#and she hops from tree to tree like a bird

[rcbertpattincscn]

“Spider monkeys?” Rob gave her a sidelong look, arching a brow like he was re-evaluating all his life choices. “You would pick the little chaos goblins of the zoo.” Then he saw the flicker of mischief in her eyes and laughed. “You’re joking. You’re such a jerk.” He squeezed her hand, still grinning. That was the thing about Hayley, she could drop something heartfelt and meaningful one second, then blindside him with some offhanded joke the next, and it never felt jarring. Just her. And yeah, he’d take all of it. Every part of her. As the car pulled into the lot and Hayley hopped out with renewed energy, Rob had a second to admire her all over again, the way she always seemed to come alive for moments like this. She wasn’t just doing this for Noah, he could tell. There was something in her that was genuinely excited, and that made him fall for her even harder. Again. Like clockwork.

He was still gathering the diaper bag when her voice rang out - “We’re here!” Noah let out a delighted screech in response that nearly knocked the air from Rob’s lungs with how damn pure it was. He joined them at the curb, watching her hoist their son out of the car like it was the easiest thing in the world. “You say 'lucky they’re behind the fence’ like you don’t have a fantasy of smuggling a penguin out in your bag,” he teased, swinging the diaper bag over his shoulder.Noah was kicking his legs and letting out random syllables like he’d already had three cups of coffee and knew he had business to attend to. “I’m just saying, if he sees an elephant and calls it ‘Alfie,’ we're gonna have a real genius baby." They made their way through the entrance, scanning their tickets and navigating the stroller-rental station which ended in them deciding Rob would just carry Noah for as long as his spine would allow. Once inside, the soundscape shifted- kids laughing, birds cawing, the rustle of leaves overhead as the early afternoon sun filtered through the trees. And then came that moment. The one Rob didn’t even realize he was waiting for. Noah spotted a zebra. His whole body tensed with wonder, arms shooting out in excitement, the kind of wild joy that only a child could experience without any filter. Rob glanced at Hayley, and in that second, he didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. She was already looking at him, like her heart was going through the exact same squeeze his was. He leaned over and kissed her temple, whispering, “Best idea you’ve ever had.”

Hearing all the things that Rob wanted to do at the zoo, Hayley loved that he was talking to Noah like he completely understood what was going on since she often found herself doing the same thing - Hayley had read a little too much about baby development, trying to to be as best prepared she could be. "Shame that he's not going to be able to have a taste of those pretzels, but we can describe it to him." Hayley said with a grin on her lips. "You are the dad of the year. Noah has dubbed you that and I have to agree." The blonde loved seeing how the two of them interacted, she was at peace with how their life was day to day. "Goofball." The singer teased, getting into the car easily. There was a time when Hayley would double check Ron strapping Noah into his seat - not because she didn't trust him, but it was her way of easing her anxiety, but she didn't feel that way anymore - she didn't need to check his every move with their son.

Looking over at her partner as he entered the car, Hayley pretended to ponder on the question for a moment. "I mean, the flamingos are great - love how pretty they look.. but I'm really looking forward to seeing the spider monkeys. They're the best." Squeezing his hand, Hayley waited for his reaction to what she thought was a funny joke - because she knew that there weren't those kinds of monkeys at the zoo. "No, but I'm really looking forward to the little penguins and the fennec foxes. It's been a while since I've been to a zoo. So maybe I am being a little selfish with the idea." The family bonding time, and different sights for Noah was the main part of the day for Hayley, but she could indulge in a bit of selfishness. As they drove along, hearing Noahs nonsensical babbles, Hayley watched the city move past them. Once they arrived - Hayley quickly got out of the car, energy coming back to her. "We're here!" She exclaimed as she pulled her son out of the car. "You ready to see all the animals, baby? A lot of them are going to be a lot bigger than Alfie." She paused for a moment - realizing that in just a couple of days she was going to be with her dog again and how much she missed him. "Lucky they're behind the fence, though."

[justafewberries]

Rue is the hummingbird to Katniss's mockingjay pin.

"They'd been fashioned by Tam Amber over thirty years ago. I never saw them, but Merrilee's featured a hummingbird and Maysilee's a mockingjay."

- SOTR, Page 54

"Aren't they magnificent? Thirteen has been studying their aerodynamics here for years. Forward and backwards flight, and speeds up to sixty miles per hours. If only I could build you wings like these, Katniss!" "I doubt you could manage them, Beetee," I laugh. "Here one second, gone the next. Can you bring a hummingbird down with an arrow?" he asks. "I've never tried. Not much meat on them," I answer. "No, and you're not one to kill for sport," he says. "I bet they'd be hard to shoot, though." "You could snare them maybe," Gale says.

- Mockingjay, Page 65

When he asks what her greatest strength in the arena will be, she doesn't hesitate. "I'm very hard to catch," she says in a tremulous voice. "And if they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out."

- The Hunger Games, Page 126

"Oh no," says Rue, closing my fingers back over the pin, "I like to see it on you. That's how I decided I could trust you. Besides, I have this." She pulls a necklace woven out of some kind of grass from her shirt. On it, hangs a roughly carved wooden star. Or maybe it's a flower. "It's a good luck charm."

- The Hunger Games, Page 212

[the-kr8tor]

Hiiii 🤭

Hopping here to request a Reader x Ekko where they're just two love birds and R sneaks into his "office" because she just missed him :( and then one thing leads to another and they're kinda carried away by each other.. that until duty calls up and R watches Ekko switching from loving future husband to the Leader of the Firelights

Love you!!!

Hihihi thank you sm bleaky for the idea!!! Another fic straight from our dms 🤭 I hope you like it, pookie ❤️

Pairing: Ekko x fem! Reader

Word count: 1.9k

Tags: use of Y/N sparsely, no specific physical description of the reader, reader is a childhood friend turned lover, Firelight! Reader, lovestruck! Ekko, no s2 spoiler, cw suggestive, FLUFF!

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ʕ⁠·⁠ᴥ⁠·⁠ʔ

The hoverboard whirrs softly from under you, with the moonlight peeking through the leaves of the beloved tree, bathing you in its dappled silver glow. The breeze carries ashen smoke amidst the scent of sweet dew filled flowers.

You lean forward slightly, guiding the board gently towards the open window of the tree house where a certain someone is burning the midnight oil on his workbench. You perch yourself over the window, careful not to make any noise as you slither your way inside. Hopefully staying as a surprise for Ekko.

He felt you before he heard your grunt and the unmistakable sound of your head bumping on the windowsill. Smiling tiredly, he twists in his chair to look at you fondly while you cradle your poor head from the recent bump.

“You know I gave you a key for a reason.” You can practically hear his amusement from his tone.

“Where's the fun in that?” You chuckle, palm patting at the blooming headache. “I thought I'd surprise you.”

Ekko roams his eyes over you as your smirk grows wider with every second he ogles you. “I think you forgot the surprise.” He points at your empty hands, tilting his head to the side in case you've got something hidden behind you.

“Ekko, I'm the surprise.” You wink at him, arms raised to your sides in a ‘here I am’ gesture. He shakes his head with a smile, watching you as you saunter towards him. “You should be asleep.” Your hand finds its place on his cheek, he looks up at you, eyes soft under the warm light of the desk lamp. He leans against your touch, lamenting at the way you gently scratch at his nape. “You can do this once you get some rest. Your board will still be here tomorrow.”

He swears he can fall asleep with your tender touch and voice lulling him to slumber. “I can't,” he sighs, reluctantly pulling away from you to return his attention towards his board that glows softly with green light. “we have something planned early tomorrow.”

Your heart softens for him and his determination. “Am I part of that something something?” Sitting down on his desk, far enough to give him space to work but close enough for you to poke his leg with your foot.

“Not this time,” he glances at you, finding you huffing in place as he screws in the blades tightly. “You still got that shoulder thing.”

“This shoulder thing is alright now.” He raises a brow at you, head shaking lightly. You sigh, surrendering. “Fine, it's acting up again, but it's technically better.” Ekko hums in reply, elbow deep inside the hoverboard. “Kind of. Can I at least help? I don't like feeling useless.”

His hand cups your knee, thumbs tracing swirls on your skin. You can feel how warm his hand is from under his glove. “Just sit there and look pretty for me, okay?” Smirking, he pats you once before returning his hand back to his work as you pout and huff at him. “And you're never useless. You're still healing, trouble. I don't want you getting hurt out there because of a busted shoulder.” A flash of you falling off your board with a sickening crunch fills his vision with dread. He turns towards you fully, tapping his wrench on the wooden table, and gentle eyes softening up at your features. “You'll have your time, I promise.”

You nod, watching as the green hue flickers over his concerned face. “Okay, but you owe me.” You cross your leg over the other while he smiles and turns towards his machine again.

“How many IOUs is that now?” He asks, glancing between you and the board.

You nudge him with your foot, “too many, Ekko.” You say his name with a sing-song lilt, effectively taking his attention. “What?” With a teasing smile, he stares at you wordlessly.

“You're distracting me.” His eyes follows the curve of your jaw up to your lips. Heart stuck in his throat, and eyes glued onto the soft skin. He lays his tools down. Abandoning it immediately.

“Oh,” your shoulders slump slightly. “I'll leave, just get some sleep, okay?” Hopping down, Ekko stops you with his hand on your thigh. “You need something?” You place your hand above his own as he squeezes you.

“Yeah, sit back down for me?” He says it seriously, as if he needs to talk to you about something important.

You straighten up, following his instructions. The desk creaks under your form, and as you wait for his very important words, he stands up from his seat, kicking it away before cradling your face gently in his gloved hands. The rough fabric sits on your cheek, but his touch is softer as he gazes at you with those eyes you've always loved ever since you two were still running around playing pretend.

“Now you're the one distracting me.” You whisper, index looping around his overalls to pull him towards you. Placing him in between your legs, as he leans forward with his head tilted slightly to find the perfect angle of your lips. “What were you saying, Ekko?” Teasing, he inhales deeply, lips merely an inch from your own.

“Let me…?” He says before you crash your lips against his own, answering his cut off question. Your eyes close as he smiles, mirroring your expression. You both kiss in sync, hearts beating in the same pace.

You hear him chuckle softly as your lips fall into a medley of rhythm with his desperate kisses. The kiss runs deep and long, teeth clashing, noses meeting, and hands caressing every angle of you as your own hands roam up his bare and lean arms, until you find penchant on the back of his head. Fingers weaved around his hair, not pulling away, no, pushing him further against you as the air grows hotter around you with every breath you take.

You're home in his arms. And all you can think about is him.

“Fuck,” he murmurs against your slightly agaped lips, leaning away for a moment to take in air and to remove his gloves to feel you fully.

You stare at him through half lidded eyes, cheeks searing hot and stomach throbbing with ache. “Yeah...” Your voice is shaky at best, legs wrapping around him whilst your chest heaves.

Just as you say it, he meets with your lips once again, taking your breath away as you give it willingly. This time it's softer and gentler as he kisses you tenderly. Your head hits the wall with how much he's kissing you, so with his palm sliding behind your head, he cushions you from the blow as he continues to kiss you fervently as if he hasn't gotten a taste of you in years.

“Ekko.” You sigh out as he kisses the curve of your lips, tracing its shape with his own. “Ekko.” Your tone grows breathlessly as he slowly makes his way towards your throat. “Ekko—” His lips were just about meeting with your warm skin when a knock interrupts you both. “Shit.”

“Damn it.” He murmurs, chest heaving, pupils blown out as he gives you one quick kiss against the side of your neck. Definitely not the final one.

You pat his cheek with a lopsided smile, thumb brushing along his kiss bitten lips, wiping away the sheen you've left. Ekko pecks your thumb before moving away from you. He fixes your rumpled shirt, just as you notice that you've smudged the white hourglass paint on his face. Whoops.

“Ekko, you've got…” you gesture towards his nose, trying to tamp down your laughter.

His blown out eyes widens, lungs still trying to intake oxygen from the strenuous activity. His nose scrunches up when he sees you having the same smudged paint on your face. Smile tamped down by biting his lip.

He looks behind you, where a small mirror is hanging just beside your head. He sees himself looking disheveled, hair sticking all over the place, face paint smudged into an odd shape.

Chuckling, the knocking grows louder. “I've got you, don't worry. I won't let your reputation get tarnished.” You take a handkerchief from your pocket, effectively wiping away the smudged mess on his face as much as you can.

“Did you get it?” He's still breathless when he asked.

“And…there. I've got them all.” You get a thankful peck on your cheek for a job well done.

But before he could move away from you, he takes the handkerchief in his hand to wipe at your (his) own smudged face paint. He tucks the fabric away in his pocket, maybe you'll come looking for it one day, effectively giving you an excuse to come visit him sooner rather than later.

Ekko now moves away, clearing his throat but the evidence of your shared previous activity is still evident on how much he inhales and how his hands are so clammy that he can water the tree with the sweat on his palms.

“C–come in.” He curses under his breath at how his voice cracked at the start. The door squeaks open, revealing his right hand man, Scar, waiting at the doorway.

His golden eyes glance at you, Ekko hides your equally disheveled form with his body, blocking your obviously kissed lips and your rumpled clothes. Scar raises a knowing brow, eyes speaking a thousand words.

“Hi, Y/N.” He says gruffly, lips subtly curled into a smirk. You wave shyly above Ekko, afraid that you'd let out incoherent words while you're still reeling from his warmth. “I can come back later.”

Ekko’s seriously considering it. “Is it important?”

“Everything's important with you Ekko.” Scar's eyes turn towards you with the word ‘important.’

Ekko sighs, slightly disappointed. “Right, what happened?”

His whole demeanor changes into what most people would think when they hear about the notorious leader of the firelights. His posture straightens up, and the air around him oozes authority. The man in front of you isn't just Ekko, your love and confidant, he's Ekko, the feared leader of the firelights, and the boy saviour. But you can still see his previous sweetness from how his eyes still smile when he remembers your soft lips upon his own. He's still your Ekko through and through.

“It's the chem barons, they blew out an entire building.” Scar briefs him, and you read the room as their conversation grows more serious.

If you listen to any more, you'd want to join in so you decide to leave before you could give your two cents like always. Ekko was right, your shoulder wouldn't help much with a full blown fight. So you're just gonna stay away, for now at least, until you're fully healed to be of help. For his sanity and your wellbeing.

You take a deep breath, still heaving from his kisses, hopping down from the table even with your wobbly legs. Ekko looks at you in the middle of the conversation, hand reaching out in case you fall down. Scar watches with amusement at the scene in front of him.

“I'm good,” you say quietly only for Ekko to hear. “We'll continue this later, okay?” You say louder this time for both of them to hear. With a wink, and a hand grazing his back, you leave him standing there, aghast at what you've blatantly said.

His own mind betrays him at how *later could go. Ekko has to hold onto the chair next to him to stabilize himself lest he melts in front of Scar, who's absolutely trying to reel his laughter in that he's about to pop a vein on his forehead from how hard he's trying.

As you close the door behind you, you hear his booming laughter and Ekko's unmistakable groaning behind the door.

Support banner by @/cafekitsune

[thinemoonshine]

𝖋𝖆𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖇𝖑𝖊; 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖈𝖑𝖊𝖘

immortal!enhypen x mortal!female reader content(s): college setting, vampire enhypen, human reader, enhypen has an unhealthy fixation towards reader, mature and dark themes, warnings will be specified at each chapter type: mini series (6 parts)

red strings tangled beyond repair, the solution being to return to the hand they are tethered to. but things prove to be more painful—more excruciating than any they’ve ever felt. even for immortals who deem pain as merely a child’s game.

𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊

ℌeeseung rushes through the woods, undead heart pounding rapidly, vehement and erratic—much more than it ever has when he was alive. Prickly thorns and branches graze and cut through his porcelain skin, leaving bleeding wounds that seal themselves almost as instant as they were made.

“She’s here. She’s back,” his whispery voice is carried by the wind as he continues his relentless pursuit to find her. The one they have been waiting for so long—decades, centuries and millennials. Eternity.

𝔍ongseong huffs, breaths heavy as he tails close behind—not of exhaustion, but of fierce desperation—and his chest heaves while he wears a pained countenance. The everlasting yearn that burgeoned throughout his years of living whilst dead pouring from his very being—showing through the reddening rims of his eyes and the whites of his curled knuckles.

A grunt rips through 𝔖unghoon’s throat as the bottom of his trouser gets caught by a thick branch. He clicks his tongue, irritated, and haphazardly retracts his leg—the fabric tearing with a loud, clear sound. But he’s mindless of it, much too occupied with seeing her. Finally. The mere idea of it brings a clarity to his mind, quietening his incessant, intrusive thoughts and a hopeful smile makes its way to his face.

His surroundings that typically appeared bleak and grey slowly regain their significance and colours and he inhales the earthy essence—the moist, healthy soils, fragrant blooming flora and even the faint scent of sweet nectar and honey.

The world feels beautiful once more.

“I can’t believe it! After all this time!” 𝔍aeyun exclaims, excitement buzzing through his veins and raising goosebumps on his skin as the adrenaline builds. His pearly whites are displayed from his unrestrained ear-to-ear grin despite his feverish stunts.

Hopping from one tree to another and landing with a spin onto his feet—continuing his sprint briefly before retuning to his jumpy behaviour. He’s overflowing with pure delight, eyes sparkling incandescently as he seizes his lip between his teeth.

𝔖unoo giggles joyously, eyes upturned into crescents as he plays a game of chase with 𝔍ungwon. The moment they felt her presence, an indescribable sense of merriment flooded them, washing away their never ending misery. Their withered hearts that were once weighty with doubt regarding her return now beating with anticipation and conviction.

“Catch me if you can~” Sunoo challenges and Won’s grin broadens, dimples deepening and eyes glaring with determination as he hastens his steps—eliciting a shriek from the older.

Their laughter resound within the woods and as if celebrating alongside them, the birds chirp and sing in an optimistic tune while warm sunlight shines against wet leaves and puddles. Small, faint streaks of colours emerging around them and casting a beautiful glow.

A picturesque scene right out of a film.

Lagging behind is ℜiki who’s still astonished and yet, skeptical. Why now? After all this time, why now? Could they be wrong? Maybe they had all mistakenly think it was her. It’s not an impossible thought considering how it’s been…forever since their last moment with her. Their instincts might be rusty.

But he knows. Truthfully, he knows that they can never be mistaken. No one sets their souls alive like she does.

And admittedly, he too knows that his denial stems from fear. The fear that she may arrive and fleet away just as abruptly. And once again, he will be abandoned, left to wallow in his own self-pity and desolation for years and centuries to come. The gap in his chest widening more and more with her absence.

His teeth grit and jaw tightens at the already torturous thought. He swallows dryly, dreading the possibility but a sudden tug within his ribs, the sudden lightness he feels and the lack of emptiness inside—

A gasp escapes as he snaps his head up, facing the front to see his brothers all decelerating as they approach the exit of the forest they’ve caged themselves in where across is a human town. Wasting days, months, years away inside their sumptuous mansion with their plentiful riches just to be overcome by the sense of vanity.

Their attentions are transfixed by the bright light that awaits them—the end to their painful yet, wilful confinement and they glow. They are radiant, spirits flourishing and… alive.

“She’s here,” Riki mutters under his breath, voice cracking as eyes brim with tears.

The seven figures emerge between the tall trees like creatures of myth—dangerously enthralling and breathtakingly beautiful—with their steps slow yet determined.

But they are forced to a halt as great, extravagant forms of red and orange greet them obtrusively—dancing flamboyantly on their faces and frozen frames as their senses that were previously dulled by her overpowering being begin to sharpen.

While the feeling of her begins to blur.

They can finally hear the deafening wails and shrieks as the choking scent of thick smoke infiltrates their noses and fogs their vision with layer after layer of soot. Sirens of ambulance and firefighters are blaring while crowds of people are frantically running from the burning resident, screaming for help.

And amidst all this chaos lies one girl quietly at the side of the street, tranquil, with her head against the plush green grass, a hand beside her head and the other resting on her stomach as if taking a siesta—if only her dress wasn’t dyed crimson by her own blood, face isn’t dusted with gray from the remains of debris and the torment that reveals itself from the marks of drying tears.

The seven appear beside her. Heeseung and Jay dropping to their knees as Sunghoon stands paralyzed yet shoulders tremble violently at his shaky breaths. Jake’s teeth sink deep into his lower lip, drawing blood as he tries and fails to muffle his wails—heavy tears brimming his eyes and flowing down his reddened cheeks like a storm.

Jungwon gulps, a sharp pain stabbing through his throat at his pitiful attempt to swallow his grief but the burn in his eyes betray him as he too ends up sobbing and shivering as he struggles to stand. Hands and sleeves wiping his face repetitively as his cries heighten.

Sunoo’s emotions are unvarnished, bare and loud as he screams in agony and wrath. Everything is unfair. He doesn’t want this— no, he CAN’T. His palms grate against the scattered debris and they stab and dig through his skin mercilessly yet, he’s unfeeling.

Even as his blood drips and paints the vibrant green with red, he remains… drowned in his anguish. Ears once again muffled as he can only hear his previous doubts taunting him, ridiculing him and shattering him more than he already is.

And Riki… he kneels beside her inert body, staring with clouded eyes as he slowly lifts his large hand onto hers and it quivers slightly as it nears. The moment they touch, her foreign, cold temperature makes his eyes well up and thick salty globules seep into her dress—his body bending lower and lower until his forehead rests against her still stomach.

Whimpers and silents gasps of her name escape past his lips like a spell, as if it will resurrect her and this continues until Sunghoon approaches to cautiously, slowly lift her limp body into his taut arms.

Although wordless, the others understand perfectly—feebly rising to their feet as they trail behind him who makes his way back into the woods. The panic instilled in others make for perfect distraction and they disappear from the public once more.

Sunghoon strides grimly through the tall, mighty trees—breaking whatever branch that obstructs his path with his inhuman strength, trampling every vivid flora that burdens his track and disregarding anything and everything else.

He sees only vanity. Nothing worth his attention.

He lays her on a slightly raised white stone dais with beautiful intricate engravings on each of its four sides—fresh flowers, spirals and crystals adorning its plainness.

The seven figures encircle her, silent and deeply scarred by the abrupt tempestuous of emotions that they experienced that are powerful enough to make them feel nauseated—wanting to vomit their insides and ruin whatever remnants of their humanity, all there are that enable them to still feel and hurt.

But simultaneously, they wish to remember it all, to keep themselves sentient so they can once again relish in the joy and miracle that is her. The one who they’ve sworn to guard and have surrendered themselves to. This singular wish manages to keep them sane albeit hanging by a thread and they watch with heavy eyes as Jake nears the dais.

His hand lifts, palm to the sky as a gentle flame appears—movements irregular as it grows larger and larger before it stills into a steady fire.

With a deep exhale, he says, “Until we meet again.”

(those pink bolded cannot be tagged) taglist for this series is open—send an ask or comment below to be added ♡

@codyl-angdon @in-somnias-world @randomanothercreature @m1kkso @immelissaaa @starfallia @suhwife @neozon3nha @dcllsinna @soobinslittlewatermelon @haozyth @tunafishyfishylike @riribelle @loumin908 @jungtothewon @ineedheewoninmylife @tnafzi @nanazuly @blakedanie @theiarosa @blackrosieva

[quizzicalwriter]

Cola

Pairing: Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader

Summary: You were off for spring break, why not introduce yourself to your parent’s new next door neighbor?

Warnings: SMUT. MDNI. Infidelity, older Ellie, touching, kissing, fingering, squirting, strap usage (r!receiving)

Word Count: 4k

A/N: Part two / Part three

“Those two always argue.” Your mom huffed out, eyes flickering over to the open kitchen window, the sounds of a shouted confrontation pouring in through the screen. You turned your head away from your mom, squinting to see through the mess of trees and bushes that separated your parent’s house from their neighbors.

Whoever they were, they didn’t sound happy. Some of the words exchanged made you wince, eyes widening as you looked back to your mom with a faint and semi-embarrassed laugh, as though you’d heard too much from someone you didn’t even know the face of.

“Sounds like it.” You replied, hopping down from the kitchen counter to pad over to the island, leaning down on your elbows as your mom kneaded out the dough for her bread. The house smelled lovely, reminding you of your childhood when you’d bother your mom to bits because you wanted to ‘help,’ not realizing your help usually meant tripping your mom up or making her forget important steps in her cooking.

So for now you just watched, committing it all to memory in hopes you’d be able to accomplish something even the slightest bit similar once your break was over and you were forced back onto campus. As your mom placed the bread into the oven you padded upstairs, deciding on changing out of your pajamas, after all, it was nearly one in the afternoon and you had plans to go out not too much later.

You sorted through your dresser, humming to yourself as you stripped yourself of your clothing. You’d never given much thought to your bedroom windows, one faced the backyard and one faced your neighbor's house. You’d never worried about your neighbor before, or now, given the argument you just overheard not too long ago. As you pulled your sundress over your head you turned to your window, consequently locking eyes with your parent’s neighbor who stood dumbstruck in her backyard.

“Fuck-“ You cursed, immediately moving from the window's line of sight as you pulled your dress on. “Great, haven’t even been home for a day and I’ve already flashed the neighbor.”

The embarrassment was still ripe in your mind as you made your way back downstairs, hopeful that some homemade bread would soothe your mind. As you walked into the kitchen you noticed your mom wrapping the bread, her eyes casting over to you.

“There you are!” She stated, smiling brightly. “Can you take this over to the neighbors? Figured that poor girl can use some homemade bread with her wife yelling like that all the time.”

You feigned a smile, not one to turn your mom down for something so simple. So you took the bread, holding it close to your chest as you slipped your sandals on, padding down the front porch steps and over onto their lawn.

It was beautifully manicured, the nearby garden buzzing with birds and bees. You’d only ever seen such manicured lawns on the nicer side of town, where dads took utmost pride in ensuring their lawns looked picture-perfect. Maybe the neighbor was one of those people? You mulled the thought over as you walked up their front porch steps, ringing the doorbell with your elbow after.

You could hear the sound of sports blaring from inside the house, the sound suddenly muted, followed by the subtle sound of footsteps approaching the door. What you hadn’t expected, or at least hoped wouldn’t happen, was that the same woman who’d just seen you naked would be on the other side of the door.

You paled, as did she, her eyes flickering between yours and the bread you now appeared to be crushing in your grasp, the crackling of the crust sounding in the awkward silence shared between you two.

“You’re going to kill it.” She muttered, pointing down to the bread. You jumped, looking down at it, silently cursing at yourself as you loosened your grip.

“My mom-“ You started, clearing your throat as you shook your head. “She made you bread, wanted me to deliver it.”

You handed the bread over, feigning a smile as she took it from your hands, smiling down at it as she flipped it over in her grasp. For some godforsaken reason, you blurted out the one thing lingering on your mind, instead of being a normal human being and brushing past it.

“I’m sorry you saw my tits.”

The words hung heavy in the air, causing her to stiffen as she looked up at you, her face soon twisting into a smile as she broke out into laughter. She laughed for a bit, enough for you to calm yourself and laugh a fair bit yourself.

“Blunt, aren’t you?” She laughed out, wiping beneath her eyes as she caught her breath. “Jesus, kid. It’s not your fault, I shouldn’t have been looking. I’m- I’m Ellie.”

You smiled, extending out your hand which Ellie quickly took, giving it a slight shake, although you could tell she was holding herself back as she did. It made you wonder just how strong her hands were, especially since her arm muscles seemed to be made ever more apparent in the midday sun.

“Nice name.” You stated, dropping your hand back down to your side. “My parents are your neighbors, I’m just visiting because I’m on break.”

Ellie nodded, pursing her lips as her gaze flickered over to your parent’s house. “High school?” She asked, looking back at you.

“College.” You replied, rocking back onto your heels. “First year.”

Ellie’s fingers smoothed over the cellophane, the wrinkling of the plastic underneath her hands filling the silence once again. She exhaled then, turning halfway toward her front door before smiling back at you.

“Tell your mom I said thanks.”

You gave her a brief thumbs-up, walking back down the porch steps into your parent's yard, completely oblivious to the fact that Ellie watched you walk back the whole way, eyes fixated on your hips and ass.

Much to your chagrin, your parents were pinnacles of their neighborhood, knowing everyone and everything that went on within the little suburb. It was nice, in a way, the little neighborhood block parties and the way they always had friends to talk to. It certainly took the pressure off of you in some aspects, but what you hadn’t figured was that they’d throw a party during your break.

They swore it was for you and for you to catch up with everyone, you had been gone for a while at college, so in a way, you were thankful and found it cute. What you didn’t factor in was Ellie attending, her hair tied back in a half-bun, white shirt sleeves rolled up halfway, practically sex on legs. You’d hardly heard your mom asking you to cart out some drinks to the table in the middle of the cul-de-sac until she nudged you with your foot, to which you profusely apologized and made your way outside.

Ellie was conversing with your dad, a bright smile on her face, a drink in one hand as the other rested in her front pocket. Your dad noticed you approaching, smiling at you as he waved you over, you put on a brave face and placed the drinks down on the nearby table before making your way over to them.

“Ellie, this is my daughter.” He stated, pulling you close as he smiled over at Ellie. Ellie only nodded, taking a sip of her drink before replying.

“Met her yesterday, she dropped off some bread. Really good bread, by the way. I’ll have to thank your mom in person.”

Your dad laughed and nodded, about to say something further until a few of his friends from around the neighborhood called him over. He gave Ellie a brief apology, walking over in their direction after, leaving you and her alone.

“Nice dress.” She murmured, eyes flickering over the fabric, how it hugged your hips, the way your breasts strained against the top, it made her have to clear her throat.

“Thanks.” You replied, smiling up at her. You took a moment to look around the party, wondering where her wife was amongst all the other partygoers. “Where’s your wife? You have one, right?”

Ellie snickered at your question, nodding in response as she took another drink from her cup. “I do have a wife.” She stated, tone hinting toward a fair bit of irritation on the subject. “She’s with her parents for a while.”

Sensing the irritation on the subject, your eyes widened, looking to the table between you as you pursed your lips. You’d never been one for awkward situations, they always made your nervous laugh flare up. As if on cue, your lips quirked into a smile, one Ellie noticed right away.

“Am I missing out on a joke?” She asked, words sarcastic as she placed her now empty cup down on the table. Your smirk turned into laughter, your hand shooting up to cover your mouth as you shook your head.

“No, fuck-“ You started, laughter continuing as you squeezed your eyes shut. “I have a nervous laugh, your response made me laugh.”

Ellie’s shoulders seemed to drop then, a smile of her own making an appearance as she chuckled, breathing out a lungful of air as she looked over to you. “You’re weird.” She noted, although a hint of something warm lingered in her words.

“I’ve been told.” You replied, tilting your head as your laughter died down. “I’m sorry for asking about your wife, by the way. You seemed pissed at the mere mention of her.”

Ellie shrugged then, sighing quietly as she itched the back of her neck. “It’s no problem, I guess it’s a sore subject. She’s- well, I’m sure you’ve heard.”

You nodded, not wanting to pry on the subject. After all, you were fairly certain everyone in the neighborhood had heard Ellie and her wife arguing at the asscrack of dawn. You’d never been close enough to overhear specifically what it was about, but it was loud enough to startle you on more than one occasion.

“Why don’t you leave?” You asked, knowing the question was a bit loaded. “I mean, you guys argue a lot. I was just wondering.”

She waved off your concern. “I get it, I’ve heard my fair share of it. I’ve thought about it.”

A sigh passed her lips then, one she shook off as she reached for another drink, popping the top off with her thumb before drinking some. As she swallowed she looked back to you, faint worry lines evident against her skin. You wondered how much older than you she was, she had to be at least ten to fifteen years older. The thought aroused you, making you pull your gaze from hers as you tried to focus on the table.

“How old are you?” She asked, seemingly reading your mind. You looked back up at her, smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “Nearly twenty.”

She laughed then, eyes widening as she looked away from you. “Would not have guessed that.”

You laughed in response, moving over to her side of the table, propping yourself up on it as you met her gaze. “Why?”

“Well, I’m twice your age, that’s why.” She responded, words soft as she looked down at you.

You chewed on the inside of your cheek, trying to ignore the ever-present ache in your lower stomach at the near condescending tone she used with you. Her age shouldn’t have made her hotter, but it did, it really did.

“You look good for your age.” You replied. “Really good.”

Ellie chuckled in her throat, eyebrows lifting for a moment as she shook her head, eyes fixated on the rim of her cup. “You’re bold.” She stated, words spoken with a sigh as she turned her head to look out at the amassed crowd. After a moment she turned back to you, a coy grin on her face. “You haven’t seen my house, have you?”

There was a hidden insinuation in her words, in the way her eyes hovered over your chest before flickering back up to your eyes. You’d be a fool to say anything other than ‘no.’ So you shook your head, the motion causing her smile to widen as she nodded to her house, inviting you to follow her. Part of you pulled, begged for you to go in the opposite direction, knowing exactly what’d happen once you were inside her house - she was married, for Christ’s sake, but you couldn’t. The way her hand flexed around her drink made your stomach twist, panties coated in your wetness already.

You felt thankful that everyone seemed too preoccupied with the huge pile of fireworks to notice you and Ellie ducking off, even more so once you were inside her house, wordlessly following her through the halls. There were pictures of who you could only assume were Ellie’s family, photos with her smiling brightly, in the middle of fits of laughter, it was precious. You couldn’t help but smile at them as she moved into her kitchen, placing the cup down on the island counter.

“I like your photos.” You stated, moving into the kitchen after her, your breath catching in your throat at the sight of her leaned back against the counter, muscles in her forearms evident.

“Take off your clothes.” She responded, tone nonchalant as though she were asking you to hand her a plate. You didn’t hesitate, eyes locked with hers as you reached behind yourself, unzipping your dress. The fabric slipped down your form, exposing your bare breasts to her eyes. She smiled, moving toward you, raising a hand to hold your hip as the other moved to your breasts, kneading the flesh in her palm as she took in your body. “No bra?”

You shook your head, breaths coming out shallow as her finger brushed over your hardening nipple. “Don’t like them.” You whispered, eyes flickering up to meet hers. “They wouldn’t go with the dress.”

Ellie nodded, smiling to herself as her other hand looped around the hem of your panties, bending down slightly to help you step out of them. You’d half expected her to toss them to the floor, but she balled them up, shoving them into her back pocket. The act was perverse, leaving you clenching around nothing as you watched her stand back up straight.

She traced the back of her hand along your curves, touch so gentle it almost didn’t register in your mind. It almost seemed as though she meant to commit every facet of your being to memory, the thought alone making your thighs clench together, an action that didn’t go unnoticed by her. Her green eyes flitted up to your face, brows quirking up in amusement as she trailed the back of her fingers along your inner thighs, fingertips barely brushing the outside of your cunt.

“Are you aching?” She asked, already knowing the answer, but needing to hear you admit to it. You nodded, wetting your lips. She tutted, turning her hand over to press her middle and ring finger to your folds, applying just enough pressure to gather your wetness on the pads of her fingers. Your legs practically buckled beneath you, a whine dying in the back of your throat as you held onto the counter behind you.

She pulled her hand away then, examining her fingertips under the warm hue of the kitchen lights, a smug smile on her face as her eyes flitted back up to meet yours. She held up her fingers then, pressing them to your lips, to which you eagerly opened your mouth. Her fingers pressed down on your tongue, the taste of your arousal coating your tastebuds as you sucked her fingers clean.

A soft moan passed her lips at the feeling of your tongue laving at her fingers, causing her to ache as well. You could see her pupils dilate, her breath coming out haggard as she removed her fingers from your mouth, brushing her thumb against your bottom lip after. You kept your gaze steady with hers, having to remind yourself to breathe every few seconds.

“Want me to fuck you?” She asked, the question so bold that you nearly forgot to respond until her eyes flicked up from your breasts to your eyes, her brow quirking in question. You nodded.

“Please.”

She bit back a smile, grabbing your wrist before leading you back through the house toward the staircase. The walls and furniture passed by your mind in a blur, only finding yourself able to focus on Ellie’s back and the occasional glance toward you she’d toss over her shoulder. Her being fully clothed while you’d been stripped of everything you’d worn was not lost on you, if anything it seemed to heighten your arousal.

Her bedroom was modest, with a nice king-sized mattress in the middle of the room and two big windows overlooking the backyard and the side of your parent's house - the view was partially skewed by some trees, but you could see your bedroom window. Ellie led you over to the bed, letting you sit down as she moved over to her bedside table. You watched in silent amazement as she removed her clothes, each layer removed exposing more and more of her toned skin to your eyes.

You’d hardly been paying attention to anything else besides her abdomen and arms, finding yourself surprised when she moved back in front of you, hand languidly pumping her strap. She looked at you expectantly, to which you moved from the bed and onto your knees, opening your mouth obediently. She hummed out a laugh, fingers brushing your hair back from your face as she used her other hand to slap the tip of her strap against your tongue.

You wrapped your lips around the silicone tip, relaxing your throat as you began bobbing your head, earning you an affectionate coo as she cradled your cheek, thumb brushing along your cheekbone. Her hips moved forward, pushing her strap farther down your throat, causing your eyes to water as you held back an involuntary gag. You could hear her holding back a grunt at the sight of you struggling to take her strap down your throat, spit coating your chin and dripping down to the top of your breasts.

“You look so good choking on my cock.” She whispered, tone full of pride as she smiled down at you. Her fingers grasped your hair, sharply pulling you back, a string of drool connecting you to the tip of her strap. You licked your lips clean, taking in several deep breaths as you looked up at her. She nodded her head toward the bed, helping you to your feet before guiding you onto the plush mattress, positioning you on your hands and knees.

You rested down on your elbows, arching your back, feeling the cold air against your bare cunt. Her hands smoothed up the back of your thighs, harshly grabbing at your ass, giving the skin there a sharp slap. You whined, leaning forward, only for her to grab your hips and pull you back. You bit into your bottom lip, feeling her drag the tip of her strap up and down along your folds, finally pushing in after you let out a particularly needy whine.

“Fuck-“ You cried out, resting your head on your forearms as you let her hoist your body up, fucking you hard enough for the bed frame to clatter against the wall. You could feel your cum dripping down your inner thighs, each push forward of her hips creating a sheen of your juices around the silicone.

She was hitting so deep within you, surely bruising your cervix, each thrust leaving you gasping into her bedsheets, fingers twisted into the maroon fabric. Her hands grasped harshly at your hips, nails digging into the plush flesh as she fucked her strap into you.

“Take it so good.” She murmured through grunts, voice breathless and strained. Her praise went straight to your cunt, causing you to squeeze around her strap. Her hands moved to your lower back, pushing down until your chest and stomach were flush with the bedding. “Arch that back, baby. Fuck-“

You could hear the lewd noise pooling from between your legs, cum slowly dripping down your skin. You were putty in her hands, wanting her to do everything she wanted with you - and she would.

Her right arm hooked around your waist, hand immediately moving to your cunt where she circled her fingers around your clit, slick noises emanating in the air between your near pathetic whines for her to fuck you harder, deeper - you couldn’t get enough of her. She pressed kisses down the back of your neck to the top of your spine, gently nipping at the skin as she continued rutting into you.

“Gonna cum on my cock, baby?” She all but purred into your shoulder, placing an open-mouthed kiss on your skin in between her words. “Go on, cum for me.”

You could hardly formulate words to reply, all you managed was a strangled cry of her name into the bedsheets, hips jerking in her hold. She didn’t slow down, still fucking her strap into you as she circled her fingers around your clit. Your hands pushed at hers, wordlessly telling her it was too much, all for her to use the hand she’d been using to circle your clit to hold your hands together by your wrists.

“Just stay like that, baby.” She grunted out, cursing under her breath as the base of the strap bumped into her clit over, and over again, bringing her to the cusp of her orgasm. You’d never been one for overstimulation, but the way she had you pinned to the mattress paired with the way her strap rutted against your g-spot left you teetering on the edge of another orgasm.

You were cumming around her strap before you’d even registered it, hips pathetically pushing back to meet her thrusts as you cried out her name into the bedsheets. Everything in your mind seemed to be muddled, finding yourself only able to focus on the sheer pleasure coursing through your veins paired with Ellie’s moans as she fucked you through her orgasm. It wasn't until after you were able to finally fill your lungs full of air that you realized your inner thighs were soaked.

“Holy fuck.” Ellie laughed out, eyes widened with amusement as she pulled out of you, strap dripping with your cum. “You soaked the sheets.”

You felt your face alight, nervous and breathless laughter leaving you as you brushed your hair from your face. “‘M sorry.”

She shook her head, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to your shoulder, undoing the harness before tossing it to the other side of the room, her breaths coming out in shallow pants. “Fuck, don’t apologize for that. Here- wait here, okay?”

You gave her a weak nod, collapsing down onto the comfortable mattress, feeling your thigh muscles twitching beneath your skin. She returned moments later, your dress in one hand and a wet washcloth in the other. She placed your dress beside you, seeming to hesitate in her movements before wiping down the inside of your thighs, the feeling pulling a tired whine from your chest.

After that was a bit of a blur, you’d managed to get yourself dressed and presentable. Ellie put on a different outfit, grumbling something about how her clothes had gotten soaked during the whole ordeal. She was far more gentle than she had been beforehand, seeming to not meet your gaze without a faint blush painted across her cheeks. As she moved with you down the staircase and toward the front door, you turned to her, a naive hopefulness in your eyes.

“Can I see you again?” You asked, giving her a small smile. She looked down at you, lips quirking at the sides. Although you could tell she was struggling with her moral quandary centered around her infidelity. You didn’t know if you’d get the truth from her, but you’d let yourself believe whatever she responded with.

“Sure.”

A/N: This one is so long, I’m so sorry. I have a thing for older Ellie. I ain’t apologizing for that. Anyway!!! If y’all have any requests for Ellie or Abby or anyone from TLOU2 let me know! I hope you guys enjoy this, and thank you for reading or skimming or whatever you do - I appreciate the interactions nonetheless. And you can find all my works over on my AO3 under the user, “Unscriptural.”

[pseudowho]

Grandpapamin

(help me find the Nanami artist in the banner, for crediting and thanks/permission!)

When Nanami Kento becomes a grandfather...

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Kento thought the happiest day of his life was when he became a father...but then, his baby had a baby.

It was like love...squared.

He and you dutifully took care of your daughter's house while she was in labour. Kento pruned the plants, and baked, and paced, and paced, and paced.

While Kento knew in his heart his daughter was being well cared-for, he felt stunningly unable to protect her while she went through the biggest day of her life.

In the night, you woke, and your hand brushed out across the sheets for Kento...only to find him not there.

You creep through the house, and find him sat in the armchair by lamplight, his eyes glistening with tears as he goes through an old box, full of photographs of his baby, little onesies, a handprint in clay, a decoration she made at school, her first drawings and handwriting.

You sit with him, in front of the fire, warm and reminiscent, of those long-short years when your babies were babies.

"...she'll be alright?" He worries aloud.

"She'll be more than alright. She'll be amazing," you reassure, kissing his greying temples, stroking crow's feet.

You lead him back to bed, his hand dry, like soft warm leather, and you hold each other with the earnest familiarity of an aged love.

When Kento's phone rings at 7:37 in the morning, a time he never forgets, he is out of bed with a lithe hop, answering, desperate for news.

A sweet, swooping joy, an excited wake-up, an embrace and relief; his grandchild is born, and everyone is safe.

Kento has a grandson; his daughter is resplendent, pink-cheeked, exhausted and proud. Kento holds her close, shedding tears into her hair as she cradles his new grandson; "I'm so proud of you, darling. I always have been. You deserve him."

He drives his daughter and her partner home, knowing they are exhausted.

Kento and you never overstay your welcome; you ensure the new family is comfortable, give kisses and hasty reassurances that you are both just a phone call away, and go home.

Kento cannot stop jiggling his leg in delight on the way home. He is imagining all the wonderful things he wants to do with his new grandson.

Kento calls everyone-- Gojo, Yuuji, Ino, Higuruma. Everyone is delighted. Everyone secretly wants him to be their grandfather.

It is only when Kento and you have gone, that your partner opens the freezer-- "Oh my god!" They exclaim, laughing, "I think your dad has cooked enough to last us a month!" Kento has, obviously. He believes in being organised.

Kento spends the next few years of his life being a thoroughly naughty responsible grandfather.

Visiting Grandpapamin? Oh, only the finest will do.

While Kento always plans wonderful meals with you, his daughter turns her back for just one minute, and returns to find her son with a treat in his hand.

Kento pleads ignorance as he slides the biscuit tin back into the cupboard, a glint in his eye.

Wickedly good at hide and seek. Teaches his grandson all the tricks.

Takes his grandson down to the river, Kento in some waders, his grandson in shorts and rubber boots up to his knees, with little nets, glass jars on strings.

Kento has a reference book for everything; birds, fish, flowers, trees...he and his grandson catch minnows, his grandson splashing, holding his little round cheeks in joy.

Kento thinks his heart might burst, retaliating playfully when his grandson splashes him, giggling.

Kento's grandson is well-versed on the flora and fauna by the little river, by the time he is a grown man. All he wanted to inherit from his grandfather was the old reference books they pored over together.

His grandson inherits Kento's Cursed-sight too, a truth which Kento feels deeply responsible for, as he did when it passed down to his daughter. He fears for his grandson and the terrifying visions he will see in the world.

One day, you catch Kento teaching himself little magic tricks. He curses as he gets tangled in long colourful handkerchiefs; you laugh and blush as he pulls garish flowers out of his sleeve for you. He shows them to his grandson like he has known how to do magic his whole life.

After long sunny days in the garden and by the river, you often find Kento asleep with his snoozing grandson drooling on his chest. You take a photo, every single time, put a blanket over them and leave them in peace.

Kento, who tucks you under his arm on the sofa when they've all gone home, your evenings as intimate as they have always been.

Kento would rather his daughter didn't spend all of her hard-earned money on daycare. Instead, Grandpapamin arrives at her house at 7:30am sharp, ready to babysit ahead of the workday.

The days are silly, wholesome. Tears and tantrums are swiftly, calmly de-escalated. Kento can and will persuade and bribe at mealtimes.

Kento who is just disappointed when his grandson behaves badly-- and that is so much worse than angry.

Kento who takes such good care of his and your health, determined to spend as many healthy years with his family as possible. His old scars ache and creak though; he longs for the sun and sea.

The next year, his grandson is big enough to carry Kento's birthday cake to him, and Kento grumbles, pink-eared as he mulishly accepts a chorus of "Happy birthday". There is an envelope with the cake.

"What's this?" He grumbles again, shooting his daughter a chastising look, "I told you you didn't have to get me anything." She smiles at him, lovely brown eyes twinkling. Kento looks inside-- tickets. Flight tickets. He looks up in surprise, eyebrows raised.

"Kuantan?" He presses, excited despite his earlier chastisement.

"I thought we could all go. Together."

Though his blade hangs up on the wall, proud and displayed, at your insistence, Kento feels like he has been bestowed with the luck of the gods, to have dodged every bullet to get here.

His old scarred burns tingle and prickle, his eyepatch is old and worn, but his grandchildren never feared him; he is just Grandpapamin. He bakes. He takes them to the river. He teaches them how to whittle. He gives the best advice. He wears the softest cardigans.

Kento, who spends the golden years of his life with you, his world, the one who hung the stars.

[shroompette]

It's not like his mates didn't know about you; Soap always bragged about the sweet little bird he had at home. They just had no idea that he was being...literal.

After the latest successful mission, Johnny invited them for a dinner at his place. They arrive around seven, with bottles and flowers as gifts for the missus, but she's nowhere to be found when Johnny beckons them inside. "She'll be here any minute. Bird gets antsy if she doesn't have a flight before dinner." He opens the window wide and peeks out, as if looking for you. Ghost huffs. "She a bloody Batman or something?"

Johnny simply chuckles and crosses his arms on his chest, leaning against the radiator.

Not even five minutes later, a tiny European robin lands on the inside windowsill. They recognize the bird; it was Johnny's favourite to draw. At least that's what they assumed when they watched him flip through his art book during missions. Pages and pages of birds, but this specific one appeared the most often; raven, cardinal, canary, robin, crow, swan, robin, robin, blue tit, swallow, robin, woodpecker, robin, hummingbird, pigeon, robin, robin, robin...

"Aye, there's my little feathery luvie," Johnny coos, finger gently stroking down the orange patch on the bird's chest.

Gaz and Price exchange a slightly concerned look while Ghost gives him a deadpan stare.

"I told you, one of these days, you'll stand too close to an explosion and it's gonna fuck with your head."

Johnny glances at him briefly, opening his palm and letting the robin hop into it. "Dinnae know what yer talking about."

"Son," Price began, a tired look on his face. "You...you don't think of the bird as your partner, do you?"

"What else would she be?" he questions, looking genuinely surprised, as if there's nothing unusual about claiming the little chirping thing in his hand is his girlfriend.

Gaz lets out a snort of disbelief, unsure if he should laugh or be seriously concerned for his friend.

Before anyone can say anything else, the robin flaps its wings and its form contorts into a human shape. Suddenly, there you stand. Dolled up and dressed in a cute little flowery dress, a bright smile on your face. The men sit there completely flabbergasted while Johnny, wearing the most shit-eating grin ever, leans in and kisses the top of your head before introducing you: "Guys, this is my darling bird."

After fumbling out awkward apologies and introducing themselves, the men dine with you two, asking how you met and where you're from. They're surprised to learn Johnny came across you while he took a trip to his motherland during leave.

When he wasn't with his family, he'd spend the days in the forest, sketching whatever caught his eye. At one point, it was you. A cute little thing, perched up on a branch, singing sweet melodies to which he started responding with whistling. That supposedly caught your attention and you started posing while he sketched you. This would happen daily for nearly a week before you flew down and sat on his shoulder, looking at all the drawings of you, seemingly pleased.

One day, he brought you a pebble. It was just a goof, a funny little thing he remembered his superstitious granny saying whenever he'd walk with her in the nature as a little lad and point out all the different birds in the trees. "If ye give a pebble to a female robin, she'll bring ye a pretty lass to cherish."

He was eager to see what you'd do with it and nearly fell on his ass when you shifted to a human in front of him in all your naked glory, holding the pebble in your palm, eyes sparkling and soft chirps flowing from your mouth. He had a very difficult time explaining to his Ma and siblings who this bare lady clinging to his arm was when he brought you home.

You still chirp when you talk, but your speech is pretty clear. Soap looks like a lovestruck puppy, heart-eyed, hanging onto your words and you're no better; pressed against his side at all times, batting your lashes and holding his hand under the table, your ring finger adorned by a golden band with the fateful (proposal) pebble in the middle.

masterlist

[dduane]

Invictus

In the dimness he woke and knew it was too late. Morning never came so late unless the world was ending.

Fortunately, he knew what to do about that.

He blinked and ruffled his feathers, looking around. This was his place. Surrounding a patch of grass were two holly trees, a pine, a cypress whose branches all went the wrong way, and much shrubbery, mostly beech and thorn. The shelter was good here, even on nights like last night. And in the holly, food appeared hung up: good food that tasted of fat and meat. It was all his. Later, when it was time for sex, there would be someone else who’d get some of it. But right now, he owned it.

This cold white stuff on the ground did complicate matters. It came and went without warning, and here it was again. Now, others who might have spent the morning scratching around the ground instead of stuffing themselves full up here would be turning up in his territory, eating his food. His feathers ruffled up again, this time with rage at the thought. Bastards. Bastards. Kill them all.

He hopped up onto the branch that had the best view across the patch of grass and into the bushes, and sang. Bastards! Who wants a piece of me? Come and get it! Because this was when it had to be said, no matter how much you might have preferred to sit quiet with your feathers fluffed up, conserving your heat. The dim sky was already paling toward that too-cold blue. It would be a bad day, cold, everybody and his family would turn up here trying to get at the tree food, which was what you needed this time of year if you meant to stay alive until dusk –

And suddenly he heard the harsh dark cawing coming from across the hardened path, across the wall, in the wood full of tall starved pines. He shivered. Not so early, he thought, what are you doing up at this hour? But he knew. That one wanted the tree-food too. It had come for it before. Now, in the silence before the morning wind, he heard the flapping of the wings.

Hastily he turned to the food cage, ate a few mouthfuls, felt the fat melt down his throat like blood, like life. Almost before he finished, the darkness had landed with a noisy thrash of leaves and branches up in the holly. A huge expressionless black eye gazed down at him.

He sang. It was almost all he could do. It’s mine! Stay away, or I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! But the outcome was hardly so simple. The black-headed, white-backed shape with the axe-like beak bounced down another branch, and another, its eye on that tree food, that meat. It liked meat too. He’d once seen it zoom down onto the pond and simply pick up a baby duck and fly off with it. I’ll kill you if you get any closer! Don’t push me! I will!

It came closer. It was winter, it was death, the shape now only one branch of holly away. He sang as if life depended on it: because it did. If he had enough to eat, the sun came up. If the sun came up, the world was safe. It was as simple as that. Go away! I have to eat the food or the world will end! I’ll kill you to keep that from happening! Monster, go away, don’t make me rip you up — ! He fluttered at the monstrous gaping head, enraged, desperate.

A clacketing, rattling noise from behind. The black eye went wide, the death-pale bulk roused its wings and flapped clumsily out of the holly tree. Desperate with relief, he flung himself at the food-cage again, and ate with frantic speed as the sky paled brighter, toward day-blue: and between mouthfuls, he sang at the top of his lungs, shuddering with relief and triumph. Bastard! I warned you not to mess with me! Victory! Victory!

The sun peered up over the far hill. The shadows fled. He gorged himself as the black bird flew off, and stopped, and shouted again, Victory!

…She stood there with her mug in one hand, looking out across the back yard snow at the dot of red breast deep in among the holly branches, pecking furiously at the suet in its little cage. “Boy,” she said to the husband, back in the kitchen, “listen to that guy. You’d think he’d just won World War Three.”

“Yeah. Where’s the milk?”

The door closed. On the snow, the sun of the shortest day shone.

Victory!

[tinkerbellknockoff]

sleeping beauty // vi x fem!reader

says it in the name- sleeping beauty with vi as your charming prince.

-- a/n: stole this from my wattpad account from way back when and figured I'd give it some life again. enjoy!

.the world beyond the forest was unknown to you. 

you were constantly told never to go beyond the forest, and to stay away from the kingdom. and although you asked so many questions as to why, and yet never received any answers. you craved the experience of stepping foot outside of the trees, to see the kingdom you've heard so much of. but the three fairy godmothers you lived with always seemed to shut down even the slightest thought of leaving. 

so, you made do with what you had. during the mornings, you went out with a tiny basket, and plucked away at the raspberries decorating the bushes. it was a fun hobby that could only be done every few weeks, but you found it as a time you could look forward to. 

the feeling of your bare feet hitting the soft grass with the sun cascading heat waves down onto your skin was always a familiar feeling. the soft chirping of the blue birds that danced around you while you navigated your way through the trees, and the sound of the nearby waterfall always made you feel so at peace. 

the gentle breeze that always pushed through your (h/c) locks always made you laugh with glee as well, it felt as if the world was excited you were outside. nature always had this way of making you feel welcomed- even if it felt as if no where else in the world would accept your presence. 

you never felt alone in the woods. the animals, the plants- they all kept you company. so, when you were walking alongside the waterfall's lake, and made eye contact with piercing silver eyes, you let out a yelp. 

the woman's eyebrows quirked up after your yelp, and you managed to lose balance. the presence of another threw you off to an extreme point- and you fell into the lake. the world seemed to turn into a blur for a few moments, and your eyesight went black for a few moments as you were submerged by the cold water. you quickly regained yourself as you floated back to the top of the water, coughing up the smallest bit of water you accidentally consumed. 

the woman had watched the entire scene of you falling, and to be frank- was extremely concerned. she hopped off of her horse and gently ran her calloused hands on top of the horse's dark brown fur. the horse trotted alongside her as she hurried over to the lake, bending down to look inside of the water. 

when your head popped out of water, she took a good look at your appearance. your (h/c) hair was soaked with water, a few strands fitted onto your face. your eyebrows were slightly furrowed as your eyes were shut and you coughed a few times. the woman didn't know what to do to help, so she just kneeled nearby you and kept an eye on you to make sure you didn't submerge yourself underwater once more.

once your coughs ceased, she reached a bandaged hand out to you. your eyes made contact once more, and she observed the concern swimming through them. she tilted her head to the side, her short pink locks tumbling in the direction, "darling, you don't look dressed for a swim." 

your face flushed quickly at the sound of the pet name. your gaze avoided hers as you sat yourself at the edge of the lake. your brown skirt felt heavy on you as it was weighed down by the water, and the feeling of your white blouse sticking to your skin in uncomfortable spots made your shoulders slump with the feeling of being overwhelmed. 

the woman quickly slid the maroon trench coat she was wearing off her shoulders, noticing your overwhelmed figure. she lightly draped the coat over your shoulders. a moment of silence fell upon you two, as she continued to gaze over your figure.

she thought you were beautiful. 

"what are you doing out in the woods by yourself?" the woman decided to be bold and break the silence, "it isn't safe for such a gorgeous woman like yourself to be out on her own."

you let out a tiny laugh as you lifted your chin up to meet her gaze. your faces weren't far apart from each others, which allowed you to get a good look at her features. her lips had a scar on the top left of them, but did not take away from the soft appearance they had. underneath her left eye she had the roman numerals VI tattooed. the right side of her face was covered by her pink hair, which only left her eye and a bruise on her cheekbone visible to the eye. 

the woman watched your eyes dart around her face with heavy amusement, entertained by the lack of subtlety that you were showing. just in these few moments, she could tell that you were a curious soul- and that made her heart feel fuzzy. at first, finding you here in the woods, she assumed that you were a lost soul. but staring at you now, maybe you were exactly where you had to be. the sun fell gracefully onto your face, lighting up your (e/c) eyes, and making some of the features on your face glow. 

every inch of you was beautiful. 

"there's usually no one else in these woods," your voice flowed through the wind as the woman felt like she was being enchanted, "what are you doing here?"

the woman's lips quirked up at your blunt remark, letting a slight chuckle slip past her lips, "well, aren't you straight to the point?" the woman sat down and rolled the cuffs of her black slacks, then slipping off her shoes to dip her feet into the water alongside you. she continued to speak, "i wanted to escape from my family- they've been having constant arguments with each other."

you watched her quizzically, "what have they been arguing about?"

she hummed softly, "they've been wanting me to marry a princess in a neighboring kingdom." she rolled her eyes, "she's sweet but a tad too stuck up for my tastes."

"why would they be arguing about that? aren't you supposed to marry the one you love, how is that any of their business?" confusion was laced with your tone, as your eyebrows furrowed once more. the woman let out a tiny laugh, and turned her head to face you completely.

"do you not know who I am?"

"... am I supposed to?"

the woman howled with laughter at your response, and gave you a bright grin. "I'm princess violet, but you can just call me vi, buttercup." 

your face glowed bright red once more, the woman made you so easily flustered and you haven't known her for more than an hour. and now with the knowledge that she is a princess- you wanted to sink into the floor. how was she being so kind to you after  you made such a fool of yourself literally nanoseconds after you both laid eyes on each other.

your thoughts were automatically silenced as she spoke once more, "buttercup, this is usually when people introduce themselves as well." her teasing tone was so prominent to you- it made you wonder if others in the kingdom were this bold with new acquaintances. 

"(y/n)." you squeaked out, and turned your head to avoid vi's gaze. she repeated your name, letting it flow off your tongue, and let out a soft laugh,

"such a pretty name for a pretty woman."

and ever since then, you two were attached at the hip whenever you could be. you got the chance to have the company you always secretly craved- and nonetheless, pleasant company. she enamored you, always leaving you stuck feeling like a puppy who couldn't stray too far from it's owner. your fairy godmothers noticed this change in your behavior, and often see you prance outside of the cottage to meet with the woman that always sat perched on top of a horse.

it was like science that she would reach her hand out and gently help you sit in front of her on the horse. the woman always placed her arms protectively around your sides to make sure you couldn't fall off, and had your hands grip onto the reigns. her hands would cover yours as you two would begin to head into whatever direction you were going to. the joy that you radiated was  a lovely sight to see. 

today, vi decided that she wanted to bring you to a nearby meadow. you had pestered her on how she found the place- being confused since you didn't know about it yourself. when she brought you to a plain covered in butterfly weed and plenty of other stunning flowers, you had to sit in awe for a few moments.

vi slipped off of her horse, then gently grasped your waist to pick you up and softly place you onto the ground. when your feet met the ground, out of habit you interlaced one of your hands with vi and the other rested on top of her loose blouse that covered her bicep. she beckoned you forward and had you follow her to about the middle of the meadow, when the shade of the trees stopped reaching the two of you. 

vi reached her bandaged hands to grasp your waist, and tugged your body to be flush against hers. your arms reached up and wrapped around her neck, and she looked into your eyes with an unrecognizable emotion swirling through them. she gave you a lopsided grin,

"would you like to dance with me?"

and that's exactly what you two did. she guided you through a short waltz, the wind dancing with you two. your hair and skirt blew in the direction she twirled you in, successfully making a small giggle slip past your lips. every time she seemed to hear your laughs, her eyes would shine brighter and her smile would grow bigger. everything you did had her so infatuated with you- she craved to see you happy. she craved to be around you all of the time, she didn't know how to explain it. when she looks back at the time when you two were strangers- you two didn't know the other existed- she could only wonder how she lasted this long without you in her life. 

you were the brightest star in her sky. 

and so, you both sat in each other's presence for as long as you could. vi kept you until the blue sky turned into pink, and was just about to sink below the mountains. she had to let you go for the night, whether she wanted to or not. 

when she dropped you off at your small cottage, she hopped off her horse to walk you down to the door. her hand was held tightly in your grip- and when you stopped at the door to turn to her, you could see a small frown tugging at her lips. you gazed at her face for a few moments, and when she met your eyes, you lifted yourself onto your tippy toes. you gently placed the softest kiss onto her VI tattoo, causing her face to spark into multiple shades of red. 

"goodnight, vi," you opened the door and let go of her hands, her stunned face causing you to give her the tiniest of grins. 

when you fully went into the house, she reached up her hands to lightly touch her cheekbone, her lips finally quirking up into a soft smile. she walked back to her horse, gazed at your cottage for a few moments, then began to disappear into the trees. 

when you moved away from the door, you slightly danced into your cottage. your fairy godmothers were all staring at you, merryweather was nervously fidgeting with her fingers. when your eyes landed on the three, you dancing and joy came to a halt. 

"what is it?" you spoke, your eyes darting between the three. they all shared quick glances then flora decided to step forward. 

"(y/n)," flora's soft voice filled the room. the red fairy felt like an actual grandmother- soft but strict. you knew the tone of voice she was using was going to lead up to something no good. and your fears were proven right when you were told,

"you're not allowed to see that princess anymore. your father, stefan, would like to see you once more." 

it felt as if the world stood still for a few moments. your stomach felt queasy, and your eyes began to tear up. with a shaky breath, you spoke, "why? why would the man that has never been there for me stop me from seeing the one I love?"

this declaration caused the three fairies to still for a few moments. they didn't know that your feelings for the woman were so.... extreme. before they were given the chance to try and negotiate with you, you bolted up the stairs and headed to your bedroom where you collapsed onto your bed.

and your bed was where you stayed. it felt as if your world was being enveloped into flames. tears streamed down  your face and into your pillow, and you shakily wrapped your arms around yourself. you found it all so unfair. why was it that when you pleaded  to go to the kingdom, you were always denied it? but, once you finally found a reason to get into the morning, that was being stripped away from you?

you couldn't bear it at all. 

eventually, you let the bliss of sleep sweep you away from the world once your body felt weighed from the exhaustion of crying. your pillow was stained with wet spots, and your eyelashes were bunched together. you occasionally sniffled in your sleep, the sound making it's way to your godmothers.

they felt ashamed of themselves. but there was nothing that they could do. they tried to keep you for as much time as you possibly could have, but were demanded that they return you back to your home after your eighteenth birthday. they tried to protest this, because of the declaration that was made when you were born.

another fairy, maleficent, had demanded to know as to why she wasn't invited to your birth alongside the other fairies. she was told that the king and queen were afraid that she would harm their child- and in an act of hurt, maleficent gave you a curse. it was written in your fate that when you turned eighteen, you would prick yourself on a spindle and fall into an eternal slumber. 

your father, not being the brightest star in the sky, assumed that after your birthday you would be safe from this curse. so, he told the three fairies that it was time for him and his wife to be apart of your life. there was a slight argument between the group, but ended up with the fairies having to agree. 

so, when you awoke, you were taken away into the morning sky to the palace by a royal carriage. you were forced into a light pink gown that hugged the top of your figure and poofed out into a flared floor length skirt. you had begrudgingly entered the carriage, staring off into the woods as you were being taken away from it.

your fairy godmothers had decided to stay behind, and meet you at the palace in a few hours. they didn't tell you anything about your family, just told you that you had to meet them soon. when you crossed the brick bridge that connected the island with the rest of the earth, you were stunned to see the gigantic castle you were headed towards. 

people pointed at you and the carriage with joy, and you awkwardly shielded yourself away from their gazes. you felt so overwhelmed and so lost, you just wanted to go back to your tiny cottage far away from all these people. it felt like fate was laughing at you in a way. this is what you dreamed of for so many years, but in the moment you wanted to run away back to what you were used to. 

when the carriage stopped in front of a grand staircase, a guard came and escorted you up them. you stayed silent and looked around your surroundings, finding comfort in the blue jays that seemed to be following your every move. they tweeted at you, causing the corner of your lips to quirk up into a smile as you nodded at them. 

eventually you were greeted with a large purple door that was pushed by two other guards that stood by them. the guards beckoned you inside and you were greeted with two thrones, which were both sat upon.

a woman that had similar features to you gasped and stood up, causing you to slightly furrow your eyebrows in bewilderment. were these people your parents? the people that sent you into the woods without ever giving you an explanation?

the woman raced down the steps and quickly embraced you, and behind her figure you could see the man standing up to meet you both at the bottom of the steps. you awkwardly raised your arms to envelop the woman back, and she gently pecked you on your forehead. when your supposed father met you both, the woman took a step back and had her hands on your shoulders.

"it's wonderful to meet you, my daughter." the woman spoke in an excited tone, which caused you to shoot an awkward smile her way. she continued to speak, and had declared it to herself that she was going to show you around the castle. 

and she did exactly that. the wide corridors were odd to you, the walls being decorated with portraits of her and your father. the occasional photo of you as a baby were on the walls, but no other photos featured you for obvious reasons. your mother showed you to the kitchen, and as many rooms as she could think of. 

when you two finally arrived to the room that you would be calling yours for the next few months, you had to express your exhaustion to get her to leave you alone for a few moments. she was an understanding woman and had left you to get acquainted with your new room, and you did that for a few moments before you decided that you had to explore on your own.

the sound of your footsteps bounced off the walls as you made your way down corridors and took twists and turns. eventually, your curiosity had led you to a metal door that was hidden away from normal eyesight. you reached your arms out to lightly push the door open, and you were greeted with darkness. the only source of light was the tiny candle that sat perched on a small wooden desk, right next to a spindle. you walked closer to the spindle, the tip seeming to gleam even in the lack of light. once you stood in front of it, your hand felt as if it had a mind of it's own. you slowly began to reach for it, and in a few quick movements, you slightly pricked your finger against the spindle. it felt as if the energy was drained from your body, and you swayed a few times before your legs gave up on holding you up and you collapsed.

meanwhile, vi had came up to your cottage while expecting to be greeted with your beaming face once more. she had finally decided that today was going to be the day that she was going to confess her love for you- and that maybe you could come back with her to her own palace. but, when she was greeted with the fairies she only ever saw through the windows, telling her that you were gone, it made a fire ignite in her eyes. 

the fairies had been startled by vi's sudden outburst, when she demanded to know where you went. it took a few threats to be thrown around for the fairies to admit that you had went to a nearby kingdom, the one that was opposite to hers. that was all she needed to know before she decided to hop back onto her horse and head as quickly to the kingdom as she could. 

vi noticed plenty of odd things on her journey to the kingdom. the rose vines that constantly tried to get into her way were irritating, but her sword had easily sliced through even the most annoying ones. luckily she had experience in odd situations, often being sent out by her father to help alongside the guards that needed help in combat. her horse was also used to this, leaping over the vines that vi could not cut.

once vi finally made it to the bridge, she noticed a black dragon spewing out green flames towards buildings. her eyes furrowed at the sight, and a feeling swelled in her chest. her darling could be in any of those buildings, and that dragon is causing havoc to every single civilian in it's sight. 

and unfortunately, the dragon had spotted her pink hair on the bridge quickly. vi was made aware of this when the dragon suddenly descended on to the other side of the bridge and had transformed into a woman with horns in a black cloak and a staff with a green orb sitting on top of it.

the strange woman spoke out, "look at you, planning on playing the hero? planning on saving this kingdom from it's inevitable doom?"

vi's lip quirked up into a snarl, and she grinded her teeth together, "who are you?!"

vi readjusted the grip she had on her sword when the woman began to manic laughter. her laughter felt as if it was booming, making vi have an unsettling feeling in her stomach. 

"well, savior, my name is maleficent!" maleficent then pointed her staff at the other woman and a green beam shot out to try and strike her horse. vi quickly flung herself off of her horse and sent it away, not wanting it to become injured in any battle with magic. maleficent spoke once more, "oh! how selfless, even willing to save an animals life!"

vi grinded her teeth and began to run across the bridge. more green beams were shot at her, and she had quickly learned that at the right angle, the beams could be deflected back at maleficent. this made the entire get across the bridge with a deadly woman at the end of it! a whole lot easier. by the time vi had gotten close to the evil fairy, there were multiple holes blown into the bridge, causing it to also be cracking at some points. 

vi could hear the sounds of the fairy's panting, and was able to tell that the blows were taking  a toll on her body. it didn't take much effort to slice the fairy's shoulder and kick her in the stomach to send her tumbling to the floor. vi quickly stabbed the green orb in the witch's staff, and in a few swift moments sent her tumbling off the edge of one of the holes in the bridge. 

vi wiped the sweat off her forehead and mumbled a few profanities before continuing on her journey of weaving between the buildings on fire. not to far into her journey, she was greeted with two blue jays that kept tweeting at her in a surprisingly hostile matter. this quickly gained the woman's attention, and she followed them to the castle. 

on their way to the castle, vi was disturbed to see the amount of people that were simply on the floor sleeping. she was only one person so she couldn't move them all to safety- and the birds kept demanding her to follow them. she huffed and began to make her way up a grand staircase and entering the castle itself. 

vi was forced to go up a few more stairs cases, eventually ending up at the peak of the castle that felt as if it was it's own tower. and making it up the final staircase and opening the door, she felt her breath get caught in her throat.

there you were, rested on top of multiple silk sheets. your hair was sprawled out on top of your pillow, and it felt as if your dress was doing the same on the sheet. vi quickly stumbled up to you, feeling tears welled up in her eyes. 

"oh, darling..." vi spoke in a shaky tone as she cupped your face in her hand. she bent down and gently placed a kiss on your forehead, before resting her forehead against yours. she stared at your closed eyes for a few moments before taking a glance at your lips.

vi could hear the blue jays tweeting at her, almost as if they were egging her on. she accepted the encouragement, rubbing her rough thumb against your cheek and slowly pressing her lips to yours. 

they were as soft as how they felt when you kissed her on the cheek. she stayed still for a moment, just allowing herself to bask in the moment. what she didn't realize was your eyes slowly fluttering open, and your arm slowly raising to place on the back of her head. and in a few quick movements, you deepened the kiss between the two of you. 

you closed your eyes once more, but it felt as if vi's shot open. she didn't retrace from the kiss, but  you could feel her lack of movement, and assumed she was stunned. you smiled into the kiss, and pulled away from it. your eyes were clouded by exhaustion, but just being able to meet her eyes with yours caused vi to let a few tears stream out. vi reached out and cupped the back of your hand with hers, and brought her lips to your wrist. she made heavy eye contact with you as she spoke against your wrist,

"you're not allowed to leave me ever again."

you let a soft giggle slip past your lips once more as you gave her a tired grin, "i wasn't planning on it."

and finally, vi sealed your lips with a kiss once more.

THE END

[sunflowerwinds]

tongue tied | e.w

summary: finally, the weekend where the kids leave back home, the fourth of july falls on that same weekend. with that, you confess your true feelings to both abby and ellie.

contains: mature language, first kisses, corny and fluffy stuff, underage drinking, steve being a wingman <3

pairing: ellie williams x fem!reader

word count: 3.6K

a/n: i love THEM! sadly this is where it ends :( i’ve loved writing this for all of you and i can’t wait for more works. my inbox is open! <333 i’m so sorry if the ending seems rushed i just truly had no idea how to end it.

under the summer stars masterlist

The most anticipated weekend of the month finally came. The children would go back to their homes to retrieve new clothes and other necessities and/or decide to go back home if the camp life wasn’t for them. The entirety of the camp was empty and luckily for you all, the Fourth of July fell on that Sunday before the kids came back.

The second the last child hopped into their parents, Robin jumped onto Steve’s broad back in celebration. The duo were whooping and hollering with excitement which caused everyone to join in celebration. The sudden excessive noise caused the birds within the tall trees to scatter and flutter, weaving in between the branches of the leaves.

“We’re free for a weekend. We’re getting fucked up!” Dina shouted, jumping on your back with a loud laugh.

A loud clearing of a throat made all of you turn around to see Joel with crossed arms at the rowdy mess you all had become.

You added with a charming smile: “Responsibly, Joel.”

The grumpy man merely hummed as he stared at the loud group of young adults, causing everyone to say mutters of promises that they were going to be safe.

“Well we’re barbecuing tomorrow night for the fourth of July so I would like everyone to be somewhat sober before then.” He lightly scolded.

Ellie beside you let out a chuckle, looking at you with an excited smile.

“He didn’t say completely so that’s all I’m focusing on,” Steve spoke up, raising his palms up in defense.

“Oh, can we take my van to go and get Fourth of July stuff?” Dina folded her arms as she motioned her chin to her cute minivan.

Reluctant to give permission to the rambunctious group, Joel let out a sigh before scratching at his brow bone with a finger.

“Okay, but be back before sundown. No horsin’ around,” Joel scolds just like the dad he was to everyone for the summer.

“We promise,” you speak for the lot before hoisting Dina up on your back, holding underneath her lower thigh so she wouldn’t slip.

“Wait, I don’t wanna drive. Steve,” Dina calls over your head to the beautiful haired boy. “Can you drive, please?”

Steve let out a groan of complaint, letting Robin drop to her feet from his back to the mix of dirt and twigs.

“Why is it always me?” He questions as his hands rests on his hips, leg popping slightly.

Jesse speaks up for everyone, throwing an arm over his shoulders and placing a kiss to his scalp: “Because you’re a sweetheart, Stevie.”

Everyone cooed him as an obvious blush spread onto his cheeks. He pushed Jesse’s head away from him as he asked Dina for her keys, ignoring the pestering coming from his friends.

“Inside the office. We’ll meet you there.” Dina beamed as she leaned into your ear, tugging your shoulder carefully. “You’re sitting next to Abby and talking to her. End it so you can shove your tongue down Ellie’s throat.”

You look around to see Robin and Ellie talking as Jesse and Abby begin to walk towards the car. You let out a knowing sigh. As much as it would pain you to admit, Dina was right.

“Alright, get off me then.” You dramatically let out a groan.

The charcoal haired girl slid off of your back, adjusting her shirt and shorts before she pointed at you accusingly. You did the same, holding back your eye roll at her words.

“Do it. I mean it.”

You muttered a ‘yeah, yeah’ as you waited with Dina for Steve to come back with the keys and everyone’s cell phones. Within minutes, everyone tumbled into Dina’s adorable van, you doing as the bossy woman had asked and sat next to the muscular blonde. Steve got in the drivers, making it known he didn’t want to hear backseat driving since he was appointed as the driver for the day. You could feel Ellie’s confused stare on you as you’re shoulder to shoulder with the blonde but ignored it as you leaned into Abby to lower your voice so only she would hear you.

“Hey,” you grin kindly at her.

“Hi,” she responded, eyes concentrated on your own.

“I wanted to,” you suck in a deep breath, fiddling with the bracelet Ellie gave you on your wrist. “To apologize.”

Abby brows furrowed at your words.

“Why?” She sounded genuinely confused.

“I feel like I’ve been weird towards you and to be honest, I was trying to force a crush on you because I thought it would be easier than…” You trail off and turn around to see if anyone was paying attention but Jesse was in a conversation with Dina and Ellie which he was clearly invested in. Of course, Steve and Robin were chittering amongst themselves in the driver’s and passenger's seat. “Accepting and acting on my actual crush on Ellie.”

Abby’s eyes flickered from you to the auburn haired one, seeming to take in that information.

“I-I know it was shitty to do. I’m not trying to excuse it but I’m just apologizing and I hope we just be friends again.” You added on in a panic at her silence, trying to keep your voice at a low volume.

“We were always friends,” Abby states with a teasing smile.

You relax into the polyester seat, shaking your head.

“You know what I mean. I just— I’m sorry, Abs.” You turn to her with a winced expression.

“I accept your apology. Even though you didn’t need to apologize, I know you wouldn’t have been able to relax around me unless you did.” Abby chuckled as she nudged your shoulder with her own.

“Whatever,” you sigh as you realize she’s right, a smile creeping onto your own face.

“Can you do me a favor, though?” Abby raised her brows at you.

“Sure, yeah.”

Abby sucks in a deep breath, glancing at the one person she knew would make you happy if it couldn’t be her.

“Just please save everyone from you two dancing around the fact that you’re in love with one another and tell her.”

Your cheeks heat up at her request, delivering a soft punch to her shoulder. Abby laughs softly, settling into her seat as she goes on her phone to show her new high score on Piano Tiles.

“I will, Abs.”

Tomorrow night couldn’t have come fast enough. The whole group of young adults were surrounding the campfire, chattering amongst themselves. Tommy and Joel were grilling hot-dogs and fajitas for the night as everyone was patiently waiting for the explosions of celebrations.

“Steve, you’re telling me you’ve never even once thought about getting with a guy?” Dina asked him in disbelief, staring at him through her American Flag plastic glasses.

“Why is this so hard to believe?” He questioned as he took a sip of his beer.

It was hard to take him seriously as he was sporting a pair of American Flag swim shorts that the group had purchased for all of the guys the day before.

“I told you, babe. You give major bisexual vibes.” Robin motioned to Steve with a sigh, sipping her Sprite and vodka mix.

Most of the group hummed in agreement, Steve raising his brows as he was unsure whether or not to take it as a compliment.

“Well, anyways, who knows? I might experiment one day,” he shrugged his shoulders as everyone whistled at his confession.

“Hey, do you want another one?” Ellie whispered to you, pointing to your solo cup mixture of Vodka and Sprite with the rim of her own.

You lift your head up from her shoulder to stare at her. Her head wore a douche-y American flag baseball cap, similar to Jesse’s top-hat. You weirdly enough loved it on her but you blamed it on the lens you saw her through.

“Uh, yeah. Just one more, though.” You tell her with a small smile. “I don’t wanna throw up tomorrow.”

And be sober enough to tell you how I feel, your mind echoes.

“Gotcha. I’ll be right back,” she takes the cup from you, stepping over Robin’s legs.

As you shamelessly watched her go over to the table full of drink necessities, you caught Steve’s knowing smile that he was trying to hide behind the dark beer bottle. You ignore him and turn to Robin who was on the other side of you, snatching her phone from her hand to change the music.

“Hey!” Robin gasped as she reached forward.

“Just changing the song from this hill-billy shit,” you scoff before calling over to Tommy and Joel. “No offense guys.”

The two furrow their brows as they weren’t paying attention. You wave them off and out on some more calm 90’s R&B, waiting patiently for Ellie to come back with your drink.

“Should we go to the lake and watch the fireworks from there?” Jesse suggested, raising his bottle to everyone.

“I mean, I have to make use of these swim shorts,” Steve shrugged as he chugged the last of his beer, setting the bottle aside.

You and Robin whooped playfully as Steve took off his shirt. Ellie passed by with your solo cup, making a face at Steve’s hairy chest. You chuckle as you stand up with everyone else, graciously taking the cup from her as you motioned to the lake.

“Come on. We’re going to wait for the fireworks in the lake.” You raise your brows as you reach for her hand.

Her hand intertwined with yours, the blush on her pale cheeks going unnoticed by you as your back was already facing her. You tugged her along behind you as the two of you followed the rest of the group. You watched as Jesse shoved Steve into the lake first, a loud yelp coming from the man. You and Ellie chuckled from a distance at the screaming and loud splashes of everyone trickling in one by one.

“If you push me in Ellie, I would actually pull out your hair,” you turn to her, slight teasing in your voice.

“Promise?” She cheekily grins, avoiding your eyeline.

You roll your eyes as you set your drink down on the wooden part of the dock, releasing Ellie’s hand. The sun was nearly half an hour from setting, a soft pink fade to orange decorating the sky beautifully. You turn to Ellie with a small smile as she’s setting down her own drink next to yours.

“Come on, guys!” Abby calls you two from the water, eyes

You open your mouth to make a snarky comment but you feel hands being placed on your back. Before you could react, you were pushed into the deep water. You lift your body out of the water with a loud gasp, whipping your head around and cupping your palms to splash towards Ellie who was laughing amongst the rest of your peers.

“Get your ass in here, Ellie!” You shout at her, shaking your head.

She did as she was told, jumping in right next to you drowning in water from the splash. As soon as she popped up from underneath the surface, you were quick to shove her head down into the water once again. You reluctantly let her up when her longer arms flail above the water, nearly smacking you in the face.

She shot up with a loud gasp, running her palm over her drenched face.

“You could’ve killed me!” She joked, shoving your shoulders.

“I could say the same for you. I told you not to push me in,” you retort as you kick your feet to keep your head above the surface.

“Well, I think hair pulling was the promise, right?” Ellie raised her now darker brows.

With anyone else you would’ve told them to get that kinky shit out of here but this was Ellie; someone’s hair that you would eagerly pull under the right circumstances. The relaxing sound of the water moving around you all, waiting for the beautiful lights to explode throughout the sky for Independence Day. The pink and orange horizon was now a darker and familiar blue, growing closer and closer to midnight.

Before you all knew it, the first whistle of the first firework in your area went off. You stared at the stream of light making its way up into the sky then bursting into bright blue and red. You always loved fireworks growing up; despite how sensitive your little ears were at the time. Now you can just relax and enjoy the view.

Ellie wanted to take in the beautiful sparks but you were the only thing she could focus on. Even with smudged mascara and drenched hair, you were the most beautiful by far to look at. You had a slight smile on your face that gave away your adorable admiration for the bright lights.

“Hey! Come on out the water! It’s time to eat!” Joel shouts over the noise of the fireworks and the music playing from Robin’s speaker.

“Alright. I’m out. I’m starving,” Jesse states as he swims towards the dock, lifting himself up and onto the wood.

The rest of the group followed after, muttering a series of ‘me too’ and ‘I’m so hungry’. Steve, though, made his way over to you and Ellie with a slight wince.

“Guys, I can grab you guys the food. Just tell me what you want.” Steve kindly grinned but there was something about it that was…cheeky.

It wasn’t until you noticed he made direct eye contact with you, brows raised suggestively. You narrowed your eyes and was so thankful that Ellie was behind you so she couldn’t see you obviously mouthing ‘I hate you’ to the beautiful boy.

“Uh, yeah. I’ll take two hot dogs and some barbecue chips,” Ellie spoke first as you were silently glaring at Steve.

“And what would you like?” His gaze focused on you, speaking to you with his soft brown eyes.

His look was telling you ‘you better tell her or I will’. You roll your eyes before telling him: “Some beef fajita with two corn tortillas and some cilantro, please.”

Steve nodded, looking over your shoulder with a small stupid shit-eating grin.

“Thanks, Steve,” Ellie says over your shoulder.

You suck in a deep breath and motion with your eyes for him to leave already.

“Yes, thank you, Steve.”

He nods as he grips on the ledge of the dock.

“No problem. I’ll be back with your orders, ladies.”

With that, he pulls himself up and out of the water to walk over to where the rest of the group was hounding for the freshly grilled food. That left you and Ellie swimming around the water, silence engulfing the two of you.

“He is such a dork,” you speak up, a fond smile on your face.

Ellie hummed in agreement, eyes following to every square inch of your face. What was she doing? Did you have a piece of grass on your face or something?

“Ellie?” You call her, swimming closer to her.

“Yeah?” Ellie blinked.

“You, like, zoned out on me there.” You chuckled and shook your head. “I was going to say we should probably get out so that we can eat soon.”

“Fuck, you’re right. Should we get out so we can eat right here on the ledge and still watch the fireworks?” Ellie offered when she realized you were right.

You nod with such a sweet smile Ellie thought about grabbing you to kiss you right then and there.

“Okay, c’mon,” you paddle over to the dark wood to lift yourself up and sit directly on the ledge.

Ellie stayed behind for a second to shamefully stare at your ass before you sat on it. She never thought she would be jealous of a piece of carved wood.

“Alright, move over,” she pats your calf that was dangling over the edge.

You almost flinch at her cold touch, silently missing her hand on you. You do as you're told and scoot your body down so that Ellie could slot herself next to you so that you were shoulder to shoulder. Steve was taking a suspiciously long time but you didn’t comment on it as you knew you were going to tell Ellie; you couldn’t and wouldn’t back out.

“So anything with you and Abby yet?” Ellie asks hesitantly, staring at your side profile as you beamed up at the sky.

The bursts of multicolored light lit up your face in a way that reminded her of how much she truly admired everything about you. You shook your head rapidly before chuckling awkwardly, adjusting your wet t-shirt that was clinging to your body.

“No, no,” you wipe off a few pieces of grass off your water-ridden thighs. “Friends. I thought I could…”

You trail off as you realize how close you were to saying the truth. Ellie, being irritatingly observant, noticed your hesitation to finish the sentence and furrowed her brows before nudging her own damp shoulder with yours. Your larynx tightens as you stare straight ahead.

“You could what?”

You refused to make eye contact with her, turning around to glance at your group of friends who were surrounding Tommy and Joel, grabbing the fresh hot-dogs and fajitas off of the smokey grill. You could see Robin smack Jesse upside the head for what you could only assume is something stupid he said. You smile small at the sight of Abby waving at you, knowing that the two of you were okay and remembering the conversation the two of you had.

“Just please save everyone from you two dancing around the fact that you’re in love with one another and tell her.”

You clear your throat and shake your head, taking a risk to stare at her gorgeous freckled face. Her auburn hair dark from the water seeped into her strands, a few droplets of lake water dotted on her nose, cheeks and lips.

“That I could… distract myself with her which,” you pause to groan and cover your eyes with embarrassment. “I know. It sounds so shitty but I don’t know. It seemed like the best option at the time.”

Ellie hummed to show she was paying attention to what you were saying.

“Best option instead of what?” Ellie questioned as she reached her hand to tuck a falling strand behind her ear.

You suck in a deep breath, replaying everyone’s encouragement to tell Ellie how you felt in your head. Your cheeks were heating up underneath the droplets of cool lake water as you were mentally piecing together the words that would get the point across.

“Well, instead of telling you the truth,” you vaguely confess, hoping that she would just take the hint.

“Tell me what?” Ellie leans forward to try and get you to look her in the eyes.

You sigh nervously, swinging your feet over the edge of the dock to the lake. Ellie glanced down at your fidgety legs and tense composure, a suspicion taking over her psyche but she kept quiet.

“Ellie,” you mutter, shaking your head as you glanced over at her figure.

The auburn haired girl had an awaiting expression on her face, green eyes wide and head tilted to examine your face.

“Yeah?” She questioned with a hum.

Your eyes shamelessly drop to her pink lips, watching a drop of water glide down them to her chin.

Fuck it.

“Can I kiss you?” You breathe out, eyes pouring into hers.

Ellie’s smile grows as soon as the word ‘kiss’ leaves your mouth, nodding at your question. Her body leans into yours as your lips lock slowly, like the two of you were trying to savor every moment. You sigh as her hand comes up to cradle the side of your damp face, moving her cool lips against your own.

Her lips taste like Vodka and lake water which would make you gag on any other occasion but you would take that taste forever as long as it was hers. Ellie’s running her thumb over your cheek, taking in a deep breath as she lifted her other hand up to cup your face to guide you into heavily kissing her.

You hadn’t made out with anyone in a long time but it came so easily as the three years of anticipation were dawning over the two of you.

“Fucking finally!”

You freeze at Dina’s shout from a few feet away. There was a small part of you that wanted to throw up in your mouth from embarrassment but Ellie was quick to flip over the now wild group. You even noticed Tommy and Joel with noise makers in their mouths.

“Three years,” Ellie whispered to you. “Three years I’ve been waiting to do that.”

“Now you can do it whenever you want,” you tilt your head, staring into her green eyes that seemed to be all pupil now that you were really looking into them.

Is that how your eyes looked when you looked at her?

“I can’t believe you never took it off,” Ellie grabbed your wrist and held up the bracelet she made you.

“Well, some weird girl obsessed with space and dinosaurs made it for me,” you grin cheekily, glancing at the adorable gift.

“Is she pretty?” Ellie furrowed her brows.

“Never met anyone prettier,” you admit, your cheeks aching from how much you were smiling.

Ellie’s own sheepish grin matched your own, kissing the inner part of your wrist and the beads of the bracelet. The two of you never explicitly said that you wanted to go out.

Every fiber in you knew that this right here was worth everything.

tag-list: @abbyshands @ih8chickentenders @elliesprettygirl l @justhereforinspopics @be3flow3r @hearts4joongie @plutolovesyou @bready101 @joanvisitsrome @elliewilliamssrealgf @hysteriawillnotsuccumb @shady-lemur @melanie-watermelon @elliescoolerwife @ucannotcompare @sakiigami @joordynn @ummlover @thisiscarlatrying @phattywithawham @mxquelo @kisssssessssssyj @xyaxyn @claymoreshaze @a-little-bit-of-everybody @seraphicsentences @ravyaryn @womenlvrrr @saviourcomplexgf @shalalala-sana

[queenie-the-court-jester]

where the birds and fish gather

A/n: my silly fish and bird hybrids! Few sexual references but mdni! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ASK ABOUT ANY OF THEM I'M DESOERATE FOR ASKS- ignore my grammar haha

ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ- ︶︶︶︶༉‧ ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ- ︶︶︶︶༉‧

★ sydney the cockatoo

sydney's the most mischievous bastard out of all of them. Your watch is missing? In his nest. Your necklace? His nest aswell. Your hat? He's wearing it. You're never getting it back. He sees something shiny, it's in his little claws. Like all the avian hybrids, his arms are wings and he's covered in feathers. Having a human face with little beak like lips. His legs are bird legs. Black eyes staring at you from his nest in a tree. Be careful where you step after any surprise snow in's. He's probably burying himself in it. 5'4

★ Evangeline the peahen

The elegant, sophisticated, coy, angelic Evangeline. Gabriel's mate but she despises his guts, similar to princess, she much prefers you. Often dragging you to their nest and squabbling with Gabriel when he tried taking you away. She may not be as pretty as he is outside, but she certainly is Inside. Proudly showing off her brown little feathers. 5'6 brown straight hair, black eyes and a little pale

★ gabriel the white peacock

Egotistical bastard. He hates his wife for being so ugly, but he does think you are extraordinarily beautiful. He could definitely envision putting his clutch inside you. He'll figure a way out, don't you worry! An albino peacock male with red eyes, white feathers and extremely pale. 5'7

★ fajarah the ring necked parakeet

she's sydney's little partner in crime, but lately she's mellowed out more. Now preferring to watch the koi mers swim around and munch on some chips she stole from the main house. Tilting her head curiously at something she finds interesting. Bright green feathers and hair, black eyes and tan skin. 5'2

★ foolish the owl finch

often seen in the fields with the cows and bulls, he's quiet and prefers to watch. Hopping around quickly and pecking things that catch his eye. There's not much to say about him since he keeps to himself alot, but he does seem to like the biscuits you bring for him.

★ simon the tyto alba

Simon is deaf and mute, having been found wandering around the farm as a little chick. Now the farmers are looking for any way to help him with his hearing long term, but he seems to have adjusted to looking for any vibrations on the ground. Pale and white hair,black eyes, very pointy beak like lips

★ the koimer quintuplets

There's nothing much different between the quintuplets except their different patterns. Just that tancho is the leader and more mature, Kiko is more curious and childish, Hime is sweet and reserved, tsu is a chatterbox and humble, koromo is loud and nosy

★ mason the "lake monster" (crocodile)

Mason is like an older brother figure for the quintuplets, teaching them Little bits of English and watching you interact with them from the depths of the lake or hidden behind some underwater trees in the lake. You may not always see him, but he's always there. Silently watching. Messy grungy hair, green eyes, and has a light tan. 6'4

[maybellewriting]

The Bird and The Arrow

The Bird and The Arrow | Viltrumite Mark x AFAB! Reader/Previous Viltrumite Mark x Viltrumite! Reader Mentioned WARNINGS: Canon levels of gore and violence.

Word Count: 2200+ words

Note: This is my first post. Enjoy!

“She was a bird, I was an arrow

Both of us sure we were sword and a sparrow

Still, when we flew, we never knew 

There in the air, I felt her feathers

First all at once, then all together

When I went through, that's when I knew…” The Bird Song - Noah Floersch/Em Beihold The grip on your wrist might as well be stone. His hand is unyielding and unflinching as the fingers on your free hand rest on his own. They don’t quite pry yet. You’re too shocked or maybe even too scared to attempt. The eyes of who would have been his comrade are as wide as moons. The face that’s haunted his dreams for two years is staring back at him. There’s a stirring in Mark’s heart. He wants to say that it’s pity but isn’t quite sure. You’re human, frail, unimpressive. You’d fallen so low from the heritage that he remembered.

“Mark?” It’s certainly his face if Mark was stoic. Your chest aches from your heart hammering against it. When you’d heard the break in the sound barrier, you had hope that Mark would be here, helping people evacuate. You’d been late in gathering your things with such short notice. Your keys, your wallet, the knife you’d gotten comfortable having in your pocket due to work, and a wad of cash tucked away in your closet… Those few moments of scrambling had separated you from the others who’d rushed blindly and clogged the streets in their cars ahead. You didn’t have time to process exactly what you’d seen moments earlier as a figure in white cleaved through cars and people alike as if they were softened butter. It was when the roof of a car landed next to you that reality settled in. You hadn’t meant to scream. The impact startled you as the thing whizzed past your head. A little lower… A little lower and you would have been like the occupants of that car. His head turned and you held that stare a second too long before you ducked. It’s where he’d found you. Shocked by the gore that coated the interior of the car roof and trying to will your body to stop shaking so you could move.

“Please don’t hurt me.” His brow furrowed just enough that you were sure that his face could form some basic expression.

“Do what you need to do.” Those final words of his comrade swam in the forefront of his mind. He hadn’t realized that his hand tightened with the frustration that pooled in his belly until he saw your face shift in terror, in mounting pain. Your wrist was as fragile as a bird’s wing in between his fingers. “You’ll never cease to be passive, will you?” “I-” Your head shook, unsure of what to say to keep Mark from breaking your wrist. There’s relief when he does let you go. You flinch when he offers you a wave of his hand and there’s something akin to relief that fills him that you at least have some basic survival instincts. “Go.” Mark floats, crossing his arms. “Flee, hide, or wait for a savior. I’m curious what you’ll do to live.”

You don’t need to be told twice. Adrenaline has you ignoring the bruise blooming along your wrist as you hop in your car. Mark doesn’t move to stop you. He watches you peel out of your parking space like a bat out of hell, away from the carnage he’d caused. Mark watches a moment more before he continues his mission. The boom that alerted you to his arrival now has you white knuckling your steering wheel. It doesn’t ease up. Even as the white of his outfit becomes a speck and then nothing in your rearview mirror.

_____ The evacuation center is full. People are hurt, misplaced, and scared. The motel you’ve taken refuge in isn’t the best. There’s a tree outside that keeps you on your toes as the swaying branches clack against your window. “The GDA has issued an evacuation order for all major cities. If you require assistance with your evacuation or need shelter, call 555-2131 or your local hero agency.” That message on the TV had been playing on a loop with any station that didn’t actively cover the events unfolding. You change the channel. The news anchor covers her mouth at the live footage being fed to the station, to the world on the screen behind her. “Every available hero is being called to resist these invaders. If you can’t help: Stay away from the conflict, stay safe.” The banner beneath her held a different number each time it ran. An estimated count of injured or dead that only seemed to tick higher. You flick to a different channel. Another news anchor is red in the face as his hand slams against his desk. “If villains had any dignity, you’d be out there fighting too! Get up! Someone, anyone, has to stop Invincible!” Each time you see your friend’s face on these strangers, it’s a punch in the gut. They weren’t your Mark. He’d never enjoy any of this. He’d never consider any of this. You knew that he was more like Atlas than whatever these people are supposed to be, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and nearly buckling with the responsibility each day.

You look at his contact in your phone and then flick to the group chat between Mark, William, Amber, and yourself. It hadn’t been touched since he’d been back from Thraxa. 7:38 PM I’m okay. Are you? The motel bed is stiffer than your own as you rest against it. You want to go home. There’s a wonder if it will even be there when this is all over. You aren’t graced with even a knock as the lock on your motel room door clicks. You bolt upright and grasp the knife in your pocket. The thought of fellow survivors turning on each other so soon catches you off guard. There would always be someone who would take advantage of the world burning to explore the thoughts of could they get away with this. 

Mark’s face disarms you once you see it behind the brim of a baseball cap. “Mark! Thank God!” Relief makes tears well up in your eyes and you very nearly hug him. That is until you see his stiff posture and the logo of the cap. He’d never been a White Sox fan, he was a Cubs fan. Then you see that his clothes are one size too big in a style that doesn't match the sweaters or khakis in his closet as the door clicks shut behind him. “That is the most pitiful blade I’ve ever seen.” He stares at the pocketknife in your hand before his gaze settles on your face. “How did you get in my room?!” You point the blade accusingly at him. He’s still, observing you like some cornered animal. A part of you knows that that is exactly what you are with him blocking your only exit.

This Mark held up his hand. “A key.” He says as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, showing you said key that rested with the ring looped around his finger. The room number on the tag was wrong so each door had the same lock.

Your confidence wavers. “Did you follow me?” You’re in disbelief. You’d watched him fly off in a different direction.

“No.” He said simply. Mark mulls over his words with care. “However, it wasn't difficult to track you. I followed the flow of people. Your vehicle wasn’t in the cluster at that... station,” He isn’t sure what to call it. A camp? “So I just went a little further. The ridiculous decoration on your car gave you away.” He refers to the sticker on the back. Some portrait of a humanoid animal in a cape that was cut off at the shoulders to better sit in the corner of the window. If he tilted his head just right, the image changed to have odd stars reflecting in the light that weren’t there when Mark viewed it head on.

“It’s Seance Dog!” You argue as if that would change how he viewed the sticker. His head tipped a fraction at the name before he stepped further into the room. You stepped back. The sweat in your palm makes you grip your knife differently.

“I’m not here to be educated about the culture of this dimension.” Mark said flatly. He looks at your weapon. “If you manage to kill me with that then I didn’t deserve to be born. Put it away. Sit.” His kindness wanes. But that isn’t quite right, is it? This Mark is practically saintly towards you considering what he could do. Then you see it. He hides the tiredness along his eyes well. This Mark doesn’t yawn or stretch openly, nor does he slouch until he’s had his coffee. You sit uncomfortably at the edge of the bed and tuck your knife back into your pocket. He doesn’t join you. He seems to read your body language well enough that he grabs a chair and drags it near to where you sit. “What do you do?” He lets the backpack that he no doubt stripped another man of from his shoulders and lets it fall to the floor with a soft thump.

The question knocks you for a loop. “What do you mean?”

He waves hand in a small gesture. “Here. What is your function? Do you do peace keeping with that blade? Are you an officer of sorts?” He struggles to try and find a role you’d fit in with your appearance. You looked so… casual, so soft compared to how he remembered you. Not unlike pictures of his mother before she was taken to Viltrum. She’d been an agent of sorts. Perhaps you, too, were an agent.

“I’m a bartender.” Mark looks on, attempting to fill in gaps to words he’s unfamiliar with. Tender. Tending the fields? “A farmer?” You can’t quite tell if he’s confused or disappointed with the question. You’re too terrified to laugh despite how badly a nervous giggle wants to bubble up at how silly and genuine the question is.

You shake your head, still rigid on the bed. As if your spine rested against an invisible plank of wood. “I make drinks.”

His stoic face now shifts. His hand drags along his features, grasping his chin. Mark gazes at the carpet. “You’re a servant.” You conclude that he’s disappointed with the sigh that escapes him.

“You like the drinks I make you! You’re spoiled.” Your tongue slips. He’s not Mark. Not the one who’d swing by your apartment and drink the new cocktails you’d try your hand at as you watched baseball or vent to you about work.

Mark’s eyes lift from the floor then to you. He doesn’t say a word. You’re his servant? It doesn’t really outweigh his disappointment, but the two of you were still close in a way. He wonders if the Mark of this dimension cares for you well. You look comfortable, fed, and, if it weren’t for the chaos outside, happy. You’re happy enough to see his face, you’d walked towards it as if it were a beacon of hope.

He deduces that the Mark of this dimension did something right if you’re alive and glad to see him.

Your hands wring together nervously. You felt as if you’d said all the wrong things, but he hadn’t killed you yet. “What am I to you?”

He leans back in his chair. “You were something more. Something better than a drink servant, that’s for sure.” Mark’s answer left you with more questions. Ones that he won’t answer because his eyes are closed, and his breath had steadied into an even pace. His head tipped back. You had a better view of the face of the boy you used to like and the young man he grew into.

You flick off the TV but sleep doesn’t take you as easily as it takes him. His figure stands out against the pale wallpaper. He grew less rigid as his form relaxed. His crossed arms had slumped a hair and his weight shifted to his now spread legs as his body attempted to find something more comfortable in the chair he’d assigned himself. You knew Mark well enough to picture this one’s face. Soon he’d be slack jawed and snoring softly. Just like when he’d pass out on your couch.

The door called to you, but you were sure that it was a trap. That he was testing you in some capacity. Would his amusement or whatever pushed him to spare you end if you attempted to slip away? You pulled out your phone and clicked the messages between yourself and your Mark.

8:59 PM Where are you? I need help.

8:59 PM Please.

You and every other person on this planet did. You watched as a wheel cycled beneath your messages before red text flitted up beneath the texts. Not Delivered ! Not Delivered !

You flipped the phone face down against the blanket and stared at the ceiling as Mark’s snores filled the gaps between your breaths. What were you going to do? What could you do?

[void-wolfie]

I Can't Live Without You - Epilogue

Part 1

summary: jenna visits you... sorta [request]

pairing: Jenna Ortega x fem!reader

tw: swearing, crying - let me know if I missed anything

words: 790+

a/n: just a little extra angst for you guys, enjoy :)

Jenna sank to her knees, the soft grass below cushioning her landing. She pulled the wilted flowers from the plain glass vase and set them off to the side. She gently put the fresh flowers in, making sure to sweep all the dirt and fallen leaves from the stone before putting it back in its place.

Sunflowers were always your favorite. Bright, sunny, and happy - just like you. She just never thought she’d see the day she’d have to leave them on your headstone.

It had been three weeks since your funeral. Four weeks exactly since the day you died. Jenna still couldn’t believe it. One minute you were there. And the next, gone. She didn’t even get to say goodbye…

There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to see you one last time.

Jenna hadn’t noticed the tears that had begun falling from her eyes. What had started as one or two suddenly turned into a flood. Sobs wracked her chest, her throat ached as she struggled to breathe. Her mind spun as she grappled, once again, with the reality of never seeing you again.

She’d never get to see your bright smile again or hear that infectious laugh. She’d never get to groan at one of your terrible jokes or scoff at your endless list of nicknames for her. She’d never be able to call you at midnight and tell you about her shitty day, or stay up till dawn binge-watching crappy rom-coms and eating ice cream with you.

The thing she’d regret the most though, was never telling you how she truly felt. She should’ve told you when she had the chance. Now she’d never be able to.

A small chirp interrupted Jenna’s meltdown. She hadn’t heard anyone come up next to her and, though it had seemed soft, the sudden noise left her startled.

She dried her eyes on the ends of her sleeves, doing her best to wipe away any evidence of her crying. She looked around, trying to see where the sound had come from. Only she couldn’t see anyone. The cemetery was empty as far as the eye could see.

There was another chirp. Much closer this time. There was a distinct sound of rustling leaves, followed by another chirp.

Jenna looked up, scanning the branches of the tree that shadowed your headstone. That’s when she spotted it, a little red bird up in the tree branches. It tilted its head at her before moving once again, this time swooping down and landing on top of your headstone. It chirped once again and hopped closer to her, almost as if trying to express its sympathy.

Jenna recognized the bird; a red cardinal. You had pointed one out to her on a walk in the park once.

It means something, you know, you had told her. They represent our loved ones, visiting us after they’re gone. Jenna didn’t believe it, she even laughed at the idea. How could a little bird mean some dead person was visiting you? It seemed ridiculous.

Jenna held out her hand, she simply only wanted to pet the bird. But, before she could do so, it hopped again, perching on top of her outstretched finger. The sudden action took her by surprise.

The bird didn’t seem to be afraid of her, if anything, it seemed curious. It tilted its head for a second before chirping again.

Despite every fiber of her soul telling her to be logical, Jenna couldn’t help but think that maybe you were right. Or at least, she really wanted you to be. She needed you, desperately. While the thought of never getting to see you again broke her heart, the idea that maybe you were still looking after her, even in death, made her feel a little bit lighter.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, worried that if she were any louder, she’d scare the bird away, “I’m so, so, sorry.” She had said those words so many times since you’d passed, over and over again; in her head, out loud, to your different family members - who arguably had more to mourn than her. She had said it so many times she wasn’t even sure what she was sorry for anymore. She just knew she was so fucking sorry… for everything.

The bird chirped, tilting its head at her. It nuzzled at her finger softly, almost as if it was trying to show it understood her, that it understood her pain. Part of Jenna was screaming, telling her that it was just a bird, to think of it as anything else was crazy. But she didn’t care, she needed it to be you.

“I miss you so much. So fucking much…”

“I love you.”

“God, I wish I said it sooner.”

[trashcanplant]

The Harvest

Mob Au to @//clownsuu

Penny to @cherrythepuppet

Vince to @cloudy-dreams

TW: Spooky scary scarecrows send shivers down your spine! Rotting meat.

Grover sat at the bar, keeling over a hearty glass of rye whiskey like there was no tomorrow. He felt miserable, grabbing at his chest and struggling to breathe. His mind spaced out, and when he came back to reality, Penny was sitting beside him.

“Ugh… what do you want.” He groaned, slamming back another cup. Grover let Howdy finish pouring him a new one before he turned back to Penny.

With the changing of the seasons in full swing and clumps of leaves layering the ground, she had now taken a poofy feather boa oon her bare shoulders. The little lady raised her eyebrows at him as a snarky grin graced her lips.

“Hi.” She said quickly, turning to Howdy and raising her finger. He nodded silently and started to prepare a Shirley Temple.

“Doesn’t answer my question.” Grover grumbled worthlessly, sinking into the bar stool like his roots were planting into the ground.

“Well, Scarycrow—“ Penny began before a cough from Grover interrupted her.

“Not my name.” He growled. Penny rolled her eye.

“Yeah, anyway, Boss told me to tell you ‘Feed him’ So. Feed him. Whatever that means. Has he started talking in third person?” She questioned, looking down at the pear bracelets over her opera gloves. Grover perked up. He looked out the window, downed his drink, and stood up.

“Where are you going?” Penny asked, reaching for her drink that Howdy had just finished shaking and topping with whipped cream and cherries. Her eye followed Grover as he grabbed a coat.

“Out.” He said. This piqued Penny’s curiosity. She’d heard from Antoni that Grover wasn’t allowed ‘out’ without permission. She hopped from her barstool, chasing Grover into the night.

“You’re not allowed out! Boss said-“

“Boss told me that I need to go when he gives the word. Where the fuck are those birds..” He growls, eyes on the skies as he listens for a distant cawing. His eye spots two birds, barely visible behind the night sky as they cry from their branch. Grover huffs, turning to Penny.

“You’re helping me make a delivery.” He said sharply, practically dragging her by the arm to one of the cars.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” She shouts, struggling against his grasp.

“Help me make the delivery and I get you whatever treat you want.” Grover replies, getting her in the car. It’s not the usual continental that he’d drive. It’s a pickup truck, back covered with a tarp. Penny sits in the passenger seat, holding her arm nervously.

“Fine.”

And they drive off into the night. Penny watched as the lights from the city began to dim. The truck passed by the warehouse that marked the edge of town and drove farther than that and parked at the tree line. Grover got out of the truck and took the cover off the truck bed.

It was a cacophony of flies, buzzing over the top half of a deer. It had been ripped in half, and smelled like it had been a long time since it had died. Its guts had stained the bed red and maggots had begun to creep through the deers skin and pelt. Grover looked down on it, grabbing it and easing it out of the truck. It hit the ground with a somehow wet squelch. Something leaked from the deer.

“Help me.” Grover said, and when Penny got around the truck she screamed. It alerted the crows which dotted the trees, and Grover slapped a still wet glove against her mouth.

“Shut the fuck up. Vince don’t like noise.” He commanded. Penny stared at him with a wide eye, shivering in her unfit-for-weather dress.

“Grab the back.” Grover said, looking over his shoulder into the tree line. Penny squirmed, reaching down to try and carry her half of the weight. It was unfair, Grover had to lean all the way down and walk backwards into the trees with Penny trying to direct him in the dim light. He was pricked by several brambles and stabbed with sticks.

When the pair passed the tree line and entered the clearing, it was like walking into the world’s most terrifying sculpture park. The figures were all in the midst of fleeing. To the untrained eye it would look like wood carvings, but the way that the flies landed on them and how new branches grew from they eye sockets and mouths of these people made it obvious that it wasn’t just sculpture.

Grover and Penny carried the deer, sticks crunching under their shoes. The two approached the center of the field and Grover dropped the deer. He looked around at the stillness, searching for something in the trees. Penny felt uncomfortable, her head on a swivel as she looked through the field. She could have sworn she saw one of the bodies still breathing.

Grover whistled, taking a step away from the dearly departed deer.

“Watch em feast.” He said with a little grin on his face. The crows flooded from tree line, swooping at the carcass. Grover laughed, and Penny turned over her shoulder to see a hunched over figure with dark eyes and an elongated mouth. She screamed, grabbing onto Grover who looked down at her.

When his eyes landed on Vince in the darkness, reaching out to grab Penny, Grover swatted his hand away.

“No, Vince. I get’cher real hungry to have someone new join ya but not her. She’s family.” Grover said, staring at Vince as the cut noose swayed around his neck. They held eye contact. Vince opened his mouth and murmured something in a low, unfamiliar tone that sent chill down Penny’s spine.

“Look, how bout next time I bring one here fer ya I’ll letcha do yer tree thing an’ all that. I like them screams too, gotta admit..” Grover said with a low chuckle. Vince had a raspy laugh, not saying a word but staring at Penny. Grover looked down at her again.

“Her names Penny. I needed an extra set a hands pullin’ the deer. I know ya like a bit of a scaredy-cat, but I got reprimanded by Wally when I had brought Poppy out here. You ‘member her, Vince? Real tall bird broad?” Grover said. Penny had a look of horror plastered on her face as she kept a grip on Grover’s pants. Vince did not respond, reaching out a finger to graze against Penny’s skin. The taller of the scarecrows grabbed at the other, holding his gloved hand tightly.

“I’ll see what I can fix up fer ya. But not her. Not her.” Grover said protectively. The crows behind him cawed as they finished their feast and flew back into the trees. The plot was silent again, save for Vince’s ragged breathing. Penny stared up at Grover, then at Vince.

“D’ya need help spreading the bones across the field?” Grover asked. He gave Penny a little pat, a nonverbal way of telling her to head back to the truck. As she began to walk away, Vince turned his head with an audible creak. Grover kept his attention, talking to him calmly.

It took over an hour for Grover to return to the pickup truck. Penny was asleep, her head against the window. Grover glanced out the driver side window at Vince who stood just beyond the tree line. He waved goodbye, then turned around on the road to drive home.

From just under Penny’s opera glove, a small leaf began to sprout.

[chesters-kiddo-corner]

Meadow's Garden: episode 1

An agere-safe webtoon: check out @meadows-garden-webcomic to see what this is all about!

Check out episode 1 with no narrative

On an early summer afternoon, a little ginger kitten was up to some mischief in the garden. All of a sudden, his best friend Ruby bunny had run and tagged him with her wiggly little nose. You're it! Chester the kitten sprung into action on the narrow path through mama's crops, worn by years of running paws. I'm gonna catch you Ruby!

Sarge, the brave farm dog who they called papa, saw the little ones flash under the fence and into the vegetable beds. He kept a watchful eye. Look at my babies go!

Mama looked up from her watering with a start, clutching her sunhat as the animals rushed by in their game. She smiled in amusement. Be careful sweeties! Neenee duck, who never left her side, let out a quack of agreement.

I am, mama, Chester called, looking back for a moment as he bounded on. Here went Ruby through the flowerbeds! A few more steps and the first pick of the strawberry patch would be his. I'm gonna get you, Ru-! Just as he turned back to leap across the duck pond and to victory, a root caught his front paw, and it seemed he was completely up in the air... and bound for a swim! WHOA!

The birds on the oak tree startled, and Mr. Wiggles the bullfrog even croaked. Lamby, who had been playing in the tulips, sounded the alarm. Mama!

Before long, papa Sarge had swept over, helping the clumsy kitten out from the slippery rocks that lined the pond's edge. Again, again! Chester cheered, but spring had hardly lifted, and the water was still chilly in the morning shade of the oak and cypress.

Sarge thought it was hardly the right time for a dip in the pond, carrying his little one gently back to the house. Silly kitty. Watch next time, okay?

Yes papaaa. The kitty begrudgingly agreed, but that swim had been quite refreshing!

Ruby hopped alongside them. Sorry Chester!

The ginger kitty was unbothered. Hehe, I like swimmin'! But now he wouldn't get his strawberries! Of course, now the cold was getting to his fur, and now that he thought about it he was a little hungry...

Mama wrapped the kitty up in a fluffy towel just in time for his afternoon nap. The family settled down for a cuddle and a bottle on the rocking chair after such an eventful morning. My little swimmer, mama cooed. We'll get you all dry. Before long, Chester was fast asleep.

I'm so excited to share this with you all! As always, this is my art. Reblogs are welcome. I authorize no reposts even with credit. Episode 2 coming soon!

@chesters-kiddo-corner @meadows-garden-webcomic

[linked-maze]

.:It's about Time:. part 1

A story behind how Navi and Time found each other! enjoy!

It was a cold hazy morning in the forest, after a whole night of rain. The small beam of light from the morning sun was shining through the leaves, warming up the air that was fresh and with an earthy smell. A tiny blue fairy emerged from a hole in a great redwood tree. Butt in the air, she yawned and stretched her whole fuzzy body, shaking the sleepiness out of her and flapping her wings awake. She raised her snout to sniff the air and letting out a sigh of relief. After months of winter, spring was finally settling in, and Navi couldn’t be happier about that. The forest was alive with all her favorite snacks, spiders, grasshoppers, and more! So, no time to spare! She set out to search the environment for some breakfast.

Navi flew through the cold air, the sun hitting her from above. The floor of the deep forest was filled with big old stones with beautiful carvings all over the place with moss and ferns covering the ground completely. A river close by, water flowing steadily. Navi took a glance for any danger in the area, but all seemed fine. She decided to start her hunt here. Flying down to land on some of the wet stones, almost slipping but caught her balance. She skipped along from stone to stone, stopping a bit to sip some water from a nearby plant that was dripping from the rain. Then, in the distance before her, she saw a delicious grasshopper! Navi ducked down quickly, and without making a sound she sneaked up to the prey behind the ferns, slowly approaching, ready to pounce any second now. However, suddenly a disturbance from the distance echoed throughout the deep forest. The grasshopper hopped away in fright. Navi attempted to go for the kill, but it was too late. It got away. “Tch…” Navi sighed in disappointment. She flew up to one of the tree branches high above, away from any danger. What in the world was that sound? Monsters did live in these woods, maybe it was one of those awful wolfos striding around the area, looking for their own prey. Or maybe it was one of those atrocious stalfos beating up a tree somewhere for fun. Suddenly the sound was back! It sounded like thunder rumbling! This was no wolfos or stalfos. This was something huge and dangerous. Navis curiosity got the best of her, and she set out to solve this. Navi got closer and closer to the mysterious rumbling. She flies above an ancient, overgrown temple ruin. Walls, Pillars, and statues broken down over time, greenery taken over the place completely. She has been here many times for the amazing apple trees that grow here. It has always been such a peaceful place. But not today, birds flying away in flocks, frightened by the ruckus. It sounded like a huge fight was going on!

Navi quietly landed on one of the big ancient statues, hiding behind it to get a peek in on what was going on, but nothing could have prepared her for what was making all that sound. It was a Goron! Out in the middle of the forest throwing around huge rocks, destroying them into small pieces. The Goron looked angry yet saddened, mostly getting his frustrations out. What was a Goron doing so far from home? Was he lost? Did he lose something? Whatever it was, he was making a commotion. Navi rolled her eyes. She had no time for this. She was about to set off again, but something stopped her. She took a glance at the Goron. Something about him seemed familiar but she couldn’t put her paw on what it was… it was like she had seen those eyes before, the right eye barring a huge scar across it. Navis memories sparked for a moment, the eyes resembling her dear old friend, but there was no way this was Link, this was a Goron. Navi felt a little bad stalking this poor Goron. So, she decided to let him be. He clearly didn’t want to be disturbed. Why else would he do his outburst deep in the forest far from home. Besides, Navi still needed some breakfast. She set off as quietly as she came. Back home, Navi was digging for worms in some dirt right underneath the redwood tree. It was no grasshopper and Navi loved the hunt of it all, but it was tasty, nonetheless. continued her day with small tasks and gathering fresh leaves for her nest. Walking down to a little puddle nearby to wash her paws clean after an evening of work, she couldn’t stop thinking about the Goron. And Link… it has been years now, but she still missed him deeply. The day she left him after completing the Dekus trees dying request, she was supposed to move on with her life. Finally reuniting with her great fairy and all her sisters in the forest. Living life with all her sisters was nice but she felt empty inside every single night, wondering what Link was up to and if he was okay… so one day she decided to go look for him! The hero she was meant to be with! But… he was nowhere to be seen. No one in Hyrule knew where he was. But that didn’t stop her! She searched for days, weeks, months! But with no luck… It was like he was gone… dead. Navis hope grew thin over the years, and she settled down in the deep forest, Abandoning her quest. But no matter what she did, she could never let him go in her heart.  The day went by, and the sun started to set at around dinner time. Navi laying at the opening of her redwood tree hole, still in thought, and was not feeling like hunting. She felt restless and couldn’t focus. So, she decided to go to sleep early this time. Letting her mind rest. to be continued~