs Fogarty.

“Nephew Grayson!” Fangs yelled in return as Toni headed to the kitchen where Athena was.

“Need help?” Toni offered as Cheryl placed the bottle of wine they had brought into the fridge.

“No, almost done, just finishing the garlic bread. Unless someone wants to set the dining table.” She mentioned, hugging the two women. The three of them stood around the kitchen chatting for a while, listening to the three playing in the living room.

“Ever gonna give him another kid?” Cheryl asked causing Athena to smile.

“One day.” She shrugged. “We want more kids one day.” She glanced into the living room and smiled as she watched Sweet Pea carrying Grayson around like a plane.

“When is one day?” Asked Toni as she grabbed three wine glasses from the cupboard and went to pour wine into each one.

“None for me.” Athena mentioned smiling as she stirred the pot of sauce.

“Athena.” Toni stated staring at her friend who never passed up the opportunity to drink wine. “I’m assuming one day, is soon?” She asked.

“One day, is in about six months.” She stated turning to the two girls who both grinned and hugged her.

“Who all knows?” Asked Cheryl, I am so planning a baby shower if it’s a girl,”

“No baby shower Cheryl.” Athena laughed. “Just you guys, Pea, and Fangs.” She stated. “Wanted to tell everyone next week at the Serpent’s Easter party.” Athena shrugged as she pulled the garlic bread out of the oven. The group of six ate their dinner before they all retired for the night.

-

The week passed uneventfully and soon enough the small family that Sweet Pea and Athena had were walking into the Whyte Wyrm where the Serpents were having their annual Easter Party.

“Thena!” Athena’s cousin Millie called as they entered the Wyrm. Millie was from Athena’s mothers’ side of the family, it was a surprise to see Millie in the Wyrm seeing as Athena has had nothing to do with her parent’s families since they found out she was pregnant with Grayson.

“Millie.” Athena stated passing Grayson over to Sweet Pea. “What are you doing here?” Millie was a year older than Athena and had grown up in the Northside.

“Oh! I’m dating Steven Fitts.” She pointed towards the man whom was a few years older than the group.

“That’s nice.” Athena motioned Sweet Pea to head towards their friends. “Does your mother know you’re here and that you’re dating Stevie?” She asked heading towards the bar where Toni was tending. “Hey.” She smiled at her friend as her cousin followed behind her.

“Of course, my mother knows.” She stated.

“Two beers and a water.” Athena stated leaning closer to Toni. “I so need a drink.”

“Sorry babe, you send Sweets and he can get the beers for him and Fangs. Can’t be serving a pregnant woman.” Toni teased.

“Toni!”

“You’re pregnant?” Millie asked causing Athena to turn towards her.

“Yeah, I am.” Athena nodded at her cousin.

“Does your mom know? Oh my lord, she’d be ecstatic to finally be getting a grandchild!” Athena and Toni both laughed.

“Millie, she already has one, one she doesn’t want anything to do with. I haven’t talked to my mother in five years, you think she cares about me? She doesn’t.” Athena said shaking her head at her friend just as she heard Grayson’s voice.

“Momma!” Grayson screamed running towards his mother. “Momma look!” Holding up a small toy truck just like what Sweet Pea drives.

“Oh my.” She grinned picking up her son. “It’s just like daddy’s isn’t it?”

“Uncle Fangs got it.” He grinned showing his mother.

“Well it’s amazing baby.” She grinned. “You made sure to thank Uncle Fangs, right?”

“Yes momma.” He nodded as Athena set him back down.

“Go find daddy okay? Momma will be there in a second.” Grayson nodded running back to where Sweet Pea was sitting with Fangs. “Well, you have fun telling your mother about my family, and it was great to see you Millie.” Athena grabbed her water and both beers from Toni before heading towards where her family was sitting. “Hey baby.” Athena pressed a kiss to Sweet Pea’s cheek.

“I see that cousin Millie is here.” Fangs stated taking the beer from Athena before opening his laptop to get some work done.

“She and Steve are dating.” She stated taking Grayson from Sweet Pea as Sweet Pea took a drink from his own beer. “How long until my mother calls me?”

“I give her an hour.” Sweet Pea laughed watching as Grayson played with his toy truck on the table.

“An hour is generous.” She stated.

“When are we telling everyone?” Sweet Pea asked as Athena grinned at him.

“Well, what about now? Fangs can you handle Grayson?” Athena asked handing the boy over before taking Sweet Pea’s hand and leading him to the stage. “Excuse me everybody?” Athena spoke into the mic.

“We have something we’d like to say.” Sweet Pea stated wrapping his arm around Athena. Everyone’s attention turned to the two standing on the stage.

“You guys have been there every step of the way throughout our relationship.” Athena looked at her fiancé and grinned. “Hell, Sweet Pea proposed to me here, right at that bar when I was pregnant with Grayson.” Athena laughed softly.

“Get on with it!” Toni shouted causing everyone to laugh.

“Alright, alright.” Athena held her hands up. “Grayson.” She motioned to her son. “Come here baby.” She said softly. Grayson ran over to his parents from Fangs’ arms.

“Why don’t you tell everyone buddy.” Sweet Pea stated picking up Grayson who looked at everyone.

“I’m a big brother!” Grayson grinned as everyone began cheering as Sweet Pea leaned over and kissed Athena.

Later that night the two were sitting and talking with everyone, Grayson fast asleep in the office upstairs.

“If you’re having another baby then when are you tying the knot?” Toni’s grandfather, Tom asked.

“Eventually.” Athena stated leaning into Sweet Pea. “We aren’t really in a big rush.”

“We have the rest of our lives to get married.” Sweet Pea stated with a smile towards Athena. “Plus, a wedding means Athena’s family, meaning we both need to be able to drink.” Sweet Pea stated with a laugh.

“But don’t worry Tom, we have a date picked for after the baby.” Athena and Sweet Pea left it at that before taking Grayson and heading home.

-

Months past and Athena and Sweet Pea had a beautiful baby girl, Madelyn Haley. Both Madelyn and Grayson were the loves of Athena and Sweet Pea’s lives. Grayson turned five and started kindergarten, Athena graduated from college and got a job at Southside Middle School and was teaching English. Almost two years after Madelyn was born, Athena and Sweet Pea finally decided to tie the knot in a small ceremony at Pickens Park.

“Can you believe we’re actually doing this?” Athena asked softly as she and Sweet Pea were setting everything up in the park.

“Seems like a lifetime ago that I we finally admitted we loved each other.” Sweet Pea stated wrapping his arm around her. “Go get ready with Toni. Fangs and Jughead can finish up here.” Athena hesitated before nodding. Hours later, Athena had walked down the aisle and Sweet Pea was ready to read his vows.

“Your vows.” Tom Topaz said motioning to Sweet Pea.

“I want to start by reminding you how much I love you.” Sweet Pea’s eyes stayed locked on Athena’s. “You’re everything I could ever want, you’re the love of my life. I feel like we’ve been together for a lifetime. We were dumb when we were younger, we could have been together so much longer if we weren’t both daft.” He grinned as everyone laughed. “But you were worth the wait, you will always be worth the wait. You’re my best friend, sorry Fangs.” Sweet Pea glanced at Fangs and winked. “I love you, more than anything. There was a time in my life where I thought I didn’t deserve love, didn’t deserve happiness, and then you came along. You changed that, you changed me. I don’t know where I would be without you.” Sweet Pea stopped talking and wiped a tear off Athena’s cheek. “I am in love with you, and I will always be in love with you. I can’t wait to see what our future holds.”

“Athena, your vows.” Tom turned to the girl whom was crying.

“You’ve made me the happiest girl in the world Sweets.” Athena said softly. “You took me in when my parents shunned me. You loved me when no one else would. You gave me a family, a life, one that I never thought I could have.” Athena smiled at him, more tears falling down her face. “I never thought I’d be here, marrying my best friend, the love of my life. I thought I’d have to settle for someone I didn’t love, but, then you came along and showed me I didn’t need to settle.” Athena squeezed Sweet Pea’s hand. “I am utterly and completely in love with you Noah Matthews and I cannot wait to be your wife, to be with you forever. I love you.” Athena never called Sweet Pea by his real name but in that moment, she felt she had to.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Tom grinned. “Kiss the girl Sweet Pea, she’s been waiting long enough.” Sweet Pea grinned.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” The two kissed and everyone cheered. Athena and Sweet Pea knew that life would never get better than it is now and the two were happy with their perfectly ordinary family. Well ordinary to them that is.

 As always thank you for reading my loves! This is the final part to the Ordinary Trilogy. Thanks again!

REQUESTS ARE OPEN FOR ALL RIVERDALE CHARACTER

[holylulusworld]

Awaking powers

Request: Dean x Reader have a daughter (4) with power like Sam in the first season and angels try to kill her and one day capture all of them and Reader try to hold the baby because she’s crying to let go her daddy (Dean) and her power start working and an angel kill her and reader and dean go insane and kill everyone and run to them hugging their body and crying?(Sam and Cas comes and save the situation with Crowley and Rowena help) Happy ending, bed time story for daughter, smut bath and angst, fluff

Pairing: Dean x Reader, Castiel, Sam, Crowley, Rowena, OMC Mary Charlene

Warnings: angst, language, characters death, violence, death, powers, blood, smut, unprotected sex, light smut, fluff, comforting

“She’s not a monster Castiel! My baby can change the world with her powers. She would never use them to hurt anyone!” You say gently stroking your daughters back.

“Y/N, she got infected with demon blood by Lucifer. He tries to change her as the yellow-eyed demon did with Sam all those years ago.” Castiel explains.

“I don’t care. I won’t let any angel ‘inspect’ her. I’m here to make sure she will never hurt anyone. Mary is 4 years old. How could she be a threat? My baby girl is innocent.”

“Y/N, she has special powers.”

“Cas she never used it again. This only happened once. While I was in danger. She smashed the demon into a wall with telekinesis as he attacked me. Mary tried to protect her mom.”

“Still she’s stronger at her age than Sam was as a grown man.” The blue-eyes angel says worriedly.

“You know how this will end! They will try to hurt my daughter! If they decide she’s dangerous they will not hesitate to kill her!” You say louder now.

“The angels are worried, Y/N. Let’s show them that Mary is not a threat.” Castiel tries again.

“No way, Cas. I don’t trust any of those winged assholes, except you. Do you remember what Anna tried to do? And all the other angels trying to kill Sam? I will never trust those guys, period.”

----

“Is everything alright?” Dean asks holding his daughter in his arms.

“No, Castiel told me the angels want to check Mary’s powers. I don’t trust those feathered bastards. They will hurt my baby. I won’t allow them to get close to her.”

“Shit. They got to know what she did last month?”

“She killed a demon. Mary protected her mommy. She never did anything like that before or after the demon attacked me. Our daughter ain’t a threat.”

“I know. Castiel will try to convince the angels that Mary is not dangerous. Let’s have a rest and then we can talk about this tomorrow.” Dean says.

When you try to leave the library someone not familiar stands right in front of you. Grabbing your arm harshly the angel holds you in place. Before you can react you and Dean along with your daughter are suddenly in an abandoned hospital.

“Let go of me.” You yell while an angel tries to take your daughter out of Dean’s arms.

Not letting go of his daughter Dean hits the angel. Stabbing his shoulder with an angel blade the angel takes Mary away from her father. Bleeding Dean falls to the ground and your daughter starts crying.

When Dean tries to get up another angel gets hold of him. Taking the blade out of his shoulder he smirks at the crying girl. Due to the loss of blood Dean loses consciousness and Mary starts trembling.

“Give her to me! You are scaring! You hurt her father right in front of Mary! She’s four years old you bastard!”

“She has to go. The girl is too dangerous!” The angel holding your daughter says without any emotion.

“No, let go of her!” You scream panicked.

Seeing her daddy bleeding and the angel holding him Mary can’t stop crying. Holding out her tiny hands she tries to get to her father.

Trying to break out of the angel's grip you wiggle and yell. Your eyes meet your daughters’ green ones and you know what’s about to happen.

Desperately crying the little girl smashed the angel holding Dean against the wall. When the angel blade falls to the ground Mary uses her power again. Killing the angel, she cries even more.

Ramming your elbow into the angel's stomach you break free but it’s too late the angel holding your daughter already stabbed her heart and let her fall to the ground. Screaming in pain you run to her side. Taking the blade out of her body you touch her tiny hand with yours.

The rage is blinding your senses. Attacking the angel, you don’t see the blade in his hand. You feel pain for a moment before everything goes black.

Hearing a scream Dean wakes out of his unconsciousness. Seeing his wife and daughter lying dead on the ground he loses his mind. Taking the angel blade lying on the floor he kills the angel standing next to him. Stabbing him over and over again until he’s a bloody mess Dean screams.

Turning around with blood-soaked clothes he rams the blade into the other angel’s head. Ripping it out he stabs him again and again until his hands can’t hold the blade any longer.

Falling to his knees he buries his face into your chest. Holding his daughters’ hand, he can’t stop screaming.

Holding tight onto your lifeless body he despairs…

----

“Dean? Oh my god, what happened?” Sam says panicked when he sees your bloody body lying on the ground.

Not answering Dean holds his daughter in his arms. Starting to cry even more he looks down at your dead body.

“Angels…” Castiel whispers.

“Well, Moose I guess we came to late. They even killed a little child. Those angels really got no style or moral. Even I would never kill a child.” Crowley grunts.

“Fergus,” Rowena warns.

“I guess it’s our job to fix what those feathered losers broke. Mother, will you lend me a hand. We will need the help of our trench-coat wearing buddy too.” Crowley orders.

“Why?”

“I can bring them back, their souls with mothers help but healing their bodies is your job, my angelic companion.”

----

Using their combined powers Crowley and Rowena are able to bring your soul back. Screaming you regain consciousness. The pain is overwhelming.

Carefully tabbing your forehead Castiel heals your wound. Turning to face your daughter you see the green eyes filled with tears, but she’s alive. Holding out her hands she screams for her mommy.

“I fixed the little problem too. Her powers are gone or rather. I sealed them away. An angel could’ve done the same, well they preferred killing her, I guess.” Crowley says.

With shaking hands Dean touches your arm. His eyes are filled with tears when you let him hold your daughter.

“We should leave this place. It’s not safe. I will tell every angel her powers are gone and what happened today. I will kill everyone trying to get close to her again.” Castiel says angrily.

“Well, we should leave too. Are you coming, mother?”

“Sure, Fergus. I will prepare a spell to protect the little girl.”

----

“I thought I lost both of you.” Dean sobs while you read your daughter her favorite book. Resting your back at against Dean’s chest you hold your daughter in your arms.

“Dadda!” The little girl squeals when you read the last line.

“Yeah, Daddy is here, Mary,” Dean whispers gently stroking the little girls head.

“We should let her sleep now, Dean. Let’s bring Mary to her room.”

“Okay.”

----

“How about a hot bath?” Dean asks.

“Yeah. I need to wash the day off my body.” Looking at you with sad eyes Dean tries to find the words to tell you how he felt when you died.

“It’s okay. This wasn’t your fault, Dean. You always protected us. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I couldn’t protect you and our daughter. They killed you and her. I lost you, both.”

Moving your arms around Dean you press your body to his. With trembling fingers, he slowly strokes your back.

Moaning you enjoy the gentle touch. Feeling him hardening you giggle.

“Let’s have the bath first.” You whisper.

“Okay.”

----

Straddling his lap in the bathtub you kiss him softly. When his hands cup your asscheeks to squeeze them another giggle leaves your lips.

“I thought I lost you forever. I can’t live without you, Y/N.”

“I’m here now, Dean. You can touch me, I’m here.”

Your hand slides down to his half hard cock. Slowly stroking him a few times you moan when Dean rubs your clit.

“Always so wet for me.”

“Hmm…only for you.”

Moving your hands to Dean’s shoulders you raise your hips to let him line himself up with your entrance. Slowly sinking down his length you arch your back. Adjusting to his size your cups his face to kiss him fiercely.

Bucking his hips, he groans against your lips. Knowing he needs to release the pressure he feels after the latest events you start rocking your hips.

Rough hands grip your hips roughly while you ride him harder. Steadying yourself with your hands on his shoulders you can feel him tense.

Rocking forwards and backward on top of him you rub your clitoris of his stomach. Starting to thrust upward into you Dean looks at you when you start screaming his name. Feeling your toes curl you dig your nails into his shoulders.

“Dean…god…I.”

Pulsing around his huge cock you lock eyes with him while he pumps harder into you. A few hard thrusts later he moans your name and you crush your lips onto his.

“I love you, Y/N. I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you.”

“Shh…I’m here. Mary is here. We are safe with you. I love you.”

“Can we get Mary and sleep in our room all three of us?” Dean asks.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

----

Carefully stroking your daughters head you smile at Dean. Holding his little girl's hand he can’t hold back the tears.

“Dadda! Mommy! Love you!” Mary babbles and you sob.

“Daddy and I love you too.”

Forever Tags

@donnaintx, @screechingartisancashbailiff, @fallen-wolf22 , @curly-haired-disaster-deactivat, @sister-winchesters99, @mogaruke, @the-is13, @helloitsmeamie203, @strayrosesbloom, @thewinchesterco, @hobby27, @kittycatlover18, @gh0stgurl, @marvelfansworld , @sandlee44, @hawaiianohana15, @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt, @katpatrova17, @notyourtypicalrose , @heyitscam99, @onethingthatkeepsmealive, @natura1phenomenon, @flamencodiva, @echoesofpassion, @cocklesbelli, @anushay1998, @voltage-my2dlove, @wayward-gabriel, @fandom-princess-forevermore, @thenamelesschibi, @lauravic, @fandomsrourlives, @wittysunflower

Dean/Jensen Forever Tags        

@spnfamily-thewinchesters, @love-my-not-natural-babies, @supernatural-bellawinchester, @butifulsoul125​, @lyinginthegingerlocks​, @mirandaaustin93​, @hawaiianohana15​, @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester​, @20gayneen​, @x2closebut2farx​, @janicho88, @thefaithfulwriter​, @dreaminemz​, @negans-lucille-tblr​, @sadwaywardkid​, @akshi8278​, @hhiggs​, @midnightsilver16830

[callsigndragon]

The Christmas Date | Chapter 14: What do the lonely do at Christmas?

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Fem!Kerner!Reader

(Ron Kerner is Slider, Iceman’s backseater)

Wordcount: 2.3k

Summary: Y/n “Athena” Kerner and Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw hate each other. Everybody knows. What happens when they have to fake date for a whole week to avoid Iceman and Slider’s matchmaking plans?

(there won’t be smut in this series)

Warnings: angst, mentions of death, mentions of uranium mission, mentions of therapy (is that a trigger? idk), bickering kids, hangman matchmaker era, and i'm sure i'm leaving something out.

A/N: SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE TAG! People didn't get tagged yesterday 😭 okay so THERE'S ONLY TWO CHAPTERS LEFT 🥺🥺🥺Not ready to say goodbye yet

Taglist: @ducks118 @milestellerwife @craftymoonchaos @littlebadariell @xoxabs88xox @alexxavicry @tayrae515  @shrimping-for-all @mak-32 @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @harper1666  @purplevortexx @abaker74 @ssprayberrythings @melllinaa @loveless-simp @k-k0129 @mygyn @castle-bookworms-world @chaoticversion @one-sweet-gubler @loveforaugust

@taytaylala12 @benhardysdrumstick @green-intervention @waatermelon-sugaar @smells-like-perfect-senses @interstellarloneliness @tay-bluey @diggorycullen @dhwanishah09 @inky-sun @luckyladycreator2 @nograce-nomercy @witchybabel @omfg-its-tay @macysorbit @little-wiseone @mxdi0

(TAG LIST CLOSED)

Previous | Next | Masterlist

Rooster tries to go after Thena, but Ron’s hand stops him from getting his car keys. 

“Give her time, Bradley. It’s been a long week for her.” 

Rooster is confused, to say the least. Slider just witnessed her daughter fleeing the house, but he has said or done nothing to him. 

“Aren’t you gonna ask what has happened?” 

Slider sighs, his hand moving to Rooster’s back and guiding him to the kitchen, where all the family is reunited. There’s not even a trace of surprise on anyone’s faces. Not even deception. They just seem to be concerned. 

“You knew,” Rooster whispers, sitting in the closest chair. 

“Of course, we knew,” Iceman scolds, giving him a hot mug of chocolate. “Do you think you can make your family believe you’re dating her, out of everyone, with the amount of history you two have together?” 

“It was real after a few days…” 

Becca puts on her jacket, waiting for Jesse to come from his bedroom with one of his own. “Don’t worry, Bradley. We’ll go with her.” 

“Can you tell her that it’s not what it looks like?” 

She shakes her head, kneeling when Jesse walks in the kitchen, to help him with his jacket. “I know better than to interfere in something like this. You two need to work it out” 

“Uncle Roos.” 

“Yes, buddy?” 

Jesse runs to the Christmas tree, getting a box wrapped in red wrapping paper with different sized roosters spread all over it. He would laugh if the situation was different. “Open this.”

“It’s not the time, Jesse,” Rooster pushes the box away slightly, but Maverick moves the gift even closer. 

“Open it, Bradley.” 

He reluctantly opens it, an old Polaroid camera lying inside the box, on top of a brand new album, with all the Polaroids his father had made during his life, perfectly organized and secured inside. He keeps turning pages and pages of old photographs, the last one making him choke on a pained laugh: it’s him, a four-year-old him with Thena in his arms.

There’s a note, he recognizes Thena’s handwriting, with love embedded in every stroke. 

It’s time to add your own memories, nugget. 

Nick takes the box from his hands before it falls to the floor. 

He’s fucked up. Again. 

He’s fucked up his second chance with you. 

And he doesn’t know if you will give him a third one. 

After Becca and Jesse come back, assuring him that Thena is as well as anyone could be given the situation, Rooster gets in the car and drives. He drives for hours, not knowing where, just driving. His heart does know where he’s going, because by the time the sun rises on the horizon, having stopped once to fill the tank at a random gas station in the middle of nowhere, he parks in front of a place he used to visit every week when he was younger. 

The cemetery. 

Muscle memory seems to have brought him to this place, and it’s also making him stroll in the right direction, finding his parents' grave in just a matter of minutes. He sits down, legs crossed and head down, like a little kid who is being reprimanded. Rooster knows that wherever they are, his parents are mad at him. 

“Mom, dad, it’s been a while, isn’t it?”

He sits there for hours. He talks to them, filling them in on the missing parts of his life that they don’t know about. He tells them how he tried to move on from Thena with the first girl that appeared in his life: Mandy. He knew she wasn’t the one. He knew it from the moment he kissed her for the first time. 

One of her kisses didn’t warm his heart the same way Thena’s smile did. 

But he had lost the right to see those smiles long ago. 

So he tried. He tried to move on, but to no avail. She had left an imprint in his soul that followed him everywhere and haunted him with memories of past mistakes. It was like his own personal ghost of the past Christmas. 

When Mandy left him, he actually didn’t care. He felt even worse, knowing that another girl had deemed him unworthy and left him to spend the rest of his days in solitude. 

He tells them about Thena, how she has become an excellent pilot, a wonderful aunt, and an incredible friend. 

And how someone harmed the purest soul he'd ever met just to be like him.  

He tells them how he tried to help her in the best way he could. He even tells them how Slider suggested that Thena shouldn’t be alone in a big apartment. He was the one that told him about this arrangement he had suggested to Thena, and how she was excited and scared at the same time to make such an important change in her life and in their relationship. 

But he had shattered her last shred of faith in him. He does not, however, explain why. That's something he should tell her when the time comes. 

When he has the necessary proof to show her how things aren’t what they look like. 

Iceman and Mav find him hours later, asleep next to his parents’ graves. Nobody knows how this will play out; how will Thena forgive this jerk who has only ruined his relationship with her by doing what he thought was best? 

Iceman knows that time healed this relationship once. 

Only time can heal it again. 

Three months and a half later 

His car. That’s the first thing you see when you get to the Hard Deck. His Bronco. 

You should have known that he would be here. It’s the best of the best, right? Of course he’s here. 

You walk inside, looking for Phoenix. You’ve been her wingman for the past three months, and even though she’s an excellent pilot and your best friend, it’s not the same as flying with Bradley. 

Nothing is the same without him. 

“Thena!” 

Phoenix sprints in your direction, placing her hands on your shoulders in an instant. “He’s here.” 

“I know. I saw the Bronco outside.” You glance around, spotting the back of his head among the multitude. 

“You’re ready for this?” She questions, her eyes never leaving your face, judging if you’re really ready for this. 

“Nat, I’ve been going to therapy for months; I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” 

She nods, placing her hand on your back while she walks with you to see the rest. 

“Athena Kerner? Oh my god, it’s been a whole minute, isn’t it?” Mickey walks directly in your direction, hugging you tightly. 

“What’s with the hair, dude? Didn’t know where to stop?” You joke, making him chuckle. 

“Shut up.” 

You greet each aviator, saving Rooster for last. He looks different. Mature. Observant. Three months can really change a person. 

A deeper dive into his eyes shows you a completely different look. His eyes are gloomy, longing orbs staring at you as if you were the answer to all his prayers. 

Yeah, you still love him after all these months. 

“Hey, Rooster.”

“Hey, Athena.” 

He opens his mouth to say something else, but you’re dragged away from him. Phoenix wants to introduce you to his new backseater.

Or perhaps she just wants to avoid the fight; too many emotions are being held in, unshared, and this can only lead to a fight that would blow up and cause damage to the people involved. 

It's been two days since you came to Top Gun, and you haven't shared a word since that quick and short greeting. Mav, who you only saw the next day, knows better than to put you two together in any exercise. 

Mav talked with you in private, checking on how you're doing and what you've been doing these past months. He even asked you about your therapy sessions—if they've been helpful and if there's something he needs to know. 

It's too soon to see proper results, but at least you don't think of Rooster as a traitor. There had to be a reason—you just never stopped to listen. But at that time, you weren't in the right mindset to do so. 

You've missed him. Not the kisses or the compliments, but his presence. You miss looking at your side while flying and seeing him awkwardly waving at you. You've missed knowing that no matter what, you've always had him beside you. You miss his ugly Hawaiian shirts, his cologne, his incessant humming, his bad jokes, and his smile. 

He left a void in your life that time couldn’t erase. The emptiness is always present, almost like a part of you. Maybe it's time to stop and put you two out of your misery. 

After the mission, of course. 

You run through the academy halls, looking for the infirmary. It's been so long that you almost can't remember where it is. Eventually, you find it at the end of a white, eerie hallway. What's the deal with medical wings and creepy environments?

"They're with the doctor now, we can't enter." 

It's the first full sentence he has said to you since Christmas. You were so focused on finding the right room that you haven't seen him sitting down, waiting for the doctor to leave. 

"Are they okay?" You mutter, not looking at him. 

"I didn't see any blood or injury, so yes. I think they're okay." 

"Thank God" 

You sit in front of him, looking at his boots, the right one bumping up and down. 

"How…how are you?" You ask, your words leaving your lips before you can stop them.

"I've been better," he shrugs. You can feel his eyes on you. "I heard you've been going to therapy." 

You nod, glancing at his hands—big, calloused hands that you want to touch. "I can be in a changing room now"

"Really? Gosh, I'm so glad you're making such a big progress, grouchy"

You both stop breathing at the same time. It's the stupidest nickname ever, but it held a lot of meaning for you. 

"Shit, I'm sorry." He quickly apologizes. 

You waved it off. "Old habits never die, I guess." 

"It's not even old," he whispers, knowing that you can hear him. 

"Roos-" 

The door opens, and a blonde nurse is looking at both of you. "Lieutenant Kerner?" 

You stand up. "That's me" 

"Lieutenant Trace is asking for you." 

She enters the room, and you follow her. You can hear Rooster's steps as he walks down the corridor. 

Another time, then. 

You’re afraid that you won’t be able to talk to him after the mission. This is an extremely dangerous mission; you should have known better than to hold the conversation for so long. Now you can’t stop hearing Maverick’s words, which are repeating over and over in your head. 

He wants Rooster to be his wingman.

You have heard people talking. You’ve heard people say that someone wouldn’t make it. Some of you would come back home in a wooden box. That’s if they can find the body. 

You’re now standing next to Hangman; he’s watching Rooster talk with Maverick before he gets into his plane. 

“You should talk to him before he goes,” he whispers while bumping his arm with yours. 

“He’s coming back, Jake,” you say in a convincing tone, not sure if you’re trying to convince yourself or him. 

“Yeah but… what if?” Jake insists before leaving you alone with your thoughts. 

Two seconds later, your feet are moving toward Rooster. “Hey, Rooster.” 

He double-checks that you're talking to him, as if he can't believe you'd waste your breath talking to him. “Is everything okay?” 

“Yes, it’s just…” you sigh, raising your eyes and looking at him. “No, nothing’s okay. You’re going up there without me, of course it is not okay!” 

Of all the things he expected to hear from you at this moment, snapping at him because he’s flying without you is not one of them. "Amm... well, I didn't choose to be on this dangerous mission, you know." 

“Just…just come back, please.” 

“Athena, I always-”

“Don’t Athena me. For fuck's sake, Rooster, we've known each other our entire lives; we can have a normal conversation!" 

He throws his helmet inside the plane, hands on his hips, and frowns at you. “I’m not the one that runs away every time we’re in front of each other.”

“People keep dragging me away from you!”

 “Oh, yeah, blame the rest. As if you want to talk to me” he scoffs, turning around, ending the conversation. 

“Would I be here right now if I didn’t want to talk to you?” you state. 

“I still don’t know what you want” 

You grab him by the collar of his flying suit, pulling him down until his lips crash against yours. “Come back to me, please.” 

He doesn’t open his eyes when you pull away, only presses his forehead on yours, whispering over your lips. “I’ll always come back to you, fly girl.” 

Tears fall from your eyes, and he kisses them away, covering your face in kisses. 

“Go find Coyote and stay with him, please. Don’t be alone” 

You nod, hugging him tightly before kissing him one last time and getting in his plane. 

“Goose, wherever you are,” you whisper to yourself while walking inside. “Make sure he comes back safely.”

[softquietsteadylove]

Hi!

I’m curious my dear and I have a request!

Would you write something where Jack asks Gil to see him using his powers? I can imagine that Gil never used them actively since he is strong enough to do things without them. So Jack is curious and wants to see them! He wants to see why he is the strongest Eternal!

Thank you for all of your story’s!❤️

"You want me to what?"

"Please, Uncle Gil?" Jack pleaded, turning his big brown eyes on him. It was how he had already swayed his aunt in his favour.

As if it was hard; she was always in his favour.

"I know you're super strong, but I've never actually seen you use your super powers!" Jack continued in his excitement. "I've seen Aunt Thena's."

"Not in action, you haven't, and that's a good thing," Gil pointed out in an attempt to curb the boy's excitement. It wasn't working, though, with Jack practically bouncing at the opportunity to ask him about it. "What brought this on?"

"A film," Thena finally spoke up from the chair behind Jack. She had been lazing about all morning, like a cat in the morning sun. "He wants to know if you could lift the car."

Gil chuckled, setting down his plate and taking off his apron. "Buddy, I'm pretty sure any of us could do that."

"No way!"

"Yup," Gil nodded, bringing the plate over to his curled up wife. He even wafted the plate around her a little before she picked her head up. "I'm pretty sure even Sprite could pick up a basic sedan if she really tried."

"If she lifted with her knees," Thena both added and agreed, unfurling just to follow the temptation of Gil's lovingly made breakfast.

"Okay, but could you throw the car?"

"Why would I want to throw the car?" Gil asked, although he had a feeling the answer would be-

"'Cause it'd be cool!"

"You can't go around throwing cars because it's cool, Jack," Gil shook his head with an exasperated smile. He held out a piece of toast, letting Thena take a delicate little nibble of the corner of it. "That's not what insurance is for."

"But Uncle Gil-" Jack tried again, only to be shut out by his disgustingly affectionate uncle and aunt canoodling right in front of him. He huffed as Uncle Gil tickled the tip of Aunt Thena's nose with his own. Jack turned to his more likely ally, "Aunt Thena?"

"Yes, Jack?" she humoured him, even as she was making eyes at the man in front of her.

"What's the heaviest thing you've ever seen Uncle Gil pick up?"

"It's hard to say." It wasn't--it was probably the carcass of the largest Deviant they had ever fought in their lifetimes. Once tied up, Gil was able to pick the thing up over his shoulder, as if carrying the mast of a ship. "Maybe the stone blocks for the pyramids."

"You guys built the pyramids?!

"Helped," Thena corrected singularly, but Jack never minded how few words she chose. She smiled at him, "Makkari was positively adored there. They called her a Goddess."

"You're a Goddess yourself," Gil pointed out needlessly, just for the excuse to compliment her and brush his hand over her cheek.

"Please just show me a little bit of your powers?" Jack repeated, now to the confusion of both Eternals. He dropped his scrunched up fists in a change of tactics. "I've seen Dad's powers but he never explains them. Or he explains too much."

His father's siblings seemed to sympathise with him over that.

"He told me about your powers," Jack continued. "I thought you were using your powers this whole time, but you weren't!"

Gil chuckled, sharing a look with Thena. "You got me there."

"So, all the times you grabbed stuff out of the oven, or picked up Aunt Thena, or even the time you picked up the couch-?!"

"Sorry Bud, those just aren't difficult for me," Gil shrugged, ruffling Jack's hair to ease the blow. "Aunt Thena doesn't weigh anything-"

She gave his side a poke, but he braved on.

"And I pick up the couch at home all the time to clean it," Gil shrugged, although it only made Jack's pout worsen. "Okay, okay, what do you wanna see me lift?--away from anyone who could see it!"

Jack put a hand to his chin. He had asked and asked and asked and now he had to think of what he actually wanted out of all this. "Well, in the movie, he can lift a whole train car by himself."

"We're not going to some train yard and getting the cops called on us for trespassing," Gil shot down the idea without a second thought.

"But-"

"What if Uncle Gil lifts the car for you, hm?" Thena attempted to compromise between Jack's bold ideas and what they could realistically get away with doing without being noticed.

"I guess that's pretty cool," Jack relented, although he clearly had been hoping for something more dramatic.

"Come on, we can do it in the garage," Gil put his hand on Jack's back as they moved towards the garage, where they could exercise even a fraction of their strength behind closed doors.

"Aunt Thena, could you lift the car if you wanted to?"

"Of course."

"But," Jack paused, "you don't want to?"

"No."

"Okay."

Gil shook his head, catching his wife's eye. "He asks and asks me, but for you, if you're not in the mood, then that's it?"

"Yes," she smiled right back at him, reaching idly to pat Jack on the head. "Because he's a nice boy."

"Okay, okay," Gil sighed as he stepped into the garage. He lowered himself to the ground, grunting as he had to lift it a little just to shimmy under it. "You ready?"

"Ready!" Jack beamed.

Gil took in a breath, just barely exhaling as he lifted the family's hatchback from the undercarriage of it. He could technically grip the bumper and lift it that way, but it would be ill-balanced, and he was likely to bend the bumper in his grip doing it that way. "You see, Jack?"

"That's so cool!" the young man said in awe as Gil didn't even blink as he lowered the car down again. "Is that your workout routine?"

"We don't really have to 'work out', as you put it," Thena advised next to him with an indulgent smile. "Although he does regularly pick up the water tower at home and shake it to test when it needs refilling."

"Is there anything Uncle Gil can't lift?"

"I've never quite seen him try to lift something and fail," Thena mused as Gil scooched out from under the car and dusted himself off. "But that's part of knowing your limits, Jack. There are things of which even Eternals are not capable."

"Like what?" he asked immediately, really trying to imagine his superpowered family struggling to accomplish anything.

"Like saying no to you," Gil laughed as he wiped his dusty hands off on Jack's shirt, tickling him in the process. "Have you seen her do it yet?"

"That is an unfair challenge, and you know it," Thena asserted in her own defense. She turned her head, "the phone."

"I'll get it!" Jack rushed inside and to the kitchen to pick up the house's landline. "Dad?"

"Does some wanna tell me why I got an alert that the garage was opened, only to see my idiot brother benchpressing the car?"

"Uh," Jack blinked before holding out the phone to his aunt, "it's for you."

"Phastos," she lifted the phone to her ear.

"Don't Phastos me, T! What are you-"

Thena hung up.

Gil gave her a look as she put the phone back on the receiver. It rang not a second later but she hung it up again. "He's going to be furious when he gets home."

Thena picked up and hung up the phone a third time without even blinking an eye. She looked at her nephew with a smile, "what would you like to do now, Jack?"

"Can you jump, like, super far?"

"Yes."

"Can you jump over the house?"

"I'm sure I could."

[softquietsteadylove]

I have this idea for the Parent/Teacher AU!

So Thena and Gilgamesh have been together for quite some while now and spent a lot of time at each others places with Druig. Gilgamesh takes care of Druig like a dad! So one day Druig calls him „mister dad“ on accident and you can decide how they react! Just a sweet, soft moment!

(*whispering* happy belated, Butterfly 🦋❤️)

"Okay, buddy, ready to go?" Gil asked as he packed up his bag, ready to leave with Druig in tow. Thena was getting off work a little early, but she had told Gil that if she wasn't there by pick up time, to simply come meet her at her ongoing shoot.

"Almost!"

Gil shook his head with a grin, fixing the strap of his satchel on his shoulder. He walked over to the reading corner, where Druig was procrastinating (like always). "Don't you wanna go see Mum, pal? We can pick her up from work, and then I'm making spaghetti for dinner."

Druig sighed, closing his book and getting up from his position of lying on the floor. "Okay, Mister Dad."

Gil looked at Druig, who stared right back at him. Gil made sure to keep his face neutral, though. He wanted to see what big feelings Druig might be having over what had just happened, and the last thing he wanted to do was make the kid feel like he'd done something wrong.

Druig hugged the book to his little body, doing his little stomping dance of anxiety. "I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Gil was quick to reassure the boy, dropping his bag and kneeling before him. "I'm not mad, Druig."

He looked at Gil, though, as if trying to see if it was a lie and by how much.

"Here," Gil sighed, sitting down completely and settling in for a good talk. "Can we talk about it?"

Druig, recognising the body language of when a calm, safe discussion was about to be had, automatically followed his lead.

"Now," Gil patted his knees, looking at the boy in front of him.

He and Thena had been together a few months already, and were playing things by ear on how to proceed with Druig. They had explained that they were 'special' friends, and that they would be spending some time together. Thena kept a close eye on how Druig was feeling at all times, but he had shown no resistance to any changes in their relationship from his perspective.

Gil was still his teacher, but also spent a lot of time at their house, just not specifically to play with Druig (to his occasional annoyance).

Gil didn't want any pressure to be put on Thena or Druig, though. Kro was technically still Druig's father, no matter how seldom he was in the picture. And Gil was happy with however they chose to include him things as they desired.

"It was an accident," Druig mumbled out, still looking embarrassed as he crossed his legs, poking the part of his sneakers that could light up in the dark. He was getting a little better with his 'a's and 'an's.

"I know, and that's okay," Gil nodded, watching the kid closely. "How did you feel when you said it?"

Druig squirmed a little.

"It's okay to feel embarrassed," Gil said gently, to which Druig nodded. Gil leaned his elbows on his knees, "can you name another feeling?--or something you thought?"

Druig exhaled, unfolding a little bit. Gil couldn't help but smile; he really was the spitting image of Thena, if not in looks then behaviour. "Will Mum be mad?"

Gil gave Druig a smile, "you can ask her. But I don't think she'll be mad. Are you worried she will be?"

Druig looks down at his feet again. "Dad'll be."

That made sense. Not that Druig was worried about what his father would think, but that he was anxious about the temper his father had. Thena had done her best to keep him protected from it, but clearly Druig wasn't ignorant to it.

Gil sighed. This was a delicate situation, and certainly there were going to have to be some discussions about it. But he always felt strongly that he didn't believe in lying to the kids unless it was for a greater good. "How about this?"

Druig perked up.

"We'll tell you mom, and we can talk about how we all feel about it," Gil suggested gently, to which Druig still seemed resistant, "but you don't have to tell your Dad if you don't want to. If we have to tell him, then you can let Mum and me worry about it, okay?"

Druig pursed his lips (also a Thena habit). "What if he yells at 'er?"

Gil drew in a breath, still trying to keep his face neutral. "I promise I won't let him, okay? We can talk about it nicely, like grownups."

"Okay."

Gil tilted his head at Druig's resignation. He didn't seem to feel any better about the situation. "Is there anything else you wanna talk about?"

Druig eyed Gil, coming off as much older than his mere six years. He picked at his shoelaces. "Would it hurt Dad's feelin's?--if I called you Mister Dad?"

Such a sensitive kid. Gil considered what to tell the little old soul. He was glad that he had reservations about hurting others' feelings, even if it was for a father who didn't necessarily deserve his consideration. "Well, I don't know, Druig. It's nice that you don't want to hurt his feelings, though."

Having it phrased back to him actually seemed to make him less inclined to be. He frowned, desperately trying to sort out his young feelings and put them into words. "Is...you're not mad?"

"I'm not mad," Gil smiled.

"Not at me?"

"I'm not mad at you."

"Or Mum?"

"I'm not mad at Mum."

Druig accepted the truths given, filing away the new information.

"Druig," Gil scooted a little closer.

He could have guessed this might arise. He and Thena had no way of spending their time together completely away from Druig's attention. Neither of them had any intention of lying to him, and it wasn't as if Gil was a stranger to Druig before their relationship began, anyway.

He was quickly becoming one of the most prominent presences in Druig's life, alongside Phastos and Ben. Ajak and Thena were already like a co-parenting dream team with how sewn together their kids were.

Kro was probably - understandably - far from Druig's mind when he thought about his family and who comprised it.

"When we're in school, everyone calls me Mister Gil, because those are the rules, right?" Gil proposed, to which Druig nodded. "You call Uncle Phastos Mister Stoss, don't you?"

He nodded again.

"But, when we're at home, or out spending time together," Gil offered a gentle smile, something in his chest aching, "it's okay with me if you want to call me Mister Dad."

Druig, no matter how much he had learned to be hard to read from his mother, was still a 6 year old. And the smile that came over him lit the whole classroom.

Gil felt his chest tighten. Past his degree in child psychology, and his teaching certifications, and his experience as an educator--even past his fondness for Druig as his student, he loved this kid. His attempts to intellectualise his way around the feeling always ended up with him just adoring the sweet little boy who seemed so much like his mother.

Gil blinked as Druig ran over to him, receiving the boy in a hug that was almost alarmingly out of character for him. Druig wasn't affectionate by nature, and only Thena and Makkari were ever on the receiving end of hugs from him.

But Gil ruffled Druig's hair, letting him bury his face in the arm of his sweater.

"Everything okay?"

Gil smiled as Thena knelt down next to them. Druig didn't even look up, immediately moving from Gil's embrace to his mother's. She curled around her son instinctively, cradling him against her and kissing his hair. Gil met her eyes, "we're okay. Talking about some big feelings."

Thena nodded; that meant that they would have plenty more to talk about later. She ruffled Druig's hair, "are you ready to go home, Darling?"

He nodded, rubbing his teary eyes and runny nose all over her nice blouse.

"Okay," she just smiled, letting him make as much of a mess of her as he wanted. She stood, holding Druig to her as Gil picked up his bag and collected Druig's backpack and jacket. "Mister Gil is going to make spaghetti, Darling. Does that sound good?"

"Yes."

At least it was something, and even just the one word was enough to comfort Thena. She looked up at Gil, who leaned in to kiss her cheek. "How was your day?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle," he assured her, his free hand naturally finding the small of her back as they made their way out of the building to his car.

"Mum?"

"Yes, Darling?" Thena looked at Druig, brushing away some tears from his eyes.

"Can Mister Dad read me a story tonight?"

Thena looked up at Gil with wide eyes, but he just nodded. This was what they were going to have to talk about more later. Later, because this was not the time nor the environment in which to try it. She ran her fingers through Druig's hair, "if you like, Darling, of course he can."

"M'kay."

Gil gave Thena a smile and a shrug. He really was fine with it, maybe even further endeared to them. Thena blushed faintly; not only did they have to talk about this as Druig's mother and teacher, but also what it meant in the context of their relationship.

"Mum?"

"Yes, Darling?"

"Is Mister Dad gonna sleepover again?"

Thena's blush doubled, although she buried it against the top of Druig's head. "Let's just get through dinner first, okay, Love?"

[softquietsteadylove]

For Thenamesh Pokémon AU. Gil is sick but still working and caring about the Pokémon in his care (because he is sweet and he can be stubborn too).Thena visits him (not knowing he is sick) when she suddenly sees him collapsing in the middle of taking care of some Pokémon.

Looking forward for this story!<3

"Achoo!!!"

Many, many heads turned at the unbearably loud sneeze ringing out through the valley. Plenty of people turned at the sound, as well as pokemon.

Including the pokemon currently being herded by the congested pokemon ranger.

"Sorry, sorry," Gil muttered, swiping at his nose with a tissue as he continued to wave along the herd of Swinub and Piloswine mid-migration. "This way, guys. The ice caves will be a nice even temperature for you."

"Hey, boss, you sure you don't wanna take a rest?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Gil waved off, even as he felt another sneeze coming on. "We still have to get all the Miltank rounded up t-to...too...ah-CHOO!!"

"Gilgamesh!"

Both Gil and the junior ranger's backs snapped straight. The junior ranger quickly made himself scarce, leaving Gil to fend for himself as the queen of ace trainers herself walked over.

He attempted his most charming smile, "full name?"

"You deserve it," Thena frowned at him, putting her hands on her hips as she looked at him. "You're visibly sick."

"It's not bad, really," Gil tried to insist again, sliding his tablet under his arm and swiping at his nose with his tissue again. "Just a little head cold. And these herds need to move within the next few hou-"

"The wild pokemon will live, Gil, and you have other rangers who can help them," Thena huffed, happy to get in his face about it. It wasn't like there were any witnesses to it (besides the odd Swinub); the rest of his crew had all but fled at her appearance. "You should be in bed!"

"Thena, I'm fine, really!"

"You're in a t-shirt and vest!" She took the liberty of turning him and pushing him in the direction of the ranger centre. "That's like saying you have a blanket when you're really just wearing a poncho."

Gil let out a laugh; Thena was always at her funniest when she was in no mood for jokes.

"Gil!"

Thank Arceus she wasn't calling him Gilgamesh, though. Well, she could, just not if it was because she was mad at him.

"Ursa!"

"Oh, hey buddy!" Gil tried to turn around and get a look at their little cub, but Thena kept on pushing him. "Thena, I'm going, really."

"If I hadn't shown up, you would have worked through the rest of your shift, I've no doubt," she grumbled at him.

"Because we're busy!"

"If Dragonite had a cold you would never let him work a full shift, let alone outdoors at the top of the mountain!"

Okay, she had a point there. Gil sighed, giving in and walking a little more cooperatively. Thena did at least stop pushing and shoving him, although he clearly wasn't going to get away with anything as she fell in step with him. "What brought you here, anyway?"

Thena adjusted her hood, which adjusted the little bear sitting in it. "Teddi was restless at home and wanted to come see you."

"Ted!" the little Teddiursa smiled at Gil from the warm haven of Thena's coat hood, snuggled up against the back of her head.

"Aw, that's sweet," Gil grinned, ruffling the fur between Teddiursa's ears.

"Well," Thena continued, "I also wanted to see what the centre had for winter gear."

"For you?" Gil asked, immediately wondering how cold she got on a daily basis, walking around in Victory Road.

"No, for him," she let her eyes travel backward, gesturing to the Little Cub pokemon. "I'm worried about those ears getting cold when the rest of him is nice and toasty."

"I could say the same for you," Gil frowned at her as they finally reached the ranger centre and stepped inside. "If he's in your hood, that means you're not using it when you should be."

Thena crossed her arms at him. "You look even worse under the lighting in here."

Gil resisted the urge to shiver as the door opened behind them again, moving quickly away from the pokemon centre half of the main entrance and towards his office. "You're right, I should have worn my coat when I left this morning. But I'll just-"

"What you'll do," Thena followed him, "is change shifts with someone because you're in no condition to be out there."

"Thena," Gil sighed, letting her into his office ahead of him to close the door after her. "I can't just-"

Thena hadn't walked further in, but was standing right there, letting him walk his forehead directly into her palm. She held his eyes with a frown, "you're burning up."

She had a point. Gil shrugged, pulling his ball cap off and setting it on his desk.

"Gil," she said much softer, stopping him from reaching for his winter uniform hat (which was sitting on his chair, proving that he had thought about needing it and neglected it anyway). "Please?"

It was like a pin missile attack straight through the heart.

Thena looked up at him, holding his hand in hers, those green eyes putting a spell over him. "What if it were me?"

Gil froze. He was guilty, and they both knew it.

Thena walked them backwards, pulling him towards the bunk beds that were in the back of his office, the top half laden with his extra equipment. "If you came to Victory Road and I was sick, you would never let me just carry on like this."

She was right. And he was way more of a worrywart than she was. If he caught her battling while she was sick?--he wouldn't even let her finish the fight. He'd pay the losing fee and carry her out of there over his shoulder if he had to.

"You would take me back home, lecture me about how my pokemon would need me at full strength to continue my work," she raised her brows at him, at least smiling.

Gil smiled too, because he always smiled when Thena smiled at him. He didn't even notice her pulling his vest off him.

"You'd put on that stew I like," she whispered, luring him with the siren song of her warmth and her prettiness and her soft voice. "Lie me down on the couch and throw a blanket over me."

"Hm," Gil sighed, already able to imagine the comforting scent of her favourite stew mixed with the generally sweet smell of her home.

Thena switched their positions gently, easing Gil to sit on the on-call bunk. She reached behind her, pulling Teddiursa out of her hood and setting him on the floor with a whisper, "get his shoes off."

"Teddi," he nodded and dutifully set about pulling Gil's boots off (the laces would be a terrible mess of knots later).

"Just lie back, Gil," Thena soothed, easing him onto the bed and lying him down as soon as his boots were off. She pulled the blankets up over him, picking up Teddiursa and setting her little cub on top of his chest. "You make sure Papa doesn't go anywhere. I'm going to go tell the others that he's sick."

"Teddi!" he saluted her, already taking his job very seriously of weighing Gil down to keep him in bed. "Ted..."

"I'm fine, buddy, I promise," Gil smiled up at the little pokemon, patting his head again, although it didn't distract him this time. Gil sighed, dropping his head down to the pillow again and staring up at the underside of the above bunk. "I haven't slept in here for a long time."

"Ursa?"

"Mm, well I usually just go to Th--uh, Mama's house," Gil chuckled, and then had to cough a little. He sniffled and cleared his throat. "Before and after my shifts--and then I'll go home for a little and get right back to it."

"Teddiursra?" the little cub leaned in, having had no idea Gil had a house of his own.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I do," Gil blinked at the little bear through their conversation. "I don't go there a lot anymore, I guess. I'm usually just working, or with Thena. I mostly go to shower, change my clothes. If I'm getting off a couple really long shifts, I'll go back there to sleep."

"Teddi," the pokemon nodded, glad to hear at least that Gil did - on occasion - rest after he was done working. "Teddiursa?"

"No, it's not hard," Gil yawned and then coughed faintly again. "I love my job. I love taking care of pokemon like you!"

"Teddiursa!" the bear cub giggled as his belly was tickled.

"And times when I can really help them, like when I brought you to Thena," Gil sighed blissfully, sliding his hand behind his head on the pillow, "make it all worth it."

"Teddi?"

"Huh," Gil opened his eyes again, still somewhat shocked to find himself on his bunk in his office instead of on Thena's couch. "I guess I never really thought about it."

"Ted," it shrugged. As far as the Little Cub pokemon knew, Gil did live with Mama, and left only for work. It had no idea Gil didn't technically 'live with them'.

"Well," Gil fidgeted with the blanket, blushing even under his fever, "it's not that simple, buddy."

"Ted?"

Why not?

"Uh," Gil stuttered again. He really didn't have the hard-hitting answers he thought he did. Gil looked up as Teddiursa's puff ball tail wiggled a little. He gave the tail a playful little jiggle, "Mama on the way back, sport?"

It nodded.

"Listen," Gil whispered, "let's keep this little discussion between us a secret, okay? Mama...has a busy job too, y'know. She has enough to worry about for now."

"Okay," Thena sighed as she came back into the office with her coat unbuttoned and three bowls of stew in hand. "Dragonite will be off in two hours, and then he'll help me carry you back to the house. Until then, you're on bed rest here--no buts!"

Gil retracted his raised finger and slipped it under the blankets again.

"Eat this," she directed firmly, although she deposited the bowl into his hands as if it were a fragile pokemon egg. "They're getting a few park rangers to help fill in for you."

Gil sat up, stirring around the stew. It wasn't the stew he made for Thena, but it was still his recipe he'd given the cafeteria staff here at the ranger centre.

He watched as Thena pulled a bottle out of her pocket, stirring in the necessary pokechow to make the stew an appropriate meal for their little cub. She even blew on it for him, bite by bite, making sure it wouldn't burn his mouth.

He remembered the little pokemon's question: why didn't he just live with them instead of having a whole place for just himself?

He didn't have an answer to that, although he certainly felt that he was looking at his family in front of him right now.

"Hey."

Thena looked over, finding Gil staring at them with that soft expression he could get. She smiled back, handing Teddiursa the spoon for his own use. She left her own bowl on his desk in favour of kneeling next to Gil's bunk. "Just a little longer. You can get a proper rest in my bed at home."

Gil blinked his bleary eyes at her as she ran a hand over his hair. That sounded perfect. And never did returning to his own apartment ever even occur to him, he realised.

Thena leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek, "try to get some sleep. Dragonite will be here soon."

Yes, that sounded nice, Gil mused as he rapidly lost focus of what was in front of him. He could get a little shut-eye, Dragonite would pick him up in a nice cosy hug, carry them all back to Thena's house.

Back home.

[softquietsteadylove]

Could you write the Eternals taking Jack trick or treating and Thena scaring the shit out of someone while Gil just laughs and Phastos just questions why he even tries to deal with either of them?

"Trick or Treat!"

"Thena, stop eating the candy!"

Jack and Thena both looked behind them at Phastos, shaking his head with his hands on his hips. Jack - with his plague doctor mask pushed up on top of his head - shrugged. "I told her she could have some."

"Oh, sure, she can have some," Phastos huffed at the unfairness of it all, "but last time I asked you told me that you had to make it last all year."

Thena stared her brother down, popping another sour candy into her mouth. "The sweets are his bounty, Phastos. He may do with it as he pleases."

Ben just laughed, watching as Jack dug around for more candy he thought his aunt would like. "He's sharing, Habibi--it's a good thing."

"Yeah," Gil snickered to the other side of Phastos, elbowing him, "don't be so jealous."

Phastos raised a brow at his brother, "I don't see you getting any."

Gil shrugged, trailing behind them as Jack left Thena a few last pieces before joining his friends again. "More for her."

Despite his happiness to let Thena take what she liked of Jack's generosity, she drifted back to his side, selecting a green apple candy and slipping it into his pocket.

He looked at her, but she was concentrating on the tart candy on her tongue. He extracted the hand from his pocket to wrap an arm around her. "I'd rather have that one."

But Thena turned her head, letting his lips collide with her cheek instead of her lips. "No."

"No?" Gil feigned shock and dismay.

"I already gave you one," Thena eyed her husband with a sly grin. "This one was selected specifically for me."

"Mm," Gil mused, touching the tip of his nose to hers, "I could always find a way of slipping it away from you."

"I swear to all the stars in the sky, you two-" Phastos began ranting at the couple while Ben continued to laugh at his husband and his in-laws' antics. "The only reason you're here is because the other parents wanted more than just me and Ben to watch them all."

Thena popped another candy into her mouth while Gil settled for the one she had given him. "That's not true, Jack invited us."

He had--he had insisted, actually, that his friends meet his 'super cool' uncle and aunt visiting from Australia. Although he had been disappointed to learn that he was not allowed to show off their superpowers.

"Don't remind me," Phastos grumbled. The kids returned from the next porch, jostling each other and laughing. "Okay guys, come on, two more blocks and that's it, that was the deal."

"Dad!"

"Don't 'Dad' me, mister," Phastos wagged his finger.

"Aunt Thena?" Jack turned to his greatest ally, but she avoided his eyes.

She was doing it on purpose. If she looked at that cute little human face she would definitely defy Phastos' very strict rule about not watching his son without at least one other person present.

"Uncle Gil?"

"Sorry buddy, your dad was pretty clear about this one," Gil laughed as the kid ran out of options. "But after the two blocks how 'bout I make some special hot chocolate when we get back?"

"What's so special about it?"

"No, you don't even know," Jack shook his head at his friends, waving them along to the next house. "It's so good."

Thena unwrapped the last candy gifted to her, chewing it slowly as the children ran ahead again. "Are these available constantly?"

"I think so," Gil mused, examining the wrapper she was about to stuff into his waiting pockets. "We can always bring some with us in case they're not in Australia."

"Hey!"

The adults all looked up with alarm. There was a traffic jam of sorts at the next house--a big, beautiful, visibly well off house with nothing but a bowl on the front step. The owners were away on vacation and trusting people to be honourable about the full size candy bars they were taking.

"You can't take five, that's not fair!"

Thena was already walking towards the house. Gil gave the back of her dress a little tug, "easy."

Phastos adjusted his glasses, "whoa, guys, what happened here?"

"They're taking all the candy!" Jack belted, pointing at the offenders.

Thena examined the older boys, not even concerned with pleading their case. Her eyes narrowed. "I thought there was an age restriction on such an event."

"Whoa, Jack, who's the milf?" one of the older ones laughed, clearly some low number of teen.

"Yeah, you kids should probably stick closer to home."

"Okay, boys," Phastos grumbled, his own veins starting to itch with energy. He considered himself a reasonable man. But this was his child they were messing with (not even wanting to think about the comment on his own sister).

Thena wasted no time. She gripped the back of the leather jacket the tallest one was wearing. She shook him, making the bars in his pockets drop to the ground. "What else have you pilfered?"

"H-Huh?! I-I don't--put me down!" his voice broke as he flailed in the taller woman's reach.

"Let go of him, bitch!"

Gil picked up the next one, also holding him like a stray animal getting a little too aggressive. "Okay, that's enough, kids. Why don't you all just run home, huh?"

The other three didn't have to be told twice, already halfway down the walkway and pushing past Ben on their way. He sighed--he was going to have to handle the calls from angry parents.

"It's okay, guys."

Surprisingly, it was Jack who was the voice of reason, holding out his palms to indicate the teenagers be put down. Thena tilted her head at her sweet natured nephew. She shook the older human again. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Aunt Thena," Jack nodded, watching the humiliation colour the older boy's face. "He's probably learned his lesson by now."

Gil looked at Thena, asking her what she wanted to do. But she nodded; if Jack was sure, then so was she. He nodded, taking the boy from her grasp the way he would receive a kitten by its scruff. He carried his two human nuisances down the walkway, away from Jack and his friends. "You guys better not go around bothering anyone else."

As soon as they were on their feet again the two panicked, scrambling away desperately.

Phastos sighed again, at his family more than his son. "Do you know how much I am gonna have to deal with now because of this?"

Gil rolled his eyes, patting Phastos on the arm. "Like you weren't going to teach 'em a lesson of your own for messing with him?"

"That's not the point, Gil." Of course he was going to.

"Why're you so strong?"

Thena looked at Jack's friend (she hadn't bothered to learn any of their names). She looked at Gil, waiting for them all to rejoin them on the sidewalk. "We have the same workout routine."

"That's so cool!"

Kids were so willing to accept things. Thena smiled as they bounded off the deck, each with a candy bar of their own. She slipped one of the stolen ones into Jack's bag on his way past her.

"Thanks, Aunt Thena," he gave her a shy, toothy smile, holding up a second one he'd procured just for her. "I knew it was a good idea to bring you along."

She loved this human boy so much. Thena smiled, accepting the chocolate gently in her palm. She walked beside Jack behind his friends, breaking the slab in half and handing it back to him without a word.

Jack bit into it with a grin, watching as she bit into her half, holding it in her teeth. But he did roll his eyes as she greeted Uncle Gil with it, him leaning in to bite it off while kissing her at the same time.